Tapered Projection Shearing Edge for Cannabis Bud Separation
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Current cannabis harvesting machines often damage buds due to perpendicular shearing and struggle with sticky resin, leading to increased force requirements and potential stem breakage, while also inefficiently handling and disposing of residual plant material.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus features a tapered projection with a shearing edge and counter-rotating rollers with alternating surfaces to minimize bud damage and efficiently separate buds from stems, reducing resin accumulation and facilitating efficient packing and disposal of residual plant parts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If a perpendicular tube is used to shear buds, then bud quality is improved, but resin accumulation increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful function of the perpendicular tube by removing it from the system. Instead of using a tube that shears buds perpendicularly (which causes resin accumulation), the invention uses a faceplate with apertures that allows stems to pass through while buds are sheared by the aperture edges, eliminating the resin accumulation problem while maintaining bud quality
Solution Approach 2:
The faceplate with apertures serves as a disposable or easily replaceable component that can be cleaned or replaced when resin accumulates, rather than using a complex perpendicular tube structure that is difficult to maintain
2Force
If resin accumulates on the tube, then force required to pull stems increases, but this can cause stem breakage
Solution Approach 1:
The invention removes the perpendicular tube structure that accumulates resin, replacing it with a faceplate aperture system where resin accumulation does not occur on the shearing surfaces, thereby maintaining consistent pulling force without causing stem breakage
Solution Approach 2:
The faceplate aperture acts as an intermediary structure that separates the shearing function from the stem transport function, allowing stems to pass through while buds are sheared, without creating resin accumulation points that would increase pulling force
3Shape
If smooth rubber rollers are used, then stems are left in straight pieces, but packing efficiency decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static smooth rubber rollers to dynamic spiked rollers that actively engage and manipulate the stems. The spikes on the rollers create motion and force that break stems into smaller pieces, improving packing efficiency while the roller mechanism maintains control over the stem processing
4Reliability
If rubber coatings are used on rollers, then gripping is improved, but maintenance requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces expensive rubber coatings that require frequent maintenance with durable metal spiked rollers. The spiked rollers are made from wear-resistant materials and can operate for extended periods without maintenance, reducing the frequency of cleaning and replacement operations
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 solution minimizes bud damage, reduces resin accumulation, and enhances the efficiency of cannabis harvesting and disposal by allowing for higher-quality bud separation and easier handling of residual plant material, reducing maintenance and energy requirements.
Implementation Method 1
The projection has a shearing edge positioned adjacent the second opening. The shearing edge may be configured for shearing protuberances of a plant (e.g., flowering buds) from an elongate portion of a plant (e.g., a stem)
Implementation Method 2
The projection has an interior surface positioned adjacent the channel, and the interior surface tapers inwardly from the first opening to the second opening. The tapered interior surface may limit contact between the elongate portion of the plant and the interior surface to limit the transfer of plant material (e.g., resin) to the interior surface
Implementation Method 3
The apparatus may further include a pair of counter-rotating rollers positioned adjacent the first opening of the projection, wherein the rollers are configured to engage an elongate portion of a plant positioned between the rollers, and wherein the rollers are configured to rotate to pull the elongate portion of the plant through the channel of the projection
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus with a projection defining first and second openings and a channel between the openings. An interior surface adjacent the channel tapers inwardly from the first opening to the second opening, and a shearing edge is positioned adjacent the second opening. A method of using the apparatus to separate protuberances of a plant from an elongate portion of the plant by pulling the elongate portion through the channel. Another apparatus with first and second counter-rotating rollers. Each roller having alternating projecting portions and valleys and oriented so that projecting portions of one roller are aligned with valleys of the other roller as the rollers rotate. A method of using the rollers to deform an elongate portion of a plant between the projecting portions of one roller and the valleys of the other roller.