US3595485A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method of and apparatus for producing chopped fibrous strands
Assignee: Owens Corning
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Filing: 1969-01-15
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Granted: 1971-07-27
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Expires: 1989-01-15
Abstract
Abstract Production of chopped strands of fibers such as glass fibers is improved by removal of static charge and size classification. In one apparatus embodiment of the invention, size classification of chopped strands is accomplished by a vibrating screen through which chopped strands of desired size pass while oversize material such as clumps of fuzz, long fibers or other oversize material is screened out. In this embodiment, static removal is accomplished in stages by a charge dissipating structure, a liquid applicator and an ionized airstream. Method subject matter of the invention includes a step of screening chopped strands supplied from a cutter to pass chopped strands of desired sizes while screening out oversize material such as clumps of fuzz. Static is removed by contacting continuous fiber strands which are fed to a cutter with electrically conductive structure at a reference potential, and also by applying liquid to the continuous strands. After chopping of the strands, they may be further exposed to ionized flowing air to assist in reducing static charge.
Inventors
- 👤 Sidney G Dunbar
- 👤 Leo A Oswald
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 11:26
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05F; H05F3/00; H05F3/04; C; C03; C03B; C03B37/00; C03B37/10; C03B37/16; H05F3/02; Y; Y02; Y02P; Y02P40/00; Y02P40/50; Y02P40/57
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
131 words
In an apparatus having a cutter in which continuous strands of fibers are chopped into relatively short strands of predetermined length, the combination with said cutter of screening means supported in a generally horizontal position below said cutter, said screening means having apertures therein sized to pass only individual ones of said predetermined length of the chopped strands, means for directing the chopped strands from said cutter to said screening means including strand separating means, means for vibrating said screening means to cause any oversize material in said chopped strands to travel across at least a portion of said screening means to a first discharge region and desired size chopped strands to pass through said apertures of said screening means to a second discharge region separate from said first discharge region.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
Apparatus as claimed in claim 1 in which said vibrator means causes said screening means to vibrate in directions at an acute angle with respect to horizontal while said screening means remains horizontal.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
58 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 3 in which said screening means includes an impingement portion on which the chopped strands are initially received, said impingement portion having projections thereon for deflecting the chopped strands, and said screening means further including an apertured portion adjacent said impingement portion having apertures corresponding to the predetermined length of said fibers.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 4 in which said screening means further includes a trough under said apertured portion having a discharge opening at one end thereof providing said second discharge point.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
142 words
In an apparatus having a cutter in which continuous strands of fibers are chopped into relatively short strands of predetermined length, the combination with said cutter of an impingement plate supported in a generally horizontal position, chute means for directing the chopped strands from said cutter to said impingement plate including means to introduce ionized air into the path of said chopped strands to separate said strands, a screener plate adjacent said impingement plate and in the plane thereof, said screener plate having apertures therein sized to pass only the predetermined lengths of chopped strands, and means for vibrating said plates in directions at an acute angle with respect to horizontal to cause oversize material to travel from said impingement plate over said screener plate for discharge therefrom and predetermined lengths of material to pass through said screener plate for separate discharge.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
206 words
In an apparatus having a cutter in which continuous strands of fibers are chopped into relatively short strands, the combination with said cutter of a support having a grounding electrode adapted to support electrically conductive means contacting said continuous strands ahead of said cutter for dissipating static electrical charge from said strands, means for applying a liquid to said continuous strands ahead of said cutter to assist in reducing static charge on said strands, screening means supported in a generally horizontal position below said cutter to receive chopped strands therefrom, said screening means having a plurality of apertures therein dimensioned to allow desired sizes of the chopped strands to pass through the same and to screen out oversize material such as long fibers and fuzz clumps, chute means extending between said cutter and said screening means, means for introducing ionized flowing air into said chute means to scatter chopped strands therein and to reduce static charge on such strands, and means for vibrating said screening means to cause material screened out by said screening means to travel across at least a portion of said screening means to a discharge region while material or desired size passes through said apertures of said screening means to be collected.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus as claimed in claim 7 and further including chute means leading frOm said cutter to receive the chopped strands therefrom, and means for forcibly introducing ionized flowing air into said chute means to scatter chopped strands therein and to further reduce static electric charge on such strands.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
146 words
In a method of making chopped strands of fibers in which continuous strands of fibers are fed to a cutter which chops them into relatively short strands, the improvement comprising the steps of demagnetizing said continuous strands of fibers prior to being fed to said cutter, directing the chopped strands from said cutter into a chute, further demagnetizing said chopped strands in said chute, permitting said chopped strands to fall onto a generally horizontal screening means having apertures therein sized to pass only desired sizes of the chopped strands, and vibrating said screening means to cause any oversize material in said chopped strands to travel across at least a portion of said screening means to a first discharge region and to cause desired size chopped strands to pass through said apertures of said screening means to a second discharge region separate from said first discharge region.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
38 words
The method as claimed in claim 9 in which said screening means is vibrated in directions at an acute angle to horizontal to cause said oversize material to travel in a horizontal component of one of said directions.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
158 words
In a method of making chopped strands of fibers, the steps of (1) feeding continuous strands of fibers to a cutter, (2) contacting said continuous strands ahead of said cutter with electrically conductive structure to dissipate static electrical charge from said strands, (3) applying liquid to said strands ahead of said cutter to assist in reducing static electrical charge, (4) chopping said continuous strands in said cutter into shorter strands, (5) directing the chopped strands through a chamber onto a screening means having apertures therein sized to pass only desired sizes of the chopped strands, (6) introducing ionized flowing air into said chamber to scatter said chopped strands and to reduce static electrical charge on said chopped strands, (7) and vibrating said screening means to cause material screened out by said screening means to travel across at least a portion of said screening means to a discharge point while material of desired size passes through said screening means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
75 words
In a method of making chopped strands of fibers, the steps of (1) feeding continuous strands of fibers to a cutter, (2) contacting said continuous strands with electrically conductive structure at a reference potential to dissipate static electrical charge from said strands, (3) applying liquid to said continuous strands to assist in reducing static electrical charge and to reduce frizzing of said strands, and (4) chopping said continuous strands in said cutter into shorter strands.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method as claimed in claim 12 including the further steps of directing the chopped strands from said cutter through a chamber, and introducing ionized flowing air into said chamber to scatter the chopped strands and to further assist in reducing static electrical charge on said strands.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method as claimed in claim 12 including the further step of screening the chopped strands to remove foreign material therefrom.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
80 words
The method as claimed in claim 14 in which said screening step is carried out by directing the chopped strands onto a screening means having apertures therein sized to pass only desired sizes of the chopped strands, and vibrating said screening means to cause material screened out by said screening means to travel across at least a portion of said screening means to a discharge point while chopped strands of desired size pass through the apertures of said screening means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-07-26 | 1975-01-25 | 1975-07-27 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-07-26 | 1979-01-25 | 1979-07-27 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-07-26 | 1983-01-25 | 1983-07-27 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |