Rotary blade replacement apparatus and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9278459-B2
Application number	US-201313790664-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2013
Priority date	Dec 17, 2012
Publication date	Mar 8, 2016
Grant date	Mar 8, 2016

Abstract

An apparatus for presenting a replacement blade from a cartridge includes a body and a carrier. The body includes a first side and a second side opposite the first side, a first position and a second position laterally spaced from the first position, and a trough aligned with the second position. The carrier is slidably coupled to the body and movable between the first position and the second position. When the carrier is in the first position, the carrier couples to a blade if a blade is present in the first position. When the carrier is in the second position, the carrier decouples from the blade such that the blade is deposited in the trough, if a blade is coupled to the carrier. When the carrier moves from the first position to the second position, the carrier causes a blade to move from the first position to the second position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An apparatus for presenting a replacement blade from a cartridge, comprising:
a body including:
a bottom side and a top side opposite the bottom side,
a first position and a second position laterally spaced from the first position, and
a trough aligned with the second position; and

a carrier slidably coupled to the body, the carrier including a boss configured to engage an opening of a blade, the carrier movable between the first position and the second position;
wherein when the carrier is in the first position, the carrier couples to the blade if a blade is present in the first position;
wherein when the carrier is in the second position, the carrier decouples from the blade such that the blade is deposited in the trough and is configured to receive an axle of a rotary cutting tool, if a blade is coupled to the carrier; and
wherein when the carrier moves from the first position to the second position, the carrier causes a blade to move from the first position to the second position.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a cartridge coupled to the body, the cartridge configured to house at least one rotary blade therein.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the cartridge is coupled to the bottom side of the body.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the cartridge comprises a spring providing a biasing force against the at least one rotary blade.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the carrier is coupled to the top side of the body.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top side of the body comprises a floor, and wherein the trough is recessed from the floor.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the boss provides a contact surface for selective contact with a top surface of the blade.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises at least one finger proximate the first position, wherein the carrier comprises at least one protrusion, and wherein the protrusion of the carrier causes the finger to deflect from a first state to a second state as the carrier moves from the second position to the first position.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , wherein the finger comprises a groove configured to receive the protrusion, thereby allowing the finger to return from a second state to a first state when the carrier is in the first position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body comprises at least one rail retaining the carrier to the body.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the rail guides the carrier between the first position and the second position.

12. An apparatus for presenting a replacement blade from a cartridge, comprising
a body including:
a bottom side and a top side opposite the bottom side,
a first position and a second position laterally spaced from the first position,
at least one finger proximate the first position, and
a trough aligned with the second position and configured to receive an axle of a rotary cutting tool; and

a cartridge coupled to a first side of the body, the cartridge having at least one rotary blade therein and a spring providing a biasing force against the at least on rotary blade; and
a carrier comprising a boss configured to engage a hole in one of the at least one rotary blade, the carrier slidably coupled to a second side of the body and movable between the first position and the second position.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the top side of the body comprises a floor, and wherein the trough is recessed from the floor.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the carrier comprises at least one protrusion, and wherein the at least one protrusion of the carrier causes the finger to deflect from a first state to a second state as the carrier moves from the second position to the first position.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the finger comprises a groove configured to receive the protrusion, thereby allowing the finger to return from a second state to a first state when the carrier is in the first position.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the body comprises at least one rail retaining the carrier to the body, the rail guiding the carrier between the first position and the second position.

17. A method for replacing a blade of a rotary cutting tool, comprising:
providing a body comprising a first position, a second position laterally spaced from the first position, and a trough aligned with the second position;
providing a carrier slidably coupled to the body, the carrier movable between the first position and the second position;
providing a blade proximate the first position;
coupling the carrier to the blade;
moving the carrier from the first position to the second position;
depositing the blade in the trough; and
positioning the body such that the hole of the blade in the trough receives the axle of a rotary cutting tool.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising returning the carrier to the first position.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein providing a blade proximate the first position comprises coupling a cartridge having at least one blade therein to the body proximate the first position.

20. An apparatus for presenting a replacement blade from a cartridge, comprising:
a body including:
a bottom side and a top side opposite the bottom side,
a first position and a second position laterally spaced from the first position,
a trough aligned with the second position, and
at least one finger proximate the first position; and

a carrier slidably coupled to the body and moveable between the first position and the second position, the carrier including:
a boss configured to engage an opening of a blade, and
at least one protrusion;

wherein when the carrier is in the first position, the carrier couples to the blade if a blade is present in the first position;
wherein when the carrier is in the second position, the carrier decouples from the blade such that the blade is deposited in the trough, if a blade is coupled to the carrier;
wherein when the carrier moves from the first position to the second position, the carrier causes a blade to move from the first position to the second position; and
wherein the protrusion of the carrier causes the at least one finger of the body to deflect from a first state to a second state as the carrier moves from the second position to the first position.

21. The apparatus of claim 20 , wherein the at least one finger comprises a groove configured to receive the protrusion, thereby allowing the at least one finger to return from the second state to the first state when the carrier is in the first position.

Assignees

• Fiskars Brands Inc

Inventors

• Block Andrew P

Classifications

• B26D7/2628

  Means for adjusting the position of the cutting member · CPC title

• B26B27/005

  Carton openers · CPC title

• B26D1/205

  for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like · CPC title

• B26D7/2621 Primary

  for circular cutters · CPC title

• Y10T29/4973

  Replacing of defective part · CPC title