Method and apparatus for cutting elongated material into predetermined shorter lengths

Claim 1

Apparatus for cutting elongated material into predetermined shorter lengths and comprising: a. a cutter assembly including a mounting member, and a plurality of knives secured to the mounting member and spaced apart a predetermined distance, the cutting edges of the knives facing outwardly of the mounting member; and b. means adapted 1. to continuously move in a predetermined path around the mounting member; 2. to guidingly position the elongated material into contact across all of the cutting edges around the mounting member in a manner so that no relative movement occurs between the thusformed contacting layer of the elongated material and the cutting edges longitudinally of the elongated material; 3. to continuously wrap elongated material in successive layers around and outwardly of the contacting layer; and 4. to cause layers outwardly of the contacting layer to force each successively formed contacting layer inwardly of the cutting edges thereby severing the contacting layer of material into the predetermined shorter lengths.

Claim 18

An apparatus for cutting running elongated material into predetermined Lengths and comprising: a. a cutter assembly having a plurality of cutting edges each edge facing outwardly of the assembly; b. means separate from said cutter assembly and adapted to move and continuously wrap the elongated material in layers around said cutter assembly positioning the innermost layer in touch contact with the plurality of cutting edges; and c. means forcing the inner layer of elongated material inwardly of the cutting edges thereby cutting the elongated material into said predetermined lengths.

Claim 19

An apparatus for cutting running elongated material into predetermined Lengths and comprising: a. a cutter assembly having a plurality of cutting edges each edge facing outwardly of the assembly; b. means separate from said cutter assembly and adapted to move and continuously wrap the elongated material in layers around said cutter assembly positioning the innermost layer in touch contact with the plurality of cutting edges; and c. means forcing the inner layer of elongated material inwardly of the cutting edges thereby cutting the elongated material into said predetermined lengths.

Claim 20

An apparatus for cutting running elongated material into predetermined lengths and comprising: a. a knife assembly having a plurality of spaced cutting edges positioned in the aggregate to form an endless profile with each edges facing outwardly; b. guide means located outwardly of the cutting edge profile and adapted to move in a path equidistant to the profile and to guide said running elongated material as a layer into touch contact with each of the cutting edges and to form layers successively and radially outwardly of the layer in contact with the cutting edges; c. pressure means located outwardly of the cutting edge profile and also adapted to move in said equidistant path and to bear against the layers outwardly of said layer in contact and thereby force the latter layer inwardly of the cutting edges and thus cut the elongated material into said predetermined lengths; and d. means for moving said guide means and said pressure means in said equidistant path.

Claim 21

An apparatus for cutting running elongated material into predetermined lengths and comprising: a. a knife assembly having a plurality of spaced cutting edges positioned in the aggregate to form an endless profile with each edges facing outwardly; b. guide means located outwardly of the cutting edge profile and adapted to move in a path equidistant to the profile and to guide said running elongated material as a layer into touch contact with each of the cutting edges and to form layers successively and radially outwardly of the layer in contact with the cutting edges; c. pressure means located outwardly of the cutting edge profile and also adapted to move in said equidistant path and to bear against the layers outwardly of said layer in contact and thereby force the latter layer inwardly of the cutting edges and thus cut the elongated material into said predetermined lengths; and d. means for moving said guide means and said pressure means in said equidistant path.

Claim 22

A method for cutting filamentary material into a number of lengths of controlled dimensions comprising the steps of: a. spirally winding said filamentary material into a coil having a plurality of concentric layers the innermost of which is placed in contact with a plurality of spaced knife edges; b. maintaining contact between said innermost layer and said knife edges with no relative movement therebetween longitudinally of said filamentary material by applying tension to said material as it is wound thereby forming said layers into a pack; c. applying a force on the outermost layer of said material at a location which is relative to the axis of the coil, said force being directed toward said axis thereby causing said innermost layer to move at an angle substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis thereby forcing said innermost layer past said knife edges and severing said filamentary material into lengths of controlled dimensions; and d. moving the application of said force around the outermost layer of said material.

Claim 23

A method for cutting filamentary material into a number of lengths of controlled dimensions comprising the steps of: a. spirally winding said filamentary material into a coil having a plurality of concentric layers the innermost of which is placed in contact with a plurality of spaced knife edges; b. maintaining contact between said innermost layer and said knife edges with no relative movement therebetween longitudinally of said filamentary material by applying tension to said material as it is wound thereby forming said layers into a pack; c. applying a force on the outermost layer of said material at a location which is relative to the axis of the coil, said force being directed toward said axis thereby causing said innermost layer to move at an angle substantially perpendicular to its longitudinal axis thereby forcing said innermost layer past said knife edges and severing said filamentary material into lengths of controlled dimensions; and d. moving the application of said force around the outermost layer of said material.

Claim 24

A method for cutting elongated material into a number of shorter lengths comprising the steps of: a. continuously pulling elongated material into a coil with incoming successive layers being formed radially outwardly of the coil; b. continuously applying a radially directed force against the outer said successive layers and continuously moving the application of said force around the outer said successive layers; and c. continuously cutting the inner layer of the elongated material into said number of shorter lengths at a location that is radially inwardly from said radially directed force.

Claim 25

A method for cutting elongated material into a number of shorter lengths comprising the steps of: a. continuously pulling elongated material into a coil with incoming successive layers being formed radially outwardly of the coil; b. continuously applying a radially directed force against the outer said successive layers and continuously moving the application of said force around the outer said successive layers; and c. continuously cutting the inner layer of the elongated material into said number of shorter lengths at a location that is radially inwardly from said radially directed force.

Claim 26

A method for cutting running elongated material characterized in that the material to be cut is brought into contact with a plurality of cutting edges that are stationary and the material is wound continuously in a closed path relative to the stationary cutting edges to form several superposing layers located in the same plane and each layer is moved inwardly of itself in the same plane and is cut upon occupying an innermost layer position, and whereas a layer in a superposed layer position serves as a cutting cushion.

Claim 27

A method for cutting running elongated material characterized in that the material to be cut is brought into contact with a plurality of cutting edges that are stationary and the material is wound continuously in a closed path relative to the stationary cutting edges to form several superposing layers located in the same plane and each layer is moved inwardly of itself in the same plane and is cut upon occupying an innermost layer position, and whereas a layer in a superposed layer position serves as a cutting cushion.

Claim 28

A method for cutting elongated material into a number of shorter lengths comprising the steps of: a. continuously feeding the elongated material to a plurality of knife edges and extending the inner layer of the material across and in contact with each two adjacent kNife edges so that the inner layer is in touch, lightly tensioned contact with the knife edges; b. applying a pressure against the material that is radially outwardly of the inner layer thereby forcing said inner layer against said knife edges and while retaining the inner layer in extended manner across said adjacent knife edges without relative movement longitudinally of the material relative to the knife edges cutting said inner layer into said number of shorter lengths; and c. continuously changing the location of the application of said pressure against the material that is outwardly of the inner layer so as to cut said inner layer at the changed location of said pressure.

Claim 29

A method for cutting elongated material into a number of shorter lengths comprising the steps of: a. continuously feeding the elongated material to a plurality of knife edges and extending the inner layer of the material across and in contact with each two adjacent kNife edges so that the inner layer is in touch, lightly tensioned contact with the knife edges; b. applying a pressure against the material that is radially outwardly of the inner layer thereby forcing said inner layer against said knife edges and while retaining the inner layer in extended manner across said adjacent knife edges without relative movement longitudinally of the material relative to the knife edges cutting said inner layer into said number of shorter lengths; and c. continuously changing the location of the application of said pressure against the material that is outwardly of the inner layer so as to cut said inner layer at the changed location of said pressure.

Claim 30

A method for cutting elongated material into a number of shorter lengths comprising the steps of: a. continuously feeding elongated material to a cutter assembly; b. winding the material into a coil of concentric layers having radially inner and outer successive layer positions around the cutter assembly, the step of winding including the step of twisting the material as it becomes a layer of the coil; c. cutting the inner layer of the material into said shorter lengths; and d. moving an outer successive layer into an inner layer position.

Claim 31

A method for cutting elongated material into a number of shorter lengths comprising the steps of: a. continuously feeding elongated material to a cutter assembly; b. winding the material into a coil of concentric layers having radially inner and outer successive layer positions around the cutter assembly, the step of winding including the step of twisting the material as it becomes a layer of the coil; c. cutting the inner layer of the material into said shorter lengths; and d. moving an outer successive layer into an inner layer position.

Claim 32

A method for cutting elongated material into a number of shorter lengths comprising the steps of: a. continuously guiding the elongated material onto and around a plurality of stationary cutting edges and forming the material into a coil around such plurality of stationary cutting edges with incoming successive layers being formed radially outwardly of the coil; and b. continuously cutting the inner layer of the elongated material into said number of shorter lengths.

Claim 33

A method for cutting elongated material into a number of shorter lengths comprising the steps of: a. continuously guiding the elongated material onto and around a plurality of stationary cutting edges and forming the material into a coil around such plurality of stationary cutting edges with incoming successive layers being formed radially outwardly of the coil; and b. continuously cutting the inner layer of the elongated material into said number of shorter lengths.

Claim 35

A method for cutting filamentary tow material comprised of filaments having crimps therein, and comprising the steps of: a. continuously positioning material to be cut in successive layers, with the innermost layer being positioned against a plurality of stationary cutting edges and at least another layer being positioned against and outwardly laterally of the innermost layer; b. maintaining contact between the innermost layer and said cutting edges with no relative movement therebetween longitudinally of the filamentary material; c. tensioning the outermost successive layer of material to an extent sufficient so as to decrease the crimp in the filaments of the elongated material without permanently removing the crimp and moving the layers that are inwardly of the outermost layer toward the cutting edges to thereby relax the tension on the innermost layers of material so that the crimp in the filaments of the innermost layers recover to a desired predetermined extent; and d. continuously applying a force against the outermost successive layer and continuously changing the location of the application of force so that first the innermost layer is cut by one cutting edge and then is cut at a different location by the next cutting edge in the direction of the changing location of the application of force.

Claim 36

A method for cutting filamentary tow material comprised of filaments having crimps therein, and comprising the steps of: a. continuously positioning material to be cut in successive layers, with the innermost layer being positioned against a plurality of stationary cutting edges and at least another layer being positioned against and outwardly laterally of the innermost layer; b. maintaining contact between the innermost layer and said cutting edges with no relative movement therebetween longitudinally of the filamentary material; c. tensioning the outermost successive layer of material to an extent sufficient so as to decrease the crimp in the filaments of the elongated material without permanently removing the crimp and moving the layers that are inwardly of the outermost layer toward the cutting edges to thereby relax the tension on the innermost layers of material so that the crimp in the filaments of the innermost layers recover to a desired predetermined extent; and d. continuously applying a force against the outermost successive layer and continuously changing the location of the application of force so that first the innermost layer is cut by one cutting edge and then is cut at a different location by the next cutting edge in the direction of the changing location of the application of force.