Underwater pelletizer

An underwater pelletizer comprising a die face having a plurality of die orifices extending therethrough through which a continuous strand of molten polymer is extruded, a cutter blade assembly facing the die face and including blades for cutting the strands of polymer extruded from the die orifices into pellets, a water box enclosing the die face and cutter blade assembly to entrain the formed pellets in a flow of water, means supporting said cutter blade assembly and means driving the cutter blade assembly from a point exterior of the water box, said means supporting the cutter blade assembly including a flange means on the water box remote from the die face, a pelletizer shaft extending through the flange means, seal means and bearing means supporting the pelletizer shaft from the flange means, the improvement comprising a spring loaded cutter hub mounting the cutter blade assembly on the pelletizer shaft, said spring loaded cutter hub including a headed retaining bolt which enables movement of the cutter blade assembly toward the die face without axial restriction by the bolt head, said means driving the cutter blade assembly including an electric motor having an output shaft, a flange on the electric motor, and means mounting the electric motor from the water box, said mounting means for the electric motor including an adaptor having a flange at each end thereof for engagement with the flange means on the water box and the flange on the electric motor, and a driving connection within the adapter between the output shaft of the motor and the pelletizer shaft for driving the pelletizer shaft, said adaptor including longitudinally spaced drain means to discharge any liquid which leaks past the seal means between the pelletizer shaft and water box flange means.