Apparatus and method for volumetric reduction of polymeric material

Abstract

The present invention is an apparatus and method for volumetric reduction of polymeric material and in particular synthetic polymeric textile materials. Such materials are typically used in hospital operating rooms and have material memory meaning that they re-expand after compression. Consequently they are difficult to process as waste material. The present invention is a method and apparatus for thermally compacting a polymer comprising a first and second heated surface inclined downwardly towards each other and providing with a passage at their lower ends through which melted polymeric material may pass.

1 . A thermal compacting apparatus for thermally compacting polymeric products comprising a first and second heated surface inclined downwardly towards each other and provided with a passage at their lower ends through which melted polymer may drain. 
     
     
         2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a receiver disposed in a receiving zone for receipt of melted polymer material from the passage. 
     
     
         3 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  comprising a heating element for supplying heat to the receiver. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus according to  claim 2  further comprising a cooling arrangement for cooling the receiver. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus according to  claims 3  and  4 , wherein the heating element and cooling arrangement are integrated to provide an optional heating or cooling surface for heating or cooling the receiver. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus according to  claim 4 , wherein the cooling arrangement includes a heat exchange unit and heat transfer arrangement in fluid communication, wherein heat from the receiver and/or the heating element is transferred to the heat transfer arrangement. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus according to  claim 6 , wherein an expansion tank is positioned intermediate the heat exchange unit and heat transfer arrangement and in fluid communication with both the heat transfer arrangement and the heat exchange unit. 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the passage comprises a longitudinal length and a width, where the width is in the range 15 mm to 75 mm. 
     
     
         9 . An apparatus according to  claim 3 , comprising a cooling zone remote from the heating zone and a transfer arrangement for transferring the receiver to the cooling zone. 
     
     
         10 . An apparatus according to any  claim 1 , wherein the first heated surface is inclined at less than 45 degrees to a vertical axis, and preferably wherein the second heated surface is inclined at less than 45 degrees to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the first heated surface is inclined to a vertical axis of between 25 degrees and less than 45 degrees, and preferably wherein the second heated surface is inclined to the vertical axis between 25 degrees and less than 45 degrees. 
     
     
         12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first heated surface is inclined at an angle of between 25 and 45 degrees to a vertical axis and preferably wherein the second heated surface is inclined at an angle of between 25 and 45 degrees to a vertical axis. 
     
     
         13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and preferably the second heated surfaces are arranged to be heated to a temperature in the range 250° C. to 210° C., and more preferably between 275° C. and 295° C. and even more preferably at substantially 285° C. 
     
     
         14 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and preferably the second heated surfaces include at least one heating element. 
     
     
         15 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the temperature profile of the first and/or the second heated surfaces increases towards the passage. 
     
     
         16 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and preferably the second heated surfaces are provided by printed circuit board plate heaters. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the lower end(s) of the first and preferably second heated surfaces include an insulating material for reducing the rate of cooling of the first and preferably second heated surfaces. 
     
     
         18 . Apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the first and preferably the second heated surfaces are formed with a coating thereon to assist transfer of material thereover. 
     
     
         19 . An apparatus according  claim 1 , including a monitoring and recording arrangement for monitoring and recording first and preferably second heated surface temperatures and preferably dwell time of melted material transferred through the passage. 
     
     
         20 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a housing for accommodating the first and second heated surfaces, the housing in fluid communication with a filter arrangement for filtering gases received from the housing, the apparatus further comprising a condenser arrangement positioned intermediate the housing and filter arrangement. 
     
     
         21 . A method of thermally compacting polymeric materials comprising the steps of introducing polymeric material into a heating zone defined between first and second heated surfaces inclined downwardly towards each other and being provided at their lower ends with a passage through which polymeric material may drain.