Patent ID: 8573103
Filing Date: 2013-11-05
Classification: D01G,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A chopper for continuously separating long lengths of unwound item(s) selected from the group consisting of fibers, fiber strands, string, yarn, wire, tape and ribbon into short pieces as the unwound items pass into the chopper at speeds exceeding 1000 ft./minute comprising a rotatable backup roll having a continuous peripheral elastomer working layer on an outer peripheral surface of a wheel and a rotatable blade roll comprising a plurality of straight blades for contacting the peripheral working layer of the backup roll, the improvement comprising; spaced apart spiral grooves or ridges on the outer peripheral surface of the wheel and grooves or ridges on an inner surface of the peripheral elastomer working layer matching the pattern of the grooves or ridges on the outer peripheral surface of the wheel, the ridges engaging the grooves as the working layer is threaded into place on the wheel and wherein the wheel has a stop surface extending outward from the outer peripheral surface of the wheel on the side of the wheel closest to a drive for the chopper, the grooves and ridges being so arranged that the elastomer peripheral working layer can be threaded onto and off of the outer surface of said wheel.