Cured leaf separator

A process for separating a leaf from a stalk having a stalk end and including at least one leaf, the process comprising:

• providing an assembly including,
• a frame having a front plate, the front plate having a feed opening;
• a leaf stripping assembly mounted on the front plate;
• a rotating upper sprocket wheel including a plurality of upper sprocket grippers extending radially outwardly from the upper sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate;
• and
• a rotating lower sprocket wheel including a plurality of lower sprocket grippers extending radially outwardly from the lower sprocket wheel and being disposed behind the front plate,
• wherein one of the upper sprocket wheel or the lower sprocket wheel is rotatably fixed within a cradle housing, and the cradle housing supports a first end and a second end of the sprocket wheel that is rotatably fixed within the cradle housing, is positioned within the frame, and is pivotably fixed to the frame, and the cradle housing extends at least a length of the upper sprocket wheel or the lower sprocket wheel in the frame;
• feeding the stalk end through the feed opening and into the rotating sprocket wheels such that the upper sprocket grippers and the lower sprocket grippers engage at least a portion of the stalk to convey the stalk through the feed opening;
• and
• stripping leaves from the stalk with the leaf stripping assembly.

An assembly for removing leaves from a stalk, the assembly comprising:

• a frame;
• a front plate having a feed opening, the front plate being a part of the frame or attached to the frame;
• a leaf stripping assembly mounted on the front plate;
• an upper sprocket wheel behind the front plate and including a plurality of upper sprocket grippers extending radially outwardly from the upper sprocket wheel;
• a lower sprocket wheel behind the front plate and including a plurality of lower sprocket grippers extending radially outwardly from the lower sprocket wheel,
• wherein one of the upper sprocket wheel or the lower sprocket wheel is rotatably fixed within a cradle housing, and
• the cradle housing supports a first end and a second end of the sprocket wheel that is rotatably fixed within the cradle housing, and the cradle housing is positioned within the frame, and is pivotally fixed to the frame;
• a pivot tube connected to a first lateral sidewall and a second lateral sidewall of the cradle housing;
• and
• a pivot shaft extending through the pivot tube, penetrating through the first lateral sidewall and the second lateral sidewall, and supporting the cradle housing within the frame.