Processing equipment and processed media

Abstract

This prevents the workpiece from falling when the processing equipment is used in a vertical position. [Solution] The processing apparatus 100 comprises a processing unit for processing the processing area Ar1 of a sheet-like medium 7 having a processing area Ar1 and a non-processing area Ar2, a medium transport mechanism 30 for transporting the medium 7 along the medium feeding direction (Y-axis direction), and a base 2 having a support surface 2a for supporting the medium 7. The medium 7 has an engaged portion 71 in the non-processing area Ar2, and the base 2 has an engaging member 20 that can extend and retract from the support surface 2a toward the medium 7 and is configured to engage with the engaged portion 71.

Description

Technical Field

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

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, as a processing apparatus for processing a workpiece medium (hereinafter referred to as "medium"), for example, a cutting apparatus for cutting a sheet-like medium is known (for example, Patent Document 1).

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] When the apparatus described in Patent Document 1 defines the Y direction as the front-rear direction, the X direction as the left-right direction, and the Z direction as the up-down direction, for example, it is assumed that the apparatus is used in a state where it is disposed substantially parallel to the XY plane on a table or the like. However, since a processing apparatus such as a cutting apparatus occupies a relatively large space for installation, there is a desire to use it vertically by hanging it on a wall or the like in order to secure as much working space as possible. In this regard, when a processing operation such as a cutting operation is completed, the state in which the medium is supported by a conveyance roller or the like is released, so there is a risk that the medium will fall after the processing operation is completed.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of such problems, and an object thereof is to provide a processing apparatus and a workpiece medium that can prevent the workpiece medium from falling when the processing apparatus is used vertically.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0006] To solve the above problems, the processing apparatus according to the present invention comprises a processing unit for processing the processing area of ​​a sheet-like medium having a processing area and a non-processing area, a medium transport mechanism for transporting the medium along the medium feeding direction, and a base having a support surface for supporting the medium, wherein the medium has an engaged portion in the non-processing area, and the base has an engaging member that can extend and retract from the support surface toward the medium and is configured to engage with the engaged portion. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the present invention, when the processing device is used in a vertical position, it is possible to prevent the workpiece from falling. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing the overall main components of the processing apparatus according to the embodiment. [Figure 2] This is a schematic overall view showing the processing apparatus according to the embodiment in use, mounted vertically on a wall. [Figure 3] Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view illustrating the positional relationship between the engaging portion of the base and the engaged portion of the medium. [Figure 4] Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view of the main part of the device, perpendicular to the X-axis direction, showing the state in which the engaging portion of the base protrudes from the engaged portion of the medium. [Figure 5] Figure 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the main part of the device, perpendicular to the X-axis direction, illustrating the case where the engaging portion of the base shown in Figure 3 is pressed down by a portion of the medium other than the engaged portion, resulting in a non-protruding state. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the processing apparatus 100 and the workpiece medium according to the present invention will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 5. Hereinafter, the workpiece medium will simply be referred to as medium 7. The X-axis direction, Y-axis direction, and Z-axis direction shown in each figure are directions perpendicular to each other. In the embodiment, the processing apparatus 100 moves the processing unit 5 and the medium 7 relative to each other in the X-axis direction and the Y-axis direction. It may also be equipped with a configuration for changing the distance from the surface of the medium 7 to the processing unit 5 (distance in the Z-axis direction relative to the surface of the medium 7). This allows the processing unit 5 to be brought into contact with and away from the surface of the sheet-like medium 7 as appropriate, and any processing can be performed. In the embodiment, the processing apparatus 100 is, for example, a cutting apparatus that performs cutting on the medium (workpiece medium) 7. When the processing apparatus 100 is a cutting apparatus, the processing apparatus 100 is equipped with a cutting unit having a cutter blade (not shown) as a processing unit 5 that processes (cuts) the medium (workpiece medium) 7. As shown in Figure 1, the processing apparatus 100 is equipped with a control unit 101, and the entire apparatus is controlled by the control unit 101. In other words, the control unit 101 includes, for example, a CPU (Central Processing Unit), a storage unit such as ROM (Read Only Memory), and RAM (Random Access Memory). Programs and data are stored in the storage unit. The RAM provides a work area to the CPU. The control unit 101 controls the operation of each part of the electronic musical instrument 100 by having the CPU read the programs and data stored in the storage unit into the RAM and load them.

[0010] In the processing apparatus 100 of this embodiment, the X-axis direction is the direction of movement of the processing unit 5, and the Y-axis direction is the direction of media transport. The X-axis and Y-axis directions are concepts that include both positive and negative directions. The processing apparatus 100 in this embodiment is intended to be used vertically, for example, by hanging it on a wall Wa in a room. As shown in Figure 2, the X-axis direction, which is the direction of movement of the processing unit 5, is the left-right direction (right is the +X direction, left is the -X direction), and the Y-axis direction, which is the direction of media transport, is the up-down direction (up is the +Y direction, down is the -Y direction). Also, in Figure 1, etc., the Z-axis direction is the height (thickness) direction of the processing apparatus 100. Note that the XYZ coordinates shown in Figure 2 are coordinates when viewed with respect to the processing apparatus 100. The -Y direction is approximately the direction of gravity when viewed by a user or other person outside the apparatus. Note that in this embodiment, "vertical" placement is not limited to cases where the -Y direction is strictly the direction of gravity, but also includes cases where the apparatus is leaning at an angle or in a slightly tilted state. While the embodiments described below are subject to various technically preferred limitations for carrying out the present invention, the scope of the present invention is not limited to the following embodiments and illustrated examples.

[0011] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the processing apparatus 100 according to this embodiment includes a device body 1. In Figure 2, the device body 1 is schematically shown as a rectangle. The device body 1 may be housed in a casing that is formed in a substantially box shape. The device body 1 has mounting locking parts (not shown) on surfaces that come into contact with the mounting surface (e.g., wall surface Wa in Figure 2) when the device is installed (e.g., the bottom surface of the device body 1). For example, if a hook or the like is provided on the mounting surface such as wall surface Wa, the processing apparatus 100 is provided with a locking hole or the like as a mounting locking part that can be used to hook the hook or the like. This allows the processing apparatus 100 to be hung on wall surface Wa and used in a vertical position.

[0012] As shown in Figure 1, the processing apparatus 100 is equipped with a base 2 on the front side (-Y-axis direction) of the apparatus body 1 in the Y-axis direction. The base 2 is a flat platform or tray on which the medium 7 supplied to the apparatus is placed. The surface of the base 2 is a support surface 2a that supports the medium 7 from the back side. The dimension of the support surface 2a in the X-axis direction is greater than the length in the direction intersecting the transport direction (Y-axis direction) of the medium 7 (the width direction of the medium 7), so that the medium 7 can be received in a flat state without bending or other deformation.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1 and other figures, the medium 7 in the embodiment has a processing area Ar1 in its approximate center, and a non-processing area Ar2 outside the processing area Ar1, and the entire medium is formed in a sheet shape. Specifically, the medium 7 is formed by integrating a workpiece, such as paper, which will be processed by the processing unit 5 described later, with a backing sheet having dimensions slightly larger than the workpiece, by means of attachment or the like. The backing sheet constituting the medium 7 is made of a resin such as polycarbonate. However, the material used to form the backing sheet is not limited to this. Furthermore, the medium 7 only needs to be such that the workpiece does not shift relative to the backing sheet, and the method of integrating the workpiece with the backing sheet is not particularly limited. Of the medium 7, the part where the workpiece is placed is the processing area Ar1, and the part around the processing area Ar1 where the workpiece is not placed is the non-processing area Ar2. The workpiece constituting the processing area Ar1 is not limited to paper, but can be any material that can be processed by the processing unit 5, such as sheets of various resins, seals, leather, etc.

[0014] The medium 7 has an engaged portion 71 in the non-processing region Ar2. In this embodiment, the engaged portion 71 is a slit-shaped through hole that opens at a position corresponding to the engaged portion 21 of the engaging member 20, which will be described later. In the example shown in Figures 1 and 3, the non-processing region Ar2 is located further back in the transport direction than the processing region Ar1 (towards the +Y direction in Figure 1, etc.), and one engaged portion 71 is provided on each of the left and right sides in the width direction of the medium 7. Furthermore, as will be described later, the base 2 is equipped with engaging members 20 at positions corresponding to the engaged portion 71 of the medium 7 (see Figures 1 and 3). The engaging member 20 is configured to extend and retract from the support surface 2a of the base 2 relative to the medium 7 in the Z-axis direction in Figures 4 and 5, and when extended, it can engage with the engaged portion 71. The position and size of the engaged portion 71 are not particularly limited, but it is preferable that the engaged portion 71 be formed to be slightly larger in width and length (with some play) than the protruding portion of the engaging member 20 (engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20) so that the engaging member 20 (engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20) can engage smoothly. This ensures that the engaged portion 71 can be reliably engaged with the engaging member 20 (engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20) even if there is some misalignment, such as in the case of some assembly tolerances in the device. Further details regarding the engagement between the engaging member 21 and the engaged portion 71 will be described later.

[0015] A pair of transport rollers 31a and 31b, which constitute the medium transport mechanism 30, are provided extending in the X-axis direction from the base 2 towards the rear in the transport direction (+Y direction). The pair of transport rollers 31a and 31b are arranged so as to overlap vertically in the Z-axis direction. In Figure 1, the transport roller located on the lower side in the Z-axis direction (-Z-axis direction) is referred to as transport roller 31a, and the transport roller located on the upper side (+Z-axis direction) is referred to as transport roller 31b. One of the pair of transport rollers 31a and 31b is a drive roller that is rotationally driven by a Y-axis drive motor 32, and the other is a driven roller that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of this drive roller. The medium 7 is supported by being held between the pair of transport rollers 31a and 31b and is transported along the Y-axis direction in accordance with the rotation of the transport rollers 31a and 31b.

[0016] In this embodiment, of the pair of transport rollers 31, the transport roller 31b positioned on the upper side in the Z-axis direction is provided on the outer circumference of both ends of the roller axis 34 in the X-axis direction. As a result, when the medium 7 is supplied to the pair of transport rollers 31a and 31b, the medium 7 is held between the transport rollers 31a and 31b at both ends in the X-axis direction, and the central part in the X-axis direction, which is the upper surface of the medium 7 in the Z-axis direction and is the processing area Ar1 where the workpiece is located, is not subjected to a load from the transport rollers 31a and 31b. The drive roller can rotate in either forward or reverse direction by the control unit 101 controlling the Y-axis drive motor 32, and by switching the rotation direction of the drive roller, the transport direction of the medium 7 in the Y-axis direction can be freely switched between forward and reverse (i.e., +Y-axis direction and -Y-axis direction). In this embodiment, a medium transport mechanism 30 is configured to transport the medium 7 along the Y-axis direction, including at least a pair of transport rollers 31a and 31b and a Y-axis drive motor 32.

[0017] Furthermore, the main body of the apparatus 1 is equipped with an X-axis movement mechanism 40 for moving the machining section 5. The X-axis movement mechanism 40 includes a timing belt 41 for moving the machining section 5 in the X-axis direction, an X-axis drive motor 42 for operating the timing belt 41, and a guide shaft 43 for guiding the movement of the machining section 5. The timing belt 41 is an endless belt stretched over pulleys (not shown) provided at each end of the main body of the apparatus 1 in the X-axis direction, and has a loop structure in which the timing belt 41 revolves between the pulleys. When the timing belt 41 moves due to the drive of the X-axis drive motor 42, the machining section 5, which is locked to the timing belt 33, is guided by the guide shaft 43 and moves along the X-axis direction. The control unit 101 controls the X-axis drive motor 42 to switch the rotation direction of the pulleys, so that the direction of movement of the machining section 5 in the X-axis direction can be freely switched between forward and reverse (i.e., +X-axis direction and -X-axis direction). In addition, the main body of the apparatus 1 may be equipped with a Z-axis movement mechanism (not shown) for moving the machining section 5 in the Z-axis direction.

[0018] Here, the engaging member 21 provided on the pedestal 2 and the engaged portion 71 of the medium 7 locked to the engaging member 21 will be described in detail while referring to FIGS. 3 to 5. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, on the pedestal 2, a housing recess 25 that opens to the support surface 2a for supporting the medium 7 is provided corresponding to the position of the engaged portion 71 provided on the medium 7. An engaging member 20 is disposed in the housing recess 25. In the embodiment, the engaging member 20 includes at least an engaging portion 21 and a biasing member 22 that biases the engaging portion 21 toward the medium 7 side (in FIGS. 4 and 5, the +Z direction side). The housing recess 25 has an internal space sufficient for the engaging portion 21 to move. Also, in the embodiment, the engaging portion 21 can project from and retract into the housing recess 25, and the opening portion of the housing recess 25 is formed with dimensions slightly larger (with a clearance) than the width and length of the engaging portion 21. Thereby, the engaging portion 21 can smoothly enter and exit the housing recess 25.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 3 to 5, the engaging portion 21 in the embodiment is a substantially triangular plate-like member that is swingably supported about a fulcrum 21a provided at a corner A on the front side in the conveyance direction (-Y side). The corner A where the fulcrum 21a is provided is a corner provided at a position that becomes the lower side (-Y side) in the mounting state of the device when the medium conveyance mechanism 30 conveys the medium 7 in the vertical direction (in FIG. 2, the Y-axis direction) and the processing device 100 is disposed. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the corner provided at the upper side (+Y side) in the mounting state of the device in the engaging portion 21 is defined as corner B. Also, when the third corner of the substantially triangular engaging portion 21 is defined as corner C, the side between corner B and corner C is defined as the first side 21b, and the side that faces corner B and is between corner A and corner C is defined as the second side 21c.

[0020] The biasing member 22 pushes up the corner B of the engaging portion 21 toward the medium 7 side (the +Z direction side in FIGS. 4 and 5). In FIGS. 4 and 5, the biasing member 22 is a coil spring. When no load is applied from the medium 7 side, the engaging portion 21 protrudes toward the medium 7 side by the biasing force of the biasing member 22. That is, the engaging portion 21 rotates (swings) in the +Z direction about the fulcrum 21a by the biasing force of the biasing member 22. As a result, the engaging portion 21 is in a protruding state protruding from the support surface 2a in the normal state. The state where no load is applied from the medium 7 side means that the medium 7 does not exist in the portion where the engaging member 20 is disposed or the medium 7 exists in the portion where the engaging member 20 is disposed, but the engaged portion 71, which is a through hole, is located at the position corresponding to the engaging member 20 (the state shown in FIG. 4). When the medium 7 is supported by the pedestal 2 and the engaging member 20 faces a portion other than the engaged portion 71 of the medium 7, the opening portion of the housing recess 25 is blocked by the medium 7. Since the biasing force by the biasing member 22 is weak in the embodiment, when the opening portion of the housing recess 25 is blocked by the medium 7, the load by the medium 7 exceeds the biasing force that tries to push up the engaging portion 21 in the +Z direction, and the protrusion of the engaging portion 21 from the support surface 2a is inhibited. Then, the engaging member 20 (the engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20) is released and becomes a protruding state when the engaged portion 71 reaches the corresponding position by the conveyance of the medium conveyance mechanism 30, that is, when it is disposed above the housing recess 25 provided with the engaging member 20.

[0021] When the conveyance direction of the medium of the engaging member 20 is the vertical direction, the side (in the embodiment, the "first side 21b" in FIGS. 4 and 5) that becomes the upper side (the upper side, +Y side in FIG. 2) in the mounting state of the device (the state shown in FIG. 2) of the engaging portion 2 Let the angle formed with the support surface 2a in the protruding state be an angle capable of locking the engaged portion 71. For example, in the embodiment, the angle formed by the end surface on the first side 21b side of the engaging portion 21 and the support surface 2a is an acute angle of 90 degrees or less. Thereby, when the engaging portion 21 protrudes from the support surface 2a and fits into the engaged portion 71, it becomes a hook shape and securely locks the engaged portion 71.

[0022] Similarly, when the media transport direction is vertical, the lower side of the engaging portion 21 (the "second side 21c" in Figures 4 and 5 in this embodiment) in the mounted state of the device (the state shown in Figure 2) is formed to have a gentle slope that does not obstruct transport when the media 7 is transported upward in the transport direction (upward in Figure 2, +Y side). In other words, the second side 21c is configured to rise gently from the lower side to the upper side in the transport direction, so as a load is applied as the media 7 is transported, it is gradually pushed down, so that the transported media 7 does not hit the second side 21c and stop. Specifically, for example, the angle between the end face on the second side 21c of the engaging portion 21 and the support surface 2a is an obtuse angle of about 120 degrees.

[0023] Next, the operation of the processing device 100 and the medium 7 will be described. As shown in Figure 2, the processing device 100 of this embodiment is used vertically by hanging it on a wall Wa or the like. When setting the medium 7 in the processing device 100, the side with the engaged portion 71 is placed on the base 2 (top surface) from the bottom side (-Y side) in Figure 2, with the side with the engaged portion 71 facing upwards (upper side in Figure 2, +Y side), and the medium 7 is pushed upwards (+Y direction) until the front end of the medium 7 (upper end in Figure 2) reaches the position where the transport rollers 31a and 31b are positioned. Until the medium 7 is positioned to correspond to the engaging member 20, the engaging portion 21, which is biased by the biasing member 22, is in a protruding state that extends from the support surface of the base 2, as shown in Figure 1. As the medium 7 is pushed upwards (+Y direction) until it reaches the position where the transport rollers 31a and 31b are positioned, the engaging portion 21 rotates downwards in the -Z direction as the second side 21c is gradually pushed by the medium 7. Then, when the opening of the receiving recess 25 is closed by the medium 7, the engaging portion 21 is pushed by the medium 7 and housed within the receiving recess 25, as shown in Figure 5, for example.

[0024] When the medium 7 reaches the position where the transport rollers 31a and 31b are positioned, the medium 7 is placed on the support surface 2a of the base 2, supported, and held between the transport rollers 31a and 31b from both sides. When the processing operation by the processing unit 5 begins, the control unit 101 controls the medium transport mechanism 30 to operate the drive rollers among the transport rollers 31a and 31b, moving the medium 7 along the Y-axis as appropriate. The control unit 101 also controls the X-axis movement mechanism 40 to move the processing unit 5 along the X-axis as appropriate. While the processing operation by the processing unit 5 is performed, the medium 7 moves up and down as appropriate at a position where the processing area Ar1 corresponds to the processing unit 5. At this time, the transport rollers 31a and 31b are positioned closer to the center (i.e., closer to the processing area) than the +Y-direction ends of the medium 7, and the medium 7 remains held between the transport rollers 31a and 31b during the processing operation by the processing unit 5.

[0025] When the processing operation is complete, the transport rollers 31a and 31b transport the medium 7 toward the front in the transport direction (-Y direction) to discharge it from the device. Since the transport rollers 31a and 31b are located behind the base 2 in the transport direction (+Y side), the medium 7 is sent out in the discharge direction, and as the medium 7 is transported in the -Y direction, the +Y end of the medium 7 passes the position where the transport rollers 31a and 31b are located. Once the medium 7 has passed the position where the transport rollers 31a and 31b are located, the gripping state by the transport rollers 31a and 31b is released, and the medium 7 is left only supported by the base 2. Near the +Y end of the medium 7, there is an engaged portion 71 of the medium 7, and around the time the gripping state by the transport rollers 31a and 31b is released, the engaged portion 71 is positioned at the corresponding position on the engaging member 20 of the base 2. Then, when the opening of the receiving recess 25 and the engaged portion 71 correspond, there is nothing to press against the engaged portion 21, and the engaged portion 21, whose corner B is biased to the +Z side by the biasing member 22, rotates in the +Z direction around the fulcrum 21a due to the biasing force, and protrudes onto the support surface 2a as shown in Figure 4.

[0026] The first side 21b of the engaging portion 21, which is the side on the far side (+Y side) in the conveying direction of the medium 7, is formed such that the angle between its end face (the end face on the first side 21b of the engaging portion 21) and the support surface 2a is an acute angle of 90 degrees or less. Therefore, when the engaging portion 21 protrudes due to biasing of corner B, the +Y side of the engaging portion 21 becomes approximately hook-shaped, and the engaged portion 71 of the medium 7 engages with the engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20. Because the +Y side of the engaging portion 21, which is the upper side when the device is mounted, becomes hook-shaped and engages with the engaged portion 71, the medium 7 is not allowed to slide down (-Y direction) even after the clamping state by the conveying rollers 31a and 31b is released, and the locked state is maintained. This prevents the medium 7 from falling when it is discharged after the processing operation when the processing device 100 is used in a vertical position.

[0027] As described above, the processing apparatus 100 in the embodiment comprises a processing unit 5 for processing the processing area Ar1 of a sheet-like medium 7 having a processing area Ar1 and a non-processing area Ar2, a medium transport mechanism 30 for transporting the medium 7 along the Y-axis direction which is the medium feeding direction, and a base 2 having a support surface 2a for supporting the medium 7. The medium 7 has an engaged portion 71 in the non-processing area Ar2, and the base 2 has an engaging member 20 that can extend and retract from the support surface 2a toward the medium 7 and is configured to engage with the engaged portion 71. As a result, even when the processing apparatus 100 is used in a vertical position, the medium 7 can be prevented from falling even when the support state of the medium 7 is released during discharge after the processing operation. The processing apparatus 100 requires installation space, and if it is installed on a table or the like, it may leave no space for other work. In this respect, the processing apparatus 100 of the embodiment can be used in a vertical position by hanging it on a wall Wa or the like, so there is no wasted workspace and space can be secured for other work. Furthermore, by not placing the processing device 100 on a table or the like, there is no need to put the device away after work, which improves work efficiency.

[0028] Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the medium 7 is supported by the base 2 and faces a portion other than the engaged portion 71, the engaging member 20 is prevented from protruding from the support surface 2a by the medium 7. If the engaging member 20 (the engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20 in this embodiment) is always in a protruding state, it may hinder the smooth transport of the medium 7. In this regard, by ensuring that the engaging member 20 does not protrude when the medium 7 is placed on the engaging member 20, such as during processing, the engaging member 20 does not interfere with transport. Furthermore, in this embodiment, the engaging member 20 protrudes when the engaged portion 71 is positioned at the corresponding location due to transport by the media transport mechanism 30. In this way, the engaging portion 71 can be made to protrude without any control or other measures once it is positioned, enabling a simple configuration to prevent the media 7 from falling. Furthermore, as in the embodiment, when the medium 7 is held between the transport rollers 31a and 31b, the engaged portion 71 is positioned at the corresponding location when the clamping state is released and engages with the engaging member 20. When the clamping state by the transport rollers 31a and 31b is released, there is a risk that the medium 7 will fall, but by ensuring that the engaged portion 71 engages with the engaging member 20 at this timing, the medium 7 can be prevented from falling. Furthermore, the engaging member 20 in this embodiment includes an engaging portion 21 that engages with the engaged portion 71 and a biasing member 22 that biases the engaging portion 21 toward the medium 7. When no load is applied from the medium 7, the engaging portion 21 protrudes toward the medium 7 due to the biasing force of the biasing member 22. As a result, when the engaged portion 71, such as a slit-shaped through hole, is positioned, the locking portion 21 protrudes and can engage with the engaged portion 71.

[0029] In this embodiment, the engaging member 20 and the engaged portion 71 are provided so that there is one on each side in the width direction of the medium 7. As a result, when the engaging member 20 and the engaged portion 71 are engaged, the medium 7 can be held stably without tilting in the X-axis direction and falling. Furthermore, the engaging member 20 of the embodiment includes at least an engaging portion 21 that engages with the engaged portion 71, and when the device is arranged in a direction in which the media transport mechanism 30 transports the media 7 in the vertical direction, the first side 21b of the engaging portion 21, which is on the upper side when the device is mounted, has an angle with respect to the support surface 2a that is such that it can lock the engaged portion 71. As a result, when the engaging portion 21 protrudes into the engaged portion 71, it hooks onto the engaged portion 71 like a hook, and the media 7 can be securely locked to the support surface 2a of the base 2. Furthermore, the engaging member 20 of the embodiment includes at least an engaging portion 21 that engages with the engaged portion 71, and when the device is arranged in a direction in which the medium transport mechanism 30 transports the medium 7 in the vertical direction, the second side 21c of the engaging portion 21, which is on the lower side when the device is mounted, is formed to have a gentle slope that does not obstruct transport when the medium 7 is transported upward in the transport direction. As a result, when the medium 7 is transported from bottom to top in the Y-axis direction, the transport end side of the medium 7 does not get caught on the second side 21c, and can move forward while gradually pushing down the engaging portion 21.

[0030] Furthermore, the medium 7 in this embodiment is a medium used in the processing apparatus 100 and has an engaged portion 71 in the non-processing area Ar2 that can engage with the engaging member 20 (the engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20 in this embodiment). By using such a medium 7, it is possible to prevent the medium 7 from falling from the apparatus even when the clamping state is released by the transport rollers 31a and 31b. As a result, the processing apparatus 100 can be hung on a wall Wa or the like and used vertically, improving the efficiency of the workspace. In addition, since the apparatus does not need to be put away after work, work efficiency is also improved.

[0031] Although the present invention has been described in detail based on embodiments above, the present invention is not limited to the above embodiments and can be modified without departing from its essence. For example, in the above embodiments, when the media transport direction is vertical, the engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20 is shown as an example in which the upper side (the "first side 21b" in the embodiments shown in Figures 4 and 5) in the mounted state of the device (shown in Figure 2) is at an angle (90 degrees or less acute angle) that allows the engaged portion 71 to be locked with respect to the support surface 2a. However, the first side 21b does not have to have such an angle. The first side 21b of the engaging portion 21 only needs to be able to reliably lock the engaged portion 71 when the device is arranged in a direction that transports the media 7 vertically. For example, the first side 21b may be treated with an anti-slip finish that allows the engaged portion 71 to be locked. There are no particular limitations on what kind of anti-slip finish is applied, but for example, a coating with an anti-slip effect may be applied, or a sheet with an anti-slip effect may be attached. When anti-slip processing is applied in this manner, the first side 21b may be at an obtuse angle less than 90 degrees with respect to the support surface 2a. Alternatively, the first side 21b may be at an acute angle with respect to the support surface 2a, while also being treated with anti-slip processing.

[0032] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, a coil spring as shown in Figures 4 and 5 was exemplified as the biasing member 22, but the biasing member 22 is not limited to a coil spring. The biasing member 22 can be anything that can push the engaging portion 21 towards the medium 7 side (towards the +Z direction in Figures 4 and 5), and may be various leaf springs, or any other elastic member.

[0033] Furthermore, although the above embodiment illustrates a case where the processing device 100 is mounted on a wall Wa or the like and used in a vertical position, the processing device 100 is not limited to being used in a vertical position, and may also be placed on a table or the like in the orientation shown in Figure 1 and used in a horizontal position. If the processing device 100 can be used in either a vertical or horizontal position, the processing device 100 may be equipped with a posture sensor to detect the orientation of the device. In this case, the posture sensor may output a detection result that can determine whether it is in a vertical or horizontal position to the control unit 101, and the control unit 101 may determine the orientation of the device (whether it is in a vertical or horizontal position) based on the detection result from the posture sensor. For example, an acceleration sensor or a gyro sensor can be used as the posture sensor. Note that any posture sensor that can acquire a detection result that can determine the orientation of the device is widely applicable.

[0034] If the processing device 100 is equipped with an attitude sensor as described above, and the control unit 101 can determine the installation state of the device, the processing device 100 may further be equipped with a retraction control mechanism that controls the retraction of the engaging member 20 according to the installation state of the device. The retraction control mechanism is a component that mechanically controls the protruding state of the engaging member 20 (in this embodiment, the engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20) toward the medium 7 side. When the processing device 100 is used in a horizontal position, there is no risk of the medium 7 falling, and there is no need to protrude the engaging member 20 toward the medium 7 side. For this reason, if the control unit 101 determines from the detection result of the attitude sensor that the orientation of the device is horizontal, it controls the retraction control mechanism so that the engaging member 20 (in this embodiment, the engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20) does not protrude from the housing recess 25. On the other hand, if the control unit 101 determines from the detection result of the attitude sensor that the orientation of the device is vertical, it stops controlling the retraction control mechanism and allows the engaging member 20 to operate based on the load from the medium 7 (working medium) side. In other words, as shown in the embodiment described above, when "no load is applied from the medium 7 side", the engaging member 20 (engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20) protrudes towards the medium 7 side due to the biasing force of the biasing member 22, and when "a load is applied from the medium 7 side", the engaging member 20 (engaging portion 21 of the engaging member 20) does not protrude from the housing recess 25. For example, if the engaging portion 21 is supported so as to be able to rotate (oscillate) around the pivot point 21a as in the embodiment, various actuators that rotate (oscillate) the engaging member 20 may be provided at the pivot point 21a, etc., as an in / out control mechanism. The actuator is, for example, a motor whose axis is connected to the pivot point 21a. If the attitude sensor detects that the orientation of the device is horizontal, the control unit 101 controls the actuator so that the engaging member 20 does not protrude, and if the attitude of the device is vertical, the control unit 101 stops the control so that the engaging member 20 operates based on the load from the medium 7 side. The in / out control mechanism may also be, for example, a shutter that is provided in the opening of the housing recess 25 and opens and closes with a motor or the like. In this case, the rotational motion of the motor is converted into parallel motion by a mechanism such as a ball screw, which opens and closes the shutter. Note that the configuration for opening and closing the shutter is not limited to those shown here.If a shutter is provided, for example, if the orientation of the device is determined to be horizontal based on the orientation sensor's detection result, the control unit 101 controls the motor to close the shutter and prevent the engaging member 20 from protruding. If the orientation of the device is determined to be vertical based on the orientation sensor's detection result, the control unit 101 stops control with the shutter open, allowing the engaging member 20 to operate based on the load from the medium 7 side. In addition, there are no particular limitations on the method for controlling the protrusion and recession state of the engaging member 20 according to the installation state of the device, and various methods can be adopted. When an extension and recession control mechanism is provided and the control unit 101 controls it in this way, it is possible to ensure that the engaging member 20 does not protrude when the processing device 100 is used in a horizontal position. Therefore, the risk of the medium 7 being obstructed by the engaging member 20 can be eliminated.

[0035] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the example was given in which the engaging member 20 is equipped with an engaging portion 21 which is a triangular plate-shaped member, and the engaging portion 21 appropriately extends and retracts toward the medium 7 side and engages with the engaged portion 71 of the medium 7. However, the configuration of the engaging member that extends and retracts toward the medium 7 side and engages with the engaged portion 71 of the medium 7 is not limited to the example shown in the embodiment. For example, as described above, when the engaging member 20 is extended and retracted using a motor or the like, it is not necessary to configure the engaging member 20 (engaging portion 21) so that it is pushed by the medium 7 and falls over. For this reason, the second side 21c of the engaging member 20 (engaging portion 21), which is on the lower side when the device is mounted, does not need to have a gentle slope. For example, the first side 2b, which is on the upper side when the device is mounted, and the second side 21c, which is on the lower side, may both be sides that rise substantially vertically from the support surface, and may have a roughly rectangular shape in side view. Furthermore, the engaging member 20 (engaging portion 21) does not have to be a thin, plate-shaped member, but may be, for example, a block-shaped member or a cylindrical member that rises almost vertically from the support surface 2a. Also, the engaging member 20 (engaging portion 21) is not limited to rising almost vertically from the support surface 2a, but may, for example, rise at an acute angle of 90 degrees or less with respect to the support surface 2a from a state where it is housed almost lying down inside the base 2, and function as a hook. If the engaging member 20 (engaging portion 21) is not a thin, plate-shaped member, the engaged portion 71 formed on the medium 7 is not slit-shaped, but is formed in a shape that can be fitted with the engaging member 20 (engaging portion 21).

[0036] Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the example given is that the engaged portion 71 and the corresponding engaging member 20 are provided on both ends of the medium 7 in the X-axis direction, respectively. However, the arrangement and number of engaged portions 71 and their corresponding engaging members 20 are not limited thereto. For example, the engaged portion 71 and its corresponding engaging member 20 may be provided at one location approximately in the center of the medium 7 in the X-axis direction, or three or more may be provided side by side in the X-axis direction of the medium 7. In either case, it is preferable that the engaged portion 71 and its corresponding engaging member 20 be arranged approximately symmetrically so that the medium 7 can be supported without tilting.

[0037] Furthermore, although the above embodiment illustrates a case where the processing device 100 is a cutting device equipped with a cutting section as the processing unit 5, the processing device 100 is not limited to a cutting device and can be broadly applied to devices that perform various processing on the medium 7, such as a printing device equipped with a printing section as the processing unit, or a sewing device equipped with a sewing section as the processing unit.

[0038] 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]

[0039] 2...Pedestal, 2a...Support surface, 5...Processing section, 7...Medium, 20...Engaging member, 30...Media transport mechanism, 71...Engaged part, 100...Processing device, Ar1...Processing area, Ar2...Processing area

Claims

1. A sheet-like workpiece having a processing area and a non-processing area, comprising a processing unit for processing the processing area, A media transport mechanism for transporting the workpiece along the media feeding direction, A base having a support surface for supporting the workpiece, Equipped with, The workpiece has an engagement portion in the non-workpiece region, The base has an engaging member that is retractable from the support surface toward the workpiece and is configured to engage with the engaged portion. A processing apparatus characterized by the following features.

2. The engaging member is such that, when the workpiece is supported by the base and faces a portion other than the engaged portion, the workpiece prevents the engaging member from protruding from the support surface. The processing apparatus according to feature 1.

3. The engaging member protrudes when the engaged portion is positioned at the corresponding location due to transport by the media transport mechanism, and engages with the engaged portion. The processing apparatus according to feature 1.

4. The media transport mechanism includes transport rollers that grip the workpiece supported on the support surface, The engaged portion is positioned at the corresponding location when the clamped state is released and engages with the engaging member. The processing apparatus according to feature 3.

5. The engaging member comprises an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion and a biasing member that biases the engaging portion toward the workpiece, The engaging portion protrudes toward the workpiece due to the biasing force of the biasing member when no load is applied from the workpiece side. The processing apparatus according to feature 1.

6. The engaging member comprises at least an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion, When the device is arranged such that the media transport mechanism transports the workpiece in the vertical direction, the first side of the engaging portion that is on the upper side when the device is mounted has an angle with respect to the support surface that is capable of locking the engaged portion, or it is treated with an anti-slip finish that is capable of locking the engaged portion. The processing apparatus according to feature 1.

7. The engaging member comprises at least an engaging portion that engages with the engaged portion, When the device is positioned such that the media transport mechanism transports the workpiece in the vertical direction, the second side of the engaging portion that is on the lower side when the device is mounted is formed to have a gentle slope that does not obstruct transport when the workpiece is transported upward in the transport direction. The processing apparatus according to feature 1.

8. Attitude detection to detect the attitude of the device, A retraction control mechanism for controlling the retraction of the engaging member, The device further comprises a control unit that determines the attitude of the device based on the detection result of the attitude sensor, The control unit, If it is determined that the orientation of the device is horizontal, the retraction control mechanism is controlled so that the engaging member does not protrude from the support surface. If it is determined that the orientation of the device is vertical, the control of the retraction control mechanism is stopped so that the engaging member operates based on the load from the workpiece side. The processing apparatus according to feature 1.

9. A workpiece medium used in a processing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 8, The processing apparatus has an engaged portion in a non-processing area that can engage with an engaging member provided in the processing apparatus. A workpiece characterized by the following features.

Images