US3034213A

US3034213A - Roving cutter

Info

Publication number: US3034213A
Application number: US36297A
Authority: US
Inventors: Gaymond E Milligan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1960-06-15
Filing date: 1960-06-15
Publication date: 1962-05-15
Anticipated expiration: 1979-05-15

Description

May 15, 1962 Filed June l5, 1960 G. E. MILLIGAN ROVING CUTTER 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR.

May 15, 1962 G. E. MILLIGAN 3,034,213

ROVING CUTTER Filed June l5, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 aymo/m/ f. /17/ /yan INVENToR.

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 ROVING CUTTER G. E. MILLIGAN |l||| lll May 15, 1962 Filed June l5, 1960 @dj/mond f. M//yan INVENToR.

(/OQLQAMN A. dazi ATTORNEYS 3,634,213 BOVEN@ CUTTER Gayrnond E. Milligan, 614 Knipp Road, Houston, Tex. Filed June 15, 1960, Ser. No. 36,297 11 Claims. (Cl. 39m-E28) cheapest forms of brous glass reinforcement for plastic s articles and shapes in common use, are made.

The present invention is directed to an improvement in roving cutters for cutting roving into predetermined lengths and then separating the cut strands of roving and applying it to a plastic shape or article to be formed. it

. is particularly directed to such an improved roving cutter which may be held by hand and any desired quantity of the cut or chopped roving may be applied to a plastic article.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved roving cutter which may be held by hand and which effectively and efficiently cuts roving, separates the strands and applies it to the plastic shape or form or article in one operation.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of such a roving cutter in which the separated strands of cut roving may be applied to plastic material arranged in various shapes, molds and the like where it is diicult to apply roving.

Yet a further object of the present invention is the provision of afully portable, relatively light weight, handheld, roving cutter which cuts roving into predetermined lengths, separates the strands and applies the cut and Y separated strands of roving'at the desired place,

Still a further objectof the present invention is the provision of such a roving cutter which is eectively eiiicient in operation and which is readily and inexpensively operated and maintained.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of such a roving cutter in which the back-up roller and the cutter element are so arranged to avoid undue wear on the back-up roller and give extended cutter efficiency.

Still a further object of the present invention is the provision of a roving cutter provided with an improved cutter element in which the cutters are easily and readily' replaced and adjusted.

Still aA further object of the present invention is the provision of a pneumatic roving cutter which automath cally and effectively lubricates 4the various parts of the cutter. l

Other and further objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like character references designate like parts throughoutthe several views, and where FIGURE l is a side sectional view of a roving cutter according to the present invention,

FIGURE 2 is -a partial end view of the roving cutter looking in the direction of the arrows 2 2,

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 -3 of FIGURE l,

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIGURE l,

FIGURE 5 is an exploded, fragmentary, perspective view of the cutter rotor illustrating the manner of inserting and replacing the cutter blades,

3,34,2i3 Patented May l5, 1962 FIGURE 6 is a view taken along the line 6-6 of FIGURE l,

FiGURE 7 is a perspective view of the baclcup roller and roving driver assembly, and

FIGURE 8 is a sectional view taken along the line 8-8 of FIGURE 6.

Referring now'to the drawings, and particularly Vto FIGURE l, the roving cutter is generally designated by the reference numeral itl and includes a body 12 which includes the various driving and cutting elements, as presently described, the handle 1d for gripping the cutter and controlling its operation, as presently described, and the outlet i6 in which the roving cut into predetermined lengths is discharged and separated on to a plastic form, mold or shape to which it is desired to add chopped roving.

The body 12 is provided with the chamber 1S which is vclosed on each side by the

cover plates

20 and 22, as

best seen in FIGURE 4, for assembling the various elements of the cutter contained in the chamber 1S and for making repairs, replacements and the like.

While the body l2, handle 14 and outlet 16 may be formed of any desired material, preferably it is formed of a light weight metal to give the required strength and rigidity and at the same time be light enough to be handled by an operator over long periods of time without tiring. One such material is aluminum although it will be understood that any desired material may be used.

Referring again to FIGURE l, in the body 12 there are provided the air or pneumatic motor 24, the pressure roller 26, the cutter rotor 23 and the back-up roller 39 for the pressure roller Z6 and cutter rotor 28.

An opening 32 is provided in the lower portion of the body 12 into which is secured the guide bushing 34 provided with the passage 36 for reception of roving. It is noted that the inner end of the bolt Eiland its passage 36 extend between the pressure roller 26 and the back-up roller Si) so that roving is fed between these rollers for drawing it into the chamber 18 and in contact with the blade type cutters 36 carried by the cutter rotor 28 for cutting the roving.

In order to insure that the roving is directed toward the cutter rotor 28 a guide bar 3S is provided between the pressure roller 26 and the back-up roller 30.

The mounting details for the pressure roller 26, back-up roller 3l) and guide bar 38 are bes-t illustrated in FIG URE 7 to which reference is now made. A frame assemoly including the sides 4t? and 42 receive the

shafts

44 and 46 of the pressure roller 26 and'back-up roller 30 for journaling them in position. An adjustment thread 4S is provided in the boss 50 disposed in thevbottom S2 of the frame for threadedly receiving the adjustment screw 54, as best seen in 'FIGURE 1,'for adjus-tably supporting the back-up roller 3d with respect to the cutter rotor 2S.

. determined relationship at all The pressure roller 26 and back-up roller Sill have the

inner core

27 and 29, respectively, which is' covered with a resilient surf-ace 31 and 33, respectively, such as one made of rubber, neoprene or other resilient surfaces which effectively grip .the roving and move it through the cutter.

Referring now to FIGURE 5, the details of the cutter rotor 2Sy and cutter blades 36 and their mounting is 3 illustrated. The cutter rotor 28 is provided with a series of radially extending slots 25 into which are placed the cutter blades 36. The leaf type springs 27 are also provided, only one being shown in -this view, and are placed in the slots 25 along with the blades 36' which releas-ably hold them in place, as illustrated in FIG- URE l.

It is also noted in FIGURE 4, that the side plates 43 are secured to the sidesrof thecutter rotor 28, such as by the. bolts 45, although they may be secured in other ways, whichinclude the inwardlyextending terminal stop members 47 which engage the chamfer 49 of :the

blades 36'Y which assist in maintaining the blades 36 inv position. v

Thus, the blades 36' may be added quickly and conveniently to the cutter rotor 28 by removing the side plates 43,'pulling the blades 36 rand springs 27 out of the slots 25, inserting new blades and the springs 27 in these slots 25 and re-attaching .the cover plates 43.

The details of mounting the cutter rotor 28 are best f illustrated in FIGURE 4 to which reference is now made. The

shafts

35 and 37 extending from each end of the cutter Y'rotor 28 are journaled in the bearings 39 source, not shown. A trigger assembly 59 provided which Iactuates the spring pressed needle valve generally indicated by the reference numeral 60.

The air passage 54 extends up through the handle 14 and is in communication with the counterbored portion 61, the air passage 62, the counterbored portion 63 at l the other end of the passage 62 wlL'ch receives the needle' valve generally designated by the reference numeral 64. Adjustment of the needle valve 64 controls the amount of passing into the passages 65,'only one being shown, for separating the strands ofcut roving and applying i-t to the'plastic as presently described.

Referring now to the details of construction of the trigger assernbly'59, a slot 66 xis cu-t in the upper rear- Ward portion of the handle 14 into which is .pivotally secured the .trigger 67 by the pivot 68. The upper end of `the trigger 67 includes aV projection 69 to which is secured the plunger 70 of the needle valve 60.

The plunger 70 has the needle valve element 71 on its inner end which seats against the valve seat 72 provided in the annular valve A-body73 which is threaded-ly or otherwise secured inthe counterbored portion 61, such as by the 'threaded tarea 74.

A bolt 75 is threaded-or otherwise secured in the bore 76 of the valve body 73 to serve as a stop for the compression'spring 77 at one end. A stop member 78 is provided adjacent the other end so that the spring 77 resiliently maintains theneedle valve element 71 seated vagainst the valve seat'72.

A series of ports 79 are provided in the valve body 73 proximate the air inlet passage 54 so that air entering the air passage 54 flows into the valve body 73.

' -It seems apparent that the pressure of the air against the valve element 71 and the spring 77 yieldingly maintain the needle valve element 71 Vagainst the rvalve seat 72 until the trigger 67 is squeezed which causes the projection'69 toV move backwardly andthereby open the needle valve. This, of course, permits air to ow to the various elements as presently described. .Once the trigger 67 isA released, however, the combined, action'of theY air pressure Yand spring 77 immediately close the needle valve 60. Y

It is'notedthat the entire needle valve assembly 60 may be removed for'repairs or replacement. Of course,

4 suitable packing, such as the `0rings 80' and 81' at the inner and outer ends of the valve body 73 are provided to electively seal oit the assembly.

Still with reference to FIGURE 1, the needle valve assembly 64 is provided to adjust the amount of air ilowing in the passages 65 and being ejected out the opening 16. As in case of the needle valve 60, the needle valve 64 is also made in a complete assembly which may be readily removed for repairs, replacements and maintenance.

An annular valve body 80 is provided which is threadedly or otherwise inserted into the counterbored portion 63, such as by the threaded area 81. A valve seat 82 is provided adjacent the interior end of the valve body 80 and a needle valve element 83 is provided on the inner end of the valve stem 84 extending from the threaded portion 8'5 and nut 86 which is threaded through the threaded opening 87 in the valve body 83 so that adjustment of the nut 86 adjusts the position of the needle valve element 83 with respect to valve seat 82.

The valve body 80 has the ports 88 so that lair from the passage 62 ilows into the valve body 83 through the valve seat 82, out the ports S8 into the counterboredA portions 63 and into the passages 65 which communicate with the passages 17 in the outlet 16.

As in the needle valve assembly 60, there are provided in the needle valve assembly 64 suitable packing ele ments, suchV as the O-rings 89 and 90 to suitably pack oi this valve assembly.

Referring now to FIGURE 3, the air passage 62 has -a branch member 91 leading to a lubricant assembly 92 and to the air passage 93 leading to the air motor 94, as best seen in FIGURE l.

The air motor 94 is generally a rotor provided with the helical vanes 95 and which rotor 94 is eccentrically mounted in the motor housing 96 by the shaft 97. The vanes 95 are slidably mounted in the slots 98 so that more area to the vanes is provided in the upper portion and the direction of rotation to eiect rotation of the rotor 94. The air passage 91 is in communication with the rotor 94 through the end bearing plates and a slot 99 is .provided to exhaust 'the air. Since'this slot 99 is only on one side it acts as an increasing pressure exhaust in determining the direction ofthe motor. The air exhausted through the slot 99 enters the outlet void 100 between the motor housing 96 and the body 10. The extended void 100 permits the slot 99 to be put in any close alignment with 4the exhaust ports 101 without having to be too careful of choking olf the exhaust. Thus, the air exhausts in a direction away from the direction in which the cut bers are being directed by thecutter.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the rotor blades 9'5 are generally helically mounted to provide a more eicient drive. A bearing ring 102 is provided which receives the shaft 103 lfor centering the rotor 94 in the housing 96.

The shaft 97 extending from the other end of the rotor 94 is journaled through a similar bearing 104 and has connected to its free extremity the driving gear 105. l

The driving means from the driving gear 105 is housed in the gear chamber 106 at one side of the body 12.

The ldriving means preferably is a gear train which is best illustrated in FIGURE 8, to which reference is now made. In this figure a satisfactory gear train is provided which includes the idler 107 meshing with and being driven by the driving gear 105 which provides a gear reduction. The idler 107 engages and drives the driven gezr which rotates the cutter rotor 28 (FIGURES 1 an In order to provide reverse rotation to the gear which drives the back-up roller so that the4 direction of rotation will be such that the roving is forced between the cutter and the back-up roller (FIGURE 1) the idler gear 109 engages and is driven by the idler 107, which idler gear 109 in turn engages and drives the driven gear 110 for the back-up roller. It is noted that the drive train is such that there is no change in gear pitch speed in the driven gear 110 from the driven gear 108.

As best seen in FIGURE 4, the details of mounting the idler gear 107 and the driven gear 10S for driving the cutter rotor 28 are illustrated. The idler and reduction gear 107 is provided with the shaft 111 which is journaled in the bearings 112 at each side for rotatably supporting the gear 107 in position.

The driven gear 108 is connected to the shaft 113 extending from the cutter rotor shaft 35 and is supported by the bearing 41 as previously described.

In order to seal ofithe cutter rotor 28 and the chamber 18 from any lubricant, a bearing surface 114 is provided by the gear hub 115, which bearing surface 114 engages the annularly disposed packing 116 surrounding the rotor shaft 37.

With reference to FIGURE 6, the idler gear 109 and driven gear 110 for the pressure roller 26 and back-up roller 30, respectively, are secured to their

respective shafts

44 and 46. In addition, the bearing surfaces 117 and 118 are provided which respectively engage the

packings

119 and 120 surrounding the

shafts

44 and 46, respectively, to prevent lubricant from entering the cham ber in the frame 40 disposed in the chamber 1S of the body 12.

While the gear train described in some detail is preferred, any desired drive means may be utilized in which there is provided a gear reduction and in which the back-up roller '30 and cutter rotor 23 are driven at .the same surface or peripheral speed.

In order to lubricate the gears, and as best seen in FIGURE 3, a lubricant reservoir 121 is provided in the upper portion of the body 12 which is closed by the threaded plug 122 being threadedly secured in the threaded area 123 of the body 12. The plug 122 is provided with an effective seal 124 which eiectively prevents leakage of pressure to the outside of the body 12, but is provided with a seal 125 which permits pressure to be applied through the seal from the air line 91 into the branch lines 126 leading to the passage 127 so that pressure is applied to the lubricant in the reservoir 121.

A passage 128 is provided from the reservoir 121 leading to the gear chamber 106, as best seen in FIGURE 4 so that lubricant under pressure is always `being provided to the gear chamber 106, as best seen in FIGURE 4.

A lubricant discharge port 129 is provided adjacent a rearward portion of the gear chamber 1416 for removal of lubricant therefrom.

In operation, roving `is inserted into the opening 36 and up between the pressure roller 26 and -back-up roller 30. By merely pressing the trigger 67 air pressure is applied to the motor 94 which through the reduced gear drive drives the back-up roller 3d and cutter rotor 2S at the same' speed and in the directions previously mentioned. This permits the blade edges 36 to move at the same peripheral speed with respect to the back-up roller thereby preventing any cutting or undue wear on the back-up roller 3i). The pressure roller 26 is free turning, the gear 109 :being an idler gear, it moves with the movement of the roving and back-up roller 3G. The roving is chopped into the desired lengths and the air passing out the openings 17 draw the cut roving out of the cutter, separate the strands and direct it as desired.

=It is noted that the roving may be cut at any predetermined desired length merely by placement of the cutter blades 36'. Also, as the cutter blades 36 may vary in Width the back-up cutter 3i) may be adjusted for this dierential so that effectively eicient cutting of the roving without any undue wear on the back-up roller 3u is obtained. Y

The amount of air provided to the outlet 65 may be varied, as previously mentioned, by adjustment ot the adjusting nut 86 for whatever purpose is desired. Also, as previously mentioned the cutter is disassembled and the n various parts repaired or replaced or adjusted readily and easily. In' addition, a highly eflicient lubrication system is provided.

While the present invention is particularly adapted for use as a hand held mechanism, in View of its simplicity, compactness and light Weight, it may be utilized in iixcd relation, that is it may be mounted in xed relation, to plastic shapes, forms, molds and the like to be reinforced with roving.

The present invention therefore is well suited and adapted to attain the objects and ends and has the advantages mentioned as well as others inherent therein.

While a presently preferred embodiment of the invention has been described for purposes of disclosure, numerous changes in details of construction and arrangement of parts may be made which are within the spirit of the invention as dened by the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A roving cutter comprising, an enclosed body, a pressure roller disposed in the body, a backup roller disposed in the body `adjacent the pressure roller, a cutter rotor provided with cutting blades disposed in the body adjacent the backup roller and Aarranged so that roving passes between the pressure roller and the backup roller and between the backup roller and cutter rotor thereby cutting theroving into predetermined lengths, said body enclosing said rollers and rotor, inlet means in the body of a size slightly larger than the roving for introducing the roving into the body `and passing it between thepressure roller and the backup roller as aforesaid, an ejector at the fonvvard end ot the body in communication with the backup roller and the cutter rotor and provided with air jets for ejecting the cut roving, a motor carried by the body, and drive means operatively connecting the motor with the backup roller and with the cutter rotor and driving the cutter rotor in one direction and the backup roller in a reverse direction and the edges of the cutting blades and the backup roller at substantially the same peripheral Y speed.

2. A roving cutter comprising, an enclosed body, a pressure'roller disposed in the body, a backup roller disposed in the lbody adjacent the pressure roller, a cutter rotor providing with cutting edges disposed in the body adjacent the backup roller, roving entering the cutter passing between the pressure roller and the backup roller and between the backup roller and the cutter rotor, said body enclosing said rollers and rotor, inlet means in the body of a size slightly larger than the roving for introducing the roving into the body and passing it between the pressure roller and the backup roller as aforesaid, an ejector in the forward end of the bodyffor ejecting the cut roving in communication with the backup roller and the cutter rotor, an air motor carried by the body, means providing air to the motor for driving the same, drive means operatively connecting the motor with the backup roller and with the cutter rotor and arranged to rotate the cutter rotor in one direction and the backup roller in a reverse direction and the cutting edges yand the backup roller at the same peripheral speed, and air passageways in the ejector in huid communication with the means for providing air to the motor whereby the air jetting'through the passageways draws the cut roving out of the body through the ejector. j

3. The roving cutter of claim 2 where the drive means comprises la driving gear connected to the motor, a driven gear connected to the rotor .cutter engaging and being drivenby the drive gear, an idler gear being driven by the driving gear, and an additional gear connected to the back-up roller engaging and being driven by the idler gear, said gears being arranged to'drive the cutting edges and the back-up roller at the same peripheral speed..

4. The roving cutter of claim 2 including a trigger assembly, said trigger assembly including a spring-pressed needle valve assembly normally closing the means providing `air to the motor but openable upon actuation of 7 said ,trigger assembly Vfor providingV air Asupply tothe motor. e

5. A roving cutter comprising, a body, a rst chamber in the body, a pressure roller rotatably mounted in the chamber, a back-up roller rotatably mounted in the rst chamber adjacent the pressure roller, a cutter rotor provided with cutting edges rotatably mounted in the rst chamber adjacent the back-up roller, means in the body for feeding roving into the chamber between the pressure roller and back-up roller, said Vpressure roller and backup roller feeding the roving between the back-up roller and the cutter rotor thereby cutting the roving, an air motor in the body apart from the irst chamber, the body provided with an air passage for supplying air to the air motor, a discharge opening at the forward end of the body opening into the first chamber, a plurality of ports arranged about the discharge opening, -air passage means connecting the ports with the air passageway for jetting air out the opening and drawing cut roving therethrough, a second chamber in the body, drive means in the sec- ,ond chamber connecting the motor to the back-up roller and cutter rotor -for driving the same, said drive means and rotating the back-up roller and the cutting edges of the cutter rotor at the same peripheral speed, a lubricant Yreservoir in the body, a passageway inruid communication with the reservoir and with the second chamber for lubricating the gear means, jan additional passageway in fluid communicating from the air passage to the reservoir for applying the air pressure to the lubricant in the reservoir, and exhaust outlet means in the second chamber exhausting lubricated air therefrom.

6. The roving cutter of claim including a normally closed valve assembly in the air passage openable to ,permit 110W of air to the motor and to the ports.

7. The roving cutter of claim 6 including a choke arrangement in iluid communication `with the air passage for applying air pressure to the lubricant in the Y reservoir.

8. A rotary-cutter for roving comprising, a rotor, a

Y apaga 13 8 plurality of radially extending -and circumferentially spaced slots, at least one blade-like cutter element disposed'in at least one of the slots, and a leaf-like spring member insertable in the slots yieldingly holding the blade-like cutter member in the slots;

9. rTheV cutter of claim 8 where the blade-like cutter ,members'are provided with stop shoulders adjacent their sides, and including stop members secured to each side maintaining the blades in the slots.

l0. A roving cutter comprising,V a first frame, a second frame mounted in the rst frame, a pressure roller rotatably mounted in the second frame and provided with shaft extensions pivotally mounting the second trame in lthe rst frame, a back-up roller rotatably mounted in the second frame adjacent the pressure roller, a cutter rotor provided with cutting edges rotatably mounted in the lrst frame adjacent the back-up roller whereby roving passes between the pressure roller'and back-up roller and between the back-up roller and the cutter rotor for cutting the roving, means carried by the rst frame for rotating the back-up roller and the cutter'rotor, and an adjusting element adjustably securing the second frame to the first Iframe adjacent the b'ack-up'roller whereby operation of the adjusting element moves the back-up roller toward and away from the cutter rotor.`

l1. A rotary cutter for roving comprising, a rotor, at least one radially-extending slot in the rotor, a bladelike cutter element disposed in the slot, and a leaf-like spring lmember insertable in the slot yieldingly holding the blade-like cutter member in the slot.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,618,817 Slayter Nov. 25, 1952 2,719,336 Stotler V Oct. 4, 1955 2,787,314 Anderson Apr. 2, 1957 2,808,884. Shaun et al. Oct. 8, 1957