Abstract: A roller die preformer for use in an extrusion system to form wide extruded components, such as a rubber tire tread, on a surface of a roller. The roller die preformer includes a flow inlet, a flow outlet and a laterally expanding flow channel extending from the flow inlet to the flow outlet. A flow restrictor is configured within the flow channel to urge the flow of material toward the lateral extremities of the flow channel to thereby form an extruded component at the flow outlet having a lateral width which is greater than the lateral width of the flow inlet of the preformer.

Abstract: A roller die preformer for use in an extrusion system to form wide extruded components, such as a rubber tire tread, on a surface of a roller. The roller die preformer includes a flow inlet, a flow outlet and a laterally expanding flow channel extending from the flow inlet to the flow outlet. A flow restrictor is configured within the flow channel to urge the flow of material toward the lateral extremities of the flow channel to thereby form an extruded component at the flow outlet having a lateral width which is greater than the lateral width of the flow inlet of the preformer.

Abstract: An extruder head for use in forming at least one strip of polymeric material. The extruder head includes a flow channel having a flow inlet end and a flow outlet end. A flow diverter is removably secured within the flow channel of the extruder head. The flow diverter is held securely in place within the flow channel by a fastening mechanism, and the flow diverter can be easily removed from the flow channel for reshaping or reprofiling as may be necessary to achieve a desired velocity profile of polymeric material flow at the flow outlet end of the flow channel.

Abstract: An extruder apparatus has an extruder flow channel 10 for an extruder head having a pair of flow passages 40, 50 and a flow dam 12 interposed between the flow passages and a flow splitter 14 that locally increases or locally decreases the flow area of the first flow passage 40 relative to the second flow passage 50. The preferred flow channel 10 adjusts the mass balance of the flows 6, 7 between passages 40, 50 automatically.

Abstract: An extruder flow channel 10 has a pair of flow passages 40, 50 and a flow dam 12 interposed between the flow passages and a flow splitter 14 that locally increases or locally decreases the flow area of the first flow passage 40 relative to the second flow passage 50. The preferred flow channel 10 adjusts the mass balance of the flows 6, 7 between passages 40, 50 automatically.

Abstract: Apparatus for directing the flow of material from a supply source to one or more shaping dies has a flow channel therein. A flow directing insert (34A) located in the downstream region of the flow channel spreads the material toward the outer walls and improves uniformity of flow in an exit zone (40). In the downstream region (11), the channel height is gradually decreased and levels off near the exit. The flow channel may be split into two or mom flow branches (15A, 15B), each flow branch having a flow directing insert (34A) therein.

Abstract: An extruder for extruding an associated material includes an extruder housing that has a feed section, a center section that includes a throttle section, and an outlet section with an extruder screw disposed in the extruder housing. The extruder also includes a throttle at the throttle section. The throttle has a plurality of pins that extend radially into the housing. The pins are adjusted by a cam extending around the extruder housing. The cam has an inner wall that has a plurality of cam surfaces engageable by pins. The radius of each of the cam surfaces gradually decreases from a maximum radius to a minimum radius distance. The pins have springs that urge the pins radially outward to contact the inner wall of the cam. The cam is rotated by a piston and cylinder assembly. The extruder further includes sensors for temperature, gauge, weight, and other properties of the material.