JP2010137506A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer surely collecting cut pieces of recording paper with the least possible number of parts without causing the scatter of the collected pieces inside the printer. <P>SOLUTION: The printer has a printer body 1 having a thermal head 2 printing on recording paper 4, and a cutter device 12 including a movable blade 12a for cutting the recording paper 4; and a cartridge 16 storing the recording paper 4 and attachable/detachable to/from the printer body 1. The printer further has a cut piece storage section 161 for collecting and storing the cut pieces 4a of the recording paper 4 cut by the cutter device 12; a lid member 162 always urged in the direction to close the opening of the cut piece storage section 161; and a lever member 13 opening the lid member 162 against the urging integrally or interlocked with the movable blade 12a of the cutter device 12. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&amp;INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer apparatus.

  The printer device can be classified into a thermal transfer printer device, an ink jet printer device, a laser printer device, a wire dot printer device, and the like according to the recording method.

  With recent advances in input devices that handle images, such as digital cameras, digital video cameras, and scanners, attention has been focused on thermal transfer printer devices.

  The thermal transfer type printer device is a printer device suitable for printing out electronic image information captured by a still camera or a video camera that records a still image via a computer or a recording medium.

  In the thermal transfer type printer device, a recording paper that is preliminarily cut into a certain size is supplied in a stacked state, and a long recording paper wound in a roll shape is supplied. There are two types of cutting to size.

  On the other hand, the opportunity for printer devices to be used for photo printing is rapidly increasing, and there is an increasing demand for so-called full-frameless printing with no margins.

  As a method for providing a borderless photograph on the entire surface in a thermal transfer printer apparatus, there is a method in which a perforated cut is provided on a recording sheet and a user cuts an end portion of a printed matter including a blank portion. There is also a method in which an end portion of a printed matter including a blank portion is automatically cut by a cutter device provided inside the apparatus.

  In particular, in a printer device using a roll paper, since the recording paper is cut to a desired size (length) after printing from the beginning, it is not necessary to provide a perforated cut in the recording paper. It is possible to provide a full borderless photo without adding a device.

  FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a schematic configuration of a conventional printer device that performs printing on a recording paper wound in a roll shape. In FIG. 20, reference numeral 101 denotes a thermal head in which a plurality of heating resistors are arranged in a straight line. Reference numeral 102 denotes an ink sheet on which an ink layer is formed, and reference numeral 103 denotes a platen roller provided to face the thermal head 101. Reference numeral 104 denotes a capstan roller pair in which a driving roller and a driven roller are paired, and 105 denotes a cartridge housing that can be attached to and detached from the printer apparatus. Reference numeral 106 denotes a roll paper stored in the cartridge housing 105, 107 denotes a paper discharge roller in which a driving roller and a driven roller are paired, and 108 denotes a cutter device capable of cutting the roll paper 106. Reference numeral 109 denotes a cut piece collection container in which cut pieces cut by the cutter device 108 are collected.

  Next, the operation of the printer apparatus shown in FIG. 20 will be described.

  First, rotating means (not shown) rotates the paper shaft of the recording paper 106 and conveys the leading end of the recording paper 106 to the capstan roller 104. Thereafter, when the leading edge of the recording paper 106 passes between the thermal head 101 and the platen roller 103 and reaches the recording start position, the platen roller 103 comes into pressure contact with the recording paper 106. Subsequently, the thermal head 101 is driven while transporting the recording paper 106 in the direction of the cartridge housing 105 by the transport force of the capstan roller 104, and the ink on the ink sheet 102 is sublimated. Let them transcribe.

  In the case of color printing, in order to perform printing of the next color after printing of the first color is normally performed, the pressure contact of the platen roller 103 is released, and the capstan roller 104 is rotated in the direction opposite to that during printing, so that the recording paper 106 Are transferred to the print start position, and the second and subsequent colors are printed in the same manner as the first color.

  When all colors have been printed, the recording paper 106 is conveyed to the cutting position, the recording paper 106 is cut into a predetermined length by the cutter device 108, and the cut recording paper is discharged by the paper discharge roller 107.

  Here, in order to cut the recording paper without any deviation from the printing edge, advanced paper feeding technology and an expensive sensing mechanism are required, and it is very difficult to realize this in a small and inexpensive device. It is difficult to.

For this reason, when the recording paper is cut, it is often cut at a position slightly inside the print edge so that no margin is left on the cut printed recording paper. Accordingly, since a part of the printing edge (printing edge) remains at the leading edge of the cut recording paper, the leading edge portion of the recording paper including the printing edge is cut out and collected in the cut piece collection container 109.
JP 2002-179255 A

  However, if the cut pieces collected in the cut piece collection container exceed the capacity, it may cause a paper jam, and the user must periodically discard the cut pieces. In view of this, there has also been proposed a printer device in which a structure for storing a cut piece is provided in a part of the cartridge so that the cartridge can be replaced and the cut piece discarded at the same time.

  However, in the conventional printer apparatus, the cut piece is dropped into a cut piece collection container or the like by free fall, and therefore the cut piece collection container is normally open. For this reason, if the leading edge of the roll paper is curled, the leading edge may enter the cartridge side before reaching the paper discharge roller, causing a paper jam. Further, when the printer apparatus is carried with the cartridge loaded, there is a problem that the cut pieces accumulated in the cartridge are scattered in the printer apparatus due to a change in the attitude of the apparatus. Furthermore, since the cut piece is dropped into a cut piece collection container or the like by free fall, there is a problem that it is caught in the middle and cannot be surely dropped.

  In addition, in order to increase the reliability of cutting piece collection, a printer apparatus that collects cutting pieces by adding an actuator using a solenoid or the like has been proposed, but the addition of the actuator causes an increase in the cost of the apparatus.

  An object of the present invention is to realize a printer apparatus that reliably collects cut pieces of recording paper with as few parts as possible and prevents the collected cut pieces from being scattered in the apparatus.

  The present invention includes an apparatus main body including a printing unit that prints on recording paper and a cutter device that includes a movable blade for cutting the recording paper. In addition, the apparatus includes a cartridge that stores the recording paper and is detachable from the apparatus main body, and a cut piece storage portion that collects and stores the cut piece of the recording paper cut by the cutter device. Furthermore, a lid member that can open and close the opening of the cut piece storage part from which the cut piece is collected and is always biased in a direction to close the opening, and the movable blade of the cutter device are integrated with each other Alternatively, an operation unit that interlocks and opens the lid member against the biasing is provided.

  According to the present invention, in a printer device that cuts margins, a separate actuator is not provided by using the operation of the cutter for collecting cut pieces, so that a printer with high reliability and usability can be obtained at low cost. realizable.

(First embodiment)
Hereinafter, an exemplary embodiment of a printer apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure of a printer apparatus according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printer apparatus includes an apparatus main body 1 and a cartridge 16 that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body 1. The apparatus main body 1 includes a thermal head 2 as a printing unit, and a head lever 3 that holds the thermal head 2 and rotates about a shaft 3a so as to be pressed against and separated from the platen roller 11.

  FIG. 1 shows a state where the head lever 3 is lowered and the thermal head 2 is pressed against the platen roller 11. On the other hand, FIG. 3 described later shows a state in which the head lever 3 is raised and the thermal head 2 is retracted away from the platen roller 11.

  Furthermore, the apparatus main body 1 includes a capstan roller 5 and a pinch roller 6 that forms a pair with the roller 5. The capstan roller 5 and the pinch roller 6 sandwich the recording paper 4 and convey it.

  The printer apparatus according to the present embodiment uses the recording paper 4 wound in a roll shape as a recording medium. The recording paper 4 is accommodated in a cartridge housing 160 that constitutes the cartridge 16. In the drawing, the leading end portion of the recording paper 4 pulled out from the cartridge housing 160 is indicated by the symbol P. Further, the cartridge 16 includes a winding side bobbin 7, a supply side bobbin 8, a pair of transport rollers 9 and 10, a cutter device 12, and a pair of paper discharge rollers 14 and 15.

  The supply-side bobbin 8 holds a ribbon sheet R wound in a roll shape. The ribbon sheet R exits from the supply side bobbin 8 side and is wound on the winding side bobbin 7. The conveyance rollers 9 and 10 change the conveyance direction of the recording paper 4 by approximately 90 ° so that the recording paper 4 is conveyed in the direction of the cutter device 12 and the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15.

  The platen roller 11 sandwiches the recording paper 4 and the ribbon sheet R between the thermal head 2 and increases the certainty of ink transfer from the ribbon sheet R to the recording paper 4. The cutter device 12 has a movable blade 12a and a fixed blade 12b, which will be described later (FIG. 4), and the movable blade 12a moves in parallel with the fixed blade 12b in the vertical direction to cut the recording paper 4. The paper discharge rollers 14 and 15 discharge the recording paper 4 on which printing has been completed from the discharge port of the apparatus main body 1 to the outside.

  The cartridge housing 1600 holds the roll paper 4, the winding side bobbin 7 and the supply side bobbin 8, and is included in the apparatus main body 1 except for a partly exposed surface. Further, the cartridge housing 1600 is provided with a cut piece storage portion 161 for collecting and storing the cut pieces cut by the cutter device 12, and a lid member 162 capable of opening and closing the opening portion of the storage portion 161. It has been. In FIG. 1, the cartridge housing 160 is hatched to clearly show the shape and structure of the cartridge housing 160.

  Next, a series of operations such as paper feeding, printing, paper ejection, recording paper cutting and storage (collection) will be described in order.

  First, the bobbin around which the recording paper 4 is wound is rotated by a rotation driving means (not shown). Then, the leading end P of the recording paper 4 exits from the recording paper supply port of the cartridge housing 160, proceeds between the capstan roller 5 and the pinch roller 6, and is sandwiched between the rollers 5 and 6. The recording paper 4 sandwiched between the rollers 5 and 6 is conveyed to the printing start position by the driving force of the capstan roller 5. Thereafter, the head lever 3 holding the thermal head 2 rotates and presses the thermal head 2 against the platen roller 11 with the ribbon sheet R and the recording paper 4 (tip portion P) interposed therebetween.

  Thereafter, the capstan roller 5 conveys the recording paper 4 while the winding-side bobbin 7 winds up the ribbon sheet R. At this time, the capstan roller 5 rotates counterclockwise. That is, the recording paper 4 is conveyed in the direction of being wound around the cartridge 16. During this time, the ink on the surface of the ribbon sheet R is sublimated by the heating element of the thermal head 2, and the print pattern is transferred to the recording paper 4.

  When the printing of the first color is completed as described above, the recording paper 4 is fed in the opposite direction to the printing of the first color and is conveyed to the printing start position again in order to print the ink pattern of the next color.

  In this way, a three-color pattern is printed on the recording paper 4 and further overcoat processing is performed, so that a total of four reciprocating conveyance operations are repeated.

  When the overcoat process is completed, the recording paper 4 is conveyed until the leading end P thereof exceeds the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15 and is exposed to the outside of the apparatus main body 1.

  Thereafter, when the recording paper 4 is conveyed until the edge of the transferred (printed) image is located directly below the blade of the cutter device 12, the conveyance of the recording paper 4 is stopped and the cutter device 12 is driven. Specifically, the recording paper 4 is sandwiched between the movable blade 12a (FIG. 4) of the cutter device 12 arranged on the front surface side of the recording paper 4 and the fixed blade 12b arranged on the back surface side. The recording blade 4 is cut by lowering the movable blade 12a (FIG. 4).

  Thereafter, the printed recording paper 4 cut by the cutter device 12 is discharged out of the apparatus main body 1 by the discharge rollers 14 and 15. At this time, the recording paper 4 is conveyed from the cutter device 12 to the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15 along the upper surface of the lid member 162 of the cut piece storage portion 161 of the cartridge housing 160.

  As described above, when the recording paper 4 is normally conveyed, the opening of the cut piece storage portion 161 is covered with the lid member 162, so that there is no paper jam or scattering of the cut piece into the apparatus main body 1. .

  Here, when the printed recording paper 4 is cut as described above, the recording paper 4 is cut so that there is no margin around the printed matter on the cut recording paper 4. As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, the edge of the image printed on the cut front end portion P remains at the re-front end portion Pa of the recording paper 4 newly formed by cutting. Therefore, if the next printing is performed on the re-tip portion Pa as it is, the edge of the newly printed image is overwritten on the edge of the previously printed image.

  Therefore, an operation of cutting off the remaining portion 4a in which the edge of the previously printed image remains in the re-tip portion Pa is performed. Such an operation will be described with reference to FIGS. The sequence flow is shown in the flowchart of FIG.

  FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a cross section of the apparatus during the paper discharge operation. This paper discharge operation corresponds to STEP 1 in the flowchart shown in FIG.

  First, in order to vigorously and surely discharge the printed front end portion P, the capstan roller and the paper discharge roller 14 are larger than the minimum amount required to feed the front end portion P out of the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15. , 15 is rotated. For this reason, the tip of the re-tip portion Pa including the surplus portion 4a protrudes to the outside of the apparatus main body 1 excessively.

  FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a cross section of the apparatus during the rewinding operation. This rewinding operation corresponds to STEP2 in the flowchart shown in FIG. As described above, the tip of the re-tip portion Pa protrudes excessively from the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15 first. Therefore, in order to minimize the cut-off amount, an operation of rewinding the recording paper 4 is performed to the limit at which the leading edge of the re-tip portion Pa can be sandwiched between the discharge rollers 14 and 15. The leading edge of the re-tip portion Pa is sandwiched between the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15 because the recording device 4 is supported by the transport rollers 9 and 10 and the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15 and the cutter device 12 is held in tension. This is to improve cutting performance by driving.

  FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of an essential part showing a cross section of the apparatus at the time of cutting the remainder. This remainder cutting operation corresponds to STEP 3 in the flowchart shown in FIG. In this STEP3, the conveyance (rewinding) of the recording paper 4 is stopped, the movable blade 12a of the cutter device 12 is lowered to the movable blade position 2 shown in FIG. 5, and the recording paper 4 (the surplus portion 4a of the re-tip portion Pa). Disconnect.

  FIG. 6 is a plan view of the cutter device 12 and the vicinity thereof as viewed from the front in the conveyance direction of the recording paper 4. As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 5, lever members 13 are provided at both ends in the width direction of the movable blade 12 a of the cutter device 12. Further, each lever member 13 is provided with a lid pushing portion 131 as an operation portion for pushing down the lid member 162, and a recording paper pushing portion 132 is provided between the two lid pushing portions 131. In FIG. 6, in order to emphasize the lid pressing portion 131 and the recording paper pressing portion 132, the lid pressing portion 131 is surrounded by a chain line, and the recording paper pressing portion 132 is surrounded by a one-dot chain line.

  At the time of the surplus portion cutting operation, the lid pushing portion 131 of the lever member 13 attached to the movable blade 12a slightly pushes down the lid member 162 of the cut piece storage portion 161 of the cartridge housing 160. On the other hand, the recording paper push-down portion 132 is provided at a position where it does not contact the cut surplus portion (cut piece) 4a when the cutting of the surplus portion 4a by the cutter device 12 is completed. In other words, even if the movable blade 12a is lowered from the first position (movable blade position 1), which is the standby position, to the second position (movable blade position 2) where the remainder 4a can be cut, the recording paper is pushed down. The part 132 does not contact the surplus part 4a. This is because the recording paper 4 is not damaged when the recording paper 4 is pushed down more than necessary during normal recording paper cutting.

  FIG. 7 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a cross section of the apparatus during the remainder transporting operation. This operation corresponds to STEP 4 in the flowchart shown in FIG. When the cutting of the surplus portion 4a is completed, the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15 are driven in the direction opposite to the discharge direction, that is, the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. At this time, the cut surplus portion (cut piece) 4a conveyed by the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15 is blocked by the movable blade 12a of the cutter device 12 and is not held by the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15 It becomes a state.

  FIG. 8 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a cross section of the apparatus during the cutting piece pushing operation. This operation corresponds to STEP 5 in the flowchart shown in FIG. In STEP 5, the movable blade 12a of the cutter device 12 is further lowered and moved to the third position (movable blade position 3). Then, the lid pushing portion 131 of the lever member 13 further pushes the lid member 162 of the cut piece storage portion 161. Further, the recording paper push-down unit 132 enters a cut piece storage unit 161 located below the conveyance path from the cutter device 12 to the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15. As a result, the cut piece (the cut surplus portion 4a) is pushed into the cut piece storage portion 161.

  It should be noted that the same effect can be obtained even if STEP4 (remaining portion transporting operation) and STEP5 (cutting piece pushing operation) in FIG. 12 are performed simultaneously.

  FIG. 9 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part showing a cross section of the apparatus during the movable blade returning operation. Such an operation corresponds to STEP 6 in the flowchart shown in FIG. In STEP 6, after a waiting time has elapsed in which it is anticipated that the cut piece 4 a will surely fall into the cut piece storage portion 161, the movable blade 12 a of the cutter device 12 is pulled up to the retracted position. Then, the lid member 162 is returned to the original position by a lid return member (not shown in FIG. 9). As a result, the opening of the cut piece storage portion 161 in which the cut piece 4a is stored is closed, and the cut piece storage portion 161 is sealed.

  FIG. 10 is a partially enlarged sectional view showing the lid return member 17. In the present embodiment, a torsion spring is used as the lid return member 17. Specifically, due to the elastic restoring force of the torsion spring 17, the lid member 162 is constantly urged in the direction in which the lid member 162 closes the opening of the cut piece storage portion 161. For this reason, normally, the cut pieces in the cut piece storage portion 161 are not scattered outside the cartridge housing 160.

  FIG. 11 shows the relationship between the three positions of the movable blade 12a of the cutter device 12 described above, the position of the lever member 13 with respect to the cut piece storage portion 161, and the open / closed state of the lid member 162.

  From the above description, in the printer device according to the present embodiment, the lid member 162 of the cut piece storage portion 161 is pushed down by the operation of the lever member 13 in conjunction with the cutting operation of the cutter device 12, and further the cut piece 4a is stored. It should be understood that it is pushed into the part 161. In other words, in the printer device according to the present embodiment, it should be understood that more reliable storage of the cut pieces is realized without providing another drive source.

  In this embodiment, the structure which attached and integrated the lever member 13 of the separate body with the movable blade 12a to the movable blade 12a is employ | adopted. However, the movable blade 12a and the lever member 13 may be integrally formed. In short, the movable blade 12a and the lever member 13 may be configured to operate integrally.

In this embodiment, at the end of STEP 3 shown in FIG. 12, the lid member 161 is slightly pushed down to open the opening of the cut piece storage portion 161. However, the same effect can be obtained even if the lid member 162 is pushed down for the first time when STEP5 shown in FIG. 12 is executed.
(Second Embodiment)
Next, another example of the embodiment of the printer apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 13 is a partial development view of the cartridge housing 200 constituting the cartridge 20 used in the printer apparatus according to this embodiment, and FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view.

  The configuration of the printer apparatus according to the present embodiment is basically the same as that of the printer apparatus according to the first embodiment. The only difference is the structure of the cartridge 20 used.

  The difference between the cartridge 20 in the present embodiment and the cartridge 16 in the first embodiment is as follows. That is, the cartridge housing 160 constituting the cartridge 16 is a single member, whereas the cartridge housing 200 constituting the cartridge 20 has two members (a first member 201 and a second member). Member 202). Further, the lid member 204 of the cut piece storage portion 203 is formed by a part of the first member 201.

  Similarly to the first embodiment, the lid member 204 is pressed and opened by a lever member that is interlocked with a movable blade of a cutter device (not shown). Specifically, when pressed by the lever member, the lid member 204 is elastically deformed and an opening is formed in the cut piece storage portion 203.

  FIG. 15 shows how the lid member 204 is elastically deformed and an opening is formed in the cut piece storage portion 203. The white arrow in the figure represents the pressing force by the lever member that is interlocked with the movable blade of the cutter device.

According to this embodiment, it is not necessary to add a lid member to the cartridge, and if an elastic material is used as the material of the cartridge housing, a lid return member for returning the lid member to the closed state is also unnecessary. That is, the same effect as that of the printer according to the first embodiment can be obtained with a smaller number of parts.
(Third embodiment)
Next, still another example of the embodiment of the printer apparatus of the present invention will be described. FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view showing a schematic structure.

  The configuration of the printer apparatus according to the present embodiment is basically the same as that of the printer apparatus according to the first embodiment. Only the structure of the cartridge 30 used is different.

  The cartridge 30 in the present embodiment includes a cartridge housing 300 and a lid member 302 that is pivotally supported by the cartridge housing 300 and opens and closes the cut piece storage portion 301.

  Similar to the first embodiment, the upper surface of the lid member 302 functions as a guide surface for guiding the conveyance of the recording paper when printing or when normal recording paper is conveyed, and the recording paper is fed to the discharge roller. It is designed to be delivered smoothly.

  On the other hand, the lid member 302 has a first region 302a that functions as a door that opens and closes the opening of the cut piece storage portion 301, and a first region 302a that is located on the opposite side of the first region 302a across the shaft (rotary hinge 303). 2 regions 302b.

  FIG. 17 shows a state in which the lid member 302 is rotated and the opening of the cut piece storage unit 301 is opened. As shown in the figure, when the lid member 302 rotates in the direction in which the opening of the cut piece storage portion 301 is opened, the second region 302b of the lid member 302 causes the cutter device 12 and the paper discharge rollers 14 and 15 to move. Enter the transport path of the recording paper to be tied. Then, the cut piece 4a is lifted by the upper surface of the second region 302b. In addition, since the lever member attached to the movable blade 12a of the cutter device 12 expresses the posture of the cutting piece 4a, it is omitted in FIG.

  As described above, the cut piece 4 a is inclined by the lid member 302 (second region 302 b) and is in a posture that easily falls into the cut piece storage unit 301. Therefore, compared to when the cut piece 4a simply falls from the opening to the cut piece storage portion 301, the passage area of the cut piece 4a with respect to the opening is reduced, and the possibility of catching in the middle of the fall is reduced. Increased reliability.

  According to the present embodiment, the reliability of storing the cut piece is increased without providing a means for pushing the cut piece into the cut piece storage unit, such as the recording paper push-down unit 132 shown in FIG. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18, the lever member 13 attached to the movable blade 12a of the cutter device 12 is not provided with the recording paper pushing portion 132 shown in FIG. It is simplified.

In this embodiment, since the lever member 13 as shown in FIG. 18 is used, it is not necessary to consider contact of the lever member with the recording paper. However, if the cover member 302 rotates when the printed recording paper is cut, the recording paper may be lifted and folded. Therefore, it is desirable that the lid member 302 does not rotate in a normal cutting operation. As a result, the operation stop position of the movable blade 12a of the cutter device 12 requires three positions, and the drive sequence is the same as that in the first embodiment (see FIG. 12).
(Fourth embodiment)
As in the first to third embodiments, if the lid member of the cutting piece storage unit is opened and closed by using the driving force of the cutter device, the cutting piece storage unit is not on the cartridge side but on the apparatus main body side. Even if it is provided, there are the advantages of low cost and reliability as well.

  FIG. 19 is a schematic diagram illustrating a schematic structure of a printer apparatus in which a cutting piece storage unit is provided in the apparatus body of the printer apparatus.

  In FIG. 19, reference numeral 41 indicates a thermal head in which a plurality of heating resistors are arranged in a straight line, and 42 indicates an ink sheet on which an ink layer is applied. Reference numeral 43 denotes a platen roller provided to face the thermal head 41, and 44 denotes a capstan roller pair in which a driving roller and a driven roller are paired.

  Reference numeral 45 denotes a cartridge housing that can be attached to and detached from the apparatus main body. Reference numeral 46 denotes a roll-shaped recording paper that is housed in the cartridge housing and wound with a long recording paper. Reference numeral 47 indicates a pair of paper discharge rollers that discharges the recording paper to the outside of the apparatus main body with a pair of driving roller and driven roller.

  Reference numeral 48 denotes a cutter device capable of cutting the roll-shaped recording paper 46, and reference numeral 50 denotes a cut piece storage unit (cut piece collection container) from which cut pieces (chips) cut by the cutter device 48 are collected. ).

  Next, the operation of this printer apparatus will be described. First, the paper shaft of the roll-shaped recording paper 46 is rotated by a rotating means (not shown), and the leading end is carried to the capstan roller pair 44 having a strong holding force.

  Thereafter, when the leading edge of the recording paper passes between the thermal head 41 and the platen roller 43 and the recording paper 46 reaches the recording start position, the platen roller 43 is brought into pressure contact.

  Subsequently, while the recording paper 46 is fed in the direction of the cartridge housing 45 by the conveying force of the capstan roller pair 44, the ink on the ink sheet 42 is sublimated by the heat generated by the thermal head 41 and transferred onto the recording paper 46. Let

  In the case of color printing, after the printing of the first color is completed, in order to perform the printing of the next color, the pressure contact of the platen roller 43 is released, and the capstan roller pair 44 is rotated in the direction opposite to that during printing. Then, the recording paper 46 is conveyed to the printing start position. Thereafter, the second and subsequent colors are printed in the same operation as the first color.

  When all the colors have been printed, the recording paper 46 is transported to the cutting position, the recording paper 46 is cut to a specified length by the cutter device 48, and the recording paper 46 that has been printed by the paper discharge roller pair 47 is removed. Discharge.

  Thereafter, a predetermined amount of recording paper is conveyed to cut off the extra printed portion, and the cutting operation is started. At this time, similarly to the first embodiment, the movable blade is further lowered from the cutting position, and the lid member 51 of the cut piece collection container 50 provided in the apparatus main body is pushed open by the lever member 49 attached to the movable blade.

  Then, the cut piece of the recording paper 46 is pushed in by the lever member 49, and when the collection is finished, the movable blade of the cutter device 48 is returned to the standby position. At this time, the lid member 51 is closed by a return means (not shown).

  As for the return means, the same configuration as that of the first embodiment may be adopted, and the lid member and the recovery container are integrally formed of an elastic material as in the second embodiment, and are restored themselves. You may use power.

  The cut piece collection container 50 can be removed from the apparatus main body, and can be removed from the apparatus main body and discarded without being cut off.

  Further, since the opening of the cut piece collection container 50 does not exist on the recording paper conveyance path, the recording paper 46 is not clogged.

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, it is possible to realize a highly reliable cut piece collecting means without providing a special drive source. However, in the case of the present embodiment in which the cut piece collecting means is on the apparatus main body side, the cut pieces are not disposed by exchanging the cartridge, and the cut pieces are accumulated in the cut piece collecting container. However, since the cut piece collection container has a lid member, the amount of the cut pieces collected is unknown. Therefore, the cut piece collection container is formed of a highly transparent member so that the amount of cut pieces in the cut piece collection container can be visually recognized.

  In addition, since it has means 52 for detecting the phase of the movable blade of the cutter device, if the cut piece is full, the lever member 49 cannot push the lid member 51 and cannot move to a predetermined position. Can be determined by the detection means 52. Therefore, the information display means 53 can instruct the user to discard the cut piece.

  In the present embodiment, the amount of the cut pieces accumulated in the apparatus main body is grasped, and the above method is taken as a countermeasure when the cut pieces are fully loaded. However, other methods can be used.

  As described above, by taking the configuration as in the first to fourth embodiments, the cut piece storage portion and the cut piece collection container are opened only for a short time immediately after the generation of the cut piece. Therefore, the cut pieces do not scatter in the apparatus, and it is not necessary to add a drive actuator, and the blank cut pieces can be reliably stored (collected). Therefore, a printer device with high reliability and usability can be realized at low cost.

It is sectional drawing of the printer apparatus which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a schematic diagram of the recording paper from which the printed leading end is cut. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the printer device according to the first embodiment during a paper discharge operation. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part during a rewinding operation of the printer device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part during a surplus portion cutting operation of the printer device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view of the cutter device of the printer device according to the first embodiment and the vicinity thereof as viewed from the front in the conveyance direction of the recording paper. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part during a surplus portion transport operation of the printer device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part in a cutting piece pushing operation of the printer device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of a main part during a movable blade return operation of the printer device according to the first embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view of the cutting piece storage part and lid member of the printer apparatus concerning a 1st embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view showing the relation between the position of the movable blade of the printer device concerning a 1st embodiment, and the opening-and-closing state of a lid member. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an operation sequence after the end of printing in the printer device according to the first embodiment. FIG. 6 is a development view of a cartridge of a printer device according to a second embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view of a cartridge of a printer device concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view showing a mode of elastic deformation of a lid member of a cartridge of a printer device concerning a 2nd embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the printer apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment. It is an expanded sectional view of the cutting piece storage part and cover member of a printer apparatus concerning a 3rd embodiment. It is the top view which looked at the cutter apparatus of the printer apparatus which concerns on 3rd Embodiment, and its vicinity from the conveyance direction of the recording paper. It is sectional drawing of the printer apparatus which concerns on 4th Embodiment. It is sectional drawing of the conventional printer apparatus.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Apparatus main body 2,42 Thermal head 4,46 Recording paper 4a Cut piece (remainder part)
12 Cutter device 12a Movable blade 13, 49 Lever member 16, 20, 30 Cartridge 161, 203, 301 Cut piece storage part 41, 162, 204, 302 Lid member 131 Lid pushing part 132 Recording paper pushing part

Claims (7)

An apparatus main body having a printing unit for printing on recording paper, and a cutter device having a movable blade for cutting the recording paper;
A cartridge for storing the recording paper and detachable from the apparatus main body;
A cut piece storage unit for collecting and storing the cut pieces of the recording paper cut by the cutter device;
A lid member that can open and close the opening of the cut piece storage part from which the cut piece is collected and is always urged in a direction to close the opening;
A printer device, comprising: an operation unit that opens or closes the lid member against the biasing, integrally or in conjunction with the movable blade of the cutter device.   The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cut piece storage portion is formed as a part of the cartridge.   The printer apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cut piece storage portion is formed as a part of the apparatus main body.   The movable blade of the cutter device has a first position which is a standby position before cutting the recording paper, a second position where the cutting of the recording paper is completed, the lid member is opened, and the cutting is performed The printer apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein a piece is moved between a third position where the piece can be pushed into the cut piece storage portion from the opening.   The operation unit includes a lid pressing unit that contacts the lid member, and a recording sheet pressing unit that contacts the recording sheet. The recording sheet pressing unit includes the movable blade at the first position and the first position. 5. The printer device according to claim 4, wherein when the movable blade is in the third position, the printer device is in contact with the recording paper when the movable blade is in the third position without being in contact with the recording paper.   The lid member is rotatably supported by a shaft, and is positioned on a side opposite to the first region across the shaft, and a first region that opens and closes the opening of the cut piece storage unit. 5. The second area according to claim 4, wherein the second area enters a conveyance path of the recording paper when the movable blade is in the third position. 5. The printer device according to 5.   7. The cover member according to claim 1, wherein the lid member forms a part of a conveyance path through which the recording paper is conveyed when the opening of the cut piece storage unit is closed. A printer apparatus according to claim 1.

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