Cutter with optical alignment system

Abstract

An optical system mounted on a cutter that has a base and a housing supporting a blade. In one embodiment, the optical system may projects first and second indicator lines on the base. The optical system may also include a mechanism selectively operable to adjust the first and second lines to indicate the width of the blade.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A cutter comprising: 
 a base;    a housing mounted on the base and supporting a rotatable blade having first and second lateral sides;    an optical system adjustably supported on the housing for adjustably projecting first and second indicator lines on the base to indicate a width of the blade.    
     
     
         2 . The cutter of  claim 1 , wherein said optical system comprises: 
 a first laser generator emitting laser light and mounted on a first holder supported on said housing; and    a second laser generator emitting laser light and mounted on a second holder supported on said housing.    
     
     
         3 . The cutter of  claim 2 , wherein said first laser generator is disposed within said first holder at positions that are laterally offset from the first lateral side of the blade and wherein said second laser generator is disposed within said second holder at positions that are laterally offset from the second lateral side of the blade.  
     
     
         4 . The cutter of  claim 3 , further comprising a first macro-adjuster coupled to said housing and said first holder and being selectively operable to laterally displace the first holder on said housing such that the first indicator line generated by said first laser generator is displaced laterally relative to the blade.  
     
     
         5 . The cutter of  claim 4 , wherein said first holder supports a first micro-adjuster that is selectively operable to move said first laser generator within said first holder such that the first indicator line is laterally displaced relatively to the first lateral side of the blade.  
     
     
         6 . The cutter of  claim 5 , wherein said first micro-adjuster comprises: 
 a first sleeve cantilevered from said first holder and supportingly receiving said first laser generator therein; and    a first micro-actuator adjustably supported in said first holder and selectively operable to deflect the first sleeve relative to said first holder.    
     
     
         7 . The cutter of  claim 6 , wherein the first sleeve is biased in a predetermined direction against said first holder.  
     
     
         8 . The cutter of  claim 2 , further including a first rotational adjuster coupled to the first laser generator, for selectively rotating the first indicator line relative to the first lateral side of the blade.  
     
     
         9 . The cutter of  claim 8 , further including a first frictional insert supported in said first holder and in frictional contact with said first laser generator.  
     
     
         10 . The cutter of  claim 3 , further comprising a second macro-adjuster coupled to said housing and said second holder and being selectively operable to laterally displace the second holder on said housing such that the second indicator line generated by said second laser generator is displaced laterally relative to the blade.  
     
     
         11 . The cutter of  claim 10 , wherein said second holder supports a second micro-adjuster that is selectively operable to move said second laser generator within said second holder such that the second indicator line is laterally displaced relatively to the second lateral side of the blade.  
     
     
         12 . The cutter of  claim 11 , wherein said second micro-adjuster comprises: 
 a second sleeve cantilevered from said second holder and supportingly receiving said second laser generator therein; and    a second micro-actuator adjustably supported in said second holder and selectively operable to deflect the second sleeve relative to said second holder.    
     
     
         13 . The cutter of  claim 12 , wherein the second sleeve is biased in a predetermined direction against said second holder.  
     
     
         14 . The cutter of  claim 2 , further including a second rotational adjuster coupled to the second laser generator, for selectively rotating the second indicator line relative to the second lateral side of the blade.  
     
     
         15 . The cutter of  claim 14 , further including a second frictional insert supported in said second holder and in frictional contact with said second laser generator.  
     
     
         16  The cutter of  claim 2 , wherein the optical system is attached to an upper blade guard portion of the housing.  
     
     
         17 . The cutter of  claim 16 , wherein the housing includes a movable lower guard that allows at least portion of laser light to pass therethrough.  
     
     
         18 . The cutter of  claim 17 , wherein the lower guard includes openings through which at least a portion of the laser light passes through.  
     
     
         19 . The cutter of  claim 18 , wherein said openings have lateral sides along lines that intersect at a point on the upper blade guard.  
     
     
         20 . A cutter comprising: 
 a base;    a housing supporting a blade having first and second lateral sides defining a width said first lateral side defining a first plane and said second lateral side defining a second plane; and    an optical system adjustably supported on the housing for adjustably projecting two indicator lines on the base, the optical system including an adjustment mechanism selectively operable to adjust at least one of the lines to be projected on the base to indicate said first plane.    
     
     
         21 . The cutter of  claim 20 , wherein the other of said indicator lines to be projected relative thereto such that the distance between the two indicator lines is less than the width of the blade.  
     
     
         22 . The cutter of  claim 20 , wherein the other of said indicator lines is partially obscured by the blade.  
     
     
         23 . The cutter of  claim 20 , wherein the other of said indicator lines to be projected relative thereto such that the distance between the two indicator lines is greater than the width of the blade.  
     
     
         24 . The cutter of  claim 20 , wherein the other of said indicator lines to be projected relative thereto such that the distance between the two indicator lines is equal to the width of the blade.  
     
     
         25 . An optical alignment system for a cutter having a base and a housing supporting a blade, the optical system comprising: 
 first and second laser generators supported on the housing and projecting first and second indicator lines onto the base; and    an adjustment mechanism supported on the housing and being selectively operable to adjust the first and second indicator lines to indicate a width of the blade.    
     
     
         26 . The optical alignment system of  claim 25 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a macro-adjuster for selective lateral displacement of each indicator line relative to the planes defined by the lateral sides of the blade.  
     
     
         27 . The optical alignment system of  claim 25 , wherein the macro-adjuster includes first and second holders supporting the first and second laser generators on the housing and at least one actuator selectively operable to displace one of the first and second holders laterally relative to the planes defined by the lateral sides of the blade.  
     
     
         28 . The optical alignment system of  claim 25 , wherein the adjustment mechanism includes a micro-adjuster for lateral micro-displacement of at least one of the first and second indicator lines relative to the planes defined by the lateral sides of the blade.  
     
     
         29 . The optical alignment system of  claim 28 , wherein the micro-adjuster comprises: 
 a sleeve cantilevered from a holder and receiving one of the first and second laser generators therein; and    a micro-actuator supported within said holder for selective contact with said sleeve to move said laser generator such that the corresponding indicator line generated by said laser generator is displaced laterally relative to the planes defined by the lateral sides of the blade.    
     
     
         30 . An optical system for a cutter having a base and a housing supporting a blade, the optical system comprising: 
 first and second laser generators movably mounted on first and second holders, the first and second holders slidably supported on the housing, the first and second laser generators projecting first and second indicator lines on the base, and the first and second indicators lines being selectively adjustable to indicate a width of the blade;    first and second actuators coupled to said first and second holders, respectively, and being selectively operable for lateral displacement of the first and second holders relative to said blade;    first and second sleeves cantilevered from the first and second holders, respectively, and receiving the first and second laser generators therein, respectively; and    first and second micro-actuators selectively operable on the first and second sleeves respectively to move the first and second laser generators such that the first and second indicator lines are displaced laterally relative to the blade.    
     
     
         31 . An optical alignment system for a cutter having a base and a housing supporting a blade, the optical system comprising: 
 means for projecting first and second indicator lines on the base; and    means for selectively adjusting the first and second indicator lines to indicate a width of the blade.    
     
     
         32 . A method for indicating material to be removed by the blade of a cutter, the cutter having a base supporting a housing for the blade, the method comprising: 
 mounting a first laser generator on the housing laterally offset from a first lateral side of the blade, the first laser generator projecting a first indicator line on the base;    mounting a second laser generator on the housing laterally offset from a second lateral side of the blade, the second laser generator projecting a second indicator line on the base; and    selectively rotating and displacing the first and second laser generators such that the first and second indicator lines indicate material to be removed by the blade.    
     
     
         33 . A method for indicating material to be removed by the blade of a cutter, the cutter having a base supporting a housing for the blade, the method comprising: 
 projecting a first indicator line on the base;    projecting a second indicator line on the base; and    selectively adjusting the first and second indicator lines to indicate material to be removed by the blade.    
     
     
         34 . A method of cutting a workpiece, comprising: 
 supporting the workpiece on the base of a cutter having a rotatable blade supported above the base;    projecting two indicator lines onto the workpiece, said indicator lines separated by a distance representing a width of the blade; and    rotating said blade through said workpiece such that material removed from the workpiece by the blade corresponds to said distance between said indicator line.