| abstract |
An apparatus for producing dried crosslinked cellulose pulp fibers comprises feeding pulp from a pulp supply 40 that has been pre-treated with a crosslinker through a feed device 60 to a drier 20 where it is combined with heated air from an air supply 90, and passed to a separation device 100 for separating the fibre from the air so that the fibre is collected in a collection device 160. Pulp supply 40 may include a first 46 and second 50 dewatering device. Feed device 60 maybe an air lock positive displacement device so that atmospheric air is prevented from entering the drier 20 and may be designed for pulp (figs 3, 4) and foam suspensions (figs 5, 6) an allows further treatment of the pulp. Separation device 100 may be coupled to a vacuum conveyer 110 having a porous screen 112 so that air and fine fiber may be extracted via fans 128, 134 to a removal device 170 but prevents larger fiber passing through the screen 112. Separation device 100 may also be a cyclone or bag house. A noise reduction device 180 may also be provided. A curing oven (320, fig 13) for the fiber, and a flash drier (340, fig 14) in association with the separation device 100 may also be provided. The fibers may be used in absorbent articles (fig 10) such as diapers, tampons, and bandages, used in concrete or plastics products (fig 11), and paper products (fig 12). |