Patent GB-605280-A (GB)
Title: Improvements in and relating to cutting machines, more especially for cutting fibres
IPC: D01G1/04
Filed: 1945-11-16
Abstract: 605,280. Stapling fibres. POWELL, J. H. Nov 16, 1945, No.'30748. [Class 120(iii)] [Also in Groups I, VIII and XXIII] In a machine for cutting fibres into short lengths, the fibres are fed into a substantially enclosed space and lengths are cut therefrom, and freely released into said space, by a power-driven cutting edge mounted therein, the cutting edge being moved during at least a substantial part of each operative cycle in contact with a stationary sharpening surface (e.g. of glass) over which it has a substantial component of movement perpendicular to the cutting edge, being thereby sharpened during intervals between cutting operations while the machine is working. In the embodiment shown in Figs. 1, 2 or cutting fibres such as cotton, silk, artificial silk &c. into short lengths of the order of one millimetre, fibres are fed in the form of a cord, rope or sliver 8 by rollers 10. 11, 12, of which rollers 10 and 11 are driven, to a rectangular or cylindrical hole 7 in the wall of a block 1 leading to a cylindrical chamber 2 in which a rotor 3 is eccentrically mounted. Block 1 may be made of glass or may have a fixed or replaceable glass lining. Blades 6 are slidable in radial slots 5 in rotor 3 which are either parallel to the axis of the rotor or inclined thereto. In operation knife blades 6 are maintained by centrifugal force in contact with, and are honed by, the cylindrical glass wall of chamber 2, and co-operate with the edges of hole 7 to cut the fibres 8. The honing surface may alternatively be in the form of helical ribs on the walls of chamber 3. Airflow from a fan 13 cools the knives 6 and assists the cut lengths of fibre to drop into a chute 14 leading through branch ducts 15, 16 to receptacles 18, 19 which are filled alternatively by means of a pivoted shutter 17. Rotor 3 may alternatively be mounted coaxially with chamber 2, and knives 6 may be inclined to the rotor axis. In order to vary the cutting angle of the knives according to the material being cut, the blades may be mounted in slots each of which is inclined to the radial direction, and the machine provided with a plurality of interchangeable rotors having progressively increasing angular disposition of the knife-slots. Alternatively the rotor may comprise two co-axial cylindrical cages with knives extending thrcugh corresponding slots in the inner and outer cages which are relatively adjustable to vary the inclination of the knives. Control of length of cut is achieved by connecting rollers 10 to rotor shaft 4 by gearing, which may be adjustable to allow variation of the cut length. The temperature and/or humidity within the cutting chamber 2 mav be adjustably controlled. In other embodiments, cutting is achieved by a rotating disc carrying a cutting edge running against a plane honing surface, or alternatively the cutting edge may be caused to reciprocate. In a further embodiment, Fig. 9, flexible knives 38 are secured to a rotating truncated conical ring 39 having a recessed curved surface. The resilience of the knives causes them to bear against the honing surface (not shown) against which they run in operation.