Printer Cutter Mechanism with Movable Cover for Jam Clearance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Guillotine knife blade type cutters in printers are prone to jamming, difficult to service, and complex to load, with high complexity and size compared to rotary knife blades.
Innovation Solution
A cutter mechanism featuring a rotary cutter and a straight blade assembly with a movable cover that separates the blades for service and jam clearance, utilizing a biasing mechanism and gear, rack, and lead screw assembly for efficient cutting and reduced complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If guillotine knife blade type cutters are used, then the structure is simpler and less expensive, but the cutter is prone to jamming and difficult to service
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter mechanism is divided into separate components: a fixed blade, a movable blade, and a carriage that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the movable blade to be repositioned or removed without affecting the fixed blade, reducing jamming issues and improving serviceability while maintaining the cost benefits of a simpler structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable blade is mounted on a carriage that can dynamically adjust its position along the paper path. This dynamic positioning capability allows the blade to be moved away from the fixed blade for service or jam clearance, and positioned correctly for cutting operations, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing complexity.
2Ease of manufacture
If guillotine knife blade type cutters are used, then the structure is simpler and less expensive, but the cutter is difficult to service
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter mechanism is divided into separate components: a fixed blade, a movable blade, and a carriage that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the movable blade to be repositioned or removed without affecting the fixed blade, reducing jamming issues and improving serviceability while maintaining the cost benefits of a simpler structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable blade assembly is extracted as a separate, removable component from the fixed blade structure. This allows the movable blade to be easily removed for service or replacement without disassembling the entire cutter mechanism, significantly improving ease of repair while keeping the overall structure simple and cost-effective.
3Ease of manufacture
If guillotine knife blade type cutters are used, then the structure is simpler and less expensive, but loading paper is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The movable blade is mounted on a carriage that can dynamically adjust its position along the paper path. This dynamic positioning capability allows the blade to be moved away from the fixed blade for service or jam clearance, and positioned correctly for cutting operations, thereby improving reliability without significantly increasing complexity.
4Reliability
If rotary knife blades are used, then serviceability and reliability are improved, but the complexity and size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The cutter mechanism is divided into separate components: a fixed blade, a movable blade, and a carriage that can be independently positioned. This segmentation allows the movable blade to be repositioned or removed without affecting the fixed blade, reducing jamming issues and improving serviceability while maintaining the cost benefits of a simpler structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The movable blade assembly is extracted as a separate, removable component from the fixed blade structure. This allows the movable blade to be easily removed for service or replacement without disassembling the entire cutter mechanism, significantly improving ease of repair while keeping the overall structure simple and cost-effective.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enhances serviceability and reliability, simplifies paper loading and jam clearance, and reduces the overall size and complexity of the cutter mechanism compared to prior art.
Implementation Method 1
The biasing mechanism may comprise at least one spring extending between the cover and the straight blade assembly
Implementation Method 2
The gear may be mounted to the rotary cutter. The carriage may be mounted on the lead screw and adapted to translate along the lead screw upon rotation of the lead screw. As the carriage translates along the lead screw, teeth of the gear contact corresponding teeth of the rack, causing the rotary cutter to rotate as the carriage translates.
Implementation Method 3
The carriage may be mounted on the lead screw and adapted to translate along the lead screw upon rotation of the lead screw
Data Source
AI summary
A cutter mechanism for a printer is provided. The cutter mechanism comprises a rotary cutter and a straight blade assembly. The rotary cutter may be mounted for rotation about a rotation axis and for translation across at least a portion of a width of a paper path perpendicular to the rotation axis. The straight blade assembly may be mounted for rotation about a shaft and adapted to cooperate with the rotary cutter. The straight blade assembly comprises a straight blade extending across the width of the paper path. A printer mechanism cover is mounted coaxially on the shaft so as to be movable between a closed position and an open position. A portion of the cover may impact the straight blade assembly when the cover is moved from the closed position to the open position, causing the straight blade to be moved away from the rotary cutter.