Split-cane apparatus and method of use

Abstract

A compact, self-contained, energy-efficient split-cane apparatus and method of use for separating pith, rind, and epidermis components of a sugarcane stalk, wherein sugarcane billets are driven over a splitter blade, dividing them longitudinally into two billet portions. The billet portions are processed individually by symmetrical processing paths. The pith is milled away from the rind while simultaneously flattening the rind. A deflector is adapted and positioned for directing the pith along a pith processing path, and further directing the rind along a rind processing path. The epidermis is removed from the rind, and each are subsequently shredded by at least one shredder disc, at which point an at least one perforated tumbling drum separates the shredded epidermis from the shredded rind. In addition, the apparatus is adjustable, enabling it to accommodate a wide range of sugarcane stalk thicknesses while maintaining its ability to efficiently separate each sugarcane component.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.