Patent ID: 6619573
Filing Date: 2003-09-16
Classification: D01G,Y10T

Abstract:
A chopper for chopping items selected from the group consisting of one or more fiber, fiber strand, yarn, string, wire, ribbon, and tape, that enter the chopper in an unwound form, into an array of short lengths, the chopper comprising a frame supporting a blade roll mounted on a first spindle and containing a set of spaced apart blades mounted in a blade holder on the outer periphery of the blade roll, a backup roll mounted on a second spindle and having a working surface layer on its outer periphery, the improvement comprising that either the blade roll, the backup roll or both are wheels having a working surface or a blade holder mounted on their outer peripheral surface, each wheel being expandable and retractable radially on at least an outboard side to permit a worn working surface or the blade holder to be replaced with a fresh working surface or blade holder as an outer periphery of the wheel or wheels without having to completely remove either wheel from the spindle or spindles, said wheel or wheels also comprising a mechanical stop that prevents said wheel or wheels from retracting during operation of the chopper.