Fibre and particulate processing

Abstract

The invention relates to a system and method for processing of fibres and particulates such as wool, wherein material is placed within a receptacle configured to allow the ingress and egress of treatment fluid, conveyed to a treatment fluid application area, treated with a treatment fluid, and conveyed from the treatment fluid application area.

1 . A method of material treatment, comprising the steps of:
 placing the material within a receptacle configured to allow the ingress and egress of treatment fluid;   conveying the receptacle to a treatment fluid application area;   treating the material with a treatment fluid, comprising lowering the receptacle into at least one container containing the treatment fluid and agitating the material by compressing and releasing the material with a plunger; and   conveying the receptacle from the treatment fluid application area.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising the further step of raising the receptacle above the container containing the treatment fluid and expressing treatment fluid from the material by compressing and releasing the material with the plunger. 
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein treating the material comprises conveying the receptacle to a container containing fresh treatment fluid. 
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising expressing treatment fluid from the material by positioning the receptacle against a drain plate and compressing the material with a high pressure plunger. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising drying the material by conveying the receptacle to a drying area and exposing the material to hot air. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the receptacle is an open topped container with at least one mesh side. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the material to be treated is wool. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the treatment fluid is a lye solution. 
     
     
         9 . A material treatment apparatus, comprising:
 a receptacle configured to contain material to be treated, and allow the ingress and egress of treatment fluid;   a plunger configured to extend into the receptacle; and   a conveyor, comprising a lifting cradle configured to adjust elevation of the receptacle, the conveyor configured to:
 convey the receptacle to a treatment fluid application area, wherein the treatment fluid application area comprises a container containing the treatment fluid, and the lifting cradle is configured to lower the receptacle into the container, and 
 hold the receptacle in position while the material is treated by a treatment fluid, and 
 convey the receptacle from the treatment fluid application area. 
   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the plunger is configured to agitate the material by compressing and releasing the material. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the lifting cradle is configured to raise the receptacle above the container containing the treatment fluid, and the plunger is configured to express treatment fluid from the material by compressing and releasing the material. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the treatment fluid application area comprises a plurality of containers, and the conveyor is configured to convey the receptacle between the containers. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 9 , wherein the receptacle is an open topped container with at least one mesh side. 
     
     
         14 - 15 . (canceled)