Apparatus for drying plant tissues

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (10) for drying plant tissue, comprising a housing (12) with a receiving chamber (14) for storing a chemical or physical desiccant (40), and an air outlet opening (16). The air outlet opening (16) connects an interior space of the receiving chamber (14) with an external environment (18). The device (10) includes a humidity sensor (20) for detecting the humidity of the external environment (18) of the device (10), as well as a ventilation device (30) with an airflow generating element (32). The device (10) also has at least one air inlet opening (34) arranged on the ventilation device (30) such that an airflow passage is formed in the housing (12) from the air inlet opening (34) to the airflow generating element (32) for guiding air from the external environment (18) into the receiving chamber (14).The invention also relates to an arrangement (52) with a device (10) and a lockable drying chamber (54), and a method for controlling a drying process for drying plant tissue by means of a control device (44), as well as a control device.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for drying plant tissue, i.e. a drying device for drying plant tissue.

[0002] For drying plant tissue for use as food, consumer goods, or medicinal products, it is desirable to preserve the plant tissue by removing moisture while maintaining the quality of the plant material. Dried plant material has a long shelf life and is therefore lightweight and easy to store.

[0003] Plant material can be dried on a large scale, for example in a basement. However, a disadvantage is that such rooms are often damp and subject to strong temperature fluctuations. Common problems with drying in basements therefore include mold and insufficient or uneven drying.

[0004] For more efficient drying of plant material, desiccators can be used as an alternative. These are usually thick-walled glass or plastic containers that can be sealed airtight with a ground glass lid. The plant material to be dried is removed from the air, and thus from the plants inside the desiccator, by a desiccant. Desiccators are generally used in laboratories and limit the amount of plant material that can be dried in one cycle to the volume of the device. Such containers are typically only suitable for tissue samples and are unsuitable for drying plant material on a larger scale.

[0005] However, the requirements vary depending on the plant material and intended use.

[0006] While a small vessel volume is sufficient for drying tissue samples in laboratory use, desiccators are unsuitable for drying plant material on a large scale.

[0007] For drying plant material on a larger scale, climate-controlled chambers with fresh air are frequently used in the prior art. During the drying process, the weight or residual moisture of the plant material is measured at random to determine when the drying process is complete. Weighing the plant material is done by a person opening and entering the climate-controlled chamber, removing plant material from the chamber, and weighing it elsewhere. Such a climate-controlled chamber therefore does not constitute a closed system. The person taking the samples must wear protective clothing to reduce contamination of the plant material with spores and germs. The fresh air entering the chamber repeatedly raises the humidity inside, leading to uneven drying.Condensation dryers used for drying generate waste heat, necessitating complex cooling systems to prevent the loss of secondary plant compounds at excessively high ambient temperatures. Particularly with consumer goods, such as tea and tobacco, and when drying plants used for medicinal purposes, such as cannabis, lavender, and eucalyptus, it is desirable to avoid high temperatures during the drying process to prevent the loss of aromatic compounds and medicinally active plant substances.

[0008] WO 2019 / 1523971 describes a system for controlling the conditions of a ripening room, also known as a conditioned room, for products, in which independent feedback loops control the humidity and drying temperature and the dew point, while controlling the difference between the vapor pressure in the room and the vapor pressure of the products to be dried.

[0009] US 2022 / 0011047 A1 describes methods and equipment for drying, especially of cannabis.

[0010] Systems and methods for drying plant material using molecular sieves are known from US 2023 / 320277 A1.

[0011] Further disadvantages of drying plant material, especially on a large scale, include the susceptibility of the plant material to mold, over-drying and odor nuisance, as well as the degradation of other secondary substances during curing.

[0012] One of the problems underlying the invention is the improvement of the quality of plant tissue. This problem is solved by the devices and the method of the dependent claims. Advantageous embodiments are given by the sub-claims.

[0013] The device according to the invention for drying plant tissue comprises a housing with a receiving chamber for storing a chemical or physical desiccant and an air outlet, the air outlet connecting an interior of the receiving chamber to an external environment of the device. In a simple embodiment, the entire interior of the housing can form the receiving chamber. The air outlet can, for example, be a hole in the inner wall of the housing. Air exchange occurs through this air outlet between the receiving chamber and the external environment of the device. If a chemical or physical desiccant is stored in the receiving chamber for the drying process, it is therefore not necessary for the plant material to also be located within the receiving chamber, since the desiccant stored inside also extracts moisture from the external air through the air exchange.

[0014] The device also includes a humidity sensor for detecting the humidity in the device's external environment. A humidity sensor is defined as a device or device component designed and configured to measure humidity directly or indirectly. Ideally, the humidity sensor is designed as a humidity sensor, i.e., a sensor for determining the water content of the air. The humidity sensor can be located, for example, in the receiving chamber or on the outside of the housing.

[0015] The device also includes a ventilation unit with an airflow-generating element, wherein at least the airflow-generating element is arranged in the receiving chamber such that it faces into the interior of the receiving chamber. A ventilation unit is understood to be a device or device component designed to generate an airflow and / or air pressure. The airflow or air pressure can be generated, for example, by drawing in air or by building up pressure using pumps. The ventilation unit may optionally also include combinations of several such ventilation techniques. The airflow-generating element is accordingly defined as the device component that generates the flow and / or air pressure and may, for example, be an air pump, compressor, fan, or a combination of two or more of these.When designed as a fan, it can, for example, be arranged in a suction configuration, so that air from the outside environment is drawn or blown into the receiving chamber, and / or so that air is blown out of the drying chamber, i.e., out through the air outlet opening.

[0016] The device also has at least one air inlet opening of the housing arranged on the ventilation device in such a way that an airflow passage is formed in the housing from the air inlet opening to the airflow generating element, through which air from the outside environment is led into the interior of the receiving chamber during operation of the ventilation device.

[0017] Plant tissue is understood to mean plant tissue or cell tissue as an accumulation of differentiated cells including their extracellular matrix, in particular foliage, plant parts and whole plants.

[0018] By drawing in outside air, an exchange of humid outside air occurs within the chamber. The chamber is designed to hold a desiccant, which then dehumidifies the incoming air. A further air exchange takes place through the outlet, releasing the dried air from the chamber back into the outside. This allows plant tissue to be stored outside the device and dried by the dry air released into the surrounding environment. Unlike a desiccator, the chamber's capacity does not limit the volume of plant tissue that can be dried, as it can be hung in a basement or tent, for example.The device for drying plant tissue can then be placed, for example, in a cellar or under a tent for the drying process. The space savings offered by the device are particularly noticeable when drying foliage, plant parts, or entire plants. In other words, it is advantageous that not only small tissue samples can be dried, but also entire plants or plant parts, and even large quantities of whole plants or plant parts. Temperature fluctuations are reduced, and the need for elaborate cooling systems is eliminated.

[0019] The device according to the invention reduces the drying time after harvesting plant material by up to 90%, is very easy to use and suitable even for beginners, and can be used in any environment without a large amount of equipment. The device enables uniform or nearly uniform drying of plant material. The other problems mentioned above are significantly reduced or even eliminated. In particular, the plant material is protected from pathogen infestation, especially mold, and from over-drying. There is little to no odor, and curing of the dried plant material is no longer necessary.

[0020] The device according to the invention also does not require a condensation dryer, which would need to be cooled to maintain the quality of the plant material. The device thus allows the plant tissue to be dried without cooling, so that secondary plant compounds remain in the plant material and do not escape at excessively high room temperatures.

[0021] The inventive arrangement for drying plant tissue comprises an embodiment of the device according to the invention and a closable, preferably airtight, drying chamber. The device is then arranged within the drying chamber in an operating position for carrying out the drying process. The drying chamber can preferably be designed as a cabinet, chamber, bag, or tent.

[0022] In such a system, airflow is minimal. Depending on the intended use, a desired residual moisture content can be set. Unlike a laboratory desiccator, where drying is achieved to below 8% residual moisture, plant material can be dried to a higher residual moisture content, allowing, for example, plant resin to remain in the trichomes. Because the plant material is not over-dried, the dried material has good storage properties, meaning it is less susceptible to mold or other pathogens, while simultaneously exhibiting good combustibility, which is important, for example, for producing high-quality tobacco.

[0023] Furthermore, by using a closed system, no fresh air and therefore no additional oxygen is supplied, which further increases the quality of the dried plant material.

[0024] The device according to the invention can optionally include a force-measuring device, i.e., a device or device component for measuring a force of weight. Preferably, the force-measuring device can be designed as a scale, for example, a spring scale, beam balance, laboratory scale, or small scale. The force-measuring device is arranged such that the force of weight of a contents stored in the receiving chamber acts upon the force-measuring device. By way of example, the force-measuring device can be arranged such that the weight of the receiving chamber including its contents is measured, or that, for example, the force-measuring device measures contents stored within the receiving chamber.

[0025] In other words, the weight force measuring device is arranged such that the contents stored in the receiving chamber can be measured directly or indirectly. From the weight force, the weight force measuring device can then directly or indirectly measure or determine the weight of the contents of the receiving chamber, so that the weight of a desiccant stored in the receiving chamber can be determined during a drying process. Chemical or physical desiccants are hygroscopic substances that draw water from the environment and bind the water chemically or physically. Preferred desiccants for use with the device according to the invention are, in particular, silica gel and zeolite, or, for example, calcium chloride.By chemically or physically binding the water from the air in the receiving chamber, the desiccant becomes heavier; this means that the dehumidification process can be measured using the weight-force measuring device. Therefore, it is no longer necessary to measure the plant tissue during the drying process.

[0026] Particularly when used in an arrangement according to the invention, this design of the device allows the system to remain closed throughout the entire drying process. This prevents fresh air from entering the system during the drying process, resulting in particularly uniform drying of the plant tissue. It also eliminates the need for a person to enter the system and remove plant tissue for weighing. Contamination of the plant tissue with germs or spores and the subsequent "flowering" of these germs or spores are reduced or even prevented.

[0027] In an advantageous embodiment of the device, which includes a weight force measuring device, an inner wall of the receiving chamber can form a receiving element that can be arranged on the weight force measuring device in such a way that the weight of the receiving chamber and its contents acts on the weight force measuring device. In other words, the desiccant is not placed, for example, in a tray on the weight force measuring device, but rather the receiving chamber can rest on the receiving element. A receiving element is understood to be a region or component that is designed such that the chemical or physical desiccant can be stored within it. In other words, the receiving element can, for example, be shaped like a tray.In these variants, the weight of the chemical or physical desiccant is indirectly determined during use of the device via the total weight of the receiving element including the desiccant, or the total weight of the receiving chamber. The latter is much easier to handle than using a separate tray for the desiccant.

[0028] In a preferred embodiment, the bottom of the receiving chamber can form the receiving element for the chemical or physical desiccant, and the weight force measuring device can be arranged below the receiving element. The device can then preferably have a measuring chamber separated from the receiving chamber by the inner wall of the receiving chamber, which can include at least one air inlet opening and the weight force measuring device. The receiving chamber can thus be placed on top of the weight force measuring device, which significantly simplifies the weight measurement process. In the configuration of the device with a measuring chamber and a receiving chamber, the ventilation device can be arranged in such a way that it connects the measuring chamber and the receiving chamber to direct the airflow towards the desiccant. This makes ventilation much easier.

[0029] In a further development of the device, where an inner wall of the receiving chamber forms the receiving element, the airflow generating element can be arranged on the same inner wall of the device as the receiving element. Due to the proximity of the airflow generating element and the receiving element, the airflow is directed to the desiccant directly, efficiently, and in a very space-saving manner. The dehumidification of the air is thus much more efficient.

[0030] The arrangement according to the invention for drying plant tissue, comprising an embodiment of the device according to the invention and a closable, preferably airtight, drying chamber, can preferably be configured such that the device is arranged in the drying chamber of the arrangement. The advantages have already been discussed above.

[0031] In a preferred embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, the arrangement can further comprise a chemical or physical desiccant, preferably silica gel or zeolite. In contrast to, for example, activated carbon, silica gel and zeolite have very high hygroscopy.

[0032] The invention also relates to a method for controlling a drying process for drying plant tissue using an embodiment of the device according to the invention, preferably using an embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention. The method is carried out by a control device.

[0033] A control device is understood to be a device, a device component, or a group of devices configured to receive and evaluate signals and to generate control signals. The control device can be designed, for example, as a control unit, or as a control chip or computer program, or as a computer program in combination with, for example, a control unit or a control chip. The control device preferably includes a processor for carrying out the method. The processor can contain program code configured to execute an embodiment of the method according to the invention when executed by the processor. The program code can, for example, be stored in a data memory of the processor or the control device.The processor setup may preferably include at least one microprocessor and / or at least one microcontroller and / or at least one FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) and / or at least one DSP (Digital Signal Processor).

[0034] The control unit receives a humidity signal from the device's humidity sensor, describing a current humidity value, preferably the humidity of the device's external environment. Based on this current humidity value, the control unit checks whether a predefined setpoint value of an equilibrium parameter describing relative humidity exists within a predefined tolerance range in the device's external environment. The equilibrium parameter describing relative humidity can be, for example, relative humidity, water activity, or equilibrium humidity. The tolerance range can also be predefined.

[0035] Application-specific values ​​can be specified as the target value for the equilibrium parameter describing relative humidity. If the test procedure reveals that the target value of the equilibrium parameter describing relative humidity is not present, the control unit generates a control signal that describes an operating parameter of the ventilation system for ventilating the interior of the recording chamber and transmits the generated control signal to the ventilation system.

[0036] The operating parameter of the valve device can optionally be a ventilation strength, a fan speed, a pressure to be set and / or a frequency and / or a pressure of an air pressure-building ventilation device.

[0037] In other words, the humidity is regulated via the ventilation system. The ventilation system can be switched on if the measured humidity is too high. A further advantage of the device according to the invention is that it is not necessary to install large fans in the drying room.

[0038] The advantages described above result.

[0039] Optionally, if the test procedure shows that the target value of the equilibrium parameter describing the relative humidity is present or within the tolerance range, the control unit can generate a control signal that describes a shutdown of the ventilation device.

[0040] In one embodiment of the method according to the invention, the control unit can provide a drying profile model that can describe one or more values ​​of the equilibrium parameter describing the relative humidity and a time profile. Based on the actual humidity value and the provided drying profile model, the control unit can predict and / or determine the course of the drying process. The control unit can generate an output signal that can describe the predicted and / or determined course of the drying process and transmit the generated output signal to a mobile device for output.

[0041] A mobile device is understood to be a portable device, such as a smartphone, laptop, or tablet PC. An output signal is understood to be a signal that describes the transmission of an acoustic and / or visual message. The mobile device can, for example, flash, beep, vibrate, and / or display a push notification, thereby conveying information about the progress of the drying process.

[0042] Preferably, the drying process can be monitored to indicate its end, so that a user of the method is informed via their mobile device when the drying process has finished, or that the drying process has finished. This increases the user-friendliness of the method and device according to the invention, because the user does not have to check the progress of the drying process on a random basis.

[0043] Ideally, the drying profile can be adjusted by having the user of the device specify the target value for the equilibrium parameter relating to relative humidity. The user can set a desired target value for the relative humidity and the duration for which this value is valid. For example, a target relative humidity of 50% can be set for 48 hours to quickly remove moisture from the plant material and prevent mold. To avoid over-drying the plant material and thus prevent uneven or quality-reducing over-drying, the target relative humidity can then be set to 60% for another 48 hours. Finally, the desired target moisture content can be set until the end of the drying process.For this purpose, the control unit can preferably receive an input signal from an input device, for example from a mobile device and / or a user program ("app"). Based on the input signal, which the control unit uses to determine the setpoint, the control unit can then adjust the drying profile.

[0044] In a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the control unit can receive a humidity signal from the humidity sensor at at least two different times and check whether the predetermined setpoint of the equilibrium parameter describing the relative humidity in the external environment of the device lies within a predetermined period and within the predetermined tolerance range. If the test result is positive, the control unit can determine the end of the drying process. This is a particularly reliable method for determining the end of the drying process.

[0045] Even more precise determination of the drying process's progress and thus its end is possible if, according to a further development, the control unit receives an initial weighing signal at a first time and at least a subsequent weighing signal at a later time from the device's weight force measuring unit. Each of these signals describes the weight of at least one component of the receiving chamber during the drying process. Based on these two received weighing signals, the control unit can determine the weight change of the desiccant. The control unit can then determine the end of the drying process if the determined weight change falls below a predefined threshold. This makes the prediction and determination of the drying process's progress, as well as the determination of its end, even more precise.Instead of measuring the weight of the plants, the drying process can be monitored by observing the change in weight of the desiccant. This greatly simplifies the process and reduces or even eliminates the disadvantages described earlier. For example, the change in weight of the desiccant allows for an assessment of the equilibrium moisture content within a system, thus enabling a more precise determination of the drying process.

[0046] In a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the control device can receive a temperature signal from a temperature measuring device, wherein the received temperature signal can describe an actual temperature value of the external environment of the device. Preferably, the temperature measuring device can be a temperature measuring device of the device according to the invention or arranged in the arrangement according to the invention. A temperature measuring device is understood to be a measuring instrument or a measuring instrument component for determining the temperature. The temperature measuring device can, for example, be designed as a thermometer.

[0047] In this embodiment, the control unit can determine a dew point based on the actual temperature and humidity values, and the provided drying profile model can additionally describe the determined dew point. The control unit can then further determine the progress of the drying process based on the determined dew point. This makes the prediction and / or determination of the drying process even more precise. It also enables the control of temperature-dependent drying profiles.

[0048] Ideally, the inventive method can be carried out using an embodiment of the inventive arrangement. In addition to the steps already described above, the method can then include arranging the plant material and the drying device in the drying chamber of the arrangement, arranging a chemical or physical desiccant in the receiving chamber of the device, and closing the drying chamber. The advantages have already been mentioned above. The desiccant can preferably contain or be silica gel or zeolite, or, for example, calcium chloride.

[0049] The invention also relates to a control device according to the invention, which is configured to carry out an embodiment of the method according to the invention using the device according to the invention.

[0050] The invention also relates to an embodiment of the device according to the invention, which may include an embodiment of the control device according to the invention.

[0051] The invention also includes an embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention, which may include an embodiment of the control device according to the invention.

[0052] Each of these offers the advantages already discussed.

[0053] The invention also includes further developments of the inventive method, the inventive arrangement, and the inventive control device, which have features already described in connection with the further developments of the inventive device. For this reason, the corresponding further developments of the inventive method, the inventive arrangement, and the inventive control device are not described again here.

[0054] The invention also includes combinations of the features of the described embodiments. The invention therefore also includes realizations that each exhibit a combination of the features of several of the described embodiments, provided that the embodiments have not been described as mutually exclusive.

[0055] The following are exemplary embodiments of the invention described. This is illustrated by: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the device according to the invention for drying plant tissue; Fig. 2 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the arrangement according to the invention; Fig. 3 a schematic representation of an embodiment of the method according to the invention; and Fig. 4 a schematic representation of an exemplary automated control of a drying profile.

[0056] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a first embodiment of the device 10 according to the invention for drying plant tissue, for example large tobacco leaves or cannabis leaves. Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a cross-section through the housing 12 of the device 10. The housing 12 forms the receiving chamber 14, and the interior of the receiving chamber 14 is connected to an external environment 18 of the device 10 via an air outlet opening 16. For example, the housing 12 can be made of a plastic tube, which may consist at least partially or entirely of PMMA (Plexiglas). Alternatively, the housing 12 can be made of another type of plastic, or of glass or metal.

[0057] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 also shows an example of a humidity sensor device 20 arranged on the outside of the housing 12, which can, for example, be designed as a common humidity sensor. Suitable humidity sensors are known to those skilled in the art.

[0058] In the Fig. 1 An exemplary device 10 is shown, in which the device 10 comprises a weight force measuring device 22, which is designed as a scale and can be arranged, for example, in a measuring chamber 24 of the device 10. Alternatively, the weight force measuring device 22 can be located in the receiving chamber 14, and a desiccant 40 can be placed directly onto the weight force measuring device 22 to carry out a drying process, or, for example, stored in a tray on the weight force measuring device 22. In the exemplary embodiment of the Fig. 1 The housing 12 and thus the receiving chamber 14 rests on a receiving element 26 of the weight force measuring device 22 formed by the base 25, wherein the optional receiving element 26 can be designed, for example, as a support plate or support tray.

[0059] The example of Fig. 1 Figure 28 also shows an optional printed circuit board 28, which can, for example, be a component of a ventilation device 30. The exemplary ventilation device 30 can preferably have an airflow generating element 32, which in the example of the Fig. 1 It can be designed as a fan 36. Alternative designs of the airflow generating element 32 can be a compressor or an air pump. The example of the Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows an exemplary arrangement of the airflow-generating element 32 with two exemplary air inlet openings 34, which can, for example, be arranged on a cover of the airflow-generating element 32. Through further optional lateral air inlet openings 38, air from the outside environment 18 can be directed into the device 10 and to the airflow-generating element 32, and from there directed through the airflow-generating element 32 into the interior of the receiving chamber 14. In the example of the Fig. 1 The entire interior of the receiving chamber 14 can be filled with a chemical or physical granulate of a desiccant 40, preferably silica gel or zeolite.

[0060] The example of device 10 of the Fig. 1 Optionally, a temperature measuring device (in the Fig. 1 (not shown) exhibit, which may, for example, be designed as a standard thermometer.

[0061] In the Fig. 1 The flow directions 42 are shown, in which, during operation of the device 10, the dried air is directed through the chemical or physical desiccant 40 towards the air outlet opening 16.

[0062] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 also shows an optional control unit 44, which may be designed, for example, as a control board or control device. Preferably, the control unit 44 may include a data storage device 46 and / or a processor unit 48. In the Fig. 1 The optional control unit 44 is shown here as a separate control unit 44 from the device 10, which can communicate with, for example, the circuit board 28 via a wired or wireless data communication connection 50, such as a cable, Bluetooth, or WLAN. The control unit 44 of the example of Fig. 1 may preferably have a data storage device 46, as well as a processor device 48, for example one or more microchips or one or more microprocessors.

[0063] In an alternative embodiment, the control device 44 can be a component of the device 10, and can, for example, be designed as a control chip.

[0064] The Fig. 2 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of an arrangement 52 according to the invention with a device 10 for drying plant material, wherein the device 10 preferably is the example of the Fig. 1 may be. For reasons of better presentation, in the Fig. 2 Not all reference numerals are given. A drying chamber 54 of the arrangement 52 can, for example, be designed as a sack, box, or preferably as a tent. Ideally, the drying chamber 54 can be closed, for example, by means of a zipper or another suitable closing mechanism. Preferably, the drying chamber 54 can be sealed airtight. Foliage 56, for example, several branches with leaves, can be suspended in the drying chamber 54. Fig. 2 Figure 52 shows an exemplary arrangement already prepared for a drying process. The device 10 is arranged in the drying chamber 54, and the desiccant 40, for example silica gel in granular form, is stored in the receiving chamber 14. Fig. 2 An optional control unit 44 is also shown, which can be, by way of example, a separate device from the apparatus 10. For the sake of clarity, the humidity sensor unit 20, with which the control unit 44 can communicate, is shown in the Fig. 2 not shown, but can preferably be found according to the description. Fig. 1 be part of device 10.

[0065] The Fig. 2 Figure 52 also shows an optional temperature measuring device 58, which can be, for example, a thermometer, and which can be attached to an inner wall of the drying chamber 54 or placed inside the drying chamber 54. Communication between the temperature measuring device 58 and the control unit 44 can be established, for example, via WLAN, Bluetooth, or a cable. The configuration of the arrangement 52 with the temperature measuring device 58 is optional. Optionally, the temperature measuring device 58 can be a component of the device 10.

[0066] The volume of the receiving chamber 14 can be, for example, 10 liters or less; preferably, the volume can be in the range of one liter to ten liters, and particularly preferably in the range of two liters to five liters. Alternatively, the volume can be 10 liters or in the range of 10 liters to 100 liters, in the range of 100 liters to 120 liters, or in the range of 100 liters to 500 liters; preferably 100 liters, 120 liters, or 500 liters.

[0067] Preferably, the humidity sensor device 20 can measure inside the exemplary tent and is preferably located at the bottom of the arrangement 52, since in this position the values ​​are representative of those in the upper air layers and fluctuations are rather small here. In particular, if the foliage 56 is loosely suspended, any fluctuations in humidity between the plants hanging higher up are smaller.

[0068] The Fig. 3 Figure 1 shows an embodiment of the inventive method for controlling a drying process for drying plant tissue, preferably using the Fig. 2 The described arrangement. The method can optionally be initiated by first arranging, for example by suspending, foliage 56 as plant tissue in the drying chamber 54 of the arrangement 52 (step S1). The device can be set up in the drying chamber 54, and in S2 the desiccant 40 can then be introduced into the receiving chamber 14. Preferably, the desiccant 40 can rest directly on the weight force measuring device 22, or, as already described above, the receiving chamber 14 can preferably be filled with the desiccant 40 and then placed on the weight force measuring device 22. In S3, the drying chamber 54 is then closed, preferably airtight.

[0069] In the example of the Fig. 3 In this process, for example, a device 10 with a volume in the range of one to ten liters, for example five liters, can be used. Optionally, the drying profile can be set via an app. For example, one kilogram of harvested foliage 56 can be hung up to dry, and the drying process should then remove, for example, 600 g of water, meaning that 60% of the moisture must be extracted from the foliage 56.

[0070] To ensure that the leaves 56 are of good quality after drying, for example for vaporization, a residual moisture content of, say, 15% can be very advantageous. If the dried leaves 56 are to be used for combustion, for example for the production of material for tobacco products that are smoked, a residual moisture content of 10% may be preferred. If the leaves 56 are to be stored for a longer period later, a less dry state of the leaves 56 may be preferred; however, for transporting the leaves 56 after drying, a very high degree of dryness may be required to prevent mold growth in the long term. Preferably, the equilibrium parameter describing the relative humidity can be a water activity, and the anticipated target value can be, for example, 62% or less. For the process of the example of Fig. 3 Preferably, the water activity of 60% of the foliage 56 can be specified as the target value, which is later to be consumed via smoking.

[0071] Zeolite can preferably be used as a drying agent, or, more preferably, silica gel.

[0072] In S4, the control unit 44 receives a humidity signal from the humidity sensor 20, which, for example, can describe a relative humidity of 75% at the start of the drying process. In S5, the control unit 44 then checks, for example by performing a corresponding calculation, whether a predefined setpoint of, for example, 60% water activity is present in the external environment 18 of the device 10, which may not yet be the case at the start of the drying process. Optionally, a tolerance range of, for example, + / - 1.5% can be taken into account, or adjustments can be made immediately if the actual value does not match the setpoint.Consequently, the control unit 44 generates a control signal in S6, which can, for example, describe the activation of the exemplary fan 36, and transmits this signal in S7 to the ventilation unit 30, so that the ventilation unit 30 activates the exemplary fan 36. Optionally, the generated control signal can also specify, for example, a determined speed of the fan 36, i.e., a ventilation stage.

[0073] If the control unit 44 determines at a later time, based on another humidity signal, that the setpoint has been reached, the control unit 44 can optionally generate another control signal to stop the fan 36 (S6).

[0074] In optional step S8, the control unit 44 can provide a drying profile model, preferably including the specified setpoint for, for example, water activity, equilibrium moisture content, or humidity. After the drying process has started, the control unit 44 can, for example, predict or determine the progress of the drying process at regular intervals (S9). For example, the control unit 44 can predict that the entire drying process will last 12 days, and optionally, the control unit 44 can also determine an end time, for example, a specific day and / or time. An output signal generated in S10, which could, for example, involve emitting a beep and sending a push notification to a user's mobile device, can describe the determined end time and / or the entire progress of the drying process.To issue the push notification and the signal tone, the control unit 44 then transmits the generated output signal to a mobile device (S11), for example a smartphone or a laptop.

[0075] The drying process is complete if, for example, the actual equilibrium moisture content corresponds to the target equilibrium moisture content over a longer period of time, for example, over 30-60 minutes.

[0076] Preferably, the method may include the control device 44 additionally checking for a change in the weight of the desiccant 40. For this purpose, the control device 44 may preferably receive a weighing signal from the weight force measuring device 22 at intervals of 30-60 minutes (S12), and determine a change in the weight of the desiccant 40 based on the received weighing signals, which either directly or indirectly describe the weight of the desiccant 44 (S13).

[0077] If the method according to the invention also includes optional temperature measurement and dew point determination, the control unit 44 can receive a temperature signal (S14) from the temperature measuring device 58, which can, for example, describe a temperature of 22°C. Together with the actual humidity value, the control unit 44 can determine a dew point in S15 and use the dew point to determine or predict the progress of the drying process (S9).

[0078] Optionally, the process can additionally include cooling of the interior of the drying chamber 54, for which a standard cooling device can be used. This supports the advantages already described above. To further counteract the loss of secondary plant compounds and thus a loss of flavor or bioactive substances, the temperature in the drying chamber 54 can preferably be cooled to 18–20°C. In particular, the combination of the sealed drying chamber 54, preferably an airtight drying chamber 54, and the temperature control promotes a particularly high quality of the dried plant material.

[0079] In the example of the Fig. 3 The entire drying process can take, for example, 12 days.

[0080] The Fig. 4 The diagram shows a drying profile illustrating the progress of an example drying process. The abscissa (60) represents the duration of the drying process in days, and the ordinate (62) represents the example relative humidity in percent. The diagram also indicates a threshold value (64) at 65% relative humidity, above which there is a risk of mold growth. The progression of the target humidity values ​​(66) can be seen in the example of... Fig. 4 The process can be divided into three phases: 68, 70, and 72. In the first phase, 68, a low relative humidity of, for example, 50% can be set to prevent mold growth. In the second phase, 70, gentle drying takes place at, for example, 55% and later 60%. In the third phase, 72, the desired residual moisture content, for example, 62.5%, can be set. By adjusting the target value of the relative humidity in the different phases, the relative humidity can either be regulated to 50%, as at the beginning, to quickly draw moisture from the plants, or—as long as sufficient moisture is present in the plants—higher values ​​such as 60% can be achieved. The moisture from the plants continuously drives the relative humidity in the tent upwards. The humidity can then be regulated, for example, around 60% instead of 50%.The curve of the current humidity is therefore not a straight line, but has a sawtooth-like shape. The diagram of the... Fig. 4 This shows the target curve or the desired dry profile. BEZUGSZEICHENLISTE:

[0081] 10 Device 12 Housing 14 Receiving chamber 16 Air outlet 18 External environment 20 Humidity sensor device 22 Weight force measuring device 24 Measuring chamber 25 Base 26 Receiving element 28 Circuit board 30 Ventilation device 32 Airflow generating element 34, 38 Air inlet 36 Fan 40 Desiccant 42 Flow direction 44 Control device 46 Data storage 48 Processor device 50 Data communication link 52 Arrangement 54 Drying chamber 56 Foliage 58 Temperature measuring device 60 Abscissa 62 Ordinate 64 Threshold 66 Humidity setpoint curve 68, 70, 72 Phases S1 - S15 Process steps

Claims

1. Device (10) for drying plant tissue, comprising: - a housing (12) with a receiving chamber (14) for storing a chemical or physical desiccant (40) and an air outlet opening (16) connecting an interior of the receiving chamber (14) with an external environment (18) of the device (10), - a humidity sensor device (20) for detecting humidity in the external environment (18) of the device (10), - a ventilation device (30) with an airflow generating element (32) arranged in the receiving chamber (14) such that the airflow generating element (32) is directed into the interior of the receiving chamber (14), and - at least one air inlet opening (34) arranged on the ventilation device (30) such that an airflow passage is formed in the housing (12) from the air inlet opening (34) to the airflow generating element (32),through which, during the operation of the ventilation device (30), air from the outside environment (18) is drawn into the interior of the receiving chamber (14).

2. Device (10) according to claim 1, comprising a weight force measuring device (22) arranged such that a weight force of a contents stored in the receiving chamber (14) acts on the weight force measuring device (22).

3. Device (10) according to claim 2, wherein an inner wall of the receiving chamber (14) forms a receiving element (26) which is arranged on the weight force measuring device (22) such that a weight force of the receiving chamber together with its contents acts on the weight force measuring device (22); in particular wherein a bottom (25) of the receiving chamber forms the receiving element (26) for the chemical or physical desiccant and the weight force measuring device (22) is arranged below the receiving element (26), and wherein the device (10) preferably has a measuring chamber (24) separated from the receiving chamber by the inner wall of the receiving chamber, which has the at least one air inlet opening (34) and the weight force measuring device (22).

4. Device (10) according to claim 3, wherein the airflow generating element (32) is arranged on the inner wall of the device (10) on which the receiving element (26) is arranged.

5. Arrangement (52) for drying plant tissue, comprising a device (10) according to one of claims 1 to 4, and a closable, preferably airtight sealing drying chamber (54), preferably wherein the device (10) is arranged in the drying chamber (54).

6. Arrangement (52) according to claim 5, comprising a chemical or physical drying agent, preferably silica gel or zeolite.

7. Method for controlling a drying process for drying plant tissue using one of the devices (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a control device (44): - receives a humidity signal from the humidity sensor device (20) of the device (10), which describes an actual humidity value (S4), - checks, on the basis of the actual humidity value, whether a predetermined setpoint of an equilibrium parameter describing the relative humidity is present in the external environment (18) of the device (10) within a predetermined tolerance range (S5), - if the test procedure shows that the setpoint of the equilibrium parameter describing the relative humidity is not present, generates a control signal (S6) which describes an operating parameter of the ventilation device (30) for ventilating the interior of the receiving chamber, and, - transmits the generated control signal to the ventilation device (30) (S7).

8. Method according to claim 7, wherein the control device (44): - provides a drying profile model (S8) that describes values ​​of the equilibrium parameter describing the relative humidity and a time profile, - predicts or determines a course of the drying process based on the actual humidity value and the provided drying profile model (S9), - generates an output signal (S10) that describes the predicted or determined course of the drying process, and - transmits the generated output signal to a mobile terminal for output of the generated output signal (S11).

9. Method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the control device (44) receives a humidity signal from the humidity sensor device (20) at at least two different times (S4) and checks (S5) whether in the external environment (18) of the device (10) the predetermined setpoint of the equilibrium parameter describing the relative humidity is within the predetermined tolerance range within a predetermined period, and if the test procedure yields a positive result, determines the end of the drying process (S9).

10. Method according to claim 7 or 9, wherein the control device (44): - receives at a first time a first weighing signal and at least at a further time a further weighing signal from the weight force measuring device (22) of the device (10) (S12), which each describes a weight of at least one content of the receiving chamber during the drying process and determines a weight change of the desiccant (40) on the basis of the received weighing signals (S13), and - determines the end of the drying process (S9) if the determined weight change falls below a predetermined threshold value.

11. Method according to any one of claims 7 to 10, wherein the control device (44): - receives a temperature signal from a temperature measuring device (58) (S14), preferably a temperature measuring device (58) of the device (10), wherein the received temperature signal describes an actual temperature value of the outside environment (18) of the device (10), - determines a dew point based on the actual temperature value and the actual humidity value, wherein the provided drying profile model additionally describes the determined (S15) dew point, and - additionally determines the course of the drying process based on the determined dew point (S9).

12. Method according to any one of claims 7 to 11, comprising the steps of: - arranging the plant material and the device (10) for drying in the drying chamber (54) of an arrangement (52) according to claim 5 or 6 (S1), - arranging a chemical or physical desiccant (40) in the receiving chamber (14) of the device (10, S2), wherein the desiccant (40) preferably contains silica gel or zeolite, and - closing the drying chamber (S3).

13. Control device (44) configured to perform a method according to any one of claims 7 to 11.

14. Device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, comprising a control device (44) according to claim 13.

15. Arrangement (52) according to one of claims 5 or 6, comprising a control device (44) according to claim 13.

Images