A slitter for web material comprises at least one pair of rotatable circular knives each comprising a lower cup knife and an upper disc knife which plunges into the web material during use. The upper disc knife is disposed with its axis perpendicular to the line of movement of the web of goods and the lower cup knife is disposed with its axis at a selected angle to the line of movement of the web of goods.

A high-speed rotary shear for making, in the direction of travel, straight cuts, curved cuts, and combinations thereof, through a continuously moving web of thin, pliable, compliant, cut-resistant material and a process of making such cuts. The shear comprises at least one pair of first and second cooperating blades located to either side of the web. Each of the first and second blades is mounted on a blade support affixed to a rotatable shaft. At least one of the first and second blades is in part at least elastically mounted on its support and is itself flexible. The axes of the shafts of said first and second blades lie in spaced horizontal planes and in vertical planes which intersect at an angle such that the first and second blades will be skewed with respect to each other at an angle of from about 1.degree. to about 6.degree. and such that the first and second blades, having the same outside diameter, will have a single point contact, cutting the web with a scissors action.

A rotary self-sharpening knife comprises two identical half-knives each having a cutting edge on one face, the half knives being arranged with at least part of the peripheries of their other faces in contact, and means for urging the half knives together. In use the half knives are driven at different angular speeds so that there is slight relative movement of the half knives which produces a rubbing action between the peripheries of the half knives to maintain the cutting edges of the half knives sharp. The invention also relates to an assembly incorporating the inventive self-sharpening knife, and a machine for processing a product.

A circular rotary slitter construction comprises a body hub having a circular perimeter and at least one axially facing surface. A cutting edge hoop cylinder is fixedly mounted on the body hub perimeter. At least that portion of the axially facing surface contiguous to the hoop cylinder is axially inset from an annular cutting edge of the hoop cylinder so that the annular cutting edge margin of the hoop cylinder overhangs the contiguous axially facing surface cantilever fashion and the cutting edge is axially outwardly spaced relative to the contiguous axially facing surface. The hoop cylinder is adapted to be made from tool steel and the body hub is adapted to be made from a more easily machined material such as aluminum and at least partially from a suitable plastic material.

An apparatus is provided for feeding and slitting mattress covers, quilts and other soft goods supported on a table. The apparatus has a first slitting wheel rotatable by a motor. A second slitting wheel is rotatable by the motor and contacts the first slitting wheel to provide a cutting action. The apparatus further includes upper and lower conveyors operable by the motor for conveying the soft goods past the slitting wheels. The upper conveyor is resiliently vertically movable and applies a compression force against the soft goods as they are moved between the upper and lower conveyors and past the slitting wheels.