A method and apparatus for forming tire components

摘要

A method of forming a tire component (10) from an unvulcanized elastomeric strip having two or more laterally adjacent distinct compounds is provided. The method includes the step of feeding a first compound into a pair of calender rollers (350, 352), wherein one of the rollers (350) has a forming depression (356). The first compound is formed in a first portion of the forming depression (356). Next, a second compound is fed into the pair of calender rollers (350, 352). The second compound is formed in a second portion of the forming depression (356). The second compound is laterally separated from the first compound by one or more separating means (320) for separating the first and second compounds.