Printing device

Abstract

A printing apparatus that prints a long strip of medium to be cut after printing, even in a case where a printed medium wound in a roll shape is paid out again and cut in a width direction of the medium and a transport direction of the medium and is a part of the medium in the width direction of the medium that is cut, can print a mark for cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium appropriately. In the printing apparatus, a printing mechanism prints a cut position mark (M1) that specifies a cut position in a medium transport direction of the medium (2), i.e., a medium cut position, at positions separated by a certain distance from each of the plurality of medium cut positions toward an upstream side in the transport direction, and prints a first cut range mark (M11) disposed at a position corresponding to one end of a cut range in the width direction of the medium (2), i.e., a medium cut range, at the medium cut position, and a second cut range mark (M12) disposed at a position corresponding to the other end of the medium cut range.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a printing apparatus for printing on strips of media. Background Technology

[0002] Previously, printers that print on long, sheet-like media were known (for example, see Patent Documents 1-3).

[0003] The printer described in Patent Document 1 includes: a transport mechanism that transports the medium along its length; a print head that prints on the medium; and a cutting head that cuts the medium into a predetermined shape. The print head and the cutting head are supported by a shared guide rail and are able to slide in the width direction of the medium, which is orthogonal to its length.

[0004] In this printer, the medium, after being printed by the printhead, is cut into a predetermined shape by the cutting head. Furthermore, in this printer, when the medium consists of a backing paper and a sealant that is peelably attached to the backing paper, the cutting head performs a partial cut on the medium, cutting only the sealant into a predetermined shape.

[0005] In the printer described in Patent Document 1, the medium before printing is wound into a roll. The rolled medium before printing is installed in the medium dispensing section. Furthermore, the medium after being partially cut is wound into a roll. The rolled medium after being partially cut is installed in the medium take-up section. When printing the medium, the medium is conveyed from the medium dispensing section toward the print head. Furthermore, when the medium is partially cut, the medium is conveyed from the medium dispensing section toward the cutting head, and also in the opposite direction from the cutting head toward the medium dispensing section.

[0006] The printer described in Patent Document 2 includes: a conveying roller and a clamping roller that convey the medium along the length of the medium; a recording head that prints on the medium; a carriage that carries the recording head; a table that is positioned opposite the recording head; a cutter that cuts the printed medium in the width direction of the medium orthogonal to the conveying direction of the medium; and a longitudinal cutter that cuts the printed medium along the conveying direction of the medium.

[0007] Patent Document 3 describes a printer comprising: a printing unit that prints on a medium; and a cutting unit that cuts the printed medium in the width direction of the medium. The printing unit prints an image on the medium and prints cutting marks in the blank areas between the images on the medium. The cutting unit is equipped with a cutting mark sensor for detecting the cutting marks. When the cutting unit detects a cutting mark using the cutting mark sensor, it stops the medium after conveying it a predetermined distance and then cuts the medium in the width direction of the medium.

[0008] Existing technical documents

[0009] Patent documents

[0010] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-247915

[0011] Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-163726

[0012] Patent Document 3: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2011-177950 Summary of the Invention

[0013] The problem the invention aims to solve

[0014] The inventors of this application have studied the following: as described in Patent Document 1, after the printed medium is half-cut, as described in Patent Document 2, the medium is cut in the width direction and along the transport direction of the medium.

[0015] When the medium is partially cut, it is also being conveyed in the opposite direction. Therefore, when cutting the medium in the direction of its conveying while partially cutting it, it is possible that the medium cannot be properly cut due to the influence of the medium being conveyed in the opposite direction.

[0016] Therefore, the inventors of this application have studied the following: instead of cutting the printed and partially cut medium in the width direction and the transport direction of the medium, the medium is temporarily rolled into a roll and then released again to cut the medium in the width direction and the transport direction of the medium.

[0017] In this case, the front end of the medium during printing and half-cutting (the front end in the length direction of the medium) becomes the rear end of the medium (the rear end in the length direction of the medium) when the medium is cut in the width direction and the transport direction of the medium. Moreover, the rear end of the medium during printing and half-cutting becomes the front end of the medium when the medium is cut in the width direction and the transport direction of the medium.

[0018] In addition, the inventors of this application have studied the following situation: instead of cutting the medium over the entire width of the medium, a portion of the medium in the width direction is cut linearly in the width direction of the medium, so that after the printed and half-cut portions are cut off, the medium is continuously formed into a blank portion that is wound into a roll by the medium winding section along the transport direction of the medium.

[0019] In this case, a reference for properly cutting a portion of the medium in the width direction is necessary, but no method for setting a reference for properly cutting a portion of the medium in the width direction has been proposed in the past.

[0020] Therefore, the objective of this invention is to provide a printing apparatus for printing on strips of media that are to be cut after printing, which can print markings for properly cutting the media in the width direction even when the printed media, which has been rolled into a roll, is released again and the media is cut in the width direction and the transport direction of the media, and the media is cut in the width direction of the media, specifically a portion of the media in the width direction of the media.

[0021] Solution for solving the problem

[0022] To address the aforementioned issues, the present invention provides a printing apparatus for printing long strips of media to be cut after printing. The printing apparatus comprises: a printing mechanism for printing the media; a media conveying mechanism for conveying the media along its length; a media dispensing section on which a rolled-up media, before being conveyed toward the printing mechanism, is mounted; and a media take-up section on which the rolled-up media, after passing through the printing mechanism, is mounted. The media width direction, orthogonal to the media conveying direction, is defined as the media width direction. The side where the media dispensing section is located in the media conveying direction is defined as the upstream side of the conveying direction, and the side where the media take-up section is located in the media conveying direction is defined as the downstream side of the conveying direction. The cutting position in the media conveying direction, where the media is to be cut linearly along the media width direction after printing, is defined as the media cutting position. The media width at the media cutting position is defined as the media width... When the cutting range in the direction is set as the media cutting range, the printing mechanism receives: image data, which is data of an image to be printed on the media; first mark printing data, which is data for printing cutting position marks for specifying media cutting positions on the media; and second mark printing data, which is data for printing the first cutting range mark and the second cutting range mark on the media, wherein the first cutting range mark is positioned at a position corresponding to one end of the media width direction of the media cutting range, and the second cutting range mark is positioned at a position corresponding to the other end of the media width direction of the media cutting range. Furthermore, the image is printed on the media based on the image data, multiple cutting position marks are printed at positions separated by a certain distance from the multiple media cutting positions upstream in the transport direction based on the first mark printing data, and the first cutting range mark and the second cutting range mark are printed on the media based on the second mark printing data.

[0023] In the printing apparatus of the present invention, when the cutting position in the media width direction of a medium that has been linearly cut along the media transport direction after printing is designated as the media cutting position, the printing mechanism receives data for printing cutting position marks for specifying the media cutting position on the medium, namely, first mark printing data, and prints multiple cutting position marks at positions separated by a certain distance from each of the multiple media cutting positions upstream in the transport direction based on the first mark printing data. Therefore, in the present invention, when the printed medium, which has been rolled into a roll, is released again and the medium is cut in the media width direction, cutting position marks are arranged at positions separated by a certain distance downstream in the transport direction from each of the media cutting positions. Thus, in the present invention, even when the printed medium, which has been rolled into a roll, is released again and the medium is cut in both the media width direction and the media transport direction, the media cutting position can be identified based on the cutting position marks.

[0024] Furthermore, in this invention, when the cutting range in the media width direction at the media cutting position is defined as the media cutting range, the printing mechanism receives data for printing a first cutting range mark positioned at one end of the media width direction corresponding to the cutting range and a second cutting range mark positioned at the other end of the media width direction corresponding to the cutting range, namely, second mark printing data, and prints the first cutting range mark and the second cutting range mark on the media based on the second mark printing data. Therefore, in this invention, even when the printed media, which has been rolled into a roll, is released again and a portion of the media width direction is cut in the media width direction, the media cutting range can be identified based on the first cutting range mark and the second cutting range mark.

[0025] Thus, in this invention, even when the printed medium, after being rolled into a roll, is released again and cut in both the medium width direction and the medium transport direction, and the cutting is only a portion of the medium width direction, the medium cutting position and the medium cutting range for appropriately cutting the medium in the medium width direction can be identified based on the cutting position mark, the first cutting range mark, and the second cutting range mark. That is, in this invention, even when the printed medium, after being rolled into a roll, is released again and cut in both the medium width direction and the medium transport direction, and the cutting is only a portion of the medium width direction, the mark for appropriately cutting the medium in the medium width direction can still be printed.

[0026] Furthermore, in this invention, for example, when image data, first mark printing data, and second mark printing data are generated in a personal computer electrically connected to a printing device, when the printed medium, which has been rolled into a roll, is released again and the medium is cut in the width direction, if the data held by the personal computer is sent to the cutting mechanism that cuts the medium in the width direction, the cutting mechanism can identify the medium cutting position and the medium cutting range for appropriately cutting the medium in the width direction.

[0027] However, in this case, the personal computer needs to continuously retain the data until the printed media, which has been rolled up, is released again and the media is cut in the width direction. Furthermore, since the printed media is temporarily detached from the media take-up unit, in this case, when cutting the media in the width direction, it is necessary to establish a correspondence between the released media and the data sent from the personal computer. In contrast, in this invention, if the personal computer sends data to the printing mechanism while printing using the printing mechanism, it is not necessary to continuously retain the data. Furthermore, in this invention, it is not necessary to establish a correspondence between the released media and the data.

[0028] In this invention, for example, the cutting position is marked as a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium, the first cutting range is marked as a straight line parallel to the transport direction of the medium, the printing mechanism prints the cutting position mark at one end of the medium in the width direction of the medium, and prints the first cutting range mark and the second cutting range mark at at least the upstream end of the medium in the transport direction when it is wound by the medium winding section.

[0029] In this invention, it is preferable that, when the cutting position in the media width direction of the medium that is linearly cut along the media transport direction after printing is designated as the second media cutting position, the printing mechanism prints a first cutting range mark and a second cutting range mark at the same position in the media width direction as the second media cutting position. With this configuration, for example, in cases where it is necessary to manually adjust the position in the media width direction of the second cutting mechanism for cutting the printed medium along the media transport direction, the position in the media width direction of the second cutting mechanism can be adjusted using the first cutting range mark and the second cutting range mark as markers.

[0030] In this invention, when the medium printed by the printing mechanism is defined as the medium after being removed from the medium take-up section, the printing apparatus includes, for example: a first mark detection mechanism for detecting a cut position mark printed on the printed medium; a second mark detection mechanism for detecting a first cut range mark and a second cut range mark printed on the printed medium; a cutting mechanism for cutting the printed medium in the medium width direction; and a second cutting mechanism for cutting the printed medium along the medium transport direction, wherein the cutting mechanism cuts the printed medium in the medium width direction based on the detection results of the first mark detection mechanism and the second mark detection mechanism.

[0031] In this invention, it is preferable that the printing mechanism, the cutting mechanism, and the second cutting mechanism are mounted on the same support, and the printed media wound into a roll is mounted on the media dispensing section. This configuration simplifies the structure of the printing apparatus compared to having separate supports for the printing mechanism and separate supports for the cutting mechanism and the second cutting mechanism. Furthermore, this configuration simplifies the structure of the printing apparatus compared to having a separate dispensing section for the rolled printed media that is dispensing towards the cutting mechanism and the second cutting mechanism, in addition to the media dispensing section.

[0032] In this invention, for example, the cutting mechanism includes: a cutter for cutting the printed medium; a cutting carriage for holding the cutter; and a cutting carriage drive mechanism for moving the cutting carriage in the medium width direction. A first mark detection mechanism is mounted on the cutting carriage, and a second mark detection mechanism is disposed at a position upstream of the cutting mechanism in the transport direction. The cutting mechanism receives cutting range data and, based on the received cutting range data and the detection result of the first mark detection mechanism, cuts the printed medium in the medium width direction. The cutting range data is data used to specify the cutting range of the medium and is generated based on the detection results of the first and second cutting range marks obtained by the second mark detection mechanism.

[0033] In this invention, it is preferable that the printing mechanism includes: an inkjet head that ejects ink to a medium; a printing carriage on which the inkjet head is mounted; and a printing carriage drive mechanism that moves the printing carriage in the medium width direction. Furthermore, the printing mechanism is positioned upstream of the cutting mechanism and the second cutting mechanism in the transport direction, and a second mark detection mechanism is mounted on the printing carriage. With this configuration, the movement of the printing carriage can be used to detect marks for the first and second cutting ranges using the second mark detection mechanism. Therefore, for example, compared to the case where a separate carriage with a second mark detection mechanism is provided in addition to the printing carriage, the structure of the printing apparatus can be simplified.

[0034] In this invention, preferably, the second mark detection mechanism detects the cutting position mark printed on the printed medium, the cutting mechanism receives mark position data, which is generated based on the detection result of the cutting position mark obtained by the second mark detection mechanism and is used to specify the position of the cutting position mark in the medium width direction, and the cutting carriage drive mechanism moves the cutting carriage to a position where the first mark detection mechanism can detect the cutting position mark based on the mark position data received by the cutting mechanism. With this configuration, the cutting carriage can be pre-moved to a position where the first mark detection mechanism can detect the cutting position mark and then stop. Therefore, when cutting the medium in the medium width direction, the cutting position mark can be quickly detected using the first mark detection mechanism.

[0035] The effects of the invention

[0036] As described above, in the present invention, in a printing apparatus for printing on a strip of medium that is to be cut after printing, even when the printed medium, which has been rolled into a roll, is released again and the medium is cut in both the width direction and the transport direction of the medium, and the cutting is only a portion of the medium in the width direction of the medium, it is possible to print a mark for properly cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium. Attached Figure Description

[0037] Figure 1 This is a side view illustrating the structure of the printing apparatus according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention.

[0038] Figure 2 It is used to illustrate the use Figure 1 The diagram shows an example of printing media using the printing mechanism shown, and an example of cutting media using the cutting mechanism and the second cutting mechanism.

[0039] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 An enlarged view of part E.

[0040] Figure 4 (A) is Figure 3 A perspective view of a portion of the carriage of the cutting mechanism and the medium pressing component, etc. Figure 4 (B) is Figure 3 A top view of the front end of the cutter of the cutting mechanism shown.

[0041] Figure 5 (A) is Figure 4 The front view of the medium pressing component shown in (A) is as follows. Figure 5 (B) is Figure 4 The top view of the medium pressing component shown in (A).

[0042] Figure 6 yes Figure 3 A partial view of the support frame and a perspective view of the second cutting mechanism.

[0043] Figure 7 yes Figure 3 The side view shows a portion of the support frame, a portion of the cutting table, and the second cutting mechanism.

[0044] Figure 8 It is used for explanation Figure 3 The diagram shows the function of the guiding component.

[0045] Figure 9 It is used for detection Figure 3 Side view of the first and second sensors showing the position of the tension bar.

[0046] Figure 10 It is used for explanation Figure 1 The diagram shows a block diagram of the structure of the printing device.

[0047] Figure 11 This is a diagram illustrating the printing and cutting method of the medium according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0048] Figure 12 This is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the printing apparatus according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0049] Figure 13 This is a side view illustrating the structure of a guide member according to another embodiment of the present invention. Detailed Implementation

[0050] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0051] [Implementation Method 1] (Overall Structure of the Printing Device)

[0052] Figure 1 This is a side view illustrating the structure of the printing apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 1 of the present invention. Figure 2 It is used to illustrate the use Figure 1 The diagram shows an example of printing medium 2 using printing mechanism 3 and an example of cutting medium 2 using cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8.

[0053] The printing device 1 of this method is an industrial inkjet printer with the function of printing on a strip of medium 2 and cutting the printed medium 2 into a predetermined shape. The printing device 1 prints on the strip of medium 2 that is to be cut after printing. The medium 2 is, for example, a sheet-like medium made of resin such as polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Alternatively, the medium 2 can also be a sheet-like medium made of paper such as transfer paper or photographic paper. Furthermore, the medium 2 can be formed from waterproof fabric or window film.

[0054] The printing apparatus 1 includes a printing mechanism 3 for printing on a strip of medium 2, a support body 4 supporting the printing mechanism 3 from below, a medium conveying mechanism 5 for conveying the medium 2, a heater (rear heater) for heating the printed medium 2, a cutting mechanism 7 for linearly cutting (slitting) the medium 2 in the width direction orthogonal to the conveying direction of the medium 2, a second cutting mechanism 8 for linearly cutting (slitting) the medium 2 along the conveying direction of the medium 2, and a tension applying mechanism 10 having a tension bar 9. The cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 cut the printed medium 2. The tension bar 9 contacts the printed medium 2 to apply tension to the medium 2.

[0055] Tension bar 9 is disposed between printing mechanism 3 and cutting mechanism 7 in the conveying direction of medium 2 (feeding direction of medium 2). Heater 6 is disposed between printing mechanism 3 and tension bar 9 in the conveying direction of medium 2. Second cutting mechanism 8 is disposed between tension bar 9 and cutting mechanism 7 in the conveying direction of medium 2. That is, tension bar 9 is disposed between printing mechanism 3 and second cutting mechanism 8 in the conveying direction of medium 2.

[0056] The printing device 1 uses the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 to cut off the cut-off portion 2a from the sheet-like medium 2 (see reference). Figure 2 ). Figure 2 The cut-off portion 2a shown is a rectangular or square area that includes the printed portion of the medium 2.

[0057] Printing device 1 cuts off from medium 2 Figure 2 The cut-off portion 2a shown in (A) or Figure 2 The cut-off portion 2a is shown in (B).

[0058] exist Figure 2 In the diagram, the portion of medium 2 cut by cutting mechanism 7 is represented by cutting line CL1. The portion of medium 2 cut by second cutting mechanism 8 is represented by cutting lines CL11 to CL14. For example... Figure 2As shown, after being cut by the cutting mechanism 7, the medium 2 has a cutting line CL1 parallel to the width direction of the medium 2. After being cut by the second cutting mechanism 8, the medium 2 has cutting lines CL11 to CL14 along the conveying direction of the medium 2.

[0059] In this method, cutting lines CL11, CL12 or cutting lines CL13, CL14 are formed on both sides of the cut-off portion 2a in the width direction of the medium 2. Figure 2 In the example shown in (A), the portion surrounded by two cutting lines CL1 and two cutting lines CL11 and CL12 is called the cut-off portion 2a. Figure 2 In the example shown in (B), the portion surrounded by two cutting lines CL1 and two cutting lines CL11, CL12, and the portion surrounded by two cutting lines CL1 and two cutting lines CL13, CL14 are called the cut-off portion 2a. In the printing apparatus 1, the medium 2 passes sequentially through the second cutting mechanism 8 and the cutting mechanism 7. During the process of the medium 2 passing through the second cutting mechanism 8 and the cutting mechanism 7, cutting lines CL11 to CL14 and cutting line CL1 are sequentially formed on the medium 2.

[0060] The cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2 in a manner that intersects with the cutting lines CL11 to CL14 (i.e., the portion of the medium 2 cut by the second cutting mechanism 8) to form the cutting line CL1. That is, the two ends of the cutting line CL1 in the width direction of the medium 2 are positioned on the outer side of the medium 2 in the width direction than the two cutting lines CL11, CL12 or the two cutting lines CL13, CL14.

[0061] Furthermore, the cutting mechanism 7 does not cut the medium 2 across its entire width direction, but rather cuts a portion of the medium 2 along its width direction. Additionally, for example, in situations such as... Figure 2 When the two cut portions 2a shown in (B) are arranged in the width direction of the medium 2, the two cutting lines CL1 corresponding to the two cut portions 2a are formed with a gap in the width direction of the medium 2. In this method, in the conveying direction of the medium 2 ( Figure 2 There are blank portions between the cut-off portions 2a in the vertical direction of the medium 2. Furthermore, in the width direction of the medium 2... Figure 2 The cut-off portion 2a in the left-right direction has slender blank portions on both sides in the transport direction of the medium 2.

[0062] like Figure 1 As shown, the printing apparatus 1 includes a media dispensing section 14 that holds the dispensing roller 13, a media receiving section 15, and a media taking section 17 that holds the take-up roller 16.

[0063] The delivery roller 13 holds the printed medium 2 wound into a roll. The receiving section 15 houses the first blank portion 2b and the cut-off portion 2a. The first blank portion 2b is the blank portion located between the cut-off portions 2a in the transport direction of the medium 2. The take-up roller 16 is a component that winds the second blank portion 2c of the medium 2 into a roll. Here, the second blank portion 2c consists of the blank portions on both sides of the cut-off portions 2a and the blank portions on both sides of the first blank portion 2b in the width direction of the medium 2.

[0064] That is, the printing apparatus 1 includes: a media dispensing section 14, which is equipped with a rolled media 2 before being conveyed toward the printing mechanism 3; and a media take-up section 17, which is equipped with a rolled media 2 (more specifically a part of the media 2) after passing through the printing mechanism 3.

[0065] The printing mechanism 3 includes an inkjet head 20 (hereinafter referred to as "printer head 20") that ejects ink to the medium 2, a carriage 21 (printing carriage) that mounts the printer head 20, and a main scanning direction that positions the carriage 21 in the width direction of the medium 2. Figure 1 The carriage drive mechanism 22 (printing carriage drive mechanism) moves in the Y direction, the support frame 23 supports the carriage 21 in a manner that allows it to move in the main scanning direction, and the printing platen 24 is disposed on the underside of the carriage 21.

[0066] The printhead 20 ejects ink downwards. The carriage drive mechanism 22 includes, for example, a belt partially fixed to the carriage 21, a pulley around which the belt is wound, and a motor for rotating the pulley. During printing, the media 2 is placed on the print platen 24.

[0067] In the following description, the main scanning direction (width direction of medium 2, Y direction) is set to "left-right direction", and the vertical direction is set to "right-left direction". Figure 1 The direction orthogonal to the Z-direction (e.g., the left-right direction) is defined as the "front-back direction". Furthermore, one side of the front-back direction is... Figure 1 The X1 direction side is set as the "front" side, and will be the side opposite to it. Figure 1 The X2 direction side is designated as the "rear" side. In this method, the medium 2 before printing is conveyed from the rear side to the upper surface of the printing platen 24, and the medium 2 after printing is conveyed from the upper surface of the printing platen 24 to the front side.

[0068] Furthermore, in this method, the side on which the medium discharge section 14 is disposed in the transport direction of the medium 2 becomes the upstream side in the transport direction of the medium 2, and the side on which the medium winding section 17 is disposed in the transport direction of the medium 2 becomes the downstream side in the transport direction of the medium 2.

[0069] In the following description, the conveying direction of medium 2 is sometimes referred to as "the conveying direction of medium 2", and the width direction of medium 2, which is orthogonal to the conveying direction of medium 2, is sometimes referred to as "the width direction of medium 2". In addition, in the following description, the upstream side of the conveying direction of medium 2 is sometimes referred to as "the upstream side of the conveying direction", and the downstream side of the conveying direction of medium 2 is sometimes referred to as "the downstream side of the conveying direction".

[0070] like Figure 1 As shown, a back support plate 25 is disposed on the front side of the printing plate 24. A guide surface 25a is formed on the surface of the back support plate 25, which guides the medium 2 conveyed from the printing plate 24 toward the tension bar 9. The guide surface 25a is formed into a convex curved surface. The medium 2 conveyed from the printing plate 24 toward the tension bar 9 contacts the guide surface 25a. A heater 6 is disposed inside the back support plate 25 along the guide surface 25a.

[0071] The media conveying mechanism 5 conveys the elongated medium 2 along its length. The media conveying mechanism 5 includes a conveying roller 27 and a pad roller 28 disposed opposite to the conveying roller 27. The conveying roller 27 is forced toward the pad roller 28, which can hold the medium 2 between the pad roller 28 and the conveying roller 27.

[0072] The conveyor roller 27 and the pad roller 28 are positioned upstream of the printing platen 24 in the conveying direction of the medium 2. The media conveying mechanism 5 is positioned upstream of the tension bar 9 in the conveying direction of the medium 2. The conveyor roller 27 is connected to a drive mechanism that rotates the conveyor roller 27. When the conveyor roller 27 is driven to rotate, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in a state where it is sandwiched between the conveyor roller 27 and the pad roller 28.

[0073] Tension applying mechanism 10 is disposed on the lower side of back panel 25. Second cutting mechanism 8 is disposed on the lower side of tension applying mechanism 10. Cutting mechanism 7 is disposed on the lower side of second cutting mechanism 8. The specific structure of tension applying mechanism 10 will be described later. Furthermore, the structure of cutting mechanism 7, the structure of second cutting mechanism 8, and the specific structure of the peripheral parts of cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8 will be described later.

[0074] The media dispensing section 14 is disposed below the printing mechanism 3. The media dispensing section 14 has a rotating shaft that extends through the inner circumference of the dispensing roller 13. The receiving section 15 is, for example, formed as a rectangular box with an open upper surface. The receiving section 15 is disposed below the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8. Furthermore, the receiving section 15 is disposed below the cutting mechanism 7.

[0075] The media take-up section 17 is disposed below the printing mechanism 3. Furthermore, the media take-up section 17 is positioned below the cutting mechanism 7. Additionally, the media take-up section 17 is positioned rearward of the cutting mechanism 7, the second cutting mechanism 8, and the storage section 15. The media take-up section 17 includes a media take-up mechanism 26 for taking up the second blank portion 2c. The media take-up mechanism 26 includes a rotating shaft passing through the inner circumference of the take-up roller 16, a drive mechanism for rotating the rotating shaft, and a torque limiter for idling the take-up roller 16 in a manner that the tension on the second blank portion 2c taken up by the take-up roller 16 does not exceed a predetermined tension. The end of the rotating shaft in the transport direction downstream is fixed to the rotating shaft.

[0076] In this method, such as Figure 2 As shown, the portion of medium 2 that consists of the cut-off portion 2a and the first blank portion 2b becomes the first medium portion. This first medium portion is the portion of medium 2 that is arranged on one side of medium 2 in the width direction, bounded by cutting lines CL11 to CL14. The first medium portion is housed in the housing portion 15. Figure 2 In (A), the portion between the cutting lines CL11 and CL12 corresponds to the first medium portion.

[0077] Furthermore, the second blank portion 2c becomes the second medium portion, which is the portion of the medium 2 that is arranged on the other side of the width direction of the medium 2, bounded by cutting lines CL11 to CL14, and the medium winding mechanism 26 winds up the second medium portion. Figure 2 In (A), the portion located on the outside (left side of the figure) when viewed based on the cutting line CL11 and the portion located on the outside (right side of the figure) when viewed based on the cutting line CL12 correspond to the second medium portion.

[0078] (Structure of the cutting mechanism, the second cutting mechanism and the surrounding parts)

[0079] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 An enlarged view of part E. Figure 4 (A) is Figure 3 A perspective view of a portion of the carriage 34 of the cutting mechanism 7 and the medium pressing member 44, etc. Figure 4 (B) is Figure 3 A top view of the front end side portion of the cutter 38 of the cutting mechanism 7 shown. Figure 5 (A) is Figure 4 The front view of the medium pressing member 44 shown in (A) is shown. Figure 5 (B) is Figure 4 The top view of the medium pressing member 44 shown in (A). Figure 6 yes Figure 3 A partial view of the support frame 35 and a perspective view of the second cutting mechanism 8. Figure 7 yes Figure 3 The side view shows a portion of the support frame 35, a portion of the cutting table 31, and the second cutting mechanism 8. Figure 8 It is used for explanation Figure 3 The diagram shows the function of the guide member 29.

[0080] like Figure 3 As shown, the cutting mechanism 7 is positioned downstream of the second cutting mechanism 8 in the transport direction of the medium 2. That is, the second cutting mechanism 8 is positioned upstream of the cutting mechanism 7 in the transport direction of the medium 2. Furthermore, the second cutting mechanism 8 is positioned downstream of the tension bar 9 in the transport direction of the medium 2. The printing mechanism 3 is positioned upstream of both the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the transport direction of the medium 2.

[0081] As described above, the cutting mechanism 7 is disposed below the second cutting mechanism 8. A cutting table 31 is disposed behind the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8. The cutting table 31 faces the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 from the rear. That is, the printing apparatus 1 includes a cutting table 31 that faces the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 from the rear.

[0082] The cutting table 31 includes a counterpart portion 31a disposed opposite to the cutting mechanism 7 and a second counterpart portion 31b disposed opposite to the second cutting mechanism 8. A guide member 29 is installed on the cutting table 31. The guide member 29 guides the cut portion 2a and the first blank portion 2b in a direction away from the second blank portion 2c.

[0083] That is, the printing device 1 includes a guide member 29 that guides the cut-off portion 2a and the first blank portion 2b in a direction away from the second blank portion 2c. The guide member 29 is fixed to the lower front end of the cutting table 31.

[0084] At the location where the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 are provided, the medium 2 is conveyed downward along the front surface of the cutting table 31. At this time, the medium 2 passes sequentially between the second cutting mechanism 8 and the second opposing part 31b, and between the cutting mechanism 7 and the opposing part 31a.

[0085] The tension bar 9 is positioned downstream of the printing platen 24 and upstream of the cutting platen 31 in the transport direction of the medium 2. Furthermore, the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 are positioned downstream of the tension bar 9 in the transport direction of the medium 2.

[0086] A second media conveying mechanism 30 is disposed between the tension bar 9 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the conveying direction of the media 2. This second media conveying mechanism 30 conveys the elongated media 2 along its length. That is, the printing device 1 includes a second media conveying mechanism 30 for conveying the media 2, and the second media conveying mechanism 30 is disposed downstream of the tension bar 9 in the conveying direction of the media 2. Specifically, the conveying roller 32 and the pad roller 33 constituting the second media conveying mechanism 30 (see reference) Figure 3 It is positioned between the tension bar 9 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the conveying direction of the medium 2.

[0087] The conveyor roller 32 and the pad roller 33 are disposed on the upper side of the second cutting mechanism 8. The pad roller 33 is disposed opposite to the conveyor roller 32 from the front and is subjected to force toward the conveyor roller 32. The conveyor roller 32 is connected to a drive mechanism that rotates the conveyor roller 32. The medium 2 is conveyed in a state of being sandwiched between the conveyor roller 32 and the pad roller 33.

[0088] The cutting mechanism 7 includes a cutter 38 for the cutting medium 2 (see reference). Figure 4 (B) ), a tool holder 39 that fixes the cutter 38, a carriage 34 (cutting carriage) that holds the tool holder 39 in a manner that allows the tool holder 39 to move in the front-back direction, and a holder drive mechanism that moves the tool holder 39 relative to the carriage 34 in the front-back direction. The holder drive mechanism is composed of a solenoid or the like.

[0089] The cutter 38 is held in place on the carriage 34 by means of the cutter holder 39. For example... Figure 4 As shown in (B), the cutter 38 is a single-edged blade with a fine, pointed tip. Additionally, in Figure 4 The illustration of cutter 38 is omitted in (A).

[0090] Furthermore, the cutting mechanism 7 includes a support frame 35 that supports the carriage 34 in a manner capable of moving in the left-right direction (the width direction of the medium 2), and a carriage drive mechanism 36 (cutting carriage drive mechanism) that moves the carriage 34 relative to the support frame 35 in the left-right direction. The support frame 35 is an elongated frame in the left-right direction. The two ends of the support frame 35 in the left-right direction are fixed to the front end of the side plate 37. The rear end of the side plate 37 is fixed to the support body 4 (see reference 4). Figure 1 The carriage drive mechanism 36 includes, for example, a belt partially fixed to the carriage 34, a pulley around which the belt is wound, and a motor for rotating the pulley.

[0091] Furthermore, the cutting mechanism 7 includes a medium pressing member 44 for pressing the medium 2 toward the opposing portion 31a of the cutting table 31 (see reference). Figure 4(A)). The media pressing member 44 is mounted on the carriage 34. Specifically, the media pressing member 44 is mounted on the rear surface of the carriage 34, facing the opposing part 31a from the front. The rear surface of the media pressing member 44 becomes the opposing surface 44a facing the opposing part 31a (see reference). Figure 5 (B) That is, the medium pressing member 44 has a facing surface 44a that is opposite to the opposing part 31a.

[0092] Through holes 44b and 44c are formed in the media pressing member 44. A cutter 38 is partially disposed in the through hole 44b. The through hole 44c is formed to allow light emitted from the light-emitting portion of the sensor 56 (described later) mounted on the carriage 34 and light directed to the light-receiving portion of the sensor 56 to pass through. In the printing apparatus 1, the through holes 44b and 44c of the media pressing member 44 penetrate the media pressing member 44 in the front-rear direction. Furthermore, in Figure 3 The illustration of the medium pressing component 44 is omitted in the text.

[0093] The two ends of the opposing surface 44a in the left-right direction become inclined surfaces 44d and 44e, which slope towards the front as they move outward in the left-right direction. That is, the two ends of the opposing surface 44a in the left-right direction become inclined surfaces 44d and 44e, which slope towards the side away from the opposing part 31a as they move outward in the left-right direction. The inclined surfaces 44d and 44e are formed in a planar shape. The portion of the opposing surface 44a between the inclined surfaces 44d and 44e becomes a planar medium pressing surface 44f orthogonal to the front-back direction. The medium pressing surface 44f is formed in a rectangular shape.

[0094] In this configuration, as the carriage 34 moves to one side in the left-right direction (the width direction of the medium 2), the cutter 38, protruding from the through hole 44b toward the opposite surface 44a, moves while cutting the medium 2. Here, the direction of travel of the carriage 34 when the cutter 38 cuts the medium 2 is designated as the first direction side, and the direction opposite to the first direction side is designated as the second direction side.

[0095] An inclined surface 44d is formed at the end of the opposing surface 44a on the first direction side, and is inclined toward the side away from the opposing portion 31a (i.e., toward the front side) as it moves toward the first direction side. The inclined surface 44d is positioned closer to the first direction side than the cutter 38. Figure 5 The position on the left side of (B).

[0096] An inclined surface 44e is formed at the end of the opposite surface 44a on the second direction side, and as it moves toward the second direction side, it is inclined toward the side away from the opposite part 31a (i.e., toward the front side).

[0097] like Figure 5As shown in (B), when viewed from the top and bottom, the angle of inclination of inclined surface 44d relative to the left and right is smaller than the angle of inclination of inclined surface 44e relative to the left and right. For example, the angle of inclination of inclined surface 44d relative to the left and right is approximately 40° when viewed from the top and bottom, and the angle of inclination of inclined surface 44e relative to the left and right is approximately 45° when viewed from the top and bottom. When viewed from the top and bottom, the length of inclined surface 44d is longer than the length of inclined surface 44e.

[0098] The end of the medium pressing member 44 on the first direction side, where the inclined surface 44d is formed, becomes an inclined surface forming portion 44g. The lower end of the inclined surface forming portion 44g becomes an inclined surface 44h that is inclined upward as it moves toward the first direction side. That is, the downstream end of the inclined surface forming portion 44g in the transport direction of the medium 2 becomes an inclined surface 44h that is inclined upstream in the transport direction of the medium 2 as it moves toward the first direction side.

[0099] Sensor 56 is mounted on carriage 34 (see reference) Figure 10 The sensor 56 is used to detect the cutting position mark M1 printed on the medium 2 (described later). That is, the printing device 1 includes a sensor (cutting mark sensor) 56, which is used to detect the cutting position mark M1 printed on the medium 2. The sensor 56 is a reflective optical sensor, including a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part. The light-receiving part receives light emitted from the light-emitting part and reflected by the medium 2. The light-emitting part of the sensor 56 faces the rear side (…). Figure 3 Light is emitted from the right side of the sensor. Sensor 56 is electrically connected to the cut-off control unit 63, which will be described later.

[0100] The second cutting mechanism 8 includes a cutter for the cutting medium 2. The cutter is, for example, a single-edged blade with a fine tip. Furthermore, such as... Figure 7 As shown, the second cutting mechanism 8 includes: a tool holder 41 that holds the cutter; and a clamping mechanism 42 for fixing the tool holder 41 relative to the support frame 35.

[0101] The tool holder 41 is mounted on the support frame 35 in a manner that allows it to move in the left-right direction (Y direction). The fixed position of the cutter relative to the tool holder 41 in the front-back direction can be manually adjusted.

[0102] A guide portion 35a is formed in the support frame 35 for guiding the tool holder 41 in the left-right direction. The guide portion 35a is formed as an elongated strip in the left-right direction. The shape of the guide portion 35a when viewed from the left-right direction is, for example, the shape of the letter L. An engaging portion 41a is formed in the tool holder 41 for engaging with the guide portion 35a. The engaging portion 41a can contact the guide portion 35a from both sides in the front-back direction and from both sides in the top-bottom direction.

[0103] A clamping mechanism 42 is mounted on a tool holder 41. The clamping mechanism 42 is, for example, a clamping mechanism using an eccentric cam. The clamping mechanism 42 includes a lever 43, which is rotatable relative to the tool holder 41 with the left-right direction as its axis of rotation. The lever 43 is rotatable between a clamping position where the engaging portion 41a of the tool holder 41 contacts the guide portion 35a with a predetermined contact pressure, and a releasing position where a gap is formed between the engaging portion 41a and the guide portion 35a. In this configuration, the operator of the printing device 1 moves the tool holder 41 along the guide portion 35a to a predetermined position with the lever 43 in the released position, and then rotates the lever 43 to the clamping position to fix the tool holder 41 to the support frame 35.

[0104] The length of the guide portion 35a in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the support frame 35 in the left-right direction (see reference). Figure 6 A gap is formed between one end (e.g., the left end) of the guide portion 35a and the side plate 37 in the left-right direction. Figure 6 In this case, the gap is formed on the left side of the guide portion 35a in the figure. The gap is wider than the width of the second cutting mechanism 8 in the left-right direction.

[0105] In this method, the gap allows for the installation and removal of the second cutting mechanism 8 relative to the support frame 35. Specifically, in Figure 6 In this case, by moving the second cutting mechanism 8 disposed in the gap to the right, the engaging part 41a engages with the guide part 35a, thereby enabling the second cutting mechanism 8 to be mounted on the support frame 35.

[0106] Furthermore, by moving the second cutting mechanism 8, which is mounted on the support frame 35, to the gap on the left side of the figure, the second cutting mechanism 8 can be removed from the support frame 35.

[0107] Therefore, in this method, the number of the second cutting mechanisms 8 installed on the support frame 35 can be changed. For example, in... Figure 2 As shown in (A), when the medium 2 forms two cutting lines CL11 and CL12 along the conveying direction of the medium 2 using the second cutting mechanism 8, two second cutting mechanisms 8 are installed at predetermined positions on the support frame 35.

[0108] Furthermore, for example, in situations such as Figure 2 As shown in (B), when the medium 2 forms four cutting lines CL11 to CL14 along the conveying direction of the medium 2 using the second cutting mechanism 8, four second cutting mechanisms 8 are installed at predetermined positions on the support frame 35.

[0109] like Figure 3As shown, the drive mechanism for rotating the conveyor roller 32, the conveyor roller 32, and the cutting table 31 are mounted on the side plate 37. The pad roller 33 is mounted on the support frame 35. Furthermore, as described above, the support frame 35 is fixed to the side plate 37, and the side plate 37 is fixed to the support body 4. The side plate 37 is fixed to the support body 4 using screws.

[0110] Therefore, in this embodiment, the unit comprising the cutting mechanism 7, the second cutting mechanism 8, the second media conveying mechanism 30, and the cutting table 31 can be detached from the support body 4. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 are fixed to the support body 4 by means of the side plate 37, and the printing mechanism 3, the cutting mechanism 7, and the second cutting mechanism 8 are mounted on the same support body 4.

[0111] The guide member 29 is positioned lower than the cutting mechanism 7. Furthermore, the guide member 29 is positioned between the cutting mechanism 7 and the receiving portion 15 in the transport direction of the medium 2. That is, the guide member 29 is positioned between the second cutting mechanism 8 and the receiving portion 15 in the transport direction of the medium 2. Furthermore, the cutting mechanism 7 is positioned between the second cutting mechanism 8 and the guide member 29 in the transport direction of the medium 2. The guide member 29 is positioned in the left-right direction at the location where the cut-off portion 2a and the first blank portion 2b are formed.

[0112] As described above, the media take-up section 17 is positioned rearward of the cutting mechanism 7 and the storage section 15. The second blank section 2c moves rearward from the lower end of the front surface of the cutting table 31. On the other hand, the storage section 15 is positioned below the cutting mechanism 7 and moves downward by the cut-off section 2a and the first blank section 2b.

[0113] The guide member 29 guides the cut-off portion 2a and the first blank portion 2b forward and downward in a manner that moves them away from the second blank portion 2c. That is, the guide member 29 guides the cut-off portion 2a and the first blank portion 2b away from the second blank portion 2c in the front-back direction of the thickness direction of the medium 2.

[0114] like Figure 3 As shown, the guide member 29 includes a fixed member 58 fixed to the cutting table 31 and a contact member 59 that contacts the cut portion 2a and the first blank portion 2b. The fixed member 58 is fixed to the cutting table 31 at a position lower than the opposing portion 31a. Furthermore, the fixed member 58 is fixed to the lower front end of the cutting table 31. The contact member 59 is mounted on the fixed member 58. The front surface of the contact member 59 is positioned forward of the front surface of the cutting table 31. The front surface of the contact member 59 is, for example, a plane orthogonal to the front-rear direction. The cut portion 2a and the first blank portion 2b pass through the front side of the contact member 59.

[0115] In the fixed component 58, the contact component 59 can be adjusted in the front-to-back direction. Figure 7 The installation position (left and right directions) in the middle.

[0116] The contact member 59 is fixed to the fixed member 58, for example, using bolts and nuts. The fixed member 58 has an elongated bolt hole extending along its length in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, the contact member 59 can be positioned in the thickness direction (the length direction of the bolt hole) of the medium 2 passing through its front side.

[0117] Here, the second blank portion 2c, which is wound by the media winding mechanism 26 and moves toward the media winding section 17, moves along the opposite portion 31a of the cutting table 31. Figure 8 The lower side of (B) moves.

[0118] According to the inventors' research, without the guide member 29, the second blank portion 2c moving toward the media take-up portion 17 may move closer to the side of the cut-off portion 2a moving toward the storage portion 15 (in Figure 8 (B) is tilted to the right.

[0119] For example, when viewed from the front of the printing device 1, when the lower side of the second blank portion 2c at a predetermined position P downstream of the cutting mechanism 7 in the transport direction of the medium 2 overlaps with the end face of the cut portion 2a, the area where the end face of the cut portion 2a overlaps with the end face of the second blank portion 2c may come into contact with excessive contact pressure due to the winding force of the medium winding mechanism 26 acting on the second blank portion 2c. In this case, wrinkles may form in the cut portion 2a, or a paper jam may occur due to blockage by the cut portion 2a or the second blank portion 2c.

[0120] In this method, a guide member 29 is provided, and the cut-off portion 2a is guided by the guide member 29 in a direction away from the second blank portion 2c (in the direction closer to the front of the paper). Therefore, as Figure 8 As shown in (A), the cut-off portion 2a is located closer to the front of the paper surface than the second blank portion 2c at a time when it is above the predetermined position P.

[0121] Therefore, even if the second blank portion 2c, which is wound by the media winding mechanism 26 and moves toward the media winding section 17, tilts toward the cut-off portion 2a, which moves toward the storage section 15, and the cut-off portion 2a and the second blank portion 2c separate in the front-back direction, it is possible to prevent the end face of the cut-off portion 2a, which is guided away from the second blank portion 2c, from contacting the end face of the second blank portion 2c with excessive contact pressure.

[0122] With the guide member 29 provided, at the predetermined position P, the cut-off portion 2a and the second blank portion 2c are separated in the front-rear direction, and when viewed from the front, the end of the second blank portion 2c overlaps with the cut-off portion 2a (see reference). Figure 8 (A)).

[0123] (The structure of the mechanism imparted by tension)

[0124] Figure 9 It is used for detection Figure 3 Side view of the positions of the first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 of the tension bar 9 shown.

[0125] In addition to the tension bar 9, the tension-applying mechanism 10 also includes a tension coil spring 46 that applies force to the tension bar 9 in the direction of pressing it against the medium 2 (force-applying component: see reference). Figure 3 The tension applying mechanism 10 also includes a first sensor 48 and a second sensor 49 for detecting the position of the tension rod 9. The tension rod 9 is positioned rearward of the front surface of the cutting table 31 (see reference). Figure 3 Furthermore, the tension bar 9 is positioned rearward from the lower end of the guide surface 25a of the back panel 25 (see reference). Figure 1 ).

[0126] like Figure 3 As shown, the tension bar 9 includes a support shaft 50 formed into an elongated cylindrical shape and a roller 51 rotatably held on the support shaft 50. The support shaft 50 is arranged so that its axial direction and left-right direction (Y direction in the figure) are aligned.

[0127] Roller 51 is formed as a slender cylinder in the left-right direction. The length of roller 51 in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of support shaft 50 in the left-right direction. Support shaft 50 extends through the inner circumference of roller 51, allowing roller 51 to rotate relative to support shaft 50 with the left-right direction as its axis of rotation. Roller 51 contacts the front surface of medium 2. The two ends of support shaft 50 protrude to positions further outward in the left-right direction than the ends of roller 51.

[0128] The rod retaining portion 47 supports both ends of the support shaft 50. The rod retaining portion 47 is formed on both sides of the support member 52 arranged in the left-right direction of the roller 51. The rear end of the support member 52 is fixed to the support body 4 (see reference). Figure 1 A guide groove 47a is formed in the rod holding portion 47 for inserting the end of the support shaft 50. The guide groove 47a is formed as a straight line (slit-like) with the front-back direction as the length direction. The support shaft 50 can move along the guide groove 47a in the front-back direction. That is, the tension rod 9 can move relative to the rod holding portion 47 in the front-back direction.

[0129] Tension coil springs 46 are disposed on both sides of roller 51 in the left-right direction. One end of tension coil spring 46 engages with the end of support shaft 50, and the other end engages with support member 52. Tension coil spring 46 applies force to tension rod 9 in the rearward direction. That is, in this configuration, the rearward side (X2 direction side) becomes the force-applying direction side where tension coil spring 46 applies force to tension rod 9. Furthermore, the front side (X1 direction side) becomes the side opposite to the force-applying direction side, and tension rod 9 can move relative to rod holding part 47 in both the force-applying direction side and the side opposite to the force-applying direction side.

[0130] like Figure 9 As shown, the first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 are transmissive optical sensors with light-emitting and light-receiving parts, which are arranged opposite each other with an open gap. The first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 are mounted on the support member 52 (see reference). Figure 3 The first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 are arranged with a gap in the front-to-back direction. In this configuration, the first sensor 48 is positioned at the rear, and the second sensor 49 is positioned at the front. A light-shielding member 53 is fixed to the support shaft 50 by means of a predetermined component. The light-shielding member 53 has a light-shielding portion 53a that blocks the light-emitting and light-receiving portions of the first sensor 48, and a light-shielding portion 53b that blocks the light-emitting and light-receiving portions of the second sensor 49.

[0131] As described above, the first sensor 48 is positioned rearward than the second sensor 49, and functions to detect the position of the tension rod 9 from the rear. Furthermore, the second sensor 49 functions to detect the position of the tension rod 9 from the front. That is, the first sensor 48 detects the position of the tension rod 9 in the direction of force application by the tension coil spring 46, and the second sensor 49 detects the position of the tension rod 9 on the side opposite to the direction of force application.

[0132] In this method, the medium conveying mechanism 5 and the second medium conveying mechanism 30 are controlled based on the detection results of the first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49, and the position of the tension bar 9 is adjusted in such a way that it is configured within a predetermined range in the front-back direction.

[0133] That is, the conveying amount of medium 2 conveyed by the medium conveying mechanism 5 and the conveying amount of medium 2 conveyed by the second medium conveying mechanism 30 are controlled based on the detection results of the first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49, so that the tension exerted on the medium 2 by the tension rod 9 is adjusted to be within a predetermined range. Specifically, the conveying amount of medium 2 is controlled based on the detection results of the first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49, such that the tension rod 9 is positioned such that the light-shielding part 53a blocks the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part of the first sensor 48, and the light-shielding part 53b blocks the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part of the second sensor 49.

[0134] (Media printing method, cutting method)

[0135] Figure 10 It is used for explanation Figure 1 A block diagram of the structure of the printing device 1 shown.

[0136] In this method, when the printing device 1 prints on the medium 2 using the printing mechanism 3, it maintains this state while using the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 to cut off the medium 2, thereby cutting off the cut-off portion 2a. In this method, as... Figure 1 As shown by the solid line, the medium 2, after printing, moves toward the tension bar 9 via the back plate 25. When cutting off the cut portion 2a, the medium 2 on the cutting table 31 is conveyed by the second medium conveying mechanism 30, thereby the second cutting mechanism 8 forms cutting lines CL11 to CL14 along the medium conveying direction on the medium 2. Furthermore, by moving the carriage 34 in the left-right direction while the medium 2 on the cutting table 31 is stopped, the cutting mechanism 7 forms a cutting line CL1 parallel to the width direction (left-right direction) of the medium.

[0137] like Figure 2 As shown, the printing mechanism 3 prints an image on the medium 2 and prints a cutting position mark (cutting mark) M1 on the medium 2 to specify the cutting position of the medium.

[0138] Here, the so-called medium cutting position refers to the direction of medium transport ( Figure 2 The cutting line CL1 is formed in the vertical direction. The cutting line CL1 is a straight cutting area formed by the cutting mechanism 7 cutting the printed medium 2 in the horizontal direction.

[0139] Furthermore, the printing mechanism 3 prints a cutting position marked M1 at one end of the medium 2 in the left-right direction. Figure 2 In (A), the cutting position is marked with M1 on the right end side in the left-right direction.

[0140] The cutting position mark M1 is a straight line (line segment) parallel to the left-right direction, printed on the portion of medium 2 that becomes the second blank portion 2c. Furthermore, the cutting position mark M1 is printed at a position a certain distance downstream of the medium cutting position in the conveying direction. That is, the printing mechanism 3 prints multiple cutting position marks M1 at positions a certain distance downstream of each of the multiple medium cutting positions in the conveying direction. The multiple cutting position marks M1 are printed at the same position in the left-right direction.

[0141] In a personal computer 61 (see reference) electrically connected to the printing device 1 Figure 10 The following data is generated in the attached figure (PC).

[0142] • Image data as data of an image printed on medium 2 (specifically, an image printed on the cut-off portion 2a)

[0143] • Cutting position data used to specify the cutting position of the medium

[0144] • Data for marking and printing the cutting position using marker M1.

[0145] • Cutting range data used to specify the cutting range of the medium

[0146] • Second cutting position data used to specify the cutting position of the second medium

[0147] Here, the medium cutting range is the range in which the medium 2 is cut at the medium cutting position (i.e., the range in which the cutting line CL1 is formed in the left-right direction).

[0148] The second medium cutting position refers to the left-right direction of medium 2. Figure 2 The positions of cutting lines CL11 to CL14 in the left-right direction of (B). These cutting lines CL11 to CL14 are straight cutting areas formed by the second cutting mechanism 8 cutting the printed medium 2 along the conveying direction.

[0149] For example, the operator of printing device 1 generates the aforementioned data on the display of PC 61. Image generation software is installed on PC 61. In this embodiment, printing device 1 and PC 61 constitute a printing system.

[0150] When the above data is generated in PC61, the operator, for example, confirms the second medium cutting position displayed on the monitor of PC61, adjusts the position of the second cutting mechanism 8 in the left and right directions, and positions and fixes the second cutting mechanism 8 to the support frame 35.

[0151] Furthermore, when the operator performs a predetermined operation using PC61, PC61 sends the generated image data, cutting position data, marking printing data, and cutting range data to the printing control unit 62, which is the control unit of the printing mechanism 3, and the printing control unit 62 receives the aforementioned data. That is, the printing mechanism 3 receives the aforementioned data. The marking printing data includes marking position data, which is data used to specify the left-right position of the cutting position mark M1.

[0152] The printing control unit 62, having received image data, cutting position data, marking printing data, and cutting range data, corrects the cutting position data, cutting range data, and marking position data based on data such as the left-right position of the medium 2 held by the printing control unit 62. It then sends the corrected cutting position data, cutting range data, and marking position data to the cutting control unit 63, which serves as the control unit for the cutting mechanism 7. The cutting control unit 63 receives the aforementioned data. In other words, the cutting mechanism 7 receives the aforementioned data.

[0153] The cutting control unit 63, which receives cutting position data, cutting range data, and mark position data, moves the carriage 34 toward the position of the mark M1 that the sensor 56 can detect based on the mark position data.

[0154] That is, the carriage drive mechanism 36 moves the carriage 34 towards a position where the sensor 56 can detect the cutting position mark M1 based on the mark position data. This position becomes the reference position for the carriage 34 when the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2, and the carriage 34 begins to move from this position. In this state, the printing mechanism 3 prints an image on the medium 2 based on image data and prints the cutting position mark M1 on the medium 2 based on the mark printing data.

[0155] Furthermore, the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2 based on the cutting range data. When the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2, the medium 2 on the cutting table 31 stops. The stopping position of the medium 2 is controlled based on the detection result of the sensor 56 and the cutting position data. Specifically, after the sensor 56 detects the cutting position marked M1, and the second medium conveying mechanism 30 conveys a predetermined amount of the medium 2, the medium 2 stops, and the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2.

[0156] In this configuration, the slide 34 can only move in the left and right directions when the light-shielding part 53a of the light-shielding member 53 blocks the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part of the first sensor 48 and the light-shielding part 53b blocks the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part of the second sensor 49.

[0157] That is, when the cutting mechanism 7 forms the cutting line CL1, the tension rod 9 is positioned such that the light-shielding part 53a blocks the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part of the first sensor 48, and the light-shielding part 53b blocks the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part of the second sensor 49. Furthermore, in this configuration, even if the tension rod 9 moves within a predetermined range in the front-back direction, the state in which the light-shielding part 53a blocks the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part of the first sensor 48, and the light-shielding part 53b blocks the light-emitting part and the light-receiving part of the second sensor 49, can be maintained.

[0158] [Implementation Method 2]

[0159] (Structure of the printing device and printing and cutting methods of the media)

[0160] Figure 11 This is a diagram illustrating the printing and cutting method of medium 2 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention. Figure 12 This is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the printing apparatus 1 according to Embodiment 2 of the present invention.

[0161] The printing apparatus 1 of this method, like the printing apparatus 1 of Embodiment 1, prints a long strip of medium 2 that is to be cut after printing. In the printing apparatus 1 of Embodiment 1, printing of the medium 2 is performed by the printing mechanism 3, and cutting of the medium 2 is performed by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8.

[0162] In contrast, in this method, for example, the medium 2 consists of a backing paper and a sealing material that is peelably adhered to the backing paper. In the printing apparatus 1, in addition to printing the medium 2 by the printing mechanism 3 and cutting the medium 2 by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, a half-cutting of the medium 2 is performed, in which only the sealing material is cut into a predetermined shape according to the image of the sealing material printed on the medium 2. Hereinafter, the structure of the printing apparatus 1 of this method will be described, focusing on the differences from Embodiment 1.

[0163] The printing mechanism 3 of this method has a cutting head 66 for partially cutting the medium 2 (see reference). Figure 1 The cutting head 66 is mounted on the carriage 21 and is movable in the left and right directions. The cutting head 66 includes, for example, a cutter, a tool holder that holds the cutter in a rotatable position, and a lifting mechanism that raises and lowers the tool holder.

[0164] In the tool holder, the cutter is held so that it can rotate along an axis with the vertical direction as its axis of rotation.

[0165] After printing on medium 2, the cutting head 66 cuts medium 2 in half.

[0166] When the portion of medium 2 that is partially cut by the cutting head 66 is designated as the half-cutting line CL2, for example, as Figure 11 As shown, after being half-cut by the cutting head 66, the medium 2 forms a half-cutting line CL2 that surrounds the image. During the half-cutting of the medium 2, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction, conveyed upstream in the conveying direction, and conveyed to both sides in the medium conveying direction.

[0167] The medium 2 is clamped in the stopped state of the conveyor roller 32 (refer to...). Figure 3 ) and pad roller 33 (refer to) Figure 3 When the medium is between ), the medium conveying mechanism 5 cannot be used to convey the medium 2 to the upstream side of the conveying direction by a predetermined amount or more.

[0168] Furthermore, even assuming that the pad roller 33 can be retracted so that the medium 2 is not sandwiched between the conveying roller 32 and the pad roller 33, when the medium 2 is conveyed to both sides in the medium conveying direction, the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 may cut the medium 2 properly in the medium width direction and the medium conveying direction due to the influence of conveying the medium 2 upstream in the conveying direction.

[0169] Therefore, in this method, the medium 2, after printing and partial cutting, is not cut using the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, but is temporarily cut using the medium winding mechanism 26 (see reference). Figure 1 The medium is wound into a roll, and then the operator removes the roll of medium 2 from the medium winding section 17 and installs it into the medium discharging section 14.

[0170] Furthermore, the printed and partially cut media 2, wound into a roll, is released again from the media release section 14 and cut using the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8. That is, when the media 2 after printing by the printing mechanism 3 and after being unloaded from the media winding section 17 is used as the printed media, the printed media wound into a roll is installed in the media release section 14. In addition, the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 cut the printed media.

[0171] In this method, the downstream end of the medium 2 in the conveying direction during printing and semi-cutting becomes the upstream end of the medium 2 in the conveying direction during cutting using the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, and the upstream end of the medium 2 in the conveying direction during printing and semi-cutting becomes the downstream end of the medium 2 in the conveying direction during cutting using the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8.

[0172] Furthermore, the right end of the medium 2 during printing and semi-cutting becomes the left end of the medium 2 during cutting using the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, and the left end of the medium 2 during printing and semi-cutting becomes the right end of the medium 2 during cutting using the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8.

[0173] in addition, Figure 11 (A) is a diagram illustrating the state of the upstream end of the media 2 in the transport direction before it is removed from the media winding section 17 after printing and half-cutting are completed. Figure 11 (B) is a diagram illustrating the state of the end of the medium 2 installed in the media discharge section 14 downstream of the media 2 in the transport direction after printing and half-cutting have ended and it has been removed from the media take-up section 17.

[0174] In this method, the medium 2 is not cut by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 during printing and semi-cutting. Therefore, the medium 2 that has passed through the back panel 25 after printing and semi-cutting is as follows: Figure 1 The double-dotted line indicates that the medium 2 passes through the front side of the cutting mechanism 7, the second cutting mechanism 8, and the tension applying mechanism 10. Next, the medium 2 is wound up by the medium winding mechanism 26 after passing under the cutting mechanism 7.

[0175] On the other hand, when the medium 2 is cut by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, similarly to Embodiment 1, the medium 2 passing through the back plate 25 moves toward the tension bar 9 (see Figure 1). Figure 1 (The solid line). In addition, when the medium 2 is cut by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, the medium 2 passes through the printing platen 24.

[0176] In this method, when printing and partially cutting the medium 2, the medium take-up section 17 holds the take-up roller 16, which is wound into a roll after printing and partially cutting the medium 2. On the other hand, when the medium 2 is cut by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, the medium take-up section 17 holds the take-up roller 16, which is wound into a roll, in the same way as in Embodiment 1.

[0177] In this method, a sensor 67 is mounted on the carriage 21 of the printing mechanism 3 (see reference). Figure 12 The sensor 67 is used to detect the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 printed on the medium 2 (described later).

[0178] That is, the printing device 1 includes a sensor 67 for detecting the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12. The sensor 67 is positioned upstream of the cutting mechanism 7 in the transport direction. Like the sensor 56, the sensor 67 is a reflective optical sensor, including a light-emitting part and a light-receiving part. The light-receiving part receives light emitted from the light-emitting part and reflected by the medium 2. The light-emitting part of the sensor 67 emits light downwards. The sensor 67 is electrically connected to the printing control unit 62.

[0179] Similar to Embodiment 1, when the cutting range in the left-right direction of the medium 2 at the medium cutting position (i.e., the range in which the cutting line CL1 is formed in the left-right direction) is set as the medium cutting range, the printing mechanism 3 of this method prints an image and a cutting position mark M1 on the medium 2, and prints a first cutting range mark M11 disposed at a position corresponding to one end of the medium cutting range in the left-right direction, a second cutting range mark M12 disposed at a position corresponding to the other end of the medium cutting range in the left-right direction, and an origin marking mark M2 for specifying the origin on the medium 2.

[0180] Here, the medium cutting range refers to the range in the left and right directions of the cutting line CL1 formed on the medium 2.

[0181] Similar to Embodiment 1, the cutting position mark M1 is a straight line (line segment) parallel to the left-right direction. The printing mechanism 3 prints the cutting position mark M1 at one end of the medium 2, which becomes the second blank portion 2c, in the left-right direction. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cutting position mark M1 is printed at a position a certain distance upstream of the medium cutting position in the transport direction (see reference). Figure 11 (A) That is, the printing mechanism 3 prints multiple cutting position marks M1 at positions that are separated by a certain distance from the multiple media cutting positions and move upstream in the conveying direction.

[0182] The first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 are straight lines (line segments) parallel to the media transport direction. The printing mechanism 3 prints the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 at the end that is upstream of the transport direction in the medium 2 that is wound in the media winding section 17.

[0183] For example, in such Figure 11 When the two cut portions 2a shown are arranged in the width direction of the medium 2, the printing mechanism 3 prints two first cutting range markings M11 and two second cutting range markings M12.

[0184] In this method, the printing mechanism 3 prints a first cutting range mark M11 at one end of the media cutting range in the left-right direction, which is inside the left-right direction, and prints a second cutting range mark M12 at the other end of the media cutting range in the left-right direction, which is inside the left-right direction.

[0185] In addition, similar to Embodiment 1, the printing mechanism 3 prints the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 at the same position in the left-right direction as the second medium cutting position.

[0186] The second medium cutting position refers to the left-right direction of medium 2. Figure 11The positions of cutting lines CL11 to CL14 in the left-right direction of (A). These cutting lines CL11 to CL14 are linear cutting areas formed by the second cutting mechanism 8 cutting the medium 2 along the medium conveying direction.

[0187] In addition to printing the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 on the upstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction when it is wound on the medium winding section 17, the printing mechanism 3 sometimes prints the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 on the first blank section 2b at a predetermined interval in the medium transport direction.

[0188] The origin designation mark M2 is a straight line (segment) parallel to the media transport direction. The printing mechanism 3 prints the origin designation mark M2 at the end of the media 2 that is in the upstream direction of transport while it is wound in the media take-up section 17. Furthermore, for example, the downstream end of the origin designation mark M2 in the transport direction is connected to the inner end of the cutting position mark M1 printed at the upstream end of the transport direction in the left-right direction, and the origin designation mark M2 is printed at one end of the media 2 that becomes the second blank section 2c in the left-right direction.

[0189] In this method, the following data is generated in PC61 before printing and half-cutting of media 2.

[0190] • Image data as data of an image printed on medium 2 (specifically, an image printed on the cut-off portion 2a)

[0191] • Data for half-cutting medium 2

[0192] • Cutting position data used to specify the cutting position of the medium

[0193] • Data for printing the first mark, M1, used to print the cutting position on medium 2.

[0194] • Cutting range data used to specify the cutting range of the medium

[0195] • Second cutting position data used to specify the cutting position of the second medium

[0196] In addition, the following data is generated in PC61 before printing and half-cutting media 2.

[0197] • Second mark printing data, used for printing the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 on medium 2.

[0198] • Third mark printing data used as data for specifying the origin for printing on medium 2.

[0199] For example, the operator of printing device 1 generates the aforementioned data on the display of PC 61. After the aforementioned data is generated in PC 61, when the operator performs a predetermined operation using PC 61, PC 61 sends the generated image data, half-cutting data, cutting position data, first mark printing data, second mark printing data, third mark printing data, and cutting range data to printing control unit 62, which receives the aforementioned data. That is, printing mechanism 3 receives the aforementioned data.

[0200] The printing mechanism 3, having received the data, prints an image on the medium 2 based on the image data; prints multiple cutting position markers M1 on the medium 2 based on the first marker printing data; prints a first cutting range marker M11 and a second cutting range marker M12 based on the second marker printing data; and prints an origin designation marker M2 based on the third marker printing data. Furthermore, after printing on the medium 2, the printing mechanism 3 partially cuts the medium 2 based on the partial cutting data.

[0201] As described above, during the printing and half-cutting of the medium 2, the medium 2 is arranged such that after printing and half-cutting, the medium 2 passes through the back panel 25 and is then wound up by the medium winding mechanism 26 after passing through the front side of the cutting mechanism 7, the second cutting mechanism 8 and the tension applying mechanism 10 and the lower side of the cutting mechanism 7.

[0202] After printing and half-cutting, the medium 2 is wound by the medium winding mechanism 26 (see reference). Figure 1 The media is wound into a roll and removed from the media winding unit 17 by the operator. The printed and half-cut roll of media 2, removed from the media winding unit 17, is then installed by the operator onto the media discharging unit 14 (see reference). Figure 1 The rolled media 2 installed in the media dispensing section 14 is pulled out by the operator, and the downstream end of the media 2 in the conveying direction is disposed on the printing platen 24.

[0203] Then, sensor 67 detects the origin point specified by marker M2 (refer to...). Figure 11 (A) and the cutting position marked M1 connected to the upstream end of the conveying direction specified by the origin mark M2 (i.e., the cutting position mark M1 printed on the downstream side of the conveying direction).

[0204] The print control unit 62 specifies the origin position based on the detection result of the sensor 67. In this embodiment, for example, the position of the connection point between the origin designation mark M2 and the cutting position mark M1 becomes the origin position of the medium 2. Then, the sensor 67 detects the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12. In this embodiment, the sensor 67 is a second mark detection mechanism for detecting the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 printed on the printed medium.

[0205] When the sensor 67 detects the origin marker M2, the first cutting range marker M11, and the second cutting range marker M12, the carriage 21 moves in the left-right direction. Furthermore, when the sensor 67 detects the cutting position marker M1, the media conveying mechanism 5 conveys the media 2.

[0206] Furthermore, before the sensor 67 detects the origin marker M2 and the cutting position marker M1, the operator adjusts the position of the carriage 21 in the left-right direction and the position of the downstream end of the medium 2 in the medium transport direction. Specifically, the carriage 21 is equipped with a laser pointer that emits a laser downwards. The operator adjusts the position of the carriage 21 and the position of the downstream end of the medium 2 in the medium transport direction while confirming the laser beam emitted from the laser pointer towards the medium 2.

[0207] The printing control unit 62 generates mark position data as data for specifying the left and right positions of the cutting position mark M1 based on the detection results of the cutting position mark M1 obtained by the sensor 67. Furthermore, the printing control unit 62 corrects the cutting range data based on the detection results of the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 obtained by the sensor 67, and generates corrected cutting range data.

[0208] Furthermore, the printing control unit 62 sends cutting position data, marking position data, and corrected cutting range data to the cutting control unit 63, which receives the aforementioned data. That is, the cutting mechanism 7 receives the aforementioned data.

[0209] The cutting control unit 63, having received cutting position data, cutting range data, and marker position data, moves the carriage 34 towards a position where the sensor 56 can detect the cutting position marker M1 based on the marker position data. In other words, the carriage drive mechanism 36 moves the carriage 34 towards a position where the sensor 56 can detect the cutting position marker M1 based on the marker position data received by the cutting mechanism 7. When the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2, this position becomes the reference position for the carriage 34, from which the carriage 34 begins to move.

[0210] Furthermore, the operator adjusts the position of the second cutting mechanism 8 in the left-right direction, for example, by marking the first cutting range (marked with M11) and the second cutting range (marked with M12) at the same position as the second media cutting position printed in the left-right direction, and fixes the second cutting mechanism 8 to the support frame 35. Then, cutting of the media 2 by the second cutting mechanism 8 and cutting of the media 2 by the cutting mechanism 7 are performed.

[0211] Similar to Embodiment 1, the medium 2 is conveyed via the second medium conveying mechanism 30, thereby causing the second cutting mechanism 8 to cut the medium 2. The cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2 based on cutting range data. When the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2, the medium 2 on the cutting table 31 stops. Also similar to Embodiment 1, in this method, the stopping position of the medium 2 is controlled based on the detection result of the sensor 56 and the cutting position data. Specifically, after the sensor 56 detects the cutting position marked M1, when the second medium conveying mechanism 30 conveys a predetermined amount of the medium 2, the medium 2 stops, and the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2.

[0212] In this method, sensor 56 is a first mark detection mechanism used to detect the cutting position mark M1 printed on the printed medium. Furthermore, when the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2, the cutting position mark M1 is positioned at a certain distance downstream of the medium cutting position in the conveying direction (see reference). Figure 11 (B)

[0213] In this manner, the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2 in the left-right direction based on the cutting range data (i.e., the cutting range data received by the cutting mechanism 7 from the printing control unit 62) and the detection results of the sensor 56. This cutting range data is corrected based on the detection results of the first cutting range marker M11 and the second cutting range marker M12 obtained by the sensor 67. In other words, the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2 in the left-right direction based on the detection results of the sensors 56 and 67.

[0214] In addition, when the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 are printed on the first blank part 2b, sometimes after the cutting of the medium 2 by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 begins, the sensor 67 will detect the origin marking mark M2, the cutting position mark M1, the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 again.

[0215] In this case, the printing control unit 62 regenerates the mark position data and corrects the cutting range data, and sends the cutting position data, mark position data and corrected cutting range data to the cutting control unit 63.

[0216] (The main effects of this method)

[0217] As explained above, in the printing apparatus 1 of this method, the printing mechanism 3 prints multiple cutting position marks M1 at positions separated by a certain distance from the multiple media cutting positions and upstream in the conveying direction, based on the first mark printing data. As described above, when the medium 2 printed by the printing mechanism 3 is used as the printed medium after being removed from the medium take-up section 17, the printed medium installed in the medium release section 14 and released again from the medium release section 14 has cutting position marks M1 arranged at positions separated by a certain distance from the media cutting positions and downstream in the conveying direction.

[0218] Therefore, in this method, even if the printed media is released again and cut in the media width direction and media transport direction, the media cutting position can be identified by the mark M1 based on the cutting position.

[0219] Furthermore, in this method, the printing mechanism 3 prints the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 based on the second mark printing data.

[0220] Therefore, in this method, even if a portion of the printed medium that is re-emitted from the medium dispensing section 14 is cut in the medium width direction, the medium cutting range can be identified based on the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12.

[0221] Thus, in this method, even when the printed media re-released from the media outlet 14 is cut in the media width direction and the media transport direction, and a portion of the printed media in the media width direction is cut in the media width direction, the media cutting position and media cutting range for appropriately cutting the printed media in the media width direction can be identified based on the cutting position mark M1, the first cutting range mark M11, and the second cutting range mark M12.

[0222] That is, in this method, even if the printed media is released again and cut in both the media width direction and the media transport direction, and the cut is a portion of the printed media in the media width direction, it is still possible to print a mark for properly cutting the printed media in the media width direction.

[0223] Furthermore, in this method, when the printed media is re-ejected and cut, if the predetermined data held by PC61 is sent to the print control unit 62, and the print control unit 62 sends the predetermined data to the cutting control unit 63, the cutting mechanism 7 can also identify the media cutting position and media cutting range for appropriately cutting the printed media in the media width direction. However, in this case, PC61 needs to continuously hold the data until the printed media is re-ejected and cut. In addition, in this case, it is necessary to establish a correspondence between the printed media re-ejected from the media ejection unit 14 and the data sent from PC61. In contrast, in this method, if PC61 sends data to the print unit 3 when printing is performed by the print unit 3, it is not necessary to continuously hold the data. In addition, in this method, it is not necessary to establish a correspondence between the printed media re-ejected from the media ejection unit 14 and the data.

[0224] In this method, the first cutting range is marked with M11 and the second cutting range is marked with M12, and printed in the media width direction at the same position as the second media cutting position.

[0225] Therefore, in this method, as described above, the operator can adjust the position of the second cutting mechanism 8 in the medium width direction by using the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 as markers, thereby fixing the second cutting mechanism 8 to the support frame 35.

[0226] In this embodiment, the printing mechanism 3, the cutting mechanism 7, and the second cutting mechanism 8 are mounted on the same support 4. Therefore, compared to the case where separate supports are provided for the printing mechanism 3 and the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, the structure of the printing apparatus 1 can be simplified. Furthermore, in this embodiment, since the printed media wound into a roll is mounted on the media dispensing section 14, the structure of the printing apparatus 1 can be simplified compared to the case where a separate dispensing section for the rolled printed media is provided in addition to the media dispensing section 14.

[0227] In this configuration, sensor 67 is mounted on carriage 21 of printing mechanism 3.

[0228] Therefore, in this method, the movement of the carriage 21 can be used to detect the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12, etc., using the sensor 67. Thus, in this method, compared to the case where a carriage equipped with the sensor 67 is provided separately from the carriage 21, the structure of the printing device 1 can be simplified.

[0229] In this method, the carriage drive mechanism 36 moves the carriage 34 to a position where the sensor 56 can detect the cutting position mark M1 based on the mark position data, and then stops the carriage 34 at the position where the sensor 56 can detect the cutting position mark M1. Therefore, in this method, when the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the printed media, the sensor 56 can quickly detect the cutting position mark M1.

[0230] (A variation of Implementation Method 2)

[0231] In embodiment 2, the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 are printed on the portion of the medium 2 that avoids the cut-off portion 2a, but a portion of the first cutting range mark M11 and a portion of the second cutting range mark M12 can also be printed on the cut-off portion 2a. In this case, since the lengths of the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 in the medium transport direction are increased, the position of the second cutting mechanism 8 is easily adjusted when the left-right position of the second cutting mechanism 8 is adjusted using the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 as markers.

[0232] In embodiment 2, the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 can also be printed at a position offset from the second medium cutting position in the left-right direction.

[0233] For example, a first cutting range mark M11 can be printed at the same position as one end of the media cutting range in the left-right direction, and a second cutting range mark M12 can be printed at the same position as the other end of the media cutting range in the left-right direction. Alternatively, the first cutting range mark M11 can be printed at a position further outward in the left-right direction than one end of the media cutting range in the left-right direction, and the second cutting range mark M12 can be printed at a position further outward in the left-right direction than the other end of the media cutting range in the left-right direction. In these cases, marks can also be printed on the media 2 as symbols for adjusting the left-right position of the second cutting mechanism 8.

[0234] In embodiment 2, the sensor 67 may not be mounted on the carriage 21 of the printing mechanism 3. In this case, for example, a separate carriage for mounting the sensor 67 is provided in addition to the carriage 21.

[0235] Furthermore, in embodiment 2, the sensor 56 may not be mounted on the carriage 34 of the cutting mechanism 7. In this case, for example, a separate carriage for mounting the sensor 56 may be provided in addition to the carriage 34.

[0236] In embodiment 2, sensor 56 can also detect the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12. In this case, sensor 56 is a first mark detection mechanism for detecting the cutting position mark M1 printed on the printed medium, and a second mark detection mechanism for detecting the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 printed on the printed medium. Furthermore, in this case, sensor 56 detects the origin marking mark M2, and detects the cutting position mark M1 connected to the upstream end of the origin marking mark M2 in the transport direction.

[0237] In Embodiment 2, a support for mounting the printing mechanism 3 and a support for mounting the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 may be provided separately. In this case, for example, in addition to the media dispensing section 14, a dispensing section for mounting the roll-shaped printed media may also be provided. Furthermore, in Embodiment 2, the printing device 1 may not include the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8. In this case, a cutting device equipped with the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 is provided, in which the media 2, after being printed and partially cut in the printing device 1, is cut.

[0238] In Embodiment 2, instead of halving the medium 2, a tear-off line of a predetermined shape corresponding to the image printed on the medium 2 can be formed on the printed medium 2. In this case, for example, the medium 2 is made of paper, and the cutting head 66 forms the tear-off line on the printed medium 2. Furthermore, in this case, for example, a cutting line is formed on the medium 2 with a tear-off line of the same shape as the halved cutting line CL2. Furthermore, in Embodiment 2, instead of halving the medium 2, a portion of the printed medium 2 can be cut off for decorative purposes. Also, in Embodiment 2, instead of halving the medium 2, forming the tear-off line on the medium 2, and cutting off the medium 2, a predetermined process can be performed on the medium 2. In this case, the medium 2 is also conveyed to both sides in the medium transport direction during the predetermined process.

[0239] In embodiment 2, the printed media 2 may be wound into a roll by the media take-up mechanism 26 without being cut by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, and then removed from the media take-up section 17. Afterward, it is installed in the media discharge section 14 and cut by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8. In this case, for example, a predetermined processing of the media 2 is performed before the printed roll of media 2 removed from the media take-up section 17 is installed in the media discharge section 14.

[0240] [Other implementation methods]

[0241] The above-described method is an example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but it is not limited thereto, and various modifications can be made without changing the spirit of the present invention.

[0242] In the above-described manner, the printing device 1 may also include a guide member 79 (see reference) that guides the cut-off portion 2a and the first blank portion 2b in a direction away from the second blank portion 2c. Figure 13 Instead of guide member 29, guide member 79 is installed in the receiving section 15, for example. Specifically, guide member 79 is installed at the upper rear end of receiving section 15. Guide member 79 is positioned lower than cutting mechanism 7 and is disposed between cutting mechanism 7 and receiving section 15 in the media transport direction. Furthermore, guide member 79 is positioned in the left-right direction at the location where the cut-off portion 2a and the first blank portion 2b are formed.

[0243] The guide member 79 has, for example, an inclined surface 79a that slopes downwards as it moves towards the front. The cut-off portion 2a and the first blank portion 2b are guided forward and downwards by the inclined surface 79a, away from the second blank portion 2c. Furthermore, the guide member 79 also has an inclined surface 79b that slopes downwards as it moves towards the rear. The inclined surface 79b is positioned behind the inclined surface 79a, and the upper ends of the inclined surface 79a and 79b are connected. Alternatively, the guide member 79 may be integrally formed with the storage portion 15.

[0244] In the above-described manner, a cutting mechanism 7 may be arranged between the tension bar 9 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the media 2 transport direction. Furthermore, in the above-described manner, a heater 6 may not be arranged between the printing mechanism 3 and the tension bar 9 in the media 2 transport direction. Moreover, in the above-described manner, the first blank portion 2b between the cut-off portions 2a in the media transport direction may not be formed. Furthermore, in the above-described manner, the printing device 1 may be a printer other than an inkjet printer.

[0245] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0246] 1. Printing device; 2. Media; 3. Printing mechanism; 4. Support body; 5. Media conveying mechanism; 7. Cutting mechanism; 8. Second cutting mechanism; 14. Media release section; 17. Media take-up section; 20. Printhead (inkjet head); 21. Carriage (printing carriage); 22. Carriage drive mechanism (printing carriage drive mechanism); 34. Carriage (cutting carriage); 36. Carriage drive mechanism (cutting carriage drive mechanism); 38. Cutter; 56. Sensor (first mark detection mechanism); 67. Sensor (second mark detection mechanism); M1, Cutting position mark; M11, First cutting range mark; M12, Second cutting range mark; Y, Media width direction.

Claims

1. A printing apparatus for printing strips of media to be cut after printing, characterized in that, The printing device has the following features: A printing mechanism that prints on the medium; A medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium along its length; A media dispensing section is provided where the media, wound into a roll, is mounted before being conveyed toward the printing mechanism; as well as A media take-up section is used to mount the media wound into a roll after passing through the printing mechanism. The width direction of the medium, which is orthogonal to the transport direction of the medium, is defined as the width direction of the medium. The side on which the medium discharge section is located in the medium conveying direction is designated as the upstream side of the conveying direction. The side on which the medium winding section is located in the medium conveying direction is designated as the downstream side in the conveying direction. The cutting position in the medium transport direction, where the medium is cut linearly along its width after printing, is defined as the medium cutting position. When the cutting range of the medium at the cutting position, in the width direction of the medium, is defined as the cutting range of the medium, then... The printing mechanism receives: Image data, which is data of an image printed on the medium; The first mark printing data is data used to print the cutting position, which specifies the cutting position of the medium, on the medium; as well as The second marking printing data is data used to print the first cutting range marking and the second cutting range marking on the medium. The first cutting range marking is positioned at one end corresponding to one end of the cutting range of the medium in the medium width direction, and the second cutting range marking is positioned at the other end corresponding to the cutting range of the medium in the medium width direction. The image is printed on the medium based on the image data. Based on the first mark printing data, multiple cutting position marks are printed at positions separated by a certain distance from each of the multiple media cutting positions upstream in the conveying direction. The first cutting range mark and the second cutting range mark are printed on the medium based on the second mark printing data.

2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The cutting position is marked by a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium. The first cutting range and the second cutting range are marked as straight lines parallel to the medium conveying direction. The printing mechanism prints a mark for the cutting position at one end of the medium in the width direction. The first cutting range mark and the second cutting range mark are printed on the end of the medium at least on the upstream side of the conveying direction while it is being wound up by the medium winding section.

3. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, characterized in that, When the cutting position in the width direction of the medium, which is cut linearly along the medium conveying direction after printing, is defined as the second medium cutting position,... The printing mechanism prints the first cutting range mark and the second cutting range mark at the same position in the media width direction as the second media cutting position.

4. The printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that, When the medium that has been printed by the printing mechanism, and is the medium that has been removed from the medium take-up section, is designated as the printed medium, This printing facility has the following features: The first marking detection mechanism is used to detect the markings printed on the printed medium at the cutting positions; The second marking detection mechanism is used to detect the markings for the first cutting range and the markings for the second cutting range printed on the printed medium; A cutting mechanism for cutting the printed medium in the width direction of the medium; as well as The second cutting mechanism is used to cut the printed medium along the medium conveying direction. The cutting mechanism cuts the printed medium in the media width direction based on the detection results of the first marking detection mechanism and the second marking detection mechanism.

5. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The printing mechanism, the cutting mechanism, and the second cutting mechanism are mounted on the same support, and the printed medium, wound into a roll, is mounted on the medium discharge section.

6. The printing apparatus according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cutting mechanism includes: A cutter that cuts the printed medium; A cutting carriage that holds the cutter; and A cutting carriage drive mechanism that moves the cutting carriage in the width direction of the medium. The first marking detection mechanism is mounted on the cutting carriage. The second marking detection mechanism is positioned upstream of the cutting mechanism in the conveying direction. The cutting mechanism receives cutting range data and, based on the received cutting range data and the detection result of the first marking detection mechanism, cuts the printed medium in the medium width direction. The cutting range data is used to specify the cutting range of the medium and is generated based on the detection results of the first cutting range mark and the second cutting range mark obtained by the second marking detection mechanism.

7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The printing mechanism has: An inkjet head that ejects ink toward the medium; A printing carriage, wherein the inkjet head is mounted on the printing carriage; and A printing carriage drive mechanism that moves the printing carriage in the media width direction, and The printing mechanism is positioned upstream of the conveying direction, relative to the cutting mechanism and the second cutting mechanism. The second marking detection mechanism is mounted on the printing carriage.

8. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, characterized in that, The second marking detection mechanism detects the markings printed on the printed medium at the cutting positions. The cutting mechanism receives marker position data, which is generated based on the detection results of the cutting position marker obtained by the second marker detection mechanism and is used to specify the position of the cutting position marker in the media width direction. The cutting carriage drive mechanism moves the cutting carriage to a position where the first mark detection mechanism can detect the cutting position mark based on the mark position data received by the cutting mechanism.

Images