Abschneidevorrichtung fuer plastische Straenge

摘要

Method and apparatus for cutting columnar articles, such as uncured ceramic (i.e., therefore plastic) web-type columns (e.g., which may typically be cured to a hardened state and coated with catalyst to form a catalytic converter), includes a cutting wire tensioned between a pair of spaced locations situated on the exterior side of the column to be cut. One of the locations (and thus one end portion of the cutting wire) is in a fixed position relative to the column, while the other location (and thus the other end portion of the cutting wire) is orbitally movable around the column. The cutting wire cuts the column along a plane established by such orbital movement while the length of the cutting wire is simultaneously continually varied so as to impart a benificial rectilinear (e.g., "saw-type") motion thereto so as to assist in the column cutting operation. A cleaning device in wiping contact with the wire cleans the same by virtue of such rectilinear motion. It is also possible to incrementally advance the cutting wire from one of the locations towards the other location at periodic intervals (e.g., once per cutting cycle) so that "fresh" wire is constantly being supplied to the actual column cutting area.