Process for Hydrating Hemp for Making Hemp Pre-Rolls Therefrom

Abstract

A process for hydrating plant material in a hydration machine for use in a cigarette rolling machine includes the steps of measuring the moisture level of the plant material, introducing the plant material into the hydration machine, configuring hydration settings for the hydration machine to reach a target range of moisture between about 9.5% by weight and about 11.5% by weight at the exit of the hydration machine. And misting the plant material with one or more terpenes. The process further includes the steps of re-measuring the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine, and if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, removing the plant material from the hydration machine. But if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is not within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, the process further includes the steps of re-introducing the plant material into the hydration machine, re-configuring the hydration settings to reach the target range at the exit of the hydration machine, and repeating the re-measuring step as needed until the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A process for hydrating plant material in a hydration machine for use in a cigarette rolling machine, the process including the steps of:
 measuring the moisture level of the plant material;   if the moisture level is within a target range between about 9.5% by weight and about 11.5% by weight, bypassing the hydration machine and sealing the plant material into airtight drums and allowing the plant material to cure inside the airtight drums;   if the moisture level is outside of the target range, introducing the plant material into the hydration machine;   re-measuring the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine, wherein if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, sealing the plant material into airtight drums and allowing the plant material to cure inside the airtight drums, but if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is not within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, re-introducing the plant material into the hydration machine; and   repeating the re-measuring step as needed until the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range.   
     
     
         2 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the hydration machine is configured to add moisture to the plant material in the form of water and one or more terpenes. 
     
     
         3 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of measuring the moisture level of the plant material within the hydration machine before the plant material reaches the exit of the hydration machine. 
     
     
         4 . The process of  claim 3 , further comprising the step of calculating required hydration settings to reach the target range at the exit of the hydration machine, and adjusting the hydration settings as required to reach the target range at the exit of the hydration machine. 
     
     
         5 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of cleaning, sanitizing, and drying all surfaces of the hydration machine that come into contact with the plant material before introducing the plant material into the hydration machine. 
     
     
         6 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of cleaning, sanitizing, and drying all surfaces of the hydration machine that come into contact with the plant material after the repeating step. 
     
     
         7 . The process of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of introducing the plant material into a cigarette rolling machine after the step of allowing the plant material to cure inside the airtight drums. 
     
     
         8 . The process of  claim 1 , wherein the step of allowing the plant material to cure inside the airtight drums further comprises allowing the plant material to cure inside the airtight drums for a curing time in a range between about 6 hours and 120 hours. 
     
     
         9 . The process of  claim 8  wherein the curing time is in a range between about 24 hours and 48 hours. 
     
     
         10 . A process for hydrating plant material in a hydration machine for use in a cigarette rolling machine, the process including the steps of:
 measuring the moisture level of the plant material;   introducing the plant material into the hydration machine;   determining initial hydration settings required to reach a target range of moisture between about 9.5% by weight and about 11.5% by weight at the exit of the hydration machine;   re-measuring the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine, wherein if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, removing the plant material from the hydration machine, but if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is not within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, re-introducing the plant material into the hydration machine; and   repeating the re-measuring step as needed until the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range.   
     
     
         11 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of sealing the plant material into airtight drums after removing the plant material from the hydration machine. 
     
     
         12 . The process of  claim 11 , after the step of sealing the plant material into airtight drums further comprising the step of allowing the plant material to cure inside the airtight drums for a curing time in a range between about 6 hours and 120 hours. 
     
     
         13 . The process of  claim 12  wherein the curing time is in a range between about 24 hours and 48 hours. 
     
     
         14 . The process of  claim 10 , wherein the hydration machine is configured to add moisture to the plant material in the form of water and one or more terpenes. 
     
     
         15 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the step of measuring the moisture level of the plant material within the hydration machine before the plant material reaches the exit of the hydration machine. 
     
     
         16 . The process of  claim 15 , further comprising the step of calculating updated required hydration settings to reach the target range at the exit of the hydration machine, and adjusting the hydration settings as required to reach the target range at the exit of the hydration machine. 
     
     
         17 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of cleaning, sanitizing, and drying all surfaces of the hydration machine that come into contact with the plant material before introducing the plant material into the hydration machine. 
     
     
         18 . The process of  claim 10 , further comprising the steps of cleaning, sanitizing, and drying all surfaces of the hydration machine that come into contact with the plant material after the re-measuring step. 
     
     
         19 . A process for hydrating plant material in a hydration machine for use in a cigarette rolling machine, the process including the steps of:
 measuring the moisture level of the plant material;   introducing the plant material into the hydration machine;   configuring hydration settings for the hydration machine to reach a target range of moisture between about 9.5% by weight and about 11.5% by weight at the exit of the hydration machine;   misting the plant material with one or more terpenes;   re-measuring the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine, wherein if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, removing the plant material from the hydration machine, but if the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is not within about 0.5% by weight of the target range, re-introducing the plant material into the hydration machine, re-configuring the hydration settings to reach the target range at the exit of the hydration machine, and repeating the re-measuring step as needed until the moisture level of the plant material at the exit of the hydration machine is within about 0.5% by weight of the target range.   
     
     
         20 . The process of  claim 19 , further comprising the steps of:
 sealing the plant material into airtight drums after removing the plant material from the hydration machine; and   allowing the plant material to cure inside the airtight drums for a curing time in a range between about 24 hours and 48 hours.