EP3221150A1

EP3221150A1 - Device for producing cut objects

Info

Publication number: EP3221150A1
Application number: EP15800763.3A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Peter Schuetz
Original assignee: Cewe Stiftung and Co KGaA
Current assignee: Cewe Stiftung and Co KGaA
Priority date: 2014-11-19
Filing date: 2015-11-19
Publication date: 2017-09-27
Anticipated expiration: 2035-11-19
Also published as: DE102014225760A1; WO2016079268A1; JP2018505080A; US10179464B2; CN107107366A; CN107107366B; JP6684816B2; EP3221150B1; US20170253055A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for producing cut objects. A thermal sublimation printer (11) prints a printing pattern onto a printing carrier and outputs the printing carrier. A cutting apparatus (13) then cuts the printing carrier along a cutting pattern, wherein the cutting apparatus comprises a cutting unit (31) and a moving unit (18) for moving the printing carrier during the cutting. The thermal sublimation printer is adjusted to print on the printing carrier in such a way that the output printing carrier has a printed region in which printing has occurred and a non-printed region in which printing has not occurred, wherein the printed region and the non-printed region are arranged one after the other in an arrangement direction and the size of the non-printed region in the arrangement direction at least equals a distance between the cutting unit and the first moving unit.

Description

Device for creating cutting objects

The invention relates to an apparatus, a method and a computer program for generating cut objects. The invention also relates to a thermal sublimation printer for use in the device for producing cut objects. It is known to print print patterns on a print substrate such as a paper base by means of a thermal sublimation printer and then to cut out the print pattern by means of a cutting device such as an X / Y cutting machine to produce cut objects. The pressure medium consumption can be relatively high in such a production of cut objects. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus, a method and a computer program for producing cut objects, which can lead to a reduced pressure medium consumption. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a thermal sublimation printer for use in the apparatus for producing cut objects, which can lead to a reduced pressure medium consumption.

This object is achieved by a device for creating cut objects, which has the following components: a thermal sublimation printer for printing the print pattern on a print carrier and for outputting the printed print carrier, a cutter for cutting the print carrier along the cut pattern, the cutter having a cutting unit for cutting the print carrier and a first moving unit for moving the print carrier within the cutter the first moving unit is adapted, during a cutting operation, to move the print carrier in a direction of movement from the first moving unit to the cutting unit and back from the cutting unit to the first moving unit, wherein the thermal sublimation printer is adapted to print on the print carrier so that the discharged print carrier receives a print Printing area in which has been printed, and a non-printing area in which has not been printed, wherein the printing area and the non-printing area in a direction of arrangement in succession ordered and the dimension of the non-printing area in the arrangement direction corresponds to at least a distance between the cutting unit and the first moving unit.

Since not the entire output print carrier is printed, but only the print area, the pressure medium consumption can be reduced. In addition, since the dimension of the non-printing area of the discharged printing medium in the arrangement direction corresponds to at least the distance between the first moving unit and the cutting unit and cutting in an area within the cutting device between the first moving unit and the cutting unit usually only with great technical effort or even is not possible, the production of the printed print substrate by the thermal sublimation printer such that it has a print area and a non-print area, can lead to a pressure medium consumption reduction, without affecting the manufacturing process.

In one embodiment, the dimension of the non-printing area in the arrangement direction is equal to the distance between the cutting unit and the first moving unit. In another embodiment, the dimension of the non-printing area in the arrangement direction is only slightly larger than the distance between the cutting unit and the first moving unit. For example, the dimension of the non-printing area in the arrangement direction may be not more than 1 mm, 5 mm, 10 mm, 15 mm or 20 mm greater than the distance between the cutting unit and the first moving unit. The device may be adapted to produce labels as cut objects, wherein the print carrier may be a peelable adhesive film on a film carrier material such as a paper carrier. The cutter may be adapted to cut only the adhesive film along the pattern and not the underlying film substrate to create the object to be cut. After the cut object has been produced, the cut portion of the adhesive sheet, that is, the cut object, can be peeled off. The device may also be adapted to produce other cut objects, such as non-adhesive cut paper objects.

Preferably, the thermal sublimation printer and the cutting device are arranged such that the direction of movement and the arrangement direction are rectified. In particular, the apparatus further preferably comprises a) transfer means for automatically transferring the printed print substrate from the thermal sublimation printer to the cutting device, the transfer device comprising a second movement unit for automatically moving the printed print substrate in a forward direction from the thermal sublimation printer to the cutting device the forward direction is rectified with the direction of movement and the arrangement direction, and b) a control device for controlling at least the transfer device and the cutting device.

The device thus preferably comprises a thermal sublimation printer, a transfer device and a cutting device, wherein the thermal sublimation printer prints on the print carrier and outputs the printed print carrier, after which the transfer device automatically guides the output print carrier to the cutting device in which the print carrier is cut along the cut pattern Create cutting object. Since the orientation of the print carrier within the cutting device is known by the automatic transfer of the printed print substrate from the thermal sublimation printer to the cutting device, a manual adjustment of the print carrier within the cutting device is not absolutely necessary, resulting in a reduced susceptibility to errors, ie a reduced probability of inaccurate cuts, and thus lead to cut objects of better quality.

The thermal sublimation printer and the cutting device are preferably spaced apart units. The cutting device is preferably not integrated in the thermal sublimation printer and vice versa. Between the thermal sublimation printer and the cutting device, the transfer unit is preferred. arranged direction. The transfer device is preferably integrated neither in the thermal sublimation printer nor in the cutting device.

The thermal sublimation printer, the transfer device and the cutting device are preferably arranged such that the print carrier is linearly movable from the thermal sublimation printer via the transfer device to the cutting device in the forward direction, wherein the transfer device is adapted, the printed print carrier only by means of a translation, without the print carrier which is in particular an adhesive film to rotate, to move in the forward direction. Since the transfer device moves the printed print carrier linearly only by means of a translation without rotating the print carrier, the probability of misalignments of the printed print carrier within the cutting device and thus of inaccurate cuts can be further reduced. In order to further improve this cutting accuracy, it may be provided that the pattern is provided with an orientation mark, so that the printed print carrier has an orientation mark, wherein the cutting device has a detection unit for detecting the orientation mark on the printed print carrier and the orientation can be adjusted the printed print carrier within the cutting device before the cutting operation on the basis of the detected orientation mark to optimize. In particular, the first movement unit of the cutting device for moving the printed print carrier within the cutting device in the forward and reverse direction and the cutting unit, which is preferably laterally thereto, in particular orthogonal, movable, so controlled that before the cutting operation, the position of the cutting unit relative to the orientation mark even better corresponds to a predetermined position. As a result, the cutting accuracy can be further improved. Due to the preferred defined, already relatively accurate automatic feed of the printed substrate from the thermal sublimation printer to the cutting device, automatic repositioning on the basis of a plurality of orientation marks on the printed substrate usually does not bring any further accuracy advantage. In a preferred embodiment, this post-positioning therefore takes place only on the basis of a single orientation marking. However, in other embodiments, multiple orientation marks could be used, or repositioning could fail, in which case the printed substrate could not have an orientation mark. The orientation marking preferably comprises an L-shaped structure, which is preferably arranged in a corner region of the printed print carrier. The detection unit may include a light source, in particular a laser, for irradiating the printed print carrier and a detector for detecting the light reflected from the printed print carrier, wherein the detection unit may be adapted to detect the orientation mark based on the reflected light, and wherein the control device can be adapted to activate the laser only when the first movement unit is activated. As a result, the power consumption of the device can be reduced.

The control unit is preferably designed to control the first movement unit and the cutting unit so that the printed print carrier and the cutting unit are moved in such a way that the print carrier is cut along the pattern.

The control device is preferably adapted to control the first and second movement units in such a way that initially only the second movement unit is activated in order to move the printed print carrier up to the first movement unit, in which case both movement units are activated such that both movement units are the printed print carrier move synchronously further into the cutting device. In particular, the printed print carrier is moved until shortly before the first movement unit, wherein only then both movement units are moved synchronously to guide the printed print carrier in the cutting device. Characterized in that the second movement unit moves the printed print carrier until shortly before the first movement unit, wherein only when this state is reached, in which the printed print carrier is located shortly before the first movement unit, both movement units are moved synchronously to the To lead printed print carrier in the cutting device can be prevented that the second movement unit presses the printed print carrier against the first movement unit, whereby a wave, buckling and / or twisting of the printed print carrier can be prevented. In addition, since the first moving unit is activated only when the above-described state in which the printed printing medium is located immediately before the first moving unit is reached, the first moving unit is not unnecessarily activated, whereby the power consumption can be reduced.

The transfer device further preferably has a measuring unit for measuring the distance, which the printed print carrier is moved by means of the second movement unit in the direction of the cutting device, wherein the control device is adapted to control the second movement unit so that the printed print carrier so long is moved forward in the direction of the cutting device until the measured distance indicates that the printed print carrier has been moved to the first motion unit. By using the measuring unit, it can be ensured in a technically relatively simple manner that the second movement unit first moves the printed print carrier only until shortly before the first movement unit. In addition, the measuring unit is preferably adapted to measure the distance over which the thermal sublimation printer has guided the printed print carrier into the transfer device, wherein the control device is adapted to control the second movement unit such that the printed print carrier advances in the direction of the cutting device until the total distance measured indicates that the printed media has been moved to the first unit of motion. By additionally taking into account the distance over which the thermal sublimation printer has guided the printed print carrier into the transfer device, the movement of the printed print carrier by means of the second movement unit can be carried out more precisely such that the printed print carrier is initially moved only until shortly before the second movement unit become.

Preferably, the second motion unit includes motor-driven rollers with a freewheeling forward direction, the measuring unit being adapted to measure a passive rotation of the rollers in freewheel when the printed print carrier is moved by the thermal sublimation printer into the transfer device to measure the distance the thermal sublimation printer has moved the printed print carrier into the transfer device. Since the second movement unit has motor-driven rollers with a freewheel in the forward direction, the thermal sublimation printer can move the printed print carrier into the second movement unit, that is to the motor-driven rollers of the second movement unit, without the risk of the printed print carrier, for example, curling , kinked and / or twisted. As a result, the probability of an inaccurate orientation of the printed print carrier in the cutting device and thus an inaccurate section can be further reduced. The rotation-based distance measurement can also be used to measure the distance over which the second movement unit has moved the printed print carrier in the direction of the cutting device. This allows a more compact design of the device.

The first movement unit preferably comprises motor-driven rollers for moving the printed print carrier in the cutting device, wherein the motor-driven rollers have no freewheel. In addition, the transfer device preferably comprises a pass-through unit, which is adapted to move the printed print carrier to the second printing unit. move past movement unit when the first movement unit moves the printed print carrier backwards in the direction of the transfer device. In particular, the pass-through unit is adapted to guide the printed print carrier below the second movement unit when the first movement unit moves the printed print carrier backwards in the direction of the transfer device. By passing the printed print carrier past the second movement unit, it is possible to ensure that the printed print carrier is not curled, kinked and / or rotated during the cutting in the cutting device, during which the printed print carrier is generally moved backwards in the direction of the second movement unit , This also ensures that even during the cutting process within the cutting device of the printed print carrier remains exactly oriented, whereby the cutting accuracy can be further improved.

The transfer device can have a print carrier recognition unit for detecting a feed of the printed print carrier to the transfer device, wherein the control device can be adapted to control the second movement unit such that the second movement unit only moves the printed print carrier in the direction of the cutting device, if since the recognition the supply of the print carrier has passed a predefined period of time. The thermal sublimation printer is preferably adapted to provide the print area and the non-print area on a portion of a print carrier web to be trimmed, wherein the print area is printed with the print pattern and the non-print area is unprinted and the sublimation printer cuts off the trimmed section outputs as a printed print carrier. The predefined period of time is preferably at least such that the cutting operation of the thermal sublimation printer is completed when the second movement unit begins to move the discharged printed print carrier in the direction of the cutting device. In this way, it can be prevented, for example, that the second movement unit already attempts to move the printed print carrier to the first movement unit, although the print carrier web has not yet been cut and the thermal sublimation printer has not yet released the printed print carrier. For example, it can be prevented that the printed print substrate unintentionally shifts, in particular is rotated, which could eventually lead to a more inaccurate orientation of the printed print carrier within the cutting device and thus to an inaccurate cutting process. In one embodiment, the second movement unit comprises motor-driven rollers for moving the print carrier, which is in particular an adhesive film, wherein the motor-driven rollers have a freewheel in the direction of the cutting device.

The thermal sublimation printer and the transfer device are preferably adapted such that the print carrier fed to the transfer device from the thermal sublimation printer freewheels the rollers of the second movement unit, wherein the print carrier recognition unit is adapted to detect the supply of the print carrier by detecting the rotation of the rollers of the second movement unit , In particular, this passive rotation of the rollers in freewheeling can be additionally used to measure the distance over which the printed print carrier has been guided by the thermal sublimation printer into the transfer device. The roles of the second movement unit can therefore be used for different purposes, whereby a very compact construction of the device is made possible.

The print pattern is preferably a color and / or black and white and / or grayscale pattern. The apparatus may include input means adapted to allow a user to make inputs, and pattern generating means for generating the pattern based on the user inputs, the pattern comprising the pattern and the pattern within the pattern. The pattern can also be specified in a different way. The input device preferably has a photo data receiving unit, wherein the photo data receiving unit is adapted to receive photo data of the user as user input. The input device is also preferably adapted to show the user different default patterns, ie templates, and to allow the user to select a default pattern as user input. In addition, the input device is preferably adapted to allow a user to select a product, in particular a product to be purchased in a self-service area (SB area) of a drugstore, wherein the input device may be further adapted to a default pattern based on the selected product and to select and provide as user input based on predefined mappings between products and default patterns. In particular, the products may be provided with a product identifier, wherein the input device may comprise a product identifier reading unit for reading a product identifier of a product selected by the user. The product identifier may be a bar code, for example, and the product identifier reading unit may be a unit for reading a bar code. The input device may also be adapted to allow the user to make inputs that change the selected default pattern, for example, the user may Enter a text and / or color that should be added to the pattern. Also, the photo data may be added to the template.

The input device, the pattern generation device, the thermal sublimation printer, the transfer device and the cutting device are preferably integrated in the same device for producing cut objects. A user can therefore directly enter into the device, for example in a self-service area of a drugstore, whereafter the pattern generator generates the pattern based on the user inputs, the thermal sublimation printer prints and outputs the generated pattern on the print carrier, the printed print carrier automatically by means of the transfer device the cutting device is guided and the cutting device cuts the print carrier along the cutting pattern to produce the cutting object directly in the SB area. The device can therefore generate a user-personalized cut object in a relatively fast manufacturing process.

The above object is further achieved by a thermal sublimation printer for use as part of the apparatus for producing cut objects according to claim 1, wherein the thermal sublimation printer is adapted to print a print pattern on a print carrier and output the printed print substrate with the thermal sublimation printer adapted To print carrier to print so that the issued print carrier has a printing area in which has been printed, and a non-printing area in which has not been printed.

The above object is further achieved by a method for generating cut objects, the method comprising the following steps:

Printing the print pattern onto a print substrate and outputting the printed print substrate by means of a thermal sublimation printer, the cutting device having a cutting unit for cutting the print carrier and a first movement unit for moving the print carrier within the cutting device, the first Moving unit during a cutting operation moves the print carrier in a direction of movement from the first movement unit to the cutting unit and / or back from the cutting unit to the first moving unit, wherein the thermal sublimation printer prints the printing medium so that the discharged printing medium has a printing area in which printing has been carried out and a non-printing area in which printing has not been carried out, wherein the printing area and the non-printing area are arranged one behind another in an arranging direction and the dimension of the non-printing area in the arrangement direction corresponds to at least a distance between the cutting unit and the first moving unit.

The above object is further achieved by a computer program for generating cut objects, the computer program having program code means adapted to control a device for generating cut objects according to claim 1 such that the method for generating cut objects according to claim 16 is performed when the computer program is executed on a controller that controls the device.

It should be understood that the apparatus of claim 1, the thermal sublimation printer of claim 15, the method of claim 16 and the computer program of claim 17 have similar and / or identical preferred embodiments as defined in particular in the dependent claims.

Embodiments of the invention will be described below with reference to the following figures, wherein

1 schematically and by way of example shows an embodiment of a device for producing cut objects,

FIG. 2 shows schematically and by way of example some components of the device shown in FIG. 1, FIG.

Fig. 3 schematically and exemplarily a printed and cut

Adhesive film showing multiple generated stickers as cut objects,

4 to 7 show diagrammatically and by way of example different views of a combination of thermal sublimation printer, transfer device and cutting device of the device illustrated in FIG. 1, FIG. 8 schematically and exemplarily shows an abstracted representation of the combination shown in FIGS. 4 to 7, and FIG

9 is a flowchart illustrating one embodiment of a method for generating cut objects. Fig. 1 shows diagrammatically and by way of example an embodiment of a device for producing cut objects, which in this embodiment are stickers. In this example, the device 1 is located in a self-service area of a drugstore. The device 1 comprises a touch-sensitive monitor 3, a photo data receiving unit 5 and a product recognition reading unit 6 in a housing 2. The touch-sensitive monitor 3, the photo data receiving unit 5 and the product recognition reading unit 6 can be considered as components of an input device 8 adapted to be supplied to a user enable you to make entries. Within the housing 2 is also a pattern generator 9 for generating a pattern 15 on the basis of the user inputs, wherein the pattern 15 comprises a pattern and a print pattern within the pattern. FIG. 2 illustrates schematically and by way of example the pattern generation device 9 and further components of the device 1 which are located within the housing 2. 3 shows an example of a printed and cut ink carrier 14, which in this embodiment is an adhesive film having a plurality of patterns 15. The photo data receiving unit 5 is adapted to receive photo data of the user as user input. The user may also select a product available in the drugstore area of the drugstore and hold it to the product identifier reading unit 6 so that a product identifier deposited on the product can be read by the product identifier reading unit 6. For example, the product identifier may be a bar code, and the product identifier reading unit 6 may be a unit for reading a bar code. The input device 8 can also have associations between products or product identifiers on the one hand and default patterns on the other hand, it being possible to use one or more predefined patterns on the touch-sensitive monitor 3 on the basis of these associations and the read product identifier of the product selected by the user. When multiple default patterns are displayed on the touch-sensitive monitor 3, the user can select one of these default patterns. In addition, the input device 8 may be adapted to allow the user to enter change requests, such as a desired text, a desired color, et cetera. Based on these user inputs, the pattern generator 9 can generate the pattern.

The apparatus 1 further comprises a thermal sublimation printer 11 for printing the printing pattern on an adhesive film 14, a cutter 13 for cutting the adhesive film 14 along the pattern, and transfer means 12 for automatically transferring the printed adhesive film 14 from the thermal sublimation printer 11 to the cutter 13 wherein the transfer device 12 comprises a second movement unit 16 for automatically moving the printed adhesive sheet 14 in a forward direction from the thermal sublimation printer 11 to the cutting device 13. The device 1 further comprises a control device 10, which is adapted to control the automatic transfer of the printed adhesive film 14 from the thermal sublimation printer 1 1 to the cutting device 13.

The print pattern is preferably a color and / or black and white and / or grayscale pattern. The thermal sublimation printer 11 is adapted to provide a printing area 55 and a non-printing area 56 on a portion of a print carrier web to be cut, which is an adhesive sheet in this example, with the print area 55 being printed with the print pattern and the non-printing area 56 being unprinted and wherein the thermal sublimation printer 1 1 cuts off the portion and outputs the cut portion as a printed printing medium, that is, as a printed adhesive sheet 14 in this example.

The thermal sublimation printer 1 1 and the transfer device 12 are formed and arranged so that when the printed and cut adhesive film 14 is discharged, it is supplied to the transfer device 12 from the thermal sublimation printer 11. The thermal sublimation printer 11, the transfer device 12 and the cutter 13 are arranged such that the adhesive film 14 is linearly movable forward from the thermal sublimation printer 11 to the cutter 13 in the forward direction via the transfer device 12, the transfer device 12 being adapted to the printed adhesive film 14 merely by translation, without rotating the adhesive film 14 to move in the forward direction. The adhesive film 14 printed by the thermal sublimation printer 11 and cut by the cutting device 13 is then finally led out of the housing 2 through a discharge opening 7. Hereinafter, details of the thermal sublimation printer 11, the transfer device 12 and the cutter 13 will be described with reference to Figs. 4 to 8, Figs. 4 and 5 show oblique plan views and Figs. 6 and 7 show side views. FIG. 8 is an abstracted view, which also shows elements of the cutting device 13 which are not visible in FIGS. 4 to 7, since they are arranged inside a housing 30.

The second movement unit 16 of the transfer device 12 comprises a plurality of rollers 20 arranged on axes, wherein the axes are driven by a motor via a belt. At least the rollers 20 on the axis closest to the thermal sublimation printer 11 have a freewheel in the direction of forward movement of the printed adhesive film 14. In each case one end of the axes of the second movement unit 16, on which the rollers 20 are arranged, has a gear 38, which is in engagement with a further gear 39, so that the gear 39 rotates when the axes and thus the rollers 20th are driven via the motor of the second movement unit 16. The gear 39 also rotates when the axes with the rollers 20 of the second movement unit 16 are not driven by the motor, but when these axes rotate by the printed adhesive film 14 is moved by the thermal sublimation printer 1 1 in the transfer device 12. The second movement unit 16 further comprises a sensor 40, which consists for example of a combination of a light source and a light detector, wherein the light source and the light detector are arranged so that the number of teeth of the gear 39, which are moved past the sensor 40, can be counted. Based on the number of teeth of the gear 39 passed by the sensor, the controller 10 may determine how many degrees the gear 39 has been rotated. This can be used to measure the distance over which the printed adhesive film 14 has been moved by the thermal sublimation printer 11 into the transfer device 12 as well as by the second movement unit 16 in the direction of the cutting device 13. In addition, detection of rotation of the gear 39 closest to the thermal sublimation printer 11 may be used to determine whether the printed adhesive sheet 14 has been inserted into the transfer device 12. The combination of the gears 38, 39 and the sensor 40 can therefore be used as an adhesive sheet recognition unit 19 for detecting a supply of the printed adhesive film 14 be understood to the transfer device 12. Since the combination of the gears 38, 39 and the sensor 40 is also used to measure the distance over which the thermal sublimation printer 1 1 has passed the printed adhesive film 14 in the transfer device 12 and on the second movement unit 16, the printed adhesive film 14th moved in the direction of the cutting device 13, this combination can also be understood as a measuring unit 19 for measuring these distances.

The second movement unit 16 is preferably controlled such that the second movement unit 16 only moves the printed adhesive film 14 in the direction of the cutting device 13 when a predefined period of time has elapsed since the detection of the feed of the adhesive film 14. This predefined period of time is preferably at least such that the cutting operation of the thermal sublimation printer 1 1 is completed when the second movement unit 16 begins to move the printed adhesive film 14 in the direction of the cutting device 13.

The control device 10 is preferably adapted such that the second movement unit 16 advances the printed adhesive film 14 in the direction of the cutting device 13 until the measured distance indicates that the printed adhesive film 14 has been moved to a first movement unit 18 of the cutting device 13 is. In particular, the second movement unit 16 is controlled such that the printed adhesive film 14 is moved forward in the direction of the cutting device 13 until the measured distance indicates that the printed adhesive film 14 is arranged shortly before the rollers 21 of the first movement unit 18. The rollers 21 of the first movement unit 18 are motor-driven and have no freewheel. They are rotatable so that the printed adhesive sheet 14 can be moved within the cutting device 13 in the forward direction and in the reverse direction. The first and second movement units 18, 16 are preferably controlled so that initially only the second movement unit 16 is activated to move the printed adhesive sheet 14 to the first movement unit 18, then both movement units 18, 16 are activated such that both Moving units 18, 16 synchronously move the printed adhesive film 14 into the cutting device 13. When the printed adhesive sheet 14 has been moved into the cutter 13 and has left the transfer device 12, a pass unit 22 of the transfer device 12 is actuated, so that when the printed adhesive film 14 is moved backward by the first moving unit 18 of the cutter 13, the printed adhesive film 14 is guided past the second movement unit 16. In particular, the pass-through unit 22 is adapted such that the printed adhesive film 14 is guided below the second movement unit 16 when the first movement unit 18 moves the printed adhesive film 14 backwards in the direction of the transfer device 12. In this embodiment, the pass-through unit 22 includes a switch 36 and an actuator 37, wherein the actuator 37 is controlled so that the switch 36, which is formed by, for example, a metal sheet is folded up to pass the printed adhesive film 14 on the second movement unit 16 when the printed adhesive sheet 14 is moved backward by the cutter 13. During the movement of the adhesive film 14 from the transfer device 12 to the cutting device 13, a pinch roller 35 can be used to hold the adhesive film 14 down, wherein the pinch roller 35 can be formed so that when the actuator 37, the switch 36 folds up Pinch roller 35 is pivoted upward. The printed adhesive film 14 has an orientation mark 17 which has been printed on the adhesive film 14 by the thermal sublimation printer 11. The cutting device 13 comprises a detection unit 32 for detecting the orientation mark on the printed adhesive film 14, the cutting device 13 being adapted to optimize the alignment of the printed adhesive film 14 within the cutting device 13 prior to the cutting operation on the basis of the detected orientation mark 17. Specifically, the first moving unit 18 for moving the printed adhesive sheet 14 within the forward and reverse cutter 13 and an orthogonal cutting unit 31 of the cutter 13 can be controlled so that, prior to the cutting operation, the position of the cutting unit 31 relative to the orientation mark becomes very accurate corresponds to a predetermined position.

In this embodiment, both the cutting unit 31 and the detection unit 32 are mounted on a same head 33 of the cutter 13, which head 33 is movable along an axis 34 by a motor orthogonal to the forward / backward direction. The first movement unit 18 moves the printed adhesive film 14, and the head 33 moves the detection unit 32 such that the detection unit 32 is located above the inner corner 50 of the orientation mark 17. In particular, the detection unit 32 comprises a light source such as a laser and a light detector such as a photodiode, the first one Moving unit 18, the printed adhesive film 14 moves so and the head 33 is moved with the detection unit 32 so that a light emanating from the light source of the detection unit 32 light beam strikes the inner corner 50 of the orientation mark 17. When this state is reached, the cutting unit 31 has a defined, very exact orientation relative to the printed adhesive film 14, in particular to the printing pattern. Thereafter, the cutter 13 is controlled so that the adhesive film 14 is cut along the pattern of the corresponding pattern 15, the adhesive film 14 is on a support, in particular on a paper support or on another carrier medium, and the cutting device 13 is preferably adapted only to cut the adhesive film 14, but not the underlying carrier. The labels produced by the printing and cutting can then be output through the discharge opening 7. The user can peel off a sticker from the printed and cut adhesive film 14 and stick it on the desired product. The thermal sublimation printer 11 is preferably adapted such that the printing area 55 and the non-printing area 56 are arranged one behind the other in an arrangement direction 57 and the dimension 59 of the non-printing area 56 in the arrangement direction 57 is at least one distance 54 between the cutting unit 31 and the first Movement unit 18 in the direction of movement 53, that is in the forward or backward direction, corresponds. The distance 59 may accordingly be greater than or equal to the distance 54. The distance 54 may, for example, be the distance in the direction of movement 53 between a) the contact point at which the first movement unit 18 is in contact with the adhesive film 14 and which is closest to the cutting unit 31 and b) the interface at which the cutting unit 31 intersects. When the first moving unit 18 contacts the adhesive sheet 14 for moving the same in only one place, the distance 54 is simply the distance between this pad and the interface in the direction of movement 53.

The thermal sublimation printer 1 1 can be adapted so that the pressure and non-pressure areas are fixed. The thermal sublimation printer 1 1 can also be adapted so that the pressure and non-pressure areas are variable, in particular adjustable. Preferably, the thermal sublimation printer 1 1 is adapted so that the dimensions of the printing area and the non-printing area are adjustable in the direction of arrangement. The adjustment of the pressure and non-pressure areas can be done manually, in particular by means of a corresponding interface of the thermal sublimation printer, or controlled by another unit. In the following, an embodiment of a method for producing cut objects, which in this embodiment are stickers, in particular in a self-service area, for example a drugstore, will be described by way of example, with reference to a flowchart shown in FIG. In step 101, a user may enter user input via the input device 8. For example, the user can enter photo data, texts, desired colors, et cetera. In addition, for example, the user may select from a number of default patterns a desired default pattern. This selection can also be made by means of a product selection, wherein the user first selects a product, after which the user can be shown one or more default patterns that match the selected product. If the user is shown a plurality of default patterns, the user can select one of these default patterns by means of the input device 8.

In step 102, a pattern based on the user inputs is generated by the pattern generator 9, the pattern including a marker and a print pattern within the marker. For example, a photo of the user contained in the photo data is integrated into a default pattern, and the default pattern may be further changed by colors and / or texts input by the user in step 101. The pattern produced in this way, that is to say at least the printing pattern, is transmitted to the thermal sublimation printer 11.

In step 103, the thermal sublimation printer 11 prints the print pattern on an adhesive film 14 and outputs printed adhesive film 14, and the thermal sublimation printer 11 prints the adhesive film 14 so that the discharged adhesive film 14 has the print area 55 in which it has been printed and not Printing area 56 in which printing has not been carried out, with the printing area 55 and the non-printing area 56 being arranged one behind the other in the arranging direction 57, and the dimension 59 of the non-printing area 56 in the arranging direction 57 being at least the distance 54 between the cutting unit 31 and the first movement unit 18 corresponds. More specifically, the thermal sublimation printer 11 provides the printing area 55 and the non-printing area 56 on a portion of an adhesive sheet to be cut, printing area 55 printed with the non-printing area 56 and the sublimation printer 1 1 cutting the portion and the cut portion as a printed print carrier, that is, in this example, as a printed adhesive film 14, outputs. In step 104, the printed adhesive sheet 14 is automatically transferred from the thermal sublimation printer 1 to the cutter 13 by means of the transfer device 12, and the second moving unit 16 of the transfer device 12 automatically transfers the printed adhesive film in the forward direction from the thermal sublimation printer 11 to the cutter 13 emotional. In step 105, the cutter 13 cuts the adhesive sheet along the cut pattern to produce the cut object, and in step 106, the generated sticker is discharged through the discharge opening 7.

For the selection of, for example, desired colors, desired default patterns, et cetera and for inputting desired texts, the input device 8 preferably provides a graphical user interface which can be operated by the user by means of the touch-sensitive monitor 3. The sticker produced may be a sticker to be affixed to a product to be purchased, such as a shower gel container, a cereal box, et cetera, in which case a sticker is produced which is suitable for the particular product, ie for the product respective product packaging, is suitable. However, the device 1 can also be designed to produce stickers that are not tuned to specific products or product containers. That is, the device 1 can also be configured to produce stickers that are independent of particular products and can be glued to, for example, cars or other objects.

The device 1 makes it possible to generate personalized stickers, that is to say stickers which have been designed by means of the user inputs. In the embodiment described in conjunction with FIGS. 1 to 8, the photo data receiving unit 5 is adapted to read in photo data by means of a data carrier such as a USB data carrier. However, in other embodiments, the photo data receiving unit may also be adapted to receive the photo data in a different manner. For example, the photo data can be received directly via a wired or wireless data connection from a camera, in particular a smartphone with a photo function. The photo data receiving unit may also be adapted to receive the photo data via cloud services such as facebook, dropbox, CEWE cloud, et cetera.

The thermal sublimation printer prints on an adhesive film, which is arranged on a support medium such as a paper support, the corresponding pattern, after which the printed adhesive film to the cutting device, which also acts as a sticker cutter can be understood, is transferred by means of the transfer device. The orientation mark applied to the adhesive film is detected by sensors, that is to say by the detection unit of the cutting device, and serves for the readjustment of the adhesive film, that is to say for the vertical and horizontal orientation of the adhesive film. In addition to the printed adhesive film, a digital clipping mask, that is the pattern, is transferred to the cutting device, the digital clipping mask representing the outline of the sticker. The cutting unit of the cutting device preferably has a drag knife which is moved along the contour of the sticker, that is to say along the cutting pattern, in order to cut in the adhesive film along the pattern. Preferably, the drag knife is moved so that only the adhesive film is cut, but not the carrier medium.

The cutting device may be adapted to cut out any pattern of cuts offered by templates, that is, the default patterns, to the user, whereby the user may select one of these templates. After cutting, the cutting device outputs the finally generated sticker. The sticker can be removed by the user residue-free from the carrier material. If the user has selected a product to which he would like to apply the cut object, this can now be applied by the user himself. As a result, products available in the drugstore can be personalized in a simple manner by the user himself.

Although labels have been produced as cut objects in embodiments described above, other cut objects may be created in other embodiments. For example, print patterns may be printed on a non-adhesive print substrate, such as a non-adhesive paper backing, whereafter the cut objects may be created by cutting the non-adhesive print substrate along the cut pattern.

Although, in embodiments described above, the pattern for producing the cut object is generated based on user inputs to create personalized cut objects, in other embodiments a pattern may be provided in a different manner. For example, a predefined, non-personalized pattern may be used to create the cut objects.

Although, in embodiments described above, the print substrate printed and output by the thermal sublimation printer is automatically separated from the thermal sublimation printer. tion printer is transferred by means of the transfer device to the cutting device, this can be done in other embodiments in a different way, for example manually. In the latter case, the device could have no transfer device. Although in the above-described embodiments, the thermal sublimation printer is a component of the apparatus for producing cut objects, the thermal sublimation printer usable within this apparatus may also be used independently of the apparatus. Also in this use, the printing and non-printing areas may be either fixed or variable, in which case the dimension of the non-printing area in the arrangement direction need not be at least equal to a distance between the cutting unit and the first moving unit. The dimensions of the printing area and the non-printing area, in particular in the arrangement direction, can be set manually, in particular by means of a corresponding interface of the sublimation printer, or by a unit which in particular controls the sublimation printer, that is to say at least the dimensions of the printing and non-printing areas.

In the claims, the words "comprising" and "comprising" do not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article "a" does not exclude a plurality A single unit or device may perform the functions of a plurality of elements listed in the claims The fact that individual functions and elements are listed in different dependent claims does not mean that a combination of these functions or elements could not be used to advantage as well The control of the device for generating cut objects according to the method for creating cut objects can be described as Program code of a computer program and / or implemented as corresponding hardware and is in particular a programmable logic controller.

A computer program may be stored and / or distributed on a suitable medium, such as an optical storage medium or a solid state storage medium, distributed along with or as part of other hardware. The computer program can also be distributed in other forms, for example via the Internet or other telecommunication systems.

The reference signs in the claims are not to be understood as limiting the subject matter and the scope of the claims to these references.

The invention relates to a device for producing cut objects. A thermal sublimation printer prints a print pattern on a print substrate and outputs it. A cutter then cuts the print carrier along a cutting pattern, the cutter comprising a cutting unit and a moving unit for moving the print carrier during cutting. The thermal sublimation printer is adapted to print on the print carrier such that the output print carrier has a print area in which it has been printed and a non-print area in which it has not been printed, the print area and the non-print area being in an array direction are arranged one behind the other and the dimension of the non-printing area in the arrangement direction corresponds to at least one distance between the cutting unit and the first moving unit.

Claims

An apparatus for producing cut objects based on a pattern comprising a cut pattern and a print pattern within the cut pattern, the apparatus (1) comprising: a thermal sublimation printer (11) for printing the print pattern on a print carrier (14) and outputting the printed print carrier (14), a cutter (13) for cutting the print carrier (14) along the cut pattern, the cutter (13) having a cutting unit (31) for cutting the print carrier (14) and a first moving unit (18) for moving the print carrier (14) within the cutter (13), wherein the first movement unit (18) is adapted during a cutting operation, the print carrier (14) in a direction of movement from the first movement unit (18) to the cutting unit (31) and back from the To move cutting unit (31) to the first moving unit (18), wherein the thermal sublimation printer (1 1) is adapted, the Printing carrier (14) to be printed such that the output print carrier (14) has a printing area (55) in which has been printed, and a non-printing area (56) in which has not been printed, wherein the printing area (55 ) and the non-printing area (56) are arranged one behind another in an arrangement direction (57) and the dimension (59) of the non-printing area (56) in the arrangement direction (57) is at least one distance (54) between the cutting unit (31 ) and the first movement unit (18).

2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the thermal sublimation printer (1 1) and the cutting device are arranged such that the direction of movement (53) and the arrangement direction (57) are rectified.

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the device further comprises a) transfer means (12) for automatically transferring the printed print substrate (14) from the thermal sublimation printer (11) to the cutting device (13), the transfer device (12 ) comprises a second moving unit (16) for automatically moving the printed print substrate (14) in a forward direction from the thermal sublimation printer (11) to the cutter (13), the forward direction being rectified with the direction of movement and the arrangement direction, and b) a control device (10) for controlling at least the transfer device (12) and the cutting device (13).

4. The device according to claim 3, characterized in that the thermal sublimation printer (1 1), the transfer device (12) and the cutting device (13) are arranged such that the print carrier (14) linearly from the Thermosublimationsdrucker (1 1) via the transfer device (12) is movable toward the cutting device (13) in the forward direction, wherein the transfer device (12) is adapted to move the printed print carrier (14) in the forward direction merely by means of translation without rotating the adhesive film (14).

5. Device according to one of claims 3 and 4, characterized in that the control device (10) is adapted to control the first and second movement units (18, 16) such that initially only the second movement unit (16) is activated to to move the printed print carrier (14) up to the first movement unit (18), in which case both movement units (18, 16) are activated such that both movement units (18, 16) move the printed print carrier (14) synchronously further into the cutting device (18). 13) move.

6. The device according to claim 5, characterized in that the transfer device (12) further comprises a measuring unit (19) for measuring the distance that the printed print carrier (14) by means of the second movement unit (16) in the direction of the cutting device (13). is moved, wherein the control device (10) is adapted to control the second movement unit (16) so that the printed print carrier (14) is moved forward in the direction of the cutting device (13) until the measured distance indicates that the printed print carrier (14) has been moved to the first movement unit (18).

7. The device according to claim 6, characterized in that the measuring unit (19) is also adapted to measure the distance over which the thermal sublimation printer (1 1) has guided the printed print carrier (14) into the transfer device (12), wherein the Control device (10) is adapted to control the second movement unit (16) so that the printed print carrier (14) so long in the direction of the cutting device (13) is moved forward until the total measured distance indicates that the printed print carrier (14) has been moved to the first moving unit (18).

8. The device according to claim 7, characterized in that the second movement unit (16) motor-driven rollers (20) having a freewheel in the forward direction, wherein the measuring unit (19) is adapted, a passive rotation of the rollers (20). freewheeling when the printed print carrier (14) is moved by the thermal sublimation printer (11) into the transfer device (12) to measure the distance over which the thermal sublimation printer (11) the printed print carrier (14) passes. has moved into the transfer device (12).

9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first movement unit (18) comprises motor-driven rollers (21) for moving the printed print carrier (14) in the cutting device (13), wherein the motor-driven rollers (21) have no freewheel ,

10. Device according to one of claims 3 to 9, characterized in that the transfer device (12) has a pass-through unit (22) which is adapted to pass the printed print carrier (14) on the second movement unit (16) when the first movement unit (18) the printed print carrier (14) moves backwards in the direction of the transfer device (12).

1 1. Apparatus according to claim 10, characterized in that the Vorbeiführungs- unit (22) is adapted to guide the printed print carrier (14) below the second movement unit (16) when the first movement unit (18) the printed print carrier (14 ) is moved backwards in the direction of the transfer device (12).

12. Device according to one of claims 3 to 1 1, characterized in that the transfer device (12) has a print carrier detection unit (19) for detecting a supply of the printed print carrier (14) to the transfer device (12), wherein the control device (10) is adapted to control the second movement unit (16) such that the second movement unit (16) the printed print carrier (14) only in the direction of the cutting device (13) moves when a predefined since the detection of the supply of the print carrier (14) Time span has passed.

13. Device according to one of claims 3 to 12, characterized in that the second movement unit (16) motor-driven rollers (20) for moving the adhesive film (14), which have a freewheel in the direction of the cutting device (13).

14. The device according to claims 12 and 13, characterized in that the thermal sublimation printer (1 1) and the transfer device (12) are adapted so that the transfer device (12) of the thermal sublimation printer (1 1) supplied printed print carrier (14) the rollers (20) of the second movement unit (16) rotate in the freewheel, wherein the pressure carrier detection unit (19) is adapted, the Feeding the print carrier (14) by detecting the rotation of the rollers (20) of the second movement unit (16) to recognize.

15. A dye sublimation printer for use as part of the apparatus for producing cut objects according to claim 1, characterized in that the thermal sublimation printer is adapted to print a print pattern on a print carrier (14) and output the printed print carrier (14), the thermal sublimation printer ( 1 1) is adapted to print the print carrier (14) such that the output print carrier (14) has a print area (55) in which it has been printed and a print area (56) in which it has not been printed.

16. A method of producing cut objects based on a pattern comprising a cut pattern and a print pattern within the cut pattern, the method comprising:

Printing the printed pattern onto a print carrier (14) and outputting the printed print carrier (14) by means of a thermal sublimation printer (1 1), - cutting the print carrier (14) along the cutting pattern by means of a cutting device (13), wherein the cutting device (13) comprises a cutting unit (31) for cutting the print carrier (14) and a first movement unit (18) for moving the print carrier (14) within the cutting device (13), wherein the first movement unit (18) during a cutting operation, the print carrier (14) in a direction of movement of the first movement unit (18) to the cutting unit (31) and / or moved back from the cutting unit (31) to the first movement unit (18), wherein the thermal sublimation printer (1 1) the print carrier (14) printed such that the issued print carrier (14) a printing area (55) in which has been printed, and a non-printing area (56) in which has not been printed, wherein the printing area (55) and the non-printing area (56) are arranged one behind the other in an arrangement direction (57), and the dimension (59) of the non-printing area (56) in the arrangement direction (57) is at least one distance (54) between the cutting unit (31) and the first movement unit (18).

A computer program for generating cut objects based on a pattern comprising a cut pattern and a print pattern within the cut pattern, the computer program having program code means adapted to control a cut object creation apparatus (1) according to claim 1 such that the method for generating cut objects according to claim 16 is performed when the computer program is executed on a control device (10) which controls the device (1).