Device for cutting a strip of paper or similar material along preestablished transverse lines of weakness

Apparatus for cutting a strip of paper or similar material along preestablished transverse lines of weakness comprising:

• an approximately planar blade having a leading edge for engaging the strip;
• drive means for reciprocally displacing the blade along its plane between two positions in which the leading edge of the blade is either retracted from the strip or moved forward to sever the strip;
• a strip feeder for feeding the strip toward the blade;
• positioning means for moving the strip while the blade is in the retracted position so the strip extends across the plane swept by the leading edge of the blade, with a line of weakness on the strip extending approximately in the plane of the blade, the positioning means also being adapted to hold a portion of the strip in tension in the longitudinal direction while the leading edge of the blade is moved to its forward position for severing the strip transversely along or in proximity to the line of weakness;
• the positioning means including a pair of stepper motors arranged to act on areas of the strip positioned on opposite sides of the planar blade, a first one of the stepper motors being located between the strip feeder and the plane of the blade for pulling the strip from the feeder and passing it across the plane until the strip is taken up by the second stepper motor which is arranged for moving the strip away from said plane, the first stepper motor having means for thereafter urging the strip in an opposite direction against the action of the second motor to apply said tension to said portion of the strip and to also hold said portion of the strip stationary;
• the leading edge of the blade having a blunt profile and a longitudinally concave shape for engaging the tensioned and stationary portion of the strip progressively from the sides toward the middle as the blade is moved toward its forward position for severing the strip;
• the second motor being arranged for advancing the cutoff portion of the strip for further processing after a strip has been severed.