Processing equipment

Abstract

The simple configuration allows for appropriate control of the pressing load applied to the workpiece by the processing unit. [Solution] The cutting device, which is a processing device, comprises a cutter unit 6 for cutting a medium S to be cut, a carriage 5 having a pressed portion, and a pressing mechanism 70 having an elastic body and a pressing portion, which can adjust the processing portion pressing load by changing the pressing portion pressing load, where the pressing portion presses the pressed portion toward the medium S to be cut based on the elastic load of the elastic body, and a buffer function is provided between the carriage 5 and the pressing mechanism 70 to suppress the "pressing portion pressing load" until the "processing portion pressing load" exceeds a predetermined load.

Description

Technical Field

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[0001] The present invention relates to a processing apparatus.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a processing apparatus, for example, a cutting apparatus that cuts a cutting target medium into a shape based on cut data such as an image is known. At the time of cutting, such a cutting apparatus presses a blade member against the cutting target medium and makes a cut in the longitudinal direction on the plane of the cutting target medium. For example, Patent Document 1 describes an apparatus provided with a changing means capable of changing the pressing force of a blade during the cutting operation of a cutting target medium between an initial cutting operation from the start of cutting to cutting a predetermined amount and a subsequent cutting operation.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] However, depending on the processing situation, it is troublesome and complicated for the user to adjust the pressing force by the processing unit by changing the settings regarding structural changes and control.

[0005] According to the present disclosure, there is provided a processing apparatus capable of appropriately controlling the pressing load for pressing a processing unit against a workpiece by a simple configuration.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the aforementioned problems, the processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a carriage having a processing section and a pressed section for processing a workpiece, and a pressing mechanism having an elastic body and a pressing section, wherein the pressing section can adjust the processing section pressing load on the workpiece by changing the pressing load of the pressing section, which presses the pressed section toward the workpiece, based on the elastic load of the elastic body, and a buffer function section is provided between the carriage and the pressing mechanism to suppress the pressing load of the pressing section until the processing section pressing load exceeds a predetermined load. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, the pressing load applied to the workpiece by pressing the blade against it can be appropriately controlled with a simple configuration. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the main components of a cutting device, which is a processing apparatus according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a perspective view showing the main components of the pressing mechanism and carriage. [Figure 3] This is a perspective view showing the main components of the pressing mechanism. [Figure 4] This is a plan view showing the main components of the carriage according to the first embodiment, and it shows the blade in a state where it is in a "non-cutting position" and in a "contact position". [Figure 5] This is an explanatory diagram showing the weight range of the carriage in Figure 4. [Figure 6] This is a plan view showing the main components of the carriage according to the first embodiment, and it shows the blade in a state where it is in a "non-cutting position" and in a "separated position". [Figure 7] Figure 4 is a magnified view of the area around gap α. [Figure 8] Figure 7 shows the state where the gap α is zero. [Figure 9] This graph shows how the pressure load changes over time. [Figure 10]This graph shows how the compressive load changes when a weak spring is used as the elastic body in a compressive mechanism. [Figure 11] This graph shows how the compressive load changes when a strong spring is used as the elastic body in a compressive mechanism. [Figure 12] This is a plan view showing the main components of the carriage according to the second embodiment, and it shows the blade in a state where it is in a "non-cutting position" and in a "contact position". [Figure 13] This is a plan view showing the main components of the carriage according to the second embodiment, and the diagram shows the blade in the "cutting position". [Figure 14] This is a plan view showing the main components of the carriage according to the second embodiment, and it shows the blade in a state where it is in a "non-cutting position" and in a "separated position". [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] [First Embodiment] A first embodiment of the processing apparatus according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 11. In this embodiment, the processing apparatus is a cutting apparatus 100 equipped with a cutting section which is a processing section that processes (cuts) a workpiece medium S. The X-axis, Y-axis, and Z-axis directions shown in each figure are perpendicular to each other. When the cutting apparatus 100 according to this embodiment is placed on a horizontal mounting surface, the X-axis and Y-axis directions are horizontal, and the Z-axis direction is vertical (the height direction of the cutting apparatus 100). In this embodiment, the X-axis and Y-axis directions are concepts that include both positive and negative directions (+ and -). Also, of the vertical directions, the upward direction is the +Z direction and the downward direction is the -Z direction. The +X direction, -X direction, +Y direction, -Y direction, +Z direction, and -Z direction are the directions shown in each drawing.

[0010] In the cutting device 100, the cutting unit and the medium to be cut S are moved relative to each other in the X-axis and Y-axis directions, and the height position of the blade 61 of the cutting unit (cutter unit 6, described later) from the sheet surface S1 of the medium to be cut S (distance in the Z-axis direction relative to the sheet surface S1) is changed. This allows the blade 61 of the cutting unit to be appropriately pressed against the sheet surface S1, which is the upper surface of the sheet-like medium to be cut S (medium), and the medium to be cut S is cut into any desired shape. In the following embodiment, the case in which the carriage 5 on which the cutter unit 6, which is the cutting unit, is mounted moves in the X-axis direction and the medium to be cut S is transported in the Y-axis direction will be explained as an example. In this embodiment, the medium to be cut S is supplied to the cutting device 100 stacked on top of a backing sheet T, as shown in Figure 1. Even if the backing sheet T is not mentioned in the following description, it will be assumed that the medium to be cut S is transported and cut while overlapping with the backing sheet T.

[0011] The cutting device 100 comprises a device body 1, which is made of sheet metal with various components assembled to it. The device body 1 may be housed in a housing (not shown). The device body 1 has a pair of side plates 11 (a side plate 11a arranged in the +X direction and a side plate 11b arranged in the -X direction) that are spaced apart in the X-axis direction. Between the pair of side plates 11a and 11b, a pair of transport rollers 21, 21 extending in the X-axis direction are supported so as to overlap in the Z-axis direction. Note that in Figure 1, the transport roller located on the lower side in the Z-axis direction (in the -Z direction in Figure 1) of the pair of transport rollers 21, 21 is not shown. One of the pair of transport rollers 21, 21 is a drive roller that is rotationally driven by a transport drive motor 22, and the other is a driven roller that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the drive roller. The material to be cut S is transported along the Y-axis direction by being held between the pair of transport rollers 21, 21. The drive roller can rotate in either forward or reverse direction by controlling the transport drive motor 22, and by switching the rotation direction of the drive roller, the transport direction of the medium to be cut S in the Y-axis direction can be appropriately switched between the +Y direction and the -Y direction. In this embodiment, a medium transport mechanism 20 (see Figure 1) is configured to transport the medium to be cut S along the Y-axis direction, including at least a pair of transport rollers 21, 21 and a transport drive motor 22 that drives the rollers.

[0012] Further, the cutting device 100 includes a carriage moving mechanism 40 (see FIG. 1) that moves a carriage 5 including a cutter unit 6 as a cutting part along the X-axis direction. The carriage moving mechanism 40 has a pair of support plates 41 respectively arranged substantially in parallel with the pair of side plates 11a and 11b of the apparatus main body 1 inside the X-axis direction. In the example shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, a support plate 41a is arranged in the +X direction, and a support plate 41b is arranged in the -X direction. Between the pair of support plates 41a and 41b, a guide shaft part 42 that supports the carriage 5 and guides it along the X-axis direction is provided extending in the X-axis direction. Guide shaft locking holes 43 (see FIG. 3) are formed at corresponding positions on the pair of support plates 41a and 41b, and the end of the guide shaft part 42 on the +X direction side is inserted into the guide shaft locking hole 43 of the support plate 41a in a fixed state. Also, the end of the guide shaft part 42 on the -X direction side is inserted into the guide shaft locking hole 43 of the support plate 41b in a fixed state. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the axis center C1 of the guide shaft part 42 is indicated by a dashed line. The carriage 5 is provided with a through hole 511 penetrating in the X-axis direction, and the guide shaft part 42 is inserted through the through hole 511 along the X-axis direction.

[0013] The guide shaft part 42 functions as a support part that supports the carriage 5 movably from a non-cutting position where the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6 as the cutting part does not cut the work piece S to a cutting position where the work piece S can be cut by the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6. Here, the "non-cutting position" includes a "separated position" where the blade 61 is completely separated from the sheet surface S1 of the work piece S, and a "contact position" where the blade 61 is in contact with the sheet surface S1 of the work piece S but has not reached the cutting state. Also, when the cutting device 100 is configured to be capable of full cutting that cuts the entire thickness direction of the work piece S and half cutting that cuts while leaving a part of the thickness direction of the work piece S, the "cutting position" includes a "fully cutable position" and a "half cut position". The "blade tip adjustment work" described later is performed in a state where the blade 61 is positioned at the "contact position" among the "non-cutting positions".

[0014] Further, on a pair of support plates 41a and 41b, at positions corresponding to each other and on the -Z direction side of the guide shaft locking hole 43, a support shaft locking hole 47 is formed. A support shaft 48a on the +X direction side is inserted into the support shaft locking hole 47 of the support plate 41a in a fixed state. Also, a support shaft 48b on the -X direction side is inserted into the support shaft locking hole 47 of the support plate 41b in a fixed state. In FIGS. 2 and 3, the virtual axis center C2 of the support shaft 48 (support shafts 48a, 48b) is shown by a two-dot chain line. The axis center C1 of the guide shaft portion 42 and the axis center C2 of the support shaft 48 are in agreement with each other in the Y-axis direction position, and are displaced vertically in the Z-axis direction position. Both of the support shafts 48a and 48b protrude from the support shaft locking hole 47 along the X-axis direction, and the protruding portions of the support shafts 48a and 48b have a cylindrical outer peripheral surface.

[0015] Shaft holes (not shown) are provided in the side plates 11a and 11b of the apparatus main body 1, respectively. The shaft holes are formed such that their centers are located coaxially with the virtual axis center C2 of the support shafts 48a and 48b, and bearing members 12 (see FIG. 2) are attached to the respective shaft holes. The bearing member 12 is constituted by, for example, an annular bearing. The protruding portions of the support shafts 48a and 48b are inserted into the shaft holes of the side plates 11a and 11b through the bearing members 12, respectively, and are supported rotatably about the axis center C2. That is, the support shafts 48a and 48b arranged separately on both sides in the X-axis direction are supported rotatably about the axis center C2 extending in the X-axis direction with respect to the side plates 11a and 11b of the apparatus main body 1. The support shafts 48a and 48b are arranged at positions closer to the cut medium S than the guide shaft portion 42 in the Z-axis direction (on the -Z direction side of the guide shaft portion 42).

[0016] As shown in Figure 1, the carriage movement mechanism 40 includes a drive belt 44 provided parallel to the guide shaft 42 and a belt drive motor 45 that operates the drive belt 44. The drive belt 44 is an endless belt stretched across pulleys 46 supported on both ends (side plates 11a and 11b) of the device body 1 in the X-axis direction, and has a loop structure in which the drive belt 44 revolves between the pulleys 46, 46. When the pulleys 46 are rotated by the drive of the belt drive motor 45, the drive belt 44 moves in the X-axis direction. The carriage 5 is provided with a belt connection part 54 to which the drive belt 44 is connected, and when the drive belt 44 moves in the X-axis direction, the force is transmitted to the belt connection part 54, causing the carriage 5 to move along the X-axis direction. By controlling the belt drive motor 45 to switch the rotation direction of the pulleys 46, the direction of movement of the carriage 5 in the X-axis direction can be appropriately switched between the +X direction and the -X direction.

[0017] The carriage 5, which is moved by the carriage movement mechanism 40, comprises a main body 51 having a through hole 511 through which a guide shaft 42 is inserted, and a first transmission unit 52 and a second transmission unit 53 fixed to the main body 51. The first transmission unit 52 is located on the +Z direction side of the main body 51, and the second transmission unit 53 is located on the +Y direction side of the main body 51. The first transmission unit 52 is provided with a bearing 521. The bearing 521 has a substantially cylindrical outer surface and is rotatably supported about a support shaft (not shown) which is an axis substantially perpendicular to the X direction (approximately coinciding with the Z direction). The +Y direction side surface of the first transmission unit 52 faces the -Y direction side surface of the front plate 781 of the pressing member 78, which will be described later. The bearing 521 is positioned so as to be exposed on the +Y direction side surface of the first transmission unit 52. In this embodiment, the first transmission section 52, which includes the bearing 521, is a pressed section that is pressed by the front plate portion 781 of the pressing member 78, which is a pressing section. As shown in Figures 4 to 7, a gap α exists between the bearing 521 and the front plate portion 781, which functions as a buffer. When an elastic load is applied to the pressing member 78 by an elastic body (torsion spring 74) described later, the -Y direction side surface of the front plate portion 781 of the pressing member 78 comes into contact with the bearing 521, and this gap α becomes zero (see Figure 8).

[0018] The second transmission section 53 has a projection 531 that protrudes in the +Z direction. The projection 531 is recessed into the inside of the pressing member 78, which has a roughly U-shaped cross-section. The contact surface 531a, which is the -Y direction side of the projection 531, is able to contact the +Y direction side of the front plate portion 781 of the pressing member 78. The bearing 521 and the contact surface 531a are in contact with the front plate portion 781 so as to be relatively movable in the X-axis direction. Furthermore, as will be described later, when the pressing member 78 rotates about the axis center C2, force is transmitted from the front plate portion 781 to the bearing 521 and the contact surface 531a, and the carriage 5 rotates about the axis center C2 together with the pressing member 78. More specifically, when the bearing 521 is pressed by the front plate portion 781 of the pressing member 78, the carriage 5 rotates in the first rotational direction R1 (see Figure 4). Furthermore, when the front plate portion 781 of the pressing member 78 presses against the protruding portion 531 (contact surface 531a) of the second transmission portion 53, the carriage 5 rotates in the second rotation direction R2 (see Figure 4), and the carriage 5 rises (the "separated position," also referred to hereinafter as the "separated state"). Note that when the carriage 5 is in the "separated state" (held state), the protruding portion 531 and the front plate portion 781 are configured to come into contact in this manner. This also functions as a limiter to prevent the carriage 5 from rising too high.

[0019] A unit holding portion 55 is provided on the -Y direction side of the main body portion 51 of the carriage 5. The unit holding portion 55 is a holder portion that detachably holds the cutter unit 6, which is a cutting portion equipped with a blade 61. In this embodiment, when the cutter unit 6 is held in the unit holding portion 55, the cutting edge of the blade 61 protrudes by a predetermined amount from the end on the -Z direction side of the cutter unit 6. The tip portion (cutting edge) of the blade 61 is angled, and the mechanism is such that the blade 61 faces in the direction of cutting when the material to be cut S is cut. In order to freely orient the blade 61 in the desired direction, the blade 61 is rotatable, for example, within the cutter unit 6 around a blade axis that is approximately along the Z-axis direction, and is held in a state with as little load as possible. In addition, before the cutting operation begins, a "blade edge adjustment operation" is performed in which the cutting edge is brought into contact with the sheet surface S1 of the material to be cut to adjust the direction of the blade 61.

[0020] Furthermore, the cutting device 100 includes a pressing mechanism 70 (see Figure 2) which has a pressing member 78 including a front plate portion 781 that is a pressing part, and a torsion spring 74, which is an elastic body that applies an elastic load to the pressing member 78. In this embodiment, the pressing member 78 is a member with a substantially U-shaped cross-section, having an upper plate portion 780, a front plate portion 781, and a rear plate portion 782, which are flat plate-shaped wall portions. The front plate portion 781 extends downward from the edge of the upper plate portion 780 on the -Y direction side, and the rear plate portion 782 extends downward from the edge of the upper plate portion 780 on the +Y direction side. The torsion spring 74 is an elastic body for applying an elastic load. The configuration of the elastic body is not limited to those exemplified herein. Furthermore, the pressing mechanism 70 includes a lifting drive motor 71 as a driving means for operating the pressing member 78 to change the height position of the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6 relative to the sheet surface S1 of the medium to be cut. The lifting drive motor 71 is, for example, a pulse motor, and a control unit (not shown) controls the number of drive pulse signals supplied to the lifting drive motor 71.

[0021] The specific configuration of the pressing mechanism 70 is as follows. Specifically, the lifting drive motor 71 is attached to the side of the side plate 11 (side plate 11b in Figure 1), for example. A pinion 71a is provided on the output shaft of the lifting drive motor 71, and the pinion 71a meshes with the first gear 72. The transmission part 73a of the second gear 73 is supported inside the first gear 72. One end and the other end of a torsion spring 74 engage with a spring attachment part 72a provided inside the first gear 72 and a spring attachment part 73b provided on the transmission part 73a of the second gear 73. When the lifting drive motor 71 is driven, the first gear 72 rotates, increasing the amount of deflection of the torsion spring 74. When the torsion spring 74 reaches a predetermined amount of deflection, rotation is transmitted from the first gear 72 to the second gear 73 via the torsion spring 74. In other words, when rotation is transmitted from the first gear 72 to the second gear 73, the torsion spring 74 is charged with spring force.

[0022] The second gear 73 meshes with the fan-shaped first sector gear 75. The first sector gear 75 is provided with a fan-shaped second sector gear 76 that rotates coaxially and integrally with the first sector gear 75. The second sector gear 76 meshes with a fan-shaped third sector gear 77 fixed to the support plate 41 (support plate 41b in Figure 3). The rotation of the second gear 73 is transmitted to the first sector gear 75, causing the second sector gear 76 to rotate together with the first sector gear 75. Furthermore, the rotation of this second sector gear 76 is transmitted to the third sector gear 77. When the third sector gear 77 rotates, the guide shaft portion 42, the pressing member 78, and the support plates 41a and 41b rotate integrally around the axis center C2. Furthermore, the third sector gear 77 has fewer gears, and its upper and lower rotational limits are fixed. This restricts its operation so that it does not rotate more than necessary (i.e., the carriage 5 does not rise too high).

[0023] As described above, in this embodiment, the pressing mechanism 70 includes a lifting drive motor 71, a first gear 72, a second gear 73, a torsion spring 74, a first sector gear 75, a second sector gear 76, a third sector gear 77, and a pressing member 78. The control unit controls the lifting drive motor 71 to switch the rotation direction of the pinion 71a, thereby switching the rotation direction of the guide shaft portion 42, the pressing member 78, and the support plates 41a and 41b around the axis center C2 between the first rotation direction R1 and the second rotation direction R2 shown in Figure 4, etc. The first gear 72, the second gear 73, the first sector gear 75, and the second sector gear 76 are each supported by the side plate 11b and are rotatably supported around a gear shaft that extends in the X-axis direction.

[0024] The pressing mechanism 70 adjusts the processing load at which the processing part of the carriage 5 (i.e., the cutter unit 6, which is the cutting part) presses the medium S to be cut by changing the pressing load at the pressing part, which presses the pressed part (first transmission part 52, including the bearing 521) toward the medium S to be cut, based on the elastic load applied by the torsion spring 74 to the front plate part 781, which is the pressing part. This allows the carriage 5 to operate between a "non-cutting position" and a "cutting position". In other words, if the rotation direction of the guide shaft part 42, pressing member 78, and support plates 41a, 41b around the axis center C2 is the first rotation direction R1, the front plate part 781 presses the first transmission part 52, including the bearing 521. "Pressing load at the pressing part" refers to the load at which the front plate part 781 of this pressing mechanism 70 presses the first transmission part 52, including the bearing 521. When the "pressing load" is applied to the pressing part, the carriage 5 rotates (oscillates) in a direction that brings the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6 closer to the material to be cut S. The "processing load" refers to the load that the cutter unit 6 (blade 61 of the cutter unit 6) applies to the material to be cut S as a result. As shown in Figure 9, until the "pressing load" begins to be applied to the pressing part, the "processing load" is a weak load due to its own weight. In contrast, when the "pressing load," which is the main load originating from the pressing mechanism 70, is applied, the "processing load" becomes approximately equal to the "pressing load."

[0025] Conversely, if the rotation direction of the guide shaft portion 42, pressing member 78, and support plates 41a, 41b around the axis center C2 is set to the second rotation direction R2, the front plate portion 781 presses against the protruding portion 531 of the second transmission portion 53, pushing up the carriage 5 and causing the carriage 5 to rotate (oscillate) in a direction away from the cutting medium S side of the cutter unit 6's blade 61. As a result, the carriage 5 is in a "non-cutting position," which is a "separated position" as shown in Figure 6. Furthermore, as mentioned above, when the carriage 5 is in the "separated state" (held state) when it is raised, the protruding portion 531 and the front plate portion 781 come into contact, which also functions as a limiter to prevent the carriage 5 from rising too high. The pressing load (processing part pressing load) of the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6 against the medium to be cut S is set according to the force (elastic load) of the torsion spring 74 provided between the first gear 72 and the second gear 73. As shown in Figure 9, the higher the device load specification value (number of drive pulse signals (step) supplied to the lifting drive motor 71) is set, the higher the "pressing part pressing load" in which the pressing mechanism 70 presses the first transmission part 52 including the bearing 521, and the pressing load of the blade 61 against the medium to be cut S (processing part pressing load).

[0026] The cutting device 100 is provided with a buffer function that suppresses the "pressing load" applied to the bearing 521 by the front plate portion 781, which is the pressing portion of the pressing mechanism 7, until the "pressing load on the processing portion" exceeds a predetermined load. As described above, in this embodiment, a gap α is formed between the front plate portion 781, which is the pressing portion, and the bearing 521 of the second transmission portion 53, which is the pressed portion that is pressed by the front plate portion 781, as the buffer function (see Figure 4, etc.). Here, "the 'pressing load on the processing portion' exceeds a predetermined load" means that the load is exceeded to a load suitable for performing "blade edge shaping work" (the "blade edge shaping load" shown in Figure 8), in which the cutting edge of the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6, which is the cutting portion, is pressed against the medium to be cut S, but does not result in cutting. In the cutting device 100, as shown in Figure 9, once the blade edge shaping load is exceeded and a half-cut load or the like begins to be applied, the blade 61 becomes capable of cutting the medium S. The gap α is maintained until the "processing part pressing load" exceeds the "specified cutting edge shaping load value" shown in Figure 9, and is configured to suppress the "pressing part pressing load," which is the main load originating from the pressing mechanism 70. Before the front plate portion 781, which is the pressing part, comes into contact with the bearing 521, which is the part to be pressed, and the pressing force of the pressing mechanism 7 corresponding to the elastic load of the torsion spring 74, which is an elastic body, is applied, the cutting edge of the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6, which is the cutting part, is subjected to a load due to the weight of the carriage 5 in the cutting direction (-Z direction), which is the direction in which the blade 61 moves toward (approaches) the medium to be cut S. In this case, the area that constitutes the weight of the carriage 5 is the part shown in light color in Figure 5. In addition, the drive belt 44, shown as a cross section, is also locked to the carriage 5, so it is thought to be related to its own weight.

[0027] In other words, when considering the balance of the carriage 5 in the Y-axis direction with respect to the guide shaft portion 42, the -Y side of the carriage 5, where the cutter unit 6 etc. is installed, is heavier than the +Y side. Therefore, the load due to the weight of the carriage 5 is applied to the -Y side of the carriage 5, and the carriage 5 rotates with the axis center C1 of the guide shaft portion 42 as the center of rotation, with its -Y side moving downward in the cutting direction (-Z direction). The load applied in the cutting direction (-Z direction) due to its own weight is a weak load, weaker than the pressing load required for the cutting edge of the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6 to cut the material to be cut S. In this weak load state, the cutting edge of the blade 61 is positioned in a "contact position" where it contacts the sheet surface S1 of the material to be cut but does not cut. In this embodiment, a "blade edge adjustment operation" is performed to adjust the orientation of the blade 61 in this state. Specifically, with the blade 61 positioned in the "contact position", the carriage 5 or the material to be cut S is moved on the XY horizontal plane. At this time, the cutting edge of the blade 61 follows this movement with a delay. This allows the direction of the cutting edge to be determined ("cutting edge alignment operation"). At the moment the cutting device 100 is started, the device cannot determine the direction of the blade 61. In this respect, by performing the "cutting edge alignment operation," the blade 61 can cut in the appropriate direction when the cutting operation to cut the medium S to be cut is initiated. In Figure 9, the "cutting edge alignment load" is shown as a pressing load (weak load) that positions the cutting edge of the blade 61 at a "contact position" where it contacts the sheet surface S1 of the medium S to be cut but does not cut it.

[0028] Although not shown in the diagram, the cutting device 100 also has a control unit. The control unit has a processor, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit), and a memory unit. The processor reads a program stored in the memory unit and executes it to control the operation of each part of the cutting device 100. The cutting device 100 also has a medium position detection sensor on the underside of the carriage 5, etc., which optically detects alignment marks (registration marks) provided on the backing paper T or the workpiece medium S. The cutting device 100 also includes an X-direction position detection unit that detects the position of the carriage 5 in the X-axis direction, and a rotation position detection unit that detects the rotational position of the carriage 5 and the pressing member 78 around the axis center C2 (none of which are shown). Detection signals output by these medium position detection sensors, the X-direction position detection unit, the rotation position detection unit, etc., are input to the control unit as appropriate. The control unit controls the operation of each part of the device, such as at least the transport drive motor 22, the belt drive motor 45, and the lifting drive motor 71, according to these detection signals.

[0029] Next, the operation of the cutting device 100 with the above configuration will be described. When setting the medium to be cut S in the cutting device 100, the control unit controls the lifting drive motor 71 to position the pressing member 78 and the carriage 5 in the "separated position" of the "non-cutting position" (a position in which the blade 61 is completely separated from the sheet surface S1 of the medium to be cut S). In this state, when the medium to be cut S is inserted between the transport rollers 21, 21, an intrusion detection sensor (not shown) detects the intrusion of the medium to be cut S, and the transport rollers 21, 21 begin to rotate. As a result, the medium to be cut S is held between the transport rollers 21, 21 and becomes ready for transport along the Y-axis.

[0030] The control unit drives the transport drive motor 22 to move the material to be cut S in the Y-axis direction, and drives the belt drive motor 45 to adjust the position of the carriage 5 in the X-axis direction, and causes the position detection sensor to detect the alignment mark on the material to be cut S. When the alignment mark is detected, the material to be cut S is positioned below the carriage 5 within the cutting range based on this. Before moving the carriage 5 to a predetermined position (such as the cutting range) or before starting cutting preparations such as "blade edge shaping work", the control unit drives the lifting drive motor 71 to operate the pressing mechanism 7, causing the carriage 5 to rise in a direction in which the blade 61 moves away from the material to be cut S, and is in a state of "separated position" as shown in Figure 6 (this is also called the "blade separated state" or "first state" in the embodiment). In this "blade separated state" ("first state"), the pressing member 78 of the pressing mechanism 7 is separated from the carriage 5, and a gap α exists between the pressing member 78, which is the pressing part, and the bearing 521, which is the pressed part. Furthermore, a force from the drive belt 44, which is locked to the carriage 5 (belt tension from the drive belt 44), acts on the carriage 5 and the pressing member 78 of the pressing mechanism 7. That is, the drive belt 44 is provided along the X-axis direction of the device and is locked on both the left and right sides in the X-axis direction. Therefore, when the pressing mechanism 7 operates and the carriage 5 and the pressing mechanism 7 tilt to the right, for example in Figure 6, the drive belt 44 is also pressed and pulled to the right in Figure 6 (belt tension is applied). The driving force of the lifting drive motor 71 that operates the pressing mechanism 7 is stronger than the restoring force (reaction force) of the drive belt 44 trying to return to its original position from the tensioned state, and the force of the carriage 5 trying to fall due to its own weight. In other words, when the carriage 5 is in the raised position ("separated position"), the force due to rotation in the R2 direction around the support shaft 48 of the pressing mechanism 70 is large. For this reason, the carriage 5 maintains this position with the front plate portion 781 in contact with the protruding portion 531.

[0031] When the instruction to start cutting is given, the control unit drives the lifting drive motor 71 of the pressing mechanism 7 in the direction of pushing the carriage 5 in the -Y direction (-Z direction), gradually tilting the pressing member 78. As a result, the front plate portion 781 separates from the protruding portion 531, and then the force of the drive belt 44 in the -Y direction (-Z direction) acts on the carriage 5. Furthermore, during this time, the force in the -Z direction due to the weight of the carriage 5 also acts, causing the entire carriage 5 to rotate in the R1 direction around the axis center C2. Triggered by this force of the pressing mechanism 7 (the pushing force by the lifting drive motor 71), the entire carriage 5 rotates around the axis center C2, and the drive belt 44 is released as the carriage 5 approaches a horizontal position, and the restoring force (reaction force) gradually weakens. As the pressing member 78 is tilted and the carriage 5 becomes nearly horizontal, the restoring force due to the belt tension of the drive belt 44 becomes zero. When the restoring force (reaction force) of the drive belt 44 is no longer applied, the carriage 5 tilts due to its own weight towards the heavier side (in this embodiment, the side in the -Y direction where the cutter unit 6 is located) when considering the front-to-back balance in the Y-axis direction around the guide shaft 42. As a result, the carriage 5 rotates (oscillates) in the direction downward in the -Z direction, with the cutter unit 6 side moving downward around the axis center C1 of the guide shaft 42. In this state, there is no active pressing load applied in the cutting direction (-Z direction) by the pressing mechanism 70. In other words, when the force due to the carriage 5's own weight becomes greater than the restoring force of the drive belt 44, the blade 61 comes into contact with the material to be cut S with only the weak load due to its own weight (this is also called the "contact state" or "second state" in this embodiment).

[0032] In this embodiment, the torsion spring 74 constituting the pressing mechanism 70 is a spring that applies a relatively strong elastic load. When the lifting drive motor 71 is driven, the elastic load based on the torsion spring 74 begins to be applied to the bearing 521 of the first transmission unit 52, which is the part to be pressed, via the pressing member 78. As shown in Figure 9, the pressing load (the pressing load that presses the blade 61 against the medium to be cut 61) based on the pressing force applied to the carriage via the bearing 521 of the first transmission unit 52, which is the part to be pressed, increases rapidly. That is, as shown in Figure 10, when a weak spring applies the pressing load, the pressing load increases gradually with respect to the device load setting value, and there is little variation due to the spring. Therefore, it is possible to distinguish between the load required to completely cut the medium to be cut S, the load required to make a half cut (referred to as "half-cut load" in Figure 10), and a load that does not even result in a half cut, but is in contact with the medium to be cut S without damaging the sheet surface S1 (referred to as "blade edge shaping load" in Figure 10). For example, if the cutting edge shaping load is set as the device load setting value, even considering the variation caused by the spring, it is possible to apply a pressing load at a level that does not reach the half-cut load required for a half-cut. In contrast, as shown in Figure 11, when a pressing load is applied by a strong spring, the pressing load increases rapidly relative to the device load setting value, and the variation caused by the spring also increases. For this reason, even if one tries to apply only the "cutting edge shaping load" by setting the cutting edge shaping load as the device load setting value, it is possible that the pressing load will actually be the "half-cut load" or even higher, and there is a risk that the sheet surface S1 will be damaged by the blade 61 during the cutting edge shaping operation.

[0033] In this embodiment, as shown in Figure 7, a gap α is provided between the bearing 521 of the first transmission unit 52 and the front plate portion 781 of the pressing member 78, functioning as a buffer (cushioning means) to gain time before the front plate portion 781 of the pressing member 78 contacts the bearing 521 and begins to press. With this gap α, the "pressing load" on the bearing 521 by the front plate portion 781 is suppressed until the "processing load" in which the blade 61 presses the medium S to be cut exceeds a predetermined load (the "specified blade edge shaping load value" shown in Figure 9). In other words, by applying a weak load in advance of the strong load that leads to cutting, it is possible to adjust the load in stages when a weak load is functionally necessary (for example, when you want to perform blade edge shaping work). Specifically, as long as there is a gap α, the carriage 5 only falls in the -Z direction due to its own weight, and even if the cutting edge contacts the sheet surface S1 of the material to be cut, the pressing load on the material to be cut by the blade 61 ("processing part pressing load") is considerably lower than the "half-cut load" ("weak load due to its own weight" shown in Figure 9), as shown in Figure 9, and is a weak load that is not sufficient to cut the material to be cut S. Furthermore, this weak load is not affected by the torsion spring 74 (for example, the variation shown in Figure 9). Subsequently, as the lifting drive motor 71 is driven further, the pressing member 78 begins to rotate around the axis center C2 due to the elastic load based on the torsion spring 74, and the gap α gradually narrows. Then, when the gap α is completely eliminated ("gap α=0" in Figure 8), the load based on the torsion spring 74 (device load determined by the control of the lifting drive motor 71) is applied to the carriage 5 by the front plate portion 781 of the pressing member 78 pressing against the bearing 521 of the first transmission portion 52, and the carriage 5 supported by the guide shaft portion 42, the pressing member 78 and the support plates 41a, 41b rotate (oscillate) as a whole around the axis center C2. From here, as the device load ("pressing load of the pressing portion") increases further, the pressing load ("pressing load of the processing portion") on which the cutting edge presses against the medium to be cut S also increases, and when the pressing load ("pressing load of the processing portion") exceeds the "half-cut load", the cutting of the medium to be cut S by the blade 61 begins.

[0034] Thus, until the gap α, which functions as a buffer, is filled, the blade 61 contacts the sheet surface S1 of the medium to be cut S. However, since only a weak load due to its own weight is applied, it is possible to maintain a state where the medium to be cut S is not cut. In this embodiment, the "blade tip shaping operation" is performed while the pressing load on the medium to be cut S by the blade 61 remains within the range of the "blade tip shaping load" due to the weight of the carriage 5. That is, the control unit drives one or both of the transport drive motor 22 or the belt drive motor 45 to move the blade 61 on the sheet surface S1 of the medium to be cut S and performs the "blade tip shaping operation" to adjust the orientation of the blade 61. This completes the preparation for cutting the medium S by the cutting device 100.

[0035] Subsequently, the control unit drives the lifting drive motor 71 as appropriate to apply a "half-cut load" or the load required for a full cut, according to the cutting data for cutting the medium S to be cut, and rotates the pressing member 78 and carriage 5 in the first rotational direction R1, moving them from the "non-cutting position" to the "cutting position". As a result, the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6 descends in the -Z direction and is pressed against the sheet surface S1 of the medium S to be cut, and the blade 61 cuts into the medium S according to the pressing load ("cutting state", "third state"). The control unit controls the operation of the transport drive motor 22 of the medium transport mechanism 20 and the belt drive motor 45 of the carriage movement mechanism 40 as appropriate according to the cutting data, thereby executing cutting according to the cutting data. In each of the above-mentioned states—the "separated state" ("first state"), the "contact state" ("second state"), and the "cut state" ("third state")—the carriage 5 is able to move along the guide shaft 42 in the X-axis direction by the control unit controlling the operation of the belt drive motor 45 of the carriage movement mechanism 40.

[0036] As described above, the cutting apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes a carriage 5 having a cutter unit 6 as a processing unit (cutting unit) for cutting the workpiece medium S, and a bearing 521 of a first transmission unit 52 as a pressed unit, and a pressing mechanism elastic body having an elastic body and a pressing unit, wherein the pressing load of the pressing unit, which presses the pressed unit toward the workpiece medium based on the elastic load of the elastic body, can be adjusted by changing the pressing load of the pressing unit, which presses the pressed unit toward the workpiece medium, thereby adjusting the pressing load of the processing unit, which presses the workpiece medium by the processing unit of the carriage. The carriage 5 is equipped with a pressing mechanism 70 which has a torsion spring 74 and a front plate portion 781 which is a pressing portion. The pressing mechanism 70 can adjust the "processing portion pressing load" which is the load that the cutter unit 6 of the carriage 5 presses against the medium S to be cut by changing the "pressing portion pressing load" which is the load that the front plate portion 781 presses against the medium S to be cut based on the elastic load of the torsion spring 74. Between the carriage 5 and the pressing mechanism 70, there is a buffer function portion which suppresses the "pressing portion pressing load" until the "processing portion pressing load" exceeds a predetermined load. As a result, even when the cutter unit 6 (the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6) comes into contact with the medium S to be cut, a gap α is maintained until a load that leads to cutting (a load exceeding the specified value for blade edge shaping load) is reached. This makes it possible to have a state in which the blade 61 is in contact with the medium S to be cut but does not cut, and by utilizing this state, "blade edge shaping work" can be performed without damaging the medium S to be cut.

[0037] In this embodiment, the buffer function is a gap α provided between the front plate portion 781, which is the pressing portion, and the bearing 521 of the first transmission portion 52, which is the pressed portion. The gap α is configured to hold the front plate portion 781 until it comes into contact with the bearing 521 and the pressing force (main device load) of the pressing mechanism 70 corresponding to the elastic load of the torsion spring 74, which is an elastic body, is applied. Thus, in this embodiment, before the front plate portion 781, which is the pressing portion, comes into contact with the bearing 521 of the first transmission portion 52, which is the pressed portion, and the pressing force of the pressing mechanism 70 corresponding to the elastic load of the torsion spring 74, which is an elastic body, is applied, a load due to the weight of the carriage 5 is applied to the cutting edge of the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6, which is the cutting portion, in the cutting direction (-Z direction), which is the direction in which the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6 is toward the medium S to be cut. This allows the carriage 5 to be subjected to only a weak load due to its own weight while the gap α is maintained, enabling the "blade edge shaping work" to be performed without damaging the cutting surface S of the blade 61.

[0038] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the load applied in the cutting direction due to the self-weight is a weak load, less than the pressing load required for the cutting edge of the cutting part to cut the material to be cut. Therefore, with a simple configuration that utilizes the self-weight, a "cutting edge shaping load" suitable for "cutting edge shaping work" can be obtained, that is, a load that causes the cutting edge to contact the material S to be cut but does not result in cutting.

[0039] [Second Embodiment] Next, a second embodiment of the cutting device according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 12 to 14. Note that this embodiment differs from the first embodiment only in the configuration of the buffer function unit; therefore, the differences from the first embodiment will be described in particular below.

[0040] The cutting device of this embodiment includes a carriage 5a as shown in Figure 12, etc. Similar to the first embodiment, the carriage 5a includes a main body 51 having a through hole 511 through which a guide shaft 42 is inserted, a first transmission unit 52a located on the +Z side of the main body 51, and a second transmission unit 53 fixed to the +Y side of the main body 51. The first transmission unit 52a in this embodiment includes a movable unit 522 located on the +Y side and a fixed unit 523 located on the -Y side of the movable unit 522 and fixed to the main body 51. The movable unit 522 is connected to the main body 51 via a connecting shaft 522a, which is an axis along the X axis, and swings about the connecting shaft 522a. Similar to the first embodiment, a bearing 521 is provided on the surface of the movable unit 522 facing the front plate 781 of the pressing member 78.

[0041] The first transmission section 52a (particularly the movable section 522 of the first transmission section 52a) is a pressed section that is pressed by the front plate section 781 of the pressing member 78, which is a pressing section, via a bearing 521. A gap is provided between this pressed section and the cutter unit 6 having a blade 61, which is a cutting section. In this embodiment, a gap β is formed between the movable section 522 and the fixed section 523, and a light load spring 524 is provided in the gap β as a biasing section. The light load spring 524 applies a weak load to the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6 that is weaker than the elastic load of the torsion spring 74, which is an elastic body, and maintains the gap β until the pressing load of the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6 on the cutting medium S exceeds a predetermined load. In this embodiment, the buffer function section is composed of the gap β and the light load spring 524 that maintains the gap β. In this embodiment, the light load spring 524 is provided as a biasing section, and in the example shown in Figure 12, etc., a coil spring is imagined. However, the biasing element only needs to have a configuration that provides a weaker biasing force compared to the torsion spring 74, and is not limited to a coil spring. Furthermore, it doesn't have to be a spring; any element that can provide a weak biasing force is acceptable.

[0042] Before the front plate portion 781 of the pressing member 78 contacts the bearing 521, which is the part to be pressed, and the pressing force of the pressing mechanism 70 corresponding to the elastic load by the torsion spring 74 is applied, the carriage 5a on which the cutter unit 6 is installed rotates (oscillates) by its own weight around the axis center C1 of the guide shaft portion 42, similar to the first embodiment. Furthermore, in this embodiment, a weak pressing force (elastic load) is applied to the fixed portion 523 of the first transmission portion 52a by the light load spring 524. In this way, the material to be cut S, which the cutting edge of the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6 contacts, is subjected to a load from the weight of the carriage 5a and a load from the light load spring 524 in the cutting direction (-Z direction), which is the direction in which the blade 61 faces the material to be cut S. For this reason, even when the bearing 521 is pressed by the front plate portion 781, in this embodiment, the gap β is maintained until the light load spring 524 is compressed, and no main pressing load based on the torsion spring 74 is applied. Therefore, until the light load spring 524 is compressed and the gap β becomes zero, a weak load (weaker than the "half-cut load") is applied to the blade 61 as a pressing load against the material to be cut S, so that even if the cutting edge of the blade 61 contacts the sheet surface S1 of the material to be cut S, it will not result in cutting. This state can be used to perform the "blade edge shaping work".

[0043] Furthermore, by controlling the lifting drive motor 71 of the pressing mechanism 70 to rotate the pinion 71a in the reverse direction, the carriage 5a can be rotated (oscillated) in a direction that pushes it upward, as shown in Figure 13, and the blade 61 can be retracted to a "separated position" where it is separated from the sheet surface S1 of the material to be cut S. In this state, the +Y direction surface of the front plate portion 781 of the pressing member 78 abuts against the protruding portion 531 of the carriage 5a, and the protruding portion 531 is pressed, causing the entire carriage 5a to rotate in the second rotation direction R2 around the axis center C2. Note that the method of rotating (oscillating) the carriage 5a in a direction that pushes it upward and retracting the blade 61 to a "separated position" where it is separated from the sheet surface S1 of the material to be cut S is the same as in the first embodiment. Note that the other configurations are the same as in the first embodiment, so the same reference numerals are used for the same components and their descriptions are omitted.

[0044] Next, the operation of the cutting device with the above configuration will be described. Similar to the first embodiment, before moving the carriage 5a to a predetermined position (such as the cutting range) or before starting cutting preparations such as "blade edge shaping work", the carriage 5a is in a "separated position" as shown in Figure 14 (a position in which the blade 61 is completely separated from the sheet surface S1 of the material to be cut S). The operation in this "separated state" is the same as in the first embodiment, so the explanation will be omitted. When an instruction to start cutting is given, the control unit drives the lifting drive motor 71 of the pressing mechanism 7 in the direction of pushing the carriage 5 in the -Y direction (-Z direction). Triggered by the force of this pressing mechanism 7 (the pushing force by the lifting drive motor 71), the entire carriage 5 also rotates around the axis center C2, and the drive belt 44 is released as the carriage 5 approaches a horizontal position, and the restoring force (reaction force) gradually weakens. When the carriage 5 is almost horizontal, the restoring force due to the belt tension of the drive belt 44 becomes 0.

[0045] When the restoring force (reaction force) of the drive belt 44 is lost, the carriage 5a tilts due to its own weight towards the heavier side (in this embodiment, the side in the -Y direction where the cutter unit 6 is located) when considering the front-to-back balance in the Y-axis direction around the guide shaft 42. That is, the carriage 5a rotates (oscillates) around the axis center C1 of the guide shaft 42 in a direction downward in the -Z direction towards the cutter unit 6. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the cutter unit 6 side is pressed downward in the -Z direction by the light load spring 524 placed in the gap β. As a result, the blade 61 comes into contact with the material to be cut S due to its own weight and the pressing force of the light load spring 524. In this state, there is no active pressing load in the cutting direction (-Z direction) by the pressing mechanism 70, and the "processing part pressing load" in which the blade 61 presses against the material to be cut S remains within the range of the "blade edge shaping load" in which the blade 61 comes into contact with the material to be cut S but does not cut it. Until the "processing part pressing load" exceeds a predetermined load (the "specified cutting edge shaping load value" shown in Figure 9), the gap β is maintained by the light load spring 524, suppressing the "pressing part pressing load" on the bearing 521 by the front plate portion 781. In this embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the "cutting edge shaping work" is performed while the pressing load on the medium S to be cut by the blade 61 remains within the range of the "cutting edge shaping load". In this way, when the force due to the carriage 5's own weight becomes greater than the restoring force of the drive belt 44, the blade 61 comes into contact with the medium S to be cut by only the force due to its own weight and the pressing force of the light load spring 524 ("contact state").

[0046] In contrast, when the "processing part pressing load" exceeds a predetermined load (the "specified value for cutting edge adjustment load" shown in Figure 9), as shown in Figure 13, the gap β is filled against the light load spring 524 (gap β=0), and the "pressing part pressing load" on the bearing 521 by the front plate portion 781 begins to be actively applied. That is, the control unit further drives the lifting drive motor 71, and accordingly the pressing load of the blade 61 on the material to be cut S ("processing part pressing load") also increases, and when the "processing part pressing load" reaches the "half-cut load" or the load required for a full cut, the pressing member 78 and carriage 5 move from the "non-cutting position" to the "cutting position". That is, as shown in Figure 13, the blade 61 cuts into the sheet surface S1 of the material to be cut S, and becomes ready to cut ("cutting state"). Other operations are the same as in the first embodiment, so their explanation is omitted.

[0047] As described above, this embodiment provides the same effects as the first embodiment, as well as the following effects. In this embodiment, the buffer function is composed of a gap β provided between the first transmission unit 52a (particularly the movable part 522 of the first transmission unit 52a), which is the pressed part, and the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6, which is the cutting part, and a light load spring 524 provided within the gap β. The light load spring 524 is a biasing unit that applies a weak load weaker than the elastic load of the torsion spring 74, which is an elastic body, to the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6, and maintains the gap β until the load on the cutting medium S of the blade 61 exceeds a predetermined load (the "specified blade edge shaping load value" shown in Figure 9).

[0048] In other words, in this embodiment, before the front plate portion 781 of the pressing member 78, which is the pressing portion, contacts the first transmission portion 52a (particularly the movable portion 522 of the first transmission portion 52a) and the main pressing force of the pressing mechanism 70 corresponding to the elastic load by the torsion spring 74 is applied, the material to be cut S, which the cutting edge of the blade 61 of the cutter unit 6 contacts, is subjected to a load from the weight of the carriage 5 and a load from the light load spring 524 in the cutting direction (-Z direction), which is the direction in which the blade 61 faces the material to be cut S. As a result, even if, for example, the weight on the -Y direction side of the carriage 5 on which the cutter unit 6 is installed is insufficient (too light, etc.) to obtain the weight necessary to set the cutting edge, the load can be easily adjusted to the required amount by adding the elastic load of the light load spring 524. In other words, in the configuration of this embodiment, any load can be set by adding the light load spring 524 without relying on the weight determined by the device design.

[0049] Although embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, in the above embodiment, the carriage 5 on which the cutter unit 6 is mounted moves in the X-axis direction and the medium to be cut S is conveyed in the Y-axis direction, but the cutting part and the medium to be cut S only need to move relative to each other in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and the way they move is not limited to those shown above. For example, the cutting part may move in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction, and the medium to be cut S may be fixed. Alternatively, the cutting part may be fixed, and the medium to be cut S may be configured to move in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction.

[0050] Furthermore, the "blade sharpening process" may be performed not on the sheet surface S1 of the actual medium to be cut, but on a backing sheet T or on the top surface of a temporary medium.

[0051] Furthermore, the pressing mechanism 70 presses the pressed portion of the carriage 5, and is not limited to the configuration shown in the embodiment, as long as it has a configuration that allows adjustment of the "machining portion pressing load" in which the machining portion of the carriage 5 presses the machining medium by changing the "pressing portion pressing load" that presses the pressed portion of the carriage 5 toward the workpiece. For example, the pressing mechanism may include a cylinder mechanism using hydraulics, an electric actuator, a cam mechanism, etc.

[0052] Furthermore, although the embodiment illustrates a case where the processing device is a cutting device and includes a cutting unit (cutter unit 6) having a blade 61 as the processing unit, the processing device is not limited to a cutting device. The configuration shown in the embodiment can be broadly applied to any device that performs some kind of processing on a workpiece. In this case, the carriage is equipped with various processing units used for processing as appropriate.

[0053] Furthermore, although the embodiment exemplified a case where the elastic body provided in the pressing mechanism is a torsion spring 74, the elastic body is not limited to a torsion spring and can be any material capable of generating a load that presses on the part to be pressed. Examples of elastic bodies include compression springs, tension springs, leaf springs, etc. Specifically, for example, a rubber torsion spring, which is a mechanism that absorbs and repels torsional forces by utilizing the elasticity of rubber, may also be used. In this case, the properties of rubber are utilized to provide excellent vibration absorption and shock mitigation. Alternatively, for example, a torsion bar, which is a mechanism that stores elastic energy by twisting a metal rod and utilizes the force of returning to its original state, may also be used. In addition, an elastic joint, which is a mechanism that absorbs and transmits rotational motion using rubber or other elastic materials, may also be used. Moreover, the elastic body is not limited to those exemplified herein.

[0054] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the carriage 5 rotates (oscillates) by its own weight around the axis center C1 of the guide shaft portion 42, and when the support plates 41a, 41b and the guide shaft portion 42 and pressing member 78, etc., which are locked thereto, rotate (oscillate) together by the operation of the pressing mechanism 70, they rotate (oscillate) around the axis centers C2 of the support shafts 48a and 48b, which are set in the -Z direction from the axis center C1 of the guide shaft portion 42. However, the carriage 5 may be configured to rotate around the same axis (for example, the axis center C1 of the guide shaft portion 42) both when rotating by its own weight and when rotating by the operation of the pressing mechanism 70.

[0055] Furthermore, the specific details such as the configuration, arrangement, order, and numerical values ​​of the processes shown in the above embodiments can be modified as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Moreover, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments, but includes the scope of the invention as described in the claims and its equivalents. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0056] 5...Carriage, 6...Cutter unit (cutting section), 52...First transmission section (pressed section), 61...Blade, 70...Pressing mechanism, 74...Torsion spring (elastic body), 78...Pressing member (pressing section), S...Cutting medium, α...Gap (buffer function section)

Claims

1. A carriage having a processing section for processing a workpiece and a pressing section, A pressing mechanism having an elastic body and a pressing part, wherein the pressing load of the pressing part, which presses the pressed part toward the workpiece based on the elastic load of the elastic body, can be changed, thereby adjusting the processing part pressing load of the processing part, which presses the workpiece by the processing part of the carriage, Equipped with, A buffer function is provided between the carriage and the pressing mechanism to suppress the pressing load on the pressing part until the pressing load on the processing part exceeds a predetermined load. A processing apparatus characterized by the following features.

2. In the buffer function section, a gap is formed between the pressing portion and the pressed portion. The gap is configured such that the pressing portion contacts the portion to be pressed and is held until the pressing force of the pressing mechanism corresponding to the elastic load by the elastic body is applied. The processing apparatus according to feature 1.

3. Before the pressing portion contacts the portion to be pressed and the pressing force of the pressing mechanism corresponding to the elastic load by the elastic body is applied, the processing portion is subjected to a load due to the weight of the carriage in the processing direction, which is the direction in which the processing portion is directed toward the workpiece. The processing apparatus according to feature 2.

4. The load applied in the machining direction due to the self-weight is a weak load, weaker than the pressing load required when the machining part processes the workpiece. The processing apparatus according to feature 3.

5. The buffer function unit is a gap provided between the pressed portion and the processing portion, and a biasing unit provided within the gap that applies a weak load weaker than the elastic load of the elastic body to the processing portion, and maintains the gap until the processing portion's pressing load on the workpiece exceeds a predetermined load. The processing apparatus according to feature 1.

6. Before the pressing portion contacts the portion to be pressed and the pressing force of the pressing mechanism corresponding to the elastic load by the elastic body is applied, the workpiece to which the processing portion contacts is subjected to a load due to the weight of the carriage and a load due to the biasing portion in the processing direction, which is the direction in which the processing portion is directed toward the workpiece. The processing apparatus according to feature 5.

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