Ceramic material extruding method and apparatus therefor

An apparatus for forming a ceramic extrudate to be subsequently extruded into a formed ceramic body through a plunger molding machine, said apparatus comprising of vacuum auger machine consisting essentially of:

• a vacuum kneading section for kneading a ceramic material to produce a ceramic batch;
• an extrudate body forming section for forming the kneaded ceramic batch into a formed extrudate body;
• a batch transfer section having an auger for transferring the ceramic batch from said kneading section to said extrudate body forming section;
• and
• a grid drum having a grid provided on an exit side of said batch transfer section between said kneading section and said extrudate body forming section, such that said grid loosens and crushes the kneaded ceramic batch to remove laminations therefrom before said batch is transferred into said extrudate body forming section.

An apparatus for forming a ceramic extrudate to be subsequently extruded into a formed ceramic body through a plunger molding machine, said apparatus comprising a vacuum auger machine consisting essentially of:

• a vacuum kneading section for kneading a ceramic material to produce a ceramic batch;
• an extrudate body forming section for forming the kneaded ceramic batch into a formed extrudate body;
• a batch transfer section having an auger for transferring the ceramic batch from said kneading section to said extrudate body forming section;
• and
• a grid drum having a grid provided on an exit side of said batch transfer section between said kneading section and said extrudate body forming section, such that said grid loosens and crushes the kneaded ceramic batch to remove laminations therefrom before said batch is transferred into said extrudate body forming section, said grid comprising a plurality of grid members, each having a cross-sectional shape which is streamlined in a sectional plane substantially perpendicular to a flowing direction of the ceramic batch.