Extruded plastic cutting assembly and machine

Abstract

A cutting machine for cutting elongated, extruded plastic articles includes a cutter assembly composed of a pair of side-by-side, plate-like cutting die bushings having a transverse article opening formed therethrough configured and dimensioned to accommodate the passage and guidance of an elongated extruded plastic article therethrough, and a thin, generally planar cutting blade having a cutting edge. The blade is supportable for reciprocable movement between the cutting die bushings for movement between an operative position in which the blade moves across the article opening so as to cut an article disposed therein and an inoperative position in which the blade is displaced from the article opening. The blade is supported for reciprocable movement by at least one support finger disposed on each side of the blade which serves to prevent buckling of the blade. The machine also includes feed means disposed in front of the cutter assembly for feeding plastic articles to and through the article opening of the cutting die bushings and a reciprocable dead stop means disposed behind the cutter assembly in general alignment with the article opening for movement between an operative position in which it moves into the path of and stops the advance of the article and an inoperative position in which it is removed from the path of the article.