Patent US10611713

Automated production line for preparing cannabidiol extract
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US10611713

1. An automated production line for preparing cannabidiol (CBD) extracts from industrial hemp, the production line comprising: (12) (9)

a central controller;

a solvent dispensing tank for preparing a separation solvent;

an extraction tank containing flowers and leaves of the industrial hemp, the extraction tank being connected to the solvent dispensing tank via a first conduit equipped with a first solenoid valve and a first pump, wherein upon receiving a first activation signal from the central controller, the first solenoid valve and the first pump activated to allow the separation solvent to follow through the first conduit into the extraction tank under the operation of the first pump to extract CBD from the flowers and leaves to form a CBD extract solution;

a first concentration tank to receive and concentrate the CBD extract solution to form a first CBD concentrate, the first concentration tank being connected to the extraction tank via a second conduit equipped with a second solenoid valve and a second pump, wherein upon receiving a second activation signal from the central controller, the second solenoid valve and the second pump are activated to allow the CBD extract solution to follow through the second conduit into the first concentration tank under the operation of the second pump;

a dilution tank to receive a diluting solvent from a diluting solvent source and the first CBD concentrate to dilute the first CBD concentrate with the diluting solvent into a diluted CBD solution, the dilution tank being connected to the first concentration tank via a third conduit equipped with a third solenoid valve and a third pump, wherein upon receiving a third activation signal from the central controller, the third solenoid valve and the third pump are activated to allow the first CBD concentrate to follow through the third conduit into the dilution tank under the operation of the third pump;

a filter press to filer the diluted CBD solution to form a CBD filtrate, the filter press being connected to the dilution tank via a fourth conduit equipped with a fourth solenoid valve and a fourth pump, wherein upon receiving a fourth activation signal from the central controller, the fourth solenoid valve and the fourth pump are activated to allow the diluted CBD solution to follow through the fourth conduit to the filter press under the operation of the fourth pump;

a second concentration tank to receive and concentrate the CBD filtrate to form a second CBD concentrate, the second concentration tank being connected to the filter press via a fifth conduit equipped with a fifth solenoid valve and a fifth pump, wherein upon receiving a fifth activation signal from the central controller, the fifth solenoid valve and the fifth valve are activated to allow the CBD filtrate to follow through the fifth conduit into the second concentration tank under the operation of the fifth pump;

a chromatography column to receive an eluent from an eluent source and the second CBD concentrate, wherein the eluent elutes the second CBD concentrate to form a CBD eluate, the chromatography column being connected to the second concentration tank via a sixth conduit equipped with a sixth solenoid valve and a sixth pump, wherein upon receiving a sixth signal from the central controller, the sixth solenoid valve and the sixth valve are activated to allow the second CBD concentrate to flow through the sixth conduit under the operation of the sixth pump to be loaded onto the chromatography column; and

a crystallization device to receive and crystalize the CBD eluate to obtain the CBD extracts, the crystallization device being connected to the chromatography column via a seventh conduit equipped with a seventh solenoid valve and a seventh pump, wherein upon receiving a seventh activation signal from the central controller, the seventh solenoid valve and the seventh pump are activated to allow the CBD eluate to follow through the seventh conduit into the crystallization device under the operation of the seventh pump.

2. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the fifth conduit further comprises a sensor. (1) (0)

3. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the central controller sends the first activation signal to the first solenoid valve and the first pump when a first pre-set time interval is reached. (0)

4. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the central controller sends the second activation signal to the second solenoid valve and the second pump when it receives a first CBD content input that the CBD extract solution has reached a pre-determined CBD content. (1) (0)

5. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the central controller sends the third activation signal to the third solenoid valve and the third pump when a second pre-set time interval is reached. (0)

6. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the central controller sends the fourth activation signal to the fourth solenoid valve and the fourth pump when a pre-determined volume of the diluting solvent has been dispensed. (1) (0)

15. The automated production line claim 6, wherein the solvent dispensing tank is provided with a solvent level indication system, the system comprising (3) (7)

a solvent level sensor to detect a solvent level in the solvent dispensing tank and measure a voltage based on the detected solvent level;

a first reference device to generate a first reference voltage based on a first pre-set solvent level in the solvent dispensing tank;

a second reference device to generate a second reference voltage based on a second pre-set solvent level in the solvent dispensing tank;

a first comparison device coupled to the solvent level sensor and the first reference device, wherein the first comparison device outputs a first drive command when the measured voltage is greater than the first reference voltage;

a second comparison device coupled to the solvent level sensor and the second reference device, wherein the second comparison device outputs a second drive command when the measured voltage is greater than the second reference voltage;

a first operation device coupled to the first comparison device, the first operation device being triggered by the first drive command; and

a second operation device coupled to the second comparison device, the second operation device being triggered by the second drive command.

16. The automated production line of claim 15, wherein the first reference device comprises a first, a second and a third reference resistors connected in series to ground, wherein the first and the second reference resistors are coupled to the first comparison device. (0)

17. The automated production line of claim 15, wherein the second reference device comprises a fourth, a fifth and a sixth reference resistors connected in series to ground, wherein the fourth and the fifth reference resistors are coupled to the second comparison device. (0)

18. The automated production line of claim 15, wherein the first and the second comparison devices are voltage comparators. (0)

7. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the central controller sends the fifth activation signal to the fifth solenoid valve and the fifth pump when it receives an input from the sensor that the filtration has been completed. (0)

8. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the central controller sends the sixth activation signal to the sixth solenoid valve and the seventh pump when a third pre-set time interval is reached. (0)

9. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the central controller sends the seventh activation signal to the seventh solenoid when it receives a second CBD content input that only CBD is detected by a HPLC connected to the chromatography column. (0)

10. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the first to the seventh pumps are peristaltic pumps. (0)

11. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the filter press is a plate and frame filter press or a membrane filer press. (0)

13. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the central controller is a computer. (0)

14. The automated production line of claim 1, wherein the central controller is a programmable logic controller. (0)

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Patent US10611713

Automated production line for preparing cannabidiol extract

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