PRINTING AND CUTTING A CONTINUOUSLY MOVING SUPPLY OF MATERIAL

摘要

Improvements are provided to improve an apparatus and method for processing a substantially constant velocity flow of a web (24) of material, including a cutting mechanism (19) and a web accumulator (19) upstream of the cutter. The improvements include stopping the web by a side surface (38) of the movable blade (164) and configuring the accumulator dimensions and cutting speed to cause an appropriate level of force between the upstream severed end (40) of the web and the blade. Several features achieve a low cutting time and modify cutting force to cut web regions with different characteristics. A low inertia rotary solenoid (Fig. 10) accelerates a blade through the web and against a resilient stop (176, 178). The blade bounces off of the stop (176) to its spring-biased home position. A permanent magnet (180) or electromagnet (182) holds the blade in the home position as solenoid current develops. The result is reduced noise and shorter cutting time.