printer

Abstract

To perform replenishment of an oil, which is applied to cutting means for cutting a sheet, by an easy and inexpensive method.SOLUTION: A printer, which cuts a printed long sheet by cutting means and discharges the same, has oil holding means for holding the oil to be applied to the cutting means. The oil holding means comprises an oil application part for applying the oil to the cutting means, and a container holding part for detachably holding a storage container which stores the oil. At this time, it is preferable that the container holding part have a recess in a top face of the container holding part, the recess have an insertion port, in which the storage container is inserted, at a center in an axial direction of the container holding part, and the storage container be held by the container holding part in the state that a part of the storage container is inserted in the container holding part from the insertion port.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 8

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printer that applies oil to a cutter blade that cuts printed paper. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, there is a printer that prints on a long sheet of paper as it is fed in one direction, and then cuts off the printed portion of the paper with a cutter blade and discharges it. In such printers, it has been proposed to apply oil to the cutter blade using an oil-impregnated body such as a sponge or nonwoven fabric to prevent paper dust or adhesive (glue) from the adhesive layer of the paper from adhering to the cutting surface of the cutter blade, which could dull the cutting edge of the cutter blade or cause the cutter blade to rust (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-192955 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In Patent Document 1, an oil holder is fixed to the fixed blade, which is a fixed blade and a movable blade that make up the cutting means. When cutting conveyed paper, for example, the cutting edge of the movable blade is pressed against the oil holder fixed to the fixed blade, applying oil held by the oil holder to the cutting edge of the movable blade. In the printer disclosed in Patent Document 1, the oil holder held by the fixed blade applies oil to the cutting edge of the movable blade every time label paper is cut. Therefore, the more label paper is cut by the cutting means, the faster the oil held in the oil holder is consumed. Furthermore, even if the cutting means cuts label paper only a few times, if the printer is used infrequently, the oil held in the oil holder will evaporate. Patent Document 1 does not explicitly state what to do if the oil held in the oil holder is consumed.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and its purpose is to provide a technology that enables the oil to be applied to the cutting means that cuts the paper to be replenished in a simple and inexpensive manner. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In order to solve the above problem, the printer of the present invention is a printer that cuts and discharges long printed paper using a cutting means, and is characterized in that it has an oil holding means that holds oil to be applied to the cutting means, and the oil holding means comprises an oil application section that applies the oil to the cutting means, and a container holding section that detachably holds a storage container that contains the oil. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] 1 is a diagram showing an example of the appearance of a printer embodying the present invention; [Figure 2] 2 is a diagram showing an example of the printer shown in FIG. 1 in a state where an upper cover and a cutter unit are open. FIG. [Figure 3]FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating an example of a configuration in the vicinity of a printer body and an oil application unit. [Figure 4] 1A is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of the configuration of the roller holding portion and the vicinity of the oil application unit, and FIG. 1B is an enlarged view showing an area D shown in FIG. 1A. [Figure 5] 10 is a partial cross-sectional view showing an example of a configuration in the vicinity of the oil application unit when the oil application unit is rotated to a replacement position. FIG. [Figure 6] (a) is a front view of the oil application unit, (b) is a top view of the oil application unit, (c) is a bottom view of the oil application unit, (d) is a left side view of the oil application unit, (e) is a right side view of the oil application unit, (f) is a rear view of the oil application unit, and (g) is a cross-sectional view taken along the line AA in (a). [Figure 7] 6(b) is a BB cross-sectional view of the oil application unit before the oil storage container is attached. [Figure 8] 1A is a perspective view of the rear side of the oil application unit holding the oil storage container, and FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the rear side of the oil application unit with the oil storage container removed. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the electrical configuration of the printer. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart showing a process flow relating to application of oil to a movable blade and replacement of an oil container. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Hereinafter, an embodiment of a printer to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, printer 10 is a device that prints on paper P (see Figure 4) while transporting the paper P (for example, paper P fed from a paper roll (not shown) held in printer body 16), cuts the rear end of the printed paper P with cutter unit 45 (described later), and discharges the paper from paper outlet 18 provided on the front of printer 10, for example.

[0009] The printer 10 includes a top cover 15, a printer body 16, and a handle 17. The top cover 15 is pivotally supported on the rear side of the printer body 16. By pivotally supporting the top cover 15 on the rear side of the printer body 16, the top cover 15 can rotate between a closed position (see FIG. 1) in which it covers the top surface of the printer body 16, and an open position (see FIG. 2) in which it exposes the top surface of the printer body 16.

[0010] The upper lid 15 is biased toward the open position by a spring (not shown) provided at the rear end of the printer 10, which serves as the center of rotation, and when the upper lid 15 rotates to the closed position, the locking pieces 43 and 44, which will be described later, are locked onto the shaft member 32 that supports the head unit 25, and the upper lid 15 is held in the closed position.

[0011] Furthermore, when the top cover 15 is in the closed position, operating the operating levers 20, 21 provided on the side of the printer body 16 releases the locking of the top cover 15 to the shaft member 32 by the locking pieces 43, 44. As described above, since the top cover 15 is biased toward the open position, when the locking by the locking pieces 43, 44 is released, the top cover 15 rotates from the closed position to the open position.

[0012] The top cover 15 has an operation panel 19 on its top surface. The operation panel 19 is, for example, a touch panel display. The operation panel 19 displays various setting screens for the printer 10 and displays information based on input operations on the operation panel 19.

[0013] The upper cover 15 has a head unit 25 and an auxiliary roller 26 on the underside of the upper cover 15. The head unit 25 has a unit body 27 and a support door 28.

[0014] The unit body 27 is disposed at the front end of the top cover 15 in the front-to-rear direction of the printer 10. The unit body 27 is attached to the top cover 15 by a shaft member 32. In this state, the unit body 27 is swingable relative to the top cover 15. By allowing the unit body 27 to swing relative to the top cover 15, the thermal head 30 held by the head unit 25 is reliably pressed against the platen roller 42 when the top cover 15 is rotated to the closed position.

[0015] The support door 28 is pivotally supported on the unit body 27 so as to be freely openable and closable. When the support door 28 is opened, the thermal head 30 can be replaced. When the support door 28 is closed, the support door 28 presses the thermal head 30 against the unit body 27, maintaining contact between the contact terminals on the unit body 27 and the contact portions of the thermal head 30. When the main power supply of the printer 10 is turned on in this state, power is supplied to the thermal head 30.

[0016] Although detailed description of the thermal head 30 is omitted, the thermal head 30 is equipped with a circuit board having a circuit including a heating element array in which a plurality of heating elements are arranged in one direction and contact parts, and prints on the printing surface of the paper P by the heat generated by each of the plurality of heating elements. The thermal head 30 is driven and controlled by a head control part 94 (see FIG. 9).

[0017] When the top cover 15 is closed, the auxiliary roller 26 is pressed against a feed roller 41 held by a roller holding portion 36, which will be described later. The paper P fed from the paper roll is sandwiched between the auxiliary roller 26 and the feed roller 41, and is sent toward the thermal head 30 and the platen roller 42 by the rotation of the feed roller 41.

[0018] The printer body 16 has a paper holding unit 35, a roller holding unit 36, and a cutter unit 45. The cutter unit 45 corresponds to the cutting means in the claims. The paper holding unit 35 has axial support units 38 and 39. The relative positions of the axial support units 38 and 39 can be changed in the width direction of the printer 10. Therefore, after inserting a paper roll around which long paper P is wound into the paper holding unit 35, the axial support units 38 and 39 can be brought close to each other to axially support the paper roll.

[0019] The roller holding unit 36 ​​is disposed in front of the paper holding unit 35. The roller holding unit 36 ​​includes a feed roller 41 and a platen roller 42. The roller holding unit 36 ​​holds the feed roller 41 and the platen roller 42 so that their rotation axes are parallel. The feed roller 41 and the platen roller 42 each rotate as the drive mechanism 99 (see FIG. 9) is driven.

[0020] The roller holding part 36 is disposed inside the printer body 16 so as to face the head unit 25 of the top lid 15 when the top lid 15 is rotated to the closed position. Therefore, as shown in Fig. 4, when the top lid 15 is held in the closed position, the auxiliary roller 26 journaled on the top lid 15 is pressed against the feed roller 41 of the roller holding part 36, and the heating element array of the thermal head 30 held by the head unit 25 is pressed against the platen roller 42.

[0021] The roller holding portion 36 also has locking pieces 43 and 44. When the top cover 15 is rotated to the closed position, the locking pieces 43 and 44 are respectively locked to the ends of the shaft member 32 that pivotally supports the head unit 25 on the top cover 15, thereby holding the top cover 15 in the closed position. The locking of the locking pieces 43 and 44 to the shaft member 32 can be released by operating the operating levers 20 and 21.

[0022] The cutter unit 45 is disposed at the front end of the printer body 16. The cutter unit 45 is rotatably supported on the front surface of the printer body 16. The cutter unit 45 is normally held in a closed position, and is rotated from the closed position to the open position when performing maintenance work. Note that maintenance work includes, for example, replacement of the cutter unit 45 and components that make up the cutter unit 45, as well as replacement of the oil storage container 68 attached to the oil application unit 61 (described below).

[0023] 1, 2, or 4, the cutter unit 45 includes an exterior body 46, a frame body 47, a guide plate 48, a fixed blade 49, and a movable blade 50. The exterior body 46 is pivotally supported at its lower end by the printer body 16. The exterior body 46 rotates between a closed position (see FIG. 1) and an open position (see FIG. 2) around the lower end pivotally supported by the printer body 16.

[0024] The exterior body 46 has locking pieces 46a, 46b at its upper free end and at both widthwise ends of the exterior body 46. The locking pieces 46a, 46b are locked to engagement portions (not shown) of the printer body 16 when the exterior body 46 is rotated to the closed position. This holds the cutter unit 45 in the closed position. Furthermore, when the locking pieces 46a, 46b are elastically deformed while the cutter unit 45 is held in the closed position, the locking pieces 46a, 46b are released from the engagement portions of the printer body 16. This allows the cutter unit 45 to be rotated from the closed position to the open position.

[0025] Frame 47 is fixed to the rear side of exterior body 46 and functions as a reinforcing material for exterior body 46. Frame 47 has a paper passage opening 52 through which paper P is inserted to be fed toward paper discharge outlet 18. Frame 47 also has, on the surface facing exterior body 46, a fixed blade 49, a movable blade 50, and a drive mechanism 100 (see FIG. 9) that moves movable blade 50.

[0026] The guide plate 48 is fixed to the frame 47 on the rear side of the frame 47, i.e., on the surface facing the roller holding portion 36, with a window portion 48b (described later) facing the lower end of a paper passage opening 52 of the frame 47. The guide plate 48 has a guide piece 48a whose upper end is bent toward the roller holding portion 36. The guide piece 48a supports, from below, the paper P fed out by the rotation of the platen roller 42, and guides it to the paper passage opening 52 provided in the frame 47. The guide plate 48 has a window portion 48b. An application portion 61a of an oil application unit 61 (described later) is inserted through the window portion 48b.

[0027] The fixed blade 49 is fixed to the frame 47 so that its cutting edge overlaps the upper end of the paper passage slot 52 of the frame 47. The movable blade 50 is disposed relative to the frame 47 with a gap, for example, equal to the thickness of the fixed blade 49. The movable blade 50 is held in an initial position (see FIG. 4(b)) located below the paper passage slot 52, and is moved up and down by the drive of the drive mechanism 99. For example, when the movable blade 50 is in the initial position, a space is created between the cutting edge of the fixed blade 49 and the cutting edge of the movable blade 50, and the paper P inserted into the paper passage slot 52 passes through this space. Then, when the movable blade 50 moves up and down, the paper passage slot 52 and the paper P inserted into this space are cut by the movable blade 50 and the fixed blade 49.

[0028] The oil application unit 61 is provided to apply oil to the cutting edge of the movable blade 50 of the cutter unit 45. The oil application unit 61 corresponds to the oil retaining means recited in the claims. As shown in FIGS. 4(a) and 4(b), the oil application unit 61 is normally held at a position (hereinafter referred to as the reference position) separated from the movable blade 50 of the cutter unit 45. When the application unit 61 is in the reference position, the application portion 61a of the oil application unit 61 is inserted into the window portion 48b of the guide plate 48 and the paper passage opening 52 of the frame body 47. At this time, the application portion 61a of the oil application unit 61 is held in a state where it is not in contact with the cutting edge of the movable blade 50.

[0029] In Figures 4(a) and 4(b), when the application unit 61 is in the standard position, the application portion 61a of the oil application unit 61 is inserted into the window portion 48b of the guide plate 48 and the paper passage opening 52 of the frame body 47. However, if the application portion 61a is not inserted into the window portion 48b of the guide plate 48 and the paper passage opening 52 of the frame body 47, when the application unit 61 is rotated toward the movable blade 50 by the rotation mechanism 101 (see Figure 9) described later, the application portion 61a of the oil application unit 61 may be inserted into the window portion 48b of the guide plate 48 and the paper passage opening 52 of the frame body 47.

[0030] When the application control unit 96 (see FIG. 9) drives the rotation mechanism 101 (see FIG. 9), the oil application unit 61 rotates in the direction R1 in FIG. 4(b) to apply oil impregnated in the application portion 61a of the oil application unit 61 to the cutting edge of the movable blade 50, which is in the initial position, and then rotates in the direction R2 in FIG. 4(b) to return to the reference position. Here, the oil application unit 61 applies oil to the cutting edge of the movable blade 50, for example, when the number of times the paper P has been cut reaches a predetermined number of times or when a predetermined time has elapsed since the oil was applied.

[0031] When the application portion 61a of the oil application unit 61 is in the reference position, it is held at a position away from the movable blade 50 which is in the initial position. However, when the application portion 61a of the oil application unit 61 is in the reference position, it may be abutted against the movable blade 50 which is in the initial position, and when the movable blade 50 moves up and down, the oil application unit 61 may be rotated so that the application portion 61a of the oil application unit 61 is moved away from the movable blade 50 which is in the initial position.

[0032] Returning to FIG. 3 , the oil application unit 61 is pivotally supported on the printer body 16 by fitting a grip 75 provided on the underside of the case body 71 (described later) to a shaft 63 provided on the underside of the printer body 16, and a grip 76 provided on the underside of the case body 71 to a shaft 64 provided on the underside of the printer body 16. By pivotally supporting the oil application unit 61 on the printer body 16, the oil application unit 61 can rotate between a use position (see FIG. 4(a)) that shields the front of the roller holding unit 36 ​​and a replacement position (see FIG. 5) that is tilted toward the front of the printer 10. The use position corresponds to the first position in the claims, and the replacement position corresponds to the second position in the claims. The oil application unit 61 can be rotated from the use position to the replacement position by rotating the upper cover 15 and the cutter unit 45 to their open positions.

[0033] The oil application unit 61 retains oil stored in an attached oil storage container 68 by impregnating the stored oil-impregnated body 66, and applies the retained oil to the movable blade 50 of the cutter unit 45. As shown in Figures 6, 7, and 8, the oil application unit 61 includes a case 65, an oil-impregnated body 66, a buffer material 67, and an oil storage container 68. Here, the case 65 corresponds to the container holding portion recited in the claims. The oil storage container 68 may be a component of the oil application unit 61, or may be a component separate from the oil application unit 61.

[0034] The case 65 has a case body 71 and a cover 72. The case body 71 is box-shaped with an open top, and has a wrapping portion 71a at the upper end of the front face around which the oil-impregnated body 66 is wrapped. An insertion hole 71b through which the oil-impregnated body 66 is inserted is provided below the wrapping portion 71a.

[0035] The case body 71 also has gripping portions 75 and 76 on its underside. The gripping portion 75 grips the shaft portion 63 of the printer body 16. The gripping portion 76 grips the shaft portion 64 of the printer body 16.

[0036] The cover 72 is a generally L-shaped member having a shielding portion 72a and a pressing portion 72b. The cover 72 is fixed to the upper surface of the case body 71 by, for example, screws 75. When the cover 72 is fixed to the upper surface of the case body 71, the shielding portion 72a shields the opening portion of the upper surface of the case body 71.

[0037] The cover 72 includes reinforcing plate portions 72c and 72d that straddle the shielding portion 72a and the pressing portion 72b. The reinforcing plate portions 72c and 72d are provided at a predetermined interval in the width direction of the case 65 (W direction in FIG. 8(a) or FIG. 8(b)). The predetermined interval is, for example, an interval that allows the oil storage container 68 to be inserted between the reinforcing plate portion 72c and the oil storage container 68, and between the reinforcing plate portion 72d and the oil storage container 68, while being held with fingers, when attaching or detaching the oil storage container 68 attached to the case 65. A recess 72e is provided on the upper surface of the shielding portion 72a between the reinforcing plate portions 72c and 72d. The recess 72e is provided with, for example, an elliptical cylindrical tube portion 77 at the center of the width direction of the case 65. The elliptical cylindrical tube portion 77 has an open top, and the hollow portion of the elliptical cylindrical tube portion 77 functions as an insertion opening 78 for inserting the oil storage container 68. The insertion opening 78 is provided for inserting the oil storage container 68 into the case 65 from the tip (nozzle portion 68c) side. Note that, as long as there is space above the cover 72 that allows the oil storage container 68 and the fingers holding the oil storage container 68 to move, the recess 72e in the cover 72 is not necessarily required.

[0038] When the cover 72 is fixed to the case body 71, the pressing portion 72b presses the oil-impregnated body 66, which is arranged along the inner wall surface of the case body 71, toward the inner wall surface of the case body 71. The pressing portion 72b has a locking portion 72f at its upper end. After being inserted into the insertion hole 71b of the case body 71, the locking portion 72f locks onto one end of the oil-impregnated body 66 that is wrapped around the wrapping portion 71a, and presses the one end of the oil-impregnated body 66 toward the wrapping portion 71a. This pressing prevents the one end of the oil-impregnated body 66 from coming off the wrapping portion 71a. The application portion 61a is formed by holding the one end of the oil-impregnated body 66 wrapped around the wrapping portion 71a.

[0039] In addition, the pressing portion 72b has a locking portion 79. When the oil storage container 68 is attached to the case 65, the locking portion 79 locks onto a part of the outer peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the oil storage container 68, thereby maintaining the tip of the nozzle portion 68c of the oil storage container 68 in contact with the oil-impregnated body 66.

[0040] One example of the oil-impregnated body 66 is a nonwoven fabric. The oil-impregnated body 66 is brought into contact with the nozzle portion 68c of the oil storage container 68 at the bottom surface of the case 65, and is impregnated with the oil stored in the oil storage container 68, thereby retaining the oil. One end of the oil-impregnated body 66 is wound around the winding portion 71a while being inserted into the insertion hole 71b of the case main body 71, and the other end is disposed along the inner wall surface and the bottom surface of the case main body 71.

[0041] The cushioning material 67 is disposed on top of the oil-impregnated body 66, which is disposed along the bottom and inner wall surfaces of the case body 71. The cushioning material 67 is, for example, a sponge. The cushioning material 67 has a stepped hole 80 extending from the top to the bottom. The stepped hole 80 is formed by, from the top, a large-diameter cylindrical portion 80a and a small-diameter cylindrical portion 80b. When the oil storage container 68 is attached to the case 65, the neck portion 68b of the oil storage container 68 is inserted into the large-diameter cylindrical portion 80a, and the nozzle portion 68c of the oil storage container 68 is inserted into the small-diameter cylindrical portion 80b, thereby supporting the oil storage container 68. The depth of the large-diameter cylindrical portion 80a is set shorter than the length of the neck portion 68b of the oil storage container 68. Therefore, when the oil storage container 68 is attached to the case 65, the shoulder portion 68d of the oil storage container 68 presses against the cushioning material 67 at the periphery of the stepped hole 80. As a result, the buffer material 67 is held in a state in which the peripheral portion of the stepped hole 80 is elastically deformed. At this time, the tip of the nozzle portion 68c of the oil storage container 68 is in contact with the oil-impregnated body 66.

[0042] The case body 71 has a butt portion 71d on its bottom surface, and the oil-impregnated body 66, which is arranged along the bottom surface of the case body 71, is held in a floating state by the butt portion 71d. As a result, when the oil storage container 68 is attached to the case 65, the tip of the nozzle portion 68c of the oil storage container 68 is reliably abutted against the oil-impregnated body 66. As a result, the oil stored in the oil storage container 68 is impregnated into the oil-impregnated body 66.

[0043] The oil storage container 68 stores oil therein. The oil storage container 68 has an oil storage portion 68a, a neck portion 68b, and a nozzle portion 68c. The oil storage portion 68a is, for example, an elliptical cylindrical shape with closed top and bottom surfaces. The oil storage portion 68a may have a rectangular or spherical shape instead of an elliptical cylindrical shape. The neck portion 68b is, for example, cylindrical and protrudes outward from the top surface of the oil storage portion 68a. Therefore, a shoulder portion 81 is formed on the top surface of the oil storage portion 68a due to the difference in cross-sectional shape from the neck portion 68b. The nozzle portion 68c is cylindrical and has a smaller outer diameter than the neck portion 68b, and is formed continuous with the neck portion 68b.

[0044] The oil storage container 68 is formed from a material such as a translucent or transparent synthetic resin so that the inside of the oil storage container 68 can be seen. As an example, the oil stored in the oil storage container 68 may be 100% silicone oil, which is a food additive that does not have any adverse effects on the human body even if it comes into contact with the human body.

[0045] The oil storage container 68 is replaced in the following procedure. First, the upper cover 15, which is in the closed position, is rotated to the open position, and the cutter unit 45, which is in the closed position, is rotated to the open position. This allows the oil application unit 61 to rotate, so that the oil application unit 61, which is in the use position, is rotated to the replacement position. When the oil application unit 61 is rotated to the replacement position, the top surface of the oil application unit 61 is exposed (see FIG. 2). After the top surface of the oil application unit 61 is exposed, the oil storage container 68 attached to the case 65 is removed from the case 65. As described above, the case 65 has a recess 77e on the top surface of the case 65, i.e., on the shielding portion 72a of the cover 72, and the recess 77e has an insertion opening 78 in the center in the width direction. Therefore, the oil storage container 68 is held in the case 65 while inserted into the insertion opening 78 from the nozzle portion 68c side. In this state, both ends of the recess 77e in the width direction of the case 65 are exposed. Therefore, the user inserts his or her fingers into both ends of the recess 77e to grasp the oil storage container 68 and remove it from the case 65. At this time, the oil storage container 68 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the cover 72 (the direction indicated by the arrow in Figure 7(b)).

[0046] After removing the oil storage container 68 from the case 65, the user picks up a new oil storage container 68 containing oil and attaches it to the case 65. That is, the nozzle portion 68c of the oil storage container 68 is inserted into the insertion opening 78 provided in the shielding portion 72a of the cover 72 of the case 65, and the oil storage container 68 is attached to the case 65. At this time, the oil storage container 68 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the cover 72 (the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 7(b)). At this time, the fingers of the user holding the oil storage container 68 are inserted into both ends of the recess 77e. This allows the oil storage container 68 to be pushed into the insertion opening 78 provided in the shielding portion 72a of the cover 72.

[0047] After a new oil storage container 68 is attached to the case 65, the oil application unit 61 is rotated from the replacement position to the use position. Then, the cutter unit 45, which is in the open position, is rotated to the closed position, and finally, the upper cover 15, which is in the open position, is rotated to the closed position.

[0048] According to this, for example, when all the oil stored in the oil storage container 68 has been consumed, it is not necessary to replace the entire oil application unit 61, but rather it is only necessary to replace the oil storage container 68, which reduces the cost associated with replacement and also allows the other components of the oil application unit 61 to be reused. Therefore, since it is only necessary to replace the oil storage container 68 to replenish the oil, it is possible to reduce the cost associated with refilling the oil.

[0049] Next, we will explain the electrical configuration of the printer 10. As shown in Fig. 9, the printer 10 has a main control unit 91, a panel control unit 92, a transport control unit 93, a head control unit 94, a cutting control unit 95, a coating control unit 96, and a memory 97, which are electrically connected via a bus 98.

[0050] The main control unit 91 executes a control program stored in the memory 97 and receives signals from the panel control unit 92, the head control unit 94, or a paper sensor (not shown) to output control signals to each of the panel control unit 92, the conveyance control unit 93, the head control unit 94, the cutting control unit 95, and the application control unit 96. For example, the main control unit 91 counts the number of times the cutter unit 45 cuts the paper P. The main control unit 91 also measures the elapsed time since it output a command to the application control unit 96 to instruct the application control unit 96 to apply oil to the movable blade 50, i.e., the elapsed time since the oil application unit 61 applied oil to the movable blade 50. Therefore, the main control unit 91 outputs a command to the application control unit 96 to apply oil when the number of cuts described above reaches a predetermined number or when a preset time has elapsed.

[0051] The panel control unit 92 controls the display on the operation panel 19 and outputs a signal based on the user's operation of the operation panel 19 to the main control unit 91. The transport control unit 93 controls the operation of a drive mechanism 99 provided in the roller holding unit 36. The head control unit 94 controls the operation of the thermal head 30 and outputs a signal based on the operation of the thermal head 30 to the main control unit 91. The cutting control unit 95 controls the operation of a drive mechanism 100 provided in the cutter unit 45.

[0052] The application control unit 96 drives the rotation mechanism 101 to rotate the oil application unit 61, which is in the reference position, toward the movable blade 50, and then rotates the oil application unit 61 back to the reference position. Note that the rotation mechanism 101 can be any appropriate configuration as long as it is a mechanism that can rotate the oil application unit 61, such as a mechanism including a gear and a motor, or a solenoid.

[0053] The memory 97 stores the control program read by the main control unit 91, various operators required when executing the control program, and the like. The memory 97 also stores the number of times the oil application unit 61 has applied oil to the movable blade 50 (number of applications), which serve as a guide for replacing the oil storage container 68, and the number of times the oil application unit 61 has actually applied oil to the movable blade 50. In addition to this, the memory 97 also stores information such as the number of times the cutter unit 45 has actually cut the paper P, the time elapsed since the oil application unit 61 applied oil to the movable blade 50, the number of times the paper P has been cut (the above-mentioned predetermined number of times), and the time elapsed since the oil application unit 61 applied oil to the movable blade 50 (the above-mentioned predetermined time), which serve as a guide for outputting a command for the oil application unit 61 to apply oil to the movable blade 50.

[0054] Next, an example of the flow of processing within the printer 10 related to replacement of the oil storage container 68 will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG.

[0055] In step S101, when a print instruction is received by the user operating the operation panel 19, the panel control unit 92 outputs a signal indicating a print instruction to the main control unit 91. In response to this, the main control unit 91 proceeds from the processing of step S101 to the processing of step S102. On the other hand, if a print instruction is not received by the user operating the operation panel 19, the panel control unit 92 does not output a signal indicating a print instruction to the main control unit 91. Therefore, the main control unit 91 proceeds to the processing of step S105, which will be described later.

[0056] In step S102, when a print instruction is received by the user operating the operation panel 19, a signal indicating a print instruction is output from the panel control unit 92 to the main control unit 91. In response to this, the main control unit 91 outputs a signal indicating the start of drive to the transport control unit 93 and the head control unit 94. At this time, the main control unit 91 outputs to the head control unit 94 print information indicating the print content to be printed on the paper P.

[0057] Upon receiving the instruction to start driving, the transport control unit 93 drives the drive mechanism 99. As a result, the feed roller 41 and the platen roller 42 rotate. As a result, for example, the paper P sandwiched between the feed roller 41 and the auxiliary roller 26 is transported toward the platen roller 42 and the thermal head 30. Accordingly, the paper P is unwound from the paper roll held by the paper holding unit 35.

[0058] Furthermore, when a signal indicating the start of drive and printing information are input, the head control unit 94 controls each heating element in the heating element array of the thermal head 30 based on the printing information. In this way, printing on the paper P is performed by the thermal head 30. At this time, the drive mechanism 99 provided in the roller holding unit 36 ​​is driven, so the paper P printed by the thermal head 30 is sent toward the paper discharge outlet 18 by the rotating platen roller 42. As a result, the paper P is discharged to the outside from the paper discharge outlet 18. Then, when printing on the paper P by the thermal head 30 is completed, the head control unit 94 outputs a printing completion signal to the main control unit 91.

[0059] After receiving a printing end signal from the head control unit 94, the main control unit 91 outputs a drive stop signal to the transport control unit 93 at a predetermined timing. In response to this, the transport control unit 93 stops driving the drive mechanism 99. This stops the rotation of the feed roller 41 and the platen roller 42, i.e., stops the transport of the paper P.

[0060] At the same time as outputting a drive stop signal to the conveyance control unit 93, the main control unit 91 outputs a drive start signal to the cutting control unit 95. Upon receiving the drive start signal, the cutting control unit 95 drives the drive mechanism 100 of the cutter unit 45. As a result, the movable blade 50, which is in the initial position, moves toward the fixed blade 49, and cuts the paper P that has been inserted between the fixed blade 49 and the movable blade 50, which is in the initial position.

[0061] In step S103, the main control unit 91 updates the information on the number of cuts made by the cutter unit 45 stored in the memory 97. After updating the information on the number of cuts, the main control unit 91 determines in step S104 whether the updated number of cuts has reached a predetermined number. If the main control unit 91 determines that the updated number of cuts has reached the predetermined number, the process proceeds to step S106. On the other hand, if the main control unit 91 determines that the updated number of cuts has not reached the predetermined number, the process proceeds to step S105.

[0062] If there is no print instruction, i.e., if the result is No in step S101, or if the number of cuts has not reached the predetermined number, i.e., if the result is No in step S104, then in step S105, the main control unit 91 determines whether a predetermined time has elapsed since the application of oil.

[0063] For example, if a predetermined time has elapsed since the application of oil, the main control unit 91 proceeds to the process of step S106. On the other hand, if the predetermined time has not elapsed since the application of oil, the main control unit 91 remains in a standby state until the answer in step S101 or step S105 becomes Yes.

[0064] In step S106, the main control unit 91 outputs a command to the application control unit 96 to apply oil to the movable blade 50. Upon receiving the command to apply oil to the movable blade 50, the application control unit 96 drives the rotation mechanism 101 to rotate the oil application unit 61, which is in the reference position, toward the movable blade 50, which is in the initial position. This rotation causes the application part 61a of the oil application unit 61 to come into contact with the cutting edge of the movable blade 50, and the oil impregnated in the application part 61a of the oil application unit 61 is applied to the cutting edge of the movable blade 50. After the application part 61a comes into contact with the cutting edge of the movable blade 50, the oil application unit 61 rotates to the reference position.

[0065] In step S107, the main control unit 91 updates the information on the number of times oil has been applied, which is stored in the memory 97. After updating the information on the number of times application has occurred, the main control unit 91 determines in step S108 whether the updated number of times application has reached a predetermined number. If the main control unit 91 determines that the updated number of times application has reached the predetermined number, the process proceeds to step S109. On the other hand, if the main control unit 91 determines that the updated number of times cutting has not reached the predetermined number, the process enters a standby state until the determination in step S101 or step S105 becomes Yes.

[0066] In step S109, the main control unit 91 outputs a signal to the panel control unit 92 to notify the user of the need to replace the oil storage container 68. In response to this, the panel control unit 92 displays on the operation panel 19 a message (for example, "Please replace the oil storage container of the oil application unit") urging the user to replace the oil storage container 68. At this time, a speaker or the like may be provided inside the printer, and the operation panel 19 may output an audio message urging the user to replace the oil storage container 68.

[0067] In step S110, the main control unit 91 determines whether or not a signal indicating completion of replacement of the oil storage container 68 has been input from the panel control unit 92. After replacement of the oil storage container 68 is completed, when the user operates the operation panel 19, a signal indicating completion of replacement is input from the panel control unit 92 to the main control unit 91. When the signal indicating completion of replacement is input, the main control unit 91 proceeds to step S111. On the other hand, if the user does not operate the operation panel 19, a signal indicating completion of replacement is not input from the panel control unit 92 to the main control unit 91, and therefore the main control unit 91 remains in a standby state until a signal indicating completion of replacement is input from the panel control unit 92 to the main control unit 91.

[0068] The operation of the operation panel 19 by the user may be performed, for example, by displaying a replacement completion button (confirmation button) to be pressed after replacement is completed when a message urging the user to replace the oil storage container 68 is displayed on the operation panel 19 in step S109, and the user may press the replacement completion button after replacing the oil storage container 68. Alternatively, either the upper cover 15 or the printer body 16 may be provided with an internal replacement completion button having a switch, which is operated when the oil storage container 68 is replaced. Alternatively, a switch that is pressed by the upper cover 15 when it is rotated to the closed position, or a sensor that detects that the upper cover 15 has been rotated to the closed position may be provided, and the main control unit 91 may determine that replacement of the oil storage container 68 has been completed when the switch or sensor detects that the upper cover 15 has been rotated to the closed position.

[0069] In step S111, the main control unit 91 resets the information on the number of times of application stored in the memory. After this process, the main control unit 91 goes into a standby state until it receives a print instruction in step S101.

[0070] In this way, when the number of times oil has been applied to the cutting edge of the movable blade 50 by the oil application unit 61 reaches a preset number, a message prompting replacement of the oil storage container 68 is displayed on the operation panel 19, thereby preventing the printer 10 from being used when all the oil stored in the oil storage container 68 has been consumed. As a result, it is possible to prevent paper dust and the like from adhering to the cutting edge of the movable blade 50, which would otherwise reduce the cutting ability of the cutter unit 45.

[0071] In the flowchart shown in Figure 10, the user is prompted to replace the oil storage container 68 when the number of times the oil application unit 61 applies oil to the cutting edge of the movable blade 50 reaches a preset number. However, it is also possible to prompt the user to replace the oil storage container 68 based on the number of sheets of paper P ejected, the length of printing on the paper P by the thermal head 30 (or the length of the paper P being fed out), or the elapsed time since the oil storage container 68 was attached to the case 65, etc.

[0072] In the above explanation, a message urging the user to replace the oil storage container 68 is displayed on the operation panel 19 when all the oil stored in the oil storage container 68 is consumed, but it is also possible to display a message urging the user to replace the oil storage container 68 on the operation panel 19 when the amount of oil stored in the oil storage container 68 falls below a predetermined amount (or when it is assumed that the amount will fall below the predetermined amount). By displaying a message urging the user to replace the oil storage container 68 on the operation panel 19 when the amount of oil stored in the oil storage container 68 falls below a predetermined amount, the user of the printer 10 can purchase an unused oil storage container in advance or order one from a service provider in advance.

[0073] 10 does not take into account the case where printed sheets of paper P are continuously discharged, but there are cases where, for example, multiple printed sheets of paper P are continuously discharged in printer 10. If the number of cuts reaches a specified number during the process of discharging multiple printed sheets of paper P, it is possible to stop processing in printer 10 until replacement of oil storage container 68 is completed.

[0074] In the above description, the insertion opening 78 provided in the cover 72 is positioned at the center in the width direction of the case 65 in the recess 72e provided in the upper surface of the cover 72, but the position of the insertion opening 78 provided in the cover 72 is not limited to the center in the width direction of the case 65 as long as the tip of the nozzle portion 68c of the oil storage container 68 abuts against the oil-impregnated body 66 when the oil storage container 68 is attached to the case 65. For example, the insertion opening 78 provided in the cover 72 can be positioned not in the center in the width direction of the case 65 but shifted to one end from the center in the width direction of the case 65 so that the user can directly check the amount of oil remaining in the oil storage container 68.

[0075] Furthermore, although there is no mention of displaying the remaining amount of oil stored in the oil storage container 68 on the operation panel 19, it is also possible to display the remaining amount of oil stored in the oil storage container 68 on the operation panel 19. In this case, the remaining amount of oil stored in the oil storage container 68 may be calculated based on, for example, the number of times paper P has been cut by the cutter unit, the number of sheets of paper P printed, or the time elapsed since the oil storage container was installed, or the remaining amount of oil stored in the oil storage container 68 may be measured by a sensor.

[0076] In the above description, when the oil storage container 68 is attached to the case 65, the locking portion 79 provided on the cover 72 is configured to lock onto the outer peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the oil storage container 68. However, when replacing the oil storage container 68, the oil application unit 61 may be rotated from the replacement position to the use position without the locking portion 79 provided on the cover 72 locking onto the outer peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the oil storage container 68. In such a case, it is possible that the tip of the nozzle portion 68c of the oil storage container 68 does not abut against the oil-impregnated body 66, and the oil stored in the oil storage container 68 does not impregnate the oil-impregnated body 66. Therefore, if the oil application unit 61 is rotated to the use position without the locking portion 79 provided on the cover 72 locking onto the outer peripheral edge of the bottom surface of the oil storage container 68, the oil application unit 61 may not be able to rotate to the use position.

[0077] In the above explanation, the oil storage container 68 is moved in a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the cover 72 to attach it to the case 65. However, as long as the tip of the nozzle portion 68c of the oil storage container 68 abuts against the oil-impregnated body 66, the direction of movement of the oil storage container 68 when attaching it to the case 65 does not have to be limited to a direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the cover 72, and may be, for example, a direction inclined at a predetermined angle relative to the direction perpendicular to the upper surface of the cover 72.

[0078] <Summary of this embodiment>

[0079] For example, there is a printer that prints on a long sheet of paper as it is fed in one direction, and then cuts off the printed portion of the paper with a cutter blade and discharges it. In such printers, it has been proposed to apply oil to the cutter blade using an oil-impregnated body such as a sponge or nonwoven fabric to prevent paper dust or adhesive (glue) from the adhesive layer of the paper from adhering to the cutting surface of the cutter blade, which could dull the cutting edge of the cutter blade or cause the cutter blade to rust (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0080] In Patent Document 1, an oil holder is fixed to the fixed blade, which is a fixed blade and a movable blade that make up the cutting means. When cutting conveyed paper, for example, the cutting edge of the movable blade is pressed against the oil holder fixed to the fixed blade, applying oil held by the oil holder to the cutting edge of the movable blade. In the printer disclosed in Patent Document 1, the oil holder held by the fixed blade applies oil to the cutting edge of the movable blade every time label paper is cut. Therefore, the more label paper is cut by the cutting means, the faster the oil held in the oil holder is consumed. Furthermore, even if the cutting means cuts label paper only a few times, if the printer is used infrequently, the oil held in the oil holder will evaporate. Patent Document 1 does not explicitly state what to do if the oil held in the oil holder is consumed.

[0081] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and its purpose is to provide a technology that enables the oil to be applied to the cutting means that cuts the paper to be replenished in a simple and inexpensive manner.

[0082] In the embodiment described above, the printer 10 cuts and discharges the printed long paper P using the cutter unit 45, and has an oil application unit 61 that holds oil to be applied to the cutter unit 45. The oil application unit 61 includes an application section 61a that applies oil to the cutter unit 45, and a case 65 that detachably holds an oil storage container 68 that contains oil.

[0083] According to this, when all the oil stored in the oil storage container 68 has been consumed, the oil storage container 68 can be removed and a new oil storage container 68 can be attached to the oil application unit 61. In other words, since oil can be replenished by replacing only the oil storage container 68 without replacing the entire oil application unit 61, the oil application unit 61 can be used repeatedly. Therefore, oil can be replenished by replacing the minimum number of components required, and as a result, the cost associated with oil replenishment can be reduced.

[0084] In addition, the case 65 has a recess 77e on the top surface of the case 65, and the recess 77e has an insertion opening 78 in the center of the width of the case 65 through which the oil storage container 68 is inserted, and the oil storage container 68 is held in the case 65 with a portion of the oil storage container 68 inserted into the case 65 through the insertion opening 78.

[0085] According to this, the oil storage container 68 is held inserted inside the case 65 through an insertion opening 78 provided in a recess 77e provided in the top surface of the case 65. In this case, since the insertion opening 78 is provided in the center of the recess 77e in the width direction of the case 65, when the oil storage container 68 is attached to the case 65, a space for grasping the oil storage container 68 is provided between the oil storage container 68 and both side wall surfaces of the recess 77e. Therefore, for example, when removing the attached oil storage container 68, the oil storage container 68 attached to the oil application unit 61 can be securely grasped. Furthermore, when attaching a new oil storage container 68, the oil storage container 68 can be firmly pushed into the oil application unit 61.

[0086] In addition, the oil application unit 61 is held in a usage position where oil is applied to the cutter unit 45 by the application section 61a, and when the oil application unit 61 is moved from the usage position to a replacement position where the case 65 and the oil storage container 68 held in the case 65 are exposed, the oil storage container 68 held in the case 65 can be attached and detached.

[0087] According to this, when replacing the oil storage container 68, the oil application unit 61 moves to the replacement position, and the upper surface of the oil application unit 61 becomes exposed. As a result, the oil storage container 68 can be easily replaced. Furthermore, when in use, the oil application unit 61 moves to the use position. Since the oil application unit is not removed in the use position, the oil storage container 68 will not be removed accidentally. [Explanation of symbols]

[0088] 10...Printer 45...Cutter unit 61...Oil application unit 61a...application part 65…Case 68...Oil storage container 72e...recess

Claims

1. In a printer in which a long sheet of paper is cut by a cutting means and discharged, oil retaining means for retaining oil to be applied to the cutting means; The oil retaining means is an oil application unit that applies the oil to the cutting means; a container holder that detachably holds a container that contains the oil; Equipped with The container holding portion is provided with an oil-impregnated body that is impregnated with the oil. A printer characterized by:

2. 2. The printer according to claim 1, the container holder has a recess on an upper surface of the container holder, the recess has an insertion opening through which the storage container is inserted at the center in the width direction of the container holding portion, The storage container is held by the container holder in a state where a part of the storage container protrudes from the insertion opening. A printer characterized by:

3. 3. The printer according to claim 1, the oil retaining means is held at a first position at which the oil application unit applies the oil to the cutting means, When the oil holding means is moved from the first position to a second position where the storage container held by the container holding portion is exposed, the storage container held by the container holding portion can be attached and detached. A printer characterized by:

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