Abstract: Two horizontally spaced parallel shafts (27,28) are rotatably mounted on a base plate (24) having an aperture (27a) therethrough. Each shaft has a plurality of rows of radially extending fingers (36). A casing (38,40) around the fingered portions of the shafts has an inlet throat (44) for receiving shopped strands (16). The shafts are operatively connected by a pair of gears (32,34), and a motor (30) connected to one of the shafts drives the shafts to move the fingers upwardly between the shafts for breaking up clumps of strands and carrying strands of a desired chopped length around the outer sides of the shafts for exit through the aperture. Excessively long strands become wrapped around one or the other of the shafts.

Abstract: Method and apparatus are provided for the initiation of attenuation and collection of a strand by an operator remote from the winder wherein an interim advancement means, a movable member adapted to move the strand from a first zone spaced from a collet to a second zone adjacent the interim advancement means, means for directing the strand into the interim advancement means and an actuator means for moving said strand advancing along the collet into contact with the strand engagement section of the collet cooperate to initiate collection of the strand upon the collet.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming glass filaments are provided by (a) a plurality of spaced apart forming sections wherein each section is comprised of (i) a feeder adapted to supply a plurality of streams of glass to be attenuated into continuous filaments, a zone being defined by the paths of the free-falling streams, (ii) applicator means laterally spaced from said zone adapted to apply a coating to the advancing filaments, (iii) first guide means laterally spaced from said zone adapted to gather the filaments into a strand, the guide means and applicator being positioned such that the coating is applied to the filaments at a region external to said zone and intermediate the feeder and the first guide means along the path of advancement of the filaments, (iv) secondary attenuation means laterally spaced from the zone adapted to advance the filaments as waste, (b) a single primary attenuation means adapted to simultaneously attenuate the streams from each section into filaments; and (c) second guide means po

Abstract: Method and apparatus for forming discrete segments of fibrous glass comprises supplying a plurality of streams of molten glass; attenuating the streams into filaments and cutting the continuous filaments into discrete segments by a forming means; positioning a delivery means having a first collection zone and a second collection zone spaced from the first zone to receive said discrete segments; controlling said forming means to operate at a first speed or a second speed slower than the first speed; directing the discrete segments to said first zone when said forming means is operated at said first speed and to said second zone when said forming means is operated at said second speed.

Abstract: Apparatus for and method of producing glass strand including withdrawing spaced apart continuous glass filaments from streams of molten glass; advancing the filaments along converging paths to a gathering member, the advancing filaments moving air with them; applying a coating substance to the filaments; gathering the filaments into a strand; and removing any excess coating substance from the strand by diverting at least some of the moving air to flow generally transversely across the path of the advancing strand.