Patent ID: 12194738

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

An embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to theFIG.1toFIG.4. In the embodiment and modification examples described below, corresponding configurations are denoted by the same reference symbols, and description thereof is omitted in some cases. In the following description, expressions such as “parallel”, “orthogonal”, “center”, and “coaxial”, which express relative or absolute arrangement, not only represent such arrangement in the strict sense of the word, but also represent a relatively displaced state with an angle or a distance that falls within tolerance or achieves the same function.

[Thermal Printer1]

FIG.1is a perspective view for illustrating a thermal printer1. Further,FIG.2is a side sectional view for illustrating an internal configuration of the thermal printer1taken along the line A-A ofFIG.1. As illustrated inFIG.1orFIG.2, the thermal printer1includes a casing2, a printing unit3, a cutter unit4, and a linerless label L. The thermal printer1is placed on a placement surface G. In the following description of the casing2and the printing unit3, a direction perpendicular to the placement surface G is referred to as an up-and-down direction (the arrow “UP” indicates an upper side), and two directions orthogonal to the up-and-down direction are referred to as a front-and-rear direction (the arrow “FR” indicates a front side) and a right-and-left direction (the arrow “LH” indicates a left side).

[Casing2]

The casing2is formed into a box shape. Specifically, the casing2includes a housing20and an upper cover21.

The housing20is formed into a box shape having an upper-end opening portion20aformed in an upper part thereof, and is placed on the placement surface G. The housing20has such a size as to be capable of accommodating therein a platen roller30of the printing unit3described later, the cutter unit4, and the linerless label L.

The upper cover21opens and closes the upper-end opening portion20aof the housing20. Specifically, the upper cover21is formed into a box shape opened downward, and has the same shape as that of the housing20in plan view. In a closing position, the upper cover21is superposed on the housing20from above, and closes the upper-end opening portion20aof the housing20. Further, in this state, a delivery slot23is defined between the housing20and the upper cover21. The delivery slot23allows communication between an inside and an outside of the casing2, and has a slit shape extending in the right-and-left direction. Through the delivery slot23, the linerless label L having been subjected to printing by the printing unit3is delivered toward a front side of the thermal printer. Meanwhile, in an opening position, the upper cover21retreats from an upper side of the housing20, and opens the upper-end opening portion20aof the housing20.

[Printing Unit3]

As illustrated inFIG.2, the printing unit3includes the platen roller30and a thermal head31.

The platen roller30is a rubber roller extending in the right-and-left direction. The platen roller30is provided at a front end portion (portion located closer to the delivery slot23) inside the housing20. The platen roller30is rotatable about an axis O1extending along the right-and-left direction, and is rotated in accordance with a driving force of a driving motor (not shown) during conveyance of the linerless label L.

The thermal head31is provided at a portion located closer to the delivery slot23inside the upper cover21. The thermal head31includes a plurality of heating elements linearly arrayed along the right-and-left direction. The thermal head31is fixed to a front end portion of the upper cover21under a state in which the heating elements face downward.

The platen roller30and the thermal head31are opposed to each other in the up-and-down direction through intermediation of the linerless label L. When the upper cover21is in the closing position, the thermal head31is held in close contact with the platen roller30. The linerless label L is caused to pass between the platen roller30and the thermal head31along with rotation of the platen roller30. A heating pattern of the heating elements of the thermal head31is controlled based on a signal output from a control board (not shown). Transfer of heat from the heating elements to a print surface L1of the linerless label L allows information (such as characters and figures) associated with the heating pattern to e printed on the print surface L1.

[Cutter Unit4]

As illustrated inFIG.2, the cutter unit4includes a fixed blade100, a movable blade200, and a moving mechanism (not shown). The cutter unit4causes the movable blade200to reciprocate with respect to the linerless label L with the moving mechanism (not shown), and sandwiches the linerless label L between the movable blade200and the fixed blade100, to thereby form a cut in the linerless label L.

In the following description of the cutter unit4and the linerless label L, a direction of conveying the linerless label L is referred to as a conveying direction A. In the conveying direction A, a side to which the linerless label L is conveyed is referred to as a conveyance destination side (downstream side) A1, and a side opposite to the conveyance destination side A1is referred to as a conveyance origin side (upstream side) A2. Further, a direction in which the movable blade200advances so that the fixed blade100and the movable blade200cut the linerless label L is referred to as an advancing direction B. The advancing direction B is orthogonal to the conveying direction A. In the advancing direction B, a side to which the movable blade200is separated away from the fixed blade100is referred to as a separation side B1, and a side to which the movable blade200is brought close to the fixed blade100so as to form a cut in the linerless label L is referred to as a cutting side B2. Moreover, a sheet width direction of the linerless label L orthogonal to the conveying direction A and the advancing direction B is referred to as a width direction C.

In this embodiment, the conveying direction A substantially matches the front-and-rear direction. The advancing direction B substantially matches the up-and-down direction. Further, the width direction C substantially matches the right-and-left direction. However, it is not always required that the conveying direction A match the front-and-rear direction. It is not always required that the advancing direction B match the up-and-down direction. Further, it is not always required that the width direction C match the right-and-left direction.

The fixed blade100is arranged between the platen roller30and the delivery slot23in the housing20and on a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface L2side of the linerless label L being a back surface of the linerless label L. The fixed blade100is formed into a plate-like shape extending in the width direction C. The fixed blade100is fixed through predetermined means by a support portion (not shown) provided in the housing20. Further, the fixed blade100includes a second blade edge110and a fixed-blade back concave surface120.

The second blade edge110is a blade edge of the fixed blade100provided on the separation side B1in the advancing direction B. The fixed-blade back concave surface120is a flat surface provided on the conveyance destination side A1in the conveying direction A, and is a surface that is opposed to the movable blade200in the conveying direction A when the fixed blade100and the movable blade200cut the linerless label L.

As illustrated inFIG.2andFIG.3, the movable blade200is arranged between the thermal head31and the delivery slot23in the upper cover21and on the print surface L1side being a front surface of the linerless label L. The movable blade200is formed into a plate-like shape extending in the width direction C. Further, the movable blade200is fixed through predetermined means by a support portion (not shown) provided in the housing20. Moreover, the movable blade200reciprocates in the advancing direction B by the moving mechanism (not shown). As illustrated inFIG.3, the movable blade200includes a first blade edge210, a movable-blade back concave surface220, and adhesive trap grooves300(grooves).

The moving mechanism (not shown) supports the movable blade200, and reciprocates the movable blade200between a first position P1and a second position P2. The first position P1is a position of the first blade edge210of the movable blade200when the movable blade200is separated from the fixed blade100the farthest to the separation side B1in the advancing direction B. The second position P2is a position of the first blade edge210of the movable blade200when the movable blade200is moved to the cutting side B2in the advancing direction B. In the cutter unit4, when the first blade edge210of the movable blade200is at the second position P2, the fixed blade100and the movable blade200overlap each other when seen from the conveying direction A (seeFIG.5). A region over the movable-blade back concave surface220of the movable blade200, which is sandwiched by the first blade edge210of the movable blade200at the second position P2and the second blade edge110of the fixed blade100in the advancing direction B, is referred to as a “region T”.

The first blade edge210is a blade edge of the movable blade200that forms a cut in the linerless label L. The first blade edge210is provided on the cutting side B2of the movable blade200in the advancing direction B. The cutter unit4causes the moving mechanism (not shown) to move the movable blade200to the second position P2side and slide the movable blade200while superposing the movable blade200on the fixed blade100, thereby cutting the linerless label L between the first blade edge210and the second blade edge110.

Moreover, as illustrated inFIG.3, the first blade edge210of the movable blade200is formed into a V shape extending to the separation side B1(toward a first direction) in the advancing direction B as extending from each end portion in the width direction C toward a center portion211of the first blade edge210. In the center portion211of the first blade edge210of the movable blade200in the width direction C, a recessed portion212is formed to be recessed from the first blade edge210to the separation side B1(toward the first direction). A bottom of the recessed portion212is configured so as to be prevented from coming into contact with the linerless label L when the cutter unit4cuts the linerless label L. With this configuration, when the cutter unit4cuts the linerless label L, an uncut portion is left at a portion of the linerless label L opposed to the recessed portion212(so-called partial cutting). In this embodiment, description is made of a configuration in which one recessed portion212is formed, and thus one uncut portion is left (one portion is uncut), but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a plurality of recessed portions212may be formed, and thus a plurality of uncut portions may be left (a plurality of portions are uncut). The recessed portion212is not an essential component.

The movable-blade back concave surface220is a surface arranged on the conveyance origin side A2of the movable blade200in the conveying direction A so as to be opposed to the fixed blade100. Further, a sliding surface230is formed in a part of the movable-blade back concave surface220. Here, an axis on the movable-blade back concave surface220, which passes the center portion211of the first blade edge210and is parallel to the advancing direction B, is referred to as a center axis O2. Moreover, a surface on a first end side C1in the width direction C with respect to the center axis O2of the movable-blade back concave surface220is referred to as a first surface221. Further, a surface on a second end side C2with respect to the center axis O2of the movable-blade back concave surface220is referred to as a second surface222. It is not always required that the center axis O2be an axis that passes the center portion211. It is only required that the center axis O2be a symmetry axis about which the adhesive trap grooves300in the first surface221and the adhesive trap grooves300in the second surface222to be described later are arranged in a line-symmetrical manner.

The sliding surface230is a part of the movable-blade back concave surface220that overlaps the region T when seen from the conveying direction A.

The adhesive trap grooves300are each an oval-shaped groove that does not pass through a surface of the movable blade200(not shown) opposite to the movable-blade back concave surface, and are formed in the movable-blade back concave surface220. Each of the adhesive trap grooves300includes a groove opening portion310in the movable-blade back concave surface220, and includes an edge portion320along a rim thereof. A depth of each of the adhesive trap grooves300can be set as appropriate within a range in which the adhesive trap groove300does not pass through the surface opposite to the movable-blade back concave surface. Further, it is desired that each of the adhesive trap grooves300have a size large enough to accumulate an adhesive mass SA to be described later until the thermal printer1reaches the end of its lifetime.

As illustrated inFIG.3, the edge portion320is a rim of the adhesive trap groove300. The edge portion320includes an adhesive blocking edge portion321and an adhesive scraping edge portion322.

The adhesive blocking edge portion321is an edge of the adhesive trap groove300formed along the advancing direction B. The adhesive blocking edge portion321includes an edge extending in a direction parallel to the advancing direction B, and an edge that does not extend in parallel to the advancing direction B but extends so as to cross the advancing direction B at a crossing angle of about 45 degrees or less. Further, the adhesive blocking edge portion321includes a first adhesive blocking edge portion321aand a second adhesive blocking edge portion321b.

The first adhesive blocking edge portion321ais an edge having the groove opening portion310on each end portion side of the movable blade200, and restrains the adhesive mass SA to be described later from moving to the center axis O2side.

The second adhesive blocking edge portion321bis an edge having the groove opening portion310on the center axis O2side, and restrains the adhesive mass SA from moving from the center axis O2to each end portion side of the movable blade200in the width direction C.

The first adhesive blocking edge portion321ais formed on the first surface221on the first end side C1of the movable blade200with respect to the center axis O2. The first adhesive blocking edge portion321ais formed on the sliding surface230, and thus can restrain the adhesive mass SA from moving to the center axis O2side owing to operations of the cutter unit4of the thermal printer1to be described later. It is only required that at least one first adhesive blocking edge portion321abe formed on the sliding surface230. Further, the adhesive blocking edge portion321can be set as appropriate in accordance with a shape of the blade edge and a movement location of the adhesive mass SA. Further, the adhesive trap groove300may include a plurality of adhesive blocking edge portions321.

The adhesive scraping edge portion322is an edge that crosses the advancing direction B and is formed in the adhesive trap groove300. The adhesive scraping edge portion322includes an edge extending in a direction parallel to the width direction C, and an edge that does not extend in parallel to the width direction C but extends so as to cross the width direction C at a crossing angle of about 45 degrees or less. Further, the adhesive scraping edge portion322includes a first adhesive scraping edge portion322aand a second adhesive scraping edge portion322b.

The first adhesive scraping edge portion322ais an edge having the groove opening portion310on the cutting side B2in the advancing direction B, and has a function of scraping an adhesive S adhering to the movable blade200when the movable blade200is moved from the second position P2to the first position P1.

The second adhesive scraping edge portion322bis an edge having the groove opening portion310on the separation side B1in the advancing direction B, and has a function of scraping the adhesive S adhering to the movable blade200when the movable blade200is moved from the first position P1to the second position P2. On the first surface221, at least one first adhesive scraping edge portion322ais formed on the sliding surface230. The adhesive trap groove300may include a plurality of adhesive scraping edge portions322.

The adhesive trap groove300includes one first adhesive blocking edge portion321a, one second adhesive blocking edge portion321b, one first adhesive scraping edge portion322a, and one second adhesive scraping edge portion322b. The first adhesive blocking edge portion321a, the second adhesive blocking edge portion321b, the first adhesive scraping edge portion322a, and the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bare coupled to each other. Three adhesive trap grooves300having substantially the same size are formed in the first surface221. In the following description, the three adhesive trap grooves300are distinguished as a first adhesive trap groove300a, a second adhesive trap groove300b, and a third adhesive trap groove300c. The adhesive trap grooves300formed in the second surface222, which is symmetrical to the first surface221about the center axis O2, are arranged so as to be line-symmetrical about the center axis O2to the adhesive trap grooves300formed in the first surface221, and hence description thereof is omitted.

In the first surface221, the first adhesive trap groove300ais formed on the center axis O2side. The third adhesive trap groove300cis formed on the first end side C1of the first surface221of the movable blade200. The second adhesive trap groove300bis formed between the first adhesive trap groove300aand the third adhesive trap groove300c. In the first surface221, the adhesive trap grooves300are arrayed at equal intervals in the width direction C. With regard to the first adhesive trap groove300a, the second adhesive trap groove300b, and the third adhesive trap groove300c, the number and sizes of the adhesive trap grooves300are not particularly limited, and are selected as appropriate in accordance with types of the thermal printer1and sizes of the movable blade200.

[Linerless Label L]

As illustrated inFIG.2, the linerless label L is a recording sheet to be used for printing by the thermal printer1. A front surface of the linerless label L forms the print surface L1, and a back surface of the linerless label L on the cutting side B2forms the pressure-sensitive adhesive surface L2to which the adhesive S is applied. The print surface L1is covered with a peeling layer (such as a silicon coating). Under a state in which the print surface L1faces the separation side B1and the pressure-sensitive adhesive surface L2faces the cutting side B2in the advancing direction B, the linerless label L is wound around a tubular core member R1, thereby forming a roll portion R. The roll portion R may have a configuration without the core member R1. A leading edge portion LA of the linerless label L is drawn to the conveyance destination side A1, and is inserted between the thermal head31and the platen roller30. The roll portion R is located on the conveyance origin side A2in the housing20. When the upper cover21is in the opening position, the roll portion R is removed and loaded through the upper-end opening portion20aof the housing20.

Due to reciprocating motions of the movable blade200of the cutter unit4, the adhesive S applied to the pressure-sensitive adhesive surface L2of the linerless label L is peeled away and then adheres to the cutter unit4, thereby forming the adhesive mass SA.

As illustrated inFIGS.4, due to the reciprocating motions of the movable blade200of the cutter unit4, the adhesive S adheres to the cutter unit4, and thus the adhesive mass SA is formed. First, inFIG.4A, the movable blade200is first moved along the advancing direction B from the first position P1to the second position P2. Then, the movable blade200forms a cut in the linerless label L between the fixed blade100and the movable blade200, and moves the adhesive S on the pressure-sensitive adhesive surface L2of the linerless label L and thus peels the adhesive S away from the linerless label L. The adhesive S peeled away from the linerless label L adheres to the movable blade200and the fixed blade100, and forms the adhesive mass SA. Next, inFIG.4B, the movable blade200is moved along the advancing direction B from the second position P2to the first position P1so as to reciprocate between the first position P1and the second position P2(a first reciprocating motion). The adhesive mass SA formed at this time is moved by the movable blade200to a vicinity of the second blade edge110of the fixed blade100. Next, inFIG.4C, the movable blade200is moved along the advancing direction B from the first position P1to the second position P2again. Then, the adhesive mass SA adhering to the vicinity of the second blade edge110of the fixed blade100is moved and sticks to the movable blade200that has approached the adhesive mass SA. Next, inFIG.4D, the movable blade200is moved along the advancing direction B from the second position P2to the first position P1so as to reciprocate between the first position P1and the second position P2(a second reciprocating motion). The movable blade200and the fixed blade100are slid on each other, and thus the adhesive mass SA that has stuck to the movable blade200is pushed toward the movable blade200. When the movable blade200makes a series of motions including the above-mentioned first reciprocating motion and second reciprocating motion a predetermined number of times, the adhesive mass SA adheres to the movable blade200and accumulates on the movable blade200gradually while the adhesive mass SA is deformed or a plurality of adhesive masses SA are formed.

[Operations]

Next, operations of the above-mentioned cutter unit4of the thermal printer1are described with reference toFIG.5andFIG.6.

FIG.5is a view for illustrating a state in which the movable blade200of the thermal printer1is brought close to the fixed blade100and reaches the second position P2. As described above, inFIGS.4, when the movable blade200makes the series of motions including the first reciprocating motion and the second reciprocating motion a plurality of times, the adhesive mass SA adheres to the movable blade200. When the movable blade200is brought close to the fixed blade100so as to be moved to the second position P2, the adhesive mass SA adhering to the movable blade200is scraped from the movable blade200by the first adhesive scraping edge portion322aor the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bof each of the first adhesive trap groove300a, the second adhesive trap groove300b, and the third adhesive trap groove300c, and then is dropped into the adhesive trap groove300. At this time, a frictional force is applied to the adhesive mass SA to the cutting side B2and in a direction along the adhesive scraping edge portion322that is formed so as to be substantially parallel to the first blade edge210. The force is applied to the adhesive mass SA to the cutting side B2, and the force is also applied to the adhesive mass SA so as to move the adhesive mass SA along the adhesive scraping edge portion322to the center axis O2side in the adhesive trap groove300. Each first adhesive scraping edge portion322arestrains the adhesive mass SA dropped into the adhesive trap groove300from moving in the advancing direction B. Further, each first adhesive blocking edge portion321arestrains the adhesive mass SA from moving to the center axis O2side. As illustrated inFIG.5, in each adhesive trap groove300, the adhesive mass SA accumulates on the cutting side B2and on the center axis O2side of the adhesive trap groove300.

FIG.6is a view for illustrating a state in which the movable blade200of the thermal printer1is separated away from the fixed blade100and reaches the first position P1. InFIG.6, when the movable blade200is separated away from the fixed blade100and is moved to the first position P1, the adhesive mass SA dropped into the adhesive trap groove300is slid on the fixed-blade back concave surface120of the fixed blade100. At this time, a frictional force is applied to the adhesive mass SA to the cutting side B2and in a direction along the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bthat is formed so as to be substantially parallel to the first blade edge210. The force is applied to the adhesive mass SA to the separation side B1, and the force is also applied to the adhesive mass SA so as to move the adhesive mass SA along the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bto the first end side C1in the adhesive trap groove300. Each second adhesive scraping edge portion322brestrains the adhesive mass SA dropped into the adhesive trap groove300from moving in the advancing direction B. Further, each second adhesive blocking edge portion321brestrains the adhesive mass SA from moving to the first end side C1of the movable blade200.

In this embodiment, as illustrated inFIG.5, the adhesive mass SA is pushed into the adhesive trap groove300to the conveyance destination side A1in the conveying direction A when the adhesive mass SA is scraped. Accordingly, as illustrated inFIG.6, when the movable blade200is separated away from the fixed blade100and reaches the first position P1, the adhesive mass SA dropped into the adhesive trap groove300does not move from a position illustrated inFIG.5even when the force is applied to the separation side B1and the first end side C1. However, the position of the adhesive mass SA is not particularly limited. The adhesive mass SA may move in a direction of application of the force.

In this embodiment, each of the first adhesive trap groove300a, the second adhesive trap groove300b, and the third adhesive trap groove300cformed in the sliding surface230includes the first adhesive blocking edge portion321aand the second adhesive blocking edge portion321b, and hence restrains the adhesive mass SA from moving to the center axis O2side or the first end side C1. Thus, the adhesive trap groove300can accumulate the adhesive mass SA.

Further, in this embodiment, each first adhesive scraping edge portion322aor each second adhesive scraping edge portion322bscrapes the adhesive mass SA adhering to the fixed blade100and the movable blade200into the adhesive trap groove300. Accordingly, cutting failure of the cutter unit4, which is caused by an influence of adhesion of the adhesive mass SA, is solved, thereby being capable of reducing a sliding load on a blade.

Further, in this embodiment, the trap grooves can accumulate the adhesive masses SA equally for a long period of time. Accordingly, without checking an accumulation level of the adhesive masses SA, maintenance work can be reduced.

Further, in this embodiment, there is no need to remove the adhesive masses SA, thereby being capable of eliminating a risk in that a hand is wounded by, for example, a blade of the cutter unit.

As described above, the thermal printer1according to this embodiment can reduce the adhesive removal work by efficiently accumulating the adhesive in the groove formed in the blade until the printer reaches the end of its lifetime.

The present invention is not limited by the one embodiment described above. Further, the components in the one embodiment encompass components easily conceived by a person skilled in the art, or substantially the same components, that is, so-called equivalents. In addition, the components disclosed in the one embodiment can be combined with each other as appropriate.

Hereinabove, the one embodiment of the present invention has been described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, specific structures of the present invention are not limited to the one embodiment and encompass design modifications and the like without departing from the gist of the present invention. Further, the components described in the one embodiment described above and modification examples described below may be configured in combination with each other as appropriate.

MODIFICATION EXAMPLES

Modification Examples of the adhesive trap grooves300of the movable blade200in this embodiment are described with reference toFIG.7toFIG.11. In Modification Examples of the adhesive trap grooves300illustrated inFIG.7,FIG.8,FIG.9, andFIG.10, the adhesive trap grooves300formed in the second surface222are line-symmetrical about the center axis O2to the adhesive trap grooves300formed in the first surface221, and hence description thereof is omitted.

Modification Example 1

As illustrated inFIG.7, in a movable blade200A, a plurality of adhesive trap grooves300A having substantially the same size are formed in the first surface221corresponding to a half of a surface of the movable blade with respect to the center axis O2, and are arranged at equal intervals in the width direction C. Similarly to the adhesive trap grooves in this embodiment, each of the adhesive trap grooves300A includes the first adhesive blocking edge portion321a, the second adhesive blocking edge portion321b, the first adhesive scraping edge portion322a, and the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bthat are coupled to each other, forming a groove opening portion310A. The first adhesive scraping edge portion322aand the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bare formed along the width direction C orthogonal to the advancing direction B. Each second adhesive scraping edge portion322bis formed on the sliding surface230. Each second adhesive scraping edge portion322bcorresponds to a lower end of the adhesive trap groove300A, and the second adhesive scraping edge portions322bare arranged in a straight line along the width direction C. Each first adhesive scraping edge portion322acorresponds to an upper end of the adhesive trap groove300A, and the first adhesive scraping edge portions322aare arranged in a straight line along the width direction C.

As illustrated inFIGS.4, when the movable blade200A makes the reciprocating motions, the adhesive mass SA is scraped from the movable blade200A by each second adhesive scraping edge portion322bformed on the sliding surface230, and then is dropped into the adhesive trap groove300A. The first adhesive scraping edge portion322aand the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bare formed along the width direction C orthogonal to the advancing direction B, and thus a frictional force is applied to the adhesive mass SA only to the separation side B1. The first adhesive scraping edge portion322aand the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bcan restrain the adhesive mass SA dropped into the adhesive trap groove300A from moving in the advancing direction B. Also in this case, each adhesive trap groove300A can accumulate the adhesive mass SA equally in the adhesive trap groove300A.

Modification Example 2

Next, as illustrated inFIG.8, in a movable blade200B, a plurality of adhesive trap grooves300B having different sizes are formed in the first surface221corresponding to a half of a surface of the movable blade with respect to the center axis O2, and are arranged at equal intervals in the width direction C. Similarly to the adhesive trap grooves in this embodiment, each of the adhesive trap grooves300B includes the first adhesive blocking edge portion321a, the second adhesive blocking edge portion321b, the first adhesive scraping edge portion322a, and the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bthat are coupled to each other, forming a groove opening portion310B. Each first adhesive blocking edge portion321aand second adhesive scraping edge portion322bare formed on the sliding surface230. Each second adhesive scraping edge portion322bcorresponds to a lower end of the adhesive trap groove300B, and the second adhesive scraping edge portions322bare arranged in substantially parallel to the blade edge210of the movable blade200B. Each first adhesive scraping edge portion322acorresponds to an upper end of the adhesive trap groove300B, and the first adhesive scraping edge portions322aare arranged in a straight line along the width direction C.

As illustrated inFIGS.4, when the movable blade200B makes the reciprocating motions, the adhesive mass SA is scraped from the movable blade200B by each second adhesive scraping edge portion322bformed on the sliding surface230, and then is dropped into the adhesive trap groove300B. The second adhesive scraping edge portion322bis formed so as to be substantially parallel to the first blade edge210of the movable blade200B. Thus, a frictional force is applied to the adhesive mass SA to the cutting side B2, and the force is also applied to the adhesive mass SA so as to move the adhesive mass SA along the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bto the center axis O2side in the adhesive trap groove300B. Each first adhesive scraping edge portion322arestrains the adhesive mass SA dropped into the adhesive trap groove300B from moving in the advancing direction B. Further, each first adhesive blocking edge portion321arestrains the adhesive mass SA from moving to the center axis O2side. Also in this case, each adhesive trap groove300B can accumulate the adhesive mass SA equally in the adhesive trap groove300B.

Modification Example 3

Next, as illustrated inFIG.9, in a movable blade200C, an adhesive trap groove300Ca and adhesive trap grooves300Cb having different sizes are formed in the first surface221corresponding to a half of a surface of the movable blade with respect to the center axis O2, and are arranged in the width direction C. The adhesive trap groove300Ca arranged on the center axis O2side includes the first adhesive blocking edge portion321a, the second adhesive blocking edge portion321b, the first adhesive scraping edge portion322a, and the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bthat are coupled to each other, forming a groove opening portion310C. The first adhesive scraping edge portion322aof the adhesive trap groove300Ca extends along the first blade edge210in the width direction C to a vicinity of a center of the first surface221, and includes a bent portion F at a halfway portion thereof. The second adhesive scraping edge portion322bis formed into a shape along the above-mentioned first adhesive scraping edge portion322a. The plurality of adhesive trap grooves300Cb are formed in the first surface221of the movable blade200C more on the first end side C1than the adhesive trap groove300Ca. The first adhesive blocking edge portion321aof each of the adhesive trap grooves300Cb is arranged on the cutting side B2of each of the adhesive trap grooves300Cb, and the first adhesive blocking edge portions321aare arranged in a straight line and in substantially parallel to the blade edge of the movable blade200C. Further, the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bof each of the adhesive trap grooves300Cb is arranged on the separation side B1of each of the adhesive trap grooves300Cb, and the second adhesive scraping edge portions322bare arranged in a straight line and in parallel to the width direction C. Further, the first adhesive scraping edge portion322aand the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bare formed to have such an angle as to be symmetrical to an angle of the blade edge about the width direction C. The first adhesive blocking edge portions321aof the adhesive trap groove300Ca and the adhesive trap grooves300Cb are formed on the sliding surface230. At least parts of the first adhesive scraping edge portions322aof the adhesive trap groove300Ca and the adhesive trap grooves300Cb are also formed on the sliding surface230. Moreover, the adhesive trap groove300Ca and the adhesive trap groove300Cb adjacent to each other in the advancing direction B, or the adhesive trap grooves300Cb adjacent to each other in the advancing direction B are arranged on the same straight line when the movable blade200C makes the reciprocating motions. Further, in a region230B being a part of the sliding surface230, which extends along the advancing direction B and is defined by a width of the linerless label L, the adhesive trap groove300Ca or the adhesive trap grooves300Cb are formed across an entire region of the sliding surface230in the width direction C.

As illustrated inFIGS.4, when the movable blade200C makes the reciprocating motions, the adhesive mass SA is scraped from the movable blade200C by each second adhesive scraping edge portion322bformed on the sliding surface230, and then is dropped into the adhesive trap groove300Ca or the adhesive trap groove300Cb. Further, each first adhesive scraping edge portion322aand each second adhesive scraping edge portion322brestrain the adhesive mass SA dropped into the adhesive trap groove300Ca or the adhesive trap groove300Cb from moving in the advancing direction B. Moreover, each first adhesive blocking edge portion321arestrains the adhesive mass SA from moving to the center axis O2side. Also in this case, as illustrated inFIG.9, the adhesive trap grooves300Ca or the adhesive trap grooves300Cb can accumulate the adhesive masses SA equally. Further, the adhesive trap grooves300Ca or the adhesive trap grooves300Cb are formed in the region230B. Thus, the adhesive trap groove300Ca and the adhesive trap groove300Cb adjacent to each other in the advancing direction B, or the adhesive trap grooves300Cb adjacent to each other in the advancing direction B can efficiently scrape the adhesive mass SA from the cutter unit4when the movable blade200C makes the reciprocating motions.

Modification Example 4

Next, as illustrated inFIG.10, in a movable blade200D, one adhesive trap groove300D is formed in the first surface221corresponding to a half of a surface of the movable blade with respect to the center axis O2. Similarly to the adhesive trap grooves in this embodiment, the adhesive trap groove300D includes the first adhesive blocking edge portions321a, the second adhesive blocking edge portions321b, the first adhesive scraping edge portion322a, and the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bthat are coupled to each other, forming a groove opening portion310D. The first adhesive blocking edge portions321aand the second adhesive blocking edge portions321bare formed on the sliding surface230. At least three first adhesive blocking edge portions321aand at least three second adhesive blocking edge portions321bare formed on the sliding surface230in the adhesive trap groove300D. The first adhesive scraping edge portion322aand the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bare formed so as to be substantially parallel to the first blade edge210of the movable blade200D.

As illustrated inFIGS.4, when the movable blade200D makes the reciprocating motions, the adhesive mass SA is scraped from the movable blade200D by the second adhesive scraping edge portion322b, and then is dropped into the adhesive trap groove300D. The first adhesive scraping edge portion322aand the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bare formed so as to be substantially parallel to the first blade edge210of the movable blade200D. Thus, a frictional force is applied to the adhesive mass SA to the cutting side B2, and the force is also applied to the adhesive mass SA so as to move the adhesive mass SA along the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bto the center axis O2side in the adhesive trap groove300D. The first adhesive scraping edge portion322arestrains the adhesive mass SA dropped into the adhesive trap groove300D from moving in the advancing direction B. Further, each first adhesive blocking edge portion321arestrains the adhesive mass SA from moving to the center axis O2side. Also in this case, each adhesive trap groove300D can accumulate the adhesive mass SA equally in the adhesive trap groove300D.

Modification Example 5

Next, as illustrated inFIG.11, in a movable blade200E, one adhesive trap groove300E is formed in the movable-blade back concave surface220. Similarly to the adhesive trap grooves in this embodiment, the adhesive trap groove300E includes the first adhesive blocking edge portions321a, the second adhesive blocking edge portions321b, the first adhesive scraping edge portion322a, and the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bthat are coupled to each other, forming a groove opening portion310E. Further, a region being a partial region of the sliding surface230is referred to as the region230B. The region230B extends along the advancing direction B, is defined by the width of the linerless label L, and is arranged on the cutting side B2in the advancing direction B. The adhesive trap groove300E overlaps the region230B, and is formed across the entire region of the sliding surface230in the width direction C. The first adhesive scraping edge portion322acorresponds to an upper end of the adhesive trap groove300E, and is arranged in a straight line along the width direction C. The second adhesive scraping edge portion322bcorresponds to a lower end of the adhesive trap groove300E, and is arranged in a straight line along the width direction C. The second adhesive scraping edge portion322boverlaps the region230B of the sliding surface230. No first adhesive blocking edge portion321aand no second adhesive blocking edge portion321bmay be formed on the sliding surface230.

As illustrated inFIGS.4, when the movable blade200E makes the reciprocating motions, the adhesive mass SA is scraped from the movable blade200E by the second adhesive scraping edge portion322b, and then is dropped into the adhesive trap groove300E. The first adhesive scraping edge portion322aand the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bare formed so as to extend along the width direction C orthogonal to the advancing direction B. Thus, a frictional force is applied to the adhesive mass SA only to the separation side B1. The first adhesive scraping edge portion322aand the second adhesive scraping edge portion322bcan restrain the adhesive mass SA dropped into the adhesive trap groove300E from moving in the advancing direction B. Further, the adhesive trap groove300E is formed in the region230B, and thus the adhesive mass SA can be efficiently scraped from the cutter unit4. Also in this case, the adhesive trap groove300E can accumulate the adhesive masses SA equally in the adhesive trap groove300E.

In any mode described above, the thermal printer according to the present invention can lessen a burden of maintenance, for example, reduce the adhesive removal work by efficiently accumulating an adhesive in a groove formed in a blade until the printer reaches the end of its lifetime.