Processing device with a sheet cutter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12370817-B2
Application number	US-202318371585-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2023
Priority date	Mar 23, 2021
Publication date	Jul 29, 2025
Grant date	Jul 29, 2025

Abstract

A processing device includes a support table to support a sheet medium, a sheet cutter to cut the medium supported on the support table, a cutter holder to move the sheet cutter in a toward-away direction in which the sheet cutter moves toward and away from the support table, and a cutter transporter to move the cutter holder in a cutting direction that is orthogonal to a transport direction of the medium. The cutter holder includes a holder movable in the toward-away direction and that holds the sheet cutter, an actuator including a rod that extends or retracts, a link connected to the rod and the holder, and a rotation shaft that rotatably supports the link so that the holder moves in the toward-away direction in response to extension or retraction of the rod.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A processing device comprising:
a support table to support a sheet medium;
a medium transporter to transport the medium supported on the support table in a predetermined transport direction;
a processing head to process the medium supported on the support table;
a sheet cutter that includes a blade portion at a tip to cut the medium;
a cutter holder to hold and move the sheet cutter in a predetermined toward-away direction so as to move the blade portion of the sheet cutter into contact with or away from the medium supported on the support table; and
a cutter transporter to move the cutter holder in a cutting direction that is orthogonal to the transport direction; wherein
the cutter holder includes:
a holder that is movable in the toward-away direction and that holds the sheet cutter;
an actuator including a rod that extends or retracts;
a link including a first connecting portion connected to the rod and a second connecting portion connected to the holder; and
a rotation shaft that rotatably supports the link so that the holder moves in the toward-away direction in response to extension or retraction of the rod.

2. The processing device according to claim 1 , wherein a distance between the rotation shaft and the second connecting portion is greater than a distance between the rotation shaft and the first connecting portion.

3. The processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the link and the rotation shaft are operable so that the holder moves toward the support table when the rod moves in a predetermined direction, and the holder moves away from the support table when the rod moves in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction;
the actuator is operable to apply an axial force that increases as the rod moves toward a stroke end in the predetermined direction; and
the link is elastically deformed by a driving force of the actuator in a state where the actuator is driven to move the rod in the predetermined direction and where the medium prevents the sheet cutter from penetrating the medium.

4. The processing device according to claim 1 , wherein
the cutter holder further includes:
a biasing portion that biases the holder in such a direction to cause the holder to move away from the support table;
a first portion that holds the holder and the actuator; and
a second portion attached to the first member;

the first portion includes a holding section that holds the holder in a first position in the toward-away direction resisting a biasing force of the biasing portion;
the second portion includes a pressing portion that presses the holding section by being attached to the first portion and that deforms the holding section so that the holding section moves away from the holder;
the first position is a position of the holder such that the sheet cutter penetrates the medium supported on the support table; and
the holder and the sheet cutter are movable in the toward-away direction as the holding section moves away from the holder.

5. The processing device according to claim 4 , wherein
the link and the rotation shaft are operable so that the holder moves toward the support table when the rod moves in a predetermined direction, and the holder moves away from the support table when the rod moves in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction;
the actuator is operable to apply an axial force that increases as the rod moves toward a stroke end in the predetermined direction; and
the rod is located at the stroke end in the predetermined direction when the holder is located in the first position.

6. The processing device according to claim 5 , wherein
an extension/retraction direction of the rod is an up-down direction;
the stroke end of the rod in the predetermined direction is an upper stroke end;
the cutter holder includes:
a slide portion capable of adjusting a position of the actuator in the up-down direction in the first portion; and
a fixing portion that fixes the position of the actuator that has been adjusted by the slide portion;

the slide portion is operable to allow the actuator to lower by its own weight until the rod is located at the upper stroke end in a state where the holder is located in the first position; and
the fixing portion is operable so that a position of the actuator in the first portion is fixable in a state where the holder is located in the first position and the rod is located at the upper stroke end.

7. The processing device according to claim 4 , wherein the first portion and the second portion together define a case that accommodates at least the actuator, the link and the rotation shaft as the second portion is attached to the first portion.

8. The processing device according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a controller to control the medium transporter, the processing head, the cutter holder and the cutter transporter; wherein
the controller includes:
a first sheet-cut control section to continuously cut the medium in the cutting direction; and
a second sheet-cut control section to intermittently cut the medium in the cutting direction;

the first sheet-cut control section is operable to perform a first group of steps, including:
a move-toward step of controlling the cutter holder to move the blade portion to a position in the toward-away direction where the medium can be cut; and
a first cutting step, after the move-toward step, of controlling the cutter transporter to move the cutter holder at least from one end portion of the medium in the cutting direction to the other end portion;

the second sheet-cut control section is operable to repeatedly perform a second group of steps, including:
a penetration step of controlling the cutter holder to allow the blade portion to penetrate the medium;
a second cutting step, after the penetration step, of controlling the cutter transporter to move the cutter holder in one direction of the cutting direction by a first distance shorter than a length of the medium in the cutting direction;
a move-away step, after the second cutting step, of controlling the cutter holder to move away the blade portion from the medium; and
a movement step, after the move-away step, of controlling the cutter transporter to move the cutter holder in the one direction of the cutting direction by a second distance shorter than a length of the medium in the cutting direction.

9. The processing device according to claim 8 , wherein the second sheet-cut control section is operable to perform a return step, after the second cutting step and before the move-away step, of controlling the cutter transporter to move the cutter holder in the other direction of the cutting direction by a third distance that is less than or equal to the first distance.

10. The processing device according to claim 8 , wherein
the controller includes a third sheet-cut control section to repeatedly perform a third group of steps, including:
the penetration step;
a third cutting step, after the penetration step, of controlling the cutter transporter to move the cutter holder in one direction of the cutting direction by a predetermined fourth distance;
the move-away step; and
another movement step, after the move-away step, of controlling the cutter transporter to move the cutter holder in the one direction of the cutting direction by a predetermined fifth distance;

a ratio of the fourth distance to the fifth distance is smaller than a ratio of the first distance to the second distance;
the third sheet-cut control section is operable to repeatedly perform the third group of steps on a first end area and a second end area, wherein the first end area is set to a predetermined width extendi

Assignees

• Roland Dg Corp

Inventors

• Seki Kenji
• Sugiyama Yuichi
• Suzuki Akihiro
• Nonaka Ryosuke

Classifications

• B65H2701/11312

  large formats, i.e. above A3 · CPC title

• B65H2301/51512

  using a cutting member moving linearly in a plane parallel to the surface of the web and along a direction crossing the handled material · CPC title

• B65H35/06

  from or with blade, e.g. shear-blade, cutters or perforators (from or with revolving blade B65H35/08) · CPC title

• B41J15/04

  Supporting, feeding, or guiding devices; Mountings for web rolls or spindles · CPC title

• B41J15/02 Primary

  Web rolls or spindles; Attaching webs to cores or spindles · CPC title