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(11) | EP 0 745 463 A3 |
| (12) | EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION |
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| (54) | Method and apparatus for reducing blowline obstructions during production of cellulosic composites |
| (57) An apparatus and method are described that allow for the continuous production of
cellulosic products produced using reactive binder compositions by significantly reducing
or substantially eliminating obstructions of the blowline. A binder application assembly
is used to apply binder compositions to the cellulosic materials in the blowline.
The application assembly generally is plumbed to the blowline at an obtuse angle and
at a position adjacent the blowline outlet. The application assembly includes an air
sheath that defines a conduit through which a binder applicator passes. Preferred
embodiments of the invention also include a binder-diluent mixer that is operatively
coupled to the binder applicator. The binder-diluent mixer includes a binder inlet
for receiving a first stream containing a binder, a diluent inlet for receiving a
second stream containing a diluent, and an inline mixer that is fluidly connected
to the binder inlet and the diluent inlet to produce a mixed stream. The mixed stream
is conveyed to the binder applicator and is applied to the cellulosic material in
the blowline. The mixer may include supplemental inlets for receiving supplemental
materials that are useful for producing cellulosic products. The method comprises
conveying cellulosic material in a blowline and through a blowline outlet that is
positioned inside an inlet portion of a dryer. Binder is applied to the cellulosic
material in the blowline using the binder application assembly. |