U.S. patent application number 11/279876 was filed with the patent office on 2007-10-18 for biodegradable bb pellet.
Invention is credited to Ming Cherng Chou, Joe Shih-Horng Yang.
Application Number | 20070240601 11/279876 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 38603617 |
Filed Date | 2007-10-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20070240601 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Chou; Ming Cherng ; et
al. |
October 18, 2007 |
Biodegradable BB Pellet
Abstract
The invention relates to a biodegradable BB pellet and
preparation thereof.
Inventors: |
Chou; Ming Cherng; (Taoyuan,
TW) ; Yang; Joe Shih-Horng; (Monterey Park,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WPAT, PC;INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY ATTORNEYS
2030 MAIN STREET, SUITE 1300
IRVINE
CA
92614
US
|
Family ID: |
38603617 |
Appl. No.: |
11/279876 |
Filed: |
April 14, 2006 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
102/502 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F42B 6/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
102/502 |
International
Class: |
F42B 14/06 20060101
F42B014/06 |
Claims
1. A biodegradable BB pellet comprising (a) a plant fiber material
and (b) a binder.
2. The pellet of claim 1, wherein the material is selected from the
group consisting of vegetable food refuse, vegetable resin,
vegetable fiber, wood flour, rice husk, rice straw, rice bran,
wheat bran, sugar canes, bamboos, corn core and pulp.
3. The pellet of claim 1, wherein the material is vegetable
fiber.
4. The pellet of claim 1, wherein the binder is starch or a
biodegradable polymer.
5. The pellet of claim 4, wherein the binder is starch.
6. The pellet of claim 1 further comprising a diluent selected from
the group consisting of sodium sulfate, barium sulfate, calcium
carbonate, potassium carbonate, cellulose, lactose, polylactic
acid, polycaprolacton, polyhydroxybutyrate valerate and starch.
7. The pellet of claim 6, wherein the diluent is calcium
carbonate.
8. The pellet of claim 6, wherein the diluent is polylactic acid or
starch.
9. The pellet of claim 1 further comprising a lubricant selected
from the group consisting of magnesium stearate and talc.
10. The pellet of claim 1, wherein the plant fiber material and the
binder is present at a weight ratio of the plant fiber material to
the binder in the range of 100:1 to 1:100.
11. The pellet of claim 10, wherein the weight ratio is in the
range of 50:1 to 1:50.
12. The pellet of claim 6, wherein the plant fiber material and the
diluent is present at a weight ratio of the plant fiber material to
the diluent in the range of 20:1 to 1:20.
13. The pellet of claim 12, wherein the weight ratio is in the
range of 5:1 to 1:5.
14. A method of preparing a biodegradable BB tablet core comprising
mixing a plant fiber material and a binder into a mixture, and
allowing the mixture through granulation and molding.
15. A method of preparing a biodegradable BB pellet comprising
mixing a plant fiber material and a binder into a mixture, and
allowing the mixture through granulation and molding.
16. The method of claim 15 further comprising allowing the mixture
through coating and polishing.
17. The method of claim 15, further comprising allowing the mixture
through grinding and polishing.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to a biodegradable BB pellet
and preparation thereof.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The components in the current commercially available BB
pellets include plastic, steel, aluminum, or other
non-biodegradable materials. While some of them were bleached with
chlorine to make them white, other have toxic coloring or
discoloring agents added.
[0003] Wild birds and some hunted varieties have been found with BB
pellets in their stomach. Many environmentalists are urging their
local government to force individual players and groups involved in
the sport of air soft to clean up after playing unless a
certificate can be produced showing that BB pellets used are
biodegradable and non-toxic.
[0004] Currently known biodegradable BB pellets from Bioval
Technologies DI, are made of bio-resin. Such BB pellets generally
take one year to degrade in the environment. There continues to be
a need to provide a biodegradable BB pellet that degrades at a
relatively faster rate.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates to a biodegradable BB pellet
comprising (a) a plant fiber material, and (b) a binder.
[0006] The present invention also relates to a method of preparing
a biodegradable BB pellet comprising mixing a plant material and a
binder into a mixture, and allowing the mixture through (A)
granulation, and molding (tabletting), or (B) granulation, molding
(tabletting), grinding and polishing, or (C) granulation, molding
(tabletting), coating, and polishing.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 shows the dissolution rates of the BB pellets of the
present invention and Biotech 8 mm BB pellets of Marushi-kk Inc.,
Japan at the temperature of 20.about.25.degree. C. and relative
humidity of 60.about.70%. (a). BB pellets of the present invention
were placed in water for 1 hour. (b). BB pellets of the present
invention were placed in water for 24 hours. (c). Biotech 8 mm BB
pellets of Marushi-kk Inc. were placed in water for 24 hours.
[0008] FIG. 2 shows (a) the BB pellets of the present invention
before test begins, and (b) the biodegradability of the BB pellets
of the present invention after 6 days in an outdoor garden. The
weather of the 6 consecutive days were: Sunny, 20.7.degree. C.;
Raining, 14.6.degree. C.; Cloudy, 9.6.degree. C.; Cloudy,
12.4.degree. C.; Raining, 16.1.degree. C.; Sunny, 17.9.degree.
C.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention provides a biodegradable BB pellet
comprising (a) a plant fiber material and (b) a binder.
[0010] The term "plant fiber material" used herein includes but is
not limited to the following: vegetable food refuse, vegetable
resin, vegetable fiber, wood flour, rice husk, rice straw, rice
bran, wheat bran, sugar canes, bamboos, corn core and pulp. The
preferred embodiment of the plant fiber material is vegetable
fiber.
[0011] The term "binder" used herein includes but is not limited to
starch or a biodegradable polymer. The preferred embodiment of the
binder is starch.
[0012] The biodegradable BB pellets of the present invention
further comprise a diluent that is selected from the group
consisting of sodium sulfate, barium sulfate, calcium carbonate,
potassium carbonate, cellulose, lactose, polylactic acid,
polycaprolacton, polyhydroxybutyrate valerate and starch. The
preferred embodiment of the diluent is calcium carbonate,
polylactic acid or starch.
[0013] The biodegradable BB pellets of the present invention
further comprise a lubricant that is selected from the group
consisting of magnesium stearate and talc. The preferred embodiment
of the lubricant is magnesium stearate.
[0014] The general process for preparing the biodegradable BB
pellets of the present invention may include the steps of weighing,
mixing, granulation, tabletting (molding), coating (or grinding)
and polishing.
[0015] Accordingly, the present invention provides a method of
preparing a biodegradable BB pellet comprising mixing a plant fiber
material and a binder into a mixture, and allowing the mixture
through (A) granulation, and molding (tabletting), or (B)
granulation, molding (tabletting), grinding and polishing, or (C)
granulation, molding (tabletting), coating, and polishing
steps.
[0016] The coating is generally made with a coating suspension
comprising a food grade dye, a substrate additive, a dusting agent
and water.
[0017] The term "dye" used herein includes but is not limited to a
dye to show color in BB pellets.
[0018] In the preparation of the present invention, the substrate
additive includes but is not limited the following: sugar, gelatin,
acacia gum, hydroxypropyl methylcellulose, hydroxypropyl
methylcellulose-phthalate, shellac, cellulose acetate phthalate,
and hydroxypropyl cellulose.
[0019] In the preparation of the present invention, the dusting
agent includes but is not limited to the following: calcium
carbonate, talc, calcium sulfate, starch, dicalcium phosphate,
kaolin and sugar.
[0020] In the BB pellets of the present invention, a weight ratio
of the plant fiber material to the binder is in the range of 100:1
to 1:100, preferably 80:1 to 1:80, more preferably 50:1 to
1:50.
[0021] In the BB pellets of the present invention, a weight ratio
of the plant fiber material to the diluent is in the range of 20:1
to 1:20, preferably 10:1 to 1:10, more preferably 5:1 to 1:5.
[0022] In the BB pellets of the present invention, the lubricant is
present at the weight ratio of 0.1-5, preferably 0.1-2 based on the
total weight of the BB pellet.
[0023] In the coating suspension, the dye is present at the weight
ratio of 0.5-5 based on the total weight of the coating suspension.
The substrate additive is present at the weight ratio of 10-70,
preferably 10-60 based on the total weight of the coating
suspension.
[0024] In the polishing step, the process is finished by a
polishing solution comprising a polishing agent such as wax or
polyethylene glycol in a solvent selected from a group consisting
of chloroform, acetone and isopropyl alcohol. The weight ratio of
the polishing agent to the solvent is in the range of 5:1 to 1:5,
and preferably 3:1 to 1:3.
[0025] The biodegradable BB pellets of the present invention are
completely prepared using biodegradable ingredients. However, most
of the current commercial BB pellets include one or more than one
plastic materials as the ingredients. In addition, the BB pellets
of the present invention can generally degrade within 6 months,
which is much faster than that of currently known biodegradable BB
pellets (which generally take over one year to degrade).
EXAMPLES
[0026] The examples below are non-limiting and are merely
representatives of various aspects and features of the present
invention.
Example 1
Materials and Preparation Processes
[0027] A tablet formulation was prepared using the ingredients as
follows: TABLE-US-00001 Ingredient Quantity Vegetable fiber 1365 g
Calcium carbonate 910 g Polylactic acid 6 g Starch 60 g Water 800 g
Magnesium stearate 10 g
[0028] The formulation aforementioned can be changed in accordance
with the reasonable variations provided.
[0029] Preparation processes of the core tablets:
[0030] Vegetable fiber, calcium carbonate and polylactic acid were
mixed thoroughly to form a mixture (A). Starch was admixed into
water to produce a pasty solution (B) while heating. According to
the known skill of art of wet granulation (such as Leon Lachman et
al., "THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF INDUSTRIAL PHARMACY, 1986, pressed
by LEA & FEBIGER, PHILADELPHIA), the solution (B) were mixed
thoroughly with the mixture (A) which were then passed through a
No. 16 mesh U.S. sieve to produce granules (C). The granules so
produced were dried to make granules (D). Magnesium stearate was
then added to the granules (D), which, after blending, were
compressed by a tablet machine to produce a tablet based on the
current tabletting technology (such as Leon Lachman et al., "THE
THEORY AND PRACTICE OF INDUSTRIAL PHARMACY, 1986, pressed by LEA
& FEBIGER, PHILADELPHIA) under 7-14 kg/cm.sup.2 of hardness.
The weight and diameter of each tablet were 0.19 g.+-.10% and 6
mm.+-.10%, respectively.
Example 2
Preparation of BB Pellets by Coating and Polishing the Tablets
[0031] Preparation of coating suspension : 1.6 g of dye, 40 g of
sugar, 7 g of gelatin and 20 g of calcium carbonate were poured
into 32 g of water to form an uniform coating suspension.
[0032] Preparation of polishing solution: admixing 50 g of wax into
50 g of isopropyl alcohol.
[0033] The conditions of preparing the present BB pellets were at
the temperature of 20.about.60.degree. C. and at the humidity of
40.about.60%.
[0034] By using different a size of mold, the tablets with the
weight of 0.12 g.+-.10% and the diameter of 4 mm.+-.10% were made
according to the method of Example 1.
[0035] The 4 mm tablets were coated by the coating suspension
according to known coating skill in the art (such as Leon Lachman
et al., "THE THEORY AND PRACTICE OF INDUSTRIAL PHARMACY, 1986,
pressed by LEA & FEBIGER, PHILADELPHIA). The core tablets were
constantly rolled and sprayed with the suspension under dry heat.
The resulting coated tablets were polished by constantly rolling
and spraying with the polishing solution and dried by heat. The
thickness of the coating was dependent on the durations of the
suspension and polishing solution spraying processes. The longer
the duration of coating and polishing were, the thicker the coating
resulted. The pellets prepared by this process were with weight and
diameter of 0.19 g.+-.5% and 6 mm.+-.5%, respectively.
Example 3
Preparation of BB Pellets by Grinding and Polishing the Tablets
[0036] By using a different size of mold, the tablet with weight of
0.26 g.+-.10% and diameter of 8 mm.+-.10% were made according to
the method of Example 1.
[0037] The above tablets were trimmed down to 5.8 mm.+-.5% based on
the known grinding technology. Then, the ground tablets were
polished to 6 mm in diameter by the same polishing procedure in
Example 2. The pellets prepared by this process were with the
weight and diameter of 0.19 g.+-.5% and 6 mm.+-.5%,
respectively
Example 4
Comparison Test
[0038] FIG. 1 shows the dissolution rates of the BB pellets of the
present invention and Biotech 8 mm BB pellets of Marushi-kk Inc.,
Japan at the temperature of 20.about.25.degree. C. and relative
humidity of 60.about.70%. (a) BB pellets of the present invention
were placed in water for 1 hour. (b) BB pellets of the present
invention were placed in water for 24 hours. (c) Biotech 8 mm BB
pellets of Marushi-kk Inc. were placed in water for 24 hours.
[0039] The BB pellets prepared by the process of Example 2 and the
commercially available biodegradable BB pellets of Biotech 8 mm BB
made by Japan Marushi-kk Inc., as a control group, were tested over
24 hours at the temperature of 20.about.25.degree. C. and relative
humidity of 60.about.70% in water. As depicted in FIG. 1 (a), the
result showed that the BB pellets of the present invention
dissolved in one hour in water. FIG. 1 (b) shows that the dissolved
particles of the BB pellets of the present invention got smaller
over 24 hours in water. To the contrary, as depicted in FIG. 1 (c),
the BB pellets of the control group maintained an intact surface
under the same test condition over 24 hours. It demonstrated that
the biodegradability of the present BB pellets is better than that
of the control group.
Example 5
Outdoors Garden Test
[0040] The BB pellets prepared by the process of Example 2 were
tested in a regular outdoor garden under usual weather condition
(Mid-March in subtropical area). The weather condition of the 6-day
test is as follows: Sunny, 20.7.degree. C.; Raining, 14.6.degree.
C.; Cloudy, 9.6.degree. C.; Cloudy, 12.4.degree. C.; Raining,
16.1.degree. C.; Sunny, 17.9.degree. C. As depicted in FIG. 2, it
showed that the BB pellets of the present invention were degraded
on day 6 in the outdoor garden. It demonstrated that the BB pellets
of the present invention actually had significant biodegradability
in the environment under the normal weather conditions.
[0041] There have been many attempts on producing a truly
biodegradable BB pellets that would break down in less than 8-10
months without much success. The present invention of biodegradable
BB pellets not only can be degraded in a reasonable short period of
time, the materials and the metabolites are normal foods or waste
which are nontoxic to human or wildlife, and non-hazardous to the
environment.
[0042] One skilled in the art readily appreciates that the present
invention is well adapted to carry out the objects and obtain the
ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein.
The processes and methods for producing them are representative of
preferred embodiments, are exemplary, and are not intended as
limitations on the scope of the invention. Modifications therein
and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art. These
modifications are encompassed within the spirit of the invention
and are defined by the scope of the claims.
[0043] It will be readily apparent to a person skilled in the art
that varying substitutions and modifications may be made to the
invention disclosed herein without departing from the scope and
spirit of the invention.
[0044] All patents and publications mentioned in the specification
are indicative of the levels of those of ordinary skill in the art
to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are
herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each
individual publication was specifically and individually indicated
to be incorporated by reference.
[0045] The invention illustratively described herein suitably may
be practiced in the absence of any element or elements, limitation
or limitations, which are not specifically disclosed herein. The
terms and expressions which have been employed are used as terms of
description and not of limitation, and there is no intention that
in the use of such terms and expressions of excluding any
equivalents of the features shown and described or portions
thereof, but it is recognized that various modifications are
possible within the scope of the invention claimed. Thus, it should
be understood that although the present invention has been
specifically disclosed by preferred embodiments and optional
features, modification and variation of the concepts herein
disclosed may be resorted to by those skilled in the art, and that
such modifications and variations are considered to be within the
scope of this invention as defined by the appended claims.
[0046] Other embodiments are set forth within the following
claims.
* * * * *