FIBRE AND PARTICULATE PROCESSING

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for processing of fibres and particulates such as wool, wherein material is placed within a receptacle configured to allow the ingress and egress of treatment fluid, conveyed to a treatment fluid application area, treated with a treatment fluid, and conveyed from the treatment fluid application area.

Claims

1. A method of material treatment, comprising the steps of: placing the material within a receptacle configured to allow the ingress and egress of treatment fluid; conveying the receptacle to a treatment fluid application area; treating the material with a treatment fluid, comprising lowering the receptacle into at least one container containing the treatment fluid and agitating the material by compressing and releasing the material with a plunger; and conveying the receptacle from the treatment fluid application area.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising the further step of raising the receptacle above the container containing the treatment fluid and expressing treatment fluid from the material by compressing and releasing the material with the plunger.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein treating the material comprises conveying the receptacle to a container containing fresh treatment fluid.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising expressing treatment fluid from the material by positioning the receptacle against a drain plate and compressing the material with a high pressure plunger.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, comprising drying the material by conveying the receptacle to a drying area and exposing the material to hot air.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the receptacle is an open topped container with at least one mesh side.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the material to be treated is wool.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the treatment fluid is a lye solution.

9. A material treatment apparatus, comprising: a receptacle configured to contain material to be treated, and allow the ingress and egress of treatment fluid; a plunger configured to extend into the receptacle; and a conveyor, comprising a lifting cradle configured to adjust elevation of the receptacle, the conveyor configured to: convey the receptacle to a treatment fluid application area, wherein the treatment fluid application area comprises a container containing the treatment fluid, and the lifting cradle is configured to lower the receptacle into the container, and hold the receptacle in position while the material is treated by a treatment fluid, and convey the receptacle from the treatment fluid application area.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the plunger is configured to agitate the material by compressing and releasing the material.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the lifting cradle is configured to raise the receptacle above the container containing the treatment fluid, and the plunger is configured to express treatment fluid from the material by compressing and releasing the material.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the treatment fluid application area comprises a plurality of containers, and the conveyor is configured to convey the receptacle between the containers.

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein the receptacle is an open topped container with at least one mesh side.

14-15. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0087] Further aspects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0088] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the present invention configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention; and

[0089] FIG. 2A shows a cross sectional view of the conveyance means configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a first stage of operation;

[0090] FIG. 2B shows a cross sectional view of the conveyance means configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a second stage of operation;

[0091] FIG. 2C shows a cross sectional view of the conveyance means configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a third stage of operation; and

[0092] FIG. 2D shows a cross sectional view of the conveyance means configured in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a fourth stage of operation.

BEST MODES FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

[0093] With reference to the drawings there is provided in FIG. 1, a fibre processing system generally indicated by arrow (13).

[0094] Fibres (not shown in FIG. 1) are loadedmanually or automatically into a receptacle

[0095] The receptacle (1) is then connected to a conveying system (14) which includes a common lifting cradle (2) configured to raise and lower the receptacle (1) using rams.

[0096] The common lifting cradle (2) then lifts the receptacle (1) above a treatment fluid application area (3).

[0097] An actuator (4) which forms part of the conveying system (14) conveys the receptacle (1) to be positioned above the first of the treatment fluid application areas (3). Alternatively, the receptacle (1) may be manually positioned in the cradle (2) above the treatment fluid application area (3).

[0098] Operation of the cradle (2) is shown in more detail in FIG. 2A to FIG. 2D.

[0099] FIG. 2A shows the receptacle (1) containing fibres (5) positioned above the treatment fluid application area (3).

[0100] In FIG. 2B, the receptacle (1) is lowered into the treatment fluid application area (3) by the lifting cradle (2).

[0101] A plunger (6) is mounted above each treatment fluid application area (3).

[0102] The plunger (6) mildly agitates the fibres (5) by one or more compression/release cycles against the base of the receptacle (1) while submerged in the treatment fluid (7), as depicted in FIG. 2C.

[0103] The receptacle (1) and plunger (6) are then returned to the position depicted by FIG. 2A.

[0104] In order to egress the treatment fluid (7) retained by the fibres (5), the plunger (6) presses the fibres against the base of the receptacle (1) as shown in FIG. 2D.

[0105] The expressed fluid is captured by the treatment fluid application area (3). This may be repeated more than once in order to express as much of the fluid as possible.

[0106] Returning to FIG. 1, the receptacle (1) is moved into position above the next treatment fluid application area (3), and the process as previously described is repeated.

[0107] Once the desired series of treatments have been conducted, the receptacle (1) is conveyed into position below a high pressure plunger (8).

[0108] The high pressure plunger (8) presses the fibres (5) against a reinforced drain plate (9).

[0109] The fluid expressed from the fibres (5) drains either directly into the fluid application area or into a containment area (10) capable of holding an amount of fluid equal to that of one treatment fluid containment area (3).

[0110] The receptacle is then conveyed through a drying area (11) where the fibres (5) are dried, typically using hot air. The fibres (5) are retained in the receptacles (1) through the drying area (11).

[0111] The dried fibres (5) are removed from the receptacles (1) and the empty receptacles (12) are returned to the start of the fibre processing system (13) to be reloaded with fibres (5).

[0112] Transport of the empty receptacles (12) from exit to entry of the fibre processing system (13) is either manual or automated.

[0113] The present invention provides for individual lots of fibres (5) to be processed through the fibre processing system (13) without mixing between lots.

[0114] Aspects of the present invention have been described by way of example only and it should be appreciated that modifications and additions may be made thereto without departing from the scope thereof as defined in the appended claims.