Patent Publication Number: US-2013247732-A1

Title: Rotary cutter device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-64070, filed Mar. 21, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     BACKGROUND 
     The present disclosure relates to a rotary cutter device that is configured to cut a sheet-shaped object that is conveyed to the rotary cutter device. 
     A rotary cutter device is known that is configured to cut a sheet-shaped object that is conveyed to the rotary cutter device. The rotary cutter device is provided with a helical rotary blade on the outer circumference of a circular cylindrical body portion. The object is cut in a straight line by the rotary blade while the object is being conveyed. 
     SUMMARY 
     In a case where the rotary cutter device cuts an adhesive tape a plurality of times in succession, adhesive from the adhesive tape accumulates on the cutting edge of the rotary blade. When the adhesive tape is cut, there is a possibility that the adhesive that has accumulated on the cutting edge will stick to the edge of the adhesive tape. This raises the possibility that the adhesive tape that is being conveyed will be dragged by the rotary blade and wound around the body portion, causing the rotary cutter device to become jammed by the adhesive tape. 
     In order to prevent this sort of jamming, it is preferable for the adhesive that has accumulated on the cutting edge of the rotary blade to be removed appropriately. Ordinarily, the adhesive that has accumulated on the cutting edge is periodically removed manually by an operator. Removing the adhesive by this sort of manual work is dangerous, because the operator touches the cutting edge directly. Every time the operator performs the work of removing the adhesive, it is necessary to stop the operation of the rotary cutter device, so there is a possibility that the work of cutting the adhesive tape will be interrupted. 
     Various exemplary embodiments of the general principles herein provide a rotary cutter device that is able to safely and precisely remove the adhesive that has accumulated on the cutting edge of the rotary blade, without interrupting the work of cutting the object. 
     The exemplary embodiments described herein provide a rotary cutter device that includes a rotary blade, a fixed blade, a control portion, and a blade member. The rotary blade is configured to be rotatable around a central axis. The rotary blade has a first cutting edge on an end of the rotary blade that is farthest from the central axis. The first cutting edge is a cutting edge that has a width that extends parallel to the central axis. The fixed blade is provided on an outer side of a trajectory that is described by the first cutting edge. The fixed blade has a second cutting edge that is a cutting edge that is opposite the trajectory. The control portion is configured to cause the rotary blade to rotate toward the fixed blade in a first direction around the central axis. The blade member is provided opposite the trajectory in a different position from the fixed blade. The blade member is a plate-shaped member that has a width that extends parallel to the central axis and has a slide portion that is configured to slide in relation to the first cutting edge of the rotating rotary blade. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure will be described below in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an oblique view of a label-making device; 
         FIG. 2  is a front view of the label-making device; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of a main unit of the label-making device, as seen from the right side; 
         FIG. 4  is an oblique view of a rotary cutter device according to a first embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is an oblique view of the rotary cutter device according to the first embodiment, as seen from another direction; 
         FIG. 6  is an oblique view of the rotary cutter device according to the first embodiment, as seen from another direction; 
         FIG. 7  is a rear view of the rotary cutter device according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is an enlarged view of a first cutting edge on which adhesive has accumulated; 
         FIG. 9  is an explanatory figure that shows a flow of an operation of cutting a tape according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 10  is an oblique view of a rotary cutter device according to a second embodiment; 
         FIG. 11  is an explanatory figure that shows a flow of an operation of cutting a tape according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 12  is a flowchart of first cleaning processing; 
         FIG. 13  is a flowchart of second cleaning processing; 
         FIG. 14  is a flowchart of third cleaning processing; and 
         FIG. 15  is a flowchart of fourth cleaning processing. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A first embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained with reference to the drawings. The present embodiment is an example of a case in which the rotary cutter device of the present disclosure is used in a label-making device. In the explanation that follows, the upper side, the lower side, the lower left side, the upper right side, the upper left side, and the lower right side in  FIG. 1  are respectively defined as the upper side, the lower side, the front side, the rear side, the left side, and the right side of a label-making device  500 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the label-making device  500  is provided with a main unit  1  and a rotary cutter device  6 . The main unit  1  is configured to print characters (text characters, numerals, symbols, graphics, and the like) on a long tape  3 A (refer to  FIG. 3 ). The rotary cutter device  6  is configured to cut the tape  3 A on which the main unit  1  has performed the printing. 
     The configuration of the main unit  1  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 1 to 3 . As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the main unit  1  has a rectangular parallelepiped shape that is long in the front-rear direction, with its upper surface rounded into an arc shape. The main unit  1  is provided with a housing  2  that covers the bottom portion of the main unit  1  and with a cover  5  that covers the top of the housing  2 . A power switch  7  and various types of input keys (not shown in the drawings) are provided on the upper surface of the front end portion of the housing  2 . The cover  5  opens and closes freely, supported by the rear edge of the main unit  1 , which extends in the left-right direction. An outlet slot  21  that is long in the left-right direction is provided between the power switch  7  and the cover  5 . After the printing, the tape  3 A (refer to  FIG. 3 ) is discharged from the outlet slot  21 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , a holder containing portion  4  that is configured to contain a tape holder  3  is provided in a space inside the housing  2 . In a side view, the holder containing portion  4  is recessed downward in a circular arc shape. In the tape holder  3 , the tape  3 A is wound into a roll shape around a core  3 B that has a substantially cylindrical shape. A holder shaft member  40  that has a substantially cylindrical shape is provided on the inner circumference side of the core  3 B. The holder shaft member  40  supports the core  3 B, around which the tape  3 A is wound, such that the core  3 B rotates around a central axis that is parallel to the left-right direction. 
     In the present embodiment, the tape  3 A is a tape for making labels and has a three-layer structure (refer to the enlarged portion in  FIG. 3 ). More specifically, the layers of the tape  3 A are a release paper  301 , an adhesive layer  302 , and a heat-sensitive paper  303 , in that order. To put another way, the release paper  301  is affixed to the back side of the heat-sensitive paper  303  through the adhesive layer  302 . In the end, peeling off the release paper  301  makes it possible for the finished label (not shown in the drawings) to be affixed to an object or the like by the adhesive layer  302 . 
     A thermal head  31  that is configured to perform the printing on the tape  3 A is provided in a fixed position in front of the holder containing portion  4  (that is, on the downstream side of the holder containing portion  4  in the direction in which the tape  3 A that is wound around the core  3 B is fed). A platen roller  26  that is configured to be rotatable by a stepping motor that is not shown in the drawings is provided above the thermal head  31 . The platen roller  26  is configured to pull out the tape  3 A that is wound around the core  3 B and is configured to feed the tape  3 A along a feed path that extends forward toward the outlet slot  21 . The thermal head  31  and the platen roller  26  are disposed opposite one another, with the feed path for the tape  3 A passing between them. Note that the broken line in  FIG. 1  (and in  FIG. 4 ) indicates the feed path for the fed tape  3 A. 
     A lever (not shown in the drawings) for moving the platen roller  26  up and down is provided to the left and in front of the holder containing portion  4 . When the cover  5  is opened, the lever is rotated upward by the energizing force of a coil spring (not shown in the drawings), causing the platen roller  26  to move upward. This separates the platen roller  26  from the thermal head  31  and the tape  3 A, so the main unit  1  is put into a state in which printing is disabled. When the cover  5  is open, the tape holder  3  can be removed from and put back into the holder containing portion  4 . In contrast, when the cover  5  is closed, the lever is pressed downward by the cover  5 , and the platen roller  26  moves downward. The platen roller  26  thus presses the tape  3 A against the thermal head  31 , so the main unit  1  is put into a state in which printing is enabled (refer to  FIG. 3 ). 
     A control board  22  is configured to operate and control the main unit  1  is provided in the space inside the housing  2 . The control board  22  is provided with a CPU, a ROM, a RAM, and the like that are not shown in the drawings. The CPU is configured to execute programs that are stored in advance in the ROM, while utilizing a temporarily storage function of the RAM. When the main unit  1  is in a state in which printing is enabled and a command is issued to start printing, the control board  22  feeds the tape  3 A by rotationally driving the platen roller  26 . In synchronization with the feeding of the tape  3 A, the control board  22 , by controlling the operation of the thermal head  31 , causes the printing to be performed on the tape  3 A that is being fed. After the printing is completed, the tape  3 A is discharged from the outlet slot  21  and is then cut by the rotary cutter device  6 , which will be described later, thus creating a label that is not shown in the drawings. The rotary cutter device  6  is also operated and controlled by the control board  22 . 
     The configuration and operation of the rotary cutter device  6  will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 4 to 7 . The rotary cutter device  6  is provided with a housing  612 , the rotating body  620 , a holding body  630 , and a blade member  700 . The rotary cutter device  6  is configured to cut the tape  3 A, which is printed by the thermal head  31 , in a straight line by the coordinated operating of a rotary blade  621  and a fixed blade  631 , which will be described later. 
     The housing  612  is provided with a first wall portion  613 , a second wall portion  614 , and a connecting portion  611 . The first wall portion  613  is a wall portion that is provided at the right end of the housing  612 , and extends obliquely upward toward the rear in the right side portion of the rotary cutter device  6 . The second wall portion  614  is a wall portion that is provided at the left end of the housing  612 , and extends obliquely upward toward the rear in the left side portion of the rotary cutter device  6 . The connecting portion  611  connects the lower portion of the first wall portion  613  and the lower portion of the second wall portion  614 . The connecting portion  611  is a wall portion that is provided in the lower portion of the housing  612 , and front and rear edges of the connecting portion  611  are bent upward and extend upward to a certain degree (refer to  FIG. 6 ). 
     Note that the housing  612  is disposed in the rotary cutter device  6  in an orientation in which the first wall portion  613  and the second wall portion  614  are tilted somewhat to the left from the vertical (refer to  FIG. 2 ). In the rotary cutter device  6  that is shown in  FIGS. 4 to 7 , the housing  612  is disposed such that the orientations of the first wall portion  613  and the second wall portion  614  are aligned to the vertical to facilitate the explanation and make the drawings easier to understand. 
     The rotating body  620  is disposed between the first wall portion  613  and the second wall portion  614 . The rotating body  620  is provided with a cam  616 , a first bracket  622 , a second bracket  623 , a rotating shaft  650 , and a rotary blade attachment portion  624 . The cam  616  is provided on the right side of the second wall portion  614 . The cam  616  surrounds the rotating shaft  650 , and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft  650 . 
     The cam  616  is a circular cylinder for which a central axis O is defined as the axis line. The central axis O extends toward upper left to a certain degree (refer to  FIG. 2 ). A notched portion  618  is provided on a portion of the outer circumferential face of the cam  616 . The notched portion  618  is an area that is notched such that the outline of the circular shape is recessed toward the inside in a side view. The area on the outer circumferential face of the cam  616  other than the notched portion  618  is a pressing face  617 . The pressing face  617  is a face for pressing, in a rearward direction, a receiving portion  644 , which will be described later. The first bracket  622  is provided on the right side of the second wall portion  614 . The second bracket  623  is provided on the left side of the first wall portion  613 . The rotating shaft  650  is provided in the housing  612 , extending such that the rotating shaft  650  connects the first bracket  622  and the second bracket  623 , and is able to rotate around the central axis O. The rotary blade attachment portion  624  is provided on the rotating shaft  650  and extends in the direction of the central axis O. The rotary blade attachment portion  624  supports the rotary blade  621 . The rotary blade  621  is configured to rotate around the central axis O in conjunction with the rotation of the rotating shaft  650 . 
     The rotary blade  621  has a plate shape that is long in the direction of the central axis O. The rotary blade  621  extends in a first direction, which is the direction away from the central axis O (the direction that is radially toward the outside). A first cutting edge  621 A is provided on the outer edge of the rotary blade  621  in the first direction that is farthest from the central axis O (that is, on the edge on the outer circumferential side of the rotating rotary blade  621 ). The first cutting edge  621 A has a width that extends parallel to the central axis O. 
     When the rotating body  620  rotates, the first cutting edge  621 A describes a rotational trajectory  80  that is centered on the central axis O (refer to  FIG. 9 ). When the rotary blade  621  cuts the tape  3 A, the first cutting edge  621 A rotates in a counterclockwise direction (a forward direction  81  that is shown in  FIG. 9 ) in a left side view. The rotary blade  621  cuts the tape  3 A against the fixed blade  631  as the first cutting edge  621 A moves from above to below in relation to a second cutting edge  631 A. It is preferable for a surface treatment (for example, fluorine coating, Tosico processing, or the like) to be carried out on at least the first cutting edge  621 A of the rotary blade  621  that increases resistance of the first cutting edge  621 A to the adhering of an adhesive  35 . In the present embodiment, the entire rotary blade  621 , including the first cutting edge  621 A, is subjected to fluorine coating. 
     The holding body  630  has a plate-shaped holding portion  632  on which the fixed blade  631  is provided. The holding portion  632  has a pair of extending portions  634  that extend downward from the left and right ends of the holding portion  632 . The holding body  630  is rotatably supported by a rocking support mechanism  635  such that the holding body  630  can rock in relation to the housing  612 . 
     The rocking support mechanism  635  is provided with a left-right pair of hinge arms  641 , a support shaft  636 , and a coil spring  637 . The left-right pair of the hinge arms  641  rise upward from the connecting portion  611  and have holes that pass through the hinge arms  641  in the left-right direction. The support shaft  636  is inserted into the holes in the pair of the hinge arms  641  such that the support shaft  636  rotates freely. The lower ends of the pair of the extending portions  634  are affixed to opposite ends of the support shaft  636 . That is, the holding portion  632  is rotatably supported by the pair of the extending portions  634  such that the holding portion  632  can rock in relation to the housing  612 . 
     The coil spring  637  is wound around the left end of the support shaft  636 . One end (the rear end) of the coil spring  637  is affixed to a wall portion of the rear edge of the connecting portion  611 . The other end (the upper end) of the coil spring  637  is in contact with the rear portion of the holding portion  632 . The coil spring  637  energizes the holding portion  632  toward the front (in other words, in the direction toward the rotating body  620 ). 
     When the rotating body  620  rotates, before the first cutting edge  621 A reaches the position where the first cutting edge  621 A is opposite the second cutting edge  631 A, the pressing face  617  of the cam  616  comes into contact with the receiving portion  644  of the fixed blade  631  and presses the receiving portion  644  in the direction that separates the receiving portion  644  from the rotational trajectory  80 . The second cutting edge  631 A moves away from the rotational trajectory  80  to a certain degree. When the rotating body  620  rotates farther, the notched portion  618  of the cam  616  reaches the position where the notched portion  618  is opposite the receiving portion  644 , and the second cutting edge  631 A is moved toward the rotational trajectory  80  by the energizing force of the coil spring  637 . As the second cutting edge  631 A is energized toward the rotational trajectory  80 , the tape  3 A is cut by the first cutting edge  621 A and the second cutting edge  631 A. 
     The fixed blade  631  is affixed by screws  633  to the rear face of the holding portion  632 . The fixed blade  631  projects upward higher than the upper edge of the holding portion  632 . The fixed blade  631  is provided on an outer side of the rotational trajectory  80  that is described by the first cutting edge  621 A of the rotary blade  621  (refer to  FIG. 9 ). The upwardly extending receiving portion  644  is provided on the upper left edge of the fixed blade  631 . The receiving portion  644  is a component that is pressed toward the rear by the pressing face  617  of the cam  616 . The second cutting edge  631 A is provided on the upper edge of the fixed blade  631  to the right of the receiving portion  644 . The second cutting edge  631 A has a width that extends in the left-right direction and is positioned facing the rotational trajectory  80 . The second cutting edge  631 A cuts the tape  3 A against the first cutting edge  621 A of the rotary blade  621 . The line along which the first cutting edge  621 A extends (the direction of the central axis O) is inclined in relation to the line along which the second cutting edge  631 A extends. 
     Therefore, when the rotating body  620  rotates and the tape  3 A is cut, the rotary blade  621  and the fixed blade  631  cut the tape  3 A with a scissoring action, such that the first cutting edge  621 A and the second cutting edge  631 A slide along one another in a straight line from the left edge to the right edge of the tape  3 A. As stated above, the direction in which the first cutting edge  621 A extends is inclined in relation to the direction in which the second cutting edge  631 A extends. A shear angle is formed by the first cutting edge  621 A and the second cutting edge  631 A, so the tape  3 A can be cut with a comparatively low shear force. 
     The blade member  700  is provided in a position that is opposite the rotational trajectory  80  and is different from the position of the fixed blade  631 . In the present embodiment, the blade member  700  is disposed above the rotating body  620 . The blade member  700  is provided with a cleaning body  701 , a front-side holding body  702 , a rear-side holding body  703 , and a pair of support shafts  704 . 
     The cleaning body  701  is an elastic member with a laterally long plate shape, having a width that extends parallel to the central axis O and being disposed approximately vertically in a side view. The thickness of the cleaning body  701  (that is, its width in the front-rear direction) decreases gradually from top to bottom, such that the thickness is the smallest at the lower edge. In a side view, the lower edge of the cleaning body  701  is positioned slightly below the contour line of the upper edge of the rotational trajectory  80 , the contour line extending in the direction of the central axis O. The length of the front-side holding body  702  in the direction of the central axis O is almost the same as the width of the first cutting edge  621 A. 
     It is good for the edge of the cleaning body  701  that slides along the first cutting edge  621 A to be an elastic body. Examples of the material for the cleaning body  701  include nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR), silicone rubber, and the like. In the present embodiment, the entire cleaning body  701  is formed from NBR. Among the surfaces of the cleaning body  701 , the surfaces that are close to the lower edge that is opposite the rotational trajectory  80  would preferably be subjected to a surface treatment (for example, halogen processing or the like) that improves their surface activity. In the present embodiment, halogen processing is carried out on the entire surface of the cleaning body  701 . 
     The cleaning body  701  is fixed in place by being clamped between the front-side holding body  702  and the rear-side holding body  703 . The front-side holding body  702  and the rear-side holding body  703  are plate-shaped bodies that extend in the direction of the central axis O and are positioned opposite one another in the front-rear direction. When the front-side holding body  702  and the rear-side holding body  703  are assembled together, they form a case body that holds the cleaning body  701 . The lower portion of the cleaning body  701  extends downward from the case body that is formed by the front-side holding body  702  and the rear-side holding body  703 . The pair of the support shafts  704 , which respectively extend to the left and to the right, are provided on opposite ends of the front-side holding body  702 . The support shafts  704  are fixed in place by being joined to the first wall portion  613  and the second wall portion  614 , respectively. 
     A transmission mechanism for the driving force that rotates the rotary blade  621  will be explained. A motor  638  that is configured to drive the rotating body  620  is provided in the lower portion of the housing  612  on the second wall portion  614  side. A drive shaft  651  of the motor  638  passes through the second wall portion  614  and protrudes toward the left. The rotating shaft  650  of the rotating body  620  also passes through the second wall portion  614  and protrudes toward the left. A drive transmission mechanism  639  is provided on the left face of the second wall portion  614  (refer to  FIG. 6 ). The drive transmission mechanism  639  is a gear train that is capable of operationally linking the drive shaft  651  and the rotating shaft  650 . When the tape  3 A is cut, the motor  638  rotates the rotating body  620  in the forward direction  81  (refer to  FIG. 9 ) through the drive transmission mechanism  639 . The tape  3 A that has been inserted between the rotating body  620  and the holding body  630  is thus cut in a moving state. 
     In the rotary cutter device  6 , when the cutting of the tape  3 A is performed, the adhesive  35  in the adhesive layer  302  of the tape  3 A adheres to the first cutting edge  621 A. The face of the first cutting edge  621 A that is on the upstream side in relation to the forward direction  81  (refer to  FIG. 9 ) is inclined such that the rotary blade  621  becomes narrower toward the first cutting edge  621 A. The adhesive  35  particularly tends to adhere to the upstream face of the first cutting edge  621 A. When the cutting of the tape  3 A is continued, the adhesive  35  accumulates on the upstream face of the first cutting edge  621 A, as shown in  FIG. 8 . This creates the possibility that the tape  3 A that has been cut will stick to the adhesive  35  that has accumulated on the first cutting edge  621 A. In the present embodiment, the blade member  700  is provided such that the adhesive  35  does not accumulate on the first cutting edge  621 A. 
     The operation of cutting the tape  3 A in the first embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 9 . As explained previously, when the tape  3 A is cut, the rotary blade  621  rotates in the forward direction  81 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , when the rotary blade  621  rotates to the cutting position where the rotary blade  621  is opposite the fixed blade  631 , the tape  3 A is pinched between the first cutting edge  621 A and the second cutting edge  631 A and is cut. At this time, the adhesive  35  sometimes adheres to the upstream face of the first cutting edge  621 A. 
     When the rotary blade  621  rotates beyond the cutting position, the rotary blade  621  arrives at a cleaning position, where the rotary blade  621  is opposite the blade member  700 . The first cutting edge  621 A touches the cleaning body  701 , and as the cleaning body  701  elastically deforms, the cleaning body  701  slides along the upstream face of the first cutting edge  621 A, which is moving along the rotational trajectory  80 . At this time, when the adhesive  35  has adhered to the first cutting edge  621 A, the adhesive  35  is removed by the cleaning body  701 . 
     As explained above, in the rotary cutter device  6  according to the first embodiment, the rotary blade  621  is configured to rotate around the central axis O, and the fixed blade  631  is configured to be opposite the rotational trajectory  80 . The tape  3 A, which is a sheet-shaped object, is cut between the first cutting edge  621 A and the second cutting edge  631 A by the rotating of the rotary blade  621  around the central axis O. The blade member  700 , which is configured to slide along the first cutting edge  621 A, is provided in a position that is opposite the rotational trajectory  80  and is different from the position of the fixed blade  631 . 
     Thus, in conjunction with the rotation of the rotary blade  621 , the adhesive  35  that has adhered to the first cutting edge  621 A can be removed by the blade member  700  that slides along the first cutting edge  621 A. The adhesive  35  that has accumulated on the first cutting edge  621 A of the rotary blade  621  can be removed safely and precisely without interrupting the work of cutting the tape  3 A. 
     A second embodiment of the present disclosure will be explained. Hereinafter, the same reference numerals will be assigned to and explanations will be omitted for structures that are the same as those in the first embodiment, and only those points that are different from the first embodiment will be explained. 
     The rotary cutter device  6  according to the second embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 10 . In the rotary cutter device  6  of the second embodiment, a blade member  800  is provided in a position that is opposite the rotational trajectory  80  and is different from the position of the fixed blade  631 , in the same manner as the blade member  700  of the first embodiment. In the present embodiment, the blade member  800  is disposed above the rotating body  620 . The blade member  800  is provided with a cleaning body  801 , an upper-side holding body  802 , a lower-side holding body  803 , a pair of support shafts  804 , and a plate drive mechanism  805 . 
     In the same manner as the cleaning body  701 , the cleaning body  801  is an elastic member with a laterally long plate shape, having a width that extends parallel to the central axis O. The length of the cleaning body  801  in the direction of the central axis O is almost the same as the width of the first cutting edge  621 A. Unlike the cleaning body  701 , the cleaning body  801  is disposed approximately horizontally in a side view. The thickness of the cleaning body  801  (that is, its width in the up-down direction) decreases gradually from the front toward the rear, such that the thickness is the smallest at the rear edge. The rear edge of the cleaning body  801  extends such that the rear edge of the cleaning body  801  is approximately congruent with the central axis O in a plan view. The same sort of material is used for the cleaning body  801  as for the cleaning body  701  of the first embodiment, and the same sort of surface treatment is applied. 
     The cleaning body  801  is fixed in place by being clamped between the upper-side holding body  802  and the lower-side holding body  803 . The upper-side holding body  802  and the lower-side holding body  803  are plate-shaped bodies that extend in the direction of the central axis O and are positioned opposite one another in the up-down direction. When the upper-side holding body  802  and the lower-side holding body  803  are assembled together, they form a case body that holds the cleaning body  801 . The rear portion of the cleaning body  801  extends rearward from the case body that is formed by the upper-side holding body  802  and the lower-side holding body  803 . The pair of the support shafts  804 , which respectively extend to the left and to the right, are provided on opposite ends of the upper-side holding body  802 . The support shafts  804  are supported by the first wall portion  613  and the second wall portion  614 , respectively, such that the support shafts  804  rotate freely. Therefore, the blade member  800  is configured to swing with the pair of the support shafts  804  serving as a pivot points. 
     The support shaft  804  that is supported by the first wall portion  613  is connected to the plate drive mechanism  805 . A projecting piece (not shown in the drawings) that extends toward the front from the left end of the support shaft  804  is disposed in the interior of the plate drive mechanism  805 . The plate drive mechanism  805  is provided with a support plate (not shown in the drawings) and a solenoid (not shown in the drawings). The support plate is configured to hold the cleaning body  801  in a horizontal state by supporting the projecting piece of the support shaft  804  from below. The solenoid is configured to press on the projecting piece of the support shaft  804  from below. 
     When the solenoid (not shown in the drawings) is on, the blade member  800  rotates of its own weight in a counterclockwise direction in a left side view. The cleaning body  801  is held in a horizontal state in a proximate position by the support plate (not shown in the drawings) that supports the projecting piece of the support shaft  804  from below. In a side view, the bottom face of the rear portion of the cleaning body  801  that is in the proximate position touches the contour line of the upper edge of the rotational trajectory  80 , the contour line extending in the direction of the central axis O. 
     When the solenoid (not shown in the drawings) is off, the projecting piece of the support shaft  804  is pressed from below, and the blade member  800  rotates clockwise in a left side view. The cleaning body  801  is held in a distant position by the solenoid (not shown in the drawings) that presses on the projecting piece of the support shaft  804  from below, the cleaning body  801  being held in a state in which the cleaning body  801  is inclined at a specified angle (30 degrees, for example) from the horizontal state. In a side view, the bottom face of the rear portion of the cleaning body  801  that is in the distant position is positioned slightly above the contour line of the upper edge of the rotational trajectory  80 . That is, the cleaning body  801  of the blade member  800  is configured to swing between the proximate position and the distant position. 
     The operation of cutting the tape  3 A in the second embodiment will be explained with reference to  FIG. 11 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , when the tape  3 A is cut, the rotary blade  621  rotates in the forward direction  81 . When the rotary blade  621  rotates in the forward direction  81 , the solenoid (not shown in the drawings) is set to off, and the cleaning body  801  is held in the distant position. When the rotary blade  621  rotates to the cutting position where the rotary blade  621  is opposite the fixed blade  631 , the tape  3 A is pinched between the first cutting edge  621 A and the second cutting edge  631 A and is cut. When the rotary blade  621  rotates to the cleaning position where the rotary blade  621  is opposite the blade member  800 , the first cutting edge  621 A passes directly below the cleaning body  801  without touching the cleaning body  801 . 
     [ 0063 ]When the operation of cleaning the first cutting edge  621 A is performed, the rotary blade  621  rotates in the clockwise direction (a reverse direction  82 ) in a left side view. When the rotary blade  621  rotates in the reverse direction  82 , the solenoid (not shown in the drawings) is set to on, and the cleaning body  801  is held in the proximate position. In this case, when the rotary blade  621  rotates to the cleaning position where the rotary blade  621  is opposite the blade member  800 , the first cutting edge  621 A touches the cleaning body  801 . As the cleaning body  801  elastically deforms, the cleaning body  801  slides along the upstream face of the first cutting edge  621 A, which is moving along the rotational trajectory  80 . At this time, when the adhesive  35  has adhered to the first cutting edge  621 A, the adhesive  35  is removed by the cleaning body  801 . 
     As described previously, the face of the first cutting edge  621 A that is on the upstream side in relation to the forward direction  81  is inclined such that the rotary blade  621  becomes narrower toward the first cutting edge  621 A. In contrast, when the cleaning body  801  is positioned in the proximate position, the bottom face of its rear portion is inclined downward from the rear toward the front. Therefore, the angle that is formed between the upstream face of the first cutting edge  621 A and the bottom face of the rear portion of the cleaning body  801  is small, making it easier for the upstream face of the first cutting edge  621 A to slide along the bottom face of the rear portion of the cleaning body  801 . Accordingly, the adhesive  35  can be removed from the first cutting edge  621 A as the rotary blade  621  is rotated smoothly. 
     Various types of patterns can be used for the timing at which the cleaning operation that is described above is performed. Processing patterns for performing the cleaning operation that is described above at preferred times will be explained with reference to  FIGS. 12 to 15  as examples of the processing that the control board  22  performs. Note that each of the cleaning processing routines that are hereinafter used as examples is performed by the CPU of the control board  22 . 
     In first cleaning processing that is shown in  FIG. 12 , a determination is made as to whether or not a label creation command has been issued (Step S 1 ). For example, if a user has issued a printing start command from an operation portion that is not shown in the drawings, a determination is made that the label creation command has been issued. In a case where the label creation command has not been issued (NO at Step S 1 ), the processing returns to Step S 1 . In a case where the label creation command has been issued (YES at Step S 1 ), the previously described label creation operation is performed. At this time, the operation of the rotary cutter device  6  is controlled as hereinafter described. 
     First, the rotary blade  621  is rotated in the forward direction  81  (Step S 3 ). At this time, the solenoid (not shown in the drawings) is set to off, as described previously, and the cleaning body  801  is held in the distant position. Thus the cleaning body  801  does not interfere with the rotary blade  621 , and the printed tape  3 A is cut in synchronization with the printing operation of the main unit  1 . Next, a determination is made as to whether or not a designated number of cuts have been made (Step S 5 ). The CPU of the control board  22  counts, as the number of cuts of tape  3 A, the number of times that the rotary blade  621  has made one full revolution (that is, the number of times that the rotary blade  621  has passed by the cutting position) since the start of the label creation operation. In a case where the counted number of cuts has reached a number of labels to be created that the user designated when the printing operation started, a determination is made that the designated number of cuts have been made. In a case where the designated number of cuts have not been made (NO at Step S 5 ), the processing returns to Step S 3 . 
     In a case where the designated number of cuts have been made (YES at Step S 5 ), the rotation of the rotary blade  621  is stopped (Step S 7 ) so that the label creation operation will be terminated. Next, the rotary blade  621  is rotated in the reverse direction  82  (Step S 9 ). At this time, the solenoid (not shown in the drawings) is set to on, as described previously, and the cleaning body  801  is held in the proximate position. The adhesive  35  that has adhered to the first cutting edge  621 A is thus removed by the cleaning body  801 . When the rotary blade  621  has passed by the cleaning position a specified number of times (for example, five times), the rotation of the rotary blade  621  is stopped (Step S 11 ), and the processing returns to Step S 1 . 
     According to the first cleaning processing, the operation of cleaning the first cutting edge  621 A is performed every time the label creation operation is terminated. Therefore, when the next label creation operation is performed, the label creation operation can be started in a state in which none of the adhesive  35  is adhering to the first cutting edge  621 A. 
     In second cleaning processing that is shown in  FIG. 13 , first, a determination is made as to whether or not a cleaning command has been issued (Step S 21 ). For example, if the user has issued a cleaning start command from the operation portion that is not shown in the drawings, a determination is made that the cleaning command has been issued. In a case where the cleaning command has not been issued (NO at Step S 21 ), the processing returns to Step S 21 . In a case where the cleaning command has been issued (YES at Step S 21 ), the rotary blade  621  is rotated in the reverse direction  82  (Step S 23 ), in the same manner as at Step S 9 . Thereafter, the rotation of the rotary blade  621  is stopped (Step S 25 ), and the processing returns to Step S 21 . 
     According to the second cleaning processing, the operation of cleaning the first cutting edge  621 A is performed every time the user issues the cleaning start command. Therefore, the adhesive  35  can be removed from the first cutting edge  621 A at a time of the user&#39;s choosing. 
     In third cleaning processing that is shown in  FIG. 14 , first, a determination is made as to whether or not the label creation command has been issued (Step S 41 ), in the same manner as at Step S 1 . In a case where the label creation command has not been issued (NO at Step S 41 ), the processing returns to Step S 41 . In a case where the label creation command has been issued (YES at Step S 41 ), the rotary blade  621  is rotated in the forward direction  81  (Step S 43 ) in the same manner as at Step S 3 , and the printed tape  3 A is cut. Next, a determination is made as to whether or not a prescribed number of cuts have been made (Step S 45 ). In a case where the counted number of cuts has reached a prescribed number (for example, 100) that has been set in advance, a determination is made that the prescribed number of cuts have been made. 
     In a case where the prescribed number of cuts have been made (YES at Step S 45 ), the rotation of the rotary blade  621  is stopped (Step S 47 ). Then the rotary blade  621  is rotated in the reverse direction  82  (Step S 49 ), in the same manner as at Step S 9 . At this time, the CPU of the control board  22  interrupts the label creation operation. After Step S 49  has been performed, as well as in a case where the prescribed number of cuts have not been made (NO at Step S 45 ), a determination is made as to whether or not the designated number of cuts have been made (Step S 51 ), in the same manner as at Step S 5 . In a case where the designated number of cuts have not been made (NO at Step S 51 ), the rotation of the rotary blade  621  is stopped (Step S 53 ), the processing returns to Step S 43 , and the label creation operation is restarted. In a case where the designated number of cuts have been made (YES at Step S 51 ), the rotation of the rotary blade  621  is stopped (Step S 55 ), and the processing returns to Step S 41 . 
     According to the third cleaning processing, the operation of cleaning the first cutting edge  621 A is performed every time the tape  3 A has been cut the prescribed number of times during the performing of the label creation operation. It is therefore possible to prevent the occurrence of an error that is caused by the adhesive  35  that has accumulated on the first cutting edge  621 A during the performing of the label creation operation (for example, clinging of the tape  3 A to the first cutting edge  621 A after the tape  3 A is cut). 
     In fourth cleaning processing that is shown in  FIG. 15 , first, a determination is made as to whether or not a prescribed date and time has arrived (Step S 61 ). The CPU of the control board  22  uses a built-in timer to track the current date and time. In a case where the current date and time has reached a predetermined date and time (for example, Jan. 10, 2013, 8:00 a.m.), a determination is made that the prescribed date and time has arrived. In a case where the prescribed date and time has not arrived (NO at Step S 61 ), the processing returns to Step  61 . In a case where the prescribed date and time has arrived (YES at Step S 61 ), the rotary blade  621  is rotated in the reverse direction  82  (Step S 63 ), in the same manner as at Step S 9 . Thereafter, the rotation of the rotary blade  621  is stopped (Step S 65 ), and the processing returns to Step S 61 . 
     According to the fourth cleaning processing, the operation of cleaning the first cutting edge  621 A is performed every time the current date and time reaches the prescribed date and time. The adhesive  35  can be removed from the first cutting edge  621 A at a prescribed date and time that the user has freely chosen (for example, before work starts, after work is over, or the like). Note that at Step S 61 , a determination may instead be made as to whether or not the time that has elapsed since a specified time (for example, the time when the preceding round of the label creation operation was terminated) has reached a prescribed time. 
     As explained above, in the rotary cutter device  6  according to the second embodiment, the adhesive  35  that has accumulated on the first cutting edge  621 A of the rotary blade  621  can be removed safely and precisely without interrupting the work of cutting the tape  3 A, in the same manner as in the first embodiment. Furthermore the blade member  800  is configured to move between the proximate position, where it touches the first cutting edge  621 A of the rotating rotary blade  621 , and the distant position, where it is separated from the first cutting edge  621 A of the rotating rotary blade  621 . It is therefore possible to cause the blade member  800  to remove the adhesive  35  from the first cutting edge  621 A and to retract the blade member  800  such that it does not interfere with the rotation of the rotary blade  621 . 
     When the rotary blade  621  is rotated in the forward direction  81 , the plate drive mechanism  805  moves the blade member  800  to the distant position. When the rotary blade  621  is rotated in the reverse direction  82 , the plate drive mechanism  805  moves the blade member  800  to the proximate position. Therefore, at the time when the tape  3 A is cut, the blade member  800  is retracted, and the rotary blade  621  is able to rotate smoothly. During the operation of cleaning the first cutting edge  621 A, the blade member  800  can reliably be made to touch the first cutting edge  621 A. 
     The present disclosure is not limited to the embodiments that have been described above, and various types of modifications can be made. For example, the rotary cutter device  6  is not limited to being provided outside the main unit  1 . The rotary cutter device  6  may also be built into the main unit  1 . 
     The position of the blade member  700  is not limited to being above the rotating body  620 , and the blade member  700  may also be any position that is opposite the rotational trajectory  80  in a different position from the fixed blade  631 . For example, the blade member  700  may also be provided below or to the side of the rotating body  620 . The number, the size, the shape, and the like of the blade member  700  can be modified as desired, and a plurality of the blade members  700  may also be provided in a single one of the rotary cutter device  6 . The same sorts of modifications may also be made for the blade member  800 . 
     The plate drive mechanism  805  is not limited to being a mechanism that has the support plate and the solenoid that are not shown in the drawings, and the plate drive mechanism  805  needs only be able to control the movement of the blade member  800  between the proximate position and the distant position. For example, the plate drive mechanism  805  may also control the position of the blade member  800  by using a motor that rotates the support shafts  804 . 
     The apparatus and methods described above with reference to the various embodiments are merely examples. It goes without saying that they are not confined to the depicted embodiments. While various features have been described in conjunction with the examples outlined above, various alternatives, modifications, variations, and/or improvements of those features and/or examples may be possible. Accordingly, the examples, as set forth above, are intended to be illustrative. Various changes may be made without departing from the broad spirit and scope of the underlying principles.