JP2014104656A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer in which the number of rotating blades capable of cutting a sheet in longitudinal direction is easily increased or decreased so that the number of blades simultaneously cutting and positions may be changed in order to easily realize variety of cutting positions.SOLUTION: A longitudinal direction cutting means 152 cutting a sheet 1 in the longitudinal direction comprises; a parent unit 37 comprising a PM motor 132 and a first rotating blade and a first diving power transmitting part 148 which transmits diving power from the PM motor 132 to the first rotating blade; and a child unit 160 comprising a first rotating blade and a second diving power transmitting part 161 which transmits the diving power to the first rotating blade. These units 37, 160, 160a are serially connected so that the diving power transmitting parts 148, 161 are connected in order to distribute the diving power from the first diving power transmitting part 148 to the second diving power transmitting part 161.

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that can cut a sheet on which an image is printed in a vertical direction.

  Conventionally, a large number of printers that perform printing while causing the print head to elastically contact the platen roller and superposing and feeding the ink ribbon and the paper supplied from the paper feed roller between them are known. ing.

  A sublimation type thermal transfer printer 200 as an example of such a printer employs a configuration around the print head 4 as shown in FIG. 19, for example.

  When the print head 4 is brought into elastic contact with the platen roller 3, the printing position P is formed by the elastic contact portion. Then, printing is performed while feeding the paper 1 and the ink ribbon 2 to the printing position P in a superposed state. In the thermal transfer printer 200 in this example, printing is performed while the paper 1 is conveyed in the B direction toward the paper feed roll 11 around which the paper 1 is wound, that is, the right side in the drawing.

  On the surface of the print head 4, heating resistors (not shown) are arranged side by side in the depth direction of the paper, and the heating resistors generate heat when energized according to the print information, and the dye on the surface of the ink ribbon 2 is heated. Is thermally transferred to the surface of the paper 1. The ink ribbon 2 is stored inside the printer in the form of a roll wound around the outer periphery of the supply-side bobbin 21, is transported while being regulated by the ribbon transport rollers 71, 72, 73, and used after printing. The ink ribbon 2 is taken up by the take-up bobbin 22.

  The sheet 1 on which the image is printed is conveyed toward the discharge port 50, and is cut in the width direction of the sheet 1, the so-called horizontal direction, by the horizontal cutting unit 9 before the discharge port 50.

  In recent years, it has also been required to diversify paper after printing by cutting not only in the horizontal direction but also in the vertical direction.

  As a printer capable of cutting the paper in such a vertical direction, Patent Document 1 discloses a printer that can cut the paper in a direction parallel to the conveyance direction, that is, a so-called vertical direction. In this printer, the paper is cut in the vertical direction by a fixed blade as a vertical cutting cutter provided at a paper discharge port for discharging the paper on which the image is printed to the outside of the apparatus. Furthermore, the cutting position can be changed to a desired position by changing the position of the fixed blade along the guide in the width direction of the paper and fixing it with screws.

JP 2006-116926 A

  However, since the printer disclosed in Patent Document 1 uses a fixed blade as a longitudinal cutter, the fixed blade wears down when used for a long period of time, and the sharpness decreases, and the paper can be cut stably. There is a problem that it cannot be done.

  To solve this problem, for example, a solution of using a rotary blade instead of a fixed blade as a vertical cutting cutter can be considered.

  However, in general, the rotary blade is often used in a structure that rotates by being transmitted with a driving force from a driving means such as a motor through a rotating shaft. It can be said that it is difficult to change the number and position of the rotary blades due to restrictions due to the positional relationship, and it is difficult to change the number of cutting blades and the position for cutting.

  As a means for solving such a problem, a configuration using a rotary type vertical cutting mechanism 237 as shown in FIG. 20 instead of the vertical cutting cutter as described above can be considered. The vertical cutting mechanism 237 includes a plurality of vertical cutting elements 238 provided with vertical cutting cutters 238a, which can be rotated around an axis 237a extending in the paper width direction, and one of them is placed on the paper transport path 53. It is comprised so that it may be arrange | positioned. The number and position of the vertical cutting cutters 238 a provided for each vertical cutting element 238 are different, and an appropriate vertical cutting element 238 is selected according to a desired vertical cutting position and placed on the paper transport path 53. Thus, the longitudinal cutting position can be easily changed.

  However, in such a configuration, the number of vertical cutting elements 238 that can be provided in the vertical cutting mechanism 237 is limited, and the number of patterns that can be realized at the vertical cutting position is limited. Therefore, depending on the vertical cutting position to be realized, the existing vertical cutting element 238 needs to be replaced with another vertical cutting element 238 having a different number and position of the vertical cutting cutters 238a. In the printer 201 having the vertical cutting function, There is room for improvement in order to realize a variety of cutting positions and improve convenience.

  An object of the present invention is to effectively solve such a problem. Specifically, it is possible to easily cut the paper at the same time by making it possible to easily increase or decrease the rotary blade capable of cutting the paper in the vertical direction. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printer capable of changing the number and position and easily realizing a variety of cutting positions.

  The present invention takes the following means in order to achieve such an object.

  That is, the printer of the present invention includes a printing unit that prints an image on a sheet, a conveying unit that conveys the sheet, and a longitudinal cutting unit that cuts the sheet in a longitudinal direction parallel to the conveying direction. The longitudinal cutting means includes a rotary blade for cutting the paper, a drive means for generating a drive force for driving the rotary blade, and a first power for transmitting the drive force from the drive means to the rotary blade. A parent unit including a transmission unit; a rotary blade that cuts the paper; and a child unit including a second power transmission unit that transmits the driving force to the rotary blade. The power transmission units are sequentially coupled by sequentially coupling the child units or the plurality of child units, and the driving force can be distributed from the first power transmission unit to the second power transmission unit of each child unit. What And features.

  With such a configuration, the child unit can be easily connected to the parent unit or the child unit, and the connection can be easily disconnected, and the number of rotating blades can be adjusted to the desired longitudinal cutting position. By adjusting the length, it is possible to easily realize a variety of cutting positions.

  In order to easily connect the child unit to the parent unit or the child unit, and to easily produce the parent unit and the child unit, the parent unit includes the drive means and the relevant unit in addition to the configuration provided in the child unit. It is desirable to provide a power input unit that transmits power from the driving means to the rotary blade of the parent unit.

  In order to distribute the driving force from the driving means included in the parent unit to the child unit, a frame constituting a part of the parent unit or the child unit and a part of the child unit connected to the downstream side of the unit are constituted. By connecting the frames to be connected, the power transmission parts are connected to each other to form a distribution mechanism that distributes the driving force, and when the connection of the frames is disconnected, the distribution mechanism is not configured. Is desirable.

  In order to reliably transmit the driving force from the driving means to the rotary blades of the child unit, the parent unit and the child unit are protruded downstream from the frame constituting a part of these units in the transport direction. 1 and a second gear projecting upstream, and when the units are connected to each other, a first gear included in the upstream unit and a second gear included in the downstream unit It is desirable that the distribution mechanism is configured by meshing with each other.

  In order to stably suppress the positional deviation of the paper at the time of cutting, to stably convey the paper, and to facilitate the rotation driving of the rotary blade, the parent unit and the child unit are provided with the rotary blade. A pair of guides disposed in at least one of an upstream side and a downstream side in the transport direction in the vicinity of the rotary blade and extending in the width direction of the paper. Preferably, the rotary blade and the roller are configured to be rotationally driven by the driving force transmitted via the first power transmission unit or the second power transmission unit.

  In order to improve the convenience by increasing the pattern of the cutting position in the vertical direction, it is desirable that the rotary blade is configured to be movable in the width direction of the paper.

  In order to suppress paper damage during printing, the first transport route provided with the longitudinal cutting means, the second transport route formed by branching from the first transport route, and the paper A path switching means for switching to one of the first transport route and the second transport route and a switching control means for controlling the path switching means; and the switching control means prints by the printing means. It is preferable to control the path switching unit so that the paper is sent to the second transport route while the printing is completed and the printing is finished.

  According to the present invention described above, by making it possible to easily increase or decrease the rotary blades capable of cutting the paper in the vertical direction, it is possible to change the number and positions at which cutting can be performed at the same time, thereby facilitating diversity of cutting positions. Can be realized.

1 is a side view of a thermal transfer printer as a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention. The perspective view of the longitudinal direction cutting means with which the thermal transfer printer is equipped. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a parent unit provided in the thermal transfer printer. The rear view which looked at the main unit with which the same thermal transfer printer was equipped from the paper feeding direction downstream. The right view of the parent unit shown in FIG. The left view of the parent unit shown in FIG. The front view which looked at the cutter head part from the paper feeding direction upstream. The rear view which looked at the cutter head part from the paper feeding direction downstream. The left view of the cutter head part shown in FIG. FIG. 10 is an AA cross-sectional view of the cutter head portion shown in FIG. 9. Sectional drawing of the cutter head part shown in FIG. Sectional drawing of the cutter head part shown in FIG. The perspective view which shows the connection state of a 1st roller drive part, D cut shaft, a 2nd roller drive part, and a pair of introduction roller. The top view of a cutter head part support means and a cutter head part moving means. The perspective view of a cutter head part moving means. The left view of the vertical direction cutting | disconnection means shown in FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing processing operations of the thermal transfer printer. 3 is a flowchart showing processing operations of the thermal transfer printer. The side view of the thermal transfer printer as an example of the conventional printer. The figure for demonstrating the means to solve the problem of the conventional printer.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In addition, the same code | symbol is attached | subjected to the part which is common in FIG. 19, 20 used by said description.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a sublimation type thermal transfer printer 100 that is a printer of this embodiment includes a printer main body 51 and a vertical cutting unit 52 that is an optional unit attached to the printer main body 51.

  The printer main body 51 includes a casing 51a, printing means 10 provided therein, conveying means 12, lateral cutting means 9, paper feeding means 13, first conveying route constituting unit 32a, and second conveying. The route construction unit 30a, the longitudinal cutting unit 152, the passage switching unit 33, and the control unit 60 are configured. The control unit 60 includes a print processing control unit 63, a conveyance drive control unit 61, a horizontal direction cutting control unit 65, a vertical direction cutting control unit 64, a path switching control unit 62 serving as a switching control unit, and a print information acquisition unit. 66.

  The printing unit 10 includes a print head 4, a supply-side bobbin 21 that supplies an ink ribbon 2 used for printing, and a winding-side bobbin 22 that winds up the ink ribbon 2 after printing. The print processing control unit 63 controls the printing unit 10.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the printing position P is formed by a portion where the printing head 4 is elastically contacted with the platen roller 3. The print head 4 can be moved back and forth with respect to the opposing platen roller 3 by an advancing / retreating mechanism (not shown). Is done.

  The paper 1 and the ink ribbon 2 can be fed into the print position P formed in this manner in a superposed state. The print head 4 has a plurality of heating resistors arranged in the width direction (depth direction in the figure) at a position corresponding to the printing position P, and each heating resistor is energized in a pattern corresponding to the print information. Heat is generated, and the dye on the surface of the ink ribbon 2 is transferred to the surface of the paper 1.

  The paper feed unit 13 includes a paper feed roll 11. In the thermal transfer printer 100, a paper feed roll 11 in a form in which the paper 1 is wound in a roll shape is rotatably supported therein, and the paper 1 is used in a form that is pulled out from the paper feed roll 11.

  The transport unit 12 transports the paper 1 along a predetermined paper transport path 42 and includes a feed roller 5 and a pinch roller 6. The transport drive control unit 61 controls the transport unit 12.

  The paper 1 pulled out from the paper feed roll 11 is regulated in position so as to be gripped between the feed roller 5 and the pinch roller 6 and passes through the printing position P. After passing through the printing position P, the paper is conveyed toward the discharge port 50 by the guide rollers 7a and 7b and the discharge rollers 8a and 8b.

  The horizontal cutting means 9 includes a first horizontal cutting member 9 a and a second horizontal cutting member 9 b, and the horizontal cutting control unit 65 controls the horizontal cutting means 9.

  The second transverse cutting member 9b is a plate-like fixed blade extending in the width direction of the paper 1 (direction perpendicular to the transport direction), the so-called lateral direction, between the discharge rollers 8a, 8b and the guide rollers 7a, 7b. The first transverse cutting member 9a is a rotary blade that can rotate while abutting along the second transverse cutting member 9b. A transverse cutting position Q is set between the first transverse cutting member 9a and the second transverse cutting member 9b, and when the paper 1 is positioned above the second transverse cutting member 9b, the first The horizontal cutting member 9a moves in the horizontal direction while rotating along the second horizontal cutting member 9b, whereby the paper 1 is cut in the horizontal direction.

  At the time of printing, printing is performed by energizing each heating resistor of the print head 4 while conveying the paper 1 in the direction (B direction in FIG. 1) opposite to the direction in which the paper 1 is pulled out from the paper feed roll 11 (A direction in FIG. 1). An exothermic action as an operation is generated. Hereinafter, the transport direction of the paper 1 transported by the transport unit 12 is described separately from the print direction (the B direction in FIG. 1) or the paper feed direction (the A direction in FIG. 1) that is opposite to the print direction. To do.

  The paper 1 drawn out from the paper supply roll 11 in the paper supply direction once passes through the printing position P, and then is printed while being rewound from the upstream side to the downstream side in the printing direction while being superposed with the ink ribbon 2. After the printing is completed, the paper is conveyed in the paper feeding direction and discharged from the discharge port 50.

  In the thermal transfer printer 100 of the present embodiment, a desired color printing can be performed by repeatedly printing for each dye on the same print area of the paper 1 using a plurality of dyes. During such printing, it is necessary that the paper 1 be repeatedly transported in a reciprocating manner while being precisely aligned in the paper feeding direction and the printing direction.

  The ink ribbon 2 has dye regions of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and OP (overcoat) in order in the length direction. On the other hand, four colors of Y, M, C, and OP are sequentially superimposed and transferred. Therefore, until all four colors are printed, the printing operation is performed while the paper 1 is conveyed in the printing direction, and the rewinding is performed by conveying the paper 1 toward the paper feeding direction opposite to the printing direction. The operation is repeated. The ink ribbon 2 is in the form of a roll wound around the outer periphery of the supply-side bobbin 21. The ink ribbon 2 is drawn out from the supply-side bobbin 21 and passes through the printing position P while being positioned by the ribbon transport rollers 71 to 73. Then, after being used for printing, it is wound up by the winding side bobbin 22.

  The supply-side bobbin 21 and the take-up-side bobbin 22 are supported in a rotatable manner so that the dye ribbon used for printing can be matched with the print area of the paper 1 by transporting the ink ribbon 2. At the time of printing, the ink ribbon 2 and the paper 1 at the printing position P are brought into close contact with each other due to heat generated by the print head 4 and are transported as a unit. Therefore, the feeding speed of these feed rollers 5 is as follows. Determined by the rotation. That is, at the time of printing, the supply-side bobbin 21 and the take-up-side bobbin 22 only rotate following the rotation of the feed roller 5 and do not actively determine the conveyance speed of the ink ribbon 2. .

  The longitudinal cutting unit 52 externally attached to the printer main body 51 includes a path switching unit 33, a longitudinal cutting unit 152, a first transport route forming unit 32a, and a second transport route forming unit 30a. It is constructed integrally. The vertical cutting unit 52 can be attached to the printer main body 51 according to a user's request or the like. The vertical cutting unit 52 is attached to the side surface 51b of the housing 51a in which the discharge port 50 is formed.

  The passage switching unit 33 is provided in the vicinity of the discharge port 50 and downstream of the discharge port 50 in the sheet feeding direction. The passage switching control unit 62 controls the passage switching means 33.

  The passage switching means 33 is constituted by a flapper, and has a base end portion formed in a substantially arc shape and a tip end portion extending from the base end portion toward the discharge port 50 side formed in a wedge shape. The passage switching means 33 extends in the width direction of the paper 1 and has a through hole 33a extending in the extending direction on the base end side. A rotation shaft 33b is inserted into the through hole 33a, and the passage switching means 33 and the rotation shaft 33b are integrally configured. Therefore, the passage switching means 33 can be rotated synchronously by rotating the rotation shaft 33b by a rotation means (not shown). In the present embodiment, the rotating means is an actuator constituted by a rotary solenoid, but may instead be constituted by an open frame solenoid and a link, or a motor, a gear, a cam, and an upper / lower limit sensor.

  Below the passage switching means 33, a first transport route constituting part 32a constituting the first transport route 32 is provided. The first transport route configuration unit 32 a includes a paper guide member 36.

  The paper guide member 36 is a plate-like member that refracts downward in the paper feeding direction and extends in the width direction of the paper 1.

  The first transport route 32 is provided with a longitudinal cutting unit 152 that cuts the sheet 1 in a direction parallel to the paper feeding direction, that is, a so-called longitudinal direction. The vertical direction cutting control unit 64 controls the vertical direction cutting means 152.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the longitudinal cutting means 152 includes a parent unit 37 and a plurality of units 160 and 160 a as child units arranged continuously downstream of the parent unit 37 in the paper feeding direction. The sheet 1 conveyed from the direction toward the front is cut in the vertical direction.

  Each of the parent unit 37 and the plurality of child units 160 and 160a has a rotary blade, and the paper 1 is longitudinally moved at a plurality of positions in the width direction by changing the positions of the rotary blades in the paper width direction. Can be cut into pieces. In addition, by increasing or decreasing the number of child units 160 and 160a that are sequentially connected to the parent unit 37, the number of longitudinal cutting positions on the paper 1 can be easily changed.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, the parent unit 37 extends in the width direction of the paper 1 and the cutter head portion 101 having the first rotary blade 40, and is supported by a pair of frames 151 a and 151 b so that both ends can rotate. The cutter head unit 101 is moved in the paper width direction under the control of the D-cut shaft 46 as the rotating shaft, the cutter head support unit 111 that supports the cutter head unit 101 so as to be slidable, and the longitudinal cutting control unit 64. A cutter head unit moving unit 121 as a moving unit, a first roller driving unit 131, and a second roller driving unit 141 are included.

  In the D cut shaft 46, concave portions 46a and 46b that are continuous in the axial direction are formed in a part of the outer peripheral surface as the rotating shaft side engaging portion. The concave portions 46a and 46b are formed by cutting out two opposing portions of the outer peripheral surface of the D-cut shaft 46 into a plane along the axial direction. With this method, the concave portions 46a and 46b are formed. Can be easily formed.

  The cutter head unit 101 regulates the position of the first rotary blade 40. As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the cutter head unit 101 includes a first unit 103 and a second unit 104 facing each other with the sheet 1 sandwiched in the thickness direction. Prepare.

  As shown in FIG. 10, the first unit 103 has an inner diameter substantially the same as the outer diameter of the D-cut shaft 46, and is a collar as a cylindrical member provided coaxially with the outer diameter of the D-cut shaft 46. 105a, two first metal cores 106a and 106b provided on the outer peripheral surface of the collar 105a, and first rubber rollers 40a and 40b as first rollers provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the first metal cores 106a and 106b, respectively. The first rotary blade 40 provided between the two first core bars 106a and 106b on the outer peripheral surface of the collar 105a, the first rotary blade support member 108 that rotatably supports the collar 105a, and the collar 105a. It includes sleeve-type resin bearings 139a and 139a and bearings 139b and 139b that are rotatably supported with respect to the one-rotating blade support member 108.

  In the inner peripheral surface 105ab of the collar 105a, the portions corresponding to the recesses 46a and 46b of the D-cut shaft 46 are provided with two round holes extending in the axial direction, as shown in FIGS. By providing it so as to interfere with 105ab, a C-shaped opening 105c is formed, and rotation transmission pins 107a and 107b having a round cross section made of resin are fitted and fixed therein. These two rotation transmission pins 107a and 107b constitute convex portions 107c and 107d as rotating blade side engaging portions that protrude toward the D-cut shaft 46 in a part protruding from the C-shaped opening 105c. As the D-cut shaft 46 rotates, a rotational driving force can be obtained while simultaneously abutting against the recesses 46a and 46b and sharing the load. Thus, the concave portions 46a and 46b as the rotary shaft side engaging portions and the convex portions 107c and 107d as the rotary blade side engaging portions are engaged in the rotation direction of the D-cut shaft 46 and the first rotary blade 40. . Therefore, the first rotary blade 40 can be rotated, and the PM motor 132 as a driving means necessary for the rotation can be set at a position different from the cutter head unit 101, and the cutter head unit 101 can be reduced in size. Can be

  The first rotary blade 40 is integrated by caulking, which is fitted on the outer side of the hub 138 shown in FIG. 10 provided on the outer peripheral surface of the collar 105a and deforms a part of the hub 138. Via the outer peripheral surface of the collar 105a.

  Parallel keys 105b (FIGS. 11 and 12) extending in the axial direction of the D-cut shaft 46 are provided between the outer periphery of the collar 105a and the inner periphery of the first core bars 106a and 106b and the hub 138. The first core bars 106a and 106b and the hub 138 can be rotated integrally with the collar 105a with the same rotation phase.

  As shown in FIGS. 7, 8, and 10, the second unit 104 includes a first rotating shaft 45 and two second metal cores 106 c and 106 d (slidably provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first rotating shaft 45. Resin), second rubber rollers 41a and 41b as second rollers provided on the outer peripheral surfaces of the second core bars 106c and 106d and elastically contacting the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b, respectively, and the first rotating shaft 45 A second rotary blade 41 which is located between the two second rubber rollers 41a and 41b on the outer peripheral surface and whose side surface is in sliding contact with the first rotary blade 40 in the vicinity of the outer peripheral edge to set the longitudinal cutting position R; Touch rollers 119a and 119b provided at positions where the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b are in elastic contact with the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b on the upstream side of the sheet feeding direction from 41a and 41b, and a second rotary blade support portion that rotatably supports the first rotation shaft 45. And a 109.

  The second rotary blade 41 is fitted to the outer side of a hub 138 (made of metal) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the first rotary shaft 45 via a bearing (made of resin) (not shown), and a part of the hub 138 is inserted. They are integrated by a caulking to be deformed, and are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the first rotating shaft 45 via the hub 138 and the bearing. Further, the second rotary blade 41 is urged by a spring (not shown) so that one side surface is in contact with the side surface of the first rotary blade 42, and the second rotary blade 41 slides on the first rotary blade 42 described above. The contact pressure is made appropriate for cutting.

  The second rubber rollers 41a and 41b elastically contacting the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b rotate following the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b. When the second rubber roller 41a rotates, the second cored bar 106c rotates integrally, and when the second rubber roller 41b rotates, the second cored bar 106d rotates integrally.

  Further, by sandwiching the paper 1 between the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b and the second rubber rollers 41a and 41b, the positional deviation of the paper 1 at the time of cutting can be suppressed, and the paper 1 can be placed at an arbitrary position in the width direction. Can be cut stably. The rollers such as the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b and the second rubber rollers 41a and 41b may be provided on both sides of the first rotary blade 40 or the second rotary blade 41, and the D cut shaft 46 and the first rotary shaft. Three or more may be provided in 45.

  The touch rollers 119a and 119b are rotatably supported by a second rotation shaft (not shown) and are pressed against the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b from above by a spring (not shown). More specifically, the second rotating shaft is provided on a bracket that is rotatably provided between the second rubber rollers 41 a and 41 b and the second rotating blade 41 on the outer periphery of the first rotating shaft 45. ing. By doing so, the second rotation shaft is parallel to the first rotation shaft 45, and supports the touch rollers 119a and 119b so as to be rotatable at different positions on the upstream side. Further, the spring rotates the bracket downward with the second rotation support member 109 as a starting point, and the touch rollers 119a and 119b are brought into elastic contact with the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b.

  As shown in FIG. 13, on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction in the vicinity of the cutter head unit 101, introduction rollers 150 a and 150 b as a pair of guide rollers that can sandwich the paper 1 and extend in the width direction of the paper 1 are provided. It is done. Both ends of the rotation shaft 150c of the introduction roller 150a are rotatably supported by a pair of frame members 151a and 151b. The introduction rollers 150a and 150b are configured to apply a conveying force during cutting by sandwiching and rotating the sheet 1 over its entire width, so that the positional deviation of the sheet 1 being cut can be prevented, and the sheet 1 Can be cut stably. Here, the introduction rollers 150a and 150b are placed only on the upstream side of the cutting position. However, on the downstream side of the cutting position, a roller that can be driven to rotate while similarly gripping the entire sheet in the width direction is disposed. By doing so, it becomes possible to convey the paper 1 being cut while gripping it until the end of cutting, which is suitable for obtaining the cutting position more stably. The first rubber rollers 40a and 40b, the second rubber rollers 41a and 41b, and the introduction rollers 150a and 150b are rollers that rotate by distributing the driving force by the first roller driving unit 131 in the parent unit 37, and A first roller group composed of rollers that rotate in contact with the rollers is configured.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 and 13, the first roller driving unit 131 includes a PM motor 132, gears 133 a, 133 b, 133 c that transmit the driving force from the PM motor 132 to the D-cut shaft 46, and a torque limiter 135 a. Including. The gears 133a and 133b mesh with each other and are rotatably supported by the frame member 151a. The gear 133c is attached to one end of the D-cut shaft 46 via the torque limiter 135a, and the gear 133c is meshed with the gear 133b. As shown in FIGS. 3, 4, 6, and 13, the second roller driving unit 141 is provided with a gear 141 a attached to the other end of the D-cut shaft 46, and provided downstream of the gear 141 a in the paper feeding direction. 141b as a first gear meshing with 141a, and a second gear provided upstream of the gear 141a in the sheet feeding direction and connected to one end of the rotation shaft 150c of the introduction roller 150a via a torque limiter 135b. Gear 141d, gear 141c provided between gear 141a and gear 141d, and meshing with them, and torque limiter 135b attached to one end of rotating shaft 150c of introduction roller 150a.

  The gear 141b protrudes downstream in the paper feeding direction from the frame 151b constituting a part of the parent unit 37, and the gear 141d protrudes upstream in the paper feeding direction from the frame 151b. .

  The gears 141b and 141c are supported rotatably with respect to the frame member 151b. The torque limiters 135a and 135b are for disconnecting gears and blocking torque transmission when an overload is applied, thereby preventing damage to the device. Therefore, by configuring as described above, the upper limit of the driving force distributed from the PM motor 132 to the D-cut shaft 46 and the introduction roller 150a is limited by the torque limiters 135a and 135b. When an excessive load is applied to the D-cut shaft 46 and the introduction roller 150a, jamming is prevented from being worsened, and the gears 133a to 133c, 141a to 141d and the PM motor 132 are prevented from being damaged and prevented from being damaged. To be able to.

  Since the first roller driving unit 131 and the second roller driving unit 141 have the above-described configuration, the driving force from the PM motor 132 is transmitted via the gears 133a, 133b, and 133c constituting the power input unit 148a. It is transmitted to the cut shaft 46, and the D cut shaft 46 rotates. When the D-cut shaft 46 rotates as shown in FIGS. 11 to 12 and the recesses 46a and 46b come into contact with the rotation transmission pins 107a and 107b, torque is transmitted to the collar 105a via the rotation transmission pins 107a and 107b. . Further, torque is transmitted from the collar 105a to the first core bars 106a and 106b and the hub 138 through the parallel key 105b. As a result, the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b and the first rotary blade 40 rotate. Further, the second rubber rollers 41a and 41b and the second rotary blade 41 are rotated following the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b. Further, the introduction roller 150a rotates through the gears 141a, 141c, and 141d, and the introduction roller 150b rotates following the introduction roller 150a. The gears 133a to 133c and the gears 141a to 141d are provided in the parent unit 37 and constitute a first power transmission unit 148 that transmits the driving force from the PM motor 132 to the first roller group.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the first rotary blade support member 108 and the second rotary blade support member 109 are connecting members 136 provided on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction from the first rotary blade 40 and the second rotary blade 41. Are connected by The connecting member 136 is cut by the first rotary blade 40 and the second rotary blade 41, and the first opening 136a through which one of the divided paper cutting pieces can pass and the second opening through which the other paper cutting piece can pass. Is a rectangular plate-like member. The first opening 136a and the second opening 136b are formed on the downstream side while matching the vertical cutting position R shown in FIG. Of these, the first opening 136a is formed in a slit shape from the longitudinal center of the connecting member 136 to one end side 136c, and the second opening 136b is similarly slit-shaped from the longitudinal center of the connecting member 136 to the other end side 136d. Is formed. Further, since the second opening 136b is formed at a position slightly lower than the first opening 136a, the second opening 136b and the first opening 136a are arranged in parallel without being continuous.

  Since the first unit 103 and the second unit 104 are connected via such a connecting member 136, the second unit 104 is moved when the first unit 103 is moved in the sheet width direction by the cutter head moving means 121. Can be moved together, and the sheet 1 can smoothly pass between the first unit 103 and the second unit 104.

  As shown in FIGS. 3 and 14A, the cutter head support unit 111 sandwiches a plate-like guide member 112 extending in the sheet width direction and the guide member 112 in the thickness direction, and moves along the guide member 112. A possible slide member 113 and a slide base 114 that is fixed on the slide member 113 and on which the cutter head unit 101 is placed and fixed are included.

  The cutter head unit moving means 121 for moving the slide member 113 along the guide member 112 is disposed in the vicinity of both ends of the DC motor 122 and the guide member 112 as shown in FIGS. A pair of pulleys 128a and 128b as a portion, a toothed belt 129 as an endless track element that is stretched between the pulleys 128a and 128b and has a plurality of tooth portions (not shown) inside, and a DC motor 122 To detect the position of the slide member 113 on the guide member 112 by detecting the rotation speed of the worm 123, the worm wheel 124, the gear 127, and the DC motor 122 that transmit the driving force to the output shaft 126a of the pulley 128a. Encoder 125. The encoder 125 detects the rotation speed of the DC motor 122 directly connected to the input shaft 126b by detecting the rotation of the input shaft 126b with the sensor S1.

  As shown in FIG. 14, the pulley 128a is on the home position (HP position) side, rotates when the driving force is input to the output shaft 126a from the DC motor 122 provided below, and rotates around the toothed belt 129. It is something to exercise. The pulley 128b is on the end position (END position) side, and rotates following the circumferential motion of the toothed belt 129. A sensor S2 is provided on the home position side, and a sensor S3 is provided on the end position side. The sensor S3 detects that the cutter head unit 101 has moved to the end position or the home position, and uses the home position as a reference point. The feeding distance of the cutter head unit 101 can be measured.

  As shown in FIG. 14B, which is a plan view of the cutter head unit moving means 121 with the guide member 112 and the like removed, the slide member 113 is a fixing member that meshes with a part of the toothed portion of the toothed belt 129. The toothed belt 129 is sandwiched between the toothed belt 129 and the toothed belt 129, and when the toothed belt 129 is circumferentially moved, the toothed belt 129 is moved along the guide member 112. Since the sliding member 113 is fixed to the toothed belt 129 via the fixing member 113a, the sliding between the sliding member 113 and the toothed belt 129 can be prevented, so that the cutter head is moved along the guide member 112. The section 101 can be accurately moved to an arbitrary position, and the paper 1 can be cut in the vertical direction at an arbitrary position in the width direction.

  The slide member 113 is movable in the paper width direction between the end position and the home position shown in FIG. When the slide member 113 is disposed at the home position, the sheet 1 can be passed through the parent unit 37 without contacting the first rotary blade 40 and the second rotary blade 41. Although the home position corresponds to the control origin position, there may be a case in which the correspondence relationship is shifted due to wear of each part or a change in environmental conditions. Therefore, when the sensor S2 detects that the position of the home position has been reached, the position of the cutter head unit 101 can be controlled more appropriately if the origin position of the cutter head unit 101 in the control is corrected correctly. This is preferable.

  When the cutter head unit 101 is moved in the sheet width direction by the cutter head unit supporting unit 111 and the cutter head unit moving unit 121 as described above, the first unit 103 shown in FIGS. Since a gap is generated between the pair 105a and the force does not act on each other, it is smoothly moved along the D-cut shaft 46. That is, the rotary shaft side engaging portions 46 a and 46 b and the rotary blade side engaging portions 107 c and 107 d are configured to be relatively movable in the axial direction of the D-cut shaft 46. Further, since the rotation transmitting pins 107a and 107b for transmitting the driving force are pins having a round cross section, the counterpart recesses 46a and 46b are not damaged. Further, since the rotation transmitting pins 107a and 107b are made of resin, even when sliding with the recesses 46a and 46b, the sliding resistance becomes small and damage can be further prevented.

  Thus, the rotary shaft side engaging portions 46a and 46b of the D cut shaft 46 and the rotary blade side engaging portions 107a and 107b of the collar 105a are related to the rotational direction of the D cut shaft 46 and the first rotary blade 40. In addition, since the D-cut shaft 46 is configured to be relatively movable in the axial direction, the first rotary blade 40 that can stably cut the paper 1 in the vertical direction over a long period of time is rotated. The sheet 1 can be moved in the paper width direction, and the vertical cutting position of the paper 1 can be varied. In addition, since the number of first rotary blades 40 used in the thermal transfer printer 100 does not increase, the manufacturing cost can be reduced.

  The child unit 160 (FIG. 2) connected downstream in the paper feeding direction with respect to the parent unit 37 has the same configuration as the parent unit 37 except that the PM motor 132 and the power input unit 148a are not provided. A cutter head 101 having a rotary blade 40 and a second rotary blade 41, a D-cut shaft 46 extending in the sheet width direction and rotatably supported by a pair of frames 151a and 151b, and a pair of introduction rollers 150a and 150b, a cutter head support unit 111 that slidably supports the cutter head unit 101, and a cutter head unit moving unit 121 that moves the cutter head unit 101 along the guide member 112. The slave unit 160 also includes first rubber rollers 40a and 40b and second rubber rollers 41a and 41b that rotate in contact with the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b.

  The first rubber rollers 40a and 40b, the second rubber rollers 41a and 41b, and the introduction rollers 150a and 150b of the child unit 160 shown in FIG. 2 are elastically contacted with the rollers that rotate by distributing the driving force from the same driving source. Thus, a second roller group consisting of rollers that are driven to rotate is formed.

  Further, the child unit 160 includes a second power transmission unit 161 instead of the first power transmission unit 148 included in the parent unit 37. The second power transmission unit 161 is connected to the first power transmission unit 148 of the parent unit 37, obtains a driving force from the first power transmission unit 148, and transmits the driving force to the second roller group. . That is, the second power transmission unit 161 is provided instead of the first power transmission unit 148, and the second roller group is rotationally driven by the driving force distributed via the second power transmission unit 161, which is different from the parent unit 37. .

  As shown in FIG. 16, the second power transmission unit 161 protrudes from the frame 151 b constituting a part of the child unit 160 to the upstream side in the paper feeding direction, and engages with the gear 141 b of the parent unit 37 and the child unit 160. A gear 161b that protrudes downstream from the frame 151b in the paper feeding direction, a gear 161c that is provided downstream of the gear 161d and meshes with the gear 161d, and a space between the gear 161c and the gear 161b. And a gear 161a that meshes with the gear 161a. The gear 161d is attached to the other end of the rotating shaft 150c of the introduction roller 150a via a torque limiter 135b, and the gear 161a is attached to the other end of the D-cut shaft 64.

  Therefore, in the child unit 160, the second roller group can be rotationally driven by the driving force of the PM motor 132 of the parent unit 37, and the control of the apparatus can be facilitated. Further, the difference in rotational speed between the first roller group and the second roller group can be eliminated, and the paper 1 can be stably conveyed. Further, by providing the torque limiter 135b, it is possible to prevent the apparatus from being overloaded.

  A child unit group 170 in which a plurality of units 160a having the same configuration as the child unit 160 are arranged adjacent to each other in a row is connected to the downstream side of the child unit 160 in the paper feeding direction. As shown in FIG. 16, each unit 160a of the child unit group 170 projects to a gear 161b that protrudes downstream in the paper feeding direction and an upstream unit 160a (in the most upstream in the paper feeding direction). Each unit 160a has a gear 161b of a child unit 160) and a gear 161d that meshes with each other, and is configured to be able to distribute power from the second power transmission unit 161 on the upstream side to the second power transmission unit 161 on the downstream side. Therefore, the second roller group of the unit 160a can be rotationally driven by the driving force of the PM motor 132 of the parent unit 37.

  The gear 141c and the gear 141d provided to the child unit 160, or the gear 141b and the gear 141d provided to the child unit 160 in the parent unit 37 are engaged with each other to form one distribution mechanism 180. (See FIG. 16). For example, when the frames 151a and 151b are connected to each other, the distribution mechanism 180 is configured such that the gears are engaged with each other. Thus, between the first power transmission unit 148 and the second power transmission unit 161, Alternatively, the second power transmission units 161 are connected to each other while enabling power distribution. Furthermore, when the frames 151a and 151b are separated, the meshing mechanism between the gears is released, so that the distribution mechanism 180 is not configured, and the first power transmission unit 148 and the second power transmission unit 161 or the first power transmission unit 161 The power distribution between the two power transmission units 161 becomes impossible. The unit 160a provided at the most downstream in the paper feeding direction is provided with a sensor (not shown) that detects that the paper 1 is discharged from the vertical cutting means 152.

  The sheet 1 transported to the first transport route 32 shown in FIG. 1 is transported to the longitudinal cutting position R by a pair of introduction rollers 150 a and 150 b (see FIG. 13 and the like) of the parent unit 37, and the first rotary blade 40. And the part which contacted the 2nd rotary blade 41 is cut | disconnected sequentially. In this way, the sheet 1 is cut in a direction parallel to the sheet feeding direction, that is, a so-called longitudinal direction.

  At this time, as shown in FIG. 2, the positions of the cutter unit 101 of the parent unit 37, the child unit 160, and the unit 160a in the paper width direction are made different so that the paper 1 can be vertically aligned at a plurality of positions in the width direction. Can be cut in the direction. Further, the parent unit 37 and the child unit 160 have substantially the same configuration as that of the child unit 160 except that the parent unit 37 includes the PM motor 132, and the child unit 160 and the unit 160a of the child unit group 170 have the same configuration. Therefore, the basic configurations of these units 37, 160, 160a are the same, and the units 160, 160a can be easily connected to or removed from the parent unit 37, thereby realizing a variety of cutting positions on the paper 1. can do. In addition, the parent unit 37, the child unit 160, and the unit 160a can be easily manufactured.

  In addition, as described above, in order to enable the paper 1 being cut to be conveyed while being gripped to the end and to obtain a cutting position more stably, the same as the introduction rollers 150a and 150b immediately after the final unit 160a. In addition, a roller that can be rotationally driven while gripping the paper 1 in the entire width direction may be disposed.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a second transport route forming unit 30 a that configures the second transport route 30 is provided above the passage switching unit 33. The second transport route constituting unit 30 a includes an upper guide member 34 and a lower guide member 35, which are plate-like members facing each other with a predetermined interval in the thickness direction of the paper 1. Since the second transport route forming unit 30a has such a configuration, the second transport route 30 can be easily configured, and the paper 1 can be smoothly transported to the second transport route 30 during printing. .

  As described above, the sheet conveyance path 42 is formed to be branched into the first conveyance route 32 and the second conveyance route 30 which are different from each other on the downstream side of the printing unit 10.

  The path switching unit 33 is provided in the vicinity of a branch point between the first transport route 32 and the second transport route 30, and closes the first transport route 32 by bringing the leading end of the path switching unit 33 into contact with the paper guide member 36. In addition, the second transport route 30 can be opened, and the transport destination of the paper 1 discharged from the discharge port 50 can be the second transport route 30. Further, by bringing the passage switching means 33 into contact with the upper guide member 34, the second transport route 30 is closed, the first transport route 32 is opened, and the transport destination of the sheet 1 discharged from the discharge port 50 is reached. Can be the first transport route 32. Thus, the path switching means 33 is configured to open or close the first transport route 32 and the second transport route 30 in a contradictory manner.

  Instead of the above configuration, each of the paper guide member 36 and the upper guide member 34 is provided with a hole corresponding to the distal end portion of the passage switching means 33, and the distal end portion of the passage switching means 33 is more than these holes. The first conveying route 32 or the second conveying route 30 may be closed by penetrating to the outside. By doing so, one of the conveying routes can be more reliably closed.

  Further, by rotating the path switching means 33 between the paper guide member 36 and the upper guide member 34 with the rotation shaft 33b as a reference, the transport destination of the paper 1 discharged from the discharge port 50 is changed to the first transport. It is possible to switch from the route 32 to the second transport route 30 or from the second transport route 30 to the first transport route 32. At this time, the angle at which the passage switching means 33 rotates is, for example, 15 ° to 30 °.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 1, in the path switching unit 33, when the transport destination of the paper 1 is the second transport route 30, the upper surface facing the upper guide member 34 constitutes the second transport route 30. When the transport destination of the paper 1 is the first transport route 32, the lower surface facing the upper guide member 34 also functions as a member constituting the first transport route 32.

  The thermal transfer printer 100 configured as described above operates as follows. Hereinafter, a case where the paper 1 is cut in the vertical direction will be described. As shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the print information acquisition unit 66 (see FIG. 1) acquires print information in step SP1. The print information is input by an input unit (not shown) by the user, and includes image data to be printed on the paper 1, information indicating the length in the horizontal direction and the vertical direction of the obtained printed matter, and the like.

  When the print information acquisition unit 66 acquires the print information (SP2: YES), in step SP3, the vertical direction cutting control unit 64 determines the unit 160a of the parent unit 37, the child unit 160, and the child unit group 170 according to the print information. The DC motors 122 of the respective cutter head unit moving means 121 are driven to arrange the respective cutter head units 101 at appropriate positions. At this time, the cutter head unit 101 in each of the parent unit 37, the child unit 160, and the unit 160a of the child unit group 170 is arranged at an appropriate position, so that the sheet 1 is cut in the vertical direction at a plurality of positions in the width direction. It is possible to do. When the number of parts to be cut is small, some of the cutter head portions 101 of the parent unit 37, the child unit 160, and the unit 160a of the child unit group 170 are moved to the home position and used for cutting. Do not do that.

  Thereafter, in step S <b> 4, the conveyance unit 12 starts conveying the paper 1. If the print information acquisition unit 66 has not acquired the print information (SP2: NO), the process returns to step SP1, and the process of that step is repeated. When the conveyance of the sheet 1 is started and the printing area of the sheet 1 reaches the printing position P provided between the print head 4 and the platen roller 3 (SP5: YES), the control unit 60 causes the second conveyance route 30 to be transferred. It is determined whether or not is open. If the print area of the paper 1 has not reached the print position P (SP5: NO), the processing in step SP5 is repeated until it reaches. It is determined whether or not the second transport route 30 is opened. If the second transport route 30 is opened (SP6: YES), the printing unit 10 prints an image based on the print information in step SP8. . When the second transport route 30 is not opened, that is, when the first transport route 32 is opened (SP6: NO), after the path switching unit 33 switches the transport destination of the paper 1 in step SP7, In step SP8, the printing unit 10 prints an image based on the print information.

  As a result, while printing is performed on the paper 1 by the printing unit 10, the conveyance destination of the paper 1 becomes the second conveyance route 30, and the paper 1 being printed does not come into contact with the vertical direction cutting unit 152 and is cut. There is no load. Further, since the sheet 1 in the middle of printing is not sandwiched between the introduction rollers 150a and 150b, the sheet 1 is not damaged such as a crease, and the conveyance of the sheet 1 by the conveying unit 12 is not hindered. Therefore, there is no positional deviation of the paper 1 due to the cutting load during printing, and the print quality can be improved.

  Subsequently, the control unit 60 determines whether or not the printing process has been completed, and if it is determined that the printing process has been completed (SP9: YES), in step SP10, the path switching unit 33 sets the transport destination of the sheet 1 to the first destination. The second transport route 30 is switched to the first transport route 32. Further, in step SP11, the PM motor 132 of the first roller driving unit 131 is driven by the longitudinal cutting control unit 64, and the first rotation in each cutter head unit 101 of the parent unit 37, the child unit 160, and the child unit group 170 is performed. The rotation of the blade 40, the first roller group, and the second roller group is started. Then, when the sheet 1 is conveyed to the longitudinal cutting position R (see FIG. 7) set between the first rotating blade 40 and the second rotating blade 41, the longitudinal cutting process is performed.

  In step SP9, when the printing process is not completed (SP9: NO), the process returns to step SP8 and the process in that step is repeated.

  The controller 60 determines that the position of the sheet 1 to be cut in the horizontal direction is a horizontal cutting position Q (see FIG. 1) provided between the first horizontal cutting member 9a and the second horizontal cutting member 9b. If it is determined whether or not it has been reached and it is determined that the horizontal cutting position Q has been reached (SP12: YES), in step SP13, the conveying means 12 temporarily stops conveying the paper 1, and in step SP14, The direction cutting means 9 performs a horizontal cutting process on the paper 1. At this time, the longitudinal cutting process is also temporarily stopped. In order to determine whether or not the horizontal cutting position Q has been reached, it is preferable to provide a sensor for detecting the sheet 1 immediately before the horizontal cutting position Q and use the detection signal. . When the horizontal cutting position Q has not been reached (SP12: NO), the processing of step SP12 is repeated until it reaches. The controller 60 determines whether or not the horizontal direction cutting process has been completed. If it is determined that the process has been completed (SP15: YES), the transport unit 12 resumes transport of the paper 1 in step SP16. As a result, the longitudinal cutting process is also resumed. When the horizontal cutting process has not ended (SP15: NO), the process of step SP15 is repeated until the horizontal cutting process ends.

  The control unit 60 determines whether or not the rear end of the sheet 1, that is, the portion cut by the lateral cutting unit 9 has passed through the unit 160 a that is the most downstream in the sheet feeding direction. If the longitudinal cutting process is completed after passing through the downstream unit 160a (SP17: YES), the drive of the PM motor 132 and the conveying means 12 is stopped in step SP18. Accordingly, the rotation of the first rotary blade 40, the first roller group, and the second roller group in the unit 160a of the parent unit 37, the child unit 160, and the child unit group 170 is stopped, and the conveyance of the paper 1 is stopped. . In order to determine whether or not the most downstream unit 160a has been passed, it is preferable to provide a sensor for detecting the paper 1 immediately after the unit 160a and use the detection signal. If the vertical cutting process has not been completed (SP17: NO), the process of step SP17 is repeated until the process is completed. In this way, a printed material cut in a composite manner in the vertical direction and the horizontal direction is obtained. Furthermore, by changing the vertical and horizontal cutting positions, it is possible to easily obtain a printed matter in which the vertical and horizontal dimensions are variously changed.

  In the thermal transfer printer 100, the paper 1 can be selectively cut in the width direction to obtain both a relatively small printed material and a relatively large printed material. In order to obtain a printed material that is not cut in the vertical direction, it is necessary to move the cutter head unit 101 to the home position shown in FIG. Alternatively, when a printed material that is not cut in the vertical direction is obtained, the transfer by the path switching unit 33 may not be performed, and the transport destination of the paper 1 may be maintained as the second transport route 30. In this case, since the second transport route constituting unit 30a is also used as a paper discharge tray, the second transport route constituting unit 30a can be effectively used not only during printing but also after printing.

  As described above, the sublimation printer 100 according to this embodiment includes the printing unit 10 that prints an image on the paper 1, the transport unit 12 that transports the paper 1, and the paper 1 cut in a vertical direction parallel to the transport direction. A longitudinal cutting means 152, and the longitudinal cutting means 152 is a first rotary blade 40 as a rotary blade for cutting the paper 1, and a drive means for generating a driving force for driving the first rotary blade 40. And a master unit 37 including a first power transmission unit 148 that transmits a driving force from the PM motor 132 to the first rotary blade 40, and a first rotation as a rotary blade that cuts the paper 1. Blades 40, and units 160 and 160a as child units including a second power transmission unit 161 that transmits the driving force to the first rotary blade 40. The power transmission units 148 and 161 are sequentially coupled by sequentially coupling the child unit 160 or the plurality of units 160 and 160a, and the first power transmission unit 148 to the second power transmission unit 161 of each unit 160 and 160a. The driving force can be distributed.

  Because of such a configuration, the units 160 and 160a can be easily connected to the parent unit 37 or the child unit 160, and the connection can be easily disconnected, and the first rotary blade 40 provided in the parent unit 37 can be disconnected. In addition, the variety of cutting positions can be easily realized by adjusting the number of the first rotary blades 40 provided in the units 160 and 160a.

  The parent unit 37 is configured to include a power input unit 148a that transmits power from the PM motor 132 and the PM motor 132 to the first rotary blade 40 of the parent unit 37 in addition to the configuration of the child unit 160. Therefore, the basic configuration is the same, the units 160 and 160a can be easily connected to the parent unit 37 or the child unit 160, and the units 37, 160, and 160a can be easily manufactured.

  Also, frames 151a and 151b constituting a part of the parent unit 37 or the child unit 160, and frames 151a and 151b constituting a part of the units 160 and 160a connected to the downstream side of the units 37 and 160 are provided. By connecting, the power transmission units 148 and 161 are connected to each other to configure the distribution mechanism 180 that transmits the driving force, and when the connection between the frames 151a and 151b is disconnected, the distribution mechanism 180 is not configured. Therefore, the distribution mechanism 180 can be simply configured by simply connecting the frames 151a and 151b, and the driving force of the PM motor 132 provided in the parent unit 37 can be distributed to the units 160 and 160a.

  The parent unit 37 and the units 160 and 160a include a gear 141b as a first gear that protrudes further downstream in the paper feeding direction than the frames 151a and 151b that constitute a part of the units 37, 160, and 160a. When the units 37, 160, 160a are connected to each other, the gear 141b included in the upstream units 37, 160 and the downstream unit 160, Since the distribution mechanism 180 is configured by meshing with the gear 141d included in the 160a, the distribution mechanism 180 applies the driving force from the PM motor 132 from the parent unit 37 to the first of the units 160 and 160a. It can be reliably transmitted to the one rotary blade 40.

  The parent unit 37 and the units 160 and 160a include two first rubber rollers 40a and 40b serving as first rollers and second rubber rollers 41a serving as second rollers disposed on both sides in the thickness direction of the first rotary blade 40, respectively. 41b and a pair of guide rollers 150a and 150b as a pair of guide rollers that are arranged in the vicinity of the first rotary blade 40 and at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side in the paper feeding direction and extend in the width direction of the paper 1. The first rotary blade 40, the first rubber rollers 40a and 40b, the second rubber rollers 41a and 41b, and the introduction rollers 150a and 150b respectively provided in the parent unit 37 and the units 160 and 160a are the first power transmission unit 148 or the second power. Since it is configured to rotate by the driving force transmitted through the transmission unit 161, these first time There is no need to separately provide a motor or the like for rotationally driving the blade 40 and the rollers 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b, 150a, and 150b, and the rotational control is performed only by the driving force from the PM motor 132 provided in the parent unit 37. Can be easily. Further, the difference in rotational speed between the rollers 40a, 40b, 41a, 41b, 150a, and 150b can be eliminated, and the paper 1 can be conveyed stably.

  In addition, since the rotary blades 40 and 41 are configured to be movable in the width direction of the paper 1, it is possible to increase the longitudinal cutting position pattern and to reliably cut the paper 1 at any position in the width direction. , Can improve convenience.

  In addition, the first transport route 32 provided with the longitudinal cutting means 152, the second transport route 30 formed by branching from the first transport route 32, and the paper 1 are transferred to the first transport route 32 or the second transport route. 30 is further provided with a path switching unit 33 for switching to one of the channels 30 and a path switching control unit 62 as a switching control unit for controlling the path switching unit 33, and the path switching control unit 62 includes the printing unit 10. While the printing is being performed, the path 1 is sent to the second transport route 30 and when the printing is completed, the path switching unit 33 is controlled to send the paper 1 to the first transport route 32. Therefore, it is possible to prevent damage such as folds of the paper 1 due to being sandwiched between the pair of introduction rollers 150a and 150b at the time of printing, and the paper 1 by the conveying means 12 Not inhibit transport, it is possible to obtain a print of good quality.

  The specific configuration of each unit is not limited to the above-described embodiment.

  In the present embodiment, the recesses 46 a and 46 b formed on the D-cut shaft 46 are such that a flat surface is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the D-cut shaft 46. As long as the distance from the center is shorter than the part where 46a and 46b are not formed, it is not limited to the above. Further, in this embodiment, the rotary shaft side engaging portions 46a and 46b are concave and the rotary blade side engaging portions 107c and 107d are convex. The reverse configuration is also possible.

  In the present embodiment, the toothed belt 129 is used as the endless track element. However, if the position of the cutter head portion 101 can be regulated along the D-cut shaft 46, a belt or chain having no tooth portion is used. May be. The toothed belt 129 is stretched between the two pulleys 128a and 128b, but may be stretched by three or more pulleys. Further, as long as the toothed belt 129 can be circulated, a rotation support portion other than the pulleys 128a and 128b may be used.

  In the present embodiment, the child unit 160 and the child unit group 170 are connected to the parent unit 37, but only the parent unit 37 or only the parent unit 37 and the child unit 160 may be used. The number of units 160a in the child unit group 170 is two, but may be one or three or more.

  In the above-described embodiment, the guide rollers are provided as the introduction rollers 150a and 150b and are provided on the upstream side in the paper feeding direction of the paper 1 in the vicinity of the cutter head unit 101. As long as possible, it may be provided on the downstream side in the paper feeding direction, or on both the upstream side and the downstream side. Even when each unit 37, 160, 160 a is provided with the introduction rollers 150 a, 150 b on the upstream side, only the unit 160 a provided on the most downstream side in the paper feeding direction is more in the paper feeding direction than the cutter head unit 101. A pair of rollers that can sandwich the cut sheet 1 may be further provided on the downstream side. Accordingly, the sheet 1 cut in the vertical direction can be more stably discharged from the vertical cutting means 52 without being inclined.

  The printer in this embodiment is configured as a sublimation type thermal transfer printer. However, the present invention can be applied to various other types of printers such as a thermal melting type thermal transfer printer, an inkjet type, and a thermal type printer. It is possible to apply.

  Other configurations can be variously modified without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Paper 10 ... Printing means 11 ... Paper feed roll 12 ... Conveyance means 30 ... 2nd conveyance route 32 ... 1st conveyance route 33 ... Path | route switching means 37 ... -Parent unit 40 ... 1st rotary blade 40a, 40b ... 1st rubber roller 41 ... 2nd rotary blade 41a, 41b ... 2nd rubber roller 62 ... passage switching control part 100 ... thermal transfer Printer 132 ... PM motor 141b, 141d ... Gear 148 ... First power transmission unit 148a ... Power input unit 150a, 150b ... Introduction roller 152 ... Vertical cutting means 160 ... Child unit 160a ... Unit 161 ... Second power transmission unit 180 ... Distribution mechanism

Claims (7)

A printing unit that prints an image on a sheet; a conveying unit that conveys the sheet; and a longitudinal cutting unit that cuts the sheet in a longitudinal direction parallel to the conveying direction.
The longitudinal cutting means is
A rotary unit that cuts the paper, a drive unit that generates a drive force for driving the rotary blade, and a parent unit including a first power transmission unit that transmits the drive force from the drive unit to the rotary blade;
A rotary blade that cuts the paper, and a slave unit that includes a second power transmission unit that transmits the driving force to the rotary blade,
The power transmission unit is sequentially connected to the parent unit by sequentially connecting a single child unit or a plurality of child units, and the first power transmission unit to the second power transmission unit of each child unit. A printer characterized in that the driving force can be distributed.   2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the parent unit includes a power input unit that transmits power from the driving unit and the driving unit to the rotary blade of the parent unit in addition to the configuration of the child unit. .   By connecting a frame that forms a part of the parent unit or the child unit and a frame that forms a part of the child unit connected to the downstream side of the unit, the power transmission units are connected to each other, and the driving force 3. The printer according to claim 1, wherein a distribution mechanism for distributing the frame is configured, and the distribution mechanism is not configured when the connection of the frame is disconnected. The parent unit and child unit
A first gear that protrudes downstream in the transport direction from a frame that forms a part of these units, and a second gear that protrudes upstream;
When the units are connected to each other, the distribution mechanism is configured by meshing a first gear included in the upstream unit and a second gear included in the downstream unit. 3. The printer according to 3. The parent unit and child unit
First and second rollers respectively disposed on both sides in the thickness direction of the rotary blade, and disposed on at least one of the upstream side and the downstream side in the transport direction in the vicinity of the rotary blade, and in the width direction of the paper A pair of extending guide rollers,
The said rotary blade and the said roller are rotationally driven by the said driving force transmitted via the said 1st power transmission part or the said 2nd power transmission part, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. Printer.   The printer according to claim 1, wherein the rotary blade is configured to be movable in a width direction of the paper. A first transport route provided with the longitudinal cutting means;
A second transport route formed by branching from the first transport route;
Path switching means for switching and feeding the sheet to either the first transport route or the second transport route;
Switching control means for controlling the passage switching means,
The switching control means is
While the printing is being performed by the printing unit, the paper is sent to the second transport route, and when the printing is completed, the path switching unit is controlled to send the paper to the first transport route. The printer according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

Images