Double Vortex Cannabis Trichome Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for separating resin heads from cannabis plants are inefficient, often result in low-quality products with contamination and damage to plant material, and existing machinery is difficult to clean and maintain.
Innovation Solution
A Double Vortex Machine using a uniquely shaped basin and rotator plate creates a double vortex flow to gently remove trichome heads from plant material, combined with a multi-tiered filtration system to achieve maximum separation with minimal contamination.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If chemical solvents are used to separate trichomes, then separation efficiency improves, but resin quality deteriorates due to alteration and unwanted by-products
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces chemical solvent-based separation with a mechanical/physical vortex-based separation system. The double vortex flow mechanically separates trichomes from plant material through centrifugal forces and turbulence, eliminating the need for chemical solvents that alter resin composition and create by-products.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs hydraulic principles by using liquid flow to create double vortices that separate trichomes from plant material. The liquid medium creates rotational flow patterns that physically separate resin heads from botanical contaminants, achieving separation without chemical solvents.
2Productivity
If ice and mechanical agitator are used to separate trichomes, then resin removal improves, but plant material damage increases creating contamination
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses periodic reversal of vortex direction to achieve gentle separation. The double vortex flow alternates between clockwise and counter-clockwise rotation, creating periodic turbulence that loosens trichomes from plant material without the damaging effect of continuous mechanical agitation or ice contact.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the physical state parameters by using cold water to harden resin heads, making them more susceptible to separation, while avoiding direct mechanical contact that would damage plant material. The cold temperature parameter enables separation without the harmful mechanical action of ice and agitators.
3Manufacturing precision
If internal screens are used in the separation machine, then filtration improves, but cleaning difficulty increases due to resin and biomass blockage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the filtration function from internal screens that are prone to blockage, and replaces it with an external filtration system. The double vortex separation occurs in a clean basin, and filtered material is removed through an outlet that can be easily cleaned, eliminating the problem of resin and biomass blocking internal screens.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an external filtration system as an intermediary between the separation process and the collected resin. This external filter system captures plant debris and contaminants while allowing the separated resin to pass through, providing effective filtration without the cleaning difficulties of internal screens.
4Device complexity
If flat screening or dry sieving is used to separate trichomes, then separation process simplicity improves, but separation efficiency deteriorates requiring practice and skill
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses hydraulic vortex flow to automate the separation process that would otherwise require manual screening techniques. The double vortex flow automatically separates trichomes from plant material through fluid dynamics, replacing manual flat screening or dry sieving that requires practice and skill while maintaining simplicity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical screening with an automated vortex-based separation system. The double vortex flow mechanically separates trichomes through centrifugal forces and turbulence, eliminating the need for skilled manual screening while maintaining process simplicity.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The method effectively separates resin heads from plant material with negligible contamination, producing a cleaner and higher-quality product by using a low-temperature process and controlled turbulence, followed by a filtration system to remove biomass and contaminants.
Implementation Method 1
The plant biomass is soaked in this cold liquid bath until fully hydrated, such that all plant components are completely softened and any flowers begin to open
Implementation Method 2
The plant parts are placed with very cold liquid in a jacketed basin
Implementation Method 3
the user starts the rotator plate spinning, creating a central vortex. As the liquid swirls and picks up speed, the outer edge of the liquid flow rolls off the back side of the rounded square portion of the basin and rolls over the mid-section of the liquid flow, creating a powerful, rolling turbulence in a second vortex
Implementation Method 4
The double vortex flow results in a gentle, yet powerful, turbulence
Implementation Method 5
A subsequent filtration process is used to separate the resin containing trichome heads from the liquid. The filtration system uses a series of different sized filters to separate elements of the plant's biomass contaminants from the trichome heads
Data Source
AI summary
A method and apparatus for separating trichome heads containing resin from cannabis plants using a double vortex liquid flow to remove the trichome heads without macerating the plant material and a multi-tiered filtration process to isolate the resin product.