CA2997989A1

CA2997989A1 - Apparatus and method for trimming plants

Info

Publication number: CA2997989A1
Application number: CA2997989A
Authority: CA
Inventors: Nathan Woodworth; William WERTH; Adam Woodworth
Original assignee: James E. Wagner Cultivation Ltd
Current assignee: Trichome Jwc Acquisition Corp
Priority date: 2018-03-12
Filing date: 2018-03-12
Publication date: 2019-09-12
Also published as: WO2019173901A1

Abstract

A plant trimming apparatus for trimming plant material is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing comprising an interior and a cylindrical wall and a plurality of openings through the cylindrical wall. A cutting wire in the interior of the housing passes by the openings, wherein the plant material passing through the plurality of openings is trimmed by the cutting wire. The apparatus further comprises a spindle rotationally attached to the housing, the cutting wire attached to the spindle via a member, such that the cutting wire traces a cylinder when the spindle rotates, and an outlet in the housing for removing trimmed plant material.

Description

APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR TRIMMING PLANTS
Field [001] The embodiments disclosed herein relate to plant trimming and in particular an apparatus for trimming plants such as cannabis.
Background

[002] Cannabis is typically harvested, dried and cured to obtain the benefit of the plant's various medicinal properties. The cannabis buds and flowers contain the highest volume of both psychoactive and non-intoxicating compounds. In contrast, the leaves of the cannabis plant contain only trace amounts of these compounds and are typically composted.

[003] Traditionally, cannabis leaves have been trimmed by hand using scissors or using apparatuses specifically designed to remove only portions of the plant.

[004] Automated methods of trimming the cannabis plant when they are freshly harvested may cause residue, secreted from the plants buds, to stick to the trimming apparatus.
Buildup of this residue can decrease trimming efficiency and, as a result, the trimmer may need to be frequently cleaned.

[005] Another practice is for cannabis to be trimmed using automated equipment after the plant has been harvested, dried, and cured. This automated equipment is typically made up of two overlapping blades, a motor, and a sweeper all housed in a container. The dried cannabis can be placed onto the overlapping blades. When the machine is turned on, one of the blades and the sweeper will rotate, driven by the attached motor. Both blades are perforated such that cannabis may enter the holes, and the portion extruding through the perforations are cut by the overlapping blades.
The sweeper stirs the harvested plants to increase the surface area in contact with the blades to be trimmed.

[006] In spite of the apparatuses described above, there exists a need for development in this field to improve the automation of trimming cannabis plants.

Summary

[007] A plant trimming apparatus for trimming plant material is provided. The apparatus comprises a housing comprising an interior and a cylindrical wall and a plurality of openings through the cylindrical wall. A cutting wire in the interior of the housing passes by the openings, wherein the plant material passing through the plurality of openings is trimmed by the cutting wire. The apparatus further comprises a spindle rotationally attached to the housing, the cutting wire attached to the spindle via a member, such that the cutting wire traces a cylinder when the spindle rotates, and an outlet in the housing for removing trimmed plant material.
Brief Description of the Drawings

[008] In drawings that illustrate, by way of example only, a preferred embodiment of the disclosure:

[009] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a trimmer.

[0010] FIG 2 is a side cross-sectional view of a trimmer along section A-A of FIG. 1.
Detailed Description

[0011] Referring to FIG 1, there is shown a perspective view of a trimmer 1.
The trimmer 1 described herein is a single unit used for trimming plants.

[0012] The trimmer 1 is provided with a housing 2. The housing 2 may be substantially cylindrical with a cylindrical interior. The housing 2 includes a plurality openings 3, preferably elongated, obround openings 3. The openings 3 allow entry of plant material into the interior of the housing 2 but due to their size restrict the entry of larger plant material. Plant material that enters the housing intersects with the moving cutting wire 40 and is severed as described below. The elongated openings 3 are small enough to block the inadvertent entry of any fingers or tools of the operator. The elongated slots are preferably oriented parallel to the cutting wire described below.
CAN: 26073956.2

[0013] The plurality of openings may be of different sizes. A first group of the plurality of openings may have a first size and the remaining openings may have a second size smaller than the first size. In this way, rough trimming may be done using the first group of openings and fine trimming done using the remaining openings. There may be more than two groups of different size openings, all the opening may be of different sizes or all the openings may be of the same or similar size.

[0014] With reference to Figure 1, the openings 3 may extend substantially from across the housing 2.
The openings 3 may be integrated directly into the housing 2. Alternatively, the openings may be formed in a grill 50. The grill 50 may be affixed to the housing 2 covering a larger opening in the housing 2. In this way, the housing 2 may be easier to manufacture. The grill 50 may in addition be replaceable separately from the housing 2, either when worn or damaged or with a grill 50 having different size or orientation of openings 3. The grill 50 may be affixed to the housing 2 such that the interior surface of the grill is proximate to the cutting wire 40, described below. The grill 50 may be removable to facilitate cleaning of the grill and/or the interior of the housing.

[0015] The housing 2 has a separate outlet 4 from which trimmings may be extracted from the interior of the housing 2. A suction or vacuum system may be used to extract plant trimmings from the housing, through outlet 4 to a separator. The separator allows for the collection of plan trimmings for packaging, drying or other aspects of the harvesting process. The operation of the vacuum may be activated separately or in conjunction with the drive motor.

[0016] With reference to Figure 2, a trimmer 1 is provided with a drive motor 5, which drives a spindle 6.
An electrical switch 7 may be used to turn the motor 5 off and on. A knob 8 may be used to select the speed of the motor 5, by for example, controlling the supply of electricity to the motor or by operating motor control circuitry that controls the motor, alternatively, the motor may operate at a single speed.

[0017] The spindle 6 may be connected to a first spindle plate 30 and second spindle plate 35 which occupy the interior of the housing 2. A cutting wire 40 is tensioned between the first spindle plate 30 and the second spindle plate 35. The cutting wire 40 is tensioned between points near the circumference of the first spindle plate 30 and second spindle plate 35, such that when the spindle 6 is rotated by motor 5, CAN: 26073956.2 the cutting wire 40 traces a cylinder. Plates 30 and 35 may be discs, rods, or other members to support the cutting wire, provide tension in the cutting wire and position the cutting wire proximate to the housing, parallel to the spindle. The cutting wire may be made of plastic, metal or other material of sufficient strength to sever the plant material. The cutting wire may be a blade, rod or other shape. A counterweight may be provided to balance the spindle, plates, and wire so that the spinning members can rotate without undue vibration.

[0018] The cylinder traced by the cutting wire 40 may substantially conform to the cylindrical interior of the housing. Preferably, the cutting wire 40 passes close to the interior of the housing 2 proximate to the openings 3. In this way, plant material that passes through the openings 3 is immediately severed by the cutting wire 40, The plant material is held in place by the openings 3 while impacted and severed by the cutting wire 40.

[0019] When the motor 5 spins the spindle 6, and plant material is pushed through the openings 3 and into housing 2, the cutting wire 40 intersects the plant material, cutting the plant material. The plant material is preferably severed by the cutting wire 40, such that cut material is passes into the hollow interior of the housing. A fan or vacuum may draw the cut material through outlet 4. The outlet 4 may be oriented such that cut material falls, by gravity, out the outlet 4.

[0020] A first end of the spindle 6 may be supported in a bearing 11. The bearing 11 may be contained in the housing and further connected to a bearing flange 12 and an end plate 13. The end plate 13 may have a foot 14 extending outward from the housing 2. The foot 14 may be connected to vibrational mounts 15, 16, which limit any movement of the trimmer 1 that may occur as a result of the vibrations from motor 5.

[0021] A second end of the spindle 6 may be connected to the drive shaft 17 of the motor 5 either directly or through a drive train or other means of transferring the rotation motion from the motor to the spindle 6. The end plate 20 may have a foot 21 extending outward from the housing 2. The foot 21 may be connected to vibrational mounts 22, 23, which limit any movement of the trimmer 1 that may occur as a result of the vibration generated by motor 5.
CAN: 26073956.2

[0022] End plates 13 and 20 may be removable to provide access to the interior of the housing 2 for servicing and cleaning. Plates 13, 20 may be attached the housing with bolts, pins, threaded attachments, hinges, fasteners or other similar means. In some embodiments, the housing 2 may be opened by way of hinged components or other releases to provide access to the interior of the housing 2.

[0023] With reference to Figure 1, the end plates 13 and 20 may be attached to the housing using fasteners 42, 44, and 46. End plate 20 may have fastener openings 31, 32, 34 and end plate 13 may have fastener openings 36, 38, 40. Each opening may include a "T" shaped opening with a wide portion sized to allow tabs of fasteners 42, 44, 46 to pass through and a narrower portion that secures the tabs.
Alternatively, the openings may include a tab, over which the fastener is secured.

[0024] Fasteners 42, 44, 46 may be clamps with an open position and a closed position. In an open position the clamps 42, 44, 46 may pass through the wider portion of openings and engaged with the narrow portion of openings. When in the closed position, the clamps can tension the end plates 13, 20 together. The openings 42, 44, 46 are shaped such that the clamping bands 42, 44, 46 can easily be manually inserted and removed when the clamps are in the open position. This configuration allows the end plates to be removed so that the interior of the housing 2 can be accessed.

[0025] Resin or other material from the plants as they are trimmed may build up on the trimming apparatuses, including cutting wire, spindle, spindle plates and end plates.
This build up may reduce the efficiency of the trimming apparatus. The buildup may need to be removed for cleaning.

[0026] When the switch 7 is turned on the motor 5 rotates the spindle 6.
Rotation of the spindle 6 in turn rotates the spindle plates 30, 35, moving the cutting wire connected between them. The spinning cutting wire comes into contact with the plant material as material passes through the openings 3 and into the housing 2. Once trimmed, the removed portions may be removed through outlet 4.

[0027] Various embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail by way of example.
It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made without departing from the invention. The invention includes all such variations and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.
CAN: 26073956.2

Claims

1. A plant trimming apparatus for trimming plant material, comprising:
a housing comprising an interior and a cylindrical wall;
a plurality of openings through the cylindrical wall;
a cutting wire in the interior of the housing that passes proximate to the openings, wherein the plant material passing through the plurality of openings is trimmed by the cutting wire;
a spindle rotationally attached to the housing, the cutting wire attached to the spindle via a member, such that the cutting wire traces a cylinder when the spindle rotates;
an outlet in the housing for removing trimmed plant material.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of openings comprise a plurality of elongated slots.

3. The apparatus of claims 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of openings are of more than one size.

4. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the plurality of openings are of the same size.

5. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a suction for drawing the trimmed plant material from the outlet.

6. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the housing may be opened to provide access to the interior for cleaning.

7. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the housing further comprises one or more removable end plates.

8. The apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the housing further comprises a grill containing the plurality of openings.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the grill is removable from the housing.

10. A method of trimming plant material comprising passing a portion of the plant material through a plurality of openings in a cylindrical wall of a housing;
intersecting the portion of plant material with a moving cutting wire passing proximate to the plurality of openings in the housing, causing the cutting wire to trim the plant material, the cutting wire traces a cylinder within the housing; and extracting the trimmed plant material through an outlet of the housing.