US3596319A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Foam filament cutter
Assignee: EIDP Inc
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Filing: 1968-07-22
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Granted: 1971-08-03
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Expires: 1988-07-22
Abstract
Abstract Gas-inflated foamed filaments are cut to staple length immediately after spinning by a whirling knife cutter located well below the spinneret. A duct surrounds the filaments from spinneret to cutter and confines a sheath of gas flowing cocurrently with the filaments. Velocity of gas is low in upper part of duct, but greater than rate of filament extrusion in lower part. A second duct below the cutter prevents rapid deceleration and expansion of the gas so that fibers are conveyed away from the cutter. Cross sections of ducts are much larger than total cross section of filaments so contact of filaments with walls is avoided.
Inventors
- 👤 Winfield L Mckenica
- 👤 Marvin Scher
- 👤 James Gerald Smith
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:58
CPC Classifications
D; D01; D01D; D01D5/00; D01D5/26; D01G; D01G1/00; D01G1/02; D01G1/04
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
257 words
Apparatus for cutting closed-cell, gas-inflated, foamed filaments (14) into staple length fibers as they are continuously formed by extrusion through orifices in an extrusion die (10), the apparatus comprising a. a cutter composed of at least one blade (20) mounted on a rotatable disc (22), the cutter being located at a point below and remote from the die and positioned such that the blade intersects the path of the filaments; b. means for rotating the disc; c. a funnel-shaped duct (17) between the die and the cutter blade for forming and confining about the filament a sheath of gas flowing cocurrently with the filament at a velocity exceeding the linear rate of filament formation in the vicinity of the cutter, but at a relatively low velocity near the die, the larger end of the duct being located about the die, the smaller end of the duct being located immediately above the cutter blade and having a cross-sectional area at least 10 times greater than the total cross-sectional area of the orifices; d. a plenum (15) located about the die and communicating with the funnel-shaped duct in the space between the duct and the die: e. a blower (16) for introducing a stream of gas to the plenum and thence to the duct, said blower being connected to said plenum; and f. a staple-receiving duct (32) downstream of the cutter of cross-sectional area sufficiently large to permit deceleration of the gas but sufficiently small to cause the filaments to be carried out of the path of the cutter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
257 words
Apparatus for cutting closed-cell, gas-inflated, foamed filaments (14) into staple length fibers as they are continuously formed by extrusion through orifices in an extrusion die (10), the apparatus comprising a. a cutter composed of at least one blade (20) mounted on a rotatable disc (22), the cutter being located at a point below and remote from the die and positioned such that the blade intersects the path of the filaments; b. means for rotating the disc; c. a funnel-shaped duct (17) between the die and the cutter blade for forming and confining about the filament a sheath of gas flowing cocurrently with the filament at a velocity exceeding the linear rate of filament formation in the vicinity of the cutter, but at a relatively low velocity near the die, the larger end of the duct being located about the die, the smaller end of the duct being located immediately above the cutter blade and having a cross-sectional area at least 10 times greater than the total cross-sectional area of the orifices; d. a plenum (15) located about the die and communicating with the funnel-shaped duct in the space between the duct and the die: e. a blower (16) for introducing a stream of gas to the plenum and thence to the duct, said blower being connected to said plenum; and f. a staple-receiving duct (32) downstream of the cutter of cross-sectional area sufficiently large to permit deceleration of the gas but sufficiently small to cause the filaments to be carried out of the path of the cutter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
Apparatus for claim 1 wherein said duct is partially perforated, the perforated section (28) being in the upper portion of the duct, there being a peripheral opening in the lower portion of the duct, a blower (16) for introducing a gas through the peripheral opening in the duct in a direction generally parallel to the direction of filament extrusion being operably associated with said apparatus.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
Apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plenum and the funnel-shaped duct are separated by an annular element (18) having a multitude of channels between major surfaces, the axes of which are generally parallel to the filament extrusion direction.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus of claim 3 including means operably connected to tHe terminal end of the staple-receiving duct and the intake side of the blower (16) for receiving and separating the gas and the staple fibers and recirculating the gas back to the plenum.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
41 words
Apparatus of claim 4 wherein the die, cutter and at least the ends of the ducts adjacent the cutter are enclosed in a housing in order to prevent escape of gas and permit cutting in an atmosphere of the extrusion solvent.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus of claim 5 wherein interior surfaces of the funnel-shaped duct are smoothly curved in order to minimize turbulence of the gas stream.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus of claim 5 wherein a heat exchanger (49) is provided on the exit side of the blower to maintain the temperature of the recycled gas.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-08-02 | 1975-02-01 | 1975-08-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-08-02 | 1979-02-01 | 1979-08-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-08-02 | 1983-02-01 | 1983-08-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |