Apparatus and method for producing dried, chopped strands
AssigneePPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
InventorsJohn R. Blough, Jerry B. Noftsger, Ronald L. Hawkins
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for producing dried, chopped strands from a supply of continuous fiber strands by the direct deposition of wet, chopped strands ejected from a chopping assembly into a drying chamber is disclosed. A transition chute is interposed between the chopping assembly and the drying chamber to guide the chopped strands to pass directly into the drying chamber.
Claims27
An apparatus for producing dried, chopped strands from a supply of generally continuous fiber strands, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a chopping assembly for severing one or more generally continuous fiber strands to form chopped strands and ejecting the chopped strands from an exit opening thereof;
- (b) a drying chamber for receiving the chopped strands ejected from the exit opening of the chopping assembly and at least partially drying the chopped strands;
- and
- (c) a transition chute interposed between the exit opening of the chopping assembly and an entrance opening of the drying chamber such that at least one of the chopped strands ejected from the chopping assembly is guided through and initially deposited in the drying chamber.
An apparatus for producing dried, chopped strands from a supply of generally continuous fiber strands, the apparatus comprising:
- (a) a chopping assembly for severing one or more generally continuous fiber strands to form chopped strands and ejecting the chopped strands from an exit opening thereof;
- and
- (b) a drying chamber for at least partially drying the chopped strands ejected from the chopping assembly positioned adjacent to the chopping assembly such that an entrance opening of the drying chamber is adjacent to the exit opening of the chopping assembly to permit the initial deposition of at least one of the chopped strands ejected from the chopping assembly in the drying chamber.
A method of forming dried, chopped fiber strands from a one or more generally continuous fiber strands comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing one or more generally continuous fiber strands to a chopping assembly;
- (b) feeding the one or more generally continuous fiber strands into the chopping assembly;
- (c) severing the one or more generally continuous fiber strands to form chopped strands;
- (d) ejecting the chopped strands from an exit opening of the chopping assembly such that at least one of the chopped strands passes through a transition chute and is initially deposited in a drying chamber;
- (e) collecting the chopped strands in the drying chamber;
- and
- (f) at least partially drying the chopped strands in the drying chamber.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.