Apparatus and Method of Defibrillating and/or Defibering Cellulose Fibres and/or Ligno-cellulosic Fibres

Abstract

A fibre processing apparatus for use in mechanical manipulation and/or processing of material. The apparatus includes an inlet at a first end for introduction of material and/or liquid contained in the material, an outlet downstream of the inlet which manipulated and/or processed material and/or liquid leaves, intermediate the inlet and outlet is a screw processor including at least one shaft having an axis of rotation, the shaft having a plurality of elements provided to cause mechanical manipulation and/or processing and/or cutting of the material. At least one of the plurality of element includes a partially textured exterior surface or wall. The manipulated/processed material being selected from a group of: fibres, cellulose fibres, powders, granules, foodstuffs, pharmaceuticals and/or plastics. The invention further discloses a screw processor element and a method of treating a composition comprising cellulose fibre.

1 . An apparatus for use in the mechanical manipulation and/or processing of a material, said apparatus comprising:
 an inlet at a first end for introduction of the material and/or liquid in which said material is contained, in use;   an outlet downstream of the inlet and via which the manipulated and/or processed material and/or liquid leaves, in use; and   intermediate the inlet and outlet there is provided a screw processor including at least one shaft with an axis of rotation and on which is provided a plurality of elements provided to cause mechanical manipulation and/or processing and/or cutting of said material, in use,   and wherein at least one of the plurality of elements includes an exterior surface or wall that is at least partially textured.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . (canceled) 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one element includes a first surface or wall around the periphery thereof, and further includes second and third spaced apart surfaces or walls which are substantially perpendicular to the first surface or wall, and wherein the first, second and third surfaces or walls, or any combination thereof, are textured. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the texturing is selected from the group consisting of: a series of serrations, ridges, steps, and any or any combination of pinned, toothed, grooved and/or spiked formations. 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the screw processor includes at least two substantially parallel or angularly offset shafts with the plurality of elements mounted on respective shafts and located by the shafts such that the same intermesh. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the screw processor is provided as a twin-screw processor, and one or more elements provided on a first shaft or screw are arranged to intermesh and/or engage complementary elements provided on a second shaft or screw of the screw processor. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the screw processor is provided with 4, 6, 8, 10 or more shafts, and the shafts with the plurality of elements mounted thereon are provided to intermesh with plurality of elements provided on an adjacent shaft or shafts. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one shaft includes the plurality of elements having varying sizes located thereon and provided to intermesh with corresponding plurality of elements of varying sizes located on one or more adjacent shafts provided in the screw processor. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of shafts is arranged parallel to, and about, a central, longitudinal axis of the screw processor, providing a substantially planetary configuration of the screw processor, such an arrangement being provided wherein at least four shafts are provided. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein form of the textured surface and/or surfaces is varied in frequency, depth, pitch and angle between individual elements and/or differing surfaces of the same element. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said elements are provided as any or any combination of mono-lobal, bi-lobal, tri-lobal and/or asymmetric elements, in order to provide improved processing efficiency, in use. 
     
     
         16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . (canceled) 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of elements are provided with a shape wherein a circumference of the plurality of elements follows a path of a substantially circular sine wave. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein peaks of a first element on a first shaft are arranged to engage and/or intermesh troughs of a second element on a second shaft, and vice versa. 
     
     
         22 . An element for use with a screw processor, said element comprising:
 a first exterior wall or surface;   second and third spaced apart exterior surfaces that are substantially perpendicular to the first exterior wall or surface, and   wherein at least one of the walls or surfaces is provided with an at least partially textured surface.   
     
     
         23 . An element according to  claim 22 , wherein the element has a channel formed therethrough, which allows the same to be mounted on a shaft, and engagement means are provided to allow the element to be rotated along with the shaft. 
     
     
         24 . An element according to  claim 23 , wherein the element is provided with a substantially circular profile, and the channel is provided offset from a central axis of the element. 
     
     
         25 . An element according to  claim 22 , wherein the second and/or third surfaces are formed having a series of formations in a form selected from the group consisting of: spots, pimples, recessed versions of the same and/or the like provided thereon, or having a series of serrations or rib members thereon. 
     
     
         26 . An element according to  claim 25 , wherein the serrations are provided as a series of concentric serrations provided about the channel or are located parallel to one another along a length of the surface or surfaces. 
     
     
         27 . An element according to  claim 25 , wherein the rib members are provided to extend radially about the channel from the channel to a periphery of the surface or surfaces, or are located parallel to one another along a length of the surface or surfaces. 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method of treating a composition comprising cellulose fibres, said method includes the steps of:
 providing a composition comprising cellulose fibres;   admixing aqueous solution/solvent to the composition comprising cellulose fibres to provide a pulp suspension comprising cellulose fibres;   feeding the pulp suspension into an apparatus for use in de-fibering/defibrillation of the cellulose fibres, the apparatus having an inlet at a first end for introduction of the pulp suspension and an outlet downstream of the inlet via which the pulp suspension leaves, intermediate the inlet and outlet there is a screw processor including at least one shaft with an axis of rotation on which a plurality of elements are provided to cause mechanical manipulation and/or processing and/or cutting of the pulp suspension, and   processing the pulp suspension comprising cellulose fibres with at least use of the screw processor to provide a composition comprising cellulose micro/nanofibers.   
     
     
         30 . A method according to  claim 29 , wherein minerals and other additives such as colour, polymers, waterproofing agents, can be added to the composition during the defibrillation process.