Printing apparatus

Abstract

To provide a printer which includes a print mechanism for printing on a long medium and a cutting mechanism for cutting the medium after printing in a medium width direction orthogonal to a medium transport direction and which can print on the medium with the print mechanism and transport the medium toward the cutting mechanism even when the cutting mechanism is cutting the medium.SOLUTION: A printer 1 includes: a print mechanism 3 which prints on a long medium 2; medium transport mechanisms 5, 30 which transport the medium 2 in a longitudinal direction of the medium 2; a cutting mechanism 7 for cutting the medium 2a after printing in a medium 2 width direction orthogonal to a transport direction of the medium 2; and a cutting platen 31 having a facing part which is disposed facing the cutting mechanism 7. In the printer 1, when the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2, the medium 2 on the cutting platen 31 is stopped.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing device that prints on a long medium and cuts the medium after printing. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, inkjet recording devices that print on long sheet-like media (recording media) are known (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The inkjet recording device described in Patent Document 1 includes a transport roller and pinch roller that transport the medium, a recording head that prints by ejecting ink onto the medium, a carriage on which the recording head is mounted, a platen positioned opposite the recording head, a cutter that cuts the printed medium in a direction perpendicular to the medium transport direction, and a slitter that cuts the printed medium along the medium transport direction. The cutter is positioned downstream of the platen in the medium transport direction, and the slitter is positioned downstream of the cutter in the medium transport direction. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-163726 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the inkjet recording device described in Patent Document 1, if the recording head prints on the medium and the medium is transported from the platen toward the cutter while the medium is being cut by the cutter, the portion of the medium being cut by the cutter may sag, making it impossible to properly cut the medium in a direction perpendicular to the medium transport direction. Therefore, in the inkjet recording device described in Patent Document 1, it is difficult to print on the medium and transport the medium toward the cutter while the medium is being cut by the cutter.

[0005] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a printing device that has a printing mechanism that prints on long media and a cutting mechanism that cuts the printed media in the width direction of the media perpendicular to the media transport direction, and that is capable of printing on the media using the printing mechanism and transporting the media toward the cutting mechanism even while the media is being cut by the cutting mechanism. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problems, the printing device of the present invention includes a printing mechanism that prints on long media, a media transport mechanism that transports the media in the longitudinal direction of the media, a cutting mechanism that cuts the printed media in the width direction of the media that is perpendicular to the media transport direction, a cutting platen having an opposing portion that is disposed opposite the cutting mechanism, and a tension applying mechanism having a tension bar that contacts the printed media and applies tension to the media, and the media transport direction is defined as the media transport direction, the upstream side of the media transport direction is defined as the upstream side of the transport direction, and the downstream side of the media transport direction is defined as the downstream side of the transport direction, and the cutting position in the media transport direction of the media that is cut linearly in the width direction of the media by the cutting mechanism after printing is defined as the media cut position. If the mark printed on the medium by the printing mechanism to identify the media cut position is defined as the cut position mark, the device is equipped with a medium winding mechanism located downstream of the tension bar in the transport direction, and a mark detection mechanism which is a sensor for detecting the cut position mark, the cutting mechanism and cutting platen are located upstream of the medium winding mechanism in the transport direction, the printing mechanism prints the cut position mark on the medium at a position a certain distance downstream of the media cut position in the transport direction, the media transport mechanism transports the medium based on the detection result of the cut position mark by the mark detection mechanism, and when the cutting mechanism cuts the medium, the medium on the cutting platen is stopped.

[0007] In the present invention, the tension applying mechanism preferably comprises a bar holding section that movably holds the tension bar, first and second sensors for detecting the position of the tension bar, and a light-blocking member fixed to the tension bar, the first and second sensors being transmissive optical sensors having a light-emitting section and a light-receiving section and being attached to the support member on which the bar holding section is formed, and when the light-blocking member blocks the space between the light-emitting section and light-receiving section of the first sensor and the space between the light-emitting section and light-receiving section of the second sensor, the cutting mechanism can cut the medium.

[0008] In the present invention, the printing device is equipped with a print control unit which is a control unit of the printing mechanism, and when the cut range of the medium at the medium cut position in the width direction of the medium is defined as the medium cut range, the print control unit receives cut position data which is data for identifying the medium cut position, mark printing data which is data for printing a mark for the cut position, and cut range data which is data for identifying the medium cut range, and the mark printing data includes mark position data which is data for identifying the position of the mark for the cut position in the width direction of the medium, and it is preferable that the print control unit which has received the cut position data, mark printing data and cut range data corrects the cut position data, cut range data and mark position data based at least on the data on the position of the medium in the width direction of the medium held by the print control unit.

[0009] In the present invention, it is preferable that the printing device includes a cutting control unit that is a control unit for the cutting mechanism, and that the printing control unit transmits the corrected cutting position data, cutting range data, and mark position data to the cutting control unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] As described above, in the present invention, in a printing device that has a printing mechanism that prints on long media and a cutting mechanism that cuts the printed media in the width direction of the media perpendicular to the media transport direction, it is possible to print on the media using the printing mechanism and transport the media toward the cutting mechanism even while the media is being cut by the cutting mechanism. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view illustrating a configuration of a printing device according to a first embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] 2A to 2C are diagrams for explaining an example of printing on a medium by the printing mechanism shown in FIG. 1, and an example of cutting of a medium by the cutting mechanism and the second cutting mechanism. [Figure 3] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of part E in FIG. [Figure 4] 4A is a perspective view of a part of the carriage and a medium pressing member of the cutting mechanism shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of the tip side portion of the cutter blade of the cutting mechanism shown in FIG. [Figure 5] 4A is a front view of the medium pressing member shown in FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4B is a plan view of the medium pressing member shown in FIG. 4A. [Figure 6] 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the support frame and a second cutting mechanism shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 7] 4 is a side view of a portion of the support frame, a portion of the cutting platen, a second cutting mechanism, etc. shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 8] 4 is a diagram for explaining the function of the guide member shown in FIG. 3. FIG. [Figure 9] 4 is a side view of a first sensor and a second sensor for detecting the position of the tension bar shown in FIG. 3. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. [Figure 11] 10A and 10B are diagrams for explaining a method for printing and cutting a medium according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of a printing device according to a second embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 10 is a side view illustrating the configuration of a guide member according to another embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0013] [Embodiment 1] (Overall configuration of the printing device) Fig. 1 is a side view illustrating the configuration of a printing device 1 according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of printing on a medium 2 by the printing mechanism 3 shown in Fig. 1, and an example of cutting of the medium 2 by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8.

[0014] The printing device 1 of this embodiment is a commercial inkjet printer that prints on a long medium 2 and cuts the printed medium 2 into a predetermined shape, printing on the long medium 2 that is cut after printing. The medium 2 is a resin sheet medium made of, for example, polyvinyl chloride or polyethylene terephthalate (PET). The medium 2 may also be a paper sheet medium such as transfer paper or photo paper. The medium 2 may also be made of tarpaulin or window film.

[0015] The printing device 1 includes a printing mechanism 3 that prints on a long medium 2, a support 4 that supports the printing mechanism 3 from below, a medium transport mechanism 5 that transports the medium 2, a heater (afterheater) 6 that heats the medium 2 after printing, a cutting mechanism 7 that linearly cuts (slits) the medium 2 in the width direction of the medium 2, which is perpendicular to the transport direction of the medium 2, a second cutting mechanism 8 that linearly cuts (slits) the medium 2 along the transport direction of the medium 2, and a tension applying mechanism 10 that has a tension bar 9 that contacts the medium 2 and applies tension to the medium 2. The cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8 cut the medium 2 after printing. The tension bar 9 contacts the medium 2 after printing and applies tension to the medium 2.

[0016] The tension bar 9 is disposed between the printing mechanism 3 and the cutting mechanism 7 in the transport direction of the medium 2 (the feed direction of the medium 2). The heater 6 is disposed between the printing mechanism 3 and the tension bar 9 in the transport direction of the medium 2. The second cutting mechanism 8 is disposed between the tension bar 9 and the cutting mechanism 7 in the transport direction of the medium 2. In other words, the tension bar 9 is disposed between the printing mechanism 3 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the transport direction of the medium 2.

[0017] The printing device 1 cuts out a rectangular or square cut-out portion 2a (see FIG. 2) including a printed portion of the medium 2 from the sheet-like medium 2 using the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8. For example, the printing device 1 cuts out the cut-out portion 2a shown in FIG. 2(A) or the cut-out portion 2a shown in FIG. 2(B) from the medium 2. If the portion of the medium 2 cut by the cutting mechanism 7 is defined as a cut line (cut) CL1 and the portion of the medium 2 cut by the second cutting mechanism 8 is defined as cut lines CL11 to CL14, then, after being cut by the cutting mechanism 7, the medium 2 has cut line CL1 parallel to the width direction of the medium 2, and after being cut by the second cutting mechanism 8, the medium 2 has cut lines CL11 to CL14 aligned along the transport direction of the medium 2, as shown in FIG. 2.

[0018] In this embodiment, cut lines CL11 and CL12 or cut lines CL13 and CL14 are formed on both sides of the cut-out portion 2a in the width direction of the medium 2. In the example shown in Figure 2(A), the portion surrounded by two cut lines CL1 and two cut lines CL11 and CL12 becomes the cut-out portion 2a, and in the example shown in Figure 2(B), the portion surrounded by two cut lines CL1 and two cut lines CL11 and CL12 and the portion surrounded by two cut lines CL1 and two cut lines CL13 and CL14 become the cut-out portion 2a. The medium 2 is cut by the second cutting mechanism 8 and then by the cutting mechanism 7.

[0019] The cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2 so as to intersect with the cut lines CL11 to CL14 (i.e., the portions of the medium 2 cut by the second cutting mechanism 8). That is, both ends of the cut line CL1 in the width direction of the medium 2 are positioned outward in the width direction of the medium 2 from the two cut lines CL11 and CL12 or the two cut lines CL13 and CL14. The cutting mechanism 7 does not cut the entire width of the medium 2, but cuts a portion of the medium 2 in the width direction of the medium 2. For example, as shown in FIG. 2(B), when two cut portions 2a are arranged side by side in the width direction of the medium 2, two cut lines CL1 corresponding to the two cut portions 2a are formed with a gap in the width direction of the medium 2. In this embodiment, there is a margin between the cut portions 2a in the transport direction of the medium 2. There is also a long, narrow margin in the transport direction of the medium 2 on both sides of the cut portion 2a in the width direction of the medium 2.

[0020] The printing device 1 includes a medium feeding unit 14 that holds a feeding roll 13, which is the medium 2 wound into a roll before printing. The printing device 1 also includes a storage unit 15 that stores the first marginal portions 2b, which are the marginal portions between the to-be-cut portions 2a in the transport direction of the medium 2, and the to-be-cut portions 2a, and a medium winding unit 17 that holds a winding roll 16 on which the second marginal portions 2c, which are the marginal portions on both sides of the to-be-cut portions 2a and the first marginal portions 2b in the width direction of the medium 2, are wound into a roll. That is, the printing device 1 includes the medium feeding unit 14 to which the rolled medium 2 is attached before being transported toward the printing mechanism 3, and the medium winding unit 17 to which the rolled medium 2 (more specifically, a portion of the medium 2) after passing through the printing mechanism 3 is attached.

[0021] The printing mechanism 3 includes an inkjet head 20 (hereinafter referred to as "head 20") that ejects ink onto the medium 2, a carriage 21 on which the head 20 is mounted, a carriage drive mechanism 22 that moves the carriage 21 in the main scanning direction (Y direction in FIG. 1, etc.), which is the width direction of the medium 2, a support frame 23 that supports the carriage 21 so that it can move in the main scanning direction, and a print platen 24 that is disposed below the carriage 21. The head 20 ejects ink downward. The carriage drive mechanism 22 includes, for example, a belt that is partially fixed to the carriage 21, a pulley around which the belt is stretched, and a motor for rotating the pulley. The medium 2 to be printed is placed on the print platen 24.

[0022] In the following description, the main scanning direction (the width direction, Y direction, of the medium 2) is referred to as the "left-right direction," and the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction (Z direction in FIG. 1, etc.) and left-right direction is referred to as the "front-rear direction." Furthermore, the X1 direction side in FIG. 1, etc., which is one side of the front-rear direction, is referred to as the "front" side, and the X2 direction side in FIG. 1, etc., which is the opposite side, is referred to as the "rear" side. In this embodiment, the medium 2 before printing is transported from the rear side to the top surface of the print platen 24, and the medium 2 after printing is transported from the top surface of the print platen 24 to the front side.

[0023] In addition, in this embodiment, the side where the medium feeding unit 14 is located in the transport direction of the medium 2 is the upstream side of the transport direction of the medium 2, and the side where the medium winding unit 17 is located in the transport direction of the medium 2 is the downstream side of the transport direction of the medium 2. In the following description, the transport direction of the medium 2 will be referred to as the "medium transport direction," and the width direction of the medium 2 perpendicular to the transport direction of the medium 2 will be referred to as the "medium width direction." In the following description, the upstream side of the transport direction of the medium 2 will be referred to as the "upstream side in the transport direction," and the downstream side of the transport direction of the medium 2 will be referred to as the "downstream side in the transport direction."

[0024] An after platen 25 is disposed in front of the print platen 24. A guide surface 25a is formed on the surface of the after platen 25 to guide the medium 2 transported from the print platen 24 toward the tension bar 9. The guide surface 25a is formed in a convex curved shape. The medium 2 transported from the print platen 24 toward the tension bar 9 comes into contact with the guide surface 25a. The heater 6 is disposed inside the after platen 25 so as to follow the guide surface 25a.

[0025] The medium transport mechanism 5 transports the long medium 2 in the longitudinal direction of the medium 2. The medium transport mechanism 5 includes a transport roller 27 and a pad roller 28 that is disposed opposite the transport roller 27 and is biased toward the transport roller 27. The transport roller 27 and the pad roller 28 are disposed upstream of the print platen 24 in the transport direction of the medium 2, and the medium transport mechanism 5 is disposed upstream of the tension bar 9 in the transport direction of the medium 2. The transport roller 27 is connected to a drive mechanism that rotates the transport roller 27. The medium 2 is transported while sandwiched between the transport roller 27 and the pad roller 28.

[0026] The tension applying mechanism 10 is disposed below the after platen 25. The second cutting mechanism 8 is disposed below the tension applying mechanism 10. The cutting mechanism 7 is disposed below the second cutting mechanism 8. The specific configuration of the tension applying mechanism 10 will be described later. The specific configurations of the cutting mechanism 7, the second cutting mechanism 8, and the peripheral configurations of the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 will also be described later.

[0027] The medium feeding unit 14 is disposed below the printing mechanism 3. The medium feeding unit 14 has a rotation shaft that is inserted into the inner periphery of the feeding roll 13. The storage unit 15 is formed, for example, in the shape of a rectangular parallelepiped box with an open top. The storage unit 15 is disposed below the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8. The storage unit 15 is also disposed below the cutting mechanism 7.

[0028] The medium take-up unit 17 is located below the printing mechanism 3. The medium take-up unit 17 is also located below the cutting mechanism 7. The medium take-up unit 17 is also located behind the cutting mechanism 7, the second cutting mechanism 8, and the storage unit 15. The medium take-up unit 17 includes a medium take-up mechanism 26 that takes up the second marginal portion 2c. The medium take-up mechanism 26 includes a rotating shaft that is inserted into the inner periphery of the take-up roll 16, a drive mechanism that rotates the rotating shaft, and a torque limiter that causes the take-up roll 16 to idle so that the tension in the second marginal portion 2c taken up by the take-up roll 16 does not exceed a predetermined tension. The downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction is fixed to the rotating shaft.

[0029] In this embodiment, the portion of medium 2 that becomes cut-out portion 2a and first marginal portion 2b is a first medium portion that is a portion of medium 2 that is located on one side of medium 2 in the width direction across cut lines CL11 to CL14, and the first medium portion is stored in storage portion 15. Additionally, second marginal portion 2c is a second medium portion that is a portion of medium 2 that is located on the other side of medium 2 in the width direction across cut lines CL11 to CL14, and medium winding mechanism 26 winds up the second medium portion.

[0030] (Configuration of cutting mechanism, second cutting mechanism, and peripheral parts) FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of portion E in FIG. 1. FIG. 4(A) is a perspective view of a portion of the carriage 34 and the medium pressing member 44 of the cutting mechanism 7 shown in FIG. 3, and FIG. 4(B) is a plan view of the tip side portion of the cutter blade 38 of the cutting mechanism 7 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 5(A) is a front view of the medium pressing member 44 shown in FIG. 4(A), and FIG. 5(B) is a plan view of the medium pressing member 44 shown in FIG. 4(A). FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a portion of the support frame 35 and the second cutting mechanism 8 shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 7 is a side view of a portion of the support frame 35, a portion of the cutting platen 31, the second cutting mechanism 8, and the like shown in FIG. 3. FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the guide member 29 shown in FIG. 3.

[0031] The cutting mechanism 7 is disposed downstream of the second cutting mechanism 8 in the transport direction of the medium 2. In other words, the second cutting mechanism 8 is disposed upstream of the cutting mechanism 7 in the transport direction of the medium 2. The second cutting mechanism 8 is also disposed downstream of the tension bar 9 in the transport direction of the medium 2. The printing mechanism 3 is disposed upstream of the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the transport direction of the medium 2. As described above, the cutting mechanism 7 is disposed below the second cutting mechanism 8. A cutting platen 31 serving as a cutting platen is disposed behind the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, and the cutting platen 31 faces the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 from behind. In other words, the printing device 1 includes a cutting platen 31 that faces the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 from behind.

[0032] The cutting platen 31 has an opposing portion 31a that is arranged facing the cutting mechanism 7, and a second opposing portion 31b that is arranged facing the second cutting mechanism 8. A guide member 29 is attached to the cutting platen 31 to guide the portion to be cut 2a and the first marginal portion 2b in a direction away from the second marginal portion 2c. In other words, the printing device 1 has a guide member 29 that guides the portion to be cut 2a and the first marginal portion 2b in a direction away from the second marginal portion 2c. The guide member 29 is fixed to the front lower end of the cutting platen 31.

[0033] In the area where the cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8 are installed, the medium 2 is transported downward along the front surface of the cutting platen 31, passing between the second cutting mechanism 8 and the second opposing portion 31b and between the cutting mechanism 7 and the opposing portion 31a. The tension bar 9 is located downstream of the print platen 24 and upstream of the cutting platen 31 in the transport direction of the medium 2. The cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8 are also located downstream of the tension bar 9 in the transport direction of the medium 2.

[0034] A second medium transport mechanism 30 that transports the long medium 2 in the longitudinal direction of the medium 2 is disposed between the tension bar 9 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the transport direction of the medium 2. That is, the printing device 1 is equipped with the second medium transport mechanism 30 that transports the medium 2, and the second medium transport mechanism 30 is disposed downstream of the tension bar 9 in the transport direction of the medium 2. Specifically, the transport roller 32 and pad roller 33 (see FIG. 3) that constitute the second medium transport mechanism 30 are disposed between the tension bar 9 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the transport direction of the medium 2.

[0035] The transport roller 32 and the pad roller 33 are disposed above the second cutting mechanism 8. The pad roller 33 is disposed facing the transport roller 32 from the front side and is biased toward the transport roller 32. The transport roller 32 is connected to a drive mechanism that rotates the transport roller 32. The medium 2 is transported while being sandwiched between the transport roller 32 and the pad roller 33.

[0036] The cutting mechanism 7 includes a cutter blade 38 (see FIG. 4(B)) that cuts the medium 2, a cutter holder 39 to which the cutter blade 38 is fixed, a carriage 34 that holds the cutter holder 39 so that the cutter holder 39 can move back and forth, and a holder drive mechanism such as a solenoid that moves the cutter holder 39 back and forth relative to the carriage 34. The cutter blade 38 is held by the carriage 34 via the cutter holder 39. As shown in FIG. 4(B), the cutter blade 38 is a single-edged blade with a sharp cutting edge. Note that the cutter blade 38 is not shown in FIG. 4(A).

[0037] The cutting mechanism 7 also includes a support frame 35 that supports the carriage 34 so that it can move left and right (the width direction of the medium 2), and a carriage drive mechanism 36 that moves the carriage 34 left and right relative to the support frame 35. The support frame 35 is an elongated frame that is long and narrow in the left and right direction. Both left and right ends of the support frame 35 are fixed to the front ends of side plates 37. The rear ends of the side plates 37 are fixed to the support body 4. The carriage drive mechanism 36 includes, for example, a belt that is partially fixed to the carriage 34, a pulley around which the belt is stretched, and a motor for rotating the pulley.

[0038] The cutting mechanism 7 also includes a media presser member 44 for pressing the medium 2 toward the facing portion 31a of the cutting platen 31. The media presser member 44 is attached to the carriage 34. Specifically, the media presser member 44 is attached to the rear surface of the carriage 34 and faces the facing portion 31a from the front. The rear surface of the media presser member 44 forms a facing surface 44a that faces the facing portion 31a. That is, the media presser member 44 is formed with a facing surface 44a that faces the facing portion 31a. The media presser member 44 is formed with a through-hole 44b through which a portion of the cutter blade 38 is disposed, and a through-hole 44c through which light emitted by a light-emitting portion of a sensor 56 (described below) mounted on the carriage 34 and light directed toward a light-receiving portion of the sensor 56 passes. The through-holes 44b and 44c penetrate the media presser member 44 in the front-to-rear direction. Note that the media presser member 44 is not shown in FIG. 3.

[0039] Both left and right ends of the facing surface 44a form inclined surfaces 44d, 44e that slope forward as they extend outward in the left and right direction. That is, both left and right ends of the facing surface 44a form inclined surfaces 44d, 44e that slope away from the facing portion 31a as they extend outward in the left and right direction. The inclined surfaces 44d, 44e are formed in a flat shape. The portion of the facing surface 44a between the inclined surfaces 44d and 44e forms a flat medium pressing surface 44f that is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. The medium pressing surface 44f is formed in a rectangular shape.

[0040] In this embodiment, the cutter blade 38 cuts the medium 2 when the carriage 34 moves to one side in the left-right direction (the width direction of the medium 2). If the direction of travel of the carriage 34 when the cutter blade 38 cuts the medium 2 is defined as the first direction side, and the side opposite the first direction side is defined as the second direction side, the inclined surface 44d is formed at the end of the facing surface 44a on the first direction side, and is inclined toward the side away from the facing part 31a (i.e., toward the front) as it moves toward the first direction side. The inclined surface 44d is positioned closer to the first direction than the cutter blade 38. The inclined surface 44e is formed at the end of the facing surface 44a on the second direction side, and is inclined toward the side away from the facing part 31a (i.e., toward the front) as it moves toward the second direction side.

[0041] When viewed from the top-bottom direction, the inclination angle of inclined surface 44d with respect to the left-right direction is smaller than the inclination angle of inclined surface 44e with respect to the left-right direction. When viewed from the top-bottom direction, the inclination angle of inclined surface 44d with respect to the left-right direction is, for example, about 40°, and the inclination angle of inclined surface 44e with respect to the left-right direction is, for example, about 45°. When viewed from the top-bottom direction, the length of inclined surface 44d is longer than the length of inclined surface 44e.

[0042] The end of the medium pressing member 44 on the first direction side where the inclined surface 44d is formed is an inclined surface forming portion 44g. The lower end of the inclined surface forming portion 44g is an inclined surface 44h that slopes upward as it approaches the first direction. In other words, the downstream end of the inclined surface forming portion 44g in the transport direction of the medium 2 is an inclined surface 44h that slopes upstream in the transport direction of the medium 2 as it approaches the first direction.

[0043] The carriage 34 is equipped with a sensor 56 (see FIG. 10) for detecting cutting position marks M1, which will be described later, that are printed on the medium 2. That is, the printing device 1 is equipped with a sensor (register mark sensor) 56 for detecting cutting position marks M1 that are printed on the medium 2. The sensor 56 is a reflective optical sensor that includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element that receives light that is emitted from the light-emitting element and reflected by the medium 2. The light-emitting element of the sensor 56 emits light toward the rear. The sensor 56 is electrically connected to a cutting control unit 63, which will be described later.

[0044] The second cutting mechanism 8 is equipped with a cutter blade that cuts the medium 2. The cutter blade is, for example, a single-edged blade with a sharp cutting edge. The second cutting mechanism 8 also has a cutter holder 41 that is attached to the support frame 35 so that the cutter blade is fixed and can move left and right, and a clamp mechanism 42 that fixes the cutter holder 41 to the support frame 35. The fixed position of the cutter blade relative to the cutter holder 41 in the front-to-rear direction can be manually adjusted.

[0045] The support frame 35 is formed with a guide portion 35a for guiding the cutter holder 41 in the left-right direction. The guide portion 35a is formed in an elongated shape that is long and narrow in the left-right direction. When viewed from the left-right direction, the shape of the guide portion 35a is, for example, L-shaped. The cutter holder 41 is formed with an engagement portion 41a that engages with the guide portion 35a. The engagement portion 41a is capable of contacting the guide portion 35a from both sides in the front-rear direction and both sides in the up-down direction.

[0046] The clamping mechanism 42 is attached to the cutter holder 41. The clamping mechanism 42 is, for example, a clamping mechanism using an eccentric cam. The clamping mechanism 42 includes a lever 43 that is rotatable relative to the cutter holder 41 with the left-right direction as the axial direction of rotation. The lever 43 is rotatable between a clamping position where the engagement portion 41a of the cutter holder 41 contacts the guide portion 35a with a predetermined contact pressure, and an unclamping position where a gap is formed between the engagement portion 41a and the guide portion 35a. In this embodiment, the operator of the printing device 1 moves the cutter holder 41 along the guide portion 35a to a predetermined position with the lever 43 in the unclamping position, and then rotates the lever 43 to the clamping position to fix the cutter holder 41 to the support frame 35.

[0047] The length of the guide portion 35a in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the support frame 35 in the left-right direction (see FIG. 6). A gap is formed between one left-right end (for example, the left end) of the guide portion 35a and the side plate 37. This gap is wider than the left-right width of the second cutting mechanism 8. In this embodiment, this gap can be used to attach the second cutting mechanism 8 to the support frame 35 or detach the second cutting mechanism 8 from the support frame 35. Specifically, the second cutting mechanism 8 can be attached to the support frame 35 by moving the second cutting mechanism 8 disposed in the gap to the right and engaging the engaging portion 41a with the guide portion 35a. The second cutting mechanism 8 can also be detached from the support frame 35 by moving the second cutting mechanism 8 to the left until it enters the gap.

[0048] For this reason, in this embodiment, it is possible to change the number of second cutting mechanisms 8 attached to the support frame 35. For example, as shown in FIG. 2(A), when two cutting lines CL11 and CL12 are formed on the medium 2 by the second cutting mechanisms 8 along the transport direction of the medium 2, two second cutting mechanisms 8 are attached to predetermined positions on the support frame 35. Also, as shown in FIG. 2(B), when four cutting lines CL11 to CL14 are formed on the medium 2 by the second cutting mechanisms 8 along the transport direction of the medium 2, four second cutting mechanisms 8 are attached to predetermined positions on the support frame 35.

[0049] The drive mechanism that rotates the transport roller 32, the transport roller 32, and the cutting platen 31 are attached to the side plate 37. The pad roller 33 is attached to the support frame 35. As described above, the support frame 35 is fixed to the side plate 37, and the side plate 37 is fixed to the support 4. The side plate 37 is fixed to the support 4 with screws. Therefore, in this embodiment, the unit including the cutting mechanism 7, the second cutting mechanism 8, the second media transport mechanism 30, and the cutting platen 31 is detachable from the support 4. In this embodiment, the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 are fixed to the support 4 via the side plate 37, and the printing mechanism 3, the cutting mechanism 7, and the second cutting mechanism 8 are attached to the same support 4.

[0050] Guide member 29 is disposed below cutting mechanism 7. Guide member 29 is also disposed between cutting mechanism 7 and storage unit 15 in the transport direction of medium 2. That is, guide member 29 is disposed between second cutting mechanism 8 and storage unit 15 in the transport direction of medium 2. Cutting mechanism 7 is also disposed between second cutting mechanism 8 and guide member 29 in the transport direction of medium 2. Guide member 29 is disposed at a position where cut-out portion 2a and first marginal portion 2b are formed in the left-right direction.

[0051] As described above, the medium take-up unit 17 is located behind the cutting mechanism 7 and the storage unit 15. The second marginal portion 2c moves rearward from the lower end of the front surface of the cutting platen 31. Meanwhile, the storage unit 15 is located below the cutting mechanism 7, and the portion to be cut 2a and the first marginal portion 2b move downward. The guide member 29 guides the portion to be cut 2a and the first marginal portion 2b downward and forward so that the portion to be cut 2a and the first marginal portion 2b move away from the second marginal portion 2c. In other words, the guide member 29 guides the portion to be cut 2a and the first marginal portion 2b in the front-to-back direction, which is the thickness direction of the medium 2, in a direction away from the second marginal portion 2c.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 3, the guide member 29 includes a fixed member 58 fixed to the cutting platen 31 and a contact member 59 that contacts the cut-out portion 2a and the first marginal portion 2b. The fixed member 58 is fixed to the cutting platen 31 below the opposing portion 31a. The fixed member 58 is also fixed to the front lower end of the cutting platen 31. The contact member 59 is attached to the fixed member 58. The front surface of the contact member 59 is disposed forward of the front surface of the cutting platen 31. The front surface of the contact member 59 is, for example, a plane that is perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction. The cut-out portion 2a and the first marginal portion 2b pass in front of the contact member 59.

[0053] The attachment position of the contact member 59 relative to the fixed member 58 in the front-to-rear direction is adjustable. That is, the attachment position of the contact member 59 relative to the fixed member 58 in the thickness direction of the medium 2 is adjustable. The contact member 59 is fixed to the fixed member 58 with, for example, a bolt and nut. The fixed member 58 has an elongated bolt insertion hole with its longitudinal direction extending in the front-to-rear direction.

[0054] According to the investigations of the inventors of the present application, if the guide member 29 is not installed, and the second margin portion 2c being wound up by the media winding mechanism 26 and moving towards the media winding section 17 tilts towards the cut-off portion 2a moving towards the storage section 15, as shown in Figure 8(B), at a predetermined position P downstream of the cutting mechanism 7 in the transport direction of the media 2, the end face of the cut-off portion 2a and the end face of the second margin portion 2c will come into contact with each other with excessive contact pressure, which may cause wrinkles to form in the cut-off portion 2a or a jam in which the cut-off portion 2a or the second margin portion 2c gets clogged.

[0055] In this embodiment, a guide member 29 is provided, and guide member 29 guides portion 2a to be cut away from second marginal portion 2c. Therefore, even if second marginal portion 2c, which is taken up by medium take-up mechanism 26 and moving toward medium take-up unit 17, tilts toward portion 2a to be cut away as it moves toward storage unit 15, it is possible to prevent the end face of portion 2a to be cut away, which is guided away from second marginal portion 2c, from coming into contact with the end face of second marginal portion 2c with excessive contact pressure. When guide member 29 is provided, portion 2a to be cut away and second marginal portion 2c are separated in the front-to-rear direction at predetermined position P, and when viewed from the front, the end of second marginal portion 2c overlaps portion 2a to be cut away (see FIG. 8(A)).

[0056] (Configuration of tension applying mechanism) FIG. 9 is a side view of the first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 for detecting the position of the tension bar 9 shown in FIG.

[0057] In addition to the tension bar 9, the tension applying mechanism 10 is equipped with a tension coil spring 46 (see FIG. 3) as a biasing member that biases the tension bar 9 in a direction pressing it against the medium 2, and a bar holder 47 that movably holds the tension bar 9. The tension applying mechanism 10 is also equipped with a first sensor 48 and a second sensor 49 for detecting the position of the tension bar 9. The tension bar 9 is located behind the front surface of the cutting platen 31. The tension bar 9 is also located behind the lower end of the guide surface 25a of the after platen 25.

[0058] The tension bar 9 includes a support shaft 50 formed in an elongated cylindrical shape and a roller 51 rotatably held by the support shaft 50. The support shaft 50 is arranged so that the axial direction of the support shaft 50 coincides with the left-right direction. The roller 51 is formed in an elongated cylindrical shape in the left-right direction. The length of the roller 51 (length in the left-right direction) is shorter than the length of the support shaft 50 (length in the left-right direction). The support shaft 50 is inserted into the inner periphery of the roller 51, and the roller 51 is rotatable relative to the support shaft 50 with the left-right direction as the axial direction of rotation. The roller 51 is in contact with the front side of the medium 2. Both ends of the support shaft 50 protrude outward in the left-right direction beyond the respective ends of the roller 51.

[0059] The bar holding portions 47 support both ends of the support shaft 50. The bar holding portions 47 are formed on support members 52 arranged on both left and right sides of the roller 51. The rear ends of the support members 52 are fixed to the support body 4. The bar holding portion 47 is formed with a guide groove 47a into which the end of the support shaft 50 is inserted. The guide groove 47a is formed in a straight line (slit shape) with the longitudinal direction being the front-rear direction. The support shaft 50 is movable in the front-rear direction along the guide groove 47a. In other words, the tension bar 9 is movable in the front-rear direction relative to the bar holding portion 47.

[0060] The tension coil springs 46 are disposed on both left and right sides of the roller 51. One end of the tension coil spring 46 engages with an end of the support shaft 50, and the other end of the tension coil spring 46 engages with the support member 52. The tension coil spring 46 biases the tension bar 9 toward the rear. That is, the rear side (X2 direction side) in this embodiment is the side in the biasing direction of the tension bar 9 by the tension coil spring 46. The front side (X1 direction side) is the side opposite to the biasing direction, and the tension bar 9 is movable with respect to the bar holder 47 between the side in the biasing direction of the tension bar 9 by the tension coil spring 46 and the side opposite to the biasing direction.

[0061] The first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 are transmissive optical sensors having a light-emitting unit and a light-receiving unit, and the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit are arranged facing each other with a gap between them. The first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 are attached to a support member 52. The first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 are arranged with a gap between them in the front-to-rear direction. In this embodiment, the first sensor 48 is arranged on the rear side, and the second sensor 49 is arranged on the front side. A light-shielding member 53 is fixed to the support shaft 50 via a predetermined member. The light-shielding member 53 is formed with a light-shielding portion 53a that can block the communication between the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit of the first sensor 48, and a light-shielding portion 53b that can block the communication between the light-emitting unit and the light-receiving unit of the second sensor 49.

[0062] As described above, the first sensor 48 is located behind the second sensor 49 and functions to detect the position of the tension bar 9 on the rear side. Meanwhile, the second sensor 49 functions to detect the position of the tension bar 9 on the front side. That is, the first sensor 48 functions to detect the position of the tension bar 9 on the side in the biasing direction of the tension bar 9 by the tension coil spring 46, and the second sensor 49 functions to detect the position of the tension bar 9 on the side opposite to the biasing direction.

[0063] In this embodiment, the medium conveying mechanism 5 and the second medium conveying mechanism 30 are controlled based on the detection results of the first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 so that the tension bar 9 is positioned within a predetermined range in the front-to-rear direction. In other words, the amount of conveyance of the medium 2 by the medium conveying mechanism 5 and the amount of conveyance of the medium 2 by the second medium conveying mechanism 30 are controlled based on the detection results of the first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 so that the tension of the medium 2 is within a predetermined range. Specifically, the amount of conveyance of the medium 2 is controlled based on the detection results of the first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 so that the tension bar 9 is positioned so that the light-shielding portion 53a blocks the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion of the first sensor 48 and the light-shielding portion 53b blocks the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion of the second sensor 49.

[0064] (Media printing method, cutting method) FIG. 10 is a block diagram illustrating the configuration of the printing device 1 shown in FIG.

[0065] In the printing device 1 of this embodiment, after printing on the medium 2 using the printing mechanism 3, the cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8 then cut the medium 2 to remove the portion to be cut out 2a. In this embodiment, the medium 2 passes through the after platen 25 after printing and moves toward the tension bar 9, as shown by the solid line in FIG. 1. When removing the portion to be cut out 2a, the second media transport mechanism 30 transports the medium 2 on the cutting platen 31, and the second cutting mechanism 8 forms cut lines CL11-CL14 on the medium 2 that are aligned with the media transport direction. Additionally, while the medium 2 is stopped on the cutting platen 31, the carriage 34 moves left and right, and the cutting mechanism 7 forms a cut line CL1 that is parallel to the medium width direction (left and right direction).

[0066] If the cut position in the medium transport direction of the medium 2 that is cut linearly in the left-right direction by the cutting mechanism 7 after printing (i.e., the position where the cut line CL1 is formed in the medium transport direction) is defined as the medium cut position, the printing mechanism 3 prints an image on the medium 2 and also prints a cut position mark (register mark) M1 for specifying the medium cut position on the medium 2, as shown in Figure 2. The printing mechanism 3 prints the cut position mark M1 on one end of the medium 2 in the left-right direction.

[0067] The cutting position mark M1 is a straight line (line segment) parallel to the left-right direction, and is printed on the portion of the medium 2 that will become the second margin 2c. The cutting position mark M1 is printed at a position a fixed distance downstream in the transport direction from the medium cutting position. In other words, the printing mechanism 3 prints multiple cutting position marks M1 at positions a fixed distance downstream in the transport direction from each of the multiple medium cutting positions. The multiple cutting position marks M1 are printed at the same position in the left-right direction.

[0068] Furthermore, if the cutting range in the media width direction (left-right direction) of the medium 2 at the media cutting position (i.e., the range where the cut line CL1 is formed in the left-right direction) is defined as the media cutting range, and the cutting position in the left-right direction of the medium 2 that is cut linearly in the transport direction of the medium 2 by the second cutting mechanism 8 after printing (i.e., the position where the cut lines CL11 to CL14 are formed in the left-right direction) is defined as the second media cutting position, a personal computer (PC) 61 electrically connected to the printing device 1 creates image data which is data for the image to be printed on the medium 2 (specifically, the image to be printed on the cut-out portion 2a), cut position data which is data for identifying the media cutting position, mark printing data which is data for printing the cut position mark M1, cut range data which is data for identifying the media cutting range, and second cut position data which is data for identifying the second media cutting position.

[0069] For example, an operator of the printing device 1 creates this data on the display of the PC 61. Software for creating images and the like is installed in the PC 61. In this embodiment, the printing system is made up of the printing device 1 and the PC 61. Once this data has been created in the PC 61, the operator, for example, while checking the second media cutting position displayed on the display of the PC 61, adjusts the position of the second cutting mechanism 8 in the left-right direction and fixes the second cutting mechanism 8 to the support frame 35.

[0070] Furthermore, when the operator performs a predetermined operation on the PC 61, the PC 61 transmits the created image data, cutting position data, mark printing data, and cutting range data to the print control unit 62, which is the control unit of the print mechanism 3, and the print control unit 62 receives these data. That is, the print mechanism 3 receives these data. The mark printing data includes mark position data, which is data for specifying the left-right position of the cut position mark M1.

[0071] The print control unit 62 receives the image data, cutting position data, mark printing data, and cutting range data, corrects the cutting position data, cutting range data, and mark position data based on data such as the left-right position data of the medium 2 held by the print control unit 62, and transmits the corrected cutting position data, cutting range data, and mark position data to the cutting control unit 63, which is the control unit of the cutting mechanism 7, and the cutting control unit 63 receives this data. In other words, the cutting mechanism 7 receives this data.

[0072] The cutting control unit 63, which has received the cutting position data, cutting range data, and mark position data, moves the carriage 34 to a position where the sensor 56 can detect the cutting position mark M1 based on the mark position data. That is, the carriage drive mechanism 36 moves the carriage 34 to a position where the sensor 56 can detect the cutting position mark M1 based on the mark position data. When the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2, this position becomes the reference position of the carriage 34, and the carriage 34 starts moving from this position. In this state, the printing mechanism 3 prints an image on the medium 2 based on the image data, and prints the cutting position mark M1 on the medium 2 based on the mark printing data.

[0073] Furthermore, the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2 based on the cutting range data. When the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2, the medium 2 is stopped on the cutting platen 31. The stopping position of the medium 2 is controlled based on the detection result of the sensor 56 and the cutting position data. Specifically, after the sensor 56 detects the cutting position mark M1, the medium 2 is conveyed a predetermined amount by the second medium conveying mechanism 30, and the medium 2 stops, and the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2.

[0074] In this embodiment, when the light-shielding portion 53a of the light-shielding member 53 blocks the light between the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion of the first sensor 48 and the light-shielding portion 53b blocks the light between the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion of the second sensor 49, the carriage 34 becomes able to move left and right. That is, when the cutting mechanism 7 forms the cut line CL1, the tension bar 9 is positioned so that the light-shielding portion 53a blocks the light between the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion of the first sensor 48 and the light-shielding portion 53b blocks the light between the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion of the second sensor 49. Furthermore, in this embodiment, even if the tension bar 9 moves within a predetermined range in the front-rear direction, the state in which the light-shielding portion 53a blocks the light between the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion of the first sensor 48 and the light-shielding portion 53b blocks the light between the light-emitting portion and the light-receiving portion of the second sensor 49 is maintained.

[0075] (Main effect of this form) As described above, in the printing device 1 of this embodiment, the tension bar 9, which is biased rearward by the tension coil spring 46, is disposed between the printing mechanism 3 and the cutting mechanism 7 in the transport direction of the medium 2, and is movable in the front-to-rear direction relative to the bar holder 47. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the printing mechanism 3 prints on the medium 2 while the cutting mechanism 7 is cutting the medium 2 and the medium 2 is transported toward the cutting mechanism 7, the tension bar 9 can maintain the tension on the portion of the medium 2 that is being cut by the cutting mechanism 7, and as a result, the cutting mechanism 7 can cut the medium 2 appropriately.

[0076] Therefore, in this embodiment, even while the cutting mechanism 7 is cutting the medium 2, the printing mechanism 3 can print on the medium 2 and the medium 2 can be transported toward the cutting mechanism 7. Note that in this embodiment, the heater 6 is disposed between the printing mechanism 3 and the tension bar 9 in the transport direction of the medium 2, so the distance between the printing mechanism 3 and the cutting mechanism 7 in the transport direction of the medium 2 is long. However, in this embodiment, even if the distance between the printing mechanism 3 and the cutting mechanism 7 in the transport direction of the medium 2 is long, it is possible to print on the medium 2 with the printing mechanism 3 while the cutting mechanism 7 is cutting the medium 2 and transport the medium 2 toward the cutting mechanism 7.

[0077] In this embodiment, the tension bar 9 is disposed between the printing mechanism 3 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the transport direction of the medium 2, and is movable back and forth relative to the bar holder 47. Also, in this embodiment, the transport roller 32 and pad roller 33 of the second medium transport mechanism 30 are disposed between the tension bar 9 and the second cutting mechanism 8. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the portion of the medium 2 being printed by the printing mechanism 3 is stopped while the printing mechanism 3 is printing on the medium 2, the portion of the medium 2 to be cut by the second cutting mechanism 8 can be transported by the second medium transport mechanism 30 by the amount of movement of the tension bar 9, and the medium 2 can be cut by the second cutting mechanism 8.

[0078] Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible for the second cutting mechanism 8 to cut the medium 2 even while the printing mechanism 3 is printing on the medium 2. Note that in this embodiment, the heater 6 is disposed between the printing mechanism 3 and the tension bar 9 in the transport direction of the medium 2, so the distance between the printing mechanism 3 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the transport direction of the medium 2 is long, but in this embodiment, even if the distance between the printing mechanism 3 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the transport direction of the medium 2 is long, it is possible for the second cutting mechanism 8 to cut the medium 2 while the printing mechanism 3 is printing on the medium 2.

[0079] In this embodiment, the tension bar 9 can suppress variations in the tension of the medium 2 when cutting is performed by the cutting mechanism 7 and when cutting is performed by the second cutting mechanism 8. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to stabilize the state of the medium 2 when cutting is performed by the cutting mechanism 7 and the state of the medium 2 when cutting is performed by the second cutting mechanism 8.

[0080] In addition, in this embodiment, the tension applying mechanism 10 is equipped with a first sensor 48 and a second sensor 49 for detecting the position of the tension bar 9 in the front-to-rear direction, and the transport amount of the medium 2 is controlled based on the detection results of the first sensor 48 and the second sensor 49 so that the tension of the medium 2 is within a predetermined range. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to effectively suppress variations in the tension of the medium 2 when cutting is performed by the cutting mechanism 7 and variations in the tension of the medium 2 when cutting is performed by the second cutting mechanism 8.

[0081] [Embodiment 2] (Configuration of printing device, and media printing and cutting methods) Fig. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method for printing and cutting a medium 2 according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 12 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of a printing device 1 according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

[0082] Like the printing device 1 of the first embodiment, the printing device 1 of this embodiment prints on a long medium 2 that is cut after printing. In the printing device 1 of the first embodiment, printing on the medium 2 is performed by the printing mechanism 3, and cutting of the medium 2 is performed by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8. In contrast, in the present embodiment, for example, the medium 2 is composed of a backing sheet and a sealing material removably attached to the backing sheet, and in addition to printing on the medium 2 by the printing mechanism 3 and cutting of the medium 2 by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, half-cutting of the medium 2 is performed, in which only the sealing material is cut into a predetermined shape according to the image printed on the sealing material of the medium 2. The following describes the configuration of the printing device 1 of this embodiment, focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

[0083] The printing mechanism 3 of this embodiment is equipped with a cutting head 66 (see FIG. 1) for half-cutting the medium 2. The cutting head 66 is mounted on the carriage 21 and is movable left and right. The cutting head 66 is equipped with, for example, a cutter blade, a cutter holder that rotatably holds the cutter blade so that the cutter blade can rotate up and down along its axis of rotation, and an elevation mechanism that raises and lowers the cutter holder. The half-cut of the medium 2 by the cutting head 66 is performed after printing on the medium 2.

[0084] If the portion of the medium 2 that is half-cut by the cutting head 66 is referred to as a half-cut line CL2, then the half-cut line CL2 that surrounds the image is formed on the medium 2 after it has been half-cut by the cutting head 66, as shown in Fig. 11. When half-cutting the medium 2 is performed, the medium 2 is transported in both directions in the medium transport direction, that is, toward the downstream side in the transport direction and toward the upstream side in the transport direction.

[0085] If the medium 2 is sandwiched between the stopped transport roller 32 and pad roller 33, the medium transport mechanism 5 cannot transport the medium 2 upstream in the transport direction by more than a predetermined amount. Even if it were possible to retract the pad roller 33 and create a situation where the medium 2 is not sandwiched between the transport roller 32 and pad roller 33, if the cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8 cut the medium 2 in a situation where the medium 2 is transported to both sides in the medium transport direction, there is a risk that the medium 2 will not be cut properly in the medium width direction and the medium transport direction due to the influence of the medium 2 being transported upstream in the transport direction.

[0086] Therefore, in this embodiment, the medium 2 after printing and half-cutting is not cut by the cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8, but is first wound into a roll by the medium winding mechanism 26, and then the operator removes the rolled medium 2 from the medium winding unit 17 and attaches it to the medium feeding unit 14. The medium 2 after printing and half-cutting that has been wound into a roll is then fed again from the medium feeding unit 14 and cut by the cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8. In other words, if the medium 2 after printing by the printing mechanism 3 and that has been removed from the medium winding unit 17 is referred to as the printed medium, the rolled printed medium is attached to the medium removal unit 14. The cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8 cut the printed medium.

[0087] In this embodiment, the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction when printing and half-cutting are performed becomes the upstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction when cutting is performed by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, and the upstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction when printing and half-cutting are performed becomes the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction when cutting is performed by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8. In addition, the right end of the medium 2 when printing and half-cutting are performed becomes the left end of the medium 2 when cutting is performed by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8, and the left end of the medium 2 when printing and half-cutting are performed becomes the right end of the medium 2 when cutting is performed by the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8.

[0088] Note that Figure 11(A) is a diagram for explaining the state of the upstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction after printing and half-cutting are completed and before it is removed from the medium winding unit 17, and Figure 11(B) is a diagram for explaining the state of the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction attached to the medium feeding unit 14 after it has been removed from the medium winding unit 17 after printing and half-cutting are completed.

[0089] In this embodiment, when printing and half-cutting of the medium 2 is performed, the medium 2 is not cut by the cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8, and therefore the medium 2 that has passed through the after-platen 25 after printing and half-cutting passes in front of the cutting mechanism 7, second cutting mechanism 8, and tension applying mechanism 10, as shown by the two-dot chain lines in FIG. 1, and passes below the cutting mechanism 7 before being taken up by the medium take-up mechanism 26. On the other hand, when cutting of the medium 2 is performed by the cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8, the medium 2 that has passed through the after-platen 25 moves toward the tension bar 9 (see the solid line in FIG. 1), as in the first embodiment. Furthermore, when cutting of the medium 2 is performed by the cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8, the medium 2 passes over the print platen 24.

[0090] In this embodiment, when printing and half-cutting of medium 2 is performed, medium winding unit 17 holds winding roll 16 on which medium 2 after printing and half-cutting is wound in a roll. On the other hand, when cutting of medium 2 is performed by cutting mechanism 7 and second cutting mechanism 8, medium winding unit 17 holds winding roll 16 on which second margin 2c is wound in a roll, as in embodiment 1.

[0091] In this embodiment, a sensor 67 (see FIG. 12) is mounted on the carriage 21 of the printing mechanism 3 to detect a first cutting range mark M11 and a second cutting range mark M12 (described later) printed on the medium 2. That is, the printing device 1 is equipped with the sensor 67 to detect the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12, and the sensor 67 is disposed upstream of the cutting mechanism 7 in the transport direction. The sensor 67 is a reflective optical sensor similar to the sensor 56, and includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element that receives light emitted from the light-emitting element and reflected by the medium 2. The light-emitting element of the sensor 67 emits light downward. The sensor 67 is electrically connected to the print control unit 62.

[0092] As in embodiment 1, if the media cutting range is the left-right cutting range of the medium 2 at the media cutting position (i.e., the range in which the cut line CL1 is formed in the left-right direction), the printing mechanism 3 of this embodiment prints an image and a cutting position mark M1 on the medium 2, and also prints on the medium 2 a first cutting range mark M11 positioned at a position corresponding to one end of the media cutting range in the left-right direction, a second cutting range mark M12 positioned at a position corresponding to the other end of the media cutting range in the left-right direction, and an origin identification mark M2 for identifying the origin.

[0093] As in the first embodiment, the cutting position mark M1 is a straight line (line segment) parallel to the left-right direction, and the printing mechanism 3 prints the cutting position mark M1 at one left-right end of the medium 2, which becomes the second margin 2c. Furthermore, the cutting position mark M1 in this embodiment is printed at a position a fixed distance upstream in the transport direction from the medium cutting position (see FIG. 11(A)). In other words, the printing mechanism 3 prints multiple cutting position marks M1 at positions a fixed distance upstream in the transport direction from each of the multiple medium cutting positions.

[0094] The first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 are straight lines (line segments) parallel to the medium transport direction. The printing mechanism 3 prints the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 on the upstream end in the transport direction of the medium 2 wound around the medium winding unit 17. For example, as shown in FIG. 11, if two cut-out portions 2a are arranged side by side in the width direction of the medium 2, the printing mechanism 3 prints two first cutting range marks M11 and two second cutting range marks M12.

[0095] In this embodiment, the printing mechanism 3 prints a first cutting range mark M11 laterally inward from one end of the medium cutting range in the left-right direction, and prints a second cutting range mark M12 laterally inward from the other end of the medium cutting range in the left-right direction. Also, as in the first embodiment, if the cutting position in the left-right direction of the medium 2 cut linearly in the medium transport direction by the second cutting mechanism 8 (i.e., the position where cut lines CL11 to CL14 are formed in the left-right direction) is defined as the second medium cutting position, the printing mechanism 3 prints the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 at the same position in the left-right direction as the second medium cutting position.

[0096] In addition to printing the mark M11 for the first cutting range and the mark M12 for the second cutting range on the upstream end of the medium 2 wound around the medium winding section 17 in the transport direction, the printing mechanism 3 may also print the mark M11 for the first cutting range and the mark M12 for the second cutting range on the first margin section 2b at a predetermined pitch in the medium transport direction.

[0097] The origin identifying mark M2 is a straight line (line segment) parallel to the medium transport direction. The printing mechanism 3 prints the origin identifying mark M2 on the upstream end in the transport direction of the medium 2 wound around the medium winding unit 17. For example, the downstream end in the transport direction of the origin identifying mark M2 is connected to the inner left-right end of the cutting position mark M1, which is printed most upstream in the transport direction, and the origin identifying mark M2 is printed on one left-right end of the medium 2 that becomes the second margin 2c.

[0098] In this embodiment, before printing and half-cutting of the medium 2, the PC 61 creates image data, which is data for the image to be printed on the medium 2 (specifically, the image to be printed on the cut-out portion 2a), half-cutting data, which is data for half-cutting the medium 2, cut position data, which is data for specifying the medium cut position, first mark printing data, which is data for printing the cut position mark M1 on the medium 2, cut range data, which is data for specifying the medium cut range, and second cut position data, which is data for specifying the second medium cut position. Furthermore, before printing and half-cutting of the medium 2, the PC 61 creates second mark printing data, which is data for printing the first cut range mark M11 and the second cut range mark M12 on the medium 2, and third mark printing data, which is data for printing the origin specifying mark M2 on the medium 2.

[0099] For example, an operator of the printing device 1 creates this data on the display of the PC 61. After this data has been created in the PC 61, when the operator performs a predetermined operation on the PC 61, the PC 61 sends the created image data, half-cut data, cut position data, data for printing the first mark, data for printing the second mark, data for printing the third mark, and cut range data to the print control unit 62, which then receives this data. In other words, the printing mechanism 3 receives this data.

[0100] The printing mechanism 3, which has received the data, prints an image on the medium 2 based on the image data, prints multiple cutting position marks M1 on the medium 2 based on the first mark printing data, prints first cutting range marks M11 and second cutting range marks M12 based on the second mark printing data, and prints an origin identification mark M2 based on the third mark printing data. After printing on the medium 2, the printing mechanism 3 also half-cuts the medium 2 based on the half-cut data. As described above, when printing and half-cutting the medium 2 are performed, the medium 2 is set so that after printing and half-cutting, the medium 2 passes through the after-platen 25, passes in front of the cutting mechanism 7, the second cutting mechanism 8, and the tension-applying mechanism 10, and below the cutting mechanism 7, before being taken up by the medium take-up mechanism 26.

[0101] After printing and half-cutting, the medium 2 is wound into a roll by the medium winding mechanism 26 and removed from the medium winding unit 17 by the operator. The rolled medium 2 after printing and half-cutting and removed from the medium winding unit 17 is then attached to the medium feeding unit 14 by the operator. The rolled medium 2 attached to the medium feeding unit 14 is pulled out by the operator, and the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction is placed on the print platen 24.

[0102] The sensor 67 then detects the origin mark M2 and the cutting position mark M1 (i.e., the cutting position mark M1 printed furthest downstream in the conveyance direction) to which the upstream end of the origin mark M2 is connected. The print control unit 62 identifies the origin position based on the detection result of the sensor 67. In this embodiment, for example, the position of the connection point between the origin mark M2 and the cutting position mark M1 is the origin position of the medium 2. The sensor 67 then detects the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12.

[0103] When the sensor 67 detects the origin mark M2, the first cutting range mark M11, and the second cutting range mark M12, the carriage 21 moves left and right. When the sensor 67 detects the cutting position mark M1, the medium conveying mechanism 5 conveys the medium 2. Before the sensor 67 detects the origin mark M2 and the cutting position mark M1, the operator adjusts the left and right position of the carriage 21 and the position of the downstream end of the medium 2 in the conveying direction. Specifically, a laser pointer that emits laser light downward is mounted on the carriage 21, and the operator adjusts the position of the carriage 21 and the position of the downstream end of the medium 2 in the conveying direction while checking the laser light irradiated from the laser pointer onto the medium 2.

[0104] The printing control unit 62 generates mark position data, which is data for specifying the left-right position of the cutting position mark M1, based on the detection result of the cutting position mark M1 by the sensor 67, and also corrects the cutting range data based on the detection result of the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 by the sensor 67 to generate corrected cutting range data. The printing control unit 62 also transmits the cutting position data, mark position data, and corrected cutting range data to the cutting control unit 63, and the cutting control unit 63 receives these data. In other words, the cutting mechanism 7 receives these data.

[0105] The cutting control unit 63 receives the cutting position data, cutting range data, and mark position data and, based on the mark position data, moves the carriage 34 to a position where the sensor 56 can detect the cutting position mark M1. That is, the carriage drive mechanism 36 moves the carriage 34 to a position where the sensor 56 can detect the cutting position mark M1 based on the mark position data received by the cutting mechanism 7. When the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2, this position becomes the reference position of the carriage 34, and the carriage 34 starts moving from this position.

[0106] The operator also adjusts the position of the second cutting mechanism 8 in the left-right direction, using, for example, the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 printed at the same position as the second medium cutting position in the left-right direction as guides, and fixes the second cutting mechanism 8 to the support frame 35. Thereafter, the second cutting mechanism 8 cuts the medium 2, and the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2.

[0107] As in the first embodiment, the second medium conveying mechanism 30 conveys the medium 2, causing the second cutting mechanism 8 to cut the medium 2. The cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2 based on the cutting range data. When the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2, the medium 2 is stopped on the cutting platen 31. As in the first embodiment, in this embodiment, the stopping position of the medium 2 is controlled based on the detection result of the sensor 56 and the cutting position data. Specifically, after the sensor 56 detects the cutting position mark M1, the medium 2 is conveyed a predetermined amount by the second medium conveying mechanism 30, and the medium 2 stops, and the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2. Note that when the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2, the cutting position mark M1 is positioned at a certain distance downstream in the conveyance direction from the medium cut position (see FIG. 11(B)).

[0108] Thus, in this embodiment, the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2 in the left-right direction based on the detection results of the sensor 56 and the cutting range data corrected based on the detection results of the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 by the sensor 67 (i.e., the cutting range data received by the cutting mechanism 7 from the print control unit 62). That is, the cutting mechanism 7 cuts the medium 2 in the left-right direction based on the detection results of the sensors 56 and 67.

[0109] If the first cutting range mark M11 and the second cutting range mark M12 are printed in the first margin 2b, the sensor 67 may again detect the origin specifying mark M2, the cutting position mark M1, the first cutting range mark M11, and the second cutting range mark M12 after the cutting mechanism 7 and the second cutting mechanism 8 start cutting the medium 2. In this case, the print control unit 62 again generates mark position data, corrects the cutting range data, and sends the cutting position data, mark position data, and corrected cutting range data to the cutting control unit 63.

[0110] Furthermore, in the second embodiment, instead of half-cutting the medium 2, perforations of a predetermined shape corresponding to the image printed on the medium 2 may be formed in the printed medium 2. In this case, for example, the medium 2 is made of paper, and the cutting head 66 forms perforations in the printed medium 2. In this case, for example, a perforated cut line having the same shape as the half-cut line CL2 is formed in the medium 2. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, instead of half-cutting the medium 2, cutting out the medium 2 may be performed, in which a portion of the printed medium 2 is cut out for decorative purposes. Furthermore, in the second embodiment, instead of half-cutting the medium 2, forming perforations in the medium 2, or cutting out the medium 2, predetermined processing may be performed on the medium 2. Even in this case, when the predetermined processing is performed on the medium 2, the medium 2 is transported to both sides in the medium transport direction.

[0111] [Other embodiments] The above-described embodiment is one example of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this embodiment and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

[0112] In the embodiment described above, the printing device 1 may include, instead of the guide member 29, a guide member 79 (see FIG. 13) that guides the portion to be cut 2a and the first margin 2b in a direction away from the second margin 2c. The guide member 79 is attached to the storage unit 15, for example. Specifically, the guide member 79 is attached to the rear upper end of the storage unit 15. The guide member 79 is disposed below the cutting mechanism 7, and is disposed between the cutting mechanism 7 and the storage unit 15 in the medium transport direction. The guide member 79 is also disposed at a position in the left-right direction where the portion to be cut 2a and the first margin 2b are formed.

[0113] The guide member 79 is formed with an inclined surface 79a that slopes downward as it approaches the front, and the cut-out portion 2a and the first marginal portion 2b are guided downward and forward by the inclined surface 79a so as to move away from the second marginal portion 2c. The guide member 79 is also formed with an inclined surface 79b that slopes downward as it approaches the rear. The inclined surface 79b is disposed behind the inclined surface 79a, and the upper end of the inclined surface 79a is connected to the upper end of the inclined surface 79b. The guide member 79 may be formed integrally with the storage portion 15.

[0114] In the above-described embodiment, the cutting mechanism 7 may be disposed between the tension bar 9 and the second cutting mechanism 8 in the transport direction of the medium 2. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the printing device 1 may not include the second cutting mechanism 8. Also, the printing device 1 may not include the cutting mechanism 7. Furthermore, in the above-described embodiment, the heater 6 may not be disposed between the printing mechanism 3 and the tension bar 9 in the transport direction of the medium 2. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the biasing member that biases the tension bar 9 may be a spring member other than the tension coil spring 46. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the first margin 2b may not be formed between the cut-out portions 2a in the medium transport direction. Also, in the above-described embodiment, the printing device 1 may be a printer other than an inkjet printer. [Explanation of symbols]

[0115] 1 Printing device 2 medium 3 Printing mechanism 5 Media transport mechanism 6 Heater 7 Cutting mechanism 8 Second cutting mechanism 9 Tension bar 10 Tensioning mechanism 20 heads (inkjet heads) 21 Carriage 22 Carriage drive mechanism 30 Second media transport mechanism 46 Tension coil spring (biasing member) 47 Bar holder 48 First Sensor 49 Second Sensor X2 biasing direction side Y Main scanning direction, width direction of the medium

Claims

1. The printing apparatus includes a printing mechanism for printing on a long medium, a medium transport mechanism for transporting the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium, a cutting mechanism for cutting the medium after printing in the width direction of the medium perpendicular to the transport direction of the medium, a cutting platen having an opposing portion disposed opposite the cutting mechanism, and a tension applying mechanism having a tension bar that comes into contact with the medium after printing and applies tension to the medium; The transport direction of the medium is defined as the medium transport direction, the upstream side of the medium transport direction is defined as the upstream side of the transport direction, the downstream side of the medium transport direction is defined as the downstream side of the transport direction, the cut position in the medium transport direction of the medium that is cut linearly in the width direction of the medium by the cutting mechanism after printing is defined as the medium cut position, and the mark printed on the medium by the printing mechanism to identify the medium cut position is defined as the cut position mark. a medium winding mechanism disposed downstream of the tension bar in the transport direction; and a mark detection mechanism that is a sensor for detecting the cut position mark, the cutting mechanism and the cutting platen are disposed upstream of the medium winding mechanism in the transport direction; the printing mechanism prints the cut position mark on the medium at a position a certain distance downstream in the transport direction from the medium cut position; the medium transport mechanism transports the medium based on a detection result of the cut position mark by the mark detection mechanism; A printing apparatus characterized in that the medium is stopped on the cutting platen when the cutting mechanism cuts the medium.

2. the tension applying mechanism includes a bar holding portion that movably holds the tension bar, a first sensor and a second sensor that detect the position of the tension bar, and a light blocking member that is fixed to the tension bar; the first sensor and the second sensor are transmission-type optical sensors having a light-emitting portion and a light-receiving portion, and are attached to a support member on which the bar holding portion is formed, 2. A printing device according to claim 1, wherein when the light-shielding member blocks the space between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of the first sensor and the space between the light-emitting element and the light-receiving element of the second sensor, the cutting mechanism can cut the medium.

3. a print control unit that is a control unit of the printing mechanism; If the cutting range of the medium at the medium cutting position in the width direction of the medium is defined as a medium cutting range, the print control unit receives cut position data, which is data for specifying the medium cut position, mark printing data, which is data for printing the cut position mark, and cut range data, which is data for specifying the medium cut range; the mark printing data includes mark position data that is data for specifying the position of the cut position mark in the width direction of the medium, A printing device as described in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the printing control unit, which receives the cutting position data, the mark printing data, and the cutting range data, corrects the cutting position data, the cutting range data, and the mark position data based at least on data on the position of the medium in the width direction of the medium held by the printing control unit.

4. a cutting control unit that is a control unit of the cutting mechanism, 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the print control unit transmits the corrected cutting position data, the corrected cutting range data, and the corrected mark position data to the cutting control unit.

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