Abstract: Acrylate-based pressure-sensitive adhesives are produced by a process in which a liquid, polymerizable monomer composition containing at least one acrylate monomer is placed in a closed reaction vessel, deaerated and the monomer(s) are polymerized by exposure to ionizing radiation such as gamma irradiation. The process allows for the direct production of low-solvent or solventless acrylate-based adhesives suitable for application by hot-melt techniques.

Abstract: In a canister handling system, a canister dumper has pentagonally arranged rows of holders on a structure which is rotatable about a horizontal axis for indexing the rows of holders from a vertical position, where the canisters are loaded, through two steps to a canister content unloading station where the contents are gravity unloaded, and then through a canister unloading station where the canisters are dropped from the holders. The canisters include vertical ribs defining an enlarged outside diameter which interlocks with curved carrier walls to retain the canisters on carriers.

Abstract: Carriers, after being loaded with product to be irradiated, are transported by an input-output conveyor system into an irradiation chamber where they are received in a horizontal arrangement on racks which may support different sizes and numbers of carriers. The racks are moved by a chamber conveyor system in an endless rectangular path about a radiation source. Packers shift the carriers on the racks to maintain nearest proximity to the radiation source. The carriers are shifted in position on each rack during successive rack cycles to produce even radiation exposure. The carriers may be loaded singly onto successive racks during a first cycle of movement thereof about the source, with loading of additional carriers, and/or unloading of carriers, onto each rack occurring on subsequent rack cycles of movement.