Mobile Crop Processing System and Method

Fuente: WIPO "industrial hemp"
A mobile crop processing system includes a self-propelled harvester that shears and chops plant material, a mobile extraction assembly that follows the harvester and receives the chopped plant material to produce a crude oil output while discarding unwanted moisture and biomass in the field, a field-based extraction assembly that separates the crude oil into reclaimed solvent and essential oil, and a transporter for carrying containers of crude oil and solvent between the mobile and field-based extraction assemblies. The mobile extraction assembly includes a pre-treatment assembly for mixing plant material with solvent, a dewatering and maceration assembly for removing moisture from the plant material, and a separation assembly for removing additional moisture and biomass. Using the system, crops can be harvested and processed in the field when they are ready to be cut. The system can operate continuously until a desired portion of the field has been cut and processed.