JP2001009784A - Cutting plotter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To precisely cut a cutting medium in simple constitution by softly correcting bending of the cutting medium caused by drag at the time of cutting it at a knife edge-position. SOLUTION: This cutting plotter is furnished with a computing means to compute bending of a cutting medium 2 at a position of a knife edge 29a caused by drag at the time of cutting the cutting medium 2 by a cutter 29 and a correction means to relatively move a holder to off set bending. Consequently, as bending is softly corrected, it is possible to eliminate necessity of increasing rigidity of the cutting plotter more than required.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cutting plotter provided with a cutter rotatably held in a holder and having a cutting edge eccentric from the center of rotation, and more particularly to a cutting plotter in which the direction of the cutting edge can be aligned with the cutting direction. About plotter.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art This type of cutting plotter is provided with a cutter which is rotatable and has a cutting edge eccentric from a center of rotation, and the cutting edge has a structure which can freely rotate with respect to the center of rotation of the cutter. Has become.

For this reason, when the control means moves the cutter in a predetermined cutting direction with the center of rotation of the cutter as a control point,
The cutting edge of the cutter rotates in the direction of the least resistance, that is, the cutting direction, due to the cutting resistance with the cutting medium. As described above, by using the cutter having a rotatable and eccentric cutting edge, the cutting medium can be cut in all two-dimensional directions.

[0004]

In the above-mentioned cutting plotter, since cutting is performed by applying relatively high pressure to the cutter, a drag force based on the cutting resistance with the cutting medium acts on the cutting edge of the cutter. This drag causes the holder or the like holding the cutter to bend.

[0005] In order to prevent this bending, the rigidity of the holder for holding the cutter is increased. However, there is a problem that the structure becomes complicated and it cannot be formed compact.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide a cutting plotter capable of accurately cutting with a simple structure by correcting softly the bending at the cutting edge position caused by a drag force when cutting a cutting medium. That is.

[0007]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a holder which can be moved two-dimensionally relative to a cutting medium and which can be moved up and down, and which is rotatable in the holder. A cutting plotter comprising a cutter having a cutting edge eccentric from the center of rotation, wherein the cutter calculates a bending at a cutting edge position caused by a drag force when the cutting medium cuts the cutting medium, Correction means for relatively moving the holder so as to cancel the bending.

The drag when cutting the cutting medium is as follows:
It can be calculated based on the moving direction of the cutter and the like, and the bending of the cutting edge due to the drag can be calculated based on the structure of the cutter and the like.
Then, the bending at the cutting edge position caused by the drag force when the cutter cuts the cutting medium is calculated by the calculating means. Then, when the correction means moves the holder relative to each other to perform correction for canceling the bending, the position of the blade edge does not shift even if bending occurs.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, the cutting medium is movable in a vertical direction, the holder is mounted on a carriage movable in a horizontal direction, and the calculating means calculates a bending when cutting in a horizontal direction. 2. The cutting plotter according to claim 1, wherein said correcting means corrects a lateral movement of said carriage.

A holder which can move two-dimensionally relative to a cutting medium usually allows a carriage to which the holder is attached to be movable in a horizontal direction (X direction) and moves the cutting medium in a vertical direction (Y direction) by a roller or the like. This is realized by making the vehicle run freely. In such a relative movement structure, most of the bending of the holder is caused by the lateral movement of the carriage. Therefore, if the bending generated by the lateral movement of the carriage is calculated and software for correcting this bending is used, most of the bending can be easily corrected.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, the arithmetic means includes:
3. The cutting plotter according to claim 2, wherein a bending in a horizontal direction is calculated in accordance with a ratio between a vertical component and a horizontal component of the drag of the cutting edge.

Since the bending caused by the lateral movement of the carriage occurs in accordance with the ratio of the vertical component (Y direction) and the horizontal component (X direction) of the drag of the cutting edge, the bending is calculated by paying attention to this ratio. Then, the lateral bending when moving diagonally can be accurately determined.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, the cutting edge has a first position that moves while cutting the cutting medium, and a second position that moves lightly or non-contact with the cutting medium. 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a correction unit configured to return the bending and correct a position of the cutting edge with respect to the cutting medium when shifting from the first position to the second position. 5. Is a cutting plotter.

At the first position where the cutting edge moves while cutting the cutting medium, a bending based on the drag occurs, but at the second position where the cutting edge moves lightly or non-contact with the cutting medium, no drag occurs. No bending occurs. When the cutting edge is shifted from the first position to the second position, for example, when rotating the cutting edge of the cutter, the cutting edge is displaced by the corrected bending. Therefore, when the bending means is returned to correct the position of the cutting edge with respect to the cutting medium when shifting from the first position to the second position by the correcting means, there is no displacement of the cutting edge.

[0015]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cutting plotter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a cutting position of the cutter of FIG. FIGS. 3A and 3B are cross-sectional views illustrating the raising and lowering positions of the cutter in FIG. 1, wherein FIG. 3A illustrates a contact position, FIG. 3B illustrates a release position, and FIG.

As shown in FIG. 1, a cutting plotter (cutting section) 8 arranges a roll paper 2 (cutting medium) on a table 9 so as to be able to travel in the Y-axis direction (vertical direction in the figure). The carriage 16 is disposed so as to be able to travel in the X-axis direction (the left-right direction in the drawing), and the cutter 2 is mounted in a holder 24 mounted on the carriage 16 so as to be able to move up and down.
9 is a structure for rotatably holding 9. Thus, the cutter 29 can move relative to the roll paper 2 two-dimensionally in the XY directions and can move up and down.

The carriage 16 is slidable along a main guide shaft 17 and an auxiliary guide shaft (not shown). The carriage 16 includes a driving pulley 20a and a driven pulley 20a.
b, and is connected to a timing belt 21 wound therearound. When the drive pulley 20a is driven by the X-axis motor 70 via the speed change mechanism 71, the timing belt 21
Is movable to any position in the X-axis direction.

The roll paper 2 is pressed and clamped by a set of a driving roller 10a and a pinch roller 15a and a set of a driving roller 10b and a pinch roller 15b, which are disposed before and after the table 9. When the drive rollers 10a and 10b are rotationally driven by the Y-axis motor 11 via the speed change mechanism 72,
The roll paper 2 can travel to any position on the table 9 in the Y-axis direction.

The vertical guide 2 erected from the carriage 16
A cutter holder 25 is slidably mounted along 3. The cutter holder 25 has a structure in which a tip of a rotating body 48 provided on a horizontal shaft 47 is engaged with the cutter holder 25. When the horizontal shaft 47 is rotated by the Z-axis motor 59 via the holder height adjusting mechanism 26, the cutter holder 25 can be moved up and down.

The cutter 29 is rotatably held at the tip of the cutter holder 25 and is located on the table 9.
As shown in FIG. 2, the cutting edge 29 a of the cutter 29 is located at a position eccentric from the rotation center (control point) 73 of the cutter 29 by a distance d. This cutting edge 29a is used for the cutter holder 2
5 protrudes from the sliding contact member at the lower end by a distance h. FIG.
Is at the height of the cutting position. In the cutting position,
The cutter holder 25 is strongly pressed downward by the action of a tension spring (not shown), the cutting edge 29a bites into the cutting medium 2, and the lower surface of the cutter holder 25 is kept in sliding contact with the surface of the cutting medium 2. Further, the roll paper as the cutting medium 2 in the illustrated example is obtained by stacking the recording paper 3 provided with an adhesive layer (not shown) on the lower surface on the release paper 4, and the protrusion amount h of the blade edge 29a is Since the thickness of the recording paper 3 is adjusted, only the recording paper 3 is cut.

As shown in FIG. 3, the cutter holder 25 can be moved up and down freely.
The contact position shown in FIG. 3A, the release position shown in FIG. 3B, and the raised position shown in FIG. FIG.
At the contact position (a), the cutter holder 25 is weakly pressed downward by the action of a torsion spring (not shown), and the blade edge 29a is in contact with the roll paper 2 so as not to pierce the roll paper 2. When the cutter 29 is moved in this contact state,
Although the direction of the cutting edge 29a is in the moving direction, the roll paper 2
Is not cut. At the release position in FIG. 3B, the cutter holder 25 is at the home position. In the raised position in FIG. 3C, the cutting edge 29a is cut from the lower surface of the cutter holder 25.
The distance h 'can be automatically adjusted, and it can cope with not only the half cut but also the full cut in FIG.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the cutting plotter of FIG. Mechanism section 74 of cutting plotter
Is controlled by the control unit 75. The control unit 75 sets M
The output from the PU 76 to the driver 77 for the X-axis motor 70, the driver 78 for the Y-axis motor 11, and the driver 79 for the Z-axis motor 59, input and output to and from the driver 80 for the serial interface 85, and It is configured to receive supply. The MPU 76 has a RAM 82, R
The configuration includes an OM 83, an I / O port 84, and a serial interface 85. The ROM (program memory) 83 stores programs necessary for operating the mechanism section 74 and other necessary data.

Next, the operation of the cutting plotter of this embodiment will be further described. 5 is a plan view showing the movement of the cutting edge position with respect to the cutting line, FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the bending of the cutter 29 in FIG. 1, and FIG. 7 is a correction of the bending of the cutter 29 in FIG. FIG. The operation of the cutting plotter described below includes (1) adjustment of the direction of the cutting edge 29a at the starting point of the cutting line, (2) adjustment of the direction of the cutting edge at the time of changing the direction of the cutting line, and (3) two-dimensional movement of the cutter 29. Correction of the amount of bending of the cutter 29 according to the drag of the cutting edge at the time, and (4) correction of mechanical play when the cutter 29 moves two-dimensionally.

Before the detailed explanation by the flowchart,
The concept of the adjustment or correction in the above (1) to (4) is shown in FIGS.
This will be described below. In FIG. 5, it is assumed that the cut line is composed of a straight line 1 and a straight line 2.

First, the adjustment of the direction of the cutting edge at the start point of the cut line (1) is performed during the movement of the cutter 29 from the point A to the start point of the cut line F4. As shown, the cutting edge 29a is rotatable by being shifted by a radius d from the rotation center, which is the control point, so that the direction of the cutting edge 29a remains unspecified. Therefore, the cutter 29 is moved from the point A to the point F1 by the raising and lowering means and the moving means of the cutter holder 25.
Is moved to a home position (section), the cutter 29 is lowered from the point F1, and the cutting edge 29a is brought into contact with the cutting medium 2 with a weak pressure.
Move to the point (section). Thereby, the direction of the cutting edge 29a gradually changes from the C1 direction → the C2 direction → the C3 direction → C4.
Direction along the direction of movement. Even if the rotation center of the cutter 29 reaches the point F4, the cutting edge 29a does not reach the point F4, and further contacts the point F5 which is a distance d from the point F4 on an extension of a line connecting the points F1 and F4. Move (section). Thus, the cutting edge 29a is located above the starting point F4 of the cutting line, and the direction of the cutting edge 29a is also changed from the point F1 to the point F4.
You are on the line connecting the points. Next, the cutter holder 25
When the cutter holder 25 is moved from the point F5 to the point F6 along the circumference of the radius d around the point F4 by the moving means, the cutting edge 29a rotates on the spot without moving and turns in the C6 direction, and cuts. It matches the cutting direction of the line (straight line 1) (section).

Next, in the adjustment of the direction of the cutting edge when the direction of the cutting line is changed in (2), typically, the straight line 1 is cut in the direction of the arrow, and the straight line 2 is cut in the direction of the arrow to change the direction. It is done when you do. In a state where the cutting is performed to the end point of the straight line 1 (center of rotation: C11 point, cutting edge position: B1 point), the cutting edge 29a does not reach the end point C11 of the straight line 1. Therefore, the cutting means 25 is moved by the moving means of the cutter holder 25 so as to cut by overrunning to the point C12 which has advanced on the extension of the straight line 1 by the eccentric amount d of the cutting edge 29a (section). At this point, the rotation center (control point) of the cutter 29 is at the point C12, the direction of the cutting edge 29a is in the direction B2, and the cutting edge 2
9a remains in the cutting medium 2. Then, the blade edge 29a is raised by the raising / lowering means of the cutter holder 25.
Raises the cutter to a height (specifically, a home position) at which the cutting edge 2 is separated from the cutting medium 2, and then the cutting edge 29
The cutter 29 is lowered to such an extent that a contacts the surface of the cutting medium 2 with a small force. While maintaining this contact state, the cutter holder 25 is moved along the circumference of radius d around the point C11 by the moving means of the cutter holder 25.
When the cutting edge 29a is moved from the point 12 to the point C13, the cutting edge 29a rotates on the spot without moving and faces the direction B3, and coincides with the cutting direction of the cutting line (straight line 2) (section).

The adjustment of the direction of the cutting edge at the starting point of the cutting line (1), the cutting of the cutting medium 2, and the change of direction of the cutting line (2) are performed as a series of operations.
Therefore, in the specific control described below, “I Move” in which the section → the section → the section goes to the cutting start point.
e), a section (rotation) → a section (cut) → a section (overrun) is defined as “I Cut” including a direction change, and a combination of “I Move” and “I Cut” is used to perform a plurality of direction changes. A cut line is formed.

Further, the correction of the amount of bending of the cutter caused by the drag of the cutting edge in (3) will be described. Since the cutting plotter moves the cutter two-dimensionally with the cutting edge 29a biting into the cutting medium, a drag is generated in a direction opposite to the cutting direction. As shown in FIG. 1, the cutter has a complicated structure capable of two-dimensional movement and up-and-down movement with respect to the cutting medium 2. Therefore, bending occurs due to this drag, and the control point of the cutter 29 and the actual cutting point are changed. An error occurs between the points. This bending state is shown in FIG. The actual cutter 29 has a large bending in the lateral direction (X direction) which is the traveling direction of the carriage 16. FIG.
When the straight line 1 in the X direction is cut in (a), FIG.
6A, the cut end point is located at a bending amount of 1 away from the target cut end point position in FIG. 6A. When the straight line 2 in the XY direction at the angle θ is cut in FIG. 6A, the drag in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 6C acts, so that the target cut end point position in FIG. The cut end point is located at a distance of the amount 2. The bending amounts 1 and 2 are calculated by calculating means.
An appropriate value according to the characteristics of the device can be calculated.

A specific example of the bending amount correcting means will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 7 shows the cutting edge 29a at the point C11 in FIG.
The movement of is shown. In FIG. 7A, even when the control point reaches the point C11, the cutting edge 29a is located at a point delayed by the amount of bending. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 7 (a1), the cutting edge 29a is advanced by the amount of bending, and the cutting edge 29a and the point C11 are made to coincide.
If the drag stops acting on the cutting edge during the direction change, FIG.
As shown in (a2), by the correcting means, the cutting edge 29a is cut back into the cutting medium 2 and returned by the bending amount.
The control point (C11 point) is made to coincide with the cutting edge 29a. FIG.
(A3) and FIG. 7 (a4) show an operation of bringing the cutting edge 29a into contact with the surface of the cutting medium 2. In addition, as shown in FIG. 7B2, the operation of returning the bending amount can be performed in a state where the cutting edge 29a is separated from the cutting medium 2. When polypropylene is used as the cutting medium, the cutting edge 29a is moved from the state shown in FIG. 7 (a2) to the cutting medium without performing the operation of separating the cutting edge 29a from the cutting medium as shown in FIG. 7 (a3). By raising the cutter 29 by the amount of the bite, the cutting edge 29a can be brought into a contact state as shown in FIG. 7 (a4).

Next, a description will be given of the correction of the mechanical play during the two-dimensional movement of the cutter 29 in the above (4). In FIG. 1, the movement of the cutter 29 in the X-axis direction is performed via the transmission mechanism 71, the timing belt 21, and the like. The Y-axis direction movement of the roll paper as the cutting medium 2 is performed via the speed change mechanism 72. These transmission mechanisms 71, 7
2 is mechanical play (eg, play when gears mesh)
When changing the moving direction, the operation is delayed by the amount of play. The correction for the backlash is not performed in the forward movement in the X or Y direction because there is no backlash, and the backlash is generated in the negative movement in the X or Y direction. Therefore, the correction for the backlash is performed by correcting the generated backlash.

A specific example of the control including the adjustments or corrections of (1) to (4) described above will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an example of cut data, and FIG.
16 are flowcharts for explaining the operation of the cutting plotter. The operation described below is performed by an instruction from the MPU 76 based on the program supplied from the ROM 83 in FIG. 4, unless otherwise specified. Further, in the following description, Si (i = 1,
2, 3 ...) show each step in the flowchart.

As shown in FIG. 8, the cut data is given for each block, and each block has the coordinate data "mo
ve "and coordinate data" cut "of the bending point. Based on the cut data, each correction cut is performed according to the flow of FIG. From the cut data, for example, in FIG. 5, a set of the old length (point A to point F4) and the old coordinates (point A), a set of the new length (points F4 to C11) and the new coordinates (point F4), An old length, a new length, and a next length are calculated as shown by a set of a next length (C11 to C14) and a next coordinate (C11).

In FIG. 9, first, a correction value in the Y direction of the cut is calculated and stored in step S1, and a correction value in the X direction of the cut is calculated and stored in step S2. In step S3, the old coordinates are temporarily set to (0, 0). Next, S
Steps 4 to S17 are performed for all the blocks for each block in FIG. In step S4, the starting coordinates of the first block (see FIG. 8) are extracted, and in step S5, "I Move", that is, an operation of aligning the orientation of the blade edge 29a by contact movement is performed. In step S6, the cut data in FIG. 8 is confirmed, and if there is the next data (S6: YES),
In step S7, the current coordinates are stored as old coordinates, and in step S8, the next coordinate data (300, 160) is extracted and used as new coordinates. In step S9, the old length is set to zero,
In step S10, the distance between the old coordinates and the new coordinates is calculated from each piece of coordinate data, and is set as a new length. Next, S11 to S14
Are performed on the remaining data of the block currently targeted for the cutting operation in FIG. Step S
In step 11, the next data (320, 240) in FIG. 8 is taken out and used as the next coordinate. In step S12, the distance between the new coordinate and the next coordinate is calculated from each coordinate data to obtain the next length.
To perform “ICut”, that is, a controlled cutting of the cutting edge to the new coordinates. In step S14, replacement is performed with data in which the new coordinate is the old coordinate, the next coordinate is the new coordinate, the new length is the old length, and the next length is the new length. Steps S11 to S14 are performed for all the "cut" data in the same block. When the process of step S14 is completed for the last “cut” data, in step S15, the last next length of each block is set to be 800, and the cutting edge 2
In step S16, "I Cut" is performed up to the next coordinate so that 9a reaches the next coordinate, and the new coordinate is replaced with the old coordinate in step S17. The above steps S4 to S17 are performed for all blocks, and in step S6, if there is no data for the next block (S6: NO),
In step S17, the new coordinates are replaced with the old coordinates, and the flow ends.

In the flow described above, “I Move” is performed from the end point of the first block to the start point of the second block.
That is, the blade edge is adjusted by the contact movement. Therefore,
The contact movement is performed from an arbitrary position around the start point of the cut line of the second block. When the distance from the end point of the first block to the start point of the second block is long, the distance of the contact movement is also long. Therefore, as shown in FIG. It is preferable that 29a be a combination of movements brought into contact with the cutting medium 2. This control will be described below.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a subroutine "I Move" in step S5 of FIG. This "I Move" is a process of moving without cutting to the start point, and is exemplified by the movement of →→ in FIG.

In step S20, the distance from the old coordinates to the new coordinates is obtained. In step S21, the distance between the old and new coordinates is confirmed, and if the distance between the old and new coordinates is zero (S21: YES),
In step S28, the cutter 29 is lowered to the cutting position shown in FIG. 2 and the distance between the old and new coordinates is not zero (S21: N
O) In step S22, the traveling direction of the cutter 29 is determined from the old coordinates and the new coordinates, and the direction closest to the determined traveling direction among the 24 directions at every 15 ° is determined. Next,
In step S23, the distance between the old and new coordinates is compared with the contact movement start distance (the distance at which the cutting edge can be aligned by the contact movement), and if the distance between the old and new coordinates is smaller than the contact movement start distance (S23: Y
ES), since it is close to the cutting start point, the cutter 29 is lowered to the contact position in step S26, and the contact movement of the blade edge in step S27 is performed for the entire distance between the old and new coordinates. If the distance between the old and new coordinates is greater than or equal to the contact movement start distance (S23: N
O), the cutter 29 is raised and moved to a point in the vicinity of the new coordinates based on the traveling direction of the cutter 29 determined in step S22 (see the movement in FIG. 5), and the cutting edge 29a is determined in step S27.
Is performed until the eccentric amount of the cutting edge 29a is excessively moved (see the movement and movement in FIG. 5). Next, in step S28, the cutter 29 is lowered to the cutting position.

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a subroutine "I Cut" in step S13 of FIG. This “I Cut” is a process of cutting to the next point while correcting bending and play.
This “I Cut” is performed by “T Cut” performed by moving the cutting edge in contact.
arn "," Cut "," Over Run ",
Consists of

In step S30, the old length and the new length are compared with a predetermined length, and if they are shorter than the predetermined length (S30:
(YES), the operation of turning a corner is omitted, and if these are longer than a predetermined length (S30: NO), a "Turn" operation of turning a corner is performed in step S31 (see the movement in FIG. 5).
Next, in step S32, a cut "Cut" with backlash correction is performed up to the new coordinates (see the movement in FIG. 5). Step S3
In step 3, the new length and the next length are compared with the predetermined length, and if they are shorter than the predetermined length (S33: YES), the overrun operation is omitted and if they are longer than the predetermined length (S33:
NO), overrun "Over R" in step S34
un ”(see the movement in FIG. 5).

FIG. 12 is a flowchart showing a subroutine "Turn" in step S31 of FIG. In step S41, a distance from the old coordinates to the new coordinates is obtained. In step S42, the distance between the old and new coordinates is confirmed. If the distance is zero (S42: YES), the flow is ended, and if it is not zero (S42: NO), the flow proceeds. Step S
At 44, the traveling direction of the cutter 29 is determined to be any one of the 24 directions at every 15 ° similarly to the above-described step S22. In step S45, the traveling direction determined in step S44 is confirmed. If the traveling direction is the same as the previous direction (S45: YES), since the rotation of the cutting edge 29a is unnecessary, the bending amount in a new direction is obtained in step S46. In a state where the cutting edge 29a is lowered to the cutting position in step S47, the cutter 29 is moved by a distance corresponding to the bending amount obtained in step S46. On the other hand, returning to step S45, step S44
If the traveling direction of the cutter 29 determined in the step is not the same as the previous direction (S45: NO), the cutter 29 is raised to a home position completely separated from the cutting medium 2 in step S48,
In step S49, the rotation direction is determined. In step S50, the rotation direction is confirmed, and if the rotation is clockwise (S50: YE
S) In step S51, the coordinates when rotated 1/24 clockwise are obtained, and the cutting edge 2 is moved to the position of the coordinates obtained in step S52.
9a is brought into contact with the surface of the cutting medium 2, and the cutter 29 and the cutting medium 2 are relatively moved so that the cutting edge 2
9a is rotated. Steps S51 and S52 are repeated until the predetermined rotation amount is obtained in step S53. Step S
Returning to step 50, if it is counterclockwise (S50: NO), the coordinates when the counterclockwise rotation is 1/24 are obtained in step S54, and the cutting edge 29a is brought into contact with the surface of the cutting medium 2 to the position of the coordinates obtained in step S55. In this state, the cutter 29 and the cutting medium 2 are relatively moved to rotate the cutting edge 29a. Steps S54 and S55 are repeated until the predetermined rotation amount is reached in step S56. When the rotation of the cutting edge 29a is completed, the amount of bending and the amount of play in a new direction are obtained in step S57, and the step S47 is executed. In step S48, in order to increase the processing speed, it is sufficient to increase at least the position where the cutting edge 29a contacts the cutting medium 2. If the cutting edge 29a is a medium that is easily removed from the biting state, such as polypropylene, as a cutting medium, this step S48 is performed.
Can be omitted.

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing the "Over Run" subroutine in step S34 of FIG. First, in step S60, a distance from the old coordinates to the new coordinates is obtained. In step S61, the distance between the old and new coordinates is confirmed. If the distance is zero (S61: YES), the flow is ended, and if it is not zero (S61: NO), the flow proceeds. In step S62, as in step S22, the traveling direction of the cutter 29 is determined to be any one of 24 directions at 15 ° intervals. In step S63, the bending amount and the backlash amount in the traveling direction of the cutter 29 determined in step S62 are determined. ,
In step S64, the cutting medium 2 is cut by overrunning the control point of the cutter 29 to the new coordinate position in consideration of the bending amount (see (a1) and (b1) of FIG. 7). With the cutting edge 29a biting into the cutting medium 2 or with the cutting edge 29a separated from the cutting medium 2, next, in step S65, the blade 29a is returned by the bending amount and the play amount ((a2) in FIG. 7). (Refer to (b3)), the process proceeds by the play amount in step S66. As a result, the bending amount can be returned without changing the traveling direction of the control point.

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing “M” in step S25 in FIG.
21 is a flowchart showing a subroutine "ove".
In “Move” of step S25, the cutter 29 is moved after the blade edge 29a is raised to the home position.
The only thing to be corrected at the time of movement is play. In both the X and Y directions, control is performed assuming that there is no backlash in the movement in the positive direction and backlash occurs in the movement in the negative direction.

In step S72, step S24 in FIG.
The X-coordinate of the designated point in the middle of the new coordinates obtained in the above, ie, the X-coordinate of the designated point is compared with the previous X-coordinate, ie, the X-coordinate of the old coordinate. The designated coordinate X which is the X coordinate is set as the X coordinate of the arrival point. X
If the coordinates are not the same as the previous time (S72: NO), it is checked in step S74 whether the movement in the X direction is in the negative direction. If the movement is in the negative direction (S74: YES), the designated coordinate X is determined in step S75.
The coordinates obtained by subtracting the amount of play in the X direction from are set as the X coordinates of the arrival point. In step S74, NO
That is, if the X coordinate is different from the previous time and the movement in the X direction is the forward direction, the designated coordinate X
Is the X coordinate of the arrival point. Next, in step S79, the Y coordinate of the specified point is compared with the previous Y coordinate, that is, the Y coordinate of the old coordinate, and if they are the same (S79: YES), step S79 is performed.
At 80, the designated coordinate Y which is the Y coordinate of the designated point is set as the Y coordinate of the arrival point. If the Y coordinate is not the same as the previous time (S79: N
O) In step S81, it is checked whether the movement in the Y direction is in the negative direction. If the movement is in the negative direction (S81: YES), step S8.
In step 2, the coordinates obtained by subtracting the play amount in the Y direction from the designated coordinates Y are set as the Y coordinates of the arrival point. Step S81
In step S8, if NO, that is, if the Y coordinate is different from the previous time and the movement in the Y direction is the forward direction,
In step 3, the designated coordinate Y is set as the Y coordinate of the arrival point. Next, in step S84, the cutter 29 is raised to the reaching point, and the cutting edge 29a is raised.
Move so as not to contact the cutting medium 2.

FIG. 15 shows steps S52 and S55 in FIG.
9 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of “Float” of FIG. In "Float" of step S27, the cutting edge 29
a contacts and moves with a weak force that does not penetrate the cutting medium 2, so that the cutting edge 2
The amount of bending that occurs when 9a bites into and cuts is not considered. The only thing to be corrected at the time of movement is play. As in FIG. 14, in both the X and Y directions, control is performed on the assumption that there is no backlash in the movement in the positive direction and backlash occurs in the movement in the negative direction.

First, similarly to step S72, in step S92, the X designated coordinate which is the X coordinate of the coordinate obtained in step S51 or S54 in FIG. 12 is compared with the X coordinate of the previous coordinate. If there is no change in the X direction (S92: YES), in step S93, the X additional point which is the X coordinate of the approach point is set to zero, and the X arrival point which is the X coordinate of the arrival point is set to the X designated coordinate. On the other hand, in step S92, if the two coordinates are different (S92: NO), step S9
In step 4, the X designated coordinate is compared with the previous X coordinate, and the cutter 29
Proceeds in the negative direction (S94: YES), step S9.
The change in the moving direction is confirmed in step 5, and if the previous movement in the positive direction changes in the negative direction (S94: YES), the X additional point is set to the − play amount in step S96. On the other hand, if the moving direction has not changed by the negative movement in the previous time in step S95 (S95: NO), the X additional point is set to zero in step S97. Next, in step S98, the X arrival point is set to a coordinate value obtained by subtracting the play from the X designated coordinate. In step S94, when the vehicle moves in the forward direction (S94: N
O) In step S99, the movement direction is confirmed, and when the previous movement in the negative direction changes to the positive direction (S99: Y)
ES), in step S100, the X additional point is set as the play amount.
On the other hand, if there is no change in the moving direction due to the forward movement in the previous time in step S99 (S99: NO), the X additional point is set to zero in step S101. Next, at step S102, X
The arrival point is defined as X designated coordinates. The calculation of the contact movement with the backlash correction in steps S92 to S102 is similarly performed for the Y direction. In step S103, it is checked whether the X additional point and the Y additional point are both zero. If both are not zero (S103: NO), the X additional point and the Y additional point are determined in step S104.
The cutter 29 is moved to the additional point indicated by the Y additional point without changing the height of the cutter 29. In step S105, the cutter 29 is lowered to the contact position with the cutter 29 and the cutting edge 29a is brought into contact with the surface of the cutting medium 2. The contact movement is performed to the arrival point designated by the X arrival point and the Y arrival point. On the other hand, step S1
If both additional points are zero at 04, immediately step S
The contact movement of 105 is performed.

FIG. 16 shows "C" in step S32 of FIG.
It is a flowchart which shows the subroutine of "ut". In "Cut" in step S32, the cutting edge 29a cuts into the cutting medium 2 so that the bending amount is considered together with the play amount. What should be corrected at the time of movement is both the play and the amount of bending. As in FIG. 14, in both the X and Y directions, control is performed on the assumption that there is no backlash in the movement in the positive direction and backlash occurs in the movement in the negative direction.

In step S110, it is checked whether the movement amounts in both the X and Y directions are zero, and if they are zero (S1).
10: YES), the flow ends, and if both are not zero (S
(110: NO) The flow proceeds. The moving amount in the X direction is confirmed in step S111, and if the moving amount in the X direction is zero (S111: YES), the bending amount in the X direction is set to zero in step S112. If the amount of movement in the X direction is not zero in step S111 (S111: NO), step S1
In step 13, it is compared whether the movement amount in the X direction is larger than zero. If it is larger than zero (S113: YES), step S114 is performed.
The bending amount in the X direction is used as the traveling direction component of the bending amount.
If the moving amount in the X direction is smaller than zero in step S113 (S113: NO), the bending amount in the X direction is set to − (the traveling direction component of the bending amount) in step S114. Next,
The calculation of the amount of bending in steps S111 to S115 is similarly performed in the Y direction. In step S116, the previous movement amount and the current movement amount are compared with a predetermined amount, and if smaller than the predetermined amount, XY is determined in step S117.
Each bending amount is averaged with the previous bending amount so as not to make a sharp correction. The above is the calculation of the bending amount to be corrected.

In step S119, the X designated coordinate, which is the X coordinate of the new coordinate, is compared with the X coordinate of the old coordinate. If both coordinates are the same and there is no movement in the X direction (S119: YES), an additional point is added in step S121. The X addition point, which is the X coordinate of zero, is zero, and the X arrival point, which is the X coordinate of the current arrival point, is defined as (X coordinate of previous arrival point−previous bending amount). On the other hand, step S
If the two coordinates are different at 119 (S119: NO), the magnitude of the X designated coordinate and the X coordinate of the old coordinate are compared at step S122, and the cutter 29 advances in the negative direction (S122: YE).
S), the change in the moving direction is confirmed in step S123, and if the previous movement in the positive direction changes in the negative direction (S)
123: YES), the X additional point is set to the − play amount in step S124. On the other hand, in the case where there was no change in the movement direction due to the negative movement in the previous time in step S123 (S123: NO), the X addition point is set to zero in step S125. Next, in step S126, the X arrival point is set to a coordinate value calculated by (X designated coordinate−play amount + bend amount). On the other hand, step S1
When the vehicle advances in the forward direction in S22 (S122: NO),
In step S127, a change in the movement direction is confirmed, and when the movement in the negative direction last time changes in the positive direction (S127:
YES), at step S128, the X additional point is set to the play amount. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S127 that there was no change in the moving direction due to the forward movement in the previous time (S127: NO), step S1 is performed.
At 29, the X addition point is set to zero. Next, step S13
When 0, the X arrival point is a coordinate value calculated by (X designated coordinate + bending amount). Steps S118 to S1 described above
The calculation of the backlash amount and bending amount correction of 30 is similarly performed in the Y direction. In step S131, it is checked whether both the X additional point and the Y additional point are zero, and if both are not zero (S13
1: NO), the cutter 29 is moved to the additional point without changing the height of the cutter 29 in step S132, and the process proceeds to step S13.
In 3, the cutter 29 is lowered to the cutting position, and the cutting edge 29 a of the cutter 29 is moved into the cutting medium 2 to reach the reaching point. If both of the additional points are zero in step S131 (S131: YES), the cut movement in step S133 is immediately performed.

According to the procedure described in the above flow, FIG.
The movement of the cutting edge 29a of the cutter 29 is controlled. In “I Move” of →→ in FIG. 5, contact movement is performed in which the cutting edge is pushed and moved on the cutting medium by a weak force by the lifting means and the moving means of the cutter holder 25, and the cutting edge 29a at the cutting start point F4. Direction is on the extension of the points F1 and F4. Next, the cutter 29 is rotated on the spot without moving the cutting edge 29a by the rotating means of the cutter 29, and the direction of the cutting edge 29a is changed to the direction toward the straight line 1 which is a cut line. The cutting edges 29a are aligned. This rotating means is provided by the cutter holder 25.
And is performed every 15 ° by the XY relative movement of the cutting medium 2, so that complicated calculations are not required,
Realizes quick operation.

In "I Cut" of →→ in FIG.
The cutting edge is cut into the cutting medium 2 and the cutting is performed. At the point C11 at the time of the direction change, the cutting edge 29a is raised by the elevating means to the home position away from the cutting medium 2, and then the cutting edge 29 is lowered to lower the cutting edge 29a. In order to bring the cutting medium 2 into a contact state where the cutting edge 2a is pressed with a weak force, the cutting edge 29a is kept in contact with the cutting medium 2,
It is in a state where it can rotate reliably. Also, the cutter 2 can be rotated by the rotating means of the cutter 29 without moving the cutting edge 29a.
9 is rotated on the spot, and the cutting edge 29a is directed to the straight line 2. However, since this rotating means is performed every 15 ° by the XY relative movement of the cutter holder 25 and the cutting medium 2, complicated operations are performed. A quick operation is realized without requiring any.

Further, as shown in FIG. 1, since the cutter holder 25 is attached to the carriage 16 so as to be able to move up and down so as to be movable in the X direction, when the cutting edge cuts into the cutting medium 2, the cutting is performed. Although bending occurs according to the drag force at the time, the cutting is performed with the amount of bending corrected by the correction means, so that cutting can be reliably performed to the cut end point. Further, when the cutting edge 29a is separated from the cutting medium 2 for the direction change at the point C11 in FIG. 5, the correcting means performs a correction for returning the bending amount, so that the cutting edge position does not deviate from the cutting line. Further, since the holder 25 is mounted in a cantilever manner on the carriage 16 that moves in the X direction (horizontal direction), and the cutting medium 2 travels, the holder 25 moves in the Y direction (vertical direction). Is generated when moving in the X direction. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 6, the bending amount according to the drag component in the X direction is obtained,
Most of the bending can be offset by correcting only the bending in the X direction. The calculating means calculates a bending amount on the assumption that a predetermined bending occurs only by the presence of the X-direction moving component,
The correction may be made.

Further, since the movement in the XY directions is performed through the transmission mechanism, play is generated. However, in the movement in the XY directions, the play is corrected so that the cutting edge position does not deviate from the cutting line.

Next, a specific example of the configuration of the cutting plotter illustrated in FIG. 1 will be described in detail by describing the printing apparatus 1 incorporating the cutting plotter of the present invention.
17 is a schematic right side view of the printing apparatus 1, FIG. 19 is an enlarged side view of a cutting portion (cutting plotter), FIG. 20 is a cutaway plan view of a cut portion, FIG. 21 is an enlarged side view of a carriage of a cutter holder, FIG. 22A is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the cutter shaft of the cutter holder is raised, and FIG.
FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view showing a state where the cutter shaft is at a lowered position.

As shown in FIG. 18, a roll paper 2 as a cut material used in the printing apparatus 1 is prepared by applying an adhesive such as a pressure-sensitive adhesive to the back surface of a band-shaped recording paper 3 printable on the front surface. ,
The pressure-sensitive adhesive layer is attached to the surface of a strip-shaped release paper 4 (shown in FIG. 29 and the like).
It is wound around. The recording paper 3 may be glossy paper or synthetic resin film other than plain paper.

At the right end between the pair of lower frames 6 and 6 of the printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 17, the roll paper 2 serving as the tack paper is rotatably supported together with the paper tube 5, and is unwound. After being printed on the recording paper 3 by the print head 7 in the printing portion at the center portion, the recording paper 3 passes therethrough, while being cut (full cut) or half cut by the cutting portion 8 at the left side portion in FIG.
Is moved to the left. Drive rollers 10a for transporting the roll paper 2 on the upstream side and downstream side of the transport, with the table 9 long in the X direction and short in the Y direction in the cutting section 8,
10b is disposed, and a Y-axis motor 1 capable of rotating forward and reverse
1 through a gear transmission mechanism 12
a and 10b are driven to rotate in the same direction. A pinch roller 15 that faces the drive rollers 10a and 10b from above is provided between the upper frames 14 and 14 that rotate upward about the pivot shaft 13 with respect to the pair of lower frames 6 and 6.
a, 15b are arranged, and the upper frames 14, 14
Is rotated downward with respect to the lower frames 6 and 6, and is closed to convey the roll paper 2 between the pinch rollers 15a and 15b and the driving rollers 10a and 10b, which will be described later. It is configured so that it can be rewound along the Y direction for half cutting. (See FIGS. 19 and 21).

In the present embodiment, a print head 7 in the printing section uses a horizontally long line-type thermal head substantially equal to the width of the roll paper 2, and a thermal paper is used as the recording paper 3. As other embodiments of the print head 7, an ink jet type or a type of printing with a dot pin or a thermal head via an ink ribbon may be used.

The carriage 16 which can reciprocate in the width direction (X direction) of the roll paper 2 is provided with the pair of upper frames 1.
4 and 14 are slidably mounted on a main guide shaft 17 such as a round bar, which is mounted on a pair of upper frames 14, 14. The auxiliary guide shaft 18 is slidably sandwiched between a sliding piece 16a provided on the back surface of the carriage 16 and a sliding piece 16a having a convex curved cross section, and the posture of the carriage 16 is maintained (FIG. 20). And FIG. 21).

One position of the timing belt 21 wound around the driving pulley 20a and the driven pulley 20b disposed on the inner surface side of the pair of upper frames 14, 14 is fixed at the mounting position on the rear surface of the carriage 16, A large gear 2 of a gear transmission mechanism 22 disposed on the other upper frame 14 from an X-axis motor (not shown) is
The power is transmitted through a bevel gear 2a and a coaxial bevel gear, a bevel gear (both not shown) coaxial with a transmission gear 22b meshing with the bevel gear, and a transmission gear 22c (see FIG. 20).

The reciprocally movable carriage 16 includes:
An elevating block 24 can move up and down via a vertical guide 23,
The lifting block 24 is mounted so as not to fall.
, A substantially cylindrical cutter holder 25 is fixed.
The cutter holder 25 is configured so that the height position can be appropriately and selectively held by a holder height adjustment mechanism 26 described later.

In the cutter holder 25, the cutting edge 29a of the cutter 29 at the tip (lower end) of the cutter shaft 27 from the lower end.
Are arranged so as to be able to protrude and retract toward the upper surface of the table 9, and are configured so that the cutting edge of the cutter 29 is protruded and retracted by an elevating mechanism for adjusting the amount of blade edge projection described later. In the present invention, the cutting edge 29a of the cutter 29 is used.
The shape of the cutting edge 29b adopts a special form as described later.

First, the configuration of the cutter holder 25 will be described with reference to FIGS. 22 (a) and 22 (b).

The round bar-shaped cutter shaft 27 is supported on the inner diameter portion of the main cylinder 25a of the cylindrical cutter holder 25 via a radial bearing 30 so as to be rotatable around the axis and vertically movable along the axial direction. Also the main cylinder 25a
A pressing elevating body 31 having a non-circular cross section, such as a prism, is arranged on the upper side of the inner diameter portion so that it can only move up and down. A pivot bearing 32 that rotatably presses the conical portion at the upper end of the cutter shaft 27 is provided at the lower end of the pressing elevating body 31. In addition, the cutter shaft 27 is urged upward by an urging spring 34 disposed between the flange piece 33 on the upper portion of the cutter shaft 27 and the radial bearing 30.

The cutting edge 29a of the cutter 29 provided at the tip of the cutter shaft 27 is slightly eccentric with respect to the axis (rotation center line) of the cutter shaft 27 as described later (see FIG. 30). ). The cutting edge of the cutter 29 faces the hole of the sliding contact cover 35 mounted on the outer periphery of the lower end of the main cylinder 25a.

An elevating mechanism for adjusting the protruding amount of the cutting edge of the cutter 29 protruding from the lower surface of the sliding contact cover 35 via the pressing elevating body 31 is constituted by interlocking means and selection operating means to be described later. Have been.

In this embodiment of the interlocking means, a lid is provided at the rear end (upper end) of the main cylinder 25a, which is connected via a screw portion 36a or the like so as to move up and down integrally with the pressing elevating body 31. A screw shaft portion 36 screwed to the body 37 and a gear body 38 integrally rotating at the upper end of the screw shaft portion 36. The cover 37 is screwed to the rear end of the main cylinder 25a so as not to rotate with the screw shaft 36 and to be detachable (see FIG. 22A). Further, a screw portion 36 for the pressing elevating body 31
The pitch of “a” is set to half the pitch of the screw shaft portion 36 with respect to the lid 37, and as described later, the rotation of the gear body 38 causes the pressing amount of the gear body 38 to rise and fall. The vertical movement of the cutter shaft 27 and thus the vertical movement of the cutter 29 can be finely adjusted.

FIGS. 19, 20, and 21 show a selection operation means 40 for raising and lowering the pressing elevating body 31 via the interlocking means in accordance with the movement of the cutter holder 25 in the X direction. , As shown in FIGS. 27 and 28,
A central gear 42 rotatably supported on a longitudinal axis 41 protruding from the upper end of the carriage 16, and a bracket 43 pivotally mounted on the machine shaft 41 so as to swing and rotate. A pair of planetary gears 44 and 45 which are always meshed with each other and can selectively mesh with the gear body 38 of the cutter holder 25, and are fixed along the longitudinal direction of the auxiliary guide plate 18 so as to be aligned with the center. The rack plate 46 meshes with the gear 42 (FIG. 2).
0, see FIG. 21).

That is, by operating the X-axis motor (not shown), the central gear 42 rotates counterclockwise in accordance with the rightward movement of the carriage 16 in FIG. A pair of planetary gears 44, 4
With the forward rotation of 5, the bracket 43 rotates counterclockwise,
When the left planetary gear 44 meshes with the gear body 38 projecting from the upper end of the cutter holder 25 (see FIG. 28B), the gear body 38 is rotated counterclockwise to raise the pressing elevating body 31. The cutter 29 is configured to be raised by the force of the biasing spring 34 in the direction in which the cutting edge is retracted from the lower end of the cutter holder 25.

Conversely, when the carriage 16 is moved to the left in FIG. 20, the central gear 42 rotates clockwise, and the pair of planetary gears 4 meshing therewith is rotated.
The bracket 43 rotates clockwise by the reverse rotation of the gears 4 and 45, and the right planetary gear 45 meshes with the gear body 38 protruding from the upper end of the cutter holder 25 (FIG. 28C).
), The gear body 38 is rotated clockwise to lower the pressing elevating body 31 and lower the cutter 29 (the cutting edge projects from the lower end of the cutter holder 25).

In this embodiment, the height position where the left planetary gear 44 meshes with the gear body 38 is higher than the height position where the right planetary gear 45 meshes with the gear body 38. The thickness is set so as to be substantially equal to the thickness (see FIGS. 24 and 27). In other words, the pair of planetary gears 44 and 45 are arranged at different heights in the axial direction of the screw shaft portion 36, and when the gear body 38 is rotated forward or backward, the pressing elevating body 31 in the cutter holder 25 is rotated. Is configured to be adjusted up and down.

Next, FIG. 17, FIG. 19, FIG. 20, FIG.
22, 23, and 25 to 27, the height of the cutter holder 25 can be changed to a plurality of heights, and the height of the holder can be adjusted so that the height can be maintained. The mechanism 26 will be described. FIG. 20, FIG.
And a pair of upper frames 14, 1 as shown in FIG.
The free end side of a horizontally long rotating body 48 that rotates vertically about a horizontal shaft 47 that is pivotally supported by 4 is a horizontally elongated columnar sliding portion 48a.
And the sliding portion 48a is fitted into the fitting portion 49 formed on the elevating block 24 so as to be relatively movable laterally and vertically.

An operating pin 50 projecting laterally from one side of the free end of the rotating body 48 is connected to one upper frame 14.
Is projected outside through a window hole 51 formed in the hole. Outside the one upper frame 14, a first lever 52 shown in FIG. 23A and a second lever 53 having an L-shape in side view shown in FIG. It is rotatably supported on the same support shaft 54 so as to be close to the side surface of the frame 14. And the second lever 5
The operating pin 50 is disposed so as to penetrate the long window hole 55 formed in the third hole 3 and the rectangular main regulating hole 56 formed in the first lever 52.

A gear 57a formed on the outer peripheral surface of a cam plate 57 rotatably supported on the outer surface of the one upper frame 14 is a pinion gear of a Z-axis motor 59 composed of a forward / reversely rotatable stepping motor or the like. An engagement pin 61 protruding from one arm of the second lever 53 is inserted into a substantially spiral cam groove 60 formed on the outer surface of the cam plate 57. Engage. In this state, a tension spring 62 is mounted on the other protrusion of the engagement pin 61 and the first lever 52.

The second lever 53 and the operating pin 50
The torsion spring 58 (see FIG. 20) is interposed between the operating pin 50 and the free end of the rotating body 48 (see FIG. 20).
At 7, the actuator is urged downward (clockwise). The biasing force of the torsion spring 58 is set so that the cutting edge 29a of the cutter 29 does not pierce the roll paper 2. In addition, the regulating pin 6 protruding from the outer surface of the second lever 53
3 is a square-shaped second restriction hole 6 formed in the first lever 52.
I'm facing 4.

According to the above configuration, when the printing apparatus 1 is powered on and initialized, the pinion gear 59a rotates clockwise in FIG. 19 with the clockwise rotation of the Z-axis motor 59, causing the cam plate 57 to rotate counterclockwise. When the engagement pin 61 of the second lever 53 collides with the radially outermost end of the cam groove 60 in the posture shown in FIG. 25A, the Z-axis motor 59 loses synchronization. To check the origin. This phase position is defined as a cam angle of 0 degree. In this state, the operating pin 50 is positioned at the lower edge of the long window hole 55 of the second lever 53 against the urging force of the torsion spring 58.
Is pressed upward, and the free end side of the rotating body 48 is rotated upward by a considerable amount. Therefore, the cutter holder 25 attached to the elevating block 24, which is restrained by the rotating body 48 and rises, also rises, and the cutter 29 is rotated. Even if the cutting edge 29 a of the cutter holder 25 protrudes from the lower surface of the sliding contact cover 35, the cutter holder 25 does not touch the surface of the roll paper 2 on the table 9.
Height position is maintained.

Next, the Z-axis motor 59 is rotated in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 19, the cam plate 57 is rotated in the clockwise direction, the cam angle is set to approximately 141 degrees, and the operation is stopped (FIG. 25).
(C)). This phase position is called a release position.
Even in this state, the cutting edge 29a of the cutter 29 is
5, the height position of the cutter holder 25 is held so as not to touch the surface of the roll paper 2 on the table 9-the gear body 38 at the upper end of the cutter holder 25 It is held at a low height position that does not mesh with any of the left and right planetary gears 44, 45.

Next, the X-axis motor (not shown) is started and temporarily stopped at a position where the carriage 16 has been moved laterally to a middle portion in the width direction of the roll paper 2 or the like. In this state, the Z-axis motor 59 is rotated clockwise in FIG. 19, the cam plate 57 is rotated counterclockwise, the cam phase angle is set to approximately 9 degrees, and the operation is stopped (see FIG. 25B). . In this position, the operating pin 50 is pressed upward by the lower edge of the long window hole 55 of the second lever 53, and
Of the cutter holder 25 attached to the elevating block 24, which is restrained by the rotating body 48 and rises up significantly (see the state shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 27). The gear body 38 at the upper end of 25 is held at a high ascending position where it can mesh with one or both of the left and right planetary gears 44 and 45 in the selection operation means 40.

Further, even if the cutting edge 29a of the cutter 29 protrudes from the lower surface of the sliding contact cover 35, the cutter holder 25 does not touch the surface of the roll paper 2 on the table 9.
Height position is maintained and the cutting edge 29a of the cutter 29 is maintained.
It is a blade edge protrusion amount adjustment position for switching the protrusion amount of the blade. When the carriage 16 is moved to the right in this state as shown in FIG. 28B, the central gear 42 rotates counterclockwise, and the bracket 43 is rotated counterclockwise by the forward rotation of the pair of planetary gears 44 and 45 meshing therewith. When the left planetary gear 44 meshes with the gear body 38 projecting from the upper end of the cutter holder 25 by rotating clockwise, the gear body 38 is rotated counterclockwise to raise the pressing elevating body 31, The cutter 29 is raised by the force of the urging spring 34 in the direction in which the cutting edge is retracted from the lower end of the cutter holder 25.

Therefore, if the cutting edge of the cutter 29 in the previous cutting operation is a full-cut projecting position or a half-cut projecting position in which the cutting edge of the cutter 29 projects greatly, the above-mentioned ratio is proportional to the rotation amount of the X-axis motor and, consequently, the movement amount of the carriage 16. The cutting edge of the cutter 29 rises, and the cutting edge of the cutter 12 can be moved to the cut amount 0 completely retracted from the lower surface of the sliding contact cover 35. Conversely, when the carriage 16 is moved to the left as shown in FIG. 28C, the right planetary gear 4
When the gear 5 is engaged, the gear body 38 is rotated clockwise to lower the pressing elevating body 31 and lower the cutter 29, so that the tip of the cutter 12 is proportional to the amount of lateral movement of the carriage 16. Projecting from the lower surface of the sliding contact cover 35,
The amount of protrusion can be adjusted from an entire cut amount that increases the amount of protrusion to an arbitrary blade edge protrusion amount such as a half cut amount.

As described above, once the predetermined blade edge protrusion amount adjusting operation is completed, the cutter holder 25 is lowered again to the above-described release position, whereby the gear 38
Can be held at a height position that does not mesh with any of the left and right planetary gears 44, 45. In this state, the X-axis motor and the Y-axis motor 11 are started such that the cutter 29 comes near the cut start position of the full cut or the half cut on the roll 2. In this state, when the Z-axis motor 59 is operated to set the phase position of the cam groove to the position shown in FIG. 26A (cam phase angle approximately 178 degrees), the cutting edge of the cutter 29 is The cutter holder 25 slightly descends so as to lightly contact the surface.

Until the cam phase angle reaches 178 degrees, the regulating pin 63 of the second lever 53 is in contact with the upper edge of the second regulating hole 64 of the first lever 52.
Since the upper end edge of the main regulating hole 56 of the first lever 52 and the operating pin 50 of the rotating body 48 are separated, the tension spring 6
The second spring force is not transmitted to the rotating body 48.

When the second lever 53 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 26 with the rotation of the cam plate 57, the operating pin 50 is moved by the urging force of the torsion spring 58 to lower the lower end of the long window hole 55 of the second lever 53. Since the rotating body 48 moves downward while keeping the state in contact with the edge, the rotating body 48 also rotates counterclockwise, and the lifting block 24 descends.

With the lowering, the cutting edge of the cutter 29 comes into contact with the roll paper 2.
The cutting force 29a of the torsion spring 58 is set so that the cutting edge of the cutter 29 does not pierce the roll paper 2 with only the urging force of the cutter 29. At this point, the lifting block 24 stops descending, and the rotation of the rotating body 48 and the downward movement of the operating pin 50 also stop.

In this state, when only the second lever 53 continues to rotate counterclockwise and reaches the cam phase angle of 178 degrees, the operating pin 50 is separated from the lower edge of the long window hole 55 of the second lever 53. Therefore, a gap is formed between the operation pin 50 and the main restriction hole 56. At this time, the operating pin 50
Is urged downward by the torsion spring 58 with a weak force, so that the cutter holder 2 attached to the elevating block 24 via the rotating body 48 connected to the operating pin 50
As a result, the cutting edge of the cutter 29 at the lower end of the cutter holder 25 comes into light contact with the roll paper 2. This phase position is referred to as a tip direction adjustment position (see the state of FIG. 29A).

In this state, when one or both of the X-axis motor and the Y-axis motor 11 are operated again,
The cutting edge of the cutter 29 in contact with the surface of the roll paper 2 can be directed in a predetermined cutting direction.

Next, prior to the actual cutting operation (full-cut or half-cut operation), the Z-axis motor 59 is operated to set the phase position of the cam groove to the position shown in FIG. (Phase angle approximately 300 degrees).

In this phase position, the operating pin 50 is pressed downward at the upper end edge of the main regulating hole 56 of the first lever 52, and the free end side of the rotating body 48 is largely rotated downward, and The operating pin 50 is pressed downward by a strong force by a tension spring 58 hung on the first lever 52, and the entire cutter holder 25 attached to the elevating block 24 at the lowered position via the rotating body 48 connected thereto. As a result of being pressed downward (see the solid line state in FIG. 27), the cutting edge 29 a of the cutter 29 at the lower end pierces the roll paper 2. In this state, one or both of the X-axis motor and the Y-axis motor 11 are operated to cut the roll paper 2 into an arbitrary tack paper 3a having a rectangular or elliptical shape in plan view, 2 can be cut in the width direction (see FIG. 18).

The protrusion amount of the cutting edge 29a of the cutter 29 is
In the case where the recording paper 3 is projected by an amount corresponding to the thickness of the recording paper 3, the release paper 4 is not cut, and only the recording paper 3 is fixed to a predetermined substantially rectangular or elliptical planar paper 3a. (FIG. 18
(See FIG. 29 (b)).

When the cutting edge 29a of the cutter 29 is large and the recording paper 3 and the release paper 4 are pierced at the same time and cut, the so-called full-cut operation is performed (see FIG. 29 (c)).

As a modification of the above embodiment, the screw shaft 3
6 and the pressing elevating body 31 may be fixed by a horizontal pin or the like, so that the pressing elevating body 31 moves up and down while rotating as the gear body 38 rotates. Further, as another modified example, the screw shaft portion 36 to which the gear body 38 is fixed is attached to the lid body 37 and the like so as to be rotatable only, while the cutter holder 25 is mounted.
The pressing / elevating body 31 is inserted into the inner diameter of the carriage 16 so that it can only move up and down without rotating, and the screw at the lower end of the screw shaft 36 is screwed to the pressing / elevating body 31 to move the carriage 16 rightward or leftward. If the gear body 38 rotates forward through the selection operation means in accordance with the movement in the direction, the pressing elevating body 31 rises in proportion to the amount of rotation, and conversely, if the gear body 38 rotates reversely, The pressing elevating body 31 may be configured to descend in proportion to the rotation amount.

The cutter 2 as the cutting blade of the present invention
As shown in FIGS. 30 (a) to 30 (d), the cutting edge 29a is eccentric by an appropriate amount d with respect to the axis 73 which is the center of rotation of the cutter shaft 27, and The left and right side surfaces 29c, 29c and the back surface 29d of the round shaft blade material (stainless steel material, carbide tool steel material, ceramics, etc.) are tapered so that one blade edge 29b is formed on the shaft. The cutting edge 29a, which is the tip of the cutting edge 29b, is formed as a chamfer so as to be substantially perpendicular to the axis 73 (FIG. 30 (a) (side view) and FIG. 30 (d) (bottom view).
reference). Therefore, the cutting edge 29a is, as viewed from the side,
Instead of a point like the conventional one, it becomes a linear blade and has a narrow surface when viewed from the bottom. In addition, the cutting edge 2
9b is substantially straight when viewed from the side.

According to the cutting edge 29a, as shown in FIG. 31, in the case of half cutting, the chamfered cutting edge 29a penetrates the lower release paper 4 even if the downward pressing force on the cutter shaft 27 is slightly large. There is little danger and the chamfered cutting edge 29a moves easily by sliding on the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer between the upper recording paper 3 and the lower release paper 4, so that the release paper 4 may be damaged. Instead, it is easy to cut only the recording paper 3. In the case of all cuts, the lower release paper 4
Even if the chamfered cutting edge 29a descends so as to penetrate it, it comes into linear (or planar) contact with the surface of the table 9 on the lower surface thereof. The load per unit area on the tip is reduced, and chipping and breakage of the chamfered cutting edge 29a is reduced, and the cutter 29
The sharpness does not decrease for a long time, and the durability is greatly improved. At this time, as shown in FIG. 29B, the sliding cover 35 at the lower end of the cutter holder 25 is pressed against the upper surface of the cutting medium 2, so that a large drag is generated on the cutter holder 25 during cutting. As shown in FIG. 21, the cutter holder 25 is attached to the carriage 16 so as to be able to move up and down, and the carriage 16 is moved in the lateral direction (X direction).
It can run freely. For this reason, the backlash of the structural portion is bent due to the above-mentioned drag, and a bend that affects the cutting edge 29a occurs. This bending is corrected or corrected by the above-described correction means and correction means so as not to cause a shift regardless of whether the cutting edge 29a is at the cutting position or the cutting edge is at the contact position.

[0092]

As described above, according to the first aspect of the present invention, since the bending of the cutting plotter caused by the drag at the time of cutting is corrected, it is possible to cut accurately along the cut line. Become. In addition, the cutting plotter cuts by applying a relatively high pressure to the cutter, so that the drag force when cutting the cutting medium is increased and the bending is likely to occur.However, since the bending is corrected in a soft manner, the cutting plotter is corrected. It is not necessary to increase the rigidity of the device more than necessary, and a simple device configuration is sufficient.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, if the holder is attached to the tip of the carriage and the carriage is moved in the horizontal direction, the bending in the horizontal direction due to the lateral bending of the carriage is likely to occur. Most of the bending can be corrected by correcting the bending in the horizontal direction, and simple correction can be performed.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, attention is paid to the fact that the bending in the horizontal direction changes according to the ratio of the longitudinal component and the horizontal component of the drag of the cutting edge, and the bending in the horizontal direction is simply and accurately performed. Can be corrected.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, when the bending in accordance with the drag force at the time of cutting is corrected, if the cutting edge comes into a state of lightly contacting or non-contact with the cutting medium, the bending returns and the position of the cutting edge is shifted. Therefore, if the correction is made to return by the bending amount, the shift of the cutting edge position is not caused when the cutting edge is shifted from the first position to the second position, such as when the cutting edge is raised and rotated without causing a shift in the cutting edge position. Can be prevented.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a cutting plotter according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view showing a cutting position of the cutter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view showing a raising / lowering position of the cutter of FIG. 1,
(A) shows a contact position, (b) shows a release position, and (c) shows an ascending position.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of the cutting plotter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a plan view showing movement of a blade edge position with respect to a cutting line.

FIG. 6 is a view showing bending of the cutter shown in FIG. 1;
(B) shows the drag of the straight line 1,
(C) shows the drag of the straight line 2.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating correction of bending of the cutter of FIG. 1;
(A) shows a state where correction is performed before the cutter rises, and (b) shows a state where correction is performed after the cutter rises.

FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating an example of cut data.

FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating the operation of the cutting plotter.

FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a subroutine “I Move” in FIG. 9;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of “I Cut” in FIG. 9;

FIG. 12 is a flowchart illustrating a subroutine “Turn” in FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a subroutine of “Over Run” in FIG. 11;

FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing a subroutine “Move” in FIG. 10;

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing a subroutine “Float” in FIG. 10;

FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing a subroutine “Cut” in FIG. 11;

FIG. 17 is a schematic side view of a printing apparatus including the cutting plotter of FIG. 1;

FIG. 18 is a diagram illustrating the operation of cutting roll paper.

FIG. 19 is an enlarged side view of the cutting plotter.

FIG. 20 is a partially cutaway plan view of the cutting plotter.

FIG. 21 is an enlarged side view of the carriage.

FIGS. 22A and 22B are cross-sectional views of the cutter, wherein FIG. 22A shows a rising position of the cutting edge, and FIG. 22B shows a lowering position of the cutting edge.

FIGS. 23A and 23B are side views of the lever, where FIG. 23A shows the first lever and FIG. 23B shows the second lever.

FIG. 24 is a partially cutaway front view of the selection operation means.

FIGS. 25A and 25B are illustrations showing a cam phase position, where FIG. 25A shows an origin position, FIG. 25B shows an ascending position for adjusting the cutting edge height, and FIG. 25C shows a release position.

26A and 26B are illustrations showing cam phase positions, where FIG. 26A shows a contact position, and FIG. 26B shows a cut position.

FIG. 27 is a side view showing a change in the height position of the holder.

FIG. 28 is a plane showing the attitude of the selection operation means,
(A) shows the released state, (b) shows the posture selected in the cutter ascending direction, and (c) shows the posture selected in the cutter descending direction.

FIG. 29 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part showing a positional relationship between a cutter height position and roll paper, where (a) shows a contact position,
(B) shows a half-cut position, and (c) shows all cut positions.

30A and 30B are enlarged views of the cutting edge of the cutter, where FIG. 30A is a front view, FIG. 30B is a left side view, FIG. 30C is a right side view, and FIG. Is shown.

FIG. 31 is an enlarged view of a cutting edge of a cutter at the time of half cutting.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Roll paper (cutting medium) 8 Cutting section (cutting plotter) 10a, 10b Drive roller 11 Y-axis motor 16 Carriage 17 Main guide shaft 25 Cutter holder (holder) 29 Cutter 29a Blade edge 59 Z-axis motor 70 X-axis motor 73 Rotation center ( Control point) 74 Mechanical unit 75 Control unit 76 MPU

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A cutting plotter comprising: a holder capable of moving up and down two-dimensionally relative to a cutting medium; and a cutter rotatably held in the holder and having a cutting edge eccentric from a center of rotation. And a calculating means for calculating a bending at a cutting edge position caused by a drag when the cutter cuts the cutting medium, and a correcting means for relatively moving the holder so as to cancel the bending. Cutting plotter characterized by that. 2. The cutting medium is movable in a vertical direction, the holder is mounted on a carriage that is movable in a horizontal direction, the calculating means calculates a bend when cutting in a horizontal direction, and the correcting means is The cutting plotter according to claim 1, wherein a lateral movement of the carriage is corrected. 3. The cutting plotter according to claim 2, wherein said calculating means calculates a bending in a horizontal direction according to a ratio between a vertical component and a horizontal component of the drag of the cutting edge. 4. The cutting edge has a first position that moves while cutting the cutting medium, and a second position that moves lightly or non-contact with the cutting medium, and the second position moves from the first position to the second position. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a correction unit configured to correct the position of the cutting edge with respect to the cutting medium by returning the bending when moving to the position.
A cutting plotter according to any one of claims 1 to 3.