SHEET TRIMMER

• US 20080264227A1
• Filed: 04/10/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rellinger, Michael, Parrish, Michael, Kennedy, Jeff, Sudmalis, Roland
• Application Number:
  US12/100,929
• Publication Number:
  US 20080264227A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/614
• CPC Class Codes: B23D 35/008 Means for changing the cutting members mounting per se B23D35/002
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/185 for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 2007/2685 flexible mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 3/10 Making cuts of other than simple rectilinear form cutting-out B26F
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 5/00 Arrangements for operating and controlling machines or devices for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/0006 Means for guiding the cutter for hand knives B26B29/06; for band-knives B26D1/54
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/015 for sheet material or piles of sheets B26D7/018 and B26D7/02 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/025 acting upon planar surfaces B26D7/04 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/20 Cutting beds B26D7/018 takes precedence; supporting beds for severing by means of a fluid jet B26F3/008
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/22 Safety devices specially adapted for cutting machines safety devices in general F16P
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/2621 for circular cutters
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 7/2635 for circular cutters
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 9/00 Cutting apparatus combined with punching or perforating apparatus or with dissimilar cutting apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: B26F 1/20 with tools carried by a rotating drum or similar support B26F1/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7507 Guide for traveling cutter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/758 With means to adjust clamp position or stroke
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7763 Tool carrier reciprocable rectilinearly
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7863 Tool pair comprises rotatable tool and nonrotatable tool
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/866 Indicates wear
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/868 Counter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8769 : Cutting tool operative in opposite directions of travel
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/8822 : Edge-to-edge of sheet or web [e.g., traveling cutter]
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/9454 : Reciprocable type

Abstract

A trimmer that is operable to cut at least one sheet includes a base configured to support the at least one sheet and a rail extending across at least a portion of the base. The rail is movable toward the base in a first mode to clamp the at least one sheet between the rail and the base. The trimmer also includes a cutting assembly having a blade slidably coupled to the rail. The blade is operable to cut the at least one sheet. The trimmer further includes a clamping member coupled to the rail. The clamping member is movable relative to the rail and toward the base in a second mode to clamp the at least one sheet between the clamping member and the base.

Claims

1. A trimmer operable to cut at least one sheet, the trimmer comprising:

a base configured to support the at least one sheet;

a rail extending across at least a portion of the base, the rail movable toward the base in a first mode to clamp the at least one sheet between the rail and the base;

a cutting assembly including a blade slidably coupled to the rail, the blade operable to cut the at least one sheet; and

a clamping member coupled to the rail, the clamping member movable relative to the rail and toward the base in a second mode to clamp the at least one sheet between the clamping member and the base.

2. The trimmer of claim 1, wherein the clamping member is positioned substantially within the rail, and wherein at least a portion of the clamping member extends from the rail when the clamping member moves toward the base in the second mode.

3. The trimmer of claim 1, further comprising an actuator coupled to the clamping member, wherein the actuator is operable to move the clamping member relative to the rail in the second mode.

4. The trimmer of claim 3, wherein the actuator is supported by the base.

5. The trimmer of claim 3, wherein the actuator includes a toothed member to releasably secure the clamping member relative to the base.

6. The trimmer of claim 1, wherein, in the first mode, the rail is movable between a first position, in which the rail is spaced apart from the at least one sheet, and a second position, in which the rail clamps the at least one sheet between the base and the rail.

7. The trimmer of claim 1, wherein the clamping member is part of a clamp assembly, and wherein the clamp assembly further includes a first surface and a second surface that engage one another to direct the clamping member relative to the rail and toward the base in the second mode.

8. The trimmer of claim 7, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is a ramp surface, and wherein the first and second surfaces move relative to one another to direct the clamping member relative to the rail and toward the base.

9. The trimmer of claim 1, wherein the rail is configured to clamp up to about fifteen sheets in the first mode and the clamping member is configured to clamp more than about fifteen sheets when in the second mode.

10. The trimmer of claim 1, further comprising a biasing member positioned between the base and the rail, wherein the biasing member biases the rail away from the base.

11. The trimmer of claim 1, further comprising a resilient strip coupled to at least one of the rail and the clamping member, wherein the resilient strip is configured to engage the at least one sheet when the at least one sheet is clamped in at least one of the first mode and the second mode.

12. A trimmer operable to cut at least one sheet, the trimmer comprising:

a base configured to support the at least one sheet;

a rail extending across at least a portion of the base;

a cutting assembly including a blade slidably coupled to the rail, the blade operable to cut the at least one sheet; and

a clamp assembly positioned at least partially within the rail, the clamp assembly including a first member movable in a first direction relative to the rail and a second member movable in a second direction relative to the rail and toward the base, the second member coupled to the first member such that the second member moves in the second direction as the first member moves in the first direction to clamp the at least one sheet between the base and the second member.

13. The trimmer of claim 12, wherein the second direction is substantially vertical relative to the rail.

14. The trimmer of claim 12, wherein the first direction is substantially perpendicular to the second direction.

15. The trimmer of claim 12, wherein the clamp assembly includes an actuator coupled to the first member, and wherein the actuator is operable to move the first member in the first direction.

16. The trimmer of claim 15, wherein the actuator is supported by the base.

17. The trimmer of claim 15, wherein the actuator includes a toothed member to releasably secure at least one of the first member and the second member relative to the base.

18. The trimmer of claim 12, wherein the first member and the second member are positioned substantially within the rail, and wherein at least a portion of the second member extends out of the rail to clamp the at least one sheet between the base and the second member.

19. The trimmer of claim 12, wherein the clamp assembly further includes a first surface and the first member includes a second surface, and wherein the first surface and the second surface engage one another such that, as the first member moves in the first direction, the first member pushes the second member in the second direction.

20. The trimmer of claim 19, wherein at least one of the first surface and the second surface is a ramp surface, and wherein the first and second surfaces move relative to one another such that the first member pushes the second member in the second direction.

21. The trimmer of claim 12, wherein the rail is movable relative to the clamp assembly and the base between a first position in which the rail is spaced apart from the at least one sheet and a second position in which the rail clamps the at least one sheet between the base and the rail.

22. The trimmer of claim 12, wherein the clamp assembly includes a resilient strip coupled to the second member, and wherein the resilient strip is configured to engage the at least one sheet when the at least one sheet is clamped between the base and the second member.