Patent Application
20140290459
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2013-071538 filed on Mar. 29, 2013, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a cutter capable of cutting a sheet-shaped object, a cutting member including the cutter and a cutting apparatus to which the cutting member is detachably attachable.
2. Related Art
A cutting apparatus, such as a cutting plotter, has been conventionally known which automatically cuts a sheet-shaped object. The cutting plotter includes a cutting pen which is used to cut the object. The cutting pen includes a cutting pen holder on which is rotatably held a cutter part having a cutting blade. The cutter part is formed of a bar material made of a metal such as carbon steel. The cutter part is an article of consumption. Accordingly, the cutter part is attracted to cutting pen holder by magnetic force thereby to be attached thereto and is accordingly replaceable easily. However, the cutter part has conventionally been manufactured by cutting a metal bar material. This increases manufacturing costs.
Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a cutter which can be manufactured at lower costs, a cutting member including the cutter and a cutting apparatus to which the cutting member is detachably attachable.
The present disclosure provides a cutter which is detachably attachable to a support member, 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 a bearing provided on the support member, the larger-diameter portion having a proximal end surface abutting on an end surface of the bearing, 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. The cutter further includes 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, and a metal member which can be attracted by a 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.
The disclosure also provides a cutting member includes a support member to which a cutter is detachably attached, thereby supporting the cutter, the support member having a bearing rotatably supporting the cutter and a magnet configured to position the cutter. The cutter includes 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 a bearing provided on the support member, the larger-diameter portion, having a proximal end surface abutting on an end surface of the bearing, 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. The cutter further includes 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, and a metal member which can be attracted by a 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.
The disclosure further provides 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, and a cutting member attached to the holder. The cutting member includes a support member to which a cutter is detachably attached, thereby supporting the cutter, the support member having a bearing rotatably supporting the cutter and a magnet configured to position the cutter. The cutter includes 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 a bearing provided on the support member, the larger-diameter portion having a proximal end surface abutting on an end surface of the bearing, 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. The cutter further includes 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, and a metal member which can be attracted by a 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.
In the accompanying drawings:
One example including a cutter, a cutting member and a cutting apparatus will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The construction of the cutting apparatus 100 will be described with reference to
Defining the directions, a transferring direction of the transfer mechanism 140 is referred to as “front-rear direction (Y-direction).” A moving direction of the cutter moving mechanism. 150 is referred to as “right-left direction (X-direction).” A direction perpendicular to the front-rear direction and the right-left direction is referred to as “up-down direction (Z-direction).”
The housing 110 encloses the transfer mechanism 140, the platen 250 and the cutting head 130. The housing 110 is formed into the shape of a box elongated in the right-left direction. The housing 110 has a front formed with an insertion hole 111 and a rear formed with a rear hole 112. The insertion hole 111 extends in the right-left direction. A holding member 51 is to be inserted into the insertion hole 111.
The machine frame 11 is mounted on the housing 110. The machine frame 11 includes two sidewalls 11B and 11A located at right and left sides of the platen 250 respectively. The sidewalls 11A and 11B have respective surfaces facing each other. The sidewalls 11A and 11B have openings 11C through which a timing belt 31 passes, respectively. Each opening 11C is formed into a square shape. The timing belt 31 will be described later.
The holding member 51 holding the object 160 is inserted through the insertion hole 111 and then transferred along a transfer path extending from the insertion hole 111 to the rear hole 112. The transfer path is provided along a flat surface of the platen 250 over the platen. The transfer mechanism 140 is configured to transfer the holding member 51 placed on the platen 250 in the front-rear direction. The holding member 51 will be described in detail later.
The display 170 and the switches 172 are mounted on a right-hand part of the front of the housing 110. The display 170 is a full-color liquid crystal display, for example. The switches 172 are operated by a user. The operation may include various instructions, selection and input. The switches 172 include a touch panel mounted on the surface of the display 170. The display 170 is configured to display a plurality of types of patterns, messages to be informed of the user, and the like. The user operates the switches 172 to select a pattern displayed on the display 170, to set various parameters, to instruct functions and the like.
The holding member 51 will foe described with reference to
The Transfer Mechanism 140
The transfer mechanism 140 will be described in detail with reference to
The sidewalls 11A and 11B support both ends of the driving roller 12 so that the driving roller 12 is rotatable. The driven gear 17 is secured to the right end of the driving roller 12. The mounting frame 14 is mounted on an outer surface of the right sidewall 11B. The Y-axis motor 15 is mounted on the mounting frame 14. The Y-axis motor 15 may comprise a stepping motor, for example. The driven gear 17 is brought into mesh engagement with the driving gear 16. The driving gear 16 has a smaller diameter than the driven gear 17. The driving gear 16 is fixed to an output shaft of the Y-axis motor 15. Upon rotation of the Y-axis motor 15, its rotational driving force is transmitted via the driving gear 16 and the driven gear 17 to the driving roller 12, whereby the driving roller 12 is rotated by the Y-axis motor 15.
The pinch roller 13 has right and left ends supported by the sidewalls 11B and 11A so as to be rotatable and so as to be slightly displaceable in the up-down direction, namely, in the thicknesswise direction of the object 160. The pinch roller 13 is normally biased downward at the outer surface sides of the sidewalls 11A and 11B by the coil springs 18. The coil springs 18 are disposed between both ends of the pinch roller 13 and the sidewalls 11A and 11B respectively. The pinch roller 13 includes two roller portions 13A and 13B disposed at both ends thereof respectively. The roller portions 13A and 13B have larger respective diameters than the pinch roller 13.
The holding member 51 has right and left edges which are held between the driving roller 12 and the roller portions 13A and 13B respectively. When the driving roller 12 is rotated by the drive of the Y-axis motor 15, the holding member 51 is transferred in the front-rear direction by the transfer mechanism 140 while the edges of the holding member 51 are held between the driving roller 12 and roller portions 13A respectively.
The cutter moving mechanism 150 will be described in detail with reference to
The mounting plate 23 is mounted on a rear part of the outer surface of the left sidewall 11A. The auxiliary mounting plate 24 is mounted on the outer surface of the right sidewall 118. The X-axis motor 25 is mounted on a rear part of the mounting plate 23. The pulley shaft 26 is rotatably mounted on a front part of the X-axis motor 25 and extends in the up-down direction. The driving gear 27 is fixed to an output shaft of the X-axis motor 25. The left timing pulley 28 and the driven gear 29 are rotatably supported, by the pulley shaft 26. The left timing pulley 23 and the driven gear 29 are formed integrally with each other, thereby being rotated together. The driven gear 29 is brought into mesh engagement with the driving gear 27.
The right timing pulley 30 is rotatably mounted on the auxiliary mounting plate 24. The endless timing belt 31 extends between the right and left timing pulleys 30 and 28 horizontally in the right-left direction. The timing belt 31 includes a midway part coupled to the mounting portion 32 as shown in
The scanner 180 will be described in detail with reference to
The platen 250 will now be described in detail with reference to
The cutting head 130 will be described in detail with reference to
The cutter holder 20 includes a mounting cylinder 47 which is formed into a cylindrical shape and extends in the up-down direction. A cutting member 400 is detachably attached to the mounting cylinder 47 by screws (not shown). The cutting member 400 includes a cutter 300 as shown in
The up-down drive mechanism 36 includes a mounting plate 37, a Z-axis motor 38, an intermediate gear 39 and a rack member 43. The mounting plate 37 is provided at the left side of the front of the carriage 19 and formed into a crank shape. The Z-axis motor 38 is mounted on the left, end front of the carriage 19 and may be a stepping motor 38, for example. The Z-axis motor 38 has an output shaft to which a driving gear (not shown) is fixed. This driving gear is brought into mesh engagement with the intermediate gear 39. The intermediate gear 39 is rotatably supported on the mounting plate 37. A smaller gear (not shown) having a smaller diameter than the intermediate gear 39 is coaxially formed on the intermediate gear 39. The intermediate gear 39 and the smaller gear are rotated together. The rack member 47 is provided on the left side of the mounting cylinder 47, extending in the up-down direction. The rack member 43 includes a rack portion 43A formed on a left wall of the rack member 43 and extending in the up-down direction. The rack portion 43A is brought into mesh engagement with the smaller gear.
Upon drive of the Z-axis motor 38, the driving gear is rotated, whereby the intermediate gear 35 and the smaller gear are rotated with the result that the rack member 43 is moved in the up-down direction. As a result, the cutter holder 20 is moved upward or downward. More specifically, the cutter holder 20 is moved between a raised position where the blade edge of the cutter 300 is spaced from the object 160 by a predetermined distance and a lowered position where the blade edge of the cutter 300 penetrates through the object 160.
When the cutter holder 20 is lowered by the up-down drive mechanism 36, the blade edge of the cutter 300 abuts against the object 160. While the blade edge is in abutment with the object 160, the holding member 51 is moved freely in the front-rear direction by the transfer mechanism 140, and the cutting head 130 is moved freely in the right-left direction by the cutter moving mechanism 150. As a result, the object 160 is cut by the cutter 300.
An external construction of the cutting member 400 will be described with reference to
The cap 430 includes a larger-diameter portion 431 and a smaller-diameter portion 432 both corresponding to the stepped portion 405 of the case body 420. The cap 430 is formed into a stepped bottomed cylindrical receptacle. The larger-diameter portion 431 has an outer circumferential surface formed with a plurality of narrow grooves at regular intervals. The grooves are formed in a lower part of the larger-diameter portion 431 than a central part in the up-down direction so as to extend in the up-down direction. The grooves serves as a slip-proof in the case where the user grip pinches the cap 430 with his/her fingers to rotate the cap 430.
An inner structure of the cutting member 400 will be described with reference to
The storage space has an upper end and a lower end provided with bearings 460 and 470 respectively. The bearing 470 may be a rolling bearing such as a ball bearing. The bearing 460 may be a sliding bearing comprising a metal alloy, for example. The bearing 460 is disposed in an inner side of the storage space 491b spaced away from a blade 330 of the cutter 300. The bearing 470 is disposed in the front side of the storage space 491b near the blade 330, supporting the shaft 320. The cutter 300 has an axial length (namely, a length of the shaft 320 in the direction of the axis 310) that is longer than a distance between the bearings 460 and 470.
The mounting member 498 is secured to the bottom of the storage space 491a in the case body 420. The mounting member 498 has two mounting holes 498a and 498b both formed therein. Each mounting hole has a square section in order that knob 410 may be mounted therein. A magnet 440 is mounted on the central underside of the mounting member 498 and located on the bottom of the storage space 491b. The metal member 340 of the cutter 300 is attracted upward by the magnetic force of the magnet 440. The magnet 440 attracts the cutter 300 thereby to hold the cutter 300. The magnet 440 is disposed on an extension extending from the metal member 340 in the direction of the central axis L1 (see
The case body 420 has a male thread 443 formed on the outer circumference thereof. The male thread 448 is brought into mesh engagement with a female thread 449 of the cap 430. The female thread 449 is formed in the inner circumference of the larger-diameter portion 431 of the cap 430. The cap 430 is combined with the case body 420 as the result of threading engagement of the threads 448 and 449. In this case, the cap 430 is combined with the case body 420 so that the position thereof in the direction of the central axis L1 is adjustable.
The smaller-diameter portion 432 of the cap 430 has an underside 440a which is formed into a circular horizontal flat surface. The underside 440a of the smaller-diameter 432 is brought into face-to-face contact with the object 160. The underside 440a is formed with a hole 440b through which the blade 330 of the cutter 300 is passable. The cap 430 is assembled to the case body 420 so as to be substantially prevented from backlash at least in a radial direction.
A compression coil spring 497 mounted on a lower part of the case body 420 is enclosed in the larger-diameter portion 431. Thus, the cap 430 is normally biased downward by the compression, coil spring 497. Accordingly, the threads 448 and 449 engaged with each other are prevented from backlash with the result that an amount of projection of the blade 330 can be adjusted precisely. A small protrusion 496 is formed on the lower part of the case body 420 so as to be located at the stepped portion 495 side. The protrusion 496 is engaged with and locked to an upper end of the spring 497. Accordingly, the spring 497 can be prevented from detachment from the case body 420 even when the cap 430 is detached from the case body 420 during replacement of the cutter 300 or the like.
The cutter 300 is held in the case body 420 by the magnetic attractive force of the magnet 440 and the stepped portion between the shaft 320 and the larger-diameter portion 350 thereof. In this case, the cutter 300 is held so as to be pulled upward and so as to be prevented from upward movement. Accordingly, when replacing the cutter 300, the user can easily detach the cutter 300 from the case body 420 only by pulling the cutter 300 downward against the magnetic attractive force of the magnet 440.
The construction of the cutter 300 will foe described with reference to
The shaft 320 includes the larger-diameter portion 350 and a smaller-diameter portion 370. The larger-diameter portion 350 is formed into a substantially columnar shape and has a larger outer diameter than the smaller-diameter portion 370. More specifically, the outer diameter MD of the larger-diameter 350 is larger than a width BD of the blade 330 as shown in
The smaller-diameter portion 370 is located at the metal member 340 side in the direction of the axis 310. The smaller-diameter portion 370 is formed into a generally columnar shape and has an outer diameter which is substantially equal to inner diameters of the bearings 460 and 470. The smaller-diameter portion 370 is rotatably supported by the bearings 460 and 470 with the axis 310 serving as the center thereof.
The blade 330 is provided on a first one or both axial ends of the shaft 320, which first end is a distal end of the larger-diameter portion 350. The blade 330 is a flat blade comprising a flat metal plate. The blade 330 is embedded in the first end of the shaft 320. The blade 330 has a distal end which is inclined relative to the object 160 and formed into a generally triangular shape and is provided for cutting the object 160. The axis 310 passes a thicknesswise and widthwise centers of the blade 330. A blade part is provided on the first end which is further away from the shaft 320 than the other end of the blade 330.
The metal member 340 is provided on a second one of the axial ends of the shaft 320, which second end is a distal end of the smaller-diameter portion 370. The second end is located opposite the first end. The metal member 340 is made of a magnetic material and is a metal flat plate which can be attracted by the magnet 440. The metal member 340 is embedded in the upper end of the shaft 320. The metal member 340 may be molded from a resin containing magnetic powder.
A method of manufacturing the cutter 300 will be exemplified with reference to
Firstly, a metal plate is pressed to be formed into a laterally-facing T-shaped first plate 380 and an inverted L-shaped second plate 390. The metal plate has a plate thickness of 0.5 mm, for example.
A lower end of the first plate 330 is sharpened at a next process. The first and second plates 380 and 390 are set in a metal die of an injection machine (not shown) at a further next process. The shaft 320 is insert-molded between the first and second plates 380 and 390. In this case, if the first and second plates 380 and 390 are a single combined plate member, there is a possibility that resin injection pressure would deform the plate member during the insert molding. When the plate member is deformed, the molded shaft 320 (the axis 310) would bend. In the example, however, adverse effects of the resin injection pressure can be avoided since two separated first and second plates 380 and 390 are used. Accordingly, the shaft 320 and accordingly, the entire cutter 300 can be manufactured with desirable precision. Furthermore, the cutter 300 can be manufactured at lower costs as compared with the case where a whole cutter is cut out of a metal bar material.
Subsequently, the first plate 380 has an excess part extending from the larger-diameter portion 350 in the direction perpendicular to the axis 310. The excess part of the first plate 380 is cut. Thus, the blade 330 is made of the first plate 380.
Furthermore, the second plate 390 has an excess part extending from an end of the shaft 320 located opposite the blade 330. The excess part of the second plate 390 is cut. Thus, the metal member 340 is made of the second plate 390.
The shaft 320 of the cutter 300 comprises the resin in the above-described example. Accordingly, the cutter 300 can be manufactured at lower costs as compared with the case where the cutter is cut out of a metal bar material. Furthermore, since the metal member is located at the second end of the shaft 320, the cutter 300 is attracted by the magnet 440 provided on the support member 402 supporting the cutter 300. Consequently, the cutter 300 can be easily attached and detached. The cutter 300 is held with the bearing in abutment on the smaller-diameter portion 370 of the shaft 320, whereby the cutter 300 can be supported so as to be rotatable about the axis. Furthermore, when the metal member 340 is attracted by the magnet 440, the stepped portion (the proximal end surface of the large-diameter portion 350) formed between the larger-diameter portion 350 and the smaller-diameter portion 370 abuts on the end surface of the bearing. As a result, the cutter 300 can be rendered immovable in the axial direction, whereby the cutter 300 is locked in the state where the axial position of the cutter 300 relative to support member 402 is immovable. Still furthermore, since the metal member 340 does not directly abut on the magnet 440, the cutter 300 can foe rotated about the axis more easily as compared with the case where the metal member directly abuts on the magnet.
The foregoing description and drawings are merely illustrative of the present disclosure and are not to be construed in a limiting sense. Various changes and modifications will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. All such changes and modifications are seen to fall within the scope of the appended claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013-071538 | Mar 2013 | JP | national |
