Extractor And Related Methods

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

• a tank configured to contain solvent at a predetermined level within the extractor, wherein the upper terminal end of the first lower surface is positioned at or below the level of solvent in the extractor;
• a substance inlet for introducing the substance into the extractor;
• a substance outlet for removing the 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 substance from the substance inlet and moving the substance through the solvent, the first conveyor including an upper end and a lower end opposite its upper end;
• wherein the first conveyor includes an inclined first upper surface and an inclined first lower surface;
• wherein the first conveyor is configured to move the substance downward through the solvent along the first upper surface toward the lower end and upward through the solvent along the first lower surface toward the upper end,
• the extractor characterized in that it includes
• an inclined neck section;
• and
• an exit conveyor positioned between the first conveyor and the substance outlet and substantially parallel to the first conveyor, the exist conveyor including an upper end and a lower end opposite its upper end;
• an inclined exit upper surface associate 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 substance;
• wherein the exit conveyor is configured to move the substance downward through the solvent along the exit upper surface 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 toward the inclined exit conveyor upper end,
• wherein the exit conveyor has a length that is greater than the length of the prior conveyor(s), the greater length allowing the exit conveyor assembly to extend upward through the neck section, and
• wherein the compound comprises rubber and the solid or semisolid substance comprises plant matter.