Claims
- 1. An envelope cutting system for cutting a material having a surface, the system comprising:
a cutting unit including
a frame having a lower support surface, a blade adjustment assembly coupled to the frame, and also a blade assembly coupled to the frame, the blade assembly positioned at least partially within the frame such that a longitudinal axis of the blade assembly is substantially perpendicular to the lower support surface of the frame, the blade assembly including a blade retainer and a blade connected to the retainer, the retainer having a rigid collar, and the blade assembly rotatable about the longitudinal axis; and at least one template having first and second substantially flat surfaces, a periphery and at least one edge defining at least one opening forming the shape of an unfolded envelope, the lower support surface of the frame configured for contacting at least one of the first surface of the template and the material to be cut, the second surface of the template configured for placement upon the material to be cut, the rigid collar of the retainer configured to operatively engage at least one of the periphery and the edge of the opening of the template, thereby enabling the blade to cut a shape in the cutting material which assimilates the shape of at least a portion of the at least one of the periphery and the edge.
- 2. The envelope cutting system of claim 1, further comprising at least one scoring plate having at least one scoring region corresponding to the fold lines on the envelope defined by the at least one opening.
- 3. The envelope cutting system of claim 2, wherein the at least one scoring plate includes at least one secondary region corresponding to where a bonding material is placed on the envelope defined by the at least one opening.
- 4. The envelope cutting system of claim 1 further comprising a cutting mat, the cutting mat configured for placement under the material to be cut, the template and the cutting unit.
- 5. The envelope cutting system of claim 4 wherein the cutting unit includes a cap covering the lower surface of the frame and the lower portion of the blade assembly.
- 6. The envelope cutting system of claim 1 wherein the frame includes a base and a housing coupled to the base, wherein the housing is configured to enclose at least a portion of the blade adjustment assembly and the blade assembly, wherein the blade assembly extends along a first axis, and wherein the lower surface of the base defines a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
- 7. The envelope cutting system of claim 1 wherein the frame includes a compartment for storing at least one spare blade assembly.
- 8. The envelope cutting system of claim 1, wherein the blade assembly is rotatable about the first axis in at least one of a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction.
- 9. The envelope cutting system of claim 1 wherein the blade adjustment assembly includes a blade operating mode indicator for indicating the approximate amount of downward pressure applied to the blade during operation.
- 10. The envelope cutting system of claim 9 wherein the blade operating mode indicator indicates which of at least a first and a second operating mode the envelope cutting system is operating in.
- 11. The envelope cutting system of claim 10 wherein the first operating mode is a free-form cutting mode and wherein the second operating mode is a template cutting mode.
- 12. The envelope cutting system of claim 1 wherein the template comprises a generally transparent tinted material, and wherein the material of the template includes an edge glow substance operably disposed with structure of template surfaces to redirect light toward the periphery and the edge of the at least one opening of the semi-transparent material.
- 13. The envelope cutting system of claim 12 wherein the scoring comprises of a generally transparent material.
- 14. An package cutting system, comprising:
a cutting unit including
a frame having a lower support surface, a blade adjustment assembly coupled to the frame, and also a blade assembly coupled to the frame, the blade assembly positioned at least partially within the frame such that a longitudinal axis of the blade assembly is substantially perpendicular to the lower support surface of the frame, the blade assembly including a blade retainer and a blade connected to the retainer, the retainer having a rigid collar, and the blade assembly rotatable about the longitudinal axis; a template having first and second substantially flat surfaces, a periphery and at least one edge defining at least one opening forming the shape of an unfolded package, the lower support surface of the frame configured for contacting at least one of the first surface of the template and the material to be cut, the second surface of the template configured for placement upon the material to be cut, the rigid collar of the retainer configured to operatively engage at least one of the periphery and the edge of the opening of the template, thereby enabling the blade to cut a shape in the cutting material which assimilates the shape of at least a portion of the at least one of the periphery and the edge; a scoring plate including at least one scoring region corresponding to the fold lines on the package defined by the at least one opening and at least one secondary region corresponding to where a joining material is placed on the package defined by the at least one opening; and a cutting mat configured for placement under the material to be cut, the template and the cutting unit.
- 15. The package cutting system of claim 14 wherein the cutting unit includes a cap covering the lower surface of the frame and the lower portion of the blade assembly.
- 16. The package cutting system, of claim 15 wherein the template is made of a generally transparent tinted material, and wherein the material of the template includes an edge glow substance operably disposed with structure of template surfaces to redirect light toward the periphery and the edge of the at least one opening of the semi-transparent material.
- 17. The package cutting system of claim 15 wherein the scoring plate is made of a generally transparent material.
- 18. The package cutting system of claim 14, wherein the blade assembly is rotatable about the first axis in at least one of a clockwise and a counterclockwise direction.
- 19. The package cutting system of claim 14 wherein the frame includes a base and a housing coupled to the base, wherein the housing is configured to enclose at least a portion of the blade adjustment assembly and the blade assembly, wherein the blade assembly extends along a first axis, and wherein the lower surface of the base defines a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the first axis.
- 20. The package cutting system of claim 14 wherein the frame includes a compartment for storing at least one spare blade assembly.
Parent Case Info
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of United States Patent Application No. 09/769,683, filed Jan. 25, 2001.
Continuation in Parts (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
Parent |
09769683 |
Jan 2001 |
US |
Child |
10037167 |
Dec 2001 |
US |