APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PRODUCING PARTICLES OF THERMOPLASTIC MATERIAL

摘要

In an apparatus for producing particles of thermoplastic material by extruding material (23) in a plastic state through orifices (18) in a die plate (12) and thereafter cutting the extruded plastic material into crumb (23 min ) upon exit from the orifices, an air supply (22) is coupled to a cutting chamber (20) for providing a stream (21) of air across the face of the die plate to cut and convey the crumb away from the orifices. The cutting chamber is arranged to include a restricted throat (24) having an exit area in close proximity to the orifices and a further portion for providing an accumulation zone adjacent the orifices, the accumulation zone (20 min ) having a cross-sectional area which increases from the exit area of the throat to a product discharge zone (29) remote from the orifices in a downstream direction.