Transport device and recording device

Abstract

To provide an art which enables stabilization of transport of a sheet.SOLUTION: A transport device 100 includes: a transport unit 300 which transports a sheet 1 drawn from a roll sheet R held by a holding unit 200; a rewind unit 600 which rewinds the sheet 1 at the downstream of the transport unit 300; and a cutting unit 20 which cuts the sheet 1 between the transport unit 300 and the rewind unit 600. The transport device 100 further includes a contact part 73 which contacts with the sheet 1 between the cutting unit 20 and the rewind unit 600. The contact part 73 and the cutting unit 20 are configured to be movable integrally to a first position where these components move close to the roll sheet R held by the holding unit 200 and a second position where these components separate from the roll sheet R.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a conveying device for conveying a sheet as a recording medium and a recording device for performing recording on the sheet.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a recording medium, a long sheet is accommodated in the form of a roll sheet wound, for example, in a roll shape, and a recording device (printer) that performs recording such as an image on a sheet portion drawn out from a roll portion in the roll sheet is known. Such a recording device conveys the sheet portion drawn out from the roll-shaped portion to the recording portion, and performs recording by discharging a recording liquid represented by ink onto the sheet portion in the recording portion. Depending on the type of ink, a fixing process for fixing the ink discharged onto the sheet to the sheet may be required, and there is also a recording device provided with a fixing device for drying the ink by wind or heat downstream of the recording portion. Furthermore, a recording device provided with a cutting device for cutting the sheet after recording at a predetermined position is also known (Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] Here, the recording device described in Patent Document 1 has a configuration in which a winding unit for winding the sheet after recording is disposed downstream of the cutting unit. The sheet is conveyed in a state where a predetermined tension is applied, but depending on the configuration of the conveyance path, there is a concern that the conveyance state of the sheet changes due to an increase in the amount of sheet wound by the winding unit, and the cutting of the sheet becomes unstable.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a technology that enables stabilization of sheet conveyance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To achieve the above object, a conveyance device of the present invention includes: a holding unit that holds a roll sheet; a conveyance unit that conveys a sheet pulled out from the roll sheet held by the holding unit; a winding unit that winds up the sheet downstream of the conveyance unit in the sheet conveyance path; a cutting unit that cuts the sheet between the conveyance unit and the winding unit in the conveyance path; in the conveyance device including: a contact portion that contacts the sheet is provided between the cutting unit and the winding unit in the conveyance path, the contact portion and the cutting unit are integrally configured to be movable to a first position approaching the roll sheet held by the holding unit and a second position away from the roll sheet held by the holding unit. To achieve the above object, a recording device of the present invention includes: the conveyance device of the present invention; a recording unit that performs recording on the sheet between the holding unit and the guide unit in the conveyance path; and is characterized by including:

Effects of the Invention

[0007] According to the present invention, it is possible to stabilize the conveyance of the sheet.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

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Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, with reference to the drawings, embodiments for carrying out the present invention will be exemplarily and specifically described based on examples. However, dimensions, materials, shapes, relative arrangements, etc. of the components described in this embodiment should be appropriately changed according to the configuration of the apparatus to which the invention is applied and various conditions. That is, the scope of the present invention is not intended to be limited to the following embodiments.

[0010] (First Embodiment) FIGS. 1(a) and 1(b) are schematic perspective views of a recording apparatus 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 1(a) is a schematic perspective view of the recording apparatus 100 with the sheet discharge unit 500 and the fixing heater 90 closed. FIG. 1(b) shows a schematic perspective view of the recording apparatus 100 with the sheet discharge unit 500 and the fixing heater 90 open when setting the roll sheet R.

[0011] The recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is a printer that uses a sheet wound in a roll as a recording medium (recording material) and pulls out the sheet from the roll part to perform recording. Further, as an example of the recording method, the recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is a recording apparatus (so-called inkjet printer) that forms (records) a desired recording image (characters, pictures, etc.) on the recording medium by a liquid discharge method of discharging ink as a recording liquid onto the recording medium.

[0012] In addition, the recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is configured to enable full-front operation. That is, on a specific side (front side) of the recording apparatus 100 facing the user, an operation panel 28 is arranged so that various operations of the recording apparatus 100 and maintenance work such as replenishment of the roll sheet R can be performed. On a specific side (front side) of the recording apparatus 100 facing the user, an operation panel 28 is arranged so that various operations of the recording apparatus 100 and maintenance work such as replenishment of the roll sheet R can be performed.

[0013] Here, the direction in which the rotation axis of the spool member 2 (see FIGS. 2(a), 2(b), etc.) that holds the roll sheet R extends is defined as the X direction, the horizontal direction orthogonal to the X direction is defined as the Y direction, and the vertical direction (direction of gravity) orthogonal to the X direction and the Y direction is defined as the Z direction. One side in the Y direction is the front side of the recording apparatus 100, and the other side is the back side of the recording apparatus 100. Note that the definition of this coordinate system is based on the premise that the recording apparatus 100 is set on a horizontal plane in its normally assumed installation state.

[0014] The supply device 200 can selectively set, as the roll sheet R, an outer-wound roll sheet R1 and an inner-wound roll sheet R2. The outer-wound roll sheet R1 is a roll sheet R wound such that the outer peripheral side (outer side) surface of the roll portion is the print surface P (surface to be recorded). The inner-wound roll sheet R2 is a roll sheet R wound such that the inner peripheral side (inner side) surface of the roll portion is the print surface P. An image is printed on the sheet 1, which is a sheet portion selectively drawn out from the roll portion in the roll sheet R. The user can input various commands to the recording apparatus 100, such as specifying the size of the sheet 1 and switching between online / offline, by using various switches provided on the operation panel 28.

[0015] Although details will be described later, the recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment is configured such that the sheet discharge unit 500 (see FIGS. 2(a), 2(b), etc.) is movable between a shielding position (FIG. 1(a)) that covers the roll sheet R and a release position (FIG. 1(b)) that exposes the roll sheet R. The former shielding position is the position (first position) taken by the sheet discharge unit 500 when the recording apparatus 100 performs a recording operation, and is a position where the sheet discharge unit 500 approaches the roll sheet R. The latter release position is a position where the sheet discharge unit 500 is separated from the roll sheet R. The release position is the position (second position) that the sheet discharge unit 500 can take during a non-recording operation in which the recording apparatus 100 does not perform a recording operation, and is the position taken by the sheet discharge unit 500 during maintenance such as replenishment of the roll sheet R and sheet jam processing.

[0016] Similarly, although details will be described later, in the recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the fixing heater 90 (see FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) etc.) is configured to be movable between a fixing position (FIG. 1(a)) that covers the sheet discharge unit 500 and a retracted position (FIG. 1(b)). The former fixing position is a position where the fixing heater 90 faces the sheet discharge unit 500. The fixing position is the position (third position) that the fixing heater 90 as a fixing unit takes with respect to the sheet discharge unit 500 when the recording apparatus 100 performs a recording operation, and is a position where a fixing process is performed on the portion of the sheet 1 that is conveyed through the sheet discharge unit 500. The latter retracted position is the position (fourth position) that the fixing heater 90 can take during a non-recording operation of the recording apparatus 100, and is a position where the fixing heater 90 is separated from the sheet discharge unit 500 to enable the sheet discharge unit 500 to take the above-described released position.

[0017] FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b) are schematic cross-sectional views of the main part of the recording apparatus 100. FIG. 2(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state during sheet conveyance when the outer wound roll sheet R1 is set. FIG. 2(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the state during sheet conveyance when the inner wound roll sheet R2 is set.

[0018] As shown in FIGS. 2(a) and 2(b), the recording apparatus 100 includes a supply device 200, a sheet conveyance unit 300, a recording unit 400, a sheet discharge unit 500, and a winding unit 600. In the recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment, the components mainly related to sheet conveyance correspond to the conveyance device of the present invention.

[0019] The supply device 200 holds the roll sheet R as a holding part, and supplies the sheet 1, which is a sheet part drawn from the roll part in the roll sheet R, to the conveyance path. The sheet conveyance part 300 forms a conveyance path of the sheet 1 from the supply device 200 to the recording part 400, and provides a conveyance force for moving the sheet 1 along the conveyance path by conveyance rollers arranged on the conveyance path. The recording part 400 performs recording on the sheet 1 by discharging ink onto the recording surface of the sheet 1 in the part of the sheet 1 conveyed by the sheet conveyance part 300. The sheet discharge part 500 is a guide part that guides the part (recorded part) of the sheet 1 where recording by the recording part 400 is performed along the conveyance path. The winding part 600 winds up the part of the sheet 1 guided by the sheet discharge part 500.

[0020] The sheet discharge part 500 is provided with a fixing heater 90. The fixing heater 90 is configured as a heating type fixing part to perform a fixing process of drying the ink by applying hot air to the part of the sheet 1 passing through the sheet discharge part 500 and heating it. Note that as the fixing part, a configuration may be adopted in which ink having a property of curing in response to UV light (ultraviolet rays) as a recording liquid is used, and the ink is cured by irradiating UV light to perform fixing.

[0021] A cutting device 20 as a cutting part is arranged between the sheet discharge part 500 and the winding part 600 in the conveyance path of the sheet 1. The cutting device 20 separates a predetermined length region including the part (recorded part) of the sheet 1 wound by the winding part 600 from the remaining part connected to the roll part in the sheet 1, and makes it recoverable as an output of the recording device 100.

[0022] The configuration for recovering the recorded sheet 1 is not limited to the configuration of winding the sheet 1 as in the present embodiment. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which a basket or the like receives and holds the sheet 1 separated and dropped by the cutting device 20.

[0023] Each part such as the sheet conveyance unit 300, the recording unit 400, the sheet discharge unit 500, and the winding unit 600 is arranged so as to surround the periphery of the supply device 200. That is, the conveyance path of the sheet 1, which is the sheet part drawn out from the roll part in the roll sheet R, is a path that sequentially passes through each part such as the sheet conveyance unit 300, the recording unit 400, the sheet discharge unit 500, and the winding unit 600 so as to go around the periphery of the supply device 200.

[0024] Hereinafter, the details of each part of the recording apparatus 100 will be described.

[0025] FIG. 2(a) shows the state during sheet conveyance when the outer wound roll sheet R1 is set. In the supply device 200 provided below the recording apparatus 100 in the vertical direction, two sheet supply parts 60a and 60b corresponding to the respective roll sheets R1 and R2 are provided. Below the outer wound roll sheet R1 in the vertical direction, a swing member 7 including two rollers and an outer winding arm member 4 are integrally formed, and are configured to be rotatable about the outer winding arm rotation axis 5. The outer winding arm spring member 3 is arranged so as to press the outer winding arm member 4 and the swing member 7 integrally in the direction toward the center of the roll paper, and the two rollers of the swing member 7 are always pressed against the roll sheet R1. With the integral structure of the outer winding arm member 4 and the swing member 7 pressed against the roll sheet R1, the set roll sheet R1 is rotated in the C1 direction by roll sheet driving not shown in the figure. As a result, a frictional force is generated between the roller of the swing member 7 and the roll sheet R1, and the sheet 1 drawn out from the roll sheet R1 can be conveyed to the conveyance roller 14 through the conveyance path formed by the outer winding conveyance guide 12 of the sheet conveyance unit 300. An outer wound sheet detection sensor 6 is provided on the outer wound conveyance guide 12.

[0026] The outer wound separation flapper 10 is on the paper feed port of the roll sheet R1 and the outer wound sheet supply part 60 It is configured between parts and is always pressed against the roll sheet R1 by its own weight. Due to the action of the outer winding separation flapper 10, when the roll sheet R1 rotates, the leading end of the sheet 1 is separated from the roll part of the roll sheet R1, and it is possible to easily feed the sheet to the paper feed port of the outer winding sheet supply unit 60a.

[0027] Figure 2(b) shows the state during sheet conveyance when the inner winding roll sheet R2 is set.

[0028] Unlike the outer winding roll sheet R1, the inner winding roll sheet R2 is configured such that it cannot automatically convey the leading end of the sheet 1 to the conveying roller 14 in the conveying path of the sheet conveying unit 300. Therefore, the user needs to manually convey the leading end of the sheet 1.

[0029] The user separates the leading end of the sheet 1 from the roll part of the roll sheet R2 and places it on the inner winding manual supply guide 69. Then, by manually sending the sheet 1 downstream in the conveying direction on the inner winding manual supply guide 69, the leading end of the sheet 1 pulled out from the roll sheet R2 reaches the conveying roller 14 through the conveying path of the sheet conveying unit 300. An inner winding sheet detection sensor 67 is provided in the conveying path of the sheet 1 pulled out from the inner winding roll sheet R2.

[0030] When the sheet 1 pulled out from the outer winding roll sheet R1 and the inner winding roll sheet R2 is detected as paper ON by the second sheet sensor 16, the conveying roller 14 starts to rotate in the feeding direction, and it is possible to draw it into the downstream side of the sheet conveying unit 300. Then, the sheet 1 is conveyed to the recording unit 400.

[0031] The recording unit 400 includes an inkjet print head 18 (hereinafter referred to as the recording head 18), and can print (record) an image on the sheet 1 by discharging ink as a recording liquid from the recording head 18. The recording head 18 includes a discharge energy generating element such as an electrothermal conversion element (heater) or a piezo element. The recording head 18 is configured to be able to discharge ink from the discharge port using the energy generated by the discharge energy generating element. When an electrothermal conversion element is used, the ink is foamed by its heat generation, and the ink can be discharged from the discharge port using the foaming energy.

[0032] The recording head 18 is not limited to only the inkjet method, and the printing method of the recording unit 400 is also not limited. For example, it may be a serial scan method or a full line method. In the case of the serial scan method, an image is printed while accompanying the conveyance operation of the sheet 1 and the scanning of the recording head 18 in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the sheet 1. In the case of the full line method, a long recording head 18 extending in a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the sheet 1 is used, and an image is printed while continuously conveying the sheet 1.

[0033] The fixing heater 90 provided above the sheet discharge unit 500 can apply warm air to the sheet 1 drawn out from the recording unit 400 and supported by the paper discharge guide 71, and fix the discharged ink to the sheet 1 as a recording medium. Fixing heater landing members 91 are attached to four corners of the surface from which the warm air of the fixing heater 90 emerges, and are configured to land on the paper passing surface of the paper discharge guide 71. Thereby, a gap is formed between the surface from which the warm air of the fixing heater 90 emerges and the sheet conveyance surface of the paper discharge guide 71. The fixing heater 90 is attached to the apparatus main body of the recording apparatus 100 via a link mechanism, and is configured to be able to retract to the upper part of the apparatus main body of the recording apparatus 100.

[0034] Here, the fixing heater 90 is a component having a function of drying and fixing the ink discharged onto the sheet 1 to the sheet 1 by heat or air. Therefore, for example, in a recording apparatus that uses an ink such as aqueous ink as a recording liquid and has a fast fixing property after discharge, the fixing heater 90 may not be provided.

[0035] The paper discharge guide 71 provided in the sheet discharge unit 500 is a guide member that forms a conveyance surface of the sheet 1 drawn out from the recording unit 400, and supports the back surface (non-recording surface) of the sheet 1 while guiding the discharge of the sheet 1 to the outside of the recording apparatus 100. The paper discharge guide 71 is configured to integrally include a cutting device 20 and a downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide on the downstream side in the sheet conveyance path, and can cut the roll sheet R for which fixing has been completed.

[0036] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view when the sheet discharge unit 500 has moved so that the roll sheet R (feeding device 200) is exposed outside the recording apparatus 100. The sheet discharge unit 500 is configured to be rotatable about a paper discharge guide rotation shaft 72. The fixing heater 90 is configured to be movable up and down by a link mechanism with respect to the apparatus main body, and can be retracted to the outside of the movable regions of the sheet discharge unit 500 and the cutting device 20.

[0037] Here, in the case of a configuration in which the sheet discharge unit 500 is fixed to the apparatus main body, access to the roll sheet R can be considered, for example, by providing a space below the sheet discharge unit 500 or by configuring it to be accessible from the back side of the apparatus on the opposite side of the sheet discharge unit 500. In the former case, it is necessary to arrange the roll sheet (paper feed roll) and the recorded sheet (take-up roll) so that they can be individually accessed below the sheet discharge unit 500, and the apparatus size may increase particularly in the height direction. In the latter case, the replenishment operation of the roll sheet (paper feed roll) and the recovery of the recorded sheet (take-up roll) are performed on different sides with respect to the apparatus main body, and there is a concern about a decrease in the operability of the apparatus.

[0038] The recording apparatus 100 of the present embodiment is a printer in which the supply device 200 and the winding unit 600 can be accessed from the front side of the recording apparatus 100 (i.e., front operation is possible) by the above-described retraction operations of the sheet discharge unit 500 and the cutting device 20. That is, by rotating and retracting the sheet discharge unit 500, it becomes possible to secure a space for the operation of setting the paper feed roll sheet R below the sheet discharge unit 500 in the retracted position (the position where the sheet discharge unit 500 originally was). Therefore, it becomes possible to adopt a layout in which the supply device 200 and the sheet discharge unit 500 are arranged at substantially the same height, and the main body size of the recording apparatus 100 can be reduced. Furthermore, the configuration is such that the replenishment operation of the roll sheet (paper feed roll) and the collection of the recorded sheet (winding roll) can be performed on the same side with respect to the apparatus main body, and the operability of the apparatus can be improved.

[0039] Here, in the present embodiment, as the configuration of the drive mechanism for retracting the sheet discharge unit 500, the configuration of rotating about the center of the paper discharge guide rotation shaft 72 has been described, but it may be a configuration that moves up and down in a linear movement path by a link mechanism or the like, not limited to rotation.

[0040] With reference to FIGS. 5, 6(a), and 6(b), the detailed configuration around the sheet discharge unit 500 and the cutting device 20 will be described. FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of the sheet discharge unit 500. FIG. 6(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view of the sheet discharge unit 500 (cross-sectional view taken along line P in FIG. 5). FIG. 6(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view for explaining the configuration of the fixed portion of the paper discharge guide 71 and the fixed member 74.

[0041] The sheet discharge unit 500 has a role of supporting the back surface of the sheet 1 drawn out from the recording unit 400 and guiding the sheet 1 so that the sheet 1 is discharged to the outside of the recording apparatus 100. The outer shape of the sheet discharge unit 500 is composed of a paper discharge guide 71 that supports the back surface of the sheet 1 and a paper discharge guide base 75 connected to the paper discharge guide 71. The paper discharge guide base 75 as a base member is arranged on the side opposite to the conveyance path of the sheet 1 with respect to the paper discharge guide 71. The paper discharge guide 71 and the paper discharge guide base 75 are connected to each other so as to integrally form a box shape, ensuring the overall rigidity of the sheet discharge unit 500. They are connected to each other, ensuring the overall rigidity of the sheet discharge unit 500.

[0042] The paper discharge guide 71 is configured to be heated directly by the warm air from the fixing heater 90 or through the sheet 1, and also has a function of warming the sheet 1 from the back surface during fixing and drying to promote fixing and drying. Therefore, the paper discharge guide 71 is required to have heat resistance and high thermal conductivity so that temperature unevenness does not occur, and materials such as steel plates, SUS materials, and aluminum plates are used. In the following description, it is assumed that a plate-shaped metal is used. However, when using an ink that is fixed and dried immediately after ejection, such as water-based ink, the fixing heater 90 is not required, so it is not necessary to increase the thermal conductivity, and it may be composed of resin or the like.

[0043] The paper discharge guide 71 and the paper discharge guide base 75 are connected by a paper discharge guide fixing member 74 (hereinafter referred to as the fixing member 74). The fixing member 74 has a hook claw shape formed on one side in the direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface of the paper discharge guide 71 and is hooked and fixed to the paper discharge guide base 75. A screw hole is formed on the other side of the fixing member 74 in the above vertical direction and is fixed to the paper discharge guide 71 by screw fixing.

[0044] The paper discharge guide 71 has a constricted shape that is recessed from the support surface of the sheet 1. The constricted shape is aligned with the position of the fixing member 74, and when screwed, the screw head is configured to fit within the depth of the constricted shape and not protrude from the sheet support surface. As a result, the fixing member 74 does not affect the paper passing property of the sheet 1. Here, it is even better to arrange the constricted shape so that it does not coincide with the end of the standard size sheet width, as this reduces the risk of the tip or edge of the sheet 1 getting caught.

[0045] Also, the space between the paper discharge guide 71 and the paper discharge guide base 75 is filled with a heat insulating material 76. This results in a configuration where heat is less likely to be transferred from the paper discharge guide 71 to the paper discharge guide base 75.

[0046] As shown in FIG. 6(b), the paper discharge guide 71 and the fixing member 74 are fixed with a step screw 81. The step screw 81 has a screw portion 811, a shaft portion 812, and a head portion 813. The screw portion 811 is configured to be threadedly engageable with the screw hole 741 of the fixing member 74. The shaft portion 812 has a larger diameter than the screw portion 811, protrudes from the head portion 813, and the screw portion 811 is coaxially provided on the tip side thereof. The head portion 813 is a flange-shaped portion with a larger diameter than the shaft portion 812. In this embodiment, the head portion 813 is configured as a so-called truss head or round cap head. The step screw 81 is fixed to the fixing member 74 with the paper discharge guide 71 in a state where the screw portion 811 and the shaft portion 812 are inserted through the fixing hole 711 of the paper discharge guide 71 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface of the paper discharge guide 71 and the screw portion 811 is threadedly engaged with the screw hole 741 of the fixing member 74.

[0047] The shaft portion 812 serves as a first restricting portion that restricts the range of relative movement between the paper discharge guide 71 and the fixing member 74 in a direction parallel to the sheet support surface of the paper discharge guide 71. The shaft portion 812 is configured to have a smaller diameter with respect to the fixing hole 711 such that a gap G1 of approximately 1 mm in the sliding (relative movement with respect to the fixing member 74) of the paper discharge guide 71 in a direction parallel to the sheet support surface of the paper discharge guide 71 is formed with respect to the fixing hole 711.

[0048] The head 813 has a regulating surface 814 facing the fixing member 74 and the paper discharge guide 71 so as to sandwich the paper discharge guide 71 between it and the fixing member 74 in a direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface of the paper discharge guide 71. The regulating surface 814 serves as a second regulating portion that regulates the range within which relative movement between the paper discharge guide 71 and the fixing member 74 is possible in a direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface of the paper discharge guide 71. The regulating surface 814 is configured such that a gap G2 of a size that allows (does not completely fix) a slide of the paper discharge guide 71 (relative movement with respect to the fixing member 74) of approximately 0.1 mm in a direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface is formed.

[0049] By fixing with the above-described screws 81, the paper discharge guide 71 and the fixing member 74 are not completely fixed and are configured to have a minute gap in a direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface. Thus, even when thermal expansion occurs in the paper discharge guide 71 in a direction parallel to the sheet support surface due to the paper discharge guide 71 being heated by the fixing heater 90, the paper discharge guide 71 slides with respect to the fixing member 74, thereby absorbing the positional displacement of the fixed portion due to thermal expansion. By this sliding movement of the paper discharge guide 71, deformation in a direction perpendicular to the sheet support surface of the paper discharge guide 71 can be suppressed.

[0050] In the fixing configuration using the screws described above, the variation in the gap between the paper discharge guide 71 and the sheet conveyance surface from which the warm air of the fixing heater 90 emerges may increase due to component tolerances. The gap greatly affects the fixing performance. If it is too large, heat transfer is difficult and under-fixing occurs, and if it is too small, unevenness such as wind marks may occur due to the warm air. Therefore, when high accuracy is required for the gap dimension, the sheet conveyance surfaces of the paper discharge guide 71 and the fixing heater 90 may be configured to be assembled after planar adjustment for each unit.

[0051] The heat of the paper discharge guide 71 heated by the fixing process is configured such that the heat is not transferred to the paper discharge guide base 75 by the heat insulating material 76 sandwiched between the paper discharge guide 71 and the paper discharge guide base 75. Further, by suppressing the transfer of heat from the paper discharge guide 71 to other places, the heat in the gap space between the fixing heater 90 and the paper discharge guide 71 is less likely to cool down, so that it is possible to maintain the fixing property with power saving.

[0052] The cutting device 20 is attached to the paper discharge guide base 75 with screws or the like downstream of the paper discharge guide 71 in the sheet conveyance path. The detailed configuration of the cutting device 20 will be described later.

[0053] Downstream of the paper discharge guide 71, a paper discharge guide downstream portion 73 as a downstream guide portion is provided. The paper discharge guide downstream portion 73 is a portion that positively contacts the sheet 1 when the sheet 1 with the fixing completed is wound around the winding portion 600. The paper discharge guide downstream portion 73 has a contact portion that contacts the sheet 1 between the sheet discharge portion 500 (paper discharge guide 71) and the winding portion 600 in the conveyance path of the sheet 1, and guides the sheet 1 while applying tension to the sheet 1.

[0054] The paper discharge guide downstream portion 73 is configured such that the contact portion that contacts the sheet 1 has a cross-sectional shape including an R shape (arc shape) in a cross-section perpendicular to the width direction of the sheet 1 that intersects the conveyance direction CD of the sheet 1. If this portion is, for example, a cross-sectional angular shape, folds or wrinkles may occur in the fixed sheet 1. By making the paper discharge guide downstream portion 73 have a cross-sectional arc shape as in this embodiment, damage to the sheet 1 can be reduced.

[0055] Similarly, the paper discharge guide upstream main body R portion 78a and the paper discharge guide upstream R portion 78b are also between the platen 17 and the paper discharge guide 71 and are places where the sheet 1 positively contacts, so it is better to have an arc shape instead of an angular cross-section. Further, the paper discharge guide upstream main body R portion 78a and the paper discharge guide upstream R portion 78b are coaxially arranged with the rotation axis of the paper discharge guide rotation shaft 72 as their respective rotation centers, and it is desirable that the R dimensions (curvature radii of the arc-shaped portions) also match.

[0056] The upstream main body R part 78a of the paper discharge guide is attached to the apparatus main body of the recording apparatus 100 and is arranged so as not to interfere when the sheet discharge part 500 rotates. On the other hand, the upstream R part 78b of the paper discharge guide is integrated with the sheet discharge part 500 and rotates integrally with the sheet discharge part 500 when the sheet discharge part 500 rotates. With this configuration, when the sheet discharge part 500 is opened to set the roll sheet R to the main body, a gap is formed between the paper discharge guide 71 and the upstream main body R part of the paper discharge guide, and it becomes possible to view the platen 17 from the front of the recording apparatus 100. As described above, when feeding the inner wound roll sheet R2, the sheet 1 is manually fed, so it is necessary to check whether the leading end of the sheet 1 has reached the conveyance roller 14. By providing this gap, the paper feeding set property is improved. The sheet discharge part 500 can rotate about the paper discharge guide rotation shaft 72 as the rotation center and is rotated when setting the roll sheet R to the apparatus main body of the recording apparatus 100. The paper discharge guide rotation shaft 72 is attached to the main body side plate 70 of the recording apparatus 100, and a member with low sliding resistance such as a bearing is used for the rotating part. Gas springs 77 are attached to the lower left and right sides of the sheet discharge part 500. One end of each gas spring 77 is fixed to the downstream back side of the sheet discharge part 500, and the other end is fixed to the main body side plate 70. The gas spring 77 can expand and contract and is configured to always have a force applied in the extending direction. Therefore, by attaching as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the component force of the force in the extending direction of the gas spring 77 acts in the direction of opening the sheet discharge part 500, and it is possible to open the sheet discharge part 500 with a light force.

[0057]

[0058] ​The reaction force setting of the gas spring 77 will be described. When setting the roll sheet R on the apparatus main body of the recording apparatus 100, the sheet discharge unit 500 needs to be held in an open state. Therefore, the magnitude of the reaction force of the gas spring 77 is set to be greater than the force by which the sheet discharge unit 500 closes due to its own weight. However, on the other hand, if priority is given to the reaction force for holding in the open state, it becomes difficult for the sheet discharge unit 500 to hold the closed state, and it may automatically open. Thus, a holding member 79 is attached to the paper discharge guide base 75, and a landing portion 80 formed by bending is configured on the main body side plate 70 located on the opposite side when the sheet discharge unit 500 is closed. Here, the holding member 79 is constituted by a magnet and is adsorbed to the main body side plate 70 by magnetic force. The magnitude of the magnetic force of the magnet of the holding member 79 is set to have a holding force greater than the force with which the gas spring 77 tries to open. Thereby, it becomes possible to hold the sheet discharge unit 500 in the closed state.

[0059] Here, depending on the configuration of the sheet discharge unit 500 and the recording apparatus 100, there may be cases where there is no concern such as it being difficult to hold the sheet discharge unit 500 in the closed state and it automatically opening as described above. That is, depending on the weight, the center of gravity position of the sheet discharge unit 500, and the arrangement of the gas spring 77, it is also possible to hold the open state by the gas spring 77 and hold the closed state by the own weight of the sheet discharge unit 500. Also, although the configuration of attaching the gas spring 77 has been described assuming a large printer apparatus, for example, in the case of a recording apparatus corresponding only to a small sheet width, since the weight of the sheet discharge unit 500 becomes light, if it is not necessary, a configuration without providing the gas spring 77 may be adopted.

[0060] With reference to FIGS. 7, 8, and 9, the details of the cutting device 20 in the present embodiment will be described.

[0061] The cutting device 20 has a cutter rail 40, a cutter belt 41, a cutter carriage 42, and a cutter unit 43. The cutter rail 40 is configured to guide the cutter carriage 42 in the width direction of the sheet 1 perpendicular to the conveying direction CD of the sheet 1. The cutter unit 43 and the cutter belt 41 are integrally connected to the cutter carriage 42. A cutter motor 44 and a motor pulley 45 are provided near one end of the cutter rail 40 in the sheet width direction, and a tensioner pulley 46 and a tensioner spring 47 are provided on the other end side. The cutter belt 41 is stretched across the motor pulley 45 and the tensioner pulley 46, and tension is obtained by biasing the tensioner pulley 46 in the direction X2 by the tensioner spring 47, thereby preventing the teeth of the cutter belt 41 from jumping. The cutting device 20 has the cutter rail 40 and a discharge guide belt 44. The cutter 20 is fixed to the discharge guide base 75, and can be removed from the discharge guide base 75 by removing the screws, for replacement.

[0062] The cutter unit 43 has, as cutting members, an upper movable blade 48 as an upper blade and a lower movable blade 49 as a lower blade, which are aligned in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the sheet 1. The upper movable blade 48 and the lower movable blade 49 have a contact portion, and are configured to move on the guide rail substantially along the width direction of the sheet while sandwiching the sheet 1 at the contact portion, thereby cutting the sheet 1 at the contact portion. Specifically, the upper movable blade 48 and the lower movable blade 49 are arranged to come into contact with each other at a predetermined angle θ (crossing angle) with respect to the direction X1, which is the cutting direction, and the sheet 1 is cut by the contact portion between the upper movable blade 48 and the lower movable blade 49.

[0063] The cutter carriage 42 receives a driving force transmitted from the cutter motor 44 via the cutter belt 41 and is capable of reciprocating in the directions X1 and X2 along the cutter rail 40. The cutter unit 43 is coupled to the cutter carriage 42 and is therefore capable of reciprocating in the directions X1 and X2 in the same manner as the cutter carriage 42.

[0064] The cutter unit 43 is fixed to the cutter carriage 42 with cutter fixing screws 313. The cutter unit 43 can be easily removed from the recording apparatus 100 by removing the cutter fixing screws 313. When replacing the cutter unit 43, a new cutter unit 43 may be fixed with the cutter fixing screws 313 in a state where the new cutter unit 43 is positioned on the cutter carriage 42.

[0065] Also, the lower movable blade 49 is configured to be rotatably driven from the cutter motor 44 via the cutter belt 41 and the cutter carriage 42. Thereby, when cutting the sheet 1, both the lower movable blade 49 and the upper movable blade 48 that contacts the lower movable blade 49 cut the sheet 1 while rotating.

[0066] During the image recording of the sheet 1, the cutter unit 43 waits at a standby position P1 that is retracted from the paper edge 1d on the home position side of the sheet 1. When cutting the sheet 1, the cutter unit 43 moves from the standby position P1 in the direction X1 that is the cutting direction to a position where the contact portion of the upper movable blade 48 and the lower movable blade 49 passes beyond the paper edge 1e on the side opposite to the home position, thereby cutting the sheet 1. After cutting the sheet 1, the cutter unit 43 reverses at an inversion position P2 corresponding to the width of the sheet 1 and moves in the direction X2 that is the return direction that does not contribute to the cutting operation, thereby moving to a position that becomes the standby position P1 for the next cutting operation and waiting.

[0067] The cutter motor 44 has an encoder and can control the moving positions of the cutter unit 43 in the directions X1 and X2. Since the relationship between the number of pulses of the encoder and the moving amount of the cutter unit 43 is known in advance, the moving amount of the cutter unit 43 can be determined by counting the number of pulses of the encoder. In the vicinity of the standby position P1, a standby position sensor 51 is provided on a part of a fixed sensor holder 50, and the sensor flag portion 20a arranged on the cutter unit 43 is detected by the standby position sensor 51, and the cutter unit 43 is accurately stopped at the standby position P1. Also, it is possible to detect the presence or absence of the cutter unit 43 at the standby position P1.

[0068] Referring to FIG. 4, the control configuration of the recording apparatus 100 according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 4 is a block diagram for explaining the control configuration in the present embodiment.

[0069] The control unit 700 includes a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, a motor driver, etc. (not shown), and is composed of a main control unit 710, a conveyance control unit 720, a recording control unit 730, and a fixing control unit 740. The main control unit 710 gives commands to the conveyance control unit 720, the recording control unit 730, and the fixing control unit 7 40. Based on the judgment of the main control unit 710, the conveyance control unit 720 drives the conveyance motor to convey the sheet 1 to an arbitrary position while checking the position of the sheet 1 with a paper end sensor (not shown), and drives the cutter motor 44 to cut the sheet 1. The recording control unit 730 forms a recording image at an appropriate position using the cooperation of a carriage motor (not shown) and the recording head 18. The fixing control unit 740 adjusts the air volume of a fan (not shown) built in the fixing heater 90 and the temperature of the heater according to a control program stored in the ROM to fix the ink.

[0070] Referring to FIGS. 10(a), 10(b), and 10(c), the details of the contact portion that contacts the sheet 1 in the downstream paper discharge guide portion 73 as a downstream guide portion disposed between the cutting device 20 and the winding unit 600 will be described. FIG. 10(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the peripheral configuration of the downstream paper discharge guide portion 73 provided downstream of the cutting device 20 in the present embodiment. FIG. 10(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the peripheral configuration downstream of the cutting device 20 in Comparative Example 1. FIG. 10(c) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the peripheral configuration downstream of the cutting device 20 in Comparative Example 2.

[0071] FIG. 10(a) shows a state in which the sheet 1 is supplied while being wound by the winding unit 600 along the paper discharge guide 71 and the downstream part 73 of the paper discharge guide. The winding unit 600 has a winding shaft 600a that rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet 1, and is configured to wind the sheet 1 by winding the sheet 1 around the outer periphery of the winding shaft 600a. The sheet 1 rotates in the direction of arrow Ry1 due to the rotation of the winding shaft 600a, and tension is applied in the direction of arrow T1. By doing so, the sheet 1 can be wound stably without being folded or wrinkled. When cutting, in order to cut the sheet 1 stably, it is necessary for the sheet 1 to be conveyed in a direction perpendicular to the arrangement of the upper movable blade 48 and the lower movable blade 49 of the cutting device 20. Therefore, it is performed in a state where the tension T1 is applied in the same manner as during sheet feeding (the tension T1 may be a value different from that during sheet feeding). By doing so, the cut end face of the sheet 1 can be cut so as to be substantially perpendicular to the conveying direction. In both the sheet feeding and cutting described above, by providing the downstream part 73 of the paper discharge guide, the position of the sheet 1 in the cutting device 20 is determined, and by making it R-shaped, the posture of the sheet 1 with tension applied becomes more stable.

[0072] The sheet 1 includes a first portion 1a extending in a first direction CD1 between the cutting device 20 and the downstream part 73 of the paper discharge guide in the conveyance path, and a second portion 1b extending in a second direction CD2 intersecting the first direction CD1 between the downstream part 73 of the paper discharge guide and the winding unit 600. The downstream part 73 of the paper discharge guide is configured with a convex curved surface 73a as a contact portion that contacts the sheet 1 and guides a third portion 1c between the first portion 1a and the second portion 1b of the sheet 1. The convex curved surface 73a as the contact portion is configured such that the cross-sectional shape perpendicular to the width direction (X direction) of the sheet 1 has an R shape (arc shape) as described above. As a result, the third portion 1c of the sheet 1 is guided by the convex curved surface 73a so as to gradually change the direction in the bending direction. That is, the sheet 1 is guided from the cutting device 20 to the winding unit 600 by the downstream part 73 of the paper discharge guide while gradually changing the conveyance direction from the first direction CD1 in which the first portion 1a extends to the second direction CD2 in which the second portion 1b extends.

[0073] In the configuration of Comparative Example 1 shown in FIG. 10(b), the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide is not provided downstream of the cutting device 20. In this case, the sheet 1 is conveyed so as to be pressed against the lower movable blade 49, and the sheet supply is likely to get caught and is unstable, and the posture of the sheet 1 at the time of cutting also becomes unstable.

[0074] In the configuration of Comparative Example 2 shown in FIG. 10(c), the cross section of the contact portion in the downstream portion 73c of the paper discharge guide provided downstream of the cutting device 20 has a square shape. In such a configuration , there is a case where the sheet 1 is conveyed in a floating state by the corner portion 73d of the downstream portion 73c of the paper discharge guide. As a result, the sheet 1 is conveyed without following the paper discharge guide 71 and the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide, and the sheet supply and cutting become unstable as in the case where there is no downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide.

[0075] Using FIGS. 11(a) and 11(b), the state of the sheet when the amount of the sheet wound by the winding unit 600 is different (the winding outer diameter is different) will be described.

[0076] FIG. 11(a) shows the position of the sheet 1 with respect to the cutting device 20 when the winding amount is large, that is, when the winding outer diameter is large. As shown in FIG. 11(a), in the state where the tension T1 is applied, since the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide has the above R shape, the cutting device 20 can convey and cut the sheet 1 at a stable position.

[0077] FIG. 11(b) shows the state when the winding outer diameter is small. In this case, compared with the case where the winding outer diameter is large, the arrangement angle of the sheet 1 between the winding unit 600 and the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide is different. However, also in this case, similar to the case where the winding outer diameter is large, the state of the sheet 1 between the paper discharge guide 71 and the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide does not change, and the sheet supply and cutting can be performed stably.

[0078] When viewed in the width direction of the sheet 1, the take-up shaft 600a of the take-up unit 600 is located on the side opposite to the side where the discharge guide 71 faces the sheet 1, that is, the side opposite to the side where the transport surface 71a along the transport path of the sheet 1 is provided in the discharge guide 71. Further, the transport surface 71a of the discharge guide 71 is a surface that extends in a direction in which the upstream end in the transport path is located above the downstream end and is inclined downward with respect to the horizontal direction (Y direction). When viewed in the width direction of the sheet 1, the take-up shaft 600a is disposed at a position closer to the upstream end than the downstream end of the transport surface 71a of the discharge guide 71 in the horizontal direction (Y direction). Also, the take-up shaft 600a is located below the discharge guide 71 in the gravitational direction (Z direction).

[0079] Due to the above-described arrangement of the take-up shaft 600a with respect to the discharge guide 71, when viewed in the width direction of the sheet 1, the change in the direction of the second direction CD2 accompanying the increase in the take-up amount of the sheet 1 taken up by the take-up shaft 600a becomes a change that approaches the first direction CD1. That is, the angle formed by the first direction CD1 and the second direction CD2 becomes smaller as the take-up amount of the sheet 1 increases (α2 < α1). Therefore, the degree of curvature of the third portion 1c between the first portion 1a and the second portion 1b of the sheet 1 is reduced as the take-up amount of the sheet 1 increases.

[0080] FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining the state of the sheet when the winding direction by the take-up unit 600 is counterclockwise, which is opposite to the direction shown in FIGS. 10(a) to 11).

[0081] As shown in FIG. 12, the sheet 1 can be wound counterclockwise by rotating the driving means of the take-up unit 600 (not shown) in the reverse direction. When this winding is performed, since the printed surface is disposed inside the diameter around which it is wound, there are advantages such as being less likely to be damaged. Even in such a case, by making the downstream portion 73 of the discharge guide into an R shape, when a tension T1 is applied to the sheet 1, the posture of the sheet becomes stable during transport and cutting.

[0082] (Second Embodiment) The second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. 13. In the second embodiment, the contact portion of the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide is configured as a roller.

[0083] That is, the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide in the second embodiment includes a downstream roller portion (hereinafter referred to as the downstream roller) 73-2 that is a roller rotating about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet 1 as a contact portion (contact member). The outer peripheral surface of this downstream roller 73-2 forms a convex curved surface that guides the above-described third portion 1c of the sheet 1.

[0084] In the second embodiment, the same components as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first embodiment, and the description thereof is omitted. Matters not particularly described here in the second embodiment are the same as those in the first embodiment.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 13, in the second embodiment, the contact portion of the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide in the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 10(a) to 12 is replaced with a downstream roller 73-2 that is a rotating body (contact member) having an axis parallel to the axial direction of the winding portion 600. Therefore, the downstream roller 73-2 is provided in an arrangement substantially perpendicular to the cutting device 20 and is rotatably supported about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet 1 by a downstream roller bearing portion 73-3 as a support portion. The downstream roller 73-2, which is a rotating body, is configured to be freely rotatable about the downstream roller bearing portion 73-3 when the sheet 1 is conveyed along the paper discharge guide 71 and the downstream roller 73-2.

[0086] In the configuration of the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 10(a) to 12, when tension T1 is applied to the sheet 1, frictional resistance is generated due to the sliding of the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide with which the sheet 1 is in contact. When a paper type with a high stiffness is used for the sheet 1, it is necessary to increase the tension T1 more to suppress the sagging of the sheet 1. However, as the tension T1 increases, the frictional resistance also increases in the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide, and a larger driving force is required. When the frictional resistance increases, even a slight variation may easily cause the sheet to fold or wrinkle, and in some cases, it may even tear. By guiding the sheet 1 while the downstream roller 73-2 rotates following the movement of the sheet 1, the frictional resistance between the sheet 1 and the downstream portion 73 (downstream roller 73-2) of the paper discharge guide can be reduced.

[0087] In this configuration, the downstream roller 73-2 is configured to be able to rotate freely, but it may also be configured to be provided with a driving means capable of rotating the rotation axis and driven in accordance with the conveyance amount of the sheet 1.

[0088] (Third Embodiment) The third embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 14(a), 14(b), 15(a), 15(b), 15(c), and 16. The third embodiment has a configuration in which a sheet guiding member 73-4 is provided upstream of the downstream roller portion 73-2 of the paper discharge guide.

[0089] The cutting device 20 is configured to cut the sheet 1 by moving the cutter unit 43 in the sheet width direction (X direction) orthogonal to the sheet conveyance direction CD. Therefore, in the sheet conveyance path, in the passing area of the cutter unit 43, a groove that is recessed from the conveyance surface 71a (conveyance direction CD) of the discharge guide 71 in the height direction VD perpendicular to the conveyance surface 71a is formed, and there is a concern that it may affect the conveyance performance of the sheet 1. Thus, in the third embodiment, a configuration is adopted in which a sheet guiding member 73-4 is added on the downstream side of the cutting device 20 at the downstream end of the discharge guide base 75. The discharge guide base 75 has a recess 75a at the downstream end in the conveyance path, where the cutting device 20 is mounted. The recess 75a is shaped to be recessed from the conveyance surface 71a formed by the discharge guide 71. The sheet guiding member 73-4 is provided at the downstream end of the conveyance path of the recess 75a, and has an inclined surface 73-4a that extends obliquely so as to gradually increase in height from the bottom surface side of the recess 75a to the height of the conveyance surface 71a in the height direction as it goes from the upstream to the downstream of the conveyance path. By providing such an inclined surface 73-4a (sheet guiding surface), even if the leading edge of the sheet 1 falls into the groove-shaped portion described above when the sheet 1 is being conveyed, the sheet 1 can be conveyed further downstream without the leading edge of the sheet 1 getting caught.

[0090] In the third embodiment, the same components as those in the first and second embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first and second embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted. Matters not particularly described here in the third embodiment are the same as those in the first and second embodiments.

[0091] FIG. 14(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the recess 75a in the first embodiment. FIG. 14(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the recess 75a in the second embodiment. FIG. 15(a) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the recess 75a in the third embodiment, and shows a state in which the leading end of the sheet 1 conveyed after cutting is scooped up by the inclined surface 73-4a of the sheet guiding member 73-4. FIG. 15(b) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the recess 75a in the third embodiment, and shows a state when the sheet 1 scooped up by the inclined surface 73-4a of the sheet guiding member 73-4 reaches the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide. FIG. 15(c) is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the recess 75a in the third embodiment, and shows a state in which the leading end of the sheet 1 is conveyed to a position where the user can reset the sheet 1 to a winding state by the winding unit 600.

[0092] In the configurations shown in FIGS. 14(a) and 14(b), the leading end of the sheet 1 conveyed after cutting may fall into the recess 75a or may be caught by the downstream roller portion 73-2 of the paper discharge guide.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 15(a), in the third embodiment, a sheet guiding member 73-4 is arranged in a range corresponding to the width of the sheet 1 in the width direction of the sheet 1 between the cutting device 20 and the downstream roller 73-2 in the sheet conveyance path. Thereby, the leading end of the sheet 1 conveyed after cutting can be scooped up by the inclined surface 73-4a and guided and conveyed to the guide surface of the sheet 1 in the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide, that is, to the downstream roller 73-2, as shown in FIG. 15(b). Thereafter, as shown in FIG. 15(c), the sheet 1 can be conveyed and arranged without being caught to a position where the user can reset the sheet 1 to a winding state by the winding unit 600.

[0094] FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a modification of the third embodiment, and is a schematic cross-sectional view showing the configuration around the recess 75a in the modification. The modification has a configuration provided with an inclined surface 73-5a as a sheet guiding shape upstream of the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide. That is, the inclined surface 73-5a that guides the leading end of the sheet 1 conveyed after cutting is formed as a part of the guide surface of the sheet 1 in the downstream portion 73 of the paper discharge guide. Similar to the configuration shown in FIGS. 15(a) to 15(c), the configuration shown in FIG. 16 can also convey the leading end of the sheet 1 conveyed after cutting without being caught by the recess 75a.

[0095] (Fourth Embodiment) The fourth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 18. The fourth embodiment has a configuration in which the detachable downstream roller 73-2 is configured to improve such detachability.

[0096] That is, in the fourth embodiment, a notch 73-5 is provided at a part of the downstream end in the conveyance path of the inclined surface 73-4a of the sheet guiding member 73-4. The notch 73-5 is a recessed shaped portion such that a part of the downstream end in the conveyance path of the inclined surface 73-4a is at a position lower than the height of the conveyance surface 71a in the height direction VD perpendicular to the conveyance surface 71a. The sheet guiding member 73-4 is arranged so as to cover a part of the outer peripheral surface of the downstream roller 73-2. By forming the notch 73-5, the range in which the outer peripheral surface of the downstream roller 73-2 is exposed is partially widened.

[0097] In the fourth embodiment, the same components as those in the first to third embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals as those in the first to third embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted. Matters not particularly described here in the fourth embodiment are the same as those in the first to third embodiments. In the fourth embodiment, matters not particularly described here are the same as those in the first to third embodiments.

[0098] The downstream roller 73-2 is configured to be detachable in the direction of arrow C with respect to the downstream roller bearing portion 73-3. At this time, a part of the downstream roller 73-2 is covered by the sheet guiding member 73-4, and it is difficult to directly take it out when trying to access it from the upper surface of the main body. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 18, by providing a notch portion 73-5 in a part of the sheet guiding member 73-4, it becomes possible to take out the downstream roller 73-2 by placing a hand at that location.

[0099] The length of the notch portion 73-5 in the sheet width direction is made as short as possible with respect to the length of the downstream roller 73-2 in the width direction while ensuring a width into which the user's hand can be inserted and without affecting the sheet guiding effect by the sheet guiding member 73-4.

[0100] Note that instead of providing the notch portion 73-5, the sheet guiding member 73-4 may be divided and arranged in the sheet width direction, and the division interval may be set to a length corresponding to the notch portion 73-5. That is, a configuration in which a plurality of sheet guiding members are arranged in the sheet width direction at intervals that ensure a width into which the user's hand can be inserted. With such a configuration, the same effect as in the present embodiment can be obtained.

[0101] (Fifth Embodiment) The fifth embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 17 and 19. The fifth embodiment has a configuration that is effective for improving the replaceability of the cutter unit 43 in the sheet discharge unit 500.

[0102] In the fifth embodiment, the same components as those in the first to fourth embodiments are denoted by the same reference numerals as in the first to fourth embodiments, and the description thereof is omitted. Matters not particularly described here in the fifth embodiment are the same as those in the first to fourth embodiments.

[0103] The cutter unit 43 can be removed from the cutter carriage 42 by removing the cutter fixing screw 313 (Fig. 9) to the cutter carriage 42 and then pulling out the cutter unit 43 in the direction of arrow C in Fig. 17. However, since the sheet guiding member 73-4 and the downstream roller 73-2 exist in the direction of arrow C with respect to the cutter unit 43, the removal direction of the cutter unit 43 is blocked, and thus the removal operation may be difficult.

[0104] Therefore, in the present embodiment, the length of the notch portion 73-5 in the sheet width direction is made longer than the length of the cutter unit 43 in the sheet width direction, and the length is configured to ensure a space where the user can remove the cutter unit 43. With such a configuration, by performing the removal operation of the cutter unit 43 at a position corresponding to the notch portion 73-5, it is possible to suppress the removal of the cutter unit 43 from being inhibited by the sheet guiding member 73-4.

[0105] Also, as shown in Fig. 19, the downstream roller 73-2 is configured to be divided such that a plurality of rollers are arranged in the width direction, and at least one of the divided downstream rollers 73-2 is arranged to substantially coincide with the notch portion 73-5 in the width direction. That is, a part of the longitudinal direction (sheet width direction) of the downstream roller 73-2 is configured to be detachable from the paper discharge guide 71, and by removing this detachable part, a removal operation space for the cutter unit 43 can be ensured. That is, the downstream roller 73-2 is configured such that a fixed roller 73-2a as a first contact member fixed to the paper discharge guide 71 and a detachable roller 73-2b as a second contact member detachable from the paper discharge guide 71 are arranged side by side in the width direction of the sheet 1. The fixed roller 73-2a and the detachable roller 73-2b are each They are configured to be arranged in a plurality of alternating rows. The notch 73-5 is disposed at a position corresponding to the detachable roller 73-2b. The lengths of the detachable roller 73-2b and the notch 73-5 in the sheet width direction are each longer than the length of the cutter unit 43 in the sheet width direction, and are configured to ensure a space that allows the user to remove the cutter unit 43.

[0106] With the above configuration, when replacing the cutter unit 43, by removing the detachable roller 73-2b at the position corresponding to the notch 73-5, it is possible to suppress the removal of the cutter unit 43 from being obstructed by the sheet guiding member 73-4 and the downstream roller 73-2. Therefore, the replacement operation of the cutter unit 43 becomes easy.

[0107] Instead of providing the notch 73-5, the sheet guiding member 73-4 may be divided and arranged in the sheet width direction, and the division interval may be set to a length corresponding to the notch 73-5. That is, a configuration in which a plurality of sheet guiding members are arranged in the sheet width direction at intervals that ensure a width through which the user's hand can be inserted. With such a configuration, the same effects as those of the present embodiment can be obtained.

[0108] Using FIG. 20, a specific operation sequence when replacing the cutter unit 43 will be described. FIG. 20 is a diagram showing a sequence when replacing the cutter unit 43. On the operation panel 28 of the image recording apparatus, when the user selects the replacement mode of the cutter unit 43 (S101), the cutter carriage 42 and the cutter unit 43 move to the replacement position together (S102). This replacement position is set at the position of the notch portion 73-5 described above. When the movement of the cutter carriage 42 and the cutter unit 43 is completed, the replacement operation is displayed on the operation panel 28 in the form of illustrations and text, and the user performs the replacement operation according to it. Specifically, after lifting the fixing heater 90 upward, the detachable roller 73-2b located at the same position as the notch portion 73-5 is removed, and the cutter unit 43 is replaced (S103). That is, the old cutter unit 43 is detached and replaced with a new cutter unit 43 by removing and attaching the cutter fixing screw 313 that fixes the cutter carriage 42 and the cutter unit 43. After the replacement of the cutter unit 43 is completed, the detachable roller 73-2b is reinstalled.

[0109] Next, the user selects completion of replacement on the operation panel 28 (S104), and moves the cutter carriage 42 to the abutting member (not shown) near the cutter motor 44 (S105). Then, the abutting position is recognized (S106) by detecting the load fluctuation of the cutter motor 44 during abutting. Next, based on the recognized abutting position, the cutter carriage 42 is moved in the direction X2 to the standby position by position control using an encoder (S107), and the standby position sensor 51 is detected at the predetermined standby position (S108). When the standby position sensor 51 detects the cutter unit 43, it is determined that the cutter unit 43 has been correctly replaced, and the replacement sequence is terminated (S109). On the other hand, if the standby position sensor 51 fails to detect the cutter unit 43, it is determined that the cutter unit 43 is not properly installed or the movement operation is not normal, and an error announcement is made to the user (S110).

[0110] By configuring the sheet discharge unit 500 and executing the cutter replacement sequence as described above, the replacement operation of the cutter unit 43 becomes easy.

[0111] Sixth embodiment The sixth embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 3, 21 and 22. The sixth embodiment is characterized by the configuration of the downstream roller 73-2.

[0112] In the sixth embodiment, the same configuration as in the first to fifth embodiments is the same as that in the first embodiment. The same reference numerals as in the first to fifth embodiments are used and the description thereof will be omitted. In the sixth embodiment, matters that are not particularly described here are the same as those in the first to fifth embodiments.

[0113] 3, in order to set the feed roll sheet R in the device, the user operates the sheet discharge section 500 to open and close it. At this time, the user is standing on the front side, which is one side in the Y direction, of the recording device, and therefore operates the sheet discharge section 500 by holding the tip side of the sheet discharge section 500, i.e., the downstream discharge guide section 73. However, if the downstream discharge guide section 73 is configured with the downstream roller 73-2, which is a rotating body, it may be difficult to apply force in the direction to open or close the sheet discharge section 500 because the downstream roller 73-2 held by hand will rotate.

[0114] Therefore, in this embodiment, a part of the downstream roller 73-2 in the longitudinal direction (sheet width direction) is fixed to the sheet discharge section 500 (paper discharge guide 71) and configured not to rotate. That is, the downstream roller 73-2 is configured so that a fixed roller 73-2a as a first contact member fixed to the paper discharge guide 71 and a detachable roller 73-7 as a second contact member detachable from the paper discharge guide 71 are aligned in the width direction of the sheet 1. The fixed rollers 73-2a and the detachable rollers 73-7 are configured so that multiple rollers are alternately aligned. The detachable roller 73-7 is attached so as not to rotate with respect to the paper discharge guide 71.

[0115] Furthermore, as shown in FIGS. 21 and 22, it is desirable that the detachable roller 73-7 is provided with a cue-shaped portion 73-7a for facilitating the application of a force for opening and closing the sheet discharge unit 500. With such a configuration, the opening and closing of the sheet discharge unit 500 becomes easy. In addition, since the notch portion 73-5 is provided at a position corresponding to the detachable roller 73-7, the user can easily visually recognize the cue-shaped portion 73-7a, and it is also effective in making it easy for the user to recognize that the operation unit for opening and closing the sheet discharge unit 500 is provided.

[0116] Each of the above embodiments can combine their respective configurations with each other.

[0117] The disclosure of the embodiments of the present invention includes the following configurations. (Configuration 1) A holding unit that holds a roll sheet, A conveying unit that conveys a sheet drawn from the roll sheet held by the holding unit, A winding unit that winds up the sheet downstream of the conveying unit in the sheet conveying path, A cutting unit that cuts the sheet between the conveying unit and the winding unit in the conveying path, In a conveying device comprising: A contact portion that contacts the sheet is provided between the cutting unit and the winding unit in the conveying path, The contact portion and the cutting unit are integrally configured to be movable to a first position approaching the roll sheet held by the holding unit and a second position away from the roll sheet held by the holding unit. A conveying device characterized by that. (Configuration 2) A guide unit that guides the sheet between the cutting unit and the conveying unit in the conveying path is provided, The guide unit moves integrally with the contact portion and the cutting unit. The conveying device according to Configuration 1, characterized by that. (Configuration 3) The sheet includes a first portion extending in a first direction from the cutting portion toward the contact portion, and a second portion extending in a second direction from the contact portion toward the winding portion. The contact portion guides a portion of the sheet between the first portion and the second portion in the sheet. The conveying device according to Configuration 1 or 2, wherein the surface is a convex curved surface. (Configuration 4) The contact portion includes a roller that rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet. The conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 3, wherein the convex curved surface includes an outer peripheral surface of the roller. (Configuration 5) The winding portion has a winding shaft that rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet, and is configured to wind the sheet by winding the sheet around the outer periphery of the winding shaft. The conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 4, wherein the winding shaft is located on a side opposite to the side where the guide portion faces the sheet with respect to the guide portion when viewed in the width direction. (Configuration 6) The guide portion has a conveying surface extending along the conveying path. The conveying surface is a surface that extends in a direction in which the upstream end in the conveying path is located above the downstream end and is inclined downward with respect to the horizontal direction. The conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 5, wherein the winding shaft is disposed at a position closer to the downstream end than the downstream end of the conveying surface in the horizontal direction when viewed in the width direction of the sheet. (Configuration 7) The conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 6, wherein the winding shaft is located below the contact portion. (Configuration 8) The conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 7, wherein the winding shaft is arranged with respect to the contact portion such that a change in the direction of the second direction accompanying an increase in the winding amount of the sheet wound by the winding shaft when viewed in the width direction approaches the first direction. (Configuration 9) The guide part has a conveyance surface extending along the conveyance path, a recess that is recessed from the conveyance surface in the height direction perpendicular to the conveyance surface is formed between the cutting part and the contact part in the conveyance path, on the downstream side of the conveyance path in the recess, an inclined surface is provided that inclines so as to gradually increase in height from the bottom surface side of the recess to the height of the conveyance surface in the height direction as going from the upstream to the downstream of the conveyance path, and the conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 8 is characterized in that. (Configuration 10) The inclined surface is a surface for guiding the leading end of the sheet that has passed through the cutting part to the guide surface of the sheet at the contact part, and the conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 9 is characterized in that. (Configuration 11) The inclined surface is formed as a part of the guide surface of the sheet at the contact part, and the conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 10 is characterized in that. (Configuration 12) The conveying device further includes a guiding member including the inclined surface, and the guiding member includes a notch at the downstream end of the inclined surface in the conveyance path, and the conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 11 is characterized in that. (Configuration 13) The notch is a shaped part recessed so that a part of the downstream end is at a position lower than the height of the conveyance surface in the height direction, and the conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 12 is characterized in that. (Configuration 14) The contact part includes a roller that rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet, a support part that rotatably supports the roller, and, the roller is configured to be detachable from the support part, the guiding member is arranged so as to cover a part of the outer peripheral surface of the roller, The notch is a portion that partially widens the range where the outer peripheral surface of the roller is exposed, and is a conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 13. (Configuration 15) The length of the notch in the width direction is shorter than the length of the roller in the width direction, and is a conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 14. (Configuration 16) The contact portion includes a plurality of contact members arranged in the width direction of the sheet, The plurality of contact members, A first contact member fixed to the guide portion, A second contact member detachable from the guide portion, including, The notch is provided at a position corresponding to the second contact member in the width direction, and is a conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 15. (Configuration 17) The second contact member is a roller that rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction, and is a conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 16. (Configuration 18) The cutting portion, A rail extending in the width direction of the sheet intersecting the conveying direction of the sheet, A carriage configured to be movable in the width direction on the rail, A cutter unit detachably attached to the carriage, including, The length of the second contact member in the width direction and the length of the notch in the width direction are longer than the length of the cutter unit in the width direction, and are a recording device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 17. (Configuration 19) The second contact member has a handhold-shaped portion for the user to hold when moving the guide portion between the first position and the second position, and is a conveying device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 18. (Configuration 20) The conveyance device further includes a fixing unit that performs a fixing process on the sheet passing through the conveyance path. The fixing unit is configured to be movable between a third position where the sheet is heated and a fourth position outside the movable regions of the guide unit and the cutting unit, and the conveyance device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 19 is characterized in this. (Configuration 21) The fixing unit includes a heater for heating the sheet passing through the conveyance path as the fixing process, and the conveyance device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 20 is characterized in this. (Configuration 22) The conveyance device according to any one of Configurations 1 to 21, and a recording unit that performs recording on the sheet between the holding unit and the guide unit in the conveyance path. A recording device characterized by including this.

Explanation of Signs

[0118] 1...Sheet, 20...Cutting device, 60a...Outer winding sheet supply unit, 60b...Inner winding sheet supply unit, 71...Paper discharge guide, 73...Downstream part of the paper discharge guide, 74...Paper discharge guide fixing member, 74a...Inclined path, 75...Paper discharge guide base, 76...Heat insulating material, 90...Fixing heater, 100...Printing device, 200...Supply device, 300...Sheet conveyance unit, 400...Recording unit, 500...Sheet discharge unit, 600...Winding unit, R...Roll sheet, R1...Outer winding roll sheet, R2...Inner winding roll sheet, 203...Fixing part

Claims

1. A holding part for holding a roll sheet; A conveying part for conveying a sheet pulled out from the roll sheet held by the holding part; A winding part for winding the sheet downstream of the conveying part in the conveying path of the sheet; A cutting part for cutting the sheet between the conveying part and the winding part in the conveying path; In a conveying device comprising: Between the cutting part and the winding part in the conveying path, a contact part that contacts the sheet is provided, The contact part and the cutting part are integrally configured to be movable to a first position approaching the roll sheet held by the holding part and a second position away from the roll sheet held by the holding part. A conveying device characterized by this.

2. A guide part for guiding the sheet between the cutting part and the conveying part in the conveying path is provided, The guide part moves integrally with the contact part and the cutting part. The conveying device according to claim 1, characterized by this.

3. The sheet includes a first part extending in a first direction from the cutting part toward the contact part and a second part extending in a second direction from the contact part toward the winding part, The contact part has a convex curved surface on the surface that guides the part between the first part and the second part of the sheet. The conveying device according to claim 2, characterized by this.

4. The contact part includes a roller that rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet, The convex curved surface includes the outer peripheral surface of the roller. The conveying device according to claim 3, characterized by this.

5. The winding part has a winding shaft that rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet, and is configured to wind the sheet by winding the sheet around the outer periphery of the winding shaft, The winding shaft is located on the side opposite to the side where the guide part faces the sheet with respect to the guide part when viewed in the width direction. The conveying device according to claim 3, characterized by this.

6. The guide part has a conveying surface extending along the conveying path, The conveying surface is a surface whose upstream end in the conveying path is located above the downstream end and extends in a direction inclined downward with respect to the horizontal direction, The winding shaft is arranged at a position closer to the downstream end than the downstream end of the conveying surface in the horizontal direction when viewed in the width direction of the sheet. The conveying device according to claim 5, characterized by this.

7. The take-up shaft is located below the contact portion, and the conveying device according to claim 5 is characterized in that.

8. The take-up shaft is arranged with respect to the contact portion such that, when viewed in the width direction, a change in the direction in the second direction accompanying an increase in the take-up amount of the sheet taken up by the take-up shaft approaches the first direction. The conveying device according to claim 5 is characterized in that.

9. The guide portion has a conveying surface extending along the conveying path. Between the cutting portion and the contact portion in the conveying path, a recess is formed that is recessed from the conveying surface in the height direction perpendicular to the conveying surface. On the downstream side of the conveying path in the recess, an inclined surface is provided that is inclined so as to gradually increase in height from the bottom surface side of the recess to the height of the conveying surface in the height direction as it goes from the upstream to the downstream of the conveying path. The conveying device according to claim 2 is characterized in that.

10. The inclined surface is a surface for guiding the leading end of the sheet that has passed through the cutting portion to the guide surface of the sheet at the contact portion. The conveying device according to claim 9 is characterized in that.

11. The inclined surface is formed as a part of the guide surface of the sheet at the contact portion. The conveying device according to claim 9 is characterized in that.

12. The conveying device further includes a guiding member including the inclined surface. The guiding member includes a notch at the downstream end of the inclined surface in the conveying path. The conveying device according to claim 9 is characterized in that.

13. The notch is a shaped portion recessed such that a part of the downstream end is at a position lower than the height of the conveying surface in the height direction. The conveying device according to claim 12 is characterized in that.

14. The contact portion. A roller that rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction of the sheet. A support portion that rotatably supports the roller. Including. The roller is configured to be detachable from the support portion. The guiding member is arranged to cover a part of the outer peripheral surface of the roller. The notch is a portion that partially widens the range where the outer peripheral surface of the roller is exposed. The conveying device according to claim 12 is characterized in that.

15. The length of the notch in the width direction is shorter than the length of the roller in the width direction. The conveying device according to claim 14 is characterized in that.

16. The contact portion includes a plurality of contact members arranged in the width direction of the sheet. The plurality of abutting members include a first abutting member fixed to the guide portion and a second abutting member detachable from the guide portion , and the notch is provided at a position corresponding to the second abutting member in the width direction. The conveying device according to claim 12

17. The second abutting member is a roller that rotates about a rotation axis parallel to the width direction. The conveying device according to claim 16

18. The cutting portion includes a rail extending in the width direction of the sheet that intersects the conveying direction of the sheet a carriage configured to be movable in the width direction on the rail and a cutter unit detachably attached to the carriage , and the length of the second abutting member in the width direction and the length of the notch in the width direction are longer than the length of the cutter unit in the width direction. The recording device according to claim 16

19. The second abutting member has a grip-shaped portion for a user to use as a handhold when moving the guide portion between the first position and the second position. The conveying device according to claim 16

20. The conveying device further includes a fixing portion that performs a fixing process on the sheet passing through the conveying path and the fixing portion is configured to be movable between a third position where the sheet is heated and a fourth position outside the movable region of the guide portion and the cutting portion. The conveying device according to claim 2

21. The fixing portion includes a heater for heating the sheet passing through the conveying path as the fixing process. The conveying device according to claim 20

22. A conveying device according to any one of claims 2 to 21 and a recording portion that records on the sheet between the holding portion and the guide portion in the conveying path . The recording device is characterized by comprising

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