Apparatus for removing cut staple

In an apparatus for cutting filamentary material into predetermined lengths comprising a cutting assembly including a plurality of knife edges secured to a reel having a mounting member and having means adapted to receive successive wrappings of filamentary material to be cut in contact with the plurality of knife edges and means for forcing said material in contact with the knife edges to thereby sever the material and force it between adjacent knife edges to a doffing point, the improvement comprising means for removing the severed material, said means comprising:

• (a) a tub connected to the mounting member, the ratio of the cutter reel diameter to the depth of the tub ranging from 0.85-4.8 to 1;
• (b) means for creating an air flow across the tub adjacent to and beneath the doff point and cutter reel, parallel to the plane of the cutter reel, to a collection point, said means for creating an air flow comprising means for communicating with an air source, said means delivering air from the air source to said tub adjacent to the contact point of said filamentary material and the means for forcing the filamentary material in contact with the knife edges, responsive to the suction induced by a fan through a duct in communication with said tub.