JP2022086793A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a printer which can easily perform replacement of a cutting part by effectively utilizing a wide space.SOLUTION: A printer (1) comprises: conveyance rollers (60, 66); an image recording part (3) which records an image on paper (P); a cutting part (10) which cuts the paper (P); and a control part. The control part moves the cutting part (10) to the outer side with respect to a platen (34) in the scan direction (right-left direction) to cut the paper (P). A replacement position (EX) for replacement of a cutter unit is provided on the outer side with respect to the platen (34) in the scan direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a printing apparatus.

Conventionally, there is a printing apparatus provided with a cutting portion for cutting a recording medium. For example, Patent Document 1 describes a cutting device that cuts a recording medium by sliding a round blade against a fixed blade. In the cutting device of Patent Document 1, the user can maintain the cutting device by exchanging the round blade.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 9-193084

Here, for example, in a small printing apparatus, parts are arranged in the vicinity of the center in the width direction of the printing apparatus by effectively utilizing a wide space above the position where the paper passes. In such a printing device, when a replacement position for replacing the cut portion is arranged in a wide space near the center in the width direction of the printing device, there is a problem that the wide space cannot be effectively used for component placement. ..

The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus capable of effectively utilizing a wide space and easily exchanging a cut portion. be.

In order to solve the above problems, the printing apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention supports a transport unit that transports a recording medium along a transport direction and a recording medium conveyed by the transport unit by a platen for recording. It has an image recording unit for recording an image on a medium, a detachable cutter unit, a cutting unit for cutting the recording medium, and a control unit. The control unit cuts the recording medium by moving the cutting unit to the outside of the platen in the scanning direction intersecting the transport direction. Further, it is characterized in that an exchange position for exchanging the cutter unit is provided outside the platen in the scanning direction.

According to the printing apparatus having the above configuration, since the exchange position for exchanging the cutter unit is provided outside the platen in the scanning direction, the tube support is provided in a wide space near the center in the width direction of the printing apparatus. Parts such as plates and tubes can be placed. Therefore, the wide space near the center in the width direction of the printing apparatus can be effectively utilized, and the cut portion can be easily replaced at a position avoiding the vicinity of the center in the width direction of the printing apparatus.

According to one aspect of the present invention, it is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of effectively utilizing a wide space and easily exchanging a cut portion.

It is a perspective view which shows the appearance of the printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 of this invention. It is sectional drawing which shows the internal structure of the printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which looked at the periphery of the image recording part of the printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1 from above. It is a perspective view which shows the state which opened the cartridge cover in the printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the upper surface of the printer part when the image reading part is opened in the printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the appearance of the cut part of the printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which shows the paper before cutting and the 1st paper and the 2nd paper generated after cutting. It is a block diagram which shows the electric structure of the printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the control flow at the time of printing by the control part of the printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a flowchart which shows an example of the control flow by the control part at the time of exchanging the cut part of the printing apparatus which concerns on Embodiment 1. FIG. It is a figure which looked at the image recording part and the cutting part which concerns on Embodiment 2 from above.

[Embodiment 1]
[Printing device configuration]
Hereinafter, the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 10. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing the appearance of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. The printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1 is an MFP (Multi-Function Peripheral) having a printer unit 11, an image reading unit 12, and the like. The printer unit 11 has an inkjet printing function of recording print data designated by a print job on paper P, which is an example of a recording medium, by ejecting ink L, which is an example of liquid. The image reading unit 12 is rotatably provided above the image recording unit 3 in the printing apparatus 1 and has a scanner function for reading the image recorded on the paper P.

The printing method is not limited to the inkjet method, and may be an electrophotographic method. Further, the image printed on the paper P may be capable of color printing or may be dedicated to monochrome printing. Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the vertical direction, the horizontal direction, and the front-rear direction of the printing device 1 are defined with reference to the posture in which the printing device 1 is usably installed on a horizontal plane, as shown by the arrows in FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, an opening 20 is formed on the front surface of the printer unit 11 of the printing apparatus 1. A feed tray 21 and a discharge tray 22 are arranged in the opening 20 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The feeding tray 21 is a case for accommodating a plurality of sheets P, and its upper surface is open. The discharge tray 22 is arranged above the feed tray 21 and supports the paper P or the like on which the image is recorded. The size of the paper P is, for example, A4 size. The paper P is not limited to the paper medium, and may be a resin medium such as, for example, an OHP sheet.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a setting unit 123 having a display screen is provided on the front surface of the printing device 1. The setting unit 123 is composed of, for example, a touch panel, and has a configuration capable of performing various settings related to printing by the printing device 1 and replacement of the cutting unit 10 by a user's touch operation. When the size of the paper P, the setting of whether or not to execute the cutting process, the replacement of the cutting unit 10, and the like are set by the setting unit 123, the set information is output to the control unit 100 (see FIG. 8). ).

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, a cartridge cover 81 is rotatably provided on the right side of the front surface of the printing apparatus 1. As shown in FIG. 4, an ink cartridge 8 mounted on the cartridge case 80 is arranged inside the cartridge cover 81. Here, the ink cartridge 8 is an example of a liquid storage unit.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal structure of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, inside the printing apparatus 1, the feeding roller 23, the first transport path R1, the transport rollers 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, the image recording unit 3, and the cutting unit 10 are included. And the second transport path R2 are arranged. The feeding roller 23 and the transport rollers 60, 62, 64, 66 are examples of a transport unit that transports the paper P in the first transport direction D1 (transport direction).

The feeding roller 23 is a roller for feeding the paper P stored in the feeding tray 21 to the first transport path R1. The feeding roller 23 is rotatably supported by the tip of the feeding arm 24. The feeding arm 24 is rotatably supported by a shaft 25 supported by the frame of the printing apparatus 1. The feeding arm 24 is rotationally urged toward the feeding tray 21 by its own weight or an elastic force due to a spring or the like.

The feeding roller 23 rotates in the forward direction when the feeding motor 107 (see FIG. 8) is driven. When the feeding roller 23 rotates in the forward direction, the papers P stored in the feeding tray 21 are fed one by one to the first transport path R1. The paper P fed to the first transport path R1 is transported in the first transport direction D1, that is, in the direction from the rear to the front of the printing apparatus 1.

The first transport path R1 refers to a space formed by the guide members 41, 42, 43, 44, the image recording unit 3, and the like. The first transport path R1 extends upward from the rear end portion of the feed tray 21, curves in a region partitioned by the guide members 41 and 42, and passes through the position of the image recording unit 3 to the guide member 43, It is a path that extends linearly in the area partitioned by 44 and reaches the discharge tray 22.

A transport roller 60 is arranged upstream of the image recording unit 3 in the first transport path R1 in the first transport direction D1. A pinch roller 61 is arranged at a position facing the lower portion of the transport roller 60. The transfer roller 60 is driven by a transfer motor 108 (see FIG. 8). The pinch roller 61 rotates with the rotation of the transport roller 60. When the transfer roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 rotate in the forward direction, the paper P is sandwiched between the transfer roller 60 and the pinch roller 61 and conveyed to the image recording unit 3.

As shown in FIG. 2, the transport roller 62 is arranged on the downstream side of the first transport direction D1 with respect to the image recording unit 3 in the first transport path R1. A spur roller 63 is arranged at a position facing the upper portion of the transfer roller 62. The transfer roller 62 is driven by the transfer motor 108. The spur roller 63 rotates with the rotation of the transport roller 62. When the transfer roller 62 and the spur roller 63 rotate in the forward direction, the paper P is sandwiched between the transfer roller 62 and the spur roller 63 and conveyed to the downstream side of the first transfer direction D1.

Further, the transport roller 64 is arranged on the downstream side of the first transport direction D1 with respect to the transport roller 62 in the first transport path R1. A spur roller 65 is arranged at a position facing the upper portion of the transfer roller 64. The transfer roller 64 is driven by the transfer motor 108. The spur roller 65 rotates with the rotation of the transport roller 64. When the transfer roller 64 and the spur roller 65 rotate in the forward direction, the paper P is sandwiched between the transfer roller 64 and the spur roller 65 and conveyed to the cutting portion 10 side. On the other hand, when the transfer roller 64 and the spur roller 65 rotate in the reverse direction, the paper P is sandwiched between the transfer roller 64 and the spur roller 65 and is conveyed to the second transfer path R2 along the lower surface of the first flap 46. Will be done.

A transport roller 66 is arranged on the downstream side of the first transport direction D1 from the cutting portion 10 in the first transport path R1. A spur roller 67 is arranged at a position facing the upper portion of the transfer roller 66. The transfer roller 66 is driven by a transfer motor 108. The spur roller 67 rotates with the rotation of the transport roller 66. When the transport roller 66 and the spur roller 67 rotate in the forward direction, the paper P, the first paper P1 and the second paper P2 are transported to the transport roller 66 and discharged to the discharge tray 22.

In the first transport path R1, a cutting portion 10 is arranged between the transport roller 64 and the transport roller 66. As shown in FIG. 6, the cutting portion 10 has a cutter unit 10C, and the cutter carriage 10A moves in the scanning direction by the driving force of the cutter carriage motor 110 (see FIG. 8) to cut the paper P.

As shown in FIG. 2, a first flap 46 is arranged between the transport roller 62 and the transport roller 64 in the first transport path R1 in the vicinity of the branch position Y facing the guide member 43. The first flap 46 is supported by the platen 34 and is rotatable between the first and second states. In the first state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2, the first flap 46 comes into contact with the guide member 43 and closes the first transport path R1. On the other hand, the first flap 46 is located below the first state in the second state shown by the dotted line in FIG. 2, and is separated from the guide member 43 to carry the paper P in the first transport direction D1. Let it pass.

The first flap 46 is urged upward by the coil spring 47. One end of the coil spring 47 is connected to the first flap 46, and the other end is connected to the platen 34. The first flap 46 is in the first state by being urged by the coil spring 47, and its front end abuts on the guide member 43.

Further, the second flap 48 is rotatably arranged at the confluence position W between the first transport path R1 and the second transport path R2. Specifically, the second flap 48 is rotatable between the first state shown by the solid line in FIG. 2 and the second state shown by the dotted line in FIG. When the second flap 48 is in the first state, the second flap 48 and the guide member 42 form a part of the second transport path R2. Further, when the second flap 48 is in the second state, the second flap 48 and the guide member 41 form a part of the first transport path R1.

A registration sensor 120 is arranged on the upstream side of the transport roller 60 in the first transport path R1. The registration sensor 120 is a sensor attached to the guide member 42 and detects that the front end or the rear end of the paper P passes through the contact position with the transport roller 60. As the registration sensor 120, a sensor having an actuator that swings when the paper P comes into contact with the paper P, an optical sensor, or the like can be used. The registration sensor 120 outputs an on signal when the paper P has passed the contact position with the transport roller 60, and outputs an off signal when the paper P has not passed the contact position with the transport roller 60. do. The detection signal by the registration sensor 120 is output to the control unit 100.

The transfer roller 60 is provided with a rotary encoder 121 that detects the rotation of the transfer roller 60. The rotary encoder 121 outputs a pulse signal to the control unit 100 according to the rotation of the transport roller 60 (see FIG. 8). The rotary encoder 121 has an encoder disk and an optical sensor. The encoder disk rotates with the rotation of the transport roller 60. The optical sensor reads the rotating encoder disk, generates a pulse signal, and outputs the generated pulse signal to the control unit 100.

The second transport path R2 is a path partitioned by guide members 51, 52, 53, a transport roller 68, a pinch roller 69, and the like. The second transport path R2 branches from the branch position Y on the upstream side of the transport roller 64 in the first transport path R1, and is on the upstream side of the first transport direction D1 from the image recording unit 3 in the first transport path R1. It is connected to the confluence position W.

Therefore, the control unit 100 rotates the transport roller 64 in the reverse direction and the transport roller 68 to rotate the paper P on which the image is recorded on one side along the second transport direction D2 in the second transport path R2. After being transported, it can be transported to the first transport path R1 with the front and back inverted once. As a result, the image recording unit 3 can print on both sides of the paper P.

[Structure of image recording unit]
FIG. 3 is a view of the periphery of the image recording unit 3 of the printing apparatus 1 according to the embodiment as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 3, the image recording unit 3 has a buffer tank 30, a head carriage 31, a recording head 32, a plurality of nozzles 33, and a platen 34 for recording an image on paper P. It is a thing.

The buffer tank 30 contains the ink L supplied from the ink cartridge 8 via the supply tube 82. Further, the buffer tank 30 is integrally provided with a tube joint 83. One ends of the four supply tubes 82 are detachably connected to the tube joint 83, respectively. The other ends of the four supply tubes 82 are connected to the four ink cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K, respectively.

As shown in FIG. 2, the image recording unit 3 is arranged between the transfer roller 60 and the transfer roller 62 in the first transfer path R1. The recording head 32 is mounted on the head carriage 31. The lower surface of the recording head 32 is a nozzle surface 330 on which a plurality of nozzles 33 are formed. The plurality of nozzles 33 communicate with the inside of the buffer tank 30.

The recording head 32 discharges the ink L contained in the buffer tank 30 from the nozzle 33 toward the paper P by vibrating a vibrating element such as a piezo element. The nozzle 33 ejects ink L of three colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), and cyan (C), and ink L of black (K).

The platen 34 is a rectangular plate-shaped member on which the paper P is placed. An image is recorded on the paper P by the recording head 32 selectively ejecting ink droplets in the process of moving the head carriage 31 with respect to the paper P supported by the platen 34.

As shown in FIG. 3, above the platen 34, two guide rails 13 and 14 extending in parallel with the scanning direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3) are provided. The head carriage 31 is attached to the two guide rails 13 and 14. The head carriage 31 is configured to be movable in the left-right direction along the two guide rails 15 and 16 in the region facing the platen 34.

A drive belt 15 is attached to the head carriage 31. The drive belt 15 is an endless belt wound around two pulleys 16 and 17. One pulley 16 is connected to the head carriage motor 109 (see FIG. 8). The pulley 16 rotates and the drive belt 15 travels by driving the head carriage motor 109 in the forward or reverse direction. As a result, the head carriage 31 reciprocates in the left-right direction. At this time, the image recording unit 3 mounted on the head carriage 31 also reciprocates in the left-right direction.

The head carriage 31 reciprocates in the scanning direction by transmitting the driving force of the head carriage motor 109 (see FIG. 3). When recording an image on the paper P, the control unit 100 ejects ink from the recording head 32 while moving the head carriage 31 in the scanning direction while the paper P is stopped, and outputs an image for one line. The recording process of recording on the paper P and the line feed process of driving the transport roller 60 and the transport roller 62 to transport the paper P by a predetermined line feed amount are repeated. As a result, a desired image or the like is recorded on the paper P.

[Structure of suction part]
The suction unit 7 performs suction purging of the nozzle 33 as a maintenance operation for recovering the discharge state of the nozzle 33. As shown in FIG. 3, the suction unit 7 has a cap unit 70, a suction pump 71, and a waste liquid tank 72. The configuration of the suction unit 7 shown in FIG. 3 is an example, and the present invention is not limited to this.

The cap portion 70 is arranged on the right side of the platen 34 in the scanning direction. The head carriage 31 shown in FIG. 3 moves to the standby position HP where the nozzle surface 330 of the recording head 32 and the cap portion 70 face each other in the vertical direction during standby when the image recording unit 3 does not record the image on the paper P. do. The cap portion 70 is attached to the recording head 32 at the standby position HP and covers the nozzle surface 330 to seal the nozzle 33. This prevents the nozzle 33 from drying out.

The cap portion 70 is made of, for example, a rubber material. The cap portion 70 is configured to be displaceable so as to be driven by a cap displacement portion (not shown) and to be in contact with and separated from the recording head 32 at the standby position HP.

At the standby position HP, for example, suction purging is performed to forcibly discharge the ink L from the nozzle 33. The suction pump 71 is, for example, a tube pump. The drive of the suction pump 71 is controlled by the control unit 100. When the suction pump 71 is driven, the gas and liquid in the cap portion 70 are sucked. The suction pump 71 is connected to the waste liquid tank 72 via the tube 73. The waste liquid tank 72 stores the ink L discharged from the inside of the cap portion 70 by the suction pump 71.

[Ink cartridge configuration]
FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a state in which the cartridge cover 81 is opened in the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 4, a cartridge case 80 for mounting the ink cartridge 8 is arranged on the right side of the front surface of the printing apparatus 1.

The ink cartridge 8 is a substantially rectangular parallelepiped container for storing the ink L, and four ink cartridges 8 are provided. Ink L of four colors of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), and black (K) is stored in each of the four ink cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K, respectively. Ink L is a pigment ink in which pigment particles are dispersed in a solvent.

As shown in FIG. 3, the four ink cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are connected to the image recording unit 3 via the four supply tubes 82, respectively. The supply tube 82 is made of a flexible member and communicates with the inside of the ink cartridge 8 and the inside of the buffer tank 30 of the image recording unit 3. Although not shown, a flexible flat cable extends to the head carriage 31. The flexible flat cable electrically connects the control unit 100 and the recording head 32.

[Aperture]
FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view showing the upper surface of the printer unit 11 when the image reading unit 12 is opened in the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 5, for example, a resin cover member 111 is arranged on the upper surface of the printer unit 11. An opening 112 is formed in the cover member 111. The opening 112 communicates with the exchange position EX and has a size that allows the cutter unit 10C of the cutting portion 10 to pass through. The user can replace the cutter unit 10C of the cutting portion 10 shown in FIG. 6 through the opening 112.

[Structure of cut part]
FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the appearance of the cut portion 10 of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, the cutting portion 10 has a cutter unit 10C mounted on the cutter carriage 10A. The cutter unit 10C includes a circular upper blade 10C1 and a lower blade 10C2. The cutter unit 10C is attached to the cutter carriage 10A by, for example, a screw or the like. The user can remove the cutter unit 10C from the cutter carriage 10A by loosening the screw with a tool or the like at the replacement position EX of the printing device 1, and can maintain the cutter unit 10C.

The upper blade 10C1 is rotatably mounted on the cutter carriage 10A via an O-ring or the like (not shown). Like the upper blade 10C1, the lower blade 10C2 is also rotatably mounted on the cutter carriage 10A via an O-ring or the like. The cutting portion 10 cuts the paper P by bringing the upper blade 10C1 and the lower blade 10C2 into contact with each other while rotating each other at the cutting position X. As shown in FIG. 7, the paper P cut by the cutting unit 10 is divided into a first paper P1 and a second paper P2.

The upper blade 10C1 and the lower blade 10C2 may be fixed blades or may be a combination of a rotary blade and a fixed blade. Further, the cutter unit 10C may be only one of the upper blade 10C1 and the lower blade 10C2. In this case, the cutting position X refers to the position where the upper blade 10C1 or the lower blade 10C2 and the paper P come into contact with each other. Further, the shape and size of the cutter unit 10C can be changed as appropriate.

As shown in FIG. 6, the cut portion 10 is movably supported in the scanning direction by a support rail 18 extending in the scanning direction. The support rail 18 is provided with an endless belt wound around a rotating shaft (not shown). The endless belt is connected to the cutter carriage 10A. The rotation shaft is rotated by the driving force of the cutter carriage motor 110 (see FIG. 8) to rotate the endless belt, so that the cutter carriage 10A moves in the scanning direction along the support rail 18.

[Position relationship between standby position and replacement position]
In the first embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, a standby position SB for making the cutting portion 10 stand by is provided outside the platen 34 in the scanning direction. The standby position SB is a space for keeping the cutting portion 10 on standby in a standby state in which the cutting portion 10 has not cut the paper.

Further, an exchange position EX for exchanging the cutter unit 10C is provided on the right outer side in the scanning direction with respect to the standby position SB. That is, the replacement position EX is arranged on the right side in the scanning direction in the same manner as the positions of the standby position SB and the cap portion 70. This makes it possible to effectively utilize a large space near the center in the width direction of the printing apparatus.

Specifically, the exchange position EX is arranged behind the setting unit 123 shown in FIG. 1 and below the image reading unit 12, and is located at a position corresponding to the opening 112 formed in the cover member 111 shown in FIG. Have been placed. Further, the replacement position EX is arranged behind the cartridge case 80 of the ink cartridge 8.

Further, the replacement position EX is arranged on the right outer side in the scanning direction from the right end portion of the guide rails 13 and 14 to which the head carriage 31 is attached. Further, the exchange position EX is arranged on the right outer side in the scanning direction (left-right direction in FIG. 5) with respect to the feed tray 21 and the discharge tray 22 (see FIGS. 1 and 5). Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the exchange position EX is arranged on the right outer side in the scanning direction (left-right direction in FIG. 3) with respect to the transport rollers 60 and 66. Further, the exchange position EX is arranged on the right side in the scanning direction with respect to the position through which the paper P cut by the cutting portion 10 passes. As described above, in the printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment, the cutter unit 10C of the cutting portion 10 can be easily replaced by devising the arrangement position of the replacement position EX.

As shown in FIG. 3, a plate-shaped restricting member 90 is arranged at the right end of the exchange position EX. The regulating member 90 is a member for preventing the cutting portion 10 from moving to the right outside in the scanning direction from a predetermined position by abutting on the cutting portion 10.

A spring 91, which is an example of the urging member, is attached to the right end surface of the regulating member 90. The spring 91 is a member for urging the regulating member 90 inward in the scanning direction.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing the paper P before cutting and the first paper P1 and the second paper P2 generated after cutting. In the example shown in FIG. 7, the cutting portion 10 cuts the paper P having a length A in the transport direction, so that the paper P is divided into two equal parts and the length in the transport direction is A1. The paper P1 is divided into a second paper P2 having a length in the transport direction of A2. For example, when the paper P is A4 size, the first paper P1 and the second paper P2 of A5 size are generated. In the first transport path R1, the first sheet P1 is conveyed before the second sheet P2.

[Electrical configuration of printing equipment]
FIG. 8 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 8, the printing apparatus 1 includes a control unit 100 and a communication interface (I / F) 122 in addition to the above-mentioned units.

The control unit 100 has a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 101, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 102, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 103, an EEPROM 104 (registered trademark), and an ASIC 105, which are connected by an internal bus 106. There is. The ROM 102 stores programs and the like for the CPU 101 to control various operations.

The RAM 103 is used as a storage area for temporarily recording data, signals, etc. used by the CPU 101 when executing the program, or as a work area for data processing. The EEPROM 104 stores setting information to be retained even after the power is turned off. The control unit 100 controls the recording head 32, the suction pump 71, the feeding motor 107, the transport motor 108, the head carriage motor 109, the cutter carriage motor 110, and the like based on the control program read from the ROM 102.

The ASIC 105 includes a feed motor 107, a transfer motor 108, a head carriage motor 109, a recording head 32, a cutter carriage motor 110, a suction pump 71, a registration sensor 120, a rotary encoder 121, a communication interface (I / F) 122, and a setting unit. 123 is connected.

The ASIC 105 supplies a drive current to the feed motor 107, the conveyor motor 108, the head carriage motor 109, and the cutter carriage motor 110. The control unit 100 controls the rotation of the feed motor 107, the transfer motor 108, the head carriage motor 109, and the cutter carriage motor 110 by, for example, PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) control.

Further, the control unit 100 ejects ink droplets from the nozzle by applying a drive voltage to the vibrating element of the recording head 32. The control unit 100 detects the amount of rotation of the transport roller 60 based on the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 121. The control unit 100 detects that the paper P has passed the contact position with the transport roller 60 based on the detection signal output from the registration sensor 120. Then, the control unit 100 estimates the amount of paper P to be conveyed in the first transfer path R1 based on the pulse signal output from the rotary encoder 121 after the ON signal is output from the registration sensor 120.

The communication I / F 122 is connected to a network such as a LAN, and enables connection with an external device in which a driver for the printing device 1 is incorporated. The printing device 1 can receive a print job including identification information for identifying the type of paper P via the communication I / F 122.

[Flow of control by the control unit during printing]
Next, the flow of control at the time of printing by the control unit 100 of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing an example of a flow of control at the time of printing by the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 9, first, when the control unit 100 receives the print job via the communication I / F 122, the control unit 100 drives the feed motor 107 to rotate the feed roller 23 in the forward direction, thereby causing the feed tray to rotate. The paper P is taken out from 21 and the transport of the paper P is started (S1). Specifically, after the paper P is transported from the feed tray 21 to the first transport path R1, the paper P is transported toward the image recording unit 3.

Subsequently, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the front end of the paper P has been detected by using the detection result of the registration sensor 120 (S2). When the control unit 100 does not detect the front edge of the paper P (S2: NO), returns to S1 and detects the front edge of the paper P (S2: YES), the control unit 100 controls the image recording unit 3 to control the paper. Image recording to P is started (S3).

In S3, the control unit 100 records an image on the paper P by executing an image recording process in which the line feed processing and the recording process shown below are alternately repeated on the paper P conveyed to the image recording unit 3. do. That is, in the line feed process, the control unit 100 rotates the transport motor 108 in the forward direction to drive the transport rollers 60, 62, 64, thereby transporting the paper P in the first transport direction D1 by a predetermined transport amount. Further, in the recording process, the control unit 100 drives the head carriage motor 109 while stopping the transfer of the paper P, moves the head carriage 31 in the width direction of the paper P, and causes the nozzle of the recording head 32. An image for one line is recorded by ejecting ink droplets from 33 to the paper P.

After S3, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the registration sensor 120 has detected the rear end of the paper P (S4). The control unit 100 returns to S4 when the registration sensor 120 does not detect the rear end of the paper P (S4: NO), and when the registration sensor 120 detects the rear end of the paper P (S4: YES), the control unit 100 Calculates the length A of the first transport direction D1 of the paper P shown in FIG. 7 (S5).

Specifically, the control unit 100 conveys the amount of paper P detected by the rotary encoder 121 between the time when the registration sensor 120 detects the front end of the paper P and the time when the registration sensor 120 detects the rear end of the paper P. The length A of the first transport direction D1 of the paper P is calculated based on the above.

Then, the control unit 100 sets the cutting position CL of the paper P shown in FIG. 7 based on the length A of the first transport direction D1 of the paper P calculated in S5 (S6). After S6, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the cutting position CL of the paper P has reached the position X (see FIG. 2) where the cutting unit 10 is located, based on the detection results of the registration sensor 120 and the rotary encoder 121. (S7).

When the paper P has not reached the position X where the cutting portion 10 is located (S7: NO), the control unit 100 returns to S7. On the other hand, when the paper P reaches a certain position X of the cutting portion 10 (S7: YES), the control unit 100 scans the cutting portion 10 in the scanning direction with the paper P sandwiched between the upper blade 10C1 and the lower blade 10C2. By moving the paper P to, the paper P is cut at the cutting position CL (S8). As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, the first paper P1 and the second paper P2, which are half the size of the paper P, are generated. The user shall set whether or not to cut the paper P by the setting unit 123.

After S8, the control unit 100 determines whether or not there is a next page (S9). When there is no next page (S9: NO), the control unit 100 ejects the first sheet P1 and the second sheet P2 to the ejection tray 22 and ends the image recording on the sheet P (S10).

On the other hand, when the control unit 100 has the next page (S9: YES), the control unit 100 ends printing on the second paper P2 by the image recording unit 3, and discharges the first paper P1 and the second paper P2 to the ejection tray 22. After that, the process returns to S1, and thereafter, the same processing as in S2 to S9 described above is performed.

[Flow of control by the control unit when replacing the cutting unit]
FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of a control flow at the time of replacement of the cutting portion 10 of the printing apparatus 1 according to the first embodiment. In the flowchart shown in FIG. 10, first, the control unit 100 determines whether or not the instruction to replace the cutting unit 10 has been received (S11).

When the printing device 1 does not accept the instruction to replace the cutting section 10 (S11: NO), the process returns to S11, while the user operates the setting section 123 so that the printing device 1 accepts the instruction to replace the cutting section 10. (S11: YES), the control unit 100 moves the cutting unit 10 from the standby position SB to the exchange position EX along the scanning direction (S12).

In S12, when the cutting unit 10 is moved from the standby position SB to the replacement position EX, the control unit 100 cuts the cutting unit 10 at a speed slower than the moving speed of the cutting unit 10 when cutting the paper P in S8. Move it. This makes it possible to reduce the impact applied to the cutting portion 10 when moving the cutting portion 10 to the replacement position EX.

[Effect of Embodiment 1]
According to the printing apparatus 1 of the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 3, the exchange position EX for exchanging the cutter unit 10C is provided outside the platen 34 in the scanning direction, so that printing can be performed. The wide space near the center in the width direction of the device 1 can be effectively utilized, and parts such as the tube support plate 84 and the supply tube 82 can be arranged. Further, since the replacement position EX is arranged outside the platen 34 in the scanning direction, the cutting portion 10 can be easily replaced by avoiding the parts near the center in the width direction of the printing apparatus 1.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, by arranging the standby position SB and the exchange position EX on the same side (right side in FIG. 3) in the scanning direction, the printing apparatus 1 can be miniaturized.

Further, the cut portion 10 can be easily replaced by providing the replacement position EX outside the standby position SB in the scanning direction.

Further, the user can open the image reading unit 12 shown in FIG. 1 and access the cutting unit 10 through the opening 112 formed in the cover member 111 of the printer unit 11 as shown in FIG. As a result, the cut portion 10 can be easily replaced with a tool or the like.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, since the restricting member 90 is provided at the right end portion of the exchange position EX, the cutting portion 10 can be prevented from moving to the outside in the scanning direction from the predetermined position. This makes it possible to prevent the cut portion 10 from coming off to the outside in the scanning direction.

Further, a spring 91, which is an urging member for urging the regulating member 90 to the inside in the scanning direction, that is, to the left of the printing device 1, is attached to the right side surface of the regulating member 90. The spring 91 can absorb the impact force applied to the cutting portion 10 when the cutting portion 10 moves to the replacement position EX. This makes it possible to prevent the cut portion 10 from being damaged when the cut portion 10 is moved to the replacement position EX.

Further, when the cutting portion 10 is moved from the standby position SB to the replacement position EX, the cutting portion 10 is moved at a speed slower than the moving speed at which the paper P is cut. As a result, the impact applied to the cutting portion 10 when the cutting portion 10 is moved to the replacement position EX can be reduced, and damage to the cutting portion 10 can be prevented.

Further, by rotating the image reading unit 12, it is possible to replace the cutting unit 10.

Further, the user can automatically move the cutting unit 10 to the exchange position EX by operating the setting unit 123. Then, the user can easily replace the cutting portion 10 by accessing the cutting portion 10 from the front side of the printing device 1.

Further, by arranging the replacement position EX in the empty space behind the ink cartridge 8, the size of the printing device 1 can be reduced. Further, by arranging the cartridge case 80 on the front surface of the printing device 1, the user can easily attach / detach the ink cartridge 8.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, by arranging the position of the cap portion 70 that takes up space in the width direction and the replacement position EX on the same side (right side in FIG. 3) of the printing apparatus 1 in the scanning direction, the printing apparatus It is possible to reduce the size of 1.

[Embodiment 2]
Next, the printing apparatus 1A according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. For convenience of explanation, the same reference numerals are given to the members having the same functions as the members described in the first embodiment, and the description thereof will not be repeated.

FIG. 11 is a view of the image recording unit 3 and the cutting unit 10 according to the second embodiment as viewed from above. As shown in FIG. 11, the second embodiment differs from the first embodiment in that the standby position SB is arranged on the left outer side of the platen 34 in the scanning direction.

The exchange position EX is arranged on the right outer side of the platen 34 in the scanning direction as in the first embodiment. That is, in the second embodiment, the exchange position EX is arranged on the opposite side of the standby position SB with the central position in the scanning direction interposed therebetween.

The printing device 1A of the second embodiment described above can also obtain the same effect as the printing device 1 of the first embodiment. That is, since the replacement position EX is provided outside the platen 34 in the scanning direction, the cutter unit 10C can be replaced while avoiding the vicinity of the center in the width direction of the printing apparatus 1. Therefore, the cutting portion 10 can be easily replaced.

[Other embodiments]
In the first embodiment described above, as shown in FIG. 3, the replacement position EX of the cutting portion 10 is arranged outside the standby position SB in the scanning direction, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the replacement position EX of the cutter unit 10C of the cutting portion 10 may be set to the same position as the standby position SB.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, the opening 112 is formed in the cover member 111 arranged above the image recording unit 3, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the opening 112 may be formed on the side surface of the printer unit 11.

The printing device 1 of the first and second embodiments described above is a cartridge type printing device in which the ink cartridge 8 is mounted on the cartridge case 80, but the printing device 1 is not limited thereto. For example, a tank-type printing device may be used in which a bottle-type ink cartridge is directly connected to the connection port of the supply tube 82 to supply ink.

Further, in the above-described first and second embodiments, four ink cartridges 8Y, 8M, 8C, and 8K are arranged, but the number of ink cartridges 8 is not limited to this, and may be, for example, six or eight. .. Further, in the case of a monochrome printer, one ink cartridge 8K corresponding to black may be sufficient.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, the paper P is cut in half by the cutting portion 10, but the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, the paper P may be cut in one third. Further, the cutting position X of the paper P can be appropriately changed according to the size of the print data.

The flowchart shown in FIG. 9 is an example and is not limited thereto. For example, after S4 in FIG. 9, the paper P may be transported along the second transport direction D2 in the second transport path R2, and then cut by the cutting portion 10 in S8. Further, after S4, the paper P may be transported along the second transport direction D2 in the second transport path R2, and then the paper P may be cut by the cutting portion 10 in S8.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, the registration sensor 120 detects the passage of the front end and the rear end of the paper P, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, even if the image recording unit 3 is provided with a media sensor which is a sensor for detecting whether or not the paper P is present on the platen 34, the media sensor detects the passage of the front end or the rear end of the paper P. good.

In the above-described first and second embodiments, the paper P is conveyed by the feeding roller 23, which is a roller member, and the conveying rollers 60, 62, 64, 66, 68, but the present invention is not limited to this. In addition, a belt member or a drum member may be used as the transport unit.

The present invention is not limited to each of the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made within the scope of the claims, and the present invention can be obtained by appropriately combining the technical means disclosed in the different embodiments. The form is also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

1,1A printing device 3 Image recording unit 8,8Y, 8M, 8C, 8K cartridge (liquid storage unit)
10 Cutting part 10C Cutter unit 11 Printer part 12 Image reading part 23 Feeding roller (conveying part)
34 Platen 60,62,64,66 Conveying roller (conveying part)
80 Cartridge case 90 Restrictive member 91 Spring (Bending member)
100 Control unit 111 Cover member 112 Opening unit 123 Setting unit P Paper (recording medium)
EX exchange position SB standby position

Claims (12)

A transport unit that transports the recording medium along the transport direction,
An image recording unit that supports the recording medium conveyed by the transfer unit with a platen and records an image on the recording medium.
With a detachable cutter unit, a cutting part that cuts the recording medium,
Control unit and
Equipped with
The control unit cuts the recording medium by moving the cutting unit to the outside of the platen in the scanning direction intersecting the transport direction.
A printing apparatus characterized in that a replacement position for replacing the cutter unit is provided outside the platen in the scanning direction. A standby position for making the cut portion stand by in a standby state in which the recording medium is not cut is provided outside the platen in the scanning direction.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the standby position and the exchange position are arranged on the same side in the scanning direction. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the replacement position is provided outside the scanning direction with respect to the standby position. A standby position for making the cut portion stand by in a standby state in which the recording medium is not cut is provided outside the platen in the scanning direction.
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the exchange position is arranged on the opposite side of the standby position with the central position in the scanning direction interposed therebetween. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a cover member having an opening for replacing the cut portion is provided above the image recording portion. .. Claim 1 is characterized in that one end of the exchange position is provided with a regulating member for preventing the cut portion from moving outward in the scanning direction by abutting on the cut portion. The printing apparatus according to any one of 4 to 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the restricting member is attached with an urging member for urging the restricting member inward in the scanning direction. A standby position for making the cut portion stand by in a standby state in which the recording medium is not cut is provided outside the platen in the scanning direction.
The control unit
According to claim 1, when the cut portion is moved from the standby position to the exchange position, the cut portion is moved at a speed slower than the moving speed of the cut portion when cutting the recording medium. 7. The printing apparatus according to any one of 7. An image reading unit that is rotatably provided above the image recording unit and that reads an image recorded on a recording medium is further provided.
The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the exchange position is arranged below the image reading unit. A setting unit is provided on the front surface of the printing device.
The exchange position is arranged behind the printing apparatus from the setting unit.
One of claims 1 to 9, wherein the control unit moves the cut portion to the exchange position along the scanning direction when an instruction to replace the cut portion is received by the setting unit. The printing apparatus according to item 1. Further equipped with a liquid storage unit for storing liquid,
The printing device according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the replacement position is arranged behind the printing device with respect to the liquid storage unit. A recording head having a nozzle surface on which a nozzle for discharging the liquid stored in the liquid storage unit is formed, and a recording head.
A cap portion that covers the nozzle surface of the recording head and a cap portion that covers the nozzle surface of the recording head during standby when the image is not recorded on the recording medium by the image recording unit.
Further prepare
11. The printing device according to claim 11, wherein the replacement position is arranged on the same side of the printing device in the scanning direction with respect to the position of the cap portion.

Images