Apparatus for manufacture of cover tape

Abstract

An apparatus for creating cuts or scores in a substrate includes a support structure, one or more blades and a secondary support. The support structure has one or more cavities, which collectively define a substantially planar reference surface. Each blade has a cutting edge, which contacts the substantially planar reference surface, and each blade is biased against the substantially planar reference surface. An opening is defined through the substantially planar reference surface of the support structure to expose a portion of the cutting edge of each blade. The secondary support is capable of holding a portion of the substrate between the secondary support and in contact with the exposed portions of the cutting edges of the blades.

1 . An apparatus for scoring a substrate, the apparatus comprising: 
 a support structure having one or more cavities, wherein the one or more cavities collectively define a substantially planar reference surface;    one or more blades each having a cutting edge, wherein the cutting edge of each blade contacts the substantially planar reference surface, and wherein each blade is biased against the substantially planar reference surface;    an opening defined through the substantially planar reference surface of the support structure, wherein the opening exposes a portion of the cutting edge of each blade; and    a secondary support for holding a portion of the substrate between the secondary support and in contact with the exposed portions of the cutting edge of each blade.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the substantially planar surface of the support structure resists cutting by the one or more blades.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the blades are capable of creating cuts or scores within a depth tolerance of about 0.001 inch (0.0254 mm).  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 means for altering the distance between the secondary support and the support structure to allow adjustment of a depth of cut of the cutting edges of the one or more blades into the substrate.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 means for maintaining a substantially constant depth of cut, said means accommodating the geometric variability of the secondary support.