Patent ID: 8388331

Claim:
A liquid stream combining apparatus for combining at least two liquid streams in layers, comprising (a) a component A having numerous slits therein through which the respective liquid streams are passed, each slit having a length in the respective liquid stream flow direction, a width in a slit width direction perpendicular to the respective liquid stream flow direction, and a clearance in a direction perpendicular to both the respective liquid stream flow direction and the slit width direction, the clearance being smaller than the width, (b) a component B having a first stream combining section therein for combining numerous layered liquid streams in a predetermined order each of which is formed with each of the liquid streams only upon passing the respective slits and for forming a first layered liquid stream, (c) wherein two or more of the component A are provided independently of each other in a direction along the slit width direction and two or more of the component B are also provided independently of each other in a direction along the slit width direction, (d) components C each of which has a liquid retaining section therein for receiving the respective liquid stream to be supplied to the liquid stream combining apparatus and for supplying the respective liquid streams to the respective components A, and (e) a component D which has a second stream combining section therein for combining the first layered liquid streams formed by the respective components B, in layers in a predetermined order, to form a second layered liquid stream further comprising slit plates and liquid stream introducing plates, wherein components A are formed in respective slit plates and components C are formed in respective liquid stream introducing plates, each liquid stream introducing plate being positioned for the flow of liquid from the component C of the liquid stream introducing plate to the component A of at least one of the slit plates.