Abstract: A braiding extruder for making braided products from extrusible material. The braiding extruder includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, a rotatable member driving system, and an orifice blocking arrangement. The rotatable members each include a pair of orifices for extruding a strands of extrusible material therethrough. The orifices are fluidly coupled to a source of pressurized extrusible material. The driving system rotates the first rotatable member clockwise about a first axis of rotation, and rotates the second rotatable member counter-clockwise about a second axis of rotation, parallel to the first axis of rotation. The orifice blocking arrangement selectively permits and prevents the extrusion of the extrusible material from the orifices. The orifices, the driving system, and the orifice blocking arrangement extrude and braid at least three strands of extrusible material.

Abstract: A process for forming extruded multi-strand products. The process providing a braiding extruder which includes a first rotatable member, a second rotatable member, a rotatable member driving system, and an orifice blocking arrangement. The rotatable members each include a pair of orifices for extruding a strands of extrusible material therethrough. The orifices are fluidly coupled to a source of pressurized extrusible material. The process includes (i) blocking unblocked orifices, (ii) preventing the extrusion of extrusible material from each blocked orifice, (iii) unblocking blocked orifices, (iv) extruding a strand of extrusible material from each unblocked orifice, and (v) alternately rotating the adjacent rotatable members in opposite directions. The process automatically forms a visually attractive product which reaps the benefits of the "hand made" appeal normally associated with braiding.