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 system and method for optimizing flexible material handling for decorticated agricultural biomass. The method including: receiving decorticated components of the decorticated agricultural biomass, the decorticated components including bast fibre and hurd; analyzing one or more mechanical characteristics of the bast fibre; determining if the bast fibre is above a predetermined quality threshold based on the analyzed mechanical characteristics; where the bast fibre is above the predetermined threshold, directing the bast fibre for cutting, and cutting the bast fibre into one or more lengths; and where the bast fibre is below the predetermined threshold, directing the bast fibre for blending, and blending the bast fibre and hurd in determined proportions.

A system and method for optimizing flexible material handling for decorticated agricultural biomass. The method including: receiving decorticated components of the decorticated agricultural biomass, the decorticated components including bast fibre and hurd; analyzing one or more mechanical characteristics of the bast fibre; determining if the bast fibre is above a predetermined quality threshold based on the analyzed mechanical characteristics; where the bast fibre is above the predetermined threshold, directing the bast fibre for cutting, and cutting the bast fibre into one or more lengths; and where the bast fibre is below the predetermined threshold, directing the bast fibre for blending, and blending the bast fibre and hurd in determined proportions.

The invention relates to an apparatus for primary processing of bast-fiber crops and can be used to obtain the same type straw fibers and shives or flax and hemp fibers. The bast crops processing line consists of the sequentially installed recoiling machine, dividing and scutching machine, breaking machine, the machine for scutching raw fibers without pressing tow shaker and shive-fiber waste transportation system, while the latter is fitted with a crushing device. The dividing and scutching machine makes it possible to form a layer of raw material with a definite and optimal density for processing, to card and separate shives from fibers. The machine for scutching raw fibers without pressing provides an intensive separation of shives from fibers, considerably facilitating further separation of free shives in the tow shaker. The crushing device improves reliability of the chive-fiber waste transportation system.

The invention relates to an apparatus for primary processing of bast-fiber crops and can be used to obtain the same type straw fibers and shives or flax and hemp fibers. The bast crops processing line consists of the sequentially installed recoiling machine, dividing and scutching machine, breaking machine, the machine for scutching raw fibers without pressing tow shaker and shive-fiber waste transportation system, while the latter is fitted with a crushing device. The dividing and scutching machine makes it possible to form a layer of raw material with a definite and optimal density for processing, to card and separate shives from fibers. The machine for scutching raw fibers without pressing provides an intensive separation of shives from fibers, considerably facilitating further separation of free shives in the tow shaker. The crushing device improves reliability of the chive-fiber waste transportation system.

A decortication system includes a feeder configured to convey unoriented fiber-bearing plant stalks in a bulk mass and a decorticator assembly comprising a multi-stage decorticator assembly. The decorticator assembly includes at least a first stage decorticator and a second stage decorticator arranged in series with one another. The first stage decorticator comprises a ripper that is configured to separate stalks from the bulk mass delivered by the feeder and to meter movement of stalks away from the ripper. The second stage decorticator is located downstream of the ripper and further decorticates the stalks to produce fiber and hurd that are separated from one another. It may comprise a roller-roller breaker assembly comprising plurality of roller-breaker assemblies located in series with one another. A third stage decorticator may be located downstream of the second stage decorticator and may comprise a second roller-breaker assembly.

A decortication system includes a feeder configured to convey unoriented fiber-bearing plant stalks in a bulk mass and a decorticator assembly comprising a multi-stage decorticator assembly. The decorticator assembly includes at least a first stage decorticator and a second stage decorticator arranged in series with one another. The first stage decorticator comprises a ripper that is configured to separate stalks from the bulk mass delivered by the feeder and to meter movement of stalks away from the ripper. The second stage decorticator is located downstream of the ripper and further decorticates the stalks to produce fiber and hurd that are separated from one another. It may comprise a roller-roller breaker assembly comprising plurality of roller-breaker assemblies located in series with one another. A third stage decorticator may be located downstream of the second stage decorticator and may comprise a second roller-breaker assembly.

A system and method for optimizing flexible material handling for decorticated agricultural biomass. The method including: receiving decorticated components of the decorticated agricultural biomass, the decorticated components including bast fibre and hurd; analyzing one or more mechanical characteristics of the bast fibre; determining if the bast fibre is above a predetermined quality threshold based on the analyzed mechanical characteristics; where the bast fibre is above the predetermined threshold, directing the bast fibre for cutting, and cutting the bast fibre into one or more lengths; and where the bast fibre is below the predetermined threshold, directing the bast fibre for blending, and blending the bast fibre and hurd in determined proportions.

A system and method for optimizing flexible material handling for decorticated agricultural biomass. The method including: receiving decorticated components of the decorticated agricultural biomass, the decorticated components including bast fibre and hurd; analyzing one or more mechanical characteristics of the bast fibre; determining if the bast fibre is above a predetermined quality threshold based on the analyzed mechanical characteristics; where the bast fibre is above the predetermined threshold, directing the bast fibre for cutting, and cutting the bast fibre into one or more lengths; and where the bast fibre is below the predetermined threshold, directing the bast fibre for blending, and blending the bast fibre and hurd in determined proportions.