Patent Application
20130180373
This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2012-6123 filed on Jan. 16, 2012, the content of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a cutting plotter, which cuts a pattern from a cut target by a cutting blade, and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions executable by a processor of a cutting plotter.
2. Description of Related Art
Cutting plotters, which automatically cut a sheet (e.g., a paper), have been known. The sheet is affixed to a holding member which has an adhesive layer on a surface thereof. The cutting plotter pinches both edge of the holding member in an up-down direction by pinch rollers to moves the holding member in a front-back direction. The cutting plotter moves a carriage including a cutting blade in a right-left direction which is perpendicular to the front-back direction. A desired pattern is cut from the sheet by the relative movement between the carriage and the holding member.
In conventional cutting plotters, it is not considered that cutting a pattern from the sheet that is affixed to anywhere of the holding member. It is not considered as well that plural sheets adhere to the single holding member, and patterns are cut from the plural sheets. Thus, a user needs to set positions, from which patterns are cut, on each of one or more sheets that adhere to the holding member, requiring cumbersome operations.
A purpose of the present disclosure is to provide a cutting plotter and a non-transitory computer-readable medium storing computer-readable instructions executable by a processor of a cutting plotter that make it possible to easily and accurately set positions of patterns on a cutting target held on the holding member.
A cutting plotter includes a cut mechanism, an operation device, a processor and a memory. The cut mechanism is configured to cut a pattern from a cut target by relatively moving a cutting blade and a holding member. The holding member is configured to hold the cut target and being to be set on the cutting plotter. The operation device is configured to receive input. The memory stores computer-readable instructions therein, wherein the computer-readable instructions instruct the cutting plotter to execute steps including designating, selecting, determining, and instructing. The designating includes designating a partial area based on an input received by the operation device. The partial area is a pan of a holding area in which the cut target is held. The selecting includes selecting, a certain pattern from plural patterns based on an input received by the operation device. The determining includes determining a position, included in the partial area, of the certain pattern on the cut target. The instructing includes instructing the cut mechanism to cut the certain pattern from the position on the cut target determined by the determining.
In the accompanying drawings:
One embodiment will be described with reference to
On a right part of the body cover 2 are provided a full-color liquid crystal display (LCD) 9 and an operation device 65 including a plurality of operation switches (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 holding sheet 10 holding the cut target 6 is set on the upper surface of the platen 3. The holding sheet 10 is received by the platen 3 when the cut target 6 is cut. The holding sheet 10 has an upper surface with an adhesive layer 10v formed by applying an adhesive agent to an inside region thereof except for peripheral edges 101 to 104 as will be described in detail later. The user affixes the cut target 6 to the adhesive layer 10v, whereby the cut target 6 is held by the holding sheet 10.
The first moving unit 7 moves the holding sheet 10 on the upper surface of the platen 3 in the Y direction. 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 respectively. The driving roller 12 and the pinch roller 13 are disposed so as to be parallel to the X-Y 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 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, as shown in
A second mounting frame 24 is mounted on the right sidewall 11b in the rear of the cutting plotter 1, and an auxiliary frame 25 is mounted on the left sidewall 11a in the rear of the cutting plotter 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. 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 serving as the 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 mounted on the support shafts 33a and 33b, a movable cylindrical portion 46 which has as 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 cut target 6. More specifically, the holder body 45 has an upper end 45a and a lower end 45b both of which are folded backward such that the holder body 45 is generally formed into a C-shape, as shown in
Mounting members Si 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 is mounted on the movable cylindrical portion 46 so as to extend 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 will now be described in detail with reference to
The holding sheet 10 is made of, for example, a synthetic resin and formed into a fiat rectangular plate shape. In the embodiment, the holding sheet 10 is square in shape for the sake of easiness in the description. The holding sheet 10 serving as a holding member has an adhesive layer 10v on a surface thereof (an tipper surface, for example) opposed to the cutter 4 (see
The holding sheet 10 has a peripheral edge including right and left edges 102 and 101 and front and rear edges 104 and 103 in each of which no adhesive layer 10v is provided. The right and left edges 102 and 101 serve as supported portions which are vertically held by the pressing portions 12a to 13b of the drive roller 12 and the pinch roller 13 thereby to be supported.
The holding sheet 10 is provided with a base line 59 which defines the area of the adhesive layer 10v as the holding area. The base line 59 includes a first base line 59a which extends along an outer edge of the holding area and has a square shape, and a second base line 59b which divides the holding area into a plurality of parts each having a predetermined size. The base lines 59a and 59b are printed directly on an upper surface of the holding sheet 10 in black, for example. The base lines 59a and 59b are visible through the transparent adhesive layer 10v.
The holding area is divided into four square partial areas 60 by the first and second base lines 59a and 59b in the holding sheet 10A of
Referring now to
The holding sheet 10 includes various divided patterns along with the holding sheets 10A and 10B each having a lattice-shaped divided pattern as described above. The holding sheet 10 includes one in which the holding areas are set so as to differ in the size and shape by the second base lines 59b serving as dividing lines (see
The cutting plotter 1 is provided with a detection sensor 66 (see
An electrical arrangement of the control system of the cutting plotter 1 will now be described with reference to the block diagram of
To the processor 61 are connected various operation switches of the operation device 65, the detection sensor 66 and the display 9. The display 9 is configured to display a pattern selecting, screen (see
To the processor 61 are further connected drive circuits 67, 68, 69 and 70 driving the Y-axis motor 15, the X-axis motor 26, the Z-axis motor 34 and the solenoid 57 respectively. The processor 61 executes the cutting, control program to control the Y-axis motor 15, the X-axis motor 26, the Z-axis motor 34 and the solenoid 57, whereby a cutting operation is automatically carried out for the cut target 6 on the holding sheet 10.
The external memory 64 stores holding area information regarding the aforementioned holding sheet 10. The holding area information is used to specify the partial areas 60 with respect to a plurality of types of holding sheets 10. More specifically, the holding area information includes area data of first to fourth partial areas 601 A to 604A in the case of the holding sheet 10A. The area data of the first partial area 604A is composed of data of coordinate values ((Xa1, Ya1) . . . (XaN, YaN)), for example, as shown in
Regarding the second to fourth partial areas 602A to 604A, the respective positions on the holding sheet 10A are also specified on the basis of area data (XbN, YbN) to (XdN, YdN) indicative of intersections of the line segments L21 to L24, L31 to L34 and L41 to L44 in the same manner as described above. The area data of the partial areas 601A to 604A is stored on the external memory 64 while being associated with area numbers 1 to 4 (see circled numerals in
The holding area information of the holding sheet 10A is represented by coordinate values of the line segments L11 to L44 corresponding, to the base line 59. Furthermore, the holding area information is defined by a coordinate system of the cutting plotter 1 with the origin of the holding sheet 10A serving as the reference point. Differing from the holding sheet 10A, a holding sheet 10 including curved lines defining the partial areas 60 may have area data composed of coordinate values of bending points obtained by substituting the curved lines with a finite number of straight lines. Furthermore, the holding area information includes data for the purpose of display.
The external memory 64 stores cutting data used to cut a pattern by the cutting plotter 1. The cutting data includes basic size information and cutting line data as shown in
The cutting line data includes coordinate value data indicative of X-Y coordinates of the apexes of a cutting, line composed of a plurality of line segments. The coordinate value data is also defined by the coordinate system of the cutting plotter 1. More specifically, a cutting line of the pattern S includes line segments S1 to S10 and is formed into a closed star shape having a cutting start point P0 and a cutting end point P10 both of which correspond with each other, as shown in
More specifically, when the pattern S is cut, the cutter 4 of the cutting plotter 1 is relatively moved to the X-Y coordinate of the cutting start point P0. In the relative movement, the holding sheet 10 (the cut target 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. Subsequently, the blade edge 4c of the cutter 4 is caused to penetrate through the cutting start point P0 of the cut target 6 by the third moving unit 44. The cutter 44 is relatively moved toward the coordinate of the end point P of the line segment S1 by the first and second moving units 7 and 8, so that the cut target 6 is cut along the line segment S1. Regarding the next line segment S2, cutting is continuously executed with the end point P1 of the previous line segment S1 serving as a start point in the same manner as the line segment S1. Thus, cutting is executed sequentially continuously regarding the line segments S2 to S10 whereby the cutting line of the pattern S or “star” is cut on the basis of the cutting line data.
In cutting the above-mentioned pattern, the processor 61 is configured to execute the arrangement setting program to identify the partial area 60 on the holding sheet 10, which partial area 60 is designated by the user. The processor 61 is further configured as an arrangement unit which automatically sets an arrangement position of the pattern relative to the cut target 6 so that the arrangement position corresponds to the identified partial area 60. Accordingly, even when a single or a plurality of cut targets 6 is affixed to any partial areas 60 of the holding sheet 10, only designation of the partial area 60 can accurately adapt the cutting position of the pattern to the position where the cut target 6 is affixed.
The working of the cutting plotter 1 will now be described with reference to
The user affixes the cut targets 6A to 6D to the partial areas 601A to 604A respectively. The cut targets 6A to 6D are thus held so as to cover an entire area of the adhesive layer 10v serving as the holding area and so as not to overlap one another. The user then sets the holding sheet 10 holding the cut targets 6A to 6D through the opening 2a of the cutting plotter 1. The user then operates one of the operation switches of the operation device 65 to instruct “paper feed.” As a result, the processor 61 controls the first moving unit 7 so that the holding sheet 10 is fed backward. The processor 61 further executes an initializing process to set the origin O of the holding sheet 10 (step S1).
On the other hand, the processor 61 generates an image signal based on data of the holding sheet 10 stored on the external memory 64, transmitting the signal to the display 9. As a result, the holding sheet selecting screen as shown in
As a result, holding area information of the selected holding sheet 10A is retrieved to be stored on the RAM 63 (step S3). Thereafter, a partial area selecting screen (not shown) is displayed. The partial areas 601A to 604A serving as the holding areas are displayed on the partial area selecting screen. More specifically, the holding sheets 10A are displayed by scaled-back base lines 59′ on the partial area selecting screen in the same manner as holding sheet selecting careen, for example. In this case, area numbers 1 to 4 corresponding to the respective partial areas 601A to 604A may also be displayed together with the holding sheets 10A, as shown in
Next, the pattern selecting screen is displayed on the display 9 in order that the user may select a desired pattern, as shown in
In more detail, the point O corresponding to the origin of the holding sheet 10A is set as a coordinate origin with respect to the arrangement position of the pattern S, as shown in FIG 10C. The cutting data of the pattern S is then converted to such a coordinate value that blank spaces G of 5 mm are formed between the line segment L34 of the partial area 603A and the left side of the rectangular frame F and between the line segment L31 and a rear side of the rectangular frame F respectively. As a result, the arrangement of the pattern S is automatically set so that the cutting line thereof reliably falls within the cut target 6C and is located closer to one corner of the cut target 6C. In this case, the coordinate value set by the automatic arrangement of the pattern S is stored on the RAM 63 as the cutting data of the pattern S.
The processor 61 generates an image signal indicative of the image of the pattern S located at the set arrangement position, based on information stored on the RAM 63, more specifically, the information about the holding area of the selected holding sheet 10A and the coordinate value set by automatic arrangement of the pattern S. The processor 61 then transmits the image signal to the display 9, whereby the display 9 displays an arrangement display screen which displays the pattern S assuming the set arrangement position as shown in
The user then operates one of the operation switches of the operation device 65 to instruct start of the cutting, whereby the cutting of the pattern S is started by the cut mechanism 58 on the basis of the cutting data. (step S8). The cutting is executed under the condition that the arrangement position of the pattern S is a cutting position of the cut target 6C, that is, the coordinate origin O of the post-conversion cutting data corresponds to the origin O of the holding sheet 10.
In execution of the cutting by the cutting plotter 1, the solenoid 57 is actuated so that the cut target 6 is pressed by the contact portion 56f. Furthermore, the cut target 6 is held by the adhesion of the adhesive layer 10v of the holding sheet 10 so as to be prevented from stirring or displacement. Still furthermore, the contact portion 56f of the pressing member 56 is made of the material with a lower coefficient of friction although the pressing member 56 is moved relative to the cut target 6 during the cutting. This can reduce a frictional force caused between the contact portion 56f and the cut target 6 to a value as small as possible. Consequently, the cut target e can be held more reliably while being prevented from displacement due to the frictional force, and accordingly, the cut target 6 can be cut accurately on the basis of the cutting data. The whole pattern S of “star” is thus cut out of the cut target 6C.
The above-described steps S2 to S4 serve as a designation routine of designating the partial area 60 that is at least a part of the holding area of the holding sheet 10, which part holding the cut target 6. The processor 61 executing the steps S2 to S4, the operation switches of the operation device 65 and the display 9 serve as a designating unit. Furthermore, the designation routine includes a pattern selection routine of alternatively selecting one of a plurality of types of divided patterns (the partial areas 60 of each configuration). The processor 61 executing the pattern selection routine functions as a pattern selecting unit, together with the operation device 65 and the display 9.
The processor 61 in the embodiment thus serves as an arranging unit which executes an arrangement routine of setting the arrangement position of the cut target 6 by relating the pattern S selected by the pattern selecting unit to the partial area 60 designated in the designation routine (step S6). The pattern is cut by the cut mechanism 58 with the arrangement position set in the arrangement routine serving as a cutting position of the cut target 6. According to this configuration, the arrangement position of the pattern on the cut target 6 is automatically set by the arrangement routine while the selected pattern is related to the partial area 60 designated by the designation routine. Accordingly, even when a single or a plurality of cut targets 6 is affixed to any partial areas 60 of the holding sheet 10 only designation of the partial area 60 can accurately adapt the cutting position of the pattern to the position where the cut target 6 is affixed. Consequently, a desired pattern can easily be cut without troublesome work such as confirmation and adjustment of the arrangement position of the pattern.
The partial areas 60 are obtained by dividing the holding area into a plurality of areas each having a predetermined size. Accordingly, waste of the cut target can be reduced since the cutting is executed using the cut target 6 which has substantially the same size as a single partial area 60 or a plurality of partial areas 60. Furthermore, even when the cut target 6 is affixed to any one of a plurality of partial areas 60, the pattern can be cut at a desired position by designating the partial area 60.
A plurality of types of patterns is set as divided patterns different from each other. The designation routine includes the pattern selection routine of alternatively selecting one of the divided patterns. According to this configuration, a most suitable divided pattern can he selected according to the configuration and size of the pattern when a partial area 60 of a desired divided pattern is alternatively selected by the pattern selection routine. Furthermore, waste of the cut target 6 can further be reduced when the cutting is executed using the cut target 6 having substantially the same pattern as any one of a plurality of types of divided patterns, according to the configuration and/or the size of the pattern.
The holding sheet 10 is provided with the markers corresponding to a plurality of types of divided patterns respectively. According to this configuration, the user can accurately affix the cut target 6 to the holding sheet 10 by mating the cut target 6 with the markers, and the cutting position of the pattern can be prevented from displacement relative to the cut target 6.
A plurality of types of holding sheets 10 is prepared which differs in the markers corresponding to the respective divided patterns. Accordingly, the user can suitably select and use the holding sheet 10 with the marker according, to the configuration and/or size of the pattern or the configuration and/or size of the cut target the user has at hand. The markers are the base line 59 provided on the holding sheet 10. Consequently, the user can view the divided pattern as the base line 59, with the result that the cut target 6 can accurately be affixed along the base line 59.
The processor 61 is configured to execute the display routine of displaying the pattern while the pattern is related to the arrangement position set by the arrangement unit (step S7). According to this configuration, the user can view the pattern selected by the pattern selecting unit, together with the arrangement position thereof on the display unit. Furthermore, the user can confirm, before the cutting, that the arrangement position is the predetermined cutting position according to the position of cut target 6 affixed to the holding sheet 10.
The foregoing embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings is not restrictive but may he modified or expanded as follows. Although the cutting plotter 1 has been applied to the cutting plotter in the foregoing embodiments, the cutting plotter 1 may be applied to various types of apparatuses having respective cutting functions.
The arrangement setting program includes step S4 where the partial area selecting screen is displayed for selection of a partial area 60 and step S5 where the pattern selecting screen is displayed for selection of a pattern. The steps S4 and S5 may be carried out in reverse order. Thus, even when a partial area 60 is selected after selection of a pattern, an arrangement position on the cut target 6 can be set by relating the arrangement position to the partial area 60, whereupon this modified form can achieve the same advantageous effects as the foregoing embodiment.
The pattern selecting unit may include the display 9 and a touch panel (not shown) provided on the front of the display 9 and having a plurality of touch keys further including transparent electrodes. In this configuration, when the touch keys are depressed with a finger of the user or a touch pen, various parameters may be set and various functions may be instructed as well as selection of a pattern and a holding sheet 10.
The markers should not be limited to the above-described base line 59 and the identification mark indicated by the numerals. For example, although the base line 59 is a black solid line in the foregoing, embodiment, the base line 59 may be red, yellow or in any other color. The base line 59 may be a broken line or any other type of line. Furthermore, a thickness or width of the base line 59 may be changed in an appropriate manner. The identification mark may be a character or a symbol, instead of the numeral. Still furthermore, the partial areas 60 may be colored in different colors. Thus, any markers corresponding to the respective divided patterns may be employed.
The arrangement setting program stored on the storage unit in the cutting plotter 1 may be stored by a non-transitory computer readable storage medium such as a USB memory, CD-ROM, to 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012-006123 | Jan 2012 | JP | national |
