METHOD AND DEVICE FOR STRIPPING LEAVES AND OR FLOWERS FROM A STALK

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for stripping leaves and/or flowers from a stalk (1), in particular for stripping cannabis leaves and/or cannabis flowers from a stalk (1). Thereby, a loop (2) is formed around the stalk (1) to be stripped, which is formed at least in a partial area from flexurally elastic or flexurally slack loop means (3, 3a, 3b) which have tensile strength in the direction of the loop. The stalk (1) is then pulled through the loop (2) in the longitudinal direction of the stalk, with the leaves and/or flowers being stripped from the stalk (1). The invention makes it possible to strip the leaves or flowers, respectively, more easily and directly from the surface of the stalk (1), such that they can be substantially harvested better, faster and with less damage. Less preparatory work is also required.

Claims

1. A method for stripping leaves and/or flowers from a stalk, in particular for stripping cannabis leaves and/or cannabis flowers from a stalk, comprising the steps: a) forming of a loop around the stalk, which is formed at least in a partial area from loop means which are flexurally elastic or flexurally slack and have tensile strength in the direction of the loop; and b) pulling of the stalk in the longitudinal direction of the stalk through the loop while stripping the leaves and/or flowers from the stalk, wherein the stalk is inserted transversely to the stripping direction into an area (B) partially delimited by the loop means and this area (B) is then completely enclosed by the loop—means and any possible further elements forming the loop and is circumferentially reduced in size until the stalk is completely or at least for the most part enclosed by the loop means and the possible further elements forming the loop.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein during the pulling of the stalk through the loop a specific tensile force in the direction of the loop is ensured in the loop means.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the loop is formed exclusively from loop—means which are flexurally elastic or flexurally slack and have tensile strength in the direction of the loop.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the loop is formed by a continuous section of a single loop means.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the loop is formed by several separate sections, in particular by exactly two separate sections or comprises such sections, which are provided by one or more loop means.

6. (canceled)

7. (canceled)

8. The method according to claim 1, wherein the stalk is inserted transversely to the stripping direction into an area (B) which is formed between two sections of the loop means leading away from each other, in particular from a common starting point (X), and wherein this area (B) is then completely enclosed and circumferentially reduced in size by crossing these two sections of the loop means until the stalk is enclosed by the loop means and the possible further elements forming the loop.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the stalk is inserted transversely to the stripping direction into an area (B) formed between two sections of the loop means leading away from each other from a common starting point (X), and wherein this common starting point (X) is formed by a point at which the two sections cross.

10. The method according to claim 9, wherein the crossing of the areas of the two sections facing away from the—common starting point (X) takes place in such a way that at this crossing (Y) there is a sequence of the two sections viewed in the stripping direction which is the reverse of the sequence which is present at the crossing forming the common starting point (X).

11. The method according to claim 8, wherein the crossing of the two sections is effected by a pivoting of two swivel arms, on each of which one end of one of the two sections is arranged.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the distances between the attachment location of the end of the respective section to the swivel axis of the respective swivel arm are equal or different for both swivel arms, and in particular, wherein the smaller of said distances is less than 80% of the larger of said distances.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein the pivoting of the swivel arms takes place under the overcoming of spring-elastic restoring forces which, in the absence of actuating forces for pivoting the swivel arms, effect a returning of the swivel arms into a loading position in which the two sections of the loop means lead away from each other, thereby forming an area (B) between them into which a stalk can be inserted substantially transversely to the stripping direction.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein the actuating forces for pivoting the swivel arms are transmitted to the swivel arms exclusively via the ends of the sections of the loop means arranged thereon, by means of exerting a tensile force on these sections of the loop means, in particular from a common starting point (X).

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein the actuating forces for pivoting the swivel arms are not or not exclusively transmitted to the swivel arms via the ends of the sections of the loop means arranged thereon, and in particular wherein a constant or spring-elastic tensile force is continuously exerted on said sections of the loop means, in particular from a common starting point (X).

16. The method according to claim 1, wherein a cord, a rope or a band material made of plastic and/or metal, in particular of stainless steel, is used as a loop means.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the cord, rope or band material is progressively or in intervals replaced with new corresponding material.

18. Stripping A stripping device for use in carrying out the method according to claim 1, comprising a stripper for forming a loop around a stalk to be stripped for stripping leaves and/or flowers from the stalk when the stalk is pulled through the—loop in the longitudinal direction of the stalk, wherein the stripper has flexurally elastic or flexurally slack loop means which have tensile strength in the direction of the loop and wherein it is designed in such a way that, in the intended operation, the loop around the stalk is formed by these loop means at least in a partial area, wherein the stripper is designed in such a way that in a loading position it forms an area (B) which is partially delimited by the loop means and into which the stalk can be inserted transversely to the intended stripping direction, and that this area (B) can then, when the stalk is inserted, be completely enclosed by the loop means and any possible further elements forming the loop and circumferentially reduced in size until the stalk is enclosed by the loop means and the possible further elements forming the loop.

19. The stripping device according to claim 18, wherein the device has means with which, in the intended operation when the stalk is pulled through the loop, a certain tensile force in the direction of the loop can be ensured in the loop means.

20. The stripping device according to claim 18, wherein the stripper is designed in such a way that, in the intended operation, the loop around the stalk is formed exclusively from loop means which are flexurally elastic or flexurally slack and which have tensile strength in the direction of the loop.

21. The stripping device according to claim 20, wherein the stripper is designed in such a way that, in the intended operation, the loop around the stalk is formed by a continuous section of a single loop means.

22. The stripping device according to claim 20, wherein the stripper is designed in such a way that, in the intended operation, the loop is formed by several separate sections, in particular by exactly two separate sections or comprises such sections, which are provided by one or more loop means.

23. (canceled)

24. (canceled)

25. The stripping device according to claim 18, wherein the stripper is designed in such a way that in the loading position it forms an area (B) which is formed between two sections of the loop means leading away from each other, in particular from a common starting point (X), and that this area (B) can then be completely enclosed and circumferentially reduced in size by crossing these two sections of the loop means until the stalk is looped by the loop means and the possible further elements forming the loop.

26. The stripping device according to claim 25, wherein the stripper is designed in such a way that in the loading position it forms an area (B) which is formed between two sections of the loop means leading away from each other from a common starting point (X), and that the—common starting point (X) is formed by a point at which the two sections of the loop means cross each other.

27. The stripping device according to claim 26, wherein the stripper is designed in such a way that the crossing of the areas of the two sections facing away from the common starting point (X) takes place in such a way that at this crossing (Y), viewed in the stripping direction, there is a sequence of the two sections which is the reverse of the sequence which is present at the crossing (X) forming the common starting point (X).

28. The stripping device according to claim 25, wherein the stripper comprises two swivel arms on each of which one end of one of the two sections is arranged, and wherein the stripper is designed in such a way that the crossing of the two sections can be effected by a pivoting of the swivel arms.

29. The stripping device according to claim 28, wherein the distances between the attachment location of the end of the respective section to the swivel axis of the respective swivel arm are equal or different for both swivel arms, and in particular, wherein the smaller of said distances is less than 80% of the larger of said distances.

30. The stripping device according to claim 28, wherein the stripper is designed in such a way that the pivoting of the swivel arms is effected by overcoming spring-elastic restoring forces which, in the absence of actuating forces for pivoting the swivel arms, effect a returning of the swivel arms into a loading position in which the two sections of the loop means lead away from each other, thereby forming an area (B) between them into which a stalk can be inserted transversely to the stripping direction.

31. The stripping device according to claim 28, wherein the stripper is designed in such a way that the actuating forces for pivoting the swivel arms are transmitted to the swivel arms exclusively via the ends of the sections of the loop means—arranged thereon, by means of exerting a tensile force on these sections of the loop means, in particular from a common starting point (X).

32. The stripping device according to claim 28, wherein the stripper is designed in such a way that the actuating forces for pivoting the swivel arms are not or not exclusively transmitted to the swivel arms via the ends of the sections of the loop means arranged thereon, and in particular that, in the intended operation, a constant or spring-elastic tensile force is continuously exerted on these sections of the loop means, in particular from a common starting point.

33. The stripping device according to claim 18, wherein the stripper comprises a cord, a rope or a band material made of plastic and/or metal, in particular of stainless steel, as loop means.

34. The stripping device according to claim 33, wherein the stripper is configured such that the cord, rope or band material is progressively or in intervals replaced with new corresponding material.

35. An arrangement for carrying out the method according to claim 18, comprising: a stripping device comprising a stripper for forming a loop around a stalk to be stripped—for stripping leaves and/or flowers from the stalk when the stalk is pulled through the loop in the longitudinal direction of the stalk, wherein the stripper has flexurally elastic or flexurally slack loop means which have tensile strength in the direction of the loop and wherein it is designed in such a way that, in the intended operation, the loop around the stalk is formed by these loop means at least in a partial area; and a drawing-in device for pulling the stalk in the longitudinal direction of the stalk—through the loop formed by the stripping device while stripping the leaves and/or flowers from the stalk.

36. The use of the stripping device comprising a stripper for forming a loop around a stalk to be stripped for stripping leaves and/or flowers from the stalk when the stalk is pulled through the loop in the longitudinal direction of the stalk, wherein the stripper has flexurally elastic or flexurally slack loop means which have tensile strength in the direction of the loop and wherein it is designed in such a way that, in the intended operation, the loop around the stalk is formed by these loop means at least in a partial area or the arrangement according to claim 35 for stripping leaves and/or flowers from a stalk, in particular for stripping cannabis leaves and/or cannabis flowers from a stalk or hop leaves and/or hop cones from a stalk.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0044] Further preferred embodiments of the invention are apparent from the dependent claims and from the description which now follows with reference to the figures. Thereby show:

[0045] FIGS. 1a-1e front views of a first stripping device according to the invention in various operating states;

[0046] FIGS. 2a-2e front views of a second stripping device according to the invention in different operating states;

[0047] FIGS. 3a-3d front views of a third stripping device according to the invention in different operating states; and

[0048] FIGS. 4a-4e front views of a fourth stripping device according to the invention in various operating states.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] The FIGS. 1a to 1e show front views of a first stripping device according to the invention in various operating states while carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0050] As can be seen, the stripping device comprises a support structure 8 in the form of a solid stainless steel plate, which is V-shaped at its upper end and supports two swivel arms 6a, 6b. The swivel arms 6a, 6b are mounted on the plate 8 symmetrically to the V-shape of the upper edge of the plate 8 so that they can be pivoted at a distance from one another, namely the first swivel arm 6a on the front side of the plate 8 and the right swivel arm 6b on the rear side of the plate 8. The swivel arms 6a, 6b are coupled with spring means (not shown) which cause spring-elastic restoring forces to be overcome in order to pivot the swivel arms 6a, 6b towards each other, which forces cause the swivel arms 6a, 6b to return to an initial position (loading position) in the absence of actuating forces for pivoting the swivel arms 6a, 6b. At the free ends of the swivel arms 6a, 6b the ends of a flexurally slack tension-resistant rope 3 (flexurally slack tension-resistant loop means according to the claims) are fastened, namely at the rear side of the left swivel arm 6a and at the front side of the right swivel arm 6b. The rope 3 is formed in its center on the front side of the plate 8 by means of two deflection pulleys 9a, 9b and a retaining pulley 10 below the upper edge of the supporting structure 8 into a downwardly pointing loop 11. At the lowermost point of this loop 11, a drive cable 12 is coupled, which is guided via a deflection pulley 13 and a recess 14 in the plate 8 to a drive (not shown) on the rear side of the plate 8, which can exert a tensile force on the drive cable 12 to actuate the device. The rope 3 is kept under a permanent tensile stress by the spring means of the swivel arms 6a, 6b.

[0051] As will be explained in more detail below, a stripper 7 according to the claims is thus provided, with which a loop 2 can be formed around a stalk to be stripped, to enable leaves and/or flowers to be stripped from the stalk 1 when the stalk 1 is pulled through this loop 2 in the longitudinal direction of the stalk.

[0052] FIG. 1a shows the stripping device with the stripper 7 in the loading position. As can be seen from FIGS. 1a and 1c, which show the loading of the stripping device with a stalk 1 to be stripped, the stripper 7 in the loading position forms a V-shaped loading area B, which is delimited at the sides by the sections 3a and 3b of the rope 3 separated by the loop 11 and at the base of the V-shape by the upper edge of the plate 8. Since this area is open to the top, the end of the stalk 1 can be inserted into this area B transversely to the intended stripping direction or transversely to the longitudinal direction of the stalk (see FIG. 1b), respectively, until it rests on the upper edge of the plate 8 (see FIG. 1c).

[0053] Shortly before or as soon as the end of the stalk 1 comes to rest on the upper edge of the plate 8, a tensile force is exerted on the drive rope 12 by the drive (not shown) which is larger than the restoring force provided by the spring means (not shown) of the swivel arms 6a, 6b, so that the loop 11 is pulled downward and the swivel arms 6a, 6b are pivoted toward each other by the tensile force exerted by the ends of the rope 3 attached thereto (see FIG. 1d). In the process, the sections 3a and 3b of the rope 3 cross over each other, causing the area B in which the stalk 1 is arranged to be completely enclosed and reduced in size until the stalk 1 is enclosed by the rope sections 3a and 3b and the upper edge of the plate 8 (see FIG. 1e).

[0054] Now, the stalk 1 is pulled in the longitudinal direction of the stalk through the loop 2 formed in this way and the leaves and/or flowers on it are stripped from the stalk 1. Thereby, the loop 2 follows the decreasing stalk diameter by ensuring via the drive of the drive rope 12 that a specific tensile stress is always present in the pull rope 12 or in the rope 3, respectively, during stripping.

[0055] After the stalk 1 has been completely stripped, the tensile force exerted by the drive on the drive rope 12 is removed and the stripper 7 is returned to the loading position shown in FIG. 1a as a result of the restoring forces provided by the spring means of the swivel arms 6a, 6b.

[0056] The FIGS. 2a to 2e show front views of a second stripping device according to the invention in various operating states while carrying out the method according to the invention. This stripping device differs from the one according to FIGS. 1a-1e only in that the guiding of the rope 3 in its center and the formation of the loop 11 are carried out differently than in the first stripping device, with the result that the loop around the stalk 1 is formed exclusively with the sections 3a and 3b of the flexurally slack rope 3, i.e. without the involvement of the upper edge of the plate 8. For this purpose, the plate 8 is cut deeper at its upper V-shaped end and the retaining pulley 10 projects upwards beyond the upper edge of the plate 8. The guide pulleys 9a, 9b of the first stripping device are omitted and the rope 3 loops around the retaining pulley 10 in its center to form the loop 11. The sections 3a, 3b of the rope 3 leading away from the retaining pulley 10 cross each other in the area just above the retaining pulley 10.

[0057] The loading of this stripping device and its operation and general functioning is identical to that of the first stripping device, which is why reference can be made here to the previous description of FIGS. 1a-1e, which illustrate the procedure in a manner analogous to FIGS. 2a-2e.

[0058] As can be seen in particular in FIG. 2e, the crossing direction of the sections 3a, 3b of the rope 3 in the area of the retaining pulley 10 is selected in such a way that, viewed in the stripping direction, there is a reverse order at this crossing point X to that at the crossing point Y, which is formed when looping around the stalk 1. In other words, at the lower crossing point X, section 3b is in front, while at the upper crossing point Y, section 3a is in front.

[0059] The FIGS. 3a to 3d show front views of a third stripping device according to the invention in various operating states while carrying out the method according to the invention.

[0060] This stripping device comprises a sling 15 made of a flexurally elastic stainless steel cable 3, the ends of which are attached to two circular drive discs 16a, 16b. The drive discs 16a, 16b are rotatably mounted on a support structure 8 and can be rotated in opposite directions by a drive (not shown). The loop 15 is arranged in front of a passage opening 4 of the support structure 8 and is fastened in its center to the support structure 8 by a bar 5.

[0061] As will be explained in more detail below, a further stripper 7 according to the claims is provided in this way, with which a loop 2 can be formed around a stalk 1 to be stripped, to enable leaves and/or flowers to be stripped from the stalk 1 when the stalk 1 is pulled through this loop 2 in the longitudinal direction of the stalk.

[0062] FIG. 3a shows the stripping device with the stripper 7 in the loading position. As can be seen in conjunction with FIG. 3b, which shows the stripping device being loaded with a stalk 1 to be stripped, the stripper 7 in the loading position forms a loading area B enclosed by the steel cable loop 15, into which the stalk 1 is inserted in the stripping direction or longitudinal direction of the stalk, respectively. In the loading position, this area B has a diameter corresponding to a multiple of the diameter of the stalk.

[0063] As soon as the end of the stalk 1 is positioned in the loading area B, the drive discs 16a and 16b are rotated in opposite directions by the drive (not shown) in such a way that the loop 15 contracts and the area B is reduced in size (see FIG. 3c) until the stalk 1 is looped by the rope loop 15 (see FIG. 1e).

[0064] The stalk 1 is now pulled through the loop 2 formed in this way in the longitudinal direction of the stalk and the leaves and/or flowers on it are stripped from the stalk 1. In the process, the loop 2 follows the decreasing stalk diameter by ensuring, via the drive of the drive discs 16a, 16b, that there is always a certain tensile stress in the rope 3 during stripping.

[0065] After the stalk 1 has been completely stripped, the drive pulleys 16a, 16b are turned back with the drive until the loading position shown in FIG. 3a is reached again.

[0066] The FIGS. 4a-4e show front views of a fourth stripping device according to the invention in various operating states while carrying out the method according to the invention. This stripping device differs from that according to FIGS. 2a-2e only in that the distances between the fastening location of the end of the respective section 3a, 3b to the swivel axis of the respective swivel arm are not the same for both swivel arms 6a, 6b, as this is the case with the design according to FIGS. 2a-2e, but that these distances are of different sizes. In the case shown, the distance between the attachment location of the end of section 3a on the swivel arm 6a to its swivel axis is approximately 70% of the distance between the attachment location of the end of section 3b on the swivel arm 6b to its swivel axis.

[0067] While preferred embodiments of the invention are described in the present application, it should be clearly noted that the invention is not limited to these and may be carried out in other ways within the scope of the no following claims.