Rubberized Roller Debucker for Gentle Hemp Flower Separation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current mechanical debuckers for cannabis and hemp plants are inefficient, causing high labor costs, low cannabinoid percentage returns, and poor de-budding quality, and are not adaptable to different plant sizes or moisture contents, nor are they mobile enough to minimize handling and breakage.
Innovation Solution
A mechanical debucker with counter-rotating rubberized rollers and adjustable comb teeth that mimic hand bucking, allowing for gentle removal of flowers and leaves with minimal loss, featuring a conveyor belt system and mobility options to reduce handling and breakage, and an adjustable debucking zone for varying plant conditions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If mechanical debuckers are used to increase productivity, then processing speed improves, but de-budding quality deteriorates and cannabinoid loss increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses flexible rubberized comb teeth instead of rigid mechanical components. The rubber material allows the combs to conform to the plant material and gently remove buds without crushing or damaging them, thereby maintaining high de-budding quality while achieving mechanical processing speeds
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs adjustable comb spacing and rubber compound formulations that can be modified based on plant moisture content and bud density. This adaptability allows the machine to maintain optimal de-budding quality across varying production conditions without sacrificing productivity
2Device complexity
If fixed mechanical debuckers are used, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different plant conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates adjustable comb spacing mechanisms and variable rubber compound formulations that can be modified based on plant moisture content and bud density. This allows a single device to adapt to different plant conditions without requiring multiple specialized machines
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible rubberized comb design allows the same debucker to effectively process various plant types and conditions (different moisture contents, bud densities, and plant sizes) by adjusting comb spacing and rubber properties, making it a universal solution rather than requiring specialized equipment for each condition
3Manufacturing precision
If multiple handling operations are used, then debucking completeness improves, but plant breakage increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses continuous counter-rotating comb action that processes the entire plant in a single continuous motion. This eliminates the need for multiple discrete handling operations that would increase breakage risk, while the flexible rubber combs ensure complete bud removal in one pass
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible rubberized combs act as an intermediary between the mechanical processing action and the plant material. This intermediary layer provides the necessary compliance to achieve complete debucking while minimizing mechanical stress and breakage on the plant stems
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 mechanical debucker efficiently separates flowers from stalks with minimal cannabinoid loss, reduces labor costs, and is adaptable to different plant sizes and moisture levels, while being mobile and durable, thus improving productivity and reducing breakage and loss of biomass.
Implementation Method 1
The rubberized combs on the rollers will interlace and establish a debucking zone that pulls material into the frame through frictional contact
Implementation Method 2
The interlacing rubberized comb teeth mechanically interlock with plant material to gently pull flowers and leaves from stalks
Data Source
AI summary
A debucking machine, for use with processing industrial hemp or cannabis, is provided. Embodiments of the debucking machine include counter-rotating rollers equipped with rubberized combs for gently removing flowers, or “buds,” from harvested industrial hemp or cannabis. Embodiments of the debucking machine are portable and may be moved from location to location within a drying shed.