JPH06126696A - Cutting plotter - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To make accurate plotting and cutting achievable by preventing any uncut part from occurring at the time of using a thick or hard cutting sheet or this cutting sheet under low temperature, and making a cutting edge of a cutting means be hard to be broken even at the time of using the hard cutting sheet, while keeping off any rotation of the cutting edge to be produced by elasticity of the cutting sheet in addition. CONSTITUTION:In a cutting plotter 1, being installed with a cutting means 11 in a lifting mechanism 10 of a carriage 5 traveling on a cutting sheet 9 along a Y rail installed in a base, and performing the desired plotting and cutting on the cutting sheet 9 by the cutting means 11, a hot air generating means 12 is attached to the cutting means 11. In addition, when this cutting means 11 gets traveling in a Z direction, simultaneously hot air is produced there, heating a cutter edge of the cutting means 11 and a local part of the cutting sheet 9 which is thereby softened so that it is surely cut into a desired form.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a cutting plotter provided with a heating means by hot air, more specifically, a cutting sheet is locally softened by the heating means, and the softened portion of the cutting sheet is securely cut by a cutting means. It relates to a cutting plotter for cutting into.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Generally, a cutting plotter draws and cuts a desired character or figure on a cutting sheet using a cutting means under computer control.
Broadly speaking, there is a type (flat bed type) in which a cutting sheet is fixed on a bed of a base using electrostatic attraction means or the like, and the cutting means is moved in the XY directions to draw a cutting line on the cutting sheet. As shown in FIG. 4, the cutting sheet 43 is moved in the X direction by a pair of sheet conveying devices including a grid roller (not shown) arranged on the bed 40 of the base and a pinch roller 42 arranged on the Y rail 41. While being moved, the carriage 44 provided on the Y rail 41 moves the cutting means 45 in the Y direction to divide the cutting sheet 43 into a cutting line (paper move type).

As the cutting sheet 43,
Generally, a sheet or film made of synthetic resin, rubber, paper, or the like is used, and a thermoplastic resin sheet or a sandblasted rubber sheet is often used with a release sheet attached to one side through an adhesive. ..

As the cutting means 45, what is called a cutting pen, which has a shape substantially similar to that of a plotter pen and is provided with a cutter blade having an inclined blade tip, is often used. The cutting pen is detachably attached to the lifting mechanism of the carriage 44 that moves on the cutting sheet 43. As a typical configuration, as shown in FIG. 5, a cutter 52 is rotatably attached to a cutter holder 51 with an offset distance t (distance t from the blade axis of the cutter blade to the blade tip of the cutter blade) by magnetic force. Pen 50 is known. In the figure, 53 is a magnet, 54 is a pivot bearing, 5
5 is a miniature bearing.

An example of the paper move type described above in the cutting plotter which cuts the cutting sheet 43 by the cutting means 45 is shown in FIG.
Will be described in more detail with reference to. The cutting plotter 47 shown in FIG. 4 receives character data or graphic data output from the personal computer 46, moves the carriage 44 in the Y direction along the Y rail 41 provided on the base based on the data, and performs cutting. The pen 50 is moved up and down in the Z direction (vertical direction), and at the same time, cutting is performed by a sheet conveying means including a pinch roller 42 movably attached to the Y rail 41 and a grid roller (not shown) fixedly arranged in the bed 40. Sheet 43 for X
The cutting sheet 43 is moved in the direction, and a character or a figure is drawn on the cutting sheet 43 to cut it. The cutting plotter 47 has a pen pressure of 50 to 200 g and a cutting speed of 20 to 150 mm / sec.

[0006]

By the way, in the cutting operation of the cutting plotter, when a thick or hard cutting sheet is used, the cutting edge of the cutting means cannot cut to a required depth, and the cutting sheet is not cut. May cause uncut material. Further, when a cutting sheet is used in a cold region or the like, the cutting sheet may be hardened from a normal temperature state due to a low temperature, and may be left uncut. Further, when a hard cutting sheet is used, the cutting edge of the cutting means is easily damaged, and the life of the cutting edge is shortened.

Further, in a cutting plotter using an offset cutting pen as shown in FIG. 5 as a cutting means, when the cutting pen is lifted after cutting a curve or arc, the elasticity of the cutting sheet causes the cutting edge of the cutting pen to move. In some cases, the stress applied to the blade causes the blade edge to rotate, resulting in an error between the blade edge position stored in the computer and the actual blade edge position, making it impossible to draw and cut an accurate character or figure.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to prevent uncut portions from occurring when a thick or hard cutting sheet or a cutting sheet is used at low temperature, and To provide a cutting plotter capable of performing accurate drawing cutting by preventing the cutting edge of the cutting means from being damaged even when using a hard cutting sheet, and further preventing rotation of the cutting edge caused by elasticity of the cutting sheet. Especially.

[0009]

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a cutting means in a lifting mechanism of a carriage which moves on a cutting sheet along a Y rail provided on a base. In a cutting plotter that performs desired drawing cutting on a cutting sheet by a cutting means, a cutting edge of the cutting means and a hot air generating means for heating a local portion of the cutting sheet in contact with the cutting edge are provided, and at least the cutting edge of the cutting means is for cutting. It is characterized by generating hot air when it comes into contact with the seat.

[0010]

The cutting plotter of the present invention is provided with hot air generating means for heating the cutting edge of the cutting means and the local portion of the cutting sheet with which the cutting edge is in contact, and generates hot air at least when the cutting edge of the cutting means contacts the cutting sheet. As a result, the cutting sheet locally softens, and even a thick or hard cutting sheet can be reliably cut. Further, the cutting plotter of the present invention softens the cutting sheet by the hot air generating means, weakens the elastic force of the cutting sheet, reduces the stress applied to the cutting edge of the cutting sheet, and occurs when raising the cutting pen. It is possible to prevent rotation of the cutting edge.

[0011]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cutting plotter showing an embodiment of the present invention. The cutting plotter 1 of this embodiment includes an apron 2, a bed 3 and a side cover 4,
4'is a base, and the carriage 5 and the pinch roller 6.6 'are provided between the side covers 4 and 4'.
The rail 7 is mounted, and the bed 3 of the base is further provided with grid rollers 8 and 8 '. In the figure, the cutting sheet 9 is pinched by a pair of two sets of conveying devices composed of grid rollers 8 and 8'and pinch rollers 6 and 6 ', and moves on the bed 3 in the X direction. Carriage 5
Is movably provided along the Y rail 7, and the carriage 5 is provided with an elevating mechanism 10 that moves in the Z direction by a solenoid or the like provided in the carriage. The lifting mechanism 10 is provided with a cutting means 11 and a hot air generating means 12. The cutting plotter 1 has a pen pressure of 50 to 200 g and a cutting speed of 20 to 150 mm / sec.

This embodiment will be described in more detail below with reference to FIG. FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of attachment of the cutting means and the hot air generating means. The cutting means 11 is the cutting pen 50 shown in FIG. 5, and since the configuration thereof is the same as that of the conventional one, the description thereof will be omitted. In the figure cutting pen 50
The body of the cutting pen (cutter holder 51) is held by the cutting pen holder 13, and the cutting pen holder 13 is attached to the lifting mechanism 10 of the carriage 5 by screwing.

The hot air generating means 12 is a gun type heater 14
And a blower fan (not shown) provided in the carriage. The gun type heater 14 has a heating element formed by closely winding a high temperature specification Kanthal wire on a ceramic shaft in a stainless steel outer cylinder 15, and a 60 ° bending nozzle 16 is attached to the tip of the stainless steel outer cylinder. . Further, the lead wires 17, 17 ′ of the heating element and the air supply hose 18 are attached to the rear end of the stainless steel outer cylinder 15. The lead wires 17 and 17 ′ are connected to the terminals 19 and 19 ′ provided on the carriage 5, and the air supply hose 18 is connected to the air outlet 20 provided on the carriage 5. Further, the gun-type heater 14 has its body (stainless steel outer cylinder 15) held by a heater holder 21, and is attached by screwing the heater holder 21 to the cutting pen holder 13 attached to the cutting pen 50. There is.

Next, the operation of this cutting plotter will be briefly described. Based on the image information data given in advance, the cutting sheet moves in the X direction by the sheet conveying device, while the cutting pen moves in the Y direction and the Z direction to form the cutting sheet into a desired shape. Disconnect. In addition, the cutting pen is equipped with a hot air generating means, and at the same time when the cutting pen starts moving in the Z direction, hot air is generated to heat the cutting blade's carter blade and the cutting sheet's local area, and to remove the cutting sheet. Soften to ensure cutting into desired shape. When a vinyl chloride sheet is used as the cutting sheet, the temperature of the hot air is set to 80 ° C by a temperature sensor (not shown). Furthermore, the temperature of the hot air can be controlled from the personal computer side according to the type of cutting sheet.

The cutting plotter of this embodiment can surely cut the cutting sheet by such an operation. When vinyl chloride is used as the cutting sheet, it is softened in a short time by applying hot air of about 80 ° C, so the cutting sheet can be easily cut without applying a large pressure to the cutting pen. Further, the cutting quality can be maintained even if the cutter blade is used for a long period of time. Further, since the stress applied to the cutter blade by the softening of the cutting sheet is reduced, the rotation of the cutter blade caused by the sheet stress is prevented.

Next, the drawing and cutting conditions of the cutting sheet are compared by using the cutting plotter of the above-mentioned embodiment and a conventional cutting plotter (PNC-1100 Roland DG). The conventional cutting plotter has the same structure and performance as those of the above-described embodiment except for the hot air generating means. A 0.2 mm thick hard vinyl chloride film was prepared as a cutting sheet. Under the control conditions of a cutting pen pressure of 200 g and a cutting speed of 50 mm / s, which are the maximum cutting pen pressures of both cutting plotters, both cutting plotters were used to draw and cut a circle with a diameter of 17 mm and a square with a side of 10 mm. None of the figures could be cut out on the plotter. On the other hand, with the cutting plotter of this embodiment, it was possible to completely cut out the figure without leaving any uncut portion. The temperature of the hot air generated by the hot air generating means in the cutting plotter of this embodiment is 80 ° C.

Next, another embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. Here, the description of the base of the cutting plotter, the sheet conveying means, the Y rail, the carriage, the cutting means, etc. is omitted because it has the same configuration as that of the above embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view showing hot air generating means of a cutting plotter according to another embodiment. In the figure, the hot air generating means 22 comprises a gun type heater 23 and a small blower fan 24. The gun type heater 23 has a heating element formed by closely winding a high temperature specification Kanthal wire on a ceramic shaft inside a stainless steel outer cylinder 25. A nozzle 26 is attached to the tip of the stainless steel outer cylinder 25, and a stainless steel outer cylinder. 25
A small blower fan 24 is attached to the rear end via a metal fitting 27. The metal fitting 27 is provided with a support body 28, and the tip of the support body 28 is screwed to a holding metal fitting 29 attached to the rear end of the cutting means 11. The hot air generated by the hot air generating means 22 is adjusted by screwing the support body 28 so as to hit the cutting edge of the cutting means 11. The lead wires 30, 30 ', 31, 31' of the gun-type heater 23 and the small blower fan 24 are connected to connection terminals of a carriage (not shown).

Next, the operation of the cutting plotter of another embodiment will be briefly described. As described above, the hot air generating means is attached to the cutting pen, and at the same time when the cutting pen starts to move in the Z direction, hot air is generated to heat the cutter blade of the cutting pen and the local portion of the cutting sheet for cutting. Soften the sheet to ensure it is cut into the desired shape. In the cutting plotter of the other embodiment, since the small blower fan is attached to the rear end of the gun type heater, the blower supply hose is not required and the hot air generating means can be easily attached and detached.

In these embodiments, as the hot air heat generating means, a heater having a heating element made by closely winding a high temperature specification Kanthal wire on a ceramic shaft in a stainless steel outer cylinder is used. The heating element is a honeycomb heater. Alternatively, a heating wire type heater or a PTC heater may be used.

In these embodiments, the hot air generating means is attached to the elevating mechanism of the carriage, but it may be fixed to the carriage to heat the local portion of the cutting sheet with which the cutting edge of the cutting pen contacts. Further, a carriage for the hot air generating means that moves along the Y rail may be provided, and the hot air generating means may be installed on the carriage.

In these embodiments, the hot air generating means is operated at the same time when the cutting pen starts moving in the Z direction, but it may be controlled to generate hot air from a few seconds before cutting, and at least the cutting edge of the cutting means may be used. May generate hot air when coming into contact with the cutting sheet.

Although these examples were paper move type cutting plotters, they may be flat bed type cutting plotters.

In these embodiments, the lead wire of the small blower fan or the lead wire of the hot air generating means is connected to the connection terminal provided on the carriage, but it is provided on the base or Y rail using a curl cord or the like. It is also possible to connect to the provided connection terminal.

[0024]

The cutting plotter of the present invention comprises a hot air generating means for heating the cutting edge of the cutting means and the local portion of the cutting sheet with which the cutting edge is in contact, and at least the hot air is generated when the cutting edge of the cutting means contacts the cutting sheet. generate. As a result, the local portion of the cutting sheet that is hit by the hot air is softened, and the cutting sheet can be reliably cut. Further, even when a hard cutting sheet is used, the blade tip of the cutting means is less likely to be damaged, so that there is an economic effect of extending the life of the blade tip. Further, when the cutting sheet is softened, its elastic force is weakened, so that the stress of the cutting sheet applied to the cutting edge of the cutting means is reduced, and the cutting edge is prevented from rotating when it is raised.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cutting plotter showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory view of attachment of cutting means and hot air generating means of a cutting plotter showing one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a main part explanatory view for explaining another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a usage state of a paper move type cutting plotter.

FIG. 5 is a semi-longitudinal explanatory view of a cutting pen.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1,47 Cutting plotter 2 Apron 3,40 Bed 4,4 'Side cover 5,44 Carriage 6,6', 42 Pinch roller 7,41 Y rail 8,8 'Grid roller 9,43 Cutting seat 10 Lifting mechanism 11 , 45 Cutting means 12, 22 Hot air generating means 13 Cutting pen holder 14, 23 Gun type heater 15, 25 Stainless steel outer cylinder 16 Bending nozzle 17, 17 'Lead wire 18 Blower supply hose 19, 19' Terminal 20 Blower port 21 Heater Holder 24 Small fan 26 Nozzle 28 Support 29 Holding bracket 30,30 'Lead wire 31,31' Lead wire 46 PC 50 Cutting pen 51 Cutter holder 52 Cutter 53 Magnet 54 Pivot bearing 55 Miniature bearing

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A cutting plotter provided with a cutting means in a lifting mechanism of a carriage that moves on a cutting sheet along a Y rail provided on a base, and a desired drawing cut is made on the cutting sheet by the cutting means. In, a cutting plotter, characterized by comprising a hot air generating means for heating the cutting edge of the cutting means and a local portion of the cutting sheet with which the cutting edge is in contact, and generating hot air at least when the cutting edge of the cutting means contacts the cutting sheet. .