CUTTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PUNCHING IN A CUTTING MACHINE

Abstract

Cutting machine which includes a cutter / puncher comprising a cutting device cutting a sheet material and a first punching device punching the sheet material; a puncher comprising a second punching device punching the sheet material without cutting it; and a controller commanding a punching of the cutter / puncher and the punching of the puncher in parallel with each other as pre-cut punching, which is punching applied before a cutting process.

Description

Title of the invention: CUTTING MACHINE AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING PUNCHING IN A CUTTING MACHINE Technical field

[0001] The present invention relates to a cutting machine comprising a punching device punching a sheet material, and a method for controlling the punching in the cutting machine. Previous technique

[0002] Cutting machines comprising punching devices that punch sheet materials to indicate sewing positions on fabrics, button attachment positions, and the like are known. Such a cutting machine is disclosed, for example, in Japanese patent publication submitted for public inspection No. JP 2013-43249.

[0003] The above-mentioned Japanese patent publication, Public Inspection No. JP 2013-43249, discloses a cutting machine comprising a single cutting head mounted on a support beam and equipped with both a cutting device and a punching device. The aforementioned cutting machine is configured to punch a sheet material using the single cutting device in the cutting head before or after a cutting process. Here, although not explicitly stated in Japanese patent publication, Public Inspection No. JP 2013-43249, punching that requires positioning accuracy is generally performed before the cutting process, since the positioning deviation due to cutting does not occur before the cutting process. This punching before the cutting process is called pre-cutting punching.

[0004] Cutting machines comprising work carriages equipped with a label-fixing machine for fixing labels onto sheet materials for marking are also known, as are carriage assemblies equipped with cutting devices. Such a cutting machine is disclosed, for example, in Japanese patent publication submitted for public inspection No. JP H08-243983. Its work carriage and carriage assembly in Japanese patent publication submitted for public inspection No. JP H08-243983 have separate support beams.

[0005] Here, in a case where a pre-cutting punch is carried out, since all pre-cutting punching operations are necessarily carried out sequentially using the single cutting head in the cutting machine of the above-mentioned Japanese patent publication submitted to public inspection No. JP 2013-43249, It has proven desirable in the past to reduce the time required for punching. Furthermore, in the case where it is envisaged that the label fixing device of the work carriage in the cutting machine of the Japanese patent publication submitted to public inspection No. JP H08-243983 above is to be replaced by the cutting device, since all pre-cut punching operations are necessarily carried out sequentially using the work carriage similar to the cutting machine in the Japanese patent publication submitted to public inspection No. JP 2013-43249 above, it has proven desirable to reduce the time required for punching. Technical problem

[0006] The present invention aims to solve the above problem, and an object of the present invention is to provide a cutting machine and a method for controlling the punching of a cutting machine capable of reducing the time required for punching. Description of the invention

[0007] In order to achieve the aforementioned objective, a cutting machine according to a first aspect of the present invention is a cutting machine comprising a cutter / puncher including a cutting device cutting a sheet material and a first punching device punching the sheet material, and a puncher including a second punching device punching the sheet material without cutting the sheet material, in which the cutting machine includes a controller commanding the punching of the cutter / puncher and the punching of the puncher in parallel with each other as pre-cut punching, which is punching applied before a cutting process.

[0008] In the cutting machine according to the first aspect of the present invention, as discussed above, in addition to the second punching device, the first punching device is provided in the cutter / puncher, and the controller is provided to command punching of the cutter / puncher and punching of the puncher in parallel with each other as pre-cutting punching, which is punching applied before a cutting process. Consequently, since the pre-cutting punching of the cutter / puncher can be carried out in parallel with the pre-cutting punching of the puncher, it is possible to reduce the number of operations in the pre-cutting punching of the first punching device and the number of operations of the second punching device by sharing the workload of the pre-cutting punching between the first and second punching devices.Furthermore, since the puncher and the cutter / puncher simultaneously perform the pre-cut punching, it is possible to avoid... This wastes time that would leave the cutter / puncher idle and out of operation. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the punching time by reducing the time required for pre-cutting punching.

[0009] In the cutting machine according to the first aspect, it is preferable that at least one of the targets for post-cutting punching, the application of which is permitted after the cutting process, be included among the targets for pre-cutting punching by the controller. Here, compared to pre-cutting punching, high positioning accuracy is not necessarily guaranteed for post-cutting punching, and post-cutting punching has been performed after cutting in the past. According to this configuration, since at least one of the targets for post-cutting punching, which was performed after cutting in the past, is included among the targets for pre-cutting punching, it is possible to reduce the number of processing times for post-cutting punching.In this configuration, a punching operation that would normally be performed by a single punching device as post-cutting can be performed as pre-cutting by two devices: the puncher and the cutter / puncher, operating in parallel. Therefore, it is possible to reduce the punching time by reducing the time required for post-cutting.

[0010] The target(s) for post-cut punching, which is / are located in an area near the end end of the sheet material and positioned close to an end end in the cutting process, can / may be included among the targets for pre-cut punching of the cutter / puncher by the controller. Here, since the punch would interfere with the cutter / puncher if it entered the area near the end end while the cutting process is being applied to the area near the end end by the cutter / puncher, the punch cannot enter the cutter / puncher.According to the aforementioned configuration, since the target(s) for post-cut punching located in the area near the end end can be included among the targets for the cutter / puncher's pre-cut punching, it is possible to eliminate the need for the puncher to perform post-cut punching in the area near the end end after the cut. For this reason, it is possible to avoid wasting time that would leave the puncher idle while waiting for post-cut punching to be performed while the cutting process is applied to the area near the end end by the cutter / puncher. Consequently, it is possible to further reduce the punching time by further reducing the time required for post-cut punching.

[0011] The controller can execute a command to adjust a processing time for the pre-cut punching of the cutter / puncher and a processing time for the The punching machine performs a pre-cut punching operation to ensure both parts are identical. This configuration prevents either the cutter / puncher or the punch from completing its pre-cut punching before the other completes its own, thus avoiding inactivity. Consequently, the overall punching time can be further reduced by minimizing the time required for the pre-cut punching.

[0012] The controller can implement a command to adjust the processing time for the pre-cut punching of the cutter / puncher and the processing time for the pre-cut punching of the puncher so that they are equal to each other by adjusting a load-sharing ratio between a number of punching operations of the cutter / puncher and a number of punching operations of the puncher for the pre-cut punching to a speed ratio between a travel speed of the cutter / puncher during the pre-cut punching and a travel speed of the puncher during the pre-cut punching. According to this configuration, the processing time for the pre-cut punching of the cutter / puncher and the processing time for the pre-cut punching of the puncher can be easily made equal to each other.

[0013] At least one spreading machine and one collection table can be arranged respectively on a feed side and an discharge side of the cutting machine.

[0014] The cutting punch may include a cutting / punching head.

[0015] The cutting device may include a reciprocating cutting knife moving up / down or a rotating blade knife to cut the sheet material.

[0016] The first punching device may include a punching bit or a punching needle for punching the sheet material.

[0017] A method for controlling the punching of a cutting machine according to a second aspect of the present invention is a method for controlling the punching of a cutting machine comprising a cutter / puncher including a cutting device cutting a sheet material and a first punching device punching the sheet material, and a puncher including a second punching device punching the sheet material without cutting the sheet material, the method comprising performing a punching of the cutter / puncher and the punching of the puncher in parallel with each other as a pre-cutting punching, which is a punching performed before a cutting process; and performing the cutting process by cutting the sheet material using the cutter / puncher after the pre-cutting punching.

[0018] In the punching control method in the cutting machine according to the second aspect of the present invention, as discussed above, in addition to the second punching device, the first punching device is provided in the cutter / puncher. Punching of the cutter / puncher and punching of the puncher are performed in parallel with each other as pre-cutting punching, which is punching performed before a cutting process. Consequently, since the pre-cutting punching of the cutter / puncher can be performed in parallel with the pre-cutting punching of the puncher, it is possible to reduce the number of operations of the first punching device and the number of operations of the second punching device in the pre-cutting punching by sharing the workload of the pre-cutting punching between the first and second punching devices.Furthermore, since the punch and cutter / puncher simultaneously perform the pre-cut punching, it is possible to avoid wasting time that would otherwise leave the cutter / puncher idle. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the punching time by reducing the time required for the pre-cut punching. Brief description of the drawings

[0019] Other features, details and advantages of the invention will become apparent from reading the detailed description below and from analyzing the accompanying drawings, in which: Fig. 1

[0020] [Fig.1] Fig.1 is a side view of a cutting machine according to one embodiment; Fig. 2

[0021] [Fig.2] The [Fig.2] is a plan view of the cutting machine according to the embodiment; Fig. 3

[0022] [Fig.3] The [Fig.3] is a block diagram of the cutting machine according to the embodiment; Fig. 4

[0023] [Fig.4] Figures 4 are schematic plan views to illustrate a cutting process and punching processes in the order including [Fig.4](A) illustrating a state during pre-cut punching, [Fig.4](B) illustrating a state during the cutting process and post-cut punching, and [Fig.4](C) illustrating a state in which the cutting process is being carried out in an area close to the end end (a state close to the completion of the cut); Fig. 5

[0024] [Fig.5] The [Fig.5] is a flowchart of the cutting process and the punching process executed by a controller in the cutting machine according to the embodiment. Description of the implementation methods

[0025] The following description will describe one embodiment with reference to the drawings.

[0026] [Method of embodiment]

[0027] A cutting machine 100 and a punching control method in the cutting machine 100 according to the embodiment are described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. A configuration of the cutting machine 100 according to this embodiment is first described with reference to Figures 1 to 4.

[0028] (Complete configuration of the cutting machine)

[0029] The cutting machine 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2 is a device for cutting sheet material 9, such as fabrics used for clothing, leather, paper, and plastic. The cutting machine 100 is configured to be able to punch holes in the sheet material 9 to indicate sewing positions on fabrics, button fastening positions, and the like. As a result of the punching, a plurality of holes are formed at predetermined positions in the sheet material 9, and these holes are used as markers in a post-cutting process.

[0030] The punching performed by the cutting machine 100 prior to a cutting process is called pre-cut punching. Here, the sheet material 9 cut by the cutting machine 100 will undergo a certain positioning deviation from its position before cutting, although the deviation is small. Since pre-cut punching is applied to the sheet material 9 without the positioning deviation due to the cutting process, the positioning accuracy of the punching can be guaranteed. For this reason, punching that requires positioning accuracy is generally performed as pre-cut punching.

[0031] The cutting machine 100 is controlled by a CAD / CAM (Computer-Aided Design / Computer-Aided Manufacturing) system. More specifically, users enter cutting shapes and punching positions of the sheet material 9 into the CAD for the cutting machine 100. In addition, users enter toolpaths (toolpaths) to move a cutting / punching head 20 and a punching head 30, which will be described later, into the CAM for the cutting machine 100. Furthermore, users typically designate punching operations that necessarily guarantee positioning accuracy from a plurality of punching operations in the CAM for the cutting machine 100 as described above. In other words, the punching operations that are to be applied in as long as pre-cutting punches are identified by a user designation. The aforementioned cutting / punching head 20 is an example of a "cutter / puncher" in the claims. The aforementioned punching head 30 is an example of a "puncher" in the claims.

[0032] Punching operations that are not designed as pre-cutting punches are defined as post-cutting punches. Post-cutting punches are punches that can be applied after the cutting process and do not necessarily guarantee high positioning accuracy compared to pre-cutting punches. In known general cutting machines, punching operations that are not designed as pre-cutting punches (punching operations that do not necessarily guarantee high positioning accuracy compared to pre-cutting punches) are performed after cutting.

[0033] In contrast, in this embodiment, at least one of the targets for post-cut punching, the application of which is permitted after the cutting process, is included among the targets for pre-cut punching in the command executed by the cutting machine 100 (controller 4). The command will be described in detail later.

[0034] Here, in the drawings, the Y directions indicate the directions in which the support beams 21 and 31 extend in a horizontal plane; the X directions indicate the directions perpendicular to the Y directions in the horizontal plane; and the Z directions indicate the vertical directions. In the X directions, an XI direction indicates the direction of feeding of the sheet material 9, which is a target to be cut by the cutting machine 100, while an X2 direction indicates a direction opposite to the feeding direction. In the Z directions, a ZI direction indicates an upward direction, while a Z2 direction indicates a downward direction.

[0035] A spreading machine (not shown) is arranged on a feed side (the X2 direction side) of the cutting machine 100, and a pickup table (not shown) is arranged on a discharge side (the XI direction side) of the cutting machine 100. Here, the cutting machine may include one of the spreading machines and the pickup table, or neither the spreading machine nor the pickup table. Alternatively, the sheet material may not be fed onto a cutting table of the cutting machine, but the sheet material may be placed on the cutting table by some placement device or by a user.

[0036] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cutting machine 100 comprises a cutting table 1, a cutting / punching mechanism 2 comprising a cutting / punching head 20, a punching mechanism 3 comprising a punching head 30, and a controller 4.

[0037] (Cutting table configuration)

[0038] The cutting table 1 includes a placement portion 10 on which the sheet material 9 is placed for cutting. In short, the cutting table 1 is a work surface for the cutting process of the sheet material 9. Furthermore, punching processes of the sheet material 9 are performed on the cutting table 1. By way of illustration, the placement portion 10 includes a brush-shaped placement surface for the sheet material 9, but is not limited to this. The cutting table 1 is configured to press the sheet material 9 onto the placement portion 10 by drawing the sheet material 9 from an underside of the brush-shaped placement portion 10 in order to maintain contact between the sheet material 9 and the placement portion 10. In this way, the positioning deviation of the sheet material 9 due to the cutting process can be avoided.The cutting table 1 has a conveyor function that feeds the sheet material 9 in the feeding direction (X direction). The two end portions along the Y direction 11 of the cutting table 1 extend in the X direction and serve as guides for the cutting / punching mechanism 2 and the punching mechanism 3 in the X direction when the mechanisms are moved. By way of illustration, the two end portions 11 have guide grooves lia extending in the X direction, but not limited to it.

[0039] (Cutting / punching mechanism configuration)

[0040] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the cutting / punching mechanism 2 is arranged above the cutting table 1. The cutting / punching mechanism 2 is configured to move in a horizontal direction and to carry out the cutting and punching process on the sheet material 9. The cutting / punching mechanism 2 comprises a single cutting / punching head 20, the support beam 21, support parts 22, a movable part in the Y direction 23 (see [Fig.3]) and a movable part in the X direction 24 (see [Fig.3]).

[0041] The cutting / punching head 20 is mounted on the support beam 21. The cutting / punching head 20 comprises a cutting device 20a and a first punching device 20b. The cutting device 20a is configured to cut the sheet material 9. The cutting device 20a includes a reciprocating cutting knife N moving up / down to cut the sheet material 9. Here, the cutting device may include a rotating blade for cutting the sheet material, instead of the cutting knife. In addition, the cutting device 20a includes a rotating part (not shown) that changes the orientation of the cutting knife N in a horizontal plane, and an up / down tilting part (not shown) that moves the cutting knife N up / down to switch between a cutting position and a retracted position.

[0042] The first punching device 20b is configured to punch the sheet material 9. The first punching device 20b includes a punching bit DI that pierces the sheet material 9 while rotating to punch the sheet material. Here, the first punching device may include a punching needle that pierces the sheet material to punch the sheet material, instead of the punching bit.

[0043] The support beam 21 is spaced at a predetermined distance above and away from the positioning portion 10 of the cutting table 1. The support beam 21 is formed of a beam element extending linearly in the Y direction. The support beam 21 is called the Y-beam. The support beam 21 is a guiding element that guides the movement of the cutting / punching head 20 mounted on the support beam 21 in the Y direction.

[0044] The support parts 22 are a pair of structures supporting the two ends of the support beam 21 in the Y direction. The lower ends of the pair of support parts 22 are installed from the upper side on the two end parts 11 of the cutting table 1 in the Y direction. The pair of support parts 22 (cutting / punching mechanism 2) is configured to be movable along the guide grooves lia on the two end parts 11 in the X direction. The cutting / punching mechanism 2 is formed in an arc shape (door shape) in view in the X direction by the support beam 21 and a pair of support parts 22 so that the sheet material 9 can pass through an inner side of the arc shape.

[0045] The Y-direction moving part 23 (see [Fig.3]) is configured to move the cutting / punching head 20 along the support beam 21, which extends in the Y direction. In short, the Y-direction moving part 23 is a linear motion device for the cutting / punching head 20. The Y-direction moving part 23 can be configured using one of various drive mechanisms, such as a ball screw drive mechanism, a cylinder drive mechanism, a rack and pinion drive mechanism, a roller (wheel) drive mechanism, or a belt drive mechanism.

[0046] The movable part along the X direction 24 (see [Fig. 3]) is configured with the pair of support parts 22 and the support beam 21 to move the cutting / punching head 20 in the X direction along the guide grooves of the two end parts 11, which extend in the X direction from the cutting table 1. In short, the directional movable part in X 24 is a linear motion device for the cutting / punching head 20. The movable part along the X direction 24 can be configured using one of various drive mechanisms, such as a ball screw drive mechanism, a cylinder drive mechanism, a rack and pinion drive mechanism, a roller (wheel) drive mechanism or a belt drive mechanism.

[0047] (Punching mechanism configuration)

[0048] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the punching mechanism 3 is positioned above the cutting table 1 and on the XI side of the cutting / punching mechanism 2. The punching mechanism 3 cannot move beyond the cutting / punching mechanism 2 on the X2 side of the cutting / punching mechanism 2. The reason for this is that if the punching mechanism 3 were to move towards the X2 side of the cutting / punching mechanism 2, the punching mechanism 3 would interfere with the cutting / punching mechanism 2. The punching mechanism 3 is configured to move in a horizontal direction to perform the punching process on the sheet material 9.The punching mechanism 3 comprises a single punching head 30, which does not cut the sheet material 9, the support beam 31, support parts 32 supporting both ends of the support beam 31 in the Y direction, a movable part along the Y direction 33 (see [Fig.3]) and a movable part along the X direction 34 (see [Fig.3]).

[0049] The punching head 30 is installed on the support beam 31. The punching head 30 includes a second punching device 30a. The second punching device 30a is configured to punch the sheet material 9. The second punching device 30a includes a punching bit D2 that pierces the sheet material 9 while rotating to punch the sheet material. Here, the second punching device may include a punching needle that pierces the sheet material to punch the sheet material, instead of the punching bit.

[0050] The support beam 31, the support parts 32, the Y-direction moving part 33 and the X-direction moving part 34 of the punching mechanism 3 have the same configuration as the support beam 21, the support part 22, the Y-direction moving part 23 and the X-direction moving part 24 of the cutting / punching mechanism 2, and their description is omitted.

[0051] (Controller configuration)

[0052] The controller 4 shown in Figures 1 to 3 carries out the command to execute the cutting and punching processes. By way of illustration, the controller 4 includes a CPU, a ROM storing a program executing the cutting and punching processes, and RAM for temporary storage, but it is not limited to these. The ROM also stores cutting information to identify a cutting shape of the sheet material 9, punching position information to identify punching positions, and other information. pre-cut punching to identify punching operations to be applied as pre-cut punching, and similar.

[0053] In this embodiment, the controller 4 is configured to perform the punching of the cutting / punching head 20 and the punching of the punching head 30 in parallel with each other as a pre-cutting punch, which is a punching operation applied before the cutting process. In short, the controller 4 commands the drive operation of the cutting / punching mechanism 2 and the punching mechanism 3 so as not to bring either of the cutting / punching heads 20 and 30 into a standby state during the pre-cutting punch, but rather to perform a pre-cutting punch using both the cutting / punching head 20 and the punching head 30 simultaneously. In this embodiment, for example, the pre-cut punching of the cutting / punching head 20 and the pre-cut punching of the punching head 30 start simultaneously.

[0054] Before performing this pre-cut punching, the controller 4 is configured to execute a command to adjust a processing time for the punching of the cutting / punching head 20 and a processing time for the pre-cut punching of the punching head 30 so that they are substantially equal to each other. In this case, "substantially equal" refers to a broad sense that includes both a case in which two values ​​correspond completely to each other and a case in which the two values ​​are close to each other.In short, controller 4 executes a command to bring the processing time for the pre-cut punching of the cutting / punching head 20 and the processing time for the pre-cut punching of the punching head 30 closer together in order to minimize the difference between their processing times or to eliminate the difference between their processing times and make their processing times match each other.

[0055] More specifically, to make the processing time for the pre-cutting punch of the cutting / punching head 20 and the processing time for the pre-cutting punch of the punching head 30 substantially equal to each other, the controller 4 executes the following command. The controller 4 executes a command to adjust the processing time for the punching of the cutting / punching head 20 and the processing time for the pre-cutting punch of the punching head 30 so that they are substantially equal to each other by adjusting a load-sharing ratio between the number of punching operations of the cutting / punching head 20 and the number of punching operations of the punching head 30 in a pre-cutting punch so that it is substantially equal to a speed ratio between a travel speed of the cutting / punching head punching 20 in pre-cut punching and a punching head travel speed of 30 in pre-cut punching.

[0056] By way of illustration, it is assumed that the number (total number) of punching operations of the cutting / punching head 20 and the punching head 30 to be performed during the pre-cutting operation is 2300, and that the travel speed of the cutting / punching head 20 and the travel speed of the punching head 30 are respectively 1.3 [m / s] and 1.0 [m / s]. In this case, the speed ratio between the travel speed of the cutting / punching head 20 in the pre-cutting operation and the travel speed of the punching head 30 in the pre-cutting operation is 13:10. Correspondingly, the load sharing ratio between the number of punching operations of the cutting / punching head 20 and the number of punching operations of the punching head 30 in the pre-cutting punching is set at "13:10".Consequently, the number of punching operations to be performed by the cutting / punching head 20 in the pre-cutting punching and the number of punching operations to be performed by the punching head 30 in the pre-cutting punching are set at 1300 and 1000 respectively. This control ensures that the pre-cutting punching of the cutting / punching head 20 and the pre-cutting punching of the punching head 30 are completed simultaneously.

[0057] The aforementioned travel speed of the cutting / punching head 20 and the aforementioned travel speed of the punching head 30 can be modified by user parameters via certain input. The load-sharing ratio between the number of punching operations of the cutting / punching head 20 and the number of punching operations of the punching head 30 in the pre-cutting operation is modified according to this change. A pre-cutting operation performed on the XI side of the sheet material 9 placed on the cutting table 1 is assigned to the punching head 30. A pre-cutting operation performed on the X2 side of the sheet material 9 (area near the end of the 90 end (see [Fig. 4] below) placed on the cutting table 1) is assigned to the cutting / punching head 20.

[0058] Here, as shown in [Fig. 4], the controller 4 performs the pre-cutting punching of the cutting / punching head 20 while moving the cutting / punching head 20 generally in the XI direction and in the Y directions using the cutting / punching mechanism 2. Similarly, the controller 4 performs the pre-cutting punching of the punching head 30 while moving the punching head 30 generally in the XI direction and in the Y directions using the punching mechanism 3. On the other hand, the controller 4 performs the cutting process of the cutting / punching head 20 and the post-cutting punching of the punching head 30 while moving the head of cutting / punching 20 and punching head 30 generally in the X2 direction and in the Y directions.

[0059] According to the aforementioned configuration, the cutting machine 100 can bring the positions along the X direction of the two heads at the completion of the pre-cutting punching of the cutting / punching head 20 and the punching head 30 relatively close to the positions along the X direction of each of the heads at the beginning of the cutting process of the cutting / punching head 20 and the post-cutting punching of the punching head 30. As a result, it is possible to reduce the time required to move the cutting / punching head 20 and the punching head 30. Here, the pre-cutting punching of the cutting / punching head and the punching head can be carried out while the cutting / punching head and the punching head are generally moved in the X2 direction and in the Y directions.

[0060] In addition, at least one of the targets for post-cut punching, the application of which is permitted after the cutting process, is included among the targets for pre-cut punching by the controller 4. More specifically, the target for post-cut punching which is disposed in the area near the end of end 90 in the sheet material 9 positioned near an end of end 90a in the cutting process is included among the targets for pre-cut punching of the cutting / punching head 20 by the controller 4.

[0061] The area near the end end 90 refers to an area on the side along direction X2 of the sheet material 9 in which the cutting process of the sheet material 9 is completed, and an area in which the punching head 30 will interfere with the cutting / punching head 20. This interference prevents the punching head from entering the area while the cutting / punching head 20 is performing the cutting process. For this reason, if post-cutting punching is performed in the area near the end end, the punching head or the cutting / punching head can perform the post-cutting punching in the area near the end end only after waiting for the completion of the cutting process in the area near the end end by the cutting / punching head and after the cutting process is actually finished.To resolve this issue, in this embodiment, the post-cutting punching target located near the end end 90 is included among the pre-cutting punching target of the cutting / punching head 20 by the cutting machine 100. Therefore, the need for the punching head 30 or the cutting / punching head 20 in the area near the end end 90 does not arise in the cutting machine 100 to perform post-cutting punching in the area near the end end 90 after waiting for the completion of the cutting process and after the cutting process is actually finished. The reason for this is that the punching performed in... the area near the end of the 90 has already been completed during the pre-cut punching, which is a step performed before the cutting process is completed.

[0062] (Method for controlling punching in a cutting machine)

[0063] The method of controlling the punching in the cutting machine 100 according to this embodiment is now described with reference to Figures 4 and 5.

[0064] More specifically, a flowchart of the cutting and punching processes carried out by controller 4 is described with reference to Figures 4 and 5. Here, the parts of the steps which overlap with the descriptions set out in the aforementioned "Controller 4 Configuration" are briefly described.

[0065] In step SI shown in [Fig. 5], the load sharing ratio between the number of punching operations of the cutting / punching head 20 and the number of punching operations of the punching head 30 in the pre-cutting punching is first determined. After step SI, the procedure proceeds to step S2.

[0066] In step S2 illustrated in [Fig. 5], the pre-cutting punching is performed by the cutting / punching head 20 and the punching head 30 shown in [Fig. 4](A). More specifically, step S2 is a step in which the cutting / punching head 20 and the punching head 30 are punched in parallel as a pre-cutting punch, which is a punching operation performed before the cutting process. The pre-cutting punching of the cutting / punching head 20 and the pre-cutting punching of the punching head 30 begin simultaneously and are then completed simultaneously based on the determined load-sharing ratio. After step S2, the procedure proceeds to step S3.

[0067] In step S3 shown in [Fig. 5], the cutting / punching head 20 starts the cutting process shown in [Fig. 4](B), and the punching head 30 follows the cutting / punching head 20 to perform post-cutting punching on the sheet material 9. In short, step S3 is a step of carrying out the cutting process of the sheet material 9 using the cutting / punching head 20 and of carrying out the post-cutting punching using the punching head 30 after the pre-cutting punching. Furthermore, as shown in [Fig.4](C), the cutting process in the area near the end end 90 of the sheet material 9 using the cutting / punching head 20 is completed after the completion of the post-cutting punching on an area not near the end end 91 (an area on the XI side of the area near the end end 90) using the punching head 30 so that the cutting and punching processes are completed simultaneously. Here, the post-cutting punching in the area not near the end end 91 using the punching head 30 can be completed simultaneously with, or after, the completion of the cutting process using the cutting / punching head 20.

[0068] (Advantages of the embodiment)

[0069] In this embodiment, the following advantages are obtained.

[0070] According to the configuration of the aforementioned embodiment, since the pre-cutting punching of the cutting / punching head 20 can be performed in parallel with the pre-cutting punching of the punching head 30, it is possible to reduce the number of operations of the first punching device 20b and the number of operations of the second punching device 30b in the pre-cutting punching by sharing the pre-cutting punching load between the first and second punching devices. Furthermore, since the punching head 30 and the cutting / punching head 20 perform pre-cutting punching simultaneously, it is possible to avoid the downtime that would otherwise result from the cutting / punching head 20 being idle. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the punching time by reducing the time required for the pre-cutting punching.

[0071] Furthermore, according to the configuration of the aforementioned embodiment, since at least one of the targets for post-cutting punching, which were previously produced after cutting, is included among the targets for pre-cutting punching, it is possible to reduce the processing time for post-cutting punching. In this configuration, punching that would be performed by a single punching device as post-cutting punching can be performed as pre-cutting punching by two devices, namely the punching head 30 and the cutting / punching head 20, operating in parallel. Consequently, it is possible to reduce the time required for punching by reducing the time required for post-cutting punching.

[0072] Furthermore, according to the configuration of the aforementioned embodiment, since the targets for post-cutting punching, which are located in the area near the end of the cutting end 90, can be included among the targets for pre-cutting punching of the cutting / punching head 20, it is possible to eliminate the need for the punching head 30 to perform post-cutting punching in the area near the end of the cutting end 90 after the cut. For this reason, it is possible to avoid wasting time that would leave the punching head 30 idle while waiting for post-cutting punching to be performed while the cutting process is applied to the area near the end of the cutting end 90 by the cutting / punching head 20. Consequently, it is possible to further reduce the punching time by further reducing the time required for post-cutting punching.

[0073] Furthermore, according to the configuration of the aforementioned embodiment, it is possible to prevent either of the cutting / punching head 20 and the punching head 30 from completing its pre-cutting punch before the other completes its pre-cutting punch and remains inactive. Therefore, it is possible to further reduce the time required for punching by further reducing the time required for pre-cut punching.

[0074] Furthermore, according to the configuration of the aforementioned embodiment, it is possible to make the processing time for the pre-cutting punching of the cutting / punching head 20 and the processing time for the pre-cutting punching of the punching head 30 substantially equal to each other by only adjusting a load sharing ratio between the number of punching operations of the cutter / puncher 20 and the number of punching operations of the puncher 30 in the pre-cutting punching so that it is substantially equal to a speed ratio between a speed of movement of the cutting / punching head 20 in the pre-cutting punching and a speed of movement of the punching head 30 in the pre-cutting punching.In other words, the processing time for pre-cutting punching of the cutting / punching head 20 and the processing time for pre-cutting punching of the punching head 30 can easily be made substantially equal to each other.

[0075] [Modified embodiments]

[0076] It should be noted that the embodiment and modified embodiments disclosed herein are to be considered illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is not defined by the above description of the embodiments but is defined by the scope of the patent claims, and all modifications (modified examples) in a sense and scope equivalent to the scope of the patent claims are otherwise included.

[0077] For example, although the example in which all the targets for post-cutting punching that are located in the area near the end end are included among the targets for pre-cutting punching so that post-cutting punching is not performed in the area near the end end has been illustrated in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to that. In the present invention, the targets for post-cutting punching that are located in the area near the end end can be excluded from the pre-cutting punching targets so that post-cutting punching can be performed in the area near the end end. Furthermore, only one or some of the post-cutting punching targets located in the area near the end end can be included among the pre-cutting punching targets.Even in this case, since two heads, namely the cutting / punching head and the punching head, can perform pre-cutting punching in parallel with each other, it is possible to reduce the time required for punching.

[0078] Furthermore, although the example in which the targets for post-cut punching that are arranged in the area near the end end are included among the While targets for pre-cut punching have been illustrated in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to them. In the present invention, at least one of the post-cut punching targets arranged outside the area near the end end may be included among the pre-cut punching targets.

[0079] Furthermore, although the example in which the "cutter / puncher" of the present invention is formed from a single cutting / punching head was shown in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to it. In the present invention, the "cutter / puncher" of the present invention may be formed from two heads, one dedicated to cutting and the other to punching, mounted on a common support beam.

[0080] Furthermore, although the example in which the load-sharing ratio between the cutter / puncher and the punch in pre-cutting is determined based on the travel speeds of the cutter / puncher and the punch in pre-cutting has been shown in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to it. In the present invention, the load-sharing ratio between the cutter / puncher and the punch in pre-cutting can be determined based on the travel lengths of the cutter / puncher and the punch in pre-cutting.

[0081] Furthermore, although the example in which the pre-cutting of the cutter / puncher and the pre-cutting of the puncher begin simultaneously was shown in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to it. In the present invention, the pre-cutting of the cutter / puncher and the pre-cutting of the puncher may not start completely simultaneously, but the start times of the pre-cutting of the cutter / puncher and the puncher may be staggered.

[0082] Furthermore, although the example in which the pre-cutting of the cutter / puncher and the pre-cutting of the puncher are completed simultaneously was shown in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to it. In the present invention, the pre-cutting of the cutter / puncher and the pre-cutting of the puncher may not be completed completely simultaneously, but the completion times of the pre-cutting of the cutter / puncher and the puncher may be staggered.

[0083] Furthermore, although the example in which at least one of the targets for post-cut punching is included among targets for pre-cut punching was shown in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to it. In the present invention, none of the post-cut punching targets can be included among the pre-cut punching targets. Conversely, all targets for post-cut punching can be included among the targets for pre-cut punching.

[0084] Furthermore, although controller processing operations have been described illustratively using a flowchart in which processes are performed sequentially along a processing flow to facilitate illustration in the aforementioned embodiment, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, in the present invention, controller processing operations can be performed in an event-driven manner in which processes are executed on an event-by-event basis. In this case, the processes can be executed entirely according to the event-driven method or in combination with the step-driven method.

Claims

Demands

1. Cutting machine (100) comprising a cutter / puncher (20) including a cutting device (20a) cutting a sheet material (9) and a first punching device (20b) punching the sheet material, and a puncher (30) including a second punching device (30a) punching the sheet material without cutting it, wherein the cutting machine includes a controller (4) commanding the punching of the cutter / puncher and the punching of the puncher in parallel with each other as pre-cut punching, which is punching applied before a cutting process.

2. Cutting machine (100) according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the targets for post-cut punching, the application of which is permitted after the cutting process, is included among targets for pre-cut punching by the controller (4).

3. Cutting machine (100) according to claims 1 and 2, wherein the target(s) for post-cut punching which is / are disposed in an area near the end end (90) in the sheet material (9) positioned near an end end (90a) in the cutting process is / are included among the targets for pre-cut punching of the cutter / puncher by the controller (4).

4. Cutting machine (100) according to claims 1 to 3, wherein the controller (4) performs a command to adjust a processing time for the pre-cut punching of the cutter / puncher (20) and a processing time for the pre-cut punching of the puncher (30) so that they are equal to each other.

5. Cutting machine (100) according to claims 1 to 4, wherein the controller (4) performs a command to adjust the processing time for the pre-cut punching of the cutter / puncher (20) and the processing time for the pre-cut punching of the puncher (30) so that they are equal to each other by adjusting a load-sharing ratio between a number of punching operations of the cutter / puncher and a number of punching operations of the puncher in the punching of pre-cutting has a speed ratio between a cutter / puncher movement speed during the pre-cutting punching operation and a puncher movement speed during the pre-cutting punching operation.

6. Cutting machine (100) according to claims 1 to 5, wherein at least one spreading machine and one collection table are arranged respectively on a feeding side (the X2 direction side) and on an evacuation side (the XI direction side) of the cutting machine.

7. Cutting machine (100) according to claims 1 to 6, wherein the cutting puncher (20a) comprises a cutting / punching head.

8. Cutting machine (100) according to claims 1 to 7, wherein the cutting device (20a) comprises a reciprocating cutting knife moving up / down or a rotating blade knife for cutting the sheet material.

9. Cutting machine (100) according to claims 1 to 8, wherein the first punching device (20b) comprises a punching bit or punching needle for punching the sheet material.

10. A punching control method for a cutting machine (100) comprising a cutter / puncher (20) including a cutting device (20a) cutting a sheet material (9) and a first punching device (20b) punching the sheet material, and a puncher (30) including a second punching device (30a) punching the sheet material without cutting it, the method comprising: performing a punching operation of the cutter / puncher and the punching operation of the puncher in parallel with each other as a pre-cutting punching operation, which is a punching operation performed before a cutting process; and performing the cutting process by cutting the sheet material using the cutter / puncher after the pre-cutting punching operation.

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