JP2002307375A - Cutting device for printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cutting device creating non-cut part for a printer capable of publishing labels in such a manner that the labels are tidily connected without completely disconnecting the labels or leaving the labels not disconnected from meandering or deformation during conveying the labels. SOLUTION: A cutting means 5 includes a fixed edge 10 and movable edge 9. The movable edge 9 is provided advanceably and retracably against the fixed edge 10 and a mechanism for adjusting the movable edge 9 in a direction to retract against the fixed edge 10 is provided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cutting mechanism for a printer, and more particularly, to a printer cutting device provided with a cutting means for cutting a printing medium formed in a belt shape.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Label printers are roughly classified into two types: label printers that issue printed labels one by one from a backing sheet, and printers that issue printed labels by cutting them one by one. Has a cutting device at the label issuing position.

Conventionally, a cutting device used in a label printer is a rotary type in which a rotary blade makes a single rotation with respect to a fixed blade to perform cutting, or a cutting device in which a movable blade moves forward and backward with respect to a fixed blade. There is a guillotine type.

However, in the conventional printer, when the label medium is cut, the cut labels are scattered, and the labels cannot be collected and collected neatly. For this reason, there was a drawback that labels could not be collected in the order of printing. In order to solve this drawback, there is a printer which cuts a label while cutting the label while leaving a part (dots) of the cut portion.

[0005] Such a printer cuts a part of the cutting part while leaving it in a dot shape. However, the printer may be completely cut or not cut due to the meandering accompanying the label transfer, so that the printer may be neatly cut. There is a problem that labels cannot be connected.

[0006] In addition, variations occur due to the accuracy of assembling the fixed blade and the movable blade, which are the cutting means, so that the length of the point-shaped non-cut portion varies.

[Problems to be solved by the invention]

The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and is issued so that labels can be connected neatly without being completely cut or not cut due to meandering or distortion accompanying label transfer. To provide a printer cutting device.

[0008] Further, variations occur due to the accuracy of assembling the fixed blade and the movable blade as the cutting means, so that even if the length of the point-like non-cut portion varies, it can be easily adjusted. The present invention provides a printer cutting device capable of performing the following.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a printing means for printing on a printing medium formed in a belt shape, and a cutting means for cutting the printing medium while leaving a predetermined length. In the printer provided, the cutting means has a fixed blade and a movable blade, and the movable blade is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat toward the fixed blade, and adjusts the movable blade in a direction to advance and retreat toward the fixed blade. A printer cutting device provided with a mechanism.

[0010] Further, the adjusting mechanism is characterized in that long holes for position adjustment are formed on both sides of the movable blade.

According to the invention of the present application, labels are connected and issued cleanly by the adjusting mechanism without being completely cut or not cut due to meandering or distortion of the medium accompanying the transfer of the print medium.

[0012] In addition, variations occur due to the accuracy of assembling the fixed blade and the movable blade, which are the cutting means, so that the adjustment can be easily performed by the adjusting mechanism, and it is possible to flexibly respond.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of the printer of the present invention, FIG. 2 is an explanatory view illustrating the configuration of the cutting apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a top view showing a cutting state of the print medium.

The printer 1 mainly includes a supply section 2, a printing section 3, a drawing section 4, and a cutting section 5.
A printing medium P wound in a roll shape is rotatably loaded in the supply unit 2, and is fed toward the printing unit 3. A platen roller 7 and a thermal head 8 are opposed to each other in the printing unit 3, and the thermal head 8 is provided so as to be able to freely contact and separate from the platen roller 7. The platen roller 7 is provided with a driving source via a timing belt (both are not shown) so that the platen roller 7 can be freely rotated forward and backward.

A drawer 4 having a pair of rollers is provided between the printing unit 3 and the cutting unit 5. The pair of rollers is configured to rotate synchronously with the platen roller 7 so that the printing medium P printed by the printing unit 3 is transferred to a cutting unit 5 described later. A pair of guide members (not shown) is provided between the print unit 3 and the drawer unit 4 so that the leading end of the print medium P is guided between the pair of guide members. P is conveyed while being held between a pair of rollers.

The cutting section 5 mainly includes a movable blade 9 and a fixed blade 1
0 is provided. The upper end of the movable blade 9 has a blade portion 9a having a substantially V-shaped central portion, and the lower end of the fixed blade 10 has a linear blade portion. The movable blade 9 is disposed on the back side of the printing medium P, that is, on the side opposite to the printing surface of the printing medium P, and the fixed blade 10 is disposed on the front side of the printing medium P, that is, on the printing surface side of the printing medium P. You. Movable blade 9
Is provided on a mounting frame 13 to be described later, and the mounting frame 13 is movable toward and away from the fixed blade 10, and the printed printing medium P is placed between the movable blade 9 and the fixed blade 10. The print medium P is cut at a predetermined position in the width direction as a non-cut portion at a predetermined position.

A guide roller 12 is disposed between the supply shaft 6 and the printing unit 3, and a print position sensor 11 is provided between the guide roller 12 and the printing unit 3. A black mark (not shown) provided on the surface opposite to the surface is detected, and a control device (not shown) of the printer 1 prints printing information such as a printing position and a printing content based on the result. Output to section 3.

The details of the cutting section 5 as cutting means will be described with reference to FIGS. The movable blade 9 is attached to a mounting frame 13 erected on a body frame of the printer 1 (not shown).
The mounting frame 13 is provided with a vertical movement mechanism 14. The vertical movement mechanism 14 has a rotating plate 16 rotatably disposed at a predetermined interval substantially parallel to the surface of the mounting frame 13. The rotating plate 16 is provided with a center shaft 17 which is located at the center thereof and is erected toward the back side of the rotating plate 16, that is, toward the printing unit, and an eccentric shaft 20 which is eccentric from the center. The shaft 20 is erected toward the mounting frame 13. The center shaft 17 is threaded.

A transmission gear 18 is screwed to the threaded center shaft 17, and the transmission gear 18 is connected to the stepping motor 15 via a drive shaft 21. The rotating plate 16 is driven to rotate by the driving of the stepping motor 15. The eccentric shaft 20 is rotated by the rotation of the rotating plate 16 so that the guide hole 19 formed in the mounting frame 13 is formed.
The eccentric shaft 20 moves along the guide hole 19 with the rotation of the rotating plate 16.
Since the movable blade 9 is vertically movable, the movable blade 9 provided on the mounting frame 13 moves vertically. In addition, mounting frame 1
On both sides of 3, elongated holes 22, 22 formed in the vertical direction (see FIG. 2) are provided, and guide shafts 23, 23 are provided along the elongated holes 22, 22 so as to be vertically movable. I have.

With this configuration, the transmission gear 18 is driven to rotate via the rotating shaft 21 by the driving of the stepping motor 15, and the rotating plate 16 is driven to rotate. One rotation of the rotary plate 16 causes the eccentric shaft 20 to orbit around the central shaft 17, and the mounting frame 13 with which the eccentric shaft 20 is engaged via the guide hole 19 moves in the vertical direction. The movable blade 9 moves up and down. The stepping motor 15 is controlled by a control device (not shown) so that
Of the movable blade 9 is controlled.

On the other hand, on both sides of the movable blade 9, elongated holes 24, 24 for adjusting the position in the vertical direction (direction of moving toward and away from the fixed blade) are formed, and are fixed by fixed screws 25, 25, respectively. It can be fixed at any position. When the print medium P is cut by the mounting position of the movable blade 9 fixed to the long holes 24 for position adjustment,
It is possible to adjust the length of the non-cut portion 26 to be formed. Further, it is also possible to form a single-leaf print medium without forming the non-cut portion 26. Preferably, by providing a scale (not shown) in the vicinity of each position adjusting slot 24, the balance on both sides of the movable blade 9 can be positioned at a suitable position.

Next, the operation of the printer configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 2, the print medium P printed by the printing unit 3 is transported in a state where the movable blade 9 waits downward and a gap is provided between the movable blade 9 and the fixed blade 10. The print medium P is located between the movable blade 9 and the fixed blade 10.
For the length of a single leaf print medium. Next, the stepping motor 15 is driven to move the movable blade 9 upward. When the movable blade 9 reaches the uppermost portion, the cut portion 27 is formed through the print medium P from both sides in the width direction of the print medium P to the vicinity of the center portion, and the center portion has a predetermined length. A non-cut portion 26 is formed. (See FIG. 3) It is preferable that the non-cutting portion 26 is about 2 to 3 mm.

However, if there is only a small amount of the non-cut portion 26, and if the print medium P is meandering or is transferred in a wave shape, the position of the non-cut portion 26 is shifted or the width of the print medium P is changed. They are completely disconnected in the direction, so that they are not connected. In such a case, if the fixed blade 10 and the movable blade 9 are fixed, the above-mentioned problems cannot be solved. In the cutting section 5 of the present invention, since the movable blade 9 is provided with the long holes 24 for position adjustment, the position of the movable blade 9 can be adjusted in the vertical direction.
By adjusting the height of the movable blade 9 in consideration of the thickness of the printing medium 9 and the like, it is possible to neatly issue the print medium 9 in a connected state.

Specifically, the screws 25, 25 are loosened to adjust the movable blade 9 to a preferred position in the vertical direction. Then, the movable blade 9 is fixed by tightening the screws 25. By providing a scale (not shown) along the position adjusting slots 24, the balance adjustment of the movable blade 9 can be facilitated, and the efficiency of the positioning operation of the movable blade 9 is also improved. .

Next, another example of the cutting section will be described with reference to FIGS. However, the same portions as those of the above-described embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. In a different part from the above-described configuration, the shape of the blade portion of the movable blade 28 of the cutting portion 5 is such that a central portion in the width direction of the movable blade 28 is formed with a mountain-shaped blade portion 28a. The printed print medium P is inserted between the movable blade 28 and the fixed blade 10 and, at a predetermined position, the print medium P
Are cut as non-cut portions 29, 29. Also in the present embodiment, preferably, a scale (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the long holes 24 for position adjustment, so that the balance on both sides of the movable blade 28 can be positioned.

Next, the operation of the printer configured as described above will be described. As shown in FIG. 4, the movable blade 28
Is moved downward, and the printing medium P printed by the printing unit 3 is transferred in a state where a gap is provided between the movable blade 28 and the fixed blade 10. Then, the print medium P is inserted between the movable blade 28 and the fixed blade 10 by a length of a predetermined single leaf print medium. Next, the stepping motor 15 is driven to move the movable blade 28 upward. When the movable blade 28 reaches the uppermost portion, the cut portions 30 are formed through the print medium P from the center in the width direction of the print medium P to the vicinity of both sides, and both side portions in the width direction of the print medium P are formed. Is a non-cut portion 2 having a predetermined length.
9, 29 are formed. (See FIG. 5) Non-cutting parts 29, 2
9 is preferably about 2 to 3 mm. 2-3
mm, it is difficult to break easily.

As described above, since the central portion of the movable blade is formed as the mountain-shaped blade portion 28a, the print medium is cut from the central portion toward both sides. Even in such a structure, the movable blade 28 is provided with the long holes 24 for position adjustment,
Since the movable blade 28 can be adjusted in the vertical direction, by adjusting the height of the movable blade 28 in consideration of the meandering of the print medium P or the thickness of the print medium, it is possible to neatly issue the print medium P in a connected state. In addition, when cutting is performed for each single print medium P, the movable blade can be adjusted upward along the position adjusting slots 24 so that the print medium P can be cut over the entire width thereof, and can be easily adjusted. can do.

The printing medium can be easily adjusted by the thickness of the printing medium such as a continuous body of labels in which labels are temporarily attached to thin paper, thick paper, or backing paper. It may be a medium. Furthermore, the shape of the movable blade is not limited to the embodiment, but may be any shape that can be cut, such as a saw blade. still,
The shape of the movable blade may be a flat blade, and the shape of the fixed blade may be changed.

[0029]

As described above, the present invention is issued in a state where labels are connected neatly without being completely cut or not cut due to meandering accompanying the medium transfer.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic explanatory view of a printer of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a cutting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a top view showing a cut state of a print medium.

FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a configuration of a cutting device according to another example of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a top view showing a cut state of the print medium.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cutting device of printer of this invention 2 Supply part 3 Printing part 5 Cutting part 7 Platen roller 8 Thermal head 9 Movable blade 10 Fixed blade 13 Mounting frame 14 Vertical mechanism 16 Rotating plate 17 Central axis 19 Slot 20 Eccentric axis 22 Guide Slot 24 Position adjustment slot (adjustment mechanism) 25 Fixing screw 26 Non-cutting part 27 Cut part 28 Movable blade (other embodiment) 29 Non-cut part (other embodiment) 30 Cut part (other embodiment) Form)

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printer comprising: printing means for printing on a printing medium formed in a belt shape; and cutting means for cutting the printing medium leaving a predetermined length, wherein the cutting means comprises a fixed blade, a movable blade, And a movable blade is provided so as to be able to advance and retreat toward the fixed blade, and an adjusting mechanism is provided in a direction in which the movable blade is advanced and retracted toward the fixed blade. 2. The printer cutting device according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting mechanism has position adjusting slots formed on both sides of said movable blade.