A cutter blade drive mechanism reliably returns a cutter blade from a forward position to a retracted position. A rotation transfer mechanism 34, which transfers rotation of a drive motor 31 to a drive gear 32, has a cutter blade return gear 50 that meshes with the drive gear 32, a compound gear (controller) 40 to which rotation from the drive motor 31 is transferred, and a transfer gear 51 that meshes with the compound gear 40 and the cutter blade return gear 50. While an intermittent teeth part 43a of the compound gear 40 and the transfer gear 51 are meshed, the cutter blade 21 moves to the forward position 21A. When the intermittent teeth part 43a and the transfer gear 51 are not meshed and the compound gear-side protrusion 44b of the compound gear 40 is in contact with a cutter blade return protrusion 50b of a cutter blade return gear 50, the cutter blade return gear 50 rotates in unison with the compound gear 40, the drive gear 32 turns in the opposite direction, and the cutter blade 21 returns to the retracted position 21B.

A printer includes a fixed blade and a movable blade that cut recording paper subjected to printing by a print head, and a movable blade slider including a projecting part provided on a surface of the movable blade slider. The movable blade is provided on the movable blade slider with the projecting part of the movable blade slider entering an opening provided in the movable blade.

A cutting machine includes a working surface, a carriage, a tool, and a drive mechanism. The carriage is disposed above the working surface. The tool is removably secured to the carriage and configured to move (i) toward the working surface along a first axis, (ii) relative to the working surface along a second axis transverse to the first axis, and (iii) relative to the working surface along a third axis transverse to the first axis and the second axis. The drive mechanism is offset from the first axis and configured to move the tool along the first axis.

A cutter blade drive mechanism reliably returns a cutter blade from a forward position to a retracted position. A rotation transfer mechanism 34, which transfers rotation of a drive motor 31 to a drive gear 32, has a cutter blade return gear 50 that meshes with the drive gear 32, a compound gear (controller) 40 to which rotation from the drive motor 31 is transferred, and a transfer gear 51 that meshes with the compound gear 40 and the cutter blade return gear 50. While an intermittent teeth part 43a of the compound gear 40 and the transfer gear 51 are meshed, the cutter blade 21 moves to the forward position 21A. When the intermittent teeth part 43a and the transfer gear 51 are not meshed and the compound gear-side protrusion 44b of the compound gear 40 is in contact with a cutter blade return protrusion 50b of a cutter blade return gear 50, the cutter blade return gear 50 rotates in unison with the compound gear 40, the drive gear 32 turns in the opposite direction, and the cutter blade 21 returns to the retracted position 21B.

A cutting machine includes a working surface, a carriage, a tool, and a drive mechanism. The carriage is disposed above the working surface. The tool is removably secured to the carriage and configured to move (i) toward the working surface along a first axis, (ii) relative to the working surface along a second axis transverse to the first axis, and (iii) relative to the working surface along a third axis transverse to the first axis and the second axis. The drive mechanism is offset from the first axis and configured to move the tool along the first axis.

An apparatus includes a motor, a pinion coupled to the motor, a rack engaged with the pinion, and a housing body assembly configured to hold a working tool. The motor is configured to drive rotation of the pinion and the rotation of the pinion is configured to drive linear translation of the rack. The rack is operably coupled to the housing body assembly such that the linear translation of the rack is configured to urge the housing body assembly along a first axis in a first direction to move the working tool relative to a workpiece.

An apparatus includes a motor, a pinion coupled to the motor, a rack engaged with the pinion, and a housing body assembly configured to hold a working tool. The motor is configured to drive rotation of the pinion and the rotation of the pinion is configured to drive linear translation of the rack. The rack is operably coupled to the housing body assembly such that the linear translation of the rack is configured to urge the housing body assembly along a first axis in a first direction to move the working tool relative to a workpiece.