Patent ID: 6267034
Filing Date: 2001-07-31
Classification: B65H,Y10T

Abstract:
A rotary cutter assembly for transversely cutting a moving web, said rotary cutter assembly comprising:a blade carrier roll;an elongated blade mounted on said blade carrier roll, said blade extending along an axis of rotation of said blade carrier roll;an anvil roll mounted generally parallel to said blade carrier roll and defining therewith a nip through which the web is advanced;means for moving said anvil roll in relation to said blade carrier roll between an operative position and an idle position, whereby in said operative position, said anvil roll is proximate to said blade carrier roll to effect a cut in said web by the action of said elongated blade pressing the web against said anvil roll, and whereby in said idle position, said anvil roll is spaced apart relative to said blade carrier roll, thereby creating a space therebetween;an actuator coupled to said anvil roll for selectively moving said anvil roll between said operative and idle positions;a drive including a drive train for transmitting a motive power to rotate said rolls at a tangential speed, whereby the tangential speed is correlated to a translational speed of the web through said rotary cutter assembly, said drive maintaining a driving relationship with said anvil roll and with said blade carrier roll during movement of said anvil roll between said operative and idle positions;said drive further including first and second gears mounted concentrically to said blade carrier roll and to said anvil roll respectively, said first and second gears being meshed for transmitting movement from one of said rolls to the other of said rolls; anda timing adjustment mechanism being part of the drive and having a drive gear fixedly mounted to a rotatable and selectively axially moveable rotary shaft, said drive gear being meshed with one of said first and second gears such that axial movement of said drive gear causes angular displacement of said first and second gears, a third gear nonrotatably mounted to the rotary shaft for rotation therewith, the third gear being in engagement with said drive train for driving the third gear and the drive gear on the rotary shaft, the third gear maintaining engagement with the drive train even during axial movement of the rotary shaft, whereby said axial movement of said rotary shaft causes said axial movement of said drive gear and said angular displacement of said first and second gears to thereby effect a timing adjustment of the blade carrier roll and the anvil roll.