Scroll slitting and rewind apparatus

Claim 1

A scroll cutting line for cutting a single web of sheet stock material into multiple scroll cut strips, said line comprising, an uncoiler station including means for supporting an arbor having a web of sheet stock material wound thereon, a scroll cutting station including rotary cutter means for driving the web and for converting said single web of sheet stock material into multiple strips, each of said strips having at least one serpentine shaped scroll cut edge, a recoiling station located downstream from said cutting station, said recoiling station including means for supporting a single rewind arbor and means for driving said rewind arbor in rotation to rewind all of the scroll slit strips of said web of stock material onto said single arbor without any overlap of said strips on said single arbor, a tensioning station located upstream of said recoiling station and including means for applying a tension to said strips as said strips are wound upon said rewind arbor, a looping pit located between said cutting station and said tensioning station, said looping pit being open at the top and extending downwardly a substantial distance below the floor level of said cutting line so as to provide for substantial slack in said strips between said cutting station and said tensioning station, and spacing means located between said strips of scroll slit material upstream of said tensioning means for fanning said strips apart and establishing a gap between said strips before said strips enter said tensioning means, said gap being at least equal to the amplitude of the serpentine shaped edge of said strips so that said strips do not overlap when wound onto said single rewind arbor.