Pelletizing apparatus

Claim 1

An apparatus for cutting material strands as they emerge from a melt extruder having a plurality of extrusion openings generally radially extending about the fact thereof comprising a stationary cylindrical hub outwardly extending from said face, a hollow generally stationary quill positioned over and attached to said hub at a location proximal to said extruder face by means of a mutual thread engagement, a knife carrier rotatably supported on said quill, said knife carrier having at least one knife mounted thereon and adapted for opposed positioning with respect to said extruder face and in the path of said openings so as to cut materials as it emerges therefrom upon rotation about said quill, and quill adjusting means supported by said hub and positioned at that end of said hub distal from said extruder face for rotating said quill about said mutual thread engagement with said hub to longitudinally move said quill with respect to said hub thereby adjusting the longitudinal spacing between said knife and said extruder face.

Claim 2

An apparatus for cutting material strands as they emerge from a melt extruder having a plurality of extrusion openings generally radially extending about the fact thereof comprising a stationary cylindrical hub outwardly extending from said face, a hollow generally stationary quill positioned over and attached to said hub at a location proximal to said extruder face by means of a mutual thread engagement, a knife carrier rotatably supported on said quill, said knife carrier having at least one knife mounted thereon and adapted for opposed positioning with respect to said extruder face and in the path of said openings so as to cut materials as it emerges therefrom upon rotation about said quill, and quill adjusting means supported by said hub and positioned at that end of said hub distal from said extruder face for rotating said quill about said mutual thread engagement with said hub to longitudinally move said quill with respect to said hub thereby adjusting the longitudinal spacing between said knife and said extruder face.

Claim 5

An apparatus for cutting material strands as they emerge from a melt extruder having a plurality of extrusion openings generally radially extending about the face thereof comprising a stationary cylindrical hub outwardly extending from said face, a hollow generally stationary quill positioned over and attached to said hub at a location proximal to said extruder face by means of a mutual thread engagement, a knife carrier rotatably supported on said quill, said knife carrier having at least one knife mounted thereon and adapted for opposed positioning with respect to said extruder face and in the path of said openings so as to cut material as it emerges therefrom upon rotation about said quill, quill adjusting means positioned at that end of said hub distal from said extruder face for threadably rotating said quill with respect to said hub to longitudinally move said quill with respect to said hub thereby adjusting the spacing between said knife and said extruder face, said hub positioned generally centrally of said openings, said quill adjusting means including a ring gear positioned about an inner periphery of said quill and having spaced planet gears engaged therewith and a sun gear rotatably supported about said hub whereby rotation of said sun gear in either direction threadably rotates said quill with respect to said hub in the same direction.

Claim 6

An apparatus for cutting material strands as they emerge from a melt extruder having a plurality of extrusion openings generally radially extending about the face thereof comprising a stationary cylindrical hub outwardly extending from said face, a hollow generally stationary quill positioned over and attached to said hub at a location proximal to said extruder face by means of a mutual thread engagement, a knife carrier rotatably supported on said quill, said knife carrier having at least one knife mounted thereon and adapted for opposed positioning with respect to said extruder face and in the path of said openings so as to cut material as it emerges therefrom upon rotation about said quill, quill adjusting means positioned at that end of said hub distal from said extruder face for threadably rotating said quill with respect to said hub to longitudinally move said quill with respect to said hub thereby adjusting the spacing between said knife and said extruder face, said hub positioned generally centrally of said openings, said quill adjusting means including a ring gear positioned about an inner periphery of said quill and having spaced planet gears engaged therewith and a sun gear rotatably supported about said hub whereby rotation of said sun gear in either direction threadably rotates said quill with respect to said hub in the same direction.

Claim 7

An apparatus for cutting material strands as they emerge from a melt extruder having a plurality of extrusion openings generally radially extending about the face thereof comprising a stationary cylindrical hub outwardly extending from said face, a hollow generally stationary quill positioned over and attached to said hub at a location proximal to said extruder face by means of a mutual thread engagement, a knife carrier rotatably supported on said quill, said knife carrier having at least one knife mounted thereon and adapted for opposed positioning with respect to said extruder face and in the path of said openings so as to cut material as it emerges therefrom upon rotation about said quill, quill adjusting means positioned at that end of said hub distal from said extruder face for threadably rotating said quill with respect to said hub to longitudinally move said quill with respect to said hub thereby adjusting the spacing between said knife and said extruder face, said hub positioned generally centrally of said openings, said hub projecting outwardly of said quill at said distal end thereof and forming a hub extension thereat, said quill adjusting means supported by said hub extension, said quill adjusting means including a ring gear positioned about an inner periphery of said quill and having spaced planet gears engaged therewith and a sun gear rotatably supported about said hub extension whereby rotation of said sun gear in either direction threadably rotates said quill with respect to said hub in the same direction.

Claim 8

An apparatus for cutting material strands as they emerge from a melt extruder having a plurality of extrusion openings generally radially extending about the face thereof comprising a stationary cylindrical hub outwardly extending from said face, a hollow generally stationary quill positioned over and attached to said hub at a location proximal to said extruder face by means of a mutual thread engagement, a knife carrier rotatably supported on said quill, said knife carrier having at least one knife mounted thereon and adapted for opposed positioning with respect to said extruder face and in the path of said openings so as to cut material as it emerges therefrom upon rotation about said quill, quill adjusting means positioned at that end of said hub distal from said extruder face for threadably rotating said quill with respect to said hub to longitudinally move said quill with respect to said hub thereby adjusting the spacing between said knife and said extruder face, said hub positioned generally centrally of said openings, said hub projecting outwardly of said quill at said distal end thereof and forming a hub extension thereat, said quill adjusting means supported by said hub extension, said quill adjusting means including a ring gear positioned about an inner periphery of said quill and having spaced planet gears engaged therewith and a sun gear rotatably supported about said hub extension whereby rotation of said sun gear in either direction threadably rotates said quill with respect to said hub in the same direction.