JP2001260443A - Cutter and method for detecting central position of circular mark - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To cut a sheet material without shifting it from an image printed thereon. SOLUTION: An image region 111 is formed on a sheet 110. Image data is defined for the entire image region 111 and the size thereof is varied depending on the size of an image being printed. A reference point 113, a first correction point 114, and a second correction point 115 are printed as crop marks, respectively, in the vicinity of lower right part, lower left part and upper right part of the image region 111. The reference point 113, first correction point 114, and second correction point 115 are circular. When a cutter is positioned with respect to the image region 111, position of black stripes 116 printed at the reference point 113, first correction point 114, second correction point 115, and between the reference point 113 and the first correction point 114 is detected.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an apparatus for cutting a sheet material and a method for detecting a center position of a circular mark printed on the sheet material, and more particularly, to a method for accurately detecting a sheet material in correspondence with a printed image. The present invention relates to a cutting device for cutting and a method for detecting a center position of a circular mark.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, when an image is printed on a sheet material and the sheet material is cut in a cutting pattern corresponding to the printed image, the sheet material has a cutting pattern. A mark which is not directly related to the cutting pattern is printed together with the reference image. Such a mark is used for alignment of the means for cutting the sheet material. Specifically, the position of such a mark is detected, and the reference position of the cutting means with respect to the sheet material is determined according to the position of the mark.

Conventionally, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. H11-170195, a mark serving as a reference for a cutting pattern is placed outside the printing range of an image serving as a reference for the cutting pattern and attached to an edge of a sheet material. In some cases, it was printed.

However, when the above-described mark is printed on the edge of the sheet material, the positioning of the means for cutting the sheet material is not sufficiently performed depending on the positional relationship between the printing position of the mark and the printing range of the image. There was a case. In other words, if the printing range of the image is significantly smaller than the area of the sheet material and the distance from the edge of the sheet material on which the mark is printed is longer than the printing range, the sheet material is cut based on the mark. Even when the positioning of the means is performed, the cutting position of the means may include a relatively large error with respect to the image. That is, even in such a case, there has been a problem that the positioning of the means for cutting the sheet material cannot be accurately performed.

Conventionally, it has been desired to more accurately detect the position of the mark so as to cut the sheet material more accurately.

The present invention has been conceived in view of the above circumstances, and has as its object to provide a cutting device capable of cutting a sheet material on which an image is printed in accordance with the image, and a positioning device for cutting means. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method for detecting the center position of a mark printed on a sheet material, and a method for detecting a center position of a mark and a cutting device capable of cutting the sheet material without shifting from an image.

[0007]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a cutting apparatus prints a first image in a predetermined area based on image information, and prints a second image outside the predetermined area. A cutting device for cutting a sheet material on which an image is printed,
Based on the cutting means for cutting the sheet material and the cutting information,
A cutting control unit configured to control a cutting mode of the sheet material by the cutting unit; and a detection unit configured to detect an arrangement and a size of the second image on the sheet material,
Is a first circular mark printed near one corner of the predetermined area, and a second circular mark printed near a corner adjacent to one side of one corner of the predetermined area. A mark, and a third circular mark printed near a corner adjacent to the other side with respect to one corner of the predetermined area, wherein the detecting unit detects a center position of the first circular mark, ,
Detecting a center position of the second circular mark;
The center position of the third circular mark is detected based on the detection result of the center position of the circular mark and the center position of the second circular mark. Based on the center position of the second circular mark and the center position of the third circular mark, the second
Detecting the arrangement and size of the image on the sheet, the cutting control unit detects image information corresponding to the first image, and the arrangement of the second image detected by the detection unit on the sheet material. And cutting information for causing the cutting means to cut the sheet material on which the first image is printed in correspondence with the first image based on the first image and the size.

According to the first aspect of the present invention, when the cutting control means causes the cutting means to cut the sheet material corresponding to the first image, the cutting control means controls the second cutting operation on the sheet material detected by the detecting means. The cutting means is controlled based on the arrangement and size of the image. Note that the second image includes first to third circular marks that are printed in the vicinity of a predetermined area where the first image is printed. The detecting means detects the arrangement and size of the second image by detecting the center positions of the first to third circular marks, and uses them for controlling the cutting means.

According to this, when the sheet material is cut by the cutting means in correspondence with the predetermined image (first image) printed on the sheet material, the cutting means is positioned near the predetermined image (first image). The cutting unit can be positioned based on the arrangement and size of the printed positioning image (second image). In such a case, the sheet material can be cut without shifting from the printed image. Note that the center position of the third circular mark is defined by the first and second circle marks.
Since the detection is performed based on the detection result of the center position of the third circular mark, the center position of the third circular mark can be quickly detected.

The cutting device according to the present invention described in claim 2 is the same as the cutting device according to claim 1, wherein the second image includes the first circular mark and the first circular mark. A belt-shaped mark printed at a predetermined position between the second circle-shaped marks; and the detecting means detects a center position of the first circle-shaped mark and a center position of the band-shaped mark; The center position of the second circular mark is roughly estimated based on the center position of the circular mark and the detection result of the center position of the band mark, and based on the estimation result of the center position of the second circular mark. And detecting a center position of the second circular mark.

According to the invention described in claim 2, according to claim 1,
In addition to the operation according to the invention described in (1), the center position of the second circular mark can be detected based on the estimation based on the positional information of the first circular mark and the band mark. Thereby, the center position of the second mark can be detected more quickly.
That is, since the position of the second image can be detected earlier in the cutting device, the processing can be speeded up.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the cutting apparatus according to the first or second aspect, the cutting apparatus according to the present invention further comprises a printing unit for printing an image on a sheet material, The printing device further includes a printing control unit that prints the first image and the second image based on the image information.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the third aspect of the present invention, the printing means further comprises: a printing unit for printing an image on the sheet material in a predetermined direction. Printing, the first circular mark and the second circular mark are located on one side in the predetermined direction from the first image, and the third circular mark is the first circular mark. Located on the other side of the predetermined direction from the image,
The print control unit causes the print unit to print the second image in a print mode different from the print mode of the first image, and further includes the first circular mark and the second circle. The method is characterized in that a shape mark is printed, and after the first image is printed, the third circular mark is printed.

According to the invention described in claim 4, according to claim 3,
In addition to the operation according to the invention described in (1), a second mark including marks (first to third circular marks) for positioning the cutting means is provided.
Can be printed in a fixed printing mode without being affected by the printing mode of the first image. Further, when printing the first image and the second image, the relative position between the printing means and the sheet material can be changed more efficiently.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in addition to the configuration of the cutting apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects of the present invention, the detecting means further comprises: One of the first circular mark, the second circular mark, and the third circular mark is on a straight line extending in the first direction of the certain circular mark. The position of two ends is detected, and the center of the certain circular mark in the first direction is determined based on the detection result of the positions of the two ends on a straight line extending in the first direction. Estimating a position and passing two ends of the certain circular mark on a straight line passing through the estimated center position in the first direction and extending in a second direction intersecting the first direction. Detecting the position and detecting two positions on a straight line extending in the second direction. Based on the detection result of the position of the parts,
Estimating the center position of the certain circular mark in the second direction, passing through the estimated center position in the first direction and the estimated center position in the second direction, A center position of the certain circular mark is detected by detecting positions of two ends of the certain circular mark on a straight line extending in the first direction and the second direction, respectively. It is characterized by the following.

According to the invention described in claim 5, claim 1 is provided.
In addition to the effect of the invention described in any one of the fourth to fourth aspects, the position of at least one of the first to third circular marks can be detected more accurately. Thus, the positioning of the cutting means with respect to the first image is performed more accurately.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the method for detecting the center position of a circular mark according to the present invention, wherein the first image is printed on a predetermined area of the sheet material outside the predetermined area. A method for detecting the center position of a circular mark, comprising: detecting the positions of two ends of the circular mark on a straight line extending in a first direction; Estimating the center position of the circular mark in the first direction based on the detection result of the positions of the two end portions in the first direction, and passing through the estimated center position in the first direction. , A second crossing in the first direction
Detecting the positions of the two ends of the circular mark on a straight line extending in the direction of, and detecting the positions of the two ends on the straight line extending in the second direction, Estimating a center position of the circular mark in the second direction, passing the estimated center position in the first direction and the estimated center position in the second direction, Detecting a center position of the circular mark by detecting respective positions of two ends of the circular mark on a straight line extending in the first direction and the second direction. It is characterized by the following.

According to the present invention, the center positions of the circular mark in the first and second directions are estimated, and based on the estimated center positions in the first and second directions. , The center position of the circular mark is detected.

Thus, the center position of the circular mark is
It can be detected accurately. Therefore, when positioning the apparatus for cutting the sheet material using the center position of the circular mark, the positioning can be performed accurately.

[0020]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A cutting device according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cutting device. The cutting device 1 mainly includes a main body 2. The main body 2 has a box shape having a long dimension in the width direction, and is supported by a stand 10. On an upper surface of the main body 2, an operation panel 3 for a user to input various information to the cutting device 1 is provided.
Is provided.

A platen 20 for mounting a sheet material is provided at a lower portion of the main body 2, and a transparent front cover 21 is provided at a front surface of the main body 2.

The cutting device 1 prints a crop mark, which will be described later, on a sheet material and cuts the sheet material. The cutting device 1 can also print an image on a sheet material. Then, when printing or cutting, the sheet material is set so as to be sandwiched between the grit roll 7 and the pinch roll 8 (see FIG. 2).

By rotating the grit roll 7 inside the platen 20, the sheet material sandwiched between the grit roll 7 and the pinch roll 8 is fed into the interior of the main body 2, or And an automatic feed mechanism. Note that a pinch roll lever 9 is attached to the upper left surface of the main body 2. The pinch roll lever 9 is set to either the front side or the rear side.

When the pinch roll lever 9 is set to the front side, the pinch roll 8 approaches the grit roll 7, and the sheet material is held by the pinch roll 8 and the grit roll 7. In this state, the sheet material is conveyed by the automatic feeding mechanism. On the other hand, the pinch roll lever 9
Is set to the rear side, the pinch roll 8 moves away from the grit roll 7. In this case, since the holding of the sheet material by the pinch roll 8 and the grit roll 7 is released, the sheet material can be put in and out of the main body 2 freely.

A rail 6 extending from the left end to the right end of the main body 2 is provided at the back of the main body 2. The cut portion 4 and the print portion 5 are attached to the rail 6. Cut part 4
Includes a cutter for cutting a sheet material into a predetermined shape. The printing unit 5 is for printing an image on a sheet material. The cut section 4 and the print section 5 are configured to be movable in the width direction (horizontal direction) of the main body 2 along the rail 6.

The sheet material has X on the surface to be printed.
There is an axis and a Y axis orthogonal to the X axis. The X-axis direction of the sheet material corresponds to the width direction of the main body 2. And cut part 4
The printing unit 5 can move in the X-axis direction with respect to the sheet material by moving along the rail 6 as described above. Further, when the sheet material is fed by the automatic feeding mechanism, the cutting unit 4 and the printing unit 5 can move in the Y-axis direction with respect to the sheet material.

Next, the structure of the cutting section 4 and the printing section 5 will be described with reference to FIG. The cutting section 4 and the printing section 5 are located on the front surface of the rail 6 and
It is attached to a movable block movably attached to zero.

The cutting section 4 and the printing section 5 are connected by a connecting member 31. In addition, the connecting member 31
By a mechanism (not shown), the cut section 4 and the print section 5 can be connected to each other, or the connection can be released. Grit rolls 7 are provided at a plurality of locations of the main body 2 so as to be in contact with the lower surface of the sheet material 100.
A pinch roll 8 for sandwiching the sheet material 100 together with the grit roll 7 is provided on each grit roll 7.

The cutting device 1 has a drive unit (not shown). When the drive unit is driven, the drive wire 60 moves, and accordingly, the cut unit 4 attached to the drive wire 60 moves along the rail 6 along the platen 20.
To move in the width direction. In a state where the printing unit 5 and the cutting unit 4 are connected, the driving unit is driven,
The printing unit 5 also moves in the width direction of the platen 20 together with the cutting unit 4.

A mechanism for controlling the connection state of the connection member 31 is connected to a control circuit (not shown). The movement of the cutting unit 4 and the printing unit 5 is controlled by the control circuit. The outer periphery of the cut portion 4 is partially covered with a cover member including the cover 47a. Further, a sensor board 45 for mounting a sensor (a sensor 48 to be described later) is provided below the cut portion 4.

FIG. 3 is a front view of the cutter unit 4 in which members in the outer portion of the cut unit 4 are partially omitted in order to show the sensor 48 mounted on the sensor board 45. The sensor board 45 has a horizontal surface, and the sensor 48 is mounted on the horizontal surface. The sensor 48 is located to the right of the cutter blade 42 and includes a light emitter and a light receiver.
Thus, as described later, when a crop mark (a test mark) is printed, the sensor 48 can optically detect the position of the mark. Note that the sensor 48 is connected to the above-described control circuit by a wiring 49. Thereby, the detection output of the sensor 48 is input to the control circuit.

A holder 43 for mounting the cutter 41 is provided on the left side of the cut portion 4. The cutter 41 has a cutter blade 42 at a lower end thereof.
A holder support 44 is attached to the holder 43. The holder support 44 is connected to a moving mechanism provided in the cover 47a. Then, the holder support 44 can be moved up and down by the moving mechanism. Thereby, the cutter blade 42 can also be moved in the vertical direction.

Since the driving wire 60 for moving the cutting section 4 and the printing section 5 is attached to the cutting section 4, when the printing section 5 is used to print an image on a sheet material, the cutting section 4 has , Together with the printing unit 5, move on the sheet material. In this case, by moving the holder support 44 upward and the cutting blade 42 upward, the cutting blade 42 is prevented from contacting the sheet material.

A plurality of ink heads, including ink heads 51 and 52, are attached to the lower part of the printing section 5. The ink heads 51 and 52 have nozzles 51a to 51c and 52a to 52c at the lower part.

As shown in FIG. 2, in the cutting device 1,
The sheet material 100 is set below the cutter unit 4 and the print unit 5. Then, the sheet material 100 includes the nozzles 51a to 51c and 52a to 5c of the ink heads 51 and 52.
An image is printed by ejecting ink from 2c, and cut by the cutter blade.

The above-described control circuit prints an image or cuts a sheet material by moving the cutter unit 4 and the printing unit 5 according to a cutting pattern or a printing pattern. The control circuit and the printing unit 5 are connected by a wiring 55. In addition, a support plate 54 is attached to the upper part of the print unit 5. One end of a guide tube 50 is fixed to the upper end of the support plate 54, and the other end of the guide tube 50 extends to the left wall side of the main body 2, then turns back and is provided substantially near the center of the main body 2. Rail guide (not shown). They are connected by a guide tube 50. The guide tube 50 contains a tube for supplying ink to the ink heads 51 and 52. The guide tube 50 is configured to bend in the width direction of the main body 21.

Here, with reference to FIGS. 4 to 6, the cutting device 1 prints a crop mark on a sheet material,
The contents of processing executed by the control circuit when the sheet material is cut will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart of the disconnection process executed at this time.
Is a flowchart of a subroutine of the cutting process.

First, referring to FIG. 4, in step S1 (hereinafter, "step" is omitted), the control circuit causes the control circuit to print a crop mark on a sheet on which an image is printed, Proceed to. Here, the manner of printing the crop mark in S1 will be described with reference to FIG.

An area (hereinafter, referred to as "image area") 111 on which an image is printed is set in a printable area (hereinafter, referred to as "printable area") 110a of the sheet 110. . The image area 111 is an area in which data for printing an image is defined. Arrow X
Is the X-axis of the sheet 110, and corresponds to the moving direction of the cut unit 5. The arrow Y is the Y axis of the sheet 110 and corresponds to the direction in which the sheet 110 is sent out of the main body 2 by the automatic feeding mechanism. In FIG. 7, the position where the pinch roll 8 contacts the sheet 110 is indicated by a broken line.

In FIG. 7, the image area 111 is hatched as a whole, but an area to which ink is applied and / or an area to which ink is not applied are set in the image area 111. That is, the image data is defined for the entire image area 111, but actually, various images are printed in the image area 111, entirely or partially. The size of the image area 111 is determined by a predetermined command (for example, a “printable area designation command”).
Is defined by That is, the size of the image area 111 is changed according to the size of the image to be printed.

In S1, the image area 111
The reference point 113 near the lower right and the first correction point 1 near the lower left.
14, and a second correction point 115 is printed as a crop mark near the upper right. These crop marks are circular. And the reference point 113 is the auxiliary line 1
11a and 11b, the first correction point 114 is the auxiliary line 111
c, 111d, and the second correction point 115 is the auxiliary line 111e,
111f is a tangent. Reference point 113,
In FIG. 7, each of the first correction point 114 and the second correction point 115 is hatched in FIG. 7, but actually, these crop marks are assumed to be solid black. Printed.

Note that the auxiliary lines 111a to 111f correspond to the reference point 113, the first correction point 114, and the second correction point 115.
Is shown to show the position of the cutting device 1
Does not actually print these. Also, the auxiliary line 111
a and 111e are extensions of the right end of the image area 111,
The auxiliary lines 111b and 111d are extension lines at the lower end of the image area 111, the auxiliary line 111c is an extension line at the left end of the image area 111, and the auxiliary line 111f is an extension line at the upper end of the image area 111.

In step S1, a black band 116 is provided between the reference point 113 and the first correction point 114 as a crop mark.
Is printed. In FIG. 7, the black belt 116 is hatched, but actually, the black belt 116 is printed as solid black. The black belt 116 is a rectangle whose longitudinal direction is the width direction of the sheet 110,
The shape is not limited to this. However, as described below,
Since the position is detected by the sensor 48, printing is performed at a distance of about 20 mm from the reference point 113 and the first correction point 114, that is, a space of about 20 mm is provided between the reference point 113 and the first correction point. Is preferably printed so that is present.

A part of the black belt 116 is a reference point 113.
It is preferable that the printing is performed so as to be included in the existence area on the Y axis (from the upper end to the lower end of the reference point 113 in the vertical direction in FIG. 7). As described below, the sensor 48
This is because after detecting the reference point 113, the black belt 116 can be detected by moving the sensor 48 only in the X direction.
Further, the black belt 116 may be printed so that a part thereof includes the position of the center of the reference point 113 on the Y axis (the center of the reference point 113 in the vertical direction in FIG. 7). preferable.

As described above, in this embodiment, by printing each crop mark outside the image area 111, even when the crop mark is printed together with the image in the image area 111, the crop mark and the Printing can be performed in a print mode different from the image. As a result, the crop mark can always be printed in a fixed print mode.

Each of the above crop marks corresponds to the image area 11
When printing the image in 1, printing can also be performed.
At this time, first, the reference point 113 and the first correction point 114
After printing the black band 116 and the black band 116, it is preferable to print the image in the image area 111, and finally print the second correction point 115. By printing in this order, after printing the image in the image area 111, the sheet 110 is compared with the case where the remaining images such as the reference point 113 and the second correction point 115 are printed. Can be moved efficiently in the arrow Y direction, that is, in a predetermined direction.

As will be described later, in the present embodiment, the positions of the reference point 113, the first correction point 114, and the second correction point 115 are detected so that the sheet 110 is detected.
Of the cutter 41 with respect to. These points are printed in the vicinity of the image area 111 (in such a manner that two extended lines at each end of the image area are tangent). Thereby, in the cutting device 1, the image area 111
Sheet 110 without any deviation from the image in
Can be cut.

In this embodiment, the reference points 113, 113
By detecting the positions of the first correction point 114 and the second correction point 115, the arrangement and size of a rectangle including these three points as vertices are detected, and the arrangement and size of the detected rectangle are determined. Based on this, the size of the image area 111 is detected.

Referring again to FIG. 4, after printing the crop mark, the control circuit detects the center position of reference point 113 in S2, and proceeds to S3. Here, the detection of the center position of the reference point 113 will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a subroutine showing a process of detecting the center position of the reference point. In FIG.
Along with the reference point 113, six arrows A to F are described. These arrows point to the sheet 110 of the sensor 48.
It shows the moving direction with respect to.

First, in S201, the control circuit sets the reference point 1
13 is detected, and the process proceeds to S202. Reference point 1
The position of 13 moves the sensor 48 and is optically detected by the sensor 48. The rightmost position is X
It means the position of the right end in the axial direction (scan direction of the sensor 48). In S201, as shown by the arrow A in FIG. 8, the reference point 1 is set at an arbitrary position in the Y-axis direction.
The sensor 48 is moved to the left toward 13.

Next, in S202, the control circuit sets the reference point 1
13 is detected, and the process proceeds to S203. In addition, the position of the left end means the position of the left end in the X-axis direction. In S202, after the sensor 48 is moved to the left of the reference point 113 in S201, the sensor 48 is moved rightward toward the reference point 113 as shown by an arrow B in FIG. In S202, the position of the sensor 48 on the Y axis of the sheet 110 is the same as that in S201.

Next, in S203, the control circuit proceeds to S201.
And the reference point 113 based on the detection result of S202.
Is calculated in the scanning direction, and the process proceeds to S204. Here, the scan direction refers to the scan direction of the sensor 48, and specifically refers to the X-axis direction of the sheet 110.

Next, in S204, the control circuit sets the reference point 1
13, the process proceeds to S205. The position of the upper end means the position of the upper end of the sheet 110 in the Y-axis direction. In S204, the sensor 48 reaches the center position of the reference point 113 in the scanning direction in S203.
Then, the sheet 110 is sent out by the automatic feeding mechanism until the sensor 48 passes the upper end of the reference point 113,
Further, the sheet 110 is rewound. Thereby, the sensor 4
8 moves downward with respect to the reference point 113 from the upper end of the reference point 113 as shown by an arrow C in FIG.

Next, in S205, the control circuit sets the reference point 1
13 is detected, and the process proceeds to S206. The position of the lower end means the position of the lower end in the Y-axis direction. In S205, the sensor 48
Is positioned below the reference point 113.
After rewinding 10, the sheet 110 is sent out until the sensor 48 passes the lower end of the reference point 113. As a result, the sensor 48 moves upward from the lower end of the reference point 113 with respect to the reference point 113 as shown by an arrow D in FIG.

Next, the control circuit proceeds to S206 and S204.
And the reference point 113 based on the detection result of S205.
Is calculated in the feed direction, and the process proceeds to S207. Here, the feed direction refers to a sending direction or a rewinding direction of the sheet 110 by the automatic feeding mechanism, and specifically, refers to a Y-axis direction of the sheet 110.

Next, the control circuit proceeds to S207 and S203.
Based on the detection results of S206 and S206, the center position of the reference point 113 is calculated, and the process proceeds to S208. Here, the center position means the center position of the sheet 110 in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and is calculated as coordinates on the XY plane.

Next, in S208, the control circuit sets the reference point 1
Then, the process of detecting the right and left ends of the scan direction in the scan direction 13 is performed, and the process proceeds to S209. Note that S
Basically, the processing contents of S208 and S202
Is the same as the processing executed in That is, first, the sensor 48 is moved to the right of the reference point 113, then moved to the left to detect the position of the right end of the reference point 113, and further moved to the left of the reference point 113. Then, it is moved to the right to detect the position of the left end of the reference point 113. However, in S208, the sensor 48
Transports the sheet 110 so as to face the reference point 113 in the Y-axis direction position calculated in S206. Accordingly, in S208, when detecting the right end of the reference point 113, the sensor 48 moves as indicated by an arrow E in FIG. 8, and when detecting the left end, the sensor 48 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. Move as indicated by F.

Next, in S209, the control circuit proceeds to S208.
, The center position of the reference point 113 in the scanning direction is calculated, and the process proceeds to S210. The result of this calculation is
The result is basically the same as the calculation result in S203, but may be different.

Next, in S210, the control circuit sets the reference point 1
The process of detecting the positions of the upper end and the lower end in the feed direction in step 13 is performed, and the process proceeds to S211. Note that S
Basically, the processing contents of S210 and S205
Is the same as the processing executed in That is, first, the sensor 48 is moved to the center position in the scanning direction calculated in S209. Then, the sensor 4
After the sheet 110 is sent out so that 8 faces the portion above the reference point 113 of the sheet 110, the sheet 110 is rewound and the position of the upper end of the reference point 113 is detected. In this case, the sensor 48 moves with respect to the reference point 113 as shown by an arrow C in FIG. Then, after the sheet 110 is rewound by the automatic feeding mechanism so that the sensor 48 faces the portion below the reference point 113 of the sheet 110, the sheet 110 is sent out and the position of the lower end of the reference point 113 is detected. . In this case, the sensor 48 moves with respect to the reference point 113 as shown by an arrow D in FIG.

Next, in S211, the control circuit proceeds to S210.
, The center position of the reference point 113 in the feed direction is calculated, and the process proceeds to S212. The result of this calculation is
The result is basically the same as the calculation result in S206, but may be different.

Next, the control circuit proceeds to S212 and S209.
Then, the center position of the reference point 113 is calculated based on the detection result of S211 and the process returns.

As described above with reference to FIGS. 5 and 8,
By the process of detecting the center position of the reference point, the center position of the reference point 113 is obtained as the coordinates on the XY plane. In addition,
The origin of the coordinates can be, for example, the point at the lower right of the sheet 110. Note that FIGS. 5 and 8
In the processing content described with reference to FIG. 5, after the center position of the reference point 113 is detected in S201 to S207,
In 08 to S212, the center position of the reference point 113 is detected again using the detection results in S201 to S207. This is for detecting the center position of the reference point 113 more accurately. For this reason, the processing of S208 to S212 may be omitted.

Referring again to FIG. 4, at S2, the reference point 1
After detecting the center position of the black band 13, the control circuit detects the center position of the black belt 116 in S3. Here, detection of the center position of the black belt 116 will be described with reference to FIGS. 6 and 9.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a subroutine showing a process for detecting the center position of the black belt. FIG. 9 shows three arrows K to M together with the black band 116 and the reference point 113. These arrows indicate the sensor 48
3 shows the moving direction of the sheet 110 with respect to the sheet 110.
Arrows X and Y shown in FIG.
Means the same as in FIG.

First, in S301, the control circuit detects the position of the upper end of the black belt 116 in the feed direction,
Proceed to 302. Here, the feed direction refers to a sending direction or a rewinding direction of the sheet 110 by the automatic feeding mechanism, and specifically, refers to a Y-axis direction of the sheet 110.

When the process of S301 is executed, the sensor 4
Reference numeral 8 denotes a sensor at a position in the Y-axis direction where the black band 116 exists, based on the center position of the reference point 113 detected in S2 (see FIG. 4) and the positional relationship between the reference point 113 and the printing place of the black band 116. The automatic feed mechanism is driven so as to move 48. Then, the sensor 48 is moved in the scanning direction (see the arrow K in FIG. 9), and is opposed to the black belt 116.
The movement of the sensor 48 is stopped.

In the case where the above-mentioned items at the time of executing the processing of S301 are executed, if the black band 116 is printed so as to include the center of the reference point 113 in the Y-axis direction, After the detection of the center position of 113, it is only necessary to move the sensor 48 in the scanning direction as it is.

Then, the sensor 48 detects the
After the automatic feeding mechanism rewinds the sheet 110 so as to face below the black belt 116, the sheet 110 is sent out. Thereby, the sensor 48 moves the black belt 116
It moves upward from the lower end of the black belt 116 as indicated by an arrow L. Thus, the position of the lower end of the black belt 116 in the feed direction is detected.

Next, in S302, the control circuit detects the position of the upper end of the black belt 116 in the feed direction,
Go to 303. The detection of the position of the upper end is performed by moving the sensor 48 with respect to the black belt 116 so as to pass through the upper end of the black belt 116 as shown by an arrow M.

Next, in S303, the control circuit proceeds to S301.
Then, the center position of the black belt 116 in the feed direction is calculated based on the detection result of S302, and the process returns.

Referring again to FIG. 4, the control circuit executes S3
After calculating the center position of the black belt 116 in the feed direction, the center position of the first correction point 114 is detected in S4,
Go to 5. The detection of the center position of the first correction point 114 is performed as shown in FIG.
Since this is the same as the detection mode of the center position of the reference point 113 described with reference to FIG. 8, the detailed description is omitted.

In this embodiment, reference point 1 is set at S2.
The center position of the black band 116 in the feed direction is detected in S3.

Thus, the first correction point 11 in S4
4, the reference point 113 and the first correction point 1
14 from the center position in the feed direction of the first correction point 114
The center position in the feed direction can be estimated. Then, the sensor 48 can be moved based on the estimation. Thus, the center position of the first correction point 114 can be detected earlier and more easily.

Next, the control circuit determines in S5 that the second correction point 1
Then, the process proceeds to S6. Second correction point 11
5, the reference point 113 and the first correction point 114
Is detected based on the result of detection of the center position of. This detection mode will be specifically described with reference to FIG. Referring to FIG. 10, first, reference point 113 and first correction point 11
From the center position of No. 4, the formula of the auxiliary line 118 is calculated. Note that the auxiliary line 118 corresponds to the reference point 113 and the first correction point 1.
14 is a line passing through the center in the Y-axis direction. Next, the formula of the auxiliary line 119 is calculated. The auxiliary line 119 is a line passing through the center of the reference point 113 and perpendicular to the auxiliary line 118.
Then, the center position of the second auxiliary point 115 is
, The second auxiliary point 115 is detected based on the assumption that the second auxiliary point 115 is on the extension of the auxiliary line 119.

The actual detection of the center position of the second correction point 115 is carried out based on the above-mentioned estimation.
After a part of the second correction point 115 is detected by the step 8, the detection is performed in the same manner as the detection of the center position of the reference point 113 described with reference to FIGS.

Next, in S6, the control circuit sets the reference point 113
Distance in the scanning direction between the first correction point 114 and the reference point 1
The distance between the sheet 13 and the second correction point 115 in the feed direction and the inclination of the sheet 110 are calculated, and the process proceeds to S7.

Here, the inclination of the sheet 110 is determined, for example, by obtaining a vector from the center coordinates of the reference point 113 and the first correction point 114, and determining the direction of the vector and the direction of a straight line used as a reference in the cutting device 1. It can be determined by comparing. Also, the vector whose orientation is compared may be a vector obtained from the center coordinates of the reference point 113 and the second correction point 115.

Then, in S7, the control circuit creates and sets a correction value (correction data) for cutting the sheet 110 from the distance and the inclination calculated in S6, and proceeds to S8.

Then, the control circuit determines in step S8 that the image area 1
By driving the cutting unit 4 based on the data obtained by adding the above-described correction data to the image data for the sheet 11, the cutting of the sheet 110 is executed, and the process is terminated.

In the present embodiment described above, the reference point 1
13 forms a first circular mark, a first correction point 114 forms a second circular mark, and a second correction point 115 forms a third circular mark.
A band-like mark is formed by 16.

The reference point 113, the first correction point 114, and the second correction point 115 form a second image. Note that, as shown in FIG.
The correction point 114 and the second correction point 115 are
Is printed, the cutter 41 can be positioned more accurately with respect to the image in the image area 111. Note that, in the present embodiment, the positioning of the cutter 41 specifically means that a more accurate correction value can be set in S7 of FIG. Thus, the cutting apparatus 1 can cut the sheet 110 without causing a shift with respect to the image in the image area 111.

By printing the reference point 113, the first correction point 114, and the second correction point 115 near the image area 111, a plurality of image areas can be formed on the sheet 110 in the scanning direction. Can be. This will be specifically described with reference to FIG.

The sheet 120 shown in FIG.
As in the case of 0, arrow X which is the scanning direction of the sensor 48,
An arrow Y, which is a direction in which the sheet 120 is sent out by the automatic feeding mechanism, is set.

In the direction of the arrow X of the sheet 120, two image areas 121 and 126 are formed. The reference points 123 and 127 are located at the lower right of the image areas 121 and 126.
Is printed. Further, first correction points 124 and 128 are printed at the lower left of the image areas 121 and 126.
Also, second correction points 125 and 129 are printed on the upper right of the image areas 121 and 126. Furthermore, the reference point 12
A black band 126 is printed between the third correction point 124 and the first correction point 124,
A black band 130 is printed between the reference point 127 and the first correction point 128.

The embodiments disclosed this time are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the terms of the claims, rather than the description above, and is intended to include any modifications within the scope and meaning equivalent to the terms of the claims.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cutting device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a front view of a vicinity of a cutter unit and a printing unit of the cutting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the cutter unit in FIG. 2 when a cover is partially omitted.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a cutting process executed by a control circuit of the cutting device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a subroutine of the cutting process of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of a subroutine of the cutting process of FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is a diagram schematically illustrating a sheet on which a crop mark is printed.

FIG. 8 is a diagram for explaining detection of a center position of a reference point.

FIG. 9 is a diagram for explaining detection of a center position of a black band in a feed direction.

FIG. 10 is a diagram for explaining a detection mode of a second correction point.

FIG. 11 is a diagram schematically illustrating a state in which a plurality of image areas are formed in a sheet scanning direction.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 cutting device, 4 cutting section, 5 printing section, 41
Cutter, 42 cutter blade, 48 sensor, 100 sheet material, 110 sheet, 110a printable area, 11
1 image area, 113, 123, 127 reference points, 11
4,124,128 First correction point, 115,125,1
29 Second correction point, 116, 126, 130 black belt.

 ──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor Katsuo Ikehata 1-6-4 Shintoda, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Prefecture Roland D. Gee. (72) Inventor Tetsuya Yanagawa 1-6-4 Shintoda, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Roland D. Gee. Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Kazuhiro Ida 1-6-4 Shintoda, Hamamatsu-shi, Shizuoka Pref. Gee. (72) Inventor Hiroyuki Suzuki 1-6-4 Shintoda, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Roland D. Gee. Co., Ltd. (72) Inventor Yoshifumi Toyoda 1-6-4 Shintoda, Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture Roland D. Gee. Co., Ltd. F-term (reference) 2C058 AE04 AF51 LA03 LC05 LC11 LC26 3C024 FF02

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A cutting apparatus for cutting a sheet material on which a first image is printed on a predetermined area based on image information and on which a second image is printed outside the predetermined area, comprising: Cutting means for cutting the sheet material by the cutting means based on cutting information; and detecting means for detecting the arrangement and size of the second image in the sheet material. In addition, the second image is a first circular mark printed near one corner of the predetermined area, and is printed near a corner adjacent to one side of one corner of the predetermined area. A second circular mark, and a third circular mark printed near a corner adjacent to the other side of one corner of the predetermined area, wherein the detecting means comprises: The center position of the shape mark and the second circular shape Detecting the center position of the third circular mark based on the detection result of the center position of the first circular mark and the center position of the second circular mark. The arrangement of the second image on the sheet based on the center position of the first circular mark, the center position of the second circular mark, and the center position of the third circular mark Detecting the size, the cutting control means, based on image information corresponding to the first image, and the arrangement and size of the second image detected by the detection means in the sheet material, The first cutting means
A cutting apparatus for generating cutting information for cutting the sheet material on which the image is printed in accordance with the first image. 2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second image further includes a band mark printed at a predetermined position between the first circular mark and the second circular mark. The center position of the circular mark and the center position of the band-shaped mark are detected. Based on the detection result of the center position of the first circular mark and the center position of the band-shaped mark, the center position of the second circular mark is detected. The cutting device according to claim 1, wherein a center position is estimated, and a center position of the second circular mark is detected based on an estimation result of the center position of the second circular mark. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a printing unit that prints an image on a sheet material; and a printing control unit that causes the printing unit to print the first image and the second image based on image information. The cutting device according to claim 1. 4. The printing means prints an image on a sheet material in a predetermined direction, wherein the first circular mark and the second circular mark are
The third circular mark is located on one side in the predetermined direction with respect to the first image, the third circular mark is located on the other side in the predetermined direction with respect to the first image, And causing the printing means to print the second image in a printing mode different from the printing mode of the first image, and to print the first circular mark and the second circular mark. The cutting device according to claim 3, wherein the third circular mark is printed after the first image is printed. 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the detecting unit is configured to determine, for the certain circular mark among the first circular mark, the second circular mark, and the third circular mark, Detecting the position of two ends on a straight line extending in the first direction, and detecting the position of the two ends on the straight line extending in the first direction, based on the detection result of the certain circle. Estimating a center position of the shape mark in the first direction, passing through the estimated center position in the first direction,
Detecting positions of two ends of the certain circular mark on a straight line extending in a second direction intersecting with the first direction, and detecting two ends on a straight line extending in the second direction; The center position of the certain circular mark in the second direction is estimated based on the detection result of the position, and the center position in the estimated first direction and the estimated second position are calculated. On a straight line passing through the center position of the direction and extending in the first direction and the second direction;
The cutting according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a center position of the certain circular mark is detected by detecting positions of two ends of the certain circular mark. apparatus. 6. A method for detecting a center position of a circular mark printed outside a predetermined area of a sheet material on which a first image is printed in a predetermined area, the method comprising: Detecting the positions of two ends on a straight line extending in the first direction; and detecting the positions of the two ends on the straight line extending in the first direction. The first
Estimating the center position in the direction of the first direction, and passing the estimated center position in the first direction,
Detecting the position of two ends of the circular mark on a straight line extending in a second direction intersecting the direction of the arrow; and detecting the positions of two ends on a straight line extending in the second direction. Of the circular mark based on the detection result of
Estimating a center position in the direction of the first direction, and passing through the center position in the estimated first direction and the center position in the estimated second direction, the first direction and the second direction. On a straight line extending in the direction
Detecting the center position of the circular mark by detecting the positions of two ends of the circular mark, respectively.