Servo motor-driven plastic cutter system for compression molding

Abstract

A system for cutting molten plastic material for compression molding includes a rotary-driven cutter mounted in operative association with an extruder which supplies molten plastic. The cutter is driven by a servo motor, the operation of which is coordinated with an associated rotary carousel on which cavities are successively presented to the cutter apparatus. In order to effect separation of each cut discrete quantity of plastic material from the cutting blade of the cutter apparatus, the servo motor is operated to create a period of distinct deceleration during each rotary cutting cycle, thereby effecting separation of the molten plastic from the surface of the cutting blade. The electronic controls of the apparatus further operate to permit the speed at which plastic cutting takes place to be controlled independently of the speed of the associated rotary carousel, while coordinating each cutting cycle with successive presentation of the cavities by the rotary carousel.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.