US3675523A

US3675523A - Paper cutter

Info

Publication number: US3675523A
Application number: US42947A
Authority: US
Inventors: Milton Alden
Original assignee: Alden Research Foundation
Current assignee: Alden Electronics Inc
Priority date: 1970-06-03
Filing date: 1970-06-03
Publication date: 1972-07-11
Anticipated expiration: 1989-07-11

Abstract

The invention consists of a paper cutter having an endless belt to which is attached a cutting blade.

Description

United States Patent Alden 1451 July 1 1, 1972 541 PAPER CUTTER UNITED STATES PATENTS [72] Inventor: Milton Alden, Needham, Mass. 2.792.890 5/1957 Dyken ..83/6l4 X 1,015,190 1 1912 Dem 1 ..83/326 [731 Amine 32; mum, l.737,l46 11/1929 Castricum ..s3/3s3 122 Filed: June 3, 19-10 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 211 Appl. No.: 42,947 249,966 2 1912 Germany ..s3/3 26 Primary Examiner-Jm M. Meister 52 us. 01 ..s3/167, 83/40l 83/523, AtwmeyNorman s. 13164 611 83/524. 83/661, 346/24 511 1111.121 ..B26d 5/08 ABSTRACT [58] Field Search The invention consists ofa paper cutter having an endless belt 83/326,614 346/24 16 which is attached :1 Cutting blade.

[56] Relerences Cited 9 Claim, 9 Drawing guns PATENTEDJULH m2 3,675,523

sum 10F 3 fiazmor: Jfilfan mam PATENTEDJUL 1 l 1972 SHEET 30F 3 Q u I PAPER CUTTER BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION There are many occasions when it is desirable to shear a strip of paper as it emerges from a machine. This is particularly true in the case of graphic communication where, for instance, it may be desirable to separate the front end of the strip bearing a newly arrived message from the remainder of the strip which has yet to receive a message imprint. When messages arrive sporadically, it is desirable to sever each message unit as it arrives, rather than keep it in a coil with others. An instance of this need is in the case where the messages are sales invoices which must be cut into individual slips and stacked for future distribution.

Shears have been developed in the past for this purpose, but have suffered from a number of deficiencies. They have always been complicated and expensive and have required constant maintenance to remain operative. It has always been difficult to change cutting blades. In the case of push button activated shears, they have had a tendency to "repeat" if the operator depressed the push button too long. These and other difficulties experienced with the prior art devices have been obviated in a novel manner by the present invention.

It is, therefore, an outstanding object of the invention to provide a paper cutter which is simple in nature, rugged in construction, inexpensive to manufacture, and which is capable of a long life of useful service with a minimum of maintenance.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a paper cutter which will cycle only once in response to the activation of a push button, irrespective of whether or not the push button is continuously depressed.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a paper cutter which is adapted to be used in a recorder and which has a blade which can be changed from the front of the recorder without difficulty.

It is another object of the instant invention to provide a paper cutter having a movable blade which is mounted on a resilient belt so that shocks encountered by the blade in cutting are readily absorbed.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a cutter that will operate equally well on either wet or dry paper.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a cutter for paper strip in which no part of the shear continuously contacts the strip, so that there is little wear of the shearing element and infrequent need to replace it.

With these and other objects in view, as will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the invention resides in the combination of parts set forth in the specification and covered by the claims appended hereto.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general, the invention has to do with a paper cutter for use in an apparatus, such as a graphic communications recorder, having a conveyor through which a paper strip passes. An endless belt is mounted adjacent the conveyor and has a straight run passing on one side of the strip. Means is provided to drive the belt and a blade is mounted on the belt to engage and shear the strip on occasion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The character of the invention, however, may be best understood by reference to one of its structural forms, as illustrated by the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. I is a perspective view of a recorder having a paper cutter built in accordance with the principles of the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view of the recorder taken on the line II-ll of FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a horizontal sectional view taken on the line III III of FIG. I with the blade in non-cutting position,

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an electrical circuit used in the invention,

FIG. 5 is a plan view of a blade used in the invention,

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of the blade,

FIG. 7 is an elevational view of a belt and blade as viewed along the line VII-VII of FIG. 3,

FIG. 8 is a sectional view of the invention taken on the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 3, and

FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken on the line lX-lX of FIG. 3 with the blade in cutting position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring first to FIG. I, wherein are best shown the general features of the invention, the paper cutter, indicated generally by the reference numeral 10, is shown in use with a graphic communications recorder II having a display attachment [2. The recorder is of the type shown and described in the patent of Alden, U.S. Pat. No. 3,417,405 which issued on Dec. 17, I968. It has a housing 13 to the bottom edge of which is hingedly attached a cover I4. Formed in the cover is a window I5 from the sides of which extend stub rollers 16 and I7 which act on a paper strip to move it upwardly through a gap between the housing and the upper end of the cover. Hingedly mounted on the front face of the display attachment is a clear plastic plate I8 having outwardly flared ends behind which the paper strip passes.

In FIG. 2, it can be seen that the display attachment [2 is provided with a pair of spaced, parallel rubber belts 19 mounted on

pulleys

21 and 22 one which is driven. A straight run of the belt presses against the plate 18 to clamp and move a paper strip 23 upwardly. A paper pocket 20 is provided to receive the severed portions of paper. The paper cutter 10 is mounted partially on the recorder within the attachment l2 and partly on the upper edge of the cover 14. Mounted on the side of the recorder is a push button switch 24.

FIG. 3 shows the details of the layout of the paper cutter 10 on the upper surface of the recorder. Mounted on the upper edge of the cover 14 is a nylon guide 25 whose rear edge lies on the front side of the paper strip 23 as it emerges from the recorder. 0n the other side of the paper strip lies a straight run of a resilient belt 26 which extends in a triangular path around two

idler pulleys

27 and 28 and a drive pulley 29. A backing plate 3| lies in back of the straight run as the belt proceeds from the pulley 28 to the pulley 27. The belt moves in another straight run from the pulley 27 to the pulley 29; beside this run lies a metal reed 32 having a pivot 33 at one end and a nylon pad 34 at the other end. The reed can be swung about the pivot 33 on occasion by an electromagnet 35 to a second position (shown in dotted lines) and, in that position, engages the finger of a micro-switch 36, which is a double-throw switch, as will be described more fully hereinafter. Attached to the belt and extending outwardly of the loop is a blade 37. A motor 38 for the drive pulley 29 is mounted below the surface within the recorder housing.

In FIG. 4 it can be seen that an electrical power source 39 is connected in series with the push button switch 24 and the motor 38. A normally closed contactor 41 of the micro-switch 36 is connected between the switch 24 and the motor 38. A normally open contactor 42 of the switch 36 is connected on one side to a point between the switch 24 and the contactor 41 and on the other side to one side of the coil of the electro-magnet 35. The other side of the electro-magnet is connected to a point between the motor 38 and the source 39. In other words, the contactor 42 and the electro-magnet 35 are connected is series with each other and in parallel with the series combination of the contactor 41 and the motor 38.

FIGS. 5 and 6 show the details of the blade 37. It is formed as a sheet metal stamping of generally trapezoidal shape with a sharped edge 43 along an inclined side. A lug 44 is bent upwardly along the opposed side.

FIG. 7 shows a section of the belt 26 which is formed of rubber similar elastomer material so as to have a cylindrical body 45 from diametrically opposite sides of which extend integral fingers 46. The body is pierced to provide a slot 47 within which lies the blade 37 with its lug 44 on the back side of the belt.

In FIG. 8 it can be seen that the drive pulley 29 consists of two spaced

parallel disks

48 and 49 mounted on a vertical shaft 51 which is connected to he motor 38. Each disk is provided with radially extending fingers 52 having the same spacing as the fingers 46 on the belt 26, so that rotation of the shaft 51 causes movement of the belt along its path.

In H6. 9, it can be seen that the guide 25 is provided with a flared slot 53 in which the blade 37 slides as it passes along the front straight run between the pulley 28 and the pulley 27. The lug 44 of the blade is backed up by the plate 31.

The operation of the apparatus will now be readily understood in view of the above description. With the recorder 11 operating, the paper strip 23 leaves a gap between the cover 14 and the housing 13 and proceeds upwardly between the forward surface of the display attachment l2 and the clear plastic plate 18. The movement of the belts 19 along the rear surface of the plate 18 pulls the paper strip upwardly so that the message or picture can be seen. If the recorder is no longer receiving a communication, the paper stops moving. If the operator of the recorder wishes to remove the recently received message from the machine, he uses the paper cutter to sever the strip and it is then possible to remove the upper end of the strip. He does this by pressing the push button switch 24, which completes a circuit (referring to FIG. 4) from the source 39, through the switch 24, through the normally closed contactor 41, through the motor 38, and back to the source. The energization of the motor in this way causes the idler pulley 29 to move the belt 29 which carries the blade 37 with it. The blade moves across the paper in the straight run between the

pulleys

28 and 27. As the blade starts this run, its outer end engages the guide 25 and, because of the flared nature of the slot 53, is drawn into the slot. The blade would tend to droop on the belt, because the belt is resilient, but the slot 53 maintains the blade in a horizontal aspect as it traverses the paper. This same action would take place, even if the paper were not stopped at the time of the shearing.

When the blade 37 passes around the pulley 27 and starts toward the pulley 29, it strikes the pad 34 on the reed 32. This pivots the reed about its pivot 33, so that it strikes the switch 36. The normally closed contactor 41 is opened, which serves to shut off the motor 38. At the same time, the normally open contactor 42 is closed and the electro-magnet 35 is energized. The electromagnet holds the reed in its second" position and the motor remains out of operation. No matter how long the operator depresses the push button switch 24, the motor will not operate and the blade will not cut across the paper strip a second time. When he removes his finger from the push button switch, however, the electro-magnet circuit will be opened, de-energizing the electro-magnet, releasing the reed and closing the contactor 4|. The apparatus is then ready for another cutting cycle.

It will be understood that the push button switch 24 can be replaced by a switch operated by other means, such as from a signal sent along at the end of the graphic communication. Whatever the length of the message, the cutter operating signal may originate in the scanner and be transmitted to the recorder as part of the communication. The signal to operate the cutter can be produced at the scanner by means of a mag netic spot on the copy, a visual spot picked up by optical means, or even a mechanical notch or hole at the edge of the copy picked up by a feeler switch.

It is obvious that minor changes may be made in the form and construction of the invention without departing from the material spirit thereof. It is not, however, desired to confine the invention to the exact fonn herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

The invention having been thus described, what is claimed as new and desired to secure by Letters Patent is:

I claim:

l. A paper cutter, comprising a. a conveyor over which a paper strip passes,

b. an endless belt mounted adjacent the conveyor in the form of a loop having a straight run lying adjacent the strip, the belt passing around three pulleys arranged in a triangle, the straight run extending between two idler pulleys, while the third pulley is driving,

c. means driving the belt,

d. a blade mounted on the belt, the belt being formed of an elastorner material and being provided with a longitudinal slot through which the blade extends, the blade being provided with a lug extending transversely of the belt on the side of the belt opposite the side on which the cutting edge of the blade is located, and

e. a backing plate is located beside the straight run for engagement by the lug to prevent the blade from being pushed through the slot when it engaged the paper strip.

2. A paper cutter, comprising a. a conveyor over which a paper strip passes,

b. an endless belt mounted adjacent the conveyor in the form of a loop having a straight run lying adjacent the strip, the belt passing around three pulleys arranged in a triangle, the straight run extending between two idler pulleys, while the third pulley is driven,

c. means driving the belt, and

d. a blade mounted on the belt, the belt being formed of an elastomer material and being provided with a longitudinal slot through which the blade extends,

characterized by the fact that an electric motor is connected to the driven pulley, a power source is connected in series with the motor and with a normally open first switch, a normally closed second switch is also located in series with the first switch, a normally open third switch and the coil of an electromagnet are connected in series with each other and in parallel with the normally closed second switch and the motor, and a reed is contacted by the blade during each cycle of the belt to cause it to move to a second position and operate to open the normally closed second switch, the energization of the coil causing the electromagnet to hold the reed in the second position until the first switch is released.

3. A paper cutter, comprising a. a conveyor over which a paper strip passes, the conveyor being in the form of a vertically extending loop,

b. an endless belt mounted adjacent the conveyor in the form a loop having a straight run lying adjacent the strip,

c. means driving the belt,

d. a blade mounted on the belt, and

e. a storage pocket mounted at the upper end of the loop to receive separated portions of the paper strip.

4. A paper cutter as recited in claim 3, wherein a guide is mounted parallel to the straight run and is formed with a slot in which the outer end of the blade lies as it passes through the straight run.

5. A paper cutter as recited in claim 4, wherein the slot is flared to allow the blade to enter the slot more easily.

6. A paper cutter as recited in claim 3, wherein the belt passes around three pulleys arranged in a triangle, the straight run extending between two idler pulleys, while the third pulley is driven.

7. A paper cutter as recited in claim 6, wherein the belt is formed of an elastomer material and is provided with a longitudinal slot through which the blade extends.

8. A paper cutter as recited in claim 7, wherein the blade is provided with a lug extending transversely of the belt on the side of the belt opposite the side on which the cutting edge of the blade is located, and wherein a backing plate is located beside the straight run for engagement by the lug to prevent the blade from being pushed through the slot when it engages the paper strip.

9. A paper cutter as recited in claim 7, wherein an electric motor is connected to the driven pulley, wherein a power source is connected in series with the motor and with a normally open first switch, wherein a normally closed second cause it to move to a second position and operate to open the normally closed second switch, the energization of the coil causing the electromagnet to hold the reed in the second position until the first switch is released.

Claims

1. A paper cutter, comprising a. a conveyor over which a paper strip passes, b. an endless belt mounted adjacent the conveyor in the form of a loop having a straight run lying adjacent the strip, the belt passing around three pulleys arranged in a triangle, the straight run extending between two idler pulleys, while the third pulley is driving, c. means driving the belt, d. a blade mounted on the belt, the belt being formed of an elastomer material and being provided with a longitudinal slot through which the blade extends, the blade being provided with a lug extending transversely of the belt on the side of the belt opposite the side on which the cutting edge of the blade is located, and e. a backing plate is located beside the straight run for engagement by the lug to prevent the blade from being pushed through the slot when it engaged the paper strip.

2. A paper cutter, comprising a. a conveyor over which a paper strip passes, b. an endless belt mounted adjacent the conveyor in the form of a loop having a straight run lying adjacent the strip, the belt passing around three pulleys arranged in a triangle, the straight run extending between two idler pulleys, while the third pulley is driven, c. means driving the belt, and d. a blade mounted on the belt, the belt being formed of an elastomer material and being provided with a longitudinal slot through which the blade extends, characterized by the fact that an electric motor is connected to the driven pulley, a power source is connected in series with the motor and with a normally open first switch, a normally closed second switch is also located in series with the first switch, a normally open third switch and the coil of an electromagnet are connected in series with each other and in parallel with the normally closed second switch and the motor, and a reed is contacted by the blade during each cycle of the belt to cause it to move to a second position and operate to open the normally closed second switch, the energization of the coil causing the electromagnet to hold the reed in the second position until the first switch is released.

3. A paper cutter, comprising a. a conveyor over which a paper strip passes, the conveyor being in the form of a vertically extending loop, b. an endless belt mounted adjacent the conveyor in the form a loop having a straight run lying adjacent the strip, c. means driving the belt, d. a blade mounted on the belt, and e. a storage pocket mounted at the upper end of the loop to receive separated portions of the paper strip.

9. A paper cutter as recited in claim 7, wherein an electric motor is connected to the driven pulley, wherein a power source is connected in series with the motor and with a normally open first switch, wherein a normally closed second switch is also located in series with the first switch, wherein a normally open third switch and the coil of an electromagnet are connected in series with each other and in parallel with the normally closed second switch and the motor, and wherein a reed is contacted by the blade during each cycle of the belt to cause it to move to a second position and operate to open the normally closed second switch, the energization of the coil causing the electromagnet to hold the reed in the second position until the first switch is released.