Ppg Industries, Inc.

Ppg Industries Ohio, Inc.

William L Schaefer

Thomas J Briar

Eugene J Palamara

Songhao Wang

Thomas H Jensen

Walter J Reese

Donald E McWilliams

Timothy S McAbee

Systems and methods for severing elongated material include a rotatable first roll having a first severing structure, a rotatable second roll having a second severing structure corresponding with the first severing structure for severing a length of the filament positioned between the rolls, a drive system operable to independently rotate the first roll and the second roll according to a drive command, a sensor system operable to make measurements and generate actual position signals representative of an actual current rotational position of the first roll and an actual current rotational position of the second roll, and a control system for receiving the position signals and operable to generate the drive command in accordance with predetermined control parameters and based on the actual rotational position signals, wherein the drive command synchronizes the respective rotational positioning of the first roll and the second roll.

Systems and methods for severing elongated material

Apparatus and systems for transporting a generally cylindrical package include: (a) a frame including a support device having at least one compressible support member and a pivot device for pivoting the support device about a generally vertical axis, the support device being movable along the generally vertical axis between (1) a first predetermined position spaced apart from and below an outer surface of a generally cylindrical package which is removably telescoped upon a generally horizontal member of a support at a first predetermined location and (2) a second predetermined position in which the compressible support member contacts and supports at least a portion of the outer surface of the generally cylindrical package; and (b) a carriage assembly connected to and supporting the frame, the carriage assembly including a carriage for moving the frame between (1) a first predetermined position proximate the support and (2) a second predetermined position horizontally spaced apart from the first predetermined position such that the generally cylindrical package is removed from the first predetermined location upon the generally horizontal member of the support and transported to a second predetermined location horizontally spaced apart from the first predetermined location.

Apparatus, systems and methods for transporting a cylindrical package

The specification of the instant invention discloses improvements in methods for making various types of mats of fiberous material. In particular, the improvements relate to methods for making continuous fiber glass strand mats using reciprocating strand feeders and a programmable motion controller to control both the rate of reciprocation and the rate at which strand is deposited from the feeders onto a moving conveyor so as to form mats of uniform density and thickness. Electric servomotors are used to reciprocate the feeders and also deposit strand therefrom. A closed-loop feedback circuit is used to accurately monitor and control the position of the feeders with respect to the conveyor as well as the rate of strand deposition. Methods for using the programmable motion controller described herein can increase the uniformity of needled, resin-impregnated, and uni-directional fiber glass mats.

Programmably controlled fiber glass strand feeders and improved methods

A strand deflector used in the manufacture of continuous strands is shown and described. The deflector comprises a rigid surface which stretches across the width of the mat making machine and which is interposed between the strand feeders located above it and the mat making surface so that the strands fed toward the surface must deflect from the deflector surface before they are collected on the mat making surface. The deflector surface is adjustable in the vertical direction and the angle of deflection with respect to the flow of strand from the feeder may also be changed to any desired value.

Stationary strand deflector for continuous strand manufacture

A fiber glass bushing is described which produces hollow glass fibers from a multiplicity of tips having air tubes centered inside of them. Modules for providing a common header for rows of tubes centered in rows of tips on the bushing bottom are shown along with means to maintain the tubes centered during the running of the bushing.

Hollow glass fiber bushing assembly

A bushing tip suitable for producing hollow fibers is described which is formed from a centrally disposed gas tube preferably integral with the walls of the tip and constructed such that a gas passage is provided through the tip with at least one glass delivery channel is also provided through the tip and around the gas tube. Means are also provided to connect the gas tube to a suitable gas supply.

Hollow fiber bushing tip

A flat plate bushing is described which eliminates extensive precious metal use in drain and/or production bushings. The bushing utilizes a novel arrangement of insulation members and support plates that allow the bushing to be electrically heated and a novel method of connecting the bushing to a power source using the bushing face plate as the connection point is also shown.

Glass fiber forming bushing construction

Bushing construction

A method and apparatus for forming glass fibers is disclosed. The method of the present invention involves passing a narrow, high velocity air stream horizontally below the bushing to thereby induce and entrain additional air flow from the environment surrounding the bushing into this air stream to flow generally horizontally below the bushing. Suitable apparatus, such as an air amplifier, is employed to produce this desired result.

Environmental control of a glass fiber forming bushing

An apparatus for producing glass fibers is disclosed. The apparatus includes means associated with an applicator for moving the glass filaments from the surface of the applicator when waste filaments are being produced such that the glass filaments are brought into contact with the application surface for coating the filaments with a binder and/or size only when production quality strand is being produced. This substantially reduces binder and/or size consumption and prevents the operator of the forming position from coming into physical contact with the binder and/or size coated strand.

Apparatus for forming glass fibers

A method and apparatus for the chopping of glass strands is disclosed. The back-up or cot roller for the chopping blades includes an annular cutting surface or ring which is mounted on an expandable wheel, such as an inflatable wheel. By varying fluid pressure within the inflatable wheel, variations in the resiliency of the cutting surface are realized. This allows for a smoother operation of the chopping system and increases the life of the cutting surface. Further, the expandable wheel around which the cutting surface rides will adapt for variations in the thickness of the annular cutting surface and still give a consistent mesh with the cutting blades. Thus, it is now possible to employ cutting rings having inconsistent inner and outer diameters and to resurface the cutting surface by grinding that portion of the surface which has been partially gouged by the cutting blades to an even surface once again and thus to reuse the cutting ring. This reduces replacement costs for the annular cutting surface rings or cots by further increasing their life expectancy, thus improving the efficiency of the chopping system.

Method and apparatus for chopping glass strands

An improved apparatus for chopping glass strands is disclosed. The improvement comprises a feed roll for attenuating the strand prior to chopping with a surface having a series of deep grooves cut at desired angles with respect to the sidewalls of the roll. These special grooves reduce binder collection on the surface of the feed roll thereby reducing the tendency of glass strand to wrap around the feed roll during attenuation.

Apparatus for chopping coated glass fibers

A method and apparatus is disclosed for drying and conveying chopped glass strands. The system includes apparatus for controlling the temperature of the conveying means to thereby control the drying of the wet chopped glass strand and to avoid overheating of the glass strand.

Temperature controlled heater tray

An improved method and apparatus for forming chopped glass fiber strands is disclosed. The improvement comprises a vibratory conveyor under a drying apparatus for said glass fiber strands which is insulated such that cold spots do not develop on the tray adjacent the glass fiber strands. Preferably, the tray is formed of two sections, one inside the other, having an airspace therebetween along their lengths and having a spacer between the lips of the sections.

Insulated heater tray for making glass fibers and method for using same

An apparatus for removing cutting blades from the periphery of an annular cutting head is disclosed which is comprised of a working table on which the cutting head is mounted and a pair of free wheeling cam members positioned to contact the blades at their portions which extend beyond the width of the cutting head. The curved portion of the cam members contact the edges of the blades while the cutting head is rotated and the blades are simultaneously moved away from the cam members. The curved surface of the cam members force the blades from their mounting in the cutter head as the head is rotated.

Growing community of inventors

Butler, PA, United States of America

William L Schaefer