Apparatus for the preparation of a starch corrugating adhesive

Claim 2

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the viscosity control unit comprises monitoring means for monitoring the viscosity and means for actuating the addition of solid boric acid to the partially swollen starch suspension in the reaction vessel.

Claim 3

a viscosity control unit for monitoring the viscosity of the reaction mixture;

Claim 4

Apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the viscosity control unit comprises means for monitoring the viscosity and means for actuating the addition of alum and borax in sequential steps to the reacting slurry for adding first alum and then borax after a predetermined period of time.

Claim 5

means operative upon the detection of some predetermined viscosity value of the reaction mixture for stopping the reaction; said viscosity control unit being operable to actuate said stopping means upon the detection of the predetermined viscosity value of the reaction mixture, and said stopping means comprising means for the addition of at least one additive to the reacted starch slurry to stop the reaction and to provide a single starch corrugating adhesive composition of predetermined characteristics.

Claim 6

means operative upon the detection of some predetermined viscosity value of the reaction mixture for stopping the reaction, said stopping means comprising means for the addition of at least one additive to the reacted starch slurry to stop the reaction and to provide a single starch corrugating adhesive composition of predetermined characteristics, and electrical circuit control means for causing the apparatus to operate in a predetermined sequence of steps after an operator has energized the circuitry, said sequence of steps being to: add the starch to the preheated water in the vessel; add the preheated caustic to the starch slurry in the vessel; heat and mix the starch and caustic solutions to cause the mixture to react; monitor the viscosity of the reaction mixture; actuate the means for stopping the reaction upon the detection of some predetermined viscosity value of the reaction mixture by the viscosity control unit, and mix the reaction stopping additive with the reacted starch slurry to stop the reaction and to provide a single starch corrugating adhesive composition of predetermined characteristics.

Claim 7

Apparatus for making a single starch corrugating adhesive composition comprising: a vessel for reacting a starch slurry with caustic at a preselected reaction temperature to form a partially swollen starch suspension; means for preheating a caustic solution to a temperature close to or above the preselected reaction temperature; means for preheating the aqueous vehicle for the starch slurry to a temperature close to the preselected reaction temperature; means including said vessel for mixing together the slurry of starch in its preheated aqueous vehicle and the preheated caustic solution; said vessel being provided with:

Claim 8

Apparatus in accordance with claim 4 wherein the apparatus is automatically controlled by an automatic programmer including a solenoid operated stepping switch and a series of contact switches which connect the elements being controlled to a terminal coupled to a potential source.

Claim 9

Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the programmer is stepped to succeeding steps by feedback signals generated in the temperature control unit and in the viscosity control unit.

Claim 10

An automated apparatus for making a single starch corrugating adhesive composition comprising: a mixing tank in which a single starch corrugating adhesive can be made; means for supplying water to the tank; means for heating the water in the tank to a temperature close to the reaction temperature; means for adding starch to the preheated water in the tank; means for preheating a caustic solution to a temperature close to or above the reaction temperature; means including said mixing tank for mixing together and heating the slurry of starch in its preheated aqueous vehicle and the preheated caustic solution, to provide a substantially uniform, heated reaction mixture; a viscosity detection instrument disposed in said tank for monitoring the viscosity of the reacting contents of the tank; and means operative upon the detection of predetermined viscosity as detected by said instrument for stopping the reaction in the tank including means responsive to said instrument for adding to the tank a chemical reaction stopper to stop the reaction.

Claim 11

Apparatus in accordance with claim 7, wherein said means for stopping the reaction comprises means for the addition of at least one additive to the contents of the tank.

Claim 12

An automated apparatus for making a single starch corrugating adhesive composition comprising: a mixing tank in which a single starch corrugating adhesive can be made by reacting a starch slurry with a caustic solution at a preheated reaction temperature; means for supply water to the tank; means for preheating the water in the tank; means for supplying starch to the tank and mixing it with the preheated water to form a substantially uniform slurry; means for preheating a caustic solution to a temperature close to or above the preselected reaction temperature; means including said tank for mixing together the preheated slurry of starch and the preheated caustic solution; a viscosity detection instrument disposed in said tank for monitoring the viscosity of the reacting contents of the tank; and an automatic programmer including a solenoid operated stepping switch, said stepping switch causing the apparatus to operate in a sequence of steps after an operator has energized the circuitry, said sequence of steps being to: add water to the mixing tank; add steam to heat the water in the mixing tank; monitor the temperature of the water in the mixing tank; terminate the supply of steam to the mixing tank when the water is preheated to a temperature close to the preselected reaction temperature; add the starch to the heated water and admix it therein to form a substantially uniform slurry; add the preheated caustic solution to the slurry; heat and agitate the contents of the tank; hold the contents of the tank substantially at the preselected reaction temperature; add the starch to the heated water; monitor the viscosity of the reacting contents of the tank, and, upon the detection of a predetermined viscosity, deposit the chemical reaction stopper in the mixing tank, and agitate the contents of the mixing tank to terminate the reaction, thereby forming a single mix starch corrugating adhesive.