Apparatus and method for extruding stripes onto an extruded product

A method for extruding a material onto an extruded product with one or more longitudinal stripes incorporated on the surface of the extruded product, the method comprising:

• providing a body having a substantially tubular shape;
• providing a primary feed conduit extending through the body for conveying a primary extrusion material;
• providing a secondary feed conduit mounted downstream of the primary feed conduit for conveying a secondary extrusion material;
• providing a primary extrusion head mounted in the body;
• providing a secondary extrusion head mounted in the body downstream from the primary extrusion head;
• providing a striping die with a downstream side, wherein the striping die is mounted downstream from the primary extrusion head;
• providing a striping die adapter removably connectable to the downstream side of the striping die;
• and
• providing a striping feed conduit extending through the striping die adapter for conveying striping extrusion material;
• wherein the striping die comprises one or more striping extrusion outlets for delivering striping extrusion material onto the extruded product, the downstream end of the striping die comprises a flow channel in fluid communication with the one or more striping extrusion outlets.

A method for extruding an outer material onto an extruded product with one or more longitudinal stripes incorporated onto the surface of the extruded product comprising:

• providing a body;
• providing a die retainer mounted to the body;
• and
• providing a striping die mounted in the die retainer;
• providing a striping die adapter removably connectable to the striping die and an extruder nipple removably connected to the striping die adapter;
• wherein the striping die comprises one or more striping extrusion outlets for delivering striping extrusion material onto the extruded product.