Method and apparatus for adjusting and maintaining a position of a cutting surface of a perforating apparatus

A method for perforating a substrate, the method comprising:

• providing a frame such that a housing is rotatably supported by the frame, the housing adapted to rotate about a first axis;
• and a support member comprising a first end portion and an opposing second end portion, the first end portion rotatably supported by the housing, the support member adapted to rotate about a second axis, the second axis being offset from the first axis, the support member comprising a first cutting surface;
• providing an actuator connected with the housing;
• providing a roll positioned adjacent the support member, the roll adapted to rotate about a third axis, the roll comprising a second cutting surface adapted to intermittently contact the first cutting surface as the roll rotates about the third axis;
• providing a holding device selectively operable in a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration permitting rotation of the housing about the first axis and the second configuration preventing rotation of the housing about the first axis;
• placing the holding device in the first configuration and selectively moving the first cutting surface toward or away from the roll by rotating the housing about the first axis;
• placing the holding device in the second configuration;
• rotating the roll and second cutting surface about the third axis;
• advancing a substrate between the first cutting surface and the rotating roll with the holding device in the second configuration;
• perforating the substrate to form a line of weakness, wherein the line of weakness extends across the substrate in a cross direction, and wherein the line of weakness is non-linear;
• providing a second housing rotatably supported by the frame, the second housing adapted to rotate about a fourth axis offset from the second axis;
• the second housing rotatably supporting the second end portion of the support member;
• providing a second actuator connected with the second housing;
• providing a second holding device connected with the frame, the second holding device selectively operable in a first configuration and a second configuration, the first configuration permitting rotation of the second housing about the fourth axis and the second configuration preventing rotation of the second housing about the fourth axis;
• placing the second holding device in the first configuration and selectively moving the first cutting surface toward or away from the roll by rotating the second housing about the fourth axis with the second actuator;
• and
• placing the second holding device in the second configuration.