Patent ID: 7055418

Claim:
A device for trimming and automatically cutting images ( 10 a , 10 b , 10 c ) printed on graphic and photographic substrates in the form of a reel or single sheets, the substrates having an optical recognizing mark (M) between successive images, the device comprising: a movable cutting unit ( 7 ) having a cutting blade operated by a cutting-blade motor ( 9 ), the cutting blade defining a cutting line extending in a transverse direction relative to a feed path and having a cutting-line length, the movable cutting unit operatively coupled to at least one cutting-unit angular adjustment motor ( 5 , 5 ′) to angularly adjust an orientation of the cutting unit ( 7 ) for adjusting an angular orientation of the cutting line; a pair of feed rollers ( 2 ) extending in a transverse direction relative to the feed path and driven by a feed-roller drive motor ( 3 ), the pair of feed rollers ( 2 ) having a nip length less than the cutting-line length for engaging a central portion of a width of the substrate and feeding the substrate along the feed path; a pair of optical sensors ( 4 , 4 ′) between the pair of feed rollers ( 2 ) and the movable cutting unit ( 7 ), the pair of optical sensors ( 4 , 4 ′) configured to detect one of the optical recognizing marks (M); two length differential measuring devices ( 6 , 6 ′) configured to detect different feed lengths of the substrate ( 10 ) as the substrate passes the two length differential measuring devices ( 6 , 6 ′); the pair of feed rollers ( 2 ) being positioned between the two length differential measuring devices ( 6 , 6 ′); and a microprocessor ( 11 ) in communication with the pair of optical sensors ( 4 , 4 ′), the two length differential measuring devices ( 6 , 6 ′), and the at least one cutting-unit angular adjustment motor ( 5 , 5 ′), and configured to control the orientation of the cutting unit ( 7 ) based on substrate entry-angle data from the pair of optical sensors ( 4 , 4 ′) and based on substrate skid-angle data from the two length differential measuring devices ( 6 , 6 ′).