Extractor and related methods

An extractor suitable for using a solvent to separate a compound from a solid or semi-solid substance containing the compound, comprising:

• a tank configured to contain solvent at a predetermined level within;
• a substance inlet for introducing the solid or semi-solid substance into the extractor;
• a substance outlet for removing the solid or semi-solid substance from the extractor;
• a solvent inlet for introducing the solvent into the extractor;
• a solvent outlet for removing the solvent from the extractor;
• and
• a first conveying assembly including:
• an inclined first conveyor for receiving the solid or semi-solid substance from the substance inlet and moving the solid or semi-solid substance through the solvent within the tank, the inclined first conveyor including an upper end and a lower end opposite its upper end;
• wherein the inclined first conveyor includes an inclined first upper surface and an inclined first lower surface having an upper terminal end;
• wherein the inclined first conveyor is configured to move the solid or semi-solid substance downward through the solvent within the tank and along the inclined first upper surface toward the lower end and upward through the solvent within the tank and along the inclined first lower surface toward the upper end, and
• wherein the upper terminal end of the inclined first lower surface is positioned at or below the predetermined level for solvent within the tank;
• the extractor characterized in that it includes
• an inclined neck section;
• and
• an exit conveyor positioned between the inclined first conveyor and the substance outlet and substantially parallel to the inclined first conveyor, the exit conveyor including an upper end and a lower end opposite its upper end;
• an inclined exit upper surface associated with the exit conveyor;
• an inclined exit lower surface associated with the exit conveyor and at least partially comprising an inclined screen section configured to allow solvent to drain from the solid or semi-solid substance;
• wherein the exit conveyor is configured to move the solid or semi-solid substance downward through the solvent within the tank and along the inclined exit upper surface of the exit conveyor toward the exit conveyor lower end and upward through the solvent along the inclined exit lower surface toward the exit conveyor upper end and then along the inclined screen section of the exit conveyor toward the upper end of the exit conveyor,
• wherein the exit conveyor has a length that is greater than the length of the inclined first conveyor of the first conveying assembly, the greater length allowing the exit conveyor to extend upward through the inclined neck section, and
• wherein the compound comprises rubber and the solid or semi-solid substance comprises plant matter.