Cryogenic deflashing method

A method of optimizing the continuous cryogenic removal of residual flash from molded articles comprising the sequential steps of:

• (1) transporting said molded articles into an isolated entry station in a housing to serve as a buffer region to prevent interaction between the ambient air and a cryogenic environment;
• (2) transporting said molded articles from said entry station into a pre-freezing station in said housing maintained at a pressure higher than ambient atmospheric pressure to hinder ambient air from traveling into said pre-freezing station and a cryogenic temperature to embrittle said residual flash;
• (3) transporting said molded articles from said pre-freezing station to a first deflashing station maintained at the higher pressure of said pre-freezing station and dispersing a first deflashing media at a high velocity to impinge against said molded articles, said media being of a first size sufficient to remove the majority of said embrittled residual flash on said article;
• (4) transporting said molded articles from said first deflashing station to a second deflashing station maintained at said higher pressure and dispersing a second deflashing media at a high velocity to impinge against said molded articles, said media being of a second size smaller than said first size to remove the remaining embrittled residual flash on said articles;
• and
• (5) transporting said deflashed articles from the second deflashing station to an exit station isolated from the cryogenic environment and the ambient atmosphere.