Abstract: A machine for cutting a travelling tow of synthetic plastic filaments to produce staple fibers has a blade carrier from which cutting blades project and have their free ends secured to a concentric surrounding ring. The facing annular surfaces of ring and carrier are shaped to resemble portions of a hollow and of a solid sphere, respectively, and together define an annular cutting channel. A tow pressing ring is arranged skew to the axis of this channel, so that it enters into the channel at one side but is spaced from and defines with the inlet to the channel a gap at the opposite side. One or the other of the carrier and ring is positively rotated. When tow is fed through the gap into the channel it forms on the carrier one or more convolutions which are progressively pressed deeper into the channel by the pressing ring until they reach and are cut by the cutting blades.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for cutting continuous material wherein the material is wrapped around a drum and positively forwarded directly against cutter blades.