# US 12,213,419 B2 · Apparatus for cultivating plants

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 12,213,419 B2
- Document ID: US12213419B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 18/018,445
- Filed: 2021-07-29
- Published: 2023-09-21
- Granted: 2025-02-04
- Earliest claimed: 2020-07-29
- Assignees: LG Electronics Inc.
- Applicants: LG Electronics Inc.
- Inventors: Kiyoung Lim; Yongki Jung
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12213419B2

## CPC

- A01G 9/0293: {Seed or shoot receptacles}
- A01G 9/247: {Watering arrangements}
- A01G 9/028: {Multi-compartmented pots}
- A01G 9/246: {Air-conditioning systems}
- A01G 9/249: {Lighting means (with special arrangements for promoting growth A01G7/045)}
- A01G 27/006: {Reservoirs, separate from plant-pots, dispensing directly into rooting medium}
- G06Q 50/02: Agriculture; Fishing; Forestry; Mining
- Y02A 40/25: Greenhouse technology, e.g. cooling systems therefor
- Y02P 60/21: Dinitrogen oxide [N2O], e.g. using aquaponics, hydroponics or efficiency measures
- A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE
- Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS

## Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus for cultivating plants, the apparatus includes a cabinet having a cultivation space; a door opening and closing the cultivation space; a cultivation shelf disposed inside the cultivation space and on which a seed package containing plants for cultivation is seated; a lighting device for radiating light to the cultivation shelf; a water tank provided inside the cultivation space and storing water; and a water supply pipe supplying water from the water tank to the cultivation shelf.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An apparatus for cultivating plants, the apparatus comprising:
a cabinet having a cultivation space;
a door configured to open and close the cultivation space;
a cultivation shelf disposed in the cultivation space, and configured to seat a plurality of seed packages;
a lighting device configured to provide light to the cultivation shelf;
a water tank disposed in the cultivation space, and configured to store water; and
a water supply pipe configured to provide water from the water tank to the cultivation shelf,
wherein the lighting device includes:
a light source module having a plurality of light sources; and
a light case configured to mount the light source module,
wherein a total number of the light sources disposed in a front half of the lighting device is greater than a total number of the light sources disposed in a rear half of the lighting device, and
wherein a distance between adjacent light sources is narrower on both sides of the lighting device than a distance between adjacent light sources at a center of the lighting device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cultivation shelf includes:
a shelf tray having a plurality of recessed seats to seat the seed packages; and
a shelf base disposed under the shelf tray, and configured to accommodate the water from the water supply pipe.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The apparatus according to claim 2,
wherein the cultivation shelf includes a shutter configured to open and close relative to the seats, and
wherein the shutter is configured such that when the shutter is opened, the water in the shelf base is to pass through the shutter and is to be introduced into the seats.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The apparatus according to claim 3,
wherein the shutter is movably mounted on the shelf tray relative to a vertical direction to be opened and closed, and
wherein the shutter is configured such that the see shutter is to be opened when the seed package is mounted on the seat, and the shutter is to maintain a closed state when the seed package is not mounted on the seat.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:
shelf rails mounted on both sides of the cultivation space, and the cultivation shelf is to couple to the shelf rails such that the cultivation shelf is configured to be inserted and withdrawn relative to the cultivation space;
a plate-shaped evaporator on a wall at a rear of the cultivation space, and configured to adjust temperature of the cultivation space; and
a blower disposed in front of the plate-shaped evaporator.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the cabinet includes:
an inner case configured to form the cultivation space;
an outer case configured to form an outer appearance; and
an insulator disposed in a space between the inner case and the outer case, and configured to insulate the cultivation space,
wherein a blower fan cover is disposed in front of the blower, and
wherein the inner case and the blower fan cover are configured to reflect light from the lighting device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 5)

The apparatus according to claim 5, comprising:
a heater configured to heat the cultivation space;
a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the cultivation space;
a machine room disposed below the cabinet, and a compressor is to be disposed in the machine room; and
a controller configured to control operation of the heater and the compressor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The apparatus according to claim 5,
wherein a plurality of cultivation shelves are provided in a vertical direction to partition the cultivation space into a plurality of spaces,
wherein the lighting device is provided at an upper side of each of the spaces,
wherein the blower is disposed at a rear of each of the spaces,
wherein an outlet of the blower is disposed at a height corresponding to a lower surface of the lighting device, and
wherein an inlet of the blower is disposed at a height corresponding to a top surface of the cultivation shelf.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:
a tank rail on an inner surface of the cultivation space, the water tank is to couple to the tank rail, and the tank rail is configured to allow the water tank to horizontally move relative to the cultivation space;
wherein the water tank includes:
a tank body to couple to the tank rail, and configured to store the water; and
a tank cover configured to open and close relative to a top of the tank body, and
wherein the tank rail is configured to withdrawal outwardly from the cultivation space such that the tank cover is rotatable.

### Claim 10 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:
a tank rail on an inner surface of the cultivation space, the water tank is to couple to the tank rail, and the tank rail is configured to allow the water tank to move outward from the cultivation space;
wherein the water tank includes:
a tank body to couple to the tank rail, and configured to store the water;
a tank cover configured to rotate so as to open and close relative to the tank body;
a first water outlet to extend from a lower surface of the tank cover, and configured to provide a first flow path for the water stored in the tank body;
a second water outlet to extend in an introduction direction of the tank body, and configured to provide a second flow path for communicating with the first flow path; and
a fitting portion to be selectively coupled to the second water outlet when the tank body is introduced;
wherein a pump is configured to provide water from inside the tank body to the cultivation shelf via the first flow path, and the second flow path is connected to the fitting portion.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:
a pump to connect to the water supply pipe; and
a sub-tank disposed between an outlet of the water tank and an inlet of the pump, and the sub-tank having a storage space smaller than a storage space of the water tank;
wherein the sub-tank includes:
a transparent window for the sub-tank; and
an ultraviolet (UV) lamp configured to irradiate ultraviolet rays through the transparent window and to the storage space of the sub-tank.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:
a pump configured to provide the water to the water supply pipe;
drain holes disposed in the cultivation shelf;
an opening/closing member configured to open and close each of the drain holes;
a driving device configured to drive the opening/closing member;
a drain pipe configured to guide water from the cultivation shelf based on the opening of the opening/closing member; and
a controller configured to control operation of the driving device and the pump.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, comprising:
a display device having an input device configured to input at least a time and a display configured to display time, and
wherein the display device is disposed at a position facing the door, and the display is visible through the door when the door is closed.

### Claim 14 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seed package includes:
a seed accommodation member configured to absorb moisture while accommodating cultivated seeds therein;
a container configured to accommodate the seed accommodation member; and
a cover configured to shield top of the container, and
wherein the seed accommodation member is to provide a seed accommodation groove to extend from the cover and a plurality of cell structures are configured for growth of roots of seeds.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the light case includes:
a separation portion in a center of a bottom surface of the light source where the light source module is not arranged;
a front module mounting portion provided in front of the separation portion; and
a rear module mounting portion provided in rear of the separation portion.

### Claim 16 (depends on 15)

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the light sources mounted on the front module mounting portion are spaced apart such that spacing between the light sources disposed at a center of the front module mounting portion is wider than spacing between the light sources disposed on either side of the front module mounting portion.

### Claim 17 (depends on 15)

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a number of the light sources disposed on a first half of the front module mounting portion is greater than a number of the light sources disposed on a second half of the front module mounting portion.

### Claim 18 (depends on 15)

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the light sources mounted on the rear module mounting portion become narrower as they are positioned from a center of the rear module mounting portion to both sides of the rear module mounting portion.

### Claim 19 (depends on 15)

The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein a number of the light sources mounted on a front part of the rear module mounting portion is greater than a number of the light sources mounted on a rear part of the rear module mounting portion.