JP4161234B2 - Cutting device - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a cutting device, and more particularly to a cutting device for cutting a sheet into a predetermined shape.
[0002]
[Prior art]
2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a cutting apparatus for cutting a tack sheet or the like in which a release sheet is bonded to an adhesive sheet into a predetermined shape is known. This type of cutting device is, for example, a sheet support member that supports a sheet wound around a winding core, a conveyance roller that pulls out and conveys the sheet from the sheet support member, and a conveyance roller that conveys the sheet. A cutting mechanism for cutting the sheet to be cut. This cutting mechanism usually includes a cutter that cuts a sheet, and a carriage that reciprocally moves the cutter in a direction substantially perpendicular to the sheet conveyance direction (the width direction of the sheet). The sheet is cut into a predetermined shape by reverse rotation and reciprocation of the carriage in the width direction of the sheet.
[0003]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
Such a cutting device is often used, for example, when cutting a portion on which a predetermined image is formed. Therefore, on the upstream side of the cutting mechanism in the forward conveyance of the sheet, It is desirable to provide a printer head for forming a predetermined image.
[0004]
On the other hand, when cutting a sheet with a cutter, chips such as paper dust are generated on the sheet. For example, when the sheet is cut into a V-shape that forms an acute angle toward the upstream side with respect to the conveyance in the forward direction of the sheet, or when the cutter is separated from the sheet after being cut into a predetermined shape. The sheet may turn up.
[0005]
Therefore, when a printer head is installed on the upstream side of the cutting mechanism, when the sheet is cut while being conveyed in the reverse direction, that is, toward the upstream side of the cutting mechanism, chips generated during the cutting adhere to the printer head. Thus, there is a risk of image formation failure, and jamming may occur due to buckling of the sheet turned up at the time of cutting against the printer head.
[0006]
The present invention has been made in view of the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device that can prevent the occurrence of sheet jamming and can maintain good image formation with a simple configuration. Is to provide.
[0007]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 includes a conveying means capable of conveying the sheet in both forward and reverse directions, all cut And half cut Cutting means for Located upstream of the cutting means in conveying the sheet in the positive direction, and connected to the cutting means, Towards the cutting means In the positive direction The sheet to be conveyed For the cutting means A first sheet conveying path for guiding; and an image forming means provided in the first sheet conveying path for forming an image on a sheet passing through the first sheet conveying path; Located upstream of the cutting means in conveying the sheet in the forward direction, and connected to the cutting means, the sheet is conveyed in the forward direction in the first sheet conveying path and completely cut by the cutting means. To be half-cut later The sheet conveyed by the conveying unit in the reverse direction from the cutting unit is received, and the sheet is conveyed when the sheet is conveyed in the forward direction toward the cutting unit. For the cutting means A second sheet conveyance path for guiding; Conveying direction switching means for selectively connecting only one of the first sheet conveying path and the second sheet conveying path to the cutting means; It is characterized by having.
[0008]
According to such a configuration, when it is necessary to cut after forming a predetermined image on the sheet, the sheet is conveyed from the sheet conveying path provided with the image forming means. Then, the sheet is first formed with a predetermined image by the image forming unit, and then guided to the cutting unit and cut into a predetermined shape. On the other hand, when only the sheet needs to be cut, the sheet is conveyed from the sheet conveyance path on which the image forming unit is not provided. Then, the sheet is directly guided to the cutting means without being passed through the image forming means and cut into a predetermined shape.
[0009]
Also The transport direction of the transported sheet is selectively selected by the transport direction switching unit between the sheet transport path in which the image forming unit is provided and the sheet transport path in which the image forming unit is not provided. Can be switched to.
[0011]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing the configuration of a main part of a cutting printer 1 as an embodiment of the cutting apparatus of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of the main part of the cutting printer 1 shown in FIG.
[0012]
As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cutting printer 1 cuts the tack sheet 9 into a casing 2 as a transport mechanism 4 that can transport the tack sheet 9 as a sheet in both forward and reverse directions. A cutting mechanism unit 5 for image forming, and an image forming mechanism unit 6 as an image forming unit for forming a predetermined image on the tack sheet 9.
[0013]
The tack sheet 9 is rotatably supported in a state of being wound around the core 3 by the sheet support member 7 at the rear side (right side in FIG. 1) end portion in the casing 2. As shown in FIG. 3, the tack sheet 9 is configured by bonding a release paper 8 b to an adhesive sheet 8 a whose front surface is printable and whose rear surface is coated with an adhesive.
[0014]
The transport mechanism 4 is provided at the front (left side in FIG. 1) end in the casing 2, and at the position sandwiching a cutter unit 21 described later in the transport direction of the tack sheet 9, the two first transport rollers 12. And two second transport rollers 13. Two first driven rollers 14 and two second transport rollers 15 are provided at positions facing the first transport roller 12 and the second transport roller 13 with the tack sheet 9 therebetween. The first transport roller 12 and the second transport roller 13 are a first roller shaft 16 and a second roller that are supported by a pair of left side plate 10 and right side plate 11 that are provided opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction in the casing 2. It is attached to the shaft 17. The first roller shaft 16 and the second roller shaft 17 are from a first motor (not shown) (only the motor shaft 19 appears in FIG. 2) via a gear train 18 provided outside the right side plate 11. The drive is transmitted.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 2, the cutting mechanism unit 5 includes a cutting bed 20 that receives a tack sheet 9 that is disposed so as to be inclined forward and downward, and the cutting bed 20 is opposed to the tack sheet 9 with the tack sheet 9 interposed therebetween. A cutter unit 21 serving as a cutting means arranged to be inclined and a carriage 22 to which the cutter unit 21 is detachably mounted are provided.
[0016]
The cutter unit 21 has a cutter 23 for cutting the tack sheet 9 on the lower end side thereof. This cutter 23 is an all-in-one mechanism for cutting the release sheet 8b together with the adhesive sheet 8a by a lifting mechanism (not shown) in the cutter unit 21. It is selectively supported at the cutting position and the half-cut position where only the adhesive sheet 8a is cut.
[0017]
As shown in FIG. 1, the carriage 22 is connected to one end of an endless timing belt 26 that spans a pair of pulleys 24 and 25 disposed on both outer sides of the left and right side plates 10 and 11. . One pulley 25 of the pair of pulleys 24 and 25 is driven by a second motor (not shown) disposed outside the right side plate 11 via a second gear train 27 including a bevel gear and the like. By this driving, the carriage 22 is reciprocated in a direction (sheet width direction) substantially orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the tack sheet 9.
[0018]
Further, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the end of the carriage 22 opposite to the end where the cutter unit 21 is mounted is connected to the main body whose both ends are supported by the left and right side plates 10 and 11. A guide shaft 28 is slidably inserted. In addition, an auxiliary guide shaft 29 extending substantially parallel to the main guide shaft 28 is slid at an intermediate portion between the end on the side where the cutter unit 21 is mounted and the end on the side where the main guide shaft 28 is inserted. It is inserted in a movable manner. Both ends of the auxiliary guide shaft 29 are supported by a pair of rotating arms 29 that are rotatably provided on the left and right side plates 10 and 11, and one end of the auxiliary guide shaft 29 is connected to the left side. Outside the plate 10, it is connected to a first solenoid 31 (shown only in FIG. 1) via an operating link 30. When the first solenoid 31 is in the on state (excited state), the cutter unit 21 is operated so that the lower end side presses the upper surface of the cutting bed 20 by the biasing force of a spring (not shown), while the first solenoid When 31 is in an off state (not excited), the output shaft of the first solenoid 31 advances, and the operating link 30 pushes up the auxiliary guide shaft 29 (in FIG. 2, the auxiliary guide in the pushed-up state). The auxiliary guide shaft 29 in a state before being pushed up is indicated by a phantom line, and the shaft 29 is indicated by an imaginary line.) Thus, the end of the carriage 22 on the side where the cutter unit 21 is mounted is connected to the main guide shaft 28. The cutter unit 21 is rotated upward as a fulcrum so that the lower end side of the cutter unit 21 is separated from the upper surface of the cutting bed 20. It is.
[0019]
The image forming mechanism 6 is provided at the center of the casing 2 in the front-rear direction. The thermal head 32 has a length substantially equal to the width of the tack sheet 9, and the thermal head 32 and the tack sheet 9. And a platen roller 33 facing each other. Both ends of the platen roller 33 are attached to a platen roller shaft 34 supported by the left and right side plates 10 and 11. The platen roller shaft 34 is transmitted with a drive from a third motor (only the motor shaft 36 appears in FIGS. 1 and 2) through a gear train 35 provided outside the left side plate 10. It is configured to be.
[0020]
The cutting printer 1 according to the present embodiment configured as described above has two sheet conveyances for guiding the sheet to the cutting mechanism unit 5 upstream of the cutting mechanism unit 5 in the conveyance of the sheet in the forward direction. A first transport path 37 and a second transport path 38 are provided as the paths.
[0021]
As shown in FIG. 2, the first conveyance path 37 has a front end that is drawn from the lower side of the tack sheet 9 wound around the sheet support member 7, in front of the sheet support member 7, and in the casing 2. A first path 40 for guiding the image forming mechanism unit 6 disposed in the central portion in the vertical direction and the cutting mechanism unit 5 disposed in front of the image forming mechanism unit 6 are guided from the first path 40. And a second path 41. The first path 40 is formed as a passage that is inclined forward and upward from the lower side of the tack sheet 9 wound around the sheet support member 7 toward the image forming mechanism unit 6. The second path 41 extends from the image forming mechanism 6 toward the cutting mechanism 5 in a substantially flat manner, then rises upward in a curved shape, and then inclines forward and downward. It is formed as a passage that continues to the rear end portion of 20.
[0022]
On the other hand, the second conveyance passage 38 is inclined forward and downward from a sheet supply port 43 formed by opening the rear portion of the upper wall 42 of the casing 2, and a predetermined gap is formed at the rear end portion of the cutting bed 20. It is formed as a passage that faces each other.
[0023]
Further, only one of the first conveyance path 37 and the second conveyance path 38 is selected at the boundary portion where the second path 41 of the first conveyance path 37 is continuous with the rear end portion of the cutting bed 20. In addition, a switching flapper 44 is provided as conveying direction switching means for connecting to the cutting mechanism unit 5. The switching flapper 44 includes a plurality of flapper main bodies 45 facing the second path 41 at a boundary portion thereof, a pivot shaft 46 inserted through a rear end portion of each flapper main body 45, and a front end of each flapper main body 45. And a support shaft 47 inserted through the portion. As shown in FIG. 1, each flapper body 45 has a rectangular upper end facing the second path 41, and the rectangular length direction is in a state along the sheet conveyance direction. The sheets are arranged at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the sheet. In addition, as shown in FIG. 2, the pivot shaft 46 is inserted into the rear end portion of each flapper body 45 and is coupled to each flapper body 45 so as not to rotate relative to each other. 10 and 11 are rotatably supported. In addition, the support shaft 47 is supported by the left and right side plates 10 and 11 so that the support shaft 47 can move up and down in a state in which the support shaft 47 is coupled to the flapper main body 45 so as not to rotate relative to each other. The outer side of the right side plate 11 is connected to the second solenoid 48 via the operation link 49. When the second solenoid 48 is in the on state (excited state), the upper end portion of each flapper body 45 is actuated so as not to protrude from the second path 41 by the biasing force of a spring (not shown), and the first transport path 37 and the cutting mechanism 5 are connected to each other, and when the second solenoid 48 is in an off state (not excited), the output shaft of the second solenoid 48 advances and the operation link 49 Pushes up the support shaft 47, whereby each flapper body 45 is pivoted upward with the pivot shaft 46 as a fulcrum, and the upper end of each flapper body 45 is operated so as to protrude from the second path 41. Thus, a state in which the second transport passage 38 and the cutting mechanism unit 5 are connected is formed.
[0024]
Next, a brief description will be given of a case where the cutting printer 1 configured as described above is used to form a predetermined image on a sheet and then half-cut to surround the portion where the image is formed.
[0025]
First, before such an operation is performed, the second solenoid 48 is turned on to form a state in which the first transport path 37 and the cutting mechanism 5 are connected (this state is shown in FIG. 4). Is shown in.) Then, the leading end of the tack sheet 9 wound around the sheet support member 7 is passed through the first path 40 of the first conveyance path 37 and drawn near the thermal head 32, and a power supply (not shown) is turned on. Then, a third motor (not shown) is driven to rotate forward in response to an operation start command from a CPU (not shown), and the tack sheet 9 enters between the thermal head 32 and the platen roller 33 by rotation of the platen roller 33 in the forward direction. Then, by driving the heating element of the thermal head 32, a predetermined image is formed on the sticking sheet 8a of the tack sheet 9.
[0026]
Then, the tack sheet 9 on which a predetermined image is formed enters between the cutting bed 20 and the cutter unit 21 through the second path 41 of the first transport passage 37 (the transport direction at this time is shown in FIG. 4). (Indicated by an arrow 51). Here, when half-cutting is performed so as to surround the part where the image is formed, the part to be half-cut is once transported to the downstream side of the cutting mechanism unit 5, and then the whole cut is performed in the width direction of the sheet. Then, the part to be half cut is returned to the position of the cutting mechanism unit 5 to perform half cut.
[0027]
That is, first, by rotating the first motor in the forward direction, the first transport roller 12 and the second transport roller 13 are rotated in the forward direction, whereby the portion of the tack sheet 9 where the predetermined image is formed is , Once transported to the downstream side of the cutting mechanism 5. In this state, all cuts are made in the width direction of the sheet. In this full cut, the first solenoid 26 is turned on while the cutter 23 is supported by the lifting mechanism (not shown) at the full cut position, and the second motor (not shown) is driven to rotate forward or backward to drive the carriage 22. This is done by reciprocating in the width direction of the sheet. As a result, the portion of the tack sheet 9 on which the predetermined image is formed is separated from the tack sheet 9 in the first conveyance path 37 continuous from the tack sheet 9 wound around the sheet support member 7.
[0028]
Then, all the cuts are performed, the second solenoid 48 is turned off, and the upper end portion of each flapper main body 45 is operated so as to protrude from the second path 41, so that the second transport passage 38 and the cutting mechanism portion are operated. 5 (this state is shown in FIG. 5). In this way, the switching flapper 44 switches the connection with the cutting mechanism unit 5 from the first conveyance path 37 to the second conveyance path 38, so that the downstream-side tack sheet 9 that has been completely cut, i. The tack sheet 9 having the portion on which the image is formed can be conveyed to the second conveyance path 38.
[0029]
Then, after all the cuts are made in this way and the transport direction is switched from the first transport path 37 to the second transport path 38, a half cut is performed. At the time of this half cut, first, the first solenoid 26 is turned off, and then the first motor is driven in the reverse direction to rotate the first transport roller 12 and the second transport roller 13 in the reverse direction. The tack sheet 9 having a portion on which a predetermined image is formed is transported toward the upstream side of the cutting mechanism unit 5 and positioned at the start position for half-cutting, and then the cutter 23 is moved up and down (not shown) Thus, after supporting the adhesive sheet 8a at the half-cut position where only the adhesive sheet 8a is cut, the solenoid 26 is turned on again. Then, by causing the first motor to rotate forward and reversely, the tack sheet 9 is cut along the transport direction while being transported in the forward direction and the reverse direction, and the second motor is driven forward and reversely. By driving, the carriage 22 is reciprocated in the width direction of the tack sheet 9, whereby the tack sheet 9 is cut along the width direction, and the forward rotation drive and the reverse rotation drive of these first motors, and the second By causing the motor to perform forward rotation and reverse rotation simultaneously and relatively, the portion of the tack sheet 9 on which the predetermined image is formed is half-cut into an arbitrary shape such as a rectangular shape or an arc shape, for example. Is done.
[0030]
After such a half cut is completed, after the first solenoid 26 is turned off, the first transport roller 12 and the second transport roller 13 are rotated in the forward direction by driving the first motor to rotate forward. Thus, the tack sheet 9 in which the portion where the predetermined image is formed is half-cut is discharged from the discharge port 50 formed in front of the casing 2.
[0031]
In this way, after a predetermined image is formed on the tack sheet 9, when half-cutting is performed so as to surround the portion where the image is formed, first, all the cuts are performed, and at the same time, the transport direction is changed to the first transport path 37. When the tack sheet 9 is cut in the reverse direction, that is, while being transported toward the upstream side of the cutting mechanism unit 5 during half-cutting, the tack sheet to be half-cut is switched. 9 is transported to the second transport path 38 (the transport direction at this time is indicated by an arrow 52 in FIG. 5), so that chips generated during the half-cut can be prevented from adhering to the thermal head 32. In addition, jamming due to buckling of the adhesive sheet 8a that has been turned up at the time of cutting hits the thermal head 32 is prevented. It can be. Therefore, while forming a predetermined image on the tack sheet 9 and cutting it, it is possible to maintain good image formation on the thermal head 32 and to reduce the occurrence of jamming. Note that, for example, such an effect can be obtained even if the thermal head 32 is configured to move forward and backward from the first transport path 37 using a solenoid or the like, but it is possible to provide two transport paths 37 and 38. However, the above-described effects can be achieved more reliably.
[0032]
On the other hand, if only the tack sheet 9 needs to be cut, the second solenoid 48 is turned on and the cutting mechanism unit 5 and the second transport path 38 are connected by the switching flapper 44 and then the second transport is performed. The tack sheet may be supplied from the sheet supply port 43 of the passage 38 by manual feeding, for example. Note that the tack sheet supplied at this time is indicated by a tack sheet 54 in FIG. 2, for example. As a result, the tack sheet 9 can be guided directly to the cutting mechanism unit 5, and therefore, even when the tack sheet 9 is cut while being conveyed in the reverse direction, that is, toward the upstream side of the cutting mechanism unit 5. Further, it is possible to prevent chips generated at the time of cutting from adhering to the thermal head 32, and it is possible to prevent jamming due to the sticking sheet 8a turned up at the time of cutting hitting the thermal head 32 and buckling.
[0033]
In the above description, the case where the tack sheet 9 is cut is described. However, the cutting printer 1 according to the present embodiment may use various sheets such as plain paper and PET film in addition to the tack sheet 9. it can. In the present embodiment, the switching flapper 44 is used as the conveying direction switching means. For example, as shown in FIG. 6, a resin sheet 53 (for example, a PET film) having a rectangular thin plate shape extending in the sheet width direction is used. Etc.) may be used. In FIG. 6, the resin sheet 53 has one end side in the sheet conveyance direction attached to the second conveyance path 38 side, and the other end abutted to the cutting bed 20 side. The cutting bed 20 and the second transport path 38 are connected. In the cutting printer 1 having such a resin sheet 53, the sheet after the predetermined image is formed in the image forming mechanism unit 5 pushes up the resin sheet 53 by itself at the leading end of the sheet, thereby cutting the bed 20 And the cutter unit 21 and then cut by the above-described cutting operation.
[0034]
In the above description, the half cut is performed after the tack sheet 9 is completely cut. However, the half cut may be performed after the half cut depending on circumstances. The switching flapper 44 is driven by the second solenoid 48, but may be driven by a motor and a cam mechanism.
[0035]
【The invention's effect】
As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, when it is necessary to form and cut a predetermined image on the sheet, the sheet is fed from the sheet conveyance path provided with the image forming means. Can be cut into a predetermined shape while forming a good image. On the other hand, when only the sheet needs to be cut, the sheet can be conveyed from the sheet conveying path on which the image forming unit is not provided and directly cut by the cutting unit. Therefore, when only the sheet needs to be cut, when the sheet is cut in the reverse direction, that is, while being conveyed toward the upstream side of the cutting mechanism, chips generated at the time of cutting are attached to the image forming unit. Further, it is possible to prevent jamming due to buckling of the sheet that has been turned up at the time of cutting against the image forming means. Therefore, it is possible to maintain good image formation by the image forming unit and to reduce the occurrence of jamming.
[0036]
Also When it is necessary to form a predetermined image on the sheet and cut it, the image is formed on the sheet by the image forming unit by conveying the sheet from the sheet conveying path on which the image forming unit is provided. Can be formed. Then, when the sheet on which the image is formed is guided to the cutting unit, in the first cutting operation, the sheet is cut off from the sheet in the image forming unit, and the conveyance direction switching unit The cutting unit is connected to the sheet conveyance path on which the image forming unit is not provided. As a result, when the sheet is cut in the reverse direction, that is, while being conveyed toward the upstream side of the cutting mechanism, the sheet on which a predetermined image is formed is conveyed to the sheet conveyance path on which the image forming unit is not provided. Can be made. For this reason, it is possible to prevent chips generated at the time of cutting from adhering to the image forming means, and it is possible to prevent jamming due to buckling of the sheet turned up at the time of cutting against the image forming means. Therefore, while a predetermined image can be formed and cut on the sheet, it is possible to maintain good image formation by the image forming means, and to reduce the occurrence of jam.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a plan view of an essential part of a cutting printer as an embodiment of a cutting apparatus of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a side sectional view of an essential part of the cutting printer shown in FIG.
3 is a perspective view of the roll sheet shown in FIG. 3. FIG.
4 is a cross-sectional side view of a main part for explaining switching of the conveyance direction of the tack sheet of the cutting printer shown in FIG. 2;
5 is a cross-sectional side view of a main part for explaining switching of the conveyance direction of the tack sheet of the cutting printer shown in FIG. 2. FIG.
6 is a cross-sectional side view of a main part corresponding to FIG. 5 when a PET film is used. FIG.
[Explanation of symbols]
4 Transport mechanism
5 Cutting mechanism
6 Image forming mechanism
9 Tuck sheet
37 First transfer path
38 Second transfer path
44 switching flapper

Claims (1)

Conveying means capable of conveying the sheet in both forward and reverse directions;
Cutting means for full and half cutting the sheet;
Positioned on the upstream side of the cutting means in conveying the sheet in the forward direction and connected to the cutting means to guide the sheet conveyed in the forward direction toward the cutting means to the cutting means A first sheet conveyance path;
An image forming means provided in the first sheet conveying path for forming an image on a sheet passing through the first sheet conveying path;
Located upstream of the cutting means in conveying the sheet in the forward direction, and connected to the cutting means, the sheet is conveyed in the forward direction in the first sheet conveying path and completely cut by the cutting means. A sheet that is conveyed in the reverse direction from the cutting means by the conveying means to be half-cut later is received, and the sheet is guided to the cutting means when the sheet is conveyed in the forward direction toward the cutting means. a second sheet conveying path for,
Transport direction switching means for selectively connecting only one of the first sheet transport path and the second sheet transport path to the cutting means. A cutting device.

Images