Patent ID: 8287262

Claim:
An apparatus for producing a non-homogenously mixed extrudate, comprising, in combination: means for supplying a first product mass substream disposed within a first subpassageway having an interior surface and a second mass substream disposed within a second subpassageway having an interior surface; an interconnecting passage in communication with the first and second subpassageways; an exit port in communication with the interconnecting passage; a transition element including an upstream face, a downstream face, and a peripheral edge extending between the upstream and downstream faces, with the peripheral edge corresponding to and for slideable receipt in the interconnecting passage; first and second sets of subpassages extending between the upstream and downstream faces of the transition element; first and second channels extending from the upstream face towards but spaced from the downstream face, with the first channel being in communication with the first subpassageway and the first set of subpassages but not with the second subpassageway and the second set of subpassages, with the second channel being in communication with the second subpassageway and the second set of subpassages but not in communication with the first subpassageway and the first set of subpassages; and a static mixer located in the interconnecting passage intermediate the exit port and the downstream face of the transition element.