Extruder system and method for extruding cord-reinforced tire components

Abstract

An extruder system and a method for extruding cord reinforced extrudate, in particular for tire components, are provided. The extruder system includes an extruder head with flow channels for receiving an extrusion material from an extruder, a die for receiving the extrusion material from the flow channels, and a cord guide for guiding cords side-by-side in a cord plane into the die. The extruder head is provided with an insertion slot that extends in an insertion direction parallel to the cord plane through the extruder head. The flow channels debouch into the insertion slot at a flow area. The insertion slot is arranged for receiving the die and the cord guide in the insertion direction into a die position downstream of the flow area and a cord guide position upstream of the flow area, respectively, with respect to the insertion direction.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . An extruder system for extruding cord reinforced extrudate, the extruder system comprising:
 an extruder head with one or more flow channels for receiving an extrusion material from an extruder;   a die for receiving said extrusion material from the one or more flow channels; and   a cord guide for guiding cords side-by-side in a cord direction in a cord plane into the die,   wherein the extruder head is provided with an insertion slot for receiving the die and the cord guide into a die position and a cord guide position, respectively,   wherein the insertion slot extends in a slot direction parallel to the cord plane through the extruder head, wherein the one or more flow channels debouch into the insertion slot at a flow area,   wherein the extruder head is provided with an interior surface that defines the insertion slot,   wherein the die is provided with a first abutment surface for abutting the interior surface when the die is received within the insertion slot,   wherein the die is further provided with a first sealing gutter, that is formed in the first abutment surface at a distance spaced apart from the flow area and that is open towards the interior surface extrusion material,   wherein the first sealing gutter is arranged for receiving a small amount of leaked extrusion material from the flow area and for allowing said small amount of extrusion material to cure to form a seal between the first abutment surface and the interior surface.   
     
     
         22 . The extruder system according to  claim 21 , wherein the first abutment surface faces in a direction transverse to the cord direction. 
     
     
         23 . The extruder system according to  claim 22 , wherein the first abutment surface faces in a direction transverse to the cord plane. 
     
     
         24 . The extruder system according to  claim 21 , wherein the first sealing gutter is in fluid communication with the flow area. 
     
     
         25 . The extruder system according to  claim 24 , wherein the first sealing gutter is in fluid communication with the flow area at the ends of the die in a direction parallel to the cord plane and transverse to the cord direction. 
     
     
         26 . The extruder system according to  claim 21 , wherein the die extends in the slot direction along the interior surface over a die length and wherein the first sealing gutter is located at less than half of the die length from the flow area when the die is in the die position. 
     
     
         27 . The extruder system according to  claim 21 , wherein the die extends in the slot direction along the interior surface over a die length and wherein the first sealing gutter is located at less than a third of the die length from the flow area when the die is in the die position. 
     
     
         28 . The extruder system according to  claim 21 , wherein the die is further provided with a second abutment surface for abutting the interior surface when the die is received within the insertion slot,
 wherein the first abutment surface and the second abutment surface extend parallel to and on opposite sides of the cord plane, and   wherein the die further comprises a second sealing gutter that is formed in the second abutment surface at a distance spaced apart from the flow area and that is open towards the interior surface.   
     
     
         29 . The extruder system according to  claim 21 , wherein the cord guide is provided with a third abutment surface for abutting the interior surface,
 wherein the cord guide is further provided with a third sealing gutter, that is formed in the third abutment surface at a distance spaced apart from the flow area and that is open towards the interior surface.   
     
     
         30 . The extruder system according to  claim 29 , wherein the cord guide is further provided with a fourth abutment surface for abutting the interior surface when the cord guide is received within the insertion slot,
 wherein the third abutment surface and the fourth abutment surface extend parallel to and on opposite sides of the cord plane, and   wherein the cord guide further comprises a fourth sealing gutter that is formed in the fourth abutment surface at a distance spaced apart from the flow area and that is open towards the interior surface.   
     
     
         31 . The extruder system according to  claim 21 , wherein the slot direction is an insertion direction, and
 wherein the die and the cord guide are insertable in the insertion direction from a position completely outside of the insertion slot into a die position downstream of the flow area and a cord guide position upstream of the flow area, respectively, with respect to the insertion direction.   
     
     
         32 . The extruder system according to  claim 31 , wherein the first abutment surface is a first slide surface and the second abutment surface is a second slide surface for sliding the die along said interior surface in the insertion direction. 
     
     
         33 . The extruder system according to  claim 21 , wherein the die and the cord guide are arranged to be connected such that the die and the cord guide are simultaneously insertable into the insertion slot. 
     
     
         34 . An extruder system for extruding cord reinforced extrudate, the extruder system comprising:
 an extruder head with one or more flow channels for receiving an extrusion material from an extruder;   a die for receiving said extrusion material from the one or more flow channels; and   a cord guide for guiding cords side-by-side in a cord direction in a cord plane into the die,   wherein the extruder head is provided with an insertion slot for receiving the die and the cord guide into a die position and a cord guide position, respectively,   wherein the insertion slot extends in a slot direction parallel to the cord plane through the extruder head,   wherein the one or more flow channels debouch into the insertion slot at a flow area,   wherein the extruder head is provided with an interior surface that defines the insertion slot, wherein the cord guide is provided with an abutment surface for abutting the interior surface when the die is received within the insertion slot,   wherein the cord guide is further provided with a sealing gutter, that is formed in the abutment surface at a distance spaced apart from the flow area and that is open towards the interior surface.   
     
     
         35 . A method for extruding cord reinforced extrudate with use of the extruder system according to  claim 21 , the method comprising the steps of:
 allowing a small amount of extrusion material to leak from the flow area into the first sealing gutter; and   allowing said small amount of extrusion material to cure to form a seal between the first abutment surface and the interior surface.