Colorizer System for Uniform Waste Material Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing material processing machines face challenges in achieving uniform application of colorants to reduced waste materials, as direct spraying methods often result in non-uniform coverage due to obstruction by particulates and premature discharge of material before colorant application.

Innovation Solution

A colorizer system integrated with the material processing machine, featuring a manifold positioned near the reducing chamber to direct pressurized colorant through a screen with strategically placed orifices, ensuring contemporaneous reduction and colorization of waste material, thereby ensuring uniform coverage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Manufacturing precision

If colorant is sprayed directly onto reduced waste material after it leaves the reducing chamber, then the material can be colorized, but the application is non-uniform because particulates obstruct the colorant path and some material exits before receiving colorant

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuniformity of colorant applicationVSAvoidcomplexity of colorant application system

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The colorant is applied preliminarily by coating the interior surfaces of the reducing chamber and processing tools before material reduction occurs. This preliminary coating ensures that colorant is already present on all surfaces that will contact the material during reduction, eliminating the need for post-reduction spraying and ensuring uniform coverage on all reduced particulates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The reducing chamber interior surfaces and processing tools act as intermediaries that carry the colorant from the colorant delivery system to the waste material. By coating these intermediary surfaces with colorant, the system indirectly applies colorant to all material that contacts these surfaces during the reduction process, achieving uniform distribution without direct spraying.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If colorant is applied after material reduction, then all reduced material can potentially be colorized, but material may exit the reducing chamber before receiving colorant resulting in incomplete coverage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecoverage completeness of colorant applicationVSAvoidtime delay between reduction and colorization

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The colorant application is performed as a preliminary action by pre-coating the reducing chamber and processing tool surfaces before material enters the reduction zone. This eliminates any time delay between reduction and colorization, as the colorant is already in position to immediately contact the material during the reduction process itself.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The colorization process is merged with the reduction process by applying colorant to the reducing chamber surfaces before reduction occurs. This combination ensures that material is colorized during or immediately upon reduction, eliminating the separate post-reduction colorization step and ensuring complete coverage of all reduced material.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of substance

If colorant is sprayed directly onto material in the discharge zone, then material can be colorized, but unreduced material may receive colorant resulting in wasted colorant and non-uniform appearance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvewaste of colorantVSAvoiduniformity of material colorization

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of substanceVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The colorant application is localized to specific areas where reduced material is present. By coating only the interior surfaces of the reducing chamber and processing tools, the system ensures colorant is applied only where material reduction occurs, preventing waste from coloring unreduced material in the discharge zone while maintaining uniform colorization of all reduced particulates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The system achieves uniform colorant application to the waste material, minimizing waste and optimizing the aesthetics and protection of the mulched product by ensuring all material is coated during the reduction process, reducing the likelihood of colorant being applied to unreduced material in the discharge zone.

Implementation Method 1

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPressurized fluid flow: Pressure Gradient

Data Source

PatentUS11241696B2Material processing machine with a colorizer system and methods of reducing and colorizing waste material

Publication Date: 2022.02.08 BANDIT IND INC

AI summary

A material processing machine having a reducing system for material reducing operations is disclosed. The reducing system includes a rotor having processing tools to reduce the material within a reducing chamber. A colorizer system includes a manifold positioned adjacent a screen defining a plurality of apertures for directing colorant from a colorant source through the apertures towards the reducing system. The material reducing operations include a two-stage reducing operation with selectively interchangeable screens that incrementally reduce the material to provide substantially uniform colorizing and material size.