GB384335A - Improvements in the production of staple fibres - Google Patents

Abstract

384,335. Severing fibres. BRITISH CELANESE, Ltd., 22, Hanover Square, London, and HALE, F. C., of British Celanese, Spondon, near Derby. June 4, 1931, No. 16404. [Class 31 (i).] Staple fibres are produced by cutting continuously fed filaments while gripping the filaments at points adjacent to the point of cutting and on both sides thereof, either continuously with their production in the case of artificial filaments, or otherwise. Suitable apparatus comprises a cutting blade, means for gripping the filaments on each side of the cutting point, and means for moving said blade across the path of the filaments. In the form shown, a pair of rollers, at least one of which preferably has a resilient surface so that the nip of the rollers covers an area, are provided and one or more cutting blades arranged to sever the filaments at the centre of the nip. The cutting blades conveniently rotate with the rollers and are actuated by a cam as each blade arrives opposite the nip. A slicing motion may be imparted to the blade, in addition to the radial cutting movement, either by separate cam means, or by so mounting the blades that a single operating means produces both motions. Slots are preferably arranged in one roller to be entered by a blade of the other roller, and the blades may be wide enough to cut a large number of filaments simultaneously. Means such as brushes may be provided to remove the cut fibres from the face of the rollers. The filaments 20 are passed over a feed roller 21 to the nip of the rollers 5. 6, each of which is provided with a rubber covering 9 and a plurality of cutting blades 11 actuated in turn as they arrive opposite the nip by the stationary cam 17 to sever the filaments whilst they are held on each side of the cutting blade. Brushes 23 remove any fibres which adhere to the rollers, the fibres being drawn by suction down a shoot 31.