Abstract: An apparatus is provided for removing material from the sidewall of a tire. The apparatus may be used for removing the thin layer of black rubber that normally covers the white letters or white stripe of the sidewall of a newly cured tire, and for buffing the surfaces of such white letters or stripes to give them a smooth finish. The apparatus may also be used for buffing black portions of a tire sidewall to give those portions a smooth finish. The apparatus includes a cutting device and a sensor mounted on a moveable carriage. The sensor measures the distance between the cutting device and a portion of the tire sidewall adjacent to the portion to be buffed. As the tire rotates while it is being buffed, the carriage moves in response to the sensor's measurement toward or away from the tire sidewall, so that the cutting device removes material at a constant height relative to the adjacent portion of the sidewall.

Abstract: A method of producing a multicomponent extrudate in which the operating line automatically and accurately extrudes the extrudate materials necessary to obtain the desired contribution of materials and specified dimensions of the multicomponent extrudate profile. The screw speed of each extruder can be adjusted to the desired speed by determining the actual thickness and width dimensions of the multicomponent extrudate. The actual measurements are then fed to a computer which calculates the corresponding values of the ratios of the extruder screw speeds to line speed. using the specified dimensions desired in the extrudate, the corresponding values for the screw and line speeds are also calculated. A comparison of the speeds based on measured dimensions, with the speeds based on specified dimensions, provides a measurement by which the screw speeds may then be adjusted such that the measurements of the extrudate profile are brought closer to the specified dimensions of the multicomponent extrudate profile.

Abstract: A rotatable accumulator roll which may move substantially horizontally or vertically is disposed between the die of an extruder and a take-away conveyor to minimize the effects of output surging of the extrudate from the die of the extruder in order to maintain substantially the dimension of the extrudate as delivered to a constant speed take-away conveyor. Variable force is applied to the roll to maintain tension on the extrudate.

Abstract: A puncture sealant package for incorporation into a pneumatic tire is formed by coextruding a puncture sealant, and a skin forming material. The ribs are formed in an initially circular package profile as chords. After flow in a sheet die, the chords form divider ribs making small angles with the encapulating skin. The compartments formed by the ribs prevent flow of the sealant toward the center of a tire.