Kobe Steel develops high performance
6-wing rotor for rubber mixers
TOKYO (September 10, 1998) -- Kobe Steel, Ltd. has developed a 6-wing rotor for rubber mixers that is 20% more productive than current 4-wing rotors.
Japan's Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. and two major overseas tire manufacturers have already placed orders for the new rotors. The 6-wing rotors can also be used by industrial rubber manufacturers and custom compounders.
"We believe the new rotors will become widely adopted as users recognize their high performance and value," said Yoshio Ikegami, general manager of the Industrial Machinery Department. "The higher efficiency of the rotors will enable companies to mix a greater quantity of rubber compounds faster and better than before," he said.
The new rotor utilizes a design concept called Various Clearance Mixing Technology (or VCMT), whereby the tip clearance of the rotor changes along the length. The rotor design is under patent application in Japan and overseas. Tip clearances in conventional rotors, on the other hand, follow a continuous curve.
The biggest advantage of the new 6-wing rotor design is improved productivity, about 20% higher in comparison to 4-wing rotors. The improved perfomance is due to good"pulling" ability of the material into the chamber, which leads to shorter ram down time, and shorter mixing cycles.
Batch quality is high owing to efficient mastication and low Mooney viscosity. In trial tests, high carbon black and rubber compound dispersion contributed to uniform quality.
Compatability with current BB mixers is another attractive feature. BB mixers that currently use 4 WH and 4WH Mark II rotors can also use the new 6-wing rotors. An ideal time to change to the new rotors is when the mixers are overhauled. Conversely, users may wish to purchase the rotors preinstalled in new BB mixers.
Background Information
BB Mixers
Kobe Steel is regarded as Japan's top manufacturer of rubber mixers, and the BB series are the most popular batch mixers in the rubber processing industry. These mixers have chamber sizes ranging from 63 to 365 liters, enabling users to find the machine most suitable for their needs.
# # # For more information, please contact:
Gary I. Tsuchida
Publicity Dept.
Kobe Steel, Ltd.
Tokyo, Japan
fax +81 3 5252 7961
tel +81 3 3218 6055
e-mail www-admin@kobelco.co.jp
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