Importance

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Abstract

A die and cutter assembly for an extruder for producing an extruded food piece containing a filling includes an elongated annular extrusion member with an extrusion wall formed on a first end thereof, a closed extrusion end formed adjacent said extrusion wall, and an opened feed end formed on a second, opposite end of said elongated annular extrusion member attachable in fluid communication with a manifold of the extruder. Furthermore, a filling tube extends into the elongated annular extrusion member and includes an extension formed on the elongated annular extrusion member substantially at a right angle thereto. A tube extension is formed on the filling tube substantially at a right angle thereto and located within the extension of the elongated annular extrusion member. In addition, an extrusion die is formed on the extension of the elongated annular extrusion member and a cutter member having an opened driveable end, an elongated cutter wall, and an opened cutter end with a cutting surface for cutting extrudate to a desired length as the extrudate exits the die is disposed at least partially over and reciprocally slideable on the extrusion wall and operably connectable at the driveable end to a drive device for reciprocatably sliding the cutter member over and away from the extrusion die.

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First Claim