Patent Publication Number: US-8967073-B2

Title: Liquid discharge apparatus with cutter and liquid discharge method

Description:
The entire disclosure of Japanese Patent Application No. 2010-290566, filed Dec. 27, 2010 is expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present invention relates to a liquid discharge apparatus, and a liquid discharge method. 
     2. Related Art 
     Liquid discharge apparatuses such as an ink jet printer have been already well known. 
     Among the liquid discharge apparatuses, there is a liquid discharge apparatus which includes a transportation portion which transports a medium in a transportation direction, a head portion which moves in an intersection direction intersecting with the transportation direction and discharges liquid onto the medium, and a cutting portion which moves in the intersection direction and cuts the medium. In the liquid discharge apparatus, the head portion and the cutting portion are provided so as to be aligned in the intersection direction. 
     JP-A-2006-281684 is an example of related art. 
     In the above liquid discharge apparatus, a width of the liquid discharge apparatus in the intersection direction is required to be large because the head portion and the cutting portion are provided so as to be aligned in the intersection direction. Therefore, the liquid discharge apparatus has been increased in size in some case. 
     SUMMARY 
     An advantage of some aspects of the invention is to realize a liquid discharge apparatus reduced in size. 
     A liquid discharge apparatus includes a transportation portion which transports a medium in a transportation direction, a head portion which moves in an intersection direction intersecting with the transportation direction and discharges liquid onto the medium, and a cutting portion which moves in the intersection direction and cuts the medium, the head portion and the cutting portion being provided so as to be aligned in the intersection direction. In the liquid discharge apparatus, the head portion has a cutout portion on which the cutting portion is arranged. 
     With this configuration, a liquid discharge apparatus reduced in size can be realized. 
     It is preferable that the cutting portion have a cutter carriage and a cutter included in the cutter carriage, and the cutout portion be a portion on which the cutter is arranged. 
     With this configuration, a region on which the cutter can cut in the intersection direction can be enlarged. 
     It is preferable that the head portion have a head carriage having the cutout portion, and a first head and a second head which are included in the head carriage and are provided at positions which are different from each other in both of the transportation direction and the intersection direction, the first head be located at an upstream side with respect to the second head in a first direction toward the cutting portion from the head portion in the intersection direction, and the cutout portion be located at a position aligned with the first head at a downstream side with respect to the first head in the first direction. 
     With this configuration, an empty space can be effectively utilized. 
     Next, a liquid discharging method onto a medium using a liquid discharge apparatus, the method including; discharging liquid onto a medium. The liquid discharge apparatus includes a transportation portion which transports a medium in a transportation direction, a head portion which moves in an intersection direction intersecting with the transportation direction and discharges liquid onto the medium, and a cutting portion which moves in the intersection direction and cuts the medium, the head portion and the cutting portion being provided so as to be aligned in the intersection direction, and the head portion has a cutout portion on which the cutting portion is arranged. 
     With this method, a liquid discharge apparatus reduced in size can be realized. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like numbers reference like elements. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating an entire configuration of a printer. 
         FIG. 2  is a front schematic view illustrating a head unit, a cutter unit, and peripheral members thereof. 
         FIG. 3  is a top schematic view illustrating the head unit, the cutter unit, and the peripheral members thereof. 
         FIG. 4  is a side schematic view illustrating the head unit, the cutter unit, and the peripheral members thereof. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating arrangement of nozzle rows on heads. 
         FIG. 6  is a descriptive schematic view for explaining a first variation of configurations of the head unit and the cutter unit, and the like. 
         FIG. 7  is a descriptive schematic view for explaining a second variation of configurations of the head unit and the cutter unit, and the like. 
         FIG. 8  is a descriptive schematic view for explaining a third variation of configurations of the head unit and the cutter unit, and the like. 
         FIG. 9  is a descriptive schematic view for explaining a fourth variation of configurations of the head unit and the cutter unit, and the like. 
         FIG. 10  is a descriptive schematic view for explaining a fifth variation of configurations of the head unit and the cutter unit, and the like. 
         FIG. 11  is a descriptive schematic view for explaining a sixth variation of configurations of the head unit and the cutter unit, and the like. 
         FIG. 12  is a descriptive schematic view for explaining a seventh variation of configurations of the head unit and the cutter unit, and the like. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS 
     At least following matters will be clarified from the present specification and accompanying drawings. 
     Configuration Example of Printer  1  According to the Embodiment 
     An ink jet printer (hereinafter, referred to as printer  1 ) as an example of a liquid discharge apparatus prints an image (for example, unit image to be cut out later for use, (as an example of the unit image, a seal-like printed material to be bonded onto a plastic wrap for fresh food is cited)) on a band-form roll sheet S as an example of a medium in an ink jet system. The roll sheet S is a continuous sheet with a release sheet (that is, a glue surface of an adhesive sheet is protected with the release sheet), for example. Images which are to be printed materials are continuously printed in the direction to which the roll sheet S continues. 
     The printer  1  according to the embodiment includes a universal cutter (hereinafter, simply referred to as cutter  42 ). The printer  1  prints an image on the roll sheet S, and then, feeds backward the roll sheet S and cuts the roll sheet S (in the embodiment, cuts only the adhesive sheet of the adhesive sheet and the release sheet of the roll sheet S (making cuts only on the adhesive sheet)). 
     Hereinafter, a configuration example of the printer  1  according to the embodiment which is an ink jet printer with a universal cutter is described with reference to FIG.  1  to  FIG. 5 .  FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating the entire configuration of the printer  1 .  FIG. 2  is a front schematic view illustrating a head unit  30 , a cutter unit  40 , and peripheral members thereof.  FIG. 3  is a top schematic view illustrating the head unit  30 , the cutter unit  40 , and the peripheral members thereof.  FIG. 4  is a side schematic view illustrating the head unit  30 , the cutter unit  40 , and the peripheral members thereof.  FIG. 5  is a schematic view illustrating arrangement of nozzle rows on heads  32 . 
     In order to make the drawings be understood easily, the roll sheet S, a transportation roller  23 , a head unit driving force application portion  76 , a cutter unit driving force application portion  86 , and the like are not illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 . Further, a head unit belt  74 , a cutter unit belt  84 , and the like are not illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In  FIG. 3 , the heads  32  and the cutter  42  which can be observed only from the bottom are illustrated so as to be observed from the above. In the same manner, in  FIG. 5 , the heads  32  and the nozzle rows which can be observed only from the bottom are illustrated so as to be observed from the above. The peripheral members of the head unit  30  and the cutter unit  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4  correspond to a head unit driving portion  70 , a cutter unit driving portion  80 , a first guide rail  90 , a second guide rail  92 , a head unit supporting member  94 , and a cutter unit supporting member  96 , for example. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the printer  1  includes a sheet transportation portion  20  as an example of a transportation portion, the head unit  30  as an example of a head portion, the head unit driving portion  70  as an example of a first driving portion, the cutter unit  40  as an example of a cutting portion, the cutter unit driving portion  80  as an example of a second driving portion, a cleaning unit  52 , a platen  54 , a detector group  50 , and a controller  60 . 
     The printer  1  which has received print data and cut data from a computer  110  as an external device controls each part (the sheet transportation portion  20 , the head unit  30 , the head unit driving portion  70 , the cutter unit  40 , the cutter unit driving portion  80 , the cleaning unit  52 ) using the controller  60 . The controller  60  controls each part based on the print data received from the computer  110  so as to print an image on the roll sheet S. Thereafter, the controller  60  controls each part based on the cut data received from the computer  110  so as to cut the roll sheet S. A state in the printer  1  is monitored by the detector group  50  and the detector group  50  outputs a detection result to the controller  60 . The controller  60  controls each part based on the detection result output from the detector group  50 . 
     The sheet transportation portion  20  is a member for transporting the roll sheet S in the transportation direction. The sheet transportation portion  20  includes a transportation motor (not illustrated), the transportation roller  23 , and a driven roller  26 . 
     The transportation roller  23  is a roller which transports the roll sheet S. The transportation roller  23  is driven by the transportation motor. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , when the transportation roller  23  transports the roll sheet S, the roll sheet S is nipped between the transportation roller  23  and the driven roller  26  (that is to say, the driven roller  26  is arranged so as to be opposed to the transportation roller  23  while nipping the roll sheet S therebetween). 
     When an image is printed on the roll sheet S, the transportation roller  23  intermittently transports the roll sheet S in a forward direction (see,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ) in the transportation direction. After the image has been printed, the transportation roller  23  continuously transports the roll sheet S in a backward direction (see,  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 4 ) in the transportation direction, that is, feeds back the roll sheet S. Thereafter, when the roll sheet S is cut, the transportation roller  23  continuously transports the roll sheet S in the forward direction and the backward direction. That is to say, when the cutter unit  40  (the cutter  42 ) cuts the roll sheet S, the transportation roller  23  transports the roll sheet S in the transportation direction (forward direction or backward direction) so as to adjust a cutting position of the roll sheet S. 
     The head unit  30  moves in the intersection direction (hereinafter, also referred to as movement direction) intersecting with the transportation direction and discharges ink as an example of liquid onto the roll sheet S. As illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , the head unit  30  has two heads  32  (that is, first head  32   a  and second head  32   b ), and a head carriage  34 . 
     The first head  32   a  and the second head  32   b  are included in the head carriage  34  (at a lower portion therein). Nozzle rows on which nozzles are lined in the transportation direction are provided on lower faces of the first head  32   a  and the second head  32   b , as illustrated in  FIG. 5 . In the embodiment, ten nozzle rows are provided for each color of yellow (Y), magenta (M), cyan (C), black (K), and the like on each of the heads  32 . The ten nozzle rows are arranged at an interval in the movement direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , the first head  32   a  and the second head  32   b  are provided at positions which are different from each other in both of the transportation direction and the movement direction. That is to say, the first head  32   a  is located at a position deviated from the second head  32   b  when coordinates are taken in the transportation direction and is also located at a position deviated from the second head  32   b  when coordinates are taken in the movement direction. If the first head  32   a  and the second head  32   b  are arranged in this manner, a part of the nozzle rows on the first head  32   a  (to be more specific, a part at the downstream side in the forward direction) and a part of the nozzle rows on the second head  32   b  (to be more specific, a part at the upstream side in the forward direction) can be overlapped with each other in the transportation direction. Ink can be discharged by selecting any of the first head  32   a  and the second head  32   b  on the overlapped part so that image quality can be suppressed from being largely changed at a joint. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the first head  32   a  is located at a position closer to the transportation roller  23  (and the driven roller  26 ) in comparison with the second head  32   b  in the transportation direction. 
     A piezoelectric element (not illustrated) as a driving element for discharging ink is provided on each nozzle. If a voltage at a predetermined time interval is applied between electrodes provided on both ends of each piezoelectric element, the piezoelectric element expands in accordance with an application time of the voltage so as to deform a side wall of an ink flow path. With this, a volume of the ink flow path is contracted in accordance with the expansion and contraction of the piezoelectric element and ink corresponding to the contraction amount is discharged through each nozzle of each color as ink droplets. 
     A valve unit (not illustrated) is connected to each head  32  through an ink supply tube. The valve unit is a portion in which ink is primarily stored. 
     The head carriage  34  supports the heads  32  and receives a driving force from the head unit driving portion  70  so as to reciprocate in the movement direction along the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  together with the heads  32 . For convenience of description, a direction toward the cutter unit  40  from the head unit  30  in the movement direction is referred to as a first direction (see,  FIG. 3  and the like). 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , the head carriage  34  has a shape that a corner is cut out from a rectangular shape when seen from the above. Note that the cutout portion  36  also has a rectangular shape. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the cutter unit  40  can be located at the cutout portion  36 . That is to say, the head unit  30  (to be more specific, the head carriage  34 ) has the cutout portion  36  on which the cutter unit  40  is arranged. 
     As described above, the first head  32   a  and the second head  32   b  are provided at the positions which are different from each other in both of the transportation direction and the movement direction. In the embodiment, the first head  32   a  is located at the upstream side with respect to the second head  32   b  in the forward direction and the first head  32   a  is located at the upstream side with respect to the second head  32   b  in the first direction. Therefore, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , two empty portions  35  (empty portions on which the heads  32  are not located) are present on the head carriage  34 . The cutout portion  36  is formed by using one of the two empty portions  35 . To be more specific, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the cutout portion  36  is located at a position aligned with the second head  32   b  at the upstream side with respect to the second head  32   b  in the forward direction and is located at a position aligned with the first head  32   a  at the downstream side with respect to the first head  32   a  in the first direction. 
     The head carriage  34  is supported by the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  through the head unit supporting member  94 . The head carriage  34  is supported so as to reciprocate along the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  in the movement direction. The first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  engage with the head carriage  34  (the head unit  30 ) through the head unit supporting member  94  and guide movement of the head carriage  34  (the head unit  30 ) in the movement direction. The first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  are long bar-shaped members extending in the movement direction and the second guide rail  92  is provided to be in parallel with the first guide rail  90 . Both of the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  are provided side by side in the vertical direction (in the embodiment, the second guide rail  92  is located at a lower side with respect to the first guide rail  90  in the vertical direction). As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , one ends of the guide rails are fixed to one end  1   a  of a housing of the printer  1  in the movement direction. The other ends of the guide rails are fixed to the other end  1   b  of the housing of the printer  1  in the movement direction. 
     The head unit driving portion  70  drives the head unit  30  so as to move the head unit  30  in the movement direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the head unit driving portion  70  has a head unit motor (not illustrated), two head unit pulleys  72 , the head unit belt  74 , and the head unit driving force application portion  76 . 
     The head unit motor is connected to one of the two head unit pulleys  72  through a belt (not illustrated). As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the head unit belt  74  is stretched over the two head unit pulleys  72 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the head unit driving force application portion  76  for applying a driving force of the head unit motor to the head unit  30  is fixed to the head unit belt  74 . Further, the head unit driving force application portion  76  is connected to the head unit  30  (to be more specific, the head carriage  34 ). 
     If the head unit motor is operated, the head unit pulleys  72  are rotated. Further, the head unit belt  74  is also rotated with the rotation of the head unit pulleys  72 . If the head unit belt  74  is rotated, the head unit driving force application portion  76  fixed to the head unit belt  74  moves in the movement direction. If the head unit driving force application portion  76  moves in the movement direction, the head unit  30  connected to the head unit driving force application portion  76  also moves in the movement direction. 
     Thus, the driving force of the head unit motor is transmitted to the head unit driving force application portion  76  through the head unit pulleys  72 , and the head unit belt  74 . Then, the head unit driving force application portion  76  applies the driving force to the head unit  30 . The head unit  30  which has received the driving force from the head unit driving force application portion  76  moves along the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  in the movement direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the head unit pulleys  72 , the head unit belt  74 , and the head unit driving force application portion  76  are located between the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  in a predetermined direction (in the embodiment, the vertical direction) toward the second guide rail  92  from the first guide rail  90 . Therefore, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a portion (referred to as head unit driving force reception portion  34   a  for convenience of description) of the head unit (to be more specific, the head carriage  34 ), which receives the driving force from the head unit driving portion  70  (to be more specific, the head unit driving force application portion  76 ), is also located between the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  in the predetermined direction (the vertical direction). 
     The cutter unit  40  is a member which moves in the movement direction and cuts the roll sheet S. The cutter unit  40  and the head unit  30  are provided so as to be aligned in the movement direction as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . In other words, the cutter unit  40  also cannot move to the opposite side of the head unit  30  beyond the head unit  30  in the movement direction. Further, the head unit  30  cannot move to the opposite side of the cutter unit  40  beyond the cutter unit  40  in the movement direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 4 , the cutter unit  40  has the cutter  42  and a cutter carriage  44 . 
     The cutter  42  is included in the cutter carriage  44  (at a lower portion therein). The cutter  42  is provided so as to move with respect to the cutter carriage  44  in the vertical direction. With the function, when a cutting position on the roll sheet S is changed without cutting the roll sheet S, the cutter  42  is located at an upper position at which the cutter  42  does not make contact with the roll sheet S. When the roll sheet S is cut, the cutter  42  is located at a lower position at which the cutter  42  makes contact with the roll sheet S. The cutter  42  can rotate with respect to the cutter carriage  44 . The cutter  42  can be made to rotate for making a direction of a blade of the cutter  42  changeable. 
     The cutter carriage  44  supports the cutter  42  and receives a driving force from the cutter unit driving portion  80  so as to reciprocate along the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  in the movement direction together with the cutter  42 . 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the cutter carriage  44  has a rectangular shape when seen from the above and supports the cutter  42  at a center in the movement direction. The cutter carriage  44  can be located at the above-described cutout portion  36 . In the embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the entire cutter carriage  44  can be located at the cutout portion  36  so that the cutter  42  is also located at the cutout portion  36  when the cutter carriage  44  is located at the cutout portion  36 . That is to say, the cutout portion  36  is also a portion on which the cutter  42  is arranged. 
     When the cutter carriage  44  is located at the cutout portion  36 , the cutter carriage  44  is located at a position aligned with the second head  32   b  at the upstream side with respect to the second head  32   b  in the forward direction and is located at a position aligned with the first head  32   a  at the downstream side with respect to the first head  32   a  in the first direction, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
     The cutter carriage  44  is supported by the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  as described above through the cutter unit supporting member  96 . The cutter carriage  44  is supported so as to be reciprocatable along the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  in the movement direction. The first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  engage with the cutter carriage  44  (the cutter unit  40 ) through the cutter unit supporting member  96  and guide movement of the cutter carriage  44  (the cutter unit  40 ) in the movement direction. That is to say, the cutter unit  40  and the head unit  30  are guided by common guide rails (that is, the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92 ). 
     The cutter unit driving portion  80  is a member which drives the cutter unit  40  and moves the cutter unit  40  in the movement direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the cutter unit driving portion  80  has a cutter unit motor (not illustrated), two cutter unit pulleys  82 , the cutter unit belt  84 , and the cutter unit driving force application portion  86 . 
     The cutter unit motor is connected to one of the two cutter unit pulleys  82  through a belt (not illustrated). As illustrated in  FIG. 2 , the cutter unit belt  84  is stretched over the two cutter unit pulleys  82 . As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the cutter unit driving force application portion  86  for applying a driving force of the cutter unit motor to the cutter unit  40  is fixed to the cutter unit belt  84 . Further, the cutter unit driving force application portion  86  is connected to the cutter unit  40  (to be more specific, the cutter carriage  44 ). 
     If the cutter unit motor is operated, the cutter unit pulleys  82  are rotated. Further, the cutter unit belt  84  is also rotated with the rotation of the cutter unit pulleys  82 . If the cutter unit belt  84  is rotated, the cutter unit driving force application portion  86  fixed to the cutter unit belt  84  moves in the movement direction. If the cutter unit driving force application portion  86  moves in the movement direction, the cutter unit  40  connected to the cutter unit driving force application portion  86  also moves in the movement direction. 
     Thus, the driving force of the cutter unit motor is transmitted to the cutter unit driving force application portion  86  through the cutter unit pulleys  82 , and the cutter unit belt  84 . Then, the cutter unit driving force application portion  86  applies the driving force to the cutter unit  40 . The cutter unit  40  which has received the driving force from the cutter unit driving force application portion  86  moves along the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  in the movement direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 4 , the cutter unit pulleys  82 , the cutter unit belt  84 , and the cutter unit driving force application portion  86  are located at the outer side of the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  in the predetermined direction (in the embodiment, in the vertical direction). That is to say, the cutter unit pulleys  82 , the cutter unit belt  84 , and the cutter unit driving force application portion  86  are located at the opposite side to the second guide rail  92  when seen from the first guide rail  90  or at the upper side of the first guide rail  90  when seen from the second guide rail  92 . Therefore, as illustrated in  FIG. 4 , a portion (referred to as cutter unit driving force reception portion  44   a  for convenience of description) of the cutter unit  40  (to be more specific, the cutter carriage  44 ), which receives the driving force from the cutter unit driving portion  80  (to be more specific, the cutter unit driving force application portion  86 ), is also located at the opposite side to the second guide rail  92  when seen from the first guide rail  90  or at the upper side of the first guide rail  90  when seen from the second guide rail  92 . In the embodiment, the cutter unit driving force reception portion  44   a  is located at the former side, that is, upper side with respect to the first guide rail  90 ) in the predetermined direction (the vertical direction). 
     The head unit  30  and the cutter unit  40  configured as described above are operated in the following manner when an image is printed on the roll sheet S. That is to say, the head unit  30  discharges ink through nozzles while moving in the movement direction and executes an operation of forming raster lines along the movement direction. Such operation and the operation of intermittently transporting the roll sheet S in the forward direction by the above-described transportation roller  23  are repeated so that an image is printed. At this time (when an image is printed on the roll sheet S), the cutter unit  40  is located at a cutter unit home position (cutter unit HP, see,  FIG. 2 ) provided at one end in the movement direction in a still state. 
     The head unit  30  and the cutter unit  40  are operated in the following manner when the roll sheet S is cut. That is to say, the cutter unit  40  executes an operation of cutting the roll sheet S while moving in the movement direction or in a still state in the movement direction. When the roll sheet S is cut in the state where the cutter unit  40  is still in the movement direction, the roll sheet S is required to be transported in the transportation direction. At this time (when the roll sheet S is cut), the head unit  30  is located at a head unit home position (head unit HP, see,  FIG. 2 ) provided at the other end in the movement direction in a still state. 
     The cleaning unit  52  is a member for cleaning the head  32 . The cleaning unit is provided at the head unit HP and has a cap and a suction pump (not illustrated). When the heads  32  (the head carriage  34 ) move in the movement direction and are located at the head unit HP, the cap makes close contact with lower faces of the heads  32  (nozzle faces). The suction pump is operated in a state where the cap makes close contact with the lower faces of the heads  32  in this manner, ink in the heads  32  is sucked together with ink of which viscosity has been increased and paper powder. Thus, clogged nozzles are recovered from a non-discharging state so that cleaning of the heads is completed. 
     The platen  54  is a member for supporting the roll sheet S. As illustrated in  FIG. 4 , the platen  54  is located at a position opposed to the head unit  30  and the cutter unit  40 . When the roll sheet S is cut, the platen  54  also functions as a cutter table. 
     The controller  60  is a control unit for controlling the printer  1 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the controller  60  has an interface portion  61 , a CPU  62 , a memory  63 , and a unit control circuit  64 . The interface portion  61  is a member which transmits and receives data between the host computer  110  as an external device and the printer  1 . The CPU  62  is an arithmetic processing unit for controlling the entire printer  1 . The memory  63  is a member for ensuring a region in which programs of the CPU  62  are stored, an operation region, and the like. The CPU  62  controls each unit with the unit control circuit  64  in accordance with the programs stored in the memory  63 . 
     The detector group  50  monitors a state in the printer  1 . For example, the detector group  50  includes a rotary encoder used for controlling transportation of the roll sheet S, a sheet detection sensor for detecting presence/absence of the roll sheet S to be transported, a linear encoder for detecting positions of the head carriage  34  and the cutter carriage  44  in the movement direction, and the like. 
     Effectiveness of Printer  1  According to the Embodiment 
     As described above, the printer  1  according to the embodiment includes the sheet transportation portion  20  which transports the roll sheet S in the transportation direction, the head unit  30  which moves in the movement direction intersecting with the transportation direction and discharges ink on the roll sheet S, and the cutter unit  40  which moves in the movement direction and cuts the roll sheet S. The head unit  30  and the cutter unit  40  are provided so as to be aligned in the movement direction. The head unit  30  includes the cutout portion  36  on which the cutter unit  40  is arranged. With this configuration, the printer  1  reduced in size can be realized. 
     That is to say, in the ink jet printer with a universal cutter in which the head unit  30  and the cutter unit  40  are provided so as to be aligned in the movement direction, a movable range of the head unit  30  in the movement direction is narrower by the presence of the cutter unit  40  in comparison with a normal printer without a universal cutter. Accordingly, in order to obtain the movable range which is equivalent to that in the normal printer, a lateral width (width in the movement direction) of the ink jet printer with the universal cutter is required to be larger by the size of the cutter unit  40 . Therefore, the printer is increased in size. 
     In response thereto, in the printer  1  according to the embodiment, the head unit  30  includes the cutout portion  36  on which the cutter unit  40  is arranged. Therefore, a width of the printer  1  in the movement direction is not required to be so large (or is not required to be large at all) in order to obtain the movable range. With this configuration, the printer  1  reduced in size can be realized. 
     Since the printer  1  includes the cutout portion  36 , the movable range of the cutter unit  40  can be enlarged more in comparison with a case where the cutout portion  36  is not provided. 
     Variations of Configurations of Head Unit  30  and Cutter Unit  40 , and the Like 
     In the above embodiment, the cutout portion  36  is a portion on which the entire cutter unit  40  (the cutter carriage  44 ) is arranged. That is to say, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the entire cutter unit  40  (the cutter carriage  44 ) can be located at the cutout portion  36 . However, the invention is not limited thereto. 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the cutout portion  36  may be configured to be a portion on which a portion of the cutter unit  40  (the cutter carriage  44 ) is arranged for enhancing the support for the cutter unit  40 . 
     In the above embodiment, the cutter unit  40  includes only one cutter  42 . However, the invention is not limited thereto. For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 , the cutter unit  40  may include a plurality of cutters  42 . 
     In the above embodiment, the cutout portion  36  is a portion on which the cutter  42  is arranged. That is to say, the cutter unit  40  is configured such that the cutter  42  is also located at the cutout portion  36  when the cutter carriage  44  is located at the cutout portion  36 . However, the invention is not limited to the configuration. 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the cutout portion  36  may not be a portion on which the cutter  42  is arranged. However, the above embodiment (example as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ) is more desirable in a point that a region on which the cutter  42  can cut in the movement direction can be enlarged more. 
     In the above embodiment, the head unit  30  includes the head carriage  34  having the cutout portion  36 , and the first head  32   a  and the second head  32   b  which are provided at the positions which are different from each other in both of the transportation direction and the movement direction. The first head  32   a  is located at the upstream side with respect to the second head  32   b  in the first direction toward the cutter unit  40  from the head unit  30  in the movement direction. Further, the cutout portion  36  is located at the position aligned with the first head  32   a  at the downstream side with respect to the first head  32   a  in the first direction. That is to say, in the above embodiment, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , the plurality of heads (the first head  32   a  and the second head  32   b ) are provided and the cutout portion  36  is located at a position aligned with the head (that is, the first head  32   a ) located at the upperstream side in the first direction in the plurality of heads and at the downstream side with respect to the head. However, the invention is not limited thereto. 
     For example, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the head unit  30  may have only one head  32 . However, in the above embodiment (the example as illustrated in  FIG. 3 ), since the cutout portion  36  is formed by using the empty portion  35  generated by providing the first head  32   a  and the second head  32   b , the empty space can be effectively utilized. Thus, the above embodiment is more desirable. 
     As another example of the configuration in which the cutout portion  36  is located at the position aligned with the head located at the upperstream side in the first direction in the plurality of heads and at the downstream side with respect to the head, examples as illustrated in  FIG. 10  to  FIG. 12  are cited. 
     That is to say, as illustrated in  FIG. 10 , the head unit  30  may be located at one end side in the movement direction and the cutter unit  40  may be located at the other end side in the movement direction unlike the example as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , that is, the example in which the cutter unit  40  is located at one end side in the movement direction and the head unit  30  is located at the other end side in the movement direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 11 , the cutout portion  36  may be located at a position aligned with the second head  32   b  at the downstream side with respect to the second head  32   b  in the forward direction unlike the example as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , that is, the example in which the cutout portion  36  is located at the position aligned with the second head  32   b  at the upstream side with respect to the second head  32   b  in the forward direction. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 12 , the number of heads  32  may be equal to or more than three unlike the example as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , that is, the example in which the number of heads  32  is only two. In the example of  FIG. 12 , three heads  32  of a first head  32   a , a second head  32   b , and a third head  32   c  are provided. 
     In other examples, an empty space can be effectively utilized by forming the cutout portion  36  using the empty portion  35 . 
     Other Embodiments 
     In the above embodiment, the liquid discharge apparatus is mainly described. However, a disclosure of a liquid discharge method, and the like are included. The above embodiment makes the invention understood easily and is not intended for limiting interpretation of the invention. It is needless to say that the invention can be changed and improved without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention includes equivalents thereof. In particular, the following embodiments are included in the invention. 
     In the above embodiment, a liquid discharge apparatus (liquid ejecting apparatus) is embodied as the ink jet printer. However, liquid ejecting apparatuses which eject and discharge liquids other than ink may be employed. The invention can be applied to various types of liquid ejecting apparatuses including a liquid ejecting head or the like which discharges a trace amount of liquid droplets. Note that the terminology “liquid droplets” represents a state of liquid which is discharged from the above liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, a granule form, a teardrop form, and a form that pulls tails in a string-like form therebehind are included as the liquid droplets. The terminology “liquid” here represents materials which can be ejected by the liquid ejecting apparatus. For example, any materials are included as long as the materials are in a liquid phase. For example, materials in a liquid state having high viscosity or low viscosity or a fluid state such as sol, gel water, other inorganic solvents, an organic solvent, a solution, a liquid resin or a liquid metal (molten metal) can be included as the liquid. Further, the liquid is not limited to liquid as one state of a material but includes a solution, a dispersion or a mixture of particles of a functional material made of a solid material such as pigment particles or metal particles. Typical examples of the liquid are ink described in the above embodiment and liquid crystals. The terminology “ink” here encompasses various liquid compositions such as common aqueous ink and oil ink, gel ink and hot melt ink. Specific examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus include a liquid ejecting apparatus which ejects liquid in a form of a dispersion or a solution of a material such as an electrode material or a coloring material. The material such as the electrode material or the coloring material is used for manufacturing a liquid crystal display, an electroluminescence (EL) display, a surface emitting display and a color filter, for example. Further, the specific examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus include a liquid ejecting apparatus which ejects a bioorganic material used for manufacturing biochips, a liquid ejecting apparatus which ejects liquid used as a precision pipette and serving as a sample, printing equipment and a micro dispenser. Other examples of the liquid ejecting apparatus include a liquid ejecting apparatus which pinpoint-ejects lubricating oil to a precision machine such as a watch or a camera. Further, a liquid ejecting apparatus which ejects a transparent resin solution of an ultraviolet curable resin or the like onto a substrate in order to form a hemispherical microlens (optical lens) used for an optical communication element and the like is included as the liquid ejecting apparatus. In addition, a liquid ejecting apparatus which ejects an acid or alkali etching solution for etching a substrate or the like may be employed as the liquid ejecting apparatus. The invention can be applied to any one type of the liquid ejecting apparatuses. 
     In the above embodiment, the roll sheet S has been described as an example of a medium. However, the medium is not limited to the roll sheet S and may be a cut sheet. 
     A continuous sheet with a release sheet has been described as an example of the roll sheet S. However, the roll sheet S is not limited thereto and may be a plain sheet without the release sheet (in this case, the plain sheet is cut unlike the above embodiment in which only the adhesive sheet of the adhesive sheet and the release sheet of the roll sheet S is cut). 
     The medium is not necessarily paper and may be a film, or a fabric, for example. 
     In the above embodiment, the predetermined direction corresponds to the vertical direction. However, the predetermined direction is not limited thereto and may be a horizontal direction, for example. That is to say, in the above embodiment, both of the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  are provided so as to be aligned in the vertical direction and support the head unit  30  and the cutter unit  40  from the side. However, both of the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  may be provided so as to be aligned in the horizontal direction and the first guide rail  90  and the second guide rail  92  may support the head unit  30  and the cutter unit  40  from the upper side or the lower side, respectively, for example.