Image recording device

Abstract

The cutter unit can be easily attached to and detached from the carriage. [Solution] A lever 9 is rotatably attached to the carriage 8. By rotating the lever 9 relative to the carriage 8, it is possible to selectively take between a fixed position that secures the cutter unit 6 to the carriage 8 and a released position that releases the cutter unit 6 from the carriage 8.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an image recording apparatus including a cutter for cutting a sheet-like medium.

Background Art

[0002] There is known an image recording apparatus that records an image while conveying a long sheet-like medium such as paper, cloth, or a label along a conveyance path. Some of such image recording apparatuses include a cutter for cutting the sheet-like medium. Since the cutting function of the cutter may deteriorate due to adhesion or wear of the label glue, it is preferable that the cutter be replaceable.

[0003] Patent Document 1 describes that a cutter holder that houses a cutter is configured to be detachable from a cutter base, so that the cutter can be replaced together with the cutter holder. The cutter holder is fixed to the cutter base by fixing members such as screws and bolts. By releasing the fixing of the cutter holder by the fixing members, the cutter holder can be removed from the cutter base.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] In the configuration of Patent Document 1, when attaching and detaching the cutter holder (cutter unit) to and from the cutter base (carriage), a complicated operation of turning fixing members such as screws and bolts to release and re-fix the cutter holder is required.

[0006] An object of the present invention is to provide an image recording apparatus that can easily attach and detach a cutter unit to and from a carriage. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The image recording apparatus according to the present invention comprises a transport mechanism for transporting a sheet-like medium along a transport path, a recording unit for recording an image on the sheet-like medium transported by the transport mechanism, a cutter unit including a cutter for cutting the sheet-like medium along the transport path, a carriage to which the cutter unit is detachably attached, and a lever rotatably attached to the carriage, wherein the lever can be rotated relative to the carriage to selectively take between a fixed position in which the cutter unit is fixed to the carriage and a released position in which the cutter unit is released from its fixation to the carriage. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to the present invention, when attaching or detaching the cutter unit from the carriage, it is only necessary to rotate a lever, eliminating the need for the cumbersome process of rotating fixing members such as screws or bolts to release and re-fix the cutter unit. Therefore, the cutter unit can be easily attached to and detached from the carriage. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view of a printer according to the first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] This is a schematic side view showing the internal structure of the printer. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the cutter unit and scanning mechanism included in the printer. [Figure 4] (a) is a side cross-sectional view showing the lever in the fixed position. (b) is a side cross-sectional view showing the lever in the released position. [Figure 5] This is a perspective cross-sectional view showing the cutter unit, carriage, and lever. [Figure 6] This is a perspective view showing the carriage. [Figure 7](a) is a schematic side view showing the lever in the fixed position and the cover in the closed position. (b) is a schematic side view showing the cover in contact with the lever in the released position and unable to take the closed position. (c) is a schematic side view showing the cover moving from the open position to the closed position in contact with the lever in the released position, causing the lever to move from the released position to the fixed position. [Figure 8] This is a block diagram showing the electrical configuration of a printer. [Figure 9] This is a plan view showing a cutter unit according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 10] (a) is a side cross-sectional view of the cutter unit in Figure 9. (b) is a side cross-sectional view showing the cutter unit in Figure 9 mounted on the carriage. [Figure 11] This is a plan view showing a rotating member attached to a carriage in a third embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] This is a side cross-sectional view showing the state in which the circumferential surface of the rotating member is in contact with another cutter in a third embodiment of the present invention. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] <First Embodiment> As shown in Figure 1, the printer 1 (image recording device) according to the first embodiment of the present invention comprises a housing 1a, a paper feed tray 10 that is detachable from the housing 1a, and a paper output tray 90.

[0011] Printer 1 further comprises a transport mechanism 3, a head 5, a cutter unit 6, a scanning mechanism 4, and a control unit 100, as shown in Figure 2. The elements of the transport mechanism 3, excluding the rollers 51 and 52 described later, the head 5, the cutter unit 6, the scanning mechanism 4, and the control unit 100 are supported by the housing 1a. The rollers 51 and 52 are supported by the paper feed tray 10.

[0012] The conveying mechanism 3 is configured to convey the sheet P in the conveying direction along the conveying path T, and includes rollers 51 and 52, a roller 13 and an arm 14, roller pairs 3a to 3c, a separating member 3f, a pair of guide members 3g, and a conveying motor 3x (see FIG. 8) for driving each of the above rollers.

[0013] The conveying path T is a path that passes between a pair of guide members 3g from the paper feed tray 10 and heads toward the paper discharge tray 90 through below the head 5. The conveying path T has a U-shaped portion on the upstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the head 5. In the U-shaped portion, a separating member 3f, a cutter unit 6, roller pairs 3a, and a pair of guide members 3g are arranged. The cutter unit 6 and the roller pairs 3a are arranged at the bottom Ux of the U-shaped portion. The cutter unit 6 is arranged on the downstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the separating member 3f and on the upstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the roller pairs 3a.

[0014] The paper feed tray 10 includes a roll paper storage portion 11 capable of storing a roll paper R, and a cut paper storage portion 12 capable of storing a plurality of cut papers (not shown) stacked in the vertical direction. The cut papers stored in the cut paper storage portion 12 are supported on the upper surface of a support plate 19 arranged along the bottom plate 18 of the paper feed tray 10. In the paper feed tray 10, when using the roll paper R, the cut papers are removed from the cut paper storage portion 12 (see FIG. 2), and when using the cut papers, the roll paper R is removed from the roll paper storage portion 11.

[0015] The sheet P is a general term for a sheet unwound from the roll paper R and a cut paper, and corresponds to the "sheet-like medium" of the present invention. The cut paper refers to a paper having a length shorter than that of the paper constituting the roll paper R along the conveying path T.

[0016] The roll paper R is a long sheet P wound in a roll shape around the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrical core member Rc. The roll paper R is stored in the roll paper storage portion 11 with its rotation axis Rx (the central axis of the core member Rc) along the left-right direction.

[0017] Rollers 51 and 52 are positioned at the bottom of the roll paper storage section 11. Rollers 51 and 52 are rotatable about an axis that runs in the left-right direction. When the roll paper R is stored in the roll paper storage section 11, the outer surface of its lower portion is supported by rollers 51 and 52. When setting the roll paper R, the roll paper R is manually rotated in the direction of the arrow Q in Figure 2 to unwind the paper P from the roll paper R. Then the paper P is passed through the gap between the lower surface of the support plate 19 and the upper surface of the bottom plate 18, and the leading edge of the paper P is held between roller 13 and roller 15. In this state, the transport motor 3x (see Figure 8) is driven by the control unit 100, and the rollers 51, 52, and 13 rotate, feeding the paper P unwound from the roll paper R backward.

[0018] The roller 13 is supported at one end 14a of the arm 14 and is rotatable about an axis 13x that runs in the left-right direction. The other end 14b of the arm 14 is supported by the housing 1a via an axis 14x that runs in the left-right direction. The arm 14 is rotatable about the axis 14x with the other end 14b as a pivot point.

[0019] When the paper feed tray 10 is mounted on the housing 1a and no cut paper is stored in the cut paper storage section 12, the roller 13 contacts the upper surface of the support plate 19 (see Figure 2). When the paper feed tray 10 is mounted on the housing 1a and cut paper is stored in the cut paper storage section 12, the roller 13 contacts the uppermost layer of cut paper stored in the cut paper storage section 12. At this time, the transport motor 3x (see Figure 8) is driven by the control unit 100, and the roller 13 rotates, feeding the cut paper backward.

[0020] The paper P (paper unwound from a roll of paper R stored in the roll paper storage section 11, or cut paper stored in the cut paper storage section 12) fed from the paper tray 10 by the roller 13 comes into contact with the separating member 3f, moves along the separating member 3f, and is guided to the roller pair 3a.

[0021] The separating member 3f is positioned behind the roller 13 and extends diagonally, intersecting both the vertical and horizontal directions. The surface of the separating member 3f has fine irregularities that repeat along the transport path T. These irregularities suppress double feeding (the phenomenon in which multiple cut sheets are transported overlapping each other). In other words, the separating member 3f has the function of separating the cut sheets that come into contact with the roller 13 from the other cut sheets.

[0022] The head 5 (corresponding to the "recording unit" of the present invention) includes a plurality of nozzles (not shown) formed on its lower surface and a driver IC 5x (see Figure 8). When the paper P transported by the transport mechanism 3 passes a position facing the lower surface of the head 5, the driver IC 5x is driven by the control unit 100, causing ink to be ejected from the nozzles, the ink to land on the paper P, and an image to be recorded on the paper P. The head 5 may be either a line type, which ejects ink from the nozzles while its position is fixed, or a serial type, which ejects ink from the nozzles while moving in the left-right direction.

[0023] The cutter unit 6 is configured to cut the paper P unwound from the roll paper R between the separating member 3f and the roller pair 3a in the transport path T, and includes a cutter 60 and a holder 61 for holding the cutter 60. The cutter unit 6 is detachably mounted on the carriage 8.

[0024] The carriage 8 is reciprocable in the scanning direction (left-right direction) by the scanning mechanism 4. The scanning direction is parallel to the paper P along the transport path T and intersects with the transport direction A (see Figure 2: the transport direction near the cutter unit 6).

[0025] As shown in Figure 3, the scanning mechanism 4 includes a guide rail 4x extending in the scanning direction, a pair of pulleys 4a spaced apart from each other in the scanning direction (only one of the pair of pulleys 4a is shown in Figure 3), a belt 4b wound around the pair of pulleys 4a and to which the carriage 8 is fixed, and a cutting motor 6x (see Figure 8). The pair of pulleys 4a and the belt 4b are attached to the guide rail 4x. The guide rail 4x supports the carriage 8 fixed to the belt 4b and the cutter unit 6 mounted on the carriage 8.

[0026] Another guide rail 4y is positioned in front of the guide rail 4x, opposite the guide rail 4x with the transport path T (see Figure 2) in between. The guide rail 4y extends in the scanning direction and is separated from the guide rail 4x by a small gap in the front-rear direction. The transport path T is formed in this gap.

[0027] Another cutter 70 is attached to the guide rail 4y. As shown in Figure 4, the cutter 70 is L-shaped and has a portion 71 that covers the lower surface of the guide rail 4y and a portion 72 that covers the side surface that defines the transport path T on the guide rail 4y. The portion 72 of the cutter 70 extends along the transport path T. The cutter 70 has a blade 70a at the downstream end of the portion 72 in the transport direction A.

[0028] While the cutter 70 is fixed, the cutter 60 included in the cutter unit 6 rotates. The cutter 60 is disc-shaped and has a blade 60a on its periphery. When cutting the paper P, the blade 60a of the cutter 60 extends downstream of the blade 70a of the cutter 70 in the transport direction A, in a direction intersecting the paper P along the transport path T, and overlaps with the blade 70a of the cutter 70 in the transport direction A.

[0029] When the cutting motor 6x (see Figure 8) is driven by the control unit 100, the belt 4b moves in the scanning direction, and the carriage 8 and the cutter unit 6 mounted on the carriage 8 are moved from the attachment / detachment position X outside the transport path T into the transport path T (see Figure 3). At this time, the cutter 60 rotates due to the drive of the cutting motor 6x. The paper P unwound from the roll paper R is cut in the width direction of the paper P by the fixed cutter 70 and the cutter 60 which rotates while moving in the scanning direction.

[0030] The attachment / detachment position X is located at the left end of the guide rails 4x, 4y, and is the home position for the movement of the carriage 8 as described above, as well as the position for attaching and detaching the cutter unit 6 to the carriage 8. An attachment sensor S1 (corresponding to the "first sensor" of the present invention) is provided at the attachment / detachment position X. The attachment sensor S1 is electrically connected to the control unit 100 (see Figure 8), and when the cutter unit 6 is attached to the carriage 8 at the attachment / detachment position X, it makes contact with the cutter unit 6 and outputs an ON signal (first detection signal) to the control unit 100. When the cutter unit 6 is removed from the carriage 8 at the attachment / detachment position X, it separates from the cutter unit 6 and outputs an OFF signal to the control unit 100. When recording using roll paper R, when the control unit 100 receives an ON signal from the attachment sensor S1, it controls the transport motor 3x, driver IC 5x and cutting motor 6x to execute a recording process to record an image on the paper P.

[0031] An opening 1x (see Figure 2) is formed in the rear wall of the housing 1a. Through the opening 1x, the portion of the housing 1a including the attachment / detachment position X (the carriage 8 at attachment / detachment position X) is exposed to the outside of the housing 1a. The opening 1x is formed in the portion of the housing 1a opposite to the bottom Ux of the U-shaped portion described above.

[0032] A cover 20 is attached to the rear wall of the housing 1a to cover the opening 1x. The cover 20 is rotatable about an axis 20x that runs in the left-right direction and is provided at the lower end of the opening 1x. By rotating about the axis 20x, it can selectively take on a closed position that closes the opening 1x (see solid line in Figure 2) and an open position that opens the opening 1x (see dashed line in Figure 2).

[0033] By positioning the cover 20 in the open position (see dashed line in Figure 2), the cutter unit 6 can be attached to and detached from the carriage 8 at the attachment / detachment position X through the opening 1x.

[0034] An open / close sensor S2 (see Figure 8) (corresponding to the "second sensor" of the present invention) is provided near the opening 1x in the housing 1a. The open / close sensor S2 is electrically connected to the control unit 100 and outputs an ON signal (second detection signal) to the control unit 100 when the cover 20 is in the closed position, and an OFF signal to the control unit 100 when the cover 20 is in the open position. When recording using roll paper R, the control unit 100 controls the transport motor 3x, driver IC 5x and cutting motor 6x to execute the recording process when it receives an ON signal from the open / close sensor S2.

[0035] Next, the configuration of the cutter unit 6 and the carriage 8 will be described in detail.

[0036] As shown in Figure 6, the carriage 8 has a bottom wall 8t and a pair of side walls 8s spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. The cutter unit 6 is positioned between the pair of side walls 8s and is supported on the support surface 8a, which is the upper surface of the bottom wall 8t. A pair of leaf springs 31 (corresponding to the "biasing member" of the present invention) are attached to the support surface 8a, spaced apart from each other in the left-right direction. Each of the leaf springs 31 includes a first part 31x that extends linearly from the base end to the tip, and a second part 31y that has a curved part 31w that is convex upward at its tip. The front end of the cutter unit 6 is supported by the first part 31x (see Figure 4).

[0037] The carriage 8 further has, as shown in Figures 4 to 6, a recess 8x into which a protrusion 61x provided at the rear end of the holder 61 is positioned, and two holes 8y1 and 8y2 into which two protrusions 61y1 and 61y2, respectively, provided approximately in the center of the holder 61 in the front-rear direction are inserted. The recess 8x corresponds to the "first engaging part" of the present invention, and the two holes 8y1 and 8y2 correspond to the "second engaging part" of the present invention. The protrusion 61x corresponds to the "third engaging part" of the present invention, and the two protrusions 61y1 and 61y2 correspond to the "fourth engaging part" of the present invention. The protrusion 61x can engage with the recess 8x, and the protrusions 61y1 and 61y2 can engage with the holes 8y1 and 8y2.

[0038] As shown in Figure 5, the recess 8x is located behind the two holes 8y1 and 8y2, and the recess 8x and the two holes 8y1 and 8y2 are separated from each other in a first direction D1 along the support surface 8a. The two holes 8y1 and 8y2 are separated from each other in a second direction D2 (left-right direction) that intersects the first direction D1 and is also along the support surface 8a. The two protrusions 61y1 and 61y2 are similarly separated from each other in the left-right direction.

[0039] As shown in Figure 6, the two holes 8y1 and 8y2 have different lengths in the left-right direction. Hole 8y1 is approximately a perfect circle, while hole 8y2 is an elongated, approximately elliptical shape in the left-right direction, and the left-right length of hole 8y2 is longer than the left-right length of hole 8y1.

[0040] When attaching the cutter unit 6 to the carriage 8, first, the cutter unit 6 is inserted between the pair of side walls 8s of the carriage 8 (see Figure 6), and the pair of side walls 8s temporarily position the cutter unit 6 in the second direction D2 (left-right direction) relative to the carriage 8. Then, as shown in Figure 5, the protrusion 61x is placed in the recess 8x, and then the protrusions 61y1 and 61y2 are inserted into the holes 8y1 and 8y2, thereby positioning the cutter unit 6 in the first direction D1 and the second direction D2 relative to the carriage 8. The user can perform the above attachment work while gripping the handle 61z provided at the rear end of the holder 61.

[0041] As shown in Figure 5, the cutter unit 6 has a coil spring 32 (corresponding to the "biasing member" of the present invention) that biases the cutter 60 downward. The biasing force of the coil spring 32 maintains the distance between the blade 60a of the cutter 60 and the blade 70a of the cutter 70 at a predetermined distance suitable for cutting the paper P.

[0042] In this embodiment, a lever 9 is provided to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the cutter unit 6 to the carriage 8. The lever 9 is rotatably mounted to the carriage 8 around an axis 9c that runs in the left-right direction (see Figure 3). The axis 9c is inserted into a hole 8c formed in the side wall 8s of the carriage 8 (see Figures 3 and 6).

[0043] The lever 9 can rotate around the axis 9c to selectively take between a fixed position that secures the cutter unit 6 to the carriage 8 (see Figure 4(a)) and a released position that releases the cutter unit 6 from the carriage 8 (see Figure 4(b)).

[0044] When attaching the cutter unit 6 to the carriage 8, first, the lever 9 is placed in the release position (see Figure 4(b)) and the above attachment procedure is performed. When the cutter unit 6 is attached to the carriage 8 with the lever 9 in the release position, the front end of the cutter unit 6 is lifted upward by the biasing force of the first part 31x of the leaf spring 31, and the blade 60a of the cutter 60 is separated from the blade 70a of the cutter 70 on the downstream side in the transport direction A. That is, the first part 31x of the leaf spring 31 biases the cutter unit 6 in a direction that separates the blade 60a of the cutter 60 from the blade 70a of the cutter 70 on the downstream side in the transport direction A. At this time, the front end 9a of the lever 9 is in contact with the slope 61c formed at the boundary between the upper surface 61a and the front surface 61b of the holder 61.

[0045] Subsequently, by pushing down the rear end 9b of the lever 9, the lever 9 is moved from the release position (see Figure 4(b)) to the fixed position (see Figure 4(a)). At this time, the front end 9a of the lever 9 moves along the inclined surface 61c of the holder 61 and reaches the upper surface 61a of the holder 61. Consequently, the front end 9a of the lever 9 presses against the upper surface 61a of the holder 61, and the cutter unit 6 is pressed toward the support surface 8a against the biasing force of the first part 31x of the leaf spring 31 and the coil spring 32 (biasing force in the direction from the support surface 8a toward the cutter unit 6). As a result, the cutter unit 6 is fixed toward the carriage 8. At this time, the distance between the blade 60a of the cutter 60 and the blade 70a of the cutter 70 is smaller than the distance when the lever 9 is in the release position (see Figure 4(b)), and becomes a predetermined distance suitable for cutting the paper P.

[0046] In its fixed position, the lever 9 is biased upward by the curved portion 31w (see Figure 6) of the leaf spring 31, causing it to rotate clockwise around the shaft 9c (see Figure 3) in Figure 4. This rotation is restricted by a restricting portion (not shown) located behind the shaft 9c. As a result, the lever 9 is fixed to the carriage 8 in a way that prevents it from rotating, and is held in the fixed position against the biasing forces of the first portion 31x of the leaf spring 31 and the coil spring 32. To move the lever 9 from the fixed position to the released position, the rear end 9b of the lever 9 is lifted, causing the tip of the lever 9 to move along the circumferential surface of the curved portion 31w (see Figure 6), thereby rotating the lever 9 relative to the carriage 8. When the tip of the lever 9 is positioned on the rear side of the curved portion 31w (see Figure 6), the lever 9 is biased by the leaf spring 31 in a direction that rotates counterclockwise around the axis 9c (see Figure 3) in Figure 4 (i.e., toward the release position).

[0047] Alternatively, in the fixed position, the lever 9 engages with a portion of the side wall 8s of the carriage 8 other than the hole 8c, and is fixed to the carriage 8 in a way that prevents rotation. This holds the lever 9 in the fixed position against the biasing force of the first part 31x of the leaf spring 31 and the coil spring 32. To move the lever 9 from the fixed position to the released position, the engagement is released by lifting the rear end 9b of the lever 9, and the lever 9 is rotated relative to the carriage 8.

[0048] As shown in Figure 3, the lever 9 has a through hole 9z into which the handle 61z of the cutter unit 6 is inserted. When the lever 9 is moved from the release position (see Figure 4(b)) to the fixed position (see Figure 4(a)) with the cutter unit 6 mounted on the carriage 8, the handle 61z is inserted into the through hole 9z.

[0049] When removing the cutter unit 6 from the carriage 8, first, the rear end 9b of the lever 9 is lifted to move the lever 9 from the fixed position (see Figure 4(a)) to the released position (see Figure 4(b)). At this time, the front end 9a of the lever 9 moves from the upper surface 61a of the holder 61 to the inclined surface 61c. Consequently, the pressure applied by the front end 9a of the lever 9 is released, and the cutter unit 6 moves upward due to the biasing force of the first part 31x of the leaf spring 31, with the convex portion 61x of the rear end positioned in the recess 8x. At this time, the cutter 60 moves downstream in the transport direction A, and the distance between the blade 60a of the cutter 60 and the blade 70a of the cutter 70 becomes larger than the distance when the lever 9 is in the fixed position (see Figure 4(a)).

[0050] Subsequently, the cutter unit 6 is slightly lifted, the protrusions 61y1 and 61y2 (see Figure 5) are removed from the holes 8y1 and 8y2, and the protrusion 61x is positioned outside the recess 8x. After that, the cutter unit 6 is moved backward and pulled out from the pair of side walls 8s (see Figure 6) of the carriage 8, thereby removing the cutter unit 6 from the carriage 8. The user can perform the above removal operation while gripping the handle 61z provided at the rear end of the holder 61.

[0051] The process of attaching and detaching the cutter unit 6 to the carriage, as described above, is performed while the cover 20 is kept in the open position (see dashed line in Figure 2).

[0052] After the attachment and detachment of the cutter unit 6 to the carriage is completed, the cover 20 is moved from the open position (see dashed line in Figure 2) to the closed position (see solid line in Figure 2). At this time, if the lever 9 is in the fixed position, the cover 20 does not come into contact with the lever 9 while moving from the open position to the closed position and can assume the closed position (see Figure 7(a)). However, if the lever 9 is in the release position, the cover 20 comes into contact with the lever 9 while moving from the open position to the closed position and cannot assume the closed position (see Figure 7(b)). Also, if the lever 9 is in the release position shown in Figure 7(c) (closer to the fixed position than the release position shown in Figure 7(b)), when the cover 20 moves from the open position to the closed position, it comes into contact with the rear end 9b of the lever 9, pushing down the rear end 9b and moving the lever 9 from the release position to the fixed position. Thus, even in the release position, depending on the height of the rear end 9b of the lever 9, there are cases where the cover 20 cannot assume the closed position (see Figure 7(b)) and cases where the cover 20 can assume the closed position (see Figure 7(c)).

[0053] As described above, according to this embodiment, by rotating the lever 9 relative to the carriage 8, the lever 9 can be selectively positioned in a fixed position (see Figure 4(a)) and a released position (see Figure 4(b)). When attaching or detaching the cutter unit 6 to the carriage 8, only the lever 9 needs to be rotated, eliminating the need for the cumbersome work of turning fixing members such as screws or bolts to release and re-fix the cutter unit 6. Therefore, the cutter unit 6 can be easily attached to and detached from the carriage 8.

[0054] In its fixed position, the lever 9 presses the cutter unit 6 toward the support surface 8a against the biasing force of the leaf spring 31 and coil spring 32 (biasing force in the direction from the support surface 8a toward the cutter unit 6) (see Figures 4(a) and 5). This allows the cutter unit 6 and the carriage 8 to be positioned in a direction perpendicular to the support surface 8a (conveying direction A shown in Figure 4(a)).

[0055] The leaf spring 31 biases the cutter unit 6 in a direction that moves the blade 60a of the cutter 60 away from the blade 70a of the cutter 70 toward the downstream side in the transport direction A (see Figure 4(b)). This prevents the blade 60a of the cutter 60 from coming into contact with the blade 70a of the cutter 70 when attaching or detaching the cutter unit 6 from the carriage 8.

[0056] The scanning mechanism 4 moves the carriage 8 from the attachment / detachment position X outside the transport path T to inside the transport path T (see Figure 3). If the attachment / detachment position X is inside the transport path T, the attachment / detachment operation is difficult because there are components that make up the transport path T. In this embodiment, however, the attachment / detachment position X is outside the transport path T and there are no components that make up the transport path T, so the attachment / detachment operation is easy.

[0057] When the control unit 100 receives an ON signal (a signal indicating that the cutter unit 6 is mounted on the carriage 8) from the mounting sensor S1 (see Figure 8), it controls the transport motor 3x and the driver IC 5x to perform a recording process to record an image on the paper P. This prevents the recording process from being performed when the cutter unit 6 is not mounted on the carriage 8.

[0058] When lever 9 is in the release position, cover 20 cannot assume the closed position (see Figure 7(b)), and when lever 9 is in the fixed position, cover 20 can assume the closed position (see Figure 7(a)). With this configuration, the user can recognize that when cover 20 cannot assume the closed position, lever 9 is in the release position (i.e., the cutter unit 6 is not fixed to the carriage 8), and take appropriate action. Therefore, it is possible to prevent recording processing, etc., from being performed when lever 9 is in the release position and the cutter unit 6 is not fixed to the carriage 8.

[0059] When the lever 9 is in the release position (see Figure 7(c)) and the cover 20 moves from the open position to the closed position, the cover 20 contacts the lever 9 and moves the lever 9 from the release position (see Figure 7(c)) to the fixed position (see Figure 7(a)). In this case, even without user intervention, it is possible to prevent recording processing, etc., from being performed while the lever 9 is in the release position (i.e., while the cutter unit 6 is not fixed to the carriage 8).

[0060] The upstream portion of the transport path T relative to the head 5 in the transport direction is U-shaped (see Figure 2). This allows for a reduction in the planar size of the printer 1. Furthermore, by providing a cutter unit 6 at the bottom Ux of the U-shaped section and an opening 1x that opens and closes when the cutter unit 6 is attached or detached, in the part of the housing 1a opposite the bottom Ux, the space of the bottom Ux can be effectively utilized.

[0061] When the control unit 100 receives an ON signal (a signal indicating that the cover 20 is in the closed position) from the opening / closing sensor S2 (see Figure 8), it controls the transport motor 3x and the driver IC 5x to perform a recording process to record an image on the paper P. This prevents the recording process from being performed when the cover 20 is not in the closed position (i.e., when the lever 9 is in the released position and the cutter unit 6 is not fixed to the carriage 8).

[0062] The protrusion 61x of the cutter unit 6 engages with the recess 8x of the carriage 8, and the protrusions 61y1 and 61y2 of the cutter unit 6 engage with the holes 8y1 and 8y2 of the carriage 8 (see Figure 5). The recess 8x and the holes 8y1 and 8y2 are spaced apart from each other in a first direction D1 along the support surface 8a. This allows for positioning of the cutter unit 6 and the carriage 8 in relation to the first direction D1.

[0063] The two holes 8y1 and 8y2 intersect the first direction D1 and are spaced apart from each other in the second direction D2 (left-right direction) along the support surface 8a. As shown in Figure 6, the two holes 8y1 and 8y2 have different lengths in the left-right direction. This allows for positioning of the cutter unit 6 and the carriage 8 with respect to the second direction D2.

[0064] <Second Embodiment> The printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment in that the cutter unit 6 further includes a blade cover 260, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, but is otherwise the same as the first embodiment.

[0065] The blade cover 260 is a disc-shaped object that is slightly larger than the cutter 60 and is positioned on the back side of the cutter 60 (the side facing the cutter 70 in Figure 4).

[0066] As shown in Figure 10, the blade cover 260 is attached to the rear wall of the holder 61 via a vertical member 262 and a coil spring 263 provided at the rear end of the blade cover 260. The coil spring 263 biases the blade cover 260 forward. In addition, a projection 261 is provided on the back surface of the blade cover 260 (the surface opposite to the surface facing the cutter 60).

[0067] When the cutter unit 6 is not mounted on the carriage 8, the blade cover 260 is in a covering position that covers the blade 60a of the cutter 60, as shown in Figure 10(a). At this time, the blade cover 260 covers the blade 60a of the cutter 60 from the back side, and the front end of the blade cover 260 is located in front of the blade 60a of the cutter 60.

[0068] When the cutter unit 6 is mounted on the carriage 8, as shown in Figure 10(b), the projection 261 is inserted into the hole 8z of the carriage 8, and the projection 261 is pressed backward by the circumferential surface of the carriage 8 defining the hole 8z, causing the coil spring 263 to contract, and the vertical member 262 and the blade cover 260 to move backward. As a result, the blade cover 260 reaches an uncovered position that does not cover the blade 60a of the cutter 60. At this time, the front end of the blade cover 260 is located behind the blade 60a of the cutter 60.

[0069] When the cutter unit 6 is removed from the carriage 8, the projection 261 is withdrawn from the hole 8z in the carriage 8, and the biasing force of the coil spring 263 causes the vertical member 262 and the blade cover 260 to move forward. As a result, the blade cover 260 moves from an uncovered position that does not cover the blade 60a of the cutter 60 (see Figure 10(b)) to a covered position that covers the blade 60a of the cutter 60 (see Figure 10(a)).

[0070] As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing a blade cover 260 that can take on a covering position (see Figures 9 and 10(a)), it is possible to prevent the user from being injured by the blade 60a of the cutter 60 when attaching or detaching the cutter unit 6 to the carriage 8.

[0071] <Third Embodiment> The printer according to the second embodiment of the present invention differs from the first embodiment in that two rotating members 380 are attached to the carriage 8, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, but is otherwise the same as the first embodiment.

[0072] The two rotating members 380 are spaced apart from each other in the scanning direction, as shown in Figure 11. Each rotating member 380 is rotatably mounted on the front end of the carriage 8 about a rotation axis 380x along the transport direction A, as shown in Figures 11 and 12, and protrudes forward from the front end of the carriage 8. The carriage 8 is attached to the guide rail 4x via coil springs 382 provided behind each rotating member 380, and is biased forward by the coil springs 382. The coil springs 382 bias the rotating members 380 forward (towards the cutter 70) and constitute the "another biasing member" of the present invention.

[0073] When the carriage 8 moves in the scanning direction by the scanning mechanism 4 (see Figure 3), the rotating member 380 rotates while its circumferential surface is in contact with the cutter 70. At this time, the rotating member 380 is biased forward by the coil spring 382, ​​and the state in which the circumferential surface of the rotating member 380 is in contact with the cutter 70 is maintained.

[0074] As described above, according to this embodiment, by providing the rotating member 380 and the coil spring 382, ​​the state in which the circumferential surface of the rotating member 380 contacts the cutter 70 is maintained when the carriage 8 moves in the scanning direction (see Figure 11). This makes it possible to maintain a constant front-rear positional relationship between the blade 60a of the cutter 60 and the blade 70a of the cutter 70 (see Figure 12), and thus maintain a suitable cutting accuracy.

[0075] Two rotating members 380 are provided, spaced apart from each other in the scanning direction (see Figure 11). This makes it possible to more reliably maintain a constant positional relationship between the blade 60a of cutter 60 and the blade 70a of cutter 70 in the front-rear direction (see Figure 12).

[0076] <Variation> Although preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various design modifications are possible as long as they are within the scope of the claims.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the cutter included in the cutter unit is disc-shaped and rotates, but it is not limited to this and may be fixed, as in the cutter 70.

[0078] Although the other cutter is fixed in the embodiment described above, it may be a disc-shaped, rotating cutter like cutter 60.

[0079] In the above embodiment, the opening and cover are provided on the rear surface of the housing, but are not limited to this, and may be provided on the front, side, top, etc. of the housing. For example, in a configuration where paper P is fed forward from the paper feed tray 10, transported upward at the bottom of the U-shaped section, and then transported backward toward the head 5, the opening and cover may be provided on the front surface of the housing.

[0080] The sheet-like medium is not limited to paper; it may also be cloth or plastic film. In other words, the sheet-like medium may be made of any material as long as it is in sheet form.

[0081] The recording unit may dispense liquids other than ink (for example, processing liquids that cause components in the ink to coagulate or precipitate). Furthermore, the recording unit is not limited to a liquid dispensing method, but may also use a laser method, a thermal transfer method, or the like.

[0082] This invention is not limited to printers, but can also be applied to facsimile machines, copiers, multifunction devices, and the like. [Explanation of symbols]

[0083] 1. Printer (image recording device) 1a Enclosure 1x aperture 3. Conveying mechanism 4. Scanning mechanism 5. Head (recording unit) 6 Cutter Unit 8 carriages 8a Support surface 8x recess (first engagement portion) 8y1, 8y2 holes (second engagement part) 9 Lever 20 Covers 31. Leaf spring (biasing member) 32. Coil spring (biasing member) 60 Cutter 60a blade 61 Holder 61x protrusion (third engaging portion) 61y1, 61y2 Protrusions (4th engaging portion) 70 Another cutter 70a blade 100 Control Unit 260 Blade Cover 380 Rotating Member 382 Coil spring (another biasing member) A Conveying direction D1 1st direction D2 2nd direction P paper (sheet-type media) S1 Mounted sensor (first sensor) S2 Open / Close Sensor (Second Sensor) T Transport Route X Attachment / Detachment Position

Claims

1. A conveying mechanism that conveys a sheet-like medium in the conveying direction along a conveying path, A recording unit that records an image on a sheet-like medium transported by the transport mechanism, A cutter unit including a cutter for cutting a sheet-like medium in the aforementioned transport path, A carriage to which the cutter unit is detachably attached, The carriage is rotatably mounted to a lever, The lever can be rotated relative to the carriage to selectively take between a fixed position that secures the cutter unit to the carriage and a released position that releases the cutter unit from its fixed position to the carriage. The image recording device is characterized in that the lever is attached to the carriage and is supported by the carriage in the fixed position and the released position.

2. The carriage further comprises a biasing member having a biasing force in the direction toward the cutter unit supported by the support surface, The image recording apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the lever, in the fixed position, presses the cutter unit toward the support surface against the biasing force.

3. The system further comprises another cutter that extends along the aforementioned transport path and has a blade at its downstream end in the transport direction, When the lever is in the fixed position, the blade of the cutter extends downstream in the conveying direction relative to the blade of the other cutter, in a direction intersecting the sheet-like medium along the conveying path, and overlaps with the blade of the other cutter in the conveying direction. The image recording device according to claim 2, characterized in that the biasing member biases the cutter unit in a direction such that the blade of the cutter separates from the blade of the other cutter downstream in the conveying direction.

4. The image recording device according to claim 3, further comprising a blade cover that can take a covering position that covers the blade of the cutter when the cutter unit is not mounted on the carriage, and an uncovered position that does not cover the blade of the cutter when the cutter unit is mounted on the carriage.

5. A scanning mechanism that moves the carriage in a scanning direction parallel to the sheet-like medium along the transport path and intersecting the transport direction, A rotating member attached to the carriage, the rotating member which rotates while its circumferential surface contacts the other cutter when the carriage moves in the scanning direction by the scanning mechanism, Another biasing member that biases the rotating member toward the other cutter, The image recording device according to claim 3 or 4, further comprising the features described above.

6. The image recording device according to claim 5, further comprising a plurality of rotating members spaced apart from one another in the scanning direction.

7. The image recording apparatus according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the scanning mechanism moves the carriage from an attachment / detachment position outside the transport path to inside the transport path.

8. A first sensor provided at the aforementioned attachment / detachment position outputs a first detection signal indicating that the cutter unit is mounted on the carriage, A control unit electrically connected to the first sensor, which, upon receiving a first detection signal from the first sensor, controls the transport mechanism and the recording unit to perform a recording process for recording an image on a sheet-like medium, The image recording device according to claim 7, further comprising the features described above.

9. The carriage is housed inside a casing, An opening formed in the housing, which exposes the carriage to the outside of the housing, The housing further comprises a cover that is movable relative to the housing and can selectively assume a closed position that closes the opening and an open position that opens the opening, The image recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that when the lever is in the release position, the cover cannot assume the closed position, and when the lever is in the fixed position, the cover can assume the closed position.

10. The carriage is housed inside a casing, An opening formed in the housing, which exposes the carriage to the outside of the housing, The housing further comprises a cover that is movable relative to the housing and can take a closed position that closes the opening and an open position that opens the opening, The image recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that when the cover moves from the open position toward the closed position while the lever is in the release position, the cover contacts the lever and moves the lever from the release position toward the fixed position.

11. The transport path has a U-shaped section on the upstream side in the transport direction relative to the recording unit. The cutter unit is positioned at the bottom of the U-shaped portion, The image recording device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the opening is formed in the portion of the housing facing the bottom.

12. A second sensor that outputs a second detection signal indicating that the cover is in the closed position, A control unit electrically connected to the second sensor, which, upon receiving the second detection signal from the second sensor, controls the transport mechanism and the recording unit to perform a recording process for recording an image on a sheet-like medium, The image recording device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, further comprising:

13. The carriage has a first engaging portion and a second engaging portion that is spaced apart from the first engaging portion in a first direction along the support surface that supports the cutter unit in the carriage. The image recording device according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the cutter unit has a third engaging portion that can engage with the first engaging portion and a fourth engaging portion that can engage with the second engaging portion.

14. The carriage has two second engaging portions that intersect the first direction and are spaced apart from each other in a second direction along the support surface, The cutter unit has two fourth engaging portions spaced apart from each other in the second direction, One of the second and fourth engaging portions is a hole, and the other of the second and fourth engaging portions is a protrusion that is inserted into the hole. The image recording device according to claim 13, characterized in that the lengths of the two holes in the second direction are different from each other.

Images