Cutter blade position detection mechanism and method of reporting cutter malfunction
AssigneeInternational Business Machines Corporation
InventorsRichard Hunter Harris, Jeff David Thomas, Robert Dean Yoder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A sheet cutting device utilizing cutter blades as a position detection mechanism and a method of reporting cutter malfunctions is provided. The sheet cutting device including a cutter having a pair of cutter blades, one of the blades connected to a cutter driving mechanism for moving the blade through a cutting cycle, a power source is connected to one of the blades so that a circuit is closed when the blades contact one another, and a current sensing device in connection with the circuit to identify when the blades are in physical contact.
Claims12
A sheet cutting device comprising:
- a cutter having a first and a second blade;
- a cutter driving mechanism in connection with at least one of said blades for moving said blade through a plurality of positions for cutting material;
- a voltage source in connection with said first blade;
- and
- a current sensing device connected between said voltage source and said cutter for detecting an electrical current when said blades are in contact with one another.
A sheet cutting device comprising:
- a cutter having a first and a second blade, said first blade insulated from electrical ground, said second blade electrically grounded;
- a cutter driving mechanism in connection with at least one of said blades for moving said blade through a plurality of positions for cutting a sheet of material;
- a voltage source in connection with said first blade;
- a current sensing device connected between said voltage source and said cutter for detecting an electrical current when said blades are in contact with one another;
- a counter in connection with said cutter driving mechanism for determining said plurality of positions within a cutting cycle;
- a display unit;
- and
- a processing unit in connection with said current sensing device, said cutter driving mechanism, said counter, and said display unit;
- wherein said processing unit starts and stops said cutter driving mechanism and monitors said current sensing device and said counter for displaying a condition of said cutter.
A printer comprising:
- a frame carrying paper for printing;
- a cutter connected to said frame, said cutter having a first and a second blade, said first blade insulated from electrical ground, said second blade electrically grounded;
- a cutter driving mechanism in connection with at least on of said blades for moving said blade through a plurality of positions for cutting said paper;
- a voltage source in connection with said first blade;
- a current sensing device connected between said voltage source and said cutter for detecting an electrical current when said blades are in contact with one another;
- a counter in connection with said cutter driving mechanism for determining said plurality of positions within a cutting cycle;
- a display unit;
- and
- a processing unit in connection with said current sensing device, said cutter driving mechanism, said counter, and said display unit;
- wherein said processing unit starts and stops said cutter driving mechanism and monitors said current sensing device and said counter for displaying a condition of said cutter.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.