JP2013078812A - Pen block and cutting plotter - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To attain the cost reduction of a cutting plotter, and to eliminate a defects caused by the biting and escape of a cutting edge.SOLUTION: A solenoid actuator 32 is used as a lifting mechanism instead of a mechanism using a guide shaft and a moving coil. Furthermore, a casing 31 holding a solenoid coil 321 and a pen holder 33 holding a cutting pen 34 are connected by an upper leaf spring 36 and a lower leaf spring 37 so as to be supported movably along the shaft direction of a movable iron core 322, and the pen holder 33 and one end protruding from the solenoid coil 321 of the movable iron core 322 are connected by a pin 322b to energize the movable iron core 322 in a direction protruding from the solenoid coil 321. Thereby, the lifting of the cutting pen 34 can be attained without depending on turning motion.

Description

  The present invention relates to a pen block and a cutting plotter.

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been known a cutting plotter that selectively cuts and separates a medium in a predetermined shape by moving the cutting pen in a two-dimensional direction relative to a sheet-like medium such as paper or film. It has been.
This cutting plotter is roughly classified into a medium to be cut and a flat bed type. The cut medium drive type is also called “grid roller type”, and the both ends of a sheet-like cutting medium (hereinafter simply referred to as “cutting medium”) are sandwiched between a driving roller and a driven roller (pinch roller). Then, by rotating the drive roller forward and backward, the medium to be cut can be moved in the first direction (X-axis direction) and can be moved in the second direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the first direction. A pen block is mounted on a carriage provided in the head, and the cutting pen held by the pen block is moved in a two-dimensional direction relative to the medium to be cut. On the other hand, the flat bed type slides on a Y bar that is provided so as to be movable in the X-axis direction apart from a flat table (mounting table) on which a medium to be cut is placed. And a carriage provided so as to be movable in the Y-axis direction. By mounting a pen block on the carriage, the cutting pen is moved relatively two-dimensionally with respect to the medium to be cut.
In any of the cutting plotters, the pen block mounted on the carriage includes a mechanism for selectively pressing and separating the held cutting pen with respect to the cutting medium.

Such a pressing / separating operation of the cutting pen in the pen block can be realized by a guide shaft and a moving coil (see, for example, Patent Document 1).
Specifically, a guide shaft provided along a third direction (Z-axis direction) orthogonal to the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and a moving coil having an output shaft that is also movable in the Z-axis direction. The movement of the pen holder that is provided in the pen block and holds the cutting pen is regulated in the Z-axis direction by the guide shaft, and the pen holder and the output shaft of the moving coil are connected to control the output amount of the output shaft. Thus, the pressing / separating operation of the cutting pen can be realized.

  However, since the moving coil is generally expensive, in order to reduce the cost of the cutting plotter, a mechanism (hereinafter referred to as “elevating mechanism”) that realizes a pressure contact / separation operation with respect to the medium to be cut instead of the above-described mechanism. .) Is desired.

In a conventional cutting plotter, a lifting mechanism using a solenoid as shown in FIG. 7A, for example, is employed as a lifting mechanism that replaces the mechanism using a guide shaft and a moving coil.
The elevating mechanism 100 is formed in a substantially L shape, and has a holding member 102 having a holding portion 102a for holding the cutting pen 101 at one end, and extends in the Y-axis direction and is inserted through a bent portion of the holding member 102. The holding member 102 includes a support shaft 102c that rotatably supports the XZ plane, and a solenoid 103 installed in the vicinity of the other end 102b of the holding member 102. 103a is connected to the other end 102b of the holding member 102 at its tip, and is biased toward the other end 102b of the holding member 102 by a spring 104.

  In such an elevating mechanism 100, when the solenoid 103 is energized, the movable iron core 103a is drawn into the solenoid 103 and the holding member 102 rotates counterclockwise around the shaft 102c in FIG. 102a moves to the medium 200 to be cut. As a result, the cutting edge 101a of the cutting pen 101 is brought into pressure contact with the medium to be cut. On the contrary, when the current flowing through the solenoid 103 is turned off, the movable iron core 103a is pulled out from the solenoid 103 by the action of the spring 104. As a result, the holding member 102 rotates clockwise around the shaft 102c in FIG. 7A. Therefore, the holding part 102a is separated from the medium to be cut 200. Thereby, the cutting edge 101a of the cutting pen 101 is separated from the medium to be cut.

Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 8-118892

  However, in the lifting mechanism using the solenoid described above, the blade tip 101a of the cutting pen 101 is brought into pressure contact with the medium to be cut by rotating the holding member 102 around the shaft 102c. was there. That is, the force with which the cutting edge 101a of the cutting pen 101 is brought into pressure contact with the medium to be cut changes as the moment increases or decreases based on the relative movement directions of each cutting pen 101, so that the cutting pen 101 is in pressure contact with the medium to be cut. When the carriage is moved in the X-axis direction with respect to the medium to be cut, when the carriage is moved in the direction from the support shaft 102c toward the holding portion 102b, the blade edge 101a bites into the medium to be cut 200, and vice versa. Since the cutting edge 101a may escape when it is moved to, the cutting pen cannot be moved on the medium to be cut with a uniform pressing force, and the intended cutting may not be performed.

  Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to reduce the cost of the cutting plotter and to solve the above-described problems.

In order to solve the above-described problems, a pen block according to the present invention includes a solenoid actuator having a solenoid coil and a rod-shaped movable iron core inserted into the solenoid coil, and a housing that holds the solenoid coil. A body, a pen holder that holds the cutting pen, a first connecting member that connects the pen holder to the housing and supports the pen holder movably along the axial direction of the movable iron core, and a solenoid coil of the pen holder and the movable iron core The pen holder includes a second connecting member that connects the protruding end and a biasing member that biases the movable iron core in a direction protruding from the solenoid coil, and the pen holder is cut in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the movable iron core. It is characterized by holding a pen.

  In the pen block, the pen holder extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to the base portion on the other side of the plate-shaped base portion, a holding portion that is provided on one side of the base portion and holds the cutting pen, A connecting portion connected to one end of the movable iron core, the first connecting member is a leaf spring for connecting the both ends of the base and the housing, and the second connecting member is a connecting portion. It is good also as a pin which connects one end of a movable iron core.

  The cutting plotter according to the present invention includes a holding mechanism that holds a medium to be cut, a pen block that holds the cutting pen and presses and separates the cutting edge of the cutting pen from the cutting medium, and the pen block to be cut A moving mechanism for moving the pen block in a two-dimensional direction relative to the medium, and selectively moving the cutting edge of the cutting pen while moving the pen block in a two-dimensional manner relative to the medium to be cut A cutting plotter that cuts a medium to be cut into a desired shape by being pressed and separated from each other, and the pen block is composed of the above-described pen block.

According to the present invention, a solenoid actuator is used as an elevating mechanism instead of a mechanism using a guide shaft and a moving coil, and a housing that holds the solenoid coil and a pen holder that holds the cutting pen are provided by the first connecting member. The movable iron core is coupled and supported so as to be movable along the axial direction of the movable iron core, and the pen holder and one end protruding from the solenoid coil of the movable iron core are coupled by the second coupling member, and the movable iron core is separated from the solenoid coil. By urging in the protruding direction, the cutting pen can be raised and lowered without depending on the rotational movement.
Therefore, by using a cheaper solenoid actuator, it is possible to cut costs with a uniform depth while preventing costs due to biting and escape of the cutting edge while reducing costs.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view schematically showing a configuration of a cutting plotter according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the pen block according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a perspective view schematically showing the configuration of the pen block according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4 is an exploded view schematically showing the configuration of the pen block according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the pen block according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the pen block according to the embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 7A is a diagram for explaining the operation of the conventional pen block. FIG. 7B is a diagram for explaining the operation of the conventional pen block.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

<Configuration of cutting plotter>
As shown in FIG. 1, the cutting plotter 1 according to the present embodiment sandwiches both end portions of a medium to be cut 10 between a driving roller 2a and a pinch roller 2b, and rotates the driving roller 2a forward and reverse. A holding mechanism 2 that moves the cutting medium 10 in the first direction (X-axis direction), a pen block 3 that holds the cutting pen 34 and presses and separates the cutting edge of the cutting pen 34 from the cutting medium 10; A moving mechanism 4 for moving the pen block 3 in a two-dimensional direction relative to the medium 10 to be cut by moving the pen block 3 in a second direction (Y-axis direction) orthogonal to the first direction; It has.

≪Configuration of pen block≫
2 to 4, the pen block 3 includes a housing (pen carriage) 31, a solenoid actuator 32 held by the housing 31, and a pin 322 b of the movable iron core 322 of the solenoid actuator 32. A pen holder 33 that is connected and holds the cutting pen 34, a spring 35 that acts as a biasing member that biases the pen holder 33 vertically upward, and an upper plate that connects the upper part of the pen holder 33 and the upper part of the housing 31. A spring 36 and a lower plate spring 37 that connects the lower part of the pen holder 33 and the lower part of the housing 31 are provided.

  The casing 31 has an opening on the upper surface, and a solenoid coil 321 described later is fixed inside the casing 31.

  The solenoid actuator 32 includes a pull-type solenoid actuator including a solenoid coil 321 and a rod-shaped movable iron core 322 inserted into the solenoid coil 321.

  Here, the solenoid coil 321 is configured by a pull-type solenoid coil in which a hole 321a extending along the central axis is formed. As shown in FIG. 4, such a solenoid coil 321 is accommodated inside the main body 32 with the surface on which the hole 321 a is formed facing vertically upward.

  The movable iron core 322 is composed of a magnetic rod-like member, and one end thereof is inserted into the hole 321a of the solenoid coil 321 as shown in FIG. Further, a through hole 322a extending in a direction orthogonal to the axial direction is formed at the other end of the movable iron core 322. A pin 322b for connecting to the pen holder 33 is attached to the through hole 322a.

The pen holder 33 is provided on a plate-like base portion 33a, one surface of the base portion 33a, protrudes along one direction substantially orthogonal to the axis of the base portion 33a, and holds a cutting portion 34, and a base portion 33a. The connecting portion 33c is provided in the vicinity of the end (upper end) of the surface opposite to the surface on which the holding portion 33b is provided, and protrudes along the direction 1, and is integrally formed.
Here, the holding | maintenance part 33b is comprised from two members, and the through-hole along the axial direction of the base 33a is formed by these. A knob 33d is attached to the ends of the two members constituting the holding portion 33b. When the knob 33d is rotated after the cutting pen 34 is inserted into the through-hole of the holding portion 33b, the peripheral surface of the cutting pen 34 is fixed to the two members constituting the holding portion 33b. .
Further, a recess for engaging a pin 322b acting as a connecting member on the lower surface of the connecting portion 33c is opposed to the other end of the movable iron core 33 of the solenoid actuator 32 and is connected to the movable iron core 33. Is formed.

  Such a pen holder 33 is a pin inserted in the movable iron core 322 on the lower surface of the connecting portion 33c in a state where the axis of the base portion 33a is along the vertical direction and the connecting portion 33c is positioned above the holding portion 33b. The movable core 322 is connected by engaging the 322b with the concave portion of the connecting portion 33c.

  The cutting pen 34 is formed in a rod shape, and a blade edge 34a protrudes from one end thereof. As shown in FIG. 4, such a cutting pen 34 is inserted into the holding portion 33b and held by the pen holder 33 by rotating a knob 33d attached to the holding portion 33b.

  The urging member 35 includes a coiled spring, so-called spring. As shown in FIG. 4, such a biasing member 35 is disposed between the solenoid coil 321 and the connection portion 33 c of the pen holder 33 in a state where the movable iron core 322 is inserted. Thereby, the movable iron core 322 is biased in a direction protruding from the solenoid coil 321, that is, vertically upward.

  The upper leaf spring 36 functions as a first connecting member and is made of a metal or other elastically deformable material formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view, and has a central portion formed by a planar shape of the connection portion 33c of the pen holder 33. A slightly larger opening 36a is also formed. Such an upper leaf spring 36 is connected to the movable iron core 322 after connecting the connection portion 33c of the pen holder 33 as described above, and then, as shown in FIGS. Both ends of the side are fixed to the upper surface of the base 33 a of the pen holder 33, and both ends of the other side are fixed to the edge of the upper surface of the housing 31. As a result, the upper end portion of the connection portion 33 c of the pen holder 33 is positioned in the opening 36 a of the upper plate spring 36, so that the upper end portion does not contact the upper plate spring 36. Therefore, even if the pen holder 33 moves in the vertical direction, the movement is not hindered, so that smooth movement can be realized.

  The lower leaf spring 37 functions as a first connecting member and is made of a metal or other elastically deformable material formed in a substantially rectangular shape in plan view. Such a lower leaf spring 37 is connected to the movable iron core 322 after connecting the connecting portion 33c of the pen holder 33 as described above, and then, as shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. Both ends of this side are fixed to the lower surface of the base 33 a of the pen holder 33, and both ends of the other side are fixed to the edge of the bottom surface of the housing 31. As a result, the casing 31 and the pen holder 33 are connected by the lower leaf spring 37. In the present embodiment, the opening 37a is formed at the center of the lower leaf spring 37, but the opening 37a may not be provided.

  Thus, the pen holder 33 is connected to the housing 31 by the upper plate spring 36 and the lower plate spring 37 that function as connecting members, so that the upper end and the lower end of the base 34 a are connected to the housing 31. The movable iron core 322 is movable in the axial direction, that is, in the vertical direction. Therefore, the pen holder 33 holds the cutting pen 34 in a direction parallel to the axial direction of the movable iron core 322.

<Pressing and separating operation>
Next, with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the pressure contact / separation operation of the cutting pen 34 will be described.

  First, as shown in FIG. 1, the pen block 3 having the above-described configuration is attached to the cutting plotter 1 and the cutting medium 10 is held by the holding mechanism 2. From such a state, by appropriately moving the medium 2 to be cut in the X-axis direction by the holding mechanism 2 and the pen block 3 by the moving mechanism 4 in the Y-axis direction, according to the shape of cutting the medium 10 to be cut, The pen block 3 is moved in a two-dimensional direction relative to the cutting medium 10. At this time, the pen block 3 appropriately presses or separates the cutting edge of the cutting pen 34 from the cutting medium 10. This pressure contact or separation is performed as follows.

  When the solenoid coil 321 is not energized, the pen holder 33 is urged by the urging member 35 in a direction protruding from the solenoid coil 321 as shown in FIG. Yes. Therefore, since the cutting pen 34 is also moved vertically upward, when the medium to be cut is arranged vertically below the cutting pen 34, the cutting edge 34a of the cutting pen 34 is in a state of being separated from the medium to be cut.

  When the solenoid coil 321 is energized from such a state, the movable iron core 322 is attracted to the inside of the solenoid coil 321 and thus moves vertically downward. With this movement, the pen holder 33 connected to the movable iron core 322 also moves vertically downward, so that the cutting pen 34 held by the pen holder 33 also moves vertically downward. Thereby, the cutting edge 34a of the cutting pen 34 is pressed against the medium to be cut. At this time, as described above, the cutting pen 34 is supported by the upper plate spring 36 and the lower plate spring 37 so as to be movable in the axial direction of the movable iron core 322, that is, in the vertical direction, and moves only in the vertical direction. Is regulated. Therefore, the cutting edge 34a is pressed perpendicularly to the medium to be cut. Thereby, the malfunction that the blade edge | tip 34a bites into a to-be-cut medium, or slips on the to-be-cut medium can be prevented.

As described above, according to the present embodiment, the solenoid actuator 32 is used as an elevating mechanism that replaces the mechanism using the guide shaft and the moving coil, and the casing 31 that holds the solenoid coil 321 and the cutting pen 34 are also used. The pen holder 33 is held by an upper leaf spring 36 and a lower leaf spring 37 so as to be movable along the axial direction of the movable iron core 322, and protrudes from the solenoid coil 321 of the pen holder 33 and the movable iron core 322. One end of the cutting pen is connected by a pin 322b, and the movable iron core 322 is urged in a direction protruding from the solenoid coil 321, thereby raising and lowering the cutting pen without depending on the rotational movement.
Therefore, the use of a cheaper solenoid actuator can reduce the cost and prevent problems due to the biting or escape of the blade edge.

  In this embodiment, the case where the opening 37a is provided in the lower leaf spring 37 has been described as an example. However, the opening 37a may not be provided. Thereby, since the intensity | strength of the lower leaf | plate spring 37 can be raised, the pen holder 33 can be supported more reliably.

  In this embodiment, the case where a pull-type solenoid is used has been described as an example. However, a push-type solenoid may be used. In this case, if the solenoid hole is arranged so as to face vertically downward, and the pen holder connecting portion is arranged opposite to the hole, the upper leaf spring and the lower leaf spring in the present embodiment are provided. Good.

  Furthermore, the present embodiment will be described by taking a case where it is applied to a cut medium driving type as an example, but it goes without saying that the present embodiment can also be applied to a flat bed type.

  The present invention can be applied to various devices such as a cutting plotter and a printer that move a pen-like object in a planar manner and move it in two time periods.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Cutting plotter, 2 ... Holding mechanism, 2a ... Drive roller, 2b ... Pinch roller, 3 ... Pen block, 4 ... Moving mechanism, 10 ... Cutting medium, 31 ... Body part, 32 ... Solenoid actuator, 321 ... Solenoid coil , 321a ... hole, 322 ... iron core, 322a ... through hole, 322b ... pin, 33 ... pen holder, 33a ... base, 33b ... holding portion, 33c ... connecting portion, 33d ... knob, 34 ... cutting pen, 34a ... blade tip, 35 ... Biasing member, 36... Upper plate spring, 36a... Opening, 36b... Screw, 37.

Claims (3)

A solenoid actuator having a solenoid coil and a rod-shaped movable iron core inserted in the solenoid coil;
A housing for holding the solenoid coil;
A pen holder for holding the cutting pen;
A first connecting member that connects the pen holder to the housing and supports the pen holder so as to be movable along the axial direction of the movable iron core;
A second connecting member that connects the pen holder and one end of the movable iron core protruding from the solenoid coil;
A biasing member that biases the movable iron core in a direction protruding from the solenoid coil;
The pen block, wherein the pen holder holds a cutting pen in a direction parallel to an axial direction of the movable iron core. The pen holder includes a plate-like base portion, a holding portion that is provided on one side of the base portion and holds a cutting pen, and extends on the other side of the base portion in a direction substantially orthogonal to the base portion. A connecting portion connected to one end of the core;
The first connecting member is a leaf spring that connects both ends of the base and the housing, respectively.
The pen block according to claim 1, wherein the second connecting member is a pin that connects the connecting portion and one end of the movable iron core. A holding mechanism for holding the medium to be cut;
A pen block that holds the cutting pen and presses and separates the cutting edge of the cutting pen from the cutting medium;
A moving mechanism for moving the pen block in a two-dimensional direction relative to the cutting medium, and moving the pen block in a two-dimensional manner relative to the cutting medium. A cutting plotter that selectively cuts the cutting edge of a pen into a desired shape by pressing and separating the cutting edge of the pen from the cutting medium;
The pen block according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the pen block is a pen block.