Apparatus and Method for Processing Plant Materials

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to the processing of hops. More specifically, an apparatus and method for extracting lupulin from hops are disclosed. Hops are brought into contact with a cooling agent, such as dry ice, to freeze or cool the hops. This cooling is facilitated by mixing the hops and the dry ice together inside of a tumbler. The tumbler continuously rotates to mix the dry ice and hops. Further mixing is afforded by an internal agitator that sweeps the interior of the tumbler. The agitator also pulverizes the hops and separates the hops from the particulate lupulin material. The tumbler is formed from a mesh material that allows the extracted lupulin to leave the tumbler and be collected.

Claims

1. An apparatus for extracting lupulin from hops, the apparatus comprising: a rectangular frame for supporting the apparatus upon a surface, the frame including an upper peripheral extent; a cylindrical tumbler adapted for rotation with respect to the frame, the tumbler including an interior area, opposing ends, and an intermediate extent, mounting plates secured at the opposing ends, a mesh screen extending between the mounting plates, the mesh screen allowing particles of between approximately 200 to 1000 microns to pass therethrough, a central axle rotatably mounting the tumbler to the peripheral extent of the frame, a door formed within the mesh screen to provide access to the interior of the tumbler; a volume of hops and particulate dry ice positioned within the interior area of the tumbler, the dry ice functioning to cool and abrasively contact the hops and thereby facilitate the separation of the lupulin from the hops; an agitator positioned along the central axle of the tumbler and positioned within the interior area, the agitator including a series of arms that functioning in sweeping the interior of the tumbler and further separating the lupulin from the hops; a motor powering both a tumbler drive train and an agitator drive train, the tumbler drive train rotating the tumbler at a first rate of rotation, the agitator drive train rotating the agitator at a second rate of rotation, with the second rate of rotation is substantially greater than the first rate of rotation; a collector positioned about the tumbler and functioning to collect the lupulin passing through the mesh screen.

2. An apparatus for extracting lupulin from hops comprising: a tumbler including an interior, a screen, and an axle for rotatably mounting the tumbler; a volume of hops and particulate frozen matter positioned within the interior of the tumbler, the frozen matter functioning to cool and abrasively contact the hops and thereby facilitate the extraction of the lupulin; an agitator positioned within the interior of the tumbler, the agitator mixing the hops and frozen matter and separating the lupulin from the hops; a motor powering both the tumbler and the agitator; a collector positioned adjacent tumbler and functioning to collect the lupulin passing through the screen.

3. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the tumbler is cylindrical and the axle is centrally mounted.

4. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the frozen matter is dry ice that is broken down into pieces of between inch and 3 inches.

5. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the screen allows for the passage of particles having a diameter of approximately 200 to 1000 microns.

6. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the tumbler and agitator rotate in opposite directions.

7. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the agitator rotates at a rate of between approximately 500 and 2000 RPMs.

8. The apparatus as described in claim 2 wherein the tumbler rotates at a rate of between approximately 1 and 60 RPMs.

9. The apparatus as described in claim 2 further comprising a door positioned within the tumbler to gain access to its interior.

10. A method of using dry ice to extract lupulin from hops, the method comprising the following steps: breaking the dry ice into smaller particles; combining the dry ice particles and the hops, the contact between the dry ice particles and hops decreasing the temperature of the hops; agitating the dry ice particles and hops, whereby the dry ice particles abrasively contact the hops and the lupulin is extracted from the hops; passing the extracted lupulin through a mesh screen whereby the lupulin is separated from the remaining hops materials; collecting the screened and extracted lupulin.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following descriptions, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0017] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded view of the apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0021] FIG. 5 is a detailed view of the tumbler and screen employed in the apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a partial sectional view of the apparatus of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a detailed view of the agitator of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 8 is a view of an alternative embodiment of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0025] The present disclosure relates to the processing of hops. More specifically, an apparatus and method for extracting lupulin from hops are disclosed. Hops are brought into contact with a cooling agent, such as dry ice, to freeze or cool the hops. This cooling is facilitated by mixing the hops and the dry ice together inside of a tumbler. The tumbler continuously rotates to mix the dry ice and hops. Further mixing is afforded by an internal agitator that sweeps the interior of the tumbler. The agitator also pulverizes the hops and separates the hops from the particulate lupulin material. The tumbler is formed from a mesh material that allows the extracted lupulin to leave the tumbler and be collected.

[0026] With reference now to FIG. 1, the apparatus 20 of the present invention is depicted. The apparatus 20 is designed to extract lupulin particles from hops. As noted, apparatus 20 is supported either on the ground or other surface by way of a frame 22. In the depicted embodiment, frame 22 is rectangular in shape with four upstanding members 24 and an upper peripheral extent 26. As more clearly illustrated in FIG. 5, frame 22 supports a cylindrical tumbler 28 that is adapted to rotate with respect to frame 22. Tumbler 28 includes an interior area 32, opposing ends, and an intermediate extent 34. Mounting plates 36 are secured to either end of tumbler 28.

[0027] In the depicted embodiment, one of these mounting plates 28 includes a cylindrical drive member 38 that allows an associated motor 58 and belt 62 to rotate tumbler 28 (FIGS. 2 and 3). The cylindrical side wall of tumbler 28 is formed entirely from a thin mesh screen 42 that has a mesh size of approximately 200-1000 microns. Mesh screen 42 extends fully between opposing mounting plates 36. If necessary, internal bracing bars 44 can be formed on the interior of the mesh 42 to prevent it from collapsing and otherwise maintaining the rigidity of tumbler 28. Tumbler 28 rotates about a central axle 46 that mounts tumbler 28 to the peripheral extent 26 of frame 22. In this regard, axle 46 may be mounted to frame 22 at either end by bearing elements 48. A portion of the exterior surface of tumbler 28 includes a door 52. Door 52 may be formed of the same mesh material as the majority of tumbler 28. Door 52 allows the user gain access to the interior area 32 and place the hops and dry ice as described hereinafter.

[0028] The operator opens door 52 to place a volume of hops to be processed. The user also places the cooling agent, which in the preferred embodiment is dry ice. Ideally, the dry ice is broken down into smaller chunks or particles ranging anywhere between approximately 0.5 to 3 inches in length. The dry ice functions in both cooling and abrasively contacting the hops. It has been found that cooling the hops allows the lupulin material therein to be more easily extracted.

[0029] The extraction and cooling are further facilitated by an agitator 54 that is positioned along the central axle 46 of tumbler 28 and is positioned within the interior area 32. Agitator 54 preferably includes a series of arms 56 (FIG. 7) that rotate about central axle 46. Arms 56 function in sweeping the interior of tumbler 28 and in pulverizing the hops to extract the lupulin. Both the cylindrical tumbler and the agitator are powered by an associated motor 58. Motor is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. Motor 58 powers both a first tumbler drivetrain (or belt 62) and a second agitator drivetrain (or belt 64). These drivetrains may take other forms that extend from a power takeoff on the motor to an associated axle. The size of the axles are chosen to provide the desired rates of the rotation. In particular, tumbler drivetrain 62 drives at a first rate of rotation and the agitator drivetrain 64 drives at a second rate of rotation. The second rate of rotation is substantially greater than the first right of rate of rotation. In one embodiment, the agitator rotates at 500-2000 RPM and tumbler rotates at 1-60 RMP.

[0030] Next, a collector 66 is designed to fit about the entirety of tumbler 28. In this regard, collector 66 includes elongated slots 68 at either end to accommodate the central axle 46. Collector 66 includes an upper lid 72 to provide a complete contained enclosure. Collector 66 is designed to accumulate any lupulin particles that are separated from the hops and are filtered by screen 42. The hops, whether emanating from the top or sides of the tumbler, will eventually accumulate at the bottom of collector 66. Once the processing is complete, the operator can access the harvested lupulin from the bottom of collector 66.

[0031] FIG. 7 illustrates another embodiment of the present invention. It utilizes a motor 102 to drive both the agitator 104 and the tumbler 106. The drive system includes a drive wheel 108 to rotate the tumbler 106 and a belt 112 to rotate the agitator. The tumbler 106 is surrounded by a mesh material 114. A tub 116 is positioned underneath and around the bottom of the tumbler 106. Bearing 118 supports are provided at either end of the axle to allow for the rotation of both the agitator 104 and tumbler 106.

[0032] The invention is a method and apparatus to separate lupulin from hops using a cryo-pulverizing technique. Lupulin is a yellow, waxy substance contained within the bract of the hop cone. The present apparatus detaches this useful beer making material from the less valuable plant matter (i.e. the bract) via a mechanical system and dry ice (solid carbon dioxide).

[0033] The objective of the present invention is to separate lupulin from the hop. To accomplish this task, a combination of stirring/mixing and pulverizing is used in conjunction with dry ice to remove the lupulin glands from the hop. The invention can be broken into separate components: drivetrain, agitator, tumbler, capture system, and miscellaneous.

Drivetrain

[0034] For this invention to function properly, it must be driven by one or more motors. The motor(s) may be either electric or gas powered devices. The function of the motor is to spin the tumbler and agitator. Because the tumbler will rotate at a much lower speed than the agitator, multiple motors may be used to vary either speed as needed. If one central motor is used, gear ratios may be implemented to vary the rotational velocity between the tumbler and agitator (FIG. 7). Power may be transmitted from motor to tumbler or agitator via gears, belts and sheaves, or sprockets and chains. The agitator may be driven in a direction opposite of the tumbler via a gear box.

Agitator

[0035] The purpose of the agitator is to break apart the hops and promote mixing between dry ice and hops. In the embodiment of FIG. 7, an agitator has a shaft with fixed blade-like fins to break apart hops. Any possible arrangements and/or dimensions of fins may be used to successfully promote separation of hops and lupulin. Preliminary tests have shown that vigorous mixing significantly increases the yield of lupulin powder when paired with dry ice. Therefore, the agitator will rotate at a significant rate (for example, in one embodiment at approximately 500-2000 RPM). Agitator speed is controlled by the motor to vary the rate of mixing. If mixing is too aggressive hops will be completely destroyed and plant matter will pass through the filtration system, but if mixing is too moderate hops will not be broken apart to allow lupulin to fall out.

Tumbler

[0036] The tumbler is a cylindrical basket or other container that will allow lupulin to pass through but contain plant matter inside; in one embodiment a mesh screen is used. Mesh screen sizes may be varied, for example between 200 and 1000 microns. In one embodiment, the mesh is removable/interchangeable for ease of cleaning and control of size. In one embodiment, the mesh is mounted on the exterior of a birdcage-like frame with ends that are supported on the agitator's shaft via bearings. The basket/container (frame and mesh) rotates, as aforementioned, at a speed much less than the agitator (likely 1-60 RPM, in one embodiment) with the intent that it will help negate stagnation of the hops on the bottom and allow more lupulin to pass through.

Capture System

[0037] The capture system used in the present invention collects the lupulin powder that passes through the mesh. It is important that this system works effectively to minimize waste/losses. There are several general arrangements to achieve this objective. In one embodiment, there is a simple tub/tray sitting underneath the tumbler and agitator that utilizes gravity to capture lupulin. However, a major limitation may be any airflow (both external and that created from motion of the agitator) blowing lupulin into the ambient environment. To remedy this, in another embodiment of the present invention, there is a full enclosure around the entire device to limit these losses from external airflow. An alternative embodiment is a vacuum system that creates negative pressure immediately around the tumbler. The lupulin is captured, for example on a screen.

Miscellaneous

[0038] All materials used by this invention, specifically those that encounter hops/lupulin powder, are of food grade quality as outlined by the NSFPublic Health and Safety Organization. In other words, the agitator, tumbler, capture system and other relevant components of any embodiments of the invention are built with food grade quality materials, for example stainless steel (e.g. AISI 316 SS). This facilitates sanitary practices when using this invention. Likewise, the mesh used to separate lupulin (could also be stainless steel) is removable to allow cleaning and access to the agitator. Moreover, all components are replaceable/interchangeable for ease of maintenance and repair. Finally, dry ice is a critical component to this invention, which is very effective in separating lupulin from the hop. The extreme cold temperature paired with the abrasive nature of dry ice is an inexpensive, but effective, method of creating lupulin powder.

[0039] Apparatus 20 has been disclosed for use in extracting lupulin from hops. However, apparatus 20 can similarly be used to extract other beneficial ingredients from a variety of plant materials. The steps and structures detailed above would be unchanged; however, plant material other than hops would be added to agitator 54 in addition to the dry ice. For example cannabis can be added to agitator 54 along with dry ice and thereafter agitated and filtered to extract cannabidiol (CBD) and/or Tetrahydrocannabinol (THC).

[0040] Although this disclosure has been described in terms of certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure.