Configurable cutter mechanism for a printer and method for configuring a cutter mechanism for a printer
AssigneeTransAct Technologies Incorporated
InventorsSteven A. Supron, David E. Weeks, Jeffrey S. Koepele
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A configurable cutter mechanism for a printer and corresponding methods are provided. The cutter mechanism may comprise a rotary cutter mounted for rotation about a rotation axis and for translation across at least a portion of a width of a paper path perpendicular to the rotation axis. A fixed blade assembly may be provided that is adapted to cooperate with the rotary cutter. The fixed blade assembly may extend across the width of the paper path. A controller may be provided for controlling a variable length of travel of the rotary cutter across the width of the paper path. The paper path runs between the rotary cutter and the fixed blade assembly.
Claims14
A configurable cutter mechanism for a printer, comprising:
- a rotary cutter mounted for rotation about a rotation axis and for translation across at least a portion of a width of a paper path perpendicular to the rotation axis, the rotary cutter locating to a home position on one side of the paper path;
- a fixed blade assembly adapted to cooperate with the rotary cutter, the fixed blade assembly extending across the width of the paper path;
- a controller for controlling a variable length of travel of the rotary cutter across the width of the paper path;
- a biasing mechanism for biasing the fixed blade assembly against the rotary cutter such that a blade edge of the fixed blade assembly rises slightly from a first end to a second end of the blade edge, the first end of the blade edge corresponding to the home position of the rotary cutter;
- wherein:
- the paper path runs between the rotary cutter and the fixed blade assembly;
- the rotary cutter translates from the home position across at least a portion of the paper path when performing a cutting operation;
- the biasing mechanism is positioned only at an end of the fixed blade assembly opposite the home position;
- and
- as the rotary cutter translates from the home position across the paper path, the rotary cutter depresses the fixed blade assembly during completion of the cutting operation.
A method for configuring a cutter mechanism for a printer, comprising:
- providing a rotary cutter mounted for rotation about a rotation axis and for translation across at least a portion of a width of a paper path perpendicular to the rotation axis;
- locating the rotary cutter to a home position on one side of the paper path prior to performing a cutting operation;
- providing a fixed blade assembly adapted to cooperate with the rotary cutter, the fixed blade assembly extending across the width of the paper path;
- controlling a variable length of travel of the rotary cutter across the width of the paper path;
- biasing the fixed blade assembly against the rotary cutter via a biasing mechanism such that a blade edge of the fixed blade assembly rises slightly from a first end to a second end of the blade edge, the first end of the blade edge corresponding to the home position of the rotary cutter;
- wherein:
- the paper path runs between the rotary cutter and the fixed blade assembly;
- the rotary cutter translates from the home position across at least a portion of the paper path when performing the cutting operation;
- the biasing mechanism is positioned only at an end of the fixed blade assembly opposite the home position;
- and
- as the rotary cutter translates from the home position across the paper path, the rotary cutter depresses the fixed blade assembly during completion of the cutting operation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.