JP2002011932A - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To eliminate the waste in time and contrive to utilize the time by the solving the problem that an operator has to set plate making modes in every manuscript in the care a plurality of manuscripts respectively requiring different plate making modes are dealt. SOLUTION: A plurality of the plate making modes corresponding to a plurality of the manuscripts are batch-registered in advance in a memory 28 so as to automatically execute the plate making and printing of the following manuscript by extracting the plate making mode corresponding to the following manuscript registered in the memory 28 after the finish of the plate making and printing of one manuscript.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus such as a stencil printing apparatus for printing using a printing plate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In a stencil printing apparatus, a stencil sheet (hereinafter referred to as "master") is perforated by, for example, a thermal head based on image information of an original to make a stencil. Printing is performed by wrapping the printing paper around the outer peripheral surface and pressing the printing paper against the plate cylinder with a pressing member such as a press roller. An ink supply means is provided inside the plate cylinder, and the ink oozes out of the perforated portion of the master by the pressing force of the press roller and is transferred onto the printing paper to form an ink image. In parallel with the operation of winding the master around the plate cylinder, a plate discharging operation of stripping the used master wound around the plate cylinder is performed.

Image information read by a scanner is converted into digital data, and plate making is performed by the thermal head or the like based on the data signal. For devices equipped with an automatic document feeder (ADF),
And automatically read by a scanner. The plate making process is performed in a predetermined plate making mode (magnification, image processing (text, photo
etc)). When an operator sets a plate-making mode on the operation panel and presses a plate-making key, a plate-making process is performed in the set plate-making mode, and thereafter, the process automatically shifts to a printing process.

When a plurality of originals are to be printed, the above-described process (printing / press making / printing) is repeated after a predetermined number of prints has been completed. If the mode that automatically shifts from plate making to printing is selected in the device equipped with the ADF, and if an original is set on the ADF after printing is completed, automatic printing is performed to the next original after plate printing. It is designed to migrate. The plate making mode corresponding to the next original can be set during printing on the current original.

[0005]

When there are a plurality of originals and the next plate-making mode is changed from the current plate-making mode, the operator needs to set the next plate-making mode during printing in the current plate-making mode. was there. When there are a plurality of originals and it is necessary to change the plate making mode for each document, the operator has to constantly monitor the apparatus by setting the plate making mode every time.
This will be described using a stencil printing apparatus as an example based on the flowchart of FIG.

First, the operator sets a plurality of originals on the ADF, and sets a plate making mode corresponding to the first original using the operation panel (S100). Next, the operator presses the plate making key to substantially start the printing operation.
This is the first stage of the operator's intervention in the stencil printing apparatus.

The control means (not shown) checks whether the prepress key has been pressed (S101).
It is checked by the DF whether a document is set on the contact glass (S102). If no original is set, the process returns (S103). When the original is set, the plate making process is performed based on the set plate making mode, and at the same time, the plate discharging process is performed (S104). Next, it is checked whether or not the automatic shift mode to printing is set (S105). If the automatic shift mode is not set, the process returns (S106). In the case of the automatic transition mode, a printing process is performed (S107). Here, the operator sets the next original plate making mode using the operation panel.
Thereafter, it is checked whether or not the predetermined number has been completed (S
108). When the predetermined number of sheets has been completed, the process proceeds to S102 to perform printing with the next document. The next document is automatically conveyed by the ADF and set on the contact glass. The setting of the next original plate making mode during printing is performed by the operator every time. That is, assuming that the number of original sets is n, the number of originals is (n-1) times.

In order to set a plate making mode corresponding to the next document after printing is completed, the "mode for automatically shifting to plate making and printing of the next document after printing is completed" is released and one plate is printed. After confirming that printing was completed, it was necessary to set a platemaking mode corresponding to the next original.

In any case, there is a problem that the time required for the operator to intervene in the apparatus is long, and it is not possible to effectively use the time for performing other operations while the apparatus is operating. In addition, there is a problem in that it is troublesome because different plate making modes must be set at time intervals.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is a main object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of shortening the time required for an operator to intervene in the apparatus, effectively utilizing the time, and reducing the trouble in setting different plate making modes.

[0011]

In order to achieve the above object, according to the first aspect of the present invention, a plate making process for making a plate in a predetermined plate making mode based on image information of a document, and a plate making process performed by the plate making process. In a printing apparatus having a printing process using a printing plate and having a mode for automatically shifting from the plate making process to the printing process, a printing device having a memory capable of collectively registering a plurality of plate making modes corresponding to a plurality of documents in advance is provided. After the plate making / printing for one document is completed, the plate making mode corresponding to the next document registered in the memory is extracted and the plate making / printing for the next document is automatically executed. .

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus of the first aspect, a configuration is adopted in which the number of prints is registered in the memory together with the plate making mode.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the first or second aspect is provided.
In the printing apparatus described above, a configuration is adopted in which the plurality of originals are automatically conveyed by an automatic document feeder.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the first to third aspects are provided.
In the printing apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the printing plate is a stencil sheet perforated.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, the first to fourth aspects are provided.
In the printing device according to any one of the above, if the number of original sets exceeds the number of registrations of the platemaking mode in the memory, the originals after the number of registrations in the platemaking mode are finally stored in the memory. It is configured to execute plate making and printing in the registered plate making mode.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the first to fourth aspects are provided.
The printing device according to any one of the above, further comprising a notifying means for notifying that there is no corresponding platemaking mode when the number of original sets exceeds the number of platemaking modes registered in the memory. It has a configuration.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the sixth aspect, the notifying means has a function of notifying by a warning sound.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus of the sixth aspect, the notifying means has a function of notifying by a character display.

[0019]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. First, an overall configuration of a stencil printing apparatus as a printing apparatus will be described with reference to FIG. An ADF 2 and a scanner 4 for reading a document automatically set on a contact glass (not shown) by the ADF 2 are provided at an upper portion of the apparatus main body 1 (claim 3). On the right side of the apparatus main body 1 in the figure, a paper feed table 6 for loading and storing print paper P is provided, and the paper is separated and fed one by one from the uppermost print paper P by a paper feed roller and a separating member (not shown). It is supposed to be.

In a substantially central portion of the apparatus main body 1, a cylindrical plate cylinder 8 having a porous structure and having an ink supply means (not shown) therein is provided.
Are provided rotatably. A plate making means 10 is provided on the right side of the plate cylinder 8 in the figure, and a plate discharging means 12 is provided on the left side in the figure. Based on the image information read by the scanner 4, the plate making means 10 performs perforation plate making while feeding out a master 13 (claim 4) as a roll-shaped printing plate by a thermal head (not shown). The master 13 which has been made is clamped at its leading end by a clamper (not shown) provided on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 8.
Is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 8 with the rotation of. The master 13 is cut at a predetermined length by a cutter (not shown) of the plate making means 10.

In parallel with the operation of winding the master 13 around the plate cylinder 8, the used master wound around the plate cylinder 8 is peeled off by the plate discharging means 12. Although not shown, the plate discharging means 12 has a movable peeling roller pair,
The peeling roller pair contacts the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 8 to draw in the master released from the clamper, and peels off the master with the rotation of the plate cylinder 8. The used master housed in the plate discharging means 12 is compressed and stored, and is periodically discarded.

A press roller 14 for pressing the printing paper P against the plate cylinder 8 is provided below the plate cylinder 8, and is pressed intermittently against the plate cylinder 8 by a contact / separation mechanism (not shown). The printing paper P sent out from the paper feed table 6 is temporarily stopped by a pair of registration rollers 16, where the skew is corrected. Are conveyed at the timing when the predetermined position of the leading end of the. The press roller 14 presses the printing paper P against the plate cylinder 8 at this timing. The ink supplied to the inner surface of the plate cylinder 8 by the pressing force of the press roller 14 oozes out of the perforated portion of the master through the opening of the plate cylinder 8 and transfers onto the printing paper P. As a result, a desired ink image is formed. Printing paper P on which ink image is formed
Is conveyed by suction conveyance means 18 having a belt and a suction fan, and is discharged and stacked on a discharge tray 22 by a discharge roller pair 20.

FIG. 2 shows a stencil printing apparatus according to this embodiment.
Is controlled by the control means 24 as shown in FIG. The control means 24 includes a CPU 26, a memory 28, an image processing unit 30,
It has an I / O interface and the like (not shown) and functions as a microcomputer. Various conditions are input to the control means 24 via the operation panel 32, and the control means 24 determines the ADF 2, the scanner 4, the plate making means 1 based on the information.
0, plate discharging means 12, buzzer 34 as an element of notification means
And so on. The information read by the scanner 4 is A / D
The data is converted, replaced with digital data, and sent to the image processing unit 30. The image processing unit 30 converts the digital data into plate making image data in a designated image processing mode (plate making mode) and transmits the data to the image memory of the plate making means 10. In the plate making means 10, plate making is performed by a thermal head or the like based on the plate making image data. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 32 is provided with a plate making key 36, a printing key 38, a liquid crystal display section 40 as an element of a notifying means, a numeric keypad (not shown), and the like.

Next, based on the flowchart of FIG.
A control operation when printing images of a plurality of originals on the same size of printing paper P in different image processing modes (plate making modes) will be described. First, the operator sets a plurality of originals on the ADF 2, and inputs the number of originals set on the operation panel 32 (S1). Next, a plate making mode corresponding to each document is set (S2), and the mode is determined. The mode is determined by a not-shown determination key on the operation panel 32, and is registered in the memory 28 by this determination operation. If the number of prints differs for each document, the number of prints is registered simultaneously with the plate making mode (claim 2). The storage in the memory 28 is performed only in the prepress mode or the prepress mode and the number of prints (described later).
Since the amount of information handled is small, it can be handled with a small-capacity memory.

The control means 24 checks whether or not the mode has been determined (S3). If the mode has been determined, the control means 24 checks whether or not the number of originals set in the ADF 2 matches the number of registrations of the plate making mode (S4). If the numbers do not match, the control unit 24 outputs, for example, a message "the number of originals does not match the number of registration of the plate making mode" to the liquid crystal display unit 40 of the operation panel 32. The operator performs plate making mode setting and the like based on this message. When the plate making mode setting is determined, the operator presses the plate making key 36 to substantially start the printing operation.
This is the range of the operator's intervention in the stencil printing apparatus.

The control means 24 checks whether or not the prepress key 36 has been pressed (S5).
It is checked whether an original has been set on the contact glass (S6). If no original is set, the process returns (S7). If a document is set, it is checked whether the corresponding plate making mode is registered in the memory 28 (S8). If it is registered, the corresponding plate making mode is called from the memory 28 (S8).
9) The plate making process is performed based on the plate making mode, and at the same time, the plate discharging process is performed (S10). Next, it is checked whether or not the automatic transition mode to printing is set (S11).
If the mode is not the automatic transition mode, the process returns (S1).
2). In the case of the automatic transition mode, a printing process is performed (S1
3) Then, it is checked whether or not the predetermined number has been completed (S14). When the predetermined number of sheets has been completed, the process proceeds to S6 to perform printing with the next document. The next document is automatically conveyed by the ADF 2 and set on the contact glass (claim 1).

In the check in S8, there may be a case where the corresponding plate making mode is not registered. This is because the operator may mistakenly input the number of set originals. In such a case, the control unit 24 stops the operation of the apparatus, and the liquid crystal display unit 40 of the operation panel 32 states, for example, that "the plate making mode corresponding to the book original is not registered" (see FIG. 3). A message is output (claims 6 and 8), and the buzzer 34 is turned on to warn the operator (S15) (claims 6 and 7). In this case, a warning of only displaying characters on the liquid crystal display unit 40 or a warning of only the buzzer 34 may be used. Further, a warning may be issued by a light emitting unit such as a lamp. With this warning, the operator sets a prepress mode corresponding to the original. Without issuing a warning, control may be performed to execute plate making / printing processing in the last registered plate making mode for originals after the number of registrations in the plate making mode has been exceeded (claim 5).

In the above embodiment, the case where the document is automatically conveyed by the ADF 2 has been described. However, the present invention can be similarly applied to a printing apparatus in which the operator sets the document one by one on the contact glass. In this case, it is unavoidable to set the originals, but it is not necessary to set the plate making mode corresponding to each original every time. It can be greatly reduced.

[0029]

According to the first or fourth aspect of the present invention, a plurality of plate making modes corresponding to a plurality of originals are collectively registered in a memory in advance, and are registered in the memory after plate making and printing of one original are completed. Since the stencil making mode corresponding to the next manuscript is extracted and the stencil making / printing of the next manuscript is automatically executed, the time required for the operator to intervene in the apparatus can be shortened, and other working time during the printing work And time can be effectively used. Further, since it is not necessary to set the plate making mode many times at intervals of time, the labor and mental trouble of the operator can be greatly reduced.

According to the second or fourth aspect of the present invention, the number of prints is registered in the memory together with the prepress mode, so that even if the number of prints differs for each document, the operator's intervention can be eliminated.

According to the third or fourth aspect of the present invention, since a plurality of documents are automatically conveyed by the automatic document feeder, the labor can be reduced as compared with a type in which the operator sets one document at a time.

According to the fifth aspect of the invention, when the number of originals exceeds the number of registrations in the plate making mode in the memory, the originals after the number of registrations in the plate making mode are finally registered in the memory. Since the plate making and printing are performed in the set plate making mode, it is not necessary to stop the operation of the apparatus, and it is possible to prevent a reduction in the efficiency of the printing operation.

According to the invention of claim 6, 7 or 8,
When the number of set originals exceeds the number of registered master making modes in the memory, there is provided a notifying means for notifying that there is no corresponding master making mode. Problems such as a stoppage of the device can be quickly resolved.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic front view of a stencil printing apparatus as a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a control block diagram.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a main part of an operation panel.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a control operation.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a conventional control operation.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Auto Document Feeder 24 Control Means 28 Memory

Claims (8)

[Claims] An image forming apparatus includes: a plate making process for making a plate in a predetermined plate making mode based on image information of a document; and a printing process using a printing plate produced by the plate making process. A printing apparatus having a mode in which a plurality of plate making modes corresponding to a plurality of documents are registered in a batch in advance, and after the plate making and printing of one document are completed, the next document registered in the memory A printing apparatus for extracting a plate making mode corresponding to the first document and automatically executing plate making and printing for the next original. 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the number of prints is registered in the memory together with the plate making mode. 3. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of originals are automatically conveyed by an automatic document feeder. 4. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing plate is a stencil sheet perforated. 5. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the number of original sets exceeds the number of registrations of the plate making mode in the memory, the number of registrations of the plate making mode is exceeded. A printing apparatus for performing plate making and printing in the plate making mode finally registered in the memory for subsequent documents. 6. A printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein when the number of set originals exceeds the number of registration of the plate making mode in said memory, there is no corresponding plate making mode. A printing apparatus having a notifying means for notifying. 7. A printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said notifying means has a function of notifying by a warning sound. 8. A printing apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said notifying means has a function of notifying by a character display.