Patent ID: 6162496
Filing Date: 2000-12-19
Classification: B01F,B05D,B27K

Abstract:
A method of mixing, comprising:moving a number of wood chips within a mixing chamber;blending water and colorant in a static liquid mixer during performance of said moving to produce a generally homogeneous liquid colorant mixture for supply to the chamber, the mixer including a cavity containing one or more internal baffles oriented to mix the water and colorant, said blending including metering colorant to the mixture with a variable rate pump responsive to a controller while maintaining a generally constant flow rate of the water to the mixture with a flow rate regulator;determining a coloring property of the wood chips;adjusting concentration of the colorant in the mixture from a first nonzero amount to a second nonzero amount in accordance with the coloring property of the wood chips, said adjusting including changing delivery rate of the colorant to the mixture with the controller;coloring at least a portion of the wood chips in the chamber by providing the mixture to the chamber during said moving; anddischarging the wood chips from the chamber.