Postashalum stone, method for preparing same and its use

EP 0157736 B1

CLAIMS
1. Process for the manufacture of a potash alum stone from a block of alum, characterized in that it consists of extracting a cylindrical core from the block. 2. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the core is cut up in slices, each slice is a stone, the angles formed by the cut surfaces and the cylinder wall are rounded. 3. Process according to claim 1, characterized in that the core is cut out of the block using a core drill which has the form of a hollow cylinder generated by revolution. 4. Process according to claim 3, characterized in that the core drill is a diamond crown core bit. 5. Process according to claim 3, characterized in that the core drilling takes place in liquid, the liquid being injected under pressure through an axial opening into the core drill.

DESCRIPTION
The present invention relates to a method of obtaining a potash alum stone of a particular form. Alums are obtained by a mixture, in specific proportions of hot solutions of aluminum sulphate and potassium sulphate or ammonium. On cooling, the alums crystallize mass. Alum, under the action of heat, melt in their water of crystallization. The applications are many alums in various fields. In particular, they are used in medicine pharmacy for their astringent and antiseptic properties as gargles, toothpastes, sweatband, etc.. For use in these areas, alums are presented dissolved in a liquid, or powder, or crystallized in block. The present invention relates exclusively to potash alum crystallized mass. For its marketing and effective use potash alum crystal mass is crushed into pieces of 0.02 to 5 kg. For external body care, potash alum is most often presented in the form of small rectangular or square blocks called "alum stones" whose weight varies between 50 and 300 grams depending on the size data. These small alum blocks are obtained by sawing from a big alum block crystallized mass weighing between 500 and 5000 kg. Then a trimming or grinding edges and corners give them final form free of sharp edges can injure the skin. As a rectangular stone alum twelve edges and eight corners, the trimming operation necessarily takes a lot of time and greatly increases the manufacturing cost can be up to 90% of the cost of the finished product. Used as deodorant other hand, alum stones are primarily intended to be rubbed armpit that have rounded shapes.The rectangular shape generally given to stones so poorly adapted to the anatomy of the body.

The object of the invention is to provide a manufacturing method of a rational and economical alum stone which has a well adapted to be rubbed underarm form, the method is particularly intended for the production of small blocks of alum a weight of 0.05 to 5 kg. The manufacturing method, described in claim 1, aims to achieve a styptic primarily noteworthy in that its general form is that of a cylinder. In a preferred embodiment, the stone has the general shape of a cylinder of revolution.According to this embodiment, the stone has a disc shape. Preferably, the angles of this disc are cut. Various embodiments of the method are described in claims 2 to 5. The shape of the stone is particularly well suited to use as a deodorant. The drawings illustrate, by way of example, a product obtained by the method, and a method for its manufacture. In this drawing: o o o - The fi j. 1 shows a conventional stone parallelepiped shape obtained by cutting according to a known prior art; - Fig. 2 shows an example implementation of the manufacturing process according to the invention to obtain a styptic; - Fig. 3 is a styptic cylindrical form obtained by the method according to the invention.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional alum one stone. This stone is obtained from an alum block by cutting with a band saw, using a technique known in the prior art. The shape of the stone thus obtained is preferably rectangular, because it is the most rational use of this process. The two edges and corners 3 stone 1 are then trimmed, for example by grinding, to avoid injury or discomfort that may result from skin contact asperities having a sharp angle. The rectangular shape of the stone is linked to its manufacturing process. The trimming of the twelve edges and eight angles associated with this form requires a lengthy and costly additional operation. This process can be greatly simplified by using the manufacturing method according to the invention. An essential phase of the proposed method is shown in Fig. 2. It is cut from a block of alum May 1 carrot not shown using a tool, which, in this example, is a hollow drill 6 by a known technique in other industries. This drill has a base 7 shaped disc with, on one side, a fastening means 8 and, on the other side, a hollow cylinder 9 having an axis of symmetry yy ', which is also an axis of symmetry of the drill 6. The attachment means 8 may be provided, for example, a thread 10 for attaching the drill to a rotary machine for printing not shown to the drill rotational movement about the axis AA '. Fig. 2 the bit 6 is shown in a position where it has already penetrated deeper into the box 5. Part of Block 5 located inside the cylinder 9 is the core in which the stones are cut and, in this figure has been removed

to show the form of the free end of the cylinder 9, opposite the disc base 7. The circumference of the end of the cylinder 9 is a diamond crown able to begin the alum block. 12 slots are used, defining teeth 13. If bit 6 is set into rotation and a force against the support block 5, it will penetrate into the block by using a diamond crown which will remove the material. This machining may be facilitated and accelerated by working the drill in the presence of a liquid, for example water, thereby cooling the tool and avoid melting of alum as a result of the heat, and discharging the removed material. It is advantageous to use pressurized water coming inside the drill 6, as shown in Fig. 2, an axial hole 11 passing through the base 7 and the fastening means 8. The water escapes through the slots 12, taking with it the material removed. Once the drill has completely penetrated 6 in block 5, the machining of the core is completed. Carrot thus obtained in the form of a cylinder of revolution. It is possible to use it as is, in stick form. It is best to cut the carrot slices in parallel, for example flat and perpendicular to the generators of the cylinder, by known means, such as sawing a bandsaw, for practical form stones. The sawing operation, which is done for six sides using the traditional technique, is reduced by one step. On the other hand, when the stones are thus obtained in the form of washers having only two edges in the exclusion of any other angle. The operation of trimming other angles is thus eliminated. As for trimming the edges, the operation is greatly simplified, since it affects only two edges instead of twelve. The largest part of the cost of alum stone obtained by sawing using the traditional technique residing in its extraction and finishing, the present invention provides a weight advantage. The stone shown in Fig. 3 shows the shape of a cylindrical ring of revolution whose edges 16 were cropped to remove all sharp edges can injure the skin. The rounded shape of the stone is well suited to the anatomy of the axilla, thus facilitating its use as a body deodorant.