Patent ID: 8211343

Claim:
A method for extruding a rubber compound, the method comprising the steps of: providing an extruder, a die with a die opening the cross-section of which comprises a first area with a dimension which is higher than in a remaining area of the cross-section, and a flow channel connecting the extruder with the die; generating a flow of rubber compound with the extruder and extruding therewith the rubber compound through the flow channel and the die opening; providing a deflector shaped as a positive obstacle in the flow channel upstream the die opening, wherein the deflector is positioned in front of the first area of the cross-section of the die opening and wherein the dimension of the cross-section of the deflector is smaller than a corresponding dimension of the first area of the cross-section of the die opening so that the flow of rubber compound is slowed down in front of the first area of the cross-section of the die opening and wherein the cross-sectional shape of the deflector is similar at a reduced size to the shape of the first area of the die opening or mimics at a reduced size the shape of the first area of the die opening and wherein the deflector is positioned by at least one or more connectors for attaching the deflector to the walls upstream and in the center of the first area of the die opening such that the distance of an upper surface and a lower surface of the deflector are the same relative to inner surfaces of the first area of the die opening and wherein the at least one or more connectors are spaced away from the die opening to allow the rubber compound on each side of the connectors to unite before entering the die opening; and stabilizing the rubber flow before reaching the die opening by allowing the rubber compound flow on each side of the connector to unite when leaving the connector.