Medium processing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a medium processing device for operating a processing part with high accuracy by a simple structure.SOLUTION: A processing device includes a processing portion (56) configured to perform processing by pressing against a sheet-like medium (S), a processing portion drive mechanism (20) configured to perform a first operation of moving the processing portion in a first direction (X) along a sheet surface (S1) of the medium and a second operation of changing a height position of the processing portion from the sheet surface, and a relative movement mechanism (18) configured to relatively move the medium with respect to the processing portion in a second direction (Y). The processing portion drive mechanism includes the guide member (21) that movably guides the processing portion in the first direction, and the support shaft (25, 26) that is disposed on the side closer to the media than the guide member and has the axial C1 (central portion) in the first direction, and the second operation is set as an operation of changing the height position of the processing portion from the sheet surface integrally with the guide member along with the rotation of the support shaft about the axial center.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a media processing device. [Background technology]

[0002] A cutting device that cuts a medium is known as a processing device for processing a sheet-like medium (for example, Patent Document 1). The cutting device conveys the medium in a predetermined direction based on cutting data, and controls the movement of a cutting cutter in a direction perpendicular to the conveyance direction of the medium, thereby cutting the medium into a predetermined shape (such as a figure or a character).

[0003] This type of processing device can perform various processes on media by selecting the type of processing unit (processing tool). For example, by attaching a writing implement instead of a cutter, it can be used as a processing device for drawing. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-193192 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a processing device, a processing unit is configured to move toward and away from a medium, and the processing unit is moved toward the medium in areas where the processing unit processes the medium (cutting, drawing, etc.), and moved away from the medium in areas where the processing unit does not process the medium. Therefore, the processing unit must perform a feed operation in a direction intersecting the medium transport direction, and a moving toward and away from the medium in a direction that changes the distance from the medium. Conventional processing devices have a problem in that the structure required to perform such multiple directional operations on the processing unit is complex.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide a media processing device that has a simple structure and operates a processing unit with high precision. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] A media processing device according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a processing unit that presses against a sheet-like medium to process it; a processing unit drive mechanism that is capable of performing a first operation of moving the processing unit in a first direction along the sheet surface of the medium and a second operation of changing the height position of the processing unit from the sheet surface; and a relative movement mechanism that moves the medium relative to the processing unit in a second direction that intersects the first direction, wherein the processing unit drive mechanism comprises: a guide member that extends in the first direction, to which the processing unit is attached and that guides the processing unit so that it can move in the first direction; and a support shaft that is positioned closer to the medium than the guide member in a height direction perpendicular to the sheet surface and has its axis center in the first direction, and wherein the second operation is set as an operation that changes the height position of the processing unit from the sheet surface together with the guide member as the support shaft rotates around its axis center. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the above aspect, it is possible to obtain a media processing device that operates the processing unit with high precision using a simple structure. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a media processing device. [Figure 2] FIG. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the media processing device with the media transport mechanism removed. [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the media processing device with the media transport mechanism removed. [Figure 5] FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing a processing unit drive mechanism and a carriage. [Figure 6] FIG. [Figure 7]FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing connecting plates on both sides of the processing unit drive mechanism. [Figure 8] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the processing unit drive mechanism and the carriage taken along line AA in FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 9] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the media processing device taken along line BB in FIG. 2, with the carriage in the processing position. [Figure 10] 3 is a cross-sectional view of the media processing device taken along line BB in FIG. 2, with the carriage in a retracted position. [Figure 11] FIG. 1 is a conceptual diagram showing a load acting on a knife during processing. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing a comparative example in which the arrangement of the rotation center of the second operation is different. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the arrangement of the rotation center in the second operation in the embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the arrangement of the rotation center of the second operation in the modified example. [Figure 15] FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing the arrangement of the rotation center of the second operation in the modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions shown in each drawing are perpendicular to one another. When the media processing device 10 according to this embodiment is placed on a horizontal placement surface, the X-axis and Y-axis directions are horizontal, and the Z-axis direction is the up-down direction (the height direction of the media processing device 10). The +Z direction side is upward, and the -Z direction side is downward. In this embodiment, the X-axis direction is the first direction, the Y-axis direction is the second direction, and the first and second directions each include both the forward and reverse (+, -) directions. In addition, in the Y-axis direction, the +Y direction is the third direction, and the -Y direction is the fourth direction.

[0011] The medium processing device 10 presses a processing part against a sheet surface S1, which is the upper surface of a sheet-like medium S (medium), and performs a predetermined processing on the medium S. The medium processing device 10 can process the medium S along any trajectory by combining a first operation of moving the processing part in the X-axis direction (first direction) along the sheet surface S1 of the medium S, an operation of moving the medium S relative to the processing part in the Y-axis direction (second direction) that intersects with the X-axis direction, and a second operation of changing the height position of the processing part from the sheet surface S1 of the medium S (the distance in the Z-axis direction from the sheet surface S1).

[0012] The medium to be processed S is supplied to the medium processing device 10 superimposed on a backing sheet T. Even when the backing sheet T is not mentioned in the following description, the medium to be processed S is transported and processed while overlapping the backing sheet T. The medium processing device 10 is configured by assembling various components to a main body 11. The medium processing device 10 may also include an exterior member that covers the outside of the main body 11. The main body 11 has a pair of side plates 11a and 11b spaced apart in the X-axis direction, and an internal plate 11c extending in the X-axis direction and connecting the pair of side plates 11a and 11b. A tray 12, which is a base on which the medium to be processed S is placed, is provided on the -Y direction side of the main body 11.

[0013] Conveyor rollers 13 and 14 extending in the X-axis direction are supported between a pair of side plates 11a and 11b. Conveyor rollers 13 and 14 are arranged side by side in the Z-axis direction, and each is rotatable about an axis extending in the X-axis direction. Conveyor roller 13, arranged on the +Z direction side, is supported by a pair of roller support plates 15 on both sides that are rotatable relative to side plates 11a and 11b, and the rotation of the pair of roller support plates 15 changes the distance between conveyor roller 13 and conveyor roller 14 in the Z-axis direction.

[0014] When the transport roller 13 approaches the transport roller 14, the medium to be processed S can be sandwiched between the large-diameter clamping portion 13a of the transport roller 13 and the clamping portion 14a of the transport roller 14. A roller biasing spring 16 is connected to each of the pair of roller support plates 15, and the biasing force of the roller biasing spring 16 biases the transport roller 13 in a direction approaching the transport roller 14 (in a direction to sandwich the medium to be processed S).

[0015] The transport roller 14, located on the -Z direction side, rotates by a driving force generated by a roller drive motor 17 attached to the side of the side plate 11a. When the transport roller 14 is rotated with the medium S sandwiched between the clamping portions 13a and 14a, the medium S is transported in the Y-axis direction. By controlling the roller drive motor 17 to switch the rotation direction of the transport roller 14, the transport direction of the medium S in the Y-axis direction can be switched. At least the transport rollers 13, 14, and roller drive motor 17 constitute a medium transport mechanism 18 that transports the medium S in the Y-axis direction.

[0016] A support plate 19 is attached to the upper surface of the internal plate 11c of the main body 11. The support plate 19 is a plate-shaped member with its longitudinal direction oriented in the X-axis direction. The medium S to be processed, which is transported by the medium transport mechanism 18, is supported on the support plate 19 and moves in the Y-axis direction while keeping the sheet surface S1 approximately horizontal. In the X-axis direction, the area where the medium S to be processed is supported is referred to as the medium support area. In this embodiment, the medium support area can also be referred to as the area through which the medium S to be processed, which is transported by the medium transport mechanism 18, passes.

[0017] 5 and 6, the processing unit drive mechanism 20 can perform a first operation of supporting the processing unit that processes the workpiece medium S and moving the processing unit in the X-axis direction along the workpiece medium S, and a second operation of changing the height position of the processing unit from the sheet surface S1 of the workpiece medium S (the distance in the Z-axis direction from the sheet surface S1). In addition to the components shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the processing unit drive mechanism 20 also includes a drive belt 46, pulleys 47 and 48, and a belt drive motor 49, which will be described later. The processing unit drive mechanism 20 also includes a guide member 21, which is a cylindrical shaft member extending in the X-axis direction, a transmission member 22, which is an elongated member extending in the X-axis direction, and a pair of connection plates 23 and 24, which are connecting members that connect both end portions of the guide member 21 and the transmission member 22. The +X direction ends of the guide member 21 and the transmission member 22 are fixed to a connection plate 23, and the −X direction ends of the guide member 21 and the transmission member 22 are fixed to a connection plate 24.

[0018] 7, connecting plate 23 has connecting hole 23a. The end of guide member 21 on the +X direction side is inserted into connecting hole 23a in a fixed state. Also, connecting plate 23 is formed with shaft support hole 23b located on the -Z direction side of connection hole 23a, and support shaft 25 is inserted into shaft support hole 23b in a fixed state. Support shaft 25 protrudes from connecting plate 23 in the +X direction, and the protruding portion of support shaft 25 has a cylindrical outer circumferential surface.

[0019] The connecting plate 24 has a connecting hole 24a. The end of the guide member 21 on the −X direction side is inserted into the connecting hole 24a in a fixed state. The connecting plate 24 also has a shaft support hole 24b located on the −Z direction side of the connecting hole 24a, and the support shaft 26 is inserted into the shaft support hole 24b in a fixed state. The support shaft 26 protrudes from the connecting plate 24 in the −X direction, and the protruding portion of the support shaft 26 has a cylindrical outer peripheral surface.

[0020] A circular shaft hole 11d (see FIG. 3) penetrating in the X-axis direction is formed in side plate 11a on the +X-direction side of main body 11. A circular shaft hole 11e (see FIG. 4) penetrating in the X-axis direction is formed in side plate 11b on the −X-direction side of main body 11. The centers of shaft holes 11d and 11e are coaxially arranged on an imaginary shaft center C1 extending in the X-axis direction, and a bearing 27 is attached to shaft hole 11d, and a bearing 28 is attached to shaft hole 11e. Bearing 27 and bearing 28 are each composed of annular bearings. A support shaft 25 protruding from connecting plate 23 is inserted into bearing 27 and supported rotatably about shaft center C1. A support shaft 26 protruding from connecting plate 24 is inserted into bearing 28 and supported rotatably about shaft center C1. That is, the support shafts 25 and 26, which are arranged one on each side in the X-axis direction, are supported rotatably about an axis center C1 extending in the X-axis direction relative to the side plates 11a and 11b of the main body 11. The support shafts 25 and 26 are arranged in positions (on the -Z direction side of the guide member 21) closer to the medium S (in other words, the tray 12) in the Z-axis direction than the guide member 21.

[0021] In this way, the rotational motion unit including the guide member 21, the transmission member 22, the connecting plate 23, and the connecting plate 24 is supported rotatably about the axis C1 via the bearings 27, 28 and the support shafts 25, 26 provided on the connecting plates 23, 24. In other words, the guide member 21 and the transmission member 22 rotate together via the connecting plates 23, 24 that are supported at the axis C1 relative to the main body 11.

[0022] An elevation drive motor 30, which is a driving means for changing the height position of the processing portion relative to the sheet surface S1 of the processing medium S, is attached to the side of the side plate 11b. A pinion 30a is provided on the output shaft of the elevation drive motor 30, and the pinion 30a is engaged with a first gear 31.

[0023] As shown in Fig. 6, a transmission portion 32a of a second gear 32 is supported inside the first gear 31. One end of a torsion spring 33 is engaged with a spring hook portion 31a provided inside the first gear 31 and a spring hook portion 32b provided on the transmission portion 32a of the second gear 32. When the first gear 31 rotates, the amount of deflection of the torsion spring 33 increases, and when the torsion spring 33 reaches a predetermined amount of deflection, the rotation is transmitted from the first gear 31 to the second gear 32 via the torsion spring 33. In other words, when the rotation is transmitted from the first gear 31 to the second gear 32, the spring force of the torsion spring 33 is charged.

[0024] The second gear 32 meshes with a sector-shaped first sector gear 34. The first sector gear 34 is provided with a sector-shaped second sector gear 35 that is coaxial with the first sector gear 34 and rotates integrally with it. The second sector gear 35 meshes with a sector-shaped third sector gear 36 fixed to the connecting plate 24. The rotation of the second gear 32 is transmitted to the first sector gear 34, and the second sector gear 35 rotates together with the first sector gear 34. The rotation of the second sector gear 35 is transmitted to the third sector gear 36. When the third sector gear 36 rotates, the guide member 21, transmission member 22, connecting plate 23, and connecting plate 24 rotate integrally about the shaft center C1.

[0025] In this way, when the lift drive motor 30 is driven, force is transmitted by the gears 31, 32, 34, 35, and 36, causing the rotational motion unit composed of the guide member 21, transmission member 22, connecting plate 23, and connecting plate 24 to rotate around the shaft center C1. By controlling the lift drive motor 30 to switch the rotation direction of the pinion 30a, the rotation direction of the guide member 21, transmission member 22, connecting plate 23, and connecting plate 24 can be switched between a first rotation direction R1 and a second rotation direction R2 (see FIGS. 8 to 10). The first gear 31, the second gear 32, the first sector gear 34, and the second sector gear 35 are each supported by the side plate 11b and rotatably supported around a gear axis extending in the X-axis direction. The pressing load of the processing portion on the workpiece S is set according to the force of the torsion spring 33 provided between the first gear 31 and the second gear 32.

[0026] A carriage 40, which is a support unit that supports the processing unit, is supported via a guide member 21 and a transmission member 22 that extend in the X-axis direction. As shown in FIG. 8 , the carriage 40 has a guided hole 40a that penetrates in the X-axis direction, and the guide member 21 is inserted into the guided hole 40a. The axis of the guide member 21 that extends in the X-axis direction is defined as an axis center C2. The guided hole 40a has a cylindrical inner circumferential surface, and the inner circumferential surface of the guided hole 40a slides against the outer circumferential surface of the guide member 21, thereby supporting the carriage 40 so that it can move in the X-axis direction. A force that rotates around the axis center C1 is transmitted from the transmission member 22 to the carriage 40, and the carriage 40 rotates around the axis center C1 together with the guide member 21 and the transmission member 22. The movement of the carriage 40 in the X-axis direction along the guide member 21 is defined as a first operation, and the rotation of the carriage 40 around the axis center C1 is defined as a second operation. The second operation is set as an operation that changes the height position of the processing portion (the knife 56 described later) from the sheet surface S1 together with the guide member 21 and the carriage 40 as the support shafts 25 and 26 rotate around the axial center C1.

[0027] Transmission member 22 is a member with a U-shaped cross section having an upper plate portion 22a, a front plate portion 22b, and a rear plate portion 22c, each of which is a flat plate-shaped wall portion. Front plate portion 22b extends downward from the edge of upper plate portion 22a on the -Y direction side, and rear plate portion 22c extends downward from the edge of upper plate portion 22a on the +Y direction side.

[0028] The carriage 40 includes a main body 41 having a guide hole 40a, and a first transmission part 42 and a second transmission part 43 fixed to the main body 41. The first transmission part 42 is disposed on the +Z direction side of the main body 41, and the second transmission part 43 is disposed on the +Y direction side of the main body 41. A bearing 44 is provided on the first transmission part 42. The bearing 44 is rotatably supported via a support shaft 44a provided on the first transmission part 42 and has a cylindrical outer circumferential surface centered on the support shaft 44a. The support shaft 44a is approximately perpendicular to the X-axis direction and extends approximately parallel to the front plate part 22b of the transmission member 22. The +Y direction surface of the first transmission part 42 faces the -Y direction surface of the front plate part 22b of the transmission member 22. The bearing 44 is disposed so as to be exposed on the +Y direction surface of the first transmission part 42 and is a contact part that comes into contact with the -Y direction surface of the front plate part 22b of the transmission member 22.

[0029] The second transmission part 43 has a protrusion 45 that protrudes in the +Z direction. The protrusion 45 fits inside the U-shaped transmission member 22. A contact surface 45a, which is the surface of the protrusion 45 on the -Y direction side, contacts the surface of the front plate part 22b of the transmission member 22 on the +Y direction side. The bearing 44 and the contact surface 45a are each in contact with the front plate part 22b so as to be relatively movable in the X-axis direction. Furthermore, when the transmission member 22 performs a second operation, which is a rotation about the axis center C1, a force is transmitted from the front plate part 22b to the bearing 44 and the contact surface 45a, and the carriage 40 rotates together with the transmission member 22 about the axis center C1. More specifically, when the bearing 44 is pressed by the front plate portion 22b of the transmission member 22, the carriage 40 rotates in the first rotation direction R1, and when the front plate portion 22b of the transmission member 22 presses the protrusion 45 (contact surface 45a) of the second transmission part 43, the carriage 40 rotates in the second rotation direction R2.

[0030] A belt connection portion 40b is provided on the main body portion 41 of the carriage 40. A drive belt 46 is connected to the belt connection portion 40b. The drive belt 46 is an endless belt that is stretched between a pulley 47 supported on the side plate 11a and a pulley 48 supported on the side plate 11b, and forms a loop in which the drive belt 46 rotates between the pulleys 47 and 48. The pulley 47 is rotated by a driving force generated by a belt drive motor 49 attached to the side of the side plate 11a. When the pulley 47 is rotated by the drive of the belt drive motor 49, the drive belt 46 moves in the X-axis direction and transmits force to the belt connection portion 40b, thereby moving the carriage 40 in the X-axis direction. The movement direction of the carriage 40 in the X-axis direction can be changed by controlling the belt drive motor 49 to change the rotation direction of the pulley 47.

[0031] As described above, in the processing section drive mechanism 20, the carriage 40 can be caused to rotate about the axis center C1 (second operation) by driving the lift drive motor 30. In addition, the carriage 40 can be caused to move in the X-axis direction (first operation) by driving the belt drive motor 49.

[0032] The carriage 40 has a holder detachable portion 40c on the -Y direction side of the main body 41 of the carriage 40, which detachably holds the processing unit holder 50. The processing unit holder 50 is inserted into the holder detachable portion 40c and rotated to be snap-fitted. The processing unit holder 50 has a cylindrical holding tube portion 50a. An annular protrusion 50b is formed at the end of the holding tube portion 50a on the -Z direction side. The holding tube portion 50a has a through hole extending from the upper end to the annular protrusion 50b on the lower end, and a female thread 50c is formed on a portion of the inner surface of the through hole. Various processing units for processing the workpiece S can be attached to the processing unit holder 50. In this embodiment, a knife 56, which is a cutting tool for cutting the workpiece S, is attached as the processing unit. The knife 56 is attached to the processing unit holder 50 via a knife holder 51.

[0033] The knife holder 51 has a generally cylindrical shape that can be inserted into the holding tube portion 50a of the processing unit holder 50. A male thread is provided on a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the knife holder 51 near the lower end inserted into the holding tube portion 50a, which is threadedly engaged with the female thread 50c of the holding tube portion 50a. An accommodation hole extending in the axial direction of the knife holder 51 is formed inside the knife holder 51. A shaft holding hole 51a is provided at the end of the accommodation hole on the +Z direction side, a bearing holding hole 51b is provided at the end of the accommodation hole on the -Z direction side, and a hollow portion 51c is provided between the shaft holding hole 51a and the bearing holding hole 51b. A cylindrical support protrusion 51d that communicates with the shaft holding hole 51a is provided at the end of the knife holder 51 on the +Z direction side. The shaft holding hole 51a, the bearing holding hole 51b, and the hollow portion 51c each have a cylindrical inner peripheral surface, and their centers are aligned coaxially.

[0034] A cap 52 is attached to the end of the knife holder 51 on the +Z direction side. A magnet 53 is supported at a position in the Z axis direction sandwiched between a support protrusion 51d provided on the knife holder 51 and a support protrusion 52a provided inside the cap 52. By attaching the cap 52 to the knife holder 51, the magnet 53 is positioned near the shaft holding hole 51a. An annular grip portion 54 is provided on the outer periphery of the cap 52. The user can attach and detach the knife holder 51 and the cap 52 to and from the processing unit holder 50 by gripping the grip portion 54 and rotating the cap 52 and the knife holder 51.

[0035] Knife unit 55 is inserted into the housing hole of knife holder 51. Knife unit 55 has a rod-shaped shaft 55a, and knife 56, which is a cutting tool, is fixed to the end of shaft 55a on the -Z direction side. In a narrow sense, knife 56 constitutes the processing unit of media processing device 10, but in a broad sense, the processing unit includes the entire knife unit 55 having knife 56 and knife holder 51 that supports knife unit 55.

[0036] An annular knife bearing 57 is attached inside the bearing holding hole 51b of the knife holder 51. A retaining ring 58 prevents the knife bearing 57 from coming out of the bearing holding hole 51b in the -Z direction. The knife unit 55 is supported via the knife bearing 57 so as to be rotatable about a blade axis D1 that passes through the center of the shaft portion 55a.

[0037] With the knife unit 55 inserted into the accommodation hole of the knife holder 51, the end of the shaft 55a on the +Z direction side is inserted into the shaft holding hole 51a and is located near the magnet 53 supported by the support protrusion 51d. At least the shaft 55a of the knife unit 55 is made of a magnetic material and is attracted in the +Z direction by the magnetic force of the magnet 53, maintaining the state in which the knife unit 55 is inserted into the accommodation hole of the knife holder 51.

[0038] With the cap 52, magnet 53, and knife unit 55 attached to the knife holder 51, the knife 56 protrudes from the knife holder 51 in the -Z direction. When attaching the knife holder 51 in this state to the processing unit holder 50, as shown enlarged in Figure 8, the amount of engagement of the male thread of the knife holder 51 with the female thread 50c of the holding tube portion 50a is adjusted so that the tip of the knife 56 protrudes slightly further in the -Z direction than the tip of the annular protrusion 50b of the processing unit holder 50. For example, with the carriage 40 in a processing position (Figure 9) described below, the amount of protrusion of the knife 56 is set so that the knife 56 penetrates the medium to be processed S in the Z axis direction but does not penetrate the backing paper T.

[0039] When the knife unit 55 is held by the knife holder 51, the blade axis D1 of the shaft 55a coincides with the axial center of the knife holder 51. As shown in FIG. 8, the knife 56 has a ridge-like cutting edge surface 56a that is inclined relative to the blade axis D1, and the blade axis D1 passes through the middle of the cutting edge surface 56a. Therefore, the tip 56b of the knife 56, which is located furthest in the -Z direction, is offset from the blade axis D1 in a direction perpendicular to the blade axis D1. The offset amount Q is the amount of offset of the tip 56b of the knife 56 relative to the blade axis D1. A position detection sensor 60 is provided on the underside of the carriage 40. The position detection sensor 60 is a non-contact sensor that optically detects alignment marks (register marks) provided on the backing sheet T or the processing medium S.

[0040] The medium processing device 10 has a control unit 61 (see FIG. 1). The control unit 61 has a processor such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and a storage unit, and controls the operation of each unit of the medium processing device 10 by reading and executing programs stored in the storage unit by the processor. The control unit 61 controls the operation of at least the roller drive motor 17, the lift drive motor 30, and the belt drive motor 49. A detection signal from the position detection sensor 60 is input to the control unit 61.

[0041] The medium processing device 10 is equipped with a position detection unit 62 that detects the rotational positions of the transmission member 22 and carriage 40 around the axial center C1 (see FIG. 1). For example, the position detection unit 62 has an optical sensor such as a photointerrupter, and detects the moment when a part of the transmission member 22 or carriage 40 passes between the light-emitting and light-receiving parts of the photointerrupter and blocks the light. The detection signal of the position detection unit 62 is input to the control unit 61.

[0042] The position detection unit 62 detects the retracted positions ( FIG. 10 ) of the transmission member 22 and carriage 40. The retracted position is a height position where the knife 56, supported via the carriage 40, processing unit holder 50, and knife holder 51, retracts upward from the sheet surface S1 of the medium S to be processed, without cutting into the medium S supported in the medium support area of ​​the medium processing device 10. At the retracted position, the transmission member 22 and carriage 40 rotate in the second rotation direction R2, and the transmission member 22 tilts so that the rear plate portion 22c side is lowered in the −Z direction. As the transmission member 22 tilts, the processing unit holder 50 and knife holder 51, which are located on the −Y direction side of the support shafts 25 and 26 (axial center C1), which are the rotation center of the transmission member 22, tilt in a direction (+Z direction) that increases the distance from the medium S to be processed in the Z axis direction.

[0043] The control unit 61 detects the processing position (FIG. 9) of the transmission member 22 and the carriage 40 based on the drive amount of the lift drive motor 30 when rotating the transmission member 22 and the carriage 40 in the first rotation direction R1, using the retracted position detected by the position detection unit 62 as a reference. For example, if the lift drive motor 30 is a pulse motor, the control unit 61 detects the amount of rotation of the transmission member 22 and the carriage 40 in the first rotation direction R1 and their arrival at the processing position by counting the number of drive pulses of the lift drive motor 30 that rotates the transmission member 22 and the carriage 40 in the first rotation direction R1 from the retracted position. The processing position is the height position at which the knife 56, supported via the carriage 40, the processing unit holder 50, and the knife holder 51, is pressed against and cuts into (processes) the medium S to be processed, which is supported in the medium support area of ​​the medium processing device 10. In the processing position, the upper plate portion 22a of the transmission member 22 is approximately horizontal (approximately perpendicular to the Z-axis direction), the front plate portion 22b and the rear plate portion 22c are approximately vertical (approximately perpendicular to the Y-axis direction), and the blade axis D1 of the knife unit 55 is parallel to the Z-axis direction.

[0044] In this way, in the second operation performed by the processing unit drive mechanism 20, the guide member 21, the transmission member 22, the connecting plate 23, and the connecting plate 24 are rotated in the first rotation direction R1 about the axial center C1, so that the carriage 40 moves toward the processing position. The guide member 21, the transmission member 22, the connecting plate 23, and the connecting plate 24 are rotated in the second rotation direction R2 about the axial center C1, so that the carriage 40 moves toward the retracted position. When the carriage 40 is located at the processing position (FIG. 9), the axial center C1 of the support shafts 25 and 26 and the axial center C2 of the guide member 21 are aligned in the Y-axis direction, and the axial centers C1 and C2 are located on an imaginary plane P1 facing the Z-axis direction.

[0045] The operation of the media processing device 10 configured as described above will now be described. When loading a medium S to be processed into the media processing device 10, the control unit 61 controls the lift drive motor 30 to position the transmission member 22 and carriage 40 in the retracted position (FIG. 10). Next, when the medium S is placed on the tray 12 and inserted between the transport rollers 13 and 14, an intrusion detection sensor (not shown) detects the intrusion of the medium S, and the transport rollers 14 begin to rotate. As a result, the medium S is sandwiched between the clamping portion 13a of the transport rollers 13 and the clamping portion 14a of the transport rollers 14.

[0046] The control unit 61 drives the roller drive motor 17 to feed the medium S in the Y-axis direction, and drives the belt drive motor 49 to adjust the position of the carriage 40 in the X-axis direction, and detects the alignment mark of the medium S with the position detection sensor 60. The medium S is supported below the carriage 40 while placed on the upper surface of the support plate 19. In this state, the medium processing device 10 is ready to cut the medium S.

[0047] Cutting data for cutting the medium S is input to the control unit 61, and cutting is performed based on the cutting data. By driving the belt drive motor 49 to move the carriage 40 in the X-axis direction and driving the roller drive motor 17 to move the medium S in the Y-axis direction, the medium S and the knife 56 can be moved relatively in the horizontal direction along the cutting line. Then, in the area to be cut, the control unit 61 drives the lift drive motor 30 to rotate the transmission member 22 and the carriage 40 in the first rotation direction R1, moving them from the retracted position to the cutting position. As a result, the knife 56 descends and approaches the medium S, and the knife 56, pressed against the sheet surface S1, cuts into the medium S, thereby performing the cutting.

[0048] The knife unit 55 is supported by the knife holder 51 so as to be rotatable about the blade axis D1. Therefore, the angle of the knife 56 that has cut into the medium S is adjusted around the blade axis D1 so that the orientation of the cutting edge 56a always follows the cutting direction due to the cutting load and frictional force acting between the knife 56 and the medium S, allowing for smooth cutting. More specifically, there is a horizontal distance of an offset amount Q (FIG. 8) from the blade axis D1, which is the rotation center of the knife unit 55, to the tip 56b of the knife 56 that has cut into the medium S. As a result, when the medium to be processed S and the knife 56 are moved relatively in the horizontal direction, if the direction of the imaginary line segment connecting the blade axis D1 and the tip 56b does not match the relative movement direction of the knife 56 relative to the medium to be processed S, a force that aligns these directions acts on the knife 56 from the medium to be processed S, and the knife unit 55 rotates around the blade axis D1 relative to the knife holder 51.As a result, while the knife 56 is cutting the medium to be processed S, the direction of the cutting edge surface 56a of the knife 56 follows the direction in which the knife 56 moves relative to the medium to be processed S, and the rotational position of the knife unit 55 is automatically changed around the blade axis D1 so that the tip 56b is positioned rearward in the direction of movement.

[0049] The knife unit 55 is attracted by the magnetic force of the magnet 53, and is supported by the knife holder 51 via the knife bearing 57, so that rotational resistance to the knife unit 55 is extremely small, and the cutting edge 56a of the knife 56 has excellent ability to follow the direction of the cutting edge 56a in response to changes in the cutting direction. In areas not to be cut, the control unit 61 drives the lift drive motor 30 to rotate the transmission member 22 and the carriage 40 in the second rotation direction R2, moving them from the processing position to the retracted position. This moves the knife 56 in the +Z direction away from the medium S to prevent the knife 56 from cutting into the medium S.

[0050] When a series of cutting operations based on the cutting data is completed, the control unit 61 drives the lift drive motor 30 to rotate the transmission member 22 and the carriage 40 in the second rotation direction R2 and hold them in the retracted position. Next, the control unit 61 rotates the transport roller 14 to move the backing sheet T and the medium to be processed S in the -Y direction, and stops the transport roller 14 when the intrusion detection sensor detects that the backing sheet T has come out from between the clamping units 13a and 14a.

[0051] As described above, the processing section drive mechanism 20 of the media processing device 10 can perform a first operation of moving the carriage 40 together with the knife 56 in a first direction (X-axis direction), and a second operation of rotating the carriage 40 together with the knife 56 around an axis (axial center C1) along the first direction (X-axis direction) to change the height position of the knife 56 relative to the medium S to be processed.

[0052] Since the second operation is performed by rotating the carriage 40 around the axis C1 extending in the first direction (X-axis direction) that moves the carriage 40 in the first operation, the first operation and the second operation can be realized with a simple and compact structure. For example, compared to a configuration that includes a first stage that moves linearly in the X-axis direction and a second stage that moves linearly in the Z-axis direction relative to the first stage, and in which the processing unit is supported on the second stage, the structure of the processing unit drive mechanism 20 for performing the second operation is smaller and lighter, and the responsiveness and accuracy of the first operation and the second operation are improved.

[0053] Furthermore, since rotation is transmitted to the carriage 40 via the transmission member 22, the support shafts 25 and 26 that support rotation around the axial center C1 can be set to a simple cylindrical shape that does not have a complex shape for transmitting rotation.

[0054] The transmission member 22, which has a U-shaped cross section and includes an upper plate portion 22a, a front plate portion 22b, and a rear plate portion 22c, is a long member that is long in the X-axis direction, yet has high rigidity. Furthermore, both ends of the guide member 21 and the transmission member 22 are fixed by a pair of connecting plates 23 and 24, and the rotational motion unit combining the guide member 21, the transmission member 22, the connecting plates 23, and the connecting plates 24 has high rigidity. The connecting plates 23 and 24 that constitute this highly rigid rotational motion unit are provided with support shafts 25 and 26 that serve as the rotation center of the second motion, and the support shafts 25 and 26 are supported by bearings 27 and 28 provided on the side plates 11a and 11b of the main body 11, which are highly rigid. As a result, when the lift drive motor 30 is driven, twisting of the rotational motion unit and rattle of the support portions via the support shafts 25 and 26 are suppressed, allowing the carriage 40 to be supported with high precision and rotate stably.

[0055] As described above, the second operation of changing the height position of the knife 56 in the Z-axis direction is performed as a rotation about the axial center C1, which passes through the centers of the support shafts 25 and 26. In the medium processing device 10 of this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 8, the height position of the axial center C1 in the Z-axis direction is set to be substantially the same as the height position of the sheet surface S1 of the medium S to be processed in the Z-axis direction. In other words, in the height direction perpendicular to the sheet surface S1 (Z-axis direction), the height position of the axial center C1 of the support shafts 25 and 26 is substantially the same as the height position of the cutting edge surface 56a when the knife 56 positioned at the processing position cuts the medium S to be processed (see FIG. 9). The configuration in which the height position of the axial center C1 is substantially the same as the height position of the sheet surface S1 or the cutting edge surface 56a includes a case in which these height positions are completely the same and a case in which these height positions are slightly different from each other. For example, even if the height positions of the components are the same in the design and the height positions of the components in the actual product differ slightly due to precision errors within the allowable range, the requirement that the height positions of the components be approximately the same is met.

[0056] Setting the height position of the axial center C1 will be described with reference to the conceptual diagrams shown in Figure 11 and subsequent figures. In order to eliminate the influence of load fluctuations due to the offset of the tip 56b of the knife 56 with respect to the blade axis D1, which will be described later, the shape of the knife 56 in Figures 12 and 13 is assumed to be such that the tip of the blade is located on the blade axis D1 and that the cutting edge surfaces are symmetrical on the +Y and -Y sides with respect to the blade axis D1.

[0057] When the knife 56 is pressed against the medium S to make a cut and then moved in the Y-axis direction (second direction) to perform the cut, a load such as that shown in FIG. 11 acts on the knife 56. The overall load acting on the knife 56 during cutting is the total cutting load Fa, the vertical component of the total cutting load Fa is the cutting pressure reaction force Fr, and the horizontal component of the total cutting load Fa is the cutting load Fc. The cutting pressure reaction force Fr and the cutting load Fc are determined according to conditions such as the material and thickness of the medium S to be processed and the shape of the knife 56. In the following explanation, it is assumed that the conditions regarding the material and thickness of the medium S to be processed are constant.

[0058] The cut pressure reaction force Fr is a reaction force that tends to lift the knife 56 in the +Z direction when cutting the medium to be processed S. The cut pressure reaction force Fr varies depending on the angle of the cutting edge surface 56a of the knife 56 relative to the sheet surface S1, and the closer the inclination of the cutting edge surface 56a is to the horizontal direction (a direction parallel to the sheet surface S1), the greater the cut pressure reaction force Fr. The torsion spring 33, which is disposed in the path that transmits the driving force of the lift drive motor 30 in the processing unit drive mechanism 20, presses the carriage 40 in the -Z direction with a pressure spring load Fs that is greater than the cut pressure reaction force Fr when the carriage 40 is located at the processing position (FIG. 9), thereby preventing the knife 56 from lifting up.

[0059] The cutting load Fc is a load (resistance) acting horizontally on the knife 56 at the height of the sheet surface S1 when the medium S is moved in the Y-axis direction to be cut. When cutting the medium S in the +Y direction (third direction) (when the medium S is transported in the -Y direction to be cut), the rotation of the knife unit 55 about the blade axis D1 causes the cutting edge surface 56a to face the +Y direction, and a cutting load Fc acts on the knife 56 in the -Y direction. When cutting the medium S in the -Y direction (fourth direction) (when the medium S is transported in the +Y direction to be cut), the rotation of the knife unit 55 about the blade axis D1 causes the cutting edge surface 56a to face the -Y direction, and a cutting load Fc acts on the knife 56 in the +Y direction.

[0060] When cutting the medium S with the knife 56, if the load applied to the knife 56 varies significantly depending on the cutting direction, the cutting accuracy may vary. For example, if the load on the knife 56 fluctuates significantly, the medium S may not be cut sufficiently in a certain cutting direction, resulting in a poor cut. In the comparative example shown in FIG. 12, the rotation center of the second operation, which changes the height position of the knife 56 relative to the sheet surface S1, is set farther from the sheet surface S1 than the axial center C1, which is the rotation center of the second operation in the above embodiment. More specifically, the axial center C2 of the guide member 21, which is a shaft member extending in the X-axis direction, is set as the rotation center of the second operation. The carriage 40 is configured to rotate together with the transmission member 22 around the axial center C2. The horizontal distance (Y-axis direction) from the axial center C2, which is the rotation center of the carriage 40, to the blade axis D1 of the knife unit 55 is defined as L. The vertical distance (Z-axis direction) from the sheet surface S1 to the axial center C2 is defined as H. The angle formed by an imaginary line connecting the point where the blade axis D1 intersects with the sheet surface S1 and the axis center C2 with respect to the sheet surface S1 is defined as α. If α≠0, when a cutting load Fc in the Y-axis direction acts on the knife 56 at the height position of the sheet surface S1, a component force that tends to rotate the carriage 40 around the axis center C2 is generated.

[0061] For example, when a cutting load Fc acts in the +Y direction at the height position of the sheet surface S1, a force acts on the carriage 40, which is rotatable about an axial center C2 located on the +Z side of the sheet surface S1, in a direction that causes the knife 56 to dig into the medium S. When a cutting load Fc acts in the -Y direction at the height position of the sheet surface S1, a force acts on the carriage 40, which is rotatable about an axial center C2 located on the +Z side of the sheet surface S1, in a direction that causes the knife 56 to move away from (away from) the medium S. In this way, if the height position of the axial center C2 is misaligned with the height position of the sheet surface S1, the pressing load of the knife 56 against the medium S will vary depending on the direction in which the cutting load Fc acts (the direction in which the medium S is transported during cutting).

[0062] The relationship between the height distance H from the sheet surface S1 to the axial center C2 and the horizontal distance L from the axial center C2 to the blade axis D1 is k = H / L. Due to the influence of the above load fluctuations, the total pressure load F acting on the knife 56 during cutting is F = Fs + Fc × k when the cutting load Fc acts in the +Y direction, and F = Fs - Fc × k when the cutting load Fc acts in the -Y direction.

[0063] Therefore, in setting the position of the axial center, which is the rotation center of the second operation of the carriage 40, if the horizontal distance L from the blade axis D1 to the axial center is constant, the smaller the height distance H from the sheet surface S1 to the axial center (the smaller the angle α), the smaller the force that causes the knife 56 to bite into the medium S when a cutting load Fc acts in the +Y direction, and the smaller the force that causes the knife 56 to move away from the medium S when a cutting load Fc acts in the -Y direction. As a result, if the height distance H from the sheet surface S1 to the axial center is reduced, the difference between the total pressing load F when cutting the medium S toward the +Y direction and the total pressing load F when cutting the medium S toward the -Y direction becomes smaller. From this technical perspective, in this disclosure, with regard to the arrangement of components in the height direction (Z-axis direction) perpendicular to the sheet surface S1, at least the support shaft 25 and support shaft 26, which are the parts that serve as the rotation center of the second operation in the processing unit drive mechanism 20, are arranged closer to the sheet surface S1 of the processed medium S than the guide member 21 that guides the first operation.

[0064] 13, by setting the height position of the shaft center C1, which is the rotation center of the second operation of the carriage 40, to be approximately the same as the height position of the sheet surface S1 (setting H=0, α=0), the load fluctuation described above does not occur when the cutting load Fc is applied in the +Y direction and when the cutting load Fc is applied in the -Y direction, and there is essentially no difference between the total pressing load F when cutting the medium S toward the +Y direction and the total pressing load F when cutting the medium S toward the -Y direction. As a result, variation in the load on the knife 56 caused by differences in the transport direction of the medium S by the medium transport mechanism 18 is prevented, and uniform processing quality can be obtained regardless of the direction of transport (Y-axis direction) when cutting.

[0065] When the processing unit is a knife, which is a cutting tool, the operating resistance and reaction force experienced during cutting are large, which tends to result in large load fluctuations due to differences in the processing direction in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, applying the positioning of the axis center of the second operation according to the present disclosure is particularly useful when the processing unit is a knife. However, the effects of the present disclosure can also be obtained when the processing unit performs processing other than cutting. For example, when the processing unit is a writing tool such as a pen, if the writing tool is pressed against the workpiece medium S and the workpiece medium S is transported in the Y-axis direction, frictional force acting between the workpiece medium S and the writing tool creates movement resistance. This movement resistance acts as a load similar to the cutting load Fc described above. Therefore, by applying the positioning of the axis center of the second operation according to the present disclosure, the pressure load of the writing tool on the workpiece medium S remains roughly constant, even when the processing direction in the Y-axis direction changes between the +Y direction and the -Y direction, resulting in excellent processing quality.

[0066] As described above, from the viewpoint of suppressing load fluctuations due to differences in the conveyance direction of the workpiece medium S, the support shafts 25 and 26 having the axial center C1, which is the rotation center of the second operation, may be positioned closer to the workpiece medium S than the guide member 21, which guides the carriage 40 so that it can move in the X-axis direction, at least in the height direction perpendicular to the sheet surface S1. More preferably, as shown in FIG. 13 , the height position of the axial center C1, which is the rotation center of the second operation, in the height direction perpendicular to the sheet surface S1 is set to be approximately the same as the height position of the sheet surface S1. Furthermore, if the processing unit includes a knife 56 as a cutting tool, the height position of the axial center C1 of the support shafts 25 and 26 may be set to be approximately the same as the height position of the cutting edge surface 56a of the knife 56 positioned at the processing position when cutting the workpiece medium S.

[0067] By arranging the height positions of the support shafts 25 and 26 closer to the workpiece S than the height position of the guide member 21, the distance from the shaft center C1, which is the rotation center of the second operation of the carriage 40, to the point (bearing 44, protrusion 45) where the transmission member 22 transmits the force in the rotation direction of the second operation to the carriage 40 is greater than in the comparative example of Fig. 12. As a result, when the transmission member 22 presses the carriage 40, the load on the transmission member 22 per unit rotation angle of the carriage 40 is reduced, and the driving force of the lift drive motor 30 can be efficiently used to perform the second operation.

[0068] When the height position of the rotation center for the second operation is set close to the height position of the sheet surface S1 of the workpiece medium S or set to be substantially the same as the height position of the sheet surface S1, it is necessary to configure the support shaft, which serves as the rotation center for the second operation, so as not to interfere with the internal structure of the main body 11 that supports the workpiece medium S (such as the internal plate 11c and the support plate 19) or the workpiece medium S itself. In the medium processing device 10 of this embodiment, the support shafts 25 and 26 are positioned at positions offset in the X-axis direction from the medium support area where the workpiece medium S is supported. More specifically, one support shaft 25 and one support shaft 26 are positioned on both sides of the X-axis direction (the +X side and the -X side) across the medium support area where the workpiece medium S is supported. This allows the support shafts 25 and 26 to be positioned close to the sheet surface S1 or substantially the same height position as the sheet surface S1 without interfering with the internal plate 11c or the support plate 19 that support the workpiece medium S or interfering with the workpiece medium S.

[0069] Support shaft 25 and support shaft 26 are provided on connecting plates 23 and 24, which respectively connect one end and the other end in the X-axis direction of guide member 21 and transmission member 22. Support shaft 25 is supported by a bearing 27 arranged on side plate 11a of main body 11 adjacent to the +X-direction side of connecting plate 23, and support shaft 26 is supported by a bearing 28 arranged on side plate 11b of main body 11 adjacent to the -X-direction side of connecting plate 24. In addition, a rotational motion unit combining guide member 21, transmission member 22, connecting plate 23, and connecting plate 24 has high rigidity, making twisting of the rotational motion unit and misalignment of support shaft 25 and support shaft 26 unlikely to occur. For these reasons, support shaft 25 and support shaft 26, which are arranged at positions separated in the X-axis direction, are supported via highly rigid main body 11, forming a strong, double-supported support structure. This allows the second motion, which is the rotation of carriage 40 around axis center C1, to be performed with high stability and high precision. Furthermore, the support shafts 25 and 26 are supported via bearings 27 and 28, respectively, which allows the carriage 40 to rotate smoothly around the axis center C1 with little resistance.

[0070] In addition, a support structure via a support shaft 25 having a short length in the X-axis direction is arranged in a narrow range in the X-axis direction from the connecting plate 23 to the side plate 11a, and a support structure via a support shaft 26 having a short length in the X-axis direction is arranged in a narrow range in the X-axis direction from the connecting plate 24 to the side plate 11b, and the support structures for causing the carriage 40 to perform the second operation are efficiently accommodated on both sides of the medium support area where the processed medium S is supported.

[0071] As shown in FIGS. 8 to 10 , the support shafts 25 and 26 and the guide member 21 are disposed at substantially the same position in the Y-axis direction. More specifically, when the carriage 40 is positioned at the processing position, the axial centers C1 of the support shafts 25 and 26 and the axial center C2 of the guide member 21 are disposed at the same position in the Y-axis direction (on a plane P1 facing the Z-axis direction) in the side views shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 . This configuration prevents the processing unit drive mechanism 20 from becoming larger in size in the Y-axis direction. Furthermore, since the weight balance of the processing unit drive mechanism 20 in the Y-axis direction is achieved around the vicinity of the guide member 21 that guides the first operation of the carriage 40, by disposing the support shafts 25 and 26 at positions that do not deviate from the guide member 21 in the Y-axis direction, the rotational operation (second operation) about the axial center C1 can be performed smoothly and efficiently without disrupting the weight balance of the processing unit drive mechanism 20 in the Y-axis direction.

[0072] 13, the knife 56 of this embodiment has a single-edged structure with a cutting edge surface 56a on only one side, and as shown in Fig. 8, the position of the tip 56b of the knife 56 is shifted (offset amount Q) with respect to the blade axis D1 which is the center of rotation of the knife unit 55. As shown in Fig. 11, the knife 56 rotates around the blade axis D1, and the position of the tip 56b with respect to the blade axis D1 changes in the Y-axis direction when the medium S to be processed is transported and cut in the -Y direction and when the medium S to be processed is transported and cut in the +Y direction.

[0073] For example, suppose that the distance L in the Y-axis direction from the axial center C1, which is the rotation center of the carriage 40 during the second operation, to the blade axis D1 of the knife unit 55 is 24 mm, and the offset Q of the tip 56b of the knife 56 relative to the blade axis D1 is 0.5 mm. In the case of FIG. 14 , in which processing is performed toward the +Y direction (third direction) of the medium S to be processed, the knife 56 rotates so that the cutting edge surface 56a faces the +Y direction, and the tip 56b is positioned 0.5 mm offset in the -Y direction relative to the blade axis D1. Then, the distance Lf in the Y-axis direction from the position where the axial center C1, which is the rotation center of the carriage 40, is located to the position where the tip 56b of the knife 56 is located is 24.5 mm. 15, in which processing proceeds toward the -Y direction (fourth direction) of the workpiece S, the knife 56 rotates so that the cutting edge surface 56a faces the -Y direction, and the tip 56b is positioned 0.5 mm off the +Y direction relative to the blade axis D1. Then, the distance Ln in the Y-axis direction from the position where the axis center C1, which is the rotation center of the carriage 40, is located to the position where the tip 56b of the knife 56 is located is 23.5 mm.

[0074] When the height position of the shaft center C1, which is the rotation center of the second operation, is set to the same height position as the sheet surface S1, if the distance Ln and the distance Lf are different, the pressure load Fsn acting from the torsion spring 33 to the knife 56 when the distance Ln is different from the pressure load Fsf acting from the torsion spring 33 to the knife 56 when the distance Lf is different. In order to improve the cutting accuracy, it is desirable to minimize the variation in the load on the knife 56 caused by the difference between the distance Ln and the distance Lf.

[0075] 14 and 15 show modified examples in which the position of the rotation center (axial center C1) of the second operation is adjusted to take into account the case where the distance Ln is different from the distance Lf. Taking into account the effect of the offset of the tip 56b of the knife 56 relative to the blade axis D1, the height position of the axial center C1, which is the rotation center of the second operation, is set below the height position of the sheet surface S1, i.e., on the −Z direction side of the sheet surface S1. In other words, the guide member 21 is disposed in one region (+Z direction side) with respect to the sheet surface S1 in the height direction (Z axis direction) perpendicular to the sheet surface S1, while the axial centers C1 of the support shafts 25 and 26 are disposed in the other region (−Z direction side) with respect to the sheet surface S1 in the height direction (Z axis direction) perpendicular to the sheet surface S1.

[0076] By setting the height position of the axial center C1 on the −Z side of the height position of the sheet surface S1, the difference between the pressure loads Fsn and Fsf can be reduced while applying a constant torque from the torsion spring 33. The reason for this is that, contrary to the comparative example shown in FIG. 12 (in which the axial center C2, which is the rotation center of the second operation, is located on the +Z side of the sheet surface S1), when the cutting load Fc acts on the −Y side (FIG. 14), a force acts on the carriage 40, which can rotate around the axial center C1, in a direction that causes the knife 56 to dig into the medium S, and when the cutting load Fc acts on the +Y side (FIG. 15), a force acts on the carriage 40, which can rotate around the axial center C1, in a direction that causes the knife 56 to move away from the medium S. The action of these forces has the effect of reducing the difference between the pressure loads Fsn and Fsf caused by the difference between the distances Ln and Lf. Furthermore, by appropriately setting the height position of the shaft center C1 on the −Z direction side of the height position of the seat surface S1, the pressing load Fsf and the pressing load Fsn can be made to be approximately equal to each other.

[0077] The height position of the shaft center C1 for making the pressing load Fsn and the pressing load Fsf coincide with each other can be calculated using the following equation. H=Tz(Ln-Lf) / (Fc(Ln+Lf)) H is the height distance from the sheet surface S1 to the axial center C1, and in particular represents the amount of deviation of the axial center C1 in the -Z direction relative to the sheet surface S1. Tz is the required rotational torque generated by the torsion spring 33 (torque acting in the direction pressing the knife 56 against the medium S to be processed), and is a predetermined value according to the specifications of the torsion spring 33. Fc is the cutting load acting horizontally on the knife 56 when cutting the medium S to be processed, and is a predetermined value according to the material and thickness of the medium S to be processed. As long as the material and thickness of the medium S are constant, the cutting load Fc is approximately the same whether cutting is performed in the +Y direction relative to the medium S or in the -Y direction relative to the medium S to be processed.

[0078] As an example, when cutting a processed medium S that is Kent paper with a thickness of 0.3 mm, the cutting load Fc is 8.1 N, and the required rotational torque Tz applied by the torsion spring 33 is 83.0 mmN. Substituting 23.5 mm for the distance Ln and 24.5 mm for the distance Lf into the above formula, H is approximately -0.21 (mm). Therefore, by setting the axis center C1 at a position shifted approximately 0.21 mm in the -Z direction from the height position of the sheet surface S1, the pressing load Fsn and the pressing load Fsf can be made to approximately match.

[0079] In this way, while taking the configuration (Figure 13) in which the height position of the axial center C1 is aligned with the height position of the sheet surface S1 as the basis, when the processing unit is equipped with a knife 56 having a single-edged structure, by applying adjustment of the height position of the axial center C1 (Figures 14 and 15) that takes into account the effect of offset of the tip 56b of the knife 56 relative to the blade axis D1, the effect of operating the processing unit with high precision can be improved.

[0080] As described above, the media processing device 10 of this embodiment has a simple structure for the processing unit drive mechanism 20 that supports and operates the knife 56, which is the processing unit, and suppresses load fluctuations due to differences in the transport direction of the processed medium S by the media transport mechanism 18, making it possible to operate the knife 56 with high precision and stability.

[0081] The type of processing performed on the medium to be processed S is not limited to cutting with the knife 56. For example, it is possible to remove the knife holder 51 from the processing unit holder 50 and instead attach a writing implement to the processing unit holder 50 to perform drawing processing on the medium to be processed S using the writing implement. Furthermore, it is also possible to select a processing unit other than a knife or writing implement to perform processing on the medium to be processed S other than cutting or drawing. It is also possible to remove the processing unit holder 50 from the holder attachment / detachment part 40c of the carriage 40 and attach a processing unit such as a writing implement directly to the holder attachment / detachment part 40c.

[0082] The above-described embodiment is a specific example shown to facilitate understanding of the invention, and the present invention is not limited to this embodiment, and various modifications and changes are possible within the scope that does not deviate from the gist of the invention.

[0083] In the medium processing device 10 of the above embodiment, the first direction (X-axis direction) in which the processing unit is moved by the processing unit drive mechanism 20 and the second direction (Y-axis direction) in which the medium to be processed S is moved relative to the processing unit using the medium transport mechanism 18 are set to be approximately perpendicular, but the present invention can also be applied to a configuration in which the first direction and the second direction are not perpendicular to each other. In other words, the first direction and the second direction may be directions that intersect each other.

[0084] In the media processing device 10 of the above embodiment, the processing unit drive mechanism 20 does not move the processing unit in the Y-axis direction (second direction) (except for a slight positional change in the Y-axis direction associated with the rotation of the second operation), but moves the processing target medium S in the Y-axis direction (second direction) using the medium conveyance mechanism 18. However, the means for relatively moving the processing target medium S and the processing unit in the second direction is not limited to the configuration of the above embodiment, and the processing unit may be configured to move in the Y-axis direction (second direction). For example, it is possible to configure the parts corresponding to the side plates 11a and 11b to be movable in the Y-axis direction, so that the entire processing unit including the carriage 40 moves in the Y-axis direction. Therefore, the medium conveyance mechanism 18 of the above embodiment is one example of a relative movement mechanism for relatively moving the processing target medium S and the processing unit in the second direction, and other types of relative movement mechanisms may also be applied.

[0085] In the medium processing device 10 of the above embodiment, support shafts 25, 26 are fixed to connecting plates 23, 24 on both sides that connect guide member 21 and transmission member 22, and support shafts 25, 26 are rotatably supported by bearings 27, 28 provided on side plates 11a, 11b on both sides of main body 11. Alternatively, support shafts that are fixed (non-rotating) to side plates 11a, 11b of main body 11 may be provided, and shaft holes and bearings for inserting these support shafts may be provided on connecting plates 23, 24. In other words, the second operation that changes the height position of the processing portion (knife 56) from sheet surface S1 may be configured either such that the support shaft itself rotates together with transmission member 22, carriage 40, etc. (as in the above embodiment), or such that the support shaft does not rotate but the transmission member 22, carriage 40, etc. rotate relative to the support shaft. [Explanation of symbols]

[0086] 10: Media processing device, 11: Main body, 12: Tray, 18: Media transport mechanism (relative movement mechanism), 20: Processing unit drive mechanism, 21: Guide member, 22: Transmission member, 23: Connecting plate, 24: Connecting plate, 25: Support shaft, 26: Support shaft, 27: Bearing, 28: Bearing, 30: Lifting drive motor, 33: Torsion spring, 40: Carriage, 46: Drive belt, 49: Belt drive motor, 50: Processing unit holder, 51: Knife holder, 55: Knife unit, 56: Knife (processing unit), 61: Control unit, C1: Shaft center, D1: Blade shaft, S: Media to be processed (media), S1: Sheet surface, X: X-axis direction (first direction), Y: Y-axis direction (second direction), Z: Z-axis direction (height direction)

Claims

1. a processing unit that presses against a sheet-like medium to process it; a processing unit drive mechanism capable of performing a first operation of moving the processing unit in a first direction along the sheet surface of the medium and a second operation of changing a height position of the processing unit from the sheet surface; a relative movement mechanism that moves the medium relative to the processing unit in a second direction that intersects with the first direction; Equipped with The processing unit drive mechanism includes: a guide member extending in the first direction, to which the processing unit is attached, and which guides the processing unit so that the processing unit can move in the first direction; a support shaft that is disposed at a position closer to the medium than the guide member in a height direction perpendicular to the sheet surface and has an axis center in the first direction; Equipped with The second operation is set as an operation of changing a height position of the processing portion from the sheet surface together with the guide member in accordance with the rotation of the support shaft about the axis center. A media processing device characterized by:

2. In the height direction, the height position of the axis center of the support shaft is substantially the same as the height position of the seat surface.

2. The media processing device according to claim 1.

3. the guide member is disposed in one region with respect to the sheet surface in the height direction, The shaft center of the support shaft is disposed in another region with respect to the seat surface in the height direction.

2. The media processing device according to claim 1.

4. The height position of the axis center of the support shaft is a position at which a pressure load acting on the processing portion when processing the medium in a third direction substantially coincides with a pressure load acting on the processing portion when processing the medium in a fourth direction that is opposite to the third direction.

4. The media processing device according to claim 3.

5. The support shaft and the guide member are disposed at substantially the same position in the second direction.

5. The medium processing device according to claim 1, wherein the medium processing device is a disk drive.

6. the support shafts are arranged, in the first direction, on both sides of a medium support area in which the medium is supported; 5. The medium processing device according to claim 1, wherein the medium processing device is a disk drive.

7. a main body supporting the processing unit drive mechanism includes a pair of side plates spaced apart in the first direction; The support shaft is rotatably supported via bearings provided on the pair of side plates, 7. The media processing device according to claim 6.

8. The processing unit drive mechanism includes: a transmission member extending in the first direction, rotating integrally with the guide member about the axis of the support shaft, and transmitting the rotation of the second operation to the processing portion; a pair of connecting members connecting the guide member and the transmission member at both ends in the first direction, The pair of connecting members each include the support shaft.

7. The media processing device according to claim 6.

Images