5CLAIMS
1. A method for adjusting the distance between the stitching positions assigned to a rotary stitcher, to a moving material web (5) composed of several lay- ers, said material web (5) passing between a counter-support (35) and a rotating stitching cylinder (1) where said stitching cylinder (1) is caused to penetrate the material web (5) with staples at a distance (Δ) from each other corresponding to a pre-selected shearing length (δ), characterized in that the stitching cylinder (1) of the rotary stitcher is imbued with retardation and acceleration determined by the shearing length (δ) selected.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1 , characterized in that the retardation and acceleration of the stitching cylinder (1) occurs during each revolution of the stitching cylinder.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the variation in speed of the stitching cylinder (1) follows a sine curve superimposed on a selected speed.
4. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the speed variation of the stitching cylinder (1) is achieved by means of a control unit (9) having eccentrically arranged shafts.
5. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the speed variation of the stitching cylinder (1) is achieved through electric control of the motor (7) of the stitching cylinder (1).
6. A method as claimed in any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that an energy storing member (41) imparts energy to the stitching cylinder (1) during ac- celeration and absorbs energy from the stitching cylinder (1) during retardation.
7. A rotary stitching machine provided with a driven stitching cylinder (1) for applying staples to a material at predetermined distance (Δ) along a material web (5) where said distance corresponds to a predetermined shearing length (δ), 6 characterized in that a control unit (9) is arranged to accelerate and retard the stitching cylinder (1) in dependence on the predetermined shearing length (δ).
8. A rotary stitching machine as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that re- tardation and acceleration of the stitching cylinder (1) occurs during each revolution of the stitching cylinder.
9. A rotary stitching machine as claimed in claim 7 or claim 8, characterized in that acceleration and retardation of the stitching cylinder (1) is achieved by the control unit (9) having eccentrically arranged shafts (11, 13) arranged to transmit movement from one shaft (11) to the other shaft (13).
10. A rotary stitching machine as claimed in claim 9, characterized in that the speed control unit (9) comprises a driving mechanism.
11. A rotary stitching machine as claimed in any one of claims 7-10, characterized in that an energy storing member (41) is connected directly or indirectly to the stitching cylinder (1) arranged to absorb energy during retardation of the stitching cylinder (1) and to impart energy during acceleration of the stitching cyl- inder (1).
12. A rotary stitching machine as claimed in claim 11 , characterized in that the energy storing member (41 ) is in the form of a flywheel arranged eccentrically in relation to the ingoing shaft (11) and connected thereto by a second driving mechanism.
13. A rotary stitching machine as claimed in claim 12, characterized in that the second driving mechanism is oriented diametrically opposite to the first driving mechanism.