JP5122831B2 - Cutting apparatus and control method thereof - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a cutting device and a control method thereof.

  Conventionally, the cutter blade is attached to the cutter holder so as to be eccentrically rotatable, and the cutter holder is moved relative to the medium to be cut in a two-dimensional manner while the blade edge is in contact with the sheet-like medium to be cut. Cutting devices that cut into shapes are known.

  In such a cutting apparatus, if the cutting edge direction of the cutter is not fixed at the start of cutting, the position of the cutting edge varies and the cutting start position is shifted. Therefore, various means for determining the cutter blade direction at the start of cutting have been proposed.

As such a conventional cutting device, for example, in Patent Document 1, the cutting edge is brought into contact with the cutting medium (the medium to be cut) at a position near the starting point of the cut line and moved toward the starting point in that state. Thus, there is described a cutting plotter in which the cutting edge direction is made coincident with the moving direction, the cutting edge is arranged at the starting point, and the cutting edge is rotated around the starting point position where the cutting edge moves to match the cutting direction.
JP 2001-9783 A

  However, the above-described conventional cutting apparatus and its control method have the following problems.

  In the technique described in Patent Literature 1, since the blade edge direction is made to coincide with the moving direction in the process of moving the blade edge on the medium to be cut, the blade edge direction is determined, so the blade edge is first brought into contact with the medium to be cut. The direction of the edge of the hour has not been determined. Therefore, for example, when the cutting edge direction is the reverse direction that is 180 ° shifted from the moving direction of the cutting edge, even if the cutter holder is moved, the cutting edge does not rotate and is set in the direction opposite to the initialization direction, and the cut start position Then, since it is propelled in the reverse direction where the cutting edge is not formed, there is a problem that the medium to be cut cannot be cut. Further, when the movement in the cutting direction is continued in this state, there is a problem that the surface may be scraped off or torn by the medium to be cut.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a cutting apparatus and a control method therefor that can reliably set the cutter blade edge in the initialization direction without damaging the medium to be cut. With the goal.

In order to solve the above-described problems, in the cutting device of the present invention, the cutting edge is arranged so that the cutting edge is eccentrically rotated about a rotation axis perpendicular to the medium to be cut, and the cutting edge direction of the cutter. A cutting device having blade edge direction initialization means for moving the cutting medium so as to be directed in a cutting direction when abutting on the cut medium at a cutting start position, and control means for controlling the blade edge direction initialization means. The blade edge direction initialization means includes a lifting mechanism that moves the cutter relative to the medium to be cut and a horizontal movement that relatively moves the cutter in two axial directions in a plane parallel to the medium to be cut. comprising a mechanism, with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the rotation axis as a predetermined direction, and a cutting edge direction detection mechanism wherein the cutting edge is detected whether or not positioned in the predetermined direction, said control means And controlling the elevating mechanism to dispose the cutter blade edge above the medium to be cut, and controlling the elevating mechanism to lower the cutter so that the cutter blade edge is lightly applied to the medium to be cut. The blade edge direction detection mechanism is controlled to detect whether or not the blade edge is positioned on the predetermined direction side with respect to a straight line orthogonal to the predetermined direction, and the blade edge is When located on the direction side, the cutter is moved in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction in a state where the cutting edge is lightly in contact with the medium to be cut by controlling the horizontal movement mechanism, and the cutting edge direction is changed to the cutting edge direction. When the cutting edge is oriented in the opposite direction of the predetermined direction and the cutting edge is not positioned on the predetermined direction side, the horizontal movement mechanism is controlled so that the cutting edge is in light contact with the medium to be cut and the cutter is moved to the predetermined direction. Direction And moving the blade edge direction to the predetermined direction, controlling the lifting mechanism to place the cutter blade edge above the medium to be cut, and controlling the horizontal movement mechanism and the lifting mechanism. Then, the cutting edge of the cutter is brought into contact with the cutting start position, and the horizontal movement mechanism is controlled to rotate in the cutting direction in a state where the cutting edge of the cutter is brought into contact with the cutting start position .

In the cutting apparatus control method of the present invention, the cutting edge has a cutter that is held so as to be eccentrically rotatable about a rotation axis perpendicular to the medium to be cut, and the cutting edge direction of the cutter is set at the cutting start position. A method of controlling a cutting device that performs cutting after facing a cutting direction when abutting against the medium to be cut, wherein the cutter blade edge is disposed above the medium to be cut and the cutter is lowered. The cutter edge is lightly in contact with the medium to be cut, and it is detected whether the edge is positioned on the predetermined direction side with respect to a straight line perpendicular to the predetermined direction. When located on the predetermined direction side, the cutter edge is moved in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction in a state where the blade edge is lightly in contact with the medium to be cut, and the edge direction is set to the predetermined direction. When the cutting edge is not positioned on the predetermined direction side, the cutter is moved in the predetermined direction with the cutting edge lightly contacting the medium to be cut, and the cutting edge direction is set to the predetermined direction. And directing the cutting edge in the predetermined direction or in the opposite direction of the predetermined direction, the cutting edge is disposed above the medium to be cut, and the cutter is moved to move the cutting edge to the cutting edge. contacting the cut start position, the characterized by rotating the cutting direction while the cutting edge of the cutter is brought into contact with the cutting start position.

  According to the cutting device and the control method thereof of the present invention, the cutting edge direction is detected by moving the cutter in the initialization direction on the medium to be cut, with the cutting edge direction being detected and the direction in which the cutting edge direction is 90 ° or less as the initialization direction. Since the cutting edge of the cutter can be reliably set in the initialization direction without damaging the medium to be cut.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In all the drawings, even if the embodiments are different, the same or corresponding members are denoted by the same reference numerals, and common description is omitted.

  A cutting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

  FIGS. 1A and 1B are a plan view schematically showing a schematic configuration of a cutting apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention and a cross-sectional view taken along line AA. 2A and 2B are a front sectional view and a partial plan view schematically showing a schematic configuration of the cutter head of the cutting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a configuration block diagram showing the configuration of the control unit of the cutting device according to the embodiment of the present invention.

  Note that the XYZ coordinate system described in the figure is provided for convenience in order to refer to the relative direction, the XY plane is aligned with the horizontal plane, and the positive Z-axis direction is aligned with the vertical upward direction. They are arranged in the same posture in each figure (the same applies to the following figures). Hereinafter, based on such a positional relationship, the horizontal direction, the vertical direction, and the like may be referred to as a direction parallel to the XY plane, a Z-axis direction, or the like.

  The cutting apparatus 1 of this embodiment carries in, for example, a sheet-like medium 50 (medium to be cut) such as paper, synthetic paper, or a plastic film from the negative side of the X axis, and on the XY plane, as necessary. The medium 50 is cut into a two-dimensional shape in the process of reciprocating conveyance in the X-axis direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the schematic configuration of the cutting apparatus 1 includes a platen 14, a media feeding mechanism 10 (first moving mechanism), a cutter 8, a cutter head 2, and a cutter head moving mechanism 30 (first). 2 movement mechanism), and the control part 100 (refer FIG. 3). The media feeding mechanism 10 and the cutter head moving mechanism 30 constitute a horizontal moving mechanism that relatively moves the cutter 8 in two axial directions in a plane parallel to the medium 50.

  The platen 14 is supported from the back side when the medium 50 is transported and cut, and serves as a pedestal when the medium 50 is cut. The platen 14 includes a plate member that extends in the Y direction on the XY plane.

  The medium feeding mechanism 10 moves the medium 50 along the X-axis direction (first direction), and is disposed on the X-axis negative direction side in the vicinity of the platen 14.

  In the present embodiment, each rotating shaft extends in the Y-axis direction and is connected to the driving rollers 10a and 10b that sandwich the medium 50 from the Z-axis direction, and the driving rollers 10a and 10b via a transmission mechanism (not shown) and driven. The motor 10c rotates the rollers 10a and 10b so that the rollers 10a and 10b can rotate forward and backward.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the motor 10 c is electrically connected to the X-axis drive circuit 106 of the control unit 100, and the amount of rotation is controlled in the forward and reverse directions according to the control signal from the control unit 100. ing.

  As shown in FIG. 2A, the cutter 8 is formed with a blade portion 8a for cutting the medium 50 at the lower end portion of a rod-like cutter main body extending along the Z-axis direction. The detection plate 8b is projected, and is held by the cutter head 2 so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis O coinciding with the center axis of the cutter body. In the following, the intersection of the rotation axis O and a plane parallel to the XY plane may be referred to as a point O.

  The blade portion 8a is formed in a triangular pyramid shape having a cutting edge P at the lowermost end of the blade Q having a V-shaped cross section. The blade Q is formed on a plane that passes through the rotation axis O and is orthogonal to the XY plane. The cutting edge P is formed at a position that is offset from the rotation axis O by a horizontal distance r (where r> 0). For this reason, in order to perform cutting with the cutting edge P, it is necessary to align the position of the cutting edge P so that the cutting direction is a direction from the cutting edge P toward the rotation axis O. Hereinafter, the direction from the blade edge P toward the point O on the horizontal plane where the blade edge P is located is referred to as the blade edge direction of the blade portion 8a.

  The eccentricity r may be appropriately set as necessary, but is preferably set to, for example, about 0.5 mm to 1.0 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (b), the detection plate 8b is an opaque fan-shaped plate that is orthogonal to the blade edge direction PO and is opened at 180 ° along the straight line D passing through the rotation axis O. It is attached to the side of the cutter 8.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the cutter head 2 includes a cutter holder 11, an arm 13, an actuator 12 (elevating mechanism), and a cutter blade direction sensor 9 (detection sensor). It is housed in a housing 2a having an opening.

  The cutter holder 11 includes bearings 11a and 11a made of radial bearings at the upper end portion and the lower end portion, respectively, and the cutter 8 is fixed at a fixed position in the Z-axis direction with respect to the inner ring of these bearings 11a. It is the cylindrical member hold | maintained rotatably around.

  The cutter holder 11 is held by an arm 13 at an intermediate portion in the axial direction, and an actuator 12 is fixed to the lower surface side of the arm 13.

  The actuator 12 moves the arm 13 up and down in the Z-axis direction. In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2A, the iron core 12b is placed on the base 12a fixed on the housing 2a. A moving coil actuator is employed that is erected in the direction and moves the moving coil portion 12c up and down along the iron core 12b.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the actuator 12 is electrically connected to the Z-axis drive circuit 108 of the control unit 100, and the current value supplied to the moving coil unit 12 c is controlled by the control unit 100, so that the Z-axis direction The driving force and driving direction can be changed.

  The cutter blade direction detection sensor 9 is a non-contact type detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of the detection plate 8b at a fixed position. In the present embodiment, the cutter 8 is on a straight line passing through the rotation axis O and parallel to the Y axis. Is arranged at a detection position S on the Y axis positive direction side and above the detection plate 8b.

  The detection plate 8b and the cutter blade direction detection sensor 9 constitute a blade edge direction detection mechanism.

  As the non-contact type detection sensor, for example, a reflection type, a transmission type optical sensor, a capacitance sensor, a magnetic sensor, or the like can be appropriately employed depending on the configuration and material of the detection plate 8b. In the present embodiment, a reflective optical sensor is used.

  As shown in FIGS. 1A and 1B, the cutter head moving mechanism 30 moves the cutter head 2 above the platen 14 in a direction (second direction) perpendicular to the direction (X-axis direction) in which the medium 50 is conveyed. Direction), that is, to be movable in the Y-axis direction.

  In the present embodiment, the guide rail 3 extended in the Y-axis direction, the cutter carriage 4 movable along the guide rail 3 in the Y-axis direction, and the driving force in the Y-axis direction are transmitted to the cutter carriage 4. Therefore, the belt 5 is composed of belt pulleys 6 and 6 disposed on both sides in the extending direction of the guide rail 3, and a belt 5 that is an endless belt wound around the belt pulley 6 and a motor 7 that rotationally drives the belt pulley 6.

  A housing 2a of the cutter head 2 is fixed to the cutter carriage 4 in a state where the cutter 8 is disposed along the Z-axis direction with the blade portion 8a facing downward.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the motor 7 is electrically connected to the Y-axis drive circuit 107 of the control unit 100 and can be rotated in the forward and reverse directions using the control unit 100.

  The control unit 100 controls the overall operation of the cutting apparatus 1, and as shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 101, RAM 102, I / O 103, host I / F 104, ROM 105, X-axis drive circuit 106, Y-axis drive circuit. 107, a Z-axis drive circuit 108, and a cutter blade direction detection circuit 109.

  The CPU 101 is electrically connected to the RAM 102, the I / O 103, and the host I / F 104, loads the control program and control data stored in the ROM 105 into the RAM 102, and executes the control program. Then, the X-axis drive circuit 106, the Y-axis drive circuit 107, the Z-axis drive circuit 108, and the cutter blade direction detection that are electrically connected to the I / O 103 via the I / O 103 configured by an appropriate input / output interface. It communicates with the circuit 109 to send control signals to each of them and to receive signals including information necessary for control from each. The host I / F 104 is a communication interface for performing data communication with a host device 110 such as a personal computer through an appropriate communication line.

  The host device 110 supplies processing data representing the shape of the cut line for cutting to the cutting device 1.

  The X-axis drive circuit 106 rotates the motor 10c so as to move the medium 50 to a target position in the X-axis direction at a target speed in accordance with a control signal sent from the CPU 101.

  The Y-axis drive circuit 107 rotates the motor 7 so as to move the cutter head 2 to a target position in the Y-axis direction at a target speed in accordance with a control signal sent from the CPU 101.

  The target position and target speed of the X-axis direction movement and the Y-axis direction movement are such that the relative movement trajectory of the cutter 8 with respect to the medium 50 draws a trajectory necessary for the blade edge direction initializing operation and the cutting operation of the medium 50 described later. Are set by the CPU 101, respectively.

  The Z-axis drive circuit 108 controls the current value supplied to the moving coil portion 12c of the actuator 12 in accordance with a control signal sent from the CPU 101, and makes the contact state and the separation state of the cutting edge P of the cutter 8 with respect to the medium 50. In addition, the pressing force on the medium 50 is controlled in the contact state.

  The cutter blade direction detection circuit 109 sends the detection result of the detection state or the non-detection state to the CPU 101 from the detection output of the cutter blade direction detection sensor 9.

  Next, the operation of the cutting apparatus 1 will be described with a focus on the cutting edge direction initialization operation performed before the start of cutting.

  FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the blade direction initialization operation of the cutting apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIGS. 5A and 5B are schematic operation explanatory views showing the blade edge direction initialization operation of the cutting device according to the embodiment of the present invention. 6 (a) and 6 (b) are schematic operation explanatory views showing the blade edge initialization operation following FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b). FIG. 7 is a schematic operation explanatory view showing the blade edge initialization operation following FIG. FIGS. 8A and 8B are schematic operation explanatory views of the blade edge initialization operation following FIG.

  In the cutting operation by the cutting apparatus 1, first, the medium 50 is set in the medium feeding mechanism 10, and the processing data for cutting the medium 50 from the host apparatus 110 is acquired by the CPU 101.

  The CPU 101 analyzes the obtained machining data, calculates a cut line that is a relative movement locus of the cutter 8 with respect to the medium 50 necessary for the cutting operation, sets the coordinates of the cut start position, and the cut direction at the cut start position. Ask for.

  In the following description, as an example, as shown in FIG. 7, the cut line T in the vicinity of the cut start position R (x0, y0) has an angle φ counterclockwise from the Y-axis positive direction to the X-axis negative direction. An example in which the first cut direction is an oblique direction that proceeds in the positive Y-axis direction and the negative X-axis direction as indicated by the arrow in the cut direction U will be described.

  At this time, the cutter 8 is waiting at a standby position at an end in the Y-axis direction, for example.

  From this state, the CPU 101 executes the control program to detect the blade edge direction according to the flow in FIG. 4 and sequentially change the initialization direction and the cutting direction along a certain direction, and then start cutting. To do.

  In the present embodiment, the initialization direction is set to the Y-axis positive direction or the Y-axis negative direction according to the moving direction of the cutter head moving mechanism 30.

  In step S <b> 1, the cutter 8 is raised from the standby position, and the cutting edge P of the cutter 8 is positioned above the height of the surface of the medium 50. That is, by moving the moving coil portion 12c of the actuator 12 by the Z-axis drive circuit 108, the arm 13 to which the cutter holder 11 is fixed is moved in the positive direction of the Z-axis.

  Then, the cutter 8 is moved to the area of the medium 50 for initialization in the blade edge direction. In the present embodiment, the region for initializing the cutting edge direction is described as an example in the vicinity of the cutting start position R. However, another region, for example, a certain region secured on the medium 50 for performing trial cutting of the medium 50 It may be.

  Next, in step S <b> 2, the actuator 12 is lowered so that the cutting edge P is in light contact with the medium 50. Here, lightly contacting means contacting with a pressing force that does not leave unacceptable scratches on the medium 50 even when moved in the cutting direction. This allowable limit can be set as appropriate according to the material of the medium 50, the sharpness of the cutting edge P, and the like.

  Here, the position of the cutting edge P with respect to the rotation axis O is unknown where on the circumference of the radius r centering on the rotation axis O, and the coordinates of the landing position of the cutting edge P when the cutter 8 is lowered and the cutting edge The direction is unknown.

  That is, as shown in FIG. 5A, the cutting edge P is positioned on the Y axis negative direction side with respect to a straight line E passing through the point O and orthogonal to the Y axis direction, and as shown in FIG. 5B. In addition, there are a case where it is positioned on the Y axis positive direction side with respect to the straight line E and a case where it is on the straight line E. The case of being on the straight line E can be included when it is located on the Y axis negative direction side or the Y axis positive direction side, and in this embodiment, it is on the Y axis positive direction side.

  Further, when the blade edge P comes into contact with the medium 50, the frictional force from the medium 50 acts, so that the position of the blade edge P is determined.

  Next, in step S <b> 3, the CPU 101 acquires information on whether the detection output of the cutter blade direction detection sensor 9 is in a detection state or a non-detection state via the cutter blade direction detection circuit 109.

  Next, in step S4, the CPU 101 determines the position of the cutting edge P from the information acquired in step S3.

  That is, when the detection signal of the cutter blade direction detection sensor 9 is in the detection state, the detection plate 8b is located at the detection position S (see FIG. It determines with it being in the Y-axis negative direction side, and transfers to step S5.

  Further, when the detection signal of the cutter blade direction detection sensor 9 is in the non-detection state, the detection plate 8b is not located at the detection position S (see FIG. 5B). Therefore, the process proceeds to step S6.

  In step S5, the cutter 8 is moved by a predetermined distance in the positive direction of the Y axis while the cutting edge P is in light contact with the medium 50. That is, the motor 10 c is driven by the X-axis drive circuit 106, the driving force is transmitted to the cutter carriage 4 by the belt 5, and the cutter carriage 4 is moved along the guide rail 3 in the positive Y-axis direction. As a result, the cutter 8 is moved together with the cutter head 2 fixed to the cutter carriage 4.

  The change in the blade edge direction at this time is shown in FIG. First, at the start of movement, it is assumed that the blade edge direction PO is oriented in an oblique direction from the X-axis positive direction to the Y-axis positive direction as shown in FIG. From this state, when the cutter 8 is moved in the positive direction of the Y-axis, for example, by a distance A1, the cutting edge P receives the frictional force F in the negative direction of the Y-axis from the medium 50 in the moving stroke. A rotation moment is generated, and a component force F1 that rotates the blade edge direction clockwise in the drawing and a component force F2 that pulls the blade edge in the blade edge direction are generated. Therefore, it approaches the Y-axis positive direction as in the blade edge direction P′O ′. Further, when the movement is continued and the distance A2 is moved, the Y-axis positive direction completely coincides with the blade edge direction P ″ O ″.

  The predetermined distance of movement in step S5 is set to be equal to or greater than the distance A2. Here, the distance A2 varies depending on the amount of blurring in the direction of the blade edge at the start of movement, the magnitude of the frictional force from the medium 50, and so on. Keep it.

  When the movement of the predetermined distance is completed, the process proceeds to step S7.

  Here, if the case of moving to the Y-axis negative direction side from the state of FIG. 5A is considered, the frictional force is in the reverse direction, so the direction of each component force is reversed. For this reason, an attempt is made to rotate counterclockwise in the figure, but at that time, a pressing force toward the blade edge is generated on the blade edge P, and the side on which the blade is not formed is pressed against the media 50. In this embodiment, the cutting edge P is lightly touched to the extent that it does not damage the medium 50 in order to move in the direction of the cutting edge. There is a risk that the surface may be scraped off or torn, or the rotation cannot be performed smoothly. Moreover, even if it can rotate, since it rotates 90 degrees or more, it will take time for rotation.

  According to step S6 of this embodiment, such a malfunction can be prevented.

  Such an action is the same as long as the angle formed by the cutting edge direction PO and the moving direction is 90 ° or less. Therefore, the direction of the cutting edge direction PO is not limited to the direction shown in FIG. As long as P is located on the Y axis negative direction side with respect to the straight line E, it may be in any direction.

  In step S6, as in step S5, the cutter carriage 4 is moved in the negative Y-axis direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B, for example, the cutting edge direction is moved from the state of FIG. 5B by a distance A2, and the Y-axis negative direction completely, as in the cutting edge direction P ″ O ″. To match. When the movement of the predetermined distance is completed, the process proceeds to step S7.

  In step S6, the direction of the blade edge direction PO is not limited to the direction of FIG. 6B, as in step S5.

  In step S <b> 7, the cutting edge P is raised and separated from the medium 50 in the same manner as in step S <b> 1.

  Next, in step S8, as shown in FIG. 7, the media feed mechanism 10 and the cutter head moving mechanism 30 are driven from the state where the blade edge direction PO coincides with the Y-axis positive direction, so that the blade edge P is at the cutting start position. The medium 50 and the cutter carriage 4 are moved so as to be positioned on R. At this time, since the blade edge P is separated from the medium 50, the blade edge direction PO is maintained in the Y-axis positive direction even during movement because the blade edge P does not receive frictional force from the medium 50.

  That is, if the coordinate of the rotation axis O of the cutter 8 in step S7 is (x1, y1), the medium 50 is moved by Δx = x1−x0 by the medium feeding mechanism 10 and the cutter head is moved by the cutter head moving mechanism 30. 2 is moved by Δy = y1 + r−y0, so that the XY coordinates of the cutting edge P and the cutting start position R can be matched (see the broken line in FIG. 8A).

  Next, in step S <b> 9, the actuator 12 is lowered so that the cutting edge P contacts the medium 50 at the cutting start position R. The pressing force of the cutting edge P against the medium 50 is set to a pressing force that can smoothly rotate the cutter 8 around the cutting edge P.

  Next, in step S10, as shown in FIG. 8A, the rotation axis O of the cutter 8 is rotated counterclockwise as shown by a point O ′ around the cutting start position where the cutting edge P is in contact. I will do it. Then, as shown in FIG. 8B, the operation stops at a point O ″ on the cut line T rotated by an angle φ.

  For the rotational movement of the cutter 8, the CPU 101 calculates movement coordinate data for drawing the locus of the arc OO ″, and simultaneously drives the media feed mechanism 10 and the cutter head movement mechanism 30 in accordance with the movement coordinates. It is realized with.

  The blade edge direction initialization operation is thus completed. This completes the preparation stage for starting cutting.

  Thereafter, the actuator 12 is lowered as necessary to adjust the pressing force of the cutting edge P against the medium 50 to a size necessary for cutting, and the media feed mechanism 10 and the cutter head are moved along the trajectory of the cut line T. The mechanism 30 is driven to cut the medium 50.

  According to such a cutting apparatus 1, the cutter 8 is moved down so that the cutting edge P comes into contact with the medium 50 (step S <b> 2), and then the straight line E perpendicular to the Y axis positive direction (constant direction) of the cutting edge P is used. Then, it is detected whether or not the blade tip P is positioned on a certain direction side, and the cutter 8 is moved in a direction so that the side on which the blade Q is not formed does not press the medium 50 according to the detection result (steps S5 and S6). Therefore, the blade edge direction PO can be set to the initialization direction smoothly and quickly without damaging the medium 50.

  Therefore, the cutting edge P can be accurately positioned at the cutting start position R, and the cutting edge direction PO can be reliably aligned with the cutting direction U.

  On the other hand, when the cutting edge P is brought into contact with the medium 50 as in the prior art, and the operation as in step S5 (S6) is performed without performing steps S3 and S4, the cutting edge direction PO is 180.degree. Although there are cases where the position is shifted, the cutting edge direction PO cannot be rotated if step S5 (S6) is executed in this state. Therefore, the cutting edge direction PO is changed when step S5 (S6) is completed. It remains in the direction opposite to the initialization direction. Therefore, in the state where the cutting edge direction PO is opposite and the position of the cutting edge P is shifted by 2r, the cutter 8 is moved to start cutting, the cutting start position is shifted, cutting cannot be performed, There is also a risk that the surface of the medium 50 may be scraped off or torn.

  According to the cutting apparatus 1 of this embodiment, such a malfunction can be prevented.

  In the above description, the example in which the initialization direction for setting the blade edge direction matches the movement direction of the cutter head moving mechanism 30 has been described. However, the initialization direction is not limited to this. For example, the moving direction of the media feeding mechanism 10 may be matched. In these cases, when the horizontal movement mechanism is composed of the first movement mechanism and the second movement mechanism, the direction of the blade edge can be set by moving only one of them, so that the control becomes easy.

  Further, since the first moving mechanism and the second moving mechanism are moved simultaneously, relative movement in an arbitrary direction within the XY plane is possible, and therefore an arbitrary oblique direction may be set as the initialization direction.

  In the above description, the cutter and the medium to be cut are moved in two orthogonal axes using different horizontal movement mechanisms, and the cutter is moved up and down by the lifting mechanism. The movement with the cut medium is not limited as long as the relative movement as described above is possible, and the horizontal movement mechanism and the lifting mechanism are not limited to the above examples.

  For example, the raising / lowering mechanism may raise and lower the medium to be cut, and the horizontal movement mechanism may be a cutter alone, or only the medium to be cut moves in a horizontal plane, or both move in a horizontal plane. Good.

  In the above description, the example in which the cutting edge direction is set to the initialization direction and then moved to the cutting start position has been described. However, the end point position that sets the cutting edge direction to the initialization direction is matched with the cutting start position. A method may be adopted. That is, the position to be lowered in step S2 in FIG. 4 may be set to a position away from the cut start position by a predetermined distance in the direction opposite to that moved in step S8, and steps S7 to S9 may be omitted. . In this case, the moving direction can be determined by performing the same process as step S3 prior to step S2. If it is determined in step S3 that the position has deviated from the direction before step S2, the position may be moved 180 ° opposite to the cut start position R.

  As another aspect, a cutting device for creating and cutting an image can be formed by mounting, for example, an ink jet head of an ink jet printer on the cutter carriage 4 as the image creating device. The inkjet head may be mounted on another carriage that uses the same guide rail as the cutter carriage 4.

It is the top view which shows the schematic structure of the cutting device which concerns on embodiment of this invention typically, and its AA sectional drawing. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS In front sectional drawing which shows typically schematic structure of the cutter head of the cutting apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention, the partial top view, and the partial top view which shows the mode at the time of the action | operation of a blade edge direction detection mechanism is there. It is a block diagram which shows the structure of the control part of the cutting apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart of the edge direction initialization operation | movement of the cutting apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. It is typical operation explanatory drawing which shows the blade edge direction initialization operation | movement of the cutting apparatus which concerns on embodiment of this invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic operation explanatory view showing the blade edge initialization operation following FIG. 5. FIG. 7 is a schematic operation explanatory diagram illustrating a blade edge initialization operation subsequent to FIG. 6. It is typical operation | movement explanatory drawing of the blade edge | tip initialization operation | movement following FIG.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cutting apparatus 2 Cutter head 3 Guide rail 4 Cutter carriage 5 Belt 7, 10c Motor 8 Cutter 8b Detection board (blade edge direction detection mechanism)
9 Cutter blade direction detection sensor (Blade direction detection mechanism)
10 Media feed mechanism (first moving mechanism)
10a, 10b Driving roller 12 Actuator 14 Platen 30 Cutter head moving mechanism (second moving mechanism)
50 media (cut medium)
100 control unit 101 CPU
104 Host I / F
105 ROM
109 Cutter blade direction detection circuit E Straight line (straight line perpendicular to a certain direction)
P Cutting edge Q Cutting edge O Rotating axis T Cutting line U Cutting direction

Claims (6)

When the cutting edge is in contact with the cutting medium at the cutting start position, the cutting edge is held eccentrically about a rotation axis perpendicular to the medium to be cut, and the cutting edge direction of the cutter. A cutting device having blade edge direction initialization means that moves to face the cutting direction, and control means that controls the blade edge direction initialization means ,
The cutting edge direction initialization means includes
A lifting mechanism that lifts and lowers the cutter relative to the medium to be cut;
A horizontal movement mechanism for relatively moving the cutter in two axial directions in a plane parallel to the medium to be cut;
With respect to a straight line perpendicular to the rotation axis as a predetermined direction, and a cutting edge direction detection mechanism wherein the cutting edge is detected whether or not positioned in the predetermined direction,
The control means includes
Controlling the lifting mechanism and disposing the cutter blade edge above the medium to be cut;
Controlling the lifting mechanism to lower the cutter so that the cutting edge of the cutter is in light contact with the medium to be cut;
Detecting whether or not the cutting edge is positioned on the predetermined direction side with respect to a straight line orthogonal to the predetermined direction by controlling the cutting edge direction detection mechanism;
When the cutting edge is positioned on the predetermined direction side, the cutter is moved in a direction opposite to the predetermined direction while controlling the horizontal movement mechanism so that the cutting edge is in light contact with the medium to be cut. When the cutting edge direction is set in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction and the cutting edge is not positioned on the predetermined direction side, the horizontal movement mechanism is controlled so that the cutting edge is in light contact with the medium to be cut. , Moving the cutter in the predetermined direction, orienting the cutting edge direction in the predetermined direction,
Controlling the lifting mechanism and disposing the cutter blade edge above the medium to be cut;
Controlling the horizontal movement mechanism and the lifting mechanism to bring the cutting edge of the cutter into contact with the cutting start position;
A cutting apparatus that controls the horizontal movement mechanism to rotate the cutter in a cutting direction in a state where the cutting edge of the cutter is in contact with the cutting start position . The horizontal movement mechanism is
A first movement mechanism for moving the cut medium along a first direction;
A second moving mechanism for moving the cutter along a second direction orthogonal to the first direction;
The predetermined direction is:
The cutting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the cutting apparatus is a direction along the second direction. The cutting edge direction detection mechanism is
A detection plate comprising a semicircular plate centered on the rotation axis of the cutter or a fan-shaped plate opened at 180 °, provided on the cutter;
The cutting apparatus according to claim 1, comprising a non-contact type detection sensor that detects the presence or absence of the detection plate at a predetermined position. When the cutting edge has a cutter which is held freely eccentrically rotated around the axis of rotation perpendicular to the cutting medium, a cutting edge direction of the cutter, said cutting edge is in contact with the object to be cut medium cut start position from towards mosquitoes Tsu winding direction a control method for a cutting device for performing cutting,
The blade edge of the cutter is placed above the medium to be cut,
It lowers the said cutter, and the state the cutting edge of said cutter is you light contact with the object to be cut medium,
With respect to a straight line perpendicular to the predetermined direction, the cutting edge detects whether positioned in the predetermined direction,
When the cutting edge is positioned on the predetermined direction side, the cutter is moved in the direction opposite to the predetermined direction while the cutting edge is in light contact with the medium to be cut, and the cutting edge direction is set to the predetermined direction . oriented in a direction Gyakukata direction,
When the cutting edge is not located in the predetermined direction, in a state where the blade edge contacts lightly the object cutting medium, said cutter is moved in the predetermined direction, the blade edge direction in the direction of the predetermined Orientation ,
After orienting the cutting edge in the predetermined direction or in the opposite direction of the predetermined direction, the cutting edge is disposed above the medium to be cut,
Moving the cutter to bring the cutting edge into contact with the cutting start position;
The method of cutting device according to claim Rukoto the rotated cutting direction while the cutting edge of the cutter is brought into contact with the cutting start position. After rotating in the cutting direction in a state where the cutting edge of the cutter is in contact with the cutting start position ,
Further lowering the cutter with respect to the cut medium;
The method for controlling the cutting apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the medium to be cut is cut by the cutter .   The cutting apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an image creating apparatus.

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