Abstract: A rotary cutter assembly (11) includes a rotary cutter (74) rotated by a motor (76) through a drive including pulleys (250, 264) and a belt (326) inside of a combination guard and belt tensioner assembly (260). The rotary cutter (74) includes a cutter head (82) having integral blade holders (92) which slideably receive knives (90) in a channel (230) each having a detent (236) which is received in an aperture (91) in the knife (90) so that no fasteners or moveable parts are provided for holding the knives (90) and adjustment of the knives (90) is not needed or allowed. Guard quarters (266, 314) and a guard half (268) are moveable between closed and open positions and are held in the closed position by a single latch (325). The guard half (268) includes an idler (300) which tensions the belt (326) in the closed position.

Abstract: A pelletizing die for a pelletizer comprises a base body with holes for melt to pass through; the holes are disposed in rows. Allocated to the holes are wearing-protection inserts, having holes which are in alignment with the holes in the base body. The inserts which are disposed to adjoin each other in a row have a chordal surface where they are turned toward an adjoining insert and are provided with at least one surface of an arcuate segment of a cylinder laterally of the chordal surface.

Abstract: In a knife used in an underwater cutting granulating device for cutting and granulating a fused resin extruded from a die to a water chamber by a cutter rotated in the state where the knife is opposed to the die, the knife of the cutter has a convex guide surface for guiding a water flow in the direction of drawing it toward the die, which is formed on the surface opposite to the surface facing the die and a curved concave guide surface on the side facing the die.

Abstract: An insulation plug is disclosed for mounting in and generally filling a central recess in the die face of an extrusion die in an underwater pelletizer. The insulation plug is in the form of a rigid circular plate that substantially fills the recess in the die face oriented in opposed relation to a cutter hub and cutter knives of the underwater pelletizer and is secured in place by a fastening bolt. The insulation plug may be made of solid one piece construction or hollow two piece construction, but is made of a material having low heat conductivity. The plug has raised and recessed portions to form bottom and side air gaps within the recess. The plug reduces the transfer of heat from the molten polymer being extruded through orifices in the die plate to water circulating through a water box of the underwater pelletizer.

Abstract: A pelletizing die includes a pelletizing die member with a die exit side exposed to cooling fluid and a die entry side for receiving polymer fed thereto. The die member has a plurality of polymer channels and a plurality of extrusion orifices connected to a respective one of the channels to form a extrusion orifice section. A heating medium system has additional heating medium conduits between channels and a supply and intermediate header for heating the channels (radially from each side) and providing once in and once out heating medium flow. The die member may be formed by high temperature brazing of components using coordinated solder (Ni based or gold-nickel) and component heat treatment temperature. A thin hard face coating may be provided on raised extrusion orifice ring faces around each extrusion orifice section.

Abstract: An assembly retainer for a self-aligning pelletizer cutter hub having a self-aligning driving connection between a cutter hub and a drive shaft for the hub in which the cutter hub is capable of universal pivotal movement as well as a driving connection through diametrically located recesses and spherical balls. The retainer is supported on the hub to retain the torque transmitting balls in the recesses. In one embodiment, the balls are retained by circular plates attached to the hub in position to form a closure for an open end of each recess. In another embodiment, spring pins are inserted in passageways in the hub with one end extending into an open end of said recesses to form an obstruction in each recess.

Abstract: A die and a die assembly are disclosed for use in association with an underwater pelletizer. The die has unique coiled heating elements which allow for uniform heating of the extrusion orifices which pass through the die, reducing or eliminating polymer solidification within the die, thereby allowing the manufacture of uniform pellets of a specific geometry. The heating elements are contained within the die plate of the die, and in a preferred embodiment occupy annular grooves formed therein which are concentric with the extrusion orifice pattern. The die assembly includes thermally-insulating adaptors and gaskets which cover the annular grooves containing the heating elements.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved extrusion die assembly for controlling the flow of polymer in a melt extrusion process. The die assembly is useful for extruding low molecular weight polymer melts.

Abstract: An apparatus delivers plural molten plastic pellets into cavities for compression molding of the pellets into bottle closures or bottle closure liners. The apparatus is provided for delivering molten plastic pellets from a supply of molten plastic to a plurality of molding blocks, each molding block having a row of cavities. The molding blocks are carried on a rotating carousel. The apparatus includes a rotating multi-cutter with a plurality of cutter blades, and a manifold block which receives the extruded molten-plastic and delivers the molten plastic to a plurality of nozzles, each nozzle aligned with one or more of the cutter blades. The cutter blades remove a row of plastic pellets from the molten plastic at the nozzles and deliver the plastic pellets into one row of cavities of a molding block.

Abstract: A die for manufacturing resin pellets capable of processing a die plate easily, and achieving simplification of a construction of heat channels and enhancement of heating efficiency. A die 1 for manufacturing resin pellets provided with a number of nozzle orifices 7 in the outer surface of the die, there are provided a plurality of rows of heat channels 8 which extend in a direction crossing the resin channels 5 in the vicinity of the outer surface of the die and are arranged along the resin channels 5. At least one of an introducing course and a discharging course for a heat medium in the plurality of heat channels 8. (FIG.

Abstract: A cutter hub holder for blades acting against a die plate of an underwater pelletizer including a resilient axially biased blade holder that is drivingly connected with a driven shaft and biased axially toward the die plate by a piston and piston rod engaging a resilient device by a variably controlled pressure. The motor shaft has a through bore to introduce the variably controlled pressure to vary the resilient axial bias exerted on the cutter hub holder. In one embodiment, the driving connection between the shaft and cutter hub holder includes a quick connect and disconnect drive coupling to enable the blade holder to be quickly replaced. In another embodiment, the driving connection between the shaft and cutter hub holder includes an axially movable keyed connection and the piston rod includes two axially spaced pistons to increase the axial force exerted on the cutter hub holder through a resilient device.

Abstract: An apparatus for the agglomeration of feed material with thermoplastic properties has a radially symmetrical hollow chamber with a perforated die defining its periphery and a front wall element and a rear wall element closing off ends of the hollow chamber. A material feeding system is connected to the hollow chamber. An agglomerating vane arranged in the hollow chamber rotates in a direction of rotation about a longitudinal axis of the hollow chamber. The agglomerating vane has a front side in the direction of rotation. The front side, the front and rear wall elements, and the perforated die define a revolving plasticizing chamber. The front and rear wall elements have inner surfaces facing the hollow chamber and at least one of the inner surfaces has profiles running from an inner area of the inner surface to an outer area of the inner surface for transporting the feed material.

Abstract: An adjustable cutting mechanism for mounting on an extruder. The cutting mechanism incorporates a square stock blade holder that is axially adjustable and holds a shortened cutting blade. The axial adjustment allows for uniform contact of the cutting mechanism blades with an associated extruder die surface. A shorter blade, along with the adjustability of the mechanism for contact with the die face, prevents deflection of the cutting blade and, thereby, insures the precise cutting action needed for the product to maintain shape integrity.

Abstract: A pelletizer comprises a knife head, which is mounted by a denture coupling on a rotatably drivable shaft. The denture coupling comprises at least one serrated ring mounted on the knife head and on the shaft, respectively, the serrated rings having a frontal tooth system and intermeshing. Furthermore, a chucking arrangement of the type of a collect chuck is provided for releasably locking the knife head and the shaft in the direction of their axis.

Abstract: From such a state that the steady running of a kneading extruder is temporarily stopped in the heating state where it is supplied with resin material, the operation of a cutter device (5) is stopped, the heating quantity of a die (2) is reduced, and an external surface (2a) of the die is covered with cooling water, the heating quantity of the die (2) is increased so that softened resin material filling the inside of the nozzles (7) is melted, and the cutter device (5) as well as the kneading extruder are started to be driven at the same time.

Abstract: A polymer pelletizing apparatus includes a device for automatically and electronically indexing (advancing) a set of pelletizer knives by a predetermined distance upon the expiration of a predetermined time period. This advancement is continued for the useful life of the pelletizer knives and is called the advancement cycle. The predetermined distance and predetermined time period are entered into a PLC. The PLC is connected to an external advancing device such that when the PLC determines that the predetermined time period has expired, the PLC causes the external advancing device to index or advance the pelletizer knives by a predetermined distance. This advancement cycle provides consistent wear of the pelletizer knives and accurately provides an estimate of the need for a knife change.

Abstract: A multiple-orifice extrusion manifold 10 is disclosed which includes a first housing 20 defining an outer chamber 170 and an extrusion wall 140. A plurality of orifices 80, adapted for extruding a first substance from the outer chamber 170, extend through the extrusion wall 140. An inlet pipe 40 is provided in the first housing 20 for flowing the first substance into the outer chamber 170. The inlet pipe 40 is located so as to permit flow of the first substance symmetrically within the outer chamber 170. A second housing 190 which defines an inner chamber 200 is provided within the first housing 20. The second housing 190 is located symmetrically within the outer chamber. A plurality of tubes 210 extend from the second housing 190. Each tube 210 has a first end 212 opening into the inner chamber 200 and a second open end 213 cooperatively aligned with an orifice 80 for extruding a second substance from the inner chamber 200 through the tube 210 and to within the first substance.

Abstract: A method for processing at least one rope of aerated confectionery foam. The method includes extruding at least one rope of aerated confectionery foam from an extruder. The rope is conveyed from the extruder to a rotary cutter. An anti-sticking agent, such as powdered starch, is applied to the rope as the rope is conveyed from the extruder to the rotary cutter. Finally, the rope is cut into pieces with the rotary cutter. In one preferred embodiment, the rotary cutter is operated to perform at least 5,000 cuts per minute.

Abstract: In a knife used in an underwater cutting granulating device for cutting and granulating a fused resin extruded from a die to a water chamber by a cutter rotated in the state where the knife is opposed to the die, the knife of the cutter has a mountain-shaped guide surface for guiding a water flow in the direction of drawing it toward the die, which is formed on the surface opposite to the surface facing the die. In this knife, more specifically, the transition angle B° from the front surface to the back surface and the transition angle D° from the back surface to the rear surface are set so as to be 150°≦(B+D)/2≦180°. The maximum distance A from the cutter surface to the inner surface and the maximum thickness C of the knife are set so as to be C≦1.2A.

Abstract: Apparatus for agglomerating and drying particulate material, including an agglomerator (4) for forming and discharging wet granules of a predetermined size or smaller, and a dryer (12). The agglomerator utilizes a rotary blade assembly (100) that repeatedly impacts and cuts the wet mixture of material to be agglomerated, which is forced radially outward through the blade assembly under centrifugal and air pressure force. Wet granules pass through an annular screen (104) where they reach a predetermined maximum size. The dryer has an inlet (50) for wet granules from the agglomerator, an outlet (78) for granules having passed through the dryer, and one or more baffles (64) within the dryer defining a spiral path through which the granules pass from the dryer inlet towards the dryer outlet. The baffles are configured such that their pitch increases with distance from the dryer inlet, whereby the cross-sectional area of the spiral path increases toward the dryer outlet.

Abstract: An apparatus for producing an extrudate (e.g., water-dispersable extruded rod-shaped granules) from an extrudable powder-based material (e.g., a finely-divided water-insoluble powder) includes a hopper for the extrudable material having at least one extrusion aperture at its lower end, a rotatable extruder tool at or near the lower end of a first drive shaft for forcing the extrudable material through the aperture(s) and a rotatable feeder at or near a lower end of a second drive shaft for feeding the extrudable material to the extruder tool. The first drive shaft is rotatably mounted within the second drive shaft by axially displaced bearings, the second drive shaft being mounted within a fixed bearing housing by further axially displaced bearings. Drive motors are connected by respective drive trains to the upper ends of the first and second drive shafts, respectively.

Abstract: A pelleting die is provided, preferably in cylindrical form. The die includes a cylindrical body having inner and outer cylindrical surfaces and holes through the surfaces in which particulate material is extruded to form pellets. The die is formed of an H-group steel alloy, preferably H13 alloy, with the surfaces being nitrided to provide increased surface hardness, resistance to wear, improved fatigue life and improved corrosion resistance.

Abstract: An apparatus for making balls of butter includes a conveyor and a dispensing head mounted above the conveyor for delivering pieces of butter to the conveyor. Two roller bar assemblies are mounted above the conveyor, and crank arms rotate each of the roller bar assemblies in a plane which extends generally parallel to the conveyor. As the butter pieces are moved by the conveyor past the roller bar assemblies, the roller bars roll the butter on the conveyor and form the butter into balls. The balls of butter may be delivered to a freeze tunnel for freezing before packaging.

Abstract: A first granulating unit A for molding molten resin of one color into pellets and a second granulating unit B for molding molten resin of the other color into pellets are provided in one screw type kneading extruder 1. The first granulating unit A is made to communicate with a discharge port 2a while the second granulating unit B is blocked. After the pellets of one color are molded in this state, the discharge port 2a is made open to the outside of the apparatus, and a thermoplastic resin material of the other color is kneaded and melted by means of the screw type kneading extruder 1, and discharged to the outside of the apparatus to thereby perform cleaning operation. Next, the second granulating unit B is made to communicate with the discharge port 2a while the first granulating unit A is blocked. In this state, the pellets of the other color are molded.

Abstract: Retaining boards 14 and 18 having vacuum heat-insulating layers 17 and 21 are provided on the surface of a granulating die except a hardening layer 13 having a number of nozzle holes 2, namely, the surfaces of the granulating die 1 which are outside and inside of the hardening layer 13.

Abstract: A cutter hub holder for blades acting against a die plate of an underwater pelletizer including a spring-loaded blade holder that is drivingly connected with a driven shaft and biased axially toward the die plate at a variably controlled pneumatic pressure. The driving connection between the shaft and cutter hub holder includes a quick connect and disconnect drive coupling to enable the blade holder to be quickly replaced. The motor shaft has a through bore to introduce the pneumatic pressure to the cutter hub holder.

Abstract: In the underwater cut pellet transport apparatus in which pellets cut formed by an underwater cutting device 4 are delivered to a cooling water dehydrating device 10 and a drying device 11 by means of the head pressure of a cooling water circulating pump 6 and are dehydrated and dried there, and the thus dried pellets are then delivered to pellet silos 15 by means of the head pressure of an air feed blower 17 of a pneumatic feed facility, the above-mentioned cooling water dehydrating device 10 and drying device 11 are respectively disposed above the pellet silos 15, thereby eliminating the need for provision of the above-mentioned pneumatic feed facility.

Abstract: Apparatus for extruding a food product substance and for cutting the extrudate from a die of an extrusion head of the extruder into pieces has a rotary shaft and a knife which is affixed to the shaft and which has two blades, each blade having a cutting edge, wherein the two blades are offset one from another so that one blade extends from the axis of shaft rotation for a distance from the shaft rotation axis for a distance greater than that of the other blade and wherein the shaft and blades and the blade cutting edges are configured and positioned with reference to the extrusion head and wherein each die is positioned so that upon exit of extrudate from each die and upon rotation of the shaft, one blade cutting edge cuts and incises a part of the extrudate substance and the other blade cuts the extrudate substance to obtain a cut piece so that the cutting by the two blades provides a cut piece having an incised part.

Abstract: A granulating device, and a granulating method for thermoplastic resin material, in which a screw type kneading and extruding machine for kneading, extruding and melting the thermoplastic resin material, a die holder connected to a front end portion of the screw type kneading and extruding machine, the die holder including a passage through which the melted resin material folws, a change-over valve and at least two outlets, the passage selectively connected to the outlets with the change-over valve, a first and a second dies, for forming the melted resin material into a plurality of pieces of string, connected respectively to the outlets to adapt to different ranges of viscosity of the melted resin material, and a first and a second cutter units including cutters moved respectively along extruding planes of the first and second dies to cut the string-shaped resin material into small pieces, and cooling and solidifying sections for cooling and solidifying the small pieces of thermoplastic resin material.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for compression molding plastic articles such as closures include a plurality of tools mounted in opposed pairs with the tools of each pair including opposed male and female mold sections. The tool pairs are mounted for motion in an endless path. The tool pairs and associated mold sections are closed during motion in the path for compression a molding charge in the mold cavity formed between the mold sections of each pair, and opening the mold cavity to release an article formed between the mold sections. A latch mechanism is associated with each pair of tools for holding the tools and mold sections in the closed position during motion in the path independent of the mechanism for closing the tools and mold halves. In this way, forces imparted to the mold halves and tools to hold the mold closed are isolated from the machine frame. The latch mechanism is selectively unlatched to permit opening of the mold halves and release of the article compression-molded between the mold halves.

Abstract: An improved extrusion processing system (10) for sticky extrudates such as candy products is provided which includes an extruder (12) equipped with a die (16) presenting an outlet face (23) and a knife assembly (19) and a knife hood (18). The system (10) further has a particulate delivery unit (20) which serves to direct a stream of particulate substance under positive pressure onto the outlet face (23) of extrusion die (16). The delivery unit (20) includes a container (42) for holding a supply of a particulate substance such as starch or sugar together with conduits (52, 56) adapted for coupling with a source of pressurized air and connected with container (42); a stream of the particulate substance under pressure is created and delivered via conduit (56) to hood (18) where it passes through delivery tube (60) for application onto outlet face (23).

Abstract: The present invention provides a dough transport device having an improved dough pump, an improved manifold for dividing dough, and a rotational cutter for cutting dough into pieces of uniform shape and size. The auger dough pump operates using a auger which is tapered to provide for more efficient control over the transport of the dough. Further, the rotational cutter cooperates with a curved face of each outlet nozzle in the manifold to provide for a curved dough shape upon initial cutting of the extruded dough.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hot-cut pelletizer for thermoplastics having a housing which is designed as a hollow rotational body and the interior space of which is supplied with polymer melt, which is forced through channels passing radially through the housing wall and is cut into pellets by cutters which rotate in a substantially water-free space and slide over the openings of the channels along a cutting face running around the housing wall. The housing wall is surrounded by a ring of stationary cooling water nozzles, which direct cooling water jets onto the cutters in the manner of a jacket over the cutting face at such a small radial distance from the latter that the polymer melt is thereby chilled directly after leaving the cutting face and at the same time the cutters are cooled up to the cutting edges by the cooling water with the pellets being flung out radially.

Abstract: A method for severing gobs of melt extrudate, transporting and placing the gobs in molds for compression molding which includes providing an extrudate from an orifice, providing a plurality of C-shaped nests, continuously moving the C-shaped nests in a path past an orifice to sever a gob from the extrudate being extruded and transporting the gob along the path to a position for delivery to a plurality of tooling moved in succession past a delivery station, and applying a force to the gob axially of each nest to deliver a respective pellet to the tooling. An apparatus is provided for severing gobs from a melt extrudate, transporting the gobs, and delivery the gobs comprising a base and a disk having an axis of rotation supported on the base for rotation about the axis. A plurality of transfer nests are mounted on the disk in circumferentially spaced relation. Each transfer nest has a generally semi-cylindrical inner surface extending about a 180.degree. and has an opening.

Abstract: An extruder for producing a food piece in a shape of a natural food piece. The extruder has a pressure vessel for containing a mash, a manifold communicating with the pressure vessel, and at least one die and cutter assembly communicating with the manifold. The die and cutter assembly has an extrusion member with an extrusion wall, a closed extrusion end, an opened feed end attachable to the manifold, at least one extrusion die formed in the extrusion wall, and a tubular cutter member which is reciprocably slidable on the extrusion wall. An opened cutter end has at least one cutting surface. The improvement is where the extrusion die has a shape generally configured to a cross-sectional shape of the food piece and configured to provide a substantially constant transverse flow rate of the mash through the die at substantially all portions of the die. The cutter member is reciprocated at speeds sufficient that a pressure of the mash in the extrusion member is not substantially changed during a reciprocation.

Abstract: A granulating device, and a granulating method for thermoplastic resin material, in which a screw type kneading and extruding machine for kneading, extruding and melting the thermoplastic resin material, a die holder connected to a front end portion of the screw type kneading and extruding machine, the die holder including a passage through which the melted resin material flows, a change-over valve and at least two outlets, the passage selectively connected to the outlets with the change-over valve, a first and a second dies, for forming the melted resin material into a plurality of pieces of string, connected respectively to the outlets to adapt to different ranges of viscosity of the melted resin material, and a first and a second cutter units including cutters moved respectively along extruding planes of the first and second dies to cut the string-shaped resin material into small pieces, and cooling and solidifying sections for cooling and solidifying the small pieces of thermoplastic resin material.

Abstract: A method of granulating synthetic resin by extrusion and an apparatus thereof by which a large quantity of pellets can be effectively produced is provided. A plurality of sets of granulating sections are connected with an end of an extruder in parallel. The plurality of sets of granulating sections are simultaneously and independently operated for granulation in a normal operation. When one of the sets of granulating sections is stopped, the other set may still operate for granulation.

Abstract: In a granulating die for synthetic resin, including: a plurality of nozzle holes formed in rows; a plurality of heating jackets each arranged between the rows; and a plurality of vacuum heat insulating portions formed on a surface of the granulating die, each of the vacuum heat insulating portions being arranged adjacently to one of the heating jackets, the granulating die provides the nozzle holes which are prevented from being cooled excessively by circulating water to eliminate choking of the nozzle holes to make it possible to obtain good pellets.

Abstract: An apparatus for granulating thermally unstable synthetic plastic material includes a tip-driven plasticizing screw positioned in a housing. The screw conveys the synthetic plastic material through exit openings in the housing, wherein granulating knives slidably engaged with the housing exit openings cut-off pellets of synthetic plastic material. The drive mechanism for the plasticizing screw is disposed at the exit opening side of the screw with the orbit of the granulating knives disposed between the exit openings and the drive mechanism. The drive shaft of the plasticizing screw is detachably coupled to the front, or exit, end of the screw. A conveyor blower cools the pellets as they are severed from the exit openings, and further operates to convey the pellets to a storage bin for packaging.

Abstract: A pelletizer particularly useful for pelletizing water-dispersible melt-extrudate, among other materials, delivered from an extruder through a die positioned in communication with the interior of the pelletizer housing. The pelletizer includes a rotor disposed inside the housing and knives mounted around the periphery of the rotor. The knives pelletize the melt-extrudate as the rotor rotates. A fluid supply system selectively delivers a fluid, such as air, to the knives when the knives are at a selected location in the housing. The selected location is preferably just past the inlet and can extend in a circumferential direction around the housing in the area of the housing which is near the outlet. The circumferential extent can vary according to the configuration of the knives and the fluid supply system.

Abstract: An apparatus for pelletizing a polymer melt, in which the polymer melt to be pelletized is divided in a housing of a pelletizing device into at least two part-streams, which are deflected and fed to at least two die plates which are spatially separate from one another and are heatable, whereupon the polymer melt streams are transformed into pellets by the cutting devices downstream of the die plates and are post-treated by means of a cooling medium.

Abstract: A stationary axle is secured adjacent to an extruder of plastic or other material forming a strand. A rotor rotates about the axle and carries a plurality of axially extending cutters for pelletizing the strand. The shaft has an internal fluid conduit carrying pressurized air. A sleeve is fixed to and over the shaft and has a recess forming a fluid manifold in communication with the conduit and the rotor. The recess has a given angular extent about the sleeve. A plurality of annularly spaced linear arrays of passages in the rotor communicate with the recess manifold in accordance with their angular position about the shaft. The passages of each array are aligned with the edge of a different cutter for sequentially generating arrays of streams of pressurized air impinging upon the cutters after pelletizing as the rotor rotates.

Abstract: A process for the simultaneous drying and crystallization of crystallizable thermoplastic synthetic material (plastic), e.g. polyethylene terephthalate, in which plastic from the melt is extruded in cord form, solidified at the surface by quenching in water and crystallized by gas treatment and dried, using a device for cooling and drying the cord emerging from dies having a casting gutter with its acceptance end arranged beneath the dies and a device producing a flow of coolant on the casting gutter within a quenching section, a subsequent dewatering section in which the casting gutter has apertures for the free flow of the coolant, a subsequent drying section in which the casting gutter has closely spaced nozzles for the passage of gas and a granulator downstream of the drying section. The lengths of the quenching, dewatering and drying sections must be such, taking account of the rate of creep of the cord along the casting gutter, that the passage time in the quenching section is a maximum of some 1.

Abstract: An improved underwater pelletizer is provided. The improved pelletizer has sealed heat transfer tubes embedded within the extruder die to utilize the heat of the molten polymer entering the extruder die by efficiently transferring that heat to the die plate and die face of the pelletizer. Ceramic inserts and/or inserts of other insulating materials are provided adjacent the die plate to insulate the passages through which the molten polymer passes and to inhibit cooling of the polymer within the extruder die as it approaches the die plate. The insulating inserts are positioned behind, and abut, the die plate around the passages that deliver the molten polymer to the die plate. Water makeup is provided at the cutter blades of the pelletizer to prevent cavitation within the water housing so that pellets will not agglomerate within the water housing.

Abstract: A self-aligning pelletizer cutter hub having a self-aligning driving connection between the cutter hub and drive shaft for the hub in which the cutter hub is capable of universal pivotal movement as well as a driving connection between the drive shaft and cutter hub. The self-aligning hub includes an adapter mounted on the end of a drive shaft with the adapter having a partial spherical outer surface that matches a partial spherical inner surface or bore in the cutter hub. The adapter includes diametrically located recesses for receiving spherical balls which are also received in recesses in the inner surface of the cutter hub to transmit driving force from the adapter to the cutter hub. The inner surface of the cutter hub also includes longitudinal recesses extending to one edge thereof and associated with the ball recesses to enable assembly of the balls and the partially spherical surface of the adapter into the hub bore when the adapter is arranged in 90.degree.

Abstract: An improved process for pelletizing thermoplastic material, particularly ultra low melt viscosity thermoplastic polymer, using an underwater pelletizer adapted to prevent extruded material from agglomerating in the pelletizer, which pelletizer comprising a cutting assembly having (1) a shroud fixedly mounted on the outer periphery of the cutting assembly thereby preventing pellets from being trapped between the die face and the cutting assembly; and (2) novel knives contoured to conform in their angular positions to the curvature of the shroud to avoid pellet agglomeration.

Abstract: A method for severing gobs of melt extrudate, transporting and placing the gobs in molds for compression molding which includes providing an extrudate from an orifice, providing a plurality of C-shaped nests, continuously moving the C-shaped nests in a path past an orifice to sever a gob from the extrudate being extruded and transporting the gob along the path to a position for delivery to a plurality of tooling moved in succession past a delivery station, and applying a force to the gob axially of each nest to deliver a respective pellet to the tooling. An apparatus is provided for severing gobs from a melt extrudate, transporting the gobs, and delivery the gobs comprising a base and a disk having an axis of rotation supported on the base for rotation about the axis. A plurality of transfer nests are mounted on the disk in circumferentially spaced relation. Each transfer nest has a generally semi-cylindrical inner surface extending about a 180.degree. and has an opening.

Abstract: An improved underwater pelletizer adapted to prevent extruded material from agglomerating in an pelletizing assembly, which pelletizer includes a cutting assembly having (1) a shroud fixedly mounted on the outer periphery of the cutting assembly thereby preventing pellets from being trapped between the die face and the cutting assembly; and (2) novel knives contoured to conform in their angular positions to the curvature of the shroud.

Abstract: An underwater thermoplastic pelletizer has an extruding die, and a cutter for cutting a thermoplastic polymer extruded from the die into pellets as the molten polymer is solidified under water that is circulated to cool the extruded polymer and convey the pellets away for collection. The extruding die includes a die plate that is mounted in the face of the die concentric with and opposite the cutter and has a plurality of groups of extruding die holes that are connected in the die to a central main feed passage by separate radially extending distribution feed passages. The die holes in the groups are arranged in circular patterns of uniform radius about a center line intersecting with a circle concentric with the cutter path and the groups are equally angularly spaced about the cutter center line.

Abstract: An improved underwater pelletizer adapted to prevent extruded material from agglomerating in an pelletizing assembly, which pelletizer includes a cutting assembly having (1) a shroud fixedly mounted to the surface of the recess in the center of the die ring thereby preventing pellets from being trapped between the die face and the cutting assembly; and (2) novel knives contoured to conform in their angular positions to the curvature of the shroud.