CN110774779A - Clamping member and medium cutting device - Google Patents

Abstract

Provided are a clamping member and a medium cutting device, which can prevent the floating of a medium and easily and rapidly perform the cutting operation of the medium. The clamping member includes: a first rising portion (41) and a second rising portion (46) rising from the base portion (31); a first extending portion (42) extending from the first rising portion (41) along the first upper surface portion (21A) of the base (20); a second extending portion (47) extending from the second rising portion (46) along the second upper surface portion (21B) of the table (20); a first clamp (34) that urges the medium (Me) toward the first upper surface section (21A); and a second clamp (35) that urges the medium (Me) toward the second upper surface section (21B). A gap (51) located above the groove (22) of the table (20) is formed between the first clamping portion (34) and the second clamping portion (35).

Description

Clamping member and medium cutting device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a clamp member for preventing a medium placed on a stage from floating from the stage, and a medium cutting device provided with the clamp member.

Background

Conventionally, in printers and the like, there is known a case where a medium is pressed against a platen by a clamp member in order to prevent the medium from floating from the platen.

For example, japanese patent application laid-open No. 2005-35681 discloses a printer including a table on which a medium is placed so as to be transportable and a clamping member which presses the medium toward the table. The clamp member is formed of a pair of plate springs provided along the conveyance direction of the medium. The pair of leaf springs are arranged so as to avoid the printing range. According to the printer, printing can be performed in a state in which floating of the medium is suppressed by the clamp member.

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

However, the clamping member may also be used when cutting the medium. For example, the medium may be cut in the entire width direction in order to separate a printed portion of the medium from an unprinted portion. The clamp member can be used in such a case. Here, when the medium is cut in the entire width direction, the cutter is moved from one end to the other end in the width direction of the medium. The clamp member disclosed in patent document 1 is provided along the conveyance direction of the medium, and is disposed on the center side of both ends of the medium. Therefore, when the cutter moves from one end toward the other end in the width direction of the medium, the cutter interferes with the clamp member. In order to avoid the above interference when cutting the medium in the entire width direction, the clamp member needs to be detached when the cutter moves to the vicinity of the clamp member. Therefore, if the clamp member is used, the cutting operation of the medium becomes complicated, and the time required for the cutting operation becomes long.

The invention aims to provide a clamping member and a medium cutting device which can prevent floating of a medium and can easily and rapidly perform cutting operation of the medium.

Means for solving the problems

The clamp member according to the present invention is attached to a table having a first upper surface portion, a second upper surface portion, and a groove formed between the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion and extending in a first direction, and presses a medium placed on the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion against the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion. The clamp member includes a first member having: a base received in the groove of the table; a first rising portion rising from the base portion; and a first extending portion extending from the first rising portion along the first upper surface portion of the stage. Further, the clamp member includes a second member having: a second rising portion rising from the base portion; and a second extending portion extending from the second rising portion along the second upper surface portion of the stage. Further, the clamping member includes: a first clamp portion extending from the first extension portion in the first direction along the first upper surface portion, and urging the medium toward the first upper surface portion; and a second clamp portion extending in the first direction from the second extension portion along the second upper surface portion, and urging the medium toward the second upper surface portion. A gap is formed between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion above the groove of the table.

The medium cutting device of the present invention includes the clamp member.

In the above-described clamp member, the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion press the medium against the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion of the stage, and therefore, floating of the medium can be prevented. Further, a gap located above the groove of the stage is formed between the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion. Therefore, the cutter can pass between the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion. Thus, according to the clamp member, the medium can be cut along the groove in a state where the medium is pressed against the stage. The cutter does not interfere with the clamping member, so there is no need to disassemble the clamping member. Therefore, the medium can be easily and quickly cut.

Effects of the invention

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a clamping member and a medium cutting device capable of preventing floating of a medium and easily and quickly performing a medium cutting operation.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a front view of a printer/media cutting device of a first embodiment.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged view of part 2 of fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view of a portion 3 of fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 of fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 5-5 of fig. 3.

In fig. 6, (a) is a view of the clamping member when not mounted on the stage as viewed from the side, (b) is a view of the stage when not mounted with the clamping member as viewed from the side, (c) is a view of the clamping member and the stage when mounted with the clamping member as viewed from the side, and (d) is a view of the clamping member and the stage when a part of the clamping member is pressed with the fingertip as viewed from the side.

Fig. 7 is a diagram for explaining a method of attaching the clamping member to the table.

In fig. 8, (a) is a plan view of the clamp member according to another embodiment when the clamp member is straightly attached to the groove of the table, and (b) is a plan view of the clamp member when the clamp member is inclined. (c) The plane view of the first embodiment is a plan view of the clamp member when it is straightly attached to the groove of the table, and (d) is a plan view of the clamp member when it is tilted.

Fig. 9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating the suction holes of the stage and the fan.

Fig. 10 is a block diagram of a control system of the printer/media cutting device.

Fig. 11 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the operation of the printer/media cutting device.

In fig. 12, (a) is a cross-sectional view of the clamp member, the medium, and the table when the medium is cut, (b) is a cross-sectional view of the clamp member, the medium, and the table when the cut medium is conveyed, and (c) is a cross-sectional view of the clamp member, the medium, and the table when one cut medium is punched with the other.

FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view of a media and a stage.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart for explaining another example of the operation of the printer/media cutting device.

Fig. 15 is a view corresponding to fig. 4 of the clamping member of the second embodiment.

Fig. 16 is a plan view of a clamping member of the second embodiment.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of a printer/media cutting device according to a third embodiment.

Fig. 18 is a front view of a main part of a printer/media cutting device of the third embodiment.

Fig. 19 is a side view of a main part of a printer/media cutting device of the third embodiment.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of the chucking member, the table, and the medium according to the third embodiment, and is a view showing a state in which the chucking member is not attached to the table.

Fig. 21 is a perspective view of the chucking member, the table, and the medium according to the third embodiment, and is a view showing a state in which the chucking member is attached to the table.

Fig. 22 is an enlarged view of a portion 22 of fig. 19.

Fig. 23 is a plan view of a clamping member of the fourth embodiment.

Fig. 24 is a perspective view of a clamp member, a table, and a medium according to a modification, and is a view showing a state in which the clamp member is attached to the table.

Detailed Description

< first embodiment >

[ Structure of Printer/Medium cutting device ]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Fig. 1 shows a printer/media cutting device 10 (hereinafter, simply referred to as "printing device 10") that prints on a medium Me and can cut the medium Me. The printing apparatus 10 is an example of a medium cutting apparatus in that the medium Me can be cut.

In the following description, as shown in fig. 1, when the user views the printing apparatus 10 from the front, the direction in which the user moves away from the printing apparatus 10 is referred to as the front, and the direction in which the user approaches the printing apparatus 10 is referred to as the rear. As described later, when printing the medium Me, the medium Me on the table 20 is conveyed forward. The front and rear in the following description correspond to the front and rear with reference to the conveyance direction of the medium Me. That is, the downstream side in the conveying direction corresponds to the front side, and the upstream side in the conveying direction corresponds to the rear side. The downstream direction is a direction from the rear to the front. The upstream direction refers to a direction from the front to the rear. In the figure, reference symbol Fr denotes the front and Rr denotes the rear. In addition, reference letter Le denotes left, Ri denotes right, Up denotes upper, and Dn denotes lower.

The printing apparatus 10 includes: a table 20 that supports the medium Me so as to be transportable; a carriage 12 on which a print head 12A (see fig. 2) for printing on a medium Me is mounted; a cutting mechanism 13 capable of cutting the medium Me; and left and right clamping members 30 that clamp (i.e., press) left and right end portions of the medium Me against the table 20. The printing apparatus 10 includes a feed roller 61 (see fig. 4) that moves the medium Me forward and backward, and a pinch roller 62 that pinches the medium Me together with the feed roller 61.

The printing apparatus 10 can convey the medium Me in the front-rear direction by the feed roller 61. The carriage 12 is movable in the left-right direction. The cutter mechanism 13 is connected to the carriage 12 and is movable in the left-right direction together with the carriage 12. The medium Me sequentially conveyed forward and backward can be printed by ejecting ink from the print head 12A while moving the carriage 12 left and right. On the other hand, when the medium Me is cut, the medium Me is conveyed to a predetermined position, and the cutter mechanism 13 is moved left and right while the left and right end portions of the medium Me are clamped by the clamp member 30.

As shown in fig. 2, the carriage 12 is movably supported by a guide rail 15 extending in the left-right direction. Although not shown, the carriage 12 is coupled to a belt wound around a driving pulley and a driven pulley. The drive pulley is coupled to a carriage drive motor 81 (see fig. 10) described later. When the drive pulley is driven by the carriage drive motor 81, the belt travels, and the carriage 12 moves left and right along the guide rail 15. A plurality of print heads 12A are mounted on the carriage 12. The number of print heads 12A mounted on the carriage 12 is not particularly limited. Here, the carriage 12 houses a plurality of print heads 12A that eject inks of different colors, respectively.

The cutter mechanism 13 is configured to be movable laterally along the guide rail 15 together with the carriage 12. The cutter mechanism 13 is movably supported by the guide rail 15. The cutting mechanism 13 may be indirectly supported by the guide rail 15 via the carriage 12, or may be directly supported by the guide rail 15. The cutter mechanism 13 has a knife (cutter) 13a capable of cutting the medium Me. The blade 13a is provided so as to be capable of swinging in the up-down direction. When the knife 13a is rotated upward, it can be positioned at a retracted position separated from the medium Me, and when the knife 13a is rotated downward, it can be positioned at an abutment position abutting against the medium Me. When cutting the medium Me, the cutter 13a is rotated to the contact position, and the cutter mechanism 13 is moved in the left-right direction.

The medium Me is, for example, a roll medium wound in a roll shape. The material of the medium Me may be paper such as plain paper, resin such as polyvinyl chloride and polyester, or metal such as aluminum material and iron material. The medium Me may be composed of various materials. The medium Me is conveyed from the rear to the front by the feed roller 61 at the time of printing.

As shown in fig. 3, at least a part of the upper surface portion 21 of the stage 20 is formed in a flat shape spreading forward, backward, leftward, and rightward, and the medium Me moves on the upper surface portion 21. In a part of the upper surface 21, grooves 22 are formed in the left-right direction. That is, the groove 22 extends in a direction orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the medium Me. When the direction in which the grooves 22 extend is set as a first direction and the direction in which the medium Me is conveyed on the table 20 is set as a second direction, the first direction and the second direction are orthogonal to each other. The upper surface portion 21 includes a first upper surface portion 21A located rearward of the groove 22 and a second upper surface portion 21B located forward of the groove 22. In other words, the groove 22 is formed between the first upper surface portion 21A and the second upper surface portion 21B. As shown in fig. 1, the front portion 21Bf of the second upper surface portion 21B is inclined from the horizontal plane so as to be directed downward as it goes forward. As shown in fig. 3, at least the second upper surface portion 21B is formed with an adsorption hole 21h for adsorbing the medium Me downward. The number and arrangement of the adsorption holes 21h are not particularly limited, but here, a plurality of adsorption holes 21h are arranged in the left-right direction to form an adsorption hole row. The adsorption hole rows are arranged in two rows in front and back.

As shown in fig. 9, a fan 83 as an example of a suction device is connected to the suction hole 21 h. The fan 83 is configured to suck air from above toward the suction hole 21 h. The fan 83 is configured to suck the medium Me at least to the second upper surface portion 21B. The suction holes 21h communicating with the fan 83 may be formed in the first upper surface portion 21A. In this case, the fan 83 sucks the medium Me to the first upper surface portion 21A and the second upper surface portion 21B.

As shown in fig. 4, the groove 22 is formed in a substantially T-shape with the top and bottom reversed. The groove 22 has a bottom surface portion 22a extending in the left-right direction (front-back direction in fig. 4), a side wall portion 22C located on the front side of the bottom surface portion 22a, and a side wall portion 22B located on the rear side of the bottom surface portion 22 a. The front side wall portion 22C and the rear side wall portion 22B intersect the bottom surface portion 22 a. The front side wall portion 22C and the rear side wall portion 22B are spaced apart from each other in the front-rear direction. The rear side wall portion 22B includes an accommodating wall portion 22Bb intersecting the bottom surface portion 22a and a retaining wall portion 22Bd located above the accommodating wall portion 22 Bb. Similarly, the front side wall portion 22C includes a storage wall portion 22Cb intersecting the bottom surface portion 22a and a separation preventing wall portion 22Cd located above the storage wall portion 22 Cb. Accommodating wall 22Bb faces accommodating wall 22Cb in the front-rear direction, and retaining wall 22Bd faces retaining wall 22Cd in the front-rear direction.

The rear retaining wall 22Bd protrudes forward from the accommodating wall 22 Bb. A stopper wall 22Bc extending forward is formed between the retaining wall 22Bd and the housing wall 22 Bb. The front retaining wall 22Cd protrudes rearward from the accommodating wall 22 Cb. A stopper wall 22Cc extending rearward is formed between the retaining wall 22Cd and the accommodating wall 22 Cb.

The upper portion of the front retaining wall portion 22Cd is inclined so as to be directed forward as it goes upward. I.e., tapered. The rear retaining wall portion 22Bd extends vertically. However, the shapes thereof are merely examples. Similarly to the rear retaining wall portion 22Bd, the front retaining wall portion 22Cd may be a vertically extending surface. Similarly to the front retaining wall portion 22Cd, the upper portion of the rear retaining wall portion 22Bd may be inclined rearward as it goes upward. That is, it may be formed in a tapered shape.

[ Structure of clamping Member ]

Next, the clamping member 30 that clamps the medium Me to the table 20 will be described in detail. As described above, the two clamping members 30 are used to clamp the left and right end portions of the medium Me, respectively (see fig. 1). The right clamping member 30 is explained below. The left clamp member 30 is bilaterally symmetrical to the right clamp member 30, but otherwise has the same configuration as the right clamp member 30. Therefore, the explanation of the left clamping member 30 is omitted.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the clamp member 30 includes a base 31 received in the groove 22, first and second members 32 and 33 supported by the base 31, and first and second spacers 36 and 37.

The base 31 is a resin molded product made of a hard resin. For example, Polyacetal (POM) or polypropylene (PP) can be used as a raw material of the base 31. As shown in fig. 4, the base portion 31 is accommodated between the front accommodating wall portion 22Cb and the rear accommodating wall portion 22 Bb. The front and rear upper surface portions of the base 31 abut on the stopper walls 22Cc, 22Bc of the groove 22. This prevents the base 31 from falling off upward from the groove 22.

The central portion in the front-rear direction of the base 31 is recessed. A portion of the base 31 between the portion into which the first member 32 is inserted and the portion into which the second member 33 is inserted is a thin portion 31a having a smaller thickness than the portions into which the first member 32 and the second member 33 are inserted. The thin portion 31a is formed in the entire left-right direction of the base portion 31. The thin portion 31a has a shape in which the upper surface is recessed downward from the portion where the first member 32 and the second member 33 are inserted.

As shown in fig. 3 and 4, the first member 32 is formed of a bent plate. The first member 32 is formed by press forming a steel plate, for example. However, the material of the first member 32 is not particularly limited, and any material such as metal or resin other than steel material may be used. The first member 32 has a substantially L-shape when viewed from the right. The first member 32 includes a first rising portion 41, a first extending portion 42, and a first clamping portion 34. As shown in fig. 4, the first rising portion 41 is a portion rising from the base portion 31, and extends upward from the base portion 31. The first extending portion 42 extends from the first rising portion 41 along the first upper surface portion 21A of the stage 20. The first extending portion 42 is bent rearward from the front end of the first rising portion 41 and extends rearward. The first extension 42 extends in a direction separating from the groove 22. The front end portion 42a of the first extending portion 42 is bent obliquely upward. The front end portion 42a is inclined with respect to the first upper surface portion 21A so as to go upward as it goes rearward.

The second member 33 has substantially the same structure as the first member 32. That is, the second member 33 is formed of a bent plate. The second member 33 is formed by press forming a steel plate, for example. However, the material of the second member 33 is not particularly limited, and any material such as metal or resin other than steel material may be used. The second member 33 has a substantially L-shape when viewed from the right. The second member 33 has a second rising portion 46, a second extending portion 47, and a second clamping portion 35. As shown in fig. 4, the second rising portion 46 is a portion rising from the base portion 31, and extends upward from the base portion 31. The second extending portion 47 is a portion extending from the second standing portion 46 along the second upper surface portion 21B of the stage 20. The second extending portion 47 extends forward while being bent forward from the front end of the second standing portion 46. The second extension 42 extends in a direction separating from the groove 22. The front end portion 47a of the second extending portion 47 is bent obliquely upward. The front end portion 47a is inclined with respect to the second upper surface portion 21B so as to go upward as it goes forward.

The second rising portion 46 is provided substantially parallel to the first rising portion 41. The first rising portion 41 is separated from the second rising portion 46, and a gap 52 (see also fig. 3) extending in the left-right direction is formed between the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46. The distance between the rear surface of the first rising portion 41 and the front surface of the second rising portion 46 is smaller than the distance between the front retaining wall portion 22Cd and the rear retaining wall portion 22 Bd. Therefore, the first rising portion 41 is separated from the rear retaining wall portion 22Bd, or the second rising portion 46 is separated from the front retaining wall portion 22 Cd.

As shown in fig. 3, the length L1 in the front-rear direction of the first extending portion 42 is shorter than the length L2 in the front-rear direction of the second extending portion 47. The length L3 in the left-right direction of the first extending portion 42 is equal to the length L4 in the left-right direction of the second extending portion 47. However, they are not particularly limited. L1 ═ L2 may be used, or L1> L2 may be used. Further, L3> L4 may be used, or L3< L4 may be used.

As shown in fig. 3, the length L5 in the left-right direction of the base portion 31 is greater than the sum L6 of the length in the left-right direction of the first extending portion 42 and the length in the left-right direction of the first clamp portion 34, and is greater than the sum L7 of the length in the left-right direction of the second extending portion 47 and the length in the left-right direction of the second clamp portion 35. L6 is L7. However, L6< L7 may be used, or L6> L7 may be used.

The first clamping portion 34 is integrally formed with the first extension 42. The first rising portion 41, the first extending portion 42, and the first clamping portion 34 are formed from one plate material. The first clamp portion 34 extends leftward (in a direction in which the groove 22 extends and is separated from the first rising portion 41) from the first extending portion 42 along the first upper surface portion 21A, and presses the medium Me toward the first upper surface portion 21A. The end portion of the medium Me is covered by the first clamping portion 34, and is prevented from floating from the first upper surface portion 21A. The front end portion 34a of the first clamping portion 34 is bent obliquely upward. The front end portion 34a is inclined with respect to the first upper surface portion 21A so as to go upward as it goes rearward. The front end portion 34a functions as a guide for guiding the medium Me conveyed forward to below the first clamp portion 34. The tip end portion 34a inclined with respect to the first upper surface portion 21A may be formed not only in the rear portion but also in the left portion of the first clamp portion 34.

The second clamping portion 35 is integrally formed with the second extension 47. The second rising portion 46, the second extending portion 47, and the second clamping portion 35 are formed from one plate material. The second clamp portion 35 extends leftward (in a direction in which the groove 22 extends and is separated from the second standing portion 46) from the second extending portion 47 along the second upper surface portion 21B, and presses the medium Me toward the second upper surface portion 21B. The end portion of the medium Me is covered by the second clamping portion 35 so as to be prevented from floating from the second upper surface portion 21B. The front end portion 35a of the second clamping portion 35 is bent obliquely upward. The front end portion 35a is inclined with respect to the second upper surface portion 21B so as to be directed upward as it goes forward. The front end portion 35a functions as a guide for guiding the medium Me conveyed rearward to below the second clamp portion 35. The tip portion 35a inclined with respect to the second upper surface portion 21B may be formed not only in the front portion but also in the left portion of the second clamp portion 35.

Although not shown, the cutting mechanism 13 (see fig. 2) may include a roller that presses the medium Me. When the cutting mechanism 13 moves left and right, the roller presses the medium Me against the table 20 while rolling on the medium Me. The first nip portion 34 and the second nip portion 35 may be configured to be pressed against the roller. By performing the cutting operation in a state where the first nip portion 34 and the second nip portion 35 are pressed by the rollers, the blade 13a can be brought into contact with the medium Me in a state where the floating of the medium Me is eliminated, and the cutting accuracy is improved.

As shown in fig. 3, the first spacer 36 and the second spacer 37 are rectangular resin plates. However, the shape and size of the first spacer 36 and the second spacer 37 are not particularly limited. The first spacer 36 and the second spacer 37 may have different sizes and shapes from each other, but may also have the same size and shape. The first spacer 36 and the second spacer 37 may be made of a common member, that is, a member having the same size and shape. The first spacer 36 is disposed on the lower surface of the first extension portion 42 and contacts the first upper surface portion 21A. The first spacer 36 is disposed between the first upper surface portion 21A and the first extension portion 42. The second spacer 37 is provided on the lower surface of the second extension portion 47 and contacts the second upper surface portion 21B. The second spacer 37 is disposed between the second upper surface portion 21B and the second extension portion 47. The first spacer 36 and the second spacer 37 are bonded to the lower surfaces of the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47, respectively, for example, with an adhesive. The first clamping portion 34 is separated from the first upper surface portion 21A of the stage 20 by the thickness of the first spacer 36. The second clamp portion 35 is separated from the second upper surface portion 21B of the stage 20 by the thickness of the second spacer 37. Thereby, gaps are formed between the first clamp 34 and the first upper surface portion 21A and between the second clamp 35 and the second upper surface portion 21B at intervals equal to or greater than the thickness of the medium Me.

In the present embodiment, the first spacer 36 is separate from the first member 32 and is attached to the first extending portion 42. The second spacer 37 is separate from the second member 33 and is bonded to the second extending portion 47. However, the first spacer 36 may be integrated with the first member 32, and the second spacer 37 may be integrated with the second member 33. The first member 32 and the first spacer 36 may be a single article, and the second member 33 and the second spacer 37 may be a single article.

The method of manufacturing the clamping member 30 is not particularly limited, but, for example, insert molding may be used. For example, first, a single metal plate is processed to form the first member 32. In addition, the second member 33 is formed by processing another metal plate. Next, the first member 32 and the second member 33 are set in the mold so that the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 face each other. Then, the resin is poured into the mold, and the distal end portion of the first rising portion 41 and the distal end portion of the second rising portion 46 are joined together by the resin. The resin constitutes the base 31. Then, the base 31, the first member 32, and the second member 33 are pulled out from the mold, and the first spacer 36 and the second spacer 37 are bonded to the back surfaces of the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47, respectively. In this way, the clamping member 30 can be manufactured.

As shown in fig. 4, through holes 41a and 46a may be formed in the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 at the portions covered with the base portion 31, respectively. By filling the through holes 41a and 46a with resin, the base portion 31 can support the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 more firmly. However, the through holes 41a and 46a are not essential.

Fig. 6(a) is a view of the clamp member 30 before being mounted on the table 20, as viewed from the right. Fig. 6(b) is a view of a part of the table 20 to which the clamp member 30 is not attached, as viewed from the right.

As shown in fig. 6(a), in the clamp member 30 in a state before being attached to the stage 20, an angle θ 1 formed between the first rising portion 41 and the first extending portion 42 is smaller than 90 °. θ 1<90 °. In the present embodiment, the angle formed by the first rising portion 41 and the first extending portion 42 is equal to the angle formed by the second rising portion 46 and the second extending portion 47. The angle formed by the second rising portion 46 and the second extending portion 47 is also θ 1, and is smaller than 90 °. However, the angle formed by the second rising portion 46 and the second extending portion 47 may be an angle different from the angle θ 1 formed by the first rising portion 41 and the first extending portion 42 and smaller than 90 °.

The height from the upper surface of the base 31 to the lower end of the first spacer 36 is H1. The height from the upper surface of the base 31 to the lower end of the second spacer 37 is also H1. On the other hand, as shown in fig. 6(B), the height from the stopper wall 22Bc to the first upper surface portion 21A and the height from the stopper wall 22Cc to the second upper surface portion 21B are each H2. Here, H1< H2. The height from the upper surface of the base 31 to the lower end of the first spacer 36 may be smaller than the height from the stopper wall 22Bc to the first upper surface portion 21A, the height from the upper surface of the base 31 to the lower end of the second spacer 37 may be smaller than the height from the stopper wall 22Cc to the second upper surface portion 21B, and specific values thereof are not limited at all. A height from the upper surface of the base 31 to the lower end of the first spacer 36 may be different from a height from the upper surface of the base 31 to the lower end of the second spacer 37. In addition, the height from the stopper wall 22Bc to the first upper surface portion 21A may be different from the height from the stopper wall 22Cc to the second upper surface portion 21B.

[ method of installing clamping Member ]

The clamp member 30 is detachable from the table 20. Next, a method of mounting the clamping member 30 to the table 20 is explained.

As shown in fig. 7, when the clamp member 30 is attached to the table 20, the clamp member 30 is inserted into the groove 22 by sliding from the side of the table 20. More specifically, base 31 is inserted into a region surrounded by bottom surface 22a, housing wall portions 22Bb and 22Cb, and retaining wall portions 22Bc and 22 Cc. Then, the base portion 31 is press-fitted until the first clamp portion 34 is positioned above the first upper surface portion 21A and the second clamp portion 35 is positioned above the second upper surface portion 21B.

As described above, the height H1 from the upper surface portion of the base 31 to the lower end of the first spacer 36 is smaller than the height H2 from the retaining wall portion 22Bc to the first upper surface portion 21A. Further, a height H1 from the upper surface portion of the base 31 to the lower end of the second spacer 37 is smaller than a height H2 from the retaining wall portion 22Cc to the second upper surface portion 21B. Therefore, when base portion 31 is further pushed in, first extending portion 42 and second extending portion 47 are elastically deformed so that first spacer 36 is positioned above first upper surface portion 21A and second spacer 37 is positioned above second upper surface portion 2B, as shown in fig. 6 (c).

Fig. 6(c) is a view of the clamping member 30 and the table 20 when the clamping member 30 is attached to the table 20 as viewed from the right. When the base 31 is pressed into the groove 22 while elastically deforming the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47, the upper surface of the base 31 abuts against the stopper walls 22Bc, 22Cc, and the first and second spacers 36, 37 abut against the first upper surface portion 21A and the second upper surface portion 21B of the stage 20, respectively. The elastic force of the first extension 42 is applied to the first upper surface portion 21A of the stage 20 via the first spacer 36. The elastic force of the second extension 47 is applied to the second upper surface portion 21B of the stage 20 via the second spacer 37.

In a state where the clamp member 30 is attached to the table 20, if the angle formed by the first rising portion 41 and the first extending portion 42 is θ 2, the angle formed by the second rising portion 46 and the second extending portion 47 is also θ 2. Here, θ 2 is 90 °. However, θ 2 is not necessarily 90 ° as long as it is larger than θ 1. In addition, an angle formed by the second rising portion 46 and the second extending portion 47 may be an angle different from an angle formed by the first rising portion 41 and the first extending portion 42.

Since the elastic force of the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47 is applied to the first upper surface portion 21A and the second upper surface portion 21B of the stage 20, respectively, it is difficult to slide the clamp member 30 in the left-right direction in this state. Therefore, as shown in fig. 6(d), when the clip member 30 is slid along the groove 22, it is preferable to slide the boundary portion B1 between the first rising portion 41 and the first extending portion 42 and the boundary portion B2 between the second rising portion 46 and the second extending portion 47 while pressing them downward. Thereby, only a part of the first spacer 36 abuts against the first upper surface portion 21A, and only a part of the second spacer 37 abuts against the second upper surface portion 21B. Further, since the base portion 31 is pushed down through the rising portions 41 and 46, the base portion 31 is separated from the stopper wall portions 22Bc and 22 Cc.

The central portion of the base 31 is a thin portion 31a that is thinner than other portions. This allows the base 31 to be easily bent. The thin portion 31a is preferably formed continuously between the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46.

After the grip member 30 is slid to a desired position, the fingers are separated from the boundary portions B1, B2 of the grip member 30. Then, the first spacer 36 is pressed against the first upper surface portion 21A and the second spacer 37 is pressed against the second upper surface portion 21B by the elastic forces of the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47. Further, the base portion 31 is pressed against the stopper wall portions 22Bc, 22 Cc. Thereby, the clamping member 30 is fixed to the table 20.

As described above, in the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 3, the length L5 in the left-right direction of the base portion 31 is greater than the sum L6 of the length in the left-right direction of the first extending portion 42 and the length in the left-right direction of the first clamp portion 34, and is greater than the sum L7 of the length in the left-right direction of the second extending portion 47 and the length in the left-right direction of the second clamp portion 35. That is, the base 31 is formed to be relatively long. Since the base 31 is relatively long, the following effects can be obtained.

Fig. 8(a) schematically shows a clamp member 230 having a relatively short length L15 in the left-right direction of the base 231, as an example of another embodiment of the clamp member. In the clamp member 230, the length L15 of the base 231 is shorter than the total length L6 in the left-right direction of the first extending portion 42 and the first clamp portion 34. Since other components are the same as those of the clamp member 30 of the embodiment, the above-mentioned reference numerals are used, and detailed description thereof is omitted.

Since the clamp members 30 and 230 are slidable along the groove 22, as shown in fig. 6(a) and 6(b), the front-rear width W31 of the base portions 31 and 231 is smaller than the gap G1 between the front accommodating wall portion 22Cb and the rear accommodating wall portion 22 Bb. Therefore, the base portions 31, 231 may be inclined inside the groove 22 when viewed from above.

Fig. 8(b) shows a state in which the clamping member 230 is inclined inside the groove 22. Fig. 8(c) is a view schematically showing the clamp member 30, and fig. 8(d) shows a state in which the clamp member 30 is inclined inside the groove 22. As shown in fig. 8(b) and 8(d), the inclination angle when the base 231 of the clamp member 230 is inclined with respect to the center line of the groove 22 is θ 3, and the inclination angle when the base 31 of the clamp member 30 is inclined with respect to the center line of the groove 22 is θ 4. Thus, θ 4< θ 3. That is, the clamp member 30 having the long length L5 in the left-right direction of the base 31 is inclined to a smaller extent than the clamp member 230 having the short length L15 in the left-right direction of the base 231. Thus, according to the clamp member 30 of the present embodiment, the inclination of the medium Me with respect to the conveyance direction can be suppressed.

[ control System ]

Next, a control system provided in the printing apparatus 10 will be described. As shown in fig. 10, the printing apparatus 10 includes a carriage drive motor 81 that drives the carriage 12, a feed motor 82 that drives the feed roller 61, a fan 83 that sucks air from the suction holes 21h of the table 20 to suck the medium Me to the table 20, and a control device 70. The control device 70 is communicably connected to the print head 12A, the cutter mechanism 13, the carriage drive motor 81, the feed motor 82, and the fan 83, and controls the operations thereof. The control device 70 includes a printing unit 76, a sheet cutting unit 71, a suction stop unit 72, a feeding unit 73, a suction driving unit 74, a medium cutting unit 75, and a pre-feeding unit 77. The processing performed by the printing unit 76, the sheet cutting unit 71, the suction stop unit 72, the feeding unit 73, the suction driving unit 74, the medium cutting unit 75, and the pre-feeding unit 77 will be described later.

Each part constituting the control device 70 may be constituted by software. That is, the above-described respective sections can be realized by a computer by reading a computer program into the computer. The present invention includes a computer program for causing a computer to function as each of the above-described units. The present invention also includes a computer-readable recording medium on which the computer program is recorded. In addition, the above-described respective sections may be processors realized by executing computer programs stored in the control device 70. In this case, each part may be implemented by one processor or by a plurality of processors. The present invention includes a circuit that realizes the same function as the program executed by each unit.

[ example 1 of operation of printing apparatus ]

Fig. 11 is a flowchart for explaining an example of the operation of the printing apparatus 10. Next, an example of the operation of the printing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to fig. 11.

First, printing of the medium Me is performed by the printing section 76 (step S1). The printing section 76 repeats an ejection operation of ejecting ink from the print head 12A while moving the carriage 12 in the left-right direction in a state where the conveyance of the medium Me is stopped, and a feeding operation of conveying the medium Me forward (downstream direction) by a predetermined length by rotating the feed roller 61. The printing unit 76 repeats the ejection operation and the feeding operation to form an image on the medium Me. Hereinafter, the speed at which the medium Me is conveyed forward in the feeding operation during printing is referred to as a printing feed speed V1. The value of the printing feed speed V1 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 1 to 30 mm/sec.

When the printing is finished, the sheet cutting for cutting the medium Me in the entire left-right direction is performed by the sheet cutting portion 71. The sheet cutting unit 71 first starts driving of the fan 83 to cause the medium Me to be adsorbed on the table 20 (step S2). That is, the suction of the medium Me is started. Next, the carriage drive motor 81 is driven to move the knife 13a of the cutting mechanism 13 along the slot 22. Thereby, the rear side portion (i.e., the upstream side portion) of the printing portion (the portion where the image is formed) of the medium Me is cut in the entire left-right direction (step S3). Fig. 12(a) is a side view of the cut medium Me. The medium Me is pressed against the table 20 by the first clamping portion 34 and the second clamping portion 35 of the clamping member 30, and therefore, the medium Me can be prevented from floating from the table 20. Therefore, the medium Me is cut off well. Hereinafter, the upstream side portion of the cut media Me is referred to as a first media Me1, and the downstream side portion thereof is referred to as a second media Me 2.

After the sheet is cut, the suction stop portion 72 stops the fan 83, and the feeding portion 73 drives the feeding motor 82 to feed the first medium Me1 forward. The feeding unit 73 may start driving the feeding motor 82 while stopping the supply of the driving signal to the fan 83, but even if the supply of the driving signal is stopped, a slight time may be required until the rotation of the fan 83 is stopped. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the feeding unit 73 determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) has elapsed since the suction stop unit 72 stopped supplying the drive signal to the fan 83 (step S5), and starts driving the feeding motor 82 after the predetermined time has elapsed (step S6). Thereby, after the adsorption force with respect to the second medium Me2 sufficiently disappears, the rotation of the feed roller 61 is started.

The feeding unit 73 controls the feeding mechanism 61 so as to stop the conveyance of the first medium Me1 in a state where a part of the second medium Me2 is located above at least a part of the adsorption holes 21 h. In the present embodiment, two rows of the adsorption holes arranged in the left-right direction are provided in front of and behind each other. Two adsorption holes 21h are provided in the front-rear direction. As shown in fig. 13, the feeding unit 73 controls the feeding mechanism 61 so that the conveyance of the first medium Me1 is stopped in a state where the upstream end Mp2 of the second medium Me2 is located upstream of the downstream end hp1 of the most downstream adsorption hole 21h (here, the front adsorption hole 21 h). It is preferable that the position of the upstream end Mp2 of the second medium Me2 when the conveyance of the first medium Me1 is stopped be upstream of the upstream end hp2 of the most downstream adsorption hole 21 h. The position of the upstream end Mp2 of the second medium Me2 when the conveyance of the first medium Me1 is stopped may be upstream of the downstream end hp3 of the most upstream adsorption hole 21h (here, the rear adsorption hole 21h), or upstream of the upstream end hp 4.

In the present embodiment, when the feeding unit 73 stops the conveyance of the first medium Me1, the downstream end Mp1 of the first medium Me1 is located downstream of the upstream end hp4 of the most upstream adsorption hole 21 h. That is, the feeding unit 73 controls the feeding mechanism 61 so as to stop the conveyance of the first medium Me in a state where a part of the first medium Me1 is positioned above at least a part of the adsorption hole 21 h. However, it is not particularly limited. The position of the downstream-side end edge Mp1 of the first medium Me1 when the conveyance of the first medium Me1 is stopped may be on the upstream side of the upstream-side end edge hp4 of the most upstream adsorption hole 21 h.

The feeding unit 73 rotates the feed roller 61 at a relatively low speed. If the conveyance speed of the first medium Me1 at this time is referred to as a low feed speed V2, the low feed speed V2 is smaller than the aforementioned print feed speed V1. In the case where the printing feed speed V1 is variable, the low-speed feed speed V2 is smaller than the maximum value of the printing feed speed V1 (hereinafter, referred to as the maximum speed). The value of the low-speed feeding speed V2 is not particularly limited, and is, for example, 10 mm/sec. However, the magnitude of the low-speed feeding speed V2 is not particularly limited. As shown in fig. 12(b), when the first medium Me1 is conveyed forward by the feed roller 61, the second medium Me2 is pressed forward by the first medium Me 1. Thereby, the second medium Me2 and the first medium Me1 are continuously conveyed forward.

However, in the clamping member 30, a gap 51 is formed between the first clamping portion 34 and the second clamping portion 35. Therefore, when the adsorption force of the second medium Me2 remains or the conveyance speed of the first medium Me1 is relatively high, the first medium Me1 may rush to the second medium Me2 as shown in fig. 12 (c). However, according to the present embodiment, at the time point when the driving of the feeding motor 82 is started, the adsorption force to the second medium Me2 is sufficiently lost, and the conveyance speed of the first medium Me1 is relatively small. Therefore, the first medium Me1 can be prevented from being flushed onto the second medium Me2, and the first medium Me1 and the second medium Me2 can be conveyed satisfactorily (see fig. 12 (b)).

As shown in fig. 1, in the printing apparatus 10, the front of the table 20 is open. The table 20 is disposed at a position higher than the floor surface. The front end of the table 20 is located higher than the front of the table 20. There is a step before and after the front end of the stage 20. Therefore, when the separated second medium Me2 is fed forward, the second medium Me2 falls down from the table 20 by its own weight in this state. Therefore, in the present embodiment, after the first medium Me1 and the second medium Me2 are conveyed forward by rotating the feed roller 61 at a low speed, the suction driving unit 74 drives the fan 83 to cause the second medium Me2 to be adsorbed on the second upper surface portion 21B of the table 20 (step S7). In the present embodiment, the suction driving unit 74 drives the fan 83 in a state where a part of the second medium Me2 is positioned above at least a part of the suction holes 21h (see fig. 13). This can hold the second medium Me2 on the front side portion of the table 20, and prevent the second medium Me2 from dropping.

However, when a portion for accommodating the second medium Me2 is provided below the table 20, or when there is no problem even if the second medium Me2 is dropped, the operation of adsorbing the second medium Me2 is not necessary. In this case, the process of step S7 may be omitted.

Then, the feed motor 82 is driven to convey the first medium Me1 forward until the front end of the first medium Me1 reaches the next print start position (step S8). The above is an example of the operation of the printing apparatus 10.

The sheet cutting is an operation of cutting the medium Me in a straight line in the left-right direction by moving the cutter 13a in the left-right direction while stopping the conveyance of the medium Me. Not only the sheet cutting, the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment may cut the medium Me back, forth, left, and right by a combination of the movement of moving the cutter 13a in the left-right direction and the feeding movement of conveying the medium Me forward or backward. In order to distinguish from the sheet cutting, a case where the medium Me is cut while being conveyed forward or backward is referred to as medium cutting. For example, the printing apparatus 10 can cut the unprinted medium Me into an arbitrary two-dimensional shape by performing media cutting. Further, the printing apparatus 10 can cut the periphery of the printed image after printing the medium Me.

[ example 2 of operation of printing apparatus ]

Next, another operation example of the printing apparatus 10 will be described with reference to fig. 14. Although not shown, in the present working example, the medium Me has a structure in which interleaving paper, an adhesive, and a surface material are stacked. In the following description, the mount is referred to as a lower portion, and the adhesive and the surface material are referred to as an upper portion. The printing apparatus 10 cuts both the upper layer portion and the lower layer portion at the time of sheet cutting, and cuts only the upper layer portion without cutting the lower layer portion at the time of medium cutting.

First, the pre-feeding unit 77 (see fig. 10) controls the feeding mechanism 61 to perform pre-feeding for conveying the medium Me in the downstream direction and the upstream direction before cutting the medium (step S10). Here, the pre-feeding portion 77 conveys the medium Me in the downstream direction and then conveys it in the upstream direction. The conveyance speed V4 of the medium Me at the time of preliminary feeding is not particularly limited, and is, for example, V4 ═ 50 mm/sec. The conveyance speed V4 of the medium Me at the time of pre-feeding may be constant or variable.

Next, the medium cutting unit 75 (see fig. 10) cuts the medium Me by the cutter 13a and performs the feeding operation of conveying the medium Me forward or backward by the feeding mechanism 61 at the same time (step S11). The upper layer portion of the medium Me is cut into a predetermined two-dimensional shape by medium cutting. The conveyance speed V3 of the medium Me at the time of cutting the medium is not particularly limited, and is, for example, V3 of 1 to 30 mm/sec.

When the medium cutting is finished, the sheet cutting is performed by the sheet cutting portion 71. The sheet cutting portion 71 starts driving of the fan 83 to adsorb the medium Me to the table 20 (step S22). Next, the carriage drive motor 81 is driven to move the cutter 13a along the slot 22. Thereby, the upper layer portion and the lower layer portion of the medium Me are cut in the entire left-right direction (step S13). The medium Me is divided into a first medium Me1 on the upstream side and a second medium Me2 on the downstream side.

After the sheet cutting, the suction stop portion 72 stops the fan 83, and the feeding portion 73 drives the feeding motor 82 to feed the first medium Me1 forward. In the present operation example as well, the feeding unit 73 determines whether or not a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) has elapsed since the suction stop unit 72 stopped supplying the drive signal to the fan 83 (step S15), and starts driving the feeding motor 82 after the predetermined time has elapsed (step S16). Thus, after the adsorption force to the second medium Me2 has sufficiently disappeared, the rotation of the feed roller 61 is started.

Similarly to the above-described operation example 1, the feeding unit 73 controls the feeding mechanism 61 so as to stop the conveyance of the first medium Me 1. The operation of stopping the conveyance of the first medium Me1 by the feeding unit 73 is the same as that in the above-described operation example 1, and therefore, the detailed description thereof is omitted.

In this working example, the feed unit 73 also rotates the feed roller 61 at a relatively low speed. The conveyance speed of the first medium Me1 at this time (i.e., the low feed speed V2) is smaller than the maximum conveyance speed V3 of the medium Me at the time of sheet cutting. The low-speed feeding speed V2 is lower than the maximum conveyance speed V4 of the medium Me at the time of preliminary feeding. The low-speed feed speed V2 is, for example, 10 mm/sec. In this operation example, the first medium Me1 can be prevented from being flushed onto the second medium Me2, and the first medium Me1 and the second medium Me2 can be conveyed satisfactorily (see fig. 12 (b)).

In the present operation example, after the first medium Me1 and the second medium Me2 are conveyed forward by rotating the feed roller 61 at a low speed, the suction driving unit 74 drives the fan 83 to cause the second medium Me2 to be adsorbed on the second upper surface portion 21B of the table 20 (step S17). This can hold the second medium Me2 on the front side portion of the table 20, and prevent the second medium Me2 from dropping.

Then, the feed motor 82 is driven to convey the first medium Me1 forward until the front end of the first medium Me1 reaches the next medium cutting start position (step S18). The above is a second operation example of the printing apparatus 10.

[ Effect of the embodiment ]

According to the clamp member 30 and the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, various effects can be obtained. Next, effects of the clamping member 30 and the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment will be described.

As shown in fig. 3, the clamp member 30 includes a first clamp 34 that biases the medium Me toward the first upper surface portion 21A of the table 20 and a second clamp 35 that biases the medium Me toward the second upper surface portion 21B of the table 20, and a gap 51 located above the groove 22 of the table 20 is formed between the first clamp 34 and the second clamp 35. Therefore, the medium Me can be pressed so as not to float from the table 20, and the knife 13a of the cutter mechanism 13 can be moved to the end of the medium Me along the groove 22. In a state where the medium Me is clamped by the clamp member 30, the medium Me can be cut along the groove 22, and even when the medium Me is cut in the entire width direction, interference between the blade 13a of the cutter mechanism 13 and the clamp member 30 can be avoided (see fig. 5). Thus, it is not necessary to detach the clamping member 30 from the stage 20 in order to avoid the above-described interference. Even if the clamp member 30 is not detached from the table 20, the knife 13a can be moved from one end to the other end in the width direction of the medium Me. Therefore, the cutting operation of the medium Me becomes easy, and the time required for the cutting operation can be shortened. This prevents the medium Me from floating and allows the medium Me to be cut easily and quickly.

Further, according to the clamp member 30, a gap 52 located above the groove 22 is also formed between the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46. The knife 13a of the cutter mechanism 13 can also pass between the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46. Thereby, the blade 13a can be moved in the entire left-right direction of the clamp member 30 along the groove 22.

As shown in fig. 2, the cutting mechanism 13 can be moved to the right side of the table 20. That is, the cutting mechanism 13 can move to the outer side in the left-right direction than the clamp member 30. According to the present embodiment, after the cutting mechanism 13 passes through the clamp member 30 and reaches the home position, the knife 13a can be rotated upward.

In addition, the printing apparatus 10 uses media Me of various specifications. The printing apparatus 10 can use a plurality of types of media Me having different lateral widths, and the position of the clamping member 30 in the left-right direction is changed according to the lateral width of the media Me. In the case of using the medium Me having a small lateral width ratio, the interval between the left and right pinching members 30 is reduced. Either the left or right clamp member 30 is provided on the center side in the left-right direction of the table 20. However, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to move the blade 13a in the entire left-right direction of the clamping member 30 along the groove 22. Therefore, even if the clamp member 30 is disposed on the center side in the left-right direction of the table 20, the blade 13a does not interfere with the clamp member 30. The clamp member 30 is not limited to the left and right ends of the groove 22, and may be provided at any position.

The base 31 may be integrated with the first member 32 and the second member 33, but in the present embodiment, it is a different member from the first member 32 and the second member 33. According to the present embodiment, the first member 32 and the second member 33 are supported by the base 31, and thus the first member 32 and the second member 33 can be arranged at accurate positions. Therefore, even when the width of the groove 22 is small, the gap 51 having the predetermined width can be accurately formed between the first clamp portion 34 and the second clamp portion 35, and the gap 52 having the predetermined width can be accurately formed between the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46. This enables the knife 13a of the cutter mechanism 13 to reliably pass through the gaps 51 and 52.

As shown in fig. 6(a), the first member 32 and the second member 33 supported by the base 31 are formed in a substantially L shape so as to be able to apply a biasing force to the first upper surface portion 21A and the second upper surface portion 21B when attached to the table 20. However, even if the angle θ 1 of the first member 32 and the second member 33 is slightly different, the urging force can be applied to the first upper surface portion 21A and the second upper surface portion 21B. Therefore, size management is easy.

Further, the base 31 is formed of a hard resin. This makes it possible to easily slide the base 31 along the groove 22 in a state where the base is disposed in the groove 22. The clamping member 30 can be easily moved along the groove 22, and thus the position of the clamping member 30 can be easily adjusted.

As shown in fig. 3, the clamp member 30 of the present embodiment includes a first spacer 36 provided on the lower surface of the first extending portion 42 and a second spacer 37 provided on the lower surface of the second extending portion 47. Thus, a gap for inserting the medium Me into the conveyance path can be accurately formed between the first clamp portion 34 and the first upper surface portion 21A and between the second clamp portion 35 and the second upper surface portion 21B. Further, the first extending portion 42 and the first clamp portion 34 can be prevented from directly abutting on the first upper surface portion 21A, and the second extending portion 47 and the second clamp portion 35 can be prevented from directly abutting on the second upper surface portion 21B. Since the contact area between the clamp member 30 and the table 20 is reduced, the resistance to the sliding operation can be reduced when the clamp member 30 is slid. Thereby, high operability of the clamping member 30 can be ensured. In order to further reduce the resistance to the sliding operation, the first spacer 36 may be formed of a material that slides more easily than the first member 32, and the second spacer 37 may be formed of a material that slides more easily than the second member 33.

According to the clip member 30 of the present embodiment, as shown in fig. 8(c), the length L5 in the left-right direction of the base portion 31 is longer than the total length L6 in the left-right direction of the first extending portion 42 and the first clip portion 34, and is longer than the total length L7 in the left-right direction of the second extending portion 47 and the second clip portion 35. Therefore, when the clamp member 30 is slid along the groove 22, the inclination of the base 31 in the groove 22 can be reduced (see fig. 8 d). This can suppress the base 31 from becoming a resistance to the sliding operation when the clamp member 30 is slid. Therefore, high operability of the clamping member 30 can be ensured.

As shown in fig. 4, according to the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the groove 22 includes the first retaining wall 22Bd protruding toward the second side wall 22C side from the first accommodating wall 22Bb and the second retaining wall 22Cd protruding toward the first side wall 22B side from the second accommodating wall 22 Cb. Therefore, the base 31 can be prevented from coming out upward from the groove 22, and the medium Me can be clamped more reliably.

In the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the fan 83 is stopped after the sheet cutting, and after the medium Me is conveyed, the fan 83 is re-driven in a state where a part of the second medium Me2 is positioned above at least a part of the suction hole 21 h. Thereby, at least a part of the second medium Me2 can be held on the stage 20. Therefore, the second medium Me2 can be prevented from falling from the table 20 by its own weight. The second medium Me2 can be recovered satisfactorily without damaging the printed second medium Me 2.

According to the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the control device 70 includes the suction stop portion 72 that stops the fan 83 after the sheet cutting, and the feeding portion 73 that drives the feeding motor 82 after the fan 83 is stopped (see fig. 10). Therefore, although the gap 51 is formed between the first clamp portion 34 and the second clamp portion 35 of the clamp member 30, when the first medium Me1 and the second medium Me2 after being cut off are conveyed forward, the first medium Me1 can be prevented from being flushed onto the second medium Me2 (see fig. 12 (c)). This enables the first medium Me1 and the second medium Me2 to be satisfactorily conveyed after cutting.

In the printing apparatus 10 according to the present embodiment, the feeding unit 73 controls the feeding motor 82 so as to start moving the medium Me when a predetermined time has elapsed from the end of the sheet cutting. Therefore, the medium Me can be conveyed after the suction force by the fan 83 has sufficiently disappeared. This enables the first medium Me1 and the second medium Me2 to be satisfactorily conveyed after cutting.

In addition, according to the printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment, the speed V2 at which the feeding portion 73 conveys the medium Me is smaller than the speed V1 (maximum speed V1) at which the printing portion 76 conveys the medium Me. That is, the conveyance speed V2 of the sheet-cut medium Me is lower than the conveyance speed V1 of the medium Me at the time of printing. The conveyance speed V2 of the medium Me after the sheet cutting is lower than the maximum conveyance speed V3 of the medium Me at the time of the sheet cutting. The conveyance speed V2 of the medium Me after sheet cutting is smaller than the maximum conveyance speed V4 of the medium Me at the time of pre-feeding. Since the sheet-cut medium Me is conveyed at a relatively low speed, the first medium Me1 can be prevented from being punched onto the second medium Me2 (see fig. 12 c), and the cut first medium Me1 and the cut second medium Me2 can be conveyed well.

The printing apparatus 10 of the present embodiment includes a clamp member 30 attached to the table 20. The medium Me can be pressed against the first upper surface portion 21A and the second upper surface portion 21B of the table 20 by the clamp member 30. This prevents the medium Me from floating from the table 20, and the above-described operation can be performed satisfactorily.

< second embodiment >

Next, another embodiment of the clamping member of the present invention will be described. The operation of the printing apparatus 10 is the same as that of the first embodiment, and therefore, the description thereof is omitted. Fig. 15 is a sectional view of the clamping member 30A of the second embodiment, and fig. 16 is a plan view of the clamping member 30A. In the clamp member 30A of the second embodiment, the first member 32 and the second member 33 are also formed of a single metal plate. The other basic configuration is also the same as the clamp member 30 of the first embodiment. Therefore, in the following description, the same reference numerals are given to the same or corresponding portions as those in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted.

In the clamp member 30A of the present embodiment, the lower end of the first rising portion 41 and the lower end of the second rising portion 46 are connected by the connecting portion 38. The connecting portion 38 has a front end projecting forward and a rear end projecting rearward, and these serve as a stopper portion 39 for preventing the base portion 31 from coming off.

In the present embodiment, when the boundary portions B1 and B2 are pressed downward, the distal ends of the first clamp portion 34 and the second clamp portion 35 also move upward (see fig. 6 (d)). In particular, in the present embodiment, the front ends of the first clamping portion 34 and the second clamping portion 35 are easily moved upward. That is, when the boundary portions B1 and B2 are pressed downward, the vertical gap between the first clip portion 34 and the first upper surface portion 21A and the vertical gap between the second clip portion 35 and the second upper surface portion 21B tend to increase.

As shown in fig. 16, the side surfaces of the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47 are parallel to the conveyance direction of the medium Me, but the side surfaces of the first clamping portion 34 and the second clamping portion 35 are inclined to the conveyance direction of the medium Me. The side surface of the first clamp portion 34 is inclined toward the first extension portion 42 as it approaches the base portion 31. The side surface of the second clamp portion 35 is inclined toward the second extending portion 47 as it approaches the base portion 31. The length of the first clamp portion 34 in the left-right direction is larger as it is closer to the distal end portion 34a, and the length of the second clamp portion 35 in the left-right direction is larger as it is closer to the distal end portion 35 a. When the boundary portions B1, B2 are pressed downward, the gap in the vertical direction between the first clip portion 34 and the first upper surface portion 21A increases as it approaches the distal end portion 34a, and the gap in the vertical direction between the second clip portion 35 and the second upper surface portion 21B increases as it approaches the distal end portion 35 a. That is, of the first clamp portion 34 and the second clamp portion 35, the portion having a large gap in the vertical direction with respect to the table 20, that is, the portion on the side of the distal end portions 34a and 35a is longer than the portion on the side of the base portion 31 in the horizontal direction. Therefore, when the clamp member 30A is attached to the table 20, if the medium Me is moved in the left-right direction while the boundary portions B1, B2 are pressed downward, the medium Me enters the portion (the front end portions 34a, 35a side) where the gap with the table 20 is large.

However, in the clamp member 30 (see fig. 4) of the first embodiment, stress tends to concentrate on the base portion 31 at the lower end of the first rising portion 41 and the lower end of the second rising portion 42. Therefore, if the length of the portion of the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 42 embedded in the base 31 is short, the first member 32 and the second member 33 may swing with respect to the base 31. On the other hand, in the clamp member 30A of the second embodiment, as shown in fig. 15, the lower end of the first rising portion 41 and the lower end of the second rising portion 46 are connected by the connecting portion 38. The first rising portion 41, the connecting portion 38, and the second rising portion 42 are integrally formed. The lower end of the first rising portion 41 and the lower end of the second rising portion 42 are connected to the base portion 31. This can disperse the stress at the lower ends of the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 42, and can reduce the load applied to the base portion 31. Therefore, shaking of the clamping member 30A can be prevented.

Although the detailed description is omitted, the above-described operation can be performed in the printing apparatus 10 even when the clamp member 30A according to the second embodiment is attached to the table 20 of the printing apparatus 10. Therefore, the clamp member 30A can prevent the medium Me from floating, and can easily and quickly cut the medium Me. In addition, the first cut medium Me1 can be prevented from being pushed onto the second medium Me2, and the two cut media Me1 and Me2 can be conveyed well. In addition, the above-described various effects can be obtained.

In the clamp member 30A of the second embodiment, as shown in fig. 16, the length of the first clamp portion 34 in the left-right direction is shortened as going from the distal end 34a side to the base portion 31 side. The area of the first clamping portion 34 per unit length in the conveyance direction of the medium Me is smaller as it approaches the base 31. Similarly, the length of the second clamp portion 35 in the left-right direction is shortened as going from the distal end portion 35a side to the base portion 31 side. The area of the second clamp portion 35 per unit length in the conveyance direction of the medium Me becomes smaller as it approaches the base 31. Therefore, the local force with which the first and second pinching portions 34 and 35 press the medium Me becomes weaker as the force is closer to the base portion 31. Therefore, the clamp member 30A of the second embodiment has a property that the first medium Me1 and the second medium Me2 easily overlap each other when the cut medium Me is conveyed, as compared with the clamp member 30 of the first embodiment. As a result, the effect of the above-described control by the control device 70, that is, the effect of preventing the two media Me1 and Me2 from overlapping each other is more significant.

< third embodiment >

Next, a clamping member and a printing apparatus according to a third embodiment will be described. In the following description, the same or corresponding portions as or to the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and the description thereof will be omitted.

Fig. 17 is a perspective view of the printing apparatus 10A, fig. 18 is a front view of the inside of the printing apparatus 10A, and fig. 19 is a side view of the inside of the printing apparatus 10A.

As shown in fig. 17 and 18, the printing apparatus 10A includes a carriage 12 in which the print head 12A and the cutter mechanism 13 are housed, a housing 100, a table 20, and a pair of left and right clamp members 30B which are detachable from the table 20. Fig. 17 shows a state in which the clamp member 30B is detached from the table 20. Fig. 18 and 19 show a state in which the clamp member 30B is attached to the table 20.

As shown in fig. 18 and 19, the printing apparatus 10A includes the guide rail 15, the carriage drive mechanism 112, the feed roller 61, the feed motor 82, and the pinch roller 62.

The guide rail 15 is attached to the housing 100 above the stage 20 so as to extend in the main scanning direction. The carriage drive mechanism 112 reciprocates the carriage 12 in the main scanning direction along the guide rail 15. A plurality of print heads 12A vertically opposed to the table 20 and the medium Me are mounted on the carriage 12. The print head 12A is an inkjet head. That is, a plurality of nozzles (not shown) are formed on the lower surface of the print head 12A, and the print head 12A forms an image on the medium Me by ejecting ink from the nozzles toward the medium Me.

As shown in fig. 19, the feed roller 61 is disposed upstream of the groove 22 in the conveying direction. A part of the feed roller 61 is embedded in the stage 20, and the upper peripheral surface of the feed roller 61 is exposed from the upper surface of the stage 20. A pinch roller 62 capable of moving up and down is disposed above the feed roller 61.

The cutting mechanism 13 is a mechanism for cutting the medium Me. The cutting mechanism 13 includes a driver 126 and a knife 13 a. The drive motor 126 is mounted on the carriage 12. The knife 13a is coupled to the driver 126. The driving unit 126 is, for example, a solenoid or a motor, and drives the knife 13a so as to raise and lower the knife 13a with respect to the table 20. The groove 22 is formed below the blade 13a, and the blade 13a that is lowered is inserted into the groove 22.

For example, the cutter mechanism 13 cuts the medium Me after the printing operation. Specifically, the driving machine 126 lowers the knife 13a while the conveyance of the medium Me by the feed motor 82 is stopped. Then, the carriage 12 is moved in the main scanning direction by the servo motor 116. With the movement of the carriage 12, the knife 13a moves along the groove 22 in the main scanning direction to cut the medium Me.

As in the above embodiments, since the pinch roller 62 is disposed on the upstream side in the conveyance direction from the print head 12A, the medium Me may float from the table 20 on the downstream side from the pinch roller 62. In addition, when the end portion of the medium Me in the width direction is disposed to be offset from the pinch rollers 62 in the main scanning direction, the medium Me may also float from the table 20. To prevent the above, the clamp members 30B press the end portions on both sides of the medium Me in the width direction against the table 20.

Next, a detailed structure of the clamp member 30B of the third embodiment is explained. Fig. 20 and 21 are perspective views of the table 20 and the right clamp member 30B, and fig. 22 is an enlarged view of a portion 20 of fig. 19. In fig. 20, a state in which the clamp member 30B is not attached to the table 20 is shown, and in fig. 21, a state in which the clamp member 30B is attached to the table 20 is shown. In fig. 22, the clamp member 30B in a state of being attached to the table 20 is indicated by a solid line, and the clamp member 30B in a state of being detached from the table 20 is indicated by a two-dot chain line. The shape of the left clamp member 30B is bilaterally symmetric to the shape of the right clamp member 30B, and therefore, a detailed description thereof is omitted.

As shown in fig. 20 and 21, the clamp member 30B of the third embodiment is formed of a plate spring formed by press working a thin metal plate (e.g., a thin stainless steel plate). In the present embodiment, the base portion 31, the first rising portion 41, the second rising portion 46, the first extending portion 42, the second extending portion 47, the first clamp portion 34, and the second clamp portion 35 are integrally molded.

The first clamp portion 34 and the second clamp portion 35 are formed in a thin plate shape. A gap 51 is formed between the first clamping portion 34 and the second clamping portion 35. In a state where the medium Me is pressed, the medium Me is exposed in the gap 51 between the two clamps 34 and 35.

The distal end portion 42a of the first extending portion 42 and the distal end portion 34a of the first clamp portion 34 are inclined with respect to the first upper surface portion 21A so as to be directed upward as they go toward the distal end side. The distal end portion 168R of the first clamp portion 34 on the second clamp portion 35 side is also inclined with respect to the first upper surface portion 21A so as to be directed upward as it goes toward the distal end side. The distal end portion 47a of the second extending portion 47 and the distal end portion 35a of the second clamp portion 35 are inclined with respect to the second upper surface portion 21B so as to be directed upward as they go toward the distal end side. The distal end portion 167R of the second clamp portion 35 on the first clamp portion 34 side is also inclined with respect to the second upper surface portion 21B so as to be directed upward as it goes toward the distal end side.

Through holes 164R and 165R are formed in the second clamp portion 35. The presence or absence of the medium Me can be observed through the through holes 164R and 165R, and the relative position of the clamp member 30B with respect to the medium Me in the left-right direction can be adjusted. Similarly to the first clamp portion 35, a through hole may be formed in the second clamp portion 34. In the clamp members 30 and 30A of the above embodiments, similar through holes may be formed.

The base portion 31, the first rising portion 41, and the second rising portion 46 may be formed in a concave shape such as a V-shape, a semi-circular arc shape, or a gate shape, but here, as shown in fig. 22, they are formed in an arcuate shape (a U-shape or a semi-elongated circular arc shape). In addition, the groove 22 is also formed in an arcuate shape. Therefore, the entire base portion 31, the first rising portion 41, and the second rising portion 46 are easily fitted smoothly along the groove 22.

As shown by the two-dot chain line in fig. 22, in a state where the clamp member 30B is disengaged from the groove 22, the width W1 of the gap 52 between the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 is wider than the width W2 of the upper end of the groove 22 (see also fig. 20). Therefore, as shown by the solid line in fig. 22, the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 are elastically compressed in a state where the clamp member 30B is fitted in the groove 22 (see also fig. 21). Thus, the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 are fixed to the groove 22 and are less likely to fall off the groove 22.

As shown in fig. 22, in a state where the clamp member 30B is detached from the table 20, the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47 are inclined from the left-right direction so as to be directed upward as they approach each other. On the other hand, in a state where the clamp member 30B is attached to the table 20, the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47 extend in the left-right direction along the upper surface of the table 20. A downward force is applied to the first extension 42 and the second extension 47. Thereby, the first clamp 34 continuous with the first extension portion 42 presses the medium Me against the first upper surface portion 21A, and the second clamp 35 continuous with the second extension portion 47 presses the medium Me against the second upper surface portion 21B.

As shown in fig. 19, the front-rear length of the clamp member 30B, that is, the length of the clamp member 30B from the downstream side end to the upstream side end, is longer than the front-rear length of the print head 12A and longer than the front-rear length of the carriage 12. In a state where the clamp member 30B is attached to the table 20, the downstream end of the second clamp portion 35 is positioned forward of the front end of the print head 12A and the front end of the carriage 12, and the upstream end of the first clamp portion 34 is positioned rearward of the rear end of the print head 12A and the rear end of the carriage 12. Therefore, the medium Me can be suppressed from floating from the table 20 in the entire front-rear direction of the print head 12A and the entire front-rear direction of the carriage 12. The shorter the distance from the feed roller 61 and the pinch roller 62 to the rear end of the first nip 34, the higher the effect of suppressing the floating of the medium Me.

Next, a method of mounting the clamp member 30B is explained. First, as shown in fig. 20, the clamping member 30B is positioned above the side edge Mee of the medium Me, and the posture of the clamping member 30B is determined. Specifically, the base 31 is disposed above the groove 22, the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47 are disposed on the right side of the medium Me, and the first clamping portion 34 and the second clamping portion 35 are disposed above the medium Me.

Then, the clamp member 30B is lowered to fit the base portion 31, the first rising portion 41, and the second rising portion 46 into the groove 22. Thereby, as shown in fig. 21, the medium Me is sandwiched between the first clamp portion 34 and the first upper surface portion 21A and between the second clamp portion 35 and the second upper surface portion 21B. At this time, the medium Me is observed through the through holes 164R and 165R, and the medium Me is pressed by the both pinching portions 34 and 35 so that the through holes 164R and 165R overlap the right edge Mee of the medium Me. This enables the position of the clamp member 30B in the left-right direction to be determined.

When the clamp member 30B is fitted into the groove 22, the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 are elastically compressed so that the interval between the upper portions of the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 is narrowed. In addition, the first extension portion 42 and the second extension portion 47 are elastically deformed along the first upper surface portion 21A and the second upper surface portion 21B. The elastic force generated inside the clamp member 30B functions as a force with which both the clamp portions 34 and 35 press the medium Me against the table 20.

Although the description is omitted, the left clamp member 30B may be similarly attached to the table 20, and the left end portion of the medium Me may be pressed against the table 20 by the left clamp member 30B.

When the clamp member 30B is detached from the table 20, at least one of the first extending portion 42 and the first clamp portion 34 and the second extending portion 47 and the second clamp portion 35 is pulled up. Specifically, for example, the following is given.

First, the first clamp portion 34 and the first extending portion 42 are pulled up with the base portion 31 as a fulcrum by hooking a fingertip or the like to the distal end portion 34a or the distal end portion 42a and pulling it upward. Then, the first rising portion 41 is elastically compressed so as to approach the second rising portion 46, and the base portion 31, the first rising portion 41, and the second rising portion 46 fall off upward from the groove 22. This enables the clamp member 30B to be separated upward from the table 20. Note that, the clip member 30B can be easily pulled out from the groove 22 by hooking a fingertip or the like to the distal end portion 35a or the distal end portion 47a and pulling it upward.

The left clamp member 30B can be similarly detached from the table 20.

The printing apparatus 10A of the present embodiment includes a control device 70 (see fig. 10) similar to the printing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment. The operation of the printing apparatus 10A of the present embodiment is the same as that of the printing apparatus 10 of the first embodiment. According to the present embodiment, the same effects as those of the first embodiment can be obtained.

Although the detailed description is omitted, the above-described operation can be performed in the printing apparatus 10A even in the state where the clamp member 30B is attached to the table 20 of the printing apparatus 10A in the present embodiment. That is, the same printing and sheet cutting control as described above can be executed. Therefore, the media Me can be prevented from floating by the clamp member 30B, and the cutting operation of the media Me can be performed easily and quickly. In addition, the first cut medium Me1 can be prevented from being pushed onto the second medium Me2, and the two cut media Me1 and Me2 can be conveyed well.

< fourth embodiment >

Fig. 23 is a plan view of a clamping member 30C of the fourth embodiment. In the clamp member 30C of the fourth embodiment, the first extension portion 91 is provided on the side (the right side in fig. 24) of the first extension portion 42 opposite to the first clamp portion 34 side. Further, a second extended portion 92 is provided on the second extended portion 47 on the side opposite to the second clamp portion 35 side. The first extension portion 91 and the second extension portion 92 are separated in the front-rear direction. Other basic structures are the same as those of the clamp members of the above embodiments. The operation of the printing apparatus according to the fourth embodiment is the same as the operation of the printing apparatus 10 according to the first embodiment.

As described above, the cutting mechanism 13 (see fig. 2) may be provided with a roller that presses the medium Me. In this case, when the cutting mechanism 13 moves left and right, the roller presses the medium Me toward the table 20 while rolling on the medium Me. Here, in the pinching members 30, 30A, and 30B according to the first to third embodiments, when the roller moves from the outside toward the center (when it advances leftward in fig. 3, 16, and 21), the roller first comes into contact with the end surface of the portion from the first rising portion 41 to the first extending portion 42 and the end surface of the portion from the second rising portion 46 to the second extending portion 47. Curved portions are provided between the first rising portion 41 and the first extending portion 42 and between the second rising portion 46 and the second extending portion 47. Therefore, resistance is generated when the roller punches the curved portion, and the pinching members 30, 30A, and 30B are pressed in the traveling direction (left direction) of the roller, so that the positions of the pinching members 30, 30A, and 30B may be displaced.

However, according to the clamp member 30C of the present embodiment, the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47 are coupled front and rear via the base portion 31, but the first extending portion 91 and the second extending portion 92 are not coupled front and rear via the base portion 31. The first extension portion 91 and the second extension portion 92 are separated in the front-rear direction. The first extension portion 91 and the second extension portion 92 are more easily elastically deformed than the first extension portion 42 and the second extension portion 47. Therefore, when the roller moves leftward and strikes the first extension portion 91 or the second extension portion 92, the first extension portion 91 or the second extension portion 92 is elastically deformed, and the impact when the roller moves upward can be alleviated. This can suppress the positional deviation of the clamp member 30C.

< fifth embodiment >

The clamp members 30, 30A, 30B, and 30C of the above embodiments are provided with a pair of rising portions 41 and 46, extending portions 42 and 47, and clamp portions 34 and 35, respectively, in the front and rear directions. However, the clamp members 30, 30A, 30B, and 30C may be provided with the rising portion, the extending portion, and the clamp portion only at any one of the front and rear. That is, the clamp members 30, 30A, 30B, and 30C may include the first rising portion 41, the first extending portion 46, and the first clamp portion 34, and may not include the second rising portion 42, the second extending portion 47, and the second clamp portion 35. Alternatively, the clamp members 30, 30A, 30B, and 30C may include the second rising portion 42, the second extending portion 47, and the second clamp portion 35, and may not include the first rising portion 41, the first extending portion 46, and the first clamp portion 34.

In such an embodiment, the cutter 13a is moved along the groove 22 in a state where the medium Me is pressed against the table 20, whereby the medium Me can be cut. Since the cutter 13a does not interfere with the clamp members 30, 30A, 30B, and 30C when the medium Me is cut, the clamp members 30, 30A, 30B, and 30C do not need to be detached. Therefore, even in such an embodiment, the medium Me can be prevented from floating, and the medium Me can be cut easily and quickly.

< modification example >

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above for the purpose of carrying out the invention, the above embodiments are intended to facilitate the understanding of the present invention and are not intended to be restrictive. The present invention can be modified and improved without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention also includes equivalents thereof. The following describes a modification of the above embodiment. The above-described embodiments and the modifications described below can be applied in combination with each other as much as possible.

In the above embodiment, the first member 32 and the second member 33 are made of metal, but the material thereof may be changed. For example, the first member 32 and the second member 33 may be made of resin, fiber-reinforced resin, or composite material (e.g., composite material of metal and resin).

In the above embodiment, the clamp member 30B has a shape asymmetrical to the left and right, and is configured exclusively on the left or right side of the medium Me. On the other hand, as shown in fig. 24, the clamp member 30B may have a bilaterally symmetrical shape, and may be used on both the right and left sides of the medium Me. The same applies to the clamping members 30 and 30A.

In the above-described embodiment, the printing apparatus 10, 10A has the cutter mechanism 13. In contrast, the printing apparatuses 10 and 10A may not have the cutter mechanism 13. Even in this case, the clamp members 30, 30A, 30B can be attached to the groove 22 of the table 20. Even if the printing apparatus 10, 10A does not have the cutter mechanism 13, the user can insert a cutter held by hand from above the medium Me into the slot 22, and move the cutter left and right without interfering with the clamp members 30, 30A, 30B, thereby cutting the medium Me.

In the above embodiment, the groove 22 has a bottomed shape, but the groove 22 may penetrate the stage 20 vertically.

In the above-described embodiment, the groove 22 is formed for the purpose of retracting the blade 13a penetrating the medium Me, but the groove 22 may be used for other purposes. For example, a medium detection sensor (e.g., an optical sensor) that detects the medium Me may be provided to the tank 22.

In the above-described embodiment, the print head 12A is an ink jet printer type print head, but other printing methods (for example, a laser printer type, a photosensitive type such as an LED printer type, and a thermal transfer type) print head may be used.

The clamp member of the present invention is not limited to the printer/media cutting device, and may be applied to a printing device having only a function of printing on a medium or a media cutting device having only a function of cutting a medium, and is not limited to these forms.

The present invention is not limited to the examples as long as the effects and effects of the present invention are exhibited.

The invention disclosed herein includes the following inventions.

< first invention >

A clamp member attached to a table having an upper surface portion and a groove formed in the upper surface portion and extending in a first direction, the clamp member pressing a medium placed on the upper surface portion against the upper surface portion, wherein,

the clamping member includes:

a base portion entirely received in the groove of the table;

a rising portion rising from the base portion;

an extending portion extending from the rising portion in a direction away from the groove along the upper surface portion of the table; and

and a clamp portion extending from the extension portion along the upper surface portion in a direction away from the rising portion in the first direction, and urging the medium toward the upper surface portion.

< second invention >

The clamping member according to the first invention, wherein,

the base portion is separate from the rising portion,

the rising portion is fixed to the base portion.

< third invention >

The clamping member according to the second invention, wherein,

the base part is a resin molded product,

a through hole is formed in a portion of the rising portion covered with the base portion.

< fourth invention >

The clamping member according to the second invention, wherein,

the central portion of the base portion is recessed to form a thin portion having a wall thickness smaller than a portion of the base portion into which the rising portion is inserted.

< fifth invention >

The clamping member according to the first invention, wherein,

the base is formed of a hard resin.

< sixth invention >

The clamping member according to the first invention, wherein,

the clamp member includes a spacer that is provided on a lower surface of the extension portion and is placed on the upper surface portion of the stage.

< seventh invention >

The clamping member according to the first invention, wherein,

the length of the base portion in the first direction is longer than the combined length of the extension portion and the clamping portion in the first direction.

< eighth invention >

The clamping member according to the first invention, wherein,

the rising portion, the extending portion, and the clamping portion are formed of bent plates.

< ninth invention >

The clamping member according to the first invention, wherein,

in a state before the mounting to the stand, an angle formed by the rising portion and the extending portion is smaller than 90 °.

< tenth invention >

A medium cutting device is provided with:

a stage having an upper surface portion and a groove formed in the upper surface portion and extending in a first direction;

a cutter mechanism provided movably in the first direction along the slot and configured to cut the medium placed on the upper surface portion;

a clamp member attached to the table and pressing the medium against the upper surface portion,

the cutting mechanism is configured to cut the medium while moving in the first direction,

the clamping member includes:

a base portion entirely received in the groove of the table;

a rising portion rising from the base portion;

an extension portion extending from the rising portion along the upper surface portion of the table; and

and a clamp portion extending from the extension portion along the upper surface portion in a direction away from the rising portion in the first direction, and urging the medium toward the upper surface portion.

< eleventh invention >

The medium cutting apparatus according to the tenth invention, wherein,

the groove has a bottom wall portion, a first side wall portion rising from the bottom wall portion, and a second side wall portion rising from the bottom wall portion and separated from the first side wall portion,

the first side wall portion has a first housing wall portion intersecting the bottom wall portion and a first stopper wall portion located above the first housing wall portion and protruding toward the second side wall portion side than the first housing wall portion,

the second side wall portion has a second housing wall portion intersecting the bottom wall portion and a second retaining wall portion located above the second housing wall portion so as to face the first retaining wall portion and protruding toward the first side wall portion side than the second housing wall portion,

the dimension of the base portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is smaller than the interval between the first housing wall portion and the second housing wall portion and larger than the interval between the first retaining wall portion and the second retaining wall portion.

The invention disclosed herein includes other inventions described below.

< other first invention >

A medium cutting device is provided with:

a stage having a first upper surface portion, a second upper surface portion, and a groove formed between the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion and extending in a first direction;

a feeding mechanism that conveys the medium at least in a downstream direction that is a direction from the first upper surface portion side toward the second upper surface portion side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;

a cutter mechanism provided movably in the first direction along the slot and configured to cut the medium placed on the first and second upper surface portions into an upstream side portion and a downstream side portion;

an adsorption hole formed in the second upper surface portion;

a suction device that communicates with the adsorption hole so as to suck air from above toward the adsorption hole, and adsorbs the medium to the second upper surface portion; and

a control device for controlling the feeding mechanism, the cutting mechanism and the suction device,

the control device has:

a sheet cutting unit configured to execute sheet cutting for driving the suction device and moving the cutting mechanism along the slot when the medium is placed on the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion;

a suction stop portion that stops the suction device after the sheet is cut;

a feeding unit configured to control the feeding mechanism so as to feed the medium in a downstream direction after the suction device is stopped and stop the feeding of the medium in a state where a part of a downstream side portion of the medium is positioned above at least a part of the adsorption holes; and

and a suction driving unit configured to drive the suction device in a state where a part of the downstream side portion of the medium is positioned above at least a part of the suction hole.

< second invention >

According to another first invention, a medium cutting device, wherein,

the adsorption hole is provided in plurality in the second direction,

the feeding unit controls the feeding mechanism to feed the medium in a downstream direction after the suction device is stopped, and to stop the feeding of the medium in a state where a downstream-side end edge of the upstream-side portion of the medium is located downstream of an upstream-side end edge of an upstream-most adsorption hole of the adsorption holes.

< third invention >

According to another first invention, a medium cutting device, wherein,

the feeding unit controls the feeding mechanism so that the feeding of the medium is started when a predetermined time has elapsed from the end of the cutting of the sheet.

< fourth invention >

According to another first invention, a medium cutting device, wherein,

the medium cutting device includes a print head provided to be movable in the first direction and adapted to eject ink,

the control device includes a printing unit that performs printing by repeating an ejection operation of ejecting ink from the print head while moving the print head in the first direction and a feeding operation of conveying the medium in a downstream direction by the feeding mechanism,

the speed of conveying the medium in the downstream direction after the sheet is cut is lower than a maximum speed at which the printing section conveys the medium.

< fifth invention >

According to another first invention, a medium cutting device, wherein,

the cutter mechanism includes a cutter provided to be movable in the first direction and configured to cut the medium,

the control device includes a medium cutting unit that performs medium cutting in which an operation of cutting the medium by the cutter and a feeding operation of feeding the medium in the second direction by the feeding mechanism are performed simultaneously,

the speed of conveying the medium in the downstream direction after the sheet cutting is lower than the maximum speed when the medium is conveyed by the medium cutting section.

< other sixth invention >

According to another first invention, a medium cutting device, wherein,

the cutter mechanism includes a cutter provided to be movable in the first direction and configured to cut the medium,

the control device includes a medium cutting unit that performs medium cutting in which an operation of cutting the medium by the cutter and a feeding operation of feeding the medium in the second direction by the feeding mechanism are performed simultaneously,

the control device is provided with a pre-feeding part which controls the feeding mechanism in a mode of carrying out pre-feeding for conveying the medium in a downstream direction and a reverse direction of the downstream direction, namely an upstream direction before the medium is cut,

the speed of conveying the medium in the downstream direction after the sheet cutting is lower than the maximum speed at the time of conveying the medium when the pre-feeding section performs the pre-feeding.

< other seventh invention >

According to another first invention, a medium cutting device, wherein,

the medium cutting device includes a clamp member attached to the stage and configured to press the medium against the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion.

< eighth invention >

A medium cutting device is provided with:

a stage having a first upper surface portion, a second upper surface portion, and a groove formed between the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion and extending in a first direction;

a feeding mechanism that conveys the medium at least in a downstream direction that is a direction from the first upper surface portion side toward the second upper surface portion side in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;

a cutter mechanism provided movably in the first direction along the slot and configured to cut the medium placed on the first and second upper surface portions into an upstream side portion and a downstream side portion;

an adsorption hole formed in the second upper surface portion;

a suction device that communicates with the adsorption hole so as to suck air from above toward the adsorption hole, and adsorbs the medium to the second upper surface portion; and

a control device for controlling the feeding mechanism, the cutting mechanism and the suction device,

the cutter mechanism includes a cutter provided to be movable in the first direction and configured to cut the medium,

the control device has:

a sheet cutting unit configured to execute sheet cutting for driving the suction device and moving the cutting mechanism along the slot when the medium is placed on the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion;

a suction stop portion that stops the suction device after the sheet is cut;

a feeding unit configured to control the feeding mechanism so as to feed the medium in a downstream direction after the suction device is stopped; and

a medium cutting unit configured to perform medium cutting in which an operation of cutting the medium by the cutter and a feeding operation of feeding the medium in the second direction by the feeding mechanism are performed simultaneously,

the speed of conveying the medium in the downstream direction after the sheet cutting is lower than the maximum speed when the medium is conveyed by the medium cutting section.

The above embodiments may be combined as appropriate.

The terms and expressions which have been employed herein are used as terms of description and not of limitation. The features shown and described herein do not exclude any equivalents and it must be realized that various modifications are also possible within the scope of the invention as claimed. The invention can be embodied in a multitude of different ways. The disclosure should be considered as providing an implementation of the principles of the invention. It is to be understood that these embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention to the preferred embodiments described and/or illustrated herein, but the embodiments are described herein. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments described herein. The present invention also includes all embodiments including equivalent elements, modifications, deletions, combinations, improvements, and/or alterations as would be recognized by those skilled in the art based on this disclosure. The terms used in the claims should be interpreted broadly based on the terms used in the claims, and should not be limited to the embodiments described in the present specification or the embodiments described in the present application.

Claims (20)

1. A clamp member attached to a table having a first upper surface portion, a second upper surface portion, and a groove formed between the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion and extending in a first direction, the clamp member pressing a medium placed on the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion against the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion,

the clamping member includes:

a base received in the groove of the table;

a first rising portion rising from the base portion;

a first extending portion extending from the first rising portion along the first upper surface portion of the table;

a second rising portion rising from the base portion;

a second extending portion extending from the second rising portion along the second upper surface portion of the table;

a first clamp portion extending from the first extension portion in the first direction along the first upper surface portion, and urging the medium toward the first upper surface portion; and

a second clamp portion extending in the first direction from the second extension portion along the second upper surface portion, urging the medium toward the second upper surface portion,

a gap is formed between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion above the groove of the table.

2. The clamping member of claim 1,

a gap located above the groove of the table is formed between the first rising portion and the second rising portion.

3. The clamping member of claim 1,

the base portion is separate from the first rising portion and the second rising portion,

the first rising portion and the second rising portion are fixed to the base portion.

4. The clamping member according to claim 3,

the base is a resin molded article,

through holes are formed in the first rising portion and the second rising portion at positions covered with the base portion.

5. The clamping member according to claim 3,

the central portion of the base portion is recessed to form a thin portion having a thickness smaller than the thickness of the base portion at a portion where the first rising portion and the second rising portion are inserted.

6. The clamping member of claim 1,

the base is formed of a hard resin.

7. The clamping member of claim 1,

the clamping member includes:

a first spacer disposed on a lower surface of the first extension portion and placed on the first upper surface portion of the stage; and

and a second spacer disposed on a lower surface of the second extension and placed on the second upper surface portion of the stage.

8. The clamping member of claim 1,

the length of the base portion in the first direction is longer than the combined length of the first extending portion and the first clamping portion in the first direction, and is longer than the combined length of the second extending portion and the second clamping portion in the first direction.

9. The clamping member of claim 1,

the first rising portion, the first extending portion, and the first clamping portion are formed of a bent plate,

the second rising portion, the second extending portion, and the second clamping portion are formed of a bent plate.

10. The clamping member of claim 1,

in a state before the mounting on the stage, an angle formed by the first rising portion and the first extending portion is smaller than 90 °, and an angle formed by the second rising portion and the second extending portion is smaller than 90 °.

11. A medium cutting device is provided with:

a stage having a first upper surface portion, a second upper surface portion, and a groove formed between the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion and extending in a first direction;

a cutting mechanism provided movably in the first direction along the groove and configured to cut the medium placed on the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion; and

a clamp member attached to the stage and configured to press the medium against the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion,

the clamping member includes:

a base received in the groove of the table;

a first rising portion rising from the base portion;

a first extending portion extending from the first rising portion along the first upper surface portion of the table;

a second rising portion rising from the base portion;

a second extending portion extending from the second rising portion along the second upper surface portion of the table;

a first clamp portion extending from the first extension portion in the first direction along the first upper surface portion, and urging the medium toward the first upper surface portion; and

a second clamp portion extending in the first direction from the second extension portion along the second upper surface portion, urging the medium toward the second upper surface portion,

a gap is formed between the first clamping portion and the second clamping portion above the groove of the table.

12. The media severing device of claim 11,

the trough has a first sidewall portion and a second sidewall portion spaced from the first sidewall portion,

the first rising portion and the second rising portion are separated from the first side wall portion and the second side wall portion.

13. The media severing device of claim 11,

the groove has a bottom wall portion, a first side wall portion rising from the first upper surface side of the bottom wall portion, and a second side wall portion rising from the second upper surface side of the bottom wall portion and separated from the first side wall portion,

the first side wall portion has a first housing wall portion intersecting the bottom wall portion and a first stopper wall portion located above the first housing wall portion and protruding toward the second side wall portion side than the first housing wall portion,

the second side wall portion has a second housing wall portion intersecting the bottom wall portion and a second retaining wall portion located above the second housing wall portion so as to face the first retaining wall portion and protruding toward the first side wall portion side than the second housing wall portion,

the dimension of the base portion in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction is smaller than the interval between the first housing wall portion and the second housing wall portion and larger than the interval between the first retaining wall portion and the second retaining wall portion.

14. The media severing device of claim 11,

the medium cutting device includes:

an adsorption hole formed in the second upper surface portion of the stage;

a suction device that communicates with the adsorption hole so as to suck air from above toward the adsorption hole, and adsorbs the medium to the second upper surface portion;

a feeding mechanism that conveys the medium along the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion of the table; and

a control device for controlling the cutting mechanism, the suction device and the feeding mechanism,

the control device has:

a sheet cutting unit configured to execute sheet cutting for driving the suction device and moving the cutting mechanism along the slot when the medium is placed on the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion;

a suction stop portion that stops the suction device after the sheet is cut; and

and a feeding unit configured to control the feeding mechanism so as to feed the medium from the first upper surface side to the second upper surface side after the suction device is stopped.

15. The media severing device of claim 14,

the feeding mechanism conveys the medium at least in a downstream direction which is a direction from the first upper surface portion side toward the second upper surface portion side as a second direction orthogonal to the first direction,

the cutting mechanism cuts the medium placed on the first upper surface portion and the second upper surface portion into an upstream side portion and a downstream side portion,

the feeding unit of the control device controls the feeding mechanism so as to convey the medium in the downstream direction after the suction device is stopped and to stop the conveyance of the medium in a state where a part of the downstream side portion of the medium is positioned above at least a part of the adsorption holes,

the control device includes a suction driving unit configured to drive the suction device in a state where a part of the downstream side portion of the medium is positioned above at least a part of the suction hole.

16. The media severing device of claim 15,

the adsorption hole is provided in plurality in the second direction,

the feeding unit controls the feeding mechanism to feed the medium in a downstream direction after the suction device is stopped, and to stop the feeding of the medium in a state where a downstream-side end edge of the upstream-side portion of the medium is located downstream of an upstream-side end edge of an upstream-most adsorption hole of the adsorption holes.

17. The media severing device of claim 14,

the feeding unit controls the feeding mechanism so that the feeding of the medium is started when a predetermined time has elapsed after the end of the sheet cutting.

18. The media severing device of claim 14,

the medium cutting device includes a print head provided to be movable in the first direction and configured to eject ink,

the control device includes a printing unit that performs printing by repeating an ejection operation of ejecting ink from the print head while moving the print head in the first direction and a feeding operation of conveying the medium from the first upper surface side to the second upper surface side by the feeding mechanism,

the feeding portion feeds the medium at a speed lower than a speed at which the printing portion feeds the medium.

19. The media severing device of claim 14,

the cutter mechanism includes a cutter provided to be movable in the first direction and configured to cut the medium,

the control device includes a medium cutting unit that performs medium cutting in which an operation of cutting the medium by the cutter and a feeding operation of feeding the medium in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction by the feeding mechanism are performed simultaneously,

the speed of conveying the medium in the downstream direction after the sheet cutting is lower than the maximum speed when the medium is conveyed by the medium cutting section.

20. The media severing device of claim 14,

the cutter mechanism includes a cutter provided to be movable in the first direction and configured to cut the medium,

the control device includes a medium cutting unit that performs medium cutting in which an operation of cutting the medium by the cutter and a feeding operation of feeding the medium in a second direction orthogonal to the first direction by the feeding mechanism are performed simultaneously,

the control device is provided with a pre-feeding part which controls the feeding mechanism in a mode of carrying out pre-feeding for conveying the medium in a downstream direction and a reverse direction of the downstream direction, namely an upstream direction before the medium is cut,

the speed of conveying the medium in the downstream direction after the sheet cutting is lower than the maximum speed at the time of conveying the medium when the pre-feeding section performs the pre-feeding.

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