Process and apparatus for forming a thin-walled elastomeric article

Abstract

A process for making thin-walled elastomeric articles. The process includes the steps of electrostatically spraying charged particles of an elastomeric composition into a chamber containing a rigid shaped former having an earthed conductive surface whereby the charged particles of the composition are attracted to the conductive surface of the former to form a coating of the composition thereon, consolidating the coating to produce the thin-walled article on the former, and stripping the article from the shaped former. The process according to the present invention can be used to produce condoms, surgical gloves, and other thin-walled articles having a thickness typically in the range of 20 to 200 microns, and more preferably 40 to 100 microns. Using the invention, it is possible to make thin-walled articles with a uniform thickness, even when the shape of the article is quite complex.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.