Abstract: A process for the continuous coagulation and drying of rubber latex includes feeding the latex onto an endless conveyor belt which feeds the latex through a coagulator. A combination of microwave energy and hot air raises the temperature of the latex causing it to coagulate in a coagulation time of less than five minutes. The coagulated rubber from the coagulator is fed into a conveyor belt of a stretch unit which stretches the rubber by increasing its speed of travel. The stretched rubber is then conveyed onto the upper belt of a drying unit. The drying rubber is passed from the upper belt onto an intermediate belt and then on to a lower belt before leaving the drying unit. A combination of microwave energy and hot air in the drying unit is used to dry the rubber to a moisture content of less than 1.5%.
Type:
Grant
Filed:
August 29, 2001
Date of Patent:
October 26, 2004
Assignee:
Linatex Rubber Products SDN BHD
Inventors:
Robert Michael Stewart, Chan Pak Kuen, Ralph Nicholas Spearman, Norhisham MD Sanusi, David William Fountain