Patent ID: 8047110

Claim:
A system for slitting a web of material comprising: a) a score roll; and b) a carriage assembly, the carriage assembly including: i) an elongate housing including a first wall surface defining a longitudinal axis, and a second wall surface disposed in an orientation opposite the first wall surface about an axis of symmetry perpendicular to a direction of travel of the web, the second wall surface facing away from the first wall surface with the first and second wall surfaces facing in substantially opposite directions and with the second wall surface being displaced from the first wall surface along the direction of travel of the web; ii) at least one rail mounted on the first wall surface and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis; iii) a first plurality of carriers disposed on the at least one rail mounted on the first wall surface, each carrier in the first plurality of carriers having a blade holder disposed thereon having a blade, the blades disposed on the first plurality of carriers being adapted and configured to engage the score roll aligned with the axis of symmetry; iv) at least one rail mounted on the second wall surface and extending parallel to the longitudinal axis; and v) a second plurality of carriers disposed on the at least one rail mounted on the second wall surface, each carrier in the second plurality of carriers having a blade holder disposed thereon having a blade, the blades disposed on the second plurality of carriers being adapted to engage with the score roll, wherein the blades mounted on the rail on the first wall surface are angled toward and can move freely past the blades mounted on the rail on the second wall surface; vi) a linear actuator having an elongate power screw including first and second ends rotatably disposed in bearings, the power screw being parallel to the axis of symmetry, the linear actuator further having a positioner including a threaded collar disposed on the power screw, the linear actuator further having a drive for rotating the power screw to cause linear movement of the positioner along the length of the power screw, the positioner being adapted and configured to selectively position each of a first carrier of the first plurality of carriers and a second carrier from the second plurality of carriers in a desired location along the first and second plurality of rails.