Industrial Nucleonics Corporation

Gerald A Lasson

Robert Lee Heiks

John Francis Donoghue

Robert Eugene McCall

Dan Edward Forney

Charles Ray Rich

A process monitoring and control system is provided for use in a tire calendering system producing a strip of rubber tire material comprising a layer of tire cord laminated between first and second layers of rubber. In a preferred embodiment, the thickness of the first rubber layer is measured by a single point radiation backscatter gauge at a point prior to its lamination with the tire cord and second layer. The thickness of the first layer is controlled to a desired target by means of a control loop including the single point gauge. The total thickness of the combined layers is measured at the calender output by a total thickness gauge. Gauge coordination means, including a delay means, are provided whereby measurements of the thickness of the first layer and of the combined strip are derived over the same longitudinal portion of the strip. Means are included, responsive to the coordinated measurements, to control the thickness of the second layer to maintain the total thickness of the strip at a desired total thickness target, in such a way as to eliminate any error in the thickness of the first layer as a factor affecting the control of total thickness. In this manner, the desired total thickness of the calendered material and the desired position of the tire cord between the first and second rubber layers are maintained.

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Dublin, OH, United States of America

Gerald A Lasson