Apparatus for introducing controlled amounts of pigment into thermomechanically formed plastic articles

An apparatus for comminuting a pigment bar to add color to a supply of plastic material prior to the molding of the plastic material, comprising:

• a. comminuting means having a rotary cutter with radially protruding discontinuous, cutting elements to comminute said pigment bars, said comminuting means having an inlet for said plastic material, and an outlet for said plastic material and said comminuted pigment;
• b. feeding means attached to said comminuting means to feed said pigment bars into said comminuting means, said feeding means having a plurality of driven rollers bearing against said pigment bars;
• c. first motor means drivingly connected to said driven rollers in said feeding means by interengaging gears;
• d. second motor means drivingly connected to said rotary cutter of said comminuting means so as to rotate said cutter;
• e. movable mounting means attaching said first motor means to said comminuting means such that said first motor may be moved out of driving connection with said driven rollers, and by disengaging said interengaging gears;
• and
• f. manual rotating means conected to said driven rollers such that said rollers may be rotated manually when said first motor is out of driving connection therewith.