For constant pressure in line-web crush-scoring

A method for crush-scoring paper comprising the steps of:

• (a) passing one side of a paper web to be crush-scored over a segment of the outer side surface of a cylindrical anvil having an axis, said cylindrical anvil rotating in the direction of paper travel;
• (b) contacting the opposed side of the paper web to be crush-scored with a plurality of circular crush scoring knife blades, each positioned on an axis parallel to the axis of the cylindrical anvil, each of said circular knife blades having a rounded crush-scoring edge rotating in the direction of paper travel;
• (c) supporting each knife blade in relation to the anvil to enable movement of the knife blade by an unconnected plunger to or from the point of contact with the paper in a substantially frictionless manner in a direction in line with the axis of the cylindrical anvil and the axis of each circular knife blade;
• and
• (d) independently applying to each crush scoring knife blade, pneumatic pressure at a level sufficient to crush-score the paper to a uniform predetermined depth, the pneumatic pressure being transmitted to each crush scoring knife blade by a pressurized diaphragm acting on the plunger urged to a mounting bracket supporting each circular knife blade in free rotational movement, the force applied to each circular knife blade being unbiased and unidirectional in the direction of the axis of the cylindrical anvil.