Programmable fiber chopper and method therefor
AssigneeLear Corporation
InventorBari W. Brown
Life of this patent
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Abstract
This apparatus uses a programmable controller to control laser beam and standard fiber chopper units. The units usually are affixed to resin mix heads. The conventional choppers use steel blades that are randomly spaced, angled and sized. The PC also varies the speed of the standard chopper. The laser device operates in a manner that allows one to set the pulse rate for the specific purpose of varying the fiber length. During operation, the intensity of the laser may be adjusted to accommodate cutting or different sizes and kinds of fibers. The apparatus preferably produces fiber reinforced urethane substrates such as interior door panels for automobile doors.
Claims14
An apparatus for chopping continuous fibers into discrete fiber lengths comprising:
- a fiber chopper;
- means for feeding continuous fibers into the fiber chopper wherein the continuous fibers are glass fiber strands;
- means for discharging discrete fiber lengths from the chopper;
- a fluid discharge block for propelling the discrete fiber lengths from the chopper;
- and
- a programmable controller controlling the chopper to vary the fiber lengths from the chopper and controlling the means for feeding fibers into the chopper to vary the fiber lengths with minimal physical damage and with minimal heat damage to the fibers.
A method for chopping continuous fibers into discrete fiber lengths comprising the steps of:
- providing a fiber chopper;
- feeding continuous fibers into the fiber chopper wherein the continuous fibers are glass fiber strands;
- chopping the continuous fibers into discrete fiber lengths;
- discharging discrete fiber lengths from the chopper;
- propelling the discrete fiber lengths from the chopper with a discharge fluid;
- controlling the chopper to vary the fiber lengths from the chopper;
- and
- controlling the means for feeding fibers into the chopper to vary the fiber lengths with minimal physical damage and with minimal heat damage to the strands.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.