A head is provided for the co-extrusion of a complex rubber profiled element for the manufacture of a tire. The head makes it possible to co-extrude a sublayer and a tread with inserts. To this end, the head includes, from upstream to downstream: a) a first extrusion duct divided into various sub-ducts, b) a discontinuous first profiling blade, c) a second extrusion duct divided into various sub-ducts, d) a discontinuous second profiling blade incorporating at least one third extrusion duct in the continuation of a divider, and e) a first profiling blade having a projecting tooth in front of and next to each outlet of a third duct in the transverse direction.

A head is provided for the co-extrusion of a complex rubber profiled element for the manufacture of a tire. The head makes it possible to co-extrude a sublayer and a tread with inserts. To this end, the head includes, from upstream to downstream: a) a first extrusion duct divided into various sub-ducts, b) a discontinuous first profiling blade, c) a second extrusion duct divided into various sub-ducts, d) a discontinuous second profiling blade incorporating at least one third extrusion duct in the continuation of a divider, and e) a first profiling blade having a projecting tooth in front of and next to each outlet of a third duct in the transverse direction.

A system for the continuous extrusion, molding, and curing of tread for tires. An elongated strip of rubber material can be molded and cured shortly after extrusion such that the material retains much of the heat energy of extrusion and does not have to be stored. A plurality of discrete mold assemblies are conveyed adjacent to each other. As the mold assemblies are advanced sequentially, the uncured and unmolded strip of rubber material are extruded and positioned onto the mold assemblies. While the rubber strip advances, individual portions are sequentially molded and cured by passing through a mold press and then a curing press. A plug assembly is used to prevent the backflow of rubber material during the molding and curing.

A system for the continuous extrusion, molding, and curing of tread for tires. An elongated strip of rubber material can be molded and cured shortly after extrusion such that the material retains much of the heat energy of extrusion and does not have to be stored. A plurality of discrete mold assemblies are conveyed adjacent to each other. As the mold assemblies are advanced sequentially, the uncured and unmolded strip of rubber material are extruded and positioned onto the mold assemblies. While the rubber strip advances, individual portions are sequentially molded and cured by passing through a mold press and then a curing press. A plug assembly is used to prevent the backflow of rubber material during the molding and curing.

A pneumatic tire manufacturing method is provided in which winding collapse is prevented, there is no possibility of adverse effects on the FV, a current-carrying layer can be formed easily, and down-stitching can be dispensed with or minimized in the manufacture of SOT-structure pneumatic tires having a base-pen structure in the tread. This pneumatic tire manufacturing method involves: a step in which a sidewall, an inner liner, and a ply are bonded on a first molding drum, beads are set, and the tread side part that will form the current-carrying layer is formed on the side wall, forming a first cover; a step in which a breaker and band are bonded on a second molding drum and the tread center part is formed on the band, shaping the tread ring; a step in which the first cover is inserted inside of the tread ring and inflated to bond to the tread ring with pressure; and a step in which the sidewall is bonded to the lateral surface of the first cover, and the tread side part and the tread center part are bonded together.

A pneumatic tire manufacturing method is provided in which raw cover molding is suitably performed with no, or a minimal amount of, down-stitching in the manufacture of SOT-structure pneumatic tires; also provided is a pneumatic tire. This pneumatic tire manufacturing method involves: a step in which a sidewall, an inner liner, and a ply are bonded on a first molding drum, a pair of beads is set, and the tread side part is formed on the side wall, forming a first cover; a step in which a breaker and band are bonded on a second molding drum and the tread center part is formed on the band, shaping the tread ring; a step in which the first cover is inserted inside of the tread ring and the first cover is inflated, bonding the tread ring and the first cover with pressure; and a step in which the sidewall is folded back towards the lateral surface of the inflated first cover and bonded to the lateral surface of the first cover, and the tread side part and the tread center part are bonded together.

A dual mold spacer for use with a dual mold assembly is provided that includes a first side portion configured to engage a first side rail of the dual mold assembly. A second side portion is configured to engage a second side rail of the dual mold assembly. A body portion extends from the first side portion to the second side portion and is configured to be located between a press of the dual mold assembly and first and second molds of the dual mold assembly. The body portion is configured for being spaced from and free from engagement with the first and second molds.

Station (7) and method of curing for a tread strip (2); provided are: a flat curing mold (9) which is composed of a lower shell (10) and an upper cover (11); and an extractor element (17) which is suitable for extracting the cured tread strip (2) from the lower shell (10) after the curing operation; the cured tread strip (2) has a first wall (13), which has a relief design and is in contact with the lower shell (10), and a second wall (14) which is opposite the first wall (13), and is in contact with the upper cover (11); the extractor element (17) is suitable for adhering to the second wall (14) of the tread strip (2) along the entire length of the second wall (14) itself; and the extractor element (17) is movable perpendicularly with respect to the second wall (14) of the tread strip (2) in order to simultaneously raise the whole tread strip (2) from the lower shell (10).

The coextrusion installation is intended to generate a profiled element for a tire tread by extruding a sublayer made of first elastomeric compound, an overlayer made of second elastomeric compound for forming the tread pattern blocks, and inserts made of third elastomeric compound. The installation includes pre-scrapers followed by scrapers for deepening the embedding trenches, injectors for injecting an insert at the bottom of each embedding trench, and then a covering wall which allows the streams of the second elastomeric compound to meet by filling the embedding trench in question and by covering the corresponding insert so as to embed the said insert at a predetermined embedding depth.

The coextrusion installation is intended to generate a profiled element for a tire tread by extruding a sublayer made of first elastomeric compound, an overlayer made of second elastomeric compound for forming the tread pattern blocks, and inserts made of third elastomeric compound. The installation includes pre-scrapers followed by scrapers for deepening the embedding trenches, injectors for injecting an insert at the bottom of each embedding trench, and then a covering wall which allows the streams of the second elastomeric compound to meet by filling the embedding trench in question and by covering the corresponding insert so as to embed the said insert at a predetermined embedding depth.