Patent Grant
10953671
This application claims the benefit of priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-140885 filed on Jul. 27, 2018, Japanese Patent Application No. 2018-226409 filed on Dec. 3, 2018, Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-107993 filed on Jun. 10, 2019, and Japanese Patent Application No. 2019-107994 filed on Jun. 10, 2019. The entire contents of these applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a clamp that prevents a medium placed on a table from rising from the table, and a medium cutting device including the same.
It is conventionally known, in a printer or the like, to press a medium onto a table by a clamp in order to prevent the medium from rising from the table.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-35681 discloses a printer including a table on which a medium may movably be placed, and a clamp that presses the medium onto the table. The clamp includes a pair of leaf springs extending in a medium transportation direction. The pair of leaf springs are located so as not to be on a print area. This printer performs printing in a state where the medium is prevented from rising by the clamp.
The clamp may also be usable to cut the medium. For example, there is a case where the medium is to be cut in the entirety of a width direction thereof in order to cut off an area of the medium on which printing has been performed from an area of the medium on which printing is not performed. The clamp is usable in such a case. In order to cut the medium in the entirety of the width direction thereof, a cutter is moved from one end to the other end of the medium in the width direction. The clamp disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2005-35681 extending in the medium transportation direction, and is provided at a position closer to the center of the medium than the ends of the medium. Therefore, while the cutter is moved from the one end to the other end of the medium in the width direction thereof, the cutter and the clamp interfere with each other. For cutting the medium in the entirety of the width direction thereof, the clamp needs to be detached to avoid the interference when the cutter approaches the clamp. For this reason, the use of the clamp complicates the work of cutting the medium, and also extends the time required for the cutting work.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide clamps each of which prevents a medium from rising and allows the medium to be cut easily and quickly, and medium cutting devices including such clamps.
A clamp according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is attachable to a table including a first top surface, a second top surface and a groove between the first top surface and the second top surface and extending in a first direction; and presses a medium placed on the first top surface and the second top surface onto the first top surface and the second top surface. The clamp includes a base portion accommodatable in the groove of the table; a first rising portion rising from the base portion; a first extending portion extending along the first top surface of the table from the first rising portion; a second rising portion rising from the base portion; and a second extending portion extending along the second top surface of the table from the second rising portion. The clamp further includes a first clamp portion extending in the first direction along the first top surface from the first extending portion, the first clamp portion urging the medium toward the first top surface; and a second clamp portion extending in the first direction along the second top surface from the second extending portion, the second clamp portion urging the medium toward the second top surface. A gap located above the groove of the table is provided between the first clamp portion and the second clamp portion.
A medium cutting device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes the clamp.
In the clamp, the first clamp and the second clamp press the medium onto the first top surface and the second top surface of the table, and therefore, the medium is prevented from rising. A gap located above the groove of the table is provided between the first clamp and the second clamp. Therefore, a cutter is allowed to pass between the first clamp and the second clamp. For this reason, the clamp allows the medium to be cut along the groove while pressing the medium onto the table. Since the cutter and the clamp do not interfere with each other, the clamp does not need to be detached. Therefore, the medium is cut easily and quickly.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention provide clamps each of which prevents a medium from rising and allows the medium to be cut easily and quickly, and medium cutting devices including such clamps.
The above and other elements, features, steps, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the attached drawings.
In the following description, in a state where a user looks at a front surface of the printer device 10 as shown in
The printer device 10 includes the table 20 supporting the medium Me such that the medium Me is transportable, a carriage on which a plurality of printing heads 12A (see
The printer device 10 is capable of transporting the medium Me in the front-rear direction by the feed rollers 61. The carriage 12 is movable in a left-right direction. The cutter mechanism 13 is connected with the carriage 12, and is movable in the left-right direction together with the carriage 12. The printing heads 12A inject ink toward the medium Me sequentially transported in the front-rear direction while the carriage 12 moves in the left-right direction, so that printing is performed on the medium Me. In order to cut the medium Me, the medium Me is transported to a predetermined position, and the cutter mechanism 13 is moved in the left-right direction in a state where the left and right ends of the medium Me are clamped by the clamp 30.
As shown in
The cutter mechanism 13 is movable in the left-right direction along the guide rail 15 together with the carriage 12. The cutter mechanism 13 is movably supported by the guide rail 15. The cutter mechanism 13 may be indirectly supported by the guide rail 15 via the carriage 12, or may be directly supported by the guide rail 15. The cutter mechanism 13 includes a blade (cutter) 13a capable of cutting the medium Me. The blade 13a is provided so as to be swingable in an up-down direction. When being rotated upward, the blade 13a is positioned at a retraction position, which is away from the medium Me. When being rotated downward, the blade 13a is positioned at a contact position, at which the blade 13a contacts the medium Me. In order to cut the medium Me, the blade 13a is rotated to the contact position, and the cutter mechanism 13 is moved in the left-right direction.
The medium Me is, for example, a roll medium, which is provided in a rolled state. The medium Me may be formed of paper such as plain paper or the like, a resin such as poly(vinyl chloride), polyester or the like, or a metal material such as aluminum, iron or the like. The medium Me may be formed of any of various materials. In order to have printing performed thereon, the medium Me is transported forward by the feed rollers 61.
As shown in
As shown in
As shown in
The rear pullout-preventive wall portion 22Bd protrude forward with respect to the accommodation wall portion 22Bb. A stopper wall 22Bc extending forward is provided between the rear pullout-preventive wall portion 22Bd and the accommodation wall portion 22Bb. The front pullout-preventive wall portion 22Cd protrude rearward with respect to the accommodation wall portion 22Cb. A stopper wall 22Cc extending rearward is provided between the rear pullout-preventive wall portion 22Cd and the accommodation wall portion 22Cb.
A top portion of the front pullout-preventive wall portion 22Cd is inclined forward as extending upward, namely, is tapered. The rear pullout-preventive wall portion 22Bd extends in the up-down direction. It should be noted that these shapes are mere examples. The front pullout-preventive wall portion 22Cd may extend in the up-down direction, like the rear pullout-preventive wall portion 22Bd. A top portion of the rear pullout-preventive wall portion 22Bd may be inclined rearward as extending upward, namely, may be tapered, like the front pullout-preventive wall portion 22Cd.
Now, the clamp 30 clamping the medium Me to the table 20 will be described in detail. As described above, two clamps 30 are used (see
As shown in
The base portion 31 is formed of a hard resin by molding. For example, the base member 31 may be formed of polyacetal (POM) or polypropylene (PP). As shown in
A central portion of the base portion 31 in the front-rear direction is recessed. A portion of the base portion 31 that is between a portion thereof into which the first member 32 is inserted and a portion thereof into which the second member 33 is inserted is a thin portion 31a, which is thinner than the portions into which the first member 32 and the second member 33 are inserted. The thin portion 31a is formed in the entirety of the left-right direction of the base member 31. The thin portion 31a has a top surface that is bored downward from the level of the portions into which the first member 32 and the second member 33 are inserted.
As shown in
The second member 33 has substantially the same structure as that of the first member 32. Namely, the second member 33 is defined by a bent plate. The second member 33 is formed by, for example, press-molding a steel plate. There is no specific limitation on the material of the second member 33, and any material such as a metal material, a resin or the like is usable as well as the steel. The second member 33 is generally L-shaped as seen in a right side view. The second member 33 includes a second rising portion 46, a second extending portion 47, and a second clamp portion 35. As shown in
The second rising portion 46 is provided generally parallel to the first rising portion 41. The first rising portion and the second rising portion 46 are spaced away from each other, and a gap 52 extending in the left-right direction (see also
As shown in
As shown in
The first clamp portion 34 is integrally formed with the first extending portion 42. The first rising portion 41, the first extending portion 42 and the first clamp portion 34 are integrally defined by a unitary plate. The first clamp portion 34 extends leftward (direction in which the groove 22 extends and direction away from the first rising portion 41) along the first top surface 21A from the first extending portion 42, and presses the medium Me onto the first top surface 21A. An end of the medium Me is covered with the first clamp portion 34 and thus is prevented from rising from the first top surface 21A. A tip portion 34a of the first clamp portion 34 is bent obliquely upward. The tip portion 34a is inclined upward with respect to the first top surface 21A as extending rearward. The tip portion 34a defines and functions as a guide that guides the medium Me transported forward to a region below the first clamp portion 34. The tip portion 34a inclined with respect to the first top surface 21A may be provided in a left portion of the first clamp portion 34 as well as in a rear portion thereof.
The second clamp portion 35 is integrally formed with the second extending portion 47. The second rising portion 46, the second extending portion 47 and the second clamp portion 35 are integrally defined by a unitary plate. The second clamp portion 35 extends leftward (direction in which the groove 22 extends and direction away from the second rising portion 46) along the second top surface 21B from the second extending portion 47, and presses the medium Me onto the second top surface 21B. The end of the medium Me is covered with the second clamp portion 35 and thus is prevented from rising from the second top surface 21B. A tip portion 35a of the second clamp portion 35 is bent obliquely upward. The tip portion 35a is inclined upward with respect to the second top surface 21B as extending forward. The tip portion 35a defines and functions as a guide that guides the medium Me transported rearward to a region below the second clamp portion 35. The tip portion 35a inclined with respect to the second top surface 21B may be provided in a left portion of the second clamp portion 35 as well as in a front portion thereof.
Although not shown, the cutter mechanism 13 (see
As shown in
In this preferred embodiment, the first spacer 36 is formed separately from the first member 32, and is bonded to the first extending portion 42. The second spacer 37 is formed separately from the second member 33, and is bonded to the second extending portion 47. Alternatively, the first spacer 36 and the first member 32 may be integral with each other, and the second spacer 37 and the second member 33 may be integral with each other. The first member 32 and the first spacer 36 may be provided as a single component, and the second member 33 and the second spacer 37 may be provided as a single component.
There is no specific limitation on the method for producing the clamp 30. For example, the clamp 30 may be formed by insert molding. In this case, the clamp 30 is produce as follows, for example. First, a metal plate is processed to form the first member 32. Another metal plate is processed to form the second member 33. Next, the first member 32 and the second member 33 are set in a mold such that the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 face each other. A resin is supplied to the mold, and a bottom end of the first rising portion 41 and a bottom end of the second rising portion 46 are joined together with the resin. This resin forms the base portion 31. Then, the base portion 31, the first member 32 and the second member 33 are pulled out of the mold, and the first spacer 36 and the second spacer 37 are respectively bonded to rear surfaces (i.e., bottom surfaces) of the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47. The clamp 30 is produced in this manner.
As shown in
As shown in
A height from the top surface of the base portion 31 to a bottom end of the first spacer 36 is H1. A height from the top surface of the base portion 31 to a bottom end of the second spacer 37 is also H1. As shown in
The clamp 30 is attachable to, and detachable from, the table 20. Now, a method for attaching the clamp 30 to the table 20 will be described.
As shown in
As described above, height H1 from the top surface of the base portion 31 to the bottom end of the first spacer 36 is smaller than height H2 from the stopper wall 22Bc to the first top surface 21A. Height H1 from the top surface of the base portion 31 to the bottom end of the second spacer 37 is smaller than height H2 from the stopper wall 22Cc to the second top surface 21B. Therefore, in order to further push the base portion 31, as shown in
In a state where the clamp 30 is attached to the table 20, an angle defined by the first rising portion 41 and the first extending portion 42 is set as θ2. In this case, an angle defined by the second rising portion 46 and the second extending portion 47 is also θ2. In this example, θ2=90°. θ2 merely needs to be larger than θ1, and does not need to be 90 degrees. The angle defined by the second rising portion 46 and the second extending portion 47 may be different from the angle defined by the first rising portion 41 and the first extending portion 42.
The first top surface 21A and the second top surface 21B of the table 20 are respectively supplied with the elastic forces of the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47. In this state, it is difficult to slide the clamp 30 in the left-right direction. Thus, referring to
The central portion of the base portion 31 is the thin portion 31a, which is thinner than the rest of the base portion 31. This allows the base portion 31 to be bent easily. It is preferred that the thin portion 31a is formed as being continued from the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46.
After the clamp 30 is slid to a desired position, the finger is removed from the borders B1 and B2 of the clamp 30. When the finger is removed, the first spacer 36 is pressed onto the first top surface 21A and the second spacer 37 is pressed onto the second top surface 21B respectively by the elastic forces of the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47. In addition, the base portion 31 is pressed onto the stopper walls 22Bc and 22Cc. As a result, the clamp 30 is secured to the table 20.
As described above and as shown in
The clamps 30 and 230 are slidable along the groove 22. Therefore, as shown in
Now, a control system included in the printer device 10 will be described. As shown in
The elements included in the controller 70 may be realized by software. Namely, a computer program may be read into a computer, so that the computer realizes the above-described elements. Preferred embodiments of the present invention include a computer program that causes the computer to act as each of the above-described elements. Also, preferred embodiments of the present invention include a computer-readable storage medium having such a computer program stored thereon. The above-described elements may each be a processor realized by execution of the computer program stored on the controller 70. In this case, each of the above-described elements may be realized by one processor or a plurality of processors. Preferred embodiments of the present invention include a circuit that realizes a function substantially the same as that of the program executed by each of the elements.
First, the printer 76 performs printing on the medium Me (step S1). The printer 76 repeats an injection operation of causing the printing heads 12A to inject ink while moving the carriage 12 in the left-right direction in a state where the transportation of the medium Me is stopped, and a feed operation of rotating the feed roller 61 to transport the medium Me forward (in the downstream direction) by a predetermined length. The printer 76 repeats the injection operation and the feed operation to form an image on the medium Me. Hereinafter, a rate at which the medium Me is transported forward during the feed operation in the printing will be referred to as “printing feed rate V1”. There is no specific limitation on the value of the printing feed rate V1. The printing feed rate V1 is, for example, about 1 mm/sec to about 30 mm/sec.
When the printing is finished, the sheet cutter 71 performs sheet cutting of cutting the medium Me in the entirety of the left-right direction thereof. The sheet cutter 71 first starts driving the fan 83 to cause the medium Me to adsorb to the table (step S2). Namely, the sheet cutter 71 starts absorbing the medium Me. Next, the carriage driving motor 81 is driven to move the blade 13a of the cutting mechanism 13 along the groove 22. As a result, a rear area (namely, upstream-side area) of a printed area (area where the image has been printed) of the medium Me is cut in the entirety of the left-right direction thereof (step S3).
After the sheet cutting, the absorption stopper 72 stops the fan 83 (step S4), and the feeder 73 drives the feed motor 82 to feed the first medium Me1 forward. The feeder 73 may start driving the feed motor 82 at the same time as a driving signal to the fan 83 stops being supplied. However, there may be a case where even though the supply of the driving signal is stopped, it takes some time for the fan 83 to stop rotating. Therefore, in this preferred embodiment, the feeder 73 determines whether or not a predetermined time (e.g., 2 seconds) has elapsed after the stop, by the absorption stopper 72, of the supply of a driving signal to the fan 83 (step S5), and starts driving the feed motor 82 after the elapse of the predetermined time (step S6). With such an arrangement, the feed roller 61 starts rotating after an adsorption force to the second medium Me2 is sufficiently extinct.
The feeder 73 controls the feed motor 82 to stop transporting the first medium Me1 in a state where a portion of the second medium Me2 is located above at least a portion of the adsorption holes 21h. In this preferred embodiment, the adsorption holes 21h are provided in two lines, namely, a front line and a rear line, extending in the left-right direction. In the front-rear direction, there are two adsorption holes 21h. As shown in
In this preferred embodiment, when the feeder 73 stops transporting the first medium Me1, a downstream-side end Mp1 of the first medium Me1 is located downstream with respect to the upstream-side end hp4 of the adsorption holes 21h located at the most upstream position. Namely, the feeder 73 controls the feed motor 82 to stop transporting the first medium Me1 in a state where a portion of the first medium Me1 is located above at least a portion of the adsorption holes 21h. However, there is no specific limitation on the position of the downstream-side end Mp1 of the first medium Me1 when the transportation of the first medium Me1 is stopped. When the feeder 73 stops transporting the first medium Me1, the downstream-side end Mp1 of the first medium Me1 may be located upstream with respect to the upstream-side end hp4 of the adsorption holes 21h located at the most upstream position.
The feeder 73 rotates the feed roller 61 at a relatively low rate. Where the transportation rate of the first medium Me1 in this case is referred to as “low-rate feed rate V2”, low-rate feed rate V2 is lower than printing feed rate V1 described above. In the case where printing feed rate V1 is variable, low-rate feed rate V2 is lower than a maximum value (hereinafter, referred to as the “maximum rate”) of printing feed rate V1. There is no specific limitation on the value of low-rate feed rate V2. Low-rate feed rate V2 is, for example, about 10 mm/sec. As shown in
The clamp 30 includes a gap 51 between the first clamp portion 34 and the second clamp portion 35. Therefore, in the case where the adsorption force to the second medium Me2 remains, or in the case where the transportation rate of the first medium Me1 is relatively high, as shown in
As shown in
In the case where a portion that accommodates the second medium Me2 is provided below the table 20, or in the case where there is no problem even if the second medium Me2 drops, the operation of causing the second medium Me2 to adsorb to the table 20 is not necessary. In this case, the process in step S7 may be omitted.
After this, the feed motor 82 is driven to transport the first medium Me1 forward until a front end of the first medium Me1 reaches the next printing start position (step S8). This is a first example of operation of the printer device 10.
The above-described sheet cutting is an operation of moving the cutter 13a in the left-right direction in a state where the transportation of the medium Me is stopped and cutting the medium Me along a straight line in the left-right direction. The printer device 10 according to this preferred embodiment may, in addition to performing the sheet cutting, combine the operation of moving the cutter 13a in the left-right direction and the operation of transporting the medium Me forward or rearward and thus cut the medium Me in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. In order to be distinguished from the sheet cutting, the operation of cutting the medium Me while transporting the medium Me forward or rearward will be referred to as “medium cutting”. For example, the printer device 10 may cut a medium Me having printing not performed thereon into an optional two-dimensional shape by the medium cutting. The printer device 10 may print an image on the medium Me and then cut the medium Me along a periphery of the printed image.
Now, with reference to
First, the pre-feeder 77 (see
Next, the medium cutter 75 (see
When the medium cutting is finished, the sheet cutter 71 performs the sheet cutting. The sheet cutter 71 starts driving the fan 83 to cause the medium Me to adsorb to the table 20 (step S12). Next, the carriage driving motor 81 is driven to move the cutter 13a along the groove 22. As a result, the top layer and the bottom layer of the medium Me are cut in the entirety of the left-right direction thereof (step S13). The medium Me is divided into the first medium Me1, which is the upstream-side area, and the second medium Me2, which is an the downstream-side area.
After the sheet cutting, the absorption stopper 72 stops the fan 83 (step S14), and the feeder 73 drives the feed motor 82 to feed the first medium Me1 forward. In this example of operation also, the feeder 73 determines whether or not a predetermined time (e.g., 2 seconds) has elapsed after the stop, by the absorption stopper 72, of the supply of a driving signal to the fan 83 (step S15), and starts driving the feed motor 82 after the elapse of the predetermined time (step S16). With such an arrangement, the feed roller 61 starts rotating after an adsorption force to the second medium Me2 is sufficiently extinct.
The feeder 73 controls the feed motor 82 to stop transporting the first medium Me1 like in operation example 1 described above. The operation by which the feeder 73 stops transporting the first medium Me1 is substantially the same as that in operation example 1 and thus will not be described in detail.
In this example of operation also, the feeder 73 rotates the feed roller 61 at a relatively low rate. The transportation rate of the first medium Me1 in this case (i.e., low-rate feed rate V2) is lower than maximum transportation rate V3 of the medium Me during the sheet cutting. Low-rate feed rate V2 is lower than maximum transportation rate V4 of the medium Me during the pre-feed. Low-rate feed rate V2 is, for example, 10 mm/sec. In this example of operation also, the first medium Me1 is prevented from riding on the second medium Me2. Thus, the first medium Me1 and the second medium Me2 are transported in a favorable manner (see
In this example of operation also, the feed roller 61 is rotated at a low rate to transport the first medium Me1 and the second medium Me2 forward, and then the absorption driver 74 drives the fan 83 to cause the second medium Me2 to adsorb to the second top surface 21B of the table 20 (step S17). With such an arrangement, the second medium Me2 is held to the front portion of the table 20 and thus is prevented from dropping.
After this, the feed motor 82 is driven to transport the first medium Me1 forward until the front end of the first medium Me1 reaches the next medium cutting position (step S18). This is a second example of operation of the printer device 10.
The clamp 30 and the printer device 10 according to this preferred embodiment provide various effects. Now, the effects provided by the clamp 30 and the printer device 10 according to this preferred embodiment will be described.
As shown in
The clamp 30 further includes the gap 52 located above the groove 22, the gap 52 being located between the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46. The blade 13a of the cutter mechanism 13 also passes between the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46. Therefore, the blade 13a moves along the groove 22 in the entirety of the left-right direction of the clamp 30.
As shown in
Any of various specifications of medium Me is usable for the printer device 10. Any of a plurality of types of medium Me having different widths is usable for the printer device 10, and the position in the left-right direction of the clamp 30 is changed in accordance with the width of the medium Me. In the case where a medium Me having a relatively small width is used, the distance between the left and right clamps 30 is shortened. Either one of the left and right clamps 30 is set at a position close to the center of the table 20 in the left-right direction. According to this preferred embodiment, the blade 13a is movable along the groove 22 in the entirety of the left-right direction of the clamp 30. Therefore, even if the clamp 30 is located at a position close to the center of the table 20 in the left-right direction, the blade 13a does not interfere with the clamp 30. The clamps 30 may be set at any positions instead of left and right ends of the groove 22.
The base portion 31 may be integral with the first member 32 and the second member 33. In this preferred embodiment, the base portion 31 is formed separately from the first member 32 and the second member 33. According to this preferred embodiment, the base portion 31 supports the first member 32 and the second member 33, so that the first member 32 and the second member 33 are located at accurate positions. Therefore, even if the groove 22 is narrow, the gap 51 having a predetermined width is accurately formed between the first clamp portion 34 and the second clamp portion 35, and the gap 52 having a predetermined width is accurately formed between the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46. For this reason, the blade 13a of the cutter mechanism 13 passes along the gaps 51 and 52 without fail.
As shown in
The base portion 31 is preferably made of a hard resin. This allows the base portion 31 to slide along the groove 22 easily in a state where the base portion 31 is located in the groove 22. The clamp 30 is easily movable along the groove 22, and therefore, the position of the clamp 30 is easily adjustable.
As shown in
In the clamp 30 according to this preferred embodiment, as shown in
As shown in
In the printer device 10 according to this preferred embodiment, the fan 83 is stopped after the sheet cutting, and the medium Me is transported. After this, the fan 83 is re-driven in a state where a portion of the second medium Me2 is located above at least a portion of the adsorption holes 21h. This allows at least the portion of the second medium Me2 to be held on the table 20. Therefore, the second medium Me2 is prevented from dropping from the table 20 by the weight thereof. The second medium Me2, on which printing or the like has been performed, is recovered in a favorable state without being damaged.
In the printer device 10 according to this preferred embodiment, the controller 70 includes the absorption stopper 72 stopping the fan 83 after the sheet cutting, and the feeder 73 driving the feed motor 82 after the fan 83 is stopped (see
In the printer device 10 according to this preferred embodiment, the feeder 73 controls the feed motor 82 to start moving the medium Me when a predetermined time elapses after the finish of the sheet cutting. Therefore, the medium Me is transported after the adsorption force provided by the fan 83 is sufficiently extinct. This allows the post-cutting first medium Me1 and the post-cutting second medium Me2 to be transported in a favorable manner.
In the printer device 10 according to this preferred embodiment, rate V2, at which the feeder 73 transports the medium Me, is lower than rate V1 (maximum rate V1), at which the printer 76 transports the medium Me. Namely, transportation rate V2 of the medium Me after the sheet cutting is lower than transportation rate V1 of the medium Me during the printing. Transportation rate V2 of the medium Me after the sheet cutting is lower than maximum transportation rate V3 of the medium Me during the medium cutting. Transportation rate V2 of the medium Me after the sheet cutting is lower than maximum transportation rate V4 of the medium Me during the pre-feed. The medium Me is transported at a relatively low rate after the sheet cutting, and therefore, the first medium Me1 is prevented from riding on the second medium Me2 (see
The printer device 10 according to this preferred embodiment includes the clamp 30 attachable to the table 20. The clamp 30 presses the medium Me onto the first top surface 21A and the second top surface 21B of the table 20. Therefore, the medium Me is prevented from rising from the table 20, and the above-described operations are performed in a favorable manner.
A clamp according to another preferred embodiment of the present invention will be described. The operation of the printer device 10 is substantially the same as that in preferred embodiment 1, and thus will not be described.
In the clamp 30A according to this preferred embodiment, a bottom end of the first rising portion 41 and a bottom end of the second rising portion 46 are connected with each other by a connection portion 38. In addition, a front end of the connection portion 38 protrudes forward, and a rear end of the connection portion 38 protrudes rearward. The front end and the rear end of the connection portion 38 act as pullout-preventive portions 39 preventing the connection portion 38 from being pulled out of the base portion 31.
In this preferred embodiment also, when the borders B1 and B2 are pressed downward, the tip portions 34a and 35a of the first clamp portion 34 and the second clamp portion 35 move upward (see
As shown in
In the clamp 30 according to preferred embodiment 1 (see
Although not described in detail, also in the case where the clamp 30A according to preferred embodiment 2 is attached to the table 20 of the printer device 10, the above-described operations of the printer device 10 are performed. Therefore, the clamp 30A prevents the medium Me from rising, and the operation of cutting the medium Me is performed easily and quickly. In addition, the post-cutting first medium Me1 is prevented from riding on the post-cutting second medium Me2. This allows the post-cutting first medium Me1 and the post-cutting second medium Me2 to be transported in a favorable manner. The above-described effects are also provided.
As shown in
Now, a clamp and a printer device according to preferred embodiment 3 of the present invention will be described. In the following description, portions substantially the same as, or corresponding to, those in preferred embodiment 1 will bear the same reference signs thereto, and descriptions thereof will be omitted.
As shown in
As shown in
The guide rail 15 is attached to the housing 100 so as to extend in a main scanning direction (i.e., left-right direction) above the table 20. The carriage driving mechanism 112 reciprocally moves the carriage 12 in the main scanning direction along the guide rail 15. On the carriage 12, the plurality of printing heads 12A facing the table 20 and the medium Me in the up-down direction are mounted. The printing heads 12A are inkjet heads. Namely, the printing heads 12A each have a plurality of nozzles (not shown) in a bottom surface thereof. The printing heads 12A inject ink from the nozzles toward the medium Me, and thus an image is formed on the medium Me.
As shown in
The cutter mechanism 13 cuts the medium Me. The cutter mechanism 13 includes a driver 126 and the blade 13a. The driver 126 is mounted on the carriage 12. The blade 13a is coupled with the driver 126. The driver 126 is, for example, a solenoid or a motor, and drives the blade 13a to be raised or lowered with respect to the table 20. The groove 22 described above is located below the blade 13a. When being lowered, the blade 13a is inserted into the groove 22.
For example, the cutting mechanism 13 cuts the medium Me after the printing. Specifically, in a state where the transportation of the medium Me by the feed motor 82 is stopped, the driver 126 lowers the blade 13a. A servo motor 116 moves the carriage 12 in the main scanning direction. Along with the movement of the carriage 12, the blade 13a moves in the main scanning direction along the groove 22, and cuts the medium Me.
Like in the above-described preferred embodiments, the pinch roller 62 is located upstream in the transportation direction of the medium Me with respect to the printing heads 12A. Therefore, the medium Me may undesirably rise from the table 20 in a region downstream with respect to the pinch roller 62. Also in the case where the ends of the medium Me in the width direction are located as being shifted from the pinch rollers 62 in the main scanning direction, the medium Me may undesirably rise from the table 20. In order to avoid such situations, the clamps 30B respectively press both of two ends of the medium Me in the width direction onto the table 20.
Now, a structure of the clamps 30B according to preferred embodiment 3 will be described in detail.
As shown in
The first clamp portion 34 and the second clamp portion 35 are formed to be thin. The gap 51 is provided between the first clamp portion 34 and the second clamp portion 35. In a state of being pressed, the medium Me is exposed to the gap 51 between the clamp portions 34 and 35.
The tip portion 42a of the first extending portion 42 and the tip portion 34a of the first clamp portion 34 are inclined with respect to the first top surface 21A so as to be raised as being closer to tips thereof. A tip portion 168R, of the first clamp portion 34, closer to the second clamp portion 35, is also inclined with respect to the first top surface 21A so as to be raised as being closer to a tip thereof. The tip portion 47a of the second extending portion 47 and the tip portion 35a of the second clamp portion 35 are inclined with respect to the second top surface 21B so as to be raised as being closer to tips thereof. A tip portion 167R, of the second clamp portion 35, closer to the first clamp portion 34, is also inclined with respect to the second top surface 21B so as to be raised as being closer to a tip thereof.
Through-holes 164R and 165R are formed in the second clamp portion 35. Presence/absence of the medium Me may be checked through the through-holes 164R and 165R, so that the relative position in the left-right direction of the clamp 30B with respect to the medium Me is adjusted. Through-holes may be formed in the first clamp portion 34, like in the second clamp portion 35. Similar through-holes may be formed in the clamps 30 and 30A in the above-described preferred embodiments.
The assembly of the base portion 31, the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 may be formed to be recessed in a V shape, a semi-arc shape or a generally C shape. In this example, as shown in
As represented by the two-dot chain line in
As shown in
As shown in
Now, a method for attaching the clamp 30B will be described. First, as shown in
The clamp 30B is lowered to fit the base portion 31, the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 into the groove 22. As a result, as shown in
While the clamp 30B is being fit into the groove 22, the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 are elastically compressed such that a gap between top portions of the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 is shortened. The first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47 are elastically deformed so as to be along the first top surface 21A and the second top surface 21B. The elastic force generated inside the clamp 30B defines and functions as a force by which the clamp portions 34 and 35 press the medium Me onto the table 20.
Although not described, the left clamp 30B is attached to the table in substantially the same manner. The left clamp 30B presses a left side edge of the medium Me onto the table 20.
In order to detach the clamp 30B from the table 20, at least the first extending portion 42/first clamp portion 34 or the second extending portion 47/second clamp portion 35 are pulled up. Specifically, the clamp 30B is detached from the table 20 as follows.
First, the tip portion 34a or the tip portion 42a is hooked with a fingertip or the like and pulled up, so that the first clamp portion 34 and the first extending portion 42 are risen with the base portion 31 being used as the fulcrum. When the first clamp portion 34 and the first extending portion 42 are thus risen, the first rising portion 41 is elastically compressed so as to be closer to the second rising portion 46, and the base portion 31, the first rising portion 41 and the second rising portion 46 are pulled upward out of from the groove 22. This allows the clamp 30B to be separated upward from the table 20. Alternatively, the tip portion 35a or the tip portion 47a may be hooked with a fingertip or the like and pulled up, so that the clamp 30B is pulled out of the groove 22 easily.
The left clamp 30B is detached from the table 20 in substantially the same manner.
The printer device 10A according to this preferred embodiment includes the controller 70 (see
Although not described in detail, in this preferred embodiment also, the printer device 10A performs the above-described operations in a state where the clamp 30B is attached to the table 20 of the printer device 10A. Namely, the printer device 10A executes the printing and the sheet cutting as described above. Therefore, the clamp 30B prevents the medium Me from rising, and the operation of cutting the medium Me is performed easily and quickly. In addition, the post-cutting first medium Me1 is prevented from riding on the post-cutting second medium Me2. This allows the post-cutting first medium Me1 and the post-cutting second medium Me2 to be transported in a favorable manner.
As described above, the cutter mechanism 13 (see
In the clamp 30C according to this preferred embodiment, the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47 are coupled with each other in the front-rear direction via the base portion 31, whereas the first extended portion 91 and the second extended portion 92 are not coupled with each other in the front-rear direction. The first extended portion 91 and the second extended portion 92 are spaced away from each other in the front-rear direction. The first extended portion 91 and the second extended portion 92 are elastically deformed more easily than the first extending portion 42 and the second extending portion 47. Therefore, when the roller moves leftward and rides on the first extended portion 91 or the second extended portion 92, the first extended portion 91 or the second extended portion 92 is elastically deformed. In this manner, the impact of the roller riding on the first extended portion 91 or the second extended portion 92 is alleviated. This prevents the position of the clamp 30C from being shifted.
The clamps 30, 30A, 30B and 30C in the above-described preferred embodiments each include a pair of rising portions 41 and 46 as front and rear rising portions, a pair of extending portions 42 and 47 as front and rear extending portions, and a pair of clamp portions 34 and 35 as front and rear clamp portions. Alternatively, the clamps 30, 30A, 30B and 30C may each include only the front or rear rising portion, the front or rear extending portion and the front or rear clamp portion. More specifically, each of the clamps 30, 30A, 30B and 30C may include the first rising portion 41, the first extending portion 42 and the first clamp portion 34 but may include none of the second rising portion 46, the second extending portion 47 and the second clamp portion 35. Alternatively, each of the clamps 30, 30A, 30B and 30C may include the second rising portion 46, the second extending portion 47 and the second clamp portion 35 but may include none of the first rising portion 41, the first extending portion 42 and the first clamp portion 34.
Even in such a preferred embodiment, the cutter 13a may be moved along the groove 22 while the medium Me is pressed onto the table 20, so that the medium Me is cut. While the medium Me is being cut, the cutter 13a does not interfere with the clamp 30, 30A, 30B or 30C. Therefore, the clamps 30, 30A, 30B and 30C do not need to be detached. For this reason, even in such a preferred embodiment, the medium Me is prevented from rising, and the medium Me is cut easily and quickly.
Some preferred embodiments for carrying out the present invention are described above. The above-described preferred embodiments are provided to make the present invention easy to understand, and do not limit the present invention in any way. The present invention may be altered or modified without departing from the gist thereof, and the present invention encompasses the equivalents of the alterations and modifications. Hereinafter, such alterations and modifications will be described. The above-described preferred embodiments and the alterations and modifications described below may be mutually combined in the case where such a combination is appropriate.
In the above-described preferred embodiments, the first member 32 and the second member 33 are formed of a metal material. Such a material may be changed. For example, the first member 32 and the second member 33 may be formed of a resin, a fiber-reinforced resin or a composite material (e.g., composite material of a metal material and a resin).
In the above-described preferred embodiments, the clamp 30B has a bilaterally asymmetric shape, and is usable exclusively for a left area or a right area of the medium Me. Alternatively, as shown in
In the above-described preferred embodiments, the printer devices 10 and 10A each include the cutting mechanism 13. Alternatively, the printer devices 10 and 10A do not need to include the cutting mechanism 13. Even in this case, the clamps 30, 30A, 30B and 30C may be attached to the groove 22 of the table 20. Even if the printers 10 and 10A do not include the cutting mechanism 13, the user may insert a cutter that he/she owns into the groove 22 from above the medium Me and move the cutter in the left-right direction without the cutter interfering with the clamp 30, 30A, 30B or 30C. In this manner, the medium Me is cut.
In the above-described preferred embodiments, the groove 22 includes a bottom. Alternatively, the groove 22 may extend through the table 20 in the up-down direction.
In the above-described preferred embodiments, the groove 22 is formed in order to allow the blade 13a to escape thereto after the blade 13a pierces the medium Me. The groove 22 may be used for another use. For example, a medium detection sensor (e.g., optical sensor) that detects the medium Me may be provided in the groove 22.
In the above-described preferred embodiments, the printing heads 12A are of an inkjet printer system. Alternatively, the printing heads 12A may be of another printing system (e.g., photosensitive system such as laser printer system, LED printer system or the like, or heat transfer system).
The clamps according to preferred embodiments of the present invention are applicable to a printer device having only a function of performing printing on a medium or to a medium cutting device having only a function of cutting a medium, as well as a printer/medium cutting device. There is no specific limitation on the type of device to which the clamps according to preferred embodiments of the present invention are applicable.
The present invention is not limited to any of the above-described preferred embodiments or examples, and may be changed in any way as long as the functions and effects of the present invention are provided.
Preferred embodiments of the present invention disclosed therein encompasses the following subject matter.
Subject Matter 1
A clamp attachable to a table including a top surface and a groove in the top surface and extending in a first direction, the clamp pressing a medium placed on the top surface onto the top surface, the clamp comprising: a base portion entirely accommodatable in the groove of the table; a rising portion rising from the base portion; an extending portion extending along the top surface of the table from the rising portion in a direction away from the groove; and a clamp portion extending along the top surface from the extending portion in a direction of the first direction that is away from the rising portion, the clamp portion urging the medium toward the top surface.
Subject Matter 2
The clamp according to subject matter 1, wherein the base portion is formed separately from the rising portion, and the rising portion is secured to the base portion.
Subject Matter 3
The clamp according to subject matter 2, wherein the base portion is formed of a resin by molding, and a through-hole is formed in a portion of the rising portion that is covered with the base portion.
Subject Matter 4
The clamp according to subject matter 2, wherein the base portion includes a thin portion provided in a central portion thereof in a recessed state, the thin portion being thinner than a portion, of the base portion, into which the rising portion is inserted.
Subject Matter 5
The clamp according to subject matter 1, wherein the base portion is formed of a hard resin.
Subject Matter 6
The clamp according to subject matter 1, further comprising a spacer provided on a bottom surface of the extending portion and placed on the top surface of the table.
Subject Matter 7
The clamp according to subject matter 1, wherein a length in the first direction of the base portion is longer than a total length in the first direction of the extending portion and the clamp portion.
Subject Matter 8
The clamp according to subject matter 1, wherein the rising portion, the extending portion and the clamp portion are integrally formed of a bent plate.
Subject Matter 9
The clamp according to subject matter 1, wherein in a state before the clamp is attached to the table, an angle defined by the rising portion and the extending portion is smaller than 90 degrees.
Subject Matter 10
A medium cutting device, comprising: a table including a top surface and a groove formed in top surface and extending in a first direction; a cutter mechanism provided so as to be movable in the first direction along the groove, the cutter mechanism cutting a medium placed on the top surface; and a clamp attached to the table and pressing the medium onto the top surface, wherein the cutter mechanism is configured to cut the medium while moving in the first direction, and the clamp includes: a base portion entirely accommodatable in the groove of the table, a rising portion rising from the base portion, an extending portion extending along the top surface of the table from the rising portion, and a clamp portion extending along the top surface from the extending portion in a direction of the first direction that is away from the rising portion, the clamp portion urging the medium toward the top surface.
Subject Matter 11
The medium cutting device according to subject matter 10, wherein the groove includes a bottom wall portion, a first side wall portion rising from the bottom wall portion, and a second side wall portion rising from the bottom wall portion, the second side wall portion being and away from the first side wall portion, the first side wall portion includes a first accommodation wall portion crossing the bottom wall portion, and a first pullout-preventive wall portion located above the first accommodation wall portion and protruding toward the second side wall portion more than the first accommodation wall portion, the second side wall portion includes a second accommodation wall portion crossing the bottom wall portion, and a second pullout-preventive wall portion located above the second accommodation wall portion so as to face the first pullout-preventive wall portion and protruding toward the first side wall portion more than the second accommodation wall portion, and a size in a second direction, perpendicular to the first direction, of the base portion is smaller than a distance between the first accommodation wall portion and the second accommodation wall portion, and is larger than a distance between the first pullout-preventive wall portion and the second pullout-preventive wall portion.
Preferred embodiments of the invention disclosed herein also include the following subject matter.
Another Subject Matter 1
A medium cutting device, comprising: a table including a first top surface, a second top surface, and a groove between the first top surface and the second top surface and extending in a first direction; a feed mechanism feeding the medium at least in a downstream direction, of a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, that is from the side of the first top surface to the side of the second top surface; a cutter mechanism provided so as to be movable in the first direction along the groove, the cutter mechanism cutting a medium, placed on the first top surface and the second top surface, into an upstream-side area and a downstream-side area; an adsorption hole formed in the second top surface; an absorption device in communication with the adsorption hole so as to absorb air from above toward the adsorption hole, the absorption device causing the medium to adsorb to the second top surface; and a controller controlling the feed mechanism, the cutter mechanism and the absorption device, wherein the controller includes: a sheet cutter driving the absorption device and moving the cutter mechanism along the groove while the medium is placed on the first top surface and the second top surface, so as to execute sheet cutting, an absorption stopper stopping the absorption device after the sheet cutting, and a feeder controlling the feed mechanism to transport the medium in the downstream direction after the absorption device is stopped and to stop transporting the medium in a state where a portion of the downstream-side area of the medium is above at least a portion of the adsorption hole; and an absorption driver driving the absorption device in a state where a portion of the downstream-side area of the medium is located above at least a portion of the adsorption hole.
Another Subject Matter 2
The medium cutting device according to another subject matter 1, wherein: a plurality of the adsorption holes are arrayed in the second direction, and the feeder controls the feed mechanism to transport the medium in the downstream direction after the absorption device is stopped and to stop transporting the medium in a state where a downstream end of the upstream-side area of the medium is located downstream with respect to an upstream end of the adsorption hole located at a most upstream position among the plurality of adsorption holes.
Another Subject Matter 3
The medium cutting device according to another subject matter 1, wherein the feeder controls the feed mechanism to start transporting the medium when a predetermined time elapses after the sheet cutting is finished.
Another Subject Matter 4
The medium cutting device according to another subject matter 1, further comprising a printing head provided so as to be movable in the first direction, the printing head injecting ink, wherein: the controller includes a printer repeating an injection operation of causing the printing head to inject ink while moving the printing head in the first direction, and a feed operation of causing the feed mechanism to transport the medium in the downstream direction, so as to execute printing, and a rate at which the medium is transported in the downstream direction after the sheet cutting is lower than a maximum rate at which the printer transports the medium.
Another Subject Matter 5
The medium cutting device according to another subject matter 1, wherein: the cutting mechanism includes a cutter provided so as to be movable in the first direction, the cutter cutting the medium, the controller includes a medium cutter executing medium cutting of performing, at the same time, an operation of causing the cutter to cut the medium and a feed operation of causing the feed mechanism to transport the medium in the second direction, and a rate at which the medium is transported in the downstream direction after the sheet cutting is lower than a maximum rate at which the medium cutter transports the medium.
Another Subject Matter 6
The medium cutting device according to another subject matter 1, wherein: the cutting mechanism includes a cutter provided so as to be movable in the first direction, the cutter cutting the medium, the controller includes a medium cutter executing medium cutting of performing, at the same time, an operation of causing the cutter to cut the medium and a feed operation of causing the feed mechanism to transport the medium in the second direction, the controller includes a pre-feeder controlling the feed mechanism to execute pre-feeding of transporting the medium in the downstream direction and an upstream direction opposite to the downstream direction before the medium cutting, and a rate at which the medium is transported in the downstream direction after the sheet cutting is lower than a maximum rate at which the pre-feeder transports the medium during the pre-feeding.
Another Subject Matter 7
The medium cutting device according to another subject matter 1, further comprising a clamp attached to the table, the clamp pressing the medium onto the first top surface and the second top surface.
Another Subject Matter 8
A medium cutting device, comprising: a table including a first top surface, a second top surface, and a groove between the first top surface and the second top surface and extending in a first direction; a feed mechanism feeding the medium at least in a downstream direction, of a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, that is from the side of the first top surface to the side of the second top surface; a cutter mechanism provided so as to be movable in the first direction along the groove, the cutter mechanism cutting a medium, placed on the first top surface and the second top surface, into an upstream-side area and a downstream-side area; an adsorption hole formed in the second top surface; an absorption device in communication with the adsorption hole so as to absorb air from above toward the adsorption hole, the absorption device causing the medium to adsorb to the second top surface; and a controller controlling the feed mechanism, the cutter mechanism and the absorption device, wherein: the cutter mechanism includes a cutter provided so as to be movable in the first direction, the cutter cutting the medium, and the controller includes: a sheet cutter driving the absorption device and moving the cutter mechanism along the groove while the medium is placed on the first top surface and the second top surface, so as to execute sheet cutting, an absorption stopper stopping the absorption device after the sheet cutting, and a feeder controlling the feed mechanism to transport the medium in the downstream direction after the absorption device is stopped; and a medium cutter executing medium cutting of performing, at the same time, an operation of causing the cutter to cut the medium and a feed operation of causing the feed mechanism to transport the medium in the second direction, and a rate at which the medium is transported in the downstream direction after the sheet cutting is lower than a maximum rate at which the medium cutter transports the medium.
While preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it is to be understood that variations and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. The scope of the present invention, therefore, is to be determined solely by the following claims.
The terms and expressions used herein are for description only and are not to be interpreted in a limited sense. These terms and expressions should be recognized as not excluding any equivalents to the elements shown and described herein and as allowing any modification encompassed in the scope of the claims. The present invention may be embodied in many various forms. This disclosure should be regarded as providing preferred embodiments of the principles of the present invention. These preferred embodiments are provided with the understanding that they are not intended to limit the present invention to the preferred embodiments described in the specification and/or shown in the drawings. The present invention encompasses any of preferred embodiments including equivalent elements, modifications, deletions, combinations, improvements and/or alterations which can be recognized by a person of ordinary skill in the art based on the disclosure. The elements of each claim should be interpreted broadly based on the terms used in the claim, and should not be limited to any of the preferred embodiments described in this specification or discussed during the prosecution of the present application.
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