Method and apparatus for processing chopped fibers from continuous tows
AssigneeNordson Corporation
InventorsJulius J. Molnar, Gregory Alaimo, John M. Raterman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An apparatus for processing chopped fibers from essentially continuous tows, each consisting of individual strands, comprises selectively feeding at least two tows to a venturi pump and associated cutter mechanism where the tows are cut or chopped into relatively short lengths to form chopped fibers. The apparatus includes sensors for monitoring the movement of each of the tows to the pump and cutter mechanism, and a controller which adjusts the feed rate of the tows and the rate of operation of the cutter mechanism in the event movement of one of the tows varies from a predetermined feed rate.
Claims24
Apparatus for forming and dispensing chopped fibers from continuous tows, comprising:
- a pumping unit having an inlet and a discharge outlet;
- a cutter mechanism connected to said inlet of said pumping unit;
- feed means for feeding a first tow into said cutter mechanism and for selectively feeding a second tow into said cutter mechanism, said cutter mechanism including cutter means for cutting each of said first and second tows to form chopped fibers of predetermined length which are directed into said pumping unit;
- sensor means for sensing movement of each of said first and second tows to said cutter mechanism, and for producing a signal in the event the feed rate of one of said first and second tows varies from a predetermined feed rate;
- control means connected to said sensor means and to said feed means for receiving a signal from said sensor means indicative of a variation in the feed rate of one of said first and second tows to said cutter mechanism, and for operating said feed means to correspondingly vary the feed rate of the other of said first and second tows to said cutter mechanism so that a substantially constant feed rate of chopped fibers is emitted from said discharge outlet of said pumping unit.
Apparatus for forming and dispensing chopped fibers from continuous tows, comprising:
- a pumping unit having an inlet and a discharge outlet;
- a cutter mechanism connected to said inlet of said pumping unit;
- feed means for feeding a first tow into said cutter mechanism at a first rate and for selectively feeding a second tow into said cutter mechanism at a second rate, said cutter mechanism including cutter means for cutting said first tow to form chopped fibers of one length and for cutting said second tow to form chopped fibers of another length, said chopped fibers being directed into said pumping unit;
- sensor means for sensing movement of each of said first and second tows to said cutter mechanism, and for producing a signal in the event the feed rate of either of said first and second tows varies from said first and second feed rates, respectively;
- control means connected to said sensor means and to said feed means for receiving a signal from said sensor means indicative of a variation in the feed rate of one of said first and second tows to said cutter mechanism, and for operating said feed means to correspondingly vary the feed rate of the other of said first and second tows to said cutter mechanism so that a substantially constant feed rate of chopped fibers is emitted from said discharge outlet of said pumping unit.
Apparatus for forming and dispensing chopped fibers from continuous tows, comprising:
- a pumping unit having an inlet and a discharge outlet;
- a cutter mechanism connected to said inlet of said pumping unit;
- feed means for feeding a first tow into said cutter mechanism and for selectively feeding a second tow into said cutter mechanism, said cutter mechanism including cutter means operative at a predetermined rate for cutting each of said first and second tows to form chopped fibers of predetermined length which are directed into said pumping unit;
- sensor means for sensing movement of each of said first and second tows to said cutter mechanism, and for producing a signal in the event the feed rate of one of said first and second tows varies from a predetermined feed rate;
- control means connected to said sensor means, to said feed means and to said cutter mechanism for:
- (i) receiving a signal from said sensor means indicative of a variation in said feed rate of one of said first and second tows to said cutter mechanism;
- (ii) operating said feed means to vary the feed rate of the other of said first and second tows to said cutter mechanism in accordance with said variation in the feed rate of said one tow;
- and
- (iii) varying the speed of operation of said cutting means of said cutter mechanism, whereby substantially the same volume of chopped fibers, being substantially said predetermined length, is emitted from said discharge outlet of said pumping unit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.