Integrated elastomeric article manufacturing system and process

Abstract

Described are systems, devices, and methods for stripping a formed thin film elastomeric article such as a latex or synthetic polymer medical or surgical glove from a mold, inverting the article, and transferring and securing the inverted article to a mandrel for further on-line processing, integrating dip forming and off-line surface treatment processes into a single, continuous on-line process. The system can include a stripping apparatus including an actuation device for peeling the article from the mold and inverting the article, and a donning device to receive the inverted article. The system may position the article about a mandrel of the donning device. The mandrel may expand or separate to engage the interior of the inverted article to securely hold the article on the mandrel. The donning device may be coupled to a continuous loop conveyor chain to carry the donning device and the mounted article through on-line secondary processing.

1 . A method for stripping and inverting an elastomeric article from a mold with a stripping and inverting mechanism and re-donning the elastomeric article on a second mechanism for secondary online processing. 
     
     
         2 . A method for stripping and inverting an elastomeric article of  claim 1 ; wherein the stripping and inverting mechanism comprises a stripping apparatus that comprises a cuff rolling device and a roll-back device. 
     
     
         3 . A method for stripping and inverting an elastomeric article of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the second mechanism comprises a donning device; and   wherein the donning device comprises at least one mandrel.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the mold is a former. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein stripping and inverting mechanism comprises a stripping device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the stripping device comprises at least one mechanical arm. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the stripping device comprises at least two mechanical arms. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the stripping device comprises one or more gripping members. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the stripping apparatus comprises a lifting device. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the stripping apparatus comprises an actuation device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the mandrel has at least one holding member. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the roll-back device of the system further comprises air nozzles.