Method of cutting a laminated web and reducing delamination

Abstract

A method for cutting a laminated web comprises the steps of engaging a first side of the laminated web with a crack initiator having a high rake angle, the crack initiator extending from a first cutter base having a low rake angle, the laminated web including at least a support web, and an upper layer that may, at least for imaging elements, be considered a protective layer, the upper layer being thinner than the support web, the upper layer being located at the first side of the laminated web structure; simultaneously engaging a second side of the laminated web with a second cutter; generating a first crack in the first side of the laminated web with the crack initiator completely through the upper layer; engaging the web with the cutter base of the first cutter; and further propagating the first crack using the cutter base while disengaging the crack initiator of the first cutter.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.