Title of Invention	"A FERMENTOR".
Abstract	This invention relates to an apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product comprising an autoclave (2) connected to a cooling assembly (8) through a. fermentor (3), and a mixing plant (23) connected to a distillation assembly (25) with mechanical chain drive (24) through a steam generation assembly (27 and 28).

Full Text

FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to an apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product. This invention comprises a fermentor with necessary processing attachments like mixing plant, packaging unit etc. for preparation of bioinoculums like biofertilizer, biopesticides or any microbial bio-product. PRIOR ART Bioinoculums are required to be applied over a wide area as a biofertilizer or biopesticide agents and require mass production at cheaper prices using inexpensive raw materials. The developed countries like India face a lot of difficulties in producing such bioinoculums. Fermentors for producing bioinoculums are as such known in the art and the device comprises a fermentor only for fermenatation purposes. There are certain disadvantages associated with the prior art One of the main disadvantage is that the product is exposed to the environment after the fermentation and thus the contamination takes place. Another disadvantage associated with the conventional fermentor and the process is that microbial inoculums are prepared separately and later mixed with carrier and packaged in open environment, therefore the possibility of the contamination of the microbial product is very high. OBJECTS OF PRESENT INVENTION Therefore the main object of this invention is to provide an apparatus comprising a fermentor with all necessary attachments for preparation of bio-inoculums like biofertilizer, biopesticides, and other microbial bio-products wherein the process obviates the disadvantage associated with the conventional process/apparatus. Another object of this invention is to provide an apparatus for preparation of bio-inoculums wherein all processing steps of mixing of microbial inoculums and carrier for the preparation of biofertilizer/biopesticides and packaging of the product etc. are done automatically by the apparatus of the invention, under sterile condition and thus the contamination of the product is completely avoided. Still another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which enables preparation of bioinoculums in an economical way. Further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus that does not require any skilled manpower or any sophisticated laboratory equipment. Still further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus wherein local resources can be used in place of standard chemical media required in conventional fermentor. Yet further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus which is eco-friendly as it uses simple water cooling tower attached to fermentor in place of conventional artificial refrigeration system. STATEMENT OF INVENTION According to this invention there is provided an apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product comprising an autoclave (2) connected to a cooling assembly (8) through a fermentor (3), and a mixing plant assembly (23) connected to a distillation water assembly (25) with mechanical chain drive system (24) through a steam generation assembly (27 and 28). SUMMARY OF INVENTION According to this invention there is provided an apparatus comprising an autoclave mounted on a frame for pre and proper sterilization of the fermentor as well as the fermenting media, a fermentor mounted on said frame being provided for facilitating the fermentation of the media, microbial product or micro organism, a mixing plant mounted on said frame being provided for facilitating the mixing of the ingredients therein to provide a homogeneous mixture, a cooling tower mounted on the said frame being provided for cooling said fermentor by circulating cold water in the jacket surrounding the fermator, a distilled water plant mounted on said frame being provided for supplying distilled water to mixture in said mixing plant, a steam generator mounted on said frame being provided for sterilizing said mixture, and ultra violet packaging chamber being provided below said mixer for packaging the product under the sterile condition. Thus all the process steps are performed continuously and automatically and without exposing the product/ingredients to the environment till the final product is packaged. DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES The invention of the present invention will now be illustrated with an accompanying drawing. It is to be noted that the figures illustrates an embodiment of the present invention. The figures are not intended to be taken restrictively to imply any limitation on the embodiment of the present invention. In the accompanying figures:- Fig 1: shows the lay out of the apparatus of the present invention; Fig 2: shows the process flow chart for preparation of bioinoculums. DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION W.R.T. DRAWINGS Referring to fig.l which shows the overall apparatus of the present invention, the apparatus of the present invention, has an autoclave (2) mounted on frame (1). About 15 litre of water is kept in this autoclave at around 120°C for about half an hour. A fermentor (3) is mounted on the same frame (1) but at a level lower than the autoclave (2). The hotwater from this autoclave (2) is transferred to fermentor (3) via transfer valve (4) and flow meter (5). This hotwater is kept in fermentor (3) for about 3 hours for proper sterilisation of fermentaer (3) and is thereafter decanted. Growth medium separately prepared, is first subjected to sterilisation in autoclave (2) at about 120°C for about 20 minutes and is then passed into the fermentor (3). A stirrer (6) having motor (7) at its upper end, is disposed within the said fermentor (3). The medium in the fermentor (3) is cooled with a cooling system which consists of cooling tower (8) mounted on the same frame (1) (extension of frame (1) not shown in figure) but at a level higher than the level of fermentor (3). This cooling tower (8) provides cold water supply to the cooling jacket (9) provided around the fermentor (3) for cooling the medium contained in fermentor (3). The cooling tower (8) is fitted with water circulating motor (36) which circulates water through inlet (37) and outlet (38). The pH temperature and airflow are controlled with the help of pH meter (10) having a sensor, temperature controller (11) and stirrer (6) respectively. The starter culture (5% inoculum rate) and antifoaming agent are added to the media in the fermenter (3) through an inlet valve (12). The level of medium is indicated by the media level indicator (13). The mixture is allowed to render for proper incubation. The dissolved oxygen of the fermenting medium is checked intermittently with the help of dissolved oxygen meter (14). The sundried carrier material is passed through 100-200 mesh sieves and is then mixed with finely powder calcium carbonate (Ca CO3) to get requisite pH and is finally loaded in carrier containers (15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22). The carrier material is transferred into the mixing plant (23) by mechanical chain drive system (24). Before transfer into the mixing plant (23), the carrier material is mixed with distilled water at the carrier position (24). The distilled water is prepared by the distillation assembly (25) which is mounted on the same frame (1) (not shown in fig) but at a higher level and is fitted with heating element (43). The carrier material is mixed with distilled water from distillation assembly (25) to attain 10% moisture. The distilled water from distillation assembly (25) is also passed to water pre-heating chamber (27) through water tap (26). The pre-heated water is then passed into steam generator (28) where it is heated to generate steam. The float valve (29) and (30) regulate the inflow of water into the pre-heating chamber (27) and steam generator (28) respectively. The steam from steam generator (28) is passed through steam line (31) to the mixing plant. The carrier material is thus steam sterilised for about 90 minutes for three successive days. The cooling of the carrier material is achieved by cold water supply through water cooling line (32). The inculum from fermenter (3) is withdrawn through titre test valve (33) to check the litre value. After ascertaining the attainment of requisite titre valve, the inoculum is added to the mixing plant through flow meter (35), to the extent of l/3rd of the water holding capacity of the carrier. The blending is done by thorough mixing of inoculum and sterilised carrier in the mixing plant (23) wherein the blade assembly (42) is driven by electric three phase motor (34). After mixing the carrier material with inoculum, the mixture is kept for about 24 hours for curing. The mixture of inoculum and carrier material is then withdrawn from mixing plant (23) by mechanical outlet drive system (39), into the trolley (40) placed in UV chamber (41) where packaging is done under sterilised condition by a sealing machine. Thereafter the inoculants are incubated for about a week at the temperature which is congenial for the growth of the organisms. During this period, the bacteria are allowed to multiply so as to reach the required standard. The packets are stored in a cold storage room at temperature preferably between 4°C and 7°C from where they are distributed as required. It is to be noted that the apparatus of the present invention is susceptible to modifications, adaptations, changes by those skilled in the art. Such variants of the apparatus, embodying the concepts and features of the present invention are intended to be within the scope of the present invention, which is further set forth under the following claims:- WE CLAIM 1. An apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product comprising an autoclave (2) connected to a cooling assembly (8) through a fermentor (3), and a mixing plant assembly (23) connected to a distillation water assembly (25) with mechanical chain drive system (24) through a steam generation assembly (27 and 28). 2. An apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product as claimed in claim 1 wherein said fermentor (3) is provided with a stirrer (6) rotated by motor (7), pH meter (10), dissolved oxygen meter (14), inlet (12), media level indicator (13), and temperature controller (11) surrounded by a water cooling jacket (9). 3. An apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein said autoclave (2) is connected to the fermentor (3) by a transfer valve (4) and flow meter (5). 4. An apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said cooling assembly comprises a cooling tower (8) fitted with a circulating motor (36) to circulate water in the jacket (9) through inlet line (37) and outlet line (38). 5. An apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said mixing plant assembly has blade assembly (42) rotated by motor (34) and provided with inlet for transfer of inoculums from the fermentor (3) through a titre tester (33) and a flow meter (35). 6. An apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said distillation water assembly comprises a container (25) fitted with heating element (43) and a convey means (44) to supply water to carriage container assembly which is further provided with a convey means (45) to supply water to said pre-heating chamber (27). 7. An apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product as claimed in claim 6 wherein said carriage container assembly comprising of carriage containers (15-22) rotating with mechanical chain drive system (24). 8. An apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product as claimed in any of the preceding claims wherein said steam generation assembly comprises a water pre-heating chamber (27) fitted with float valve (29) and steam generator (28) fitted with float valve (30), wherein the assembly is further connected to a line (31) for supply of steam from steam generator (28) and line (32) for supply of cold water to the mixing plant (23) 9. An apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product as claimed in any of the preceding claims comprising a UV chamber (41) having UV lights (46,47) and containing a trolley (40) to receive final product from the mixing plant (23), wherein the chamber is further provided with a sealing machine for packaging of the final product. 1.0. An apparatus for preparation of microbial bio-product substantially as herein described and illustrated.

Documents:

1244-del-2001-abstract.pdf

1244-del-2001-claims.pdf

1244-del-2001-correspondence-others.pdf

1244-del-2001-correspondence-po.pdf

1244-del-2001-description (complete).pdf

1244-del-2001-drawings.pdf

1244-del-2001-form-1.pdf

1244-del-2001-form-18.pdf

1244-del-2001-form-2.pdf

1244-del-2001-form-3.pdf

1244-del-2001-form-4.pdf

1244-del-2001-gpa.pdf

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