US 6,408,727 B1Granted

Paper cutter using a blade lifting mechanism

AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation

InventorsRichard Hunter Harris, Jeff David Thomas, Kevin Hunter Vorhees

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Abstract

A printer mechanism includes a single motor turning a system drive gear in a paper feeding direction, and in a cam driving direction, opposite the paper feeding direction. When the system drive gear is turned in the paper feeding direction, a paper feeding spring clutch drives a paper feed roll with the system drive gear. When the system drive gear is turned in the cam driving direction, a drive cam is driven by a cam driving spring clutch. The drive cam has a first surface driving a moving knife blade across a stationary knife blade in a cutting direction, and in a return direction opposite the cutting direction. With this movement in the cutting direction, the moving knife is held against the stationary knife blade, and, with movement in the return direction, the moving knife is moved away from the stationary knife blade, by means of a second surface of the drive cam. Provision is made to allow the cam driving clutch and cam to return to an original configuration after an event in which knowledge is lost of the operating mode and position of the mechanism.

Apparatus for feeding a paper web, and for cutting said paper web into segments, wherein said apparatus comprises:

a stationary knife blade;
a moving knife blade;
a blade holder holding said moving knife blade and moving with said moving knife blade;
a drive cam including a first cam surface turning in engagement with said blade holder, moving an edge of said moving knife blade in a first direction across and edge of said stationary knife blade to cut said paper web with said paper web extending between said moving knife blade and said stationary knife blade, and subsequently moving said edge of said moving knife blade opposite said first direction;
a paper feed roll feeding said paper web;
a cam driving clutch mandrel;
a paper feed driving clutch mandrel;
a paper feed driven clutch mandrel connected to turn said paper feed roll;
a motor driving said cam driving clutch mandrel and said paper feed driving clutch mandrel in a cam driving direction, and opposite said cam driving direction;
a cam driving tab extending from said drive cam adjacent said cam driving clutch mandrel;
an interposer tab extending from said blade holder adjacent said cam driving clutch mandrel;
a cam driving clutch spring extending around said cam driving clutch mandrel, wherein said cam driving clutch spring includes a first end tab extending outward to engage a first side of said cam driving tab and said interposer tab, wherein said cam driving clutch spring engages said cam driving clutch mandrel when a force is applied to said first end tab opposite said cam driving direction, and wherein said cam driving clutch spring disengages said cam driving clutch mandrel when a force is applied to said first end tab in said cam driving direction;
and
a paper feed driving clutch spring extending around said paper feed driving clutch mandrel and said paper feed driven clutch mandrel, wherein said paper feed driving clutch spring engages said paper feed driven clutch mandrel to turn said paper feed driven clutch mandrel with said paper feed driving clutch mandrel when said paper feed driving clutch mandrel is driven opposite said cam driving direction.

11 more elements

Abstract

Claims20