COMPOUND SWITCHING APPARATUS FOR FORMING TIRE COMPONENTS AND METHOD FOR FORMING A TIRE TREAD

摘要

An apparatus for applying a mixture of two compounds and a method for forming a tire tread on a green tire carcass are disclosed. The apparatus comprises a first extruder (30) in fluid communication with a first gear pump (42) for processing a first compound; and a second extruder (60) in fluid communication with a first gear pump (44) for processing a second compound. The outlet of each gear pumps (42,44) are each in fluid communication with a channel of a nozzle (80). The two gear pumps are positionned in a single housing. The method comprises the steps of: providing a tire building drum having a green tire carcass thereon; applying a strip of a first base compound over a portion of the green tire carcass forming a first layer (100); applying a first tread cap layer (104) over the first layer; applying a strip of a second base compound over a second portion of the green tire carcass forming a second layer (108) of base compound forming a chimney (110); and applying a second tread cap layer (112) over the second layer.