Patent ID: 8056458

Claim:
A knife assembly including at least one knife engageable with an extrusion die, said knife assembly comprising: an elongated, axially rotatable knife shaft supporting said at least one knife; a motor operably coupled with said knife shaft for powered axial rotation thereof; a bushing supporting the knife shaft and permitting said axial rotation thereof and fore and aft axial movement of the knife shaft; a bearing secured to the end of said shaft remote from said knife, and a non-rotatable bearing support receiving said bearing; and adjustment mechanism operably coupled with said bearing support and operable to permit axial adjustment of said knife shaft to individual positions without interrupting the axial rotation of said knife shaft, said adjustment mechanism comprisingâ€” a biasing spring operably engaging the end of said bearing support; a preloader assembly operatively engaging the end of said spring remote from said bearing support in order to exert a loading force on said spring, thereby causing said spring to exert a force against said shaft end; a lock for securing said preloader assembly at selected positions thereof, whereby said preloader assembly may be moved in order to vary said force exerted by said spring against said shaft end to position said shaft at said individual positions thereof and to vary the force exerted by said knife against said die; and an elongated, threaded rod secured to said bearing support and extending through said preloader assembly, said lock threaded onto said threaded rod.