WO2014183209A1

WO2014183209A1 - A method and apparatus for trimming plant material

Info

Publication number: WO2014183209A1
Application number: PCT/CA2014/050361
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jay Evans; Aaron Mckellar
Original assignee: Keirton Manufacturing Ltd.
Priority date: 2013-05-13
Filing date: 2014-04-08
Publication date: 2014-11-20
Also published as: CA2815592A1

Abstract

A method and apparatus for trimming plant material. The method includes providing a vacuum device and a plant material trimming device adjacent the vacuum device in substantial vertical alignment with the vacuum device. The plant material trimming device may have a discharge port in communication with an intake port of the vacuum device. The method also includes operating the plant material trimming device to trim plant material and operating the vacuum device to draw trimmed plant material from the plant material trimming device through the discharge port and the intake port into the vacuum device.

Description

TITLE OF THE INVENTION

A METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING PLANT MATERIAL COPYRIGHT NOTICE

This patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of this patent document as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to the field of plant trimming devices, and in particular, to a method and apparatus for trimming plant material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Plant trimming devices have been in operation for some time. Generally, these devices incorporate a plant trimming device that separates and discharges waste plant trimmings from the useful parts of plants. These waste trimmings can be collected by hand, or more effectively, by a vacuum device that is connected to the plant trimming device. Typically, these vacuum devices are large stand alone units and are connected to the plant trimming device via extensive hoses. Viewed as a whole, the plant trimming device and vacuum device occupy a large footprint making them cumbersome to work around. Accordingly, a need exists for a compact plant trimming method. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the description that follows. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention there is provided a method of trimming plant material. The method includes providing a vacuum device and a plant material trimming device adjacent the vacuum device in substantial vertical alignment with the vacuum device. The plant material trimming device may have a discharge port in communication with an intake port of the vacuum device. The method also includes operating the plant material trimming device to trim plant material and operating the vacuum device to draw trimmed plant material from the plant material trimming device through the discharge port and the intake port into the vacuum device.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention there is provided an apparatus for trimming plant material. The apparatus includes a vacuum device and a plant material trimming device adjacent the vacuum device in substantial vertical alignment with the vacuum device. The plant material trimming device may have a discharge port in communication with an intake port of the vacuum device. The discharge port of the plant material trimming device may be substantially vertically aligned with the intake port of the vacuum device.

The method may further include providing a conduit and attaching the conduit to the discharge port of the plant material trimming device and to the intake port of the vacuum device.

The discharge port of the plant material trimming device may be directly connectable to the intake port of the vacuum device. A locking device, such as a clamp, may be provided to lock the discharge port of the plant material trimming device to the intake port of the vacuum device. Other aspects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment and to the claims that follow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The preferred embodiment of the invention will be described by reference to the drawings thereof in which:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a plant material trimming apparatus; and

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the plant material trimming apparatus with directly connected intake and discharge ports.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION Referring to Figs. 1 and 2, a plant material trimming apparatus 10 is depicted. The apparatus 10 includes a vacuum device 12 with an intake port 14 and a plant material trimming device 16 with a discharge port 18. As depicted, the plant material trimming device 16 may sit on a frame 20 to which vacuum device 12 may also be attached thereto. Frame 20 is beneficial in providing support to the overall apparatus 10. However, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, plant material trimming device 16 may be directly mounted on top of the vacuum device 12. Although the plant material trimming device 16 is depicted on top of the vacuum device 12, as those skilled in the art will appreciate, the positions of each can be reversed with the vacuum device residing atop of the plant trimming device. Preferably, to take advantage of gravity, the vacuum device 14 resides below the plant trimming device 16. Generally, the discharge port 18 of the plant material trimming device 16 is substantially vertically aligned with the upper intake port 14 of the vacuum device 12. A conduit 22, such as a rubber hose or nylon sleeve, may be attached via a locking means, such as a clamp, band or the like (not illustrated), to the discharge port 18 and to the intake port 14 to facilitate movement of the plant material from the plant trimming device to the vacuum device.

As depicted in Fig. 2, discharge port 18 may be directly connected to intake port 14. In this instance, preferably the diameter of discharge port 18 is smaller than intake port 14 so that the discharge port may slide into the intake port. Preferably, a locking means 24, such as a clamp, band or the like is provided to directly lock the discharge port 18 and the intake port 14 together. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, discharge port 18 and intake port 14 may not be joined together at all. In this instance, trimmed plant material may simply fall from the plant trimming device 16 into the vacuum device 12. To ensure that the vacuum device 12 captures most of the trimmed plant material, intake port 14 may be dimensioned to resemble a funnel.

Operation

Plant material (not depicted) is inserted into the plant trimming device 16. As the plant trimming device 16 trims the plant material, the trimmed plant material enters the discharge port 18 either through the forces of gravity and/or through the suction of the vacuum device 14. The trimmed plant material is then transported from the discharge port 18 to the intake port 14, again through gravity and/or through the forces from the vacuum device. When the discharge port 18 and intake port 14 are not directly connected, the conduit 22 may be attached to facilitate movement of the trimmed plant material between the ports. While embodiments of the invention have been described and illustrated, such embodiments should be considered illustrative of the invention only. The invention may include variants not described or illustrated herein in detail. Thus, the embodiments described and illustrated herein should not be considered to limit the invention as construed in accordance with the accompanying claims.

Claims

What is claimed is: 1. A method of trimming plant material comprising: providing a vacuum device; providing a plant material trimming device adjacent said vacuum device in substantial vertical alignment with said vacuum device, said plant material trimming device having a discharge port in communication with an intake port of said vacuum device; operating said plant material trimming device to trim plant material; and operating said vacuum device to draw trimmed plant material from said plant material trimming device through said discharge port and said intake port into said vacuum device.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said discharge port of said plant material trimming device is substantially vertically aligned with said intake port of said vacuum device.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a conduit and attaching said conduit to said discharge port of said plant material trimming device and to said intake port of said vacuum device.

4. The method of 1 wherein said discharge port of said plant material trimming device is directly connectable to said intake port of said vacuum device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising providing locking means to lock said discharge port of said plant material trimming device to said intake port of said vacuum device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said locking means comprises a clamp.

7. An apparatus for trimming plant material comprising: a vacuum device; and a plant material trimming device adjacent said vacuum device in substantial vertical alignment with said vacuum device, said plant material trimming device having a discharge port in communication with an intake port of said vacuum device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said discharge port of said plant material trimming device is substantially vertically aligned with said intake port of said vacuum device.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a conduit attachable to said discharge port of said plant material trimming device and to said intake port of said vacuum device.

10. The apparatus of 7 wherein said discharge port of said plant material trimming device is directly connectable to said intake port of said vacuum device.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 further comprising locking means to lock said discharge port of said plant material trimming device to said intake port of said vacuum device.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said locking means comprises a clamp.