Cutter, cutting member and cutting apparatus

A cutting member comprising:

• a support member to which a cutter is detachably attached, thereby supporting the cutter, the support member having a plurality of bearings rotatably supporting the cutter and a magnet configured to position the cutter, the cutter including:
• a shaft made of a resin and having a smaller-diameter portion and a larger-diameter portion with a larger diameter than the smaller-diameter portion, the smaller-diameter portion and the larger-diameter portion being formed integrally with the shaft, the smaller-diameter portion being rotatably supported by the bearings provided on the support member, the larger-diameter portion having a proximal end surface abutting on an end surface of one of the bearings, with a result that the cutter is locked in a state where an axial position of the cutter relative to the support member is immovable;
• a flat blade provided on a first end which is a distal end of the larger-diameter portion, the flat blade cutting an object to be cut;
• a metal member which can be attracted by the magnet provided on the support member, the metal member being provided on a second end which is a distal end of the smaller-diameter portion;
• a plurality of contact portions provided on axially differing portions of the shaft respectively, the contact portions being capable of contacting the bearings respectively;
• and
• a plurality of thinned parts provided between the contact portions and extending in the axial direction of the shaft.

A cutting apparatus comprising:

• an object transfer mechanism configured to transfer a holding member holding an object to be cut;
• a cutter moving mechanism configured to move a cutting head provided with a holder in a direction intersecting a direction in which the holding member is transferred;
• a cutting member attached to the holder, the cutting member including:
• a support member to which a cutter is detachably attached, thereby supporting the cutter, the support member having a plurality of bearings rotatably supporting the cutter and a magnet configured to position the cutter, the cutter including:
• a shaft made of a resin and having a smaller-diameter portion and a larger-diameter portion with a larger diameter than the smaller-diameter portion, the smaller-diameter portion and the larger-diameter portion being formed integrally with the shaft, the smaller-diameter portion being rotatably supported by the bearings provided on the support member, the larger-diameter portion having a proximal end surface abutting on an end surface of one of the bearings, with a result that the cutter is locked in a state where an axial position of the cutter relative to the support member is immovable;
• a flat blade provided on a first end which is a distal end of the larger-diameter portion, the flat blade cutting an object to be cut;
• a metal member which can be attracted by the magnet provided on the support member, the metal member being provided on a second end which is a distal end of the smaller-diameter portion;
• a plurality of contact portions provided on axially differing portions of the shaft respectively, the contact portions being capable of contacting the bearings respectively;
• and
• a plurality of thinned parts provided between the contact portions and extending in the axial direction of the shaft.