Apparatus for the extrusion of plastic net and net like structures

Claim 1

A die for the extrusion of a flowable polymer which compriseS at least two die members, means for moving one of said die members in vertical direction, at least one forming surface on each of said die members, said forming surfaces being in position to coact to open and close upon vertical movement of one of the said die members for the extrusion of polymer when said forming surfaces are open, a plurality of orifices with a set predetermined opening in at least one of said die members, said orifices being separated from said forming surfaces for the continuous independent extrusion of a plurality of separate longitudinal strands of polymer, means for supplying polymer to said orifices and forming surfaces, said forming surfaces and orifices being positioned in said die members to direct the extruded polymer therefrom to join together and bond into a unitary structure subsequent to extrusion and in which there are only two said die members, each of said die members having a plurality of orifices, the orifices in one die member being angled towards the orifices of the other die member to extrude two sets of said strands towards each other, said die members having two flowing surfaces thereon, the forming surfaces of each die member being positioned in between the orifices of the die members, the forming surfaces on each die member being convergent towards each other in the direction of extrusion with the forming surfaces of one die member meeting at a predetermined point to form an extension which projects down below said orifices to keep said two first groups from contacting each other when the forming surfaces of the die members are closed to polymer flow whereby when said die members are vertically moved to move said forming surfaces apart to permit polymer to flow therebetween, said juncture is moved to permit the two sets of strands to flow against the polymer being extruded from between the forming surfaces.