Cutting device

Abstract

To provide a cutting device which can improve cutting pattern quality compared to a conventional one by appropriately setting set conditions compared to the conventional one.SOLUTION: A control part of a cutting device acquires cutting data for cutting a pattern from an object to be cut (S1). The control part acquires a hardness corresponding value according to a hardness of the object to be cut (S15). The control part sets a larger value in the case that a hardness of the object to be cut is soft compared to the case that the hardness is hard to an off-set volume used for rotation correction for changing a direction of a cutting blade at a direction change part in which a direction of cutting the object to be cut changes by a specified quantity or more on the basis of the acquired hardness corresponding value (S16). The control part corrects data corresponding to the direction change part by use of the set off-set volume (S18). The control part controls a movement mechanism according to the corrected cutting data, and executes processing for cutting the object to be cut with the cutting blade attached to an installation part (S20).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cutting device. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventional cutting devices are provided with a storage means for storing various setting conditions according to the type of workpiece, and read out from the storage means setting conditions according to the type of workpiece selected by a user or detected by the cutting device. The setting conditions include, for example, the moving speed of the cutting blade, the moving acceleration of the cutting blade, the pressing force of the cutting blade against the workpiece, the offset amount at the start of cutting, and the type of cutting blade. The cutting device performs cutting based on the read setting conditions. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2005-246562 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When conventional cutting devices cut a pattern from an object based on preset conditions, they sometimes fail to cut along the shape of the pattern in directional change parts of the pattern where the cutting direction changes by more than a predetermined amount.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to provide a cutting device that improves the cutting quality of patterns by setting setting conditions more appropriately than before. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] A cutting device according to one aspect of the present invention includes a platen, a mounting unit configured to mount a cutting blade having a tip at a position a predetermined distance away from an axis extending in a third direction intersecting a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction, and rotatably about the axis, a movement mechanism that moves an object to be cut placed on the platen and the mounting unit relatively in the first direction and the second direction, and a control unit capable of controlling the movement mechanism, wherein the control unit includes a hardness acquisition unit that acquires a hardness correspondence value corresponding to the hardness of the object to be cut placed on the platen, a cutting data acquisition unit that acquires cutting data for cutting a pattern from the object to be cut, and a cutting data acquisition unit that acquires cutting data based on the hardness correspondence value acquired by the hardness acquisition unit. The offset amount setting unit sets a larger offset amount used for rotation correction to change the orientation of the cutting blade at a direction change portion where the direction of cutting the workpiece changes by more than a predetermined amount when the workpiece is hard than when the workpiece is soft; a correction unit corrects data of the cutting data corresponding to the direction change portion using the offset amount set by the offset amount setting unit; and functions as a cutting control unit that controls the moving mechanism in accordance with the corrected cutting data, moves the workpiece placed on the platen and the mounting unit relatively in the first direction and the second direction, and executes a cutting process to cut the workpiece with the cutting blade mounted on the mounting unit.

[0007] The cutting device of this embodiment acquires the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece and sets the offset amount used for the rotation correction according to the hardness of the workpiece, so that the offset amount among the setting conditions used for cutting the workpiece can be set more appropriately than before. This allows the cutting device to perform the rotation correction under conditions more suitable for the workpiece than before. The cutting device can improve the cutting quality of the pattern by increasing the possibility of cutting the workpiece along the shape of the pattern more than before. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cutting device 1. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carriage 3 with the holder 6 attached thereto. [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front view of the carriage 3 and the holder 6 in the raised position. [Figure 4] 2 is a block diagram showing an electrical configuration of the cutting device 1. FIG. [Diagram 5] 13 is a flowchart of a main process. [Figure 6] 1A is an explanatory diagram of the shape of pattern Q, and FIG. 1B is an explanatory diagram of the movement trajectory of mounting part 3B relative to holding part 90 holding workpiece 9 for cutting pattern Q, as shown by the corrected cutting data. [Figure 7] 13 is a graph showing the change in pressure response value with respect to the height of a mounting portion 3B holding a holder 6 having a cutting blade 16. [Figure 8] 11 is an explanatory diagram of a table 80 stored in a storage unit 74. FIG. [Figure 9] 6 is a flowchart of a disconnection control process executed in the main process of FIG. 5. [Figure 10] FIG. 13 is a diagram showing photographs of the cut patterns of a comparative example and an example cut in an evaluation test. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] An embodiment of the cutting device 1 and holder 6 according to the present invention will be described in order with reference to the drawings. The drawings are used to explain technical features that the present invention can employ, and the configurations of the devices described are merely illustrative examples and are not intended to limit the present invention. The lower left, upper right, lower right, upper left, upper, and lower in Fig. 1 correspond to the front, rear, right, left, upper, and lower of the cutting device 1 and holder 6, respectively.

[0010] An overview of the cutting device 1 will be described with reference to Figures 1 to 3. The cutting device 1 is capable of cutting an object 9 held by a holding part 90 using a cutting blade 16 held by a holder 6. The holding part 90 is, for example, a mat made of a synthetic resin material. The object 9 is attached to and held by an adhesive layer on the upper surface of the holding part 90. The cutting device 1 includes a main body cover 2A, a platen 2B, a carriage 3, a transport mechanism 2C, and a moving mechanism 2D.

[0011] The body cover 2A is provided with an opening 21, a cover 22, and an operation unit 23. The opening 21 is an opening provided in the front part of the body cover 2A. The cover 22 is rotatably supported by the body cover 2A. In FIG. 1, the cover 22 is open and the opening 21 is exposed. In the following, various configurations will be described on the assumption that the cover 22 is open. The operation unit 23 is provided on the right part of the upper surface of the body cover 2A, and includes a liquid crystal display (LCD) 231, a plurality of operation switches 232, and a touch panel 233. The LCD 231 displays images including various items such as commands, illustrations, setting values, and messages. The touch panel 233 is provided on the surface of the LCD 231. The user performs a pressing operation on the touch panel 233 using either a finger or a stylus pen. The cutting device 1 recognizes which item has been selected according to the pressing position detected by the touch panel 233. A user can use the operation switch 232 and the touch panel 233 to select a pattern displayed on the LCD 231, set various parameters, and perform input operations.

[0012] The platen 2B is provided inside the body cover 2A. The platen 2B is a plate-shaped member extending in the left-right direction. The left-right length of the platen 2B is greater than the width of the holding part 90 and the workpiece 9. The holding part 90 transported rearward by the transport mechanism 2C is placed on the upper surface of the platen 2B except for both left-right ends. That is, the workpiece 9 held by the holding part 90 is placed on the platen 2B via the holding part 90.

[0013] The conveying mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D are configured to relatively move the workpiece 9 placed on the platen 2B and the mounting unit 3B in the front-rear and left-right directions. The conveying mechanism 2C in this example includes a driven roller 24, a driving roller (not shown), and a Y-axis motor 15 (see FIG. 4). The driven roller 24 is rotatably supported inside the body cover 2A and in front of the platen 2B. The driving roller faces downwardly to the driven roller 24 and rotates in response to the driving of the Y-axis motor 15. The conveying mechanism 2C sandwiches both left and right ends of a rectangular holding unit 90 that holds the workpiece 9 between the driven roller 24 and the driving roller. In this state, the conveying mechanism 2C can convey the holding unit 90 in the front-rear direction (also called the "Y direction") by rotating the driving roller. That is, the conveying mechanism 2C can convey the workpiece 9 held by the holding unit 90 in the front-rear direction.

[0014] The movement mechanism 2D can move the carriage 3 in the left-right direction (also referred to as the "X direction"). The movement mechanism 2D includes a guide rail 26, an X-axis motor 25 (see FIG. 4), and the like. The guide rail 26 is fixed inside the main body cover 2A and extends in the left-right direction. The carriage 3 is supported by the guide rail 26 so as to be movable in the X direction along the guide rail 26. The rotational motion of the X-axis motor 25 is converted into motion in the X direction and transmitted to the carriage 3. When the X-axis motor 25 is driven in the forward or reverse direction, the carriage 3 is moved in the left or right direction.

[0015] As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the carriage 3 includes a support 3A, a mounting unit 3B, a contact / separation mechanism 3C, and a pressure change mechanism 14. The carriage 3, except for the portion where the holder 6 is mounted, is covered by a cover 30 shown in Fig. 1. The cover 30 is omitted in Figs. 2 and 3. The support 3A supports the mounting unit 3B, the contact / separation mechanism 3C, and the pressure change mechanism 14. The support 3A has plate-shaped bases 31 to 33. The base 31 is perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The back surface of the base 31 is connected to the guide rail 26 (see Fig. 1). The base 31 is supported by the guide rail 26 so as to be movable in the left-right direction. Support shafts 31A and 31C are provided at positions spaced forward from the base 31. The support shafts 31A and 31C each have a cylindrical shape and extend in the up-down direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the support shaft 31A is provided near the left end of the base 31. A spring 3D of the pressure change mechanism 14 described later is wound around the support shaft 31A, and the support shaft 31A supports a rack gear 43 described later so as to be movable in the vertical direction. The support shaft 31C is provided near the right end of the base 31. A spring 3E of the pressure change mechanism 14 described later is wound around the support shaft 31C. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the base 32 is perpendicular to the vertical direction and extends forward from the lower end of the base 31. A through hole 32A is formed in the base 32, penetrating in the vertical direction. The base 33 is perpendicular to the left-right direction and extends forward from the left side of the support shaft 31A within the base 31. A part of the contact / separation mechanism 3C described later is supported on the base 33.

[0016] The mounting part 3B is configured to mount the cutting blade 16 having a tip 18 at a position a predetermined distance J away from an axis M extending in a vertical direction intersecting the front-rear direction and the left-right direction, so that the cutting blade 16 can rotate about the axis M. The mounting part 3B is disposed within the support body 3A, forward of the base 31, above the base 32, to the left of the support axis 31C, and to the right of the support axis 31A. The mounting part 3B has a holder 36 and a lever 37. The holder 36 holds the holder 6 in the mounted state. The lever 37 fixes the holder 6 held by the holder 36 so that it cannot be removed.

[0017] As shown in FIG. 2, the holder 36 has side plate portions 36S, 36R, 36L, an upper plate portion 36U, and a lower plate portion 36B. The side plate portion 36S is disposed in front of the base portion 31 of the support body 3A and is perpendicular to the front-rear direction. The side plate portion 36S is connected to the base portion 31 so as to be movable in the up-down direction. This supports the mounting portion 3B so as to be movable in the up-down direction relative to the support body 3A. The side plate portion 36R extends forward from the right end portion of the side plate portion 36S. The side plate portion 36L extends forward from the left end portion of the side plate portion 36S. The side plate portions 36R, 36L are each perpendicular to the left-right direction. The upper plate portion 36U is provided at the upper end portion of each of the side plate portions 36S, 36R, 36L. The lower plate portion 36B is provided at the lower end portion of each of the side plate portions 36S, 36R, 36L. The upper plate portion 36U and the lower plate portion 36B are perpendicular to the up-down direction.

[0018] A circular through hole is formed in the upper plate portion 36U penetrating in the vertical direction. A circular through hole is formed in the lower plate portion 36B penetrating in the vertical direction. When the holder 6 is held by the holding body 36, the holder 6 is inserted through the through hole of the upper plate portion 36U and the through hole of the lower plate portion 36B. In this state, the upper end of the holder 6 protrudes upward from the upper plate portion 36U, and the lower end of the holder 6 protrudes downward from the lower plate portion 36B.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 3, a movable plate portion 361 is provided at the lower end of the side plate portion 36L, and a movable plate portion 365 is provided at the upper end. The movable plate portions 361 and 365 extend leftward from the left surface of the side plate portion 36L and are perpendicular to the vertical direction. A through hole penetrating in the vertical direction is formed in the movable plate portions 361 and 365, and the support shaft 31A of the support body 3A is inserted therethrough. A movable plate portion 362 is provided on the side plate portion 36R. The movable plate portion 362 extends rightward from the right surface of the side plate portion 36R and is perpendicular to the vertical direction. A through hole penetrating in the vertical direction is formed in the movable plate portion 362, and the support shaft 31C of the support body 3A is inserted therethrough.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 2, lever 37 is supported by side plates 36R, 36L of holder 36 so as to be able to swing. Lever 37 has knob 37A, which is a plate-like member that is long in the left-right direction. When lever 37 swings in a direction in which knob 37A moves downward, holder 6 held by holder 36 is fixed and cannot be removed from holder 36. On the other hand, when lever 37 swings in a direction in which knob 37A moves upward, holder 6 is released from its fixed state relative to holder 36. Therefore, holder 6 can be removed from holder 36 in this state.

[0021] The approaching and separating mechanism 3C is controlled by the control unit 2, and moves the mounting part 3B in an approaching direction (downward) that brings the mounting part 3B closer to the platen 2B and in a separating direction (upward) that moves the mounting part 3B away from the platen 2B. When the mounting part 3B moves downward, the mounting part 3B approaches the object 9 placed on the platen 2B. On the other hand, when the mounting part 3B moves upward, the mounting part 3B is separated from the object 9 placed on the platen 2B.

[0022] 2 and 3, the contact / separation mechanism 3C has a Z-axis motor 41, a gear unit 42, a rack gear 43, etc. The Z-axis motor 41 is disposed on the left side of the base 33 of the support 3A and is fixed to the support 3A by the base 33. The rotation shaft of the Z-axis motor 41 extends to the right and passes through a through-hole 33A formed in the base 33 to the right. A gear 41A is provided on the rotation shaft of the Z-axis motor 41. The gear 41A is disposed to the right of the base 33.

[0023] The gear unit 42 has an internal gear 42A and a pinion gear 42B. The internal gear 42A has a disk shape and is perpendicular to the left-right direction. A circular recess recessed to the right is formed on the left surface of the internal gear 42A. Teeth are formed on the inner surface of the recess. The pinion gear 42B is provided on the right surface of the internal gear 42A. The diameter of the pinion gear 42B is smaller than the diameter of the internal gear 42A. The positions of the respective rotation centers of the internal gear 42A and the pinion gear 42B are aligned and extend in the left-right direction. Hereinafter, the respective rotation centers of the internal gear 42A and the pinion gear 42B are referred to as "rotation centers of the gear unit 42". The internal gear 42A and the pinion gear 42B rotate together.

[0024] The gear unit 42 is provided to the right of the base 33 of the support 3A and is rotatably supported by the base 33. The center of rotation of the gear unit 42 is located below the rotation shaft of the Z-axis motor 41. A gear 41A provided on the rotation shaft of the Z-axis motor 41 enters a recess provided on the left surface of the internal gear 42A from the left and meshes with teeth provided on the inner surface of the internal gear 42A. As the Z-axis motor 41 drives and the gear 41A rotates, the driving force of the Z-axis motor 41 is transmitted to the gear unit 42 via the gear 41A and the internal gear 42A. As a result, the pinion gear 42B of the gear unit 42 also rotates.

[0025] The rack gear 43 is provided behind the pinion gear 42B. The rack gear 43 has teeth 43B on the front surface of a rectangular column-shaped base extending in the vertical direction. The rack gear 43 further has a through hole that penetrates in the vertical direction in the base. The support shaft 31A fixed to the support body 3A is inserted into this through hole. The rack gear 43 is movable in the vertical direction along the support shaft 31A. The teeth 43B of the rack gear 43 mesh with the pinion gear 42B. The rack gear 43 moves in the vertical direction in response to the rotation of the pinion gear 42B.

[0026] The pressure change mechanism 14 can change the pressure applied to the mounting part 3B in the approach direction. The pressure change mechanism 14 includes springs 3D and 3E. The spring 3D is located below the rack gear 43. The spring 3D is a compression coil spring, and is wound around the lower end of the support shaft 31A. The upper end of the spring 3D is connected to the lower end of the rack gear 43. The lower end of the spring 3D is connected to the movable plate part 361 of the mounting part 3B. The spring 3D is interposed between the rack gear 43 and the movable plate part 361 of the mounting part 3B, and biases the rack gear 43 upward. As a result, the upper end of the rack gear 43 contacts the movable plate part 365 of the mounting part 3B from below, and pushes the movable plate part 365 upward. When the Z-axis motor 41 of the approach / separation mechanism 3C is driven, the spring 3D moves the mounting part 3B in the vertical direction in conjunction with the vertical movement of the rack gear 43. When spring 3D is compressed in response to the downward movement of rack gear 43, it applies a downward pressure to mounting portion 3B.

[0027] The spring 3E is a compression coil spring, and is wound around the support shaft 31C. The upper end of the spring 3E contacts the fixed washer 310 fixed to the upper end of the support shaft 31C from below. The lower end of the spring 3E is connected to the movable plate portion 362 of the mounting part 3B. The spring 3E is interposed between the fixed washer 310 and the movable plate portion 362 of the mounting part 3B, and applies a downward pressure to the mounting part 3B. The spring 3E always applies a downward pressure to the mounting part 3B, regardless of the driving state of the Z-axis motor 41 of the contact / separation mechanism 3C.

[0028] The holder 6 will be described with reference to FIG. 1 to FIG. 3. The holder 6 is used in a state where it is attached to the attachment portion 3B, and cuts the object 9 to be cut with the cutting blade 16. The holder 6 has a resin housing 6A, a cutting blade 16, a cover 17, and a second spring 6F (see FIG. 7). The housing 6A has a cylindrical portion 61, a lid portion 62, and a screw cap 63. The cylindrical portion 61 extends in the vertical direction. The center of the cylindrical portion 61 coincides with the axis M of the cutting blade 16. The lid portion 62 closes the opening at the upper end of the cylindrical portion 61. The screw cap 63 is fastened and fixed to the cylindrical portion 61. The screw cap 63 is detached from the housing 6A when the cutting blade 16 is replaced. When the holder 6 is attached to the attachment portion 3B, the housing 6A is held by the attachment portion 3B. As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical portion 61 fits into a through hole in the upper plate portion 36U of the attachment portion 3B. The screw cap 63 of the housing 6A fits into a through hole of the lower plate portion 36B of the mounting portion 3B. The upper end of the cylindrical portion 61 is disposed above the upper plate portion 36U of the mounting portion 3B. As shown in Fig. 3, the lower end of the screw cap 63 of the housing 6A protrudes downward from the lower end of the lower plate portion 36B. The second spring 6F is a compression coil spring and is capable of expanding and contracting in the vertical direction.

[0029] The cutting edge of the cutting blade 16 is inclined in a direction intersecting with the axis M with the tip 18 as a corner and the extending surface of the platen 2B. The cutting blade 16 has the tip 18 at a position separated from the axis M. In other words, the tip 18 of the cutting blade 16 is eccentric with respect to the axis M. The cover 17 is tubular and protrudes downward from the lower end of the cylindrical portion 61, through which the cutting blade 16 is inserted. The second spring 6F is provided to apply downward pressure to the cutting blade 16 of the cutting body 6D.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 3, the uppermost position within the vertical movable range of the mounting part 3B is referred to as the raised position. When the mounting part 3B is in the raised position, the tip 18 of the cutting blade 16 of the holder 6 attached to the mounting part 3B protrudes slightly downward from the base 32 and is separated upward from the workpiece 9 placed on the platen 2B of the cutting device 1 via the holding part 90. The tip 18 of the cutting blade 16 is located above the lower end of the cover 17.

[0031] With the mounting part 3B in the raised position, the spring 3E contracts between the fixed washer 310 at the upper end and the movable plate part 362 at the lower end. Therefore, the spring 3E applies a downward pressure to the movable plate part 362 of the mounting part 3B. The mounting part 3B receives a downward force from the spring 3E via the movable plate part 362. Meanwhile, the rotation of the pinion gear 42B meshing with the rack gear 43 is suppressed by the rotation load of the Z-axis motor 41, so that the vertical movement of the rack gear 43 is suppressed. Therefore, the downward movement of the movable plate part 365 of the mounting part 3B that contacts the upper end part of the rack gear 43 is also suppressed. Therefore, even when the mounting part 3B receives a downward force from the spring 3E, the mounting part 3B does not move downward and remains stationary.

[0032] When the cutting blade 16 cuts the workpiece 9, the control unit 2 (see FIG. 4) of the cutting device 1 drives the Z-axis motor 41 to rotate the gear 41A. In response to the rotation of the gear 41A, the internal gear 42A and the pinion gear 42B of the gear unit 42 rotate together. As a result, the rack gear 43 meshing with the pinion gear 42B moves downward. In response to the downward movement of the rack gear 43, the spring 3D connected to the lower end of the rack gear 43 also moves downward without contracting. The mounting part 3B contacts the upper end of the rack gear 43 via the movable plate part 365, and is connected to the lower end of the spring 3D via the movable plate part 361. Therefore, the mounting part 3B moves downward from the raised position in response to the movement of the rack gear 43.

[0033] As the mounting part 3B moves downward, the holder 6 also moves downward. The cutting blade 16 of the holder 6 gradually approaches the workpiece 9 located below, and contacts the workpiece 9, first the cover 17 and then the cutting blade 16. When the cutting blade 16 contacts the workpiece 9, an upward pressure acts on the mounting part 3B via the holder 6. As the Z-axis motor 41 continues to drive, the rack gear 43 moves further downward. At this time, the spring 3E applies a downward force to the mounting part 3B via the movable plate part 362.

[0034] If the object 9 is hard and the force applied by the spring 3E is not enough to pierce the cutting blade 16 into the object 9, the downward movement of the mounting part 3B is suppressed by the upward force received from the object 9 via the holder 6. If the pinion gear 42B further rotates in this state, the rack gear 43 moves further downward. As a result, the upper end of the rack gear 43 moves away from the movable plate part 365, and the rack gear 43 moves downward while compressing the spring 3D. The spring 3D applies a downward force stronger than that of the spring 3E to the mounting part 3B via the movable plate part 361.

[0035] The electrical configuration of the cutting device 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 4. As shown in FIG. 4, the cutting device 1 includes a CPU 71, a ROM 72, a RAM 73, and an input / output (I / O) interface 75. The CPU 71 is electrically connected to the ROM 72, the RAM 73, and the I / O interface 75. The CPU 71, together with the ROM 72 and the RAM 73, constitutes the control unit 2 and performs main control of the cutting device 1. The ROM 72 stores various programs for operating the cutting device 1. The programs include, for example, a program for causing the cutting device 1 to execute a main process, which will be described later. The RAM 73 temporarily stores various programs, various data, setting values ​​input by operating the operation switch 232, calculation results obtained by the CPU 71, and the like. The I / O interface 75 is further connected to the storage unit 74, the operation switch 232, the touch panel 233, the detection sensor 76, the detector 40, the LCD 231, and the drive circuits 77 to 79. The storage unit 74 is a non-volatile storage element that stores various parameters and the like.

[0036] The detection sensor 76 detects the tip of the holder 90 set on the platen 2B. The detection signal of the detection sensor 76 is input to the control unit 2. The detector 40 outputs the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B. The control unit 2 in this example specifies the vertical position (hereinafter also referred to as height) of the mounting unit 3B based on the output of the detector 40, using the vertical position of the platen 2B as a reference. The reference for the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B may be changed as appropriate. The control unit 2 controls the LCD 231 to display an image. The LCD 231 can notify various instructions. The drive circuits 77 to 79 drive the Y-axis motor 15, the X-axis motor 25, and the Z-axis motor 41, respectively. The control unit 2 controls the Y-axis motor 15, the X-axis motor 25, and the Z-axis motor 41, etc. based on the cutting data, and automatically cuts the workpiece 9 on the holding unit 90. The cutting data includes coordinate data for controlling the transport mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D. The coordinate data expresses the relative positions of the end points of the multiple line segments that represent the pattern in a cutting coordinate system that is set within the cuttable area. In this example, the origin of the cutting coordinate system is set to the rear left of the rectangular cuttable area, and the left-right direction is set as the X direction, and the front-back direction is set as the Y direction.

[0037] The main processing will be described with reference to Figures 5 to 9. When a start instruction is input by operating a panel or the like with a pattern to be cut designated, the control unit 2 of the cutting device 1 reads a program stored in the storage unit 74 into the RAM 73 and executes the main processing according to the instructions contained in the program. Various thresholds used in the main processing may be set in advance taking into consideration the cutting conditions, or may be set by the user.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 5, in the main process, the control unit 2 acquires cutting data for cutting a pattern from the workpiece 9 (S1). The process for acquiring the cutting data may be appropriately performed according to a known method. As shown in FIG. 6, in a specific example, cutting data for cutting a square pattern Q having sides L1 to L4 is acquired. The pattern Q is cut in a clockwise direction from the cutting start position ST on the side L1 according to the cutting data. The control unit 2 controls the driving circuits 77 and 78 to drive the Y-axis motor 15 and the X-axis motor 25, thereby controlling the conveying mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D, and moves the mounting unit 3B to a predetermined position relative to the holding unit 90 (S2). The process of S2 is performed in a state in which the cutting blade 16 of the holder 6 mounted on the mounting unit 3B is separated from the holding unit 90 and the workpiece 9 placed on the platen 2B. The specified position in this example is an adjustment position where a known process for adjusting the orientation of the cutting edge (see, for example, JP 2-262995 A) is performed, and more specifically, it is a position within the cutting edge adjustment area, which is the part of the holding portion 90 shown in Figure 1 that is behind the workpiece 9.

[0039] The control unit 2 controls the contact / separation mechanism 3C by driving the Z-axis motor 41, and moves the mounting unit 3B in the approach direction toward the platen 2B at a predetermined position of S2 (S3), and obtains the contact position HP, which is the vertical position output by the detector 40 when the cutting blade 16 contacts the holding unit 90 (S4). The control unit 2 counts the number of pulses input to the Z-axis motor 41 (drive circuit 79) when moving the mounting unit 3B in the vertical direction as a pressure corresponding value, and obtains the height of the mounting unit 3B corresponding to the pressure corresponding value based on the signal output from the detector 40. As shown in the legend 51 in FIG. 7, the control unit 2 of this example brings the mounting unit 3B closer to the platen 2B, and obtains the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B where the slope of the height of the mounting unit 3B with respect to the pressure corresponding value changes as the contact position HP. As shown in FIG. 7, the contact position HP indicates the vertical position of the surface 91 in the separation direction (upward) of the holding unit 90. When the control unit 2 detects a change in the inclination, it controls the approaching / separating mechanism 3C to stop the movement of the mounting unit 3B in the approaching direction (downward).

[0040] The control unit 2 sets the cutting position RP based on the acquired contact position HP (S5). In this example, the control unit 2 sets the cutting position RP to a position obtained by moving the mounting unit 3B downward from the contact position HP acquired by the process of S4 a predetermined distance smaller than the thickness (vertical length) of the holding unit 90. The thickness of the holding unit 90 may be acquired based on the output of the detector 40, or may be stored in advance in the storage unit 74, etc., and is, for example, 4.0 mm. The predetermined distance may be stored in advance in the storage unit 74, etc., or may be set by the user, and is, for example, 1.0 mm.

[0041] The control unit 2 controls the conveying mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D in a state where the cutting blade 16 is in contact with the holding unit 90 by the process of S3, and executes a process of adjusting the orientation of the cutting blade 16 in a known manner within the blade adjustment region (S6). The control unit 2 controls the approaching and separating mechanism 3C to move the mounting unit 3B in the separation direction to the raised position (S7). The control unit 2 controls the conveying mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D to move the mounting unit 3B relative to the holding unit 90 to the hardness corresponding value acquisition position (S8). The hardness corresponding value acquisition position is a position where the cutting blade 16 is located above the workpiece 9. The hardness corresponding value acquisition position is set, for example, near the cutting start position ST indicated by the cutting data acquired in S1 and outside the pattern Q to be cut by cutting.

[0042] The control unit 2 controls the contact mechanism 3C to start the lowering of the mounting unit 3B at the hardness corresponding value acquisition position of S8 (S9). The control unit 2 updates the number of pulses outputted from the start of the process of S9 as needed according to the number of pulses outputted to the contact mechanism 3C. Based on the output of the detector 40, it is determined whether the inclination of the height of the mounting unit 3B with respect to the pressure corresponding value has changed (S10). The control unit 2 waits in S10 until the inclination of the height of the mounting unit 3B with respect to the pressure corresponding value has changed (S10: NO). In this example, when the control unit 2 brings the mounting unit 3B close to the platen 2B and detects that the inclination of the height of the mounting unit 3B with respect to the pressure corresponding value has changed (S10: YES), it acquires the vertical position TP of the mounting unit 3B and specifies the thickness E of the workpiece 9 (S11). As shown in FIG. 7, the position TP indicates the vertical position of the surface 92 of the workpiece 9 in the separation direction. The control unit 2 identifies the contact position HP acquired in S4 and the position TP of the surface 92 in the separation direction (upward) of the object 9, and identifies the thickness E from the difference between the two. In the specific examples shown in the legends 52 and 53 in Fig. 7, 5γ using a variable γ described later is identified as the thickness E of the object 9.

[0043] The control unit 2 controls the contact / separation mechanism 3C to descend by a predetermined number of pulses, and increments the number of pulses measured from the process of S9 by the predetermined number of pulses (S12). The control unit 2 determines whether the number of pulses updated in S12 is the maximum pulse value (S13). The number of pulses corresponds to a pressure corresponding value. The maximum pulse value is, for example, set in advance and stored in the memory unit 74. If the number of pulses is not the maximum pulse value (S13: NO), the control unit 2 determines whether the height of the attachment unit 3B is the cutting position RP set in S5 based on the output of the detector 40 (S14). If the height of the attachment unit 3B is not the cutting position RP (S14: NO), the control unit 2 returns the process to S12.

[0044] In a specific example shown in legend 52 of FIG. 7, the height of the mounting unit 3B reaches the cutting position RP (S14: YES) before the number of pulses reaches the maximum pulse value (S13: NO). On the other hand, in a specific example shown in legend 53 of FIG. 7, the number of pulses reaches the maximum pulse value (S13: YES) before the height of the mounting unit 3B reaches the cutting position RP (S14: NO). When the number of pulses reaches the maximum pulse value (S13: YES) or when the height of the mounting unit 3B reaches the cutting position RP (S14: YES), the control unit 2 acquires a hardness corresponding value according to the hardness of the workpiece 9 placed on the platen 2B (S15). The hardness corresponding value may be the hardness of the workpiece 9 itself detected by a known method, or may be an evaluation value that is a guide to the hardness of the workpiece 9. The method of acquiring the hardness corresponding value may be set appropriately. For example, the control unit 2 may acquire a value input by a user, or may detect the type of the workpiece 9 and set a value according to the type of the workpiece 9. The control unit 2 in this example obtains a hardness correspondence value based on a pressure correspondence value corresponding to the pressure applied to the mounting unit 3B by the pressure change mechanism 14 and the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B. More specifically, the control unit 2 obtains the gradient of the height of the mounting unit 3B relative to the pressure correspondence value as the hardness correspondence value. In the specific example shown in legend 52 of FIG. 7, 1.5α using a variable α described below is obtained as the hardness correspondence value, and in the specific example shown in legend 53 of FIG. 7, 4.5α is obtained.

[0045] Based on the hardness correspondence value acquired in S15, the control unit 2 sets a larger value for the offset amount F used in the rotation correction for changing the direction of the cutting blade 16 at the direction change portion where the cutting direction of the workpiece 9 changes by a predetermined amount or more when the workpiece 9 is hard than when the workpiece 9 is soft (S16). The predetermined amount for defining the direction change portion may be appropriately determined, for example, 70 degrees or more. That is, the direction change portion is a corner of the pattern with an angle of 0 degrees or more and 110 degrees or less. In the square pattern Q, each of the four corners with an angle of 90 degrees is a direction change portion. The offset amount F is a variable used in the rotation correction for cutting the direction change portion of the pattern Q by the cutting blade 16 into a shape that conforms to the pattern.

[0046] The blade length of the cutting blade 16 mounted on the cutting device 1 extends in a direction intersecting the axis M, taking into consideration the pressure applied to the cutting blade 16 during cutting. The mounting part 3B of the cutting device 1 is mounted with the holder 6 having the cutting blade 16, in which the axis M of the cutting blade 16 and the tip 18 of the cutting blade 16 are offset by a distance J. For this reason, when the cutting device 1 moves the holder 6 relative to the holding part 90 in accordance with the cutting data, the position of the tip 18 of the cutting blade 16 is always downstream of the axis M in the traveling direction of the cutting blade 16 by the distance J. When the cutting device 1 moves the holder 6 relative to the holding part 90 along the pattern with the axis M located at the direction change part, the cutting object 9 cannot be cut along the direction change part, and the direction change part may be crushed by the cutting blade 16, or other problems may occur. In order to avoid such a problem, the correction for changing the direction of the cutting blade 16 by changing the movement trajectory of the holder 6 relative to the holding part 90 at the direction change part is the rotation correction, and the variable used for the rotation correction is the offset amount. In the rotation correction, the control part 2 of this example corrects the cutting data so that the side forming the corner of the direction change part is extended in the cutting direction by the offset amount F, and the end of the side extended by the offset amount F and the connected side are connected in an arc shape centered on the corner of the direction change part. When the cutting device 1 moves the mounting part 3B relative to the holding part 90 to the position of the end of the side extended by the offset amount F according to the rotationally corrected cutting data, the tip part 18 of the cutting blade 16 reaches the corner of the direction change part. Furthermore, the cutting device 1 can change the direction of the cutting blade 16 to the direction for cutting the connected side by moving the mounting part 3B in an arc shape relative to the holding part 90 from the position where the tip part 18 reaches the corner part.

[0047] The offset amount F is set in consideration of changing the blade direction of the cutting blade 16 at the direction change portion. More specifically, the offset amount F is set in consideration of the distance J between the axis M and the tip portion 18 of the cutting blade 16. The offset amount F is set in consideration of the distance J, for example, in a range of 0.7 to 1.3 times the distance J. In the cutting device 1, the harder the object 9 is, the shorter the amount of the object 9 actually cut is than the amount specified by the offset amount F, compared to when the object 9 is soft. For this reason, the control unit 2 sets a larger value for the offset amount F when the object 9 is hard than when it is soft, thereby increasing the possibility that the tip portion 18 of the cutting blade 16 will be located at the corner of the direction change portion when the mounting unit 3B is disposed at the end of the side extended by the offset amount F relative to the holding unit 90.

[0048] As shown in FIG. 8, the cutting device 1 of this embodiment stores a table 80 in the storage unit 74. The table 80 stores the correspondence between the hardness corresponding value of the workpiece 9 and the offset amount F. The table 80 further stores the correspondence between the hardness corresponding value of the workpiece 9 and the first infeed amount and the second infeed amount according to the thickness E of the workpiece 9. In the table 80, the hardness corresponding value is represented by a variable α. The larger the hardness corresponding value, the harder the hardness is compared to a case where the value is smaller. The offset amount F is represented by a variable β. The larger the offset amount F, the larger the offset amount F is compared to a case where the value is smaller. β to 1.3β is within the range of 0.7 to 1.3 times the distance J. The thickness E of the workpiece 9, the first infeed amount, and the second infeed amount are represented by a variable γ. The larger the thickness E, the first infeed amount, and the second infeed amount, the larger the thickness E, the first infeed amount, and the second infeed amount are compared to a case where the value is smaller. The first cut amount is the thickness (vertical length) cut in the first and final cutting process when a pattern is cut by performing the cutting process multiple times under conditions where the position of the mounting part 3B is changed, taking into account the thickness E and hardness of the workpiece 9. The second cut amount is the thickness (vertical length) cut in the cutting process other than the first and final cutting process when the cutting process is performed in multiple steps. The control part 2 moves the position of the mounting part 3B closer to the cutting position RP as the number of cutting processes increases, and performs each cutting process.

[0049] Based on the thickness E of the workpiece 9 acquired in S11, the control unit 2 sets a larger value for the offset amount F when the thickness E of the workpiece 9 is thicker than when it is thin, when the hardness correspondence value is the same as the hardness correspondence value acquired in S15. For example, as shown in table 80 in Fig. 8, when the hardness correspondence value is in the range of α to 2α, the offset amount F when the thickness E of the workpiece 9 is in the range of 0 to 2γ is 1.1β, whereas the offset amount F when the thickness E of the workpiece 9 is in the range of 2γ to 5γ is 1.2β, which is larger than 1.1β.

[0050] When the hardness correspondence value is within a predetermined range, the control unit 2 sets the offset amount F to a larger value as the thickness E of the object 9 is larger. When the hardness correspondence value of the object 9 is harder than when it is within the predetermined range, the control unit 2 sets the offset amount F to a constant value that is larger than the offset amount F when the hardness correspondence value of the object 9 is within the predetermined range, regardless of the thickness E of the object 9. The predetermined range in this example is a range in which the hardness correspondence value is equal to or greater than α and less than 4α. In a specific example shown in legend 52 of FIG. 7, the control unit 2 sets the offset amount F to 1.2β. When the hardness correspondence value is equal to or greater than 4α as in a specific example shown in legend 53 of FIG. 7, the control unit 2 sets the offset amount F to 1.3β, which is a constant value larger than 1.25β, which is the maximum value of the offset amount F when the hardness correspondence value of the object 9 is within the predetermined range less than 4α, regardless of the thickness E of the object 9.

[0051] When the hardness correspondence value is within a predetermined range, the control unit 2 sets the offset amount F to a larger value as the thickness E of the workpiece 9 is larger. When the hardness correspondence value is a value when the workpiece 9 is softer than when the hardness correspondence value is within the predetermined range, the control unit 2 sets the offset amount F to a constant value that is smaller than the offset amount F when the hardness correspondence value is within the predetermined range, regardless of the thickness E of the workpiece 9. The predetermined range in this example is a range in which the hardness correspondence value is equal to or greater than α and less than 4α. According to the table 80, when the hardness correspondence value is less than α, the control unit 2 sets the offset amount F to a constant value β that is smaller than 1.1β, which is the minimum value of the offset amount F when the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece 9 is within the predetermined range α or greater and less than 4α, regardless of the thickness E of the workpiece 9.

[0052] The control unit 2 sets the number of times of cutting and the amount of incision into the workpiece 9 for each cutting process according to the corrected cutting data in accordance with the thickness E of the workpiece 9 acquired in S11 and the hardness corresponding value of the workpiece 9 (S17). The control unit 2 sets the first incision amount, which is the incision amount for the first time, to be equal to or smaller than the second incision amount, which is the incision amount for the second time. The control unit 2 sets the incision amount smaller when the workpiece 9 is harder than when it is soft, based on the hardness corresponding value of the workpiece 9. In a specific example shown in the legend 52 of FIG. 7, the first incision amount is set to 0.5γ, the second incision amount is set to γ, and the number of cuts is set to 5. In a specific example shown in the legend 53 of FIG. 7, the first incision amount and the second incision amount are set to 0.5γ, and the number of cuts is set to 10.

[0053] The control unit 2 corrects the data corresponding to the direction change portion of the cutting data by using the offset amount F set in S16 (S18). The control unit 2 may correct the cutting data by using the offset amount F by a known method. The control unit 2 corrects the cutting data, for example, by the following procedure. The control unit 2 identifies the direction change portion of the pattern Q based on the cutting data acquired in S1. As shown in FIG. 6(B), the control unit 2 corrects the cutting data at the corner between the side L1 and the side L2 by extending the side L1 to the right, which is the cutting direction, and connecting the right end of the extended side L1 and the side L2 in an arc shape centered on the corner. The control unit 2 similarly corrects the cutting data of the other direction change portions.

[0054] The control unit 2 controls the approaching / separating mechanism 3C to move the mounting unit 3B in the separation direction to the raised position (S19). The control unit 2 controls the conveying mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D in accordance with the cutting data corrected in S18 to relatively move the workpiece 9 placed on the platen 2B and the mounting unit 3B in the front-rear and left-right directions, and executes a cutting process in which the workpiece 9 is cut by the cutting blade 16 attached to the mounting unit 3B (S20).

[0055] As shown in FIG. 9, the control unit 2 controls the conveying mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D based on the cutting data acquired in S1, and moves the mounting unit 3B to the cutting start position ST relative to the holding unit 90 (S30). The control unit 2 sets 1 to a variable N for sequentially reading the number of cuts set in S17 (S31). The control unit 2 judges whether 2γ is set to the first input amount (S32). If 2γ is set to the first input amount (S32: YES), the control unit 2 sets the cutting position RP set in S5 to the target position (S34). If 2γ is set to the first input amount, it is determined that the workpiece 9 can be cut in one cutting process based on the hardness corresponding value and thickness E of the workpiece 9. The control unit 2 controls the contact / separation mechanism 3C to start a process of lowering the mounting unit 3B toward the platen 2B at the cutting start position of S30 (S35). The control unit 2 judges whether the mounting unit 3B has reached the target position corresponding to the variable N set in S34 based on the signal output from the detector 40 (S36). If the mounting unit 3B has not reached the target position (S36: NO), the control unit 2 returns the process to S36. If the height of the mounting unit 3B has reached the target position set in S34 (S36: YES), the control unit 2 controls the contact / separation mechanism 3C to stop the process of lowering the mounting unit 3B started in S35 (S37), and executes the Nth cutting process under the condition that the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B is at the target position (S38). In the Nth cutting process, the control unit 2 controls the conveying mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D according to the cutting data corrected in S18, and moves the workpiece 9 placed on the platen 2B and the mounting unit 3B relatively in the front-rear and left-right directions, and cuts the workpiece 9 with the cutting blade 16 attached to the mounting unit 3B. The control unit 2 then ends the disconnection control process, and returns the process to the main process of FIG.

[0056] If 2γ is not set to the first inflow amount (S32: NO), the control unit 2 judges whether the variable N is equal to the number of cuts set in S17 (S33). If 2γ is not set to the first inflow amount, it is a case where it is judged that the workpiece 9 can not be cut in one cutting process based on the hardness corresponding value and the thickness E of the workpiece 9. If the variable N is equal to the number of cuts set in S17 (S33: YES), the control unit 2 performs the process of S34 described above. If the variable N is not the number of cuts (S33: NO), the control unit 2 judges whether the variable N is 1 (S39). If the variable N is 1 (S39: YES), the control unit 2 sets the inflow amount to the first inflow amount set in S17 (S40). The control unit 2 sets the target position to a value obtained by subtracting the first inflow amount set in S40 from the upper surface position TP of the workpiece 9 (S41). The top surface position TP of the object 9 is a position obtained by adding the thickness E of the object 9 obtained in S11 to the contact position HP obtained in S4. If the variable N is not 1 (S39: NO), the control unit 2 sets the second cutting amount set in S17 as the cutting amount (S42). The control unit 2 sets the target position to a value obtained by subtracting the second cutting amount set in S42 from the cut position of the object 9 (S43). The cut position of the object 9 is a position obtained by subtracting the thickness already cut by the cutting blade 16 from the top surface position TP of the object 9.

[0057] The control unit 2 controls the contact / separation mechanism 3C to start a process of lowering the mounting unit 3B toward the platen 2B at the cutting start position ST in S30 (S44). The control unit 2 determines whether the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B has reached the target position set in S41 or S43 based on the cutting depth based on the signal output from the detector 40 during the period when the contact / separation mechanism 3C is being controlled (S45). If the mounting unit 3B has not reached the target position (S45: NO), the control unit 2 determines whether the pressure corresponding value corresponding to the pressure in the approach direction applied to the mounting unit 3B by the pressure change mechanism 14 has reached a pressure threshold value (threshold value ThP) during the period when the contact / separation mechanism 3C is being controlled based on the number of pulses input to the Z-axis motor 41 (S50). The threshold value ThP is the maximum value of the pressure corresponding value set to prevent the pressure applied to the mounting unit 3B from becoming excessively large. The threshold value ThP may be the same as the maximum pulse value in S13, or may be different from each other. If the current pressure correspondence value is smaller than the threshold value ThP (S50: YES), the control unit 2 returns the process to S45. If the mounting unit 3B reaches the target position (S45: YES), the control unit 2 controls the contact / separation mechanism 3C to stop the process of lowering the mounting unit 3B started in S35 (S47), and executes the Nth disconnection process (S48) as in S38. The control unit 2 increments the variable N by 1 (S49), and returns the process to S33.

[0058] If it is determined that the pressure correspondence value reaches the threshold value ThP (S50: NO) before it is determined by S45 that the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B has reached the target position (S45: NO), the control unit 2 stops the control of the contact / separation mechanism 3C (S51). After updating the number of cuts set in S17 (S52), the control unit 2 performs the cutting process at the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B when the control of the contact / separation mechanism 3C was stopped (S48). In a specific example shown in the legend 52 of FIG. 7, the first cut-in amount is set to 0.5γ (S40), and the second cut-in amount is set to the second to fourth cut-in amounts (S42), and the first to fourth cut-in processes are respectively performed. In the fifth cut-in process, the cutting position RP is set to the target position (S34), and the cutting process is performed (S38). In a specific example shown in legend 53 of Fig. 7, the first cutting amount is set to 0.5γ (S40), the second cutting amount is set to 0.5γ (S42) for the second to ninth cutting amounts, and the first to ninth cutting processes are executed, respectively. In the tenth cutting process, the cutting position RP is set to the target position (S34), and the cutting process is executed (S38). In Fig. 5, after S20, the control unit 2 controls the contact / separation mechanism 3C to move the mounting unit 3B in the separation direction (upward) to the raised position (S21). The control unit 2 then ends the main process.

[0059] An evaluation test was conducted on the cutting quality of the pattern when the workpiece 9 was cut according to the main process of the above embodiment. A comparative example was a case where the offset amount F, the first infeed amount, and the second infeed amount according to the hardness corresponding value of the workpiece 9 were not set, and an example was a case where the offset amount F, the first infeed amount, and the second infeed amount according to the hardness corresponding value of the workpiece 9 were set according to the main process of the above embodiment. The material of the workpiece 9, the cutting data, and the cutting blade 16 were the same in the comparative example and the example. Specifically, the cutting blade 16 used had a distance J from the axis M to the tip 18 of 10 mm. The material of the workpiece 9 was basswood with a thickness E of about 2 mm. The pattern cut according to the cutting data was a square with one side of 30 mm. In the comparative example, the offset amount F was set to 11 mm, the number of cuts was set to 5, and the first and second infeed amounts were set to 0.5 mm. In the embodiment, the offset amount F was set to 13 mm, the number of cuts was set to 10, and the cutting depth was set to 0.2 mm.

[0060] In the photograph of FIG. 10, the interval between adjacent points in the background of the cutting pattern is 4 mm. As shown in FIG. 10, the cutting pattern of the comparative example has a square corner with a rounded shape, whereas the cutting pattern of the example has a corner cut closer to a right angle than the comparative example. From the results of the evaluation test, it was confirmed that the example in which the offset amount F, the first infeed amount, and the second infeed amount are set according to the hardness corresponding value of the workpiece 9 according to the main processing of the above embodiment can improve the cutting quality of the pattern by increasing the possibility of cutting the workpiece 9 along the shape of the pattern, compared to the comparative example in which the offset amount F, the first infeed amount, and the second infeed amount are not set according to the hardness corresponding value of the workpiece 9.

[0061] In the above embodiment, the cutting device 1, the control unit 2, the platen 2B, the mounting unit 3B, and the cutting blade 16 are examples of the cutting device, the control unit, the platen, the mounting unit, and the cutting blade of the present invention, respectively. The conveying mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D are examples of the moving mechanism of the present invention. The pressure change mechanism 14 and the contact and separation mechanism 3C are examples of the pressure change mechanism and the contact and separation mechanism of the present invention, respectively. The control unit 2 that executes S1 is an example of the cutting data acquisition unit of the present invention. The control unit 2 that executes S15 is an example of the hardness acquisition unit of the present invention. The control unit 2 that executes S16 is an example of the offset amount setting unit of the present invention. The control unit 2 that executes S18 is an example of the correction unit of the present invention. The control unit 2 that executes S20 is an example of the cutting control unit of the present invention. The control unit 2 that executes S11 is an example of the thickness acquisition unit of the present invention. The control unit 2 that executes S17 is an example of the incision setting unit of the present invention. The control unit 2 that executes S50 is an example of the first determination unit of the present invention. The control unit 2 that executes S45 is an example of the second determination unit of the present invention.

[0062] The cutting device 1 of the above embodiment includes a platen 2B, a mounting unit 3B, a conveying mechanism 2C, a moving mechanism 2D, and a control unit 2. The mounting unit 3B is configured to mount a cutting blade 16 having a tip 18 at a position a predetermined distance away from an axis M extending in an up-down direction intersecting with the front-rear direction and the left-right direction intersecting with the front-rear direction so as to be rotatable about the axis M. The conveying mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D are configured to relatively move the workpiece 9 placed on the platen 2B and the mounting unit 3B in the front-rear direction and the left-right direction. The control unit 2 can control the conveying mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D. The control unit 2 acquires cutting data for cutting a pattern from the workpiece 9 (S1). The control unit 2 acquires a hardness corresponding value according to the hardness of the workpiece 9 placed on the platen 2B (S15). The control unit 2 sets the offset amount F used for the rotation correction for changing the orientation of the cutting blade 16 in a direction change portion where the cutting direction of the workpiece 9 changes by a predetermined amount or more based on the hardness correspondence value acquired in S15 to a larger value when the workpiece 9 is hard than when the workpiece 9 is soft (S16). The control unit 2 corrects the data corresponding to the direction change portion among the cutting data using the offset amount F set in S16 (S18). The control unit 2 controls the conveying mechanism 2C and the moving mechanism 2D according to the corrected cutting data, moves the workpiece 9 placed on the platen 2B and the mounting unit 3B relatively in the first direction and the second direction, and executes a cutting process for cutting the workpiece 9 with the cutting blade 16 mounted on the mounting unit 3B (S20).

[0063] The cutting device 1 acquires the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece 9 and sets the offset amount F used for rotation correction according to the hardness of the workpiece 9, so that the offset amount F among the setting conditions used for cutting the workpiece 9 can be set more appropriately than before. This allows the cutting device 1 to perform rotation correction under conditions more suitable for the workpiece 9 than before. The cutting device 1 can improve the cutting quality of the pattern by increasing the possibility that the workpiece can be cut along the shape of the pattern more than before.

[0064] The cutting device 1 includes a contact / separation mechanism 3C and a pressure change mechanism 14. The contact / separation mechanism 3C is controlled by the control unit 2 to move the mounting unit 3B in the up-down direction, in an approaching direction to bring the mounting unit 3B closer to the platen 2B and in a separating direction to separate the mounting unit 3B from the platen 2B. The pressure change mechanism 14 can change the pressure applied to the mounting unit 3B in the approaching direction according to the movement of the contact / separation mechanism 3C. The control unit 2 acquires a hardness correspondence value based on a pressure correspondence value according to the pressure applied to the mounting unit 3B by the pressure change mechanism 14 and the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B (S15). The cutting device 1 acquires the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece 9 based on the pressure correspondence value and the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B, so that the user does not have to input the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece 9 to the cutting device 1. The cutting device 1 obtains the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece 9 based on the pressure correspondence value and the vertical position of the mounting part 3B, thereby preventing errors in setting the hardness correspondence value and enabling rotation correction to be performed under conditions suitable for the workpiece 9.

[0065] The control unit 2 of the cutting device 1 acquires the thickness E of the workpiece 9 in the up-down direction (S11). Based on the thickness E of the workpiece 9 acquired in S11, the control unit 2 sets a larger value for the offset amount F when the thickness E of the workpiece 9 is thicker than when the thickness E is thinner, if the hardness correspondence value is the same (S16). Since the cutting device 1 sets the offset amount F for the direction change portion according to the hardness and thickness E of the workpiece 9, it is possible to increase the possibility of cutting the direction change portion along the pattern, taking into account the hardness and thickness E of the workpiece 9, compared to conventional methods.

[0066] The control unit 2 of the cutting device 1 acquires the thickness E of the workpiece 9 in the vertical direction (S11). The control unit 2 sets the number of times the cutting process is performed and the amount of incision into the workpiece 9 for each cutting process according to the cutting data corrected according to the thickness E of the workpiece 9 acquired in S11 and the hardness corresponding value of the workpiece 9 (S17). The control unit 2 controls the conveying mechanism 2C, the moving mechanism 2D, and the approaching and separating mechanism 3C to perform the cutting process by the amount of incision set for each cutting process for the number of times set in S17 (S20). The cutting device 1 can cut the workpiece 9 with the number of times and the amount of incision suitable for the workpiece 9 according to the hardness and thickness E of the workpiece 9. As a result, the cutting device 1 can increase the possibility of cutting the workpiece 9 along the shape of the pattern compared to a case where the number of times and the amount of incision suitable for the workpiece 9 are not set according to the hardness and thickness E of the workpiece 9, and can improve the cutting quality of the pattern.

[0067] When the hardness correspondence value is within a predetermined range, the control unit 2 of the cutting device 1 sets the offset amount F to a larger value as the thickness E of the workpiece 9 is larger (S16). When the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece 9 is harder than when it is within the predetermined range, the control unit 2 sets the offset amount F to a constant value that is larger than the offset amount F when the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece 9 is within the predetermined range, regardless of the thickness E of the workpiece 9 (S16). Even when the hardness correspondence value exceeds the predetermined range, the cutting device 1 can avoid excessively setting the offset amount F due to setting the offset amount F to a larger value as the thickness E of the workpiece 9 is larger.

[0068] When the hardness correspondence value is within a predetermined range, the control unit 2 of the cutting device 1 sets the offset amount F to a larger value as the thickness E of the workpiece 9 is larger (S16). When the hardness correspondence value is a value when the workpiece 9 is softer than when it is within the predetermined range, the control unit 2 sets the offset amount F to a constant value that is smaller than the offset amount F when the hardness correspondence value is within the predetermined range, regardless of the thickness E of the workpiece 9 (S16). Even when the hardness correspondence value is smaller than the predetermined range, the cutting device 1 can avoid setting the offset amount F to an insufficient value due to setting the offset amount F to a larger value as the thickness E of the workpiece 9 is larger.

[0069] The control unit 2 of the cutting device 1 sets the first infeed amount, which is the infeed amount for the first time, to be equal to or less than the second infeed amount, which is the infeed amount for the second time (S17). The cutting device 1 can increase the possibility of cutting the workpiece 9 along the pattern, compared to a case where a rut is formed in the workpiece in the first cutting process with the first infeed amount larger than the second infeed amount.

[0070] The control unit 2 of the cutting device 1 sets the cutting amount smaller when the hardness of the object 9 is harder than when the hardness of the object 9 is soft, based on the hardness correspondence value of the object 9 (S17). The cutting device 1 can appropriately set the cutting amount of the object 9 according to the hardness correspondence value of the object 9.

[0071] The control unit 2 of the cutting device 1 judges whether the pressure corresponding value corresponding to the pressure in the approach direction applied to the mounting unit 3B by the pressure change mechanism 14 reaches the pressure threshold value during the period when the contact / separation mechanism 3C is controlled (S50). The control unit 2 judges whether the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B reaches the target position set based on the cutting depth during the period when the contact / separation mechanism 3C is controlled (S45). If the control unit 2 judges that the pressure corresponding value reaches the threshold value ThP in S50 before it is judged that the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B reaches the target position in S45 (S45: NO, S50: NO), it stops the control of the contact / separation mechanism 3C (S51). The control unit 2 performs the cutting process at the vertical position of the mounting unit 3B when the control of the contact / separation mechanism 3C is stopped (S48). The cutting device 1 can suppress chipping of the cutting blade 16 attached to the mounting unit 3B due to the application of a relatively large pressure to the cutting blade 16.

[0072] The cutting device of the present invention is not limited to the above-mentioned embodiment, and various modifications may be made within the scope of the present invention. For example, the configuration of the cutting device 1 may be appropriately modified. The cutting device 1 may perform processes other than cutting, such as drawing, in addition to cutting with the cutting blade 16. The cutting device 1 may be capable of moving the mounting unit 3B and the holding unit 90 relatively in the first direction and the second direction, for example, the mounting unit 3B may be moved in the first direction and the second direction while the position of the holding unit 90 is fixed. The first direction, the second direction, the third direction, the approach direction, and the separation direction may be appropriately modified. The holding unit 90 may be capable of holding the workpiece 9, and may be, for example, a tray-shaped member in addition to a mat-shaped member. The detector 40 may be capable of detecting the position of the mounting unit 3B in the third direction, and the arrangement, configuration, etc. may be appropriately modified. The detector 40 may be, for example, an encoder that detects the amount of movement of a slit provided in the mounting unit 3B, or a sensor that detects the magnitude and direction of a magnetic field (magnetic field) generated by a magnet provided in the mounting unit 3B. The reference for the position of the mounting part 3B in the third direction output by the detector 40 may be changed as appropriate. The pressure change mechanism 14 may be a biasing member other than a compression coil spring (e.g., a torsion spring) as long as it can change the pressure applied to the mounting part 3B toward the platen 2B. The pressure change mechanism 14 may be, for example, an air cylinder that applies a force to the mounting part 3B in the approaching direction.

[0073] In the main processing shown in FIG. 5, a microcomputer, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuits), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or the like may be used as a processor instead of the control unit 2. The main processing may be distributed by a plurality of processors. The storage unit 74 that stores the program for executing the main processing may be composed of other non-transient storage media such as, for example, an HDD and / or an SSD. The non-transient storage medium may be a storage medium that can hold information regardless of the period for which the information is stored. The non-transient storage medium may not include a temporary storage medium (for example, a transmitted signal). The program for executing the main processing may be downloaded (i.e., transmitted as a transmission signal) from a server connected to a network not shown, and stored in the HDD. In this case, the program may be stored in a non-transient storage medium such as an HDD provided in the server. The order of each step of the main processing in the above embodiment may be changed, steps may be omitted, or steps may be added as necessary. The scope of the present disclosure also includes cases where an operating system (OS) running on the cutting device 1 performs some or all of the actual processing based on instructions from the control unit 2 of the cutting device 1, and the functions of the above embodiments are realized through that processing.

[0074] The predetermined position of S2 may be changed as appropriate. The predetermined position of S2 is preferably a place where the object 9 is not placed, and more specifically, is preferably a region other than the cuttable region set in the holding unit 90. If the cutting device 1 can identify the location where the object 9 is placed, the cutting device 1 may determine the predetermined position of S2 based on the identified location of the object 9. In this case, the predetermined position of S2 may be within the cuttable region. The process of acquiring the cutting position RP may be performed during a period different from the process of adjusting the orientation of the cutting blade 16 from S3 to S7. The process of S6 may be omitted as necessary.

[0075] The pressure corresponding value and the hardness corresponding value may be changed as appropriate. For example, if the cutting device 1 is equipped with a pressure sensor, the pressure corresponding value may be a pressure sensor value. The hardness corresponding value may be a measure indicating the degree of resistance to a force applied to the workpiece 9 by another object. For example, if the cutting device 1 is equipped with a hardness sensor, the pressure corresponding value may be a hardness sensor value.

[0076] The method of setting the offset amount F based on the hardness correspondence value may be changed as appropriate. The table 80 may be changed as appropriate. The control unit 2 may set the offset amount F by referring to the table 80, or may set the offset amount F by substituting the hardness correspondence value into a predetermined formula. The table 80 only needs to store the relationship between the hardness correspondence value and the offset amount F, and may not store at least any of the offset amount F, the first infeed amount, and the second infeed amount according to the thickness E of the workpiece 9. The control unit 2 may set the offset amount F to a larger value in the case where the workpiece 9 is harder than in the case where the workpiece 9 is soft, according to the hardness correspondence value, and may not set the offset amount F according to the thickness E of the workpiece 9. The control unit 2 may set the offset amount F to a larger value in the case where the workpiece 9 is harder than in the case where the workpiece 9 is soft, according to the hardness correspondence value, regardless of whether the hardness correspondence value is within a predetermined range.

[0077] The control unit 2 may not set the number of times of cutting, the first incision amount, and the second incision amount according to the hardness correspondence value and thickness E of the workpiece 9. The first incision amount may be larger than the second incision amount. For example, the control unit 2 may set the cutting position RP at the target position without setting the number of times of cutting, the first incision amount, and the second incision amount, and execute the cutting process at either the cutting position RP or an upper or lower position where the pressure correspondence value becomes the threshold value ThP by the same process as S45, S47, S48, S50, and S51. [Explanation of symbols]

[0078] 1: cutting device, 2: control unit, 2B: platen, 3B: mounting unit, 3C: contact / separation mechanism, 6: holder, 7: moving mechanism, 8: conveying mechanism, 14: pressure change mechanism, 16: cutting blade, 40: detector, 71: CPU, 72: ROM, 73: RAM, 74: storage unit

Claims

1. A platen, a mounting portion configured to mount a cutting blade having a tip portion at a position separated by a predetermined distance from an axis extending in a third direction intersecting each of a first direction and a second direction intersecting the first direction, so as to be rotatable about the axis; a moving mechanism that relatively moves the workpiece placed on the platen and the mounting unit in the first direction and the second direction; A control unit capable of controlling the moving mechanism, The control unit is a hardness acquisition unit that acquires a hardness corresponding value corresponding to the hardness of the workpiece placed on the platen; a cutting data acquisition unit that acquires cutting data for cutting a pattern from the workpiece; an offset amount setting unit that sets a larger value for an offset amount used in a rotation correction for changing a direction of the cutting blade in a direction change portion where a direction of cutting the object changes by a predetermined amount or more based on the hardness corresponding value acquired by the hardness acquisition unit when the hardness of the object is harder than when the hardness of the object is soft; a correction unit that corrects data corresponding to the direction change portion of the cutting data by using the offset amount set by the offset amount setting unit; a cutting control unit that controls the movement mechanism according to the corrected cutting data, and relatively moves the object placed on the platen and the mounting unit in the first direction and the second direction to perform a cutting process in which the object is cut by the cutting blade mounted on the mounting unit. A cutting device characterized by functioning as a cutting device.

2. a contact / separation mechanism that is controlled by the control unit and that moves the mounting unit in the third direction, that is, an approach direction in which the mounting unit approaches the platen and a separation direction in which the mounting unit is separated from the platen; a pressure change mechanism capable of changing the pressure in the approaching direction applied to the mounting portion in response to movement of the contact / separation mechanism; Further comprising: The cutting device according to claim 1, characterized in that the hardness acquisition unit acquires the hardness correspondence value based on a pressure correspondence value corresponding to the pressure applied to the mounting unit by the pressure change mechanism and a position of the mounting unit in the third direction.

3. The control unit is Further functioning as a thickness acquisition unit for acquiring a thickness of the workpiece in the third direction, The cutting device according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the offset amount setting unit sets a larger value to the offset amount when the thickness of the workpiece is thicker than when the thickness of the workpiece is thinner, when the hardness correspondence value is the same, based on the thickness of the workpiece acquired by the thickness acquisition unit.

4. The control unit is a thickness acquisition unit that acquires a thickness of the workpiece in the third direction; a cutting depth setting unit that sets the number of times the cutting process is performed and a cutting depth into the workpiece for each cutting process according to the thickness of the workpiece acquired by the thickness acquisition unit and the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece, in accordance with the corrected cutting data. It also functions as The cutting device according to claim 2, characterized in that the cutting control unit controls the moving mechanism and the approaching and separating mechanism to perform the cutting process the number of times set by the incision setting unit and with the incision amount set for each cutting process.

5. The cutting device according to claim 3, characterized in that, when the hardness correspondence value is within a predetermined range, the offset amount setting unit sets the offset amount to a larger value as the thickness of the workpiece increases, and when the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece is a value that is harder than when it is within the predetermined range, the offset amount setting unit sets the offset amount to a constant value that is larger than the offset amount when the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece is within the predetermined range, regardless of the thickness of the workpiece.

6. The cutting device according to claim 3, characterized in that when the hardness correspondence value is within a predetermined range, the offset amount setting unit sets the offset amount to a larger value as the thickness of the workpiece increases, and when the hardness correspondence value is a value when the workpiece is softer than when the hardness correspondence value is within the predetermined range, the offset amount setting unit sets the offset amount to a constant value that is smaller than the offset amount when the hardness correspondence value is within the predetermined range, regardless of the thickness of the workpiece.

7. The cutting device according to claim 4 , wherein the incision setting unit sets a first incision amount, which is the incision amount for a first time, to be equal to or smaller than a second incision amount, which is the incision amount for a second time.

8. The cutting device according to claim 4 or 7, characterized in that the incision setting unit sets the incision amount to be smaller when the hardness of the workpiece is harder than when the hardness of the workpiece is soft, based on the hardness correspondence value of the workpiece.

9. The control unit is a first determination unit that determines whether the pressure correspondence value corresponding to the pressure in the approach direction applied to the mounting unit by the pressure change mechanism has reached a pressure threshold value during a period in which the approach / separation mechanism is controlled; a second determination unit that determines whether a position of the mounting unit in the third direction has reached a target position set based on the cutting amount during a period in which the contact / separation mechanism is controlled. It also functions as The cutting device described in claim 4, characterized in that when the first judgment unit determines that the pressure corresponding value has reached the pressure threshold before the second judgment unit determines that the position of the attachment part in the third direction has reached the target position, the cutting control unit stops control of the attachment / detachment mechanism and performs the cutting process at the position in the third direction of the attachment part at the time when control of the attachment / detachment mechanism was stopped.

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