Comet Automation Systems Inc. is bringing its honeycomb-rotor drying technology to molders of polycarbonate optical discs and lenses.
The honeycomb is a ceramic fiber impregnated with silica gel. The material is mounted inside a rotor that continuously turns at a slow speed, to absorb and remove moisture from air moved through by a blower. The rotor then moves through regeneration and cooling zones before moving into place to pick up more moisture.
Dayton, Ohio-based Comet is marketing its SAN honeycomb dryer as faster and more consistent than desiccant drying, without the spikes in temperature and dew point. Honeycomb dryers also have a service life of up to 15 years, compared with desiccant dryers, where the dessicant must be replaced about every two years, according to Comet.
The honeycomb is the only moving part on the dryer.
“This will be the first alternative-type dryer for optical discs,” sales manager Sam Rajkovich said in an interview at Comet's headquarters.
Rajkovich said drying is important to makers of lenses, compact discs and DVDs because moisture can cause blurring on the optical part.
Comet said it has sold more than 2,000 of the honeycomb dryers since introducing the unit in 2001.
In other news, Comet introduced a small, lightweight compressed-air dryer for consistent drying of colors and other additives.
The Micro ADS (for additive drying system) makes color changes easier when molding smaller parts.
The design makes it easy to remove a color from the dryer or pull off one unit and replace it with another one with a different color, the firm said.
Tel. (937) 296-9166, fax (937) 296-9069, e-mail [email protected]
