Process and apparatus for forming and rearranging partial streams of molten materials processed in an extruder for making thermoplastic and/or elastomeric products

Apparatus for dividing and rearranging a stream of molten material in an extruder wherein the molten stream has a peripheral boundary layer, said apparatus comprising:

• at least one annular distributing disc provided on an entrance side with an annular series of openings for dividing the molten stream into sector-like partial streams each including a respective strip of the peripheral boundary layer of the molten stream, and being provided on an exit side with two approximately concentric annular series of openings;
• adjacent ones of the entrance openings of the disc being connected to respective ones of the exit openings of the disc by passages in the form of bores succeeding the entrance openings and extending through the disc radially inwardly and radially outwardly, respectively, such that the partial streams flow through the bores in the disc and recombine back into a molten stream on the exit side of the disc in a different relationship in two approximately concentric annular regions with adjacent strips of the initial peripheral boundary layer located in peripheral and interior portions, respectively, of the recombined molten stream.

Apparatus for dividing and rearranging a stream of molten material in an extruder wherein the molten stream has a peripheral boundary layer, said apparatus comprising:

• an extruder having a feed screw and a shaft connected thereto;
• an annular distributing disc secured to the shaft of the feed screw of the extruder and formed with passages which extend at an angle to each other and divide the molten stream into partial streams each including a respective strip of the boundary layer, and which cause said partial streams to be recombined in a different relation to each other back into a molten stream with adjacent strips of the initial boundary layer adjacent peripheral and interior portions, respectively, of the recombined molten stream, the distributing disc being provided with bores which define the passages and which terminate on an entrance side of the disc in a circular series of openings, and adjacent ones of said bores extending through the disc radially outwardly and radially inwardly, respectively.