The present invention relates to a system for tapping and collecting rubber. The system includes a tapping apparatus for tapping rubber and a collecting apparatus for collecting tapped rubber. The tapping apparatus includes a rail directing a drill bit or blade to move between one end of the rail to another end of the rail and to remove tree bark during the movement and a mounting structure configured to hold the rail and connect the tapping apparatus to a tree or plant. The collecting apparatus is positioned below the tapping apparatus for collecting rubber that exudes from a cut tree or plant. The collecting apparatus includes a slide and a tube having an opening and a divider that separates the tube into multiple sections.

A maple sap line system and method for spin welding provides secure, unobstructed lines for collecting sap by creating a hermetically sealed connection between a lateral line and a mainline. A fitting connects the mainline to the lateral line. The fitting is spin welded to the mainline at a contact interface. The fitting comprises a protruding member that easily melts to create the frictional weld. The fitting has an elongated body comprising barbs that receive the lateral line. The fitting has a channel that enables fluid communication between the mainline and the lateral line. The flanges in the fitting register with a chuck to rotate the fitting against the main line at a high rpm. Molten debris formed in the channel is dislodged by drilling with a collared drill. The drilling provides fluid communication and creates a smooth inner surface in the mainline, and cuts off flanges from the fitting.

A maple sap line system and method for spin welding provides secure, unobstructed lines for collecting sap by creating a hermetically sealed connection between a lateral line and a mainline. A fitting connects the mainline to the lateral line. The fitting is spin welded to the mainline at a contact interface. The fitting comprises a protruding member that easily melts to create the frictional weld. The fitting has an elongated body comprising barbs that receive the lateral line. The fitting has a channel that enables fluid communication between the mainline and the lateral line. The flanges in the fitting register with a chuck to rotate the fitting against the main line at a high rpm. Molten debris formed in the channel is dislodged by drilling with a collared drill. The drilling provides fluid communication and creates a smooth inner surface in the mainline, and cuts off flanges from the fitting.

A process for harvesting organic material recovers sugars, proteins, aromatics, organic acids and mixtures thereof, from the sapwood of trees or recently pruned sections, e.g. branches. The process involves drilling entry and exit ports to access the sapwood layer and the use of spiles, driven into the ports, to create fluid tight seals for the tubing, which delivers and recovers the solution, which solubilizes the harvested organic material and flows through the sapwood layer. The close proximity of entry and exit ports permits the flow of a pressurized solution. The recovered pumped solution or products therefrom, if desired, can be used in a fermentation medium to prepare products, e.g. alcohol, fatty acids.

A process for harvesting organic material recovers sugars, proteins, aromatics, organic acids and mixtures thereof, from the sapwood of trees or recently pruned sections, e.g. branches. The process involves drilling entry and exit ports to access the sapwood layer and the use of spiles, driven into the ports, to create fluid tight seals for the tubing, which delivers and recovers the solution, which solubilizes the harvested organic material and flows through the sapwood layer. The close proximity of entry and exit ports permits the flow of a pressurized solution. The recovered pumped solution or products therefrom, if desired, can be used in a fermentation medium to prepare products, e.g. alcohol, fatty acids.

A tree resin collector usable in combination with a bottle, the tree resin collector including: a collecting portion defining opposed collecting portion distal and proximal ends, the collecting portion defining a collecting edge at the collecting portion distal end; a guiding portion extending from the collecting portion proximal end, the guiding portion defining opposed guiding portion proximal and distal ends, the guiding portion extending from the collecting portion at the guiding portion distal end, the guiding portion being terminated opposed to the collecting portion by a mouth engaging section insertable in a mouth of the bottle; and a finish engaging portion provided substantially adjacent the mouth engaging section for engaging a finish of the bottle and securing the tree resin collector thereto with the mouth engaging section inserted in the mouth.

A tree resin collector usable in combination with a bottle, the tree resin collector including: a collecting portion defining opposed collecting portion distal and proximal ends, the collecting portion defining a collecting edge at the collecting portion distal end; a guiding portion extending from the collecting portion proximal end, the guiding portion defining opposed guiding portion proximal and distal ends, the guiding portion extending from the collecting portion at the guiding portion distal end, the guiding portion being terminated opposed to the collecting portion by a mouth engaging section insertable in a mouth of the bottle; and a finish engaging portion provided substantially adjacent the mouth engaging section for engaging a finish of the bottle and securing the tree resin collector thereto with the mouth engaging section inserted in the mouth.

There is provided a sap collecting device that is configured to be fastened into a tap hole of a tree.

There is provided a sap collecting device that is configured to be fastened into a tap hole of a tree.

Provided are robotic systems and methods for identifying a particular type of tree or plant (e.g., slash pine trees), for tapping them and collect their oleoresin for processing using an autonomous, long-range robotic forest rover. One aspect of the system comprises an autonomous vehicle equipped with an industrial robot, automated tool changer, a plurality of tools required for robotic operations, vision and navigation systems and powertrain for long-range operation. The rover identifies healthy, mature trees or plants, approaches them and performs the robotic operations required for tapping the trees or plants. In addition to these tasks, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) coordinates of the tree or plant is recorded along with its diameter, and a digital image of the tree or plant. This information is communicated to a base station for creating and updating a tree farm database.