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.

Abstract: An automatic microtome is disclosed which comprises a base, a knife-holder mounted on the base for supporting a microtome knife, a specimen holder mounted for longitudinal movement relative to the base towards and away from the knife-holder and also mounted for transverse movement relative to the knife holder for displacing a specimen held by the specimen holder relative to a knife mounted in the knife holder for cutting sections from such specimen. The knife holder is mounted directly on the base without provision for adjustment of the position of the knife holder on the base such as to vary the location of the knife edge in relation to said edge, and the specimen holder is designed to provide enhanced stability over a wide range of longitudinal positions the specimen holder.

Abstract: A method and apparatus by which selected pile across the face of a web of pile fabric such as carpet may be raised or lowered in accordance with a pattern as the fabric passes through shearing apparatus so that certain pile of the pile may be sheared more than other pile to provide a sculptured affect. Nozzles extend across the width of the fabric and apply jets of air from controllable valves to impinge on the pile in its path to compress or raise selected pile in accordance with a pattern controller which controls the valves. Locating the nozzles so that jets of air impinge on the pile upstream from the shearing apparatus in a direction downstream toward the shearing apparatus will raise the pile while locating the nozzles so that the jets of air impinge upon the pile prior to the shearing location in an upstream direction will compress the pile. The pile which is raised is cut further than pile which is not raised and cut even further than the pile that is compressed.

Abstract: A fur-skin strip material consisting of yarn-like fur-skin strips that are knitted, crochete or woven to form a fabric and the like. The fur-skin strip material is fine, smooth and soft and can be produced in an industrial scale at a lower cost.The yarn-like fur-skin strip is made by cutting a hairy-coated skin of a fur-bearing animal. The skin will be placed, the fur side down, on a supporting device that has numerous needles so that the leather side of the skin will be made substantially flat, enabling only the leather side of the skin to be applied with a laser beam or water jet and thereby cutting the skin uniformly into fine strips of furry material.

Abstract: A circular-knife roller having several side-by-side arranged circularly shaped knives provided in a fur-cutting machine. A porcupine is arranged below the circular-knife roller and the axis of rotation thereof is parallel to the axis of the circular-knife roller. The porcupine grips with its needles the fur to be cut and presses same against the knives. A rake with elongated prongs is arranged on the outlet side of the porcupine, the free ends of which prongs extend between the needles. The rake is pivotally supported about an axis which is parallel with respect to the porcupine axis. The rake is driven by a gearing which is arranged between the porcupine axis and the pivot axis for the rake so that the free ends of the prongs perform a substantially radially outwardly and inwardly directed movement relative to the porcupine to effect a release of the fur from the tips of the needles.

Abstract: Method and apparatus to score cut the hardbacking of carpet tiles to relieve the inherent stresses therein to alleviate the tendency of the carpet tiles to pucker when laid in operative position on the floor. The back of the carpet tiles are cut by a serrated die cutter to produce an undulating configuration in the backing of the carpet tile.