System for rotating horticulture towers

1 . A system for rotating at least one horticulture tower, the system comprising:

at least one horticulture tower movable along a track; and

an apparatus for individually rotating each horticulture tower of the at least one horticulture tower;

wherein the apparatus is stationary along the track and each horticulture tower is moveable along the track to an apparatus engagement position in which the apparatus is engageable with an individual horticulture tower of the at least one horticulture tower;

the apparatus comprises a drivable tower engagement wheel mounted on a first hinge portion of a pneumatic actuated hinge, wherein the first hinge portion of the pneumatic actuated hinge is moveable from a first position in which the drivable tower engagement wheel is disengaged from the horticultural tower in the apparatus engagement position to allow movement of the that horticulture tower along the track to a second position in which the drivable tower engagement wheel is engaged with the horticultural tower in the apparatus engagement position for rotation of that horticultural tower.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the track is a conveyor system and the at least one horticulture tower is suspended or supported by the conveyor system.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a plurality of apparatuses for individually rotating each horticultural tower of the at least one horticulture tower.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises a light source, an irrigation source, a ventilation source or a combination thereof.

5 . An apparatus for rotating at least one horticulture tower that is moveable along a track, the apparatus comprising:

at least one drive motor, the at least one drive motor operatively connected to

at least one power supply;

at least one drive assembly for imparting drive from the at least one drive motor to at least one wheel assembly, the at least one drive assembly being operatively connected to an output shaft of the at least one drive motor and an axle of the at least one wheel assembly, the at least one wheel assembly having at least one tower engagement wheel coupled to the axle for rotation therewith, the at least one tower engagement wheel having an outer surface for frictional engagement with the at least one horticulture tower; and

an attachment assembly for coupling the at least one drive motor, the at least one drive assembly and the at least one wheel assembly to a support structure; wherein the support structure comprises

a first arm having a first end and a second end;

a second arm having a first end and a second end, the second arm being rotatably connected to the second end of the first arm; and

a biasing mechanism moveably connecting the second arm to a fixed point, the biasing mechanism configured to bias the second end of the second arm toward the first arm;

wherein the at least one wheel assembly is connected to the first end of the second arm

wherein the at least one tower engagement wheel when driven by the at least one drive motor and frictionally engaged to said at least one horticulture tower causes the at least one horticulture tower to rotate; and

wherein said apparatus is stationary along the track.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the fixed point is the first arm.

7 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the biasing mechanism moveably connects the second end of the second arm to the fixed point, thereby pulling the second end of the second arm towards the fixed point.

8 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the biasing mechanism moveably connects the first end of the second arm to the fixed point, thereby pushing the first end of the second arm away from the fixed point.

9 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the biasing mechanism comprises at least one spring.

10 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a third arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the third arm being connected to the first arm; and

wherein the biasing mechanism moveably connects the second end of the second arm to the third arm, the biasing mechanism configured to bias the second end of the second arm toward the third arm.

11 . The apparatus of claim 5 , further comprising a third arm having a first end and a second end, the first end of the third arm being connected to the first arm; and

wherein the biasing mechanism moveably connects the first end of the second arm to the third arm, the biasing mechanism configured to bias the first end of the second arm away from the third arm.

12 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the outer surface of the at least one tower engagement wheel comprises rubber.

13 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the outer surface of the at least one tower engagement wheel comprises a sprocket or a plurality of protruding members.

14 . The apparatus of claim 5 ,

wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of drive assemblies and a plurality of wheel assemblies; and

wherein at least one drive assembly is coupled to the axles of two of the wheel assemblies.

15 . An apparatus for rotating at least one horticulture tower that is moveable along a track, the apparatus comprising:

at least one drive motor, the at least one drive motor operatively connected to at least one power supply;

at least one drive assembly for imparting drive from the at least one drive motor to at least one wheel assembly, the at least one drive assembly being operatively connected to an output shaft of the at least one drive motor and an axle of the at least one wheel assembly, the at least one wheel assembly having at least one tower engagement wheel coupled to the axle for rotation therewith, the at least one tower engagement wheel having an outer surface for frictional engagement with the at least one horticulture tower;

an attachment assembly for coupling the at least one drive motor, the at least one drive assembly and the at least one wheel assembly to a support structure; and

at least one biasing mechanism, each biasing mechanism moveably connecting the support structure to a fixed point, the at least one biasing mechanism configured to bias the support structure towards the at least one horticulture tower; wherein the at least one biasing mechanism comprises

a hinge having

a first hinge portion connected to the fixed point; and

a second hinge portion connected to the support structure and pivotally coupled to the first hinge portion;

a pneumatic actuator operatively connected to the first and second hinge portions,

wherein, upon being actuated, the pneumatic actuator exerts a force on the second hinge portion urging the support structure towards the at least one horticulture tower

wherein the at least one tower engagement wheel when driven by the at least one drive motor and frictionally engaged to said at least one horticulture tower causes the at least one horticulture tower to rotate; and

wherein said apparatus is stationary along the track.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the outer surface of the at least one tower engagement wheel comprises rubber.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 , wherein the outer surface of the at least one tower engagement wheel comprises a sprocket or a plurality of protruding members.

18 . The apparatus of claim 15 ,

wherein the apparatus comprises a plurality of drive assemblies and a plurality of wheel assemblies; and

wherein at least one drive assembly is coupled to the axles of two of the wheel assemblies.