Importance

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Abstract

This invention comprises a method and apparatus for optimizing a rubber manufacturing process having multiple process steps, wherein the process steps can be adjusted during the manufacturing process to achieve a desired rubber product, the method comprising obtaining a rubber material sample during the manufacturing process; analyzing the rubber material sample to generate processability data; comparing the generated processability data with known processability data; determining any process adjustments required to achieve optimal processability of the rubber material sample; and means for implementing the process adjustments during the rubber manufacturing process to achieve a desired rubber product. This invention utilizes rubber material samples taken at any stage of the rubber manufacturing production process and tests those samples using rheological testing equipment. The data obtained from the rheological testing equipment is sent to a central database and store for future use and used to determine the quality and processability of the rubber material sample. Evaluation and decision-making software analyzes the processability data and compares that data to known processability data to determine the most appropriate processability parameters for the batch. Once the evaluation and decision-making software has chosen a course of action, the production parameters are sent to their respective production equipment for processing the batch accordingly. This testing, evaluating, decision-making, and executing process can be repeated at any and all production steps to obtain a desired rubber product.

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First Claim