Abstract: An extrusion die an be produced and reclaimed precisely, quickly and easily in an economical way, possesses a high abrasive-resistant property and a prolonged life, produces light-weight honeycomb structures having thin partition walls and provides a large reaction surface area within the honeycomb structure for the catalyst to contact with the exhaust gases, in addition to smooth passage of the exhaust gases with little pressure loss thereof, and mitigates or eliminates the drawbacks of conventional dies.

Abstract: An apparatus for supplying constant amount of ceramic batches includes a cylinder having a cover adapted to be opened for receiving ceramic material in the cylinder and closed and locked when the ceramic material is compressed, a piston telescopically moving in the cylinder with a clearance therebetween, a taper portion provided on the cylinder and tapered toward a discharge opening of the taper portion to compact the ceramic material compressed by the piston toward the taper portion, and cutting means at the discharge opening. With this apparatus, the indefinite ceramic material is automatically transformed into constant shape and constant amount batches which are supplied into a predetermined apparatus simply in short time. The compacting and deaerating of the ceramic batches can be effected during the operation of supplying the constant batches.

Abstract: A kneader includes a vessel having an upper cover, at least one mixing blade provided in the vessel for mixing or kneading a powder material supplied in the vessel, sealing means for sealing between the vessel and ends of a shaft of the mixing blade extending through the vessel, bearings for supporting the shaft of the mixing blade on both the sides, blade driving means provided at one end of the shaft of the mixing blade. Each of the sealing means is provided on a side of the vessel with at least one air purge opening through which air is caused to flow toward the shaft of the mixing blade or into an interior of the vessel to form the sealing means as an air sealing construction, thereby completely preventing the powder material to be mixed from leaking through clearances between the vessel and the shaft by jetting air from the air sealing construction into the vessel.