A rubber calender is of great significance in rubber processing. The details are as follows:
- Types
- Two-Roll Calender: Comprises two parallel rollers with independent drive and adjustment systems. It is mainly used for simple rubber sheet calendering and mixing, suitable for small-scale production and laboratory research.
- Three-Roll Calender: Has three rollers, often arranged in an inverted T or triangle. It offers higher pressure and better thickness control, used for manufacturing medium-thickness rubber sheets and compounds.
- Four-Roll Calender: Consists of four rollers in a Z or inverted L shape. This design enables multiple calendering passes, providing high pressure and precision for producing ultra-thin, high-quality rubber sheets.
- Structure
- Host: Consists of components like the frame, rollers, bearings, roll gap adjustment device, and drive system. The frame is usually made of steel or cast iron, providing stable support. The rollers, made of wear-resistant materials such as steel or carbide, are the core components for calendering.
- Auxiliary Machines: Include the feeding system, pre-linkage device, post-linkage device, and heating/cooling unit. They are responsible for tasks such as material supply, pretreatment, and post-treatment.
- Control System: Precisely controls process parameters like temperature, pressure, and roller speed to ensure product quality consistency.
- Working Principle
- Feeding: The rubber material, with appropriate temperature and plasticity, is fed between the rotating rollers.
- Pressing and Shaping: Due to the rotation of the rollers and the decreasing distance between them, the rubber is strongly squeezed and stretched, forming a sheet.
- Finishing: The calendered rubber sheet may undergo further treatment such as cooling, embossing, or winding through the auxiliary equipment.
- Applications
- Tire Industry: Used for calendering rubber sheets for tire production, as well as applying rubber to textile and steel cord fabrics.
- Footwear Industry: Processes rubber sheets for shoe soles and uppers, and can also create textured surfaces.
- Rubber Products Manufacturing: Produces various rubber products like rubber belts, hoses, and seals.
