Apparatus for the continuous production of polymers and copolymers of water-soluble monomers

In an apparatus for the continuous production of polymers and copolymers of water-soluble monomers, if desired with additional comonomers, said production of polymers and copolymers comprising producing polymer gel strands by polymerization of an aqueous monomer solution optionally containing catalysts and/or photoinitiators, the monomer solution being applied in a layer at least one centimeter thick on a moving endless conveyor belt and thereafter polymerized, the apparatus comprising an endless moving conveyor belt having an upper and lower run, an upper surface, and side edges, an endless conveyor means, at least two guide rollers for the conveyor belt, at least one of which guide rollers is driven and one of which is adjustable, horizontal conveyor belt support elements, and optionally a dispensing means for delivering to the upper surface of the conveyor belt a stretched separation sheet capable of being carried along with the conveyor belt, and a delivery and metering means for the monomer solution, as well as optionally irradiating means, which irradiating means is located upstream of the dispensing and metering means, cooling and heating means, and a removal means for the polymer gel strand formed, which removal means is located adjacent to the guide roller or guide rollers for the conveyor belt, wherein the improvement comprise, (a) upwardly extending support elements (14) on both sides of the conveyor belt (2) in the region of the upper run (21) of the conveyor belt (2), beginning in the region of the dispensing and metering means (1), the upwardly extending support elements (14) having axes (140) intersecting one another at a point below the upper run (21) of the conveyor belt, the side edges of the conveyor belt being vertically supported by the upwardly extending support elements (14) thereby forming a trough shape across the width of the conveyor belt and (b) at least one pressure-roller (44, 45), upstream of the dispensing and metering means (1) to prevent backflow of the monomer solution, said pressure-roller (44, 45) having the profile of the trough formed in the conveyor belt run (21), being adjacent to the upper surface thereof and being located parallel to the horizontal support elements.