# US 2019/0150375 A1 · Completely automated multi-shelf seedling growing system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0150375 A1 - Document ID: US20190150375A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/098,052 - Filed: 2017-04-28 - Published: 2019-05-23 - Earliest claimed: 2016-05-02 - Assignees: Elm - Applicants: Elm Inc. - Inventors: Takakazu MIYAHARA; Kengo WADA; Masato TAKEDA; Shigemi OMOCHI - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190150375A1 ## CPC - A01G 31/06: Hydroponic culture on racks or in stacked containers - A01G 9/00: Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses (of mushrooms A01G18/00; soilless cultivation A01G31/00); Edging for beds, lawn or the like - A01G 9/02: Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes (self-acting watering devices A01G27/00; hanging flower baskets, holders or containers for flower-pots A47G7/00); Glasses for cultivating flowers - A01G 9/023: {Multi-tiered planters} - A01G 9/0299: {Handling or transporting of soil blocks or seedlings} - A01G 9/1423: {Greenhouse bench structures} - A01G 9/143: {Equipment for handling produce in greenhouses} - A01G 9/20: Forcing-frames; Lights {, i.e. glass panels covering the forcing-frames} - A01G 9/24: Devices {or systems} for heating, ventilating, regulating temperature {, illuminating}, or watering, in greenhouses, forcing-frames, or the like - A01G 9/247: {Watering arrangements} - 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) - Y02A: TECHNOLOGIES FOR ADAPTATION TO CLIMATE CHANGE - Y02P: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES IN THE PRODUCTION OR PROCESSING OF GOODS ## Abstract A seedling growing system according includes: a cargo transport container provided with heat insulating treatment; a movement robot configured to move on a path in the cargo transport container; seedling growing tray racks including a multi-shelf germination racks configured to hold, until germination, a seedling growing tray wherein seeds are sown, a multi-shelf seedling growing racks configured to hold a seedling growing tray wherein seedlings have germinated and including an artificial light source and an automatic watering device, and a multi-shelf shipment rack configured to hold a seedling growing tray for shipping grown seedlings, the racks being disposed side by side on a side or sides of the path in the cargo transport container; and a transfer means provided to the movement robot and configured to transfer each seedling growing tray between movement robot and each of the multi-shelf germination racks, multi-shelf seedling growing racks, and the multi-shelf shipment rack. ## Claims ### Claim at position 1 1-11. (canceled) ### Claim 12 A seedling growing system comprising: a) a storage provided with heat insulating treatment; b) a movement means configured to move on a predetermined path in the storage; c) seedling growing tray racks including a multi-shelf germination rack configured to hold, until germination, a seedling growing tray on which seeds are sown, a multi-shelf seedling growing rack configured to hold a seedling growing tray on which seedlings have germinated and including an artificial light source and an automatic watering device, and a multi-shelf shipment rack configured to hold a seedling growing tray for shipping grown seedlings, the racks being disposed side by side on a side or sides of the path in the storage; and d) a transfer means provided to the movement means, consisting of: a holding unit capable of moving from the movement means vertically to the path and substantially horizontally; a pinion gear capable of meshing with steps on a bottom part of a seedling growing tray and provided at a leading end of the holding unit; and an arm at a leading end of which steps capable of meshing with steps on a bottom part of a seedling growing tray are provided, the leading tip being movable from immediately below a position where a seedling growing tray is placed on the seedling growing tray rack toward the movement means and movable from the movement means toward immediately below the position, including an auxiliary movement means configured to move each seedling growing tray between the seedling growing tray rack and the pinion gear, and configured to transfer each seedling growing tray between the movement means and each of the multi-shelf germination rack, the multi-shelf seedling growing rack, and the multi-shelf shipment rack. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The seedling growing system according to claim 12, further comprising an environment control means configured to control an environmental factor in the storage in accordance with a plant being grown. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The seedling growing system according to claim 12, wherein the multi-shelf shipment rack is placed closer to a door of the storage than the multi-shelf germination rack and the multi-shelf seedling growing rack. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The seedling growing system according to claim 12, wherein the path is placed to a center in the storage to extend inward from a door of the storage, and the seedling growing tray racks are arranged on both sides of the path. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The seedling growing system according to claim 12, wherein the storage is a cargo transport container. ### Claim 17 (depends on 12) The seedling growing system according to claim 12, wherein the seedling growing tray racks include shelves having different pitches between the seedling growing tray racks. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The seedling growing system according to claim 17, wherein the seedling growing tray racks each include a plurality of shelves having different pitches between the shelves. ### Claim 19 A seedling growing system comprising: a) a storage provided with heat insulating treatment; b) a movement means including a mounting part for mounting a seedling growing tray and configured to move on a predetermined path in the storage; c) seedling growing tray racks including a multi-shelf germination rack configured to hold, until germination, a seedling growing tray on which seeds are sown, a multi-shelf seedling growing rack configured to hold a seedling growing tray on which seedlings have germinated and including an artificial light source and an automatic watering device, and a multi-shelf shipment rack configured to hold a seedling growing tray for shipping grown seedlings, the racks being disposed side by side on a side or sides of the path in the storage; and d) a transfer means provided to the movement means, including: d-1) an arm a leading tip of which is movable from immediately below a position where a seedling growing tray is placed on the seedling growing tray rack toward the mounting part; and d-2) steps fixed to the leading tip and capable of meshing with steps on a bottom part of a seedling growing tray are provided, and configured to transfer each seedling growing tray between the mounting part and each of the multi-shelf germination rack, the multi-shelf seedling growing rack, and the multi-shelf shipment rack.