JPH11216917A - Cutting apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a cutting apparatus wherein a replacement timing (exchange timing) of a cutter is never judged wrong and a recording medium is not damaged. SOLUTION: When a blade edge of a cutter 72 becomes dull or a recording paper 29 is bent and hard to cut, thereby applying a resistance to the cutter 72 from the recording paper 29, the cutter 72 and a cutter holder 78 rotate in spite of an urging force of a compression coil spring 84. In consequence of the rotation, a coupling member 74 pressed at a lower end part of a first cutter arm 50 moves in a direction of an arrow E opposite to a cut direction of the recording paper. As a result, a stopper shaft 76 of the coupling member 74 is separated from the lower end part of the first cutter arm 50, and the cutter 72 and cutter holder 78 move from a cut position to a stop position.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cutting apparatus incorporated in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium and cutting the recording medium while traveling in a predetermined direction.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As an output device of a computer or a work station, an ink jet type image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium by discharging ink and an electrophotographic type image forming apparatus are known. Some of these image forming apparatuses include a recording medium (roll paper) wound in a roll shape.
There is a type in which an image is formed by transporting in a predetermined transport direction while unwinding from one end. An image forming apparatus of this type is generally provided with a cutting device that cuts a recording medium while traveling in a direction orthogonal to the above-described transport direction. This cutting device is provided with a cutter that cuts the recording medium by contacting the recording medium, and the recording medium is cut into an arbitrary size by a cutting edge (cutter blade) of the cutter.

Normally, during image formation, the recording medium is cut after the image formation is completed without cutting the recording medium with a cutting device. For this reason, during image formation, the cutting device is made to stand by at a position (standby position) that does not hinder the conveyance of the recording medium,
The cutting device is moved to a position (cutting position) where the recording medium can be cut after image formation. This movement is performed by electric means such as a motor and a solenoid.

[0004] When an abnormal situation occurs in which the recording medium cannot be cut smoothly when the recording apparatus starts to cut the recording medium or during cutting, the cutting apparatus receives resistance from the recording medium. In this case, a part of the recording medium is pushed by the cutter blade of the cutting device without cutting the recording medium, and a part of the recording medium enters a so-called accordion jam state, and thereafter, the cutting device stops. When the cutting device stops in this way, the cutting device is generally moved to, for example, a standby position to replace the cutter. Further, the accordion jam portion of the recording medium is removed, the recording medium is set in a normal state, and the recording medium is set again. Further, if an image has been formed in the accordion jam portion of the recording medium, the image in this portion is formed again.

As a technique for preventing such an abnormal situation, a cutter is pulled by a coil spring in a cutting direction for cutting the recording medium, the sharpness of the cutter is reduced, and the resistance from the recording medium increases. A technique is known in which the cutter rotates slightly when the tension becomes stronger than the tension of the spring, and a portion of the cutter blade that is in contact with the recording medium is changed (see Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-290386). In this way, by gradually changing the portion of the cutter blade that is in contact with the recording medium, an abnormal situation caused by a decrease in the sharpness of the cutter is prevented.

[0006]

As described above, the cause of an abnormal situation where the recording medium cannot be cut smoothly as described above is that the cutting life is shortened due to the end of the life of the cutter. Another cause is that although the sharpness of the cutter is not reduced, a part of the recording medium is bent, and the cutter blade comes into contact with the bent portion and receives resistance. In the case of the other causes described above, there is a problem that the cutter is replaced even though the cutter is still usable. Also,
Regardless of the cause, there is a problem that a part of the recording medium is damaged by accordion jam.

In the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-290386, if the tensile force of the coil spring is set to a small value so as to match the thin paper, the resistance from the thick paper to the cutter blade in the case of thick paper is reduced. There is a problem that the cardboard cannot be cut because it is larger than the tensile force.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a cutting device that does not mistake the cutter replacement time (replacement time) and does not damage the recording medium.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, which cuts the recording medium while traveling in a predetermined direction. In the cutting apparatus incorporated in the image forming apparatus, (1) a cutter that cuts the recording medium by contacting the recording medium; (2) a cutting position where the cutter contacts the recording medium and cuts the recording medium; A standby position where the cutter waits until the cutter starts cutting the recording medium; and, when the cutter receives a resistance of a predetermined value or more from the recording medium, the cutter separates from the recording medium and stops cutting the recording medium. A shift means is provided for shifting the cutter so that the cutter is located at any of the stop positions.

Here, (3) the shifting means may have a function of shifting the cutter from the standby position to the cutting position when passing the predetermined area.

(4) The transfer means may include a spring for biasing the cutter so as to contact the recording medium, the spring having a biasing force smaller than a predetermined value or more. Good.

(5) The spring may be capable of changing the biasing force.

Further, (6) the cutting device may be provided with a detecting means for detecting whether or not the cutter is located at the stop position.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium, wherein the image forming apparatus cuts the recording medium while traveling in a predetermined direction. (7) a cutter that cuts the recording medium by contacting the recording medium; (8) a cutting position at which the cutter contacts the recording medium and cuts the recording medium; Waiting until cutting of the recording medium is started, and both of the standby stop positions where the cutter separates from the recording medium and stops cutting the recording medium when the cutter receives a resistance force equal to or more than a predetermined value from the recording medium. And a shifting means for shifting the cutter so that the cutter is positioned at the position.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a cutting device according to the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a plotter in which a cutting device according to the present invention is incorporated.

The plotter 1 is fixed to an upper part of a stand 2 having casters 2a. The plotter 1 includes an operation unit 3 for operating the plotter 1. By operating various switches and the like provided on the operation unit 3, paper size, online / offline, commands, and the like are instructed. You. A recording medium such as recording paper inserted into the recording medium insertion slot 4 in the direction of arrow A is conveyed into the plotter 1 based on an instruction from the operation unit 3, where an image is printed and discharged.

Referring to FIG. 2, the recording paper transport path and the printing (image forming) process will be described.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a path from insertion to ejection of the recording sheet by cutting out the plotter of FIG.

The plotter 1 can print on a sheet-shaped recording paper (cut paper) inserted from the recording medium insertion slot 4 and on a recording paper (rolled paper) 6 wound in a roll. Here, the transport path of the cut sheet inserted from the recording medium insertion opening 4 will be described, but the roll paper 6 is also transported in the same manner.

On the cover 7 of the roll paper 6, for example, a large-sized cut paper is arranged and inserted into the recording medium insertion opening 4 in the direction of arrow A. The inserted cut paper passes between the cover 7 and the upper guide 8, and is rotatably fixed to the paper transport roller 10a and the upper transport roller support plate 11 rotatably fixed to the lower transport roller support plate 9. The paper is transported above the printing plate 14 while being sandwiched between both the paper transport rollers 10 b and the drive roller 12. The cut paper that has passed above the printing plate 14 is then
The paper is discharged while being held between the discharge roller 20 and the spur 22 located thereon. The spur 22 is rotatably fixed to the spur plate 21.

The plotter 1 has a carriage 16 which reciprocates in the direction of arrow B. This carriage 16
Is provided with a head holder 18.
8 has four print heads 19 containing four types of color inks (for example, cyan, magenta, yellow, and black). The carriage 16 is provided with a belt 17 mounted on a carriage drive motor (not shown).
The belt 17 reciprocates in the direction of arrow B by forward and reverse rotation of the carriage drive motor. When the belt 17 reciprocates in the direction of arrow B, the carriage 16
Is guided by the guide rail 24 and reciprocates in the direction of arrow B. A cutting device 40 (see FIG. 3), which will be described later, is arranged movably in the direction of arrow B slightly above the carriage 16 and downstream of the recording paper conveyance direction (direction of arrow C).

The cut sheet is conveyed intermittently in the direction of arrow C. In forming an image on the cut sheet, the cut sheet is temporarily stopped, and while the carriage 16 is reciprocated in the direction of arrow B, ink is ejected based on image information input to the print head 19, and the cut sheet is ejected. Of these, an image for one band is formed in a portion located in the image forming area.
Thereafter, the cut sheet is conveyed by a predetermined length, and an image for the next band is formed in a portion newly located in the image forming area. This operation is repeated over the entire length of the cut sheet. As a result, a color image is formed on the cut sheet. The cut sheet on which the color image is formed is formed by a discharge roller 20 and a spur 22
And is discharged along the platen 28 while being clamped between them.

An embodiment of the cutting device will be described with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing the cutting device. FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the cutter is waiting at the standby position from the side, and FIG. 5 is a partial view showing a state where the cutter is cutting the recording paper at the cutting position from the side. It is sectional drawing. FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the cutter has finished shifting to the stop position from the side. In these figures, the same components as those in FIGS. 1 and 2 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

As described above, the cutting device 40 is disposed slightly above the carriage 16 and downstream in the recording paper transport direction. The cutting device 40 is roughly divided into a rotating shaft 42
The first cutter arm 50 that rotates about the first cutter arm 50, the second cutter arm 60 that rotates about the rotation shaft 42 with the rotation of the first cutter arm 50, and the second cutter arm 60 Connected cutter unit 70
And a cutter cover 44 in which the first cutter arm 50, the second cutter arm 60, the cutter unit 70, and the like are stored.
May protrude from the cutter cover 44.
The rotating shaft 42 is connected to a side wall 44 a of the cutter cover 44.
It is fixed rotatably.

At the tip end of the cutter unit 70, a cutter 7 which cuts the recording paper 29 by contacting the recording paper 29 is provided.
2 is fixed. The cutter unit 70 has a cutting position (position shown in FIG. 5) where the cutter 72 contacts the recording paper 29 and cuts the recording medium, and a standby position where the cutter 72 waits until the cutter 72 starts cutting the recording paper 29 (shown in FIG. 4). Position) and a stop position where the cutter 72 separates from the recording paper 29 and stops cutting the recording paper 29 when the cutter 72 receives a resistance force greater than or equal to a predetermined value from the recording paper 29 (a position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 6). ) To move to any position. The cutter 72 also moves so as to be located at any one of the three positions described above as the cutter unit 70 moves.

Above the platen 28, the guide rail 32 extends in a direction orthogonal to the recording paper 29 transport direction (the direction of arrow C).
Is extending. The guide rail 32 is for guiding the cutting device 40, but a support rail (not shown) for assisting the carriage 16 may be used as the guide rail 32.

A key-shaped hook 54 is formed at a portion of the first cutter arm 50 slightly away from the rotating shaft 42, and one end of a tension coil spring 46 is fixed to the hook 54. The other end of the tension coil spring 46 is fixed to a key-shaped hook 44b formed on the inner surface of the cutter cover 44. For this reason, the first cutter arm 50
Is biased by a tension coil spring 46 so as to rotate clockwise in FIG. As a result, the cutter unit 70 is also urged by the tension coil spring 46 to rotate clockwise in FIG. At the standby position shown in FIG. 4, a part of the cutter unit 70 protrudes from the upper portion of the cutter cover 44. However, at the cutting position shown in FIG. 5 and the stop position shown in FIG. 6, the entire cutter unit 70 is stored in the cutter cover 44.

A cutter roller 52 is rotatably fixed to a portion of the first cutter arm 50 opposite to the rotary shaft 42 across the hook 54. This cutter roller 5
2 is located slightly above the guide rail 32 without contacting the guide rail 32 in the standby position shown in FIG. However, in the cutting position shown in FIG. 5 and the stop position shown in FIG.
And rotates while moving in the direction of arrow F while contacting the back surface 32a of the.

As described above, the guide rail 32 extends above the platen 28, but as shown in FIG. 4, at a position separated (off) from the platen 28, a guide port opening toward the cutting device 40 is provided. A guide plate 36 forming 34 is arranged. Further, a flapper 38 that opens and closes the exit is attached to the exit of the guide port 34. Flapper 3
8 rotates about the rotation shaft 38a by being pushed by the cutter roller 52 as described later. On the rotating shaft 38a,
A coil spring (not shown) for urging the flapper 38 in the clockwise direction (the direction of arrow G) in FIG. 4 is arranged. For this reason, when no external force acts on the flapper 38, FIG.
The exit of the guide port 34 is closed as shown by the solid line. The area from the entrance to the exit of the guide port 34 is an example of the predetermined area according to the present invention.

As described above, in the standby position shown in FIG. 4, the cutter unit 70 is located above the recording paper 29 apart from the recording paper 29, and the paper holding plate 80 is also located above the recording paper 29. In order for the cutter unit 70 to shift from the standby position to the cutting position, the cutting device 40 is moved to the left side in FIG. As a result, the cutter roller 52 moves the guide plate 36
Hit. 4, the cutter roller 52 is guided by the guide plate 36 and moves downward to push down the flapper 38, and the back surface 32 a of the guide rail 32.
Get into the side.

With the movement of the cutter roller 52, the first cutter arm 50 rotates counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 42, and the lower end 56 of the first cutter arm 50 is connected to the connecting member. The stopper shaft 76 is pushed down.
Accordingly, the cutter holder 78 and the second cutter arm 60 connected to the connecting member 74 also rotate counterclockwise about the rotation shaft 42. Further, since the first cutter arm 50 is urged in the direction of arrow D by the tension coil spring 46, the cutter roller 52 is pressed against the back surface 32 a of the guide rail 32. As a result, as shown in FIG. 5, the cutter unit 70 moves to a cutting position where the recording paper 29 can be cut. The paper holding plate 80 is used for the recording paper 2.
Press 9 from above.

Even when the cutter unit 70 is at the cutting position, the first cutter arm 50 is urged clockwise (the direction of arrow D) by the tension coil spring 46. Therefore, as described above, the cutter roller 52 is connected to the guide rail 3.
The cutter unit 70 is pressed against the rear surface 32a of the second member 2 and, as a result, the movement of the cutter unit 70 is regulated and the cutter unit 70 is stabilized at the cutting position. When the cutting device 40 travels above the recording paper 29 with the cutter unit 70 kept at the cutting position, the cutter 72 comes into contact with the recording paper 29 and
Cut 9

The side of the guide rail 32 opposite to the guide plate 36 shown in FIG. 4 is an end 32c as shown in FIG. When the cutting device 40 finishes cutting the recording paper 29 and the cutter roller 52 passes through the end 32c, the first cutter arm 50 is pulled by the tension coil spring 46, and the first cutter arm 50 is rotated clockwise about the rotation shaft 42. (In the direction of arrow D), and the cutter roller 52 is
While the lower end 56 of the first cutter arm 50 abuts the lower surface of the second cutter arm 60 and pushes up the second cutter arm 60,
The cutter arm 50 stops. Thereby, the cutter unit 70 shifts from the cutting position to the standby position.

A series of operations in which the cutter unit 70 shifts between the standby position and the cutting position is a basic recording paper cutting operation of the cutting device 40.

Next, the movement of the cutter unit 70 when the recording apparatus 29 starts to cut the recording paper 29 by the cutting device 40 or when an abnormal situation occurs in which the recording medium cannot be cut smoothly during the cutting will be described.

The edge of the cutter 72 (cutter blade)
If the recording paper 29 is degraded or the recording paper 29 is bent and becomes difficult to cut, the cutter 72 receives resistance from the recording paper 29. This resistance allows the cutter 72
And a cutter holder 7 holding the cutter 72
8 is about to rotate clockwise (direction of arrow D) about the rotation shaft 82. This rotation is performed by the cutter holder 78.
This occurs when the resistance force from the recording paper 29 is greater than the urging force of the compression coil spring 84 disposed on the side opposite to the cutter 72. Therefore, when the resistance force from the recording paper 29 is smaller than the urging force of the compression coil spring 84, the cutter 72 and the cutter holder 78 do not rotate, and continue to cut the recording paper 29 as shown in FIG.

The urging force of the compression coil spring 84 is determined when the cutter 72 is deteriorated or when the recording paper 29 is bent and an abnormal situation occurs, so that the cutter 72 immediately precedes the recording paper 29 in an accordion jam state. 72
Is desirably an urging force that causes the recording paper 29 to rotate and separate from the recording paper 29.

When the cutter 72 and the cutter holder 78 rotate as described above, the connecting member 74 pressed by the lower end 56 of the first cutter arm 50 is caused by the rotation, as shown in FIG. It moves in the direction opposite to the recording paper cutting direction (the direction of arrow E shown in FIG. 6). Thereby, the stopper shaft 76 of the connecting member 74 is separated from the lower end 56 of the first cutter arm 50. As a result, the cutter 72, the cutter holder 78, the connecting member 74, and the second cutter arm 60 rotate in the direction of arrow D due to the elasticity of the paper pressing plate 80, and guide holes 80b formed in the side plate 80a of the paper pressing plate 80. The guide shaft 78a of the cutter holder 78 abuts (abuts) the upper end regulating surface 80c of the cutter holder 78. This contact stops the rotation of the cutter 72, the cutter holder 78, and the like. This stopped position is the stop position referred to in the present invention.

Even if the carriage 16 (see FIG. 3) moves in the recording paper cutting direction (the direction of arrow F) while the cutter 72, the cutter holder 78 and the like are stopped at the stop position, the cutter 72 is not moved. Since the recording paper 29 is away from the recording paper 29, the cutter 72 does not push the recording paper 29 and a part of the recording paper 29 does not enter a so-called accordion jam state. When the cutter roller 52 passes through the end 32c of the guide rail 32 with the cutter 72, the cutter holder 78, and the like stopped at the stop position, the first cutter arm 50 is pulled by the extension coil spring 46,
The cutter unit 70 moves up while the side end 58 of the first cutter arm 50 slightly pushes the connecting member 74 in the direction of the arrow E. As a result, the cutter unit 70 moves to the standby position and returns to the state shown in FIG. The transition means according to the present invention includes the first and second cutter arms 50, 6 here.
0, a tension coil spring 46, a compression coil spring 84, and the like.

As described above, when the cutting edge of the cutter 72 is deteriorated or the recording paper 29 is bent and becomes difficult to cut, and the cutter 72 receives resistance from the recording paper 29, the cutter 72 stops from the cutting position. Move to the position and separate from the recording paper 29. Therefore, even if an abnormal situation occurs when the recording paper 29 starts to be cut or during the cutting, the recording paper 29 is not damaged. Further, even if there is no abnormal situation caused by the recording paper 29, such as the bent of the recording paper 29, the life of the cutter 72 is reached when the cutter unit 70 shifts from the cutting position to the stop position. In this case, the cutter 72 can be replaced without incorrect replacement time of the cutter 72 (replacement time). In order to replace the cutter 72, as shown in FIG. 4, the cutter 72 is removed in the direction of arrow D while removing the hook 78a formed above the cutter 72.
Can be easily replaced by removing

A second embodiment of the cutting device will be described with reference to FIG.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the cutter of the cutting device of the second embodiment cuts the recording paper at the cutting position from the side. In this figure, the same components as those in FIGS. 3 to 6 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The feature of the cutting device 90 of the second embodiment is that the urging force of the compression coil spring 84 for urging the cutter 72 to contact the recording paper 29 can be changed. A pressure adjusting plate 92 is arranged at the upper end of the compression coil spring 84, and the pressure adjusting plate 92 is configured to be pressed by an adjusting screw 94 and a spring washer 96. Adjusting screw 94
By turning, the biasing force of the compression coil spring 84 can be finely adjusted.

Accordingly, by finely adjusting the urging force of the compression coil spring 84 by turning the adjusting screw 94 in accordance with the magnitude of the buckling strength of the recording paper due to the difference in the paper type and the use environment,
Regardless of the type of paper or the usage environment, when the cutter 72 has deteriorated or when an abnormal situation has occurred suddenly in the cut portion of the recording paper 29, a part of the recording paper 29 is Will not be in a so-called accordion jam state.

Referring to FIG. 8, a third embodiment of the cutting apparatus of the present invention is shown.
An embodiment will be described.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the cutter of the cutting device according to the third embodiment is waiting at a standby position. In this figure, the same components as those in FIGS. 3 to 7 are denoted by the same reference numerals.

The features of the cutting apparatus 100 of the third embodiment are as follows.
The point is that whether or not the cutter 72 is located at the stop position can be detected. A micro switch 104 is arranged at one end of the cutter cover 102. On the other hand, the cutter holder 78 of the cutter unit 106 has a switch selection rib 1 for turning on / off the microswitch 104.
08 is fixed. While the cutter 72 is cutting the recording paper 29, the micro switch 104 is on, but when the cutter 72 is at the stop position, the micro switch 104 is off. Micro switch 104
The on / off state of is configured to be displayed on the operation unit 3 (see FIG. 1), for example. This makes it easy to determine that the cutting has been stopped when the cutter 72 has deteriorated or when an abnormal situation has suddenly occurred in the cut portion of the recording paper 29. The same effect can be obtained by using an optical sensor instead of the microswitch 104.

In the above embodiment, the cutter 7
Although the standby position and the stop position of 2 are different from each other,
The standby position and the stop position may be configured to be the same position (standby stop position in the present invention).

[0051]

As described above, according to the first cutting apparatus of the present invention, the cutter separates from the recording medium and cuts the recording medium when the cutter receives a resistance of a predetermined value or more from the recording medium. Is shifted by the shifting means so as to be located at the stop position where the stop is performed. If the recording medium is not bent, the cutter is deteriorated and the sharpness is reduced, so that the recording medium receives a resistance of a predetermined value or more.
Therefore, it can be determined that the cutter should be replaced with a new one. Further, when the recording medium is bent, for example, it is determined that the cutter has not deteriorated due to a resistance of a predetermined value or more from the recording medium due to the bending. As a result, the replacement time of the cutter (replacement time) is not mistaken. Further, regardless of the cause of the deterioration of the cutter or the bending of the recording medium, the cutter moves to the stop position, so that the recording medium is not damaged.

Here, when the shifting means shifts the cutter from the standby position to the cutting position when passing through the predetermined area, it is possible to reliably shift from the standby position to the cutting position simply by passing through the predetermined area. Therefore, an easy-to-use cutting device can be obtained.

In the case where the transfer means is provided with a spring for urging the cutter to come into contact with the recording medium and having a biasing force smaller than a predetermined value or more, the recording paper may be damaged. It can be prevented more reliably.

Further, when the above-mentioned spring is capable of changing its biasing force, the cutter may be deteriorated or suddenly cut at the cut portion of the recording medium regardless of the type of paper or the use environment. When an abnormal situation occurs, a part of the recording medium is not brought into a so-called accordion jam state by the cutter.

Further, when a detecting means for detecting whether or not the cutter is located at the stop position is provided, when the cutter is deteriorated or when an abnormal situation occurs suddenly at the cut portion of the recording medium, It can be easily determined that the disconnection has been stopped.

According to the second cutting device of the present invention,
When the cutter receives a resistance equal to or more than a predetermined value from the recording medium, the transition is performed by the transition unit such that the cutter separates from the recording medium and is positioned at a standby stop position where cutting of the recording medium is stopped. If the recording medium is not bent, the cutter is deteriorated and the sharpness is reduced, so that the recording medium receives a resistance of a predetermined value or more. Therefore, it can be determined that the cutter should be replaced with a new one. Further, when the recording medium is bent, for example, it is determined that the cutter has not deteriorated due to a resistance of a predetermined value or more from the recording medium due to the bending. As a result, the replacement time of the cutter (replacement time) is not mistaken. Also, regardless of the cause of the deterioration of the cutter or the bending of the recording medium, the cutter moves to the standby stop position, so that the recording medium is not damaged.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a schematic configuration of a plotter in which a cutting device of the present invention is incorporated.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a path from insertion to ejection of a recording sheet by cutting out the plotter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a cutting device of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state in which a cutter of the cutting device in FIG. 3 is waiting at a standby position from a side.

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where a cutter of the cutting device of FIG. 3 cuts a recording sheet at a cutting position from a side.

FIG. 6 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where the cutter of the cutting device of FIG. 3 has finished shifting to a stop position from the side.

FIG. 7 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where a cutter of a cutting device according to a second embodiment cuts a recording sheet at a cutting position from a side.

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-sectional view showing a state where a cutter of a cutting device according to a third embodiment is in a standby state at a standby position.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plotter 29 Recording paper 32 Guide rail 34 Guide opening 36 Guide plate 40,90,100 Cutting device 42 Rotating shaft 46 Tension coil spring 50 First cutter arm 52 Cutter roller 60 Second cutter arm 70 Cutter unit 72 Cutter

Continued on the front page (72) Inventor Gonsuke Inozuma 6-3-3 Shimorenjaku, Mitaka City, Tokyo

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cutting device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for cutting an image on a recording medium while traveling in a predetermined direction in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on the recording medium. And a cutting position where the cutter contacts the recording medium and cuts the recording medium, a standby position where the cutter waits until the cutter starts cutting the recording medium, and a predetermined value or more from the recording medium. Transition means for shifting the cutter so that the cutter is positioned at any one of stop positions where the cutter separates from the recording medium and stops cutting the recording medium when the cutter receives the resistance force. A cutting device comprising: 2. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the shifting means shifts the cutter from the standby position to the cutting position when passing the predetermined area. 3. The transfer means urges the cutter to contact a recording medium.
The cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising a spring having a biasing force that is weaker than the predetermined force or more. 4. The cutting device according to claim 3, wherein the spring is capable of changing the biasing force. 5. The cutting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a detection unit configured to detect whether the cutter is located at the stop position. 6. A cutting device incorporated in an image forming apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium and cutting the recording medium while traveling in a predetermined direction, wherein the recording medium comes into contact with the recording medium. And a cutting position at which the cutter contacts the recording medium and cuts the recording medium, and waits until the cutter starts cutting the recording medium, and the cutter has a resistance of a predetermined value or more from the recording medium. Transfer means for moving the cutter so that the cutter is located at any one of both standby stop positions where the cutter separates from the recording medium and stops cutting the recording medium when receiving a force. A cutting device.