Whole Hemp Stalk Processing via Hammer Mill Size Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for processing hemp bast fiber and shive are inefficient and costly, as they require separation of these components before processing into particulate hemp, leading to waste and increased costs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for processing whole hemp stalks into particulate hemp without separating bast fiber and shive, using size reduction stations and further processing stages to produce various hemp products like fines, pellets, and crumbs, allowing for the entire stalk to be utilized efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If bast fiber and shive are separated before processing into particulate hemp, then processing precision is improved, but device complexity and processing time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the necessary size reduction function from the complex separation-processing system. By using a hammer mill to directly size-reduce whole hemp stalks into particulate hemp without separating bast fiber and shive, the system eliminates the need for complex separation equipment while achieving the desired particle size for various applications.
Solution Approach 2:
The hammer mill serves multiple functions simultaneously: it size-reduces whole hemp stalks, separates components by size, and produces particulate hemp suitable for various applications (animal bedding, industrial materials, etc.) all in one device, eliminating the need for multiple specialized processing stations.
2Manufacturing precision
If bast fiber and shive are separated before processing, then manufacturing precision is improved, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The hammer mill operates continuously to process whole hemp stalks into particulate hemp without interruption for separation steps. The size reduction process inherently separates components by particle size, allowing continuous processing and eliminating downtime associated with batch separation operations.
Solution Approach 2:
The processing is segmented by size rather than by material type. The hammer mill produces particulate hemp in different size ranges (e.g., 2-10mm for animal bedding, smaller for industrial applications) in a single continuous operation, eliminating the need for separate processing lines for different hemp components.
3Loss of substance
If whole hemp stalks are processed without separation, then loss of substance is reduced, but manufacturing precision decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention changes the control parameter from material composition (separating bast fiber and shive) to particle size (producing particulate hemp in specific size ranges). By controlling the hammer mill operation to achieve desired particle size distributions, the system maintains processing precision while utilizing 100% of the hemp stalk material without separation losses.
4Manufacturing precision
If separation equipment is used to process hemp components, then manufacturing precision is improved, but ease of manufacture decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts only the essential size reduction function needed for producing particulate hemp, eliminating the complex separation equipment. The hammer mill directly converts whole hemp stalks into sized particulate material suitable for various applications, greatly simplifying the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of separating hemp components and then processing them, the invention inverts the approach by directly processing whole hemp stalks into sized particulate hemp. This reverse engineering approach simplifies manufacturing while achieving the same or better results for most applications.
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
This approach enables the efficient processing of nearly 100% of hemp stalks into particulate forms, reducing waste and costs, while maintaining the integrity of bast fiber and shive throughout the process, and producing products suitable for diverse applications.
Implementation Method 1
reducing the whole hemp stalks into particulate hemp which is smaller in size than the whole hemp stalks
Implementation Method 2
reducing the particulate hemp in size so as to lie in a first size range so as to be usable for further processing
Data Source
AI summary
A method and system for processing whole hemp stalks is disclosed. The method and system use an entirety of the whole hemp stalks in producing the particulate hemp such that the particulate hemp comprises both bast fiber and shire of the original whole hemp stalks. Additionally, hemp crumbs or crumbles may be processed from whole hemp stalks, or from particulate hemp which is larger than the hemp crumbs such as hemp pellets. The hemp crumbs may be formed by crushing the hemp pellets.