Apparatus for cutting strip material in variable lengths

Claim 2

Apparatus for cutting segments of preselected length from a supply of strand material comprising: feed means for advancing an end length of strand material from said supply, comprising cooperating feed rolls that grip said end length, drive means operatively connected to at least one of said rolls, and a clutch between said drive means and said roll adapted when engaged to cause said drive means to rotate said rolls and when disengaged to halt rotation of said rolls; means for cutting a segment of preselected length from said end length of strand material advanced by said feed means; length control means operatively connected to said feed means for stopping said feed means after a preselected length of strand material has been advanced and for actuating said cutting means when said feed means has been stopped, said control means including a movable operating member that moves through an adjustable path between a preselected limit position and a switch actuating position, means disengaging said clutch from said roll of said feed means when said operating member reaches its switch actuating position, and biasing means for returning said operating member to its limit position when disengaged From said feed means; a plurality of motion transmitting trains between said one feed roll and said movable operating member; and means for selecting one of said trains for operation, whereby one of a plurality of different segment lengths of strand may be selected prior to cutting.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said movable operating member of said length control means is a rotary operating member that swings through an adjustable arc; wherein said motion transmitting trains comprising two trains of gearing such of which is selectively operatively connected between said drive feed roll and said rotary operating member; and wherein said means for selecting one of said motion transmitting trains includes means for selecting one of said two trains of gearing, whereby one of two different lengths of strand may be selected prior to cutting.

Claim 4

Apparatus for cutting a segment of preselected length from a supply of strand material comprising: feed means for advancing an end length of strand material from said supply comprising rotary means for actuating said feed means, drive means for driving said feed means actuator rotary means, and a first clutch between said rotary means and said drive means; cutting means for cutting a segment of strand material of preselected length from the end length of strand material advanced by said rotary means, comprising rotary cutter operating means and rotary cutter drive means, and a second clutch interposed between said rotary cutter operating means and said rotary cutter drive means; length control means operatively connected to said feed means actuator rotary means for causing said feed means and advancement of said strand material to halt after a preselected length of strand material has been advanced and for causing said cutting means to cut said segment of strand material of preselected length from the remainder of strip material, said length control means including a switch, an operating member that moves through an adjustable path between a preselected limit position and a switch actuating position at which said operating member actuates said switch, biasing means for returning said operating member to its limit position, a third clutch connected between said operating member and said feed means actuator rotary means, and means for adjusting the length of path through which said operating member moves between said limit position and said switch actuating position; and means controlled by said switch when it is actuated by said operating member for releasing said first clutch to halt said feed means actuator rotary means, for engaging said second clutch to rotate said cutter operating means to cause said cutting means to cut said preselected length of strip material from the remainder of the strip material, and for releasing said third clutch to permit said operating member to be moved to its limit position by said biasing means.

Claim 5

Apparatus for cutting a segment of preselected length from a supply of strand material comprising: feed means for advancing an end length of strand material from said supply comprising rotary means for actuating said feed means, drive means for driving said feed means actuator rotary means, and a first clutch between said rotary means and said drive means; cutting means for cutting a segment of strand material of preselected length from the end length of strand material advanced by said rotary means, comprising rotary cutter operating means and rotary cutter drive means, and a second clutch interposed between said rotary cutter operating means and said rotary cutter drive means; length control means operatively connected to said feed means actuator rotary means for causing said feed means and advancement of said strand material to halt after a preselected length of strand material has been advanced and for causing said cutting means to cut said segment of strand material of preselected length from the remainder of strip material, said length control means including a switch, an operating member that moves through an adjustable path between a preselected limit position and a switch actuating position at which said operating member actuates said switch, biasing means for returning said operating member to its limit position, a third clutch connected between said operating member and said feed means actuator rotary means, and means for adjusting the length of path through which said operating member moves between said limit position and said switch actuating position; and means controlled by said switch when it is actuated by said operating member for releasing said first clutch to halt said feed means actuator rotary means, for engaging said second clutch to rotate said cutter operating means to cause said cutting means to cut said preselected length of strip material from the remainder of the strip material, and for releasing said third clutch to permit said operating member to be moved to its limit position by said biasing means.

Claim 6

The apparatus of claim 3 comprising means for disengaging said second clutch after said cutting means makes one cut through said strand material.

Claim 7

The apparatus of claim 3 comprising means for repetitively operating said drive means and said clutches so that segments of preselected length of strand material are repetitively cut.

Claim 8

The apparatus of claim 3 which comprises two motion transmitting trains between said feed means actuator rotary means and said operating member; and means for selecting one of said trains for operation, whereby a plurality of different segment lengths of strand may be selected prior to cutting.