JP2013099881A - Cutter device and medium processing method - Google Patents

Abstract

A cutter device capable of processing a medium on which a design is formed in a short time.
A transport unit 20 for a medium S, a plurality of cutter units (40a to 40f) each having a cutter blade 41, and a carriage unit 30 for individually moving the plurality of cutter units in a scanning direction orthogonal to the transport direction. And the control unit 10, and the control unit controls the conveying unit and the carriage unit while bringing the blade edges 42 of two or more cutter blades of the same type out of the plurality of cutter blades into contact with the medium. Are moved relative to each other so that two or more trajectories of the blade edges of two or more cutter blades are formed on the medium.
[Selection] Figure 3

Description

  The present invention relates to a cutter device for cutting a printed design along its outline or forming a fold line such as a paper container, and a medium, following a design printing operation by a printing device. The present invention relates to a medium processing method for adding a fold line.

  2. Description of the Related Art An apparatus (hereinafter referred to as a cutter apparatus) for cutting a design formed on a medium such as paper along a contour thereof or making a fold line at an appropriate position is known. As a design to be cut, for example, there is a label printed on a medium that is releasably bonded onto a release paper. The label is later peeled off from the release paper and attached to the surface of a product or the like. In addition, if the design is a design corresponding to a developed view of a paper container (paper container), the cutter device forms the developed view in a box shape as a paper device in addition to the processing operation for cutting along the outer shape of the developed view. A machining operation for making a fold line is also performed.

  The following Patent Document 1 describes an apparatus in which a printing apparatus that prints a design such as a label and a cutter apparatus are integrated. The cutter apparatus is a cutter that can move in the paper feed direction and the paper width direction. It has a blade.

  In general, a plurality of labels and the like are printed in the width direction of a medium wound in a roll shape (paper, film, etc., hereinafter referred to as a roll medium). Therefore, the method for cutting the label along its contour is not limited to the method using the apparatus in which the printing apparatus and the cutter apparatus described in Patent Document 1 are integrated. There is also a method using the slitter described. In this method, a roll paper on which a plurality of labels are already printed in the width direction is wound using a slitter while being cut in the winding direction, that is, the length direction, and a plurality of labels are printed in the width direction. The roll paper is divided into a plurality of roll papers printed with one label in the width direction. In addition, the labels printed on each roll paper are further cut one by one along the outline by using a cutter device or a punching die that is separate from the printing device.

JP 2006-281684 A JP-A-6-31682

  Designs such as labels and developed drawings of paper containers formed on a medium can be printed in large quantities and at high speed by a printing apparatus. Even if there are many types of designs, it is only necessary to change the print data. For example, a wide variety of designs can be printed on one roll paper. However, a cutter device that performs cutting or the like on the design has a longer processing time required for medium processing such as cutting or folding processing than the printing time for forming the design by the printing device. For this reason, even if high-speed printing of the design by the printing apparatus is possible, when the product is finally cut from the blank medium, the design speed of the design must be adjusted to the processing speed for the medium. Therefore, the cost reduction effect by high-speed, large-volume printing and small-quantity multi-product printing in the printing apparatus is hindered.

  Specifically, in the cutter device described in the cited document 1, since the outline of the printed design is cut so as to be drawn with a single blade, a plurality of designs are printed in the width direction of the paper surface. If so, it takes a very long time to cut. Of course, when cutting using a separate cutter device or punching die after printing, it is necessary to move the printed medium to the cutter device, and similarly, it takes a long time to cut the design. Moreover, even if there are few printed matter, an expensive punching die is required, and it is extremely difficult to cope with a small quantity of various types of printing, which is an advantage of the printing apparatus.

  Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cutter device capable of processing a medium on which a design is formed in a short time continuously when the printing device prints the design.

The main invention for achieving the above object is that the cutter blade and the medium are moved relative to each other while the blade edge of the cutter blade is brought into contact with the sheet-like medium on which the design is formed. A cutter device for forming a trajectory of a shape on the medium,
A transport unit that transports the medium in a predetermined transport direction in a reversible manner;
A plurality of cutter units each including a cutter blade having a blade edge, and separately moving the cutter blade separately from the medium and allowing the blade edge to contact the medium;
A carriage unit that individually moves the plurality of cutter units in a scanning direction orthogonal to the transport direction;
A control unit;
With
The control unit causes the transport unit to move the medium in the transport direction while bringing the blade edges of the cutter blades of two or more cutter units having the same type of cutter blade out of the plurality of cutter units into contact with the medium. The two or more cutters are moved by relatively moving the cutter blade and the medium by causing the carriage unit and the carriage unit to move the two or more cutter units in the scanning direction. Forming two or more trajectories on the medium by the cutting edge of the cutter blade of a unit;
The cutter device is characterized by this.

It is a figure which shows the example of installation of the cutter apparatus which is one Embodiment of this invention. It is a figure which shows the conveyance path | route of the medium in a printing apparatus and the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one embodiment. It is a functional block diagram of the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one Embodiment. It is a top view when the principal part of the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one embodiment is seen from upper direction. It is sectional drawing when the principal part of the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one embodiment is seen from the conveyance direction of a medium. It is the schematic of the cutter unit which comprises the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one Embodiment. It is a partially broken perspective view when the principal part of the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one embodiment is seen from diagonally upward. It is a figure which shows the procedure at the time of making a fold line to a medium with the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the procedure at the time of cutting a medium with the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the concept about the design made into the process target by the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one Embodiment. It is a figure which shows the mode of a time-dependent change of the cutter blade with which the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one embodiment is provided. It is a figure which shows the relationship between the offset amount of the cutter blade with which the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one embodiment is provided, and the locus | trajectory of the blade edge when a medium is cut | disconnected. It is a figure which shows an example of the method for pinpointing the abrasion state of the cutter blade with which the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said one embodiment is provided. It is a partially broken perspective view when the principal part of the cutter apparatus which concerns on other embodiment is seen from upper direction.

=== About Embodiments and Examples ===
In addition to the embodiment corresponding to the above main invention, a cutter device corresponding to at least the following embodiment will be clarified by the description of the present specification and the accompanying drawings.

The plurality of cutter units are equipped with different types of cutter blades according to the processing content for the design,
The control unit stores the type of the cutter blade attached to each of the plurality of cutter units and the processing content for the design formed in the medium over the scanning direction, and the processing content Based on the above, the two or more cutter units to be used when forming a locus by the cutter blade from the plurality of cutter units,
A cutter device characterized by that.

  The control unit stores data on the number of designs formed in the scanning direction in the medium, and based on the number, the two or more cutters used when forming a locus by the cutter blade A cutter device that specifies the number of units.

  The number of the said designs is the number of the closed figures by which the inside was enclosed with the line, The cutter apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.

  The control unit receives data input about the state of the cutter blade mounted on each of the plurality of cutter units, and based on the data about the state of the cutter blade, from the plurality of cutter units to the cutter 2. A cutter apparatus, wherein the two or more cutter units used for forming a locus by a blade are selected.

An imaging unit for imaging the medium;
The controller is
When the blade edge of the cutter blade mounted on each of the plurality of cutter units is brought into contact with the medium and the blade edge is moved along a predetermined shape, the cutter blade is placed on the medium. The trajectory of the formed blade edge is photographed by the imaging unit,
By performing image recognition processing on the captured video, the state of the cutter blade mounted on each cutter unit is specified.
A cutter device characterized by that.

  The cutter device according to claim 1, wherein the imaging unit is a camera for photographing a mark for alignment formed on the medium.

  The control unit specifies the state of the cutter blade based on a locus of the blade edge when the blade edge of the cutter blade brought into contact with the medium is moved along the alignment mark. Cutter device to do.

  The cutter device, wherein the transport unit includes a steering mechanism for preventing the medium from skewing.

And the Example of this invention is the medium processing method in the cutter apparatus which concerns on the said embodiment,
A transport step for reversibly transporting the medium in a predetermined transport direction;
A moving step of individually moving a plurality of cutter blades in a scanning direction orthogonal to the conveying direction;
Among the plurality of cutter blades, the cutter blade is caused to perform the transporting step and the moving step with respect to the two or more cutter blades of the same type while bringing the blade edges of the two or more cutter blades of the same type into contact with the medium. And relatively moving the medium and
To form two or more trajectories on the medium by the cutting edges of the two or more cutter blades,
It is characterized by that.
In addition, the specific example about each said embodiment and an Example, an effect | action, and an effect are clarified by the following description.

=== Installation example of cutter device ===
FIG. 1 shows an installation example of the cutter device 1 according to the embodiment. In this example, the cutter device 1 is attached to a printing device 100 that prints a design (a label or the like) including characters and figures while feeding out the medium S wound in a roll. The cutter device 1 cuts a plurality of designs on the medium S into individual designs or folds them into predetermined positions while continuously conveying the medium S on which the designs conveyed from the printing device 100 are printed. Perform media processing operations such as adding lines and ruled lines. In addition, the cutter apparatus 1 according to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 does not cut the medium S for each design and separate it individually, but can add a fold line or ruled line as needed, and can separate the media S for each design. The medium S after cutting is transferred to the winding device and formed into a roll shape again.

  FIG. 2 shows an outline of the transport path of the medium S. Note that the depth direction in FIG. 2 is the width direction of the medium S, and the winding direction of the medium S is the transport direction or the length direction. Further, in the transport direction, the printing apparatus 100 side is upstream with respect to the cutter apparatus 1, and the rear stage side where the processed medium S such as the winding apparatus 110 is delivered is downstream. For the medium S, the surface on which the design is printed is the front surface or the upper surface. In the following description, the relationship between these relative positions and directions will be followed.

  The printing apparatus 100 shown here is a well-known inkjet printing apparatus 100, and is configured to collectively print a design such as a label on the medium S surface for a certain length (hereinafter, one frame). A head 101 having nozzles that eject ink toward the upper surface of the medium is a line head 101 in which nozzles are formed in the width direction of the medium S, and the medium S for one frame is placed on the flat bed 102. In a fixed state, the head 101 moves in the transport direction while discharging ink. Thereby, a design is formed on the medium S. When the design is printed on the surface of the medium S for one frame, the medium S for the next one frame is conveyed onto the flat bed 102. Then, the medium S on which the design is printed is conveyed into the cutter device 1 through the drying unit 103 for fixing the ink onto the medium S.

  The cutter apparatus 1 conveys the medium S conveyed in units of one frame in a freely reciprocating manner while holding the medium S without flowing backward to the printing apparatus 100 side, and finally various kinds for delivering the medium S to the subsequent stage. A roller (21 to 27) is built in, and the cutter blade is moved relative to the medium S while abutting the cutter blade against the medium S at a predetermined medium processing position 3 in the middle of conveying the medium S. Thus, the locus of the cutter blade is formed on the medium S. That is, a medium processing operation is performed in which the medium S is cut along an arbitrary shape, or a fold line or ruled line having an arbitrary shape is added to the medium S. The cutter device 1 according to the present embodiment is characterized by a mechanism (medium processing mechanism) 2 for performing medium processing such as cutting and fold line processing, and a control method of the medium processing mechanism 2. The effective processing time from the printing of the design to the processing of the medium such as cutting can be shortened without reducing the transport speed of the medium S in FIG.

=== Configuration of Cutter Device ===
FIG. 3 shows a functional block configuration of the cutter device 1 according to the present embodiment. 4 and 5 are schematic views of the medium processing mechanism 2 that is a main part of the cutter device 1. 4 is a view of the medium processing mechanism 2 as viewed from the upper surface side of the medium S. FIGS. 5A and 5B are cross-sectional views taken along the line aa in FIG. It is a figure equivalent to a bb arrow cross section. As shown in FIG. 3, the cutter device 1 includes a controller 10, a transport unit 20, a carriage unit 30, a cutter unit 40, and a detector group 50 as main components.

  The controller 10 is substantially a computer for controlling the cutter device 1, and controls each unit (20, 30, 40) and the detector group 50 in accordance with instructions from the CPU 11 and the CPU 11 which are arithmetic processing devices. A unit control unit 12 for transferring data output from the units (20, 30, 40) and the detector group 50 to the CPU 11, a storage area for a program executed by the CPU 11, and a work area for the program are secured. The memory 13 and a communication interface unit (communication IF) 14 for mediating data communication between the CPU 11 and an external device such as the printing apparatus 100 or the computer 120 are included.

  The transport unit 20 includes various mechanisms and structures for transporting the medium S in both forward and reverse directions, and the medium S is cut by contacting the blade edge of the cutter blade from above while moving back and forth. . As shown in FIG. 2, the schematic structure of the transport unit 20 includes rollers (21 to 27) that are in contact with the front and back surfaces of the medium S and transport the medium S at various places. Then, an appropriate roller is mechanically connected to a motor (not shown) that can rotate forward and backward, whereby the medium S is conveyed in the upstream or downstream direction. A nipple roller 25 is disposed at the medium processing position 3, and the cutter blade 41 abuts on the upper surface of the medium S on the nipple roller 25 during the medium processing. Further, since the medium S is transported in the forward and reverse directions between the most upstream and downstream rollers (21, 27), the transport unit 20 is provided with a predetermined value so that the medium S does not flow back into the printing apparatus 100. A buffer function for holding the medium S corresponding to the length (for example, one frame) in the cutter device 1 is required. In this embodiment, floating rollers (21, 22) that can move up and down with respect to the medium processing position 3 are interposed, and these floating rollers (21, 22) are vertically moved. The buffer function is realized by moving.

  The cutter unit 40 is configured to include a cutter blade 41 for cutting the medium S and various mechanisms for bringing the cutter blade 41 into contact with the medium S during processing of the medium, and the cutter device 1 of the present embodiment. Comprises six sets of cutter units (40a-40f). FIG. 6 shows a schematic configuration of one cutter unit 40. 6A is a side view of a part of the cutter unit 40 seen through, and FIG. 6B is an enlarged view of the cutter blade 41. FIG. The cutter blade 41 attached to the cutter unit 40 is generally cylindrical and has a shape in which a cutting edge 42 is formed on one end face side of the cylinder. The cutter unit 40 has a holder portion 45 that houses the cylindrical portion of the cutter blade 41, and a magnet 44 that is built in the holder portion 45 and can move in the vertical direction while adsorbing the upper end 43 of the cutter blade 41. And a known solenoid actuator 46 for moving the magnet 44 up and down.

  The solenoid actuator (hereinafter referred to as a solenoid) 46 includes a moving shaft 47 that moves downward in response to power supply from the unit controller 12. The moving shaft 47 compresses the spring 48 continuous with the lower end thereof and moves the magnet 44 disposed at the lower end of the spring 48 downward. As a result, the cutter blade 41 accommodated in the holder portion 45 moves up and down, and the cutting edge 42 of the cutter blade 41 can be brought into contact with or separated from the medium S. Further, by controlling the current applied to the solenoid 46, the strength with which the blade edge 42 is pressed against the medium S can be adjusted, and a cutting line, a folding line, or the like having a predetermined depth can be formed on the medium S. For example, in the case of the label medium S, since the paper or film on which the design to be a label is printed has a two-layer structure stuck on the release paper, the label was printed without cutting the release paper. Only paper and film can be cut. Of course, it is also possible to cut the medium S having various thicknesses by adjusting the pressing strength according to the thickness of the medium S. By using the cutter blade 41 having a predetermined shape as the blade edge 42 and adjusting the pressing strength, for example, it becomes possible to form a folding line or ruled line of a paper container to be formed into a box shape later. When the power supply to the solenoid 46 is released, the spring 48 in the compressed state is restored, the cutter blade 41 moves upward, and the blade edge 42 is separated from the upper surface of the medium S.

  In addition, the cutter blade 41 according to the present embodiment is a “universal blade” that follows the moving direction of the cutter unit 40 when the cutter unit 40 is moved while being in contact with the medium S. As described above, the cutter blade 41 is generally cylindrical, and the upper end 43 has a conical shape with the top at the top, and the cutting edge 42 is formed at the lower end. The formation position of the blade edge 42 is separated from the central axis 49 of the cylinder passing through the apex of the cone of the upper end 43 with a predetermined distance d. That is, the cutter blade 41 is called “eccentric cutter blade” or the like. The lower end of the magnet 44 that attracts the cutter blade 41 is also conical with the apex at the bottom, and the cutter blade 41 and the magnet 44 are adsorbed in a state of being in contact with each other at one apex of the cone. Accordingly, when the cutter unit 40 is moved in a state where the blade edge 42 of the cutter blade 41 is in contact with the medium S, the blade edge 42 follows the locus of the central axis 49. That is, the cutter blade 41 itself rotates around the central axis 49 without requiring another power or a special mechanism for rotating the cutter blade 41 around the central axis 49.

  The carriage unit 30 is for moving the cutter unit 40 in the width direction of the medium S (hereinafter referred to as the scanning direction). Six sets (30a to 30f) corresponding to the six sets of cutter units (40a to 40f). is there. Each cutter unit (40a to 40f) is individually supported by a carriage (31a to 31f), and individually reciprocates in the scanning direction.

  FIG. 7 shows a partial configuration of the carriage unit 30 in a broken perspective view. FIG. 7 corresponds to a view when the medium processing mechanism 2 shown in FIG. 4 is viewed from the direction of the white arrow 4. In this embodiment, the carriage unit 30 includes six sets of carriages (31a to 31f) guided by guide rails (35a to 35f) while supporting one cutter unit (40a to 40f) in pairs. A belt (34a-34f) in which one of the two carriages (31a-31f) is fixed and reciprocally moves the carriage (31a-31f) in the width direction of the medium S (hereinafter, scanning direction); Motors (32a to 32f) and pulleys (33a to 33f) for rotating the belts (34a to 34f) in a reciprocating manner are included. And a total of six belts (34a-34f) are each arrange | positioned 3 each before and behind each cutter unit (40a-40f), and each belt (34a-34f) is each motor (32a-32f) and each. It spans the pulleys (33a to 33f) and reciprocates individually. There are six guide rails 35 for guiding the carriages (31a to 31f) in total, and three guide rails 35 are arranged at the front and back, and extend in the scanning direction. Then, as shown in FIG. 7, a pair of front and rear guide rails (35af, 35be, 35cd) at the same height position are provided with two sets of carriages (31a and 31f, 31b and 31e, 31c and 31d). The two carriages (31a and 31f, 31b and 31e, 31c and 31d) are guided by a common guide rail (35af, 35be, and 35cd). Each cutter unit (40a-40f) is supported between two sets of carriages (31a-31f) via support members (36a-36f) installed between the pair of carriages (31a-31f). Yes. In this example, out of the six sets of carriages (31a to 31f), the two sets of carriages (31c, 31d) which are the innermost in the scanning direction are guided by the upper guide rail 35cd, and thereafter outward. A pair of carriages (31b-31e and 31a-31f) are sequentially guided to the middle guide rail 35be and the lower guide rail 35af. That is, assuming that the scanning direction is the left-right direction, the six sets of cutter units (40a to 40f) are arranged so as to be symmetrical with respect to the vertical position. Moreover, six sets of cutter units (40a-40f) are located in a line with the left-right direction so that the center axis 49 of each cutter blade 41 may become a line in a scanning direction.

  The length of each guide rail (35af, 35be, 35cd) is longer than the length in the width direction of the medium S at the medium processing position 3, that is, the length of the medium S excluding the left and right margins. When the processing operation is not performed, the six carriages (31a to 31f) move to the left and right ends three by three. In this state, the innermost cutter unit (40c, 40d) is located at a position higher than the medium processing position 3. It is at a position outside the scanning direction (standby position). And each motor (32a-32f) makes each belt (34a-34f) drive | work based on the control signal from the unit control part 12, Therefore Six sets of cutters supported by each carriage (31a-31f) The units (40a to 40f) individually move in the scanning direction. As can be understood from FIGS. 4 and 5, each cutter unit (for example, 40 b) cannot move beyond the adjacent cutter units (40 a, 40 c) to the opposite side. That is, the relative positional relationship between the cutter units (40a to 40f) in the scanning direction is fixed.

  As described above, in the cutter device 1, the medium S is transported in the forward and reverse directions by the transport unit 20, and the cutter units (40 a to 40 f) individually move in the scanning direction. As a result, the blade edge 42 of each cutter blade (41a to 41f) mounted on each cutter unit (40a to 40f) can draw an arbitrary locus (cut line, fold line, etc.) on the medium S. Become.

  The detector group 50 includes various sensors for detecting various states in the cutter device 1, and each sensor outputs the detection result (detection data) to the controller 10. In this example, a linear encoder (not shown) for detecting the position of each carriage (31a-31f) in the scanning direction, and a roller rotary encoder (not shown) for detecting the transport amount and transport direction of the medium S. ), A camera (not shown) for photographing a mark for alignment (hereinafter referred to as a positioning mark) such as “register mark” printed on the medium S, and the like are included in the detector group 50.

=== Advantages of the cutter device according to the embodiment ===
The cutter device 1 having the above-described configuration includes six sets of cutter units (40a to 40f) that individually move relative to the medium S, and the six sets of cutter units (40a to 40f) include Since different types of cutter blades (41a to 41f) such as cutting depth and usage (for example, for cutting and folding line processing) can be mounted, the medium processing speed can be improved in principle. It has become.

  Specifically, when a plurality of designs are formed across the width direction of the medium S, even if the conventional cutter device includes a plurality of types of cutter blades, For each one, a media processing operation was performed using a certain type of cutter blade to cut or crease, and then a different media processing operation was performed using a different cutter blade. That is, when a series of media processing operations with different cutter blades is completed for one design among a plurality of designs formed in the width direction, a series of media processing operations for the next design is repeated from the beginning. For this reason, it has been difficult to greatly improve the speed related to the processing of the medium S.

  On the other hand, the cutter device 1 according to the present embodiment includes a plurality of cutter units (40a to 40f), and the cutter blades (41a to 41f) attached to the respective cutter units (40a to 40f) are of different types. Can be a thing. And about a scanning direction, a some cutter unit (40a-40f) can be operated simultaneously. For example, if it is a design for paper containers, a cutter unit (for example, 40d to 40f) equipped with a cutter blade (for example, 41d to 41f) that cuts the outer shape corresponding to the developed view, and a cutter for forming a fold line Both cutter units (for example, 40a to 40c) equipped with blades (for example, 41a to 41c) can be mounted, and among the plurality of cutter units (40a to 40f), the same type of cutter blades (41a to 41c). A plurality of cutter units (for example, 40a to 40c or 40d to 40f) equipped with 41c or 41d to 41f) can simultaneously perform a medium processing operation with the same content on the medium S. Different types of cutter blades (41a to 41f) are used not only when the shape of the blade edge 42 differs depending on the application, but also when applied to the solenoid 46 and the moving axis of the solenoid 46, even if the shape is the same application or shape. This also applies to the case where the pressing strength of the cutter blades 41 on the medium S differs depending on the strength of the spring 48 that biases 47 upward. In any case, the cutter device 1 achieves a high medium processing speed by using the same type of cutter blades (41a to 41f) during the medium processing operation. Hereinafter, some of the medium processing operations in the cutter device 1 according to the present embodiment will be described as examples.

=== First Embodiment ===
As a first embodiment, the cutter device 1 performs an operation for forming a fold line on a design on the medium S on which the design for the paper container is formed, and then forms a cutting line on the outer periphery of the paper container. An example of performing the operation continuously and at high speed will be shown. 8 and 9 show an outline of the medium processing operation according to the first embodiment. In these figures, in the configuration shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, different cutter blades (41a to 41c and 41d to 41f) are mounted in three sets of the left and right cutter units (40a to 40c and 40d to 40f). It is assumed that 8 and 9, the cutter blades (41a to 41c) on the left side of the drawing are for fold line processing, and are indicated by black circles in the drawings. Moreover, the cutter blades (41d to 41f) on the right side indicated by white circles are for cutting. The positions of the black and white circles in the figure are the positions of the cutting edge 42. Note that the medium S for forming the paper container has, for example, a configuration in which a mount is stacked on the back side of the paper surface on which the design corresponding to the development view of the paper container is printed. Here, the design 200 is formed. An operation of forming a fold line 202 at a predetermined position on the paper surface and an operation of cutting the outer shape of the design 200 are performed. Then, three identical designs 200 are formed side by side in the width direction of the medium S, and fold line processing and cutting are performed on the designs 200.

  First, the flow of operation at the time of folding line processing is shown in the order of FIGS. As shown in (A), when the medium processing operation is at rest, each of the cutter units (40a to 40f) is divided into three sets on the left and right sides in the scanning direction and is in a predetermined standby position. Further, it is assumed that the memory 13 of the controller 10 stores data describing the correspondence between each of the cutter units (40a to 40f) and the types of the cutter blades (41a, 41d). The data describing the correspondence between the cutter units (40a to 40f) and the cutter blades (41a to 41f) may be transmitted from an external device such as the printing device 100 or the computer 120, The cutter device 1 may be provided with a user interface that accepts the association between the cutter units (40a to 40f) and the cutter blades (41a, 41d) by user input.

  When the medium S on which the design 200 to be processed is printed is transported from the printing apparatus 100, the CPU 11 controls the transport unit 20 to transport the medium S to the medium processing position 3. Then, the processing start position 204 for the medium S is specified based on data describing the position and shape of the design 200 to be processed received from the external device (100, 120). In this embodiment, the unit control unit 12 converts a video signal from a camera that captures the positioning mark 203 into video data of a predetermined format by sampling or the like, and the CPU 11 processes the video data by a known image recognition technique. Thus, the presence / absence of the positioning mark 203 corresponding to each design and the formation position thereof are detected. Then, the transport unit 20 is controlled to transport the medium S until the detected position of the positioning mark 203 and the printing area of the design 200 are in a predetermined relative positional relationship, and further, the fold line processing cutter unit (40a to 40a ~). 40c) is moved to the respective machining start positions 204 (FIG. 8: B).

  Next, the solenoid 46 is energized to bring the cutter blades (41a to 41c) into contact with the medium S, and the blade unit 42 of each cutter blade (41a to 41c) draws a predetermined trajectory and the carriage unit 20 and the carriage. The unit 30 is controlled. In this example, the design 200 corresponds to a development view of a flat box, and shows an operation of adding a fold line 202 around a region that becomes a bottom surface of the box. In the drawing, the fold line 201 before formation is indicated by a dotted line, and the formed fold line 202 is indicated by a bold line. First, one corner on the bottom surface of the rectangle is set as the processing start position 204, the medium S is conveyed downstream, a fold line 202 is made to the next corner, and then each cutter unit (40a to 40c) is moved in the scanning direction. (FIG. 8: C). When the cutter units (40a to 40c) are moved so that the fold line 202 is attached to the next corner, the medium S is transported upstream (FIG. 8: D). In this manner, the cutting edge 42 of the cutter blades (41a to 41c) is rotated so as to be "one-stroke writing" clockwise along the outer periphery of the rectangular bottom surface of the paper container, and finally reaches the processing start position 204 which is the starting point. It is made to return (FIG. 8: E). Of course, there may be cases where one stroke cannot be drawn when more complicated folding lines are applied. In such a case, in the section where the folding lines are discontinuous, the energization to the solenoid 46 is interrupted once to cut the cutter blade ( 41a to 41c) are separated from the medium S, and the cutting edge 42 is moved to the next machining start position in that state.

  If the folding line of the paper container is formed by the above operation, then the outer shape of the paper container is cut. 9A to 9E show the procedure of the cutting operation. First, as shown in FIG. 9A, after the cutter units (40a to 40c) on which the cutter blades (41a to 41c) for folding lines are mounted are moved to the standby position, the cutter blade for cutting is used. The cutter units (40a to 40f) to which (41d to 41f) are mounted are moved to the cutting start position 205. Then, as shown in FIGS. 9B to 9D, the transport unit 20 and the carriage unit 30 are controlled so that the blade edge 42 moves along the outer shape of the design 200 corresponding to the development view of the paper container. Here, the cutting line 207 in a cut state with respect to the outer shape 206 of the design 200 is indicated by a bold line. Finally, as shown in FIG. 9E, a cutting line 207 is formed so as to draw the outer shape 206 of the design 200 so that the cutting edge 42 returns to the cutting start position 205 with a single stroke.

  As described above, the cutter device 1 can collectively execute the forming operation and the cutting operation of the folding line 202 with respect to a plurality of designs formed over the scanning direction. After a series of medium processing operations including a folding line forming operation and a cutting operation for a plurality of designs formed in the scanning direction, the medium S is moved downstream to a processing start position for an unprocessed design. The next medium processing operation is performed. In this way, a series of medium processing operations are repeated.

  Further, the medium processing operation in the cutter device 1 is performed, for example, within a time during which the design is printed in a predetermined medium area in the printing apparatus 100. In the case where the printing apparatus 100 prints a design with an area for one frame as a unit, the medium processing operation is performed during a period in which the design 200 for one frame is printed. That is, the medium processing operation for the printed one-frame design 200 is completed while the one-frame design 200 is being printed. Thereby, the medium processing operation can be executed in parallel without reducing the printing speed.

  Of course, the printing apparatus 100 includes a head that can move in the width direction (scanning direction) of the medium S without executing a printing operation in units of one frame, and moves the head in the scanning direction while transporting the medium S. Thus, a so-called serial printer that forms the design 200 on the medium S may be used. In any case, the cutter device 1 can move in the scanning direction individually, as described above, and the transport unit 20 that transports the medium S of a predetermined length while being held in the cutter device 1 as a buffer in a reversible manner. A plurality of cutter units (40a to 40f) are provided, and the medium processing operation is continuously executed without pausing the printing operation in the printing apparatus 100.

=== Second Embodiment ===
The cutter device 1 according to the embodiment includes a plurality of cutter units (40a to 40f) that are individually movable in the scanning direction. In the medium S, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, a plurality of the same designs 200 are usually formed in the width direction. Therefore, as a second embodiment, an operation capable of processing the medium S more effectively when a plurality of the same designs 200 are formed in the width direction of the medium S will be described. Schematically, if the number of cutter units 40 equipped with the same kind of medium processing cutter blade 41 is equal to or greater than the number of designs 200 formed in the width direction, when performing that type of medium processing The unit 40 on which the cutter blade 41 of that kind is mounted is operated by the same number as the design 200 formed in the width direction of the medium S.

  For example, in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5, the cutter blades (41a to 41c) for fold line processing are mounted on any one of the left and right three cutter units (for example, 40a to 40c), and the other three cutter units (40d to 40d). 40f) is equipped with cutting blades (41d to 41f) for cutting. It is assumed that two designs are formed in the width direction of the medium S. At this time, the CPU 11 receives data related to the number of designs formed in the width direction of the medium S through data communication from the external device (100, 120), user input, and the like, and the three similar types of cutter units (41a to 41c). , Or 41d to 41f), two (for example, 41b and 41c or 41e and 41f) to be used are selected.

  Note that the number of designs formed in the width direction of the medium S may be, for example, the number of designs (labels or the like) that will eventually become one product. The medium processing speed can be further improved by using a figure in which the direction is enclosed. FIG. 10 shows the concept of the number of designs. In this figure, two labels 300 are formed in the width direction of the medium S, but each label 300 has two closed figures 301 having the same shape. Therefore, in this case, there are four closed figures 301 in the width direction of the medium S. If a total of 6 sets of cutter units (40a to 40f) are mounted on the cutter device 1 and the same cutter blade 41 is mounted on all of them, two sets of labels 300 are used as the number of designs. Rather than selecting a cutter unit (for example, 41a and 40b), the medium processing speed is improved by using four sets of cutter units (for example, 41a to 41d) with the number of closed figures 301 as the number of designs. When cutting the outer shape 302 of the label 300, two sets of cutter units (such as 41e and 41f) may be selected again.

  In addition, when selecting a some cutter unit (40a-40f), you may change the combination in order for every medium processing operation. For example, when there are three sets of cutter units (for example, 40a to 40c) equipped with the same type of cutter blades (for example, 41a to 41c) and a medium processing operation is performed on two designs, three sets of cutter units ( For example, two sets (40a and 40b, 40b and 40c, or 40a and 40c) of 40a to 40c) may be used in combination in order. Thereby, the wear state of the cutting edge 42 can be made uniform. Of course, when the distance between the designs formed in parallel in the width direction of the medium S is close, it may be selected to use two adjacent cutter units (40a and 40b or 40b and 40c) without fail. . In this case, among the three cutter units (40a to 40c) arranged in parallel, the cutter blade (40b) attached to the center cutter unit 40b wears faster, but the cutter units (both ends) for different designs ( If priority is given to using 40a and 40c), the wear state can be made uniform in the long term.

  As described above, in the second embodiment, since the medium processing operation is performed using the same type of cutter blade 41 as the number of designs, it is possible to save time until the unused cutter unit 40 is moved to a predetermined position. be able to. Moreover, if the number of designs is the number of closed figures, the medium processing time can be further shortened. Further, for example, if the number of designs (for example, four) to be processed is smaller than the number of the same type of cutter units (for example, 40a to 40f), a cutter unit that is not used during the medium processing operation (for example, 40e). , 40f) is waiting in a state where it can be operated immediately, so that even if one cutter unit (for example, 40a) fails during the medium processing operation, the alternative cutter can be quickly replaced without interrupting the medium processing operation. The unit (eg 40e) can be operated.

=== About change with time of medium processing accuracy ===
As a matter of course, the cutter blade 41 is worn by being used. For example, in the case of the eccentric cutter blade 41 as shown in FIG. 6B, the distance (hereinafter referred to as offset amount) d between the central shaft 49 and the blade tip 42 gradually increases due to wear. FIG. 11 illustrates how the shape of the cutter blade 41 changes with time. As shown in this figure, as the cutter unit 40 moves, the cutting edge 42 moves in the direction of the arrow 420 so as to follow the central axis 49. In other words, in the eccentric cutter blade 41, the ridge line 420 reaching the cylindrical side surface while being inclined obliquely upward from the blade edge 42 toward the central axis 49 is a substantial blade. And this blade is worn out. Therefore, the vertical position 422 of the original cutting edge 42 shown in FIG. 11 (A) gradually moves to the upper position 423 due to wear as shown in FIG. 11 (B). The offset amount d1 increases to d2.

  FIG. 12 shows the relationship between the offset amount d and the locus of the blade edge 42. In this figure, a state when the medium S is cut along a predetermined figure 210 is shown, a cutting line 210 before formation is shown by a dotted line, and a cutting line 207 that has been formed is shown by a solid line. In FIGS. 12A1 to 12A5, the center axis 49 of the cutter blade 41 is indicated by a black circle, and the actual position of the blade edge 42 is indicated by a white circle. 12 (B1) to (B5) and FIGS. 12 (C1) to (C5), the position of the initial cutting edge 142 where there is no wear or the position of the cutting edge 142 recognized by the CPU 11 is indicated by a dot. ing.

  FIGS. 12A1 to 12A5 illustrate a procedure for forming the cutting line 207 when the medium S is cut along the predetermined figure 210 when the original cutting edge 142 and the actual position of the cutting edge 42 coincide with each other. Is shown. Here, after the medium S is cut in the transport direction to form the vertical cutting lines 207 in the drawing, the medium S is cut in the scanning direction to form the horizontal cutting lines 207, and finally the outer shape is formed. Shows an example of forming a cutting line 207 having an inverted L shape. First, the medium S is transported in the transport direction to form a vertical cutting line 207 (A1) (A2). At this time, the center axis 49 is moved to the extended line of the vertical line so that the cutting edge 42 is surely moved to the intersection 211 of the vertical line and the horizontal line in consideration of the offset amount d (A2). That is, when forming the vertical line, the medium S is transported by a predetermined distance and positively “overrun”. Next, the cutter unit 40 is moved while transporting the medium S so that the center axis 49 of the cutter blade 41 moves on the circumference of the blade edge 42 and draws a trajectory toward the horizontal line (A3). That is, the conveyance speed of the medium S heading upstream matches the moving speed of the cutter unit 40 toward the right in the scanning direction in the drawing. If the central axis 49 and the cutting edge 42 of the cutter blade 41 are aligned on the horizontal line (A4), the cutter unit 40 is moved in the scanning direction (A5). Thereby, the blade edge 42 moves along the target bowl-like shape.

  However, if there is an error between the original position of the cutting edge 142 or the position of the cutting edge 142 recognized by the CPU 11 and the actual position of the cutting edge 42, the medium S cannot be cut into a target shape. . For example, as shown in (B1) to (B5), when the actual cutting edge 42 is located outside the recognized cutting edge 142 with respect to the central axis 49, the control itself has been described above. Since the same procedures (B1) to (B5) as (A1) to (A5) are performed, the actual locus of the cutting edge 42 is shifted outward in the scanning direction near the intersection 211. That is, finally, as shown in (B5), a cutting line 207 swelled in a circular arc of a quarter of the circumference is formed on the outer side in the scanning direction near the intersection 211 with respect to the target cutting line 210. .

  On the other hand, when the position of the cutting edge 142 recognized by the CPU 11 with respect to the actual cutting edge 42 is inside, as shown in (C1) and (C2), the overrun distance becomes excessive, and the intersection 211 is A cutting line 207 is formed beyond the vertical line. Next, in order to move the central axis 49 of the cutter blade 41 along the circumference around the cutting edge 142 recognized by the CPU 11, it is ¼ of the circumference with the excessively overrun line segment as the radius. An arc is formed toward the horizontal line (C2) (C3). Then, when the cutter unit 40 is moved in the scanning direction, as a result, as shown in (C5), the cutting in which an arc of a quarter circumference projecting outward in the conveying direction with respect to the horizontal line is formed. It becomes the line 207. Therefore, when the actual position of the cutting edge 42 changes with time due to wear or the like, the accuracy of the medium processing deteriorates. Therefore, a control method that takes into account the change with time of the cutter blade 41 is required. A medium processing method that takes into account the change over time of the cutting edge 42 due to wear or the like will be described below as a third embodiment.

=== Third embodiment ===
The third embodiment is a method for controlling the cutter device 1 on the assumption that an error occurs between the initial position of the cutting edge 42 and the current position of the cutting edge 42 due to wear of the cutting edge 42 or the like. is there. In this control method, first, an error in the position of the blade edge 42 is detected. Regarding the error detection method, the operator measures the position of the blade edge 42 before starting the medium machining operation, and inputs the measurement data via the external device (100, 120) or the user interface of the cutter device 1. Alternatively, the cutter device 1 may be provided with an image sensor that monitors the state of the blade edge 42, and the CPU 11 may analyze the image from the image sensor to identify the current position of the blade edge 42.

  Alternatively, if the cutter unit 40 is moved along a predetermined figure while the blade edge 42 is in contact with the medium S prior to the medium machining operation, the locus of the blade edge 42 is formed on the medium S by the machining. Therefore, the state of the blade edge 42 may be specified by recognizing the locus thereof. FIG. 13 shows an outline of a method for specifying the state of the blade edge 42 based on the locus of the blade edge 42. The CPU 11 assumes that the original cutter blades (41a to 41f) are attached to the respective cutter units (40a to 40f) and moves them along a predetermined shape with the blade edge 42 in contact with the medium S. Thus, the medium S is cut or a fold line is added. In the example shown in FIG. 13, an example is shown in which the central axis 49 of the cutter blade 41 is moved along the inverted L-shaped figure 210.

  As shown in FIGS. 13A1 to 13A3, when the cutter blade 41 is not worn and the position of the blade edge 42a coincides with the initial position, the cutter is moved along the inverted L-shaped figure 210. When the central axis 49 of the blade 41 is moved, the locus 207a by the blade edge 42a draws a locus in which the corner portion that is the intersection 211 of the vertical and horizontal lines of the inverted L-shaped figure 210 is chamfered with a predetermined radius. On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 13B1 to 13B3, the trajectory 207b by the worn blade edge 42b has a larger radius than the arc drawn by the blade edge 42a without wear at the intersection 211. . Thus, for example, the position of the intersection (212a, 212b) between the two arcs and the horizontal line is image-recognized, and the position of the intersection 212a by the original cutting edge 42a and the position 212b of the intersection by the cutting edge 42b after change with time. The state of the blade edge 42 is specified based on the difference t. Note that a solid image in which a predetermined area is filled is formed on the medium S in advance by the printing apparatus 100 so that the locus (207a, 207b) of the blade edge (42a, 42b) can be detected more clearly. The image formation area may be an area for forming the locus of the blade edge 42 in advance.

  In this way, when information on the actual position of the cutting edge 42 is input to the CPU 11, when the CPU 11 executes a certain medium processing operation, the CPU 11 has the cutter unit 40 equipped with the cutter blade 42 required for the processing. Among them, the one that approximates the position of the blade edge 42, that is, the actual offset amount d is selected. For example, when the cutter blades (40a to 40c) of three cutter units (for example, 40a to 40c) are the same type and two designs to be cut are formed in the width direction of the medium S, the CPU 11 Based on the input data regarding the offset amount d of the cutter blades (40a to 40c) attached to the respective cutter units (40a to 40c), the two cutter blades (for example, 41a and 41b) with the closest offset amount d The two cutter units (for example, 40a and 40b) to which is attached are selected. And if a cutting operation is performed by the two cutter blades (41a and 41b) whose states approximate, the cutting state can be made uniform. In this cutting operation, as shown in FIGS. 12A1 to 12A2, two cutter blades having an offset amount d approximate to each other so that the cutting edge 42 draws a correct locus along the figure 210 (for example, 41a and 41b), the distance of overrun is set based on the offset amount d of one cutter blade (for example, 41a) or the average value of the offset amount d of both cutter blades (for example, 41a and 41b). do it.

<About cutter blade state detection>
In the third embodiment, it is necessary to detect the state of the cutter blade 41 in advance prior to the medium processing operation for the design. It is desirable that the detection be automated as much as possible in order to reduce the processing cost and time of the medium S. Of course, it is also necessary not to complicate the structure of the cutter device 1 or add a new configuration for the detection. Therefore, in the following, a method for detecting the state of the cutter blade 41 at low cost without reducing accuracy by using the positioning mark 203 will be described.

  Specifically, the cutter device 1 recognizes an image of the positioning mark 203 using an image sensor before executing a medium processing operation on a design printed on the medium S. Therefore, if the trajectory of the cutting edge 42 formed on the medium S is photographed by the image sensor for the positioning mark 203, there is no need to add an expensive image sensor. Also, printing as many drawings as possible on the medium S can reduce the cost of the medium S, and therefore, a design that is not directly related to the design of the media processing target, or prior to the media processing operation. Therefore, it is better not to form the region for forming the locus of the blade edge 42 on the medium S as much as possible. The positioning mark 203 becomes unnecessary at the time when the position of the design and the amount to be conveyed with respect to the medium S are specified through the image recognition processing by the CPU 11. Therefore, the CPU 11 controls each of the cutter units 40, and assumes that each cutter unit 40 is equipped with the original cutter blade 41, and cuts along the positioning mark 203 or makes a fold line. In this case, it is not necessary to provide an extra area on the medium S. That is, an actually formed cutting line or fold line is photographed by an image sensor for detecting a positioning mark, and the photographed image is recognized. If the shape of the cutting edge 42 changes with time due to wear or the like, an assumed cutting line or fold line (hereinafter referred to as a processing line) differs from a processing line that has been image-recognized. And the difference from the assumed process line is detected, and the cutter unit 40 is controlled according to the difference. In this way, an actual cutter can be obtained reliably and inexpensively by simply devising the control procedure by the CPU 11 without adding a new configuration such as an image sensor or an optical system for monitoring the cutting edge 42 to the cutter device 1. The state of the blade 41 can be detected. The third embodiment can also be applied to cutter blades other than the eccentric cutter blade, that is, a cutter blade in which the positions of the central axis 49 and the blade edge 42 are consistent from the beginning. In this case, since the total length of the cutter blade is shortened due to wear, or the tip shape of the blade edge 42 becomes gentle, the CPU 11 performs image processing of the blade edge 42 using user input or an image sensor. Or by forming a machining line on the positioning mark 203 in advance. In any case, a uniform medium processing state can always be maintained by using a plurality of cutter blades 41 whose states are approximate. Of course, since it is not necessary to reselect the cutter blade 41 to be used after the non-uniform processing state is detected or replace the cutter blade 41, the total medium processing time including the printing process is unnecessarily extended. I will not let you.

=== Other Embodiments, Other Examples ===
<About the configuration of the carriage unit>
In the cutter device 1 according to the above-described embodiment, a set of two guide rails (35af, 35be, 35cd) that extend in the scanning direction and are parallel to each other in the transport direction are stacked in a vertical direction, for a total of six. Guide rails (35af-35af, 35be-35be, 35cd-35cd). Two sets of carriages (31a-31f, 31b-31e, 31c-31d) are slidable on a pair of guide rails (35af, 35be, 35cd) parallel to the transport direction at the same height position. It was supported. That is, two sets of carriages (31a-31f, 31b-31e, 31c-31d) share one set of guide rails (35af, 35be, 35cd). However, the cutter device 1 is not limited to this example. For example, as shown in FIG. 14, the cutter device 1 includes only one set of two guide rails 35, and all the carriages (31g to 31i) include this set. A structure guided by the guide rail 35 may be used. In FIG. 14, although the three sets of carriages (31g to 31i) are driven by individual belts (34g to 34i), both are guided by a set of two guide rails 35. And three sets of cutter units (40g-40i) are each supported by the corresponding carriage (31g-31i) via the supporting member (36g-36i).

<Medium skew prevention mechanism>
The cutter device 1 according to the embodiment achieves high speed of the medium processing operation using the plurality of cutter units 40 that individually move in the scanning direction during the medium processing operation. With this special configuration, the plurality of cutter units 40 are always arranged at the same position in the transport direction. Therefore, the conveyance direction of the medium S by the conveyance unit 20 needs to be adjusted so as to be accurately orthogonal to the scanning direction. That is, if the medium S is skewed, for example, meandering or traveling obliquely with respect to the intended transport direction, an accurate medium processing operation for the design formed on the medium S is executed. Can not do it. For example, when the medium S is cut parallel to the scanning direction, if the medium S is skewed, the medium S is cut obliquely. Therefore, a steering mechanism may be incorporated in the conveyance path of the medium S shown in FIG. As is well known, the steering mechanism is a mechanism that keeps the conveyance speed at both ends of the medium S in the width direction constant. Taking the conveyance path shown in FIG. 2 as an example, a steering mechanism can be provided at the arrangement position of the roller 21 that holds the medium S during conveyance from the outlet of the printing apparatus 100 to the medium processing position 3. By incorporating the steering mechanism in the configuration of the transport unit 20 in this way, the medium S is reliably transported in the direction orthogonal to the scanning direction, and the medium S can be processed with high accuracy.

1 cutter device, 2 medium processing mechanism, 3 medium processing position, 10 controller, 11 CPU, 12 unit control unit, 13 memory, 20 transport unit, 21, 22 floating roller, 23, 24, 26, 27 roller, 25 nipple roller , 30, 30a-30f Carriage unit, 31, 31a-31i Carriage, 32a-32f Motor, 33a-33f Pulley, 34a-34i Belt, 35, 35af, 35be, 35cd Guide rail, 36a-36i Support member, 40, 40a -40i Cutter unit, 41, 41a-41f Cutter blade, 42, 42a, 42b cutting edge, 49 Cutter blade central axis, 100 printing device, 200, 210 design, 202 fold line, 207, 207a, 207b cutting line 203 positioning mark, 300 labels, 301 closed figure, S medium,

Claims (10)

A cutter device that forms a trajectory of an arbitrary shape on the medium by moving the cutter blade and the medium relatively while abutting the blade edge of the cutter blade on a sheet-like medium on which a design is formed. Because
A transport unit that transports the medium in a predetermined transport direction in a reversible manner;
A plurality of cutter units each including a cutter blade having a blade edge, and separately moving the cutter blade separately from the medium and allowing the blade edge to contact the medium;
A carriage unit that individually moves the plurality of cutter units in a scanning direction orthogonal to the transport direction;
A control unit;
With
The control unit causes the transport unit to move the medium in the transport direction while bringing the blade edges of the cutter blades of two or more cutter units having the same type of cutter blade out of the plurality of cutter units into contact with the medium. The two or more cutters are moved by relatively moving the cutter blade and the medium by causing the carriage unit and the carriage unit to move the two or more cutter units in the scanning direction. Forming two or more trajectories on the medium by the cutting edge of the cutter blade of a unit;
A cutter device characterized by that. In claim 1,
The plurality of cutter units are equipped with different types of cutter blades according to the processing content for the design,
The control unit stores the type of the cutter blade attached to each of the plurality of cutter units and the processing content for the design formed in the medium over the scanning direction, and the processing content Based on the above, the two or more cutter units to be used when forming a locus by the cutter blade from the plurality of cutter units,
A cutter device characterized by that.   3. The control unit according to claim 1, wherein the control unit stores data on the number of designs formed in the scanning direction in the medium, and at the time of forming a locus by the cutter blade based on the number. The number of said 2 or more cutter units to be used is specified, The cutter apparatus characterized by the above-mentioned.   4. The cutter device according to claim 3, wherein the number of the designs is the number of closed figures whose inner sides are surrounded by a line.   In any one of Claims 1-4, while the said control part receives the data input about the state of the said cutter blade with which each of these cutter units is mounted | worn, it is based on the data about the state of the said cutter blade. Then, the two or more cutter units to be used when forming a locus by the cutter blade are selected from the plurality of cutter units. In claim 5,
An imaging unit for imaging the medium;
The controller is
When the blade edge of the cutter blade mounted on each of the plurality of cutter units is brought into contact with the medium and the blade edge is moved along a predetermined shape, the cutter blade is placed on the medium. The trajectory of the formed blade edge is photographed by the imaging unit,
By performing image recognition processing on the captured video, the state of the cutter blade mounted on each cutter unit is specified.
A cutter device characterized by that.   The cutter device according to claim 6, wherein the image pickup unit is a camera for shooting an alignment mark formed on the medium.   In Claim 7, The said control part pinpoints the state of the said cutter blade based on the locus | trajectory of the said blade edge when the blade edge of the said cutter blade contacted | abutted to the said medium is moved along the said mark for alignment. Cutter device characterized by doing.   9. The cutter device according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit includes a steering mechanism for preventing the medium from skewing. A transport step for reversibly transporting the medium in a predetermined transport direction;
A moving step of individually moving a plurality of cutter blades in a scanning direction orthogonal to the conveying direction;
Among the plurality of cutter blades, the cutter blade is caused to perform the transporting step and the moving step with respect to the two or more cutter blades of the same type while bringing the blade edges of the two or more cutter blades of the same type into contact with the medium. And relatively moving the medium and
To form two or more trajectories on the medium by the cutting edges of the two or more cutter blades,
A medium processing method characterized by the above.

Images