APPARATUS FOR TRIMMING AN EXTRUDATE

Apparatus for cutting an extrudate to finished length includes a hopper that receives rough-cut lengths of extrudate, and feeds them one at a time to holders on a movable carrier. Each holder captures a length of extrudate which is transported by movement of the carrier to a pair of heated blades spaced apart a distance equal to the desired finished length of the extrudate. The blades serve to cut a portion from each end of the extrudate in a holder, whereby the extrudate is trimmed to finished length, and, simultaneously to fuse the material of the extrudate at the end faces, thereby sealing such faces. Further movement of the carrier enables the holders to release the trimmed extrudate onto a conveyor.