Cutter for steel strapping tool

In combination, a pair of vertically overlapped workpieces, and a cutter implement for undergoing vertical movements with respect to said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces and for compressively cutting an upper one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces while leaving a predetermined portion of a lower one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces structurally intact, comprising:

• said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces having predetermined widthwise dimensions and upper surfaces disposed within substantially parallel planes;
• and
• said cutter implement compressively cutting said upper one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces while leaving said predetermined portion, as considered in the widthwise direction, of said lower one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces structurally intact when said cutter implement experiences vertically downward overtravel with respect to said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces, such that said cutter implement engages said upper surface of said lower one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces;
• said cutter implement comprising a body portion having a cross-sectional configuration which is that of a regular polygon comprising a plurality of substantially identical, parallel, longitudinally extending cutting edges which are disposed substantially parallel to said upper surfaces of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces, wherein the longitudinal extent of said cutting edge is at least equal to the widthwise dimension of said upper one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces such that said upper one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces is cut across its widthwise extent by a particular one of said substantially identical cutting edges of said cutter implement that is disposed transversely across and compressively engaged with said upper one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces;
• and non-cutting recessed means defined within each one of said substantially identical cutting edges of said cutter implement for permitting a predetermined portion of said lower one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces, extending along the widthwise extent therof, to remain intact despite engagement and scoring of other portions of said lower one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces, extending along said widthwise extent thereof, by said particular one of said cutting edges of said cutter implement should said cutter implement experience vertically downward overtravel with respect to said pair vertically overlapped workpieces.

In combination, a pair of vertically overlapped workpieces, and a cutting tool for undergoing vertical movements with respect to said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces and for compressively cutting an upper one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces while leaving a predetermined portion of a lower one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces structurally intact, comprising:

• said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces having predetermined widthwise dimensions and upper surfaces disposed within substantially parallel planes;
• the cutting tool compromising
• an anvil supporting said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces thereon a cutter implement and,
• cutter holder means for holding said cutter implement during vertical movement toward and away from said anvil and said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces supported on said anvil;
• said cutter implement compressively cutting said upper one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces while leaving said predetermined portion, as considered in the widthwise direction, of said lower one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces structurally intact when said cutter holder means, and said cutter implement mounted therein, experiences vertically downward overtravel with respect to said pair of overlapped workpieces, such that said vertically cutter implement engages said upper surface of said lower one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces;
• said cutter implement comprising a body portion having a cross-sectional configuration which is that of a regular polygon comprising a plurality of substantially identical, parallel, longitudinally extending cutting edges which are disposed substantially parallel to said upper surfaces of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces, wherein the longitudinal extent of said cutting edge is at least equal to the widthwise dimension of said upper one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces such that said upper one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces is cut across its widthwise extent by a particular one of said substantially identical cutting edges of said cutter implement that is disposed transversely across and compressively engaged with said upper one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces;
• and non-cutting recessed means defined within each one of said substantially identical cutting edges of said cutter implement for permitting a predetermined portion of said lower one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces, extending along the widthwise extent therof, to remain intact despite engagement and scoring of other portions of said lower one of said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces, extending along said widthwise extent thereof, by said particular one of said cutting edges of said cutter implement should said cutter implement experience vertically downward overtravel with respect to said pair of vertically overlapped workpieces.