Timing device for a plastic processing system

An apparatus for dispensing segments of thermoplastic material into a plurality of open topped receptacles comprising:

• means for conveying said receptacles at predetermined speeds along a receiving path;
• cutting means, including a rotating knife blade and a shaft coupled to said knife blade, for cutting said thermoplastic material into segments;
• first means for driving said conveying means at a predetermined rate;
• second means, including a belt and a driven pulley coupled to said knife blade shaft, for driving said knife blade at a constant rate synchronous with said predetermined rate;
• timing adjustment means in said second drive means for changing the angular position of said knife blade relative to said conveyor, said timing adjustment means including first and second idler pulleys engaging said belt, carrier means for supporting said first and second idler pulleys, and means for shifting said carrier means transversely of the direction of movement of said belt;
• and
• means on said carrier means for selectively modifying the tension in said belt by changing the distance between the first and second idler pulleys.

An apparatus for dispensing segments of thermoplastic material into a plurality of open topped receptacles comprising:

• a belt driven system for rotating a cutting knife synchronously with a conveyor driven at a predetermined rate, said conveyor conveying said receptacles, said belt drive system including:
• an endless belt for driving said cutting knife at a constant rate synchronous with said predetermined rate;
• a driving element in driving engagement with said belt;
• a driven element in driven engagement with said belt, said driven element being coupled to said cutting knife;
• timing adjusting means including first and second idler elements for engaging said belt and for incrementally altering the angular position of said driven element during operation of said apparatus;
• and
• means on said timing adjustment means for selectively adjusting the tension of said belt by changing the distance between the first and second idler elements.