Method and apparatus for the bulk process of hides or the like

Claim 2

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said baffle member is an inclined circular plate and said liquid communicating means comprise a plurality of openings whereby the working of the sheet material against said baffle member causes liquid previously absorbed by the sheet material in said processing chamber to be displaced, with a major portion of the displaced liquid passing through said openings into said drainage chamber.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said baffle member includes working elements comprising corrugations whereby when the rotation of said drum causes said fins to lift the sheet material against said baffle member to thE top of the drum whereafter the sheet material falls downwardly said corrugations work the sheet material.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said fins extend continuously from said open end to said separating means, each said blade being continuous over the length of said fin, with said one blade extending from the inner edge normal to the axis of the drum and said other blade extending from the side of the blade parallel to the axis of said drum.

Claim 5

The device of claim 5, wherein each said blade includes a rounded bead at its extended edge.

Claim 6

The device of claim 5, wherein each said fin is provided a plurality of bleed holes for communication of liquids therethrough.

Claim 7

The device of claim 1, wherein drainage means are provided, said drainage means extending into said drainage chamber through said closed end along said axis of rotation, said drainage means adapted to pump liquid from said drainage chamber without interference from said material.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein recirculating means are connected to said supply means and said drainage means whereby processing liquids in said bath zone can be pumped from said bath zone and then pumped back into said bath zone.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein said supply means includes at least one reservoir tank for mixing and holding the processing liquids before they are communicated into said bate zone and said drainage means includes at least one storage tank for storing the processing liquids pumped from said drainage chamber for subsequent use in said bath zone.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein determining means are provided, said determining means operably connected to said drainage means and said supply means for determining the chemical concentrations of the processing liquids pumped from and into said bath zone.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said recirculating means and said supply means are provided with a heater to heat the processing liquids communicated into said bath zone.

Claim 13

A batch process apparatus for sheet material of a porous and absorbent nature, comprising: a substantially cylindrical drum mounted for rotation about an axis inclined from the horizontal having an upper open end and a lower closed end and defining a bath zone therebetween adapted to be filled with processing liquids; a processing chamber within said drum adjacent said open end adapteD to receive the sheet material; a drainage chamber within said drum proximate said lower closed end having draining means extending from a lower portion of said drainage chamber out of said drum through said closed end along said drum axis, said draining means adapted to pump liquids from said bath zone; supply means adapted to pump liquids into said bath zone; a baffle member peripherally mounted to the inner surface of said drum separating said chamber and adapted to maintain said drainage chamber free of the material; spiral fins in said processing chamber affixed to the inner surface of said drum terminating at said baffle member and extending radially therefrom, said fins adapted to move through said bath zone with components of axial and transverse movement during the rotation of said drum and adapted to move the sheet material downwardly toward and against said baffle member when said drum is rotated in one direction; working elements on each said fin, said working elements including a pair of blade members, one of said blade members extending from the inner edge of said fin and said other blade member extending from the side of said fin towards said lower closed end whereby each said blade member simultaneously works a separate portion of the sheet material passing over said fin; and second working elements on said baffle member adapted to work the material move against and across said baffle member.

Claim 15

The method of claim 15, wherein some of the hides conveyed against said working member are lift by said fin whereupon they fall on the inclined working member and are scrubbed thereby by working elements on said working member.

Claim 16

The method of claim 15, wherein processing liquid is pumped out of said bath zone from a drainage portion of said bath zone maintained free of the hides.