Method and apparatus for producing a curly puff extrudate

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The present invention comprises a nicking blade apparatus that nicks the curly puff extrudate rather than cutting it.
The nicks create a series of weak points in the curly puff extrudate.
The weak points are strong enough to keep the curly puff extrudate connected during the conveying process.
However, when the curly puff extrudate is further processed in an oven or fryer, the curly puff extrudate breaks at the nicks, separating the curly puff extrudate into individual pieces.
In order to properly facilitate the nicking process while the extrudate is in the plastic melt state, the nicking should occur as close to the diehead as possible.
The tube is separated from the diehead so that a blade may access the diehead orifice.
The resulting separation also allows steam from the expanding extrudate to vent instead of proceeding through the tube.
The release of steam allows the curly puff extrudate to flow more smoothly through the tube and helps prevent plugging and surging.
The proposed invention also comprises a tube positioning device that positions the tube over the diehead orifice during operation, but removes the tube away from the diehead orifice during start-up and shutdown.
Removal of the tube from over the orifice is desired during start-up and shutdown because the extrudate tends to surge during these periods and plugs the tube.
In order to facilitate nicks of different depths, a blade positioning device is also disclosed.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention utilizes a nicking blade for every orifice.
However, as some die configurations will not allow a nicking blade for every orifice, a central blade apparatus for nicking multiple orifices is also disclosed.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention also utilizes an oven or fryer to separate the nicked curly puff extrudate.
However, under certain circumstances, an oven or fryer is not preferable, so alternate separation devices are also disclosed.
Alternative separation devices include a paddle wheel, a vibrating conveyer, and a tumbler