Patent ID: 6692424
Filing Date: 2004-02-17
Classification: B26D,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
A cutting apparatus for forming high quality, precision cuts of sheet material being transported at high speeds, the cutting apparatus comprising:a rotary knife and an anvil axially spaced from each other for cooperating to cut the sheet material as the material is transported; a rotary drive system for the knife for rotating the knife at predetermined high rotary speeds; a knife spindle assembly for the knife including a rotary spindle shaft extending axially and to which the knife is mounted and which is driven for rotation by the drive system to rotate the knife therewith; an adjustment mount for the spindle assembly that allows for precision axial shifting of the knife to one of a plurality of predetermined axially spaced positions relative to the anvil before operation of the drive system for providing a cutting action on the sheet material to be cut at the different axially spaced positions; and a temperature control system for the knife spindle assembly that keeps temperature of the shaft substantially constant during cutting operations for substantially maintaining the knife at the selected one of the predetermined spaced positions relative to the anvil during high speed operation of the knife so that quality of the cuts generated thereby are kept consistent for a maximized number of cuts.