Apparatus for separating the components of cellulose sanitary articles

Claim 2

Apparatus for separately recovering the flock and non-flock components in cellulose-based sanitary articles obtained as waste in the production of panties, diapers, sanitary towels, sick-bed undersheets, and the like, being a composite of cellulose flock and a non-flock carrier such as plastic, cellulose or rubber sheets, tissues, adhesive tapes, and rubber bands, comprising: a housing defining a chamber having at least a part of the circumferential wall thereof formed as a sieve, an inlet for the delivery of said sanitary articles to said chamber, and means located in said chamber for fragmenting said sanitary articles said fragmenting means comprising a rotor having a central axis about which it rotates, and entrainers mounted thereon and defining jointly a virtual body of rotation, said entrainers comprising a plurality of finger-like members spaced along the length of said rotor, each finger-like member being secured at one end to said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom, into proximity with said circumferential wall of said housing to engage said sanitary articles and fragment the same to provide a mixture of loose cellulose flock having a size smaller than the holes in said sieve and shredded non-flock carrier material having a size larger than the holes in said sieve; and means effective upon fragmentation of said sanitary articles to remove said flock and carrier material comprising, first pneumatic suction means acting through said sieve removing said loose cellulose flock from said chamber through said sieve and, second pneumatic suction means in communication with the interior of said chamber for removing said shredded carrier material therefrom.

Claim 3

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second suction means is in direct communication with the interior of said chamber.

Claim 4

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second suction means is acting through said sieve.

Claim 5

The apparatus according to claim 1 including counter-entrainers fixedly mounted on the surface of said chamber and extending toward and in cooperation with said rotor-entrainers.

Claim 6

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said body of rotation is a cylindrical body of rotation, said rotor extends along the central axis thereof and said entrainers are spatially arrayed therealong, the inlet for delivery of said sanitary articles extends radially into said chamber in opposition to the sieve, and said second suction means for the removal of said non-flock carrier material communicates with said chamber through said sieve.

Claim 7

The apparatus according to claim 5 including a pair of cylindrical bodies of rotation lying parallel to each other and communicating with a common inlet for delivery of said sanitary material, a common first suction means and common second suction means.

Claim 9

The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said entrainers are arranged in a spiral along said rotor, and the inner surface is provided with a spiral guide ridge extending outwardly therefrom into proximity to the entrainers.

Claim 10

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said body of rotation is a conical body of rotation and the rotor extends axially therein, the inlet for delivery of said sanitary articles is located in the region of the small diameter of said body of rotation, the second suction means for removal of said carrier material communicates with said chamber in the region of the larger diameter of said body of rotation and the sieve is arranged at least in part about the circumference of said body of rotation between the small and large diameters.

Claim 11

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said inlet extends axially to said body of rotation into said chamber at one end and the second suction means communicates with said chamber through the opposite end.

Claim 12

The apparatus according to claim 9 wherein said entrainers are mounted on a rotatable shaft in a spiral array from one end to the other.

Claim 13

The apparatus according to claim 11 including a spiral guide ridge fixed on the inner surface of said chamber from end to end and extending outwardly therefrom in proximity to said spirally arrayed entrainers.

Claim 14

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sieve is constructed of sheet metal having a smooth inner surface.

Claim 15

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sieve is constructed of sheet metal having a rough inner surface.

Claim 16

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said sieve is constructed of wire mesh having a rough surface.

Claim 17

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said rotor comprises a flat disk rotatable about an axis perpendicular to its center, and said entrainers extend outwardly from one surface of said disk parallel to said rotating axis.

Claim 18

The apparatus according to claim 16, wherein said entrainers are arranged in spaced relationship with each other over the entire surface of said disk and increase in length from the surface of said disk progressively from the center to the outer edge of said disk.

Claim 19

The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said entrainers are arranged radially to the rotation axis of said rotor.

Claim 20

Apparatus for separately recovering the flock and non-flock components in cellulose-based sanitary articles obtained as waste in the production of panties, diapers, sanitary towels, sick-bed undersheets, and the like, being a composite of cellulose flock and a non-flock carrier such as plastic, cellulose or rubber sheets, tissues, adhesive tapes, and rubber bands comprising, a housing defining a chamber in the form of a body of rotation and having at least a part of the circumferential wall thereof formed as a sieve, an inlet for the delivery of said sanitary articles to said chamber, means located in said chamber for fragmenting said sanitary articles to provide a mixture of loose cellulose flock having a size smaller than the holes in said sieve and shredded non-flock carrier material having a size larger than the holes in said sieve, said fragmenting means comprising a rotor having a central axis about which it rotates, and entrainers, said entrainers comprising a plurality of finger-like members spaced along the length of said rotor, each finger-like member being secured at one end to said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom, toward said circumferential wall and defining jointly by their rotation a virtual body of rotation, said entrainers being classified in at least two groups, the entrainers of each of said groups being arranged on a respective suspension mount of a plurality of suspension mounts, each said suspension mount having an axis, the entrainers of each suspension mount being mounted such that they can swing independently from one another about the axis of their suspension mount, said axes of said suspension mounts being arranged parallel to the rotational axis of said rotor; and, means effective upon fragmentation to remove said flock and carrier material from said chamber comprising first pneumatic suction means acting through said sieve for removing said loose cellulose flock from said chamber through said sieve and, second pneumatic suction means in communication with the interior of said chamber for removing said shredded carrier material therefrom.

Claim 21

Apparatus for separately recovering the flock and non-flock components in cellulose-based sanitary articles obtained as waste in the production of panties, diapers, sanitary towels, sick-bed undersheets, and the like, being a composite of cellulose flock and a non-flock carrier such as plastic, cellulose or rubber sheets, tissues, adhesive tapes, and rubber bands comprising, a housing defining a chamber in the form of a body of rotation and having at least a part of the circumferential wall thereof formed as a sieve, an inlet for the delivery of said sanitary articles to said chamber, means located in said chamber for fragmenting said sanitary articles to provide a mixture of loose cellulose flock having a size smaller than the holes in said sieve and shredded non-flock carrier material having a size larger than the holes in said sieve, said fragmenting means comprising a rotor having a central axis about which it rotates, and entrainers, said entrainers comprising a plurality of finger-like members spaced along the length of said rotor, each finger-like member being secured at one end to said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom, toward said circumferential wall and defining jointly by their rotation a virtual body of rotation, said entrainers being classified in at least two groups, the entrainers of each of said groups being arranged on a respective suspension mount of a plurality of suspension mounts, each said suspension mount having an axis, the entrainers of each suspension mount being mounted such that they can swing independently from one another about the axis of their suspension mount, said axes of said suspension mounts being arranged parallel to the rotational axis of said rotor; and, means effective upon fragmentation to remove said flock and carrier material from said chamber comprising first pneumatic suction means acting through said sieve for removing said loose cellulose flock from said chamber through said sieve and, second pneumatic suction means in communication with the interior of said chamber for removing said shredded carrier material therefrom.

Claim 22

Apparatus for separately recovering the flock and non-flock components in cellulose-based sanitary articles obtained as waste in the production of panties, diapers, sanitary towels, sick-bed undersheets, and the like, being a composite of cellulose flock and a non-flock carrier such as plastic, cellulose or rubber sheets, tissues, adhesive tapes, and rubber bands comprising, a housing defining a chamber in the form of a body of rotation and having at least a part of the circumferential wall thereof formed as a sieve, an inlet for the delivery of said sanitary articles to said chamber, means located in said chamber for fragmenting said sanitary articles to provide a mixture of loose cellulose flock having a size smaller than the holes in said sieve and shredded non-flock carrier material having a size larger than the holes in said sieve, said fragmenting means comprising a rotor having a central axis about which it rotates, and entrainers, said entrainers comprising a plurality of finger like members spaced along the length of said rotor, each finger-like member being secured at one end to said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom, toward said circumferential wall, and defining jointly by their rotation a virtual body of rotation, at least several entrainers being rigidly connected with one another, said several connected entrainers being spacedly arranged on a common suspension mount such that they can swing in unison relative to said mount; and means effective on the fragmentation to remove said flock and carrier material from said chamber comprising first pneumatic suction means acting through said sieve for removing said loose cellulose flock from said chamber through said sieve and, second pneumatic suction means in communication with the interior of said chamber for removing said shredded carrier material therefrom.

Claim 23

Apparatus for separately recovering the flock and non-flock components in cellulose-based sanitary articles obtained as waste in the production of panties, diapers, sanitary towels, sick-bed undersheets, and the like, being a composite of cellulose flock and a non-flock carrier such as plastic, cellulose or rubber sheets, tissues, adhesive tapes, and rubber bands comprising, a housing defining a chamber in the form of a body of rotation and having at least a part of the circumferential wall thereof formed as a sieve, an inlet for the delivery of said sanitary articles to said chamber, means located in said chamber for fragmenting said sanitary articles to provide a mixture of loose cellulose flock having a size smaller than the holes in said sieve and shredded non-flock carrier material having a size larger than the holes in said sieve, said fragmenting means comprising a rotor having a central axis about which it rotates, and entrainers, said entrainers comprising a plurality of finger like members spaced along the length of said rotor, each finger-like member being secured at one end to said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom, toward said circumferential wall, and defining jointly by their rotation a virtual body of rotation, at least several entrainers being rigidly connected with one another, said several connected entrainers being spacedly arranged on a common suspension mount such that they can swing in unison relative to said mount; and means effective on the fragmentation to remove said flock and carrier material from said chamber comprising first pneumatic suction means acting through said sieve for removing said loose cellulose flock from said chamber through said sieve and, second pneumatic suction means in communication with the interior of said chamber for removing said shredded carrier material therefrom.

Claim 24

Apparatus for separately recovering the flock and non-flock components in cellulose-based sanitary articles obtained as waste in the production of panties, diapers, sanitary towels, sick-bed undersheets, and the like, being a composite of cellulose flock and a non-flock carrier such as plastic, cellulose or rubber sheets, tissues, adhesive tapes, and rubber bands comprising, a housing defining a chamber in the form of a body of rotation and having at least a part of the circumferential wall thereof formed as a sieve, an inlet for the delivery of said sanitary articles to said chamber, means located in said chamber for fragmenting said sanitary articles to provide a mixture of loose cellulose flock having a size smaller than the holes in said sieve and shredded non-flock carrier material having a size larger than the holes in said sieve, said fragmenting means comprising a rotor having a central axis about which it rotates, and entrainers, said entrainers comprising a plurality of finger-like members spaced along the length of said rotor, each finger-like member being secured at one end to said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom, toward said circumferential wall, and defining jointly by their rotation a virtual body of rotation, each of said entrainers being arranged apart from each other with each individual entrainers being suspended on said rotor by a universal joint; and means effective on fragmentation to remove said flock and carrier material from said chamber comprising first pneumatic suction means acting through said sieve for removing said loose cellulose flock from said chamber through said sieve and, second pneumatic suction means in communication with the interior of said chamber for removing said shredded carrier material therefrom.

Claim 25

Apparatus for separately recovering the flock and non-flock components in cellulose-based sanitary articles obtained as waste in the production of panties, diapers, sanitary towels, sick-bed undersheets, and the like, being a composite of cellulose flock and a non-flock carrier such as plastic, cellulose or rubber sheets, tissues, adhesive tapes, and rubber bands comprising, a housing defining a chamber in the form of a body of rotation and having at least a part of the circumferential wall thereof formed as a sieve, an inlet for the delivery of said sanitary articles to said chamber, means located in said chamber for fragmenting said sanitary articles to provide a mixture of loose cellulose flock having a size smaller than the holes in said sieve and shredded non-flock carrier material having a size larger than the holes in said sieve, said fragmenting means comprising a rotor having a central axis about which it rotates, and entrainers, said entrainers comprising a plurality of finger-like members spaced along the length of said rotor, each finger-like member being secured at one end to said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom, toward said circumferential wall, and defining jointly by their rotation a virtual body of rotation, each of said entrainers being arranged apart from each other with each individual entrainers being suspended on said rotor by a universal joint; and means effective on fragmentation to remove said flock and carrier material from said chamber comprising first pneumatic suction means acting through said sieve for removing said loose cellulose flock from said chamber through said sieve and, second pneumatic suction means in communication with the interior of said chamber for removing said shredded carrier material therefrom.

Claim 26

Apparatus for separately recovering the flock and non-flock components in cellulose-based sanitary articles obtained as waste in the production of panties, diapers, sanitary towels, sick-bed undersheets, and the like, being a composite of cellulose flock and a non-flock carrier such as plastic, cellulose or rubber sheets, tissues, adhesive tapes, and rubber bands comprising, a housing defining a chamber in the form of a body of rotation and having at least a part of the circumferential wall thereof formed as a sieve, an inlet for the delivery of said sanitary articles to said chamber, means located in said chamber for fragmenting said sanitary articles to provide a mixture of loose cellulose flock having a size smaller than the holes in said sieve and shredded non-flock carrier material having a size larger than the holes in said sieve, said fragmenting means comprising a rotor having a central axis about which it rotates, and entrainers, said entrainers comprising a plurality of finger-like members spaced along the length of said rotor, each finger-like member being secured at one end to said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom, toward said circumferential wall, and defining by their rotation virtual body of rotation, said entrainers consisting of at least two groups, each having several entrainers, the entrainers of at least one of said groups being arranged spacedly and in alignment with one another one behind the other fixedly on a respective suspension mount of a plurality of suspension mounts, each of said suspension mounts having an axis, the axes of said suspension mounts being parallel to the rotational axis of said rotor; and means effective on fragmentation to remove said flock and carrier material from said chamber comprising first pneumatic suction means acting through said sieve for removing said loose cellulose flock from said chamber through said sieve and, second pneumatic suction means in communication with the interior of said chamber for removing said shredded carrier material therefrom.

Claim 27

Apparatus for separately recovering the flock and non-flock components in cellulose-based sanitary articles obtained as waste in the production of panties, diapers, sanitary towels, sick-bed undersheets, and the like, being a composite of cellulose flock and a non-flock carrier such as plastic, cellulose or rubber sheets, tissues, adhesive tapes, and rubber bands comprising, a housing defining a chamber in the form of a body of rotation and having at least a part of the circumferential wall thereof formed as a sieve, an inlet for the delivery of said sanitary articles to said chamber, means located in said chamber for fragmenting said sanitary articles to provide a mixture of loose cellulose flock having a size smaller than the holes in said sieve and shredded non-flock carrier material having a size larger than the holes in said sieve, said fragmenting means comprising a rotor having a central axis about which it rotates, and entrainers, said entrainers comprising a plurality of finger-like members spaced along the length of said rotor, each finger-like member being secured at one end to said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom, toward said circumferential wall, and defining by their rotation virtual body of rotation, said entrainers consisting of at least two groups, each having several entrainers, the entrainers of at least one of said groups being arranged spacedly and in alignment with one another one behind the other fixedly on a respective suspension mount of a plurality of suspension mounts, each of said suspension mounts having an axis, the axes of said suspension mounts being parallel to the rotational axis of said rotor; and means effective on fragmentation to remove said flock and carrier material from said chamber comprising first pneumatic suction means acting through said sieve for removing said loose cellulose flock from said chamber through said sieve and, second pneumatic suction means in communication with the interior of said chamber for removing said shredded carrier material therefrom.

Claim 29

Apparatus for separately recovering the flock and non-flock components in cellulose-based sanitary articles obtained as waste in the production of panties, diapers, sanitary towels, sick-bed undersheets, and the like, being a composite of cellulose flock and a non-flock carrier such as plastic, cellulose or rubber sheets, tissues, adhesive tapes, and rubber bands comprising: a housing defining a cylindrical chamber having an opening at one end and at least a part of the circumferential wall thereof formed as a sieve, an inlet for the delivery of said sanitary articles to said chamber at the end opposite said opening, and means located in said chamber for fragmenting said sanitary articles said fragmenting means comprising a rotor having a central axis about which it rotates, and entrainers mounted thereon and defining jointly a virtual body of rotation, said entrainers comprising a plurality of finger-like members spaced along the length of said rotor, each finger-like member being secured at one end to said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom, into proximity with said circumferential wall of said housing to engage said sanitary articles and fragmenting the same to provide a mixture of loose cellulose flock having a size smaller than the holes in said sieve and shredded non-flock carrier material having a size larger than the holes in said sieve; and means effective upon fragmentation of said sanitary articles to remove said flock and carrier material comprising, first pneumatic suction means acting through said sieve in radial communication with said chamber for removing said loose cellulose flock from said chamber through said sieve and, second pneumatic suction means acting through the opening in said one end in axial communication with the interior of said chamber for removing said shredded carrier material therefrom.

Claim 30

Apparatus for separately recovering the flock and non-flock components in cellulose-based sanitary articles obtained as waste in the production of panties, diapers, sanitary towels, sick-bed undersheets, and the like, being a composite of cellulose flock and a non-flock carrier such as plastic, cellulose or rubber sheets, tissues, adhesive tapes, and rubber bands comprising: a housing defining a cylindrical chamber having an opening at one end and at least a part of the circumferential wall thereof formed as a sieve, an inlet for the delivery of said sanitary articles to said chamber at the end opposite said opening, and means located in said chamber for fragmenting said sanitary articles said fragmenting means comprising a rotor having a central axis about which it rotates, and entrainers mounted thereon and defining jointly a virtual body of rotation, said entrainers comprising a plurality of finger-like members spaced along the length of said rotor, each finger-like member being secured at one end to said rotor and extending outwardly therefrom, into proximity with said circumferential wall of said housing to engage said sanitary articles and fragmenting the same to provide a mixture of loose cellulose flock having a size smaller than the holes in said sieve and shredded non-flock carrier material having a size larger than the holes in said sieve; and means effective upon fragmentation of said sanitary articles to remove said flock and carrier material comprising, first pneumatic suction means acting through said sieve in radial communication with said chamber for removing said loose cellulose flock from said chamber through said sieve and, second pneumatic suction means acting through the opening in said one end in axial communication with the interior of said chamber for removing said shredded carrier material therefrom.