Methods and machines for creating plant-based websites

Abstract

A machine (1) for making a plant-based web (N) comprises a kneader (100) having a housing frame (101), the kneader (100) having at least one feed inlet (102, 103, 104) and at least one discharge outlet (105). The kneader (100) comprises a motor-driven kneading shaft mounted inside the housing frame (101). The machine (1) comprises a first feed line (10) operably connected to at least one feed inlet (102) and configured to supply dry, ground and / or powdered products, and a second feed line (20) branching off from the first feed line (10) operably connected to at least one feed inlet (103, 104) and configured to supply one or more mixtures. The machine (1) also comprises a vertical laminating device (30) mounted below the discharge outlet (105) to form a web (N) having a controlled thickness.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to the tobacco industry and relates to machines and methods for making plant-based webs.

Background Art

[0002] What is known in the prior art is what is known as a "batch machine" for making plant-based webs. These machines essentially consist of an enclosed space kneader configured to make a mixture by mixing at least one dried, ground and / or powdered product with one or more mixtures, and a laminating device located downstream of the kneader and configured to convert the mixture into a homogeneous web.

[0003] Structurally, the inclined kneader comprises a receiving frame that defines an internal mixing space with a common open-top structure. The kneader also comprises a motor-driven mixing shaft, usually of the vane type, which is located in the mixing space and is rotatably attached to the receiving frame.

[0004] The materials are simultaneously fed into the mixing space and are stirred together by the kneading shaft.

[0005] The kneader also comprises an inclination system that converts the receiving frame from a filling configuration suitable for feeding and mixing the materials to an inclination configuration suitable for discharging the mixture from the open top.

[0006] The machine also comprises other processing units located downstream of the kneader. For example, a dividing device located below the kneader that divides the mixture into a plurality of lumps, followed by a unit for kneading the lumps again. Next, the material obtained from the kneaded lumps is conveyed to the laminating device. The laminating device is usually a horizontal laminating device.

[0007] The applicant noted that while the technology is fully functional, it could be further improved, particularly in terms of simplifying the machine, increasing the versatility of its operation, and optimizing the process in terms of process time and cost.

[0008] Firstly, supplying all materials simultaneously can lead to a mixture that is not perfectly homogeneous. In fact, if powders and liquids remain in contact for an extended period, tobacco tends to absorb some of the liquid needed to begin the kneading process. Furthermore, if there are multiple dry, ground, and / or powdered materials, the concentration of the materials may differ in parts of the mixture, which exacerbates the problem of mixture non-uniformity.

[0009] Currently, these problems are overcome by extending the mixing time, but this increases production costs (and process time).

[0010] Furthermore, vane-type shafts do not allow for optimal mixing of materials, nor do they allow for complete replenishment. In fact, some of the mixture can separate from the mass being kneaded and adhere to the inner walls of the kneader. As a result, not only is the amount of mixture available for productive use reduced, but the cleaning and maintenance costs of the kneader also increase.

[0011] Furthermore, the overall structure of the machine is not optimized in terms of occupied floor space. The arrangement of numerous processing units creates a complex machine, which often makes management difficult. [Overview of the project]

[0012] In this regard, the technical objective of the present invention is therefore to provide a machine and method for creating a plant-based web that eliminates the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0013] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a machine and method for creating a plant-based web that offers a structurally simpler and less complicated solution than the solutions of the prior art.

[0014] A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine and method for creating plant-based webs that enable reductions in production and maintenance costs as well as energy consumption.

[0015] A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine and method for making plant-based webs that have high operational flexibility and can be used in particular to obtain webs of different sizes and specifications.

[0016] A further object of the present invention is to provide a machine and method for making a plant-based web that enables the acquisition of a uniform mixture.

[0017] The objective is substantially achieved by machines and methods that conform to the features described in claims 1 and 10 of the attached claims and / or one or more features that are dependent thereon. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0018] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become clearer in the following exemplary, and therefore non-limiting, description of preferred but non-exclusive embodiments of the machine and method for making plant-based webs, as shown in Figure 1. [Figure 1] Preferred embodiments of the machine for creating plant-based webs according to the present invention are shown as examples, and therefore not limiting. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0019] Reference numeral 1 in the attached drawing shows the entire machine for creating the plant-based web N.

[0020] The expression "plant-based" is used to mean a reconstituted material, preferably a material obtained by mixing one or more plant components such as, for example, tobacco, hemp, aromatic leaves, cellulose, etc. with at least one liquid component such as, for example, water. Preferably, but not necessarily, machine 1 is intended to form a plant-based web N of the tobacco industry. However, it is specified that the machine 1 can be used not necessarily only for tobacco, but also, according to the general nature of the present invention, to make a web of a general reconstituted material (for example, hemp, aromatic leaves, cellulose or others), especially of plant origin.

[0021] As shown in the figure, machine 1 comprises a first supply line 10 configured to supply a dried, shredded and / or powdered product, and a second supply line 20 configured to supply one or more liquids.

[0022] Machine 1 also comprises a kneader 100 adapted to receive at least one dried, shredded and / or powdered product from the first supply line 10 and at least one liquid from the second supply line 20 and configured to make a mixture I with at least one dried, shredded and / or powdered product and at least one liquid.

[0023] Structurally, the kneader 100 comprises a housing frame 101 that defines an internal cylindrical mixing space V. Preferably, the kneader 100 has a horizontal axis.

[0024] The kneader 100 comprises a motor-driven kneading shaft 110 mounted inside the housing frame 101. Preferably, the kneading shaft 110 is rotatable about a horizontal axis. Preferably, the axis of rotation of the kneading shaft 110 coincides with the horizontal axis of the housing frame 101.

[0025] The housing frame 101 of the kneader 100 is fixed.

[0026] Preferably, the accommodation frame 101 is elongated along its deployment axis.

[0027] According to one aspect of the present invention, the kneading shaft 110 is of a screw type, a vane type, or a skiving blade type. In particular, the kneading shaft 110 is configured to apply a scraping action against the wall of the mixing space V.

[0028] Preferably, the mutual dimensions of the accommodation frame 101 and the kneading shaft 110 are set to define a gap of 1 mm to 5 mm, preferably 2 mm to 3 mm, between the inner wall of the accommodation frame 101 and the vanes of the kneading shaft 110 or other radial protrusions thereof.

[0029] Advantageously, these technical features enable the kneading shaft 110 to mix and knead the material in an optimal manner, and also enable the kneading shaft 110 to completely replenish the material by scraping the material from the inner wall of the mixing space V, thereby significantly limiting waste.

[0030] The kneading machine 100 is also provided with at least one supply inlet 102, 103, 104 provided at the upper part of the accommodation frame 101 and at least one discharge outlet 105 provided at the lower part of the accommodation frame 101.

[0031] The at least one supply inlet 102, 103, 104 is operably connected to the first supply line 10 and the second supply line 20.

[0032] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the first supply line 10 is connected to the at least one supply inlet 102, and the second supply line 20 is connected to the at least one supply inlet 103, 104. Therefore, the second supply line 20 and the first supply line 10 are separated and connected to different supply inlets.

[0033] In one embodiment of the present invention, the first supply line 10 comprises at least one first supply branch 11 for supplying a first type of dry, ground and / or powdered material, and at least one second supply branch 12, different from the first branch 11, for supplying a second type of dry, ground and / or powdered material.

[0034] The first supply line 10 preferably includes at least one third supply branch 13, distinct from the first and second branches, for supplying a third type of dry, ground, and / or powdered material.

[0035] Generally speaking, the number of supply branches 11, 12, and 13 of the first supply line 10 is a design choice depending on the intended use of machine 1.

[0036] Advantageously, these technical features make machine 1 highly versatile.

[0037] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the machine 1 includes a measuring tank 14 located upstream of the kneader 100 in the first supply line 10. That is, the measuring tank 14 is connected to at least some, preferably all, of the supply branches 11, 12, and 13 and has connecting pipes 15 connected to at least one supply inlet 102, preferably a single connecting pipe 15 connected to the supply inlet 102.

[0038] The weighing tank 14 may or may not be equipped with a stirrer for mixing the dry materials. In the latter case, the various dry materials may be supplied simultaneously so as to be mixed together when they enter the weighing tank, or they may be supplied sequentially so as to form a layered charge that is later sent to the kneader 100.

[0039] In a modified embodiment not shown, the machine 1 does not have a metering tank 14, and each of the above-described supply branches 11, 12, and 13 is connected to a corresponding supply inlet so that the material is supplied directly to the kneader 100.

[0040] The second supply line 20 comprises at least one first supply branch 21 for supplying a first type of liquid, and preferably at least one second supply branch 22, different from the first supply branch 21, for supplying a second type of liquid.

[0041] As in the case of the first supply line 10, the number of supply branches 21 and 22 of the second supply line 20 is a design choice depending on the intended use of machine 1.

[0042] Preferably, each branch 21, 22 of the second supply line 20 is connected to the corresponding supply inlets 103, 104. In other words, the mixer 100 is provided with supply inlets 103, 104 for each of the branches 21, 22 of the second supply line 20.

[0043] Preferably, the mixer 100 is a "batch mixer," that is, it is configured to mix and form the mixture in a continuous (discontinuous) cycle that is repeated sequentially each time the mixture is discharged from the mixer 100.

[0044] Machine 1 also includes a vertical laminating device 30 located downstream of the kneading machine 100 and configured to process the mixture I to form a web N with a adjusted thickness.

[0045] In the embodiment shown in Figure 1, the discharge outlet 105 of the dough mixer 100 is located above the vertical laminating device 30. In other words, the vertical laminating device 30 is located below the discharge outlet 105 and is configured to receive the mixture I discharged from the dough mixer 100 (e.g., through the convergence inlet) particularly by gravity, and to form a web N with a controlled thickness. Preferably, the vertical laminating device 30 is located directly downstream of the discharge outlet 105. In other words, there are no other units or devices between the discharge outlet 105 and the vertical laminating device 30.

[0046] Advantageously, these technical features make the machine structurally simple and easy to handle.

[0047] According to one aspect of the present invention, the discharge outlet 105 is equipped with a reclosable hatch that is configured to selectively take between a closed state, which closes the discharge outlet 105 to allow material to be filled and mixed, and an open state, which opens the discharge outlet 105 to allow the mixed material, i.e., mixture I, to be discharged. The reclosable hatch is preferably of the hinged type.

[0048] In the closed configuration of the discharge outlet 105, the hatch preferably has an inner surface that is coplanar with the inner surface of the mixing space V. In other words, in the closed configuration, the inner surface of the hatch and the inner surface of the mixing space V define a substantially "uninterrupted" surface, i.e., a surface without noticeable irregularities and / or depressions.

[0049] Advantageously, this technical feature reduces, or even completely eliminates, the accumulation of residue in mixture I, thereby preventing damage to the kneading shaft 110.

[0050] Furthermore, in one embodiment, the discharge outlet 105 has a main unfolding direction parallel to the kneading axis 110. This solution is particularly advantageous when the kneader 100 also has an elongated shape along the horizontal unfolding axis of the housing frame 101, facilitating the complete discharge of the mixture.

[0051] According to one aspect of the present invention, the machine 1 also includes a ventilation circuit for the kneading machine 100 connected to a ventilation outlet 106 provided at the top of the housing frame 101.

[0052] In a modified version not shown, there is also a conveyor interposed between the mixer 100 and the vertical laminating device 30, the conveyor being configured to transport the mixture I to the vertical laminating device 30 by receiving the mixture I directly discharged from the mixer 100, particularly by gravity, and by discharging the mixture I to the vertical laminating device 30, particularly by gravity.

[0053] In both embodiments, the term “direct” is used to mean that there are no other intermediate devices for processing the mixture (e.g., for processes such as humidification, drying, application of additives, compression, cutting, etc.). In this situation, the conveyor, therefore, does not qualify as a “processing device” and simply constitutes a transfer means.

[0054] Operationally, the step of discharging the mixture I from the kneading machine 100 is performed by releasing the mixture I from the outlet of the kneading machine 100 into a first section of the conveyor by gravity, and the subsequent step of supplying the mixture I to the vertical laminating device 30 is performed by a subsequent step of releasing the mixture I from a second section of the conveyor into the vertical laminating device 30, particularly by gravity.

[0055] In this embodiment, which is not shown, the vertical laminating device 30 is preferably positioned higher than the mixing machine 100, and the mixture is lifted by a conveyor.

[0056] Preferably, the first section of the conveyor is positioned higher than the second section, and the step of supplying the mixture I to the vertical laminating apparatus 30 includes the step of lifting the mixture I with the conveyor.

[0057] Preferably, the conveyor is a linear conveyor, and more preferably a belt conveyor or a mesh conveyor.

[0058] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a method for creating a plant-based web N. Preferably, this method is carried out using the machine 1 described above. Therefore, a method for creating a plant-based web will be described in one embodiment with reference to the machine 1 used to carry out the method.

[0059] The method includes the steps of supplying a first amount of at least one dry, ground, and / or powdered product to the mixing space V of a kneader 100 through a first supply line 10, and subsequently supplying a second amount of at least one liquid to the mixing space V of the kneader 100 through a second supply line 20.

[0060] The step of supplying a first amount of at least one dry, ground, and / or powdered product may be carried out by supplying predetermined amounts of different types of dry, ground, and / or powdered materials, together defining the aforementioned first amount. The types and number of materials, as well as the respective amounts thereof, are selected in accordance with the web N to be made, and therefore the mixture I.

[0061] In a preferred embodiment, the method includes supplying a predetermined amount of a first type of dry, ground, and / or powdered product to the mixer 100 through a first supply branch 11, and supplying a predetermined amount of a second type of dry, ground, and / or powdered product to the mixer 100 through a second supply branch 12. Preferably, the method also includes supplying a predetermined amount of a third type of dry, ground, and / or powdered material to the mixer 100 through a third supply branch 13.

[0062] For example, the first type of dried, ground, and / or powdered product could be tobacco, the second type of dried, ground, and / or powdered product could be cellulose, and the third type of dried, ground, and / or powdered product could be a binder such as carboxymethylcellulose.

[0063] According to one aspect of the present invention, supplying two or more types of dried, ground and / or powdered materials is done by supplying two or more types of dried, ground and / or powdered materials intermittently and / or alternately to obtain a dry layered product, preferably a dry layered product comprising at least two layers of each type of dried material.

[0064] Advantageously, this improves the mixing and blending of different types of dry, ground, and / or powdered materials before the kneading step is fully initiated. Also advantageously, by forming the thus supplied materials in layers, it becomes possible to reduce mixing time and obtain a perfectly homogeneous mixture I with less energy expenditure, thus reducing production costs.

[0065] In a preferred embodiment of this method, the step of supplying a predetermined amount of a first type of dry, ground and / or powdered material and a predetermined amount of a second type of dry, ground and / or powdered material to the mixer 100 is performed by supplying the amount of dry, ground and / or powdered material to a weighing tank 14 to obtain a dry, pre-weighed charge, and then transferring the dry, pre-weighed charge to the mixer 100.

[0066] According to one aspect of the present invention, the method includes a step of pre-mixing two or more types of dry, ground, and / or powdered materials, which is performed prior to the step of supplying at least one liquid to the kneader 100. Preferably, the pre-mixing is performed inside the kneader 100. According to an operational aspect, the pre-mixing step is performed by operating the kneading shaft 110 at a speed faster than 50 rpm, preferably faster than 70 rpm.

[0067] In other words, dry, ground, and / or powdered material is fed into the kneader 100 and pre-mixed by the kneading shaft 110. Once the pre-mixing step is complete, a second amount of at least one liquid is fed into the kneader 100.

[0068] Advantageously, the pre-mixing step allows for obtaining a homogeneous dry, ground, and / or powdered product, which facilitates the subsequent step of mixing the dry product with the mixture.

[0069] Therefore, advantageously, pre-mixing of the dry materials reduces the time required for the subsequent kneading step of mixture I, making it possible to obtain a perfectly homogeneous mixture I with less energy expenditure, and thus reducing production costs.

[0070] For supplying a second amount of at least one liquid, the method includes supplying a predetermined amount of liquid to the mixer 100 through a first supply branch 21 of a second supply line 20, and supplying a predetermined amount of at least a second type of liquid to the mixer 100 through a second supply branch 22 of the second supply line 20.

[0071] For example, the first type of liquid could be water, and the second type of liquid could be glycerin.

[0072] When both supply steps have been performed, the method includes the step of mixing a first amount of dry product with a second amount of liquid to obtain the above-described mixture I.

[0073] The mixing step is performed inside the kneading machine 100 by the kneading shaft 110 described above. The kneading shaft 110 is of the screw type, vane type, or plow blade type, and in particular applies a scraping action to the inner wall of the mixing space V.

[0074] Preferably, the kneading step is performed by operating the kneading shaft 110 at a speed faster than 150 rpm, preferably faster than 180 rpm.

[0075] More preferably, the kneading step is performed by operating the kneading shaft 110 at a speed between 185 rpm and 200 rpm.

[0076] Once the kneading is complete and a mixture I is obtained, the method includes the step of discharging the mixture I to a vertical laminating device 30 located below the kneading machine 100 to make a web N. Preferably, in the discharging step, the mixture I is transported directly to the vertical laminating device 30 from the discharge outlet 105 of the kneading machine 100.

[0077] In the illustrated embodiment, this step is achieved by direct discharge by gravity.

[0078] In embodiments not shown, this step is achieved by conveying the mixture from the mixer to the vertical laminating device via a conveyor without performing any intermediate processes on the mixture.

[0079] This invention overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art and achieves a predetermined objective.

[0080] In particular, the machine 1 of the present invention enables a more efficient and energy-efficient process for forming the plant-based web N and mixture I, while simultaneously ensuring that the mixture I and web N are of high quality. Furthermore, the machine 1 of the present invention enables the formation of the mixture at a faster speed.

Claims

1. A machine (1) for creating a plant-based web (N), - A kneading machine (100) comprising a housing frame (101) that defines a cylindrical mixing space (V) inside, the housing frame (101) comprising at least one supply inlet (102, 103, 104) provided at the top of the housing frame (101), and at least one discharge outlet (105) provided at the bottom of the housing frame (101), and a motor-driven kneading shaft mounted inside the housing frame (101), - A first supply line (10) operably connected to at least one supply inlet (102) and configured to supply dry, ground and / or powdered products, - A second supply line (20) operably connected to at least one supply inlet (103, 104) and configured to supply one or more mixed liquids, wherein the second supply line (20) is separated from the first supply line (10), - A machine (1) comprising a vertical laminating device (30) which receives the mixture discharged by the kneading machine (100) and is arranged and configured to process the mixture to form a web (N) having an adjusted thickness.

2. The machine according to claim 1, wherein the vertical laminating device (30) is positioned below the kneading machine (100) to receive the discharged mixture directly from the kneading machine (100), particularly by gravity.

3. The machine according to claim 1, further comprising a conveyor interposed between the kneading machine (100) and the vertical laminating device (30), and configured to receive the discharged mixture directly from the kneading machine (100), particularly by gravity, and to transport the mixture to the vertical laminating device (30), particularly by weight.

4. The machine according to claim 3, wherein the vertical laminating device (30) is positioned higher than the mixing machine (100), and the conveyor lifts the mixture.

5. The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein there is no processing unit between the kneading machine (100) and the vertical laminating device (30).

6. The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the kneading machine (100) has a horizontal axis and the kneading axis (110) is rotatable about the horizontal axis.

7. The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the first supply line (10) comprises at least one first supply branch (11) for supplying a first type of dry, ground and / or powdered material, and at least one second supply branch (12) different from the first branch (11) for supplying a second type of dry, ground and / or powdered material, and the supply line (10) preferably comprises at least one third supply branch (13) different from the first branch (11) and the second supply branch (12) for supplying a third type of dry, ground and / or powdered material.

8. The machine (1) according to claim 7, comprising a measuring tank (14) located upstream of the mixing machine (100) in the first supply line (10), wherein the measuring tank (14) has connecting pipes (15) connected to the supply branches (11, 12, 13) and connected to at least one supply inlet (102, 103, 104), preferably having a single connecting pipe (15) connected to the supply inlet (102).

9. The machine (1) according to claim 7, wherein each supply branch (11, 12, 13) is connected to its own separate supply inlet.

10. The second supply line (20) comprises at least one first supply branch (21) for supplying a first type of liquid, and preferably at least one second supply branch (22) different from the first supply branch (21) for supplying a second type of liquid. Preferably, the machine according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein each branch (21, 22) of the second supply line (20) is connected to its respective supply inlet (103, 104).

11. The discharge outlet (105) is equipped with a re-closable hatch, and the hatch is configured to selectively take on a closed state that closes the discharge outlet (105) to allow the material to be filled and kneaded, and an open state that opens the discharge outlet (105) to allow the kneaded material to be discharged. In the closed configuration of the discharge outlet (105), the hatch preferably has an inner surface that is coplanar with the inner surface of the mixing space (V), according to any one of claims 1 to 10.

12. The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the kneading shaft (110) is of the screw type, vane type, or plow blade type, and is configured to apply a scraping action to the walls of the mixing space (V).

13. The machine according to any one of claims 1 to 12, further comprising a ventilation circuit (40) for the kneading machine (100) connected to a ventilation outlet (106) provided at the top of the housing frame (101).

14. A method for creating a plant-based web (N), which is carried out by a machine (1) according to any one or more of claims 1 to 13, - A step of supplying a first amount of at least one dry, ground and / or powdered product through a first supply line (10) to the mixing space (V) of a kneader (100), - A step of supplying a second amount of at least one liquid to the mixing space (V) of the kneader (100) through a second supply line (20), - A step of mixing the first amount of the dried product with the second amount of the liquid to obtain a mixture (I), - The steps of discharging the mixture (I) from the mixing machine (100) and supplying the mixture (I) to the vertical laminating device (30), - A method comprising the steps of laminating the mixture (I) through the vertical laminating apparatus (30) to obtain a continuous web (N) having a controlled thickness.

15. The method according to claim 14, wherein the vertical laminating apparatus (30) is located below the mixing machine (100), and the step of supplying the mixture (I) to the vertical laminating apparatus (30) is performed by gravity.

16. The method according to claim 14, wherein the step of supplying the mixture (I) to the vertical laminating apparatus (30) is carried out by a conveyor, preferably a linear conveyor, more preferably a belt conveyor or a mesh conveyor.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the step of discharging the mixture (I) from the kneading machine (100) is performed by releasing the mixture (I) by gravity from the discharge outlet of the kneading machine (100) into a first section of the conveyor, and the step of supplying the mixture (I) to the vertical laminating device (30) is performed by a subsequent step of releasing the mixture (I) into the vertical laminating device (30) from a second section of the conveyor, particularly by gravity.

18. The method according to claim 16 or 17, wherein the first area of ​​the conveyor is positioned higher than the second area, and the step of supplying the mixture (I) to the vertical laminating apparatus (30) includes the step of lifting the mixture (I) by the conveyor.

19. The step of supplying a first amount of at least one dry, ground and / or powdered product is: - A substep of supplying a predetermined amount of a first type of dry, ground and / or powdered material to the kneader through a first supply branch (11), - A substep of supplying a predetermined amount of at least a second type of dry, ground and / or powdered material to the kneader through a second supply branch (12), The method according to any one of claims 14 to 18, wherein the step of supplying a first amount of at least one dry, ground and / or powdered product preferably includes a substep of supplying a predetermined amount of a third type of dry, ground and / or powdered material to the kneader through a third supply branch (13).

20. The method according to claim 19, comprising the step of pre-mixing the two or more types of dry, ground and / or powdered materials, which is performed prior to the step of supplying the at least one liquid to the kneader (100).

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the pre-mixing is performed in the kneading machine (100).

22. The method according to any one of claims 19 to 21, wherein the supply of the two or more types of dried, ground and / or powdered materials is carried out by supplying the two or more types of dried, ground and / or powdered materials intermittently and / or alternately to obtain a dry, layered product comprising at least two layers of each type of dried material.

23. The method according to claim 19, wherein the step of supplying a predetermined amount of a first type of dry, ground and / or powdered material and a predetermined amount of a second type of dry, ground and / or powdered material to the kneader (100) is performed by supplying the amount of dry, ground and / or powdered material to a weighing tank (14) to obtain a dry, pre-weighed charge, and then transferring the dry, pre-weighed charge to the kneader (100).

24. The method according to any one of claims 14 to 23, wherein the kneading step is performed by a kneading shaft (110) which is of screw type, vane type or plow blade type and which in particular applies a scraping action to the inner wall of the mixing space (V).

25. The method according to claim 24, wherein the mixing step is performed by operating the kneading shaft (110) at a speed faster than 50 rpm, preferably faster than 70 rpm.

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