Device for drying plant components, in particular cannabis flowers, in a living space or in a business premises

Abstract

A device (1; 1a) for drying plant components, in particular cannabis flowers, in a living space (2; 2a) or in a business space, comprising a container (3; 3a) for receiving plant components to be dried, through which room air (15; 15a) from the living space (2; 2a) or the business space can flow, characterized in that the receiving container (3; 3a) has a receiving container inlet opening (8) through which room air (15; 15a) of the living space (2; 2a) or business space can flow into the receiving container (3; 3a), and a receiving container outlet opening (24) through which air from the receiving container (3; 3a) can flow out into the living space (2; 2a) or business space.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for drying plant components, in particular cannabis flowers, in a living space or in a business premises, which device comprises a container for receiving plant components to be dried, through which room air from the living space or the business premises can flow.

[0002] The receptacle can, for example, be designed like a drying cabinet. A residential or commercial space is a space in which people stay for a specific period of time, primarily for private purposes, as residents or, for example, as customers of a shop.

[0003] Heated drying devices are known from US 2015 / 0096189 A1, CN 217275396 U, CN 213040937 U, CN 214620350 U, US 2018 / 0320968 A1, CN 216308400 U, and CN 215724688 U. All of these drying devices are intended for industrial drying in a heated drying chamber, in which a specific drying atmosphere must be established. Drying plant components in small quantities for personal use within a residential or commercial space is not described in any of these publications.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of creating a device which can be used inconspicuously in residential or commercial premises with regard to odor perception.

[0005] Furthermore, a process is described by which plant components, in particular cannabis flowers, can be dried without loss of fragrances or aromas relevant for further use.

[0006] The invention is also based on the object of creating a device by means of which a contamination-free drying of plant components, in particular cannabis flowers, is possible.

[0007] According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the receptacle has a receptacle inlet opening through which room air of the living space or business space can flow into the receptacle, and a receptacle outlet opening through which air can flow out of the receptacle into the living space or business space.

[0008] The inventor has recognized that plant components, especially cannabis flowers, can be dried particularly well and without loss of aromas and fragrances under ambient air conditions prevailing in a residential or commercial space, i.e. temperatures of around 22°C and a humidity of between 40% and 55%.

[0009] Because room air can flow through the receiving container, the conditions in the receiving container, i.e. in a drying chamber, are those with regard to humidity and temperature which prevail in the living space or business space in which a drying device according to the invention is used as intended.

[0010] The receiving container inlet opening and the receiving container outlet opening ensure a continuous exchange of air with the living space or the business space in which a drying device according to the invention is operated.

[0011] The receiving container expediently has a first filter which filters room air flowing into the receiving container through the receiving container inlet opening, wherein the first filter is preferably designed as a fine filter for removing pollutants, in particular dust, from the room air.

[0012] Pollutants are those substances in the air that impair the quality of a dried plant component. These can include dust and animal hair.

[0013] A first filter stage, formed by the first filter, removes dust, for example, from the room air flowing into the receiving container. This advantageously creates a dust-free and germ-reduced atmosphere in the receiving container, enabling clean drying of plant components.

[0014] This is particularly relevant when drying resin-excreting plant components, such as cannabis flowers, since dust or other airborne particles can easily adhere to resin excretions. Filtering the incoming room air into the receiving container advantageously ensures that dried plant components of high quality are produced. Furthermore, subsequent cleaning of such dried plant components is no longer necessary.

[0015] In one embodiment of the invention, the receiving container has a second filter which filters air containing fragrances and / or aromas, wherein the second filter is preferably designed as an activated carbon filter.

[0016] Advantageously, no fragrances and / or aromas are released into the environment during drying. This is particularly relevant for plant components whose characteristic fragrances and aromas can be perceived as an unpleasant odor.

[0017] In particular, an activated carbon filter ensures that no unpleasant odors typical of cannabis are released into the living space or business premises when drying cannabis flowers. Advantageously, a device according to the invention can be operated discreetly and without any unpleasant odors in any living space of a house or business premises.

[0018] It is conceivable that the first and / or the second filter is / are designed in multiple stages, i.e. comprises / comprising several filter stages, each of which is designed to filter a specific substance.

[0019] Preferably, the second filter is arranged in the region of a receiving container outlet opening.

[0020] In one embodiment of the invention, the two filters are each individually replaceable. A holding device such as a filter housing can be provided into which the filters can be inserted. Using a replaceable filter allows for short downtimes. Even a quick replacement during a drying process is conceivable.

[0021] In a further embodiment of the invention, the two filters are arranged on opposite sides of the receiving container, wherein the first filter is preferably arranged on a bottom of the receiving container, and / or the second filter is preferably arranged on a ceiling of the receiving container, or vice versa.

[0022] Through such a filter arrangement, the fluid can flow through the receiving container from bottom to top or top to bottom, i.e., against or in the direction of gravity. A clear flow direction, either in the direction of gravity or against, advantageously ensures that uniform and constant conditions prevail throughout the receiving container, particularly with regard to temperature and humidity.

[0023] The receiving container expediently has a hollow ceiling into which the second filter is inserted.

[0024] Advantageously, an additional cavity is created so that the second filter is particularly easily accessible, for example, for its replacement. The cavity ceiling can have a door through which the second filter can be removed or inserted.

[0025] It is understood that the device, in particular the receiving container, may also comprise a cavity floor for receiving a filter instead of or in addition to a cavity ceiling.

[0026] In one embodiment of the invention, the receiving container outlet opening is introduced into the cavity ceiling.

[0027] Preferably, the cavity ceiling has a plurality of cavity ceiling outlet openings which are incorporated into two opposite side walls and into a rear wall.

[0028] If the device has a second filter for removing fragrances and / or aromas from the air of the receiving container, which filter is installed in the cavity ceiling, air containing fragrances and / or aromas can flow through the second filter upon entering the cavity ceiling and out through the receiving container outlet opening. The cavity ceiling advantageously creates an additional space from which the second filter can be easily removed for quick replacement.

[0029] The cavity ceiling expediently comprises a cavity ceiling outlet opening through which air purified from aromatic substances and / or fragrances can flow out into the living space or business space in which the drying device is located when used as intended, wherein the cavity ceiling outlet opening is preferably incorporated in a side wall.

[0030] Air purified by the second filter can preferably exit from the side. The inventor has discovered that a side air outlet creates a particularly unobtrusive drying device.

[0031] In a further embodiment of the invention, the cavity ceiling outlet opening is covered by a third filter, wherein the third filter is preferably an activated carbon filter. The third filter can be a stationary filter that acts like a cladding element and is not recognizable as a filter. The third filter can be arranged in the cavity ceiling, on the outside of the cavity ceiling, or in the cavity ceiling outlet opening flush with an outer side of the cavity ceiling. Advantageously, a third effective and unobtrusive filter stage is created.

[0032] In one embodiment of the invention, the receptacle has a ventilation device, which is preferably incorporated into a hollow ceiling of the receptacle and is designed such that room air is sucked into the receptacle through the receptacle inlet opening, and air purified of aromatic substances and / or fragrances flows out of the receptacle through the receptacle outlet opening. The ventilation device can comprise one or more fan wheels, through which, or through whose rotation, room air from the living space or business premises in which a drying device according to the invention is intended to be used is sucked in, and flows through the receptacle to dry the plant components to be dried, before leaving the receptacle again through the receptacle outlet opening.

[0033] The ventilation system advantageously ensures that the flow direction is consistent and fixed, and that the receiving container has an atmosphere that corresponds to the atmosphere of the living space or business premises in which the drying device is installed. A defined flow direction is necessary, for example, if no fragrances and / or aromas are to escape from the receiving container, but rather if the air is to flow through the filters in the required sequence that is beneficial for drying and air purification.

[0034] The receptacle advantageously has a preferably lockable door which can be closed airtight.

[0035] The container is easy to load with the components to be dried. The airtight door prevents air from escaping from the inside of the container without passing through the filters.

[0036] If the door can be locked, it is advantageous to protect against unauthorized access to the plant parts to be dried.

[0037] In one embodiment of the invention, the receiving container comprises several levels arranged one above the other for drying plant components, each drying level being designed to allow flow through.

[0038] Such a level can, for example, comprise a perforated plate or a grid. Plant parts placed on it can be advantageously circulated for optimal drying. Overall, the multiple drying levels create a particularly efficient and compact drying device.

[0039] Advantageously, the device is not heatable, and in particular the receiving container is not heatable.

[0040] Advantageously, a drying device is created that allows for high-quality dried plant components without temperature adjustment. Heating, especially of the receiving container, is not required.

[0041] In one embodiment of the invention, the device has a lighting device which is designed such that a lighting means is switched on when a door of the receiving container is opened and preferably the lighting means is switched off when the door is closed.

[0042] Advantageously, a device is provided in which an interior is automatically illuminated when the door is opened and preferably darkened again when the door is closed. This enables easy loading and unloading of the device.

[0043] A method for drying plant components, in particular cannabis flowers, in a living space or in a business premises, in which room air from the living space or the business premises flows through a container for receiving plant components to be dried, is characterized in that the room air flows into the receiving container through a receiving container inlet opening and air flows back from the receiving container into the living space or business premises through a receiving container outlet opening.

[0044] When the air flows through the receiving container, the plant components to be dried are effectively dried with room air, which provides the atmosphere required for gentle drying that preserves the aromas and fragrances, particularly in terms of temperature and humidity.

[0045] Pollutants, especially dust, are filtered out of the room air as it enters the receiving container, and fragrances and aromas from plant components to be dried are filtered out before they exit the receiving container.

[0046] The inventor recognized that, especially when drying cannabis flowers, dust must be filtered out of the room air used.

[0047] For example, to avoid the release of fragrances and aromas typical of cannabis into a residential or commercial space in which the drying device is used, further filtration is required to remove characteristic aromas and / or fragrances from the air.

[0048] A ventilation system creates an atmosphere that corresponds to the atmosphere of the room air in the living space or business premises.

[0049] The inventor has found that a device and a method according to the invention do not require a specially adjusted atmosphere within the receiving container, but that drying under room conditions is sufficient to create a high-quality dried product, in particular when it comes to cannabis flowers.

[0050] The plant components to be dried are arranged horizontally on a drying level or suspended next to each other within the receiving container. This method is advantageously suitable for drying different plant components.

[0051] Hanging drying can, for example, be carried out on clamps arranged in a drying level that grip the plant components to be dried.

[0052] The clamps can be attached to a rod in the manner of coat hangers, i.e. they can be moved.

[0053] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and the accompanying drawings relating to the exemplary embodiments. They show: Fig. 1 an embodiment of a drying device according to the invention, Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment of a drying device according to the invention.

[0054] One in Fig. 1a in a perspective front view and in Fig. The device 1 for drying cannabis flowers in a living space 2 or in a business space, shown in a partially sectioned perspective view in Figure 1b, comprises a cabinet-like receptacle 3 with a lockable door 4 which can be closed airtight.

[0055] Inside 5 of the receiving container 3 there are grids arranged one above the other, each forming a drying level 6, on which cannabis flowers or other plant components to be dried can be placed, and from which Fig. 1b, for reasons of clarity, only a single grating 6 is shown.

[0056] In a bottom 7 of the receiving container 3 there are several matrix-like arranged in Fig. 1b, through which room air 15 can flow into the interior 5 of the receptacle 3.

[0057] A cavity ceiling 9 of the receiving container 3 comprises several cavity ceiling inlet openings 11 on a side 10 facing the gratings 6.

[0058] The receptacle 3 contains air 12 containing fragrances and / or aromas.

[0059] The receiving container 3 further comprises a first, plate-shaped filter 13 which is inserted into a perforated filter housing 14 which is attached to the bottom 7 of the receiving container 3 and which is provided as a fine filter for removing dust from room air 15 which flows in the direction of an arrow 16 into the interior 5 of the receiving container 3 through the receiving container inlet openings 8.

[0060] In order to allow a particularly high amount of room air to enter the interior 5 of the receptacle 3, the receptacle has feet 17 which ensure a sufficiently large distance between the receptacle inlet openings 8 and a surface on which the receptacle 3 stands.

[0061] In the receiving container 3, the room air 15 sucked into the receiving container 3 flows through the individual gratings in the direction of an arrow 18, whereby the air 12 in the receiving container is created by mixing room air 15 with, in particular, fragrances and / or aromatic substances from drying plant components.

[0062] By means of a ventilation device 19, which has a fan wheel 20, the air 12 containing fragrances and / or aromas is sucked through a second plate-shaped filter 21, which is designed as an activated carbon filter, into the cavity ceiling 9 and is thereby cleaned by the filter 21, i.e. the fragrances and / or aromas are removed from the air 12.

[0063] A radius of the fan wheel 20 corresponds to an edge length of the second plate-shaped filter 21, which is rectangular.

[0064] The ventilation device 19 and the activated carbon filter 21 are arranged within the cavity ceiling 9. The speed of the fan wheel 20 can be manually adjusted using a rotary control 22.

[0065] The air 12 containing fragrances and / or aromas can flow through the cavity ceiling inlet openings 11 in the direction of the activated carbon filter 21.

[0066] Cavity ceiling outlet openings 24 are introduced into a side wall 23, which are covered by a third activated carbon filter 25, which is attached to the inside 26 of the cavity ceiling 9, and through which air purified from fragrances and / or aromas can escape from the receiving container 3.

[0067] Replacing the activated carbon filter 21 is possible in that a base plate of the cavity ceiling 9, which is not provided with a reference number and into which the cavity ceiling inlet openings 11 are also introduced, is designed to be removable and, in order to remove the activated carbon filter 21, is moved into the interior 5 of the receiving container 3 and removed through the door 4.

[0068] It will now Fig. 2, where identical or equivalent parts are identified by the same reference number as in Fig. 1 and the relevant reference number is preceded by the letter a.

[0069] One in Fig. 2 in a perspective front view, the drying device 1a differs from the one shown in Fig.1a, b in that a drying plane 6a is formed by several rods, to which clamps 27 are attached by a cord 28. Plant components to be dried can be releasably attached to the clamps 27 for hanging drying. QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] US 2015 / 0096189 A1

[0003] CN 217275396 U

[0003] CN 213040937 U

[0003] CN 214620350 U

[0003] US 2018 / 0320968 A1

[0003] CN 216308400

[0003] CN 215724688 U

[0003]

Claims

[1] Device (1; 1a) for drying plant components, in particular cannabis flowers, in a living space (2; 2a) or in a business space, comprising a container (3; 3a) for receiving plant components to be dried, through which room air (15; 15a) from the living space (2; 2a) or the business space can flow, characterized by that the receiving container (3; 3a) has a receiving container inlet opening (8) through which room air (15; 15a) of the living space (2; 2a) or business space can flow into the receiving container (3; 3a), and a receiving container outlet opening (24) through which air can flow out of the receiving container (3; 3a) into the living space (2; 2a) or business space. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized bythat the receiving container (3; 3a) has a first filter (13) which filters room air (15; 15a) flowing into the receiving container (3; 3a) through the receiving container inlet opening (8), wherein the first filter (13) is preferably designed as a fine filter for removing pollutants, in particular dust, from the room air (15; 15a). [3] Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the receiving container (3; 3a) has a second filter (21) which filters air (12; 12a) containing fragrances and / or aromas, wherein the second filter (21) is preferably designed as an activated carbon filter. [4] Device according to claim 3, characterized by that the two filters (13, 21) can each be replaced individually. [5] Device according to claim 3 or 4, characterized bythat the two filters (13, 21) are arranged on opposite sides of the receiving container, wherein the first filter (13) is preferably arranged on a bottom (7) of the receiving container (3; 3a) and / or the second filter (21) is preferably arranged on a ceiling of the receiving container, or vice versa. [6] Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the receiving container (3; 3a) has a hollow ceiling (9; 9a) into which the second filter (21) is inserted. [7] Device according to claim 6, characterized by that the receiving container outlet opening (24) is introduced into the cavity ceiling (9; 9a). [8] Device according to claim 6 or 7, characterized bythat the hollow space ceiling (9; 9a) comprises a hollow space ceiling outlet opening (24) through which air purified from aromatic substances and / or fragrances can flow out into the living space (2; 2a) or the business space in which the drying device (1; 1a) is located when used as intended, wherein the hollow space ceiling outlet opening (24) is preferably incorporated in a side wall (23). [9] Device according to claim 8, characterized by that the cavity ceiling outlet opening (24) is covered by a third filter (25), wherein the third filter (25) is preferably an activated carbon filter. [10] Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized bythat the receiving container (3; 3a) has a ventilation device (19) which is preferably introduced into a hollow ceiling (9; 9a) of the receiving container (3; 3a) and which is designed such that room air (15; 15a) is sucked into the receiving container (3; 3a) through the receiving container inlet opening (8) and air purified from aromatic substances and / or fragrances flows out of the receiving container (3; 3a) through the receiving container outlet opening (24). [11] Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the receiving container (3; 3a) has a preferably lockable door (4; 4a) which can be closed airtight. [12] Device according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized by that the receiving container (3; 3a) comprises several levels (6; 6a) arranged one above the other for drying plant components, each drying level (6; 6a) being designed so that it can be flowed through. [13] Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized by that the device (1; 1a) is not heatable, wherein in particular the receiving container (3; 3a) is not heatable. [14] Device according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized by that the device (1; 1a) has a lighting device which is designed such that when a door (4; 4a) of the receiving container (3; 3a) is opened, a lighting means is switched on, and preferably when the door (4; 4a) is closed, the lighting means is switched off.

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