1460728181-ba73040c-d82e-42c6-b565-4e1237c2ed0c

What is claimed is:

1. A method of manufacturing a pad, said method including:
providing a forming screen with at least one outwardly projecting nob;
rotating said forming screen whereby said forming screen has a first tangential velocity;
forming the pad on said forming screen wherein the pad completely encircles said at least one nob, the pad having a first surface disposed in contact with said forming screen and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface;
providing a moving transfer surface adjacent the second surface of the pad, said transfer surface moving in a direction substantially corresponding to the movement of the adjacent second surface, said transfer surface moving at a second velocity which is at least as great as said first velocity;
engaging said transfer surface with the adjacent second surface; and
transferring the pad to said transfer surface wherein a trailing edge of said nob exerts a compressive force on the pad, said compressive force including a component vector directed towards said transfer surface.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the second surface of the pad is intersected by said nob.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein said transfer surface is a flat surface.
4. The method of claim 3 wherein said second velocity is greater than said first velocity.
5. The method of claim 3 wherein said second velocity is at least about 102 percent of said first velocity.
6. The method of claim 3 wherein said second velocity is at least about 103 percent of said first velocity.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein said transfer surface is a cylindrical surface.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein said forming screen includes a plurality of outwardly projecting nobs.
9. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one nob is reattachably secured to said forming screen.
10. The method of claim 9 wherein said at least one nob is threadingly attachable.
11. The method of claim 1 wherein said at least one nob has a distal end and side walls extending from said forming screen to said distal end, said nob having a first cross sectional area at said forming screen and a second cross sectional area at said distal end, at least a portion of said side walls having an inward inclination of at least about 5 degrees.
12. The method of claim 11 wherein said at least one nob is a frustum.
13. The method of claim 1 wherein said transferring step further includes using a vacuum to attract the pad to the transfer surface.
14. A method of manufacturing a pad, said method including:
providing a forming screen, said forming screen defining a first cylindrical surface with a first radius and having at least one outwardly projecting nob;
rotating said forming screen whereby said forming screen has a first tangential velocity;
forming the pad on said forming screen whereby the pad completely encircles said at least one nob, the pad having a first surface disposed in contact with said forming screen and a second surface disposed opposite the first surface;
providing a rotatable transfer surface adjacent the second surface of the pad, said transfer surface defining a second cylindrical surface with a second radius;
engaging said transfer surface with the second surface of the pad at a second tangential velocity which is at least as great as said first velocity, said forming screen and said transfer surface having opposite rotational directions; and
transferring the pad to said transfer surface wherein a trailing edge of said nob exerts a compressive force on the pad, said compressive force including a component vector directed towards said transfer surface.
15. The method of claim 14 wherein the second surface of the pad is intersected by said nob.
16. The method of claim 14 wherein said second velocity is greater than said first velocity.
17. The method of claim 14 wherein said second velocity is at least about 101 percent of said first velocity.
18. The method of claim 14 wherein said second velocity is at least about 102 percent of said first velocity.
19. The method of claim 14 wherein said second velocity is at least about 103 percent of said first velocity.
20. The method of claim 14 wherein said at least one nob has a distal end and side walls extending from said forming screen to said distal end, said nob having a first cross sectional area at said forming screen and a second cross sectional area at said distal end, said first cross sectional area being greater than said second cross sectional area, at least a portion of said side walls having an inward inclination of least about 5 degrees.
21. The method of claim 20 wherein said at least one nob is a frustum.
22. The method of claim 14 wherein said forming screen has a plurality of outwardly projecting nobs.
23. The method of claim 14 wherein said at least one nob is reattachably secured to said forming screen.
24. The method of claim 23 wherein said at least one nob is threadingly attachable.
25. The method of claim 14 wherein said first radius is substantially equivalent to said second radius.
26. The method of claim 14 wherein said first radius is larger than said second radius.
27. The method of claim 14 wherein said transferring step further includes using a vacuum to attract the pad to the transfer surface.
28. An apparatus for manufacturing a pad, said apparatus comprising:
a rotatable forming screen, said forming screen having a generally cylindrical surface and at least one outwardly projecting nob, said at least one outwardly projecting nob interiorly positioned on said forming screen whereby said forming screen circumscribes said nob, said forming screen being rotatable at a rate defining a first tangential velocity;
a material source positioned adjacent said forming screen whereby a material layer is depositable on said forming screen and said at least one nob is circumscribable by the material layer, the material layer thereby forming the pad and having a first surface disposed in contact with said forming screen and a second surface disposed opposite said first layer;
a moveable transfer surface, said transfer surface being engageable with the second surface of the material layer, said transfer surface being moveable in a direction substantially corresponding to the movement of the engageable material layer and at a second velocity, said second velocity being at least as great as said first velocity;
a means for attracting the material layer to said transfer surface; and
a thrust surface disposed on a trailing edge of said at least one nob, said thrust surface imparting a compressive force on the engageable material layer as said forming screen and said transfer surface respectively move at said first and second velocities, said compressive force including a component vector directed towards said transfer surface.
29. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said transfer surface is a substantially flat surface.
30. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said second velocity is greater than said first velocity.
31. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said second velocity is at least about 102 percent of said first velocity.
32. The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said second velocity is at least about 103 percent of said first velocity.
33. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said transfer surface is a substantially cylindrical surface.
34. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said forming screen includes a plurality of outwardly projecting nobs interiorly positioned on said forming screen whereby said forming screen circumscribes each of said plurality of nobs.
35. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said at least one nob is reattachable on said forming screen.
36. The apparatus of claim 35 further comprising a threaded fastener securing said at least one nob.
37. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said at least one nob has a distal end and side walls extending from said forming screen to said distal end, said nob having a first cross sectional area at said forming screen and second cross sectional area at said distal end, at a portion of said side walls having an inward inclination of at least about 5 degrees.
38. The apparatus of claim 37 wherein said at least one nob is a frustum.
39. The apparatus of claim 28 further comprising a scarfing device, said scarfing device positioned to remove excess material disposed outwardly of a distal end of said at least one nob.
40. The apparatus of claim 28 wherein said means for attracting the material layer comprises a vacuum source disposed in operative communication with said transfer surface.
41. An apparatus for manufacturing a pad, said apparatus comprising:
a rotatable forming screen, said forming screen defining a first generally cylindrical surface with a first radius and having at least one outwardly projecting nob, said at least one outwardly projecting nob interiorly positioned on said forming screen whereby said forming screen circumscribes said nob, said forming screen being rotatable at a rate defining a first tangential velocity;
a material source positioned adjacent said forming screen whereby a material layer is air layable on said forming screen and said at least one nob is circumscribable by the material layer, the material layer thereby forming a pad and having a first surface disposed in contact with said forming screen and a second surface disposed opposite said first layer;
a rotatable transfer surface, said transfer surface defining a second generally cylindrical surface with a second radius, said transfer surface being engageable with the second surface of the material layer, said transfer surface and said forming screen having opposed rotatable directions, said transfer surface being movable at a second tangential velocity, said second velocity being greater than said first velocity;
a vacuum source disposed in operative communication with said transfer surface whereby said material layer is attractable to said transfer surface; and
a thrust surface disposed on a trailing edge of said at least one nob, said thrust surface imparting a compressive force on the engageable material layer as said forming screen and said transfer surface respectively move at said first and second velocities, said compressive force including a component vector directed towards said transfer surface.
42. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said first radius is substantially equivalent to said second radius.
43. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said first radius is larger than said second radius.
44. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said second velocity is greater than said first velocity.
45. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said second velocity is at least about 101 percent of said first velocity.
46. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said second velocity is at least about 102 percent of said first velocity.
47. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said second velocity is at least about 103 percent of said first velocity.
48. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said forming screen includes a plurality of outwardly projecting nobs interiorly positioned on said forming screen whereby said forming screen circumscribes each of said plurality of nobs.
49. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said at least one nob is reattachable on said forming screen.
50. The apparatus of claim 49 further comprising a threaded fastener securing said at least one nob.
51. The apparatus of claim 41 wherein said at least one nob has a distal end and side walls extending from said forming screen to said distal end, said nob having a first cross sectional area at said forming screen and second cross sectional area at said distal end, a portion of said side walls having an inward inclination of at least about 5 degrees.
52. The apparatus of claim 51 wherein said at least one nob is a frustum.
53. The apparatus of claim 41 further comprising a scarfing device, said scarfing device positioned to remove excess material disposed outwardly of a distal end of said at least one nob.

The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.

1. A conjugated diene-based polymer having a monomer unit based on a conjugated diene, a monomer unit based on a compound represented by the following formula (1), and a monomer unit based on a compound represented by the following formula (2), in which at least one end of the polymer is modified with the following compound (G):
V1-S1\u2003\u2003(1)

wherein V1 represents a hydrocarbyl group having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond, and S1 represents a substituted silyl group;
V2-A2\u2003\u2003(2)
wherein V2 represents a hydrocarbyl group having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond, and A2 represents a substituted amino group, or a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group;
Compound (G): at least one kind of compound selected from the compound group consisting of a compound having an amino group optionally having a substituent and a carbonyl group, and a compound having an amino group optionally having a substituent and a thiocarbonyl group.
2. The conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 1, V2 in the formula (2) is a group represented by the following formula (2-V1):
wherein R21 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group, m is an integer of 0 or 1, and R22 represents a hydrocarbylene group.
3. The conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 1, wherein the substituted amino group of A2 is a group represented by the following formula (2-A):
wherein R25 and R26 each independently represent a hydrocarbyl group, or a trihydrocarbylsilyl group, or R25 and R26 are bonded to represent a hydrocarbylene group optionally having a R26 nitrogen atom andor an oxygen atom as a hetero atom, or R25 and R26 are one group, and represent a group which bonds to a nitrogen atom with a double bond.
4. The conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 1, wherein the compound (G) is a compound represented by the following formula (3):
wherein E represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, Z1 and Z2 each independently represent a substituted amino group, a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group optionally having a substituent, or a hydrocarbyloxy group optionally having a substituent, wherein at least one of Z1 and Z2 is a group having a substituted amino group, or Z1 and Z2 are bonded to represent a group in which a ring structure having a substituted amino group is formed by Z1, Z2 and carbonyl carbon.
5. The conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 4, wherein in the formula (3), E is an oxygen atom, Z1 is a group represented by the following formula (3-Z), and Z2 is a hydrocarbyl group or a group represented by the following formula (3-Z):
-(T)p-A3\u2003\u2003(3-Z)

wherein p is an integer of 0 or 1, T represents a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, a group represented by the following formula (3-Ta), or a group represented by the following formula (3-Tb), and A3 represents a substituted amino group and, when Z2 of the formula (3) is a hydrocarbyl group, A3 of Z1 and a hydrocarbylene group of Z2 may be bonded and, when Z2 of the formula (3) is a group represented by the formula (3-Z), A3 of Z1 and A3 of Z2 may be bonded;
-O-R31-\u2003\u2003(3-Ta)
wherein R31 represents a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R31 and A3 are bonded;
wherein R32 represents a hydrocarbylene group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, R33 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group having 1 to 10 carbon atoms, and R32 and A3 are bonded.
6. The conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 1, wherein the group represented by V1 in the formula (1) is a group represented by the following formula (1-V1), and the group represented by S1 in the formula (1) is a group represented by the following formula (1-S):
wherein R11 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group, n is an integer of 0 or 1, and R12 represents a hydrocarbylene group;
wherein X1, X2 and X3 each represent a substituted amino group, or a hydrocarbylene group optionally having a substituent, wherein at least one of X1, X2 and X3 is a substituted amino group.
7. The conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 6, wherein R11 in the formula (1-V1) is a hydrogen atom, and n in the formula (1-V1) is 0.
8. The conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 1, wherein the vinyl bonding amount of the conjugated diene-based polymer is 20 mol % or more and 70 mol % or less, relative to the content of 100 mol % of a monomer unit based on a conjugated diene.
9. A conjugated diene-based polymer composition comprising the conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 1 and a reinforcing agent, wherein the content of the reinforcing agent is 10 to 150 parts by weight per 100 parts by weight of the conjugated diene-based polymer.
10. The conjugated diene-based polymer composition according to claim 9, wherein the composition comprises silica and carbon black as the reinforcing agent, and the weight ratio of the content of silica to the content of carbon black (content of silica:content of carbon black) is 2:1 to 50:1.
11. A process for producing a conjugated diene-based polymer comprising the following step A and step B:
(Step A): a step of polymerizing a monomer component comprising a conjugated diene, a compound represented by the following formula (1) and a compound represented by the following formula (2) with an alkali metal catalyst in a hydrocarbon solvent, to obtain a polymer having an alkali metal derived from the alkali metal catalyst, at least on one end of a polymer chain having a monomer unit based on the conjugated diene, a monomer unit based on the compound represented by the following formula (1) and a monomer unit based on the compound represented by the following formula (2):
V1-S1\u2003\u2003(1)
wherein V1 represents a hydrocarbyl group having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond, and S1 represents a substituted silyl group;
V2-A2\u2003\u2003(2)
wherein V2 represents a hydrocarbyl group having a polymerizable carbon-carbon double bond, and A2 represents a substituted amino group, or a nitrogen-containing heterocyclic group;
(Step B): a step of reacting the polymer obtained in the step A with the following compound (G):
Compound (G): at least one kind of compound selected from the compound group consisting of a compound having an amino group optionally having a substituent and a carbonyl group, and a compound having an amino group optionally having a substituent and a thiocarbonyl group.
12. The process for producing a conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 11, wherein the group represented by V2 in the formula (2) is a group represented by the following formula (2-V1):
wherein R21 represents a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbyl group, m is an integer of 0 or 1, and R22 represents a hydrocarbylene group.
13. The process for producing a conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 11, wherein the substituted amino group is a group represented by the following formula (2-A):
wherein R25 and R26 each represent a hydrocarbyl group, or a trihydrocarbylsilyl group, or R25 and R26 are bonded to represent a hydrocarbylene group optionally having a nitrogen atom andor an oxygen atom as a hetero atom, or R25 and R26 are one group, and represent a group which bonds to a nitrogen atom with a double bond.
14. The process for producing a conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 11, wherein the compound (G) is a compound represented by the following formula (3):
wherein E represents an oxygen atom or a sulfur atom, Z1 and Z2 represent a substituted amino group, a hydrogen atom, a hydrocarbyl group optionally having a substituent, or a hydrocarbyloxy group optionally having a substituent, wherein at least one of Z1 and Z2 is a group having a substituted amino group, or Z1 and Z2 are bonded to represent a group in which a ring structure having a substituted amino group is formed by Z1, Z2 and carbonyl carbon.
15. The process for producing a conjugated diene-based polymer according to claim 14, wherein in the formula (3), E is an oxygen atom, Z1 is a group represented by the following formula (3-Z), and Z2 is a hydrocarbyl group or a group represented by the following formula (3-Z):
-(T)p-A3\u2003\u2003(3-Z)