Extrusion die systems, die changers, and related methods

An extrusion die system for use in flowable material processing systems, comprising:

• a die changer comprising:
• a die changer housing having a main supply feed bore therethrough for directing a flowable material and a channel oriented transversely to the main supply feed bore;
• and
• a slide plate movable through the channel and transverse to a direction of flow through the bore, the slide plate comprising an upstream slide plate surface, a downstream slide plate surface, and an elongate body having a first section and a second section, a first bore extending through the first section of the elongate body of the slide plate and a second bore extending through the second section of the elongate body of the slide plate;
• a first die securable to the slide plate at the downstream slide plate surface to be aligned with the first bore in the first section of the elongate body of the slide plate;
• a second die securable to the slide plate at the downstream slide plate surface to be aligned with the second bore in the second section of the elongate body of the slide plate;
• and
• the slide plate of the die changer being movable within the channel of the die changer housing between a first position where the first bore in the first section of the elongate body of the slide plate and the first die are aligned with the main supply feed bore so that the flowable material is directed through the first bore and the first die and a second position where the second bore in the second section of the elongate body of the slide plate and the second die are aligned with the main supply feed bore so that the flowable material is directed through the second bore and the second die.

A die changer for changing of dies in and out of an extrusion line, the die changer comprising:

• a die changer housing having a main supply feed bore therethrough for directing a flowable material and a channel oriented transversely to the main supply feed bore;
• and
• a slide plate movable through the channel and transverse to a direction of flow through the bore, the slide plate comprising an upstream slide plate surface, a downstream slide plate surface, and an elongate body having a first section and a second section, a first bore extending through the first section of the elongate body of the slide plate and a second bore extending through the second section of the elongate body of the slide plate;
• and
• the slide plate of the die changer being movable within the channel of the die changer housing between a first position where the first bore in the first section of the elongate body of the slide plate is aligned with the main supply feed bore so that the flowable material is directed through the first bore to a first die and a second position where the second bore in the second section of the elongate body of the slide plate is aligned with the main supply feed bore so that the flowable material is directed through the second bore to a second die.