US2145176A - Flock cutting machine - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 24, 1939.` A. HAUGE 2,145,176

FLocx GUTTING mcxmfl Filed Oct. 16, 1935 4 SheetS-Sheet 1 Jan. 24, 1939. A. HAUGE 2,`145,175

FLOCK C UTTING MACHINE Filed oci. 16, 1935 4 sheet-sheei 2 Jan. 24, 1939; A. HAUGE` FLOCK CUTTING MACHINE Filed Oct. 16, 1935 4 ShetS-Sheet 3 I Jan.24,1939. b' AHAUGE b 2,145,176

FLQCK GUTTING MACHINE Filed oqt. 16, 1935 4 sheetS-shet 4 Patented Jan. 24, 1939 PA-'rr-:NT crnca FLOCK CUTTING-MACH1NE Andrew Hanze, laremont, N. H., assignor to Claremont Waste Manufacturing ration of New Hampshire Co., a corpo-' Application October 16, 1935'I Serial No.v 45,291

31 claims.

My invention relates to flock cutting machines. In the past machines of -thisv character have usually comprised a rotary knife-carrying cylinder which rcooperates with a knife-carrying concave or bed supported adjacent the cylinder and usually mounted below the same, as shown, for example, in the patents to Parent Nos. 1,688,296 and 1,688,297. A device of this character employing a single rotatable cylinder and concave posi sesses limitations'in the'matter of efliciency and output. i AIt is contempiated by the present invention to employ a. gang or series of such cutters so arranged that the unfinished or incompletely cut flock will be delivered from one cutter to the next in the series, while the' iinely cut fiock will 'Y be withdrawn from each of 'the cutters in finished condition.

My invention has among its objects 'to provide an .improved flock cutting machine which is of large capacity and of eflicient operation. Other objects of my invention are to provide animproved flock cutting machine consisting of a series or gang of cutters and concaves arranged 'in sequence, whereby the unflnished material will be carried 'from one cutter to the next, and

wherein the finely cut'or flnished material will` be withdrawn from each cutter without being transferred to the next. A further object ,of the invention is to provide in a gang cutter of this character for the withdrawal from;the last cutter of any material whichmay-be unflnished or not sumciently finely cut, and convey it again tothe first cutter so that it will pass through the machine a second time. Other objects Vof the invention are to provide improved means for mounting and adjusting the stationar'y knives, to provide for eflicient cooling of both stationary and rotating knives so as to reduce the temperatureof the cooperating blades to enable contlnuous operafor purposes -of illustration, one embodiment which my invention .may assume in flpractice;

i `I`n`these drawings,-. I

Figure 1 is a side elevational view "\cially in Fig. 12, the

of a'flock` cutting machine embodying -my inverrtion;

(ol. :ia-s) Fig. 2 is an end elevational view of the machine; v

Fig. 3 is a side view of the upper portion of the machine showing certain of the nections;

' vFig. 4 is a sectional view on line I-l of Fig. 2, this view being somewhat enlarged;

Fig. 5 is a detall view of the feed co'nveyor;

Fig. 6vis an enlarged detail view showing -the mounting of the stationary knives and associated parts;

Fig. 'I is a fragmentarydetail view showing the arrangement 'for securing the sealing pipe be-v tween the knives; v

Fig. 8 is a'fragmentary plan view of a portion `of one of the screens; 'Fig. 9 is a detail view partiy in section of one of the knife-holding lags;

Fig. 10 is a detall se'ctional view showing the manner of .fljustably securing one of the Vknife lags to the;` side frames; i

drive con- Fig. 11 i'a sectional viewon line ll-ll of p Fig. 10, and A Fig. 12 is an elevational view of the knife-carrying cylinder shown partly in section to facilitate illustration.

The embodiment of my inventionywhich I have' selected to illustrate in the drawings comprises a pair of spaced side frames I supported in incllned` position upon a base 2 by means of the upright standards 3. Brace members l and 5 to hold them rigidly in place. Extending between the side frames are the. knfe-carrying cylinders or rotating cutters. .These cutters are arranged in a series or a gang. and while the number employed may be 'varied 'within certain limits, flve of such cutters, 'designated by the letters A, B, C, D and E, are shown in the drawings. Each of these cutters comprises a hollow lcylinder G provided with". radially projecting helicaily disposed. lugs 'I tol which the helical cutting knives 8 are removably secured. At the' 'end of each of the cylinders are provided jour-4 nals' 9 and lfl by which .the cyliiiders are rotatabiy supported in the side frames I. It will, of course, be understood that there is one of such frames at eachiside of the' machine to support each end of the cylinder. VAs shown more espeknives are helicalLv arranged upon the cylinder.

' To provide for suitable cooling of the knives and cylinders, the latterare hollow,'as shown at II in Fig. 4, and the cylinder journals are also fhollow, as shown at II and Iiin Hg. 12. From extend lfrom these standards to the side frames ili side frames. b 'will be a pair of such lugs upon each of the side 'for the stationary knives.

the passage l3 of each of the cylinders a pipe l4 extends to an auxiliary main pipe i5, 'which is connected to a `water inlet pipe IB. From the other end of the cylinders branch pipes l1 extend from thepassage l3 to an auxiliary pipe l8 leading to a main water outlet pipe 19. It Will be apparent that this will provide for a free and continuous flow of water through the cylinders to maintain the latter and the knives in a cool condition, providing for their continuousv operation Without injury to the fiock.

Cooperating with each of the rotating cuttersV is a concave or bed provided with cutting knives projecting radially toward the rotating cutter.

These stationary cutters or concaves are designated by the letters F, G, H, I and J there being, of course, one for each of the rotary cutters. Asthey are all alike, a description of the construction of one will sufiice for all. Each of these stationary cutters comprises a group of hollow lags to which a knife is secured, these lags being [adjustably mounted in the side frames so that they may be moved toward and from the rotating cutter. Each of these lags `20 comprises a pair of angle members placed together to form a hollow body rectangular in cross-section extending from one side frame to the other, and a stationary knife 2l is secured to one side of each thereof. These angle members are welded together at their meeting edges to form a watertight chamber so that cooling Water may be introduced within the hollow lags, as will be hereinafter described. Spacing or reinforcing members, shown at 22 in Fig. 9, may extend between the angle members to form a more rigid'body, and to provide also for the passage through the lags of bolts 23 which secure the knives 2l thereon.

At each end these hollow lags are provided with solid end members 24, and these end members'are received between -sp'aced parallel lugs 25 and 26 projectinginwardly from each of the It will be understood that there frames to receive the end of each of the lags As shown in Fig. 10, the lags are securely fixed in position after they have been properly adiusted by means of a wedge 21 acting against a beveled surface of the lag end member 24. This wedge is forced into position by means of a screw 28 passed through' one of the side frames i and-providedwith a lock nut 29 to hold it in place. It will be understood that the lugs extend substantially radially toward the center of the cutting cylinder, and each lag is adjustable within these lugs Vto properly adjust the distance of the stationary knives from the cooperating rotary knives. For this purpose a cap piece 30 is disposed across the upper edges of the lugs 25 and 26 and secured thereto by bolts 3l. An adjusting screw 32 isA rotatably mounted in this cap piece and threadedly engaged with the solid end member 24, whereby when the screw is rotated the end member of the lag' will be adjusted between the lugs. It will, of course, be understood that the screw 28 will beloosened to release the Wedge when this adjustment is' made. Keyed to the upper end of the adjusting screw 32 is an adjusting collar 33 by which the screw may be turned, the collar being held upon the screw by means of the nut 34. A thrust washer `35 is provided on the screw below the cap piece a,145,17e i fl ciated parts constitute the cover above each rotary cutter, it is necessary that these openings .be closed. For this purpose a flange 36 extends from one of'the lugs 26 to the adjacent lug 25, thus closing this spaceadjacent the side frames. To close the'remainder of thespace, sealing pipes 31 are dropped therein, .these sealing pipes contacting with the exterior wall of one lag and the knife on the adjacent lag and being of suflicient length to extend from the ends of the lugs on one side frame to those upon the other to completely close the vvspace abovethe rotary cutters.

As each'concave as herein illustrated comprises four of 'the' hollow lags with associated knives,4 it is necessary to use three of such pipes. These pipes may remain in place without the employment of 'any securing means therefor, but if found desirable, they may be secured by means of clips 38 secured to the pipes by bolts 39 and having extendedv ends 40 secured in the side frames -l.' Sheet metal cqvers 4i may be employed to close the space between the last lag of one cutter unit and the first lag of the next. It will be apparent that in this way a complete cover will be formed over the cutters which extends between the side frames i and which will prevent the escape of the material.

'Cooling water may be introduced into the hollow lags in a manner which will now be described. Extending into the upper portion of one end of each of the lags is a flexible branch conduit 42,

connected to an auxiliary main pipe 43, whichA in turn is connected by a branch 44 to the main water inlet pipe 16. At the other end of the lags branch conduits- 45 are connected thereto, which branch pipes are connected to an auxiliary pipe 46 joined by the pipe 41 to the main water 'cutter unit,-where it is delivered through a chute 50, shown more especially in 'Figs. 2 and 5, to the casing 5I of a screw conveyor 52 mounted above theupper cutting unit. This casing 5l isopen at its lower portion, as shown at 53, to permit .egress of v-the raw material to the flrst cutter throughout the length of the latter, andthe casing is alsoprovided with a deflecting plate 54 adjacent the end of the screw to deflect the material downwardly'and 'cause it to be crowded into the zone of the rotating cutter A. This de-. flecting plate forces the material downwardly 'at the end of the screw flights with considerable pressure against the rotating cutter andthe' cooperating stationary knives. I

A plate 55 extends from the conveyor housing 51 to the wall of the adjacent lag, 'and-v an apron 56 extends from the lower portion of the housing 51 below the rotary cutter A to form an enclosing` housing for this cutter. Below the cutters B, C,

D and E, va flock-receiving housing 51 is secured to the side plates- I, and forms the lower housing for the main portion of the machine. Immediately below each of the rotary cutters is' a con-- tend throughout the length of the cutters,` fill the spaces between these screens and betweenv the apron 58 and housing 51. It may here be stated that the finely cut or finished material passes through Vthe screens 58 into the receiver 51, and that the flneness of the product may be controlied .by the fineness ofv the mesh of the screenemployed. A

It will be observed that all of the material treated by the rotary cutter A is transferred over the a djacent plates 58 to the rotary cutter B throughout 'the length of both cutters and the plate ill, there being no finished material withdrawn from the cutter A. When the material has Vbeen treated by the cutter B, that part which is of suflicient fineness Will pass through thef cooperating screen 58 into the receiver 51, while the remaining material which has not been sufficiently treated will be passed by the cutter B over the plateill to the next rotatlng cutter C. This of course, be repeated in the action of allof. the rotating cutters in sequence. The materialfiwhich is not of sumcient flneness to pass through the screen 58 of the lowermost cut- The inlet portion of a suction fan 82 is connected to this receiver by a pipe 83, and the coarse material in the receiver wilbbe drawn therefrom by the fan z and delivered ,through the pipe lil to' a separator 65 (Fig. 1), located above the hopper' 49, the sepak rator having a delivery outlet 68 discharging into the hopper, so Athat the coarse material will be returned by the elevator 48 to the rotary' cutter A to pass through the machine again. From the separator a return pipe 81 leads to the side of the receiver El opposite that to which the pipe 63 is connected.V The finished material collecting in the receiver 51 is withdrawn therefrom through an opening 88 by a suction fan 69 having a delivery pipe 18 to deliver the material wherever desired.

The vmovlng parts of the machine are driven froma motor 1l by means of a belt 12 passing around a pulley 13, which is mounted on an extension of the journal' 9 of the rotary cutter C,

f as herein illustrated. -The cutter D is driven from the cutter C by means ofthe sprocket chain 14, and cutter E is likewise driven by the sprocket .chain 15 from cutter D. Likewise, the rotating cutter B is driven from the cutter C by a sprocket vchain 15, and a sprocket chain 11 extends from cutter B to cutter A to drive the latter. As shown-in Figs. 1 and 2, a pulley 18 is mounted upon the journal of cutter A, and around this pulley is trained a belt`18 which drives a pulley 88 secured upon a shaft 8! rotatably mounted upon the standards 3. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the shaft Il 'carries a sprocket wheel 82 from which sprocket chain 88 extends toa spro'cket wheel on a shaft 85, which carri'es the upper end of the conveyor or elevator l8. The shaft 86 of the screw conveyor 52 is driven by sprocket chain 81 from the shaft 85.

, VThesuction fans 62 and 68 are drivenby belts 88 and` I! trained about pulleys on the opposite ends of a shaft sa, which shaft-is driven by belt V92 mounted upon the journal 8! from a pulley of rotary cutter C.

rial is fed to the hopper 48 and carried by the elevator 48 to the screw conveyor 52,- from which it is forced forcibly downwardly by the plate* 54 into the zone of the rotary cutter A and the cooperating stationary knives.

Thel material is acted upon in this cutter unit and then passes downwardly over vthe adjacent plate to the '-cutter: B to be further comminuted. When it is frcated by cutter B, that part which is of suificient finenss'will drop through the screen 58 into the receiver 51 to be withdrawn therefrom -by the suction fan 89 and delivered wherever desired as finished 'materiah The coarse material which does not -pass through the screen 58 will pass downwardlyover the plate 88 to the next rotary cutter, where the operationwill be repeated. The coarse vmaterial which does not pass through the screen 58 of the lowermostcutter will be delivered 'into the receiver GI, where it 4will be picked up' terial passes from the vfirst cutting unit to the second. As the material is cut by eachl of the succeeding units,` however, the'material which is of suflicient flneness to pass through the screens 58 is withdrawn and onlythe coarse material is delivered to the next succeeding cutting unit. Moreover, the fineness of 4the finished material may be regulated by the fineness of .the mesh of the 'screens 58, as 'only the material passing through these screens is collected in the rece'ivei` 51. As

the material passing through the successive cut-` ting units is progressively decreased, the work demanded of these units is lessened and theireflicien'cy increased, as they will only have to deal with that part of the material which has not` passed through the screens.

As the cutting units are arranged upon an inclined plane, the material will pass from one `to the other by gravity and' by the windage induced by the cutters; so that no additional mechanism.

is required for this purpose. 'Attentio is further directed ,to the fact that each of theA cutters or cylinders delivers tothe next throughout its full length in such manner as to give substantial capacity, while the screw conveyor above the flrst cutter similarly ldelivers throughout ,its length A to the latter in such manner as to insure operation of the same at full capacity. By reason of the screw .conveyor and its cooperating inclined plate, it will also be observed that a more even y distribution of the material fed to the first cutter is obtained tending Ato compensatefor any tendency of the spirally'disposed knives on the cutter to carry material to one end of the cutter. Attention further is directed to the fact that not only do the cutters deliver to one another but that veach cutter delivers from a`portion of `the same-in an-inclined plane above the portion 80 and the axes of the cutters to a corresponding portion of the next lower cutter. Further it is possible in my improved construction to utilize between the cutters 'a stationary directing means in the'form of a plate 60, as dis-4 tinguished from requiringany additional moving mechanism. These and other advantages of my improved construction will, however, be clearly apparent to thoseskilled in the art.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:--

1. A flock cutting machine comprising a series i of cutting units, eachunit comprising a rotary cutter carrying a plurality of flock cutting knives and a plurality of stationary fiock` cutting knives cooperating therewith, and means for enabling the passage of coarse material by said rotary cutters laterally through successive units while separating out the finer material.

'2. A flock cutting machine comprising a series of cutting units arranged in sequence along an inclined plane, each 4unit comprising a rotary cutter carrying a plurality of flock cutting knives and a plurality of stationary flock cutting knives cooperating 'therewith, stationary means for enabling the passage of coarse material by said rotary cutters laterally through successive units while separating out the finer material, and

temperature controlling means associated withsaid rotary cutters. and stationary knives for maintaining the flock below the igniting point during the operation of said units.

3. A flock cutting machine comprising a series of cutting units arranged in sequence along an inclined plane, each unit comprising a rotary cutter carrying a Aplurality of flock cutting knives and a plurality of stationary. flock cutting knives distributed over and cooperating withan upper portion of said cutter, means within saidrotary cutters for water cooling the knives thereof, an enclosing casing having means therein for water cooling said stationary knives; and means for withdrawing finely cut material from a bottom portion of certain of said units and directing the coarsematerial beneath the stationary knives of successive units.

4. A flock cutting machine comprising a series of cutting units `disposed in sequence along an inclined plane, each comprising a rotary cutter carrying a plurality of flock cutting knives and a plurality of stationary flock cutting knives distributed over and cooperating with an upper portion of said cutter, and stationary enclosing means for said units having a bottom portion beneath each rotary cutter, means in said bottom portions of the second and following units for permitting withdrawal ofithe finely cut material therefrom, and lateral portions of the Width of said rotary cutters receiving coarse material from one cutter and delivering it to the next and cooperating with said 'rotary cutters in passing coarse material through successive units.

5. A flock cutting machine comprising a series of cutting units comprising cooperating series of stationary and rotary flock cutting knives and arranged to act on the raw material in sequence,

stationary means Vcooperating with rsaid units for withdrawing the finely cut material from the more advanced of such units and passing the v\coarse material to successive units and dischargof cutting units comprising cooperating series of stationary and rotary flock cutting knives and arranged to act on the raw material in sequence, stationary means for withdrawing and collecting the finely cut material from the more advanced of such units while said units are operating, and

stationary means to receive the coarse material 4 from said units and convey it to succeeding units and discharge any remaining coarse material from the last unit while maintainingit separate from said collected material.

7. A flock cutting machine comprising a series of cutting units each comprising a plurality of rotating and stationary flock cutting knives and arranged to act on the raw material in sequence, stationary means for withdrawing the finely cut material from the more advanced of such units and passing the coarse material to the next unit and discharging it from the last unit, means for collecting and delivering the finely cut material, and means to collect the coarse material from the last of said units and convey it to the first thereof for re-passage through the machine.

8. A flock cutting machine comprising a rotary cutter carrying flock cutting knives, stationary flock cutting knivesat the upper side of said cutter to cooperate therewith, a screen at the under side of said cutter through which the finely cut material may pass, feeding inlet means delivering laterally to said -cutter between the ends thereof and between said stationary knives and said screen, and temperature controlling means for maintaining said stationary knives below the igniting point of the `flock including .knife carrying fiuid cooled lags adjustable relative to one another and said, rotary cutter.

9. A flock cutting machine comprising a rotary cutter, stationary knives at the upper side of said cutter to cooperate therewith, a screen at the under side of said cutter through which the finely cut material may pass, feeding inlet means delivering laterally to said cutter between'said stationaryknives and' said screen, and separate outt means for the coarser material ,open throughout normal operation of said cutter' and .opposite said inlet means for discharging the coarser material from said unit laterally between said stationary knives and screen while maintaining \said coarser material separate from the finely Kit material delivered through said screen.

10. A flock cutting machinehaving means for e comminuting the raw material including a plu-` unit and directing it laterally beneathjthe sta-V tionary knives of the next unit.

11. A flock cutting machine comprising a series of cutting units, each comprising a rotary'cutter, a screen lying generally below said cutter, and stationary knives positioned generally above said cutter, and means between certain of said units for delivering uncut material laterally from between the stationary knives and screen ofone cutting unit laterally between the same velements of another unit.

12. A flock cutting machine comprising a series of cutting units, each comprising a rotary cutter,

.a screen lying generally below said cutter, and

stationary knives positioned generally above said cutter, and means between certain of said units for delivering uncut material laterally from between the stationary knives and screen of one of another unit, said lastgmentioned means including a stationa'ry material directing element. 13. A flock cutting! machine comprising a series of cutting units, each comprising a rotary cutter; a screen lying generally below said cutter, and stationary knives positioned generally above said cutter, and means between certain of said units for delivering uncut material laterally from between the stationary knives andscreen of one cutting unit laterally between the same elements of'another unit, said last mentioned means inf cluding a stationary material directing element .extending substantially throughout the length of adjacent units.

14. A flock cutting machine comprising a plurality of cutting units arranged in sequence and each comprising cooperating rotatable and stationary flock cutting knives,' means for delivering raw material to the first of said units, stationary means for directing the passage of said' material laterally by said first unit to 'the next in sequence, and stationary means associated with the subsequent cutting units to withdraw the fine material therefrom and direct the passage of the coarser material laterally from said units.

15. A flock 'cutting machine comprising cutting means including stationary flock cutting knives A and a rotating flock cutting cylinder delivering' thereto, a hopper, and screw conveyor means extending laterally from beneath the hopper to de-` liver discrete raw material from said hopper to said cylinder, said screw conveyor means having a feed opening substantially' c'oextensive with the length of said cylinder, and a screw delivering through said feed opening and extending sub- 4.s'tani-.ially throughout the length of said opening.

16. A flock cutting machine comprising cutting means including a casing and a cylinder .therein, and screw conveyor means to deliverraw material to said 'cylinder under pressure having a feed openingdelivering thereto extending through said casing and substantially coextensive with the length of said cylinder, and a screw delivering through said feed opening and extending substantially throughout the length of said opening.

17. A flock cutting machine comprising cutting means including a casing and a cylinder therein having spirally disposed knives,= power operated screw conveyor means to deliver-raw material to said cylinder under pressure having a feed opening extending through said'ca'sing and substantially coextensive. with the length of said cylinder, and a screw delivering said feed opening and extending substantially throughout the length of said opening, and outlet means' through which Vmaterial is projected by said cylinderand likewise extending4 substantially throughout the length of the latter.

18.' A flock cutting machine comprising cutting' means including'v a casing and a cylinder therein,

having spirally disposed knives", power operated screwconveyor means to -deliver raw material 'to' said cylinderl having a feed opening extending through said casing and sbstantially co'extensive with the length of said cylinder, and a screw delivering through said-feed opening and extending substantially throughout the leni ,of 'said opening, and outlet means through which mateterial isv projectd by said cylinder and likewise xtending substantially throughout the length of said cylinder, 'said cutting means also including stati'onary knife means cooperating with 'the knives 'on said cylinder and disposedv between said delivery means and said outlet means.

19. A flock cutting/machine comprising a rotary cutter, stationary knives cooperating therewith, andV hollow lag members supporting said knives, said lag memberseach comprising a pairv of angle members joined to form a hollow cool- 5 ing fluid conducting body rectangular in cross- I section and said knives engaging corresponding faces of said bodies. i

V'20. A flock cutting machine comprising a ro- Vtary cutter and a stationary knife carrying structure cooperating therewith, said knife structure including a plurality of hollow lag members disposed longitudinally of said cutter and adjustably supported on said structure, knives supported zf "upon and cooled by said lag members, and means for adjusting said lag members relative to each other and to their support to adjust said knives relative to said cutter.

21. A flock cutting machine comprising a rotary cutter and a stationary knife carrying structure cooperating therewith, said knife structure having individual hollow knife supporting a n'd cooling lag members adjustably supported on said structure and disposed longitudinally of said cutter, a knife supported upon each of said lag members, means including flexible Connections to said lagmembers for supplying a cooling fluid through said members,- and means for adjusting said lag members relative to their support to adjust said knives relative to said rotary cutter.

22. A flock cutting machine comprising a stat-ionary machine frame, a rotary cutter journalled .therein, knife-supporting lag members supported lon said frame, and knives-secured to said members, said lag members being adjustably mounted 'on said frame and adjustable relative to each other and to their .supports thereon toward and from the rotary-cutter to adjust the distance of e -the .stationary knives therefrom.

forming a housing therefor, stationary knives carried by said lag' members to cooperate with the rotary cutter, and means on the opposite ends of said frame for adjusting said lag members relative to each other with the knives thereon toward and from the rotary cutter. v.

25. A flock cutting machine comprising a rotary cutter, a machine frame in which said cutter is journaled and having a series of lag members adjustably supported thereon adjacent said cutter and in part forming a housing therefor, stationary knives carried by said lag members to cooperate With the rotary cutter, and means at the opposite 'ends of said frame and adjustable relative to means for passing cooling fluid through said rotary cutter and said lag members including adjustable connections to the latter, and means for adjusting said lag members relative to each other to adjust said knives.

27. A flock cutting machine comprising a series of shearing units arranged one above the other in an inclined plane, each unit comprising a shearing cylinder and cooperating stationary shearing knives on one side thereof and having on the other side thereof stationary screen means for separating the finerfrom the coarser material, substantially smooth imperforate inclined 'stationary means connecting said screen means for directing thecoarser material between said units, means for oollecting the coarser material at the outlet end of the machine, and means connected to said collecting means to convey the coarser material again to the shearing units.

28. A flock cutting machine comprising a series of shearing units arranged in sequence, a hopper from which raw material passes to the first of said units, a separator disposed above the hopper, stationary means for separating the coarse material from the fine material and passing said coarser material through lthe machine, means for collecting said coarse material, air blast means for conveying said coarse material to the separator for re-delvery to the hopper, and an air blast return leading from said separator to the collecting means.

29; A flockcutting machine comprising a rotary cutter and a stationary knife structure cooperating therewith,`said knife structure comprising hollow knife-supporting and cooling lag members extending longitudinally of said cutter and adjustable relative to each other and their supports and toward and from the rotary cutter. and means for passing a cooling fluid through said lag members in different positions thereof.

` 30; A flock cutting machine comprising a rotary cutter, a screen lying generally below said cutter, stationary knives cooperating with said cutter and disposed generally above the latter, and a plurality of hollow fluid cooling means carrying' and cooling said stationary knives and adjustable indivldually to adjust said cutter.

31. A flock cutting machine comprising a rotary cutter, a screen lying generally below said cutter, hollow lag members disposed generally above the cutter, stationary knives secured on said lag members to cooperate with the cutter, means for passing a'cooli'ng fluid through said lag members, and means to adjust said lag members relative to each other to adjust the stationary knives with relation to the rotary cutter.

ANDREW HAUGE.

knives relative to saidl

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