Multi-Part Sifter for De-Seeding and Sorting Plant Material

Abstract

A multi-part sifter for de-seeding or sorting plant material includes an upper frame having an open top and an open bottom; a lid that covers the top of the upper frame; a screen that covers the bottom of the upper frame; a lower frame having an open top and a closed bottom; a lid latch to releasably hold the lid to the top of the upper frame; a screen latch to releasably hold the screen to the bottom of the upper frame; and a frame latch to releasably hold the bottom of the upper frame to the top of the lower frame with the screen in between the upper frame and lower frame.

1 . A device comprising:
 an upper frame having an open top and an open bottom;   a lid that covers and closes the top of the upper frame;   a mesh screen that covers the bottom of the upper frame;   a lower frame having an open top and a closed bottom;   a lid latch to releasably hold the lid to the top of the upper frame; and   a frame latch to releasably hold the bottom of the upper frame to the top of the lower frame with the screen in between the upper frame and lower frame.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the lid latch includes a fixed lid latch element near the top of the upper frame and a corresponding folding lid latch element on the lid, aligned so that a tab on the folding lid latch element engages with a notch in the fixed lid latch element to form a releasable closure.   
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the frame latch includes a fixed frame latch element near the bottom of the upper frame and a corresponding folding frame latch element near the top of the lower frame, aligned so that a tab on the folding frame latch element engages with a notch in the fixed frame latch element to form a releasable closure.   
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising a screen latch to releasably hold the screen to the bottom of the upper frame. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4 , wherein:
 the screen latch includes a fixed screen latch element near the bottom of the upper frame and a corresponding folding screen latch element on the screen, aligned so that a tab on the folding screen latch element engages with a notch in the fixed screen latch element to form a releasable closure.   
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further includes a handle. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the lid further includes a plurality of pins that extend into the upper frame. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein the upper frame is a cylinder having a diameter, the lower frame is a bin with a round top having the same diameter, the lid includes a round base plate with the same diameter, and the screen has an outer round edge with the same diameter. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a second screen adapted to cover the bottom of the upper frame; and   the screen has a first mesh size, the second screen has a second mesh size, and the first size is different from the second mesh size;   wherein the screen can be removed and replaced by the second screen so that the device is configurable for differently-sized material.   
     
     
         10 . A device for processing plant material, comprising:
 an upper frame having an open top and an open bottom;   a lid that covers and closes the top of the upper frame, the lid having a plurality of pins adapted to extend into the upper frame;   a lid latch to releasably hold the lid to the top of the upper frame so the lid may be removed and reattached;   a replaceable mesh screen that covers the bottom of the upper frame, the screen having a mesh size adapted to sort the plant material;   a screen latch to releasably hold the screen to the bottom of the upper frame so that the screen may be released and replaced with a second screen having a different mesh size;   a lower frame having an open top and a closed bottom that form a collection bin; and   a frame latch to releasably hold the bottom of the upper frame to the top of the lower frame with the screen in between the upper frame and lower frame;   wherein plant material placed into the upper frame will be sorted and de-seeded by closing and shaking the device.   
     
     
         11 . A method for processing plant material, comprising:
 providing an upper frame having an open top and an open bottom;   covering and closing the bottom of the upper frame with a removable mesh screen;   loading the upper frame with the plant material;   attaching a lid that covers the top of the upper frame;   providing a lower frame having an open top and an closed bottom;   attaching the bottom of the upper frame to the top of the lower frame with the screen in between the upper frame and lower frame; and   shaking the upper and lower frame so that some of the plant material passes through the screen from the upper frame into the lower frame, thereby sorting the plant material.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 selecting a mesh size appropriate for sorting the plant material;   providing a removable screen having the selected mesh size; and   attaching the removable screen to the bottom of the upper frame.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 releasably holding the lid to the top of the upper frame with a plurality of lid latches;   releasably holding the screen to the bottom of the upper frame with a plurality of screen latches; and   releasably holding the lower frame to the bottom of the upper frame with a plurality of frame latches.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 providing a lid having a plurality of pins that extend into the lower frame; and   shaking the upper frame, lower frame, and lid so that the pins punch into some of the plant material, thereby helping de-seed the plant material.