Apparatus for guiding and cutting web products and related methods

A cutting apparatus for cutting a web of paper or film traveling in a machine direction, comprising:

• a support frame;
• a web driving apparatus for moving the web in the machine direction;
• at least one slitting blade supported in the support frame for slitting the web in the machine direction to thereby define at least first and second lateral portions of the web;
• a cutting apparatus operatively coupled to said web driving apparatus for cutting the web in a direction transverse to the machine direction and including a main body and a first blade coupled thereto, said main body substantially made of a material having a lower density relative to said main body;
• and
• a cutting apparatus driving apparatus coupled to said main body for controlling reciprocating motion of said first blade toward and away from the web.

An automatic envelope stuffing machine, comprising:

• a first end associated with feeding of a roll of paper in a machine direction;
• a second end associated with feeding of envelopes toward the discrete paper objects;
• and
• a cutting apparatus for transversely cutting the roll of paper including:
• (a) a main body;
• (b) a first blade coupled to a distal end of said main body and having an edge for transversely cutting the web;
• and
• (c) a blade driving apparatus coupled to said main body for controlling reciprocating motion of said first blade toward and away from the web;
• wherein said main body is substantially made of a material having a lower density relative to said first blade.

A cutting apparatus for transversely cutting a web of paper or film traveling in a machine direction, comprising:

• a cutting apparatus including a main body and a first blade coupled to a distal end of said main body and having an edge for transversely cutting the web, said main body being substantially made of a material having a lower density relative to said first blade;
• a blade driving apparatus coupled to said main body for controlling reciprocating motion of said first blade toward and away from the web;
• and
• a guiding apparatus for guiding the web toward the cutting apparatus, said guiding apparatus including a web driving apparatus and first and second rollers disposed along an axis generally orthogonal to the machine direction and configured for respectively engaging first and second lateral edges of the web, said driving apparatus being configured to permit said first and second rollers to rotate at respective first and second surface speeds relative to one another.

A method of guiding a web of paper or film traveling in a machine direction, the web having opposed first and second lateral edges, the method comprising:

• engaging the first and second lateral edges respectively with first and second rollers disposed along an axis generally orthogonal to the machine direction;
• rotating the first and second rollers to thereby move the web in the machine direction;
• and
• allowing the first roller to rotate at a first surface speed different from a second surface speed associated with the second roller.

An apparatus for guiding a web of paper or film traveling in a machine direction, comprising:

• first and second rollers disposed along an axis generally orthogonal to the machine direction and configured for respectively engaging first and second opposed lateral edges of the web;
• and
• a driving apparatus coupled to said first and second rollers for rotating said first and second rollers, rotation of said first and second rollers being configured to move the web in the machine direction;
• wherein said driving apparatus is configured to permit said first and second rollers to rotate at respective first and second surface speeds different from one another.

An apparatus for guiding a web of paper or film traveling in a machine direction, comprising:

• first and second rollers disposed along an axis generally orthogonal to the machine direction and configured for respectively engaging first and second opposed lateral edges of the web;
• and
• a differential disposed between said first and second rollers and coupled thereto for rotating said first and second rollers, rotation of said first and second rollers being configured to move the web in the machine direction;
• and
• third and fourth rollers respectively cooperating with said first and second rollers to nip the lateral edges of the web;
• wherein said differential is configured to permit the web to cause said first and second rollers to rotate at respective first and second surface speeds different from one another.

A method of cutting a web of paper or film traveling in a machine direction, the method comprising:

• moving the web in the machine direction;
• moving a leading portion of the web past a cutting apparatus;
• stopping travel of the web in the machine direction;
• slitting the leading portion of the web generally along the machine direction prior to moving the leading portion past the cutting apparatus, the slitting defining at least first and second lateral portions of the web;
• and
• cutting the first lateral portion of the web while holding the second lateral portion stationary and uncut relative to the first lateral portion.