US2790498A

US2790498A - Paper cutting device

Info

Publication number: US2790498A
Application number: US408784A
Authority: US
Inventors: Henry M Carscallen
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1954-02-08
Filing date: 1954-02-08
Publication date: 1957-04-30
Anticipated expiration: 1974-04-30

Description

April 30, 1957 H. M. CARSCALLEN PAPER CUTTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 8, 1954 INVENTOR. Henry M. C0r6CO//n April 30, 1957 H. M. CARSCALLEN PAPER CUTTING DEVICE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 8, 1954 FIE 3 'FIEIJE:

R J m/ w N u w; e c m r r A a C N, V n e H PAPER CUTTING DEVICE Henry M. CarscallemSanMateo, Calif.

AppEicatiOB February-S, 1954, Serial No. 408,784

7 -Claims. (Cl. .164.73)

This invention relates 'to a paper cutting device and has for one of itsobjects the provisionof a papercutting device that is simple and easy to operate and that accurately cuts paper along a "line without causing the paper to shift when a considerable number of sheets are cut at one time.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a-paper cutting device having means for tightly clamping paper to be cut toa base, and which means is automatically actuated by movement of the cutter across said base.

The provision of paper-cutters of the type used forcutting a plurality of sheets at a time, or a single sheet, or light cardboard, and which type uses a knife blade that is drawn across a paper support, is not new, but in such structures a separate paper clamping device is usually employed for clamping the paper to the -base or support. In an operation the operator'heretofore may position'the paper sheets on the support. Then the operator actuates a clamp to clamp the paper in position on the support, and after the paper iscut the clamp must be manually released.

With the present device the operator merely positions the paper on the paper support and then the bladecarrier is moved across the supported paper, cutting it, and is then returned to starting position. This actuation of the blade carrier automatically operates -a clamp that clamps the paper to .the support, and the return movementof the blade carrier-to starting position automatically releases the clamp so the :paper can be readily removed. Any desired number .ofsheets, within the capacity of the cutting device maybe cut at onetime, and the clamping means automatically accommodates itself to .the number of sheets.

By the foregoing structure a substantial amount of time is saved in a cutting operation, and the cutting device is free from a confusing number of operations that are present where separate acts are required to clamp and to unclamp the paper. Furthermore, heretofore where such separately actuated clamps .are required, there have been many instances in which theoperatorihas forgotten to actuate the clamp, and valuable documents, drawings and the like have been ruined. By .the present device an unskilled and inexperienced operator can hardly fail to do as good a job as .an expert.

Gther objects .and advantages will appear in :the description and in .the drawings.

in the drawings, Pig. 1 :is azperspective :view of the cutting device.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary part elevational and part sectional-view vof the tcutter and clamping 'lock with the cutter .and its carrier shown just after it has started .to .cut, and in dot-dash line :the cutter is shown in starting position.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged .viewof the carrier for the cutting blade with the half carrying :the :blade removed to;show th int or o th cutter and how it actuates the clamping bar.

ited States Patent receive the rod '6.

piormed to .receive said :rollersupport.

car rier into groove :11 .in the clamping that 10.

A boss or projection :21 in the carrier '16 above 'the "Fig. 4 is a sectional view :taken :along line -4--14 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is :a top "plan view of the gauge element that is on the ,paper supporting base. C

Fig. 6 is a sectional view along line 6-6 of.Fig. .5.

Fig. '7 is a reduced :size semi-diagrammatic :sectional view through the paper-supporting base, and :showingzthe actuation of the paper clamp.

Indetail, the baseior'papen-support is .generally-tlesignated 1, and may be of any suitable material, :such :as .:.a hard .plastic :cornposition :mater'ial, .sheet metal, wood, etc., provided it is :durable and rigid.

This basel is formed iorprovided=withanzupstanding paper aligning ridge 2 :along one edge, :the case being preferably rectangular .in outline. .ilhis z-ridge "provides a straight shoulder against which the :paper ontthesupper side of the base =1' can be aligned.

Base 1 is formed with a straight .-slot '3 extending across .one :end portion' of said base at right angles tto the :ridge 2.

EUpstanding posts .

orstandards

4, 15 are secured to :base 1, and which standards :are adjacent :to but rotfset :to (one .side .of the ends of the slot 3.

51 he upper ends of these standards receiveand :holdthe .ends of arod 16 in aposition spaced :above base l'rat @ne side of 'slot.3 and-parallel Withhthfi latter. Bolts [may secure the .lower ends 50f the standards tolsaidrbase (Fig. 2') and theupper.endsI'ofrthestandards are :formed with .opposedly opening .recesses in which rthetends' :of therod cause it to sospring.

Between :rod 6 and the :base 1 Bis-.a clamping bar (Figs. 1, 7). Thisclamping-bar 10 "has arfairlywide and flat lower rclamp'ing surface :that .may have .ai'friction sur- :face .of rubber or :the dike :that is adapted @to cngage zpap'er positioned :between it ;and base i1, and to prevent-slippage of said paper.

The .upper side of tbar 10 is formed with a central groove 11 (Figs. 1, 2) extending longitudinallythereofi illhus said bar may be said to the of ichannel'form'rlinzcross sectional contour with the open .side 'ofithe channel di- Iected :upwardly whereby the sides of :the channelwill reinforce ..the :bar against :any tendency :to bow upwardly or downwardly at any point therealong. In other-words, it :will stay straight.

As-the clamping .bar .10 is directly below the rod.6 Fig. 4) it is also alongside the slot .13. In :fact, one edge of theclampingibar is substantially even with one side -;.of the slot.

Slidably supported .on the .rod 6 is a blade carr'ier generally designated 13. This carrier is :preferabl y cast or stamped in

separable halves

14, 15 that havecornplementarily formed opposed :recesses adapted to slidably Screw 16 -is adapted to :secure :the 5ha1ves14, '15 together so as to snuglyb'ut slidably :hold :the carrier onto :rod '6. iRecesses .19 indicated in :Fig. .3 are :for complementarily formed projections :on half -;15.

Below :the above mentioned recesses that are :for Ted 6, the carrier halves are recessed :to slidably receive therein a substantially :U-shaped roller "support 17 'QFi'g.

3) :the sides of which :are :vertically slidable against "the inwardly opposed :straight vertical :sides '18 of the recesses A roller 20 is rotatably carried tbythe lower side of the U-Shaped supportxand extends downwardly firorn the 3 roller support 17 is apertured for the screw 16, and at the same time this boss (half being in each of the halves 14, 15) functions to centrally engage the convex side of a leaf spring 22 that is in the form of a bow, the ends of which bow engage the upper ends of the sides 23 of the U-shaped roller support 17 to yieldably urge the support downwardly and to urgeroller 20 into groove 11 (Fig. 3). V p

In the absence of anything preventing said roller 20 from urging the clamping bar downwardly against base 1, the said spring 22 will cause the said bar 10 to very tightly clamp the paper to be out against the support 1 'urge bar 10 to an elevated position so that the sheets of paper to be cut can be slipped between bar 10 and base 1.

When roller 20 is on the rigid member 25 or in the dotdash line position 28 (Fig. 2) the bar 10 will be elevated by springs 27, as the operator grasps carrier 13 and moves it indirection away from ridge 2, in a cutting operation the roller 20 will roll into groove 11 in bar 10 and will firmly but yieldably urge the bar toward and into clamping relation with paper that is below said bar. The full line position in Fig. 2, and the dot-dash line position 29 in Fig. 7 shows the roller 20 in a position holding bar 10 in clamping position.

A cutter blade 30 (Fig. 2) of substantially rhomboidal outline is releasably secured against the side of carrier 13 that is above slot 3, so that cutting edge 31 of said blade will slantingly extend into and through slot 3. Said blade also has a cutting edge 32 opposite edge 31 so as to enable the blade to be reversed, edge for edge, to provide a new cutting edge when one may be dulled.

Preferably, the

cutting edges

31, 32 are respectively formed by bevelling the edge at one side of the blade so that the cutting edge will be planar with the side of the blade that is against the carrier, and said side will virtually be against the side of slot 3 that is nearest the clamping bar 10.

. -.'In this manner when the carrier is drawn across the base away from ridge 2, the paper will be cut by edge 31 and the beveled side of the edge will tend to force the unclamped portion of the paper away from the clamping bar 10.

The bevel 33 shown in Fig. 4 is somewhat exaggerated. Actually it is relatively slight since the blade is not in- :tended to perform a shearing action, but cuts the paper. The positioning of the cutting edge at the side of the slot nearest the clamping bar 10 enables the cutting point on the blade to be almost at the clamping bar 10 so there :-wi1l be no opportunity for the paper to buckle or to tear, even when the blade becomes somewhat dull.

. IA plate 34 is against the side of blade 30 that faces away from carrier 13, and this plate clamps the blade against the carrier by meansof a screw 35 (Fig. 4) that extends through registering openings in blade 30 and plate .34 and into a threaded opening in the corner. A knob or enlargement on one end of said screw facilitates tightening and loosening the blade by rotating said knob.

Asecond opening may be formed in said blade and plate for a positioning lug or projection 37 (Fig. 4) that is rigid on the carrier. Preferably, plate 30 projects below the lower side of thecarrier a short distance as at 38 to reinforce the blade 30 against any tendency to bend during a heavy cutting operation.

I From the foregoing it will be seen that the blade 30 moves with the carrier, hence, as soon as the paper to be cut is positioned on base 1, and the carrier is moved across the base, the paper will be cut by the blade. Finger depressions 39 found in said carrier facilitate gripping it between the thumb and forefinger of a hand.

The paper will always be firmly gripped by the bar 10 adjacent the cutting blade. However, as the cutting blade moves across the base in slot 3, it is desirable that the paper be held by bar 10 along the portion that has been cut, since there is a strain on the paper at the cutting edge of the blade.

Carried by the standard 5 is a locking device 40 (Fig. 2) in the form of a generally segmentally shaped element pivotally suspended at 41 to the standard, and the lower edge 42 of said element is curved eccentrically relative to the pivot 41, and is preferably milled or roughened. The end edge of the clamping bar 10 is below the element 40 and is in engagement with the edge 42 when the said element is free to swing downwardly (Fig. 2). A torsion spring 43 tends to keep edge 41 in engagement with the end edge of bar 16 at any level of said bar. However, when carrier 13 is moved to a position against the standard with roller 20 on the ramp or support 25, it will engage the locking element 40 and will swing the latter to the dot-dash line position 45 out of engagement with bar 10 so the latter can move upwardly under the influence of springs 26. As soon as roller 20 moves off the support 25 in a cutting operation, and moves the bar 10 to clamping position, the edge 42 will automatically follow the end of the bar 10 downwardly and will lock said end down against upward movement until the carrier is returned and releases the locking element. Thus it is seen that the bar 10 is clamped down at the locking element 40 and at the point where the roller 20 is positioned as the cutter moves across the base.

The upper side of base 1 may be formed with an up wardly opening elongated recess 50 that is spaced from and parallel with ridge 2. A gauge element 51 is slidable in this recess and may be clamped to the base by a tapered screw 52 (Fig. 6) that extends threadedly into a split tail 53 on said gauge and in said recess (Fig. 5). A knob 54 on said screw facilitates tightening and loosening the screw.

Also a scale 55 may be formed in the upper surface of the base (Fig. l) alongside the ridge 2. A separate scale may be at opposite sides of the slot 3 for con venience in measuring the paper to be cut.

It is apparent from Figs. 1 and 2 that the cutting blade .and the line of cut are clearly visible to an operator at all times during a cutting operation, which is of great help in accurately making a cut, for there are times when the scale 55 or gauge 51 are not used.

It is to be understood that the title paper cutter and the reference herein to paper are intended to be no more than examples of material that the device is intended to cut. The invention is intended for any use for which it may be adapted.

I claim:

1. A paper cutter comprising: a flat, horizontal base for supporting thereon paper to be cut and having a slot extending thereacross, a bar carried by said support spaced thereabove and parallel therewith, a clamping bar over said base parallel with said slot and alongside the latter for clamping paper on said base against the latter, a cutting blade extending into said slot, a carrier for said blade, said first mentioned bar constituting means on said base for supporting said carrier for movement longitudinally of said slot with said blade in said slot, means on said carrier in yieldable engagement with said clamping bar during said movement for holding said bar against said paper, and a lock movable into locking en gagement'with one end of said bar upon movement of said carrier in direction away from said one end and toward opposite end of said bar, said lock being positioned for engagement with said carrier for movement out of said locking engagement when said carrier is moved to said one end of said bar.

' 21 A paper cutter comprising: aiflat,.substantially rectangular, horizontal base for supporting thereon paper to 'be-cut, an aligning ridge alongone edge of said base projecting upwardly fromsaid basefor positioning said paper thereagainst, a slot formed in said base extending away from said ridge at right angles thereto, a rod carried by said base spaced above the latter and parallel with said slot, a relatively rigid clamping bar below said rod along an edge of said slot and parallel therewith, means yieldably supporting said bar spaced above said base for vertical reciprocable movement of said bar toward and away from said base, a carrier supported on said rod for reciprocable movement substantially from end to end thereof, a member carried by said carrier in movable engagement with said bar, means yieldably urging said member downwardly for moving said clamping bar toward said base at the point on said bar engaged by said member for frictionally holding paper adapted to be positioned between said base and said bar, a cutting blade on and rigid with said carrier adjacent to said member and extending into said slot in all positions of said carrier on said bar for cutting such paper upon movement of said carrier in direction away from said ridge.

3. A paper cutter comprising: a flat, substantially rectangular, horizontal base for supporting thereon paper to be cut, an aligning ridge along one edge of said base projecting upwardly from said base for positioning said paper thereagainst, a slot formed in said base extending away from said ridge at right angles thereto, a rod carried by said base spaced above the latter and parallel with said slot, a clamping bar below said rod along an edge of said slot and parallel therewith, means yieldably supporting said bar spaced above said base, a carrier supported on said rod for reciprocable movement substantially from end to end thereof, a member carried by said carrier in movable engagement with said bar, means yieldably urging said member downwardly for moving said clamping bar toward said base at the point on said bar engaged by said member for frictionally holding paper adapted to be positioned between said base and said bar, a cutting blade on and rigid with said carrier adjacent to said member and extending into said slot for cutting such paper upon movement of said carrier in direction away from said ridge, rigid means adjacent to said ridge onto which said member is movable when said carrier is next to said ridge with said cutter in said slot for supporting said member free from said bar whereby said bar will be free for upward movement.

4. A paper cutter comprising: a flat, substantially rectangular, horizontal base for supporting thereon paper to be cut, an aligning ridge along one edge of said base projecting upwardly from said base for positioning said paper thereagainst, a slot formed in said base extending away from said ridge at right angles thereto, a rod carried by said base spaced above the latter and parallel with said slot, a clamping bar below said rod along an edge of said slot and parallel therewith, means yieldably supporting said bar spaced above said base, a carrier supported on said rod for reciprocable movement substantially from end to end thereof, a member carried by said carrier in movable engagement with said bar, means yieldably urging said member downwardly for moving said clamping bar toward said base at the point on said bar engaged by said member for frictionally holding paper adapted to be positioned between said base and said bar, a cutting blade on said carrier adjacent to said member and extending into said slot for cutting such paper upon movement of said carrier in direction away from said ridge, rigid means adjacent to said ridge onto which said member is movable when said carrier is next to said ridge for supporting said member free from said bar whereby said bar will be free for upward movement, locking means automatically movable into engagement with the said bar at a point adjacent to said ridge upon i6 downward movement of'said bar underQthe .influenceof said member for holding said barin paperclamping :position at said point during movement of said carrier and member in direction across said base and away from said ridge.

5. A paper cutter comprising: a flat Substantially rectangular, horizontal base for supporting thereon paper to be cut, an aligning ridge along one edge of said base projecting upwardly from said base for positioning said paper thereagainst, a slot formed in said base extending away from said ridge at right angles thereto, a rod carried by said base spaced above the latter and parallel with said slot, a clamping bar below said rod along an edge of said slot and parallel therewith, means yieldably supporting said bar spaced above said base, a carrier supported on said rod for reciproc-able movement substantially from end to end thereof, a member carried by said carrier in movable engagement with said bar, means yieldably urging said member downwardly for moving said clamping bar toward said base at the point on said bar engaged by said member for frictionally holding paper adapted to be positioned between said base and said bar, a cutting blade on said carrier adjacent to said member and extending into said slot for cutting such paper upon movement of said carrier in direction away from said ridge, rigid means adjacent to said ridge onto which said member is movable when said carrier is next to said ridge for supporting said member free from said bar whereby said bar will be free for upward movement, locking means automatically movable into engagement with the said bar at a point adjacent to said ridge upon downward movement of said bar under the influence of said member for holding said bar in paper clamping position at said point during movement of said carrier and member in direction across said base and away from said ridge, said locking means being in the path of travel of said carrier when the latter is moved toward and to the end of said rod that is nearest to said ridge and movable under the influence of said carrier out of a position holding said bar in clamping position upon movement of said member onto said rigid means.

6. In a paper cutter having a flat, substantially rectangular base on which paper to be cut is adapted to be supported, and having a slot extending thereacross and a carrier having a cutting blade extending into said slot and means supporting said blade for its movement; a clamping bar between said carrier and said base parallel with and along a side of said slot, springs supporting said bar spaced above said base, a cam-like lock swingingly supported over one end of said clamping bar and having an arcuately downwardly directed edge engageable with said bar at difierent points along said arcuate edge according to the spacing between said bar and said base for holding said bar against difierent thicknesses of paper during said movement.

7. A paper cutter comprising; a base having a flat, horizontal, upper surface for supporting thereon paper to be cut, a clamping bar extending across said upper surface and having a paper engaging lowerside parallel with and facing said surface, means supporting said bar spaced above said surface for movement of said bar toward said surface for clamping said paper against the latter, a cutting blade, a carrier, means for removably securing said blade rigid with said carrier, means for supporting said carrier for movement thereof longitudinally of said bar substantially from end to end thereof and across said base with said cutting blade in cutting relation to said paper, bar actuating means on said car rier movable into engagement with said bar for moving the part of said bar adjacent to said blade into clamping engagement with paper on said surface as said carrier is moved from one end of said bar to the other end, and means carried by said base separate from said bar actuating means cooperatively associated with the latter for releasably holding the portion of said bar extending from Said 'carrier to said one end of said bar in 894,617 clamping relation to paper on said surface upon move- 1,343,722 ment of said carrier toward said other end of said bar. 1,732,148

References Cited in the file of this patent 5 UNITED STATES PATENTS 8314) 427,170 Girtanner May 6, 1890 8 Pearson July 28, 1908 Hosch June 15, 1920 Barrett Oct. 15, 1929 FOREIGN PATENTS France May 30, 1938