Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture – Methods – Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-09
2001-02-20
Knable, Geoffrey L. (Department: 1733)
Adhesive bonding and miscellaneous chemical manufacture
Methods
Surface bonding and/or assembly therefor
C156S394100, C264S210200, C264S280000, C264S284000, C425S373000, C425S385000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06190479
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to tire retread equipment, and, more particularly, to a cured tire retread extrusion device and method.
2. Description of the Related Art
With limited landfill space and consumer concerns regarding environmental pollution, tire manufacturers have found it necessary to engage in recycling of used tires. A wide variety of procedures and different types of equipment are available for use in retreading or recapping tires. Usually, the existing tread material is removed from the tire carcass by buffing. Then various procedures are used to apply one or more layers of uncured rubber or retreading material with appropriate bonding agents.
Heavy duty closing devices are often used to install molds which form new tread in retreading material on a prepared tire casing. Tire distortion sometimes occurs as a result.
As is commonly known in the tire retreading industry, another method of retreading tires involves the use of cured treads. The use of cured treads to retread individual tires, however, is a time consuming procedure. What is needed is a method to continuously produce cured treads that can be used to retread tires, thus saving time and money for the tire retread company, and ultimately, the consumer.
A search of the prior art did not disclose any patents that read directly on the claims of the instant invention; however, the following references were considered related:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,241, issued in the name of King et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,342,462, issued in the name of King et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 2,745,137, issued in the name of Glynn;
U.S. Pat. No. 3,779,831, issued in the name of Reppel;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,022,554, issued in the name of Macmillan;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,076,473, issued in the name of Macmillan;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,218, issued in the name of Nakayama et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 5,603,366, issued in the name of Nakayama et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,203,793, issued in the name of Brodie et al.;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,018, issued in the name of Brewer;
U.S. Pat. No. 4,579,619, issued in the name of Symmes et al.; and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,007,978, issued in the name of Presti.
While several features exhibited within these references are incorporated into this invention, alone and in combination with other elements, the present invention is sufficiently different so as to make it distinguishable over the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a tread extrusion device and method, used in conjunction with an otherwise conventional Rotocure device, in which the extrusion process and molding process are combined into one continuous operation, thus reducing handling of the material, increasing energy efficiency, and reducing man hours required for production. In the present invention, cured treads are continuously produced for use on retread tires. Thus, the process from tread extrusion to final stocking for tire retreading is one continuous operation. As such, storage of the tread between operations is eliminated, with the hot extruded tread placed directly into the Rotocure, with a resulting reduction in the energy required for vulcanization of the rubber. The reduced handling and storage results in a worthwhile reduction in man hours required for tread production.
The present invention consists of an extruder from which the heated rubber compound continuously exits. Removable cast segments, incorporating a particular tread design, are removably attached to the steam heated Rotocure drum. Thus, the tread design is incorporated into the extruded tread as it passes through the rotocure.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a device and method that reduces energy consumption, utilizing less heat, creates less waste and requires fewer man hours to produce cured treads for retread tires.
DESCRIPTIVE KEY
10
a cured tread processing equipment
20
Rotocure
30
tread extruder
40
drum (steam heated)
50
cast segments with tread design to outside
60
Rotocure tension belt
70
extruded tread (entering Rotocure)
80
cured tread ((leaving Rotocure)
REFERENCES:
patent: 3829271 (1974-08-01), Taylor
patent: 4361456 (1982-11-01), Reschke
patent: 5104600 (1992-04-01), Remond
DuMars Anita
DuMars David Bruce
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