One or more embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus for applying a mixture of a first compound and a second compound, the apparatus comprising a first extruder for processing a first compound and a second extruder for processing a second compound, wherein the outlet from the first extruder is in fluid communication with a first channel of a housing, and the outlet from the second extruder is in fluid communication with a second channel of the housing, wherein a gear pump is positioned in each channel, wherein a nozzle is in fluid communication with an outlet of the first channel and an outlet of the second channel, and a coextruded continuous strip is produced. The ratio of the first compound to the second compound may be adjusted instantaneously.

A composition for a direct ink writing includes a polymeric component in latex form, where the latex includes greater than 75% solids content; and additives adapted to provide the composition with capability of being utilized as a rubber ink formulation for the direct ink writing process. A method of producing an additive manufacturing product includes steps of providing an initial polymeric component in latex form, where the initial polymeric component in latex form includes from about 50% to about 70% solids content; removing water from the initial polymeric component in latex form to thereby form a subsequent polymeric component in latex form, where the subsequent polymeric component in latex form has greater than 75% solids content; and mixing the subsequent polymeric component in latex form with additives adapted to provide a rubber ink formulation composition; and additive manufacturing the rubber ink formulation composition to thereby form a green component.

An extrusion system (10) is provided that has first and second extruders (12,14) with first and second extrusion barrels (50,52). First and second extruded components (24,26) are transferred through the barrels (50,52) to a die (22) to coextrude tire tread (20) from the first and second extruded components (24,26). A horizontal plane (70) is located above ground in a vertical direction (40) and extends through both the first extrusion barrel (50) and the second extrusion barrel (52).

Technology for controlling in-vehicle three dimensional (3D) printer(s) that replenish road engaging surfaces of the vehicle assembly. In some embodiment the 3D printer is controlled to replenish the road engaging surface while the vehicle is being driven. In some embodiments, an Internet of Things (IoT) sensor is used to detect wear on the road engaging surface to help control the location(s) where the 3D printer adds the additive material.

Provided is a head for a multi-layer extrusion device which can be easily and accurately adjusted to a change in size of an extruder and a change in extrusion shape. A head 1 for a multi-layer extrusion device is provided with a plurality of flow paths for separately guiding elastomer materials G from a plurality of extruders 2 to a pre-former attachment unit. The head 1 comprises: a main head 10 to which each extruder 2 is connected; an upper head part 11 positioned above the main head 10; and a lower head part 12 positioned below the main head 10. The plurality of extruders 2 include a first extruder 5 and a second extruder 6. The main head 10 is detachably divided into at least: a first head part 15 to which the first extruder 5 is connected; a second head part 16 to which the second extruder 6 is connected; a third head part 17 connected to the first head part 15 on the downstream side of the first head part 15; and a fourth head part 18 connected to the second head part 16 on the downstream side of the second head part 16.

A method for forming a composite tread, the method comprising the steps of: forming a coextruded strip of a first compound and a second compound, wherein the first compound is a tread compound, and the second compound is formed from a second compound, wherein the tread is formed from winding the coextruded strip onto the tire building drum while varying the ratio of the first compound to the second compound

A method of manufacturing an agricultural tyre (1) with deep cross-lugs (6), comprising the steps of: (a) proving a tyre case (2) and tread belts (3); (b) applying rubber blocks (206) onto tread belts (3), each of such rubber blocks (206) being arranged to make a respective lug (6) of the final tread (4); (c) winding a rubber ribbon (200) above said rubber blocks (206) so as to completely enclose said rubber blocks (206); (d) curing the rubber blocks (206) together with the wound ribbon (200) in a curing mould (105) negatively reproducing a desired pattern of the tread (4).

A preformer (1) is designed to extrude jointly a plurality of elastomer mixes in a direction of flow (X1), in order to form a profiled element, the preformer comprising for this purpose, superimposed in a direction of stacking (Z1), transverse to the direction of flow (X1), a first channel (11), a second channel (12) which is separated from the first channel (11) by a first partition (15), then a third channel (13), separated from the second channel (12) by a second partition (16), the preformer also comprising a stiffener (20) formed integrally with the first partition (15) and the second partition (16), and extends through the second channel (12), having a leading edge (21) which splits the flow of elastomer material following the second channel (12).

The invention relates to a preform device for positioning extruded rubber mixtures, characterized in that the preform device consists of an inlet module (2) and an outlet module (3), wherein both the inlet module (2) and the outlet module (3) each have a base surface (11, 12) and a contact face (19, 21) opposite the base surface (11, 12, 13), and wherein the surface of the contact face (19, 21) of the inlet module (2) is smaller than the surface of the base surface (11, 12) of the inlet module (2). The invention also relates to an extruder mold system for molding extruded rubber mixtures into a complete rubber element (40), having the preform device and at least one final forming device, and to a corresponding extruder system (22).

The method for the coextrusion of a complex profiled element made up of the assembly of profiled elements formed from distinct rubber compounds. A coextrusion machine comprises upstream and downstream extruders which deliver into an extrusion cavity. A first profiled element, formed of the first rubber compound, is created. The first profiled element comprises at least a first profiled-element portion which is intended to form a longitudinal insert, a base of which is in continuity of material with the first profiled element. A complex profiled element formed of the first and second rubber compounds is created. The insert is circulated between walls of a channel extend in a longitudinal direction between the upstream profiling blade and the downstream profiling blade and together form a concave surface open towards the inside of the extrusion cavity in such a way that the bringing-together of the lateral walls of the insert with the second compound takes place only in the downstream gap.