JP2005066965A - Recording medium cutting device, cutting method and recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a recording medium cutting device which can arbitrarily cut a recorded image, and a recording apparatus which is equipped with the recording medium cutting device. <P>SOLUTION: Cutting means 210 and 230, which are used for cutting a recorded part of a carried and recorded recording medium in a carrying direction and a direction orthogonal to the carrying direction, cut a cutting-plane line which is automatically computed according to a margin around the recorded image to be inputted and set. Since this enables a user to obtain the image with the margin only by inputting the desired margin, cutting and dividing operations performed by hand can be made unnecessary. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a recording medium cutting apparatus including a cutting unit that cuts a recording portion of a recording medium that has been conveyed and recorded in a conveyance direction and a direction orthogonal thereto, and a recording apparatus including the recording medium cutting apparatus.

  Some printers, which are one of conventional recording apparatuses, include a cutter for cutting a roll paper as a medium. This printer moves the recording paper in the main scanning direction (conveyance orthogonal direction) while conveying the roll paper in the sub scanning direction (conveying direction), and records a plurality of images side by side in the sub scanning direction. The cutter is moved in the main scanning direction to cut the roll paper for each image.

JP 2000-158738 A

  Since the conventional large-scale printer described above only moves the cutter in the main scanning direction and cuts the roll paper in the width direction, even if a plurality of images are recorded in the width direction of the roll paper, individual images Cannot be divided into. In particular, it is impossible to cut with or without a margin (cut margin) around the image. For this reason, it is necessary to manually separate the images into individual images later.

  The present invention has been made in view of the various problems as described above, and an object thereof is a recording medium cutting device capable of arbitrarily cutting a recorded image and a recording device including the recording medium cutting device. Is to provide.

  In order to achieve the above object, the recording medium cutting apparatus of the present invention is a recording medium cutting apparatus comprising cutting means for cutting a recording portion of a transported and recorded recording medium in a transport direction and a transport orthogonal direction. The means is characterized by cutting a cutting line that is automatically calculated based on a margin around a recording image to be input and set. As a result, the user can obtain an image with the margin only by inputting the desired margin, so that manual separation can be eliminated.

  To achieve the above object, the recording medium cutting method of the present invention is a method for cutting a recording portion of a recording medium that has been transported and recorded in the transporting direction and the transporting orthogonal direction, and recording the recording medium on the recording medium. Set each data of margin to be added around the recorded image and the recorded image, and the size of the recorded image in the conveyance orthogonal direction and the size of the margin in the conveyance orthogonal direction, and if necessary, the interval of the cutting line in the conveyance orthogonal direction And the dimension of the recording medium in the conveyance orthogonal direction is compared with the added value. When the dimension of the recording medium in the conveyance orthogonal direction is larger than the addition value, the position of the cutting line is calculated and cutting is performed. It is characterized by doing. Thereby, since the user can obtain an image with a desired margin, manual separation can be eliminated.

  In order to achieve the above object, the recording medium cutting apparatus of the present invention is a recording medium cutting apparatus comprising cutting means for cutting a recording portion of a transported and recorded recording medium in a transport direction and a transport orthogonal direction. The means is characterized in that a recorded image automatically arranged at an arbitrary position in the cutting area is cut at the cutting size based on the cutting size set as input. Thereby, since the user can obtain an image of the cut size only by inputting a desired cut size, it is possible to eliminate the need for manual separation.

  To achieve the above object, the recording medium cutting method of the present invention is a method for cutting a recording portion of a recording medium that has been transported and recorded in the transporting direction and the transporting orthogonal direction, and recording the recording medium on the recording medium. Set each data of the recording image, the cutting size of the recording image, compare the dimension of the recording medium in the conveyance orthogonal direction and the dimension of the cutting size in the conveyance orthogonal direction, and the dimension of the recording medium in the conveyance orthogonal direction When the cutting size is larger than the dimension in the conveyance orthogonal direction, margin data to be added around the recording image is set, and the recording position of the recording image is calculated and cutting is performed. Thereby, since the user can obtain an image of a desired cutting size, it is possible to eliminate the need for manual separation.

  Further, the cutting size can be input and set for each of the plurality of recorded images. Thereby, for example, even if the sizes of a plurality of recorded images are different from each other, an image having the same cutting size can be obtained. Further, the recording image is arranged based on a margin around the recording image to be input and set. As a result, the user can obtain an image with the margin added with the cut size only by inputting the desired margin and the cut size.

  In addition, the margin can be input and set for each of the plurality of recorded images. As a result, it is possible to obtain an image with a margin desired by the user for each image. Further, the margin can be individually input and set around one recorded image. Thereby, it can be set as the image which added the binding margin, for example. The margin is defined by a distance between an edge of the recorded image and the cutting line. Thereby, the user can perform input setting while specifically assuming the margin.

  Further, the interval between the cutting lines of the adjacent recorded images is automatically set according to the type of the recording medium. As a result, the recorded image can be cut so that the rigidity of the portion between the recorded images is maintained, so that the portion between the recorded images becomes an obstacle when the recording medium is transported or recorded thereafter. Can be prevented. In order to achieve the above object, the recording apparatus of the present invention is a recording apparatus that records on a recording medium and cuts the recording portion, and includes the recording medium cutting apparatuses. Thereby, it is possible to provide a recording apparatus that exhibits the action of each recording medium cutting apparatus.

  FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of an ink jet printer that is one of recording devices to which a recording medium cutting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a main view of the ink jet printer. FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing an example of the internal configuration of the section, and FIG. The ink jet printer 100 shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 is a large-sized printer capable of recording on a roll paper having a relatively large paper width, such as a JIS standard A1 size or a JIS standard B1 size. In the ink jet printer 100, a recording unit 120, a paper discharge unit 130, and a recording medium cutting device 200 according to the present embodiment are disposed in a main body 110, and a paper feeding unit is interposed between legs 140 that support the main body 110. 150 is arranged.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the main body 110 includes a housing 111 made of plastic or sheet metal that covers the recording unit 120 and the paper discharge unit 130. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the housing 111 is provided with an upper lid 112 and a front lid 113 made of translucent or transparent plastic or sheet metal so that the upper surface and the front surface can be opened.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the upper portion of the upper lid 112 is rotatably supported, and the upper lid 112 is opened and closed when the user holds the front portion and pushes it up or down. The user can open the upper part of the recording unit 120 and the paper discharge unit 130 by opening the upper cover 112, so that the maintenance work of the recording head 121, the carriage 122, etc. and the paper jam during recording or paper discharge, etc. It is possible to easily perform a paper transport error canceling operation.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the lower part of the front lid 113 is rotatably supported, and is opened and closed when the user holds down the upper part or pushes it up or pushes it up. By opening the front lid 113, the user can largely open the lower part of the recording unit 120 and the paper discharge unit 130, so that it is possible to easily perform a paper transport error canceling operation such as a paper jam during paper feeding. it can.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an ink cartridge holder 160 having a holder main body 161 for storing and holding the ink cartridges 10 for each color and a cover 162 for covering the front surface of the main body 110 as viewed from the front side. Is arranged. The lower portion of the cover 162 is supported so as to be rotatable with respect to the holder main body 161, and is opened and closed when the user holds down the upper portion and pushes it down or pushes it up. Since the user can open the holder main body 161 by opening the cover 162, the user can easily replace the ink cartridge 10 or the like.

  Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, an operation panel 170 for the user to operate recording control and the like is disposed on the upper right side when viewed from the front side of the main body 110. The operation panel 170 is provided with a liquid crystal screen and various buttons so that the user can operate the buttons while checking the liquid crystal screen. Since the user can perform a reliable operation by visual recognition, an operation error, an operation error, and the like can be eliminated.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the recording unit 120 includes a carriage 122 on which the recording head 121 is mounted, a flexible flat cable (hereinafter referred to as a flexible flat cable) that electrically connects the recording head 121 and a control unit (not shown) for performing recording. , FFC) 123. Further, the recording unit 120 includes an ink tube 124 that connects the recording head 121 and the ink cartridge 10 containing ink, a paper feed roller 125 that conveys roll paper, a driven roller 126 thereof, and paper (not shown) that prevents the roll paper from being lifted. Suction means and the like are provided.

  The recording head 121 includes a black ink recording head that discharges black ink and a plurality of color ink recording heads that discharge ink of each color such as dark yellow, yellow, light cyan, cyan, light magenta, and magenta. . The recording head 121 is provided with a pressure generation chamber and a nozzle opening connected to the pressure generation chamber. The size of the recording head 121 is controlled from the nozzle opening toward the roll paper by storing ink in the pressure generation chamber and pressurizing it with a predetermined pressure. Ink droplets are discharged.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the carriage 122 is mounted on a rail 127 provided in the main scanning direction via a bearing and is connected to a carriage belt 128. When the carriage belt 128 is actuated by a carriage drive device (not shown), the carriage 122 is entrained in the movement of the carriage belt 128 and guided by the rail 127 to reciprocate. One end of the FFC 123 is connected to the connector of the control unit and the other end is connected to the connector of the recording head 121, and a recording signal is sent from the control unit to the recording head 121.

  The ink tubes 124 are provided for the inks of the respective colors, and one end of each ink tube is connected to the corresponding ink cartridge 10 via an ink pressure supply unit (not shown), and the other end is recorded for each corresponding color. It is connected to the head 121. The ink tube 124 is configured to send ink of each color pressurized by the ink pressure supply means from the ink cartridge 10 to the recording head 121.

  The paper feed roller 125 is driven to rotate forward and backward by a driving force transmitted from a motor (not shown). The driven roller 126 is pressed against the paper feed roller 125 by an urging member such as a spring, and rotates forward and backward following the forward / reverse rotation drive of the paper feed roller 125. The paper feed roller 125 and its driven roller 126 sandwich and feed the fed roll paper.

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the paper discharge unit 130 includes a paper discharge roller 131 that discharges the roll paper in the sub-scanning direction and discharges it, and a driven roller 132 thereof. The paper discharge roller 131 is driven to rotate forward and backward by a driving force transmitted from the motor via the paper feed roller 125. The driven roller 132 is pressed against the paper discharge roller 131 by a biasing member such as a spring, and rotates forward following the forward rotation drive of the paper discharge roller 131. The paper discharge roller 131 and the driven roller 132 sandwich and feed the conveyed roll paper.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the recording medium cutting device 200 is arranged in parallel on a lateral cutting cutter unit (cutting means) 210 for cutting a recording portion of a roll paper in the main scanning direction, and on one side of the lateral cutting cutter unit 210. A pressing roller 220 is provided to press the roll paper when cutting in the main scanning direction. Further, a vertical cutting cutter unit (cutting means) 230 for cutting the recording portion of the roll paper in the sub-scanning direction, and a presser that is arranged in parallel on one side of the vertical cutting cutter unit 230 and presses the roll paper when cutting in the sub-scanning direction. A roller 240 or the like is provided. Details of the first embodiment of the recording medium cutting apparatus 200 having such a configuration will be described with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing details of the first embodiment of the recording medium cutting device 200. The horizontal cutting cutter unit 210 has a double-edged horizontal cutting cutter 211, the horizontal cutting cutter 211 is attached to the lower end, and the presser roller 220 is arranged in front of the horizontal cutting cutter 211 as viewed from the front of the printer. Thus, the holder 212 and the like attached are provided. The holder 212 is arranged so as to be movable in the vertical direction and the main scanning direction together with the presser roller 220 with the cutting edge of the horizontal cutting cutter 211 facing downward. In addition, although the double blade was used as the cutter 211 for horizontal cuts, a single blade may be used.

  As means for moving the horizontal cutting cutter 211 and the presser roller 220 in the vertical direction, for example, a solenoid coil, an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a combination of a motor and a gear mechanism or a pulley mechanism, or the like is used. Further, as means for moving the horizontal cutting cutter 211 and the pressing roller 220 in the main scanning direction, for example, a combination of a motor and a pulley mechanism is used, but it may be directly attached to the carriage 122.

  The vertical cutting cutter unit 230 has a single-blade vertical cutting cutter 231, the vertical cutting cutter 231 is attached to the lower end, and the presser roller 240 is arranged on the left side as viewed from the front of the printer of the vertical cutting cutter 231. The holder 232 and the like attached are provided. The holder 232 is disposed so as to be movable in the vertical direction and the main scanning direction together with the presser roller 240 with the cutting edge of the vertical cutting cutter 231 facing downward. Although a single blade is used as the vertical cutting cutter 231, a double blade may be used.

  As means for moving the vertical cutting cutter 231 and the presser roller 240 in the vertical direction, for example, a solenoid coil, an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a combination of a motor and a gear mechanism or a pulley mechanism, or the like is used. Further, as means for moving the vertical cutting cutter 231 and the presser roller 240 in the main scanning direction, for example, a combination of a motor and a pulley mechanism or the like is used, but it may be directly attached to the carriage 122.

  The horizontal cutting cutter unit 210 and the roller 220, and the vertical cutting cutter unit 230 and the pressing roller 240 may be configured separately or may be configured integrally. By configuring separately, for example, the vertical cutting cutter unit 230 and the presser roller 240 can be moved while the horizontal cutting cutter unit 210 and the roller 220 are performing the cutting operation, thereby shortening the cutting processing time. Can be made. Further, by configuring integrally, it is possible to share means for moving the horizontal cutting cutter unit 210 and the roller 220 and the vertical cutting cutter unit 230 and the pressing roller 240 in the main scanning direction.

  The recording medium cutting device 200 described above performs cutting processing by the following two methods based on data set by the user input from the operation panel 170 or a computer connected to the ink jet printer 100 or the like. Yes. In the first method, the user determines how much margin is to be added around the image to be recorded on the roll paper R or not and inputs the data. Accordingly, the ink jet printer 100 automatically calculates a cutting line based on the margin data, and operates the recording medium cutting device 200 to cut the cutting line.

  In the second method, the user determines the cutting size of an image to be recorded on the roll paper R and inputs the data. Thereby, the ink jet printer 100 automatically arranges an image at an arbitrary place in the cutting area based on the cutting size data, and operates the recording medium cutting device 200 to cut the image with the cutting size. . The cutting process as described above will be specifically described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the first cutting process of the roll paper R by the recording medium cutting apparatus 200, and FIG. 6 is a flowchart for explaining the operation thereof. First, the user operates the operation panel 170 to use paper data, for example, data such as the type and size of the roll paper R shown in FIG. 5 and data to be recorded, for example, the shape / Data such as size and data such as the shape and size of the image P2 are input and set (steps S1 and S2 in FIG. 6).

  Subsequently, the user operates the operation panel 170 to provide margin data to be added around the image, for example, margin width data d11, d12, d13, d14 to be attached to the four sides of the rectangular image P1 shown in FIG. The margin width data d21, d22, d23, and d24 attached to the four sides of the shape image P2 are input and set (step S3 in FIG. 6). Here, when the user inputs and sets margin data with a positive value, a margin is added, and when the margin data is input and set to 0, the margin is not added and cutting is performed at the edge of the image. When the data is input and set with a negative value, the margin is not added and the image is cut into the image.

  The ink jet printer 100 includes, among input data, paper width data in the main scanning direction, image width data, margin width data, and required cutting line interval data, for example, FIG. Roll paper R width data B, image P1 width data b1, P2 width data b2, image P1 margin width data d12, d14, image P1 margin width data d22, d24 and Data c of the interval between the cutting line L14 and the cutting line L22 is read out.

  Here, the necessary interval between the cutting lines means that when there are a plurality of images as in this example, the rigidity of the remaining portion of the roll paper R between the cutting lines of adjacent images can be maintained, and the remaining portion is The minimum interval that does not cause a transport error such as a jam during transport. Therefore, it is not necessary when there is one image. The necessary intervals between the cutting lines may be stored in advance as a table in accordance with the type of roll paper R and automatically set.

  Then, the ink jet printer 100 determines whether or not the width of the paper in the main scanning direction is smaller than the added value of the image width, the margin width, and the required cutting line interval (step S4 in FIG. 6). When it is determined that the paper width is smaller than the added value of the image width, the margin width, and the required cutting line interval, the process returns to step S3. Then, the user operates the operation panel 170 to change the margin data to be added around the image and input it again to set it.

  On the other hand, in step S4, when the ink jet printer 100 determines that the paper width is larger than the added value of the image width, the margin width, and the required cutting line interval, each data input and set in advance. Based on the cutting line position data, for example, the data of the positions of the start and end points of the cutting lines L11, L12, L13, and L14 of the image P1 and the cutting lines L21, L22, L23, and L24 of the image P2 (FIG. 6). Step S5).

  The ink jet printer 100 operates the recording head 121 and the carriage 122 to record the images P1 and P2 at predetermined positions on the roll paper R, and then operates the recording medium cutting device 200 to operate the cutting line of the image P1. Cutting processing is performed on the cutting lines L21, L22, L23, and L24 of L111, L12, L13, and L14 and the image P2 (step S6 in FIG. 6).

  For example, first, the vertical cutting cutter 231 is moved in the main scanning direction in the raised state, and the roll paper R is reversely conveyed. Then, after the vertical cutting cutter 231 is positioned and lowered at the rear vertex of the cutting line L12 of the image P1 recorded at a position close to the right end when viewed from the conveyance leading end side of the roll paper R, the roll paper R is lowered. The sheet is reversely conveyed and the cutting line L12 of the image P1 is cut. Next, the vertical cutting cutter 231 rises and moves in the main scanning direction, and the roll paper R is conveyed. Then, after the vertical cutting cutter 231 is positioned and lowered at the rear vertex of the cutting line L14 of the image P1, the roll paper R is reversely conveyed to cut the cutting line L14 of the image P1.

  Next, the vertical cutting cutter 231 rises and moves in the main scanning direction, and the roll paper R is conveyed. Then, after the vertical cutting cutter 231 is positioned and lowered at the rear vertex of the cutting line L22 of the image P2, the roll paper R is reversely conveyed to cut the cutting line L22 of the image P2. Next, the vertical cutting cutter 231 rises and moves in the main scanning direction, and the roll paper R is conveyed.

  Then, after the vertical cutting cutter 231 is positioned and lowered at the rear vertex of the cutting line L24 of the image P2, the roll paper R is reversely conveyed to cut the cutting line L24 of the image P2. Thus, the cutting of the cutting lines L12, L14, L22, and L24 in the conveyance direction of all the images P1 and P2 is completed. The cutting is performed from the image P1 recorded at a position close to the right end when viewed from the transport leading end of the roll paper R, but recording is performed at a position close to the left end as viewed from the transport leading end of the roll paper R. Cutting may be performed from the processed image P2.

  Subsequently, the horizontal cutting cutter 211 moves in the main scanning direction in the raised state, and is positioned and lowered at the left apex of the cutting line L21 of the image P2 recorded at a position close to the conveyance leading end side of the roll paper R. After that, it moves in the main scanning direction to cut the cutting line L21 of the image P2. Further, the horizontal cutting cutter 211 moves up and moves in the main scanning direction, is positioned and lowered at the left vertex of the cutting line L11 of the image P1, and then moves in the main scanning direction to move the cutting line L11 of the image P1. Cutting.

  Next, the horizontal cutting cutter 211 is raised and moved in the main scanning direction, and the roll paper R is conveyed. Then, the horizontal cutting cutter 211 is positioned and lowered at the left apex of the cutting line L23 of the image P2, and then moves in the main scanning direction to cut the cutting line L23 of the image P2. Further, the horizontal cutting cutter 211 is raised and moved in the main scanning direction, and the roll paper R is conveyed.

  Then, the horizontal cutting cutter 211 is positioned and lowered at the left apex of the cutting line L13 of the image P1, and then moves in the main scanning direction to cut the cutting line L13 of the image P1. Thus, the cutting of the cutting lines L11, L13, L21, and L23 in the conveyance orthogonal direction of all the images P1 and P2 is completed. Note that the cutting in the conveyance orthogonal direction of all the images P1 and P2 may be performed in a direction opposite to the cutting direction. Moreover, the above cutting method is an example and another cutting method may be used.

  As described above, even if a plurality of images P1 and P2 are recorded in the width direction of the roll paper R, it is possible to automatically perform cutting so as to add a margin around the images P1 and P2. It is possible to save the trouble of dividing the image P1 and the image P2 with margins manually. Note that the shape of the image is not limited to a rectangular shape, and it is possible to automatically perform cutting with no margin in the same manner with any shape.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram for explaining the second cutting process of the roll paper R by the recording medium cutting device 200, and FIG. 8 is a flowchart for explaining the operation thereof. First, the user operates paper on the operation panel 170 to use, for example, the data such as the type and size of the roll paper R shown in FIG. 7A and the image data to be recorded, for example, FIG. Data such as the shape / size of the image P11 shown and data such as the shape / size of the image P12 are input and set (steps S11 and S12 in FIG. 8). Subsequently, the user operates the operation panel 170 to display image cutting size data, for example, the cutting size data A4 of the rectangular image P11 and the cutting size data of the rectangular image P12 shown in FIG. B5 is input and set (step S13 in FIG. 8).

  The ink jet printer 100 includes, among the input data, paper width data and cutting size width data in the main scanning direction, such as roll paper R width data B and cutting shown in FIG. The width data b10 of the size data A4 and the width data b20 of the cutting size data B5 are read. Then, the ink jet printer 100 determines whether or not the width of the paper in the main scanning direction is smaller than the width of the cutting size (step S14 in FIG. 8), and determines that the width of the paper is smaller than the width of the cutting size. If so, the process returns to step S13. Then, the user operates the operation panel 170 to change the data of the cutting size width of the image, and input and set again.

  On the other hand, when the inkjet printer 100 determines in step S14 that the width of the paper is larger than the width of the cutting size, the user is informed via the operation panel 170 whether or not to add an optional margin to the left and right of the image. Notification is made (step S15 in FIG. 8). When adding arbitrary margins to the left and right sides of the image, the user operates the operation panel 170 to specify margin data to be added to the left and right of the image, for example, the margins to be added to the left and right of the rectangular image P11 shown in FIG. The width data d31 and d32 and the width data d41 and d42 of the margins attached to the left and right of the rectangular image P12 are input and set (step S16 in FIG. 8). Then, the user inputs so that the top and bottom of the image are offset, and sets each image (step S17 in FIG. 8).

  The ink jet printer 100 uses the above-described input and set data to record image recording position data, for example, the recording position of the image P11 with margins of widths d31 and d32 on the left and right within the cutting area of the cutting size A4, and Data on the recording position of the image P12 with margins of widths d41 and d42 in the left and right within the cutting area of the cutting size B5 is calculated (step S18 in FIG. 8).

  The ink jet printer 100 operates the recording head 121 and the carriage 122 to record the images P11 and P12 at predetermined positions on the roll paper R, and then operates the recording medium cutting device 200 to operate the cutting line of the image P11. Cutting processing is performed on the cutting lines L41, L42, L43, and L44 of L31, L32, L33, and L34 and the image P12 (step S19 in FIG. 8).

  Further, the user operates the operation panel 170 to display data on the paper to be used, for example, data such as the type and size of the roll paper R shown in FIG. The data such as the shape / size of the image P21 shown and the data such as the shape / size of the image P22 are input and set (steps S11 and S12 in FIG. 8). Subsequently, the user operates the operation panel 170 to display image cutting size data, for example, the cutting size data A4 of the rectangular image P21 and the cutting size data of the rectangular image P22 shown in FIG. B5 is input and set (step S13 in FIG. 8).

  The ink jet printer 100 includes, among the input data, paper width data and cutting size width data in the main scanning direction, for example, roll paper R width data B and cutting shown in FIG. The width data b10 of the size data A4 and the width data b20 of the cutting size data B5 are read. Then, the ink jet printer 100 determines whether or not the width of the paper in the main scanning direction is smaller than the width of the cutting size (step S14 in FIG. 8), and determines that the width of the paper is smaller than the width of the cutting size. If so, the process returns to step S13. Then, the user operates the operation panel 170 to change the data of the cutting size width of the image, and input and set again.

  On the other hand, when the inkjet printer 100 determines in step S14 that the width of the paper is larger than the width of the cutting size, the user is informed via the operation panel 170 whether or not to add an optional margin to the left and right of the image. Notification is made (step S15 in FIG. 8). When the user does not add arbitrary margins to the left and right sides of the image, the user operates the operation panel 170 to provide margin data to be added to the top and bottom of the image, for example, the margin to be added to the top and bottom of the rectangular image P21 shown in FIG. Width data d51 and d52 and margin width data d61 and d62 attached to the top and bottom of the rectangular image P22 are set by inputting (step S20 in FIG. 8). And a user inputs so that the right and left of an image may be offset, and it sets with respect to each image (step S21 of FIG. 8).

  The ink jet printer 100 uses the recording position data of the image, for example, the recording position of the image P21 with the margins of the widths d51 and d52 above and below in the cutting area of the cutting size A4 based on each of the input set data described above. Data of the recording position of the image P22 in which the margins of the widths d61 and d62 are added vertically in the cutting area of the cutting size B5 is calculated (step S22 in FIG. 8).

  The ink jet printer 100 operates the recording head 121 and the carriage 122 to record the images P21 and P22 at predetermined positions on the roll paper R, and then operates the recording medium cutting device 200 to operate the cutting line of the image P21. Cutting processing is performed on the cutting lines L41, L42, L43, and L44 of L31, L32, L33, and L34 and the image P22 (step S23 in FIG. 8).

  As described above, when a plurality of images P11, P12 or P21, and P22 are recorded in the width direction of the roll paper R, the image P11, the image P12, or the image P21, at any position within the cutting area of a desired cutting size. Since the cutting can be automatically performed after the image P22 is recorded, it is possible to save the trouble of separating the image P11, the image P12 or the image P21, and the image P22 with a margin later by manual work. It is also possible to add desired margins on the top, bottom, left and right of the image. In addition, the shape of the image is not limited to a rectangular shape, and any shape can be automatically cut with no margin added.

  FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the details of the second embodiment of the recording medium cutting apparatus 200, and the same components as those in FIG. The horizontal cutting cutter unit 210 includes a double-edged horizontal cutting cutter 213, the horizontal cutting cutter 213 attached to the lower end, and a slider 214 attached so that the pressing roller 220 is aligned with the horizontal cutting cutter 213. The slider 214 includes a case 215 in which the slider 214 is slidable up and down, a solenoid coil 216 that slides the slider 214 up and down in the case 215, and the like.

  The solenoid coil 216 moves the slider 214 up and down in the case 215, and inserts and removes the horizontal cutting cutter 213 with respect to the case 215 with the cutting edge facing downward. As a means for moving the horizontal cutting cutter 213 and the presser roller 220 in the vertical direction, for example, an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a combination of a motor and a gear mechanism, or a pulley mechanism may be used in addition to the solenoid coil 216. Further, the horizontal cutting cutter unit 210 and the pressing roller 220 are arranged to be movable in the main scanning direction. As means for moving the horizontal cutting cutter unit 210 and the presser roller 220 in the main scanning direction, for example, a combination of a motor and a pulley mechanism is used, but it may be directly attached to the carriage 122. Although a double-edged blade is used as the horizontal cutting cutter 213, a single-edged blade may be used.

  The vertical cutting cutter unit 230 includes a single-edged vertical cutting cutter 233, the vertical cutting cutter 233 attached to the lower end, and a slider 234 attached so that the pressing roller 240 is aligned with the horizontal cutting cutter 233. A case 235 in which the slider 234 is slidably moved up and down, a solenoid coil 236 for sliding the slider 234 up and down in the case 235, and the like are provided.

  The solenoid coil 236 moves the slider 234 up and down in the case 235, and inserts and removes the vertical cutting cutter 233 with respect to the case 235 with the cutting edge facing downward. As means for moving the vertical cutting cutter 233 and the presser roller 240 in the vertical direction, for example, an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a combination of a motor and a gear mechanism, or a pulley mechanism may be used in addition to the solenoid coil 236. The vertical cutting cutter unit 230 and the presser roller 240 are arranged to be movable in the main scanning direction. As a means for moving the vertical cutting cutter unit 230 and the pressing roller 240 in the main scanning direction, for example, a combination of a motor and a pulley mechanism or the like is used, but it may be directly attached to the carriage 122. In addition, although the single blade was used as the cutter 233 for vertical cutting, a double blade may be sufficient.

  The horizontal cutting cutter unit 210 and the roller 220, and the vertical cutting cutter unit 230 and the pressing roller 240 may be configured separately or may be configured integrally. By configuring separately, for example, the vertical cutting cutter unit 230 and the presser roller 240 can be moved while the horizontal cutting cutter unit 210 and the roller 220 are performing the cutting operation, thereby shortening the cutting processing time. Can be made. Further, by configuring integrally, it is possible to share means for moving the horizontal cutting cutter unit 210 and the roller 220 and the vertical cutting cutter unit 230 and the pressing roller 240 in the main scanning direction. Even in the recording medium cutting device 200 having such a configuration, an image recorded on the roll paper R as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 is cut with the same operation and effect as the recording medium cutting device 200 in FIG. can do.

  FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing details of the third embodiment of the recording medium cutting device 200. The recording medium cutting device 250 is configured such that the cutting direction can be changed between the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction. That is, a single-edged cutter (cutting means) 251 for cutting the recording portion of the roll paper in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction, the holder (cutting means) 252 attached to the lower end, and the cutter 251 are aligned. And a presser roller 253 that presses the roll paper during cutting in the main scanning direction and the sub-scanning direction.

  Further, a motor (cutting means) 254 and a gear mechanism (cutting means) 255 for rotating the holder 252 together with the cutter 251 and the pressing roller 253, and a holder 252 move up and down together with the cutter 251, the pressing roller 253, the motor 254 and the gear mechanism 255. A solenoid coil (cutting means) 256 or the like is provided. As a means for moving the holder 252 in the vertical direction together with the cutter 251, the pressing roller 253, the motor 254, and the gear mechanism 255, in addition to the solenoid coil 256, for example, an air cylinder, a hydraulic cylinder, a combination of a motor and a gear mechanism or a pulley mechanism, and the like. May be used.

  The recording medium cutting device 250 is arranged to be movable in the main scanning direction. As a means for moving the recording medium cutting device 250 in the main scanning direction, for example, a combination of a motor and a pulley mechanism or the like is used, but it may be directly attached to the carriage 122. Although a single blade is used as the cutter 251, a double blade may be used. Since only one cutter 251 is required, the cutter 251 can be easily replaced. Even with the recording medium cutting device 250 having such a configuration, an image recorded on the roll paper R as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7 is cut with the same operational effects as the recording medium cutting device 200 of FIG. can do.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the leg portion 140 includes two support pillars 142 each having a moving roller 141. And the main-body part 110 is mounted on the upper part of the support pillar 142, and is fixed with a screw. Since the moving roller 141 is disposed on the support column 142, the heavy main body 110 can be smoothly moved to a desired position and installed.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the sheet feeding unit 150 is disposed below the main body unit 110 and between the leg units 140, and includes a pair of support units 151 that support both ends of the roll paper, and a roll A feed roller 152 and a pinch roller 153 for feeding paper are provided. Further, a support portion 151 is fixed, and a pair of arm portions 154 are provided on which both ends of the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 are pivotally supported. Details of the sheet feeding unit 150 having such a configuration will be described below with reference to FIG.

  FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing details of the paper feeding unit 150. The pair of support portions 151 are fixedly attached to the facing surfaces of the pair of arm portions 154 arranged to face each other. The pair of support portions 151 have a built-in bearing, and are pivotally supported at both ends of a spindle 155 that is inserted in the inner peripheral portion of the roll paper R shown in FIG. It is like that.

  That is, the spindle 155 has a roll paper R fitted in the center, a pair of flange-shaped roll paper pressers 156 are fitted on both sides of the roll paper R, and spanned between the pair of support portions 151. . The user can complete the loading of the roll paper simply by lifting the roll paper to which the spindle 155 is attached and fitting both ends of the spindle 155 into the pair of support portions 151. Can be reduced.

  The delivery roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 are pivotally supported on the opposing surfaces of a pair of arm portions 154 that are oppositely arranged at both ends. That is, the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 are arranged so as to be bridged between the pair of arm portions 154. The both ends of the feed roller 152 are axially supported at fixed locations on the opposing surfaces of the pair of arm portions 154, but the pinch roller 153 can be brought into contact with and separated from the feed roller 152. Both end shafts are axially supported so as to be movable in, for example, grooves provided on the opposing surfaces of the pair of arm portions 154. The pinch roller 153 is locked by a lock mechanism using a locking member and a biasing member provided on the facing surface of the arm portion 154 at a position where the pinch roller 153 is in contact with and separated from the feed roller 152, for example. It has come to be.

  The user can easily pull out the leading end portion of the roll paper by the bearing built in the support portion 151, and the leading end portion of the roll paper can be moved between the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 by the moving mechanism of the pinch roller 153. Since it can be easily inserted and held between them, the number of man-hours for setting the roll paper can be greatly reduced.

  The pair of arm portions 154 are attached to the opposing surfaces of the two support pillars 142 of the leg portion 140 so as to be rotatable in the direction indicated by the arrows. Then, the rotation of the pair of arm portions 154 is performed by, for example, a locking member provided on the opposing surface of the support pillar 142 at the roll paper setting position shown in FIG. 13 and the roll paper feed position shown in FIG. It is positioned by being locked by a lock mechanism using an urging member or the like.

  That is, when the pair of arm portions 154 are rotated to the roll paper setting position, the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 jump out to the front side of the ink jet printer 100, and the pair of arm portions 154 feed the roll paper. When rotated to the position, the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 go around the back side of the ink jet printer 100 and are connected to the roll paper transport path.

  When the user inserts and pinches the leading edge of the roll paper between the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153, the user does not sink into the back side of the ink jet printer 100 but does not normally stand on the front side of the ink jet printer 100. Since the work can be performed at the position, the man-hours for setting the roll paper can be greatly reduced.

  In the above-described embodiment, the pair of support portions 151 are fixedly attached to the facing surfaces of the pair of arm portions 154 arranged to face each other, and rotate with the arm portions 154. Even if it is configured to be fixedly attached to a shaft concentric with the pivot shaft of the arm portion 154 attached to the opposing surfaces of the two support pillars 142, the same effect can be obtained. That is, the support part 151 may be fixed at a fixed position regardless of the rotation of the arm part 154.

  In such a configuration, a use procedure of the ink jet printer 100 including the recording medium cutting device 200 of the first embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. First, as shown in FIG. 12A, the user pulls out one of the pair of roll paper pressers 156 fitted in the spindle 155 from one end of the spindle 155. Then, as shown in FIG. 12B, the user inserts one end of the spindle 155 from one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R and allows it to penetrate.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 12C, the user fits one end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R into the other roll paper presser 156 inserted and fixed to the other end side of the spindle 155 to be brought into contact therewith. . Subsequently, the user inserts one roll paper presser 156 from one end of the spindle 155 and fits it into the other end of the shaft hole C of the roll paper R. As a result, the roll paper R can be rotated together with the spindle 155.

  Next, for example, the user pulls the delivery roller 152 forward to swing the arm unit 154, and the arm unit 154 in a state of being positioned at the roll paper feeding position (see FIG. 11) is shown in FIG. ) And lock it at the setting position of the roll paper shown in Then, the user lifts the roll paper R into which the spindle 155 is inserted above the support portion 151, and inserts both ends of the spindle 155 into the recesses 151a of the support portions 151 as shown in FIG. 13B. . As described above, since the mounting of the roll paper can be completed only by fitting both ends of the spindle 155 into the pair of support portions 151, the number of man-hours for setting the roll paper can be greatly reduced.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 14A, the user lifts the pinch roller 153, separates it from the feed roller 152, and locks it. Then, the leading end of the roll paper R is pulled forward and passed between the pinch roller 153 and the feed roller 152. Next, as shown in FIG. 14B, the user pushes down the pinch roller 153 to abut against the feed roller 152 and locks it, and the leading end of the roll paper R is moved between the pinch roller 153 and the feed roller 152. Hold between them. In this way, the leading edge of the roll paper can be pulled out and held between the feed roller 152 and the pinch roller 153 at the normal standing position on the front side of the ink jet printer 100, greatly increasing the number of man-hours for setting the roll paper. Can be reduced.

  Next, as shown in FIG. 15A, the user, for example, pushes the feed roller 152 to the back to swing the arm unit 154, and rolls the arm unit 154 positioned at the roll paper setting position. Position at the paper feed position. As a result, the leading edge of the roll paper R sandwiched between the pinch roller 153 and the feed roller 152 and the entrance of the paper feed guide 157 are positioned.

  Here, the user operates the operation panel 170 to activate the ink jet printer 100, determines how much margin is to be added around the image recorded on the roll paper R, and inputs the data. Then, as shown in FIG. 15B, the feed roller 152 starts rotating, and a control unit (not shown) automatically calculates a cutting line based on the margin data input and set.

  Then, the roll paper R sandwiched between the pinch roller 153 and the feed roller 152 is guided by the paper feed guide 157 and sent to the upper recording unit 120. As shown in FIG. 16, the roll paper R is sandwiched between the paper feed roller 125 and its driven roller 126, and is also sandwiched between the paper discharge roller 131 and its driven roller 132 and conveyed in the sub-scanning direction. Predetermined information is recorded by ink droplets ejected from the recording head 121 moving in the scanning direction.

  After this recording is completed, as shown in FIG. 17, the roll paper R is out of the cutting lines automatically calculated by the reverse conveyance by the reverse rotation of the paper feed roller 125 and the paper discharge roller 131 and the vertical cutting cutter 231. Cutting is performed in the transport direction from a cutting line of an image recorded at a position close to one side end. Then, the reverse conveyance by the reverse rotation of the paper feed roller 125 and the paper discharge roller 131 and the conveyance by the rotation are repeated, so that the cutting lines of the plurality of images recorded on the roll paper R are from the one side end side to the other side end side. Are all cut in the transport direction in order.

  Next, the roll paper R is moved in the conveyance orthogonal direction from the cutting line of the image recorded at a position near the conveyance front end among the automatically calculated cutting lines by the movement of the horizontal cutting cutter 211 in the main scanning direction. Cutting. Then, the movement of the horizontal cutting cutter 211 in the main scanning direction and the conveyance by the rotation of the paper feed roller 125 and the paper discharge roller 131 are repeated, so that the cutting lines of a plurality of images recorded on the roll paper R are the leading edge of the conveyance. Cutting is performed in the conveyance orthogonal direction in order from the side toward the conveyance rear end side. Finally, as shown in FIG. 18, the cut roll paper CR is nipped between the discharge roller 131 and the driven roller 132 and discharged.

  As described above, according to the ink jet printer 100 of the present embodiment, the recording medium cutting devices 200 and 250 cut the cutting line that is automatically calculated based on the margins around the recording image that is input and set. . Therefore, the user can obtain an image with the margin only by inputting the desired margin, and thus manual separation can be eliminated. Further, the recording medium cutting apparatuses 200 and 250 cut a recording image automatically arranged at an arbitrary position in the cutting area based on the cutting size that is input and set with the cutting size. Therefore, since the user can obtain an image of the cutting size only by inputting a desired cutting size, manual separation can be eliminated.

  Although the present invention has been described with reference to various embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, and may be applied to other embodiments within the scope of the invention described in the claims. Of course. For example, in the above-described embodiment, the ink jet printer has been described as an example of the recording apparatus. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any recording apparatus that uses a recording medium cutting apparatus may be used. Even so, it is applicable. Furthermore, the apparatus is not limited to a recording apparatus as long as the apparatus cuts the recording medium, and can be applied to apparatuses other than the recording apparatus.

  Any recording apparatus that uses a recording medium cutting apparatus can be applied to, for example, a facsimile apparatus, a copying apparatus, and the like. Furthermore, the apparatus is not limited to a recording apparatus as long as the apparatus cuts the recording medium, and can be applied to apparatuses other than the recording apparatus.

1 is a perspective view illustrating a configuration example of an ink jet printer that is one of recording apparatuses to which a recording medium cutting device according to an embodiment of the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an internal configuration example of a main part of the printer of FIG. 1. It is sectional drawing of the principal part of the printer of FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating details of a first embodiment of a recording medium cutting device. FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the 1st cutting process by a recording-medium cutting device. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the cutting operation | movement of FIG. It is a figure for demonstrating the 2nd cutting process by a recording-medium cutting device. It is a flowchart for demonstrating the cutting operation | movement of FIG. It is a perspective view which shows the detail of 2nd Embodiment of a recording-medium cutting device. It is a perspective view which shows the detail of 3rd Embodiment of a recording-medium cutting device. FIG. 2 is a first diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a second diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a third diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 6 is a fourth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 10 is a fifth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a sixth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is a seventh diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1. FIG. 9 is an eighth diagram illustrating a procedure for using the printer of FIG. 1.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Ink cartridge, 100 Inkjet printer, 110 Main-body part, 111 Housing, 112 Top cover, 113 Front cover, 120 Recording part, 121 Recording head, 122 Carriage, 123 FFC, 124 Ink tube, 125 Paper feed roller, 126 Following roller, 127 rail, 128 carriage belt, 130 paper discharge unit, 131 paper discharge roller, 132 driven roller, 140 leg, 141 roller, 142 support pillar, 150 paper feed unit, 151 support unit, 152 feed roller, 153 pinch roller, 154 Arm portion, 155 spindle, 156 roll paper press, 157 paper feed guide, 160 ink cartridge holder, 161 holder main body, 162 cover, 170 operation panel, 200, 250 recording medium cutting device, 210 horizontal cutting cutter Tsu DOO, 220,240,253 press roller, 230 a vertical cutting cutter unit, 251 cutter

Claims (11)

A recording medium cutting device comprising cutting means for cutting a recording portion of a recording medium that has been transported and recorded in a transport direction and a transport orthogonal direction,
The recording medium cutting apparatus characterized in that the cutting means cuts a cutting line that is automatically calculated based on a margin around a recording image that is input and set. A method of cutting a recording portion of a recording medium that has been transported and recorded in a transport direction and a transport orthogonal direction,
Set each data of the recording medium, a recording image to be recorded on the recording medium, and margin data to be attached around the recording image,
Add the size in the conveyance orthogonal direction of the recording image and the size of the margin in the conveyance orthogonal direction, and if necessary, the interval in the conveyance orthogonal direction of the cutting line,
Compare the dimension of the recording medium in the conveyance orthogonal direction and the added value,
A method for cutting a recording medium, comprising: calculating and cutting the position of the cutting line when a dimension in a conveyance orthogonal direction of the recording medium is larger than the added value. A recording medium cutting device comprising cutting means for cutting a recording portion of a recording medium that has been transported and recorded in a transport direction and a transport orthogonal direction,
The recording means cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting means cuts a recording image automatically arranged at an arbitrary position in a cutting area based on a cutting size that is input and set with the cutting size. A method of cutting a recording portion of a recording medium that has been transported and recorded in a transport direction and a transport orthogonal direction,
Set each data of the recording medium, the recording image to be recorded on the recording medium, and the cutting size of the recording image,
Compare the dimension of the recording medium in the conveyance orthogonal direction and the dimension of the cutting size in the conveyance orthogonal direction,
When the dimension in the conveyance orthogonal direction of the recording medium is larger than the dimension in the conveyance orthogonal direction of the cutting size, set margin data to be added around the recording image,
A recording medium cutting method, wherein the recording position of the recorded image is calculated and cut. The recording medium cutting apparatus according to claim 3 or the recording medium cutting method according to claim 4, wherein the cutting size can be input and set for each of the plurality of recording images. 6. The recording medium cutting device according to claim 3 or 5, or the recording medium cutting according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the recording image is arranged based on a margin around a recording image to be input and set. Method. 7. The recording medium cutting apparatus according to claim 1 or 6, or the recording medium cutting method according to claim 2, 4 or 6, wherein the margin can be input and set for each of the plurality of recording images. . The recording medium cutting device according to claim 1, or the recording medium cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the margin can be individually set around one recording image. Recording medium cutting method. 9. The recording medium cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the margin is defined by a distance between an edge of the recording image and the cutting line. The recording medium cutting method according to any one of 6 to 8. The recording medium according to any one of claims 1, 3, and 5 to 9, wherein an interval between cutting lines of the adjacent recording images is automatically set according to a type of the recording medium. A cutting device or a recording medium cutting method according to any one of claims 2, 4 to 9. A recording apparatus for recording on a recording medium and cutting the recording portion,
The recording medium cutting device according to any one of claims 1, 3, 5 to 10 is provided, or the recording medium cutting method according to any one of claims 2, 4, 5 to 10 is applied. A recording apparatus characterized by that.

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