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US 12,727,543 B2Granted
Deleafing apparatus and method
AssigneePlatform Robotics, Inc.
InventorsChriston Thomas Manzella, John Baldiga, John Stephen LeRoy
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention are directed to an apparatus and method for efficiently separating dirt and biomass (leaves, stems, etc.) from more desirable aspects of plant material, with minimal damage to those desirable aspects.
Claims14
An apparatus for deleafing plant material, the apparatus comprising:
- a first array of compliant protrusions extending from a first substrate;
- a second array of compliant protrusions extending from a second substrate, the second substrate being spaced from the first substrate in a first direction with the second array of compliant protrusions positioned opposite at least a portion of the first array of compliant protrusions;
- a first drive motor configured to translate the first substrate and the first array of compliant protrusions in a second direction at a first rate, wherein the second direction is orthogonal to the first direction;
- a second drive motor configured to translate the second substrate and the second array of compliant protrusions in the second direction at a second rate that is different than the first rate;
- a third drive motor configured to oscillate the second substrate in a third direction that is orthogonal to the first and second directions to move the second substrate side-to-side relative to the first substrate;
- and
- a separator having a plurality of separating members positioned one or more distances from each other to define at least one separator distance between the plurality of separating members to separate larger plant material from smaller plant material.
4 more elements
A method of deleafing plant material, the method comprising:
- translating a first array of compliant protrusions extending from a first substrate in a first direction at a first rate;
- translating a second array of compliant protrusions extending from a second substrate in the first direction at a second rate that is different than the first rate, wherein the second substrate is spaced from the first substrate in a second direction;
- oscillating the second substrate in a third direction that is orthogonal to the first and second directions to move the second substrate side-to-side relative to the first substrate;
- inputting plant material between the first and second substrates to remove trim material from the plant material as the protrusions translate and oscillate;
- and
- separating the plant material from the trim material.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.