Film-cutting apparatus

Claim 2

In a film-cutting apparatus for severing a film covering discrete substrates, the combination comprising carriage means axially movable along a predetermined path, film-cutting means connected to said carriage means laterally movable simultaneously in opposite directions along an axis substantially transverse to the axis of carriage means movement in the course of such carriage means axial movement and, catch means adapted to engage the leading edge of a substrate connected to said carriage means and axially movable therewith; said film-cutting means and said catch means lying in a plane substantially transversely disposed to said predetermined path.

Claim 3

The apparatus of claim 1 in which guide means supportably engage opposed end portions of said carriage means in the course of the axial movement thereof, and said film-cutting means are movable toward said catch means during the initial portion of said carriage means axial movement and prior to lateral movement thereof in opposite directions.

Claim 4

The apparatus of claim 1 in which said catch means is resiliently biased toward said film-cutting means and reciprocally movable in a plane transversely to the axis of carriage means movement.

Claim 5

The film-cutting apparatus of claim 1 in which said carriage means is reciprocally movable over said predetermined path, and means engaging said carriage means rapidly to return said carriage means to one end of said predetermined path after said carriage means reaches an opposed end of said path.

Claim 6

The film-cutting apparatus to claim 1 in which said film-cutting means comprise two knives attached to knife holders, each knife holder having attached thereto a cam follower, and cams extending along the length of at least a portion of said predetermined path adapted to engage said cam followers thereby forcing said knives to laterally move in opposite directions.

Claim 7

In a film-cutting apparatus, the combination comprising a carriage supportably mounted at opposed end portions in first guide means whereby said carriage is axially movable along said first guide means over a predetermined path, yoke means supported by said carriage, movable over said path in the course of said carriage axial movement, film-cutting means movable across said path in the course of said carriage axial movement, support means for said film-cutting means axially driven by said yoke means in the course of said carriage movement, second guide means supportably engaging opposed end portions of said support means for imparting a first movement to said film-cutting means transversely to said predetermined path in the course of a first portion of said carriage movement, and fixedly positioned cam means disposed along said predetermined path for imparting a second movement to said film-cutting means transversely to said predetermined path in the course of said carriage movement.

Claim 8

In a film-cutting apparatus, the combination comprising a carriage supportably mounted at opposed end portions in first guide means whereby said carriage is axially movable along said first guide means over a predetermined path, yoke means supported by said carriage, movable over said path in the course of said carriage axial movement, film-cutting means movable across said path in the course of said carriage axial movement, support means for said film-cutting means axially driven by said yoke means in the course of said carriage movement, second guide means supportably engaging opposed end portions of said support means for imparting a first movement to said film-cutting means transversely to said predetermined path in the course of a first portion of said carriage movement, and fixedly positioned cam means disposed along said predetermined path for imparting a second movement to said film-cutting means transversely to said predetermined path in the course of said carriage movement.

Claim 9

The apparatus of claim 6 in combination with a drawbar axially moving along said predetermined path with said yoke means, and third guide means supportably engaging opposed end portions of said drawbar for imparting a movement to said drawbar transverse to said axial movement in the course of such carriage movement along said predetermined path, and resiliently biased catch means mounted on said drawbar.

Claim 10

The apparatus of claim 7 in combination with a substantially horizontal support surface for axially aligned, spaced wallboards or the like adapted to move along said predetermined path, said catch means and film-cutting means lying in substantially the same vertical plane and being disposed on opposite sides of said support surface, and said film-cutting means and catch means being movable toward said support surface by the guide means therefor whereby said cutting means and catch means may enter into the interval between wallboards disposed on said support surface.

Claim 11

The apparatus of claim 7 in which said carriage means is supported at opposed ends on blocks slidably mounted on slide rods comprising said first guide means, said support means for said film-cutting means comprises a bar mounted at opposed ends on first track means disposed beneath said first guide means, said first track means comprises a first pair of spaced superposed horizontal tracks connected at opposed ends by connecting ramps, said drawbar is supported at opposed ends on rollers rotatably mounted on second track means disposed beneath said first track means, and said second track means comprises a second pair of superposed horizontal tracks connected at one end by an inclined ramp.

Claim 12

The apparatus of claim 9 in which gate means are disposed adjacent each of said ramps and pivotally mounted on the upper horizontal track of said track means.