Method and apparatus for high speed cutting of elastomeric materials

摘要

A high speed rotary cutter assembly (10) and method for cutting sheets of elastomeric materials (80) wherein a rotary blade (50) is affixedly mounted on one end (56) of a spindle (18) and rotates therewith at a rotational speed greater than 2000 rpm. The spindle (18) includes a spindle bore (46) which communicates cooling air to the rotary blade (50). The rotary cutter assembly (10) also includes preloaded, permanently lubricated, angular contact ball bearings (24,26,28) and a labyrinth seal (42) to provide high speed operation without heat build up. The cutter assembly (10) includes a quick connect adjustment means for replacing worn shoe inserts (90A,90B) and the insert assembly without the necessity for adjusting of the shoe (86) or blade (50). The shoe insert has a top surface in the same plane as the top surface of the shoe and further includes grooves (102) in the cutting face to relieve the surface. The lobes (140) of the blade have a truncated trailing surface (150) to provide relief to cut edges of the elastomeric material (80) and reduce cut edge variation.