Slitter Knife system

A slitter knife system operational within a slitter machine, comprising:

• a main housing having a main interior;
• a chuck housing positioned within said main housing, wherein said chuck housing has a chuck interior and a center bore extending from said chuck interior;
• a plunger member having a shaft portion and a broad portion, wherein said shaft portion slidably extends through said center bore and said broad portion is slidably positioned within said chuck interior;
• a spring positioned within said chuck housing and between a wall of said chuck housing and said plunger member thereby forcing said plunger member into an outward position;
• a first passage extending into said chuck housing to said chuck interior for providing air pressure to said chuck interior thereby forcing said plunger member into an inward position;
• an arbor member rotatably positioned about an extended portion of said chuck housing for receiving an upper knife;
• a clamp member having a slot positionable upon said arbor member adjacent said upper knife;
• and
• an engaging structure attached to a distal portion of said shaft portion of said plunger member for selectively engaging said clamp member.

A method of operating a slitter knife unit upon a slitter machine including a chuck housing positioned within a main housing, wherein said chuck housing has a chuck interior and a center bore extending from said chuck interior, a plunger member having a shaft portion and a broad portion, wherein said shaft portion slidably extends through said center bore and said broad portion is slidably positioned within said chuck interior, a spring positioned within said chuck housing and between a wall of said chuck housing and said plunger member thereby forcing said plunger member into an outward position, a first passage extending into said chuck housing to said chuck interior for providing air pressure to said chuck interior thereby forcing said plunger member into an inward position, an arbor member rotatably positioned about an extended portion of said chuck housing for receiving an upper knife, a clamp member having a slot positionable upon said arbor member adjacent said upper knife, and an outer bearing attached to a distal portion of said shaft portion of said plunger member in selective engagement with said clamp member for retaining said clamp member adjacent said upper knife when said plunger member is within said inward position, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) positioning an upper knife upon said arbor member;
• (b) positioning said clamp member upon said arbor member adjacent to said upper knife;
• and
• (c) applying air pressure to said first passage thereby forcing said plunger member inwardly until said outer bearing tightly engages said clamp member against said upper knife.