Cut data generating device, method of generating cut data, and non-transitory computer readable storing medium

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9833923-B2
Application number	US-201514867803-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 28, 2015
Priority date	Sep 29, 2014
Publication date	Dec 5, 2017
Grant date	Dec 5, 2017

Abstract

A cut data generating device includes a control device which causes the generating device to acquire data indicating a pattern, to extract outlines of plural subpatterns contained in a design, to determine the number of layers associated with the number of sheets with respect to the extracted outlines, and to determine a sequence for stacking plural layers. The control device further causes the generating device to generate an integrated outline obtained by integrating the outline of first and second subpatterns contained in the extracted outlines, to specify the outline of the first subpattern on a first layer, to generate cut data for cutting the outline of the first subpattern from a first sheet associated with the first layer and for cutting the integrated outline from a second sheet associated with the second layer, and to output the generated cut data via the communication unit to the cutting apparatus.

First claim

I claim:

1. A cut data generating device generating cut data comprising:
a communication unit communicable with a cutting apparatus, the cutting apparatus including a platen receiving a sheet and a relative transfer unit moving the sheet and a cutter relative to each other based on the cut data thereby to cut the sheet by the cutter;
a memory storing information of data indicating a design;
a control device;
wherein the cut data is used for creating an embellishment indicating a pattern formed by combining plural subpatterns of different shapes, the plural subpatterns being combined by stacking plural sheets cut along an outline of the plural subpatterns, and
wherein the control device causes the cut data generating device to:
extract outlines of plural subpatterns contained in the design, based on the data indicating the design stored in the memory;
determine number of layers associated with number of the sheets with respect to the outlines of the plural subpatterns extracted;
judge a containment relation between the outlines of the plural subpatterns extracted;
determine a sequence for stacking plural layers so that when judging that an outline of one subpattern contains an outline of another pattern, a layer associated with a sheet for cutting the outline of the one subpattern is placed in front of a layer associated with a sheet for cutting the outline of the other pattern;
associate the layers whose number have been determined with the outlines of the plural subpatterns based on the determined sequence and store the association in the memory;
generate an integrated outline by integrating an outline of a first subpattern associated with a first layer which is one of the layers whose number have been determined with an outline of a second subpattern associated with a second layer whose sequence has been determined to be adjacent to the first layer and to be placed in front of the first layer, the integrated outline containing the first subpattern and the second subpattern and being integrated so that when the first and second subpatterns are located adjacent to one another, the first and second subpatterns are combined into a single figure by eliminating a connecting portion of the outlines of the first and second subpatterns;
specify the outline of the first subpattern stored in the memory with association to the first layer on the first layer and further specify the integrated outline generated based on the outline of the first subpattern and the outline of the second subpattern on the second layer whose sequence has been determined to be placed in front of the first layer;
generate cut data for cutting the outline of the first subpattern from a first sheet associated with the first layer and for cutting the integrated outline from which the first subpattern and the second subpattern are cut out from a second sheet associated with the second layer, based on the specified outline of the first subpattern and the specified integrated outline; and
output the generated cut data via the communication unit to the cutting apparatus.

2. The cut data generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the control device further causes the cut data generating device to:
specify a frame line on each of the plural layers whose number has been determined, the frame line specified on each of the plural layers being identically shaped and encompassing the pattern and associated with an outer edge of the sheet, and
generate cut data for the frame line specified for each of the plural layers, the cut data being associated with each of the plural sheets.

3. The cut data generating device according to claim 1 , wherein the control device further causes the cut data generating device to:
specify a matchmark for identifying an orientation of each of the plural sheets associated with each of the plural layers, and
generate cut data for the matchmark specified for each of the plural layers, the cut data being associated with each of the plural sheets.

4. A non-transitory computer readable storing medium, storing computer readable instructions, wherein when executed by a control device of a cut data generating device generating cut data used for creating an embellishment indicating a pattern formed by combining plural subpatterns of different shapes and further used in a cutting apparatus including a platen receiving a sheet and a relative transfer unit moving the sheet and a cutter relative to each other based on the cut data, thereby cutting the sheet by a cutter, the plural subpatterns being combined by stacking plural sheets cut along an outline of the plural subpatterns, the cut data generating device including a communication unit communicable with an external unit and a memory storing information of data indicating a design, the instructions cause the control device to:
extract outlines of plural subpatterns contained in the design, based on the data indicating the design stored in the memory;
determine number of layers associated with number of the sheets with respect to the outlines of the plural subpatterns extracted;
judge a containment relation between the outlines of the plural subpatterns extracted;
determine a sequence for stacking plural layers so that when judging that an outline of one subpattern contains an outline of another pattern, a layer associated with a sheet for cutting the outline of the one subpattern is placed in front of a layer associated with a sheet for cutting the outline of the other pattern;
associate the layers whose number have been determined with the outlines of the plural subpatterns based on the determined sequence and store the association in the memory;
generate an integrated outline by integrating an outline of a first subpattern associated with a first layer which is one of the layers whose number have been determined with an outline of a second subpattern associated with a second layer whose sequence has been determined to be adjacent to the first layer and to be placed in front of the first layer, the integrated outline containing the first subpattern and the second subpattern and being integrated so that when the first and second subpatterns are located adjacent to one another, the first and second subpatterns are combined into a single figure by eliminating a connecting portion of the outlines of the first and second subpatterns;
specify the outline of the first subpattern stored in the memory with association to the first layer on the first layer and further specify the integrated outline generated based on the outline of the first subpattern and the outline of the second subpattern on the second layer whose sequence has been determined to be placed in front of the first layer;
generate cut data for cutting the outline of the first subpattern from a first sheet associated with the first layer and for cutting the integrated outline from which the first subpattern and the second subpattern are cut out from a second sheet associated with the second layer, based on the specified outline of the first subpattern and the specified integrated outline; and
output the generated cut data via the communication unit to the external unit.

5. The medium according to claim 4 , wherein the instructions further cause the control device to:
specify a frame line on each of the plural layers whose number has been determined, the frame line specified on each of the plural layers being identically shaped and encompassing the pattern and associated with an outer edge of the sheet, and
generate cut data for the frame line specified for each of the plural layers, the cut data being associated with each of the plural sheets.

6. The medium according to claim 4 , wherein the instructions further cause the control device to:
specify a matchmark for identifying an orient

Assignees

• Brother Ind Ltd

Inventors

• Yamamoto Satomi

Classifications

• B26F1/3806 Primary

  wherein relative movements of tool head and work during cutting have a component tangential to the work surface (B26F1/40 takes precedence) · CPC title

• H04N1/387

  Composing, repositioning or otherwise {geometrically} modifying originals · CPC title

• B26D2005/002

  Performing a pattern matching operation · CPC title

• B26D5/005

  Computer numerical control means · CPC title