Apparatus for the continued manufacture of staple fibers from

Abstract

In the process, the strands, which are spun as a fused mass, are initially drawn, then preferably stretched, crimped or textured, and converted into helical windings. The helical windings are laid down on an endless conveyor formed by two conveyor belts laterally spaced from each other. The laid down helical winding turns are then cut between the two endless conveyors to produce two substantially identical fiber lengths from each helical winding turn. The melt spinning of the strands may be effected at such a high speed that the drawing of the filaments or fibers can be omitted. The helical winding turns, prior to cutting thereof, may be subjected to at least one after-treatment. The apparatus includes a rotary distributor into which the crimped strands are supplied substantially axially for conversion into helical winding turns, and includes endless belts tangentially engaging the helical winding turns to move the same downwardly onto the spaced pair of endless conveyor belts. The apparatus also includes clamping devices for clamping the lateral edges of the laid down helical winding turns prior to and during cutting thereof. The cutting devices are interchangeable, and may include two cutters arranged in series and alternately operative, cutter discs, or a revolving mount having several cutters projecting radially therefrom so that successive cutters may be brought into an operative position in succession.