Method and apparatus for cutting continuous fibrous material

Claim 1

An apparatus for cutting material, comprising: a first member having a first surface defined by a first plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another; a second member having a second surface in at least partial contact with said surface, one of said first and second surfaces being generally flat; means for moving the first member relative to the second member with said first and second surfaces in sliding physical contact with one another at a first region; means for feeding a continuous strand of material between the first and second surfaces; first means for moving the first member in a first continuous path at a first linear speed; and second means for moving the second member in a second continuous path at a second linear speed.

Claim 2

An apparatus for cutting material, comprising: a first member having a first surface defined by a first plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another; a second member having a second surface in at least partial contact with said surface, one of said first and second surfaces being generally flat; means for moving the first member relative to the second member with said first and second surfaces in sliding physical contact with one another at a first region; means for feeding a continuous strand of material between the first and second surfaces; first means for moving the first member in a first continuous path at a first linear speed; and second means for moving the second member in a second continuous path at a second linear speed.

Claim 3

An apparatus for cutting material, comprising: a first member having a first surface defined by a first plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another; a second member having a second surface in at least partial contact with said first surface, one of said first and second surfaces being generally flat; means for moving the first member relative to the second member with said first and second surfaces in sliding physical contact with one another at a first region; first means for moving the first member in a first continuous path at a first linear speed; second means for moving the second member in a second continuous path at a second linear speed; said first and second linear speeds being different and said first and second surfaces moving in the same general direction at said first region of sliding contact.

Claim 4

An apparatus for cutting material, comprising: a first member having a first surface defined by a first plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another; a second member having a second surface in at least partial contact with said first surface, one of said first and second surfaces being generally flat; means for moving the first member relative to the second member with said first and second surfaces in sliding physical contact with one another at a first region; first means for moving the first member in a first continuous path at a first linear speed; second means for moving the second member in a second continuous path at a second linear speed; said first and second linear speeds being different and said first and second surfaces moving in the same general direction at said first region of sliding contact.

Claim 5

An apparatus for cutting funicular material into segments, comprising: a first plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another, said first plurality of knives defining a generally flat surface; a second plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another, said second plurality of knives defining a generally flat surface arranged adjacent the generally flat surface of said first plurality of knives with at least some of said first plurality of knives being in sliding contact with at least some of second plurality of knives; first means for moving said first plurality of knives in a first continuous path at a first linear speed; second means for moving said second plurality of knives in a second continuous path at a second linear speed different than said first linear speed with said knives in sliding contact with one another advancing with respect to one another to cut said funicular material.

Claim 6

An apparatus for cutting funicular material into segments, comprising: a first plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another, said first plurality of knives defining a generally flat surface; a second plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another, said second plurality of knives defining a generally flat surface arranged adjacent the generally flat surface of said first plurality of knives with at least some of said first plurality of knives being in sliding contact with at least some of second plurality of knives; first means for moving said first plurality of knives in a first continuous path at a first linear speed; second means for moving said second plurality of knives in a second continuous path at a second linear speed different than said first linear speed with said knives in sliding contact with one another advancing with respect to one another to cut said funicular material.

Claim 7

An apparatus for cutting funicular material into segments, comprising: a first plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another; a second plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another and arranged adjacent said first plurality of knives with at least some of said first plurality of knives being in sliding contact with at least some of said second plurality of knives; first means for moving said first plurality of knives in a first continuous path at a first linear speed; second means for moving said second plurality of knives in a second continuous path at a second linear speed different than said first linear speed with said knives in sliding contact with one another advancing with respect to one another to cut said funicular material; a first rotor, said first plurality of knives being provided on said first rotor; a second rotor, said second plurality of knives being provided on said second rotor, said first and second rotors being coaxially mounted with respect to one another.

Claim 8

An apparatus for cutting funicular material into segments, comprising: a first plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another; a second plurality of knives spaced with respect to one another and arranged adjacent said first plurality of knives with at least some of said first plurality of knives being in sliding contact with at least some of said second plurality of knives; first means for moving said first plurality of knives in a first continuous path at a first linear speed; second means for moving said second plurality of knives in a second continuous path at a second linear speed different than said first linear speed with said knives in sliding contact with one another advancing with respect to one another to cut said funicular material; a first rotor, said first plurality of knives being provided on said first rotor; a second rotor, said second plurality of knives being provided on said second rotor, said first and second rotors being coaxially mounted with respect to one another.

Claim 9

An apparatus for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising: a first rotor having a first surface; a second rotor having a second surface, said first and second surfaces being in at least partial contact with one another; a first plurality of knives defining said first surface of the first rotor and facing said second surface of the second rotor; a second plurality of knives defining said second surface of the second rotor, the first and the second pluralities of knives each being arranged in a pinwheel configuration with the knives of the first and the second pluralities arranged in divergent directions with respect to one another; and rotating means for rotating the first and second rotors relative to one another.

Claim 10

An apparatus for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising: a first rotor having a first surface; a second rotor having a second surface, said first and second surfaces being in at least partial contact with one another; a first plurality of knives defining said first surface of the first rotor and facing said second surface of the second rotor; a second plurality of knives defining said second surface of the second rotor, the first and the second pluralities of knives each being arranged in a pinwheel configuration with the knives of the first and the second pluralities arranged in divergent directions with respect to one another; and rotating means for rotating the first and second rotors relative to one another.

Claim 14

An apparatus for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising: a first rotor having a first surface defining an axial end of said first rotor; a second rotor having a second surface defining an axial end of said second rotor with said first and said second surfaces being in at least partial contact with one another with said first and second rotors being mounted generally coaxially with respect to one another; a first plurality of knives defining said first surface of the first rotor and facing said second surface of the second rotor; and rotating means for rotating the first and second rotors relative to one another.

Claim 15

An apparatus for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising: a first rotor having a first surface defining an axial end of said first rotor; a second rotor having a second surface defining an axial end of said second rotor with said first and said second surfaces being in at least partial contact with one another with said first and second rotors being mounted generally coaxially with respect to one another; a first plurality of knives defining said first surface of the first rotor and facing said second surface of the second rotor; and rotating means for rotating the first and second rotors relative to one another.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claims 10 or 12 wherein the rotating means includes means for rotating the first rotor faster than the second rotor at a pre-determined ratio.

Claim 30

An apparatus for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising: a first rotor having a first surface defining an axial end of said first rotor; a second rotor having a second surface defining an axial end of said second rotor with said first and second surfaces being in at least partial contact with one another with the axes of the first and the second rotors coplanar and axially angled with respect to one another; a first plurality of knives defining said first surface of the first rotor and facing said second surface of the second rotor; and rotating means for rotating the first and second rotors relative to one another.

Claim 31

An apparatus for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising: a first rotor having a first surface defining an axial end of said first rotor; a second rotor having a second surface defining an axial end of said second rotor with said first and second surfaces being in at least partial contact with one another with the axes of the first and the second rotors coplanar and axially angled with respect to one another; a first plurality of knives defining said first surface of the first rotor and facing said second surface of the second rotor; and rotating means for rotating the first and second rotors relative to one another.

Claim 32

A method of cutting funicular material into segments, comprising the steps of: feeding said funicular material between first and second surfaces, each of said surfaces being defined by a plurality of knives with said pluralities of knives being arranged in at least partial sliding contact with one another, said knives of each of said first and second pluralities being spaced with respect to one another; moving said first plurality of knives at a first linear speed in a first continuous path; moving said second plurality of knives at a second linear speed, in the same direction as said first plurality of knives, in a second continuous path, said second linear speed being different than said first linear speed whereby said knives in sliding contact with one another advance with respect to one another; cutting said funicular material between said knives in sliding contact with one another during said advancement of said knives.

Claim 33

A method of cutting funicular material into segments, comprising the steps of: feeding said funicular material between first and second surfaces, each of said surfaces being defined by a plurality of knives with said pluralities of knives being arranged in at least partial sliding contact with one another, said knives of each of said first and second pluralities being spaced with respect to one another; moving said first plurality of knives at a first linear speed in a first continuous path; moving said second plurality of knives at a second linear speed, in the same direction as said first plurality of knives, in a second continuous path, said second linear speed being different than said first linear speed whereby said knives in sliding contact with one another advance with respect to one another; cutting said funicular material between said knives in sliding contact with one another during said advancement of said knives.

Claim 34

A method for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising the steps of: rotating a first rotor and a second rotor, closely spaced from one another on a common axis, in the same direction with a first plurality of knives affixed to a surface of the first rotor facing a surface of the second rotor, a second plurality of knives being affixed to the surface of the second rotor; feeding a continuous strand of tow between the first and the second rotors in a zigzag manner between the knives on the rotors at the periphery of the rotor; contacting the first plurality of knives on the first rotor with the surface of the second rotor to cut the two into lengths of staple; and discharging the lengths of staple from between the rotors.

Claim 35

A method for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising the steps of: rotating a first rotor and a second rotor, closely spaced from one another on a common axis, in the same direction with a first plurality of knives affixed to a surface of the first rotor facing a surface of the second rotor, a second plurality of knives being affixed to the surface of the second rotor; feeding a continuous strand of tow between the first and the second rotors in a zigzag manner between the knives on the rotors at the periphery of the rotor; contacting the first plurality of knives on the first rotor with the surface of the second rotor to cut the two into lengths of staple; and discharging the lengths of staple from between the rotors.

Claim 36

A method for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising the steps of: rotating a first rotor and a second rotor, closely spaced from one another, in the same direction with a first plurality of knives affixed to an axial end surface of the first rotor facing an axial end surface of the second rotor, the axes of the rotors being offset with respect to one another; feeding a continuous strand of two between the first and the second rotors; contacting the first plurality of knives on the first rotor with the surface of the second rotor to cut the two into lengths of staple; discharging the lengths of staple from between the rotors; and adjusting the axial angular offset between the first rotor and the second rotor.

Claim 37

A method for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising the steps of: rotating a first rotor and a second rotor, closely spaced from one another, in the same direction with a first plurality of knives affixed to an axial end surface of the first rotor facing an axial end surface of the second rotor, the axes of the rotors being offset with respect to one another; feeding a continuous strand of two between the first and the second rotors; contacting the first plurality of knives on the first rotor with the surface of the second rotor to cut the two into lengths of staple; discharging the lengths of staple from between the rotors; and adjusting the axial angular offset between the first rotor and the second rotor.

Claim 39

A method for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising the steps of: rotating a first rotor and a second rotor, closely spaced from one another on a common axis, in the same direction with a first plurality of knives affixed to a surface of the first rotor facing a surface of the second rotor; feeding a continuous strand of tow between the first and the second rotors; contacting the first plurality of knives on the first rotor with the surface of the second rotor to cut the two into lengths of staple while progressively advancing the first plurality of knives on the first rotor with respect to a second plurality of knives affixed to the surface of the second rotor, which second plurality includes at least one more knife than the first plurality of knives on the first rotor, so as to clamp the material between adjacent knives of the first and the second rotors after feeding the material to prevent escape of the material, to pull the clamped material around the periphery of the rotors and subsequently to cut the tow into segments; and discharging the lengths of staple from between the rotors.

Claim 40

A method for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising the steps of: rotating a first rotor and a second rotor, closely spaced from one another on a common axis, in the same direction with a first plurality of knives affixed to a surface of the first rotor facing a surface of the second rotor; feeding a continuous strand of tow between the first and the second rotors; contacting the first plurality of knives on the first rotor with the surface of the second rotor to cut the two into lengths of staple while progressively advancing the first plurality of knives on the first rotor with respect to a second plurality of knives affixed to the surface of the second rotor, which second plurality includes at least one more knife than the first plurality of knives on the first rotor, so as to clamp the material between adjacent knives of the first and the second rotors after feeding the material to prevent escape of the material, to pull the clamped material around the periphery of the rotors and subsequently to cut the tow into segments; and discharging the lengths of staple from between the rotors.

Claim 41

A method for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising the steps of: rotating a first rotor and a second rotor, closely spaced from one another on a common axis, in the same direction with a first plurality of knives affixed to an axial end surface of the first rotor facing an axial end surface of the second rotor; feeding a continuous strand of tow between the first and the second rotors; contacting the first plurality of knives on the first rotor with the surface of the second rotor to cut the two into lengths of staple; and discharging the lengths of staple from between the rotors.

Claim 42

A method for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising the steps of: rotating a first rotor and a second rotor, closely spaced from one another on a common axis, in the same direction with a first plurality of knives affixed to an axial end surface of the first rotor facing an axial end surface of the second rotor; feeding a continuous strand of tow between the first and the second rotors; contacting the first plurality of knives on the first rotor with the surface of the second rotor to cut the two into lengths of staple; and discharging the lengths of staple from between the rotors.

Claim 48

A method for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising the steps of: feeding said funicular material between a first surface of a first member and a second surface of a second member, said first and second surfaces each including a plurality of spaced knives, said funicular material being fed between said surfaces at a location where said knives are in substantial mis-mesh; rotating said first and second surfaces in the same direction with said first surface rotating faster than said second surface, said pluralities of knives being in sliding contact with one another; urging the funicular material radially outwardly during said rotation of said surfaces; gripping said funicular material between adjacent knives of said first and said second surfaces; and subsequently cutting said funicular material into segments between said adjacent knives of said first and said second surfaces.

Claim 49

A method for cutting funicular material into lengths of staple comprising the steps of: feeding said funicular material between a first surface of a first member and a second surface of a second member, said first and second surfaces each including a plurality of spaced knives, said funicular material being fed between said surfaces at a location where said knives are in substantial mis-mesh; rotating said first and second surfaces in the same direction with said first surface rotating faster than said second surface, said pluralities of knives being in sliding contact with one another; urging the funicular material radially outwardly during said rotation of said surfaces; gripping said funicular material between adjacent knives of said first and said second surfaces; and subsequently cutting said funicular material into segments between said adjacent knives of said first and said second surfaces.