Film cutter assembly

• US 7,921,756 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2000
• Issued: 04/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Berry Global Films, LLC (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AEP Industries Incorporated (Berry Global Group Inc.)
• Inventors: Pavlik, Rudolf, Vegliante, Paul, Neiberger, Sean, Kaiser, Ian
• Primary Examiner(s): Peterson; Kenneth E.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MICHALSKI, SEAN M
• Application Number:
  US09/741,521
• Publication Number:
  US 20020023526A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,765 Days
• Field of Search: 833/74, 831/75, 834/713, 83/56, 836/14, 834/55, 836/13, 83/91, 225/91
• 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 for cutting plastic wrap 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 houses a blade but no wheels, 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 blade is non-rotatable supported in said housing and is angled from said bottom edge of said upper portion and depends from the upper portion to the lower portion and can cut in both directions;

said lower portion of said blade housing slidably moving in said channel, wherein said pair of rails are formed of a first material comprising polyvinyl chloride comprising at least 10% plasticizer which provides an attraction to said plastic wrap received over said rails for attracting said plastic wrap received over said rails for clinging said plastic wrap to said rails before, during and after cutting of said plastic wrap by sliding said blade housing within said channel, wherein said elongated base rail is formed of a second, different material of rigid vinyl or rigid PVC and said first material is coextruded with said second material.

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 blade housing is formed of a flexible material providing lubricity.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said blade housing is formed of acetal or silicon.

5. 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.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said blade is angled at a 30°

angle from said bottom edge of said upper portion.

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

8. The apparatus of claim 7 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 channel having a corresponding tubular shape.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said middle portion has predetermined length to provide a predetermined clearance between said blade and said rails.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 further comprising a pair of end caps releasably attached to either end of said elongated rail base for providing a bumper of said tracking device in said channel with said end caps, said end caps releasing upon application of excessive force.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 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.

12. 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.

13. A method for cutting a plastic wrap comprising

providing the film cutter of claim 1;

receiving said plastic wrap over said pair of rails

clinging said plastic wrap to said rails,

and cutting said plastic wrap with said blade,

wherein said plastic wrap clings to said rails before, during and after cutting of said plastic wrap.