Abstract: An automation system for cutting segments from a strip of film wound on a reel, mounting the segments in reusable fixtures and stacking the fixtures in a magazine.

Abstract: Apparatus for cutting segments from a strip of film and for mounting the segments in reusable fixtures. Each segment is severed from the strip and mounted in a single cycle of operation of the apparatus. A cutting die is provided with a nonlinear symmetrical cutting edge lying in a die cutting plane. A punch is provided with a bottom surface substantially the size of a segment. The cutting plane of the punch has a linear punch cutting edge formed at the intersection of the bottom surface and the punch cutting plane, and the punch is mounted in cutting relationship with the die. Positioning means position the strip so that a boundary between segments lies in the die cutting plane. As the punch moves toward the die and a fixture located below the die, a segment is severed from the strip by the cutting action of the punch and die cutting edges which co-operate to minimize the forces applied to the segment tending to change the orientation of the segment to the punch.