Hemp separation methods and apparatus

A method for separating inner and outer fibers from plant stalks comprising the steps of:

• a) introducing harvested hemp plant stalks into a top of an initial separation apparatus, the initial separation apparatus comprising:
• i) three rotatable saw cylinders, each of said rotatable saw cylinders having an exterior surface and comprising a plurality of blades, with each of the plurality of blades having a plurality of teeth thereon,
• ii) three fiber removal brushes, each said three brushes located adjacent to a corresponding one of said three saw cylinders for separating outer plant stalk fibers from inner plant stalk fibers;
• iii) a first rotatable doffing cylinder adjacent to a first of said three rotatable saw cylinders, the first rotatable doffing cylinder having a first plurality of brushes thereon for removing outer fibers of said plant stalks from said first saw cylinder;
• and
• iv) a second rotatable doffing cylinder adjacent to both a second and a third of said three rotatable saw cylinders, the second rotatable doffing cylinder having a second plurality of brushes thereon for removing outer fibers of said plant stalks from said second and third saw cylinders;
• b) separating inner and outer fibers of the plant stalks in said initial separation apparatus by:
• i) passing the stalks between the plurality of teeth of a first of said saw cylinders and underneath a first of said three fiber removal brushes, such that separated outer fibers are removed by the first plurality of brushes on said first doffing cylinder;
• ii) passing any fibers that drop away from said first saw cylinder between the plurality of teeth of a second of said saw cylinders and underneath a second of said three fiber removal brushes, such that additional outer fibers are removed by the second plurality of brushes on said second doffing cylinder;
• and
• iii) passing any fibers that drop away from said second saw cylinder between the plurality of teeth of a third of said saw cylinders and underneath a third of said three fiber removal brushes such that more outer fibers are removed by the second plurality of brushes on said second doffing cylinder;
• c) sending the outer fibers exiting from the initial separation apparatus into a condenser unit, the condenser unit comprising:
• i) a chamber having an upper inlet for receiving outer fibers from said initial separation apparatus, and a lower outlet through which fibers exit;
• ii) a rotatable drum in said chamber, said drum having an outer surface comprising a plurality of openings;
• iii) a suction inside said drum operable to hold the outer fibers against said outer surface of said drum;
• iv) left and right rotatable fluted rollers located below said drum operable to strip the outer fibers from said outer surface of said drum;
• and
• v) a first steel plate adjacent to said left rotatable fluted roller and a second steel plate adjacent to said right rotatable fluted roller;
• and
• d) further separating inner and outer fibers of the plant stalks in said condenser unit by:
• i) passing the outer fibers exiting from the initial separation apparatus into said chamber such that suction from the drum in said chamber holds said outer fibers against the outer surface of the drum as said drum rotates;
• ii) stripping said outer fibers from the outer surface of said drum as the drum rotates by said left and right rotatable fluted rollers and said first and second steel plates;
• and
• iii) dropping stripped fibers through said lower outlet of said chamber.