A Steam Disinfestation Inline System and Apparatus for Agricultural Bud or Leaf Products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2023158181-A1
Application number	US-202017440806-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 18, 2020
Priority date	Mar 20, 2019
Publication date	May 25, 2023
Grant date	—

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for treating agricultural particulates, such as buds, Cannabis buds, herbs, leaves, and the like, with a treatment agent, such as steam, as the agricultural products move forward along a pathway created by a conveyer, in a chamber, enclosed by an aligned ceiling and floor, and oppositely disposed lateral walls. The exposure times to the steam, created by the intervals and lengths in which steam enters the chamber results in the elimination (destruction) and/or neutralization of the pathogens on the agricultural particulates, while the agricultural particulates remain undamaged and active.

First claim

1 . A disinfestation method comprising:
placing a plurality of particulates along a pathway for causing movement of said particulates to expose the exterior surface of said particulates to treatment substances; providing a treatment chamber along said pathway; and, treating said particulates with a treatment substance while said particulates are passing through said treatment chamber.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said treatment substance is steam.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said treatment substance is a treatment agent.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said rotational pathway is created by belt conveyer.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said particulates include Cannabis buds.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein said particulates are in a bud or leaf form.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the size of said particulates ranges approximately between 1 mm and 6.5 cm.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the exposure period of said particulates to said treatment substance ranges approximately between 0-20 seconds.

9 . The method of claim 2 , additionally comprising introducing said steam into said treatment chamber through at least one nozzle in the treatment chamber.

10 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said steam is introduced through said at least one nozzle at a temperature of approximately 120°-440° C.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein said steam causes the particulates surface temperature to reach a temperature of approximately 70° C.

12 . A system for treating agricultural particulates comprising:
a chamber configured for receiving a treatment agent in the interior of the chamber; a conveyer extending at least partially through the chamber, the conveyer configured for maintaining a forward moving path for the agricultural particulates, the conveyer is divided into two sections, an upper section and bottom section, the agricultural particulates are transferred from the upper section to the bottom section, such that the agricultural particulates are turned over, exposing all the exterior of the particulates to the treatment agent.

13 . The system of claim 12 , additionially comprising a steam source for providing steam as the treatment agent to the interior of the chamber.

14 . The system of claim 13 , additonally comprising a computerized controller configured for controlling the stream source, such that steam is provided to the chamber at predetermined intervals.

15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the computerized controller is configured for controlling the stream source, such that steam is provided to the chamber at the predetermined intervals for predetermined lengths of time.

16 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the chamber includes an opening for receiving the agricultural particulates at a proximal end of the chamber, and an opening through which the agricultural particulates are exiting from the chamber at a distal end.

17 . The system of claim 16 , wherein the forward moving path is from the opening at the proximal end of the chamber to the opening at the distal end of the chamber.

18 . The system of claim 12 , wherein the conveyer is driven by a motor.

19 . The system of claim 18 , wherein the motor is controlled by the computerized controller.

20 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the computerized controller is in communication with a thermal camera configured for monitoring the surface temperature of said agricultural particulates.

Assignees

• The State Of Israel Ministry Of Agriculture & Rural Development Agricultural Res Organization

Inventors

• Regev Rafi
• Schmilovitch Ze'Ev
• Hoffman Ahron
• Eshel Dani
• Meir Dekel

Classifications

• A61L2/04 Primary

  Heat (radiation A61L2/08) · CPC title

• A23B2/42

  while they are progressively transported through the apparatus · CPC title

• A01M17/008 Primary

  Destruction of vermin in foodstuffs · CPC title

• A61L2/18

  Liquid substances · CPC title

• A23B7/0053

  by direct or indirect contact with heating gases or liquids · CPC title