EP2032322A2

EP2032322A2 - A teaching device for a cutting die around patterns printed on a flat printing medium, cutting machine provided with such a device and method for implementing same

Info

Publication number: EP2032322A2
Application number: EP07803810A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Didier Georges Dubesset; Eric Vilain; Bart Vanhauwaert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-06-29
Filing date: 2007-06-29
Publication date: 2009-03-11
Also published as: CA2653703A1; US8209047B2; AU2007264806A1; FR2905889B1; WO2008000965A3; US20090282958A1; FR2905889A1; WO2008000965A2

Abstract

The purpose of the invention is a control device for handling mobility means of a cutting tool (1) and/or a carrier device of a flat printing medium (2) whereon an inscription has been previously printed. Said device comprises teaching means (9) for reading information (10) transmitted via reading means (5) which are associated with means (14, 18) for comparing between the reading information (10) and the instruction information (15, d, D, C) previously stored in memory relating to the definition of the inscription (3, 4) from a density of pixels and/or the framing of the inscription (3, 4) from a relative position between two (3, 4) at least.

Description

Device for learning a shape to be cut around printed patterns on a plane printing medium, cutting machine equipped with such a device and method for its implementation.

Technical Field of the Invention

The present invention is in the field of devices for maneuvering and controlling machines or cutting devices, in particular applicable to the cutting of a flat printing medium, such as a sheet or a plate, around at least one pattern previously printed on this print media. It relates to a device for controlling the operation of mobility means of a cutting tool and / or a carrier device of the printing medium to separate the pattern of the print medium and / or to form lines of embrittlement at least partially around this pattern, a cutting machine equipped with such a control device and a method for cutting a planar printing medium around at least one pattern previously printed on said print medium.

State of the art

In the field of printing, it is known to print on a plane printing medium a plurality of patterns, then to cut the printing medium around the patterns to separate them from each other. It will be understood by plane printing medium a printing medium shaped plate likely to have a natural hold, or a printing medium sheet flexible sheet, such a sheet can be packaged and handled in roll. Such a printing technique is particularly applied to the field of photography or the like, such as for posters or other similar displays. For example, photographs or more generally patterns are printed in plurality on the print medium by being distributed on its surface. Commonly, these patterns have a perimeter of regular geometrical shape, in rectangle in particular, and are likely to be of

Ii same size or respective sizes for the same print medium. Such patterns are also likely to have a periphery of complex shape, such as having at least partially curved areas.

There is the general problem of cutting the print medium around the patterns. For this, it is implemented cutting devices, which are integrated in the printing machine or are separate from the latter. More specifically, the printing machine generally comprises a carrier device for the printing medium, means for printing patterns on the medium, and printing control means for the implementation of the printing means. . These print control means are in particular means associated with first programming means making it possible to establish a printing program. The cutting apparatus generally comprises a device carrying the support, such as a table, a rotating roller or similar carrier device, cutting means mainly comprising a cutting tool carried by a frame disposed overhanging the carrier device, and cutting control means for the implementation of mobility means of the cutting tool and / or the support carrier device according to the two corresponding directions corresponding to the general plane of the printing medium. These cutting control means are in particular means associated with second programming means for defining a cutting program. If necessary, the first and second programming means are combined, so as to allow an operator to establish a printing program and a cutting program from the same programming tool.

More specifically, there is the difficulty of relating the printed pattern defined by the first programming means, and the implementation of the mobility means for cutting the pattern. Such a relationship is necessary to obtain a cut around the pattern that ensures the integrity of it. This problem is even more difficult to solve in the case where the cutting apparatus is not integrated with the printing machine, with the corollary the need to provide a registration with respect to the cutting tool of the position of the print medium, and more particularly the patterns that it comprises, during the passage of the print medium from the printing table or the like to the cutting table or the like. Such a registration is also made useful in the case where the print medium is flexible and without natural holding, with the consequence of the possibility of maintaining the support on the cutting table which may not be rigorously flat.

To overcome this difficulty, it has been proposed to print marking marks in the vicinity of the patterns simultaneously with the printing of the latter. The cutting apparatus is equipped with optical reading means of these marks, which transmit registration information to the second control means. This information enables the second control means to have initialization information of the position of the cutting tool with respect to the actual position of the pattern or patterns to be cut, and to deduce the information necessary for the cutting program. to define the actual displacements that the cutting tool and / or the carrier device of the support must traverse with regard to a cutting program initially established by an operator. More precisely, an operator defines from the first programming means the form and the nature of the pattern (s) to be printed. Concomitantly, this operator defines from the first programming means the printing of a plurality of registration marks arranged near the pattern or patterns at a determined distance. Then the operator defines from the second programming means the path that must go through the cutting tool around the pattern or patterns. These distinct programming operations being performed, the printing machine performs the printing of the pattern (s) and the printing of the registration marks. Then either the support is held on the table in the case where the machine is equipped with the cutting apparatus, or the support is moved to a specific cutting machine. Then the optical reading means are implemented to identify the position of the registration marks, and transmit this registration information to the second control means, in which are integrated the second programming means comprising the cutting program previously established by the operator. The second control means then correlates the registration information and the information of the cutting program to define the implementation of the mobility means of the cutting tool.

To know a technological environment close to the present invention, reference can be made to documents JP2006 / 068821 (GRAHTEC KK) ₁ GB2270604 (GERBER GARMENT TECHNOLOGY INC), FR2597390 (ONERA), FR2687091 (AEROSPATIALE), CA2526123 (MIMAKI ENG KK) and WO2005108027 (MIKKELSEN GRAPHIC ENG et al.)

A disadvantage of such a method lies in the difficulty of correlating the printing program and the cutting program. This difficulty is made all the more difficult to overcome as print programming software is multiplying on the market, with consequent problems relating to the compatibility between the print programming software and the cutting programming software. . In addition, this correlation is a source of frequent error, with the consequence that the operator has to take over the information from the cutting program, such a recovery being able moreover to be repeated. This recovery is all the more prejudicial as it is usual in the field that operators work in the emergency. Moreover, in the case where the cutting apparatus and the printing machine are not constituting the same machine, there is the problem of the computer connection between them.

To overcome this problem, it has been proposed by DE3433298 (BAUMANN GEORG DR ING) to provide the cutting control means of learning means reading information transmitted by optoelectronic means. This reading information relates to the printouts printed on the print medium, and is scanned by recognition means to identify a pixel density indicative of the presence. an inscription. Such identification is made in particular from a brightness analysis and / or a contrast reflected by the print medium. The reading information relating to the pixel densities is processed by recognition means including a data storage array generating cutting vector information with respect to a point of origin. From the data stored in the matrix, the vector information is deduced by transcription to control the cutting, and more particularly to control the movement of the cutting tool and / or the carrier device of the print medium.

There is the problem of the reliability and relevance of vector information, which is likely to be affected by how the reading information is captured and processed to achieve the vector information. The complexity and the importance of the number of computation operations necessary to achieve the production of the vectorial information induce the exploitation of means of calculation of an adapted power. However, it is desirable for the control means to be able to maneuver the cutting tool and / or the carrier device of the printing medium as quickly as possible. This speed of maneuvering of the cutting tool is likely to be obtained by limiting the necessary calculation operations without increasing the difficulty and the number of tasks that must be performed by the operator of the cutting machine, and more particularly the control means. Such a limitation of the calculation operations must not be obtained to the detriment of the reliability and the relevance of the vector information provided by the transcription means associated with the recognition means, and must be able to be obtained from simple design calculation means and inexpensive, not to increase unacceptably the overall cost of the control device. The implementation of these calculation means must be user-friendly from simple operations to perform, to allow a quick and easy use of the control device by any operator, including a person inexperienced in the field of control means . In addition, the speed with which the tool is likely to be maneuvered can be obtained by organizing at best the operating modes of the cutting device and in particular the implementation of the means that constitute it, since the installation of the printing medium on the cutting machine to the communication of the vector information to the means of maneuvering the cutting tool.

It follows that the control means deserve to be improved in order to meet all these requirements, in order finally to propose to an operator control means whose competitiveness is based on tolerable costs and user-friendliness of operation allowing their implementation by non-specialized staff in the field of programming.

Object of the invention

The object of the present invention is to propose a method for cutting a plane printing medium around previously printed patterns on this printing medium, a device for controlling the movement of a cutting tool and / or a device carrying the printing medium implementing such a method, and a cutting machine equipped with such a control device. It is more particularly the object of the present invention to provide such a method, a device and a machine, which offer a satisfactory solution to the requirements and problems to be solved, from an exploitation of reading information learning means with a view to from their transcription into vectorial information, such learning means being chosen to avoid difficulties relating to the correlation between a pattern printing program and a cutting program of these patterns. It is even more particularly the object of the present invention to provide such a method, device and machine, which make it possible to obtain a cutting of the printed medium quickly and by limiting the calculation operations necessary when the device is implemented, to from an astute organization of the methods of implementation of the different means that the device comprises. The device of the present invention is a control device for the operation of at least one cutting tool of a printing plane support and / or a carrier device of the printing medium, such as a table, a roll or the like. This control device is intended to equip one, or even constituent of a cutting machine of the print medium on which have been previously printed at least one pattern to be cut and incidentally at least one registration mark of said pattern. This control device implements in particular means for controlling mobility means of the cutting tool and / or the carrier device of the printing medium from a cutting program relating to vector information. This vector information corresponds in particular to information relating to the two general dimensions of the print medium. The cutting tool is supported in particular by a frame by means of mobility means for moving the cutting tool along the two dimensions of the print medium. The carrier device of the print medium is capable of being of the type incorporating mobility means for moving the printing medium relative to the cutting tool, such as the rotating roller type or similar carrier device. Such control means more particularly include programming means associated with reading means themselves associated with means for recognizing information relating to an inscription previously printed on the medium. The reading means are in particular manoeuvrable above the print medium according to the two general dimensions of the latter, being advantageously supported by said frame via the mobility means of the cutting tool. More particularly, but in a nonlimiting manner, the mobility means of the cutting tool and the mobility means of the reading device are advantageously combined. The reading means are preferably means of the optoelectronic type, implementing in particular an optical sensor for detecting the intensity of a reflected light signal or an optical image reading apparatus, video camera, scanner apparatus or the like. especially. However, and without departing from the scope of the present invention, the reading means may comprise means of the electromagnetic type or other similar types of electronic reading, for incidentally the reading of registration marks which are in this case of a corresponding type.

The control means comprise reading information learning means which are associated with means for transcribing the read information read into vector information of displacement of the cutting tool and / or the carrier device of the printing medium for the development of the cutting program on the basic basis of the reading information.

These provisions are such that the control means develop the cutting program from the information transmitted by the reading means, this information being stored in cutting data which are transcribed into vector information. The development of the cutting program is exempt from programming information previously constructed by an operator based on the printing information relating to the pattern, the cutting program being directly established from the cutting data which defines in itself a path of the cutting tool and / or mobility of the carrier device of the printing medium, and which are provided by the learning means. It turns out that the operator is exempt from the development of a cutting program that is basically built from reading information, with the advantage of increased production and efficiency.

The recognition means are means for identifying read information relative to the pattern and / or at least one marking mark of said pattern. For example, the reading means may be of the type allowing recognition of a contrast reflected by the print medium, for the recognition of the pattern to be cut and from cutting data relating to a printed surface corresponding to the pattern. For example again, the reading means are likely to be of the type allowing a recognition of the presence of a previously identified identification mark, such as a point, a square, a cross or similar mark. In this case, the position and size characteristics of the pattern (s) to be cut are likely to be identified from a recognition of the relative position of such registration marks with respect to each other. The patterns to be cut are likely to be identified from a recognition of a registration mark identifying, near or rigorously, the pattern to be cut.

The inventive step of the present invention has been to exploit comparison means for comparing the read information with previously stored instruction information relating to definition information and / or typical registration information. The definition information is particularly related to the magnitude of a density of pixels indicative of characteristics typical of the inscription, such as a contrast threshold, a line thickness, a loop closure of the inscription on it. same and / or its overall geometric conformation or other similar characteristics relating to a shape and / or thickness of the inscription. The framing information relates in particular to the position of a plurality of inscriptions relative to the other indicative of typical characteristics concerning a separation distance between at least two inscriptions, allowing for example to define a separation distance between a pattern to cut and a marking mark, or the format of an inscription forming a pattern to cut.

The comparison means are means capable of deriving vector information from the confrontation between the reading information and the previously stored definition and / or framing information, without the definition and / or framing information being decisive and of a nature to prejudge before this confrontation of the size and / or the position of the patterns to be cut on the support. More particularly, from the reading information and by confronting with the definition and / or framing information, the patterns to be cut are recognized in dimensions and positions, and Vector information is generated by the transcription means. The relevance of the reading information is verified, and the vector information is deduced by the comparison means from definition and / or framing information commonly used in the field of printing which are previously stored and cataloged, or extemporaneously modifiable by an operator to enrich this catalog.

The vector information is derived from a simplified analysis of the reading information relating to an inscription revealing a pattern to be cut. The control means can be easily organized so as to provide user-friendly operation accessible to an inexperienced person in the field of control means programming. More specifically and according to a subsidiary aspect of the invention, the definition and framing information is easily entered by an operator selectively from user-friendly menus, according to extemporaneous needs. From this input of definition and / or framing information, which is free of any vector information relating to the movement of the tool and / or the carrier device of the print medium with respect to a reference position, and / or any information relating to the position of the patterns on the print medium with respect to each other, the comparison means are able to deduce and generate the necessary vector information.

In addition, the control means are capable of integrating additional calculation means such as probability and / or neural networks or the like, the operation of which is limited to the processing of the reading information compared to the definition information and / or typical framing information In particular, from the probability means, the confrontation between the reading information and the definition and / or framing information makes it possible to define the vector information as a consequence of an analysis between the reading information and its relevance with regard to the information definition and / or framing previously stored by the operator. A deduction of position and conformation of the patterns on the print media is likely to be performed by the probability means from the definition and / or framing information indicating the potential presence of these patterns without specifying their relative position on the print medium.

According to a general definition of the present invention, the recognition means are notably associated with means of comparison between the read information and previously stored instruction information relating to the definition of the inscription from a pixel density and / or the framing of the inscription from a relative position between two inscriptions at least. The comparison means are in particular means able to confront the reading information identifying at least one inscription and the definition and / or framing information previously stored and able to deduce from this confrontation cutting vector information relating to the movement of the object. cutting tool and / or the carrier device of the printed medium.

These comparison means more particularly comprise at least one of the first means of comparison between identification information which is derived from the reading information and which relates to at least one characteristic characteristic of the inscription and definition information. which are previously stored and which relate to said typical characteristics, and second means for comparing between position information which is derived from the read information and which relates to any one at least a separation distance between them. a plurality of inscriptions and / or a contour to be cut, and typical framing information previously stored relative to a said distance.

The information and / or characteristics typical of the inscription reside in an information and / or a characteristic relating to a current standard definition of the inscription, such as a contrast threshold, a thickness of a line, a loop closure on itself of the inscription and / or a geometric form of this inscription for example, or other information and / or characteristics typical analogues. More specifically, the first comparison means are associated with first means for processing a typical identification information relating to at least one of the characteristics comprising a contrast threshold reflected by the print medium, the thickness of a constituent feature of the inscription, the closing loop on itself of this feature, and / or the form of the inscription. The reading means are moved by the corresponding mobility means so as to scan the surface of the print medium. Among the set of inscriptions read by the reading means, composed in particular of the pattern (s) and, if appropriate, the marking mark (s) in the case of a reading device of the optoelectronic type, the first means of comparison are suitable. isolating the pattern (es) and / or the marking mark (s) from the set of information read from a comparison between the read information and the previously stored definition information.

Incidentally, said first processing means comprise a neural network making it possible to make reliable the information relating to the characteristic characteristic or characteristics of the inscription which are read by the reading means and transmitted to the learning means, such as from a comparison between a density of pixels read by the reading means and an admitted threshold of such density to validate the relevance of the information read.

The information and / or typical characteristics of framing reside for example in information and / or a characteristic relating to a current and standardized image format, in particular in the field of photographic reproduction, or even to an image format previously inputted by an operator. The position information is compared with the typical framing information corresponding to a predefined format, without the position of such a format on the print medium being specifically defined beforehand by the programming means, and in particular by an operator using the programming means. The implementation of such means is rather intended for cutting patterns whose contour is simple and recurrent, such as a contour of regular circular and / or polygonal shape and in particular rectangular. More specifically, the second comparison means are especially associated with second means for processing a position information defining a contour to be cut from at least one of said separation distance and a pixel density printed matter delimiting such an outline.

The second comparison means are preferably associated with probability calculation means between the position information transmitted by the reading means and a plurality of previously memorized framing information, in particular from an input of this framing information. by an operator. These probability calculation means are more specifically intended to define the cutting program by comparing position information, in particular relating to a definition and a location of the conformation of at least one contour to be cut, with previously memorized framing information. , in the workshop or from an input of this information by an operator.

More particularly, the probability calculation means comprise first calculation means for deriving a registration information from a detected proximity between reading information relating to registration marks. This proximity is compared with a framing information previously entered to reveal its relevance. Secondarily and advantageously, from the input of a succession of framing information performed by the operator, without the respective position on the print medium of these framing information is defined or prejudiced by the operator, the means for determining a framing information evaluate this respective position from a confrontation between the position information and the framing information previously stored.

More particularly still, the probability calculation means comprise second calculation means for correcting framing information. deduced from a confrontation between this deduced framing information with a previously stored value framing information.

The operation of said first and second processing means aims to promote the speed of implementation of the control device from a reduction and / or simplification of the necessary calculations that the control means must operate from the reading information transmitted to the control means, and more particularly to the learning means and / or the processing means.

Any at least one of the first comparison means and the second comparison means is notably associated with means for inputting by an operator input information relating to at least one of the definition information and the framing information. . It will be noted that this input information is dimensional value information devoid of any location information on the print medium. Such input is likely to correspond to an input of dimensional values relating to at least one definition and / or framing information.

According to a preferred embodiment promoting the ergonomics of the device, the input means are associated with means for selection by an operator of an input information at least one of a plurality of input information previously stored. More particularly, the operator has a menu offering a plurality of previously defined definition and / or framing information, from which he selects the information to be compared to the information transmitted by the reading means.

Where appropriate, the control means comprise means for reducing deviation of the relative position between at least one registration mark and a corresponding pattern. These gap-reducing means are in particular means for correcting the vector information established by the transcription means according to a predefined separation distance between the registration mark and the pattern. The input means allow an operator to memorize information relating to said separation distance between inscriptions.

The control device implements, in particular, means for controlling the displacement of the reading means and / or the carrier device of the print medium from a reading program relating to read vector information. The control means are advantageously associated with the learning means and are able to generate read vector information from at least one read information previously detected during the same learning cycle and confronted with the setpoint information. .

During the same learning cycle, the association between the learning means and the control means makes it possible to successively generate read vector information as a function of the prior detection of at least one read information item. The development of the reading program is performed by the control means progressively, from a deduction of the position to which the reading means and / or the carrier device of the printing medium must be moved. This deduction is obtained during the same learning cycle, using at least one detected reading information and the set information relating to the definition of registration and / or framing of this registration.

One or more reading information is confirmed as relevant from their confrontation with the setpoint information, this relevance corresponding to the presence of an inscription and / or a pattern to be cut. This read information is compared to at least one of the setpoint information to generate a read vector information. To develop the cutting program from the means of learning, the means of displacement are controlled so as to analyze the support in at least one direction corresponding to the two dimensions of the print medium. Confrontation between the relevant reading information or information and the set information dispenses the learning means from having to scan the entire surface of the print medium. The cutting program is obtained from a partial analysis of the surface of the print medium by the learning means, this partial analysis being sufficient to generate reading information confronted with at least one of the setpoint information. to deduce the reading program and the cutting program.

More particularly, the control means are associated with the comparison means and are able to generate a read vector information from the confrontation between a reading information and at least one set of information.

The control means are preferably able to generate a reading vector information corresponding to a step and / or a predetermined direction from at least one if not a combination of reading information indicative of a lack of registration. The control means are also preferably capable of generating a corresponding reading vectorial information at a distance and / or a direction deduced by comparison between at least one if not a combination of reading information indicative of an inscription and confronted with the information of setpoint.

Preferably, the device comprises means for voluntary implementation of the learning means by an operator during a displacement of the reading means. The operator can optionally control a learning and analysis of the reading information when the reading means are moved and the learning means are not implemented by default. Such an absence of implementation of the learning means occurs especially when the reading means are moved to a starting position of a future trajectory according to which the learning means are then implemented for the processing and analysis of the reading information by the recognition means and the comparison means.

The invention also relates to a method for cutting a plane printing medium around at least one previously printed pattern on this print medium. Such a method is in particular of the type comprising the preliminary step of printing at least one inscription, in particular at least one motif and / or at least one registration mark printed near, at a distance from or around the periphery of such a motif. . This method implements means for reading this inscription associated with means for learning this inscription and means for transcribing learning information into vector information for controlling the mobility of the cutting tool and / or the carrier device of the print medium, the implementation of which is placed under the control of control means as just described.

More particularly, such a method is mainly recognizable according to the present invention in that it consists in performing the following steps:

a) perform a reading of the surface of the print medium from a displacement of the reading means along this surface. This operation consists more particularly in controlling a displacement of the reading means by means of corresponding control means of the implementation of mobility means of the reading means. These means of mobility are likely to be at least partially confused with those of maneuvering the cutting tool.

b) transmitting the reading information to the learning means for developing cut data relating to identification information and / or framing the registration at least. Such information transmission can be carried out by wiring or by means of communication with remote transmission of information. The cutting data correspond in particular to a shape or contour to be cut, which is defined from the information transmitted by the reading means. This transmission of read information is indifferently carried out continuously as the displacement of the reading means and / or performed at the end of this displacement.

According to similar variant embodiments, the transmission of the reading information is memorized by the learning means either before or after the processing of this reading information by the recognition means. These two variants are equivalent in that the learning means are intended to store information relating to the inscription formed by a pattern and / or, where appropriate, of at least one registration mark, with a view to the production of cutting data enabling the transcription means to develop the cutting program by determining vector information which is able to cause the displacement of the cutting tool and / or the carrier device of the printing medium, and in that the trajectory of these organs is defined according to a kinematics developed only from the reading information which is processed by the comparison means and learned, or which are learned and then processed by the comparison means. The processing of the reading information transmitted by the reading means notably consists in isolating and extracting from the set of reading information the identification and / or position information which is then used by the recognition means.

c) transmit the cutting data to the transcription means for the development of the cutting program. The cutting information transmitted to the transcription means relates to a contour to be cut, such a contour having been basically defined from a processing of the reading information by the comparison means.

d) controlling the implementation of the mobility means of the cutting tool and / or the carrier device of the print medium, from the vector information of the cutting program developed. The operation of developing the cutting data consists more particularly in identifying a contour to be cut from at least one of the operations of identifying the inscription by comparison of the reading information with the definition information, and identify a format by comparing the playback information with the registration information. The comparison of the read information is carried out with at least one, and preferably if necessary successively, first comparison means and second comparison means. The control means of the present invention are capable of integrating, in isolation but preferably in combination, at least one of the first and second comparison means.

According to a first example of operation, the general conformation of at least one pattern to be cut is defined from a reading of the print medium and from a recognition of this pattern by recognition of contrasting areas of the support of printing, capable of taking into account areas distant from a tolerated difference between two zones of substantially equivalent contrast.

According to a second example of operation implementing at least one registration mark, it is a closed loop line on itself around a pattern to be cut. This line is likely to be slightly distant or to be confused with the perimeter of the pattern in the case in particular where such a perimeter does not reflect a sufficient contrast with respect to an admitted threshold. This marking mark is identified among all the information transmitted by the reading means to the learning means, from its continuity and / or the thickness of its line which has been previously defined and stored. Such a mode of operation is rather suitable for cutting a pattern of complex shape whose circumference is likely not to reflect a sufficient contrast variation. According to a third example of operation, the recognition means are means for processing at least one group of a plurality of mark marks assigned to a pattern to be cut, such a pattern being in particular a pattern of simple shape, such as of regular polygonal or circular shape. For example for a rectangle, the registration marks are likely to be shaped into squares arranged at the corners of the pattern. The identification marks are identified among all the information transmitted by the reading means to the learning means, from their shape, for example at right angle, and / or the thickness of their line and / or a gap separating them. The separation distance or distances between the registration marks define an outline corresponding to the cutting data. The format of such an outline being likely to be standard, a plurality of such standard formats previously stored is likely to be compared to the contour defined by the recognition means. The probability calculation means are capable of estimating the relevance of the defined contour, and especially of making it possible to determine the position on the print medium of one of a plurality of defined contours and assigned to different patterns, provided that an operator previously entered the number, or even the size and / or the category and / or the respective general standard shape of the outlines to be defined.

In order to optimize the speed performance of the control means, the method comprises, if appropriate, the operation consisting in storing, before the transmission operation, the cutting data to the transcription means, in particular starting from an input made by a user. operator, at least one of the definition and / or framing information. Note that for framing information corresponding to standard formats, this framing information may be stored in the workshop, that is to say prior to the provision of the control device and / or the machine equipped with this control device with the operator. Such framing information stored in the workshop is preferably modifiable and then stored by the operator. It will be understood that the advantage of the present invention lies in the exploitation of means of comparison, but that their presence does not impede the operation of the control means which is excluded implementation of the means of comparison.

The operator performing the programming of the cutting machine for the establishment of the cutting program is likely to be a non-specialized operator in the field of programming, due to the fact that the acts necessary for the establishment of the cutting are limited to the implementation of the reading means, and incidentally to the input, in particular via proposed menus, simple information relating to the definition information and / or the framing information, then possibly to an operation validation in all or nothing of the established cutting program which is preferably viewed from display and / or printing means associated with the control means.

According to the advantageous modes of operation of the device relating to the association of the control means with the learning means, there is provided a method comprising the steps of: *) detecting a first reading information relating to an inscription, or analogously a first group of reading information likely to be significant of an inscription,

^* ) compare this first reading information with at least one set of information and deduce a reading vector information.

More particularly, from an initial setting of the reading means and / or the carrier device of the printing medium relative to each other, the method comprises the operations of: *) generating a first reading vector information and transmitting to the learning means the reading information acquired in order to deduce the presence or absence of at least one inscription,

*) if there is no registration, generate a second reading vector information following a predetermined step and / or direction, by default without acquisition of reading information, if not selectively by the operator with acquisition of reading, and generating a third reading vector information by transmitting to the comparison means the reading information acquired to deduce the presence or absence of at least one inscription . *) in case of a registration presence, compare the reading information with at least one of the set information and generate a fourth reading vector information taking into account the recognition of this inscription with respect to its definition and / or of its framing, and transmit to the transcription means the reading information acquired.

The first reading vector information and the third reading vector information correspond in particular to a displacement of the reading means and / or the carrier device of the printing medium in a first direction corresponding to at least one dimension of the plane printing medium. The second reading vector information and the fourth reading vector information correspond in particular to a displacement of the reading means and / or the carrier device of the print medium along at least a second direction transverse to the first direction,

A cutting machine according to the present invention is a machine for cutting at least one pattern printed on a plane printing medium, and is mainly recognizable in that it comprises control means as just described. .

The reading means included in this machine are preferably reading means of the optoelectronic type. However, these reading means may include reading means of another type, such as the electromagnetic type or other similar types of means for reading a registration mark. In this case, it will be understood that the operation of printing the registration mark corresponds to any other operation for providing on the print medium a registration mark of a type corresponding to the type of reading means used. It should be noted in this connection that since no correlation is made for locating the pattern between a reading of the pattern and a reading of the registration mark, this registration mark is likely to be of a different nature from that printed on the pattern.

The cutting machine of the invention is capable of being either an insulated cutting machine or of being a cutting machine associated with printing means for printing on the printing medium of at least one registration, a particular reason and, where appropriate, a registration mark.

Note that in the case where the cutting machine is an isolated machine, the usual problems in the field relating to the positioning of the printed pattern relative to the cutting tool are solved by the implementation of the control device proposed by the the present invention for the establishment of the cutting program, and more particularly that such a machine is dispensed with means for connecting the actual position of the pattern with respect to a theoretical position defined by a cutting program previously established for reading of the print medium by the reading means.

It will also be noted that such a cutting machine associated with printing means is preferably equipped with means for controlling the printing means, which implement printing programming means which do not interfere with the printing means. means for programming the cutting control means. It will be noted, however, that definition information and framing information can be extracted from memory means associated with the print programming means of the one or more inscriptions.

Description of the figures.

The present invention will be better understood, and details will arise from reading the description which will be made of embodiments in connection with the figures of the attached plates, in which: Fig.1 is a diagram illustrating a control device of a cutting tool of a planar print medium according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIGS. 2 to 4 are diagrams respectively illustrating different examples of application of a method of implementation of the control means shown in FIG.

The fιg.5 is a diagram illustrating an advantageous organization of the means used for learning reading information relating to inscriptions and / or patterns that are printed on the print medium and which are to be cut. Fιg.6 and fig.7 are successive diagrams illustrating an exemplary execution of a training inscriptions and / or patterns implementing the means shown in fig.5

In FIGS. 1 to 4, a control device is intended for the operation of a cutting tool 1 of a printing plane support 2, on which have previously been printed an inscription relating to at least one pattern 3 to cut or even to at least one registration mark 4 of this pattern. Such a print medium 2 is shown in Fig.2 to Fig.4, and is particularly intended to be placed on the table of a cutting machine equipped with the control device. Such a cutting machine, not shown in the figures, is of the kind of those comprising the cutting table or other device carrying the printing medium, such as a roller, which is surmounted by a frame carrying means of mobility. 29 of the cutting tool 1 and optoelectronic reading means 5.

Such reading means 5 are capable of being a scanner, of the matrix or linear type, or a camera, and / or a beam-type single beam cell LASER capable of detecting a variation of contrast reflected by the support of printing, or other similar device.

In Fig.1, the control device causes a maneuver mobility means 29 of the cutting tool 1, from a cutting program 6 relating to vector information. The development of the vector information of the cutting program 6 is carried out by transcription means 7 from of cutting data 8 transmitted by learning means 9. This cutting data 8 corresponds to at least one contour C_ to be cut which is basically defined from read information 10 transmitted by the reading means 5 from an optical scanning of the surface of the printing medium 2. The reading information is transmitted to the learning means 9 and is processed by the insulating recognition means 11 among the reading information 10 those relating to the registration at least .

The reading information transmitted to the recognition means 11 is composed of information relating to the pattern 3 and to the registration mark 4. The information relating to the registration mark 4 is mainly composed of identification information 12 and information position 13, the latter information 13 including information of the relative position of the registration mark 4 with respect to the pattern 3.

More precisely, referring to FIGS. 2 to FIG. 4, the identification information 12 relates in particular to the thickness e of the line of the registration mark 4 and / or to its contour _ defined by its shape. The information of the relative position of the registration mark 4 with respect to the reason 3 is in particular relating to a difference d separating them from one another. The position information 13 is particularly related to a separation distance D of a plurality of registration marks 4 between them. The position information defines, for example, a contour C_ to be cut, as in FIG. 4, and / or at least a separation distance D between two adjacent contours _, as in FIGS. 3 and 4. Such a distance D is likely to be unique and identical to any one of the other two neighboring C outlines, or to be respective to each of the general directions of the print medium 2, or to be respective to each other of different neighborhoods contours Ç_.

Such reading information relating to the registration mark 4 is collected by the reading means 5 from their displacement along the surface of the print medium 2. In the case for example of a linear scanner represented in FIGS. 2 and 4, the scanning is carried out according to one of the general directions of the printing medium 2, the other general direction being covered by the extent of the scanner. In the case, for example, of a matrix scanner or of a camera as represented in FIG. 3, the scanning is carried out according to a plurality of trajectories along the two general directions of the printing medium 2. The difference between each of these trajectories is likely to be determined by an operator from the input of such a desired deviation. According to an improved embodiment, such a difference can be determined automatically by specific means associated with the recognition means from a contrast variation detection.

Returning to FIG. 1, the recognition means 11 are associated with first comparison means 14 between the identification information 12 and similar definition information. These first comparison means 14 are associated with first processing means 16 of the identification information 12, with a view to extracting them from the reading information 10 transmitted to the recognition means 11. Such an extraction is carried out by the first means processing 16 from a comparison between the read information 10 and the definition information 15 previously stored by first memory means 17.

The recognition means are also associated with second comparison means 18 between the position information 13 and the similar registration information 19. These second comparison means 18 are associated with second processing means 20 of the position information 13, with a view to extracting them from the read information 10 transmitted to the recognition means 11. Such an extraction is carried out by the second means of processing 20 from a comparison between the read information 10 and the registration information 19 previously stored by second memory means 21. The second comparison means 18 are associated, in particular via the second processing means 20 , probability calculation means 22 between the information of position 13 and a plurality of framing information 19. More particularly and referring further to Fig.3 and Fig.4, the registration marks 4 define a plurality of outline Ç to be cut. In FIG. 3, the registration marks 4 directly define a contour C 2 to be cut, insofar as these registration marks 4 are closed in a loop on themselves, whereas in FIG. 4, a plurality of registration marks 4 are associated. to define the same contour Ç_. The probability calculation means 22 make it possible to define the position of the different contours C from an input by an operator of presence information relating to the number, shape and / or size of the various contours C_ likely to be present on the print medium 2. This presence information is in particular corresponding to framing information 19.

The control means comprise means 23 for reducing the deviation of the relative position of the registration mark 4 with respect to the pattern 3. These difference-reducing means 23 are intended to correct the vector information established by the transcription means. 7 as a function of the separation distance d between the registration mark 4 and the pattern 3. Such a correction is capable of intervening indifferently either before the transmission of the cutting data 8 to the transcription means 7, or after this transmission. from a correction of the vector data established by the transcription means 7.

The definition information 15 and the framing information 19, which may include, where appropriate, the separation distance d, are defined by an operator who has input means 24, advantageously associated with means 26 for selecting information to be captured by through menus or the like.

The control device further comprises validation means 27 of the cutting program 6 established by the transcription means 7, which are associated with display means 28 of the contour or contours C corresponding to the vector information of the cutting program 6. In FIG. 5, the reading means 5 transmit reading information 10 to the learning means 9 associated with the recognition means 11. These recognition means 11 make it possible to identify the presence or absence of a piece of information. reading 10 revealing an inscription, such as a pattern 3 to cut or a registration mark 4 of this pattern for example. In the case of an example where the reading means 5 are of the optoelectronic type, the recognition means 11 are able to identify the presence or absence of a reading information 10 revealing an inscription 3.4 from contrast detection of brightness of the print medium and / or a pixel density.

The device comprises means 30 for driving means 31 for moving the reading means 5 and / or the carrier device for the printing medium, the latter being referenced 38 in FIGS. 6 and 7. The implementation of these control means 30 is placed under the control of the recognition means 11, and comparison means 14,18. The control means 30 are generators of a reading program 32 which is composed of read vector information able to cause the implementation of the moving means 31. In the diagram are also represented the transcription means 7 which are generators of the cutting program 6 from the cutting data 8 from the comparison means 14,18, for controlling the mobility means 29 of the cutting tool 1.

In the case where the reading information 10 is indicative of a lack of inscription 3,4, corresponding information 33 is supplied to the control means 30 by the recognition means 11. The control means 30 generate a vector information of reading 34 corresponding to a predetermined step and / or direction. This step and this direction are likely to be memorized by the device either in the workshop or from input means 35 available to the operator. These input means 35 also comprise means for voluntary implementation 39 of the learning means 9 by the operator, which are capable of causing such an implementation in the case where the control means 30 induce by default a displacement control of the reading means 5 free of acquisition of reading information 10 by the learning means 9.

In the case where the read information 10 is indicative of an inscription or pattern presence 3,4, this read information 10 is confronted with the instruction information 15,19, e, d, D, C by the intermediate means 14,18. Since the inscription has been identified and recognized, corresponding information 36 is provided to the control means 30 by the comparison means 14, 18. The control means 30 generate a corresponding reading vector information 37 at a distance and / or direction causing the reading means 5 and / or the carrier device 38 of the print medium 2 to move. learning 9 are implemented or not during displacements caused by the control means 30, with the advantage of making it possible to generate the cutting program 6 without having to analyze the entire surface of the printing medium 2. More particularly , the control means 30 are able to generate read vector information 34, 37, and consequently a read program 32, and to selectively control the implementation of the learning means 9 and / or the recognition means 11 and / or comparison 14,18 as a function of one or more read information 10 previously processed by the recognition means 11 and / or by the comparison means 14,18 when n same scan cycle of the surface of the print medium 2. The development of the read program 32 is carried out progressively according to the read information 10 previously processed. Some displacements of the reading means 5 and / or the carrier device 32 of the print medium 2 can be carried out rapidly as soon as the learning means 9 and / or the recognition means 11 and / or the means of comparison 14,18 are not implemented during these trips. Such an absence of implementation is permitted without affecting the generation of the cutting program 6 by prior comparison with these displacing the read information 10 with the setpoint information 15,19, d, e, D, C.

On fig.6 and fig.7, the device is used to cut M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 printed patterns on the print medium 2. A preferred but not restrictive application lies in the cutting of photographs of common formats of the trade.

In FIG. 6, the operator places the printing medium 2 on the carrier device 38. This operation is preferably performed by covering the carrier device 38 as much as possible with the printing medium 2, taking care that the patterns to be cut at best arranged in the reading and cutting surface covered by the possible displacements of the reading means 5 and the tool 1. In the exemplary embodiment illustrated, the carrier device 38 of the print medium 2 is arranged in a table and only the reading means 5 are movable to detect the reading information 10. According to variants not shown, the table is movable in displacement being operable by the mobility means 29, alone or in complementarity with the reading means 5, or the carrier device 38 of the print medium 2 is vertically extending and is movable while the reading means 5 are fixed. Other embodiments of the carrier device 38 of the print medium 2 and / or the relative mobility modalities between the printing medium 2 and the cutting tool 1 and / or reading means 5 are possible without derogate from the defined rules of the methods of developing the cutting program 6 and the reading program 32 proposed by the present invention.

The operator enters the setpoint information, and more particularly, in the case of example, the formats of the M1 M2 M3 M4 M5 M6 M7 patterns to be cut. Such setpoint information may already be present in memory and are entered only when necessary according to the reasons to be cut. Incidentally, the operator can select formats that the means of reading 5 are likely to detect and / or their number. This last operation is not mandatory, the learning means and the recognition means, associated with the comparison means, being able to detect the different patterns to be cut whose set information is stored by the memory means of the device. However, this operation reduces the number and density of calculation operations that the device must perform to identify the different formats of the patterns to be cut. All the information entered by the operator constitutes a database relating, for example, to formats, geometric conformations, line thicknesses bordering the patterns to be cut, or even possible separation distances between this feature and a pattern or between two adjacent patterns or inscriptions, without prejudging a cutting program 6 and a reading program 32 to be developed during a learning cycle. The information in the database is used not only for dimensional accuracy when cutting the patterns, but also to control the moving means 31 by avoiding implementing the learning means 9 when this is not necessary to identify and locate the pattern (s) to be cut. At the end of a trajectory traveled by the reading means 5 in association with the implementation of the learning means 9, the device is able to compare the reading information 10 previously recognized as revealing the presence of an inscription and / or a pattern with the setpoint information 15, 19, d, e, D, C, to deduce therefrom one or more trajectories adapted according to the inscriptions and / or the patterns identified and to deduce from them the necessity or not of implement the means of learning 9 together with this or these new trajectories.

The operator causes a beginning of read cycle aimed at developing a reading program 32 and together with a cutting program 6. This operation can be performed from a validation key or the like. actuator in all or nothing analogous.

A first path 101-102 is by default close to an origin point 100, for example a starting point 101 located at a distance of the order of 10 mm. The point of origin 100. The position of this starting point 101 may be parameterized beforehand by the operator. It is desired to detect the edges of the patterns and / or possibly a frame that surrounds them. The possible detection of a frame causes a cutting command parallel to the edges of this frame of a value that can be set by the operator. The cut is likely to be performed at the inner or outer border of the frame, or at any distance from the pattern inscribed in this frame. Such a cutting parameter can be entered and / or selected beforehand by the operator. This first trajectory is made at least in the entirety of a dimension of the print medium or at least according to the largest dimension of a pattern and / or an inscription that can be detected and whose format has been previously memorized as referred to above.

In the case where the first trajectory 101-102 does not reveal read information relating to an inscription, the driving means generate a read vector information 34 to cause a displacement of the reading means 5 along a second path towards the point 103. This read vector information 34 relates to a step and / or a direction previously set, such as from an input and / or selection made by the operator, and the learning means 9 are not implemented.

Then the control means 30 generate a read vector information 37 to cause a displacement of the reading means 5 along a third path to the point 104, the learning means being implemented. During this displacement of the reading means 5, reading information a and a 'are detected by the reading means 5, analyzed by the learning means 9 and the recognition means 11 associated with the comparison means 14,18. The device deduces the position of the point 105. This point 105 is situated between the first trajectory and the edge of the carrier device 38 of the print medium 2, and is located between the zones in extension of the points corresponding to the reading information a-a. . An x parameter is likely to be previously entered and / or selected by the operator to position the point 105 relative to the point a, and therefore with respect to the edge of the pattern to be cut.

Since the point 105 is deduced, the control means 30 generate a read vector information 34 to cause the reading means 5 to move in a fourth path towards the point 105. By default, the learning means 9 are not put into operation. implement, but the operator can control their implementation from the means of voluntary implementation 39 learning means 9. Then the control means 30 generate a reading vector information 37 to cause a displacement of the reading means 5 following a third path to point 106, the learning means 9 being implemented. During this displacement of the reading means 5, reading information c, c ', d, d', ee are detected and analyzed by the learning means 9 and the recognition means 11 associated with the comparison means 14, 18 . The format of the pattern M1 is marked, and a dimension of the pattern M4 is marked. Furthermore, the reading information ee is indicative of the presence of an M5 pattern partially located on the carrier device 38 of the print medium 2. It will be noted that from a single detected dimension of a pattern and from the set information relating to the potential format and / or the number of patterns, their position and / or their distribution on the print medium can be deduced by the learning means 9 and the recognition means 11 associated with the means 14,18. It follows that calculation operations are still spared and the reading process can be accelerated without affecting the generation of the cutting program 6 from the learning means 9.

The reading means 5 having covered a dimension of the printing medium 2 limited to one dimension of the carrier device 38, the learning continues in the analogous manner of the technique which has just been stated: *) to the point 107 without learning, ^* ) to the point 108 with learning and detection of reading information f- f, gg 'and hh' respectively revealing the position and a dimension of the patterns M3 and M2 and the other dimension of M4.

^* ) to the point 109 without learning, *) to the point 110 with learning and detection of reading information ii 'revealing the other dimension of the pattern M2 and ee''revealing the presence of the pattern M5.

^* ) to the point 111 without learning, deduced from the knowledge of the first dimension of M2, *) to the point 112 with learning and detection of the reading information ee "relating to M5, and jj ^* revealing the other dimension of the M3 pattern.

^* ) to point 113 without apprenticeship

^* ) to point 114 with learning and detection of playback information e "'ee""relating to M5.

The entire surface of the print medium 2 accessible by the displacement means 31 of the reading means 5 having been covered, the cutting program 6 is produced and the cutting of the patterns M1, M2, M3 and M4 is performed.

The pattern M5 is partially detected, it is not cut.

In FIG. 7, the printing medium 2 is moved relative to the carrier device

38. The partially detected pattern M5 is placed at the zone boundary accessible by the reading means 5 and by the cutting tool 1. This zone limit can be reduced by a previously parameterized value. The learning continues according to the analogous modalities of the technique that has just been stated:

*) to point 115 without learning,

*) to point 116 with learning and detection of read information k- k 'relating to a first dimension of M5, *) to point 117 without learning,

*) to point 118 with learning and detection of reading information M 'relating to the second dimension of M5. The learning cycle continues and the presence of the patterns M6 and M7 is detected and the pattern M5 is cut, similar to the previous statement. The starting displacements of the reading means 5 which are carried out without learning the read information 10, are provided for trajectories intended to bring the reading means 5 towards a starting position of a trajectory from which the reading means 5 are moved with learning read information 10. It is advantageous that these outgoing movements are performed without learning the read information 10 to allow for quick movement of these and to avoid unnecessary calculation operations. However, the device is preferably provided with means 39 for training the learning means 9 to allow the operator if he wishes to control the learning, recognition and / or comparison of the reading information 10 detected during these departing trips.

The device is able to cut a pattern at least one of whose dimensions is greater than the possible area covered by the cutting tool 1. Such a pattern format may or may not be identified as soon as the set information has been entered. The device is able to identify the impossibility of cutting such a pattern in a cutting operation, that is to say without having to move the print medium 2 accordingly. This identification is for example made from the learning operation itself and from the detection of the reading information 10 revealing or not an inscription 3,4 following concurrent paths traveled by the reading means 5. Such an identification is preferably associated with the comparison of this reading information with a set of information relative to the format of the pattern to be cut. From the learning modes similar to those just described, such a pattern is detected and the partial cutting operation can be controlled. The support is then moved relative to the mobility means 29 of the cutting tool 1, and the training continues according to similar to those previously described to complete its division.

It will be noted that the learning and cutting modes described in relation to FIGS. 6 and 7 are not exhaustive, but must be considered as revealing of the advantages provided by the present invention as regards the means implemented for such a device. learning and for such pattern cutting. These modalities are transposable for any reasons to be cut from an implementation of the learning means 9 associated with recognition means 11 and comparison means 14,18 as proposed by the present invention.

Claims

claims

1.- Control device for the operation of at least one cutting tool (1) of a printing plane support (2) and / or a carrier device (38) of the printing medium, this device control device fitted to a cutting machine of the printing medium (2) on which at least one pattern (3) has previously been printed, this device implementing means for controlling mobility means (29) of the printing tool. section (1) and / or the carrier device from a cutting program (6) relating to vector information, these control means comprising programming means associated with reading means (5) themselves associated with means for recognizing (11) information relating to an inscription previously printed on the medium, the control means comprising learning means (9) reading information (10) which is associated with transcription means

(7) reading information learned in vector information of displacement of the cutting tool (1) and / or the carrier device of the print medium for the development of the cutting program (6) on the basis of the information base reading device, characterized in that the recognition means (11) are associated with comparison means

(14,18) between the read information (10) and the previously stored reference information (15,19, e, d, D, C) relating to the definition of the inscription (3,4) from a density of pixels and / or the framing of the inscription (3,4) from a relative position between two inscriptions (3,4) at least.

2. Control device according to claim 1, characterized in that the comparison means (14, 18) are means able to confront the reading information (10) identifying any inscription (3.4) at least with the at least one definition and / or framing information

(15,19, e, d, D, C) previously stored, and able to deduce from this confrontation cutting vector information (6) relative to the moving the cutting tool (1) and / or the carrier device of the printed medium (2).

3. Control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recognition means (11) are associated with at least one:

^* ) first comparison means (14) between identification information (12) which is derived from the reading information (10) and which relates to at least one typical feature of the inscription (3,4), and pre-stored definition information (15, e) relating to said typical characteristics, and

^* ) second comparison means (18) between position information (13) which is derived from the read information (10) and which relates to any one or more separation distances (d, D) between them a plurality of inscriptions (3,4) and / or a contour (C) to be cut, and typical framing information (19) previously stored relative to a said distance (d, D).

4. Control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the second comparison means

(18) are associated with probability calculation means (22) between the position information (13) transmitted by the reading means (5) and a plurality of registration information (19) previously successively stored.

5. Control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the first comparison means (14) and the second comparison means (18) are associated with input means ( 24) by an input information operator relating to at least one of the definition information (15) and the registration information (19).

6. A control device according to claim 5, characterized in that the input means (24) are associated with means for selecting (26) by an operator of an input information at least one of a plurality of information items. previously memorized.

7. Control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control means comprise means (23) for reducing the deviation of the relative position between at least one registration mark (4) and a corresponding pattern (3).

8. Control device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recognition means (11) are means for identifying read information relative to either the pattern (3) and / or at least a registration mark (4) of said pattern (3).

9. A control device according to any one of the preceding claims, this device implementing means for controlling (30) the displacement of the reading means (5) and / or the carrier device (38) of the printing medium. (2) from a reading program (32) relating to read vector information (34,37), characterized in that the control means (30) are associated with the learning means (9) and are capable of generating read vector information (34,37) from at least one read information (10) previously detected during the same training cycle and confronted with the set information (15,19, d , e, C, D).

10. Control device according to claim 9, characterized in that the control means (30) are associated with the comparison means (14, 18) and are capable of generating a read vector information (34, 37) from the confrontation between a reading information (10) and at least one set of information (15, 19, e, d, D, C).

11. A control device according to any one of claims 9 to 10, characterized in that the control means (30) are able to generate a reading vector information (34) corresponding to a predetermined pitch and / or direction from at least one, if not a combination, of reading information (10) indicative of a lack of registration, and are able to generate a corresponding reading vector information (37) at a distance and / or a direction deduced by confronting at least one, if not a combination, of read information (10) indicative of an inscription and confronted with the set information (15, 19, e, d, D ₁ C).

12. A control device according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that it comprises means for voluntary implementation (39) of the learning means (9) by an operator during a trip. reading means (5).

13. A method for cutting a plane printing medium (2) around at least one pattern (3) previously printed on this printing medium (2), this method comprising the preliminary printing step of at least one inscription (3,4) and implementing means of reading (5) of this inscription (3,4) associated with learning means (9) of this inscription (3,4) and means of transcribing (7) learning information into vector control information in mobility of a cutting tool and / or a carrier device of the printing medium whose implementation is placed under the control of control means according to any one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that it comprises the combination of at least the steps of: a) performing a reading of the surface of the print medium (2) from a moving the reading means (5) and / or the carrier device of the printing medium along this surface. b) transmitting the read information (10) to the learning means (9) for producing cut data (8) relating to identifying information (12) and / or framing (13) of the inscription (3,4) at least. c) transmitting the cutting data (8) to the transcription means (7) for developing the cutting program (6) by identifying a contour (C) to be cut from at least one of the steps of identifying the listing (3,4) by comparing the read information (10) with the definition information and / or identifying a format by comparing the read information (10) with the registration information (19), d) controlling the implementation of the mobility means (29) from the vector information of the cutting program (6) developed.

14.- Process for cutting a plane printing medium according to the claim

13, characterized in that it consists in memorizing before the transmission operation the cutting data (8) to the transcription means

(7), at least one of the definition information (15) and / or the registration information (19).

15.- Process for cutting a flat printing medium according to any one of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that it comprises the operations consisting of:

*) detecting a first reading information (10) relating to an inscription

(3,4)

*) compare this first reading information (10) with at least one set of information (15,19, e, d, D, C) and deduce a reading vector information (34,37).

16. A method for cutting a flat printing medium according to claim 15, characterized in that from an initial setting of the reading means (5) and / or the carrier device (38) of the support of printing (2) relative to each other, it comprises the operations of: ^* ) generating a first reading vector information (101-102) and transmitting to the learning means (9) the read information (10) acquired to deduce the presence or absence of at least one inscription, *) in case a lack of registration, generating a second reading vector information (102-103) following a predetermined step and / or direction, by default without acquisition of reading information (10) if not selectively by the operator with acquisition reading information (10), and generating a third reading vector information (103-104) by transmitting to the comparison means (14,18) the read information (aa ¹ ) acquired to infer the presence or absence thereof at least one inscription (M1).

^* ) in case of an inscription presence (M1), compare the read information (a-a ') with at least one of the set information (15,19, e, d, D, C) and generating a fourth reading vector information (104-105) taking into account the recognition of this inscription (M1) with respect to its definition and / or its framing and transmitting to the transcription means (7) the reading information (a- a ') acquired.

17. A method for cutting a plane printing medium according to claim 16, characterized in that:

^* ) the first reading vector information (101-102) and the third reading vector information (103-104) correspond to a displacement of the reading means (5) and / or the carrier device (38) of the print medium (2) in a first direction corresponding to at least one dimension of the plane printing medium (2),

*) the second reading vector information (102-103) and the fourth reading vector information (104-105) correspond to a displacement of the reading means (5) and / or the carrier device (38) of the print medium (2) following at least a second direction transverse to the first direction.

18.- Machine for cutting at least one pattern (3) printed on a plane printing medium (2) characterized in that it comprises control means according to any one of claims 1 to 12.

19.- cutting machine according to claim 18, characterized in that the reading means (5) comprise at least one of the reading means of the optoelectronic type and the electromagnetic type.

20.- cutting machine according to any one of claims 18 and 19, characterized in that it is associated with printing means for printing on the print medium (2) of at least one inscription (3,4).