BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of extracting essential compounds from organic plant materials and pertains particularly to methods and apparatus for pressing organic materials under heated conditions to extract essential compounds.

2. Discussion of the State of the Art

In the field of organic material processing, there are commercial systems available for closed loop solvent processing of organic materials such as cannabis, for example. In the case of cannabis, desired compounds within the organic cannabis material such as trichomes for example can be separated from the raw material using solvent gasses and cooling means. Drawbacks to this approach include events where residual organic compounds or other chemical residues from solvents may contaminate the final product, and events where safety may be compromised by solvent leaks or spills.

More recently in the art, commercial press systems have become available, which do not require solvents, where material may be compressed under heated conditions to squeeze melted compounds in the form of more viscous liquids from organic raw materials. These commercial presses typically use air compressors and/or hydraulic pressure systems to operate linear press components creating noise, safety issues, and maintenance issues including seal replacement, fluid replacement, valve replacement, and like issues. Such systems may not be easily scaled down for non-commercial use because of cost and required adherence to numerous safety issues and regulations.

It has occurred to the inventor that with deregulation and legalization of cannabis in multiple markets, demand for easily portable and completely organic systems and methods for extracting extracts and other essential compounds from raw cannabis is rising. Therefore, what is clearly needed is an all-electric portable plant material press for extracting essential compounds that is completely organic and easy to operate and maintain.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A mechanical press is provided and includes a platform base plate having a length, a width, and a uniform thickness, a device housing secured centrally over the platform base plate, the device housing having at least front, rear, two side panels, and a top panel having uniform thickness, an electric linear actuator assembly disposed centrally and in a vertical orientation within the device housing and fixedly mounted to the platform base plate in strategic position within the device housing, the linear actuator including a travel screw having a lower fixed gear, an actuator connection block hosting a planetary gear set, and an electric motor having a drive gear fixed to the motor shaft, a lift collar having a lower annular tube section with internal threading matching the external threading on the travel screw and an upper attachment seat fixed to a lower press plate platform having a length a width, and a uniform thickness, two or more vertical track posts having a uniform length and diameter arranged and spaced apart symmetrically, the track posts fixedly mounted to the device housing and extending vertically through the lower press plate platform through provided openings placed through the platform, the track posts functioning as a lift track for the lower press plate platform, a lower press plate having a length, a width, and a maximum thickness centrally mounted to the top surface of the lower press plate platform, an upper press plate platform having a length, a width, and a maximum thickness, the upper press plate platform aligned with and held in a same planar relationship to the lower press plate platform, the upper press plate platform having openings placed orthogonally therethrough to accept the track posts and wherein the upper press plate platform is fixed to the track posts at the upper ends of the posts, an upper press plate having a length, a width, and a uniform maximum thickness centrally mounted to the bottom surface of the upper press plate platform sharing vertical alignment and a parallel planar relationship with the lower press plate, a first electric heating element embedded into the lower press plate, a second electric heating element embedded into the upper press plate, the first and second electric heating elements including at least one feedback sensor to report temperature, a heating control interface and display including at least one electronic circuit for driving the heating control interface and display, a press activation interface including an electric button for raising the lower press plate platform to press and an electric button for releasing the lower press plate platform from press, and a power supply mounted within the device housing and connected by wire to the electric motor, the first and second heating elements, and to the at least one electronic circuit driving the heating control interface and display.

In one embodiment, the press force combined with active heating of the lower and upper press plates acts on raw material placed between the press plates to extract resins, oils, extracts, or compounds from the ram material, the heat rendering the resins, oils, extracts, or compounds in a highly viscous liquid state. In one embodiment, the lower press plate has a convex press surface, the upper press plate having a matching concave press surface. In another embodiment, the lower press plate has a conical press surface, the upper press plate having a matching funnel surface.

In one embodiment, the press force created by the linear actuator is equal to or greater than 1,500 pounds per square inch. In one embodiment, the mechanical press further includes a groove milled along a groove pattern around the press plate surface of the lower press plate, the groove including an exit chute breaking out of the press plate, the groove bottom graduating downward from the rear of the plate to the front of the plate and out of the exit chute.

In one embodiment, the material pressed is protected in a fold of parchment paper and the pressed resins, oils, extracts, or compounds are collected off the parchment paper. In one embodiment, the maximum press force is adjustable. In one embodiment, the distance that the lower press plate platform recedes after press release may be set by a user. In another embodiment, parchment paper may be replaced by another material, such as foil or any other heat-resistant material with a non-stick surface known in the art.

