Thermal adjustment method and apparatus for rotating machines

A rotary cutter comprising:

• first and second knife means each having at least one cutting surface;
• frame means for supporting said first and second knife means with at least one of said knife means having a longitudinal axis spaced from its respective cutting surface and being mounted for rotation about said axis in said frame means, said first and second knife means being disposed and spaced relative to one another by spacing portions of said frame means so that material passing therebetween is severed at intervals defined by the speed of rotation of said rotating knife means and the speed of advancement of said material;
• and
• thermal adjusting means connected to said spacing portions of said frame means for controllng the temperature of said spacing portions to set the spacing between said first and second knife means, said thermal adjusting means comprising heater elements and temperature monitoring means connected to said spacing portions, means coupled to said temperature monitoring means for selectively activating said heater elements, and speed monitoring means for synchronizing the operation of said activating means with the speed of rotation of said rotating knife means.

A rotary cutter comprising:

• first and second knife means each having at least one cutting surface;
• frame means for supporting said first and second knife means with at least one of said knife means having a longitudinal axis spaced from its respective cutting surface and being mounted for rotation about said axis in said frame means, said first and second knife means being disposed and spaced relative to one another by spacing portions of said frame means so that material passing therebetween is severed at intervals defined by the speed of rotation of said rotating knife means and the speed of advancement of said material;
• and
• a first thermal adjusting means connected to said rotating knife means for controlling the temperature of the portion of said rotating knife means disposed between its axis of rotation and its cutting surface and a second thermal adjusting means connected to said spacing portions of said frame means for controlling the temperature of said spacing portions to set the spacing between said first and second knife means, said first thermal adjusting means comprising first heater elements and first temperature monitoring means connected to said portion of said rotating knife, means coupled to said first temperature monitoring means for selectively activating said first heater elements, and means for synchronizing the operation of said activating means with the speed of rotation of said rotating knife means, said second thermal adjusting means comprising second heater elements and second temperature monitoring means connected to said spacing portions, means coupled to said second temperature monitoring means for selectively activating said second heater elements, and means for synchronizing the operation of said activating means with the speed of rotation of said rotating knife means.

A method of operating apparatus for performing a desired operation on material passing therethrough, said apparatus comprising a frame having first and second support portions, an operating member mounted for rotation on said support portions, a cooperating member mounted on said support portions and disposed relative to said operating member so that said desired operation is performed on said material as it passes between said operating and cooperating members and said operating member is rotated, said method comprising:

• (a) setting the position of said operating and cooperating members relative to said frame;
• (b) fixing the position of said operating and cooperating members relative to said frame;
• (c) rotating said operating member to perform said operation;
• and
• (d) adjusting the temperature of said first and second support portions to approximately maintain the setting between said operating and cooperating members of said apparatus, said step (d) comprising:
• (e) monitoring the speed of rotation of said operating member;
• (f) translating the speed of rotation of said operating member into a desired temperature for said first and second support portions;
• (g) monitoring the temperature of said first and second support portions;
• and
• (h) controlling thermal elements mounted on said first and second support portions to maintain the temperatures of said support portions at approximately said desired temperature determined in step (f).