HK1163016B - Guillotine cutter - Google Patents

Description

Guillotine cutter

Cross Reference of Related Applications

Not applicable.

Statement regarding federally sponsored research or development

Not applicable.

Technical Field

The present invention relates to printers, and more particularly, to a guillotine cutter for a printer.

Background

Many printers print on a continuous roll of media. As the media extends through the printer, it is typically pulled from a roll of media, past the print head, and through an exit chute on the printer. Because the media is continuous, it is sometimes necessary to cut when it is pulled from a roll of media in order to separate the printed portion from the rest of the roll of media. To cut the media from the roll of media, a cutter may be placed near the exit chute and activated to cut the media.

In one type of cutter, a guillotine cutter, the media is fed into an opening between two blades. When the guillotine cutter is activated to cut the media, one of the blades passes the other blade in a direction generally perpendicular to the feed path of the media. Actuating the blades will cut any media in the openings between the blades.

The media cut by the cutter is typically adhesive-backed media placed on a liner. Adhesive-backed media is commonly used for the printing of labels, barcodes and the like that are affixed to an object after printing. Unfortunately, then, cutting the adhesive-backed media is a particularly troublesome task because the adhesive of the media tends to accumulate on the blade after a period of use.

As the blade is used, the adhesive build up on it can gradually degrade the cut quality. When the adhesive accumulates to a certain extent, the media may not be completely cut by the activating blade.

Adhesive build-up on the blade may also cause the cut media to stick to the blade edge. In a guillotine cutter, this sticking can result in the media not being properly fed from the exit chute because the portion of the media cut by the cutting edge continues to follow the cutting edge even after the media has been cut. Solving this problem requires user intervention to remove the media that remains in the guillotine.

Furthermore, although the function of the guillotine is straightforward, it usually also comprises a complex assembly with many parts. These components may include an inner frame, an outer frame, mounting members, bushings, spacers, and additional fasteners for mounting parts. Having a complex assembly increases the cost of the cutter, increases the production time of the cutter, and increases the complexity of the cutter.

Accordingly, there is a need for improvements in a slitter that reduce the accumulation of adhesive on the blade during use of the slitter, improve the ejection of the slit media, and minimize the complexity of the slitter assembly.

Disclosure of Invention

A guillotine cutter for selectively cutting through media is disclosed. The guillotine cutter includes a frame housing, a fixed blade, and a guillotine blade. The frame housing has a media passage extending from an entrance passage to an exit chute. The stationary blade is connected to the frame enclosure. The guillotine blade is movable between a first position and a second position within the frame enclosure. In the first position, the guillotine blade defines a first angle with the media path. In the second position, the guillotine blade slides past the fixed blade to cut the media, and the guillotine blade is angled away from the first position and defines a second angle with the media path. A cutting edge of the guillotine blade pivots toward the exit chute to advance the media through the exit chute.

In one form, the frame enclosure has a plurality of integrally formed support surfaces formed thereon. The guillotine cutter further includes an actuation mechanism coupled to the guillotine blade to actuate the movement of the guillotine blade between the first position and the second position. At least a portion of the actuating mechanism contacts the integrally formed bearing surface of the frame enclosure. The actuating mechanism is operatively connected to a motor that drives the actuating mechanism within the frame enclosure. The actuating mechanism includes a crank assembly. The crank assembly includes a pair of rotatably coupled disks coupled to the guillotine blade and further includes a pair of links coupling the pair of rotatably coupled disks to the guillotine blade. Each link is connected to one of the pair of rotatable coupling disks at a location that is not along an axis of rotation of the pair of rotatable coupling disks.

In another form, the stationary blade includes a drafted angle for collecting adhesive on the media.

In one form, the stationary blade is coated with a coating to reduce a coefficient of friction of the stationary blade.

In another form, the frame enclosure includes a cleaning slot leading to the stationary blade for removing adhesive build-up on the stationary blade.

In yet another form, the exit chute deflects the media downward when the guillotine blade is in the second position to force the media to separate from the guillotine blade.

Other features of a guillotine cutter for selectively cutting media are also disclosed. A guillotine cutter includes a frame housing, a fixed blade, a guillotine blade, and an actuating mechanism. The frame housing has a media passage extending from an entrance passage to an exit chute. The frame enclosure also includes a plurality of integrally formed support surfaces. The stationary blade is connected to the frame enclosure. The guillotine blade is movable within the frame enclosure between a first position defining a first angle with the media path and a second position in which the guillotine blade slides past the fixed blade to cut the media. The actuator mechanism is coupled to the guillotine blade and actuates the guillotine blade between the first position and the second position. At least a portion of the actuating mechanism contacts the integrally formed bearing surface of the frame enclosure.

In one form, the guillotine blade is offset from the first position at an angle at the second position and forms a second angle with the media path. Further, in the second position, a cutting edge of the guillotine blade is angled toward the exit chute to push the media through the exit chute. In the second position, the exit chute deflects the media downward to force the media to separate from the guillotine blade.

In another form, the guillotine cutter is modular.

In one form, the actuating mechanism is operatively connected to a motor within the frame enclosure for driving the actuating mechanism.

In yet another form, the stationary blade includes a drafted angle for collecting adhesive from the media. The stationary blade is coated with a coating to reduce the coefficient of friction of the stationary blade.

In one form, the frame enclosure includes a first frame portion and a second frame portion. In this form, the integral bearing surface comprises a first bearing surface from the first frame portion and a second bearing surface from the second frame portion.

In another form, the actuating mechanism includes a crank assembly. The crank assembly includes a pair of rotatably coupled disks coupled to the guillotine blade and includes a pair of links coupling the pair of rotatably coupled disks to the guillotine blade. Each link is connected to one of the pair of rotatable coupling disks at a location that is not along an axis of rotation of the pair of rotatable coupling disks.

Accordingly, the present invention provides an improved guillotine cutter for a printer. The guillotine cutter includes a guillotine blade, wherein the guillotine blade has a cutting motion to help push the cut media out of the exit chute of the frame, reducing the likelihood that the cut media will be pulled into the frame of the guillotine and require the user to pull it out. In addition, the guillotine cutter includes a frame; the frame has an integrally formed support surface for supporting the various movable components of the cutter to reduce the complexity of the cutter assembly, reduce the number of parts (e.g., by eliminating separate bushings and other similar ancillary components), reduce the time required to assemble the cutter, and ultimately reduce the cost of producing the cutter.

These and other advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the detailed description and drawings. The following is a description of only a preferred embodiment of the invention. To assess the full scope of the invention the claims should be looked to as the preferred embodiment is not intended to be the only embodiment within the scope of the claims.

Drawings

FIG. 1 is an environmental view of a guillotine cutter inserted into a carriage of a printer;

FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the guillotine cutter;

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of the guillotine cutter;

FIG. 4 is a rear partial cross-sectional perspective view of the guillotine cutter;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional side view of the guillotine cutter taken along line 5-5 of FIG. 4 with a guillotine blade in a lower position;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional side view similar to FIG. 5, but with the guillotine blade in an intermediate position cutting the media;

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional side view similar to FIG. 5, but wherein the blade has been moved to an upper position where the media has been completely cut;

fig. 8 is a detailed cross-sectional view taken along line 8-8 of fig. 7, showing the accumulation of adhesive on the blade.

Detailed Description

Referring initially to FIG. 1, a carriage 10 for insertion into a printer is shown. The carriage 10 has a horizontal bottom wall 12. The bottom wall 12 has two vertically extending side walls 14 forming a U-shaped cradle. The two side walls 14 have surfaces opposite to each other. These surfaces include features (e.g., slots, etc.) formed thereon that enable the carriage 10 to support a spool 16 having media 18 wrapped thereon, a print head assembly 20, and a guillotine cutter 22. Most of the components supported by the carriage 10 are designed to be removed for periodic maintenance and/or replacement after consumption. For example, the guillotine cutter 22 is a modular component that is removably inserted into the carriage 10.

In normal operation, the printer operates as follows: media 18 is fed from spool 16 and past a printhead (not shown) in printhead assembly 20 using various print rollers and instructions; as media 18 passes by the printhead, the printhead prints text, images, barcodes, or the like, onto media 18. In the illustrated printing mode, printing is accomplished by thermally transferring ink to the media 18. However, in other printing modes, printing may be accomplished using other methods, including inkjet printing, laser printing, dot matrix printing, etc., to create an image on the media 18. Once the media 18 has been printed, it is fed into the guillotine cutter 22. As will be described in greater detail below, the guillotine cutter 22 cuts the media 18 to sever the printed portion of the media 18 from the remainder of the media 18.

Referring now to FIGS. 2 and 3, the guillotine cutter 22 is shown removed from the carriage 10 of the printer. The guillotine cutter 22 includes a frame 24. The frame 24 has a front frame portion 26 and a rear frame portion 28 that enclose the internal components of the guillotine cutter 22. The front frame portion 26 and the rear frame portion 28 are secured together by a set of screws 29. The rear frame portion 28 is formed with an inlet slot 30 and a cleaning slot 31. The front frame portion 26 has an exit chute 32 formed therein. As best shown in fig. 5, a media path extends from the entrance slot 30 to the exit chute 32. The cleaning slot 31 opens into the blade for periodic cleaning and provides an opening for removal of misfed media.

The guillotine cutter 22 includes laterally outwardly biased support pins for mounting the guillotine cutter 22 in recesses in the side walls 12 of the carriage 10. These support pins include a set of upper support pins 34 having a grippable projection 36 and a set of lower support pins 38. Springs or the like bias the sets of support pins 34 and 38 outwardly. During installation of the guillotine cutter 22 in the carriage 10, the support pins 34 and 38 are pressed inward and then snap back outward into recesses in the side walls 14 of the carriage 10 and secure the guillotine cutter 22 in the carriage 10.

During assembly of the guillotine cutter 22, the two sets of support pins 34 and 38 are inserted between the front frame section 26 and the rear frame section 28. The support pins 34 and 38 act directly on an integrally formed support surface 39 of the frame 24. Therefore, during the manufacturing process of the guillotine cutter 22, there is no need for complicated installation such as insertion of the support pin assembly into the frame 24.

Referring now to FIG. 4, the frame 24 encloses a fixed blade 40 and a guillotine blade 42. The guillotine blade 42 is coupled to an actuation mechanism 46. The actuator mechanism 46 pushes the guillotine blade 42 past the fixed blade 40 to cut the media 18, as described in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 5-7.

The fixed blade 40 is connected to the rear frame portion 28 by a set of screws 44. As best shown in FIG. 8, the fixed blade 40 has a drafted angle 45, forming a fixed blade edge.

The guillotine blade 42 has a movable cutting edge 48 extending between a left end 50 and a right end 52 of the guillotine blade 42. The movable cutting edge 48 is caused to tilt as the guillotine blade 42 extends from the left end 50 to the right end 52. Thus, as the guillotine blade 42 passes the fixed blade 40, a cutting action similar to a pair of scissors is created between the movable cutting edge 48 and the fixed cutting edge.

Near the bottom of each side of the guillotine blade 42, a set of shaft-like projections 54 are formed on either end of the guillotine blade 42 for attachment of the actuator mechanism 46. The projections 54 also extend through a set of slots 55 formed between the front frame portion 26 and the rear frame portion 28 along the transverse connecting seam.

In the form shown, the actuating mechanism 46 includes several components. The actuator mechanism 46 includes a motor 56 and a control panel 58 (shown in fig. 1 as being mounted on an outward facing surface of one of the two side walls 14 of the carriage 10). The motor 56 is secured between the front frame portion 26 and the rear frame portion 28, as viewed from the exterior of the guillotine cutter 22, for connection to a power source (not shown). The motor 56 has an output shaft 59 for driving a gear train 60. The gear train 60 includes a plurality of shafts having gears thereon. One gear of the gear train 60 drives a crank assembly 62 in rotation.

The crank assembly 62 transfers the motion of the gear train 60 to the guillotine blade 42. The crank assembly 62 includes a shaft 64, and the shaft 64 has a disc 66 attached to each end thereof. A gear 69 connected to the shaft 64 engages at least one gear on the gear train 60 to drive the shaft 64 about the axis of rotation 67. In the illustrated form, a tab 68 is formed on the disc 66 at each end of the shaft 64 for rotation with the rotation of the disc 66 and shaft 64. During rotation of the disc 66 and shaft 64, the label 68 will pass a sensor 70 to determine the position of the crank assembly 62.

A set of links 72 in the crank assembly 62 connect each disc 66 to the guillotine blade 42. One end of each link 72 is connected to a projection on the guillotine blade 42 and the other end of each link 72 is connected to a projection 74 formed on each disc 66. The projection 74 is spaced apart from the rotational axis 67. In view of the connectivity of the set of links 72 to the disc 66 and the guillotine blade 42, the links 72 act as cranks to translate the rotation of the shaft 64 and the disc 66 into a linear drive of the guillotine blade 42 at the projection 54.

A plurality of integrally formed bearing surfaces support the crank assembly 62. It is noted that in the illustrated form, the linkage 72 is secured to the projections 54 of the guillotine blade 42 and the projections 74 of the puck 66 by a set of integrally formed bearing surfaces 76 on the side walls of the frame 24. During assembly of the guillotine cutter 22, the link 72 slides over the projections 54 and 74, is inserted between the front frame section 26 and the rear frame section 28, and the front frame section 26 and the rear frame section 28 are then joined together. When the front frame portion 26 and the rear frame portion 28 are coupled together, the crank assembly 62 is enclosed by the front frame portion 26 and the rear frame portion 28. Integrally formed bearing surfaces 76 are formed on the side walls of the front and rear frame portions 26 and 28 to prevent the links 72 from falling off the projections 54 and 74. In addition, a set of integrally formed bearing surfaces 78 support the shaft 64 of the crank assembly 62. As the shaft 64 rotates, the surface of the shaft 64 and the integrally formed bearing surface 78 engage one another.

The presence of the integrally formed bearing surfaces 39, 76 and 78 reduces the number of components required to assemble the guillotine cutter 22. The various components of the guillotine cutter 22 can be simply assembled and placed into the front and rear frame portions 26 and 28, and then the front and rear frame portions 26 and 28 are joined together. The front and rear frame portions 26 and 28 are made of a material having a low coefficient of friction to enhance the performance of the integrally formed bearing surfaces 39, 76 and 78. All of the bearing surfaces of the assembly are surfaces of the front frame portion 26 and/or the rear frame portion 28, eliminating the need for separate bushings, lubrication, spacers, etc., thereby reducing the cost and complexity of assembly.

Referring now to fig. 5-7, the cutting operation is shown.

In FIG. 5, the guillotine blade 42 is in a lower position. In this position, the media 18 may pass through an opening 80 between the fixed blade 40 and the guillotine blade 42 substantially perpendicular to the media path. Typically, when the media 18 is being printed, the guillotine blade 42 is in this lower position so that the media 18 can pass through the opening 80.

In FIG. 6, the guillotine blade 42 is raised to a position. In this position, the movable cutting edge 48 of the guillotine blade 42 passes the fixed blade 40 to cut the media 18. This movement of the guillotine blade 42 occurs when the motor 56 rotates the gear train 60, the rotation of the gear train 60 in turn rotates the spindle 64 and the disk 66, and the rotation of the spindle 64 and the disk 66 in turn drives the link 72 upward, which in turn drives the guillotine blade 42 upward.

Referring now to FIG. 7, the guillotine blade 42 has been moved to a higher position. In this position, the guillotine blade 42 has completely severed the printed portion of the media 18 from the remaining portion of the media 18. Once the cutting of the media 18 is completed, the motor 56 continues to drive the mechanism to the lower position shown in FIG. 5 to reestablish the opening 80 through which the media 18 passes. In the form shown, the motor is driven in one direction throughout the cutting process.

Notably, in FIG. 7, as the guillotine blade 42 approaches the upper position, the guillotine blade 42 tilts or rotates toward the exit chute 32 which defines a non-right angle with the media path. When the guillotine blade 42 is tilted or pivoted toward the exit chute 32, the guillotine blade 42 is offset at an angle relative to the orientation of the guillotine blade 42 in the lower position as shown in FIG. 5. In the illustrated form, the offset condition described above occurs when the guillotine blade 42 is attached between the projection 54 and the linkage 72, is pivotally fixed at its base, and does not have its tip (closest to the movable cutting edge 48) attached to any part and "floats". This tilting or pivoting may be caused by a portion of the frame 24 or other biasing mechanism as the guillotine blade 42 is raised.

The tilting or pivoting of the movable cutting edge 48 of the guillotine blade 42 toward the exit chute 32 slightly increases the contact angle between the media 18 and the movable cutting edge 48 of the guillotine blade 42 to assist in separating the cut media from the guillotine blade 42. This skew or rotation helps separate the media 18 from the guillotine blade 42 if some of the adhesive in the media 18 sticks to the movable cutting edge 48 of the guillotine blade 42 when adhesive is present in the media 18.

In addition, the formation of the exit chute 32 causes the media 18 exiting the exit chute 32 to be pushed downward, thereby facilitating separation of the media 18 that has been cut by the guillotine blade 42. The exit chute 32 has an upper flange at the opening. The upper flange, when extended outwardly from the frame 24, will be inclined downwardly. If and when the cut media contacts the upper lip (typically when the cut media sticks to the guillotine blade 42), the upper lip of the exit chute 32 pushes the cut media downward.

In addition, this tilting or rotating of the guillotine blade 42 helps to push or urge the media 18 through the exit chute 32, thereby reducing the likelihood that the media 18 will become stuck to the guillotine cutter 22 or will not fully exit the exit chute 32.

Referring now to the detailed view of FIG. 8, the build-up of adhesive 82 on the fixed blade 40 and the guillotine blade 42 is shown. The adhesive initially accumulates on the facade of the fixed blade 40 and the back of the guillotine blade 42. The facing surface of the fixed blade 40 is coated with a coating 84 having a low coefficient of friction so that the accumulated adhesive 82 creeps onto the fixed blade 40 away from the blade edge. As the cutting edge 48 of the guillotine blade 42 clears the vertical face of the fixed blade 40, a space is provided for the adhesive 82 to accumulate on the fixed blade 40. In addition, as the guillotine blade 42 passes the fixed blade 40, the edge of the fixed blade 40 slides along the back of the guillotine blade 42, pushing the adhesive away from the back and away from the cutting edge 48. The adhesive build-up on the back of the guillotine blade 42 can be periodically removed by the user through the cleaning slot 31.

It should be appreciated that while a guillotine cutter is described having a guillotine blade that is lifted to cut the media, in other forms the guillotine blade may be lowered to cut the media. If the guillotine blade is lowered, it is contemplated that the cutting edge of the guillotine blade will likewise be skewed or rotated toward the exit chute to assist in separating the cut media from the guillotine blade and to push the cut media away from the exit chute.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the preferred embodiment without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention is not limited to the described embodiments. Reference should be made to the following claims for determining the full scope of the invention.

Claims (9)

1. A guillotine cutter for selectively cutting a media passing therethrough, the guillotine cutter comprising:

a frame housing having a media path extending from an inlet path to an outlet chute;

a fixed blade attached to the frame enclosure; and

a guillotine blade, wherein the guillotine blade is movable within the frame enclosure between a first position defining a first angle with the media path and a second position defining a second angle with the media path, the second position being angularly offset from the first position, wherein the guillotine blade slides past the fixed blade to cut media passing therebetween, and wherein a cutting edge of the guillotine blade is pivoted toward the exit chute to push the media through the exit chute; and

an actuator mechanism coupled to the guillotine blade, the actuator mechanism actuating the guillotine blade between the first position and the second position, the actuator mechanism including a crank assembly including a pair of rotatable coupling disks, the pair of rotatable coupling disks coupled to the guillotine blade by a pair of links coupling the pair of rotatable coupling disks to the guillotine blade, each link of the pair of links coupled to one of the pair of rotatable coupling disks at a position that is not along the axis of rotation of the pair of rotatable coupling disks;

wherein the crank assembly is enclosed by the frame enclosure and the frame enclosure has a plurality of integrally formed bearing surfaces formed thereon, including a first set of integrally formed bearing surfaces formed on lateral walls of the frame enclosure to maintain connection of each of the pair of links to one of the pair of rotatable coupling disks.

2. The guillotine cutter of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the actuator mechanism contacts an integrally formed bearing surface of the frame enclosure.

3. The guillotine cutter of claim 2, wherein the actuator mechanism is operatively connected to a motor in the frame enclosure for driving the actuator mechanism.

4. The guillotine cutter of claim 1, wherein the fixed blade includes a draft angle for collecting adhesive from the media.

5. The guillotine cutter of claim 1, wherein the fixed blade is coated with a coating for reducing a coefficient of friction of the fixed blade.

6. The guillotine cutter of claim 1, wherein the frame enclosure includes a cleaning slot leading to the fixed blade to remove accumulated adhesive from the fixed blade.

7. The guillotine cutter of claim 1, wherein when the guillotine blade is in the second position, the exit chute deflects the media downward, pushing the media away from the guillotine blade.

8. The guillotine cutter of claim 1, wherein the crank assembly further comprises a shaft having the pair of rotatable connecting discs attached to ends thereof, and wherein the plurality of integrally formed bearing surfaces further comprises a second set of integrally formed bearing surfaces that support and engage the shaft of the crank assembly.

9. The guillotine cutter of claim 1, wherein each link of the pair of links is retained on the boss of one of the pair of rotatably connected disks and on the boss on the guillotine blade by a first set of integrally formed bearing surfaces.