Process for obtaining rubber pellets from used tyres

A process for obtaining rubber pellets from used tires, the process comprising the steps of:

• a) collecting used tires having a tread and lateral faces, in which the tread includes an inner layer and an outer layer;
• and each lateral face includes a flange at the inner edge thereof;
• b) separating the tread from the lateral faces;
• c) cutting the tread transversely through the inner layer and the outer layer in order to form a strip from the tread;
• d) cutting the strip obtained in the previous step in order to form pellets therefrom in two stages:
• i) in the first of which longitudinal and parallel cuts are accomplished over the tread strip, thus forming a first plurality of thinner strips;
• ii) and in the second stage, transversal and parallel cuts are accomplished over the thinner strips in order to form the rubber pellets;
• e) detaching the flange from the lateral faces which were separated in step (b);
• and
• f) cutting the flange-less lateral faces obtained in the previous step in order to form pellets therefrom;
• whereby rubber pellets are obtained from the tread and the lateral faces, the pellets having a size between 6.54 mm and 50.8 mm and regular shape;
• the pellets including in their inside polymeric and metallic fibers and cords not protruding therefrom.