Patent ID: 6928911

Claim:
A method for cutting an associated ply stock (S) along a cut line using a cutting apparatus comprising a knife assembly, means for moving said knife assembly normally toward and away from said ply stock (S), and means for traversing said knife assembly between a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge of said ply stock, said knife assembly including a blade having a cutting portion including a leading point, a leading edge and a trailing edge, said trailing edge having an associated length (L), said leading edge having a curved profile with a concave portion followed by a convex portion, and said trailing edge having a straight profile, said ply stock (S) having spaced first and second lateral edges, the method comprising the steps of: a. moving said knife assembly toward said ply stock (S) to insert the leading point of said knife blade into said ply stock (S) at an insertion point spaced a distance (D) from said first lateral edge wherein distance (D) is less than or equal to length (L) in order to back-cut said ply stock (S) from said insertion point to said first lateral edge with said trailing edge of said blade; and, b. traversing said knife assembly across said ply stock (S) toward said second lateral edge in order to cut said ply stock (S) from said insertion point to said second lateral edge with said leading edge of said blade and provide severance of said ply stock (S) from said first lateral edge to said second lateral edge, wherein said leading point of said knife blade is inserted into said ply stock a single time to produce said transverse cut.