A plant stalk decortication apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes an alignment system in which a series of rotating spindles with blades attached to the spindles are positioned over a bed on which plant stalks are longitudinally aligned and conveyed by the blades. The apparatus also includes rollers and breakers downstream of the blades for crushing and breaking the plant stalks to cause the bast fibers and hurd to separate. The apparatus also includes a suction chamber that separates loose bast fiber from hurd chips formed by the breakers.

A plant stalk decortication apparatus and method are provided. The apparatus includes an alignment system in which a series of rotating spindles with blades attached to the spindles are positioned over a bed on which plant stalks are longitudinally aligned and conveyed by the blades. The apparatus also includes rollers and breakers downstream of the blades for crushing and breaking the plant stalks to cause the bast fibers and hurd to separate. The apparatus also includes a suction chamber that separates loose bast fiber from hurd chips formed by the breakers.

A method and apparatus for decortication of fibrous plant stalks, involving first flattening the plant stalk, splitting the two substantially planar stalk sides one from the other; then bending each planar stalk such that the flat stalk piece with the hurd is on the outside of the bend and fibrous bast on the inside of the bend; separating the segments such that the bast begins to pull away from the hurd that spans the gap between the bent segments; peeling the bast from the broken hurd. The resultant bast fiber ribbon is valuable to textile and composite manufacturing industries while the leftover hurd is suitable for a wide range of uses.

A method and apparatus for decortication of fibrous plant stalks, involving first flattening the plant stalk, splitting the two substantially planar stalk sides one from the other; then bending each planar stalk such that the flat stalk piece with the hurd is on the outside of the bend and fibrous bast on the inside of the bend; separating the segments such that the bast begins to pull away from the hurd that spans the gap between the bent segments; peeling the bast from the broken hurd. The resultant bast fiber ribbon is valuable to textile and composite manufacturing industries while the leftover hurd is suitable for a wide range of uses.

A decorticating machine comprising modular drum assemblies of different tooth and surface patterns that are installed between pairs of left and right lower and upper rails is described. The modular drum assemblies (usually provided in upper and lower drum pairs) and the number thereof can be chosen based on the particulars of the type of stalk being processed.

A decorticating machine comprising modular drum assemblies of different tooth and surface patterns that are installed between pairs of left and right lower and upper rails is described. The modular drum assemblies (usually provided in upper and lower drum pairs) and the number thereof can be chosen based on the particulars of the type of stalk being processed.

A horticultural substrate conditioner includes a housing having an opening to receive a growing medium and an outlet to discharge the growing medium, a shaft arranged within the housing, the shaft rotatable relative to the housing, and a plurality of tines disposed on the shaft spaced apart from each other, the tines comprising a flexible material, wherein upon entry of a growing medium into the housing, the tines are capable of engaging the growing medium such that as the shaft rotates, the growing medium is broken apart and/or reduced in density and size to enable optimal distribution of the growing medium into a container upon discharge from the housing.

A horticultural substrate conditioner includes a housing having an opening to receive a growing medium and an outlet to discharge the growing medium, a shaft arranged within the housing, the shaft rotatable relative to the housing, and a plurality of tines disposed on the shaft spaced apart from each other, the tines comprising a flexible material, wherein upon entry of a growing medium into the housing, the tines are capable of engaging the growing medium such that as the shaft rotates, the growing medium is broken apart and/or reduced in density and size to enable optimal distribution of the growing medium into a container upon discharge from the housing.

A plant stripping machine includes a casing with a longitudinal slot in the top of the casing. A pair of shafts are rotatably mounted within the casing. The pair of shafts are parallel and spaced apart defining a gap between the shafts aligned below the slot. The shafts counter rotate in relation to each other. A plurality of stripping members extend from and are spaced along the length of each shaft. The stripping members extend from the pair of shafts a radial distance sufficient to overlap within the gap. The pair of counter rotating shafts are arranged to engage and pull a plant with a stalk/stem portion and leafy biomass which is fed through the slot to between the shafts. The stripping members remove the leafy biomass from the stalk while leaving the stalk intact.

A plant stripping machine includes a casing with a longitudinal slot in the top of the casing. A pair of shafts are rotatably mounted within the casing. The pair of shafts are parallel and spaced apart defining a gap between the shafts aligned below the slot. The shafts counter rotate in relation to each other. A plurality of stripping members extend from and are spaced along the length of each shaft. The stripping members extend from the pair of shafts a radial distance sufficient to overlap within the gap. The pair of counter rotating shafts are arranged to engage and pull a plant with a stalk/stem portion and leafy biomass which is fed through the slot to between the shafts. The stripping members remove the leafy biomass from the stalk while leaving the stalk intact.