Film cutter assembly

• US 20020023526A1
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Published: 02/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Berry Global Films, LLC (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AEP Industries Incorporated (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Inventors: Pavlik, Rudy, Vegliante, Paul, Neiberger, Sean, Kaiser, Ian
• Granted Patent: US 7,921,756 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 83/614
• CPC Class Codes: B26D 1/065 for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 35/0086 using movable cutting elements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/566 Interrelated tool actuating means and means to actuate work immobilizer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 83/7693 Tool moved relative to work-support during cutting
• 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

The present invention relates to a film cutter assembly in which a blade housing slides along a pair of rails. The blade housing is formed of an upper portion for housing the blade. Either end of the upper portion has a rounded inclined shape from a bottom edge to form a sled shaped runner. The sled shaped runner extends beyond the blade such that the user is prevented from touching the blade. A lower portion of the blade housing slidables bilaterally in a cavity formed below the rails. A clearance is formed between the blade and the rails to allow the blade housing to easily slide over a film to be cut even if the film bunched or doubled over. The upper portion of the blade housing has a concave shape for allowing a user'"'"'s fingers to easily grip the blade housing. Preferably, the rails are formed of a material which provides an attractive charge to attract the film to the rail and help hold the film flat before and after cutting. For example, the rails can be formed of flexible vinyl or acetal.

Claims

1. A film cutter apparatus comprising:

an elongated rail base;

a pair of rails formed at a top surface of said elongated rail base and a channel formed within said rail base and between said rails; and

a blade housing formed of an upper portion and a lower portion;

said upper portion of said blade housing a blade, a bottom edge of said upper portion of said blade housing protruding on either end from said blade and an end surface being rounded and inclined upwardly and from either end of said bottom edge;

said lower portion of said blade housing slidably moving in said channel.

2. The film cutter of claim 1 wherein said upper portion of said blade housing has a grip surface, said grip surface having a concave shape.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rails are formed of a material which is adapted to provide a positive charge to film received over said rail.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 where said rail is formed of a material having a shore A durometer.

5. The apparatus of claim 3 where said rail is formed of a first material selected from the group consisting of flexible vinyl, acrylic or polyvinyl chloride.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said elongated base rail is formed of a second material of rigid vinyl or PVC.

7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said first material is coextruded with said second material.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said blade housing is formed of a flexible material providing lubricity.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said blade housing is formed of acetal or silicon.

10. The film cutter of claim 1 wherein said blade housing is formed of a left section and a right section, said blade is attached to said left section and said right section with a rivet extending through an aperture of said blade.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 where said blade is angled from said bottom edge of said upper portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said blade is angled at a 30°

angle from said bottom edge of said upper portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said lower portion is formed of a tracking device for slidably moving in said channel.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said tracking device is formed of a tubular base, a middle portion attaches said lower portion to said upper portion and said tubular base sliding in said cavity having a corresponding tubular shape.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein said middle portion has predetermined length to provide a predetermined clearance between said blade and said rails.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a pair of end caps adapted to be releasably attached to either end of said elongated rail base for providing a bumper of elongated rail base and releasing upon application of excessive force.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 wherein said end cap includes a pair of male protrusions which engage a pair of respective female receptacles on a side surface of said elongated rail base.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a rear edge of said elongated rail base includes a depression, said depression being adapted to receive a cover of a carton of said film.