Method and apparatus for manufacturing latex free materials

Abstract

Apparatus and method for forming sheets, comprising a pair of drums moving a belt to define a path for curing the sheets. Uncured material, preferably polychloroprene, is put on the belt and squeezed between the drum and a roller to adjust the thickness of the layer. The drums rotate at a rate to permit the material to cure between the first and the second drum. Ovens cure the polychloroprene, which is removed at the second drum. The sheet has a thickness of from at least 0.004 inches to more than 0.25 inches. A plurality of sources supply material of at least two colors to form a sheet having stripes. Preferred sheets have an elongation to break of about 150% to about 1500%, a tensile strength of about 5 Mpa to about 50 Mpa and a modulus at 300% elongation of about 1 Mpa to about 10 Mpa.

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       27 . A method for forming sheets from uncured non latex materials, comprising the steps of: 
 depositing non latex material from a supply source of non latex material positioned on a continuous belt, said belt being supported by first and second drums under tension and having a predetermined length, said supply source being positioned to deposit said material on said belt at said first drum; first and second drums and belt    driving said belt over said first and second drums at a predetermined rate of travel;    squeezing said material with a first roller on said belt at said first drum to adjust the thickness of the layer of material on said belt;    heating said material as it is carried by said belt, said drive source moving at a predetermined rate of travel over a predetermined length, said rate and length being sufficient to cure said material; and    receiving a cured sheet from said belt.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said non latex material is a synthetic rubber.  
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , wherein said synthetic rubber is polychloroprene.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said squeezing by said roller produces a thickness of said material of from at least 0.004 inches to more than 0.25 inches.  
   
   
       31 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said first drum is at least five feet in diameter and said second drum is at least one foot in diameter, said first and second drum being spaced from each other from each other by up to one hundred fifty feet.  
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein said first drum is at least six feet in diameter and said second drum is at least two feet in diameter, said first and second drum being spaced from each other from each other by at least one hundred fifty feet.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said belt is under at least 1,000 pounds of tension.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein said belt is under at least 2,000 pounds of tension.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said supply source produces a plurality of separate sources of said liquid material on said belt.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said plurality of separate sources supply said material in at least two colors.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein said at least two colors are supplied to form a first predetermined pattern.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said supply source is moved in a direction perpendicular to the direction of travel of said belt to provide a second predetermined pattern.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein said cured sheet has an elongation to break of about 150% to about 1500%, a tensile strength of about 5 Mpa to about 50 Mpa and a modulus at 300% elongation of about 1 Mpa to about 10 Mpa.