JP2001270646A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer for properly aligning sheets of paper on stacking means while holding a number of sheets after printing. SOLUTION: The printer 1 having stacking means 7 for stacking sheets after printing on the sheets at a printing position 4 comprises holding means 150 arranged above the stacking means 7 for receiving and holding the sheets stacked on the stacking means 7, the stacking means 7 having elevating means for carrying the sheets stacked on the stacking means 7 to the holding means 150.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus capable of holding a large number of printed sheets.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, printing paper after printing (hereinafter, referred to as printing paper)
"Paper") is stacked on the output tray,
In order to be able to stack a large number of sheets, the discharge tray has been enlarged.

[0003]

Therefore, for example, even if the discharge tray has a mechanism for aligning the sheets stacked on the same tray, the sheet itself may be removed when a large number of sheets are stacked. Due to the weight of the paper, the frictional force between the papers increased, and the papers could not be aligned sufficiently.

On the other hand, in order to reduce paper consumption, double-sided printing, in which printing is performed on both the front and back sides of paper, has become a major part of printing. For this purpose, in addition to a device for obtaining a double-sided printed product by transporting the paper once printed toward the plate cylinder again, two plate cylinders are arranged to face each other, and the plate cylinders are pressed against each other via the paper. A configuration and a configuration in which a plurality of plate cylinders are arranged in parallel in the path of a sheet, and development of an apparatus for obtaining a double-sided printed matter by passing the sheet once has been attempted. A printing apparatus that performs double-sided printing only by making a single pass has problems such as an increase in the size of the apparatus, as described in JP-A-8-91710 and JP-A-7-81202. Various devices of the former type have been proposed.

[0005] JP-A-8-91710, JP-A-7-917
The printing apparatus disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 81202 and the like moves a discharge tray loaded with printed sheets once to a re-feeding position so that double-sided printing can be performed without bothering an operator. It is. However, in these printing apparatuses, there is a problem that a mechanism for moving the discharge tray to the re-feeding position becomes large and complicated.

Accordingly, the present applicant has filed a Japanese Patent Application No. 11-130.
No. 264 and Japanese Patent Application No. 11-289099 have proposed a printing apparatus provided with a double-sided tray arranged at a re-feeding position for receiving and stacking sheets stacked on a sheet discharge tray. However, a printing apparatus having a double-sided tray also has the same problem as the above-described discharge tray.
That is, even if the double-sided tray has a mechanism for aligning the sheets stacked on the same tray, it is not possible to sufficiently align the sheets when a large number of sheets are stacked.

[0007] Since the sheets are stacked on the discharge tray or the double-sided tray with a slight shift of about 1 mm to 10 mm usually, if the sheets are used for double-sided printing without sufficient alignment of the sheets, the shift amount will be large. Thus, a printed material having a shifted image position is obtained. Therefore, in a double-sided printing apparatus, the alignment of paper after single-sided printing affects the quality of printed matter, and if the alignment of paper is not sufficient, the quality of printed matter deteriorates.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of holding a large number of printed sheets and capable of satisfactorily aligning the sheets on the stacking means.

[0009]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus having a stacking means for printing on a sheet at a printing position and stacking the printed sheet. And holding means for receiving and holding the sheets stacked on the loading means, the lifting means being configured to convey the sheets stacked on the loading means toward the holding means. It is characterized by having means.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, there is provided a sheet aligning means for aligning the sheets stacked on the stacking means.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, the sheet aligning means has an air flow generating means for sending air between sheets stacked on the stacking means. And

The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2 or 3.
In the printing apparatus described above, the paper alignment means performs paper alignment at the same time as printing.

[0013] The invention according to claim 5 is the invention according to claims 2 to 4.
The printing apparatus according to any one of the above, wherein the holding means holds the paper sheets aligned by the paper alignment means.

The invention according to claim 6 is the first to fifth aspects.
In the printing apparatus according to any one of the above, the holding unit is capable of holding a plurality of times as many sheets as the number of sheets that can be stacked on the stacking unit, and is transported by a plurality of elevations of the elevation unit. Characterized in that it can hold a sheet to be printed.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the holding means holds the uppermost sheet on the elevating means when the elevating means rises for the second time or later. In a state in which the sheet is held by the holding means, the holding of the sheets held by the holding means is released and the sheets are stacked on the elevating means, and then all the sheets stacked on the elevating means are held. I do.

[0016] The invention according to claim 8 is the invention according to claims 1 to 7.
Wherein the holding means has a pair of holding members that are in contact with and separate from each other in a substantially horizontal direction, and holds the paper sandwiched between the pair of holding members. .

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, there are provided the first to eighth aspects.
The printing apparatus according to any one of the above, further comprising a paper discharge tray for receiving paper discharged from the printing position, wherein the paper discharge tray is the stacking unit.

According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, a discharge tray for receiving sheets discharged from the printing position;
A double-sided tray for receiving and stacking the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray, conveying the stacked sheets toward the printing position and performing double-sided printing, the discharge tray and the double-sided tray Are the loading means.

According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, a discharge tray for receiving sheets discharged from the printing position;
And a double-sided tray for receiving and stacking the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray, conveying the stacked sheets toward the printing position, and performing double-sided printing, wherein the double-sided tray is provided by the stacking unit. There is a feature.

According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the tenth or eleventh aspect, the elevating means provided on the double-sided tray receives the paper discharged from the printing position by the discharge tray. The paper stacked on the double-sided tray is conveyed toward the holding means.

[0021]

FIG. 1 shows a stencil printing apparatus as a printing apparatus capable of performing double-sided printing to which the present invention is applied. Stencil printing machine 1
Is a printing paper (hereinafter, referred to as “paper”) between a printing drum 2 as a plate cylinder disposed in the upper central portion of the stencil printing apparatus 1 and the printing drum 2 disposed opposite to the printing drum 2.
Cylinder 3 as a press-contact means for press-contacting the plate, and a plate-making apparatus 107 as a plate-making means for making a stencil sheet as a master.
A master transport unit (not shown) disposed in the housing of the plate making apparatus 107 for transporting a master having undergone plate making toward the printing drum 2, and printing on paper at an opposing portion of the printing drum 2 and the impression cylinder 3. A paper feed tray 5 loaded with new paper to be supplied toward the printing position 4 to be performed and a paper discharge tray discharged from the printing position 4 to receive and load the paper printed at the same position 4 Paper ejection tray 6 and paper ejection tray 6
A double-sided tray 7 as an intermediate tray, which is a stacking means for performing double-sided printing, which receives and stacks the sheets stacked thereon and conveys the stacked sheets toward the printing position 4, and a used stencil sheet is used. It mainly has a plate discharging device 8 as a plate discharging device for peeling off the printing drum 2 and storing it, and an image reading unit 9 for reading an image to be printed and sending the read image data to the plate making device 107.

As the stencil paper, a laminated structure of a thin film made of PET and a base member made of Japanese paper is used. However, the thin film may be made of another material, and the base member may be made of synthetic fiber. And so on.
A large number of sheets are placed on the sheet supply table 5, are separated and conveyed one by one, are printed on a surface facing upward during the conveyance, and are sent to the sheet discharge tray 6. Paper feed table 5
Some transporting means are involved before the paper is conveyed to the paper discharge tray 6 from among the paper feed rollers 10 and 10.
There are a feed roller 11 as a registration roller, a paper discharge suction unit 12, and the like. The paper feed roller 10 is swingably supported by a vertically movable drive shaft 10a. As the paper feed proceeds, the position of the paper feed roller 10 is lowered, and a predetermined amount is detected when a sensor (not shown) detects the position. The paper feed table 5 is raised only so that the top sheet is always controlled to a height suitable for paper feeding. The sheet feeder 5 has side fences 26 and 26, and regulates both ends of the sheet placed on the sheet feeder 5.

An upper guide plate 13 and a lower guide plate 14 are disposed opposite to each other at a position on the near side from the downstream side of the paper feed roller 10 to the printing position 4 via the feed roller 11 in the paper transport direction. ing. The feed roller 11 is
Feed roller (upper) 11 arranged to be in opposing contact
a, and a feed roller (lower) 11b. The sheet is separated by the sheet feed roller 10 and sent out, and is fed between the upper and lower guide plates 13 and 14 toward the printing position 4. . The sheet that has exited the printing position 4 is sent out to the paper discharge suction unit 12, and the paper discharge suction unit 12
The paper is further sent to the paper discharge tray 6. Discharge suction unit 1
2 has a transport belt 17 and a transport suction fan 18 spanned between a driving roller 15 and a driven roller 16, and while the transport suction fan 18 sucks printed paper on the transport belt 17, The paper is conveyed toward the paper discharge tray 6 by the conveyance belt 17. Feed roller 1 of lower guide plate 14 in the paper transport direction
A part on the upstream side of 1 is cut out so as to receive a sheet printed on one side and conveyed from the double-sided tray 7.

The printing drum 2 has a stencil retaining device 19 as a clamper which clamps the leading end of the stencil sheet which is heat-sensitive on the peripheral surface. In the printing drum 2, although not shown, an ink supply pipe for supplying ink to the inner peripheral surface thereof, an ink supply roller, a doctor roller, and a wedge-shaped ink reservoir formed by the ink supply roller and the doctor roller. A well-known ink supply device composed of the above-described components is provided.

The impression cylinder 3 includes a support arm 2 for supporting the support shaft 20.
1 supports the printing drum 2 so as to be able to freely move toward and away from the printing drum 2. One end of the support arm 21 is rotatably supported on a casing (not shown) of the stencil printing machine 1 by a shaft 22. A portion of the support arm 21 opposite to the shaft 22 with respect to the support shaft 20 is urged toward the printing drum 2 by a tension spring 23 whose one end is locked to a casing of the stencil printing machine 1. The other end of the support arm 21 has a cam 2
4 is engaged, and the long diameter portion of the cam 24 is
, The impression cylinder 3 is separated from the printing drum 2.

Although not shown, the stencil discharging device 8 includes a stencil box for storing used stencil paper, an opening / closing plate for opening and closing the stencil box, and a standby position and an operating position for contacting the printing drum 2. A known method including a swingable peeling roller capable of swinging, a peeling roller disposed opposite to the swinging peeling roller, and a guide for forming a plate discharge path for guiding a used stencil sheet to a plate discharge box between the open / close plate and the open / close plate. It is a structure of. In the vicinity of the peripheral surface of the printing drum 2, an air knife 2 that peels off the leading end when the paper printed at the printing position 4 is wound around the printing drum 2 due to the viscosity of the ink.
5 are provided. The air knife 25 blows air between the leading edge of the sheet and the peripheral surface of the printing drum 2,
The upper sheet is forcibly removed.

The image reading section 9 is located at the top of the stencil printing apparatus 1. Although not shown, the image reading unit 9 includes a document tray for placing documents, a document transport roller for separating and transporting the documents one by one, a document separating roller, a contact glass on which the document to be read is placed, and a contact for the document. It has a well-known configuration including an endless and wide transport belt for feeding over glass, a reading sensor device provided below the contact glass, and the like. The stencil printing apparatus 1 has storage means (not shown) for storing the image data read by the image reading unit 9 and outputting the image data to the stencil making apparatus 107 in a timely manner.

Although not shown, the stencil making device 107 has a support means for supporting a master roll having a stencil sheet in a roll form, a thermal head disposed on the film surface side of the stencil sheet, and a thermal head opposed to the thermal head. This is a known configuration including a platen roller disposed on the base member side of the stencil sheet, a cutter for cutting the stencil sheet that has been made, and the like.

An operation panel (not shown) for performing various operations is provided outside the stencil printing apparatus 1. The operation panel includes a plate making start button for instructing execution of plate making, a print start button for instructing execution of printing, and a stencil printing machine 1 provided on a normal operation panel.
In addition to a stop button for stopping the operation, a numeric keypad for instructing the number of prints, the number of copies, and the like, a print mode designation key as a print mode designation means is provided. The print mode designation key has a normal mode button for supplying paper from the paper supply table 5 and a duplex mode button for supplying paper from the duplex tray 7.

The paper discharge tray 6 has an end plate 27 for receiving the leading edge of the paper conveyed from the printing position 4 through the paper discharge suction unit 12, a mounting table 28 having a paper loading surface 33 for loading paper, and a paper Side fences 29, 29 for regulating the respective side edges. The double-sided tray 7 includes an end fence 30 that further transports the paper transported from the paper discharge tray 6, a mounting table 31 that is fixed to the main body of the stencil printing apparatus 1 and has a paper loading surface 34 on which paper is loaded, It has side fences 32, 32 that regulate each edge. Side fence 3
2 and 32 are arranged so as to be substantially parallel to each other. The double-sided tray 7 is disposed such that the sheet stacking surface 34 is substantially horizontal. The mounting table 28 has an end on the side of the double-sided tray 7 supported by a shaft 35.
The end on the 7 side can swing up and down. The main body of the stencil printing machine 1 is provided with a gear 36 that is rotationally driven by a drive source (not shown).
A gear surface 37 engaged with the gear 36 is provided at the side end. The gear 36 and the gear surface 37 are connected to the sheet loading surface 33.
And a paper output tray swinging means 38 for swinging the paper output tray 6 so as to change the angle between the paper tray and the paper stacking surface 34.

In the vicinity of the end of the double-sided tray 7 opposite to the end fence 30, a paper feed roller 39 for feeding only the uppermost sheet out of the sheets stacked on the sheet stacking surface 34 toward the printing position 4. Are arranged. The paper feed roller 39 is supported by support means (not shown), and is driven up and down so as to occupy a position suitable for feeding the uppermost sheet. On the downstream side of the paper feed roller 39 in the paper conveyance direction, a guide pair 4 having one end opened to the paper feed roller 39 and the other end connected to a notch provided in the lower guide plate 14.
In the middle of the paper transport path formed by the guide pair 40, the paper is further fed to the printing position 4 by inheriting the paper sent from the paper feed roller 39.
There are provided two sets of conveying rollers 41 for feeding the paper toward the.
Above the double-sided tray 7, a holding unit 150 that receives and holds the sheets stacked on the double-sided tray 7 is provided.

Although the paper discharge tray 6 and the double-sided tray 7 are separate bodies, as shown in FIG.
And are substantially integrated. The paper discharge tray 6 and the double-sided tray 6 can be integrally detachably attached to the stencil printing apparatus 1 body, and can also be detachably attached separately.
The end plate 27 and the end fence 30 can be displaced in the direction A and the direction B that are parallel to the direction in which the sheet is discharged in the sheet stacking surfaces 33 and 34, and the side fence 29 and the side fence 32 Paper loading surface 3
It can be displaced in the direction C which is a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the end plate 27 and the end fence 30 are displaced in the planes 3 and 34.

A notch 42 extending in the AB direction is formed at the center in the C direction on the upper surface plate 28 'of the mounting table 28 having the sheet stacking surface 33. Is provided with a guide member 43. The end plate 27 is a slider 1 integrated with the end plate 27.
06, it is possible to slide on the guide member 43, and is displaced toward the double-sided tray 7 by being displaced in the A direction. Notches 44, 44 extending in the C direction are formed at the respective ends in the C direction, that is, the respective ends corresponding to the side edges in the width direction of the sheet, on the upper surface plate 28 '. Guide members 45, 45 are provided in the notches 44, 44 in the C direction. Each of the side fences 29 is slidable on the guide member 45, and is displaced in a direction C so as to be displaced in a direction approaching each other or in a direction separating from each other.

A notch 46 extending in the direction AB is formed at the center of the upper surface plate 31 'of the mounting table 31 having the side fence 32 and the like on the upper surface in the direction C. A rail member 135 slidably supporting a support 91 serving as a slider for supporting the end fence 30 is provided in the notch 46 of the upper surface plate 31 ′ so as to extend in the AB direction. Sliding grooves 105 (shown in FIGS. 17 to 26) on which the support 91 slides are formed on both surfaces of the 135 in the C direction. At the end in the direction A of the upper surface plate 28 ', cutouts 47, 47 communicating with the notch 46 on both sides in the C direction of the rail member 135 are formed. The notches 46 and 47 receive the end fence 30 slidably.

Notches extending in the C direction at the center of the upper plate 31 'in the AB direction and on both sides in the C direction of the notches 46 so as to correspond to the respective side edges in the width direction of the sheet. 48, 48 are formed, and guide members 49, 49 are disposed in the notches 48, 48 in the C direction. Each of the side fences 32 is slidable on the guide member 49, and is displaced in the direction C so as to be displaced in a direction approaching each other or in a direction separating from each other. Side fence 2
9. The side fences 32 are bent so that the ends in the direction facing each other are expanded in the C direction.

At the end of the side fence 32 in the direction A,
A front fence 121 is provided to regulate and align the end of the sheet stacked on the double-sided tray 7 on the side opposite to the sheet discharge tray 6, that is, on the A-direction side. The front fence 121 is supported by a shaft 122 integrated with the front fence 121. Both ends of the shaft 122 are supported by a casing (not shown) of the stencil printing apparatus 1 so as to be vertically movable, and are rotatably driven by a driving source (not shown) and are displaced in the vertical direction. The front fence 121 has a shaft 122
Is rotated by approximately 90 degrees and displaced in the vertical direction, as shown in FIGS. 17 to 20, 23 to 26,
FIG. 21 and FIG. 2 show the retracted position retracted from the paper transport path.
2 can be displaced from an alignment position where the sheet enters the sheet conveyance path. The mounting table 31 is the front fence 1
21 has a notch 123 for receiving the front end of the front fence 121 when occupying the alignment position, so that the front fence 121 can abut on the A-direction end of the lowest sheet when occupying the alignment position. It has become.

At the end of the side fence 32 in the direction A, an air flow generating device 1 having a fan 119 as an air flow generating means for feeding air between sheets on the double-sided tray 7 is provided.
11 are provided integrally. As shown in FIG. 3 or FIG. 4, the air flow generation device 111 includes an air flow generation unit 112 provided with a fan 119 and an air flow uniformization unit for equalizing the air flow generated by the fan 119. The rectifying unit 113, a paper pressing unit 131 for regulating the upper surface of the uppermost sheet when the fan 119 sends air between the sheets, and a fan for making the flow rate of the air flow generated by the fan 119 different in the vertical direction. Air flow adjusting means 132
And

The fan 119 is driven to rotate by a driving source (not shown). When the fan 119 rotates, the fan 119 generates an airflow toward the inner wall of the side fence 32. In the rectification unit 113, a fan 119 is provided.
Fins 114 are provided as rectifying members for rectifying the airflow generated by the fins. Paper holding means 1
Reference numeral 31 denotes a plate-shaped member, on the lower surface of which a noise suppression member 133 for suppressing noise generated by contact with the sheet.
have. The noise suppression member 133 is composed of a plurality of rod-shaped members arranged in the AB direction. Air flow adjusting means 1
Reference numeral 32 denotes a plate-shaped member provided so as to cover the rectifying portion 113 from the inner wall side of the side fence 32, and has a large number of holes. As shown in FIG. 3 (b), the holes are formed so as to have a higher density toward the lower side. Therefore, the air flow generated by the fan 119 is
When the air passes through the inside, the air flow is adjusted, and when the air passes through the air flow rate adjusting means 132, the flow rate is adjusted so that the flow rate increases downward as indicated by an arrow D.

As the rectifying member, as shown in FIG. 5, a plate-like member 116 may be used. However, since the air flow is adjusted by the air flow adjusting means 132 so that the air flow increases downward, It is important to arrange so that the flow rate below the target is increased. The noise suppressing member 133 is not limited to the shape of the present embodiment, but may be a member having unevenness formed on the lower surface of the sheet pressing means 131 as long as the contact area with the sheet is reduced. The paper pressing means 131 is not limited to a flat plate, but may be a bent wire or the like. If the contact area with the paper is reduced, the paper pressing means 131 itself has a function as the noise suppressing member 133. It will be. Although three fans 119 are provided in the AB direction, the number of fans 119 is not limited to this as long as an air flow suitable for paper alignment can be obtained.

As shown in FIG. 6, in the rectification unit 113,
Along with the rectifying member, a heater 140 can be provided as a temperature raising means for raising the temperature of the air sent between the sheets on the double-sided tray 7 by the fan 119. In the present embodiment, the heater 140 is formed by spiraling a linear heating element that generates heat when energized, but the rectifying member itself may be used as a heating element to serve as a temperature increasing unit. The fan 119 and the heater 140 constitute an ink drying unit for drying the ink on the paper before transporting the paper stacked on the paper discharge tray 6 to the printing position 4.

As shown in FIG.
Is a paper loading plate 134 that forms a part of the paper loading surface 34
Are integrally provided. A central portion in the C direction on the upper surface plate 31 ′ is located between the sheet stacking plates 134 and 134 and has a notch 151 having substantially the same shape as the notch 46, and is flush with the upper surface of the sheet stacking plate 134. An elevating plate 152 capable of moving is provided. The elevating plate 152 has a width that does not come into contact with the sheet stacking plate 134 even when the side fences 32 are displaced so as to be closest to each other in a state of being flush with the upper surface of the sheet stacking plate 134. . The paper loading plate 134 is located at a position corresponding to the airflow
The lifting plate 152 has a projection 153 that is widened in the direction. The lifting plate 152 is configured to prevent the side fence 32 from coming into contact with the sheet stacking plate 134 even when the side fence 32 is displaced so as to be closest to each other. The recess 15 is provided at a position corresponding to the portion 153.
Four. The paper loading surface 34 is formed by the upper surface of the elevating plate 152 occupying a position flush with the upper surface of the paper loading plate 134, the upper surface of the paper loading plate 134, and the upper surface of the rail member 135.

An air flow generated by the fan 119 is applied to a side edge of the upper surface of the sheet loading plate 134 on the side fence 32 side.
A groove 136 extends as an air flow path for blowing the lower surface of the lowermost sheet. The groove 136 is the sheet loading plate 1
34 has an end point near each end in the AB direction, so that the air flow generated by the fan 119 is efficiently blown to the lower surface of the lowermost sheet. The groove 136 is provided at least on the front surface side of the fan 119, and may be provided only on the front surface of the fan 119. The notch 123 that receives the front end of the front fence 121 when the front fence 121 occupies the aligned position is formed on the upper surface plate 31 ′ so as to be along the edge of the side fence 32 and the elevating plate 152 in the A direction. In addition, top plate 3
An elongated hole (not shown) is formed on the lower surface side of the elevating plate 152 at 1 '. Fan 119, side fence 32, groove 1
36, the front fence 121, the end fence 30, and the like constitute a sheet aligning unit for aligning the sheets stacked on the double-sided tray 7.

As shown in FIG. 7, an end plate displacing means for displacing the end plate 27 in the AB direction is provided on the inside of the mounting table 28, that is, on the bottom plate 28 "below the top plate 28 '. And a side fence displacement means for displacing the sheet loaded on the sheet discharge tray 6 by displacing the end plate 27 in the direction A. 7, a motor 51 fixed on the bottom plate 28 "having a gear shaft 50 for driving the gear shaft 50, and a gear 52 rotatably driven by the gear shaft 50. , A gear 54 driven to rotate by a gear 52 about a shaft 53, and a gear 54 provided on the shaft 53.
A driving pulley 55 that rotates integrally with the driven pulley 55, a driven pulley 56,
It has an endless belt 57 wound around a driving pulley 55 and a driven pulley 56. One end of the endless belt 57 is engaged with the slider 106, and the end plate 27 is displaced in the AB direction as the drive pulley 55 rotates.

The side fence displacement means includes a motor 59 fixed on the bottom plate 28 ″ having a gear shaft 58 for driving the gear shaft 58, and a gear rotationally driven about the shaft 60 by the gear shaft 58. 61, a drive pulley 62 provided on a shaft 60, and a driven pulley 64 rotating about a shaft 63
A pinion 65 provided on the shaft 63 and integrally rotating with the driven pulley 64; an endless belt 66 wound around the driving pulley 62 and the driven pulley 64;
Racks 67 respectively engaged with pinions 65
And When the motor 59 drives the drive pulley 62 to rotate, the side fences 29 are simultaneously displaced in the C direction, and the side fences 29 are moved toward and away from each other.

In FIG. 7, reference numeral 68 denotes a reflection type sensor for detecting the position of the end plate 27 in a state in which the sheet can be discharged from the stencil printing machine 1, and reference numeral 69 denotes the end plate 27 receiving the sheet on the double-sided tray 7. Reference numeral 70 denotes a reflection-type sensor that detects the position of the side fence 29 while detecting the position of the end plate 27 in the passing state. End plate 2
7. A home position sensor may be provided in each of the side fences 29, and an encoder may be provided in each of the motors 51 and 59 to detect the position of each of the end plate 27 and the side fence 29. Bottom plate 28 "
Are notches 47 ', 4 at positions corresponding to the notches 47.
7 ′ to allow downward displacement of the end fence 30.

As shown in FIG. 8, an end fence displacing means for displacing the end fence 30 in the AB direction is provided on the inside of the mounting table 31, that is, on the bottom plate 31 "below the top plate 31 '. Side fence displacing means for displacing the sheet in the direction C. The end fence displacing means is a position for conveying the paper conveyed from the paper discharge tray 6 toward the printing position 4, that is, A motor fixed to a bottom plate 31 ", which is displaced to a sheet feeding position where the leading end in the direction A of the paper is aligned with the vicinity of the leading end of the top plate 31 ', and has a gear shaft 71 for driving the gear shaft 71 to rotate. 72 and a gear 7 driven to rotate by a gear shaft 71
3, a gear 75 driven by a gear 73 about a shaft 74, a drive pulley 76 provided on the shaft 74 and integrally rotating with the gear 75, a driven pulley 77, and a drive pulley 7
6 and endless belt 78 wound around driven pulley 77
And The endless belt 78 has a support 91 at one position.
, And the end plate 30 is displaced in the AB direction as the drive pulley 76 rotates.

The side fence displacement means includes a motor 80 fixed on the bottom plate 31 ″ having a gear shaft 79 for driving the gear shaft 79, and a gear rotationally driven about the shaft 81 by the gear shaft 79. 82, a driving pulley 83 provided on a shaft 81, and a driven pulley 85 rotating about a shaft 84
A pinion 86 provided on a shaft 84 and integrally rotating with a driven pulley 85; an endless belt 87 wound around the driving pulley 83 and the driven pulley 85;
Racks 88 respectively engaged with pinions 86
And When the motor 80 drives the drive pulley 83 to rotate, the side fences 32 are simultaneously displaced in the C direction, and the side fences 32 are moved toward and away from each other. 8, reference numeral 89 denotes a reflection type sensor for detecting the position of the end fence 30 when the end fence 30 is displaced in the direction A after the end plate 27 transfers the sheet to the duplex tray 7, and reference numeral 90 denotes the side fence 32. 2 shows a reflection-type sensor for detecting the position of.
Similarly to the case of the paper discharge tray 6, a home position sensor is provided for each of the end fence 30 and the side fence 32, and an encoder is provided for each of the motors 72 and 80, and the end fence 30 and the side fence 32 are provided.
Each position may be detected. In FIG. 8, illustration of the air flow generator 111 is omitted.

The end fence 30, when the paper is discharged to the paper discharge tray 6, etc., the paper mounting surfaces 33, 34
The two-sided tray 7 cannot receive the sheets stacked on the sheet discharge tray 6 in this state, and the two-sided tray 7 is not allowed to receive the sheet stacked on the sheet discharge tray 6.
When receiving the paper loaded on the top, the end fence 30 needs to be retracted from the paper loading surfaces 33 and 34. In FIG. 9, the end fence 30 is
4 shows an end fence evacuation unit for evacuation from above. The end fence retracting means includes a support 91, a solenoid 92 fixed to the support 91, a shaft 93 rotatable with respect to the support 91 but integral with the end fence 30, and one end of the shaft 93. , A tension spring 95 having one end engaged with the solenoid 92 and the other end engaged with the swing member 94, and a coil spring 96 wound around a shaft 93. The support 91 supports the base 30 a of the end fence 30.

The coil spring 96 opposes the tension spring 95, and the contact portion 30b of the end fence 30 with which the sheet contacts.
Is urged to swing upward about the shaft 93, but the support 91 has an engaging portion 91a that engages the base 30a from above, and the base 30a is horizontal. The upward swing of the contact portion 30 is regulated at the position where. When the solenoid 92 is energized, the swing member 94 swings in the direction A against the coil spring 96, swings the contact portion 30 a downward, and moves the contact portion 30 a below the sheet placement surfaces 33 and 34. , And is retracted from the sheet placement surfaces 33 and 34.

FIG. 10 shows a state in which each side fence 32 is displaced so as to be closest to each other by the side fence displacement means. The same applies to FIGS. 11, 12, and 13. As shown in FIG. 1, as shown in FIG. 11, a holding unit 150 is provided above the double-sided tray 7.
As shown in FIG. 12, the holding unit 150 includes a pair of holding members 155, a support member 156 that slidably supports the holding members 155 in the C direction, and a driving unit for driving the holding members 155 in the C direction. 157. Each holding member 155 has a U-shaped cross section in which the openings face each other,
The lower surface 158 has substantially the same shape as the paper stacking plate 134. On the upper surface 159 of each holding member 155, racks 160 are formed which extend in directions approaching each other in a substantially horizontal plane, and the racks of the racks 160 are arranged so as to face each other. Each holding member 15
In the upper portion of the back portion 161 of the fifth member 5, there are formed long holes 162 which are arranged substantially uniformly in the AB direction.
6 are inserted into the long holes 162 so that each holding member 15
5 is slidably supported in the C direction.

The driving means 157 includes: , A driving pulley 168 and a driven pulley 165 and an endless belt 169. Motor 166 and shaft 16
4 is supported by a casing (not shown) on the printing apparatus 1 main body side. With such a configuration, the motor 166
When the pinion 163 is driven to rotate, the holding members 155 are displaced in a direction substantially approaching / separating from each other in a substantially horizontal direction. A notch 170 is formed near one end of the support member 156 in the C direction, and a rear portion 161 on the same side has a notch 170.
A transmission sensor 171 is provided. Transmission sensor 1
The notch 71 detects the notch 170 when the holding members 155 occupy the home positions that are most separated from each other.

Further, means (not shown) for detecting the amount of displacement of the holding member 155 from the home position is provided, and the amount of displacement of the holding member 155 is controlled. As such means, for example, a configuration in which a motor is a pulse motor, a plurality of reflectors are provided in the C direction on the support member 156, and a reflection type sensor is fixedly mounted on the main body side of the printing apparatus 1 and the reflection type sensor And the like that counts the number of times of reflection. The number of sheets that can be held by the holding member 155 is at least twice as large as the number of sheets that can be stacked on the double-sided tray 7, substantially more than the number of sheets that the double-sided tray 7 can align the sheets. It is desirable. In this embodiment, the holding member 155 which is twice or more is used.

As shown in FIG. 13, the elevating plate 152 is vertically displaceable, and
The sheet is conveyed between 0 and 0. As shown in FIG. 14, the elevating plate 152 is an elevating unit 17 that conveys the paper stacked on the double-sided tray 7 toward the holding unit 150.
Part 2 The lifting plate 152 is a lifting table 17
3 is supported on the X-link 174
, So that it can be raised and lowered with respect to the support base 175. The support table 175 is placed above the end fence displacement means and the side fence displacement means shown in FIG.
It is fixed inside.

The X link 174 includes legs 176 and 177,
A shaft 178 connects the legs 176 and 177 at the center thereof so as to be swingable. The upper end of the leg 176 is rotatably supported on one end of the lifting platform 173 by a shaft 179, and the lower end is slidable by the shaft 181 on a long hole 180 extending in the AB direction at one end of the support base 175. It is supported by. The upper end of the leg 177 has an A on the other end of the lift 173.
A shaft 183 is slidably supported by a long hole 182 extending in the B direction, and a lower end is provided on the other end of the support base 175 by a shaft 18.
4 rotatably supported. Each leg 176, 17
Reference numeral 7 is slidably inserted into a not-shown long hole formed in the upper surface plate 31 '.

The lower end of the leg 176 is connected to a screw shaft 185 extending in the AB direction. A drive member 186 that is driven to rotate about the axis of the screw shaft 185 by drive means (not shown) is fitted to the screw shaft 185. Screw shaft 1
A sensor 187 is provided near the end opposite to the leg 176 of the 85. The sensor 187 detects the elevation plate 152 in the up-down direction by detecting the position of the end of the leg 176. Further, based on the detected position of the lift plate 152, the position of the uppermost sheet of the sheets on the lift plate 152 is calculated by a calculation unit (not shown). The calculation means is:
The elevating plate 152 depends on the amount of paper sent from the paper feed table 5.
By calculating the thickness of the upper sheet bundle, the position of the uppermost sheet is calculated.

The amount of paper fed from the paper feed table 5 is calculated from the amount of displacement of the paper feed roller 10 and the paper feed table 5. Since the paper after printing is slightly thicker than the paper before printing, the change in thickness due to this printing is also included in the calculation parameters. It is also possible to use the number of sheets used for printing as a parameter for calculation. Note that, without using the sensor 187, the amount of rotation of the screw shaft 185 is detected so that
The position 2 may be detected.

The elevating plate 152 is flush with the upper surface of the sheet stacking plate 134, and receives a sheet conveyed from the discharge tray 6 and places it thereon.
In this state, the lowermost sheet of the sheets on the upper part 2 occupies a position 1 to 5 mm higher than the upper surface of the lower surface part 158 of the holding member 155, and the holding member 155 can hold the sheet on the elevating plate 152. It is possible to occupy the holding position and an intermediate position in which the uppermost sheet of the sheets on the elevating plate 152 is located below and below the lower surface of the lower surface portion 158 of the holding member 155. In the intermediate position, the sheet held by the holding member 155 is released by the holding member 155 occupying the home position, and when the sheet is stacked on the elevating plate 152, the integrity of the released sheet is disturbed. In the present embodiment, the distance from the upper surface of the lower surface 158 of the holding member 155 to the uppermost sheet of the sheets on the elevating plate 152 is within 10 mm. This distance is calculated by the calculating means, and the driving member 186 is set so that the calculated distance and the target distance become substantially the same.
The lifting plate 152 can occupy the intermediate position by this feedback.

A control unit (not shown) for controlling the position of the elevating plate 152 based on information from the calculating means via the driving means and the driving member 186 is connected to the driving means and the calculating means for driving the driving member 186 to rotate. . The control unit has a recording unit that records information on how the lift plate 152 is driven. This recording unit also includes a holding member 155.
Records the thickness of the sheet that can be held, and also records the thickness of the sheet bundle on the elevating plate 152 calculated by the calculation means.

The stencil printer 1 has a detecting means for detecting the size of the sheet. In the present embodiment, the detecting means uses a known mechanism for detecting the size of the paper placed on the paper feed table 5, but has a plurality of sizes such as when there are a plurality of paper feed tables 5. For example, when the sheet can be used, a key for specifying the size of the sheet to be used on the operation panel may be used as the detection unit. Although not shown in the drawings, each of the discharge tray 6 and the duplex tray 7 includes a discharge tray paper detection sensor and a duplex tray paper detection sensor that detect the presence or absence of paper on the discharge tray 6 and the duplex tray 7. Is provided.

The present embodiment is configured as described above. When starting printing, the operator operates the print mode designation key on the operation panel to designate the print mode. When the normal mode is selected by pressing the normal mode button, printing is performed using the paper stacked on the paper feed tray 5. When you select the duplex mode by pressing the duplex mode button,
Printing is performed using the paper stacked on the paper discharge tray 6.
Hereinafter, printing in each mode will be described. Normal mode While selecting the normal mode button on the operation panel,
The required number of prints is designated using the numeric keypad. On the other hand, when a predetermined original is set on the original receiving tray and the plate making start button is turned on, the processing of the used stencil sheet remaining on the printing drum 2 in the previous printing process is performed as follows. When the printing drum 2 rotates and the stencil catching device 19 reaches the stripping position near the plate discharging device 8, the printing drum 2 stops and is operated by an opening / closing mechanism (not shown) of the stencil catching device 19. Is released. The used stencil sheet released by the release of the clamp at the leading end is peeled from the leading end by the swinging peeling roller displaced to the operating position, and is opened and closed by the rotation of the peeling roller and the printing drum 2. The sheet is discharged into a plate discharge box via a plate discharge path formed between the plate and the guide.

The printing drum 2 rotates clockwise while the used stencil sheet is taken into the plate discharging device 8,
When the used stencil sheet is rotated to a predetermined position where the stencil sheet is completely discharged, a sensor (not shown) detects the rotation, the opening / closing plate closes the stencil discharge box, and the oscillating peeling roller returns to the standby position.
The printing drum 2 further rotates, and the base paper locking device 19
At the base paper supply position indicated by the two-dot chain line, this is detected by a sensor (not shown), and the rotation of the printing drum 2 is stopped.
The stencil making apparatus 107 waits until the printing drum 2 starts feeding the stencil sheet which has not been used on the printing drum 2.

In parallel with the plate discharging process, a well-known document reading process starts at the same time, the image data of the document is read by the reading sensor device, and the electric signal photoelectrically converted in the reading sensor device is converted into a stencil printing device. The data is input to an A / D (analog / digital) conversion board (not shown) provided in the main body of the stencil printing machine, and is stored in a storage unit (not shown) provided in the main body of the stencil printing apparatus. Simultaneously with the storage, a stencil making process and a subsequent stencil feeding process are started.

In the plate making apparatus 107, the platen roller pressing the stencil sheet against the thermal head rotates,
The stencil sheet is transported. On the stencil sheet being transported, a plurality of heating elements arranged in a line on the thermal head
According to the digital image signal of the original document which is temporarily stored in the storage means (not shown) and subjected to various processes by the plate-making substrate, each selectively generates heat according to the digital image signal, and the thermoplastic resin film of the stencil sheet is melt-punched. . The perforated stencil paper is
When the stencil sheet is conveyed toward the printing drum 2 by the master conveying means and reaches the stencil locking device 19 whose end is expanded, the stencil locking device 19 is closed and the stencil sheet is clamped. The printing drum 2 rotates, and the stencil sheet is gradually wound around the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 2. At this time, since the long diameter portion of the cam 24 is in contact with the support arm 21 and the impression cylinder 3 is separated from the printing drum 2, the stencil retaining device 19 does not hinder the rotation of the drum 2. . The stencil sheet after the stencil making is cut into a predetermined length by a cutter.

In the plate attaching step, at a predetermined timing, the top one of the sheets stacked on the sheet supply table 5 is sent toward the feed roller 11 by the sheet supply roller 10, and The printing paper 11 is fed between the printing drum 2 and the impression cylinder 3 at a predetermined timing synchronized with the rotation of the printing drum 2. The paper is simultaneously pressed against the plate-making unused stencil sheet newly mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 2 and the impression cylinder 3, and the printing ink is applied to the upper surface of the paper from the perforated portion of the plate-making unused stencil sheet. The transfer is performed and printing is performed.

When the paper thus printed passes the printing position 4, the printing drum 2 is moved by the air knife 25.
Is peeled off from the stencil sheet mounted on the outer peripheral surface of the stencil sheet, is conveyed by the sheet discharge suction unit 12, and falls onto the sheet discharge tray 6, thereby completing the plate attaching process. Next, in a process similar to the plate attaching process, a printing process including a paper feeding, printing, and paper discharging process is repeatedly performed for the number of prints set by the numeric keypad. According to the size of the sheet detected by the detecting means, the side fence displacing means in the discharge tray 6 displaces the side fence 29, and the detection by the sensor 70
The distance between the two side fences 29 is substantially the same as the width of the sheet, and the end of the sheet discharge tray 6 on the side of the end plate 6 is displaced below the end of the double-sided tray 7. The paper discharged from the stencil printing apparatus 1 does not rub against the paper loading surface 33 or the paper already stacked on the paper discharge tray 6, and both side edges are regulated by the side fence 29, and the paper discharged from the paper discharge tray 6 To some extent. The end plate 27 also occupies a position suitable for receiving the leading edge of the sheet by the sensor 68 detecting the displacement of the end plate displacing means in accordance with the size of the sheet detected by the detecting means. In the trial printing and printing steps, as shown in FIG. 1, when the stencil retaining device 19 faces the impression cylinder 3, the flat portion of the impression cylinder 3 faces the printing drum 2. The device 19 does not abut the impression cylinder 3. Duplex Mode Printing and discharging processes in the duplex mode are performed in substantially the same manner as in the normal mode. What is different from the normal mode is an operation related to conveying the sheet on the sheet discharge tray 6 to the double-sided tray 7 side and sheet feeding. In this mode, the heater 14
The case of having 0 will be described. FIG. 15 shows an outline of the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 in this mode. When the double-sided mode button on the operation panel is selected, the required number of prints is indicated by the ten keys, and the plate making start button is turned on, printing is started in the same manner as in the normal mode (S in FIG. 15).
1). If the number of prints reaches the number input by the ten keys before reaching the alignment limit number at which the sheets can be satisfactorily aligned on the double-sided tray 7, the front side printing ends (S2 in FIG. 15), and the discharge tray 6 The step of moving the upper sheet onto the duplex tray 7 (S3 in FIG. 15) is started. The alignment limit number is set to 50 in this embodiment.

As shown in FIG. 17, simultaneously with the end of printing,
The paper output tray swinging means is operated, and the paper output tray 6 is swung so that the paper mounting surface 33 is substantially horizontal, and the paper mounting surface 33 is rotated.
And the paper placing surface 34 are positioned substantially on the same plane, and the double-sided tray 7 is ready to receive the paper. The upper surface of the lifting plate 152 is flush with the upper surface of the sheet stacking plate 134, that is, the lifting plate 152 occupies the mounting position. The front fence 121 occupies a retracted position retracted from the paper transport path. 17 to 26, the illustration of the side fences 29 and 32, the elevating plate 152, and the sheet stacking plate 134 is omitted. At the end of printing, the sheet is placed on the sheet discharge tray 6 with its leading end in the B direction abutting against the end plate 27.
When the sheet placement surface 33 and the sheet placement surface 34 are positioned substantially in the same plane, the end fence retracting means operates to move the end fence 30 to the sheet placement surfaces 33 and 34 as shown in FIG. Evacuate below.

When the end fence 30 is retracted, FIG.
As shown in (1), the end plate displacing means displaces the end plate 27 in the direction A, and conveys the paper stacked on the paper discharge tray 6 onto the double-sided tray 7. The end plate displacing means displaces the end plate 27 until the sensor 69 detects the slider 106. The side fence displacing means in the double-sided tray 7 displaces the side fence 29 in accordance with the size of the sheet detected by the detecting means. The width L is about 10 mm larger (S4 in FIG. 15, FIG. 27), and since the paper discharge tray 6 side of the side fence 32 is widened toward the paper discharge tray 6, the paper is smoothly supplied to the double-sided tray 7. Move up.

When an image having a large solid portion is printed on a paper having a low rigidity such as a sheet of paper, for example, the side of the paper having a large solid portion becomes heavier with ink, and a portion having a large solid portion becomes heavy. Because the printing surface of the paper expands due to the water content of the ink, if the solid portion is biased to one side of the paper, the portion may be warped in a convex shape. In some cases, the central portion of the paper does not have a uniform concave shape and drops from the side with many solid portions, and the paper on the paper output tray may not be sufficiently aligned. In such a case, since the distance between the side fences 32 is L, the paper is released from the restraint by the side fences 29, so that the paper slightly spreads in the width direction.

Thereafter, the end plate displacing means is provided as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 21, the end plate 27 is displaced in the direction B to return the end plate 27 to the original position, and the end fence 30 also returns to the original position as shown in FIG. End fence 30 returned to original position
Are aligned with the leading edge of the sheet in the B direction. This is shown in FIG.
This is because the end plate 27 moves the sheet so that the end fence 30 that has returned to the original position is aligned with the front end in the direction B of the sheet in the state shown in FIG. As shown in FIG. 21, at the same time when the end fence 30 returns to the original position,
Is displaced to the alignment position where it enters the paper transport path.

After the end fence 30 is returned to the original position, the sheet is moved in the direction A by the end fence displacement means until the leading end of the sheet in the direction A contacts the front fence 121 occupying the aligned position as shown in FIG. Moving. That is, the sheet is conveyed to the front fence 121 guide position (S3 in FIG. 15 is completed). In this state, the paper alignment operation (S5 in FIG. 15) is performed. More specifically, as shown in FIG. 28, the blow by the fan 119 and the temperature rise by the heater 140 are started (S1 in FIG. 16), and the side fence 32 is moved by the side fence displacement means as shown in FIG. Displaced and the width direction of the paper, ie, C
The paper is aligned in the direction (S2 in FIG. 16). The switches of the fan 119 and the heater 140 are linked, but may be configured to be driven independently. Fan 11
By the air blowing of 9, an air layer is formed between the sheets, the overlapping sheets are separated from each other, and each sheet is in a floating state. By blowing the air, drying of the ink is promoted.

In particular, in this embodiment, since the temperature of the air blown to the paper is increased by the heater 140, the drying of the ink is quickly completed. The amount of air that the fan 119 sends between the sheets on the double-sided tray 7 and the amount of heat given to the air that the fan 119 sends between the sheets on the double-sided tray 7 by the heater 140 depend on the amount of ink used to print the sheet. The air is blown and the temperature is increased in an amount necessary and sufficient for drying the ink. The amount of ink used for printing on the paper is detected by image area detecting means for calculating an image area, in other words, for example, a perforated amount of a stencil sheet, based on the image data read by the image reading section 9.

In the present embodiment, the amount of air is
The rotation speed of the fan 19 is adjusted to increase or decrease the amount of air blown per unit time, but the rotation speed of the fan 119 may be kept constant and the drive time may be adjusted to increase or decrease. May be increased or decreased. In the present embodiment, the amount of heat given to the air is adjusted by adjusting the amount of electricity supplied to the heater 140 to adjust the amount of heat generated per unit time of the heater 140, and is adjusted by increasing or decreasing the amount of temperature rise. The heat generation amount may be adjusted to be constant by increasing or decreasing the power supply time, or the heat generation amount and the power supply time per unit time of the heater 140 may be increased or decreased. However, adjusting the amount of air blown per unit time or adjusting the amount of heat generated per unit time as in the present embodiment is suitable for quick drying of the ink. The sheet alignment operation is a so-called jogger operation in which the distance between the side fences 32 is changed from L to a size W substantially equal to the width of the sheet shown in FIG. 28 at least once. The distance between the side fences 32 is L and W
The number of times to change between and can be appropriately selected.

After the jogger operation of the side fence 32 is started, the end fence 30 is also moved to the side fence 32.
Performs the same jogger operation as
AB, which is the paper longitudinal direction, that is, the paper transport direction.
Paper alignment in the direction is performed (S3 in FIG. 16). The lower the sheets in the bundle, the higher the pressure of the sheets due to the weight of the sheets. However, the air flow generated by the fan 119 is blown downward by the air flow adjusting means 132, so that the air flow is increased. Let the air spread between the sheets,
The paper can be evenly lifted, and the groove 1
The entire sheet bundle is lifted from the sheet stacking surface 34 by 36 to reduce the frictional force with the surface 34, so that the lowermost sheet alignment by the end fence 30 is also improved. Therefore, even when an image having a lot of solid portions is printed on a sheet of paper having a low rigidity such as, for example, a sheet change, the sheets are smoothly aligned.

Side fence 32 and end fence 3
After the displacement of 0 is performed a sufficient number of times to align the paper, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, the distance between the side fences 32 is W, and
Then, the jogger operation of the end fence 30 ends, and the paper alignment ends (S4 in FIG. 16). Note that S5 in FIG.
At the same time as the sheet alignment operation shown in FIG. 16 and the sheet alignment operation shown in FIG. 16, the next front side printing can be started as shown by a broken line 190 in FIG.

When the paper alignment operation is completed, the holding member 15
2 checks whether paper 2 already holds paper (FIG. 15).
S6). The state in which the holding member 152 is holding the sheet is such that the elevating operation of the elevating plate 152 is performed, and the elevating operation of the elevating plate 152 last time is from the occupying position of the elevating plate 152 to the mounting position. Since it occurs when the holding member 152 is lowered, the holding member 152 is only provided when this condition is satisfied.
Is determined to be holding paper. This determination is made by the control unit based on the information recorded in the recording unit.

When the holding member 155 does not hold the sheet, the front fence 121 is displaced to the retracted position by rotating the shaft 122 by about 90 degrees as shown in FIG. 23 (S7 in FIG. 15). As shown in FIG. 24, the end fence 30 is displaced in the direction A until the leading end of the sheet occupies the sheet feeding position, that is, the sheet re-feeding position (S8 in FIG. 15). The amount of displacement of the end fence 30 in the direction A is determined so that the paper occupies the paper feeding position in accordance with the size of the paper detected by the detection unit. Has been detected.

When the holding member 155 holds the sheet, the elevating plate 152 is moved up to the intermediate position (see FIG. 15).
11) When the holding member 155 occupies the home position (S12 in FIG. 15), the sheets held by the holding member 155 are stacked neatly on the sheet on the elevating plate 152, and the sheet held by the holding member 155. The elevating plate 152 loaded with is moved down to the mounting position (S1 in FIG. 15).
3).

The discharge tray 6 and the end fence 30 return to their original positions thereafter. In this state, the paper feed roller 39 operates, and the supply of the paper stacked on the double-sided tray 7 to the print position 4 is started. Then, the back side printing is started (S9 in FIG. 15). The paper feed roller 39 feeds the uppermost sheet of the unprinted sheets facing down to the feed roller 11, which is stacked on the duplex tray 7, and feeds the sheet between the guide pair 40. Roller 4 for paper transport path
1, the unprinted surface is conveyed while being turned upside down, and enters the paper conveyance path formed by the upper guide plate 13 and the lower guide plate 14 from the notch formed in the lower guide plate 14. , Against the feed roller 11. The feed roller 11 sends the sheet to the printing position 4 at a predetermined timing synchronized with the rotation of the printing drum 2. On the paper, printing is performed on the back surface opposite to the front surface printed when the paper is sent from the paper supply table 5. The printed sheets are stacked on the discharge tray 6. At the time of the re-feeding, the ink is supplied by the feed roller 39, the transport roller 41, the feed roller 11, the guide pair 40, the lower guide plate 13, and the upper guide plate 14.
The ink is not adhered to these parts because it is dried to the extent that it does not contaminate it, or it is completely dried, thus preventing the ink adhered to these parts from re-adhering to the paper. And maintenance by an operator or the like becomes unnecessary. When all the sheets on the duplex tray 7 are used for the back side printing, the side fence 32
Returns to the position of the width L (S4 in FIG. 15), and it is determined again whether or not the number of prints has reached the number input with the ten keys, and the double-sided printing is completed.

If the number of prints reaches the maximum number of sheets that can be satisfactorily aligned on the double-sided tray 7 before the number of prints reaches the number input using the numeric keypad, front side printing is stopped (S14 in FIG. 15), and discharge is performed. The step of moving the paper on the paper tray 6 onto the duplex tray 7 (S15 in FIG. 15) is started. The step of moving the paper on the paper discharge tray 6 onto the double-sided tray 7 (S15 in FIG. 15) is performed in the same manner as the step shown in S3 in FIG. When this step is completed, S in FIG.
5 and FIG. 16 are performed (S16 in FIG. 15). At the same time as the sheet alignment operation shown in S16 of FIG. 15 and FIG. 16, the next front side printing can be started as shown by a broken line 191 in FIG. In this case or in the case shown by a broken line 190 in FIG. 15, when the paper discharge tray 6 is receiving the paper discharged from the print position 4, the lifting plate 152 is moved up and down to be held by the holding member 155. Paper can be held.

When the paper alignment operation is completed, the lifting plate 152
Rises to the intermediate position (S17 in FIG. 15), and the holding member 1
55 occupies the home position (S18 in FIG. 15), and the elevating plate 155 releases the holding of the paper being held, and the paper held by the holding member 155 is stacked neatly on the paper on the elevating plate 152. . The thickness of all the sheets stacked on the elevating plate 152 is the thickness of the sheet on the elevating plate 152 before the sheet held by the holding member 155 is stacked,
It is calculated by the calculating means based on the sum of the thickness of the sheet held by the holding member 155 and recorded in the recording unit. The thickness of the sheet held by the holding member 155, which is recorded in the recording unit, is the thickness of the sheet on the elevating plate 152 calculated by the calculating unit when the elevating plate 152 was moved up and down last time.

The calculating means further compares the thickness of all the papers calculated this time with the thickness of the paper that can be held by the holding member 155 recorded in the recording unit, and determines whether the holding member 155 is at the paper holding limit. It is determined (S19 in FIG. 15). If the thickness of all the sheets is greater than the thickness of the sheet that can be held by the holding member 155, it is determined that the sheet holding limit has been reached, and the lifting plate 1
Reference numeral 52 denotes a lowering position without raising the holding position (S13 in FIG. 15), and S7 to S in FIG.
After 10, the front side printing shown in FIG. S1 is started again. If the thickness of all the sheets is equal to or less than the thickness of the sheet that can be held by the holding member 155, it is determined that the sheet is not at the sheet holding limit,
While the front side printing shown in S1 of FIG. 15 is started again, the lifting plate 152 is raised to the holding position (S2 in FIG. 15).
0), the respective holding members 155 are driven so as to be close to each other so as to have a width substantially equal to the width of the sheet detected by the detecting means, and hold all the sheets on the elevating plate 152 (FIG. 1).
5 and S21), when the holding member 155 holds the sheet, the elevating plate 152 descends to the mounting position (S22 in FIG. 15).
When the elevating plate 152 is lowered to the loading position, the side fence 32 returns to the position of the width L (S4 in FIG. 15), and prepares for conveyance of the sheet from the sheet discharge tray 6.

When the number of sheets that can be held by the holding member 155 is a multiple of the number of sheets that can be stacked on the double-sided tray 7, the lifting plate 152 is moved up and down in steps S17 to S2 in FIG.
This is performed a plurality of times through 2. Also, the holding member 1
In the case where the back side printing is performed while the sheet holding is performed, the front fence 121 is moved to the retreat position by rotating the shaft 122 approximately 90 degrees and displacing it upward as shown in FIG. 25 in S7 of FIG. After that, the end fence 121 is displaced in the direction A until the leading edge of the sheet occupies the sheet feeding position, that is, the sheet re-feeding position, as shown in FIG. 26 (S8 in FIG. 15). The paper feed roller 39 is displaced according to the uppermost paper position.

When the lifting plate 152 is moved up and down, the paper pressing means 1
When the sheet 31 hinders the vertical movement, the side fence 32 is driven by the side fence displacing means so as to retract to a position where the sheet pressing means 131 does not hinder the vertical movement according to the size of the sheet. Regarding the determination of the sheet holding limit, a sensor such as a photosensor for detecting the position of the uppermost sheet is provided in the holding unit 150 or the like in order to detect the thickness of all sheets stacked on the elevating plate 152. The thickness of all such sheets may be detected from the uppermost sheet position detected by the sensor and the upper surface position of the elevating plate 152, and may be compared with the sheet thickness that the holding member 155 can hold.

Although the embodiment has been described above, the stencil printing apparatus 1
The configuration of each of the above-described devices and the like and the arrangement state thereof are as follows.
This is merely an example, and other known devices and various arrangements may be used. For example, the stencil printing apparatus 1 is not limited to the above-described thermosensitive digital stencil making integrated type stencil printing apparatus, and the master may be discharged by a plate discharging device provided separately from the apparatus main body. The device 8 does not necessarily have to be provided in the device main body. The data for plate making may be data read by the document reading device as described above, or data created by a computer or the like. In addition, multi-color printing including full-color printing can be performed as a double-cylinder type in which two or more plate cylinders are arranged in parallel,
As the printing paper, in addition to ordinary paper, thick paper, an envelope, and the like can be used.

Further, a post-processing device such as a collator or a sorter can be used as the printing device 1, and hastening the drying of the ink by sending in air makes it difficult to use the post-processing device when the post-processing device is used. This contributes to preventing image stains due to rubbing to a high level. In the case where the ink can be dried only by the air flow generating means, the ink drying means alone can be referred to as the ink drying means. However, as described in the above-described embodiment, in addition to the air flow generating means, the air to be further fed is heated. If such a temperature increasing means is provided, drying of the ink by sending air can be further accelerated, and in the case of using such a post-processing device, it is possible to prevent image stains due to rubbing between sheets to a higher level. When such a temperature raising means is provided, the driving thereof may be performed only when printing a document having a large printing area.

The air flow generating device 111 is provided with the side fence 3
2 may be provided at the end in the B direction. The timing of the start of the air supply by the fan 119 and the start of the temperature rise by the heater 140 is determined by the end fence 30 that has returned to the original position.
As shown in FIG. 22, the sheet may be moved before the sheet is moved in the direction A. In this case, the lowermost sheet can be conveyed by being lifted from the sheet mounting surface 34 by the groove 136, and the sheet bundle can be conveyed. Can be transported well. Side fences 32, 32 are A
You may arrange | position so that the distance of the direction front end side may become short. In this case, the distance between the side fences 32 is larger at the end in the direction B on the side of the discharge tray 6 than in the width direction of the sheet, and the end of the direction A on the side opposite to the side of the discharge tray 6. So that the sides are almost equal to the width of the paper
The side fences 32 are moved by side fence displacement means.

In this case, unlike the above-described case, the operation related to the sheet feeding in the double-sided printing mode is different from the above-described case in that the timing of the start of the air supply by the fan 119 and the start of the temperature rise by the heater 140 are determined by the conveyance of the sheet by the end plate 27 of the sheet discharge tray 6. Before the start. After the fan 119 starts blowing, the conveyance of the sheet by the end plate 27 and the end fence 30 is started, and the distance between the side fences 32 is set as described above. The sheets are aligned in the process of being conveyed by the end plate 27 and the end fence 30, and have been aligned at the end of the conveyance. The blowing by the fan 119 ends after the paper is conveyed in the direction A. The start of ventilation by the fan 119 and the start of temperature rise by the heater 140 are determined by the end plate 27.
After the paper is conveyed by the end fence 30, it may be before the paper is conveyed by the end fence 30 that has returned to the original position.

In the case where the sheet is aligned at the same time as the sheet is conveyed, the air flow generating device 111 uses the side fence 32.
It is desirable to dispose it at the end in the B direction, that is, on the paper discharge tray 6 side of the double-sided tray 7. When the air flow generating device 111 is disposed at the end of the side fence 32 in the direction A, air is fed between the sheets from the time when the sheet is displaced to the vicinity of the re-feeding position, so that the sheets are raised and aligned. This is because the time for performing the drying and the time for drying the ink are reduced.

When a plurality of fans are provided, the operating fan can be determined according to the size of the sheet.
The fan does not necessarily need to be provided integrally with the side fence. Each side fence displacing means in the discharge tray and the double-sided tray may displace at least one of the side fences. In the case of displacing either one, the side fences on the same side of the discharge tray and the double-sided tray may be displaced. Displace. The ink drying means may be any as long as it dries the ink between the time when the paper is stacked on the paper discharge tray and the time when re-feeding is started. Side, or may be provided on both the paper discharge tray and the double-sided tray. The normal mode button is not necessarily required, and only the duplex mode button is provided.Printing in the duplex mode is performed only when the duplex mode button is pressed.When printing is started without pressing the duplex mode button, the normal mode is set. Printing may be performed. The pressing means may be a press roller instead of the impression cylinder.

In the above embodiment, only the double-sided tray 7 is provided as a stacking unit. However, only the discharge tray 6 or the discharge tray 6 and the double-sided tray 7 are provided as a stacking unit. 6 can be provided with the same holding means and elevating means as described above. This can increase the number of sheets that can be printed at one time. Also in this case, the side fence 29 and the end plate 2
7. If the end fence 30 or the like is used as the paper aligning means, the aligned paper can be held by the holding means. Further, similarly to the above, it is possible to perform sheet alignment by a jogger operation, an air flow generating unit, or the like. If the discharge tray 6 is used as a stacking unit, when the front side printing is performed again after the two-sided printing, such as when the paper holding limit of the two-sided tray 7 is reached,
By holding the printed material on which double-sided printing has been performed on the holding means on the paper discharge tray 6 side, single-sided or double-sided printing can be further continuously performed. It is also possible to take out the sheet held by the holding means on the sheet discharge tray 6 side as it is. The printing apparatus may be a type that does not include a double-sided tray, and performs printing on one side or both sides. In this case, a discharge tray can be similarly provided as a stacking unit.

Further, in the above embodiment, the case where the printing apparatus is a stencil printing apparatus has been described, but another type of printing apparatus can be used as the printing apparatus. As an example of another type of printing apparatus, a single plate making apparatus that performs plate making such that a master having two sides is not penetrated by a thermal head is used, and the plate is mounted on two plate cylinders arranged opposite to each other. A printing device to be wrapped around a cylinder may be used. Note that a printing apparatus that performs plate making to the extent that it does not penetrate the master with the front and back by the thermal head is disclosed in Japanese Patent No.
No. 790963.

[0092]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus having printing means for performing printing on a sheet at a printing position and loading the printed sheet, the printing apparatus being disposed above the loading means. It has holding means for receiving and holding the sheets stacked on the stacking means, and the stacking means has elevating means for transporting the sheets stacked on the stacking means toward the holding means. It is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of holding a large number of printed papers without causing any problem.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, since the sheet aligning means for aligning the sheets stacked on the stacking means is provided, the alignment of the sheets on the stacking means is performed. In addition, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of reducing the operator's work, and in the case of a double-sided printing apparatus, obtaining a high-quality printed material without a shift in printing position.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, the sheet aligning means has an air flow generating means for sending air between sheets stacked on the stacking means. In addition, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus which can perform paper alignment by a relatively small and simple mechanism and can simultaneously promote drying of paper.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the second or third aspect, the paper aligning means includes:
Since the paper alignment is performed at the same time as printing, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of performing a printing operation efficiently and shortening the time until printing is completed.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the holding unit holds the sheets aligned by the sheet alignment unit. It is possible to provide a printing apparatus that does not require alignment after holding by the holding unit.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to fifth aspects, the holding means has a number of sheets that is a multiple of the number of sheets that can be stacked on the stacking means. Can be held, and the sheet conveyed by a plurality of elevating operations of the elevating means can be held.
It is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of holding a large number of sheets by the holding unit and performing printing of a large number of sheets without removing the sheet on the stacking unit.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, when the elevating means is moved up for the second time or later, the uppermost sheet on the elevating means is moved to the second position. In a state located near the holding means, after releasing the holding of the sheets held by the holding means and stacking the sheets on the elevating means, all the sheets stacked on the elevating means are held. With a relatively simple configuration, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus that can hold sheets repeatedly conveyed by the elevating means and can hold a large number of sheets.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to seventh aspects, the holding means has a pair of holding members which come and go in a substantially horizontal direction. Since the sheet is held between the pair of holding members, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of holding the sheet conveyed by the elevating means with a relatively simple configuration.

According to the ninth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to eighth aspects, there is provided a paper discharge tray for receiving paper discharged from the printing position. Since the paper tray is the stacking means, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of holding a large number of printed sheets without increasing the size of the discharge tray means.

According to the tenth aspect, the first aspect is provided.
9. The printing apparatus according to any one of items 8 to 8, wherein a paper discharge tray for receiving the paper discharged from the printing position, a paper loaded on the paper discharge tray is received and loaded, and the loaded paper is loaded. It has a double-sided tray for conveying to the printing position and performing double-sided printing, and the discharge tray and the double-sided tray are the stacking means. When printing on both sides of the paper, it is possible to hold many sheets of paper that have been printed on one side or both sides. The holding means can further perform one-sided or two-sided printing more continuously. It is possible to provide a printing apparatus which can be carried out.

According to the eleventh aspect, the first aspect is provided.
9. The printing apparatus according to any one of items 8 to 8, wherein a paper discharge tray for receiving the paper discharged from the printing position, a paper loaded on the paper discharge tray is received and loaded, and the loaded paper is loaded. It has a double-sided tray for performing double-sided printing by being conveyed toward the printing position, and since the double-sided tray is the loading means, a large number of single-sided printed sheets can be formed without increasing the size of the double-sided tray. It is possible to provide a printing apparatus that can hold and can continuously perform double-sided printing more than the number of sheets that can be aligned when a sheet alignment unit is provided.

According to the twelfth aspect of the present invention, the first aspect is provided.
12. The printing apparatus according to 0 or 11, wherein the elevating means provided on the double-sided tray is loaded on the double-sided tray when the discharge tray is receiving a sheet discharged from the printing position. Since the paper is conveyed toward the holding means, a printing device can be provided which can perform the printing operation efficiently and can shorten the time until printing is completed.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of a stencil printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view of a sheet discharge tray and a double-sided tray shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an air flow generation device including an air flow generation unit.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of a part of the airflow generating device shown in FIG.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of another example of the airflow generation device.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an air flow generation device provided with a temperature raising unit.

FIG. 7 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of the paper discharge tray shown in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing the internal configuration of the double-sided tray shown in FIG.

FIG. 9 is a schematic perspective view showing end fence displacement means.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing a part of the lifting / lowering means and an aspect of an arrangement state thereof.

FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing an arrangement of the holding means.

FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a holding unit.

FIG. 13 is a perspective view showing the manner in which a sheet is transported in the vertical direction.

FIG. 14 is a side view showing the structure of the elevating means.

FIG. 15 is an operation flow of the printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 16 is an operation flow illustrating details of a sheet aligning operation illustrated in FIG. 16;

FIG. 17 is a schematic side view illustrating a first state in which sheets are aligned and conveyed to a sheet re-feeding position.

FIG. 18 is a schematic side view illustrating a second state when the sheets are aligned and transported to the re-feeding position.

FIG. 19 is a schematic side view showing a third state when the sheets are aligned and transported to the re-feed position.

FIG. 20 is a schematic side view showing a fourth state when the paper is aligned and transported to the re-feeding position.

FIG. 21 is a schematic side view illustrating a fifth state when the paper is aligned and transported to the paper re-feeding position.

FIG. 22 is a schematic side view showing a sixth state when the paper is aligned and transported to the re-feed position.

FIG. 23 is a schematic side view showing a seventh state when the paper is aligned and transported to the paper re-feeding position.

FIG. 24 is a schematic side view showing an eighth state when the sheets are aligned and conveyed to the re-feeding position.

FIG. 25 is a schematic side view showing another example of the seventh state when the paper is aligned and transported to the re-feeding position.

FIG. 26 is a schematic side view showing another example of the eighth state when a sheet is aligned and transported to a refeed position.

FIG. 27 is a schematic front view showing a first state of the side fence provided in the double-sided tray.

FIG. 28 is a schematic front view showing a second state of the side fence provided in the double-sided tray.

FIG. 29 is a schematic front view showing a third state of the side fence provided in the double-sided tray.

FIG. 30 is a schematic front view showing a state where sheets are aligned on a double-sided tray.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Printing apparatus 4 Printing position 6 Paper discharge tray 7 Double-sided tray as stacking means 30 End fence as paper alignment means 32 Side fence as paper alignment means 119 Air flow generation means as paper alignment means 121 Front as paper alignment means Fence 136 Groove as paper alignment means 150 Holding means 158 Holding member 172 Elevating means

──────────────────────────────────────────────────続 き Continued on the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification symbol FI Theme coat ゛ (Reference) B65H 1/26 B65H 1/26 E 31/24 31/24 31/30 31/30 31/38 31/38 83/02 83/02 F-term (reference) 2C020 AA01 AA11 AA14 3F054 AA01 AC04 BA02 BB08 BB12 BE03 BE04 BE09 BE12 BF03 BF12 BG11 BH05 BH07 BH08 BH11 BH25 3F100 AA01 CA03 CA14 EA03 3F343 FA01 GC01 HC01 GB01 GB01 LA02 LA13 LA14 LA18 LC02 LC04 LD07

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A printing apparatus having printing means for performing printing on a sheet at a printing position and stacking the printed sheet,
And a holding unit disposed above the stacking unit for receiving and holding the sheets stacked on the stacking unit, wherein the stacking unit conveys the sheets stacked on the stacking unit toward the holding unit. A printing apparatus comprising a lifting unit. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a sheet aligning unit for aligning the sheets stacked on the stacking unit. 3. A printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said sheet aligning means has an air flow generating means for sending air between sheets stacked on said stacking means. 4. A printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said paper alignment means performs paper alignment simultaneously with printing. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said holding means holds the paper sheets aligned by said paper alignment means. 6. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding means is capable of holding a plurality of sheets of the number of sheets that can be stacked on said stacking means, A printing apparatus characterized by being able to hold a sheet conveyed by a plurality of elevations of said elevation means. 7. The printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the uppermost sheet on the elevating means is located near the holding means when the elevating means is moved up for the second time or later. In this state, the printing apparatus is configured to release the holding of the sheets held by the holding unit, stack the sheets on the elevating unit, and then hold all the sheets stacked on the elevating unit. 8. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said holding means has a pair of holding members which are in contact with and separate from each other in a substantially horizontal direction, and are sandwiched by said pair of holding members. A printing apparatus characterized in that a sheet is held by the printer. 9. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a discharge tray for receiving a sheet discharged from said printing position, said discharge tray being said stacking means. A printing device characterized by the above-mentioned. 10. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a paper discharge tray for receiving the paper discharged from the printing position, and a paper stacked on the paper discharge tray. And a double-sided tray for carrying double-sided printing by transporting the stacked sheets toward the printing position, wherein the discharge tray and the double-sided tray are the stacking means. Printing device. 11. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a paper discharge tray for receiving the paper discharged from the printing position, and a paper tray for receiving the paper stacked on the paper discharge tray. A double-sided tray for performing double-sided printing by transporting the stacked sheets toward the printing position, wherein the double-sided tray is the stacking unit. 12. A printing apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said lifting means provided on said double-sided tray comprises:
A printing apparatus, wherein when the paper discharge tray is receiving paper discharged from the printing position, the paper stacked on the double-sided tray is transported toward the holding means.