| 摘要 |
An extrusion die apparatus adapted for coupling to the outlet end of an extruder barrel and corresponding methods of use are described. The die apparatus, when so coupled to the extruder barrel, has 1) an inlet-end chamber downstream of and in communication with the interior of the extruder barrel, 2) a secondary chamber downstream of and in communication with the inlet-end chamber, and 3) a plurality of individual, spaced die-outlet orifices downstream of and in communication with the secondary chamber. The die apparatus includes manually or automatically controllable inserts for controlling the operating pressures within the chambers and outlet orifices. These operating pressures are adjusted so that the pressure within the inlet-end chamber, which controls cooking, is greater than the pressure within the secondary chamber, and the pressure within the secondary chamber is greater than the pressure within each outlet orifice. In operation, the die apparatus receives product from the extruder barrel. The product is sequentially and continuously passed through the inlet-end chamber, the secondary chamber, and the outlet orifices, and is thereby subjected to a specific operating pressure within each chamber or outlet orifice. The pressures within the outlet orifices are individually adjusted so that the velocities of the final extrudate exiting the die apparatus are substantially the same. This final extrudate is cut by a knife as it emerges from the extruder barrel into pellets having consistent lengths.
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