Process and apparatus for production of precision cut lengths of metal wires and fibers

An apparatus for producing precision cut lengths of metal fibers having a diameter ranging from about 0.5 to about 150 microns which comprises:

• a. a multispool creel containing spools of metal fibers in tow form;
• b. means to wet the spools with water;
• c. guiding means to guide tow bands unwound from the spools to a targeting section;
• d. means in the targeting section to lay up said tow bands into a continuous ribbon;
• e. guiding means to pass the ribbon into a means for stiffening the ribbon into a flat, rigid band;
• f. guiding means for passing said stiffened ribbon to a precision shearing action cutting means whereby the ribbon is cut to precision lengths;
• and
• g. means to prevent cold welding or deformation of the ends of the fibers when sheared, thereby enabling total individual fiber separation.

An apparatus for producing precision lengths of textile metal fibers having a diameter ranging from about 0.5 microns to about 150 microns which comprises:

• a. a multispool creel containing spools of textile metal filaments in tow form;
• b. means to wet the spools with water;
• c. means to guide tow bands unwound from the spools through a guide section into the form of a continuous ribbon;
• d. means for stiffening the ribbon into a flat, rigid band;
• e. means for passing said stiffened ribbon through a precision shearing action cutting means whereby the ribbon is cut to precision lengths;
• and
• f. means to prevent cold welding or deformation of the ends when sheared so as to permit total individual fiber separation.

An apparatus for producing precision cut lengths of textile metal fibers each having a diameter ranging from about 0.5 microns to about 150 microns which comprises:

• a. a multispool creel containing spools of textile metal filaments in tow form;
• b. means for forming unwound tow bands into a continuous ribbon;
• c. means for stiffening the ribbon by passing it axially through a venturi, said ribbon entering at the narrow end of the venturi and exiting at the large end of the venturi;
• d. a fluid stream injected into the venturi at its narrow end in the direction of the ribbon movement whereby said ribbon is stiffened into a flat, stable band;
• e. means for cutting said stiffened ribbon into precision lengths of fiber;
• and
• f. means to prevent cold welding or deformation of the ends when sheared so as to permit ultimate total fiber separation.

An apparatus for producing precision cut lengths of metal fibers, each fiber having a diameter ranging from about 0.5 microns to about 150 microns, which comprises:

• a. a multispool creel containing spools of metal fibers in tow form;
• b. guiding means to guide tow bands unwound from the spools to a targeting section;
• c. means in the targeting section to lay up said tow bands into a continuous ribbon;
• d. guiding means to pass the ribbon into a means for stiffening the ribbon into a flat, stable band;
• e. guiding means for passing said stiffened ribbon to a precision shearing action cutting means whereby the ribbon is cut to precision lengths;
• and
• f. means to prevent cold welding or deformation of the ends when sheared so as to permit total individual fiber separation.

A method of forming cut lengths of metal filaments or wires wherein the fibers or wires have a diameter from about 0.5 to about 150 microns comprising the steps of:

• a. providing a plurality of filaments on spools;
• b. unwinding the filaments to form tow bands, the bands being loose and permeable;
• c. laying up the tow bands in the form of a ribbon;
• d. stiffening the ribbon into a flat, rigid band;
• e. cutting the stiffened ribbon into preselected lengths with a shearing cutting action;
• and
• f. the step of preventing cold welding or deformation of the ends when cutting so as to permit total individual fiber separation.