Abstract:
A machine for removing the calyces from the seed of a sorrel bud includes a smooth surfaced return drum rotatably mounted to a frame and a cutting drum rotatable about a cutting drum axle and mounted to the frame in a tandem relationship with the return drum. The cutting drum has a plurality of circumferential blades oriented perpendicular to the cutting drum axle and are substantially equally spaced one from another. The cutting drum in combination with the return drum defines a throat therebetween for receiving sorrel buds. A drive simultaneously rotates the return drum and the cutting drum to cut calyces from the seed of the sorrel bud.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This Non-Provisional Utility application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/757,098, filed on Jan. 26, 2013, which is incorporated herein in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure generally relates to apparatuses and methods for harvesting sorrel. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to an apparatus for separating the calyces from the seed of a sorrel bud. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The Roselle  Hibiscus Sabdariffa , more commonly known as sorrel, is a species of  Hibiscus  that is native to the tropics of the eastern hemisphere and is used for the production of bast fiber from the plant stem and the red calyces are used as an infusion for flavoring drinks. The plant is considered to have antihypertensive properties and has been used in folk medicine as a diuretic, mild laxative, and treatment for cardiac and nerve diseases and cancer. In addition to its well documented hypotensive effects, sorrel has one of the highest levels of antioxidants of any widely available food. 
     The fruit of the sorrel has red fleshy petals, called calyces, surrounding a large seed capsule in the center of the fruit. The red calyces of the plant are the primary object of the sorrel harvest and are increasingly exported to America and Europe. The present method of sorrel harvesting is largely a task of manual labor using a makeshift hand tool made from a tube having a serrated bottom and approximately the same diameter of the seed. The serrated end of the tube is used to cut through the base of the calyces and then push the seed capsule out of the fruit thereby leaving the calyces free. 
     This harvest methodology has two primary shortcomings. First, the labor cost is high since several laborers are required to pick the sorrel buds and remove the seeds from the calyces. Two laborers require approximately fifteen days to harvest one acre of sorrel. Secondly, as a result of the time period required for harvesting the preservation of the sorrel calyces is being compromised. The extensive time required for harvesting results in a significant delay before preservation and use, and thus the calyces start to break down and deteriorate. This is especially so when handling large quantities. 
     However, the current manual separation of the calyces petals from the seed capsules is a highly time consuming expenditure of manual labor. Therefore, an apparatus is needed to automate the separation process and reduce the time required to efficiently harvest the sorrel. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present disclosure is generally directed to a sorrel harvesting machine for removing the calyces from the seed of a sorrel bud. The sorrel harvesting machine includes a frame and a return drum rotatably mounted thereto wherein the return drum has a substantially smooth face. A cutting drum is rotatable about a cutting drum axle and is mounted to the frame in a tandem relationship with the return drum. The cutting drum has a plurality of circumferential blades oriented perpendicular to the cutting drum axle wherein the circumferential blades are substantially equally spaced one from another. The cutting drum in combination with the return drum defines a throat therebetween for receiving the sorrel buds to be harvested. A drive simultaneously rotates the return drum and the cutting drum. 
     In another aspect, the machine further includes a conveyor mounted to the frame above the return drum and the cutting drum and is oriented to deliver a plurality of sorrel buds to the throat. 
     In still another aspect, the machine further includes a hopper mounted to the frame above the throat for receiving a plurality of sorrel buds and also includes a chute below the hopper oriented to deliver the plurality of sorrel buds to the throat. 
     In yet another aspect, the return drum further includes a circumferential lip at each end of the return drum wherein the circumferential lip extends radially outward from the smooth surface. 
     In a still further aspect, the cutting drum is adjustable with respect to the return drum to regulate the size of throat. 
     In another aspect, each end of the cutting drum axle is rotatably journaled to an adjuster. Each adjuster is affixed to the frame wherein each adjuster includes a shaft affixed to the frame and defining a central bore therethrough. A threaded adjustment bar is received in the central bore and includes a bearing on one end thereof which is journaled to the cutting drum axle and at and opposite end thereof the threaded adjustment bar engages a flange affixed to the frame. At least one not is engaged on the threaded adjustment bar and bears against flange and is rotatable thereagainst for translating the cutting drum with respect to the return drum. 
     In another aspect, the drive includes a drive pulley and a belt engaged thereon wherein the belt further engages a return drum pulley for rotating the return drum and also engages a cutting drum pulley for rotating the cutting drum. 
     In a still further aspect, the return drum pulley has a diameter greater than the diameter of the cutting drum pulley for rotating the cutting drum pulley at a faster rate than the return drum pulley. 
     In yet another aspect, the machine further includes a catchment tray positioned below the throat and angled to direct the calyces and seeds from the throat away from the machine. 
     In another aspect, the catchment tray has a plurality of perforations in a bottom thereof. 
     In still another aspect, the machine further includes an articulately configured blade tray affixed below the throat and the cutting drum for receiving sorrel buds exiting the throat. The blade tray comprises a plurality of spaced apart blades extending across the frame. 
     In yet another aspect, the blade trade blades are substantially radially aligned to the cutting drum axle. 
     In another aspect, a sorrel harvesting machine for removing the calyces from the seed of a sorrel bud includes a frame and a return drum rotatably mounted to the frame wherein the return drum has a substantially smooth face and a circumferential lip at each end of the return drum extending radially outward from the smooth surface. A cutting drum is rotatable about a cutting drum axle and is mounted to the frame in a tandem relationship with the return drum and is adjustable with respect thereto. The cutting drum has a plurality of circumferential blades oriented perpendicular to the cutting drum axle and are substantially equally spaced one from another. The cutting drum in combination with the return drum defines a throat therebetween for receiving sorrel buds. An arcuately configured blade tray is affixed below the throat and the cutting drum for receiving sorrel buds exiting the throat wherein the blade tray comprises a plurality of spaced apart blades extending across the frame. A drive simultaneously rotates the return drum and the cutting drum. 
     In still another aspect, the drive includes a drive pulley and a belt engaged thereon wherein the belt further engages a return drum pulley for rotating the return drum and also engages a cutting drum pulley for rotating the cutting drum. 
     In yet another aspect, the return drum pulley has a diameter greater than the diameter of the cutting drum pulley for rotating the cutting drum pulley at a faster rate than the return drum pulley. 
     In a still further aspect, each end of the cutting drum axle is rotatably journaled to an adjuster. Each adjuster is affixed to the frame wherein each adjuster includes a shaft affixed to the frame and defining a central bore therethrough. A threaded adjustment bar is received in the central bore and includes a bearing on one end thereof which is journaled to the cutting drum axle and at and opposite end thereof the threaded adjustment bar engages a flange affixed to the frame. At least one not is engaged on the threaded adjustment bar and bears against flange and is rotatable thereagainst for translating the cutting drum with respect to the return drum. 
     In another aspect, the blade tray blades are substantially radially aligned to the cutting drum axle. 
     In another aspect, the machine includes a catchment tray positioned below the throat and angled to direct calyces and seeds from the throat away from the machine. 
     In a still further aspect, the catchment tray has a plurality of perforations in the bottom thereof. 
     In yet another aspect, a method for removing the calyces from the seed of a sorrel bud includes obtaining a sorrel harvesting machine having a smooth surfaced return drum rotatably mounted to a frame. A cutting drum is rotatable about a cutting drum axle and is mounted to the frame in a tandem relationship with the return drum and defines a throat therebetween wherein the cutting drum includes a plurality of circumferential blades oriented perpendicular to the axle and substantially equally spaced one from another. The cutting drum is adjustable with respect to the return drum to regulate size of the throat. A drive simultaneously rotates the return drum and the cutting drum. The drive is engaged to simultaneously rotate the return drum and the cutting drum. A plurality of sorrel buds is introduced to the throat of the harvesting machine. The return drum is allowed to rotate the plurality of sorrel buds against the rotating blades of the cutting drum. The cutting drum blades cause the calyces of the sorrel bud to be cut from the seed and to exit the throat. 
     These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where like numerals denote like elements and in which: 
         FIG. 1  presents a side elevation view of a sorrel harvesting machine according to the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  presents a top plan view of the sorrel harvesting machine with the conveyor removed therefrom; 
         FIG. 3  presents a top isometric view of the sorrel harvesting machine; 
         FIG. 4  presents a side elevation view of the cutting blades for attachment to the cutting drum; 
         FIG. 5  presents a top rear isometric view of an alternate embodiment sorrel harvesting machine; 
         FIG. 6  presents a top front isometric view of the alternate embodiment sorrel harvesting machine of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  presents a side elevation view of the alternate embodiment sorrel harvesting machine  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  presents a top plan view of the alternate embodiment sorrel harvesting machine  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  presents a partial cross-sectional elevation view of the cutting drum and the blade tray. 
     
    
    
     Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary in nature and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used herein, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described herein as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure, which is defined by the claims. For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the specific devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are simply exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
     In one exemplary implementation of the invention, a sorrel harvesting machine  100  is shown in  FIGS. 1-4  illustrating its various components where a supporting frame  110  supports a return drum  140  on a central return drum axle  142  thereof and a cutting drum  150  on a central cutting drum axle thereof, the central return and cutting drum axles being disposed in a spaced tandem fashion wherein the return drum  140  and the cutting drum  150  are disposed proximate one to the other and spaced apart from one another so as to define therebetween a desired opening of a throat  102 . A conveyor  130  is mounted to the frame  110  above the return drum  140  and includes a conveyor belt  132  for feeding sorrel buds into the throat  102  in a timely and regulated manner. 
     The central return drum axle  142  of the return drum  140  is affixed at the center of a diametrical stabilizing bar  146  on each side of the return drum  140 . The return drum axle  142  is rotatably journaled to a bearing mounted on the frame  110  thereby permitting the return drum  40  to freely rotate about a central axis. The return drum  140  has a smooth surface  144  at a periphery of the return drum  140 . In the most preferred arrangement, the return drum  140  has a diameter of approximately 20.0 inches and a width of approximately 12.0 inches. 
     The central cutting drum axle  152  of the cutting drum  150  is affixed at the center of a diametrical stabilizing bar  154  on each side of the cutting drum  150 . An adjuster  121  is mounted to the frame  110  adjacent and spaced outwardly from each side of the cutting drum  150 . The adjuster  121  having a shaft  122  with a central bore is fixedly mounted to the frame  110 . The shaft  122  receives in the central bore a threaded adjustment bar  124  which is longitudinally translatable therein. The threaded adjustment bar  124  has at one end a bearing  126  in which the cutting drum axle  152  is rotatably journaled. An opposite end of the threaded adjustment bar  124  engages a flange  128  on the frame  110  and includes one or more nuts  125  threaded thereon to bear against the flange  128 . Operation of the adjuster  121  by selective threading of nuts  125  translates the cutting drum  150  closer to or farther away from the return drum  140  thereby regulating the size of the opening of the throat  102 . 
     The cutting drum  150  includes a plurality of blades  156  affixed thereto about a periphery of the drum  150  and substantially perpendicular to the cutting drum axle  152 . Each blade  156  includes tabs  158  which fit into slots (not shown) on the surface of the cutting drum  150  to facilitate attachment of the blades  156  to the cutting drum  150  ( FIG. 4 ). In the most preferred arrangement, each blade  156  constitutes one fourth of the circumference of the drum  150  and the diameter of the blades  156  when affixed to the cutting drum  150  is approximately 20.0 inches. The blades  156  are arranged in sixteen circular sets equally spaced (approximately ½ inch) over an approximately 12 inch width of the cutting drum  150 . 
     Aft drive mechanism  111  is mounted on the supporting frame  110  adjacent to and outwardly spaced from one side of the return drum  140  and the cutting drum  150  and being rotatably drivingly interengaged with the central return drum axle  142  of the return drum  140  and the central cutting drum axle  152  of the cutting drum  150 . More particularly, the drive mechanism  111  includes an electric motor  112  mounted to the supporting frame  110  and having a rotatable drive member, for example, in the form of a drive pulley  114  mounted to and rotated by an output shaft  113  of the electric motor. The drive pulley  114  is disposed in line with one of a pair of opposite ends of each of the central return drum axle  142  and the central cutting drum axle  152 . The drive mechanism  111  also includes a first rotatably driven member, for example, in the form of a cutting drum pulley  116 , a second rotatably driven member, for example, in the form of a return drum pulley  118 , and a motion transmitting member, for example, in the form of a V-belt  120  entrained about and drivingly interconnecting the drive pulley  114 , the cutting drum pulley  116 , and the return drum pulley  118 . The return drum pulley  118  is mounted on the one end of the central return drum axle  142  and in line with the drive pulley  114 . The cutting drum pulley  116  is mounted on the one end of the central cutting drum axle  152  in line with the return drum pulley  118  and the drive pulley  114 . The V-belt  120  is disposed in a triangular configuration so as to engage and extend about respective outside arcuate portions of the drive pulley  114 , the cutting drum pulley  116 , and the return drum pulley  118  facing in directions away from one another such that when electric motor  112  is energized, the drive pulley  114  engages the V-belt  120  which, in turn, drives the cutting drum pulley  116  and the return drum pulley  118  so as to cause the return drum  140  and the cutting drum  150  to rotate in the same angular clockwise directions on their respective axles  142 ,  152  such that respective portions of their peripheries located at the opening of the throat  102  move in opposite directions at the throat  102  with respect to one another. Further, the diameter of the return drum pulley  118  is larger than the diameter of the cutting drum pulley  116 . In this manner, the cutting drum  150  rotates at a faster rate than the return drum  140 . 
     In the most preferred arrangement, the cutting drum pulley  116  has a diameter of 4.5 inches and the return drum pulley  118  has a diameter of 5.0 inches. The drive pulley  114  has a diameter of 2.0 inches and the electric motor  112  operates at 1500 RPM. 
     A catchment tray  160  is fixedly mounted to frame  110  below the return drum  140  and the throat  102  and angled downwardly therefrom for directing the separated seed and cut calyces to exit the machine  100 . 
     In use, a plurality of gathered sorrel buds are sorted according to size. The cutting drum  150  is then positioned with respect to the return drum  140  by positioning the nuts  125  on the threaded adjustment bar  124  to effect a desired opening of the throat  102 . The sorrel buds are then introduced to the conveyor belt  132  which, in turn, feeds the sorrel buds into the throat  102  defined by the adjacent return drum  140  and cutting drum  150 . The drive  112  rotates the return drum  140  and the cutting drum  150  in the same angular direction (i.e. both drums  140 ,  150  rotating clockwise) thereby causing drum surfaces at the throat  102  to be moving in opposite directions. The combination of the opposite directional movement of the drum surfaces at the throat  102  and the difference in rotational rates of the drums  140 ,  150  results in the rotation of the sorrel buds in the throat  102  against the blades  156  of the cutting drum  150  and thereby facilitates the cutting of the calyces by the blades  156  of the cutting drum  150  and thereby effecting efficient removal of the calyces from the seed at the throat  102 . The separated seeds and calyces exit the throat  102  and are collected on the catchment tray  160 . The downward angle of the catchment tray  160  directs the separated sorrel seed and cut calyces to exit the machine  100 . 
     In an alternate implementation of the invention, a sorrel harvesting machine  200  is shown in  FIGS. 5-9  illustrating its various components where a supporting frame  210  supports a return drum  240  and a cutting drum  250  in a tandem fashion wherein the return drum  240  and the cutting drum  250  are proximate one to the other and define therebetween a throat  202 . A hopper  270  is mounted to the frame  210  above the return drum  240  and includes a chute  272  at the bottom of the hopper  270  for feeding sorrel buds into the throat  202  in a timely and regulated manner. 
     The return drum  240  has a central return drum axle  242  affixed at the center of a diametrical stabilizing bar  246  on each side of the return drum  240 . The return drum axle  242  is rotatably journaled to a bearing mounted on the frame  210  thereby permitting the return drum  240  to freely rotate about a central axis. The return drum  240  has a smooth surface  244 , and in a most preferred arrangement, the return drum  240  has a diameter of approximately 20.0 inches and a width of approximately 12.0 inches. 
     The cutting drum  250  has a central cutting drum axle  252  affixed at the center of a diametrical stabilizing bar  254  on each side of the cutting drum  250 . An adjuster  221  is mounted to the frame  210  on each side of the cutting drum  250 . The adjuster  221  has a shaft  222  with a central bore fixedly mounted to the frame  210 . The shaft  222  receives in the central bore a threaded adjustment bar  224  which is longitudinally translatable therein. The threaded adjustment bar  224  has at one end a bearing  226  in which the cutting drum axle  252  is journaled. An opposite end of the threaded adjustment bar  224  engages a flange  228  on the frame  210  and includes one or more nuts  225  threaded thereon to bear against the flange  228 . Operation of the adjuster  221  by selective threading of the nuts  225  translates the cutting drum  250  closer to or farther away from the return drum  240  thereby regulating the size of the throat  202 . 
     The cutting drum  250  includes a plurality of blades  256  affixed thereto about a periphery of the drum  250  and substantially perpendicular to the cutting drum axle  252 . Each blade extends about the periphery of the cutting drum  250  wherein the plurality of blades  256  are substantially equally spaced along the width of the cutting drum  250 . 
     As most easily seen in  FIGS. 7 and 9 , a blade tray  280  has an arcuate configuration substantially concentric to the cutting drum  250  and positioned below the throat  202  such that the sorrel buds exiting the throat  202  are captured by the blade tray  280 . The blade tray  280  includes a plurality of blades  282  equally spaced one from another, extending the width of the frame  210 . The blades  282  are arranged orthogonally to the blades  256  of the cutting drum  250  and radially aligned with said cutting drum axle  252 . 
     An electric motor  212  is mounted to the supporting frame  210  and drives a drive pulley  214 . A return drum pulley  218  is mounted on the return drum axle  242  and in line with the drive pulley  214 . The cutting drum  250  has a cutting drum pulley  216  mounted on the central cutting drum axle  252  also in line with the return drum pulley  218  and the drive pulley  214 . A V-belt  220  extends about the drive pulley  214 , the cutting drum pulley  216 , and the return drum pulley  218  such that when electric motor  212  is energized, the drive pulley  214  engages the V-belt  220  which, in turn, causes the return drum  240  and the cutting drum  250  to rotate in opposite directions at the throat  202 . Further, the diameter of the return drum pulley  218  is larger than the diameter of the cutting drum pulley  216 . In this manner, the cutting drum  250  rotates at a faster rate than the return drum  240 . 
     In the most preferred arrangement, the cutting drum pulley  216  has a diameter of 4.5 inches and the return drum pulley  218  has a diameter of 5.0 inches. The drive pulley  214  has a diameter of 2.0 inches and the electric motor  212  typically operates in excess of 1000 RPM. 
     A catchment tray  260  is vibrationally mounted to frame  210  below the return drum  240  and the throat  202  and angled downwardly therefrom to direct the separated seed and cut calyces to exit the machine  200 . Further, the bottom of the catchment tray to  60  is configured as a grate defining a plurality of perforations therethrough. The perforation size is such that, as the catchment tray  260  vibrates, the cut calyces pass through the perforations and the seeds are directed off an end of the catchment tray  260  thereby sorting the cut calyces from the seeds of the sorrel buds. 
     In use, a plurality of gathered sorrel buds are sorted according to size. The cutting drum  250  is then positioned with respect to the return drum  240  by positioning the nuts  225  on the threaded adjustment bar  224  to effect a desired opening of the throat  202 . The sorrel buds are then introduced to the hopper  270  which, in turn, feeds the sorrel buds into the chute  272  and then the throat  202  defined by the adjacent return drum  240  and cutting drum  250 . The drive  212  rotates the return drum  240  and the cutting drum  250  in the same angular direction (i.e. both drums  240 ,  250  rotating clockwise) thereby causing drum surfaces at the throat  202  to be moving in opposite directions. The combination of the opposite directional movement of the drum surfaces at the throat  202  and the difference in rotational rates of the drums  240 ,  250  results in the rotation of the sorrel buds in the throat  202  against the blades  256  of the cutting drum  250  and thereby facilitates the cutting of the calyces by the blades  256  on the cutting drum  250 . The lips  248  on either end of the return drum  240  in combination with the outer blades  256  of the cutting drum  250  prevent any of the sorrel buds from being ejected to the side of the machine  200  prior to being processed through the throat  202 . After exiting the throat  202 , the calyces of the sorrel buds are cut down to the seed and exit the throat  202  to the blade tray  280 . The blades  282  of the blade tray  280  being transversely fixed with respect to the rotating blades  256  of the cutting drum  250  and radially aligned with said cutting drum axle  252  operate to efficiently remove the remaining calyces from the seed. The separated calyces and seeds pass through the spaced apart blades  282  of the blade tray  280  and are collected on the catchment tray  260 . The downward angle of the catchment tray  260  directs the separated sorrel seed and cut calyces to exit the machine  200 . The catchment tray  260  can have a bottom configured as a grate defining a plurality of perforations therethrough such that as the catchment tray  260  vibrates, the calyces fall through the grate and the seeds are directed down the incline of the catchment tray  260  so that the seeds and the calyces are automatically sorted one from the other. 
     The present invention has advantages which include, without limitation, major savings and labor costs and a substantial reduction in time required to separate the calyces from the seed of the sorrel buds. Utilization of the sorrel harvesting machine offers a yield of approximately 50 kg in one hour. This improvement enables farmers to more cost-effectively harvest the sorrel buds and in turn become highly competitive in the sorrel harvesting global market by saving significant labor costs and time during the process. An additional advantage is a substantially higher amount in the yield per acre which further equips the farmer to be more competitive. 
     Since many modifications, variations, and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, it is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.