PURPOSE: To enable a continuous paper web to be traversely cut off at the paper's maximum allowable rate of feed by using a linear motor as a movable upper blade drive device in which a stator is fixed to a support for controlling a knife, and building in the movable upper blade as the runner of the linear motor.

CONSTITUTION: A knife cutting a continuous paper web provided with a perforated tape for carrying into cut paper sheets is constituted into shearing blade arrangement having a movable upper blade 1 and a stationary bottom blade 6, the movable upper blade 1 is supported with a support 4, and driven by a linear motor. The stator 8 of the linear motor 12 is fixed to the support 4, a permanent magnet is used for the runner of the linear motor 12, and the runner is constituted into the movable upper blade 1 itself. Otherwise, Two linear motors 12 are provided on both end parts of the knife, and the permanent magnets are fixedly fitted to both ends of the movable upper blade 1. The upper blade 1 provided with many guide faces is guided so as to move up and down at the support 4. The stationary bottom blade 6 is fixed onto a lower structural material 5 by means of screen 7.