Abstract: A novel cooperative blade construction for the rotor and bed knives of a size reduction machine such as a granulator and the like wherein each of the blades are of an overall chevron configuration so as to form a generally trapezoidal opening therebetween. As the blades progressively move past each other, the height of the trapezoidal opening is reduced such that articles to be granulated are initially contacted at opposed laterally spaced points on opposite sides thereof such that articles are clamped and progressively cut with a minimum of energy consumption, noise and fines production. The generally centrally located peaks of the rotor blades and the bed knife blades are also arcuately displaced away from a radial plane passing through the opposite side portions. The blades progressively move past each other while maintaining an equal cutting gap therebetween.

Abstract: A knife adjustment system including a normally non-rotatable quill threadably attached to a hub outwardly extending from the face of an extrusion die at a point proximal said face in order to insure that the operating temperatures of such quill and hub at the connection location are generally equal. Adjustment means for threadably rotating the quill with respect to the hub so as to in turn adjust the spacing of cutter knives with regard to the die face in the form of a planetary gear system located at that end of the hub distal from the die face is further included. The knives are fixed to a knife carrier and in turn supported for rotation about the quill.

Abstract: This invention relates to size reduction apparatus and particularly to a novel feed device thereof and method of feeding sheet material thereto. A first baffle is adapted to extend into the cutting chamber simultaneously towards the cutting rotor and a downstroke wall portion from which a bed knife is adapted to extend into cutting contact with knife means mounted on the rotor. Such construction, in effect, enables the simultaneous formation of a variable width sheet feed opening to the granulator as well as means for restraining a portion of already granulated material on the upstroke side of the rotor from contacting the sheet material as it is fed between the rotor and bed knife. A secondary baffle may in turn be disposed in contact with the first baffle so as to close a secondary or housing opening disposed between the first baffle and a pair of upwardly spaced feed rolls.

Abstract: A pellet cooling system including a novel coolant cage construction and operational manner so as to insure the cooling of warm thermoplastic pellets as they emerge from a die head and are cut by rotating knives is disclosed. After cooling, as by entrainment in coolant flows simultaneously directed peripherally about the cage sides and radially across the front face thereof, the pellets are immediately withdrawn from the cage. Additionally, a feature of the coolant cage is the provision of a novel slinger for distributing a coolant flow evenly over its front face.

Abstract: An extrusion pelletizing process is disclosed wherein coolant is injected into the stream of thermoplastic material being extruded in such a fashion to interrupt the flow thereof and form discrete material lengths thereof as the material moves through the extrusion die and exits at the other end thereof in the form of pellets. The coolant is permitted to at least partially vaporize upon contact with the material stream and accordingly forms a solidified shell therearound including end portions of adjacent pellets so as to effectively separate such as they pass through the die. Such system enables the formation of discrete material lengths or pellets without the need of conventional cutting apparatus such as knives and the attendant support equipment necessary in their use.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a knife construction adapted for positioning within cut out seat portions of a rotor. The base of the knife is provided with a downwardly extending relatively narrow leg at the front face thereof which is adapted to engage base portions of the rotor seat so as to form an area of high sealing contact between the engaging surfaces and thus prevent liquified, i.e. fluid acting under high pressures, plastic material from flowing underneath the knife and thus undesirably altering its position vis-a-vis the rotor. A further embodiment includes an elevated or stepped pad forming the seat for receipt of the knife, the stepped or elevated front face of the pad forming a continuation of the blade face of the knife so as to distribute the forces imparted by such liquified plastic material over a larger combined area and thus reduce the force thereof upon the knife/seat interface.

Abstract: A pellet cooling system including a novel coolant cage construction and operational manner so as to insure the cooling of warm thermoplastic pellets as they emerge from a die head and are cut by rotating knives is disclosed. After cooling, as by entrainment in coolant flows simultaneously directed peripherally about the cage sides and radially across the front face thereof, the pellets are immediately withdrawn from the cage. Additionally, a feature of the coolant cage is the provision of a novel slinger for distributing a coolant flow evenly over its front face.