FIELD OF INVENTION
This invention relates to an eco-friendly process of manufacturing handmade
paper of coir. The fibres are obtained on shearing of coir mats and coir pith.
BACKGORUND AND PRIOR ART OF INVENTION
Demand for the handmade paper is huge during recent times because it
provides enormous employment opportunities especially to the weaker sections
of the society including rag pickers and women workers and further for
producing novel articles like gift boxes, invitation /visiting cards, paper carry
bags etc. It involves very low investment generating elegant products. Usually
hosiery waste and used paper waste are used for the purpose. However, it has
been found that the handmade paper made from such materials does not have
adequate strength therefore it is necessary to incorporate strong natural fibres
for obtaining a handmade paper of adequate strength.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Primary object of the present invention is to provide an eco-friendly process of
manufacturing handmade paper of coir which, overcomes disadvantages
associated with the prior art in terms of poor strength and texture.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an eco friendly process of
manufacturing handmade paper of coir which is simple and reliable.
Further object of the present invention is to provide an eco-friendly process of
manufacturing handmade paper of coir which do not cause air and water
pollution arising out of alkaline/organosolve pulping.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide an eco-friendly
process of manufacturing handmade paper of coir which modifies the colour
and texture of handmade paper as desired.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an eco-friendly process
of manufacturing handmade paper of coir which can be used for
manufacturing various articles like egg baskets, corrugated sheets and garden
articles etc.
Further object of the present invention is to provide a source of employment for
the weaker sections of the society including rag pickers and women.
. Further object of the present invention is to provide an eco-friendly process of
manufacturing handmade paper of coir which is cost effective.
SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
According to this invention, there is provided an eco-friendly process of
manufacturing handmade paper of coir comprising steps of:-
- adding coir bit fibres/pith to hosiery/paper waste followed by mixing of
water during beating process,
- formation of sheet and squeezing to remove water,
- calendaring of paper.
DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Coir fibres are used for manufacturing of tufted mats on coir yarn on handloom
or by tufting in PVC. Such mats are subjected to a process known as shearing
which levels the fibre surface to produce a smooth finish on the surface of the
tufted mats.

The present invention is directed to an eco-friendly process of utilization of
waste arising out of shearing of coir tufted mats comprising of coir bit fibres of
length between 2cm to 10cm. Such fibres are of no use for the coir industry for
making products and are used either as fuel or for dumping here and there
creating environmental problems. The process of present invention also utilizes
coir pith which is another waste produce generated during coir fiber extraction
process from coconut husk. •
The present invention discloses an eco-friendly process of manufacturing
handmade paper of coir comprising steps of:-
- adding coir bit fibres/pith to hosiery/paper waste followed by mixing of
water during beating process,
- formation of sheet and squeezing to remove water,
- calendaring of paper
Coir bit fibres/pith in an amount of for ex: 15-40% is added to hosiery/paper
waste of for ex: 85-60%, which is added to water in a ratio of for ex: 3-10: 100
(3-10%) during the beating process.
Thus, the process comprises of beating the mixture of coir bit fibres with
hosiery/paper waste together with water till a homogeneous pulp results.
The remaining process of manufacturing includes sheet making, squeezing and
calendaring of paper.
For the manufacture of corrugated sheets or egg trays etc the pulp is poured in
to the moulds and squeezed to remove excess water prior to drying in an oven.
Advantageous Features
- Desired strength and texture of handmade paper.

- Production of handmade paper sheets, corrugated sheets, egg trays,
garden articles, paper carry bags etc having desired properties on the
same available machinery.
- Better strength and texture of handmade papers involving faster process
in comparison to the conventional process of paper making.
- Production of coir fibres/pith reinforced handmade paper, corrugated
sheets, egg trays, garden articles etc of desired shape and size.
- Handmade paper of desired colour with coir artifacts on its surface.
- Eco-friendly process due to no use of any chemical.
- No generation of any toxic effluent, as the process does not require any
chemical for the treatment of fibres/pith.
Faster process in comparison to the conventional alkaline/organosolve
pulping process.
- Use friendly process particularly for women due to least drudgery.
- Cost effective as compared to known process of pulping using
chemical/enzymes.
- Concerted process as beating/pulping of the coir bit fibres/coir pith and
hosiery waste is done simultaneously.
- Requires less man power.
- Good quality paper sheets with artifacts of coir on its surface.
- Better papers than the conventional process of making paper using
hosiery waste or waste paper.
- Different colours can also be applied to produce desired effects on paper
depending upon end uses.
- Soft and supple paper.
It is to be noted that the present invention is susceptible to modifications,
adaptations and changes by those skilled in the art. Such variant embodiments
employing the concepts and features of this invention are intended to be within
the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the
following claims:-

We Claim:
1. An eco-friendly process of manufacturing handmade paper of coir
comprising steps of:-
- adding coir bit fibres/pith to hosiery/paper waste followed by mixing of
water during beating process,
- formation of sheet and squeezing to remove water,
- calendaring of paper.

2. An eco-friendly process of manufacturing handmade paper of coir as
claimed in claim 1 wherein the coir bit fibres/pith in an amount of 15-
40% is added to 85-60% of the hosiery/paper waste.
3. An eco-friendly process of manufacturing handmade paper of coir as
claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the mixture of coir bit fibres/pith and
hosiery/paper waste is added with water in a ratio of 3-10% during said
beating procedure.
4. An eco-friendly process of manufacturing handmade paper of coir as
claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein the beating of said
mixture is carried out to obtain a homogenous pulp.
5. An eco-friendly process of manufacturing handmade paper of coir as
claimed in any of the preceding claims is associated with the advantageous
features such as herein described.
6. An eco-friendly process of manufacturing handmade paper of coir
substantially as herein described.