IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0966418
(2007-12-28)
|
등록번호 |
US-8206024
(2012-06-26)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Wenzel, Scott W.
- Ahles, John Glen
- Ehlert, Thomas David
- Janssen, Robert Allen
- Koenig, David William
- Rasmussen, Paul Warren
- Roffers, Steve
- Zhuang, Shiming
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Kimberly-Clark Worldwide, Inc.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
4 인용 특허 :
156 |
초록
▼
An ultrasonic mixing system having a particulate dispensing system to dispense particulates into a treatment chamber and the treatment chamber in which particulates can be mixed with one or more formulations is disclosed. Specifically, the treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which a fo
An ultrasonic mixing system having a particulate dispensing system to dispense particulates into a treatment chamber and the treatment chamber in which particulates can be mixed with one or more formulations is disclosed. Specifically, the treatment chamber has an elongate housing through which a formulation and particulates flow longitudinally from an inlet port to an outlet port thereof. An elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extends within the housing and is operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize the formulation and particulates within the housing. An elongate ultrasonic horn of the waveguide assembly is disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet and outlet ports, and has a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the horn intermediate the inlet and outlet ports in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other. The horn and agitating members are constructed and arranged for dynamic motion of the agitating members relative to the horn at the predetermined frequency and to operate in an ultrasonic cavitation mode of the agitating members corresponding to the predetermined frequency and the formulation and particulates being mixed in the chamber.
대표청구항
▼
1. An ultrasonic mixing system for mixing particulates into a formulation, the mixing system comprising: a particulate dispensing system capable of dispensing particulates into a treatment chamber for mixing with a formulation; andthe treatment chamber comprising: an elongate housing having longitud
1. An ultrasonic mixing system for mixing particulates into a formulation, the mixing system comprising: a particulate dispensing system capable of dispensing particulates into a treatment chamber for mixing with a formulation; andthe treatment chamber comprising: an elongate housing having longitudinally opposite ends and an interior space, the housing being generally closed at at least one longitudinal end and having at least one inlet port for receiving the formulation into the interior space of the housing and at least one outlet port through which a particulate-containing formulation is exhausted from the housing following ultrasonic mixing of the formulation and particulates to form the particulate-containing formulation, the outlet port being spaced longitudinally from the inlet port such that the formulation and particulates flow longitudinally within the interior space of the housing from the inlet port to the outlet port; andan elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extending longitudinally within the interior space of the housing and being operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize and mix the formulation and particulates flowing within the housing, the waveguide assembly comprising an elongate ultrasonic horn disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet port and the outlet port of the housing and having an outer surface located for contact with the formulation and particulates flowing within the housing from the inlet port to the outlet port, and a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the outer surface of the horn intermediate the inlet port and the outlet port in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other, the agitating members and the horn being constructed and arranged for dynamic motion of the agitating members relative to the horn upon ultrasonic vibration of the horn at the predetermined frequency and to operate in an ultrasonic cavitation mode of the agitating members corresponding to the predetermined frequency and the formulation and particulates being mixed in the chamber, wherein at least one of the agitating members has a ratio of transverse length to thickness of the agitating member in the range of about 2:1 to about 6:1. 2. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the particulates are selected from the group consisting of rheology modifiers, sensory enhancers, pigments, lakes, dyes, abrasives, absorbents, anti-caking, anti-acne, anti-dandruff, anti-perspirant, binders, bulking agents, colorants, deodorants, exfoliants, opacifying agents, oral care agents, skin protectants, slip modifiers, suspending agents, warming agents and combinations thereof. 3. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a delivery system operable to deliver the formulation to the interior space of the housing of the treatment chamber through the inlet port, wherein the formulation is delivered to the inlet port at a rate of from about 0.1 liters per minute to about 100 liters per minute. 4. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the formulation is selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic formulations, hydrophobic formulations, siliphilic formulations, and combinations thereof. 5. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the predetermined frequency is in a range of from about 20 kHz to about 40 kHz. 6. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the inlet port is a first inlet port, the treatment chamber further comprising a second inlet port oriented in parallel, spaced relationship with the first inlet port. 7. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the horn has a terminal end within the interior space of the housing and substantially spaced longitudinally from the inlet port to define an intake zone therebetween within the interior space of the housing. 8. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a liquid recycling system disposed longitudinally between the inlet port and the outlet port and being capable of recycling a portion of the formulation being mixed with the particulates within the housing back into the intake zone of the interior space of the housing. 9. An ultrasonic mixing system for mixing particulates into a formulation, the mixing system comprising: a particulate dispensing system capable of dispensing particulates into a treatment chamber for mixing with a formulation; andthe treatment chamber comprising: an elongate housing having longitudinally opposite ends and an interior space, the housing being generally closed at at least one longitudinal end and having at least one inlet port for receiving the formulation into the interior space of the housing and at least one outlet port through which a particulate-containing formulation is exhausted from the housing following ultrasonic mixing of the formulation and particulates to form the particulate-containing formulation, the outlet port being spaced longitudinally from the inlet port such that the formulation and particulates flow longitudinally within the interior space of the housing from the inlet port to the outlet port;an elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly extending longitudinally within the interior space of the housing and being operable at a predetermined ultrasonic frequency to ultrasonically energize and mix the formulation and particulates flowing within the housing, the waveguide assembly comprising an elongate ultrasonic horn disposed at least in part intermediate the inlet port and the outlet port of the housing and having an outer surface located for contact with the formulation and particulates flowing within the housing from the inlet port to the outlet port, a plurality of discrete agitating members in contact with and extending transversely outward from the outer surface of the horn intermediate the inlet port and the outlet port in longitudinally spaced relationship with each other, the agitating members and the horn being constructed and arranged for dynamic motion of the agitating members relative to the horn upon ultrasonic vibration of the horn at the predetermined frequency and to operate in an ultrasonic cavitation mode of the agitating members corresponding to the predetermined frequency and the formulation and particulates being mixed in the chamber, and a baffle assembly disposed within the interior space of the housing and extending at least in part transversely inward from the housing toward the horn to direct longitudinally flowing formulation and particulates in the housing to flow transversely inward into contact with the agitating members, wherein the baffle assembly comprises annular baffle members extending continuously about the horn. 10. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the particulates are selected from the group consisting of rheology modifiers, sensory enhancers, pigments, lakes, dyes, abrasives, absorbents, anti-caking, anti-acne, anti-dandruff, anti-perspirant, binders, bulking agents, colorants, deodorants, exfoliants, opacifying agents, oral care agents, skin protectants, slip modifiers, suspending agents, warming agents and combinations thereof. 11. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a delivery system operable to deliver the formulation to the interior space of the housing of the treatment chamber through the inlet port, wherein the formulation is delivered to the inlet port at a rate of from about 0.1 liters per minute to about 100 liters per minute. 12. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the formulation is selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic formulations, hydrophobic formulations, siliphilic formulations, and combinations thereof. 13. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the predetermined frequency is in a range of from about 20 kHz to about 40 kHz. 14. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the inlet port is a first inlet port, the treatment chamber further comprising a second inlet port oriented in parallel, spaced relationship with the first inlet port. 15. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 9 wherein the horn has a terminal end within the interior space of the housing and substantially spaced longitudinally from the inlet port to define an intake zone therebetween within the interior space of the housing. 16. The ultrasonic mixing system as set forth in claim 15 further comprising a liquid recycling system disposed longitudinally between the inlet port and the outlet port and being capable of recycling a portion of the formulation being mixed with the particulates within the housing back into the intake zone of the interior space of the housing. 17. A method for mixing particulates into a formulation using the ultrasonic mixing system of claim 1, the method comprising: delivering particulates to an intake zone within the interior space of the housing, the intake zone being defined as a space between a terminal end of the horn within the interior space of the housing and the inlet port;delivering the formulation via the inlet port into the interior space of the housing; andultrasonically mixing the particulates and formulation via the elongate ultrasonic waveguide assembly operating in the predetermined ultrasonic frequency. 18. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the particulates are selected from the group consisting of rheology modifiers, sensory enhancers, pigments, lakes, dyes, abrasives, absorbents, anti-caking, anti-acne, anti-dandruff, anti-perspirant, binders, bulking agents, colorants, deodorants, exfoliants, opacifying agents, oral care agents, skin protectants, slip modifiers, suspending agents, warming agents and combinations thereof. 19. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the formulation is selected from the group consisting of hydrophilic formulations, hydrophobic formulations, siliphilic formulations, and combinations thereof. 20. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the formulation is delivered to the interior space of the housing at a flow rate of from about 0.1 liters per minute to about 100 liters per minute. 21. The method as set forth in claim 19 wherein the inlet port is a first inlet port, the treatment chamber further comprising a second inlet port oriented in parallel spaced relationship with the first inlet port. 22. The method as set forth in claim 21 wherein the formulation is prepared simultaneously during delivery of the formulation to the interior space of the housing and wherein at least a first component of the formulation is delivered via the first inlet port and at least a second component of the formulation is delivered via the second port. 23. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the formulation is heated prior to being delivered to the interior space of the housing. 24. The method as set forth in claim 17 wherein the particulates and formulation are ultrasonically mixed using the predetermined frequency being in a range of from about 20 kHz to about 40 kHz. 25. The method as set forth in claim 17 further comprising recycling a portion of the formulation to be mixed with the particulates via a liquid recycling system.
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