CZ355097A3 - Process for producing products from porous polymer materials - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention is for a method for production of products from porous polymer materials and a device for practicing the method. The purpose of the present invention is to treat recycled or fresh material so that it is sterilized and bad smell is removed and that in connection therewith it is prepared in such a way that it may directly be used for production of new products. After disintegration the pieces of disintegrated material are supplied through a supply channel (12) to a treament chamber (1), wherein they are both radiated by UV light and coated with glue. The pieces so treated are removed from the treatment chamber by a conveyor (13) and are directly transferred to a second conveyor (27). Carried by the conveyor (27) the material is moved through several microwave heating chambers (33, 34, 35, 36).

Description

Technical field

The invention relates to a process for the manufacture of products from porous polymeric materials and to an apparatus for carrying out the process. The method and apparatus of the present invention are primarily intended for use in recycling a polymeric material, but may also be used for a freshly manufactured material.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A porous polymeric material is primarily a kind of material that is used for furniture, mattresses and cushions, where the polymer is a variety of polyether. In addition to the handling of very bulky products and other technical problems, the recycling of these used materials also poses particular problems that are associated with the possibility that the material may be contaminated and may cause odor or other odor. The odor may also be caused by starting components (for example, amines) which have not completely reacted during polymer processing. This is particularly important if the original products to be recycled are hospital bed mattresses, etc.

It is an object of the present invention to process recycled or fresh material so that it is sterilized and odorless, and consequently prepared so that it can be used directly to produce new products.

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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Porous polymers of low bulk density (10-50 kg / m ³ ) are used to produce the products of the process of the present invention. The starting materials are mainly mattresses, cushions, padding materials and other furniture materials. The-

starting material

unfolded

particle

l-30mm

Using a stream of air and gas, these small particles are discharged into a process chamber, where they are irradiated to sterilize and remove odor-causing components, and where they are coated with glue to join them into new products for further processing. In a second processing step, the material thus obtained is heated by microwave energy for final sterilization and, in some applications, for shaping the final products. It is preferable to irradiate with UV radiation during simultaneous coating with the adhesive, where the adhesive is supplied in the form of very small drops which do not cover the entire surface of the particles but only give a point coverage. Advantageously, the UV irradiation and the adhesive coating are carried out by the same operation in the working chamber. The use of microwave energy for post-heating has the advantage, among other things, that the energy supply takes place immediately in the material itself, thereby ensuring complete sterilization. Suitable processing conditions may be a heating time of about 3 minutes and a maximum material temperature of about 80 ° C.

Overview of the drawings

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 shows a side view of a device for using the invention, Figure 2 shows the same device from above, Figure 3 shows a section through the working chamber to illustrate the method to the section in Figure 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

After the disintegration, the particles of the decomposed material are led through the supply channel 12 to the working chamber 1, where they are both irradiated with UV radiation and dusted with glue. The particles thus processed are discharged from the working chamber by the first belt conveyor 13 and are conveyed directly to the second belt conveyor 27. By means of the second belt conveyor 27 the material passes through several microwave heating chambers 33, 34, 36, interconnected by intermediate connecting chambers 22, 38. 39. Each microwave heating chamber 22, 34, 35, 36 includes microwave transmitters 41-48. The material then passes through the end chamber 40 where it is cooled and process air is removed through air channels 49-52. During transport, the second belt conveyor 27 is the material. In the microwave-heated chambers 22, 34, 35, the material is heated and the individual particles are joined together by adhesive particles and the adhesive dries, hardens or otherwise chemically reacts. The end product thus obtained is a continuous web of porous polymeric material having the desired bulk density, which web can be divided and cut into desired shapes.

The working chamber is illustrated in more detail in Figures 3 and 4. The material is introduced into the chamber through the opening 12 and it is preferred. ······ _ Λ _ ·· ·· ·· ··· ··· ··· ··· ·· On the ceiling of the chamber are several lamps 2 to 7, which emit UV radiation. It also initiates the formation of ozone, which is involved in the process inside the chamber. The liquid adhesive is fed through the tube 11 and the spray nozzles 2, 9, 12. The supplied material falls down through the chamber 1 while being irradiated and sprayed with drops of adhesive. Adhesive spraying is adapted to cooperate with UV radiation, indicating that the apertures 2/2, 10 are located in the chamber a little lower than shown in the figures. At the bottom of the chamber is a first belt conveyor 12, the surface of which is perforated to allow air to pass. The air flows into the collecting duct 16 below the conveyor belt and away from the device. The first belt conveyor 12 is guided at a constant speed by the rollers 14 and 15 and the processed material is discharged through the opening 18, which is bounded by the upper edge 17.

A movable plastic film 21, 22 may be disposed along the larger opposing walls 19 and 20 of each chamber and may move downwardly or in steps during the process. The plastic film is fed by rollers 22 and 24 and is discharged onto rollers 25 and 26. The plastic film is made of a material on which the porous polymer and the adhesive hardly adhere, thereby preventing the material from sticking to the chamber walls. The treated material is discharged as mentioned at the bottom of the chamber and the process parameters are controlled so that a suitable amount of material is present at the lower end of the chamber and serves as a filter for the outgoing air. Advantageously, the upper edge 17 of the outlet opening 18 has been adjustable in different directions, whereby the compression and other properties of the material being discharged from the chamber can be controlled to some extent. The upper edge 17, as shown in the figures, is straight, but may also have, for example, a wavy shape. It is preferred to directly transfer the material so obtained to the next second belt conveyor 27, shown in Figures 1 and 2, for further processing in microwave heating chambers 33. 34. 35. 36. It is also possible to transport the material from the working chamber to the closed molds prior to processing in the microwave heating chambers 33, 34, 35, to obtain the shaped product.

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Claims (3)

PATENT CLAIMS A method for producing products from porous polymeric materials, characterized in that the recycled porous polymeric material is broken down into small particles, which are then exposed to ultraviolet radiation and sprayed with adhesive particles during a free fall in an air stream, then sterilized by microwave heating. energy. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the ultraviolet irradiation and the adhesive spraying take place simultaneously. Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the material is shaped and bounded into the final product simultaneously with the heating of the microwave energy. 4. A device for simultaneous irradiation and spraying of decomposed polymeric material in a chamber, characterized in that a layer of polymeric material of another kind is movably placed on at least two walls of the chamber.