PLANT PRESS USING SHEARING FORCE

Abstract

A plant press including a container having a cavity for receiving a plant and a plunger disposed within the cavity of the container. The plunger being translatable in a direction transverse to a longitudinal axis of the cavity and adapted to create a shearing force.

Claims

1. A plant press comprising: a container including a cavity configured to receive a plant, the cavity having a longitudinal axis; a first chamber selectively in fluid communication with the cavity, the first chamber configured to receive a first solvent; and a plunger disposed within the cavity and being translatable in a first direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cavity and adapted to create a shearing force on the plant.

2. The plant press of claim 1, wherein the first chamber includes an acidic solvent.

3. The plant press of claim 1, further comprising a second chamber selectively in fluid communication the cavity, the second chamber configured to receive a second solvent different than the first solvent.

4. The plant press of claim 3, wherein the second chamber comprises an alcoholic solvent, electrolytes, or ionized calcium.

5. The plant press of claim 1, further comprising a second plunger translatable in a second direction, different than the first direction, and transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container.

6. The plant press of claim 1, further comprising a platform coupled the container and configured to cause the container to vibrate.

7. The plant press of claim 1, further comprising a light emitting source for emitting light into the cavity.

8. The plant press of claim 7, wherein the light emitting source emits at least one of UV light, visible light, infrared light, or microwave light.

9. The plant press of claim 1, further comprising a vacuum source connected to the container for reducing the pressure within the cavity.

10. The plant press of claim 1, wherein the plunger includes a solenoid for producing an electrical current.

11. The plant press of claim 1, wherein the plunger is further configured to rotate.

12. The plant press of claim 1, further comprising a heating or cooling device for modifying a temperature within the cavity.

13. A plant press comprising: a container including a cavity for receiving a plant, the cavity having a longitudinal axis; first and second chambers selectively in fluid communication with the cavity of the container, the first and second chambers configured to receive a solvent; and a plunger disposed within the cavity, the plunger having a longitudinal axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of the cavity, wherein the plunger is rotatable about its longitudinal axis and configured to create a shearing force on the plant.

14. The plant press of claim 13, wherein the plunger is translatable in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the container.

15. The plant press of claim 13, further comprising a valve disposed between the first and second chambers and the cavity, the valve being transitionable between an open condition in which the first and second chambers are in fluid communication with the cavity and a closed condition in which the first and second chambers are in fluid isolation with the cavity.

16. The plant press of claim 13, further comprising a vent disposed between the first and second chambers and the cavity, the vent being transitionable between an open condition in which the first and second chambers are in fluid communication with the cavity and a closed condition in which the first and second chambers are in fluid isolation with the cavity.

17. The plant press of claim 13, wherein a wall of the container is formed of cellulous, metal, wood, rock, or plastic, or a combination thereof.

18. The plant press of claim 13, wherein a distal end of the plunger is concave for reducing compression forces.

19. The plant press of claim 13, wherein a distal end of the plunger includes grooves or cutouts for enhancing the shearing force.

20. A method for extracting a plant extract from a plant, comprising: positioning a plant material within a cavity of a container; sealing the cavity from an environment; applying a solvent to the plant material; applying a sheering force to the plant material; and collecting plant extract extracted from the plant, wherein the steps of applying the solvent to the plant material and applying the sheering force to the plant material are carried out when the cavity is sealed from the environment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] Various embodiments of the present disclosure are described herein with reference to the following drawings in which:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic representation of a plant press device in accordance with an embodiment of the disclosure;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a container of the plant press with the lid in the closed position.

[0025] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the container of FIG. 2 with the lid in the open position.

[0026] FIG. 4 is a cross-section front view of the container of FIG. 3 taken along line 4-4.

[0027] FIG. 5 is a cross-section view of a plunger of the plant press.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] As used herein, the term axial means along or parallel to a longitudinal axis of the feature in which the longitudinal axis references. Rotation refers to rotation about the longitudinal axis, unless otherwise described. Furthermore, the term transverse, as used herein with respect to two axis, means the axis are not parallel to one another and, thus, will eventually transverse or extend across one another.

[0029] The plant press described herein is adapted to automate extraction of a plant extract. While the plant press is described herein in connection with extracting psychoactive resins from a cannabis plant, it will be appreciated that these concepts may be equally applicable to the extraction of different extracts from a variety of plants.

[0030] Plant press 10, diagrammatically illustrated in FIG. 1, includes a container 12 having a cavity 14, a first solvent chamber 16 and a second solvent chamber 18 selectively in fluid communication with the cavity, and one a more plungers 20 at least partially disposed within the cavity. Container 12 may be coupled to a vacuum source 22 for reducing the pressure within cavity 14 and coupled to a platform 24 adapted to shake the container, as described in further detail below.

[0031] Container 12, shown in FIGS. 2-4, includes a base 26, a sidewall 28 circumscribing the base, and a lid 30, forming cavity 14 within the container 12. Lid 30 is coupled to sidewall 28, for example, via hinges such that it is transitionable from an open position (FIG. 2) to a closed position (FIG. 3). When lid 30 is in the closed position, cavity 14 is sealed from the environment. Although container 12 is illustrated as being box shaped, it will be appreciated that the container may be any shape, for example, cylindrical, spherical, or hemispherical. Container 12 is preferably formed of a material such as cellulous, metal, wood, or rock that enhances the shearing force when the plant is moved over the materials surface.

[0032] Cavity 14 includes a longitudinal axis L. One or more plungers 20, each of which have a respective longitudinal axis U, are provided within cavity 14 and oriented such that the longitudinal axis of the plunger is transverse to the longitudinal axis of cavity 14. Each one of the plungers 20 may be coupled to a motor and a drive shaft 32 for moving the plungers within cavity 14. It will be appreciated that plant press 10 may include as few as one plunger, or any number of plungers greater than one, in order to increase extraction efficiency.

[0033] Plungers 20 are adapted to move through cavity 14 in a direction that creates a shearing force and, minimizes the compression forces, on the plant. For example, plungers 20 may translate along longitudinal axis U, rotate about longitudinal axis U, simultaneously translate along longitudinal axis U and rotate about longitudinal axis U (twisting force), or otherwise move within cavity 14 to create a shearing force. As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, compression forces generate increased friction and excess heat, which may cause heat liable compounds of the plant extract to denature and exhibit diminished desirable properties, much like the problems associated with the plant drying press. Shearing forces on the other hand, facilitate extraction and minimize heat generation.

[0034] Container 12 may be positioned on, or otherwise be coupled to, vibrating platform 24. A top surface of platform 24 may include a recess shaped to match the base 26 of container 12 or another mechanism for securing the container to the platform. Platform 24 preferably vibrates laterally, thus laterally shaking container 12 and enhancing the shearing forces applied to the plant by the plungers 20.

[0035] Referring to FIG. 5, each of the plungers 20 is an elongate member extending from a proximal end 34 to a distal or contacting end 36. The distal end 36 of plunger 20 may have a greater surface area than the proximal end 34, thus increasing contact area between the plunger and the plant and increasing extraction efficiency. Contact end 36 may be generally concave in shape and include a groove 37 to minimize compression forces exerted on the plant during movement of plunger 20.

[0036] Plunger 20 may also include a solenoid 38 or a battery for generating an electrical current during movement of the plunger. It has been shown that stimulating a plant with a voltage, for example, 9V causes the plant's stomata to open and facilitates extraction.

[0037] Referring back to FIG. 4, container 12 may optionally include a collection basin 39 adjacent the base 26 for collecting the plant extract. A filter 41 such as a mesh screen may be disposed between the base 26 of container 12 and the collection basin 39.

[0038] As will appreciated by one skilled in the art, ideal extraction conditions vary greatly based upon the plant. Thus, plant press 10 includes several features, further explained hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1-4, for modifying the conditions under which extraction is performed.

[0039] First solvent chamber 16 and second solvent chamber 18 may be disposed within the sidewall 28, the lid 30, or be otherwise selectively coupled to container 12. First and second solvent chambers 16, 18 are adapted to hold one or more solvents. The first solvent chamber 16 may, for example, contain an acidic solvent while the second solvent chamber 18 may, for example, contain an alcoholic solvent, electrolytes, or ionized calcium. These solvents, however, are merely exemplary and may modified in view of the specific plant from which the user is removing an extract.

[0040] A valve 40 may be disposed between first and second solvent chambers 16, 18 and container 12. Valve 40 is transitionable from an open condition in which the first and second solvent chamber 16, 18 are in fluid communication with cavity 14 and a closed condition in which the first and second chambers are in fluid isolation with the cavity. Thus, the user can selectively regulate the quantity of solvent that is added to the slurry and at what time during the extraction process the solvent is added without having to open lid 30.

[0041] Additionally, or alternatively, a vent 42 may be disposed between first and second solvent chambers 16, 18 and container 12. Vent 42 may also be transitionable from an open condition in which the first and second 16, 18 chamber are in fluid communication with cavity 14 to a closed condition in which the first and second chambers are in fluid isolation with the cavity. In this embodiment, a fan may also be positioned within each of the first and second solvent chambers 16, 18. As such, when vent 42 is in the open condition, ionized calcium or other desirable airborne materials may be blown into cavity 14.

[0042] Container 12 may also include a light emitting source 44 attached to the lid 30 of the container for emitting light downward into cavity 14. Light emitting source 44 may emit UV light, visible light, infrared light, or microwave light to the plant during the extraction process.

[0043] Container 12 may also include a temperature regulating device 46 such as a heater or a cooling device. Temperature regulating device 46 may be disposed within the sidewall 28 or the lid 30 of container 12 for regulating the temperature within the container. In one embodiment, container 12 is optionally coupled to vacuum source 22 for altering the pressure inside of cavity 14. By reducing the pressure within cavity 14, plant press 10 is able to regulate the temperature using less energy. For example, by reducing the pressure within cavity 14, temperature regulating device 46 does not have to blow as much heat into the cavity in order to raise the temperature therein.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, plant press 10 includes a central processing unit such as a computer 48 for controlling each of the above described components. Computer 48 may be receive a series of commands from an input device 50 such as a touch screen display, thereby specifically regulating each one of the aforementioned conditions and, even selecting the time in which the condition is performed.

[0045] Plant press 10, thus, permits the user to pre-select the conditions under which the plant is extracted and regulate the conditions with specificity. For example, a user may program plant press 10 to begin extraction at room temperature and gradually decrease the temperature by 1 C. per minute over a 30 minute extraction process and add an acidic solvent to the slurry during the 20.sup.th minute. All of these conditions are automatically regulated by computer 48 such that the user does not have to open lid 30 in order to add the solvent. As a result, the desired internal environment of container 12 is maintained.

[0046] The user may use plant press 10 as follows. The user first inputs a series of controls using input device 50, specifying the desired conditions under which the plant extraction will be performed. These conditions may be tailored to the specific plant being extracted. The user may then move the lid 30 to its open position and place the plant, such as skuff, within cavity 14. After the skuff has been placed within cavity 14, the user may securely move lid 30 back to its closed position, sealing the cavity from the environment. Computer 48 will then regulate the plant extraction process according to the user's specifications. During the extraction, plungers 30 move, for example, axially and rotationally, within cavity 14, at a rate and in a direction, specified by the user in order to create a shearing force on the plant.

[0047] Upon completion of the plant extraction process, the user may remove the plant extracts from the collection basin 39 of container 12 or directly from cavity 14.

[0048] Although the invention herein has been described with reference to particular embodiments, it is to be understood that these embodiments are merely illustrative of the principles and applications of the present invention. It is therefore to be understood that numerous modifications may be made to the illustrative embodiments and that other arrangements may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.