Patent ID: 6561064
Filing Date: 2003-05-13
Classification: B26D,B65H,Y10S,Y10T

Abstract:
An apparatus for penetrating a sheet material web, said apparatus comprising:a reel spool rotatable about a first axis of rotation and adapted to support a roll of the sheet material web; a support structure positioned adjacent to said reel spool; a slitting, device moveably mounted to said support structure, wherein said slitting device is moveable relative to said reel spool toward and away therefrom, said slitting device comprising a guard housing having a mouth and a slitting member rotatably mounted within said guard housing about a second axis of rotation, wherein said slitting member comprises a peripheral edge, wherein at least a portion of said peripheral edge extends from said guard housing through said mouth of said guard housing, wherein said at least said portion of said peripheral edge has an exposed length and is adapted to penetrate said roll of sheet material web as is it is wound onto said reel spool, wherein said guard housing is pivotable about a pivot axis, wherein the length of said at least said peripheral edge portion that is exposed remains constant as said guard housing and said mouth are pivoted about said pivot axis, and wherein said pivot axis and said second axis of rotation are coaxial; an actuator being rotatably connected to said guard housing about a first axis at one end and rotatably connected to said support structure about a second axis at the other end wherein said first and second axis being parallel to said pivot axis and offset from said pivot axis such that said actuator is operable to pivot said guard housing about said pivot axis; and a power source operably connected to said slitting member and adapted to rotate said slitting member about said second axis of rotation.