CA2522942A1 - Artificial snow and method for making same - Google Patents
Artificial snow and method for making same Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- CA2522942A1 CA2522942A1 CA 2522942 CA2522942A CA2522942A1 CA 2522942 A1 CA2522942 A1 CA 2522942A1 CA 2522942 CA2522942 CA 2522942 CA 2522942 A CA2522942 A CA 2522942A CA 2522942 A1 CA2522942 A1 CA 2522942A1
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- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- artificial snow
- starch
- fragments
- volume
- extruded
- Prior art date
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- C—CHEMISTRY; METALLURGY
- C09—DYES; PAINTS; POLISHES; NATURAL RESINS; ADHESIVES; COMPOSITIONS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; APPLICATIONS OF MATERIALS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- C09K—MATERIALS FOR MISCELLANEOUS APPLICATIONS, NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE
- C09K3/00—Materials not provided for elsewhere
- C09K3/24—Materials not provided for elsewhere for simulating ice or snow
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Materials Engineering (AREA)
- Organic Chemistry (AREA)
- Packages (AREA)
- Extrusion Moulding Of Plastics Or The Like (AREA)
Abstract
A non-toxic, environmentally benign artificial snow product is made by extruding a mixture of starch, polyvinyl alcohol and talc to form an extruded starch product and smashing the extruded starch product into fragments. The fragments may be sorted by size. Colorant may be added to yield artificial snow flakes in various festive colors.
Description
ARTIFICIAL SNOW AND METHOD FOR MAKING SAME
Technical Field [0001] This invention relates to artificial snow which may be used, for example, for seasonal decoration, to adorn sets for theater and movie productions, and the like. The invention also relates to a method for making artificial snow.
Back r 1 O [0002] Artificial snow is used for seasonal decoration of homes and businesses as well as for standing-in for real snow in theater productions, movie sets, and the like. Artificial snow may also be used in the production of advertisements and other commercial artwork. A good artificial snow resembles natural snow in texture. Where the artificial snow will be dropped from above to simulate falling snow, it should drift downwardly in air relatively slowly in a manner that resembles the falling of natural snow.
[0003] Artificial snow is often displayed in places accessible to children and other members of the public, for example, in seasonal displays in businesses, homes and the like. The inventors have determined that there is a problem with some materials which have been used previously for artificial snow because these materials can be toxic, if ingested, and can also disturb the environment.
[0004] The inventors have identified that there is a need for a high-quality artificial snow which is environmentally benign and non-toxic.
Brief Description of Drawings 3 O [0005] In drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a production line for artificial snow according to an embodiment of the invention;
Technical Field [0001] This invention relates to artificial snow which may be used, for example, for seasonal decoration, to adorn sets for theater and movie productions, and the like. The invention also relates to a method for making artificial snow.
Back r 1 O [0002] Artificial snow is used for seasonal decoration of homes and businesses as well as for standing-in for real snow in theater productions, movie sets, and the like. Artificial snow may also be used in the production of advertisements and other commercial artwork. A good artificial snow resembles natural snow in texture. Where the artificial snow will be dropped from above to simulate falling snow, it should drift downwardly in air relatively slowly in a manner that resembles the falling of natural snow.
[0003] Artificial snow is often displayed in places accessible to children and other members of the public, for example, in seasonal displays in businesses, homes and the like. The inventors have determined that there is a problem with some materials which have been used previously for artificial snow because these materials can be toxic, if ingested, and can also disturb the environment.
[0004] The inventors have identified that there is a need for a high-quality artificial snow which is environmentally benign and non-toxic.
Brief Description of Drawings 3 O [0005] In drawings which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is a block diagram of a production line for artificial snow according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figures 2A and 2B are respectively a partially schematic elevation sectional view and a partially schematic plan sectional view of a device for making artificial snow according to an embodiment of the invention; and Figure 3 is a cross-section through a bag for packaging artificial snow.
Description [0006] The inventors have ascertained that a highly satisfactory artificial snow product that is non-toxic and environmentally benign can be 1 O made by combining the following ingredients (all percentages by volume):
~ starch 80% to 90% by volume;
~ polyvinyl alcohol 10% to 15% by volume;
~ talc 0% to 2 %2% by volume;
~ hydrogenated soy flakes 0% to 2 %Z% by volume; and ~ colorant 0% to 5% by volume.
[0007] The starch may be provided in the form of native potato starch. Native potato starch is available, for example, from Avebe Starch of Veendam, Netherlands.
[0008] The polyvinyl alcohol is preferably finely powdered. In a preferred embodiment, the polyvinyl alcohol is provided in the form of particles having diameters of approximately 10 ~,m.
[0009] Figure 1 shows an example production line 10 for making artifical snow according to one embodiment of the invention. Production line 10 has a source of starch 11, polyvinyl alcohol 12 and talc 13. These materials are mixed, for example, in an electric mixer 16, and fed into an extruder 18.
Description [0006] The inventors have ascertained that a highly satisfactory artificial snow product that is non-toxic and environmentally benign can be 1 O made by combining the following ingredients (all percentages by volume):
~ starch 80% to 90% by volume;
~ polyvinyl alcohol 10% to 15% by volume;
~ talc 0% to 2 %2% by volume;
~ hydrogenated soy flakes 0% to 2 %Z% by volume; and ~ colorant 0% to 5% by volume.
[0007] The starch may be provided in the form of native potato starch. Native potato starch is available, for example, from Avebe Starch of Veendam, Netherlands.
[0008] The polyvinyl alcohol is preferably finely powdered. In a preferred embodiment, the polyvinyl alcohol is provided in the form of particles having diameters of approximately 10 ~,m.
[0009] Figure 1 shows an example production line 10 for making artifical snow according to one embodiment of the invention. Production line 10 has a source of starch 11, polyvinyl alcohol 12 and talc 13. These materials are mixed, for example, in an electric mixer 16, and fed into an extruder 18.
[0010] Water mixture 20 is added in extruder 18 to achieve suitable extrusion of the starch mixture. In an example embodiment of the invention, the starch mixture is extruded with a water saturation of up to 13%. In this example embodiment of the invention, the extrusion is performed at 170° C and 600 psi through a 1 mm die.
[0011] The resulting extruded starch material has a crisp outer skin and an internal cellular structure that is highly porous and irregular. The extruded starch has a density of approximately 340 to 380 grams per cubic 1 O foot. The extruded starch has the form of a somewhat irregular cylindrical extrusion roughly 3/4 inch in diameter.
[0012] In some instances it is desirable to make colored artificial snow. Colored artificial snow may be used to create special visual images 1 S in theater or film productions. Colored artificial snow may also be used for seasonal decorations of various kinds. For example, pink or red snow could be used as part of Valentine's Day decorations; green artificial snow may be used for St. Patrick's Day decorations; pink, blue and yellow may be used for Easter-themed decorations; and so on.
[0013] Within a method for making artificial snow according to the invention, it is possible to add a colorant 22 to cause the artificial snow to be colored. Food coloring is a suitable non-toxic colorant. A suitably colored food coloring may be mixed with the water injected in extruder 18 during the extrusion process to cause the extruded starch product to be colored. The amount of food coloring or other colorant 22 added can be selected to achieve a desired intensity of color. The amount should not be so great as to affect adversely the texture and quality of the extruded starch product.
[0011] The resulting extruded starch material has a crisp outer skin and an internal cellular structure that is highly porous and irregular. The extruded starch has a density of approximately 340 to 380 grams per cubic 1 O foot. The extruded starch has the form of a somewhat irregular cylindrical extrusion roughly 3/4 inch in diameter.
[0012] In some instances it is desirable to make colored artificial snow. Colored artificial snow may be used to create special visual images 1 S in theater or film productions. Colored artificial snow may also be used for seasonal decorations of various kinds. For example, pink or red snow could be used as part of Valentine's Day decorations; green artificial snow may be used for St. Patrick's Day decorations; pink, blue and yellow may be used for Easter-themed decorations; and so on.
[0013] Within a method for making artificial snow according to the invention, it is possible to add a colorant 22 to cause the artificial snow to be colored. Food coloring is a suitable non-toxic colorant. A suitably colored food coloring may be mixed with the water injected in extruder 18 during the extrusion process to cause the extruded starch product to be colored. The amount of food coloring or other colorant 22 added can be selected to achieve a desired intensity of color. The amount should not be so great as to affect adversely the texture and quality of the extruded starch product.
[0014] The extruded starch product, as extruded through a lmm die, is approximately 3/4 of an inch in diameter. The material is cut into small pieces in a cutter 26, for example, approximately 2-inch long pieces.
Cutter 26 may be integrated with extruder 18. The cut material is conveyed to a storage hopper 30. The extruded starch product is allowed to cool to ambient temperature.
[0015] The extruded starch product is then processed to make artificial snow. This may be done by smashing the extruded products in 1 O smasher 32 and then sorting the resulting fragments by size in a size sorter 34. Figures 2A and 2B are views of apparatus 40 that combines the functions of a smasher 32 and a size sorter 34.
[0016] In apparatus 40, the extruded starch product is dropped into hopper 42. The extruded starch product is allowed to fall past a blunt-edged blade 46 of approximately 6 to 8 inches in diameter rotating at a speed in the range of, for example, 6,000 to 10,000 rpm. A speed of 8,500 rpm has been found to be satisfactory. As the extruded starch pieces fall past the rotating blade 46 they are smashed into small fragments. The fragments fall through a screen 50. The size of the apertures in screen 50 may be selected depending upon how coarse or fine it is desired to make the artificial snow. Larger apertures result in coarser artificial snow flakes.
Smaller apertures result in finer artificial snow flakes. The screen 50 may, for example, have apertures in the range of 3/8 of an inch to 3/4 of an inch in size. Sorting the fragments by size may comprise removing fragments that are larger than or smaller than a threshold size from the fragments.
[0017] The starch fragments fall into a channel 52. The fragments are urged along the channel 52 by a flow of air 54 delivered by a blower 3 O 56. The air carries the particles along the channel 52 to an outlet 64.
The channel 52 has a curved section 58 having a fine screen 60 around its outside periphery.
[0018] As very fine particles of starch pass the fine screen 60 they are expelled through the fine screen 60, where they can be collected at a separate outlet 62. The fine screen 60 may have apertures on the order of 1/8 of an inch in size, for example. The very fine particles which escape through the fine screen 60 may be used for specialty snow products as they will have a texture and appearance somewhat different from the coarser 1 O particles which pass by the fine screen 60 to the main outlet 64.
[0019] At the main outlet 64, the fragments of starch, which are now in a form suitable for use as artificial snow, are delivered to a packaging station 36 by a suitable conveyer, such as an auger, or the like. At the packaging station the artificial snow is packaged, either into boxes or other bulk storage containers to provide bulk artificial snow 38, or put into bags to provide packaged artificial snow 39 for the retail trade. Bagging may be performed by a suitable automatic bagging machine.
[0020] Because fine particles of artificial snow will tend to cling to surfaces that acquire static electrical charges, it is desirable to avoid the presence of any surfaces that can acquire a static electric charge. The conveyors and other apparatus in production line 10 are preferably made of metal, wood, or other materials that do not tend to acquire static charges.
2 5 Metal components are preferably grounded.
[0021] Further, it is desirable to package artificial snow in suitable non-static bags. One type of bag suitable for packaging artificial snow is shown in Figure 3. Bag 70 is a laminated bag having an outer layer 71 of 3 O protective polypropylene, an inner layer 72 of polyethylene, and an anti-static layer 73 which is electrically conductive and dissipates any static charges which might otherwise attempt to collect on the bag.
[0022] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have S been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations be considered to be part of this invention.
Cutter 26 may be integrated with extruder 18. The cut material is conveyed to a storage hopper 30. The extruded starch product is allowed to cool to ambient temperature.
[0015] The extruded starch product is then processed to make artificial snow. This may be done by smashing the extruded products in 1 O smasher 32 and then sorting the resulting fragments by size in a size sorter 34. Figures 2A and 2B are views of apparatus 40 that combines the functions of a smasher 32 and a size sorter 34.
[0016] In apparatus 40, the extruded starch product is dropped into hopper 42. The extruded starch product is allowed to fall past a blunt-edged blade 46 of approximately 6 to 8 inches in diameter rotating at a speed in the range of, for example, 6,000 to 10,000 rpm. A speed of 8,500 rpm has been found to be satisfactory. As the extruded starch pieces fall past the rotating blade 46 they are smashed into small fragments. The fragments fall through a screen 50. The size of the apertures in screen 50 may be selected depending upon how coarse or fine it is desired to make the artificial snow. Larger apertures result in coarser artificial snow flakes.
Smaller apertures result in finer artificial snow flakes. The screen 50 may, for example, have apertures in the range of 3/8 of an inch to 3/4 of an inch in size. Sorting the fragments by size may comprise removing fragments that are larger than or smaller than a threshold size from the fragments.
[0017] The starch fragments fall into a channel 52. The fragments are urged along the channel 52 by a flow of air 54 delivered by a blower 3 O 56. The air carries the particles along the channel 52 to an outlet 64.
The channel 52 has a curved section 58 having a fine screen 60 around its outside periphery.
[0018] As very fine particles of starch pass the fine screen 60 they are expelled through the fine screen 60, where they can be collected at a separate outlet 62. The fine screen 60 may have apertures on the order of 1/8 of an inch in size, for example. The very fine particles which escape through the fine screen 60 may be used for specialty snow products as they will have a texture and appearance somewhat different from the coarser 1 O particles which pass by the fine screen 60 to the main outlet 64.
[0019] At the main outlet 64, the fragments of starch, which are now in a form suitable for use as artificial snow, are delivered to a packaging station 36 by a suitable conveyer, such as an auger, or the like. At the packaging station the artificial snow is packaged, either into boxes or other bulk storage containers to provide bulk artificial snow 38, or put into bags to provide packaged artificial snow 39 for the retail trade. Bagging may be performed by a suitable automatic bagging machine.
[0020] Because fine particles of artificial snow will tend to cling to surfaces that acquire static electrical charges, it is desirable to avoid the presence of any surfaces that can acquire a static electric charge. The conveyors and other apparatus in production line 10 are preferably made of metal, wood, or other materials that do not tend to acquire static charges.
2 5 Metal components are preferably grounded.
[0021] Further, it is desirable to package artificial snow in suitable non-static bags. One type of bag suitable for packaging artificial snow is shown in Figure 3. Bag 70 is a laminated bag having an outer layer 71 of 3 O protective polypropylene, an inner layer 72 of polyethylene, and an anti-static layer 73 which is electrically conductive and dissipates any static charges which might otherwise attempt to collect on the bag.
[0022] While a number of exemplary aspects and embodiments have S been discussed above, those of skill in the art will recognize certain modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations thereof. It is therefore intended that all such modifications, permutations, additions and sub-combinations be considered to be part of this invention.
Claims (6)
1. ~~A non-toxic, environmentally benign artificial snow comprising fine fragments of a material extruded from a mixture comprising:
starch 80% to 90% by volume;
polyvinyl alcohol 10% to 15% by volume;
talc 0% to 2 %2% by volume;
hydrogenated soy flakes 0% to 2 1/2% by volume; and~
colorant 0% to 5% by volume.
starch 80% to 90% by volume;
polyvinyl alcohol 10% to 15% by volume;
talc 0% to 2 %2% by volume;
hydrogenated soy flakes 0% to 2 1/2% by volume; and~
colorant 0% to 5% by volume.
2. ~~An artificial snow material according to item 1 comprising a colorant.
3. ~~An artificial snow material according to item 2 wherein the colorant is a food coloring.
4. ~~A method for making artificial snow comprising:
extruding a mixture comprising starch, polyvinyl alcohol and talc to yield an extruded product;
smashing the extruded product into fragments; and sorting the fragments by size.
extruding a mixture comprising starch, polyvinyl alcohol and talc to yield an extruded product;
smashing the extruded product into fragments; and sorting the fragments by size.
5. ~~An apparatus comprising any new and useful feature, combination of features or sub-combinations of features described~
herein.
herein.
6. ~~A method comprising any new, inventive step, act, combination of steps and/or acts or sub-combination of steps and/or acts described herein.
Priority Applications (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2522942A CA2522942C (en) | 2005-10-07 | 2005-10-07 | Artificial snow and method for making same |
| CA2562818A CA2562818C (en) | 2005-10-07 | 2006-10-06 | Artificial snow and method for making same |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2522942A CA2522942C (en) | 2005-10-07 | 2005-10-07 | Artificial snow and method for making same |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2522942A1 true CA2522942A1 (en) | 2007-04-07 |
| CA2522942C CA2522942C (en) | 2013-07-16 |
Family
ID=37912336
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2522942A Active CA2522942C (en) | 2005-10-07 | 2005-10-07 | Artificial snow and method for making same |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2522942C (en) |
-
2005
- 2005-10-07 CA CA2522942A patent/CA2522942C/en active Active
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2522942C (en) | 2013-07-16 |
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| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request |