Solid material comminution or disintegration – Processes – By operations other than force of contact with solid surface
Reexamination Certificate
1999-08-17
2001-07-10
Rosenbaum, Mark (Department: 3725)
Solid material comminution or disintegration
Processes
By operations other than force of contact with solid surface
C241S021000, C241S301000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06257510
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the forming of emulsions or suspension containing small particles into smaller particles by application of a stream of material to an ultrasonic probe.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is known in the formation of emulsions that are consisting of oil and water to apply forces to these emulsions to decrease the size of the oil phase droplets or particles. It is known to utilize mills such as colloid mill, high speed shear mixer, and various jet homogenizer apparatus to do this. Further is known use stacks of perforated plates through which the dispersion is forced. The use of these types of apparatus for decreasing particle size has the disadvantage that it results in emulsions that do not have a uniform particle size distribution. Further these devices require high energy in order to accomplish the particle size reduction.
It is also known to place ultrasonic probes into containers of emulsion in order to decrease the particle size. However, this technique results in oil and water emulsions that have a wide distribution of particle size. Further, it has been known to place ultrasonic probes into streams of particles and liquid in order to pass these particles by the probe to reduce the particles size. These also have the disadvantage that the particles are not uniform in size.
In the formation of photographic materials that are dispersions of particles coupler material and permanent solvent suspended in a gelatin water solution, there is a continuing need for accurate particle sizing of these solutions. These suspensions are more properly in chemical practice called emulsions; however, in the photographic art it is commonly known to refer to these emulsions as “dispersions” of couplers. In the photographic art, “emulsions” refer to suspensions of silver halide particles.
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
There is a need for a method and apparatus of providing a reduction in particle size in oil and water emulsions that is low in cost, provides uniform particles, and is adjustable to provide differing size particle output from the same feed stream.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the invention to overcome the disadvantages of prior methods of sizing particles in liquids.
It is another object to provide apparatus and method for forming more uniform emulsions of particles.
It is a further object of the invention to provide improved method of forming and adjusting the size of particles suspended in a liquid stream.
These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by a method of particle treatment comprising providing a stream of particles in liquid, applying said stream to an ultrasonic probe wherein said stream has an orifice surrounded by a plate that is generally parallel to the emitting surface of said probe and wherein said plate is adjustable to vary its distance from said emitting surface.
ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
The invention provides a method of forming uniform particle distributions and easy regulation of the particle size.
REFERENCES:
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patent: 5988396 (1999-11-01), Minkara et al.
Roger R.C. New, “Liposomes—A Practical Approach”, Chapter 2, pp. 33, 44-48 & 258.
P. Greguss, “A New Sonic Emulsifying System: A Preliminary Report”, 1972, vol. 10, pp. 276-278.
L. I. Tertykh et al, “Influence of Ultrasonics on the Formation of Emulsions of Polyethylhydrosiloxane”, 1973, pp. 41-43.
Howard Alliger, “Ultrasonic Disruption”, 1975, pp. 75-84.
A. Grange, “Ultrasonic Homogenisers—Their Development and Application”, 1982, pp. 423-424.
R. Zana et al, “Ultrasonic Investigation of Critical Behavior & Percolation Phenomena in Micro-Emulsions”, 1982, L-829-837.
Kirsten Eberth et al, International Journal of Pharmaceutics, vol. 14, 1983, pp. 349-353.
Fredric M. Menger et al, Journal of Colloid and Interface Science, vol. 129, No. 1, 1989, pp. 185-191.
David J. Wedlock, “Production of Vesicles of Defined Size”, 1994, p. 291.
Eastman Kodak Company
Leipold Paul A.
Rosenbaum Mark
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