CN118234604A - Medium cutting method, medium cutting device, medium end connection method, and control method for medium cutting device - Google Patents

Abstract

The shape of the cut portion is stabilized without being affected by the characteristics of the medium. The medium cutting method comprises the following steps: a1 st puncturing step in which a cutter is punctured into the medium (2) so as to penetrate the medium (2); and a1 st cutting step of cutting the medium (2) in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium (2) by moving the cutter relative to the medium (2) in the longitudinal direction of the medium (2) and the width direction of the medium (2) with the 1 st piercing point (SP 2) which is the point pierced by the cutter in the 1 st piercing step as a starting point.

Description

Medium cutting method, medium cutting device, medium end connection method, and control method for medium cutting device

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a medium cutting method, a medium cutting device, a medium end connection method, and a control method of the medium cutting device.

Background

Patent document 1 discloses a printing apparatus that prints on a long sheet-like medium (continuous medium) by an inkjet system. The printing apparatus includes a cutter for cutting a printed medium. The cutter cuts the medium by moving from one end toward the other end in the width direction of the medium.

Prior art literature

Patent literature

Patent document 1: japanese patent application laid-open No. 2018-83251

Disclosure of Invention

Problems to be solved by the invention

In patent document 1, when cutting a medium, a cutter is moved in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium. Therefore, the cutting portion of the medium is inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium. Thus, when the medium is replaced, the rolled medium is easily pulled out, and the medium is easily mounted in the printing apparatus.

Here, depending on the characteristics of the medium, the cutter may not smoothly enter in an oblique direction from one end in the width direction of the medium. Therefore, even if the same cutting process is performed, the shape of the cutting portion may be unstable depending on the characteristics of the medium.

Thus, a technique is desired in which the shape of the cut portion is stabilized without being affected by the characteristics of the medium.

Solution for solving the problem

The medium cutting method of the present invention is used for cutting a long medium in a medium cutting device, and the medium cutting device comprises: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting off the medium; and a moving mechanism that moves the cutter unit relative to the medium in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to the length direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium, the medium cutting method including: a1 st puncturing step of puncturing the medium with a cutter so as to penetrate the medium; and a1 st cutting step of cutting the medium in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium by moving the cutter relatively with respect to the medium in the length direction of the medium and the width direction of the medium, starting from the 1 st piercing point which is the point pierced by the cutter in the 1 st piercing step.

In the medium cutting method of the present invention, in the 1 st piercing step, the cutter is pierced through the medium, and then in the 1 st cutting step, the cutter is moved relative to the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium and the width direction of the medium with the 1 st piercing point, which is the point pierced by the cutter, as the starting point, and the medium is cut in a direction inclined relative to the width direction of the medium.

Thus, the medium is cut from a portion between one end and the other end in the width direction. Therefore, the cutting is started in a state where the cutter is reliably located in the medium. Thus, the shape of the cut portion is stable and is not affected by the characteristics of the medium.

Thus, cutting of the medium in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium can be started using the cutter penetrating the medium. Thus, the medium can be cut in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium as appropriate.

Preferably, the medium cutting method of the present invention includes a 2 nd cutting step of relatively moving a cutter with respect to a medium in a width direction of the medium, and cutting the medium over an entire area in the width direction of the medium, the moving mechanism including: a medium conveying mechanism that conveys a medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in the width direction of the medium, wherein when an upstream side in the conveying direction of the medium is set as an upstream side in the conveying direction, a downstream side in the conveying direction of the medium is set as a downstream side in the conveying direction, one side in the width direction of the medium is set as a1 st direction side, the other side in the width direction of the medium is set as a 2 nd direction side, a portion of the medium disposed at a position upstream of a cutting position of the medium in the 2 nd cutting step is set as an upstream side medium, an end face of the upstream side medium at a downstream side in the conveying direction after the 2 nd cutting step is set as a1 st end face, the cutter is pierced into the upstream side medium in the 1 st piercing step, and the upstream side medium is cut from the 1 st piercing position to the 1 st end face in the 1 st cutting step.

In this way, in the 1 st cutting step, the upstream medium is cut to the 1 st end face which is the end face on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the upstream medium while the upstream medium is conveyed to the upstream side in the conveying direction which is the upstream side in the conveying direction of the medium, and therefore, occurrence of wrinkles on the upstream medium when the upstream medium is cut can be reduced. Thus, the medium can be cut more appropriately in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium.

The medium cutting method of the present invention comprises: a 2 nd puncturing step of puncturing the cutter through the upstream medium so as to penetrate the upstream medium; and a 3 rd cutting step of moving the cutter relative to the upstream medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium and the width direction of the medium with a 2 nd piercing point, which is a point pierced by the cutter in the 2 nd piercing step, as a start point, and cutting the upstream medium in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium, wherein the medium cutting device is provided with a medium winding mechanism that rotates a core material for winding up the medium, and fixes an end portion of the medium on a downstream side in a transport direction to the core material, and in the 1 st piercing step, pierces the cutter at an end portion of the upstream medium on a1 st side in the transport direction, and in the 1 st cutting step, moves the cutter relative to the upstream medium from the 1 st piercing point to the downstream side in the transport direction and on the 2 nd side to the 1 st end surface, and in the 2 nd piercing step, pierces the cutter at an end portion of the upstream medium on the 2 nd side in the direction, and in the 3 rd cutting step, moves the cutter relative to the upstream medium from the 2 nd piercing point to the downstream side in the transport direction and on the 1 st end surface.

Accordingly, since both side portions in the width direction of the medium at the downstream side end in the conveying direction of the upstream side medium are inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium, when the end portion of the upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is fixed to the core material and winding of the core material on the upstream side medium is started, the medium is easily wound with the core material.

The medium cutting method of the present invention comprises: a 4 th cutting step of cutting the upstream medium in the width direction of the medium from the 1 st puncture point to the end surface of the upstream medium on the 1 st direction side by moving the cutter on the 1 st direction side with respect to the upstream medium starting from the 1 st puncture point after the 1 st puncture step and before the 1 st cutting step; and a 5 th cutting step of cutting the upstream medium in the width direction of the medium from the 2 nd piercing point to the end face of the upstream medium on the 2 nd side by moving the cutter on the 2 nd side with respect to the upstream medium starting from the 2 nd piercing point after the 2 nd piercing step and before the 3 rd cutting step.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the cutter unit includes a cutter holder to which the cutter is fixed and a unit frame rotatably holding the cutter holder, and the cutter holder is rotatable relative to the unit frame in an axial direction in which the thickness direction of the medium is rotatable, and in the 1 st cutting step and the 3 rd cutting step, the cutter is rotatable relative to the unit frame, and the cutting angle of the medium on the upstream side in the width direction of the medium in the 1 st cutting step and the cutting angle of the medium on the upstream side in the width direction of the medium in the 3 rd cutting step are both constant regardless of the width of the medium.

Thus, the rotation angle of the tool holder with respect to the unit frame can be made constant in the 1 st cutting step and the 3 rd cutting step, without being affected by the width of the medium. Thus, in the 1 st cutting step and the 3 rd cutting step, the cutter holder can be reduced from being excessively rotated with respect to the unit frame.

In the present invention, the 2 nd dicing step preferably includes: a3 rd puncturing step of puncturing the medium with a cutter so as to penetrate the medium; a 6 th cutting step of cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium by moving the cutter toward the 1 st direction side with respect to the medium to an end surface of the medium on the 1 st direction side, starting from the 3 rd piercing point which is the point pierced by the cutter in the 3 rd piercing step; and a 7 th cutting step of cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium by moving the cutter to the 2 nd direction side with respect to the medium with the 3 rd piercing portion as a starting point to the end face of the medium on the 2 nd direction side.

Thus, in the 6 th cutting step and the 7 th cutting step, cutting of the medium in the width direction of the medium can be started using the cutter penetrating the medium. Thus, the medium can be cut appropriately in the width direction of the medium.

Further, a medium cutting device according to a method of controlling a medium cutting device of the present invention includes: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting the elongated medium; and a moving mechanism that moves the cutter unit relative to the medium in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to the length direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium, the moving mechanism including: a medium conveying mechanism that conveys a medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in the width direction of the medium, wherein when an upstream side in the conveying direction of the medium is set as an upstream side in the conveying direction, a downstream side in the conveying direction of the medium is set as a downstream side in the conveying direction, one side in the width direction of the medium is set as a1 st direction side, and the other side in the width direction of the medium is set as a2 nd direction side, the control method of the medium cutting device includes: a1 st puncturing step of puncturing the cutter at an end portion of the medium on the 1 st direction side so as to penetrate the medium; a1 st cutting step of cutting the medium in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium from the 1 st piercing point to an end face on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the medium, that is, the 1 st end face, by moving the cutter relatively to the downstream side in the conveying direction and the 2 nd side with respect to the medium starting from the 1 st piercing point which is the point pierced by the cutter in the 1 st piercing step; a2 nd puncturing step of puncturing the cutter at an end portion of the medium on the 2 nd direction side so as to penetrate the medium; a3 rd cutting step of cutting the medium in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium from the 2 nd piercing point to the 1 st end face by moving the cutter relatively to the downstream side in the transport direction and to the 1 st direction with respect to the medium starting from the 2 nd piercing point which is the point pierced by the cutter in the 2 nd piercing step; a4 th cutting step of cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium from the 1 st puncture site to the end surface of the medium on the 1 st direction side by moving the cutter on the 1 st direction side with respect to the medium starting from the 1 st puncture site; and a 5 th cutting step of cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium from the 2 nd puncture site to the end surface of the medium on the 2 nd direction side by moving the cutter on the 2 nd direction side with respect to the medium with the 2 nd puncture site as a starting point.

In the method for controlling the medium cutting device according to the present invention, in the 1 st piercing step, the cutter is pierced through the medium, and then in the 1 st cutting step, the cutter is moved relatively to the downstream side in the transport direction and to the 2 nd side with respect to the medium, starting from the 1 st piercing point which is the point pierced by the cutter, and the medium is cut in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium. In the present invention, after the cutter is pierced through the medium in the 2 nd piercing step, the cutter is moved relatively to the downstream side in the transport direction and to the 1 st direction side with respect to the medium with the 2 nd piercing point, which is the point pierced by the cutter, as the start point in the 2 nd cutting step, and the medium is cut in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium.

Thus, cutting of the medium in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium can be started using the cutter penetrating the medium. Thus, in the present invention, the medium can be cut in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium as appropriate.

In the present invention, the 4 th cutting step is performed before the 1 st cutting step, and the 5 th cutting step is performed before the 3 rd cutting step.

The medium cutting device according to the present invention is a medium cutting device for cutting a long medium, the medium cutting device including: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting off the medium; a moving mechanism that moves the cutter unit relative to the medium in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to the length direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium; and a control unit that controls the medium cutting device, the cutter unit including: a tool holder to which a tool is fixed; a unit frame rotatably holding the tool holder; and a switching mechanism that switches a state of the cutter holder between a rotation-restricting state in which rotation of the cutter holder with respect to the unit frame is restricted and a rotatable state in which the cutter holder is rotatable with respect to the unit frame, the cutter holder being rotatable with respect to the unit frame in an axial direction of rotation, the control portion performing cutting of the medium in a traverse mode in which the cutter unit is relatively moved with respect to the medium in a width direction of the medium and cutting of the medium in the width direction of the medium, and a rotation-restricting state in which the cutter holder is relatively moved with respect to the medium in a length direction of the medium and in a width direction of the medium and cutting of the medium in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium, and the control portion setting the cutter holder in the traverse mode to the rotation-restricting state and setting the cutter holder in the rotatable state in the traverse mode.

In the medium cutting device of the present invention, the cutter unit includes a switching mechanism that switches a state of the cutter holder between a rotation restricting state in which rotation of the cutter holder relative to the unit frame is restricted and a rotatable state in which the cutter holder is rotatable relative to the unit frame, and the cutter is fixed to the cutter holder. In the present invention, the control unit sets the cutter holder to a rotatable state when cutting the medium in a bevel mode in which the cutter unit is moved relatively to the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium and in the width direction of the medium to cut the medium in a direction inclined to the width direction of the medium, but sets the cutter holder to a rotation-restricted state when cutting the medium in a traverse mode in which the cutter unit is moved relatively to the medium in the width direction of the medium to cut the medium.

Thus, even if cutting of the medium in the traverse mode in which the medium is cut in the width direction of the medium and cutting of the medium in the bevel mode in which the medium is cut in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium can be performed, the state of the cutter holder at the time of cutting the medium in the traverse mode can be stabilized. As a result, the state of the cutter when cutting the medium in the traverse mode can be stabilized.

In the present invention, the switching mechanism includes: a restriction member for restricting rotation of the tool holder; and a drive source for moving the restriction member between a restriction position where the restriction member is close to the tool holder and a restriction release position where the restriction member is away from the tool holder, the tool holder being in a rotation-restricted state when the restriction member is disposed at the restriction position, and the tool holder being in a rotatable state when the restriction member is disposed at the restriction release position.

Thereby, the state of the tool holder can be switched with a relatively simple structure.

In the present invention, the tool unit is provided with a rotation range restricting member that restricts the rotation range of the rotatable tool holder.

The medium cutting device of the present invention is provided with a medium winding mechanism that rotates a core material for winding, winds a medium around the core material, and fixes an end portion of the medium to the core material.

In the present invention, the control section performs cutting of the medium in a 1 st chamfer mode as the chamfer mode in which the medium is cut between the intermediate position of the medium in the width direction of the medium and one end side of the medium in the width direction of the medium and cutting of the medium in a 2 nd chamfer mode as the chamfer mode in which the medium is cut between the intermediate position of the medium in the width direction of the medium and the other end side of the medium in the width direction of the medium.

Accordingly, since both side portions in the width direction of the medium are inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium at one end of the medium in the length direction of the medium, the medium is easily wound with the core material at the start of winding of the medium by the core material.

In the present invention, the moving mechanism includes: a medium conveying mechanism that conveys a medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in the width direction of the medium, wherein the control unit controls the conveyance speed of the medium by the medium conveyance mechanism and the movement speed of the cutter unit by the cutter unit driving mechanism in the 1 st chamfer mode and the 2 nd chamfer mode based on predetermined data input to the control unit, thereby setting the cutting angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium.

In the present invention, the outer diameter of the core material is 3 inches or 2 inches. In this case, the medium is preferably made of soft polyvinyl chloride or tarpaulin, and the cutting angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the 1 st chamfer mode and the 2 nd chamfer mode is preferably 7 ° to 13 °.

Thus, when the winding of the core material on the medium is started, the breakage of the medium can be reduced, and the medium can be properly wound with the core material.

In this case, it is more preferable that the cutting angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the 1 st chamfer mode and the 2 nd chamfer mode is 8 ° to 12 °.

Thus, when the winding of the core material on the medium is started, the breakage of the medium can be reduced, and the medium can be wound more appropriately by the core material.

The medium cutting device of the present invention includes a processing means for performing a predetermined processing on a medium before cutting, wherein when a portion of the medium on which the processing by the processing means is performed is a processing portion and a portion of the medium on an upstream side of the processing portion in a conveying direction of the medium and which is not processed by the processing means is a non-processing portion, the control portion cuts the non-processing portion over an entire area in a width direction of the medium by a traverse mode after the processing of the medium by the processing means, and thereafter cuts the medium in a1 st chamfer mode and cuts the medium in a2 nd chamfer mode with respect to the non-processing portion disposed on the upstream side of a cutting position in the conveying direction of the medium than in the traverse mode.

Thus, after cutting the medium in the 1 st chamfer mode and cutting the medium in the 2 nd chamfer mode are performed on the non-processed portion disposed upstream of the cutting position in the conveying direction of the medium, both side portions in the width direction of the medium of one end of the medium detached from the medium cutting device are inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium. Therefore, even when temporarily detached from the medium cutting device and then attached to the medium cutting device again, both side portions in the width direction of the medium at one end of the medium are inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium.

Therefore, even if the medium is not cut after the medium is mounted in the medium cutting device, the medium is easily wound with the core material when winding of the core material on the medium is started.

Preferably, the medium cutting device of the present invention includes a printing mechanism that prints on a medium before cutting by an inkjet method, the printing mechanism includes an inkjet head that ejects ink onto the medium and a carriage on which the inkjet head is mounted, the moving mechanism includes a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves a cutter unit in a width direction of the medium, the cutter unit is mounted on the carriage, and the cutter unit driving mechanism moves the carriage in the width direction of the medium.

Thereby, the cutter unit and the inkjet head can be moved in the width direction of the medium using the cutter unit driving mechanism. Therefore, the structure of the medium cutting device can be simplified as compared with a case where a drive mechanism for moving the inkjet head is separately provided.

The medium cutting method according to the present invention is a medium cutting method for cutting a long medium in a medium cutting device, the medium cutting device including: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting off the medium; a medium feeding mechanism that holds a medium wound in a roll; a medium conveying mechanism that conveys a medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the medium and a thickness direction of the medium, wherein when a side of the medium in a conveying direction of the medium by the medium conveying mechanism, the side being disposed closer to the cutter than the medium feeding mechanism, is set as a downstream side in the conveying direction, and an opposite side of the downstream side in the conveying direction is set as an upstream side in the conveying direction, the medium cutting method includes: a linear cutting step of moving the cutter in the width direction of the medium while stopping the medium, and cutting the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium; a medium conveyance step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveyance direction by a predetermined amount after the linear cutting step; and a convex cutting step of moving the cutter in the width direction of the medium and conveying the medium after the medium conveying step, cutting the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium, wherein a portion of the medium disposed at a position upstream of the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step in the conveying direction is set as a1 st upstream side medium, and a portion of the medium disposed at a position upstream of the cutting position of the medium in the linear cutting step in the conveying direction is set as a2 nd upstream side medium, wherein an end face of the 2 nd upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is in a straight line shape parallel to the width direction of the medium, and an end face of the 1 st upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is in a convex shape in a trapezoid shape or a triangular shape, and the medium is conveyed to a position forming a predetermined interval between a downstream end of the 2 nd upstream side medium in the conveying direction and a downstream end of the 1 st upstream side medium in the conveying direction in the medium conveying step.

In the medium cutting method of the present invention, in the medium conveying step after the linear cutting step and before the convex cutting step, the medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval is formed between the conveyance direction downstream side end of the 2 nd upstream side medium and the conveyance direction downstream side end of the 1 st upstream side medium, in the linear cutting step, the cutter is moved in the width direction of the medium in a state where the medium is stopped, and the medium is cut in the entire area in the width direction of the medium so that the end face of the 2 nd upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveyance direction becomes a linear shape parallel to the width direction of the medium, in the convex cutting step, the cutter is moved in the width direction of the medium and the medium is conveyed, and the medium is cut in the entire area in the width direction of the medium so that the end face of the 1 st upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveyance direction becomes a convex shape in the trapezoid shape or the triangle shape.

This makes it possible to lengthen the distance in the medium conveyance direction between the end surface of the 2 nd upstream medium on the downstream side in the conveyance direction and the position where the cutter units are disposed before the convex cutting step. Therefore, even if the curl tendency of the medium is strong, the medium can be reduced from floating from the platen at the position where the cutter unit is arranged in the conveying direction of the medium when the convex cutting process is performed. As a result, even if the curl tendency of the medium is strong, the medium can be cut in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium before the medium is replaced, and then one end portion of the medium in the longitudinal direction can be cut appropriately so that the end surface of the medium has a convex shape in a trapezoid shape or a triangular shape.

In the present invention, a medium cutting device includes: a carriage that mounts a cutter unit and moves in a width direction of the medium by a cutter unit driving mechanism; an inkjet head mounted on a carriage and configured to eject ink onto a medium to perform printing; and a medium winding mechanism which rotates a winding core material connected to an end of the medium at a downstream side in the conveying direction, winds the printed medium around the core material, performs printing of the medium by the inkjet head before the linear cutting step, and cuts a portion of the medium at an upstream side in the conveying direction than the portion where printing is performed in the linear cutting step.

The medium cutting method according to the present invention is a medium cutting method for cutting a long medium in a medium cutting device, the medium cutting device including: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting off the medium; a processing mechanism for performing predetermined processing on the medium; a medium feeding mechanism for holding a medium before processing wound in a roll shape; a medium conveying mechanism that conveys a medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the medium and a thickness direction of the medium, wherein when a side of the medium in a conveying direction of the medium by the medium conveying mechanism, the side being disposed closer to the cutter than the medium feeding mechanism, is set as a downstream side in the conveying direction, and an opposite side of the downstream side in the conveying direction is set as an upstream side in the conveying direction, the medium cutting method includes: a medium mounting step of mounting the medium wound in a roll shape on the medium feeding mechanism; a medium conveyance step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveyance direction by a predetermined amount after the medium mounting step; and a convex cutting step of moving the cutter in the width direction of the medium and conveying the medium after the medium conveying step, cutting the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium, wherein when a portion of the medium disposed at a position upstream of the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step in the conveying direction is the 1 st upstream side medium, an end surface of the 1 st upstream side medium at the downstream side in the conveying direction is convex in a trapezoid shape or a triangular shape, the medium is not processed by the processing means after and before the medium conveying step, but is processed by the processing means after the convex cutting step, and the medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval is formed between the downstream end of the medium before the convex cutting step in the conveying direction and the downstream end of the 1 st upstream side medium in the conveying direction in the medium conveying step.

In the medium cutting method of the present invention, in a medium conveying step after a medium mounting step and before a convex cutting step, the medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval is formed between a downstream end in a conveying direction of the medium before the convex cutting step and a downstream end in the conveying direction of the 1 st upstream side medium, in the medium mounting step, the medium wound in a roll shape is mounted on a medium feeding mechanism, and in the convex cutting step, the cutter is moved in a width direction of the medium and the medium is conveyed, and the medium is cut in an entire region in the width direction of the medium so that an end face of the 1 st upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction becomes a convex shape having a trapezoid shape or a triangular shape.

This can lengthen the distance between the downstream end in the conveyance direction of the medium and the position where the cutter units are disposed before the convex cutting step. Therefore, even if the curl tendency of the medium is strong, the medium can be reduced from floating from the platen at the position where the cutter unit is arranged in the conveying direction of the medium when the convex cutting process is performed. As a result, even if the curl tendency of the medium is strong, after the medium is replaced, one end portion of the medium in the longitudinal direction can be cut appropriately so that the end surface of the medium becomes convex in a trapezoidal shape or a triangular shape.

The medium cutting method of the present invention includes a linear cutting step of moving a cutter in a width direction of a medium while the medium is stopped, and cutting the medium over an entire area in the width direction of the medium, wherein when a portion of the medium disposed upstream of a cutting position of the medium in the linear cutting step in a transport direction is a2 nd upstream side medium, an end surface of the 2 nd upstream side medium downstream in the transport direction is in a linear shape parallel to the width direction of the medium, and a processing means is a printing means having an inkjet head that ejects ink to the medium to perform printing, the medium cutting device includes: a carriage that mounts a cutter unit and an inkjet head and moves in a width direction of a medium by a cutter unit driving mechanism; and a medium winding mechanism which rotates a winding core material connected to an end of the medium at a downstream side in the conveying direction, winds the printed medium around the core material, performs printing of the medium by the inkjet head after the convex cutting step and before the linear cutting step, and cuts a portion of the medium at an upstream side in the conveying direction than the printed portion in the linear cutting step.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the medium cutting device includes a platen that is disposed below the carriage and that carries a part of the medium in the medium conveyance direction, and in the medium conveyance step, the medium is conveyed to the following position: the maximum distance in the up-down direction between the portion of the medium disposed on the lower side of the inkjet head and the upper surface of the platen in the convex cutting step is smaller than the distance in the up-down direction between the lower end surface of the inkjet head and the upper surface of the platen.

Thus, even if the curl tendency of the medium is strong, contact between the inkjet head moving in the width direction of the medium and the medium can be reduced when the convex cutting process is performed. Therefore, even if the curl tendency of the medium is strong, one end portion of the medium in the longitudinal direction can be cut appropriately so that the end surface of the medium becomes convex in a trapezoidal shape or a triangular shape. In addition, contact between the medium and the inkjet head can be reduced.

In the present invention, when one side in the width direction of the medium is the 1 st direction side and the opposite side to the 1 st direction side is the 2 nd direction side, the convex cutting step preferably includes: a 1 st puncturing step of puncturing the end of the medium on the 1 st direction side with a cutter so as to penetrate the medium; a 1 st chamfering step of cutting the medium in a direction inclined at least with respect to the width direction of the medium by moving the cutter relatively to the downstream side and the 2 nd direction side of the medium from the 1 st piercing point which is the point pierced by the cutter in the 1 st piercing step; a2 nd puncturing step of puncturing the cutter at an end portion of the medium on the 2 nd direction side so as to penetrate the medium; a2 nd chamfering step of cutting the medium in a direction inclined at least with respect to the width direction of the medium by moving the cutter relatively to the downstream side and the 1 st direction side of the medium with respect to the conveyance direction with the 2 nd piercing point, which is the point pierced by the cutter in the 2 nd piercing step, as a start point; a 1 st traverse step of moving the cutter toward the 1 st direction with respect to the medium starting from the 1 st puncture site after the 1 st chamfer step and the 2 nd chamfer step, and cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium from the 1 st puncture site to the end surface of the medium on the 1 st direction side; and a2 nd cross cutting step of moving the cutter toward the 2 nd direction side with respect to the medium starting from the 2 nd piercing portion after the 1 st cross cutting step and the 2 nd cross cutting step, and cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium from the 2 nd piercing portion to the end face of the medium on the 2 nd direction side.

Thus, the 1 st chamfering step and the 2 nd chamfering step are followed by the 1 st transection step and the 2 nd transection step. Thus, at the time when the 1 st chamfering process and the 2 nd chamfering process are completed, the medium is not completely cut in the width direction of the medium, but the medium on the upstream side in the conveying direction is connected to the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction on both sides in the width direction of the medium. Therefore, in the course of performing the 1 st chamfering step and the 2 nd chamfering step, for example, it is possible to reduce breakage of the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction due to gravity acting on the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction.

In the present invention, the medium cutting device preferably includes: a carriage that mounts a cutter unit and moves in a width direction of the medium by a cutter unit driving mechanism; and an inkjet head mounted on the carriage and ejecting ink to the medium to perform printing, the inkjet head being disposed on the 2 nd direction side of the cutter unit, the 2 nd cross cutting step being performed before the 1 st cross cutting step.

Thus, the 1 st cross-cutting step is performed after the 2 nd cross-cutting step. In this case, for example, the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction may be broken and dropped by gravity acting on the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction during the 1 st traverse step, but the broken and dropped medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction may drop while moving to the 1 st side. Therefore, contact between the inkjet head disposed on the 2 nd direction side of the cutter unit and the medium that breaks and falls down can be reduced. Thus, contact between the medium that breaks and falls and the inkjet head can be reduced.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the medium cutting device includes a carriage on which a cutter unit is mounted and which is moved in a width direction of the medium by a cutter unit driving mechanism, the cutter unit includes a cutter moving mechanism that moves a cutter between a retracted position where the cutter does not contact the medium and a cuttable position where the cutter can cut the medium, the 2 nd traverse step is performed before the 1 st traverse step, and the convex cutting step includes: a cutter retracting step of moving the cutter disposed at the cuttable position to the retracted position after the 2 nd traverse step; a3 rd medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the 2 nd traverse step; a carriage moving step of moving the carriage in the 1 st direction until the edge of the cutter is disposed at the same position as the 1 st piercing portion in the width direction of the medium after the cutter retracting step and the 3 rd medium conveying step; a4 th medium conveying step of conveying the medium to the upstream side in the conveying direction after the carriage moving step until the edge of the cutter is disposed at the same position as the 1 st piercing portion in the conveying direction of the medium; and a cutter arrangement step of moving the cutter arranged at the retracted position to the cuttable position after the 4 th medium conveyance step, wherein the 1 st traverse step is performed after the cutter arrangement step.

Here, when the curl tendency of the medium is stronger, there is a case where the degree of floating of the portion of the 1 st upstream side medium downstream in the conveying direction is large even after the 2 nd traverse step and before the 1 st traverse step is performed. As a result, after the 2 nd traverse step, the carriage that moves to the 1 st traverse step and various structures mounted on the carriage may come into contact with a portion of the 1 st upstream medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction, thereby impeding the movement of the carriage.

In the present invention, the medium is conveyed by a predetermined amount to the downstream side in the conveyance direction in the 3 rd medium conveyance step, and then the carriage is moved to the 1 st direction side in the carriage movement step. Thus, even if the curl tendency of the medium is stronger, the carriage that moves to the 1 st direction side to perform the 1 st traverse step can be moved without any obstacle after the 2 nd traverse step.

In the present invention, the medium cutting device may be provided with a carriage on which a cutter unit is mounted and which is moved in a width direction of the medium by a cutter unit driving mechanism, the cutter unit being provided with a cutter moving mechanism that moves a cutter between a retracted position where the cutter does not contact the medium and a cuttable position where the cutter can cut the medium, the 1 st traverse step being performed before the 2 nd traverse step, the convex cutting step being provided with: a cutter retracting step of moving a cutter disposed at a cuttable position to a retracted position after the 1 st traverse step; a 3 rd medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the 1 st traverse step; a carriage moving step of moving the carriage in the 2 nd direction until the edge of the cutter is disposed at the same position as the 2 nd piercing portion in the width direction of the medium after the cutter retracting step and the 3 rd medium conveying step; a4 th medium conveying step of conveying the medium to the upstream side in the conveying direction after the carriage moving step until the edge of the cutter is disposed at the same position as the 2 nd piercing portion in the conveying direction of the medium; and a cutter arrangement step of moving the cutter arranged at the retracted position to the cuttable position after the 4 th medium conveyance step, wherein the 2 nd traverse step is performed after the cutter arrangement step.

When the curl tendency of the medium is stronger, there is a case where the degree of floating of the portion of the 1 st upstream side medium downstream in the conveying direction is large even after the 1 st traverse step and before the 2 nd traverse step. As a result, after the 1 st traverse step, the carriage that moves to the 2 nd traverse step and various structures mounted on the carriage may come into contact with a portion of the 1 st upstream medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction, thereby impeding the movement of the carriage.

In the present invention, the medium is conveyed by a predetermined amount to the downstream side in the conveyance direction in the 3 rd medium conveyance step, and then the carriage is moved to the 2 nd direction side in the carriage movement step. Thus, even if the curl tendency of the medium is stronger, the carriage that moves to the 2 nd direction side to perform the 2 nd traverse step can be moved without any obstacle after the 1 st traverse step.

Preferably, the medium cutting method according to the present invention includes a standby position moving step of moving the cutter unit to a predetermined standby position after the convex cutting step, the cutter unit including a cutter moving mechanism for moving the cutter between a retracted position where the cutter does not contact the medium and a cuttable position where the cutter can cut the medium, the 2 nd traverse step being performed before the 1 st traverse step, the cutter unit disposed at the standby position being disposed at a position on the 2 nd side from the medium, the cutter being disposed at a position on the 1 st side from the medium when the 1 st traverse step is completed, the standby position moving step including: a cutter retracting step of moving a cutter disposed at a cuttable position to a retracted position after the 1 st traverse step; a 5 th medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the 1 st traverse step; and a cutter unit moving step of moving the cutter unit to the standby position after the cutter retracting step and the 5 th medium conveying step.

At the end of the convex cutting step (specifically, at the end of the 1 st traverse step), the end of the 1 st upstream medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction and on the 1 st direction may be curled up. Therefore, after the 1 st traverse step is completed, if the cutter unit is moved to the standby position while the cutter is moved to the retracted position, the cutter unit may come into contact with the rolled portion of the 1 st upstream medium, thereby interfering with the movement of the cutter unit.

In the present invention, the medium is conveyed to the downstream side in the conveyance direction by a predetermined amount in the 5 th medium conveyance step, and then the cutter unit is moved to the standby position in the cutter unit movement step. Thus, even if the end portion of the 1 st upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction and on the 1 st direction side is rolled up, the cutter unit that is moved to the standby position can be moved without any obstacle after the convex cutting step.

In the present invention, the medium cutting device preferably includes: a platen on which a part of the medium in the transport direction of the medium is placed; a 1 st medium guide for pressing an end of the medium placed on the platen in the 1 st direction from the upper side; and a 2 nd medium guide for pressing an end of the medium placed on the platen in the 2 nd direction from the upper side, wherein the 1 st medium guide has a downstream end in the conveying direction and a downstream end in the conveying direction, the 1 st medium guide has an upstream end in the conveying direction, the 1 st medium guide has a position upstream in the conveying direction of the 1 st puncture site at the completion of the 1 st chamfering step, and the 2 nd medium guide has an upstream end in the conveying direction, the 2 nd medium guide has a position upstream in the conveying direction of the 2 nd puncture site at the completion of the 2 nd chamfering step.

This reduces the risk that the medium cut in the 1 st chamfering step will catch on the upstream end of the 1 st medium guide in the conveying direction when the medium is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction after the 1 st chamfering step and before the 2 nd piercing step.

In addition, when the medium is conveyed to the downstream side in the conveying direction after the 2 nd chamfering step and before the 1 st transection step and the 2 nd transection step, the medium can be prevented from being caught by the upstream side end in the conveying direction of the 2 nd medium guide at the portion cut in the 2 nd chamfering step. Thus, the medium can be appropriately conveyed.

In the present invention, it is preferable that the cutter unit includes a cutter holder to which the cutter is fixed and a unit frame rotatably holding the cutter holder, and the cutter holder is rotatable relative to the unit frame in an axial direction in which the thickness direction of the medium is rotatable, and in the 1 st chamfering step and the 2 nd chamfering step, the cutter is rotatable relative to the unit frame, and the cutting angle of the medium relative to the width direction of the medium in the 1 st chamfering step and the cutting angle of the medium relative to the width direction of the medium in the 2 nd chamfering step are both constant regardless of the width of the medium.

Thus, the rotation angle of the tool holder with respect to the unit frame can be made constant in both the 1 st chamfering step and the 2 nd chamfering step, regardless of the width of the medium. Thus, in the 1 st chamfering step and the 2 nd chamfering step, the cutter holder can be reduced from being excessively rotated with respect to the unit frame.

The medium cutting method of the present invention comprises: a 2 nd linear cutting step of moving the cutter in the width direction of the medium in a state where the medium is stopped, and cutting the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium; and a 2 nd medium conveying step of conveying the medium to the downstream side in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the 2 nd linear cutting step, the linear cutting step being performed after the 2 nd medium conveying step.

Preferably, when a portion of the medium cut by the medium cutting method according to the present invention, which is disposed downstream in the conveyance direction from the cutting position in the linear cutting step, is a downstream side medium, and an end portion of the downstream side medium in the width direction of the medium at the time of completion of the linear cutting step is a downstream side medium end portion, the downstream side medium is used to connect the end portion of the medium downstream in the conveyance direction to the winding core material connected to the end portion of the medium downstream in the conveyance direction. In this medium end connection method, a downstream side medium end is fixed to an end of the medium on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, and the other downstream side medium end is fixed to the core material, and the end of the medium on the downstream side in the conveyance direction is connected to the core material.

For example, in the case where the distance in the transport direction of the medium between a processing means for performing predetermined processing on the medium, such as a printing means for performing printing processing on the medium, and the core material of the take-up roller is long, if the end portion of the medium on the downstream side in the transport direction (one end portion in the longitudinal direction) is directly fixed to the core material of the take-up roller by means of an adhesive tape or the like, the portion of the medium between the portion of the medium fixed to the core material and the portion disposed in the vicinity of the processing means where the processing by the processing means is impossible is long, and therefore, the medium is lost.

In the present invention, the end of the medium on the downstream side in the conveyance direction is connected to the core material. Thus, even if the distance between the processing means and the core material in the conveyance direction of the medium is long, the downstream end portion of the medium disposed in the vicinity of the processing means on the downstream side in the conveyance direction can be connected to the core material by the downstream side medium. Therefore, the medium can be processed with less loss. Therefore, even if the distance between the processing mechanism and the core material in the conveyance direction of the medium is long, the loss of the medium can be reduced.

A medium cutting device in a method for controlling a medium cutting device according to the present invention comprises: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting the elongated medium; a medium feeding mechanism that holds a medium wound in a roll; a medium conveying mechanism that conveys a medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the medium and a thickness direction of the medium, wherein when a side of the medium in a conveying direction of the medium by the medium conveying mechanism, the side being disposed closer to the cutter than the medium feeding mechanism, is set as a downstream side in the conveying direction, and an opposite side of the downstream side in the conveying direction is set as an upstream side in the conveying direction, the control method of the medium cutting device includes: a linear cutting step of moving a cutter in the width direction of the medium by a cutter unit driving mechanism in a state where the medium is stopped, and cutting the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium; a medium conveyance step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveyance direction by a predetermined amount by a medium conveyance mechanism after the linear cutting step; and a convex cutting step of, after the medium conveying step, moving the cutter in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism, and conveying the medium by the medium conveying mechanism, wherein the medium is cut over the entire area in the width direction of the medium, a portion of the medium disposed at a position upstream in the conveying direction from the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step is set as a1 st upstream side medium, a portion of the medium disposed at a position upstream in the conveying direction from the cutting position of the medium in the linear cutting step is set as a 2 nd upstream side medium, an end face of the 2 nd upstream side medium on a downstream side in the conveying direction is in a straight line shape parallel to the width direction of the medium, an end face of the 1 st upstream side medium on a downstream side in the conveying direction is in a convex shape in a trapezoid shape or a triangular shape, and the medium is conveyed to a position forming a predetermined interval between the downstream end in the conveying direction of the 2 nd upstream side medium and the downstream end in the conveying direction of the 1 st upstream side medium in the medium conveying step.

In the method for controlling a medium cutting device according to the present invention, in a medium conveying step subsequent to a linear cutting step and preceding the convex cutting step, the medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval is formed between a downstream end in the conveying direction of the 2 nd upstream side medium and a downstream end in the conveying direction of the 1 st upstream side medium, in the linear cutting step, the cutter is moved in the width direction of the medium in a state where the medium is stopped, and the medium is cut in the entire area in the width direction of the medium so that an end face of the 2 nd upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction becomes a linear shape parallel to the width direction of the medium, in the convex cutting step, the cutter is moved in the width direction of the medium and the medium is conveyed, and the medium is cut in the entire area in the width direction of the medium so that an end face of the 1 st upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction becomes a convex shape in the trapezoid shape or a triangular shape.

This makes it possible to lengthen the distance in the medium conveyance direction between the end surface of the 2 nd upstream medium on the downstream side in the conveyance direction and the position where the cutter units are disposed before the convex cutting step. Thus, even if the curl tendency of the medium is strong, it is possible to reduce the floating of the medium from the platen at the position where the cutter unit is arranged in the conveying direction of the medium when the convex cutting step is performed. As a result, even if the curl tendency of the medium is strong, the medium can be cut in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium before the medium is replaced, and then one end portion of the medium in the longitudinal direction can be cut appropriately so that the end surface of the medium has a convex shape in a trapezoid shape or a triangular shape.

A medium cutting device for a control method of a medium cutting device of the present invention comprises: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting the elongated medium; a processing mechanism for performing predetermined processing on the medium; a medium feeding mechanism for holding a medium before processing wound in a roll shape; a medium conveying mechanism that conveys a medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the medium and a thickness direction of the medium, wherein when a side of the medium in a conveying direction of the medium by the medium conveying mechanism, the side being disposed closer to the cutter than the medium feeding mechanism, is set as a downstream side in the conveying direction, and an opposite side of the downstream side in the conveying direction is set as an upstream side in the conveying direction, the control method of the medium cutting device includes: a medium conveying step of, after the medium wound in a roll shape is mounted on the medium feeding mechanism, conveying the medium downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount by the medium conveying mechanism; and a convex cutting step of, after the medium conveying step, moving the cutter in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism and conveying the medium by the medium conveying mechanism, cutting the medium in the entire region in the width direction of the medium, wherein when a portion of the medium disposed on the upstream side in the conveying direction from the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step is set as a1 st upstream side medium, an end face on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the 1 st upstream side medium is convex in a trapezoid or triangular shape, and after the medium conveying step and before the convex cutting step, processing of the medium by the processing mechanism is not performed, but processing of the medium by the processing mechanism is performed after the convex cutting step, and in the medium conveying step, the medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval is formed between the downstream side end in the conveying direction of the medium before the convex cutting step and the downstream side end in the conveying direction of the 1 st upstream side medium.

In the method for controlling the medium cutting device according to the present invention, in the medium conveying step after the medium wound in the roll shape is mounted on the medium feeding mechanism and before the convex cutting step, the medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval is formed between the conveyance direction downstream side end of the medium before the convex cutting step and the conveyance direction downstream side end of the 1 st upstream side medium, and in the convex cutting step, the cutter is moved in the width direction of the medium and the medium is conveyed, and the medium is cut in the whole area of the width direction of the medium so that the end face of the 1 st upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveyance direction becomes a convex shape having a trapezoid shape or a triangular shape.

This can lengthen the distance in the conveying direction of the medium between the downstream end in the conveying direction of the medium and the arrangement position of the cutter unit before the convex cutting step is performed. Thus, even if the curl tendency of the medium is strong, it is possible to reduce the floating of the medium from the platen at the position where the cutter unit is arranged in the conveying direction of the medium when the convex cutting step is performed. As a result, even if the curl tendency of the medium is strong, after the medium is replaced, one end portion of the medium in the longitudinal direction can be cut appropriately so that the end surface of the medium becomes convex in a trapezoidal shape or a triangular shape.

ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF INVENTION

According to the present invention, the shape of the cut portion can be stabilized without being affected by the characteristics of the medium.

Drawings

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a medium cutting device.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the medium cutting device.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating a medium in a state of being fixed to a paper tube.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cutter unit.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the tip end portion of the tool included in the tool unit.

Fig. 6 is a side view illustrating the cutter unit.

Fig. 7 is a top view illustrating the cutter unit.

Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a cutting step of the medium.

Fig. 9 is a diagram illustrating a cutting method of a medium.

Fig. 10 is a diagram illustrating a cutting method of a medium.

Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating a medium in a state of being fixed to a paper tube in the medium cutting apparatus of modification 1.

Fig. 12 is a view illustrating the surroundings of the carriage of the medium cutting device of modification 1.

Fig. 13 is an enlarged view of a main part of the medium cutting device of modification 1.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a cutting step of the medium according to modification 1.

Fig. 15 is a diagram illustrating a method of cutting the medium according to modification 1.

Fig. 16 is a diagram illustrating a method of cutting the medium according to modification 1.

Fig. 17 is a diagram illustrating a method of cutting the medium according to modification 1.

Fig. 18 is a flowchart illustrating a cutting step of the medium according to modification 2.

Fig. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a cutting step of the medium according to modification 3.

Fig. 20 is a diagram illustrating a method of cutting the medium according to modification 3.

Fig. 21 is a diagram illustrating fixation between a paper tube and a medium in modification 3.

Fig. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the convex cutting process of modification 4.

Fig. 23 is a diagram illustrating a convex cutting process in modification 4.

Fig. 24 is a diagram illustrating a convex cutting process in modification 4.

Fig. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a method of cutting the medium according to modification 5.

Fig. 26 is a diagram illustrating a method of cutting the medium according to modification 5.

Detailed Description

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Integral Structure of printing device)

Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of a printing apparatus 1 according to an embodiment. Fig. 1 is a side view of a printing apparatus 1.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the structure of the printing apparatus 1.

Fig. 3 is a diagram illustrating the medium 2 in a state of being fixed to the paper tube 26.

As shown in fig. 1, the printing apparatus 1 is an inkjet printer for business use for printing on a long medium 2. The medium 2 is formed of soft polyvinyl chloride or tarpaulin. The printing apparatus 1 includes a printing mechanism 3 that performs printing by an inkjet method on a medium 2, and a support 4 that supports the printing mechanism 3 from below. The printing mechanism 3 includes an inkjet head 6 (hereinafter referred to as "head 6") that ejects ink onto the medium 2, and a carriage 7 on which the head 6 is mounted.

Here, the printing apparatus 1 has a cutting function for cutting the medium 2 after printing is completed to separate the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction of the medium 2. Therefore, the printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment also functions as a medium cutting apparatus for cutting the long medium 2.

The printing mechanism 3 prints on the medium 2 as one mode of processing. That is, the printing mechanism 3 constitutes a processing mechanism. In the present embodiment, the processing of the medium 2 by the printing mechanism 3 does not include cutting of the medium 2.

As shown in fig. 1, the printing apparatus 1 includes: a cutter unit 9 having a cutter 8 for cutting the medium 2 (see fig. 5, etc.); a medium conveyance mechanism 10 that conveys the medium 2 in a longitudinal direction of the medium 2; a carriage drive mechanism 11 (see fig. 2) that moves the carriage 7 in the width direction of the medium 2 (main scanning direction, Y direction in fig. 1, etc.); a medium feeding mechanism 12 that feeds the medium 2 before printing toward the printing mechanism 3; and a medium winding mechanism 13 that winds the printed medium 2. The printing apparatus 1 further includes a control unit 14 that controls the printing apparatus 1.

In the following description, the width direction of the medium 2 (Y direction in fig. 1 and the like) when the printing apparatus 1 is viewed from the front is referred to as "left-right direction". The vertical direction (Z direction in fig. 1 and the like) in the state where the printing apparatus 1 is mounted is assumed. The direction orthogonal to the up-down direction and the left-right direction (X direction in fig. 1 and the like) is referred to as "front-back direction". The side in the left-right direction, i.e., the Y1 direction side in fig. 3 and the like, is referred to as the "left" side, and the opposite side, i.e., the Y2 direction side in fig. 3 and the like, is referred to as the "right" side. The front-rear direction side, i.e., the X1 direction side in fig. 1 and the like, is referred to as the "front" side, and the opposite side, i.e., the X2 direction side in fig. 1 and the like, is referred to as the "rear" side. In the following description, the conveyance direction of the medium 2 by the medium conveyance mechanism 10 is referred to as "medium conveyance direction". The upstream side in the medium conveyance direction is referred to as "upstream side in the conveyance direction", and the downstream side in the medium conveyance direction is referred to as "downstream side in the conveyance direction". As shown in fig. 3, the left side (Y1 direction side) of the medium 2 is defined as the 1 st direction side which is one side in the width direction of the medium 2, and the right side (Y2 direction side) is defined as the 2 nd direction side which is the other side in the width direction of the medium 2.

The carriage 7 is supported by a support frame 17 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. A platen 18 is disposed below the carriage 7. That is, the printing apparatus 1 includes a platen 18 disposed below the carriage 7. The head 6 ejects ink toward the lower side. A plurality of nozzles for ejecting ink are formed on the lower end surface of the head 6. The lower end surface of the head 6 is disposed below the lower end surface of the carriage 7. The carriage driving mechanism 11 includes, for example: a belt partially fixed to the carriage 7; a belt pulley on which a belt is stretched; and a motor for rotating the pulley.

The upper surface of the platen 18 is a plane orthogonal to the vertical direction. A part of the medium 2 in the medium conveyance direction is placed on the platen 18. A portion of the medium 2 to be printed by the head 6 is placed on the platen 18. The thickness direction of the medium 2 placed on the platen 18 substantially coincides with the up-down direction. The medium 2 before printing is conveyed from the rear side to the upper surface of the platen 18, and the medium 2 after printing is conveyed from the upper surface of the platen 18 to the front side.

The medium conveyance mechanism 10 includes a conveyance roller 19 and a backup roller 20 disposed opposite the conveyance roller 19 and biased toward the conveyance roller 19. The conveying roller 19 and the backup roller 20 are disposed upstream of the platen 18 in the conveying direction. The feed roller 19 and the backup roller 20 are disposed upstream of the head 6 and the cutter 8 in the feed direction. The conveying roller 19 is coupled to a driving mechanism that rotates the conveying roller 19. The driving mechanism includes a motor as a driving source. The medium 2 is conveyed in a state of being sandwiched between the conveying roller 19 and the backup roller 20.

The cutter unit 9 is mounted on the carriage 7. The cutter unit 9 is disposed above the platen 18 with the medium 2 interposed therebetween. The cutter unit 9 is mounted on the left end portion of the carriage 7 (inside the paper surface in fig. 1. The cutter unit 9 may be mounted on the right end portion of the carriage 7.

The cutter unit 9 moves in the left-right direction together with the carriage 7. The carriage drive mechanism 11 moves the cutter unit 9 and the carriage 7 in the width direction of the medium 2, i.e., in the left-right direction. That is, the carriage driving mechanism 11 also functions as a cutter unit driving mechanism.

In the present embodiment, the medium conveyance mechanism 10 and the carriage drive mechanism 11 constitute a movement mechanism 21. The moving mechanism 21 moves the cutter unit 9 relative to the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction of the medium 2 and the width direction of the medium 2. Further, the specific structure of the cutter unit 9 will be described later.

The medium feeding mechanism 12 is disposed below the printing mechanism 3. The medium feeding mechanism 12 rotatably holds the feeding roller 23. The feed roller 23 is composed of a cylindrical paper tube 24 constituting a core material of the feed roller 23 and the pre-printing medium 2 wound around the paper tube 24 in a roll shape. The end of the medium 2 is fixed to a paper tube 24. Specifically, the end of the medium 2 on the upstream side in the conveying direction is fixed to the paper tube 24. The medium feeding mechanism 12 includes a rotary shaft (not shown) penetrating the inner peripheral side of the paper tube 24. The core material of the feed roller 23 is not limited to the paper tube 24. For example, the present invention may be configured by a cylindrical member made of resin or metal.

The medium winding mechanism 13 is disposed below the printing mechanism 3. The medium winding mechanism 13 rotatably holds the winding roller 25. The winding roller 25 is composed of a cylindrical paper tube 26 constituting a core material of the winding roller 25 and the printed medium 2 wound around the paper tube 26 in a roll shape. The paper tube 26 has an outer diameter of 3 inches or 2 inches. The end of the medium 2 is fixed to a paper tube 26. Specifically, the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is fixed to the paper tube 26. The downstream end of the medium 2 in the conveying direction is fixed to the paper tube 26 by, for example, an adhesive tape 27. The core material of the winding roller 25 is not limited to the paper tube 26. For example, the present invention may be configured by a cylindrical member made of resin or metal.

The medium winding mechanism 13 includes a rotary shaft (not shown) penetrating the inner peripheral side of the paper tube 26 and a driving mechanism (not shown) for rotating the rotary shaft. The medium winding mechanism 13 rotates a winding paper tube 26 to which an end portion of the medium 2 is fixed, and winds the medium 2 around the paper tube 26.

The medium winding mechanism 13 is provided with a torque limiter for idling the winding roller 25 so that the tension of the medium 2 applied when being wound by the winding roller 25 does not exceed a predetermined value.

The medium transport mechanism 10 is electrically connected to the control unit 14. Specifically, a motor or the like constituting a part of the medium conveyance mechanism 10 is electrically connected to the control unit 14. The carriage driving mechanism 11 is electrically connected to the control unit 14. Specifically, a motor or the like constituting a part of the carriage driving mechanism 11 is electrically connected to the control unit 14. The elevating mechanism 33 and the switching mechanism 34, which will be described later, constituting a part of the cutter unit 9 are electrically connected to the control unit 14. Specifically, a solenoid 37 described later, which forms a part of the elevating mechanism 33, and a solenoid 43 described later, which forms a part of the switching mechanism 34, are electrically connected to the control unit 14.

(Structure of cutter Unit)

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the cutter unit 9. In fig. 4, the cutter 8 is not shown.

Fig. 5 is a side view of the tip end portion of the cutter 8 in the cutter unit 9.

Fig. 6 is a diagram illustrating the cutter unit 9. Fig. 6 is a view of the cutter unit 9 as seen in the Y2 direction of fig. 4.

Fig. 7 is a diagram illustrating the cutter unit 9. Fig. 7 is a view of the cutter unit 9 from the Z-direction upper side.

As shown in fig. 6, the tool unit 9 includes a tool holder 31 and a unit frame 32 rotatably holding the tool holder 31, and the tool 8 is fixed to the tool holder 31. The cutter 8 cuts off the medium 2 placed on the platen 18. The cutter holder 31 is rotatable with respect to the unit frame 32 with the thickness direction of the medium 2 placed on the platen 18 as the axial direction of rotation. That is, the cutter holder 31 can rotate with respect to the unit frame 32 with the thickness direction of the medium 2 cut by the cutter 8 as the axial direction of rotation. Specifically, the tool holder 31 can rotate with respect to the unit frame 32 with the vertical direction as the axial direction of rotation.

The unit frame 32 also holds the tool holder 31 so as to be able to be lifted. The tool holder 31 can be lifted and lowered relative to the unit frame 32. The cutter unit 9 includes a lifting mechanism 33 for lifting and lowering the cutter holder 31 relative to the unit frame 32. The cutter unit 9 further includes a switching mechanism 34, and the switching mechanism 34 switches the state of the cutter holder 31 between a rotation restricting state in which the rotation of the cutter holder 31 relative to the unit frame 32 is restricted and a rotatable state in which the cutter holder 31 can rotate relative to the unit frame 32.

As shown in fig. 5, the cutter 8 is a double-edged cutter with a sharp edge.

As shown in fig. 4, the tool holder 31 is attached to the front end portion of the unit frame 32 so as to be capable of being lifted and lowered. The cutter 8 is fixed to the front lower end portion of the cutter holder 31. When the tool holder 31 is in the rotation-restricted state, the thickness direction of the tool 8 coincides with the front-rear direction, and the width direction of the tool 8 coincides with the left-right direction. The cutter 8 may be a single-blade cutter.

The unit frame 32 is fixed to the carriage 7 (see fig. 1). A guide shaft 35 for guiding the tool holder 31 in the up-down direction is fixed to the unit frame 32. The guide shaft 35 is disposed such that the axial direction of the guide shaft 35 coincides with the up-down direction. A guide hole through which the guide shaft 35 passes is formed in the tool holder 31, and the tool holder 31 passes through the guide hole in the up-down direction. The guide shaft 35 serves as a rotation center of the tool holder 31 that rotates relative to the unit frame 32 with the up-down direction as an axial direction of rotation.

As shown in fig. 6 (a), the elevating mechanism 33 includes: a lever member 36 rotatably held by the unit frame 32; a solenoid 37 for rotating the lever member 36 with respect to the unit frame 32; and a compression coil spring 38 that biases the tool holder 31 upward with respect to the unit frame 32. The lever member 36 is rotatable with respect to the unit frame 32 in the left-right direction as an axial direction of rotation. The rear end portion of the lever member 36 is rotatably held by the unit frame 32. The tip end of the lever member 36 engages with the tool holder 31. The tool holder 31 is formed with an engagement recess 31a into which the tip end portion of the lever member 36 is inserted and engaged.

The solenoid 37 is fixed to the unit frame 32 so that a plunger 37a of the solenoid 37 protrudes upward. An engagement pin 39 that engages with a middle portion of the lever member 36 in the front-rear direction is fixed to an upper end portion of the plunger 37 a. A guide shaft 35 is inserted into the compression coil spring 38. The upper end of the compression coil spring 38 is in contact with the tool holder 31, and the lower end of the compression coil spring 38 is in contact with the unit frame 32.

When the solenoid 37 is in the non-energized state, the tool holder 31 is raised by the urging force of the compression coil spring 38. When the cutter holder 31 is raised by the force of the compression coil spring 38, the lower end of the cutter 8 is raised to a position where it does not contact the medium 2 placed on the platen 18. When the solenoid 37 is in the energized state, the plunger 37a is lowered, and the lever member 36 is rotated in a direction in which the tip of the lever member 36 is lowered, so that the tool holder 31 is lowered. When the cutter holder 31 is lowered, cutting of the medium 2 by the cutter 8 is enabled. That is, when the cutter 8 cuts the medium 2, the solenoid 37 is in an energized state.

As shown in fig. 6 (a) and 6 (B), the switching mechanism 34 includes a restricting member 42, and the restricting member 42 restricts rotation of the tool holder 31 in an axial direction that is a rotation in the up-down direction. The restricting member 42 is movably held in the front-rear direction by the unit frame 32. The restricting member 42 is disposed at the rear side of the upper end portion of the tool holder 31. The opposing surface of the tool holder 31 opposing the restricting member 42 is a flat surface. The opposing portion of the restricting member 42 opposing the tool holder 31 is a semicircular arc-shaped curved surface bulging toward the tool holder 31 side.

The switching mechanism 34 includes a solenoid 43, and the solenoid 43 is a drive source for moving the restricting member 42 between a restricting position 42A (see fig. 6 a) where the restricting member 42 is close to the tool holder 31 and a restricting releasing position 42B (see fig. 6B) where the restricting member 42 is far from the tool holder 31. That is, the switching mechanism 34 includes a solenoid 43 for moving the restricting member 42 in the front-rear direction with respect to the unit frame 32. The switching mechanism 34 further includes a tension coil spring 44 that biases the restricting member 42 toward the front side with respect to the unit frame 32.

The solenoid 43 is fixed to the unit frame 32 such that a plunger 43a of the solenoid 43 protrudes forward. An engagement pin 45 that engages with the rear end portion of the restriction member 42 is fixed to the front end portion of the plunger 43 a. The front end portion of the tension coil spring 44 is attached to the unit frame 32, and the rear end portion of the tension coil spring 44 is attached to the rear end portion of the restriction member 42. When the solenoid 43 is in the non-energized state, the restriction member 42 is disposed at the restriction position 42A under the urging force of the tension coil spring 44. When the solenoid 43 is in the energized state, the plunger 43a moves rearward, and the restriction member 42 is disposed at the restriction release position 42B.

As shown in fig. 6 (a), in a state where the restriction member 42 is disposed at the restriction position 42A, the restriction member 42 and the tool holder 31 are abutted against each other, or a gap is slightly formed between the restriction member 42 and the tool holder 31. Therefore, when the restricting member 42 is disposed at the restricting position 42A, the tool holder 31 is brought into a restricted rotation state in which the rotation of the tool holder 31 with respect to the unit frame 32 is restricted.

On the other hand, as shown in fig. 6 (B), in a state where the restriction member 42 is disposed at the restriction release position 42B, a large gap is formed between the restriction member 42 and the tool holder 31. Therefore, when the restriction member 42 is disposed at the restriction release position 42B, the tool holder 31 is in a rotatable state in which the rotation of the tool holder 31 relative to the unit frame 32 is possible.

When the tool holder 31 is in the rotatable state, rotation of the tool holder 31 in the counterclockwise direction of fig. 7 (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as "counterclockwise") and rotation of the tool holder 31 in the clockwise direction of fig. 7 (hereinafter, this direction is referred to as "clockwise") as shown in fig. 7 (B) can be performed.

Although not shown, the tool unit 9 may include a rotation range limiting member that limits the rotation range (rotation angle) of the rotatable tool holder 31. The rotation range limiting member is fixed to the unit frame 32. The rotation range limiting member is capable of contacting the rear surface of the tool holder 31, limiting the rotation range of the tool holder 31 in the clockwise direction and the rotation range of the tool holder 31 in the counterclockwise direction. The rotation range limiting means limits, for example, a maximum rotation angle of the tool holder 31 in the clockwise direction and a maximum rotation angle in the counterclockwise direction to about 15 ° when the thickness direction of the tool 8 coincides with the front-rear direction.

(Medium cutting method)

Fig. 8 is a flowchart illustrating a cutting step of the medium 2 in the printing apparatus 1.

Fig. 9 and 10 are diagrams illustrating a cutting method of the medium 2 in the printing apparatus 1.

In the printing apparatus 1, when printing is performed on a medium 2 '(specifically, a medium having a different material or width) which is different from the medium 2 and is not shown after printing on the certain medium 2 is completed, the medium 2 mounted in the printing apparatus 1 is replaced with the next medium 2'. The medium 2 is cut by the cutter 8 before being replaced with the medium 2'. A cutting method of the medium 2 in the printing apparatus 1 for cutting the medium 2 before replacement will be described below.

In the replacement of the medium 2, the medium 2 before printing, which is disposed upstream of the cutting position in the conveying direction, is wound around the feed roller 23 and removed from the printing apparatus 1, and the medium 2 after printing, which is disposed downstream of the cutting position in the conveying direction, is wound around the winding roller 25 and removed from the printing apparatus 1. When the detached medium 2 is attached to the printing apparatus 1 again, the feeding roller 23 is attached to the printing apparatus 1, the medium 2 is pulled out from the feeding roller 23 and passed over the table 18, and then the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is fixed to the paper tube 26.

The cutting method of the medium 2 includes: a piercing step ST1 of piercing the cutter 8 through the medium 2 in the piercing step ST 1; and a cross cutting step ST2, ST3, in which the cutter 8 is moved relative to the medium 2 in the left-right direction, and the medium 2 is cut in the left-right direction, starting from a piercing portion SP1 (see fig. 9 a) which is a portion pierced by the cutter 8 in the piercing step ST 1.

The cutting method of the medium 2 includes: a piercing step ST4 of piercing the cutter 8 through the medium 2 in the piercing step ST 4; a traverse step ST5 of cutting the medium 2 in the left-right direction by moving the cutter 8 relative to the medium 2 in the left-right direction, starting from a piercing portion SP2 (see fig. 9C) which is a portion pierced by the cutter 8 in the piercing step ST 4; and a chamfering step ST6 of cutting the medium 2 in a direction inclined to the left-right direction by moving the cutter 8 relative to the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction and the left-right direction of the medium 2 with the piercing portion SP2 as a starting point in the chamfering step ST 6.

The cutting method of the medium 2 includes: a piercing step ST7 in which the cutter 8 pierces the medium 2 so as to penetrate the medium 2 in the piercing step ST 7; a cross cutting step ST8 of cutting the medium 2 in the left-right direction by moving the cutter 8 relative to the medium 2 in the left-right direction, starting from a piercing portion SP3 (see fig. 10B) which is a portion pierced by the cutter 8 in the piercing step ST 7; and a chamfering step ST9 of cutting the medium 2 in a direction inclined to the left-right direction by moving the cutter 8 relative to the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction and the left-right direction of the medium 2 with the piercing portion SP3 as a starting point in the chamfering step ST 9.

As shown in fig. 8, the piercing step ST1, the transverse cutting step ST2, the transverse cutting step ST3, the piercing step ST4, the transverse cutting step ST5, the chamfering step ST6, the piercing step ST7, the transverse cutting step ST8, and the chamfering step ST9 are sequentially performed. The cutting step of the medium 2 includes a piercing step ST1, cutting steps ST2 and ST3, a piercing step ST4, a cutting step ST5, a chamfering step ST6, a piercing step ST7, a cutting step ST8, and a chamfering step ST9.

As shown in fig. 9, when the portion of the medium 2 on which printing (processing) by the printing mechanism 3 is performed is referred to as a printing portion 2a, and the portion of the medium 2 on the upstream side of the printing portion 2a in the medium conveyance direction and on which printing by the printing mechanism 3 is not performed is referred to as a non-printing portion 2b, the non-printing portion 2b is subjected to the piercing step ST1, the traverse steps ST2 and ST3, the piercing step ST4, the traverse step ST5, the chamfering step ST6, the piercing step ST7, the traverse step ST8, and the chamfering step ST9. The printing portion 2a is a processed portion, and the non-printing portion 2b is a non-processed portion.

In the puncturing step ST1, the cutter 8 is punctured at a position between both ends of the medium 2 in the left-right direction (see a puncturing site SP1 in fig. 9 a). In the puncturing step ST1, after the cutter unit 9 in the state where the cutter holder 31 is raised is moved to a predetermined position, the cutter holder 31 is lowered to puncture the cutter 8 into the medium 2. In the puncturing step ST1, the cutter holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state, and the cutter 8 does not rotate relative to the unit frame 32.

In the traverse step ST2, the cutter 8 is moved leftward to the left end surface of the medium 2 with the piercing portion SP1 as a starting point, and the medium 2 is cut (see fig. 9 a). That is, in the traverse step ST2, the cutter unit 9 is moved leftward in a state where the medium 2 is stopped, and the medium 2 is cut. In the traverse step ST3, the cutter 8 is moved rightward to the right end surface of the medium 2 with the piercing portion SP1 as a starting point, and the medium 2 is cut (see fig. 9B). That is, in the traverse step ST3, the cutter unit 9 is moved rightward while the medium 2 is stopped, and the medium 2 is cut. In the traverse steps ST2 and ST3, the tool holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state. Therefore, the cutter 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32.

The piercing step ST1 corresponds to the 3 rd piercing step. The traverse process ST2 corresponds to the 6 th cutting process. The traverse process ST3 corresponds to the 7 th cutting process. The puncture site SP1 corresponds to the 3 rd puncture site. The puncturing step ST1 and the traverse steps ST2 and ST3 constitute a 2 nd cutting step ST11 of relatively moving the cutter 8 in the left-right direction with respect to the medium 2 to cut the medium 2 over the entire area in the left-right direction. Thereby, the medium 2 is cut. In the following description, a portion of the medium 2 disposed upstream of the cutting position of the medium 2 in the 2 nd cutting step ST11 in the conveying direction is referred to as an upstream side medium 2c. The end face of the upstream medium 2c downstream in the conveying direction after the end of the 2 nd cutting step ST11 is referred to as a1 ST end face 2d.

In the puncturing step ST4, the cutter 8 punctures the left end portion of the upstream medium 2C so as to penetrate the upstream medium 2C (see the puncturing site SP2 in fig. 9 (C)). In the puncturing step ST4, similarly to the puncturing step ST1, the cutter unit 9 in the state where the cutter holder 31 is lifted up is moved to a predetermined position, and then the cutter holder 31 is lowered to puncture the cutter 8 into the upstream medium 2c. In the puncturing step ST4, the cutter holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state, and the cutter 8 does not rotate relative to the unit frame 32.

In the traverse step ST5, the cutter 8 is moved leftward from the puncture site SP2, and the upstream medium 2C is cut from the puncture site SP2 to the left end surface of the upstream medium 2C (see fig. 9C). Specifically, in the traverse step ST5, the cutter unit 9 is moved to the left side in a state where the upstream medium 2c is stopped, and the upstream medium 2c is cut. In the traverse step ST5, the tool holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state. Therefore, the cutter 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32.

In the beveling step ST6, the cutter 8 is moved from the piercing portion SP2 to the 1 ST end face 2d toward the downstream side in the conveying direction and the right side with respect to the upstream side medium 2c with respect to the piercing portion SP2 as a starting point, and cuts the upstream side medium 2c from the piercing portion SP2 to the 1 ST end face 2d (see fig. 10 a). Specifically, in the chamfering step ST6, the upstream medium 2c is cut by moving the cutter unit 9 to the right at a predetermined speed while conveying the upstream medium 2c to the upstream side in the conveying direction at a predetermined speed. In the beveling step ST6, the upstream medium 2c is cut straight from the puncture site SP2 to the 1 ST end face 2 d.

As shown in fig. 10 (B), when the chamfering step ST6 ends, the upstream medium 2c has a 2 nd end surface 2e parallel to the left-right direction and a3 rd end surface 2f inclined with respect to the left-right direction (specifically, inclined so as to go to the downstream side in the conveying direction) at the downstream side end in the conveying direction of the upstream medium 2 c. The 2 nd end surface 2e is formed between the left end surface of the upstream side medium 2c and the piercing portion SP2. The 3 rd end face 2f is formed between the piercing portion SP2 and the 1 st end face 2 d. The right end of the 3 rd end face 2f is disposed on the left side of the center of the 1 st end face 2d in the left-right direction.

In the chamfering step ST6, the tool holder 31 is rotatable, and the tool 8 is rotatable with respect to the unit frame 32. In the chamfering step ST6, the cutter 8 is rotated relative to the unit frame 32 so that the direction of relative movement of the cutter 8 relative to the upstream medium 2c coincides with the width direction of the cutter 8, and then, is moved relative to the upstream medium 2c while maintaining the state in which the direction of relative movement of the cutter 8 relative to the upstream medium 2c coincides with the width direction of the cutter 8.

The piercing step ST4 corresponds to the 1 ST piercing step. The chamfering process ST6 corresponds to the 1 ST cutting process. The traverse process ST5 corresponds to the 4 th cutting process. The 4 th cutting step, i.e., the transverse cutting step ST5 is performed after the 1 ST piercing step, i.e., the piercing step ST4, and before the 1 ST cutting step, i.e., the chamfering step ST 6. The puncture site SP2 corresponds to the 1 st puncture site.

In the puncturing step ST7, the cutter 8 punctures the right end portion of the upstream medium 2c so as to penetrate the upstream medium 2c (see the puncturing site SP2 in fig. 10 (B)). In the puncturing step ST7, similarly to the puncturing step ST1, the cutter unit 9 in the state where the cutter holder 31 is lifted up is moved to a predetermined position, and then the cutter holder 31 is lowered to puncture the cutter 8 into the upstream medium 2c. The piercing portion SP3 is formed at the same position as the piercing portion SP2 in the medium conveying direction. Therefore, after the chamfering step ST6 and before the piercing step ST7, the upstream medium 2c is conveyed by a predetermined amount to the downstream side in the conveying direction. The distance from the left end surface of the upstream medium 2c to the piercing point SP2 (distance in the left-right direction) is equal to the distance from the right end surface of the upstream medium 2c to the piercing point SP3 (distance in the left-right direction). In the piercing step ST7, the tool holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state. Therefore, the cutter 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32.

In the traverse step ST8, the cutter 8 is moved rightward from the puncture site SP3, and the upstream medium 2c is cut from the puncture site SP3 to the right end surface of the upstream medium 2c (see fig. 10B). Specifically, in the traverse step ST8, the cutter unit 9 is moved rightward while the upstream medium 2c is stopped, and the upstream medium 2c is cut. In the traverse step ST8, the tool holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state. Therefore, the cutter 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32.

In the beveling step ST9, the cutter 8 is moved from the piercing portion SP3 to the 1 ST end face 2d toward the downstream side in the conveying direction and the left side with respect to the upstream side medium 2C, with the piercing portion SP3 as a starting point, and cuts the upstream side medium 2C from the piercing portion SP3 to the 1 ST end face 2d (see fig. 10C). Specifically, in the chamfering step ST9, the upstream medium 2c is cut by moving the cutter unit 9 to the left at a predetermined speed while conveying the upstream medium 2c to the upstream side in the conveying direction at a predetermined speed. In the beveling step ST9, the upstream medium 2c is cut straight from the puncture site SP3 to the 1 ST end face 2 d.

As shown in fig. 10 (C), when the chamfering step ST9 ends, a 4 th end face 2g parallel to the left-right direction and a 5 th end face 2h inclined with respect to the left-right direction (specifically, inclined so as to go to the downstream side in the conveying direction) are formed at the downstream side end in the conveying direction of the upstream side medium 2C. The 4 th end surface 2g is formed between the right end surface of the upstream side medium 2c and the piercing portion SP 3. The 5 th end surface 2h is formed between the piercing portion SP3 and the 1 st end surface 2 d. The left end of the 5 th end face 2h is disposed on the right side of the center portion in the left-right direction of the 1 st end face 2 d. Therefore, after the end of the chamfering step ST9, the central portion in the left-right direction of the 1 ST end face 2d remains. The end face of the upstream medium 2c downstream in the conveying direction after the end of the chamfering step ST9 is constituted by the 1 ST end face 2d, the 2 nd end face 2e, the 3 rd end face 2f, the 4 th end face 2g, and the 5 th end face 2h (see fig. 3).

In the chamfering step ST9, the tool holder 31 is rotatable, and the tool 8 is rotatable with respect to the unit frame 32. In the chamfering step ST9, the cutter 8 is rotated relative to the unit frame 32 so that the relative movement direction of the cutter 8 with respect to the upstream medium 2c coincides with the width direction of the cutter 8, and then, is moved relative to the upstream medium 2c while maintaining the state in which the relative movement direction of the cutter 8 with respect to the upstream medium 2c coincides with the width direction of the cutter 8.

The piercing step ST7 corresponds to the 2 nd piercing step. The chamfering process ST9 corresponds to the 3 rd cutting process. The traverse process ST8 corresponds to the 5 th cutting process. The 5 th cutting step, i.e., the cross cutting step ST8, is performed after the 2 nd piercing step, i.e., the piercing step ST7, and before the 3 rd cutting step, i.e., the chamfering step ST 9. The piercing point SP3 corresponds to the 2 nd piercing point.

Here, in the chamfering step ST6, the cutting angle of the upstream side medium 2c with respect to the 1 ST end face 2d (that is, the inclination angle of the 3 rd end face 2f with respect to the 1 ST end face 2 d) is set to θ1 (see (a) of fig. 10). In the beveling step ST9, the cutting angle of the upstream medium 2C with respect to the 1 ST end face 2d (that is, the inclination angle of the 5 th end face 2h with respect to the 1 ST end face 2 d) is set to θ2 (see fig. 10C). The cutting angles θ1 and θ2 are equal angles. The cutting angles θ1 and θ2 are preferably 7 ° to 13 °. More specifically, the cutting angles θ1 and θ2 are preferably 8 ° to 12 °. In the present embodiment, the case where the cutting angles θ1 and θ2 are each 10 ° will be described as an example.

The cutting angles θ1 and θ2 are constant regardless of the width of the cut medium 2. That is, the cutting angles θ1, θ2 are 10 ° and are not affected by the width of the cut medium 2. For example, the width of the cut medium 2 is 1600mm, the cutting angles θ1, θ2 are also 10 °, the width of the cut medium 2 is 1000mm, and the cutting angles θ1, θ2 are also 10 °. In addition, the puncture site SP2 and the puncture site SP3 are formed at the same position in the medium conveyance direction, and the distance from the left end surface of the upstream side medium 2c to the puncture site SP2 is equal to the distance from the right end surface of the upstream side medium 2c to the puncture site SP3, so that the 3 rd end surface 2f and the 5 th end surface 2h are formed to be bilaterally symmetrical.

As shown in fig. 3, the end face of the upstream side medium 2c downstream in the conveying direction after the cutting of the medium 2 before the replacement of the medium 2' is constituted by the 1 st end face 2d, the 2 nd end face 2e, the 3 rd end face 2f, the 4 th end face 2g, and the 5 th end face 2h. Therefore, in the case where the medium 2 is temporarily detached from the printing apparatus 1 and then attached again to the printing apparatus 1, the area around the 1 st end face 2d of the upstream side medium 2c is fixed to the paper tube 26.

Here, when a new medium 2 is mounted on the printing apparatus 1, the end surface of the medium 2 fixed to the paper tube 26 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction has a shape parallel to the left-right direction. In this case, before the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is fixed to the paper tube 26, the piercing step ST4, the traverse step ST5, the beveling step ST6, the piercing step ST7, the traverse step ST8, and the beveling step ST9 are performed.

The piercing step ST1, the cross cutting steps ST2 and ST3, the piercing step ST4, the cross cutting step ST5, the chamfering step ST6, the piercing step ST7, the cross cutting step ST8, and the chamfering step ST9 are automatically and continuously performed. That is, in the printing apparatus 1, a control program for continuously executing the piercing process ST1, the traverse processes ST2, ST3, the piercing process ST4, the traverse process ST5, the chamfering process ST6, the piercing process ST7, the traverse process ST8, and the chamfering process ST9 is stored in the control unit 14, and based on the control program, the control unit 14 continuously executes these processes. For example, when the operator of the printing apparatus 1 presses a predetermined operation button when the medium 2 needs to be replaced, the control section 14 continuously executes these processes.

That is, when the operator presses the operation button, the control unit 14 first performs the piercing step ST1 (piercing step S1), then performs the transection step ST2 (transection step S2), and then performs the transection step ST3 (transection step S3). Then, the control unit 14 performs the piercing step ST4 (piercing step S4), then performs the transection step ST5 (transection step S5), and then performs the beveling step ST6 (beveling step S6). The control unit 14 then executes the piercing step ST7 (piercing step S7), then executes the transection step ST8 (transection step S8), and then executes the beveling step ST9 (beveling step S9).

The puncturing step S4 corresponds to the 1 st puncturing step. The chamfering step S6 corresponds to the 1 st cutting step. The puncturing step S7 corresponds to the 2 nd puncturing step. The chamfering step S9 corresponds to the 3 rd cutting step. The transection step S5 corresponds to the 4 th cutting step. Is performed before the 1 st cutting step, i.e. the chamfering step S6. The transection step S8 corresponds to the 5 th cutting step. Is performed before the 3 rd cutting step, i.e. the beveling step S9.

In the traverse steps S2, S3, S5, and S8, the control unit 14 controls the medium conveying mechanism 10 and the carriage driving mechanism 11 to perform cutting of the medium 2 in the traverse mode in which the cutter unit 9 is moved relative to the medium 2 in the left-right direction to cut the medium 2 in the left-right direction. In the traverse mode, the control unit 14 controls the switching mechanism 34 to put the tool holder 31 into the rotation-restricted state. Specifically, the switching mechanism 34 sets the tool holder 31 in the rotation-restricted state in the traverse mode.

In addition, in the beveling steps S6 and S9, the control unit 14 controls the medium conveying mechanism 10 and the carriage driving mechanism 11 to perform cutting of the medium 2 in the beveling mode in which the cutter unit 9 is moved relatively in the medium conveying direction and the left-right direction with respect to the medium 2 to cut the medium 2 in a direction inclined with respect to the left-right direction.

Specifically, in the chamfering step S6, the control unit 14 cuts the medium 2 in the 1 st chamfering mode, which is the chamfering mode, by cutting the medium 2 between the intermediate position in the left-right direction of the medium 2 and one end side (left end side) in the left-right direction of the medium 2 (specifically, between the intermediate position of the 1 st end surface 2d in the left-right direction and the piercing portion SP 2), and in the chamfering step S9, cuts the medium 2 in the 2 nd chamfering mode, which is the chamfering mode, by cutting the medium 2 between the intermediate position in the left-right direction of the medium 2 and the other end side (right end side) in the left-right direction of the medium 2 (specifically, between the intermediate position of the 1 st end surface 2d in the left-right direction and the piercing portion SP 3).

In the bevel cutting mode, the control unit 14 controls the switching mechanism 34 to turn the tool holder 31 into a rotatable state. That is, the switching mechanism 34 brings the tool holder 31 into a rotatable state in the chamfer mode. The control unit 14 controls the conveyance speed of the medium 2 by the medium conveyance mechanism 10 and the movement speed of the cutter unit 9 by the carriage drive mechanism 11 in the 1 st bevel mode and the 2 nd bevel mode based on predetermined data input to the control unit 14, and cuts the medium 2 at a desired angle with respect to the left-right direction. The data input to the control unit 14 are, for example, conveyance speed data of the medium 2 in the 1 st bevel mode and the 2 nd bevel mode, movement speed data of the cutter unit 9, position data of the cutter 8 at the start of cutting, and the like.

The cutting angle θ1 of the medium 2 with respect to the left-right direction in the 1 st chamfer mode and the cutting angle θ2 of the medium 2 with respect to the left-right direction in the 2 nd chamfer mode are set to 7 ° to 13 °. More specifically, the cutting angles θ1 and θ2 are preferably set to 8 ° to 12 °. In the present embodiment, the case where the cutting angles θ1, θ2 are set to 10 ° is exemplified. After printing the medium 2 by the printing mechanism 3, the control unit 14 cuts the non-printing unit 2b in the transverse cutting mode over the entire area in the left-right direction in the transverse cutting steps S2 and S3, and then cuts the medium 2 in the 1 st transverse cutting mode and cuts the medium 2 in the 2 nd transverse cutting mode with respect to the non-printing unit 2b disposed at the upstream side in the conveying direction from the cutting position in the transverse cutting steps S2 and S3 in the transverse cutting steps S6 and S9.

As described above, in the present embodiment, in the puncturing step ST4, the cutter 8 is punctured into the upstream medium 2c so as to penetrate the upstream medium 2c, and then in the chamfering step ST6, the cutter 8 is moved relatively to the downstream side in the conveying direction and to the right side with respect to the upstream medium 2c with the puncturing position SP2 as a starting point, and the upstream medium 2c is cut in a direction inclined with respect to the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, in the puncturing step ST7, the cutter 8 is punctured into the upstream medium 2c so as to penetrate the upstream medium 2c, and then in the chamfering step ST9, the cutter 8 is moved relative to the upstream medium 2c toward the downstream side in the conveying direction and toward the left side with respect to the puncture point SP3 as a starting point, and the upstream medium 2c is cut in a direction inclined relative to the left-right direction.

Therefore, in the beveling steps ST6 and ST9, cutting of the upstream medium 2c in a direction inclined to the left-right direction can be started using the cutter 8 penetrating the upstream medium 2c. That is, since cutting of the medium 2 is started in a state where the cutter 8 is positioned in the medium 2, the shape of the cutting portion is more stable than, for example, a cutting method in which the cutter 8 is moved from one end to the other end in the width direction of the medium 2 to cut the medium 2. Thus, the shape of the cut portion is stable regardless of the characteristics of the medium.

In the beveling steps ST6 and ST9, the upstream medium 2c is cut into the 1 ST end face 2d, which is the end face of the upstream medium 2c on the downstream side in the conveying direction, while the upstream medium 2c is conveyed toward the upstream side in the conveying direction. Therefore, when the upstream medium 2c is cut in the beveling steps ST6 and ST9, the occurrence of wrinkles in the portions of the upstream medium 2c between the conveying roller 19 and the backup roller 20 in the medium conveying direction and the cutter 8 can be reduced. Thus, the upstream side medium 2c can be cut more appropriately in a direction inclined with respect to the left-right direction.

In the puncturing step ST1, the cutter 8 is punctured into the medium 2 so as to penetrate the medium 2, and then in the traverse steps ST2 and ST3, the cutter 8 is moved in the left-right direction with respect to the medium 2 with the puncturing position SP1 as a starting point, and the medium 2 is cut in the left-right direction. Therefore, in the traverse steps ST2 and ST3, cutting of the medium 2 in the left-right direction can be started using the cutter 8 penetrating the medium 2. Thus, the medium 2 can be cut in the right-left direction appropriately.

The 3 rd end face 2f and the 5 th end face 2h are formed symmetrically on the end face of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction, the 3 rd end face 2f being inclined so as to go to the downstream side in the conveying direction as going to the right, and the 5 th end face 2h being inclined so as to go to the downstream side in the conveying direction as going to the left. Therefore, even if the medium 2 that is again attached to the printing apparatus 1 is not cut, the medium 2 is easily wound by the paper tube 26 when winding of the paper tube 26 on the medium 2 is started after the end portion of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is fixed to the paper tube 26 during the replacement operation of the medium 2.

In the beveling steps ST6 and ST9, the cutting angles θ1 and θ2 with respect to the upstream medium 2c in the left-right direction are constant regardless of the width of the cut medium 2, and the rotation angle of the tool holder 31 with respect to the unit frame 32 is constant regardless of the width of the cut medium 2. Therefore, in the beveling steps ST6 and ST9, the excessive rotation of the tool holder 31 with respect to the unit frame 32 can be reduced.

In the printing apparatus 1, the cutter unit 9 includes a switching mechanism 34, and the switching mechanism 34 switches the state of the cutter holder 31 between a rotation restricting state in which the rotation of the cutter holder 31 relative to the unit frame 32 is restricted and a rotatable state in which the cutter holder 31 can rotate relative to the unit frame 32.

The control unit 14 sets the cutter holder 31 to a rotatable state when cutting the medium 2 in a bevel mode in which the cutter unit 9 is moved relatively in the medium conveying direction and the right-and-left direction with respect to the medium 2 to cut the medium 2 in a direction inclined with respect to the right-and-left direction, but sets the cutter holder 31 to a rotation-restricted state when cutting the medium 2 in a traverse mode in which the cutter unit 9 is moved relatively in the right-and-left direction with respect to the medium 2 to cut the medium 2 in the right-and-left direction.

Therefore, even if cutting of the medium 2 in the traverse mode in which the medium 2 is cut in the left-right direction and cutting of the medium 2 in the bevel mode in which the medium 2 is cut in a direction inclined with respect to the left-right direction can be performed, the state of the cutter holder 31 when the medium 2 is cut in the traverse mode can be stabilized, and as a result, the state of the cutter 8 when the medium 2 is cut in the traverse mode can be stabilized.

The switching mechanism 34 includes: a restriction member 42 for restricting rotation of the tool holder 31; and a solenoid 43 for moving the restriction member 42 between the restriction position 42A and the restriction release position 42B. Therefore, when the restriction member 42 is disposed at the restriction position 42A, the tool holder 31 is in the rotation-restricted state, and when the restriction member 42 is disposed at the restriction release position 42B, the tool holder 31 is in the rotatable state. Thereby, the state of the tool holder 31 can be switched with a relatively simple structure.

The 3 rd end face 2f and the 5 th end face 2h are formed symmetrically on the end face of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction, the 3 rd end face 2f being inclined so as to go to the downstream side in the conveying direction as going to the right, and the 5 th end face 2h being inclined so as to go to the downstream side in the conveying direction as going to the left. Therefore, even if the medium 2 that is again attached to the printing apparatus 1 is not cut, the medium 2 is easily wound by the paper tube 26 when winding of the paper tube 26 on the medium 2 is started after the end portion of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is fixed to the paper tube 26 during the replacement operation of the medium 2.

The paper tube 26 has an outer diameter of 3 inches or 2 inches, and the medium 2 is formed of soft polyvinyl chloride or tarpaulin. In addition, the cutting angles θ1, θ2 with respect to the medium 2 in the left-right direction in the 1 st chamfer mode and the 2 nd chamfer mode are 10 °. Therefore, at the start of winding of the medium 2 by the paper tube 26, it is possible to reduce breakage of the medium 2 and to properly wind the medium 2 by the paper tube 26.

The cutter unit 9 is mounted on the carriage 7, and the head 6 and the cutter unit 9 can be moved in the left-right direction by using the carriage driving mechanism 11. Therefore, the structure of the printing apparatus 1 can be simplified as compared with a case where a drive mechanism for moving the cutter unit 9 in the left-right direction is separately provided.

In the above-described embodiment, the case where the tool holder 31 is in the rotation-restricted state in the traverse steps ST5 and ST8 is exemplified. However, the tool holder 31 may be rotatable in the traverse steps ST5 and ST 8. The tool holder 31 may be rotatable in the traverse steps ST2, ST3, ST5, and ST 8. In addition, the cutter holder 31 may be rotatable in the piercing steps ST1, ST4, and ST 7.

The piercing step ST4 may be followed by the chamfering step ST6 and then the transverse cutting step ST5. After the piercing step ST7, the beveling step ST9 may be performed, and then the cross cutting step ST8 may be performed.

In addition, instead of the traverse step ST5, a chamfering step may be performed in which the cutter 8 is moved relatively to the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction and the left-right direction of the medium 2 to cut the upstream medium 2c from the puncture site SP2 to the left end surface of the upstream medium 2c in a direction inclined to the left-right direction. In addition, instead of the traverse step ST8, a chamfering step may be performed in which the cutter 8 is moved relatively to the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction and the lateral direction of the medium 2 to cut the upstream medium 2c from the piercing portion SP3 to the right end surface of the upstream medium 2c in a direction inclined to the lateral direction. In these chamfering steps, the tool holder 31 is rotatable.

Further, the puncturing steps ST1, ST4, ST7 can be omitted by fixing the medium 2 to the platen 18 using a jig or the like, not shown. In this case, after the traverse process (cutting of the medium 2 in the traverse mode) of cutting the medium 2 in the entire area in the left-right direction by moving the cutter 8 from the right end surface to the left end surface of the medium 2 in the left-right direction with respect to the medium 2, the chamfer process (cutting of the medium 2 in the chamfer mode) of cutting the upstream medium 2c by relatively moving the cutter 8 from the left end surface to the 1 st end surface 2d of the upstream medium 2c to the downstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the upstream medium 2c and cutting the upstream medium 2c from the right end surface to the 1 st end surface 2d of the upstream medium 2c (cutting of the medium 2 in the chamfer mode) is performed.

Only the piercing step ST4, the chamfering step ST6, the piercing step ST7, the chamfering step ST9, and the cross cutting steps ST2 and ST3 may be performed in this order. For example, in the puncturing step ST4, the cutter 8 is punctured at an intermediate position in the lateral direction of the medium 2, and in the chamfering step ST6, the cutter 8 is moved to the left end surface of the medium 2 from the puncturing position SP2 to the left side of the medium 2 upstream in the conveying direction with respect to the medium 2, and the medium 2 is cut from the puncturing position SP2 to the left end surface of the medium 2.

In the puncturing step ST7, the cutter 8 is punctured at a middle position in the left-right direction of the medium 2, and in the chamfering step ST9, the cutter 8 is moved to the right end surface of the medium 2 from the puncturing position SP3 to the right side of the medium 2 toward the upstream side in the conveying direction with respect to the medium 2, and the medium 2 is cut from the puncturing position SP3 to the right end surface of the medium 2. In the traverse steps ST2 and ST3, the cutter 8 is moved from the piercing portion SP2 or the piercing portion SP3 to both end surfaces of the medium 2 in the left-right direction to cut the medium 2.

The upstream side medium 2c may be cut so that the right end of the 3 rd end face 2f is connected to the left end of the 5 th end face 2 h. That is, the upstream medium 2c may be cut so that the 1 ST end face 2d does not remain after the end of the chamfering step ST 9. The cutting angle θ1 and the cutting angle θ2 may be different.

The piercing points SP2 and SP3 may be offset in the medium transport direction. The distance from the left end surface of the upstream medium 2c to the piercing point SP2 in the left-right direction may be different from the distance from the right end surface of the upstream medium 2c to the piercing point SP3 in the left-right direction. The cutting angles θ1 and θ2 may be changed according to the width of the cut medium 2. For example, the cutting angles θ1, θ2 may be changed according to the width of the cut medium 2 so that the distances in the medium conveyance direction between the 2 nd end face 2e, the 4 th end face 2g, and the 1 st end face 2d are constant regardless of the width of the cut medium 2.

The piercing step ST1, the cutting steps ST2 and ST3, the piercing step ST4, the cutting step ST5, the chamfering step ST6, the piercing step ST7, the cutting step ST8, and the chamfering step ST9 may not be automatically and continuously performed. For example, the operator may press a predetermined operation button one step at a time. Further, the operator may manually operate the medium conveyance mechanism 10, the carriage driving mechanism 11, the lifting mechanism 33, the switching mechanism 34, and the like to perform the respective steps.

The cutter unit 9 may not be mounted on the carriage 7. In this case, a carriage for mounting the cutter unit 9 and a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the carriage in the left-right direction are separately provided. In this case, a2 nd cutter unit driving mechanism may be provided to move the carriage on which the cutter unit 9 is mounted in the front-rear direction. In this case, for example, a moving mechanism for moving the cutter unit 9 relative to the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction of the medium 2 and the width direction of the medium 2 may be constituted by the cutter unit driving mechanism and the 2 nd cutter unit driving mechanism.

The switching mechanism 34 may include a motor as a driving source instead of the solenoid 43. The medium 2 may be formed of a resin other than polyvinyl chloride, or may be formed of paper.

Modification 1

The following describes the printing apparatus 1A of modification 1.

Fig. 11 is a diagram illustrating the medium 2 in a state of being fixed to the paper tube 26 in the printing apparatus 1A.

Fig. 12 is a diagram illustrating the periphery of the carriage 7 of the printing apparatus 1A, and is a diagram of the periphery of the carriage 7 of the printing apparatus 1A viewed from the front side.

Fig. 13 is a diagram illustrating the periphery of the carriage 7 of the printing apparatus 1A, and is a diagram of the periphery of the carriage 7 of the printing apparatus 1A viewed from the right side.

Fig. 14 is a flowchart illustrating a cutting step of cutting the medium 2 using the printing apparatus 1A.

Fig. 15 to 17 are diagrams for explaining a cutting method of the medium 2 cut in the cutting step of the medium 2 shown in fig. 14.

The position indicated by the chain line in fig. 15 to 17 is a tool position CP, which is the position of the edge of the tool 8 in the medium conveyance direction.

The rolled medium 2 tends to become stronger as it is moved toward the small diameter side. Moreover, there are cases where the medium 2 bows up from the platen 18 due to the tendency to curl. Then, the portion of the medium 2 lifted from the platen 18 contacts the carriage 7, and the medium 2 may not be cut properly (see the two-dot chain line of fig. 13). The invention also enables the medium 2 to be cut off with a tendency to curl. In modification 1, a portion different from the foregoing embodiment will be described. The parts common to the foregoing embodiments will be omitted from the description and the same reference numerals will be given.

As shown in fig. 12, in the printing apparatus 1A of modification 1, a1 st medium guide 15 and a2 nd medium guide 16 are provided on the upper surface of a platen 18. The 1 st medium guide 15 and the 2 nd medium guide 16 are formed in the same shape.

The 1 st medium guide 15 is fixed to the left end portion of the upper surface of the platen 18, and presses the left end portion of the medium 2 placed on the platen 18 from above. The 2 nd medium guide 16 is fixed to the right end portion of the upper surface of the platen 18, and presses the right end portion of the medium 2 placed on the platen 18 from above. The 1 st medium guide 15 and the 2 nd medium guide 16 are disposed at the same position in the medium conveying direction.

In the printing apparatus 1A, ultraviolet curable ink is ejected from the inkjet head 6. The printing apparatus 1A has an ultraviolet irradiation unit 29 that irradiates ultraviolet rays onto ink ejected from the inkjet head 6 onto the medium 2. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 29 is mounted on the carriage 7. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 29 is disposed on the left side of the cutter unit 9.

(Medium cutting method)

As shown in fig. 14, the cutting method of the medium 2 using the printing apparatus 1A includes: a piercing step ST1A in which the cutter 8 pierces the medium 2 so as to penetrate the medium 2 in the piercing step ST 1A; and a cross cutting step ST2A, ST a in which, in the cross cutting step ST2A, ST a, the cutter 8 is moved relative to the medium 2 in the left-right direction to cut the medium 2 in the left-right direction, starting from a piercing portion SP1A (see fig. 15 a) which is a portion pierced by the cutter 8 in the piercing step ST 1A. The cutting method of the medium 2 includes a medium conveying step ST4A, and the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount in the medium conveying step ST 4A.

The cutting method of the medium 2 includes: a piercing step ST5A in which the cutter 8 pierces the left end portion of the medium 2 so as to penetrate the medium 2 in the piercing step ST 5A; a chamfering step ST6A of cutting the medium 2 in a direction inclined at least to the left-right direction by moving the cutter 8 relative to the medium 2 to the downstream side and the right side in the conveying direction, starting from a piercing portion SP2A (see fig. 15C) which is a portion pierced by the cutter 8 in the piercing step ST 5A; and a traverse step ST10A of moving the cutter 8 relative to the medium 2 to the left side with the piercing portion SP2A as a starting point, thereby cutting the medium 2 in the left-right direction in the traverse step ST 10A.

The cutting method of the medium 2 includes: a piercing step ST7A in which the cutter 8 pierces the right end portion of the medium 2 so as to penetrate the medium 2 in the piercing step ST 7A; a chamfering step ST8A of cutting the medium 2 in a direction inclined at least with respect to the left-right direction by relatively moving the cutter 8 to the downstream side and the left side in the conveying direction with respect to the medium 2, starting from a piercing portion SP3A (see fig. 16 (B)) which is a portion pierced by the cutter 8 in the piercing step ST 7A; and a traverse step ST9A of moving the cutter 8 relative to the medium 2 to the right side with the piercing portion SP3A as a starting point, thereby cutting the medium 2 in the left-right direction in the traverse step ST 9A.

The piercing step ST1A, the cutting step ST2A, the cutting step ST3A, the medium conveying step ST4A, the piercing step ST5A, the beveling step ST6A, the piercing step ST7A, the beveling step ST8A, the cutting step ST9A, and the cutting step ST10A are sequentially performed. The cutting step of the medium 2 includes a piercing step ST1A, a traverse step ST2A, ST a, a medium conveying step ST4A, a piercing step ST5A, a chamfering step ST6A, a piercing step ST7A, a chamfering step ST8A, and a traverse step ST9A, ST a.

At the start of the cutting process of the medium 2, the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 are disposed at a predetermined standby position (home position). The carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 disposed at the standby position are disposed on the right side of the medium 2. Although not shown, the printing apparatus 1A includes a maintenance unit disposed on the right side of the platen 18, and the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 disposed at the standby position are disposed on the upper side of the maintenance unit. In the maintenance unit, cleaning of the head 6 is performed to prevent clogging of a plurality of nozzles formed in the lower end surface of the head 6.

When the portion of the medium 2 on which printing by the printing mechanism 3 is performed is the printing portion 2a, and the portion of the medium 2 on the upstream side of the printing portion 2a in the medium conveyance direction and on which printing by the printing mechanism 3 is not performed is the non-printing portion 2b, the non-printing portion 2b is subjected to the piercing step ST1A, the traverse step ST2A, ST a, the piercing step ST5A, the chamfering step ST6A, the piercing step ST7A, the chamfering step ST8A, the traverse step ST9A, and the traverse step ST10A.

In the puncturing step ST1A, the cutter 8 is punctured at a position between both ends of the medium 2 in the left-right direction (see a puncturing site SP1A in fig. 15 a). In the puncturing step ST1A, after the cutter unit 9 in the state where the cutter holder 31 is raised is moved to a predetermined position, the cutter holder 31 is lowered to puncture the cutter 8 into the medium 2. Specifically, in the puncturing step ST1, after the cutter unit 9 in the state where the cutter 8 is disposed at the retracted position is moved to the predetermined position, the cutter 8 is moved to the cuttable position, and the cutter 8 is punctured into the medium 2. In the piercing step ST1A, the tool holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state. Therefore, the cutter 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32.

In the traverse step ST2A, the cutter 8 is moved to the left side to the left end surface of the medium 2 with the piercing portion SP1A as a starting point, and the medium 2 is cut (see fig. 15 a). Specifically, in the traverse step ST2A, the cutter unit 9 is moved to the left side in a state where the medium 2 is stopped, and the medium 2 is cut. In the traverse step ST3A, the cutter 8 is moved rightward to the right end surface of the medium 2 with the piercing portion ST1A as a starting point, thereby cutting the medium 2 (see fig. 15 (B)). Specifically, in the traverse step ST3A, the cutter unit 9 is moved rightward to cut the medium 2 while the medium 2 is stopped. In the traverse step ST2A, ST a, the tool holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state. Therefore, the cutter 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32.

The puncturing step ST1A and the traverse step ST2A, ST a constitute a linear cutting step ST11A of moving the cutter 8 in the left-right direction while stopping the medium 2, and cutting the medium 2 over the entire area in the left-right direction. When the linear cutting process ST11A is completed, the medium 2 is separated at the cutting position of the medium 2 in the linear cutting process ST11A. When the upstream medium 2c is a portion of the medium 2 disposed upstream of the cutting position of the medium 2 in the linear cutting step ST11A in the conveying direction, the end surface of the upstream medium 2c downstream in the conveying direction is linear and parallel to the left-right direction.

In the printing apparatus 1A, printing of the medium 2 by the head 6 is performed before the linear cutting step ST 11A. In the linear cutting step ST11A, a portion of the medium 2 (i.e., the printing portion 2 a) on the upstream side in the conveyance direction from the portion on which printing is performed is cut. In the following description, the end face of the upstream medium 2c on the downstream side in the conveying direction when the linear cutting step ST11A is completed is referred to as the 1 ST end face 2d. The upstream side medium 2c corresponds to the 2 nd upstream side medium.

In the medium conveying step ST4A, after the linear cutting step ST11A, the medium 2 is conveyed by a predetermined amount to the downstream side in the conveying direction. The specific conveyance amount of the medium 2 in the medium conveyance step ST4A will be described later.

In the puncturing step ST5A, the cutter 8 punctures the left end portion of the upstream medium 2C so as to penetrate the medium 2 (see the puncturing site SP2A in fig. 15C). In the puncturing step ST5A, the cutter unit 9 in the state where the cutter holder 31 is lifted up is moved to a predetermined position, and then the cutter holder 31 is lowered to puncture the cutter 8 into the medium 2, similarly to the puncturing step ST 1A. In the piercing step ST5A, the tool holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state. Therefore, the cutter 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32.

In the beveling step ST6A, the cutter 8 is moved to the downstream side in the conveying direction and to the right with respect to the medium 2, with the piercing portion SP2A as a starting point, to cut the medium 2 to the vicinity of the intermediate position in the left-right direction, and then the cutter 8 is moved to the right by a predetermined amount to cut the medium 2 (see fig. 16 (a)). Specifically, in the beveling step ST6, the cutter unit 9 is moved rightward at a predetermined speed while the upstream medium 2c is conveyed to the upstream side in the conveying direction at a predetermined speed, the medium 2 is cut from the piercing portion SP2A to the vicinity of the intermediate position in the left-right direction, and then the cutter unit 9 is moved rightward by a predetermined amount while the medium 2 is stopped, thereby cutting the medium 2.

In the beveling step ST6A, the medium 2 is cut straight toward the right after the self-piercing portion SP2A is cut straight toward the right. The cutting position of the medium 2 cut in the beveling step ST6A does not reach the 1 ST end face 2d in the medium conveying direction. In addition, the cutting position of the medium 2 cut in the beveling step ST6A does not reach the right end surface of the medium 2 in the left-right direction.

In the chamfering step ST6A, the tool holder 31 is rotatable. Therefore, the cutter 8 is rotatable with respect to the unit frame 32. In the chamfering step ST6A, the cutter 8 is rotated relative to the unit frame 32 so that the relative movement direction of the cutter 8 with respect to the medium 2 coincides with the width direction of the cutter 8, and then, is moved relative to the medium 2 while maintaining the state in which the relative movement direction of the cutter 8 with respect to the medium 2 coincides with the width direction of the cutter 8.

In the puncturing step ST7A, the cutter 8 punctures the right end portion of the upstream medium 2c so as to penetrate the medium 2 (see the puncturing site SP3A in fig. 16B). In the puncturing step ST7A, the cutter unit 9 in the state where the cutter holder 31 is lifted up is moved to a predetermined position, and then the cutter holder 31 is lowered to puncture the cutter 8 into the medium 2, similarly to the puncturing step ST 1A. The piercing portion SP3A is formed at the same position as the piercing portion SP2 in the medium conveying direction.

Therefore, after the chamfering step ST6A and before the piercing step ST7A, the medium 2 is conveyed by a predetermined amount to the downstream side in the conveying direction. Specifically, after the chamfering step ST6A and before the piercing step ST7A, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by the same amount as the conveying amount of the medium 2 in the chamfering step ST 6A. The distance from the left end surface of the medium 2 to the piercing portion SP2A (distance in the left-right direction) is equal to the distance from the right end surface of the medium 2 to the piercing portion SP3A (distance in the left-right direction). In the piercing step ST7A, the tool holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state. Therefore, the cutter 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32.

In the chamfering step ST8A, the cutter 8 is moved to the downstream side in the conveying direction and to the left with respect to the medium 2 with the piercing portion SP3A as a starting point, thereby cutting the medium 2 (see fig. 16C). Specifically, in the chamfering step ST8, the cutter unit 9 is moved leftward at a predetermined speed while conveying the upstream medium 2c to the upstream side in the conveying direction at the predetermined speed, thereby cutting the medium 2. In the beveling step ST8A, the medium 2 is cut straight from the piercing portion SP3A to the right end of the cutting position in the beveling step ST 6A.

In the chamfering step ST8A, the tool holder 31 is rotatable. Therefore, the cutter 8 is rotatable with respect to the unit frame 32. In the chamfering step ST8A, the cutter 8 is rotated relative to the unit frame 32 so that the relative movement direction of the cutter 8 with respect to the medium 2 coincides with the width direction of the cutter 8, and then, is moved relative to the medium 2 while maintaining the state in which the relative movement direction of the cutter 8 with respect to the medium 2 coincides with the width direction of the cutter 8.

In the traverse step ST9A, the cutter 8 is moved rightward with respect to the medium 2 from the piercing portion SP3A, and the medium 2 is cut in the right-left direction from the piercing portion SP3A to the right end surface of the medium 2 (see fig. 17 (a)). Specifically, in the traverse step ST9A, the cutter unit 9 is moved rightward to cut the medium 2 while stopping the upstream medium 2 c. In the traverse step ST9A, the tool holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state. Therefore, the cutter 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32. After the chamfering step ST8A and before the traverse step ST9A, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by the same amount as the conveying amount of the medium 2 in the chamfering step ST 8A.

In the traverse step ST10A, the cutter 8 is moved leftward with respect to the medium 2, starting from the piercing portion SP2A, and the medium 2 is cut in the left-right direction from the piercing portion SP2A to the left end surface of the medium 2 (see fig. 17 (B)). Specifically, in the traverse step ST10A, the cutter unit 9 is moved leftward to cut the medium 2 while the upstream medium 2c is stopped. In the traverse step ST10A, the tool holder 31 is in a rotation-restricted state. Therefore, the cutter 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32. In the traverse step ST9A, ST a, the cutter unit 9 may be reciprocated in the left-right direction in order to cut the medium 2 reliably. In this case, the cutter unit 9 may be reciprocally moved a plurality of times in the left-right direction.

The piercing step ST5A corresponds to the 1 ST piercing step. The chamfering process ST6A corresponds to the 1 ST chamfering process. The piercing step ST7A corresponds to the 2 nd piercing step. The chamfering process ST8A corresponds to the 2 nd chamfering process. The cutting process ST10A corresponds to the 1 ST cutting process and is performed after the 1 ST chamfering process and the 2 nd chamfering process. The cutting process ST9A corresponds to the 2 nd cutting process, and is performed after the 1 ST cutting process and the 2 nd cutting process and before the 1 ST cutting process. The puncture site SP2A corresponds to the 1 st puncture site. The piercing point SP3 corresponds to the 2 nd piercing point.

The piercing step ST5A, the chamfering step ST6A, the piercing step ST7A, the chamfering step ST8A, and the cross cutting step ST9A, ST a constitute a convex cutting step ST12A. In the convex cutting step ST12A, after the medium conveying step ST4A, the cutter 8 is moved in the left-right direction and conveys the medium 2, and the medium 2 is cut over the entire area in the left-right direction. When the convex cutting process ST12A is completed, the medium 2 is separated at the cutting position of the medium 2 in the convex cutting process ST12A. When the portion of the medium 2 (upstream side medium 2 c) disposed upstream of the cutting position in the conveying direction in the medium 2 (upstream side medium 2 c) in the convex cutting step ST12A is the upstream side medium 2c1, the end face of the upstream side medium 2c1 downstream in the conveying direction is in a convex shape having a trapezoid shape. In the following description, the end face of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the conveying direction when the convex cutting step ST12A is completed is referred to as the 2 nd end face 2m. The upstream side medium 2c1 corresponds to the 1 st upstream side medium.

As shown in fig. 17 (C), the 2 nd end face 2m is constituted by 3 end faces 2p, 2q, 2r parallel to the left-right direction, a linear end face 2s inclined so as to go to the downstream side in the conveying direction as going to the right side, and a linear end face 2t inclined so as to go to the downstream side in the conveying direction as going to the left side. The end face 2p constitutes a center portion in the left-right direction of the 2 nd end face 2 m. The end face 2q constitutes the left end portion of the 2 nd end face 2 m. The end face 2r constitutes the right end portion of the 2 nd end face 2 m. One end of the end face 2s is connected to the left end of the end face 2p, and the other end of the end face 2s is connected to the right end of the end face 2 q. One end of the end face 2t is connected to the right end of the end face 2p, and the other end of the end face 2t is connected to the left end of the end face 2 r.

As shown in fig. 17 (C), the cutting angle of the medium 2 with respect to the end face 2p (i.e., the inclination angle of the end face 2s with respect to the end face 2 p) in the chamfering step ST6A is set to θ3. In the beveling step ST8A, the cutting angle of the medium 2 with respect to the end face 2p (i.e., the inclination angle of the end face 2t with respect to the end face 2 p) is set to θ4. The cutting angles θ3 and θ4 are equal angles. Therefore, the 2 nd end surface 2m has an isosceles trapezoid shape. The cutting angle theta 3 and theta 4 is set to 7 DEG to 13 deg. More specifically, the cutting angles θ1 and θ2 are preferably set to 8 ° to 12 °. In the present embodiment, the case where the cutting angles θ1, θ2 are set to 10 ° is exemplified.

The cutting angles θ3 and θ4 are constant regardless of the width of the cut medium 2. That is, even if the width dimension of the cut medium 2 is changed, the cutting angles θ3, θ4 are still 10 °. For example, when the width dimension of the cut medium 2 is 1600mm, the cutting angles θ3 and θ4 are also 10 °, and when the width dimension of the cut medium 2 is 1000mm, the cutting angles θ3 and θ4 are also 10 °. The puncture site SP2A and the puncture site SP3A are formed at the same position in the medium conveyance direction, and the distance from the left end surface of the upstream medium 2c to the puncture site SP2 is equal to the distance from the right end surface of the upstream medium 2c to the puncture site SP 3. Therefore, the end face 2s and the end face 2t are formed to be bilaterally symmetrical.

As shown in fig. 17 (a), the 1 st medium guide 15 and the 2 nd medium guide 16 are disposed at the same position in the medium conveying direction. The downstream end 15a of the 1 st medium guide 15 in the conveying direction and the downstream end 16a of the 2 nd medium guide 16 in the conveying direction are disposed upstream of the cutter position CP in the conveying direction. That is, the downstream end 15a in the conveying direction of the 1 st medium guide 15 and the downstream end 16a in the conveying direction of the 2 nd medium guide 16 are disposed upstream of the edge of the cutter 8 in the conveying direction.

The 1 ST medium guide 15 has an upstream end 15b in the conveying direction disposed upstream of the puncture site SP2A at the completion of the chamfering step ST 6A. The upstream end 16b of the 2 nd medium guide 16 in the conveying direction is disposed upstream of the puncture site SP3A at the completion of the chamfering step ST 8A.

The cutting angle θ3 is set so that the puncture site SP2 at the completion of the chamfering step ST6 is located downstream in the conveying direction from the upstream end 15b of the 1 ST medium guide 15 in the conveying direction. The cutting angle θ4 is set so that the puncture site SP3 at the completion of the chamfering step ST8A is located downstream in the conveyance direction from the upstream end 16b of the 2 nd medium guide 16 in the conveyance direction.

The 2 nd end face 2m of the upstream side medium 2c1 after the cutting of the medium 2 before the replacement of the medium 2 is formed in a convex shape having a trapezoid shape. Therefore, in the case of being temporarily detached from the printing apparatus 1A and then mounted again to the printing apparatus 1A, the area around the end face 2p in the upstream side medium 2c1 is fixed to the paper tube 26.

As described above, the medium 2 is in contact with the carriage 7 due to the tendency of curling of the medium 2, and the shape of the cut portion of the medium 2 may be unstable (see the two-dot chain line in fig. 13).

In modification 1, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount in consideration of the region in which the medium tends to curl in the medium conveying step ST 4A. Specifically, in the medium conveying step ST4A, the medium 2 is conveyed to a position where a predetermined distance L is formed between the 1 ST end face 2d, which is the downstream end in the conveying direction of the upstream medium 2c, and the end face 2p, which is the downstream end in the conveying direction of the upstream medium 2c1 (see fig. 17 (B)). That is, in the medium conveying step ST4, the medium 2 is conveyed so that a predetermined distance L is formed between the downstream end in the conveying direction of the medium 2 and the downstream end in the conveying direction of the upstream medium 2e before the convex cutting step ST 12.

As shown in fig. 13, the interval L is a distance up to the following point: the maximum distance D1 in the up-down direction between the portion of the medium 2 disposed on the lower side of the head 6 in the convex cutting step ST12A and the upper surface of the platen 18 (the distance in the up-down direction between the highest portion of the medium 2 disposed on the lower side of the head 6 in the convex cutting step ST12 and the upper surface of the platen 18) is smaller than the distance D2 in the up-down direction between the lower end surface of the head 6 and the upper surface of the platen 18 (the head gap) D2 (D1 < D2).

Thus, even if the medium 2 has a tendency to curl, the maximum distance D1 will be smaller than the distance D2. In this embodiment, the interval L is set to 100mm. In the medium conveying step ST4A, if a space L of 100mm is formed between the 1 ST end face 2d and the end face 2p, even if the medium 2 tends to curl, the contact between the medium 2 and the lower end face of the head 6 can be reduced. The conveying distance of the medium 2 in the medium conveying process ST4A is constant regardless of whether the medium 2 has a tendency to curl. In the medium conveying step ST4, the conveying distance of the medium 2 is constant regardless of the strength of the curl tendency of the medium 2. The distance D2 is set to about 2 mm.

The linear cutting step ST11A, the medium conveying step ST4A, and the convex cutting step ST12A are automatically and continuously performed. In the printing apparatus 1A, a control program for continuously executing the linear cutting step ST11A, the medium conveying step ST4A, and the convex cutting step ST12A is stored in the control unit 14. Based on the control program, the control unit 14 continuously executes these steps. For example, when the operator of the printing apparatus 1 presses a predetermined operation button when the medium 2 needs to be replaced, the control unit 14 continuously executes these steps. That is, when the operator presses the operation button, the control unit 14 sequentially executes the linear cutting step ST11, the medium conveying step ST4, and the convex cutting step ST12.

In the medium cutting method of modification 1, the step of performing the linear cutting step ST11A constitutes a linear cutting step. In the linear cutting step, the medium 2 is cut over the entire area in the left-right direction by moving the cutter 8 in the left-right direction by the carriage driving mechanism 11 in a state where the medium 2 is stopped. The step of performing the medium conveying step ST4A constitutes a medium conveying step. In the medium conveying step, after the linear cutting step, the medium 2 is conveyed by a predetermined amount to the downstream side in the conveying direction by the medium conveying mechanism 10. In the medium conveying step, the medium 2 is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval L is formed between the 1 st end face 2d and the end face 2 p. The step of performing the convex cutting step ST12A constitutes a convex cutting step. In the convex cutting step, after the medium conveying step, the cutter 8 is moved in the left-right direction by the carriage driving mechanism 11 and the medium 2 is conveyed by the medium conveying mechanism 10, and the medium 2 is cut over the entire area in the left-right direction.

In the medium cutting method according to modification 1, in the medium conveying step ST4A, which is subsequent to the linear cutting step ST11A and is preceding with the convex cutting step ST12A, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction to a position where a predetermined distance L is formed between the downstream end in the conveying direction of the upstream medium 2c and the downstream end in the conveying direction of the upstream medium 2c1, and in the linear cutting step ST11A, the medium 2 is cut over the entire area in the left-right direction so that the 1 ST end face 2d of the upstream medium 2c becomes linear parallel to the left-right direction, and in the convex cutting step ST12A, the medium 2 is cut over the entire area in the left-right direction so that the 2 nd end face 2m of the upstream medium 2c1 becomes trapezoidal convex.

Therefore, the distance between the 1 ST end surface 2d of the upstream medium 2c and the cutter unit 9 in the medium conveyance direction can be extended before the convex cutting step ST12 is performed. Therefore, even if the curl tendency of the medium 2 is strong, the medium 2 at the position where the cutter unit 9 is arranged in the medium conveying direction can be reduced from floating from the platen 18 when the convex cutting step ST12A is performed. As a result, even if the medium 2 has a strong tendency to curl, the medium 2 can be cut straight parallel to the left-right direction over the entire area in the left-right direction before the medium 2 is replaced, and then one end portion of the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction can be cut appropriately so that the end surface of the medium 2 has a trapezoidal convex shape.

In the medium conveying step ST4A, the medium 2 is conveyed to the following positions: the maximum distance D1 in the up-down direction between the portion of the medium 2 disposed on the lower side of the head 6 and the upper surface of the platen 18 in the convex cutting step ST12A is smaller than the distance D2 in the up-down direction between the lower end surface of the head 6 and the upper surface of the platen 18. Therefore, even if the medium 2 has a strong tendency to curl, contact between the head 6 moving in the lateral direction and the medium 2 can be reduced when the convex cutting step ST12A is performed. Therefore, even if the medium 2 has a strong tendency to curl, the one end portion of the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction can be reliably cut so that the end surface of the medium 2 becomes a trapezoid-shaped convex shape, and contact between the medium 2 and the head 6 can be reduced.

In the medium conveying step ST4A, if the medium 2 is not conveyed downstream in the conveying direction to a position where the gap L is formed between the downstream end in the conveying direction of the upstream medium 2c and the downstream end in the conveying direction of the upstream medium 2c1, the medium 2 having a strong tendency to curl may float up from the platen 18 to a large extent. If the medium 2 having a strong tendency to curl floats up from the platen 18 to a large extent, for example, as shown by a two-dot chain line in fig. 13, the maximum distance D1 in the up-down direction between the medium 2 and the upper surface of the platen 18 becomes larger than the distance D2, and the head 6 and the carriage 7 come into contact with the medium 2 in the convex cutting step ST 12A.

The traverse step ST9A, ST a is performed after the chamfering step ST6A, ST a, and at the time of completion of the chamfering step ST6A, ST a, the medium 2 is not completely cut in the left-right direction, but the medium 2 on the upstream side in the conveying direction is connected to both sides of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction in the left-right direction. Therefore, in the process of performing the chamfering step ST8A, it is possible to reduce the occurrence of breakage of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction due to the gravity acting on the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction.

The cross cutting step ST9A is performed before the cross cutting step ST 10A. In this case, during the traverse step ST10A, the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction may be broken and dropped due to gravity acting on the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction. However, even if the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction breaks and falls during the traverse step ST10A, the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction that breaks and falls down while moving to the left. Thus, contact between the head 6 disposed on the right side of the cutter unit 9 and the medium 2 broken and dropped downstream in the conveying direction can be reduced. As a result, contact between the medium 2 and the head 6 on the downstream side in the conveyance direction, which breaks and falls, can be reduced.

The 1 ST medium guide 15 has an upstream end 15b in the conveying direction disposed upstream of the puncture site SP2A at the completion of the chamfering step ST 6A. Therefore, when the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction after the chamfering step ST6A and before the piercing step ST7A, the medium 2 can be less likely to be caught by the upstream end 15b in the conveying direction of the 1 ST medium guide 15 at the portion cut in the chamfering step ST 6A. Similarly, the upstream end 16b of the 2 nd medium guide 16 in the conveying direction is disposed upstream of the puncture site SP3A at the completion of the chamfering step ST 8A. Therefore, when the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction after the chamfering step ST8A and before the traverse step ST9A, the medium 2 can be less likely to be caught by the upstream end 16b in the conveying direction of the 2 nd medium guide 16 at the portion of the medium 2 cut in the chamfering step ST 8A.

The conveyance amount of the medium 2 to the upstream side in the conveyance direction in the chamfering step ST6A is equal to the conveyance amount of the medium 2 to the upstream side in the conveyance direction in the chamfering step ST 8A. Therefore, when the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction after the chamfering step ST8A and before the traverse step ST9, the medium 2 can be less likely to be caught by the upstream end 15b in the conveying direction of the 1 ST medium guide 15 at the portion cut in the chamfering step ST 6. Thus, the medium 2 can be appropriately conveyed.

The cutting angles θ3 and θ4 of the medium 2 in the left-right direction in the chamfering step ST6A, ST a are constant regardless of the width of the cut medium 2. Therefore, in the chamfering step ST6A, ST a, the rotation angle of the tool holder 31 with respect to the unit frame 32 is constant regardless of the width of the cut medium 2. In this way, in the chamfering step ST6A, ST a, the excessive rotation of the tool holder 31 with respect to the unit frame 32 can be reduced.

Modification 2

Fig. 18 is a flowchart for explaining the cutting step of the medium 2 according to modification 2. In modification 2, a case where the printing apparatus 1A of modification 1 is used to cut the medium 2 will be described as an example.

In the medium cutting method according to modification 2, a linear cutting step ST11A (see fig. 14) is performed on the medium 2 before replacement, and a convex cutting step ST12A is performed on the other medium 2' after replacement. When the linear cutting step ST11A (see fig. 14) of the medium 2 before replacement is completed, the medium 2 is detached from the printing apparatus 1A. The end surface of the medium 2 temporarily detached from the printing apparatus 1A on the downstream side in the conveying direction is linear parallel to the left-right direction. In the following description, a case where the medium 2 temporarily detached from the printing apparatus 1A is attached again will be described as an example. In addition, a new medium 2' may be attached to the printing apparatus 1A. In addition, the end face of the new medium 2' on the downstream side in the conveying direction is also linear parallel to the left-right direction.

As shown in fig. 18, the cutting method of the medium 2 according to modification 2 includes: a medium mounting step ST21 in which the medium 2 wound in a roll shape is mounted on the medium feeding mechanism 12; a medium conveying step ST24 of conveying the medium 2 downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the medium mounting step ST21 in the medium conveying step ST 24; and a convex cutting step ST12A in which, after the medium conveying step ST24, the cutter 8 is moved in the left-right direction and conveys the medium 2, and the medium 2 is cut over the entire area in the left-right direction in the convex cutting step ST 12A. In modification 2, the cutting step of the medium 2 performed on the medium 2 after replacement is composed of a medium mounting step ST21, a medium conveying step ST24, and a convex cutting step ST 12A.

In the medium mounting step ST21, the feed roller 23 is mounted on the medium feed mechanism 12, and the end portion of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is sandwiched between the conveying roller 19 and the backup roller 20. In the medium conveying step ST24, the medium 2 is conveyed to a position where a predetermined distance L is formed between the conveyance direction downstream side end of the medium 2 and the conveyance direction downstream side end of the upstream side medium 2c1 (see fig. 17) before the convex cutting step ST 12A. Specifically, in the medium conveying step ST24, the medium 2 is conveyed to a position where the maximum distance D1 is smaller than the distance D2 (see fig. 13) even if the medium 2 has a tendency to curl. In the convex cutting step ST12B, the medium 2 is cut over the entire area in the left-right direction so that the 2 nd end surface 2m of the upstream medium 2c1 becomes a trapezoid-shaped convex shape.

When the convex cutting step ST12A is completed, the medium 2 is conveyed by a predetermined amount to the downstream side in the conveying direction. Then, the operator fixes the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction to the paper tube 26 with the tape 27. After that, printing of the medium 2 is performed. That is, the printing of the medium 2 by the printing mechanism 3 is not performed after the medium conveying step ST24 and before the convex cutting step ST12A, but the printing of the medium 2 by the printing mechanism 3 is performed after the convex cutting step ST 12A.

After the printing is completed, a linear cutting step ST11A (see fig. 14) is performed on the medium 2, and in this linear cutting step ST11A, the part of the medium 2 upstream of the printed part in the conveying direction is cut.

The medium conveying step ST24 and the convex cutting step ST12 are automatically and continuously performed. The control unit 14 stores a control program for continuously executing the medium conveying step ST24 and the convex cutting step ST12A. The control unit 14 continuously executes these steps based on the control program. For example, after the medium mounting process ST21 is completed, when the operator of the printing apparatus 1A presses a predetermined operation button, the control section 14 continuously executes these processes. That is, when the operator presses the operation button, the control unit 14 sequentially executes the medium conveyance process ST24 and the convex cutting process ST12A.

In the medium cutting method of modification 2, the step of performing the medium conveying step ST24 constitutes a medium conveying step. In the medium conveying step, after the medium 2 wound in a roll shape is attached to the medium feeding mechanism 12, the medium 2 is conveyed by the medium conveying mechanism 10 to the downstream side in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount. Then, in the medium conveying step, the medium 2 is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval L is formed between the conveyance-direction downstream side end of the medium 2 and the conveyance-direction downstream side end of the upstream-side medium 2c 1. The step of performing the convex cutting step ST12A constitutes a convex cutting step. In the convex cutting step, after the medium conveying step, the cutter 8 is moved in the left-right direction by the carriage driving mechanism 11 and the medium 2 is conveyed by the medium conveying mechanism 10, and the medium 2 is cut over the entire area in the left-right direction. The printing of the medium 2 by the printing mechanism 3 is not performed after the medium conveying step and before the convex cutting step, but the printing of the medium 2 by the printing mechanism 3 is performed after the convex cutting step.

This can lengthen the distance in the medium conveyance direction between the downstream end of the medium 2 in the conveyance direction and the cutter unit 9 before the convex cutting step ST12A is performed. Therefore, even if the curl tendency of the medium 2 is strong, the medium 2 at the position where the cutter unit 9 is arranged in the medium conveying direction can be reduced from floating from the platen 18 when the convex cutting step ST12A is performed. As a result, even if the medium 2 has a strong tendency to curl, after the medium 2 is replaced, one end portion of the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction can be cut appropriately so that the end surface of the medium 2 becomes a convex shape having a trapezoid shape.

Modification 3

Fig. 19 is a flowchart illustrating a cutting step of the medium 2 according to modification 3.

Fig. 20 is a diagram for explaining a cutting method of the medium 2 cut in the cutting step of the medium 2 shown in fig. 19.

Fig. 21 is a diagram illustrating a connection method for connecting the paper tube 26 to the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction using the downstream side medium 2t formed by cutting in the cutting step of the medium 2 shown in fig. 19.

In the medium cutting method according to modification 3, a 2nd linear cutting step ST41 and a 2nd medium conveying step ST44 are performed on the medium 2 before replacement, and in this 2nd linear cutting step ST41, the cutter 8 is moved in the left-right direction while the medium 2 is stopped, and the medium 2 is cut over the entire area in the left-right direction, and in this 2nd medium conveying step ST44, after the 2nd linear cutting step ST41, the medium 2 is conveyed by a predetermined amount to the downstream side in the conveying direction. As shown in fig. 19, the 2nd linear cutting step ST41 and the 2nd medium conveying step ST44 are performed before the linear cutting step ST 11A. That is, the linear cutting step ST11A is performed after the 2nd medium conveying step ST 44.

The 2 nd linear cutting step ST41 is constituted by a piercing step ST31 corresponding to the piercing step ST1A (see fig. 14), a cross cutting step ST32 corresponding to the cross cutting step ST2A (see fig. 14), and a cross cutting step ST33 corresponding to the cross cutting step ST3A (see fig. 14).

In the piercing step ST31, the cutter 8 is pierced at an intermediate position in the lateral direction of the medium 2 (see fig. 20 a). In the traverse step ST32, the cutter 8 is moved leftward to the left end surface of the medium 2 with the piercing portion SP11, which is the portion pierced by the cutter 8 in the piercing step ST31, as a starting point, thereby cutting the medium 2 (see fig. 20 a). In the traverse step ST33, the cutter 8 is moved rightward to the right end surface of the medium 2 with the piercing portion SP11 as a starting point, and the medium 2 is cut (see fig. 20B).

When the 2 nd straight cutting process ST41 is completed, the medium 2 is separated at the cutting position of the medium 2 in the 2 nd straight cutting process ST 41. When the portion of the medium 2 disposed upstream of the cutting position of the medium 2 in the 2 nd linear cutting step ST41 in the conveying direction is the upstream medium 2c2, the end surface of the upstream medium 2c2 downstream in the conveying direction is linear parallel to the left-right direction. In the printing apparatus 1A, printing of the medium 2 by the head 6 is performed before the 2 nd linear cutting step ST 41. In the 2 nd linear cutting step ST41, a portion of the medium 2 on the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the portion on which printing is performed (i.e., the printing unit 2 a) is cut.

In the 2 nd medium conveying step ST44, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the 2 nd linear cutting step ST 41. Specifically, in the 2 nd medium conveying step ST44, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction to a position where a predetermined distance L1 is formed between the end face of the upstream medium 2c2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction and the 1 ST end face 2d of the upstream medium 2 c. For example, in the 2 nd medium conveying step ST44, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction to a position where a gap L1 of 30mm to 100mm is formed between the end face of the upstream medium 2c2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction and the 1 ST end face 2 d.

That is, when the downstream side medium 2v is the portion of the medium 2 disposed downstream of the cutting position in the linear cutting step ST11A to be performed later, the 2 nd medium conveying step ST44 conveys the medium 2 downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount so as to form the belt-like downstream side medium 2v having a predetermined width of about 30mm to 100mm when the linear cutting step ST11A is completed. The width of the medium 2 is, for example, about 1000mm to 1600 mm.

In the subsequent linear cutting step ST11A, the medium 2 is cut. Specifically, first, in the piercing step ST1A, the cutter 8 is pierced at a piercing portion SP1A between both end portions in the left-right direction of the medium 2. In the traverse step ST2A, the cutter 8 is moved to the left side to the left end surface of the medium 2 with the piercing portion SP1A as a starting point, thereby cutting the medium 2 (see fig. 20C). Then, in the traverse step ST3A, the cutter 8 is moved rightward to the right end surface of the medium 2 with the piercing portion SP1A as a starting point, thereby cutting the medium 2 (see fig. 20D). When the linear cutting step ST11A is completed, the downstream side medium 2v is formed. The downstream side medium 2v is formed in a belt shape.

In modification 3, instead of the adhesive tape 27, a tape-shaped downstream medium 2v is used to connect the end of the replaced medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction to the paper tube 26.

Specifically, as shown in fig. 21, a straight line along the longitudinal direction of the belt-like downstream medium 2v is oriented along the conveying direction. Then, both ends 2w, 2w in the longitudinal direction of the downstream side medium 2 are fixed to the medium 2 and the paper tube 26 by adhesive tapes (not shown), respectively.

The medium winding mechanism 13 is disposed below the printing mechanism 3. Here, the longer the distance between the printing mechanism 3 and the paper tube 26 in the medium conveyance direction is, the greater the medium 2 needs to be pulled out in order to connect to the paper tube 26. Since the medium 2 pulled out for connection with the paper tube 26 is not printed, the medium 2 is worn out.

Then, as shown in modification 3, the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is connected to the paper tube 26 using the belt-shaped downstream side medium 2 v. Thus, even if the distance between the printing mechanism 3 and the paper tube 26 is long, the medium 2 itself does not need to be pulled out to a large extent, and loss can be reduced.

In the modification 2 (see fig. 18), the cutting method of the medium 2 for cutting the medium 2 before replacement may include the 2 nd linear cutting step ST41 and the 2 nd medium conveying step ST44, as in the modification 3. Specifically, the 2 nd linear cutting step ST41 and the 2 nd medium conveying step ST44 are performed before the linear cutting step ST11A performed after the printing is completed. In the modification 2 described above, a belt-like portion corresponding to the downstream medium 2v may be formed after the medium mounting step ST21 and before the medium conveying step ST 24. In this case, the cutting method of the medium 2 for cutting the medium 2 after replacement includes a cutting step of cutting the medium 2 by moving the cutter 8 in the left-right direction while stopping the medium 2, so as to cut the whole area in the left-right direction.

The medium end connection method described in modification 3 above is described below.

The medium end connection method is a method of connecting an end of a medium on a downstream side in a conveying direction to a paper tube in a medium cutting device, and the medium cutting device includes: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting the elongated medium; a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the medium and a thickness direction of the medium, wherein the medium cutting device includes a medium winding mechanism that rotates a winding paper tube connected to an end of the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction when an upstream side in the conveying direction of the medium conveyed by the medium conveying mechanism is the upstream side in the conveying direction and a downstream side in the conveying direction of the medium is the downstream side in the conveying direction, and winds the medium around the paper tube.

The medium end connection method comprises the following steps:

A cutting step of cutting the medium over an entire area in a width direction of the medium to form a belt-like portion having a predetermined width in a conveying direction of the medium; and

And a connecting step of fixing one end portion of the belt-shaped portion in the longitudinal direction to an end portion of the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction, fixing the other end portion of the belt-shaped portion in the longitudinal direction to the paper tube, and connecting the end portion of the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction to the paper tube.

If the end portion of the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is connected to the paper tube by the medium end portion connecting method, for example, even if the distance between the processing means for performing predetermined processing on the medium, such as a printing means for performing printing processing on the medium, and the paper tube in the conveying direction of the medium is long, the end portion of the medium disposed in the vicinity of the processing means on the downstream side in the conveying direction can be connected to the paper tube by the belt portion, and therefore, the processing of the medium can be performed with less loss by the processing means. Therefore, even if the distance between the processing mechanism and the paper tube in the conveyance direction of the medium is long, the loss of the medium can be reduced. In this medium end connection method, the convex cutting step ST12A may not be performed.

As shown in fig. 19, in modification 3, the cutting step of cutting the medium 2 in the entire region in the width direction (left-right direction) of the medium 2 to form a belt-like portion (i.e., downstream side medium 2 v) having a predetermined width in the medium conveying direction is constituted by the 2 nd linear cutting step ST41, the 2 nd medium conveying step ST44, and the linear cutting step ST 11A. In modification 3, the step of fixing the downstream side medium end 2w to the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction, fixing the other downstream side medium end 2w to the paper tube 26, and connecting the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction to the paper tube 26 is a connecting step of fixing one end of the belt-shaped portion in the longitudinal direction to the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction, and fixing the other end of the belt-shaped portion in the longitudinal direction to the paper tube 26, and connecting the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction to the paper tube 26. Instead of the belt-shaped portion (downstream side medium 2 v), an end portion of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction may be connected to the paper tube 26 using an elongated belt-shaped adhesive tape or the like.

Modification 4

Fig. 22 is a flowchart illustrating the convex cutting step ST12B of modification 4.

Fig. 23 and 24 are diagrams for explaining the convex cutting step ST12B shown in fig. 22.

Here, in the cutting method shown in modification 1 (fig. 14), when the curl tendency of the medium 2 is stronger, the degree of floating of the portion of the upstream side medium 2c1 on the downstream side in the conveying direction may be large even after the traverse step ST9A and before the traverse step ST10A is performed. Then, after the traverse step ST9A, the cutter unit 9 mounted on the carriage 7 that moves to the left to perform the traverse step ST10A may come into contact with the upstream medium 2c1, thereby interfering with the movement of the carriage 7.

Then, in the convex cutting step ST12B of modification 4, the cutter retreat step ST51, the 3 rd medium conveying step ST52, the carriage moving step ST53, the 4 th medium conveying step ST54, and the cutter arrangement step ST55 are sequentially performed.

In the cutter retraction step ST51, after the traverse step ST9A, the cutter 8 disposed at a cuttable position (lowered position) where the cutter 8 can cut the medium 2 is moved to a retracted position (raised position) where the cutter 8 does not contact the medium 2.

In the 3 rd medium conveying step ST52, after the traverse step ST9A, the medium 2 is conveyed by a predetermined amount to the downstream side in the conveying direction (see fig. 23 (B)).

In the carriage moving step ST53, the carriage 7 is moved leftward until the edge of the cutter 8 is disposed at the same position as the piercing portion SP2A in the lateral direction (see fig. 24 a).

In the 4 th medium conveying step ST54, as shown in fig. 24 (B), the medium 2 is conveyed upstream in the conveying direction until the edge of the cutter 8 is disposed at the same position as the puncture site SP2A in the medium conveying direction (see fig. 24 (B)).

In the cutter disposing step ST55, the cutter 8 disposed at the retracted position is moved to the cuttable position.

In this case, the cutting process ST10A is performed after the tool arrangement process ST 55. When the traverse step ST9A ends, the carriage 7 is disposed at the position shown in fig. 23 (a), for example. The tool retracting step ST51 may be performed after the 3 rd medium conveying step ST 52.

In the 3 rd medium conveying step ST52, the medium 2 is conveyed by a predetermined amount toward the downstream side in the conveying direction. Specifically, in the 3 rd medium conveying step ST52, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction to a position where: even if the curl tendency of the medium 2 is strong, and the degree of floating of the portion of the upstream side medium 2e downstream in the conveying direction is large after the traverse step ST9A, the cutter unit 9 moved leftward in the carriage moving step ST53 does not come into contact with the portion of the upstream side medium 2c1 downstream in the conveying direction. For example, in the 3 rd medium conveying step ST52, the medium 2 is conveyed by 80mm toward the downstream side in the conveying direction. In the 4 th medium conveying step ST54, the medium 2 is conveyed toward the upstream side in the conveying direction by the same amount as the conveying amount of the medium 2 in the 3 rd medium conveying step ST 52.

When the ultraviolet radiation unit 29 is mounted on the left end portion of the carriage 7, if the tendency of curling of the medium 2 is strong and the degree of floating of the downstream side portion of the upstream side medium 2c1 in the conveying direction is large after the traverse step ST9A, the ultraviolet radiation unit 29 moving leftward in the carriage moving step ST53 is more likely to come into contact with the downstream side portion of the upstream side medium 2c1 in the conveying direction, and in this case, the medium 2 is conveyed to a position where the ultraviolet radiation unit 29 moving leftward in the carriage moving step ST53 does not come into contact with the downstream side portion of the upstream side medium 2c1 in the conveying direction in the 3rd medium conveying step ST 52.

In modification 4, in the 3 rd medium conveying step ST52, the medium 2 is conveyed by a predetermined amount to the downstream side in the conveying direction, and then, in the carriage moving step ST53, the carriage 7 is moved to the left, so that even if the curl tendency of the medium 2 is stronger, the carriage 7 can be moved to the left to perform the traverse step ST10A without being obstructed after the traverse step ST 9A.

Modification 5

Fig. 25 is a flowchart illustrating a cutting method of the medium 2 according to modification 5.

Fig. 26 is a diagram for explaining a cutting method of the medium 2 shown in fig. 25.

In the medium cutting method according to modification 5, the cutting method of the medium 2 includes a standby position moving step ST61, and in the standby position moving step ST61, the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 are moved to the standby position after the convex cutting steps ST12A and 12B. That is, after the traverse step ST10A, the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 may be moved to the standby position. When the traverse step ST10A is completed, the cutter 8 is disposed on the left side of the medium 2 (see fig. 26 a). The carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 disposed at the standby position are disposed on the right side of the medium 2.

In the standby position moving step ST61, after the traverse step ST10A, the cutter 8 may be moved to the retracted position where the cutter 8 does not contact the medium 2, and then the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 may be moved to the standby position to the right while maintaining the state. However, at the end of the traverse step ST10A, the left end portion of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the conveying direction may be curled up. Therefore, when the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 are moved to the right side to the standby position while maintaining the state after the cutter 8 is moved to the retracted position after the end of the traverse step ST10A, the cutter unit 9 may come into contact with the curled portion of the left end portion of the upstream medium 2e, thereby interfering with the movement of the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9.

Then, in modification 5, the standby position moving step ST61 includes: a cutter retraction step ST62, in which the cutter 8 disposed at the cuttable position is moved to the retracted position after the traverse step ST10A in the cutter retraction step ST 62; a5 th medium conveying step ST63 in which, after the traverse step ST10, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount as shown in fig. 26 (B) in the 5 th medium conveying step ST 63; and a cutter unit moving step ST64A of moving the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 to the standby position as shown in fig. 26 (C) after the cutter retracting step ST62 and the 5 th medium conveying step ST63 in the cutter unit moving step ST 64A. The tool retracting step ST62 is performed, for example, before the 5 th medium conveying step ST 63. The tool retracting step ST62 may be performed after the 5 th medium conveying step ST 63.

In the 5 th medium conveying step ST63, the medium 2 is conveyed by a predetermined amount toward the downstream side in the conveying direction. Specifically, in the 5 th medium conveying step ST63, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction to a position where: even if the left end portion of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the conveying direction is rolled up, the cutter unit 9 moved to the right side in the cutter unit moving step ST64 does not come into contact with the rolled up portion of the left end portion of the upstream medium 2 e. In this modification, even if the left end side of the upstream medium 2e is rolled up, the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 that move to the standby position can be moved without any obstacle after the convex cutting steps ST12A and 12B.

The medium cutting method of the present invention is not limited to the above-described modifications 1 to 5. For example, the piercing step ST5A and the chamfering step ST6A may be performed after the piercing step ST7A and the chamfering step ST8A are performed. In addition, the medium 2 may be cut linearly with the self-piercing portion SP2A facing obliquely right in the chamfering step ST6A, and the medium 2 may be cut linearly with the self-piercing portion SP3A facing obliquely left in the chamfering step ST8A, and then the medium 2 may be cut linearly with the self-piercing portion SP3A facing obliquely left (i.e., parallel to the left-right direction) until the right end of the cutting position in the chamfering step ST6A.

In the beveling step ST6, the self-piercing portion SP2A may cut the medium 2 in a straight line toward the right side, and in the beveling step ST8, the self-piercing portion SP3A may cut the medium 2 in a straight line toward the left side up to the right end of the cutting position in the beveling step ST 6. In this case, the 2 nd end surface 2m, which is the end surface of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the conveying direction, is formed in a triangular convex shape (specifically, in a convex shape of an isosceles triangle). That is, the 2 nd end face 2m in this case does not form the end face 2p, but the right end of the end face 2s is connected to the left end of the end face 2 t.

The cutting angle θ3 and the cutting angle θ4 may also be different. The puncture site SP2A and the puncture site SP3A may be offset in the medium conveyance direction, and the distance from the left end surface of the medium 2 to the puncture site SP2A in the left-right direction may be different from the distance from the right end surface of the medium 2 to the puncture site SP3A in the left-right direction. The cutting angles θ3 and θ4 may be changed according to the width of the cut medium 2. For example, the cutting angles θ3, θ4 may be changed according to the width of the cut medium 2 so that the distance between the end surfaces 2q, 2r and 2p in the medium conveyance direction is constant regardless of the width of the cut medium 2.

The cross cutting step ST10A may be performed before the cross cutting step ST 9A. In this case, the convex cutting step ST12A, B may include: a cutter retracting step of moving the cutter 8 arranged at the cuttable position to the retracted position after the traverse step ST 10A; a 3 rd medium conveying step of conveying the medium 2 downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the traverse step ST 10A; a carriage moving step of moving the carriage 7 rightward until the edge of the cutter 8 is disposed at the same position as the piercing portion SP3A in the left-right direction after the cutter retracting step and the 3 rd medium conveying step; a4 th medium conveying step of conveying the medium 2 to the edge of the cutter 8 upstream in the conveying direction after the carriage moving step, the edge being disposed at the same position as the piercing portion SP3 in the medium conveying direction; and a cutter arrangement step of moving the cutter 8 arranged at the retracted position to the cuttable position after the 4 th medium conveyance step. In this case, the traverse step ST9A is performed after the cutter arrangement step.

In this case, in the 3 rd medium conveying step, the medium 2 is conveyed to the downstream side in the conveying direction to a position where: even if the curl tendency of the medium 2 is strong, and the degree of floating of the portion of the upstream side medium 2e downstream in the conveying direction is large after the traverse step ST9A, the carriage 7 moving rightward in the carriage moving step ST53 does not come into contact with the portion of the upstream side medium 2e downstream in the conveying direction. In this case, even if the medium 2 has a strong tendency to curl, the carriage 7 that moves rightward for the traverse step ST9A can be moved without any obstacle after the traverse step ST 10A.

The cross cutting step ST10A may be performed before the chamfering step ST6A, or the cross cutting step ST9A may be performed before the chamfering step ST 8A.

The convex cutting step ST12A, B may not include the piercing step ST7A and the traverse step ST9A, ST a. In this case, for example, in the puncturing step ST5A, the cutter 8 is punctured at an intermediate position in the lateral direction of the medium 2, and in the chamfering step ST6A, the medium 2 is cut from the puncture site SP2 to the left end surface of the medium 2. In the beveling step ST8A, the medium 2 is cut from the piercing portion SP2 to the right end surface of the medium 2.

The convex cutting step ST12A, B may not include the piercing steps ST5 and ST7A and the traverse step ST9A, ST a. In this case, for example, in the chamfering step ST6A, the medium 2 is cut from the left end surface of the medium 2 to the middle position in the left-right direction, and in the chamfering step ST8A, the medium 2 is cut from the right end surface of the medium 2 to the right end of the cutting position in the chamfering step ST 6A.

The linear cutting step ST11A, the medium conveying step ST4A, and the convex cutting step ST12A, B may not be automatically and continuously performed. For example, each process may be performed by pressing a predetermined operation button each time by the operator. Further, the operator may perform the respective steps while manually operating the medium conveyance mechanism 10, the carriage driving mechanism 11, the elevating mechanism 33, the switching mechanism 34, and the like. In modification 2, the medium conveying step ST24 and the convex cutting step ST12A may not be automatically and continuously performed.

As described above, the embodiments and the modifications of the present invention are described. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments and modifications. The above-described embodiments and modifications may be arbitrarily combined.

The embodiments of the present invention have been described above, but the above embodiments are merely examples of application examples of the present invention, and the technical scope of the present invention is not limited to the specific configurations of the above embodiments. The present invention can be appropriately modified within the scope of the technical idea of the present invention.

Description of the reference numerals

1. 1A, printing device (medium cutting device); 2. a medium; 2a, a printing part (processing part); 2b, a non-printing section (non-processing section); 2c, upstream side medium (2 nd upstream side medium); 2d, 1 st end face (end face of the 2 nd upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction); 2c1, upstream side medium (1 st upstream side medium); 2m, a2 nd end face (an end face of the 1 st upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction); 2v, downstream side medium; 2w, downstream side media end; 3. printing means (processing means); 6. a head (inkjet head); 7. a carriage; 8. a cutter; 9. a cutter unit; 10. A medium conveying mechanism; 11. carriage drive mechanism (cutter unit drive mechanism); 12. a medium feeding mechanism; 13. a medium winding mechanism; 15. 1 st media guide; 15a, 1 st medium guide downstream side end in conveying direction; 15b, 1 st medium guide upstream side end in conveying direction; 16. a2 nd media guide; 16a, the downstream end of the 2 nd medium guide in the conveying direction; 16b, the upstream side end of the 2 nd medium guide in the conveying direction; 18. a platen; 21. a moving mechanism; 26. a paper tube; 31. a tool holder; 32. a unit frame; 33. lifting mechanisms (cutter moving mechanisms); 34. A switching mechanism; 42. a restriction member; 42A, limit position; 42B, a restriction release position; 43. a solenoid (driving source); d1, maximum distance in up-down direction between the medium and the upper surface of the platen; d2, the distance between the lower end surface of the ink jet head and the upper surface of the platen in the up-down direction; l, interval; SP1, SP1A, puncture site (3 rd puncture site); SP2, SP2A, puncture site (1 st puncture site); SP3, SP3A, puncture site (puncture site 2); ST1, a piercing step (3 rd piercing step); ST2, a transverse cutting step (6 th cutting step); ST3, a transverse cutting step (a 7 th cutting step); ST4, a piercing step (1 ST piercing step); ST5, a transverse cutting step (4 th cutting step); ST6, a chamfering step (1 ST dicing step); ST7, a piercing step (a 2 nd piercing step); ST8, a transverse cutting step (5 th cutting step); ST9, a beveling step (3 rd cutting step); ST11, 2 nd cutting step; ST4A, ST, a medium conveying step; ST5A, piercing step (1 ST piercing step); ST6A, a chamfering step (1 ST chamfering step); ST7A, piercing step (2 nd piercing step); ST8A, a chamfering step (step 2 chamfering step); ST9A, a transverse cutting step (2 nd transverse cutting step); ST10A, a transverse cutting step (1 ST transverse cutting step); ST11A, a linear cutting step; ST12A, 12B, a convex cutting step; ST21, a medium mounting step; ST41, 2 nd linear cutting step; ST44, medium conveyance step 2; ST51, a cutter retracting step; ST52, 3 rd medium conveyance step; ST53, a carriage moving step; ST54, 4 th medium conveying step; ST55, a cutter arrangement step; ST61, a standby position moving step; ST62, a cutter retracting step; ST63, 5 th medium conveying step; ST64, a cutter unit moving step; y, width direction of the medium; y1, the 1 st direction side; y2, the 2 nd direction side; θ1, θ3, cutting angle; θ2, θ4, cutting angle.

Claims (35)

1. A medium cutting method for cutting a long medium in a medium cutting device, the medium cutting device comprising: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting the medium; and a moving mechanism that moves the cutter unit relative to the medium in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to the length direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium, the medium cutting method being characterized in that,

The medium cutting method comprises the following steps:

A1 st puncturing step of puncturing the medium with the cutter so as to penetrate the medium; and

A1 st cutting step of cutting the medium in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium by moving the cutter relatively with respect to the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium and the width direction of the medium, starting from a1 st piercing point which is a point pierced by the cutter in the 1 st piercing step.

2. The method for cutting a medium according to claim 1, wherein,

The medium cutting method includes a 2 nd cutting step of relatively moving the cutter with respect to the medium in a width direction of the medium, cutting the medium over an entire area in the width direction of the medium,

The moving mechanism includes: a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium,

When the upstream side in the transport direction of the medium is the upstream side in the transport direction, the downstream side in the transport direction of the medium is the downstream side in the transport direction, one side in the width direction of the medium is the 1 st direction side, the other side in the width direction of the medium is the 2 nd direction side, a portion of the medium disposed at a position upstream of the cutting position of the medium in the 2 nd cutting step is the upstream side medium, and an end face of the upstream side medium at the downstream side in the transport direction after the 2 nd cutting step is the 1 st end face,

In the 1 st piercing step, the cutter is pierced through the upstream medium,

In the 1 st cutting step, the upstream medium is cut from the 1 st puncture site to the 1 st end surface.

3. The method for cutting off a medium according to claim 2, wherein,

The medium cutting method comprises the following steps:

A2 nd puncturing step of puncturing the cutter through the upstream medium so as to penetrate the upstream medium; and

A 3 rd cutting step of cutting the upstream medium in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium by moving the cutter relatively with respect to the upstream medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium and the width direction of the medium, starting from a2 nd piercing point which is a point pierced by the cutter in the 2 nd piercing step,

The medium cutting device is provided with a medium winding mechanism which rotates a core material for winding and winds the medium around the core material, wherein the end of the medium at the downstream side in the conveying direction is fixed on the core material,

In the 1 st piercing step, the cutter is pierced through an end portion of the upstream medium on the 1 st direction side,

In the 1 st cutting step, the cutter is moved relative to the upstream medium from the 1 st piercing portion to the downstream side in the conveying direction and the 2 nd direction side to the 1 st end face,

In the 2 nd piercing step, the cutter is pierced through an end portion of the upstream medium on the 2 nd direction side,

In the 3 rd cutting step, the cutter is moved to the 1 st end face from the 2 nd puncture portion to the downstream side in the conveying direction and the 1 st direction side with respect to the upstream side medium.

4. A medium cutting method according to claim 3, wherein,

The medium cutting method comprises the following steps:

A 4 th cutting step of moving the cutter toward the 1 st direction side with respect to the upstream side medium with the 1 st penetration portion as a starting point after the 1 st penetration step and before the 1 st cutting step, and cutting the upstream side medium in a width direction of the medium from the 1 st penetration portion to an end surface of the upstream side medium on the 1 st direction side; and

And a5 th cutting step of moving the cutter toward the 2 nd direction side with respect to the upstream side medium with the 2 nd piercing point as a starting point after the 2 nd piercing step and before the 3 rd cutting step, and cutting the upstream side medium in the width direction of the medium from the 2 nd piercing point to an end face of the upstream side medium on the 2 nd direction side.

5. A medium cutting method according to claim 3 or 4, wherein,

The cutter unit includes a cutter holder to which the cutter is fixed and a unit frame rotatably holding the cutter holder,

The cutter holder is capable of rotating with respect to the unit frame with the thickness direction of the medium as an axial direction of rotation,

In the 1 st cutting step and the 3 rd cutting step, the cutter is rotatable with respect to the unit frame,

The cutting angle of the upstream side medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the 1 st cutting step and the cutting angle of the upstream side medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the 3 rd cutting step are both constant regardless of the width of the medium.

6. The method for cutting a medium according to any one of claims 2 to 5, wherein,

The 2 nd cutting step includes: a 3 rd puncturing step of puncturing the medium with the cutter so as to penetrate the medium; a 6 th cutting step of cutting the medium in a width direction of the medium by moving the cutter toward the 1 st direction side with respect to the medium to an end surface of the medium on the 1 st direction side with a 3 rd piercing point, which is a point pierced by the cutter in the 3 rd piercing step, as a starting point; and a 7 th cutting step of moving the cutter with respect to the medium toward the 2 nd direction side to an end surface of the medium on the 2 nd direction side with the 3 rd piercing portion as a starting point, and cutting the medium in a width direction of the medium.

7. A method for controlling a medium cutting device, the medium cutting device comprising: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting the elongated medium; and a moving mechanism that moves the cutter unit relative to the medium in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to the length direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium, the moving mechanism including: a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the cutter unit in the width direction of the medium, wherein the control method of the medium cutting device is characterized in that,

When the upstream side in the transport direction of the medium is the upstream side in the transport direction, the downstream side in the transport direction of the medium is the downstream side in the transport direction, one side in the width direction of the medium is the 1 st direction side, the other side in the width direction of the medium is the 2 nd direction side,

The control method of the medium cutting device comprises the following steps:

A1 st puncturing step of puncturing the cutter at an end portion of the medium on the 1 st direction side so as to penetrate the medium;

A1 st cutting step of cutting the medium in a direction inclined with respect to a width direction of the medium from a1 st piercing point, which is a point pierced by the cutter in the 1 st piercing step, by moving the cutter relatively to the 2 nd direction side on the downstream side in the transport direction with respect to the medium, and cutting the medium from the 1 st piercing point to a1 st end surface, which is an end surface of the medium on the downstream side in the transport direction;

A2 nd puncturing step of puncturing the cutter at an end portion of the medium on the 2 nd direction side so as to penetrate the medium;

A3 rd cutting step of cutting the medium in a direction inclined with respect to a width direction of the medium from the 2 nd piercing point to the 1 st end face by relatively moving the cutter toward the 1 st direction side downstream in the conveying direction with respect to the medium starting from the 2 nd piercing point which is the point pierced by the cutter in the 2 nd piercing step;

A 4 th cutting step of cutting the medium in a width direction of the medium from the 1 st puncture site to an end surface of the medium on the 1 st direction side by moving the cutter toward the 1 st direction side with the 1 st puncture site as a starting point; and

And a 5 th cutting step of moving the cutter toward the 2 nd direction side with respect to the medium with the 2 nd piercing portion as a starting point, and cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium from the 2 nd piercing portion to an end surface of the medium on the 2 nd direction side.

8. The method for controlling a medium cutting device according to claim 7, wherein,

The 4 th cutting step is performed before the 1st cutting step,

The 5 th cutting step is performed before the 3 rd cutting step.

9. A medium cutting device for cutting a long medium, characterized in that,

The medium cutting device is provided with: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting the medium; a moving mechanism that moves the cutter unit relative to the medium in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a length direction of the medium and a thickness direction of the medium; and a control unit for controlling the medium cutting device,

The cutter unit is provided with: a tool holder to which the tool is fixed; a unit frame rotatably holding the tool holder; and a switching mechanism that switches a state of the tool holder between a rotation restricting state in which rotation of the tool holder relative to the unit frame is restricted and a rotatable state in which the tool holder is rotatable relative to the unit frame,

The cutter holder is capable of rotating with respect to the unit frame with the thickness direction of the medium as an axial direction of rotation,

The control section performs cutting of the medium in a traverse mode in which the cutter unit is relatively moved in a width direction of the medium with respect to the medium and cuts the medium in the width direction of the medium, and cutting of the medium in a chamfer mode in which the cutter unit is relatively moved in a length direction of the medium and the width direction of the medium with respect to the medium and cuts the medium in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium, and sets the cutter holder in the rotation-restricted state in the traverse mode and sets the cutter holder in the rotatable state in the chamfer mode.

10. The media cutoff device of claim 9 wherein the media cutoff device comprises a housing,

The switching mechanism is provided with: a restriction member for restricting rotation of the tool holder; and a drive source for moving the restricting member between a restricting position where the restricting member is close to the tool holder and a restriction releasing position where the restricting member is away from the tool holder,

When the restricting member is disposed at the restricting position, the tool holder is brought into the rotation restricting state,

When the restriction member is disposed at the restriction release position, the tool holder is in the rotatable state.

11. The media cutoff device of claim 10 wherein the media cutoff device comprises a housing,

The tool unit is provided with a rotation range limiting member that limits a rotation range of the tool holder in the rotatable state.

12. The medium cutting device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, wherein,

The medium cutting device is provided with a medium winding mechanism which rotates a core material for winding, and winds the medium around the core material, and the end of the medium is fixed to the core material.

13. The media cutoff device of claim 12 wherein the media cutoff device comprises a housing,

The control section performs cutting of the medium in a1 st chamfer mode as the chamfer mode in which the medium is cut between a middle position of the medium in a width direction of the medium and one end side of the medium in the width direction of the medium and cutting of the medium in a2 nd chamfer mode as the chamfer mode in which the medium is cut between the middle position of the medium in the width direction of the medium and the other end side of the medium in the width direction of the medium.

14. The media cutoff device of claim 13 wherein the media cutoff device comprises a housing,

The moving mechanism includes: a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium,

The control section controls the conveyance speed of the medium based on the medium conveyance mechanism and the movement speed of the cutter unit based on the cutter unit driving mechanism to set the cutting angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the 1 st chamfer mode and the 2 nd chamfer mode based on predetermined data input to the control section.

15. The media cutoff device of claim 14 wherein the media cutoff device comprises a housing,

The outer diameter of the core material is 3 inches or 2 inches.

16. The media cutoff device of claim 15 wherein the media cutoff device comprises a housing,

The medium is formed of a soft polyvinyl chloride or tarpaulin,

The cutting angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the 1 st chamfer mode and the 2 nd chamfer mode is 7 ° to 13 °.

17. The media cutoff device of claim 16 wherein the media cutoff device comprises a housing,

The cutting angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the 1 st chamfer mode and the 2 nd chamfer mode is 8 ° to 12 °.

18. The medium cutting device according to any one of claims 14 to 17, wherein,

The medium cutting device is provided with a processing mechanism for performing a predetermined processing on the medium before cutting,

When a portion of the medium on which the processing by the processing means is performed is referred to as a processing portion, and a portion of the medium located upstream of the processing portion in the transport direction of the medium and not processed by the processing means is referred to as a non-processing portion,

The control unit cuts the non-processed portion over the entire area in the width direction of the medium by the traverse mode after the medium is processed by the processing means, and then cuts the medium in the 1 st chamfer mode and the medium in the 2 nd chamfer mode with respect to the non-processed portion disposed upstream of a cutting position in the traverse mode in the conveying direction of the medium.

19. The medium cutting device according to any one of claims 9 to 18, wherein,

The medium cutting device is provided with a printing mechanism which prints the medium before cutting by an ink-jet mode,

The printing mechanism comprises an ink jet head for ejecting ink to the medium and a carriage for carrying the ink jet head,

The moving mechanism includes a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium, and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium,

The cutter unit is carried on the carriage,

The cutter unit driving mechanism moves the carriage in a width direction of the medium.

20. A medium cutting method for cutting a long medium in a medium cutting device, the medium cutting device comprising: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting the medium; a medium feeding mechanism that holds the medium wound in a roll shape; a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the medium and a thickness direction of the medium, wherein the medium cutting method is characterized in that,

When a side of the medium conveyance direction by the medium conveyance mechanism, which is disposed closer to the cutter than the medium feeding mechanism, is a downstream side in the conveyance direction, and an opposite side of the downstream side in the conveyance direction is an upstream side in the conveyance direction,

The medium cutting method comprises the following steps:

A linear cutting step of moving the cutter in the width direction of the medium while the medium is stopped, and cutting the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium;

a medium conveying step of conveying the medium to a predetermined amount downstream in the conveying direction after the linear cutting step; and

A convex cutting step of moving the cutter in the width direction of the medium and conveying the medium, and cutting the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium after the medium conveying step,

When the portion of the medium disposed upstream of the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step in the conveying direction is the 1 st upstream side medium, and the portion of the medium disposed upstream of the cutting position of the medium in the linear cutting step in the conveying direction is the 2 nd upstream side medium,

The end face of the 2 nd upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is formed in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium,

The end face of the 1 st upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is in a convex shape having a trapezoid shape or a triangular shape,

In the medium conveying step, the medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval is formed between the conveyance direction downstream side end of the 2 nd upstream side medium and the conveyance direction downstream side end of the 1 st upstream side medium.

21. The method of media cutoff according to claim 20 wherein,

The medium cutting device is provided with: a carriage that carries the cutter unit and moves in a width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism; an inkjet head mounted on the carriage and configured to eject ink onto the medium to perform printing; and a medium winding mechanism that rotates a winding core material connected to an end of the medium on a downstream side in the conveying direction, winds the printed medium around the core material,

Printing of the medium by the inkjet head is performed before the linear cutting process,

In the linear cutting step, a portion of the medium on the upstream side in the conveying direction from the portion on which printing is performed is cut.

22. A medium cutting method for cutting a long medium in a medium cutting device, the medium cutting device comprising: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting the medium; a processing mechanism for performing a predetermined processing on the medium; a medium feeding mechanism that holds the medium before processing wound in a roll shape; a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the medium and a thickness direction of the medium, wherein the medium cutting method is characterized in that,

When a side of the medium conveyance direction by the medium conveyance mechanism, which is disposed closer to the cutter than the medium feeding mechanism, is a downstream side in the conveyance direction, and an opposite side of the downstream side in the conveyance direction is an upstream side in the conveyance direction,

The medium cutting method comprises the following steps:

A medium mounting step of mounting the medium wound in a roll shape on the medium feeding mechanism;

A medium conveying step of conveying the medium to a predetermined amount downstream in the conveying direction after the medium mounting step; and

A convex cutting step of moving the cutter in the width direction of the medium and conveying the medium, and cutting the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium after the medium conveying step,

When the portion of the medium disposed upstream of the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step in the conveying direction is the 1 st upstream medium,

The end face of the 1 st upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is in a convex shape having a trapezoid shape or a triangular shape,

The medium is not processed by the processing means after the medium conveying step and before the convex cutting step, but is processed by the processing means after the convex cutting step,

In the medium conveying step, the medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval is formed between the conveyance direction downstream side end of the medium and the conveyance direction downstream side end of the 1 st upstream side medium before the convex cutting step.

23. The method of media cutoff according to claim 22, wherein,

The medium cutting method includes a linear cutting step of moving the cutter in a width direction of the medium in a state where the medium is stopped, cutting the medium over an entire area in the width direction of the medium,

When the portion of the medium disposed upstream of the cutting position of the medium in the linear cutting step in the conveying direction is the 2 nd upstream side medium,

The end face of the 2 nd upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is formed in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium,

The processing means is a printing means having an inkjet head that ejects ink onto the medium to perform printing,

The medium cutting device is provided with: a carriage that carries the cutter unit and the inkjet head and moves in a width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism; and a medium winding mechanism that rotates a winding core material connected to an end of the medium on a downstream side in the conveying direction, winds the printed medium around the core material,

Printing of the medium by the inkjet head is performed after the convex cutting process and before the linear cutting process,

In the linear cutting step, a portion of the medium on the upstream side in the conveying direction from the portion on which printing is performed is cut.

24. The method for cutting media according to claim 21 or 23, wherein,

The medium cutting device comprises a platen which is arranged below the carriage and carries a part of the medium in the conveying direction of the medium,

In the medium conveying process, the medium is conveyed to the following positions: the maximum distance in the up-down direction between the portion of the medium disposed on the lower side of the inkjet head and the upper surface of the platen in the convex cutting step is smaller than the distance in the up-down direction between the lower end surface of the inkjet head and the upper surface of the platen.

25. The method for cutting media according to any one of claims 20 to 23, wherein,

When one side in the width direction of the medium is set to be the 1 st direction side and the opposite side to the 1 st direction side is set to be the 2 nd direction side,

The convex cutting step comprises:

A1 st piercing step of piercing the cutter through the medium at an end portion of the medium on the 1 st direction side;

a 1 st chamfering step of cutting the medium in a direction inclined at least with respect to a width direction of the medium by moving the cutter relatively to the medium toward the downstream side in the conveying direction and the 2 nd direction from a 1 st piercing point which is a point pierced by the cutter in the 1 st piercing step;

a2 nd piercing step of piercing the cutter through the medium at an end portion of the medium on the 2 nd direction side;

A2 nd chamfering step of cutting the medium in a direction inclined at least with respect to a width direction of the medium by moving the cutter relatively to the medium toward the downstream side in the conveying direction and the 1 st direction side with a2 nd piercing portion, which is a portion pierced by the cutter in the 2 nd piercing step, as a start point;

A 1 st traverse step of moving the cutter toward the 1 st direction side with respect to the medium with the 1 st piercing portion as a starting point after the 1 st chamfer step and the 2 nd chamfer step, and cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium from the 1 st piercing portion to an end surface of the medium on the 1 st direction side; and

And a2 nd transverse cutting step of moving the cutter toward the 2 nd direction side with respect to the medium with the 2 nd piercing portion as a starting point after the 1 st and 2 nd oblique cutting steps, and cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium from the 2 nd piercing portion to an end surface of the medium on the 2 nd direction side.

26. The method of media cutoff according to claim 25 wherein,

The medium cutting device is provided with: a carriage that carries the cutter unit and moves in a width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism; and an inkjet head mounted on the carriage and ejecting ink toward the medium to perform printing,

The ink jet head is disposed on the 2 nd direction side of the cutter unit,

The 2 nd cross cutting process is performed before the 1 st cross cutting process.

27. The method of media cutoff according to claim 25 wherein,

The medium cutting device is provided with a carriage which carries the cutter unit and moves in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism,

The cutter unit is provided with a cutter moving mechanism that moves the cutter between a retracted position where the cutter is not in contact with the medium and a cutting position where the cutter can cut the medium,

The 2 nd transverse cutting procedure is performed before the 1 st transverse cutting procedure,

The convex cutting step comprises:

a cutter retracting step of moving the cutter arranged at the cuttable position to the retracted position after the 2 nd traverse step;

a 3 rd medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the 2 nd traverse step;

a carriage moving step of moving the carriage in the 1 st direction until a cutting edge of the cutter is disposed at the same position as the 1 st piercing portion in the width direction of the medium after the cutter retracting step and the 3 rd medium conveying step;

A4 th medium conveying step of conveying the medium to the upstream side in the conveying direction after the carriage moving step until the edge of the cutter is disposed at the same position as the 1 st piercing portion in the conveying direction of the medium; and

A cutter arrangement step of moving the cutter arranged at the retracted position to the cuttable position after the 4 th medium conveyance step,

The 1 st transverse cutting step is performed after the cutter disposing step.

28. The method of media cutoff according to claim 25 wherein,

The medium cutting device is provided with a carriage which carries the cutter unit and moves in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism,

The cutter unit is provided with a cutter moving mechanism that moves the cutter between a retracted position where the cutter is not in contact with the medium and a cutting position where the cutter can cut the medium,

The 1st transverse cutting procedure is performed before the 2 nd transverse cutting procedure,

The convex cutting step comprises:

A cutter retracting step of moving the cutter arranged at the cuttable position to the retracted position after the 1 st traverse step;

A 3 rd medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the 1 st traverse step;

A carriage moving step of moving the carriage in the 2 nd direction until a cutting edge of the cutter is disposed at the same position as the 2 nd piercing portion in the width direction of the medium after the cutter retracting step and the 3 rd medium conveying step;

A4 th medium conveying step of conveying the medium to the upstream side in the conveying direction after the carriage moving step until the edge of the cutter is disposed at the same position as the 2 nd piercing portion in the conveying direction of the medium; and

A cutter arrangement step of moving the cutter arranged at the retracted position to the cuttable position after the 4 th medium conveyance step,

The 2 nd transverse cutting step is performed after the cutter disposing step.

29. The method of media cutoff according to claim 25 wherein,

The medium cutting method includes a standby position moving step of moving the cutter unit to a predetermined standby position after the convex cutting step,

The cutter unit is provided with a cutter moving mechanism that moves the cutter between a retracted position where the cutter is not in contact with the medium and a cutting position where the cutter can cut the medium,

The 2 nd transverse cutting procedure is performed before the 1 st transverse cutting procedure,

The cutter unit disposed at the standby position is disposed at a position on the 2 nd direction side of the medium,

When the 1 st traverse step is completed, the cutter is disposed on the 1 st direction side of the medium,

The standby position moving step includes:

A cutter retracting step of moving the cutter arranged at the cuttable position to the retracted position after the 1 st traverse step;

A 5 th medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the 1 st traverse step; and

And a cutter unit moving step of moving the cutter unit to the standby position after the cutter retracting step and the 5 th medium conveying step.

30. The method of media cutoff according to claim 25 wherein,

The medium cutting device is provided with: a platen on which a part of the medium in the transport direction of the medium is placed; a1 st medium guide that presses an end portion of the medium placed on the platen, the end portion being closer to the 1 st direction, from an upper side; and a2 nd medium guide for pressing an end portion of the medium placed on the platen in the 2 nd direction from an upper side,

The downstream end of the 1 st medium guide in the conveying direction and the downstream end of the 2 nd medium guide in the conveying direction are disposed upstream of the cutting edge of the cutter in the conveying direction,

The upstream end of the 1 st medium guide in the conveying direction is disposed at a position upstream of the 1 st puncture site at the completion of the 1 st chamfering step in the conveying direction,

The upstream end of the 2 nd medium guide in the conveying direction is disposed upstream of the 2 nd puncture site at the completion of the 2 nd chamfering step.

31. The method of media cutoff according to claim 25 wherein,

The cutter unit includes a cutter holder to which the cutter is fixed and a unit frame rotatably holding the cutter holder,

The cutter holder is capable of rotating with respect to the unit frame with the thickness direction of the medium as an axial direction of rotation,

In the 1 st chamfering step and the 2 nd chamfering step, the cutter is rotatable with respect to the unit frame,

The cutting angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the 1 st chamfering step and the cutting angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the 2 nd chamfering step are both constant regardless of the width of the medium.

32. The method for cutting media according to claim 20 or 21, wherein,

The medium cutting method comprises the following steps:

A 2nd linear cutting step of moving the cutter in the width direction of the medium in a state where the medium is stopped, and cutting the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium; and

A2 nd medium conveying step of conveying the medium to the downstream side in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the 2 nd linear cutting step,

The linear cutting step is performed after the 2 nd medium conveying step.

33. A medium end connection method for connecting an end of the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction with a core material for a roll connected to an end of the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction by using the downstream side medium when a portion of the medium cut by the medium cutting method according to claim 32, which is disposed on the downstream side in the conveying direction from a cutting position in the linear cutting step, is set as a downstream side medium and an end of the downstream side medium in the width direction of the medium when the linear cutting step is completed is set as a downstream side medium end, the medium end connection method comprising the steps of,

One of the downstream side medium ends is fixed to an end of the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction, the other downstream side medium end is fixed to the core material, and the end of the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is connected to the core material.

34. A method for controlling a medium cutting device, the medium cutting device comprising: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting the elongated medium; a medium feeding mechanism that holds the medium wound in a roll shape; a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the medium and a thickness direction of the medium, wherein the control method of the medium cutting device is characterized in that,

When a side of the medium conveyance direction by the medium conveyance mechanism, which is disposed closer to the cutter than the medium feeding mechanism, is a downstream side in the conveyance direction, and an opposite side of the downstream side in the conveyance direction is an upstream side in the conveyance direction,

The control method of the medium cutting device comprises the following steps:

a linear cutting step of moving the cutter in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism in a state where the medium is stopped, and cutting the medium over the entire area in the width direction of the medium;

a medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount by the medium conveying mechanism after the linear cutting step; and

A convex cutting step in which, after the medium conveying step, the cutter is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism and the medium is conveyed by the medium conveying mechanism, while the medium is cut over the entire area in the width direction of the medium,

When the portion of the medium disposed upstream of the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step in the conveying direction is the 1 st upstream side medium, and the portion of the medium disposed upstream of the cutting position of the medium in the linear cutting step in the conveying direction is the 2 nd upstream side medium,

The end face of the 2 nd upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is formed in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium,

The end face of the 1 st upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is in a convex shape having a trapezoid shape or a triangular shape,

In the medium conveying step, the medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval is formed between the conveyance direction downstream side end of the 2 nd upstream side medium and the conveyance direction downstream side end of the 1 st upstream side medium.

35. A method for controlling a medium cutting device, the medium cutting device comprising: a cutter unit having a cutter for cutting the elongated medium; a processing mechanism for performing a predetermined processing on the medium; a medium feeding mechanism that holds the medium before processing wound in a roll shape; a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in a longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium orthogonal to a longitudinal direction of the medium and a thickness direction of the medium, wherein the control method of the medium cutting device is characterized in that,

When a side of the medium conveyance direction by the medium conveyance mechanism, which is disposed closer to the cutter than the medium feeding mechanism, is a downstream side in the conveyance direction, and an opposite side of the downstream side in the conveyance direction is an upstream side in the conveyance direction,

The control method of the medium cutting device comprises the following steps:

A medium conveying step of, after the medium wound in a roll shape is mounted on the medium feeding mechanism, conveying the medium to a predetermined amount downstream in the conveying direction by the medium conveying mechanism; and

A convex cutting step in which, after the medium conveying step, the cutter is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism and the medium is conveyed by the medium conveying mechanism, while the medium is cut over the entire area in the width direction of the medium,

When a portion of the medium disposed upstream of the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step in the conveying direction is the 1 st upstream side medium,

The end face of the 1 st upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is in a convex shape having a trapezoid shape or a triangular shape,

The processing of the medium by the processing means is not performed after the medium transporting step and before the convex cutting step, but is performed after the convex cutting step,

In the medium conveying step, the medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval is formed between the conveyance-direction downstream side end of the medium and the conveyance-direction downstream side end of the 1 st upstream side medium before the convex cutting step.