Patent Application
20140048456
1. Field of Invention
This invention relates to an herb or plant sifter system. In particular, a sifter system that operates to separate herb or plant roughage from a refined plant/herbal extract.
2. Background
Methods of separating desired plant or herb components from the entire plant or herb trim include manually or mechanically sifting the plant trim to obtain the refined plant component, such as herbal extract. Manual devices used include sieves, mesh, bubble bags or water bags. There also exist mechanical devices that separate plant components from plants with vigorous vibration. These mechanical devices separate plant components using vibratory separation. This vibratory separation is achieved with a single filter screen through multiple siftings. Further refining and sifting of plant components are sometimes needed to obtain a more purified product. Such devices are complicated, many requiring use of a liquid or fluid, inconvenient, time-consuming, messy, requiring extensive clean up and are inefficient.
Other mechanical devices utilize more than one screen for sifting, however, only function to extend the sifting duration. These devices do little to obtain a further refined or purified product. There are still other mechanical devices that contain multiple decks that utilize vibration for sifting; however these devices are not time efficient and not meant for portable use. These mechanical devices utilize significant time, cost and energy to obtain a sifted plant component, yet do not provided a further refined and essential purified plant component, of high quality free from unwanted plant debris. Indeed the demand for a device and method to more efficiently sift, separate and refine a desired plant component from the entire plant is desired.
Embodiments of the present invention solves the need for a portable, time and energy efficient method and device for sifting, separating and obtaining are fined plant or herb component from a plant or herb. An object of the invention is a portable apparatus which provides an effective and portable method of sifting and separating a plant or herb component utilizing both vibratory and agitation motions with multiple levels of refinement.
In one aspect, the apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of this invention relates to a plant or herb sifter. The apparatus comprises a containment unit and a platform. The containment unit is comprised of a primary containment, a secondary containment, a collection base and a lid. The primary containment fits and stacks into the secondary containment, and the secondary containment fits and stacks into the collection base. The lid covers the primary containment and prevents the contents of the primary chamber from escaping. The bottom surface of each of the primary and secondary containment comprises a sieve or are made of mesh/screen. Accordingly, when a plant is placed inside the primary chamber and sifted, the desired plant components pass through the primary mesh bottom (primary mesh level) and the secondary mesh bottom (secondary mesh level) to be collected from the collection base.
In another aspect of the invention, the platform of the apparatus comprises a deck and a base. The deck is designed with a retainer or mount to engage the containment unit securely to the surface of the deck. The retainer comprises wall units extending above the surface of the deck. In another embodiment, the deck comprises a recessed opening with vertical and horizontal supports within the opening to help secure the containment unit. The containment unit sits through the opening and rests on top of the horizontal support. The containment unit is further secured by a strap assembly that anchors the containment unit onto the deck during sifting. A vibrator motor mounted onto the deck provides a vibration motion.
In another aspect of the invention, the deck is further mounted on a base that serves to stabilize the apparatus on a surface such as the ground or table while in motion. The base may be box shaped and houses a gear motor connected to a rod that provides the agitation motion to the deck for sifting. The agitation and vibration motions are further enabled by two extension springs used to mount the deck at a height above the base which allows for the agitation rocking motion of the deck holding the containment unit.
In a further aspect, there is disclosed an apparatus for sifting plant components according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the apparatus sifts plant components by applying vibration and agitation motion to sifting plant components through two levels or grades of mesh.
In another aspect, there is further disclosed a method for sifting plant components according to an embodiment of the present invention in which the plant components are sifted through two levels or grades of mesh by applying vibration and rapid agitation motion to the plant.
These and other aspects of the present invention are further made apparent, in the remainder of the present document, to those of ordinary skill in the art.
In order to more fully describe embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings. These drawings are not to be considered limitations in the scope of the invention, but are merely illustrative.
The description above and below and the drawings of the present document focus on one or more currently preferred embodiments of the present invention and also describe some exemplary optional features and/or alternative embodiments. The description and drawings are for the purpose of illustration and not limitation. Those of ordinary skill in the art would recognize variations, modifications, and alternatives. Such variations, modifications, and alternatives are also within the scope of the present invention. Section titles are terse and are for convenience only.
The present invention is a system, apparatus and method for using vibration and agitation to sift plants or herbs to obtain a desired plant or herb refined component such as a fine herbal extract.
The containment unit 10 functions to contain and separate plant or herb components with multiple levels of sieving. In an embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in
The primary containment 12 and secondary containment 13 serve to sift plant or herb components from the plant or herb. The primary containment 12 fits and stacks vertically into the secondary containment 13; and the secondary containment 13 fits and stacks into the collection base 11, as illustrated in
In the primary containment 12, the primary mesh bottom 41(primary mesh level) is a semi-permeable barrier or mesh made of a metal screen or natural fiber screen such as silk, synthetic screen such as polyester, monofilament, or nylon screen, or any other flexible sieve material known in the art. The mesh bottom 41 can be made from a silk screen material that is a loosely woven or knitted fabric that has numerous closely spaced holes to allow fine plant components to pass through. In one embodiment, a silk netting is used for the primary mesh bottom 41 and measured in microns. In another embodiment of the invention, the mesh bottom 41 is made of a woven, knit, welded, etched, or otherwise formed steel or other metal. The preferred mesh range of the primary mesh bottom 41 is determined in microns measured in whole sizes such as a no. 30 to 100 silk netting mesh screen. The primary mesh bottom 41 may be removably or irremovably attached. The removable attachment means may be accomplished through a Velcro attachment of the outer facing border of the mesh bottom 41 to in inner surface of the primary containment 12. Velcro attachment means, or other similar attachment means may be incorporated for easy removal of the mesh, and to further facilitate separate cleaning of the mesh as well as providing replacement or new mesh into the unit.
In another embodiment a level of larger grade mesh 51 which may be removably attached. In a preferred embodiment, the mesh 51 is fixedly attached with nuts 52 and bolts 53, as seen in
In the secondary containment 13, the secondary mesh bottom 42 (secondary mesh level) is also made of a silk netting measured in microns, ideally of a smaller or finer grade mesh than the primary containment mesh bottom 41. The preferred range of the secondary mesh bottom 42 is no. 100 to 400 mesh screen so as to sift through the finer particulars of the plant as small as plant pollen, depending on the fineness desired. The secondary mesh bottom 42 may be removably or irremovably attached. The removable attachment means may be accomplished through a Velcro attachment of the outer facing border of the mesh bottom 42 to in inner surface of the secondary containment 13. The plant components sifted from the plant in the primary chamber 43 fall into the secondary chamber 44.
The primary mesh level 41 and secondary mesh level 42 of the primary containment 12 and secondary containment 13 respectively, each correspond to a level of sifting. In an embodiment, at least two levels of sifting, at progressively smaller grades, allows for further refinement of the sifted plant or herb component.
In other embodiments of the current invention, more than two levels of sifting can be used; more specifically, three or more levels with progressively finer or smaller mesh levels can be used for sifting, as in
The collection base 11 functions to collect the sifted plant components. In an embodiment of the invention, the collection base 11 is a 3.5 gallon cylindrical container or bucket with a sealed bottom and an open top as illustrated in
A removable lid 14 of the containment unit 10 fits snuggly over the primary containment 12 and prevents any plant material from inadvertently being expunged from the primary chamber 43.
In an embodiment of the invention, the containment unit 10 is a portable, separate unit that is removable from the platform unit 20. Additionally, the containment unit 10 can be disassembled, separating the primary containment 12, secondary containment 13 and collection base 11. It is further an embodiment, in which the containment unit is comprised of single chamber with levels of sifting throughout the internal length of the containment unit, without distinguishing between separate containment sections.
As illustrated in
The mount or opening 61 on the upper face of the deck 15 allows the containment unit 10 to fit into the deck 15 at an inset position. The opening 61 is shaped and sized to receive the containment unit 10 such that the containment unit fits snuggly within the opening 61 without extraneous movement. In an embodiment of the current invention, the opening is circular recessed section. In other embodiments, the mount 61 may comprise raised wall segments along a periphery of the position where the containment unit is to be seated, the wall segments extending upward directly from the surface of the deck to secure the containment unit so as not to require a recessed opening in the surface of the deck.
As illustrated in
The containment unit 10 is secured into the opening 61 of the deck 15 and prevented from disassembling during usage by a strap assembly 65 that is affixed to the deck by two anchors 66. In an embodiment of the present invention, the strap assembly 65 is comprised of two anchors 66, two straps 67 and a buckle 68, for example a nylon ratchet strap. As illustrated in
In another embodiment of the invention, a ratchet buckle 68 is used in the strap assembly 65 to secure the containment unit 10. A ratchet buckle is attached to the distal end of the first strap. The free distal end of the second strap is use to thread into the ratchet buckle. To thread the ratchet buckle, the ratchet buckle is opened to allow access to the take up spool of the ratchet buckle, the second strap is then threaded through the spool and back over the spool. The second strap is then pulled through the spool to tighten and remove excess slack of the strap. Once all the slack is removed, the strap is ratcheted until a tighten tension is achieved. The second strap is then secured into place by putting the ratchet in its closed position. To release the second strap from the ratchet buckle, the ratchet buckle is opened into the open and flattened position. Once the ratchet buckle is in the open position, the second strap can be pulled out and released.
The strap 67 may be made of a webbing material including both natural and synthetic fibers or blends thereof. For example a non-elastic polymer webbing may be used as to secure the containment unit. In other embodiments, a nylon, polypropylene or polyester webbing may be used. Further, any other durable, strong and pliable material with a low stretch rate known in the art. Aside from the strap, the working table 15 and its parts thereof are made of steel or any other strong and durable metal of the like known in the art. The strap material, working table and its parts are preferably capable of supporting a stress load of 400 pounds. Higher stress loads may be obtained depending on the specification of the strap material strength.
As illustrated in
The base 16 of the platform unit 20 functions as the foundation for the apparatus, stabilizing and supporting the containment unit 10 and the deck 15 during use. In an embodiment of the invention, the base 16 is comprised of a metal box approximately 29 inches in length, 11 inches in height and 18 inches in width, as illustrated in
Inside the base 16 is a gear motor that functions to provide an agitation movement to the working table 15 and containment unit 10, as seen in
The power of the gear motor along with the length of the arm 18 provide for a highly rapid and intense agitation. As shown in
The speed of the motorized gear and hence the agitation can be controlled. In an embodiment of the invention, a solid state variable speed motor controller is used to control the speed of the motorized gear. The dial/knob 21 of the motor controller is positioned outside the front face of the base, as illustrated in
The deck 15 of the apparatus is fixedly attached to the base 16 by two steel springs 17, as illustrated in
In another embodiment of the present invention, the apparatus is used to separate a plant or herb from smaller components of the plant or herb. The containment unit 10 is assembled with the primary containment 12 fit into the secondary containment 13 and the primary and secondary containment fit into the collection base 11. The plant or herb is first placed into the primary chamber 43 of the containment unit. The containment unit is closed with the removable lid 14 and placed through the opening 61 of the deck 15. The straps of the strap assembly 65 are belted or tied together to secure the containment unit 10 onto the deck 15. The straps 67 secure the unit such that the lid 14 is prevented from opening and the containment unit 10 is tightly bound to the deck 15 during use.
After the containment unit 10 is strapped onto the deck 15, the vibrator motor 64 can be turned on to begin the sifting. Alternatively or in conjunction to the vibrating motion, the gear motor 70 is turned on to apply movement to the containment unit 10, the motion agitates the plant or herb such that their components are sifted and fall into the collection chamber. The vibrator motor 64 may utilize an external or internal power source. In an embodiment of the invention, a 60 lb vibrator motor 64 is used. In an embodiment, as shown in
In an embodiment of the invention, the containment unit 10 contains two grades of sieving, and both vibration and agitation are used to sift the plant components from the plant. Up to about 1 pound of the initial plant component is placed into the primary chamber 43. The plant is then vibrated and agitated for approximately five minutes. During the vibration and agitation, plant components fall through the primary mesh 41 into the secondary chamber 44; and from the secondary chamber 44, the plant components are further refined and sifted by moving through the secondary mesh 42 and into the collection chamber 45. After the sifting is complete, the vibration and agitation is turned off, the straps are released or loosened, and the containment unit is disassembled to retrieve the sifted plant components from the collection base 11 of the containment unit 10.
In another embodiment, dry ice is placed inside the primary chamber with the plant or herbs to enhance the yield and ease of the sifting. The dry ice facilitates the release of the refined product from the starting plant material and is initially added to the top most sifting layer along with the plant material before the containment unit is sealed. In other embodiments, sealed ice packs or gel packs are incorporated to the sifting levels to facilitate the refinement process.
According to an embodiment, an initial input of unrefined plant component is processed through an operating cycle of the device. The unrefined plant component (raw material) is placed at the top level of the containment unit 10, sealed within and securely mounted to the working table 15. The agitation step is initiated and then the vibration, operating for approximately five minutes for a cycle. The plant component is sifted vigorously through the device. An initial input of about one pound of raw material results in a yield of approximately one ounce of refined plant/herbal extract. The desired plant/herb extract is typically a very fine, crystalline product, resembling fine clay. Based on a typical operational session run constantly for two days, the resulting yield is approximately 10 pounds of refined sifted product, depending on the quality of the initial plant material.
Throughout the description and drawings, example embodiments are given with reference to specific configurations. It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms. Those of ordinary skill in the art would be able to practice such other embodiments without undue experimentation. The scope of the present invention, for the purpose of the present patent document, is not limited merely to the specific example embodiments or alternatives of the foregoing description.
