US2379844A

US2379844A - Fiber cutting machine

Info

Publication number: US2379844A
Application number: US544799A
Authority: US
Inventors: Jan V Weinberger
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1943-04-17
Filing date: 1944-07-13
Publication date: 1945-07-03
Anticipated expiration: 1962-07-03

Description

y 1 JAYN v. WEINBERGER 2,379,844

Filed July 1:5, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR JANVWEINBERGER 31' X 7 MMM m ATTORNEYS y 1945' JAN v. WEINBERGER 2,319,844

v FIBER CUTTING MACHINE Filed July 13, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVEN TOR JANN-WEINBERGER A TOR EYS July 3, 1945. JAN v. WEINBERGER 0 2,379,344

FIBER CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jul 15, 1944 4 SheetsSheet 5 jo \NVENTOF K JANV-WHNBERGER 'ATTO RN EYS July 3, 1945. JAN v. WEINBERGER 2,379,844

FIBER C UTTING MACHINE Filed July 15, 1944 4 Shets-Sheet 4 I JAN-V WEINBERGER 47 v A-rroaNe rs of this invention reference will be had to Patented July 3, 1945' Application July 13, 1944, Serial No. 544,799

In Canada April 17, 1943 9 Claims. on. 164-61) This invention relates to apparatus for cutting tangled masses of long fibers, particularly nylon and other artificial and natural fibers, into small: er masses of shorter fibers which can be easily separated from each other by acarding machine.

An important object of'the invention is to provide cutting apparatus whereby each long fiber, regardless of its arrangement in the mass, will be cut transversely at a sufllcient' number of points along its length to divide it into shorter fibers which can readily be separated from similar short fibers entangled therewith.

The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained by providing a fiber cutting machine consisting, essentially, of a series of rotary cutters, a fiber holder having two intersecting rows of grooves in one surface thereof, the grooves A of each row being open at both ends and extend Figure 6 is a plan view of the fiber holder as it appears when looking toward the grooved side.

Figure 7 is a plan view of the fiber holder as it appears when. 100 toward the side opposite the grooved side. i

Figure 8 is an end view of the fiber holder.

- Figure 9 is a plan view of a slat and end'frame ing entirely across said surface at right angles to t the grooves of the remaining row, and means for retaining a mass of tangled fibers against the rooved surface of the holder. The cutters and the fiber holder are first moved relatively to each other in fiber cutting relation so that the cutters traverse the grooves of one row and cut through the portions of the fibrous mass which extend across said grooves. The holder is then re-arranged so that when the cutters and holder-are again moved relatively to each other in fiber cutting relation, the cutters will traverse the grooves of the remaining row and will out through portions of the fibrous mass extending across said mentioned grooves. In this way the large vmass of fibers carried by the holder is divided, by intersecting cuts, into smaller separate masses of relatively short fibers which can readily be separated from each other. I Proceeding now to a more detailed description the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure 1 is a perspective view of apparatus embodying my inventio Figure 2 is a perspective view of a portion or the apparatus and shows the mannerin which the fiber holder is guided during the fiber cutting operation. p.

Figure3 isaviewsimilartoFigure Zshowing the-manner in which the fiber holder is passed over the rotary cutters in fiber cutting relation thereto.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional viewtaken substantially along the'line 4-4 of Figure 5 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially along the line 5-5 ot Fig. 4.

assembly which is employed for holdinsa mass of fibers against the grooved side of the fiber holder; and

Figure is a perspective view 'iliustrating the manner in which the slat and end frame assem-' bly of Fig. 9v is assembled with the fiber holder to hold a mass of fibers in place against the grooved side or the holder.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, I

5 designates a rotary shaft carrying a plurality of circular cutters 6 fixed to revolve therewith. said shaft being arranged between adjacent separated ends of two table sections I and 8 and being journalled iii suitable shaft supports 8 ata fiber cuttingtached to said table. sections. One end of shaft 5 is driven by a pulley I0 and belt H from an electric motor -I m or other suitable prime mover, the direction of rotation of shaft '5 and cutters I being indicated by arrow i2. v

A series of laterally spaced guide rails II are arranged'on table section 1 so that each rail is substantially in line with one of the cutters l.

Similar rails H are arranged on table section 8 in accurate alignment with rails It. The rails as integral parts of the table sections. Generally,

however, it is preferred that the rails of each series be formed as separate elements and adjustably secured to the. underlying table sections so that the spacing of the railspf each series may be varied whenever such variation is necessary or desirablei The table sections 1 and I and the rails mounted thereon may be made of wood or any other suitable material. Table sections land 8 may be mounted on supporting legs II, as shown in the drawings, or on any other suitable supporting.

structure. I A table 28, either portable or stationary, is arr ed pposite and in spaced relation to that end of table section 0 which is remote from the cutter 6, the gap separating table Illl from table section 8 being bridged by two transfer rails 2| which are used for a purpose hereinafter described.

A table a, similar to the table a, is arr nged opposite and in spaced relation to that end of table section I which is remote from the cutters 6, the gap between table 23 and table section 1 being bridged by transfer rail 24 corresponding to the previously mentioned rails 2|.

The various table elements-and transfer railsmentioned in the preceding discussion are utilized to guide and support and to facilitate the necessary manipulation of the fiber holder 26 which,

during each cutting operation, is moved over the cutters 6 from a starting position on table 20 to a finishing position on table 23. The preferred construction and. assembly of the fiber holder 26 and the fiber retaining means associated therewith is clearly illustrated in Figs. 6 to l'inclusive. As here shown, the fiber holder 26 comprises a rectangular member having one surface thereof interrupted by two rows of intersecting grooves, the

component grooves of each row being parallel with each other and open at their opposite ends and extending entirely acros said surface at right angles to the grooves of the companion row. These two sets of grooves, respectively indicated at 21 and 28,-obviously) serve to divide the groovedsurface of the holder into a plurality of spaced, rectan'gula'r areas 29 which may be covered by emery paper, card clothing, or other fiber engaging means'for reducing slippage between the holder and the means of fibers 3| (Fig. which is held against and completely covers the entire-area of the grooved surface of the holder. A row of slat engagin pins 32 project from the grooved surface of the holder along each of its marginal edges, said 'pins being adapted, as shown in Fig.

9, to extend through suitable holes 33 provided in thefiber retaining slats 34 which serve to hold the mass of fibers against the grooved surface of the holder.

A pair of grooved rollers 31 are rotatably mounted on stub shafts 38 projecting outwardly from those marginal edges of holder 26 which lie parallel with grooves 27. A second pair of grooved rollers 39 are similarly mounted'on stub shaft 40 ginal edges of said holder. A plurality of casters 4! are swingably attached to the surface of holder 26 opposite that inwhich the grooves 21 and- 28 are provided.

The slats 34 are assembled with theholder 26 so that they are separated from each other by intervening cutter receiving spaces which are aligned with those grooves of the holder which are to be traversed by the cutters 6 during the cutting operation. For example, in the case of the-holder and slat assembly shown in Fig. 10 it is assumed that the grooves 21 of the holder will be traversed bythe cutters 6 during the. initial fiber cutting operation. In thiscase the slats 34 are fitted on the pins 32 so that they lie between and in parallelrelation with the grooves 21, adjacent slats being separated from each other by an intervening cut ter receiving space. which is directly opposite one of the grooves 21; Since the slats 34 are necessarily formed as separate elements it is desirable that some means he provided whereby said slats projecting outwardly from the remaining -marare provided with holes 48 registering with transverse holes 49 provided in the slats, a locking bar 56 being passed through said

holes

48 and 49, as shown at the right of Fig. 9, to secure the slats and end frame in assembled relation thereby enabling the operator to handle all of the slats as a unit by grasping the handle members 5| carried by the end frame bars 44.

The slats 34 are rabbeted as indicated at 53 to accommodatethe rails l3 and I4 which support and guide the slats when the holder 26 is moved such as that indicated at 3|, so that portions of said mass extend across and cover the

grooves

21 and 28. The slats 34, having the end frames 43 assembled therewith as previously described, are then fitted on the pins 32 so that the-slats lie between and parallel with the grooves 21 and with the rabbeted surfaces of the slats facing upwardly. This assembly is initially arranged on table 26 with the supporting casters 4| resting on the upper surface of the table and with the slats 34 lying parallel with the cutters 6.'- The holder 26 is then'moved .to the left so that the grooved rollers 31 leave the table 20 and ride up on the transfer rails -2|, which cooperate with said rollers to maintain the slats 34 and the grooves 21 in proper relation to the cutters 6. After-the grooved rollers 31 have traveled a suitable distance along the transfer rails 2| the holder 26 and the associated slats are arranged in a vertical position by swinging them in an anticlockwise direction about the pivotal supports afforded by the rollers 31 and their supporting shafts 38. The fiber holder and slats, after being arranged in said vertical position asindicated by dotted lines in Fig. 1, are movedagainst the right hand end of table section 8 andare then disposed in a horizontal position -on said table section 8 by'further turning movement thereof in an anti-clockwise direction about the aforesaid pivotal supports. It will thus be seen that the fiber holder 26 and the slats 34 are arranged on table section 8 in' an inverted position as compared with the position which they occupy on the table 26. The fiber holder 26 and associated slats 34 are then pushed to the'left a short. dis-.

" support the rabbeted portions 63 of the slats.

- The fiber holder and the associated slats are not moved over thecutters 6 until after the end.

.removal of the end frames is accomplished by.

pulling out the end frame locking rods 50 and then disengaging and removing'the end frames from the engaging ends of-the slats. After-this removal of the end frames the fiber holder and the slats are moved to the left lover the revolving cutters 6 and onto the table section 1, whose guide rails I3 are also accommodated between the spacedrabbeted portions 53 of the slats..-After the fiber holder and theslats have been moved beyond the cutters 6 the end frames 43 are reassembled with' the slats so that'the latter may be held in place during the transfer of the fiber holder from the table section I to the table 23.

last mentioned transfer of-the fiber holder eaves-re 3 is accomplished by moving it to the left until the grooved rollers 31 leave the table I and ride up upon the transfer rails 24. .During travelling movement of the grooved rollers 31 along the transfer rails 24 the fiber holderand the associated slats are turned in an anti-clockwise direction through an angle of approximately 180? so that the fiber holder may be deposited on table 23 with the caster carrying surface of the holder facing downwardly, the slats 34 being thus disposed above the holder so that they can be convenientiy removed and then re-assembled with the holder in preparationgfor a second cutting operation in which the cutters 6 traverse the grooves 28'. In preparing for this second cutting operation the slats, with the end frames 43 assembled' therewith, are removed from the holder and then re-assembled therewith so that the slats now lie between and parallel with the grooves 28. The resulting assembly is then arranged in a (starting position on table 20 with the slats 34 facing upwardly and lying parallel with the cutiters B. The fiber holder and the slats are then moved, by the same procedure as previously described, from their starting position on table 23 to their finishing position on table .20 and, during the course of this movement, the grooves 28are tending across these grooves along lines paralleling said grooves, During the second cutting operation, the cutters 6 traverse the grooves 28 and cut'through overhanging portions of the fibrous mass alonglines at right'angles to the first cuts, thereby-dividing themass of fibers into smaller masses of substantially rectangular outline, the fibers contained in such smaller masses being relatively short and easily separated from the component short fibers entangled therewith. Small sloping projections 60 are preferably arranged on the rails l3 so asto clear the spaces between the slats 34 of fibers which have been forced into these spaces during the cutting operation. It is important that these spaces be cleared aftenthe cutting operation in order to have been transferred from the table section I to the table 23. j I

After completion of the first cutting operation described herein, the second cutting operation may be accomplished by reassembling the holder and the fiber retaining slats on the table 28 with the slats lying between and parallel with the groove 28, then inverting thisassembly, and then moving it over the cutters 8 from a, starting position on table 23 to a finishing position on table 20. In this case thedirection of rotationof the cutters will be reversed for the second cutting operation through the agency of a I reversin switch on the motor Ila or in any other, suitable manner; I i

Having thus described what I now consider to be the preferred embodiment of this invention it will be understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope and spirit of, the invention as defined'by the appended claims.

I claim: I.

grooves extending across one surface thereof, a series of separate slats for holding a mass of iibers against the grooved surface of said base member so that portions of the mass extend across said grooves, said slats being assembled with the base member so that they lie between and parallel with said grooves and end frames detachably secured to opposite ends of said slats to enable them to be, handled,)as a unit, said cutters and said fiber holder. assembly being movablerelatively to each other in fiber cutting association so that the cutters are received between the slats and travel across the entire length of the slats and grooves in suchmanner as to cut throush those portions of the fibrous mass which extend across the grooves. e

2. Fiber cutting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which each end frame includes slat-spacing projections for insertion in sockets-provided in the ends of the slats with which the end frame is associated.

3. Fiber cutting apparatus as set forth in claim 1 in which each end frame is provided with slat-' spacing projections fitted in sockets provided in the adjacent ends of the slats and is also provided v with parallel end portions extending a short disportions of each frame and through registerinfl 1 transversely extending holesprovided in said I slats. V

4. Fiber cutting apparatus as set forth in claim and in which the slats are provided with openings inwhich the pins are fitted to hold the slats m at; a

5. Fiber cutting apparatus} comprisim a series of rotary cutters mounted on a stationary shaft. a fiber holder having one surface thereof interrupted by two rows of intersecting grooves, the component grooves of each row being parallel with each other and open at'f'their opposite ends and extending entirely across said surfaeeat right angles to the grooves of the companion row, means for retaining'a mass of fibers against the grooved surface of the holder so that portions of said mass extend across said grooves, said means comprisingla plurality of slats adapted to be selective y assembled with the holder 50 that said slats lie between and parallel with the grooves of a selected one of said rows, supporting means over which the fiber holder is movable relatively'to the cutters in fiber cutting association therewith so that the cutters are received between the slats and traverse the lengths of the grooves lying parallel I I 5 in which the fiber holder and the slats 'are pro- 1. Fiber cutting apparatuscomprising a series vided with intereugaging means for holding the slots in properly spaced relation and preventin displacement of'the slats during the cutting operation.- I I i v 7.;l 'iber cutting apparatuscomprislns a rotary shaft mounted in stationary bearings. a plurality or laterally spaced circular cutters fixed to rotate with said shaft, table sections arranged at opposite sides of said shaft, a fiber holder provided with two rows of -intersecting grooves extending across one surface thereof, the component grooves of each row being parallel with each other and open at their opposite ends and extending entirely across-said surface at right angles to the grooves of the companion row and means for retaining a mass of fibres against the grooved surface of the holder so that said mass extends across said grooves, said means comprising aplurality of slats adapted to be selectively assembled with the holder'so that said slats lie between and parallel with the grooves of a selected one of said rows.

said holder being adapted to be initially arranged on one of said table sections with the grooves permit the aforesaid 'cutting operation to bef repeated with theholder re-arranged so that, when the holder is again passed across the cutters from one table to the other'during the second cutting operation, the cutters traverse the remaining grooves of th holder and cut through the portions or the fibrous mass extending across said remaining grooves, said slats being re-assembled with theholder prior to the second cutting operation so that, during said-second cutting operation, they lie between and parallel with the grooves traversed by said cutters.

8. A fiber holder, of the character described comprising a member provided with a row of parallel cutter-receiving grooves extending across one surface thereof, pins projecting upwardly 'from.margina1 portions of said member and means for holding a mass of fibers against the grooved surface of said member so that portions of the mass extend acrossthe grooves, said means comprising a plurality of slats adapted to be assembled with the member so that the slats lie between and parallel with said grooves, said slats being provided with openings in which said pins are fitted to hold the slats against longitudinal or lateral displacement relative tosaid member.

9. A fiber holder of the character described comprising a member having two intersecting rows of grooves in one surface thereof, the grooves of each row being open at both ends and extend- 4 ing entirely across said surface at right angles to the grooves of the remaining row and means for 4 retaining a mass of tangled fibers against the Q grooved surface of said member so that portions of themass extend across all of said grooves, said means comprising a plurality of slats adapted to be selectively-assembled with said member so as to lie between. and parallel with the grooves of either row and pins projecting from the grooved surface of said member and adapted to be fitted in openings provided in said slats to hold the slats against longitudinal or lateral displacement relative to said member. JAN V. WEIN'BLRGER.