Cutting unit

A method for providing transversal cuts and/or perforations to a string of packaging containers connected by transversal seals, said method comprising:

• feeding said string of packaging containers through a cutting unit such that a transversal seal of the string of packaging containers is received between a knife assembly and an anvil assembly, and
• rotating the knife assembly and the anvil assembly such that a transversal seal of the string of packaging containers is received by a nip formed between a knife blade of the knife assembly and an anvil blade of the anvil assembly such that
• if the nip is formed between the knife blade and a first region of the anvil blade, a cut is produced, and
• if the nip is formed between the knife blade and a second region of the anvil blade, a perforation is produced,
• wherein the anvil blade includes an anvil surface that is a curved surface, and the curved surface interacts with the knife blade;
• wherein the second region of the anvil blade is provided with a plurality of depressions;
• wherein the depth of each depression increases in a circumferential direction away from the first region;
• and/or
• wherein the width of each depression increases in a circumferential direction away from the first region.

A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a program for controlling a cutting unit, the cutting unit for providing transversal cuts and/or perforations to a string of packaging containers connected by transversal seals, said cutting unit comprising a knife assembly and an anvil assembly rotatable against each other to form a nip for receiving a transversal seal of the string of packaging containers, wherein the anvil assembly comprises an anvil blade having a first region and a second region such that when the first region is aligned with a knife blade of the knife assembly at the nip a cut is produced, and when the second region is aligned with the knife blade at the nip a perforation is produced, the cutting unit including a controller which, when executing the program, causes the cutting unit to provide transversal cuts and/or perforations to a string of packaging containers connected by transversal seals, by way of:

• feeding said string of packaging containers through the cutting unit such that a transversal seal of the string of packaging containers is received between the knife assembly and the anvil assembly, and
• rotating the knife assembly and the anvil assembly such that a transversal seal of the string of packaging containers is received by a nip formed between a knife blade of the knife assembly and an anvil blade of the anvil assembly such that
• if the nip is formed between the knife blade and a first region of the anvil blade, a cut is produced, and
• if the nip is formed between the knife blade and a second region of the anvil blade, a perforation is produced,
• wherein the anvil assembly rotates relative to the knife assembly such that the anvil blade interacts with the knife blade during a full revolution of the anvil assembly;
• wherein the second region of the anvil blade is provided with a plurality of depressions;
• wherein the depth of each depression increases in a circumferential direction away from the first region;
• and/or ps wherein the width of each depression increases in a circumferential direction away from the first region.