Abstract: The processing of uncured rubber or like raw material, which is normally produced, stored and shipped in sheet form but which is to be subjected to a continuous and uniform strip feeding into an extruder, mill or like treating apparatus, is disclosed. For this purpose, there is provided in a sheet of such material a plurality of slits extending across the sheet and spaced from each other longitudinally of the sheet, the slits in an alternating sequence starting at the opposite side edges of the sheet and each terminating short of the respective other side edge of the sheet. When one end portion of the slit sheet is introduced into the bite of the apparatus, the sheet is subjected to a pulling force and separates along the slits into a continuous zig-zag strip. Apparatus for slitting the sheet in the indicated manner is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus designed to facilitate the processing of uncured rubber or like raw material, which is normally produced, stored and shipped in sheet form but which is to be subjected to a continuous and uniform strip feeding into an extruder, mill or like treating means, is disclosed. The apparatus includes cutting means for forming in a sheet of such material a plurality of slits extending across the sheet and spaced from each other longitudinally of the sheet, the slits in an alternating sequence starting at the opposite side edges of the sheet and each terminating short of the respective other side edge of the sheet. In its preferred version, the cutting means is a rotary cutter having an even number of ogee-curved blades extending transversely to the sheet feed direction, the blades being alternatingly recessed at one end each, so that each cutting edge effectively starts at one end of the cutter and terminates somewhat short of the other end thereof.