阅读说明：本技术 独立切割装置 (Independent cutting device ) 是由 D·J·沃德 J·D·米斯蒂乌里克 T·L·布朗 J·M·沃森 J·小罗莫 J·R·惠勒 于 2018-05-01 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及一种独立切割装置,其用于将介质幅材或标记原料切割成单独单元,用于在打印机的下游使用。所述装置可以在前后方向上切割乙烯基、塑料或RFID原材料。所述装置包括壳体、滑架组件和可移动的切割器组件。所述切割器组件容易互换并且包括诸如轮刀片的切割元件,以及用于调整由所述切割元件施加到所述原材料的压力量的压力调整元件。可替代地,所述切割器组件可以预定压力负载来制造,但仍然允许操作者调整切割深度。所述装置可以由打印机供电或与打印机进行硬连线或无线通信,或者还可以包括计算机微处理器、存储器和用户界面以完全独立于打印机运行。(The present invention relates to a stand-alone cutting device for cutting a web of media or label stock into individual units for use downstream of a printer. The device can cut vinyl, plastic or RFID stock material in a back-and-forth direction. The apparatus includes a housing, a carriage assembly, and a movable cutter assembly. The cutter assembly is easily interchangeable and includes a cutting element, such as a wheel blade, and a pressure adjustment element for adjusting the amount of pressure applied to the stock material by the cutting element. Alternatively, the cutter assembly may be manufactured with a predetermined pressure load, yet still allow the operator to adjust the depth of cut. The device may be powered by or in hard-wired or wireless communication with the printer, or may also include a computer microprocessor, memory and user interface to operate completely independently of the printer.)

1. A cutting device, comprising:

a housing;

a carriage assembly contained within the housing; and

a cutter assembly movably attached to the carriage assembly, the cutter assembly contained within the housing.

2. The cutting apparatus of claim 1, wherein the carriage assembly includes a screw shaft for moving the cutter assembly, and further wherein the screw shaft is powered by a motor.

3. The cutting device of claim 2, wherein the screw shaft is a worm screw.

4. The cutting device of claim 1, wherein the cutter assembly comprises a cutting element.

5. The cutting device of claim 4, wherein the cutting element is a wheel knife.

6. The cutting device of claim 1, wherein the cutter assembly cuts in at least two directions.

7. A cutting device, comprising:

a housing comprising an inlet and an outlet;

a carriage assembly contained within the housing;

a pressure adjustment element contained within the housing; and

a cutter assembly contained within the housing.

8. The cutting device of claim 7, wherein the cutting device further comprises a drive element in communication with each of the motor and the cutter assembly.

9. The cutting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the carriage assembly retains the cutter assembly.

10. The cutting device of claim 7, wherein the cutter assembly comprises a cutting element.

11. The cutting device of claim 7, wherein the pressure adjustment element controls an amount of pressure exerted by the cutter assembly on the stock material.

12. The cutting device of claim 10, wherein the cutting element is capable of making an angled cut in the stock material, the cut having a variable length and width.

13. The cutting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the carriage assembly includes a screw shaft for moving the cutter assembly.

14. The cutting apparatus of claim 7, wherein the carriage assembly includes an anvil and the anvil is positioned substantially adjacent the inlet.

15. A cutting device, comprising:

a housing;

a cutter assembly including a cutter carriage and a cutter barrel, the cutter assembly contained within the housing; and

a drive element contained within the housing.

16. The cutting device of claim 15, further comprising a cartridge release actuator, a pressure adjustment member, and a pressure hub.

17. The cutting device of claim 16, wherein the pressure adjustment element controls an amount of pressure applied to the stock material by the cutter cartridge.

18. The cutting device of claim 15, wherein the cutter cartridge comprises a depth of cut adjuster, a stop member, an eccentric pinion shaft, and a cutting blade.

19. The cutting device of claim 18, wherein the eccentric pinion shaft comprises a housing support, a carrier roller support, and a cutter wheel support.

20. The cutting device of claim 19, wherein the carrier roller support is concentrically aligned with the housing support but not aligned with the cutter wheel support.

Background

The present invention generally relates to a portable stand-alone device for cutting media, such as prints on the media, to create "kiss cut" or "die cut" like labels on demand. Conventional methods of creating a pressure sensitive label matrix involve primarily die cutting or etching or imprinting processes by a blade or laser. For example, die cutting is typically performed by a flat or rotary mechanism and involves a process of using a die to cut a web of low strength material, such as pressure sensitive label material. Historically, die cutting began in the middle of the 19 th century as the process of cutting leather for the shoe industry, but developed over time, and today is already complex enough to cut through only a single layer of laminate, thereby making the process suitable for the production of labels, stamps, stickers, etc. When only the top layer of the laminate is to be cut, the die cutting operation is typically performed in a straight line and is referred to as "kiss cutting" because the cutting process does not interfere with or cut through the laminate or the label backing.

Unfortunately, there are a number of limitations associated with producing labels (such as pressure sensitive labels) via die cutting. For example, molds are expensive to manufacture and maintain, and require operators to purchase molds of various shapes, sizes, and configurations to meet customer needs. For example, if a customer requires a label having a unique shape, size, or configuration, the mold operator may have to make or purchase a special mold to be able to produce a label that meets that particular customer, which may be time consuming and expensive.

In addition, printers for creating labels or tags typically employ a supply of marking stock (stock) that needs to be cut into individual units once printing is completed. A single roll of label or supply stock may be divided into a large number of individual labels. Therefore, if a label of a different size or shape is desired during production through a particular mold, production must be interrupted so that the mold can be replaced with the desired mold, which can result in downtime and unnecessary expense.

In addition, the labeling or supply stock for many such labels is constructed of plastic, vinyl, or RFID stock materials that are more difficult to cut than paper. While a printer with an integrated cutting device enables a user to print and cut in a single operation through one device, if the printer or cutting device fails or malfunctions, the entire integrated device may become unusable and cause a large amount of production downtime and unnecessary expense.

Moreover, other existing cutters used with printers to cut these types of materials have other drawbacks or limitations. For example,cutting machines are designed for cutting paper and are not effective in cutting plastic or other heavy duty materials. A stencil cutter designed to cut vinyl stencils is similar to a single pen plotter, but has a stencil cutter holder and an adjustable blade. The blades may have different cutter angles. However, tests on printer stock have shown that a steeper profile (such as about a 60 degree angle) can catch the edge of the stock and jam the carriage of the printer or cutting apparatus. The medium profile (such as about a 45 degree angle) moves over the edge of the stock, but bounce back can result in a short cut of the perforation, which is undesirable. The lower profile (such as about 25 degrees) moves over the edge of the stock material, but the leading edge is not perfect, which is likely due to the cutter bouncing off the leading edge of the stock material. In addition, edge damage can be a problem when this type of cutter is moved into the stock if the stock is not laid flat on the anvil.

While flatter blade angles are generally easier to ride on the leading edge, any damage to the edge of the supply roll may still result in jamming of the printer or cutting equipment. In addition, these types of cutters tend to wear quickly, which over time can result in imperfect cutting of the stock and frequent shutdowns in the repair (e.g., sharpening) or replacement of the cutters. Adhesive can also build up on the cutter blades, thereby exacerbating the problem. Also, if the media being cut is not held under tension, jamming of the printer or other cutting device may result. Blades with flatter cutting angles and anvils against which they cut are also prone to premature wear and damage. The speed at which the cutter can travel without bouncing is also limited. Furthermore, it is not clear at present whether rotating this type of cutter 180 ° to turn and make a cut back would adversely affect the overall life of the cutter, printer or other equipment.

Accordingly, there is a long-felt need in the art for a stand-alone cutter identification that can cleanly and efficiently cut heavy or plastic marking stock without clogging. There is also a need for a separate cutter device that does not rely on a printer, but can be used in conjunction with or downstream of a printer. In addition, there is a need for a stand alone cutter device that can create a cutting operation that simulates die cutting by cutting only the top layer or sheet of the laminate to enable a user to order and store one base roll and generate multiple labels therefrom having different shapes, sizes and configurations as desired.

The present invention discloses a unique stand alone cutting device that can cut label stock or base web material made of plastic, vinyl or RFID supply material in addition to ordinary and/or lightweight label or paper stock material. The present invention also discloses a unique stand-alone cutting device that is capable of performing "kiss cuts" and other cuts like die cuts without the disadvantages associated with the use of die cutters. Furthermore, the present invention discloses unique user features to configure and maintain the individual cut identification and its various components in a safe and efficient manner.

The cutting apparatus may be used as a standalone device located downstream of a printer, such as printers currently manufactured and sold by Avery Dennison, pa, california, including ADTP1 and ADTP2 label cutting printers, or as a mobile device so that it can be moved to various different locations to work with industrial printers or other combinations.

Disclosure of Invention

The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.

The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, includes a stand-alone cutting device for cutting or "kiss-cutting" media (such as printed on media). The apparatus preferably includes a housing, a cutter assembly, a carriage assembly, a drive element, and a motor for powering the drive element.

According to one embodiment, the cutter assembly, carriage assembly, drive element, and motor are positioned at least partially within the housing. The housing may also include one or more electrical and/or data connections such that the cutter device may receive commands (via hard wiring or wireless) from: the computer that drives the printer, or the printer itself, as well as an inlet for receiving the stock material to be cut from, for example, the printer or other stock handling device, and an outlet for discharging the cut stock media. In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the housing may further comprise a basket positioned adjacent to and slightly below the outlet to capture and store cut stock media until the user is ready to retrieve it.

In one embodiment, the carriage assembly comprises a base element, a guide shaft, and a screw shaft, and the base element comprises a strike plate or anvil. The screw shaft moves the cutter assembly back and forth along the guide shaft and across the media or stock being cut (i.e., cutting in both the forward and rearward directions). The cutter assembly also includes a pressure adjustment element for adjusting the amount of force or pressure the cutting element applies to the media or stock being cut. The cutting element may include a first bevel and a second bevel to better facilitate cutting in the back and forth direction as the cutter assembly moves back and forth across the stock media, but also to enable oblique and perpendicular cuts across the web.

In an alternative embodiment, the carriage assembly comprises a base element, a guide shaft and a screw shaft, and the base element comprises a strike plate or anvil. The screw shaft moves the cutter assembly back and forth along the guide shaft and across the media or stock being cut (i.e., cutting in both the forward and rearward directions). The cutter assembly also includes a cutter carriage and an easily replaceable cutter cartridge, wherein the cutter cartridge includes a depth of cut adjustment knob, a stop member, an eccentric pinion shaft, a carrier roller, and a cutting element. The cutting element may include a first bevel and a second bevel to better facilitate cutting in the back and forth direction as the cutter assembly moves back and forth across the stock media, but also to enable oblique and perpendicular cuts across the web.

In one embodiment, the cutting force of the cutter assembly is not adjustable based on the force used to cut through the most severe or stiff allowable media, but rather has a fixed load when assembled. The depth of cut is controlled by the difference in diameter of the adjacent carrier roller and cutter wheel and can be further adjusted by the operator for additional control by a rotatable eccentric pinion shaft common to the carrier roller and cutter wheel.

In one embodiment of the invention, the cutter mechanism and attachment cap may be configured with a wide angle exit throat to facilitate peeling and removal of the newly cut labels or other materials from the liner carrier web. In addition, the worm screw shaft may be positioned closer to the cutter wheel to resist cutter forces and minimize long term wear. In addition, the cutter carriage may be filled with Teflon^TM(Teflon^TM-filled) or similar material to reduce friction and wear on the equipment.

In another embodiment, the cutter wheel and depth control components are housed within a cartridge assembly that is easily installed and removed from the cutter carriage without the use of external tools, thereby reducing overall downtime of the cutting apparatus and saving costs for the operator. Furthermore, the components may be held in place by the same components that apply cutting pressure to the cutter wheel.

In one embodiment, the additional cutting depth may be controlled by rotating the common eccentric shaft supporting the cutter wheel and the carrier roller up to 90 ° in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. More specifically, the eccentric shaft is held in the indexed position by a stop member actuated by the same member that applies the cutting pressure to the cutter drum and the cutter wheel.

In one embodiment of the invention, the cutting pressure may be achieved by using a single extension spring that rotates the pressure hub component about the worm screw axis, thereby creating a direct line force acting downwardly on the cutter barrel and ultimately on the cutter wheel. In another embodiment, a cutting anvil or plate, which is intended to be a wear member, may be threaded onto the mounting surface and symmetrically configured so as to be capable of being reoriented 180 ° and/or flipped. In this way, the cutting anvil or plate may have up to four separate service lives before it must be replaced, thereby saving operators costs and reducing overall downtime for the cutting apparatus.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.

Drawings

Fig. 1 illustrates a front perspective view of one embodiment of the cutting device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 2 illustrates a rear perspective view of one embodiment of the cutting device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 3 illustrates a front perspective view of one embodiment of the cutting device of the present invention with the front cover removed in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 4 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a cutting device with a housing removed in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Figure 5A illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a cutter assembly of the cutting device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 5B illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a cutting element or cutting wheel of the cutter assembly of FIG. 5A in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of one embodiment of a cutting element including a blade portion having a first bevel and a second bevel in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 7A illustrates a plan view of one embodiment of a bevel angle of a blade portion of a cutting element in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 7B illustrates a plan view of an alternative embodiment of a bevel angle of a blade portion of a cutting element in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 7C illustrates a plan view of another alternative embodiment of a bevel angle of a blade portion of a cutting element in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 8 illustrates a partial perspective view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of a cutting device in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 9 illustrates a perspective view of a base member of a carriage assembly of a cutting apparatus according to the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 10 illustrates a perspective view of a screw shaft of a carriage assembly according to the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 11 illustrates a cross-sectional view of one potential embodiment of various controls of the cutting device of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 12A illustrates a perspective view of a supply stock in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 12B illustrates a perspective view of a portion of the supply stock of fig. 12A in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 13 illustrates a side cross-sectional view of a blade portion of a cutting element engaged with a portion of a supply stock material in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 14 illustrates an enlarged perspective view of a portion of an alternative embodiment of a cutter assembly in a home position and in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 15 illustrates an enlarged perspective side cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of fig. 14 in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 16 illustrates a perspective rear view of an alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of FIG. 14 in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective front view of an alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of FIG. 14 with the cover removed in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 18 illustrates a perspective rear view of an alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of FIG. 14 with the cover removed in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 19 illustrates a perspective front view of certain components of an alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of FIG. 14 in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 20 illustrates a perspective front view of certain components of an alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of FIG. 14 in which the cutter barrel is displaced from the cutter carriage, in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 21 illustrates a perspective front view of certain components of an alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of FIG. 14 with the release actuator removed and the cutter barrel in an engaged position in the cutter carriage, in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 22 illustrates a perspective front view of certain components of an alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of FIG. 14 with the cutter barrel in a disengaged position in the cutter carriage, in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 23 illustrates a perspective front view of certain components of an alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of fig. 14 with the cutter barrel and release actuator removed and the cutter barrel displaced from the cutter carriage in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 24 illustrates an enlarged perspective cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of fig. 14 with associated components and in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 25 illustrates a perspective cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of fig. 14 with associated components in an engaged position and in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 26 illustrates a perspective view of an eccentric pinion shaft of the cutter cartridge of the alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of FIG. 14 in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 27 illustrates a side view of an eccentric pinion shaft of the cutter cartridge of the alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of FIG. 14 from the carrier roller side in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Fig. 28 illustrates a side view of an eccentric pinion shaft of the cutter cartridge of the alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of fig. 14 from the cutter wheel side in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 29 illustrates an enlarged side view of the eccentric pinion shaft of the cutter cartridge of the alternative embodiment of the cutter assembly of FIG. 14 showing the upper and lower positions of the eccentric portion of the pinion shaft when rotated 90 in either direction in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

FIG. 30 illustrates a microprocessor controlled sample cutting process flow diagram in accordance with the disclosed architecture.

Detailed Description

The present invention is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate describing them.

The present invention discloses a stand-alone cutting device that can quickly and cleanly cut or "kiss-cut" a web of media stock 20 (such as a paper laminate, a face sheet of vinyl or RFID stock material) in a front-to-back direction without damaging the cutting blade or material. In particular, the cutting device of the present invention allows a "die cut" like cut to be made on the stock 20 without the same structural and operational limitations of conventional die cutting equipment.

Referring initially to the drawings, FIGS. 1-3 illustrate a stand-alone cutting device 100 according to the present invention. The cutting device 100 is used to cut a supply of stock material such as, but not limited to, paper, cardboard, laminate, plastic, vinyl, RFID supplies, etc., or any other material known to those of ordinary skill in the art that can accept print or can be manufactured by printing thereon. The supply stock may be heavy, ordinary or light stock.

As shown in fig. 1-3, the cutting apparatus 100 is a stand-alone device that may be located downstream of a printer to cut prints on a supply of stock material 20 supplied by the printer. The cutting device 100 may also be adapted as an attachment to be connected to or used in wireless communication with existing outlets of desktop, portable, or other types of inkjet, thermal, laser printers, such as those presently manufactured and sold by Avery Dennison corporation of pa.

The cutting apparatus 100 preferably includes a housing 101, a carriage assembly 102, and a repositionable cutter assembly 116 that is allowed to travel along a shaft, such as a screw shaft 114, as explained more fully below. The shape of the housing 101 may be generally cubic and preferably consists of a front panel 1010, a rear panel 1012, opposing side panels 1014, a top 1016, and a bottom 1017, although other geometries are contemplated without affecting the overall scope of the invention. Although the dimensions (i.e., length, width, and height) of the housing 101 are important design parameters, the housing 101 may be any shape or size that ensures optimal performance during use and minimizes space and/or footprint requirements.

The housing 101 may also include one or more electrical connections 1018 and/or a hardwired or wireless data connection 1019 so that the cutting device 100 may receive power from a power source (such as an electrical outlet or battery pack) (not shown) and send/receive commands from a computer or other device driving a printer or the printer itself. Alternatively, the cutter device 100 may also include a computer microprocessor, memory, and other well-known components to serve as a stand-alone device, as generally indicated in fig. 11.

The back panel 1012 preferably includes an opening or inlet 1013 for receiving the supply stock 20 to be cut by the cutting device 100, and may also include an electrical connection 1018 and/or a data connection 1019. Similarly, the front panel 1010 preferably includes an opening or outlet 1015 for discharging the cut supply material 20 to an operator. The front panel 1010 may also include a basket or tray 103 located adjacent to and below the outlet 1015 to receive the processed or cut supply stock 20 as it is discharged from the cutting apparatus 100 via the outlet 1015 and to store the processed or cut supply stock for a user (not shown). The top 1016 may also include a user interface 105 in communication with the computer microprocessor described above to allow a user to command the cutting apparatus 100 as a stand-alone device and without the aid of a printer, as will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art. It is also contemplated, however, that the inlet 1013 and outlet 1015, user interface 105, electrical connection 1018, data connection 1019, and basket/tray 103, respectively, can be located elsewhere on the housing 101 without affecting the overall concept of the invention.

As shown in fig. 4, the carriage assembly 102 preferably includes a cutter bracket or base member 104 and a pair of side brackets 110 extending upwardly from the base member 104 for mounting to respective interior side panels 1014 of the housing 101. More specifically, each of the pair of side brackets 110 may be attached to a corresponding one of the side panels 1014 by any means known in the art, such as fasteners, tabs, and the like.

As shown in fig. 4 and 9, the cutter bracket or base member 104 preferably cooperates with the mounting frame 106 and the impact plate 108, which acts as an anvil for the cutting member 134. The mounting frame 106 and impact plate 108 may be integrated into a single unit, or the impact plate 108 may be separate and removable for replacement due to wear or other needs. The base member 104 may be made of aluminum, mild steel, or any other suitable hard material. The only potential limitation is that the material used to construct the base member 104 or, if applicable, the strike plate 108 is preferably softer than the material used to construct the cutting elements 134 to minimize wear on the cutting elements 134. If the impact plate element 108 is removable, the mounting frame 106 and the impact plate 108 may be made of different materials to reduce costs. Desirably, the strike plate 108 is positioned substantially adjacent to both the inlet 1013 and the outlet 1015 such that when the cutting device 100 receives the supply material 20 through the inlet 1013, the supply material automatically passes over the strike plate 108 where it is cut by the cutting element 134 into individual labels or tags that are then discharged from the cutting device 100 through the outlet 1015 and fall into the basket 103 where they may be stored until retrieved by an operator.

As shown in fig. 3, 4, 8 and 10, the carriage assembly 102 further includes a guide shaft 112 and a worm or screw shaft 114. The guide shaft 112 is a shaft capable of moving the cutter assembly 116 in either direction (i.e., forward or backward) across the supply stock 20 at production speeds, such as, but not limited to, a high pitch linear shaft. A guide shaft 112 spans the cutting apparatus 100 between the side of the cutter assembly cover and a pair of side brackets 110, and is located above the strike plate 108 but below the screw shaft 114.

The screw shaft 114 is typically a threaded rod, such as, but not limited to, an acme (acme) thread, or any similar threaded rod capable of functioning as a worm screw. In one embodiment, the screw shaft 114 may be a McMaster-Carr super smooth threaded rod 6350K16 with 3/8 inch-5 threads with a 5:1 speed ratio and one inch stroke/revolution. Another embodiment may use 3/8-12 acme threads that require twelve turns per inch of travel. The screw shaft 114 also spans the cutting device 100 between the pair of side brackets 110, and is located above both the guide shaft 112 and the striking plate 108. One end of the screw shaft 114 may penetrate one of the pair of side brackets 110 so that it may engage the drive element 146, as shown in fig. 3 and described below.

As shown in fig. 5A and 8, cutter assembly 116 includes a cutting element 134, a guide element 118, a cutter holder 124, and a pressure adjustment element 130. The guide element 118 includes a continuous guide shaft bore 120 for receiving and engaging the guide shaft 112, and a continuous screw shaft bore or opening 122 located above the guide shaft bore/opening 120 for receiving and engaging the screw shaft 114. The pressure adjustment element 130 may be a separate component or may alternatively be integrated into the top of the guide element 118. The pressure adjustment member 130 includes a plurality of adjusters 132, such as, but not limited to, screws, pins, rods, and/or spring members, or any similar type of adjustment member known to one of ordinary skill in the art. The plurality of adjusters 132 enable the cutter holder 124 to be repositioned relative to the pressure adjustment member 130 to adjust the distance therebetween. For example, in fig. 5A, the operator may increase or decrease the distance by rotating the fastener 117 in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, respectively. Generally, the shorter the distance between the cutter holder 124 and the pressure adjustment member 130, the greater the pressure or force exerted by the cutting member 134 on the supply stock material 20 and the impact plate or anvil 108.

Cutter holder 124 includes a guard portion 126 for retaining cutting element 134, and a shaft 128 for rotatably holding cutting element 134 in place. Cutter holder 124 may be made of any durable material, such as metal or plastic, and may be additively manufactured by injection molding or any other suitable manufacturing technique. Additionally, the cutter holder 124 may be separable from the cutter assembly 116 so that, for example, when the cutting element 134 becomes dull or damaged, the user may replace the entire cutter holder assembly (including the cutting element 134) without risk of injury. Alternatively, the cutting element 134 may be removed from itself as needed for individual replacement or repair (e.g., sharpening).

As shown in fig. 5B, 6, and 7A-C, the cutting element 134 is generally a wheel knife held by the cutter holder 124. Cutting element 134 may include a shaft aperture 136, an inner lip 138, and a blade portion 140. The blade portion 140 may be inserted within the guard portion 126 of the cutter holder 124 to protect the operator and sharp edges from damage. Cutting element 134 is readily replaceable and may be made of tool steel, carbide, or any similar material known to those of ordinary skill in the art for use in cutting tools. When cutting the supply stock 20, the cutting element 134 presses against the fixed strike plate 108 of the carriage assembly 102 to completely sever the supply stock 20. Alternatively, the pressure adjustment element 130 may be adjusted or manipulated such that the cutting element 134 does not cut through the entire thickness of the supply stock material 20 (also referred to as a "kiss cut"), which may be desired by a user.

As best shown in fig. 7C, blade portion 140 of cutting element 134 preferably includes a first bevel 142. The angle of the first bevel 142 may vary based on the material and/or thickness of the supply stock 20 to be cut, and the operator may select the appropriate angle of the bevel to apply the appropriate force required to cleanly and efficiently cut the supply stock 20. Although almost any angle may be used, the most preferred embodiment of the present invention will employ a bevel angle in the range of about 25 degrees to about 60 degrees, depending on the particular application.

As best shown in fig. 7A-B, the blade portion 140 may also include a second bevel 144 having a similar angle to the first bevel 142 to increase cutting efficiency when cutting in the forward-rearward direction. In addition, the second bevel 144 may create a smaller contact point that reduces adhesive displacement on the supply of stock material 20 and improves blade life by keeping the blade portion 140 substantially free of adhesive buildup, which may otherwise be caused by repeated contact with the supply of stock material 20 and result in dulling of the blade 140.

Experiments have shown that the cutting quality of the feedstock 20 is generally the same in both cutting directions when using either carbide cutting elements 134 with a pressure of about 5.4 lb/in or tool steel cutting elements 134 with a pressure of about 4.2 lb/in. Tests with a double bevel wheel knife, including 60 degrees, also showed that the cutting spring force was approximately equal to 3.3 lbs/inch; the force against the 25 degree single bevel carbide cutter is approximately equal to 5.4 lbs/inch; and a force of approximately 5.4 lb/in for 25 degrees single bevel tool steel 110895. Nevertheless, other pressures and bevels are also contemplated without affecting the general concept of the invention.

As best shown in fig. 3, the cutting device 100 may further include a drive member 146 and a motor 147 for operating the drive member 146. The drive member 146 may be a belt, pulley, shaft, etc., or any member capable of rotating the screw shaft 114. The motor 147 is typically a stepper motor that is controlled by associated firmware, carriage sensor support, a separate PC board and power supply support, as shown in fig. 11. Additional control may be applied using a fixed pressure setting, a "C" type sensor or microswitch (rather than a mechanical switch), a lower lever, and a media tensioner.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the motor 147 requirements and operating parameters for the screw drive concept may include one or more of the following: (i) a maximum peak torque for a drive shaft at a load of 5.8 pounds per inch (lb./in) in the cutter wheel is approximately equal to 12.3 ounces per inch (oz./in); (ii) the minimum peak torque for the drive shaft at a 4.2 lb/in load in the cutter wheel is approximately equal to 8.75 oz/in; (iii) the total travel distance for a four inch wide media is about 4.5 inches (including upward and downward slopes); (iv) a 10T timing pulley on the threaded shaft; (v) a 20T timing pulley on the motor; (vi) the travel time of the cutter on the test stand is approximately equal to a three second cycle, where the cutting time is two seconds and the travel is twelve revolutions to one inch; and (vii) changing the profile of the wheel knife to a double bevel reduces cutter load forces. Nevertheless, the above parameters are set forth for exemplary purposes only and should not be construed as limiting, as it is contemplated that the cutting device 100 of the present invention also operates in accordance with various other parameters.

As previously discussed, the cutting device 100 of the present invention is used to cut or "kiss" a supply of stock material 20. As shown in fig. 12A, the supply stock 20 may comprise a web or roll of label or tag stock material that may be printed thereon by a printer and then cut into individual labels or tags by the cutting apparatus 100. In addition, the supply of stock 20 may be fed in a roll-to-roll matrix, with the outer liner web containing the cut label matrix. As shown in fig. 12A and 12B, the supply stock 20 may be cut into portions 22 of the supply stock 20, such as labels. The cutting apparatus 100 may be designed to employ variable cutting as desired so that the portion of the supply stock material 22 may vary in size and/or shape as desired. In addition, the stand-alone cutting device 100 of the present invention can be used to perform "kiss cuts," meaning that only the top layer of label stock 20 (such as pressure sensitive label stock) can be cut, while the backing remains intact.

More specifically and as shown in fig. 12B, the supply stock 20 may include a top or face member 24, an adhesive member 26, and a liner member 28. The surface elements 24 may be made of thermal paper or thermal transfer paper or any other suitable label material. The adhesive element 26 may be made of a true cutting adhesive designed not to flow into the cut area and is positioned or sandwiched between the face element 24 and the lining element 28. The liner element 28 may be made of a backing material such as, but not limited to, BG30, BG25, PET12, and the like. As shown in fig. 13 and explained more fully below, the cutting apparatus 100 may be configured to cut the supply material 20 to a depth that does not completely penetrate the supply material 20. More specifically, the pressure adjustment element 130 of the cutting device 100 may be configured to cut through the face element 24 and the adhesive element 26, but not the backing paper or liner element 28.

The following description continues with respect to alternative embodiments of the cutter assembly. Unless otherwise noted, alternative embodiments of the cutter assembly of the present invention utilize similar drive components, except that the cutting pressure applied to the supply stock 20 by the cutter assembly is not adjustable, but is a fixed load after assembly, and the depth of cut is controlled by the difference in diameters of the cutter wheel/blade and adjacent carrier roller, as well as additional depth of cut controls that are adjustable by the operator.

Other differences between alternative embodiments of cutter assembly 116 and cutter assembly 424 are described more fully below and in fig. 14-29. Although many of the figures depict the alternative cutter assembly 424 as part of a printer, such as the ADTP1 or ADTP2 printers currently manufactured and sold by Avery Dennison, pa, california, it should be understood that the figures are for illustrative purposes only and that the alternative cutter assembly 424 may be used with the cutting device 100 as a stand-alone device and enclosed in the housing 101, as described above with respect to the cutter assembly 116.

More specifically, the cutting apparatus 100 includes a carriage assembly 102. As in the previous embodiment, the carriage assembly 102 includes a base element 104, a guide shaft 112, and a screw shaft 114. The base member 104 includes a mounting surface 106 (such as a frame) and an impact plate 108. In the foregoing previous embodiment, the guide shaft 112 is located below the screw shaft 114 and downstream of the supply path of the supply material 20. In addition, in the previous embodiment, the screw shaft 114 is positioned above the guide shaft 112 and is offset from the applied cutting force of the cutting device 100.

However, in an alternative embodiment of the present invention, the positions of the guide shaft 112 and the screw shaft 114 are reversed such that the screw shaft 114 is located below the guide shaft 112. In this lower position, the screw shaft 114 is actually closer and more perpendicular (i.e., at approximately a right angle) relative to the opposing cutting force, which minimizes cantilevered loading and reduces the likelihood of long-term wear on various moving parts, while still allowing the operator easy and open access to the cutting device 100 to remove cut or "kiss-cut" labels. Further, in this particular embodiment, the upper guide shaft 112 is now positioned farther away from the screw shaft 114 to reduce the rotational load on the slide guide feature. Additionally, a cutting anvil or strike plate 108, which is generally considered a wear piece, may be screwed or otherwise attached in place on the mounting surface 106 and symmetrically configured so as to be capable of being reoriented 180 ° and/or flipped. In this manner, the cutting anvil or strike plate 108 may have up to four separate service lives before it must be replaced, thereby saving costs to the user and reducing downtime for the apparatus and its operators.

Having described the general differences between the other components of the cutting device 100 necessary to work with the alternative cutter assembly 424, the actual cutter assembly will now be described in more detail. Fig. 14-18 all show portions of the cutter assembly 424 in an initial position and ready to receive cutting instructions and begin the cutting process. More specifically, fig. 14 is an enlarged perspective view of a portion of the cutter assembly 424, which is partially obscured by a protective cover, and fig. 15 is an enlarged perspective side cross-sectional view of the cutter assembly 424. Fig. 16 illustrates a perspective rear view of the cutter assembly 424 with the protective cover removed, and fig. 16-18 illustrate a wide angle exit of the cutting device 100 and cutter assembly 424, allowing for easy removal of cut labels from the supply stock 20. This also allows for easy access by an operator to install or load the supply stock 20 into the cutting device 100.

The cutter assembly 424 includes a cutter carrier 426 and a removable cutter cartridge 438, each of which is described more fully below. In addition, in this particular embodiment of the present invention and as best shown in fig. 16-18, the cutting device 100 further includes a cartridge release actuator 416 that includes a cartridge release tab 418 and an actuator tab 420. The cartridge release actuator 416 is preferably located on the "home" side of the cutting device 100 and outside of the cutter assembly 424, which is preferably located on the end of the screw shaft 114 opposite the end of the drive element 146. The cartridge release actuator 416 allows an operator to release and remove the cutter cartridge 438 as an integral unit from the cutter carriage 426 of the cutter assembly 424 without the need for external tools. More specifically, the operator actuates or presses the cartridge release tab 418 in a rearward or counterclockwise direction, which in turn allows the cutter cartridge 438 to engage or disengage the cutter assembly 424. In this manner, cutter assembly 424 may be easily repaired or replaced with minimal effort, risk of injury, and/or downtime. As best shown in fig. 18, the cutting device 100 may also include an optical interrupt sensor 422 and optical interrupt blades or ribs (not shown) on the cutter carriage 426 to allow for proper sensing of motor control at the end of the cutting process.

The cutter carriage 426 is preferably made of a low friction material (such as, but not limited to, teflon-filled copolymer) to cooperate with the upper guide shaft 112 to reduce friction and wear of the sliding contact surface. As shown in fig. 22 and 23, the cutter carriage 426 is positioned on an end of the guide shaft 112, preferably opposite a side of the drive element 146, and includes a guide shaft aperture or opening 428 for receiving and retaining the guide shaft 112. The cutter carriage 426 also includes a worm shaft bore or opening 430 and a worm screw nut 432. The worm shaft bore 430 rotatably receives the screw shaft 114, which is retained by a worm screw nut 432, as best shown in fig. 15. In this embodiment, the guide axis opening 428 is located above the worm axis opening 430. The cutter carriage 426 also includes a cutter cartridge retainer 434 for releasably retaining a cutter cartridge 438. The cutter holder 434 may include a plurality of attachment points 436, such as diameter posts or hooks for holding or supporting the cutter barrel 438.

Fig. 15 shows a cross section of the cutting device 100 and shows how the spring load is obtained and applied to the cutter barrel 438. More specifically, the cutting device 100 further includes a pressure hub 466 and a pressure applying element 472. The pressure applying element 472 is typically a single spring, such as an extension spring, similar to that described above. The single spring embodiment of the present invention frees up valuable space required for other components of the cutting device 100 and reduces the complexity of assembly and maintenance. In addition, the use of a single spring 472 allows the guide shaft 112 and the screw shaft 114 to be repositioned relative to the applied resistance, thereby avoiding cantilevered loading and reducing wear on the associated moving parts of the cutting device 100.

The cutting pressure is applied via a single extension spring 472 outside the guide shaft 112 and the screw shaft 114. As shown in fig. 25, pressure applying element/spring 472 is positioned between and attached to cutter carrier attachment point 474 and pressure hub attachment point 476, which is attached to or is part of pressure hub 466. The pressure hub 466 is rotatable about the end of the screw shaft 114 and is retained by the worm screw nut 432. The pressure hub 466 includes a pressure applying portion 468 and an actuator tab element 470. More specifically, the rotatable connection of the tension and pressure hubs 466 about the screw shaft 114 in the extension spring 472 causes a downward force or pressure to be applied to the stop member 446 of the cutter cartridge 438 by the pressure applying portion 468. This design results in continuous, direct, in-line pressure being applied to the cutting blade 462 of the cutter cartridge 438 while maintaining compact, simple assembly. All load bearing members are close to each other and configured to reduce long term wear, which can lead to downtime and reduced productivity.

Fig. 16 and 17 show the cutting device 100 without a cover, which comprises an arrangement of a motor 147 and a belt drive 146 for rotating the screw shaft 114 in a similar manner to that described above. It is also specifically shown how counterclockwise rotation of the cartridge release actuator 416 from the first position shown in fig. 19 to the second position in fig. 20 results in engagement of the actual tab element 420 with the actuator tab element 470 on the rotatable cutting pressure hub 466 shown in fig. 18, which in turn causes extension spring 472 to extend. As spring 472 expands and pressure hub 466 rotates in a counterclockwise direction about screw shaft 114, pressure applying portion 468 disengages from stop member 446 of cutter barrel 438 to maintain it engaged with attachment point 436. With pressure no longer being applied to the stop member 446 of the cutter cartridge 438, the cutter cartridge 438 may be easily removed from the cutter carriage 426 and reinstalled.

Fig. 19 illustrates the pressure applying portion 468 engaging and applying pressure to the stop member 446 of the cutter barrel 438, thereby causing the cutter barrel 438 to be retained in the plurality of attachment points 436 of the cutter carrier 426. Fig. 20 illustrates the pressure applying portion 468 disengaging from and no longer applying pressure to the stop member 446 of the cutter barrel 438, thereby allowing the cutter barrel 438 to be removed from the plurality of attachment points 436 and the cutter carrier 426.

Fig. 21 shows a perspective elevation view of the cutter assembly 424 with the release actuator 416 removed and the cutter barrel 438 in an engaged position in the cutter carriage 426. Fig. 22 shows a perspective elevation view of the cutter assembly, wherein the pressure hub 466 has been fully rotated, thereby releasing pressure on the cutter barrel 438. With the pressure removed, the cutter cartridge 438 is shown sliding to the top of the retention slot or attachment point 436 of the cutter cartridge holder 434, as during installation or removal of the cutter cartridge 438.

Fig. 23 shows a perspective elevation view of the cutter assembly 424 with the release actuator 416 removed and the pressure hub rotated to the disengaged position, thereby allowing the cutter barrel 438 to be displaced from the cutter carriage 426. As is apparent, the four diameter posts of the cutter cartridge 438 align with and engage the four mating slots of the cutter cartridge retainer 434 in the cutter carriage 426.

Fig. 24 and 25 show, among other things, enlarged cross-sectional views of the cutter barrel 438 and its various components. More specifically, the cutter cartridge 438 includes: a housing 440, a pair of spaced apart handles or handles 442, a depth of cut adjustment knob 444, a stop member 446, a pinion shaft 448, a carrier roller 456, a plurality of bearings 458, a plurality of spacers 460, and a cutting blade 462.

The housing 440 is used to support the various components of the cutter cartridge 438, and as shown in fig. 23, one handle of the pair of handles 442 is located on each side of the housing 440 to allow an operator to easily and securely handle the cutter cartridge 438, such as when installed and/or removed from the cutter carrier 426. As best shown in fig. 19-23, the rotatable cut depth adjustment knob 444 has: a plurality of grooves or notches positioned around at least a portion of its circumference for engagement with the tip portion of stop member 446; and an indicator appearing on the surface to allow the operator to adjust and track the amount of rotation thereof, which represents the depth of cut. More specifically, slidably retained stop members 446 engage with selected ones of the plurality of grooves of the depth of cut adjustment knob 444 to retain the depth of cut adjustment knob 444 in a particular and desired rotationally indexed position, and as described above, the stop members 446 are retained in place by pressure applied by the rotatable pressure hub 466 via the pressure applying portion 468. Fig. 24-25 also show how cutting pressure is applied to the housing 440 and ultimately to the cutting blade 462 and carrier roller 456, as well as applying pressure to hold the tip of the stop assembly 446 in indexing engagement with the selected slot in the depth of cut adjustment knob 444.

The cutting depth adjustment knob 444 may be rotated up to 90 ° in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Rotation of the depth of cut adjustment knob 444, in turn, causes the eccentric pinion shaft 448 to rotate within the housing 440. As best shown in fig. 24-25, eccentric pinion shaft 448 directly supports a plurality of bearings 458 and a plurality of spacers 460, and indirectly supports carrier roller 456 and cutting blade 462 as described more fully below.

Fig. 26 further illustrates the eccentric pinion shaft 448 including a pair of housing supports 450 located at ends of the eccentric pinion shaft 448, a carrier roller support 452 located adjacent one of the housing supports 450, and a cutter support 454 located adjacent the opposing housing support 450. In addition, as shown in fig. 24-26, between the carrier roller support 452 and the cutter wheel support 454, a spacer or ridge R may be integrally formed from and extend outwardly from the circumference of the eccentric pinion shaft 448. Importantly, the pair of housing supports 450 and the carrier roller supports 452 are concentrically aligned, but neither the housing supports nor the carrier roller supports 452 are concentrically aligned with the cutter wheel supports 454. In other words, the centerline of the cutter wheel support 454 is eccentric or offset from the other portions of the eccentric pinion shaft 448 as explained more fully below.

As discussed above and best shown in fig. 24, at least one of the plurality of bearings 458 is positioned along the eccentric pinion shaft 448 on each side of the spine R and atop each of the carrier roller support 452 and the cutter wheel support 454. Additionally, at least one of the plurality of spacers 460 is also positioned along the eccentric pinion shaft 448 adjacent the outer side of each bearing 458 and is positioned immediately adjacent each of the carrier roller support 452 and cutter wheel support 454. The cutter wheel or blade 462 may be any cutter known in the art, but is preferably similar to the cutting element 134, as described above. The cutter wheel 462 is positioned along the eccentric pinion shaft 448 over the top of the bearing 458, which in turn is positioned over the cutter wheel support 454. Similarly, the carrier roller 456 is positioned along the eccentric pinion shaft 448 over the top of the bearing 458, which in turn is positioned over the roller support 452. In addition, the carrier roller 456 is typically slightly smaller in diameter than the cutter wheel 462, which nominally controls the fixed depth of cut. In addition, because the cutter wheel 462 is rotatably mounted on a bearing 458 which is in turn mounted on an eccentric portion of the pinion shaft 448, the cutter wheel 462 will be slightly higher (or lower) than the carrier roller 456 as the pinion shaft 448 rotates, which provides an extended cut depth adjustment range to account for other variations in the thickness, stiffness, or other manufacturing variables of the supplied stock.

Fig. 27 shows an end view of eccentric pinion shaft 448 from the side of carrier roller support 452 and shows the offset relationship of the centers 457 of carrier roller 456 and carrier roller support 452 relative to the centers 464 of cutter wheel 462 and cutter wheel support 454. It should be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that when the eccentric pinion shaft 448 is rotated up to 90 degrees in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction about the carrier roller center 457 (by an operator turning or rotating the depth of cut adjustment knob 444), the center 464 of the cutting blade 462 is vertically higher or lower than the center 457 of the carrier roller 452, as shown in fig. 28-29. This vertically higher or lower displacement of the cutter wheel center 464 may further adjust the depth of cut of the cutting blade 462, which is controlled by the adjacent carrier roller 456, while being held in the locked position by the depth of cut adjustment knob 444 and the spring-loaded stop member 446.

Fig. 28 shows the relationship of offset center 457 and offset center 464 as described above, but viewed from the cutting blade 462 side of eccentric pinion shaft 448. Additionally, fig. 29 shows an enlarged end view of the cutter wheel support 454 of the eccentric pinion shaft 448 and the offset centers 457 and 464 of the carrier roller support 452 of the eccentric pinion shaft 448. It will be apparent that when the eccentric pinion shaft 448 is rotated approximately +90 degrees or-90 degrees from the nominal position, the center of the cutter wheel support portion 454 is either above or below the carrier roller support portion 452 of the eccentric pinion shaft 448, which will result in a slightly deeper or shallower cut of the supply material 20.

Unlike cutter assembly 116 discussed above, where the depth of cut is controlled only by the amount of applied cutting pressure, which depends on stock thickness, stiffness, density, and blade wear, the cutting force of cutter assembly 424 is constant and non-adjustable. In other words, the amount of force required to cut into the worst case or hardest supply stock 20 is designed into the cutter assembly 424, and the nominal depth of cut is controlled by the diameter difference of the cutting blade 462 and the carrier roller 456, which is slightly smaller in diameter than the cutting blade 462, and extends adjacent to the cutting blade 462. Both the carrier roller 456 and the cutting blade 462 rotate on the eccentric pinion shaft 448, but the cutter wheel support portion 454 is located off-center or offset from the carrier roller support 452. This may be further adjusted in cutting depth (positive or negative) by manually rotating a cutting depth adjuster which in turn rotates eccentric pinion shaft 448 such that the offset center of cutting blade 462 becomes higher or lower than control carrier roller 456. The rotatable pinion shaft 448 is indexed and held in an adjusted position by an external knurled or cut depth adjustment knob 444 that is pressed into the end of the pinion shaft 448 and cooperates with a stop member 446 that is slidably held and held in place within the cutter barrel housing 440 by the same pressure hub 466 that applies cutting pressure to the entire cutter assembly 424.

In summary, cutter assembly 424 has a number of significant advantages, including, but not limited to, the following: (i) the cutter mechanism and attachment cap may be configured with a wide angle exit throat to facilitate peeling and removal of the newly cut label or other material from the liner carrier web; (ii) the cutter wheel and depth control member are enclosed within a cartridge assembly that is easily installed and removed without the use of external tools, thereby reducing equipment downtime and saving costs to the user; (iii) the cutter wheel and depth control member may be held in place by the same member that applies the cutting pressure; (iv) cutting pressure may be achieved by using a single extension spring which rotates a pressure hub member about the worm screw axis to create a direct line force acting downwardly on the cutter barrel; and (v) the additional depth of cut may be controlled by rotating a common eccentric shaft supporting the cutter wheel and the carrier roller.

Figure 30 shows a flow chart of the sample cutting process controlled by the microprocessor. More specifically, the process of cutting the supply stock 20 using the cutting apparatus 100 begins at 3310 when a cut command is received by the controller board at 3320. At 3330, the process uses a sensor to determine if the knife or cutter is in the home position. Sensors may be mounted on the adjustable guide to control the cut width, or the cut width may be controlled by a microprocessor. If the cutter is not in the home position, an error is detected at 3360 and the cutting process terminates at 3375.

On the other hand, if it is determined at 3335 that the cutter is in the home position, the cutter may be driven inward at 3340 or outward at 3350, and throughout the process the microprocessor monitors the busy signal until the cutter returns to the home position at 3365. If the cutter is not returning to the home position as expected, or the busy signal is not removed before the home sensor is engaged, an error is detected at 3360 and the cutting process terminates at 3375. On the other hand, if the cutter returns home at 3365 and the motor signal is low, the process is successfully completed and the cut count is incremented at 3370 and the process exits at 3375.

What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term "includes" is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term "comprising" as "comprising" is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.