Patent ID: 6948413
Filing Date: 2005-09-27
Classification: B23H,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A chopper module for shearing wire into numerous discrete sections, said chopper module comprising: a frame; a shaft supported for rotation within the frame about an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to a feed path of the wire, said shaft having an outside surface, a channeled portion defining a plurality of longitudinal channels between longitudinally extending side walls, and an open portion axially interrupting said channeled portion, the side walls of each said channel defining a channel width transverse to said axis of rotation that is greater radially inwardly of said outside surface than at said outside surface; a cutting insert disposed in each of said channels for rotation with the shaft, said inserts having a cross sectional shape that is complementary to said channel width such that said inserts are radially retained by said side walls while being longitudinally slidably movable in said channels; and a wire guide mounted to the frame and having a cutting edge in fixed position relative to the rotating shaft, wherein each said cutting insert is removable by sliding the insert out of said channel into said open portion and insertable by sliding the insert from said open portion into said channel, said inserts being removable and insertable while the shaft is mounted for rotation within the frame, wire fed through said wire guide is sheared between the fixed cutting edge and a rotating cutting insert, relative movement between the fixed cutting edge and the cutting inserts being generally transverse to the feed path of the wire.