Printer for cutting patterns in paper
A printer that is capable of automatically cutting precise and repeatable patterns into paper. A printer according to the present teachings includes a cutting tool for cutting a pattern into a paper, a paper feeder that moves the paper through the printer to provide a vertical component of the pattern, and a carriage that moves the cutting tool across the paper to provide a horizontal component of the pattern.
1 . A printer, comprising:
cutting tool for cutting a pattern in a paper such that the pattern includes a vertical component and a horizontal component;
paper feeder that moves the paper to provide the vertical component of the pattern;
carriage that moves the cutting tool across the paper to provide the horizontal component of the pattern.
2 . The printer of claim 1 , wherein the cutting tool includes a rotating blade that rotates around an axis that is perpendicular to the paper.
3 . The printer of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for providing tension in the paper as the paper contacts the cutting tool.
4 . The printer of claim 1 , further comprising a memory for storing the pattern.
5 . The printer of claim 1 , further comprising a mechanism for obtaining the pattern from a computer system.
6 . The printer of claim 1 , wherein the pattern is a border pattern around a set of edges of the paper.
7 . The printer of claim 1 , wherein the pattern is a predefined pattern selected by a user.
8 . The printer of claim 1 , wherein the pattern is a pattern created by a user.
9 . A method for cutting a pattern into a paper using a printer wherein the pattern includes a horizontal and a vertical component, comprising:
feeding the paper through the printer to provide a the vertical component of the pattern;
moving a cutting tool across the paper to provide a the horizontal component of the pattern.
10 . The method of claim 9 , wherein moving a cutting tool comprises moving a carriage in the printer that holds the cutting tool.
11 . The method of claim 9 , wherein moving a cutting tool includes rotating the cutting tool around an axis that is perpendicular to the paper.
12 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing tension in the paper as the paper contacts the cutting tool.
13 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising storing the pattern in a memory in the printer.
14 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising obtaining the pattern from a computer system.
15 . The method of claim 9 , further comprising obtaining the pattern from a user.
16 . A computer system, comprising:
program that enables a user to select a pattern to be cut into a paper such that the pattern includes a vertical component and a horizontal component;
printer having a cutting tool and a paper feeder that moves the paper to cut the vertical component of the pattern into the paper and having a carriage that moves the cutting tool across the paper to cut the horizontal component of the pattern.
17 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the program comprises a driver program that enables the user to select from a set of predefined patterns.
18 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the program comprises a program that enables the user to design the patterns.
19 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the printer includes a memory for storing the pattern.
20 . The computer system of claim 16 , wherein the printer cuts the pattern into the paper in response to a command from the program.