U.S. patent application number 10/804071 was filed with the patent office on 2004-09-16 for method of cutting recording medium.
Invention is credited to Fukushima, Itaru, Horigome, Yuuki, Yamanushi, Satoshi.
Application Number | 20040177736 10/804071 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 18785705 |
Filed Date | 2004-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040177736 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Fukushima, Itaru ; et
al. |
September 16, 2004 |
Method of cutting recording medium
Abstract
In cutting four edges of a recording medium, the recording
medium is fed to a first cutting position, and two front side edges
of the recording medium in a feed direction of the recording medium
is cut while feeding the recording medium. The recording medium is
further fed to the first cutting portion and two rear side edges of
the recording medium is cut while feeding the recording medium. The
recording medium is fed to a second cutting position, and one of a
leading edge and a trailing edge of the recording medium in the
feed direction is cut while the recording medium is stationary, and
the recording medium is further fed to the second cutting position
and the other of the leading edge and the trailing edge is cut
while the recording medium is stationary. One of the leading edge
and the trailing edge is cut between cutting of the front side
edges and cutting of the rear side edges.
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.: |
10/804071 |
Filed: |
March 19, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10804071 |
Mar 19, 2004 |
|
|
|
09964504 |
Sep 28, 2001 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
83/404 ;
83/948 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G03B 27/588 20130101;
Y10T 83/6476 20150401; B26D 9/00 20130101; Y10T 83/783 20150401;
G03B 27/462 20130101; Y10T 83/6491 20150401 |
Class at
Publication: |
083/404 ;
083/948 |
International
Class: |
B26D 007/06 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 4, 2000 |
JP |
2000-304704 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A method of cutting four edges of a recording medium,
comprising: feeding the recording medium to a first cutting
position, and cutting two front side edges of the recording medium
in a feed direction of the recording medium while feeding the
recording medium, feeding the recording medium further to the first
cutting portion and cutting two rear side edges of the recording
medium in the feed direction while feeding the recording medium,
feeding the recording medium to a second cutting position, and
cutting one of a leading edge and a trailing edge of the recording
medium in the feed direction while the recording medium is
stationary, and feeding the recording medium further to the second
cutting position and cutting the other of the leading edge and the
trailing edge of the recording medium in the feed direction while
the recording medium is stationary, one of the leading edge and the
trailing edge being cut between cutting of the front side edges and
cutting of the rear side edges.
2. A method according to claim 1, wherein cutting of the leading
edge of the recording medium is performed after cutting of the
front side edges of the recording medium, and cutting of the
trailing edge of the recording medium is performed after cutting of
the rear side edges of the recording medium.
3. A method according to claim 1, wherein cutting of the front side
edges and cutting of the rear side edges of the recording medium
are performed while the recording medium is being transferred in a
curved state.
4. A method according to claim 3, wherein said cutting of front
side edges and said cutting of the rear side edges of the recording
medium are performed while the recording medium is being
transferred in a curved state with an angle of substantially 90
degrees.
5. A cutting method according to claim 1, wherein cutting one of
the leading edge and the trailing edge of the recording medium is
performed while the recording medium is stationary in a curved
state.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This is a divisional application of a patent application
Ser. No. 09/964,504 filed on Sep. 28, 2001.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention relates to a method of cutting
recording media, such as photosensitive recording paper and the
like having an image and the like printed. More specifically, it
relates to a method of cutting recording media accurately and
securely for continuously cutting a plurality of the recording
media accurately and securely.
[0004] 2. Description of the Prior Art
[0005] A prior printer makes 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 a printer such 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.
[0006] 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 medium only for forming, or printing, the
color image. The above-mentioned Cycolor mediun is on the market in
the form of a blank cut sheet, such as a rectangular form, before
the printing processes (exposing and pressure-developing
processes). In the cutting process to the blank form, the Cycolor
medium 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. It is disadvantageous that the four edges cannot be
developed to desired colors, but become black or undesirable
results.
[0007] To overcome the problem, Japanese Patent Application
Publication Hei 10-62871(A) discloses a technique that prior to the
above-mentioned cutting step, the four edges of the Cycolor medium
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.
[0008] However, the above-mentioned processing made on the
recording mediu, results in increased cost of the medium as
consumable item, or unavoidably increased running cost in the
printing process with use of the medium.
[0009] On the other hand, the printer having such a medium 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.
[0010] Various prior art methods 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
be used to cut the four edges out of the recording medium, 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.
[0011] An object of the present invention is to provide a method of
cutting recording medium capable of cutting four edges of the
recording medium having an image or the like printed accurately and
securely.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] Briefly, the foregoing object is accomplished in accordance
with aspects of the present invention by a cutting device for
cutting four edges out of recording medium being fed, comprising in
combination: a side cutter for cutting both side edges of the
recording medium fed in a feed direction of the recording medium;
an end cutter for cutting leading and trailing end edges out of the
recording medium fed in a feed direction of the recording medium;
and, a recording medium 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 medium feed
path.
[0013] 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
[0014] FIG. 1 is a front overview for an entire structure of the
printer in an embodiment of the present invention.
[0015] FIG. 2 is an overview for a structure of an exposing
projector.
[0016] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side view for a structure of
peripheries around a cutting device.
[0017] FIG. 4 is an enlarged top view for a structure of
peripheries around a cutting device.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view for a structure of an end
cutter in the cutting device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMTNTS
[0019] The following describes in detail an embodiment of the
printer according to the present invention in reference to the
drawings attached here.
[0020] 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), and the
Cycolor film is a photosensitive recording sheet.
[0021] First, an overview of the Cycolor printer embodied according
to the present invention is described below.
[0022] 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 right and left sides correspond to those of the
apparatus housing 100.
[0023] A media container for a medium 3, including a recording
media and film, is arranged in an upper area of the apparatus
housing 100. A media unloading port for the medium 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 an 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.
[0024] The media container has a cassette room 2 disposed on a side
of the apparatus housing 100, 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.
[0025] 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 medium 3 in the media cassette 5. At the same
time, a media pressing arrangement (not shown) operates to press
the medium 3 in the media cassette 5 to the pick roller 101. As a
result, the pick roller 101 can keep feeding the media 3 in the
media cassette 5 one by one in sequence.
[0026] 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 medium 3
toward the feed path 51, while the separating roller 103 is
controlled in rotation so as to draw back the medium 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.
[0027] The medium 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.
[0028] 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 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.
[0029] 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.
[0030] 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 an amount of
exposure. This means that an image with color gradations can be
formed with each microcapsule cured and disrupted depending on
color data of each pixel.
[0031] 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 a 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.
[0032] Below the feed path 51 is arranged the feed path 51 for
feeding the medium 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.
[0033] 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.
[0034] The error detecting sensor 107 is controlled to detect a
state of the medium 3 and signal a feed error when a plurality of
media 3 is not separated by the media separating arrangement
mentioned above before being fed out at the same time. In the
operation, feeding of the medium 3 is stopped in synchronous with
the feed error indication.
[0035] The media detecting sensor 108 is controlled to detect a
leading end edge of the medium 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 a single sheet of the medium 3 to the feed path
51. The sheet or medium 3 then is transferred to the exposure path.
With the transference to the exposure path, the following sheet or
medium 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 medium 3 can be
transferred to the exposure path one by one.
[0036] The exposure path is formed of a pre-stage path 52 disposed
in series to the feed path 51 for feeding downstream the medium 3
having passed through the feed path 51, an 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 medium 3 having passed through the
exposing stage 55.
[0037] The exposure path has a plurality of paired rollers therein
for feeding downstream the medium 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.
[0038] 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 medium 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 medium 3 is put at the exposure position on the exposing
stage 55 with the medium 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.
[0039] In the state that the medium 3 is halted once, the medium 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
medium 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.
[0040] 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 medium 3 for
a specific exposure process.
[0041] 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
medium 3.
[0042] 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 medium 3 on the exposing stage 55 via a deflecting plate 60f
and a projecting lens 60g.
[0043] The medium 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 medium 3 through a
developing process (which will be described later) and optimized
depending on kind of medium 3, exposing time, and other factors.
After the sensitizing time elapsed, the medium 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.
[0044] The feed path 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 medium 3 is cleaned by the paired cleaning rollers 115
before being fed to the switchback section 64. In synchronous with
feeding of the medium 3, a next media 3 is fed and positioned on
the exposing stage 55.
[0045] The exposed medium 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 medium 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 medium 3 is stayed at the specific position in the
switchback section 64 for the sensitizing time. For the sensitizing
time, the exposed medium 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.
[0046] 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 medium 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).
[0047] Now, the following describes structure, operation, and
advantages of the switchback section 64.
[0048] The medium 3 exposed on the exposing stage 55 keeps its
photosensitization state (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, an arrangement must
be made large due to the long feed path accordingly.
[0049] The switchback section 64 therefore is provided to make the
medium 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, and the dark time
for reaching the paired pressure developing rollers 68 can be
changed to be longer or shorter freely by adjusting the staying
time of the medium 3 in the switchback section 64.
[0050] In detail, with the paired feed rollers 117 and 118 rotated,
say, normally, the medium 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 medium 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
[0051] 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 medium 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.
[0052] The paired pressure developing rollers 68, as shown in FIG.
1, are arranged to rotate as the rollers pressing each other at a
specific pressure. The exposed medium 3 in which the microcapsules
have been cured has a load applied to both surfaces thereof when
passing the rollers 68 to destruct the microcapsules with hardness
depending on an amount of exposure. With the microcapsules with a
specific hardness destructed, die (ink) in the microcapsules exudes
out to develop, or color, the image.
[0053] On the downstream of the paired pressure developing rollers
68 is extended the path 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 medium 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.
[0054] 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.
[0055] On the upstream of the paired feed rollers 122 is disposed a
media detecting sensor 125. If a downstream edge of the medium 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.
[0056] 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.
[0057] 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 medium 3.
[0058] 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 medium 3, for cutting the
both side edges of the medium 3 while the medium 3 is fed, and an
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 medium 3 while the medium 3 is
stopped. The side cutter 72a cuts first halves of the both side
edges of the medium 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.
[0059] The side cutter 72a has paired rollers (first and second
rollers 151 and 152) rotating while press-contacting with each
other for guiding the medium 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 medium 3 as rotated
by the first and second rollers 151 and 152. That is, the medium 3
is cut of the both side edges while being fed to change in a
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.
[0060] 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 medium 3.
[0061] 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 medium 3 by moving in a direction traversing
the medium 3 and up and down vertically in relation to the medium
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 medium 3, as
an example, can be used.
[0062] 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.
[0063] 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.
[0064] 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.
[0065] 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.
[0066] The cutting device 72 described above is structured to
eliminate curling of the medium 3 for plain surface to cut the
edges. As an example, the medium 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.
[0067] 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 medium 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 medium 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 medium 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 medium
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 by being pressed at a high pressure when passing
the paired pressure developing rollers 68 as the developing
section. To eliminate, or correct, the curve, the medium 3 held by
the first and second rollers 151 and 152 are positioned to a
curving posture opposite to the curve produced in the medium 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 medium 3.
[0068] The cutting device 72 has a decurling arrangement (not
shown) for eliminating the curve of the medium 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 medium 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.
[0069] In the cutting device 72, a path length in the longer
direction of the feed pa3th from the side cutter 72a to the end
cutter 72b is determined shorter than a length of the medium 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 to a half of the length of the
medium 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.
[0070] Further, to lead the medium 3 into the side cutter 72a and
the end cutter 72b of the cutting device 72 stably and securely, it
is 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.
[0071] The medium 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 medium 3
being fed, thereby controlling the end cutter 72b for cutting
timings of the leading and trailing end edges of the medium 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.
[0072] 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 medium 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 medium 3 to feed to the
downstream side. The surface-contacting areas of the medium 3 are
cut out later by the side cutter 72a of the cutting device 72. Even
if the areas are scratched, therefore, the medium 3 is not
deteriorated in image quality, being able to keep the print at a
desired status.
[0073] 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 medium 3 therein, or the margin dust cut out
by the cutting device 72 dropped into the containing section 75 to
collect. In the embodiment, the both side edges cut out of the
medium 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 medium 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 medium 3 are cut by the paired
slitter rollers 72a (side cutter) and the cutter 72b, resulting in
difficulities in 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.
[0074] The high-speed feed path 124 on the downstream end of the
cutting device 72 has a bleaching section 77 for bleaching
process.
[0075] The following describes the bleaching process briefly.
[0076] The medium 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 medium 3 is exposed to intermediate
amounts of light to make hardness of the microcapsules
intermediate, thereby making the ink exudation intermediate. If the
medium 3 is left in such a condition after pressing, the ink
exudation proceeds. The medium 3 therefore cannot be fixed to a
desired color. To prevent that, light is re-irradiated on the
printing surface 3a of the medium 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 years without color
change.
[0077] 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, 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.
[0078] It should be noticed that the printing surface 3a of the
medium 3 is directed upward in the bleaching section 77, or in a
direction opposite to the light source 60a, as the medium 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 to be driven a little slower than the ones arranged in
the other feed paths in view of fast continuous process of the
medium 3, as the bleaching exposure has to be made for a specific
time for a desired effect.
[0079] 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.
[0080] 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.degree. C. for one minute to virtually saturate
exudation of the die, thereby preventing color change
afterwards.
[0081] Making the medium 3 stay on the feed path is limited in
connection with the medium 3 for continuous printing process to
form the image on the medium 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.degree. C.
mentioned above.
[0082] The bleached medium 3 in the post-heating section 80 is led
to paired retention guides (not shown) facing each other before
positioning it on leads (not shown) of lead screws 131. The lead
screws 131 are at positions at which four corners of the medium 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 medium 3 down by one lead. The paired retention guides
83 then are returned to the media bringing position to position the
following medium 3 at the leads of the lead screws 131.
[0083] Such repeated operations, including bringing the medium 3,
positioning, and moving down, make the medium 3 stay in the
post-heating section 80. For the duration, the medium 3 is heated
by a heater (not shown) to fully develop the colors and prevent
aging.
[0084] The lead screws 131 are further turned to make the medium 3
discharge onto a discharge tray (not shown) via a feed belt (not
shown) in ascending order.
[0085] 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 medium 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 medium 3
outward from the printing surface 3a side when the medium 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 medium 3, the feed speed, and the
curvatures of the corners. Such a structure has the advantage that
the medium 3 can pass the corners 146 and 147 stably without
deviation in the feed direction while the printing surface 3a is
protected. The edges of the medium 3 have no problem for scarring
due to the urging rollers since they are cut out by the cutting
device 72.
[0086] The following describes operation of the Cycolor printer
configured as described above briefly.
[0087] 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. At the
exposing stage 55, the medium 3 stops once. The exposing projector
60 irradiates light onto the printing surface 3a of the medium 3 on
the basis of a desired image pattern, thereby making the exposure
process as a preprocess for forming the desired image.
[0088] After the exposure process ends, the exposed medium 3 is
transferred to the post-stage path 57 with the printing surface 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.
[0089] The switchback section 64 allows the exposed medium 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 medium 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.
[0090] The medium 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.
[0091] The medium 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.
[0092] The medium 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
medium 3.
[0093] The cutting device 72 in the embodiment, as described above,
is structured to cut the four edges out of the medium 3 being fed
by having a side cutter 72a for cutting both side edges of the
medium 3 fed in the feed direction of the medium 3, having the end
cutter 72b for cutting the leading and trailing end edges out of
the medium 3 fed in the feed direction of the medium 3, and having
the feed path 124 with 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 medium 3 accurately and securely while making the medium
3 elastic on the corner of the high-speed feed path 124.
[0094] 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 medium 3 in the longer
direction.
[0095] Further, the cutting method provides accurate and secure
cutting of the four edges out of the medium 3 and shortening of the
time taken by the cutting as well since the cutting method has the
steps 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 medium 3 and the step of cutting
the both side edge last half areas out of the medium 3.
[0096] Further more, with the printer 1 in the embodiment, the
paired rollers 109, 110, and 111 arranged in the exposing stage 55
formed as parts of the exposing section, the paired feed rollers
112, 114, 117, and 118 arranged on the feed path for the medium 3
from the exposing stage 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 medium 3 are cut out later by the
side cutter 72a of the cutting device 72. Even if the areas are
scratched, therefore, the medium 3 is not deteriorated in image
quality, being able to keep the print at a desired status. The
medium 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 medium 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).
[0097] 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.
[0098] Further more, with the printer 1 in the embodiment, the
cutting device 72 is structured to eliminate curling of the medium
3 for plain surface to cut the edges, thereby making it possible to
always cut the edges out of the medium 3 at accurate size.
[0099] 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.
[0100] The present invention is not limited to the embodiment
described above, but can be modified in many ways as follows.
[0101] 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 medium 3 before the side cutter 72a cuts the both
side margins out of the medium 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 structurthat
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 medium 3 in the longer
direction.
[0102] 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.
[0103] 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.
* * * * *