Cutting device and printer

Abstract

To provide a cutting device and a printer, in which a tip of a tape more hardly enters between a conveying path of the tape and a cutting blade receiving member than a conventional one even when the tape is curved in a circular arc shape.SOLUTION: A cutting device 2 includes: a cradle 40; a cutting blade 51; a support member 52; and a path forming section 19. The cutting blade 51 is supported by the support member 52 so as to be movable between a cutting position and a normal position. The path forming section 19 is arranged adjacently to the support member 52 on a downstream side D5 in a conveying direction K with respect to the support member 52 and forms a conveying path of a tape M. In the path forming section 19, an intersection P1 between a first virtual line L1 passing a first end 192 in a first direction D1 and on an upstream side D6 in the conveying direction K and a second end 414 on a downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K of a first receiving surface 41 of the cradle 40 and a second virtual line L2 which passes a third end 53 in a second direction D2 of the support member 52 and is in parallel to the conveying direction K is on the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K with respect to the cutting blade 51.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 15

Description

[Technical field]

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

[0002] The tape printer described in Patent Document 1 has an attachment section provided on a resin main body frame. The attachment section is provided with a hook member that restricts movement of a cutter blade receiving member that comes into contact with the cutter blade when cutting the tape, and a rib that comes into contact with a side wall of the cutter blade receiving member attached to the attachment section. The cutting blade receiving member is detachably attached to the attachment section by the hook member and the rib member. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2013-136219 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] The tape may be curved into an arc when it is wound into a roll or when it is transported along a transport path. In a conventional tape printing device, the leading end of the tape curved into an arc may unintentionally get caught between the tape transport path and the cutting blade receiving member.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device and a printing device in which, compared to conventional devices, the leading end of the tape is less likely to get caught between the tape transport path and the cutting blade receiving member even when the tape is curved in an arc. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] a cutting blade movable between a cutting position where the cutting blade is clamped between the first receiving surface of the receiving table and the first receiving surface of the receiving table to cut the tape being transported in a transport direction along the first receiving surface, and a normal position where the cutting blade is spaced from the first receiving surface; a support member supporting the cutting blade so as to be movable between the cutting position and the normal position; and a path forming section arranged adjacent to the support member on the downstream side of the support member in the transport direction and forming a transport path for the tape, wherein an intersection of a first virtual line of the path forming section that is in a direction perpendicular to the receiving table and extends from the receiving table to the cutting blade and that passes through a first end of the path forming section on the upstream side in the transport direction and a second end of the first receiving surface of the receiving table on the downstream side in the transport direction with a second virtual line that passes through a third end of the support member in a second direction opposite to the first direction is located on the downstream side of the transport direction with respect to the cutting blade. The receiving table and path forming portion of the cutting device satisfy the condition that the intersection point between the first virtual line and the second virtual line is downstream in the conveying direction from the cutting blade, which contributes to making it less likely that the tape being conveyed in the conveying direction will get between the receiving table and the path forming portion compared to when the intersection point is upstream in the conveying direction from the cutting blade.

[0007] The receiving table of the cutting device of the first aspect has a first side surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction and a first protruding portion protruding from the first side surface to the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the second end is the downstream end of the first protruding portion in the conveying direction. Since the tape conveyed in the conveying direction is prevented from moving toward between the receiving table and the path forming portion by the first protruding portion, the first protruding portion of the cutting device contributes to making it more difficult for the tape conveyed in the conveying direction to get between the receiving table and the path forming portion compared to a case where the first protruding portion is not provided.

[0008] The first end of the cutting device of the first aspect is located upstream of the second end in the transport direction and in the second direction. In the cutting device, in order for the tape transported in the transport direction to get between the receiving table and the path forming portion, the tape must be bent by 90 degrees or more in the second direction near the first end. Therefore, the cutting device contributes to making it difficult for the tape transported in the transport direction to get between the receiving table and the path forming portion.

[0009] The receiving table of the cutting device of the first aspect further includes an intersecting surface that is connected to each of the first side surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction and the first receiving surface, an intersecting surface that intersects each of the first receiving surface and the first side surface, a second receiving surface that is rotationally symmetrical with the first receiving surface about an axis of symmetry that passes through the center of the intersecting surface, is perpendicular to the conveying direction, and is parallel to the first receiving surface, and a second protruding portion that is rotationally symmetrical with the first protruding portion, and is attached to the cutting device so as to be changeable between a first position in which the first receiving surface faces the cutting blade and a second position in which the second receiving surface faces the cutting blade. The cutting device can use the receiving table in each of the first position and the second position. The cutting device can extend the usage period of the receiving table compared to a case in which the receiving table can be used only in the first position.

[0010] The receiving table of the cutting device of the first aspect further includes an intersecting surface that is connected to each of the first side surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction and the first receiving surface, and that intersects with each of the first receiving surface and the first side surface, the intersecting surface having a first inclined portion that inclines toward a third direction, which is a direction in which the first receiving surface is located relative to the intersecting surface, among directions that are perpendicular to the conveying direction and parallel to the first receiving surface, as the distance from the center of the intersecting surface in the first direction increases. Even if the tape abuts against the intersecting surface when the tape is arranged along the conveying direction, the cutting device can guide the tape abutting against the intersecting surface between the first receiving surface and the cutting blade by the first inclined portion of the intersecting surface.

[0011] The first inclined portion of the cutting device of the first aspect is inclined toward the third direction toward the downstream side in the conveying direction, and the first inclined portion of the cutting device can guide the tape that abuts on the intersecting surface between the first receiving surface and the cutting blade more smoothly than when the first inclined portion of the cutting device is not inclined toward the third direction toward the downstream side in the conveying direction.

[0012] The receiving table of the cutting device of the first aspect includes a third protruding portion that includes the center of the intersecting surface and extends from the upstream end of the intersecting surface in the conveying direction to the downstream end of the intersecting surface, protruding in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and the first protruding surface in the first direction is inclined in the third direction as it moves away from the center of the intersecting surface in the first direction. The third protruding portion of the cutting device suppresses the tape that is in contact with the intersecting surface from moving in the first direction, and can smoothly guide the tape between the first receiving surface and the cutting blade.

[0013] The receiving table of the cutting device of the first aspect further has a second receiving surface that is rotationally symmetrical with the first receiving surface about an axis of symmetry that passes through the center of the intersecting surface, is perpendicular to the conveying direction, and is parallel to the first receiving surface, and a second inclined portion that is rotationally symmetrical with the first inclined portion about the axis of symmetry, and the third protruding portion has a second protruding surface that is rotationally symmetrical with the first protruding surface about the axis of symmetry, and the receiving table is attached to the cutting device so as to be changeable between a first position in which the first receiving surface faces the cutting blade and a second position in which the second receiving surface faces the cutting blade. The cutting device can use the receiving table in each of the first position and the second position. The cutting device can extend the usage period of the receiving table compared to a case in which the receiving table can be used only in the first position.

[0014] A printing device of a second aspect of the present invention comprises a print head that prints on a tape, a transport section that transports the tape in a transport direction, and a cutting device that cuts the tape, the cutting device including a receiving table having a first receiving surface, a cutting blade that is movable between a cutting position where the tape transported in the transport direction along the first receiving surface is clamped between the first receiving surface of the receiving table and the cutting blade to cut the tape, and a normal position where the cutting blade is spaced apart from the first receiving surface, a support member that supports the cutting blade so as to be movable between the cutting position and the normal position, and a support member disposed downstream of the support member in the transport direction. and a path forming section disposed adjacent to the receiving table and forming a transport path for the tape, the path forming section being disposed in a first direction perpendicular to the receiving table and extending from the receiving table toward the cutting blade, the path forming section being disposed such that an intersection point between a first virtual line passing through a first end on the upstream side in the transport direction and a second end on the downstream side in the transport direction of the first receiving surface of the receiving table and a second virtual line passing through a third end of the support member in a second direction opposite to the first direction and parallel to the transport direction is located downstream of the cutting blade in the transport direction. The receiving table and the path forming section of the cutting device of the printing apparatus satisfy the condition that the intersection point between the first virtual line and the second virtual line is downstream of the cutting blade in the transport direction, and therefore contribute to making it more difficult for the tape transported in the transport direction to get between the receiving table and the path forming section, compared to a case where the intersection point is upstream of the cutting blade in the transport direction. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0015] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing device 1. [Diagram 2] FIG. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a plan view of the printing device 1 with the top cover 11 removed. [Figure 4] 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 4-4 in FIG. 1. [Diagram 5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a printing device 1. [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the printing device 1 with the bottom cover 13 removed. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 7-7 in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] 1A is a perspective view of the cutting device 2 in a state Q3 in which the cutting mechanism 50 is attached, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the cutting device 2 in a state Q4 in which the cutting mechanism 50 is detached. [Figure 9] 1A is a plan view of the cutting device 2 in a state Q3 in which the cutting mechanism 50 is attached, and FIG. 1B is a plan view of the cutting device 2 in a state Q4 in which the cutting mechanism 50 is detached. [Figure 10] 1 is a cross-sectional view of the cutting device 2 in a state Q1 in which the cutter lever 16 is in a standby position and the cutting blade 51 is in a retracted position, and a cross-sectional view of the cutting device 2 in a state Q2 in which the cutter lever 16 is in an operating position and the cutting blade 51 is in a cutting position. [Figure 11] 1 is a perspective view of the printing device 1 in a state Q5 in which the receiving tray 40 is attached, and a perspective view of the printing device 1 in a state Q6 in which the receiving tray 40 is removed. [Figure 12] FIG. [Figure 13] FIG. [Figure 14] FIG. [Figure 15] 1. FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view taken along line 15-15 in FIG. [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the printing device 1 with the lower cover 13 removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0016] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The up-down direction, the upper left direction, the lower right direction, the lower left direction, and the upper right direction in Fig. 1 respectively correspond to the up-down direction, the left direction, the right direction, the front direction, and the rear direction of the printing device 1. However, the up-down direction, the left-right direction, and the front-rear direction of the printing device 1 are defined for the sake of convenience, and the printing device 1 is not necessarily in the position shown in Fig. 1.

[0017] 1, the printing device 1 is a label printer capable of printing an image onto a tape M (see FIG. 15) pulled out from a printing cassette C (see FIG. 4) to create a label. The printing device 1 includes a display 21, an input unit 22, and a housing 10.

[0018] The display 21 is, for example, a liquid crystal display that is long in the left-right direction and is capable of displaying various types of information. The display 21 is disposed rearward of approximately the center in the front-rear direction on the top surface of the housing 10. The input unit 22 accepts input of various types of information by user operation. The input unit 22 is disposed forward of the display 21 on the top surface of the housing 10. The input unit 22 includes a number of switches including a print button, a Shift key, and an Esc key.

[0019] The housing 10 includes an upper cover 11, a middle cover 17, a lower cover 13, a lever housing 30, and a main body 12. The upper cover 11 is removably attached to the upper side of the middle cover 17. As shown in FIG. 2, the upper cover 11 is a square shape with rounded corners in a plan view. The upper cover 11 is formed with a hole 14, an insertion part 23, a pressing part 141, and a mounting frame part 142. The hole 14 is a rectangular shape that is long in the left-right direction and is formed at the rear part of the upper cover 11. The insertion part 23 is a hole formed in front of the hole 14 and through which the input part 22 is inserted. The pressing part 141 is a part that holds the display 21 in the up-down direction between the upper cover 11 and the middle cover 17. The mounting frame part 142 is a rectangular frame shape with rounded corners in a bottom view and protrudes downward from the lower surface of the upper cover 11. The display 21 is disposed inside the mounting frame 142 with the display surface 210 facing upward. The pressing portion 141 is a portion between the hole 14 and the mounting frame 142, and abuts against the upper surface of the display 21 to press the outer edge of the display 21 toward the middle cover 17, i.e., downward.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 3, the middle cover 17 is a rectangular plate provided below the upper cover 11 and above the main body 12. The middle cover 17 has an attachment section 18 and an input section 22. The attachment section 18 is made of a flexible resin, and is a section for attaching the display 21, which is disposed behind the input section 22. The attachment section 18 includes a recess 187, a contact section 189, legs 171 to 174, pressing sections 180, 185, and protrusions 201 to 204. The recess 187 is a section recessed downward in a rectangular shape in a plan view. The contact section 189 is a section formed in the center of the recess 187 in a rectangular frame shape in a plan view and protruding upward. The legs 171, 173 extend leftward in a plate shape from the center of the middle cover 17 in the left-right direction. The leg 171 is disposed behind the contact portion 189, and the leg 173 is disposed in front of the contact portion 189. A convex portion 181 protruding upward is formed at the left end of the leg 171, and a convex portion 183 protruding upward is formed at the left end of the leg 173. The legs 172 and 174 extend in a plate-like shape to the right from the center in the left-right direction of the middle cover 17. The leg 172 is disposed behind the contact portion 189, and the leg 174 is disposed in front of the contact portion 189. A convex portion 182 protruding upward is formed at the right end of the leg 172, and a convex portion 184 protruding upward is formed at the right end of the leg 174. As shown in FIG. 4, the upper end of the contact portion 189 and the upper ends of the convex portions 201 to 204 are each located lower than the upper end of the recess 187.

[0021] As shown in FIG. 3, the pressing portion 180 extends from the left part to the right of the recess 187. The right end of the pressing portion 180 is located at the center of the recess 187 in the left-right direction and protrudes forward to the inside of the recess 187. The pressing portion 185 extends forward from the rear part to the right of the recess 187. The rear end of the pressing portion 185 is located at the center of the recess 187 in the front-rear direction. The lower end of the pressing portion 185 protrudes leftward to the inside of the recess 187. The protrusions 201 and 202 protrude rearward from the front wall of the recess 187. The protrusion 201 is located to the left of the center of the recess 187 in the left-right direction, and the protrusion 202 is located to the right of the center of the recess 187 in the left-right direction. The protrusions 203 and 204 protrude rightward from the left wall of the recess 187. The protruding portion 203 is located rearward of the center of the recessed portion 187 in the front-rear direction, and the protruding portion 204 is located forward of the center of the recessed portion 187 in the front-rear direction.

[0022] When the display 21 is placed in the mounting section 18, with the upper cover 11 removed, the display 21 is placed in the recess 187 with the display surface 210 facing upward with respect to the middle cover 17. The protrusions 201, 201 each come into contact with the front surface of the display 21 and function as bosses for positioning the display 21 in the front-rear direction. The pressing section 180 comes into contact with the rear surface of the display 21 and presses the display 21 forward. The display 21 is clamped in a state in which it is positioned in the front-rear direction by the protrusions 201, 201 and the pressing section 180. The protrusions 203, 204 each come into contact with the left surface of the display 21 and function as bosses for positioning the display 21 in the left-right direction. The pressing section 185 comes into contact with the right surface of the display 21 and presses the display 21 leftward. The display 21 is clamped in a state where it is positioned in the left-right direction by the protrusions 203, 204 and the pressing portion 185. Since the display 21 is positioned by the protrusions 201 to 204, the printing device 1 does not need to use additional parts that would be required if the protrusions 201 to 204 were not provided when assembling the display 21, and the labor and parts costs can be reduced compared to when the protrusions 201 to 204 are not provided. Since the upper end of the abutting portion 189 and the upper ends of the protrusions 201 to 204 are each located lower than the upper end of the recess 187, the printing device 1 allows the display 21 to be assembled to the middle cover 17 simply by placing the display 21 in the recess 187.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 4, when the upper cover 11 is attached to the middle cover 17, the display 21 is sandwiched between the middle cover 17 and the upper cover 11 in the vertical direction. Specifically, the upper end of the abutment portion 189 and the upper ends of the protrusions 181 to 184 abut against the lower surface of the display 21. The protrusions 181 to 184 press the display 21 upward. The abutment portion 189 abuts against the lower surface of the display 21 below the display area of ​​the display 21, whereas the protrusions 181 to 184 abut against the lower surface of the display 21 near the four corners of the display area of ​​the display 21. With this configuration, the display of the display 21 is less likely to be distorted in the printing device 1 compared to the case where the protrusions 181 to 184 abut against the lower surface of the display 21 below the center of the display area of ​​the display 21. The protrusions 181 to 184 extend in the left-right direction and are formed on the ends of the flexible legs 171 to 174, which reduce the load applied to the display 21 and facilitate the absorption of shock applied to the printing device 1 due to, for example, the printing device 1 being dropped. With the above configuration, the display 21 is clamped and subjected to loads in the front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions, so that even if the printing device 1 receives a shock that changes the position of the display 21 relative to the middle cover 17, the mounting portion 18 of the middle cover 17 can absorb the shock applied.

[0024] As shown in Figs. 1 and 5, the lower cover 13 is removably attached to the main body 12 at the lower side. The lower cover 13 is square-shaped with rounded corners when viewed from the rear. The lower cover 13 has protrusions 131 to 133 and a recess 134. The protrusion 131 protrudes downward behind the recess 134 and at the right end of the lower cover 13. The protrusion 132 protrudes downward behind the recess 134 and at the left end of the lower cover 13. The protrusions 131 and 132 are triangular and protrude downward when viewed from the right side. The protrusion 133 protrudes downward at the front end of the lower surface of the lower cover 13. The protrusion 133 is long in the left-right direction. The recess 134 is an upwardly recessed portion formed in the front part of the lower cover 13. When the printing device 1 is placed on a support surface such as a desk and used, the protrusions 131 to 133 each come into contact with the support surface and support the printing device 1. When the printing device 1 is placed on a support surface such as a desk and used, the top surface of the printing device 1 is inclined downward toward the front with respect to the support surface. The lever accommodating section 30 is provided at the rear end of the left surface of the housing 10 and bulges out to the left. An opening 31 is formed at the rear of the lever accommodating section 30.

[0025] The main body 12 is box-shaped with an open bottom. As shown in Figures 6 to 8, the printing device 1 includes a cassette mounting section 24, a print head 26, a heat sink 35, a transport section 36, signs 121 and 122, a battery housing section 25, a roller holder 70, and a cutting device 2 inside the housing 10, more specifically, above the lower cover 13 inside the main body 12. The cassette mounting section 24 removably mounts a cassette C.

[0026] The cassette mounting section 24 is an upwardly recessed portion provided in the main body 12 of the housing 10, rearward of the center in the front-to-rear direction of the housing 10. A cassette C that supplies tape M is removably mounted in the cassette mounting section 24 of the printing device 1. In the cassette mounting section 24, the print head 26, the heat sink 35, the drive shaft 27 of the transport section 36, and a sign 122 are arranged.

[0027] The print head 26 has multiple heating elements whose heat generation is individually controlled. The heat sink 35 holds the print head 26. The heat sink 35 is a metal plate arranged so that its thickness direction is the left-right direction, and the print head 26 is attached to its left surface. The heat sink 35 has the function of dissipating heat from the print head 26.

[0028] The transport unit 36 ​​transports the tape M in a transport direction K. In this embodiment, the transport direction K is backward. The transport unit 36 ​​includes a drive shaft 27, a motor 271, multiple gears 272, a platen roller 74, and a platen gear 75. The drive shaft 27 is disposed to the left of the print head 26 inside the cassette mounting unit 24. The rotation axis of the drive shaft 27 extends in the vertical direction. The drive shaft 27 rotates around the rotation axis extending in the vertical direction by the power of the motor 271. The multiple gears 272 transmit the power of the motor 271 to the drive shaft 27. The drive shaft 27 is inserted into the take-up spool and the input gear of the cassette C. The drive shaft 27 inputs a drive force for rotating the take-up spool and the input gear of the cassette C to the cassette C. The platen roller 74 and the platen gear 75 will be described later.

[0029] The markers 121 and 122 are patterns showing the shape of the rear surface of the cassette C and indicate the insertion direction when the cassette C is mounted in the cassette mounting section 24. The marker 121 is disposed on the right side of the cassette mounting section 24, and the marker 122 is disposed at the right end of the cassette mounting section 24, more specifically, below the drive shaft 27 and to the right of the print head 26. The marker 121 is larger than the marker 122. The markers 121 and 122 may be stickers attached to the main body 12, or may be recesses or protrusions formed in the main body 12. The user of the printing device 1 can know the mounting position of the cassette C by the marker 122. The marker 122 disposed on the outside of the cassette mounting section 24 is covered by the cassette C during the operation of mounting the cassette C in the cassette mounting section 24, and therefore cannot be seen. Even in such a case, the user can check the insertion direction of the cassette C by the mark 121 arranged on the outside of the cassette mounting portion 24 when mounting the cassette C in the cassette mounting portion 24. The marks 121 and 122 are not shown in Figures 11 and 16.

[0030] The battery accommodating section 25 accommodates a plurality of batteries B. The battery accommodating section 25 of this embodiment accommodates six AA batteries. The battery accommodating section 25 is a recessed portion recessed forward, provided to the right of the cassette mounting section 24 and below the center in the front-rear direction of the main body section 12 of the housing 10. The battery accommodating section 25 is not continuous with the cassette mounting section 24 and is separated from the cassette mounting section 24. The battery accommodating section 25 has a battery accommodating recess 251 and a recess 252. The battery accommodating recess 251 is a recessed portion recessed forward, and accommodates six AA batteries in three rows in the left-right direction and two rows in the up-down direction, with the longitudinal direction of each battery facing the front-rear direction. The recess 252 is a portion formed from the left to the right and forward of the battery accommodating recess 251, and the left wall surface of the recess 252 is inclined upward as it approaches the right. The recess 252 functions as a finger hook for the user when inserting or removing the battery B.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 7, the upper end of the recess 252 is located above the upper end of the battery accommodating recess 251, and the right end of the recess 252 overlaps with the left end of the battery accommodating recess 251. More specifically, the right end of the recess 252 extends above a portion that accommodates the central battery B in the left-right direction among the three rows of batteries B arranged in the left-right direction. A user can insert an operating object such as a finger into the recess 252 to push down the upper end of the upper battery B accommodated in the battery accommodating recess 251, thereby removing the battery B. When the lower cover 13 is removed from the main body 12, the cassette mounting section 24 and the battery accommodating section 25 are exposed to the outside of the printing device 1. A user can replace each of the cassette C and the multiple batteries B with the lower cover 13 removed from the main body 12.

[0032] The roller holder 70 is box-shaped, extending in the front-rear direction to the left of the cassette mounting portion 24 and angled downward to the right. The roller holder 70 is supported by the support plate 60 so as to be swingable in both directions toward and away from the print head 26, about a shaft 71 that extends in the vertical direction at the front end of the roller holder 70. The roller holder 70 holds a platen roller 74, a platen gear 75, and a detection portion 76.

[0033] The platen roller 74 and the platen gear 75 constitute a part of the transport section 36. The platen roller 74 is supported at the rear end of the roller holder 70 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 77 extending in the vertical direction, and is disposed in the vicinity of the print head 26 so as to face the print head 26. The platen gear 75 is fixed to the lower end of the shaft 77 of the platen roller 74, and engages with the output gear of the cassette C. In other words, the platen gear 75 is connected to the platen roller 74 via the shaft 77, and rotates and swings together with the platen roller 74. When the cassette C is mounted in the cassette mounting section 24, the platen roller 74 receives a driving force from the drive shaft 27 via the drive transmission mechanism of the cassette C. The platen roller 74 transports the printed tape M from the inside of the cassette C to the outside of the cassette C.

[0034] The detection unit 76 has a plurality of detection switches, and detects the cassette identification information by mechanically detecting a recess formed on the left surface of the cassette C that corresponds to the type of cassette C. A spring (not shown) biases the roller holder 70 to rotate clockwise as viewed from the bottom about the shaft 71. When the lower cover 13 is closed with the cassette C attached to the printing device 1, the roller holder 70 is pressed to the right and rotates counterclockwise as viewed from the bottom against the biasing force of the spring (not shown).

[0035] The cutting device 2 cuts the tape M discharged from the discharge port of the cassette C in the thickness direction, i.e., the left-right direction. The cutting device 2 includes a cassette mounting portion 24, a support plate 60, a cutting mechanism 50, a cutter lever 16, a receiving base 40, a path forming portion 19, a first pressing member 81, and a second pressing member 82.

[0036] As shown in Figs. 8 and 9, the support plate 60 is a metal plate extending in the left-right and front-rear directions. The support plate 60 includes an insertion hole 61, a frame 62, and shafts 63 and 71. The insertion hole 61 is a hole formed at the rear end of the support plate 60 and penetrating in the up-down direction. The length of the insertion hole 61 in the front-rear direction is longer than the length of the insertion hole 61 in the left-right direction. In other words, the insertion hole 61 is a long hole that is long in the front-rear direction. The frame 62 is a plate-like portion formed to the right of the insertion hole 61 and bent downward. The frame 62 is formed with an engagement portion 64 (see Fig. 4). The engagement portion 64 is a hole penetrating in the front-rear direction. The engagement portion 64 is formed above the center of the frame 62 in the up-down direction. The shaft 63 extends downward from the lower surface of the support plate 60 to the rear left of the insertion hole 61.

[0037] The cutting mechanism 50 has a cutting blade 51, a support member 52, a shaft 55, and an insertion portion 56, and is removably attached to the support plate 60. The cutting blade 51 is a blade that is long in the vertical direction and is supported in a position in which the blade faces rightward. The cutting blade 51 is movable between a cutting position shown in state Q2 of FIG. 10, where the cutting blade 51 sandwiches and cuts the tape M transported in the transport direction K along the first receiving surface 41 of the receiving table 40 between the first receiving surface 41 of the receiving table 40 and the normal position shown in state Q1 of FIG. 10, where the cutting blade 51 is separated from the first receiving surface 41. The cutting blade 51 of this embodiment is movable in the left-right direction in response to the operation of the cutter lever 16. The support member 52 supports the cutting blade 51 so that it can move between the cutting position and the normal position. The support member 52 is a box-like shape that is long in the vertical direction and is open on the right side. When the cutting blade 51 is in the normal position, the right end of the cutting blade 51 is located to the left of the right end of the support member 52. When the cutting blade 51 is in the cutting position, the right end of the cutting blade 51 is located to the right of the right end of the support member 52.

[0038] The shaft 55 extends upward from the upper surface of the support member 52. The shaft 55 is inserted into the insertion hole 61 of the support plate 60. The insertion portion 56 is a cylindrical portion extending in the up-down direction provided at the rear of the support member 52. The shaft 63 is inserted into the insertion portion 56. When attaching the cutting mechanism 50 to the support plate 60, the user inserts the shaft 55 into the insertion hole 61 and the shaft 63 into the insertion portion 56. The insertion hole 61 is an elongated hole that is long in the front-rear direction. Therefore, even if the cutting mechanism 50 and the support plate 60 have manufacturing tolerances, the insertion hole 61 functions as a positioning hole of the cutting mechanism 50 relative to the support plate 60. The front-rear direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the insertion hole 61, is perpendicular to the left-right direction, which is the movement direction of the cutting blade 51. Therefore, the printing device 1 can suppress rattling of the cutting blade 51 caused by the insertion hole 61 during cutting, and can cut the tape M at the intended position.

[0039] The cutter lever 16 has a triangular shape protruding to the left in a plan view, and is supported by the support plate 60 so as to be rotatable about a shaft 63 between an operating position in which the cutting blade 51 is placed in a cutting position, as shown in state Q2 of FIG. 10, and a standby position in which the cutting blade 51 is placed in a normal position, as shown in state Q1 of FIG. 10. The shaft 63 extends in the vertical direction perpendicular to the support plate 60, and is inserted into a cylindrical insertion portion 162 (see FIG. 15) provided at the right rear end of the cutter lever 16. The cutter lever 16 has a protrusion 161 that protrudes to the right front from the left part of the insertion portion 162. A torsion spring 163 (see FIG. 15) is wound around the insertion portion 162 of the cutter lever 16. The cutter lever 16 is biased by the torsion spring 163 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed from the bottom. The front end of the cutter lever 16 is covered by the lever housing portion 30 and the main body portion 12. When the cutter lever 16 is in the standby position, the rear end of the cutter lever 16 is exposed to the outside of the housing 10. The rear end of the cutter lever 16 enters and leaves the housing 10 through the opening 31 of the lever housing 30 in response to the user's operation. When the cutter lever 16 is moved from the standby position shown in state Q1 of FIG. 10 to the operating position shown in state Q2 of FIG. 10 by the user's operation, the convex portion 161 rotates clockwise as viewed from the bottom about the shaft 63 and abuts against the cutting mechanism 50 from the left, moving the cutting blade 51 from the normal position to the cutting position. When the user's operation of the cutter lever 16 is finished, the cutter lever 16 moves from the cutting position to the normal position by the biasing force of the torsion spring 163, and the convex portion 161 moves away from the cutting mechanism 50. As a result, the cutting blade 51 moves from the cutting position to the normal position.

[0040] The receiving stand 40 is a box-like shape that is long in the vertical direction and opens upward. The receiving stand 40 is formed of a flexible resin. The receiving stand 40 has a first receiving surface 41, and receives the tape M transported in the transport direction K along the first receiving surface 41. The first receiving surface 41 is a rectangular surface that is long in the vertical direction. The first receiving surface 41 faces the cutting blade 51 in the left-right direction. The vertical length of the first receiving surface 41 is longer than the front-rear length of the cutting blade 51. In addition to the first receiving surface 41, the receiving stand 40 includes a first side surface 410, a second side wall 44, a first protruding portion 411, a first recessed portion 416 (see FIG. 15), a first chamfered portion 415, an intersection surface 400, a second receiving surface 42, a second side surface 420, a first side wall 43, a second protruding portion 421, a second recessed portion 426, a second chamfered portion 425, a recessed portion 48, a first extending portion 45, a second extending portion 46, and a hook 47. As shown in FIG. 11, the receiving table 40 is removably mounted on a frame 62 extending in the vertical direction behind the cassette mounting portion 24. The receiving table 40 is mounted on the cutting device 2 so as to be changeable between a first position in which the first receiving surface 41 faces the cutting blade 51, as shown in state Q7 in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6, and a second position in which the second receiving surface 42 faces the cutting blade 51, as shown in state Q8 in FIG. 4 and FIG. 6. In the following description, the configuration of the receiving table 40 will be described based on the case in which the receiving table 40 is mounted on the cutting device 2 in the first position. In the following description, the direction from the receiving table 40 toward the cutting blade 51 is also referred to as a first direction D1, and the opposite direction to the first direction D1 is also referred to as a second direction D2. In this embodiment, the first direction D1 is the left, and the second direction D2 is the right. Among the directions perpendicular to the conveying direction K and parallel to the first receiving surface 41, the direction in which the first receiving surface 41 is located relative to the intersecting plane 400 is also referred to as the third direction D3, and the opposite direction to the third direction D3 is also referred to as the fourth direction D4. In this embodiment, the third direction D3 is upward, and the fourth direction D4 is downward. The movement direction of the receiving table 40 when the receiving table 40 is attached to the frame 62 is also referred to as the attachment direction D9. In this embodiment, the attachment direction D9 is upward.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 15, the first side surface 410 is a side surface of the receiving table 40 on the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K, that is, the back surface. The first side surface 410 is a rectangular shape that is long in the vertical direction perpendicular to the conveying direction K. The second side wall 44 intersects with the first receiving surface 41 and faces the first side wall 43. The second side wall 44 is a wall portion that forms the first side surface 410 in the box-shaped receiving table 40. The first protrusion 411 protrudes from the first side surface 410 to the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K. In this embodiment, the first protrusion 411 is located between a right wall 191 and a left wall 193 of the path forming portion 19 described later in the left-right direction. The first protrusion 411 forms a rear end portion of the first receiving surface 41 of the receiving table 40. A second end 414, which is an end of the first protrusion 411 on the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K, is an end of the first receiving surface 41 on the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K. The first recess 416 is a portion of the first side surface 410 that is connected to the right end of the first protrusion 411 and recessed forward. The first recess 416 faces the protrusion 195 formed at the rear end of the right wall 191 of the path forming portion 19. Since the receiving base 40 has the first recess 416, even if the distance between the receiving base 40 and the protrusion 195 of the path forming portion 19 becomes small due to manufacturing tolerances, interference between the receiving base 40 and the path forming portion 19 can be avoided. The first chamfered portion 415 is a chamfered portion formed at the front left corner of the receiving base 40.

[0042] 12 to 15 , the intersecting surface 400 is connected to each of the first side surface 410 on the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K and the first receiving surface 41, and intersects with each of the first receiving surface 41 and the first side surface 410. The intersecting surface 400 is the lower surface of the receiving table 40. The intersecting surface 400 has a third protruding portion 430, a first inclined portion 412, and a second inclined portion 422.

[0043] The third protruding portion 430 is a portion of the intersecting surface 400 that includes a center 431 of the intersecting surface 400 and extends from an end portion of the intersecting surface 400 on the upstream side D6 in the conveying direction K to an end portion of the intersecting surface 400 on the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K, and protrudes in a fourth direction D4 opposite to the third direction D3, i.e. downward. The third protruding portion 430 has a parallelogram shape in a bottom view, with two sides that are more rightward toward the front. The third protruding portion 430 has a first protruding surface 413 and a second protruding surface 423. The first protruding surface 413 is a side surface of the third protruding portion 430 in the first direction D1, i.e., a left side surface. The first protruding surface 413 is inclined in the third direction D3 as it moves away from the center 431 of the intersecting surface 400 in the first direction D1. The second protruding surface 423 is rotationally symmetrical with the first protruding surface 413 about the symmetry axis J. The second protruding surface 423 is a side surface in the second direction D2, i.e., a right side surface, of the third protruding portion 430. The second protruding surface 423 inclines in the third direction D3 as it moves away from the center 431 of the intersecting surface 400 in the second direction D2.

[0044] The first inclined portion 412 is inclined in a third direction D3, which is a direction in which the first receiving surface 41 is located relative to the intersecting surface 400, among directions perpendicular to the conveying direction K and parallel to the first receiving surface 41, as it moves away from the center 431 of the intersecting surface 400 in the first direction D1. The second inclined portion 422 is rotationally symmetrical with the first inclined portion 412 about the symmetry axis J. The second inclined portion 422 is inclined in the third direction D3 as it moves away from the center 431 of the intersecting surface 400 in the second direction D2. As shown in FIG. 12, the angle E1 of the end of the first inclined portion 412 on the upstream side D6 in the conveying direction K with respect to a virtual plane F that passes through the end of the intersecting surface 400 in the fourth direction D4 and is parallel to the symmetry axis J is equal to the angle E2 of the end of the second inclined portion 422 on the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K with respect to the virtual plane F parallel to the symmetry axis J. The angles E1 and E2 may be set appropriately, and are preferably in the range of 5 degrees to 30 degrees.

[0045] When the cassette C is mounted in the cassette mounting section 24, the user moves the cassette C from the lower side to the upper side of the cassette mounting section 24. At this time, the tape M slightly exposed from the cassette C may come into contact with the receiving stand 40 adjacent to the cassette mounting section 24. In such a case, in the conventional printing device, the leading end of the tape M exposed from the cassette C is caught in the gap between the receiving stand and the cassette C, causing a jam. The tape M wound inside the cassette C is prone to curling, and the curled tape M is more likely to be caught in the gap between the receiving stand and the cassette C in the process of mounting the cassette C in the cassette mounting section 24 than the uncurled tape M. In contrast, the receiving stand 40 of the printing device 1 of this embodiment has a first inclined portion 412 and a second inclined portion 422 formed on the intersecting surface 400. As shown in state Q7 of FIG. 6, when the exposed leading end of the tape M abuts against the crossing surface 400 of the receiving table 40 attached in the first position, the leading end of the tape M abuts against the first inclined portion 412. As the user moves the cassette C from the lower side of the cassette mounting section 24 upward, the leading end of the tape M protruding from the cassette C is guided by the first inclined portion 412 to move toward the conveying path, and is disposed on the conveying path without being caught in the gap between the receiving table 40 and the cassette C. Similarly, as shown in state Q8 of FIG. 6, when the exposed leading end of the tape M abuts against the crossing surface 400 of the receiving table 40 attached in the second position, the leading end of the tape M abuts against the second inclined portion 422. As the user moves the cassette C from the lower side of the cassette mounting section 24 upward, the leading end of the tape M protruding from the cassette C is guided by the second inclined portion 422 to move toward the conveying path, and is disposed on the conveying path without being caught in the gap between the receiving table 40 and the cassette C.

[0046] The second receiving surface 42 is rotationally symmetrical with the first receiving surface 41 about an axis of symmetry J that passes through the center 431 of the intersecting surface 400, is perpendicular to the conveying direction K, and is parallel to the first receiving surface 41. The second receiving surface 42 is provided on the opposite side of the first receiving surface 41, and receives the cutting blade 51 that is positioned at the cutting position when the first extension 45 is disposed between the frame 62 and the second pressing member 82, that is, when the receiving table 40 is attached to the frame 62 in the second attitude. The second receiving surface 42 is a rectangular surface that is long in the vertical direction. The vertical length of the second receiving surface 42 is longer than the front-rear length of the cutting blade 51.

[0047] The second side surface 420 is a side surface of the receiving table 40 on the upstream side D6 in the conveying direction K. The second side surface 420 is a side surface opposite to the first side surface 410. The first side wall 43 is a side wall intersecting with the first receiving surface 41. The first side wall 43 is a wall portion forming the second side surface 420 of the box-shaped receiving table 40. The first side wall 43 is formed with cutout portions 455 and 456 cut downward from the upper end of the first side wall 43. The cutout portions 455 and 456 are in contact with the first extending portion 45 described later. The second protruding portion 421 is rotationally symmetrical with the first protruding portion 411. The second protruding portion 421 protrudes from the second side surface 420 to the upstream side D6 in the conveying direction K. The fourth end 424 of the receiving table 40 is an end of the second protruding portion 421 on the upstream side D6 in the conveying direction K. The second side surface 420 faces the rear wall of the cassette C mounted on the cassette mounting section 24 in the front-rear direction. When the receiving table 40 is mounted to the cutting device 2 in the second posture, the second protruding portion 421 is located between a right wall 191 and a left wall 193 of the path forming section 19 described later in the left-right direction. The second protruding portion 421 forms the rear end of the second receiving surface 42 of the receiving table 40. The second recessed portion 426 is a portion of the second side surface 420 that is connected to the left end of the second protruding portion 421 and recessed backward. When the receiving table 40 is mounted to the cutting device 2 in the second posture, the second recessed portion 426 faces the rear end of the right wall 191 of the path forming section 19. The second chamfered portion 425 is a chamfered portion formed on the rear right corner of the receiving table 40.

[0048] The recess 48 is a portion recessed downward from the upper surface of the receiving base 40. As shown in FIG. 15, the cross-sectional shape of the recess 48 is a rectangle that is elongated in the left-right direction. The recess 48 is formed with protrusions 481 to 484 that extend in the up-down direction and protrude toward the frame 62. The protrusions 481 and 482 protrude forward from the front surface of the second side wall 44. The protrusions 483 and 484 protrude backward from the rear surface of the first side wall 43. When the frame 62 is inserted into the recess 48, the protrusions 481 to 484 each come into contact with the frame 62, and position the receiving base 40 relative to the frame 62 in the front-rear direction.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 4, FIG. 12, and FIG. 13, the first extension portion 45 is connected to the first side wall 43 and extends in the mounting direction D9 of the receiving base 40 when the receiving base 40 is mounted to the frame 62. In the vertical direction, the upper end of the first extension portion 45 is located above the upper end of the first side wall 43. The center of the first extension portion 45 in the left-right direction coincides with the center of the first side wall 43 in the left-right direction. The length G1 of the first extension portion 45 in the width direction W is smaller than one-fourth of the length of the first side wall 43 in the width direction W. The upper end of the first extension portion 45 is chamfered. The first extension portion 45 is adjacent to the notches 455 and 456 in the left-right direction. The first extension portion 45 bends when a load is applied in the thickness direction, i.e., in the front-rear direction. The hook 47 is provided on the first extension portion 45 and detachably engages with the engagement portion 64. The hook 47 is a convex portion protruding rearward from the back surface of the first extension portion 45. The portion of the hook 47 that protrudes the most is located above the lower end of the first extension portion 45 and below the upper end of the first side wall 43. A first opposing surface 451 on the side of the first extension portion 45 that faces the frame 62, i.e., the back surface of the first extension portion 45, is inclined toward a second side D8 opposite to the first side D7 and away from the frame 62 in the attachment direction D9. An opposing surface 452 on the opposite side of the first opposing surface 451 extends parallel to the frame 62.

[0050] The second extension portion 46 is connected to the second side wall 44 and extends in the mounting direction D9 opposite the first extension portion 45. The center of the second extension portion 46 in the left-right direction coincides with the center of the second side wall 44 in the left-right direction. The upper end of the second extension portion 46 is chamfered. In the up-down direction, the position of the upper end of the second extension portion 46 coincides with the position of the upper end of the first extension portion 45. A second opposing surface 461 on the side of the second extension portion 46 facing the frame 62, that is, the front surface of the second extension portion 46, extends parallel to the frame 62. An opposite surface 462 on the opposite side of the second opposing surface 461 is inclined toward the second side D8 approaching the frame 62 as the mounting direction D9 progresses. A length G2 of the second extension portion 46 in the width direction W perpendicular to the mounting direction D9 and parallel to the frame 62 is longer than a length G1 of the width direction W of the first extension portion 45. The width direction W in this embodiment is the left-right direction. The length G2 is greater than twice the length G1. In the width direction W, the extending range of the first extending portion 45 in the left-right direction is within the extending range of the second extending portion 46 in the left-right direction.

[0051] As shown in state Q7 of FIG. 4, the first pressing member 81 is provided between the cassette mounting portion 24 and the frame 62. The first pressing member 81 has a shape that is inclined in a direction approaching the frame 62 as the mounting direction D9 approaches. When the hook 47 is engaged with the engagement portion 64 of the frame 62, the first pressing member 81 contacts a portion of the first extension portion 45 that is located in the mounting direction D9 from the hook 47, and presses the first extension portion 45 to a first side D7 approaching the frame 62. The first pressing member 81 of this embodiment contacts a portion of the opposite surface 452 of the first extension portion 45 that is above the hook 47. The first pressing member 81 presses the first extension portion 45 to the first side D7 and bends. As a result, the hook 47 is pressed toward the engagement portion 64, so that even if a relatively strong impact such as a drop is applied to the receiving base 40, the engagement between the hook 47 and the engagement portion 64 is likely to be maintained.

[0052] The second pressing member 82 is disposed opposite the first pressing member 81 with the frame 62 therebetween. The second pressing member 82 has a shape that is inclined in a direction approaching the frame 62 as the mounting direction D9 approaches. The portion of the second pressing member 82 that is closest to the frame 62, that is, the vertical position of the upper end of the second pressing member 82, is approximately the same as the vertical position of the upper end of the first pressing member 81. The second pressing member 82 contacts a portion of the second extending portion 46 that is located lower than the hook 47 in the mounting direction D9 when the hook 47 is engaged with the engaging portion 64 of the frame 62. The second pressing member 82 of this embodiment contacts a portion of the opposite surface 462 of the second extending portion 46 that is lower than the hook 47. The opposite surface 462 of this embodiment is inclined toward the second side D8 approaching the frame 62 as the mounting direction D9 approaches. For this reason, the second pressing member 82 hardly presses the second extending portion 46 toward the second side D8 approaching the frame 62.

[0053] As shown in state Q8 of FIG. 4, when the first extension 45 is disposed between the frame 62 and the second pressing member 82, that is, when the receiving base 40 is attached to the cutting device 2 in the second position, the second pressing member 82 comes into contact with a portion of the first extension 45 that is closer to the frame 62 than the hook 47 in the attachment direction D9, and presses the first extension 45 toward the second side D8 opposite to the first side D7, which is closer to the frame 62. As a result, the hook 47 is pressed toward the engaging portion 64, so that the engagement between the hook 47 and the engaging portion 64 is easily maintained even when the receiving base 40 is attached to the cutting device 2 in the second position or when a relatively strong impact is applied to the receiving base 40, such as when the receiving base 40 is dropped. The first distance U1 between the first pressing member 81 and the frame 62 is shorter than the second distance U2 between the second pressing member 82 and the frame 62. For this reason, the load applied from the first pressing member 81 to the first extension 45 when the receiving table 40 is attached in the first position is larger than the load applied from the second pressing member 82 to the first extension 45 when the receiving table 40 is attached in the second position. This is to maintain the engagement between the hook 47 and the engagement portion 64 regardless of the attachment position of the receiving table 40, while preventing the receiving table 40 from moving toward the cassette mounting portion 24 in the front-rear direction when the receiving table 40 is attached in the first position. When the receiving table 40 is attached to the cutting device 2 in the second position, the first pressing member 81 slightly presses the second extension 46 toward the first side D7 approaching the frame 62.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 15, the path forming portion 19 is disposed adjacent to the support member 52 on the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K with respect to the support member 52, and forms a conveying path for the tape M. The path forming portion 19 includes a discharge port 194, a right wall 191, a left wall 193, an opposing wall 196, a convex portion 195, and an inclined wall 197. The discharge port 194 is an opening formed at the rear end of the path forming portion 19. The right wall 191 and the left wall 193 form the discharge port 194. The left-right distance between the right wall 191 and the left wall 193 increases as the wall approaches the discharge port 194. The opposing wall 196 faces the first side surface 410 of the receiving table 40. The convex portion 195 is a portion formed at the front end of the right wall 191 and the left end of the opposing wall 196. The protrusion 195 protrudes leftward beyond the right wall 191 and protrudes forward beyond the opposing wall 196. The protrusion 195 faces the first recess 416 of the receiving base 40 in the front-rear direction. The inclined wall 197 extends front-left from the front end of the left wall 193. The inclined wall 197 is located rightward of the right end of the support portion 92. In the left-right direction, the protrusion 195 is located rightward of the first receiving surface 41, and the inclined wall 197 is located leftward of the first receiving surface 41.

[0055] The path forming portion 19 has an intersection P1 between a first imaginary line L1 passing through a first end 192 in a first direction D1 from the receiving table 40 toward the cutting blade 51 and on the upstream side D6 of the conveying direction K, a second end 414 of the first receiving surface 41 of the receiving table 40 on the downstream side D5 of the conveying direction K, and a second imaginary line L2 passing through a third end 53 of the support member 52 in a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1 and parallel to the conveying direction K, on ​​the downstream side D5 of the conveying direction K with respect to the cutting blade 51. The first end 192 is preferably located on the upstream side D6 of the conveying direction K and in the second direction D2 with respect to the second end 414. The first end 192 is the left front end of the convex portion 195. In this way, the extension range of the first protrusion 411 of the receiving table 40 partially overlaps with the extension range of the convex portion 195 of the path forming portion 19 in the conveying direction K. The first virtual line L1 is inclined so as to be downstream D5 in the conveying direction K as it approaches the first direction D1. The overlap amount between the extension range of the first protrusion 411 in the conveying direction K and the extension range of the convex portion 195 may be set appropriately. An intersection P2 between a third virtual line L3 that passes through the tip of the cutting blade 51 and is perpendicular to the first receiving surface 41 and the second virtual line L2 is located upstream D6 in the conveying direction K with respect to the intersection P1. The conveying path of the tape M is surrounded by the path forming portion 19.

[0056] 15 , the leading edge of the tape M abuts against the rear surface of the first protruding portion 411 after passing the first end 192, and its course is changed at the abutment portion, and the tape M is transported in the transport direction K. In this embodiment, it is not expected that the tape M that has passed the print head 26 and the platen roller 74 will curl into an arc having a smaller radius than the arc that passes through the three points of the rear left end C1, the third end 53, and the first end 192. In an arc having a smaller radius than the arc passing through the three points of the rear left end C1, the third end 53, and the first end 192, even in a case where the leading end of the tape M passes through two points, the rear left end C1 and the first end 192, the leading end of the tape M abuts against the right wall 191 of the path forming portion 19 after passing the first end 192, and its course is changed at the abutment portion to be transported in the transport direction K. For this reason, the configuration of the cutting device 2 of this embodiment makes it more difficult for the leading end of the tape M to get into the gap between the opposing wall 196 of the path forming portion 19 of the tape M and the receiving table 40 than in the conventional case.

[0057] A method of printing on the tape M using the printer 1 will be described. The user opens the bottom cover 13 from the main body 12, mounts the cassette C in the cassette mounting section 24 of the printer 1, and stores multiple batteries B in the battery housing section 25. The user closes the bottom cover 13 from the main body 12. The platen roller 74 is disposed in a position close to the print head 26 and presses the tape M and the ink ribbon against the print head 26. The control section of the printer 1 drives the print head 26 and the motor 271 according to the print data. The print head 26 prints an image on the tape M by heating the ink ribbon according to the print data. The drive shaft 27 is rotated by the drive of the motor 271, and rotates the platen roller 74. The platen roller 74 rotates to transport the tape M in the transport direction K, that is, backward. The control section drives the cutting device 2. The tape M is cut by the cutting device 2 and discharged to the outside of the main body portion 12 through the discharge opening 194.

[0058] In the above embodiment, the printing device 1, the cutting device 2, the path forming unit 19, the conveying unit 36, the receiving table 40, the first receiving surface 41, the cutting blade 51, the support member 52, the third end 53, and the first end 192 are examples of the printing device, the cutting device, the path forming unit, the conveying unit, the receiving table, the first receiving surface, the cutting blade, the support member, the third end, and the first end of the present invention. The intersecting surface 400, the first side surface 410, the first protruding portion 411, the first inclined portion 412, the first protruding surface 413, and the second end 414 are examples of the intersecting surface, the first side surface, the first protruding portion, the first inclined portion, the first protruding surface, and the second end. The second receiving surface 42, the second protruding portion 421, the second inclined portion 422, the second protruding surface 423, the third protruding portion 430, and the center 431 are examples of the second receiving surface, the second protruding portion, the second inclined portion, the second protruding surface, the third protruding portion, and the center of the present invention. The first direction D1, the second direction D2, the third direction D3, the fourth direction D4, the axis of symmetry J, the conveying direction K, the first virtual line L1, the second virtual line L2, the tape M, and the intersection P1 are each an example of the first direction, the second direction, the third direction, the fourth direction, the axis of symmetry, the conveying direction, the first virtual line, the second virtual line, the tape, and the intersection of the present invention.

[0059] The printing device 1 of the above embodiment includes a print head that prints on the tape M, a transport unit 36 ​​that transports the tape M in the transport direction K, and a cutting device 2 that cuts the tape M. The cutting device 2 includes a receiving table 40, a cutting blade 51, a support member 52, and a path forming unit 19. The receiving table 40 has a first receiving surface 41. The cutting blade 51 is movable between a cutting position where the cutting blade 51 sandwiches and cuts the tape M transported in the transport direction K along the first receiving surface 41 between the receiving table 40 and the first receiving surface 41, and a normal position where the cutting blade 51 is spaced apart from the first receiving surface 41. The support member 52 supports the cutting blade 51 so that it can move between the cutting position and the normal position. The path forming unit 19 is disposed adjacent to the support member 52 on the downstream side D5 of the support member 52 in the transport direction K, and forms a transport path for the tape M. The path forming section 19 has a first direction D1 perpendicular to the receiving table 40, which is from the receiving table 40 toward the cutting blade 51, and an intersection P1 between a first virtual line L1 passing through a first end 192 on the upstream side D6 of the conveying direction K and a second end 414 on the downstream side D5 of the conveying direction K of the first receiving surface 41 of the receiving table 40, and a second virtual line L2 passing through a third end 53 of the support member 52 in a second direction D2 opposite to the first direction D1 and parallel to the conveying direction K, which is located on the downstream side D5 of the conveying direction K relative to the cutting blade 51. The receiving table 40 and the path forming section 19 of the cutting device 2 of the printing apparatus 1 satisfy the condition that the intersection P1 between the first virtual line L1 and the second virtual line L2 is on the downstream side D5 of the conveying direction K relative to the cutting blade 51, which contributes to making it less likely that the tape M being transported in the conveying direction K will get between the receiving table 40 and the path forming section 19 compared to when the intersection P1 is on the upstream side D6 of the conveying direction K relative to the cutting blade 51.

[0060] The receiving table 40 has a first side surface 410 on the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K and a first protrusion 411 protruding from the first side surface 410 to the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K, and the second end 414 is an end of the first protrusion 411 on the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K. The tape M conveyed in the conveying direction K is prevented from moving toward between the receiving table 40 and the path forming portion 19 by the first protrusion 411, so the first protrusion 411 of the cutting device 2 contributes to making it more difficult for the tape M conveyed in the conveying direction K to get between the receiving table 40 and the path forming portion 19 compared to a case where the first protrusion 411 is not provided.

[0061] The first end 192 is located on the upstream side D6 in the conveying direction K and in the second direction D2 with respect to the second end 414. In the cutting device 2, in order for the tape M conveyed in the conveying direction K to get between the receiving table 40 and the path forming portion 19, the tape M must be bent by 90 degrees or more in the second direction D2 near the first end 192. Therefore, the cutting device 2 contributes to making it difficult for the tape M conveyed in the conveying direction K to get between the receiving table 40 and the path forming portion 19.

[0062] The receiving table 40 has an intersecting surface 400, a second receiving surface 42, and a second protruding portion 421. The intersecting surface 400 is connected to each of the first side surface 410 on the downstream side D5 of the conveying direction K and the first receiving surface 41, and intersects each of the first receiving surface 41 and the first side surface 410. The second receiving surface 42 is rotationally symmetrical with the first receiving surface 41 about a symmetry axis J that passes through a center 431 of the intersecting surface 400, is perpendicular to the conveying direction K, and is parallel to the first receiving surface 41. The second protruding portion 421 is rotationally symmetrical with the first protruding portion 411. The receiving table 40 is attached to the cutting device 2 so as to be changeable between a first position in which the first receiving surface 41 faces the cutting blade 51 and a second position in which the second receiving surface 42 faces the cutting blade 51. The cutting device 2 can use the receiving table 40 in each of the first position and the second position. The cutting device 2 can extend the period of use of the receiving stand 40 compared to a case in which the receiving stand 40 can be used only in the first position.

[0063] The receiving table 40 is connected to each of the first side surface 410 on the downstream side D5 of the conveying direction K and the first receiving surface 41, and includes an intersecting surface 400 that intersects with each of the first receiving surface 41 and the first side surface 410. The intersecting surface 400 has a first inclined portion 412 that inclines toward a third direction D3, which is a direction in which the first receiving surface 41 is located relative to the intersecting surface 400, among directions perpendicular to the conveying direction K and parallel to the first receiving surface 41, as it moves away from the center 431 of the intersecting surface 400 in the first direction D1. Even if the tape M abuts against the intersecting surface 400 when, for example, the tape M is arranged along the conveying direction K, the cutting device 2 can guide the tape M abutting against the intersecting surface 400 between the first receiving surface 41 and the cutting blade 51 by the first inclined portion 412 of the intersecting surface 400.

[0064] The first inclined portion 412 is inclined in the third direction D3 toward the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K. The first inclined portion 412 of the cutting device 2 can guide the tape M in contact with the intersecting surface 400 more smoothly between the first receiving surface 41 and the cutting blade 51, compared to a case in which the first inclined portion 412 is not inclined in the third direction D3 toward the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K.

[0065] The receiving table 40 includes a third protruding portion 430 that includes a center 431 of the intersecting surface 400, extends from an end portion on the upstream side D6 in the conveying direction K of the intersecting surface 400 to an end portion on the downstream side, and protrudes in a fourth direction D4 opposite to the third direction D3. The third protruding portion 430 is inclined in the third direction D3 as the first protruding surface 413 in the first direction D1 moves away from the center 431 of the intersecting surface 400 in the first direction D1. The third protruding portion 430 of the cutting device 2 prevents the tape M in contact with the intersecting surface 400 from moving in the first direction D1, and can be smoothly guided between the first receiving surface 41 and the cutting blade 51.

[0066] The receiving table 40 has a second receiving surface 42 and a second inclined portion 422. The second receiving surface 42 is rotationally symmetrical with the first receiving surface 41 about a symmetry axis J that passes through a center 431 of the intersecting surface 400, is perpendicular to the conveying direction K, and is parallel to the first receiving surface 41. The second inclined portion 422 is rotationally symmetrical with the first inclined portion 412 about the symmetry axis J. The third protruding portion 430 has a second protruding surface 423 that is rotationally symmetrical with the first protruding surface 413 about the symmetry axis J. The receiving table 40 is attached to the cutting device 2 so as to be changeable between a first position in which the first receiving surface 41 faces the cutting blade 51 and a second position in which the second receiving surface 42 faces the cutting blade 51. The cutting device 2 can use the receiving table 40 in each of the first position and the second position. The cutting device 2 can extend the use period of the receiving table 40 compared to a case in which the receiving table 40 can be used only in the first position.

[0067] The cutting device and the printing device of the present invention are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, the following modifications may be made as appropriate.

[0068] The configurations of the cutting device 2 and the printing device 1 may be changed as appropriate. The cutting device 2 does not have to be provided in the printing device 1. The type of the printing device 1 may be changed as appropriate, for example, it may be an inkjet printer having an inkjet head as the print head 26. The type of cassette C that can be attached to the printing device 1 and the type and configuration of the tape M that can be accommodated therein may be changed as appropriate. The printing device 1 may be a device that can print on a tape M that is not accommodated in a cassette C. The printing device 1 may be a portable mobile printer.

[0069] The configuration of the receiving table 40 may be changed as appropriate. For example, the cross surface 400, the first side surface 410, the first protruding portion 411, the first inclined portion 412, the first protruding surface 413, the second receiving surface 42, the second protruding portion 421, the second inclined portion 422, the second protruding surface 423, and the third protruding portion 430 of the receiving table 40 may each be changed as appropriate or may be omitted as appropriate. The receiving table 40 may not have the second receiving surface 42 and may be attached to the frame 62 only in the first position. The receiving table 40 may be a quadrangular prism in which the second end 414 is not chamfered. The first protruding portion 411 may not form the first receiving surface 41, and may protrude toward the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K at a position of the first side surface 410 that is in the first direction D1 from the convex portion 195.

[0070] The first end 192 may be located at the same position as the second end 414 in the conveying direction K, or may be located on the downstream side D5 in the conveying direction K with respect to the second end 414. The second receiving surface 42 may not be rotationally symmetric with the first receiving surface 41 about the symmetry axis J, and the second protruding portion 421 may not be rotationally symmetric with the first protruding portion 411. The second inclined portion 422 may not be rotationally symmetric with the first inclined portion 412 about the symmetry axis J. At least one of the first inclined portion 412 and the second inclined portion 422 of the crossing surface 400 may be a curved surface. The angle E1 and the angle E2 may be different from each other. The first inclined portion 412 may have the same inclination amount in the third direction D3 on the downstream side D5 and the upstream side D6 of the conveying direction K, or may be inclined in the third direction D3 toward the upstream side D6 of the conveying direction K. The third protrusion 430 may not include the center 431 of the crossing surface 400, or may extend only a part of the crossing surface 400 from the end of the upstream side D6 of the conveying direction K to the end of the downstream side D5. The shape of the third protrusion 430 in a bottom view may be appropriately changed to a rectangular shape, a trapezoidal shape, an elliptical shape, or the like.

[0071] The above-mentioned modified examples may be combined as appropriate within a range that does not cause any contradictions. In addition to the combinations exemplified in the claims, the applicant intends to obtain patent rights for aspects that are combined with each other within a range that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention and does not cause any contradictions. [Explanation of symbols]

[0072] 1: printing device, 2: cutting device, 19: path forming section, 36: conveying section, 40: receiving table, 41: first receiving surface, 42: second receiving surface, 51: cutting blade, 52: support member, 53: third end, 192: first end, 400: intersection surface, 410: first side, 411: first protruding portion, 412: first inclined portion, 413: first protruding surface, 414: second end, 421: second protruding portion, 422: second inclined portion, 423: second protruding surface, 430: third protruding portion, 431: center, D1: first direction, D2: second direction, D3: third direction, D4: fourth direction, J: axis of symmetry, K: conveying direction, L1: first virtual line, L2: second virtual line, M: tape, P1: intersection point

Claims

1. A support having a first support surface; a cutting blade movable between a cutting position where the tape conveyed in a conveying direction along the first receiving surface is sandwiched between the first receiving surface of the receiving table and the cutting blade, and a normal position where the cutting blade is spaced apart from the first receiving surface; a support member for supporting the cutting blade so as to be movable between the cutting position and the normal position; a path forming section disposed adjacent to the support member on a downstream side of the support member in the transport direction and forming a transport path for the tape, the path forming portion has an intersection between a first imaginary line, which is a direction perpendicular to the receiving table and extends from the receiving table toward the cutting blade, and which passes through a first end on the upstream side of the conveying direction and a second end of the first receiving surface of the receiving table on the downstream side in the conveying direction, and a second imaginary line, which passes through a third end of the support member in a second direction opposite to the first direction and is parallel to the conveying direction, and is located on the downstream side of the conveying direction with respect to the cutting blade; A cutting device comprising:

2. The support base is A first side surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction; a first protruding portion protruding from the first side surface to the downstream side in the conveying direction; 2. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the second end is an end of the first protruding portion on the downstream side in the conveyance direction.

3. The cutting device according to claim 2 , wherein the first end is located on the upstream side in the conveying direction and in the second direction with respect to the second end.

4. The support base is an intersecting surface that is connected to each of the first side surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction and the first receiving surface and intersects each of the first receiving surface and the first side surface; a second receiving surface that is rotationally symmetrical with the first receiving surface with respect to a symmetry axis that passes through a center of the intersecting surface, is perpendicular to the conveying direction, and is parallel to the first receiving surface; and a second protruding portion that is rotationally symmetrical with the first protruding portion. Further comprising: The cutting device according to claim 2, wherein the cutting device is attached to the cutting blade so as to be changeable between a first position in which the first receiving surface faces the cutting blade and a second position in which the second receiving surface faces the cutting blade.

5. The support base is 2. The cutting device according to claim 1, further comprising an intersecting surface that is connected to each of the first side surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction and the first receiving surface, and intersects with each of the first receiving surfaces and the first side surface, the intersecting surface having a first inclined portion that, as it moves away from a center of the intersecting surface in the first direction, is inclined in a third direction, which is a direction in which the first receiving surface is located relative to the intersecting surface, among directions perpendicular to the conveying direction and parallel to the first receiving surface.

6. The cutting device according to claim 5 , wherein the first inclined portion is inclined toward the third direction toward the downstream side in the conveying direction.

7. The support base is The cutting device described in claim 6, characterized in that the intersecting surface includes a third protrusion that extends from the upstream end of the intersecting surface in the conveying direction to the downstream end, and protrudes in a fourth direction opposite to the third direction, and the first protrusion surface in the first direction is inclined in the third direction as it moves away from the center of the intersecting surface in the first direction.

8. The support base is a second receiving surface that is rotationally symmetrical to the first receiving surface with respect to a symmetry axis that passes through the center of the intersecting surface, is perpendicular to the conveying direction, and is parallel to the first receiving surface; a second inclined portion that is rotationally symmetric with the first inclined portion about the axis of symmetry; Further comprising: the third protruding portion has a second protruding surface that is rotationally symmetric with the first protruding surface about the axis of symmetry; The cutting device according to claim 7, wherein the receiving table is attached to the cutting device so as to be changeable between a first position in which the first receiving surface faces the cutting blade and a second position in which the second receiving surface faces the cutting blade.

9. A print head for printing on the tape; a conveying unit that conveys the tape in a conveying direction; A cutting device for cutting the tape, A support having a first support surface; a cutting blade movable between a cutting position where the tape transported in the transport direction along the first receiving surface is sandwiched between the first receiving surface of the receiving table and the cutting blade, and a normal position where the cutting blade is spaced apart from the first receiving surface; a support member for supporting the cutting blade so as to be movable between the cutting position and the normal position; a path forming section disposed adjacent to the support member on a downstream side of the support member in the transport direction and forming a transport path for the tape, the path forming portion has an intersection between a first imaginary line, which is a direction perpendicular to the receiving table and extends from the receiving table toward the cutting blade, and which passes through a first end on the upstream side in the conveying direction and a second end of the first receiving surface of the receiving table on the downstream side in the conveying direction, and a second imaginary line, which passes through a third end of the support member in a second direction opposite to the first direction and is parallel to the conveying direction, and is located on the downstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the cutting blade; The cutting device having A printing device comprising:

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