Display object generation apparatus

Abstract

Provided is a display object generating apparatus that performs printing and cutting of a large printing medium, can generate a larger display object than before, and can suppress deterioration of work efficiency at that time. The display object generating apparatus includes a printing section that performs printing on a printing medium by a printing head, a cutting section that cuts a printed portion or a surrounding portion of the printing medium into an arbitrary shape by a cutting head, a first motor, a second motor having a rotational speed greater than a rotational speed of the first motor, a first rotating body facing the printing section, and a second rotating body facing the cutting section. The first motor rotates the first rotating body and the second rotating body to convey the printing medium in a predetermined direction at the time of printing of the printing medium, and the second motor rotates the second rotating body to convey the printing medium in the predetermined direction and the opposite direction at the time of cutting of the printing medium. The second rotating body is cut off from power transmission from the first motor at the time of cutting of the printing medium.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present application relates to a technology of generating a display, and particularly to an apparatus for generating a display by printing an arbitrary character, figure, image, or the like on a printing medium and cutting the obtained printed matter into an arbitrary shape. BACKGROUND

[0002] The applicant of the present application has developed and proposed various signature printers, printers, cutters, and label printers without cutting, as display generating apparatuses for generating displays such as labels and signs. For example, in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 made by the applicant, a so-called cutting printer in which a function of printing an arbitrary character or image or the like on a printing medium such as an adhesive sheet and a function of punching the outline of the obtained printed matter into an arbitrary shape to obtain a display are integrated is described. In such a cutting printer, generally, an ink ribbon is pressed and pressed by a print head (printing head) against a sheet or the like printing medium, and printing is performed while the sheet is conveyed, and the printed site or the periphery thereof is cut by a punch head (cutting head). In addition, the conveyance of the sheet is generally performed in a manner in which rotation of a pressure plate disposed opposite the print head and a sprocket disposed opposite the punch head is performed by driving them with one motor.

[0003] PRIOR ART DOCUMENTS

[0004] Patent Literature 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-52156

[0005] Patent Literature 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H11-198424 SUMMARY

[0006] PROBLEMS TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION

[0007] Such a cutting printer is suitable for the generation of relatively large displays, and recently, the demand for the generation of larger displays using a wider sheet has increased. For this reason, it is necessary to make the print head larger than in the related art, but in this case, the load (applied pressure) on the sheet pressed by the print head increases at the time of printing, and in addition, the weight of the printing medium supplied from the sheet roll itself increases, so the force required to convey the sheet also increases. Thus, in this case, in order to convey the sheet at the time of printing, a motor that generates a larger torque corresponding to the load applied to the sheet is required. Therefore, when a wide sheet is to be dealt with in the related art apparatus, the motor for driving the pressure plate and the sprocket has to be changed to a high-torque motor.

[0008] However, the rotational speed of a high-torque motor is inevitably low compared with the rotational speed of a low-torque motor, and therefore the feeding speed of the sheet at the time of cutting by the cutting head also decreases, and as a result, there is a problem that the work efficiency deteriorates. In particular, in the case where a display is generated by punching a printed portion in a complex profile, the moving distance of the sheet becomes long, and therefore there is a tendency that the deterioration of the work efficiency becomes more remarkable.

[0009] Therefore, the present application is made in view of the above-described circumstances, and aims to provide a display generation apparatus that performs printing and cutting on a large-sized printing medium (for example, a wide sheet), can generate a larger display than in the past, and can suppress deterioration of work efficiency at that time.

[0010] Solution to the problem

[0011] The present application adopts the following structure in order to solve the above-described problem.

[0012] 〔1〕One example of the display generation apparatus of the present disclosure has: a printing portion that performs printing on a printing medium by a printing head; a cutting portion that cuts a printed portion or the periphery of the printed portion in the printing medium into an arbitrary shape by a cutting head; a first motor; a second motor that has a rotational speed greater than the rotational speed of the first motor; a first rotating body (a platen or the like) that faces the printing portion across the printing medium; and a second rotating body (a sprocket or the like) that faces the cutting portion across the printing medium. In addition, at the time of printing on the printing medium, the first motor rotates the first rotating body and the second rotating body to convey the printing medium in a predetermined direction, and at the time of cutting of the printing medium, the second motor rotates the second rotating body to convey the printing medium in the predetermined direction and a direction opposite to the predetermined direction, and the second rotating body is cut off from the power from the first motor at the time of cutting of the printing medium.

[0013] In the above structure, the printing medium can be conveyed in a predetermined direction while the first rotary body is rotated by the first motor functioning as a printing motor, and printing of arbitrary characters, figures, images, or the like on the printing medium can be performed on or from above the first rotary body. Thus, even if the printing head is upsized while printing the printing medium, and even if the weight of the printing medium itself increases due to upsizing of the printing medium, printing can be reliably performed while the printing medium is appropriately conveyed, by using a motor with higher torque than usual as the first motor. At this time, the printing medium fed out by the first rotary body is conveyed while being gently pulled by the second rotary body rotated by the first motor, and a moderate tension (counter-tension) is applied to the printing medium. Thus, the printing medium can be prevented from deviating from the first rotary body or being damaged.

[0014] In addition, the printing medium can be conveyed in a predetermined direction and the opposite direction thereof while the second rotary body is rotated by the second motor functioning as a cutting motor, and cutting can be performed on or from above the second rotary body. At this time, the second rotary body is cut off from the transmission of power from the first motor, and thus the power of the second motor is not transmitted to the first motor via the second rotary body during cutting of the printing medium. Thus, the first motor can be prevented from rotating in conjunction with the driving of the second motor, and further, the first motor can be prevented from becoming a load of the second motor. Therefore, by using the second motor having a higher rotational speed than the rotational speed of the first motor, high-speed conveyance during cutting of the printing medium can be appropriately performed, a decrease in the feeding speed of the printing medium can be prevented, and the display object can be punched at high speed.

[0015] (2) In the above structure, more specifically, a first power transmission portion that transmits the power from the first motor to the first rotary body and the second rotary body during printing of the printing medium and cuts off the transmission of the power from the first motor to the second rotary body during cutting of the printing medium, and a second power transmission portion that transmits the power from the second motor to the second rotary body during cutting of the printing medium can be provided.

[0016] With the above structure, the transmission of the power from the first motor to the first rotary body and the second rotary body during printing of the printing medium and the cutting off of the transmission of the power from the first motor to the second rotary body during cutting of the printing medium can be effectively performed by the first power transmission portion. In addition, the transmission of the power from the second motor to the second rotary body during cutting of the printing medium can be effectively performed by the second power transmission portion.

[0017] 〔3〕 In addition, in the above structure, the first power transmission portion can be configured to cut off the power from the first motor when the second rotary body detects a load that exceeds the allowable amount. Note that, since the second rotary body can be rotated by the second motor having a larger rotational speed, the second rotary body can be rotated faster than the first rotary body. In this case, it is preferable that the load value at which the rotational speeds of both the first rotary body and the second rotary body become equal be set as the "allowable amount".

[0018] Further, the above structure is particularly useful in the structure in which the first motor drives both the first rotary body and the second rotary body in the present disclosure. That is, when the print medium is conveyed while being gently pulled by the second rotary body, the print medium can be damaged when the tension applied to the print medium by the second rotary body exceeds the allowable amount and the rotational speed of the second rotary body intentionally exceeds that of the first rotary body. In contrast, when the second rotary body detects a load that exceeds the allowable amount, the first power transmission portion cuts off the power from the first motor, thereby idling the second rotary body (it can be said that the speed difference between the first rotary body and the second rotary body is absorbed), and the constant speed of the first rotary body and the second rotary body can be maintained. Thus, the second rotary body excessively pulling the print medium is suppressed, and the damage to the print medium can be effectively prevented.

[0019] 〔4〕 In addition, in the above structure, a conveyance distance measuring portion (for example, an encoder) that is provided to the second motor (rotational shaft) or the second rotary body (rotational shaft) and measures the conveyance distance of the print medium can be provided. Thus, the conveyance distance of the print medium can be accurately measured, and the printing and cutting of the print medium can be appropriately performed.

[0020] In addition, the first motor, which transmits the power to the second rotary body, slips by itself since the first power transmission portion is cut off. Thus, the actual movement of the print medium deviates from the actual number of steps of the first motor. Thus, even when the first motor is provided with the conveyance distance measuring portion that measures the conveyance distance of the print medium, the conveyance distance of the print medium can not be accurately measured. On the other hand, the second motor does not slip since the second motor transmits the power to the second rotary body. Thus, the rotation of the second rotary body that conveys the print medium and the rotation of the second motor are reliably linked. Therefore, by measuring the number of steps by providing the conveyance distance measuring portion to the second motor or the second rotary body, the number of rotations of the second rotary body, that is, the conveyance distance of the print medium can be accurately measured.

[0021] Note that in the present disclosure, the functions of one "unit", "machine", "mechanism", "device", and constituent parts and constituent elements thereof can be implemented by two or more physical units or devices, or the functions of two or more "units", "machines", "mechanisms", "devices", and constituent parts and constituent elements thereof can be implemented by one physical unit or device. Furthermore, "unit", "machine", "mechanism", "device" are concepts that can also be referred to as, for example, "unit" or "system", and the like.

[0022] Effects of Invention

[0023] According to the present disclosure, by using a motor with higher torque than usual as the first motor, even if the print head is upsized, and even if the weight of the print medium itself increases due to upsizing of the print medium, printing can be reliably performed while the print medium is appropriately conveyed. In addition, cutting is performed while conveying the print medium by the second rotating body connected to the second motor with a larger rotational speed than the first motor, so that a decrease in the feed speed of the print medium at the time of cutting can be prevented, and the display object can be punched out at high speed. As a result, deterioration of work efficiency when generating a large display object can be suppressed. In particular, in the case of punching out a print position of a display object in a complex profile, the movement distance of the print medium becomes long, and deterioration of work efficiency can become more significant, but according to the present disclosure, punching out of such a complex shape can also be performed at high speed. In addition, in the case of generating a display object of the same size as in the past, cutting of the print medium can be performed more quickly, so that the generation efficiency of the display object can be further improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0024] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the structure of an example of a display object generation apparatus of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0025] Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the structure of an example of a display object generation apparatus of one embodiment of the present disclosure (a state in which a cover of a printer is opened).

[0026] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view conceptually showing a part of the structure of an example of a display object generation apparatus of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0027] Figure 4 is a plan view showing a part of a more practical structure of an example of a display object generation apparatus of one embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0028] Figure 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state in which the inside of a printer is visually confirmed toward the sheet roll side along the V-V line in Figure 1 .

[0029] Figure 6A is a perspective view schematically showing an appearance of a sprocket.

[0030] Figure 6B is Figure 6A is an exploded perspective view.

[0031] Figure 7 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a hardware structure of a control system in an example of a display object generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0032] Hereinafter, with respect to an embodiment of an example of the present disclosure, description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiment described below is merely an example, and it is not intended to exclude the application of various modifications or technologies that are not explicitly described below. That is, an example of the present disclosure can be implemented in various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof. In addition, in the description of the drawings below, the same or similar parts are denoted by the same or similar reference numerals, and the drawings are schematic drawings and do not necessarily agree with the actual dimensions or ratios, etc. Also, there are cases where the dimensions or ratios of the parts are different from each other between the drawings. In addition, it is self-evident that the embodiment described below is an embodiment of a part of the present disclosure, and is not the entire embodiment. Furthermore, other embodiments obtained based on the embodiment of the present disclosure without requiring the creative act of a person skilled in the art are included in the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

[0033] [Configuration Example of Display Object Generating Apparatus]

[0034] Figure 1 and Figure 2 are perspective views each showing a structure of an example of a display object generating apparatus according to an embodiment of the present disclosure. A printer (display object generating apparatus) 1 is provided with a printer main body 110 having side wall portions 110a, 110b, and a cover 120 provided in an openable and closable manner at an upper portion between the side wall portions 110a, 110b. In addition, a long and wide (for example, 300 mm wide) print sheet S is housed in a detachable manner at a lower portion between the side wall portions 110a, 110b. As the print sheet S, for example, a print sheet in which a long and wide sheet is attached to a long and wide release paper can be cited, and can be provided as a sheet roll R wound in a manner called outer winding in which a print surface of the print sheet S faces outward. In addition, a plurality of through holes (not shown) called sprocket holes are formed at both ends in a width direction of the print sheet S at constant intervals in a length direction. Note that the print sheet S and the sheet roll R wound with the print sheet S correspond to an example of a print medium.

[0035] With the above appearance structure, the printer 1 has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape as a whole in a state where the cover 120 is closed. Further, an operation panel P that receives a conveyance operation of a print sheet S from a user and the like is provided on a side wall portion 110a of the printer main body 110, for example. In addition, the printer 1 is configured to house an ink ribbon cassette 130 in the inside of the cover 120 in a detachable manner.

[0036] Here, Figure 3 is a schematic plan view conceptually showing a part of the structure of an example of a display object generating apparatus of an embodiment of the present disclosure, Figure 4 is a plan view showing a more practical part of the structure of an example of a display object generating apparatus of an embodiment of the present disclosure. Note that, Figure 3 is Figure 1 and Figure 2 is a view for visually confirming the internal structure of the printer main body 110 from the side wall portion 110a side in the printer 1 of Figure 4 is Figure 1 and Figure 2 is a view for visually confirming the internal structure of the printer main body 110 from the side wall portion 110b side opposite to the side wall portion 110a in the printer 1 of Figure 5 is a cross-sectional perspective view showing a state of visually confirming the inside of the printer 1 toward the sheet roll R side along the V-V line in Figure 1 As shown in the above Figure 3 and Figure 4 , the printer 1 has a print portion 10, a cutting portion 20, a print motor (first motor) Ml, a cutting motor (second motor) M2, a platen (first rotating body) 31, and a sprocket (second rotating body) 32 as main functions thereof.

[0037] (Printing portion 10)

[0038] The printing portion 10 is provided in the inside of the cover 120, mainly has a function of performing printing of arbitrary characters, figures, images, and the like on a print sheet S by a print head 11, and has a print head driving portion 12 connected to the print head 11. In addition, in a state where the ink ribbon cassette 130 is housed in the cover 120, an ink ribbon B pulled out from the ink ribbon cassette 130 is disposed below the print head 11 in the drawing. Note that the ink ribbon B is housed in a roll shape in a pay-out core portion 131 of the ink ribbon cassette 130, and is wound around a winding core portion 132 of the ink ribbon cassette 130 from the pay-out core portion 131. In addition, as the ink ribbon B, an ink ribbon in which an ink liquid capable of transferring to a print sheet S by heat and pressure is applied to a film-shaped and long strip-shaped medium can be cited as an example.

[0039] Here, as an example, the print head 11 is constituted by a thermal head (thermal transfer method) and has a length in the length direction that is substantially the same as or longer than the printable width of the print sheet S. In addition, as shown in FIG. 1, the print head 11 is mounted to a support member (not shown) that has a first guide roller 131g disposed on the discharge side of the ink ribbon B (close to the discharge core 131) and a second guide roller 132g disposed on the winding side of the ink ribbon B (close to the winding core 132) with respect to the print head 11. Figure 4

[0040] Further, the print head driving section 12 has, for example, a lift solenoid or a motor (both not shown) that performs, for example, a lift operation of the print head 11, that is, an operation of pressing the print head 11 against the print sheet S and an operation of retraction (separation) of the print head 11 from the print sheet S, and an ink ribbon conveying motor 133 connected to the winding core 132 for pulling out the ink ribbon B from the ink ribbon cassette 130. With this print head driving section 12, the print head 11, the first guide roller 131g, and the second guide roller 132g are positioned at appropriate positions with respect to the platen 31 described later. Note that the print head 11 and the platen 31 are disposed facing each other with the ink ribbon B and the print sheet S therebetween.

[0041] (Cutting section 20)

[0042] The cutting section 20 is provided inside and on both side wall portions 110a, 110b of the printer main body 110, and has a function of punching (referred to as half cut, etc.) the print site in the print sheet S or the surrounding area of the print site to leave the release paper, by the cutting head 21, into an arbitrary shape, for example, a label having a desired profile, and the cutting section 20 is provided with a cutting head driving section 22 connected to the cutting head 21.

[0043] The cutting head 21 is movably assembled to a guide rail 23 extending in the width direction of the print sheet S at the downstream side of the print head 11 in the conveyance direction (arrow Ya) of the print sheet S. As the guide rail 23, it can be a flat rail, or a guide rail using a plurality of wires, etc. (a flat rail is shown in FIG. 1). Figure 3 Figure 3 Moreover, the cutting head 21 has, for example, a pen-point-like cutter that is substantially perpendicular to the peripheral surface of a sprocket 32 described later.

[0044] ​​The cutting head driving section 22 has, for example, a stepping motor and a feed mechanism (both not shown) built in or connected to one end of the guide rail 23, and a lift solenoid or a motor (both not shown) that performs the lifting operation of the cutting tool of the cutting head 21, i.e., the operation of pressing the cutting tool against the print sheet S and the operation of retraction (separation) of the cutting tool from the print sheet S. The punching of the characters, graphics, images, etc. printed on the print sheet S can be performed by the cooperation of the control of advancing and retreating the cutting head 21 along the guide rail 23 by the cutting head driving section 22 and the control of forward rotation and reverse rotation of the sprocket 32 by the cutting motor M2 described later. Note that the cutting head 21 and the sprocket 32 are arranged facing each other with the print sheet S interposed therebetween.

[0045] (Print sheet S conveying system)

[0046] The conveying of the print sheet S in the printer 1 is mainly performed by the print motor Ml, the cutting motor M2, the platen 31, and the sprocket 32. The above-described respective components are also provided inside and on both side wall portions 110a, 110b of the printer main body 110.

[0047] The print motor Ml, for example, a stepping motor, rotates the platen 31 in the shape of a roll and the sprocket 32 in the shape of a roll to convey the print sheet S in the positive direction (paper feeding direction, paper discharge direction, predetermined direction) indicated by the arrow Ya in the middle during printing of the print sheet S. Figure 3 The cutting motor M2, for example, a stepping motor, rotates the sprocket 32 to convey the print sheet S in the positive direction and the reverse direction (predetermined direction and opposite direction) indicated by the arrow Ya in the middle during cutting of the print sheet S. Figure 3 Note that on the rotation shaft M2a of the cutting motor M2, an encoder (conveying distance measuring section) 60 for measuring the conveying distance of the print sheet S is provided on the same axis.

[0048] Here, the rotational torque and the rotational speed of the print motor Ml and the cutting motor M2 have the following relationships represented by the following formulas (1) and (2), respectively.

[0049] • The rotational torque Ml t of the print motor Ml > the rotational torque M2 t of the cutting motor M2 … (1)

[0050] • The rotational speed Ml v of the print motor Ml < the rotational speed M2 v of the cutting motor M2 … (2)

[0051] Accordingly, the print sheet S during printing is conveyed at a relatively high torque and at a low speed, and the print sheet S during cutting is conveyed at a relatively low torque and at a high speed.

[0052] More specifically, the platen 31 has a platen drive pulley 31b provided at an end portion thereof on the side of the side wall portion 110a of the rotation shaft 31a, and a looped belt EB1 is stretched between the rotation shaft M1a of the printing motor M1 and the platen drive pulley 31b. Thus, at the time of printing of the printing sheet S, the power of the printing motor M1 is transmitted to the platen 31, and the platen 31 rotates at a predetermined low speed. In addition, the sprocket 32 has a torque limiter 50 described later at the rotation shaft 32a thereof, and a looped belt EB3 is stretched between the rotation shaft M1a of the printing motor M1 and the torque limiter 50. Thus, at the time of printing of the printing sheet S, the power of the printing motor M1 is transmitted not only to the platen 31 but also to the sprocket 32, and the sprocket 32 rotates at a predetermined speed together with the platen 31. Note that, at the time of cutting of the printing sheet S, the printing motor M1 and the looped belt EB3 are stopped, and the transmission of the power of the printing motor M1 to the sprocket 32 is cut off. In this way, the looped belts EB1 and EB3 correspond to an example of the "first power transmission portion" in the present disclosure.

[0053] In addition, the sprocket 32 has a sprocket drive pulley 32b provided at an inner side of the rotation shaft 31a thereof, and a looped belt EB2 is stretched between the rotation shaft M2a of the cutting motor M2 and the sprocket drive pulley 32b. Thus, at the time of cutting of the printing sheet S, the power of the cutting motor M2 is transmitted to the sprocket 32, and the sprocket 32 rotates at a predetermined high speed. In this way, the looped belt EB2 corresponds to an example of the "second power transmission portion" in the present disclosure.

[0054] Here, Figure 6A is a perspective view schematically showing the appearance of the sprocket 32, Figure 6B is Figure 6A is an exploded perspective view of the sprocket 32. As Figure 5 and Figure 6A and Figure 6B shown, at an end portion of the rotation shaft 32a of the sprocket 32 on the side of the side wall portion 110a, the above-described torque limiter 50 (commonly referred to as a "overload protection mechanism" or the like) is provided on the same axis. The torque limiter 50 is configured not to transmit the power of the printing motor M1 to the sprocket 32 at more than the allowable amount of the torque limiter 50 when a load (rotational load) of more than the allowable amount of the torque limiter 50 is detected from the printing motor M1. In addition, in the sprocket 32, a torque diode (registered trademark: omitted below. Commonly referred to as a "reverse input prevention mechanism" or the like) 40 is also provided on the same axis. The torque diode 40 has a power transmission portion 41 and a power non-transmission portion 42 which are integrated on the same axis. The power of the printing motor M1 is transmitted to the sprocket 32 through the power transmission portion 41, and on the other hand, the power of the cutting motor M2 is not transmitted to the printing motor M1 through the power non-transmission portion 42.

[0055] Note that, on the outer peripheral surface of the sprocket 32, the pins 32t that protrude from the sprocket holes provided at both ends in the width direction of the print sheet S as described above and engage with the print sheet S are formed in multiple at the same interval as the sprocket holes, and the print sheet S is conveyed at the time of printing and at the time of cutting by the feeding based on the platen 31 and the guiding based on the sprocket 32. In addition, when the print sheet S is conveyed, in order to avoid disengagement of the pins 32t of the sprocket 32 from the engagement with the sprocket holes of the print sheet S, Figure 4 A pair of press rollers 34, 35 shown in the drawing are disposed above the sprocket 32 and on the upstream side and the downstream side of the print sheet S. The press rollers 34, 35 are disposed on a pair of rotating shafts, and both shaft end portions are held to a proper bracket in a manner that can move up and down.

[0056] [Hardware configuration example of control system]

[0057] Figure 7 is a plan view schematically showing an example of a hardware structure of a control system in an example of a display object generating apparatus of an embodiment of the present disclosure. The printer 1 mainly has a control section 70 connected to the printing section 10, the cutting section 20, the print motor M1, and the cutting motor M2. The control section 70 includes a control arithmetic section 71, a communication interface (I / F) section 72, a storage section 73, an input section 74, and an output section 75, and each section is connected in a manner that can communicate with each other via a bus 76.

[0058] The control arithmetic section 71 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), and the like, and performs control and various arithmetic operations of each constituent element required to perform printing, cutting, and conveying of the print sheet S according to information processing. In addition, the communication I / F section 72 is, for example, a communication module for communicating with “sections” and “apparatuses” that are other constituent elements via a wire or wirelessly. The communication manner used for communication of the communication I / F section 72 is arbitrary, and for example, LAN (Local Area Network) or USB (Universal Serial Bus) or the like can be cited, and a proper communication line equivalent to the bus 76 can also be applied. Both the printing section 10 and the cutting section 20 can be configured to be able to communicate with the control arithmetic section 71 or the like via the communication I / F section 72.

[0059] The storage unit 73 is an auxiliary storage device such as a hard disk drive (HDD) or a solid-state drive (SSD), which stores various programs executed by the control and calculation unit 71 (calculation programs for performing printing, cutting, and transfer processing of the printing sheet S, monitoring programs based on various sensors, control programs for performing control processing of these actions, etc.), coordinate information and color information of the display printed on the printing sheet S, etc.

[0060] Input unit 74 is an interface device for receiving various input operations from a user utilizing printer 1, such as a mouse, keyboard, touch panel, or operation panel P with touch buttons. Figure 1 and Figure 2 It can be implemented using a microphone, external memory, etc. In addition, the output unit 75 is an interface device for notifying users of printer 1, etc., of various information through its display, sound output, print output, etc. For example, it can be implemented through a display, speaker, printer 1 itself, etc.

[0061] With the above structure, the control unit 70 obtains drawing data from an external information processing device, storage unit 73, or input unit 74 connected to the communication I / F unit 72, and drives the print head 11, printing motor M1, ink ribbon transport motor 133, and the lifting solenoid or motor of the print head 11 to print on the printing sheet S while conveying it through the pressure plate 31 and sprocket 32. Furthermore, the control unit 70 drives the cutting head 21, cutting motor M2, sprocket 32, and the lifting solenoid or motor of the print head 11 to cut the printed printing sheet S into a predetermined shape, and, as needed, cuts the printing sheet S across its entire width at a designated position.

[0062] [Example of the operation of a display generating device]

[0063] The following describes an example of the operation of printer 1, which has the above structure. First, when loading printing sheet S into printer 1, as follows... Figure 2 When the cover 120 is opened as shown, the ink cartridge 130 and printing section 10 housed inside the cover 120 retract upwards, exposing the transport path of the printing sheet S. In this state, as... Figure 2 As shown, the sheet roll R is loaded, and the printing sheet S is inserted from above the pressure plate 31 between the sprocket 32 ​​and the pressing rollers 34 and 35, thereby inserting and engaging the pin 32t of the sprocket 32 ​​into the sprocket hole formed on the printing sheet S. From this point onward, when the cover 120 is closed, the sprocket 32 ​​is capable of conveying the printing sheet S to the printing sheet.

[0064] (Printing of sheet S for printing)

[0065] Next, when the operation of the printer 1 is started, the control section 70 of the printer 1 acquires the drawing data of the display object and the die-cutting shape data of the printing position of the display object and the like from the information processing device connected to the outside of the communication I / F section 72, the storage section 73 or the input section 74, and transfers or inputs these drawing data and die-cutting shape data and the like to the control arithmetic section 71. The control arithmetic section 71 first sends a printing instruction to the printing section 10, the cutting section 20 and the printing motor Ml based on the drawing data.

[0066] The printing head driving section 12 of the printing section 10 receiving the instruction from the control arithmetic section 71 moves the printing head 11 from the retreat position not in contact with the platen 31 to the printing position in abutment with the platen 31 by driving the lifting solenoid or motor of the printing head 11, and positions the first guide roller 131g and the second guide roller 132g at predetermined positions. Thereby, the printing sheet S and the ink ribbon B are sandwiched by the printing head 11 and the platen 31 to become a state in which the ink ribbon B is pressed against the printing sheet S. Also, at the same time, the printing head driving section 12 of the printing section 10 moves the press roller 34 downward from the retreat position not in contact with the sprocket 32 to the position in abutment. On the other hand, the cutting head driving section 22 of the cutting section 20 drives the lifting solenoid or motor of the cutting head 21 to position the cutting head 21 at the retreat position (separation position) not in contact with the printing sheet S.

[0067] In this state, the control arithmetic section 71 drives the printing motor Ml, and the power thereof is transmitted to the platen 31 and the sprocket 32 via the endless belt EB1 and the endless belt EB3 and the torque diode 40, respectively. Thereby, the platen 31 and the sprocket 32 rotate in the forward direction in a manner to convey the printing sheet S in the direction indicated by the arrow Ya, and the press rollers 34 and 35 rotate in abutment with the printing sheet S in response to the movement of the printing sheet S. At this time, the platen 31 and the sprocket 32 rotate at a speed corresponding to the rotational torque Mlt and the rotational speed Mlv of the printing motor Ml. At this time, in the case where the sprocket 32 detects a load from the torque limiter 50 of the printing motor Ml exceeding the allowable amount, the torque limiter 50 performs torque adjustment in a manner to equalize the conveyance speed of the platen 31 and the sprocket 32, whereby the printing sheet S is also conveyed at a relatively low speed.

[0068] Note that, during printing, the control arithmetic section 71 does not drive the cutting motor M2, but the cutting motor M2 rotates via the endless belt EB2 by the rotational power of the sprocket 32. Thereby, the amount of rotation of the sprocket 32 during printing, i.e., the conveyance distance of the printing sheet S during printing, is determined by counting the number of steps of the rotation of the cutting motor M2 using the encoder 60.

[0069] In addition, the print head driving section 12 simultaneously drives the ink ribbon conveying motor 133 to rotate the winding core section 132, and conveys the ink ribbon B in correspondence with the conveyance of the print sheet S. Thereby, on the platen 31, the print sheet S and the ink ribbon B are fed and conveyed in the overlapping state in the positive direction indicated by the arrow Ya, and at the same time, the characters, figures, images, and the like corresponding to the drawing data are thermally transferred and printed on the print sheet S by the print head 11.

[0070] (Cutting of the print sheet S)

[0071] When the printing is completed, the control arithmetic section 71 sends a cutting instruction to the printing section 10, the cutting section 20, and the cutting motor M2, based on the punch shape data. The print head driving section 12 of the printing section 10 that receives the instruction from the control arithmetic section 71 moves the print head 11 from the printing position in contact with the platen 31 to the retreat position (separation position) not in contact with the platen 31 by the drive of the lift solenoid or motor of the print head 11, and positions the first guide roller 131g and the second guide roller 132g at the predetermined position in correspondence therewith. Thereby, the print sheet S and the ink ribbon B held by the print head 11 and the platen 31 are released. In addition, at the same time, the print head driving section 12 of the printing section 10 moves the press roller 34 upward from the position in contact with the sprocket 32 to the retreat position (separation position) not in contact with the sprocket 32.

[0072] On the other hand, the cutting head driving section 22 of the cutting section 20 drives the lift solenoid or motor of the cutting head 21 to position the cutting head 21 from the retreat position not in contact with the sprocket 32 to the cutting position in contact with the sprocket 32. Thereby, the state in which the cutting tool of the cutting head 21 is in contact with the print sheet S is achieved. Further, the cutting head driving section 22 advances and retreats the cutting head 21 along the guide rail 23 in the width direction of the print sheet S in correspondence with the punch shape data.

[0073] In addition, the control arithmetic section 71 drives the cutting motor M2, and the power thereof is transmitted to the sprocket 32 via the endless belt EB2. Thereby, the sprocket 32 rotates in the forward rotation direction and the reverse rotation direction in correspondence with the punch shape of the printing position of the display object in such a manner as to convey the print sheet S in the positive direction indicated by the arrow Ya and in the reverse direction thereof. In addition, at this time, the sprocket 32 rotates at a relatively high speed in correspondence with the rotational torque M2t and the rotational speed M2v of the cutting motor M2, and thereby the print sheet S is also conveyed at a relatively high speed.

[0074] In this way, the punching of the printing position of the characters, figures, images, and the like printed on the print sheet S is performed at high speed by the cooperation of the control of advancing and retreating the cutting head 21 along the guide rail 23 by the cutting head driving section 22 and the control of the forward rotation and the reverse rotation of the sprocket 32 by the cutting motor M2.

[0075] Note that, at the time of cutting, the control arithmetic unit 71 does not drive the printing motor Ml (the endless belts EB1, EB3 also stop), and the rotational power of the sprocket 32 rotated by the cutting motor M2 is cut by the torque diode 40 and is not transmitted to the printing motor Ml. That is, the printing motor Ml is power- disconnected from the sprocket 32 and the cutting motor. Thus, at the time of cutting of the printing sheet S, the printing motor Ml does not become a load resistance based on the rotation of the sprocket 32 of the cutting motor M2. Further, the amount of rotation of the cutting motor M2 is measured by the encoder 60, and the conveyance distance of the printing sheet S at the time of cutting can also be measured.

[0076] Further, after the cutting based on the punching of the display object is completed, the control arithmetic unit 71 repeatedly performs printing, cutting of other display objects as needed, and / or, in a state where the cutting motor M2 is stopped, for example, the printing sheet S is cut at a specified position throughout the entire width by the cutting unit 24 shown in FIG. 8, and the operation of the printer 1 is completed. Figure 4 After the printing sheet S is cut at a specified position throughout the entire width by the cutting unit 24 shown in FIG. 8, the operation of the printer 1 is completed.

[0077] According to the printer 1 thus configured, it is possible to convey the printing sheet S in the positive direction by the platen 31 connected to the printing motor Ml rotating at a higher torque and a lower speed than usual via the endless belt EB1, and to perform printing of arbitrary characters, figures, images, and the like using the print head 11, the ink ribbon B, and the platen 31. Thus, even if the print head 11 is larger than in the past, and even if a printing sheet S larger (long and wide) than in the past is used and the weight of the sheet roll R itself increases, it is possible to reliably perform printing while appropriately conveying the printing sheet S.

[0078] Further, it is possible to convey the printing sheet S in the positive direction and the negative direction at a high speed by the sprocket 32 connected to the printing motor M2 rotating at a lower torque and a higher speed than the printing motor Ml via the endless belt EB2, and to perform cutting based on the cutting head 21 on the sprocket 32. Thus, a decrease in the feeding speed of the printing sheet S at the time of cutting is prevented, and it is possible to perform punching of a display object at a high speed. As a result, it is possible to suppress deterioration of work efficiency when a large display object is generated. In particular, in a case where a printing region of a display object is punched in a complex contour, the moving distance of the printing sheet S becomes long, and deterioration of work efficiency becomes more significant in the conventional manner, but according to the printer 1 of the present disclosure, punching of such a complex shape can also be processed at a high speed. Moreover, in a case where a display object of a size equivalent to that in the past is generated, cutting of the printing sheet S can be performed more quickly, and thus the generation efficiency of a display object can be further improved.

[0079] In addition, since the sprocket wheel 32 is connected to the printing motor Ml via the endless belt EB3, the printing sheet S fed by the platen 31 is conveyed while being gently pulled by the sprocket wheel 32 at the time of printing. Thus, a moderate tension (counter tension) is applied to the printing sheet S between the platen 31 and the sprocket wheel 32, and the engagement of the sprocket hole of the printing sheet S with the pin 32t of the sprocket wheel 32 is prevented from being released, and the printing sheet S is prevented from being detached from the sprocket wheel 32.

[0080] Further, by providing the torque diode 40 at the rotational shaft 32a of the sprocket wheel 32, the driving force from the printing motor Ml is reliably transmitted to the sprocket wheel 32 via the power transmission portion 41 during printing of the printing sheet S, and on the other hand, the driving force of the cutting motor M2 is not transmitted to the printing motor Ml via the power non-transmission portion 42 during cutting of the printing sheet S. Thus, the printing motor Ml is prevented from being driven in conjunction with the cutting motor M2. Thus, the printing motor Ml does not become a load resistance of the cutting motor M2, and thus the high-speed conveyance of the printing sheet S at the time of cutting is appropriately and reliably performed.

[0081] Further, since the endless belt EB3 is provided between the printing motor Ml and the torque limiter 50 provided at the sprocket wheel 32, even when a load exceeding the allowable amount is input or detected from the printing motor Ml, the overload is not transmitted to the sprocket wheel 32. Thus, in this case, the sprocket wheel 32 is idling, and the constant speed of the platen 31 and the sprocket wheel 32 is maintained. Thus, the pin 32t of the sprocket wheel 32 is prevented from excessively pulling the portion of the sprocket hole of the printing sheet S, and the breakage of the printing sheet S is effectively prevented.

[0082] In addition, the printing motor Ml is connected to the "slip member" such as the torque limiter 50, and thus itself slips, and the relationship between the actual movement of the printing sheet S and the actual number of rotations (steps) of the printing motor Ml is deviated, and it can not be possible to accurately measure the conveyance distance of the printing sheet S. On the other hand, the cutting motor M2 is not connected to such a "slip member", and thus there is no possibility that the cutting motor itself slips, and the rotation of the sprocket wheel 32 that conveys the printing sheet S and the rotation of the cutting motor M2 reliably link. Thus, in the printer 1, the encoder 60 is provided at the cutting motor M2 described above to measure the number of steps, and thus the number of rotations of the sprocket wheel 32, that is, the conveyance distance of the printing sheet S, can be accurately measured, and the printing and cutting of the printing sheet S are appropriately performed.

[0083] The above describes the embodiment as an example of the present disclosure in detail, but as described above, the foregoing description merely shows an example of the present disclosure, and various modifications, variations, and the like can be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, which is self-evident. In addition, the above embodiment can be partially replaced, deleted, or combined to constitute, and in addition, the changes mentioned appropriately above can be made. For example, the print head 11 can use an inkjet method instead of a thermal head used with the ink ribbon B. The encoder 60 can also be provided to the sprocket wheel 32. In addition, because the rotation of the sprocket wheel 32 reliably links with the rotation of the cutting motor M2, the encoder 60 can also be provided to the rotation shaft 32a of the sprocket wheel 32.

[0084] Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0085] 1… printer (display generation device), 10… printing section, 11… print head, 12… print head driving section, 20… cutting section, 21… cutting head, 22… cutting head driving section, 23… guide rail, 24… cutting unit, 31… platen (first rotating body), 31a… rotation shaft, 31b… platen driving pulley, 32… sprocket wheel (second rotating body), 32a… rotation shaft, 32b… sprocket wheel driving pulley, 32t… pin, 34… press roller, 40… torque diode, 41… power transmission section, 42… power non-transmission section, 50… torque limiter, 60… encoder (conveyance distance measuring section), 70… control section, 71… control arithmetic section, 72… communication interface (I / F) section, 73… storage section, 74… input section, 75… output section, 76… bus, 110… printer main body, 110a, 110b… side wall section, 120… cover, 130… ink ribbon cassette, 131… pay-out core section, 131g… first guide roller, 132… take-up core section, 132g… second guide roller, 133… ink ribbon conveyance motor, B… ink ribbon, EB1, EB3… endless belt (first power transmission section), EB2… endless belt (second power transmission section), M1… printing motor (first motor), M1a… rotation shaft, M2… cutting motor (second motor), M2a… rotation shaft, P… operation panel, R… sheet roll (printing medium), S… printing sheet (printing medium), Ya… arrow (forward direction).

Claims

1. A display object generating apparatus comprising: a printing section that prints a printing medium by a printing head; a cutting section that cuts a printing position in the printing medium or a periphery of the printing position into an arbitrary shape by a cutting head; a first motor; a second motor having a rotational speed greater than a rotational speed of the first motor; a first rotating body facing the printing section across the printing medium; and a second rotating body facing the cutting section across the printing medium, wherein the first motor rotates the first rotating body and the second rotating body to convey the printing medium in a predetermined direction at the time of printing of the printing medium, the second motor rotates the second rotating body to convey the printing medium in the predetermined direction and a direction opposite to the predetermined direction at the time of cutting of the printing medium, and transmission of power from the first motor to the second rotating body is cut at the time of cutting of the printing medium.

2. The display object generating apparatus according to claim 1, comprising: a first power transmission section that transmits power from the first motor to the first rotating body and the second rotating body at the time of printing of the printing medium, and cuts transmission of power from the first motor to the second rotating body at the time of cutting of the printing medium; and a second power transmission section that transmits power from the second motor to the second rotating body at the time of cutting of the printing medium.

3. The display object generating apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the display object generating apparatus comprises a first power transmission section that transmits power from the first motor to the first rotating body and the second rotating body at the time of printing of the printing medium, and cuts transmission of power from the first motor to the second rotating body at the time of cutting of the printing medium, and the first power transmission section cuts power from the first motor when the second rotating body detects a load above an allowable amount.

4. The display object generating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first power transmission section cuts power from the first motor when the second rotating body detects a load above an allowable amount.

5. The display object generating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a conveyance distance measuring section provided to the second motor or the second rotating body, and measuring a conveyance distance of the printing medium.

6. The display object generating apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, comprising: a power non-transmission section that cuts transmission of power from the second motor to the first motor. ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​

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