Patent Publication Number: US-6990884-B2

Title: Vertical rotary multi-functional trimming apparatus

Description:
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to a trimming apparatus, and more particularly, to a vertical rotary multi-functional trimming apparatus. 
   2. Description of the Prior Art 
   As is well known, a paper cutter is a trimming apparatus for efficiently cutting paper into small sheets. Please refer to  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 1  is a diagram of a prior art paper cutter. The conventional paper cutter  10  includes a base  11 , a rail  12 , a carriage  13  and a trimming element. The base  11  is for placing the material to be trimmed, the rail  12  is fixed on the base  11 , and the carriage  13  is slidably mounted on the rail  12 . The trimming element is mounted on the carriage  13  and is a single specific trimming element, such as a razor blade, that is comprised in the conventional paper cutter  10 . When the paper is put into a gap between the rail  12  and the base  11 , the user may press down the carriage  13  against the paper. By sliding the carriage  13  along the rail  12 , the paper is cut into two pieces by the blade mounted on the carriage  13 . 
   The conventional paper cutter mentioned above is specifically used to divide paper completely. In the case that paper is to be intermittently cut (or perforated) to be easily torn off by hand later or to be marked with a folding line to be easily folded by hand, another kind of trimmer will be needed for the specific requirement, which is thus cost-ineffective and space-inefficient. Accordingly, there are trimmers in the market that require the user to change different blades for different trimming effects. However, it is dangerous and inconvenient for users to change these blades. 
   Besides, it is very easy for the paper to become piled up (or jammed) when the blade slides on the paper due to the friction between the blade and the paper. This is another one of the flaws in the conventional desktop paper cutter. To avoid this drawback, there are products in which a guiding slit is positioned on the base along the track that the blade slides on. Though the design of the guiding slit may help to release the piling up problem of the paper, it increases the complexity of the paper cutter. 
   SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
   It is therefore a primary objective of the claimed invention to provide a vertical rotary multi-functional trimming apparatus. 
   Briefly described, the claimed invention discloses a vertical rotary trimming apparatus for trimming a material. The vertical rotary trimming apparatus includes a base for placing the material, a rail mounted on the base, a plurality of trimming elements for trimming the material, a carriage slidably mounted on the rail, an engagement device comprising a plurality of engagement units, and a fixer for engaging with the engagement units of the engagement device in order to fix the positions of the engagement device and the plurality of trimming elements. The plurality of trimming elements are rotatably connected to the engagement device, and the engagement device is capable of actuating the plurality of trimming elements by rotating on a plane perpendicular to the base. 
   It is an advantage of the present invention a plurality of different rotary trimming elements for rotating on the material and trimming the material are utilized. Different trimming functions may be switched easily in the present design. The problem of the material piling up or becoming jammed is avoided because the friction between the material and the trimming element due to the rotating of the trimming element is less than is due to the sliding of the trimming element. 
   These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments that are illustrated in the various figures and drawings. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram of a prior art paper cutter. 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention trimming apparatus. 
       FIG. 3  is a partial diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention trimming apparatus. 
       FIG. 4  is a partial diagram of the first embodiment of the present invention trimming apparatus when the first unit is pressed. 
       FIG. 5  is a diagram of a first trimming element included in the present invention trimming apparatus. 
       FIG. 6  is a side elevation of the first trimming element shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       FIG. 7  is a diagram of a second trimming element included in the present invention trimming apparatus. 
       FIG. 8  is a side elevation of the second trimming element shown in  FIG. 7 . 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram of a third trimming element included in the present invention trimming apparatus. 
       FIG. 10  is a side elevation of the third trimming element shown in  FIG. 9 . 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram of a fourth trimming element included in the present invention trimming apparatus. 
       FIG. 12  is a side elevation of the fourth trimming element shown in  FIG. 11 . 
       FIG. 13  is a partial diagram of a second embodiment of the present invention trimming apparatus. 
       FIG. 14  is another partial diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention trimming apparatus. 
       FIG. 15  is a diagram of a fixer included in the second embodiment of the present invention trimming apparatus. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
   Please refer to  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 2  is a diagram of a first embodiment of the present invention trimming apparatus.  FIG. 2  illustrates a trimming apparatus  200  comprising a base  210 , a rail  220 , a carriage  230  slidably mounted on the rail  220 , an engagement device  270 , a fixer  250 , and a cover  240 . The present invention is a multi-functional trimming apparatus including a plurality of different trimming elements, wherein the trimming elements are rotatably connected to the engagement device  270 . The carriage  230  includes an observation window  260  for observing an indication on the engagement device  270  to allow indication of which trimming element is utilized by the trimming apparatus  200 . Please refer to  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3  is a partial diagram of the trimming apparatus  200 . In  FIG. 3 , the carriage  230 , the engagement device  270 , the fixer  250  and the plurality of trimming elements  281 ,  282 ,  283  and  284  are shown but the cover  240  in  FIG. 2  is removed. The fixer  250  comprises a first unit  252  and a second unit  254 . One end of the first unit  252  is fixed on the carriage  230  and another end is connected with the second unit  254 . The engagement device  270  comprises four engagement units  271 ,  272 ,  273  and  274 . Each of these four engagement units is a concavity (i.e. slot, hole, etc). The four trimming elements  281 ,  282 ,  283  and  284  are rotatably connected with the engagement device  270 . As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , when the second unit  254  inserts into the concavity of the engagement unit  271  and engages with it, the positions of the engagement device  270  and the trimming elements  281 ,  282 ,  283  and  284  are all fixed. Therefore the trimming element  281  is exposed, and thus rotates on the material and trims the material when the carriage  230  slides along the rail  220 . 
   When a different trimming element is needed for a different trimming function, the first unit  252  included in the fixer  250  may be pressed down to raise the second unit  254  and disengage the second unit  254  from the engagement device. Consequently, the position of the engagement device  270  is not fixed, and the engagement device  270  may be rotated on a plane perpendicular to the base, hence the positions of the trimming elements  281 ,  282 ,  283  and  284  are shifted. Please refer to  FIG. 4 . Shown in  FIG. 4 , as the first unit  252  is pressed down, the second unit  254  is raised and disengaged from the engagement unit  271 . At this moment the user may hold the cross-shaped holder of the engagement device  270  sticking out the cover  240  for rotating the engagement device  270  and changing the trimming element to be utilized accordingly. For instance, when the user rotates the engagement device  270  clockwise and turns the engagement unit  272  to the place under the second unit  254 , the second unit  254  slips into the engagement unit  272 , engages with it, and fixes the positions of the engagement device  270  and all the trimming elements. Therefore the trimming element  282  is exposed and is capable of rotating on the material for trimming it along with the sliding of the carriage  230 . If a trimming element other than the trimming element  282  is desired, the user can repeat the aforementioned steps after the trimming element  282  is switched to, or the user may press down the first unit  252  continuously such that the second unit  254  remains raised until the target engagement unit is turned to under the second unit  254 . 
   The present invention is a rotary trimming apparatus in which the trimming elements rotate on the material. The rotation can reduce the friction between the trimming element and the material to be trimmed, and hence reduce the problem of piling up (or material jamming) in the conventional paper cutter. Please refer to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 5  is a diagram of a first trimming element  50  used in the present trimming apparatus. The first trimming element  50  is a rotary cutter, and the perimeter of the rotary cutter  50  is sharp. When the present trimming apparatus is switched to the rotary cutter  50 , the rotary cutter  50  is capable of rotating on the material that is placed on the base and cutting the material apart as the carriage slides along the rail.  FIG. 6  is a side elevation of the rotary cutter  50  in  FIG. 5 . Please refer to  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  is a diagram of a second trimming element  70  included in the present trimming apparatus. The second trimming element  70  is a rotary gear-shaped blade, and the perimeter of the rotary gear-shaped blade  70  comprises sharp saw-teeth. When the present trimming apparatus is switched to the gear-shaped blade  70 , the gear-shaped blade  70  is capable of rotating on the material that is placed on the base and cutting the material intermittently as the carriage slides along the rail.  FIG. 8  is a side elevation of the gear-shaped blade  70  in  FIG. 7 . Please refer to  FIG. 9 .  FIG. 9  is a diagram of a third trimming element  90  included in the present trimming apparatus. The third trimming element  90  is a rotary wavy-line cutter, and the perimeter of the rotary wavy-line cutter  90  is sharp and wavy. When the present trimming apparatus is switched to the rotary wavy cutter  90 , the rotary wavy cutter  90  is capable of rotating on the material that is placed on the base and cutting the material apart in a wavy curve as the carriage slides along the rail.  FIG. 10  is a side elevation of the rotary wavy cutter  90  in  FIG. 9 . Please refer to  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 11  is a diagram of a fourth trimming element  110  included in the present trimming apparatus. The fourth trimming element  110  is a rotary blunt blade, and the perimeter of the rotary blunt blade  110  is arc-shaped. When the present trimming apparatus is switched to the rotary blunt blade  110 , the rotary blunt blade  110  is capable of rotating on the material that is placed on the base and forming a folding line on the material as the carriage slides along the rail.  FIG. 12  is a side elevation of the rotary blunt blade  110  in  FIG. 11 . 
   When using the present trimming apparatus, the user may need some indication of which trimming element is utilized for performing correct trimming. Please refer to  FIG. 2 . As illustrated above, the carriage  230  includes an observation window  260  for observing an indication on the engagement device  270  to allow indication of which trimming element is utilized by the trimming apparatus  200 . The engagement device in the present invention further comprises a plurality of indications corresponding to the plurality of trimming elements, such that the user may observe the indication of which trimming element is utilized through the observation window  260 . 
   Different fixers and different ways for engaging with the engagement device may be used in the present invention. Please refer to  FIG. 13 .  FIG. 13  is a partial diagram of a second embodiment of the claimed trimming apparatus. A carriage  1330 , an engagement device  1370 , a cover  1340  and an observing window  1360  are illustrated in  FIG. 13 . The engagement device  1370  is further connected with a plurality of trimming elements. Please refer to  FIG. 14 . In  FIG. 14 , the carriage  1330 , the engagement device  1370  and the plurality of trimming elements  1381 ,  1382 ,  1383  and  1384  are shown, but the cover  1340  is removed. The engagement device  1370  includes four engagement units  1371 ,  1372 ,  1373  and  1374 , and each of these four engagement units is a concavity. The four trimming elements  1381 ,  1382 ,  1383  and  1384  are rotatably connected with the engagement device  1370 . Please refer to  FIG. 15 .  FIG. 15  is a diagram of a fixer  1340  included in the second embodiment of the claimed trimming apparatus. The fixer  1340  is simply the cover shown in  FIG. 13 . The illustration in  FIG. 15  shows the inner side of the cover  1340 . The fixer  1340  is connected on the carriage  1330  and comprises four fixing units  1341 ,  1342 ,  1343  and  1344 . Each of these four fixing units is a prominent part.  1345  is a hole through which the cross-shaped holder of the engagement device  1374  extends out. When each of the fixing units inserts into an engagement unit separately and is engaged with the engagement unit, the positions of the engagement device  1370  and the four trimming elements  1381 ,  1382 ,  1383  and  1384  are fixed. Therefore one of the trimming elements is exposed and may rotate on the material and trim the material when the carriage  1330  slides along the rail. 
   There is a spring between the engagement device  1370  and the carriage  1330  in the second embodiment of the present invention. When a different trimming element is needed for a different trimming function, the user may press the engagement device  1370  against the carriage  1330  so the engagement device  1370  leaves the fixer  1340  and the engagement units are disengaged from the fixing units. Therefore the position of the engagement device  1370  is not fixed, and the user may hold the cross-shaped holder of the engagement device  1370  extending out the engagement device  1370  for changing the trimming element. For instance, assume that the engagements units  1371 ,  1372 ,  1373  and  1374  are engaged with the fixing units  1342 ,  1343 ,  1344  and  1341  respectively, and the trimming element  1381  is exposed so that the trimming element  1381  may rotate on the material and trim the material as the carriage  1330  slides along the rail. When the engagement device  1370  is pressed down and is rotated clockwise, and the engagement units  1371 ,  1372 ,  1373  and  1374  are rotated to the positions corresponding to the fixing units  1341 ,  1342 ,  1343  and  1344  respectively, and the fixing units  1341 ,  1342 ,  1343  and  1344  will slip into the engagement units  1371 ,  1372 ,  1373  and  1374  and engage with the engagement units  1371 ,  1372 ,  1373  and  1374  respectively. Hence the positions of the engagement device  1370  and the trimming elements are fixed, such that the trimming element  1382  is exposed and may rotate on the material and trim the material as the carriage  1330  slides along the rail. Similarly, if a trimming element other that the trimming element  1382  is desired, the aforementioned steps can be repeated after the trimming element  1382  is switched on, or the user may press down the engagement device  1370  and rotate it continuously until the target trimming element is exposed so that the fixing units are engaged with the engagement units in order for fixing the positions of the engagement device and the trimming elements. 
   The present invention provides a practical multifunctional trimming apparatus. The trimming apparatus supports cutting, intermittent cutting, cutting in a wavy curve and forming a folding line. In contrast to the prior art, each trimming element trims the material in a rotary way, so the flaw of material piling up or becoming jammed due to the friction of the sliding of the trimming element is avoided. Different engagements of the fixer and the engagement device may be utilized to fix and switch the trimming elements. In addition, the design of the observing window allows indication of which trimming element is utilized. 
   Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.