Abstract A method for the removal of unwanted portions of an article such as burrs and flashing utilizing solid particles of ice which are impacted against the unwanted portions is described. The ice particles are maintained in a flowable condition prior to impact by a cooling agent. The cooling agent is in a heat transfer relationship with the ice particles, usually in direct contact with them. Examples of cooling agents which can be mixed with the ice particles and which are easily removed with them are, for instance, solids such as solid carbon dioxide, liquids such as liquid nitrogen or cooled alkanols and/or lower alkanols containing water and cooled gases such as air, carbon dioxide or nitrogen. Kinetic energy imparted to the ice particles causes removal of the unwanted portions of the article upon impact. In addition, the ice particles, and cooling agent when used, cools the impacted area and with thermoplastic and elastic materials thereby embrittles thin sections of flashing and burrs and the like making them more easily removable by the impact of the ice particles.
The method for the removal of unwanted thin portions of an article which comprises: a. providing solid ice particles consisting essentially of water in a heat transfer relationship with a cooling agent which maintains the temperature of the particles at less than about 25* F so that they are in a hardened and flowable condition and which is a vapor at the elevated temperatures used in drying to remove water from the surfaces of an article; b. impacting the unwanted portions of the article with ice particles in said flowable and hardened condition by moving said ice particles in a gas stream so that said ice particles have sufficient kinetic energy to remove the unwanted thin portions; and c. removing any remaining ice particles, water or cooling agent from surfaces of the article using drying conditions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
The method for the removal of unwanted thin portions of an article which comprises: a. providing solid ice particles consisting essentially of water in a heat transfer relationship with a cooling agent which maintains the temperature of the particles at less than about 25* F so that they are in a hardened and flowable condition and which is a vapor at the elevated temperatures used in drying to remove water from the surfaces of an article; b. impacting the unwanted portions of the article with ice particles in said flowable and hardened condition by moving said ice particles in a gas stream so that said ice particles have sufficient kinetic energy to remove the unwanted thin portions; and c. removing any remaining ice particles, water or cooling agent from surfaces of the article using drying conditions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the cooling agent is solid carbon dioxide.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the cooling agent is liquid nitrogen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the cooling agent is a gaseous material at a temperature below about 0* F.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ice particles are impacted on the unwanted portions as a spray.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ice particles are impacted in the form of a cutting jet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
35 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the ice and a cooling agent selected from solids and liquids are in admixture which are impacted on the article and are removed by contact with a warmer atmosphere.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the particles are formed by injecting water into a stream of the cooling agent so as to freeze the water into particles of ice.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the article is a flexible thermoplastic with projections selected from waste flashing and burrs which are rigidified upon being cooled by the impacting ice particles and removed by the impact of the ice particles.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 1 wherein the solid ice particles have a density between about 0.89 to 0.98 g/cm3.