Patent ID: 6991448

Claim:
Apparatus for forming a honeycomb body which comprises: a die having an inlet face comprising peripheral feed holes and central feed holes, and an outlet face comprising interconnected discharge slots forming peripheral and central pins, wherein a cavity is formed in a plurality of peripheral pins at the outlet face for forming an outer skin on the honeycomb body; a skin-forming assembly positioned downstream from the die and adjacent the cavity at the outlet face, wherein the skin-forming assembly comprises a flow controller and a mask; wherein the flow controller and the mask are independent in movement; wherein the flow controller comprises a plurality of segments movable in an axial direction to batch flow; a peripheral feed flow device positioned upstream from the die, and adjacent the inlet face of the die, wherein the peripheral feed flow device comprises a plurality of segments movable in a radial direction to batch flow; and, adjustment means external to the extrusion apparatus for controlling the operation of the skin-forming assembly, and the peripheral feed flow device without interruption to the operation of the extrusion apparatus.