Abstract: A process for producing a ceramic honeycomb extrusion die including at least ceramic material feed holes and forming channels. The process includes the steps of preparing a ceramic honeycomb extrusion die base body having a given size by machining, detecting differences in extruding speeds of a ceramic material extruded through the forming channels, sealing of openings of the ceramic material feed holes corresponding to the forming channels having greater extruding speeds of the ceramic material based on the detected differences, feeding the ceramic material through the ceramic material feed holes corresponding to the forming channels having smaller extruding speeds of the ceramic material, and repeating the preceding steps number of times necessary for adjusting and substantially making uniform flow resistance of all ceramic material flow paths of the entire die. The ceramic material flow paths are constituted by the ceramic material feed holes and the forming channels.

Abstract: An improved fluidizing apparatus includes a gas distribution plate which is supported by support means located below the level of the gas distribution plate. The support means comprises beam members extending across the interior of the vessel and a number of rods standing upright on the beam members, with the gas distribution plate placed on the uppermost ends of the rods. The support means can also include annular members made integral with the beam members and/or a projection or projections projecting inward from the inner wall surface of the vessel. A number of rods can stand upright on the annular members.