HEATED HERBAL GRINDER AND METHOD THEREFOR

An herbal grinding device has a housing. A chute is formed through the housing. A shredding mechanism is positioned within the chute. The shredding mechanism moves an herbal product through the chute while shredding the herbal product. The shredding mechanism is heated to prevent resin from the herbal product from sticking to the shredding mechanism.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to an herbal grinder, and more specifically, to an electrical herbal grinder that uses a heating mechanism that prevents resin from building up and collecting on the shredding blades.

BACKGROUND

The use ofcannabisfor treatment of select medical conditions has become more widely known. Many governmental agencies have legalizedcannabisfor medical and/or recreational purposes. However, use ofcannabisgenerally requires the grinding or cutting ofcannabisflowers.

Most individuals use a mechanical grinder to break up thecannabisinto consumable particles/fragments. Most manual grinders have two pieces with cooperating cutting pegs that are aligned in such a way that when both pieces are rotated, the cutting pegs pulverize thecannabis.

While mechanical grinders do work, they may only grind a small amount at a time and are not suitable for larger commercial applications. Further, mechanical grinders apply an uneven amount of force on the ground material. This may cause thecannabisto be unevenly grounded. Other issues may also arise with the use of mechanical grinders. For example, due to the small nature of these devices, these devices may be easily dropped which can cause the mechanical grinder to break open and spill the contents. Also, most mechanical grinders require two hands to dispense, which is inconvenient for the user.

Electronic grinders have been made to grindcannabisin both large and small quantities. However, in most electric grinders, the grinding blades tend to clog up and need to be cleaned after every use. If the grinding blades are not cleaned, the grinding blades may from a residual build up on the surface of the grinding blades. This may cause thecannabisto be unevenly grinded. The residual build up further may cause the grinding blades to clog/jam which may damage the electronic grinder. Further, electronic grinders are difficult to take apart and clean.

Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a system and method that overcomes the above.

SUMMARY

In accordance with one embodiment, an herbal grinding device is disclosed. The herbal grinding device has a housing. A chute is formed through the housing. A shredding mechanism is positioned within the chute. The shredding mechanism moves an herbal product through the chute while shredding the herbal product. The shredding mechanism is heated to prevent resin from the herbal product from sticking to the shredding mechanism.

In accordance with one embodiment, an herbal grinding device is disclosed. The herbal grinding device has a housing. A chute is formed through the housing. A shredding mechanism is positioned within the chute. The shredding mechanism moves an herbal product through the chute while shredding the herbal product. The shredding mechanism is heated to prevent resin from the herbal product from sticking to the shredding mechanism. The shredding mechanism has a pair of cutting devices horizontally aligned within the chute shredding the herbal product. Each of the pair of cutting devices has a hollow tube member and a plurality of cutting blades positioned on the hollow tube. A heating element is positioned within the hollow tube of each of the pair of cutting devices. A feeding mechanism is positioned above the pair of cutting devices moving the herbal product to the pair of cutting devices.

In accordance with one embodiment, an herbal grinding device is disclosed. The herbal grinding device has a housing. A chute is formed through the housing. A shredding mechanism is positioned within the chute. The shredding mechanism moves an herbal product through the chute while shredding the herbal product. The shredding mechanism is heated to prevent resin from the herbal product from sticking to the shredding mechanism. The shredding mechanism has a pair of cutting devices horizontally aligned within the chute shredding the herbal product. Each of the pair of cutting devices has a hollow tube member and a plurality of cutting blades positioned on the hollow tube. A feeding mechanism is positioned above the pair of cutting devices moving the herbal product to the pair of cutting devices. The feeding mechanism uses a pair of feeding members. Each feeding members has a carriage and a plurality of feeding blades positioned on the carriage. A heating element is positioned within the hollow tube of each of the pair of cutting devices. A temperature sensor is coupled to the heating element. A heating controller is coupled to the heating element.

DESCRIPTION OF THE APPLICATION

Embodiments of the exemplary system and method disclose an electronic herb grinder. The electronic herb grinder has a heading unit which warms the grinding blades. The warming of the grinding blades prevents the build-up of resin from thecannabisfrom forming on the grinding blades. The heating unit may be programmed to run within a range of temperature where thecannabisis not burnt but warm enough to keep the resin from forming/sticking on the grinding blades. The electronic herb grinder is designed to allow the grinding blades to be easily inserted and removed for cleaning purposes.

Referring to the FIGs., an electrical grinding unit10(hereinafter grinding unit10) may be seen. The grinding unit10may have a base12. The base12may be used to house and hold the grinding unit10. In accordance with one embodiment, the base12may be used to house and hold the grinding unit10above a floor16. The base12may have a housing18. The housing18may be used to hold and protect components of the grinding unit10. The housing18may come in any geometric configuration. In the present embodiment, the housing18is rectangular in shape. However, this is shown as an example, and should not be seen in a limiting manner. A plurality of legs20may extend down from the housing18. The legs20may be used to hold the grinding unit10at a predetermined height above the floor16.

A chute22may be formed through the housing18. The chute22may extend from a top surface18A of the housing18, through the housing18and out a rear surface18B of the housing18. The chute22may have an open top area22A and an open bottom area22B.

Located within the chute22may be a shredding unit24. The shredding unit24may be used to shred thecannabispositioned within the open top area22A of the chute22. The shredding unit24may be positioned such that a portion of the shredding unit24may be enclosed within the housing18. A top section24A of the shredding unit24may be viewable through the open top area22A of the chute22. A bottom section24B of the shredding unit24may be viewable through the open bottom area22B of the chute22.

In accordance with one embodiment, the shredding unit24may be formed of a pair of cutting devices26. Each cutting device26may slide into a track38. Each of the pair of cutting devices26may be positioned proximate one another and aligned horizontally parallel with each other within the chute22. In operation, the cutting devices26may rotate thereby grinding thecannabisplaced in the grinding unit10.

In accordance with one embodiment, each cutting device26may be formed of a hollow tube member28. A plurality of cutting blades30may be formed on the hollow tube member28. In accordance with one embodiment, the cutting blades30may be approximately evenly spaced along a length of the tube member28. The cutting devices26may be aligned such that cutting blades30on one hollow tube member28may be aligned and positioned between a pair of associated cutting blades30on the other hollow tube member28. A gap may be formed between the cutting blades30on one hollow tube member28and the associated cutting blades30on the other hollow tube member28to prevent the cutting blades30from hitting one another when the pair of cutting devices26are rotated. Each hollow tube member28may slide into the track38to properly position and align the cutting devices26. The alignment and spacing of the cutting devices26may allow for consistent even sized particles to be formed when thecannabisis run through the cutting blades30. A rotary joint60may be positioned at an end of each cutting device26. The rotary joint60may be used to prevent cables from twisting while the cables deliver power to the grinding unit10. In accordance with one embodiment, the rotary joint60may be used to prevent cables from twisting while the cables deliver power to a heating element32.

The heating element32may be positioned within each hollow tube member28. The heating element32may warm up the hollow tube member28. The heat may also transfer from the hollow tube member28to the cutting blades30. The heat from the heating element32may warm the hollow tube member28and/or the cutting blades30to prevent any resin from building/stacking upon the hollow tube member28and/or the cutting blades30when the cutting devices26may be grinding thecannabis. Preventing the any resin from building/stacking upon the hollow tube member28and/or the cutting blades30may prevent the grinding unit10from jamming. Preventing the any resin from building/stacking upon the hollow tube member28and/or the cutting blades30may also reduce the number of times the shredding unit24may need to be broken down and cleaned.

Each heating element32may be coupled to a temperature sensor34. The temperature sensor34may be used to monitor the temperature of the heating element32in order to control and keep the temperature of the respective heating element32at a desired temperature. The temperature sensor34may be coupled to a heater controller36. The heater controller36may be used to set the heating element32at a desired temperature. In general, the temperature set is within a range of temperature where thecannabisis not being burnt but warm enough to prevent resin from building/stacking upon the hollow tube member28and/or the cutting blades30. Once the temperature is set via the heater controller36, the heater controller36may send a signal to heat the respective heating elements32to the desired temperature. The temperature sensor34may monitor the temperature of the heating element32. Once the desired temperature has been reached, the temperature sensor34may signal the heater controller36that the hollow tube member28and/or the cutting blades30are at the desired temperature. During operation of the grinding unit10, the temperature sensor34may continue to monitor the temperature of the respective heating elements32and signal the heater controller36to adjust the temperature when the current temperature of the respective heating elements32are above and/or below a desired temperature range. In accordance with one embodiment, the temperature sensor34may be positioned on one of the cutting blades30.

A feeding mechanism40may be positioned above the pair of cutting devices26. The feeding mechanism40may be used to move thecannabistowards the pair of cutting devices26. In accordance with one embodiment, the feeding mechanism40may be formed of a pair of feeding members41. Each feeding member41positioned above a corresponding cutting device26. Each feeding member41may have a carriage41A. A set of fixed blades42may be positioned on the carriage41A. The carriage41A may positioned each of the set of fixed blades42to be aligned horizontally parallel with each other within the chute22and above the pair of cutting devices26. A gap may be formed between the fixed blades42. Movement of the carriage41A may allow the fixed blades42to move thecannabistowards the pair of cutting devices26.

In order to rotate the pair of cutting devices26, a motor44may be used. In accordance with one embodiment, the motor44may be an AC powered motor. The motor44may be coupled to an axle member46. The axle member46may be coupled to a first sprocket member48. A second sprocket member50may be coupled to the pair of cutting devices26and the carriage41. A chain52may be used to connect the first sprocket member48to the second sprocket member50. In operation, the motor44may rotate the axle member46. Rotation of the axle member46causes the first sprocket member48to rotate. The chain52transfers the rotation of the first sprocket member48to the second sprocket member50causing the second sprocket member50to rotate. Rotation of the second sprocket member50may causes the carriage41to move thereby allowing the fixed blades42to move thecannabistowards the pair of cutting devices26. Rotation of the second sprocket member50rotates the pair of cutting devices26thereby shredding thecannabis.

Control switches54may be coupled to the motor44. The control switches54may be used to control the operation of the motor44. The control switches54may be used to activate and deactivate the motor44. The control switches54may consist of a power switch54A and motor rotate direction switch54B. The above is given as examples and should not be seen in a limiting manner. Other control switches52may be provided to control the operation of the grinding unit10.

The grinding unit10may have a hopper56. The hopper56may be formed on the top surface18A of the housing18. The hopper56may be used to direct thecannabistowards the chute22. The hopper56may be formed of a container56A having a sloped floor56B. The sloped floor58B may be slanted in the direction of the chute22.

A pair of flaps58may be positioned on the rear surface18B of the housing18at the bottom area of the chute18. The flaps58may direct thecannabis62that has been grinded to a container64located at a bottom area of the chute18.

The foregoing description is illustrative of particular embodiments of the application, but is not meant to be a limitation upon the practice thereof. The following claims, including all equivalents thereof, are intended to define the scope of the application.