Systems And Methods For Medicinal Cannabis Harvesting
Patent No. US11766066 (titled "Systems And Methods For Medicinal Cannabis Harvesting") was filed by Frazer Industries Llc on Sep 10, 2016.
What is this patent about?
’066 is related to the field of cannabis harvesting, specifically systems designed to automate the separation of valuable leaves and buds from the less desirable stems. Traditionally, this process was performed manually, which is labor-intensive and inefficient. Existing automated harvesting equipment from other agricultural sectors is often unsuitable for cannabis due to the plant's unique stem structure and the delicate nature of the buds.
The underlying idea behind ’066 is to mechanically strip cannabis stems of leaves and buds using a combination of a die with multiple sized orifices and a pair of counter-rotating cylindrical members that pull the stem through the die. The orifices are sized to allow the stem to pass while catching the leaves and buds, effectively separating them. The rotating members provide the necessary pulling force without damaging the plant material.
The claims of ’066 focus on a system comprising a frame, a die member with multiple orifices, two vertically configured rotating cylindrical members creating a pinch region, and a rotation system. Claim 1 emphasizes that the orifices are positioned within six inches of the pinch region. Claim 11 highlights a variable rotation speed for the cylindrical members, ranging from 10 to 250 linear feet per minute. Claim 19 details specific dimensions for the cylindrical members (3–12 inch diameter) and the orifices (under 2 inches, circular and non-circular), and specifies that only one rotating member is directly driven, with the other following.
In practice, a cannabis plant stem is manually fed through an appropriately sized orifice in the die. The counter-rotating cylindrical members, positioned closely adjacent to the die, grip the stem and pull it through. As the stem is drawn through the orifice, the leaves and buds are stripped off and collected. The vertical configuration of the rotating members and the proximity of the die to the pinch region are crucial for efficient and gentle separation.
This design differentiates itself from prior art by addressing the specific challenges of cannabis harvesting. The multiple orifice sizes accommodate varying stem diameters, while the controlled rotation speed and pliable cylindrical surfaces minimize damage to the valuable buds. The close proximity of the die to the pinch point ensures efficient stripping, and the single-drive/follower configuration simplifies the mechanical design. Unlike repurposed agricultural equipment, this system is tailored to the unique characteristics of the cannabis plant.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the late 2000s when ’066 was filed, cannabis harvesting was typically implemented using manual labor, at a time when automated vine harvesting systems commonly relied on equipment repurposed from other crops. At this time, hardware or software constraints made automated cannabis stem-leaf separation non-trivial due to the unique stem structure of cannabis plants compared to other crops.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The application was initially rejected. The applicant filed arguments that were not persuasive to the examiner. The examiner issued a final rejection. It is not clear from the prosecution record the specific claim changes or technical reasoning that led to allowance.
Claims
The patent includes 19 claims, with claims 1, 11, and 19 being independent. The independent claims are directed to systems for harvesting cannabis stems by separating leaves and buds from the stem using a frame, die with orifices, rotating cylindrical members, and a rotation system. The dependent claims generally add specific details and limitations to the elements and configurations described in the independent claims.
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Date
Description
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US11766066
- Application Number
- US15261894
- Filing Date
- Sep 10, 2016
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Dec 17, 2031
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents