JP2003095489A - Sheet material positioning device and image recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an inexpensive sheet material positioning device capable of making a positioning position by a first butting member and a third butting member of a sheet material and a positioning position by a second butting member and the third butting member of the sheet material coincide each other, even if there is a bend on an end face of the sheet material. SOLUTION: In an automatic exposure device 10 of a printing plate, a position where the printing plate is butted against a pair of positioning pins 48 and a reference pin 35 when positioning the printing plate in a punch part 16 is made the same as a position where the printing plate is butted against a pair of positioning pins 52 and the reference pin 36 when positioning the printing plate in an exposure part 18. As a result, even if there is the bend on the end face of the printing plate, the positioning position of the printing plate in the punch part 16 and the positioning position of the printing plate in the exposure part 18 can be made to coincide each other, and an exposure position can be made to coincide with a printing position of the printing plate fixed by a punch hole. Further, a cut-out is not required to be punched in the printing plate and a cut-out punching device becomes unnecessary to make the sheet material positioning device inexpensive.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a sheet material positioning device for positioning a sheet material placed on a flat plate and an image recording apparatus for recording an image on a printing plate.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As a printing plate exposing device, an image is directly recorded on a photosensitive layer (for example, emulsion surface) on a support of a sheet-shaped printing plate (for example, so-called photopolyplate or thermal plate) by a laser beam or the like ( What is exposed is being developed.

In this printing plate exposure apparatus, a printing plate placed on a flat plate is conveyed to a punch section, and the punch section performs punching processing on the printing plate to punch holes. This punch hole is used for positioning in a printing process which is a post process. Further, the printing plate placed on the plate is conveyed to the exposure unit, so that the exposure unit performs the exposure process on the printing plate.

By the way, before the exposure processing in the exposure unit, the printing plate is positioned while being placed on the plate, and the exposure position (exposure start position) of the printing plate is determined to determine the exposure position of the printing plate. It is necessary to match the printing position of the printing plate defined by the punch holes.

Here, as a first method for determining the exposure position of the printing plate, a notch is formed in the printing plate at the same time as the punching process in the punch section, and an insertion pin fixed to the exposure section is provided in the notch. There is a method of inserting the to position the printing plate, and determining the exposure position of the printing plate based on a predetermined parameter for each size of the printing plate.

Further, as a second method of determining the exposure position of the printing plate, the end face of the printing plate which is positioned by the exposure unit by a predetermined method (a method in which a notch is not formed in the printing plate) is optically used. There is also a method of detecting and calculating from the detection result to determine the exposure position of the printing plate.

However, in the above-mentioned first method, since it is necessary to make a notch in the printing plate, an expensive notch punching device is required, and the device is expensive.

On the other hand, in the second method, since the end surface of the printing plate is slightly bent for each printing plate, the exposure position of the printing plate cannot be accurately matched with the printing position. Therefore, there is a problem that it is necessary to match the printing position with the exposure position by adjusting the printing position based on the exposure position of the printing plate during the printing process of the printing plate.

[0009]

In consideration of the above facts, the present invention takes into consideration the above facts and positions the sheet material or the printing plate by the first abutting member and the third abutting member even if the end surface of the sheet material or the printing plate is curved. An object of the present invention is to obtain an inexpensive sheet material positioning device or image recording apparatus that can match the position with the positioning positions of the sheet material or the printing plate by the second butting member and the third butting member.

[0010]

A sheet material positioning device according to claim 1 is provided so as to correspond to a flat plate on which the sheet material is placed and the sheet material placed on the plate. A first for conveying the sheet material in a predetermined direction
Conveying means; a first abutting member provided on a predetermined direction side of the plate, for determining the position of the sheet material in the first direction by abutting the sheet material conveyed in the predetermined direction at at least two points; A second abutting member that is provided on the predetermined direction side of the plate and that determines the position of the sheet material in the second direction by abutting the sheet material conveyed in the predetermined direction at at least two points; When the sheet material abuts on the first abutting member, the sheet material is conveyed in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, and when the sheet material abuts on the second abutting member, the sheet material is moved to the second direction.
The second conveying means for conveying in the fourth direction perpendicular to the direction, and the sheet material provided in the third direction and the fourth direction side of the plate, and conveyed in the third direction or the fourth direction abutting against each other. A sheet material positioning device, comprising: a third abutting member that determines a position of the sheet material in the third direction or the fourth direction, wherein the sheet material abuts the first abutting member at at least two points, and It is characterized in that the position where the third abutting member abuts and the position where the sheet material abuts the second abutting member at at least two points and abuts the third abutting member are the same position.

According to another aspect of the sheet material positioning apparatus of the present invention, the first conveying means conveys the sheet material on the plate in a predetermined direction, and the sheet material abuts the first abutting member at at least two points. , The position of the sheet material in the first direction is determined. Further, the second conveying means conveys the sheet material in the third direction (direction perpendicular to the first direction), and when the sheet material collides with the third abutting member, the position of the sheet material in the third direction is changed. Determined.
As a result, the sheet material is positioned by the first abutting member and the third abutting member while being placed on the plate.

Further, the first conveying means conveys the sheet material in a predetermined direction, and the sheet material collides with the second abutting member at at least two points, whereby the second sheet material is conveyed.
A position in the direction is defined. Further, the second conveying means conveys the sheet material in the fourth direction (direction perpendicular to the second direction), and the sheet material collides with the third abutting member, so that the position of the sheet material in the fourth direction is changed. Determined. As a result, the sheet material is positioned by the second abutting member and the third abutting member while being placed on the plate.

Here, the sheet material abuts the first abutment member at at least two points and abuts the third abutment member, and the sheet material abuts the second abutment member at at least two points and a third abutment. The position where the member abuts is the same position. Therefore, even if the end surface of the sheet material is bent, the sheet material is positioned by the first butting member and the third butting member, and the second and third butting members of the sheet material are positioned.
The positioning position by the abutting member can be matched.

Further, since the above-mentioned two positioning positions can be made to coincide with each other without forming a notch in the sheet material as in the prior art, the conventional expensive notch punching device is not required and the device is inexpensive. Can be

An image recording apparatus according to a second aspect of the present invention is provided so as to correspond to a flat plate plate on which a printing plate is placed and the printing plate placed on the plate, and to set the printing plate in a predetermined direction. A first conveying means for conveying to the plate and a first protrusion provided on the side of the plate in the predetermined direction, the printing plate conveyed in the predetermined direction abutting at at least two points to determine the position of the printing plate in the first direction. The contact member and a second abutting member that is provided on a predetermined direction side of the plate and that determines the position of the printing plate in the second direction by abutting the printing plate conveyed in the predetermined direction at at least two points; When the printing plate hits the first abutting member, the printing plate is conveyed in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, and when the printing plate hits the second abutting member, the printing plate is moved. Perpendicular to the second direction 4 a second transport means for transporting direction,
The plate is provided on the third and fourth sides of the plate, and the printing plate conveyed in the third direction or the fourth direction while moving from the starting position depending on the size of the printing plate collides with the printing. A third abutting member that determines the position of the plate in the third direction or the fourth direction, and a movably provided from the origin position, and abuts the second abutting member at at least two points and abuts the third abutting member. And an image recording unit for recording an image on the printing plate positioned by the printing plate, the printing plate abutting the first abutting member at at least two points, and the third abutting member. The same position as that of the printing plate and the position where the printing plate hits the second abutting member at at least two points and hits the third abutting member, and the third abutting member from the starting position. Serial to compute the initial movement distance from the origin position of the image recording unit by the distance traveled to determine the image recording start position of the printing plate in accordance with the printing plate size, it is characterized by.

According to another aspect of the image recording apparatus of the present invention,
The position of the printing plate in the first direction is determined by the transportation means transporting the printing plate on the plate in a predetermined direction and the printing plate abutting the first abutting member at at least two points. Further, the second conveying means conveys the printing plate in the third direction (direction perpendicular to the first direction), and the third abutting member in a state in which the printing plate has moved from the starting point position according to the size of the printing plate. By hitting against, the position of the printing plate in the third direction is determined. As a result, the printing plate is positioned by the first abutting member and the third abutting member while being placed on the plate.

The position of the printing plate in the second direction is determined by the first transporting device transporting the printing plate in a predetermined direction and the printing plate abutting the second abutting member at at least two points. Further, the second conveying means conveys the printing plate in the fourth direction (direction perpendicular to the second direction), and at the same time, the third abutting member is in a state in which the printing plate has moved from the starting position according to the size of the printing plate. The position of the printing plate in the fourth direction is determined by hitting. This allows
The printing plate is positioned on the plate and positioned by the second abutting member and the third abutting member.

Further, the image recording section movable from the origin position records an image on the printing plate positioned by the second abutting member and the third abutting member.

Here, the position where the printing plate hits the first abutting member at at least two points and the third abutting member, and the position where the printing plate hits the second abutting member at at least two points and the third abutting member. The position where the member abuts is the same position. Therefore, even if the end surface of the printing plate is curved, the positioning position of the printing plate by the first abutting member and the third abutting member and the positioning position of the printing plate by the second abutting member and the third abutting member. And can be matched.

Further, since the above two positioning positions can be made to coincide with each other without forming a notch in the printing plate as in the conventional case, the conventional expensive notch punching device is not required and the device is inexpensive. Can be

Here, the initial moving distance from the origin position of the image recording unit is calculated by the distance that the third abutting member has moved from the starting point position according to the size of the printing plate, and the image recording start position of the printing plate is determined. Since it is determined, the image recording start position of the printing plate can be accurately determined.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image recording apparatus according to the second aspect, the image recording apparatus is positioned such that it abuts the first abutting member at at least two points and abuts the third abutting member. The printing plate is provided with punch holes used for positioning in the printing process of the printing plate.

According to another aspect of the image recording apparatus of the present invention,
The printing plate positioned by the abutting member and the third abutting member is punched with punch holes used for positioning in the printing process of the printing plate. In addition, as described above, the positioning position of the printing plate by the first abutting member and the third abutting member (the positioning position for punch hole punching) and the second abutting member and the third abutting member of the printing plate are used. The positioning position (positioning position for image recording) matches. For this reason,
The image recording position of the printing plate can be matched with the printing position of the printing plate defined by the punch holes.

[0024]

FIG. 2 is a side view showing a printing plate automatic exposure device 10 according to an embodiment configured by applying a sheet material positioning device and an image recording device of the present invention. .

Automatic printing plate exposure apparatus 1 according to the present embodiment
0 is for recording (exposing) an image on the image forming layer (photosensitive layer, emulsion surface) on the support of the printing plate 12 such as a photopoly plate or a thermal plate as a sheet material. The printing plate automatic exposure apparatus 10 includes a conveyance guide unit 1
4, the punch unit 16 and the exposure unit 18 are provided, and the punch unit 16 and the exposure unit 1 are provided in front of the transport guide unit 14.
8 is arranged and the exposure unit 1 is provided below the punch unit 16.
8 are arranged.

The transport guide unit 14 has a plate feeding guide 20 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape as a plate and a plate discharging guide 22 having a substantially rectangular flat plate shape.
And the plate discharge guide 22 have a lateral V-shape relative to each other. The transport guide unit 14 is structured to rotate around a center of FIG. 2 by a predetermined angle, and by this rotation, the plate feeding guide 20 and the plate discharging guide 22 are selectively moved to the punch section 16 and the exposing section 18. Can be adapted.

As shown in FIG. 1, a transport roller 24 as a first transport means is rotatably provided at a front side portion of the plate feed guide 20, and the transport roller 24 is a cylindrical column made of silicon rubber. A plurality of roller portions 24A are arranged on the rotation center shaft 24B to form a skewer. The transport roller 24 projects above the plate feed guide 20, and the rotation center shaft 24B of the transport roller 24 is arranged parallel to the left-right direction. The placed printing plate 12 is conveyed forward (predetermined direction).

A trapezoidal columnar rib 26 is provided on the plate feed guide 20.
Are provided in a predetermined number, the ribs 26 are arranged parallel to the front-rear direction, and the projecting height of the ribs 26 on the plate feed guide 20 is slightly lower than that of the transport roller 24. further,
A cylindrical rotary roller 28 is rotatably provided on the plate feed guide 20 by a predetermined number of rotations. The rotary roller 28 is arranged parallel to the left-right direction and has a protruding height above the plate feed guide 20. It is substantially the same as the transport roller 24. Here, the printing plate 12 is supported by the ribs 26 of the printing plate 12 and the rotation of the rotary roller 28 accompanying the conveyance of the printing plate 12.
It is intended to reduce the frictional force when transporting.

At the front end of the plate feed guide 20, a pair of positioning pins 30 are provided in parallel with each other in the left-right direction, and each positioning pin 30 has a cylindrical shape and is rotatable about its central axis. , Protrudes from the upper surface of the plate feed guide 20. As described above, the printing plate 1 is conveyed by the transport roller 24.
When 2 is conveyed forward, the front end of the printing plate 12 hits the pair of positioning pins 30. As a result, the printing plate 12
The position in the front-back direction is determined. Further, the pair of positioning pins 30 can be lowered from the upper surface of the plate feeding guide 20, and thereby the printing plate 12 can be transported forward by the transport roller 24 beyond the front end of the plate feeding guide 20. ing.

A slit hole 32 is formed on the right side of the plate feed guide 20 in the vicinity of the rear side of the transport roller 24. The slit hole 32 is arranged parallel to the left-right direction, and the support shaft 34 penetrates inside. Has been done. A cylindrical reference pin 36 serving as a third abutting member is provided on the support shaft 34.
Are rotatably supported around the support shaft 34. The reference pin 36 has a right end portion of the plate feeding guide 20 as a starting position (home position), and the support shaft 34 has a slit hole 3 therein.
2 and the reference pin 36 is moved leftward from the starting point position, so that the reference pin 36 is moved to the plate feeding guide 20.
The printing plate 12 is placed at a predetermined position according to the size of the printing plate 12 placed on.

A slit hole 38 is formed in the left side portion of the plate feed guide 20 in the vicinity of the rear side of the transport roller 24. The slit hole 38 is arranged parallel to the left and right direction, and a support shaft 40 penetrates inside. Has been done. On the upper part of the support shaft 40, a columnar transport pin 42 as a second transport means is provided.
Are rotatably supported about the support shaft 40. Here, when the printing plate 12 hits the pair of positioning pins 30 and the position in the front-back direction of the printing plate 12 is determined as described above, the support shaft 40 is moved to the right along the slit hole 38. When the transport pin 42 is moved, the transport pin 42 presses the printing plate 12 and transports it in the right direction (third direction and fourth direction), and abuts against the reference pin 36. As a result, the position of the printing plate 12 in the right direction is determined, and the printing plate 12 is provisionally positioned as shown in FIG.
Even when the support shaft 40 is configured to be movable while the predetermined elastic force is applied to the reference pin 36 side, buckling deformation of the printing plate 12 due to the pressing force of the transport pin 42 is prevented. Good.

The punch section 16 is provided with a flat plate-shaped support plate 44, and a predetermined number of punch devices 46 are supported on the support plate 44 (a total of four punch devices, one pair on each side in the present embodiment). . Here, the conveyance guide unit 14 is rotated, the plate feed guide 20 is made to correspond to the punch section 16 (opposed to the punch device 46), and the pair of positioning pins 30 are lowered from the upper surface of the plate feed guide 20, Punching device 46
The front end of the printing plate 12 is conveyed from the plate supply guide 20 by the conveying roller 24.

Positioning pins 48 as a first abutting member are provided between each pair of punching devices 46, and the pair of positioning pins 48 are arranged parallel to the left-right direction and are circular. It has a columnar shape and is rotatable about the central axis. In the pair of positioning pins 48,
The front end of the printing plate 12 conveyed into the punch device 46 abuts, and thereby the position of the printing plate 12 in the front-back direction (first direction) is determined. Further, in this state, the transport pin 42 is moved to transport the printing plate 12 to the right and abut against the reference pin 36, whereby the position of the printing plate 12 in the right direction is determined. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing plate 12 is finally positioned in the punch section 16. In addition, the printing plate 1 that is finally positioned in this way
The horizontal center line of 2 corresponds to the horizontal center line of the plate feed guide 20 and the horizontal center line of the pair of positioning pins 48.

A predetermined number of punch holes (not shown) such as circular holes and long holes are punched by the punching device 46 at the front end portion of the printing plate 12 which has been finally positioned in this way. The predetermined number of punch holes serve as a reference for winding the printing plate 12 around the plate cylinder of a rotary press of a printing device (not shown) to be described later, and are used for positioning in the printing process of the printing device. When the processing in the punch device 46 is completed,
The printing plate 12 is returned to the plate feeding guide 20 by the reverse rotation of the transport roller 24, and the pair of positioning pins 30 are projected from the upper surface of the plate feeding guide 20 to temporarily position the printing plate 12 again in the same manner as above. .

The exposure section 18 is provided with a cylindrical rotary drum 50, and the rotary drum 50 is arranged in parallel in the left-right direction and is rotatable in the directions of arrows A and B in FIG. Here, when the printing plate 12 returned from the punch section 16 onto the plate supply guide 20 as described above is provisionally positioned,
The transport guide unit 14 is rotated so that the plate feed guide 20 corresponds to the exposure section 18 (opposed in the tangential direction of the rotary drum 50), and the pair of positioning pins 30 serve as the plate feed guide 20.
By being lowered from the upper surface, the front end of the printing plate 12 is transported onto the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50 by the transport rollers 24.

A pair of positioning pins 52 as a second abutting member are provided on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50. The pair of positioning pins 52 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction and have a cylindrical shape. It is said that it is rotatable about the central axis. The front end of the printing plate 12 conveyed on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50 abuts on the pair of positioning pins 52, whereby the front-back direction of the printing plate 12 (second direction).
The position at is determined. Further, in this state, the transport pin 42 is moved to transport the printing plate 12 to the right,
By abutting against the reference pin 36, the position of the printing plate 12 in the right direction is determined. As a result, as shown in FIG. 3, the printing plate 12 is fully positioned in the exposure unit 18. Further, the arrangement positions of the pair of positioning pins 52 are the same as the arrangement positions of the pair of positioning pins 48 in the front-back direction and the left-right direction, and the printing plate 12 that has been finally positioned in the punch section 16 has the pair of positioning pins 48 and The position where the reference pin 36 abuts and the position where the printing plate 12 that is finally positioned in the exposure section 18 abuts the pair of positioning pins 52 and the reference pin 36 are the same position.

As shown in FIG. 2, a plate-like front end chuck 54 is provided on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50 in the vicinity of the pair of positioning pins 52. A substantially central portion of the front end chuck 54 in the front-rear direction is rotatably supported by the rotary drum 50, and an elastic force is applied to the front side of the front end chuck 54 in a direction away from the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50.

A mounting cam 56 is provided above the front end chuck 54.
The mounting cam 56 presses the front side of the front end chuck 54, so that the rear side of the front end chuck 54 is separated from the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50. As a result, the front end of the printing plate 12 conveyed from the plate feed guide 20 onto the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50 as described above is inserted between the rear side of the front end chuck 54 and the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50. The main positioning of the printing plate 12 is performed. In addition, the printing plate 12
After the main positioning of the front end chuck 54 is completed, the mounting cam 56 is rotated to release the pressing force on the front side of the front end chuck 54, so that the rear side of the front end chuck 54 presses the front end of the printing plate 12 by the elastic force to rotate the rotary drum. The front edge of the printing plate 12 is held on the 50th circumferential surface. Further, the printing plate 12 is provided on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50.
When the front end of the rotary drum 50 is held, the rotary drum 50 moves toward the arrow A in FIG.
And the printing plate 12 is wound around the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50.

A squeeze roller 58 is arranged near the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50 on the side of the mounting cam 56 in the direction of arrow A in FIG. When the squeeze roller 58 is moved to the rotary drum 50 side, the squeeze roller 58 is rotated while pressing the printing plate 12 wound around the rotary drum 50 toward the rotary drum 50, and the printing plate 12 is brought into close contact with the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50. Let

A rear end chuck attaching / detaching unit 60 is arranged near the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50 between the mounting cam 56 and the squeeze roller 58. The rear end chuck attaching / detaching unit 60 has a shaft 62, and the shaft 62 is movable toward the rotary drum 50.
A trailing end chuck 64 is attached to the tip of the shaft 62. When the trailing end of the printing plate 12 wound around the rotating drum 50 faces the trailing end chuck attaching / detaching unit 60, the shaft 62 moves the trailing end chuck 64 to the rotating drum 50. The trailing end chuck 64 is detached from the shaft 62 at the same time as it is moved to the side and mounted at a predetermined position on the rotary drum 50. As a result, the trailing edge chuck 64 presses the trailing edge of the printing plate 12,
The rear end of the printing plate 12 is held on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50.

As described above, when the front end and the rear end of the printing plate 12 are held on the rotating drum 50 by the front end chuck 54 and the rear end chuck 64, the squeeze roller 58 is separated from the rotating drum 50 and then the rotating drum 50. Is rotated at a high speed at a predetermined rotation speed.

As shown in FIG. 4, a recording head portion 66 as an image recording portion is disposed near the rear side of the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50, and a female screw 68 is formed on the recording head portion 66. There is. Further, a shaft 70 is arranged near the rear side of the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50 along the axial direction (left-right direction) of the rotary drum 50, and one end (right end in the present embodiment) of the shaft 70 is provided. A pulse motor (stepping motor) 72 is connected, and the shaft 70 can be rotated by driving the pulse motor 72. A male screw 74, which is a ball screw, is formed on the outer periphery of the shaft 70. The male screw 74 has a female screw 68 of the recording head 66.
Are screwed together, and the recording head portion 66 is supported in a state of standing upright on the shaft 70. Here, the pulse motor 72
Is driven to rotate the shaft 70, and the recording head portion 66 moves in the axial direction of the rotary drum 50 while maintaining the state of standing upright with respect to the shaft 70.

The recording head portion 66 is provided with an origin position detection sensor 76, and the origin position detection sensor 76 is located at a predetermined position near the rotary drum 50 and is an origin mark 78.
Is detected, the recording head unit 66 is arranged at the origin position (home position).

Here, the recording head unit 66 irradiates the rotating drum 50, which is rotated at a high speed as described above, with the light beam modulated based on the read image data in synchronization with the rotation of the rotating drum 50. Irradiate from the lens 80,
As a result, the printing plate 12 is exposed based on the image data. In this exposure processing, while rotating the rotary drum 50 at high speed (main scanning), the recording head unit 66 is moved to the rotary drum 5
This is so-called scanning exposure, in which it is moved in the 0 axis direction (sub-scanning).

At this time, the reference pin 36 is located at the origin position (the right end portion of the plate feed guide 20) moved to the left for positioning and the origin position with respect to the reference pin 36 located at the origin position. W + F obtained by adding the offset amount F of the recording head unit 66 to the right of the irradiation lens 80 is set as the initial moving distance from the origin position of the recording head unit 66 to the left, and the image recording of the printing plate 12 ( The (drawing) start position (exposure start position) is determined.

Further, the rotational position of the rotary drum 50 is determined by calculating the rotational position data by an encoder (not shown) arranged on the rotary shaft 50A of the rotary drum 50.

When the scanning exposure of the printing plate 12 is completed, the rotary drum 50 is temporarily stopped at the position where the rear end chuck 64 faces the shaft 62, and the shaft 62 removes the rear end chuck 64 from the rotary drum 50. (The rear end chuck 64 is attached to the shaft 62), and the pressing of the rear end of the printing plate 12 by the rear end chuck 64 is released. Further, after the transport guide unit 14 is rotated and the plate discharge guide 22 is made to correspond to the exposure unit 18, the rotary drum 5
0 after being tangentially opposed to the rotary drum 50,
When the printing plate 12 is rotated in the direction of arrow B, the printing plate 12 is ejected from the rear end side to the plate ejection guide 22. At this time, the mounting cam 56 is rotated to press the front side of the front end chuck 54, so that the pressing of the front end of the printing plate 12 by the rear side of the front end chuck 54 is released. Further, the printing plate 12 is a plate discharge guide 22.
Then, the transport guide unit 14 is rotated,
The printing plate 12 is ejected from the plate ejection guide 22, and thereby the printing plate 12 is conveyed to a developing device or a printing device (not shown) in the next step adjacent to the printing plate automatic exposure device 10.

Next, the operation of this embodiment will be described.

First, the printing plate 12 is placed on the plate feed guide 20. At this time, so-called manual feeding may be used, or feeding may be performed by an automatic sheet feeding device or the like.

The printing plate 12 on the plate feed guide 20 is placed in a state where the placement position and the inclination with respect to the plate feed guide 20 are relatively rough. In this state, the printing plate 12 is moved forward by the transport roller 24. The printing plate 12 is tentatively positioned by transporting it to the front end of the printing plate 12 against the pair of positioning pins 30 and then transporting the printing plate 12 to the right by the transport pin 42 to hit the reference pin 36. To be done.

In this temporary positioning state, when the transport guide unit 14 is rotated to make the plate feed guide 20 correspond to the punch section 16 and the pair of positioning pins 30 is lowered from the upper surface of the plate feed guide 20, the transport roller 24 is moved. The printing plate 12 is conveyed forward by means of which the front end of the printing plate 12 is brought into contact with the pair of positioning pins 48 of the punch section 16, and then the conveyance pin 42 conveys the printing plate 12 to the right to project to the reference pin 36. By applying, the printing plate 12 is permanently positioned in the punch section 16 while being placed on the plate supply guide 20. After a predetermined number of punch holes are punched by the punching device 46 at the front end of the printing plate 12 that has been finally positioned in this way, the printing plate 12 is returned to the plate feeding guide 20 by the reverse rotation of the conveying roller 24, and Positioning pin 3
0 is projected from the upper surface of the plate supply guide 20, and the printing plate 12 is provisionally positioned again in the same manner as above.

Further, in this temporary positioning state, the transport guide unit 14 is rotated so that the plate feed guide 20 is exposed.
No. 8 and the pair of positioning pins 30 are lowered from the upper surface of the plate feed guide 20, the printing plate 12 is transported forward by the transport roller 24 and the front end of the printing plate 12 is paired with the pair of positioning pins 52 of the rotary drum 50. Then, the printing plate 12 is conveyed to the right by the conveying pin 42 and abutted against the reference pin 36, so that the printing plate 12 is placed in the plate feeding guide 20 in the exposure unit 18 and is fully positioned. To be done. The printing plate 12 that is book-positioned in this way
The front end and the rear end are held on the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50 by the front end chuck 54 and the rear end chuck 64, respectively, and the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50 is closely attached to the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50 by the squeeze roller 58. Wrapped around the surface. After that, the rotary drum 50 is rotated at a high speed, and the recording head unit 66 performs the exposure process.

When the exposure process is completed, the transport guide unit 14 is rotated to make the plate discharge guide 22 correspond to the rotary drum 50, and the front end chuck 54 and the rear end chuck 64 move the printing plate 12 to the peripheral surface of the rotary drum 50. While releasing the holding, the printing plate 12 is discharged from the rotary drum 50 to the plate discharge guide 22. Then, the conveyance guide unit 14 is rotated to convey the printing plate 12 from the plate ejection guide 22 to the developing device or the printing device.

Here, the position where the printing plate 12 abuts on the pair of positioning pins 48 and the reference pin 36 when the printing plate 12 is fully positioned in the punch section 16 and the printing plate 12 is exposed to the exposure section 1
A pair of positioning pins 5 when the main positioning is performed in
2 and the position where it abuts against the reference pin 36 are set at the same position. Therefore, even if the end surface of the printing plate 12 is curved, the main positioning position of the printing plate 12 in the punch section 16 and the main positioning position of the printing plate 12 in the exposure section 18 can be matched, and a predetermined number of punches can be punched. It is possible to match the exposure position (image recording position) of the printing plate 12 with the printing position of the printing plate 12 defined by the holes.

Further, even if a notch is not formed in the printing plate 12 as in the conventional case, the main positioning position of the printing plate 12 in the punch section 16 (that is, the printing position) and the main positioning position of the printing plate 12 in the exposure section 18 ( That is, since the exposure position can be matched, the conventional expensive notch punching device is not required, and the device can be made inexpensive.

Next, according to the flow chart shown in FIG.
The image recording start routine of the printing plate 12 will be described.

First, in step 100, the plate feeding guide 20
When the size of the printing plate 12 placed on the sheet is recognized, in step 102, the printing plate 1 recognized in step 100 is printed.
The reference pin 36 is moved leftward from the starting position according to the size of 2. Further, in step 104, it is determined whether the recording head unit 66 is located at the origin position.

When the recording head portion 66 is not located at the origin position in step 104, the pulse motor 72 is driven to move the recording head portion 66 in step 106, and in step 104, the recording head portion 66 is again executed. Determines whether or not is located at the origin position.

On the other hand, in step 104, the recording head unit 66
Is located at the origin position, step 108
Then, in step 102, the movement distance W from the starting position of the reference pin 36 to the left and the recording head unit 66 arranged at the origin position with respect to the reference pin 36 arranged at the starting position.
Of the irradiation lens 80 to the right, and the initial movement distance (W + F) from the origin position of the recording head unit 66 to the left are calculated to determine the image recording start position of the printing plate 12. To do.

Then, in step 110, the pulse motor 72 is driven to move the recording head section 66 to the left,
In step 112, it is determined whether the recording head unit 66 is arranged at the image recording start position of the printing plate 12.

In step 112, when the recording head unit 66 is not located at the image recording start position of the printing plate 12,
The drive of the pulse motor 72 is maintained and the recording head unit 66 is moved, and it is determined again in step 112 whether or not the recording head unit 66 is arranged at the image recording start position of the printing plate 12.

On the other hand, in step 112, the recording head unit 6
When 6 is placed at the image recording start position of the printing plate 12, the driving of the pulse motor 72 is stopped in step 114 to stop the movement of the recording head unit 66, and further, in step 116, the printing plate 12 is stopped. The image recording start enable signal is output and the image recording start routine of the printing plate 12 is ended.

In this way, the initial moving distance from the origin position of the recording head unit 66 is calculated by the distance that the reference pin 36 moves from the starting point position according to the size of the printing plate 12, and the image recording start position of the printing plate 12 is calculated. Therefore, the image recording start position of the printing plate 12 can be accurately determined.

In this embodiment, the pair of positioning pins 30, 48, 52 are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction. However, the pair of positioning pins are arranged in parallel in the left-right direction (axial direction of the rotary drum). It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which they are not arranged.

Further, in this embodiment, the pair of positioning pins 30 and 4 are used as the first abutting member and the second abutting member.
Although the configuration using 8 and 52 is used, instead of these, a configuration using a flat positioning plate as the first abutting member, the second abutting member, or the like may be used.

Further, in the present embodiment, the printing plate 12
The configuration may be such that the transport pin 42 is not moved when temporarily positioning. Even in this case, the punch section 16 and the exposure section 1
When the printing plate 12 is fully positioned by the transfer pin 4,
2 allows the printing plate 12 to abut the reference pin 36.

Further, in the present embodiment, the plate feeding guide 2
One plate 0 is provided to convey the printing plate 12 from the plate feed guide 20 to the punch section 16 and the exposure section 18. However, two plate feed guides (plates) are provided so that the punch section and the exposure section are exposed from each plate feed guide. The printing plate (sheet material) may be transported to and positioned in the unit.

[0068]

In the sheet material positioning device according to the first aspect of the invention, the sheet material abuts the first abutting member at at least two points and abuts the third abutting member, and the sheet material a second abutting member. Hit at least two points and third
Since the position where the sheet abuts on the abutting member is set at the same position, even if the end surface of the sheet material is bent, the positioning position of the sheet material by the first abutting member and the third abutting member,
The positioning position of the sheet material by the second abutting member and the third abutting member can be matched. Furthermore, since the above-mentioned two positioning positions can be made to coincide with each other without forming a notch in the sheet material as in the conventional case, the conventional expensive notch forming device is not required and the device can be made inexpensive.

According to another aspect of the image recording apparatus of the present invention, the printing plate hits the first abutting member at at least two points and hits the third abutting member, and the printing plate hits the second abutting member by at least two points. Since the position where the printing plate comes into contact and the position where the printing plate comes into contact with the third abutting member are set at the same position, the printing plate is positioned by the first abutting member and the third abutting member even if the end face of the printing plate is bent. It is possible to match the position and the positioning position of the printing plate with the second abutting member and the third abutting member. Further, since the two positioning positions can be made to coincide with each other without forming a notch in the printing plate as in the conventional case, the conventional expensive notch forming device is not required and the device can be made inexpensive. Further, since the initial moving distance from the origin position of the image recording unit is calculated by the distance that the third abutting member has moved from the starting position according to the size of the printing plate, the image recording start position of the printing plate is determined. It is possible to accurately determine the image recording start position of the printing plate.

In the image recording apparatus according to the third aspect, the first
Since the punch holes are punched in the printing plate positioned by the abutting member and the third abutting member, the image recording position of the printing plate can be aligned with the printing position of the printing plate defined by the punch holes.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view showing an automatic printing plate exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view showing an automatic printing plate exposure apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a plan view showing the positioning of the printing plate in the printing plate automatic exposure apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view showing a main part of the printing plate automatic exposure apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a printing plate image recording start routine in the printing plate automatic exposure apparatus according to the embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10 Automatic printing plate exposure device 12 Printing plate (sheet material) 20 Plate feeding guide (plate) 24 transport rollers (first transport means) 30 Positioning pin 36 Reference pin (3rd abutting member) 42 transport pin (second transport means) 48 Positioning pin (first abutting member) 52 Positioning pin (second abutting member) 66 recording head unit (image recording unit)

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continued Front Page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification Code FI Theme Coat (Reference) G03F 9/00 G03F 9/00 G

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A flat plate-shaped plate on which a sheet material is placed, and a first feeding means which is provided corresponding to the sheet material placed on the plate and which feeds the sheet material in a predetermined direction, A first abutting member that is provided on a predetermined direction side of the plate and that determines the position of the sheet material in the first direction by abutting the sheet material conveyed in the predetermined direction at at least two points; and a predetermined direction of the plate A second abutting member which is provided on a side and determines the position of the sheet material in the second direction by abutting the sheet material conveyed in a predetermined direction at at least two points, and the sheet material is the first abutting member. The sheet material is conveyed in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction when the sheet material abuts against the second direction, and the sheet material is conveyed to a fourth direction perpendicular to the second direction when the sheet material abuts the second abutment member. Second conveying means for conveying the sheet material to the third direction and the fourth direction side of the plate, and the sheet material conveyed in the third direction or the fourth direction collides with the sheet material in the third direction or A sheet material positioning device comprising: a third abutting member that determines a position in a fourth direction, wherein the sheet material abuts the first abutting member at at least two points and abuts the third abutting member. The sheet material positioning device, wherein the position and the position where the sheet material abuts the second abutting member at at least two points and abuts the third abutting member at the same position. 2. A flat plate-shaped plate on which a printing plate is mounted, and a first transporting unit that is provided corresponding to the printing plate mounted on the plate and transports the printing plate in a predetermined direction. A first abutting member that is provided on a predetermined direction side of the plate and that determines the position of the printing plate in the first direction by abutting the printing plate that is conveyed in the predetermined direction at at least two points; A second abutting member that is provided on a side and that positions the printing plate in the second direction by abutting the printing plate that is conveyed in a predetermined direction at at least two points; and the printing plate is the first abutting member. When the printing plate hits the second abutting member, the printing plate is conveyed in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction, and when the printing plate hits the second abutting member, the printing plate is moved in a fourth direction perpendicular to the second direction. Second carrier to transport to And the printing plates, which are provided on the third and fourth sides of the plate and are conveyed in the third direction or the fourth direction while moving from the starting position according to the size of the printing plate, collide with each other. A third abutting member that determines the position of the printing plate in the third direction or a fourth direction; and a third abutting member that is provided so as to be movable from the origin position and abuts the second abutting member at at least two points. An image recording device comprising: an image recording unit that records an image on the printing plate positioned by abutting against the first plate, the printing plate abutting the first abutting member at at least two points and the third abutting member. The position where it abuts against the member and the position where the printing plate abuts against the second abutting member at at least two points and abuts against the third abutting member are the same position, and the third abutting member is the starting point. An image recording apparatus, wherein an image recording start position of the printing plate is determined by calculating an initial moving distance from an origin position of the image recording unit based on a distance moved from a position according to the size of the printing plate. . 3. The printing plate which is positioned by abutting at least two points on the first abutting member and abutting on the third abutting member is punched with punch holes used for positioning in the printing process of the printing plate. The image recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein