Apparatus for cutting fibrous tow into staple

摘要

This patent presents apparatus for cutting staple fibers to predetermined accurate lengths from yarn, tow or ropes. The apparatus includes a circular assembly incorporating a plurality of knives and one or more camming means which cooperate with the plurality of knives to pull a tow into cutting engagement with the knives in response to rotational movement of either the knife assembly or the camming means. A movable endless belt encircles the camming means and is adapted to move with the tow and, thereby, eliminate frictional heating generated between the tow/s and the camming surface/s. In one embodiment the endless belt is supported by a film of air, gas or liquid between it and the cam, and in an alternate embodiment the cam is a circular rotatable means and the endless belt is in direct contact therewith, but frictional heating is effectively eliminated because sliding engagement between the endless belt and the camming means is minimized. In additional embodiment both the camming means and the circular assembly of knives, being mounted concentrically, are rotated in the same or in different directions, thus causing twist to be imparted to the feed as well as to pull the tow into cutting engagement, providing means for separately varying each function over a broad range.