Abstract:
A multi-use cutter is especially useful for cutting standard size paper and card stock into business card sizes. The preferred model of the multi-use cutter will measure six inches deep by fifteen inches tall by fifteen and a half inches wide and will be powered by standard 115 volt alternating current power source. The paper stock is sequentially fed into the cutter and can be collected in catch trays. The starting feed stock size can be varied by simply changing the size of the paper guide. Where the cutters are set to produce an American standard sized two by three and a half inch business card, the starting feedstock can be of any size.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to the field of equipment and structures for cutting multiple sheets of paper and card stock into useful sizes, and for scoring sheets to be folded. More specifically the invention relates to a machine having multiple cutting sections each having a different process setup which is especially useful for sequential processing of paper and card stock. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     It is well known in the printing industry to start out with a large sheet upon which printing is to be done and to then cut the larger sheet into smaller sizes. In general, this may be done in either of two ways. At the lowest production end, a manual paper cutter can be used on a single sheet of material. This may be of the lever arm type or of the rotating wheel and ruler edge type. However, the resulting cut shapes can vary depending upon the degree of care used by the operator, and even the best operators are physically incapable of producing a uniform product. 
     At the other end of the scale, large cutting machines are available to simultaneously cut, usually by shearing, large stacks of paper and card stock. These machines are powerful, hydraulic devices which have safety mechanisms to guard against operator accidents. Usually, the operator will center the stack to be cut and then trigger the machine to compress the stack and to cut the stack with a shear blade while the stack is under compression. These machines are extremely expensive and require extensive floor space to be safely located and used. 
     The small sized printers shop cannot afford the larger machine either in terms of money or in terms of space. Thus, the small print shop employee is faced with the prospect of either using a hand operated cutter or taking the printed materials to a larger facility and paying to have the materials cut. 
     With improved printing technology, the small printer has an ever increasing chance to produce high quality printed material which was previously only producible with larger printing presses. The two extremes available for cutting, limit the ability of the small printer to capitalize on the improvements in quality of printing. Given the number of cutting operations which must be performed on a standard sized sheet in order to produce cards, the small printer&#39;s only other option would be to purchase several specialized and expensive cutters. This would not help either in terms of profitability or space occupied. Another option would be the use of an adjustable cutter which would require re-setting before and after each cutting operation. This also consumes valuable time of the small printer and thus reduces efficiency and profitability. 
     What is therefore needed is a machine which will occupy a relatively small space, have a relatively modest cost, and yet produce consistent and high quality cuts in paper and card stock. The machine should be able to operate with as little operator intervention as possible and as automatically as possible. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The multi-use cutter is especially useful for cutting standard size paper and card stock into business card sizes. The preferred model of the multi-use cutter will measure six inches deep by fifteen inches tall by fifteen and a half inches wide and will be powered by standard 115 volt alternating current power source. 
     The starting feed stock size can be varied by simply changing the size of the paper guide. Where the cutters are set to produce an American standard sized two by three and a half inch business card, the starting feedstock can be of any size. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     The invention, its configuration, construction, and operation will be best further described in the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-use cutter of the present invention from the right front, or feed side; 
     FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cutter of FIG. 1 from the rear side and illustrating a catch tray in exploded relationship to the cutter; 
     FIG. 3 is a rear view of the cutter of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the top back cover removed and illustrating the blade shafts and mounted blades and gearing arrangement; 
     FIG. 4 is a side view of the cutter of FIGS. 1-3 and illustrating a plan view of the gearing scheme of the cutter; 
     FIG. 5 is a top view of the cutter of FIGS. 1 and 2 with the top back cover removed and illustrating the relationship of the top most cutter shaft with respect to the top most roller shaft and roller; 
     FIG. 6 is a front or feeder side view of the cutter of FIGS. 1 and 2 and emphasizing the trays and paper stops in position to the rollers and roller shafts; and 
     FIG. 7 is a side sectional view illustrating the operation of one paper tray and the cutter blades and exit slot and illustrating the processing of a stack of paper. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The description and operation of the invention will be best described with reference to FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the multi-use cutter 11 from the front or feed side. Cutter 11 has an electric cord 13 which is connectable with a receptacle 15 within a support plate 17 which serves as the side panel for the cutter 11. A series of four tray hold down feed levers 19 are shown oriented in the upward direction. Also shown adjacent to the receptacle 15 is a fuse holder 21 and an on/off switch 23. 
     Also seen in FIG. 1 are a series of four paper trays, numbered from the top 25, 27, 29, and 31. Paper tray 29 is shown as having a pair of opposing paper guides 33 and 35. The paper guides 33 and 35 are slidably adjustable with respect to the paper tray 29 and thus enable adjustment of the width of the space formed between the paper guides 33 and 35. The other paper trays 25, 27, and 31 have paper guides of an abbreviated length and include paper guides 37 for paper tray 25, paper guides 39 for paper tray 27 and paper guides 41 for paper tray 31. The extended length of the paper guides 33 and 35 reflect the expectation that paper tray 29 will be utilized with longer lengths of paper than the other paper trays 25, 27, and 31. 
     At the top of the cutter 11 is seen the top portion of a one piece top and rear cover 43. At the lower edge of the cutter 11 of FIG. 1 is a front cover 45. To the left side of the cutter 11 is a mechanism cover 47 which abuts a second support plate 49. The support plates 49 and 17 are structurally stable and provide the main supports from which the other components of the cutter 11 depend for support. 
     Referring to FIG. 2, a rear perspective view of the cutter 11 is seen and illustrates the rear portion of the top and rear cover 43. The cover 43 supports several structures including a set of four slots 51, 53, 55, and 57 which correspond to the trays 25, 27, 29, and 31, respectively. Each slot 51, 53, 55, and 57 is formed by punching and leaves a slight overhanging lip over the entrance to each slot 51, 53, 55, and 57. A series of dividers known as card diffusers 59 extend outwardly from the top and rear cover 43. At the leftmost portion of the top and rear cover 43 a covering divider 61 lies to the left of the leftmost diffuser 59 to complete a space into which cards 63 will fall in an orderly fashion after leaving the slot 57. 
     Also shown in FIG. 2 is a catch tray 65 having a planar portion 67 surrounded by an upwardly directed lip 69. At the front of the tray 65 and attached to the planar portion 67 and lip 69 is a front bracket 71 having a pair of keyhole apertures 73. On the exposed side of the top and rear cover 43 is a series of rivet heads or screw heads 75 which are spaced to interfit with the keyhole apertures 73 and to enable the tray 65 to be locked into position just beneath the slots 51, 53, and 55. With this arrangement, one or more trays 65 can be used to catch the processed paper or card stock which flows out of the slots 51, 53, and 55. With three trays 65, all of the slots 51, 53 and 55 will have adequate support for paper which as just been cut. 
     FIG. 3 is a plan view looking into the rear of the cutter 11 with the top and rear cover 43 removed. As can be seen, the support plates 17 and 49 are supported together by a series of support plate spacers 77 located at the bottom and top of the support plates 17 and 49 and at other locations as may be necessary. The spacers 77 may typically be made of metal rod with threaded taps at the ends to enable bolted support through apertures located in the support plates 17 and 49. 
     As can be seen, the switch 23 and the inner portion of the receptacle 15 are shown as being supported by the support plate 17. Each of the tray hold down levers 19 are shown as extending through the support plate 17 and terminate in a series of cam disks 79 which rotate inside of and adjacent the support plate 17. As will be shown, the rotation of the cam discs will cause the raising and lowering of feed trays to enable the paper to engage a feed roller. 
     A series of rotatable members are seen supported by the cutter 11. From the top, a blade shaft 81 cooperates with a blade shaft 83, followed by a scoring shaft 85 which cooperates with a scoring shaft 87, followed by a blade shaft 89 cooperates with a blade shaft 91, followed by a blade shaft 93 cooperates with a blade shaft 95. 
     Each of the pairs of cooperating shafts will rotate in opposite directions as will be shown by their gearing. In order to achieve good pressure between the blades, each of the blade shaft sets is configured using plastic spacers supporting a series of circular blades on one shaft, combined with blades on the associated shaft which are urged along its shaft into contact with the stationary blade. 
     On blade shaft 81, thin circular blades 97, 99 and 101, are separated by a pair of plastic spacers 103 and 105. The spacer 103 separates the circular blades 97 and 99, while the spacer 105 separates the circular blades 99 and 101. The spacers are preferably 33/8 inches long, and of slightly less diameter than the circular blades 97, 99, and 101. The assembly of the blade shaft 81 is secured by engagement of a nut 103 against a threaded portion of the blade shaft 81. 
     The blade shaft 83 carries a series of three reversible, double edged circular blades 107, 109, and 111. Each double edged circular blade 107, 109 and 111 is urged to the right by an associated compression spring 113 each of which acts against an associated snap ring 115 which engages its own groove on the blade shaft 83 (groove not shown). Each of the double edged circular blades 107, 109 and 111 is urged laterally against its associated thin circular blades 97, 99 and 101. 
     Scoring shaft 85 carries a male scoring roller 117, while scoring shaft 87 carries a female scoring roller 119. The male scoring roller 117 carries an angled rib which fits within a female slot on the female scoring roller 119. The scoring rollers are used to place a sharp crease in card stock material passed therebetween. 
     It is understood that instead of scoring rollers 117 and 119, that a perforating wheel set could be used. Perforating wheels are somewhat more like gears in that a male perforating wheel will have a series of shallow projections which are relatively deeper than the projection on the scoring roller 117. A female perforating wheel will have a corresponding series of deeper projections which mate with the male projections on the male perforating wheel. It is further understood that the cutters of the present invention could all be replaced by perforating wheels if it were desired to produce sheets which could be manually separated into smaller card sized sheets, rather than producing the pre-cut smaller card sized sheets. 
     On blade shaft 89, a central double edged circular blade 121 is similarly urged by a spring 113 against a central double edged circular blade 123 located on blade shaft 91. This central cutter of blades 121 and 123 are used for a variety of tasks, including the cutting of invitations. By adjusting the feed tray guides 39 to one side or the other, any dimension of cut can be achieved. This cutter section is particularly useful in combination with the scoring rollers 117 and 119. Invitations which have been cut are typically scored to produce an even fold. 
     On blade shaft 93, and in a similar manner as was shown for blade shaft 81, a series of six thin circular blades 125 are separated by a series of plastic spacers 127. The plastic spacers are preferably 17/8 inches long. On blade shaft 95, a series of six double edged circular blades 129 are urged against the blades 125 of blade shaft 93. Each of the blades 129 have an associated spring 113 and snap ring 115. 
     The nominal dimensions for the lengths of the spacers 103 and 105, in combination with the thickness of the blades 97, 99, 101 give a three and a half inch spacing between the cutting junctions of the blades 97, 99, and 101. Likewise, the nominal dimensions for the lengths of the spacers 127, in combination with the thickness of the blades 125 yield a two inch spacing between the cutting junctions of the blades 125. 
     On the right side of FIG. 3, at the bottom, an electric motor 131 is mounted to the support plate 49. The motor 131 has a drive shaft 133 which extends through the support plate 49 and to the outside of the support plate 49 where it is attached to a drive gear 135. Drive gear 135 engages a first driven gear 137 attached to blade shaft 95. First driven gear 137 engages a second driven gear 139 which is attached to blade shaft 93. Second driven gear 139 engages a third driven gear 141 which is attached to blade shaft 91. Third driven gear 141 engages a fourth driven gear 143 which is attached to blade shaft 98. Fourth driven gear 143 engages a fifth driven gear 145 which is attached to blade shaft 87. Fifth driven gear 145 engages a sixth driven gear 147 which is attached to blade shaft 85. Sixth driven gear 147 engages a seventh driven gear 149 which is attached to blade shaft 83. Finally, seventh driven gear 149 engages an eighth driven gear 151 which is attached to blade shaft 81. 
     Referring to FIG. 4, a side view looking upon the support plate 49 better illustrates the drive gear 135, and the driven gears 137, 139, 141, 143, 145, 147, 149 and 151. As can be seen by the gearing arrangement of FIG. 4, the driven gear adjacent pairs 137/139, 141/143, 145/147, and 149/151 turn oppositely and in a direction that causes paper stock being cut to be pulled through the blade shafts associated with such adjacent pairs of driven gears. 
     In addition, the driven gears 139, 143, 147, and 151 are shown as being fitted with drive pulleys 155. As is shown in FIG. 4, each of the drive pulleys 155 is fitted with a drive band 156 which engages a series of driven pulleys. Driven pulleys 157, 159, 161, and 163 are driven by the driven gears 139, 143, 147, and 151, respectively. The driven pulleys 157, 159, 161, and 163 are associated with roller shafts 165, 167, 169, and 171. The roller shafts 165, 167, 169, and 171 are connected to rollers 173 shown in phantom, whose purpose is to feed sheets to the cutter wheels. 
     As can also be seen from FIG. 4, a thumbscrew 175 is utilized to adjust the paper guide 33. The thumbscrew 175 provides needed assistance for the fixation of the paper guide 33 due to the significant overhang of the paper guide 33. As also shown in phantom, there is a series of paper trays 181, 183, 185, and 187 which are spring loaded to be naturally urged upwardly. The cam disks 79 can be rotated to force the trays 181, 183, 185, and 187 downwardly to facilitate the loading of paper onto the trays. 
     When the cutter 11 is operating, all of the mechanical components are running. The cam disks 79 is rotated to force the trays 181, 183, 185 and 187 downwardly to enable paper to be loaded but yet not engaged by the rollers 173 located over the trays 181, 183, 185, and 187. When the cam disks 79 are rotated away from urging contact with the trays 181, 183, 185, and 187, the rollers 173 will begin feeding the paper. In this manner, the machine can be operated, one tray at a time using tray hold down levers 19 to selectably operate upon each of the trays 181, 183, 185, and 187. The cam disks 79 are rotated down by angularly displacing the tray hold down levers 19 into a position to cause the cam disks 79 to eccentrically force the associated tray 181, 183, 185, and 187 downwardly against its upwardly springingly urged force. 
     Note that the trays 181, 183, 185, and 187 are pivotally attached between the support plates 17 and 49 at pivot attachment points 189. When the levers 19 are actuated, each of the trays 181, 183, 185, and 187 pivots about its associated pivot attachment point 189, to lower and make space between the tray and the rubber roller 173. Once paper is loaded in, the release of the levers 19 enables the particular tray 181, 183, 185, and 187 to be urged upwardly to cause any paper stock supported by the tray to engage the rubber rollers 173. Once motor 131 begins actuation, paper will be drawn into the cutting blade areas, one sheet at a time, to begin cutting. 
     Referring to FIG. 5, a top view of the cutter 11 as is shown in FIG. 4 shows the spatial arrangement of the structures which are nearest the top of the cutter 11. As can be seen, blade shaft 81, which is driven by the driven gear 151, drives the roller shaft 171 through the combination of the pulley 155, drive band 156, and the driven pulley 163. Roller shaft 171 drives the rubber roller 173 which feeds any paper or card stock present through the cutters 97, 99, and 101. 
     Also seen in FIG. 5 is a series of three slots 201, 203, and 205; through which project a series of three paper stops 207, 209 and 211. The paper stops 207, 209 and 211 are fixedly mounted and the three slots 201, 203 and 205 enable the paper tray 25 to pivot up and down without movement of the paper stops 207, 209 and 211. In this manner when the tray 25 is full, the paper stops 207, 209 and 211 extend maximally upwardly with respect to the tray 25 to prevent forward movement of the paper stack. As the paper stack dissipates while the tray 25 rises, the top page of the paper stack will always be able to clear its way over the top of the paper stops 207, 209 and 211. 
     Referring to FIG. 6 a view looking into the feed side of the cutter 11 illustrates that the paper stops 207, 209 and 211 are supported by a paper stop bracket 215 which extends between the support plates 17 and 49 in much the same manner as the support plate spacers 77. There are four paper stop brackets 215, each of which supports a set of three paper stops 207, 209 and 211. Each tray 25, 27, 29, and 31 has the same arrangement with respect to the paper stop brackets 215 and paper stops 207, 209 and 211 as was the case for the tray 25. Thus, the feeds for each of the four process sections is controlled in a similar manner. 
     The manner of attachment of the paper stops 207, 209 and 211 to the paper stop brackets 215 may be in any of a number of ways, but attachment by screws extending into the brackets 215 and through the paper stops 207, 209 and 211 is one desirable method. As is shown in FIG. 6, screws 217 may be used. In addition, screws 219 may be used to attach the brackets 215 to the support plates 17 and 49. 
     Referring to FIG. 7, a side sectional view illustrates in more detail the workings of the cutter 11, as well as the manner in which each of the paper trays 25, 27, 29, &amp; 31 are spring biased. The tray 25 has a stack of paper 231, one sheet 233 of which is being cut as it is passed between blades 101 and 111. Note that the right edges of the stack of paper 231 are stopped by the paper stop 207, yet the one sheet 233 has had the clearance to pass over the paper stop 207 and on through the blades 101 and 111. The pivot point 189 is seen as being at the center of a paper tray pivot shaft 235. A flange 237 is connected to the bottom of the tray 25 and has an aperture 239 through which the paper tray pivot shaft 235 extends. The paper tray 25 and flange 237 is pivotable about the paper tray pivot shaft 235. A spring 241 surrounds the paper tray pivot shaft and urges the flange 237 circumferentially about the paper tray pivot shaft 235 to cause the tray 25 to be pivotally biased in the counterclockwise direction with respect to FIG. 7. This biasing causes the end of tray 25 adjacent the slot 201 to be urged upwardly toward the rubber roller 173. The magnitude of bias should be sufficient to offset the pivoting moment produced by the weight of the tray 25 and the weight of the stack of paper 231. 
     In this manner, when the tray 25 is full, and the paper tray 25 is tilted down, the paper stops 207, 209 and 211 are maximally extended upwardly from the surface of the paper tray 25 and provide a tall stop for the stack of paper 231. As the paper is fed through the cutters 97, 99, and 101, the stack of paper 231 starts to dissipate enabling the tray 25 to be angularly pivotally displaced in the counterclockwise direction to keep the top of the stack of paper urged against the rubber roller 173. In this manner, the stack of paper 231 is fed through a single sheet at a time with minimal overlap. As each sheet 253 is cut, it exits through the slot 51, and possibly into the catch tray 65 shown in FIG. 2. The energy to operate the cutter 11 is significantly less than would be the case for a full hydraulic cutting press. This is accomplished by cutting the sheets singly, rather than as a pressurized stack. However, the mechanical nature of the cutter 11 produces high quality, uniform cut sheets. 
     While the present invention has been described in terms of a cutter, as well as processes for making, using and constructing the cutter, one skilled in the art will realize that the structure and techniques of the present invention can be applied to many appliances. The present invention may be applied in any situation where uniform product is to be sequentially processed with minimum set-up time. 
     Although the invention has been derived with reference to particular illustrative embodiments thereof, many changes and modifications of the invention may become apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, included within the patent warranted hereon are all such changes and modifications as may reasonably and properly be included within the scope of this contribution to the art.