Web member cutting apparatus for cutting web member that has a plurality of fibers including tows and web member cutting method

A continuous web cutting method for cutting, a continuous web that has a plurality of fibers including tows along a predetermined direction, at intervals in the predetermined direction, while the continuous web is transported along a predetermined track in the predetermined direction, using

• a disc-shaped rotatable blade member that cuts the continuous web by moving in an intersecting direction that intersects the predetermined direction, while rotating about an axis of a rotating shaft along the predetermined direction without the rotatable blade member engaging an opposing member,
• a regulating section that regulates a relative movement of the continuous web in the predetermined direction with respect to the rotatable blade member, and
• a reciprocating mechanism that moves both the rotatable blade member and the regulating section along a forward path and a return path that are parallel to the (predetermined track,
• the method comprising:
• moving, in the forward path, both the rotatable blade member and the regulating section at a velocity value that is equal to a transport velocity value of the continuous web;
• cutting the continuous web using the rotatable blade member during movement at the equal velocity value;
• and
• regulating the relative movement of the continuous web with respect to the rotatable blade member using the regulating section throughout a time during which the rotatable blade member is cutting the continuous web.