Natural Rubber Initial Processing Machinery and Method

Abstract

An initial processing of natural raw rubber through an initial processing machine, comprising the steps of: (a) providing a coagulated latex which contains water and volatile compositions; (b) dewatering the coagulated latex through a screw-pressing process to remove free water; (c) forming a first pretreated latex material; (d) aging the first pretreated latex material through an aging process to remove water and volatile compositions; and (e) forming a final product of aged latex material. The screw-pressing process makes use of the temperature and pressure increase along the elongated channel structure. The aging process makes use of the further temperature and pressure increase of the rubber materials, together with the screwing effect of the screw-shaft component, the squeezing effect of the nozzle and additional heating at a particular location, which is around the mouthpiece of the nozzle to complete the aging process, which is energy saving, effective and efficient.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A drying machine for initial processing of natural raw rubber, comprising:
 a de-watering machine dewatering a coagulated latex, which contains water and volatile compositions, through a screw-pressing process to remove free water liquid and form a first pretreated latex material in solid form; and   an aging machine aging the first pretreated latex material through an aging process in such a manner that water and volatile compositions in gasified formed are removed due to pressure accumulation and subsequent dramatic decrease in pressure to form an aged latex, wherein the first pretreated coagulated latex is transported along an elongated channel structure of the aging machine from a first end to a second end, wherein a pressure along the elongated channel structure is increased and that, at the second end of the elongated channel structure, heat is provided such that the water and volatile compositions in the first pretreated latex material are removed while the aged latex formed has a uniform texture to produce a final product of aged latex material.   
     
     
         2 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the pressure is increased along the elongated channel structure in such a manner that when the first pretreated coagulated latex reaches the second end of the channel structure, a pressure of the first pretreated coagulated latex is increased to a sufficiently level at which a pressure requirement for aging is fulfilled. 
     
     
         3 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the heat is provided at the second end of the elongated channel structure in such a manner that the temperature requirement of aging is fulfilled while squeezing the first pretreated latex material out of the second end of the elongated channel structure. 
     
     
         4 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the coagulated latex is in form of granule. 
     
     
         5 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the coagulated latex is dewatered through mechanical vibration. 
     
     
         6 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein in the screw-pressing process, the coagulated latex is cutted, pressed and mixed while the coagulated latex is transported in the elongated channel structure from the first end to the second end thereof such that the temperature and the pressure of the coagulated latex increase while transporting from the first end to the second end of the elongated channel structure to build a pressure gradient between the first end and the second end of the elongated channel structure, so that the free water is removed through provision of the pressure gradient. 
     
     
         7 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the first pretreated latex material is cutted such that the first pretreated latex material is in form of granule. 
     
     
         8 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the first pretreated latex material is cutted such that the first pretreated latex material is in form of granule. 
     
     
         9 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein in the aging process, the first pretreated latex material is cutted, pressed and mixed while the first pretreated latex material is transported in the elongated channel structure, so that the first pretreated latex material undergoes the aging process once the pressure requirement and the temperature requirement of aging are met, thereby the water and volatile compositions in the first pretreated latex material are removed while the aged latex formed has the uniform texture. 
     
     
         10 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein in the aging process, the first pretreated latex material is cutted, pressed and mixed while the first pretreated latex material is transported in the elongated channel structure, so that the first pretreated latex material undergoes the aging process once the pressure requirement and the temperature requirement of aging are met, thereby the water and volatile compositions in the first pretreated latex material are removed while the aged latex formed has the uniform texture. 
     
     
         11 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 9 , the aged latex is cutted into pieces to increase a surface area to volume ratio to facilitate cooling, wherein the final product of aged latex material is in granular form. 
     
     
         12 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 10 , the aged latex is cutted into pieces to increase a surface area to volume ratio to facilitate cooling, wherein the final product of aged latex material is in granular form. 
     
     
         13 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein a preset additive is added to the first pretreated latex material. 
     
     
         14 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein a preset additive is added to the first pretreated latex material. 
     
     
         15 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the elongated channel structure, which is the same as the aging machine, comprises a tubular body portion having an inclined bottom surface and a flat body portion integrally extended from the tubular body portion, wherein the coagulated latex is dewatering on the tubular body portion and the first pretreated latex material is aging on said flat body portion. 
     
     
         16 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the elongated channel structure, which is the same as the aging machine, comprises a tubular body portion having an inclined bottom surface and a flat body portion integrally extended from the tubular body portion, wherein the coagulated latex is dewatering on the tubular body portion and the first pretreated latex material is aging on said flat body portion. 
     
     
         17 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 9 , wherein the elongated channel structure, which is the same as the aging machine, comprises a tubular body portion having an inclined bottom surface and a flat body portion integrally extended from the tubular body portion, wherein the coagulated latex is dewatering on the tubular body portion and the first pretreated latex material is aging on said flat body portion. 
     
     
         18 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the elongated channel structure, which is the same as the aging machine, comprises a tubular body portion having an inclined bottom surface and a flat body portion integrally extended from the tubular body portion, wherein the coagulated latex is dewatering on the tubular body portion and the first pretreated latex material is aging on said flat body portion. 
     
     
         19 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the elongated channel structure, which is the same as the aging machine, comprises a tubular body portion having an inclined bottom surface and a flat body portion integrally extended from the tubular body portion, wherein the coagulated latex is dewatering on the tubular body portion and the first pretreated latex material is aging on said flat body portion. 
     
     
         20 . The drying machine, as recited in  claim 12 , wherein the elongated channel structure, which is the same as the aging machine, comprises a tubular body portion having an inclined bottom surface and a flat body portion integrally extended from the tubular body portion, wherein the coagulated latex is dewatering on the tubular body portion and the first pretreated latex material is aging on said flat body portion.