Abstract:
In order to simplify a constitution of a locking member capable of locking engageably and detachably an ink head with a stationary region, an ink-jet printer comprises a first carriage supported relatively transferable in a predetermined direction with respect to the medium; a second carriage supported relatively transferable in the predetermined direction with respect to the medium and juxtaposed so as to position on a side in the predetermined direction of the first carriage; a slide means disposed on the first carriage to be transferable in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction; an ink head disposed fixedly on the slide means and capable of discharging an ink on the medium; a cutting head disposed fixedly on the second carriage and capable of cutting out the medium; a locking member transferred with transfer of the first carriage towards the predetermined direction and transfer of the slide means towards direction intersecting with the predetermined direction to lock engageably and detachably with a stationary region; and a coupling means for coupling separably the first carriage to the second carriage.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to an ink-jet printer, and more particularly to an ink-jet printer used suitably in case of printing on a medium such as a recording paper, for example, conducting color printing at a high speed and in a high resolution by means of numerical control.  
         [0003]     In the present specification, the term “medium” means a variety of recording media comprising papers such as plain paper, as a matter of course, and further includes also a variety of materials such as a resin material of PVC, polyester or the like, and other materials such as aluminum, iron, and wood.  
         [0004]     Furthermore, the term “ink jet printing” in the present specification means printing methods realized by ink-jet technology according to various manners which have heretofore been well-known including various types of continuous method such as a binary deflection method, and a continuous deflection method; or a variety of drop-on-demand ink-jet methods such as a thermal ink-jet method, and a piezoelectric ink-jet method.  
         [0005]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0006]     Heretofore, an ink-jet printer the whole operations of which are controlled by a microcomputer, in which an ink head travelling on a medium, for example, a recording paper fed from a sheet feeder in a breadth direction of the recording paper (hereinafter referred optionally to as “main scanning direction” in the present specification) is used, whereby a predetermined printing is made on the recording paper according to an ink-jet method is well known.  
         [0007]     Furthermore, such a device which is obtained by adding a function for cutting a picture image or the like printed on a recording paper to another function of image-formation for producing a picture image on a recording paper through a printing operation in the above-described ink-jet printer has also been proposed.  
         [0008]     Such ink-jet printer including an image-forming function and a cutting function is provided with an ink head which is a component for realizing an image-forming function of image-formation by printing an image on a recording paper based on image data, and a cutter which is a component for realizing a cutting function by cutting the recording paper based on the image data.  
         [0009]     In the above-described ink-jet printer provided with an ink head and a cutting head, generally, the ink head is coupled separably to the cutting head by means of a coupling means, and further the ink head may be engaged with a stationary region of the ink-jet printer by means of an engaging means in an engageable and detachable manner.  
         [0010]     In the case when an image is formed on a recording paper based on image data by means of the ink head, the engaging means causes the ink head to disengage from the stationary region, and at the same time, the coupling means couples the ink head with the cutting head, so that the ink head is transferred associatedly with the cutting head.  
         [0011]     On one hand, when a recording paper is cut out based on image data by means of the cutting head, the engaging means causes the ink head to engage with the stationary region, and at the same time, the coupling means decouples the ink head from the cutting head, whereby only the cutting head is transferred.  
         [0012]     In these circumstances, since an engaging means which makes an ink head engageable with a stationary region of a conventional ink-jet printer provided with the ink head and a cutting head in an engageable and detachable manner is constituted in such that the ink head engages or disengages automatically with the stationary region due to a relative movement among three components of the ink head, the cutting head, and the stationary region, there is such a problem that the constitution of the ink-jet printer becomes complicated, and assembling operations therefor become also complicated.  
       OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0013]     The present invention has been made in view of the above-described various problems involved in the prior art, and an object of the invention is to provide an ink-jet printer including an engaging means which makes an ink head engageable with a stationary region of the ink-jet printer in an engageable and detachable manner wherein the engaging means is realized by a simple structure.  
         [0014]     In order to achieve the above-described object, an ink-jet printer capable of discharging an ink on a medium and cutting out the medium according to the present invention may comprise a first carriage supported relatively transferable in a predetermined direction with respect to the medium; a second carriage supported relatively transferable in the predetermined direction with respect to the medium and juxtaposed so as to position on a side in the predetermined direction of the first carriage; a slide means disposed on the first carriage to be transferable in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction; an ink head disposed fixedly on the slide means and capable of discharging an ink on the medium; a cutting head disposed fixedly on the second carriage and capable of cutting out the medium; a locking member transferred with transfer of the first carriage towards the predetermined direction and transfer of the slide means towards direction intersecting with the predetermined direction to lock engageably and detachably with a stationary region; and a coupling means for coupling separably the first carriage to the second carriage.  
         [0015]     Furthermore, an ink-jet printer capable of discharging an ink on a medium and cutting out the medium according to the present invention may comprise a first carriage supported relatively transferable in a predetermined direction with respect to the medium; a second carriage supported relatively transferable in the predetermined direction with respect to the medium and juxtaposed so as to position on a side in the predetermined direction of the first carriage; a slide means disposed on the first carriage to be transferable in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction; an ink head disposed fixedly on the slide means and capable of discharging an ink on the medium; a cutting head disposed fixedly on the second carriage and capable of cutting out the medium; a locking member transferred with transfer of the first carriage towards the predetermined direction and transfer of the slide means towards direction intersecting with the predetermined direction to lock engageably and detachably with a stationary region; and a coupling means for coupling separably the first carriage to the second carriage; the locking member being allowed to disengage from the stationary region, whereby the first carriage is detached from the stationary region and the first carriage is coupled to the second carriage by the coupling means, so that the ink head disposed on the first carriage is transferred associatedly with the cutting head disposed on the second carriage in case of printing on the medium; while the locking member being allowed to engage with the stationary region, whereby the first carriage is engaged with the stationary region and the first carriage is separated from the second carriage by the coupling means, so that only the cutting head disposed on the second carriage is transferred in case of cutting the medium.  
         [0016]     In the invention, the slide means may be provided with a guide rail disposed on a wall surface of the first carriage and extended in a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction; and a slide block disposed transferably along the guide rail.  
         [0017]     In the invention, the ink head may be disposed fixedly to the slide block.  
         [0018]     The ink-jet printer of the invention may comprise further a driving means for driving the slide block.  
         [0019]     In the invention, the direction intersecting with the predetermined direction may be a direction intersecting with the predetermined direction at right angles.  
         [0020]     In the invention, the locking means may be formed extensively in a direction of the stationary region and may have a bent extreme end; and the stationary region may have a hole for engaging with the extreme end of the locking member.  
         [0021]     In the invention, the coupling means may be composed of magnets.  
         [0022]     In the invention, an attraction force of the magnets may be smaller than an engagement force derived from an engagement of the locking member and the stationary region.  
         [0023]     Thus, the present invention provides such an excellent advantageous effect to make an ink head engageable with a stationary region of an ink-jet printer in an engageable and detachable manner by a simple structure.  
         [0024]     As a result, printing can be made on a desired medium, and further, a picture image printed can be cut out according to the present invention, so that it may be applied to a preparation of a variety of posters, and a production of displays for advertisement. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]     The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:  
         [0026]      FIG. 1  is a schematic constitutional explanatory view showing an ink-jet printer according to an example in a manner of practice of the present invention;  
         [0027]      FIG. 2  is an explanatory view showing schematically an essential part of  FIG. 1  wherein it is the explanatory view showing the essential part of  FIG. 1  partially cutaway in the direction of the arrow A in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0028]      FIG. 3  is an explanatory view showing schematically the essential part of  FIG. 1  wherein it is the explanatory view showing the essential part of  FIG. 2  partially cutaway in the direction of the arrow B in  FIG. 2 ;  
         [0029]      FIG. 4  is an explanatory view showing schematically the essential part of  FIG. 1  wherein it is the explanatory view showing the essential part of  FIG. 2  partially cutaway in the direction of the arrow C in  FIG. 2  in a state in which a wall part being a stationary member is removed;  
         [0030]      FIG. 5  is an explanatory view showing operations of an ink-jet printer according to an example in a manner of practice of the present invention;  
         [0031]      FIG. 6  is an explanatory view showing operations of an ink-jet printer according to an example in a manner of practice of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]     In the following, an example of manner of practice of an ink-jet printer according to the present invention will be described in detail by referring to the accompanying drawings.  
         [0033]      FIG. 1  is a schematic constitutional explanatory view showing an ink-jet printer according to an example in a manner of practice of the present invention, and FIGS.  2  to  4  are explanatory views each showing schematically an essential part of  FIG. 1  wherein  FIG. 2  is the explanatory view showing the essential part of  FIG. 1  partially cutaway in the direction of the arrow A in  FIG. 1 ,  FIG. 3  is the explanatory view showing the essential part of  FIG. 2  partially cutaway in the direction of the arrow B in  FIG. 2 , and  FIG. 4  is the explanatory view showing the essential part of  FIG. 2  partially cutaway in the direction of the arrow C in  FIG. 2  in a state in which a wall part  68  is removed.  
         [0034]     In an ink-jet printer  100  according to an example in a manner of practice of the present invention, a recording paper  200 , as a medium, having a predetermined length in a main scanning direction being its breadth direction (the direction indicated by the arrow D in  FIG. 1 ) is fed to a base member  114  which will be mentioned hereunder from a sheet feeder (not shown), and it is conveyed in a vertical scanning direction being perpendicular to the main scanning direction, namely in a longitudinal direction of the recording paper  200 .  
         [0035]     Such ink-jet printer  100  is composed of a stationary base member  114  supported by a pedestal member  112  and disposed extensively in the main scanning direction, side members  116 L and  116 R disposed perpendicularly to the base member  114  at the opposite ends thereof, a side unit  118  disposed on the side of the side member  116 R, a central wall  120  connecting the two right and left side members  116 L and  116 R with each other, a guide rail  122  disposed on the wall of the central wall  120  extensively in the main scanning direction, a driving belt  124  disposed transferably in the main scanning direction along the wall of the central wall  120  (see  FIG. 2 ), a carriage  12  mounted slidably on the guide rail  122 , another carriage  14  disposed fixedly on the driving belt  124  and mounted slidably on the guide rail  122  at the same time, an ink head  16  disposed on the carriage  12  so as to be opposed to the recording paper  200  on the base member  114 , a cutting head  20  disposed on the carriage  14  so as to be opposed to the recording paper  200  on the base member  114 , and a maintenance unit  22  disposed in the side unit  118 .  
         [0036]     The whole operations of the ink-jet printer  100  are controlled by a microcomputer (not shown).  
         [0037]     Furthermore, a reference numeral  126  designates an operation panel. The operation panel  126  is provided with a display for displaying an operation state, keys for specifying positions of the ink head  16  and the cutting head  20 , respectively, keys for starting to produce an image or to cut out a recording paper on the basis of signals such as image data, and the other keys or the like.  
         [0038]     Since a well-known technology is applied to the ink head  16 , it is not shown and a detailed description therefor is omitted herein. However, the ink head  16  is composed of a plurality of ink head units each having the same constitution as that of the others wherein a plurality of ink-jet nozzles are disposed under the bottoms of the plurality of the ink head units as discharge ports for discharging inks to the recording paper  200 , respectively.  
         [0039]     To the plurality of respective ink head units of the ink head  16 , inks having different colors from one another are supplied from a plurality of ink cartridges (not shown) containing liquid inks having different colors through ink tubes, respectively.  
         [0040]     The ink head  16  composed of such plural ink head units as described above is fitted to the carriage  12  in such that the plurality of ink head units are aligned along the main scanning direction D, and the ink-jet nozzles of the ink head units may be opposed to the recording paper  200  on the base member  114 .  
         [0041]     The cutting head  20  is provided with a gripper  36  for holding a cutter  38  provided with a cutter blade  38   a  wherein the cutter  38  is held by the gripper  36  so as to be changeable a height position of the cutter blade  38   a.  The cutter blade  38   a  of the cutter  38  may be usual cutting knives of a swivel knife type, a rotary knife type and like type knives as a matter of course, and in addition, it may also be an ultrasonic disc cutter, a heat cutter by means of heat and the like cutters. A height position of the cutter blade  38   a  is changed at a predetermined timing determined by an instruction input by an operator through the operation panel  126 , whereby the recording paper  200  is cut out based on image data while transferring the cutter blade  38   a  in the main scanning direction under a condition wherein the cutter blade  38   a  is allowed to abut upon the recording paper  200 .  
         [0042]     The cutting head  20  provided with the cutter  38  for cutting out the recording paper  200  is fixedly disposed on the carriage  14  in such that the cutter blade  38   a  is made to be abutable upon the recording paper  200  on the base member  114  in the case when a height position of the cutter blade  38   a  is changed.  
         [0043]     The guide rail  122  is composed of a linear motion guide wherein four linear motion blocks  123   a,    123   b,    123   c,  and  123   d  being sliding blocks are disposed transferably along the guide rail  122 .  
         [0044]     Furthermore, a ball  125  is held rollably between the guide rail  122  and the linear motion block  123   a,    123   b,    123   c,  or  123   d,  and when the ball  125  rolls, the linear motion blocks  123   a,    123   b,    123   c,  and  123   d  are transferred smoothly on the guide rail  122 .  
         [0045]     The carriage  12  is fitted fixedly to the linear motion blocks  123   a  and  123   b  disposed transferably on the guide rail  122 , while the carriage  14  is fitted fixedly to the linear motion blocks  123   c  and  123   d  disposed transferably on the guide rail  122 , whereby the carriages  12  and  14  are mounted slidably on the guide rail  122 .  
         [0046]     The carriage  12  and the carriage  14  are sequentially disposed along the main scanning direction, and more specifically, the carriage  12  is positioned on the side of the side member  116 R, while the carriage  14  is positioned adjacent to the left side of the carriage  12 . Thus, the ink head  16  disposed on the carriage  12  and the cutting head  20  disposed on the carriage  14  are positioned in the order of the ink head  16  and the cutting head  20  on a line along the main scanning direction D starting from the side member  116 R and extending to the side member  116 L, i.e. from the right side direction to the left side direction in  FIG. 1 .  
         [0047]     The ink head  16  is disposed on the carriage  12  through an ink head holder  60  for attaching stationarily the ink head  16  to hold it and a slide means  62  for transferring the ink head holder  60  in the upper and the lower directions being the direction intersecting with the main scanning direction at right angles.  
         [0048]     The slide means  62  is composed of the guide rail  62   a  disposed extensively on a wall of the carriage  12  in the upper and the lower directions and constituted by the linear motion guide, and the linear motion block  62   b  being a sliding block disposed transferably along the guide rail  62   a.    
         [0049]     Furthermore, a ball  62   c  is held rollably between the guide rail  62   a  and the linear motion block  62   b,  and when the ball  62   c  rolls, the linear motion block  62   b  are transferred smoothly on the guide rail  62   a.    
         [0050]     The ink head holder  60  is attached fixedly to the linear motion block  62   b,  whereby the ink head holder  60  holding the ink head  16  is transferably disposed in a slidable manner in the upper and the lower directions along the guide rail  62   a.    
         [0051]     A motor  64  provided with a revolving shaft  64   a  the outer circumference of which is threaded externally is disposed on a left side end of the carriage  12 , i.e. an end  12   a  of a side of the side member  116 L. On one hand, an arm section  60   d  having a hole  60   c  around which is threaded internally to be screwed with the external thread of the revolving shaft  64   a  is disposed on a left side end of the ink head holder  60 , i.e. an end  60   a  of a side of the side member  116 L.  
         [0052]     Moreover, a locking member  66  an extreme end  66   a  of which is bent downwards and formed in a crank shape is protrusively provided on a right side end of the ink head holder  60 , i.e. an end  60   e  of a side of the side member  116 R. The locking member  66  is adapted to be engaged with and detached from a hole  68   a  defined on a wall  68  being a stationary member which is integrally formed with the side member  116 R of the ink-jet printer  100  and a central wall  120 .  
         [0053]     More specifically, as a result of movement of the ink head holder  60  in the upper and the lower directions and movement of the carriage  12  in right and left directions by means of the slide means  62 , a bent portion of the extreme end  66   a  of the locking member  66  is locked with a fringe of the hole  68   a,  whereby the locking member  66  is in an engageable state with the hole  68   a.    
         [0054]     In the manner of practice, a locking mechanism for fixing lockably and detachably the carriage  12  provided with the ink head  16  to the wall  68  being a stationary region of the ink-jet printer  100  is constituted. The locking and detaching operation for the locking member  66  with the hole  68   a  is carried out, for example, by an operation key provided on the operation panel  126 .  
         [0055]     Furthermore, a magnet  70  is disposed on a left side wall  12 L positioned on the side of the side member  116 L in the end  12   a  of the carriage  12 , while another magnet  72  attractable to the magnet  70  disposed on the left side wall  12  is disposed to a right side wall  20 R positioned on the side of the side member  116 R in the cutting head  20  fixed to the carriage  14 .  
         [0056]     The carriage  12  is suitably coupled to or detached from the carriage  14  by means of the magnet  70  disposed on the carriage  12  and the magnet  72  disposed on the cutting head  20  fixed to the carriage  14 .  
         [0057]     In these circumstances, it is arranged in such that an attraction force between the magnet  70  and the magnet  72  for coupling the carriage  12  to the carriage  14  is smaller than a holding power for maintaining an engaged state between the locking means  66  and the hole  68   a.    
         [0058]     In the manner of practice, a coupling mechanism for coupling the carriage  12  to the carriage  14  by means of the magnets  70  and  72  in a couplable and detachable fashion is constituted.  
         [0059]     The carriage  14  is disposed fixedly on the driving belt  124 , and when the driving belt  124  is traveled in the main scanning direction by means of a driving force of driving equipment (not shown) such as a motor, the carriage  14  is transferred in the main scanning direction along the guide rail  122  with the transfer of the driving belt  124 .  
         [0060]     In the case where the magnet  70  attracts the magnet  72  to each other thereby coupling the carriage  12  to the carriage  14 , and an engagement of the locking member  66  with the hole  68   a  is disengaged, the carriage  12  is also transferred in the main scanning direction along the guide rail  122  with the above-described transfer of the carriage  14 .  
         [0061]     Since both of the carriage  12  and the carriage  14  are transferred in the main scanning direction as described above, the ink head  16  disposed on the carriage  12  and the cutting head  20  disposed on the carriage  14  are transferred in the main scanning direction with such transfer of the carriages  12  and  14 . More specifically, the ink head  16  and the cutting head  20  are transferred in a going direction of the main scanning direction from the side of the side member  116 R to the side of the side member  116 L, and at the same time, they are transferred in a returning direction of the main scanning direction from the side of the side member  116 L to the side of the side member  116 R.  
         [0062]     It is to be noted herein that a transfer area over which the carriages  12  and  14  are transferred in the going direction and the returning direction of the main scanning direction as described above, in other words, a transfer area of the ink head  16  and the cutting head  20  is wider than a print area corresponding to a predetermined length in a breadth direction along the main scanning direction of the recording paper  200  to be fed on the base member  114  from the sheet feeder (not shown).  
         [0063]     As mentioned above, although both the carriage  12  and the carriage  14  are transferred in the main scanning direction, the carriage  12  is transferred in the returning direction at a predetermined timing in case of no printing operation thereby to be out of the print area, so that the carriage  12  stays at a standby position in the side unit  118 . As a result, the ink head  16  disposed on the carriage  12  is positioned in the side unit  118  (see  FIGS. 2 and 3 ).  
         [0064]     A maintenance unit  22  for maintaining the ink head  16  is disposed in the side unit  118  in which the ink head is to be ready by means of the carriage  12  stayed in the standby position. The maintenance unit is provided with a cap device  22   a,  wiper means (not shown), and a suction device  22   b.    
         [0065]     The cap device  22   a  has a nozzle cap part, and the nozzle cap part covers an ink jet nozzle being a discharge port on the bottom of the ink head unit in the side unit  118 . The cap device  22   a  protects an ink jet nozzle of an ink head unit in a standby state in the side unit  118  in case of no printing operation, whereby the cap device  22   a  can prevent from curing of an ink in an ink jet nozzle, or adhering of dusts to an ink jet nozzle.  
         [0066]     The wiper means is provided with a blade, and the blade abuts upon the bottom of an ink head unit in the side unit  118 . An ink remained on or a fouling such as foreign matters adhered to the bottom of the ink head unit which is in a standby state in the side unit  118  can be removed by the wiper means in case of no printing operation.  
         [0067]     The suction device  22   b  is provided with a suction pump, a motor for driving the suction pump and the like components, and the suction device  22   b  sucks an ink from an ink jet nozzle of an ink head unit which is in a standby state in the side unit  118  in case of no printing operation, whereby the ink remained in the ink jet nozzle can be removed.  
         [0068]     The maintenance unit  22  provided with the cap device  22   a,  the wiper means and the suction device  22   b  is adapted to be positioned in the side unit  118  in such that the maintenance unit  22  is located in a lower side of the ink head  16  disposed on the carriage  12 , i.e. a discharge side of an ink disposed on an ink jet nozzle in the ink head unit of the ink head  16  in a standby position in the side unit  118  wherein the carriage  12  is transferred in the returning direction in the main scanning direction to come to rest.  
         [0069]     In the constitution as described above, operations for forming a desired picture image to print out the picture image on a recording paper  200  or cutting out such picture image to separate an outline of the picture image from the recording paper  200  by means of the above-described ink-jet printer  100  will be described.  
         [0070]     In the manner of practice, an initial condition means such a state that the carriage  12  comes to rest in a standby position, and the ink head  16  positions in the side unit  118  (a state shown in  FIG. 2 ). In the initial condition, the magnet  70  attracts the magnet  72  to each other, the carriage  12  couples to the carriage  14  by means of a coupling means, besides, the locking member  66  engages with the hole  68   a,  and the carriage  12  is engaged with the wall  68  being a stationary region of the ink-jet printer  100  by means of a locking means.  
         [0071]     In case of printing, first, the motor  64  is driven based on control of a microcomputer in accordance with an instruction input through the operation panel  126  to transmit a torque of the revolving shaft  64   a  of the motor  64  to the arm section  60   d  having the hole  60   c  threaded internally screwed with the revolving shaft  64   a  threaded externally, whereby the ink head holder  60  associated with the arm section  60   d  is transferred upwards.  
         [0072]     More specifically, since the ink head holder  60  associated with the arm section  60   d  is disposed transferably in the upper and the lower directions with respect to the carriage  12  by means of the slide means  62 , the linear motion block  62   b  attached to the ink head holder  60  is slid along the guide rail  62   a  in response to a rotation direction of the revolving shaft  64   a  transmitted to the arm section  60   d,  so that the ink head holder  60  can be transferred upwards (see  FIG. 5 ).  
         [0073]     Then, when the carriage  12  and the carriage  14  coupled by the coupling means are transferred associatedly in the left direction in the main scanning direction, the locking member  66  is disengaged from the hole  68   a  to release fixation of the carriage  12  to the wall  68  being a stationary member of the carriage  12  (see  FIG. 6 ).  
         [0074]     Thereafter, when the carriage  14  is transferred with transfer of the driving belt  124 , the carriage  14  associated with the carriage  12  by means of a coupling means is also transferred with transfer of the carriage  12 . Namely, the carriage  12  and the carriage  14  are transferred while maintaining their associated coupling state, so that printing is carried out on a recording paper  200  by means of the ink head  16 .  
         [0075]     On one hand, in case of cutting out an outline of a picture image printed, the carriage  12  associated with the carriage  14  is transferred in the right direction in the main scanning direction based on control of the microcomputer in accordance with an instruction input through the operation panel  126 , whereby the locking member is passed through the hole  68   a  (see  FIG. 5 ).  
         [0076]     Then, the motor  64  is driven to transmit a torque of the revolving shaft  64   a  of the motor  64  to the arm section  60   d  having the hole  60   c  threaded internally screwed with the revolving shaft  64   a  threaded externally, whereby the ink head holder  60  associated with the arm section  60   d  is transferred downwards and returned to the initial condition.  
         [0077]     More specifically, since the ink head holder  60  associated with the arm section  60   d  is disposed transferably in the upper and the lower directions with respect to the carriage  12  by means of the slide means  62 , the linear motion block  62   b  attached to the ink head holder  60  is slid along the guide rail  62   a  in response to a rotation direction of the revolving shaft  64   a  transmitted to the arm section  60   d,  so that the ink head holder  60  can be transferred downwards (see  FIG. 2 ).  
         [0078]     Thereafter, the locking member  66  is engaged with the fringe of the hole  68   a,  whereby the carriage  12  is fixed to the wall  68  being a stationary member, the locking member  66  causing the carriage  14  to transfer with transfer of the driving belt  124  in the going direction in the main scanning direction, and it is arranged in such that an attraction force of the magnet  70  and the magnet  72  by which the carriage  12  is coupled to the carriage  14  is smaller than a holding force in an engaged state of the locking member  66  in the carriage  12  with the hole  68   a.  Accordingly, the magnet  70  is drawn away from the magnet  72 , whereby the carriage  12  is separated from the carriage  14 .  
         [0079]     As a result of control by the microcomputer, a height position of the cutter blade  38   a  of the cutter  38  in the cutting head  20  is changed, and the carriage  14  is transferred in the going and returning directions in the main scanning direction with transfer of the driving belt  124  in a state wherein the cutter blade  38   a  of the cutter  38  abuts upon the recording paper  200  on the base member  114 , whereby the recording paper  200  can be cut off by the cutter blade  38   a  of the cutter  38  in the cutting head  20 .  
         [0080]     It is to be noted that the above-described manner of practice may be modified as described in the following paragraphs (1) through (4).  
         [0081]     (1) In the above-described manner of practice, although the slide means  62  allows the ink head holder  60  to be transferred in the upper direction and the lower directions intersecting with the main scanning direction at right angles, the transferring direction is not restricted to that wherein the slide means  62  allows the ink head holder  60  to be transferred in the upper direction and the lower directions intersecting with the main scanning direction at right angles as a matter of course, but angles and directions intersecting with the main scanning direction may be suitably changed in response to designs of the components in an ink-jet printer.  
         [0082]     (2) In the above-described manner of practice, although the coupling means for coupling separably the carriage  12  to the carriage  14  is composed of the magnet  70  and  72 , the invention is not limited thereto as a matter of course, but specific structure of such coupling means, the total number thereof, layout positions therefor may be suitably modified. For example, the coupling means may be composed of a magnet and an iron plate.  
         [0083]     (3) In the above-described manner of practice, although it is arranged in such that the ink head  16  and the cutting head  20  are transferred in the main scanning direction, while the recording paper is transferred in the vertical scanning direction, the invention is not limited thereto as a matter of course, but, for example, such transferring mechanism may be constituted in that of a so-called flat-bed type wherein the recording paper  200  is not transferred, but the ink head  16  and the cutting head  20  are transferred in the main scanning direction and the vertical scanning direction.  
         [0084]     (4) The above-described manner of practice as well as the modifications in the above-described paragraphs (1) through (3) may be suitably combined with each other.  
         [0085]     It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the present invention can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof.  
         [0086]     The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore considered in all respects to be illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is indicated by the appended claims rather than the foregoing description, and all changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalents thereof are intended to be embraced therein.  
         [0087]     The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2005-347527 filed on Dec. 1, 2005 including specification, claims, drawings and summary are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.