Patent ID: 6971865

Claim:
A manifold for distributing flowing plastic from an extruder to multiple extrusion passages of an extrusion die assembly comprising: an upstream manifold section having an inlet for receiving said flowing plastic from said extruder, said upstream manifold section constructed with at least two distribution passages each of said passages extending from said inlet to an outlet in a downstream face of said upstream manifold section; a downstream manifold section constructed with at least two distribution passages for receiving flowing plastic from said upstream manifold section, each of said passages extending from an inlet in an upstream face of said downstream manifold section to an outlet in a downstream face of said downstream manifold section, said downstream manifold section connected to said extrusion die assembly to supply flowing plastic to the passages thereof; a valve mounted in each of said at least two manifold distribution passages, constructed with an internal passage extending from an upstream opening to a downstream opening, said valves mounted to connect the distribution passages of said upstream and downstream manifold sections to form continuous passages; and wherein said valves are constructed to selectively restrict the flow of plastic within its internal passage, and wherein said valves are independently adjustable to allow independent regulation of the plastic flow through said manifold distribution passages.