Rotary cutting apparatus

Apparatus for cutting a moving plastic film web at predetermined locations comprising:

• first conveyor means for supporting and moving the plastic film web through a first cutting station, said conveyor means comprising a plurality of horizontal belts driven at the same speed as the film web, said belts being parallel to and spaced from each other transversely of the film web;
• a plurality of dies having cutting surfaces;
• means supporting said dies at said first cutting station for rotating said cutting surfaces along parallel circular arcs;
• a corresponding plurality of roller means positioned at said first cutting station opposite said dies for cyclicly contacting and rolling across the corresponding cutting surfaces of said dies, said dies and said roller means being spaced transversely of the film web at the first cutting station and between adjacent belts to permit cooperation of said cutting surfaces of said dies with the cooperating said roller means for concurrently making a plurality of spaced cuts across the plastic film web;
• a second cutting station spaced from said first cutting station along the path of movement of the film web, second conveyor means for supporting and moving the film web from said first conveyor means through said second cutting station, said second conveyor means comprising a second plurality of horizontal belts driven at the same speed as the film web, said second plurality of belts being parallel to and spaced from each other transversely of the film web, said plurality of belts in said first conveyor means being staggered with respect to said plurality of belts in said second conveyor means, said second cutting station having a second plurality of dies having cutting surfaces, said second plurality of dies at said second cutting station being mounted on means supporting said dies for rotating said cutting surfaces thereof along parallel circular arcs;
• and
• a corresponding second plurality of roller means positioned at said second cutting station opposite said second plurality of dies for cyclicly contacting and rolling across the corresponding cutting surfaces of said dies at said second cutting station, said dies and said roller means at said second cutting station being spaced transversely of the film web and between adjacent belts to permit cooperation of said cutting surfaces of said second plurality of dies with the cooperating said second plurality of said roller means for concurrently making a second plurality of spaced cuts across the plastic film web an in line with the first plurality of spaced cuts made at the first cutting station.