Apparatus, method and system for wet or dry processing of plant material

Abstract

An apparatus, method and system for wet or dry processing of plant material is provided. The apparatus has an enclosure attached to a frame. The apparatus includes: (a) a cylindrical rotatable drum for receiving the plant material, the rotatable drum having a plurality of slots; (b) a cutting module for cutting portions of the plant material that pass through one or more said slots; and (c) a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a liquid within the enclosure.The apparatus may further include a controller having a processing unit and a memory, the memory containing instructions for directing the processing unit. The controller may be operable to selectably control operations of the rotatable drum, the cutting module, and the plurality of nozzles.The cutting module may include a plurality of cutting reels.The cutting module and the rotatable drum may be coaxial. The cutting module may include a plurality of blades rotatable about the drum.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for processing plant material, the apparatus having an enclosure attached to a frame, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) a cylindrical rotatable drum for receiving the plant material, the rotatable drum having a plurality of slots;   (b) a cutting module for cutting portions of the plant material that pass through one or more said slots; and   (c) a plurality of nozzles for ejecting a liquid within the enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising a controller comprising a processing unit and a memory, the memory containing instructions for directing the processing unit, the controller being operable to selectably control operations of the rotatable drum, the cutting module, and the plurality of nozzles. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the enclosure comprises a shroud that is removably attachable to the frame by at least one shroud magnet of the apparatus. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the plurality of nozzles are operable to eject the liquid from within the rotatable drum. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein the plurality of nozzles are further operable to eject the liquid toward the rotatable drum from outside of the rotatable drum. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 5  wherein the cutting module is slidably attachable to the frame. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the distance between the rotatable drum and the cutting module is adjustable by adjusting a height of the rotatable drum. 
     
     
         8 . A method of processing plant material by a plant processor having an enclosure attached to a frame, the method comprising:
 (a) receiving the plant material into a rotatable drum having a plurality of slots;   (b) producing trimmed plant material by a cutting module cutting portions of the plant material that pass through one or more said slots;   (c) removing said portions from the enclosure by vacuum suction;   (d) after cutting said portions, removing the trimmed plant material from the rotatable drum; and   (e) after removing said portions and after removing said trimmed plant material, ejecting a liquid within the enclosure by a plurality of nozzles of the plant processor.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  wherein step (a) comprises receiving the plant material into the rotatable drum at a first end of the rotatable drum, and wherein step (d) comprises removing the trimmed plant material from the rotatable drum at a second end of the rotatable drum opposite the first end. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein step (b) comprises cutting said portions by a first set of cutting reels associated with the first end and by a second set of cutting reels associated with the second end, the first set of cutting reels cutting less sharply than the second set of cutting reels. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein cutting said portions by a first set of cutting reels associated with the first end and by a second set of cutting reels associated with the second end, the first set of cutting reels cutting less sharply than the second set of cutting reels, comprises operating said first set of cutting reels in reverse. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 9  wherein step (b) comprises setting a first vacuum suction associated with the first end and a second vacuum suction associated with the second end, such that the first vacuum suction is greater than the second vacuum suction for a first duration and then the second vacuum suction is greater than the first vacuum suction for a second duration. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus for processing plant material, the apparatus having an enclosure attached to a frame, the apparatus comprising:
 (a) cylindrical means for containing the plant material and rotating;   (b) exit means for permitting a portion of the plant material to exit the cylindrical means;   (c) cutting means for cutting the portion upon exiting via the exit means; and   (d) nozzle means for ejecting a liquid within the enclosure.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13  further comprising vacuum means for facilitating the exiting of the portion via the exit means, and feeding means for feeding the plant material into the cylindrical means. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 14  further comprising stabilization means for adjusting a tilt of the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 15  further comprising control means for controlling operations of at least one of the cylindrical means, the cutting means, the nozzle means, the vacuum means, the feeding means, and the stabilization means.