JP2023121117A - Medium cutting method, medium end connection method, and control method for medium cutting device - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a medium cutting method which is capable of appropriately cutting one end part in a longitudinal direction of the medium so that an end surface of the medium is trapezoidal or triangular before the medium is exchanged and after the medium is cut linearly parallel to a width direction of the medium in the whole areas in the width direction of the medium even when curling peculiarity of the medium is strong in a medium cutting device for cutting a long medium.SOLUTION: By a medium cutting method, a medium 2 is transferred to a downstream side in a transfer direction up to a position where a prescribed interval L is formed between a downstream side end in the transfer direction of a second upstream side medium 2c and a downstream side end in the transfer direction of a first upstream side medium 2e in a medium transfer step prior to a projection cutting step which cuts the medium 2 in the whole area in the width direction of the medium 2 so that an end surface 2f on the downstream side in the transfer direction of the first upstream side medium 2e is a trapezoidal projection after a linearly cutting step which cuts the medium 2 in the whole area in the width direction of the medium 2 so that an end surface 2d on the downstream side in the transfer direction of the second upstream side medium 2c is linear, parallel to the width direction of the medium 2.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 13

Description

The present invention relates to a medium cutting method for cutting a medium in a medium cutting apparatus for cutting a long medium. The present invention also relates to a medium end connecting method for connecting the end of a long medium and a paper tube for take-up using a portion of the medium cut by such a medium cutting method. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a control method for a medium cutting device for cutting a long medium.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a printing apparatus that prints on a long sheet-like medium (continuous medium) (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2002-100003). The printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2002-200000 includes a printing unit that prints on a medium using an inkjet method, a medium transporting unit that transports the medium, and a cutter unit that cuts the medium. The medium before printing is wound into a roll. The medium transport section includes a pair of transport rollers including a driving roller and a pinch roller. The cutter section includes a cutter blade that cuts the medium and a carriage that moves the cutter blade along the width direction of the medium.

In the printing apparatus disclosed in Patent Document 1, the medium is cut in a first mode in which the medium is cut in a direction inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium, and the medium is cut in a second mode in which the medium is cut in the width direction of the medium. The cutting is possible. In this printing apparatus, the medium is cut in the second mode when the printing process for the medium is completed. Also, in this printing device, when performing print processing on a medium, if the type of media used in the received print job is different from the type of media set in the printing device, the media set in the printing device is need to be replaced, the medium set in the printing device is removed from the printing device after cutting in the first mode.

That is, in the printing apparatus described in Patent Document 1, one end of the medium that is temporarily removed from the printing apparatus and then set again in the printing apparatus is inclined with respect to the width direction of the medium. Therefore, in this printing apparatus, when the medium is set in the printing apparatus, one end of the medium can be easily passed between the transport roller pair.

JP 2018-83251 A

The inventor of the present application has developed a medium cutting device for cutting a long medium after a predetermined processing such as printing has been performed. This medium cutting device includes a cutter unit having a cutter blade for cutting a medium, a medium transport mechanism for transporting the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium, a medium feeding mechanism for feeding the medium before processing, and a medium after processing. A medium take-up mechanism for winding, a carriage on which a cutter unit is mounted, a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the carriage in the width direction of the medium perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium, and the carriage are arranged opposite to each other. and a platen on which a portion of the media in the longitudinal direction of the media rests.

In this medium cutting device, the medium delivery mechanism rotatably holds the delivery roll. The delivery roll is composed of a paper tube forming the center of the delivery roll and a medium before processing wound around the paper tube in a roll shape. The medium winding mechanism rotatably holds the winding roll. The take-up roll is composed of a paper tube forming the center of the take-up roll and a processed medium wound around the paper tube in a roll shape. One end in the longitudinal direction of the medium is fixed to the paper tube of the take-up roll with tape or the like. One longitudinal end portion of the medium is wound around the paper tube of the take-up roll.

In this medium cutting device, when a medium different from this medium (specifically, a medium having a different material, width, etc.) is to be processed after finishing processing of a certain medium, it is set in the medium cutting device. The media to be used is replaced. Before replacing the medium, the medium is cut by a cutter blade. Specifically, the cutter blade cuts the medium in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium over the entire width direction of the medium. In the media replacement operation, the unprocessed medium, which is placed closer to the delivery roll than the position cut by the cutter blade, is wound around the delivery roll, removed from the media delivery mechanism, and placed closer to the take-up roll than the position cut by the cutter blade. The processed medium is wound on a take-up roll and removed from the medium take-up mechanism. Further, in the medium replacement operation, a delivery roll wound with a medium to be newly processed is attached to the medium delivery mechanism. Also, after the medium is pulled out from the supply roll and passed through a predetermined path, one longitudinal end of the medium is fixed to the paper core of the take-up roll.

In addition, the inventor of the present application has found that the medium on the supply roll side that has been temporarily removed during the replacement work is set again in the medium cutting device, and one end in the longitudinal direction of the medium is fixed to the paper tube of the take-up roll. In order to make it easier for the paper core to wind one end of the medium in the longitudinal direction when the winding of the medium is started, the entire width of the medium is covered in the width direction before the medium is replaced. After cutting the medium in a straight line parallel to , cut one longitudinal end of the medium on the feed roll side with a cutter blade so that the end face of the medium on the feed roll side has a trapezoidal or triangular convex shape. Alternatively, after the medium is replaced, cutting one end of the medium in the longitudinal direction with a cutter blade is considered so that the end face of the medium becomes a trapezoidal or triangular convex shape.

However, when one end in the longitudinal direction of the medium is cut so that the end surface of the medium on the delivery roll side becomes a trapezoidal or triangular convex shape, the curl of the medium wound in a roll shape on the delivery roll As a result, the inventors of the present application have found that the one end of the medium in the longitudinal direction may float largely in a bow shape from the platen, making it impossible to properly cut the one end of the medium in the longitudinal direction.

Specifically, the smaller the outer diameter of the delivery roll, the stronger the curl of the medium. Therefore, the smaller the outer diameter of the delivery roll, the larger the floating of one end of the medium from the platen in the longitudinal direction. Also, when the floating of one longitudinal end of the medium from the platen increases, for example, the carriage moving in the width direction of the medium comes into contact with the longitudinal end of the medium, causing the longitudinal end of the medium to move. It has been clarified by examination by the inventors of the present application that there are cases in which it becomes impossible to cut properly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a medium cutting device for cutting a long medium, even if the curl of the medium is strong, before the medium is replaced, the entire width of the medium is cut. After cutting the medium in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium or after replacing the medium, one end of the medium in the longitudinal direction is appropriately adjusted so that the end surface of the medium has a trapezoidal or triangular convex shape. To provide a medium cutting method capable of cutting a medium. Another object of the present invention is to provide a medium end connection method for connecting the end of a long medium and a paper tube for take-up using a portion of the medium cut by such a medium cutting method. That's what it is.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a medium cutting device for cutting a long medium, even if the curl of the medium is strong, before the medium is replaced, the entire width of the medium can be cut. After cutting the medium in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium or after replacing the medium, one end of the medium in the longitudinal direction is appropriately adjusted so that the end surface of the medium has a trapezoidal or triangular convex shape. To provide a control method for a medium cutting device capable of cutting a medium.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the medium cutting method of the present invention includes a cutter unit having a cutter blade for cutting a long medium, a medium feeding mechanism for holding a medium wound in a roll, and a medium. In a medium cutting device comprising: a medium conveying mechanism for conveying a medium in the longitudinal direction; and a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the cutter unit in the width direction of the medium perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium. In the medium cutting method for cutting, the side of the medium conveying mechanism where the cutter blade is arranged with respect to the medium feeding mechanism is defined as the conveying direction downstream side, and the opposite side of the conveying direction downstream side. is the upstream side in the transport direction, a linear cutting process in which the cutter blade is moved in the width direction of the medium while the medium is stopped to cut the medium across the entire width direction of the medium, and after the linear cutting process, the medium and a convex cut in which the cutter blade is moved in the width direction of the medium and the medium is conveyed to cut the medium in the entire width direction after the medium conveyance process. wherein the medium arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step is defined as the first upstream medium, and the upstream side in the conveying direction of the cutting position of the medium in the linear cutting step. is the second upstream medium, the end surface of the second upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction is a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium, and the first upstream medium is transported in the transport direction. The downstream end surface has a trapezoidal or triangular convex shape. The medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval is formed therebetween.

In the medium cutting method of the present invention, the cutter blade is moved in the width direction of the medium while the medium is stopped so that the end face of the second upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction forms a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium. After the linear cutting step of cutting the medium across the entire width direction of the medium, the cutter blade is cut so that the end face of the first upstream medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction has a trapezoidal or triangular convex shape. is moved in the width direction of the medium and the medium is conveyed to cut the medium in the entire width direction of the medium in the medium conveyance step prior to the convex cut step, in which the downstream end of the second upstream medium in the conveyance direction and the first The medium is transported downstream in the transport direction to a position where a predetermined gap is formed between the upstream end of the medium and the downstream end in the transport direction.

Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to increase the distance in the medium transport direction between the end face of the second upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction and the arrangement position of the cutter unit before the convex cutting step is performed. . Therefore, in the present invention, even if the curl of the medium is strong, it is possible to suppress the floating of the medium from the platen at the position where the cutter unit is arranged in the medium transport direction when performing the convex cutting process. become. As a result, if the medium is cut by the medium cutting method of the present invention, even if the curl of the medium is strong, it is possible to cut parallel to the width direction of the medium over the entire width direction before replacing the medium. After cutting the medium linearly, it is possible to appropriately cut one end in the longitudinal direction of the medium so that the end face of the medium has a convex shape with a trapezoidal or triangular shape.

In the present invention, for example, the medium cutting device includes a carriage on which the cutter unit is mounted and which is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit drive mechanism, and a carriage mounted on the carriage that ejects ink onto the medium for printing. Equipped with an inkjet head and a medium winding mechanism that rotates a paper tube for winding to which the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction is connected and winds the medium after printing on the paper tube, and performs a linear cutting process. Previously, the inkjet head printed on the medium, and in the linear cutting step, the portion of the medium on the upstream side in the transport direction of the printed portion is cut.

In order to solve the above-described problems, the medium cutting method of the present invention includes a cutter unit having a cutter blade for cutting a long medium, a processing mechanism for performing a predetermined processing on the medium, and a roll-shaped medium. a medium feeding mechanism that holds the pre-processed medium that is wound into a medium; a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium; A medium cutting method for cutting a medium in a medium cutting device comprising a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the cutter unit, wherein the cutter blade is positioned with respect to the medium feeding mechanism in the medium conveying direction of the medium conveying mechanism. Assuming that the arranged side is the downstream side in the transport direction, and the side opposite to the downstream side in the transport direction is the upstream side in the transport direction, a medium setting process of setting a medium wound in a roll on a medium feeding mechanism, and a medium setting process. Later, a medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction, and after the medium conveying step, moving the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium and conveying the medium to cut the medium over the entire width direction of the medium. When the first upstream medium is the medium arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the medium cut position in the convex cutting step, the end face of the first upstream medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction has a trapezoidal or triangular convex shape, the medium is not processed by the processing mechanism after the medium conveying process but before the convex cutting process, and processed after the convex cutting process. The medium is processed by the mechanism, and in the medium conveying process, a predetermined gap is formed between the conveying direction downstream end of the medium before the convex cutting process and the conveying direction downstream end of the first upstream medium. It is characterized by conveying the medium to a position where

In the medium cutting method of the present invention, after the medium setting step of setting the rolled medium in the medium delivery mechanism, the end surface of the first upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction is trapezoidal or triangular. In the medium conveying step before the convex cutting step of moving the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium so as to form a convex shape that conveys the medium and cuts the medium in the entire width direction of the medium, the convex cutting step The medium is transported downstream in the transport direction to a position where a predetermined gap is formed between the downstream end in the transport direction of the previous medium and the downstream end in the transport direction of the first upstream medium.

Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to increase the distance in the medium transport direction between the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction and the arrangement position of the cutter unit before the convex cutting step is performed. Therefore, in the present invention, even if the curl of the medium is strong, it is possible to suppress the floating of the medium from the platen at the position where the cutter unit is arranged in the medium transport direction when performing the convex cutting process. become. As a result, if the medium is cut by the medium cutting method of the present invention, even if the curl of the medium is strong, after the medium is replaced, the end surface of the medium becomes a trapezoidal or triangular convex shape. It is possible to properly cut one longitudinal end of the medium.

In the present invention, for example, the medium cutting method includes a linear cutting step in which a cutter blade is moved in the width direction of the medium while the medium is stopped, and the medium is cut across the width of the medium. Assuming that the medium arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction from the cut position of the medium at is the second upstream medium, the end face of the second upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction has a linear shape parallel to the width direction of the medium. The processing mechanism is a printing mechanism having an inkjet head that ejects ink onto a medium for printing, and the media cutting device is equipped with a cutter unit and an inkjet head, and the cutter unit driving mechanism cuts the width of the medium. and a medium winding mechanism that rotates a paper tube for winding to which the downstream end of the medium in the conveying direction is connected and winds the medium after printing on the paper tube. After the cutting step and before the cutting step, the inkjet head prints on the medium. cut.

In the present invention, the medium cutting device includes a platen arranged under the carriage and on which a portion of the medium in the medium conveying direction is placed, and in the medium conveying step, the medium is cut by an inkjet head in the convex shape cutting step. It is preferable to convey the medium to a position where the maximum vertical distance between the lower portion and the top surface of the platen is smaller than the vertical distance between the bottom end surface of the inkjet head and the top surface of the platen. With this configuration, even if the curl of the medium is strong, it is possible to prevent the ink-jet head moving in the width direction of the medium from coming into contact with the medium when performing the convex cutting step. Therefore, even if the curl of the medium is strong, it is possible to reliably cut one end of the medium in the longitudinal direction so that the end surface of the medium has a trapezoidal or triangular convex shape. It is possible to prevent damage to the inkjet head caused by contact with the .

In the present invention, if one side in the width direction of the medium is defined as the first direction side, and the opposite side of the first direction side is defined as the second direction side, the convex cutting step is to move the cutter blade through the medium so as to penetrate the medium. a first piercing step of piercing the end portion on the first direction side; a first oblique cutting step of cutting the medium in a direction inclined with respect to at least the width direction of the medium by relatively moving the cutter blade relative to the medium, and moving the cutter blade to penetrate the medium at the end of the medium on the second direction side a second piercing step in which the cutter blade is pierced into the medium in the second piercing step, and the cutter blade is positioned relative to the medium downstream and in the first direction from the second piercing point, which is the point where the cutter blade is pierced in the second piercing step. a second oblique cutting step of moving the medium to cut the medium in a direction oblique to at least the width direction of the medium; On the other hand, a first lateral cutting step of moving the cutter blade in the first direction to cut the medium in the width direction of the medium from the first piercing point to the end face of the medium on the first direction side; 2 After the oblique cutting step, the cutter blade is moved in the second direction with respect to the medium starting from the second piercing point, and the width direction of the medium is cut from the second piercing point to the end surface of the medium in the second direction. and a second lateral cutting step of cutting the medium at .

With this configuration, the first lateral cutting step and the second lateral cutting step are performed after the first diagonal cutting step and the second diagonal cutting step, and the first diagonal cutting step and the second diagonal cutting step are performed. Even at the time of completion, the medium is not completely cut in the width direction of the medium, and the medium on the upstream side in the transport direction and the medium on the downstream side in the transport direction are connected on both sides in the width direction of the medium. Therefore, during the first oblique cutting process and the second oblique cutting process, for example, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a problem such as tearing of the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction due to the gravity acting on the medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction. becomes possible.

In the present invention, the medium cutting device includes a carriage on which the cutter unit is mounted and which is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit drive mechanism, and an inkjet head which is mounted on the carriage and ejects ink onto the medium for printing. Preferably, the inkjet head is arranged on the second direction side of the cutter unit, and the second lateral cutting step is performed before the first lateral cutting step.

With this configuration, since the first lateral cutting process is performed after the second lateral cutting process, during the first lateral cutting process, for example, gravity acting on the medium on the downstream side in the transport direction However, even if the media on the downstream side in the transport direction are torn and dropped during the first horizontal cutting process, the media on the downstream side in the transport direction are torn off and dropped. Since the medium on the side falls while moving in the first direction, it is possible to prevent contact between the inkjet head arranged on the second direction side of the cutter unit and the medium on the downstream side in the transport direction that is torn off and dropped. become. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the ink jet head from being damaged due to contact with the medium on the downstream side in the transport direction that is torn off and dropped.

In the present invention, the medium cutting device includes a carriage on which the cutter unit is mounted and which is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism. A cutter blade moving mechanism is provided for moving the cutter blade between a cutting possible position where the medium can be cut, the second lateral cutting step is performed before the first lateral cutting step, and the convex cutting step includes: After the second lateral cutting step, a cutter blade retracting step of moving the cutter blade arranged at the cuttable position to the retracted position; After the medium conveying step, the cutter blade retreating step, and the third medium conveying step, the carriage is moved in the first direction until the cutting edge of the cutter blade is arranged at the same position as the first stabbing point in the width direction of the medium. a carriage moving step, after the carriage moving step, a fourth medium conveying step of conveying the medium upstream in the conveying direction until the cutting edge of the cutter blade is positioned at the same position as the first stabbing point in the medium conveying direction; After the fourth medium conveying step, a cutter blade arranging step of moving the cutter blade arranged at the retracted position to the cuttable position is provided, and the first lateral cutting step is preferably performed after the cutter blade arranging step.

According to the study of the inventors of the present application, if the curl of the medium is stronger, the first upstream medium may have The portion on the downstream side in the conveying direction floats more, and as a result, after the second lateral cutting step, the carriage moves in the first direction to perform the first lateral cutting step, and various configurations mounted on the carriage. , the portion of the first upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction may interfere with the movement of the carriage. However, with this configuration, the medium is conveyed downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction in the third medium conveying step, and then the carriage is moved in the first direction in the carriage moving step. Even if the curl is stronger, the carriage that moves in the first direction to perform the first lateral cutting process can be moved without any trouble after the second lateral cutting process.

In the present invention, the medium cutting device includes a carriage on which the cutter unit is mounted and which is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism. A cutter blade moving mechanism is provided to move the cutter blade between a cutting possible position where the medium can be cut, the first lateral cutting step is performed before the second lateral cutting step, and the convex cutting step is performed by: After the first lateral cutting step, a cutter blade retracting step of moving the cutter blade arranged at the cuttable position to the retracted position; After the medium conveying step, the cutter blade retreating step, and the third medium conveying step, the carriage is moved in the second direction until the cutting edge of the cutter blade is arranged at the same position as the second stabbing point in the width direction of the medium. a carriage moving step, after the carriage moving step, a fourth medium conveying step of conveying the medium upstream in the conveying direction until the cutting edge of the cutter blade is arranged at the same position as the second stabbing point in the medium conveying direction; After the fourth medium transporting step, a cutter blade arranging step of moving the cutter blade arranged at the retracted position to the cuttable position may be provided, and the second lateral cutting step may be performed after the cutter blade arranging step.

Similar to the above, according to the study of the inventors of the present application, if the curl of the medium is stronger, the first lateral cutting step may occur even before the second lateral cutting step is performed after the first lateral cutting step. The portion of the upstream side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction floats more. There is a possibility that the various configurations of the first upstream medium may come into contact with the portion of the first upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction, thereby hindering the movement of the carriage. However, with this configuration, the medium is conveyed downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction in the third medium conveying step, and then the carriage is moved in the second direction in the carriage moving step. Even if the curl is stronger, the carriage that moves in the second direction to perform the second lateral cutting process can be moved without hindrance after the first lateral cutting process.

In the present invention, 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, and the cutter unit is moved to the retracted position where the cutter blade does not contact the medium and the cutter blade. A cutter blade moving mechanism is provided to move the cutter blade between a cutting possible position where the medium can be cut, and the second lateral cutting process is performed before the first lateral cutting process and placed at the standby position. The cutter unit is arranged on the second direction side of the medium, the cutter blade is arranged on the first direction side of the medium when the first lateral cutting step is completed, and the waiting position moving step is the first lateral cutting step. After that, a cutter blade retracting step of moving the cutter blade arranged at the cuttable position to the retracted position, a fifth medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the first lateral cutting step; It is preferable to include a cutter unit moving step of moving the cutter unit to the standby position after the cutter blade retracting step and the fifth medium conveying step.

According to studies by the inventors of the present application, when the convex cutting process is completed (specifically, when the first horizontal cutting process is completed), the first upstream medium is positioned downstream in the transport direction and the first The edge on the direction side may turn up. Therefore, if the cutter unit is moved to the standby position with the cutter blade moved to the retracted position after the first horizontal cutting process is completed, the cutter unit contacts the curled portion of the first upstream medium. may interfere with the movement of the cutter unit. However, with this configuration, after the medium is conveyed downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction in the fifth medium conveying step, the cutter unit is moved to the standby position in the cutter unit moving step. Even if the end portion of the side medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction and on the first direction side is turned up, the cutter unit that moves to the standby position can be moved without any trouble after the convex cutting step.

In the present invention, the medium cutting device includes a platen on which a portion of the medium in the medium transport direction is placed, a first medium guide that presses from above the end of the medium placed on the platen in the first direction, a second medium guide that presses from above an end of the medium placed on the platen in the second direction, wherein the downstream end of the first medium guide in the transport direction and the downstream end of the second medium guide in the transport direction are: The first medium guide is arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the cutting edge of the cutter blade, the upstream end of the first medium guide in the conveying direction is arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the first stabbing point at the completion of the first oblique cutting step, and the It is preferable that the upstream end of the two-medium guide in the transport direction is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction of the second piercing point at the completion of the second oblique cutting step.

With this configuration, for example, when the second piercing step and the second slant cutting step are performed after the first slant cutting step, the first slant cutting step is followed by the second piercing step. While the medium is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction, it is possible to prevent the portion of the medium cut in the first oblique cutting step from being caught on the upstream end of the first medium guide in the conveying direction when the medium is conveyed. be possible. Further, with this configuration, the medium is transported downstream in the transport direction after the second oblique cutting process and before the first lateral cutting process and the second lateral cutting process. It is possible to prevent the portion of the medium cut in the second oblique cutting step from being caught on the upstream end of the second medium guide in the conveying direction. Therefore, it is possible to properly transport the medium.

In the present invention, the cutter unit includes a cutter holder to which a cutter blade is fixed, and a unit frame that rotatably holds the cutter holder. It is rotatable with respect to the frame, and in the first oblique cutting process and the second oblique cutting process, the cutter blade is in a state of being rotatable with respect to the unit frame, and the first oblique cutting process It is preferable that the cut angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in , and the cut angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the second oblique cutting step be constant regardless of the width of the medium.

With this configuration, it is possible to make the rotation angle of the cutter holder constant with respect to the unit frame in the first oblique cutting process and the second oblique cutting process regardless of the width of the medium. Therefore, in the first oblique cutting process and the second oblique cutting process, it is possible to prevent the cutter holder from rotating excessively with respect to the unit frame, and as a result, it is possible to prevent damage to the cutter blade. be possible.

In the present invention, the medium cutting method includes, for example, a second linear cutting step of moving the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium while the medium is stopped to cut the medium across the entire width direction of the medium, and a second straight line. After the shape cutting step, a second medium transporting step of transporting the medium downstream in the transport direction by a predetermined amount is provided, and the linear cutting step is performed after the second medium transporting step.

A medium that is cut by this medium cutting method and that is arranged downstream in the transport direction from the cut position in the linear cutting process is defined as a downstream medium, and the downstream side in the width direction of the medium when the linear cutting process is completed. Assuming that the end of the medium is the downstream end of the medium, the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction is attached to the paper tube for winding to which the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction is connected. is preferably connected. In this medium end connecting method, one downstream medium end is fixed to the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction, and the other downstream medium end is fixed to the paper tube to connect the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction. Connect the end to the paper tube.

In the medium cutting device developed by the inventor of the present application, for example, the distance in the medium transport direction between the processing mechanism for performing a predetermined processing on the medium, such as a printing mechanism for performing printing processing on the medium, and the paper tube of the take-up roll is If the length is longer, and the downstream end in the transport direction of the medium (one end in the longitudinal direction) is directly fixed to the paper tube of the take-up roll with tape or the like, the portion of the medium fixed to the paper tube will not be the same. Since the portion that cannot be processed by the processing mechanism becomes long between the portion arranged near the processing mechanism, the medium may be wasted. On the other hand, if the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction is connected to the paper tube by this medium end connection method, even if the distance in the transport direction of the medium between the processing mechanism and the paper tube is long, processing can be performed. Since it is possible to connect the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction and the paper tube, which is arranged near the mechanism, by the downstream media, the processing mechanism efficiently processes the medium from the downstream end in the transport direction of the medium. It becomes possible to process. Therefore, even if the distance in the medium transport direction between the processing mechanism and the paper tube is long, it is possible to suppress the waste of the medium.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a control method for a medium cutting device according to the present invention includes a cutter unit having a cutter blade for cutting a long medium, and a medium holding a roll-shaped medium. A medium comprising a feeding mechanism, a medium transport mechanism that transports the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium, and a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves the cutter unit in the width direction of the medium perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium. In the control method of the cutting device, in the medium transporting direction of the medium transporting mechanism, the side on which the cutter blade is arranged with respect to the medium feeding mechanism is defined as the downstream side in the transporting direction, and the opposite side of the downstream side in the transporting direction is transported. Assuming the direction upstream side, a linear cutting step in which the cutter blade is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism while the medium is stopped to cut the medium in the entire width direction of the medium, and a linear cutting step. a medium transporting step of transporting the medium downstream by a predetermined amount in the transport direction by the medium transporting mechanism; a convex cutting step for conveying and cutting the medium in the entire width direction of the medium, wherein the medium arranged upstream in the conveying direction from the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step is defined as the first upstream medium; Assuming that the medium arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction from the cut position of the medium in the linear cutting step is the second upstream medium, the end surface of the second upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction is parallel to the width direction of the medium. The end surface on the downstream side in the transport direction of the first upstream medium has a convex shape forming a trapezoid or a triangle. The medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined gap is formed between the side edge and the downstream edge of the first upstream medium in the conveying direction.

In the control method for the medium cutting device of the present invention, the cutter blade is moved across the width of the medium while the medium is stopped so that the end surface of the second upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction forms a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium. After the linear cutting step of cutting the medium across the entire width direction of the medium by moving in the direction of In the medium conveying step before the convex cut step of moving the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium and conveying the medium to cut the medium across the entire width direction of the medium, the downstream end of the second upstream medium in the conveying direction and the downstream end of the first upstream medium in the transport direction.

Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to increase the distance in the medium transport direction between the end surface of the second upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction and the arrangement position of the cutter unit before the convex cutting step is performed. . Therefore, in the present invention, even if the curl of the medium is strong, it is possible to suppress the floating of the medium from the platen at the position where the cutter unit is arranged in the medium transport direction when performing the convex cutting step. become. As a result, if the medium cutting device is controlled by the method for controlling the medium cutting device of the present invention, even if the curl of the medium is strong, the medium can be cut across the entire width direction of the medium before the medium is replaced. After cutting the medium in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium, it is possible to appropriately cut one longitudinal end of the medium so that the end face of the medium has a convex shape with a trapezoidal or triangular shape.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a control method for a medium cutting device according to the present invention includes a cutter unit having a cutter blade for cutting a long medium, and a processing mechanism for performing a predetermined processing on the medium. , a medium delivery mechanism that holds a rolled medium before processing, a medium conveying mechanism that conveys the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium, and a medium that intersects the longitudinal direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium at right angles. A control method for a medium cutting device including a cutter unit driving mechanism that moves a cutter unit in the width direction, the side on which the cutter blade is arranged with respect to the medium feeding mechanism in the medium conveying direction by the medium conveying mechanism. is the downstream side in the transport direction, and the opposite side to the downstream side in the transport direction is the upstream side in the transport direction. and after the medium transporting step, the cutter unit driving mechanism moves the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium, and the medium transporting mechanism transports the medium across the width of the medium. and a convex cutting step for cutting, and assuming that the medium arranged upstream in the conveying direction from the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step is the first upstream medium, the downstream side of the first upstream medium in the conveying direction The end face has a trapezoidal or triangular convex shape, and the medium is not processed by the processing mechanism after the medium conveying step but before the convex cutting step, and after the convex cutting step The medium is processed by the processing mechanism, and in the medium conveying step, a predetermined gap is formed between the conveying direction downstream end of the medium before the convex cutting step and the conveying direction downstream end of the first upstream medium. It is characterized by conveying the medium to a position where the

In the control method of the medium cutting device of the present invention, after the rolled medium is set in the medium delivery mechanism, the end face of the first upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction is trapezoidal or triangular. In the medium conveying step prior to the convex cutting step of moving the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium and conveying the medium to cut the medium in the entire width direction of the medium, the convex cutting step The medium is transported downstream in the transport direction to a position where a predetermined gap is formed between the downstream end in the transport direction of the previous medium and the downstream end in the transport direction of the first upstream medium.

Therefore, in the present invention, it is possible to increase the distance in the medium transport direction between the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction and the arrangement position of the cutter unit before the convex cutting step is performed. Therefore, in the present invention, even if the curl of the medium is strong, it is possible to suppress the floating of the medium from the platen at the position where the cutter unit is arranged in the medium transport direction when performing the convex cutting step. become. As a result, if the medium cutting device is controlled by the method for controlling a medium cutting device according to the present invention, even if the curling of the medium is strong, the end surface of the medium becomes convex in a trapezoidal or triangular shape after the medium is replaced. It is possible to appropriately cut one longitudinal end of the medium so as to form a shape.

As described above, in the medium cutting method and the medium cutting device control method of the present invention, in the medium cutting device for cutting a long medium, even if the curl of the medium is strong, After cutting the medium in a straight line parallel to the width direction of the medium over the entire width direction of the medium, or after exchanging the medium, the end surface of the medium has a convex shape with a trapezoidal or triangular shape. It is possible to appropriately cut one end in the longitudinal direction of the medium so that

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS It is a side view for demonstrating the structure of the medium cutting device concerning embodiment of this invention. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the medium cutting device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a method of fixing a medium to the paper tube shown in FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 2 is a front view showing a carriage and the like from the EE direction of FIG. 1; It is an enlarged view of the F section of FIG. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cutter unit shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 2 is a side view of the tip of a cutter blade included in the cutter unit shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 7 is a side view for explaining the configuration of the cutter unit shown in FIG. 6; FIG. 7 is a plan view for explaining the configuration of the cutter unit shown in FIG. 6; 3 is a process diagram for explaining a medium cutting procedure in the medium cutting device shown in FIG. 1; FIG. FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of cutting a medium that is cut in the medium cutting procedure shown in FIG. 10; FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of cutting a medium that is cut in the medium cutting procedure shown in FIG. 10; FIG. 11 is a diagram for explaining a method of cutting a medium that is cut in the medium cutting procedure shown in FIG. 10; FIG. 10 is a process diagram for explaining a medium cutting procedure according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 10 is a process diagram for explaining a medium cutting procedure according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a method of cutting a medium that is cut in the medium cutting procedure shown in FIG. 15; FIG. 16 is a diagram for explaining a connection method for connecting the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction and the paper tube using the downstream medium cut by the medium cutting procedure shown in FIG. 15 ; It is process drawing for demonstrating the convex-shaped cutting process concerning other embodiment of this invention. FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the convex cutting step shown in FIG. 18; FIG. 19 is a diagram for explaining the convex cutting step shown in FIG. 18; FIG. 10 is a process chart for explaining a medium cutting method according to another embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 22 is a diagram for explaining a method of cutting the medium shown in FIG. 21;

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

(Overall Configuration of Printing Device)
FIG. 1 is a side view for explaining the configuration of a printer 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagram for explaining the configuration of the printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 1. As shown in FIG. FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining a method of fixing the medium 2 to the paper tube 26 shown in FIG. FIG. 4 is a front view showing the carriage 7 and the like from the EE direction of FIG. FIG. 5 is an enlarged view of the F portion of FIG. 1. FIG.

A printing apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment is a commercial inkjet printer for printing on a long medium 2 formed in a long, narrow belt shape. The medium 2 is made of soft media such as soft polyvinyl chloride or paper. The printing apparatus 1 also has a cutting function for cutting the medium 2 and separating the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction thereof. The printing device 1 includes a printing mechanism 3 that prints on a medium 2 before being cut by an inkjet method, 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 for printing, and a carriage 7 on which the head 6 is mounted. A printing apparatus 1 of this embodiment is a medium cutting apparatus for cutting a long medium 2 . Further, the printing mechanism 3 of this embodiment is a processing mechanism for performing predetermined processing on the medium 2 .

The printing apparatus 1 also includes a cutter unit 9 having a cutter blade 8 (see FIG. 7 etc.) for cutting the medium 2, a medium transport mechanism 10 for transporting the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction of the medium 2, and a A carriage driving mechanism 11 for moving the carriage 7 in the width direction (main scanning direction, Y direction in FIG. 1, etc.) of the medium 2 perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction of the medium 2; and a medium winding mechanism 13 for winding the medium 2 after printing. The printing device 1 also includes a control unit 14 that controls the printing device 1 .

In the following description, the width direction of the medium 2 (the Y direction in FIG. 1, etc.) is defined as the “horizontal direction”, and the vertical direction (the vertical direction, the Z direction in FIG. 1, etc.) is perpendicular to the horizontal direction ( X direction) is defined as the “front-back direction”. In addition, the Y1 direction side in FIG. 3 etc., which is one side in the left-right direction, is the "left" side, and the Y2 direction side in FIG. 3 etc., which is the opposite side, is the "right" side. The X1 direction side of 1, etc. is defined as the "front" side, and the opposite X2 direction side in FIG. 1 etc. is defined as the "rear" side. The left side (Y1 direction side) of this embodiment is the first direction side, which is one side in the width direction of the medium 2, and the right side (Y2 direction side) is the second side, which is the other side in the width direction of the medium 2. direction side.

Also, in the following description, the direction in which the medium 2 is transported by the medium transport mechanism 10 is referred to as the "medium transport direction." Further, the upstream side in the medium transport direction is referred to as the "upstream side in the medium transport direction", and the downstream side in the medium transport direction is referred to as the "downstream side in the transport direction". That is, the side of the medium transport direction on which the medium winding mechanism 13 is arranged with respect to the medium feeding mechanism 12 is defined as the "transport direction downstream side", and the side opposite to the transport direction downstream side is defined as the "transport direction upstream side". do. The cutter blade 8 is arranged downstream of the medium feeding mechanism 12 in the conveying direction, and the side where the cutter blade 8 is arranged with respect to the medium feeding mechanism 12 is the downstream side of the conveying direction.

The carriage 7 is supported by a support frame 17 so as to be movable in the horizontal direction. A platen 18 is arranged below the carriage 7 . That is, the printing apparatus 1 has a platen 18 arranged below the carriage 7 . The head 6 ejects ink downward. 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 arranged below the lower end surface of the carriage 7 . The carriage drive mechanism 11 includes, for example, a belt partially fixed to the carriage 7, a pulley around which the belt is stretched, and a motor for rotating the pulley.

The upper surface of the platen 18 is a flat surface perpendicular to the vertical direction. A portion of the medium 2 in the medium transport 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 vertical direction. In this embodiment, 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.

On the upper surface of the platen 18, a first medium guide 15 (see FIGS. 11 to 13) that presses the left end of the medium 2 placed on the platen 18 from above, and a right end of the medium 2 placed on the platen 18 A second medium guide 16 that presses from above is fixed. That is, the printing device 1 has a first medium guide 15 and a second medium guide 16 . The first medium guide 15 is fixed to the left end of the upper surface of the platen 18 , and the second medium guide 16 is fixed to the right end of the upper surface of the platen 18 . The first medium guide 15 and the second medium guide 16 are formed in the same shape. Also, the first medium guide 15 and the second medium guide 16 are arranged at the same position in the medium transport direction.

The medium transport mechanism 10 includes a transport roller 19 and a pad roller 20 arranged to face the transport roller 19 and biased toward the transport roller 19 . The transport roller 19 and the pad roller 20 are arranged upstream of the head 6, the cutter blade 8 and the platen 18 in the transport direction. The transport roller 19 is arranged behind the platen 18 . The upper end of the transport roller 19 and the upper surface of the platen 18 are arranged at substantially the same position in the vertical direction. The pad roller 20 is arranged above the transport roller 19 . The transport roller 19 is connected to a drive mechanism that rotates the transport roller 19 . The drive mechanism has a motor as a drive source. The medium 2 is transported while being sandwiched between the transport roller 19 and the pad roller 20 .

The cutter unit 9 is mounted on the carriage 7 . The cutter unit 9 is arranged above the medium 2 placed on the platen 18 , and the portion of the medium 2 to be cut by the cutter blade 8 is placed on the platen 18 . The cutter unit 9 is mounted on the left end of the carriage 7 . The cutter unit 9 is arranged on the left side of the head 6 mounted on the carriage 7 . That is, the head 6 is arranged on the right side of the cutter unit 9 . The cutter unit 9 moves laterally together with the carriage 7 . The carriage drive mechanism 11 of this embodiment is a cutter unit drive mechanism that moves the cutter unit 9 in the lateral direction, which is the width direction of the medium 2 , and the cutter unit drive mechanism moves the carriage 7 in the width direction of the medium 2 . A specific configuration of the cutter unit 9 will be described later.

When the ink ejected by the head 6 is ultraviolet curable ink, the carriage 7 is equipped with an ultraviolet irradiation unit 29 for irradiating the ink ejected from the head 6 onto the medium 2 with ultraviolet rays. The ultraviolet irradiation unit 29 is mounted, for example, on the left end of the carriage 7 and arranged on the left side of the cutter unit 9, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG.

The medium feeding mechanism 12 is arranged below the printing mechanism 3 . The medium feeding mechanism 12 rotatably holds the feeding roll 23 . The delivery roll 23 is composed of a cylindrical paper tube 24 forming the center of the delivery roll 23 and the medium 2 before printing wound around the paper tube 24 in a roll shape. That is, the medium delivery mechanism 12 holds the medium 2 before printing that is wound in a roll. An end of the medium 2 is fixed to the paper tube 24 . Specifically, the upstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction is fixed to the paper tube 24 . The medium feeding mechanism 12 has a rotary shaft inserted through the inner circumference of the paper tube 24 .

The medium take-up mechanism 13 is arranged below the printing mechanism 3 . The medium winding mechanism 13 rotatably holds a winding roll 25 . The take-up roll 25 is composed of a cylindrical paper tube 26 forming the center of the take-up roll 25 and the printed medium 2 wound around the paper tube 26 in a roll shape. That is, the medium winding mechanism 13 holds the printed medium 2 wound in a roll. The paper tube 26 has an outer diameter of 3 inches or 2 inches. An end of the medium 2 is fixed to the paper tube 26 . Specifically, the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction is fixed to the paper tube 26 . That is, the downstream end portion of the medium 2 in the transport direction is connected to the paper tube 26 . The downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction is fixed to the paper tube 26 by, for example, a tape 27 (see FIG. 3).

The medium winding mechanism 13 includes a rotating shaft that is inserted through the inner circumference of the paper tube 26 and a drive mechanism that rotates the rotating shaft. The medium winding mechanism 13 also includes a torque limiter for idling the winding roll 25 so that the tension of the medium 2 wound on the winding roll 25 does not exceed a predetermined tension. The medium winding mechanism 13 rotates the paper tube 26 for winding to which the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction is connected, and winds the medium 2 around the paper tube 26 .

The medium transport mechanism 10 is electrically connected to the controller 14 . Specifically, the control unit 14 is electrically connected to a motor or the like that constitutes a part of the medium transport mechanism 10 . Further, the carriage drive mechanism 11 is electrically connected to the controller 14 . Specifically, the control unit 14 is electrically connected to a motor or the like that constitutes a part of the carriage driving mechanism 11 . Further, the controller 14 is electrically connected to an elevation mechanism 33 and a switching mechanism 34 which constitute a part of the cutter unit 9 and which will be described later. Specifically, the controller 14 is electrically connected to a later-described solenoid 37 that constitutes a part of the lifting mechanism 33 and a later-described solenoid 43 that constitutes a part of the switching mechanism 34 .

(Configuration of cutter unit)
6 is a perspective view of the cutter unit 9 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 7 is a side view of the tip of the cutter blade 8 of the cutter unit 9 shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 8 is a side view for explaining the configuration of the cutter unit 9 shown in FIG. 6. FIG. 9 is a plan view for explaining the configuration of the cutter unit 9 shown in FIG. 6. FIG.

The cutter unit 9 includes a cutter holder 31 to which the cutter blade 8 is fixed, and a unit frame 32 that rotatably holds the cutter holder 31 . The cutter blade 8 cuts 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 is rotatable with respect to the unit frame 32 with the thickness direction of the medium 2 to be cut by the cutter blade 8 as the axial direction of rotation. Specifically, the cutter holder 31 is rotatable with respect to the unit frame 32 with the vertical direction being the axial direction of rotation. 6, illustration of the cutter blade 8 is omitted.

Also, the unit frame 32 holds the cutter holder 31 so that it can move up and down, and the cutter holder 31 can move up and down with respect to the unit frame 32 . The cutter unit 9 includes an elevating mechanism 33 that elevates the cutter holder 31 with respect to the unit frame 32 . Further, the cutter unit 9 has a rotation restriction state in which rotation of the cutter holder 31 with respect to the unit frame 32 is restricted, and a rotatable state in which rotation of the cutter holder 31 with respect to the unit frame 32 is possible. A switching mechanism 34 for switching the state of

The cutter blade 8 is a double-edged cutter blade with a sharp cutting edge (see FIG. 7). The cutter holder 31 is attached to the front end portion of the unit frame 32 so as to be vertically movable and rotatable. The cutter blade 8 is fixed to the front lower end portion of the cutter holder 31 . When the cutter holder 31 is in the rotation restricted state, the thickness direction of the cutter blade 8 coincides with the front-rear direction, and the width direction of the cutter blade 8 coincides with the left-right direction. Note that the cutter blade 8 may be a single-edged cutter blade.

The unit frame 32 is fixed to the carriage 7 . A guide shaft 35 for guiding the cutter holder 31 in the vertical direction is fixed to the unit frame 32 . The guide shaft 35 is arranged so that the axial direction of the guide shaft 35 is aligned with the vertical direction. A guide hole through which the guide shaft 35 is inserted is formed in the cutter holder 31, and this guide hole passes through the cutter holder 31 in the vertical direction. The guide shaft 35 serves as the rotation center of the cutter holder 31 that rotates with respect to the unit frame 32 with the vertical direction as the axial direction of rotation.

The lifting 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 cutter holder 31 with respect to the unit frame 32 . A compression coil spring 38 that biases upward is provided. The lever member 36 is rotatable with respect to the unit frame 32 with the lateral direction as the axial direction of rotation. A rear end portion of a lever member 36 is rotatably held by the unit frame 32 . A front end portion of the lever member 36 is engaged with the cutter holder 31 . The cutter holder 31 is formed with an engagement recess 31a into which the front end 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 is fixed to the upper end of the plunger 37a to engage with the intermediate portion of the lever member 36 in the front-rear direction. A guide shaft 35 is inserted through the compression coil spring 38 . The upper end of the compression coil spring 38 contacts the cutter holder 31 and the lower end of the compression coil spring 38 contacts the unit frame 32 .

When the solenoid 37 is not energized, the cutter holder 31 is lifted by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 38 . When the cutter holder 31 is raised by the biasing force of the compression coil spring 38 , the lower end of the cutter blade 8 is raised to a position where it does not contact the medium 2 placed on the platen 18 . When the solenoid 37 is energized, the plunger 37a descends, the lever member 36 rotates in the direction in which the front end of the lever member 36 descends, and the cutter holder 31 descends. When the cutter holder 31 descends, the medium 2 can be cut by the cutter blade 8 . That is, when the medium 2 is cut by the cutter blade 8, the solenoid 37 is energized.

Thus, in this embodiment, the cutter blade 8 rises to a position where the cutter blade 8 does not come into contact with the medium 2 and descends to a position where the medium 2 can be cut by the cutter blade 8 . The lifting mechanism 33 of this embodiment is a cutter blade moving mechanism that moves the cutter blade 8 between a retracted position where the cutter blade 8 does not come into contact with the medium 2 and a cutting possible position where the medium 2 can be cut by the cutter blade 8. It's becoming

The switching mechanism 34 includes a regulating member 42 for regulating the rotation of the cutter holder 31 whose axial direction of rotation is the vertical direction. The restricting member 42 is held by the unit frame 32 so as to be movable in the front-rear direction. The regulating member 42 is arranged behind the upper end of the cutter holder 31 . The rear surface of the upper end portion of the cutter holder 31 arranged on the front side of the regulating member 42 is flat. The front end surface of the regulating member 42 is a curved surface that has a semicircular shape when viewed in the left-right direction.

The switching mechanism 34 has a regulation position 42A (see FIG. 8A) where the regulation member 42 approaches the cutter holder 31 and a regulation release position 42B where the regulation member 42 moves away from the cutter holder 31 (see FIG. 8B). A solenoid 43 is provided as a drive source for moving the regulating member 42 . That is, the switching mechanism 34 has a solenoid 43 for moving the restricting member 42 in the front-rear direction with respect to the unit frame 32 . Further, the switching mechanism 34 includes a tension coil spring 44 that biases the restricting member 42 forward with respect to the unit frame 32 .

The solenoid 43 is fixed to the unit frame 32 so that a plunger 43a of the solenoid 43 protrudes forward. An engagement pin 45 that engages with the rear end of the regulating member 42 is fixed to the front end of the plunger 43a. A front end portion of the tension coil spring 44 is attached to the unit frame 32 , and a rear end portion of the tension coil spring 44 is attached to a rear end portion of the restricting member 42 . When the solenoid 43 is in a non-energized state, the regulating member 42 is arranged at the regulating position 42A by the biasing force of the tension coil spring 44 . When the solenoid 43 is energized, the plunger 43a moves rearward and the regulating member 42 moves rearward, so that the regulating member 42 is placed at the regulation release position 42B.

The front end surface of the regulating member 42 arranged at the regulating position 42A is in light contact with the rear surface of the upper end portion of the cutter holder 31, or the front end surface of the regulating member 42 arranged at the regulating position 42A is in contact with the cutter holder. A slight gap is formed between the upper end portion of 31 and the rear surface thereof. Therefore, when the regulating member 42 is arranged at the regulating position 42</b>A, the cutter holder 31 is placed in a rotation regulating state in which rotation of the cutter holder 31 with respect to the unit frame 32 is regulated.

On the other hand, a large gap is formed between the front end surface of the regulation member 42 arranged at the regulation release position 42B and the rear surface of the upper end portion of the cutter holder 31, and the regulation member 42 is arranged at the regulation release position 42B. Then, the cutter holder 31 enters a rotatable state in which the cutter holder 31 can be rotated with respect to the unit frame 32 . When the cutter holder 31 becomes rotatable, as shown in FIG. 9B, the cutter holder 31 rotates in the counterclockwise direction of FIG. and, as shown in FIG. 9C, the cutter holder 31 can be rotated clockwise in FIG. .

The cutter unit 9 includes a rotation range restricting member that restricts the rotation range (rotation angle) of the cutter holder 31 in the rotatable state. This rotation range restricting member is fixed to the unit frame 32 . This rotation range restricting member can contact the rear surface of the cutter holder 31, and restricts the rotation range of the cutter holder 31 in the clockwise direction and the rotation range of the cutter holder 31 in the counterclockwise direction. This rotation range restricting member is, for example, the maximum rotation angle in the clockwise direction and the maximum rotation angle in the counterclockwise direction of the cutter holder 31 when the thickness direction of the cutter blade 8 coincides with the front-rear direction. is regulated to about 15°.

(Media cutting method)
FIG. 10 is a process chart for explaining the cutting procedure of the medium 2 in the printer 1 shown in FIG. 11 to 13 are diagrams for explaining a method of cutting the medium 2 that is cut in the procedure for cutting the medium 2 shown in FIG. 11 to 13 is the cutter blade position CP, which is the position of the cutting edge of the cutter blade 8 in the medium conveying direction.

In the printing apparatus 1, when printing is performed on a medium 2 different from this medium 2 (specifically, a medium 2 with a different material and width) after printing on a certain medium 2 is completed, the printing apparatus 1 The set medium 2 is replaced. The medium 2 is cut by the cutter blade 8 before the medium 2 is replaced. A method for cutting the medium 2 before replacement in the printing apparatus 1 will be described below.

In the operation of replacing the medium 2, the medium 2 before printing, which is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction of the cutting position, is wound around the delivery roll 23, removed from the medium delivery mechanism 12, and removed from the cutting position in the transport direction. The printed medium 2 arranged on the downstream side is taken up, for example, on a take-up roll 25 and removed from the medium take-up mechanism 13 . Further, in the medium 2 replacement work, the delivery roll 23 around which the medium 2 to be newly printed is wound is attached to the medium delivery mechanism 12 . Further, after the medium 2 is pulled out from the delivery roll 23 and passed over the platen 18 , the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction is fixed to the paper tube 26 .

The method of cutting the medium 2 includes a piercing step ST1 in which the cutter blade 8 is pierced into the medium 2 so as to penetrate the medium 2, and a piercing point SP1 (see FIG. 11) where the cutter blade 8 is pierced in the piercing step ST1. (A)) as a starting point, the cutter blade 8 is moved in the horizontal direction relative to the medium 2 to cut the medium 2 in the horizontal direction. Further, the method for cutting the medium 2 includes a medium conveying step ST4 of conveying the medium 2 downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction.

Further, the method for cutting the medium 2 includes a piercing step ST5 in which the cutter blade 8 is pierced into the left end portion of the medium 2 so as to penetrate the medium 2, and a piercing step ST5 where the cutter blade 8 is pierced in the piercing step ST5. Starting from the point SP2 (see FIG. 11C), the cutter blade 8 is moved relative to the medium 2 downstream and rightward in the transport direction to cut the medium 2 at least in a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. An oblique cutting step ST6 and a horizontal cutting step ST10 for cutting the medium 2 in the left-right direction by relatively moving the cutter blade 8 to the left with respect to the medium 2 starting from the puncture point SP2 are included.

Furthermore, the method of cutting the medium 2 includes a piercing step ST7 in which the cutter blade 8 is pierced into the right end portion of the medium 2 so as to penetrate the medium 2, and a piercing step ST7 where the cutter blade 8 is pierced in the piercing step ST7. Starting from the point SP3 (see FIG. 12B), the cutter blade 8 is moved relative to the medium 2 downstream and leftward in the transport direction to cut the medium 2 at least in a direction inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. An oblique cutting step ST8 and a horizontal cutting step ST9 for cutting the medium 2 in the horizontal direction by relatively moving the cutter blade 8 to the right with respect to the medium 2 starting from the puncture point SP3 are included.

The piercing process ST1, the lateral cutting process ST2, the lateral cutting process ST3, the medium conveying process ST4, the piercing process ST5, the diagonal cutting process ST6, the piercing process ST7, the diagonal cutting process ST8, the lateral cutting process ST9, and the lateral cutting process ST10. , in this order. The cutting process of the medium 2 of this embodiment includes a piercing process ST1, lateral cutting processes ST2 and ST3, a medium conveying process ST4, a piercing process ST5, an oblique cutting process ST6, a piercing process ST7, an oblique cutting process ST8, and a lateral cutting process. ST9 and ST10.

At the start of the cutting process of the medium 2, the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 are arranged at a predetermined standby position (home position). The carriage 7 and cutter unit 9 arranged at the standby position are arranged on the right side of the medium 2 . The printing apparatus 1 also includes a maintenance unit arranged on the right side of the platen 18, and the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 arranged at the standby position are arranged above the maintenance unit. The maintenance unit cleans the head 6 so that the plurality of nozzles formed on the lower end surface of the head 6 are not clogged.

A portion of the medium 2 printed by the printing mechanism 3 is defined as a printing portion 2a, and a portion of the medium 2 on the upstream side of the printing portion 2a in the medium transport direction and not printed by the printing mechanism 3. is the non-printing portion 2b, the piercing step ST1, the lateral cutting steps ST2 and ST3, the piercing step ST5, the diagonal cutting step ST6, the piercing step ST7, the diagonal cutting step ST8, the lateral cutting step ST9, and the lateral cutting step ST10 are , to the non-printing portion 2b.

In the piercing step ST1, the cutter blade 8 is pierced into the middle position of the medium 2 in the horizontal direction (see FIG. 11(A)). In the piercing step ST1, after moving the cutter unit 9 with the cutter holder 31 raised to a predetermined position, the cutter holder 31 is lowered to pierce the medium 2 with the cutter blade 8 . That is, in the stabbing step ST1, after the cutter unit 9 in which the cutter blade 8 is arranged at the retracted position is moved to a predetermined position, the cutter blade 8 is moved to the cuttable position and the cutter blade 8 is moved to the medium 2. pierce the In the piercing step ST1, the cutter holder 31 is in a rotation restricted state, and the cutter blade 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32. As shown in FIG.

In the horizontal cutting step ST2, the medium 2 is cut by moving the cutter blade 8 leftward from the puncture point SP1 to the left end surface of the medium 2 (see FIG. 11A). That is, in the horizontal cutting step ST2, the cutter unit 9 is moved leftward while the medium 2 is stopped, and the medium 2 is cut. In the lateral cutting step ST3, the medium 2 is cut by moving the cutter blade 8 rightward from the puncture point ST1 to the right end surface of the medium 2 (see FIG. 11B). That is, in the horizontal cutting step ST3, the medium 2 is cut by moving the cutter unit 9 to the right while the medium 2 is stopped. In the lateral cutting steps ST2 and ST3, the cutter holder 31 is in a rotation restricted state, and the cutter blade 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32. As shown in FIG.

In this embodiment, the straight cutting step ST11 cuts the medium 2 over the entire area in the left-right direction by moving the cutter blade 8 in the left-right direction while the medium 2 is stopped by the stabbing step ST1 and the horizontal cutting steps ST2 and ST3. is configured. When the linear cutting step ST11 is completed, the medium 2 is separated at the cutting position of the medium 2 in the linear cutting step ST11. Assuming that the medium 2 arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction from the cutting position of the medium 2 in the linear cutting step ST11 is the upstream medium 2c, the end surface of the upstream medium 2c on the downstream side in the transport direction is parallel to the left-right direction. It is linear.

In the printing apparatus 1, printing is performed on the medium 2 by the head 6 before the linear cutting step ST11. Further, in the linear cutting step ST11, the portion of the medium 2 on the upstream side in the transport direction of the printed portion (that is, the printing portion 2a) is cut. In the following description, the end surface of the upstream medium 2c on the downstream side in the transport direction when the linear cutting step ST11 is completed is referred to as a first end surface 2d. The upstream medium 2c of this embodiment is the second upstream medium.

In the medium conveying step ST4, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the linear cutting step ST11. A specific conveying amount of the medium 2 in the medium conveying step ST4 will be described later.

In the piercing step ST5, the cutter blade 8 pierces the left end of the medium 2 (specifically, the upstream medium 2c) so as to penetrate the medium 2 (see FIG. 11C). In the piercing step ST5, similar to the piercing step ST1, after the cutter unit 9 in which the cutter holder 31 is raised is moved to a predetermined position, the cutter holder 31 is lowered to pierce the medium 2 with the cutter blade 8. pierce. In the piercing step ST5, the cutter holder 31 is in a rotation restricted state, and the cutter blade 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32. As shown in FIG.

In the oblique cutting step ST6, the cutter blade 8 is moved relative to the medium 2 downstream and rightward in the conveying direction starting from the puncture point SP2 to cut the medium 2 to an intermediate position in the left-right direction. The blade 8 is moved rightward by a predetermined amount to cut the medium 2 (see FIG. 12(A)). That is, in the oblique cutting step ST6, the cutter unit 9 is moved to the right at a predetermined speed while conveying the medium 2 (specifically, the upstream medium 2c) upstream in the conveying direction at a predetermined speed. After cutting the medium 2 from SP2 to an intermediate position in the horizontal direction, the cutter unit 9 is moved to the right at a predetermined speed by a predetermined amount while the medium 2 is stopped, and the medium 2 is cut.

In the oblique cutting step ST6, the medium 2 is linearly cut obliquely rightward from the puncture point SP2, and then linearly cut rightward. The cutting position of the medium 2 cut in the oblique cutting step ST6 does not reach the first end surface 2d in the medium conveying direction. Further, the cutting position of the medium 2 cut in the oblique cutting step ST6 does not reach the right end surface of the medium 2 in the left-right direction.

In the oblique cutting step ST6, the cutter holder 31 is in a rotatable state, and the cutter blade 8 is in a rotatable state with respect to the unit frame 32. As shown in FIG. In the oblique cutting step ST6, the cutter blade 8 rotates with respect to the unit frame 32 so that the direction of relative movement of the cutter blade 8 with respect to the medium 2 and the width direction of the cutter blade 8 coincide with each other. It moves relative to the medium 2 while maintaining a state in which the relative movement direction of the cutter blade 8 and the width direction of the cutter blade 8 match.

In the piercing step ST7, the cutter blade 8 pierces the right end of the medium 2 (specifically, the upstream medium 2c) so as to penetrate the medium 2 (see FIG. 12B). In the piercing step ST7, the cutter unit 9 with the cutter holder 31 raised is moved to a predetermined position, and then the cutter holder 31 is lowered to pierce the medium 2 with the cutter blade 8 in the same manner as in the piercing step ST1. pierce. In this embodiment, the puncture point SP3 is formed at the same position as the puncture point SP2 in the medium transport direction.

Therefore, after the oblique cutting step ST6 and before the piercing step ST7, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction. Specifically, after the oblique cutting step ST6 and before the piercing step ST7, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by the same amount as the amount of conveyance of the medium 2 in the oblique cutting step ST6. In this embodiment, the distance from the left end surface of the medium 2 to the puncture point SP2 (horizontal distance) is equal to the distance from the right end surface of the medium 2 to the puncture point SP3 (horizontal distance). ing. In the piercing step ST7, the cutter holder 31 is in a rotation restricted state, and the cutter blade 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32. As shown in FIG.

In the oblique cutting step ST8, the medium 2 is cut by relatively moving the cutter blade 8 to the downstream side and left side in the transport direction with respect to the medium 2 starting from the puncture point SP3 (see FIG. 12C). That is, in the diagonal cutting step ST8, the cutter unit 9 is moved to the left at a predetermined speed while the medium 2 (specifically, the upstream medium 2c) is conveyed upstream in the conveying direction at a predetermined speed. cut. Further, in the oblique cutting step ST8, the medium 2 is linearly cut from the puncture point SP3 to the right end of the cutting position in the oblique cutting step ST6.

In the oblique cutting step ST8, the cutter holder 31 is in a rotatable state, and the cutter blade 8 is in a rotatable state with respect to the unit frame 32. As shown in FIG. In the oblique cutting step ST8, the cutter blade 8 rotates with respect to the unit frame 32 so that the direction of relative movement of the cutter blade 8 with respect to the medium 2 and the width direction of the cutter blade 8 coincide with each other. It moves relative to the medium 2 while maintaining a state in which the relative movement direction of the cutter blade 8 and the width direction of the cutter blade 8 match.

In the lateral cutting step ST9, the cutter blade 8 is moved to the right with respect to the medium 2 starting from the puncture point SP3, and cuts the medium 2 in the horizontal direction from the puncture point SP3 to the right end surface of the medium 2 (see FIG. 13 ( A)). That is, in the horizontal cutting step ST9, the cutter unit 9 is moved to the right to cut the medium 2 while the medium 2 (specifically, the upstream medium 2c) is stopped. In the lateral cutting step ST9, the cutter holder 31 is in a rotation restricted state, and the cutter blade 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32. As shown in FIG. After the oblique cutting step ST8 and before the lateral cutting step ST9, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by the same amount as the amount of conveyance of the medium 2 in the oblique cutting step ST8.

In the horizontal cutting step ST10, the cutter blade 8 is moved to the left with respect to the medium 2 starting from the puncture point SP2, and cuts the medium 2 in the horizontal direction from the puncture point SP2 to the left end surface of the medium 2 (see FIG. 13 ( B)). That is, in the horizontal cutting step ST10, the cutter unit 9 is moved to the left to cut the medium 2 while the medium 2 (specifically, the upstream medium 2c) is stopped. In the horizontal cutting step ST10 , the cutter holder 31 is in a rotation restricted state, and the cutter blade 8 does not rotate with respect to the unit frame 32 . In the horizontal cutting steps ST9 and ST10, the cutter unit 9 may be reciprocated in the horizontal direction in order to cut the medium 2 reliably. In this case, the cutter unit 9 may be reciprocated a plurality of times in the horizontal direction.

The piercing step ST5 of this embodiment is the first piercing step, the diagonal cutting step ST6 is the first diagonal cutting step, the piercing step ST7 is the second piercing step, and the diagonal cutting step ST8 is , the second oblique cutting step. Further, the lateral cutting step ST10 is the first lateral cutting step, and is performed after the first oblique cutting step and the second oblique cutting step. Further, the lateral cutting step ST9 is the second lateral cutting step, and is performed after the first oblique cutting step and the second oblique cutting step and before the first lateral cutting step. The puncture point SP2 of this embodiment is the first puncture point, and the puncture point SP3 is the second puncture point.

In this embodiment, after the medium conveying step ST4, the cutter 8 is moved in the left-right direction and the medium is cut by the stabbing step ST5, the oblique cutting step ST6, the stabbing step ST7, the oblique cutting step ST8, and the lateral cutting steps ST9 and ST10. 2 and cutting the medium 2 over the entire area in the left-right direction. When the convex cutting step ST12 is completed, the medium 2 is separated at the cutting position of the medium 2 in the convex cutting step ST12. Assuming that the medium 2 arranged upstream in the transport direction from the cutting position of the medium 2 in the convex cutting step ST12 is an upstream medium 2e, the end surface of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the transport direction has a trapezoidal protrusion. shape. In the following description, the end surface of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the transport direction when the convex cutting step ST12 is completed is referred to as a second end surface 2f. The upstream medium 2e of this embodiment is the first upstream medium.

As shown in FIG. 13(C), the second end surface 2f includes three end surfaces 2g, 2h, and 2j parallel to the left-right direction, and a linear shape that slopes toward the downstream side in the conveying direction toward the right side. It is composed of an end face 2k and a linear end face 2p that inclines toward the downstream side in the conveying direction as it goes leftward. The end surface 2g constitutes the center portion of the second end surface 2f in the left-right direction, the end surface 2h constitutes the left end portion of the second end surface 2f, and the end surface 2j constitutes the right end portion of the second end surface 2f. One end of the end face 2k is connected to the left end of the end face 2g, and the other end of the end face 2k is connected to the right end of the end face 2h. One end of the end face 2p is connected to the right end of the end face 2g, and the other end of the end face 2p is connected to the left end of the end face 2j.

In this embodiment, the cut angle of the medium 2 with respect to the horizontal direction in the oblique cutting step ST6 (that is, the inclination angle of the end face 2k with respect to the horizontal direction) θ1 (see FIG. 13C), and The cut angle of the medium 2 (that is, the inclination angle of the end surface 2p with respect to the horizontal direction) θ2 (see FIG. 13C) is equal. Therefore, the second end surface 2f has an isosceles trapezoidal shape. The cut angles θ1 and θ2 are 7° to 13°. More specifically, the cut angles θ1 and θ2 are 8° to 12°. In this embodiment, the cut angles θ1 and θ2 are 10°.

Also, the cut angles θ1 and θ2 are constant regardless of the width of the medium 2 to be cut. That is, even if the width of the medium 2 to be cut is changed, the cut angles θ1 and θ2 are 10°. and the cut angles θ1 and θ2 are 10° even if the width of the medium 2 to be cut is 1000 mm. Further, as described above, the puncture point SP2 and the puncture point SP3 are formed at the same position in the medium conveying direction, and the distance from the left end face of the upstream medium 2c to the puncture point SP2 is Since the distance from the right end face of 2c to the puncture point SP3 is equal, the end face 2k and the end face 2p are arranged symmetrically.

As described above, the first medium guide 15 and the second medium guide 16 are arranged at the same position in the medium transport direction. A transport direction downstream end 15a of the first medium guide 15 and a transport direction downstream end 16a of the second medium guide 16 are arranged upstream of the cutter blade position CP in the transport direction. That is, the downstream end 15 a of the first medium guide 15 in the transport direction and the downstream end 16 a of the second medium guide 16 in the transport direction are arranged upstream of the cutting edge of the cutter blade 8 in the transport direction.

The upstream end 15b of the first medium guide 15 in the transport direction is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction of the piercing point SP2 when the oblique cutting step ST6 is completed, and the upstream end 16b of the second medium guide 16 in the transport direction , is arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the piercing point SP3 when the oblique cutting step ST8 is completed. That is, the cut angle θ1 is set so that the upstream end 15b of the first medium guide 15 in the transport direction is arranged upstream in the transport direction from the piercing point SP2 when the oblique cutting step ST6 is completed. θ2 is set such that the upstream end 16b of the second medium guide 16 in the transport direction is located upstream in the transport direction from the puncture point SP3 when the oblique cutting step ST8 is completed.

Since the second end surface 2f of the upstream medium 2e after cutting the medium 2 before replacing the medium 2 has a trapezoidal convex shape, the medium 2e is temporarily removed from the printing apparatus 1 and then printed. The downstream end face in the transport direction of the medium 2 before printing to be reattached to the device 1 also has a trapezoidal convex shape, and is constituted by end faces 2g, 2h, 2j, 2k, and 2p. Therefore, in the operation of replacing the medium 2, the downstream end surface in the transport direction of the medium 2 fixed to the paper tube 26 is composed of the end surfaces 2g, 2h, 2j, 2k, and 2p. (See Figure 3). To the paper tube 26, the center portion in the left-right direction of the medium 2 on which the end surface 2g is formed is fixed.

In the medium conveying step ST4, the medium 2 is conveyed by a certain amount downstream in the conveying direction. Further, in the medium transport step ST4, a predetermined distance is provided between the downstream end of the upstream medium 2c in the transport direction (ie, first end surface 2d) and the downstream end of the upstream medium 2e in the transport direction (ie, end surface 2g). The medium 2 is conveyed to the position where L is formed. That is, in the medium conveying step ST4, the medium is cut so that a predetermined interval L is formed between the conveying direction downstream end of the medium 2 before the convex cutting step ST12 and the conveying direction downstream end of the upstream medium 2e. 2 is transported.

Specifically, in the medium conveying step ST4, as shown in FIG. 5, the maximum vertical distance between the portion of the medium 2 placed below the head 6 in the convex cutting step ST12 and the upper surface of the platen 18 is (That is, the vertical distance between the top surface of the platen 18 and the highest point of the portion of the medium 2 located below the head 6 in the convex cutting step ST12) and the upper surface of the platen 18 (head gap) D2. More specifically, in the medium conveying step ST4, the medium 2 is conveyed to a position where the maximum distance D1 is smaller than the distance D2 even if the medium 2 has a curl.

That is, the conveying distance of the medium 2 in the medium conveying step ST4 is set so that the space L is formed between the first end surface 2d and the end surface 2g, and the space between the first end surface 2d and the end surface 2g is set. When L is formed, even if the medium 2 is curled, the maximum distance D1 becomes smaller than the distance D2. In this embodiment, the interval L is 100 mm. It is possible to prevent the medium 2 from coming into contact with the lower end surface of the head 6 even if the medium 2 has a curl. In this embodiment, the conveying distance of the medium 2 in the medium conveying step ST4 is constant regardless of whether the medium 2 has a curl. Further, in this embodiment, the transport distance of the medium 2 in the medium transport step ST4 is constant regardless of the strength of the curl of the medium 2 . Note that the distance D2 is, for example, about 2 mm.

The linear cutting step ST11, the medium conveying step ST4, and the convex cutting step ST12 are automatically and continuously performed. That is, in the printing apparatus 1, the control unit 14 stores a control program for continuously executing the linear cutting step ST11, the medium conveying step ST4, and the convex cutting step ST12. , the control unit 14 continuously executes these steps. For example, when the medium 2 needs to be replaced and the operator of the printer 1 presses a predetermined operation button, the controller 14 continuously executes these steps. That is, when the operator presses the operation button, the control section 14 sequentially executes the linear cutting step ST11, the medium conveying step ST4, and the convex cutting step ST12 in this order.

In this embodiment, the linear cutting step ST11 is performed by moving the cutter blade 8 in the horizontal direction by the carriage drive mechanism 11 while the medium 2 is stopped, thereby cutting the medium 2 in the entire horizontal direction. It is a step. Further, the step of executing the medium conveying step ST4 is the medium conveying step of conveying the medium 2 downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount by the medium conveying mechanism 10 after the linear cutting step. In the medium conveying step, the medium 2 is conveyed to a position where a predetermined gap L is formed between the first end face 2d and the end face 2g. In addition, the step of executing the convex cutting step ST12 is, after the medium conveying step, moving the cutter blade 8 in the left-right direction by the carriage drive mechanism 11 and conveying the medium 2 by the medium conveying mechanism 10, so that the entire area in the left-right direction is It is a convex cut step that cuts the medium 2 .

(Main effects of this form)
As described above, in the present embodiment, after the linear cutting step ST11, the medium 2 is cut across the entire lateral direction so that the first end face 2d of the upstream medium 2c is linear parallel to the lateral direction. , in the medium conveying step ST4 before the convex cutting step ST12 in which the medium 2 is cut in the entire left-right direction so that the second end surface 2f of the upstream medium 2e has a trapezoidal convex shape, the upstream medium 2c is conveyed. The medium 2 is transported downstream in the transport direction to a position where a predetermined interval L is formed between the downstream end in the transport direction and the downstream end in the transport direction of the upstream medium 2e.

Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to increase the distance in the medium transport direction between the first end surface 2d of the upstream medium 2c and the cutter unit 9 before the convex cutting step ST12 is performed. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the curl of the medium 2 is strong, the floating of the medium 2 from the platen 18 at the arrangement position of the cutter unit 9 in the medium transport direction is suppressed when performing the convex cutting step ST12. it becomes possible to As a result, in this embodiment, even if the curl of the medium 2 is strong, after the medium 2 is cut in a straight line parallel to the left-right direction over the entire area in the left-right direction before the medium 2 is replaced, It is possible to appropriately cut one longitudinal end of the medium 2 so that the end face of the medium 2 has a trapezoidal convex shape.

Further, in the present embodiment, in the medium conveying step ST4, the maximum vertical distance D1 between the portion of the medium 2 arranged below the head 6 in the convex cutting step ST12 and the upper surface of the platen 18 is equal to the height of the head 6. The medium 2 is conveyed to a position smaller than the vertical distance D2 between the lower end surface and the upper surface of the platen 18 . Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the curl of the medium 2 is strong, it is possible to prevent the head 6 moving in the horizontal direction from coming into contact with the medium 2 when performing the convex cutting step ST12. Therefore, in this embodiment, even if the curl of the medium 2 is strong, it is possible to reliably cut one end of the medium 2 in the longitudinal direction so that the end surface of the medium 2 has a convex trapezoidal shape. At the same time, it becomes possible to prevent damage to the head 6 due to contact with the medium 2 .

In the medium conveying step ST4, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction to a position where the interval L is formed between the downstream end of the upstream medium 2c in the conveying direction and the downstream end of the upstream medium 2e in the conveying direction. Otherwise, the curled medium 2 may be greatly lifted from the platen 18 . When the medium 2, which has a strong curl, floats significantly above the platen 18, for example, as indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. It becomes large, and the head 6 or the carriage 7 and the medium 2 come into contact with each other in the convex cutting step ST12.

In this embodiment, the lateral cutting steps ST9 and ST10 are performed after the oblique cutting steps ST6 and ST8, and even when the oblique cutting steps ST6 and ST8 are completed, the medium 2 is not completely cut in the horizontal direction. First, the medium 2 on the upstream side in the transport direction and the medium 2 on the downstream side in the transport direction are connected on both sides in the left-right direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of a problem that the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is torn due to the gravity acting on the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction while the oblique cutting step ST8 is being performed. Become.

In this embodiment, the lateral cutting step ST9 is performed before the lateral cutting step ST10. Therefore, in this embodiment, there is a possibility that the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is torn off and falls due to the gravity acting on the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction during the horizontal cutting step ST10. Even if the medium 2 on the downstream side in the transport direction is torn off and falls while ST10 is being performed, the medium 2 on the downstream side in the transport direction that is torn off and falls will move to the left and fall. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent contact between the head 6 arranged on the right side of the cutter unit 9 and the medium 2 on the downstream side in the transport direction that is torn off and dropped. It is possible to prevent damage to the head 6 due to contact with the medium 2 downstream in the direction.

In this embodiment, the upstream end 15b in the transport direction of the first medium guide 15 is arranged upstream in the transport direction from the piercing point SP2 when the oblique cutting step ST6 is completed. Therefore, in this embodiment, when the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction after the oblique cutting step ST6 and before the puncturing step ST7, the portion of the medium 2 cut in the oblique cutting step ST6 is It is possible to prevent the first medium guide 15 from being caught on the upstream end 15b of the first medium guide 15 in the transport direction. Similarly, in the present embodiment, the upstream end 16b of the second medium guide 16 in the conveying direction is arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the piercing point SP3 when the oblique cutting step ST8 is completed. After ST8 and before the horizontal cutting step ST9, when the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction, the portion of the medium 2 cut in the oblique cutting step ST8 is positioned upstream of the second medium guide 16 in the conveying direction. It becomes possible to prevent it from being caught on the side end 16b.

Further, in this embodiment, the transport amount of the medium 2 to the upstream side in the transport direction when the oblique cutting step ST6 is performed and the transport amount of the medium 2 to the upstream side in the transport direction when the oblique cutting step ST8 is performed are different. Therefore, when the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction after the oblique cutting step ST8 and before the lateral cutting step ST9, the portion of the medium 2 cut in the oblique cutting step ST6 is the first medium. It is possible to prevent the guide 15 from being caught on the upstream end 15b of the guide 15 in the transport direction. Therefore, in this embodiment, the medium 2 can be properly transported.

In this embodiment, the cut angles θ1 and θ2 of the medium 2 with respect to the horizontal direction in the oblique cutting steps ST6 and ST8 are constant regardless of the width of the medium 2 to be cut. The rotation angle of the cutter holder 31 with respect to the frame 32 is constant regardless of the width of the medium 2 to be cut. Therefore, in this embodiment, it is possible to prevent the cutter holder 31 from rotating excessively with respect to the unit frame 32 in the oblique cutting steps ST6 and ST8, and as a result, damage to the cutter blade 8 is prevented. becomes possible.

(Modified example 1 of medium cutting method)
FIG. 14 is a process chart for explaining the procedure for cutting the medium 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention.

In the embodiment described above, the medium 2 before replacement is subjected to the linear cutting step ST11 and the convex cutting step ST12. The convex cutting step ST12 may be performed on the subsequent medium 2 . In this modification, the medium 2 is removed from the printer 1 after the linear cutting step ST11 is completed. The downstream end surface in the transport direction of the medium 2 before printing, which has been temporarily removed from the printing apparatus 1 and then reattached to the printing apparatus 1, has a linear shape parallel to the left-right direction. In this modified example, the medium 2 that has been temporarily removed from the printing device 1 may be attached to the printing device 1 again, or a new medium 2 may be attached to the printing device 1 . In the new medium 2, the end surface of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is linear and parallel to the left-right direction.

The medium 2 cutting method performed on the medium 2 after replacement includes a medium setting step ST21 for setting the medium 2 wound in a roll on the medium feeding mechanism 12; is conveyed downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction, and after the medium conveying step ST24, the cutter blade 8 is moved in the left-right direction and the medium 2 is conveyed to cut the medium 2 over the entire area in the left-right direction. A cutting step ST12 is included. In this modified example, the medium 2 cutting process performed on the medium 2 after replacement includes a medium setting process ST21, a medium conveying process ST24, and a convex cutting process ST12.

In the medium setting step ST<b>21 , the delivery roll 23 is set in the medium delivery mechanism 12 , and the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction is sandwiched between the transport roller 19 and the pad roller 20 . In the medium conveying step ST24, a predetermined gap L is formed between the conveying direction downstream end of the medium 2 before the convex cutting step ST12 and the conveying direction downstream end of the upstream medium 2e in the same manner as in the embodiment described above. The medium 2 is conveyed to the position where the 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 even if the medium 2 has a curl. In the convex cutting step ST12, the medium 2 is cut in the entire left-right direction so that the second end surface 2f of the upstream medium 2e has a trapezoidal convex shape, as in the above-described embodiment.

When the convex cutting step ST<b>12 is completed, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount, and the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is fixed to the paper tube 26 . After that, the medium 2 is printed. That is, in this modification, the medium 2 is not printed by the printing mechanism 3 after the medium conveying step ST24 and before the convex cutting step ST12, and the printing mechanism 3 does not print on the medium 2 after the convex cutting step ST12. is printed. Further, in this modification, the medium 2 is printed by the head 6 after the convex cutting step ST12 and before the linear cutting step ST11. A portion on the upstream side in the conveying direction is cut from the cut portion.

The medium conveying step ST24 and the convex cutting step ST12 are automatically and continuously performed. That is, as in the above embodiment, the control unit 14 stores a control program for continuously executing the medium conveying step ST24 and the convex cutting step ST12. Based on this control program, the control unit 14 performs these steps sequentially. For example, when the operator of the printing apparatus 1 presses a predetermined operation button after the medium setting step ST21 is completed, the control section 14 continuously executes these steps. That is, when the operator presses the operation button, the control section 14 sequentially executes the medium conveying step ST24 and the convex cutting step ST12 in this order.

In this modified example, the step of executing the medium transporting step ST24 includes, after the medium 2 wound in a roll shape is set in the medium feeding mechanism 12, the medium transporting mechanism 10 transports the medium 2 to the downstream side in the transporting direction by a predetermined amount. It is a medium transport step for transporting. In addition, the step of executing the convex cutting step ST12 is, after the medium conveying step, moving the cutter blade 8 in the left-right direction by the carriage drive mechanism 11 and conveying the medium 2 by the medium conveying mechanism 10, so that the entire area in the left-right direction is It is a convex cut step that cuts the medium 2 . In the medium conveying step, the medium 2 is conveyed to a position where a predetermined interval L is formed between the conveying direction downstream end of the medium 2 before the convex cutting step and the conveying direction downstream end of the upstream medium 2e. . In this modified example, the printing mechanism 3 does not print the medium 2 after the medium transport step but before the convex cutting step, and the printing mechanism 3 prints the medium 2 after the convex cutting step. will be

In this modified example as well, it is possible to increase the distance in the medium transport direction between the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction and the cutter unit 9 before the convex cutting step ST12 is performed, as in the above-described embodiment. . Therefore, even if the curl of the medium 2 is strong, it is possible to suppress the floating of the medium 2 from the platen 18 at the arrangement position of the cutter unit 9 in the medium conveying direction when performing the convex cutting step ST12. become. As a result, even if the curl of the medium 2 is strong, after replacing the medium 2, one end in the longitudinal direction of the medium 2 can be appropriately cut so that the end face of the medium 2 has a convex trapezoidal shape. becomes possible.

(Modification 2 of medium cutting method and medium end connecting method)
FIG. 15 is a process chart for explaining the procedure for cutting the medium 2 according to another embodiment of the present invention. 16A and 16B are diagrams for explaining a method of cutting the medium 2 that is cut by the procedure for cutting the medium 2 shown in FIG. FIG. 17 illustrates a connection method for connecting the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction and the paper tube 26 by using the downstream medium 2t cut by the cutting procedure of the medium 2 shown in FIG. It is a diagram for

In the embodiment described above, in the method of cutting the medium 2 before replacement, the cutter blade 8 is moved in the horizontal direction while the medium 2 is stopped, and the medium 2 is cut in the entire horizontal direction. A second linear cutting step ST41 and, after the second linear cutting step ST41, a second medium conveying step ST44 for conveying the medium 2 downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount may be included. In this case, the second linear cutting step ST41 and the second medium conveying step ST44 are performed before the linear cutting step ST11, as shown in FIG. That is, the linear cutting step ST11 is performed after the second medium conveying step ST44.

The second linear cutting step ST41 is composed of a piercing step ST31 corresponding to the piercing step ST1, a lateral cutting step ST32 corresponding to the lateral cutting step ST2, and a lateral cutting step ST33 corresponding to the lateral cutting step ST3. ing. In the piercing step ST31, the cutter blade 8 is pierced into the middle position of the medium 2 in the horizontal direction (see FIG. 16(A)). In the lateral cutting step ST32, the medium 2 is cut by moving the cutter blade 8 leftward to the left end surface of the medium 2 starting from the piercing point SP11 where the cutter blade 8 pierced in the piercing step ST31 (FIG. 16). (A)). In the lateral cutting step ST33, the medium 2 is cut by moving the cutter blade 8 rightward from the puncture point ST11 to the right end surface of the medium 2 (see FIG. 16B).

When the second linear cutting step ST41 is completed, the medium 2 is separated at the cutting position of the medium 2 in the second linear cutting step ST41. Assuming that the medium 2 arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction from the cutting position of the medium 2 in the second linear cutting step ST41 is an upstream medium 2r, the end face of the upstream medium 2r on the downstream side in the transport direction extends in the left-right direction. They are parallel straight lines. In the printing apparatus 1, printing of the medium 2 by the head 6 is performed before the second linear cutting step ST41. Further, in the second linear cutting step ST41, the portion of the medium 2 on the upstream side in the transport direction of the printed portion (that is, the printing portion 2a) is cut.

In the second medium conveying step ST44, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount after the second linear cutting step ST41. Specifically, in the second medium transport step ST44, a position where a predetermined gap L1 is formed between the end face of the upstream medium 2r on the downstream side in the transport direction and the first end face 2d of the upstream medium 2c described above. , the medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction. For example, in the second medium transport step ST44, the medium 2 is transported downstream in the transport direction to a position where an interval L1 of about 30 mm to 100 mm is formed between the end surface of the upstream medium 2r on the downstream side in the transport direction and the first end surface 2d. transport to

That is, assuming that the downstream medium 2t is the medium 2 arranged downstream of the cutting position in the subsequent linear cutting step ST11 in the conveying direction, the linear cutting step ST11 is completed in the second medium conveying step ST44. Then, the medium 2 is conveyed downstream by a predetermined amount so that a strip-shaped downstream side medium 2t having a predetermined width of about 30 mm to 100 mm is formed. The width of the medium 2 is, for example, approximately 1000 mm to 1600 mm.

In the subsequent linear cutting step ST11, the medium 2 is cut in the same manner as in the embodiment described above. That is, first, in the piercing step ST1, the cutter blade 8 is pierced in the middle position of the medium 2 in the horizontal direction, and in the horizontal cutting step ST2, the cutter blade 8 is moved to the left side of the medium 2 from the piercing point SP1 to the left end surface of the medium 2. to cut the medium 2 (see FIG. 16(C)). Thereafter, in the horizontal cutting step ST3, the medium 2 is cut by moving the cutter blade 8 to the right from the puncture point ST1 to the right end surface of the medium 2 (see FIG. 16D). When the linear cutting step ST11 is completed, the downstream medium 2t is formed. In this modification, the downstream medium 2t is a belt-shaped portion.

In this modified example, the downstream side medium 2 t is used instead of the tape 27 , and the end of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the transport direction after replacement is connected to the paper tube 26 . Specifically, assuming that the edge of the downstream medium 2t in the left-right direction when the linear cutting step ST11 is completed is the downstream medium edge 2v, as shown in FIG. One downstream side medium end portion 2 v is fixed to the end portion, and the other downstream side medium end portion 2 v is fixed to the paper tube 26 to connect the downstream end portion of the medium 2 in the transport direction to the paper tube 26 . For example, one downstream medium end 2v is fixed to the downstream end in the transport direction of the medium 2 with tape, and the other downstream medium end 2v is fixed to the paper tube 26 with tape.

In this modified example, the medium take-up mechanism 13 is arranged below the printing mechanism 3, and even if the distance in the medium conveying direction between the printing mechanism 3 and the paper tube 26 is long, It is possible to connect the end portion of the arranged medium 2 on the downstream side in the transport direction and the paper tube 26 by the downstream medium 2t. Therefore, even if the distance between the printing mechanism 3 and the paper tube 26 in the medium conveying direction is long, the printing mechanism 3 can print on the medium 2 without waste from the downstream end of the medium 2 in the conveying direction. As a result, waste of the medium 2 can be suppressed.

It should be noted that, in the above-described modified example 1 of the medium cutting method, as in this modified example, the method of cutting the medium 2 performed on the medium 2 before replacement includes the second linear cutting step ST41 and the second medium conveying step. ST44 may be included, and the second linear cutting step ST41 and the second medium transporting step ST44 may be performed before the linear cutting step ST11. Further, in Modified Example 1 of the medium cutting method described above, after the medium setting step ST21 and before the medium conveying step ST24, the end portion of the medium 2 on the downstream side in the conveying direction is cut to form the downstream medium 2t. Corresponding strips may be formed. In this case, in the cutting method of the medium 2 after replacement, the cutter blade 8 is moved in the left-right direction while the medium 2 is stopped, and the medium 2 is cut in the entire left-right direction. process is included.

The technical idea of the medium edge connection method described above will be described below.
A cutter unit having a cutter blade for cutting a long medium, a medium transport mechanism for transporting the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium, and the medium perpendicular to the longitudinal direction and the thickness direction of the medium. a cutter unit drive mechanism for moving the cutter unit in the width direction of the medium, the upstream side in the medium transport direction of the medium transport mechanism being the upstream side in the transport direction, and the downstream side in the transport direction of the medium being transported. A medium cutting device including a medium winding mechanism that rotates a paper tube for winding to which an end portion of the medium on the downstream side in the transport direction is connected, and winds the medium around the paper tube. A medium end connection method for connecting an end of the medium on the downstream side in the transport direction to the paper tube,
a cutting step of cutting the medium across the entire width direction of the medium so as to form a strip-shaped strip portion having a predetermined width in the transport direction of the medium;
One longitudinal end of the strip is fixed to the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction, the other longitudinal end of the strip is fixed to the paper tube, and the medium is transported downstream in the transport direction. and a connecting step of connecting the end of the medium to the paper tube.

By connecting the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction to the paper tube by this medium end connection method, a processing mechanism for performing a predetermined process on the medium, such as a printing mechanism for performing print processing on the medium, and the paper tube. Even if the distance in the transport direction of the medium is long, it is possible to connect the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction located near the processing mechanism and the paper tube by the belt-like portion. It is possible to process the medium by the processing mechanism without waste from the end on the downstream side in the transport direction. Therefore, even if the distance in the medium transport direction between the processing mechanism and the paper tube is long, it is possible to suppress the waste of the medium. In this medium edge connection method, the convex cutting step ST12 may not be performed.

In this modification, a strip-shaped portion having a predetermined width in the medium transport direction (that is, a downstream medium 2t) is formed by cutting the medium 2 in the entire width direction (horizontal direction) of the medium 2 . Further, in this modification, one downstream medium end 2v is fixed to the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction, and the other downstream medium end 2v is fixed to the paper tube 26 to transport the medium 2. In the step of connecting the downstream end in the transport direction to the paper tube 26 , one longitudinal end of the strip is fixed to the downstream end in the transport direction of the medium 2 , and the longitudinal end of the strip is attached to the paper tube 26 . This is a connection step in which the other end is fixed and the end on the downstream side in the transport direction of the medium 2 is connected to the paper tube 26 . It is also possible to connect the downstream end of the medium 2 in the transport direction to the paper tube 26 by using an elongated strip of paper tape or the like instead of the strip (downstream medium 2t).

(Example of modification of convex cutting process)
FIG. 18 is a process diagram for explaining the convex cutting process ST12 according to another embodiment of the present invention. 19 and 20 are diagrams for explaining the convex cutting step ST12 shown in FIG.

According to the study of the inventors of the present application, in the above-described embodiment, if the curl of the medium 2 is stronger, the upstream medium will be cut even after the lateral cutting step ST9 and before the lateral cutting step ST10 is performed. The portion of 2e on the downstream side in the conveying direction floats more, and after the lateral cutting step ST9, the cutter unit 9 mounted on the carriage 7 that moves to the left side to perform the lateral cutting step ST10 moves to the upstream side medium 2e. However, there is a risk that the movement of the carriage 7 will be hindered by contact with the portion on the downstream side in the transport direction.

Therefore, in the embodiment described above, in the convex cutting step ST12, after the lateral cutting step ST9, the cutter blade 8 arranged at the cuttable position (lowered position) where the medium 2 can be cut by the cutter blade 8 is moved to the cutter. After the cutter blade retracting step ST51 for moving the blade 8 to the retracted position (raised position) where the blade 8 does not come into contact with the medium 2 and the horizontal cutting step ST9, the medium 2 is placed downstream in the conveying direction as shown in FIG. After the third medium conveying step ST52 of quantitatively conveying, the cutter blade retreating step ST51, and the third medium conveying step ST52, as shown in FIG. After the carriage movement step ST53 of moving the carriage 7 to the left side until it is arranged at the same position, and after the carriage movement step ST53, as shown in FIG. A fourth medium conveying step ST54 of conveying the medium 2 upstream in the conveying direction until the medium 2 is arranged at the same position as SP2, and after the fourth medium conveying step ST54, the cutter blade 8 arranged at the retracted position is moved to the cuttable position. A cutter blade arranging step ST55 for moving may also be provided.

In this case, the lateral cutting step ST10 is performed after the cutter blade placement step ST55. After the lateral cutting step ST9 is completed, the carriage 7 is placed at the position shown in FIG. 19(A), for example. The cutter blade retreating step ST51 is performed, for example, before the third medium conveying step ST52. However, the cutter blade retreating step ST51 may be performed after the third medium conveying step ST52.

In the third medium transport step ST52, the medium 2 is transported by a certain amount downstream in the transport direction. Specifically, in the third medium conveying step ST52, even if the curl of the medium 2 is strong and the portion of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the conveying direction floats significantly after the horizontal cutting step ST9. , the cutter unit 9 moving to the left in the carriage movement step ST53 conveys the medium 2 downstream in the conveying direction to a position where it does not contact the portion of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the conveying direction. For example, in the third medium transport step ST52, the medium 2 is transported 80 mm downstream in the transport direction. In the fourth medium conveying step ST54, the medium 2 is conveyed upstream in the conveying direction by the same amount as the medium 2 conveyed in the third medium conveying step ST52.

According to studies by the inventors of the present application, when the ultraviolet irradiation unit 29 is mounted on the left end of the carriage 7, the curl of the medium 2 becomes strong, and after the lateral cutting step ST9, the upstream medium 2e If the portion on the downstream side in the transport direction of the upstream medium 2e floats more, the ultraviolet irradiation unit 29 moving to the left in the carriage movement step ST53 is more likely to come into contact with the portion on the downstream side in the transport direction of the upstream medium 2e. 3, in the third medium conveying step ST52, the medium 2 is conveyed to a position where the ultraviolet irradiation unit 29 moved to the left in the carriage moving step ST53 does not contact the downstream portion of the upstream medium 2e in the conveying direction.

In this modified example, after the medium 2 is conveyed downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction in the third medium conveying step ST52, the carriage 7 is moved leftward in the carriage moving step ST53. is stronger, after the lateral cutting step ST9, it is possible to move the carriage 7 moving to the left in order to perform the lateral cutting step ST10 without any trouble.

(Modification 3 of medium cutting method)
FIG. 21 is a process diagram for explaining a method for cutting a medium 2 according to another embodiment of the invention. 22A and 22B are diagrams for explaining a method of cutting the medium 2 shown in FIG.

In the embodiment and modification described above, the method for cutting the medium 2 may include a waiting position moving step ST61 for moving the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 to the waiting position after the convex cutting step ST12. That is, after the lateral cutting step ST10, the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 may be moved to the standby position. When the horizontal cutting step ST10 is completed, the cutter blade 8 is arranged on the left side of the medium 2 (see FIG. 22(A)). Further, as described above, the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 arranged at the standby position are arranged on the right side of the medium 2 .

In the standby position moving step ST61, after the horizontal cutting step ST10, the cutter blade 8 is moved to a retracted position where the cutter blade 8 does not come into contact with the medium 2, and then the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 are moved rightward to the standby position. You can let me. However, according to the studies of the inventors of the present application, there are cases where the left end of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the transport direction is turned up when the lateral cutting step ST10 is finished. Therefore, after the lateral cutting step ST10 is completed, the cutter blade 8 is moved to the retracted position, and then the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 are moved rightward to the waiting position. The cutter unit 9 may come into contact with the cut portion, and the movement of the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 may be hindered.

Therefore, in this modification, the standby position moving step ST61 includes a cutter blade retracting step ST62 for moving the cutter blade 8 arranged at the cuttable position to the retracted position after the lateral cutting step ST10, and a cutter blade retracting step ST62 after the lateral cutting step ST10. As shown in FIG. 22(B), after a fifth medium transporting step ST63 for transporting the medium 2 downstream in the transporting direction by a predetermined amount, a cutter blade retreating step ST62, and a fifth medium transporting step ST63, FIG. ), a cutter unit moving step ST64 for moving the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 to the standby position. The cutter blade retracting step ST62 is performed, for example, before the fifth medium conveying step ST63. However, the cutter blade retracting step ST62 may be performed after the fifth medium conveying step ST63.

In the fifth medium transport step ST63, the medium 2 is transported by a certain amount downstream in the transport direction. Specifically, in the fifth medium conveying step ST63, even if the left end of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the conveying direction is turned up, the cutter unit 9 moving to the right in the cutter unit moving step ST64 moves the upstream medium 2e. The medium 2 is conveyed downstream in the conveying direction to a position where it does not come into contact with the left end side of the left edge of the curled portion. In this modification, even if the left edge of the upstream medium 2e is curled, the carriage 7 and the cutter unit 9 can be moved to the standby position without any trouble after the convex cutting step ST12.

(Other embodiments)
The embodiment described above is an example of the preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the present invention is not limited to this, and various modifications can be made without departing from the gist of the present invention.

In the embodiment described above, the puncturing step ST5 and the diagonal cutting step ST6 may be performed after the puncturing step ST7 and the diagonal cutting step ST8 are performed. Further, in the above embodiment, in the diagonal cutting step ST6, the medium 2 is linearly cut diagonally rightward from the puncture point SP2, and in the diagonal cut step ST8, the medium 2 is cut diagonally leftward from the puncture point SP3. After linearly cutting, the medium 2 may be linearly cut leftward (that is, parallel to the horizontal direction) to the right end of the cutting position in the oblique cutting step ST6.

In the embodiment described above, in the oblique cutting step ST6, the medium 2 is linearly cut diagonally rightward from the puncture point SP2, and in the oblique cutting step ST8, the oblique cut step ST6 is diagonally leftward from the puncture point SP3. The medium 2 may be cut linearly up to the right end of the cut position in . In this case, the second end face 2f, which is the downstream end face in the transport direction of the upstream medium 2e, has a triangular convex shape (specifically, an isosceles triangular convex shape). That is, the second end face 2f in this case does not have the end face 2g, and the right end of the end face 2k and the left end of the end face 2p are connected.

In the embodiment described above, the cut angles θ1 and θ2 may be less than 7° or may exceed 13°. Also, the cut angle θ1 and the cut angle θ2 may be different. Further, in the above-described embodiment, the puncture point SP2 and the puncture point SP3 may be shifted in the medium conveying direction. The distance in the horizontal direction from the right end surface to the puncture point SP3 may be different. Furthermore, in the embodiment described above, the cut angles θ1 and θ2 may change according to the width of the medium 2 to be cut. For example, regardless of the width of the medium 2 to be cut, the cut angles θ1 and θ2 are adjusted according to the width of the medium 2 to be cut so that the distances in the medium transport direction between the end surfaces 2h and 2j and the end surface 2g are constant. may change.

In the embodiment described above, the lateral cutting step ST10 may be performed before the lateral cutting step ST9. In this case, in the convex cutting step ST12, as in the modified example of the convex cutting step ST12 described above, after the lateral cutting step ST10, the cutter blade 8 arranged at the cuttable position is moved to the retracted position. After the blade retreating step and the lateral cutting step ST10, a third medium conveying step of conveying the medium 2 downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction, and after the cutter blade retreating step and the third medium conveying step, the cutter blade 8 moves in the left-right direction. a carriage moving step of moving the carriage 7 to the right until the blade edge of the cutter blade 8 is positioned at the same position as the puncture point SP3; a fourth medium conveying step of conveying the medium 2 upstream in the conveying direction until the medium 2 is arranged in the fourth medium conveying step; and may be provided. In this case, the horizontal cutting step ST9 is performed after the cutter blade placement step.

In this case, even if the curl of the medium 2 is strong in the third medium conveying step and the portion of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the conveying direction floats significantly after the lateral cutting step ST9, In the carriage movement step ST53, the carriage 7 moving to the right transports the medium 2 to a position where it does not contact the portion of the upstream medium 2e on the downstream side in the transport direction. In this case, even if the curl of the medium 2 is strong, after the lateral cutting step ST10, the carriage 7 can be moved to the right to perform the lateral cutting step ST9 without any trouble.

In the embodiment described above, the lateral cutting step ST10 may be performed before the oblique cutting step ST6, or the lateral cutting step ST9 may be performed before the oblique cutting step ST8. Further, in the above-described embodiment, if the medium 2 can be cut appropriately in the horizontal direction, the piercing step ST1 may be omitted. In this case, for example, a horizontal cutting process is performed in which the cutter blade 8 is moved in the horizontal direction from the right end surface to the left end surface of the medium 2 to cut the medium 2 over the entire horizontal direction.

In the embodiment described above, the projecting cutting step ST12 may not include the piercing step ST7 and the lateral cutting steps ST9 and ST10. In this case, for example, in the piercing step ST5, the cutter blade 8 is pierced in the middle position of the medium 2 in the horizontal direction, and in the oblique cutting step ST6, the medium 2 is cut from the piercing point SP2 to the left end surface of the medium 2. Further, in the oblique cutting step ST8, the medium 2 is cut from the puncture point SP2 to the right end surface of the medium 2. As shown in FIG.

Further, in the embodiment described above, the projecting cutting step ST12 may not include the piercing steps ST5 and ST7 and the lateral cutting steps ST9 and ST10. In this case, for example, in the oblique cutting step ST6, 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 oblique cutting step ST8, the right end surface of the medium 2 is cut to the cutting position in the oblique cutting step ST6. Cut medium 2 to the right end of .

In the embodiment described above, the linear cutting step ST11, the medium conveying step ST4, and the convex cutting step ST12 do not have to be automatically and continuously performed. For example, each step may be performed each time the operator presses a predetermined operation button. Alternatively, each step may be performed while an operator manually operates the medium transport mechanism 10, the carriage driving mechanism 11, the lifting mechanism 33, the switching mechanism 34, and the like. In addition, in Modification 1 described above, the medium conveying step ST24 and the convex cutting step ST12 do not have to be automatically and continuously performed.

In the form described above, the cutter unit 9 does not have to be mounted on the carriage 7 . In this case, a carriage on which the cutter unit 9 is mounted and a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the carriage in the left-right direction are separately provided. Further, in this case, a platen for cutting is provided separately from the platen 18, and the cutter unit 9 and the platen for cutting may face each other in a direction inclined with respect to the vertical direction. Moreover, in the form mentioned above, the medium 2 may be formed with resins other than polyvinyl chloride.

In the embodiment described above, the printing apparatus 1 may include a medium cutting mechanism for cutting the medium 2 after printing into a predetermined shape. This medium cutting mechanism is arranged, for example, between the platen 18 and the medium winding mechanism 13 in the vertical direction. Alternatively, this medium cutting mechanism may be mounted on the carriage 7 . Further, in the embodiment described above, instead of the printing mechanism 3, a processing mechanism for performing a predetermined processing other than the printing processing on the medium 2 before being cut may be provided. Further, in the embodiment described above, the printing mechanism 3 and the processing mechanism may not be provided. That is, the medium cutting device to which the present invention is applied may be a device having only a cutting function.

1 Printing device (medium cutting device)
2 medium 2c upstream medium (second upstream medium)
2d first end surface (end surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the second upstream medium)
2e upstream medium (first upstream medium)
2f second end surface (end surface on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the first upstream medium)
2t downstream medium 2v downstream medium end 3 printing mechanism (processing mechanism)
6 head (inkjet head)
7 carriage 8 cutter blade 9 cutter unit 10 medium transport mechanism 11 carriage drive mechanism (cutter unit drive mechanism)
12 Medium Feeding Mechanism 13 Medium Winding Mechanism 15 First Medium Guide 15a Downstream End in the Transport Direction of the First Medium Guide 15b Upstream End in the Transport Direction of the First Medium Guide 16 Second Medium Guide 16a Downstream in the Transport Direction of the Second Medium Guide Side end 16b Conveying direction upstream end of the second medium guide 18 Platen 26 Paper tube 31 Cutter holder 32 Unit frame 33 Lifting mechanism (cutter blade moving mechanism)
D1 Maximum vertical distance between the medium and the upper surface of the platen D2 Vertical distance between the lower end surface of the inkjet head and the upper surface of the platen L Spacing SP2 Punctuating point (first piercing point)
SP3 Puncture location (second puncture location)
ST4, ST24 medium conveying process ST5 sticking process (first sticking process)
ST6 diagonal cutting step (first diagonal cutting step)
ST7 piercing step (second piercing step)
ST8 diagonal cutting step (second diagonal cutting step)
ST9 Lateral cutting step (second lateral cutting step)
ST10 Horizontal cutting step (first horizontal cutting step)
ST11 Linear cutting process ST12 Convex cutting process ST21 Medium setting process ST41 Second linear cutting process ST44 Second medium conveying process ST51 Cutter blade retreating process ST52 Third medium conveying process ST53 Carriage moving process ST54 Fourth medium conveying process ST55 Cutter Blade placement process ST61 Standby position movement process ST62 Cutter blade retraction process ST63 Fifth medium transport process ST64 Cutter unit movement process Y Width direction of media Y1 First direction side Y2 Second direction side θ1 Cut angle ( media cut angle)
θ2 cut angle (media cut angle in the second oblique cut process)

Claims (16)

A cutter unit having a cutter blade for cutting a long medium, a medium delivery mechanism for holding the medium wound in a roll, and a medium transport mechanism for transporting the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium; A medium cutting method for cutting the medium in a medium cutting device including a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the cutter unit in the width direction of the medium perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium. There is
In the direction in which the medium is transported by the medium transport mechanism, the side on which the cutter blade is arranged with respect to the medium delivery mechanism is defined as the downstream side in the transport direction, and the side opposite to the downstream side in the transport direction is defined as the upstream side in the transport direction. Then,
a linear cutting step of moving the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium while the medium is stopped to cut the medium over the entire width direction of the medium;
a medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction after the linear cutting step;
After the medium conveying step, a convex cutting step of moving the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium and conveying the medium to cut the medium in the entire width direction of the medium;
The medium arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction from the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step is defined as a first upstream medium, and the conveying direction is the conveying direction from the cutting position of the medium in the linear cutting step. Assuming that the medium arranged on the upstream side is the second upstream medium,
an end face of the second upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction is linear in parallel with the width direction of the medium,
an end surface of the first upstream medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is convex in a trapezoidal or triangular shape,
In the medium conveying step, the medium is conveyed to a position where a predetermined gap is formed between the downstream end of the second upstream medium in the conveying direction and the downstream end of the first upstream medium in the conveying direction. A medium cutting method characterized by: The medium cutting device includes a carriage on which the cutter unit is mounted and which is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism, and the medium cutting device is mounted on the carriage and performs printing by ejecting ink onto the medium. an inkjet head; and a medium winding mechanism that rotates a paper tube for winding to which the end of the medium on the downstream side in the transport direction is connected and winds the medium after printing on the paper tube,
Printing of the medium by the inkjet head is performed before the linear cutting step,
2. The medium cutting method according to claim 1, wherein in the linear cutting step, a portion of the medium on the upstream side in the conveying direction of a printed portion is cut. A cutter unit having a cutter blade for cutting a long medium, a processing mechanism for performing predetermined processing on the medium, and a medium delivery mechanism for holding the medium wound in a roll before processing. a medium transport mechanism for transporting the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit drive mechanism for moving the cutter unit in the width direction of the medium perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium. A medium cutting method for cutting the medium in a medium cutting device comprising:
In the direction in which the medium is transported by the medium transport mechanism, the side on which the cutter blade is arranged with respect to the medium delivery mechanism is defined as the downstream side in the transport direction, and the side opposite to the downstream side in the transport direction is defined as the upstream side in the transport direction. Then,
a medium setting step of setting the medium wound in a roll on the medium delivery mechanism;
a medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction after the medium setting step;
After the medium conveying step, a convex cutting step of moving the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium and conveying the medium to cut the medium in the entire width direction of the medium;
Assuming that the medium arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the cutting position of the medium in the convex cutting step is a first upstream medium,
an end surface of the first upstream medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is convex in a trapezoidal or triangular shape,
The medium is not processed by the processing mechanism after the medium conveying step but before the convex cutting step, and the medium is processed by the processing mechanism after the convex cutting step,
In the medium conveying step, up to a position where a predetermined gap is formed between the conveying direction downstream end of the medium before the convex cutting step and the conveying direction downstream end of the first upstream medium. A medium cutting method, comprising: conveying the medium. a linear cutting step in which the medium is stopped and the cutter blade is moved in the width direction of the medium to cut the medium in the entire width direction of the medium;
Assuming that the medium arranged upstream in the transport direction from the cutting position of the medium in the linear cutting step is a second upstream medium,
an end face of the second upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction is linear in parallel with the width direction of the medium,
The processing mechanism is a printing mechanism having an inkjet head that performs printing by ejecting ink onto the medium,
In the medium cutting device, a carriage on which the cutter unit and the inkjet head are mounted and which is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit drive mechanism is connected to a downstream end of the medium in the transport direction. a medium winding mechanism that rotates a paper tube for winding and winds the medium after printing on the paper tube,
After the convex cutting step and before the linear cutting step, printing is performed on the medium by the inkjet head,
4. The medium cutting method according to claim 3, wherein in the linear cutting step, a portion of the medium on the upstream side of the printed portion in the transport direction is cut. The medium cutting device includes a platen arranged below the carriage and on which a portion of the medium in the medium transport direction is placed,
In the medium conveying step, the maximum distance in the vertical direction between the portion of the medium arranged below the inkjet head in the convex cutting step and the upper surface of the platen is equal to the lower end surface of the inkjet head and the platen. 5. The medium cutting method according to claim 2, wherein the medium is conveyed to a position smaller than the vertical distance from the upper surface of the medium. Assuming that one side in the width direction of the medium is the first direction side and the opposite side of the first direction side is the second direction side,
The convex cut step includes:
a first piercing step of piercing an end of the medium on the first direction side with the cutter blade so as to penetrate the medium;
The cutter blade is relatively moved with respect to the medium in the conveying direction downstream side and the second direction side starting from a first piercing point where the cutter blade is pierced in the first piercing step. a first oblique cutting step of cutting the medium in a direction oblique to at least the width direction of the medium;
a second piercing step of piercing the end of the medium on the second direction side with the cutter blade so as to penetrate the medium;
The cutter blade is relatively moved with respect to the medium in the conveying direction downstream side and the first direction side starting from the second piercing point where the cutter blade pierced in the second piercing step. a second oblique cutting step of cutting the medium in a direction oblique to at least the width direction of the medium;
After the first oblique cutting step and the second oblique cutting step, the cutter blade is moved in the first direction with respect to the medium, starting from the first piercing point, to cut the first piercing point. a first lateral cutting step of cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium from to the end surface of the medium on the first direction side;
After the first oblique cutting step and the second oblique cutting step, the cutter blade is moved in the second direction with respect to the medium with the second piercing point as a starting point to cut the second piercing point. 5. The medium cutting method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising: a second lateral cutting step of cutting the medium in the width direction of the medium from to the end surface of the medium on the second direction side. The medium cutting device includes a carriage on which the cutter unit is mounted and which is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit driving mechanism, and the medium cutting device is mounted on the carriage and performs printing by ejecting ink onto the medium. Equipped with an inkjet head,
The inkjet head is arranged on the second direction side of the cutter unit,
7. The medium cutting method according to claim 6, wherein the second lateral cutting step is performed before the first lateral cutting step. The medium cutting device includes a carriage on which the cutter unit is mounted and which is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit drive mechanism,
The cutter unit includes a cutter blade moving mechanism that moves the cutter blade between a retracted position where the cutter blade does not contact the medium and a cut possible position where the cutter blade can cut the medium,
The second lateral cutting step is performed before the first lateral cutting step,
The convex cut step includes:
a cutter blade retracting step of moving the cutter blade arranged at the cuttable position to the retracted position after the second lateral cutting step;
a third medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction after the second lateral cutting step;
After the cutter blade retracting step and the third medium conveying step, the carriage is moved toward the first direction until the cutting edge of the cutter blade is positioned at the same position as the first stabbing point in the width direction of the medium. a carriage moving step to move;
After the carriage moving step, a fourth medium conveying step of conveying the medium upstream in the conveying direction until the cutting edge of the cutter blade is arranged at the same position as the first stabbing point in the conveying direction of the medium. ,
After the fourth medium conveying step, a cutter blade arranging step of moving the cutter blade arranged at the retracted position to the cuttable position;
7. The medium cutting method according to claim 6, wherein the first lateral cutting step is performed after the cutter blade arranging step. The medium cutting device includes a carriage on which the cutter unit is mounted and which is moved in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit drive mechanism,
The cutter unit includes a cutter blade moving mechanism that moves the cutter blade between a retracted position where the cutter blade does not contact the medium and a cut possible position where the cutter blade can cut the medium,
The first lateral cutting step is performed before the second lateral cutting step,
The convex cut step includes:
a cutter blade retracting step of moving the cutter blade arranged at the cuttable position to the retracted position after the first lateral cutting step;
a third medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction after the first lateral cutting step;
After the cutter blade retracting step and the third medium conveying step, the carriage is moved toward the second direction until the cutting edge of the cutter blade is positioned at the same position as the second stabbing point in the width direction of the medium. a carriage moving step to move;
After the carriage moving step, a fourth medium conveying step of conveying the medium upstream in the conveying direction until the cutting edge of the cutter blade is arranged at the same position as the second stabbing point in the medium conveying direction. ,
After the fourth medium conveying step, a cutter blade arranging step of moving the cutter blade arranged at the retracted position to the cuttable position;
7. The medium cutting method according to claim 6, wherein the second lateral cutting step is performed after the cutter blade arranging step. A standby position moving step of moving the cutter unit to a predetermined standby position after the convex cutting step,
The cutter unit includes a cutter blade moving mechanism that moves the cutter blade between a retracted position where the cutter blade does not contact the medium and a cut possible position where the cutter blade can cut the medium,
The second lateral cutting step is performed before the first lateral cutting step,
The cutter unit arranged at the standby position is arranged on the second direction side of the medium,
When the first horizontal cutting step is completed, the cutter blade is arranged on the first direction side of the medium,
The standby position moving step includes
a cutter blade retracting step of moving the cutter blade arranged at the cuttable position to the retracted position after the first lateral cutting step;
a fifth medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction after the first lateral cutting step;
7. The medium cutting method according to claim 6, further comprising a cutter unit moving step of moving the cutter unit to the standby position after the cutter blade retracting step and the fifth medium conveying step. The medium cutting device includes a platen on which a portion of the medium in the medium transport direction is placed, and a first medium guide that presses from above an end portion of the medium placed on the platen in the first direction. and a second medium guide that presses from above the end of the medium placed on the platen in the second direction,
the conveying direction downstream end of the first medium guide and the conveying direction downstream end of the second medium guide are arranged upstream in the conveying direction from the cutting edge of the cutter blade;
the upstream end of the first medium guide in the transport direction is arranged on the upstream side in the transport direction of the first piercing point at the completion of the first oblique cutting step;
7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the upstream end of the second medium guide in the conveying direction is arranged on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the second piercing point at the completion of the second oblique cutting step. medium cutting method. The cutter unit includes a cutter holder to which the cutter blade is fixed, and a unit frame that rotatably holds the cutter holder,
The cutter holder is rotatable with respect to the unit frame with the thickness direction of the medium as the rotation axis direction,
In the first oblique cutting step and the second oblique cutting step, the cutter blade is rotatable with respect to the unit frame,
The cut angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the first oblique cutting step and the cut angle of the medium with respect to the width direction of the medium in the second oblique cutting step are equal to the width of the medium. 7. The medium cutting method according to claim 6, characterized in that it remains constant regardless of the time. a second linear cutting step of moving the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium while the medium is stopped and cutting the medium over the entire width direction of the medium;
a second medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction after the second linear cutting step;
3. The medium cutting method according to claim 1, wherein the linear cutting step is performed after the second medium conveying step. 14. The medium that is cut by the medium cutting method according to claim 13 and that is arranged on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the cut position in the linear cutting step is defined as a downstream medium, and the linear cutting step is completed. Assuming that the end of the downstream medium in the width direction of the medium at the time is the downstream medium end, the paper tube for winding to which the end of the medium on the downstream side in the transport direction is connected is connected to the downstream side A medium edge connection method for connecting an edge of the medium on the downstream side in the transport direction using a medium,
One of the downstream medium ends is fixed to the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction, and the other downstream medium end is fixed to the paper tube, and the downstream end of the medium in the transport direction is fixed. A medium end connection method, characterized by connecting a part to the paper tube. A cutter unit having a cutter blade for cutting a long medium, a medium delivery mechanism for holding the medium wound in a roll, and a medium transport mechanism for transporting the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium; A control method for a medium cutting device comprising a cutter unit driving mechanism for moving the cutter unit in a width direction of the medium perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium,
In the direction in which the medium is transported by the medium transport mechanism, the side on which the cutter blade is arranged with respect to the medium delivery mechanism is defined as the downstream side in the transport direction, and the side opposite to the downstream side in the transport direction is defined as the upstream side in the transport direction. Then,
a linear cutting step of moving the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium by the cutter unit drive mechanism while the medium is stopped, and cutting the medium over the entire width direction of the medium;
a medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream by a predetermined amount in the conveying direction by the medium conveying mechanism after the linear cutting step;
After the medium conveying step, the cutter unit driving mechanism moves the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium, and the medium conveying mechanism conveys the medium to cut the medium across the width of the medium. with a shaped cut step,
The medium arranged upstream in the transport direction from the cut position of the medium in the convex cutting step is defined as a first upstream medium, and the transport direction is the transport direction from the cut position of the medium in the linear cut step. Assuming that the medium arranged on the upstream side is the second upstream medium,
an end face of the second upstream medium on the downstream side in the transport direction is linear in parallel with the width direction of the medium,
an end surface of the first upstream medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is convex in a trapezoidal or triangular shape,
In the medium transporting step, the medium is transported to a position where a predetermined gap is formed between the transport direction downstream end of the second upstream medium and the transport direction downstream end of the first upstream medium. A control method for a medium cutting device, characterized by: A cutter unit having a cutter blade for cutting a long medium, a processing mechanism for performing predetermined processing on the medium, and a medium delivery mechanism for holding the medium wound in a roll before processing. a medium transport mechanism for transporting the medium in the longitudinal direction of the medium; and a cutter unit drive mechanism for moving the cutter unit in the width direction of the medium perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the medium and the thickness direction of the medium. A control method for a medium cutting device comprising
In the direction in which the medium is transported by the medium transport mechanism, the side on which the cutter blade is arranged with respect to the medium delivery mechanism is defined as the downstream side in the transport direction, and the side opposite to the downstream side in the transport direction is defined as the upstream side in the transport direction. Then,
a medium conveying step of conveying the medium downstream in the conveying direction by a predetermined amount by the medium conveying mechanism after the medium wound in a roll is set in the medium feeding mechanism;
After the medium conveying step, the cutter unit driving mechanism moves the cutter blade in the width direction of the medium, and the medium conveying mechanism conveys the medium to cut the medium across the width of the medium. with a shaped cut step,
Assuming that the medium arranged upstream in the transport direction from the cut position of the medium in the convex cutting step is a first upstream medium,
an end surface of the first upstream medium on the downstream side in the conveying direction is convex in a trapezoidal or triangular shape,
After the medium conveying step and before the convex cutting step, the medium is not processed by the processing mechanism, and the medium is processed by the processing mechanism after the convex cutting step,
In the medium conveying step, up to a position where a predetermined gap is formed between the conveying direction downstream end of the medium before the convex cutting step and the conveying direction downstream end of the first upstream medium. A control method for a medium cutting device, characterized by conveying the medium.

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