Abstract An extruding system for the production of continuously extruded elastomer, such as tread stock for the manufacture of vehicle tires, has an extruder, a first take-away conveyor belt for conveying the extrusion as it exits the extruder, a second conveyor belt for varying the thickness or weight of the extrusion after leaving the first conveyor belt, a sensor to measure the running-weigh-scale value and a targeted running-weigh-scale value. The weight or thickness of the continuously extruded elastomer is controlled by measuring the weight of the continuous extrusion at the running-weigh-scale. The measured value is compared to the target value to obtain a control signal. The control signal is used to adjust the difference in speed between the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt.
In a process comprising an extruder, having a rate of extrusion, a continuous sheet length of elastomeric extrusion, a first variable speed take-away conveyor belt to convey the extrusion as it exits the extruder, a second variable speed conveyor belt for varying the thickness or weight of the extrusion after leaving the first conveyor belt, a running-weigh-scale to measure the weight per unit area of the continuous extrusion after said extrusion commences to be conveyed by said second conveyor, and an a priori determined targeted running-weigh-scale value; a method of controlling the thickness or weight of the extruded elastomer comprising the steps of: measuring the weight value of the extrusion at the running-weigh-scale; comparing the targeted running-weigh-scale value to said measured value to obtain a control signal; and adjusting the difference in speed between said first conveyor belt and said second conveyer belt in response to said control.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a process comprising an extruder, having a rate of extrusion, a continuous sheet length of elastomeric extrusion, a first variable speed take-away conveyor belt to convey the extrusion as it exits the extruder, a second variable speed conveyor belt for varying the thickness or weight of the extrusion after leaving the first conveyor belt, a running-weigh-scale to measure the weight per unit area of the continuous extrusion after said extrusion commences to be conveyed by said second conveyor, and an a priori determined targeted running-weigh-scale value; a method of controlling the thickness or weight of the extruded elastomer comprising the steps of: measuring the weight value of the extrusion at the running-weigh-scale; comparing the targeted running-weigh-scale value to said measured value to obtain a control signal; and adjusting the difference in speed between said first conveyor belt and said second conveyer belt in response to said control.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 further comprising: controlling the difference between said rate of extrusion and said rate of speed of said first conveyor belt.