US 12,109,592 B1
Cryogenic processing system for plant material
Steven J. Barberi, Corona, CA (US); Gregory J. Gruzdowich, Corona, CA (US); Louis J. Barberi, Corona, CA (US); and Keith W. Kilham, Corona, CA (US)
Assigned to AGT-USA, Inc., Corona, CA (US)
Filed by AGT-USA, Inc., Corona, CA (US)
Filed on Jan. 16, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/414,243.
Application 18/414,243 is a continuation of application No. 18/473,085, filed on Sep. 22, 2023, granted, now 11,872,593.
Application 18/473,085 is a continuation in part of application No. 18/137,988, filed on Apr. 21, 2023, granted, now 11,766,678, issued on Sep. 26, 2023.
Int. Cl. B07B 1/46 (2006.01); B02C 23/10 (2006.01); B07B 1/28 (2006.01)
CPC B07B 1/46 (2013.01) [B02C 23/10 (2013.01); B07B 1/28 (2013.01); B07B 2201/04 (2013.01)] 17 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for separating small components from larger components of plant stock and separating small particles from plant stock, wherein said plant stock comprises large particles and small particles, said method comprising the steps of:
a particle separation system 1 comprising a sifting tray assembly 2, said sifting tray assembly comprising (a) an inlet end 12 with an inlet 7 for large particles and small particles, (b) a means 4 for separating the large particles from the small particles, (c) an outlet end 13 with an outlet 8 for discharge of the large particles and an outlet 5 for discharge of small particles, (d) a first container 44 in communication with the outlet for discharge of the large particles for collection of the large particles and (e) a second container 42 in communication with the outlet 5 for discharge of the small particles;
a cryogen reservoir 25 and a cryogen injector 24 operable to inject a cryogen at cryogenic temperature into the particle separation system to cool the plant stock to cryogenic temperatures to solidify the small particles, wherein, at least after injection, the cryogen comprises a gaseous cryogen;
a filter means 49 configured to remove any small particles entrained in the gaseous cryogen drawn from the particle separation system; and
a first pump 47 operable to pump the gaseous cryogen, along with any small particles entrained in the gaseous cryogen, from the particle separation system and into the filter means.