Variable length die cutter and method of cutting composite label

A method of cutting a composite label in two dimensions with or without cutting the backing of the composite label on which is disposed a plurality of labels, that comprises:

• transporting the composite accurately translationally in a direction;
• ascertaining the exact location of individual labels on the composite and providing signals to permit the transporting to be achieved accurately translationally in said direction;
• providing a cutter and actuator assembly comprising a two-dimensional cutter of fixed dimensions capable of cutting in two axes, the cutter and actuator assembly being interconnected to provide signals to enable the transporting accurately translationally;
• effecting accurate cuts of labels in said direction while moving the composite in the said direction, said accurate cuts being variable in length in said direction;
• and
• controlling said length of the variable cut in the said direction.

A method of providing a label from a composite that includes the label as one of a plurality of labels and a backing, that comprise:

• transporting the composite accurately and translationally in a direction;
• ascertaining the exact location of individual labels on the composite in said direction and providing signals to permit the transporting to be achieved accurately translationally in the said direction;
• providing a fixed-dimension, two-dimensional cutter that is operable to cut the label from the backing of the composite while leaving the backing intact;
• and
• interrupting or suspending cutting of the label by the two-dimensional cutter from the composite orthogonal to said direction to provide a controllably-variable length of label in said direction.

A method of providing a label from a composite that includes the label, as one of a plurality of labels, on a backing, that comprises:

• transporting the composite translationally and accurately in a direction;
• ascertaining the exact location in said direction of a particular label on the composite to permit the transporting to be achieved accurately and ascertainably translationally in said direction;
• providing a fixed-dimension two-dimensional cutter that is operable to cut the label in two dimensions from the composite while leaving the backing substantially intact;
• controllably prolonging cutting from the composite of the label parallel to said direction by the two-dimensional cutter while simultaneously suspending cuttng across the label orthogonal to said direction to permit variation in the length of the label in the parallel direction, thereby to permit control of the length of the label in the parallel direction.

A die cutter mechanism for cutting labels from a backing, that comprises:

• a transporter mechanism to receive a composite that includes a plurality of labels on a backing and adapted to transport the composite in a longitudinal direction;
• a detector operable to ascertain the exact location of individual labels on the composite in said longitudinal direction and operable, as well, to provide signals to permit the transport to be achieved with measured precision in said longitudinal direction;
• a rotary cutter having a fixed-dimension, two-dimensional rotary cutter that is positioned and is operable to cut a label from the composite in a rotational mode as the composite is being transported in said longitudinal direction without cutting the backing;
• and
• a drive mechanism and controller to drive the cutter roller in rotary motion to effect cutting of the leading edge of the label in a transverse direction orthogonal to said longitudinal direction and then at two sides of the label parallel to said longitudinal direction as the composite moves along, the drive mechanism and controller being adapted either to increase or decrease rotary motion of the cutter roller as the composite moves along and, while cutting of said sides continues, to cut the sides to lengths that are not limited by length dimensions of the knife edges of the cutter roller and being adapted, as well, to continue rotation of the cutter roller which then effects cutting of the trailing edge of the label, whereby the lengths of the sides of the label are precisely controllable in length despite the fixed dimensions of the cutter roller.