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US20180281221A1 - Slit-cutting device - Google Patents

Slit-cutting device Download PDF

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Publication number
US20180281221A1
US20180281221A1 US15/718,167 US201715718167A US2018281221A1 US 20180281221 A1 US20180281221 A1 US 20180281221A1 US 201715718167 A US201715718167 A US 201715718167A US 2018281221 A1 US2018281221 A1 US 2018281221A1
Authority
US
United States
Prior art keywords
holder
medium
cutting edge
slit
blade
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Abandoned
Application number
US15/718,167
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Kiyoshi Sugimoto
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Brother Industries Ltd
Original Assignee
Brother Industries Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Brother Industries Ltd filed Critical Brother Industries Ltd
Assigned to BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA reassignment BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: SUGIMOTO, KIYOSHI
Publication of US20180281221A1 publication Critical patent/US20180281221A1/en
Priority to US17/458,834 priority Critical patent/US11883972B2/en
Abandoned legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D11/00—Combinations of several similar cutting apparatus
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
    • B41J—TYPEWRITERS; SELECTIVE PRINTING MECHANISMS, i.e. MECHANISMS PRINTING OTHERWISE THAN FROM A FORME; CORRECTION OF TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
    • B41J11/00—Devices or arrangements  of selective printing mechanisms, e.g. ink-jet printers or thermal printers, for supporting or handling copy material in sheet or web form
    • B41J11/66—Applications of cutting devices
    • B41J11/70—Applications of cutting devices cutting perpendicular to the direction of paper feed
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
    • B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
    • B26D1/04—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member
    • B26D1/06—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member wherein the cutting member reciprocates
    • B26D1/08—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member wherein the cutting member reciprocates of the guillotine type
    • B26D1/085—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a linearly-movable cutting member wherein the cutting member reciprocates of the guillotine type for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
    • B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
    • B26D1/12—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis
    • B26D1/25—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member
    • B26D1/26—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis substantially perpendicular to the line of cut
    • B26D1/30—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis substantially perpendicular to the line of cut with limited pivotal movement to effect cut
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D1/00—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor
    • B26D1/01—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work
    • B26D1/12—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis
    • B26D1/25—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member
    • B26D1/26—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis substantially perpendicular to the line of cut
    • B26D1/30—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis substantially perpendicular to the line of cut with limited pivotal movement to effect cut
    • B26D1/305—Cutting through work characterised by the nature or movement of the cutting member or particular materials not otherwise provided for; Apparatus or machines therefor; Cutting members therefor involving a cutting member which does not travel with the work having a cutting member moving about an axis with a non-circular cutting member moving about an axis substantially perpendicular to the line of cut with limited pivotal movement to effect cut for thin material, e.g. for sheets, strips or the like
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D3/00—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor
    • B26D3/08—Making a superficial cut in the surface of the work without removal of material, e.g. scoring, incising
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D3/00—Cutting work characterised by the nature of the cut made; Apparatus therefor
    • B26D3/08—Making a superficial cut in the surface of the work without removal of material, e.g. scoring, incising
    • B26D3/085—On sheet material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26F—PERFORATING; PUNCHING; CUTTING-OUT; STAMPING-OUT; SEVERING BY MEANS OTHER THAN CUTTING
    • B26F1/00—Perforating; Punching; Cutting-out; Stamping-out; Apparatus therefor
    • B26F1/18—Perforating by slitting, i.e. forming cuts closed at their ends without removal of material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H18/00—Winding webs
    • B65H18/08—Web-winding mechanisms
    • B65H18/10—Mechanisms in which power is applied to web-roll spindle
    • B65H18/103—Reel-to-reel type web winding and unwinding mechanisms
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H20/00—Advancing webs
    • B65H20/02—Advancing webs by friction roller
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H35/00—Delivering articles from cutting or line-perforating machines; Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices, e.g. adhesive tape dispensers
    • B65H35/04—Delivering articles from cutting or line-perforating machines; Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices, e.g. adhesive tape dispensers from or with transverse cutters or perforators
    • B65H35/06—Delivering articles from cutting or line-perforating machines; Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating cutting or line-perforating devices, e.g. adhesive tape dispensers from or with transverse cutters or perforators from or with blade, e.g. shear-blade, cutters or perforators
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H37/00—Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations
    • B65H37/04—Article or web delivery apparatus incorporating devices for performing specified auxiliary operations for securing together articles or webs, e.g. by adhesive, stitching or stapling
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H39/00—Associating, collating, or gathering articles or webs
    • B65H39/16—Associating two or more webs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B26—HAND CUTTING TOOLS; CUTTING; SEVERING
    • B26D—CUTTING; DETAILS COMMON TO MACHINES FOR PERFORATING, PUNCHING, CUTTING-OUT, STAMPING-OUT OR SEVERING
    • B26D7/00—Details of apparatus for cutting, cutting-out, stamping-out, punching, perforating, or severing by means other than cutting
    • B26D2007/0012—Details, accessories or auxiliary or special operations not otherwise provided for
    • B26D2007/005—Details, accessories or auxiliary or special operations not otherwise provided for cutters, e.g. guillotines, used in a label maker or printer
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/50—Auxiliary process performed during handling process
    • B65H2301/51—Modifying a characteristic of handled material
    • B65H2301/515—Cutting handled material
    • B65H2301/5152—Cutting partially, e.g. perforating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2403/00—Power transmission; Driving means
    • B65H2403/50—Driving mechanisms
    • B65H2403/53—Articulated mechanisms
    • B65H2403/533—Slotted link mechanism
    • B65H2403/5332—Slotted link mechanism with rotating slotted link
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/12—Surface aspects
    • B65H2701/121—Perforations
    • B65H2701/1211—Perforations arranged linearly
    • B65H2701/12112—Perforations arranged linearly transversally
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/10—Handled articles or webs
    • B65H2701/18—Form of handled article or web
    • B65H2701/184—Wound packages
    • B65H2701/1848—Dimensional aspect
    • B65H2701/18482—Proportion
    • B65H2701/18485—Diameter much smaller than width

Definitions

  • the disclosure relates to a slit-cutting device.
  • Known cutting devices include a plate to which a medium may contact and a blade that may face the plate.
  • the cutting devices cut a medium incompletely or completely using the plate and blade.
  • Cutting includes half cutting and full cutting. In half cutting, the cutting devices cut incompletely a medium located between the blade and plate, in a medium thickness direction, to form a non-penetrating slit in the medium. In full cutting, the cutting devices cut completely the medium located between the blade and plate, in the medium thickness direction, to divide the medium into two portions.
  • Some of the known cutting devices includes a cutting blade for performing half cutting on a tape, which is an example of the medium, and a movable blade for performing full cutting on the tape. The cutting blade and the movable blade are disposed next to each other in a direction in which the tape is conveyed.
  • some embodiments of the disclosure provide for a slit-cutting device that may cut a slit line including both a non-penetrating slit and a penetrating slit, into a medium in a single slit-cutting operation.
  • a slit-cutting device includes a first holder, a second holder, a first contactable member, a second contactable member, and a protrusion member.
  • the first holder includes a medium faceable area.
  • the second holder holds a blade.
  • a cutting edge of the blade may cut a medium between the first holder and the blade.
  • the first holder includes a first contactable member.
  • the second holder includes a second contactable member.
  • the first contactable member and the second contactable member contact each other and defined a closest approach distance between the cutting edge and the first holder.
  • the closest approach distance is greater than 0 and below a thickness of the medium.
  • the protrusion member protrudes more than the closest approach distance from a part of the medium faceable area.
  • the cutting edge may make a cut line includes at least a part of a slit-cut and a full-cut in a cutting edge direction in the medium.
  • FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printer and a data generating device in a first illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 2 is a left side view of an internal configuration of the printer in the first illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a multi-layered sheet in the first illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 4 is a front view of a slit-cutting device when a blade is located at a non-cutting position in the first illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective view of protrusions in the first illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 6 is a front view of the slit-cutting device when the blade is located at a cutting position in the first illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 7 is a top view of the multi-layered sheet having a slit line formed in a slit-cutting operation performed by the slit-cutting device in the first illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken along line I-I of the multi-layered sheet when viewed in an arrow direction in the first illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 9 is a front view of a slit-cutting device in a variation of the first illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 10 is a front view of the slit-cutting device in another state in the variation of the first illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 11 is a front view of a slit-cutting device when a blade is located at a non-cutting position in a second illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a protrusion in the second illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 13 is a front view of the slit-cutting device when the blade is located at a cutting position in the second illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 14 is a top view of a multi-layered sheet having a slit line formed in a slit-cutting operation performed by the slit-cutting device in the second illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 15 is a front view of a slit-cutting device when a blade is located at a non-cutting position in a third illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 16 is a front view of the slit-cutting device when the blade is located at a cutting position in the third illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 17 is a front view of a slit-cutting device when a blade is located at a non-cutting position in a variation of the third illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 18 is a front view of the slit-cutting device when the blade is located at a cutting position in the variation of the third illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • FIG. 19 is a front view of a slit-cutting device in another variation of the first illustrative embodiment according to one or more aspects of the disclosure.
  • a slit-cutting device 100 according to a first illustrative embodiment will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
  • the slit-cutting device 100 is included in a printer 1 .
  • directions, e.g., top, bottom, right, left, front and rear, indicated by arrows in each drawing may be defined as orientation of the printer 1 that may be disposed in which it may be intended to be used as depicted in FIG. 1 .
  • the printer 1 of FIG. 1 is configured to print an image, e.g., characters, letters, figures, and/or symbols, on a medium.
  • the printer 1 may be electrically connected to a data generating device 2 via a connector 4 .
  • the data generating device 2 is configured to operate in response to a user's operation.
  • the data generating device 2 generates image data representing an image to be printed, and transmits the generated image data to the printer 1 .
  • the data generating device 2 transmits also a print instruction and a slit-cutting operation start instruction to the printer 1 via the connector 4 .
  • the print instruction may be an instruction for printing an image onto a medium.
  • the slit-cutting operation start instruction may be an instruction for moving a blade toward the printed medium.
  • moving the blade toward a medium may enable to both half cutting for cutting one or more non-penetrating slits in the medium and full cutting for cutting one or more penetrating slits in the medium in a single slit-cutting operation.
  • half cutting the blade cuts a medium incompletely in a medium thickness direction.
  • the blade cuts one or more non-penetrating slits in the medium.
  • Non-penetrating slits penetrate partway in the medium but do not penetrate through the medium in the medium thickness direction.
  • full cutting the blade cuts a medium completely in the medium thickness direction. In other words, the blade cuts one or more penetrating slits in the medium.
  • a medium may be a multi-layered sheet 24 including an outer layer sheet 8 and a double-sided adhesive sheet 13 (refer to FIG. 3 ).
  • the multi-layered sheet 24 may have a width of 5 cm or less in the right-left direction.
  • a medium to be used in the printer 1 may be a sheet consisting of a single layer or a sheet having a width of greater than 5 cm.
  • the printer 1 includes a hollow case 5 .
  • the case 5 includes an accommodating portion 17 to or from which a tape cassette 7 is attachable or detachable in the right-left direction.
  • the tape cassette 7 includes therein a tape spool, a ribbon supply spool 11 , a ribbon take-up spool 12 , a base supply spool 15 , and a sheet bonding roller 16 .
  • the tape spool has the transparent outer layer sheet 8 , e.g., polyethylene terephthalate (“PET”) film, wound therearound.
  • PET polyethylene terephthalate
  • the ribbon supply spool 11 has an ink ribbon 10 wound therearound.
  • the ribbon take-up spool 12 is configured to wind the ink ribbon 10 therearound.
  • the base supply spool 15 has a double-sided adhesive sheet 13 wound therearound.
  • the sheet bonding roller 16 is rotatably disposed.
  • the double-sided adhesive sheet 13 has multiple layers, for example, at least two layers (refer to FIG. 3 ).
  • the double-sided adhesive sheet 13 includes a base layer 13 A, adhesive layers 13 B, and a release material layer 13 C.
  • the adhesive layers 13 B are positioned on respective surfaces of the base layer 13 A.
  • the release material layer 13 C is adhered to the adhesive layer 13 B positioned on one of the surfaces of the base layer 13 A.
  • the release material layer 13 C is outside and the base layer 13 A is inside.
  • the double-sided adhesive sheet 13 may be adhered to the outer layer sheet 8 via the exposed adhesive layer 13 B after drawn from the base supply spool 15 .
  • the printer 1 further includes a thermal head 18 and a roller holder 20 in the accommodating portion 17 .
  • the printer 1 further includes a drive motor 25 in the vicinity of the accommodating portion 17 .
  • the thermal head 18 may be a plate-like member having a plurality of heating elements.
  • the roller holder 20 holds a platen roller 21 and a conveyance roller 22 rotatably.
  • the ribbon take-up spool 12 , the conveyance roller 22 , and the sheet bonding roller 16 rotate in synchronization with each other by driving of the drive motor 25 . Simultaneously with this, the heating elements of the thermal head 18 generate heat.
  • the platen roller 21 and the thermal head 18 sandwich the ink ribbon 10 and the outer layer sheet 8 therebetween.
  • Ink 23 included in the ink ribbon 10 is transferred to a lower surface of the outer layer sheet 8 by heating of the heating elements of the thermal head 18 .
  • an image is printed on the outer layer sheet 8 .
  • the outer layer sheet 8 having the printed image is conveyed by rotation of the conveyance roller 22 and the sheet bonding roller 16 and rotation of the platen roller 21 that rotates following the rotation of the conveyance roller 22 and the sheet bonding roller 16 .
  • the conveyance roller 22 and the sheet bonding roller 16 sandwich the outer layer sheet 8 and the double-sided adhesive sheet 13 therebetween.
  • the printer 1 forms a multi-layered sheet 24 having the printed image. Subsequent to this, the multi-layered sheet 24 is conveyed to the slit-cutting device 100 .
  • the multi-layered sheet 24 has the printed image, for example, “ABC”, as letters (refer to FIG. 7 ).
  • the multi-layered sheet 24 may pass through a discharge port 27 of the case 5 .
  • the ribbon take-up spool 12 , the sheet bonding roller 16 , and the conveyance roller 22 are connected to the drive motor 25 disposed in the case 5 . Therefore, the conveyance roller 22 may convey the multi-layered sheet 24 in cooperation with the sheet bonding roller 16 .
  • a direction in which the multi-layered sheet 24 is conveyed between the conveyance roller 22 and the discharge port 27 corresponds to the front-rear direction.
  • a thickness direction of the multi-layered sheet 24 corresponds to the top-bottom direction and a width direction of the multi-layered sheet 24 (also simply referred to as a medium width direction) corresponds to the right-left direction.
  • the release material layer 13 C is positioned below the base layer 13 A and the outer layer sheet 8 is positioned above the base layer 13 A (refer to FIG. 3 ).
  • the printer 1 further includes a full-cutting device 85 between the conveyance roller 22 and the discharge port 27 .
  • the full-cutting device 85 is configured to cut the multi-layered sheet 24 completely in the medium thickness direction across the multi-layered sheet 24 with respect to the medium width direction to divide the multi-layered sheet 24 into two portions, i.e., to separate a portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 from the remainder of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the full-cutting device 85 includes a fixed blade 81 and a movable blade 82 .
  • the fixed blade 81 is disposed below a path in which the multi-layered sheet 24 moves.
  • the fixed blade 81 is fixed to the inside of the case 5 with its upper edge being sharpened for cutting.
  • the movable blade 82 is disposed above the fixed blade 81 and the path in which where the multi-layered sheet 24 moves.
  • the movable blade 82 is configured to move up and down relative to the fixed blade 81 .
  • the movable blade 82 is connected to a lever disposed at the case 5 with its lower edge being sharpened for cutting.
  • the cutting edges of the fixed blade 81 and the movable blade 82 each extend in the right-left direction and have a length greater than the width of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the movable blade 82 is configured to move downward toward the fixed blade 81 in response to a user's operation for moving the lever.
  • the full-cutting device 85 cuts the multi-layered sheet 24 completely in the medium thickness direction along the entire width of the multi-layered sheet 24 by pinching the multi-layered sheet 24 between the lower cutting edge of the movable blade 82 and the upper cutting edge of the fixed blade 81 .
  • the slit-cutting device 100 is configured to cut a slit line into the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • Cutting a slit line into the multi-layered sheet 24 may include cutting a slit line that extends between ends of the multi-layered sheet 24 with respect to the medium width direction and includes both of one or more non-penetrating slits and one or more penetrating slits, into the multi-layered sheet 24 in a single slit-cutting operation
  • the slit-cutting device 100 is disposed between the full-cutting device 85 and the discharge port 27 .
  • the slit-cutting device 100 includes a first holder 70 , a first contactable portion 91 (e.g., an area of first holder 70 is an example of a “contactable member”), and a cutting unit 80 .
  • the first holder 70 is fixed to the inside of the case 5 (refer to FIG. 2 ).
  • the first holder 70 may be made of metallic material.
  • the first holder 70 has a medium faceable area 75 .
  • the medium faceable area 75 may be a flat surface that defines a portion of an upper end surface of the first holder 70 and extend both in the right-left direction and in the front-rear direction.
  • the first holder 70 preferably has a flat surface that is longer than a second holder 49 in the front-rear direction so as to enable a cutting edge 41 to stably contact the multi-layered sheet 24 facing the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the medium faceable area 75 may face a portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 between the full-cutting device 85 and the discharge port 27 when the multi-layered sheet 24 is located above the medium faceable area 75 . More specifically, the medium faceable area 75 may face the release material layer 13 C (refer to FIG. 3 ) of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the thickness direction of the multi-layered sheet 24 corresponds to the top-bottom direction and the width direction of the multi-layered sheet 24 corresponds to the right-left direction.
  • the medium faceable area 75 has substantially the same width in the right-left direction as the width of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the first contactable portion 91 is included in the first holder 70 .
  • the first contactable portion 91 defines another portion of the upper end surface of the first holder 70 . More specifically, the first contactable portion 91 defines the portion that is positioned to the left of the medium faceable area 75 in the upper end surface of the first holder 70 .
  • the first contactable portion 91 is flush with the medium faceable area 75 in the top-bottom direction.
  • a plurality of protrusions 77 are disposed at the medium faceable area 75 .
  • each of the protrusions 77 may be a plate-shaped member extending both in the right-left direction and in the front-rear direction.
  • the protrusions 77 may be made of material that may deform when a blade 46 contacts thereto.
  • Each of the protrusions 77 may be, for example, a laminated tape.
  • Each of the protrusions 77 is adhered to a respective portion of the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the protrusions 77 may be made of other material if the protrusions 77 are deformable when the blade 46 contacts thereto.
  • the protrusions 77 may be made of resin material, e.g., sponge or rubber.
  • three protrusions 77 are spaced from each other at regular intervals in the right-left direction.
  • the intervals between protrusions 77 may be, for example, 24 mm or shorter.
  • the intervals between protrusions 77 may be a maximum distance that a particular area of the multi-layered sheet 24 between adjacent protrusions 77 can be applied with an appropriate degree of force from the cutting edge 41 .
  • a protruding amount of each protrusion 77 that protrudes upward from the medium faceable area 75 corresponds to a dimension L 1 of FIG. 5 .
  • the central protrusion 77 may face a middle portion of a bottom surface of the multi-layered sheet 24 in the medium width direction.
  • the right and left protrusions 77 each have a first end 77 A outside the medium faceable area 75 and a second end 77 B inside the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the right protrusion 77 is disposed such that one end (e.g., a right end) of the multi-layered sheet 24 may face the right protrusion 77 .
  • the first end 77 A (e.g., the right end) is positioned further to the right than the right end of the multi-layered sheet 24 and outside the width range of the multi-layered sheet 24
  • the second end 77 B (e.g., the left end) is positioned further to the left than the right end of the multi-layered sheet 24 and inside the width range of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the left protrusion 77 is disposed such that the other end (e.g., a left end) of the multi-layered sheet 24 may face the left protrusion 77 .
  • the first end 77 A (e.g., the left end) is positioned further to the left than the left end of the multi-layered sheet 24 and outside the width range of the multi-layered sheet 24
  • the second end 77 B (e.g., the right end) is positioned further to the right than the left end of the multi-layered sheet 24 and inside the width range of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the cutting unit 80 includes a support shaft 47 , a second holder 49 , the blade 46 , a second contactable portion 61 (e.g., an area of second holder 49 is an example of a “contactable member”), and a power transmission unit 52 .
  • the support shaft 47 is disposed such that its axis extends along the front-rear direction.
  • the support shaft 47 has one end portion that is connected to the second holder 49 , and the other end portion that is positioned in the inside of the case 5 (refer to FIG. 2 ).
  • the other end portion of the support shaft 47 positioned at the case 5 is slidably engaged with a hole provided in the inside of the case 5 .
  • the support shaft 47 supports the second holder 49 so as to be pivotable. That is, the support shaft 47 supports the second holder 49 such that the second holder 49 is movable relative to the first holder 70 . More specifically, the one end portion of the support shaft 47 is fixed to the second holder 49 . Nevertheless, in other embodiments, for example, the other end portion of the support shaft 47 may be fixed to the inside of the case 5 and the one end portion of the support shaft 47 may be engaged with a hole of the second holder 49 so as to be slidable.
  • a direction in which the second holder 49 pivots on the support shaft 47 may simply refer to a circumferential direction of the support shaft 47 .
  • the second holder 49 has an elongated hole 45 .
  • the elongated hole 45 is elongated in a direction orthogonal to the front-rear direction.
  • the elongated hole 45 is engaged with a pin 44 .
  • the blade 46 is supported by the second holder 49 .
  • the blade 46 has a hole at a substantially central portion thereof.
  • the second holder 49 includes a projection that protrudes in the front-rear direction.
  • the projection of the second holder 49 is engaged with the hole of the blade 46 to retain the blade 46 relative to the second holder 49 .
  • the blade 46 is made of material that is harder than the protrusions 77 .
  • the blade 46 may be a plate-shaped member made of metallic material.
  • the blade 46 has a cutting edge 41 sharpened in a V-shape for cutting.
  • the cutting edge 41 extends linearly in the right-left direction and has a length no shorter than the width of the multi-layered sheet 24 (e.g., the dimension of the multi-layered sheet 24 in the right-left direction).
  • the support shaft 47 is positioned on an extension of the cutting edge 41 .
  • the support shaft 47 is disposed to one side of the cutting edge 41 with respect to a direction in which the cutting edge 41 extends.
  • Portions of the cutting edge 41 may face the respective protrusions 77 in the circumferential direction of the support shaft 47 and other portions of the cutting edge 41 may face the medium faceable area 75 in the circumferential direction of the support shaft 47 . That is, the cutting edge 41 may face at least both the medium faceable area 75 and the protrusions 77 in the circumferential direction of the support shaft 47 .
  • the second contactable portion 61 is included in the second holder 49 .
  • the second holder 49 includes a protruding portion that protrudes relative to the cutting edge 41 .
  • the protruding portion is disposed opposite to the support shaft 47 relative to the blade 46 .
  • the protruding portion includes the second contactable portion 61 at its protruding end.
  • the second contactable portion 61 is a flat surface extending in the front-rear direction and in the right-left direction. The second contactable portion 61 may contact the first contactable portion 91 in the circumferential direction of the support shaft 47 .
  • the second contactable portion 61 may be disposed at any location that is outside, in the right-left direction, at least a range in which the cutting edge 41 may face the multi-layered sheet 24 in the circumferential direction of the support shaft 47 .
  • the power transmission unit 52 includes a gear 53 and a motor 51 .
  • the gear 53 is configured to rotate on a shaft extending along the front-rear direction.
  • the gear 53 includes the pin 44 extending in the front-rear direction.
  • the pin 44 is engaged with the elongated hole 45 of the second holder 49 slidably relative to the elongated hole 45 .
  • the motor 51 is connected to the gear 53 via a gear train 56 . With this configuration, in response to rotation of the gear 53 by driving of the motor 51 , the pin 44 causes the second holder 49 to pivot on the support shaft 47 . In response to pivoting of the second holder 49 , the blade 46 moves pivotably.
  • the blade 46 is configured to move pivotably between a non-cutting position (refer to FIG.
  • the cutting edge 41 is located above and spaced from the first holder 70 .
  • the first contactable portion 91 of the first holder 70 does not contact the second contactable portion 61 of the second holder 49 .
  • the cutting edge 41 contacts the protrusions 77 and faces the medium faceable area 75 with a slight clearance left between the cutting edge 41 and the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the first contactable portion 91 of the first holder 70 is in contact with the second contactable portion 61 of the second holder 49 .
  • the distance to the blade 46 from the first holder 70 is determined at the cutting position when the second contactable portion 61 and the first contactable portion 91 are in contact with each other.
  • the first distance may be a distance to the first contactable portion 91 from the medium faceable area 75 in a direction in which the cutting edge 41 and the medium faceable area 75 face each other when the first contactable portion 91 and the second contactable portion 61 are in contact with each other.
  • the first distance may be represented by a positive or negative real number. Positive represents a direction from the medium faceable area 75 toward the cutting edge 41 , and negative represents its opposite direction. In the first illustrative embodiment, the first distance is 0 (zero).
  • the second distance may be a distance to the second contactable portion 91 from the cutting edge 41 in the direction in which the cutting edge 41 and the medium faceable area 75 face each other when the first contactable portion 91 and the second contactable portion 61 are in contact with each other.
  • the second distance may be represented by a positive or negative real number. Positive represents a direction from the cutting edge 41 toward the medium faceable area 75 , and negative represents its opposite direction.
  • the second distance is represented by a positive real number and corresponds to a dimension E 2 of FIG. 6 .
  • the closest approach distance may be a shortest distance between the cutting edge 41 and the medium faceable area 75 when the first contactable portion 91 and the second contactable portion 61 are in contact with each other.
  • the closest approach distance may be a value represented by a sum of the first distance and the second distance. The sum of the first distance and the second distance is greater than 0 (zero). Therefore, in the first illustrative embodiment, the closest approach distance corresponds to the distance E 2 of FIG. 6 .
  • the closest approach distance may be less than a thickness of the multi-layered sheet 24 (e.g., a dimension T 1 of FIG. 3 ). In the first illustrative embodiment, for example, the closest approach distance is equal to or less than a thickness (e.g., a dimension T 2 of FIG. 3 ) of the release material layer 13 C (refer to FIG. 3 ).
  • the closest approach distance is equal to or less than the protruding amount of each protrusion 77 .
  • the slit-cutting device 100 performs a slit-cutting operation subsequent to completion of a printing operation performed by the printer 1 .
  • the blade 46 is located at the non-cutting position (refer to FIG. 4 ) initially.
  • the multi-layered sheet 24 is hatched.
  • the multi-layered sheet 24 is also hatched.
  • the protrusions 77 are filled with solid black.
  • FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate the multi-layered sheet 24 having a slit line formed in a slit-cutting operation.
  • the cutting pattern or the types of cut slits to be formed in the multi-layered sheet 24 in a slit-cutting operation is not limited to those illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 .
  • the blade 46 pivotally moves toward the first holder 70 from the non-cutting position (refer to an arrow H in FIG. 4 ) in accordance with pivoting of the second holder 49 by driving of the motor 51 .
  • a portion, which is close to the support shaft 47 (e.g., a right end portion in the right-left direction) sandwiches a portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 in cooperation with the right protrusion 77 .
  • a middle portion of the cutting edge 41 in the right-left direction sandwiches another portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 in cooperation with the central protrusion 77 .
  • the right end portion of the cutting edge 41 penetrates through the multi-layered sheet 24 at a location where the right end portion of the cutting edge 41 and the right protrusion 77 face each other. Then, a portion, which is distant from the support shaft 47 (e.g., a left end portion in the right-left direction), of the cutting edge 41 sandwiches the other portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 in cooperation with the left protrusion 77 .
  • the cutting edge 41 penetrates into the multi-layered sheet 24 toward the medium faceable area 75 at a location between the right protrusion 77 and the central protrusion 77 in the right-left direction. Similar to this, the cutting edge 41 penetrates into the multi-layered sheet 24 toward the medium faceable area 75 at another location between the central protrusion 77 and the left protrusion 77 in the right-left direction. Then, the left end portion of the cutting edge 41 penetrates through the multi-layered sheet 24 at another location where the left end portion of the cutting edge 41 and the left protrusion 77 face each other. Thus, a slit line including both non-penetrating slits and penetrating slits is cut into the multi-layered sheet 24 across the multi-layered sheet 24 with respect to the medium width direction.
  • the blade 46 further pivotally moves to the cutting position.
  • the blade 46 is positioned at the cutting position through contacting of the second contactable portion 61 and the first contactable portion 91 each other.
  • the motor 51 stops driving for moving the second holder 49 .
  • the cutting edge 41 extends in the right-left direction at substantially the same level in the top-bottom direction as the axis of the support shaft 47 while being located above the medium faceable area 75 .
  • each of the blade 46 , the protrusions 77 , and the multi-layered sheet 24 when the blade 46 has reached the cutting position will be described.
  • the protruding amount (e.g., the dimension L 1 of FIG. 5 ) of each protrusion 77 is greater than or equal to the closest approach distance.
  • the cutting edge 41 has cut the entire thickness of the multi-layered sheet 24 at three locations where the cutting edge 41 faces the protrusions 77 , and penetrates in the protrusions 77 . That is, the cutting edge 41 has cut the entire thickness of the outer layer sheet 8 , the base layer 13 A, the adhesive layers 13 B, and the release material layer 13 C of the multi-layered sheet 24 at the particular locations where the cutting edge 41 faces the protrusions 77 .
  • an upper surface of each of the protrusions 77 has been deformed in response to penetration of the blade 46 such that its portion to which the cutting edge 41 contacts is depressed or cut.
  • the upper surface of each of the protrusions 77 may be elastically or plastically deformable.
  • the closest approach distance is equal to or less than the thickness of the release material layer 13 C and is greater than 0 (zero).
  • the cutting edge 41 penetrates in the multi-layered sheet 24 at locations where no protrusion 77 is provided at the first holder 70 and the cutting edge 41 does not face the protrusions 77 , and more specifically, at a location between the right protrusion 77 and the central protrusion 77 and a location between the central protrusion 77 and the left protrusion 77 in the right-left direction. In other words, the cutting edge 41 penetrates only partial thickness of the release material layer 13 C of the multi-layered sheet 24 at those locations.
  • the cutting edge 41 pinches the multi-layered sheet 24 in cooperation with the medium faceable area 75 and has cut the multi-layered sheet 24 incompletely in the medium thickness direction at two locations where the cutting edge 41 and the medium faceable area 75 face each other. More specifically, for example, the cutting edge 41 has cut the entire thickness of the outer layer sheet 8 , the base layer 13 A, and the adhesive layers 13 B, but has cut the partial thickness of the release material layer 13 C, e.g., only an upper portion of the release material layer 13 C in the medium thickness direction.
  • a slit line including both penetrating slits 28 and non-penetrating slits 29 has cut alternately in the multi-layered sheet 24 across the multi-layered sheet 24 with respect to the medium width direction.
  • Penetrating slits 28 are cut slits that completely penetrate or penetrate through the multi-layered sheet 24 in the medium thickness direction.
  • Non-penetrating slits 29 are cut slits that incompletely penetrate or penetrate partway in the multi-layered sheet 24 in the medium thickness direction.
  • three penetrating slits 28 are cut in the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • One of the penetrating slits 28 is formed in a middle portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 in the medium width direction and the others of the penetrating slits 28 are formed in respective end portions of the multi-layered sheet 24 in the medium width direction.
  • two non-penetrating slits 28 are cut in the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • Each of the non-penetrating slits 28 is formed between adjacent two of the penetrating slits 28 in the medium width direction.
  • the full-cutting device 85 cuts the multi-layered sheet 24 completely in the medium thickness direction along the entire width of the multi-layered sheet 24 by pinching the multi-layered sheet 24 between the lower cutting edge of the movable blade 82 and the upper cutting edge of the fixed blade 81 .
  • the full-cutting device 85 might not necessarily be operated manually by the user.
  • the full-cutting device 85 may be configured to move the movable blade 82 automatically to separate a portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 from the remainder by driving of the motor 51 subsequent to completion of the slit-cutting operation performed by the slit-cutting device 100 .
  • the range in which the second holder 49 supported by the support shaft 47 moves relative to the first holder 70 corresponds to the range in which the cutting edge 41 moves closer to or away from the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the closest approach distance e.g., the dimension E 2 of FIG. 6
  • the thickness of the multi-layered sheet 24 is a length of the multi-layered sheet 24 in a direction defined the closest approach distance when t the multi-layered sheet 24 is between the first holder 70 and the second holder 49 .
  • the protruding amount e.g., the dimension L 1 of FIG.
  • each protrusion 77 is greater than or equal to the closest approach distance. Therefore, when the blade 46 reaches the cutting position, penetrating slits are cut into the multi-layered sheet 24 at respective locations where the cutting edge 41 faces the protrusions 77 and non-penetrating slits are cut into the multi-layered sheet 24 at the other locations where the cutting edge 41 faces the medium faceable area 75 . Thus, in a single slit-cutting operation, one or more non-penetrating slits and one or more penetrating slits are both formed in the multi-layered sheet 24 along the cutting edge 41 of the blade 46 located at the cutting position.
  • the first illustrative embodiment may implement the slit-cutting device 100 that may cut, into the multi-layered sheet 24 , a predetermined slit line including both a non-penetrating slit and a penetrating slit, across the multi-layered sheet 24 with respect to the medium width direction, in a single slit-cutting operation.
  • the right protrusion 77 is disposed at a position where the right end the multi-layered sheet 24 may face.
  • the left protrusion 77 is disposed at a position where the left end the multi-layered sheet 24 may face.
  • This configuration may therefore enable the slit-cutting device 100 to cut a penetrating slit into each end portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 in the right-left direction (e.g., in the medium width direction).
  • the user may put a fingertip at one of the penetrating slits formed in the respective end portions of the multi-layered sheet 24 in the right-left direction to remove the outer layer sheet 8 and the base layer 13 A from the release material layer 13 C.
  • Such a multi-layered sheet 24 may therefore enable the user to easily remove the outer layer sheet 8 and the base layer 13 A from the release material layer 13 C.
  • the right end of the multi-layered sheet 24 is positioned between the first end 77 A and the second end 77 B of the right protrusion 77 in the right-left direction. That is, the right protrusion 77 has a surface that continuously extends between a particular position, which is to the left of the right end of the multi-layered sheet 24 within the medium faceable area 75 , and another particular position, which is to the right of the right end of the multi-layered sheet 24 out of the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the left end of the multi-layered sheet 24 is positioned between the first end 77 A and the second end 77 B of the left protrusion 77 in the right-left direction. That is, the left protrusion 77 has a surface that continuously extends between a particular position, which is to the right of the left end of the multi-layered sheet 24 within the medium faceable area 75 , and another particular position, which is to the left of the right end of the multi-layered sheet 24 out of the medium faceable area 75 .
  • This configuration may therefore the blade 46 that pivotally moves toward the cutting position to cut a penetrating slit into each end portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 in the medium width direction readily and reliably.
  • the closest approach distance may be a value represented by a sum of the first distance and the second distance.
  • the closest approach distance may be allowed to be set to a value that is greater than 0 (zero) and smaller than the thickness of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the slit-cutting device 100 having such a configuration may also cut a non-penetrating slit into the multi-layered sheet 24 reliably.
  • the first contactable portion 91 and the second contactable portion 61 are both disposed opposite to the support shaft 47 with respect to the cutting edge 41 .
  • This configuration may decrease a reaction force to be received by the support shaft 47 in response to contact of the second contactable portion 61 to the first contactable portion 91 as compared with a case where the first contactable portion 91 and the second contactable portion 61 are both disposed on the same side at the side where the support shaft 47 is disposed with respect to the cutting edge 41 .
  • the closest approach distance is equal to or less than the thickness of the release material layer 13 C. Therefore, the slit-cutting device 100 may reliably cut the entire thickness of both of the outer layer sheet 8 and the base layer 13 A to form a non-penetrating slit 29 .
  • the orientation of the printer 1 when used is not limited to the orientation of the printer 1 of FIG. 1 .
  • the printer 1 including the slit-cutting device 100 may be oriented when used such that the right side surface or the left side surface of the case 5 may contact a horizontal plane.
  • the tape cassette 7 may be oriented such that its surface extending both in the top-bottom direction and in the right-left direction in FIG. 1 may face the horizontal plane, and the tape cassette 7 may be attachable to and detachable from the accommodating portion 17 in the top-bottom direction.
  • the width direction of the multi-layered sheet 24 may correspond to the top-bottom direction and the thickness direction of the multi-layered sheet 24 may correspond to the right-left direction.
  • the medium faceable area 75 of the first holder 70 and the protrusions 77 may be disposed so as to extend along the top-bottom direction.
  • the second holder 49 may be configured to pivot in the circumferential direction of the support shaft 47 such that the cutting edge 41 of the blade 46 moves toward the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the multi-layered sheet 24 drawn from the tape cassette 7 may be positioned between the medium faceable area 75 and the cutting edge 41 while the width direction of the multi-layered sheet 24 corresponds to the top-bottom direction.
  • the release material layer 13 C of the multi-layered sheet 24 may face the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the cutting edge 41 may contact the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the cutting edge 41 may press the multi-layered sheet 24 to contact the release material layer 13 C to the protrusions 77 disposed at the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the slit-cutting device 100 may cut, into the multi-layered sheet 24 , a predetermined slit line including non-penetrating slits and penetrating slits, across the multi-layered sheet 24 with respect to the medium width direction, in a single slit-cutting operation.
  • the first holder 70 of the slit-cutting device 100 might not necessarily be fixed to the case 5 .
  • the first holder 70 may be supported inside the case 5 so as to be movable relative to the second holder 49 .
  • the first holder 70 and the second holder 49 may be both supported inside the case 5 so as to be movable relative to a conveyance path of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the protrusions 77 may be made of resin, e.g., urethane or silicone, or may be made of fabric.
  • the first contactable portion 91 and the second contactable portion 61 may be disposed on the same side as the side where the support shaft 47 is disposed, with respect to the direction in which the cutting edge 41 extends.
  • the first holder 70 may be configured to pivot on another shaft (not illustrated) extending parallel to the support shaft 47 . In this case, the first holder 70 may be connected to another motor (hereinafter, referred to as a specific motor) instead to the motor 51 (refer to FIG. 4 ).
  • the specific motor and the motor 51 may drive in synchronization with each other to pivot the first holder 70 and the second holder 49 , respectively, in a direction in which the first holder 70 and the second holder 49 .
  • This configuration may enable the slit-cutting device 100 to perform a slit-cutting operation on the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the slit-cutting device 101 includes a support member (for instance, support shaft 47 ), a second holder 59 , a first contactable portion 92 , and a first holder 71 , a second contactable portion 62 .
  • the support member is fixed to the inside of the case 5 .
  • the multi-layered sheet 24 may be positioned with its outer layer sheet 8 facing the support member. That is, the multi-layered sheet 24 may be positioned upside down as compared with the multi-layered sheet 24 positioned in the slit-cutting device 100 .
  • the support member is configured to support the multi-layered sheet 24 from below with contacting the outer layer sheet 8 .
  • a thickness direction of the multi-layered sheet 24 corresponds to the top-bottom direction and a width direction of the multi-layered sheet 24 corresponds to the right-left direction.
  • the second holder 59 is fixed to the inside of the case 5 .
  • the second holder 59 supports a blade 46 .
  • the blade 46 has a cutting edge 41 at its upper edge.
  • the cutting edge 41 extends linearly in the right-left direction.
  • the cutting edge 41 may contact the outer layer sheet 8 of the multi-layered sheet 24 supported by the support member along a direction in which the cutting edge 41 extends.
  • the second holder 59 includes a protruding portion at its left end portion.
  • the protruding portion protrudes relative to the cutting edge 41 and includes the second contactable portion 62 at its protruding end.
  • the second contactable portion 62 is a flat surface extending in the front-rear direction and in the right-left direction.
  • the first holder 71 is pivotably supported by the support shaft 47 that is positioned at a right end portion of the first holder 71 . That is, the first holder 71 is movable relative to the second holder 59 .
  • the first holder 71 has an elongated hole (not illustrated).
  • the pin 44 (refer to FIG. 4 ) is engaged with the elongated hole of the first holder 71 so as to be slidable relative to the elongated hole. This configuration may enable the first holder 71 to pivot on the support shaft 47 by driving of the motor 51 (refer to FIG. 4 ).
  • the first holder 71 has a medium faceable area 75 at one end surface thereof that may be a leading end surface when the first holder 71 pivots on the support shaft 47 in a counterclockwise direction when viewed in the axial direction of the support shaft 47 .
  • the medium faceable area 75 may face the release material layer 13 C of the multi-layered sheet 24 supported by the support member.
  • a plurality of, for example, two protrusions 77 are disposed at the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the protrusion 77 e.g., the right protrusion 77 ) positioned closer to the support shaft 47 than the other protrusion 77 may face the right end of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the other protrusion e.g., the left protrusion 77 positioned farther from the support shaft 47 than the one protrusion 77 may face the left end of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • a protruding amount of each protrusion 77 that protrudes from the medium faceable area 75 toward the cutting edge 41 corresponds to the protruding amount of each protrusion 77 of the slit-cutting device 100 (e.g., the dimension L 1 of FIG. 5 ).
  • the first contactable portion 92 is included in the first holder 71 .
  • the first contactable portion 92 is a recessed portion that is recessed relative to the medium faceable area 75 .
  • An absolute value of the first distance may be a shortest distance between an extension of the medium faceable area 75 of the first holder 71 and the first contactable portion 92 , and correspond to a dimension F 1 .
  • An absolute value of the second distance may be a shortest distance between an extension of the cutting edge 41 of the blade 46 of the second holder 59 and the second contactable portion 62 , and correspond to a dimension F 2 .
  • a closest approach distance may be a shortest distance between the medium faceable area 75 and the cutting edge 41 when the first contactable portion 92 and the second contactable portion 62 are in contact with each other.
  • the closest approach distance may correspond to a dimension F 3 .
  • the first distance is represented by a negative real number
  • the second distance is represented by a positive real number.
  • the closest approach distance may be a value represented by a sum of the first distance and the second distance.
  • the closest approach distance may be equal to or less than a thickness of the release material layer 13 C (refer to FIG. 3 ) of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the closest approach distance in the slit-cutting device 101 is equal to the closest approach distance in the slit-cutting device 100 (e.g., the dimension E 1 of FIG. 6 ).
  • the first holder 71 pivots on the support shaft 47 toward the blade 46 by driving of the motor 51 (refer to FIG. 4 ).
  • the blade 46 reaches the cutting position and the motor 51 stops driving for pivoting the first holder 71 .
  • the protruding amount of each protrusion 77 from the medium faceable area 75 is greater than or equal to the closest approach distance.
  • the cutting edge 41 and the protrusions 77 pinch the multi-layered sheet 24 therebetween and thus a penetrating slit is cut into the multi-layered sheet 24 at each location where the cutting edge 41 and a corresponding one of the protrusions 77 face each other. In this state, the cutting edge 41 penetrates into the protrusions 77 .
  • the closest approach distance is less than the thickness of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the slit-cutting device 101 may cut, into the multi-layered sheet 24 , a predetermined slit line including both a non-penetrating slit and penetrating slits, across the multi-layered sheet 24 with respect to the medium width direction, in a single slit-cutting operation.
  • a slit-cutting device 200 according to a second illustrative embodiment will be described. An explanation will be given mainly for the parts different from the slit-cutting device 100 of the first illustrative embodiment, and an explanation will be omitted for the common components by assigning the same reference numerals thereto.
  • the slit-cutting device 200 includes a protrusion 78 instead of the protrusions 77 .
  • the protrusion 78 is disposed at a substantially middle portion of a medium faceable area 75 of a first holder 70 in the right-left direction.
  • the medium faceable area 75 may face end portions of the multi-layered sheet 24 in the medium width direction.
  • the protrusion 78 includes a plurality of, for example, two walls 79 .
  • the walls 79 extend along the right-left direction.
  • the walls 79 are spaced from each other to define therebetween a predetermined area 75 A in the medium faceable area 75 and are disposed next to each other in the front-rear direction.
  • the predetermined area 75 A is included in the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the predetermined area 75 A may face a middle portion of the cutting edge 41 that moves pivotably in the circumferential direction of the support shaft 47 .
  • a protruding amount of the protrusion 78 that protrudes from the medium faceable area 75 toward the cutting edge 41 corresponds to a dimension L 2 in FIG. 12 .
  • the protruding amount of the protrusion 78 corresponds to a height of the walls 79 .
  • Each of the walls 79 has an upper end surface 79 A and side end surfaces 79 B.
  • the upper end surface 79 A may face and contact a middle portion of the release material layer 13 C (refer to FIG. 3 ) in the medium width direction.
  • the side end surfaces 79 B are disposed to the respective sides of the upper end surface 79 A in each wall 79 B in the right-left direction.
  • the side end surfaces 79 B extend diagonally downward from the upper end surface 79 A in opposite directions with respect to the right-left direction.
  • the slit-cutting device 200 includes a first contactable portion 93 instead of the first contactable portion 91 of the first illustrative embodiment.
  • the first holder 70 includes a protruding portion disposed to the left of the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the protruding portion protrudes relative to the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the protruding portion includes the first contactable portion 93 at its protruding end.
  • the first contactable portion 93 is a flat surface extending in the front-rear direction and in the right-left direction.
  • the slit-cutting device 200 further includes a second contactable portion 63 instead of the second contactable portion 61 of the first illustrative embodiment.
  • the second contactable portion 63 is included in a second holder 49 .
  • the second contactable portion 63 is a flat surface that is disposed opposite to the first holder 70 relative to the cutting edge 41 in the circumferential direction of the support shaft 47 .
  • the second contactable portion 63 may face the first contactable portion 93 in the circumferential direction of the support shaft 47 .
  • An absolute value of the first distance may be a shortest distance between an extension of the medium faceable area 75 of the first holder 70 and the first contactable portion 93 , and correspond to a dimension G 1 .
  • An absolute value of the second distance may be a shortest distance between an extension of the cutting edge 41 of the blade 46 of the second holder 49 and the second contactable portion 63 , and correspond to a dimension G 2 .
  • a closest approach distance may be a shortest distance between the medium faceable area 75 and the cutting edge 41 when the first contactable portion 93 and the second contactable portion 63 are in contact with each other.
  • the closest approach distance corresponds to a dimension G 3 .
  • the first distance is represented by a positive real number
  • the second distance is represented by a negative real number.
  • the closest approach distance may be a value greater than 0 (zero) which is represented by a sum of the first distance and the second distance.
  • the closest approach distance may be equal to or less than a thickness of the release material layer 13 C (refer to FIG. 3 ) of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the closest approach distance is less than the protruding amount of each wall 79 from the medium faceable area 79 (e.g., the dimension L 2 of FIG. 12 ).
  • the blade 46 and the second holder 49 pivot on the support shaft 47 toward the first holder 70 (e.g., an arrow H of FIG. 11 ) by driving of the motor 51 (refer to FIG. 4 ).
  • the protruding amount of each wall 79 from the medium faceable area 75 is greater than or equal to the closest approach distance. Therefore, before the second contactable portion 63 contacts the first contactable portion 93 , the cutting edge 41 enters between the walls 79 by penetrating through the multi-layered sheet 24 that faces the upper end surfaces 79 A of the walls 79 .
  • the cutting edge 41 cuts a penetrating slit into a middle portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 in the medium width direction.
  • the middle portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 faces the upper end surfaces 79 A of the walls 79 .
  • the cutting edge 41 and the medium faceable area 75 sandwich the other portions of the multi-layered sheet 24 therebetween.
  • the other portions of the multi-layered sheet 24 do not face the protrusion 78 and are located to the right and left, respectively, of the protrusion 78 .
  • the blade 46 reaches the cutting position and the motor 51 (refer to FIG. 4 ) stops driving for pivoting the first holder 71 .
  • the cutting edge 41 extends linearly in the right-left direction.
  • the closest approach distance is less than a thickness of the multi-layered sheet 24 . Therefore, when the blade 46 reaches the cutting position, the cutting edge 41 cuts non-penetrating slits into the multi-layered sheet 24 at respective locations to the right and left of the protrusion 78 .
  • the slit-cutting device 200 may cut, into the multi-layered sheet 24 , a slit line including a non-penetrating slit 29 , a penetrating slit 28 , and another non-penetrating slit 29 successively, along the entire width of the multi-layered sheet 24 (refer to FIG. 14 ).
  • the range in which the second holder 49 supported by the support shaft 47 moves relative to the first holder 70 corresponds to the range in which the cutting edge 41 moves closer to or away from the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the cutting edge 41 cuts a penetrating slit into the multi-layered sheet 24 at the location where the cutting edge 41 faces the protrusion 78 , and also cuts non-penetrating slits into the multi-layered sheet 24 at the other locations where the cutting edge 41 does not face the protrusion 78 .
  • the slit-cutting device 200 may cut a predetermined slit line including both the non-penetrating slits and the penetrating slit, into the multi-layered sheet 24 , along the cutting edge 41 of the blade 46 located at the cutting position, in a single slit-cutting operation.
  • the second illustrative embodiment may implement the slit-cutting device 200 that may cut, into the multi-layered sheet 24 , a predetermined slit line including both a non-penetrating slit and a penetrating slit, across the multi-layered sheet 24 with respect to the medium width direction, in a single slit-cutting operation.
  • the protrusion 78 is disposed at the medium faceable area 75 of the first holder 70 such that the protrusion 78 may face a substantially middle portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 facing the medium faceable area 75 in the medium width direction.
  • This configuration may therefore enable the slit-cutting device 200 to cut a penetrating slit into a substantially middle portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 in the medium width direction.
  • the user may put a fingertip at the penetrating slit formed in the substantially middle portion of the multi-layered sheet 24 in the medium width direction to remove the outer layer sheet 8 and the base layer 13 A from the release material layer 13 C.
  • Such a multi-layered sheet 24 may therefore enable the user to easily remove the outer layer sheet 8 and the base layer 13 A from the release material layer 13 C.
  • the slit-cutting device 300 includes a slide rail 48 , a second holder 69 , a support table 90 , a first holder 72 , elastic members 88 , a first contactable portion 94 , and protrusions 87 .
  • the slide rail 48 includes a fixed rail (not illustrated) and a movable rail (not illustrated).
  • the fixed rail is fixed to the inside of the case 5 (refer to FIG. 2 ) and extends in the top-bottom direction.
  • the movable rail extends in the top-bottom direction.
  • the movable rail is connected to the fixed rail so as to be movable relative to the fixed rail in the top-bottom direction.
  • the second holder 69 is fixed to the movable rail of the slide rail 48 . Therefore, the second holder 69 is supported by the slide rail 48 so as to be movable up and down and is movable relative to the first holder 72 .
  • the second holder 69 supports a blade 46 .
  • the blade 46 has a cutting edge 41 at its lower edge.
  • the cutting edge 41 extends linearly in the right-left direction.
  • the second holder 69 is connected to the lever disposed at the case 5 . In response to a user's operation of the lever, the second holder 69 moves up and down via the slide rail 48 to move the blade 46 between a non-cutting position (refer to FIG. 15 ) and a cutting position (refer to FIG. 16 ).
  • the support table 90 is disposed below the second holder 69 and is fixed facing the second holder 69 .
  • the support table 90 has a recessed portion 99 that is recessed downward.
  • the first holder 72 is disposed in the recessed portion 99 so as to be movable up and down.
  • the first holder 72 has a dimension in the top-bottom direction (e.g., a height) shorter than a dimension in the top-bottom direction (e.g., a depth) of the recessed portion 99 .
  • the first holder 72 has a medium faceable area 75 at its upper end surface.
  • the medium faceable area 75 may face the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the medium faceable area 75 may face the cutting edge 41 in the top-bottom direction.
  • the medium faceable area 75 may face the release material layer 13 C (refer to FIG. 3 ) of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the elastic members 88 are disposed in the recessed portion 99 .
  • the elastic members 88 urge the first holder 72 upward.
  • Each of the elastic members 88 may be, for example, a compression spring.
  • Each of the elastic members 88 has a lower end that is fixed to the recessed portion 99 , and an upper end that is fixed to a lower end of the first holder 72 .
  • the first holder 72 and the elastic members 88 each has a dimension in the top-bottom direction such that a sum of the dimension of the first holder 72 in the top-bottom direction and a length of an elastic member 88 in a most contracted state is less than a distance between a bottom end of an open space where the first holder 72 is disposed in the recessed portion 99 and an upper end of the open space of the recessed portion 99 .
  • the upper end surface of the first holder 72 i.e., the medium faceable area 75 , is located slightly above the upper end of the open space of the recessed portion 99 (refer to FIG. 15 ).
  • a distance between the medium faceable area 75 and the bottom end of the open space of the recessed portion 99 may be greater than the sum of the dimension of the first holder 72 in the top-bottom direction and the length of an elastic member 88 in the most contracted state.
  • the medium faceable area 75 might not necessarily be located above the upper end of the recessed portion 99 .
  • the first contactable portion 94 is included in the support table 90 .
  • the support table 90 includes another recessed portion that includes the first contactable portion 94 at its bottom.
  • the first contactable portion 94 constitutes a portion of an upper end surface of the support table 90 .
  • the first contactable portion 94 is located below the upper end of the recessed portion 99 .
  • Each of the protrusions 87 may be a plate-shaped metallic member and may be made of material harder than the cutting edge 41 .
  • the protrusions 87 are disposed with partially overlapping a left end portion and a right end portion, respectively, of the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the protrusions 87 are connected to the elastic members 88 indirectly via the first holder 72 . That is, force that the protrusions 87 has received from the cutting edge 41 transfers to the first holder 72 and further transfers to the elastic members 88 .
  • the protrusions 87 may face the right and left ends, respectively, of the release material layer 13 C (refer to FIG. 3 ) of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the second holder 69 includes a second contactable portion 64 .
  • the second holder 69 includes a protruding portion disposed to the left of the cutting edge 41 .
  • the protruding portion protrudes relative to the cutting edge 41 .
  • the protruding portion includes the second contactable portion 64 at its protruding end.
  • the second contactable portion 63 is a flat surface extending in the front-rear direction and in the right-left direction.
  • the second contactable portion 63 faces the first contactable portion 94 in the top-bottom direction.
  • the second contactable portion 64 needs to be disposed on at least one of the right side and the left side of the cutting edge 41 . Therefore, in other embodiments, for example, the second contactable portion 64 may be disposed to the right of the cutting edge 41 .
  • a first distance, a second distance, and a closest approach distance in the slit-cutting device 300 will be defined.
  • An absolute value of the first distance may be a shortest distance between an extension of the medium faceable area 75 of the first holder 72 and the first contactable portion 94 of the support table 90 , and correspond to a dimension H 1 .
  • An absolute value of the second distance may be a shortest distance between an extension of the cutting edge 41 of the blade 46 of the second holder 69 and the second contactable portion 64 , and correspond to a dimension H 2 .
  • the closest approach distance may correspond to a dimension H 3 .
  • the first distance is represented by a negative real number
  • the second distance is represented by a positive real number.
  • the closest approach distance may be a shortest distance between the medium faceable area 75 and the cutting edge 41 when the first contactable portion 94 and the second contactable portion 64 are in contact with each other.
  • the closest approach distance is greater than 0 (zero) which is the sum of the first distance and the second distance.
  • the closest approach distance is less than the thickness of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the closest approach distance is equal to the protruding amount of each protrusion 87 from the medium faceable area 75 (e.g., a dimension L 3 of FIG. 15 ).
  • each protrusion 87 from the medium faceable area 75 (e.g., the dimension L 3 of FIG. 15 ) is greater than or equal to the closest approach distance. Therefore, before the second contactable portion 64 contacts the first contactable portion 94 , the cutting edge 41 and the protrusions 87 sandwiches the multi-layered sheet 24 therebetween.
  • the blade 46 further moves downward to cause the cutting edge 41 and the medium faceable area 75 to sandwich the multi-layered sheet 24 therebetween.
  • the first holder 72 moves downward against elastic force of the elastic members 88 .
  • elastic deformation of the elastic members 88 allow the downward movement of the first holder 72 .
  • the elastic force that the elastic members 88 apply to the first holder 72 increases correspondingly. This therefore increases the force that the cutting edge 41 and the protrusions 87 sandwich the multi-layered sheet 24 therebetween and the force that the cutting edge 41 and the medium faceable area 75 sandwich the multi-layered sheet 24 therebetween.
  • the cutting edge 41 cuts penetrating slits into the multi-layered sheet 24 at respective locations where the cutting edge 41 faces the protrusions 87 , and thus the cutting edge 41 contacts the protrusions 87 . Simultaneously, the cutting edge 41 cuts a non-penetrating slit into the multi-layered sheet 24 at another location where the cutting edge 41 faces the medium faceable area 75 . Therefore, a slit line including a penetrating slit 28 , a non-penetrating slit 29 , and another penetrating slit 28 successively is cut into the multi-layered sheet 24 across the multi-layered sheet 24 with respect to the medium width direction.
  • the blade 46 When the second contactable portion 64 contacts the first contactable portion 94 , the blade 46 reaches the cutting position. When the blade 46 is located at the cutting position, the blade 46 presses the first holder 72 via the multi-layered sheet 24 and thus the medium faceable area 75 is flush with the upper end of the recessed portion 99 (refer to FIG. 16 ).
  • the range in which the second holder 69 supported by the slide rail 48 moves relative to the first holder 72 corresponds to the range in which the cutting edge 41 moves closer to or away from the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the cutting edge 41 cuts penetrating slits into the multi-layered sheet 24 at respective locations where the cutting edge 41 faces the protrusions 87 , and also cuts a non-penetrating slit into the multi-layered sheet 24 at another location where the cutting edge 41 face the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the slit-cutting device 300 may cut, into the multi-layered sheet 24 , a slit line including both the non-penetrating slit and the penetrating slits, across the multi-layered sheet 24 with respect to the medium width direction, along the cutting edge 41 located at the cutting position, in a single slit-cutting operation.
  • the third illustrative embodiment may implement the slit-cutting device 300 that may cut, into the multi-layered sheet 24 , a predetermined slit line including both a non-penetrating slit and a penetrating slit, in a single slit-cutting operation.
  • slit-cutting device 300 Various changes or modifications may be applied to the slit-cutting device 300 .
  • a slit-cutting device 301 which may be a variation of the slit-cutting device 300 will be described. An explanation will be given mainly for the parts different from the slit-cutting device 300 of the third illustrative embodiment, and an explanation will be omitted for the common components by assigning the same reference numerals thereto.
  • the slit-cutting device 301 includes a support table 98 instead of the support table 90 .
  • the support table 98 has a recessed portion 99 .
  • a first holder 73 which is different from the first holder 72 , is disposed in the recessed portion 99 .
  • the first holder 73 is made of an elastically deformable material.
  • the first holder 73 has a medium faceable area 75 at its upper end surface. When a blade 460 is located at the non-cutting position, the medium faceable area 75 is located above the upper end of the recessed portion 99 .
  • FIGS. 17 and 18 for purposes of clear illustration, the first holder 73 is hatched.
  • a plurality of protrusions 87 are disposed at the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the protrusions 87 are connected to the first holder 87 directly. That is, force that the protrusions 87 has received from the cutting edge 41 transfers to the first holder 73 from the protrusions 87 .
  • the support table 98 includes a first contactable portion 95 .
  • the first contactable portion 95 is a flat surface that constitutes a portion of an upper end surface of the support table 98 and that extends in the horizontal direction. The first contactable portion 95 is flush with the upper end of the recessed portion 99 .
  • the slit-cutting device 301 further includes a second holder 89 instead of the second holder 69 .
  • the second holder 89 is supported by the slide rail 48 so as to be movable up and down.
  • the second holder 89 is connected to the lever (not illustrated) disposed at the case 5 .
  • the slit-cutting device 301 includes the blade 460 instead of the blade 46 .
  • the blade 460 includes a cutting edge 41 and a second contactable portion 65 that is disposed at a different position than the cutting edge 41 .
  • the second contactable portion 65 is a flat surface that extends in the horizontal direction.
  • the second contactable portion 65 is flush with the cutting edge 41 of the blade 46 .
  • a first distance, a second distance, and a closest approach distance in the slit-cutting device 301 will be defined.
  • An absolute value of the first distance when the first contactable portion 95 and the second contactable portion 65 are in contact with each other correspond to a dimension J 2 .
  • the second distance is 0 (zero).
  • the first distance is represented by a positive real number.
  • the closest approach distance is equal to the first distance (e.g., the dimension H 2 ) and less than the thickness of the multi-layered sheet 24 .
  • the closest approach distance is equal to the protruding amount of each protrusion 87 from the medium faceable area (e.g., a dimension L 4 of FIG. 17 ).
  • the user manually operates the lever to move the blade 46 from the non-cutting position to the cutting position.
  • the cutting edge 41 penetrates into some layers of the multi-layered sheet 24 at locations where the cutting edge 41 faces the protrusions 87 and sandwiches the multi-layered sheet 24 in cooperation with the medium faceable area 75 at a location where the cutting edge 41 faces the medium faceable area 75 .
  • Elastic deformation of the first holder 73 allows the downward movement of the protrusions 87 .
  • the blade 460 reaches the cutting position (refer to FIG. 18 ).
  • the cutting edge 41 cuts penetrating slits into the multi-layered sheet 24 at respective locations where the cutting edge 41 faces the protrusions 87 , and also cuts a non-penetrating slit into the multi-layered sheet 24 at another location where the cutting edge 41 face the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the slit-cutting device 401 includes a first contactable portion 96 and a second contactable portion 66 .
  • the first holder 70 includes a protruding portion that protrudes relative to the medium faceable area 75 toward the cutting edge 41 .
  • the protruding portion of the first holder 70 includes the first contactable portion 96 at its top end.
  • the second holder 49 includes a protruding portion that protrudes relative to the cutting edge 41 toward the medium faceable area 75 .
  • the protruding portion of the second holder 49 includes the second contactable portion 66 at its bottom end.
  • the first distance when the first contactable portion 96 and the second contactable portion 66 are in contact with each other is represented by a positive real number similar to the slit-cutting device 200 (refer to FIG. 13 ) and corresponds to a dimension K 1 .
  • the second distance when the first contactable portion 96 and the second contactable portion 66 are in contact with each other is represented by a positive real number similar to the slit-cutting device 100 (refer to FIG. 6 ) and corresponds to a dimension K 2 .
  • the closest approach distance is a value represented by the sum of the first distance and the second distance.
  • the cutting edge in a single slit-cutting operation, may cut a penetrating slit into the medium at a location where the cutting edge faces the protrusion, and also cut a non-penetrating slit into the medium at another location where the cutting edge faces the medium faceable area. Therefore, the slit-cutting device may cut both a non-penetrating slit and a penetrating slit in the medium along the cutting edge in a single slit-cutting operation.
  • some embodiments of the disclosure may implement the slit-cutting device that may cut a predetermined slit line including both a non-penetrating slit and a penetrating slit, into a medium in a single slit-cutting operation.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
  • Forests & Forestry (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Textile Engineering (AREA)
  • Handling Of Sheets (AREA)
US15/718,167 2017-03-31 2017-09-28 Slit-cutting device Abandoned US20180281221A1 (en)

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JP2017-073167 2017-03-31

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US20210237489A1 (en) * 2020-01-30 2021-08-05 Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Cutting device and printer
US11285742B2 (en) 2019-05-22 2022-03-29 Seiko Epson Corporation Half cutter and tape printing apparatus

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DE102019117180A1 (de) * 2019-06-26 2020-12-31 Hauni Maschinenbau Gmbh Vorrichtung und Verfahren zum Verbinden von zwei jeweils von einer Bobine ablaufenden Materialbahnen
JP7409113B2 (ja) * 2020-01-30 2024-01-09 ブラザー工業株式会社 切断装置およびプリンタ
JP7437636B1 (ja) 2022-11-04 2024-02-26 有限会社和田技研 スライサ

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JP2018171697A (ja) 2018-11-08
US20210387369A1 (en) 2021-12-16
CN108688350A (zh) 2018-10-23
JP6988135B2 (ja) 2022-01-05
CN108688350B (zh) 2020-11-27
US11883972B2 (en) 2024-01-30

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