Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for slitting sheet material of indeterminate length in a predetermined pattern of spaced apart rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation to form a web capable of being expanded into a relatively open, net-like structure, said apparatus comprising means for advancing the sheet material longitudinally along a predetermined path of travel to and past a slitting station, means operatively associated with said advancing means for forming the sheet material being fed to the slitting station into a transversely curved configuration and means operatively associated with said advancing means for slitting the transversely curved sheet material at the slitting station to form transversely extending, spaced rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for slitting sheet material of indeterminate length in a predetermined pattern of spaced apart rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation to form a web capable of being expanded into a relatively open, net-like structure, said apparatus comprising means for advancing the sheet material longitudinally along a predetermined path of travel to and past a slitting station, means operatively associated with said advancing means for forming the sheet material being fed to the slitting station into a transversely curved configuration and means operatively associated with said advancing means for slitting the transversely curved sheet material at the slitting station to form transversely extending, spaced rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for slitting sheet material of indeterminate length in a predetermined pattern of spaced apart rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation to form a web capable of being expanded into a relatively open, net-like structure, said apparatus comprising means for advancing the sheet material longitudinally along a predetermined path of travel to and past a slitting station, means operatively associated with said advancing means for forming the sheet material being fed to the slitting station into a transversely curved configuration and means operatively associated with said advancing means for slitting the transversely curved sheet material at the slitting station to form transversely extending, spaced rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
129 words
An apparatus for slitting sheet material of indeterminate length in a predetermined pattern of spaced apart rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation to form a web capable of being expanded into a relatively open, net-like structure, said apparatus comprising means for advancing the sheet material longitudinally along a predetermined path of travel to and past a slitting station, means operatively associated with said advancing means for forming the sheet material being fed to the slitting station into a transversely curved configuration and means operatively associated with said advancing means for slitting the transversely curved sheet material at the slitting station to form transversely extending, spaced rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for slitting sheet material of indeterminate length in a predetermined pattern of spaced apart rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation to form a web capable of being expanded into a relatively open net-like structure, said apparatus comprising knife means mounted for rotation about an axis and having a cutting surface for forming closely spaced rows of spaced slits in the sheet material means for advancing the sheet material along a path of travel parallel to said axis of said knife means, and means for successively traversing the cutting surface of said knife means transversely of the sheet materIal to form successive rows of spaced slits, the knife means being rotated an increment of a revolution upon each traversal of the cutting surface of the sheet material so that the slits in adjacent rows are in predetermined staggered relation.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
149 words
An apparatus for slitting sheet material of indeterminate length in a predetermined pattern of spaced apart rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation to form a web capable of being expanded into a relatively open net-like structure, said apparatus comprising knife means mounted for rotation about an axis and having a cutting surface for forming closely spaced rows of spaced slits in the sheet material means for advancing the sheet material along a path of travel parallel to said axis of said knife means, and means for successively traversing the cutting surface of said knife means transversely of the sheet materIal to form successive rows of spaced slits, the knife means being rotated an increment of a revolution upon each traversal of the cutting surface of the sheet material so that the slits in adjacent rows are in predetermined staggered relation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein advancing means comprises feed means for feeding the sheet material past said knife means and variable drive means connected to said feed means for driving said feed means at a variable rate to vary the spacing between adjacent rows of slits.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
46 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said traversing means traverses the cutting surface of said knife means transversely of the sheet material at a variable rate relative to the rate at which the sheet material is advanced to vary the spacing between adjacent rows of slits.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 including anvil means cooperating with said knife means and said advancing means for supporting the sheet material during slitting thereof.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
Apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said knife means is generally circular and the cutting surface thereof includes circumferentially spaced cutting edges of predetermined circumferential lengths corresponding to the desired lengths of the slits to be formed.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus according to claim 6 wherein said anvil means defines a curved anvil surface of larger radius than said knife means, and wherein said advancing means cooperates with said anvil means in forming the sheet material into a transversely curved configuration corresponding to the curve of said anvil surface.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
266 words
An apparatus for slitting sheet material of indeterminate length in a predetermined pattern of spaced apart rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation to form a web capable of being expanded into a relatively open, net-like structure, said apparatus comprising a circular knife mounted for rotation about a central axis and having a cutting surface defined by circumferentially spaced cutting edges of predetermined circumferential length for forming successive rows of spaced slits in the sheet material, means defining a curved anvil surface surrounding at least a portion of said knife and having a circumferential length at least as great as the width of the sheet material and a radius greater than the radius of said knife, means for advancing the sheet material along a path parallel to said axis of said knife and between said curved anvil surface and said knife means and cooperating with said curved anvil surface for forming the sheet material into a transversely curved configuration corresponding to the curve of said anvil surface, and means mounting said knife for eccentric rotation about an axis concentric with said curved anvil surface with the amount that said central axis of said knife is eccentric to said concentric axis being substantially equal to the difference between the radius of said knife means and said curved anvil surface so that upon rotation of the knife means about said concentric axis the cutting surface of the knife means will be traversed along said curved anvil surface and transversely of the sheet material to form successive rows of slits therein.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
266 words
An apparatus for slitting sheet material of indeterminate length in a predetermined pattern of spaced apart rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation to form a web capable of being expanded into a relatively open, net-like structure, said apparatus comprising a circular knife mounted for rotation about a central axis and having a cutting surface defined by circumferentially spaced cutting edges of predetermined circumferential length for forming successive rows of spaced slits in the sheet material, means defining a curved anvil surface surrounding at least a portion of said knife and having a circumferential length at least as great as the width of the sheet material and a radius greater than the radius of said knife, means for advancing the sheet material along a path parallel to said axis of said knife and between said curved anvil surface and said knife means and cooperating with said curved anvil surface for forming the sheet material into a transversely curved configuration corresponding to the curve of said anvil surface, and means mounting said knife for eccentric rotation about an axis concentric with said curved anvil surface with the amount that said central axis of said knife is eccentric to said concentric axis being substantially equal to the difference between the radius of said knife means and said curved anvil surface so that upon rotation of the knife means about said concentric axis the cutting surface of the knife means will be traversed along said curved anvil surface and transversely of the sheet material to form successive rows of slits therein.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said advancing means comprises at least one curved roll contiguous to said curved anvil surface rearwardly of said knife but adjacent thereto for advancing the sheet material while maintaining the same against the anvil surface as the knife slits the same.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said anvil surface is substantially right cylindrical.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
60 words
Apparatus according to claim 10 wherein said advancing means comprises a pair of circumferentially spaced, curved rolls contiguous to said cylindrical anvil surface rearwardly of but adjacent to said knife for advancing the sheet material while maintaining the same against the anvil surface as the knife slits the same and means connected to said curved rolls for driving thE same.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
50 words
Apparatus according to claim 8 wherein said mounting means for said knife includes a first shaft mounted concentric with said curved anvil surface, a second shaft concentric with said knife and mounting said knife thereon, and means mounting said second shaft on said first shaft and in eccentric relation thereto.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
Apparatus according to claim 12 wherein said means mounting said second shaft on said first shaft is adjustable to vary the amount of eccentricity between the first and second shafts so that knives of varying diameter may be used with said anvil surface.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of slitting sheet material of indeterminate length in a predetermined pattern of spaced apart rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation to form a web capable of being expanded into a relatively open, net-like structure, said method comprising advancing the sheet material longitudinally in a predetermined path of travel to a slitting station while forming the sheet material into a transversely curved configuration, and slitting the transversely curved sheet material at the the slitting station to form transversely extending, spaced rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows in predetermined staggered relation.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
104 words
A method of slitting sheet material of indeterminate length in a predetermined pattern of spaced apart rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows being in predetermined staggered relation to form a web capable of being expanded into a relatively open, net-like structure, said method comprising advancing the sheet material longitudinally in a predetermined path of travel to a slitting station while forming the sheet material into a transversely curved configuration, and slitting the transversely curved sheet material at the the slitting station to form transversely extending, spaced rows of spaced slits with the slits in adjacent rows in predetermined staggered relation.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method according to claim 14 wherein the sheet material is formed into a transversely arcuate configuration and wherein the sheet material is slit by traversing the sheet material with a rotary knife means.