Rotatable Drum with Apertured Screen for Animal Skin Treatment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current methods for treating animal skin substrates, such as hides, require large amounts of water and chemicals, leading to excessive effluent production and long process times, with limited advancements in the leather processing industry over the past 75 years.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus using a rotatably mounted drum with a solid particulate material and treatment liquor, featuring an apertured screen to separate the solid particulate material from the animal skin substrate, allowing for reduced water usage and efficient separation of particles, thereby reducing environmental impact and improving treatment efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If traditional water-based treatment methods are used for animal skin substrates, then effective treatment and removal of unwanted materials can be achieved, but large volumes of water and chemicals are required, leading to excessive effluent production and long process times
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the traditional water-based chemical treatment system with a mechanical abrasion system using solid particulate material. The particulate material mechanically removes unwanted materials from the skin substrate through abrasion and friction, eliminating the need for large volumes of water and chemicals while reducing effluent production and process time
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the fundamental treatment parameter from chemical dissolution in water to mechanical abrasion with solid particles. This parameter change transforms the treatment mechanism from chemical to physical, enabling effective treatment with minimal liquid while dramatically reducing water consumption and effluent volume
2Quantity of substance
If solid particulate material is used for treatment, then water and chemical consumption is reduced, but separation of the solid particles from the animal skin substrate becomes necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the treatment system into distinct functional zones: a treatment zone where particulate material contacts the skin substrate, and a separation zone where the apertured screen facilitates particle removal. The apertured screen acts as a physical barrier that separates solid particles from the treated substrate based on size differences, enabling efficient particle recovery without complex separation equipment
Solution Approach 2:
The apertured screen serves as an intermediary element between the treatment and separation functions. It allows treated skin substrates to pass through while retaining solid particulate material, facilitating automatic separation without requiring additional complex machinery or manual intervention
3Object-generated harmful factors
If large volumes of water are used for treatment, then effective removal of unwanted materials can be achieved, but excessive effluent is produced causing environmental damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces water-based chemical removal with mechanical abrasion using solid particles. This substitution eliminates the generation of liquid effluent containing chemicals and dissolved organic matter, as the treatment process uses dry or minimal-moisture particulate material that can be easily separated and reused
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a recovery system where solid particulate material is separated from the treated substrate using the apertured screen and reused for subsequent treatment cycles. This recovery approach eliminates waste generation and reduces the need for continuous supply of fresh treatment materials, thereby eliminating effluent production
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 solution significantly reduces water and chemical consumption, enhances treatment efficiency, and achieves high separation efficiency of solid particles from animal skin substrates, with over 75% separation efficiency, improving the environmental sustainability and productivity of the leather processing industry.
Implementation Method 1
an apertured screen arranged at the outlet opening and configured to permit passage through the outlet opening of the solid particulate material and the treatment liquor and to prevent passage through the outlet opening of the animal skin substrate
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus for treating at least one animal skin substrate with a multiplicity of solid particles comprises a rotatably mounted drum for containing said animal substrate, said solid particulate material and a treatment liquor, said drum comprising an outlet opening and a closure. The closure can be moveable between a first position wherein said outlet opening is closed and the animal substrate, the solid particulate material and the treatment liquor cannot pass through the outlet and are retained within the drum and a second position wherein said outlet opening is open such that solid particulate material and the treatment liquor can exit the drum through the outlet opening. The drum can further comprise an apertured screen arranged at the outlet and configured to permit passage through the outlet opening of the solid particulate material and the treatment liquor when the closure is in the second position and to prevent passage thereof through the outlet opening of the animal skin substrate. The apertured screen is suitably moveable from the outlet opening to permit loading and unloading of the animal skin substrate through the outlet opening when the closure is in the second position. A treatment method using the apparatus is also disclosed.