High-speed apparatus for forming sheets from a web

An apparatus for processing a web having opposed edges spaced apart by a preselected width and defining a serial succession of sheet portions with intermediate portions therebetween, to provide a continuous succession of cut sheets downstream of said web, comprising:

• a first work station downstream of said web;
• web feeding means for feeding a first sheet portion downstream of said first work station to present to said first work station an intermediate portion interposed between said first sheet portion and an adjacent following sheet portion;
• partial severing means at said first work station for severing said intermediate portion along a plurality of spaced-apart generally colinear line segments extending between the opposed edges of said web, said line segments including outer line segments extending toward each other from the opposed edges of said web and at least one medial line segment therebetween having end portions spaced from the outer line segments for forming at least a pair of spaced-apart tabs for interconnecting said first and following sheet portions, one tab intermediate each end of the at least one medial line segment and an outer line segment, each tab extending along the severing line;
• a second station downstream of said first work station;
• web transport means bridging the outer line segments for feeding said first sheet portion downstream of said second work station so as to present said tabs thereto;
• and
• breaking means at said second station for breaking said tabs along said severing line while engaging said first sheet with said web transport means, to thereby free said first sheet for independent movement with respect to said web, the breaking means including first and second opposed rollers for receiving said web therebetween, one said roller having at least one projecting portion for each tab, the projecting portions receivable in at least one mating recess of said other roller, said first and second rollers aligned so that said projections push said tabs into said recess to thereby break said tabs.