Patent ID: 7980162

Claim:
A rotary punch comprising: a primary die plate configured for movement along a generally circular pathway; a vertically-fixed secondary die plate configured to laterally track the primary die plate, wherein a substantially constant alignment is maintained between the primary and secondary die plates as the primary die plate moves towards and away from the secondary die plate for carrying out a machining operation on a moving web of material, said web of material passing between the primary and secondary die plates; wherein when the primary and secondary die plates are driven to move laterally at a speed that matches the speed of the moving web of material, there is substantially no relative lateral movement between the primary die plate, the secondary die plate, and the moving web of material during at least a portion of the time when the primary die plate is moved towards the secondary die plate for carrying out the machining operation on the moving web of material; a support frame having at least one linear bearing and rail assembly, wherein the secondary die plate is operably connected to the at least one linear bearing and rail assembly for movement in a linear lateral direction only; and a crankshaft rotatably connected to the support frame, said crankshaft having a fixed longitudinal axis and at least one offset journal, wherein the primary die plate is operably connected to the at least one offset journal for movement along the generally circular pathway when the crankshaft ii rotated about the fixed axis, and wherein the primary die plate is slidably connected to the secondary die plate by way of at least one alignment rod, for the secondary die plate to laterally track the primary die plate.