Rotary cutting apparatus and method for cutting newspapers or the like

A method for cutting newspapers or the like from stacks of continuous printed sheet material comprising providing a cutting cylinder adapted for rotation in a manner such that the printed sheet material passes thereby, said cylinder having at least one cutting means extending generally along at least a portion of the length thereof on the outer surface thereof for periodic cooperation with corresponding support means adjacent thereto for cutting the sheet material when positioned therebetween, said at least one cutting means having at least one generally linear cutting blade supported on said cutting cylinder and defining at least one void along a cutting edge thereof and having at least one generally arcuate blade independently supported on said cutting cylinder and complementary to said void to form a continuous cutting edge with the cutting edge said at least one generally linear cutting blade, rotating said cutting cylinder in a manner to periodically cooperate with said backup means, passing said sheet material between said cutting cylinder and said backup means whereby said sheet material is cut into sections of distinct width whenever said cutting means cooperates with said backup means, each said cut is provided with a projecting portion corresponding in configuration and dimension with said at least one generally arcuate minor cutting blade and the sheet material on the other side of the cut is provided with a void portion corresponding in configuration and dimension with said projecting portion.

Rotary cutting apparatus for repeatedly cutting stacked sheets of paper web material having newspaper imprinting thereon to form a plurality of distinct and successive cuts between identical and distinct printed portions on said sheet materials, which comprises a cutting cylinder adapted for rotation in a manner such that the stacks of printed sheet material pass thereby, two paper cutters extending generally along at least a portion of the length of said cylinder and supported on the outer surface thereof for periodic cooperation with a backup support cylinder for cutting the sheet material when positioned therebetween, each of said paper cutters including at least one generally linear major cutting blade defining at least one void along a cutting edge thereof and being supported on said cutting cylinder and at least one minor cutting blade independently supported on said cutting cylinder and complementary to said at least one void, said minor cutting blade being generally arcuately shaped so as to provide a continuous cutting edge with the cutting edge of said linear major cutting blade to form a continuous cut in the sheet material along a straight line except for a arcuate portion which is cut by said at least one minor arcuate cutting blade, the circumference of said cutting cylinder as defined by a radius extending to the cutting edge of said paper cutters being approximately equal to twice the width of the final newspaper to be cut whereby each complete rotation of said cutting cylinder will provide two individual newspapers.