JP2005238785A - Image forming device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming device which can linearly cut a recording medium by a single cutting operation. <P>SOLUTION: According to the structure of the image forming device, a pressing unit 50 presses a central portion of a recording medium along a width direction (in parallel with directions of arrows B and C) orthogonal to a paper discharging direction (in a direction of an arrow A). Specifically the pressing unit 50 presses the recording medium mounted on a paper discharging guide 30, at a location in the immediate vicinity of a cutting-plane line 32 extending in the width direction orthogonal to the paper discharging direction, and on a downstream side of the cutting-plane line along the paper discharging direction. The pressing unit 50 is formed of a fixed unit 60 fixed to a side wall of a carriage 20, a projecting portion 52 formed at a widthwise central portion of the paper discharging guide 30, a trigger 54 for moving a pressing portion 62 of the fixed unit 60 to a pressing location, and a storage inclined portion 56 for moving the pressing portion 62 to a storage location. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus that cuts a recording medium on which an image is formed at a predetermined position (cutting line) and discharges the recording medium in a paper discharge direction.

  2. Description of the Related Art Ink jet printers that form images by ejecting ink from a print head or the like onto large-sized roll-shaped recording paper (roll paper) having a width of A1 size or A0 size are widely used. In this ink jet printer, after forming an image (after printing), the cutter is moved in a cutting direction orthogonal to the paper transport direction to cut the roll paper. In this case, the roll paper is cut to a predetermined length with the cutter while the cutter is moved from one end to the other end in the width direction of the roll paper. The cut roll paper is discharged and stored in the basket.

  However, when an image is formed on a large-sized roll paper as described above, if the length in the paper discharge direction of the image-formed portion (image forming portion) is long, the roll paper is removed from one end thereof. In the middle of cutting with a cutter, the image forming portion may hang down due to its own weight and tilt. For this reason, the cut end that should extend in the cutting direction intersecting the paper discharge direction is inclined or jumped up. Since such a cut is defective, the image forming portion is cut again to make the cut straight.

  In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus capable of cutting a recording medium straight by a single cutting operation.

In order to achieve the above object, a first image forming apparatus according to the present invention cuts a recording medium on which an image is formed along a cutting line intersecting a predetermined paper discharge direction and discharges the recording medium in the paper discharge direction. In the device
(1) The recording medium includes a pressing unit that presses a portion on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction from the cutting line.

here,
(2) The pressing unit may press the nearest part of the recording medium on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction with respect to the cutting line.

Also,
(3) The pressing unit may press a central portion of the recording medium in the width direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction.

further,
(4) The pressing means includes
(4-1) a pressing portion for pressing the recording medium from its upper surface;
(4-2) A convex portion that pushes up the lower surface of the recording medium from below the pressing portion may be provided.

Furthermore,
(5) The pressing portion may rotate freely in the cutting direction.

In order to achieve the above object, a second image forming apparatus of the present invention cuts a recording medium on which an image is formed along a cutting line that intersects a predetermined paper discharge direction and discharges the recording medium in the paper discharge direction. In the image forming apparatus,
(6) A belt-like member that presses the upstream side portion in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium to be cut and discharged,
(7) The belt-shaped member presses the recording medium from the upper surface of the recording medium,
(8) You may provide the adsorption | suction member which is arrange | positioned under the said belt-shaped member and adsorb | sucks this belt-shaped member.

Also,
(9) The belt-shaped member is a magnetic material,
(10) The attracting member is composed of a plurality of electromagnets arranged side by side in the longitudinal direction of the belt-shaped member,
(11) The plurality of electromagnets may operate so as to adsorb the belt-shaped member only according to the size of the recording medium on which an image is formed and cut.

  In the first image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the recording medium is cut, a portion near the cutting line of the recording medium is pressed by pressing means, thereby preventing the discharged recording medium from being tilted by its own weight. Is done. Therefore, the recording medium can be cut straight along the cutting line. As a result, work such as recutting the recording medium that has been cut and ejected becomes unnecessary.

  In the second image forming apparatus of the present invention, when the recording medium is cut, the recording medium discharged by pressing the upstream side portion in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium to be cut and discharged by a belt-like member. The medium is prevented from tilting by its own weight. Therefore, the recording medium can be cut straight along the cutting line. As a result, work such as recutting the recording medium that has been cut and ejected becomes unnecessary.

  The present invention is realized in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a large-size roll paper.

  The image forming apparatus according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet printer (plotter) according to the first embodiment.

  The plotter 10 includes a platen 14 on which a recording paper 12 conveyed in the direction of arrow A (which is an example of the paper discharge direction in the present invention) is placed. Two scanning rails (not shown) are spanned above the platen 14 in parallel with the platen 14. A carriage 20 that reciprocates in the direction of arrows B and C (in the direction perpendicular to the direction of arrow A and the main scanning direction) by a motor 16 and a belt 18 is moved to the scanning rail via a slide bearing (not shown). It is attached.

  A linear scale (not shown) is arranged along the movement path of the carriage 20. The linear scale is provided with regular slits for detecting the position of the carriage 20 and determining ink ejection timing. In addition, an optical linear scale sensor (not shown) is mounted on the carriage 20 to read the slits of the linear scale. By counting the pulses output from the optical linear scale sensor, the position of the carriage 20 in the directions of arrows B and C is determined. The pulse count is initialized by moving the carriage 20 to the position of a home position (HP) sensor (not shown) at the end of the scan rail when the power is turned on.

  Further, a reflection type optical sensor (not shown) is mounted on the carriage 20, thereby detecting the end of the recording paper 12 as will be described later. Further, the length W of the recording paper 12 in the main scanning direction can be measured by detecting both ends of the recording paper 12 in the main scanning direction with the reflection type optical sensor.

  An operation for forming an image on a recording medium by the plotter 10 will be described.

  Prior to forming an image, the recording paper 12 is placed on the platen 14 in order to measure the size of a storage medium such as roll paper and detect the recordable range. Subsequently, the medium transport motor 17 is held while the recording paper 12 is sandwiched between the transport roller 24 that exposes a part of the outer peripheral surface from the opening formed in the platen 14 and the pinch roller 26 that presses the recording paper 12 from above. Thus, the conveying roller 24 is rotated to convey the leading edge of the recording paper 12 until it is discharged from the platen 14. Further, the carriage 20 is moved from the recording medium placement reference position 27 in the arrow B direction by a distance (here, 30 mm) shorter than the minimum recording medium size (ISOA4 210 mm × 297 mm).

  Next, the conveying roller 24 is reversed, and the recording paper 12 is conveyed in the direction opposite to the arrow A direction until the platen 14 is detected by the reflective optical sensor provided in the carriage 20. The position where the platen 14 is detected is the leading end position of the recording paper 12.

  Subsequently, the recording paper 12 is transported in a direction indicated by an arrow A by a predetermined distance (for example, 100 mm), and the carriage 20 is moved to a position deviated from the recording medium placement reference position 27 in the direction indicated by the arrow C. Move in the B direction at a constant speed. The position at the time when the reflective optical sensor detects the reflected light from the recording paper 12 while moving the carriage 20 is the side edge of the recording paper 12 in the arrow C direction. Further, the position at the time when the platen 14 is detected by continuing the movement of the carriage 20 is the side edge of the recording medium in the arrow B direction.

  Through the above processing, the leading end position and both side end portions (having the lateral width W) of the recording paper 12 placed on the platen 14 are determined and image formation is possible. This operation is called load processing, and is always performed when a new recording medium is mounted on the plotter 10.

  When recording (forming) an image on the recording paper 12, the recording paper 12 is placed on the platen 14, and the carriage 20 is reciprocated in the directions of arrows B and C (scanned) above the recording paper 12. ), The predetermined data is converted in the head nozzle row direction, and the converted data is sequentially transmitted to the head controller (not shown) in synchronization with the count pulse of the linear scale (not shown). Based on an image signal including image information transmitted from the head controller to the print head 22, ink is ejected from the nozzles to form a band-shaped image on the recording paper 12 in an area corresponding to the print head 22. To do. Such a belt-like image is repeatedly formed while the recording paper 12 is sequentially moved by a predetermined conveyance amount. Thereby, image formation for one page is completed. After forming an image for one page, a cutter (not shown) mounted on the carriage 20 protrudes to a predetermined position in a cutter guide (not shown), and the carriage 20 is moved to move the recording paper. 12 is cut into a predetermined size. An image forming portion 12 a on which an image is formed in the recording paper 12 is placed on a paper discharge guide 30 and discharged while being guided.

  As described above, when the recording paper 12 is cut by the cutter, a portion on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction from the cutting position (cutting line 32) is pressed. As a result, since the recording paper 12 can be cut straight, operations such as cutting the image forming portion 12a again become unnecessary. A technique for pressing and cutting the recording paper 12 in this way will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a carriage provided with a pressing unit for pressing a recording medium, and omits components and members. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the paper discharge guide having the convex portions as viewed from above. FIG. 4 is a side view showing the pressing unit. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the pressing unit fixed to the carriage. FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing the inside of the pressing unit. FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing the cutting procedure.

  A pressing unit (which is an example of pressing means in the present invention) 50 presses the central portion of the recording medium in the width direction (direction parallel to the arrow B and C directions) perpendicular to the paper discharge direction (arrow A direction). It is something to be attached. Further, the pressing unit 50 presses the nearest part of the recording medium placed on the paper discharge guide 30 on the downstream side in the paper discharge direction from the cutting line 32 extending in the width direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction. The operation of the pressing unit 50 will be described.

  The pressing unit 50 moves the fixing unit 60 fixed to the side wall of the carriage 20, the convex portion 52 formed at the center in the width direction of the paper discharge guide 30, and the pressing portion 62 of the fixing unit 60 to the pressing position. The trigger 54 and the storage inclined portion 56 that moves the pressing portion 62 to the storage position. Although the trigger 54 appears to float in the air in FIG. 2, the trigger 54 is actually fixed to the wall of the plotter 10.

  The fixed unit 60 moves together with the carriage 20. When it is not necessary to press the recording medium, the pressing portion 62 is stored in the storage position. When pressing the recording medium, first, the carriage 20 is moved toward the trigger 54 to move the pressing portion 62 to the pressing position. Thereafter, the carriage 20 is moved to the center in the width direction, and the pressing unit 62 records the portion of the recording medium that is placed on the convex portion 52 (the lower surface of this portion is in contact with the convex portion 52). Press from the top of the media. As a result, the central portion of the recording medium in the width direction is pressed. In this state, the cutting device 90 having a round blade (not shown) is moved along the lower blade 92 (along the cutting line 32). As a result, the recording medium is cut along the cutting line 32. However, the central portion in the width direction of the recording medium discharged in the paper discharge direction is pressed by the pressing portion 62 and the convex portion 52, so the recording medium is self-weighted. Does not tilt. Accordingly, since the recording medium can be cut straight along the cutting line 32, work such as cutting the cut surface again becomes unnecessary.

  After the recording medium is cut as described above, the carriage 20 is moved toward the storage inclined portion 56 to store the pressing portion 62 in the storage position of the fixed unit 60.

  The structure of the pressing unit 50 will be described.

  The fixed unit 60 includes a box-shaped pressing portion holder 64 that holds the pressing portion 62, and most parts of the fixing unit 60 are accommodated inside the pressing portion holder 64. On the outer wall of the pressing portion holder 64, a hook (not shown) having a shape with a “U” shape is formed sideways. With this hook, the fixing unit 60 can be detachably fixed to the carriage 20.

  A compression coil spring 66 is disposed at the upper part of the inside of the pressing portion holder 64 (see FIG. 6) so as to expand and contract in the vertical direction (the direction of arrow D and the opposite direction). The upper end of the compression coil spring 66 is fixed to the inner wall 64 b of the pressing portion holder 64, and the lower end is fixed to a pressing portion slide 68 that moves up and down in the pressing portion holder 64.

  Four openings 74 a, 74 b, 76 a, 76 b are formed side by side in the upper, lower, left and right directions on the upper portion of the side wall 64 c of the pressing portion holder 64. The locking projections 72c and 72d of the pair of arms 72a and 72b extending upward from the portion near the side wall 64c of the pressing portion slide 68 selectively enter the four openings 74a, 74b, 76a, and 76b.

  A pressing portion 62 that presses the recording medium against the convex portion 52 is rotatably fixed to the lower portion of the pressing portion slide 68. The pressing portion 62 is made of an elastic body such as rubber and rotates freely in the cutting line direction. When the pressing portion 62 is made of an elastic body, a grip force is generated, which is advantageous for pressing the recording medium.

  When the recording paper is not cut (for example, during an image forming operation), the pressing unit slide 68 is positioned near the center of the pressing unit holder 64. In this state, the pressing portion 62 is located at the storage position inside the pressing portion holder 64. In this state, the locking projections 72c and 72d of the pair of arms 72a and 72b are in contact with and locked to the lower walls of the openings 74a and 74b. For this reason, even if the compression coil spring 66 urges the pressing portion slide 68 downward, the pressing portion 62 remains in the storage position.

  When a cutting operation command for cutting the recording paper is transmitted, the carriage 20 moves toward a predetermined position as shown in the flow of FIG. 7 (S801). Here, the predetermined position refers to the position of the end in the direction of arrow B (see FIG. 1) in the area outside the image forming area, and is the position where the trigger 54 is disposed. When the carriage 20 reaches a predetermined position (S802), the trigger 54 pushes the two locking projections 72c and 72d inward to bend the arms 72a and 72b. Thereby, the locking of the two locking projections 72c and 72d is released, and the compression coil spring 66 urges the pressing portion slide 68 downward. As a result, the pressing portion 62 moves to the pressing position, and the pressing portion 62 jumps out of the pressing portion holder 64 (S803).

  The carriage 20 located at the predetermined position moves in the direction of arrow C and moves toward the center in the width direction (S804). In this case, the pressing portion 62 is located above the paper discharge guide 30, and the surface of the paper discharge guide 30 is lower than the convex portion 52, so that the pressing portion 62 is separated from the paper discharge guide 30. Accordingly, the pressing portion 62 does not cause the recording medium placed on the paper discharge guide 30 to be wrinkled or damaged.

  As described above, the carriage 20 moves to the central portion in the width direction, and the pressing portion 62 presses the portion of the recording medium placed on the convex portion 52 from the upper surface of the recording medium. That is, the recording medium is sandwiched between the convex portion 52 and the pressing portion 62 (S805). As a result, the central portion of the recording medium in the width direction is pressed. In this state, the cutting device 90 provided with a round blade (not shown) is moved along the lower blade 92 (along the cutting line 32) to cut the recording medium along the cutting line 32 (S806).

  After the above cutting, the carriage 20 is moved in the direction of arrow C (S807). The pressing portion 62 rides on the storage inclined portion 56 (S808). When the carriage 20 further moves in the direction of arrow C (S809), the pressing portion 62 rises on the slope of the storage inclined portion 56, and as a result, the pressing portion 62 and the pressing portion slide 68 rise, and the two engagements occur. The protrusions 72c and 72d are fitted into the openings 74a and 74b and locked. As a result, the pressing unit 62 shifts from the pressing position to the storage position and remains in the storage position (S810), and a series of recording paper cutting operations is completed.

  When the carriage 20 located at the central portion in the width direction moves in the direction of arrow C and moves toward the storage inclined portion 56, the pressing portion 62 is positioned above the paper discharge guide 30, and the surface of the paper discharge guide 30 Is lower than the convex portion 52, the pressing portion 62 is separated from the paper discharge guide 30. Accordingly, the pressing portion 62 does not cause the recording medium placed on the paper discharge guide 30 to be wrinkled or damaged.

  A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 8 shows an ink jet printer as an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, which can form an image on a large-sized roll-shaped recording paper. FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a cross section of the ink jet printer shown in FIG.

  In order to form an image on the recording paper 102 using the ink jet printer 100, the leading edge of the recording paper 102 is set with the recording paper 102 held between the conveying roller 104 and the pinch roller 106, and a predetermined operation is performed for printing. Start operation. Thereby, the recording paper 102 sandwiched between the transport roller 104 and the pinch roller 106 is transported according to a predetermined control. The recording paper 102 is temporarily stopped at a predetermined timing during conveyance, and during this stop, the carriage 108 reciprocates (scans) in the main scanning direction (arrow B, C direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction (arrow A direction). Meanwhile, ink is ejected from an inkjet head (not shown) mounted on the carriage 108. An image is formed (printed) on the portion of the recording paper 102 placed on the platen 110 by the ejected ink. The platen 110 has a plurality of suction holes 110a (see FIG. 11) for sucking air for holding the recording paper 102 smoothly.

  Printing is performed on the recording paper 102 on the platen 110, and the printed recording paper 102 is conveyed while being guided by the paper discharge guide 103 and is stored in the paper receiving basket 114. The paper receiving basket 114 is provided on a stand 112 on which the main body 101 is placed. When printing is completed and the paper after printing is taken out, a main body operation unit (not shown) is operated to operate a paper cutting device 120 (see FIG. 10) described later.

  Here, an example in which the cut recording paper 102 is inclined by its own weight will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the cut recording paper is tilted by its own weight.

  In the conventional ink jet printer, as shown in FIG. 10, the cutting operation is started from one end of the recording paper 102 in the width direction (arrow W direction), and the printing is completed by moving the cutting device 120 toward the other end in the width direction. Cut and remove the paper. When the recording paper 102 is large, the moment (arrow M) acts on the printed paper due to the weight of the printed paper to be cut off during the cutting operation for cutting the recording paper 102, and the cut edge is disturbed.

  The above-described cutting device 120 will be described with reference to FIGS. 11 and 12.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory view showing the cutter device from the side. FIG. 12 is an explanatory view showing the cutter device from the front.

  A cutter guide plate 122 is fixed to the downstream side of the platen 110 in the transport direction (arrow A direction). The upper surface of the platen 110 and the upper surface of the cutter guide plate 122 are disposed on the same plane. A cutter substrate 124 is disposed on the downstream side of the cutter guide plate 122 in the transport direction. The cutter substrate 124 is slidably held on the cutter guide plate 122 by a guide roller 126 and a presser roller 128a. Further, a cutter blade 131 is sandwiched between a pair of presser rollers 128a and 128b and is rotatably fixed to the cutter substrate 124.

  The cutter guide plate 122 is disposed so as to be sandwiched between one presser roller 128 a and the guide roller 126. Further, the recording paper 102 that has passed through the platen 110 passes through the upper surface of the cutter guide plate 122. Accordingly, the recording paper 102 on the cutter guide plate 122 is sandwiched between the cutter guide plate 122 and the presser roller 128a. A cutter blade driving wire 132 is fixed to the cutter substrate 124 by a wire fixing tool 130. As shown in FIG. 12, the cutter blade driving wire 132 is arranged in a loop shape in the width direction of the main body 101 and is driven by a driving motor 134.

  When the drive motor 134 receives a cutter operation signal from a control unit (not shown), the drive motor 134 starts to drive, and moves the cutting device 120 in the directions of arrows B and C along the cutter guide plate 122. At this time, the cutter blade 131 rotates and cuts the recording paper 102 while holding the recording paper 102 on the cutter guide plate 122 by the presser roller 128 a and the guide roller 126. As shown in FIG. 12, a pressing unit 140, which will be described later, is arranged at a position on the downstream side in the arrow B direction along the cutting device 120 and out of the printing area.

  With reference to FIGS. 13 to 20, the belt-like member that presses the upstream side portion in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium that is cut and discharged will be described.

  FIG. 13 is a schematic diagram showing a pressing unit including a belt-like member. FIG. 14 is a schematic diagram illustrating a coupler mechanism that couples the pressing unit and the cutting device. FIG. 15 is a perspective view showing a connection cam of the connector of FIG. FIG. 16 is a schematic diagram showing the cutting device until it is connected after approaching the pressing unit. FIG. 17 is a schematic diagram showing the belt-like member pulled out by the cutting device. FIG. 18 is a schematic diagram illustrating a controller or the like that operates an electromagnet. FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a state where the connection between the pressing unit and the cutting device is released. FIG. 20 is a perspective view showing a recording sheet that is cut while being pressed by a belt-like member.

  As described above, the pressing unit 140 is arranged downstream of the cutting device 120 in the direction of the arrow B and out of the print area.

  The pressing unit 140 includes a semi-disc-shaped casing 142 and a steel belt 144 made of a magnetic material having a predetermined width and wound inside the casing 142 (an example of a belt-shaped member according to the present invention). ing. The central end portion of the wound steel belt 144 is connected to a spring mechanism 146 for rewinding the steel belt 144 (which is an example of a rewinding mechanism according to the present invention). The outer end 144 a of the steel belt 144 is connected to a hook member 148 that is connected to the cutting device 120. By pulling the hook member 148 in the direction of arrow C, the steel belt 144 is fed out. As the steel belt 144 is fed out, a spring force for rewinding is stored in the spring mechanism 146. This mechanism is a so-called “tape measure” and has a general structure.

  The interlocking between the steel belt 144 and the cutting device 120 will be described.

  When cutting the recording paper 102, as shown in FIG. 21, the cutting device 120 moves from the standby position to the opposite position, that is, the position of the pressing unit 140 (S211), and as shown in FIG. The hook part 121 is hooked on the hook member 148 (S212). The hook part 121 of the cutting device 120 is composed of a flexible support bar 121a and a hook part 121b at the tip thereof. When the hook portion 121 is hooked on the hook member 148, the cutting device 120 and the steel belt 144 are connected (S213). In this connected state, the cutting device 120 starts cutting work (S214), and the cutting device 120 moves in the direction of arrow C while feeding the steel belt 144. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the fed steel belt 144 presses the rear end portion (upstream portion in the paper discharge direction) of the recording paper 102a to be separated (S215).

  A plurality of electromagnets 150 are installed at positions corresponding to the paper size inside the paper discharge guide 103 on which the recording paper 102a to be separated is placed. The position corresponding to the paper size here means that at least one electromagnet 150 is below the paper (preferably upstream of the center in the width direction of the paper in the direction of the arrow B) regardless of the size of the paper that is conveyed. The side).

  The controller 152 receives a signal of the size of the paper used from a control unit (not shown) of the main body 101, and as shown in FIG. 18, the controller 152 operates the electromagnet power supply so that the electromagnet 150 at the position corresponding to the size works. 154 is controlled. For example, in the case of the recording paper 102 having a width of 42 inches, the controller 152 controls the electromagnet 150a corresponding to the size. The steel belt 144 receives the suction force and moves with the cutting device 120 in the cutting direction (arrow C direction) while lightly pressing the recording paper 102a (S216), and covers the entire cutting width as shown in FIG. . In this way, the recording paper is cut by the cutting device 120 while covering the entire cutting width with the steel belt 144 (S217). Here, the attracting force by which the steel belt 144 is attracted by the electromagnet 150 is an attracting force that does not hinder the movement of the steel belt 144 but can prevent the recording paper 102a from being inclined due to its own weight.

  Until the end of cutting, the electromagnet 150 is attracted, the controller 152 receives a cutting end signal (S218), and the electromagnet 150 is turned off (S219). As a result, the pressing force of the recording paper 102 a is released, and the recording paper 102 a is stored in the paper receiving basket 114.

  After the cutting operation is completed, the cutting device 120 is given a signal that moves in the direction toward the pressing unit 140 (the direction of arrow B). By this signal, the cutting device 120 moves with the hook member 148 and the hook part 121 connected (S220). While the steel belt 144 moves together with the cutting device 120, the steel belt 144 is rewound by the spring portion 146 to return to the original position.

  In the vicinity of the pressing unit 140, a connection release unit 160 for releasing the connection between the cutting device 120 and the steel belt 144 is disposed. The connection release unit 160 has a release arm 164 that rotates by a predetermined angle about the central axis 162. The central axis 162 is located at the longitudinal center of the release arm 164. A convex portion 166 is formed at one end in the longitudinal direction of the release arm 164, and the other end 168 in the longitudinal direction is fitted in the groove 172 of the slide cam 170. The slide cam 170 is moved by the solenoid 172 in the direction of arrow D and in the opposite direction.

  When the connection between the cutting device 120 and the steel belt 144 is released, the cutting device 120 is moved in the direction of arrow B, and the hook portion 121b of the hook portion 121 is positioned directly above the convex portion 166 (S221). In this state, the slide cam 170 moves in the direction opposite to the arrow D direction to raise the convex portion 166, thereby pushing up the hooking portion 121b of the hook portion 121 (S222). In this state, when the cutting device 120 moves in the direction of arrow C (S223), the connection between the cutting device 120 and the steel belt 144 is released (S224). After the release, the slide cam 170 moves in the direction of arrow D to lower the convex portion 166. As a result, the hook portion 121b of the hook portion 121 is hooked on the hook member 148.

  As described above, when the large-sized recording paper 102 is cut, the recording paper 102a that is cut and discharged is pressed by the steel belt 144, so that the discharged recording paper 102a is inclined by its own weight. Is prevented. Therefore, the recording paper 102 can be cut straight by the cutting device 120. As a result, work such as cutting the recording paper 102a cut and discharged again becomes unnecessary.

  Even large-size recording paper can be cut straight because it is not tilted by its own weight when it is cut.

1 is a perspective view showing an ink jet printer (plotter) of a first embodiment. FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a carriage provided with a pressing unit for pressing a recording medium, and omits components and members. It is the perspective view which looked at the paper discharge guide in which the convex part was formed from the upper surface. It is a side view which shows a pressing unit. It is a perspective view which shows the pressing unit fixed to the carriage. It is a perspective view which shows the inside of a pressing unit. It is a flowchart which shows the cutting | disconnection procedure of Example 1. FIG. 1 shows an ink jet printer as an example of an image forming apparatus of the present invention, which can form an image on a large-sized roll-shaped recording paper. It is a schematic diagram which shows the cross section of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. It is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the cut recording paper is inclined by its own weight. It is explanatory drawing which shows a cutter apparatus from the side. It is explanatory drawing which shows a cutter apparatus from the front. It is a schematic diagram which shows the pressing unit provided with the belt-shaped member. It is a schematic diagram which shows the coupler mechanism which connects a pressing unit and a cutting device. It is a perspective view which shows the connection cam of the connector of FIG. It is a schematic diagram which shows until it is connected after a cutting device approaches a pressing unit. It is a schematic diagram which shows the belt-shaped member pulled out by the cutting device. It is a schematic diagram which shows the controller etc. which operate an electromagnet. It is a schematic diagram which shows the state by which the connection of a pressing unit and a cutting device is cancelled | released. It is a perspective view which shows the recording paper cut | disconnected while pressing with the belt-shaped member. It is a flowchart which shows the cutting | disconnection procedure of Example 2.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Plotter 30 Paper discharge guide 32 Cutting line 50,140 Press unit 52 Convex part 54 Trigger 56 Storage inclination part 60 Fixing unit 62 Press part 100 Inkjet printer 144 Steel belt 146 Spring mechanism 148 Hook member

Claims (7)

In an image forming apparatus that cuts a recording medium on which an image is formed at a cutting line that intersects a predetermined discharge direction and discharges the recording medium in the discharge direction.
An image forming apparatus comprising pressing means for pressing a portion in the vicinity of the cutting line of the recording medium. The pressing means is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a portion of the recording medium that is closest to the cutting line downstream of the cutting line is pressed. The pressing means is
3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus presses a central portion of a recording medium in a width direction orthogonal to the paper discharge direction. The pressing means is
A pressing portion for pressing the recording medium from its upper surface;
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a convex portion that pushes up a lower surface of the recording medium from below the pressing portion. The pressing portion is
The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the image forming apparatus rotates freely in the cutting direction. In an image forming apparatus that cuts a recording medium on which an image is formed at a cutting line that intersects a predetermined discharge direction and discharges the recording medium in the discharge direction.
A belt-like member that presses the upstream side portion in the paper discharge direction of the recording medium that is cut and discharged;
The belt-shaped member presses the recording medium from the upper surface of the recording medium,
6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 5, further comprising an adsorbing member that is disposed below the belt-like member and adsorbs the belt-like member. The belt-shaped member is of a magnetic material,
The attraction member is composed of a plurality of electromagnets arranged in the longitudinal direction of the belt-shaped member,
These multiple electromagnets
The image forming apparatus according to claim 6, wherein only an apparatus according to a size of a recording medium on which an image is formed and cut is operated so as to adsorb the belt-shaped member.

Images