centerline to centerline intervals or a uniform pitch across the width of the equalizer plate 72 the throughholes 92 receive flowable thermoplastic material from the channels 62 in inlet plate 48 and define individual liquid inlets supplying flowable thermoplastic material to equalizer plate 74 the channels 62 and the throughholes 92 collectively define a second stage or level of lateral and vertical thermoplastic material distribution in the linear flow equalizer 40 equalizer plate 74 is positioned downstream of equalizer plate 72 and includes a plurality of slotted flow passageways 94 extending vertically through the thickness of plate 74 from an upstream inlet to a downstream outlet a major axis of each slotted flow passageway 94 is aligned generally in the cross machine direction 45 the center of each slotted flow passageway 94 is registered on an upstream surface 99 of equalizer plate 74 in substantial vertical alignment with one of the throughholes 92 in equalizer plate 72 throughholes 92 and channels 62 cooperate to also divide the flow of thermoplastic material into two separate laterally extending rows as a result opposed curved terminal or closed ends 96 98 of each slotted flow passageway 94 are substantially centered or symmetrical in the cross machine direction 45 relative to the corresponding throughhole 92 with continued reference to fig3 equalizer plate 76 is positioned downstream of equalizer plate 74 and includes a plurality of flow passageways in the form of circular bores or thoughholes 100 extending vertically through the thickness of plate.