MXPA96004124A - Manufacture of afei penknives - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a plurality of razor blade strips in a continuous strip, characterized in that it includes the steps of: providing a continuous strip of sheet material having a width dimension substantially equal to the plurality of webs. bands, forming a plurality of openings in the continuous strip, the openings define precise joining points to be used in the retention of an envelope sheet in a razor handle or in a cartridge, and then partially dividing the strip throughout of parallel lines evenly spaced over the length of the strip to form a plurality of linearly connected sheet webs, a web is formed by each of the parallel lines, and between a parallel line and the edge of the strip, and separating the webs to form a plurality of bands of equal width having apertures with precisely, and located from the edges of loas band

Description

MANUFACTURE OF SHAVING PENKNIVES DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to the manufacture of razor blades and more particularly to a method and apparatus for the manufacture of a plurality of razor blades in a continuous strip with the use of a coil sheet metal material. In the manufacture of razor blades it is a common practice to employ a single band of steel sheet material from which a plurality of sheets are produced. The web of the sheet material can be wound on a coil, the material is of the precise width of the finished product. A plurality of holes are stamped in the web of the sheet material, to define the precise binding points to be used to retain the sheet in a cartridge or on a razor handle and then the web of the sheet material it is generally fed through a heat treatment oven to harden the web of material, after which the web is sharpened and divided at those sites along the effective length of the web to produce a plurality of web elements. unitary sheet. While the process is successful in mass production of high quality sheets, an increase in efficiency and speed of production would make it possible to employ a continuous strip of sheet material from which more than one web of sheets will be used. they could form and maintain the strip of multiple bands in the laminated form during the manufacturing process, which includes the thermal treatment of the material. It is known to manufacture a plurality of strips of material from a single strip which is provided in the form of a roll by partially dividing the REF: 231 * 5 principle into the various strips in the material strip and then holding the strip as a unit until separation is required to their particular bands. A method and device for obtaining partial cutting of a strip of metallic material is described in U.S. Patent 4,170,691, issued October 9, 1979 to John W. Rogers and entitled Steel Metal Web Handling Method, Apparatus, and Coil Construct. However, the adaptation of the partial cut of a continuous strip of material to produce a plurality of webs of sheets is complicated by the fact that the holes defining the points of attachment as described above must be precisely located in relation to the web. edge of the material band and each band must be of precise dimension by itself when the bands are separated from the strip of material. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a process for manufacturing a plurality of razor blades in a continuous strip, wherein a plurality of strips are formed from the strip having the blade attachment hole aligned in a manner precise with the dimensions of the edge of each of the bands. A further object of the invention is to provide a process for manufacturing a plurality of razor blades in a continuous strip, which is more efficient and economical than the processes of the prior art. Still another object of the invention is to provide a machine for partially dividing a continuous strip of razor blade material having a plurality of matching or matching holes located therein, which form a plurality of bands of interconnected blades, the lines of division are precisely positioned to form bands having the holes aligned precisely with the edge of each band. Still a further object of the invention is to provide a machine for dividing a continuous strip of material from the razor, which has been partially divided to form a plurality of bands of sheets joined together, which machine is effective to separate each band in the dividing line formed in the material. The above objects and other objects, which will become evident as the description proceeds, are carried out by providing a process for manufacturing a plurality of bands of razor blades in a continuous strip which consists in providing a continuous strip of razor material having a width dimension substantially equal to the width dimension of the blade. the total plurality of bands. A plurality of holes are formed in the continuous strip, the orifices define precise joining points to be employed to retain the blade or razor on a razor cartridge. Then the continuous strip is presented, generally in the form of a roll, to a device for partially dividing the strip along parallel lines equally spaced over the length of the strip to form a plurality of bands of linear sheets joined together, one band being form between each of the parallel lines and between a parallel line and the edge of the strip. Then the continuous strip is subjected to a heat treatment while the webs of sheets are joined together and a separate means is provided to separate the webs to form a plurality of individual webs of equal widths having the orifices accurately aligned with, and located from, the edges of the bands.

The means for partially dividing the continuous strip of the razor material having the plurality of matching holes therein generally comprises an upper arrangement of dividing or cutting blades arranged for rotation about a common axis and a lower arrangement of cutting blades or dividers arranged for rotation about their common axis. The axis of the upper blade arrangement and the lower blade arrangement are spaced apart to form parallel lines of division over the continuous strip of blade material that is passed between the upper arrangement of cutting blades and the lower arrangement of cutting blades. . Means are also provided for guiding the edges of the continuous strip of the razor material to precisely position the upper array of blades and the lower arrangement of blades relative to the edges of the strip, such that the plurality of bands of sheets joined together are formed by the partition lines which are precisely located one in relation to the other and from the edge of the strip. The guide elements may comprise a pair of edge guide elements, one disposed on either side of the continuous strip of the razor material, each of the edge guide elements having a flat surface to be brought into contact with. a respective edge of the strip. The flat surfaces of the guide element are spaced apart at a distance equal to or less than the width of the continuous strip and the guide means are arranged at least partially between the upper arrangement of cutting blades and the lower arrangement of cutting blades. adjacent to the lowermost extension of the upper arrangement of cutting blades and the uppermost extension of the lower arrangement of cutting blades.

The device for dividing a continuous strip of the razor material, once it has been partially divided, to form a plurality of bands of sheets that are joined together, generally comprises a pair of parallel spaced axes containing each one. at least one rotating element. One of the rotating elements comprises a substantially V-shaped external surface, which extends around the outer periphery of the element and the other of the rotating elements has a grooved outer surface that extends around the entire periphery of the element and is disposed in front relation with the V-shaped surface. The elements are arranged in such a way that the tip of the V-shaped surface is in alignment with the center of the groove that forms the grooved surface. The elements are thus spaced apart from each other to contact the upper surface of a continuous strip of razor material with one of the rotating elements and to contact the lower surface of the strip with the other the elements, when the strip is fed between the rotating elements. Means are provided for guiding the edges of the strip between the rotating elements to locate a partial groove between the tip of the V-shaped surface and the center of the slot forming the grooved surface and the device is effective for dividing the continuous strip along the partial grooves to a plurality of sheets of sheets joined together when the strip is moved between the rotating elements.

The guide means generally comprise a pair of parallel facing surfaces, spaced apart to receive the continuous strip therebetween during the movement of the strip through the device, and the parallel facing surfaces are spaced at a distance equal to or less than the width of the strip continues.

The guide means generally extend between the rotating elements to a position adjacent to the point of contact of the rotating elements with the continuous strip. The foregoing and other features of the invention will be described more particularly in relation to the preferred embodiment and with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a flow diagram showing a process for making razors, in which the features of the present invention are employed; Figure 2 is a top plan view showing a portion of a continuous strip of razor blade material in the unwound state; Figure 3 is a top plan view showing a device for partially dividing the material for the knife shown in Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional elevation view taken along the line IV-IV of Figure 3, showing the details of the dividing device of Figure 3; Figure 5 is a sectional elevation view taken along the line V-V of Figure 3, showing further details of the cutting device of Figures 3 and 4; Figure 6 is a front elevational view taken along lines VI-VI of Figure 3, having portions of the structure separated to show the cutting assembly of the device of Figures 3, 4 and 5 taken on a scale expanded for clarity; Figure 7 is a plan view similar to Figure 2, showing the continuous strip of razor blade material of Figure 2, after having been operated by the device of Figures 3 to 6; Figure 8 is a sectional view of the structure of Figure 7, showing the material of the razor in partially divided form; Fig. 9 is a top plan view showing a device for dividing the partially divided razor material of Figs. 7 and 8; Figure 10 is a sectional elevation view taken along the line X-X of Figure 9, showing the details of the division device of Figure 9; Figure 11 is a sectional elevation view taken along line XI-XI of Figure 9, showing the details of the division assembly of the device of Figures 9 and 10; Figure 12 is a sectional elevation view taken along line XII-XII of Figure 9, showing the details of the power structure of the device of Figure 9; Figure 13 is a sectional view in fragmentary elevation, taken along line XIII-XIII of Figure 10, showing a portion of the guide means of the device of Figures 9 to 12; and Figure 14 is a sectional view in fragmentary elevation, taken along the line XIV-XIV of Figure 10, showing another portion of the guide means of the device shown in Figures 9 to 13. Referring to the figure 1 of the drawings, the present invention involves the five summarized stages, the first of which is to supply a coil of steel razor blade material in the form of a continuous strip having a thickness in the area of 0.01016 cm (0.004 inches) ), which has been formed to substantially the exact width dimension to form six strands or bands of sheets, as shown in more detail in Figure 2 of the drawings. Then the original coiled material is further processed by a machine (not shown) having a plurality of perforating dies which form the plurality of holes 12, the holes defining the precise points of attachment to be employed to retain a sheet 10 on a razor handle or inside a razor cartridge. The machine for forming the plurality of holes in the continuous strip S has not been shown in detail since such devices are well known and are employed at present to form the holes in a single sheet or web of the sheet material. The coil containing the continuous strip S of the material of the sheet with the holes 12 formed therein is then passed through a cutting station, heat treated and then subjected to a cutting device where the separate bands A, B, C, D; E and F (see Figure 7) are separated from each other, each having a dimension of the width and location of the exact holes 12, to be formed into separate razor blades 10 when divided together as shown by dotted lines. and stripes of Figure 2. Referring now to Figures 3 to 5 there is shown a guide assembly of a cutting device 16 for receiving the continuous strip S between a pair of vertical guide rollers 17 and 18, the strip passing through a guide vertical, a pair of V-shaped guide rollers 19 and 20. Then the strip S passes between a pair of air nozzles 21 and 22 which blow air through the upper surface and the lower surface of the strip to ensure that the foreign particles are not transported on the surface of the strip through the cutting portion of the machine. The strip S is then passed through a pair of rotating guide wheels 24 and 25 before entering between a second pair of guide rollers 26 and 27. As best shown in FIG. 5, the rotary guide wheel 24 is mounted on a block 28 which is fixed to the base of the cutting device 16A while the rotary guide wheel 25 is mounted on a sliding block 29, the block 29 is free to move in a direction towards and away from the guide wheel 24. A coil spring 30 is disposed between the head of an adjusting bolt 32 and serves to urge the guide wheel 25 towards the wheel guide 24 to firmly hold the strip S between the pair of guide wheels. The adjusting bolt 32 can be tightened or loosened to provide more or less compression on the spring 30 and produce more or less driving force on the guide wheel 25. Referring again to FIGS. 3 and 4, the S strip after passing between the guide rollers 26 and 27 enters the guide element 33, the guide element comprises an upper cover 34 and body element 35. Mounted on the body member 35 are a pair of guides 36 and 37 of the edge, each one has a flat surface 38 and 39 to contact the respective edge of the continuous strip S. The edge guides 36 and 37 are made of a hardened material such as carbide and the flat surfaces 38 and 39 are spaced from each other to a distance equal to, or less than, the width of the continuous strip S. It has been found to be detrimental to the precise formation of the bands A, B, C, D, E and F if the strip is allowed to move from side by side when traveling through the gu element to 33, as in the case where the flat surfaces 38 and 39 are spaced less than the width of the strip S. However, a slight arching of the strip caused by the surfaces 38 and 39 in the area of one thousandth of an inch or less than the actual width of the strip is not detrimental to the dimensional integrity of the bands. The splitting or cutting device further comprises an upper arrangement of cutting blades 40 and a lower arrangement of cutting blades 41, each arranged around its own common axis. As best shown in Figure 6, the arrangement of cutting blades 40 and the arrangement of cutting blades 41 are arranged with their respective center lines spaced apart, such that five of the blades in each arrangement will produce a partial division of a blade. material that is passed between the blades, while a pair of blades 42 and 43 having one edge which extends beyond the other, which in the present invention serves to divide the continuous strip S of the material into two strips that They each contain three bands. It should be obvious that if it is desired to keep the strip S in its width containing six bands, the blades 42 and 43 would thus be constructed to duplicate the blades 40 and 41 to partially split the strip instead of dividing it, as in the case of another five pairs of blades. Also, if desired, any of the blades could be constructed in this manner that the coupling blade would divide the strip, for example to create three strips that each contain two blades of blades. While the partial division of the material is known since it is carried out by means of an arrangement of sheets similar to those of the present structure, in the present process the location of the slits as well as the separation of the strip into two separate strips is it must do with an accuracy to maintain the relationship between the slits produced and the holes 12 as discussed so far.

Still referring to Figure 6, it will be noted that on each side of the upper blade arrangement 40 and the lower blade arrangement 41 are located rotary damping rings 44, 45, 46 and 47. The damping rings 44, 45, 46 and 47 are They are made of a hardened steel or carbide material and are brought into contact with each other on their circumference to provide and maintain proper separation between the blade arrangement 40 and the blade arrangement 41. In order to ensure that separation is maintained by the damping rings 44, 45, 46 and 47 one of the knife arrangements 40 or 41 is generally mounted on a fixed axis, either the shaft 48 or 49, while the other is mounted on a movable shaft. The movable shaft 48 or 49 is urged towards the fixed shaft to provide contact between the damping rings 44, 45, 46 and 47 which are then effective to maintain the proper distance between the divider blades. Since each of the array of divider knives 40 and 41 comprises separate discs forming the divider blades, the axial relationship of the cutting edge of each of the discs must be maintained in order to ensure that the edges of each of the discs of the individual disc The blades are in alignment with the opposing blade when a partial division of the strip S occurs. This is carried out by providing a pair of pilot rings 50 and 51, the pilot ring 51 having a recessed or recessed portion 52 which receives the outwardly extending disk 53 of ring 50 in interengagement coupling. Each of the pilot rings 50 and 51 is made to narrow tolerance and is placed on a respective axis 48 and 49 in contact with the array of blades 40 and 41 and positioned adjustably along the respective axis to ensure that the Placement of each of the blades in a blade arrangement remains in alignment with the location of the blades in the opposite arrangement of blades during the cutting process.

Referring again to FIG. 4, it will be seen that the guide element 33 is disposed between the upper array of the divider blades 40 and the lower array of blades 41 and extends as close to the extension of the arrangements of the dividing blades one. towards the other to ensure that the strip S is guided towards the cutting blades until just before its entry between the blades. After the strip S has been partially cut and in the present separate instance in separate strips S1 and S2, the strips are substantially as shown in figures 7 and 8 in configuration. Each of the strips S1 or S2 is subjected to a heat treatment process to harden the sheet material in a manner which is well known in the art. While the heat treatment process will not be discussed in detail, it should be affirmed that the strips S1 and S2 are generally maintained with their separate strips attached during the entire heat treatment process. The strips S1 and S2 are generally maintained in the wound form before and after the heat treatment to provide ease of handling. After the heat treatment process, it is necessary to divide the continuous strip S1 or S2 into its separate bands A, B, C or D, E and F. As shown in figures 9 to 14, the present invention provides a dividing device 55 comprising a first pair of pressure rollers 56 and 57 to which the strip S1 is fed. It will be noted in Figure 12 that the pressure rollers 56 and 57 are mounted with the pressure roller 57 fixed and the pressure roller 56 forced down towards the roller 57 against the arrangement of the spring 58. As shown in Figure 10 , the strip S1 is further guided in the lateral direction before entering and after leaving the pressure roller 56 and 57 by a pair of guide elements 60 and 62. As will be seen in figures 13 and 14 the guide element 60 comprises a body 63 and a cover plate 64, the two elements are held in place by a bolt 65 or other appropriate means. The body 63 is provided with a pair of interior guide surfaces of faces opposite each other 66 and 67 and the body 63 and the cover plate 64 when bolted in place provide interior space therebetween to accommodate the continuous strip S1 while the guide surfaces 66 and 67 are spaced apart at a distance equal to, or less than, the width of the strip S1 to ensure contact of the edges of the strip as it is fed through the guide element 60. In a similar manner, the guide element 62 as shown in Figure 14, it comprises a body 68 and a cover plate 69, which when bolted together by the bolts 70 provide an interior to accommodate the strip S1 between the body and the cover plate. As with the guide member 60, the body 68 has a pair of interior surfaces with mutually opposite faces 72 and 73, the surfaces are spaced apart a distance equal to, or less than, the width of the continuous strip S1. As best shown in Figures 9 and 10, the dividing device 55 comprises a pair of parallel spaced axes 74 and 75, each axle having a pair of rotating elements mounted thereon. Referring now to Figure 11, each of the axes 74 and 75 has a rotating element 76 having a substantially V-shaped external surface extending around the entire periphery of the element and a second rotary element 77 having a surface outer grooved, the groove or groove in the external surface is in alignment with a V-shaped surface of a coupling rotating element 76. Shafts 74 and 75 are spaced apart from one another, such that when a strip S1 is passed between the rotating elements 76 and 77, the rotating elements on the shafts 74 come into contact with the upper surface of the strip S1 and the rotating elements on the shaft 75 come into contact with the lower surface of the strip . By guiding the edges of the strip such that the partially divided lines substantially conform to the tip of the V-shaped elements, the rotating elements 76 and 77 are effective for dividing the continuous strip into the respective webs of the sheets interconnected when the strip is moved between the rotating elements. Since the strip S1 contains only two division lines, the present division device 55 comprises only two sets of opposite rotating elements 76 and 77. It should be understood, however, that as many pairs of the rotating elements 76 and 77 as divided lines In the particular continuous strip of the material are worked or can be mounted on the shaft 74 and 75 and the edge guide elements 60 and 62 would be appropriately sized to guide the strip to the rotating elements 76 and 7 to consummate the division process. It should also be noted that the guide element 68 at its front end extends as far as is permissible between the rotating elements 76 and 77 to a point just adjacent to the contact between the rotating elements and the surface of the continuous strip S1. Thus, the strip is guided precisely between the rotating elements 76 and 77 to ensure that the lines of partial division between the rotating elements at the precise point which will cause the cutting of the continuous strip in its separate bands. After passing through the rotating elements 76 and 77 the separate bands continue through a guide roller 80 and are then either rolled into separate rolls containing each band or can be fed directly to a sharpening device which is effective to form sheets of sheet material. As an example of the manufacturing process described, carried out in the described machine, the stainless steel razor strips were manufactured with the use of a raw material containing 0.6% to 0.7% carbon and 12% to 14%. % chromium When using a material thickness of 0.01016 cm (0.004 inches), a depth of penetration during the operation partially cut, the operation was carried out up to 40% or in other words, 0.00406 cm (0.0016 inches) to leave a tape of 0.0061 cm (0.0024 inches) to retain the linear joined sheet bands attached to each other. When using a 0.00762 cm (0.003 inch) thick sheet material, a penetration depth of 30% gave optimal results, in other words, a depth of 0.002286 cm (0.009 inches) to leave a 0.005334 cm (0.0021 inch) tape. Thus, it can be seen that by retaining a thickness of the tape in the area of 0.00508 cm (0.002 inches) during the cutting operation, the integrity of the tape is retained and it is found that the bands were easily divided during the cutting process subsequent From the above it should be evident that the precise guidance of the continuous strip S of the material of the blade or knife through the process outlined above, there is no waste of material, since the bands A, B, C, D; E or F of the finished razor material is of a precise dimension without the edge trimming requirement, which is often used when a strip is partially divided and then separated to produce separate strips.

While it is evident that changes and modifications can be made in the spirit and scope of the present invention, it is nevertheless proposed to be limited only by the appended claims. It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is that which is clear from the present description of the invention. Having described the invention as above, property is claimed as contained in the following

Claims (23)

1. A process for manufacturing a plurality of razor blade strips in a continuous strip, characterized in that it includes the steps of: providing a continuous strip of sheet material having a width dimension substantially equal to the width dimensions of the plurality of webs; forming a plurality of holes in the continuous strip, the orifices define precise joining points to be employed to retain a sheet on a razor handle or in a cartridge and then; Partially dividing the strip along parallel lines equally spaced over the length of the strip to form a plurality of linear joined sheet bands, a band is formed between each of the parallel lines, and between a parallel line and the edge of the strip. strip; subject the webs of the sheet to heat treatment while interconnecting each other; and then separating the bands to form a plurality of bands of equal widths having the holes accurately aligned with, and located from, the edges of the bands.

2. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the strip is divided simultaneously into two strips of equal widths during the step of partially dividing the strip along parallel lines spaced equally.

3. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of partially dividing the strip comprises the penetration of the strip at a depth of 30% to 40% of the thickness of the strip to form parallel lines spaced equally.

4. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the step of dividing the strip along parallel spaced lines also comprises passing the strip between a first arrangement of cutting blades arranged for rotation about a common axis and a secondary arrangement of cutting blades arranged for rotation about a common axis.

5. A process according to claim 4, characterized in that the axes of the first arrangement of cutting blades and the second arrangement of cutting blades are maintained at a distance, one from the other, to penetrate the strip at a depth of 30% to 40% of the thickness of the strip.

6. A process for manufacturing a plurality of razor blade strips in a continuous strip, characterized in that it includes the steps of: providing a continuous strip of sheet material having a width dimension substantially equal to the width dimensions of the plurality of webs; forming a plurality of holes in the continuous strip, the orifices define precise joining points to be used to retain a sheet on a handle of the razor or in a cartridge and then; Partially dividing the strip along the parallel lines equally spaced over the length of the strip, to form a plurality of linear sheet bands joined, a band is formed between each of the parallel lines and between a parallel line and the edge of the strip; and separating the bands to form a plurality of bands of equal widths having the holes aligned precisely with, and located from, the edges of the bands.

7. A process according to claim 6, characterized in that the strip is divided simultaneously into two strips of equal widths during the step of partially dividing the strip along parallel lines spaced equally.

8. A process according to claim 6, characterized in that the step of partially dividing the strip comprises the penetration of the strip at a depth of 30% to 40% of the thickness of the strip to form parallel lines spaced equally.

9. A process according to claim 6, characterized in that the material is a stainless steel comprising 0.6% carbon at 0.7% carbon and 12% at 14% chromium.

10. A machine for partially dividing a continuous strip of razor blade material having a plurality of matching holes located therein, to form a plurality of interconnected sheet webs, characterized in that it comprises; an upper arrangement of divider blades arranged for rotation about a common axis; a lower arrangement of divider knives arranged for rotation about a common axis, the axes of the upper arrangement of the divider knives and the lower array of divider knives are spaced apart to form parallel lines of partition on a continuous strip of the material of the divider. blade of the razor that is passed between the upper arrangement of the divider blades and the lower arrangement of the divider blades; and means for guiding the edges of the continuous strip of the razor blade material to locate the upper array of blades and the lower array of blades relative to the edge of the strip, whereby the plurality of interconnected blades of sheets are formed through the partition lines which are located precisely from the edge of the strip.

11. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the guide means comprise a pair of edge guide elements, one arranged either on one side or the other of the continuous strip of material of the razor blade, each of the The edge guide elements have a flat surface to contact a respective edge of the strip.

12. A machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the flat surfaces of the guide element are spaced a distance equal to or less than the width of the continuous strip.

13. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the guide means are arranged, at least partially, between the upper arrangement of divider blades and the lower arrangement of divider blades adjacent to the lower extension of the upper arrangement of divider blades and the Top extension of the lower arrangement of divider blades.

14. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that it also includes a first pair of damping rings, one arranged on each side of the upper arrangement of the divider blades for rotation about the upper arrangement of the common axis of the divider blades and a second pair of damping rings, one disposed on each side of the lower arrangement of divider blades for rotation about the lower arrangement of the common axis of the divider blades; the first pair of damping rings are positioned to contact the second pair of damping rings and each pair of damping rings is of a radial dimension to maintain the upper arrangement of divider blades and the lower arrangement of divider blades at a predetermined distance apart , to partially divide the continuous strip of material from the razor blade.

15. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the upper arrangement of the divider blades comprises a plurality of separate blades received on an upper axis of rotation; the lower arrangement of the divider blades comprises a plurality of separate blades disposed on a lower axis of rotation; and a pair of pilot rings, one arranged on the upper shaft and one arranged on the lower shaft to maintain the upper arrangement of the dividing blades in alignment with the lower arrangement of dividing blades in the direction of the common shafts.

16. A machine according to claim 10, characterized in that it further comprises at least one cutting blade in the upper arrangement of cutting blades and at least one cutting blade in the lower arrangement of cutting blades extending beyond its respective arrangement of cutting blades in the direction from a common respective axis to completely divide a band of interconnected blades from an adjacent band of interconnected blades.

17. A machine according to claim 11, characterized in that it also includes a pair of rotating guide wheels, one arranged on either side of the continuous strip, upstream of the edge guide elements and which are brought into contact with the edge of the edge. Strip for further alignment of the continuous strip as it is fed to the edge guiding elements, at least one of the rotating guide wheels is spring driven toward each other.

18. A machine for dividing a continuous strip of razor blade material, which has been partially divided to form a plurality of bands of interconnected blades, characterized in that it comprises: a pair of parallel spaced axes, each containing at least one rotating element; one of the rotating elements comprises a substantially V-shaped external surface, extending substantially around the entire periphery thereof; the other of the rotating elements has a fluted outer surface which extends around the entire periphery thereof in relation to the V-shaped surface and arranged in such a way that the tip of the V-shaped surface is in alignment with the center of the groove to form the grooved surface, the elements are spaced in such a way from one another to contact the upper surface of a continuous strip of razor material that has been partially divided with one of the rotating elements and for contacting the lower surface of the strip with the other of the elements when the strip is fed between the rotating elements; and means for guiding the edges of the strip between the rotating elements to locate a partial cut between the tip of the V-shaped surface and the center of the groove forming the grooved surface to divide the continuous strip into a plurality of bands of interconnected sheets when moving between the rotating elements.

19. A machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the guide means comprise a pair of parallel facing surfaces, spaced apart to receive the continuous strip between them during movement through the machine.

20. A machine according to claim 19, characterized in that the parallel facing surfaces are spaced a distance equal to or less than the width of the continuous strip.

21. A machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the guide means extend between the rotating element to a position adjacent to the point of contact of the rotary elements with the continuous strip.

22. A machine according to claim 19, characterized in that a pair of pressure rollers are arranged upstream of the pair of parallel facing surfaces to receive the continuous strip in clamping relationship therebetween before entering the pair of parallel facing surfaces. .

23. A machine according to claim 22, characterized in that it also includes another pair of parallel facing surfaces, spaced to receive the continuous strip between them and the pressure rollers are located between the pairs of the parallel surfaces.