Device and method for manufacturing multiple layer rubber strip

A device for manufacturing a multiple layer rubber strip comprising at least a first rubber strip and a second rubber strip, the device comprising:

• a first rubber extruder for extruding the first rubber strip, the first rubber strip having a first upper surface oriented to form an acute angle with a first lower surface;
• a second rubber extruder for extruding the second rubber strip, the second rubber strip having a second upper surface oriented to form an acute angle with a second lower surface;
• a first conveyor for conveying the first rubber strip extruded from the first extruder to a downstream side in a conveying direction, wherein the first conveyor has a conveying surface on which the first rubber strip is carried;
• a second conveyor for conveying the second rubber strip extruded from the second extruder to a downstream side in the conveying direction, the second conveyor located upwardly of the first conveyor and having a downstream conveyor end in the conveying direction,
• wherein the downstream conveyor end of the second conveyor is positioned above the conveying surface of the first conveyor such that the second rubber strip is delivered from the downstream conveyor end of the second conveyor to meet and overlap the first rubber strip on the first conveyor at a joining location to form the multiple layer rubber strip, and
• wherein the multiple layer rubber strip is for a bead apex rubber strip which is to be disposed on a radially outer surface of a circular bead core of a tire, and
• a cutter for cutting the multiple layer rubber strip to obtain bead apex rubber strips sequentially such that each of the bead apex rubber strips has a circumferentially extending first side thereof being longer than a circumferentially extending second side thereof, wherein the second side of each of the bead apex rubber strips is to be arranged on the radially outer surface of the bead core.

A device for manufacturing a multiple layer rubber strip comprising at least a first rubber strip and a second rubber strip, the device comprising:

• a first rubber extruder for extruding the first rubber strip, the first rubber strip having a first upper surface oriented to form an acute angle with a first lower surface;
• a second rubber extruder for extruding the second rubber strip, the second rubber strip having a second upper surface oriented to form an acute angle with a second lower surface;
• a first conveyor for conveying the first rubber strip extruded from the first extruder to a downstream side in a conveying direction, wherein the first conveyor has a conveying surface on which the first rubber strip is carried;
• a second conveyor for conveying the second rubber strip extruded from the second extruder to a downstream side in the conveying direction, the second conveyor located upwardly of the first conveyor and having a downstream conveyor end in the conveying direction,
• wherein the downstream conveyor end of the second conveyor is positioned above the conveying surface of the first conveyor such that the second rubber strip is delivered from the downstream conveyor end of the second conveyor to meet and overlap the first rubber strip on the first conveyor at a joining location to form the multiple layer rubber strip,
• a pressing device to press the first rubber strip and the second rubber strip of the multiple layer rubber strip with each other, wherein the pressing device is located on a downstream side in the convey direction of the joining location;
• and
• a third conveyor located on a downstream side of the first conveyor in the conveying direction such that the multiple layer rubber strip on the first conveyor is transferred to the third conveyer, wherein the pressing device is located between the first conveyor and the third conveyor,
• wherein the first conveyor comprises a first guide roller located on a downstream conveyor end thereof, the second conveyor comprises a second guide roller located on the downstream conveyor end thereof, the third conveyor comprises a third guide roller located on an upstream conveyor end thereof, and the first guide roller, the second guide roller and the third guide roller are arranged in parallel with each other such that upper ends of the first, second and third guide rollers are aligned at a same height.