FORM -2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970) Complete Specification
[See Section 10]
APPLICATION NO. 1322/MUM/2003 Dated 29/12/2003
1. TITLE: "An apparatus and process for impregnation of Match Splints".
2. APPLICANT: Wimco Limited.
3. ADDRESS: Indian Mercantile Chambers, Ballard Estate, Mumbai 400 038.
4. NATIONALITY: A Company incorporated under the Indian Companies Act, 1913.
5. Description of the invention:
The Invention relates to an improved process of impregnation of a match splints.



The present invention relates to an apparatus and method of impregnation of match splints with the use of a new simplified impregnation unit, dryer without steam boiler which results into a simplified process of impregnation of match splints saving consumption in fuel and energy.
PRIOR ART
At present there are two methods available and adopted by the Safety Match manufacturers, the Spray Method and Manual Method according to the present knowledge of the Applicant.
The First method mainly developed and adopted by the Applicant is known as "SPRAY METHOD". This method comprises of a Steam Boiler, a Splint Hopper, a Spay Impregnation Unit and Tunnel Dryer. In this method, the raw splints are fed into a Splint Hopper for feeding into a Spray Impregnation Unit through an inclined conveyer. The Spray Impregnation Unit comprises of a hexagonal horizontal drum fitted with a pipe passing through the centre of the drum having at least one spay nozzle. The chemicals for impregnation is prepared in a separate vessel and pumped to the pipeline fitted inside the impregnation unit and when the chemical passes through the nozzle, it creates mist inside the vessel for proper impregnation. The splints are fed into the impregnation unit from one side through inclined conveyer attached with the Splints Hopper so that during the process of passing through the hexagonal drum the splints get impregnated chemically which comes out from the other side due to the continuous in feed of raw splints for necessary drying up in the Tunnel Dryer. The Tunnel Dryer comprises of a
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION:
The object of the invention is to eliminate the spray equipment including chemical pump, nozzles etc. so as to reduce the initial investment. Another object of the present invention is to reduce the consumption of electrical energy. Another object of the present invention is to improve the tolerance level of quality of match splints.
This is achieved by providing an improved dip type impregnation unit according to the present invention.
In the present invention, the raw splints are fed manually into the Dip type Impregnation Unit. The Dip type Impregnation Unit comprises of a semi-circular tank holding the impregnation chemical. At the centre of the tank, a shaft is fitted with a driving motor with a fixed circular rotational movement. The shaft is fitted with radial blades. The raw splints are fed manually on one side of the blade. The circular rotational movement, in turn forces the splints to dip inside the impregnation chemical and continuous rotation of blade discharge the impregnated splints automatically from the other end in a vessel. Thereafter, the splints are manually dried up by exposing them to the sun for partial drying up.
The partially dried splints are to be dried up fully and therefore it is manually fed in the Tunnel Dryer. The Tunnel Dryer comprises of a horizontal chamber having at least one section fitted with at least one air circulating fan, one air inlet and one vent pipe. The Tunnel Dryer is also
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We Claim:
1. An apparatus for impregnation of Match Splints comprising combination of dip type impregnation unit (2), with tunnel dryer (9); the tunnel dryer comprising horizontal chamber (91) provided with air circulation fan (100), air inlet (101) with vent pipe (102), the tunnel dryer (9) being fitted with forward moving slat conveyor (103), hot air being directly fed in near circulation fan (100) through an air inlet (101) coming from hot air generator (10) burning fuel being wood waste, characterized in that, the dip type impregnation unit (2) comprises a semi-circular tank (3) holding the impregnation chemical (3) a shaft being fitted at the centre of the tank with driving motor (4) with fixed circular rotational movement, the shaft being fitted with radial blades (5); vessel (7) being provided at the out put side of the impregnation unit (2) for collection of the impregnated splints.
2. The process of impregnation of the match splints, using the apparatus as claimed in claim 1 comprising the steps,
a. impregnation in the dip impregnation unit (2) wherein, the
raw splints (1) being fed to the said dip type impregnation
unit (2); circular motion of the radial blades (5)'provided on
the rotating shaft (4) forcing the splints to dip inside the
impregnation chemical (.3') and the continuous rotation of
the blades (5) discharging the impregnated splints (6) from
the other end in a vessel (7);
b. manual drying of the splints by exposing to the sun to
produce partially dried splints (8);
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c. manually feeding the partially dried splints (8) to the slat conveyor (103) of tunnel dryer (9);.the splints getting dried up due to contact with the hot air, the moisture from the wet splints getting evaporated and going out to atmosphere from vent pipe (102) and dry splints (104) coming out from the other end of the tunnel dryer (9) due to forward movement of the slat conveyor (103).
Dated this 21 st day of December 2004.
For WIMCO LTD. (By Their agents)


To
The Controller of Patents
At Mumbai

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VIPUL N. BHUTA Patent Agent Aditya 8B Associates 405, Kapadia Chambers, 599, J. S. S. Road, Maine Lines, Mumbai 400 002.