US 12,466,923 B2
Rubber composition manufacturing method and tire manufacturing method
Shinsaku Kamada, Itami (JP)
Assigned to TOYO TIRE CORPORATION, Itami (JP)
Filed by Toyo Tire Corporation, Itami (JP)
Filed on Nov. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/536,633.
Claims priority of application No. 2020-211132 (JP), filed on Dec. 21, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0195130 A1, Jun. 23, 2022
Int. Cl. C08L 9/06 (2006.01); B29B 7/18 (2006.01); B29B 7/48 (2006.01); B60C 1/00 (2006.01); C08J 3/20 (2006.01); C08K 3/04 (2006.01); C08K 3/36 (2006.01); C08K 5/58 (2006.01)
CPC C08J 3/203 (2013.01) [B29B 7/183 (2013.01); B29B 7/48 (2013.01); B60C 1/0016 (2013.01); C08K 3/04 (2013.01); C08K 3/36 (2013.01); C08K 5/58 (2013.01); C08L 9/06 (2013.01); C08L 2203/30 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A rubber composition manufacturing method comprising an operation in which an intermeshing internal kneader equipped with a casing, at least two rotors which are capable of rotating within the casing, a neck portion which is located above the rotors, and a ram which is capable of moving vertically in a space within the neck portion is used to knead at least rubber, silica, and silane coupling agent, wherein
the operation comprises a first step in which kneading which is accompanied by increase in kneading temperature is carried out during an initial phase of the operation;
the operation comprises a second step in which, after the first step, kneading is carried out while the kneading temperature is controlled so as to suppress occurrence of a coupling reaction between the silica and the silane coupling agent, rotational speeds of the rotors being controlled by means of PID control to cause the kneading temperature to be a target temperature at the second step;
the target temperature is not less than 100° C. but less than 140° C.,
kneading is carried out during the first step while the ram is maintained in a state in which it is at a first position which is higher than a lowermost position within a range of movement of which the ram is capable; and
a volume of space which is enclosed by the ram and the casing when the ram is at the lowermost position to be a first effective volume, and a volume of space which is enclosed by the ram and the casing when the ram is at the first position to be a second effective volume, the second effective volume is 105% to 120% relative to a value of 100% for the first effective volume during the first step.