Cutter module for a modular mailing machine

Claim 1

A combination comprising: a mailing machine having a base and support walls extending therefrom; a tape module including a tape track, support means for supporting said tape track in a generally cantilevered manner, tape positioning means for selectively positioning said support means in a first position and in a second position laterally displaced from said first position, said tape positioning means having a track formed along one of said mailing machine support walls, a rail slidable mounted on said track, a first bracket fixably mounted to said rail, said support means being pivotally mounted to said first bracket, a second bracket fixably mounted to said rail, said second bracket having an elongated slot formed therein a motor fixably mounted to said base of said mailing machine, a crank rotatably mounted in said mailing machine and having a pin slidably mounted in said slot of said second bracket such that rotation of said crank causes said second bracket to displace said rail along said track, means communicating said motor to said crank such that actuation of said motor causes rotation of said crank, tape feed means for selectively feeding imprinting tape to and through said tape track; and, a cutter module having a cutter support member slidably mounted to one of a mailing machine support walls such that said cutter support member can be slidably displaced laterally with respect to said tape track, a rotary cutter blade rotatably mounted to said cutter support member, said means for communicating further having means for reciprocally displacing said cutter support member traverse to said tape track of said tape module, and means for providing a cutting surface coactive with said rotary cutter blade.