Self-adjusting wheel for directly positioning and holding media during a cutting operation in a printer

Abstract

A method and device for directly positioning and holding media against an output platen while a cutter traverses across a media path. A cutter assembly is mounted on an arm which periodically passes over the media, and includes a cutter blade and at least one media restraint wheel which presses the media against the output platen. The media restraint wheel is located in close proximity to the cutter blade, such that the media restraint wheel is upstream from the cutter blade and also is laterally displaced from the cutter blade to achieve direct engagement of the media by the media restraint wheel prior to cutting the media. The media restraint wheel includes a soft rubber-like tire which rolls along a top surface of the media while rotating freely on an vertically adjustable axle, in order to accomodate both thick and thin media, without the need for a separate media hold-down device. A biasing spring presses downwardly against the axle to assure secure holding of the media against the output platen. In a preferred embodiment, at least one opposing wheel upstream from the cutter blade is provided on the cutter assembly for rolling engagement with the output platen to assure proper positioning of the cutter assembly.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.