Abstract: A sharpening device for use with a continuous flexible band cutting blade. The sharpening device includes a pair of rotating abrasive wheels positioned on opposite sides of the cutting blade. The rotating wheels are mounted to a pivot plate on either side of a pivot point between the pivot plate and an assembly arm. The pivot plate is rotatable about the pivot point through the application of a pressure device to the pivot plate. By rotating about the pivot point, the pivot plate moves the abrasive wheels into contact with the cutting blade to facilitate sharpening. The assembly arm is fixed about its upstream end, while the downstream end is movable to adjust the position of the abrasive wheels.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for slitting a stack of folded corrugated paperboard boxes utilizes a thin slitting blade mounted for continuous movement through a slitting station and defining a vertical slitting plane. A stack supporting table straddles the slitting blade to support a stack of boxes in a stand-by position above the blade. Adjustable upstream and downstream squaring devices are operative to square and center the stack in the cutting plane and a vertically reciprocable ram operates to move the stack and the supporting table downwardly past the blade against a table biasing force to slit the stack into two half-size stacks. The squaring device is operable to re-square the slit half-size stacks prior to conveyance out of the slitting station. The slitting run of the continuous blade operates in a rigid blade holder which is adjustable to compensate for blade wear and to maintain the cutting edge of the blade in a fixed plane.