DESTEMMING DEVICES AND METHODS
A destemming device includes a housing, a motor, and a belt system configured to fit within the housing. The housing includes at least one cutting aperture. The belt system includes a first belt assembly and a second belt assembly. The first belt assembly includes a first plurality of rollers and a first gripper belt extending around the first plurality of rollers. The second belt assembly includes a second plurality of rollers and a second gripper belt extending around the second plurality of rollers. The first gripper belt and the second gripper belt define a nip. The at least one cutting aperture is aligned with the nip. The motor is operatively connected to the belt system.
1 . A destemming device, comprising:
a belt system comprising:
a first belt assembly comprising a first gripper belt; and
a second belt assembly comprising a second gripper belt;
wherein the first gripper belt and the second gripper belt define a nip; and
at least one cutting aperture aligned with the nip.
2 . The destemming device of claim 1 , wherein the first belt assembly is an upper belt assembly and the second belt assembly is a lower belt assembly located vertically below the upper belt assembly.
3 . The destemming device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cutting aperture is sharpened or is blunt.
4 . The destemming device of claim 1 , wherein the belt system is driven by at least one motor.
5 . The destemming device of claim 4 , wherein the at least one motor is controlled by a control unit that comprises a user interface, the user interface comprising:
an on/off switch;
an emergency stop button; and
a dial for controlling belt speed.
6 . The destemming device of claim 1 , further including a jam removal system that comprises:
a first lever extending between a foot pedal and a base on the destemming device; and
a second lever extending between the first lever and the second belt assembly.
7 . The destemming device of claim 1 , further including a jam removal system that comprises:
a carriage vertically mounted on springs, wherein the second belt assembly is mounted on the carriage, and the carriage is connected to a foot pedal.
8 . The destemming device of claim 1 , wherein the first belt assembly further comprises a first rail and a second rail, wherein a first plurality of rollers extends between the first rail and the second rail; and at least one support bar extending between the first rail and the second rail.
9 . The destemming device of claim 1 , wherein the first belt assembly is in a non-floating relationship with a housing.
10 . The destemming device of claim 1 , wherein the second belt assembly further comprises a first rail and a second rail, wherein a second plurality of rollers extends between the first rail and the second rail; and at least one support bar extending between the first rail and the second rail.
11 . The destemming device of claim 1 , wherein the second belt assembly is in a floating relationship with a housing.
12 . The destemming device of claim 1 , wherein the destemming device further comprises:
a plurality of wheels connected to a base; and
a plurality of support legs extending between the housing and the base.
13 . The destemming device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a slide and/or receptacle outside the housing and beneath the at least one cutting aperture.
14 . A method for separating buds from a stem, comprising:
feeding the stem into a cutting aperture of a destemming device;
wherein the destemming device grips the stem using a belt system and separates the buds from the stem.
15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the belt system includes a first belt assembly comprising a first gripper belt and a second belt assembly comprising a second gripper belt, and the stem is gripped between the two gripper belts.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the first belt assembly and the second belt assembly are arranged horizontally or vertically.
17 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the cutting aperture is sharpened or is blunt.
18 . A destemming device, comprising:
a belt assembly comprising a first gripper belt; and
at least one roller, wherein the first gripper belt and the at least one roller define a nip; and
at least one cutting aperture aligned with the nip.
19 . The destemming device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one roller is a plurality of rollers.
20 . The destemming device of claim 18 , wherein the at least one cutting aperture is sharpened or is blunt.