WO1992020635A1 - Disposable article and method of manufacture - Google Patents

Disposable article and method of manufacture Download PDF

Info

Publication number
WO1992020635A1
WO1992020635A1 PCT/GB1992/000845 GB9200845W WO9220635A1 WO 1992020635 A1 WO1992020635 A1 WO 1992020635A1 GB 9200845 W GB9200845 W GB 9200845W WO 9220635 A1 WO9220635 A1 WO 9220635A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
disposable article
article
binder
clay
article according
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/GB1992/000845
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Ian Alistair Hall
Henry Pearson
Original Assignee
Ian Alistair Hall
Henry Pearson
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Ian Alistair Hall, Henry Pearson filed Critical Ian Alistair Hall
Publication of WO1992020635A1 publication Critical patent/WO1992020635A1/en

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A01—AGRICULTURE; FORESTRY; ANIMAL HUSBANDRY; HUNTING; TRAPPING; FISHING
    • A01G—HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING
    • A01G9/00—Cultivation in receptacles, forcing-frames or greenhouses; Edging for beds, lawn or the like
    • A01G9/02—Receptacles, e.g. flower-pots or boxes; Glasses for cultivating flowers
    • A01G9/021—Pots formed in one piece; Materials used therefor
    • C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
    • C04—CEMENTS; CONCRETE; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES
    • C04B—LIME, MAGNESIA; SLAG; CEMENTS; COMPOSITIONS THEREOF, e.g. MORTARS, CONCRETE OR LIKE BUILDING MATERIALS; ARTIFICIAL STONE; CERAMICS; REFRACTORIES; TREATMENT OF NATURAL STONE
    • C04B26/00—Compositions of mortars, concrete or artificial stone, containing only organic binders, e.g. polymer or resin concrete
    • C04B26/02—Macromolecular compounds
    • C04B26/28—Polysaccharides or derivatives thereof
    • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
    • F41—WEAPONS
    • F41J—TARGETS; TARGET RANGES; BULLET CATCHERS
    • F41J1/00—Targets; Target stands; Target holders
    • F41J1/01—Target discs characterised by their material, structure or surface, e.g. clay pigeon targets characterised by their material

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a disposable article and is particularly concerned with a shooting target of the kind commonly known as a "clay pigeon" which, in use, is propelled into the air by a mechanism known as a trap and fired at, usually by a shot gun.
  • the invention also embraces other forms of article, such as a plant pot used for horticulture, as well as a method of manufacturing the disposable article.
  • Conventional clay pigeons are manufactured from a mixture consisting mainly of a filter such as chalk and/or limestone bound together by a bitumen based material to form a brittle body which breaks into fragments when impacted by shot and falls to the ground. This material can take years to break down and a heavily used shooting site, unless cleared regularly, rapidly becomes unsightly.
  • An .object of the present invention is to provide a disposable article, such as a clay pigeon, having a form and weight similar to those currently used in the sport of clay pigeon shooting, which decomposes over a relatively short period when left exposed in an outdoor location.
  • a disposable article such as a clay pigeon shooting target, comprises a main particulate constituent material of which at least a substantial proportion is common soil, and a degradable binder material, which is normally effective to bind the particulate material into a cohesive body but which, by degradation, permits disintegration of the body.
  • common soil consists largely of top soil and/or sub-soil.
  • the binder is such as to degrade under the action of water- and/or micro-organism activity.
  • the article contains approximately 70% - 80% of the main constituent material, 10% - 15% clay and 10% - 15% degradable binder.
  • degradable binders which are either water soluble or degradable by micro-organisms or both, all being of a substantially non-toxic nature.
  • degradable binder is carbohydrate-based and may conveniently be a cellulose binder, such as hydroxypropylmethyl, cellulose or a ligno-sulphonate.
  • degradable binder is of the sugar-based type, such as sugar phosphate.
  • degradable binders may be starch- based or animal or vegetable gum. It would also be possible to use a polymer or co-polymer degradable binder.
  • a particularly advantageous form of the article may incorporate seed, as of grass or flower for example, which may germinate upon disintegration of the article in order to improve the appearance of the site upon which the article has fallen.
  • the seed may be subject to the action of a germination inhibitor which ensures that germination cannot occur until the seed has been released from the body and acted on by water.
  • the article may also incorporate fertilizer to encourage seed .
  • a method of making a disposable article comprises forming a mixture of a main particulate constituent material, of which at least a substantial proportion is common soil, and a degradable binder, filling a mould cavity with the mixture and performing an isostatic pressing operation to form the article.
  • the method may include a subsequent heating or firing operation which hardens the formed article; when the article contains a co-polymer binder, or other binder which necessitates this operation, the heating is such as to cause curing of the binder.
  • the water content of the mixture prior to moulding is preferably controlled to be not more than 6%.
  • loading, moulding and ejection stages may be performed simultaneously such that a moulding operation is accompanied by ejection of a previously formed article and by loading of blank material ready for a subsequent moulding operation.
  • a quantity of common soil is dried, by heating and/or air flow techniques to bring its moisture content to a maximum of 6% by weight and the soil is then screened to eliminate material not having a granular size of between 15 to 210 mesh.
  • the screened material, together with a desired quantity of one or more binders is centrifuged and the resulting mixture transferred to a storage hopper which is connected by an air feeder device to an isostatic moulding press.
  • the feeder unit is controlled, conveniently by digital measuring and regulating means, to provide precise quantities cf material for delivery into the mould, resulting in the production of evenly compacted clay pigeon targets with minimum variation in shape and dimensions. The reject rate is therefore low.
  • the shape and/or dimensions of the clay pigeons produced is monitored and any sensed excessive variation in shape and/or dimension used to produce a corrective signal to adjust the quantity of material fed to the mould for subsequent moulding operations.
  • the clay pigeons are manufactured within very close tolerances and are therefore of very consistent quality.
  • the article of the present invention When the article of the present invention is in the form of a plant pot for example, it may incorporate fertilisers, nutrients and other growth accelerators for assimilation by a growing plant.
  • the mixture of main and degradable binder constituents are mixed with water to produce a doughy consistency prior to introduction into the mould and the article produced by a flow-forming process similar to that used in the formation of china-ware.

Abstract

A disposable article such as a clay pigeon shooting target is made from a main constituent material of which at least a substantial proportion is common soil, and a degradable binder which is effective to bind the particulate material into a cohesive body, but which, by degradation, permits the body to disintegrate. The body may incorporate seed for germination upon disintegration of the article in order to improve the appearance of a site upon which the article has fallen.

Description

DISPOSABLE ARTICLE AND METHOD OF MANUFACTURE
This invention relates to a disposable article and is particularly concerned with a shooting target of the kind commonly known as a "clay pigeon" which, in use, is propelled into the air by a mechanism known as a trap and fired at, usually by a shot gun. The invention also embraces other forms of article, such as a plant pot used for horticulture, as well as a method of manufacturing the disposable article.
Conventional clay pigeons are manufactured from a mixture consisting mainly of a filter such as chalk and/or limestone bound together by a bitumen based material to form a brittle body which breaks into fragments when impacted by shot and falls to the ground. This material can take years to break down and a heavily used shooting site, unless cleared regularly, rapidly becomes unsightly.
An .object of the present invention is to provide a disposable article, such as a clay pigeon, having a form and weight similar to those currently used in the sport of clay pigeon shooting, which decomposes over a relatively short period when left exposed in an outdoor location.
According to the present invention, a disposable article, such as a clay pigeon shooting target, comprises a main particulate constituent material of which at least a substantial proportion is common soil, and a degradable binder material, which is normally effective to bind the particulate material into a cohesive body but which, by degradation, permits disintegration of the body.
It will be understood that common soil consists largely of top soil and/or sub-soil.
Conveniently, the binder is such as to degrade under the action of water- and/or micro-organism activity.
Typically, the article contains approximately 70% - 80% of the main constituent material, 10% - 15% clay and 10% - 15% degradable binder.
A number of possible degradable binders are envisaged which are either water soluble or degradable by micro-organisms or both, all being of a substantially non-toxic nature.
One preferred form of degradable binder is carbohydrate-based and may conveniently be a cellulose binder, such as hydroxypropylmethyl, cellulose or a ligno-sulphonate.
A further preferred form of degradable binder is of the sugar-based type, such as sugar phosphate. Further alternative degradable binders may be starch- based or animal or vegetable gum. It would also be possible to use a polymer or co-polymer degradable binder.
A particularly advantageous form of the article, particularly when in the form of a clay pigeon shooting target, may incorporate seed, as of grass or flower for example, which may germinate upon disintegration of the article in order to improve the appearance of the site upon which the article has fallen. The seed may be subject to the action of a germination inhibitor which ensures that germination cannot occur until the seed has been released from the body and acted on by water. The article may also incorporate fertilizer to encourage seed .
From another aspect of the invention, a method of making a disposable article, such as a clay pigeon shooting target, comprises forming a mixture of a main particulate constituent material, of which at least a substantial proportion is common soil, and a degradable binder, filling a mould cavity with the mixture and performing an isostatic pressing operation to form the article.
The method may include a subsequent heating or firing operation which hardens the formed article; when the article contains a co-polymer binder, or other binder which necessitates this operation, the heating is such as to cause curing of the binder.
The water content of the mixture prior to moulding is preferably controlled to be not more than 6%.
In one convenient practical form of the method, loading, moulding and ejection stages may be performed simultaneously such that a moulding operation is accompanied by ejection of a previously formed article and by loading of blank material ready for a subsequent moulding operation.
In carrying out the method to produce a clay pigeon, a quantity of common soil is dried, by heating and/or air flow techniques to bring its moisture content to a maximum of 6% by weight and the soil is then screened to eliminate material not having a granular size of between 15 to 210 mesh. The screened material, together with a desired quantity of one or more binders is centrifuged and the resulting mixture transferred to a storage hopper which is connected by an air feeder device to an isostatic moulding press. The feeder unit is controlled, conveniently by digital measuring and regulating means, to provide precise quantities cf material for delivery into the mould, resulting in the production of evenly compacted clay pigeon targets with minimum variation in shape and dimensions. The reject rate is therefore low. Alternatively or additionally, the shape and/or dimensions of the clay pigeons produced is monitored and any sensed excessive variation in shape and/or dimension used to produce a corrective signal to adjust the quantity of material fed to the mould for subsequent moulding operations. In this way, the clay pigeons are manufactured within very close tolerances and are therefore of very consistent quality.
When the article of the present invention is in the form of a plant pot for example, it may incorporate fertilisers, nutrients and other growth accelerators for assimilation by a growing plant. In making the plant pot, the mixture of main and degradable binder constituents are mixed with water to produce a doughy consistency prior to introduction into the mould and the article produced by a flow-forming process similar to that used in the formation of china-ware.

Claims

1. A disposable article, such as a clay pigeon shooting target, comprising a main particulate constituent material, of which at least a substantial proportion is common soil, and a degradable binder material, which is normally effective to bind the particulate material into a cohesive body but which, by degradation, permits disintegration of the body.
2. A disposable article according to Claim 1, wherein the degradable binder is such as to degrade under the action of water and/or micro-organism activity.
3. A disposable article according to Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein additional binder in the form of clay is included.
4. A disposable article according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein there are present 70% - 80% of the main constituent material, 10% to 15% clay and 10% to 15% degradable binder.
5. A disposable article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the main constituent material has a granular size of 15 to 210 mesh.
6. A disposable article according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the degradable binder includes carbohydrate-based, sugar-based or starch-based material.
7. A disposable article according to any one of the preceding claims, which incorporates seed which is released for germination upon disintegration of the article.
8. A method of making a disposable article such as a clay pigeon shooting target, comprising forming a mixture of a main particulate constituent material of which at least a substantial proportion is common soil, and a degradable binder, filling a mould cavity with the mixture and performing an isostatic pressing operation to form the article.
9. A method according to Claim 8, wherein the supply of the mixture to the mould cavity is effected under controlled conditions to ensure optimum filling of the mould.
10. A method according to Claim 9, wherein the form and/or dimensions of the article are monitored and corrections applied to the mould supply in order to maintain the article within predetermined tolerance limits of said dimensions and/or form.
PCT/GB1992/000845 1991-05-10 1992-05-11 Disposable article and method of manufacture WO1992020635A1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB919110217A GB9110217D0 (en) 1991-05-10 1991-05-10 Disposable article and method of manufacture
GB9110217.8 1991-05-10

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1992020635A1 true WO1992020635A1 (en) 1992-11-26

Family

ID=10694825

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/GB1992/000845 WO1992020635A1 (en) 1991-05-10 1992-05-11 Disposable article and method of manufacture

Country Status (3)

Country Link
AU (1) AU1665492A (en)
GB (1) GB9110217D0 (en)
WO (1) WO1992020635A1 (en)

Cited By (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2722874A1 (en) * 1994-07-25 1996-01-26 Sivia Self-degrading clay pigeon targets
FR2728673A1 (en) * 1994-12-23 1996-06-28 Sivia NEW ARTIFICIAL TARGET, PARTICULARLY FOR THE BALL-TRAP GAME, NON-TOXIC TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A TARGET
ES2180389A1 (en) * 2000-08-24 2003-02-01 Santamaria Fernando Basco Fabrication of gunshot competition and training clay targets consists of hammer milling, wet pressing and drying of clay, for baking

Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2627695A1 (en) * 1975-06-20 1976-12-30 Nippon Oil Co Ltd CLAY PIGEON
DE2808782A1 (en) * 1977-03-02 1978-09-07 Ib Schreiner Hansen CLAY PIGEON AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING IT
US4623150A (en) * 1982-06-18 1986-11-18 Reagent Chemical And Research, Inc. Environmentally acceptable frangible target compositions

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
DE2627695A1 (en) * 1975-06-20 1976-12-30 Nippon Oil Co Ltd CLAY PIGEON
DE2808782A1 (en) * 1977-03-02 1978-09-07 Ib Schreiner Hansen CLAY PIGEON AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING IT
US4623150A (en) * 1982-06-18 1986-11-18 Reagent Chemical And Research, Inc. Environmentally acceptable frangible target compositions

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2722874A1 (en) * 1994-07-25 1996-01-26 Sivia Self-degrading clay pigeon targets
FR2728673A1 (en) * 1994-12-23 1996-06-28 Sivia NEW ARTIFICIAL TARGET, PARTICULARLY FOR THE BALL-TRAP GAME, NON-TOXIC TO THE ENVIRONMENT AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING SUCH A TARGET
WO1996020388A1 (en) * 1994-12-23 1996-07-04 Sivia Novel environmentally friendly artificial target, in particular for clay pigeon shooting, and method for making same
ES2180389A1 (en) * 2000-08-24 2003-02-01 Santamaria Fernando Basco Fabrication of gunshot competition and training clay targets consists of hammer milling, wet pressing and drying of clay, for baking

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9110217D0 (en) 1991-07-03
AU1665492A (en) 1992-12-30

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