JP2020006553A - Detection method of position detection part - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a detection method of a position detection part which can adequately detect a position of a medium even when a plurality of media are subjected to cutting processing.SOLUTION: A table 21, a register mark detection sensor 25, a moving mechanism 23, and a control device 11 are included. The control device 11 executes: a moving step of moving the register mark detection sensor 25 from a set coordinate on one medium M to the other medium in position detection processing for detecting a register mark 41; a detection operation step of stopping execution of the moving step and executing detection operation of the register mark 41 by the register mark detection sensor 25 when a color difference is detected by the register mark detection sensor 25; a mark determination step of determining that it is the register mark 41 of the other medium M when the color difference is detected by the register mark detection sensor 25 in the detection operation step, and determines that it is not the register mark 41 of the other medium M when the color difference is not detected by the register mark detection sensor 25.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

  The present invention relates to a method of detecting a position detection unit that detects a position detection mark on a medium.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as a cutting device, a print cutting device that prints and cuts a print medium is known (for example, see Patent Document 1). When performing printing and cutting on a print medium, the cutting device detects an image attached to the print medium for detecting the position of the print medium. Then, the cutting device corrects the printing and the cutting processing according to the detected position of the printing medium.

JP 2011-79201 A

  By the way, a plurality of media such as print media to be cut by a cutting device may be installed on a table on which a cutting process is performed. Here, a position detection mark such as a register mark for detecting the position of the medium is attached to the medium, and the position detection mark is detected by a mark detection sensor. The mark detection sensor detects the position detection mark based on a color difference that is a change between the color of the medium itself and the color of the position detection mark. When a plurality of media are arranged on the table, the mark detection sensor moves from one medium to the other media and detects a position detection mark of the other medium. That is, the mark detection sensor moves from one medium through the table to the other medium in that order. At this time, the mark detection sensor detects a color difference between one medium and the table and between the table and the other medium, and in this case, the cutting device erroneously detects that the mark is a position detection mark. Could be done.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a detection method of a position detection unit that can appropriately detect the position of a medium even when performing a cutting process on a plurality of media.

  The detection method of the position detection unit according to the present invention includes: a table in which a plurality of media are arranged at predetermined intervals from each other; a processing head that performs a second process on the media on which the first process has been performed. A mark detection sensor that detects a position detection mark provided on the medium based on the position where the first processing is performed, and the mark across a plurality of the media provided with the position detection mark. A moving mechanism that relatively moves a detection sensor, and a control unit that controls the second processing by the processing head based on the position detection mark detected by the mark detection sensor, wherein the mark detection sensor is Identifying the position detection mark provided with a color different from the color of the medium based on a color difference between the position detection mark and the color of the medium, The position detection mark attached to the first position detection unit is detected by the mark detection sensor being moved by the moving mechanism from one side of the plurality of media in a first direction on the other side. And a second position detection unit that is detected by detecting the first position detection unit and then moving the mark detection sensor in a second direction that intersects the first direction. The mark detection sensor moves from one side of the plurality of media to the other side in the first direction by the moving mechanism, and when the color difference is detected, moves to the second direction and moves to the second direction. A detecting operation for detecting the second position detecting unit is performed, and if the second position detecting unit is not detected, the detecting operation is further performed in the first direction and the second position detecting unit detects the detecting operation. It repeats until it repeats.

  According to this configuration, after the color difference is detected by moving the mark detection sensor in the first direction, the color difference of the second position detection unit is detected by moving the mark detection sensor in the second direction. Whether or not the mark is a position detection mark or a boundary (edge) between a medium and a table other than the position detection mark, for example, can be identified depending on whether the mark is a position detection mark. For this reason, the position detection mark can be identified by detecting the color difference between the first position detection unit and the second position detection unit with the mark detection sensor, so that an inexpensive mark detection sensor for detecting the color difference can be used. .

  Further, in the detection method of the position detection unit, when the movement is performed in the second direction and the second position detection unit is detected, the color difference detected by moving in the first direction is detected by the second direction. It is preferable to determine that the position detection unit is the first position detection unit.

  According to this configuration, the color difference detected by moving in the first direction can be determined to be the first position detection unit.

  In the detection method of the position detection unit, when it is determined that the position detection unit is the first position detection unit, it is preferable that the position detection mark is determined and the origin position of the position detection mark is obtained.

  According to this configuration, since the position detection mark can be appropriately detected based on the determination as the first position detection unit, the origin position of the position detection mark can be reliably detected.

  In the detection method of the position detection unit, it is preferable that a position at which the second processing is performed is determined based on the origin position.

  According to this configuration, by performing the second processing based on the origin position of the position detection mark, it is possible to execute the second processing at an appropriate position.

FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a cutting device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a control function of the cutting device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example of a register mark. FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram related to an example of the medium position detection method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram relating to the register mark detection processing. FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram related to an example of the medium position detection method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 7 is an explanatory diagram related to an example of the medium position detection method according to the present embodiment. FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram relating to an example of the medium position detection method according to the present embodiment.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. Note that the present invention is not limited by the embodiment. The components in the following embodiments include those that can be easily replaced by those skilled in the art, or those that are substantially the same. Further, the components described below can be appropriately combined, and when there are a plurality of embodiments, each embodiment can be combined.

[This embodiment]
The cutting apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment performs printing on a plurality of media M arranged on a table 21 by an inkjet head 24 and forms the plurality of media M into a desired shape by a cutting head (processing head) 22. Is to be cut. The cutting device 1 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  FIG. 1 is a plan view schematically showing a cutting device according to the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a control function of the cutting device according to the present embodiment. The cutting device 1 includes a device main body 10 and a control device 11 that controls the device main body 10. The apparatus body 10 performs a printing process (first process) on the table 21 on which the medium M is arranged, an inkjet head 24 that performs a printing process (first process), and performs a cutting process (second process) on the medium M. It includes a cutting head 22 and a moving mechanism 23 for moving the inkjet head 24 and the cutting head 22. Further, the cutting head 22 is provided with a registration mark detection sensor (mark detection sensor) 25 for detecting a registration mark (position detection mark) 41 described later. In FIG. 1, the vertical direction in FIG. 1 is the Y direction, and the horizontal direction in FIG. 1 orthogonal to the Y direction is the X direction. The Z direction perpendicular to the X direction and the Y direction is the vertical direction.

  The table 21 has a mounting surface whose upper surface is a horizontal flat surface, and a plurality of media M are arranged on the mounting surface at predetermined intervals. This table 21 is a so-called flat bed type. As shown in FIG. 1, for example, the plurality of media M arranged on the table 21 are arranged two by two in the Y direction and the X direction, and a total of four media M are arranged in a lattice.

  The moving mechanism 23 moves the inkjet head 24 and the cutting head 22 in the Y direction, a Y-axis moving mechanism 27 moves the cutting head 22 in the X direction, and moves the cutting head 22 vertically. And a cutter moving mechanism 29. The moving mechanism 23 is connected to the control device 11, and moves the inkjet head 24 and the cutting head 22 in the X direction, the Y direction, and the Z direction by the movement control by the control device 11.

  The inkjet head 24 discharges ink onto the medium M to form a print image on the medium M. As a print image to be formed, there is a register mark 41 for detecting the position of the medium M.

  Although not shown, the cutting head 22 includes a cutter blade that cuts the medium M, a cutter holder that holds the cutter blade, and a cutter driving unit that rotates the cutter blade with the Z direction as the rotation axis. are doing. The cutting head 22 cuts the medium M while rotating a cutter blade by a cutter driving unit.

  The registration mark detection sensor 25 is configured by an optical sensor or the like including a light emitting element and a light receiving element, and detects a color. The registration mark detection sensor 25 is connected to the control device 11, and the control device 11 digitizes the color detected by the registration mark detection sensor 25, and detects a change in the digitized color as a color difference. Then, the control device 11 detects the registration mark 41 attached to the medium M based on the detected color difference.

  The control device 11 is connected to the device main body 10 and controls the device main body 10 as a whole. The control device 11 includes a control unit 31 that can execute various processes, a storage unit 32 that stores various programs and various data, an input unit 33 including an input device such as a keyboard, and a display device such as a monitor. And an output unit 34. Note that the control device 11 may be separate from the device main body 10, or a part or all of the control device 11 may be integrated with the device main body 10, and the device configuration is not particularly limited.

  The storage unit 32 stores data used to detect the position of the medium M set on the table 21. Examples of the data include data on the shape (type) of the register mark 41, data on the size of the register mark 41, and the like. Further, as the data, data used for performing a cutting process of the medium M is stored. As the data, for example, there is cutting data for cutting the medium M into a predetermined cutting shape. Further, the storage unit 32 stores a program for performing a cutting process of the medium M, a program for detecting the registration marks 41, and the like.

  Here, the plurality of media M subjected to the printing process and the cutting process by the cutting device 1 are collected from the table 21 after the printing process is performed, and may be placed again on the table 21 during the cutting process. is there. For example, when another process is performed between the printing process and the cutting process, the plurality of media M are collected from the table 21. As other processing, for example, there is a laminating processing of coating a printed image on the medium M with a laminating film. In this case, since the positions of the plurality of media M at the time of the printing process are different from the positions of the plurality of media M at the time of the cutting process, the cutting apparatus 1 detects the position of the medium M during the printing process. In, the registration marks 41 are printed on a plurality of media M together with the print image.

  When rearranging the plurality of media M on which the register marks 41 are printed on the table 21 in order to perform the cutting process, the operator cuts the print image of the medium M printed in the print process and the cut image in the cutting process. The cut shape of the medium M is matched. Specifically, when performing cutting processing on the medium M that has been previously printed, the operator operates the input unit 33 of the cutting device 1 to set the arrangement pattern of the medium M during the previous printing processing. Then, the output unit 34 of the cutting device 1 displays the arrangement pattern of the medium M and the print image printed on the medium M. The operator operates the plurality of media M based on the arrangement pattern of the medium M and the orientation of the print image of the medium M displayed on the output unit 34 such that the arrangement pattern of the medium M and the orientation of the print image of the medium M match. Rearrange. Accordingly, the print image of the medium M printed in the print processing matches the cut shape of the medium M cut in the cutting processing.

  Next, the register mark 41 attached to the medium M will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 is a plan view illustrating an example of a register mark. The medium M is formed in a square shape in plan view, and the registration marks 41 are provided at four corners of the medium M, respectively. The registration marks 41 are printed by the inkjet head 24 of the cutting apparatus 1 so that the registration marks 41 are located at the same position on a plurality of media M having the same size. For example, three types of register marks 41 are prepared. A square register mark 41a shown in FIG. 3A and an L-shaped register mark shown in FIG. There are an L-shaped register mark 41c and an L-shaped register mark 41c whose both end portions are directed inward from the corners as shown in FIG. Although the register mark 41a shown in FIG. 3A is shown as a white frame-shaped square, it is actually a black register mark 41a as shown in FIG. I have. The registration mark 41a is a position detection point Oa where the intersection of the diagonal lines is the origin position. The registration marks 41b and 41c are position detection points Ob and Oc where the bending points of the corners are the origin positions. The registration marks 41 are printed by the inkjet head 24 before the position detection is performed, so that the registration marks 41 are provided on the medium M.

  As shown in FIG. 1, when a plurality of media M are subjected to cutting processing in the above-described cutting device 1, for example, cutting is performed in the order of the lower left media M 1, the upper left media M 2, the lower right media M 3, and the upper right media M 4. Execute the process. Further, the cutting device 1 detects the position of each medium M before executing the cutting process.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 4 to FIG. 8, a description will be given of the operation of detecting the position of the medium M and controlling the cutting process by the cutting device 1. FIGS. 4, 6 to 8 are explanatory diagrams relating to an example of the method for detecting the position of a medium according to the present embodiment. FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram relating to the register mark detection processing.

  FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the position detection and cutting processing of the first medium M1. The cutting device 1 sets the registration mark detection sensor 25 to a position facing the registration mark 41 of the medium M1 by the operation of the control device 11 by the operator. That is, the registration mark detection sensor 25 is moved to a position where the registration mark 41 can be detected by the operator. The register mark 41 on which the register mark detection sensor 25 is set is, for example, the register mark 41 attached to the lower left of the first medium M1. Then, the cutting device 1 executes a registration mark detection process S11 for detecting the registration mark 41 at the lower left.

  Here, the registration mark detection processing S11 will be described with reference to FIG. In the registration mark detection process S11, the operation of the registration mark detection sensor 25 is different depending on the type of the registration mark 41.

  As shown in FIG. 5A, in the register mark detection process S11a for the square register mark 41a, the operator operates the control device 11 to move the register mark detection sensor 25 to the outside of the register mark 41a in the Y direction (FIG. On the lower side). Thereafter, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the first direction (Y direction) (step S101). The registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through two sides (first position detection unit) 41a1 of the registration mark 41a facing in the Y direction. Then, the control device 11 detects a color difference from a change in color between the medium M and the register mark 41a. Thereafter, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the direction opposite to the movement in the Y direction in step S101, and stops between the two sides 41a1 in the Y direction (step S102). That is, in step S102, since the registration mark detection sensor 25 is positioned outside the registration mark 41a due to the movement of step S101, the registration mark detection sensor 25 is moved in the Y direction in step S101 so as to be inside the registration mark 41a. Move in the opposite direction. Subsequently, after executing step S102, the control device 11 moves the register mark detection sensor 25 to one side (the left side in FIG. 5) in the second direction (X direction) (step S103). The registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through one side (second position detection unit) 41a2 of the two sides of the registration mark 41a opposed in the X direction. Then, the control device 11 detects the color difference from the color change between the medium M and the register mark 41a, and acquires the coordinates of the position where the color difference is detected. Thereafter, after executing step S103, the control device 11 moves the register mark detection sensor 25 to the other side (the right side in FIG. 5) in the second direction (X direction) (step S104). The registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through the other side (second position detection unit) 41a2 of the two sides of the registration mark 41a opposed in the X direction. Then, the control device 11 detects a color difference from a change in color between the medium M and the register mark 41a. Then, the control device 11 acquires the midpoint of the two sides 41a1 facing each other in the Y direction from the coordinates of the positions of the two sides 41a1 for which the color difference has been detected in step S101. Further, the control device 11 acquires the midpoint of the two sides 41a2 facing each other in the X direction from the coordinates of the positions of the two sides 41a2 for which the color difference has been detected in steps S103 and S104. Thereafter, the control device 11 determines the point at which the straight line in the X direction including the midpoint of the two sides 41a1 facing in the Y direction and the straight line in the Y direction including the midpoint of the two sides 41a2 facing in the X direction intersect. , The position detection point Oa of the register mark 41a.

  As shown in FIG. 5B, in the register mark detection processing S11b in which both ends are L-shaped register marks 41b extending outward from the corners, the register mark detection sensor 25 is activated by the operator operating the control device 11. , Outside the register mark 41b in the Y direction (the lower side in FIG. 5). Thereafter, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the first direction (Y direction) (step S111). The registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through one side (first position detection unit) 41b1 of the registration mark 41b extending in the X direction. Then, the control device 11 detects a color difference from a change in color between the medium M and the register mark 41b, and acquires coordinates of a position where the color difference is detected. When detecting the color difference, the control device 11 stops the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25, and moves and stops the registration mark detection sensor 25 to the coordinates where the color difference is detected (step S112). Then, from the coordinates at which the color difference has been detected, the control device 11 controls the registration mark detection sensor 25 by the distance required to detect one side (second position detection unit) 41b2 extending in the Y direction of the registration mark 41b, by stepping. It is moved in the Y direction opposite to S111 and stopped (step S113). Here, the distance required to detect one side 41b2 of the register mark 41b is, for example, a half distance of the register mark size, specifically, a half distance of the length of one side 41b2 of the register mark 41b. At this time, in step S113, the moving speed of the register mark detection sensor 25 after step S113 is slower than the moving speed of the register mark detection sensor 25 in step S111 so as not to move excessively beyond one side 41b2 of the register mark 41b. May be. Since the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the Y direction in step S112 is the same as the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the Y direction in step S113, the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 is not stopped in step S112. Alternatively, the movement between step S112 and step S113 may be performed continuously. Subsequently, after executing step S113, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the second direction (X direction) toward one side (second position detection unit) 41b2 of the registration mark 41b (step S113). S114). The registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through one side 41b2 of the registration mark 41b extending in the Y direction. Then, the control device 11 detects a color difference from a change in color between the medium M and the register mark 41b, and acquires coordinates of a position where the color difference is detected. Then, the control device 11 determines the position detection point Ob of the register mark 41b based on the coordinates detected in step S111, the coordinates detected in step S114, the register mark size of the register mark 41b, and the shape (type) of the register mark 41b. Calculate and obtain.

  As shown in FIG. 5C, in the registration mark detection processing S11c in which both ends are L-shaped registration marks 41c directed inward from the corners, the registration mark detection sensor 25 is activated by the operator operating the control device 11. , Outside the register mark 41c in the Y direction (the lower side in FIG. 5). Thereafter, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the first direction (Y direction) (step S121). The registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through one side (first position detection unit) 41c1 of the registration mark 41c extending in the X direction. Then, the control device 11 detects a color difference from a change in color between the medium M and the register mark 41c, and acquires coordinates of a position where the color difference is detected. When detecting the color difference, the control device 11 stops the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25, and moves and stops the registration mark detection sensor 25 to the coordinates where the color difference is detected (Step S122). Then, from the coordinates at which the color difference has been detected, the control device 11 controls the registration mark detection sensor 25 by a distance necessary to detect one side (second position detection unit) 41c2 extending in the Y direction of the registration mark 41c, by stepping. It is moved and stopped in the Y direction, which is the same direction as S121 (step S123). Here, the distance required to detect one side 41c2 of the register mark 41c is, for example, a half distance of the register mark size, specifically, a half distance of the length of one side 41c2 of the register mark 41c. At this time, in step S123, the moving speed of the register mark detecting sensor 25 after step S123 is slower than the moving speed of the register mark detecting sensor 25 in step S121 so that the register mark 41c does not move beyond the one side 41c2. May be. Subsequently, after execution of step S123, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the second direction (X direction) toward one side (second position detection unit) 41c2 of the registration mark 41c (step S123). S124). Note that in step S124, the movement in the X direction in step S114 is in the opposite direction. The registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through one side 41c2 of the registration mark 41c extending in the Y direction. Then, the control device 11 detects a color difference from a change in color between the medium M and the register mark 41c, and acquires coordinates of a position where the color difference is detected. Then, the control device 11 determines the position detection point Oc of the register mark 41c based on the coordinates detected in step S121, the coordinates detected in step S124, the register mark size of the register mark 41c, and the shape (type) of the register mark 41c. Calculate and obtain.

  In FIG. 5, the case where the registration mark 41 at the lower left of the medium M is detected has been described. However, regarding the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the X direction and the Y direction, the position of the registration mark 41, the posture (direction) of the registration mark 41, or It changes appropriately according to the order of detecting the registration marks 41 and the like.

  After executing the registration mark detection processing S11 for detecting the lower left registration mark 41 of the medium M1, the cutting apparatus 1 detects the other registration marks 41 with reference to the position detection points Oa, Ob, and Oc of the lower left registration mark 41. Execute S12. Here, the positional relationship between the four registration marks 41 is a positional relationship that is known in advance, and is, for example, a positional relationship defined according to the size of the medium M on which the cutting process is performed. Therefore, in the registration mark detection processing S12, the other three registration marks 41 are detected based on the positional relationship between the four registration marks 41 with reference to the position detection points Oa, Ob, and Oc of the lower left registration mark 41. In the registration mark detection process S12, the position of the registration mark 41 is detected in the order of the upper left registration mark 41, the upper right registration mark 41, and the lower right registration mark 41. Note that the registration mark detection processing of each registration mark 41 is substantially the same as the registration mark detection processing S11 shown in FIG. 5, and the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the X direction and the Y direction only changes appropriately, so that the description is omitted. . Thus, the cutting device 1 detects the position of the first medium M1.

  After executing the position detection of the first medium M1, the cutting apparatus 1 determines the position where the cutting process is to be performed based on the detected position detection points Oa, Ob, and Oc of the register mark 41, and executes the cutting process (step). S13). In the cutting process, the medium M1 is cut by moving the cutting head 22 by the moving mechanism 23 based on the cutting data stored in the storage unit 32 of the control device 11 generated in advance. After the execution of the medium M1 cutting process, the cutting device 1 executes the position detection of the second medium M2.

  FIG. 6 is a diagram illustrating position detection of the second medium M2. The cutting device 1 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 to the preset coordinates on the first medium M1 (step S21). The set coordinates are the coordinates of the start position when the movement of the position detection of the second medium M2 is executed. As the set coordinates, for example, a position on the outer side in the Y direction (upper side in FIG. 6) with respect to the upper left registration mark 41 of the first medium M1, which is closest to the lower left registration mark 41 of the second medium M2. . Then, the cutting apparatus 1 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the Y direction from the set coordinates toward the second medium M2 (Step S22: moving step). When the registration mark detection sensor 25 is moved in the Y direction, the registration mark detection sensor 25 moves from the first medium M1 via the table 21 to the second medium M2.

  Here, the registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through the boundary between the first medium M1 and the table 21. Then, the control device 11 detects the color difference from the color change between the medium M1 and the table 21, and acquires the coordinates of the position where the color difference is detected. When detecting the color difference, the control device 11 executes a step of stopping the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the Y direction (movement stop step). After executing the movement stop step, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 to the coordinates where the color difference is detected. Then, the control device 11 executes a step (detection operation step) of detecting the registration mark 41 by the registration mark detection sensor 25 from the coordinates at which the color difference is detected.

  In the detection operation step, steps similar to steps S102 (S113, S123) and steps S103, S104 (S114, S124) shown in FIG. 5 are executed. That is, in the detection operation step, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the first direction (Y direction) by a distance necessary for detecting the registration mark 41 from the coordinates where the color difference is detected. Thereafter, after moving in the Y direction, the control device 11 moves the register mark detection sensor 25 in the second direction (X direction).

  When the detection of the color difference by the registration mark detection sensor 25 is performed as a result of executing the detection operation step, the control device 11 determines that the registration mark 41 is the registration mark 41 of the second medium M2, while detecting the color difference by the registration mark detection sensor 25. When there is no mark, a step of determining that the mark is not the register mark 41 of the second medium M2 (register mark determining step) is executed. At this time, the control device 11 determines that it is not the registration mark 41 because there is no color difference detection due to the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the X direction at the boundary between the medium M1 and the table 21 (step S23). If the control device 11 determines in the registration mark determination step that the registration mark is not the registration mark 41, the control device 11 resumes the execution of the moving step of step S21 (step S24). That is, the control device 11 repeatedly executes the detection operation step and the registration mark determination step until the registration mark 41 is detected.

  Subsequently, the register mark detection sensor 25 passes through the boundary between the table 21 and the second medium M2. Then, the control device 11 detects a color difference from a change in color between the table 21 and the medium M2, and acquires coordinates of a position where the color difference is detected. When detecting the color difference, the control device 11 stops the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the Y direction (movement stop step). After executing the movement stop step, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 to the coordinates where the color difference is detected. Then, the control device 11 executes the detection operation of the registration mark 41 by the registration mark detection sensor 25 from the coordinates at which the color difference is detected (detection operation step).

  As a result of executing the detection operation step and the registration mark determination step, the control device 11 determines that the registration mark is not the registration mark 41 because no color difference is detected at the boundary between the table 21 and the medium M2 (step S25). When the control device 11 determines in the registration mark determination step that the registration mark is not the registration mark 41, the control device 11 resumes the execution of the moving step of step S21 (step S26).

  Subsequently, the registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through the registration mark 41 on the second medium M2. Then, the control device 11 detects the color difference from the color change between the medium M2 and the register mark 41, and acquires the coordinates of the position where the color difference is detected. When detecting the color difference, the control device 11 stops the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the Y direction (movement stop step). After executing the movement stop step, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 to the coordinates where the color difference is detected. Then, the control device 11 executes the detection operation of the registration mark 41 by the registration mark detection sensor 25 from the coordinates at which the color difference is detected (detection operation step).

  As a result of executing the detection operation step and the registration mark determination step, the control device 11 detects a color difference at the registration mark 41 on the second medium M2. It is determined that it is one side (second position detecting unit) 41a2 extending in the direction. When detecting one side (second position detection unit) 41a2 extending in the Y direction, the control device 11 moves the detected color difference in the Y direction to one side (first position) extending in the X direction. It is determined that the position detection unit 41a1. If the control device 11 determines that the side 41a1 extends in the X direction (the first position detection unit) 41a1, it has one side 41a1 extending in the X direction and one side 41a2 extending in the Y direction. It is determined that the registration mark 41 is present (step S27). Then, the control device 11 calculates the position detection points Oa, Ob, and Oc of the registration marks 41 of the second medium M2, and acquires them as the detection coordinates. Thereafter, the control device 11 acquires a positional relationship between the set coordinates of the first medium M1 and the detected coordinates of the second medium M2 (a positional relationship acquiring step).

  After detecting the registration mark 41 at the lower left of the second medium M2, the cutting device 1 executes a registration mark detection process for detecting another registration mark 41 with reference to the position detection points Oa, Ob, and Oc of the registration mark 41 at the lower left. I do. The registration mark detection processing for detecting the other registration marks 41 is the same as the registration mark detection processing S12 shown in FIG. Thus, the cutting device 1 detects the position of the second medium M2. Then, after executing the position detection of the second medium M2, the cutting device 1 determines the position to be subjected to the cutting process based on the detected position detection points Oa, Ob, and Oc of the register mark 41, and executes the cutting process. . After executing the medium M2 cutting process, the cutting device 1 executes the position detection of the third medium M3.

  FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating position detection of the third medium M3. The cutting device 1 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 to a preset coordinate on the second medium M2 (step S31). As the set coordinates, for example, a position on the outer side in the X direction (the right side in FIG. 7) with respect to the lower right registration mark 41 of the first medium M1 which is closest to the lower left registration mark 41 of the third medium M3 is there. Then, the cutting device 1 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the first direction (X direction) from the set coordinates toward the third medium M3 (Step S32: moving step). When the registration mark detection sensor 25 is moved in the X direction, the registration mark detection sensor 25 moves from the first medium M1 via the table 21 to the third medium M3.

  Here, the registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through the boundary between the first medium M1 and the table 21. Then, the control device 11 detects the color difference from the color change between the medium M1 and the table 21, and acquires the coordinates of the position where the color difference is detected. When detecting the color difference, the control device 11 executes a step of stopping the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the X direction (movement stop step). After executing the movement stop step, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 to the coordinates where the color difference is detected. Then, the control device 11 executes a step (detection operation step) of detecting the registration mark 41 by the registration mark detection sensor 25 from the coordinates at which the color difference is detected.

  The detection operation step is almost the same as steps S102 (S113, S123) and steps S103, S104 (S114, S124) shown in FIG. 5, but the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the X direction and the Y direction Movement according to the posture of the user. Then, in the detection operation step, the control device 11 appropriately moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the X direction and the Y direction from the coordinates where the color difference is detected.

  As a result of executing the detection operation step and the registration mark determination step, the control device 11 determines that the color difference is not detected at the boundary between the medium M1 and the table 21 (step S33). If the control device 11 determines in the registration mark determination step that the registration mark is not the registration mark 41, the control device 11 resumes the execution of the movement step of step S31 (step S34).

  Subsequently, the registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through the boundary between the table 21 and the third medium M3. Then, the control device 11 detects a color difference from a change in color between the table 21 and the medium M3, and acquires coordinates of a position where the color difference is detected. When detecting the color difference, the control device 11 stops the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the X direction (movement stop step). After executing the movement stop step, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 to the coordinates where the color difference is detected. Then, the control device 11 executes the detection operation of the registration mark 41 by the registration mark detection sensor 25 from the coordinates at which the color difference is detected (detection operation step).

  As a result of executing the detection operation step and the registration mark determination step, the control device 11 determines that the registration mark 41 is not the registration mark 41 because no color difference is detected at the boundary between the table 21 and the medium M3 (step S35). If the control device 11 determines in the registration mark determination step that the registration mark is not the registration mark 41, the control device 11 resumes the execution of the moving step of step S31 (step S36).

  Subsequently, the registration mark detection sensor 25 passes through the registration mark 41 on the third medium M3. Then, the control device 11 detects the color difference from the color change between the medium M3 and the register mark 41, and acquires the coordinates of the position where the color difference is detected. When detecting the color difference, the control device 11 stops the movement of the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the X direction (movement stop step). After executing the movement stop step, the control device 11 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 to the coordinates where the color difference is detected. Then, the control device 11 executes the detection operation of the registration mark 41 by the registration mark detection sensor 25 from the coordinates at which the color difference is detected (detection operation step).

  As a result of executing the detection operation step and the registration mark determination step, the control device 11 determines that the registration mark 41 is the registration mark 41 because a color difference is detected in the registration mark 41 on the third medium M2 (step S37). Then, the control device 11 calculates and acquires the position detection points Oa, Ob, and Oc of the registration marks 41 of the third medium M3.

  After detecting the lower left register mark 41 of the third medium M3, the cutting device 1 executes a register mark detection process of detecting another register mark 41 based on the position detection points Oa, Ob, and Oc of the lower left register mark 41. I do. The registration mark detection processing for detecting the other registration marks 41 is the same as the above-described registration mark detection processing S12, and thus the description thereof is omitted. Thus, the cutting device 1 detects the position of the third medium M3. Then, after executing the position detection of the third medium M3, the cutting device 1 determines the position where the cutting process is to be performed based on the detected position detection points Oa, Ob, and Oc of the register mark 41, and executes the cutting process. . After the execution of the medium M3 cutting process, the cutting device 1 executes the position detection of the fourth medium M4.

  FIG. 8 is a diagram illustrating position detection of the fourth medium M4. The cutting device 1 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 to the preset coordinates on the third medium M3 (step S41). The set coordinates are, for example, a position on the outer side (upper side in FIG. 8) in the Y direction with respect to the upper left registration mark 41 of the third medium M3, which is closest to the lower left registration mark 41 of the fourth medium M4. . Then, the cutting apparatus 1 moves the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the Y direction from the set coordinates toward the fourth medium M4 (step S42: skip moving step). At this time, the cutting device 1 determines that the positional relationship between the first medium M1 and the second medium M2 and the positional relationship between the third medium M3 and the fourth medium M4 are the same. It is known in advance that there is. That is, in the cutting apparatus 1, the arrangement pattern of the media M arranged on the table 21 is set in advance by the operator. Further, the positions of the four registration marks 41 attached to the third medium M3 and the fourth medium M4 are the same. Therefore, in step S42, the register mark detection sensor 25 is skipped in the Y direction based on the positional relationship acquired in the positional relationship acquiring step. That is, by performing the skipping movement in step S42, the detection of the color difference between the medium M3 and the table 21 and the detection of the color difference between the table 21 and the medium M4 by the registration mark detection sensor 25 are omitted. Then, the register mark detection sensor 25 that has skipped is set to a position facing the register mark 41 at the lower left of the medium M4.

  After the execution of the skipping movement step S42, the cutting apparatus 1 executes the register mark detection processing S11 in FIG. The control device 11 executes the registration mark detection process S11 to detect the registration mark 41 at the lower left of the fourth medium M4.

  After detecting the registration mark 41 at the lower left of the fourth medium M4, the cutting device 1 executes a registration mark detection process for detecting another registration mark 41 based on the position detection points Oa, Ob, and Oc of the registration mark 41 at the lower left. I do. The registration mark detection processing for detecting the other registration marks 41 is the same as the registration mark detection processing S12 in FIG. Thus, the cutting device 1 detects the position of the fourth medium M4. Then, after executing the position detection of the fourth medium M4, the cutting device 1 determines the position to be subjected to the cutting process based on the detected position detection points Oa, Ob, and Oc of the register mark 41, and executes the cutting process. . Thereafter, the cutting device 1 completes the cutting process on the fourth medium M4, thereby completing the cutting process on the four media M.

  As described above, when detecting the positions of the plurality of media M, the cutting device 1 detects the registration marks 41 at the same position (for example, the lower left), and detects other registration marks 41 with reference to the registration marks 41. .

  As described above, according to the present embodiment, for example, during the execution of the moving step S22 from the first medium M1 to the second medium M2, the color difference is obtained by moving the registration mark detection sensor 25 in the Y direction. Is detected, the registration mark 41 is moved in the X direction to determine whether or not the color difference is detected. That is, even when the registration mark detection sensor 25 that moves in the Y direction detects a color difference at the boundary (edge) between the table 21 and the media M1 and M2, the detection operation step and the registration mark determination step are performed. It can be determined that it is not the registration mark 41. Therefore, even when a color difference is detected by the register mark detection sensor 25 during the execution of the moving steps S22 and S32, erroneous detection of the register mark 41 can be suppressed, and thus the register mark 41 can be appropriately detected. This makes it possible to appropriately detect the position of the medium M. Further, since the register mark detection sensor 25 detects the color difference between one side 41a1, 41b1, 41c1 of the register mark 41 and the other side 41a2, 41b2, 41c2 of the register mark 41, the register mark 41 can be identified. An inexpensive register mark detection sensor 25 can be used.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the execution of the moving steps S22 and S32 can be resumed after it is determined that the position is not the registration mark 41 in the registration mark determination step. Therefore, when the registration mark 41 is not detected, the cutting device 1 can continuously detect the registration mark 41.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, the registration mark detection sensor 25 is moved (returned) to the coordinates where the color difference is detected, and then the registration mark detection sensor 25 is moved based on the coordinates where the color difference is detected to detect the registration mark. The detection operation by the sensor 25 can be executed. Therefore, the cutting device 1 can appropriately detect the registration marks 41.

  Further, according to the present embodiment, for example, in the movement from the third medium M3 to the fourth medium M4, the fourth medium M3 is set to the fourth medium M3 based on the positional relationship. The registration mark detection sensor 25 can be moved toward the registration mark 41 of the medium M. For this reason, since the registration mark detection sensor 25 can be quickly moved toward the registration mark 41 of the fourth medium M, work efficiency related to position detection can be improved.

  In the present embodiment, the registration mark detection process is performed after the skip movement step S42 from the third medium M3 to the fourth medium M4. At this time, if the registration mark 41 cannot be detected, The process from step S21 to step S27 in FIG. 6 may be applied to the detection of the register mark 41 of the fourth medium M4 and executed.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the description has been given by applying the present invention to the cutting apparatus 1 that performs the printing process and the cutting process. However, the present embodiment may be applied to a cutting device that performs only the cutting process. The cutting device that performs only the cutting process is a device having a configuration in which the ink jet head 24 of the present embodiment is omitted, and the medium M to which the registration marks 41 are attached in advance is arranged on the table 21. Also in such a cutting apparatus, the operator sets the plurality of media M on the table 21 so that the print image of the medium M printed in the print process matches the cut shape of the medium M cut in the cut process. To place.

  Further, in the present embodiment, four media M1 to M4 have been described as examples, but the number of media M is not particularly limited.

  Further, in the present embodiment, after performing the position detection processing of one medium M, the cutting processing of one medium M is executed, and the cutting processing for a plurality of media M is executed by repeating these processings. did. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration, and the cutting process on a plurality of media M may be executed by sequentially executing the cutting process on the media M after performing the position detection process on all the media M.

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Cutting device 10 Device main body 11 Control device 21 Table 22 Cutting head 23 Moving mechanism 24 Ink jet head 25 Mark detection sensor 27 Y-axis moving mechanism 28 X-axis moving mechanism 29 Cutter moving mechanism 31 Control part 32 Storage part 33 Input part 34 Output part 41 Dragonfly M Media

Claims (4)

A table in which a plurality of media are arranged at predetermined intervals from each other,
A processing head for performing a second process on the medium on which the first process has been performed;
A mark detection sensor that detects a position detection mark provided on the medium based on the position where the first processing has been performed;
A moving mechanism that relatively moves the mark detection sensor across the plurality of media to which the position detection marks are attached;
A control unit that controls the second processing by the processing head based on the position detection mark detected by the mark detection sensor,
The mark detection sensor identifies the position detection mark given in a color different from the color of the medium based on a color difference between the position detection mark and the color of the medium,
The position detection mark attached to the other medium is
A first position detection unit that is detected by the mark detection sensor moving in a first direction from one side of the plurality of media to the other side by the moving mechanism;
After detecting the first position detection unit, the mark detection sensor has a second position detection unit that is detected by moving in a second direction that intersects the first direction,
The mark detection sensor is moved in the first direction from one side of the plurality of media to the other side by the moving mechanism, and when the color difference is detected, the mark detection sensor is moved in the second direction and the second medium is moved to the second direction. A detection operation for detecting a position detection unit is performed, and if the second position detection unit is not detected, the detection unit further moves in the first direction and performs the detection operation until the second position detection unit is detected. A detection method of a position detection unit, characterized by repeating. The detection method of the position detection unit according to claim 1,
When detecting the second position detection unit by moving in the second direction, determining that the color difference detected by moving in the first direction is the first position detection unit. A feature detection method of the position detection unit. The detection method of the position detection unit according to claim 2,
When it is determined that the position detection unit is the first position detection unit, the position detection mark is determined, and an origin position of the position detection mark is obtained. The detection method of the position detection unit according to claim 3,
A detection method of a position detection unit, wherein a position at which the second process is performed is determined based on the origin position.

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