Cutting Device Reference Mark Detection for Positional Accuracy

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cutting devices face challenges in ensuring positional accuracy during the cutting process due to the need for multiple back-and-forth movements of the target medium, which can lead to misalignment caused by tilting, especially when dealing with long images or multiple short images.

Innovation Solution

A cutting device configuration that includes a guide rail, a printer head, a cutting head, a medium feeding mechanism, and a mark position detection portion, allowing for the detection of reference marks on one side of the image before starting the cutting process, reducing the need for back-and-forth movements and enhancing positional accuracy by setting the cutting position based on multiple reference marks.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If the target medium is fed back and forth multiple times to detect reference marks, then the cutting position can be determined, but misalignment occurs due to tilting during feeding

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereference mark detection accuracyVSAvoidcutting position accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by detecting all reference marks during the printing process before the cutting process begins. The reference mark detection portion detects marks while the medium is being fed during printing, so that when cutting starts, the positions of all reference marks are already known and stored. This eliminates the need for additional back-and-forth feeding movements that would cause tilting and misalignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Difficulty of detecting and measuring

If the target medium is fed a considerable distance from front to back, then reference marks can be detected, but misalignment is liable to occur due to tilting

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvereference mark position detectionVSAvoidpositional accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Difficulty of detecting and measuringVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements feedback by using the detected reference mark positions to automatically calculate and determine the cutting position. The detection results feed back into the control system, which computes the precise cutting location based on the relative positions of multiple reference marks. This closed-loop approach ensures high reliability and positional accuracy without requiring long feeding distances.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If the target medium is back-fed before starting the cutting process, then the print starting position can be reached, but misalignment is liable to occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecutting process setupVSAvoidcutting head and medium alignment

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical back-and-forth feeding system with an information-based positioning system. Instead of physically moving the medium multiple times to align it, the system uses detected reference mark positions to calculate the cutting location. The cutting head is then positioned based on this calculated information, eliminating the need for mechanical back-feeding operations that cause misalignment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

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 configuration reduces misalignment and ensures high positional accuracy by minimizing the frequency of back-and-forth movements, allowing for precise cutting even when dealing with long or multiple images, and accommodating potential expansion or contraction of the target medium.

Implementation Method 1

a printer head, provided so as to be movable along the guide rail, that prints an image and reference marks on the periphery of the image, by ejecting ink toward the target medium

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectInkjet ejection:

Implementation Method 2

a mark position detection portion, provided so as to be movable along the guide rail, that detects positions of the reference marks

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectOptical detection:

Data Source

PatentUS8870363B2Cutting device and cutting method thereof

Publication Date: 2014.10.28 MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO LTD

AI summary

A cutting device includes a guide rail opposing a platen, a printer head that prints an image and Trim marks on a sheet member, a cutter blade that performs a cutting process on the sheet member, a medium feeding mechanism that feeds the sheet member from front and back, a Trim mark detection portion that detects positions of the reference marks, and a controller that sets a cutting process position to correspond to a printing position of the image, prints the image and Trim marks while feeding the sheet member forward, detects the positions of the Trim marks with the Trim mark detection portion, and performs the cutting process with the cutter blade in the cutting process position set by the controller.