Sheet trimmer with indicator to display usable life status of blade or blade opposing member

• US 8,424,435 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2008
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: ACCO Brands USA LLC (ACCO Brands Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sudmalis, Roland, Parrish, Michael, Rellinger, Michael, Kennedy, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): Dexter, Clark F.
• Application Number:
  US12/100,932
• Publication Number:
  US 20080250909A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,839 Days
• Field of Search: 83/54, 836/14, 839/55, 83/62, 83/621, 83/69, 83/72, 834/55, 834/71, 834/712, 834/772, 834/81, 834/83, 834/85, 83487-489, 834/91, 835/08, 835/221.1, 835/222.7, 835/222.9, 835/78
• US Class Current: 83/485
• 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 of paper includes a base configured to support the at least one sheet, a rail extending across at least a portion of the base, and a cutting assembly having a carriage slidably coupled to the rail and a blade positioned on the carriage. The trimmer also includes a blade opposing member coupled to the base adjacent to the rail and an indicator operable to display a usable life status of at least one of the blade and the blade opposing member.

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;

a cutting assembly including a carriage slidably coupled to the rail and a blade positioned on the carriage;

a blade opposing member coupled to the base adjacent to the rail; and

an indicator that displays a usable life status of at least one of the blade and the blade opposing member;

wherein the cutting assembly includes a housing, and wherein the blade is movable between a first position in which the blade is positioned entirely within the housing, and a second position in which a portion of the blade extends from the housing; and

wherein the indicator is operable to register usage in response to moving the blade to the second position.

2. The trimmer of claim 1, wherein the indicator is positioned on the cutting assembly.

3. The trimmer of claim 1, wherein the usable life status notifies a user to replace the blade.

4. The trimmer of claim 1, wherein the cutting assembly includes a cartridge detachably coupled to the carriage, and wherein the blade is positioned at least partially within the cartridge.

5. The trimmer of claim 4, wherein the indicator is positioned on the cartridge.

6. The trimmer of claim 5, wherein the cartridge includes a window, and wherein at least a portion of the indicator is visible through the window.

7. The trimmer of claim 1, wherein the blade is biased to the first position, and wherein the cutting assembly includes an actuator operable to move the blade to the second position.

8. The trimmer of claim 7, wherein the indicator includes a disc and a gear train coupled between the actuator and the disc, and wherein the usage is registered by actuating the actuator which activates the gear train to rotate the disc.

9. The trimmer of claim 1, wherein the blade opposing member is a cutting mat removably coupled to the base, and wherein the usable life status notifies a user to replace the cutting mat.

10. The trimmer of claim 1, wherein the blade opposing member includes a first mat portion and a second mat portion positioned on opposite sides of the blade opposing member, and wherein the blade opposing member is reversible from a first position, in which the blade engages the first mat portion, to a second position, in which the blade engages the second mat portion.

11. The trimmer of claim 10, wherein the blade opposing member includes a substrate positioned substantially between the first mat portion and the second mat portion to separate the first and second mat portions.

12. The trimmer of claim 1, wherein the indicator changes from a first condition, indicative of remaining usable life, to a second condition, indicative of recommended replacement.

13. 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 carriage slidably coupled to the rail and a blade positioned on the carriage;

a blade opposing member coupled to the base adjacent to the rail; and

an indicator operable to display a usable life status of at least one of the blade and the blade opposing member;

wherein the cutting assembly includes a housing, and wherein the blade is movable between a first position in which the blade is positioned entirely within the housing, and a second position in which a portion of the blade extends from the housing;

wherein the blade is biased to the first position;

wherein the cutting assembly includes an actuator operable to move the blade to the second position;

wherein the indicator includes a disc and a gear train coupled between the actuator and the disc; and

wherein actuating the actuator activates the gear train to rotate the disc.

14. The trimmer of claim 13, wherein the indicator is positioned on the cutting assembly.

15. The trimmer of claim 13, wherein the usable life status notifies a user to replace the blade.

16. The trimmer of claim 13, wherein the cutting assembly includes a cartridge detachably coupled to the carriage, and wherein the blade is positioned at least partially within the cartridge.

17. The trimmer of claim 16, wherein the indicator is positioned on the cartridge.

18. The trimmer of claim 17, wherein the cartridge includes a window, and wherein at least a portion of the indicator is visible through the window.

19. The trimmer of claim 13, wherein the blade opposing member is a cutting mat removably coupled to the base, and wherein the usable life status notifies a user to replace the cutting mat.

20. The trimmer of claim 13, wherein the blade opposing member includes a first mat portion and a second mat portion positioned on opposite sides of the blade opposing member, and wherein the blade opposing member is reversible from a first position, in which the blade engages the first mat portion, to a second position, in which the blade engages the second mat portion.

21. The trimmer of claim 20, wherein the blade opposing member includes a substrate positioned substantially between the first mat portion and the second mat portion to separate the first and second mat portions.

22. The trimmer of claim 13, wherein the indicator changes from a first condition, indicative of remaining usable life, to a second condition, indicative of recommended replacement.