Knife Damage: Causes and Prevention

Problem

Cut quality degrades — ragged cuts, incomplete cuts, or marks on the seal edge — and inspection of the blade shows chipping, uneven wear or looseness in its fixture.

Possible Causes

1. Foreign material or product entered the cutting zone.
2. The blade contacts its anvil or fixture because clearance is out of adjustment.
3. The blade is worn beyond its usable life.
4. The blade fixture has loosened after handling or vibration.
5. Incorrect handling during changeover or cleaning.

What to Check

• STEP 1Inspect the blade edge.Locked out per procedure, examine the cutting edge for chips and uneven wear under good light.
• STEP 2Check the fixture.Verify the blade is secured at the documented torque — do not retighten onto debris.
• STEP 3Verify cutting clearance.Confirm the blade-to-anvil relationship matches the machine manual's specification.
• STEP 4Look for foreign material.Check the cutting zone and product path for debris, product scraps or dropped parts.
• STEP 5Review recent events.Check the shift log for jams, interventions or changeovers preceding the damage.

Corrective Actions

• Replace damaged blades — request via the spare parts form with the part number and photos of the edge.
• Correct clearance per the machine manual before running with a new blade.
• Keep the cutting zone on the daily cleaning check to prevent debris build-up.
• Follow the documented changeover procedure for blade handling, and log every replacement with running hours.