apparatus for introducing starting materials into the shearing gap of a machine for producing plastic films , ribbons , foils or plates . a plasticized plastic starting material is severed into strings having a length substantially equal to the working width of the shearing gap and the resultant strings are introduced into the shearing gap substantially simultaneously over the width of the gap . the apparatus greatly increases the capacity of the machine , the homogeneity of the product over the entire width and the capability of the machine to supply a greater number of starting materials .