Apparatus for electrically perforating moving paper webs

Claim 1

Apparatus for perforating a moving web of material by electric discharge comprising: (a) support means; (b) charged circular electrodes comprising a plurality of thin discs of equal diameter rotatably mounted on said support means and aligned axially in spaced relationship to each other, said discs electrically insulated from each other and from said support means; (c) means for rotating said discs on their axis; (d) a narrow ground electrode member mounted on said support means adapted to move at right angles to the direction of rotation of said discs and spaced parallel and in close proximity to the rims of said discs to provide a gap between the rims of said discs and said member; (e) means for moving said ground electrode member; (f) means for advancing a web through said gap; (g) means for supporting said web as it passes through said gap and for continuously collecting and removing particulate materials produced during perforating comprising a member having a flat surface in contact with said web, a guide slot for said ground electrode, a recess in said surface immediately adjacent said slot, and means for removing particulate materials that collect in said recess; and (h) a pulsed high voltage power source connected to each of said discs providing intermittent charges to said discs and concomitant arcs across the gap between said discs and said ground electrode member whereby a moving web of material is perforated as it passes through said gap.