A method for aligning a cutting trajectory of a flat element with respect to a graphic pattern present on the flat element, includes positioning the flat element to be cut on a support table, projecting onto the flat element the image of a reference figure uniquely associated with coordinates of the cutting trajectory and/or of the graphic pattern, framing, by a camera, a portion of the flat element where at least one part of the graphic pattern and of the image of the reference figure are present, displaying on a monitor the image framed by the camera and a virtual image of the graphic pattern defined by coordinates of the graphic pattern, and moving the image of the reference figure or the virtual image of the graphic pattern until a portion of the virtual image of the graphic pattern coincides with the corresponding real image of the graphic pattern.

A candidate point selection processor selects, as candidate points, vertices on an outline. A search point selection processor selects, from the candidate points, a reference search point to be used to search for a point that serves as a cutting line endpoint. A reference line setting processor sets a reference line connecting a reference point with the search point. A candidate line setting processor sets candidate lines connecting the search point with the candidate points other than the search point. A candidate line selection processor selects, as a selected candidate line, the candidate line located only within a non-effective region. An angle calculation processor calculates an angle between the reference line and the selected candidate line. A cutting line setting processor sets a cutting line connecting the search point with the candidate point of the selected candidate line defining an angle with the reference line that is the smallest angle calculated.

A positioning apparatus includes a cutting line setting processor to set a cutting line to extend in a predetermined direction from a first endpoint on an outline of a target object located on a top sheet and to be located within a non-effective region, a first determination processor to determine whether a first angle between the outline of the target object and the cutting line, with the first endpoint located at an intersection of the outline and the cutting line, is equal to or smaller than a predetermined determination angle that is an acute angle, and a shape change processor to, when the first angle is determined to be equal to or smaller than the determination angle by the first determination processor, change the shape of the cutting line such that the first angle is greater than the determination angle.

A positioning apparatus includes a cutting line setting processor to set a cutting line to extend in a predetermined direction from a first endpoint on an outline of a target object located on a top sheet and to be located within a non-effective region, a first determination processor to determine whether a first angle between the outline of the target object and the cutting line, with the first endpoint located at an intersection of the outline and the cutting line, is equal to or smaller than a predetermined determination angle that is an acute angle, and a shape change processor to, when the first angle is determined to be equal to or smaller than the determination angle by the first determination processor, change the shape of the cutting line such that the first angle is greater than the determination angle.

A candidate point selection processor selects, as candidate points, vertices on an outline. A search point selection processor selects, from the candidate points, a reference search point to be used to search for a point that serves as a cutting line endpoint. A reference line setting processor sets a reference line connecting a reference point with the search point. A candidate line setting processor sets candidate lines connecting the search point with the candidate points other than the search point. A candidate line selection processor selects, as a selected candidate line, the candidate line located only within a non-effective region. An angle calculation processor calculates an angle between the reference line and the selected candidate line. A cutting line setting processor sets a cutting line connecting the search point with the candidate point of the selected candidate line defining an angle with the reference line that is the smallest angle calculated.

A cutting apparatus includes a platen configured to receive and object, a cutting device having a cutter, a first moving mechanism configured to move the cutter so that the cutter comes close to or departs from the platen, and a second moving mechanism configured to move the object and the cutter on the platen relative to each other. The apparatus further includes a display unit and a control device. The control device is configured to cause the apparatus to obtain lengths of line segments composing a cutting line of the pattern for every line segment, to calculate a time length required to cut each line segment, to calculate a cutting time length required to cut the pattern by accumulating the time lengths required to cut the respective line segments, and to cause the display unit to display a calculated cutting time length required to cut the pattern.

A cutting data creation method, a cutting data creation device, and a computer-readable recording medium capable of creating desired decoration representing an entire pattern formed of a combination of partial patterns by superimposing sheets as an object to be cut. The cutting data creation device includes a discrimination unit, an order decision unit, an outline setting unit, and a cutting data creation unit. The discrimination unit discriminates whether or not a partial patterns is included in another partial patterns. The order decision unit decides an overlapping order of the partial patterns corresponding to an overlapping order of the sheets based on a result of the discrimination as to the inclusion of the partial patterns. The outline setting unit sets an outline of each of the partial patterns to layers. The cutting data creation unit creates cutting data based on the outline of each partial pattern set for each layer.

A cutting data creation device for creating data for fabricating a decoration representing an entire pattern formed by combination of a plurality of partial patterns demarcated by borders by folding, in layers, a sheet cut in a shape having the linked partial patterns so the sheet is partitioned into units demarcated by the borders, the device includes a controller to control the device to: set a lap line for laying a part of the border of one of the partial patterns and a part of the border of an another partial patterns on top of each other, for each of the two partial patterns; join the border of the one partial pattern and the border of the different partial pattern in a shape having the borders linked at the lap lines set by setting; and create data for cutting along the borders linked by the joining, except the lap lines.

A cutting apparatus including a cutting mechanism configured to cut a workpiece, the cutting apparatus includes a controller being configured to control the cutting apparatus to: generate image data by reading a pattern from a surface of the workpiece; generate cut data used for causing the cutting mechanism to cut the pattern, on the basis of the image data; store the cut data; judge whether or not a volume of the cut data exceeds a predetermined threshold value; divide the cut data into sections each having a volume equal to or smaller than the threshold value when determined that the volume of the cut data exceeds the threshold value; and cause the storage unit to store therein a plurality of divided sections of cut data, which is a result of the cut data being divided.

In a canned cycle, a straight path is set from a cutting completion position in a cycle to a cutting start position in a next cycle. Furthermore, when there is a possibility that the set straight path interferes with a workpiece, a region for which the workpiece has been already cut is determined, and a path not interfering with the workpiece is set with as short length as possible.