METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR CHOPPING INJECTION MOLDING RUNNERS AND SPRUES

摘要

A runner structure composed of a runner and a sprue is discharged from an injection molding machine into a chopping apparatus having a first cutter mechanism and a second cutter mechanism. The runner structure is guided by a guide mechanism in the chopping apparatus toward the first and second cutter mechanisms. The sprue is cut off from the runner by the first cutter mechanism, and then the runner and the sprue are chopped by the second cutter mechanism. The first cutter mechanism has a lower cutter for stopping the runner structure by engagement with the sprue, and an upper cutter movable into coaction with the lower cutter for cutting off the sprue. The second cutter mechanism includes a feed roller for feeding the runner intermittently and a cutter reciprocably movable for chopping the runner on the feed roller. The chopped pieces are discharged through a hopper and delivered into the injection molding machine for recycling.