JP3620607B2 - Recording material cutting device for image forming apparatus - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[Industrial application fields]
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus such as a plotter and a facsimile, and more particularly to a recording material cutter apparatus for an apparatus that cuts a recording material into a predetermined length.
[0002]
[Prior art and problems to be solved]
The recording material cutting cutter device in the known image forming apparatus as described above is brought to the operating position when cutting by a dedicated motor, solenoid or the like, and is retracted to avoid danger when not operating. Is normal.
[0003]
For example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 57-3974, a printing head is mounted, and a recording medium is cut in conjunction with a carriage that reciprocates along a platen. In addition to ensuring safety by reciprocating between positions, there is further disclosed a configuration in which a separate recording material pressing member presses the recording material to enable good cutting during cutting. Yes.
[0004]
As described above, the cutter device usually requires a dedicated drive source and requires a space for the recording material pressing member, for example, so that the cost is inevitably increased.
[0005]
The present invention has been made to cope with such a situation, and provides an image forming apparatus that carries a cutter device that can retract the cutter to a safe retracted position when not cut, with a simple and inexpensive configuration. It is intended to do.
[0006]
[Structure of the invention]
[Technical means for solving the problem and its operation]
In order to achieve the above object, according to the present invention, in a recording material cutting apparatus of an image forming apparatus configured to cut a recording material with a cutter that travels, the cutter blade in the retracted position is covered when not cutting and is covered when cutting. Recording material cutting device comprising a recording material pressing member for pressing and holding the cutting recording material, or
In the above-mentioned recording material, the recording material pressing member is provided with a slit in which the cutter blade can be swung between the position where the recording material pressing member covers the cutter blade by its own weight and the recording material pressing position so that the cutter blade can protrude and retract. Cutting device.
[0007]
With this configuration, it is possible to cut the cutter blade in a state where the position of the recording material is stabilized at the time of cutting while ensuring the safety by reliably covering the cutter blade when not in use with an extremely simple configuration. .
[0008]
[Explanation of Examples]
The accompanying drawings show a cutter device used in an image forming apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, wherein “FIG. 1” is a perspective view, “FIG. 2” is a sectional side view of a main part showing a cutter position when not cut, and “FIG. “3” is a cross-sectional side view of the main part showing that the cutter starts cutting, and “FIG. 4” is a side cross-sectional view showing that the cutter is cutting the recording material.
[0009]
In FIG. 1, a carriage 1 that carries a cutter unit 5 is mounted on rails 2 and 3 and reciprocates in the direction of arrow A in the figure, and is conveyed on the platen 4 in the direction of arrow B (not shown). It is assumed that printing and image formation are performed on the top. A groove 4a is formed on the platen, and cutting is performed while the cutter blade 5b is engaged with the groove 4a during cutting.
[0010]
“FIG. 2” shows that the cutter blade is in a non-cutting position. After printing and image formation are performed on a recording material (not shown), the cutter unit is mounted on a carriage (not shown). Then, it is guided by the guide rail 3 and travels to the right in the figure, and the cutter blade 5 travels in the groove 4a of the platen 4 to cut the recording material.
[0011]
The cutter unit 5 is provided with a shaft 5e, and a cutter support member 5d having a cutter blade 5b is rotatably attached to the shaft 5e. The pin 8 provided on the support member 5d is provided so that the presser member 5c is rotatable and has its own weight and counterclockwise rotation behavior. In the illustrated cutter retracted position, the pressing member 5c is stable at a position where it covers the cutter blade 5b. Further, as indicated by reference numeral 5'c in "FIG. 1", a slit is formed in the pressing member 5c, and the cutter blade protrudes from the slit for cutting when cutting.
[0012]
Further, the cutter support member 5d is attached to the other end of a spring 5f having one end attached to a proper position of the cutter unit 5, thereby elastically biasing the support member 5d including the cutter blade 5b in the clockwise direction in the drawing. Thus, the cutter blade is held in the retracted position. Further, a guide roller 5a that operates as will be described later is attached to the cutter support member 5d.
[0013]
At the end of the rail 3 that guides the carriage 1 including the cutter unit 5, which is located on the right side of “FIG. 2”, a switching plate 6 disposed at an angle with respect to the rail is disposed. The switching plate 6 has an end pivotably attached to the rail 3 and is always biased to an upper position as shown in the figure by a spring.
[0014]
In such a state, when printing is finished and the cutting timing has come and the cutter unit 5 has moved to the right in the figure, the guide roller 5a disposed on the cutter unit 5 is moved as shown in FIG. The cutter unit 5 abuts against the lower surface of the switching plate 6 and rotates counterclockwise against the action of the spring 5f.
[0015]
When the cutter unit 5 further travels, the cutter unit travels while the guide roller 5a abuts against the lower surface 3a of the rail 3, as shown in FIG. 4, and at this time, the cutter blade 5b is formed on the presser member 5c. The recording material protrudes from the slit 5′c and enters the groove 4a on the platen to cut the recording material.
[0016]
On the other hand, during the travel of the cutter unit 5 as described above, the presser member 5c ("FIG. 2") located at the position covering the cutter blade 5b by its own weight is accompanied by the rotation of the cutter unit 5c as described above. Thus, from the position shown in FIG. 3 to the position shown in FIG. 4 and reaching the position shown in FIG. 4, the recording material is pressed by sandwiching the cutter blade 5 b, thereby ensuring good cutting by the cutter.
[0017]
When the cutting is completed, the cutter unit 5 is stopped by a stop signal. However, by forming a notch in the rail 3 immediately before this position, the restraining action by the spring 5f on the guide roller 5a can be released. The cutter unit 5 is rotated clockwise by the action of the spring 5f, and the roller 5a stops in a state where it reaches the upper surface of the rail 3.
[0018]
As a result, the cutter unit 5 is temporarily stopped in a posture as shown in FIG. 2 and then returned to the left in the drawing. When the cutter unit that has started returning movement is guided to the upper surface of the rail 3 and reaches the vicinity of the switching plate 6, the solenoid 7 is energized, and the switching plate 6 attached thereto is counterclockwise as seen in FIG. The cutter unit 5 rotating in the direction and returning is passed through the switching plate 6, the solenoid 7 is deenergized, and the state shown in FIG. 2 is stopped.
[0019]
The present invention is not limited to the one described above, and the cutter blade may be a circular cutter, and it is of course possible to separately provide the cutter unit independently from the carriage.
[0020]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the present invention, in the image forming apparatus configured to cut a long roll-shaped recording material with a cutter every time printing is finished, the cover is protected by the recording material pressing member when not cutting. In addition, it is possible to obtain a cutting device that enables cutting while pressing the recording material with the recording material pressing member at the time of cutting with a simple configuration at low cost.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an essential part of an image forming apparatus showing an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of a cutter unit in the retracted position. Side view showing the relational arrangement [Fig. 4] Side view showing the state of the cutter unit when cut [Description of symbols]
1 Carriage 2, 3 Rail 4 Platen 4a Groove 5 Cutter unit 5a Guide roller 5b Cutter blade 5c Recording material pressing member 5d Cutter support member 5f Spring 6 Switching plate 7 Solenoid

Claims (2)

In the recording material cutting device of the image forming apparatus configured to cut the recording material with a traveling cutter blade,
  At the time of non-cutting, the cutter blade is located in front of the cutter blade in the retracted position and covers the cutter blade.
  The recording material pressing member is freely displaceable between a position covering the cutter blade and a position pressing the recording material, and is formed with a slit in which the cutter blade appears and disappears. A recording material cutting device for an image forming apparatus. In an image forming apparatus that reciprocates on a platen on which a recording material is placed to form an image, a cutter blade that cuts the recording material on the platen, and a cutter support that supports the cutter blade and travels on the platen In a recording material cutting device of an image forming apparatus provided with a member,
The cutter support member freely displaces a cutting position for cutting the recording material and a retracting position for not cutting.
A recording material pressing member that presses the recording material onto the platen when the recording material is cut;
The recording material pressing member is
When the cutter support member is in the retracted position, the cutter blade is located in front of the cutter blade and covers the cutter blade ,
When the cutter support member is in the cutting position, the cutter blade protrudes from a slit formed in the recording material pressing member and presses the recording material on the platen. Recording material cutting device of the device.

Images