EXTRUSION APPARATUS FOR EXTRUDING CONTINUOUS LAYER OF EXTRUDATE

摘要

A process for extruding and depositing an extrudate having a substantially continuous flow profile onto a substrate comprises dividing the extrudable fluid into a plurality of individual streams consecutively spaced along the width of the substrate, and then causing the individual streams of the extrudable fluid to widen widthwise and preferably connect just prior to bei ng deposited onto the substrate. An extrusion apparatus, has an inlet and an outlet and comprises, in its preferred embodiment, a housing having a cavity and a removable shim having a plurality of slits therethrough and sized for insertion into the cavity of the housing for a close-fitting relationship therewith such that the plurality of the slits form the plurality of flow channels structured to transport the individual streams of the extrudable fluid from the inlet to the outlet. The slits of the shim are divergently flared at the outlet to facilitate widening of the individual streams of the extrudable fluid. Preferably, the shim is recessed relative to the outlet.