Apparatus for forming uniform shaped particles of thermoplastic material

DETAILED DESCRIPTION What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is: 1.
Apparatus for reducing molten thermoplastic material to substantially uniform shaped particles and comprising: a.
means defining an elongated inclined liquid channel having an upper end and a lower end and a longitudinal axis therebetween; b.
means adjacent the upper end of said liquid channel to supply a stream of cooling liquid to the upper end of said channel; c.
means downstream of said cooling liquid supply means to direct one or more strips of molten thermoplastic material into the stream of flowing cooling liquid to be cooled thereby; and d.
means downstream of said means to direct molten material into the stream of cooling liquid for forming longitudinally spaced areas of reduced thickness in each of the strips of material whereby the strips of material separate at the reduced thickness areas upon becoming brittle by cooling.
2.
Apparatus for reducing molten thermoplastic material to substantially uniform shaped particles as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for forming areas of reduced thickness in each of the streams of material comprises: a.
means in said liquid channel and below the strips of thermoplastic material to support same during movement of the strips of material thereover; and b.
blade means having an edge portion and mounted for movement of said edge portion toward and away from said means for supporting the strips of material, the movement of said blade means being into the material at substantially uniform time intervals and to within a selected spacing from said means to support the strips of material.
3.
Apparatus for reducing molten thermoplastic material to substantially uniform shaped particles as set forth in claim 2 wherein said blade means includes: a.
a rotatably mounted drum having a longitudinal axis thereof extending normal to the longitudinal axis of said channel, said drum having blade support means spaced from said means for supporting the thermoplastic material; and b