Hemp stripping machine

Abstract

A plant stripping machine includes a casing with a longitudinal slot in the top of the casing. A pair of shafts are rotatably mounted within the casing. The pair of shafts are parallel and spaced apart defining a gap between the shafts aligned below the slot. The shafts counter rotate in relation to each other. A plurality of stripping members extend from and are spaced along the length of each shaft. The stripping members extend from the pair of shafts a radial distance sufficient to overlap within the gap. The pair of counter rotating shafts are arranged to engage and pull a plant with a stalk/stem portion and leafy biomass which is fed through the slot to between the shafts. The stripping members remove the leafy biomass from the stalk while leaving the stalk intact.

1 . A plant stripping machine comprising:
 a casing defining an interior volume;   a pair of opposing central ramp portions forming a top side of the casing wherein the ramp portions extend downward and inward and terminate at opposing parallel edges defining a gap, wherein an entry slot is defined by the gap between the opposing edges of the ramp portions;   a pair of shafts rotatably mounted within the interior volume of the casing, wherein each shaft includes a length, wherein the pair of shafts are parallel and spaced apart defining a gap between the shafts, and wherein the gap is aligned with the slot;   a pair of motors at opposing ends of the casing, wherein each motor is operably configured to rotate a shaft, and wherein the shafts counter rotate in relation to each other; and   a plurality of stripping members extending radially from and spaced along the length of each shaft, and wherein the stripping members extend from the shafts a distance equal to or greater than half the width of the gap.   
     
     
         2 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 1 , wherein the stripping members are flexible. 
     
     
         3 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a sheet of material defined by a center portion with a pair of side edges wherein a plurality of the stripping members extend away from the center portion as fibers from the pair of side edges;   wherein at least one of the shafts defines a groove along the shaft's length;   wherein at least one plate is configured to be secured within the groove; and   wherein the center portion of the sheet of material is clamped within the groove by the at least one plate, and wherein the stripping members extend from the sheet on opposing sides of the plate.   
     
     
         4 . A plant stripping machine comprising:
 a casing defining an interior volume;   a longitudinal slot defined in the top of the casing;   a pair of shafts rotatably mounted within the interior volume of the casing, wherein each shaft includes a length, wherein the pair of shafts are parallel and spaced apart defining a gap between the shafts, and wherein the gap is aligned below the slot;   one or more power sources operably configured to counter rotate the pair of shafts in relation to each other;   a plurality of stripping members extending from and spaced along the length of each shaft, wherein the stripping members extend from the pair of shafts a radial distance sufficient to overlap within the gap; and   wherein the pair of counter rotating shafts are operably arranged to engage and pull a plant with a stalk and leafy biomass which is fed through the slot to between the shafts, wherein the stripping members remove the leafy biomass from the stalk while leaving the stalk intact.   
     
     
         5 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 4 , wherein the one or more power sources is a pair of motors arranged at opposing ends of the casing, and wherein each motor independently rotates one of the shafts. 
     
     
         6 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 4 , wherein stripping members extending from the pair of shafts radially overlap yet are longitudinally offset to alternate with each other. 
     
     
         7 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 4 , wherein the stripping members extend a radial distance shorter than the width of the gap. 
     
     
         8 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 4 , comprising:
 a sheet of material defined by a center portion with a pair of side edges wherein a plurality of the stripping members extend away from the center portion as fibers from the pair of side edges;   wherein at least one of the shafts defines a groove along an outer surface of the shaft along the shaft's length;   a plate configured to be secured within the groove; and   wherein the center portion of the sheet of material is clamped within the groove by the plate, wherein stripping members extend from the sheet on opposing sides of the plate.   
     
     
         9 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 8 , wherein the sheet of material is flexible. 
     
     
         10 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 4 ,
 wherein each shaft has a plurality of openings defined in the shaft;   where a sleeve extends through each opening; and   wherein the stripping members are formed as fibers with each fiber secured in a sleeve so that opposing ends of the fiber protrude from opposing ends of the sleeve.   
     
     
         11 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 4 , wherein each stripping member extends through an opening in an outer surface of the rotating shaft, and wherein each stripping member is secured within the interior of the shaft. 
     
     
         12 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 11 , wherein the stripping members are formed as fibers with opposing ends of each fiber extending one hundred and eight degrees apart around a circumference of the shaft. 
     
     
         13 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 4 , wherein the stripping members are flexible. 
     
     
         14 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 13 , wherein the stripping members are made of nylon. 
     
     
         15 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 4 , wherein the stripping members are rigid metal tines. 
     
     
         16 . The plant stripping machine of  claim 4  comprising:
 a pair of central ramp portions sloping diagonally inward into the interior of the casing and terminating at opposing parallel edges, and wherein the slot is defined by the gap between the edges of each of the ramp portions. 
 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 feeding a portion of a plant having a stalk and leafy biomass downward through a slot of a plant stripping machine, the machine having a pair of counter rotating shafts arranged within the machine, wherein the pair of counter rotating shafts define a gap between the shafts and aligned with the slot;   inserting the plant into the gap;   engaging the plant with a plurality of stripping members extending radially from and spaced along a length of each shaft, wherein the stripping members flail against the plant, stripping the leafy biomass from the stalk while leaving the stalk intact; and   retracting the stalk upward through the slot of the plant stripping machine.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  comprising:
 aligning the plant stripping machine at an angle to allow a user easier access to the slot. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the stripping members are flexible. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , comprising:
 a sheet of material defined by a center portion with a pair of side edges wherein a plurality of the stripping members extend away from the center portion as fibers from the pair of side edges;   wherein at least one of the shafts defines a groove along the shaft's length;   wherein at least one plate is configured to be secured within the groove; and   wherein the center portion of the sheet of material is clamped within the groove by the at least one plate, and wherein stripping members extend from the sheet on opposing sides of the plate.