The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 03, 2019
Filed:
Oct. 23, 2014
Compagnie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, FR;
Michelin Recherche ET Technique S.a., Granges-Paccot, CH;
James Fortner, Greenville, SC (US);
Chinglin Pan, Greenville, SC (US);
John Hommerson, Greenville, SC (US);
David Lung, Greenville, SC (US);
Michael Petrovich, Greenville, SC (US);
Chris Beccavin, Greenville, SC (US);
Companie Generale Des Etablissements Michelin, Clermont-Ferrand, FR;
Michelin Recherce Et Techinque S.A., Granges-Paccot, CH;
Abstract
A system for the continuous extrusion, molding, and curing of tread rubber is provided. A plurality of discrete mold sectors are arranged adjacent to each other along a longitudinal axis between an in-feed and an out-feed of a mold sector transport mechanism that extends through a heated press. As the mold sectors are continuously advanced along a process direction in steps, rubber material is extruded and placed onto at least one of the mold sectors near the in-feed end such that an elongated strip of rubber material extends over multiple mold sectors along the longitudinal axis. As the strip of rubber material exits the press, the mold sectors are sequentially removed from the rubber material and returned to the in-feed. An extruder outlet positioned near the in-feed can be moved towards or away from the mold sectors to supply rubber material and prevent backflow.