# US 9,751,269 B2 · Device and method for forming sheet-like rubber > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,751,269 B2 - Document ID: US9751269B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/001,973 - Filed: 2012-03-02 - Published: 2013-12-19 - Granted: 2017-09-05 - Earliest claimed: 2011-03-08 - Assignees: Toyo Tire & Rubber Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Takashi Kitamura; Hiroshi Ikegami - Inventors: Takashi Kitamura; Hiroshi Ikegami - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9751269B2 ## CPC - B29C 48/13: Articles with a cross-section varying in the longitudinal direction, e.g. corrugated pipes - B29C 48/08: flexible, e.g. films - B29C 48/12: Articles with an irregular circumference when viewed in cross-section, e.g. window profiles - B29C 48/2552: {provided in the feeding, melting, plasticising or pumping zone, e.g. screw, barrel, gear-pump or ram} - B29C 48/31: {being} adjustable {, i.e. having adjustable exit sections} - B29C 48/313: {by positioning the die lips} - B29C 48/37: Gear pumps - B29C 48/395: using screws surrounded by a cooperating barrel, e.g. single screw extruders - B29C 48/92: Measuring, controlling or regulating - B29D 30/0061: {Accessories, details or auxiliary operations not otherwise provided for} - B29D 30/3007: {by feeding a sheet perpendicular to the drum axis and joining the ends to form an annular element (bending sheets and joining the edges B29C53/42)} - B29D 30/62: by extrusion or injection of the tread on carcass - B29C 2948/92628: Width or height - B29C 2948/92885: Screw or gear - B29C 2948/92904: Die; Nozzle zone - B29D 2030/3078: {the layers being applied being substantially continuous, i.e. not being cut before the application step} - B29K 2021/00: Use of unspecified rubbers as moulding material - 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) - B29D: PRODUCING PARTICULAR ARTICLES FROM PLASTICS OR FROM SUBSTANCES IN A PLASTIC STATE (making granules B29B9/00; making preforms B29B11/00) - 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 The sheet-like rubber forming device has a die body which has an opening having a predetermined cross sectional shape, and a variable die lip which is arranged in a front side of the die body and can change the height of the opening. The variable die lip is constructed by a first movable body and a second movable body. The die lip control unit controls the variable die lip so as to drive the first movable body in an opening direction from a state in which the first movable body and the second movable body are closed when the forming is started, hold the positions of the first movable body and the second movable body after reaching a predetermined height, and drive the second movable body in a closing direction when the forming is finished. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A sheet-like rubber forming method of forming a tire constituting member having a predetermined width and height by extruding a sheet-like rubber from a die head of an extruder, while using a sheet-like rubber forming device comprising: a die body which constructs the die head and has an opening having a predetermined cross sectional shape; a variable die lip which is arranged in a front side of the die body and can change the height of the opening; and a die lip control unit which controls motion of the variable die lip, wherein the variable die lip is constructed by a first movable body which is positioned in one side in a height direction, and a second movable body which is positioned in the other side in the height direction, and wherein the die lip control unit controls the variable die lip so as to drive the first movable body in an opening direction little by little from a state in which the first movable body and the second movable body are closed when the forming is started, hold the positions of the first movable body and the second movable body after reaching a predetermined height, and drive the second movable body in a closing direction little by little when the forming is finished, the sheet-like rubber forming method comprising: a step of driving the first movable body in an opening direction little by little from a state in which the first movable body and the second movable body are closed, when the forming of the tire constituting member is started; a step of holding the positions of the first movable body and the second movable body after the first movable body reaches a predetermined height; and a step of driving the second movable body in a closing direction little by little when the forming is finished. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The sheet-like rubber forming method according to claim 1, further comprising: a step of controlling drive of a gear pump which is arranged in an upstream side of the die head; and a step of controlling a discharge amount of the rubber from the die body by controlling the gear pump, at the start time of the forming and the end time of the forming that the control of the variable die lip is carried out. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The sheet-like rubber forming method according to claim 1, further comprising a step of directly attaching the tire constituting member to a forming drum.