Process and apparatus for continuously producing an elastomeric composition

A process for continuously producing an elastomeric composition, comprising the steps of:

• a) providing at least one extruder comprising a housing, at least one screw rotatably mounted in said housing, said housing comprising at least one feed opening and a discharge opening;
• b) setting a target weight loss for at least one ingredient to be dosed;
• c) dosing into said at least one extruder said at least one ingredient;
• d) mixing and dispersing said at least one ingredient into at least one elastomer by means of said at least one extruder;
• and
• e) extruding the resulting elastomeric composition through said discharge opening,
• wherein step c) of dosing into said at least one extruder said at least one ingredient is regulated on the basis of:
• i) actual weight values of said at least one ingredient measured at dosing instants of an evaluation time period of predetermined duration preceding a given dosing instant;
• ii) expected weight values of said at least one ingredient calculated for corresponding dosing instants of said evaluation time period preceding said dosing instant;
• and
• iii) expected weight values of said at least one ingredient calculated for a prediction time period of predetermined duration following said dosing instant;
• so as to minimize:
• a prediction weight error between actual weight values measured during said prediction time period and said expected weight values calculated for said prediction time period, and
• a model weight error between actual weight values measured during said prediction time period and theoretical weight values of said at least one ingredient corresponding to said target weight loss of said at least one ingredient.