JP2021065978A - Sheet cutting device and printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a sheet cutting device which enables a movable blade to return to a home position even if the movable blade cannot cut a sheet completely, and to provide a printer.SOLUTION: A sheet cutting device includes: a movable blade 41 which may move to cut a sheet S; a driving part 70 which drives the movable blade 41; and a driving control part which controls the driving part 70. The driving control part sets a force for rearward movement of the movable blade 41 moving from a cutting position where the movable blade 41 cuts the sheet S to a stand-by position Q1 so as to be larger than a force for forward movement of the movable blade 41 moving from the stand-by position Q1 to the cutting position.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

The present invention relates to a sheet cutting device and a printer.

Conventionally, in a printer, there is known a sheet cutting device that prints a predetermined sheet on a long strip-shaped sheet and cuts the sheet into a single sheet by a movable blade (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

Patent Document 1 includes a rotary cutter having a movable blade and a cutter having a fixed blade, and when the time required for the rotary cutter to cut the paper changes depending on the type of paper and the like, when the chopper is driven. A configuration for controlling the period of a pulse signal supplied to a DC motor is disclosed. This makes it possible to adjust the angular velocity and the required time when the rotary cutter returns from the paper cutting end position to the home position.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2004-261916

However, since the configuration described in Patent Document 1 controls the cycle of the pulse signal when returning from the paper cutting end position to the home position, if the paper cannot be cut completely, the paper is between the movable blade and the paper. There is a problem that the movable blade cannot return to the home position due to clogging.

Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a sheet cutting device and a printer capable of returning the movable blade to the home position even when the paper cannot be completely cut.

In order to achieve the above object, the sheet cutting device of the present invention includes a movable blade that moves to cut the sheet, a drive unit that drives the movable blade, and a drive control unit that controls the drive unit. The drive control unit is characterized in that the force of backward movement in which the movable blade moves from the cutting position for cutting the sheet to the standby position is larger than the force of forward movement in which the movable blade moves from the standby position to the cutting position. And.

The sheet cutting device and printer of the present invention configured in this way can return the movable blade to the home position even if the paper cannot be completely cut.

It is a perspective view which shows the printer of Example 1. FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the state which the cover of the printer of Example 1 is opened. It is sectional drawing which shows the vertical sectional view of the printer of Example 1. FIG. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertical cross section of a printer in which the movable blade of the first embodiment is in a standby position. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertical cross section of a printer in which the movable blade of the first embodiment is in a cutting position. It is a block diagram which shows the functional structure of the cutter unit of Example 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of processing by the control part of the cutter unit of Example 1. FIG.

Hereinafter, embodiments for realizing the sheet cutting apparatus and printer according to the present invention will be described with reference to Example 1 shown in the drawings.

The printer according to the first embodiment is applied to a sublimation type thermal transfer printer.

[Printer configuration]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the printer of the first embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cover of the printer of the first embodiment is opened. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertical cross section of the printer of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration of the printer of the first embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the printer 1 has a box-shaped case 2, an upper cover 3 provided in the upper opening 2a formed on the upper surface of the case 2, and a front opening formed in the front surface of the case 2. A front cover 4 provided on 2b is provided.

As shown in FIG. 3, inside the case 2, the roll paper R for supplying the sheet S as a recording medium, the ink ribbon T, the thermal head 5, the platen roller 6, and the drive roller are the main components. 21 and a cutter unit 40 as a sheet cutting device are provided.

The sheet S unwound from the roll paper R is hung around the drive roller 21 and the driven roller 23, is conveyed along the transport path X1 in the feed direction D1, and is discharged from the discharge port 8.

The roll paper R is rotatably held by the roll paper holder 31 connected to the motor.

The drive roller 21 and the driven roller 23 are attached to the case 2 and arranged along the transport path X1. The drive roller 21 is connected to a motor and can rotate in either a positive direction or a negative direction opposite to the positive direction. Opposing rollers 22 are arranged at opposite positions of the driving rollers 21.

The opposing roller 22 is attached to the case 2 and arranged along the transport path X1. The opposing roller 22 is configured to be movable with respect to the driving roller 21. When the seat S is conveyed, the opposing roller 22 comes into contact with the drive roller 21 and rotates in accordance with the drive roller 21. When the drive roller 21 rotates in the forward direction, the sheet S is conveyed in the feeding direction D1 with the drive roller 21 and the opposing roller 22 sandwiching the sheet S. By rotating the drive roller 21 in a negative direction opposite to the positive direction, the seat S is conveyed in the pull-back direction D2 with the drive roller 21 and the opposing roller 22 sandwiching the sheet S. The opposing roller 22 is separated from the driving roller 21 except when the seat S is being conveyed.

The thermal head 5 is attached to the upper cover 3 and is arranged along the transport path X1. The thermal head 5 is arranged downstream of the drive roller 21 in the feeding direction D1 of the seat S.

The platen roller 6 is attached to the case 2 and is arranged so as to face the thermal head 5 along the transport path X1.

The cutter unit 40 is attached to the case 2 and is arranged in front of the discharge port 8 in the feeding direction D1 along the transport path X1. The cutter unit 40 cuts the sheet S transported along the transport path X1.

The ink ribbon T is, for example, a strip-shaped sheet in which the ink regions of yellow Y, magenta M, and cyan C, and the region of the overcoat OP are repeatedly arranged in the longitudinal direction. The ink ribbon T is held by a ribbon supply reel 32 for feeding the ink ribbon T and a ribbon winding reel 33 for winding the ink ribbon T.

The ribbon take-up reel 33 is connected to a motor and rotates in the rotation direction K. When the ribbon take-up reel 33 rotates in the rotation direction K, the ink ribbon T is unwound from the ribbon supply reel 32. The ink ribbon T unwound from the ribbon supply reel 32 is conveyed in the ribbon conveying direction D3, passes between the thermal head 5 and the platen roller 6 via the driven rollers 25 and 26, and is passed through the ribbon winding reel 33. It is taken up by.

In the printer 1 configured in this way, when the image data is input to the printer 1 and the printing operation is started, as shown in FIG. 3, the roll paper holder 31 rotates and the drive roller 21 moves in the forward direction. By rotating, the sheet S unwound from the roll paper R is transported in the feeding direction D1 along the transport path X1.

Next, the sheet S is conveyed in the pull-back direction D2, and an image is formed on the sheet S by the thermal head 5.

The thermal head 5 generates heat while being pressed by the platen roller 6 via the sheet S and the ink ribbon T, and transfers the sublimation dye ink applied to the ink ribbon T onto the sheet S. Then, an image is formed on the sheet S.

Then, according to the formation of images of each color (yellow Y, magenta M, cyan C, overcoat OP), the sheet S is repeatedly reciprocated in the pulling direction D2 and the feeding direction D1 and conveyed to the same region of the sheet S. An image in which each color is combined is formed.

Next, the sheet S is transported along the transport path X1 in the feeding direction D1, cut by the cutter unit 40, and discharged from the discharge port 8.

[Cutter unit configuration]
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertical cross section of the printer 1 in which the movable blade of the first embodiment is in the standby position. FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view showing a vertical cross section of the printer 1 in which the movable blade of the first embodiment is in the cutting position. Hereinafter, the configuration of the cutter unit 40 of the first embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 4, the cutter unit 40 includes a movable blade 41, a fixed blade 42 arranged downstream of the movable blade 41 in the feeding direction D1, a drive unit 70 for driving the movable blade 41, and a movable blade 41. A position detecting unit 50 for detecting a position is provided.

The movable blade 41 is connected to the drive unit 70 via a gear, and is configured to be movable in the vertical direction between the standby position (home position) Q1 shown in FIG. 4 and the cutting position Q2 shown in FIG. The drive unit 70 can be a DC motor capable of PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control. The stepping motor as the drive unit 70 can rotate in either the positive direction or the negative direction opposite to the positive direction.

The movable blade 41 moves from the standby position Q1 to the cutting position Q2 by rotating the drive unit 70 in the positive direction. Further, when the drive unit 70 rotates in the positive direction, the movable blade 41 moves from the cutting position Q2 to the standby position Q1. The movable blade 41 can also move from the standby position Q1 to the cutting position Q2 by rotating the drive unit 70 in the negative direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the standby position Q1, the lower end of the movable blade 41 is above the transport path X1, and the sheet S is discharged from the discharge port 8 without being disturbed by the movable blade 41. There is. That is, the standby position Q1 is a position where the movable blade 41 waits for cutting of the sheet S, and is a position where the movable blade 41 waits when the sheet S is discharged from the discharge port 8.

As shown in FIG. 5, in the cutting position Q2, the lower end of the movable blade 41 is a position below the standby position Q1 and beyond the transport path X1. At the cutting position Q2, the movable blade 41 cuts the sheet S together with the fixed blade 42 fixed to the housing of the cutter unit 40.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the movement of the movable blade 41 from the standby position Q1 to the lower E1 to the cutting position Q2 is defined as a forward movement, and the movable blade 41 moves from the cutting position Q2 to the upper E2 to the standby position Q1. Let the movement be a backward movement.

The position detection unit 50 can be, for example, a photo interrupter. The position detection unit 50 detects the position information of the movable blade 41 by monitoring the position where the optical path from the light emitting unit to the light receiving unit is opened or blocked by the rotary encoder.

In the cutter unit 40 configured in this way, the movable blade 41 is in the standby position Q1 until the sheet S is transported to a predetermined position along the transport path X1. When the seat S is conveyed to a predetermined position (cut position), the drive unit 70 rotates in the forward direction, and the movable blade 41 moves forward from the standby position Q1 toward the cutting position Q2 downward E1. At this time, the sheet S is cut by the movable blade 41 and the fixed blade 42. After that, when the drive unit 70 further rotates in the forward direction, the movable blade 41 is inverted by a transmission mechanism (not shown) and moves backward from the cutting position Q2 toward the standby position Q1 upward E2.

[Functional configuration of cutter unit]
FIG. 6 is a block diagram showing a functional configuration of the cutter unit 40 of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the functional configuration of the cutter unit 40 of the first embodiment will be described.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the cutter unit 40, the detection information detected by the position detection unit 50 is input to the control unit 60, and the information controlled by the control unit 60 is output to the drive unit 70.

The position detection unit 50 detects the position information of the movable blade 41 and inputs the detection information to the control unit 60.

The control unit 60 includes a storage unit 61, a time measurement unit 62, and a drive control unit 63.

The storage unit 61 stores a predetermined time provided with a predetermined margin in the time normally required to cut the sheet S. Specifically, this predetermined time is a normal time until the movable blade 41 moves forward from the standby position Q1, moves backward via the cutting position Q2, and returns to the standby position Q1 again. , The time with a predetermined margin added. That is, this predetermined time is a time obtained by adding a predetermined margin to the time normally required for the cutter unit 40 to cut the sheet S.

The time measuring unit 62 measures the time when the movable blade 41 is not in the standby position Q1 based on the position information of the movable blade 41 detected by the position detecting unit 50.

The drive control unit 63 executes a process for controlling the drive of the drive unit 70 based on the measurement information of the time when the movable blade 41 of the time measurement unit 62 is not in the standby position Q1.

The information processed by the drive control unit 63 is transmitted to the drive unit 70. The drive unit 70 controls the drive of the movable blade 41 based on the information processed by the drive control unit 63.

[Processing flow by the control unit of the cutter unit]
FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a processing flow by the control unit 60 of the cutter unit of the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the flow of processing by the control unit 60 of the cutter unit of the first embodiment will be described.

When the seat S is transported to a predetermined position (cut position) along the transport path X1, the drive control unit 63 sets the duty ratio to 50% and sets the drive unit 70 to positive, as shown in FIG. It is rotated to start a series of cutting operations from the forward movement of the movable blade 41 from the standby position Q1 to the cutting position Q2 to the backward movement from the cutting position Q2 to the standby position Q1 (step S101).

Here, the movable blade 41 that moves forward with a duty ratio of 50% has sufficient force to cut the sheet S.

Next, the drive control unit 63 determines whether or not the movable blade 41 has returned to the standby position Q1 based on the position information of the movable blade 41 detected by the position detection unit 50 (step S102). When it is determined that the movable blade 41 has returned to the standby position Q1 (YES in step S102), the process ends. On the other hand, when it is determined that the movable blade 41 has not returned to the standby position Q1 (NO in step S102), has the drive control unit 63 exceeded the predetermined time for not being in the standby position Q1 measured by the time measuring unit 62? It is determined whether or not (step S103).

When it is determined that the time not in the standby position Q1 measured by the time measuring unit 62 does not exceed the predetermined time (NO in step S103), the process returns to step S102. On the other hand, when it is determined that the time when the time measuring unit 62 is not in the standby position Q1 measured exceeds a predetermined time (YES in step S103), the drive control unit 63 sets the duty ratio to 100%, for example. The drive unit 70 is negatively rotated to return to the standby position Q1 (step S104), and the process is completed.

That is, when the drive control unit 63 determines that the time when the time measurement unit 62 is not in the standby position Q1 measured exceeds a predetermined time, the drive control unit 63 makes the backward movement force larger than the forward movement force.

[Action of cutter unit]
The operation of the cutter unit of the first embodiment will be described.

The sheet cutting device (cutter unit 40) of the first embodiment includes a movable blade 41 that moves to cut the sheet S, a drive unit 70 that drives the movable blade 41, and a drive control unit 63 that controls the drive unit 70. In the drive control unit 63, the force of backward movement in which the movable blade 41 moves from the cutting position Q2 for cutting the seat S to the standby position Q1 is larger than the force of forward movement in which the movable blade 41 moves from the standby position Q1 to the cutting position Q2. (Fig. 6).

By the way, for example, when two sheets are overlapped and transported or thick paper is conveyed and the sheet cannot be completely cut by the sheet cutting device, the sheet is clogged between the movable blade and the fixed blade. Sometimes. In this case, the movable blade cannot move forward or backward.

In the first embodiment, by making the force of the backward movement larger than the force of the forward movement, when the sheet S cannot be completely cut, the movable blade 41 can be moved backward and returned to the standby position Q1. Therefore, when the sheet S cannot be completely cut, the sheet S that cannot be completely cut can be easily removed.

In the sheet cutting device (cutter unit 40) of the first embodiment, the drive control unit 63 shifts the movable blade 41 to the standby position Q1 when the time not in the standby position Q1 measured by the time measuring unit 62 exceeds a predetermined time. Move it (Fig. 6).

Thereby, for example, when the sheets cannot be completely cut due to the two sheets being conveyed in an overlapping manner or the thick paper being conveyed, the movable blade 41 can be prevented from moving forward too much. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the sheet S from being clogged between the movable blade 41 and the fixed blade 42, and to return the movable blade 41 to the standby position Q1. As a result, when the sheet S cannot be completely cut, the sheet S that cannot be completely cut can be easily removed.

In the sheet cutting device (cutter unit 40) of the first embodiment, the time when the movable blade 41 is not in the standby position Q1 is determined based on the position detection unit 50 that detects the position of the movable blade 41 and the detection value of the position detection unit 50. The drive control unit 63 includes a time measuring unit 62 for measuring, and when the time when the time measuring unit 62 is not in the standby position Q1 measured exceeds a predetermined time, the force of backward movement is larger than the force of forward movement. (Fig. 6).

As a result, the force of backward movement can be made larger than the force of forward movement only when an error occurs in which the time not at the standby position Q1 measured by the time measuring unit 62 exceeds a predetermined time. On the other hand, in a normal time when the time not in the standby position Q1 measured by the time measuring unit 62 does not exceed a predetermined time, the force of backward movement and the force of forward movement can be made the same. Therefore, power consumption can be suppressed as much as possible.

In the sheet cutting device (cutter unit 40) of the first embodiment, the drive control unit 63 controls the duty ratio of the drive unit 70 to make the backward movement force larger than the forward movement force.

As a result, the force of backward movement can be made larger than the force of forward movement with a simple configuration.

The sheet cutting apparatus and printer of the present invention have been described above based on the first embodiment. However, the specific configuration is not limited to this embodiment, and design changes, additions, etc. are permitted as long as the gist of the invention according to each claim is not deviated from the claims.

In the first embodiment, when the drive control unit 63 determines that the time when the time measurement unit 62 is not in the standby position Q1 measured exceeds a predetermined time, the drive control unit 63 makes the backward movement force larger than the forward movement force. showed that. However, even if the drive control unit determines that the time when the time measurement unit 62 is not in the standby position Q1 measured does not exceed the predetermined time, the backward movement force may be larger than the forward movement force.

In the first embodiment, when the drive control unit 63 determines that the time when the time measurement unit 62 is not in the standby position Q1 measured exceeds a predetermined time, the drive control unit 63 makes the backward movement force larger than the forward movement force. showed that. However, when the drive control unit 63 determines that the time when the time measurement unit 62 is not in the standby position Q1 measured exceeds a predetermined time, the force of the backward movement may be the same as the forward movement, or may be small. You may.

In the first embodiment, the drive control unit 63 drives the drive unit 70 with the duty ratio set to 100% or 50%. However, the duty ratio is not limited to this aspect.

In the first embodiment, an example is shown in which the movable blade 41 moves so as to descend from above the fixed blade 42. However, the movable blade may move so as to rise from below the fixed blade.

In the first embodiment, an example in which the cutter unit 40 is composed of a movable blade 41 and a fixed blade 42 is shown. However, the cutter unit 40 may be composed of two movable blades.

In the first embodiment, an example in which the drive unit 70 is a DC motor is shown. However, the drive unit may be a motor capable of torque control.

In Example 1, an example in which the present invention is a sublimation type thermal transfer printer 1 is shown. However, the present invention can also be applied to other printers equipped with a cutter unit.

1 Printer 40 Cutter unit (sheet cutting device)
41 Movable blade 50 Position detection unit 62 Time measurement unit 63 Drive control unit 70 Drive unit Q1 Standby position Q2 Cutting position S sheet

Claims (5)

A movable blade that can move and cut the sheet,
The drive unit that drives the movable blade and
A drive control unit that controls the drive unit is provided.
The drive control unit is characterized in that the force of backward movement in which the movable blade moves from the cutting position for cutting the sheet to the standby position is made larger than the force of forward movement in which the movable blade moves from the standby position to the cutting position. Sheet cutting device. A position detection unit that detects the position of the movable blade and
A time measuring unit for measuring the time when the movable blade is not in the standby position based on the detection value of the position detecting unit is provided.
The drive control unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive control unit moves the movable blade to the standby position when the time measured by the time measurement unit and not in the standby position exceeds a predetermined time. Sheet cutting device. The drive control unit is characterized in that when the time measured by the time measuring unit and not in the standby position exceeds a predetermined time, the force of the backward movement is made larger than the force of the forward movement. 2. The sheet cutting device according to 2. The drive control unit according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the drive control unit controls the duty ratio of the drive unit to make the backward movement force larger than the forward movement force. Sheet cutting device. A printer comprising the sheet cutting device according to any one of claims 1 to 4.

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