JP2011079201A - Print cutting device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a print cutting device which can secure the positional accuracy between a printing position and a cut position while reducing an arithmetic processing burden. <P>SOLUTION: The print cutting device has a controller in which printing data when printing is performed by a printer head and cut data when cutting is performed by a cutter blade are stored. The controller includes a means which combines data of inputted images E, F and G to image groups 8E, 8F and 8G by arranging the data right and left, and front and rear; a means which arranges data of correction actions H1, H2 and H3 for acquiring a right-left correction ratio and a front-rear correction ratio when the cut data are corrected to be shifted at least in either of right-left and front-rear directions, on the front side to the image groups 8E, 8F and 8G; and a memory and a correction value computing part which generates the printing data and cut data based on the image groups 8E, 8F and 8G and the correction actions H1, H2 and H3. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2011,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a print cutting apparatus that performs printing and cutting on a print medium.

  Conventionally, with respect to a sheet-like print medium supported by a platen, by performing a combination of an operation of reciprocating a printing unit equipped with a printer head for ejecting ink left and right and an operation of feeding the printing medium back and forth, Printer apparatuses capable of printing a desired image on a print medium are known. On the other hand, for a sheet-like print medium supported by a platen, by combining the operation of reciprocating a cutting unit with a cutter blade left and right and the operation of feeding the print medium back and forth, A cutting device capable of performing a desired cutting process is also known. For example, a desired image is printed by the printer device using a print medium in which a mount and a sticker paper are bonded, and the print medium is cut along the contour of the desired image by the cutting device. Various patterns and shapes of seals can be created. In addition, a printer has been developed in which a cutting unit is additionally mounted on the printer apparatus so that printing and cutting can be performed by a single apparatus (print cutting apparatus) (for example, see Patent Document 1). ).

  By the way, when creating a sticker as described above, positional accuracy between the printing position and the cutting position is required. To meet this requirement, for example, if uniform feed correction is performed in the front-rear direction, the desired image expands and contracts back and forth. In some cases, it is difficult to ensure sufficient accuracy of the cutting position. Also, even if the printing unit and the cutting unit are moved by the same distance with respect to the printing medium due to an error based on the manufacturing accuracy and operation accuracy inherent to the device, the moving position is slightly shifted and different. There may be. In order to solve such a problem, in a conventional printing / cutting apparatus, a registration mark (mark) corresponding to a desired image is printed, and the position of the registration mark is read at the time of cutting to print the desired image on the registration mark. By detecting this, the cut position data is corrected, and the position accuracy of the cut position with respect to the print position is ensured.

JP 2003-266377 A

  In the configuration for printing a conventional registration mark, the detected registration mark position is reflected only in the cut position data of the desired image corresponding to the registration mark. For example, the correction reference value once calculated is applied to each desired image. Compared with the configuration in which the cut position data is calculated by application, the burden on the arithmetic processing is large. On the other hand, if the correction reference value calculated once is applied to all desired images to calculate the cut position data, the burden on the arithmetic processing is reduced, but the error in each desired image is sufficiently reflected in the correction reference value. It is difficult to secure the positional accuracy between the printing position and the cutting position. As described above, there is a problem that it is difficult to achieve both the reduction of the burden on the arithmetic processing and the securing of the positional accuracy between the printing position and the cutting position.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing / cutting apparatus capable of ensuring the positional accuracy between the printing position and the cutting position while reducing the processing load.

  In order to achieve such an object, a print cutting apparatus according to the present invention is a medium support means (for example, an implementation) that supports a print medium (for example, the print medium 8 in the embodiment) having a planar print surface. Plate plate 30), a guide rail extending in the scanning direction facing the print surface of the print medium supported by the medium supporting means, and the print rail provided on the guide rail so as to be movable in the scanning direction. A printer head for printing on a surface, a cutting head (for example, a cutter blade 53 in the embodiment) that is provided on the guide rail so as to be movable in the scanning direction and cuts the print medium, and the guide rail A medium transport mechanism (for example, a relative movement of the print medium in the transport direction perpendicular to the scanning direction). , Medium storage mechanism 20) in the embodiment, print data when printing is performed by the printer head, and data storage means (for example, a controller in the embodiment) that stores cut data when the cutting process is performed by the cutting head 9), and a combination of an operation for moving the printer head in the scanning direction based on the print data and an operation for moving the print medium in the transport direction in combination with a desired image (for example, , Printing the images E, F, G) in the embodiment, and combining the operation of moving the cutting head in the scanning direction based on the cut data and the operation of moving the print medium relative to the transport direction. Print cutty that is cut according to the desired image The data storage means arranges the input unit image data (for example, the images E, F, and G in the embodiment) in at least one of the scanning direction and the transport direction to form an image. Array composition means for combining data groups (for example, image groups 8E, 8F, 8G in the embodiment), and correction reference values for performing correction for shifting the cut data in at least one of the directions (for example, in the embodiments) Reference value acquisition operation data (for example, correction operations H1, H2, and H3 in the embodiment) corresponding to the operation for acquiring the front-rear correction magnification X4 and the left-right correction magnification Y4) is upstream of the conveyance direction with respect to the image data group. Acquisition operation data arrangement means arranged to correspond to the image data group on the side, the image data group and the reference value acquisition operation data And data generation means for generating the print data and the cut data (for example, the correction value calculation unit 9a and the memory 9b in the embodiment).

  The plurality of image data groups are combined with each other in the transport direction by the array combining means, and the reference value acquisition is performed in correspondence with each of the plurality of image data groups by the acquisition operation data array means. Preferably, the operation data is arranged, and the cut data in the plurality of image data groups is corrected using the correction reference value acquired based on the corresponding reference value acquisition operation data.

  The print cutting apparatus according to the present invention arranges reference value acquisition operation data corresponding to the operation for acquiring the correction reference value in correspondence with the image data group on the upstream side in the transport direction with respect to the image data group, The print data and the cut data are generated by the data generation means based on the image data group and the reference value acquisition operation data. Therefore, in the print cutting apparatus according to the present invention, using the correction reference value acquired based on the reference value acquisition operation data, the cut data of the entire image data group corresponding to the reference value acquisition operation data Since the correction can be performed, the printing position and the cut are reduced while reducing the calculation processing load as compared with the conventional configuration in which the detected position of the registration mark is reflected only in the cut position data of the desired image corresponding to the registration mark. Position accuracy with the position can be ensured.

  A plurality of image data groups are combined with each other shifted in the transport direction by the array combining means, and each cut data in the plurality of image data groups is a corrected reference value acquired based on the corresponding reference value acquisition operation data. A configuration in which correction is performed using is preferable. With this configuration, it is possible to acquire a correction reference value corresponding to the image data group for each image data group, and accordingly, an error in each image data group can be sufficiently reflected in the correction reference value and the printing position. The positional accuracy with the cutting position can be further increased.

1 is a perspective view of a print cutting apparatus according to the present invention. It is sectional drawing of the II-II part in FIG. It is the perspective view which showed the guide member vicinity of the said printing / cutting apparatus. FIG. 4 is a control system diagram of the print cutting apparatus. It is a top view of the printing medium in the state where the image was arranged. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a print medium when confirming a deviation at the origin position, where (a) shows a state in which the cut position is deviated from the test image, and (b) shows a state in which the cut position coincides with the test image. Each is shown. FIG. 3 is a plan view of a print medium when checking a shift in a left-right direction and a front-rear direction. It is an example of the operation | movement order of the said print cutting apparatus. It is a flowchart at the time of the shift confirmation in the left-right direction and the front-back direction. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a print medium when a correction value is acquired at a position different from that in FIG. 5. FIG. 6 is a plan view of a print medium when a correction value is acquired at a position different from that in FIG. 5. It is a flowchart at the time of the shift confirmation in the left-right direction and the front-back direction which concerns on another Example.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. For convenience of explanation, the front and rear, left and right, and up and down directions of the print / cutting apparatus 1 are indicated by the arrow directions in each drawing, and the description will be made using these directions.

  A schematic configuration of the print cutting apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied will be described with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing / cutting apparatus 1 includes a support portion 2 including a pair of left and right support legs 2 a and 2 a and a main body portion 3 supported by the support portion 2 and extending left and right. A left main body portion 5 and a right main body portion 6 are formed on the left and right ends of the main body portion 3, respectively, and these outer peripheral portions are covered with a main body cover 4. On the front side of the left main body 5, an input operation unit 7 including operation switches and display devices is provided. A controller 9 connected to the input operation unit 7 so as to be able to transmit and receive signals is provided inside the left main body unit 5.

  Between the left main body 5 and the right main body 6, as shown in FIG. 2, a medium feeding mechanism 20, a flat platen 30 that supports a sheet-like print medium 8 that is an object of printing and cutting, A guide member 40, a cutting unit 50, a printing unit 60, a maintenance device 70, a unit driving device 80, and the like are provided so as to extend left and right above the platen 30.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the medium feeding mechanism 20 includes a plurality of pinch rollers 15 arranged side by side at the lower part of the guide member 40, and is exposed upward with respect to the platen 30 so as to move up and down with the pinch rollers 15. It is comprised from the feed roller 16 which became contactable. The feed roller 16 is rotationally driven by a front / rear drive motor 16a. With this configuration, the print medium 8 can be fed back and forth by a predetermined distance by rotating the feed roller 16 with the front and rear drive motor while the print medium 8 is sandwiched between the feed roller 16 and the pinch roller 15. . Each pinch roller 15 is configured such that a pressing state can be set independently of the feed roller 16.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the cutting unit 50 includes a cutting carriage 51 and a cutter holder 52. The cutting carriage 51 is attached to a guide rail 40 a formed on the front side of the guide member 40 so as to be movable left and right, and serves as an attachment base for the cutter holder 52. The cutter holder 52 is mounted so as to be vertically movable with respect to the cutting carriage 51, and a cutter blade 53 is detachably attached to the cutter holder 52. The cutting carriage 51 can be engaged with a right hook 14 described later.

  The printing unit 60 includes a printing carriage 61 and a plurality of printer heads 62. Similar to the cutting carriage 51, the print carriage 61 is attached to the guide rail 40a so as to be movable left and right, and serves as an attachment base for the printer head 62. An engagement portion 61a that can be engaged with a left hook 12 described later is formed on the left surface side of the print carriage 61 (see FIG. 3). The plurality of printer heads 62 are composed of, for example, magenta, yellow, cyan, and black, and are provided with ejection nozzles (not shown) on the lower surface, respectively, so that ink can be ejected downward. .

  As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, a maintenance device 70 is provided inside the left main body 5. On the upper surface of the maintenance device 70, four suction caps 71 formed according to the shape of the lower surface of the printer head 62 are disposed. When the printer head 62 is not used, the printer head 62 is moved to the position of the maintenance device 70 and the lower surface of the printer head 62 is covered with the suction cap 71, thereby preventing the ink from drying (thickening) at the ejection nozzles. .

  2 and 3, the unit driving device 80 includes a driving pulley 81 and a driven pulley 82, a left and right driving motor 83 that rotationally drives the driving pulley 81, and endless teeth that are wound around the pulleys 81 and 82. And a drive carriage 85 connected to the toothed drive belt 84. The drive carriage 85 is provided with a left connection mechanism 86 that detachably connects the print carriage 61 and the drive carriage 85, and a right connection mechanism 87 that detachably connects the cutting carriage 51 and the drive carriage 85. Therefore, by controlling the driving of the left and right drive motor 83, the left connecting mechanism 86, and the right connecting mechanism 87, the cutting unit 50 or the printing unit 60 is connected to the driving carriage 85 and left and right along the guide rail 40a. It is possible to control the movement.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a left hook support portion 11 that supports the left hook 12 so as to be swingable up and down is fixed inside the left main body portion 5. On the other hand, a right hook support portion 13 that supports the right hook 14 so as to swing up and down is fixed inside the right main body portion 6.

  So far, the general configuration of the print cutting apparatus 1 has been described. In this printing / cutting apparatus 1, an operation for performing only printing on a print medium, an operation for performing only a cutting process, and an operation for collectively performing printing and a cutting process corresponding to the printed image are performed. It is possible to perform a selected action accordingly. For example, according to the operation of performing printing and cutting together, first, the printing unit 60 unit and the driving device 80 are connected to print a desired image on the printing medium 8 to be printed, and the printing unit 60 and unit driving are performed. After the connection with the device 80 is released, the cutting unit 50 and the unit driving device 80 can be connected, and the cutting process can be performed by the cutting unit 50 along the contour of the desired image. For this reason, printing and cutting of a desired image can be continuously performed without removing the print medium 8 from the print / cutting apparatus 1 each time.

  The operation of the printing and cutting apparatus 1 at this time is as follows. Data relating to an image (for example, color data and position data) stored in the memory 9b built in the controller 9, the type of the printing medium 8, and data relating to the cutter blade 53 ( For example, an operation signal based on, for example, an offset value from the rotation center of the cutter blade 53 to the blade edge) is output to each component and executed. Specifically, when an operation signal is output from the controller 9, the front / rear drive motor 16a is driven, the left hook 12 is swung, the right hook 14 is swung, the cutter holder 52 is moved up and down, and the ink from the printer head 62 is printed. The printing / cutting apparatus 1 is operated by controlling the discharge of the right and left drive motor 83, the connection by the left connection mechanism 86, and the connection by the right connection mechanism 87.

  At this time, print data (including image data and print position data) of a desired image is set with reference to a preset origin position. For this reason, data indicating the contour portion is extracted from the print position data representing the print position of the desired image with reference to the origin position as cut position data, and the cutter blade is applied to the print medium 8 based on the cut position data. Cut processing is performed by relatively moving 53. By doing so, it is possible to perform cutting with high positional accuracy along the contour in each of the desired images.

  However, when the printing unit 60 and the unit driving device 80 are connected to each other and when the cutting unit 50 and the unit driving device 80 are connected to each other, an error based on assembly accuracy and operation accuracy occurs. Even if it is moved left and right based on the data, an error (deviation) may occur in the position actually moved (the distance moved left and right). In particular, when the moving distance of the cutting unit 50 to the left and right is large, this error is likely to occur significantly.

  Further, in the case where the cut processing is performed after printing on the print medium 8, there is a possibility that the print quality may be deteriorated when the printed portion of the desired image is pressed by the pinch roller 15. Of the pinch rollers 15, all the pinch rollers 15 in which the printing medium 8 is positioned below are pressed against the feed roller 16. On the other hand, at the time of cutting, they are positioned at the left and right ends of the printing medium 8 that has not been printed. Only the pinch roller 15 is set to be pressed against the feed roller 16. For this reason, even when printing and cutting, even if the feed roller 16 is rotated by the front and rear drive motor 16a based on the same drive signal and the print medium 8 is moved back and forth, the print medium 8 is actually moved. An error may occur in the distance moved back and forth, and there is a possibility that an error occurs between the printing position and the cutting position due to a displacement of the printing medium 8 during the cutting process. In particular, when the moving distance of the print medium 8 in the front-rear direction is large, this error is likely to occur significantly. As described above, when a position error occurs between printing and cutting, it is difficult to perform cutting with accurate positional accuracy (accurate cutting along the contour of a desired image).

  Further, when printing and cutting are performed on the print medium 8 in a range of several tens of meters in the front-rear direction, for example, after printing from the front end portion to the rear end portion, the print medium 8 is again applied to the front end portion. The cutting process is performed from the front end portion to the rear end portion. At the time of cutting, as described above, only the pinch rollers 15 positioned at the left and right end portions of the printing medium 8 on which printing has not been performed are pressed against the feed roller 16, so that the pressing state tends to become unstable. It may be sent (meander) slightly obliquely with respect to the front-rear direction. When this meandering occurs, it becomes difficult to cut accurately along the contour of the desired image.

  In view of this, the print cutting apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied detects the error in advance and reflects it in the cut position data even when an error occurs due to the above-described causes during printing and during cutting. Thus, the desired image can be subjected to a high-quality cutting process in which positional accuracy is ensured. In particular, even when printing and cutting are performed in a range that extends to several tens of meters in the front-rear direction, cut processing that ensures positional accuracy for a desired image while reducing the calculation processing burden on the controller 9 as much as possible. It has a possible configuration.

  In the following, the print cutting apparatus 1 is used to arrange the images E, F, G and the correction operation to detect the error of the cut position with respect to the print position at the origin position and to the print position in the left and right and front and rear directions. After detecting the error in the cut position, the image group 8E is printed and cut along the contour. Similarly, after the error is detected, the image group 8F is printed and cut along the contour. Next, the case where the image group 8G is printed and cut along the contour after the error is detected in the same manner will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 8 shows a flowchart of the entire operation, FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to step S90 in FIG. 8, and FIG. 9 shows details of the flow contents of steps S200 and S250. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram corresponding to steps S200 and S250.

  In step S89, based on the required number (for example, 500 triangular images E, 200 square images F, and 100 round images G), the user sets the images E and E on the print medium 8 on the data. The image groups 8E, 8F, and 8G are formed by arranging F and G, and the position at which a correction operation for calculating a correction ratio, which will be described later, is performed on the image groups 8E, 8F, and 8G is determined. The user determines the arrangement of the images E, F, and G and the correction operation position on the display device of the input operation unit 7, and the result is input to the controller 9. FIG. 5 shows an example of the input result. Here, the correction operation H1, the image group 8E, the correction operation H2, the image group 8F, the correction operation H3, and the image group 8G are arranged in order from the front end of the printing medium 8. Each of the operations H1 to H3 is disposed at the left end portion. In FIG. 5, 500 images E as the image group 8E are arranged 10 to the left and right and 50 in the front and back, and 200 images F as the image group 8F are arranged 10 to the left and right and 20 in the front and rear. The group 8G illustrates a state in which 100 images G are arranged 10 on the left and right and 10 on the front and back.

  The arrangement of the images E, F, and G and the correction operation position can be arbitrarily determined by the user. However, when arranging a plurality of types of images, as shown in FIG. When arranged, the processing load on the data can be reduced. Further, when the correction operations H2 and H3 are arranged in the middle of the front-rear direction, it is possible to detect a shift of the cut position with respect to the print position due to meandering of the print medium 8 at this position as will be described later.

  Next, the routine proceeds to step 90, where the origin deviation of the correction operation H1 shown in FIG. 5 is confirmed. First, in a state where the printing medium 8 is placed on the upper surface of the platen 30, the user operates the display device of the input operation unit 7 to connect the printing unit 60 and the unit driving device 80 and is provided in the unit driving device 80. By the switching lever (not shown), the pinch roller 15 where the print medium 8 is positioned below is pressed against the feed roller 16, and the print medium 8 is sandwiched between the pinch roller 15 and the feed roller 16.

  Then, data relating to the test image 91 is read from the memory 9b, and based on this data, the printing unit 60 is moved left and right (moving in the scanning direction) while ejecting ink from the printer head 62, and the printing medium 8 is moved forward ( For example, a square test image 91 is printed (see FIG. 6A).

  After the connection between the printing unit 60 and the unit driving device 80 is released, the cutting unit 50 and the unit driving device 80 are connected. Then, only the pinch rollers 15 positioned at the left and right ends of the print medium 8 are pressed against the feed roller 16 by the switching lever of the unit driving device 80, and the other pinch rollers 15 are set in a state of being separated from the feed roller 16. Is done. In this state, the contour of the test image 91 is cut based on the cut position data indicating the contour of the test image 91 extracted from the print position data of the test image 91.

  When the cutting process is performed on the contour of the test image 91 in this way, the cutting process should be performed so as to overlap along the contour of the test image 91 if there is no error described above. However, if there is an error as described above, for example, as shown in FIG. 6A, the actual cut position 91a indicated by the dotted line is shifted to the right rear side with respect to the outline of the test image 91 indicated by the solid line. Cut processed. At this time, the user visually reads the approximate shift amount of the cut position to the left and right and front and rear with respect to the print position, and inputs the values (m on the right side and k on the rear side) to the display device of the input operation unit 7. By doing so, the cut position data corresponding to the test image 91 is set while being shifted by m to the left and k by the front.

  Then, when the test image 91 is printed again and cut processing is performed based on the cut position data set by shifting, the cut processing is performed so as to overlap the contour of the test image 91 as shown in FIG. . Here, the case where an accurate deviation amount is read has been described. However, if the test image 91 is printed again and cut even after being cut (when the deviation amount is read incorrectly), the deviation amount at that time is further determined. Scanning is repeated until it overlaps the contour of the test image 91. The shift amount when the contour of the test image 91 and the cut processing position overlap is stored in the memory 9b, and is extracted by shifting that amount when extracting the cut position data from the print position data described later.

  Then, it progresses to step S200. In this step S200, the left / right deviation of the correction operation H1 shown in FIG. 5 is confirmed. Step S200 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 9. First, in step S201, data relating to the test images 101 to 111 is read from the memory 9b. Based on this, for example, square test images 101 to 111 are printed. In FIG. 7, five test images 102 to 106 are printed at equal intervals on the right side with respect to the test image 101 indicating the origin, and five test images 107 to 111 are printed rearward with respect to the test image 101. The case where it printed by the space | interval is illustrated.

  It is preferable that the left-right distance Y1 between the test image 101 and the test image 102 and the front-rear distance X1 between the test image 101 and the test image 107 are set according to the size of the image E, for example. Further, it is preferable that the left-right distance Y1 and the front-rear distance X1 are set as large as possible (for example, 300 mm or more) in order to detect errors with high accuracy. The test images 101 to 111 are printed with a color different from the color of the surface of the print medium 8 itself.

  In step S202, only the pinch rollers 15 positioned at the left and right ends of the print medium 8 are set to be pressed against the feed roller 16, and then the test image 102 extracted from the print position data of the test image 102 is set. Based on the cut position data indicating the contour, the contour of the test image 102 is cut. At this time, the cutter blade 53 is temporarily positioned above the test image 101, and the cutting unit 50 is moved rightward from the state to be positioned above the test image 102, and the cutting process is started. By doing so, it is possible to faithfully reflect an error that occurs while moving the left-right distance Y1 in the actual cut position with respect to the test image 102. Note that another test image such as the test image 103 may be used as the test image 102 used at this time.

  Since the cut position data is set to be shifted so that the print position and the cut position in the test image 91 (corresponding to the test image 101 in FIG. 7) coincide with each other in step S90 described above, the print unit 60 and the unit driving device 80 are set. If there is no error or the like based on assembly accuracy and operation accuracy between the cutting unit 50 and the unit driving device 80, the contour of the test image 102 is cut in this way. When applied, it should be cut so as to overlap along the contour of the test image 102. However, if there is an error based on the above assembly accuracy and operation accuracy, for example, as shown in FIG. 7, the actual cut position 102a indicated by the dotted line with respect to the contour of the test image 102 indicated by the solid line. Is cut to the left.

  Subsequently, in step S203, the user shifts the left / right allowable deviation amount Y2 (for example, about the deviation amount in the left / right direction of the cutting position 102a with respect to the contour of the test image 102), which is a limit value for securing the position accuracy of the cutting process. It is visually determined whether or not it is larger than 0.2 mm). Further, it is visually determined whether the cut position 102 a is shifted to the left or right side with respect to the test image 102. At this time, since the test image 102 is printed in a color different from the color of the print medium 8 itself, the approximate shift amount and shift direction can be easily determined by removing the seal portion from the mount.

  If it is determined that the deviation amount is larger than the left and right allowable deviation amount Y2, the user inputs the left side, which is the deviation direction, to the input operation unit 7, and the process proceeds to step S204. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S203 that the shift amount is smaller than the left / right allowable shift amount Y2 and that correction in the left / right direction is not necessary, the user inputs this to the input operation unit 7 to calculate a left / right correction magnification Y4 to be described later. If not, the process proceeds to step S207. That is, if the amount of deviation in the left-right direction is smaller than the left / right allowable deviation amount Y2 from the input result in step S203, the process proceeds to step S207 without executing steps S204 to S206, whereas it is larger than the left / right allowable deviation amount Y2. In this case, S204 to S206 described below are executed to calculate the left / right correction magnification Y4.

  In this step S203, if the cutting process is performed using the printing position data (cut position data extracted by shifting the printing position data by the shift amount stored in step S90) as it is, the actual cutting position is set with respect to the printing position. You can see that it shifts to the left. In addition to this, if it is known how much the actual cutting position is shifted to the left side with respect to the printing position, it is possible to perform a cutting process in which positional accuracy is ensured for the desired image. However, it is difficult to accurately measure the amount of deviation. Therefore, in the following steps S204 and S205, the deviation amount can be easily detected visually without actually measuring, and the left / right correction magnification Y4 is calculated in step S206 based on the measurement result.

  First, in step S204, the controller 9 moves the print position data of the test image 103 to the opposite right side with respect to the left side input in step S203 by a value equal to or smaller than the left and right allowable deviation amount Y2, for example, 0.1 mm. In addition, cut position data indicating the contour is extracted. For the test image 104, the print position data is moved to the right by, for example, 0.2 mm. For the test image 105, the print position data is moved to the right by 0.3 mm, and then the test image 106 is scanned. In contrast, after moving the print position data to the right by 0.4 mm, the cut position data indicating the outline is extracted.

  In this way, by setting the amount of movement of the print position data to the right side in increments of 0.1 mm according to the distance in the left-right direction from the test image 102, the print position in any of the test images 103 to 106 is set. And the cut position should match. By visually judging the test image, the print position and the cut position can be moved in the left-right direction by moving the print position data to the right without actually measuring the amount of deviation between the print position and the cut position. You can see if they can be matched. The 0.1 mm is a value set in the memory 9b in advance, and can be changed by the user operating the input operation unit 7.

  Then, cut processing is performed on each of the test images 103 to 106 based on the extracted cut position data. At this time, similarly to the test image 102, the cutting unit 50 is once moved to the position of the test image 101 and then moved to the position of each test image to perform cutting. The positions actually cut in this way are indicated by dotted line cut positions 103a, cut positions 104a, cut positions 105a, and cut positions 106a.

  Subsequently, in step S205, the user visually selects a test image having the smallest deviation of the actual cut position with respect to the contour of the test image to the left and right from the test images 103 to 106. In the case of FIG. 7, the contour of the test image 104 and the cut position 105 a substantially match. Therefore, the user determines that the deviation in the test image 104 is the smallest, and inputs from the test image 102 that the deviation is smallest in the second test image 104 to the input operation unit 7. Since the shift is the smallest in the test image 104, the ratio of the distance on the print position data from the test image 101 to the test image 104 and the distance obtained by adding 0.2 mm corresponding to the moving amount to this distance is used. It can be seen that the print position and the cut position can be matched in the left-right direction by correcting the shift of the cut position data at an arbitrary position on the print medium 8. Since the error is generally proportional to the distance, the cut position data can be easily calculated by calculating the ratio as the left / right correction magnification Y4 as follows.

  Proceeding to step S206, the correction value calculation unit 9a built in the controller 9 performs left / right correction based on “left side” input in step S203 and “second from test image 102” input in step S205. The magnification Y4 is calculated. Specifically, the print position data of the test image 104 and the test image 101 determined to have the smallest deviation in step S205 is read from the memory 9b, and the left-right distance Y3 from the test image 101 to the test image 104 is calculated. When the right side is the positive direction and the left side is the negative direction, the print position data is shifted to the right side (positive direction) by 0.2 (0.1 × 2) mm in the second test image 104 from the test image 102. Since the deviation between the printing position and the actual cutting position is minimized, the left / right correction magnification Y4 is calculated by the following equation (1).

  Y4 = (Y3 + 0.1 × 2) / Y3 (1)

  By multiplying the left / right correction magnification Y4 and the coordinates indicating the left / right position of the print position data, it is possible to obtain cut position data that can be cut without positional deviation in the left / right direction with respect to the print position. . Also, “2” in equation (1) is the smallest deviation on the right side with respect to the test image 102 that has been cut and processed without moving the print position data to the left and right in step S203. It shows whether or not the test image 104 is located. The case of directly proceeding from step S203 to step S207 is a case where the value of “2” in the equation (1) is “0”, and Y4 = 1 is obtained.

  This correction magnification is determined according to the test image in which the deviation between the printing position and the actual cutting position is minimized. For example, in the third test image 105 from the test image 102, when the print position data is shifted to the left side (negative direction) by 0.3 (0.1 × 3) mm, the print position and the actual cut position are When the deviation is the smallest, the left / right correction magnification Y4 ′ is calculated by the following equation (1) ′. In the following equation (1) ′, the left-right distance Y 3 ′ is the left-right distance from the test image 101 to the test image 105.

  Y4 '= (Y3'-0.1 * 3) / Y3' (1) '

  When the left / right correction magnification Y4 is thus calculated and step S206 is completed, the process proceeds to step S250. In this step S250, the back-and-forth shift in the correction operation H1 shown in FIG. 5 is confirmed. Step S250 will be described with reference to FIGS. 7 and 9. First, in step S207, the contour of the test image 107 positioned behind the test image 101 is cut in the same manner as in step S202. Here, for example, there is a case where an error occurs in the amount of movement of the printing medium 8 in the front-rear direction due to the difference in the pressing setting of the pinch roller 15 between printing and cutting. In this case, for example, FIG. As shown in FIG. 5, the actual cutting position 107a indicated by the dotted line is shifted to the rear side with respect to the contour of the test image 107 indicated by the solid line. As described above, since a shift in the front-rear direction occurs due to a cause different from the shift in the left-right direction, it is necessary to confirm the shift in the front-rear direction in step S250. On the other hand, if there is no such error, it should be cut so as to overlap along the contour of the test image 107.

  Subsequently, in step S208, the user determines that the amount of deviation in the front-rear direction of the cut position 107a with respect to the contour of the test image 107 is a limit value for ensuring the position accuracy of the cutting process, for example, an allowable front-rear amount X2 (for example, It is visually determined whether or not it is larger than 0.2 mm). Further, it is visually determined whether the cut position 107a is shifted forward or backward with respect to the test image 107. When determining that the deviation amount is larger than the front and rear allowable deviation amount X2, the user inputs the rear side, which is the deviation direction, to the input operation unit 7, and proceeds to step S209. On the other hand, if it is determined in step S208 that the deviation amount is smaller than the front / rear allowable deviation amount X2 and correction in the front / rear direction is not necessary, the user inputs this in the input operation unit 7 and proceeds to step S251.

  First, in step S209, the controller 9 moves the print position data of the test image 108 to the front side opposite to the rear side input in step S208 by a value equal to or smaller than the above-described allowable front and rear displacement amount X2, for example, 0.1 mm. In addition, cut position data indicating the contour is extracted. For the test image 109, the print position data is moved forward by, for example, 0.2 mm. For the test image 110, the print position data is moved forward by 0.3 mm, and then the test image 111 is moved. On the other hand, after the print position data is moved forward by 0.4 mm, the cut position data indicating the outline is extracted. In this way, by setting the moving amount of the print position data to the front side in increments of 0.1 mm according to the distance in the front-rear direction from the test image 107, the print position in any of the test images 108 to 111 is set. And the cut position should match. By visually judging the test image, the print position and the cut position can be moved in the front-rear direction by moving the print position data to the front side without actually measuring the deviation amount between the print position and the cut position. You can see if they can be matched.

  Then, in the same manner as in the case of the test images 103 to 106 described above, cut processing is performed based on the cut position data extracted for each of the test images 108 to 111. The positions actually cut in this way are indicated by dotted cut positions 108a, 109a, 110a, and 111a.

  Subsequently, in step S210, the user visually selects a test image having the smallest deviation from the front and rear of the actual cut position with respect to the contour of the test image from the test images 108 to 111. In the case of FIG. 7, the contour of the test image 110 and the cut position 110a are almost coincident. Therefore, the user determines that the deviation in the test image 110 is the smallest, and inputs to the input operation unit 7 that the deviation is the smallest in the third test image 110 from the test image 107. Since the shift is the smallest in the test image 110, the ratio of the distance on the print position data from the test image 101 to the test image 110 and the distance obtained by adding 0.3 mm corresponding to the moving amount to this distance is used. It can be seen that the print position and the cut position can be matched in the front-rear direction by correcting the shift of the cut position data at an arbitrary position on the print medium 8. Since the error is generally proportional to the distance, the cut position data can be easily calculated by calculating the ratio as the front / rear correction magnification X4 as follows.

  Proceeding to step S211, the correction value calculation unit 9a of the controller 9 performs the front-rear correction magnification X4 based on the “rear side” input in step S208 and the “third from the test image 107” input in step S210. Is calculated. Specifically, the print position data of the test image 110 and the test image 101 determined to have the smallest deviation in step S210 is read from the memory 9b, and the front-rear distance X3 from the test image 101 to the test image 110 is calculated. Then, assuming that the rear side is the positive direction and the front side is the negative direction, the print position data in the third test image 110 from the test image 107 is set to the front side (negative direction) by 0.3 (0.1 × 3) mm. Since the shift between the printing position and the actual cutting position becomes the smallest when shifted, the front / rear correction magnification X4 is calculated by the following equation (2).

  X4 = (X3-0.1 × 3) / X3 (2)

  By multiplying the front-rear correction magnification X4 and the coordinates indicating the front-rear direction position of the print position data, cut position data that can be cut without positional deviation in the front-rear direction with respect to the print position can be obtained. . Further, “3” in the equation (2) is the most misaligned on the rear side with respect to the test image 107 that has been cut using the print position data without moving back and forth in step S208. It shows whether the reduced test image 110 is located. Note that the process proceeds from step S208 to step S251 when the value of “3” in equation (2) is “0”, and X4 = 1 is obtained.

  Thus, the front / rear correction magnification X4 is calculated, and step S250 is completed, and the process proceeds to step S251 shown in FIG.

  In step S251, the image group 8E (500 images E) is printed on the print medium 8. In FIG. 7, one image E is extracted and shown, but the coordinates on the printing position data of each vertex of the image E are A (Ya, Xa), B (Yb, Xb), C (Yc). , Xc), printing is performed based on the coordinates A, B, and C. Here, Ya, Yb, and Yc indicate left and right coordinates, and Xa, Xb, and Xc indicate front and rear direction coordinates.

  In step S252, the cutting process is performed along the outline of the image group 8E (500 images E). The cutting process is performed using the coordinates A, B, and C on the print position data as they are. If applied, the cutting position will be shifted to the left rear as a whole with respect to the printing position, which may lead to a reduction in cutting quality. Therefore, in the print cutting apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied, the horizontal correction magnification Y4 is set for each of Ya, Yb, and Yc indicating the horizontal coordinates in the coordinates A, B, and C, and the Xa, By multiplying each of Xb and Xc by the longitudinal correction magnification X4, cutting coordinates A ′ (Ya · Y4, Xa · X4), B ′ (Yb · Y4, Xb · X4), C ′ (Yc · Y4) are obtained. Xc · X4). The cutting unit 50 moved based on the cutting coordinates A ′ and the printing unit 60 moved based on the coordinates A have moved to the same position on the print medium 8.

  Therefore, the cutter blade 53 is moved with respect to the print medium 8 so as to connect the three points of cutting coordinates A ′, B ′, and C ′ with a straight line, so that each of the 500 images E is contoured. A cutting process with high positional accuracy can be performed.

  Next, proceeding to step S253, the correction operation H2 is executed. This correction operation H2 is the same as the above-described correction operation H1. When the correction operation H2 is executed, the left / right correction magnification Y5 and the front / rear correction magnification at the position where the print medium 8 is fed forward by the amount of the image group 8E. X5 is calculated. For example, the pressing state of the pinch roller 15 is slightly different between the front end portion of the print medium 8 and the position where the print medium 8 is fed forward by the amount of the image group 8E (in the correction operation H1 and the correction operation H2). In this case, the difference in the pressed state can be reflected in the front / rear correction magnification X5 and detected. Further, when the image group 8E is shifted to printing after the cut processing for the image group 8E is completed, the connection between the cutting unit 50 and the unit driving device 80 is released, and the printing unit 60 and the unit driving device 80 are connected. However, an error in the left-right direction is likely to occur during such connection and release. Therefore, by executing the correction operation H2 when shifting from the image group 8E to the image group 8F, such an error can be detected and reflected in the left / right correction magnification Y5.

  In step S254, the image group 8F (200 images F) is printed on the print medium 8. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S255, and similarly to step S252, the coordinates of the image F are multiplied by the left / right correction magnification Y5 and the front / rear correction magnification X5 to obtain cut coordinates, and the image group 8F is cut based on the cut coordinates. Apply processing. By doing so, the error between the image group 8E and the image group 8F detected by the correction operation H2 is reflected in the cut processing position of the image group 8F, and the cut processing with ensured positional accuracy is possible.

  Then, it progresses to step S256 and the correction action H3 is performed. This correction operation H3 is also the same as the above-described correction operation H1, and by executing the correction operation H3, the left / right correction magnification Y6 at the position where the print medium 8 is fed forward by the amount corresponding to the image group 8E and the image group 8F. And the front-rear correction magnification X6 is calculated.

  In step S257, the image group 8G (100 images G) is printed on the print medium 8. Subsequently, the process proceeds to step S258, and similarly to step S252, the coordinates of the image G are multiplied by the left / right correction magnification Y6 and the front / rear correction magnification X6 to obtain cut coordinates, and the image group 8G is cut based on the cut coordinates. Apply processing. By doing so, the error between the image group 8F and the image group 8G detected by the correction operation H3 is reflected in the cut processing position of the image group 8G, and the cut processing with the ensured position accuracy becomes possible. In this way, printing and cutting for each of the image groups 8E, 8F, and 8G are completed, and this flow ends.

  As described above, in the print cutting apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied, the left / right correction magnification Y4 and the front / rear correction magnification X4 are set to the image group 8E adjacent to the acquisition position, and the left / right correction magnification Y5 and the front / back correction magnification X5 are set to the acquisition position. Since the left and right correction magnification Y6 and the front and rear correction magnification X6 are reflected in the adjacent image group 8F in the image group 8G adjacent to the acquisition position, for example, a calculation burden (load on the controller 9) is compared with a configuration using register marks. Positional accuracy between the printing position and the cutting position can be ensured while reducing.

  Note that the position of the correction operation is not limited to the position shown in FIG. For example, as shown in FIG. 10, for each of the images E, F, and G, an image group (image groups 8E ′, 8F ′) in which, for example, five columns are arranged in the front and rear is defined as one image group. A configuration in which a correction operation is arranged between the two may be used (partially omitted). FIG. 10 shows a state in which the correction operations H1 to H3 are arranged for the image group 8E ′ and the correction operations H11 and 12 are arranged for the image group 8F ′. With this configuration, errors in each image can be finely reflected in the left / right correction magnification and the front / rear correction magnification, and the positional accuracy between the printing position and the cutting position can be sufficiently secured. Therefore, when it is desired to sufficiently secure the position accuracy, the user can cope with such a setting by increasing the number of correction operations to be arranged.

  Further, for example, as shown in FIG. 11, only one correction operation may be arranged at the front end portion of the image group 8E. For example, in a printing and cutting apparatus in which it is known in advance that the error does not change greatly during printing and cutting, the printing position can be reduced while further reducing the calculation burden on the controller 9 by setting the correction operation H1 in this way. And the position accuracy of the cutting position can be secured.

  The left and right correction magnifications Y4 to 6 and the front and rear correction magnifications X4 to 6 acquired as described above are associated with the type (for example, material) of the print medium 8, the type of the cutter blade 53 (for example, offset value), and the like. 9b. Therefore, when the printing medium 8 is replaced with another material and printing is performed or when the printing blade 8 is replaced with a cutter blade 53 having a different offset value, the left / right correction magnification Y4 and the front / rear correction magnification X4 are set again. It is necessary to acquire and newly memorize. If the left and right correction magnifications Y4 to Y6 and the front and rear correction magnifications X4 to 6 when the same print medium 8 and the cutter blade 53 are previously used are stored, they may be read out without being acquired again.

  In the printing / cutting apparatus 1 to which the present invention is applied, the images can be arranged close to each other without using the registration marks, and therefore, the portion of the print medium 8 that is wasted compared to the configuration using the registration marks. Can be reduced. Further, in the printing / cutting apparatus 1, since it is not necessary to print a registration mark or detect the position of the registration mark, it is possible to improve the working efficiency correspondingly as compared with the method using the registration mark.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the test images 102 to 106 and 107 to 111 are printed at equal intervals to simplify the calculation has been described. However, for example, printing may be performed at different intervals.

  In the above-described embodiment, the setting example has been described in which the printing position data is 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, and 0.3 mm, and is added and shifted by 0.1 mm in accordance with the distance from the test image 102 or the test image 107. The configuration is not limited to this. For example, when it is desired to further improve the cut position accuracy, the print position data of the test image 103 is moved by 0.05 mm, which is half of 0.1 mm, and the print position data for the other test images 104 to 106 is also transferred as described above. It is good to move only half. In this case, a configuration in which about ten test images are printed on the right side of the test image 101 is preferable.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the cutting unit 50 and the printing unit 60 are moved left and right by the unit driving device 80 is illustrated, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, without using the unit driving device 80, the cutting unit 50 and the printing unit 60 may each have a driving device built-in.

  In the above-described embodiment, the external computer 150 provided outside the print cutting apparatus 1 may be connected to the controller 9 so that data and signals can be transmitted and received (see FIG. 4). With this configuration, the user can set the arrangement of images and correction operations in the external computer 150, and the operability is improved. Further, by connecting the external computer 150 to the plurality of print cutting apparatuses 1, it becomes possible to control the plurality of print cutting apparatuses 1 in a centralized manner by the single external computer 150.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the error in both the left and right and front and rear directions is detected is illustrated, but the configuration is not limited to this configuration. For example, in a printing / cutting apparatus in which an error in the front and rear direction is more likely to occur than in the left and right directions, a configuration in which the error in the front and rear is detected and corrected without detecting the left and right errors may be employed. On the other hand, in a printing and cutting apparatus in which the left and right errors are more prominent than before and after, it is also effective to detect and correct only the left and right errors.

  In the above-described embodiment, the case where the square test images 101 to 111 are printed has been described, but the shape of the test image is not limited to this. Since it is only necessary to detect the deviation between the print position of the test image and the cut position with respect to it, for example, a line extending left and right and a line extending front and rear are printed at the position of the test image 101, and a line extending front and rear is A configuration may be adopted in which a plurality of lines are printed side by side, and a plurality of lines extending from side to side are printed side by side.

  In step S203 (S208) and step S205 (S210) of the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the user visually determines is described as an example, but the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which necessary information is detected by a sensor mounted on the cutting carriage 51 and the controller 9 determines based on this detection information.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the front-rear correction magnification X4 is calculated after the calculation of the left-right correction magnification Y4 has been illustrated, but this calculation order may be reversed.

  Further, although the configuration has been described in which the process proceeds to step S207 when the shift amount is smaller than the left / right allowable shift amount Y2 in step S203 in the above-described embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. For example, as shown in FIG. 12, even if the shift direction is detected in step S203 ′ and the shift amount is smaller than the left and right allowable shift amount Y2, the process may proceed to step S204 ′ without proceeding to step S207. In this case, in step S204 ′, contrary to the above, the print position data is added in increments of 0.1 mm, for example, 0.1 mm, 0.2 mm, and 0.3 mm in the direction of deviation of the cut position 102a from the test image 102. Setting to shift is performed. By performing the cutting process based on the cut position data set in this way, it becomes clear that the shift amount in the test image 102 is the smallest. Therefore, the value of “2” in Equation (1) is obtained as “0”, and the left / right correction magnification Y4 = 1 is calculated. Similarly, in step S208 ′, even when the deviation amount is smaller than the front and rear allowable deviation amount X2, the process may proceed to step S209 ′ without proceeding to step S300.

  In the above-described embodiment, the configuration in which the present invention is applied to the print cutting apparatus having the configuration of the single axis medium movement and the single axis unit movement has been described. However, the present invention is applied only to the print cutting apparatus having this configuration. is not. For example, a print cutting apparatus of a type in which a print medium is fixed on a flat bed and the unit is moved biaxially with respect to the print medium, a so-called flat bed type print cutting apparatus, The present invention is applicable.

E, F, G images (desired images, unit image data)
H1, H2, H3 correction operation (data for reference value acquisition operation)
X4, X5, X6 Front / back correction magnification (correction reference value)
Y4, Y5, Y6 Left / right correction magnification (correction reference value)
1 Print cutting device 8 Print media (print media)
8E, 8F, 8G Image group (image data group)
9 Controller (Data storage means)
9a Correction value calculation unit (data generation means)
9b Memory (data generation means)
20 Medium feeding mechanism (medium conveying mechanism)
30 Platen (medium support means)
40a Guide rail 53 Cutter blade (cutting head)
62 Printer head

Claims (2)

Medium support means for supporting a print medium having a planar print surface;
A guide rail extending in the scanning direction opposite to the print surface of the print medium supported by the medium support means;
A printer head that is provided on the guide rail so as to be movable in the scanning direction and that prints on the print surface;
A cutting head which is provided on the guide rail so as to be movable in the scanning direction and cuts the print medium;
A medium transport mechanism that moves the print medium relative to the guide rail in a transport direction orthogonal to the scanning direction;
Print data when printing by the printer head, and data storage means storing cut data when cutting by the cutting head,
Based on the cut data, a desired image is printed on the print surface by combining the operation of moving the printer head in the scanning direction based on the print data and the operation of relatively moving the print medium in the transport direction. A combination of an operation for moving the cutting head in the scanning direction and an operation for relatively moving the print medium in the transport direction, and performing a cutting process corresponding to the desired image,
The data storage means is
Array composition means for arranging the input unit image data in at least one of the scanning direction and the transport direction to compose an image data group;
Reference value acquisition operation data corresponding to an operation for acquiring a correction reference value for performing correction for shifting the cut data in at least one of the directions is upstream of the image data group in the transport direction. Data arrangement means for acquisition operation arranged in correspondence with the data group;
A print cutting apparatus comprising: data generation means for generating the print data and the cut data based on the image data group and the reference value acquisition operation data. A plurality of the image data groups are combined with each other in the transport direction by the arrangement combining means,
The reference value acquisition operation data is arranged in correspondence with each of the plurality of image data groups by the acquisition operation data arrangement means,
2. The print according to claim 1, wherein each cut data in the plurality of image data groups is corrected by using the correction reference value acquired based on the corresponding reference value acquisition operation data. -Cutting device.

Images