Patent Application
20130180374
This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority from the prior Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-6122 filed on Jan. 16, 2012, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a cutting apparatus in which a desirable pattern is cut out of an object to be cut by a cutting blade, and a computer-readable storage medium storing a program for use with the cutting apparatus.
2. Related Art
There has conventionally been known a cutting plotter which automatically cuts a sheet such as paper, for example. The sheet is affixed to a base material serving as a holding member having an adhesive layer on a surface thereof. The cutting plotter includes a drive mechanism having a driving roller and a pinch roller both of which are vertically disposed and hold both ends of the base material therebetween so that the object is moved in a first direction. The cutting apparatus also includes a carriage which has a cutting blade and is moved in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, whereby a desirable pattern is cut out of the sheet.
When a relatively smaller pattern is to be cut by the cutting plotter, the size of the sheet may also be smaller. In this case, a user cuts the sheet with scissors to obtain a sheet size according to a pattern and thereafter affixes the sheet to the base material. Alternatively, the user prepares a relatively smaller stock sheet and affixes the sheet to the base material. There is a possibility that a cutting line of the pattern may run off the sheet when a location and an angle of the sheet affixed to the base material are improper even if the prepared sheet has a size suitable for the pattern. More specifically, the cutting plotter executes cutting without control of the location and the angle of the sheet affixed to the base material. As a result, the pattern cannot be cut out of the sheet according to circumstances, whereupon the sheet is wasted.
Therefore, an object of the disclosure is to provide a cutting apparatus which can automatically set a position of the pattern according to at least one object to be cut, held on a holding member, and a computer-readable storage medium which stores a program for use with the cutting apparatus.
The present disclosure provides a cutting apparatus comprising a cutting unit which is configured to move a holding member set on the cutting apparatus and a cutting blade relative to each other thereby to cut a desired pattern out of at least one object to be cut, by the cutting blade, the holding member holding the object so that the object is removable therefrom; a detection unit which is configured to detect information including a hold position of the object held by the holding member; a pattern selecting unit which is configured to select a desirable one of a plurality of patterns; an arrangement unit which sets an arrangement position of the pattern selected by the pattern selecting unit, relative to the object, based on the hold position of the object detected by the detection unit, wherein the pattern is cut off by the cutting unit with the arrangement position set by the arrangement unit serving as a cutting position of the object.
The disclosure also provides a non-transitory computer readable storage medium which stores a program used with a cutting apparatus including a cutting unit which is configured to move a holding member set on the cutting apparatus and a cutting blade relative to each other thereby to out a desired pattern out of at least one object to be cut, by the cutting blade, the holding member holding the object so that the object is removable therefrom. The program comprises a detection routine of detecting information including a hold position of the object held by the holding member and an arrangement routine of setting an arrangement position of the pattern selected by the pattern selecting unit, relative to the object, based on the hold position of the object detected by the detection routine.
In the accompanying drawings:
A first embodiment will be described with reference to
On a right part of the body cover 2 are provided a liquid crystal display (LCD) 9 and a plurality of operation switches 65 (see
The platen 3 includes a pair of front and rear plate members 3a and 3b and has an upper surface which is configured into an X-Y plane serving as a horizontal plane. The platen 3 is set so that the holding sheet 10 holding the object 6 is placed thereon. The holding sheet 10 is received by the platen 3 when the object 6 is cut. The holding sheet 10 has an upper surface with an adhesive layer 10a formed by applying an adhesive agent to a part thereof except for peripheral edges 101 to 104 as will be described in detail later. The user affixes the object 6 to the adhesive layer 10a, whereby the object 6 is held by the holding sheet 10.
The first moving unit 7 moves the holding sheet 10 on the upper surface side of the platen 3 in the Y direction (a first direction). More specifically, a driving roller 12 and a pinch roller 13 are provided on right and left sidewalls 11b and 11a so as to be located between plate members 3a and 3b of the platen 3 respectively. The driving roller 12 and the pinch roller 13 extend in the X direction and are rotatably supported on the sidewalls 11b and 11a. The driving roller 12 and the pinch roller 13 are disposed so as to be parallel to a horizontal plane and so as to be vertically arranged. The driving roller 12 is located under the pinch roller 13. A first crank-shaped mounting frame 14 is mounted on the right sidewall 11b so as to be located on the right of the driving roller 12 as shown in
A stepping motor is used as the Y-axis motor 15, for example. The Y-axis motor 15 has a rotating shaft 15a extending through a hole (not shown) of the first mounting frame 14 and further has a distal end provided with a gear 16a. The driving roller 12 has a right end to which is secured another gear 16b which is brought into mesh engagement with the gear 16a. These gears 16a and 16b constitute a first reduction gear mechanism 16. The pinch roller 13 is guided by guide grooves 17b formed in the right and left sidewalls 11b and 11a so as to be movable upward and downward. Only the right guide groove 17b is shown in
The driving roller 12 and the pinch roller 13 press the holding sheet 10 from below and from above by the biasing force of the compression coil springs thereby to hold the holding sheet 10 therebetween (see
The second moving unit 8 moves a carriage 19 supporting the cutter holder 5 in the X direction (a second direction). The second moving unit 8 will be described in more detail. A guide shaft 20 and a guide frame 21 both extending in the right-left direction are provided between the right and left sidewalls 11b and 11a so as to be located at the rear end of the cutting apparatus 1, as shown in
A second mounting frame 24 is mounted on the right sidewall 11b in the rear of the cutting apparatus 1, and an auxiliary frame 25 is mounted on the left sidewall 11a in the rear of the cutting apparatus 1, as shown in
Upon drive of the X-axis motor 26, normal or reverse rotation of the X-axis motor 26 is transmitted via the second reduction gear mechanism 27 and the pulley 28 to the timing belt 31, whereby the carriage 19 is moved leftward or rightward together with the cutter holder 5. Thus, the carriage 19 and the cutter holder 5 are moved in the X direction perpendicular to the Y direction in which the object 6 is conveyed. The second moving unit 8 is constituted by the above-described guide shaft 20, the guide frame 21, the X-axis motor 26, the second reduction gear mechanism 27, the pulleys 28 and 29, the timing belt 31, the carriage 19 and the like.
The cutter holder 5 is disposed on the front of the carriage 19 and is supported so as to be movable in a vertical direction (a third direction) serving as a Z direction. The carriage 19 and the cutter holder 5 will be described with reference to
The carriage 19 has a front wall 19c with which a pair of upper and lower support portions 32a and 32b are formed so as to extend forward as shown in
The gear 38 is formed with a spiral groove 42 as shown in
The cutter holder 5 includes a holder body 45 provided on the support shafts 33a and 33b, a movable cylindrical portion 46 which has a cutter 4 (a cutting blade) and is held by the holder body 45 so as to be vertically movable and a pressing device 47 which presses the object 6. More specifically, the holder body 45 has an upper end 45a and a lower end 45b both of which are folded rearward such that the holder body 45 is generally formed into a C-shape, as shown in
Mounting members 51 and 52 provided for mounting the movable cylindrical portion 46, the pressing device 47 and the like are fixed to the middle portion of the holder body 45 by screws 54a and 54b respectively, as shown in
The cutter 4 extends through the movable cylindrical portion 46. The cutter 4 includes a cutter shaft 4b and a blade 4a both formed integrally with the cutter 4 and extends in an axial direction of movable cylindrical portion 46. The cutter shaft 4b is formed into the shape of a long round bar and is longer than the movable cylindrical portion 46. The cutter shaft 4b has a lower end on which the blade 4a is formed. The blade 4a is formed into a substantially triangular shape and has a lowermost end serving as a blade edge 4c which is formed so as to assume a position shifted by a distance d from a central axis 4z of the cutter shaft 4b, as shown in
The mounting member 52 has three guide holes 52b, 52c and 52d (see
The pressing portion body 56a has a connection 56g which is formed integrally on the circumferential edge thereof so as to extend forward, as shown in
The holding sheet 10 serving as a holding member is made of, for example, a synthetic resin and formed into a flat rectangular plate shape, as shown in
The sheet-like object 6 such as paper, cloth or resin film is removably held by the adhesive layer 10a. The adhesive layer 10a has an adhesion that is set to a small value such that the object 6 can easily be removed from the adhesive layer 10a without breakage of the object 6. Thus, when cut by the cutting apparatus 1, the object 6 is held by the adhesion of the adhesive layer 10a and the pressing force of the pressing device 47 so as to be immovable relative to the holding sheet 10.
Point O in
The cutting apparatus 1 of the embodiment is provided with an imaging member 59 which detects information including a holding position of the object 6 on the holding sheet 10. The imaging member 59 would be a contact image sensor (CIS) mounted on a rear end of the cutting apparatus 1, for example, as shown in
The imaging member 59 includes a line sensor further including a plurality of imaging devices lined in the X direction, a light source and a lens all of which are formed integrally with one another although not shown in detail. The imaging member 59 extends in the X direction between the right and left edges 101 and 102 of the holding sheet 10 and is disposed so as to image the object 6 on the holding sheet 10 moved by the first moving unit 7 toward the rear of the platen 3b in the Y direction.
The control circuit 61 executes an imaging process at a constant imaging interval by the imaging member 59 when the object 6 passes the underside of the imaging member 59 with the movement of the holding sheet 10 in the Y direction. In this case, the object 6 is imaged at an imaging interval according to a moving speed of the holding sheet 10 so that an imaging range of the object 6 is continuous. As a result, an image of an entire region of the object 6 on the holding sheet 10 is generated.
Furthermore, the control circuit 61 extracts a color and an outline or contour of the object 6 from data of the image of the object 6. For example, data of outlines OL1 and OL2 as shown in
Known techniques are available for image processing including a process of generating an outline OL on the basis of image data. Accordingly, a detailed description of the image processing will be eliminated.
The above-described control circuit 61 and the imaging member 59 constitute a detection unit which detects information inclusive of the hold position, and the color, outline OL and the like of the object 6 (6A, 6B).
An arrangement of the control system of the cutting apparatus 1 will be described with reference to a block diagram of
To the control circuit 61 are supplied operation signals generated by various operation switches 65 and detection signals generated by the detection sensor 66, the imaging member 59 and the like. The display 9 is electrically connected to the control circuit 61. A pattern selecting screen (see
The RAM 63 has a storage area for temporarily storing data of a color of the object 6 and data of the outline OL.
The external memory 64 stores, as a first storage unit, cutting data used to cut a pattern by the cutting apparatus 1 and the color data both correlated with each for every pattern.
The cutting data includes basic size information and cutting line data both shown in
The cutting line data includes data of coordinate values indicative of apexes of a cutting line composed of a plurality of line components, in the form of XY coordinate, and is defined by the coordinate system of the cutting apparatus 1. More specifically, a cutting line of the pattern S is composed of line components S1 to S10 and formed into a closed star shape having a cutting start point P0 and a cutting end point P10 corresponding with each other, as shown in
More specifically, when the pattern S is cut by the cutting apparatus 1, the holding sheet 10 (the object 6) is moved in the Y direction by the first moving unit 7 and the cutter holder 5 is moved in the X direction by the second moving unit 8, so that the cutter 4 is relatively moved to the X-Y coordinate of the cutting start point P0 of the pattern S. Next, the blade edge 4c of the cutter 4 is moved through the object 6 at the cutting start point P0 by the third moving unit 44 and further relatively toward the coordinate of the end point P1 of the line segment S1 by the first and second moving units 7 and 8. As the result of the relative movement of the cutter 4, the object 6 is cut along the line segment S1. Regarding the subsequent line segment S2, cutting is continuously executed in the same manner as of the line segment S1 with the end point P1 of the previous line segment S1 serving as a start point. Thus, cutting is sequentially executed also regarding the line segments S2 to S10, whereupon the cutting lines of the pattern S of “star” are cut based on the cutting line data.
Regarding the above-described cutting of the pattern, the control circuit 61 executes the arrangement setting program thereby to automatically set an arrangement position of the pattern according to the object 6 on the holding sheet 10. In this case, when color data is set for the pattern to be cut, the control circuit 61 determines an arrangement of the pattern according to the object 6 in the same color as the color data or an approximate color as will be described in more detail later. On the other hand, when no color data is set for the pattern to be cut, the control circuit 61 determines an arrangement of the pattern irrespective of a color of the pattern. Consequently, the cutting apparatus 1 is configured to cut an automatically arranged pattern out of the object 6 with the predetermined or any color.
The working of the cutting apparatus constructed as described above will now be described with reference to
The user sets the holding sheet 10 holding the objects 6A and 6B through the opening 2a into the cutting apparatus 1 and then operates one or more of the operation switches 65 to instruct “paper feed.” As a result, the control circuit 61 actuates the first moving unit 7 to feed the holding sheet 10 rearward and sets an origin O of the holding sheet 10 based on a detection signal regarding the holding sheet 10 by the detection sensor 66, thereby executing an initial setting process (step S1). Subsequently, the control circuit 61 moves the holding sheet 10 rearward to the imaging member 59 side and executes an imaging process when the objects 6A and 6B pass through the underside of the imaging member 59 (step S2). In the imaging process, the objects 6A and 6B are imaged by the imaging member 59 at an imaging interval according to a moving speed of the holding sheet 10 so that imaging ranges of the objects 6A and 6B are continuous, thereby generating images of upper sides of the objects 6A and 6B.
The control circuit 61 further identifies the two objects 6A and 6B and extracts RGB values as detection color data and coordinate values of outlines OL1 and OL2 serving as hold position data from data of generated images (step S3). In this case, object number 1 is assigned to the identified object 6A, and detection color data of red is stored on the RAM 63 in correspondence relationship with the hold position data of the outline OL1 (see
A pattern selecting screen for selection of a pattern is displayed on the display 9. Patterns are divided into a first group of patterns (see
When the pattern selected by the user is a pattern S of “star”as shown in
For example, when the object 6B of object No. 2 has been selected at step S7, the control circuit 61 determines whether or not the object 6B is sized to allow the pattern S to be arranged thereon, based on hold position data of the outline OL2 of the object 6B and shape data of the rectangular frame W of the pattern S (step S8). When the object 6B is sized to allow the pattern S to be arranged thereon (YES at step S8), the control circuit 61 changes the coordinate value of the cutting data (cutting line data) on the basis of the hold position data of the object 6B so that the pattern S is located in an area inside the outline OL2 (step S9).
In the above-described case, the control circuit 61 sets the pattern S at an arrangement position that is located 5 mm inside the outline OL2 and shifted toward a left rear corner, for example. More specifically, the arrangement position of the pattern S is changed so as to have such a coordinate value that a blank space G of 5 mm is defined between the line segment L24 of the outline OL2 and the left side of the rectangular frame W and between the line segment L21 and the rear side of the rectangular frame W. As a result, the pattern S is adapted to be automatically set at an arrangement position where the cutting line thereof is reliably within an area of the object 6B and which improves the yield. The coordinate value of the arrangement position of the pattern S set by the automatic arrangement is stored on the RAM 63 as cutting data of the pattern S.
Furthermore, the control circuit 61 proceeds to step S9 to generate data of a composite image in which the pattern S is superimposed on the image of object 6A or 6B at the set arrangement position, based on the image data generated at step S2 and post-conversion cutting data. The control circuit 61 then displays an arrangement display screen on the display 9 to display the pattern S located at the set arrangement position on the screen, as shown in
The user then operates one or more of the operation switches 65 to instruct start of cutting. In this case, the pattern S is cut out of the object 6B by the cutting unit 58 on the basis of the cutting data with the arrangement position of the pattern S serving as a cutting position on the object 6B, that is, on the supposition that the coordinate origin OL0 of the post-conversion cutting data corresponds to the cutting position of the object 6B (step S10). Thus, the pattern S of “star” is completely cut out of the yellow object 6B (END).
When the control circuit 61 determines at step S8 that the object 6 is not sized so as to allow the pattern to be arranged thereon (NO), the display 9 displays, as a result of determination, a message that the pattern cannot be arranged on the object 6 (step S11). In this case, the control circuit 61 returns to step S5, so that the user can reselect a pattern.
When a pattern selected by the user is correlated with color data, differing from the above-described case of the pattern S (YES at step S6), the control circuit 61 checks detection color data of the objects 6A and 6B regarding color data of the selected pattern to determine whether or not an object in a color correlated with the pattern is on the holding sheet 10 (step S12). For example, color data of “yellow” is set on the pattern B of “banana” as shown in
Furthermore, the control circuit 61 sets the object 6B as a target on which the pattern B is to be placed, based on the result of determination at step S12 (step S13). When a plurality of objects in respective colors correlated with the pattern B is placed on the holding sheet 10, the control circuit 61 selects one of the objects (a larger object, for example). Subsequently, the control circuit 61 proceeds to step S8 to determine whether or not the object 6B is sized so as to allow the pattern B to be arranged thereon, based on the hold position data of the outline OL2 of the object 6B and the shape data of a rectangular frame (not shown) of the pattern B of “banana.” When determining that the pattern B can be arranged on the object 6B (YES at step S8), an arrangement position of the pattern B on the object 6B is automatically set. A pattern B arrangement display screen is displayed or the display 9 (step S9). Thereafter, the pattern B of “banana” is cut out of the object 6B of a predetermined color by the cutting unit 58 with the arrangement position serving as a cutting position in the object 6B (step S10).
When determining at step S12 that there is no object that has detection color data which corresponds or approximates to the color of the pattern on the holding sheet 10 (NO), the control circuit 61 actuates the display 9 to display a message that there is no object 6 in color related to the pattern, as the result of determination (step S14). In this case, the control circuit 61 returns to step S5, so that the user can reselect a pattern.
When cutting is carried out by the above-described cutting apparatus 1, the solenoid 57 can be driven to press the contact portion 56f against the object 6, and the object 6 can be held by an adhesive force of the adhesive layer 10a of the holding sheet 10 so as not to stir. The pressing member 56 is moved relative to the object 6 in this case. However, since the contact portion 56f of the pressing member 56 is formed of a material with low friction coefficients, a fractional force caused between the contact portion 56f and the object 6 can be reduced as much as possible. Accordingly, the object 6 can be prevented from movement due to the frictional force, whereupon the object 6 can be held more reliably and cut more accurately.
The control circuit 61 in relation with execution of steps S8 and S9 serves as an arrangement unit which sets an arrangement position on the object 6 of the pattern selected by the pattern selecting unit, based on the hold position of the object 6 detected by the detection unit.
The control circuit 61 of the foregoing embodiment executes a detection routine (steps S2 to S4) of detecting information inclusive of the hold position of the object 6 held on the holding sheet 10 and an arrangement routine (steps S8 and S9) of setting an arrangement position on the object 6 of the pattern selected by the pattern selecting unit, based on the hold position of the object 6 detected in the detection routine. According to this, the arrangement position of the pattern on the object 6 is set in the arrangement routine based on the hold position of the object 6 detected in the detection routine. Accordingly, even when the object 6 is affixed to any position on the holding sheet 10, the pattern is automatically arranged so as to correspond to the hold position of the object 6, with the result that the pattern can be cut more easily. Additionally, a failure that a pattern to be cut runs over the object 6 can be prevented.
The control circuit 61 executes a display routine (step S9) of displaying a pattern so that the pattern corresponds to the arrangement position, when the arrangement position of the pattern has been set in the arrangement routine. According to this, the user can view the pattern selected by the pattern selecting unit together with the arrangement position thereof. Furthermore, the user can confirm that the arrangement position of the pattern corresponds to a desired cutting position according to the hold position of the object 6.
When the user affixes a plurality of types of objects 6 to arbitrary positions on the holding sheet 10, the control circuit 61 determines as a type determination unit whether or not the objects 6 includes one related with the selected pattern (see step S6 and a type determination routine at step S12). When the selected pattern and the object 6 related with the selected pattern are present, the arrangement position of the pattern on the corresponding object 6 is automatically set. As a result, the selected pattern can be cut out of the predetermined type of the object 6 without the user setting an arrangement position of the pattern on the object 6. Furthermore, based on the type data of the pattern and the detection data of the object 6, the control circuit 61 determines whether or not a type of object 6 related with the pattern is on the holding sheet 10. This can prevent the cutting based on a wrong type of object 6 can be prevented.
The type data includes at least the color data specifying the color of the object 6. Furthermore, the detection data includes at least the detection color data specifying the color of the object 6. Consequently, the arrangement position of the selected pattern can automatically be set on the object 6 of a predetermined color, whereupon the object of an incorrect color can be prevented from being cut.
By the use of the imaging member 59, types of designs, materials and the like of the object 6 can be obtained from the image data as detection data as well as the color of the object 6. The type data may then include design data (for example, polka-dot, stripe, waffle pattern and the like) specifying design of the object 6 or material data (for example, coat paper, art paper, matte paper and the like in the case of paper; and felt, denim, broadcloth and the like in the case of cloth) as well as the color data. More specifically, the control circuit 61 may be configured to set an arrangement position of a type of object 6 related with any one of types of color data, design data and material data, based on detection data of color, design, material and the like of the object 6. As a result, a desired pattern and the object 6 with design suitable for the pattern can be cut in correlation with each other, for example. Furthermore, since the objects 6 differ in thickness, stretchability or the like depending upon the material, a pattern with a complicated shape and an object 6 with a low stretchability may be correlated with each other, whereupon a suitable cutting manner can be carried out according to a material of the object 6.
The control circuit 61 and the display 9 constitute a first informing unit and execute a first informing routine of informing of the result of determination by the type determination unit at steps S14 and S9. According to this, when the object 6 differs from a predetermined type, the user resets the objects based on the contents informed by the first informing unit, thereby reliably preventing the cutting of a wrong type of object 6.
The control circuit 61 serves as a size determination unit and executes, at step S8, a size determination routine of determining whether or not the object 6 on the holding sheet 10 has a size corresponding to the pattern.
When the user has affixed to the holding sheet 10 a plurality of objects 6 having different sizes at respective any positions, the control circuit 61 determines, in the size determination routine, whether or not the objects 6 include one corresponding to the shape of the selected pattern. When the objects 6 include one corresponding to the shape of the selected pattern, the control circuit 61 proceeds to the arrangement routine to automatically set an arrangement position of the pattern on the corresponding object 6. As a result, the selected pattern can be cut out of the object 6 inside which the selected pattern fits without the user setting an arrangement position of the pattern on the object 6 in the cutting apparatus 1. Accordingly, the entire pattern can be cut out of the object 6 having a size corresponding to the selected pattern, whereupon the pattern can be prevented from being cut out of the object 6 with a wrong hold position or a wrong size.
The control circuit 61 and the display 9 constitute a second informing unit and execute a second informing routine of informing of the result of determination in the size determination routine at steps S9 and S11. According to this, the user can reliably recognize size suitability of the object 6 set on the holding sheet 10. This can reliably prevent the cutting of a wrong type of object 6.
FIGS 14 and 15 illustrate a second embodiment. Only the differences between the first and second embodiments will be described. Identical or similar parts are labeled in the second embodiment by the same reference symbols as those in the first embodiment.
The same processes as the steps S1 to S4 in the first embodiment are carried out in the second embodiment as shown in the flowchart of
Either or any one of the plural objects 6A and 6B is selected before selection of a pattern in the second embodiment. More specifically, the object selecting screen is displayed on the display 9 at step S25. The user operates one or more of the operation switches 65 to select desired object Nos. 1 and 2. In this case, when the object 6 of object No. 2 is selected, for example, the control circuit 61 checks color data of a plurality of patterns stored in the external memory 64 (data indicated by RGB values, for example) to determine whether or not there is a pattern whose color data corresponds or approximates to detection color data (RGB values of “yellow”) of the object 6B (step S26).
When there is no pattern whose color data corresponds or approximates to detection color data of the object 6B (NO at step S26), the control circuit 61 displays, as the result of determination, that there is no pattern related with the color of the object 6 (step S27). In this case, the control circuit 61 returns to step S25 in order that the user may reselect the object 6A or 6B.
On the other hand, when there is a pattern whose color data corresponds or approximates to detection color data of the object 6B (YES at step S26), a pattern selecting screen as shown in
The control circuit 61 successively determines whether or not the object 6B has a size allowing the pattern B to be arranged thereon, based on the hold position data of the object 6 and shape data of a rectangular frame (not shown) of the selected pattern B (step S29). When the object 6B has a size allowing the pattern B to be arranged thereon (YES at step S29), the control circuit 61 converts the coordinate value of the cutting data so that the pattern B fits inside the object 6B, based on the hold position data of the outline OL2. Furthermore, post-conversion cutting data is stored on the RAM 63 and an arrangement display screen displaying the pattern S at the arrangement position is displayed on the display 9 in the same manner as in the first embodiment (step S30).
Subsequently, upon instruction of cutting start, the pattern B is cut by the cutting unit 58 with the aforesaid arrangement position serving as a cutting position in the object 6B (step S31). Thus, the pattern B of the color related with the object 6B of “yellow” can be cut out of the desired object 6 (END).
When determining at step S29 that the object 6B does not have a size allowing the pattern B to be arranged thereon (NO), the control circuit 61 displays, as the result of determination, that the pattern cannot be arranged on the object 6 (step S32). In this case, the control circuit 61 returns to step S28 so that the user can re-execute pattern selection.
The control circuit 61 and the operation switches 65 serve as the object selecting unit which selects a desired object from the plural objects 6. Furthermore, the control circuit 61 related with execution of steps S26 and S23 serves as the pattern selecting unit which selects a pattern related with the type (color) of the selected object, based on the detection data (detection color data) of type of the object 6 selected by the object selection unit and type data (color data) of a plurality of patterns stored on the first storage unit.
The control circuit 61 sets an arrangement position on the selected object 6 of the pattern selected by the pattern selecting unit (steps S29 and S30). According to this, the pattern can be cut out of the selected object 6 without the user setting the arrangement position of the pattern on the object 6 in the cutting apparatus 1. The pattern selecting unit further selects a pattern related with the type of the selected object based on the type data of the pattern and detection data of the object. As a result, the pattern can be cut out of the predetermined type of object.
The control circuit 61 and the display 9 both related with execution of the step S27 serve as a third informing unit which informs of the result of selection by the pattern selecting unit. According to this, when there is no pattern related with the selected object 6, the user can re-select an object 6 based on the contents informed of by the third informing unit or take another measure, whereupon a wrong type of object 6 can reliably be prevented from being cut.
The foregoing embodiments described with reference to the accompanying drawings are not restrictive but may be modified or expanded as follows. Although the cutting apparatus 1 has been applied to the cutting plotter in the foregoing embodiments, the cutting apparatus 1 may be applied to various types of apparatuses having respective cutting functions.
The detection unit should not be limited to the configuration employing the imaging member 59. The detection unit may be constituted by another image input unit capable of obtaining a color image, instead. Furthermore, the detection unit may be constituted by an image input unit capable of obtaining a monochrome image. Although not shown, the pattern selecting unit may include the display 9 and a touch panel mounted on the front of the display 9 and having a plurality of touch keys composed of a transparent electrode. In this case, when the touch key is operated by a finger of the user or depressed by a touch pen, whereby various parameters may be set and various functions may be instructed as well as selection of the pattern and the object 6.
The first and second storage units should not be limited to the external memory 64 but may be another inner storage unit incorporated in the cutting apparatus 1 or an external storage unit detachably attached to the cutting apparatus 1. The first to third informing units should not be limited to the display unit including the display 9 but may be configured to inform the user of reaffixing of a new object 6 and the like by activation of a buzzer or lighting of an alarm lamp. A loud speaker may be provided to produce a sound.
The arrangement setting program stored on the storage unit in the cutting apparatus 1 may be stored by a non-transitory computer readable storage medium such as a USB memory, CD-ROM, a flexible disc, DVD or a flash memory. In this case, the arrangement setting program may be loaded from the storage medium to a computer of each one of various apparatuses provided with a cutting function, whereby the same working and advantageous effects as those in the foregoing embodiments may be achieved.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-006122 | Jan 2012 | JP | national |
