Patent ID: 7434500

Claim:
A method for cutting a ribbon of rubber-coated fabric, comprising: dragging a free end of the ribbon for a portion of predetermined length past a working position of a punching device; forming a notch of predetermined length between two adjacent reinforcing cords of the ribbon using the punching device; moving a counter-blade of the punching device away from the working position; inserting at least one cutting blade through the notch so that the at least one cutting blade passes over a lying plane of the ribbon; performing a first cut of the ribbon by shifting the at least one cutting blade along a cutting direction for a first portion extending between the notch and a first lateral edge of the ribbon; and performing a second cut of the ribbon by shifting the at least one cutting blade along the cutting direction for a second portion extending between the notch and an opposite lateral edge of the ribbon; wherein the ribbon includes a plurality of the reinforcing cords, wherein the plurality of reinforcing cords are substantially parallel to one another, and wherein the notch extends along the cutting direction substantially parallel to the plurality of reinforcing cords.