JP2002354226A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To change a print position of each of a plurality of images as desired in a printer which is so constituted that it can simultaneously print a plurality of images on one print form. SOLUTION: The printer is provided with a plate making and write means 20 which uses a write head 21 changing the state of a pate material by pixels on the basis of inputted image data and writes a plurality of image parts surrounded with blank spaces respectively in one plate material 23 to make a plate and a print means 40 which uses the print plate made by the plate making and write means 20 to carry out a print on a print form 43, and image data indicating respective image parts is subjected to image processing by an image processing means 82 so that the write positions of image parts in the plate material 23 may be changed before input to the write head 21.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

[0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, and more particularly to a printing apparatus capable of changing the printing position of each of the images when printing a plurality of images simultaneously on one sheet of printing paper. Things.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, as shown in, for example, Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 1-445170, the same image as read is printed on a printing paper or the like based on image data obtained by reading a document image by a CCD line sensor or the like. An image forming apparatus that outputs the image data to a printer, for example, a printing apparatus such as a thermal printer, a copying apparatus, or a stencil printing apparatus is known.

For example, in the stencil printing apparatus, first, an original image is read by a stencil reading section to obtain image data, and then a thermal head is driven based on the image data by a stencil writing section including a thermal head and a platen roller. Thereby, stencil printing is performed by piercing the stencil sheet in units of pixels. Then, the stencil sheet, which has been made, is wound around a plate cylinder, and printing paper is inserted between the plate cylinder and a press roller which rotates while being pressed against the plate cylinder, and ink in the plate cylinder is printed from a hole of the stencil sheet. Printing is performed by extruding the ink onto paper and performing ink transfer.

In this type of stencil printing apparatus, one original image of a certain fixed size is printed on a printing paper of a larger size on a plurality of surfaces (for example, two surfaces in the vertical direction and two surfaces in the horizontal direction, for a total of four surfaces). In some cases, a so-called multi-plane continuous shooting function for copying is used. In some cases, a plurality of images different from each other are printed side by side on printing paper of a size larger than each image. Usually, the printing paper on which such printing has been performed is cut into a plurality of sheets in a post-printing process, so that a plurality of printed matters can be obtained.

When performing the above-described continuous printing, one image portion may be printed using the entire area in each of a plurality of divided areas of the printing paper. , One image portion may be printed in a state where a margin is left around. That is, in the former case, the plurality of image parts are in close contact with each other, and in the latter case, the plurality of image parts are in a state of being separated from each other.

[0006]

However, in the conventional printing apparatus, when one image portion is printed in a state where a margin is left around each of a plurality of regions of the printing paper as described above, the image is cut off. The positional relationship between the margin and the image portion may be different between the printed materials.

FIG. 4A shows an example of such a defect. Note that, in this figure, not the printed material itself but a printing plate is shown. In this way, it is assumed that, for example, four image portions 2 are made on the stencil sheet (master) 1 while leaving a margin around the stencil sheet 1. The printing paper printed by the stencil sheet 1 is indicated by broken lines A and B in the figure. If cut at the corresponding positions, the two printed materials printed in the upper two plate regions and the two printed materials printed in the lower two plate regions are different from each other in the state of the upper and lower margins. turn into.

[0008] In the conventional stencil printing apparatus, since the image writing position on the stencil sheet is fixed, it is basically impossible to solve the above-mentioned problem that the margin state is different at the image writing stage. is there.

On the other hand, some users of the printing apparatus request that the size of the top and bottom or left and right margins be set as desired in terms of, for example, setting the binding margin of the cut printed material. However, if the image writing position on the stencil sheet is fixed, it is basically impossible to meet such a demand.

In some stencil printing apparatuses, the mounting position of the stencil sheet with respect to the plate cylinder is slightly adjustable.
In such an apparatus, it is possible to slightly change the state of the margin in the printed matter by changing the mounting position of the stencil sheet. However, even in such a case, the amount of adjustment of the mounting position of the stencil sheet is small, and the adjustment direction is limited to one direction, so that the problem that the margin state differs for each cut printed matter is solved, or the margin state is changed. It is basically impossible on a practical level to meet the demand for setting the desired value.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and in a printing apparatus configured to be able to simultaneously print a plurality of images on one print sheet, the printing positions of the plurality of images can be changed as desired. The purpose is to be able to change.

[0012]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A printing apparatus according to the present invention uses a write head that changes the state of a plate material for each pixel based on input image data, and fills each blank with one print material. A printing apparatus comprising: plate making writing means capable of making a plate by writing a plurality of enclosed image parts; and printing means for printing on printing paper using a printing plate formed by the plate making writing means. Before inputting image data indicating each of the image portions to the writing head, an image processing means for performing image processing so as to change a writing position of the image portion on the printing plate is provided. is there.

In the above arrangement, furthermore, plate-making reading means for reading the original image to obtain the image data, and temporarily storing the image data obtained by the plate-making reading means, followed by the image processing means It is desirable to provide a storage means for sending to the user.

[0014]

According to the printing apparatus of the present invention, the image data for each image can be processed by using the image processing means so that the writing position of the image portion on the printing plate is changed.
The printing position of each of a plurality of images on a sheet of printing paper can be changed at will. Therefore, according to this printing apparatus, when a single print sheet is cut to obtain a plurality of prints, it is possible to perform printing so that the relationship between the image portion and the surrounding margin portion is common among the prints. In addition, it is possible to perform printing so that the size of the upper and lower margins and the left and right margins of the cut print is as desired.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 shows a side view of a printing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention. The printing apparatus according to the present embodiment is, for example, a stencil printing apparatus. As shown in the figure, a stencil reading unit 10, a stencil writing unit 20 including a thermal head 21 as a writing head, a cutter unit 30, and a printing unit 40. It is composed of

The plate making reading section 10 includes a document set table 12 on which a document 13 to be copied is set, a document sensor 17 for detecting the document 13 set on the document set table 12, and a document sensor.
Stepping motor controlled based on 17 detection signals
A document feed roller pair 14 rotated by an 18; a contact type line image sensor 11 that optically reads an image of the fed document 13 and converts the image to an electric signal; The document 13 includes a document discharge roller pair 15 that discharges the document 13 read by the line image sensor 11 to a document discharge tray 19. The document IN sensor 16 is located downstream of the document feed roller pair 14.
Is provided. The document IN sensor 16 detects the conveyed document 13, and the detection signal is used to determine the start of a process of the plate making writing unit 20 described later.

The stencil making unit 20 is configured to combine a thermal head 21 having a plurality of heating elements arranged in one direction (a direction orthogonal to the plane of FIG. 1) and a stencil sheet 23 sent out from a stencil sheet roll 22. It is composed of a platen roller 24 that conveys the stencil sheet 23 pressed by the thermal head 21 and a pair of stencil conveying rollers 26 that conveys the stencil sheet 23 produced by the thermal head 21 toward the clamp portion 32 of the plate drum 33. I have. The platen roller 24 and the base paper transport roller pair
26 is driven to rotate by a stepping motor 25.

The cutter section 30 is provided with a cutter 31 for cutting the stencil sheet 23 when the stencil sheet 23 produced by the thermal head 21 is wound around a drum 33 by a predetermined length.

The line image sensor of the plate making and reading section 10
The read image signal S output by 11 is input to the reading circuit 80,
Then, it is converted into binary digital image data D. The image data D is input to the image processing device 82 via the memory 81, where the image data D is subjected to image processing described later.
p is input to the writing control unit 84 that drives the thermal head 21 of the plate making writing unit 20.

The printing unit 40 includes an ink reservoir 48 formed between the doctor roller 46 and the squeegee roller 47, and a drum 33 having a built-in ink supply unit for supplying a fixed amount of ink to the inner surface thereof; Print paper 43 loaded on top
Pickup roller 45 that picks up and transports each sheet
And a timing roller for sending out the printing paper 43 conveyed from the pickup roller 45 at a predetermined timing.
42, a press roller 35 that presses the printing paper 43 sent out from the timing roller 42 to the transport path 41 against the outer peripheral surface of the drum 33, a separation claw 39 that peels the printed printing paper 43 from the drum 33, and a drum 33. And a discharge tray 49 on which the stripped printing paper 43 is loaded.

A clamp 32 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the drum 33 for clamping the leading end of the stencil sheet 23 conveyed after the stencil making. The clamped stencil sheet 23 is rotated by a main motor 34. It is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the driving drum 33.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the above-described paper feed table 44 as viewed from above. The left and right fences 44a and 44a which are movable to fix the paper feed position of the printing paper 43 are provided on the paper feed table 44. 44b is provided. The left fence 44a and the right fence 44b are connected to a size detecting means 44c for detecting the amount of each movement and detecting the size of the printing paper 43. In the vicinity of the paper feed table 44, a paper sensor 44d for detecting whether the printing paper 43 to be loaded is placed vertically or horizontally is provided.

As shown in FIG. 1, the above-described image processing device 82 is connected to an operation panel 83 comprising a so-called touch panel. The operation panel 83 includes a start key for starting stencil making and printing, a continuous shooting key for setting a multi-sided continuous shooting mode, and a stencil making unit 20 for writing predetermined plural sides on the stencil sheet 23. Numeric keys for inputting the number of copies and the number of prints, indicating the number of copies and the number of prints entered from these numeric keys, and setting the multi-screen continuous shooting mode by pressing the continuous shooting key There is provided a display means for displaying the information. The operation panel 83 will be described later in detail with reference to FIG.

Hereinafter, the operation of the stencil printing apparatus having the above configuration will be described in detail. First, the original 13 is set on the original platen 12, and the leading end of the original 13 is brought into contact with the original conveying roller pair 14. When the original sensor 17 detects the original 13, the plate making operation can be performed. Then, the fact that the continuous shooting operation is possible is displayed on the operation panel 83, and the number of the continuous shooting planes can be input by the ten keys (not shown) of the operation panel 83. In the present example, first, B6
A case in which a document image having a size is reduced and two surfaces in the main scanning direction X and two surfaces in the sub-scanning direction Y are continuously photographed, that is, a total of four surfaces will be described (see FIG. 4B).

It should be noted that, for example, due to restrictions on the printing machine that created the original 13, the original image may include a margin around the image portion. In that case, as described above, B
When continuously printing four B6 size original images on four size printing paper 43, without performing a process of reducing the original image in particular,
Plate making is performed in a state as shown in FIG. The present invention can be applied to such a case, but the following description will be made taking a case where a document image is reduced as an example.

When the start key is pressed after the input of the number of continuous shots is completed, if the B4 size printing paper 43 is set on the paper feed tray 44, the size detecting means 44c shown in FIG.
And the operation panel 83
The information is displayed above, and the document transport roller pair 14 is driven to rotate to start document feeding. Then, the document IN sensor 16
Detects that the document 13 has been conveyed, and when the document 13 is fed by the distance L shown in FIG. 1, the conveyance of the stencil sheet 23 by the platen roller 24 enters a standby state.

At the same time, the image of the B6 size document 13 is optically read by the line image sensor 11. The read image signal S output from the line image sensor 11 is input to a reading circuit 80, where it is amplified and A / D-converted.
The image data is converted into binary digital image data D by performing processing such as conversion. The image data D is temporarily stored in the memory 81, read out therefrom, and input to the image processing device 82. The image data Dp that has been subjected to image processing described later in the image processing device 82 is stored in the writing control unit of the plate making writing unit 20.
Entered in 84.

In the stencil writing section 20, a perforated image is formed on the stencil sheet 23 by the thermal head 21 to perform stencil making. That is, a heat signal H corresponding to the image data Dp is output from the write control unit 84, the thermal head 21 is driven based on the heat signal H, and the stencil sheet 23 is conveyed at a constant speed by the platen roller 24. Sub-scanning is performed to form a two-dimensional perforated image on the stencil sheet 23.

At this time, in the present embodiment, the heat generation signal H corresponding to the image data Dp for one image is inputted to the longitudinal direction of the thermal head 21, that is, half the area in the main scanning direction. Thus, so-called multi-plane continuous shooting in the main scanning direction is performed in which two perforated images are formed in the stencil sheet 23 in the main scanning direction. The stencil sheet 23 is used here.
A plate making process until a perforated image is formed in a state where two images are arranged in the main scanning direction is referred to as a primary plate making.

More specifically, the line image sensor 11 can read up to a B4 size document 13 and has 4096 pixels, and the thermal head 21 has 4096 pixels. Upon reading, image data D having 2048 pixels in the main scanning direction is obtained. Then, the image data Dp obtained by subjecting the image data D to image processing including reduction processing by the image processing device 82 is input to the write control unit 84 of the plate making writing unit 20, and the thermal head 21
Are driven based on the heat generation signal H corresponding to the image data Dp. The image carried by the image data Dp after the image processing also has a pixel number in the main scanning direction of 2048, but includes a margin part due to reduction.

Here, the image data D stored in the memory 81 is read out a total of four times, and the image processing device 82 independently performs image processing on the image data D each time it is read out. The four types of image data after image processing Dp thus obtained are respectively divided into four divided areas of the stencil sheet 23, that is, blocks BL1, BL2, and BL2 shown in FIG.
Image data for the blocks BL3 and BL4 is stored in four RAMs (not shown) in the image processing device 82, respectively.

Then, in the primary plate making, the image data Dp for the blocks BL1 and BL2 is
The thermal head 21 is read out from the AM and input to the write controller 84 of the plate making writer 20, and each of the two divided portions of the thermal head 21 generates a heat signal H corresponding to these two sets of image data Dp.
It is driven based on. Thereby, in the primary stencil making, a perforated image is formed on the blocks BL1 and BL2 of the stencil sheet 23.

When the primary plate making is completed, the secondary plate making is performed next. In the secondary plate making, the image data Dp for the blocks BL3 and BL4 are respectively stored in the RA.
M, which is input to the write control unit 84 of the plate making writing unit 20, and the two parts of the thermal head 21 are driven based on the heat signal H corresponding to these two sets of image data Dp. Is done. Thus, in the second plate making, a perforated image is formed on the blocks BL3 and BL4 of the stencil sheet 23.

When the formation of the perforated image is completed, the rotation of the platen roller 24 is stopped, the feeding of the stencil sheet 23 is stopped, the document 13 is discharged, and the stencil making operation is completed.

Here, when the size of the original 13 is not B6 but B4, for example, and continuous printing is not performed, the heating signal H corresponding to the image data Dp for one image whose number of pixels in the main scanning direction is 4096 is used. When the thermal head 21 is driven based on the image data Dp and one image carried by the image data Dp is formed as a perforated image on the stencil sheet 23, the stencil making operation is completed.

It should be noted that the reading of the document 13 may be performed by moving the document 13 and the image sensor 11 relatively in the sub-scanning direction. Alternatively, the image sensor 11 may be relatively moved in the sub-scanning direction while the document 13 is placed on a document table different from that shown in FIG. The same applies to the stencil making operation.After the stencil sheet 23 is pulled out by a predetermined amount, the stencil sheet 23 is temporarily stopped, the thermal head 21 is relatively moved in the sub-scanning direction to perform stencil making, and then the conveyance is started again. Is also good.

After the stencil making operation, the stencil sheet 23 is conveyed by a fixed amount by the document conveying roller pair 26, and one end thereof is fixed in the clamp portion 32. Then, the stencil sheet 23 is rotated by rotating the plate cylinder 33, whereby the stencil sheet 23 is moved. It is wound around the outer peripheral surface of 33 and cut by the cutter 31 after being wound by a predetermined amount. This allows the plate cylinder
The stencil sheet 23 is completely wound around the outer peripheral surface of 33, and is in a printing operation standby state.

Next, the printing operation will be described. When the number of prints is input using a numeric keypad (not shown) on the operation panel 83,
The data is displayed on the display means. When the print start key is depressed in this state, the pickup roller 45
Thereby, the printing paper 43 is conveyed to the timing roller 42 one by one. Then, after temporarily waiting, the timing roller 42 is driven at a predetermined timing at which the plate cylinder 33 rotates, and the printing paper 43 is sent to the transport path 41. The printing paper 43 fed into the transport path 41 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 33 by the press roller 35, and the ink that has passed through the perforated image formed on the stencil sheet 23 is transferred to the printing paper 43. Printing is performed. The printed printing paper 43 is separated from the separation claw 39
As a result, the sheet is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 33 and discharged to the sheet discharge table 49. In this way, B4 size printing paper 43
The image of the 6-size document 13 is reduced and printed on four sides.

Next, in the above-described continuous printing plate making, the stencil sheet is used.
23 blocks BL1, block BL2, block BL
The adjustment of the writing position of each perforated image formed in the block BL4 will be described in detail.

In this embodiment, the writing position of the perforated image is set in accordance with one of the following three modes. In the mode 1, the writing position is determined based on the setting position of the original 13 on the original table 12 as in the prior art. In particular, the writing position is not adjusted. More specifically, the image processing device 82) automatically adjusts the writing position according to the given number of continuous shots and other information. This is a mode for adjusting the position.

FIG. 5 shows the flow of processing relating to the setting of the writing position of the punched image, which is performed in the image processing device 82. Hereinafter, description will be made with reference to FIG. When performing continuous plate making, use the operation panel 83 described above.
It is instructed to perform continuous plate making (step P1), and then one of the above three modes is selected, and information indicating the selected mode is input to the image processing device 82 (step P2). .

Next, in step P3, the image processing device 82 determines whether or not the input mode is mode 1, and if it is mode 1, then in step P4,
Information for prompting the user to input the number of continuous shots is input to operation panel 83. As a result, a display prompting the user to input the number of continuous shots is made on the operation panel 83, and the apparatus user operates the operation panel 83 to input the number of continuous shots.

When the number of continuous shots is input, the image processing device 82 then proceeds to step P5 where the reduction ratio and the writing position of the image data D (the block BL1 of the stencil sheet 23) , BL2, BL3, and BL4). The reduction process at this time is performed based on a constant algorithm for each reduction ratio, and the blocks BL1 and BL1 of the stencil sheet 23 are used.
The writing position of each reduced image in BL2, BL3, and BL4 is determined according to the setting position of the document 13 on the document table 12. Therefore, depending on the setting position of the document 13, the block BL1, block BL2,
The writing position of the reduced image in the blocks BL3 and BL4 may be in the state shown in FIG. 4A as in the conventional apparatus.

Note that the reduction ratio is determined by the operation panel 83 as described above.
Alternatively, it may be calculated automatically by the calculating means based on the document size, the printing paper size and the number of continuous shots input from the operation panel 83. This is the same in other modes described later.

Next, in step P13, the image processing device 82 processes the image data D and converts it into image data Dp so that the reduction ratio and the writing position determined as described above are obtained. As a result, a continuous photoengraving image to be written on the stencil sheet 23 is generated, and the process relating to the writing position setting ends (step P14).

The continuous shooting mode is designated by the device user touching the portion displayed as "continuous shooting mode" with a fingertip while the menu screen is displayed on the operation panel 83 composed of a touch panel. You. When the continuous shooting mode is designated in this manner, the display screen of the operation panel 83 is in the state shown in FIG. On the display screen at this time, a display 83a indicating that the mode is the continuous shooting mode,
Selection mode display 83b showing which of continuous shooting modes 1, 2, and 3 is selected, and four blocks B
“Overall preview” display 83c, “Reset to default” display 83d, “User defined” display 83e, and “Fixed” indicating how the respective images are to be arranged in L1 to BL4. A display 83f and a display 83g of "return to menu" are made.

The user of the apparatus can see how the images will be arranged in the four blocks BL1 to BL4 by viewing the display 83c of the "overall preview" on the operation panel 83. . Further, when the device user touches the display 83f of “determination” on the operation panel 83 with a fingertip, the reduction ratio and the writing position determined as described above are determined.

If the image processing device 82 determines in step P3 that the input mode is not mode 1, then in step P6, the image processing device 82 determines whether the input mode is mode 2. If the mode is mode 2, in step P7, information prompting the input of the number of continuous shots is input to the operation panel 83. As a result, a display prompting the user to input the number of continuous shots is made on the operation panel 83, and the apparatus user operates the operation panel 83 to input the number of continuous shots.

When the number of continuous shots is input, the image processing device 82 next determines in step P8 the optimum image data reduction rate and write position (blocks BL1, BL2, BL3 of the stencil sheet 23) corresponding to the number of continuous shots. And the write position of each reduced image in BL4). At this time, the writing position is determined based on an algorithm set for each reduction ratio, and blocks BL1, BL2, BL3 and BL
The writing position of each reduced image in No. 4 is always set to, for example, the center position of each block as shown in (2) of FIG. The center position of the block is a position where the upper margin and the lower margin of the image have the same size, and the left margin and the right margin of the image have the same size.

In order to set the writing position of the reduced image as described above, it is necessary to obtain the entire size and the center point of the image. Can be determined based on the detected edge portion.

In the mode 2 also, the apparatus user looks at the display 83c of "overall preview" on the operation panel 83 shown in FIG.
You can see how each image will be arranged in the. Also in this case, when the device user touches the display 83f of “confirmation” on the operation panel 83 with his / her fingertip, the reduction ratio and the writing position obtained as described above are determined.

Next, in step P13, the image processing device 82 processes the image data D so that the reduction ratio and the writing position are determined as described above, and the image data Dp
Convert to As a result, a continuous photoengraving image to be written on the stencil sheet 23 is generated, and the process relating to the writing position setting ends (step P14).

If the image processing device 82 determines in step P6 that the input mode is not mode 2, then in step P9, it determines whether the input mode is mode 3 or not. If the mode is mode 3, information for inputting the number of continuous shots is input to the operation panel 83 in step P10. Thereby the operation panel
A display prompting the user to input the number of continuous shots is made at 83, and the apparatus user operates the operation panel 83 to input the number of continuous shots.

When the number of continuous shots is input, the image processing device 82 next proceeds to step P11 where the image data reduction ratio and the writing position (writing of each reduced image in the blocks BL1, BL2, BL3 and BL4 of the stencil sheet 23) Information for instructing arbitrary setting for determining the position) is input to the operation panel 83. As a result, a display for prompting the input of the arbitrary setting is made on the operation panel 83.

Specifically, this display is as shown in FIG. 3 (2). That is, in this case, the operation panel 83
Display 83h of block number, "Preview" showing how images will be arranged in each block
83j, a display 83 indicating the size of the upper margin (in units of mm)
k, a display 83m indicating the size of the bottom margin, a display 83n indicating the size of the left margin, a display 83p indicating the size of the right margin, a display 83q of "center alignment", a display 83r of "top alignment", and a display 83r of "top alignment". Alignment "
Display 83s, left alignment 83t, right alignment
83u, "User defined 1" display 83v, "User defined 2"
83w, a display 83x of "user definition 3", a display 83y of "user definition 4", and a display 83z of "user definition 5".

Initially, the display 83h of the block number is set to "block 1", and at the same time, the display 83j of "preview" first displays the reduction ratio and the writing position as standard values (which are appropriately determined in advance and stored in the storage means). Of the image)
The arrangement state in the block BL1 is displayed. Then, the sizes of the upper margin, the lower margin, the left margin, and the right margin in this arrangement state are indicated by 83 k, 83 m, 83 n, and 83 k, respectively.
83p. Note that this arrangement state corresponds to the block BL1
Is a so-called center-aligned arrangement state in which the reduced image is arranged at the center position of. At this time, the display 83q of "center alignment" is displayed, for example, in white blank, thereby indicating that the display is center aligned.

The values of the margins shown in the displays 83k, 83m, 83n and 83p can be set by the user of the apparatus by placing a cursor on each display part and inputting a numerical value from a keyboard connected to the operation panel 83. It can be changed as appropriate. Then, at that time, for example, when the display 83r of “top alignment” is pressed with the fingertip of the device user, the display 83r is displayed as a blank white display, indicating that the upper alignment has been selected. Of the margin values shown in 83m, 83n, and 83p, the upper margin value shown in display 83k is preferentially applied, and the arrangement state in block BL1 is set to be top-aligned. This is the same in the case of bottom alignment, left alignment, and right alignment.

As for the reduction ratio, a reduction ratio different from the standard value can be set by inputting a numerical value from a keyboard connected to the operation panel 83 or the like.

The arrangement state of the reduced image in the block BL1 when the reduction ratio and the writing position are set as described above is displayed on the "preview" display 83j.
Therefore, the apparatus user can check how the reduced image is arranged in the block BL1 by observing the display 83j.

The combination of the reduction ratio and the writing position set as described above is stored in the RAM (rewritable memory) of the image processing device 82 as a user definition by performing an appropriate operation. I can put it. In this example, five such user definitions 1 to 5 can be stored as such user definitions. The user definitions 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5 thus stored can be read out from the RAM and set by touching the display 83v, 83w, 83x, 83y or 83z with the fingertip of the device user. it can.

When the screen of FIG. 3 (1) is displayed on the operation panel 83, the user definitions 1 to 5 described above are displayed each time the display 83e of “user definition” is touched once.
Are read from the RAM in the order of 2, 3, 4, 5, 1, 2,.... Then, the image arrangement state when those user definitions are set is shown on the display 83c of “overall preview”. The device user displays the “overall preview” 83
When an image of a desired arrangement state is displayed on c,
By touching the display 83f of "confirmation" with a fingertip, the desired image arrangement state is set.

When the display 83d of "Return to standard value" is touched with a fingertip on the screen of FIG. 3A of the operation panel 83, the arrangement state in the block BL1 changes the reduction ratio and the writing position to the standard values. The value is changed to the image layout state.

When the device user touches the display 83f of "determination" with a fingertip to determine the reduction ratio and the writing position, the operation panel 83 switches to the screen of FIG. 3 (2). There, the display 83h of the block number is "block 2",
At the same time, on the display 83j of "preview", first, the arrangement state of the image with the reduction ratio and the writing position as the standard values in the block BL2 is displayed. Regarding the block BL2, the reduction ratio and the write position are determined in the same manner as in the above-described block BL1. Thereafter, the reduction ratio and the writing position are similarly determined for the blocks BL3 and BL4.

Also in the case of mode 3, the apparatus user looks at the display 83c of "overall preview" on the operation panel 83 shown in FIG.
It is possible to confirm how each image will be arranged in L4.

Next, in step P13, the image processing device 82 processes the image data D so that the reduction ratio and the writing position are determined as described above, and the image data Dp
Convert to As a result, a continuous photoengraving image to be written on the stencil sheet 23 is generated, and the process relating to the writing position setting ends (step P14).

As described above, in the stencil printing apparatus of the present embodiment, by selecting the mode 2 or 3, the blocks BL1, BL2, BL
Since the writing position of each reduced image in 3 and BL4 can be changed, the printing position of each of a plurality of images on one printing paper 43 can be changed arbitrarily. Therefore, according to the stencil printing apparatus, when one print sheet 43 is cut to obtain a plurality of prints, it is possible to perform printing so that the relationship between the image portion and the surrounding margin portion is common among the prints. In addition, it is possible to perform printing so that the size of the upper and lower margins and the left and right margins of the cut print is as desired.

The blocks BL of one stencil sheet 23 are described above.
1, block BL2, block BL3, block BL4
Although the embodiment in which the writing position of each image in (1) can be changed has been described, the present invention is not limited to such a case where four-sided continuous shooting is performed on one plate material, Can be applied to any case of continuous shooting, and a similar effect can be obtained.

Further, the present invention is not limited to the above-described stencil printing apparatus, but also employs a writing head for changing the state of the plate material for each pixel based on the input image data, so that the blanks are formed on one plate material. The present invention can be applied to a general printing apparatus that writes a plurality of image portions surrounded by a circle and makes a plate.

[Brief description of the drawings]

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

FIG. 2 is a schematic plan view showing a part of the stencil printing machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing two display states of an operation panel of the stencil printing machine of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows an image forming state on a plate material in the case of a conventional apparatus (1)
And, in the case of the device of the present invention, a schematic diagram showing a comparison with (2)

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a flow of a process of changing an image writing position on a stencil sheet in the stencil printing apparatus of FIG. 1;

[Explanation of symbols]

 10 Plate making reading unit 12 Document setting table 13 Document 14 Document feed roller pair 15 Document discharge roller pair 16 Document IN sensor 17 Document sensor 18 Stepping motor 20 Plate making writing unit 21 Thermal head 22 Stencil paper roll 23 Stencil paper 24 Platen roller 25 Stepping Motor 26 Base paper transport roller pair 30 Cutter section 32 Clamp section 33 Drum 34 Main motor 35 Press roller 39 Separating claw 40 Printing section 41 Transport path 42 Timing roller 43 Print paper 44 Paper feed table 45 Pickup roller 46 Doctor roller 47 Squeegee roller 48 Ink pool 49 Output tray 80 Reading circuit 81 Memory 82 Image processing unit 83 Operation panel 84 Write control unit

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A plate making method in which a plurality of image portions each surrounded by a margin are written on one plate material using a write head that changes the state of the plate material for each pixel based on input image data. A printing apparatus comprising: a prepress making means; and printing means for performing printing on printing paper using a printing plate formed by the prepress writing means. A printing apparatus, comprising: an image processing unit that performs image processing so that a writing position of an image portion on the plate material is changed before input to a writing head. 2. A plate making reading means for reading a document image to obtain the image data, and a storage means for temporarily storing the image data obtained by the plate making reading means and sending the image data to the image processing means. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein: