Cutting device and mobile printer

Abstract

To provide a cutting device and a mobile printer in which a functional failure caused by a drop impact is less likely to occur than conventional ones.SOLUTION: A cutting device 20 includes a movable blade 49, a support plate 51, a shaft 53, and a cutter lever 23. The shaft 53 extends in an axial direction J perpendicular to the support plate 51 and is supported by the support plate 51. The cutter lever 23 is supported by the shaft 53 so as to be rotatable about the shaft 53 between an operation position at which the movable blade 49 is disposed at a cutting position and a normal position at which the movable blade 49 is disposed at a retracted position. The cutter lever 23 has a first wall, an insertion portion 55, and a first rib 56. The first wall faces the support plate 51 in the axial direction J. The insertion portion 55 protrudes from the first wall in a facing direction D3, the shaft 53 is inserted through the insertion portion, and a first end part 60 of the insertion portion in the facing direction D3 abuts on the support plate 51. The first rib 56 protrudes in the facing direction D3 from the first wall, and when the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position, a first surface 57 abuts on the support plate 51.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 7

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cutting device and a mobile printer. [Background technology]

[0002] The print label production device described in Patent Document 1 is a handheld type that is held by a user's hand, and includes a conveying means, a printing means, a cutting blade, a cutting blade receiving member, and a cutter lever. The conveying means conveys the print-receiving tape along a conveying path toward an outlet, and the printing means prints on the print-receiving tape. After printing, the print-receiving tape is cut by the cutting blade and the cutting blade receiving member in response to operation of the cutter lever, and a print label with the desired printing is produced. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2010-284879 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventional print label production devices may fall in various directions when used, carried, etc. In the print label production device, the cutter lever is exposed from the housing of the print label production device, and is therefore prone to malfunction due to impact from being dropped.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device and a mobile printer which are less susceptible to malfunctions due to the impact of being dropped than in the past. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A cutting device of a first aspect of the present invention comprises: a cutting blade movable between a cutting position where it can cut a cutting object and a retracted position away from the cutting object; a support plate; an axis extending in an axial direction perpendicular to the support plate and supported by the support plate; a cutter lever supported on the axis so as to be rotatable around the axis at an operating position where the cutting blade is positioned at the cutting position and a normal position where the cutting blade is positioned at the retracted position, the cutter lever having a first wall facing the support plate in the axial direction; an insertion portion protruding from the first wall in an opposing direction that is a direction along the axial direction from the first wall toward the support plate, and through which the shaft is inserted, the insertion portion having a first end in the opposing direction abutting the support plate; and a first rib protruding from the first wall in the opposing direction, the first rib having a first surface extending in the axial direction abutting the support plate when the cutter lever is in the normal position. The first rib abutting the support plate disperses the shock applied to the shaft of the cutter lever when the cutter is dropped, and therefore the first rib of the cutter contributes to reducing the likelihood of malfunction due to shock when the cutter is dropped, compared to conventional cutters that do not have a first rib.

[0007] The cutting device of the first aspect may further include a reinforcing rib protruding from the first wall in the facing direction and connected to a second surface of the first rib opposite to the first surface. The reinforcing rib connected to the second surface of the first rib can absorb the impact of the cutting device being dropped on the first rib. Therefore, the reinforcing rib of the cutting device contributes to making the cutting device less susceptible to malfunction due to the impact of the cutting device being dropped, compared to a cutting device not including a reinforcing rib.

[0008] The first rib of the cutting device of the first aspect may have a first surface that abuts against a second end of the support plate in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction when the cutter lever is in the normal position. The first rib abutting against the second end of the support plate can disperse the impact of the cutting device being dropped. Therefore, the first rib of the cutting device contributes to dispersing the impact to the first rib more easily than when the impact of the cutting device being dropped is received by the first rib abutting against a portion of the support plate other than the second end.

[0009] The cutter lever of the cutting device of the first aspect may further include a second rib protruding from the first wall in the facing direction at a position separated from the insertion portion, and a third end of the second rib in the facing direction may abut against the support plate when the cutter lever is in the normal position. The cutting device can distribute the impact applied to the shaft of the cutter lever due to a fall to the first rib and the second rib. Therefore, the second rib of the cutting device contributes to reducing the impact applied to the shaft of the cutter lever due to a fall, compared to a case in which the impact caused by the fall of the cutting device is distributed only to the first rib.

[0010] The cutter lever of the cutting device of the first aspect may further include a second rib protruding from the first wall in the facing direction at a position separated from the insertion portion, and when the cutter lever is in the normal position, a third end of the second rib in the facing direction may be separated from the support plate. Since the third end of the cutting device is separated from the support plate, the operability of the cutter lever is not impaired by friction generated between the third end and the support plate in normal times. On the other hand, when an impact is applied to the cutter lever due to a fall, the cutter device adjusts the distance between the second rib and the support plate so that the second rib and the support plate come into contact with each other, thereby distributing the impact applied to the cutter lever due to the fall to the first rib and the second rib. Therefore, the second rib of the cutting device contributes to reducing the impact applied to the shaft of the cutter lever due to the fall, compared to the case where the impact caused by the fall of the cutting device is distributed only to the first rib.

[0011] The shape of the second rib of the cutting device of the first aspect, as viewed from the facing direction of the third end, may be U-shaped opening toward the insertion part. Compared to a case in which the shape of the third end of the second rib as viewed from the facing direction of the third end is linear, the third end of the second rib of the cutting device contributes to making the second rib less likely to be deformed or damaged even when an impact is applied to the second rib due to the dropping of the cutting device.

[0012] In the cutting device of the first aspect, the insertion portion may be located between the first rib and the second rib in the extension direction of a line segment connecting the first rib and the second rib. Compared to a case in which the insertion portion of the cutting device is not located between the first rib and the second rib in the extension direction of the line segment connecting the first rib and the second rib, the first rib and the second rib are more likely to disperse the impact caused by the cutting device being dropped.

[0013] The first wall of the cutting device of the first aspect may have a connecting portion that connects to the insertion portion, and a fourth end of the connecting portion in a separation direction opposite to the facing direction is located further in the facing direction than a fifth end of the insertion portion in the separation direction. The connecting portion of the cutting device can transmit the impact of the cutting device being dropped to the insertion portion at a stronger position closer to the portion where the support plate and the first end of the insertion portion abut, compared to a case in which the fourth end is located in the separation direction further than the fifth end. Therefore, the connection of the cutting device contributes to reducing the impact applied to the shaft of the cutter lever when the cutting device is dropped.

[0014] The cutting device of the first aspect further includes a housing that houses the cutting blade and the support plate, the housing having a third surface in which an opening is formed to expose a part of the cutter lever to the outside of the housing, and the center of the shaft may be in the operation direction to a perpendicular line in an imaginary plane along the first wall to a tangent line drawn from a sixth end of the third surface in the operation direction when the cutter lever is moved from the normal position to the operation position toward the cutter lever. The cutting device is more likely to receive an impact on the shaft of the cutter lever when dropped than when the center of the shaft is in the operation direction relative to the perpendicular line and is in the return direction opposite to the operation direction relative to the perpendicular line. The cutting device is provided with a first rib, which contributes to reducing the impact on the shaft of the cutter lever when dropped compared to conventional cases, even when the center of the shaft is in the operation direction relative to the perpendicular line.

[0015] The cutting device of the first aspect may further include a lever housing portion that protrudes from the third surface and houses a part of the cutter lever in a state in which the cutter lever is rotatable and a seventh end portion of the cutter lever in a return direction opposite to the operating direction is exposed to the outside of the housing. The lever housing portion of the cutting device contributes to protecting the part of the cutter lever compared to a case in which the lever housing portion is not provided.

[0016] A second aspect of the mobile printer includes a print head for printing on a tape, and a cutting device for cutting the tape, the cutting device comprising: a support plate; a cutting blade movable between a cutting position where the cutting position contacts a target object to cut the target object and a retracted position away from the target object; and a cutter lever supported by the support plate so as to be rotatable between an operating position where the cutting blade is positioned at the cutting position and a normal position where the cutting blade is positioned at the retracted position, the cutter lever having a shaft extending in an axial direction perpendicular to the support plate, a first wall facing the support plate, a through-portion protruding from the first wall in an opposing direction that is a direction along the axial direction from the first wall toward the support plate, and through which the shaft is inserted, the through-portion having a first end in the opposing direction abutting the support plate, and a first rib protruding from the first wall in the opposing direction, the first rib having a first surface extending in the axial direction abutting the support plate when the cutter lever is in the normal position. The first rib abutting the support plate can disperse the impact applied to the shaft of the cutter lever of the cutting device when the mobile printer is dropped. Therefore, the first rib of the mobile printer contributes to making the mobile printer less susceptible to malfunction due to impact when dropped, compared to conventional mobile printers that do not have a first rib.

[0017] In a second aspect of the mobile printer, the tape is stored in a cassette, and the mobile printer further comprises a cassette mounting section for removably mounting the cassette, a sensor for detecting the type of the cassette, a housing for accommodating the print head, the cutting device, the cassette mounting section, and the sensor, and a lever accommodating section protruding from the housing and accommodating a part of the cutter lever with a seventh end of the cutter lever rotatably exposed to the outside of the housing in a return direction opposite to the operation direction when the cutter lever is moved from the normal position to the operation position, the cutter lever further comprises a second wall provided in the opposing direction relative to the first wall, and an eighth end of the cutter lever in the operation direction when the cutter lever is moved from the normal position to the operation position is formed with a recess that is recessed in the return direction relative to a ninth end of the first wall in the operation direction, and when the cutter lever is in the operation position, the first wall faces the sensor in the axial direction, and the second wall faces the sensor in the return direction. The lever housing of the mobile printer contributes to protecting a part of the cutter lever compared to a case where the lever housing is not provided. The cutter lever of the mobile printer contributes to suppressing interference between the cutter lever and the sensor when the cutter lever is operated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0018] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front view of the mobile printer 1. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the mobile printer 1 with the rear cover 5 open. [Diagram 3] 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the roller holder 27 seen from the rear in a state Q1 in which the rear cover 5 is closed and in a closed position, and a partial cross-sectional view of the roller holder 27 seen from the rear in a state Q2 in which the rear cover 5 is open and in an open position. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5]This is an oblique view of the cutting device 20 in a state P1 in which the cutter lever 23 is in a normal position and the movable blade 49 is in a retracted position, and an oblique view of the cutting device 20 in a state P2 in which the cutter lever 23 is in an operating position and the movable blade 49 is in a cutting position. [Figure 6] 4 is a rear view of the cutter lever 23. FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 8. [Figure 8] This is a rear view of the cutting device 20 in a state P1 in which the cutter lever 23 is in a normal position and the movable blade 49 is in a retracted position, and a rear view of the cutting device 20 in a state P2 in which the cutter lever 23 is in an operating position and the movable blade 49 is in a cutting position. [Figure 9] 7 is a cross-sectional view of a modified cutting device 120 taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 8 . DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0019] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The up-down direction and the left-right direction in Fig. 1 are respectively the up-down direction and the left-right direction of a mobile printer (hereinafter referred to as "printer") 1. However, the up-down direction and the left-right direction of the printer 1 are defined for convenience, and the printer 1 is not necessarily in the position shown in Fig. 1.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1 to FIG. 3, the printer 1 is a portable label printer capable of printing an image on a tape M pulled out from a cassette 17 to create a label. The printer 1 can use a cassette 17 that accommodates various types of tape, such as a receptor type, a thermal type, a laminate type, and a tube type. The tape M is, for example, one of a single-sided adhesive tape, a thermal paper tape, a double-sided adhesive tape, a film tape, and a tube tape. The cassette 17 has an indicator portion 16 on the right side of the cassette 17 that indicates the type of tape M. The indicator portion 16 includes at least one hole portion provided in a specified pattern according to the type of tape M. The cassette 17 has an indicator portion 35 on the entire surface of the cassette 17 that indicates the color of the ink ribbon. The indicator portion 35 includes at least one hole portion provided in a specified pattern according to the color of the ink ribbon. The printer 1 can print images such as characters and figures on the tape M.

[0021] The printer 1 includes a housing 10, a display 21, and an input unit 22. The housing 10 is a vertically long box shape, and includes a main body 4, a rear cover 5, a lower cover 6, and a lever housing 14. The main body 4 is box-shaped with an opening at the rear. The rear cover 5 is removably attached to the main body 4. An outlet 19 is formed in the top surface 15 of the housing 10, penetrating in the vertical direction. The lower cover 6 is box-shaped with an opening at the top. The lower cover 6 is removably attached to the main body 4, and protects the lower end of the main body 4. The lever housing 14 is a portion provided at the upper end of the left surface 13 of the housing 10, bulging to the left. The upper part of the lever housing 14 is open. In other words, the housing 10 has a left surface 13 in which an opening 67 is formed, which exposes a part of the cutter lever 23 to the outside of the housing 10.

[0022] The display 21 is, for example, a liquid crystal display, and is capable of displaying various types of information. The display 21 is provided at a position above approximately the center in the up-down direction on the front surface 11 of the housing 10. The input unit 22 accepts input of various types of information by user operation. The input unit 22 is provided on the front surface 11 of the housing 10, below the display 21. The input unit 22 includes a number of switches including a print button, a Shift key, and an Esc key.

[0023] The printer 1 includes a cassette mounting section 24, a roller drive shaft 29, a ribbon winding shaft 30, a sensor 33, a battery housing section 25, a print head 28, a roller holder 27, and a cutting device 20 inside the housing 10, more specifically, inside the main body section 4 and in front of the rear cover 5. The cassette mounting section 24 detachably mounts the cassette 17. The cassette mounting section 24 is a recessed portion recessed forward and provided above the center in the vertical direction of the main body section 4 of the housing 10. The sensor 33 is provided on the left side of the cassette mounting section 24 and detects the presence or absence of each hole of the indicator section 35 provided on the front surface of the cassette 17. The battery housing section 25 houses the battery 31. The battery housing section 25 is a recessed portion recessed forward and provided below the center in the vertical direction of the main body section 4 of the housing 10. When the rear cover 5 is removed from the main body section 4, the cassette mounting section 24 and the battery housing section 25 are exposed to the outside of the printer 1. With the rear cover 5 removed from the main body 4, the user can replace each of the cassette 17 and the battery 31.

[0024] The print head 28 is a thermal head configured to print on the tape M. The printer 1 pays out and transports the tape M from the cassette mounting section 24 by driving the roller drive shaft 29. The printer 1 prints on the tape M by heating the ink ribbon with the print head 28 and transferring ink from the ink ribbon to the tape M. The roller drive shaft 29 rotates the roller 26 with the power of a motor (not shown), and pulls out and transports the tape M in the cassette 17. The ribbon take-up shaft 30 rotates with the power of a motor (not shown), pulls out the ink ribbon in the cassette 17, and further winds up the ink ribbon that has passed the print head 28.

[0025] The roller holder 27 extends in the vertical direction to the right of the cassette mounting portion 24. The roller holder 27 is supported at its lower end rotatably about a rotation shaft 45 extending in the front-rear direction. The roller holder 27 supports the platen roller 47 and the tape sub-roller 46 rotatably in a counterclockwise direction when viewed from the rear. The platen roller 47 is provided to the right of the print head 28. The tape sub-roller 46 is provided to the right of the roller drive shaft 29 and in the vicinity of the upper side of the platen roller 47. The roller holder 27 has a cassette sensor 32 disposed between the platen roller 47 and the rotation shaft 45 in the vertical direction. The cassette sensor 32 includes a plurality of detection switches 36 that detect the presence or absence of each hole of the indicator portion 16 provided on the right side of the cassette 17. Each of the plurality of detection switches 36 extends in the left-right direction. A spring (not shown) biases roller holder 27 to rotate to the right around pivot shaft 45. When rear cover 5 is closed with cassette 17 attached to printer 1, roller holder 27 is pressed to the left and rotates to the left against the biasing force of the spring (not shown).

[0026] As shown in state Q1 of FIG. 3, when the rear cover 5 is closed with the cassette 17 attached to the printer 1, the cassette sensor 32 is disposed near the cassette 17 due to the rotation of the roller holder 27 to the left. When the cassette sensor 32 is disposed near the cassette 17, the multiple detection switches 36 of the cassette sensor 32 are selectively pressed by the index portion 16 of the cassette 17. The cassette sensor 32 outputs a detection signal based on the combination of the on / off states of the multiple detection switches 36 at this time. As shown in state Q2 of FIG. 3, when the rear cover 5 is opened or the cassette 17 is not attached, the cassette sensor 32 is separated from the cassette 17 due to the rotation of the roller holder 27 to the right. When the cassette sensor 32 is separated from the cassette 17, none of the multiple detection switches 36 of the cassette sensor 32 is pressed by the index portion 16 of the cassette 17, so the cassette sensor 32 cannot detect the cassette 17.

[0027] The cutting device 20 is provided below the discharge port 19. As shown in FIG. 4 to FIG. 8, the cutting device 20 includes a support plate 51, a fixed blade 48, a movable blade 49, a cutter lever 23, and a transmission member 75. The support plate 51 is a plate that is long in the vertical direction and is disposed in front of the cassette mounting portion 24. An upper end portion 52 of the support plate 51 is bent forward. The fixed blade 48 is an L-shaped plate in a plan view, having a fixed portion 481 that extends in the left-right direction and a blade portion 482 that extends rearward from the left end of the fixed portion 481. The fixed portion 481 is fixed to the upper end portion 52 of the support plate 51 by a screw 78 and a pin 79. The blade portion 482 has a blade tip that faces rightward. The movable blade 49 is an L-shaped plate in a plan view, having a fixed portion 491 and a blade portion 492. Movable blade 49 is movable between a cutting position shown in state P2 in Fig. 5 where it comes into contact with the object to be cut and can cut the object, and a retracted position shown in state P1 in Fig. 5 where it is spaced apart from the tape M to be cut. Movable blade 49 is fixed to support plate 51 in a position in which the tip of blade portion 492 faces leftward and is rotatable around pin 79. Fixed portion 491 is formed with an elongated hole 493 extending in the longitudinal direction of fixed portion 491. When movable blade 49 is in the retracted position, the longitudinal direction of fixed portion 491 is diagonally rear left.

[0028] The cutter lever 23 is supported by the support plate 51 so as to be rotatable around the shaft 53 between an operating position in which the movable blade 49 is placed at a cutting position, as shown in state P2 of FIG. 5, and a normal position in which the movable blade 49 is placed at a retracted position, as shown in state P1 of FIG. 5. The shaft 53 extends in an axial direction J perpendicular to the support plate 51. A torsion spring (not shown) is wound around the insertion portion 55. The torsion spring is disposed around the insertion portion 55 between the connecting portion 541 and the support plate 51. The axial direction J in this embodiment is the front-rear direction. The cutter lever 23 is biased by the torsion spring in a clockwise direction as viewed from the front. The lower end of the cutter lever 23 is covered by the lever housing 14 and the main body 4. When the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position, it is exposed to the outside of the housing 10. The upper end of the cutter lever 23 moves in and out of the housing 10 through the opening 67 of the lever housing 14 in response to a user's operation.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the center C of the shaft 53 is in the operation direction D1 with respect to a perpendicular line L3 in a virtual plane along the first wall 54 to a tangent line L2 drawn from the sixth end 68 of the left surface 13 in the operation direction D1 when the cutter lever 23 is moved from the normal position to the operation position. In this embodiment, the operation direction D1 when moving from the normal position to the operation position is a counterclockwise direction as seen from the front with the shaft 53 as the center. In this embodiment, the operation direction D1 when the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position is approximately downward. In this embodiment, the virtual plane along the first wall 54 is a plane perpendicular to the axial direction J, that is, the front-rear direction. The sixth end 68 is the lower end of the left surface 13. The tangent line L2 extends upward and slightly leftward from the sixth end 68. The perpendicular line L3 passes through an intersection K between the tangent line L2 and the side wall 234 of the cutter lever 23, and extends from the intersection K slightly upward and to the right. The lever accommodating portion 14 protrudes from the left surface 13 and accommodates a portion of the cutter lever 23 such that the cutter lever 23 can rotate and an operating wall portion 233 at the end of the cutter lever 23 in the return direction D2 opposite to the operating direction D1 is exposed to the outside of the housing 10.

[0030] 4 to 7, the cutter lever 23 includes the first wall 54, the second wall 72, wall portions 543, 544, side walls 231, 232, 234, the operation wall portion 233, the protruding portions 235, 236, the insertion portion 55, the first wall 54, the insertion portion 55, the first rib 56, the reinforcing rib 59, the second rib 62, ribs 551 to 553, 561 to 564, 641, 643, and the pin 81. The configuration of the cutter lever 23 will be described based on the case where the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position.

[0031] The first wall 54 and the second wall 72 are plate-shaped having a thickness in the front-rear direction. The first wall 54 is disposed in front of the support plate 51, and a part of the first wall 54 faces the support plate 51. The first wall 54 has a connecting portion 541 and an outer wall portion 542. The connecting portion 541 is a fan-shaped portion in a front view that is disposed around the insertion portion 55 and connects to the insertion portion 55. The outer wall portion 542 is disposed at a position farther from the axis 53 than the connecting portion 541, and connects to the connecting portion 541. The front surface of the outer wall portion 542 is located forward of the front surface of the connecting portion 541, and the connecting portion between the outer wall portion 542 and the connecting portion 541 is stepped.

[0032] The second wall 72 is disposed in the facing direction D3, which is the direction along the axis 53 from the first wall 54 toward the support plate 51, with respect to the first wall 54, that is, rearward. The second wall 72 is formed with a recess 71. The recess 71 is formed such that an eighth end 70 in the operation direction D1 when the cutter lever 23 is moved from the normal position to the operation position is recessed in a return direction D2 opposite to the operation direction D1 with respect to a ninth end 90 of the first wall 54 in the operation direction D1. As shown in state P2 of FIG. 8, when the cutter lever 23 is in the operation position, the first wall 54 faces the sensor 33 in the axial direction J, and the second wall 72 faces the sensor 33 in the return direction D2. That is, the recess 71 prevents interference between the sensor 33 and the second wall 72 when the cutter lever 23 is in the operation position. The wall portions 543 and 544 connect the first wall 54 and the second wall 72 in the front-rear direction. The wall portion 543 extends generally in the left-right direction at a portion where the connecting portion 541 and the outer wall portion 542 are connected. The wall portion 544 extends in the left-right direction below the wall portion 543.

[0033] The side walls 231, 232, and 234 connect the outer periphery of the first wall 54 and the second wall 72 in the front-rear direction. The side wall 231 is provided at the upper end of the cutter lever 23 and has an arc shape centered on the front view axis 53. The side wall 232 is connected to the side wall 231 and extends in the left-right direction. The side wall 232 faces upward, and when the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position, the side wall 232 abuts against the upper edge of the opening 67 by the biasing force of the torsion spring wound around the insertion portion 55. The side wall 234 is connected to the lower end of the operation wall portion 233 below the side walls 231 and 232 and has an arc shape centered on the front view axis 53. The distance between the side wall 234 and the axis 53 is longer than the distance between the side wall 231 and the axis 53. The operation wall portion 233 is connected to the side wall 232 and the side wall 234. In the up-down direction, the operation wall portion 233 is located above the shaft 53. The operation wall portion 233 is a portion where a user operates to press the cutter lever 23 in the operation direction D1.

[0034] The protrusion 235 protrudes from the lower end of the first wall 54 while bending downward and to the right. In the front-rear direction, the extension range of the protrusion 236 includes the extension range of the support plate 51. When the cutter lever 23 is moved to the operating position, the protrusion 235 abuts against a left lower corner 511 of the support plate 51. The protrusion 235 restricts the cutter lever 23 from moving in the operating direction D1 beyond the operating position. The protrusion 236 extends in an arc shape from the lower end of the first wall 54, centered on the shaft 53. In the front-rear direction, the protrusion 236 is located forward of the protrusion 235 and the support plate 51. When the cutter lever 23 is moved to the operating position, the protrusion 236 turns on a microswitch (not shown) provided on the support plate 51. The printer 1 rotates the roller drive shaft 29 in synchronization with the cutting operation of the tape M by the cutting device 20 based on a signal from the microswitch, and controls the transport of the tape M.

[0035] The shaft 53 is inserted through the insertion portion 55. The insertion portion 55 protrudes in a cylindrical shape from the first wall 54 in the facing direction D3. A first end 60 of the insertion portion 55 in the facing direction D3 abuts against the support plate 51. A fourth end 65 of the connecting portion 541 in the separation direction D4 opposite to the facing direction D3 is located in the facing direction D3 further than a fifth end 66 of the insertion portion 55 in the separation direction D4. In other words, the portion where the connecting portion 541 and the insertion portion 55 are connected is spaced apart from both ends of the insertion portion 55 in the axial direction J.

[0036] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the first rib 56 protrudes from the first wall 54 in the facing direction D3 at the upper right of the insertion portion 55. The first rib 56 extends in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 7, when the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position, a first surface 57 of the first rib 56 extending in the axial direction J abuts against the support plate 51. The first surface 57 in this embodiment is the right surface of the first rib 56. Specifically, when the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position, the first surface 57 of the first rib 56 abuts against a second end 61 of the support plate 51 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction J. The second end 61 in this embodiment is the upper left end of the support plate 51.

[0037] 4 and 6, the reinforcing rib 59 protrudes from the first wall 54 in the facing direction D3, and is connected to a second surface 58 of the first rib 56 opposite the first surface 57. The reinforcing rib 59 extends in the left-right direction, and a right end of the reinforcing rib 59 is connected to the second surface 58 of the first rib 56, i.e., the left surface of the first rib 56, at a substantially right angle. The left end of the reinforcing rib 59 is connected to a lower end of the right surface of the side wall 231. In the up-down direction, the reinforcing rib 59 is located above the side wall 232.

[0038] The second rib 62 protrudes from the first wall 54 in the facing direction D3 at a position separated from the insertion portion 55 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction J. As shown in FIG. 7, when the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position, the third end 63 of the second rib 62 in the facing direction D3 abuts against the front surface of the support plate 51. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the shape of the second rib 62 as viewed from the facing direction D3 of the third end 63, that is, the shape as viewed from the back, is a U-shape with an opening 67 toward the insertion portion 55. The length of the extension range of the second rib 62 in the vertical direction is within a range between 0.8 and 1.2 times the length of the extension range of the insertion portion 55 in the vertical direction, that is, the outer diameter of the insertion portion 55. As shown in FIG. 6, in the extension direction D5 of the line segment L1 connecting the first rib 56 and the second rib 62, the insertion portion 55 is located between the first rib 56 and the second rib 62. The extending direction D5 in this embodiment is a direction extending slightly downward and to the right. The insertion portion 55 in this embodiment is located between the first rib 56 and the second rib 62 also in the left-right direction.

[0039] As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the ribs 551 to 553, 561 to 564, 641, and 643 each extend from the first wall 54 in the facing direction D3. The rib 551 extends from the upper left portion of the insertion portion 55 in the upper left direction and is connected to the reinforcing rib 59. The rib 552 extends from the lower left portion of the insertion portion 55 to the lower left. The rib 553 extends from the lower right portion of the insertion portion 55 to the lower right. The ribs 561 and 562 extend rightward from the first surface 57 of the first rib 56. The length of the ribs 561 and 562 in the facing direction D3 is shorter than the length of the first rib 56 in the facing direction D3. As shown in FIG. 7, when the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position, the ribs 561 and 562 are separated from the support plate 51 in the front-rear direction. As shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, the rib 563 extends from the upper end of the first rib 56 to the upper right. The rib 564 extends from the upper end of the first rib 56 to the upper left and is connected to the side wall 231. The rib 641 extends in an arc shape centered on the axis 53 to the left of the insertion portion 55. The upper end of the rib 641 is connected to the rib 551. To the left of the rib 641, the rib 643 connects the side wall 232 and the wall portion 543.

[0040] The pin 81 protrudes from the first wall 54 in the opposing direction D3 at a position to the right of the first rib 56 and above the insertion portion 55. The pin 81 is inserted into the insertion portion 76 of the transmission member 75 described below, and transmits the rotation of the cutter lever 23 to the movable blade 49 via the transmission member 75.

[0041] The transmission member 75 is a member that is long in the left-right direction and is disposed below the upper end portion 52 of the support plate 51. The transmission member 75 includes an insertion portion 76 and a pin 77. The insertion portion 76 is provided at the left end portion of the transmission member 75, and has an elongated hole through which the pin 81 of the cutter lever 23 is inserted. The pin 77 protrudes upward from the right rear portion of the transmission member 75. The pin 77 is inserted into the elongated hole 493 of the movable blade 49. The transmission member 75 is movable in the left-right direction relative to the support plate 51 in response to the rotation of the cutter lever 23.

[0042] When the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position shown in state P1 in Figs. 5 and 8, the pin 81 is located on the upper right side with respect to the shaft 53, and the pin 77 is located at the front end of the long hole 493. The movable blade 49 is located at the retracted position, and the rear end of the blade portion 492 is separated from the fixed blade 48. When the operation wall portion 233 of the cutter lever 23 is pressed in the operation direction D1 diagonally downward to the right by the user, the cutter lever 23 rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the front about the shaft 53 against the biasing force of the torsion spring wound around the insertion portion 55, and moves to the operation position shown in state P2 in Figs. 5 and 8. When the cutter lever 23 is in the operation position, the pin 81 is located above the shaft 53. At this time, the transmission member 75 moves leftward compared to when the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position, and the pin 77 is located at the left rear end of the long hole 493. The movable blade 49 is located at the cutting position, and the rear end of the blade portion 492 overlaps with the fixed blade 48 in the left-right direction. When the user releases the pressing operation of the cutter lever 23, the cutter lever 23 rotates to the normal position due to the biasing force of the torsion spring wound around the insertion portion 55. The tape M cut by the cutting blade 43 is discharged from the discharge port 19 to the outside of the housing 10.

[0043] A method of printing on the tape M using the printer 1 will be described. The user opens the rear cover 5 to the main body 4 and mounts the cassette 17 in the cassette mounting section 24 of the printer 1. The roller drive shaft 29 is inserted into the roller 26. The user closes the rear cover 5 to the main body 4. The platen roller 47 is disposed in a position adjacent to the print head 28 and presses the tape M and the ink ribbon against the print head 28. The control unit of the printer 1 drives the print head 28 and the motor according to the print data. The print head 28 prints an image on the tape M by heating the ink ribbon according to the print data. The tape sub-roller 46 is disposed in a position adjacent to the print head 28 and presses the tape M against the roller 26. The roller drive shaft 29 is rotated by the drive of the motor to rotate the roller 26. The roller 26 rotates to transport the tape M between the tape sub-roller 46 in the transport direction, that is, upward. The control unit drives the cutting device 20. The tape M is cut by the cutting device 20 and discharged to the outside of the main body 4 through the discharge opening 19.

[0044] The impact applied to the cutter lever 23 when the printer 1 having the above configuration is dropped will be described. In the printer 1, when the cutter lever 23 is placed in the operating position, the side wall 234 of the cutter lever 23 extends to a position above the center C of the shaft 53 so that the cutter lever 23 and the sensor 33 do not interfere with each other. Therefore, the impact applied to the cutter lever 23 is more likely to be applied in the non-rotational direction, that is, the axial direction J, of the cutter lever 23 compared to when the upper end of the side wall 234 of the cutter lever 23 is below the center C of the shaft 53. In contrast, the cutter lever 23 receives an impact that tries to rotate the cutter lever 23 in the axial direction J around the shaft 53 at the second rib 62 and the shaft 53. More specifically, when the cutter lever 23 rotates counterclockwise in a plan view around the shaft 53 relative to the support plate 51, the second rib 62 and the shaft 53 receive an impact that tries to rotate the cutter lever 23 in the axial direction J around the shaft 53. When the cutter lever 23 rotates clockwise in a planar view around the axis 53 relative to the support plate 51, the ribs 561, 562 abut against the support plate 51 and receive an impact that tends to rotate the cutter lever 123 in the axial direction J around the axis 53.

[0045] The cutter lever 23 receives an impact applied in the left-right direction from the side wall 234 toward the shaft 53 through the first rib 56 and the shaft 53. The rear end of the first rib 56 is located rearward of the rear end of the support plate 51. The first rib 56 abuts against the second end 61 of the support plate 51 from the left, so it is susceptible to an impact applied in the left-right direction from the side wall 234 toward the shaft 53. The impact applied to the first rib 56 is dispersed to the side wall 234 through the reinforcing rib 59 connected to the second surface 58 of the first rib 56. Due to the principle of leverage, the impact applied to the part where the shaft 53 is supported by the support plate 51 becomes larger the further away from the part where the shaft 53 is supported by the support plate 51. For this reason, it is preferable that the connecting portion 541 is connected to the insertion portion 55 at a position as close as possible to the part where the shaft 53 is supported by the support plate 51. In the cutter lever 23 of this embodiment, the connecting portion 541 is connected to the insertion portion 55 at a portion that is further in the opposing direction D3 than the fifth end 66 of the insertion portion 55. Therefore, the cutter lever 23 can receive the drop impact closer to the portion of the shaft 53 where the shaft 53 is supported by the support plate 51, compared to a case in which the connecting portion 541 is connected at the fifth end 66 of the insertion portion 55.

[0046] A modified cutting device 120 will be described with reference to FIG. 9. The modified cutting device 120 is different from the cutting device 20 of the above embodiment in that it includes a cutter lever 123 having a second rib 98 instead of the cutter lever 23 having the second rib 62, and other configurations are the same as those of the cutting device 20 of the above embodiment. The description of the same configuration as the above embodiment will be omitted, and the second rib 98 different from the above embodiment will be described. The second rib 98 of the modified embodiment protrudes from the first wall 54 in the facing direction D3 at a position separated from the insertion portion 55. When the cutter lever 123 is in the normal position, the third end 97 of the second rib 98 in the facing direction D3 is separated from the support plate 51. It is preferable that the distance between the third end 97 and the support plate 51 is smaller than the thickness of the support plate 51. When the printer 1 having the modified cutting device 120 is dropped unintentionally, the impact that tries to rotate the cutter lever 123 in the axial direction J around the shaft 53 is received by the shaft 53 and the second rib 98. Specifically, when the cutter lever 123 rotates counterclockwise in a plan view around the shaft 53 relative to the support plate 51, the second rib 98 comes into contact with the support plate 51 and receives an impact that tends to rotate the cutter lever 123 in the axial direction J around the shaft 53. In the modified cutting device 120, when the printer 1 is in use, the second rib 98 does not come into contact with the support plate 51. Therefore, compared to when the second rib 98 comes into contact with the support plate 51, when the cutter lever 123 is moved from the normal position to the operating position, friction is not generated between the second rib 98 and the support plate 51, and the cutter lever 123 moves more smoothly.

[0047] In the above embodiment and modified examples, the printer 1, the housing 10, the left surface 13, the lever housing 14, the cassette 17, the cassette mounting portion 24, the sensor 33, the movable blade 49, the support plate 51, the first wall 54, the insertion portion 55, and the connecting portion 541 are examples of the mobile printer, the housing, the third surface, the lever housing, the cassette, the cassette mounting portion, the sensor, the cutting blade, the support plate, the first wall, the insertion portion, and the connecting portion of the present invention. The first rib 56, the first surface 57, the second surface 58, the reinforcing rib 59, the first end 60, the second end 61, the fourth end 65, the fifth end 66, the opening 67, the sixth end 68, the eighth end 70, the recess 71, the second wall 72, and the ninth end 90 are examples of the first rib, the first surface, the second surface, the reinforcing rib, the first end, the second end, the fourth end, the fifth end, the opening, the sixth end, the eighth end, the recess, the second wall, and the ninth end of the present invention, respectively. The cutting device 20, 120 is an example of the cutting device of the present invention. The cutter lever 23, 123 is an example of the cutter lever of the present invention. The second rib 62, 98 is an example of the second rib of the present invention. The third end portion 63, 97 is an example of the third end portion of the present invention. The axial direction J, the line segment L1, the tangent line L2, the perpendicular line L3, and the tape M are examples of the axial direction, the line segment, the tangent line, the perpendicular line, and the tape of the present invention, respectively. The operation wall portion 233 is an example of the seventh end portion of the present invention.

[0048] The printer 1 of the above embodiment includes a print head 28 and a cutting device 20. The print head 28 prints on the tape M. The cutting device 20 of the above embodiment includes a movable blade 49, a support plate 51, a shaft 53, and a cutter lever 23. The movable blade 49 is movable between a cutting position where it can contact the object to be cut and a retracted position away from the object to be cut. The shaft 53 extends in an axial direction J perpendicular to the support plate 51 and is supported by the support plate 51. The cutter lever 23 is supported by the shaft 53 so as to be rotatable around the shaft 53 between an operating position where the movable blade 49 is placed at the cutting position and a normal position where the movable blade 49 is placed at the retracted position. The cutter lever 23 has a first wall 54, an insertion portion 55, and a first rib 56. The first wall 54 faces the support plate 51 and the shaft 53. The insertion portion 55 protrudes from the first wall 54 in the facing direction D3, which is the direction along the axis 53 from the first wall 54 toward the support plate 51, and the axis 53 is inserted through the insertion portion 55, and a first end 60 in the facing direction D3 abuts against the support plate 51. The first rib 56 protrudes from the first wall 54 in the facing direction D3, and a first surface 57 extending in the axial direction J abuts against the support plate 51 when the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position. The cutting device 20 can disperse the impact applied to the axis 53 of the cutter lever 23 due to the fall by the first rib 56 abutting against the support plate 51. Therefore, the first rib 56 of the cutting device 20 contributes to making it less likely that the cutting device 20 will malfunction due to the impact when dropped, compared to a conventional cutting device 20 that does not have the first rib 56.

[0049] The cutting device 20 includes a reinforcing rib 59 that protrudes from the first wall 54 in the facing direction D3 and is connected to a second surface 58 of the first rib 56 opposite to the first surface 57. The reinforcing rib 59 connected to the second surface 58 of the first rib 56 can receive the impact of the cutting device 20 being dropped, which is applied to the first rib 56. Therefore, the reinforcing rib 59 of the cutting device 20 contributes to making the cutting device 20 less susceptible to malfunction due to the impact when the cutting device 20 is dropped, compared to a cutting device 20 that does not include the reinforcing rib 59.

[0050] When the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position, the first surface 57 of the first rib 56 abuts against the second end 61 of the support plate 51 in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction J. The first rib 56 abuts against the second end 61 of the support plate 51, so that the cutting device 20 can disperse the impact caused by the dropping of the cutting device 20. Therefore, the first rib 56 of the cutting device 20 contributes to making it easier to disperse the impact to the first rib 56 compared to the case where the impact caused by the dropping of the cutting device 20 is received by the first rib 56 abutting against a portion other than the second end 61 of the support plate 51.

[0051] The cutter lever 23 of the cutting device 20 in the above embodiment includes a second rib 62 protruding from the first wall 54 in the facing direction D3 at a position separated from the insertion portion 55. When the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position, a third end 63 of the second rib 62 in the facing direction D3 abuts against the support plate 51. The cutting device 20 can distribute the impact applied to the shaft 53 of the cutter lever 23 due to a fall to the first rib 56 and the second rib 62. Therefore, the second rib 62 of the cutting device 20 contributes to reducing the impact applied to the shaft 53 of the cutter lever 23 due to a fall, compared to a case in which the impact caused by the fall of the cutting device 20 is distributed only to the first rib 56.

[0052] The cutting device 120 and the cutter lever 123 of the above modification are provided with a second rib 98 protruding from the first wall 54 in the facing direction D3 at a position separated from the insertion portion 55. When the cutter lever 123 is in the normal position, a third end 97 of the second rib 98 in the facing direction D3 is separated from the support plate 51. Since the third end 97 of the cutting device 120 of the modification is separated from the support plate 51 in normal use, the operability of the cutter lever 23 is not impaired by friction generated between the third end 97 and the support plate 51 in normal use. On the other hand, in the cutting device 120, when an impact is applied to the cutter lever 123 due to a fall, the distance between the second rib 98 and the support plate 51 is adjusted so that the second rib 98 and the support plate 51 come into contact with each other, and thus the impact applied to the cutter lever 123 due to the fall can be dispersed to the first rib 56 and the second rib 98. Therefore, the second rib 98 of the cutting device 20 contributes to reducing the impact applied to the shaft 53 of the cutter lever 123 when the cutting device 20 is dropped, compared to a case in which the impact is distributed only to the first rib 56.

[0053] In the above embodiment, the second rib 62 has a U-shape when viewed from the facing direction D3 of the third end 63, with an opening 67 toward the insertion portion 55. Compared to a case in which the third end 63 of the second rib 62 of the cutting device 20 has a straight shape when viewed from the facing direction D3 of the third end 63, this contributes to making the second rib 62 less likely to deform or break even when an impact is applied to the second rib 62 when the cutting device 20 is dropped.

[0054] In the extension direction D5 of the line segment L1 connecting the first rib 56 and the second rib 62, the insertion portion 55 is located between the first rib 56 and the second rib 62. Compared to a case in which the insertion portion 55 of the cutting device 20 is not located between the first rib 56 and the second rib 62 in the extension direction D5 of the line segment L1 connecting the first rib 56 and the second rib 62, the first rib 56 and the second rib 62 can more easily disperse the impact caused by the cutting device 20 being dropped.

[0055] The first wall 54 has a connecting portion 541 that connects to the insertion portion 55, and a fourth end 65 in the separation direction D4 opposite to the facing direction D3 of the connecting portion 541 is located in the separation direction D4 further than a fifth end 66 in the separation direction D4 of the insertion portion 55. The connecting portion 541 of the cutting device 20 can transmit the impact when the cutting device 20 is dropped to the insertion portion 55 at a stronger position closer to the portion where the support plate 51 and the first end 60 of the insertion portion 55 abut, compared to a case where the fourth end 65 is located in the facing direction D3 further than the fifth end 66. Therefore, the connection of the cutting device 20 contributes to reducing the impact applied to the shaft 53 of the cutter lever 23 when dropped.

[0056] The cutting device 20 includes a housing 10 that houses the movable blade 49 and the support plate 51. The housing 10 has a left surface 13 in which an opening 67 is formed to expose a part of the cutter lever 23 to the outside of the housing 10. The center C of the shaft 53 is in the operation direction D1 with respect to a perpendicular line L3 in an imaginary plane along the first wall 54 to a tangent line L2 drawn from a sixth end portion 68 of the left surface 13 in the operation direction D1 when the cutter lever 23 is moved from the normal position to the operation position, and the center C of the shaft 53 is in the operation direction D1. In the cutting device 20, the center C of the shaft 53 is more likely to be subjected to an impact when the cutting device 20 is dropped than when the center C of the shaft 53 is in the operation direction D1 with respect to the perpendicular line L3 and the center C of the shaft 53 is in the return direction D2 opposite to the operation direction D1 with respect to the perpendicular line L3. By providing the first rib 56, the cutting device 20 contributes to reducing the impact applied to the shaft 53 of the cutter lever 23 when dropped compared to the conventional case, even if the center C of the shaft 53 is in the operating direction D1 with respect to the perpendicular line L3.

[0057] The cutting device 20 includes a lever housing 14 that protrudes from the left surface 13 and houses a part of the cutter lever 23 in a state in which the cutter lever 23 can rotate and an operation wall portion 233 that is an end portion of the cutter lever 23 in a return direction D2 opposite to the operation direction D1 is exposed to the outside of the housing 10. The lever housing portion 14 of the cutting device 20 contributes to protecting a part of the cutter lever 23 within the lever housing portion 14 compared to a case in which the lever housing portion 14 is not provided.

[0058] The tape M is accommodated in a cassette 17. The printer 1 includes a cassette mounting section 24 for removably mounting the cassette 17, a sensor 33 for detecting the type of the cassette 17, a print head 28, a cutting device 20, a housing 10 for accommodating the cassette mounting section 24 and the sensor 33, and a lever accommodating section 14 that protrudes from the housing 10 and accommodates a part of the cutter lever 23 in a state in which the cutter lever 23 can rotate and an operation wall section 233 that is an end of the cutter lever 23 in a return direction D2 opposite to the operation direction D1 is exposed to the outside of the housing 10. The cutter lever 23 includes a second wall 72 that is provided in the opposing direction D3 with respect to the first wall 54, and in which a recess 71 is formed in the second wall 72 where an eighth end 70 in the operation direction D1 when the cutter lever 23 is moved from the normal position to the operation position is recessed in the return direction D2 opposite to the operation direction D1 with respect to a ninth end 90 of the first wall 54 in the operation direction D1. When the cutter lever 23 is in the operating position, the first wall 54 faces the sensor 33 in the axial direction J, and the second wall 72 faces the sensor 33 in the opposite direction. The lever accommodating portion 14 contributes to protecting a part of the cutter lever 23 compared to a case where the lever accommodating portion 14 is not provided. The cutter lever 23 contributes to suppressing interference between the cutter lever 23 and the sensor 33 when the cutter lever 23 is operated.

[0059] The cutting device and mobile printer of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications may be made as appropriate.

[0060] The configurations of the cutting device 20 and the printer 1 may be changed as appropriate. The cutting device 20 may not be provided in the printer 1. The type of the printer 1 may be changed as appropriate, for example, the printer 1 may be an inkjet printer having an inkjet head as the print head 28. The cutting blade 43 may not include the fixed blade 48, and may be configured to cut the tape M by moving the movable blade 49 and pressing the movable blade 49 together with the tape M against a receiving member. The cutting blade 43 may be capable of cutting at least manually or automatically. The printer 1 may not include the sensor 33, and the arrangement of the sensor 33 may be changed as appropriate. The type of cassette 17 that can be attached to the printer 1, and the type and configuration of the tape M that can be accommodated may be changed as appropriate. The printer 1 may be a device that can print on a tape M that is not accommodated in the cassette 17. The printer 1 may be a mobile printer that can be used on a desk.

[0061] The shape, configuration, and arrangement of the cutter lever 23 and the support plate 51 may be changed as appropriate. The connecting portion 541 of the first wall 54 and the outer wall portion 542 may be the same distance from the support plate 51 in the axial direction J, that is, in the front-rear direction. The portion in the axial direction J where the connecting portion 541 is connected to the insertion portion 55 may be changed as appropriate. The arrangement and shape of the first rib 56, the reinforcing rib 59, and the second rib 62 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the shape of the second rib 62 as viewed from the facing direction D3 of the third end portion 63 may be changed as appropriate to any shape such as a T-shape or an E-shape. When the cutter lever 23 is in the normal position, the first surface 57 of the first rib 56 may be separated from the second end portion 61 in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction J of the support plate 51. In this case, the first rib 56 may come into contact with the support plate 51 in response to the impact applied to the cutter lever 23 when the cutting device 20 is dropped.

[0062] Each of the second ribs 62, 98 may protrude from the first wall 54 in the opposing direction D3 at a position where at least a portion of the second rib 62 abuts against the insertion portion 55. In the extension direction D5 of a line segment L1 connecting the first rib 56 and the second rib 62, the insertion portion 55 does not have to be located between the first rib 56 and the second rib 62. In the extension direction D5 of the line segment L1, the insertion portion 55 may be disposed at a position overlapping the first rib 56 or the second rib 62.

[0063] The center C of the shaft 53 may be in the return direction D2 with respect to a perpendicular line L3 of the tangent line L2 in an imaginary plane along the first wall 54. The lever housing portion 14 may be omitted as appropriate, or may protrude from a surface of the printer 1 other than the left surface 13. The position of the sensor 33 may be changed as appropriate, and the shape of the cutter lever 23 may be changed depending on the presence or absence and arrangement of the sensor 33. For example, the second wall 72 may not have a recess 71 formed therein.

[0064] The above-mentioned modified examples may be appropriately combined to the extent that there are no contradictions. In addition to the combinations exemplified in the claims, the applicant intends to obtain patent rights for aspects in which the invention is combined with other aspects to the extent that the invention does not deviate from the gist of the invention and does not cause contradictions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0065] 1: mobile printer, 10: housing, 13: left side, 14: lever housing, 17: cassette, 20, 120: cutting device, 23, 123: cutter lever, 24: cassette mounting section, 33: sensor, 49: movable blade, 51: support plate, 54: first wall, 55: insertion section, 56: first rib, 57: first surface, 58: second surface, 59: reinforcing rib, 60: first end, 62: second rib, 63: third end, 64: connecting section, 65: fourth end, 66: fifth end, 67: opening, 68: sixth end, 70: eighth end, 71: recess, 72: second wall, 90: ninth end, 541: connecting section, J: axial direction, L1: line segment, L2: tangent, L3: perpendicular, M: tape

Claims

1. a cutting blade that is movable between a cutting position where the cutting blade can come into contact with the object to be cut and a retracted position where the cutting blade is spaced apart from the object to be cut; A support plate; a shaft extending in an axial direction perpendicular to the support plate and supported by the support plate; a cutter lever supported by the shaft so as to be rotatable about the shaft between an operating position for disposing the cutting blade at the cutting position and a normal position for disposing the cutting blade at the retracted position, a first wall facing the support plate in the axial direction; an insertion portion that protrudes from the first wall in an opposing direction that is a direction along the axial direction from the first wall toward the support plate, and through which the shaft is inserted, the insertion portion having a first end in the opposing direction that abuts against the support plate; a first rib protruding from the first wall in the opposing direction, the first rib having a first surface extending in the axial direction that abuts against the support plate when the cutter lever is in the normal position; The cutter lever having A cutting device comprising:

2. The cutting device according to claim 1 , further comprising a reinforcing rib protruding from the first wall in the opposing direction and connecting with a second surface of the first rib opposite the first surface.

3. The cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that, when the cutter lever is in the normal position, the first surface of the first rib abuts against a second end of the support plate in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction.

4. The cutter lever further includes a second rib protruding from the first wall in the opposing direction at a position separated from the insertion portion, 2. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein a third end of the second rib in the opposing direction abuts against the support plate when the cutter lever is in the normal position.

5. The cutter lever further includes a second rib protruding from the first wall in the opposing direction at a position separated from the insertion portion, 2. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein a third end of the second rib in the opposing direction is spaced apart from the support plate when the cutter lever is in the normal position.

6. 6. The cutting device according to claim 4, wherein the second rib has a U-shape when viewed from the opposing direction of the third end portion, the U-shape being open toward the insertion portion.

7. The cutting device according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the insertion portion is located between the first rib and the second rib in an extension direction of a line segment connecting the first rib and the second rib.

8. 2. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the first wall has a connecting portion that connects to the insertion portion, and a fourth end of the connecting portion in a separation direction opposite to the facing direction is positioned in the facing direction further than a fifth end of the insertion portion in the separation direction.

9. The cutting blade and the support plate are further provided with a housing. the housing has a third surface having an opening for exposing a portion of the cutter lever to the outside of the housing; The cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the center of the axis is in the operating direction with respect to a perpendicular line in an imaginary plane along the first wall to a tangent line drawn from a sixth end of the third surface in the operating direction toward the cutter lever when the cutter lever is moved from the normal position to the operating position.

10. The cutting device according to claim 9, further comprising a lever accommodating portion that protrudes from the third surface and accommodates a portion of the cutter lever while exposing a seventh end of the cutter lever in a return direction opposite to the operating direction to the outside of the housing so that the cutter lever can rotate.

11. A print head for printing on the tape; A cutting device for cutting the tape, Support plate and A cutting blade that is movable between a cutting position where the cutting blade can come into contact with the object to be cut and a retracted position where the cutting blade is separated from the object to be cut; a cutter lever supported by the support plate so as to be rotatable between an operating position for disposing the cutting blade at the cutting position and a normal position for disposing the cutting blade at the retracted position, an axis extending in an axial direction perpendicular to the support plate; A first wall facing the support plate; an insertion portion that protrudes from the first wall in an opposing direction that is a direction along the axial direction from the first wall toward the support plate, and through which the shaft is inserted, the insertion portion having a first end in the opposing direction that abuts against the support plate; a first rib protruding from the first wall in the opposing direction, the first rib having a first surface extending in the axial direction that abuts against the support plate when the cutter lever is in the normal position; The cutter lever having The cutting device having A mobile printer comprising:

12. The tape is contained in a cassette; a cassette mounting portion for removably mounting the cassette; a sensor for detecting the type of the cassette; a housing that houses the print head, the cutting device, the cassette mounting portion, and the sensor; a lever accommodating portion that protrudes from the housing and accommodates a part of the cutter lever in a state in which a seventh end portion of the cutter lever in a return direction opposite to an operation direction when the cutter lever is moved from the normal position to the operation position is exposed to the outside of the housing; Further comprising: The cutter lever is a second wall provided in the opposing direction to the first wall, wherein an eighth end of the second wall in the operation direction when the cutter lever is moved from the normal position to the operation position has a recess formed therein that is recessed in the return direction relative to a ninth end of the first wall in the operation direction, The mobile printer according to claim 11 , wherein when the cutter lever is in the operating position, the first wall faces the sensor in the axial direction, and the second wall faces the sensor in the return direction.

Images