Cutter with exit having first and second surfaces offset from transportation path

1. A printer having a cutter for cutting off a portion of a sheet material transported along a substantially horizontal transportation path during operation of the printer, the cutter comprising:

a fixed knife having a cutting edge facing in an upwards direction relative the horizontal transportation;

a movable knife having a cutting edge facing in a downwards direction relative the horizontal transportation path and moving between a standby position and a cutting-completed position to cut off the portion in cooperation with the fixed knife, wherein the movable knife pivots on a horizontal axis parallel to the horizontal transportation path; and

an exit disposed along the horizontal transportation path and on a downstream side of the knives in a transportation direction of the sheet material and that discharges the cut-off portion, the exit comprising

a first surface offset from the transportation path beyond the cutting edge of the movable knife in the cutting-completed position, and

a second surface opposite the first surface at a height substantially the same as a height of the cutting edge of the fixed knife

wherein the second surface is immediately adjacent the movable knife and the first surface extends horizontally directly below the cutting edge of the movable knife in the cutting-complete position so that the cut off portion of the paper is not pushed vertically beyond the first surface during cutting so as to prevent curl and inadvertent springing movement of the paper after cutting.

2. The printer of claim 1 , further comprising:

a notch formed in an upstream edge of the second surface in the transportation direction; and

a roller disposed in the notch of the second surface that faces the movable knife and that guides the sheet material transported along the transportation path.

3. The printer cutter of claim 2 , wherein

an outside surface of the roller comprises protrusions.

4. The printer of claim 1 , wherein the movable knife pivots on a support shaft extending in the transportation direction, the support shaft disposed between the standby position and the cutting-completed position.

5. The printer of claim 1 , wherein

the second surface comprises a sloped corner to deflect a leading edge of the sheet material transported along the transportation path.

6. The printer of claim 1 , wherein

the exit comprises a downward sloped surface to support the cut-off portion during discharge.

7. A printer with a cutter for cutting off a portion of a recording medium, the printer comprising:

a transportation path extending from a printing position to a recording-medium exit during operation of the printer; and

a transportation mechanism that conveys the recording medium along the transportation path in a substantially horizontal transportation direction;

the cutter comprising:

a fixed knife having a cutting edge facing in an upwards direction relative the horizontal transportation path; and

a movable knife having a cutting edge facing in a downwards direction relative the horizontal transportation path and moving between a standby position and a cutting-completed position to cut off the portion in cooperation with the fixed knife, wherein the movable knife pivots on a horizontal axis parallel to the horizontal transportation path

wherein the recording-medium exit is disposed along the horizontal transportation path and on a downstream side of the knives in the transportation direction and that discharges the cut-off portion, the recording-medium exit comprising

a first surface offset from the transportation path beyond the cutting edge of the movable knife in the cutting-completed position, and

a second surface opposite the first surface at a height substantially the same as a height of the cutting edge of the fixed knife

wherein the second surface is immediately adjacent the movable knife and the first surface extends horizontally directly below the cutting edge of the movable knife in the cutting-complete position so that the cut off portion of the paper is not pushed vertically beyond the first surface during cutting so as to prevent curl and inadvertent springing movement of the paper after cutting.

8. The printer of claim 7 , further comprising:

a case; and

a cover that opens and closes to the case, wherein the movable knife is disposed to the case and the fixed knife is disposed to the cover.

9. The printer of claim 7 , further comprising:

a notch formed in an upstream edge of the second surface in the transportation direction; and

a roller disposed in the notch of the second surface that faces the movable knife and that guides the recording medium transported along the transportation path.

10. The printer of claim 9 , wherein

an outside surface of the roller comprises protrusions.

11. The printer of claim 7 , wherein the movable knife pivots on a support shaft extending in the transportation direction, the support shaft disposed between the standby position and the cutting-completed position.

12. The printer of claim 7 , wherein the second elongated side comprises a sloped corner to deflect a leading edge of the recording medium transported along the transportation path.

13. The printer of claim 7 , wherein

the recording-medium exit comprises a downward sloped surface to support the cut-off portion during discharge.

14. The printer of claim 7 , wherein the movable knife and the fixed knife overlap in the cutting-completed position.