Fibre processing apparatus and an associated method

Abstract

The present invention provides a fibre processing apparatus for the modification fibrous material. The apparatus includes at least one housing body, which has an inlet and an outlet through which fibrous material may flow along a flow path, in use. The housing body further comprises a plurality of fibre modification sections sequentially arranged along the flow path. The apparatus also includes one or more rotatable shaft members provided within the housing body and provided to extend along the flow path from a first end in a first modification section to a second, opposing end in a final modification section. A first plurality of the modification sections includes compression and/or pressure-based modification means, and a second plurality of the modification sections includes mechanical modification means.

1 . A fibre processing apparatus for the modification fibrous material, said apparatus including:
 at least one housing body, the housing having an inlet and an outlet through which fibrous material may flow along a flow path, in use;   the housing body comprising a plurality of fibre modification sections sequentially arranged along the flow path;   one or more rotatable shaft members provided within the housing body and provided to extend along the flow path from a first end in a first modification section to a second, opposing end in a final modification section;   wherein a first plurality of said modification sections includes compression and/or pressure-based modification means, and a second plurality of said modification sections includes mechanical modification means.   
     
     
         2 . (canceled) 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said first and second pluralities of fibre modification sections are arranged in an alternating manner along the flow path. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more sections comprising compression and/or pressure-based modification means are provided sequentially, followed by one or more sections comprising mechanical modification means, with such an arrangement repeated as is required. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a first fibre modification section is provided to be a compression and/or pressure-based modification section, and a second subsequent section is provided to comprise mechanical modification means. 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each compression fibre modification section includes a fluid inlet means and fluid outlet means, each compression modification section being arranged to create a build-up of fluid pressure within each respective section, which serves to act upon and modify the fibrous material, in use. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one water jet-cutting section is provided, said section being located prior to the first compression fibre modification and mechanical fibre modification sections and provided to act as a fibre reducing means. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein each compression fibre modification section is arranged to modify and/or pressurize the fibrous material for a predetermined period of time, in use. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least two rotatable shaft members are provided and, within the mechanical fibre modification sections, selected mechanical components are provided on each of said rotatable shaft members. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein two rotatable shaft members are provided in the processing apparatus and mechanical fibre modification components are provided on each rotatable shaft and are provided to be complementary and intermeshing. 
     
     
         15 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the compression fibre modification section or sections form at least 50% of the fibre modification sections along the flow path of the apparatus. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said compression fibre modification sections comprise: a pressure build-up stage; a filter stage; and a back-pressure stage, wherein fluid inlet means are located at the build-up stage and pressure is provided to be highest in the back-pressure stage and lowest in the pressure build-up stage. 
     
     
         17 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein one or more filter and/or degassing sections are provided, each located intermediate a compression fibre modification section and a mechanical fibre modification section. 
     
     
         18 . An apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein said filter and/or degassing sections are located downstream of a compression fibre modification section and upstream of a mechanical fibre modification section. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein a plurality of bearing members is arranged to provide mechanical engagement between the housing body and the one or more rotatable shaft members, and/or components provided thereon. 
     
     
         21 . An apparatus according to  claim 20 , wherein the bearing members are provided as cassette bearing members and one or more pluralities of cassette bearing members are provided to be located about the one or more rotatable shaft members and/or one or more components provided thereon, at one or more points along a length of the one or more shaft members. 
     
     
         22 . An apparatus according to  claim 21 , wherein one or more annular recesses or channels are formed in the interior walls of the housing body, arranged to receive at least a portion of said cassette bearing members. 
     
     
         23 . A method of modifying fibrous material, the method including the steps of:
 introducing a fibrous material for modification into an inlet of an apparatus as described above;   the fibrous material entering a first compression and/or pressure-based fibre modification section and being subjected to compression and/or pressure-based fibre modification;   the fibrous material exiting the first compression and/or pressure-based fibre modification section and subsequently entering a mechanical fibre modification section and being subjected to mechanical fibre modification;   wherein the fibrous material passes sequentially through one or more further alternating arrangements of compression and/or pressure-based fibre modification sections and mechanical fibre modification sections, subsequently exiting the apparatus through an outlet.   
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the fibrous material passes through sequential fibre modification sections of the apparatus alternating between compression and/or pressure-based fibre modification means, and mechanical fibre modification means. 
     
     
         25 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein at least three compression and/or pressure-based fibre modification sections are provided alternating with at least three mechanical fibre modification sections. 
     
     
         26 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein each compression fibre modification section modifies and/or pressurizes the fibrous material for a period of between 5-300 seconds. 
     
     
         27 . (canceled) 
     
     
         28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . (canceled)