Cutting – Means to drive or to guide tool – Tool displaceable to inactive position
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-13
2004-08-31
Peterson, Kenneth E. (Department: 3724)
Cutting
Means to drive or to guide tool
Tool displaceable to inactive position
C083S614000, C083S629000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06782785
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cutter cassette movably having a cutting blade therein and to a cutting device to which the cutter cassette is mounted for use.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known in the art to provide cutting devices using cutting blades of various shapes as office equipment for cutting paper into a designated size at a time. Among such cutting devices are a cutting device which uses a circular rotary blade as a cutting blade to prevent displacements of paper when cutting. This type of cutting device often includes a slider on a guide rail. There is also a hand-operated cutter of a more compact and portable type for cutting paper, cloth, felt and the like without the need for the guide rail and the slider. In the conventional cutting devices, various improvements and inventions have been provided in order to ensure safety for cutting blades which are exposed in use. Particularly, cutting devices equipped with a safety cover or the like for avoiding the cutting blade from contacting with hand. However, since the safety cover or the like must be removed when mounting the cutting blade on the cutting device, some cutting devices cannot interchange the cutting blades speedily. Furthermore, when a portion of the cutting blade is exposed, extra caution on safety is required for interchanging work; accordingly, prompt work may not be ensured.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,996,459 discloses a cutting device having a slider on a guide rail, in which the slider is pivotally mounted on the guide rail in an upwardly perpendicular relation thereto, so that speedier cutting-blade interchanging work is provided. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,001 proposes a speedy cutting-blade interchange by forming a portion for housing a plurality of replacement blades on a base and by configuring the slider on the guide rail to be freely opened and closed. Furthermore, in a cutter cassette disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-42979, in order to easily mount or interchange cutting blades without direct contact therewith, the cutting blade housed in a housing is covered by a protective plate which can be housed in the housing, thereby allowing the cutting blade to be covered or exposed as necessary and facilitating handling of the cutting blade. However, the cutting blades to be interchanged are prepared unprotected in any of these patents, so that the safety of users is not ensured. As described above, although the history of the invention for cutting-blade interchanging work of cutting devices is very old, many inventions and devices have been bound for a long time by a traditional viewpoint of interchanging exposed cutting blades.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is made in consideration of the above problems. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a cutter cassette in which a whole cutting blade is housed and held therein when not used, and the cutting blade is protruded promptly when used, and to provide a cutting device using the cutter cassette.
In order to solve the above problems, according to a first aspect of the invention, a cutter cassette movably holds a cutting blade therein.
With such a configuration, the cutting blade can be promptly extended from the cutter cassette when used, that is, in an operative state.
In the invention according to a second aspect of the invention, a cutter cassette singly holds the cutting blade therein in a completely inserted state.
With such a configuration, the cutting blade can be securely housed and held in the cutter cassette when not used, that is, in an inoperative state.
In the invention according to the first or the second aspect of the invention, the cutter cassette includes a holding mechanism for holding the cutting blade therein in a completely inserted state, and an extending mechanism for extending the cutting blade outwardly.
With such a configuration, the cutting blade can be housed in the cutter cassette by using the holding mechanism in an inoperative state, and the cutting blade in the cutter cassette can easily be extended using the release mechanism and the extending mechanism in an operative state, thereby improving safety and operability.
In the invention according to a third aspect of the invention, a cutter cassette includes a cutter case for supporting a cutting blade, and a case holder for movably housing the cutter case therein.
With such a configuration, the cutting blade can easily be held in the case holder by using the cutter case, and greater flexibility of positioning operation in the case holder and also various functions can be provided by providing various functions on the outer surface of the cutter case.
Furthermore, in the invention according to the third aspect of the invention, the cutter cassette further includes a holding mechanism for holding the cutter case in the case holder in a completely inserted state, and an extending mechanism for extending the cutter case out from the case holder so as to project the cutting blade from the case holder.
With such a configuration, by using the cutter cassette, in an inoperative state, the cutting blade can easily be housed in the cutter cassette by using the holding mechanism and, in an operative state, the cutting blade in the cutter cassette can be movably projected with greater flexibility of operation by using the release mechanism and the extending mechanism, thereby providing a cutter cassette having improved safety and operability.
In the cutter cassette according to the third aspect of the invention, the cutter case includes a first protrusion protruding outwardly, and the case holder includes a second protrusion protruding inwardly, wherein the first protrusion and the second protrusion are engaged with each other to form the holding mechanism for holding the cutter case in the case holder in a completely inserted state.
With such a configuration, the holding mechanism can be configured simply by using the two protrusions.
In the cutter cassette according to the third aspect of the invention, the case holder further includes a third protrusion protruding outwardly or inwardly, pushes the first protrusion inwardly by the third protrusion, and disengages the first protrusion from the second protrusion, thereby constituting a release mechanism for releasing the holding mechanism.
With such a configuration, the release mechanism can be configured simply by using the three protrusions.
In the cutter cassette according to the third aspect of the invention, the holding mechanism is a spring engaged with the cutter case and the case holder, and the cutter case is held in the case holder in a completely inserted state by the elasticity of the spring.
With such a configuration, the holding mechanism can be configured simply by using the spring.
In the cutter cassette according to the third aspect of the invention, the holding mechanism is magnets each engaged with the cutter case and the case holder, and the cutter case is held in the case holder in a completely inserted state by the attraction of the magnets.
With such a configuration, the holding mechanism can be configured simply by using the magnets.
In the cutter cassette according to the third aspect of the invention, the holding mechanism is implanted hair engaged with the cutter case and the case holder, and the cutter case is held in the case holder in a completely inserted state by the friction of the implanted hair.
With such a configuration, the holding mechanism can be configured simply by using the implanted hair.
In the cutter cassette according to any one of the first to the third aspect of the invention, the extending mechanism extends the cutting blade in synchronization with an external driving mechanism.
With such a configuration, the extending mechanism of the cutter cassette according to the invention can extend the cutting blade by using the driving mechanism mounted to a cutting device. Furthermore, the cutting blade can be extended at the same time the cutte
Mori Makoto
Shimizu Fumio
Carl Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
Oliff & Berridg,e PLC
Peterson Kenneth E.
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