Patent Grant
10758940
The present invention relates generally to a mobile sieving apparatus and method for harvesting cannabis pollen and trichomes. More so, the present invention relates to an apparatus and method for harvesting pollen and trichomes that separates flowers, trimmings, pollen, and trichomes of a cannabis plant with sequential sieving through a stacked arrangement of graduated sieved panels arranged by graduated separation, and a harvesting panel that collects the pollen and trichomes that pass through all the sieved panels; and further carries the panels in a harvesting vehicle that is lightweight to enhance agitation and mobility.
The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon.
Typically, cannabis plants grow in a bush configuration, which often includes intertwined stems with leaves and buds. The stems of the cannabis plant do not contain the consumable portion of the cannabis plant. Therefore, when harvesting the cannabis plant, the leaves and buds are separated from the undesirable stems. Conventional manual processes for the separating step include holding the stem with one hand while simultaneously pulling off the leaves and buds with the opposite hand or cutting the buds from the stem with scissors.
Generally, cannabis plants can be harvested and processed to obtain numerous kinds of chemical compounds used in medical products. The compound tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) can be extracted from cannabis plants. In particular, THC can be obtained by refining micron-sized outgrowths on the cannabis plant called trichomes. Trichomes may vary in size (e.g., between 60 to 200 microns).
Generally, the pollen and trichomes harvested from cannabis plant is a fine to coarse powder containing the micro gametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen and trichomes grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement between the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the female cone of coniferous plants. When pollen and trichomes lands on a compatible pistil of flowering plants, it germinates and produces a pollen and trichomes tube that transfers the sperm to the ovule of a receptive ovary.
Consequently, the individual pollen and trichomes grains are small enough to require magnification to see detail. For cannabis pollen and trichomes, once the male cannabis plants begin to flower, the pollen and trichomes can be harvested. If the female plant is feminizing its seeds, the pollen and trichomes can also be harvested. For example, as soon as the pollen and trichomes sacs begin cracking on the marijuana plant as if to open, the pollen and trichomes is ready for harvesting
Other proposals have involved systems for harvesting cannabis plants. The problem with these harvesting systems is that they are not easy to manually agitate or carry to the cannabis plant or field. Also, the sieves are not stacked in a graduated arrangement, so as to optimize space in the harvesting vehicle carrying the sieve panels. Even though the above cited systems for harvesting cannabis plants meet some of the needs of the market, a mobile sieving apparatus and method for harvesting cannabis pollen and trichomes that separates flowers, trimmings, pollen, and trichomes of a cannabis plant with sequential sieving through a stacked arrangement of graduated sieved panels arranged by graduated separation, and a harvesting panel that collects the pollen and trichomes that pass through all the sieved panels; and further carries the panels in a harvesting vehicle that is lightweight to enhance agitation and mobility, is still desired.
Illustrative embodiments of the disclosure are generally directed to a mobile sieving apparatus and method for harvesting cannabis pollen and trichomes. In some embodiments, the sieving apparatus and method is configured to separate the flowers of a cannabis plant prior to trimming. The mobile sieving apparatus provides sequential sieving of the cannabis plant through a stacked, graduated arrangement of sieve panels. A large sieve panel, a medium sieve panel, a small sieve panel, and a silk screen panel are arranged by a graduated separation that accommodates the different sizes of cannabis plant portions falling through the sieve panels.
The sieved panels have different sized openings to enable passage of corresponding portions of the cannabis plant. Thus, the flowers, trimmings, leaves, pollen, and trichomes of the cannabis plant pass through a correspondingly sized hole in each sieve panel. The sieve panels are defined by a graduated separation, in which the distance between panels correlates to the size of the flower, trimming, leaf, pollen, or trichomes passing through the holes. A harvesting panel having a solid, flat surface positions below the other panels to catch the smallest pollens and trichomes that fall through the sieve openings.
In some embodiments, the panels are stacked in an elongated harvesting vehicle. The harvesting vehicle is defined by sidewalls having a series of spaced-apart docking rails that slidably receive the edges of the panels to enable efficient assemblage, replacement, and interchangeability of panels in the stacked arrangement. The harvesting vehicle is sufficiently lightweight to facilitate agitating the harvesting vehicle to create the separation on the panels. The harvesting vehicle also facilitates carrying, pulling, and pushing the harvesting vehicle while carrying the sieved panels after the cannabis plant has been cut and dried and the flowers removed from the stems.
In another aspect, the distance between the large sieve panel and the medium sieve panel is about 4″.
In another aspect, the distance between the medium sieve panel and the small sieve panel is about 4″.
In another aspect, the distance between the small sieve panel and the silk screen sieve panel is about 3″.
In another aspect, the distance between the silk screen panel and the harvesting panel is about 1″.
In another aspect, the panels have dimensions about 32⅛″ long and a 16″ wide.
In another aspect, the elongated harvesting vehicle has dimensions of about 17¼″ in height, and a width of about 32⅝″.
In another aspect, the sieved panels are fabricated from a rigid polymer.
In another aspect, the elongated harvesting vehicle is fabricated from a rigid polymer.
In another aspect, the sieve panels are fabricated from a rigid polymer, wood, and a lightweight metal, or combinations thereof.
One objective of the present invention is to sieve a cannabis plant through a graduated series of sieved panels, so as to harvest pollen and trichomes from the flowers/trimmings of the cannabis plant.
Another objective is to provide four differently sized sieve openings that separate the cannabis plant for harvesting the pollen and trichomes.
Yet another objective is to allow for easy sliding in and out of the sieve panels through docking rails, so as to enable interchangeability and easy access for repairing and replacing the sieve panels.
Yet another objective is to provide the sieve panels with edges that easily slide, or snap into the docking rails of the harvesting vehicle.
Yet another objective is to fabricate the elongated harvesting vehicle from a lightweight material, so as to facilitate manual agitation of the harvesting vehicle, and thereby separation of the cannabis plant through the sieve panels.
Yet another objective is to fabricate the elongated harvesting vehicle from a lightweight material, so as to enable an operator to drag, push, or carry the harvesting vehicle and contained panels after the cannabis plant has been cut and dried and the flowers removed from the stems, such that the harvesting vehicle is not actually carried to the actual standing cannabis plant.
Yet another objective is to fabricate the harvesting panel from a lightweight material, so as to enable facilitated collection of the pollen and trichomes.
Yet another objective is to provide an easy to operate sieving apparatus for harvesting pollen and trichomes from the cannabis flower.
Other systems, devices, methods, features, and advantages will be or become apparent to one with skill in the art upon examination of the following drawings and detailed description. It is intended that all such additional systems, methods, features, and advantages be included within this description, be within the scope of the present disclosure, and be protected by the accompanying claims and drawings.
The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings.
The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in
A mobile sieving apparatus 100 and method 700 for harvesting cannabis pollen and trichomes is referenced in
Specifically, the apparatus 100 processes the flowers from a cannabis plant with sequential filtration through a graduated, stacked arrangement of sieve panels. The sieved panels have different sized openings to enable passage of corresponding portions of the cannabis plant; whereby the flowers, trimmings, leaves, pollen, and trichomes of the cannabis plant pass through a correspondingly sized hole in each sieve panel. The sieve panels 102, 106, 110 and the silk screen panel 114 are defined by a graduated separation 122, in which the distance between panels correlates to the size of the flower, trimming, leaf, pollen, or trichomes passing through the holes.
A harvesting panel is defined by a solid, flat surface. The harvesting panel positions below the sieve panels to catch the smallest pollens and trichomes that fall through the sieve openings. A harvesting vehicle slidably receives and retains the panels in the stacked, graduated spaced-apart arrangement. The lightweight configuration of the harvesting vehicle facilitates agitating the panels for sieving, and carrying the panels to and from the cannabis plant.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that pollen and trichomes is a fine to coarse powder containing the micro gametophytes of seed plants, which produce the male gametes (sperm cells). Pollen and trichomes grains have a hard coat that protects the sperm cells during the process of their movement between the stamens to the pistil of flowering plants or from the male cone to the female cone of coniferous plants. When pollen and trichomes lands on a compatible pistil of flowering plants, it germinates and produces a pollen and trichomes tube that transfers the sperm to the ovule of a receptive ovary.
Consequently, the individual pollen and trichomes grains are small enough to require magnification to see detail. For cannabis pollen and trichomes, once the male cannabis plants begin to flower, the pollen and trichomes can be harvested. If the female plant is feminizing its seeds, the pollen and trichomes can also be harvested. For example, as soon as the pollen and trichomes sacs begin cracking on the marijuana plant as if to open, the pollen and trichomes is ready for harvesting.
As referenced in
In one embodiment shown in
The large sieve panel 102 is configured to capture the largest flowers and trimmings thereof. In one non-limiting embodiment, the large sieve openings 200 are about 1.5″ in diameter. The large sieve openings 200 may have circular shape, a rectangular shape, a square shape, or an irregular shape. In another non-limiting embodiment, the large sieve panel 102 is fabricated from a rigid polymer. Though in other embodiments, the large sieve panel 102 may be fabricated from other lightweight materials, including wood, bamboo, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, and fiberglass.
Beneath the large sieve panel 102 in the stacked arrangement is a medium sieve panel 106 defined by a pair of medium edges 108a, 108b and a plurality of medium sieve openings 300 (
In one non-limiting embodiment, the medium sieve panel 106 has dimensions of about 32⅛″ long and 16″ wide, forming a rectangular shape. The medium sieve openings 300 are about ¾″ in diameter. In some embodiments, the medium sieve openings 300 may have circular shape, a rectangular shape, a square shape, or an irregular shape. In another non-limiting embodiment, the medium sieve panel 106 is fabricated from a rigid polymer. Though in other embodiments, the medium sieve panel 106 may be fabricated from other lightweight materials, including wood, bamboo, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, and fiberglass.
Turning now to
Looking again at
As referenced in
The silk screen panel 114 is also defined by multiple micro-sized openings 500 that are substantially smaller than the small sieve openings 400 above. Those skilled in the art will recognize that pollen can be 6 micrometers in size. The silk screen panel 114 is configured to capture the smallest sized flowers and trimmings that fall through the small sieve openings 400; while also enabling passage of substantially all of the pollen and trichomes. Thus, the silk screen panel 114 is sized and dimensioned to enable at least partial passage of pollen and trichomes from the cannabis plant that is being harvested.
In one non-limiting embodiment, the silk screen panel 114 has dimensions of about 32⅛″ long and 16″ wide. The micro-sized openings 500 are substantially smaller than ⅓″ in diameter. The silk screen sieve openings may have circular shape, a rectangular shape, a square shape, or an irregular shape. In another non-limiting embodiment, the silk screen panel 114 is fabricated from a rigid polymer. Though in other embodiments, the silk screen panel 114 may be fabricated from other lightweight materials, including wood, bamboo, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, and fiberglass.
The distance between the silk screen panel 114 and the small sieve panel 110 is about 3″. As discussed above, the sieve panels 102, 106, 110 and the silk screen panel 114 are defined by a graduated separation 122, in which the distance between panels 102, 106, 110, 114 correlate to the size of the flower, trimming, leaf, pollen, or trichomes passing through the holes. The graduated separation 122 creates more space between panels 102, 106 that enable passage of larger components of the cannabis plant, i.e., leaf, trimmings; while reducing space between panels 110, 114 that allow for smaller components, i.e., pollen, trichomes. This creates more efficient spacing inside the harvesting vehicle 124, so as to minimize size and weight.
Turning now to
In one non-limiting embodiment, the harvesting panel 118 is fabricated from a rigid polymer. Though in other embodiments, the harvesting panel 118 may be fabricated from other lightweight materials, including wood, bamboo, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, aluminum, and fiberglass.
In one possible embodiment, the panels 102, 106, 110, 114 are arrangeable in a stacked configuration with the large sieve panel 102 at the top end 130a of the harvesting vehicle 124. The medium sieve panel 106 is fixedly attached about 4″ below the large sieve panel 102. The small sieve panel 110 is fixedly attached about 4″ below the medium sieve panel 106. The silk screen panel 114 is fixedly attached about 3″ below the small sieve panel 110. The harvesting panel 118 is fixedly attached about 1″ below the silk screen panel 114. Each sieve opening is larger than the one below it, with the harvesting panel 118 having no openings, so as to capture the fine pollen and trichomes granules.
In another embodiment, the panels 102, 106, 110, 114 are detachably attached at their edges 104a-b, 108a-b, 112a-b, 116a-b, 120a-b to the harvesting vehicle 124, so that any one panel can be removed/added/replaced in the stacked arrangement. This creates greater flexibility in selecting the size and position of sieve openings in the stacked arrangement. For example, the small sieve panel 110 can be removed, so that the silk screen panel 118 receives pollens and plant residue directly sieved through the medium sieve panel 106.
The detachable attachment to the harvesting vehicle 124 is through at least one panel fastener 136a-e, disposed between the edges of the panels. A first panel fastener 136a detachably couples the large sieve panel 102 at one or more edges 104a-b to the harvesting vehicle 124. A second panel fastener 136b detachably couples the medium sieve panel 106 at one or more edges 108a-b to the harvesting vehicle 124. A third panel fastener 136c detachably couples the small sieve panel 110 at one or more edges 112a-b to the harvesting vehicle 124.
Continuing, a fourth panel fastener 136d detachably couples the silk screen panel 114 at one or more edges 116a-b to the harvesting vehicle 124. A fifth panel fastener 136e detachably couples harvesting panel 118 at one or more edges 120a-b to the harvesting vehicle 124. The panel fastener 136a-e may include, without limitation, a block fastener, a clasp fastener, a panel lock, a bolt, a draw bolt locking mechanism, a magnet, a screw, and a friction-fit mechanism.
In some embodiments, gravity and an agitating force applied to the harvesting vehicle and panels carries the flowers, trimmings, and pollen and trichomes through the various sieve panels 102, 106, 110, and 114. In other embodiments, a shaking motion or other form of agitation may be used to help break up the trimmings and flowers into smaller pieces, and force the flowers through the sieve openings. In yet other embodiments, a motor, or simple manual force by the hands may be used to create the shaking motion for agitating and breaking up the flowers and trimmings. In any case, the lightweight configuration of the panels 102, 106, 110, 114, 118 and the harvesting vehicle 124 facilitate the agitating motion necessary to sieve the cannabis plant.
Looking back at
The harvesting vehicle 124 has a top end 130a and a bottom end 130b, with the top end 130a oriented above the bottom end 130b when the harvesting vehicle 124 is erected for operation. In one non-limiting embodiment, the elongated harvesting vehicle 124 is about 17¼″ in height, 32⅛″ in length, and 16″ in width. Though other sizes and shapes for the harvesting vehicle 124 may be used.
In some embodiments, a series of spaced-apart docking rails 128a-e are disposed longitudinally along the sidewalls 126 of the harvesting vehicle 124. The docking rails 128a-e are spaced longitudinally along the inner side of the sidewalls 126 to retain the panels 102, 106, 110, 114, 118 in a graduated, stacked arrangement. The stacked arrangement of panels, as described above, may include the large sieve panel 102 being at the top end 130a of a harvesting vehicle 124, and the harvesting panel 118 being at a bottom end 130 of the harvesting vehicle 124. The inner volume of the harvesting vehicle 124 is sized to receive the panels 102, 106, 110, 114, 118 in the stacked arrangement, and also allow for easy viewing and removal of panels from inside the harvesting vehicle 124.
In some embodiments, the edges 104a-b, 108a-b, 112a-b, 116a-b, 120a-b of the panels 102, 106, 110, 114, 118, and the docking rails 128a-e in the harvesting vehicle 124 may engage through a sliding relationship in which the edges, include wheels or corresponding rails that slide or roll along the docking rails 128a-e. In other embodiments, the edges of the panels and the docking rails 128a-e may engage through a snap-fit relationship in which the rails and edges are friction fit to attach and detach. In either case, the panels 102, 106, 110, 114, 118 to a respective dock rail, so as to quickly and easily attach and detach without the use of tools, external fasteners, or specialized skill sets.
Thus, the relationship between the docking rails 128a-e and the edges 104a-b, 108a-b, 112a-b, 120a-b, enables efficient assemblage of panels into the stacked arrangement, and interchangeability of panels. This allows for quick changing of sieve panels, for example to increase or decrease the sieve opening diameter. This also allows the harvesting panel 118 to be removed when full and replaced with an empty harvesting panel 118.
In one embodiment, a top docking rail 128a slidably engages the pair of large edges 104a, 104b of the large sieve panel 102. The top docking rail 128a is proximal to the top end of the harvesting vehicle. 124 The next lower docking rails 128b slidably engage the pair of medium edges 108a, 108b of the medium sieve panel 106. The next lower docking rails 128c slidably engage the pair of small edges 112a, 112b of the small sieve panel 110.
Continuing with the slidable relationships, the next lower docking rails 128d slidably engage the pair of screen edges 116a, 116b of the silk screen panel 114. The lowest docking rails 128e slidably engage the pair of harvesting edges 120a, 120b of the harvesting panel 118. The harvesting panel 118 also rests on the base 132 of the harvesting vehicle 124. The harvesting panel 118 is proximal to the bottom end 130b of the harvesting vehicle 124.
In one embodiment, the elongated harvesting vehicle 124 is fabricated from a rigid polymer that is lightweight. The lightweight material configuration of the elongated harvesting vehicle 124 enables facilitated mobility of the panels after the cannabis plant has been cut and dried and the flowers removed from the stems. Thus, the harvesting vehicle 124 is not actually carried to the actual standing cannabis plant.
In some embodiments, the harvesting vehicle 124 may include a handle 134 or cable/rope for pulling and carrying the harvesting vehicle 124 and internal panels. The handle 134 and lightweight configuration of the harvesting vehicle 124 allows the panels to be carried to a field/greenhouse of cannabis plants for harvesting of the pollen and trichomes.
The method 700 may further comprise a Step 704 of slidably urging a large sieve panel along a top docking rail, the large sieve panel defined by multiple large sieve openings having a diameter of about 1½″. A Step 706 includes slidably urging a medium sieve panel along a docking rail below the large sieve panel, the medium sieve panel defined by multiple medium sieve openings having a diameter of about ¾″.
In some embodiments, a Step 708 comprises slidably urging a small sieve panel along the docking rail below the medium sieve panel, the small sieve panel defined by multiple small sieve openings having a diameter of about ⅓″. A Step 710 includes slidably urging a silk screen panel along a bottom docking rail, the silk screen panel defined by multiple micro-sized sieve openings having a diameter substantially smaller than ⅓″.
In some embodiments, a Step 712 may include slidably urging a flat, solid harvesting panel along the base of the harvesting vehicle, the harvesting panel disposed below the silk screen panel. A Step 714 comprises carrying, inside the harvesting vehicle, the panels to a cannabis plant, the cannabis plant comprising flowers, trimmings, pollen, and trichomes, whereby the lightweight material of the harvesting vehicle facilitates mobility of the harvesting vehicle.
In some embodiments, the method 700 may further include a Step 716 of placing at least a portion of the cannabis plant on the large sieve panel. A Step 718 includes applying an agitating force to the harvesting vehicle, whereby the lightweight material of the harvesting vehicle facilitates agitating the harvesting vehicle. The agitating force can be manual, or through automated mechanical means known in the art of sieving.
The method 700 also includes a Step 720 of separating, as a result of the agitating force, the flowers, the trimmings, the pollen, and the trichomes through the sieve openings of the panels, whereby a substantial amount of the pollen and the trichomes fall through the sieve openings to the harvest panel. Another Step 722 includes slidably urging the harvesting panel outside of the harvesting vehicle. A Step 724 may include collecting the pollen and the trichomes from the harvesting panel. The harvesting panel 118 can be slid out of the docking rail 128e and the base 132 to enable access to the pollen and trichomes. A final Step 726 comprises collecting the flowers and trimmings from the large panel, the medium panel, the small panel, and the silk screen panel.
Although the process-flow diagrams show a specific order of executing the process steps, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more blocks shown in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted from the process-flow diagrams for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all the process steps shown in the process-flow diagrams can be combined into a single process.
Although the process-flow diagrams show a specific order of executing the process steps, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more blocks shown in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted from the process-flow diagrams for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all the process steps shown in the process-flow diagrams can be combined into a single process
These and other advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings.
Because many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalence.
This application claims the benefits of U.S. provisional application No. 62/637,140, filed Mar. 1, 2018 and entitled MOBILE CANNABIS POLLEN AND TRICHOMES RECOVERY APPARATUS AND METHOD OF HARVESTING POLLEN AND TRICHOMES, which provisional application is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 786019 | Flesher | Mar 1905 | A |
| 1141727 | Seaman | Jun 1915 | A |
| 1430636 | Forgeson | Oct 1922 | A |
| 2075097 | Dawes et al. | Mar 1937 | A |
| 3386580 | Grabarczyk | Jun 1968 | A |
| 3800943 | Riesbeck et al. | Apr 1974 | A |
| 4199442 | Popow | Apr 1980 | A |
| 4233151 | Gundlach | Nov 1980 | A |
| 4289241 | Litrap | Sep 1981 | A |
| 4307808 | Johnson | Dec 1981 | A |
| 4371436 | Farber | Feb 1983 | A |
| 4381669 | Peters | May 1983 | A |
| 4848607 | Halley | Jul 1989 | A |
| 5222605 | Pogue | Jun 1993 | A |
| 5242058 | Jones | Sep 1993 | A |
| 5368169 | Ensor | Nov 1994 | A |
| 5423430 | Zaffiro | Jun 1995 | A |
| 5733592 | Wettstein et al. | Mar 1998 | A |
| 6220448 | Bakula et al. | Apr 2001 | B1 |
| 6267310 | Cappola | Jul 2001 | B1 |
| 6371305 | Austin et al. | Apr 2002 | B1 |
| 6925857 | Weber et al. | Aug 2005 | B2 |
| 7987990 | Srivatsan | Aug 2011 | B2 |
| 8113355 | Peterson | Feb 2012 | B1 |
| 8640877 | Pastorius | Feb 2014 | B1 |
| 8646614 | Peterson | Feb 2014 | B2 |
| 9095881 | Rieck | Aug 2015 | B2 |
| 9205458 | Gandhi et al. | Dec 2015 | B2 |
| 20130213862 | Peterson | Aug 2013 | A1 |
| 20160108555 | Rosado | Apr 2016 | A1 |
| 20160158803 | Rosado | Jun 2016 | A1 |
| 20190255570 | Koerner | Aug 2019 | A1 |
| Number | Date | Country |
|---|---|---|
| 201341343 | Nov 2009 | CN |
| 2231401 | Jun 2004 | RU |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62637140 | Mar 2018 | US |
