Abstract: An improved oscillator assembly that can be used on a chopper for chopping strands of fiber and other long or continuous it items into segments. The improved oscillating assembly moves the items back and forth across the surface of a working layer of the chopper while also rotating a guide roll for the item(s). The improved oscillating assembly uses separate motors to rotate the guide roll and to provide the oscillation and has reduced maintenance than prior art devices. The motor for moving the guide roll is a servo motor and is controlled with a programmable controller. The invention reduces maintenance and increases the uniformity of wear on the chopping blades or cutting roll blade. The controller of the servo motor is programmed to provide dwell time at the reversing points.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for making a continuous fiber product by gathering a plurality of fibers into a strand in contact with a pad wheel that is driven with a low voltage, variable speed motor or drive, and controlling the RPM of the motor in response to a breakout detector. Other embodiments further include accelerating the RPM of the motor and pad wheel at a desired ramp-up rate following the resumption of desired fiberization.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for chopping long unwound items like fiber, fiber strands, yarn, etc. The chopper has a backup roll, a blade roll and a biasing system for forcing the backup roll and the blade roll together at a desired force during set up and operation. The biasing system contains a mechanism such as a slip clutch or a limited torque stepping motor for maintaining a substantially constant biasing force at set up and during operation while allowing the rolls to separate slightly to pass a temporary thicker feed without recoil that currently shortens blade and backup roll working layer life.

Abstract: An improved oscillator assembly that can be used on a chopper for chopping strands of fiber and other long or continuous it items into segments. The improved oscillating assembly moves the items back and forth across the surface of a working layer of the chopper while also rotating a guide roll for the item(s). The improved oscillating assembly uses separate motors to rotate the guide roll and to provide the oscillation and has reduced maintenance than prior art devices. The motor for moving the guide roll is a servo motor and is controlled with a programmable controller. Th3 invention reduces maintenance and increases the uniformity of wear on the chopping blades or cutting roll blade. The controller of the servo motor is programmed to provide dwell time at the reversing points.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for chopping long unwound items like fiber, fiber strands, yarn, etc. The chopper has a backup roll, a blade roll and a biasing system for forcing the backup roll and the blade roll together at a desired force during set up and operation. The biasing system contains one or more sensors for sensing a biasing force at set up and during operation.