Abstract:
A process and apparatus for the production of an extruded article having two or more distinct characteristics, and which are capable of producing such an extruded article wherein differing characteristics, such as color, texture, taste and the like, can be positioned as desired in the extruded article. The apparatus is equipped with a pair of mixing screws (2a, 2b) which are situated in their respective mixing barrels (3a, 3b). Each of the mixing barrels (3a, 3b) is arranged and connected in flow path communication with a common manifold (4), which in turn is arranged and connected in flow path communication with two or more flow stream conduits (5, 6) which receive the respective flow streams from the barrels/mixing screws portion (2a, 2b, 3a, 3b) of the extruder, the streams then being fed into their respective distributor cavities (7, 8) which are in communication with extrusion means (9) having recombining means (10) and die means (13).