JP2008188950A - Image recording/cutting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image recording/cutting device which permits an image to be efficiently printed on a medium and the medium to be efficiently cut by minimizing waiting time and time required for transfer. <P>SOLUTION: The image recording/cutting device 1 has a support base 2 on which the medium M is mounted, a first transfer means 5 to transfer the medium M in the delivery direction X on the support base 2 provided on one side X1, a second transfer means 6 to transfer the medium M in the delivery direction X on the support base 2 provided on the other side X2, a printing means 3 to print an image on the medium M at the position corresponding to the first transfer means 5, a cutting means 4 to cut off the medium M at the position corresponding to the second transfer means 6, a buffer 30 formed in the support base 2 between the first transfer means 5 and the second transfer means 6 and having an opening portion 31 into which a part of the delivery direction X of the medium M can be dropped, and a control section 40 controlling the driving of the first transfer means 5, the second transfer means 6, the printing means 3, and the cutting means 4. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image recording / cutting apparatus that prints a desired image on a sheet-like medium and cuts out the image into a desired shape.

  There is a case where a printed matter formed in a desired shape is produced by printing and cutting on a sheet-like medium such as paper. In such a case, conventionally, a desired image is printed on a medium in an image recording apparatus. Next, the printing is performed by setting the printed medium on the cutting device and cutting it into a desired shape. In such a series of operations, it is necessary to reset the medium from the image recording apparatus to the cutting apparatus in the middle of the process, and thus improvement in workability has been desired.

For this reason, in recent years, an image recording / cutting apparatus capable of printing on a medium and cutting out a printed image has been proposed. More specifically, an ink jet head and a cutting head that are movable in a scanning direction along one guide rail, and a grid roller and a pinch roller that convey a medium in a sub scanning direction orthogonal to the scanning direction are proposed. (For example, refer to Patent Document 1). According to this image recording / cutting apparatus, a desired image can be printed on the medium by moving the medium back and forth in the sub-scanning direction and moving the ink jet head back and forth in the scanning direction by the grid roller and the pinch roller. Next, the medium can be cut out into a desired shape by moving the medium in the sub-scanning direction by the grid roller and the pinch roller and moving the cutting head in the scanning direction while leaving the medium as it is. ing.
JP 2005-297248 A

  However, in the image recording / cutting apparatus according to Patent Document 1, after printing an image on a medium by a cooperative operation with a grid roller and a pinch roller, and an inkjet head, the medium is rewound once, the grid roller and the pinch roller, and Therefore, it was necessary to cut out the medium by cooperating with the cutting head. That is, when performing either one of the printing operation by the ink jet head or the cutting operation by the cutting head, it is necessary to always stop the other, and time for rewinding is required. There was a problem that the time from printing to cropping was very long, which was inefficient.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and can efficiently print an image on a medium and cut out the medium while minimizing waiting time and time required for conveyance. A possible image recording / cutting apparatus is provided.

In order to solve the above problems, the present invention proposes the following means.
The present invention is an image recording / cutting apparatus capable of printing a desired image on a sheet-like medium and capable of cutting out the medium into a desired shape, and a support base on which the medium is placed; Provided on one side in a predetermined feeding direction, and provided on the other side of the feeding direction than the first conveying means, and a first conveying means for conveying the medium in the feeding direction on the support base. A second conveying means for conveying the medium in the feeding direction on the support base, and a position corresponding to the first conveying means, and is provided so as to be movable at least in the width direction substantially orthogonal to the feeding direction. A cutting means for cutting out the medium on the support base provided at least in the width direction at a position corresponding to the printing means for printing an image on the medium on the support base and the second transport means. Means and said first A buffer formed on the support between the transport unit and the second transport unit and having an opening into which a part of the medium in the feeding direction can be dropped; the first transport unit; the second transport unit And a control unit that controls driving of the cutting unit.

  According to the image recording / cutting apparatus of the present invention, an image is printed on the medium in the feeding direction and the width direction by the first conveying unit and the printing unit provided on one side in the feeding direction under the control of the control unit. can do. Further, the medium can be cut out in the feed direction and the width direction by the second transport unit and the cut unit provided on the other side in the feed direction under the control of the control unit. At this time, the medium is dropped into a buffer opening provided between the first transport unit and the second transport unit, and is in a slack state. For this reason, the first transport unit and the second transport unit can independently transport the medium in the feeding direction without being affected by each other, that is, by the image printing and cutting unit by the printing unit. The media can be cut out at the same time.

  In the image recording / cutting apparatus, it is more preferable that the buffer includes a drying unit for forcibly drying the medium dropped from the opening.

  According to the image recording / cutting apparatus of the present invention, after printing by the printing unit, the medium is forcibly dried by the drying unit while being dropped into the opening of the buffer, so that the printed medium is It can be dried effectively, delivered to the cutting means and cut out.

  In the image recording / cutting apparatus, it is more preferable that the buffer has an opening / closing means capable of opening / closing the opening.

  According to the image recording / cutting apparatus of the present invention, when the medium is first transported from the first transport means to the second transport means by closing the opening by the opening / closing means, the medium is opened in the buffer. Can be prevented from being dropped. On the other hand, the medium can be dropped into the opening of the buffer by opening the opening by the opening / closing means after the medium reaches the second conveying means from the first conveying means.

  In the image recording / cutting apparatus, the buffer may include medium guiding means for blowing air to the medium on the support base or sucking the medium and dropping the medium into the opening. More preferred.

  According to the image recording / cutting apparatus of the present invention, the medium can be reliably dropped into the opening of the buffer by blowing air to the medium or sucking the medium by the medium guiding means. Further, tension is applied to the medium in the dropping direction, that is, the medium can be kept in a more tensioned state between each of the first conveying unit and the second conveying unit and the buffer. For this reason, a medium can be conveyed more stably and printing and clipping can be performed.

  Further, in the above image recording / cutting apparatus, printing by the printing unit and clipping by the cutting unit are set to be performed for each block set in the feeding direction of the medium, and the buffer is It is more preferable to have an accommodation recess formed from the opening so as to accommodate the medium having a length of at least two blocks.

  According to the image recording / cutting apparatus of the present invention, printing by the printing unit and clipping by the cutting unit can be performed independently for each block. At this time, the medium can be accommodated in the accommodation recess of the buffer by the length of at least two blocks between the printing means and the cutting means. For this reason, in printing and clipping, it is possible to prevent the media from interfering with each other even if the medium advances and retreats independently in the feeding direction by the first transport unit and the second transport unit.

  In the image recording / cutting apparatus, the control unit may include a print completion length that is a length in the feeding direction of the medium printed by the printing unit, and the medium cut out by the cutting unit. It is more preferable to monitor the cutout completion length which is the length in the feed direction.

  According to the image recording / cutting apparatus of the present invention, by monitoring the print completion length and the cutout completion length, either the first conveyance unit or the second conveyance unit is biased to convey the medium. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the medium from being loosened or pulled between the first transport unit and the second transport unit.

  In the above-described image recording / cutting apparatus, the control unit may perform the first conveyance when a difference amount obtained by subtracting the cutout completion length from the print completion length is greater than a preset upper limit value. It is more preferable to stop the conveyance from the one side to the other side in the feeding direction by means.

  According to the image recording / cutting apparatus according to the present invention, the control unit determines whether or not the difference amount obtained by subtracting the cutout completion length from the print completion length is larger than the upper limit value, that is, the printing is completed and sent to the buffer. It can be determined whether the length is relatively large and exceeds the length that can be accommodated in the buffer. And in this state, by stopping the conveyance from one side of the feeding direction by the first conveying means to the other side, printing again by the printing means, even if conveyed by the first conveying means, The medium can be returned to a state where it can be accommodated in the buffer.

  In the above-described image recording / cutting apparatus, the control unit may perform the second conveyance when a difference amount obtained by subtracting the cut-out completion length from the print completion length is smaller than a preset lower limit value. It is more preferable to stop the conveyance from the one side to the other side in the feeding direction by means.

  According to the image recording / cutting apparatus of the present invention, the control unit determines whether the difference amount obtained by subtracting the cutout completion length from the print completion length is smaller than the lower limit value, that is, the length of the cutout is relatively It is possible to determine whether it is too large and the length accommodated in the buffer is insufficient, or whether the medium is pulled without being dropped into the opening of the buffer. In this state, the medium is again dropped into the buffer opening and returned to the slack state by stopping the conveyance from one side to the other side in the feeding direction by the second conveying means. Can do.

  According to the image recording / cutting apparatus of the present invention, by providing a buffer between the first transport unit and the second transport unit, the printing of the image on the medium and the cutting of the medium are performed in a standby time, It is possible to efficiently carry out while minimizing the time required for conveyance.

  1 to 5 show an embodiment according to the present invention. As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the image recording / cutting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment can print a desired image on a sheet-like medium M and can cut out the medium M into a desired shape. A support base 2 on which the medium M is placed, an inkjet head 3 which is a printing means for printing an image on the medium M on the support base 2, and a cutting means for cutting out the medium M on the support base 2. A cutting head 4 is provided. Further, the image recording / cutting apparatus 1 includes two conveying units, a first conveying unit 5 and a second conveying unit 6, which independently convey the medium M in a predetermined feeding direction X on the support base 2, A control unit 40 that controls each component and an image data storage unit 41 that can store image data and output the image data to the control unit 40 are provided. The image data includes printing data for printing by the inkjet head 3 and cutting data for cutting by the cutting head 4. As shown in FIG. 4, in the present embodiment, each of the printing data and the cutout data includes blocks A, B, C... I obtained by dividing the medium M in the feeding direction X at a predetermined interval. And a block unit having a certain length in the feed direction X.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, the support base 2 has platens 2 a and 2 b arranged in the width direction Y at positions corresponding to the ink jet head 3 and the cutting head 4, and on the platens 2 a and 2 b, respectively. Printing and clipping are possible. The first conveying means 5 is provided on the carry-in side X1 in the feed direction X, and the first grid roller 7 and the first pinch arranged along the width direction Y orthogonal to the feed direction X. The roller 8 and the 1st roller drive motor 9 which rotationally drives the 1st grid roller 7 are provided. The first grid roller 7 is provided so as to contact the back surface M1 of the medium M on the support base 2. Further, the first pinch roller 8 is provided so as to face the first grid roller 7, abut against the surface M 2 of the medium M, and sandwich the medium M with the first grid roller 7. The medium M sandwiched between the first grid roller 7 and the first pinch roller 8 is driven in the feed direction X by driving the first roller drive motor 9 under the control of the control unit 40. It is possible to carry to X1 or the carrying-out side X2.

  The second conveying means 6 is provided on the carry-out side X2 in the feed direction X, and is provided with a second grid roller 10 and a second pinch roller 11 disposed along the width direction Y, and a second grid. And a second roller drive motor 12 that rotationally drives the roller 10. The second grid roller 10 is provided so as to contact the back surface M1 of the medium M on the support base 2. Further, the second pinch roller 11 is provided so as to face the second grid roller 10, abut against the surface M <b> 2 of the medium M, and sandwich the medium M with the first grid roller 10. The medium M sandwiched between the second grid roller 10 and the second pinch roller 11 is driven in the feed direction X by driving the second roller drive motor 12 under the control of the control unit 40. It is possible to carry to X1 or the carrying-out side X2. Here, as will be described later, since the second transport unit 6 transports the medium M printed by the ink jet head 3, the second pinch roller 11 is arranged in the width direction of the medium M so as to sandwich the area other than the print range. It is provided only at positions corresponding to both ends of Y.

  The ink-jet head 3 is mounted on the first scanning unit 13 and is disposed above the support base 2 at a position corresponding to the first transport unit 5 on the carry-in side X1 in the feed direction X. The first scanning unit 13 includes a carriage 14 on which the inkjet head 3 is mounted, a guide rail 15, a drive belt 16, a pair of pulleys 17 and 18, and an inkjet drive motor 19. The guide rail 15 is disposed in the width direction Y above the support base 2 and supports the carriage 14 so as to be movable in the width direction Y. The drive belt 16 is disposed in the width direction Y along the guide rail 15, and the carriage 14 is fixed to a part of the drive belt 16. The pair of pulleys 17 and 18 are provided at both ends of the guide rail 15, and the drive belt 16 is wound around the pulleys 17 and 18. Further, the inkjet head drive motor 19 can rotate the pulley 17 under the control of the control unit 40, thereby causing the drive belt 16 to travel according to the rotation direction of the pulley 17 and being attached to the carriage 14. Further, the inkjet head 3 can be scanned in the width direction Y along the guide rail 15. In addition, the inkjet head 3 is provided with a plurality of inkjet nozzles 3 a, and under the control of the control unit 40, different types of ink can be ejected downward and printed on the surface M 2 of the medium M. is there. That is, the control unit 40 moves the inkjet head 3 relative to the medium M by the first transport unit 5 and the first scanning unit 13 in accordance with the printing data output from the image data storage unit 41, An image can be recorded on the surface M2 of M.

  The cutting head 4 is mounted on the second scanning unit 20 and is disposed above the support 2 at a position corresponding to the second conveying unit 6 on the unloading side X2 in the feeding direction X. The second scanning unit 20 includes a carriage 21 on which the cutting head 4 is mounted, a guide rail 22, a drive belt 23, a pair of pulleys 24 and 25, and a cutting head drive motor 26. The guide rail 22 is disposed in the width direction Y above the support base 2 and supports the carriage 21 so as to be movable in the width direction Y. The drive belt 23 is disposed in the width direction Y along the guide rail 22, and the carriage 21 is fixed to a part of the drive belt 23. The pair of pulleys 24 and 25 are provided at both ends of the guide rail 22, and the drive belt 23 is wound around the pulleys 24 and 25. Further, the cutting head drive motor 26 can rotate the pulley 24 under the control of the control unit 40, thereby causing the drive belt 23 to travel according to the rotation direction of the pulley 24 and being attached to the carriage 21. The cutting head 4 can be scanned in the width direction Y along the guide rail 22. Further, the cutting head 4 is provided with a cutter 4b having a blade edge 4a in one direction so as to be rotatable. The direction of the blade edge 4a can be freely switched on the medium M, and the medium is changed according to the direction of the blade edge 4a. It is possible to cut M. That is, the control unit 40 relatively moves the cutting head 4 on the medium M by the second transport unit 6 and the second scanning unit 20 in accordance with the cutout data output from the image data storage unit 41, M can be cut out.

  In the image recording / cutting apparatus 1, a buffer 30 is provided between the first transport unit 5 and the second transport unit 6. The buffer 30 includes an opening 31 formed in the support base 2 between the first transport means 5 and the second transport means 6, and an accommodation recess 32 provided below the support base 2 from the opening 31. Have The opening 31 has a predetermined width in the feeding direction X and a width larger than the medium M in the width direction Y so that a part of the feeding direction X of the medium M can be dropped below the support 2. Is formed. The housing recess 32 is formed in a box shape that communicates with the opening 31. In the present embodiment, the depth of the accommodation recess 32 is set so that a part of the medium M dropped and folded from the opening 31 can be accommodated by a length corresponding to a maximum of 5 blocks of image data. . In addition, the buffer 30 includes an opening / closing means 33 that can open and close the opening 31 and a heater 34 that is a drying means for forcibly drying the medium M accommodated in the accommodation recess 32. The opening / closing means 33 includes a shaft body 33a disposed in the width direction Y on the carry-in side X1 of the housing recess 32, an opening / closing motor 33b for rotating the shaft body 33a, and a guide member protruding in a comb-tooth shape from the shaft body 33a. 33c. A plurality of gaps 32 a corresponding to the guide member 33 c are formed on the wall surface on the carry-in side X <b> 1 of the housing recess 32. For this reason, under the control of the control unit 40, the shaft member 33a is rotated by the opening / closing motor 33b, so that the guide member 33c protrudes from the gap 32a into the housing recess 32, thereby closing the opening 31. Can do. Further, the heater 34 can heat the wall surface of the housing recess 32 under the control of the control unit 40, thereby printing an image on the medium M by setting the inside of the housing recess 32 to a predetermined temperature. By doing so, the adhered ink can be forcibly dried.

The control unit 40 includes a switching unit 40a, a work time calculation unit 40b, and a cut end detection unit 40c. Based on the image data output from the image data storage unit 41, the switching unit 40c determines whether only printing by the inkjet head 3, only clipping by the cutting head 4, or both printing and clipping are performed. Similarly, the switching unit 40a determines whether or not to use the buffer 30. The work time calculation means 40b is the time required for printing the medium M by the inkjet head 3 for each block based on the print data and the cutout data of the image data output from the image data storage unit 41, and the cutting head 4 The time required for cutting out the medium M is calculated. Then, the control unit 40 detects the number of blocks representing the print completion length stored in the storage recess 32 of the buffer 30 after finishing printing based on the calculation result by the work time calculation unit 40b. Further, the cut end detection means 40c outputs an end signal at the end of the cutout based on the timing at which the cutout for each block is started and the time required for cutting out the medium M for each block calculated by the work time calculation means 40b. Based on this end signal, the control unit 40 detects the number of blocks representing the end length of the cutout that has been cut out and conveyed to the carry-out side X2. Then, the control unit 40 subtracts the number of blocks representing the cut-out completion length from the number of blocks representing the print completion length at the end of printing and cut-out for each block by the work time calculation means 40b and the cut end detection means 40c. The difference amount δ is calculated, and it is monitored whether it is less than or equal to the preset upper limit value δ1 or more than the lower limit value δ2. In the present embodiment, when the lower limit value δ2 is set to 3 blocks and the calculated difference amount δ is smaller than the lower limit value δ2, the driving of the second transport unit 6 is stopped. When the upper limit value δ1 is set to 5 blocks and the calculated difference amount δ is larger than the upper limit value δ1, the first transport unit 5 is stopped.
The details of the control of the control unit 40 and the operation of the image recording / cutting apparatus 1 will be described below based on the examples of FIGS.

  First, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the medium M is set in the image recording / cutting apparatus 1. In other words, when the medium M is inserted from the medium M supply unit (not shown) provided on the carry-in side X1 to the first transport unit 5, the control unit 40 drives the first roller drive motor 9 to drive the first grid. The roller 7 is rotated. As a result, the medium M is sandwiched between the first grid roller 7 and the first pinch roller 8 in the first transport means 5 and transported to the carry-out side X2 in the feed direction X. At this time, the controller 40 drives the opening / closing motor 33b of the opening / closing means 33 in the buffer 30 so that the opening 31 is closed by the guide member 33c. For this reason, the medium M is transported to the second transport means 6 without being dropped from the opening 31 into the housing recess 32. Next, the control unit 40 drives the second roller driving motor 12 while rotating the second grid roller 10 while the medium M is being conveyed by the first conveying unit 5. Thereby, the medium M conveyed by the first conveying means 5 is sandwiched between the second grid roller 10 and the second pinch roller 11 and can be conveyed also by the second conveying means 6. It becomes.

  Next, the control unit 40 causes the image data storage unit 41 to output image data. As described above, the image data includes printing data and clipping data for each block. Then, the control unit 40 sequentially reads each of the printing data and the cutting data from the block A. Then, the switching unit 40a of the control unit 40 determines whether to perform printing and clipping or to use the buffer 30 based on the input image data. Here, since the image data includes printing data and clipping data, and is continuously performed by a plurality of blocks, the switching unit 40a performs both printing and clipping and uses the buffer 30. Judge. For this reason, the control unit 40 drives the opening / closing motor 33b of the opening / closing means 33 in the buffer 30 to retract the guide member 33c from the gap 32a of the housing recess 32 to the outside. As a result, the opening 31 opens and the buffer 30 can be used. Since the medium M is sandwiched between the first transport unit 5 and the second transport unit 6 on both sides of the buffer 30, the medium M is placed on the support base 2 without being dropped from the opening 31. .

  Then, printing and cutting of the medium M are started. That is, the control unit 40 reads the printing data in order from the block A, drives the first roller drive motor 9 and the inkjet head drive motor 19, and ejects ink from the inkjet head 3, whereby the medium M The image in block A is recorded on the surface M2. Then, the images of the block A are sequentially recorded, whereby the medium M is sequentially transported to the unloading side X2 in the feeding direction X by the first transport unit 5. Then, the medium M has a time difference T corresponding to the distance from the inkjet head 3 to the opening 31, and is dropped from the opening 31 and accommodated in the accommodating recess 32. At this time, as described above, the control unit 40 monitors the difference amount δ between the number of blocks that have been printed and received in the receiving recess 32 of the buffer 30 and the number of blocks that have been cut out. Here, there is no block that has been cut out, and since only the block A is stored in the buffer 30, the difference amount δ is 1 block, which is smaller than the lower limit value δ2, so the second transport means 6 is driven. Only printing is performed. In this manner, the medium M is sequentially printed only in the order of the blocks A, B, and C, and is accommodated in the accommodating recess 32 of the buffer 30, and is forcedly dried by heating the heater 34 along with natural drying. As a result, the ink on the surface M2 is dried. Here, at the buffer accommodation timing of FIG. 5, the width of the time axis in each block A, B, C... Is minimum required for each block of the medium M by natural drying and forced drying by heating of the heater 34. The dry time. And the control part 40 calculates and monitors the time after drying is accommodated in the accommodating recessed part 32 of the buffer 30 for every block.

  When printing by the inkjet head 3 is completed for the entire range of the block C of the medium M and the time difference T is accommodated in the accommodation recess 32 of the buffer 30, the difference amount δ becomes 3 blocks. Therefore, the control unit 40 drives the second transport unit 6 and the second scanning unit 20 and outputs the cutting data from the data storage unit 41 because the difference amount δ is equal to or greater than the lower limit value δ2. To start cutting out from block A. Here, the unloading side X2 of the block A of the medium M to be cut by the cutting head 4 is sandwiched by the second conveying means 6, and the loading side X1 of the block A is accommodated in the buffer 30. As a result, a tension acts on the range of the block A in the direction in which the medium M is dropped into the opening 31 of the buffer 30 by its own weight. For this reason, the range of the block A to be cut can be kept in a tensioned state, and the second conveying means 6 can perform the cutting while being stably conveyed.

  Further, the medium M is moved back and forth in the feed direction X by the second transport unit 6 while the cutout is performed for the range of the block A. However, by setting the lower limit value δ2 of the difference amount δ to three blocks, the medium M is accommodated in the accommodating recess 32 of the buffer 30 by a length of at least two blocks, and the second conveying means 6 Therefore, the movement of the medium M in the feeding direction X is not transmitted to the first conveying means 5 side. For this reason, the first transport unit 5 and the first scanning unit 13 cooperate with each other without being affected by each other, and the second transport unit 6 and the second scanning unit are simultaneously printed by the inkjet head 3. 20 can be cut out by the cutting head 4 in cooperation with each other, and printing and cutting out of the medium M can be performed efficiently. Further, the two blocks accommodated in the buffer 30 can be naturally dried in the buffer 30 according to the waiting time until the clipping is started. Furthermore, in this embodiment, it can dry more effectively by forcibly drying by heating using the heater 34.

  Then, the control unit 40 sequentially outputs the printing data and the cutting data of each block from the data storage unit 41, and performs printing and cutting. Then, the control unit 40 every time printing of each block is finished according to the calculation result by the work time calculation means 40b, and every time when each block is cut out according to the end signal by the cut end detection means 40c. It is determined whether the difference amount δ is greater than or equal to the lower limit value and less than or equal to the upper limit value. When printing for block G is completed and stored in the buffer 30, the number of blocks that have been printed and stored in the buffer 30 is 7 blocks, whereas only the block A has been cut out. Is one block. For this reason, the control unit 40 determines that the difference amount δ is 6 blocks and exceeds 5 blocks which is the upper limit value δ1, stops the conveyance by the first conveyance unit 5, stops the next block H by the inkjet head 3. Printing is canceled. As a result, the length of the printing completed and transported to the buffer 30 by the first transporting unit 5 becomes too larger than the length of the medium M transported by the second transporting unit 6 after completion of the clipping. Further, it is possible to prevent the medium M from being transported to the accommodating recess 32 of the buffer 30 exceeding 5 blocks, which is the number of blocks of the medium M that can be accommodated in the buffer 30.

  Then, when the cutting of the block B is completed in a state where the conveyance by the first conveyance unit 5 is stopped, the control unit 40 confirms the difference amount δ again based on the end signal from the cut end detection unit 40c. Here, the printing is completed and the number of blocks accommodated in the accommodating recess 32 of the buffer 30 is 7, whereas the blocks that have been cut out are the blocks A and B, and the difference amount δ is 5 Since it is a block, the upper limit value δ1 or less. For this reason, the control unit 40 drives the first transport unit 5 again and outputs the next printing data from the data storage unit 41 to perform printing of the block H.

  As described above, the image recording / cutting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment includes the first transport unit 5 and the second transport unit 6, and the buffer 30 is provided between the first transport unit 5 and the second transport unit 6. The medium M can be independently conveyed in the feeding direction X without being affected by the first conveying means 5 and the second conveying means 6. For this reason, it is possible to efficiently print an image on the medium M by the inkjet head 3 and cut out the medium M by the cutting head 4 while minimizing the waiting time and the time required for conveyance. In addition, since the buffer 30 includes the heater 34, the medium M can be dried more effectively while being accommodated in the buffer 30. Further, by monitoring whether the difference amount δ is larger than the upper limit value or smaller than the lower limit value by the control unit 40, printing and printing can be performed more efficiently while accommodating the medium M in a range that the buffer 30 can accommodate. Can be cut out.

  In the present embodiment, the first scanning unit 13 moves the inkjet head 3 back and forth in the width direction Y, and the first transport unit 5 moves the medium M back and forth in the feed direction X, so that the entire medium M is moved. Printing is possible with the inkjet head 3, but is not limited to this. In addition to the first transport unit 5, the inkjet head 3 may be advanced and retracted in the feed direction X and the width direction Y by the first scanning unit 13. Similarly, the cutting head 4 may be capable of moving forward and backward in the feeding direction X and the width direction Y by the second scanning unit 20. At least the first conveying means 5 and the second conveying means 6 are provided independently of each other, and a buffer 30 is provided between them, and the entire medium M is associated with the first conveying means 5. It is only necessary that the inkjet head 3 is provided so as to be able to print, and the cutting head 4 is provided so as to be able to cut out the entire medium M in correspondence with the second conveying means 6.

  Moreover, although the accommodation recessed part 32 of the buffer 30 can accommodate the medium M of the length for 5 blocks, it is not restricted to this. When the medium M is printed for each block set in the feed direction X, it is only necessary that the medium M having a length of at least two blocks can be accommodated. By doing in this way, even if the medium M advances and retreats independently in the feed direction X for each block by the first transport unit 5 and the second transport unit 6 in printing and clipping, they interfere with each other. Can be prevented.

  Further, in the control unit 40 of the present embodiment, each of the print completion length transferred to the buffer 30 after the printing is finished and the cut completion length transferred after the cutout is finished are calculated as the work time calculation unit 40b. The cut end detection means 40c calculates the number of blocks, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the print completion length and the cutout completion length based on the respective rotation speeds of the first roller drive motor 9 of the first transport unit 5 and the second roller drive motor 12 of the second transport unit 6. You may ask for.

  FIG. 6 shows a first modification of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 6, in the buffer 50 of the image recording / cutting apparatus of this modification, a suction device 51 is provided at the bottom of the housing recess 32 as a medium guiding means. In the state where the medium M is stored in the storage recess 32 of the buffer 50, negative pressure is generated inside the storage recess 32 by the suction device 51. For this reason, the medium M transported in the feeding direction X by the first transport unit 5 and the second transport unit 6 can be reliably dropped into the opening 31 of the buffer 50. Further, the tension B acts downward on the medium M, that is, the medium M is kept in a more tensioned state between the first conveying unit 5 and the second conveying unit 6 and the buffer 50. be able to. For this reason, the medium M can be transported more stably, and printing and clipping can be performed.

  FIG. 7 shows a second modification of the present embodiment. As shown in FIG. 7, the buffer 55 of the image recording / cutting apparatus according to this modification is provided with a blower 56 that blows air from above the opening 31 toward the opening 31 as medium guiding means. The blower 56 has a built-in heater 56a and can blow hot air A. Since the tension B always acts downward on the medium M located in the buffer 55 by the hot air A from the blower 56, the medium M can be reliably dropped into the opening 31 as in the first modification. At the same time, the medium M can be conveyed more stably, and printing and clipping can be performed. Furthermore, in this modification, the medium M can also be effectively dried as a drying means by blowing the warm air A toward the medium M by the blower 56.

  As mentioned above, although embodiment of this invention was explained in full detail with reference to drawings, the concrete structure is not restricted to this embodiment, The design change etc. of the range which does not deviate from the summary of this invention are included.

It is a top view of the image recording and cutting apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an image recording / cutting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a block diagram of an image recording / cutting apparatus according to a first embodiment of the present invention. It is explanatory drawing which showed an example of block division of the medium M, when printing and cutting out to the medium M with the image recording and cutting apparatus of Embodiment 1 of this invention. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram showing changes over time in printing, buffer accommodation, and clipping when printing and clipping on a medium M is performed by the image recording / cutting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a detailed view of a buffer in an image recording / cutting apparatus according to a first modification of the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 10 is a detailed view of a buffer in an image recording / cutting apparatus according to a second modification of the second embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Image recording / cutting apparatus 2 Support stand 3 Inkjet head 4 Cutting head 5 1st conveyance means 6 2nd conveyance means 30, 50, 55 Buffer 31 Opening part 33 Opening / closing means 34 Heater (drying means)
40 Control part 51 Suction machine (medium guiding means)
56 Blower (medium guiding means, drying means)

Claims (8)

An image recording / cutting apparatus capable of printing a desired image on a sheet-like medium and capable of cutting the medium into a desired shape,
A support on which the medium is placed;
A first transport unit that is provided on one side of a predetermined feed direction and transports the medium in the feed direction on the support;
A second conveying means which is provided on the other side of the feeding direction from the first conveying means and conveys the medium in the feeding direction on the support;
A printing unit provided at a position corresponding to the first conveying unit so as to be movable at least in a width direction substantially orthogonal to the feeding direction, and printing an image on the medium on the support;
A cutting means provided at a position corresponding to the second conveying means so as to be movable at least in the width direction, and for cutting out the medium on the support;
A buffer formed on the support base between the first transport unit and the second transport unit and having an opening into which a part of the medium in the feeding direction can be dropped;
An image recording / cutting apparatus comprising: the first conveying unit, the second conveying unit, the printing unit, and a control unit that controls driving of the cutting unit. The image recording / cutting apparatus according to claim 1,
The image recording / cutting apparatus, wherein the buffer includes a drying unit for forcibly drying the medium dropped from the opening. In the image recording / cutting apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
The image recording / cutting apparatus, wherein the buffer has an opening / closing means capable of opening and closing the opening. In the image recording / cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3,
The image recording / cutting apparatus, wherein the buffer has medium guiding means for blowing air to the medium on the support base or sucking the medium and dropping the medium into the opening. In the image recording / cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
The printing by the printing unit and the cutting by the cutting unit are set to be performed for each block set in the feeding direction of the medium,
The image recording / cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the buffer has an accommodation recess formed from the opening so as to accommodate the medium having a length of at least two blocks. In the image recording / cutting apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5,
The control unit includes a print completion length that is a length in the feeding direction of the medium printed by the printing unit, and a cutout completion length that is a length in the feeding direction of the medium cut out by the cutting unit. An image recording / cutting apparatus characterized by monitoring the above. The image recording / cutting apparatus according to claim 6,
When the difference amount obtained by subtracting the cutout completion length from the print completion length is greater than a preset upper limit value, the control unit starts from the one side in the feeding direction by the first transport unit. An image recording / cutting apparatus characterized by stopping conveyance to the other side. In the image recording / cutting apparatus according to claim 6 or 7,
When the difference amount obtained by subtracting the cut-out completion length from the print completion length is smaller than a preset lower limit value, the control unit starts from the one side in the feed direction by the second transport unit. An image recording / cutting apparatus characterized by stopping conveyance to the other side.

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