Cutting apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for the preparation of granules from a plurality of extruded heat-plastified synthetic resinous thermoplastic strands, the apparatus comprising in cooperative combination a die, the die comprising a generally annular die body, the die body defining a generally annular plenum, the plenum having means to communicate with a source of heat-plastified synthetic resinous material, a die plate affixed to and supported by the die body, the die plate having a generally annular configuration and defining a plurality of extrusion openings capable of extruding a heat-plastified synthetic resinous strand, the extrusion openings terminating on a die face remote from the means to communicate with the source of heat-plastified thermoplastic material, the die face having an annular planar configuration, the die body defining an opening generally coaxially disposed with the die face, the die body having affixed thereto a hollow mandrel coaxial with the axis of the opening, a rotor rotatably and slidably supported on the mandrel, the rotor being rotatable about the axis of the opening means to position the rotor along the axis of the opening, the rotor being positionable without apparent backlash, at least two cutting elements disposed on and supported by the rotor, the cutting elements being adjacent the face of the annular die, the cutting elements having cutting edges which are resiliently supported relative to the rotor and capable of flexing toward or away from the die face, means to rotate the rotor relative to the die face, the rotor defining at least two passageways extending generally radially outwardly, the passageways terminating generally adjacent said cutting elements so that liquid is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force toward the cutting elements, and means to supply a cooling liquid to said generally radially outwardly extending passages.

Claim 2

An apparatus for the preparation of granules from a plurality of extruded heat-plastified synthetic resinous thermoplastic strands, the apparatus comprising in cooperative combination a die, the die comprising a generally annular die body, the die body defining a generally annular plenum, the plenum having means to communicate with a source of heat-plastified synthetic resinous material, a die plate affixed to and supported by the die body, the die plate having a generally annular configuration and defining a plurality of extrusion openings capable of extruding a heat-plastified synthetic resinous strand, the extrusion openings terminating on a die face remote from the means to communicate with the source of heat-plastified thermoplastic material, the die face having an annular planar configuration, the die body defining an opening generally coaxially disposed with the die face, the die body having affixed thereto a hollow mandrel coaxial with the axis of the opening, a rotor rotatably and slidably supported on the mandrel, the rotor being rotatable about the axis of the opening means to position the rotor along the axis of the opening, the rotor being positionable without apparent backlash, at least two cutting elements disposed on and supported by the rotor, the cutting elements being adjacent the face of the annular die, the cutting elements having cutting edges which are resiliently supported relative to the rotor and capable of flexing toward or away from the die face, means to rotate the rotor relative to the die face, the rotor defining at least two passageways extending generally radially outwardly, the passageways terminating generally adjacent said cutting elements so that liquid is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force toward the cutting elements, and means to supply a cooling liquid to said generally radially outwardly extending passages.