JP2000280439A - Printing device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing device which is capable of performing plate making operation on a plate cylinder which is not used for printing, parallelly. SOLUTION: A gear 10G is mounted on one of the ends of a rotary shaft 21 for a plate cylinder 10 and a pulley 24 is mounted on the other end. The gear 10G is driven to rotate by a printing drive part through a gear installed on another plate cylinder. This drive is transmitted to the other plate cylinder of the printing device, so that the respective cylinders including the plate cylinder 10 can be rotated synchronously. The pulley 24 is structurally rotated by a motor 25 through a belt 29 and a pulley 28. The gear 10G is connected to the rotary shaft 21 through a clutch 32 and both can be disconnected from each other. The pulley 28 is connected to the rotary shaft 26 of the motor 25 by a clutch 27 and both can be disconnected from each other.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus for performing a plate making operation by recording an image on a printing plate on a plate cylinder, and applying a printing ink by applying ink to the plate, and more particularly to two or more printing apparatuses. And a printing apparatus having the plate cylinder of the present invention.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a conventional general printing apparatus, printing is performed by mounting a printing plate on a plate cylinder, but in recent years, there is provided a plate making mechanism for making a printing plate directly on the plate cylinder. Printing device is provided. As such a printing apparatus, for example, there is a printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-272756 by the present applicant.

The printing apparatus disclosed in the above publication has two sets of plate cylinders, and each plate cylinder is configured to be movable between a unique printing position and a common plate making position. The plate making position is provided with a plate making mechanism used for both plate cylinders, for example, a supply means of unexposed printing plate, a laser exposure means, etc., and a printing mechanism used for each plate cylinder at each printing position. For example, fountain solution supply means and ink supply means are provided. Therefore, in this printing apparatus, the number of plate making mechanisms may be smaller than the number of plate cylinders. Further, the printing mechanism and the plate making mechanism can be sufficiently arranged in the limited space around the plate cylinder.

As described above, although the above-mentioned conventional printing apparatus has excellent effects, it has been difficult to employ it in a large-size printing apparatus because of the structure in which the plate cylinder is largely moved from the printing position to the plate making position. In a multicolor printing apparatus having three or more plate cylinders, it is difficult to move the plate cylinder to a common plate making position. Accordingly, the present applicant has filed Japanese Patent Application
As shown in the specification of Japanese Patent Application No. 17822, a plurality of printing units each including a double cylinder, a blanket cylinder, and an impression cylinder are provided, and a printing sheet is conveyed between the impression cylinders of each printing unit at intervals. A printing device connected by a cylinder is proposed. Since the printing apparatus does not move the plate cylinder, it can be applied to a large-size printing apparatus. In particular, a multi-color printing apparatus having six or more printing units and having six or more colors can be easily configured.

[0005]

However, the above-mentioned printing apparatus has a plurality of printing units so that it can cope with multi-color printing. In such a case, the plate cylinders of the unused colors will be wasted. Therefore, even if there are many print jobs such as two-color printing and single-color printing, there is a disadvantage that the operation efficiency of the printing apparatus is not improved. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of improving the operation efficiency of the entire apparatus by performing a plate making operation in parallel with a printing operation.

[0006]

The invention according to claim 1 has two or more plate cylinders and a blanket cylinder, and performs a plate making operation by recording an image on a printing plate on each of the plate cylinders. A printing apparatus for performing a printing operation by applying ink to a prepressed printing plate, wherein a plurality of cylinder inserting means for inserting or removing each blanket cylinder relative to a corresponding plate cylinder; and A first rotating unit connected to the plate cylinder and rotating the plate cylinder in synchronization with the first rotating unit; a first rotating unit configured to disconnect a connection between the first rotating unit and the plate cylinder for each plate cylinder; A cutting means provided separately from the first rotating means, a second rotating means for rotating the plate cylinder, and a connection between the second rotating means and the plate cylinder being cut for each plate cylinder. Second cutting means capable of rotating the plate cylinder by the second rotating means. A plurality of plate making means for making a printing plate on the plate cylinder, and when the plate cylinder is used for a printing operation, the corresponding plate cylinder is cut from the second rotating means, and the plate cylinder is made When using for work, the corresponding plate cylinder
And a control means for controlling the first and second cutting means and the cylinder inserting means so as to cut the blanket cylinder from the rotating means and to remove the corresponding blanket cylinder.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, a print job receiving means for receiving one or more pieces of print job information indicating print conditions for each print job, and Detecting means for detecting a plate cylinder that is not used for a printing operation being performed; and determining means for determining, from the print job information, a print job that can be printed in a color corresponding to the unused plate cylinder. And performing a plate making operation on the print job determined by the determination means in parallel with the printing operation being performed.

[0008]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a printing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a main part of the printing apparatus. In FIG. 1, a printing apparatus according to the present embodiment includes a first printing unit 1 and a second printing unit 2 capable of performing multicolor printing of two colors each, and a paper feeding unit 3 for supplying printing paper to the first printing unit. And the first printing unit 1
An intermediate transport unit 4 for transporting the printing paper from the second printing unit 2 to the second printing unit 2, a paper discharging unit 5 for discharging the printing paper from the second printing unit 2, and a print driving unit 6 for driving the above units in synchronization. .

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, each section of the printing apparatus is electrically connected to control means 7. The control means 7 comprises a microcomputer having input / output means and storage means (not shown), and controls the printing apparatus based on a predetermined procedure in accordance with an operator's instruction. On the other hand, the control means 7 transmits the DTP (D
It is also connected to an external image data creating device 8 such as an esk-Top-Publishing device. And control means 7
Receives image data to be used for printing from the image data creating device 8 and executes RIP (Raster-Image-Processing).
g) Data processing such as processing is performed, and image data is supplied to beam irradiation means 33 described later.

Returning to FIG. 1, the first printing unit 1 has a printing drum 10 capable of holding printing plates corresponding to two printing areas on its peripheral surface, and supplies and discharges printing plates to and from the printing drum. Plate supply / discharge means 11, image forming means 12 for forming an image on the printing plate on plate cylinder 10, developing means 13 for developing the printing plate on which the image has been formed, and supply of dampening water to the printing plate 2 Two dampening solution supply means 14, two ink supply means 15 for supplying ink to the printing plate, and a blanket cylinder 16 having the same diameter as the plate cylinder 10 and abutting on the plate cylinder 10.
And the blanket cylinder 1 having a half diameter of the plate cylinder,
6 and a feed cylinder 18 and a discharge cylinder 1 for supplying and discharging printing paper to and from the impression cylinder 17.
9 Further, the blanket cylinder 16 is provided with a so-called cylinder insertion / removal cylinder insertion means 20 (shown in FIG. 5) for selectively abutting on the plate cylinder 10 and the impression cylinder 17.

The plate cylinder 10 has two sets of gripping means (not shown) which are arranged on the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder so as to face each other at 180 degrees, and are configured to be able to hold two printing plates corresponding to different colors. ing. By holding one printing plate having two printing regions instead of two printing plates, two printing plates may be provided substantially on one plate cylinder.

FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a rotation mechanism of the plate cylinder 10. As shown in FIG. In FIG. 3, the rotation shaft 21 of the plate cylinder 10 is
Each of the pair of side plates 22 is rotatably supported by a bearing 23. A pulley 24 is fixed to one of the rotating shafts 21. On the other hand, a motor 25 for rotating the plate cylinder 10 is fixed to the side plate 22 by supporting means (not shown).
Is connected to a pulley 28 via a clutch 27.
A belt 29 is wound around the pulley 28 and the pulley 24. In this mechanism, the plate cylinder 10 is driven by the motor 25 through a pulley 28, a belt 29, and a pulley 24.
Can be rotated. The clutch 27 is connected to the pulley 28 and the rotating shaft 2 by a command from the control means 7.
6 is an electromagnetic clutch that can be switched between a connected state and a disconnected state. In this embodiment,
The rotation mechanism of the plate cylinder 10 including the motor 25 corresponds to a second rotation unit in the present invention, and the clutch 27 corresponds to a second disconnection unit in the present invention.

Numeral 30 is a brake means for forcibly applying a brake to the rotation of the pulley 28, and 31 is a rotary encoder provided at one end of the rotary shaft 24 for detecting the rotational position of the plate cylinder 10. It is.

On the other hand, a gear 10G having the same diameter as the plate cylinder 10 is fixed to the other end of the rotary shaft 21 via a clutch 32. The clutch 32 is an electromagnetic clutch that can switch the rotating shaft 21 and the gear 10G between a connected state and a disconnected state. Similarly to the plate cylinder 10, the blanket cylinder 16, the impression cylinder 17, and the sheet supply cylinder 1
8, the output cylinder 19 also has a coaxial gear 16 of the same diameter.
G, 17G, 18G, and 19G are provided. These gears 16G to 19G are shown in FIG.
19 to 19. As shown in FIG. 1, the gear 10G and the gear 16G, the gear 16G and the gear 17G, and the gear 1
The gear 7G and the gear 18G are meshed with each other, and the gear 17G and the gear 19G are meshed with each other, and power is transmitted from a printing drive unit 6 described later. Thereby, each cylinder can be rotated synchronously.
In this embodiment, the print driving unit 6 corresponds to a first rotating unit in the present invention, and the clutch 32 corresponds to a first disconnecting unit in the present invention.

Returning to FIG. 1, the plate supplying / discharging means 11 supplies the unexposed printing plate to the plate cylinder 10 and
And collects used printing plates from the printer, and comprises a supply and discharge cassette (not shown) and a conveying means (not shown) for conveying the printing plates between the two cassettes and the plate cylinder 10.

The image forming means 12 irradiates the printing plate supplied onto the plate cylinder 10 with a plurality of beams to form an image. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an outline of the image forming means 12. 4, the image forming unit 12 includes:
A beam irradiating unit 33 including a plurality of LED elements and irradiating the printing plate with a beam by controlling on / off of each beam according to the image data subjected to the RIP processing by the control unit 7
And the nut member 3 fixed to the beam irradiation means 33
4 comprises a ball screw member 35 which is screwed and arranged along the axial direction of the plate cylinder 10, and a motor 36 which rotates the ball screw member 35 via a belt and a pulley. By rotating the ball screw member 35 by the motor 36, the beam irradiation unit 33 can be moved in the sub-scanning direction along the axis of the plate cylinder 10.

In this embodiment, the plate cylinder 10 is rotated by the motor 25 (FIG. 3), and the beam irradiation means 33 is moved intermittently or continuously in the sub-scanning direction. 10 can be scanned and exposed. In the present embodiment, the image is formed by controlling the light emission of the LED element. However, the image may be formed by modulating a laser beam such as a semiconductor laser or a gas laser on / off by a modulator.

Returning to FIG. 1, the developing means 13 comprises a processing liquid tank storing a processing liquid and a coating roller disposed partially immersed in the processing liquid. The processing liquid is pumped up by being brought into contact with the printing plate and supplied to the printing plate surface. In this embodiment, each processing liquid tank and application roller have two sets for development and fixing, and an elevating mechanism is provided so that each of them independently comes into contact with and separates from the plate cylinder 10. Depending on the type of printing plate, the case where the developing means 13 itself is unnecessary may be considered.

The dampening water supply means 14 is a means for selectively supplying dampening water to each of different printing areas on the plate cylinder 10, and includes a watercraft storing the dampening water and the water. And a plurality of dampening water rollers for pumping dampening water from the boat and supplying the dampening water onto the printing plate surface. Among the dampening solution rollers, at least a roller that comes into contact with the printing plate surface is configured to be brought into contact with or separated from the plate cylinder 10 by a cam mechanism or the like, and is provided in a corresponding printing area on the plate cylinder 10. On the other hand, a dampening solution can be supplied selectively. As in this embodiment, the dampening solution supply means 14 is preferably provided separately for each printing color, in order to prevent ink from being mixed into the dampening solution. It is also possible to employ a dampening solution supply means of a spray type or the like which is not in contact with the plate surface, so that a single dampening solution supply device is used for each plate cylinder 10.

The ink supply means 15 is a means for selectively supplying different colors of ink to different printing areas on the plate cylinder 10 to which the dampening solution has been supplied by the dampening solution supply means 14. There is an ink fountain storing ink and a plurality of ink rollers for taking out ink from the ink fountain and supplying the ink onto the printing plate surface. At least a roller of the ink roller that comes into contact with the printing plate is configured to come into contact with or separate from the plate cylinder 10 by a cam mechanism or the like, and is selected with respect to a corresponding printing area on the plate cylinder 10. The ink can be supplied in an appropriate manner.

The blanket cylinder 16 has the same diameter as the plate cylinder 10 and has a blanket surface on its peripheral surface for transferring an ink image. Two ink images are transferred from the printing plate on the plate cylinder 10 to this blanket surface. A blanket cleaning unit 37 for cleaning the blanket surface is provided around the blanket cylinder 16.

The blanket cylinder 16 is provided with a cylinder inserting means 20 as shown in FIG. In FIG. 5, the cylinder inserting means 20 includes a pair of inner eccentric bearings 3 for eccentrically supporting both ends of the rotating shaft 38 of the blanket cylinder 16.
9 and a pair of outer eccentric bearings 40 for further eccentrically supporting the inner eccentric bearing 39.

Each of the outer eccentric bearings 40 on the right and left sides is provided with an air cylinder 42 by a supporting member 41.
Are provided rotatably one by one, and each air cylinder 4
2 of the inner eccentric bearing 3 on the corresponding side
9 is connected to a rotating shaft 44 provided on the rotating shaft 9. Further, each rotating shaft 44 is connected to another link member 45,
Both link members 45 are connected by a penetrating shaft 46 penetrating in the axial direction of the blanket cylinder 16. In the above configuration, when the air cylinder 42 is driven to extend the rod 43, the inner eccentric bearing 39 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 5, and the blanket cylinder 16 is inserted into the plate cylinder 10,
Conversely, when the rod 43 is contracted, the body is pulled out. The rotation of the inner eccentric bearings 39 on both sides is synchronized by the link member 45 and the through shaft 46.

On the other hand, one air cylinder 47 is provided on each of the left and right sides by supporting means (not shown), and a rod 48 of each air cylinder 47 is connected to a link member 49. The left and right link members 49 are connected by a through shaft 50 that penetrates in the axial direction of the blanket cylinder 16, and is configured to be rotatable around the through shaft 50. An intermediate portion of each link member 49 is connected to the outer eccentric bearing 40 by an arm 51. In the above configuration, the air cylinder 47
Is driven to extend the rod 48, the outer eccentric bearing 40 rotates clockwise in FIG. 5, and the blanket cylinder 16 is inserted into the impression cylinder 17, and when the rod 48 is contracted, the cylinder is removed. . The link member 49 and the through shaft 50
Thus, the rotation of the outer eccentric bearings 40 on both sides is synchronized.

Returning to FIG. 1, the impression cylinder 17 is
The diameter of which is 1/2 of that of
A pair of jaw means are provided. Therefore, on the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 17, one printing sheet of a size corresponding to one printing area of the plate cylinder 10 can be held. In addition, this impression cylinder 1
The gripper 7 operates to open and close so as to receive the printing paper from the paper feeding cylinder 18 described later every other rotation, and deliver the printing paper to the paper ejection cylinder 19 described later every other rotation.

The feed cylinder 18 and the discharge cylinder 19 are
And a pair of gripping means (not shown) for holding printing paper on the peripheral surface thereof. Both the paper feed cylinder 18 and the paper discharge cylinder 19 are rotated in synchronization with the impression cylinder 17, and the phase is set so that the gripping means of each cylinder and the gripping means of the impression cylinder 17 face each other. . The gripping means of the paper supply cylinder 18 and the paper discharge cylinder 19 also open and close so that the printing paper can be supplied and discharged every time the impression cylinder 17 rotates twice.

In the first printing unit 1, the plate cylinder 1
Based on the difference between 0 and the diameter of the blanket cylinder 16 and the diameter of the impression cylinder 17, when the plate cylinder 10 and the blanket cylinder 16 make one rotation, the impression cylinder 17 makes two rotations. Therefore, the impression cylinder 17
Is rotated twice while holding the printing paper, the ink images are transferred from the two printing areas on the plate cylinder 10 onto the printing paper, and two-color printing can be performed. In addition, the "impression cylinder 1"
7 rotates two times while holding the printing paper. "
7 represents a rotation operation in which the printing paper on the printer 7 transfers the ink images of two colors from the blanket cylinder 16 sequentially and continuously, and strictly 360 ° ×
It does not mean to rotate by two angles. For example, in the present embodiment, the arrangement angle of the paper feed cylinder 18 and the paper discharge cylinder 19 with respect to the impression cylinder 17 is about 120 degrees apart.
The printing paper is discharged from the impression cylinder 17 to the discharge cylinder 19 at the time when the impression cylinder 17 rotates 360 degrees + 240 degrees from the moment when the impression cylinder 17 receives the printing paper from the paper feeding cylinder 18.

The configuration of the second printing unit 2 is basically the same as that of the first printing unit 1. Therefore, the same reference numerals are given in FIG. 1 and the description is omitted. In the present embodiment, the colors of the ink supplied by the ink supply means 15 of the first printing unit 1 are K (black) and C (cyan), and the color of the ink of the second printing unit 2 is M (magenta). ) And Y (yellow).

The paper feed unit 3 includes a paper feed tray on which print papers are loaded, and separates and takes out only one of the uppermost print papers from the print papers loaded on the paper feed tray. To be supplied to The operation of separating and supplying the printing paper by the paper supply unit 3 is performed every time the paper supply cylinder 18 rotates every other rotation.

The intermediate transport unit 4 transfers printing paper between the discharge cylinder 19 of the first printing unit 1 and the paper feeding cylinder 18 of the second printing unit 2. It is configured. Each transfer cylinder 52 has a diameter twice as large as the impression cylinder 17 and its peripheral surface is positioned at a position 180 degrees opposite to the other.
A pair of holding means (not shown) is provided. The holding means of each transfer cylinder 52 and the discharge cylinder 19 and the paper supply cylinder 18
The holding means are configured to open and close in synchronization with each other in a phase opposing each other so that the printing paper can be delivered. The transfer cylinder 52 is also provided with a gear 52G coaxially therewith. A gear 19G provided on the paper discharge cylinder 19 of the first printing unit 1 and a gear 18G provided on the paper supply cylinder 18 of the second printing unit 2. To transmit the driving force between.

As described above, since the impression cylinder 17 performs two-color printing every two rotations, when the transfer cylinder 52 having a diameter twice as large as the impression cylinder 17 is used, only one set is provided on the circumferential surface. A jaw means may be provided. In other words, in this case, only half of the peripheral surface of each transfer cylinder 52 is used for conveying the printing paper. However, since the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment has a single-sided, two-color printing function in which each impression cylinder 17 rotates only once, each transfer cylinder 52 has two gripping means.
A set is provided.

The paper discharge unit 5 is composed of an endless chain provided with a gripper for receiving and transporting the print paper from the paper discharge cylinder 19 of the second printing unit 2 and a discharge stand for loading the print paper. Become.

The printing drive unit 6 includes a motor 53 for rotating each cylinder of the printing apparatus in synchronization with the printing apparatus.
Pulley 5 which is rotated by transmitting the driving of the
5 and a gear 56 fixed coaxially with the pulley 55. The gear 56 is meshed with a gear 18G provided on the paper feed cylinder 18 of the first printing unit 1. Therefore, each cylinder of the printing apparatus can be rotated synchronously by the motor 53. The sheet feeding operation of the sheet feeding unit 3 is also synchronized with the print driving unit 6 by a synchronization unit (not shown).

Next, the basic operation of the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the overall operation of the printing apparatus. First, in step S1, the plate cylinder 10 is disconnected from the printing drive unit 6 while the clutch 32 is disengaged, and the blanket cylinder 16 is removed from the plate cylinder 10. The clutch 27 is kept in a connected state.

In step S2, an unexposed printing plate is supplied to the plate cylinder 10 by the plate supply / discharge unit 11. At this time, the plate cylinder 10 is rotated by the rotation of the motor 25 and operates so as to wind the printing plate around its peripheral surface.

In step S3, the plate cylinder 10 is
An image is formed by scanning and exposing by the image forming means 12 while rotating by. Similarly, in step S4, the developing process is performed while rotating the plate cylinder 10 by the motor 25.

In step S5, the clutch 27 is disengaged and the clutch 32 is engaged in a state in which the plate cylinder 10 is positioned at a predetermined phase with the end of the plate making operation. The positioning of the plate cylinder 10 may be based on the output of the rotary encoder 31, or another positioning means may be separately provided.

In step S6, each cylinder is rotated by the print drive unit 6, and dampening water and ink are supplied to the plate cylinder 10. The printing operation is performed by inserting the blanket cylinder 16 into the plate cylinder 10 and the impression cylinder 17 and feeding printing paper to the impression cylinder 17. When the printing operation is completed, the operation is completed by washing the blanket cylinder 16 and the ink supply means 15 and discharging the used printing plate.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 6, the plate making operation and the printing operation are performed sequentially and sequentially, but in the printing apparatus according to the present embodiment, both operations can be performed in parallel. Hereinafter, this will be described.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a stencil making operation and a printing operation in chronological order, and the horizontal axis of the drawing represents the passage of time. First, FIG.
(A) illustrates a conventional case in which a plate making operation and a printing operation are not performed in parallel. First, in this example, the first
Only the printing unit 1 is operated and the C color and / or K
A two-color or single-color printing job of colors is performed, and at the time point a during this printing, the next print job (one or two-color printing of Y and / or M colors by the second printing unit 2) is performed. Shall be instructed. In the conventional case,
The time point c at which the second printing unit 2 starts plate making is after the printing of the first printing unit 1 has been completed (time point b), and then the first printing unit 1 has been washed or discharged. Therefore, the plate making of the second printing unit 2 is performed from the time point c, and the printing operation is performed upon completion of the plate making (time point d). In this conventional case, the printing operation is stopped during the time from the time point b to the time point d.

On the other hand, in the present embodiment, the printing drive unit 6 capable of rotating the plate cylinders 10 in synchronization with each other and a rotating mechanism including a motor 25 capable of independently rotating are provided. , And clutches 27 and 32 that can selectively disconnect each drive. Thus, the plate cylinder 10 not used for the printing operation can be used for the plate making operation.

FIG. 7B is a diagram for explaining a case where the plate making operation and the printing operation are performed in parallel. In FIG. 7B, it is assumed that there is an instruction for a printing operation related to the second printing unit 2 at a time point a during a printing operation in the first printing unit 1 as in FIG. 7A.

In this embodiment, when an instruction is given as the next print job, the control unit 7 receives the print job information. As print job information, an operator may input various printing conditions, for example, printing colors, the number of copies, and the like from a keyboard or the like, and input corresponding image data from the image data creating device 8. On the other hand, the control means 7 determines whether or not the corresponding color of the plate cylinder of the printing unit not currently used corresponds to the printing color of the print job. In the above assumed example, the corresponding colors of the plate cylinder 10 of the printing unit 2 which is at rest are the Y color and the M color. Therefore, if the print job is printing of two colors of the Y color and / or M color or monochromatic printing, It is determined that the plate making operation can be performed in parallel with the operation. As described above, in the present embodiment, the control unit 7
Receives print job information and detects unused plate cylinders, and determines whether the plate making operation can be performed in parallel with the printing operation based on the corresponding colors of the two.

As an actual plate making operation, the plate cylinder 10 of the second printing unit 2 is previously moved by the clutch 32 to the printing drive unit 6.
Can be driven independently by the motor 25 independently of the other cylinders. Accordingly, the plate making operation of the second printing unit 2 can be performed immediately from the time point a. Then, when the printing of the first printing unit 1 is completed, the drive of both printing units is switched at the time point b, and when the preparation of the printing paper and the trial printing are completed, the printing operation can be started immediately. In this case, the printing stop time is the time from the plate making end time f of the second printing unit 2 to the printing work time b of the first printing unit 1. Therefore, the overall operation time can be reduced.

In the above-described embodiment, an example has been described in which the two plate cylinders 10 correspond to two colors, respectively. However, other structures may be used as long as there are two or more plate cylinders. In particular, if each plate cylinder supports two colors, it is preferable for a multicolor printing apparatus having three or more and six or more colors. In addition, in the case where each plate cylinder is provided with a device capable of exchanging inks of different colors, the present invention is more effective because the restriction by printing colors is relaxed. For example, a configuration is conceivable in which a plurality of ink supply means are provided for each plate cylinder so as to be selectively used, or each ink supply means is provided with an ink cleaning means so that ink exchange is possible. Further, since the printing operation is performed continuously, it is preferable to provide a mechanism for sorting printed printing paper for each print job.

The print job information in the above embodiment may be two or more. in this case,
If it is within the printing deadline, the work order differs from the predetermined work order,
A print job capable of performing a plate making operation in parallel may be given the highest priority. The work order may be optimized so that a plurality of print jobs can be performed in parallel. In the above embodiment, the plate making operation and the printing operation are performed in parallel.
For example, the cleaning of the blanket cylinder and the supply of the printing plate to the plate cylinder can be performed in parallel.

[0047]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there are provided two means for rotating and driving the plate cylinder, the first rotating means and the second rotating means, and the first cutting means and the second rotating means, respectively. Since the rotating means can be selectively cut from each plate cylinder by the two cutting means, either the printing operation or the plate making operation can be performed in parallel for each plate cylinder.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to determine whether or not the plate making operation can be performed in parallel with the printing operation based on the print job information.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an example of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a rotation mechanism of a plate cylinder in the printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a configuration of an image forming unit in the printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a cylinder inserting unit in the printing apparatus.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing the flow of printing and plate making operations in the printing apparatus.

FIG. 7 is a view for explaining parallel processing of a printing operation and a plate making operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 1st printing unit 2 2nd printing unit 3 paper feed part 4 intermediate conveyance part 5 paper discharge part 6 print drive part 7 control means 10 plate cylinder 11 supply and discharge means 12 image forming means 13 developing means 14 dampening water supply means 15 Ink supply means 16 Blanket cylinder 17 Impression cylinder 20 Cylinder insertion means 25 Motor 27 Clutch 32 Clutch 53 Motor

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printing machine comprising two or more plate cylinders and a blanket cylinder, wherein an image is recorded on a printing plate on each of the plate cylinders to perform a plate-making operation, and the printing operation is performed by applying ink to the plate-making printing plate. A plurality of cylinder inserting means for inserting or removing each blanket cylinder relative to a corresponding plate cylinder, and connected to the plurality of plate cylinders, and synchronizing the plate cylinders. A first rotating means for rotating; a first cutting means capable of cutting the connection between the first rotating means and the plate cylinder for each plate cylinder; and a separate from the first rotating means. A second rotating unit provided for rotating the plate cylinder; a second cutting unit capable of disconnecting the connection between the second rotating unit and the plate cylinder for each plate cylinder; In accordance with the rotation of the plate cylinder by the rotation means 2, the printing plate is made on the plate cylinder. A plurality of plate making means, and when the plate cylinder is used for a printing operation, the corresponding plate cylinder is cut from the second rotating means, and when the plate cylinder is used for a plate making operation, the corresponding plate cylinder is connected to the first rotating member. A printing apparatus comprising: control means for controlling the first and second cutting means and the cylinder inserting means so as to cut from a rotating means and to punch out a corresponding blanket cylinder. 2. A print job receiving means for receiving one or more print job information indicating print conditions for each print job, and detecting a plate cylinder not used for a printing operation being executed among the plurality of plate cylinders. Detecting means for determining a print job that can be printed with the corresponding color of the unused plate cylinder from the print job information; and plate making for the print job determined by the determining means. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the operation is performed in parallel with the printing operation being performed.