CNC Flatbed Cutting Machine, Its Method of Operation, and a Graphics Sheet with a Fiducial that Indicates the Orientation of the Graphics Sheet

A method of operating an apparatus for cutting printed sheets (4), the apparatus comprising a flatbed cutting machine, which comprises a work plane (2) with an upper surface (3) for receiving the printed sheets (4) thereon;

• the apparatus comprising a first camera (9) arranged over the work plane (2) at a first distance above the work plane (2) and configured for imaging part of the upper surface (3) or the entire upper surface (3) of the work plane (2);
• the apparatus further comprising an operating group (5) mobile along the work plane (2) at a second distance from the work plane (2), and the operating group comprising a cutting member (6) mobile together with the operating group (5) for cutting the sheets (4) when placed on the work plane (2);
• wherein the first distance is larger than the second distance, and the camera (9) is provided remote and free from the operating group (5) for preventing mechanical collision between the operating group (5) and the first camera (9) when the operating group is moving along the work plane (2);
• the apparatus further comprising a computer system (8) functionally connected to the first camera (9) and configured for receiving digital images from the first camera (9);
• wherein the computer system (8) is programmed to analyse the received digital images with respect to image data resembling characteristics for a fiducial (15);
• the fiducial (15) comprising an optically readable two-dimensional code for a numeric or alphanumeric sequence;
• the method comprising placing a printed sheet (4) on the work plane (2), the printed sheet (4) comprising the fiducial (15) on its upper side, providing an image of the sheet (4) by the first camera (9) while the sheet (4) is on the work plane (2);
• by the computer system, (8) receiving and analysing the image and finding the fiducial (15) in the image, and determining and decoding the two-dimensional code to extract an ID code that identifies the graphics on the sheet (4) and that differentiates it from other sheets with different graphics;
• by the computer accessing a digital database and extracting stored data uniquely related to the extracted ID code and determining a cutting curve for the graphics on the basis of the extracted stored data, the cutting curve being specific for the ID code;
• submitting computer instructions to the machine for moving the operating group (5) with the cutting element (6) along the work plane (2) for cutting the sheet (4) along the cutting curve.