Cutting Apparatus Backlash Compensation Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional cut-processing apparatuses experience errors in cutting accuracy due to backlash in gear trains and deformation of mechanical components, leading to discrepancies between intended and actual cutting paths.

Innovation Solution

The apparatus incorporates a system for generating and correcting control data to account for backlash and deformation losses in the gear trains, ensuring precise tool movement and sheet feeding by storing and compensating for these losses during changes in rotation direction and at shift points.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Power

If gear trains are used to transmit rotary power from motors to feed rollers and timing belts, then power transmission and speed reduction are achieved, but backlash in the gear trains causes feed loss and cutting accuracy errors

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower transmissionVSAvoidcutting accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

PowerVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates and stores backlash loss amounts for each gear train before operation. During cutting, these pre-stored values are automatically applied to correct the cutting data, compensating for the backlash effects before they occur during actual cutting operations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system measures the actual backlash loss in each gear train and feeds this information back to the control system. The measured backlash values are stored and used to continuously correct cutting data, creating a closed-loop system that compensates for mechanical imperfections.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If high-speed motors are used to drive the feed mechanism and carriage move mechanism, then productivity is improved, but deformation of the power transmission system occurs due to cutting resistance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting speedVSAvoidcutting path accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-measures and stores deformation loss amounts for each power transmission system under various cutting conditions. During operation, these pre-stored deformation values are applied to correct cutting data before high-speed cutting begins, preventing accuracy errors caused by deformation during rapid cutting.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system measures actual deformation losses in the power transmission systems during or after cutting operations and feeds this information back to update the correction values. This continuous feedback loop ensures that deformation compensation remains accurate even as cutting conditions and tool wear change over time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If backlash is provided in gear trains to smooth gear engagement, then mechanical operation is improved, but feed loss occurs when gear rotation direction is inverted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegear engagement smoothnessVSAvoidfeed loss during direction shift

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-calculates backlash loss values for each gear train in both forward and reverse directions. When a direction change is detected in the cutting path, the system automatically applies the appropriate pre-stored backlash correction value, compensating for the feed loss that occurs during direction inversion before it affects cutting accuracy.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This approach significantly reduces errors in cutting accuracy, allowing for high-precision cutting by aligning the actual cutting path with the intended data path, thereby enhancing the overall cutting process.

Implementation Method 1

a gear train which transmits the power of rotating in the normal or reverse direction of rotation of the feed motor to the feed roller

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGear: Gear

Implementation Method 2

a timing belt which moves the tool back and forth; and a carriage gear train which transmits the power of rotating in the normal or reverse direction of rotation of the feed motor to a pulley of the timing belt

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectFriction: Friction

Data Source

PatentUS7182427B2Cut-processing apparatus, cut-processing method in cut-processing apparatus, and program

Publication Date: 2007.02.27 SEIKO EPSON CORP

AI summary

A cut-processing apparatus generates tool move control data to reciprocate the tool, and sheet feed control data to feed the sheet; stores an amount of tool move loss due to backlash in the carriage gear train occurring at tool move direction shift, and an amount of sheet feed loss due to backlash in the sheet feed gear train occurring at sheet feed direction shift; and corrects the tool move control data based on the stored amount of tool move loss at tool move direction shift, and the sheet feed control data based on the stored amount of sheet feed loss at sheet feed direction shift.