The present invention relates to a method for preparing a biodegradable
product from composite material like pine needles. More specifically, the
present invention relates to a method for the preparation of pine needle
planters using a low voltage manual press.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Pine needles are used in gardening and landscape design and maintenance as
a ground cover to protect vegetation from the elements, suppress weed
growth, provide moisture retention, and provide an evaporation barrier.
Further, pine needles are valued for their fresh reddish-brown or yellowishbrown colors during spring and fall. Pine needle is one of the main byproduct of pine tree class plant. Its reproduction speed can be harvested
throughout the year, and distributed extensively. A pine, locally known as
Chir ka ped, (scientific name: Pinus roxburghii), is a conifer that covers
about 16% of the forest area in Uttarakhand. It is one of the six pines in
India that have maximum occurrence and area. Pine has been in the
Himalayas for a long time, but the expansion of Indian Railways and resintapping during the colonial times gave it a big push. The number of pine tree
plantations started increasing steadily by clearing the local forest vegetation.
Pine trees are exclusively used for resin trapping and have many effects
over the region one of the most common is forest fires as these pine needles
are highly inflammable and being fire registrant, pine tree does not burn in
the forest fire instead shed leaves again next year continuing the cycle again.
Many inventions are disclosed that work to break this vicious cycle and has
developed different use of pine needles. Some are listed as
PL236220B1 discloses a biodegradable pot for gardening and nursery
applications, which allows for convenient transplanting of seedlings into the
ground together with the pot.
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US2003041516A1 discloses a biodegradable plant shell comprises a
mixture of particulate organic base material such as shredded southern pine
bark or rice hulls in combination with peat moss, manure, top soil, timerelease nutrients or other organic materials, and a water responsive
biodegradable organic tackifier or glue.
None of the prior art inventions discloses the cost-effective and
environment-friendly use of pine needles. Thus, there is a need for the
present invention to manage the above-listed problems.
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
The main objective of the present invention is to provide planters using a
composite material like pine needles.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide the planters in
various 3D shapes.
Yet another objective of the present invention is that the present invention is
environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Yet another objective of the present invention is to provide the pine needle
planters using a low voltage manual press.
Further objectives, advantages, and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided herein below, in
which various embodiments of the disclosed invention are illustrated by
way of example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention describes a method for preparing a biodegradable
product from the composite material. The method comprises of pre-treating
of composite material having pine needles. The pre-treating of pine needles
comprises one or more than two steps. The pine needles are washed with
water and mild caustic to remove the impurities from the pine needles. The
washed pine needles are treated with oil to make them soft and bendable.
4
The oil-treated pine needles are passed through hot air so that excess water
is removed. A natural binder is added to the treated pine needles, to get a
threaded sheet of pine needles and this threaded sheet of pine needles is
molded into the desired 3D shapes. In an embodiment of the present, the
natural binder is selected from starch, rosin wax, and latex. In an aspect of
the present invention, the mild caustic is selected from Sodium hydroxide,
Potassium hydroxide, and Calcium oxide. In an embodiment of the present
invention, the method comprises the manual pressing machine to get the
desired 3D shape. The manual pressing machine includes a frame. The
frame having a lead screw, a rotating handle, a punch, and a die. The lead
screw having two ends, the top and the bottom end. The rotating handle is
attached to the top end of the lead screw and the punch is attached to the
bottom end of the lead screw. The die placed at the bottom of the frame is
surrounded by a heating element. In an aspect of the present invention, the
temperature of the heating element is placed between 40 to 60 °C. In an
embodiment of the present invention, the method for the preparation of the
3D desired shape includes a threaded seat that is obtained from the
processed pine needles and this threaded sheet is placed inside the die. The
heating element is turned on and a constant temperature is maintained. As
the operator moves the rotating handle, the punch moves down this further
push the treaded sheet into the die, resulting in the desired 3D shape.
The main advantage of the present invention is that the present invention is
using a composite material like pine needles to form planters.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the pine needles are
used to get the planters in various 3D shapes.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the present invention
is environmentally friendly and cost-effective.
Yet another advantage of the present invention is that the present invention
is using a low voltage manual press to form the pine needle planters.
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Further advantages and features of the present invention will become
apparent from the detailed description provided hereinbelow, in which
various embodiments of the disclosed invention are illustrated by way of
example and appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms,
there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described in detail specific
embodiments, with the understanding that the present disclosure of such
embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not
intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments
shown and described. In the description below, reference numerals are used
to describe the same, similar, or corresponding parts in the several views of
the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms
used herein and specifically describes embodiments for those skilled in the
art to practice the invention.
Definition
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than
one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than
two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or
more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as
comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is
defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily
mechanically.
The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming
the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using
the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using
“consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended. The term
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“comprising” is used interchangeably used by the terms “having” or
“containing”.
Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain
embodiments”, “an embodiment”, “another embodiment”, and “yet another
embodiment” or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or
characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at
least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of
such phrases or in various places throughout this specification are not
necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the
particular features, structures, or characteristics are combined in any suitable
manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.
The term “or” as used herein is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning
any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B or C” means any of the
following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B and C”. An
exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements,
functions, steps or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
The drawings featured in the figures are to illustrate certain convenient
embodiments of the present invention and are not to be considered as a
limitation to that. The term "means" preceding a present participle of an
operation indicates the desired function for which there is one or more
embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for
achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select
from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein and use of the
term "means" is not intended to be limiting.
Fig.1 illustrates the manual presses use to make the pine needle planter. The
manual pressing machine includes a frame(100). The frame(100) having a
lead screw(102), a rotating handle(106), a punch(108), and a die(110). The
lead screw(102) having two ends, the top and the bottom end. The rotating
handle(106) is attached to the top end of the lead screw(102) and the
punch(108) is attached to the bottom end of the lead screw(102). The
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die(110) placed at the bottom of the frame is surrounded by a heating
element(112)
The present invention describes a method for preparing a biodegradable
product from the composite material. The method comprises of pre-treating
of composite material having pine needles. The pre-treating of pine needles
comprises one or more than two steps. The pine needles are washed with
water and mild caustic to remove the impurities from the pine needles. The
washed pine needles are treated with oil to make them soft and bendable.
The oil-treated pine needles are passed through hot air so that excess water
is removed. A natural binder is added to the treated pine needles, to get a
threaded sheet of pine needles and this threaded sheet of pine needles is
moulded into the desired 3D shapes.
In an embodiment of the present, the natural binder is selected from starch,
rosin wax, and latex. In an aspect of the present invention, the mild caustic
is selected from Sodium hydroxide, Potassium hydroxide, and Calcium
oxide.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the method comprises the
manual pressing machine to get the desired 3D shape. The manual pressing
machine includes a frame. The frame having a lead screw, a rotating handle,
a punch, and a die. The lead screw having two ends, the top and the bottom
end. The rotating handle is attached to the top end of the lead screw and the
punch is attached to the bottom end of the lead screw. The die placed at the
bottom of the frame is surrounded by a heating element. In an aspect of the
present invention, the temperature of the heating element is placed between
40 to 60 °C.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the method for the preparation
of the 3D desired shape includes a threaded seat that is obtained from the
processed pine needles and this threaded sheet is placed inside the die. The
heating element is turned on and a constant temperature is maintained. As
8
the operator moves the rotating handle the punch moves down which further
pushes the treaded sheet into the die, resulting in the desired 3D shape.
Further objectives, advantages, and features of the present invention will
become apparent from the detailed description provided herein, in which
various embodiments of the disclosed present invention are illustrated by
way of example and appropriate reference to accompanying drawings.
Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make
modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the
present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics,
particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the
described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as
illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is,
therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been
described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of
structure, sequence, materials and the like apparent to those skilled in the art
still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant.

I/WECLAIMS
1. A method of preparing a biodegradable product from the composite
material comprising of :
pre- treating of composite material having pine needles, the
pre-treating of pine needles comprises of one or more than
two steps;
the pine needles are washed with water and mild caustic to
remove impurities;
the washed pine needles are treated with oil to make them
softer and bendable;
the treated pine needles are passed through hot air to remove
excess water;
a natural binder is added to treated pine needles to get a
threaded sheet of pine needles; and
the threaded sheet of pine needles is mouldable into desired
3D shapes.
2. The natural binder as claimed in claim 1, the natural binder is
selected from starch, rosin wax, and latex.
3. The mild caustic as claimed in claim 1, the mild caustic is a solution
selected from Sodium hydroxide, Potassium hydroxide, and Calcium
oxide.
4. The method claimed in claim 1, the method comprises of a manual
pressing machine to get the desired 3D shape, the manual pressing
machine comprises of:
a frame(100); the frame(100) comprises of :
a lead screw(102), the lead screw(102) has
two ends, the top, and the bottom end;
a rotating handle(106), the rotating
handle(106) is attached with the top end of the
lead screw(102);
a punch(108); the punch(108) is attached with
the bottom end of the lead screw(102); and
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a die(110), the die(110) is surrounded by a
heating element(112).
5. The heating element(112) claimed in claim 4, the temperature of the
heating element(112) is placed between 40 to 60 °C.
6. The method for the preparation of the 3D desired shape, the method
comprises of :
a threaded seat obtained from the processed pine needles is
placed inside the die(110);
the heating element(112) is turned on and a constant
temperature is maintained;
as the operator moves the rotating handle(106), the
punch(108) moves down pushes the treaded sheet into the
die(110), resulting in the desired 3D shape.