The Rubber Chopper reduces bales of synthetic and natural rubber to small particles through a combination of low speed and high torque. The resulting particle size ranges between 0.5-1 inch (1.2-2.5 cm) which expedites dissolution prior to blending and compounding. Low-speed operation keeps product temperatures low, preventing melting prior to dissolution and excessive wear, as can often be seen in high-speed grinding applications.
Rubber Chopper
HIGHLIGHTS
- Low-speed high torque operation minimizes heat input while providing the power needed to grind rubber bales to crumb
- Cut-off knife assembly provides consistent control of product particle size
- The rugged heavy-duty design ensures reliable wear life and operation, minimizing unnecessary downtime
- Application-specific orifice or spoke plate design grinds bales to a consistent particle size for downstream dissolution
Rubber or polymer bales enter the feed hopper, typically by gravity from a feed conveyor. Slow rotating claw-like hammers cut into the bales, shearing them into smaller chunks. Internal adjustable anvils, or resistor bars, provide internal resistance to better control energy input which determines heat input and final particle size. The ground material continues forward to the discharge where it is forced through an orifice plate. Upon exiting, the extruded rubber is sheared by the cutoff knife assembly, producing a consistently sized granule, or crumb size. This rubber crumb often discharges by gravity directly into a dissolution tank.
Depending on the material being processed, or the downstream operations, Bepex has provided dosing equipment to meter in anti-sticking agents such as talc either in the grinding chamber or at the discharge. A specially designed hydraulic ram feeder may sometimes be necessary to force-feed bales into the grinding rotor.
The Rubber Chopper bale grinder is just one of the size reduction technologies we employ to develop industrial process systems that meet your application requirements. At Bepex, we are committed to developing the best size reduction process systems using the right technology. Between our proven industrial process equipment and decades of experience serving the industry, we are able to design a grinding solution that is right for you.
Develop a Grinding Process
Bepex has decades of experience in developing custom process systems centered around our Rubber Chopper. Contact us today to learn how we may be able to help you develop your process.
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