Patent Description:
A conventional trimmer is described in, for example, Patent Document <NUM>. The trimmer comprises: a single trim knife reciprocated in a vertical direction and between a non-cutting position and a cutting position; and a table for positioning the bound material placed thereon. In this conventional trimmer, an operator puts the bound material on the table and positions it properly, and then moves the trim knife from the non-cutting position to the cutting position so as to cut an edge portion of the bound material. The operator rotates and positions the bound material at each of top, bottom and front edge cutting positions, sequentially. The operator reciprocates the trim knife at each of the positions so as to cut each of the top, bottom and front edge portions. Thus, each of the edge portions of the bound material is trimmed.

The other conventional trimmer described in, for example, Patent Document <NUM> is a three-side trimmer. The three-side trimmer comprises: a single trim knife reciprocated in a vertical direction between a non-cutting position and a cutting position; a table for positioning a bound material placed thereon; and a rotate mechanism for rotating the table. A feeding mechanism supplies the bound material to the table, and the table with the bound material is rotated so as to position the bound material at each of top, bottom and front edge cutting positions by the rotate mechanism. Then, the trim knife reciprocates at each of the positions to cut the top, bottom and front edge portions.

The other conventional trimmer is described in, for example, Patent Document <NUM>. The trimmer comprises: a trim knife; a blade receiving portion for receiving the blade edge of the trim knife; and an adjustment mechanism for adjusting the position of the blade receiving portion. The adjustment mechanism causes the blade receiving portion to be toward and away from the blade edge of the trim knife so as to adjust the position of the blade receiving portion. Thus, in case that the bound material cannot be trimmed completely, the adjustment mechanism can adjust the position of the blade receiving portion so as to trim the bound material completely.

The adjustment mechanism of Patent Document <NUM> moves the blade receiving portion while keeping in a direction parallel to a horizontal direction. However, the bound material is rarely trimmed incompletely along the entire region of the trim knife, while the bound material is often trimmed incompletely along only the region of one side of the trim knife. The blade receiving portion moves toward the trim knife in the region not only where the bound material cannot be trimmed completely but also where the bound material can be trimmed completely because the adjustment mechanism of Patent Document <NUM> moves the blade receiving portion while keeping a direction parallel to a horizontal direction as described above. Thus, in the case of the adjustment mechanism of Patent Document <NUM>, there is a problem that the lifetime of the blade receiving portion becomes shorter because the trim knife unnecessarily digs into the blade receiving portion even in the region where the bound material can be trimmed completely. Patent Document <NUM> relates to a cutting device that cuts an edge portion of a sheet bundle having plural sheets stacked. Patent Document <NUM> relates to a sheet material processor which processes a transported sheet material along a direction orthogonal to a transportation direction of the sheet material. Patent Document <NUM> relates to a paper cutter including a cutting blade moved in an oblique direction with respect to the paper surface of a sheaf of paper sheets to cut the paper.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a trimmer which can properly adjust a position of a blade receiving portion.

In order to achieve the object, the present invention provides a trimmer for trimming a bound material, comprising:.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein
the trimmer further comprises:.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, wherein.

The trimmer according to the present invention can properly adjust a position of a blade receiving portion. Thus, the lifetime of the blade receiving portion becomes longer because the trim knife does not unnecessarily dig into the blade receiving portion in the region where the bound material can be trimmed completely. Even if the trim knife is sidlingly attached, there is no need to detach and attach the trim knife again properly because the position of the blade receiving portion can be adjusted properly.

A trimmer according to the present invention will be explained hereinbelow with reference to the figures.

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a structure of the trimmer will be explained.

The trimmer comprises: a bound material feeding unit <NUM> for feeding a bound material <NUM> one by one; a table unit <NUM> receiving the bound material <NUM> from the bound material feeding unit <NUM> thereon at a predetermined position and rotatable with the bound material <NUM> at every predetermined angle in such a manner that the bound material <NUM> is positioned at each of top, front and bottom edge cutting positions; and a trim unit <NUM> arranged for movement in directions toward and away from the table unit <NUM>. The trim unit <NUM> is configured to be moved between a cutting position and a stand-by position. The cutting position is adjacent to the table unit <NUM> for trimming a top edge area 1a, a bottom edge area 1b and a front edge area 1c of the bound material <NUM>, respectively. The stand-by position is away from the table unit <NUM>.

The bound material feeding unit <NUM> has a bound material loading table <NUM> on which a stack of the bound materials <NUM> is placed. A path <NUM> for transporting the bound material <NUM> extends between the table unit <NUM> and the bound material loading table <NUM>. A discharge end of the path <NUM> is adjacent to the table unit <NUM>, while a side section of a supply end thereof is adjacent to the bound material loading table <NUM>.

The bound material feeding unit <NUM> also has a bound material feeding mechanism that feeds the bound material <NUM> from the bound material loading table <NUM> toward the path <NUM>, one by one. The bound material feeding mechanism has a pair of endless belts <NUM> extending across and perpendicularly to the path <NUM> from both sides of the bound material loading table <NUM>, and rollers 40a and 40b between which the endless belts <NUM> are extended. A support bar <NUM> having substantially a reverse U-shape is fixed to the pair of the endless belts <NUM>. A plurality of suction heads <NUM> is mounted on the support bar <NUM> and faces downward. Suction heads <NUM> are spaced in a length direction of the support bar <NUM>. In this way, the line of the suction heads <NUM> reciprocates between the bound material loading table <NUM> and the path <NUM> in a direction perpendicular to the path <NUM> by a drive of a motor <NUM>.

The bound material feeding unit <NUM> also has a bound material transporting mechanism which transports the bound material <NUM> received from the bound material feeding mechanism on the path <NUM> toward the table unit <NUM> along the path <NUM>. The bound material transporting mechanism has an endless belt <NUM> extending along and above the path <NUM> and rotatably supported by a frame <NUM>. The endless belt <NUM> is rotatably driven by a motor <NUM> mounted to the frame <NUM>. A chuck <NUM> is hung with the endless belt <NUM> and reciprocates between the bound material loading table <NUM> and the table <NUM> on the path <NUM> by the drive of the motor <NUM>.

As described above, the bound material <NUM> placed on the bound material loading table <NUM> is absorbed one by one by the line of the suction heads <NUM>, and then, it is fed in the direction perpendicular to the transporting direction of the bound material <NUM> to the path <NUM> in which its back 1d faces forward. The bound material <NUM> is gripped by the chuck <NUM> at this position. At this time, the face <NUM> of the chuck <NUM> comes in contact with the bottom edge 1b of the bound material <NUM>. Then, the absorption by the line of the suction heads <NUM> is released, whereby the bound material <NUM> is transferred to the chuck <NUM>. Thereafter, the chuck <NUM> moves toward the table unit <NUM> on the path <NUM>, and when the top edge 1a of the bound material <NUM> comes in contact with the second upright plate <NUM>, it stops. Thus, the bound material <NUM> is positioned on the table <NUM> in the top-to-bottom direction.

The table unit <NUM> has a base <NUM> and a rectangular table <NUM> which is provided with the top surface for supporting a bottom surface of a section of the bound material <NUM> except for the top edge portion 1a, the bottom edge portion 1b and the front edge portion 1c thereon. The table unit <NUM> also has positioning means for positioning the bound material <NUM> on the top surface of the table <NUM>.

In this embodiment, the positioning means has a first upright plate <NUM> arranged on one side edge of the table <NUM>, wherein a back 1d of the bound material <NUM> comes in contact with the upright plate <NUM>. The first upright plate <NUM> is coupled to a slide driving mechanism (not shown) attached to the bottom surface of the table <NUM>. Further, the positioning means has a second upright plate <NUM> to which the top edge 1a of the bound material <NUM> can contact. The second upright plate <NUM> is mounted on a feed screw <NUM> that is rotatably driven by a motor <NUM> supported by the base <NUM>. In this way, the first and second upright plates <NUM> and <NUM> move in directions toward and away from the table <NUM> and they stop at a predetermined position corresponding to both a size and a receive position of the bound material <NUM> fed from the bound material feeding unit <NUM> (see <FIG>).

The positioning means is further provided with a third upright plate <NUM> arranged opposite to the first upright plate <NUM> with the table <NUM> therebetween, so that the front edge 1c of the bound material <NUM> comes in contact with the third upright plate <NUM>. The third upright plate <NUM> is mounted on a feed screw <NUM> which is rotatably driven by a motor <NUM> supported by the base <NUM>, like the second upright plate <NUM>, so that it moves in directions toward and away from the table <NUM>. When the bound material <NUM> is placed on the table <NUM>, the third upright plate <NUM> moves in a direction toward the bound material <NUM> until the back 1d of the bound material <NUM> comes in contact with the first upright plate <NUM> and the third upright plate <NUM> comes in contact with the front edge 1c. This achieves the positioning of the bound material <NUM> placed on the table <NUM> in the back-to-front direction (see <FIG>).

The face <NUM> of the chuck <NUM> of the bound material feeding unit <NUM> that comes in contact with the bottom edge 1b of the bound material <NUM> also functions as a part of the positioning means. It performs the positioning of the bound material <NUM> in the top-to-bottom direction along with the second upright plate <NUM> (see <FIG>).

A vertical shaft <NUM> is mounted on the bottom surface of the table <NUM>, and the shaft <NUM> is held so as to be rotatable by a bearing <NUM> attached to the base <NUM>. A motor <NUM> is coupled to the shaft <NUM>, whereby the table <NUM> is rotatably driven by the motor <NUM>.

A pressure plate <NUM> is arranged opposite to the shaft <NUM> above the table <NUM> for upwardly and downwardly movement between two positions of a stand-by position at which it is spaced from the bound material <NUM>, and a pressure position at which it presses the bound material <NUM> against the table <NUM>. The pressure plate <NUM> is attached to a piston-cylinder device <NUM> supported by the base <NUM> such that it can rotate at the pressure position along with the table <NUM> and the bound material <NUM>. It is reciprocated between the stand-by position and the pressure position by the drive of the piston-cylinder device <NUM>.

After the bound material <NUM> is positioned by the positioning means <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>, the pressure plate <NUM> moves to the pressure position so as to fix the bound material <NUM> to the table <NUM>. After the pressure plate <NUM> is disposed on the pressure position, the third upright plate <NUM> and the chuck <NUM> (the face <NUM>) of the positioning means are separated from the bound material <NUM> in order not to obstruct the rotational movement of the bound material <NUM>.

The trim unit <NUM> has a frame <NUM>. A base portion <NUM> is attached to the frame <NUM>. When the trim unit <NUM> is disposed on the cutting position, the base portion <NUM> supports the bottom surface of the top edge portion 1a, the bottom edge portion 1b or the front edge portion 1c of the bound material <NUM> placed on the table <NUM> of the table unit <NUM>.

A trim knife <NUM> is arranged opposite to the blade receiving portion <NUM> above the base portion <NUM> for upwardly and downwardly movement. The trim knife <NUM> takes two positions of a non-cutting position, at which it is spaced from the blade receiving plate <NUM>, and a cutting position, at which it is pushed against the blade receiving portion <NUM> at its edge. A trim knife driving mechanism <NUM> is attached to the frame <NUM> for reciprocating the trim knife <NUM> between the cutting position and the non-cutting position.

The trim unit <NUM> comprises the blade receiving portion <NUM> for receiving the trim knife <NUM>. The blade receiving portion <NUM> is fixed to the upper surface of the base portion <NUM>. The blade receiving portion <NUM> is, for example, made of a rubber material.

A pressure member <NUM> is arranged above the base portion <NUM> for movement upwardly and downwardly between two positions of a non-pressing position where it is spaced from the bound material <NUM>, and a pressing position where the bound material <NUM> is pressed against the base portion <NUM>. The pressure member <NUM> is reciprocated between the non-pressing position and the pressing position by a pressure member driving mechanism <NUM>. The pressure member <NUM> is disposed on the pressing position when the trim knife <NUM> moves from the non-cutting position to the cutting position, while the pressure member <NUM> is disposed on the non-pressing position when the trim knife <NUM> moves from the cutting position to the non-cutting position.

Two feed screws <NUM> are arranged horizontally between the table unit <NUM> and the trim unit <NUM>, and they <NUM> are spaced from each other. The feed screws <NUM> are rotatably mounted to a support member (not shown) fixed to another frame (main frame) <NUM>. The frame <NUM> of the trim unit <NUM> is engaged with the feed screws <NUM>. The feed screws <NUM> are coupled to a driving shaft of a motor <NUM> mounted on the frame <NUM>, whereby the feed screws <NUM> are rotatably driven by the motor <NUM>. A driving mechanism <NUM> is composed of the feed screws <NUM> and the motor <NUM>. The driving mechanism <NUM> causes the trim unit <NUM> to move between the cutting position and the stand-by position along the axis direction of the feed screws <NUM>.

There is provided a control unit <NUM> for controlling the operations of the table unit <NUM>, the trim unit <NUM> and the driving mechanism <NUM> (the motor <NUM>). The control unit <NUM> controls them in such a manner that the trim unit <NUM> moves from the stand-by position to the cutting position every time the bound material <NUM> is arranged at each of the top edge cutting position, the front edge cutting position and the bottom edge cutting position, to cut each of the top edge portion 1a, the front edge portion 1c and the bottom edge portion 1b of the bound material <NUM>, respectively. A touch screen <NUM> is further connected to the control unit <NUM>, by which an operator can set up the table unit <NUM>, the trim unit <NUM> and the driving mechanism <NUM> (the motor <NUM>).

Referring to <FIG> and <FIG>, a process for trimming the top edge portion 1a of the bound material <NUM> will be explained.

At first, as shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the table unit <NUM> rotates the table <NUM> in such a manner that an edge of the top edge portion 1a of the bound material <NUM> is arranged in parallel to the trim knife <NUM> and the bound material <NUM> is arranged at the top edge cutting position. At this time, the trim unit <NUM> (the trim knife <NUM>) is arranged at the stand-by position away from the top edge portion 1a of the bound material <NUM>. As shown in <FIG>, the trim knife <NUM> is arranged at the non-cutting position above the bound material <NUM>, and the pressure member <NUM> is arranged at the non-pressing position above the bound material <NUM>.

Then, as shown in <FIG>, the trim unit <NUM> moves in the moving direction 56a perpendicular to a length direction 20a of the trim knife <NUM>. The trim unit <NUM> is arranged at the cutting position from the stand-by position. At this time, the trim knife <NUM> is arranged at the non-cutting position, and the pressure member <NUM> is arranged at the non-pressing position. Then, as shown in <FIG>, the pressure member <NUM> moves downwardly to the pressing position by the pressure member driving mechanism <NUM> so as to press the bound material <NUM> against the base portion <NUM>. Then, as shown in <FIG>, the trim knife <NUM> moves toward the blade receiving portion <NUM> in a movement direction 20b by the trim knife driving mechanism <NUM>. And then, the trim knife <NUM> moves downwardly to the cutting position so as to press the blade edge <NUM> thereof against the blade receiving portion <NUM>, whereby the top edge portion 1a of the bound material <NUM> is trimmed.

Then, the trim knife <NUM> moves away from the blade receiving portion <NUM> in the movement direction <NUM> by the trim knife driving mechanism <NUM>. And then, the trim knife <NUM> moves upwardly to the non-cutting position away from the bound material <NUM>. The pressure member <NUM> further moves upwardly to the non-pressing position away from the bound material <NUM>. The bottom edge portion 1b of the bound material <NUM> is trimmed through the same process as above described.

Referring to <FIG>, an adjustment mechanism of the blade receiving portion will be explained.

As shown in <FIG> and <FIG>, the trimmer comprises the adjustment mechanism <NUM> for adjusting a position of the blade receiving portion <NUM>. The blade receiving portion <NUM> extends in a length direction 19a. The adjustment mechanism <NUM> comprises first and second motors <NUM> and <NUM>, a first connecting portion <NUM> for connecting one side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM> and the first motor <NUM>, and a second connecting portion <NUM> for connecting the other side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM> and the second motor <NUM>. The one side <NUM> and the other side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM> are disposed at opposite sides of the length direction 19a. The blade receiving portion <NUM> is supported on the base portion <NUM> so as to be freely mounted and dismounted. The base portion <NUM> extends in the length direction 19a of the blade receiving portion <NUM>.

The first connecting portion <NUM> comprises a first eccentric cam <NUM> provided on the one side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM>. The first eccentric cam <NUM> is attached to an elongate hole <NUM> provided in a one side <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> so as to be able to rotate and move relative to the base portion <NUM> through the elongate hole <NUM>. The elongate hole <NUM> extends in the length direction 19a. The first connecting portion <NUM> comprises a first belt <NUM> connected between a shaft <NUM> of the first eccentric cam <NUM> and an output axis <NUM> of the first motor <NUM>. Both the first motor <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> of the first eccentric cam <NUM> are fixed to a frame (not shown) of the trimmer. Thus, each of distances between the first motor <NUM>, the shaft <NUM> of the first eccentric cam <NUM> and the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM> maintains constant because of being fixed to the frame of the trimmer. On the other hand, the first eccentric cam <NUM> is rotated by the rotation of the output axis <NUM> of the first motor <NUM>, whereby the one side <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> (the one side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM>) is moved in movement directions 19b toward and away from the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM>. Thus, the distance between the one side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM> (the one side <NUM> of the base portion <NUM>) and the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM> may be changed.

The second connecting portion <NUM> comprises a second eccentric cam <NUM> provided on the other side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM>. The second eccentric cam <NUM> is attached to a hole <NUM> provided in the other side <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> so as to be able to rotate relative to the base portion <NUM> through the hole <NUM>. The hole <NUM> is the same size as the second eccentric cam <NUM>. The second connecting portion <NUM> comprises a second belt <NUM> connected between a shaft <NUM> of the second eccentric cam <NUM> and an output axis <NUM> of the second motor <NUM>. Both the second motor <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> of the second eccentric cam <NUM> are fixed to the frame (not shown) of the trimmer. Thus, each of distances between the second motor <NUM>, the shaft <NUM> of the second eccentric cam <NUM> and the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM> maintains constant because of being fixed to the frame of the trimmer. On the other hand, the second eccentric cam <NUM> is rotated by the rotation of the output axis <NUM> of the second motor <NUM>, whereby the other side <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> (the other side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM>) is moved in the movement directions 19b toward and away from the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM>. Thus, the distance between the other side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM> (the other side <NUM> of the base portion <NUM>) and the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM> may be changed.

A reference line <NUM> connected between centers of the shaft <NUM> of the first eccentric cam <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> of the second eccentric cam <NUM> is parallel to the length direction 20a (the horizontal direction) of the trim knife <NUM>. The reference line <NUM> does not move because both the shaft <NUM> of the first eccentric cam <NUM> and the shaft <NUM> of the second eccentric cam <NUM> are rotatably mounted on the frame of the trimmer, as above described.

The first and second motors <NUM> and <NUM> are connected with the control unit <NUM>. The control unit <NUM> is configured to control the amount of rotation of the output axes <NUM> and <NUM> of the first and second motors <NUM> and <NUM>. Thus, the adjustment mechanism <NUM> adjusts the position of the blade receiving portion <NUM>.

In case that each of the output axes <NUM> and <NUM> of the first and second motors <NUM> and <NUM> rotates by the same amount, each of the one and other sides <NUM> and <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> (the one and other sides <NUM> and <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM>) also moves by the same amount and in the movement direction 19b. On the other hand, in case that each of the output axes <NUM> and <NUM> of the first and second motors <NUM> and <NUM> rotates by a different amount, each of the one and other sides <NUM> and <NUM> of the base portion <NUM> (the one and other sides <NUM> and <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM>) also moves by the different amount and in the movement direction 19b.

In <FIG>, the blade receiving portion <NUM> is disposed in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction (the reference line <NUM>) and adjacent to the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM>. In <FIG>, the blade receiving portion <NUM> is disposed in a direction inclined to the horizontal direction (the reference line <NUM>), and the one side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM> is away from the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM> while the other side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM> is adjacent to the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM>. In <FIG>, the blade receiving portion <NUM> is disposed in a direction inclined to the horizontal direction (the reference line <NUM>), and the one side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM> is adjacent to the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM> while the other side <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM> is away from the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM>. In <FIG>, the blade receiving portion <NUM> is disposed in a direction parallel to the horizontal direction (the reference line <NUM>) and away from the blade edge <NUM> of the trim knife <NUM>.

As shown in <FIG>, a setting screen displayed on the touch screen <NUM> is provided with a "+" button, a "-" button, and first and second display portions 70a and 70b each of which corresponds to each of the one and other sides <NUM> and <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM>. An operator inputs values corresponding to the amounts of rotation of the first and second motors <NUM> and <NUM> through the "+" and "-" buttons. In short, the operator presses the "+" and "-" buttons so as to increase and decrease the values displayed on the first and second display portions 70a and 70b. The control unit <NUM> is configured to control the amount of rotation of the first and second motors <NUM> and <NUM> depending on the values displayed on the first and second display portions 70a and 70b, whereby the positions of the one and other sides <NUM> and <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM> can be adjusted.

As a result, the trimmer according to the present invention can properly adjust the positions of the one and other sides <NUM> and <NUM> of the blade receiving portion <NUM>. Thus, the lifetime of the blade receiving portion <NUM> becomes longer because the trim knife <NUM> does not unnecessarily dig into the blade receiving portion <NUM> in the region where the bound material <NUM> can be trimmed completely. Even if the trim knife <NUM> is attached sidlingly, there is no need to detach and attach the trim knife <NUM> again because the position of the blade receiving portion <NUM> can be adjusted properly.

Claim 1:
A trimmer for trimming a bound material, comprising:
a trim knife (<NUM>) that trims the bound material;
a blade receiving portion (<NUM>) that receives a blade edge of the trim knife (<NUM>); and
an adjustment mechanism (<NUM>) characterized in that the adjusting mechanism is configured to adjust a position of the blade receiving portion (<NUM>) in such a manner that each of one side and other side of the blade receiving portion (<NUM>) is moved by not only a same amount but also a different amount and in directions toward and away from the blade edge of the trim knife (<NUM>), wherein
the adjustment mechanism (<NUM>) comprises:
first and second motors (<NUM>,<NUM>);
a first connecting portion (<NUM>) configured to connect the one side of the blade receiving portion (<NUM>) with the first motor (<NUM>); and
a second connecting portion (<NUM>) configured to connect the other side of the blade receiving portion (<NUM>) with the second motor (<NUM>), whereby
each of the one side and the other side of the blade receiving portion (<NUM>) is moved in the directions toward and away from the blade edge of the trim knife (<NUM>).