Cut extrudate dispersal hood

摘要

A product-spreading hood assembly (10) for use with a die unit (128) includes a deflector (14) having wall structure defining a product inlet opening (90) and a product outlet opening (92); the deflector (14) is preferably generally frustoconical in shape and is supported by a housing (12). An optional air delivery assembly (16) allows air currents to be directed from the area of the inlet (90) towards outlet (92) to facilitate separation of discrete products. Advantageously, the air currents are delivered in a circumferential fashion about the die unit (128). Use of the hood assembly (10) serves to separate high moisture or “sticky” extrudates, thereby preventing agglomeration thereof.

主权项

1. A combination comprising:
a material processing device having an outlet die unit presenting a generally horizontal axis, the device operable to generate discrete products; and a product-spreading hood assembly adjacent said outlet die unit in order to maintain separation of said discrete products issuing from said outlet die unit, said hood assembly comprising
a deflector having a wall structure defining a product inlet opening with a first cross-sectional area, and a product outlet opening with a second cross-sectional area greater than said first cross-sectional area, said product outlet opening presenting an outer margin, said wall structure including a generally frustoconical wall section presenting a central longitudinal axis, said frustoconical wall section located and diverging outwardly from said central longitudinal axis between said product inlet and said product outlet;a structure mounting said deflector in a generally horizontal orientation with said deflector central longitudinal axis extending substantially horizontally; andproduct delivery structure a located proximal to said product outlet opening and oriented to receive products therefrom, said product delivery structure having sidewalls presenting a product delivery opening located outboard of said product outlet opening's outer margin so that the products received from said product outlet opening gravitate through said product delivery opening in a direction transverse to said central longitudinal axis,said product inlet opening located at least in part about said die unit so that said discrete products are directed into said deflector; and said deflector wall structure comprising a plurality of wall segments which are movable from a closed position cooperatively defining the reflector, and an open position wherein said wall segments are separated.