Patent Description:
Grafting apparatuses are known. While existing crafting apparatuses perform adequately for their intended purpose, improvements to crafting apparatuses are continuously being sought in order to advance the arts.

<CIT> discloses an electronic cutting machine including at least one housing to which a drive roller is coupled for moving a sheet to be cut in a first direction and a cutter assembly coupled to the housing and moveable in a second direction that is perpendicular to the first direction.

The present disclosure provides a portion of a cutting device as detailed in claim <NUM>. Advantageous features are provided in dependent claims.

One aspect of the disclosure provides a portion of a cutting device of a crafting apparatus including a support rod, a blade housing including a blade, a support member, a support member moving device and at least one spring. The blade is arranged opposite a workpiece support surface. The support member supports the blade housing. The support member is movably-connected to the support rod. The support member moving device is connected to the support member. The support member moving device drives movement of the support member relative the support rod in two directions including a lifting direction for lifting the blade away from the workpiece support surface and a cutting direction for driving the blade toward the workpiece support surface. The at least one spring connects the support member moving device to the support member.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations the at least one spring includes at least one non-linear spring circumscribing the support rod.

In some examples, the at least one non-linear spring circumscribing the support rod includes a first non-linear spring and a second non-linear spring.

According to the invention, the first non-linear spring includes a light spring and the second non-linear spring includes a heavy spring. The light spring provides a lower spring constant at lower cutting forces for the blade when the support member moving device drives movement of the support member in the cutting direction. The heavy spring provides a higher spring constant at higher cutting forces for the blade when the support member moving device drives movement of the support member in the cutting direction.

In some instances, the portion of the cutting device of the crafting apparatus includes a washer having a central passage that is sized for permitting the support rod to extend there-through. The washer includes a first non-linear spring support surface and a second non-linear spring support surface that is opposite the first non-linear spring support surface. A first end of the first non-linear spring is disposed adjacent the first non-linear spring surface of the washer. A first end of the second non-linear spring is disposed adjacent the second non-linear spring surface of the washer.

In some configurations, a second end of the first non-linear spring is disposed adjacent a surface of the support member moving device. A second end of the second non-linear spring is disposed adjacent a surface of the support member.

In some examples, the support member moving device includes a rack-and-pinion drive mechanism including a rack and a pinion. The rack defines a central passage that is sized for permitting the support rod to extend there-through. A first end of the first non-linear spring is disposed adjacent a first non-linear spring support surface of the rack.

In other examples, the first non-linear spring support surface of the rack further defines a first non-linear spring-receiving cavity that is co-axially-aligned with the central passage extending through the rack.

In some instances, the portion of the cutting device of the crafting apparatus further includes a washer having a central passage that is sized for permitting the support rod to extend there-through. The washer includes a first non-linear spring support surface and a second non-linear spring support surface that is opposite the first non-linear spring support surface. A second end of the first non-linear spring is disposed adjacent the first non-linear spring surface of the washer. A first end of the second non-linear spring is disposed adjacent the second non-linear spring surface of the washer. A second end of the second non-linear spring is disposed adjacent a surface of the support member.

In some configurations, the portion of the cutting device of the crafting apparatus further includes a balance spring having a first end and a second end. The first end of the balance spring is disposed adjacent a balance spring support surface of the rack. The balance spring support surface of the rack is opposite the first non-linear spring support surface of the rack. The second end of the balance spring is disposed adjacent a balance spring support surface of the support member.

In some examples, the portion of the cutting device of the crafting apparatus includes a drive shaft, an encoder and a motor. The drive shaft includes a first end and a second end. The first end of the drive shaft is connected to the pinion. The second end of the drive shaft is connected to the encoder. The motor drives rotation of the drive shaft. The encoder and the motor are communicatively-connected to a central processing unit. The central processing unit includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising actuating the motor for controlling rotation of the drive shaft for causing corresponding rotation to the pinion and determining an amount of rotation of the drive shaft in view of a feedback signal received from the encoder.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a portion of a cutting device of a crafting apparatus including a blade housing and a housing supporting the blade housing. The blade housing includes a blade arranged opposite a workpiece support surface. The blade housing includes a driven gear. The blade housing includes an exterior surface having one or more surface portions. The housing includes a blade housing rotating mechanism and a rotation sensor. The blade housing rotating mechanism rotates the blade housing about a rotation axis. The rotation sensor senses rotation of the blade housing about the rotation axis.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the rotation sensor is arranged opposite the one or more surface portions of the exterior surface of the blade housing.

In other examples, the one or more surface portions is defined by a plurality of rotation sensor signal feedback surface portions that are separated by a plurality of rotation sensor signal feedback interruption surface portions.

In some instances, the plurality of rotation sensor signal feedback surface portions are configured to reflect a signal generated by the rotation sensor as the blade housing is rotated by the blade housing rotating mechanism. The plurality of rotation sensor signal feedback interruption surface portions are configured to interrupt the signal generated by the rotation sensor as the blade housing is rotated by the blade housing rotating mechanism. The reflection and interruption of the signal generated by the rotation sensor defines a periodically-interrupted reflected feedback signal received by the rotation sensor.

In some configurations, the rotation sensor is communicatively-connected to a central processing unit. The central processing unit includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising identifying a style of the blade connected to the blade housing in response to receiving the periodically-interrupted reflected feedback signal from the rotation sensor.

In some examples, the rotation sensor is communicatively-connected to a central processing unit. The central processing unit includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising determining an amount of rotation of the blade housing in response to receiving the periodically-interrupted reflected feedback signal from the rotation sensor.

In other examples, the rotation sensor is communicatively-connected to a central processing unit. The central processing unit includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising identifying a style of the blade connected to the blade housing and determining an amount of rotation of the blade housing in response to receiving the periodically-interrupted reflected feedback signal from the rotation sensor.

In some instances, the blade housing rotating mechanism includes a motor and a drive gear. The drive gear is connected to the motor that rotates the drive gear. The drive gear is connected to the driven gear of the blade housing such that rotation of the drive gear by the motor imparts rotation of the driven gear of the blade housing.

In some configurations, the drive gear is connected to a gear train.

In some examples, the housing further includes a blade housing lifting-lowering mechanism. The blade housing lifting-lowering mechanism moves the blade housing in two directions along the rotation axis being: a lifting direction for lifting the blade away from the workpiece support surface and a cutting direction for driving the blade toward the workpiece support surface.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure provides a method for operating a portion of a cutting device of a crafting apparatus. The method includes: connecting a blade housing to a housing; arranging a rotation sensor opposite one or more surface portions of the exterior surface of the blade housing; rotating the blade a housing about a rotation axis; utilizing the rotation sensor for sensing rotation of the blade housing about the rotation axis.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the method further includes directing a signal from the rotation sensor toward the one or more surface portions of the exterior surface of the blade housing. The one or more surface portions is defined by a plurality of rotation sensor signal feedback surface portions that are separated by a plurality of rotation sensor signal feedback interruption surface portions. The plurality of rotation sensor signal feedback surface portions are configured for reflecting the signal back to the rotation sensor as the blade housing is rotated by the blade housing rotating mechanism. The plurality of rotation sensor signal feedback interruption surface portions are configured for interrupting the signal generated by the rotation sensor as the blade housing is rotated by the blade housing rotating mechanism for defining a periodically-interrupted reflected feedback signal received by the rotation sensor.

In some examples, the rotation sensor is communicatively-connected to a central processing unit. The central processing unit includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising identifying a style of the blade connected to the blade housing in response to receiving the periodically-interrupted reflected feedback signal from the rotation sensor.

In other examples, the rotation sensor is communicatively-connected to a central processing unit. The central processing unit includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising determining an amount of rotation of the blade housing in response to receiving the periodically-interrupted reflected feedback signal from the rotation sensor.

In some instances, the rotation sensor is communicatively-connected to a central processing unit. The central processing unit includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising identifying a style of the blade connected to the blade housing and determining an amount of rotation of the blade housing in response to receiving the periodically-interrupted reflected feedback signal from the rotation sensor.

One aspect of the disclosure provides a portion of a crafting apparatus that conducts work on a workpiece defined by a workpiece front surface and a workpiece rear surface. The workpiece front surface is defined by a first color. The workpiece front surface includes one or more fiducial markings defined by a second color. The portion of a crafting apparatus includes a workpiece support surface, a color sensor device and a central processing unit. The workpiece support surface supports the workpiece rear surface of the workpiece. The color sensor device is arranged opposite the workpiece support surface and the workpiece front surface. The color sensor device includes a red-green-blue illumination source that emits red-green-blue light. The color sensor device includes a red-green-blue sensor that detects reflected red-green-blue light that is reflected from the workpiece front surface including one or more fiducial markings. The central processing unit is communicatively-coupled to the color sensor device. The central processing unit includes data processing hardware and memory hardware in communication with the data processing hardware, the memory hardware storing instructions that when executed on the data processing hardware cause the data processing hardware to perform operations comprising receiving a signal from the red-green-blue sensor including information related to the reflected red-green-blue light and identifying a location of the one or more fiducial markings arranged on the workpiece front surface.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the first color defining the workpiece front surface is a first non-white color. The second color defining the one or more fiducial markings is a second non-white color.

In some examples, the operations further include varying the red-green-blue light emitted by the red-green-blue illumination source toward the workpiece front surface.

In other examples, identifying a location of the one or more fiducial markings arranged on the workpiece front surface includes detecting a ratio of a maximum amount of a color associated with the received signal versus a minimum amount of the color associated with the received signal.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a portion of a cutting device of a crafting apparatus including a blade-keying assembly. The blade-keying assembly includes a blade having a base portion and a key body disposed over the base portion. The blade-keying assembly includes a blade housing defining a blade-receiving opening that permits access to a blade-receiving bore that is correspondingly-sized for receiving the key body and the base portion of the blade.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the key body includes a barrel portion and a key portion extending from the barrel portion.

In some examples, the blade-receiving opening and the blade-receiving bore are defined by a first surface portion, a second surface portion and at least one intermediate surface portion. The first surface portion is sized for receiving the key portion of the key body. The second surface portion is sized for receiving some of the base portion of the blade. The at least one intermediate surface portion extends between and connects the first surface portion and the second surface portion that is sized for receiving the barrel portion of the key body.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure provides a portion of a cutting device of a crafting apparatus includes a blade assembly. The blade assembly includes a circular rotary blade and an over-molded circular hub. The over-molded hub extends over opposite sides of the circular rotary blade. An outer circumference of circular rotary the blade extends radially beyond an outer circumferential end surface of the over-molded circular hub for exposing a sharp cutting edge of the rotary blade.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the over-molded circular hub includes a central body portion having a surface that defines a central fastener-receive passage.

In some examples, the over-molded hub is formed from a material selected from the group consisting of plastic, copper and steel.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a blade-changing kit that interfaces with a portion of a cutting device of a crafting apparatus. The blade-changing kit includes a sleeve portion defining a cavity that is sized for engagement with at least one surface portion of one or more of a blade housing and a fastener-securing portion. The sleeve portion defines a passage that is configured for alignment with a fastener passage of one or more of the blade housing and the fastener-securing portion.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the fastener-securing portion is a nut. The at least one surface portion of the nut includes more than one surface portion of the nut.

In some examples, the passage is sized for receiving a distal tip of a fastener-engaging portion.

In other examples, the cavity includes a blade-receiving recess that is sized for receiving a blade. The blade-receiving recess is sized for receiving the blade in a spaced-apart relationship with respect to an interior surface of the sleeve portion that defines the cavity and the blade-receiving recess.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure provides a method for utilizing a blade-changing kit that interfaces with a portion of a cutting device of a crafting apparatus. The method includes: arranging a sleeve portion defining a cavity over at least one surface portion of one or more of a blade housing and a fastener-securing portion. The sleeve portion defines a passage that is configured for alignment with a fastener that secures a blade to the blade housing; inserting a distal tip of a fastener-engaging portion through the passage and engaging a corresponding recess formed by the fastener; utilizing the fastener-engaging portion for disconnecting the fastener from a fastener passage formed by each of the blade housing, the blade and the fastener-securing portion for disconnecting the blade and the fastener-securing portion from the blade housing.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the method further includes removing the sleeve portion from the blade housing and containing the blade and the fastener-securing portion in the cavity of the sleeve portion.

Another aspect of the disclosure provides a method for utilizing a blade-changing kit that interfaces with a portion of a cutting device of a crafting apparatus. The method includes: providing a blade housing, a blade and a fastener-securing portion each defining a fastener passage; disposing the blade and the fastener-securing portion within a cavity of a sleeve portion; arranging the blade housing within the cavity of the sleeve portion and aligning the fastener passage of all of the blade housing, the blade and the fastener-securing portion; and connecting the blade housing to the blade and the fastener-securing portion with a fastener that is inserted through the fastener passage of each of the blade housing to the blade and the fastener-securing portion.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the connecting step includes inserting a distal tip of a fastener-engaging portion through a passage formed by the sleeve portion and engaging a corresponding recess formed by the fastener; and utilizing the fastener-engaging portion for connecting the fastener to the blade housing, the blade and the fastener-securing portion.

In some examples, the method further includes removing the sleeve portion from the blade housing, the blade and the fastener-securing portion.

Yet another aspect of the disclosure provides a portion of a crafting apparatus including a body, a first door, a second door and a door latching mechanism. The first door and the second door are independently rotatably-coupled to the body. The door latching mechanism connects the first door to the second door. The door latching mechanism is selectively-connected to the second door relative the body in: a latched-and-closed orientation when the first door is arranged in a closed orientation; the latched-and-closed orientation when the first door transitions from the closed orientation to an open orientation; an unlatched-and-partially open orientation when the first door is arranged in a partially open orientation or the open orientation; and an unlatched-and-open orientation when the first door is arranged in the open orientation.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, the door latching mechanism includes a latch finger and a latch-tip-receiving groove defined by the second door. The latch-tip-receiving groove is sized for receiving the latch finger for selectively-connecting the door latching mechanism to the second door.

In some examples, the door latching mechanism further includes a support panel, a latch plate, a latch wire and a latch portion. The latch plate is rotatably-connected to the support panel. The latch plate defines a first channel and a second channel. The latch wire is movably-disposed within the first channel for connecting the latch wire to the latch plate. The latch portion is movably-disposed within the second channel for connecting the latch portion to the latch plate. The latch portion includes the latch finger.

In other examples, the latch portion is movably-disposed within the second channel relative the latch plate for arranging the latch finger in: a latched orientation relative the latched-and-closed orientation of the second door as the latch plate rotates in a first direction; an unlatched orientation relative the unlatched-and-partially open orientation of the second door as the latch plate transitions from rotating in the first direction to a second direction that is opposite the first direction; and a latch reset orientation relative the unlatched-and-open orientation of the second door as the latch plate rotates in the second direction.

In some instances, the latch plate further defines a pulling pocket extending from the first channel. The latch wire includes a distal portion. The distal portion of the latch wire is movably-disposed for arrangement in: a pulling orientation within the pulling pocket for imparting a pulling force to the latch plate for driving rotational movement of the latch plate in the first direction; a transition orientation from a first arrangement in the pulling pocket to a second arrangement in the first channel; and a non-pulling orientation within the first channel for relieving the pulling force imparted to the latch plate for permitting rotational movement of the latch plate in the second direction.

In other configurations, the door latching mechanism further includes a return spring connected to the latch plate for driving rotational movement of the latch plate in the second direction when the distal portion of the latch wire is movably-disposed for arrangement in the non-pulling orientation within the first channel.

In some examples, the latch wire includes a proximal portion. The proximal portion is connected to a first door movement damping mechanism that damps movement of the first door from the closed orientation to the open orientation.

In other examples, the first door includes a magnet for magnetically securing the top door relative the body in the closed orientation.

In some instances, a spring is disposed adjacent the second door for urging the second door from the latched-and-closed orientation to the unlatched-and-open orientation.

Another aspect of the disclosure includes a method for operating a portion of a crafting apparatus. The method includes: independently rotatably-coupling a first door and a second door to a body; connecting the first door to the second door with a door latching mechanism; arranging the first door in a closed orientation such that the door latching mechanism is maintained in a latched orientation for maintaining the second door in a latched-and-closed orientation relative the body; and transitioning the first door from the closed orientation to an open orientation for imparting movement to the door latching mechanism for arranging the door latching mechanism in an unlatched orientation for permitting the second door to transition from the latched-and-closed orientation relative the body to an unlatched-and-open orientation relative the body.

Implementations of the disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features. In some implementations, after arranging the second door in the latched-and-closed orientation relative the body and prior to arranging the second door in the unlatched-and-open orientation relative the body, the method further includes arranging the second door in an unlatched-and-partially open orientation relative the body when the first door is arranged in a partially open orientation or the open orientation.

In some examples, the method further includes rotatably-connecting a latch plate to a support panel for rotation of the latch plate in a first direction or a second direction. The second direction is opposite the first direction. The latch plate defines a first channel and a second channel. The method further includes movably-disposing a latch wire within the first channel for connecting the latch wire to the latch plate; and movably-disposing a latch portion within the second channel for connecting the latch portion to the latch plate. The latch portion includes a latch finger releasably-engaged with the second door for selectively-arranging the second door in the latched-and-closed orientation relative the body.

In other examples, the latch plate further defines a pulling pocket extending from the first channel. The latch wire includes a distal portion. The second door transitions from the latched-and-closed orientation relative the body to the unlatched-and-open orientation relative the body by utilizing the distal portion of the latch wire for imparting a pulling force to the pulling pocket for driving rotational movement of the latch plate in the first direction.

In some instances, as the second door transitions from the latched-and-closed orientation relative the body to the unlatched-and-open orientation relative the body, the method further includes transitioning the distal portion of the latch wire from a first arrangement in the pulling pocket to a second arrangement in the first channel.

In other instances, after the distal portion of the latch wire transitions to the second arrangement in the first channel, the method further includes withdrawing the latch finger from engagement with the second door and subsequently disengaging the latch finger from the second door for subsequently arranging the second door in the unlatched-and-open orientation relative the body.

In some examples, after the distal portion of the latch wire transitions to the second arrangement in the first channel, the method further includes relieving the pulling force imparted by the distal portion of the latch wire to the latch plate for permitting rotational movement of the latch plate in the second direction for subsequently utilizing a return spring connected to the latch plate for driving rotational movement of the latch plate in the second direction for arranging the latch finger in a latch reset orientation relative the second door that is arranged in the unlatched-and-open orientation relative the body.

Referring to <FIG>, a crafting apparatus is shown generally at <NUM> that conducts "work" upon a workpiece W (see e.g., <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>). The workpiece W may be at least partially disposed within the crafting apparatus <NUM> in order to permit the crafting apparatus <NUM> to conduct work on the workpiece W.

The term "work" that is conducted upon the workpiece W may include, but is not limited to, any number of tasks/functions performed by one or a combination of a printing device <NUM> and a cutting device <NUM> secured to a carriage <NUM> that is movably-disposed according to the direction of arrows Y, Y' (in, e.g., a three dimensional X-Y-Z Cartesian coordinate system) upon a member such as a rod <NUM>, bar or shaft. The movement Y, Y' of the carriage <NUM> along the rod <NUM> may be controlled by a motor (not shown) that receives actuation signals from a central processing unit (CPU) (see, e.g., <NUM> in <FIG>). The CPU <NUM> may be a component of the crafting apparatus and/or is associated with a laptop computer (see, e.g., 1800a in <FIG>) that is communicatively-coupled to the crafting apparatus <NUM>.

In an example, the "work" may include a "cutting operation" that functionally includes contact of a blade <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>, <FIG>) of the cutting device <NUM> with the workpiece W. The work conducted by the cutting device <NUM> arises from movement of the cutting device <NUM> according to the direction of arrows Z, Z' (see, e.g., <FIG>, <FIG>) in, e.g., the three dimensional X-Y-Z Cartesian coordinate system relative to, for example, one or more of the carriage <NUM> and the rod <NUM>. The movement Z, Z' of the cutting device <NUM> may be controlled by one or more motors (see, e.g., <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> in <FIG>, <FIG>) that receive actuation signals from the central processing unit CPU <NUM>.

In some implementations, as seen in, for example, <FIG>, the blade <NUM> partially or fully penetrates a thickness WT (see, e.g., <FIG>) of the workpiece W according to the direction of the arrow Z'. The thickness WT of the workpiece W may be said to be bound by a first, front surface WF and a second, rear surface WR. Although the foregoing description is directed to the use of a blade <NUM> (such as, e.g., a straight blade, a castoring blade, a rotary blade, a serrated edge blade, an embossing tool, a marking tool or the like), other cutting devices may be utilized instead of a blade <NUM>. Other cutting devices may include a laser, an electrically-powered rotary cutter, or the like. In some implementations, the "work" includes a printing operation. The printing operation may including depositing ink from a nozzle of the printing device <NUM> onto one or more of the first, front surface WF of the workpiece W and the second, rear surface WR of the workpiece W.

The crafting apparatus <NUM> may conduct work in a manner that provides a combo operation such as a print and cut operation. The "print and cut operation" may in some instances be executed as a "print then cut" operation such that the printing operation is conducted prior to the cutting operation.

In some implementations, the workpiece W includes any desirable shape, size, geometry or material composition. The shape/geometry may include, for example, a square or rectangular shape. Alternatively, the shape may include non-square or non-rectangular shapes, such as circular shapes, triangular shapes or the like. The material composition of the workpiece W may include paper-based (e.g., paperboard or cardboard) and/or non-paper-based products (e.g., vinyl, foam, rigid foam, cushioning foam, plywood, veneer, balsawood or the like). Nevertheless, although various implementations of workpiece material composition may be directed to paper, vinyl or foam-based products, the material composition of the workpiece W is not limited to a particular material and may include any cuttable material.

In some implementations, the crafting apparatus <NUM> may be utilized in a variety of environments when conducting work on the workpiece W. For example, the crafting apparatus <NUM> may be located within one's home and may be connected to an external computer system (e.g., a desktop computer, a laptop computer 1800a, a dedicated/non-integral/dockable [standalone] controller device which is not a general purpose computer or the like) such that a user may utilize software that may be run by the external computer system 1800a in order for the crafting apparatus <NUM> to conduct work on the workpiece W. In another example, the crafting apparatus <NUM> may be referred to as a "stand alone system," in some implementations, that integrally includes one or more of an on-board monitor, an on-board keyboard, an on-board CPU <NUM> including a processor, memory and the like. In such an implementation, the crafting apparatus <NUM> may operate independently of any external computer systems (e.g., the laptop 1800a) in order to permit the crafting apparatus <NUM> to conduct work on the workpiece W.

The crafting apparatus <NUM> may be implemented to have any desirable size, shape or configuration. For example, the crafting apparatus <NUM> may be sized to work on a relatively large workpiece W (e.g., plotting paper). Alternatively, the crafting apparatus <NUM> may be configured to work on a relatively small workpiece W. In implementations where the crafting apparatus <NUM> operates independently of an external computer system and is sized to work on relatively small workpieces, the crafting apparatus <NUM> may be said to be a "portable" crafting apparatus <NUM>. Accordingly, the crafting apparatus <NUM> may be sized to form a relatively compact shape/size/geometry that permits a user to easily carry/move the crafting apparatus <NUM> from one's home, for example, to a friend's home where the friend may be hosting, for example, a "scrap-booking party.

In the example shown in <FIG>, the crafting apparatus <NUM> includes a body <NUM> defined by an exterior surface <NUM> and an interior surface <NUM>. The interior surface <NUM> may partially define a workpiece support surface 26w that supports the workpiece W.

The exterior surface <NUM> and the interior surface <NUM> meet at an edge <NUM> that defines an access opening <NUM> to an interior compartment <NUM> defined by the interior surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG>, some of the interior compartment <NUM> may be accessible to a user, and, as such, some components (e.g., the printing device <NUM>, the cutting device <NUM>, the carriage <NUM>, the rod <NUM> and the like) may be viewable and accessible to a user; in such an instance, access to the interior compartment <NUM> permits a user to interface the workpiece W with the printing device <NUM>, the cutting device <NUM>, the carriage <NUM>, the rod <NUM> and the like. In other instances, some components (e.g., the CPU <NUM>) may be supported by or connected to another portion of the interior surface <NUM> of the interior compartment <NUM> that is not viewable or accessible to the user.

Access to the viewable or accessible portion of the interior compartment <NUM> that houses one or more working components (e.g., the printing device <NUM> and the cutting device <NUM>) that perform work (e.g., printing and/or cutting) on the workpiece W may result from an opened or closed orientation of one or more doors <NUM>, <NUM> that are movably-coupled to the body <NUM>. In an example, the doors <NUM>, <NUM> are independently pivotally coupled to the body <NUM> for independent arrangement in one of a closed orientation and an open orientation (e.g., the door <NUM> may be selectively-arranged in a closed orientation while the door <NUM> is selectively-arranged in an open orientation).

The one or more doors <NUM>, <NUM> may include a first door <NUM>, which may be alternatively referred to as an upper door or top door. The one or more doors <NUM>, <NUM> may include a second door <NUM>, which may be alternatively referred to as a front door.

The front door <NUM> includes an exterior surface <NUM>, an interior surface <NUM>, a first side surface <NUM>, a second side surface <NUM> and a top surface <NUM>. When the front door <NUM> is arranged in an open orientation as seen in <FIG>, the interior surface <NUM> of the front door <NUM> may be aligned with and cooperate with the workpiece support surface 26w in order to partially function as an extension of the workpiece support surface 26w. The first side surface <NUM> and the second side surface <NUM> extend between the exterior surface <NUM> and the interior surface <NUM>.

A latch-tip-receiving groove 48a (see also, e.g., <FIG>) is formed by the first side surface <NUM> of the front door <NUM> near the top surface <NUM> of the front door <NUM>. The latch-tip-receiving groove <NUM>A is aligned with a latch-tip-receiving passage <NUM>B, which, in an example, may be formed by the interior surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> of the interior compartment <NUM>. Furthermore, the latch-tip-receiving passage <NUM>B may also or alternatively be defined by a support panel (see, e.g. <NUM> in <FIG>), which may also be defined by the body <NUM>; in some instances, the support panel <NUM> may include an outer surface <NUM>O and the interior surface <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, when the front door <NUM> is arranged in a closed orientation, the latch-tip-receiving groove <NUM>A and the latch-tip-receiving passage <NUM>B are aligned such that a latch finger <NUM> of a latch portion <NUM> of a front door latching mechanism <NUM> may be selectively-extended through the latch-tip-receiving groove <NUM>A and the latch-tip-receiving passage <NUM>B for latching the front door <NUM> in a closed orientation relative the body <NUM>. Operation of the front door latching mechanism <NUM> will be described in greater detail in the following disclosure.

As described above, a user may insert the workpiece W into the crafting apparatus <NUM> by way of the opening <NUM>. After the crafting apparatus <NUM> has conducted work on the workpiece W, the user may remove the workpiece W from the crafting apparatus <NUM> by way of the opening <NUM>.

In an example, after the user interfaces the workpiece W with, for example, a feed roller <NUM> rotatably-coupled to the interior surface <NUM> of the interior compartment <NUM>, the CPU <NUM> sends actuation signals to a feed roller motor (not shown) for advancing the workpiece W into or out of the interior compartment <NUM> according to feed directions X, X' in, for example, the three dimensional X-Y-Z Cartesian coordinate system relative to, for example, one or more of the carriage <NUM> and the rod <NUM>. Advancement of the workpiece W according to the feed directions X, X' may be conducted alone or in combination with the movement Y, Y' of the carriage <NUM> along the rod <NUM> and/or the movement of the cutting device <NUM> according to the direction of arrows Z, Z' in order to conduct work on the workpiece W.

In an example, engagement of the cutting device <NUM> with the workpiece W may be controlled by a stacked spring assembly, which is seen generally at <NUM> in <FIG>. The stacked spring assembly <NUM> includes a base member <NUM> that supports the blade <NUM> that is disposed within a blade housing <NUM>. The base member <NUM> is adjustable in a lifting direction Z and an opposite cutting direction Z' in order to lift the blade <NUM> away from the front surface WF of the workpiece W or drive the blade <NUM> into the front surface WF of the workpiece W.

The base member <NUM> may include a base flange <NUM> and a plurality of flanges <NUM> extending from the base flange <NUM>. The plurality of flanges <NUM> may include a first flange 106a, a second flange 106b and a third flange 106c. The first flange 106a supports the blade housing <NUM>. A support rod <NUM> extends through an axial passage formed by each of the second flange 106b and the third flange 106c and slidably-supports each of the second flange 106b and the third flange 106c for permitting the base member <NUM> to move relative the support rod <NUM> in each of the lifting direction Z and the cutting direction Z'. Opposite ends of the support rod <NUM> are directly or indirectly secured to the interior surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

The stacked spring assembly <NUM> also includes a rack-and-pinion drive mechanism <NUM> including a rack <NUM> and a pinion <NUM>. The rack <NUM> is located between the second flange 106b and the third flange 106c. Furthermore, the support rod <NUM> extends through an axial passage <NUM> formed by the rack <NUM> such that the rack <NUM> may be driven by the pinion <NUM> in order to move the rack <NUM> relative the support rod <NUM> in each of the lifting direction Z and the cutting direction Z' depending on the clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the pinion <NUM>.

A lower surface <NUM> of the rack <NUM> may define a spring-receiving cavity <NUM>. A balance spring support member <NUM> may extend from an upper surface <NUM> of the rack <NUM>.

The stacked spring assembly <NUM> also includes a first spring <NUM>, a second spring <NUM> and a washer <NUM> separating the first spring <NUM> from the second spring <NUM>. The support rod <NUM> extends through an axial passage of each of the first spring <NUM> and the second spring <NUM>. Furthermore, the support rod <NUM> extends through an axial passage <NUM> of the washer <NUM>.

An upper end of the first spring <NUM> is disposed adjacent the lower surface <NUM> of the rack <NUM> and is arranged within the spring-receiving cavity <NUM> of the rack <NUM>. A lower end of the first spring <NUM> is disposed adjacent an upper surface of the washer <NUM>.

An upper end of the second spring <NUM> is disposed adjacent a lower surface of the washer <NUM>. A lower end of the second spring <NUM> is disposed adjacent an upper surface of the second flange 106b.

The stacked spring assembly <NUM> also includes a balance spring <NUM>. An upper end of the balance spring <NUM> is disposed adjacent a lower surface of the third flange 106c. A lower end of the balance spring <NUM> is disposed adjacent an upper surface <NUM> of the rack <NUM>. The balance spring support member <NUM> may partially extend through an axial passage of the balance spring <NUM>.

The balance spring <NUM> may assist in biasing low-end forces for broader transition between high and low end forces that counteracts the weight of the stacked spring assembly <NUM> itself. Accordingly, inclusion of the balance spring <NUM> maintains the low end of the forces of or both of the first spring <NUM> and the second spring <NUM>. In an example, if, for example, the stacked spring assembly <NUM> weighs about <NUM> grams and, if, for example, about <NUM> grams of cutting force according to the direction of arrow Z' is needed, the balance spring <NUM> helps achieve a margin between about <NUM> grams and <NUM> grams.

The stacked spring assembly <NUM> also includes a drive shaft <NUM> having a first end connected to the pinion <NUM> and a second end connected to an encoder <NUM>. The drive shaft <NUM> is driven by a motor <NUM>. The encoder <NUM> and the motor <NUM> are communicatively-connected to the CPU <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> may serve as a motor controller for rotating the drive shaft <NUM> in a first rotational direction or a second rotational direction for causing corresponding rotation to the pinion <NUM>. The encoder <NUM> may provide a feedback signal to the CPU <NUM> in order to specify an amount of rotation of the drive shaft <NUM>. One or more of the drive shaft <NUM>, the encoder <NUM>, the motor <NUM> and the CPU <NUM> may be directly or indirectly connected to the interior surface <NUM> of the body <NUM> of the crafting apparatus <NUM>.

In an embodiment, first spring <NUM> may be referred to as a "light spring" and the second spring <NUM> may be referred to as a "heavy spring. " In an embodiment, one or both light spring <NUM> and the heavy spring <NUM> are non-linear springs or variable rate springs so that the cutting device <NUM> is able to provide different spring constants for different cutting forces imparted to the blade <NUM> according to the direction of arrow Z'. In an example, the light spring <NUM> may provide a lower spring constant at lower cutting forces according to the direction of arrow Z' whereas the heavy spring <NUM> provides a higher spring constant at the higher forces according to the direction of arrow Z'.

In an example, if the workpiece W is formed from vinyl or an iron-on material, the light spring <NUM> will be compressed to provide a lower cutting force according to the direction of arrow Z' in order to compensate for sensitive changes in the cutting force Z' that might be introduced by, for example, an uneven workpiece support surface 26w or minor misalignment between the workpiece support surface 26w and the rod <NUM>. In the force-distance graph of <FIG>, both light spring <NUM> and heavy spring <NUM> are variable rate springs; in such an implementation, this can be detected from the graph because a first piecewise portion of the graph (see, e.g., the bracketed portion of the graph associated with reference numeral <NUM>) attributable to the light spring <NUM> is slightly arcuate as is a second piecewise portion of the graph (see, e.g., the bracketed portion of the graph associated with reference numeral <NUM>) relating to heavy spring <NUM>. Accordingly, the use of linear springs in such an implementation would not provide these arcuate segments but, rather, would generate linear segments.

When low to moderate forces are exerted on light spring <NUM> resulting from rotation of the pinion <NUM> and corresponding movement Z, Z' rack <NUM>, the light spring <NUM> controls the downward force (according to the cutting direction Z') exerted onto the blade <NUM>. However, as seen in <FIG>, when the rack-and-pinion drive mechanism <NUM> exerts moderate to heavy downward forces onto light spring <NUM> (according to the cutting direction Z'), the light spring <NUM> collapses or "bottoms-out" into the cavity <NUM> of the rack <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>). Once the light spring <NUM> has completely collapsed into the cavity <NUM>, the washer <NUM> engages the lower surface <NUM> of the rack <NUM> thereby causing the washer <NUM> to bottom out against the rack <NUM>. With reference to <FIG>, once the washer <NUM> has bottomed out against the rack <NUM>, the light spring <NUM> cannot be compressed any further, and, as such, any further downward force exerted by the rack-and-pinion drive mechanism <NUM> (according to the cutting direction Z') causes the heavy spring <NUM> to compress and exert a downward force (according to the cutting direction Z') on the blade <NUM>. The heavy spring <NUM> thereafter will provide a spring constant having a higher range in force according to the direction of arrow Z' that is less sensitive to changes in forces resulting from, for example, an uneven workpiece support surface 26w or minor misalignment between the workpiece support surface 26w and the rod <NUM>. The heavy spring <NUM> therefore provides a stiffer spring for the cutting device <NUM> once the light spring <NUM> collapses or "bottoms-out" into the cavity <NUM>.

As the rack-and-pinion drive mechanism <NUM> exerts the downward force according to the cutting direction Z', the rotational feedback of the drive shaft <NUM> provided by the encoder <NUM> may provide the CPU <NUM> with a feedback signal that may be correlated with "Z position" information of the blade <NUM> in a lookup data table stored in memory of the CPU <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the "Z position" information may be, for example, a travel distance in terms of mm of the blade <NUM>. The "Z position" travel distance may correspond to grams of force imparted by the blade <NUM> into the front surface WF of the workpiece W.

According to the curve represented in <FIG>, when the blade <NUM> travels between approximately <NUM> and approximately <NUM>, the washer <NUM> does not engage the lower surface <NUM> of the rack <NUM>, and, as such, an amount of force imparted by the blade <NUM> to the workpiece W may be between approximately about <NUM> grams and approximately about <NUM> grams. When the blade <NUM>, however, travels at a distance greater than approximately about <NUM>, the light spring <NUM> cannot be compressed any further; thereafter, a "knee" of the curve is clearly shown whereby there is a transition from the light spring <NUM> to the heavy spring <NUM> for controlling the downward force according to the cutting direction Z' experienced by blade <NUM>. When the blade <NUM> travels at a distance greater than <NUM>, forces imparted to the workpiece W may be greater than approximately about <NUM> grams, and, in some instances, up to about <NUM> kilograms.

The use of two springs <NUM>, <NUM> "in series" as described above dramatically increases the range at which the downward force (per unit travel) according to the cutting direction Z' can be controlled by the crafting apparatus <NUM>. For example, when a relatively thin workpiece W is to be cut by the blade <NUM>, the amount of downward force according to the cutting direction Z' needed for making the cut may be referred to as a "light cut. " Accordingly, the light spring <NUM> is at least partially compressed for cutting such workpieces W without causing the workpiece W to tear or rip. Conversely, thicker materials such as, for example, wood vineers, card stock, leather, and the like may require the blade <NUM> to generate downward forces greater than approximately about <NUM> grams.

In an example, rotation (see, e.g., R in <FIG>) of the cutting device <NUM> and an amount of cutting force (according to the direction of arrow Z') of the cutting device <NUM> with the workpiece W may be controlled by a blade orientation and identification system, which is seen generally at <NUM> in <FIG>. The blade orientation and identification system <NUM> includes a housing <NUM> that supports the cutting device <NUM>. The CPU <NUM> is communicatively-coupled to the blade orientation and identification system <NUM>. The cutting device <NUM> includes: the blade <NUM>; a blade housing <NUM> connected to the blade <NUM>; a shaft <NUM> connected to the blade <NUM> and extending through the housing <NUM>; and a driven gear <NUM> connected to the shaft <NUM>. In other examples, the blade <NUM> may be connected to the blade housing <NUM> with a fastener <NUM> or <NUM> (see e.g., <NUM> in <FIG>) and the driven gear <NUM> may include a shaft connected to the blade housing <NUM>.

The blade <NUM> may be defined by a particular style or design (e.g., a straight blade, a castoring blade, a rotary blade, a serrated edge blade, an embossing tool, a marking tool or the like). As will be described in greater detail in the following disclosure, an exterior surface <NUM> of the blade housing <NUM> may define a unique appearance or structural configuration that is exclusively associated with the particular style or design of the blade <NUM> associated with the blade housing <NUM>.

Furthermore, as will be described in the following disclosure, operation of the blade orientation and identification system <NUM> is dependent upon the CPU <NUM> determining the appearance or structural configuration of the exterior surface <NUM> of the blade housing <NUM>. Yet even further, the CPU <NUM> may also exploit the determined appearance or structural configuration of the exterior surface <NUM> of the blade housing <NUM> to determine the rotational state of the blade housing <NUM> when the blade <NUM> is cutting the workpiece W.

In an example, the housing <NUM> includes a blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM>. The blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> may include a motor <NUM> that rotates a shaft <NUM> that is connected to a drive gear <NUM>. The drive gear <NUM> is connected to the driven gear <NUM> of the cutting device <NUM> for rotating R the blade <NUM> about an axis.

The driven gear <NUM> of the blade housing <NUM> may be not be directly driven (i.e., the blade housing <NUM>, which may include the driven gear <NUM>, can be installed, taken out and reinstalled such that the blade housing <NUM> is detachably fixed to the blade orientation and identification system <NUM>, which includes the drive gear <NUM>, that rotates the blade housing <NUM>). In an example, the drive gear <NUM> may generally represent a gear train that rotates the driven gear <NUM> of the blade housing <NUM>. The gear train <NUM> may include one or more of a combination of spline gears, worm gears and the like.

The motor <NUM> may be a DC motor with an encoder. Alternatively, the motor <NUM> may be a stepper motor with an encoder; however, resolution may be limited by using a stepper motor if steps are skipped during operation of the stepper motor.

The housing <NUM> may also include a blade housing lifting-lowering mechanism <NUM>. The blade housing lifting-lowering mechanism <NUM> may be connected to the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> by a joining member or coupling, which is seen generally at <NUM>. In an example, the blade housing lifting-lowering mechanism <NUM> may include a rack-and-pinion drive mechanism including a rack <NUM> and a pinion <NUM>. The pinion <NUM> may be driven by a stepper motor <NUM>.

Depending on the clockwise or counter-clockwise rotation of the pinion <NUM>, the rack <NUM>, which may be connected to, for example, the motor <NUM> of the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> by the coupling <NUM>, is raised or lowered according to the lifting direction Z or the cutting direction Z' for providing a corresponding lifting or lowering motion to the blade <NUM> relative a workpiece W.

A rotation sensor <NUM> is also attached to the housing <NUM>. The housing <NUM> may be attached to carriage <NUM>, and, as such, the rotation sensor <NUM> may be said to be attached to the carriage <NUM>. The rotation sensor <NUM> includes, for example, an optical sensor including an optical signal generator that generates a signal Ss and an optical signal receiver that receives a reflection of the generated signal Ss (see, e.g., a reflected signal SR in <FIG>). The rotation sensor <NUM> can comprise any known optical sensor technology. For example, the rotation sensor <NUM> is not limited to an optical-type sensor device and may alternatively include other sensor devices such as, for example, a magnetic pick up sensor, a capacitive sensor, an LVDT sensor, an inductive sensor, or any combination thereof.

The CPU <NUM> is effective for issuing commands to blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> and blade housing lifting-lowering mechanism <NUM>. In an example, the CPU <NUM> may send a signal to the motor <NUM> of the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> for causing the gear train <NUM> to rotate R the blade <NUM> about the axis (i.e., a Z axis) extending through the length of the shaft <NUM>. Furthermore, in another example, the CPU <NUM> may send a signal to the stepper motor <NUM> of the blade housing lifting-lowering mechanism <NUM> for causing the blade <NUM> to be lifted (according to the direction of arrow Z) or lowered (according to the direction of arrow Z') about the axis (i.e., a Z axis) extending through the length of the shaft <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG>, the rotation sensor <NUM> is aligned with a portion of the exterior surface <NUM> of the blade housing <NUM> that includes a circumferential band of one or more surface portions <NUM>. As seen in, for example, <FIG>, the circumferential band of one or more surface portions <NUM> includes one or more rounded surface portions <NUM>R and one or more non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F each separated by an edge portion <NUM>E).

As the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> rotates the blade housing <NUM>, the rotation sensor <NUM> may direct the generated optical signal Ss toward the circumferential band of one or more surface portions <NUM> of the blade housing <NUM>. The one or more rounded surface portions <NUM>R and one or more non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F reflect SR the generated optical signal Ss back toward the rotation sensor <NUM>, which is communicatively-coupled to the CPU <NUM>, and, as a result, the CPU <NUM> receives a signal from the optical sensor <NUM> indicating the reflection SR of the generated signal Ss. However, the edge portion <NUM>E between each rounded surface portions <NUM>R and non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F does not reflect the generated optical signal Ss back to the rotation sensor <NUM>; in such instances, the rotation sensor <NUM> may similarly inform the CPU <NUM> that the reflected signal SR has been interrupted when an edge portion <NUM>E of the circumferential band of one or more surface portions <NUM> is arranged opposite the rotation sensor <NUM> as a result of the rotation R of the blade housing <NUM> by the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the reflection (see, e.g., segments of a signal-amplitude graph bracketed by the reference letter "S") and non-reflection or interruption (see, e.g., segments of the signal amplitude graph bracketed by reference letter "E") of the generated optical signal Ss is communicated to the CPU <NUM> and stores the information in terms of signal amplitude over time.

The CPU <NUM> may store, in memory, unique reflection signatures for a plurality of blade housings <NUM> where each blade housing <NUM> of the plurality of blade housing include a unique blade style / design. Upon a partial or full rotation of the blade housing <NUM> by the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM>, the rotation sensor <NUM> may communicate the generated signal pattern of <FIG> to the CPU <NUM> such that the CPU <NUM> may compare the generated signal pattern against the plurality of unique reflection signatures stored in memory of the CPU <NUM> for identifying the blade housing <NUM> (and corresponding style / design of the blade <NUM>) that is interfaced with the housing <NUM> of the blade orientation and identification system <NUM>.

In an example, one of the one or more non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F may be defined by a "home flat. " In another example, one or more of the one or more non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F may be defined by one or more "tool ID flats. " In an example, the home flat may be longer than each of the one or more tool ID flats. In use, when the optical signal is reflected off of the home flat, the signal received by the CPU <NUM> is therefore longer in comparison to the tool ID flats. As a result, the home flat may assist the CPU <NUM> in determining a reference position or an absolute position of the blade housing <NUM>. The one or more tool ID flats of each blade housing <NUM> may defined by unique patterns or lengths in order to identify a particular style or design of blade associated with the blade housing <NUM>.

In an example, if a user of the crafting apparatus <NUM> is going to cut a fabric workpiece W, and, a rotary style / design blade <NUM> is known to be utilized for cutting the fabric workpiece W, the user will select and interface a rotary style / design blade <NUM> (having a unique pattern of one or more rounded surface portions <NUM>R and one or more non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F) with the crafting apparatus <NUM>; as such, when the blade orientation and identification system <NUM> rotates the blade housing <NUM>, the unique pattern of one or more rounded surface portions <NUM>R and one or more non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F of the blade housing <NUM> that includes the rotary style / design blade <NUM> is received by the CPU <NUM> and matched with a unique signal signature from the look-up table in the memory of the CPU <NUM>. Therefore, as a result of the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> rotating the blade housing <NUM>, the CPU <NUM> identifies which blade housing <NUM> (and corresponding style / design of the blade <NUM> associated therewith) is interfaced with the crafting apparatus <NUM> such that the crafting apparatus <NUM> may automatically determine an amount of cutting force (according to the direction of arrow Z') that is associated with the rotary style / design of the blade <NUM> associated with the blade housing <NUM>. In other examples, if, for example, the user is cutting wood, the user may interface a blade housing <NUM> (having a unique pattern of one or more rounded surface portions <NUM>R and one or more non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F) that carries a knife blade <NUM>, and, as similarly described above, the crafting apparatus <NUM> may automatically determine an amount of cutting force (according to the direction of arrow Z') that is associated with the knife style / design blade <NUM> associated with blade housing <NUM>.

Accordingly, when the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> rotates the blade housing <NUM>, the rotation sensor <NUM> may receive an interrupted reflected signal pattern SR that is communicated to the CPU <NUM> in the form of an electrical signal. Upon receiving the signal at the CPU <NUM>, the CPU <NUM> may compare the received signal against known signal signatures in a look-up table stored in memory of the CPU <NUM>. Once CPU <NUM> finds a match, the CPU can access any information in memory relating to the particular blade housing <NUM> and/or style / design of the blade <NUM> associated therewith.

Furthermore, the above-described methodology associated with the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> and rotation sensor <NUM> is also effective for identifying or tracking a rotational orientation R of the blade <NUM>. For example, the CPU <NUM> can track a rotated orientation of the blade housing <NUM> in a way that positively identifies the orientation of the blade <NUM> that is associated with the blade housing <NUM>. In an example, the one or more rounded surface portions <NUM>R and one or more non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F each separated by an edge portion <NUM>E can each be defined to have various lengths whereby a longest flat of the one or more non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F could be used to index the plane in which the blade housing <NUM> rotates (e.g., the plane of the longest flat is parallel to the plane of a rotary cutting blade). Accordingly, once CPU <NUM> receives the interrupted reflected signal pattern SR generated by rotation sensor <NUM> as described above, the CPU <NUM> will have sufficient information to know an orientation of the blade <NUM> at a particular instance of rotation of the blade housing <NUM>.

In an alternative embodiment, rather than forming or fastening geometric flat regions <NUM> on the blade housing <NUM> defined by one or more rounded surface portions <NUM>R and one or more non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F each separated by an edge portion <NUM>E, the same end result can be accomplished by, for example, placing painted markings on blade housing <NUM>. In an embodiment, the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> is capable of rotating blade housing <NUM> through any number of complete circles (i.e., <NUM>°, <NUM>°, etc.). In an embodiment, blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> is capable of indexing the angle or rotation of the blade housing <NUM> to any increment that is accomplishable by the motor <NUM> blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM>. For example, if motor <NUM> is a stepper motor, there will be fundamental lower limitations to the angular resolution that is achievable for rotating blade housing <NUM>.

By having the ability to actively rotate blade housing <NUM> using the CPU <NUM> and blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM>, certain types of cuts in the workpiece W can be accomplished that may otherwise be difficult to achieve. For example, when the blade <NUM> is making a corner cut, the blade <NUM> is lifted (according to the direction of arrow Z) from the workpiece W being cut by actuating blade housing lifting-lowering mechanism <NUM>, rotated at a <NUM>° angle by the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> and then lowered back down (according to the direction of arrow Z') to the workpiece W by the blade housing lifting-lowering mechanism <NUM> and then the cut is continued. This allows a very clean "tangential" cut in the workpiece W to be accomplished. Such clean corner cuts in the workpiece W are difficult to complete (e.g., in order to carry out such a cut, the blade would have to overshoot the corners when making a cut using castoring style blades (e.g., non-rotary blades that are "dragged" by the blade housing).

In an example, the crafting apparatus <NUM> also includes a color sensor device, which is seen generally at <NUM> in <FIG>. The color sensor device <NUM> is communicatively-coupled to the CPU <NUM>. The color sensor device <NUM> may be directly or indirectly connected to the interior surface <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

In an example, the color sensor device <NUM> includes a red-green-blue (RGB) illumination source <NUM> that emits RGB light (according to arrow L) and an RGB sensor <NUM> that detects reflected RGB light (according to arrow L'). In an example, the RGB sensor <NUM> receives or calculates a known calibrated value (e.g. white and black light). Based on this calibrated value, the CPU <NUM> can vary the light L (e.g., the CPU <NUM> can vary the color of the light L and/or the intensity of the light L) emitted by the RGB illumination source <NUM> toward the front surface WF of the workpiece W.

As seen in <FIG>, the workpiece W is supported on the workpiece support surface 26w. Furthermore, the front surface WF of the workpiece W includes one or more fiducial markings WFM, which may be in the form of a printed marking (e.g., in black ink) in the form of an X-shape, L-shape, "cross hair" marking, a box shape, a line or the like. The fiducial markings WFM may be utilized for compensating for a misalignment of the workpiece W that is disposed upon the workpiece support surface 26w.

The feed roller <NUM> may advance the workpiece W into or out of the interior compartment <NUM> according to feed directions X, X' such that the workpiece W is moved past the color sensor device <NUM>. In an example, the RGB illumination source <NUM> emits RGB light L toward the front surface WF of the workpiece W that is reflected L' back toward the RGB sensor <NUM>. When the RGB sensor <NUM> detects, for example, reflected light L' that is reflected from the one or more fiducial markings WFM (as opposed to reflected light L' from another region of the front surface WF of the workpiece W), the CPU <NUM> may drive the feed roller <NUM> at a slower rate and/or drive the feed roller <NUM> to contact a second pass of the workpiece W past the color sensor device <NUM> to "get a better look" at the potentially detected one or more fiducial markings WFM. The RGB illumination source <NUM> may then produce a pure as possible white light L down on the front surface WF of the workpiece W. Then, the RGB sensor <NUM> sends a signal to the CPU <NUM> that indicates the detected reflected light L' from the front surface WF of the workpiece W. In an embodiment, the RGB sensor <NUM> may have multiple (e.g. three) color sensing diodes that are semiconductor devices that are sensitive to certain wavelengths of light that are associated with different colors.

The colors red, blue and yellow, which may be emitted by the RGB illumination source <NUM> may be sufficient for the RGB sensor <NUM> to accurately determine the position of one or more fiducial markings WFM arranged on the front surface WF of the workpiece W. However, it is possible to use different levels of sensors (e.g. a sensor that detects more than three colors). The one or more fiducial markings WFM may be in different places or different sizes on the front surface WF of the workpiece W to allow for example, the CPU <NUM> to determine the skew and different amounts of ambient light being emitted upon different regions of the crafting apparatus <NUM>.

The color sensor device <NUM> may detect three different colors, and, as a result, the CPU <NUM> can better detect composite colors or even individual colors to increase the chances of detecting fiducial markings WFM in scenarios where there is ambient light saturation. Accordingly, the color sensor device <NUM> is less sensitive to differences in light by not just calculating the intensity of light (i.e., if the light is bright or dark) but also by calculating what a darkness condition or a light condition means (i.e., low or high values of certain colors). An algorithm stored in memory and executed by the processor of the CPU <NUM> receives a signal from the RGB sensor <NUM> indicative of the reflected RGB light L' such that the CPU <NUM> detects the ratio of the maximum amount of a certain color versus the minimum amount of the same color that is detected by the RGB sensor <NUM> rather than taking an absolute level of how much light the RGB sensor <NUM> is detecting of each color. This allows for the CPU <NUM> to receive very consistent results regardless of the amount of ambient light. By using the RGB sensor <NUM>, the CPU <NUM> can detect the difference between, for example, the color navy blue and the color black, which is difficult to detect for a human, because navy blue will have a high blue content with low green-and-red content and black will detect a low level of all three colors. The amount of light may change, but the amount of certain colors will stay the same regardless of the amount of light.

In an example, the workpiece W may be defined by a white color or a non-white color. The non-white color may be any color (e.g., if the workpiece W is a paper material, the paper W may be red paper, green paper, blue paper or the like). If, for example, the workpiece W is red paper, the RGB illumination source <NUM> will emit RGB light L toward the front surface WF of the red paper W, and, of the red-green-blue colors emitted by the RGB light source <NUM>, the RGB sensor <NUM> receiving the reflected RGB light L' will detect a greatest amount of change of the red illumination component of the reflected RGB light L'.

The color sensor device <NUM> also senses, for example, the color of one or more of the fiducial markings WFM and the workpiece W. Accordingly, if the one or more fiducial markings WFM are prepared in black ink on the front surface WF of red paper W, the RGB sensor <NUM> may be able to distinguish a greatest amount of change of the red illumination component of the reflected RGB light L' while also detecting the position of the black ink on the front surface WF of the red paper W defining the one or more of the fiducial markings WFM. As a result, the color sensor device <NUM> permits the crafting apparatus <NUM> to detect one or more fiducial markings WFM independent of the color of the workpiece W.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, an implementation of the cutting device <NUM> of the crafting apparatus <NUM> may include a blade-keying assembly <NUM>. The blade-keying assembly <NUM> may include a key body <NUM> that is over-molded, attached or otherwise secured to a base portion <NUM> of the blade <NUM>. Furthermore, the blade-keying assembly <NUM> may also include the blade housing <NUM> having a distal end <NUM>D and a proximal end <NUM>P whereby the proximal end <NUM>P of the blade housing <NUM> defines a blade-receiving opening <NUM> that permits access to a blade-receiving bore <NUM> that extends through the blade housing <NUM> from the proximal end <NUM>P of the blade housing <NUM> toward the distal end <NUM>D of the blade housing <NUM>. In an example, the blade-receiving opening <NUM> is defined by a cross-sectional geometry that corresponds to at least a portion of a cross-sectional geometry of the key body <NUM> and the blade <NUM>.

The key body <NUM> includes a barrel portion <NUM> and a key portion <NUM>. The barrel portion <NUM> extends along and is formed over most of a length of the base portion <NUM> of the blade <NUM> whereas the key portion <NUM> is formed over a portion of the length of the base portion <NUM> that is proximate to the blade <NUM>. The blade-receiving opening <NUM> formed by the distal end <NUM>D of the blade housing <NUM> may include: (<NUM>) a first surface portion 70a that is sized for receiving the key portion <NUM> of the key body <NUM>; (<NUM>) a second surface portion 70b that is sized for receiving some of the base portion <NUM> of the blade <NUM>; and (<NUM>) intermediate surface portions 70c (extending between and connecting the first surface portion 70a and the second surface portion 70b) that are sized for receiving the barrel portion <NUM> of the key body <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG>, because the key portion <NUM> of the key body <NUM> is only provided on one side of the base portion <NUM> of the blade <NUM>, a user is prohibited from installing the blade <NUM> from an improper (i.e., a <NUM>° offset) orientation. As a result, the blade <NUM> is properly aligned with a drive direction of the cutting device <NUM> whereby, in an example, the cutting device <NUM> drags a sharpened edge of the blade <NUM> against the workpiece W rather than an opposite, non-sharpened edge of the blade <NUM> against the workpiece W in order to prevent damage to one or more of the blade <NUM>, the workpiece W or perhaps one or more other components (e.g., one or more motors) of the crafting apparatus <NUM>. Furthermore, in some examples as seen in <FIG>, if the blade housing includes the circumferential band of one or more surface portions <NUM> (e.g., defined by the one or more rounded surface portions <NUM>R and one or more non-rounded, flat surface portions <NUM>F each separated by an edge portion <NUM>E) as described above at <FIG>, the proper orientation of the blade <NUM> relative the blade housing <NUM> arising from the blade-keying assembly <NUM> may also contribute to aligning the blade <NUM> with the "home flat" in order to establish an absolute position of the blade housing <NUM> for the CPU <NUM> when the blade housing <NUM> is rotated R by the blade housing rotating mechanism <NUM> in order to adjust the cutting direction of the sharp edge of the blade <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, an implementation of a blade assembly of the cutting device <NUM> of the crafting apparatus <NUM> is shown generally at <NUM>. The blade assembly <NUM> may include a circular rotary blade <NUM> and an over-molded circular hub <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, the over-molded hub <NUM> extends over opposite sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the rotary blade <NUM> such that an outer circumferential perimeter defining a sharp cutting edge <NUM> of the rotary blade <NUM> extends beyond an outer circumferential end surface <NUM> of the over-molded hub <NUM>. The over-molded hub <NUM> may also define a central fastener-receive passage <NUM>. The over-molded hub <NUM> may be formed from any desirable material, such as plastic, copper, steel or the like.

The over-molded hub <NUM> provides structure and stability to the rotary blade <NUM> in order to permit more precise cutting of a workpiece W. Furthermore, when the blade assembly <NUM> is secured to a blade housing <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>, <FIG>), the over-molded hub <NUM> aligns the rotary blade <NUM> to an inner race of a bearing (see, e.g., <NUM> in <FIG>) and provides the blade housing <NUM> with structural support when, for example, the rotary blade <NUM> is disposed adjacent the front surface WF of a workpiece W while the rotary blade <NUM> is rolling. Yet even further, the over-molded hub <NUM> allows the rotary blade <NUM> to be aligned to the inner race of the bearing (see, e.g., <NUM> in <FIG>) as opposed to disposing the rotary blade <NUM> right up against the inner race of the bearing itself and allows a controlled offset from the bearing as well.

Furthermore, an outer surface <NUM> of the over-molded hub <NUM> provides a surface area that may be clamped with a nut (see, e.g., <NUM> in <FIG>) and a fastener (see, e.g., <NUM> in <FIG>) without clamping into the material forming the rotary blade <NUM>, which may otherwise result in damage or deformation of the blade <NUM>. Yet even further, as seen in <FIG>, an inner surface <NUM> of the rotary blade <NUM> defines a central passage extending through the thickness of the rotary blade <NUM> is supported by a central body portion <NUM> of the over-molded hub <NUM>. The central body portion <NUM> includes an inner surface <NUM> that defines the central fastener -receive passage <NUM> extending through the central body portion <NUM> for receiving the fastener described above. Accordingly, the central body portion <NUM> prevents the fastener from contacting the inner surface <NUM> of the rotary blade <NUM> in order to, for example, prevent damage or deformation of the rotary blade <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, an exemplary blade-changing kit that may be interfaced with the cutting device <NUM> of the crafting apparatus <NUM> is shown generally at <NUM>. The blade-changing kit <NUM> may include a sleeve portion <NUM> and a fastener-engaging portion <NUM> (e.g., a Phillips screwdriver). A portion (e.g., the handle) of the fastener-engaging portion may be sized to have a reduced thickness in order to limit an applied torque to a fastener (see, e.g., <NUM> in <FIG>) so the user does not over-tighten the fastener. As will be described in the following disclosure, the sleeve portion <NUM> is interfaced with the blade housing <NUM> that may or may not include a blade attached thereto (i.e., the sleeve portion <NUM> may be utilized for removing a blade <NUM> from the blade housing <NUM> or attaching a blade <NUM> to the blade housing <NUM>). Thereafter, a user may insert the fastener-engaging portion <NUM> through a passage (see, e.g., <NUM> in <FIG>) formed by the sleeve portion <NUM> in order to access a fastener (see, e.g., <NUM> in <FIG>) that secures the blade <NUM> to the blade housing <NUM>. Irrespective of the arrangement of the blade <NUM> with respect to the blade housing <NUM>, the sleeve portion <NUM> functions as a barrier between a sharp cutting edge <NUM> of the blade <NUM> and a user's fingertips during the course of removing or attaching the blade <NUM> from / to the blade housing <NUM>. Accordingly, the sleeve portion <NUM> permits a user to remove or attach the blade <NUM> with respect to the blade housing <NUM> while preventing the user to directly touch the cutting edge <NUM> of the blade <NUM>.

Prior to describing a method for utilizing the blade-changing kit <NUM>, reference is made to <FIG>, which illustrates an exemplary blade <NUM> (e.g., a rotary blade) secured to a distal end <NUM>D of the blade housing <NUM>. The distal end <NUM>D of the blade housing <NUM> may be defined by a flange portion <NUM> defining a fastener-receiving passage <NUM> that includes a bearing defined by an inner race <NUM> and an outer race <NUM> disposed therein.

Furthermore, as seen in <FIG>, the rotary blade <NUM> may be a component of the blade assembly <NUM> described above at <FIG> whereby the over-molded hub <NUM> extends over opposite sides <NUM>, <NUM> of the circular blade <NUM> such that the sharp cutting edge <NUM> of the rotary blade <NUM> extends beyond the outer circumferential end surface <NUM> of the over-molded hub <NUM>. A fastener <NUM> extends through: (<NUM>) the fastener-receiving passage <NUM> of the distal end <NUM>D of the blade housing <NUM>; (<NUM>) the central fastener -receive passage <NUM> of the central body portion <NUM> of the over-molded hub <NUM>; and (<NUM>) a threaded passage <NUM> formed by a nut <NUM> secured to a threaded outer surface portion <NUM> of the fastener <NUM>.

In some instances, a silicon washer <NUM> is disposed between the outer surface <NUM> of the over-molded hub <NUM> that may be compressed while acting as a lock washer to assist in retaining the fastener <NUM> to the nut <NUM>. Furthermore, the silicon washer <NUM> may compensate for unevenness or surface imperfections of the outer surface <NUM> of the over-molded hub <NUM> so that the rotary blade <NUM> is as close to orthogonal or squared with respect to the front surface WF of a workpiece W. Yet even further, the silicon washer <NUM> may assist in leveling the rotary blade <NUM> with respect to the blade housing <NUM> (i.e., otherwise, in the absence of silicon washer <NUM>, a potential surface irregularity of the nut <NUM> would misalign the rotary blade <NUM> to the blade housing <NUM>).

Referring to <FIG>, the sleeve portion <NUM> may be defined by a tube-shaped body <NUM> having a proximal end <NUM>P and a distal end <NUM>D. The proximal end <NUM>P of sleeve portion <NUM> may define an insertion opening <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>) that permits insertion of the blade <NUM> and blade housing <NUM> into a receiving cavity <NUM> formed by an inner surface <NUM> of the tube-shaped body <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, the inner surface <NUM> of the tube-shaped body <NUM> may terminate near the distal end <NUM>D of the tube-shaped body <NUM>, defining one or more support surfaces <NUM>, <NUM> and a blade-receiving recess or cavity <NUM>. Furthermore, as seen in <FIG>, tube-shaped body <NUM> may define a fastener access passage <NUM> that permits the fastener-engaging portion <NUM> to engage the fastener <NUM> while the sleeve portion <NUM> is disposed over the blade <NUM> and the blade housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, an exemplary methodology for removing the rotary blade <NUM> from the flange portion <NUM> defined by the distal end <NUM>D of the blade housing <NUM> is described. Although <FIG> discuss the removal of the rotary blade <NUM> from the flange portion <NUM> defined by the distal end <NUM>D of the blade housing <NUM>, the method steps may be performed in reverse order (starting with the view of <FIG> and ending at the view of <FIG>) for attaching the rotary blade <NUM> to the flange portion <NUM> defined by the distal end <NUM>D of the blade housing <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the receiving cavity <NUM> of the tube-shaped body <NUM> of the sleeve portion <NUM> is axially-aligned with the rotary blade <NUM> and the blade housing <NUM>. Then, as seen in <FIG>, the rotary blade <NUM> and the blade housing <NUM> are disposed within the receiving cavity <NUM> of the tube-shaped body <NUM> of the sleeve portion <NUM>. As seen in <FIG>, insertion of the rotary blade <NUM> and the blade housing <NUM> into the receiving cavity <NUM> of the tube-shaped body <NUM> of the sleeve portion <NUM> ceases when an end surface <NUM> of the flange portion <NUM> defined by the distal end <NUM>D of the blade housing <NUM> is disposed adjacent the support surface <NUM> extending from the inner surface <NUM> of the tube-shaped body <NUM> of the sleeve portion <NUM> and/or when one or more outer surfaces <NUM> of the nut <NUM> is disposed adjacent the support surface <NUM> extending from the inner surface <NUM> of the tube-shaped body <NUM> of the sleeve portion <NUM>. In an example, the support surface <NUM> may include more than one surface (i.e., only one surface is shown in the cross-sectional view of <FIG>) in order to surround several surfaces <NUM> of the nut <NUM> in order to prevent the nut <NUM> from rotating. Furthermore, as seen in <FIG>, upon arranging at least one of the end surface <NUM> of the flange portion <NUM> and the one or more outer surfaces <NUM> of the nut <NUM> adjacent, respectively, one of the supports surfaces <NUM>, <NUM>, the rotary blade <NUM> is received within the blade-receiving recess or cavity <NUM> such that the sharp cutting edge <NUM> of the rotary blade <NUM> may be arranged in a spaced-apart, non-contacting orientation with respect to the inner surface <NUM> of the tube-shaped body <NUM> of the sleeve portion <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, while the sleeve portion <NUM> is disposed over the blade <NUM> and the blade housing <NUM> as described above, the user inserts the fastener-engaging portion <NUM> through the fastener access passage <NUM> formed by the tube-shaped body <NUM> in order to engage a distal tip of the fastener-engaging portion <NUM> with a corresponding recess <NUM> formed by the fastener <NUM>. The user may rotate the fastener-engaging portion <NUM> in order to decouple the threaded connection of the threaded outer surface portion <NUM> of the fastener <NUM> with the threaded passage <NUM> formed by the nut <NUM>. Thereafter, as seen in <FIG> and <FIG>, the user may remove the fastener <NUM> from: (<NUM>) the fastener-receiving passage <NUM> of the distal end <NUM>D of the blade housing <NUM>; (<NUM>) the central fastener -receive passage <NUM> of the central body portion <NUM> of the over-molded hub <NUM>; and (<NUM>) the threaded passage <NUM> formed by the nut <NUM>. Referring to <FIG>, with the fastener <NUM> no longer securing the rotary blade <NUM> and the nut <NUM> to the flange portion <NUM> defined by the distal end <NUM>D of the blade housing <NUM>, the user may remove the sleeve portion <NUM> from the blade housing <NUM> such that the rotary blade <NUM>, the nut <NUM> and the silicon washer <NUM> remain in the receiving cavity <NUM> of the tube-shaped body <NUM> of the sleeve portion <NUM>. As described above, the above-described steps may be performed in a reverse order for attaching the rotary blade <NUM>, the nut <NUM> and the silicon washer <NUM> to the blade housing <NUM>.

In an example, movement and orientation of the front door <NUM> may be controlled by a front door latching mechanism, which is seen generally at <NUM> in <FIG>. Although a top door movement damping mechanism, which is seen generally at <NUM>, is primarily utilized for dampening movement of the top door <NUM>, the top door movement dampening mechanism <NUM> is connected to one or more components of the front door latching mechanism <NUM>, and, therefore, the top door movement dampening mechanism <NUM> is considered to be a component of the front door latching mechanism <NUM>. Furthermore, throughout the views seen at <FIG>, a side panel of the body <NUM> has been removed in order to expose components of the front door latching mechanism <NUM>. The components defining the front door latching mechanism <NUM> may be attached to a support panel <NUM> that may generally define one or more surface portions of interior surface <NUM> of the crafting apparatus <NUM> that would otherwise be hidden from view upon re-attaching the side panel of the body <NUM>.

Referring initially to <FIG>, the top door <NUM> and the front door <NUM> of the crafting apparatus <NUM> are shown in a closed orientation relative to the body <NUM> of the crafting apparatus <NUM>. As seen more clearly in <FIG>, an inner surface <NUM>I of the top door <NUM> near the front edge of the top door <NUM> may include a magnetic component <NUM> that may cooperate with a magnetic component <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>) disposed over or arranged under (and out of view) the top surface <NUM> of the front door <NUM> for magnetically securing the top door <NUM> in a closed orientation as seen in <FIG>. Then, as seen in <FIG>, a user may arrange a digit or finger between the inner surface <NUM>I of the top door <NUM> near the front edge of the top door <NUM> and the top surface <NUM> of the front door <NUM> in order to overcome the magnetic force of the magnetic components <NUM>, <NUM> such that the top door <NUM> may move from a closed orientation (as seen in <FIG>) to a fully open orientation (as seen in <FIG>). In some instances, the magnetic component <NUM> may be a metal strip and the magnetic component <NUM> may be disposed over or arranged under (and out of view) of the top surface <NUM> of the front door <NUM>.

The top door movement dampening mechanism <NUM> regulates automatic movement of the top door <NUM> from the closed orientation to the open orientation. Furthermore, the top door movement dampening mechanism <NUM> may include a dampening spring (not shown) that damps automatic movement of the top door <NUM> from the closed orientation to the open orientation.

With reference to <FIG>-12J, as the top door <NUM> rotates from the closed orientation to the open orientation, a gear <NUM> of the top door movement dampening mechanism <NUM> is rotated R<NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>), which may be hereinafter referred to as the driving gear of the front door latching mechanism <NUM>. The driving gear <NUM> is connected to and rotates R<NUM> a driven gear <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>) of the front door latching mechanism <NUM> so that rotation R<NUM> of the driving gear <NUM> is also imparted to the driven gear <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the driven gear <NUM> is connected to a proximal end <NUM>P of a latch wire <NUM> of the front door latching mechanism <NUM>. A distal end <NUM>D of the latch wire <NUM> is connected to a latch plate <NUM> (see also <FIG>) of the front door latching mechanism <NUM>. The latch plate <NUM> is rotatably-connected R<NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>) / R<NUM>' (see, e.g., <FIG>) to an outer surface <NUM>O of the support panel <NUM>.

Upon rotation R<NUM> of the driving gear <NUM>, the driven gear <NUM> will also rotate R<NUM>, which causes the driven gear <NUM> to pull the proximal end <NUM>P of the latch wire <NUM> with a pulling force F<NUM>.

With reference to <FIG>, which is an enlarged view of a portion of <FIG> (when the top door <NUM> is arranged in a closed orientation), the distal end <NUM>D of the latch wire <NUM> is defined by a wire tip <NUM> that may, in an example, be bent or arranged at approximately a right angle with respect to a majority of the length of the latch wire <NUM> extending from the proximal end <NUM>P of the latch wire <NUM>.

As seen in <FIG>, the latch plate <NUM> defines a first substantially arcuate channel <NUM> having a distal end <NUM>D and a proximal end <NUM>P. The distal end <NUM>D of the wire tip <NUM> may be arranged for movement in the substantially arcuate channel <NUM> for connecting the latch wire <NUM> to the latch plate <NUM>.

Furthermore, with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, a pulling pocket <NUM> may extend from the distal end <NUM>D of the first substantially arcuate channel <NUM>. In an example, the pulling pocket <NUM> may extend from the first substantially arcuate channel <NUM> in a direction generally toward a rotational center C (see, e.g., <FIG>) of the latch plate <NUM>.

As seen at <FIG>, upon the proximal end <NUM>P of the latch wire <NUM> being pulled by the driven gear <NUM> as described above, a corresponding pulling force F<NUM> is imparted to the wire tip <NUM>. Because the wire tip <NUM> is located within the pulling pocket <NUM> (i.e., when the top door <NUM> is arranged in a closed orientation), the pulling force F<NUM> imparted to the wire tip <NUM> is translated to the pulling pocket <NUM>, which causes the latch plate <NUM> to rotate R<NUM> about the outer surface <NUM>O of the support panel <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the combination of the rotation R<NUM> of the latch plate <NUM> and the pulling force F<NUM> imparted to the wire tip <NUM> results in the wire tip <NUM> being displaced from the pulling pocket <NUM> and into the first substantially arcuate channel <NUM>. Upon the wire tip <NUM> being displaced from the pulling pocket <NUM>, the latch plate <NUM> is no longer rotated according to the direction of the arrow R<NUM> since the wire tip <NUM> is not translating the pulling force F<NUM> to the pulling pocket <NUM>. Thereafter, further rotation R<NUM> of the driven gear <NUM> results in further pulling of the proximal end <NUM>P of the latch wire <NUM> with the pulling force F<NUM>, which ultimately results in the wire tip <NUM> being pulled along the length of the first substantially arcuate channel <NUM> such that the wire tip <NUM> may arrive at a location adjacent to or near the proximal end <NUM>P of the first substantially arcuate channel <NUM> as seen at <FIG>.

With reference to <FIG>, the front door latching mechanism <NUM> also includes a latch portion <NUM>. The latch portion <NUM> includes a latch base <NUM> having a front surface <NUM> and a rear surface <NUM>. A latch shaft <NUM> extends from the front surface <NUM> and a latch finger <NUM> extends from the rear surface <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, in an example, the latch base <NUM> may be movably-attached to the outer surface <NUM>O of the support panel <NUM> by a pair of guide posts <NUM>. A spring <NUM> may be disposed about each guide post <NUM> and extend between the front surface <NUM> of the latch base <NUM> and a spring-retaining head portion <NUM> of each guide post <NUM>. As seen at <FIG> and <FIG>, when the springs <NUM> are arranged in an expanded state, the springs <NUM> bias the latch base <NUM> toward the outer surface <NUM>O of the support panel <NUM> such that the latch finger <NUM> extends through latch-tip-receiving passage <NUM>B and beyond the interior surface <NUM>. Conversely, as seen at <FIG> and <FIG>, when the springs <NUM> are arranged in a compressed state, the latch base <NUM> is pulled away (with a pulling force F<NUM> as seen at <FIG>) from the outer surface <NUM>O of the support panel <NUM> such that the latch finger <NUM> is still permitted to extend through latch-tip-receiving passage <NUM>B but not beyond the interior surface <NUM>.

Referring back to <FIG>, the latch plate <NUM> further defines a second substantially arcuate channel <NUM> having a distal end <NUM>D and a proximal end <NUM>P. A distal end <NUM>D of the latch shaft <NUM> is arranged for movement in the second substantially arcuate channel <NUM> for connecting the latch portion <NUM> to the latch plate <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the latch shaft <NUM> may include a shoulder surface <NUM> arranged near the distal end <NUM>D of the latch shaft <NUM>. Furthermore, the second substantially arcuate channel <NUM> defines a cam surface <NUM> that extends along but is not parallel to the outer surface <NUM>O of the support panel <NUM>. As seen at <FIG>, the shoulder surface <NUM> of the latch shaft <NUM> is disposed adjacent the cam surface <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, as described above, when the wire tip <NUM> is located within the pulling pocket <NUM> (i.e., when the top door <NUM> is arranged in a closed orientation), the pulling force F<NUM> imparted to the wire tip <NUM> is translated to the pulling pocket <NUM>, which causes the latch plate <NUM> to rotate R<NUM> about the outer surface 704o of the support panel <NUM>. The latch plate <NUM> therefore is also rotated R<NUM> about the latch shaft <NUM> such that the distal end <NUM>D of the second substantially arcuate channel <NUM> is advanced toward the latch shaft <NUM>. Because the shoulder surface <NUM> of the latch shaft <NUM> is disposed adjacent the cam surface <NUM>, movement of the latch plate <NUM> relative the latch shaft <NUM> results in the latch shaft <NUM> pulling the latch base <NUM> with the pulling force F<NUM> away from the outer surface <NUM>O of the support panel <NUM>. As a result of the latch base <NUM> being pulled with the pulling force F<NUM>, the springs <NUM> are compressed between the front surface <NUM> of the latch base <NUM> and the spring-retaining head portion <NUM> of each guide post <NUM>. Furthermore, as a result of the latch base <NUM> being pulled with the pulling force F<NUM> away from the outer surface 704o of the support panel <NUM>, the latch finger <NUM> is retracted from: (<NUM>) as seen at <FIG> and <FIG>, a first orientation within the latch-tip-receiving passage <NUM>B such that a portion of the latch finger <NUM> extends beyond the interior surface <NUM> to (<NUM>) as seen at <FIG> and <FIG>, a second orientation within the latch-tip-receiving passage <NUM>B such that the portion of the latch finger <NUM> does not extend beyond the interior surface <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, as described above, when the wire tip <NUM> is displaced from the pulling pocket <NUM> and into the first substantially arcuate channel <NUM>, the latch plate <NUM> is no longer rotated according to the direction of the arrow R<NUM> since the wire tip <NUM> is not translating the pulling force F<NUM> to the pulling pocket <NUM>. Similarly, as described above, during the rotation R<NUM> of the latch plate <NUM>, the springs <NUM> are compressed between the front surface <NUM> of the latch base <NUM> and the spring-retaining head portion <NUM> of each guide post <NUM>. Yet even further, a return spring <NUM> (see also <FIG>) was also compressed during the rotation R<NUM> of the latch plate <NUM>. Upon the wire tip <NUM> being displaced from the pulling pocket <NUM>, the energy stored by the compressed springs <NUM> and the return spring <NUM> is released, which results in the return spring <NUM> pulling on the latch plate <NUM> causing rotation R<NUM>' of the latch plate <NUM> in the opposite direction of arrow rotation R<NUM> and the springs <NUM> imparting a pushing force F<NUM> to the front surface <NUM> of the latch base <NUM> such that the latch base <NUM> is pushed toward the outer surface <NUM>O of the support panel <NUM>.

As a result of the rotation R<NUM>' of the latch plate <NUM> described above, the proximal end <NUM>P of the second substantially arcuate channel <NUM> is advanced toward the latch shaft <NUM>, the latch plate shoulder surface <NUM> slides against the cam surface <NUM> of the second substantially arcuate channel <NUM>, which results in the spring <NUM> returning to the expanded state (as seen also in, e.g., <FIG>). The latch finger <NUM> is therefore returned to the first orientation within the latch-tip-receiving passage <NUM>B such that a portion of the latch finger <NUM> extends beyond the interior surface <NUM>. When the latch finger <NUM> is returned to the first orientation as described above, the top door <NUM> and the front door <NUM> may both be arranged in the open orientation as seen at FIG.

With reference to <FIG> and <FIG>, when the front door <NUM> is arranged in a closed orientation, the latch finger <NUM> is arranged in the latch-tip-receiving groove <NUM>A of the front door <NUM> in order to latch the front door <NUM> with the body <NUM> for arranging the front door <NUM> in a closed orientation relative to the body <NUM>. However, when the top door <NUM> is opened as described above at <FIG>, the orientation of the springs <NUM> are changed from the expanded state (see, e.g., <FIG>) to the compressed state (see, e.g., <FIG>), which results in the latch finger <NUM> being withdrawn from the latch-tip-receiving groove <NUM>A of the front door <NUM> in order to unlatch the front door <NUM> with the body <NUM> for arranging the front door <NUM> in an open orientation relative to the body <NUM>. In an example, upon unlatching the front door <NUM> as described above, a spring <NUM> (see, e.g., <FIG>) connected to the body <NUM> may automatically urge the front door <NUM> from the closed orientation to the open orientation. Furthermore, after the front door <NUM> has commenced movement toward the open orientation upon unlatching the front door <NUM> as described above, the orientation of the springs <NUM> are changed yet again from the compressed state (see, e.g., <FIG>) back to the expanded state (see, e.g., <FIG>), which results in the latch finger <NUM> being reset to a "ready position" for re-latching the front door <NUM> with the latch finger <NUM> when a user pivots the front door from the open orientation back to the closed orientation. Lastly, after re-latching the front door <NUM> in the closed orientation, the user may pivot the top door <NUM> from the open orientation back to the closed orientation so that the magnetic component <NUM> of the top door <NUM> may be magnetically-secured to the magnetic component <NUM> of the front door <NUM>. Upon pivoting the front door <NUM> back to the closed orientation, the wire tip <NUM> is urged from an orientation adjacent to or near the proximal end <NUM>P of the first substantially arcuate channel <NUM> toward the distal end <NUM>D of the first substantially arcuate channel <NUM> such that the wire tip <NUM> may be returned to the pulling pocket <NUM> in order to fully reset the front door latching mechanism <NUM>.

The components <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>, and <NUM> shown at <FIG>, their connections and relationships, and their functions, are meant to be exemplary only, and are not meant to limit implementations of the inventions described and/or claimed in this document.

For example, it may be implemented in one or a combination of the crafting apparatus <NUM> and a laptop computer 1800a.

Claim 1:
A portion (<NUM>) of a cutting device (<NUM>) of a crafting apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a support rod (<NUM>);
a blade housing (<NUM>) including a blade (<NUM>) arranged opposite a workpiece support surface (26w);
a support member (<NUM>) that supports the blade housing (<NUM>), wherein the support member (<NUM>) is movably-connected to the support rod (<NUM>);
a support member moving device (<NUM>) connected to the support member (<NUM>) that drives movement of the support member (<NUM>) relative the support rod (<NUM>) in two directions including:
a lifting direction (Z) for lifting the blade (<NUM>) away from the workpiece support surface (26w); and
a cutting direction (Z') for driving the blade (<NUM>) toward the workpiece support surface (26w), and
at least one spring (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) that connects the support member moving device (<NUM>) to the support member (<NUM>), characterized in that the at least one spring (<NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM>) includes:
a first spring (<NUM>) that provides a lower spring constant at lower cutting forces for the blade (<NUM>) when the support member moving device (<NUM>) drives movement of the support member (<NUM>) in the cutting direction (Z'); and
a second spring (<NUM>) that provides a higher spring constant at higher cutting forces for the blade (<NUM>) when the support member moving device (<NUM>) drives movement of the support member (<NUM>) in the cutting direction (Z').