# US 7,407,611 B2 · Elastomer mixtures for rubber manufacture > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,407,611 B2 - Document ID: US7407611B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 10/798,350 - Filed: 2004-03-12 - Published: 2004-11-11 - Granted: 2008-08-05 - Earliest claimed: 2002-09-02 - Assignees: Buhler AG - Inventors: Federico Innerebner; Erhard Krumpholz; Christoph Näf; Achim-Philipp Sturm; Bernhard Stalder; Roland Halter - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7407611B2 ## CPC - C08J 3/215: at least one additive being also premixed with a liquid phase - B29B 7/603: {in measured doses, e.g. proportioning of several materials} - B29B 7/7495: {for mixing rubber} - B29B 7/82: Heating or cooling - B29B 7/845: {Venting, degassing or removing evaporated components in devices with rotary stirrers} - B29B 7/86: for working at sub- or superatmospheric pressure {(B01F33/70 takes precedence)} - B29B 7/905: {with means for pretreatment of the charges or fibres} - B29B 7/94: Liquid charges - B29C 48/40: using two or more parallel screws {or at least two parallel non-intermeshing screws}, e.g. twin screw extruders - B29B 7/46: with more than one shaft - B29C 48/365: using pumps, e.g. piston pumps - B29C 48/43: Ring extruders - B29K 2021/00: Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material - C08J 2321/00: Characterised by the use of unspecified rubbers - C08J: WORKING-UP; GENERAL PROCESSES OF COMPOUNDING; AFTER-TREATMENT NOT COVERED BY SUBCLASSES C08B, C08C, C08F, C08G or C08H (working, e.g. shaping, of plastics B29) - B29B: PREPARATION OR PRETREATMENT OF THE MATERIAL TO BE SHAPED; MAKING GRANULES OR PREFORMS; RECOVERY OF PLASTICS OR OTHER CONSTITUENTS OF WASTE MATERIAL CONTAINING PLASTICS - B29C: SHAPING OR JOINING OF PLASTICS; SHAPING OF MATERIAL IN A PLASTIC STATE, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; AFTER-TREATMENT OF THE SHAPED PRODUCTS, e.g. REPAIRING (making preforms B29B11/00; making laminated products by combining previously unconnected layers which become one product whose layers will remain together B32B37/00 - B32B41/00) - B29K: INDEXING SCHEME ASSOCIATED WITH SUBCLASSES B29B, B29C OR B29D, RELATING TO MOULDING MATERIALS OR TO MATERIALS FOR {MOULDS, } REINFORCEMENTS, FILLERS OR PREFORMED PARTS, e.g. INSERTS ## Abstract A method is disclosed for producing elastomer compounds for use in the production of rubbers. At least one elastomer to be processed for the production of an elastomer mixture can be slowly added to a mixer/extruder and is mixed and plasticized and/or masticated (melted) while it passes through the mixer/extruder. The elastomer, when slowly added to the mixer/extruder, can be present in a fluid medium in an evenly distributed form. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for manufacturing an elastomer mixture for manufacturing rubber, comprising: metering at least one elastomer to be processed for manufacturing the elastomer mixture into a mixing extruder; mixing and plasticizing and/or masticating the elastomer as the elastomer passes through the mixing extruder, the elastomer being present in a uniformly distributed form in a first fluid medium while being charged into the mixing extruder; introducing a reinforcing material in a second fluid medium to the elastomer; removing the first fluid medium and/or second fluid medium in several dewatering steps as the product passes through the mixing extruder; and incorporating a filler in several incorporation steps as the product passes through the mixing extruder; wherein the incorporation steps and dewatering steps alternate in succession. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first fluid medium is a solvent in which the elastomer is present in dissolved form. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method according to claim 2, wherein the elastomer is present as an emulsion of an elastomer solution in a liquid not miscible with the solvent. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer is present as a suspension of elastomer particles in a liquid. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer is present as a gel-like compound in a solvent. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the mixing extruder is a tightly meshing multi-screw extruder having screws that rotate in the same direction. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing material is added to the elastomer dispersed in the first fluid medium before charging in the mixing extruder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing material is added to the elastomer dispersed in the first fluid medium via charging in the mixing extruder. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcing material added to the elastomer is present as a suspension in a second fluid medium. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein the reinforcing material added to the elastomer is prepared via wet milling in a device before being metered into the mixing extruder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the suspension of reinforcing material is wet milled in a gap between two coaxial rotating elements, which are rotated relative to each other around a shared axis, and generate a shearing field in the gap between the coaxial rotating elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the two coaxial rotating elements are a respective cylinder and cone, or a respective cone, configured so that the gap between the coaxial rotating elements narrows or expands in a product conveying direction. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein one of the rotating elements is a rotor, and another of the rotating elements is a stator. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method according to claim 13, wherein pin-like elevations extend from a surface of a respective rotating element in the gap, moving by each other as the rotating elements rotate, and colliding with suspended particles of the reinforcing material. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The method according to claim 14, wherein the gap incorporates collision elements that collide with the surface and/or the pin-like elevations of the rotating elements as well as with the suspended particles of reinforcing material during relative rotation of the rotating elements. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein wet milling takes place with a centrifugal mill. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein additional components for the elastomer mixture are at least partially charged in the mixing extruder. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein the additional components are selected from the group consisting of: additives, vulcanizing agents, accelerators, softeners and aids. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method according to claim 17, wherein no crosslinking agents are charged in the elastomer mixture. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The method according to claim 18, wherein a product temperature in the mixing extruder is kept under a vulcanizing temperature at least on a side opposite a conveying direction from a metering point when metering vulcanizing agent into the product. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method according to claim 20, wherein the additional components and reinforcing material in the mixing extruder are incorporated and/or comminuted and/or distributed in the elastomer. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the product in the mixing extruder is degassed. ### Claim 23 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first and/or second fluid medium is removed before charging a vulcanizing agent in the mixing extruder. ### Claim 24 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein only as much product is removed from the first and/or second fluid medium during a dewatering step as required to ensure desired incorporation for an ensuing incorporation step. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The method according to claim 24, wherein one or more dewatering steps take place at one or more lateral openings in a direction of product passage along the mixing extruder, wherein a lateral extruder is arranged on at least one lateral opening of the mixing extruder, conveying toward and emptying into the at least one lateral opening. ### Claim 26 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer mixture is reacted with a coagulant. ### Claim 27 (depends on 1) The method according claim 1, wherein the elastomer mixture is molded as it exits the mixing extruder. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, wherein the molded elastomer mixture is granulated. ### Claim 29 (depends on 27) The method according to claim 27, wherein the molded elastomer mixture is heated along a vulcanization path in such a way that polymers continuously crosslink. ### Claim 30 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the elastomer mixture is a compound. ### Claim 31 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the reinforcing material is at least one of soot and silicate. ### Claim 32 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the reinforcing material added to the elastomer is present as a suspension in the second fluid medium.