JPH11245465A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid the twice-cutting of a sheet by a cutter mechanism., the locking of the cutting mechanism, and others without return of the cut sheet to the side of the cutter mechanism. SOLUTION: A printer 1 is equipped with a separation type cutter mechanism 11 which is arranged downstream from a printing part 8 in a transportation passage for a web-shaped sheet 7 and cuts the sheet 7 by the slide of a movable blade 13 to a fixed blade 12. A cut delivery passage 10a to be delivered through the mechanism 11 in the passage 10 is formed to decline forward. In this way, since the sheet 7 cut by the mechanism 11 is delivered downward, the sheet 7 is prevented from returning to the side of the mechanism 11 so that troubles such as the twice-cutting of the sheet 7 and the locking of the cutter mechanism 11 can be avoided.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printer for printing on a web-like sheet such as a receipt or label sheet, cutting the sheet, and discharging the sheet.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, in a receipt printer or a label printer, a separation type cutter mechanism in which a fixed blade and a movable blade are separated such that a movable blade is slid with respect to a fixed blade to cut web-shaped paper. Is often used.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show a conventional example of this type of receipt printer. The roll-shaped paper 102 dropped into and stored in the arc-shaped paper storage unit 101 of the printer body 100 is subjected to predetermined printing while being conveyed by the printing unit 105 by the platen roller 103 and the thermal head 104. The sheet is cut by the cutter mechanism 106 and discharged (issued as a receipt). Here, although the details of the cutter mechanism 106 are not particularly shown, the cutter mechanism 106 is of a separation type including a combination of a fixed blade and a movable blade.
Transport path 107 from which paper is discharged through cutter mechanism 106
Is to make the platen roller 103 a turning point,
It is formed in a U-shape. Accordingly, the paper 102 printed by the printing unit 105 is moved toward the cutter mechanism 106 by an arrow A.
As shown by, the paper is cut forward and discharged.

[0004]

However, according to such a printer structure, the paper 102 cut by the cutter mechanism 106 may return to the cutter mechanism 106 side. In particular, in the case of the separation type cutter mechanism 106, since the cutting state is in a separated state in which a gap is formed between the fixed blade and the movable blade, the cut sheet 102 returns to the inside of the cutter mechanism 106 by lowering. Cheap. Such a phenomenon is likely to occur, for example, when the receipt (cut paper) is forgotten after the receipt is issued.
As a result, problems such as cutting of the paper 102 twice by the cutter mechanism 106 and locking of the cutter mechanism 106 due to the repetition may occur.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the cut sheet does not return to the cutter mechanism side, and the sheet
An object of the present invention is to provide a printer capable of avoiding cutting and locking of a cutter mechanism.

[0006]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
In a printer having a separation type cutter mechanism that is disposed downstream of a printing unit in a transport path for web-shaped paper and cuts the paper by sliding a movable blade with respect to a fixed blade, the cutter mechanism in the transport path The cut paper discharge path which is discharged after passing through is formed below the horizontal and below. Therefore, the sheet cut by the cutter mechanism is discharged downward, and does not return to the cutter mechanism side. Here, the front lowering of the cut sheet discharge path is preferably in a front lowering inclined state, but may be horizontal or lower, and may be in a horizontal state.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, the cut discharge path is formed in the transport path at a position lower than the horizontal by a printing position by the printing unit. Therefore, in addition to the effect of the first aspect of the invention, since the position of the printing unit is higher than the paper discharge side, dust associated with the outside and the cutting operation does not enter the printing unit.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or the second aspect of the present invention, a printer cover is provided which can be opened and closed with respect to a printer main body at a transport path, and a fixed blade is provided on the printer cover side. A movable blade is provided on the printer main body side. Accordingly, the paper cut by the cutter mechanism does not return to the cutter mechanism side, and a drive system for driving the movable blade may be provided on the printer main body side. Can also be improved.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS One embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. This embodiment will be described as an example of application to a receipt printer built in a POS terminal or ECR.

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a schematic sectional structure of the printer, FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the appearance of the printer, and FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer showing a state in which a transport path is opened. First,
The printer 1 according to the present embodiment includes a printer body 2 having a housing structure and a printer cover 3. The printer cover 3 is openable and closable about the support shaft 4 with respect to the printer body 2. The printer main body 2 is provided with a platen 5 having a roller structure and an arc-shaped paper storage unit 6, and the paper storage unit 6 stores and holds a roll-shaped receipt paper (paper) 7. On the other hand, on the printer cover 3 side, a thermal head 9 which is in contact with the platen 5 and constitutes the printing unit 8 is provided. Thus, when the printer cover 3 is closed, a transport path 10 is formed from the paper storage unit 6 to the paper discharge side via the printing unit 8, and the thermal head 9 is moved to the platen 5 via the transport path 10. It is configured to be able to contact with the pressing force of.

A cutter mechanism 11 is provided at a discharge side exit of the transport path 10. This cutter mechanism 11 is formed by combining a fixed blade 12 and a movable blade 13 each having a long and flat plate shape.
The movable blade 13 slides with respect to the fixed blade 12 to cut the paper 7 conveyed along the conveyance path 10. Here, the fixed blade 12 is provided on the printer cover 3 side, and the movable blade 13 is provided on the printer main body 2 side, and has a separated type structure in which the both blades 12 and 13 are separated when not operating.

The movable blade 13 in such a cutter mechanism 11
Is a cutter arm 15 that swings around a fulcrum 14 by receiving a driving force from a stepping motor activated based on an activation signal, using a stepping motor (not shown) as a driving source.
As a power transmission medium. That is, the plate cam 16 that is driven to rotate by the stepping motor is provided.
The cutter arm 15 is connected to the plate cam 16 as a follower so as to constitute a cam mechanism using the plate cam 16 as a prime mover. Therefore, the movable blade 13 fixed to the tip is driven by rotating the cutter arm 15 by a predetermined amount from a predetermined position.

Next, the positional relationship between the printing unit 8 and the cutter mechanism 11 will be described. When the transport path 10 from the printing position of the printing unit 8 to the discharge side exit through the cutter mechanism 11 is a cut discharge path 10a, the cut discharge path 10a
Is formed to incline forward and downward so that the exit on the discharge side is lower than the printing position. That is, the cutter mechanism 11 is disposed so that the cutting position of the cutter mechanism 11 is lower than the printing position of the printing unit 8.

In such a configuration, the paper 7 stored and held in the paper storage unit 6 is driven by the platen 5 to be conveyed through the conveyance path 10 while the thermal head 9 sequentially prints predetermined receipt print contents. Is done. When printing is completed, the trailing end of the paper 7 is cut by the driving of the movable blade 13 in the cutter mechanism 11, and a receipt is issued in the direction shown in FIG. At this time,
Cut discharge path 10a discharged through the cutter mechanism 11
Is lowered forward so that the paper is discharged downward,
The cut sheet 7 is issued so as to naturally fall forward, and does not return to the cutter mechanism 11 side. Therefore, problems such as double cutting due to the cut sheet returning to the cutter mechanism side are avoided. Further, in the present embodiment, since the entirety is inclined downward and forward from the printing position of the printing unit 8 to the paper discharge position, dust or the like accompanying the cutting operation of the outside or the cutter mechanism 11 may cause the thermal head of the printing unit 8. It does not penetrate into nine parts or the like, and does not adversely affect printing performance.

When the paper 7 in the paper storage unit 6 runs out, the printer cover 3 is opened, a new roll of paper 7 is stored and set in the paper storage unit 6, and the leading end is transported along the transport path. 10 on the printer cover 3
Close. When the printer cover 3 is opened and closed, the cutter mechanism 11 is provided with the fixed blade 12 without a driving system such as a stepping motor on the printer cover 3 side, so that the cutter mechanism 11 can be light in weight and has good operability. Becomes

[0016]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the separation type cutter mechanism is disposed downstream of the printing unit in the transport path for the web-shaped paper and cuts the paper by sliding the movable blade against the fixed blade. In the printer provided with the cutter mechanism, the cut paper discharge path discharged through the cutter mechanism in the transport path is formed at the front lower than the horizontal, so that the paper cut by the cutter mechanism is discharged downward, Side, so that problems such as cutting the paper twice and locking the cutter mechanism can be avoided.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the printer according to the first aspect, the cut discharge path is formed in the transport path at a position lower than the horizontal by the printing position of the printing unit and lower than the horizontal. In addition to the effects of the invention, it is also possible to prevent dust accompanying the outside or cutting operation from entering the printing section.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the present invention, a printer cover is provided which is openable and closable with respect to a printer main body at a transport path, and a fixed blade is provided on the printer cover side. Since the movable blade is provided on the printer main body side, the paper cut by the cutter mechanism does not return to the cutter mechanism side, and a drive system for driving the movable blade may be provided on the printer main body side. It is possible to reduce the weight of the cover, and it is also possible to improve the opening and closing operability in exchanging web-shaped paper.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view showing a schematic sectional structure of a printer according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an external perspective view showing the printer.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the printer showing a state where a transport path is opened.

FIG. 4 is an external perspective view showing an example of a conventional printer.

FIG. 5 is a schematic side view showing a schematic sectional structure thereof.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Printer body 3 Printer cover 7 Paper 8 Printing unit 10 Transport path 10a Cut paper discharge path 11 Cutter mechanism 12 Fixed blade 13 Rotary blade

Continuing on the front page (72) Inventor Koichi Yamada 570 Ohito, Oni-cho, Takata-gun, Shizuoka Prefecture Inside the Tech Ohi Works, Inc.

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A printer provided with a separation type cutter mechanism disposed downstream of a printing unit in a transport path for web-shaped paper and cutting the paper by sliding a movable blade against a fixed blade. Wherein a cut paper discharge path, which is discharged through the cutter mechanism, is formed at a front lower than horizontal level. 2. The printer according to claim 1, wherein the cut discharge path is formed at a position lower than the horizontal position by a printing position in the transport path. 3. A printer cover which is openable and closable with respect to a printer main body at a transport path, a fixed blade is provided on the printer cover side, and a movable blade is provided on the printer main body side. 3. The printer according to 1 or 2.