JPH01246098A - Plotter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make it possible to eliminate a vibration loss, increase the strength of an installation part of a cutter and a horn, and set the amplitude of ultrasonic wave vibration large by forming the horn and the cutter integrally. CONSTITUTION:A carriage is provided movably in the X-Y direction in the main body of a block, a cone 160 is installed at a vibrator installed at this carriage, and a cutter is freely detachably installed at this cone 160 through a horn 66. Ultrasonic wave vibration is applied to this cutter, and a blade 68 of the cutter is changed in a desired direction, so a sheet material is cut by the blade 68 of this cutter in a desired form. At this time, the cutter is formed integrally with the horn 66. This eliminates a connecting part between the cutter and the horn 66, and the strength of an installation part of the cutter and the horn 66 can be increased. In addition, a positioning means for the cutter is provided at a rear end part of this horn 66, so the direction of the cutter blade 68 and a center axis of rotation can be positioned automatically.

Description

[Detailed Description of the Invention] [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a plotter that automatically moves a pen, cutter, etc. along a predetermined trajectory, and in particular, the present invention relates to a plotter that automatically moves a pen, cutter, etc. along a predetermined trajectory.
This invention relates to a plotter suitable for cutting sheet materials such as FRP.

[Conventional technology]

Conventionally, this type of plotter has a carriage movable in the X-Y directions, and a cutter is detachably attached to the head of the carriage. The movement of the carriage is controlled by a computer, and this movement causes a cutter to cut the sheet material into the desired shape.

However, when cutting difficult-to-cut materials such as CFRP with a cutter, there are problems in that the cutting resistance of the cutting edge is large, productivity is poor, and the durability of the cutting edge is also poor.

For this reason, a plotter was proposed in which the cutter is driven up and down by a reciprocating engine, and the cutter is moved while cutting while transmitting the reciprocating motion to the cutting edge. According to this plotter,
Since it is possible to cut difficult-to-cut materials by vertically moving the cutting edge, the cutting resistance of the cutting edge can be reduced, and productivity and durability of the cutting edge can be improved.

[Problem that the invention seeks to solve]

However, conventional plotters using reciprocating engines have a problem in that the reciprocating engine has a large weight, making it difficult to control the direction of the cutter and limiting the cutting shape.

Also, it is conceivable to install an ultrasonic vibration unit instead of the reciprocating engine. If an ultrasonic vibration unit is installed, the weight will be lighter compared to a reciprocating engine, and the cutter will apply high-speed minute vibrations, improving cutting efficiency. However, when attaching the cutter used in the ultrasonic vibration unit to the ultrasonic vibrator, it is necessary to position the cutter's cutting edge direction and the rotation center axis, and there is a drawback that it takes a large amount of time to do this positioning.

Further, since the cutter and the horn are screwed together, vibrations are greatly damped, and the strength of the connection is weak.

The present invention has been developed in view of these circumstances, and eliminates the need for positioning time between the direction of the cutter's cutting edge and the center axis of rotation, and also eliminates vibration damping (improving the strength of the cutter and horn stopper attachment part). The purpose is to provide a plotter that can.

[Means for solving problems]

In order to achieve the above object, the plotter according to the present invention has the following features:
A carriage is provided on the plotter body so as to be movable in the X-Y directions, a vibrator is attached to this carriage, a cone is attached to this vibrator, a cutter is detachably attached to this cone via a horn, and ultrasonic waves are applied to the cutter. A plotter capable of applying vibration and changing the cutting edge of the cutter in any direction is characterized in that the cutter and the horn are integrally formed and a means for positioning the cutter is provided at the rear end of the horn.

[Effect]

According to the present invention, since the cutter to which ultrasonic vibrations are transmitted is formed integrally with the horn, there is no connecting part between the cutter and the horn, and the strength can be improved.

Furthermore, when the horn is attached to the vibrator, the direction of the cutting edge and the rotation center axis of the cutter can be automatically positioned, eliminating the need for time for positioning.

〔Example〕

Preferred embodiments of the plotter according to the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 1 shows a plan view of the profter. The plotter 10 has an X-direction guide 16 slidably provided on a Y-direction guide 14.14 on the side of the plotter main body 12, and this X-direction guide 16 is moved in the Y-Y direction by the drive of a motor 18. It is possible.

In FIG. 1, a carriage 20 is slidably attached to the X-direction guide 16, and a head 22 is attached to the carriage 20. The head 22 is movable by an X motor 24 along the longitudinal direction of the X direction guide 16, that is, along the X-x direction.

Further, on the main body 12, a sheet material 23 to be cut is placed
- It is vacuum suctioned to the upper surface 23A of the Y table.

As shown in FIG. 2, this head 22 has an electric micrometer 26 at its left end that measures the thickness of the sheet material 23.
, and an ultrasonic cutter 28 for cutting the sheet material 23
have.

First, an electric micrometer will be explained according to FIG. The main body 26A of the electric micrometer 26 has a probe 28 at its lower end, and is supported by a case 36 so as to be vertically movable. That is, the electric micrometer main body 26A is attached to an abbreviated support piece 32, and this support piece 32 fits into a guide rail 38 attached to the side surface of the case 36. Therefore, the electric micrometer 26 is vertically movable along the guide rail 38. Further, the case 36 has an upper stopper 42 and a lower stopper 44 screwed together at its upper and lower ends so that their positions can be adjusted, and inside thereof,
A solenoid 46 is attached. This solenoid 4
A plunger 48 is disposed at 6 so as to be movable up and down, and a rod 50 is attached to the lower end thereof. As a result, when the solenoid 46 is energized, the rod 50 is moved downward together with the plunger 48. Further, a spring 52 is attached to the upper end of the case 36 and the control plate 34 via bolts 54 and 56. Note that the right end surface of the case 36 in FIG. 3 is attached to the head portion 22.

This causes the electric micrometer 26 to control the solenoid 4.
6 is energized, it moves downward against the biasing force of the spring 52 and touches the tip of the probe 28 to the upper surface 23 of the X-Y table.
Bring it into contact with A. When the solenoid is de-energized, the electric micrometer 26 is pulled upward by the biasing force of the spring 52 and stops at a position where the upper end of the plunger 48 contacts the upper stopper 42.

Next, the ultrasonic cutter 28 will be explained according to FIG. The ultrasonic force gamma ray 28 has an ultrasonic vibration unit 58 approximately in the center, and a slip ring 64 is rotatably provided on the upper part of the ultrasonic vibration unit 58. A cable 60 is connected to the top of the slip ring 64 via a connector 62.
0 is connected to an ultrasonic vibration generator 59 shown in FIG.

Further, a horn 66, which will be described later, is attached to the lower part of the unit 58, and a cutting edge 68 is formed at the lower end of the horn 66. Further, a ring 70 having a spherical outer surface is fixed to the upper outer periphery of the unit 58. This ring 7
0 is slidably held by a receiving portion 74 at the upper end of the cylindrical body 72 and the inner circumferential surface of the nut 76, so that the cutting edge 68 is swingable. On the other hand, the lower part of the ultrasonic vibration unit 58 is held between a leaf spring 78 attached to the inner surface of the cylindrical body 72 and a pressing piece 80 . This pressing piece 80 is the cylindrical body 7
2, the cutting edge 68 can be moved in a single radial direction by an adjustment screw 82 screwed into the lower end of the ring 70.
The position of the cutting edge 68 can be adjusted by swinging the cutting edge 68 as a fulcrum.

Further, the cylindrical body 72 is rotatably supported by a bracket 88 at its upper end and lower end via a bearing 84 and a cam follower 86, respectively, and the bracket 88 is slidably supported by a frame 90 via a guide rail 92. installed on. Note that the left side of the frame 90 is attached to the main body of the head section 22.

Further, in FIG. 4, on the left side of the frame 90, an up-down (hereinafter abbreviated as U/D) motor 92 is attached to the head portion 22 via a substantially U-shaped support plate 94. This U
A cam 98 is attached to the right end of the rotating shaft 96 of the /D motor 92, and a cam follower 100 corresponding to the cam 98 is attached to the bracket 88. On the other hand, a first sensor blade 10 is located approximately at the center of the rotation shaft 96 of the U/D motor 92.
2 is attached to the support plate 94, and a first pair of microsensors 104 corresponding to the first pair of sensor blades 102 are attached to the support plate 94.
is installed. This U/D motor 92 is electrically connected to the control section 17 shown in FIG.

Therefore, when the U/D motor 92 is rotated, the cam 98 rotates and pushes the cam follower 100 upward, so that the ultrasonic cutter 28 moves upward.

Next, when the U/D motor is rotated in the reverse direction, the cam 98 rotates in the reverse direction and escapes from the cam follower 100, causing the ultrasonic cutter 28 to descend. In this way, the first pair of microsensors 104 and the first pair of sensor blades 102
The forward/reverse rotation range of the l/D motor 92 can be controlled.

Further, a θ motor 106 is attached to the upper end of the seventh section 90, a first gear 108 is attached to the rotating shaft of the motor 106, and a second gear 108 is attached to the frame 90 and meshes with the first gear 108. A gear 110 is rotatably supported. Second
As shown in FIG.
One end of 14 is inserted. The other end of this lever 114 is fixed to the upper end of the ultrasonic vibration unit 58.

Further, a second sensor blade 116 is attached to the second gear 110, and a second microsensor 118 is attached to a corresponding position.

As a result, when the θ motor 106 is rotated, the gear 108.
As the ultrasonic cutter 28 rotates via the roller 110, the roller 112, and the lever 114, the direction of the cutting edge 68 changes.

In addition, the second microsensor 118 and the second sensor blade 1
16, it is possible to detect the origin for controlling the rotation of the θ motor 1060.

On the other hand, as shown in FIG.
0 is attached via an oval-shaped support plate 122, and a first pulley 124 is attached to the rotating shaft 123 of the Z motor 120. The first pulley 124 is the second pulley 1
28 and is connected by a belt 130. This second boo! +128 is attached to the upper end of a shaft 126 rotatably supported by the bracket 88, and a third gear 134 is attached to the lower end of the shaft 126. The third gear 134 meshes with the fourth gear 132 and the fourth gear 1
32 is rotatably supported by the bracket 88 and is further screwed into a cylindrical body 136Δ of the blade extension control disk portion 136. Moreover, on the flange 136B of the disk portion 136,
Notches 136C are formed corresponding to the stopper pins 138, 138. This stopper bin 138 is attached to the bracket 88 side.

Additionally, a third sensor blade 14 is provided at the upper end of the disk portion 136.
0 is attached, and a third microsensor 142 is attached at the corresponding position on the bracket 88 side. The rod 144 is slidably supported by the plate 91 on the fixed part 90 side, and a contact piece 146 is provided at the lower end of the rod 144.
is installed. Also, the upper end surfaces of the rods 144 and 144 are in contact with the lower end surface of the disk portion 136, and the rod 144
A spring 148, 148 is mounted near the upper end of the spring.

As a result, when the Z motor 120 is rotated, the belt 130
, the fourth via the shaft 126 and the third gear 134.
Since the gear 132 rotates and moves the disk portion 136 in the vertical direction, the contact piece 146 follows the movement of the disk portion 136 and moves up and down. Furthermore, the X motor 120 is connected to the third microsensor 142 and the third sensor blade 140.
The origin can be detected to control the rotation of.

In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the slip ring 64
An abbreviated lever 152 is attached to the upper end and can fit between a pair of stops 152, 152 attached to the cover of the head section 22 to prevent rotation of the slip ring 64.

A spring 154 is attached between the frame 90 and the bracket 88, and urges the bracket 88 and the ultrasonic cutter 28 upward to reduce their own weight.

By the way, the horn 66 described above is shown in FIGS. 7(A) to (C).
), there is a substantially rectangular protrusion 66A in the center of the rear end.
is formed, and a cylindrical projection 66B is formed on this projection 66A. Further, a screw 66C is formed on the outer periphery, and a cutter 68 is formed at the tip.

On the other hand, as shown in Fig. 4, the cone 160 attached to the unillustrated vibrator of the ultrasonic vibration unit 58 is
A receptacle 9160A is formed into which the protrusion 66A and protrusion 66B formed on the horn 66 are received. Therefore,
The horn 66 is disposed coaxially with the cone 160 at a protrusion 66B, and is disposed while maintaining a predetermined rotational direction with respect to the cone 160 at a protrusion 66Δ. As a result, the horn 66
When attaching the blade to the cone 160, it becomes possible to align the direction of the cutting edge 68 with the rotation center axis. Also, horn 66
and cone 160 are screwed together with a nut 162.

Furthermore, since the cutter 68 is formed integrally with the horn 66, there is no vibration loss, and the rigidity is improved, so the amplitude can be set large, and the horn 66 can be made smaller, so the frequency can be set high. I can do it.

The operation of the plotter according to the present invention constructed as described above will be explained with reference to the plotter diagram in FIG.

First, the cutting shape of the sheet material 23 is input to the control section 17 .

Next, the solenoid 46 is energized, the probe 28 is moved downward and brought into contact with the plate surface 23Δ, and the measured value of the micrometer 26 at this position is read. Furthermore, the measuring element 28 is brought into contact with the upper surface of the sheet material placed on the plate surface 23A to read the measurement value B of the micrometer 26, and the value of B-A, that is, the thickness of the sheet material is sent to the control section 17 as an electrical signal. Sent.

Next, in response to instructions from the control unit 17, the X motor drive circuit 1
78, X motor 24 via Y motor drive circuit 180
, drives the Y motor 18 to move the ultrasonic cutter 28 to the cutting position, and then rotates the Z motor 120 in the forward direction via the Z motor drive circuit 182 to raise the contact piece 146 and cut the cutting edge. 68 is made to protrude from the contact piece 14G by a predetermined length depending on the thickness of the sheet material. Furthermore, the U/D motor 92 is driven to lower the bracket 88 and bring the contact piece 146 into contact with the upper surface of the sheet-like material 23. Electricity is applied to transmit ultrasonic vibrations to the cutting edge 68 via the horn 66. Thereby, the plotter 10 starts cutting the sheet material 23.

Furthermore, when the cutting shape changes from a straight line to a curved line, for example,
In response to instructions from the control unit 17, the Z motor 120 is reversed via the Z motor drive circuit 182 to lower the contact piece 146. As a result, the protruding portion of the cutting edge 68 from the abutting piece 146 becomes shorter.

At the same time, the θ motor 10 is driven through the θ motor drive circuit 186.
6 rotates, the cutting edge rotates by a desired angle and cuts the sheet material 23 in a curved shape.

By the way, when replacing the cutting edge 68, a new horn 66
The direction of the cutting edge 68 and the center axis of rotation can be determined by simply attaching the blade to the cone 160, eliminating the need for positioning time.

When the cutting is completed, the U/D motor 92 is reversely rotated in response to an instruction from the control unit 17, and the ultrasonic cutter 28 is raised.

In the embodiment described above, the positioning of the cutting edge 68 in the direction was performed by the substantially rectangular protrusion 66A, but the present invention is not limited to this, and as shown in FIGS.
0A, and the recess 170Δ may be fitted into a positioning pin 174 fixed to the cone 172 to position the cutting edge 68 in the direction.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As explained above, according to the plotter of the present invention, since the horn and cutter are integrally formed, vibration loss is eliminated and rigidity is improved. As a result, the amplitude of the ultrasonic vibration can be set large, the horn can be made smaller, and the frequency can be set high.

Furthermore, the direction of the cutting edge and the rotation center axis of the cutter can be positioned simply by attaching the horn to the vibrator, eliminating the need for time for positioning.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is an overall plan view of a plotter according to the present invention, FIG. 2 is a front view of a head according to the present invention, FIG. 3 is a sectional view of parts related to an electric micrometer according to the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a diagram according to the present invention. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the ultrasonic power lid-related parts, FIG. 5 is a view taken along arrow A-A in FIG. 4, FIG. 6 is a view taken along arrow B-B in FIG. FIG. 7(B) is a front view of the horn according to the present invention, FIG. 7(C) is a perspective view of the horn according to the present invention, and FIG. 8 is a front view of the horn according to the present invention. FIG. 9(A) is a front view showing another embodiment of the horn according to the present invention, and FIG. 9(B) is a sectional view showing another embodiment of the cone according to the present invention. 10... Plotter, 12... Plotter main body,
20... Carriage, 22... Head,
58... Ultrasonic vibration unit, 66... Horn, 66A, 66B... Protrusion, 68... Cutting edge, 160... Cone, 160A... Receiving part.

Claims (1)

[Claims] A carriage is provided on the plotter body so as to be movable in the X-Y directions, a vibrator is attached to this carriage, a cone is attached to this vibrator, a cutter is detachably attached to this cone via a horn, and ultrasonic waves are applied to the cutter. A plotter capable of applying vibration and changing the cutting edge of a cutter in any direction, characterized in that the cutter and the horn are integrally formed, and a means for positioning the cutter is provided at the rear end of the horn.