Method and apparatus for subdividing a body of fibers into sections

Claim 17

The method according to claim 8 including moving the mat along a surface from the supply toward the fiber-severing station, and delivering streams of air between the mat and the surface thereby supporting the mat on a layer of air.

Claim 18

The method according to claim 8 including delivering streams of air toward the edges of the advancing mat, and controlling the direction of advancement of the mat by the streams of air.

Claim 19

Apparatus for severing a body of severable material, in combination, means supporting the body, a plurality of body severing rolls, means supporting said rolls, a member mounted by the means supporting the body for engagement with the rolls, said rolls being rotatably mounted on axes obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the member, and means effecting relative movement between the body and the rOlls for progressively severing the body at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the member.

Claim 20

Apparatus for severing a body of severable material, in combination, means supporting the body, a plurality of body severing rolls, means supporting said rolls, a member mounted by the means supporting the body for engagement with the rolls, said rolls being rotatably mounted on axes obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the member, and means effecting relative movement between the body and the rOlls for progressively severing the body at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the member.

Claim 21

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means for advancing a body of severable material toward a severing station, means supporting the advancing body, means for advancing the body supporting means at substantially the same linear speed as the advancing body, a plurality of body-severing rolls at the severing station, said rolls being rotatably mounted on axes obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the body, and means mounted by the body supporting means engaged by the rolls for progressively severing the advancing body.

Claim 22

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means for advancing a body of severable material toward a severing station, means supporting the advancing body, means for advancing the body supporting means at substantially the same linear speed as the advancing body, a plurality of body-severing rolls at the severing station, said rolls being rotatably mounted on axes obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the body, and means mounted by the body supporting means engaged by the rolls for progressively severing the advancing body.

Claim 23

Apparatus for severing fibers of a body of fibers, in combination, carrier means supporting a body of fibers, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls, means supporting said rolls, members mounted by the carrier means for successive engagement with the rolls, said rolls being mounted for rotation on axes obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the members mounted by the carrier means, and means effecting relative movement between the body of fibers and the rolls for progressively severing fibers of the body at successive regions of engagement of the rolls with the members mounted by the carrier means.

Claim 24

Apparatus for severing fibers of a body of fibers, in combination, carrier means supporting a body of fibers, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls, means supporting said rolls, members mounted by the carrier means for successive engagement with the rolls, said rolls being mounted for rotation on axes obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the members mounted by the carrier means, and means effecting relative movement between the body of fibers and the rolls for progressively severing fibers of the body at successive regions of engagement of the rolls with the members mounted by the carrier means.

Claim 25

Apparatus for severing fibers of a mat of fibers, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a mat of fibers from a supply, movable carrier means receiving the mat of fibers, members mounted by the carrier means, means moving the carrier means in the same direction as the advancing mat, and a plurality of mat severing rolls for engagement with the mat, said rolls being mounted for rotation on axes obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the mat and carrier means, said members mounted by the carrier means being successively engaged by peripheral regions of said rolls for progressively severing fibers of the advancing mat.

Claim 26

Apparatus for severing fibers of a mat of fibers, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a mat of fibers from a supply, movable carrier means receiving the mat of fibers, members mounted by the carrier means, means moving the carrier means in the same direction as the advancing mat, and a plurality of mat severing rolls for engagement with the mat, said rolls being mounted for rotation on axes obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the mat and carrier means, said members mounted by the carrier means being successively engaged by peripheral regions of said rolls for progressively severing fibers of the advancing mat.

Claim 27

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers in the direction of its length, relatively movable mat carrier means, means for advancing the carrier means at a speed substantially the same as the speed of the advancing body of fibers, fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means, a plurality of rotatable fiber-engaging rolls arranged for engagement with the fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means, said rolls having their axes disposed in oblique relation with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers and the carrier means whereby peripheral regions of the rolls successively compress the fibers against the fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means for progressively severing the fibers of the advancing body at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the severing means mounted by the carrier means.

Claim 28

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers in the direction of its length, relatively movable mat carrier means, means for advancing the carrier means at a speed substantially the same as the speed of the advancing body of fibers, fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means, a plurality of rotatable fiber-engaging rolls arranged for engagement with the fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means, said rolls having their axes disposed in oblique relation with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers and the carrier means whereby peripheral regions of the rolls successively compress the fibers against the fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means for progressively severing the fibers of the advancing body at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the severing means mounted by the carrier means.

Claim 29

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers in the direction of its length, relatively movable mat carrier means, means for advancing the carrier means at a speed substantially the same as the speed of the advancing body of fibers, fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means, a plurality of fiber-engaging rolls arranged for engagement with the fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means, said rolls having their axes disposed in oblique relation with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers and the carrier means whereby peripheral regions of the rolls successively compress the fibers against the fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means for progressively severing the fibers of the advancing body at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the sEvering means mounted by the carrier means, and roll means for severing fibers at the edge regions of the body of fibers to effect the complete severing of a discrete section of fibers from the body.

Claim 30

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers in the direction of its length, relatively movable mat carrier means, means for advancing the carrier means at a speed substantially the same as the speed of the advancing body of fibers, fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means, a plurality of fiber-engaging rolls arranged for engagement with the fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means, said rolls having their axes disposed in oblique relation with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers and the carrier means whereby peripheral regions of the rolls successively compress the fibers against the fiber-severing means mounted by the carrier means for progressively severing the fibers of the advancing body at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the sEvering means mounted by the carrier means, and roll means for severing fibers at the edge regions of the body of fibers to effect the complete severing of a discrete section of fibers from the body.

Claim 31

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers in the direction of its length, a fiber-severing station, relatively movable means supporting the body of fibers, a guide medium for directing the advancing body toward the fiber-severing station, means for advancing the body supporting means to the fiber-severing station at a speed substantially the same as the speed of the advancing body of fibers, fiber-severing members mounted by the body supporting means, a plurality of rotatable fiber-severing rolls at the fiber-severing station, the axes of said rolls being disposed in oblique relation with respect to each other and oblique with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers and the body supporting means whereby peripheral regions of the rolls successively compress the fibers against the fiber-severing members to progressively sever the fibers of the advancing body at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the fiber-severing members.

Claim 32

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers in the direction of its length, a fiber-severing station, relatively movable means supporting the body of fibers, a guide medium for directing the advancing body toward the fiber-severing station, means for advancing the body supporting means to the fiber-severing station at a speed substantially the same as the speed of the advancing body of fibers, fiber-severing members mounted by the body supporting means, a plurality of rotatable fiber-severing rolls at the fiber-severing station, the axes of said rolls being disposed in oblique relation with respect to each other and oblique with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers and the body supporting means whereby peripheral regions of the rolls successively compress the fibers against the fiber-severing members to progressively sever the fibers of the advancing body at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the fiber-severing members.

Claim 33

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a mat of mineral fibers, means providing a surface receiving the mat from the mat advancing means, a fiber-severing station, mat carrier means receiving the mat of fibers from the surface, means providing a cushion of air between said surface and the mat of fibers, means advancing the carrier means to the fiber-severing station at substantially the same speed as the speed of the advancing mat of fibers, fiber-severing bars mounted by the carrier means, a plurality of rolls disposed at the severing station, said rolls being mounted upon axes obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the mat and the carrier means, said severing bars being successively engaged by peripheral regions of said obliquely disposed rolls for progressively severing fibers between the severing bars and said rolls at successive regions of engagement of the peripheries of said rolls with severing bars, and rotatable means engageable with the end regions of the severing bars for severing fibers at the edge regions of the mat.

Claim 34

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a mat of mineral fibers, means providing a surface receiving the mat from the mat advancing means, a fiber-severing station, mat carrier means receiving the mat of fibers from the surface, means providing a cushion of air between said surface and the mat of fibers, means advancing the carrier means to the fiber-severing station at substantially the same speed as the speed of the advancing mat of fibers, fiber-severing bars mounted by the carrier means, a plurality of rolls disposed at the severing station, said rolls being mounted upon axes obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the mat and the carrier means, said severing bars being successively engaged by peripheral regions of said obliquely disposed rolls for progressively severing fibers between the severing bars and said rolls at successive regions of engagement of the peripheries of said rolls with severing bars, and rotatable means engageable with the end regions of the severing bars for severing fibers at the edge regions of the mat.

Claim 35

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, means for severing a severable body of material including movable support means for the body, said means provided with body-severing bars, a plurality of body-severing rolls for engagement with the severing bars, each of said rolls being mounted for rotation about an independent axis and the axes being in nonaligned relation, the axes of certain of said rolls being obliquely disposed with respect to others of said rolls, means for effecting relative movement between said rolls and said body-severing bars to effect progressive engagement of point regions on said rolls with the severing bars for progressively severing the body at regions between the severing bars and successive peripheral regions of said rolls, each of said rolls being of lesser length than a severing bar, said rolls being in overlapping relation whereby the body is progressively severed at the regions of engagement of the rolls with a severing bar.

Claim 36

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, means for severing a severable body of material including movable support means for the body, said means provided with body-severing bars, a plurality of body-severing rolls for engagement with the severing bars, each of said rolls being mounted for rotation about an independent axis and the axes being in nonaligned relation, the axes of certain of said rolls being obliquely disposed with respect to others of said rolls, means for effecting relative movement between said rolls and said body-severing bars to effect progressive engagement of point regions on said rolls with the severing bars for progressively severing the body at regions between the severing bars and successive peripheral regions of said rolls, each of said rolls being of lesser length than a severing bar, said rolls being in overlapping relation whereby the body is progressively severed at the regions of engagement of the rolls with a severing bar.

Claim 37

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, means for severing fibers of a moving body of fibers including supporting means for the body, said body-supporting means provided with severing bars, a plurality of body severing rolls, the peripheral regions of said rolls being of yieldable material, each of said rolls being mounted for rotation about an independent axis with the axes in nonaligned relation, the axes of certain of said rolls being obliquely disposed with respect to others of said rolls, means for effecting relative movement between said rolls and said bars to effect progressive engagement betWeen point regions on the peripheries of said rolls with a severing bar for progressively severing fibers of the body of fibers between a severing bar and successive peripheral regions of said rolls, each of said rolls being of lesser length than the severing bar, said rolls being in overlapping relation whereby the fibers of the body of fibers are progressively severed throughout the region of a severing bar engaged by said rolls.

Claim 38

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, means for severing fibers of a moving body of fibers including supporting means for the body, said body-supporting means provided with severing bars, a plurality of body severing rolls, the peripheral regions of said rolls being of yieldable material, each of said rolls being mounted for rotation about an independent axis with the axes in nonaligned relation, the axes of certain of said rolls being obliquely disposed with respect to others of said rolls, means for effecting relative movement between said rolls and said bars to effect progressive engagement betWeen point regions on the peripheries of said rolls with a severing bar for progressively severing fibers of the body of fibers between a severing bar and successive peripheral regions of said rolls, each of said rolls being of lesser length than the severing bar, said rolls being in overlapping relation whereby the fibers of the body of fibers are progressively severed throughout the region of a severing bar engaged by said rolls.

Claim 39

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a tray comprising a frame, means carried by the frame for supporting a body of fibers, a fiber-severing bar mounted by the frame, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls arranged for engagement with the fiber-severing bar, said rolls being mounted for rotation respectively on axes oblique to each other and oblique to the fiber-severing bar, and means for effecting relative movement between the rolls and the tray for severing fibers of the body at the regions of progressive engagement of the rolls with the bar.

Claim 40

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a tray comprising a frame, means carried by the frame for supporting a body of fibers, a fiber-severing bar mounted by the frame, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls arranged for engagement with the fiber-severing bar, said rolls being mounted for rotation respectively on axes oblique to each other and oblique to the fiber-severing bar, and means for effecting relative movement between the rolls and the tray for severing fibers of the body at the regions of progressive engagement of the rolls with the bar.

Claim 41

The combination according to claim 21 wherein the peripheral regions of said rolls are of yieldable material.

Claim 42

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a tray for supporting a body of fibers, said tray comprising a frame having end rails and side rails, a plurality of spaced linear elements connected with the end rails, a plurality of spaced linear elements connected with the side rails, a fiber-severing bar associated with one of said rails, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls arranged for engagement with the fiber-severing bar, and means for effecting relative movement between the rolls and the tray for severing the fibers at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the bar.

Claim 43

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, a tray for supporting a body of fibers, said tray comprising a frame having end rails and side rails, a plurality of spaced linear elements connected with the end rails, a plurality of spaced linear elements connected with the side rails, a fiber-severing bar associated with one of said rails, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls arranged for engagement with the fiber-severing bar, and means for effecting relative movement between the rolls and the tray for severing the fibers at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the bar.

Claim 44

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means for advancing a body of fibers toward a fiber-severing station, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls at the fiber-severing station, each of said rolls being mounted on an independent axis obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, a plurality of trays arranged in successive relation, means for advancing the trays to the fiber-severing station, said trays arranged to receive the body of fibers adjacent the fiber-severing station, and a fiber-severing bar mounted by each of said trays whereby fibers of the body are severed as the severing bars carried by the trays are successively engaged by the plurality of severing rolls.

Claim 45

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means for advancing a body of fibers toward a fiber-severing station, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls at the fiber-severing station, each of said rolls being mounted on an independent axis obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, a plurality of trays arranged in successive relation, means for advancing the trays to the fiber-severing station, said trays arranged to receive the body of fibers adjacent the fiber-severing station, and a fiber-severing bar mounted by each of said trays whereby fibers of the body are severed as the severing bars carried by the trays are successively engaged by the plurality of severing rolls.

Claim 46

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means for advancing a body of fibers toward a fiber-severing station, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls at the fiber-severing station, each of said rolls being mounted on an independent axis obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, a plurality of trays arranged in successive relation, means for advancing the trays to the fiber-severing station, said trays arranged to receive the body of fibers adjacent the fiber-severing station, a fiber-severing bar mounted by each of said trays whereby fibers of the body are severed as the severing bars carried by the trays are successively engaged by the plurality of severing rolls, and roll means engageable with edge regions of the body of fibers for severing the fibers of said edge regions to complete the severing of discrete sections from the body.

Claim 47

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means for advancing a body of fibers toward a fiber-severing station, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls at the fiber-severing station, each of said rolls being mounted on an independent axis obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, a plurality of trays arranged in successive relation, means for advancing the trays to the fiber-severing station, said trays arranged to receive the body of fibers adjacent the fiber-severing station, a fiber-severing bar mounted by each of said trays whereby fibers of the body are severed as the severing bars carried by the trays are successively engaged by the plurality of severing rolls, and roll means engageable with edge regions of the body of fibers for severing the fibers of said edge regions to complete the severing of discrete sections from the body.

Claim 48

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means for advancing a body of fibers toward a fiber-severing station, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls at the fiber-severing station, each of said rolls being mounted on an independent axis obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, means mounting said rolls adjustable to vary the angles of obliquity of the rolls, a plurality of trays arranged in successive relation, means for advancing the trays to the fiber-severing station, said trays arranged to receive the bOdy of fibers adjacent the fiber-severing station, and a fiber-severing bar mounted by each of said trays whereby fibers of the body are severed as the severing bars carried by the trays are successively engaged by the plurality of severing rolls.

Claim 49

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means for advancing a body of fibers toward a fiber-severing station, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls at the fiber-severing station, each of said rolls being mounted on an independent axis obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, means mounting said rolls adjustable to vary the angles of obliquity of the rolls, a plurality of trays arranged in successive relation, means for advancing the trays to the fiber-severing station, said trays arranged to receive the bOdy of fibers adjacent the fiber-severing station, and a fiber-severing bar mounted by each of said trays whereby fibers of the body are severed as the severing bars carried by the trays are successively engaged by the plurality of severing rolls.

Claim 50

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, a fiber-severing station, a tray for supporting a mat of fibers at the fiber-severing station, means for advancing the tray, a fiber-severing bar mounted by the tray, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls disposed at the severing station, each of said rolls being mounted on an independent axis obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the mat and tray, and means establishing pressure on said severing rolls to engage the severing rolls with the severing bar on the tray whereby fibers of the mat are progressively severed at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the severing bar.

Claim 51

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, a fiber-severing station, a tray for supporting a mat of fibers at the fiber-severing station, means for advancing the tray, a fiber-severing bar mounted by the tray, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls disposed at the severing station, each of said rolls being mounted on an independent axis obliquely disposed with respect to each other and obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the mat and tray, and means establishing pressure on said severing rolls to engage the severing rolls with the severing bar on the tray whereby fibers of the mat are progressively severed at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the severing bar.

Claim 52

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body-advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of open areas, blower means for delivering air into said chamber and through the open areas whereby the body of fibers is supported adjacent the ramp surface upon a layer of air, a fiber-severing station, tray means moving in the direction of the body arranged to receive the body of fibers from the ramp surface, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, said rolls being respectively journaled for rotation upon axes oblique with respect to each other and oblique with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, and a severing bar mounted by said tray means, said severing bar being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bar at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 53

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body-advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of open areas, blower means for delivering air into said chamber and through the open areas whereby the body of fibers is supported adjacent the ramp surface upon a layer of air, a fiber-severing station, tray means moving in the direction of the body arranged to receive the body of fibers from the ramp surface, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, said rolls being respectively journaled for rotation upon axes oblique with respect to each other and oblique with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, and a severing bar mounted by said tray means, said severing bar being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bar at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 54

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of open areas, blower means for delivering air into said chamber and through the open areas whereby the body of fibers is supported adjacent the ramp surface upon a layer of air, a fiber-severing station, carrier means moving in the direction of the body arranged to receive the body from the ramp surface, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, said rolls being respectively journaled for rotation upon axes oblique with respect to each other and oblique with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers and spaced severing bars mounted by said carrier means, said severing bars being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bars at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 55

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of open areas, blower means for delivering air into said chamber and through the open areas whereby the body of fibers is supported adjacent the ramp surface upon a layer of air, a fiber-severing station, carrier means moving in the direction of the body arranged to receive the body from the ramp surface, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, said rolls being respectively journaled for rotation upon axes oblique with respect to each other and oblique with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers and spaced severing bars mounted by said carrier means, said severing bars being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bars at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 56

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, a fiber-severing station, movable carrier means for a mat of fibers, spaced fiber-severing bars mounted by the carrier means, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls disposed at the severing station, said rolls being mounted on axes obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the mat and carrier means, means establishing pressure on said severing rolls to engage the severing rolls with the severing bars whereby fibers are progressively severed at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the severing bars, a plurality of open areas in the carrier means, a chamber disposed beneath the carrier means adjacent the fiber-severing station, and means for establishing air under pressure in said chamber for delivery through the openings in the carrier means for supporting the mat of fibers at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 57

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, a fiber-severing station, movable carrier means for a mat of fibers, spaced fiber-severing bars mounted by the carrier means, a plurality of fiber-severing rolls disposed at the severing station, said rolls being mounted on axes obliquely disposed with respect to the direction of advancement of the mat and carrier means, means establishing pressure on said severing rolls to engage the severing rolls with the severing bars whereby fibers are progressively severed at the regions of engagement of the rolls with the severing bars, a plurality of open areas in the carrier means, a chamber disposed beneath the carrier means adjacent the fiber-severing station, and means for establishing air under pressure in said chamber for delivery through the openings in the carrier means for supporting the mat of fibers at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 58

The combination according to claim 30 including a second chamber disposed adjacent the chamber in which air pressure is established, and means for establishing reduced pressure in said second chamber, said reduced air pressure in the second chamber being effective through open areas in the carrier means for retaining a severed section of the mat of fibers on the carrier means.

Claim 59

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of open areas, blower means for delivering air into said chamber and through the open areas whereby the body of fibers is supported upon a layer of air, a fiber-severing station, a plurality of trays disposed in abutting relation, means for advancing the trays to receive the body of fibers, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, each of said rolls being journaled for rotation upon an independent axis oblique with respect to the axis of an adjacent roll and oblique with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, a severing bar mounted by each of said trays, the severing bars on said trays being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bars at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 60

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of open areas, blower means for delivering air into said chamber and through the open areas whereby the body of fibers is supported upon a layer of air, a fiber-severing station, a plurality of trays disposed in abutting relation, means for advancing the trays to receive the body of fibers, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, each of said rolls being journaled for rotation upon an independent axis oblique with respect to the axis of an adjacent roll and oblique with respect to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, a severing bar mounted by each of said trays, the severing bars on said trays being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bars at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 61

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of open areas, blower means for delivering air into said chamber and through the open areas whereby the body of fibers is supported upon a layer of air, a fiber-severing station, a plurality of trays disposed in abutting relation, means for advancing the trays to receive the body of fibers, each of said trays having a plurality of wires in crossing relation supporting the body of fibers, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, each of said rolls being journaled for rotation upon an independent axis oblique to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, a severing bar mounted by each of said trays, the severing bars on said trays being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bars at the fiber-severing station, and means adjacent the mat severing station for delivering air under pressure beneath the region of the body of fibers on a tray for supporting the body of fibers at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 62

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of open areas, blower means for delivering air into said chamber and through the open areas whereby the body of fibers is supported upon a layer of air, a fiber-severing station, a plurality of trays disposed in abutting relation, means for advancing the trays to receive the body of fibers, each of said trays having a plurality of wires in crossing relation supporting the body of fibers, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, each of said rolls being journaled for rotation upon an independent axis oblique to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, a severing bar mounted by each of said trays, the severing bars on said trays being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bars at the fiber-severing station, and means adjacent the mat severing station for delivering air under pressure beneath the region of the body of fibers on a tray for supporting the body of fibers at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 63

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of spaced openings, a fiber-severing station, a pair of transversely spaced tubular members between which the body of fibers is advanced along the ramp surface, the inner opposed walls of the tubular members being provided with a plurality of openings, blower means for establishing air pressure within the chamber and within the tubular members whereby air streams are delivered through the openings in the ramp surface providing a layer of air supporting the body of fibers adjacent the ramp surface and air streams delivered through the openings in the walls of the tubular members toward the edges of the advancing body of fibers for guiding the body toward the fiber-severing station, movable conveyor means, a plurality of trays disposed in abutting relation successively advanced by the conveyor means to receive the body of fibers, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, said rolls being journAled for rotation upon axes oblique to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, and a severing bar mounted by each of said trays, said severing bars being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bars at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 64

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of spaced openings, a fiber-severing station, a pair of transversely spaced tubular members between which the body of fibers is advanced along the ramp surface, the inner opposed walls of the tubular members being provided with a plurality of openings, blower means for establishing air pressure within the chamber and within the tubular members whereby air streams are delivered through the openings in the ramp surface providing a layer of air supporting the body of fibers adjacent the ramp surface and air streams delivered through the openings in the walls of the tubular members toward the edges of the advancing body of fibers for guiding the body toward the fiber-severing station, movable conveyor means, a plurality of trays disposed in abutting relation successively advanced by the conveyor means to receive the body of fibers, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, said rolls being journAled for rotation upon axes oblique to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, and a severing bar mounted by each of said trays, said severing bars being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bars at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 65

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of spaced openings, first blower means for delivering air into said chamber and through the openings whereby the body of fibers is supported adjacent the ramp surface upon a layer of air, a fiber-severing station, a pair of transversely spaced tubular members between which the body of fibers is advanced along the ramp surface, each of said tubular members being pivotally mounted at its end adjacent the region of delivery of the body of fibers from the body advancing means, the inner opposed walls of the tubular members being provided with a plurality of openings, second blower means for establishing air pressure within the tubular members whereby air streams are delivered through the openings of said members toward the edges of the advancing body of fibers for guiding the body of fibers toward the fiber-severing station, said tubular members being adjustable to vary the positions of said tubular members with respect to the advancing body of fibers, movable conveyor means, a plurality of trays disposed in abutting relation successively advanced by the conveyor means to receive the body of fibers, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, said rolls being journaled for rotation upon axes oblique to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, and a severing bar mounted by each of said trays, said severing bars being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bars at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 66

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, an elongated chamber having a ramp surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means, said ramp surface having a plurality of spaced openings, first blower means for delivering air into said chamber and through the openings whereby the body of fibers is supported adjacent the ramp surface upon a layer of air, a fiber-severing station, a pair of transversely spaced tubular members between which the body of fibers is advanced along the ramp surface, each of said tubular members being pivotally mounted at its end adjacent the region of delivery of the body of fibers from the body advancing means, the inner opposed walls of the tubular members being provided with a plurality of openings, second blower means for establishing air pressure within the tubular members whereby air streams are delivered through the openings of said members toward the edges of the advancing body of fibers for guiding the body of fibers toward the fiber-severing station, said tubular members being adjustable to vary the positions of said tubular members with respect to the advancing body of fibers, movable conveyor means, a plurality of trays disposed in abutting relation successively advanced by the conveyor means to receive the body of fibers, a plurality of rolls at the severing station, said rolls being journaled for rotation upon axes oblique to the direction of advancement of the body of fibers, and a severing bar mounted by each of said trays, said severing bars being successively engaged with the plurality of rolls for severing the fibers at successive regions of point contact of the rolls with the severing bars at the fiber-severing station.

Claim 67

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, a body-severing station, a surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means toward the body severing station, transversely spaced tubular means between which the body is advanced along the surface, the tubular means being provided with open areas adjacent the body, blower means establishing air pressure within the tubular means whereby air streams are delivered through the open areas toward the edges of the body for positioning the body with respect to the surface along which the body is being advanced, and means at said severing station for successively severing the advancing body into discrete body sections.

Claim 68

Apparatus of the character disclosed, in combination, support means, means mounted by the support means for advancing a body of fibers, a body-severing station, a surface along which the body of fibers is advanced by the body advancing means toward the body severing station, transversely spaced tubular means between which the body is advanced along the surface, the tubular means being provided with open areas adjacent the body, blower means establishing air pressure within the tubular means whereby air streams are delivered through the open areas toward the edges of the body for positioning the body with respect to the surface along which the body is being advanced, and means at said severing station for successively severing the advancing body into discrete body sections.

Claim 69

The combination according to claim 36 wherein the tubular means are mounted for adjustment relative to the surface along which the body is being advanced to control the direction of movement of the body.