Selectively releasable overcenter means for slitter mechanism

Claim 1

IN A MECHANISM COMPRISING A ROTATING CYLINDER HAVING AN AXIALLY EXTENDING GAP IN THE PERIPHERY THEREOF AND CARRYING SHEET-LIKE MATERIAL, A DEVICE FOR SLITTING SAID SHEET-LIKE MATERIAL, SAID DEVICE COMPRISING A CIRCULAR SLITTING KNIFE ADJACENT SAID CYLINDER AND HAVING A SLITTING POSITION WITH THE PERIPHERY THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY IN ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID CYLINDER AND WHERE SAID GAP PERIODICALLY PASSES UNDER SAID KNIFE UPON ROTATION OF SAID CYLINDER, SUPPORT MEANS SUPPORTING SAID KNIFE FOR ROTATION ABOUT AN AXIS STATIONARY WITH RESPECT TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS, MEANS MOUNTING SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR MOVEMENT IN A FIRST DIRECTION TO MOVE SAID KNIFE TOWARD SAID CYLINDER AND TOWARD SAID SLITTING POSITION AND FOR MOVEMENT IN A SECOND DIRECTION TO MOVE SAID KNIFE FROM SAID POSITION AND IN A DIRECTION AWAY FROM SAID ROTATING CYLINDER, STATIONARY STOP MEANS ADJACENT SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND ENGAGED BY A PART ON SAID SUPPORT MEANS WHEN SAID KNIFE IS IN SAID SLITTING POSITION TO LIMIT SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND KNIFE AGAINST MOVEMENT IN SAID FIRST DIRECTION, AND MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY ACTUATING SAID SUPPORT MEANS IN ITS SAID FIRST AND SECOND DIRECTIONS INCLUDING RELEASEABLE OVER-CENTER MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS FOR SELECTIVELY AND POSITIVELY HOLDING SAID PART AGAINST SAID STOP MEANS THEREBY PREVENTING MOVEMENT OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND PART AWAY FROM SAID STOP MEANS IN SAID SECOND DIRECTION