Head assembly for mat cutting machine

A head assembly for a mat cutting machine, comprising:

• a body having a bottom surface with at least one planar area thereon, a rectilinear channel extending from end-to-end through said body and opening on said bottom surface along the entire length thereof, a first surface portion along one side of said body disposed at an acute angle to said planar area and extending substantially parallel to the axis of said channel;
• a first wheel subassembly including a first wheel, and first means for mounting said first wheel on said body for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said channel axis, with at least a rim portion of said first wheel extending beyond said bottom surface at a location adjacent said one side of said body, said first mounting means including an axle member mounted for pivoting on an axis perpendicular to said channel axis, and locking means for securing said axle member in each of a multiplicity of angularly displaced positions pivoted on said axis of pivoting, said axle member having a support portion for supporting said first wheel for rotation about an eccentric axis parallel to said axis of pivoting and offset therefrom, the amount of such first wheel rim portion extension thereby being variable by pivoting of said axle member about said axis of pivoting, both said axle member and also said locking means being disposed on said body so as to permit ready access, for convenient manipulation thereof;
• and contact means, disposed at a location spaced to the opposite side of said channel opening from said one side of said body, for engagement of underlying structure to support said body for slidable movement therealong.

In a mat cutting machine, the combination comprising:

• a base having an upper, mat-supporting surface;
• a handle assembly pivotably mounted upon said base for movement between a position overlying said mat-supporting surface of said base, and a position displaced therefrom;
• a clamping bar assembly pivotably mounted by said handle assembly and including an elongated clamping bar and a substantially coextensive guide rail, said clamping bar having substantially planar top and bottom surface portions extending along the length thereof, and being adapted to rest with said bottom surface disposed substantially upon said upper surface of said base with said handle assembly in said overlying position thereof, said guide rail being affixed on top of said clamping bar and being adapted to slidably mount a cutting head assembly for movement therealong;
• and
• a head assembly comprising:
• a body having a bottom surface with at least one planar area thereon, a rectilinear channel extending from end-to-end through said body and opening on said bottom surface along the entire length thereof, a first surface portion along one side of said body disposed at an acute angle to said planar area and extending substantially parallel to the axis of said channel;
• a first wheel subassembly including a first wheel, and first means for mounting said first wheel on said body for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said channel axis, with at least a rim portion of said first wheel extending beyond said bottom surface at a location adjacent said one side of said body, said first mounting means including an axis member mounted for pivoting on an axis perpendicular to said channel axis, and locking means for securing said axle member in each of a multiplicity of angularly displaced positions pivoted on said axis of pivoting, said axle member having a support portion for supporting said first wheel for rotation about an eccentric axis parallel to said axis of pivoting and offset therefrom, the amount of such first wheel rim portion extension thereby being variable by pivoting of said axle member about said axis of pivoting, both said axle member and also said locking means being disposed on said body so as to permit ready access, for convenient manipulation thereof;
• and a second wheel subassembly, including a second wheel and second means for mounting said second wheel on said body for rotation about an axis perpendicular to said channel axis, with at least a rim portion of said second wheel extending beyond said bottom surface at a location spaced to the opposite side of said channel opening from said one side of said body, said second mounting means being adapted to permit variation of the amount of such second wheel rim portion extension, said head assembly being slidably mounted upon said clamping bar with said guide rail extending through said channel of said body thereof, and with said first and second wheels both bearing upon said top surface portions of said clamping bar to cooperate in supporting said head assembly during movement therealong, and providing the only contact of said head assembly thereupon, said head assembly including blade mounting means on said first surface portion thereof, said blade mounting means being adapted to mount a cutting blade in a plane substantially parallel to said first surface portion of said body and outwardly of said first wheel.