U.S. patent application number 09/964504 was filed with the patent office on 2002-04-04 for cutting device for recording medium and printer with cutting device.
Invention is credited to Fukushima, Itaru, Horigome, Yuuki, Yamanushi, Satoshi.
Application Number | 20020038591 09/964504 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18785705 |
Filed Date | 2002-04-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020038591 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fukushima, Itaru ; et
al. |
April 4, 2002 |
Cutting device for recording medium and printer with cutting
device
Abstract
A cutting device for cutting four edges out of recording media
being fed, comprising: a side cutter for cutting both side edges of
the recording media fed in a feed direction of the recording media;
an end cutter for cutting a leading and trailing end edges out of
the recording media fed in a feed direction of the recording media;
and, a recording media feed path having a curve or a plurality of
curves formed on at least a part thereof; wherein the side cutter
is arranged on the corner or corners of the recording media feed
path. The four edges of the recording media having an image or the
like printed can be cut accurately and securely.
Inventors: |
Fukushima, Itaru; (Tokyo,
JP) ; Yamanushi, Satoshi; (Nirasaki-shi, JP) ;
Horigome, Yuuki; (Kofu-shi, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
KANESAKA AND TAKEUCHI
1423 Powhatan Street
Alexandria
VA
22314
US
|
Family ID: |
18785705 |
Appl. No.: |
09/964504 |
Filed: |
September 28, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
83/408 ;
83/500 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 83/6491 20150401;
Y10T 83/6476 20150401; G03B 27/462 20130101; B26D 9/00 20130101;
G03B 27/588 20130101; Y10T 83/783 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
83/408 ;
83/500 |
International
Class: |
B26D 001/24 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 4, 2000 |
JP |
2000-304704 |
Claims
What we claim is:
1. A cutting device for cutting four edges out of recording media
being fed, comprising in combination: a side cutter for cutting
both side edges of said recording media fed in a feed direction of
said recording media; an end cutter for cutting a leading and
trailing end edges out of said recording media fed in a feed
direction of said recording media; and, a recording media feed path
having a curve or a plurality of curves formed on at least a part
thereof; wherein said side cutter is arranged on said corner or
corners of the recording media feed path.
2. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein said side
cutter is arranged on an upstream side in said feed direction of
said recording media and said end cutter is arranged on a
downstream side in said feed direction of said recording media.
3. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein a length of a
feed path formed between said side cutter and said end cutter for
said recording media is determined shorter than a longer length of
said recording media in a feed direction of said recording
media.
4. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein said side
cutter has at least rotary blades and has feed rollers provided on
the same axes of rotating shafts of said rotary blades for feeding
said recording media, said recording media being fed along a part
of a surface of said feed rollers while being changed in feed
direction.
5. The cutting device according to claim 3, wherein said end cutter
has at least paired blades, said paired blades being used to cut
said leading and trailing end edges out of said recording media
with said recording media stopped at a specific position, and said
rotary blades being used to cut said both side edges out of said
recording media while said recording media is fed.
6. A cutting method of recording media of cutting four edges out of
recording media, comprising in combination: a both-side edge
first-half-area cutting step of feeding said recording media to a
first cutting position before cutting both-side edge first-half
areas out of said recording media in a feed direction of said
recording media while feeding said recording media; a both-side
edge last-half-area cutting step of feeding said recording media to
said first cutting position before cutting both-side edge last-half
areas out of said recording media in said feed direction of said
recording media while feeding said recording media; a leading end
edge cutting step of feeding said recording media to a second
cutting position before cutting a leading end edge out of said
recording media in said feed direction of said recording media with
said recording media stopped; and, a trailing end edge cutting step
of feeding said recording media to said second cutting position
before cutting a trailing end edge out of said recording media in
said feed direction of said recording media with said recording
media stopped; wherein either of said leading end edge cutting step
or said tailing edge cutting step is performed between said
both-side edge first-half-area cutting step and said both-side edge
last-half-area cutting step.
7. The cutting method according to claim 6, wherein said both-side
edge first-half-area cutting step is performed before said leading
end edge cutting step is performed and, said both-side edge
last-half-area cutting step is performed before said trailing end
edge cutting step is performed.
8. The cutting method according to claim 6, wherein said both-side
edge first-half-area cutting step and said both-side edge
last-half-area cutting step cut both said side edges out of said
recording media while curve-feed said recording media.
9. The cutting method according to claim 8, wherein the curve-feed
of said recording media in said both-side edge first-half-area
cutting step and said both-side edge last-half-area cutting step is
made at an angle of around 90 degrees.
10. The cutting method according to claim 6, wherein at least a
part of said recording media is stopped as curved when either of
said leading end edge cutting step or said trailing end edge
cutting step is performed.
11. A printer, comprising in combination: an exposing section for
exposing recording media; first feed means arranged in said
exposing section for feeding said recording media; a developing
section for pressing to develop said recording media exposed by
said exposing section; a second feed means arranged in the course
of a recording media feed path between said exposing section and
said developing section for feeding to said developing section said
recording media exposed by said exposing section; a cutting device
for cutting four edges out of said recording media developed by
said developing section; third feed means arranged between said
developing section and said cutting device for feeding to said
cutting device said recording media developed by said developing
section; and, an apparatus housing for housing at least said
exposing section, said developing section, said cutting device, and
said first, second, and third feed means therein; wherein said
first, second, and third feed means feed said recording media in a
feed direction of said recording media while surface-contacting
both side edges of said recording media, and said cutting device
cuts said both side edges out of said recording media.
12. The printer according to claim 11, wherein at least a part of
said feed path for said recording media from said exposing section
to said cutting device is curved, and said cutting device is
arranged on the curving portion of said feed path for the recording
media.
13. The printer according to claim 12, wherein said cutting device
is arranged on an upper corner of said apparatus housing.
14. The printer according to claim 12, wherein said developing
section has a curved feed path formed therein for leading said
developed recording media to said cutting device and, the feed path
for said recording media connecting said curved feed path with said
feed path having said cutting device arranged thereon is virtually
S-shaped.
15. The printer according to claim 14, wherein said cutting device
has vertically cutting means having blades for cutting leading and
trailing edges out of said recording media moving in the feed
direction of said recording media as moving up and down vertically
in relation to said recording media and has rotary cutting means
having rotary blades for cutting said both side edges out of said
recording media in the feed direction of said recording media by
rotating while pressing each other.
16. The printer according to claim 15, further comprising in
combination feed rollers provided on the same axes of rotating
shafts of said rotary cutting means, said developing section having
pressure rollers for feeding said recording media while pressing,
wherein said recording media is fed along parts of surfaces of said
feed rollers and said pressure rollers.
17. The printer according to claim 16, further comprising in
combination a containing section arranged below said cutting device
for containing the four edges cut out of said recording media by
said cutting device, wherein said both side edges cut out of said
recording media by said rotary cutting means drop arcing along
parts of the surface of the feed roller down to be contained in
said containing section, and said leading and trailing end edges
cut out of the recording media by said vertically cutting means
drop vertically down to be contained in said containing
section.
18. The printer according to claim 17, wherein said containing
section has a specific antistatic process made thereon.
19. The printer according to claim 18, wherein said antistatic
process has a conductive material provided on at least a part of
said containing section.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a cutting device for and a
cutting method of recording media, such as photosensitive recording
paper and the like having an image or the like printed, and to a
printer having the cutting device. More specifically, it relates to
a cutting device for and a cutting method of recording media
accurately and securely and to a printer having the cutting device
for continuously cutting a plurality of the recording media
accurately and securely.
[0003] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0004] Prior printers make exposure on a photosensitive recording
sheet before pressing it to develop, thereby forming an image on a
surface of the photosensitive recording sheet. As an example,
Japanese Patent Application Publication 2000-147678(A) discloses a
recording apparatus as printer that: a photosensitive recording
sheet called the Cycolor media is used that is formed of lamination
of microcapsules filled with either one of coloring materials of
cyan, magenta, and yellow each; the photosensitive recording sheet
has a light of desired wavelength irradiated to a surface thereof
to expose a color image; in other words, the surface is made to
react to a light of specific wavelength to cure a sensitive
material filled in the microcapsule together with the coloring
material; the curing makes coloring reaction of the coloring
material inactive; after that, a high pressure is applied to the
active microcapsule without reacting to the light of specific
wavelength to destroy for development (coloring), thereby forming
the color image.
[0005] The prior printer mentioned above has an advantage that a
running cost for printing can be kept low as consumable materials
such as toner and ink or ink ribbon are not needed except for the
above-mentioned Cycolor media only for forming, or printing, the
color image. The above-mentioned Cycolor media is on the marked in
forms as blank cut sheets, such as a rectangular form, before the
printing processes (exposing and pressure-developing processes). In
the cutting process to the blank forms, the Cycolor media has an
undesired force applied to four edges thereof. The four edges
result in destruction of the microcapsules of non-unactiviated
(active) state having the coloring materials filled therein, the
microcapsules being thereon. It is disadvantageous that the four
edges cannot be developed to desired colors, but becomes black or
undesirable results.
[0006] To overcome the problem, Japanese Patent Application
Publication Hei 10-62871 (A) discloses a technique that in advance
of the above-mentioned cutting step the four edges of the Cycolor
media are pre-exposed to white and, the microcapsules existing on
the edges are made inactive as a white frame to prevent the white
edges from becoming black even if after that, a pressure is applied
to the edges at the cutting step for a standard form.
[0007] However, the above-mentioned processing made on the
recording media results in increased cost of the media as
consumable item, or unavoidably increased running cost in the
printing process with use of the media.
[0008] On the other hand, the printer having such a media used is
useful as a photo-printer. The photosensitive recording paper
having a color image formed, like the photograph having usual
negative film used, has been needed to have the image formed on the
entire surface without four edges in finish.
[0009] Various prior arts for cutting the recording media have been
disclosed and put to practical use. Japanese Patent Application
Publication Hei 11-202418(A), as an example, discloses a structure
having a cutter unit made up of a horizontal cutter and a vertical
cutter, the horizontal cutter being for cutting photosensitive
material having a plurality of images printed (exposed) to specific
lengths depending on lengths of individual prints formed on the
photosensitive material and, the vertical cutter being for cutting
the photosensitive material having the plurality of wide images
printed to specific widths depending on widths of the individual
prints, thereby horizontally and vertically cutting the
photosensitive material for the plurality of prints. However, the
structure unlike the present invention cannot only be used to cut
the four edges out of the recording media, but also is not
elaborated for accurate and secure cutting the photosensitive
material in any way as to posture and holding state of the
photosensitive material in cutting the photosensitive material.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
[0010] An object of the present invention is to provide a cutting
device for recording media capable of cutting four edges of the
recording media having an image or the like printed accurately and
securely.
[0011] Another object of the present invention is to provide a
cutting method of recording media capable of cutting four edges of
the recording media having an image or the like printed accurately
and securely.
[0012] Still another object of the present invention is to provide
a printer having a cutting device for recording media capable of
cutting four edges of the recording media having an image or the
like printed accurately and securely to suppress a running cost
while keeping quality image printed on the recording media.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0013] Briefly, the foregoing objects are accomplished in
accordance with aspects of the present invention by a cutting
device for cutting four edges out of recording media being fed,
comprising in combination: a side cutter for cutting both side
edges of the recording media fed in a feed direction of the
recording media; an end cutter for cutting a leading and trailing
end edges out of the recording media fed in a feed direction of the
recording media; and, a recording media feed path having a curve or
a plurality of curves formed on at least a part thereof; wherein
the side cutter is arranged on the corner or corners of the
recording media feed path.
[0014] Also, the foregoing objects are accomplished in accordance
with aspects of the present invention by a cutting method of
recording media of cutting four edges out of recording media,
comprising in combination: a both-side edge first-half-area cutting
step of feeding the recording media to a first cutting position
before cutting both-side edge first-half areas out of the recording
media in a feed direction of the recording media while feeding the
recording media; a both-side edge last-half-area cutting step of
feeding the recording media to the first cutting position before
cutting both-side edge last-half areas out of the recording media
in the feed direction of the recording media while feeding the
recording media; a leading end edge cutting step of feeding the
recording media to a second cutting position before cutting a
leading end edge out of the recording media in the feed direction
of the recording media with the recording media stopped; and, a
trailing end edge cutting step of feeding the recording media to
the second cutting position before cutting a trailing end edge out
of the recording media in the feed direction of the recording media
with the recording media stopped; wherein either of the leading end
edge cutting step or the tailing edge cutting step is performed
between the both-side edge first-half-area cutting step and the
both-side edge last-half-area cutting step.
[0015] Further, the foregoing objects are accomplished in
accordance with aspects of the present invention by a printer,
comprising in combination: an exposing section for exposing
recording media; first feed means arranged in the exposing section
for feeding the recording media; a developing section for pressing
to develop the recording media exposed by the exposing section; a
second feed means arranged in the course of a recording media feed
path between the exposing section and the developing section for
feeding to the developing section the recording media exposed by
the exposing section; a cutting device for cutting four edges out
of the recording media developed by the developing section; third
feed means arranged between the developing section and the cutting
device for feeding to the cutting device the recording media
developed by the developing section; and, an apparatus housing for
housing at least the exposing section, the developing section, the
cutting device, and the first, second, and third feed means
therein; wherein the first, second, and third feed means feed the
recording media in a feed direction of the recording media while
surface-contacting both side edges of the recording media, and the
cutting device cuts the both side edges out of the recording
media.
[0016] The foregoing and other objects, advantages, manner of
operation and novel features of the present invention will be
understood from the following detailed description when read in
connection with the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a front overview for an entire structure of the
printer in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is an overview for structure of an exposing
projector.
[0019] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view for structure of peripheries
around a cutting device.
[0020] FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view for structure of peripheries
around a cutting device.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view for structure of an end cutter
in the cutting device.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0022] The following describes in detail an embodiment of the
printer according to the present invention in reference to the
drawings attached here.
[0023] The printer according to the present invention includes an
ink jet printer, a laser printer, and similar printing apparatuses.
This embodiment described is for a printer appropriate for Cycolor
film (hereinafter referred to as the Cycolor printer), the Cycolor
film is a photosensitive recording sheet.
[0024] First, an overview of the Cycolor printer embodied according
to the present invention is described below.
[0025] FIG. 1 is a front view illustrating the Cycolor printer 1. A
top and a bottom of the figure correspond to those of an apparatus
housing 100, and a right and left sides are to those of the
apparatus housing 100.
[0026] A media container for media 3, including recording media and
film, is arranged in an upper area of the apparatus housing 100. A
media unloading port for the media 3 is arranged closed to the
media container, on the top of the apparatus housing 100. A feed
path is formed from the media container to the media unloading
port. Along the feed path are disposed processing sections,
including an exposing section, a developing section, and a fixing
section. The feed path is disposed in a loop manner inside the
apparatus housing 100 as wrapping the processing sections. Parts of
the feed path are sharply curved, including a switchback section 64
and a alternative path 121 that will be described later. Such a
construction allows every processing section to have space enough
to make a single medium stay therein.
[0027] The media container has a cassette room 2 disposed on a side
of the apparatus housing 1 00,on an upper left side in the figure.
The cassette room 2 can load a media cassette 5 therein from a
front side in the figure. The media cassette 5 is capable of
containing a many number of media 3 for forming desired images. For
loading the many number of media 3, they are put downward into the
media cassette 5, vertically in the apparatus housing 100 (printer
1). In other words, the many number of media 3 can be loaded so
that they can be linearly fed out of the media cassette 5 to the
feed path without changing their direction.
[0028] Loading the media cassette 5 in the media container, or the
cassette room 2, makes synchronization with a media picking
arrangement (not shown) to run a pick roller 101. The pick roller
101 is pressed to the media 3 in the media cassette 5. At the same
time, a media pressing arrangement (not shown) is run to press the
media 3 in the media cassette 5 to the pick roller 101. As a
result, the pick roller 101 can be kept to feed out the media 3 in
the media cassette 5 one by one in sequence.
[0029] The cassette room 2 also has a media separating arrangement
disposed therein for preventing more than one sheet of the media 3
fed by the pick roller 101 from being fed out to a feed path 51
(which will be described later) at the same time. The media
separating arrangement is formed of a pick roller 101 and a
separating roller 103 faced and pressed to each other. The feed
roller 102 is controlled in rotation so as to feed out the media 3
toward the feed path 51, while the separating roller 103 is
controlled in rotation so as to draw back the media 3 toward the
pick roller 101. The feed roller 102 in the embodiment is
controlled to have greater drive force (torque) than the separating
roller 103. Such a media separating mechanism can separate the
media 3 fed by the pick roller 101 one by one before feeding to the
feed path 51.
[0030] The media 3 is formed of a viscous layer having polyester
film coated with a bonding layer and containing numbers of
photosensitive microcapsules called Cyris and a transparent PET
(polyester terephthalate) layer covering it.
[0031] Each of the microcapsules is filled with a photosensitive
agent reactive to a different wavelength and either one of dyes of
CYM (cyan, yellow, and magenta). The microcapsule containing the
cyan dye is cured with a red light received, that of the yellow dye
with a blue light, and that of the magenta with a green light.
Microcapsules being not reactive to lights of specific wavelengths
and ones receiving no lights cannot be cured. Such microcapsules
and a developing and fixing agent called the developer resin are
bound to a special oily viscous agent to form the viscous
layer.
[0032] Thus, when exposure is made by an exposing projector (which
will be described later), red exposure portions have only the cyan
dye cured, leaving the other dyes not cured. When a high pressure
is applied by a developing roller arranged on the downstream end,
the microcapsules containing the yellow dye and the magenta dye are
disrupted, resulting in appearance of the red color. Similarly,
green exposure portions have only the magenta dye cured, and the
microcapsules containing the cyan dye and the yellow dye are
destroyed, resulting in appearance of the green color. Blue
exposure portions have only the yellow dye cured, and the
microcapsules containing the cyan dye and the magenta dye are
disrupted, resulting in appearance of the blue color.
[0033] The microcapsule is of a few microns of size. An LCD (liquid
display panel) used for printing contains a few capsules per pixel.
A curing degree of a microcapsule differs with amount of exposure.
These mean that an image of numbers of color gradations can be
formed with each microcapsule cured and disrupted depending on
color data of each pixel.
[0034] A temperature controlling means (not shown) is disposed at
the bottom of the cassette room 2 for controlling environment
inside the media cassette 5. In the embodiment is used a Peltier
device providing a Peltier effect that can produce temperature
difference depending on direction of a current flowing at a
junction of dissimilar metals thereof. The Peltier device can be
set for either of heating or cooling by controlling the polarity of
the voltage applied to the junction. The effect can be utilized to
optimize the temperature and humidity inside the media cassette
5.
[0035] Below the feed path 51 is arranged the feed path 51 for
feeding the media 3 fed out of the media cassette 5. The feed path
51 is directed down from the media cassette 5 toward a bottom of
the apparatus housing 100 before being extended along the bottom of
the apparatus housing 100 to an exposure path extended along the
bottom.
[0036] The media cassette 51 has a plurality of feed rollers (two
pairs of feed rollers 104 and 105 in this embodiment) arranged
therealong. An error detecting sensor 107 is disposed upstream in
front of the paired feed rollers 104, and a media detecting sensor
108 is disposed upstream in front of the paired feed rollers
105.
[0037] The error detecting sensor 107 is controlled to detects
state of the media 3 and signals a feed error when a plurality of
media 3 are not separated by the media separating arrangement
mentioned above before being fed out at the same time. In the
operation, feeding of the media 3 is stopped in synchronous with
the feed error indication.
[0038] The media detecting sensor 108 is controlled to detect a
leading end edge of the media 3 fed out of the feed path 51 via the
paired feed rollers 104 before feeding out a leading end edge
detection signal. In the operation, a media feeding arrangement
(not shown) stops the pick roller 101 and the media separating
arrangement, including the feed roller 102 and the separating
roller 103, from rotating and allows only the paired feed rollers
104 and 105 according to the leading end edge detection signal.
This can feed only single sheet of the media 3 to the feed path 51.
The sheet of media 3 then is transferred to the exposure path. With
the transference to the exposure path, the following sheet of media
3 is fed to the media cassette 5 at a predetermined instance before
being stopped at a stand-by position (not shown) set in front of
the exposure path. This assures the media 3 can be transferred to
the exposure path one by one.
[0039] The exposure path is formed of a pre-stage path 52 disposed
in series to the feed path 51 for feeding downstream the media 3
having passed through the feed path 51, a exposing stage 55
disposed downstream in series to the pre-stage path 52, and a
post-stage path 57 disposed downstream in series to the exposing
stage 55 for feeding the media 3 having passed through the exposing
stage 55.
[0040] The exposure path has a plurality of paired rollers therein
for feeding downstream the media 3 fed via the feed path 51. In the
embodiment are disposed one pair of feed rollers 106 in the
pre-stage path 52, three pairs of feed rollers 109, 110, and 111 in
the exposing stage 55 at an equal interval, and one pair of feed
rollers 112 in the post-stage path 57.
[0041] The exposing stage 55 has a media detecting sensor 113
disposed between the two pairs of feed rollers (between the paired
rollers 110 and 111 in the embodiment). According to a sensor
signal of the media detecting sensor 113, the media 3 can be halted
once at an exposure position on the exposing stage 55. In detail,
the media detecting sensor 113 sends the sensor signal out if the
media 3 is put at the exposure position on the exposing stage 55
with the media 3 fed on the exposing stage 55 via the pre-stage
path 52. At that time, the paired rollers 109, 110, and 111 are
controlled to stop from rotating in synchronous with the sensor
signal.
[0042] In the state that the media 3 is halted once, the media 3 is
exposed separately to three primary color lights, including R
(red), G (green), and B (blue), on a printing side 3a thereof (FIG.
2) for a preprocess to form a desired image. It should be noticed
that mylar light shields 55a and 55b are arranged on the upstream
end and the downstream end of the exposing stage 55 respectively.
The light shields 55a and 55b prevent the printing side 3a of the
media 3 from being irradiated by external noise lights (disturbing
lights) while exposure is made on the exposing stage 55. In
addition, a heater (not shown) is disposed on the bottom of the
exposing stage 55 to keep the temperature of the exposing stage 55
to a specific value. The heater can minimize heat radiation of the
exposing stage 55.
[0043] An exposing projector 60 as exposure light source is
disposed at a position, above around a center of the apparatus
housing 100, facing the exposing stage 55. The exposing projector
60 irradiates light to the printing surface 3a of the media 3 for a
specific exposure process.
[0044] The exposing projector 60 and the exposing stage 55 in the
embodiment are integrated together as an exposing section for
preprocessing to form the image on the printing surface 3a of the
media 3.
[0045] In the exposing projector 60, as shown in FIG. 2, the light
radiated from the light source 60a (metal halide lamp) is aligned
to a parallel beam through a second optical system 60b (an optical
system including a fly array lens and a polarization converter
device). The parallel beam then is deflected downward, or toward
the exposing stage 55, by a mirror 60c before passing a second
optical system 60d having a field lens, a three-color RGB filter
driven to rotate, and a wave plate. If the three-color RGB filter
is rotated, color image patterns are formed through an LCD panel
60e in timing with respective R, G, and B lights. The image formed
on the LCD panel 60e then is projected onto the printing surface 3a
of the media 3 on the exposing stage 55 via a deflecting plate 60f
and a projecting lens 60g.
[0046] The media 3 having such an exposure process made is
transferred to the post-stage path 57 via the paired feed rollers
112 before being controlled to stay on the post-stage path 57 for a
specific sensitizing time. The sensitizing time is a period of time
needed to develop colors on the exposed media 3 through a
developing process (which will be described later) and optimized
depending on kind of media 3, exposing time, and other factors.
After the sensitizing time elapsed, the media having stayed on the
post-stage path 57 is transferred to a feed path 62 via paired feed
rollers 114. It should be noticed that the post-stage path 57 is
flexed upward (from the bottom to the top of the apparatus housing
100 and is connected with the feed path 62. The feed path 62 is
extended upward inside the apparatus housing 100.
[0047] The 62 formed vertically with respect to the apparatus
housing 100 has paired cleaning rollers 115 and switchback section
64 disposed therearound in the order. The exposed media 3 is
cleaned by the paired cleaning rollers 115 before being fed to the
switchback section 64. In synchronous with feeding of the media 3,
a successive media 3 is fed and positioned on the exposing stage
55.
[0048] The exposed media 3 is controlled to stay in the switchback
section 64 for a dark time needed for coloring by the developing
process (which will be described later). In detail, the switchback
section 64 has two pairs of feed rollers 118 and 118 arranged
therein along the feed path 62. The feed path 62 between the paired
feed rollers 117 and 118 has a media detecting sensor 119 disposed
thereon. If the exposed media 3 being fed by the paired feed
rollers 117 and 118 reaches a specific position, the media
detecting sensor 119 outputs an sensor signal. The paired rollers
117 and 118 are synchronized with the sensor signal to stop. The
exposed media 3 is stayed at the specific position in the
switchback section 64 for the sensitizing time. For the sensitizing
time, the exposed media 3 being successively fed is made to stay on
the feed paths 57 and 62 between the exposing stage 55 and the
switchback section 64.
[0049] The feed path 62 in the switchback section 64 is extended
upward inside the apparatus housing 100 before being broken at
around a vertical center of the apparatus housing 100. The media 3
made to stay at the specific position in the switchback section 64
is returned on the same feed path 62 and guided through an
alternative path 121 branched from an inlet of the switchback
section 64 to a paired pressure developing rollers 68 that is a
developing unit (which will be described later).
[0050] Now, the following describes structure, operation, and
advantages of the switchback section 64.
[0051] The media 3 exposed on the exposing stage 55 continues
photosensitization (exposure reaction) in the microcapsules thereof
for a while even after the light irradiation stops. For the reason,
the stabilizing time (dark time) for stabilizing the photosensitive
reaction in the microcapsules is needed before the microcapsules
are fractured by pressure of the paired pressure developing rollers
68. The stabilizing time can be obtained by making longer the feed
path from the exposing stage 55 to the paired pressure developing
rollers 68, However, arrangement must be made large due to the long
feed path accordingly.
[0052] The switchback section 64 therefore is provided to make the
media switchback to obtain the dark time needed without making the
apparatus large. The paired feed rollers 117 and 118 in the
switchback section 64 are arranged so that they can be controlled
to drive independently of the other paired rollers, including the
paired feed rollers 112 and 114, the paired cleaning rollers 115,
and the paired pressure developing rollers 68, the dark time for
reaching the paired pressure developing rollers 68 can be changed,
made longer or shorter, freely by adjusting the staying time of the
media 3 in the switchback section 64.
[0053] In detail, with the paired feed rollers 117 and 118 rotated,
say, normally, the media 3 is taken onto the feed path 62 before
being stopped at the specific position in the switchback section
64. When the dark time elapses, the paired feed rollers 117 and 118
are controlled to rotate in reverse direction if the paired
pressure developing rollers 68 are synchronized with the paired
feed rollers 117 and 118 in the switchback section 64, that is, if
no preceding media 3 exists between the paired pressure developing
rollers 68 for development. As a result, the media 3 is fed in the
reverse direction on the same
[0054] In the embodiment, a switching gate 120 is disposed on the
feed path 62 between the paired feed rollers 117 and the paired
cleaning rollers 115. The switching gate 120 is actuated in
synchronous with the reverse rotations of the paired feed rollers
117 and 118, the reverse rotations being given by the switchback
driving arrangement. In that case, the media 3 fed in the reverse
direction on the feed path 62 is fed to the alternative path 121
via the switching gate 120 before being guided to the paired
pressure developing rollers 68 with the printing surface 3a kept to
direct up.
[0055] The paired pressure developing rollers 68, as shown in FIG.
1, are arranged to rotate as the rollers press each other at a
specific pressure. The exposed media 3 in which the microcapsules
have been cured has a load applied to both surfaces thereof when
passing the 68 to destruct the microcapsules of hardness depending
on amount of exposure. With the microcapsules of a specific
hardness destructed, die (ink) in the microcapsules exudes out to
develop, or color, the image.
[0056] On the downstream of the paired pressure developing rollers
68 is extended the 121 to the top of the apparatus housing 100
along inside the apparatus housing 100. The alternative path 121
has a plurality of paired feed rollers (two pairs in the
embodiment, 122 and 123) provided in a course thereof. The media 3
having the development process made by the paired pressure
developing rollers 68 is stabilized in the colorization while being
fed on the alternative path 121 by the paired feed rollers 122 and
123.
[0057] In other words, the colorization needs some time (wait time)
until the ink exudation stabilizes even after release of the
pressure by the paired pressure developing rollers 68. To secure
the wait time, it is preferable that length of the alternative path
121 should be made longer. It should be noticed that the
alternative path 121 can be set to a desired length according to
the switchback distance of the switchback section 64. This allows
the wait time to be set depending on the kind of ink used.
[0058] On the upstream of the paired feed rollers 122 is disposed a
media detecting sensor 125. If a downstream edge of the media 3 fed
on the alternative path 121 passes the media detecting sensor 125,
a signal output of the media detecting sensor 125 synchronizes a
cutting device 72 to run, which will be described later.
[0059] A high-speed feed path 124 is provided in connection with an
end of the alternative path 121 and extended through a top right
side of the apparatus housing 100 to an outlet placed on a top left
side of the apparatus housing 100.
[0060] For the high-speed feed path 124 are provided paired
high-speed feed rollers 126 and the cutting device 72. The paired
high-speed feed rollers 126 are controlled to rotate at the same
rate as or a little faster than the feed rollers provided in the
apparatus housing 100 except for the paired pressure developing
rollers 68 at least. The cutting device 72 is arranged on the top
of the apparatus housing 100 (top right side looking on the
drawing) and serves to cut four margins of the media 3.
[0061] The cutting device 72, as shown in FIGS. 3 through 5, has a
side cutter 72a formed in a longer direction of the high-speed feed
path 124, or the feed direction of the media 3, for cutting the
both side edges of the media 3 while the media 3 is fed, and a end
cutter 72b formed along the feed path, in a direction traversing
the high-speed feed path 124, for cutting the leading and trailing
end edges of the media 3 while the media 3 is stopped. The side
cutter 72a cuts first halves of the both side edges of the media 3
in the feed direction before cutting the last halves of the both
side edges in a specific timing. In the embodiment is arranged the
side cutter 72a on the upstream side of the high-speed feed path
124 and at a curve of the high-speed feed path 124 on the top
corner of the apparatus housing 100 and is arranged the cutter 72b
on the virtually horizontal path on the downstream side thereof.
Alternatively, the edge cutter 72b may be arranged on the upstream
of the high-speed feed path 124, and the side cutter 72a may be
arranged on the downstream side thereof.
[0062] The side cutter 72a has paired rollers (first and second
rollers 151 and 152) rotating while press-contacting with each
other for guiding the media 3 along the high-speed feed path 124
and has rotary blades (first and second rotary blades 153 and 154)
disposed on each end of the first and second rollers 151 and 152
respectively for cutting both side edges of the media 3 as rotated
by the first and second rollers 151 and 152. That is, the media 3
is cut of the both side edges while fed to change in direction
along a part of surface of the second roller 152 arranged downward
as nipped by the first and second rollers 151 and 152. The
high-speed feed path 124 in the embodiment has a curvature of
around 90 degrees on a curved portion thereof on which the side
cutter 72a is arranged as the high-speed feed path 124 on the top
corner of the apparatus housing 100. The first and second rotary
blades 153 and 154 are rotated while always press-contacting with
each other while the first and second rollers 151 and 152 are
rotated. Each of the first rotary blades 153 disposed for the
respective ends of the first roller 151 is fixed on the first
roller 151 via a spacer 156 extendedly provided in the direction
traversing the high-speed feed path 124. Each of the second rotary
blades 154 disposed for the respective ends of the second roller
152 is always pressed outward (toward the first rotary blade 153 by
an urging spring 155 arranged between the second rotary blade 154
and the second roller 152. With such a structure, the second rotary
blade 154 is always kept pressed to the first rotary blade 153 by
urging force of the urging spring 155.The extension of the spacer
156 can be adjusted to change the both side edge widths cut out of
the media 3.
[0063] The end cutter 72b has paired blades (upper blade 157 and
lower blade 158) of capable of cutting the both leading and
trailing edges of the media 3 by moving in a direction traversing
the media 3 and up and down vertically in relation to the media 3.
As an example of the embodiment, it is structured that the lower
blade 158 is fixed on a frame supported on the apparatus housing
100, and the upper blade 157 is provided to move up and down along
the lower blade 158. The present invention, however, should not be
limited to the structure but instead, paired blades fixed on a
sliding member moving in the direction traversing the media 3, as
an example, can be used.
[0064] The cutting device 72 also has a driving arrangement for
driving the cutting device 72 and can be controlled in its own
timing. The driving arrangement is divided into a side cutter
driving arrangement and an edge cutter driving arrangement that can
be controlled in their respective own timings.
[0065] In the side cutter driving arrangement, the first roller 151
is linked via a gear arrangement 160 with the second roller 152,
the second roller 152 is linked via an endless belt 161 with the
paired high-speed feed rollers 126 (rollers arranged between the
side cutter 72a and the end cutter 72b in the embodiment), and the
paired high-speed feed rollers 126 are linked via an endless belt
162 with a side cutter driving motor 163.
[0066] In the edge cutter driving arrangement, the upper blade 157
is linked on both ends thereof with cams 165 via vertically sliding
member 164, and the cams 165 are rotatably supported by an
eccentric cam shaft 166. The eccentric cam shaft 166 is liked via a
gear arrangement 167 with an edge cutter driving motor 168.
[0067] Controlling the driving arrangements in their own timings
makes it possible to adjust time for a bleaching process which will
be described later, resulting in increased efficiency and
stabilization of the printing process.
[0068] The cutting device 72 described above is structured to
eliminate curling of the media 3 for plain surface to cut the
edges. As an example, the media 3 could be curved in the direction
traversing or in a longer direction along the feed path when
passing the processing sections provided on the upstream,
particularly the paired pressure developing rollers 68 as the
developing section.
[0069] As means for eliminating, or correcting, the curve, the side
cutter 72a has both the first and second rollers 151 and 152 served
to eliminate the curve of the media 3 warping in the directing
traversing the feed path when the first and second rotary blades
153 and 154 cut the both side edges of the media 3. That is, the
both side edges are cut while the first and second rollers 151 and
152 stretch the width direction curve (curling) of the media 3. On
the curve of the high-speed feed path 124, or on the top corner of
the apparatus housing 100, as described above, is arranged the side
cutter 72a and the first and second roller 151 and 152. The media 3
could be curved in the direction traversing the feed path in the
course curved along the part of the surface of the one pressure
developing roller as pressed at a high pressure when passing the
paired pressure developing rollers 68 as the developing section. To
eliminate, or correct, the curve, the media 3 held by the first and
second rollers 151 and 152 are positioned to a curving posture
opposite to the curve produced in the media 3 in the developing
section. For the purpose, the feed path from the developing section
(the paired pressure developing rollers 68) to the cutting device
72 is virtually S-shaped, thereby eliminating, or correcting, the
curve produced in the media 3.
[0070] The cutting device 72 has a decurling arrangement (not
shown) for eliminating the curve of the media 3 in the longer
direction of the feed path before the blades 157 and 158 of the end
cutter 72b cut the leading and trailing end edges of the media 3.
The decurling arrangement can be formed of paired rollers of
relatively large diameter. With such a structure, the leading and
trailing end edges can be cut out while the curve (curling) in the
longer direction is stretched by the decurling arrangement.
[0071] In the cutting device 72, a path length in the longer
direction of the feed path from the side cutter 72a to the end
cutter 72b is determined shorter than a length of the media 3 in
the longer direction. It is further preferable that the path length
in the longer direction of the feed path from the side cutter 72a
to the end cutter 72b is determined a half of the length of the
media 3 in the longer direction. With the path length determined as
such, the cutting device 72 can be made compact, resulting in
making the printer 1 smaller.
[0072] Further, to lead the media 3 into the side cutter 72a and
the end cutter 72b of the cutting device 72 stably and securely, it
preferable that a leading member, for example, a taper or mylar,
should be arranged on the feed path right before leading the side
cutter 72a and the end cutter 72b each.
[0073] The media 3 in the cutting device 72 is cut on the first
halves of the both side edges by the side cutter 72a first, on the
leading end edge by the end cutter 72b, on last halves of the both
side edges by the side cutter 72a, and on the trailing end edge by
the end cutter 72b in the order. For the operation, a media
detecting sensor 128 is arranged in front of the upstream side of
the end cutter 72b for always detecting the leading and trailing
positions on the upstream and downstream sides of the media 3 being
fed, thereby controlling the end cutter 72b for cutting timings of
the leading and trailing end edges of the media 3. It should be
noticed that rotational rates of the first and second rollers 151
and 152 of the paired side cutters 72a are controlled to rotate at
the same rate as the paired high-speed feed rollers 126.
[0074] The paired rollers 109,110, and 111 arranged in the media
cassette 55 formed as parts of the exposing section, the paired
feed rollers 112, 114, 117, and 118 arranged on the feed path for
the media 3 from the media cassette 55 to the paired pressure
developing rollers 68 as the developing section, and the paired
feed rollers 122, 123, and 126 (paired high-speed feed rollers
arranged between the paired feed rollers 123 and the side cutter
72a) arranged on the feed path between the paired pressure
developing rollers 68 and the cutting device 72, are all made to
surface-contact the both side edges of the media 3 to feed to the
downstream sides. The surface-contacting areas of the media 3 are
cut out later by the side cutter 72a of the cutting device 72. Even
if the areas are scratched, therefore, the media 3 is not
deteriorated in image quality, being able to keep the print at a
desired status.
[0075] Below the cutting device 72 (higher portion of the apparatus
housing 100) is arranged a containing section 75 for containing the
margins cut out of the media 3 therein, or the margin dust cut out
by the cutting device 72 drops into the containing section 75 to
collect. In the embodiment, the both side edges cut out of the
media 3 by the side cutter 72a of the cutting device 72 drop arcing
along parts of the surface of the second roller 152 down into a
containing section 75. The leading and trailing end edges cut out
of the media 3 by the end cutter 72b drop vertically down into the
containing section 75. In actual operation, the environment in the
apparatus tends to generate static electricity as the atmosphere is
at high temperature and the cut material is of polyester. The
static electricity causes sticking of the cut margins when the
margins of the media 3 are cut by the paired slitter rollers 72a
(side cutter) and the cutter 72b, resulting in hard dropping of the
various margins and sticking on the inlet. For the reason, the
containing section 75 in the embodiment has a specific antistatic
process made thereon. Examples of the antistatic process may
include sticking of a conductive material such as copper tape to
parts of the containing section 75 or forming the entire containing
section 75 of a conductive material such as a metallic
material.
[0076] The high-speed feed path 124 on the downstream end of the
cutting device 72 has a bleaching section 77 for bleaching
process.
[0077] The following describes the bleaching process briefly.
[0078] The media 3 exposed on the exposing stage 55 forms an image
as it exudates necessary amount of die (ink) as being pressed. To
express variable densities, the media 3 is exposed to intermediate
amounts of light to make hardness of the microcapsules
intermediate, thereby making the ink exudation intermediate. If the
media 3 is left in such a condition after pressing, the ink
exudation proceeds. The media 3 therefore cannot be fixed to a
desired color. To prevent that, light is re-irradiated on the
printing surface 3a of the media 3 in the course of feeding from
the cutting device 72 to a post-heating section 80 (outlet, which
will be described later). Such a process can completely cure the
microcapsules that have not been fully cured yet. The printing
surface 3a thus can keep stable print image for ages without color
change.
[0079] The embodiment has the bleaching section 77 arrange with use
of the space above the exposing projector 60. In view of the fact
that considerable amount of the light emitted from the light source
60a of the exposing projector 60 (FIG. 2) is leaked out thereof,
the bleaching section 77 is arranged at a position where the leaked
light can be used, that is, a position above the exposing projector
60.
[0080] It should be noticed that the printing surface 3a of the
media 3 is directed upward in the bleaching section 77, or in a
direction opposite to the light source 60a, as the media 3 is
reverted in the switchback section 64. For the reason, to irradiate
the leaked light down to the printing surface 3a, a mirror (not
shown) is arranged above the exposing projector 60. It is
preferable to set the paired feed rollers arranged in the bleaching
section 77 should be driven a little slower than the ones arranged
in the other feed paths in view of fast continuous process of the
media 3, as the bleaching exposure has to be made for a specific
time for a desired effect.
[0081] On the downstream end of the bleaching section 77, or at the
top left side of the apparatus housing 100, is disposed the outlet
in which the post-heating section 80 is arranged.
[0082] The post heating is to make a heating process for
accelerating the coloring process as the coloring takes long time
until the die (ink) develops its primary color. The post heat is
made at 90 degrees C. for one minute to virtually saturate
exudation of the die, thereby preventing color change
afterwards.
[0083] Making the media 3 stay on the feed path is limited in
connection with the media 3 for continuous printing process to form
the image on the media 3 and lowers the production capability as
will be described later. For the reason, the post-heating section
80 in the embodiment is formed of a room for continuously stacking
the media 3 vertically at a specific position and a temperature
control arrangement, including a sensor and a heater, for keeping
the room at a specific temperature. The room temperature is
controlled to the desired one of 90 degrees C. mentioned above.
[0084] The bleached media 3 in the post-heating section 80 is led
to paired retention guides (not shown) facing each other before
position on leads (not shown) of lead screws 131. The lead screws
131 are at positions at which four corners of the media 3 can be
stably supported. In the state, the paired retention guides are
saved away once before the lead screws 131 are rotated one turn to
move the media 3 down by one lead. The paired retention guides 83
then are returned to the media bringing position to position the
following media 3 at the leads of the lead screws 131.
[0085] Such a repeated operation, including bringing the media 3,
positioning, and moving down, makes the media 3 stay in the
post-heating section 80. For the duration, the media 3 is heated by
a heater (not shown) to fully develop the colors and prevent
aging.
[0086] The lead screws 131 are further turned to make the media 3
discharge onto a discharge tray (not shown) via a feed belt (not
shown) in ascending order.
[0087] Corners 146 and 147 on the feed path of the printer 1
constructed as described above are formed to curve at a curvature
corresponding to a shape and dimensions of the apparatus housing
100. The corners 146 and 147 have one or a plurality of urging
rollers provided for urging the media 3. The embodiment has one
urging roller 148 disposed inside the corner 146 and has two urging
rollers 149 and 150 disposed inside the corner 147. The urging
rollers 148, 149, and 150 are structured to urge the media 3
outward from the printing surface 3a side when the media 3 passes
the corners 146 and 147. If the printing surface 3a is urged
directly on the printing area thereof, the printing surface 3a is
injured. To avoid this, the urging rollers 148,149, and 150 in the
embodiment are arranged to urge (press) edges surrounding the
printing area of the printing surface 3a at specific urging forces.
It should be noticed that the urging force can be optimized
depending on the type of media 3, the feed speed, and the
curvatures of the corners. Such a structure has the advantage that
the media 3 can pass the corners 146 and 147 stably without
deviation in the feed direction while the media 3a is protected.
The edges of the media 3 have no problem for scarring due to the
urging rollers since they are cut out by the cutting device 72.
[0088] The following describes operation of the Cycolor printer
configured as described above briefly.
[0089] When printing is started in the state that the media
cassette 5 is loaded in the cassette room 2, the media 3 fed from
the media cassette 5 by pick roller 101 are fed out one by one to
the feed path 51 by the media separating arrangement, including the
feed roller 102 and the separating roller 103, before being fed
from the pre-stage path 52 to the exposing stage 55. The exposing
stage 55 stops the media 3 once. The exposing projector 60
irradiates light onto the printing surface 3a of the media 3 on the
basis of a desired image pattern, thereby making the exposure
process as a preprocess for forming the desired image.
[0090] After the exposure process ends, the exposed media 3 is
transferred to the post-stage path 57 with the media 3a directed up
and specifically cleaned by the paired cleaning rollers 115 before
being fed through the feed path 62 to the switchback section
64.
[0091] The switchback section 64 allows the exposed media 3 to stay
for a time (dark time) enough to fully develop its colors. It
should be noticed that the successive media 3 fed after are made to
stay on the feed paths 57 and 62 between the exposing stage 55 and
the switchback section 64. After that, the preceding media 3 is fed
back on the feed path 62 again at a specific timing as the paired
feed rollers 117 and 118 are controlled to rotate inversely.
[0092] The media 3 fed back on the feed path 62 is fed to the
alternative path 121 via the switching gate 120, is guided to the
paired pressure developing rollers 68, and has surface load applied
to the both sides thereof, thereby forming (color-developing) the
desired image.
[0093] The media 3 having the development process completed is
continued to feed along parts of the surface on one of the paired
pressure developing rollers 68 to transfer from the alternative
path 121 to the high-speed feed path 124, is checked for paper
jamming in the course of feed by the paper jam detecting sensor
127, and is fed to the cutting device 72.
[0094] The media 3 having the four side edges cut out by the
cutting device 72 is bleaching-processed (ink-fixing-processed)
during passing the bleaching section 77, is discharged to the
take-out part (post-heating section 80) on the top left side of the
apparatus housing 100. It should be noticed that the media
detecting sensor 129 arranged in front of the upstream side of the
post-heating section 80 controls the discharge timing for the media
3.
[0095] 3The cutting device 72 in the embodiment, as described
above, is structured to cut the four edges out of the media 3 being
fed by having a side cutter 72a for cutting both side edges of the
media 3 fed in the feed direction of the media 3, having the end
cutter 72b for cutting the leading and trailing end edges out of
the media 3 fed in the feed direction of the media 3, and having
the feed path 124 having the curves formed on at least one part
thereof where the side cutter is arranged on the corner of the feed
path 124. The cutting device 72 therefore can cut the four edges
out of the media 3 accurately and securely while making the media 3
elastic on the corner of the high-speed feed path 124.
[0096] Also, the cutting device 72 can be made compact since the
path length in the longer direction of the feed path from the side
cutter 72a to the end cutter 72b is determined shorter than,
preferably the half of, the length of the media 3 in the longer
direction.
[0097] Further, the cutting method provides accurate and secure
cutting of the four edges out of the media 3 and shortening of the
time taken by the cutting as well since the cutting method has the
step of cutting the leading end edge or the step of cutting the
trailing end edge put between the step of cutting the both side
edge first half areas out of the media 3 and the step of cutting
the both side edge last half areas out of the media 3.
[0098] Further more, with the printer 1 in the embodiment, the
paired rollers 109, 110, and 111 arranged in the media cassette 55
formed as parts of the exposing section, the paired feed rollers
112, 114, 117, and 118 arranged on the feed path for the media 3
from the media cassette 55 to the paired pressure developing
rollers 68 as the developing section, and the paired feed rollers
122, 123, and 126 (paired high-speed feed rollers arranged between
the paired feed rollers 123 and the side cutter 72a) arranged on
the feed path between the paired pressure developing rollers 68 and
the cutting device 72, are all made to surface-contact the both
side edges of the media 3 to feed to the downstream sides. The
surface-contacting areas of the media 3 are cut out later by the
side cutter 72a of the cutting device 72. Even if the areas are
scratched, therefore, the media 3 is not deteriorated in image
quality, being able to keep the print at a desired status. The
media 3 used in such a printer 1 as described above can decrease
the running cost since it, unlike the prior art, does not need the
technique that the four edges of the media 3 are pre-exposed to
white in advance and, the microcapsules existing on the edges are
made inactive as the white frame to prevent the white edges from
becoming black even if after that, the pressure is applied to the
edges at the cutting step for the standard form (creating cut
sheets).
[0099] Further, with the printer 1 in the embodiment, controlling
the driving arrangements for driving the cutting device 72 in their
own timings makes it possible to adjust time for a bleaching
process which will be described later, resulting in increased
efficiency and stabilization of the printing process.
[0100] Further more, with the printer 1 in the embodiment, the
cutting device 72 is structured to eliminate curling of the media 3
for plain surface to cut the edges, thereby making it possible to
always cut the edges out of the media 3 at accurate size.
[0101] More over, with the printer 1 in the embodiment, the dust of
edges cut out by the cutting device 72 will not stick to the inlet
of the containing section 75 but drops smoothly into the inside
since the containing section 75 for collecting dust of the edges
cut out by the cutting device 72 is antistatic-processed.
[0102] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment
described above, but can be modified in many ways as follows.
[0103] The cutting device 72 in the above-described embodiment has
the side cutter 72a and the end cutter 72b arranged in this order
from the upstream to the downstream on the feed path. On the
contrary, the end cutter 72b and the side cutter 72a can be
arranged in this order from the upstream to the downstream on the
feed path. With the cutting device structured above, the end cutter
72b cuts the leading end edge margin and the trailing end edge
margin out of the media 3 before the side cutter 72a cuts the both
side margins out of the media 3 from the first half area to the
last half area. In that case, the same operational effect as the
embodiment described above can be obtained with the structure that
the path length in the longer direction of the feed path from the
side cutter 72a to the end cutter 72b is determined shorter than,
preferably the half of, the length of the media 3 in the longer
direction.
[0104] In the cutting device 72 (end cutter 72b) in the embodiment
described above, it is structured that the lower blade 158 is fixed
on the frame 159 supported on the apparatus housing 100, and the
upper blade 157 is provided to move up and down along the lower
blade 158. The same operational effect can be obtained with a
contrary structure that the upper blade 157 is fixed on the frame
159 supported on the apparatus housing 100, and the lower blade 158
is provided to move up and down along the upper blade 157.
[0105] The embodiment of the present invention has been described
in detail with the example of Cycolor type printer suitable for the
Cycolor film as a photosensitive recording sheet. The present
invention can also be embodied for printers of other different
types.
* * * * *