Abstract: An assembly for chopping glass fibers including a cutter wheel having a plurality of radially extending blades and a cot wheel adjacent the cutter wheel. The cot wheel including an inner hub, an elastomeric ring mounted onto the inner hub for rotation therewith; and a retaining device fixably attached to the hub and engaging the elastomeric ring to resist separation of the elastomeric ring from the hub during rotation of the cot wheel.

Abstract: An assembly for chopping glass fibers including a cutter wheel having a plurality of radially extending blades and a cot wheel adjacent the cutter wheel. The cot wheel including an inner hub, an elastomeric ring mounted onto the inner hub for rotation therewith; and a retaining device fixably attached to the hub and engaging the elastomeric ring to resist separation of the elastomeric ring from the hub during rotation of the cot wheel.

Abstract: A strand forming and chopping apparatus includes a bushing for forming a continuous strand, a size applicator for applying a size to the strand, a chopping device for chopping the strand into individual segments and a thread-up apparatus for directing the strand into the chopping device. The thread-up apparatus includes a cot incorporating a cot shoe and a strand guide displaceable between a rest position and a thread-up position where the strand guide holds the strand in a feed position from which the strand is engaged by the cot shoe and delivered to the chopping device.

Abstract: The formation and bulk packaging of continuous wet roving is provided. Glass fibers are attenuated from a bushing, gathered into a roving, and collected as a loose, wet mass in a container assembly. A rotating deflector assembly is used to reduce the velocity of the wet roving in-line and to direct the wet continuous roving into the container. The deflector is formed of a plurality of fingers extending radially from a central hub. The curved end of the fingers permits both for the capture and easy release of the roving from the deflector. A stripper assembly may be used to remove the wet continuous roving from the fingers. After being released from the fingers, the wet roving is permitted to fall into the container assembly under the force of gravity. The wet bulk continuous roving can be utilized in various processes that form long fiber thermoplastics and reinforced composite articles.

Abstract: A strand forming and chopping apparatus includes a bushing for forming a continuous strand, a size applicator for applying a size to the strand, a chopping device for chopping the strand into individual segments and a thread-up apparatus for directing the strand into the chopping device. The thread-up apparatus includes a cot incorporating a cot shoe and a strand guide displaceable between a rest position and a thread-up position where the strand guide holds the strand in a feed position from which the strand is engaged by the cot shoe and delivered to the chopping device.

Abstract: A method of collecting strand includes rotating a collet to wind the strand into a package, traversing the strand from end to end of the package so that the strand is wound in a helical pattern on the package, contacting the package with a roller bail at edge portions at each end of the package, pressing the package with the roller bails, thereby causing the strand to flatten as it is wound in the edge portions to create a strand having periodically occurring flat spots, and controlling the flattening of the strand by controlling the pressure of the roller bails on the package. The flattening of the strand can also be controlled by controlling speed of the traverse of the strand.