JP2005096180A - Plate bending device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a quick positioning possible to a printing plate for monochromatic printing and, at the same time, make a highly precise positioning possible to a printing plate for color printing. <P>SOLUTION: In a bender, before a punching and plate-bending treatment, whether a printing plate concerned is one for monochromatic printing or one for color printing is set. When the first positioning is applied to the printing plate, the confirmation of whether the printing plate for color printing or not is executed at steps 100-106. In this case, when the printing plate is confirmed as the one for color printing, further the second positioning is applied to the printing plate. After the finish of the positioning, the punching and plate-bending treatment is executed at steps 108 and 110. As a result, to the printing plate for monochromatic printing, the quick positioning can be performed by a first positioning means and, to the printing plate for color printing, the highly precise positioning becomes possible by the second positioning together with the first positioning. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a plate making apparatus for producing a printing plate used for newspaper printing or the like, and more particularly, to a plate bending apparatus that performs a punching hole for positioning or a plate bending process on a printing plate.

  A printing plate (photosensitive lithographic printing plate) used for a printing plate for newspaper printing or the like has a photosensitive layer provided on the surface of a thin support such as aluminum. Examples of such a printing plate include a printing plate for CTP (Computer to Plate) processing such as an OPC (Organic Photconductor) printing plate using an organic photoconductor as a photosensitive layer.

  For example, in a direct plate-making system that creates a printing plate using an OPC printing plate, an electrostatic latent image is formed on the OPC printing plate by charging and exposure, and then developed with a liquid developer composed of toner particles and a carrier liquid in the development process. After drying, the toner is heated and fixed in a fixing step to form a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image.

  Thereafter, an unnecessary photosensitive layer is removed by performing an etching process, and a halftone image corresponding to the exposure image is formed.

  On the other hand, in the plate making process, the printing plate is positioned on, for example, a surface plate, and the printing plate is mounted on a plate cylinder of a rotary press, and a punching process and a plate bending process are performed for positioning. In the punching process and the plate bending process, punch holes or notches are formed at predetermined positions on the end portion of the printing plate in the vertical direction of the image formed on the printing plate, and each of the both end portions is bent into a predetermined shape. .

  By the way, when performing monochrome printing such as monochrome, it is performed using one printing plate. For this reason, the positioning accuracy when performing the punching process and the plate bending process may be low.

  On the other hand, in order to perform color printing, a printing plate for each color of Y (yellow), M (magenta), C (cyan), and K (black) is formed, and overprinting is performed using each color plate. ing. At this time, if the positioning accuracy of the printing plate when performing the punching process and the plate bending process is low, color misregistration may occur on the printed matter when color printing is performed.

  For this reason, it is necessary to position the printing plate with high accuracy when performing punch processing and plate bending processing on printing plates of C, M, Y, and K colors for color printing.

  From this point, when the printing plate is exposed, a marker mark is formed at a predetermined position of the printing plate according to the exposure image, and an XY-θ table is provided on the surface plate on which the printing plate is placed, The printing plate is moved by the XY-θ table so that the marker mark of the placed printing plate is in a predetermined position, so that it is positioned with high accuracy on the surface plate of the printing plate and formed on the printing plate. There has been proposed a punch bender that enables high-precision processing on an image (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

  Further, when positioning the printing plate, the positioning error with respect to the printing plate is repeated a plurality of times so that the positioning error falls within a predetermined range (for example, within ± 10 μm).

  However, when making a printing plate for monochrome printing, a plate making apparatus for making a printing plate for color printing is used, and even in the punch plate bending process, the printing plate for monochrome printing is printed for color printing. It is positioned in the same way as the plate.

For this reason, there is a problem that it takes time to position a printing plate for monochrome printing. Even if the positioning accuracy is repeated a plurality of times, the positioning error may not be within the allowable range, and an alarm process indicating a positioning failure may be performed, and the plate making operation may be stopped.
JP 2002-144529 A

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-mentioned facts. When performing a punch plate bending process, the printing plate for color printing can be positioned with high accuracy, and the printing plate for monochrome printing can be used. In contrast, an object of the present invention is to propose a plate bending apparatus that can perform smooth positioning and smooth processing.

  In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides a punch for positioning at the time of printing with respect to a printing plate on which a color printing image is formed and a printing plate on which a monochrome printing image is formed by a punch plate bending means. A plate bending apparatus for performing processing or plate bending processing, wherein the printing plate on which an image for monochrome printing is formed can be positioned with respect to the punch plate bending unit, and color printing A second positioning unit capable of positioning the printing plate on which the image is formed with respect to the punch plate bending unit; and the first positioning unit or the second positioning unit according to the image formed on the printing plate. Selecting means for selecting a positioning means.

  According to the present invention, the second positioning means capable of positioning with respect to the printing plate on which the image for color printing is formed and the first positioning means capable of positioning with respect to the printing plate on which the monochrome image is formed are provided. Then, the selecting means selects the first or second positioning means in accordance with the image formed on the printing plate and performs positioning.

  Thus, quick positioning can be performed on a printing plate on which a monochrome image is formed, and high-precision positioning can be performed on a printing plate on which a color image is formed. be able to.

  In the present invention as described above, the width of the printing plate is shifted to a positioning pin provided at a predetermined position facing the one end side in the width direction of the printing plate and the one end side in the vertical direction of the printing plate. It is only necessary to perform positioning by bringing one end side in the direction and one end side in the top-and-bottom direction into contact, and the position of the index formed by the second positioning unit on the printing plate according to the image position And the printing plate may be positioned by moving the printing plate in the vertical direction, the width direction, or the rotation direction so that the index is a predetermined position with respect to the punch plate bending means.

  Further, the present invention is characterized in that the second positioning means positions the printing plate positioned by the first positioning means.

  According to the present invention, positioning is performed by the first positioning means, and the printing plate on which the color image is formed is further positioned as temporary positioning by the second positioning means.

  Thereby, the printing plate can be smoothly positioned by the second positioning means.

  In the present invention, the selection unit selects the first positioning unit or the second positioning unit based on information input from an exposure unit that performs image exposure on the printing plate. It ’s fine.

  On the other hand, the present invention is a plate bending apparatus for performing positioning punch processing and plate bending processing at the time of printing by a punch plate bending means on a printing plate on which an index corresponding to an image position is formed together with an image, Formed on the printing plate on the moving means, moving means for placing the printing plate in the vertical direction, width direction and rotational direction, temporary positioning means for arranging the printing plate on the moving means, and Detecting means for detecting a deviation between the index position and a reference position set for the punch plate bending means, and the index position of the printing plate and the reference position according to an image formed on the printing plate And a positioning control means for positioning the printing plate by operating the moving means so that the deviation detected by the detecting means becomes the error range set by the setting means. And, it may include a.

  According to the present invention, the printing plate is arranged on the moving means, the index formed on the printing plate is detected, and the displacement of the index position with respect to the reference position depends on the image formed on the printing plate. When the error range exceeds the set error range, the moving means moves the printing plate based on the deviation detected by the detecting means.

  Thereby, the printing plate can be appropriately positioned according to the image formed on the printing plate.

  In the present invention, it is sufficient that the setting means sets the error range based on whether the image formed on the printing plate is a monochrome image or a color image.

  That is, a printing plate on which a color image is formed requires high positioning accuracy, and a printing plate on which a monochrome image is formed is allowed even if the positioning accuracy is lower than this, so it is formed on the printing plate. An error range can be set by determining whether the image being processed is a color image or a monochrome image.

  As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to quickly position a printing plate on which a monochrome image is formed by using the first positioning means, and also to a printing plate on which an image for color printing is formed. On the other hand, highly accurate positioning is possible.

  In the present invention, since the printing plate positioned by the first positioning means is further positioned by the second positioning means, an excellent effect that high-precision positioning can be performed smoothly is obtained.

  Further, in the present invention, since positioning can be performed with accuracy according to the image formed on the printing plate, it is possible to smoothly position the printing plate.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a plate making system 10 applied to the present embodiment.

  In the plate making system 10, a printing plate 12 is subjected to image exposure to produce a printing plate for newspaper printing. A plate feeding step 14, an exposure step 16, a developing step 18, a punching step 20, and a plate bending step. 22, and the downstream side of the plate bending step 22 is an accumulation step 24.

  The printing plate 12 processed by the plate making system 10 has a general configuration in which a photosensitive layer is formed on the surface of a support formed in a thin rectangular shape with aluminum or the like. Further, as shown in FIG. 2A, the printing plate 12 has a 2L1W size printing plate 12 (printing plate 12A) capable of exposing a newspaper one page size image 26 in a vertical arrangement, and FIG. 3A. As shown in the figure, it is possible to process a printing plate 12 (printing plate 12B) of 2L2W size that can expose an image 26 of one newspaper page arranged vertically and horizontally. As shown in FIG. 3B, the printing plate 12B can be formed by vertically arranging images 28 for one page of newspaper spread.

  Note that the images 26 and 28 are formed such that the vertical direction is along the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 12. In the following, the vertical direction, which is the longitudinal direction of the printing plate 12, is indicated by the arrow L direction. The width direction of the printing plate 12 orthogonal to the direction is defined as an arrow W direction.

  Further, the length of the printing plate 12A along the vertical direction is 1095 mm to 1124 mm, the width size is 387 mm to 405 mm, and the length of the printing plate 12B is 1095 mm along the vertical direction. It is ˜1124 mm, and the width dimension is 797 mm to 810 mm.

  As shown in FIG. 1, a plate feeding device 30 is provided in the plate feeding step 14. The plate feeder 30 is loaded with a skid 32 on which a large number of printing plates 12 are mounted. The plate feeder 30 takes out the printing plate 12 on the skid 32 from the uppermost layer. To the exposure step 16. Each of the printing plate 12A and the printing plate 12B can be loaded into the plate feeding device 30, and the plate feeding device 30 can print the printing plate 12 of the size requested from the exposure step 16 (printing plate 12A or printing plate 12A). The plate 12B) is taken out and sent to the exposure step 16.

  An exposure device 34 is provided in the exposure process 16. In the exposure device 34, image exposure is performed on the printing plate 12 supplied from the plate supply device 30. The exposure device 34 can employ a configuration corresponding to the printing plate 12 on which image exposure is performed. That is, in the plate making system 10, the printing plate 12 corresponding to the exposure device 34 is used.

  The printing plate 12 is a so-called computer plate that has been used in the past so that an original film on which an exposure image is recorded is brought into close contact and irradiated from a high-intensity light source, and image exposure is performed by light transmitted through the original film. In addition to the national plate, there are a thermal plate, a photopolymer plate, and an OPC plate in which a photopolymerization layer is used as a photosensitive layer.

  The thermal plate, photopolymer plate, and OPC plate can be applied to CTP (Computer to Plate) processing. In CTP processing, a layout image for newspaper is created and created on an image processing terminal such as a personal computer. The printing plate 12 is scanned and exposed with a light beam modulated based on the digital image data of the layout image.

  Conventionally known exposure methods such as an inner drum type, an outer drum type, and a flat bed type can be applied to the printing plate 12 for CTP processing.

  In the present embodiment, a printing plate 12 for CTP processing such as a thermal plate, a photopolymer plate, an OPC plate, or the like is used as the printing plate 12, and based on this, the exposure device 34 uses this printing plate. 12 is configured such that an appropriate exposure process can be performed.

  In recent years, the color of newspapers has also been changed to color. When color printing is performed, layout images created on an image processing terminal are converted into C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and BK (sumi) color components. The digital image data decomposed into two is created, and a printing plate on which images of the respective color components are formed is created.

  In the plate making system 10 applied to the present embodiment, it is possible to create a printing plate for monochrome printing and a printing plate for each color of Y plate, M plate, C plate, and BK plate for color printing. Further, the exposure apparatus 34 applied to the present embodiment can perform exposure processing on both the 2L1W size printing plate 12A and the 2L2W size printing plate 12B.

  A plate making management computer 36 is provided in the plate making system 10 applied to the present embodiment, and digital image data and plate making conditions of an image formed on the printing plate 12 are input from the plate making management computer 36 to the exposure device 34. It has become so. The exposure device 34 performs image exposure on the printing plate 12 based on plate making conditions and digital image data input from the plate making management computer 36.

  At this time, monochrome printing plate data is created by inputting monochrome printing image data, and color printing image data (image data of each color of C, M, Y, and BK) is input. As a result, a printing plate for color printing is created.

  Further, the exposure device 34 requests the plate feeding device 30 for a printing plate 12 having a size corresponding to the plate making conditions. Note that the plate feeding device 30 and the exposure device 34 may be formed integrally.

  On the other hand, the plate making management computer 36 forms image data 52A and 52B on the printing plate 12 as indices that enable the positions of the images 26 and 28 to be specified at fixed positions set in advance with respect to the images 26 and 28. Is generated.

  Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 2A, 3A, and 3B, the registration marks 52A and 52B are formed on the printing plate 12 together with the image 26 or the image 28. By using the register marks 52A and 52B, the formation positions of the images 26 and 28 can be specified.

  In addition, although arbitrary shapes can be used as the register marks 52A and 52B, in the present embodiment, as an example, a cross-shaped register mark 52A is formed on the ground side in the vertical direction, and a bar shape along the vertical direction is formed on the top side. The registration mark 52B is formed.

  When the exposure device 34 performs image exposure on the printing plate 12, the exposure device 34 sends the printing plate 12 to the developing step 18. The developing step 18 includes an automatic developing device 38, and the printing plate 12 sent out from the exposure device 34 is sent to the developing step 18 and is developed by the automatic developing device 38.

  When the plate making system 10 processes an OPC printing plate as the printing plate 12, a developing fixing device is provided in the developing step 18, and a toner image corresponding to the electrostatic latent image formed in the exposure step is formed on the printing plate 12. The printing plate 12 on which the toner image is formed is sent to the automatic developing device 38. When the plate making system 10 processes a thermal plate or a photopolymer plate as the printing plate 12, the printing plate 12 after the exposure processing is sent to the automatic developing device 38 and developed.

  The automatic developing device 38 has a general configuration corresponding to the type of the printing plate 12 and is immersed in a developing solution while the printing plate 12 is being transported, and the photosensitive layer that has become unnecessary due to exposure is removed from the printing plate 12. Thereafter, a rinsing process is performed to wash away the developer adhering to the front and back surfaces of the printing plate 12 by a development process, and a desensitizing process is performed to apply a gum solution to the front and back surfaces of the printing plate 12. The printing plate 12 subjected to the desensitization treatment is dried and sent out from the automatic developing device 38.

  In the present embodiment, the exposure device 34 feeds the printing plate 12 along the width direction, so that the automatic developing device 38 transports the printing plate 12 along the width direction. The development process is performed. Further, also on the downstream side from the developing step 18, the printing plate 12 is processed while being conveyed along the width direction thereof.

  On the downstream side of the automatic developing device 38 (developing process 18), a punching process 20 and a plate bending process 22 are provided.

  As shown in FIGS. 2A, 3A, and 3B, in the punching process 20, notches 44 (44A, 44B) are formed at both ends of the printing plate 12 along the vertical direction. To do. Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, in the plate bending step 22, bending portions 50A and 50B are formed by bending a predetermined shape on both ends of the printing plate 12 in the vertical direction. 2A, 3A, and 3B, the bending position (plate bending position) of the printing plate 12 in the plate bending step 22 is indicated by a broken line.

  As shown in FIG. 1, an accumulation step 24 is provided downstream of the plate bending step 22, and the printing plate 12 after the punch / plate bending process is completed is accumulated in a stocker (not shown) as a printing plate. Then, it is conveyed to the printing process.

  The printing plate 12 can be mounted on a plate cylinder of a printing machine in a printing process by forming a notch 44 at a predetermined position on both ends in the vertical direction and performing a bending process of a predetermined shape.

  As shown in FIG. 4, in the printing process, the printing plate 12 is wound around the plate cylinder 46 so that the top-to-bottom direction is along the circumferential direction. A groove 48 is formed in the outer periphery of the plate cylinder 46. The groove 48 is formed along the axial direction of the plate cylinder 46 in the groove direction.

  As shown in FIG. 2 (B), the printing plate 12 has a bending portion 50A formed on one end side (for example, the ground side) on the top and bottom sides of the holding side, and the other end side in the top and bottom direction on the holding bottom side. A bent portion 50B is formed.

  As shown in FIG. 4, when the printing plate 12 is wound around the plate cylinder 46, the front end of the bending portion 50 </ b> A on the gripping side is inserted into the groove 48 and hooked, thereby extending along the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder 46. Positioning is done. In addition, the printing plate 12 is attached to the plate cylinder 46 by being tightly wound around the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 46 and then inserting and fixing the bent portion 50B on the gripping end side into the groove 48. The

  The plate cylinder 46 is provided with a positioning pin (not shown) at a predetermined position. When the printing plate 12 is mounted on the plate cylinder 46, the holding side (bending portion 50A side) of the printing plate 12 is added. By inserting this pin into the notch 44 formed on each of the bottom side (bending portion 50B), the printing plate 12 is positioned in the width direction with respect to the axial direction of the plate cylinder 46. .

  The spacing between the positioning pins along the axial direction of the plate cylinder 46 is slightly wider than the width dimension of the printing plate 12A, so that, for example, four printing plates 12A are mounted on the plate cylinder 46. In this case, the adjacent printing plates 12A do not overlap each other.

  Further, in the notches 44 formed in the printing plate 12B shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B, the interval along the width direction is adjusted to the interval between the positioning pins provided in the plate cylinder 46. . In the printing plate 12B, the notch width of one notch 44 (notch 44A) is slightly wider than the notch width of the other notch 44 (notch 44B). When it is attached to 46, distortion (deflection along the width direction) is prevented from occurring.

  In the printing process, when color printing is performed, an image formed by a plate of each color of C, M, Y, and BK is overlapped and recorded on a printing paper (not shown), thereby forming a color image on the printing paper. I have to.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the plate making system 10 applied to the present embodiment includes a punch plate bending apparatus (hereinafter referred to as “bender 40”) that integrally performs the processing in the punching step 20 and the processing in the plate bending step 22. ) Is provided.

  Here, the vendor 40 applied to this embodiment will be described in detail. In the following, the conveying direction of the printing plate 12 is indicated by the direction of arrow A. As shown in FIG. 1, the vendor 40 uses the automatic developing device 38 disposed upstream of the arrow A direction to print the printing plate. 12 is sent, and the printing plate 12 is sent downstream.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the bender 40 includes a substantially box-shaped casing 200, and shafts 202 and 204 are arranged in pairs in the casing 200. The shafts 202 and 204 are arranged along the vertical direction of the printing plate 12 whose axial direction is orthogonal to the conveying direction of the printing plate 12, and the shaft 202 is a bearing on the upstream side in the conveying direction of the printing plate 12. The shaft 204 is rotatably mounted via the shaft 206, and is provided on the downstream side in the transport direction of the printing plate 12.

  Four pulleys 208 are attached to the shaft 202 so as to rotate integrally, and a pulley 210 is rotatably attached to the shaft 204 so as to face each of the pulleys 208, and between the pulleys 208, 210. The endless conveyor belt 212 is wound around.

  The printing plate 12 is fed from the automatic developing device 38 onto the conveying belt 212 of the vendor 40, so that the intermediate portion in the vertical direction is stretched over the conveying belt 212 and supported.

  In addition, a conveyance motor 214 is attached to the lower side of the shaft 202 in the casing 200. A gear 216 is attached to the transport motor 214, and a gear 218 is attached to the shaft 202 so as to face the gear 216, and the gear 218 meshes with the gear 216.

  Thereby, the driving force of the transport motor 214 is transmitted to the shaft 202, and the transport motor 214 is driven, so that the printing plate 12 placed on the transport belt 212 is transported to the shaft 204 side.

  As shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6, the fixed surface plates 220, 222, and 224 are disposed on the bender 40 between the conveyance belts 212 adjacent to each other. In the present embodiment, the ground side in the top / bottom direction of the printing plate 12 is a fixed surface plate 220, the top side is a fixed surface plate 224, and the central portion is a fixed surface plate 222.

  Each of the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 is formed in a substantially band plate shape, and is arranged so that the longitudinal direction is along the transport direction of the printing plate 12. Further, the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 are arranged to be offset toward the shaft 204 side.

  In the vendor 40, the printing plate 12 is supported on the conveyance belt 212 and moved onto the fixed surface plates 220 to 224, and further, is sent out of the machine of the vendor 40 from the fixed surface plates 220 to 224. As shown in FIG. 6, a guide plate 226 is disposed between the pulley 208 of the shaft 202 (both not shown in FIG. 7, refer to FIG. 6) and the pulley 210 of the shaft 204. 226 prevents the conveyor belt 212 on which the printing plate 12 is placed from being bent.

  The fixed platen 220 and the fixed platen 224 are provided with stopper pins 228 that can be projected and retracted at predetermined positions on the shaft 204 side. As shown in FIG. 7, an air cylinder 230 is provided on the lower surface side of the fixed surface plates 220 and 224, and a stopper pin 228 is attached to the air cylinder 230. The stopper pin 228 is usually accommodated in the fixed surface plates 220 and 224, but when the air cylinder 230 is operated, the stopper pin 228 protrudes from the upper surface side of the fixed surface plates 220 and 224 and is placed on the transport belt 212. The printing plate 12 to be conveyed is opposed to the end along the conveying direction.

  When the vendor 40 detects the printing plate 12 sent from the automatic developing device 38, the vendor motor 40 is driven and the air cylinder 230 is operated to cause the stopper pins 228 to protrude on the fixed surface plates 220 and 224.

  As a result, the printing plate 12 conveyed by the conveying belt 212 abuts against the stopper pin 228 and stops at a predetermined position on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224, and the first positioning along the conveying direction (width direction). Is made.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the fixed surface plates 220 and 224 are provided with a fiber sensor 232 adjacent to the stopper pin 228, and the bender 40 is brought into contact with the stopper pin 228 and stopped. The fiber sensor 232 detects the front end of the printing plate 12 in the conveyance direction.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 7, the bender 40 is provided with an air cylinder 234 below the shaft 204. In the air cylinder 234, a shaft 204 is attached to a tip portion of a rod 234A, and thereby the shaft 204 is supported.

  The shaft 204 slightly protrudes the upper end of the pulley 210 from the upper surface side of the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 (for example, 3 to 10 mm) with the air cylinder 234 extending the rod 234A. As a result, the vendor 40 can transport the printing plate 12 placed on the transport belt 212.

  Further, in the bender 40, when the rod 234A of the air cylinder 234 contracts, the shaft 204 moves downward (indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 7). As a result, the conveyance belt 212 is retracted downward from the upper surfaces of the fixed surface plates 220 to 224, and the printing plate 12 is placed on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 from the conveyance belt 212.

  Note that a bracket 236 is provided below the fixed surface plates 220 to 224, and rollers 238A and 238B are pivotally supported on the bracket 236. The conveyor belt 212 includes a shaft 202 (not shown in FIG. 7), A predetermined tension is applied between the rollers 238A and 238B.

  As shown in FIG. 6, suction grooves 240 are formed in the fixed surface plates 220 and 224 in a region facing the printing plate 12 </ b> A that has stopped in contact with the stopper pin 228. Further, in the fixed surface plates 220 to 224, suction grooves 242 are formed in a region facing the printing plate 12B that protrudes from the printing plate 12A when the printing plate 12B comes into contact with the stopper pin 228 and stops.

  Each of the suction grooves 240 and 242 is connected to a pipe from a negative pressure source (not shown), and air is sucked by the negative pressure source through this pipe.

  Thereby, in the vendor 40, the printing plates 12 (12A, 12B) placed on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 are suction-held on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224. The vendor 40 supplies a negative pressure only to the suction grooves 240 when the printing plate 12A is fed, and supplies a negative pressure to the suction grooves 240 and 242 when the printing plate 12B is fed. . Further, in the present embodiment, the suction grooves 240 and 242 having a rectangular outer periphery and a plurality of branch grooves formed in the vertical direction are provided, but the shape of the suction grooves is not limited to this, and the printing plate As long as 12A and 12B can be reliably adsorbed and held on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224, they can be formed in an arbitrary shape.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, when the printing plate 12 </ b> A is placed on the fixed surface plate 222 that faces the center of the printing plate 12 along the vertical direction, the printing plate 12 </ b> A faces the printing plate 12 </ b> A. A rectangular opening 244 is formed in the region. In the vendor 40, a moving surface plate 246 is disposed in the opening 244, and the moving surface plate 246 is movable in the opening 244.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the moving surface plate 246 has a suction groove 248 having a rectangular shape formed on the upper surface thereof. The moving platen 246 can suck and hold the printing plate 12 (12A, 12B) by supplying a negative pressure to the suction groove 248. In addition, the vendor 40 supplies the negative pressure to the suction grooves 248 of the moving surface plate 246 in a state where the supply of the negative pressure to the suction grooves 240 and 242 is released. Adsorb and hold. The printing plate 12 is moved on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 when the moving surface plate 246 moves while being attracted and held on the moving surface plate 246.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 are provided at positions facing the upstream end in the transport direction of the printing plate 12 </ b> A stopped by the stopper pins 228 and the upstream end in the transport direction of the printing plate 12 </ b> B. A retreat groove 260 is formed at the facing position.

  The printing plate 12 to which the gum solution is applied from the automatic developing device 38 and sent to the bender 40 is often in a state where the gum solution adhering to the upstream end (rear end) in the transport direction is in a dry state. If the gum solution adheres to the fixed surface plates 220 to 224, the movement of the printing plate 12 on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 may be hindered.

  From here, on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224, a retreat groove 260 is formed at a position facing the rear end portion of the printing plate 12 to which the raw dry gum solution is adhered, and the rear end portion of the printing plate 12 is floated. The movement of the printing plate 12 accompanying the movement of the moving surface plate 246 is made smooth.

  As shown in FIG. 8, the moving surface plate 246 is attached to the moving unit 250. The moving unit 250 includes an XY-θ table 252 to which the moving surface plate 246 is fixed, and a driving unit 254 that moves the XY-θ table 252, and the driving unit 254 is attached to the moving unit 250. The base plate 256 is positioned and attached to a predetermined position of a frame (not shown).

  The drive unit 254 includes, for example, a motor 258A that moves the XY-θ table 252 along the width direction (arrow W direction) of the printing plate 12 by using a feed screw mechanism, and each of the drive units 254 has XY-θ. Motors 258B and 258C that move the table 252 in the vertical direction (arrow L direction) of the printing plate 12 are provided. By changing the drive amount of the motors 258B and 258C, the XY-θ table 252 is rotated (arrow θ direction). It is possible to move to.

  The vendor 40 uses the moving unit 250 to move the printing plate 12 on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 so that the printing plate 12 can be positioned with high accuracy. Note that any known configuration can be applied to such a moving mechanism (XY-θ stage), and detailed description thereof is omitted in this embodiment.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 5, the vendor 40 is provided with a punch plate bending unit 262 facing the ground side in the top and bottom direction of the printing plate 12 and a punch plate bending unit 264 facing the top side. The vendor 40 uses the punch plate bending units 262 and 264 to perform punch processing and plate bending processing on the printing plate 12. That is, in the vendor 40, the notch 44 is formed in the printing plate 12 by the punch plate bending units 262 and 264, and the bent portions 50A and 50B are formed.

  Here, a schematic configuration of the punch plate bending units 262 and 264 provided in the bender 40 applied to the present embodiment will be described. The basic configurations of the punch plate bending units 262 and 264 are substantially the same, and the components having the same basic configuration will be described without distinction. The punch plate bending unit 262 will be described as an example.

  9 to 11 show a schematic configuration of a punch plate bending unit 262 that forms a bent portion 50A at the end (on the holding side) of the printing plate 12, and FIGS. 1 shows a schematic configuration of a punch plate bending unit 264 that forms a bent portion 50B at the top end (side of the grip) of the punch plate.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the bender 40 is provided with a feed screw 268 on a frame 266 provided in the casing 200. The feed screw 268 is provided on each of the ground side and the top side in the vertical direction, and the axial direction is arranged along the vertical direction.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 12, both ends of the feed screw 268 in the axial direction are pivotally supported by the frame 266 via bearings 270. The feed screw 268 has a motor 272 connected to a tip portion projecting from one bearing 270, and is rotated by driving of the motor 272. For the connection of the feed screw 268 and the motor 272, any method such as using a key 274A and a coupling 274B can be applied.

  The bender 40 is provided with a pair of guide rails 276 sandwiching each of the feed screws 268. The guide rail 276 is disposed such that its longitudinal direction extends in the vertical direction so as to be parallel to the feed screw 268, and a slider 278 is slidably engaged with the guide rail 276.

  The punch plate bending units 262 and 264 include a base 280 having a substantially rectangular shape whose longitudinal direction is arranged along the conveyance direction of the printing plate 12. A slider 278 provided on the guide rail 276 is connected to the lower surface of the base 280, so that the base 280 is stretched over the guide rail 276 and supported so as to be movable along the vertical direction of the printing plate 12. Has been.

  A feed nut 282 provided on the movable member 284 is screwed to the feed screw 268, and the movable member 284 is connected to the base 280. Thus, the punch plate bending units 262 and 264 are moved along the top and bottom direction of the printing plate 12 by driving the motor 272.

  A sensor base 286 is attached to the frame 266 in parallel with the feed screw 268, and a plurality of sensors 288 are arranged at predetermined positions of the sensor base 286, and the punch plate bending unit 262, H.264 moving positions are detected.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 10, the base 280 of the punch plate bending unit 262 is provided with a punch base 290, and as shown in FIG. 13, the base 280 of the punch plate bending unit 264 is provided with a punch base 292. It has been.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 13, the punch bases 290 and 292 are formed in a strip shape and are provided on the transport path side of the printing plate 12 of the base 280 so that the longitudinal direction is along the transport direction of the printing plate 12. ing. Note that guide plates 294 are attached to both ends of the printing plate 12 in the conveying direction of the punching plates 290 and 292, and the end portions of the printing plate 12 in the vertical direction are smoothly punched by the guide plates 294. Guided up.

  As shown in FIGS. 11, 14, and 15, the punch bases 290 and 292 are formed with concave portions 296 having a substantially rectangular shape at two predetermined locations, and one of the concave portions 296 is cut into the printing plate 12. The female teeth 300 constituting the puncher 298 that forms the notch 44 (44A) are fitted, and the female teeth 304 constituting the puncher 302 that forms the notch 44 (44B) in the printing plate 12 are fitted in the other recess 296. It is.

  As shown in FIGS. 10, 11, 13, and 14, the punch plate bending units 262 and 264 are provided with a connecting plate 306 adjacent to the punch bases 290 and 292. The connecting plate 306 is arranged so that the longitudinal direction thereof is along the longitudinal direction of the punch tables 290 and 292.

  As shown in FIGS. 11, 14, and 15, an air cylinder 308 is attached to the connecting plate 306 at a position facing the female teeth 300 and 304. A male tooth unit 310 is attached to the air cylinder 308 facing the female teeth 300, and a male tooth unit 312 is attached to the air cylinder 308 facing the female teeth 304.

  Accordingly, the male teeth 310A of the male tooth unit 310 are lowered toward the female teeth 300 by operating the air cylinder 308 with the top and bottom ends of the printing plate 12 facing the punch bases 290 and 292. Then, the printing plate 12 (printing plate 12A or printing plate 12B) is drilled to form a notch 44 (notch 44A), and the male tooth 312A of the male tooth unit 312 descends toward the female tooth 304. Then, the printing plate 12 (printing plate 12B) is drilled to form a notch 44 (notch 44B).

  As shown in FIGS. 9, 12, and 15, a dregs plate 314 is provided below the punch bases 290 and 292, and the printing plate generated by forming the notch 44 in the printing plate 12. Twelve debris (chips) are collected from the debris receiver 314 to a receiving box (not shown).

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 9, an air cylinder 316 is attached to the punch base 290 at a predetermined position on the lower surface side. A pin roller 318 is attached to the rod 316A of the air cylinder 316. When the air cylinder 316 extends the rod 316A, the pin roller 318 protrudes from the upper surface of the punch table 290, and the end surface of the printing plate 12 on the ground side It comes to oppose.

  In addition, as shown in FIG. 12, an air cylinder 320 is attached to the punch base 292 at a predetermined position on the lower surface side. A pressure plate 322 that forms a pusher is attached to the rod 320 </ b> A of the air cylinder 320. When the air cylinder 320 extends the rod 320 </ b> A, the pressure plate 322 is placed at a predetermined position on the upper surface side of the punch base 292. It protrudes and faces the end face on the top side of the printing plate 12.

  In the vendor 40, the printing plate 12 is brought into contact with the pin roller 232 and stopped, and when the fixed platen 220 to 224 is placed in a state where the printing plate 12 is temporarily positioned along the conveyance direction (width direction), the top plate The motor 272 of the punch plate bending unit 264 is driven to move the punch plate bending unit 264 toward the punch plate bending unit 262 on the ground side. At this time, the punch plate bending unit 262 is moved to a predetermined position along the top / bottom direction of the printing plate 12, the pin roller 318 is projected on the punch table 290, and the pressing plate 322 is projected on the punch table 292. Keep it.

  As a result, the printing plate 12 placed on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 is moved toward and brought into contact with the pin roller 318 of the pliers plate bending unit 262 by the pressing plate 322 of the punch plate bending unit 264. A first positioning is performed along the twelve vertical directions.

  As shown in FIG. 9, the punch table 290 is provided with a fiber sensor 324 adjacent to the pin roller 318, and the vendor 40 uses the fiber sensor 324 to place the printing plate 12 in the vertical direction. By detecting the leading edge, it is possible to confirm whether or not the first positioning of the printing plate 12 along the vertical direction has been performed.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 11, 14, and 15, the punch plate bending units 262 and 264 include a measuring camera 326 for measuring the registration marks 52 </ b> A and 52 </ b> B formed on the printing plate 12 together with the image 26 (image 28). Is provided. The camera 326 includes a photographing unit 328, a lens 330, and a light source 332. The photographing unit 328 and the lens 330 are integrally attached to a predetermined position of the connecting plate 306 via a bracket 334, and a light source is disposed below the lens 330. 332 is attached to the connecting plate 306 via a bracket 336.

  The registration mark 52A or registration mark 52B formed at both ends of the printing plate 12 with the first positioning facing the camera 326 is opposed to the camera 326. The vendor 40 emits light from the light source 332. The register marks 52A or 52B are read from the light reflected by the printing plate 12.

  Further, the vendor 40 measures the positions and orientations of the register marks 52A and 52B read by the camera 326, and moves so that the positions and orientations of the register marks 52A and 52B are set in advance based on the measurement results. By moving the surface plate 246, the second positioning with respect to the printing plate 12 is performed.

  That is, the second positioning is performed using the first positioning with respect to the printing plate 12 as a temporary position. The register marks 52A and 52B are formed on the printing plate 12 at positions and orientations corresponding to the images 26 and 28. In the second positioning, the register marks 52A and 52B are set in advance at predetermined positions and predetermined positions. By arranging in the direction, the printing plate 12 (the images 26 and 28 formed on the printing plate 12) is positioned with respect to the punch plate bending units 262 and 264.

  The punch plate bending units 262 and 264 are provided with an air nozzle 333 across the camera 326, and the printing plate 12 is pressed against the punch tables 290 and 292 by the air ejected from the air nozzle 333, whereby the register mark 52A. , 52B can be measured more accurately.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIGS. 9, 10, 12, and 13, the punch plate bending units 262 and 264 are provided with a pair of support plates 338 on the base 280. The support plates 338 are arranged on both sides along the conveying direction of the printing plate 12 and project upward from the base 280.

  As shown in FIGS. 10 and 13, a guide rail 340 is attached to each of the support plates 338 on the surfaces facing each other. A slider 342 is attached to each of the guide rails 340.

  A bracket 344 is attached to the slider 342, and the connecting plate 306 is spanned between the brackets 344. An air cylinder 348 is attached to the base 280 on a pedestal 346 provided adjacent to the support plate 338. Each air cylinder 348 has a rod 348 </ b> A connected to the bracket 344.

  As a result, the air cylinder 348 is actuated to contract the rod 348A, whereby the connecting plate 306 moves downward.

  A long presser plate 350 is attached to the lower end of the connecting plate 306, and a small presser plate 350 </ b> A is attached to both sides of the presser plate 350. The top and bottom ends of the printing plate 12 protruding from the tables 290 and 292 are pressed by the pressing plate 350 and the pressing plate 350A.

  A pair of arm portions 352 are attached to both ends of the connecting plate 306 in the longitudinal direction. A swinging press plate 354 is disposed between the pair of arm portions 352. The swinging press plate 354 is formed in a band plate shape, and is arranged with both ends in the longitudinal direction directed toward the arm portion 352.

  A guide 356 is attached to the swinging press plate 354 on the lower side. In addition, connection brackets 358 are attached to both ends of the rocking presser plate 354 in the longitudinal direction. A shaft 360 projects from the connection bracket 358 toward the arm portion 352, and a spur gear 362 is attached to the surface on the arm portion 352 side.

  The shaft 360 is inserted through the spur gear 362, and the tip of the shaft 360 protruding from the spur gear 362 is inserted into the shaft hole 364 formed in the arm portion 352.

  As a result, the swinging press plate 354 is supported between the pair of arm portions 352 so as to be rotatable integrally with the spur gear 362 about the shaft 360.

  On the other hand, a support plate 366 is attached to the arm portion 352 at the tip portion directed downward. The support plate 366 is formed in a band plate shape, and its longitudinal direction is directed in the vertical direction. An air cylinder 368 is attached to each of the support plates 366.

  A rack 370 is attached to the air cylinder 368 at the tip of an upwardly directed rod 368A. The rack 370 is disposed so as to face the spur gear 362 and is supported by the arm portion 352. It is inserted between the rollers 372 and meshed with the spur gear 362.

  In the punch plate bending units 262 and 264, the rod 368A of the air cylinder 368 is expanded and contracted, whereby the rack 370 rotates the swinging press plate 354 together with the spur gear 362. At this time, the rod 368 </ b> A of the air cylinder 368 is contracted, so that the swinging press plate 354 tilts around the shaft 360, and the top end of the printing plate 12 that is in contact with the guide 356 is moved downward. Bend toward

  As a result, the punch plate bending unit 262 forms the bent portion 50A at the top end of the printing plate 12 in the top-down direction, and the punch plate bending unit 264 forms the top end of the printing plate 12 in the top-down direction. A bent portion 50B is formed.

  When forming the bent portion 50A in the punch plate bending unit 262, first, the front end portion of the printing plate 12 on the ground side is bent at a predetermined angle, and then the guide 356 is placed on the top of the plate in the vertical direction from the bent position. It moves so that it may oppose the side, and a bending process is performed again. That is, the bent portion 50A is formed at the end of the printing plate 12 on the ground side by bending the edge of the printing plate 12 in two stages.

  As shown in FIG. 13, an air cylinder 374 is provided on the support plate 366 of the punch plate bending unit 264 facing the top side of the printing plate 12, and is provided on the rod 374 </ b> A of the air cylinder 374. When the air cylinder 368 is contracted by the stopper 376, the rod 368A can be stopped at a predetermined position.

  Incidentally, as shown in FIG. 16, the vendor 40 includes a control unit 60. The controller 60 is provided with a controller 62 having a microcomputer (not shown), and the operation of the vendor 40 is controlled by the controller 62.

  In such a controller 62, a sensor 64 that detects the printing plate 12 delivered from the automatic developing device 38, a conveyance motor 214 that drives a conveyance belt 212 for conveying the printing plate 12, and an air that causes a stopper pin 228 to appear and retract. A valve 66 that operates the cylinder 230, a fiber sensor 232 that detects the printing plate 12 that has stopped in contact with the stopper pin 228, and a valve 68 that operates the air cylinder 234 that moves up and down the conveying belt 212 are connected.

  Accordingly, the controller 62 can perform the first positioning along the width direction of the printing plate 12 fed from the automatic developing device 38.

  The controller 62 includes a motor 272 provided in each of the punch plate bending units 262 and 264 for driving a feed screw, a valve 70 for operating an air cylinder 316 provided with a pin roller 318 of the punch plate bending unit 262, A valve 72 that operates an air cylinder 320 provided with a press plate 322 of the punch plate bending unit 264 and a fiber sensor 324 that detects the printing plate 12 in contact with the pin roller 318 are connected.

  Thereby, the controller 62 can perform the second positioning of the printing plate 12 along the vertical direction.

  In the vendor 40, the positioning accuracy (positioning error) of the printing plate 12 by the first positioning is ± 500 μm or less, and the positioning accuracy by the second positioning is ± 10 μm or less.

  Thus, by performing the second positioning, even if color printing is performed using the printing plate 12 subjected to the punch plate bending process, finishing defects such as color misregistration do not occur. The positioning accuracy by the second positioning is ± 60 μm so that when color printing is performed using the printing plate 12, the shift between the images of the respective colors does not substantially appear as a color shift on the printed matter. It is set to ensure within.

  On the other hand, the controller 62 includes a camera 326 provided in each of the punch plate bending units 262 and 264, a valve 76 for supplying air to the nozzle 333, a moving unit 250 provided in the moving surface plate 246, and a moving surface plate. A valve 74 that supplies negative pressure from a negative pressure source (not shown) is connected to the suction groove 248 of 246.

  As a result, the controller 62 sucks and holds the printing plate 12 on the moving surface plate 246 and moves the printing plate 12 based on the registration marks 52A and 52B on the printing plate 12 measured by the camera 326. Second positioning is possible.

  The controller 62 is connected to a valve 76 for supplying negative pressure to the suction grooves 240 of the fixed surface plates 220 and 224 and a valve 78 for supplying negative pressure to the suction grooves 242 of the fixed surface plates 220 to 224. Thereby, it is possible to suck and hold the printing plate 12 after the first positioning or the second positioning.

  Further, the controller 62 controls the operations of the punch plate bending units 262 and 264 to perform punch processing and plate bending processing on the printing plate 12.

  On the other hand, the controller 62 is connected to the exposure device 34, and whether the printing plate 12 sent out by exposing the image from the exposure device 34 has exposed an image for monochrome printing or an image for color printing. The printing plate information is input.

  The controller 62 determines whether the printing plate 12 sent from the automatic developing device 38 is for monochrome printing or color printing based on the printing plate information input from the exposure device 34, and for monochrome printing. In some cases, the punch plate bending process is performed after the printing plate 12 is first positioned.

  Further, when the printing plate 12 sent from the automatic developing device 38 is for color printing, the controller 62 performs the second positioning after performing the first positioning on the printing plate 12. ing.

  In the plate making system 10 configured as described above, the plate making process is performed in a state where the printing plate 12 (printing plate 12A to printing plate 12B) is loaded in the plate feeding device 30. At this time, the plate making management computer 36 outputs the plate making conditions to the exposure device 34 together with the image data of the image formed on the printing plate 12.

  Thus, the exposure device 34 requests the plate feeding device 30 for the printing plate 12 having a size corresponding to the plate making conditions, and the plate feeding device 30 places the printing plate 12 of the size requested by the exposure device 34 on the skid 32. Then, the printing plate 12 is supplied to the exposure device 34.

  When the printing plate 12 is supplied, the exposure device 34 exposes the printing plate 12 based on the image data. At this time, for example, when a large amount (multiple copies) of newspaper printing is performed, usually, the same image is formed on the top side and the ground side of the printing plate 12, and when performing printing processing, the left and right paper surfaces are simultaneously placed on the printing paper. Print.

  Further, the plate making management computer 36 generates image data so as to form the registration marks 52A and 52B in accordance with the position of the image 26 or the image 28 formed on the printing plate 12, and the exposure device 34 based on the image data. Image exposure to the printing plate 12 is performed.

  The exposure device 34 sends the printing plate 12 subjected to image exposure to the automatic developing device 38. As a result, the printing plate 12 is developed, washed, desensitized and dried by the automatic developing device 38 and sent to the vendor 40.

  In the vendor 40, the printing plate 12 is subjected to a punching process for forming the notch 44 and a plate bending process for forming the bent portions 50A and 50B.

  The printing plates 12 made in this way are sequentially collected and sent to the printing process and used for the printing process.

  By the way, in the plate making system 10, the printing plate information sent to the vendor 40 indicates whether the printing plate 12 is formed with an image for color printing or an image for monochrome printing. The data is input from the exposure apparatus 34 to the controller 62 of the vendor 40.

  Accordingly, the controller 62 provided in the vendor 40 positions the printing plate 12 based on the printing plate information prior to the punching process and the plate bending process.

  Here, the positioning of the printing plate 12 in the vendor 40 will be described with reference to FIG.

  This flowchart is executed at the timing when the printing plate 12 is sent from the automatic developing device 38. In the first step 100, the printing plate information output from the exposure device 34 is read and the sent printing plate 12 is used for color printing. Whether an image is formed or an image for monochrome printing is set (step 102).

  Thereafter, in step 104, the first positioning with respect to the printing plate 12 is performed.

  FIG. 18 shows an outline of the first positioning process for the printing plate 12.

  In this flowchart, when the printing plate 12 fed from the automatic developing device 38 is detected by the sensor 64, an affirmative determination is made in step 120, the process proceeds to step 122, and driving of the transport motor 214 is started. At the same time, in step 124, the air cylinder 230 is operated to cause the stopper pin 228 to protrude.

  The printing plate 12 fed from the automatic developing device 38 is placed on the transport belt 212. At this time, if the conveyance belt 212 is rotationally driven by the operation of the conveyance motor 214, the printing plate 12 is conveyed onto the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 by the conveyance belt 212 and protrudes from the fixed surface plates 220 and 224. It contacts the stopper pin 228.

  The conveyance motor 214 may be driven at a timing based on the delivery of the printing plate 12 from the exposure device 34.

  In the next step 126, it is confirmed whether or not the printing plate 12 has been stopped by the fiber sensor 232. That is, the printing plate 12 transported by the transport belt 212 stops when the front end in the transport direction comes into contact with the stopper pin 228. At this time, when the front end portion of the printing plate 12 faces the fiber sensor 234, the stop of the printing plate 12 is detected by the fiber sensor 232.

  When the printing plate 12 stops, an affirmative determination is made at step 126 and the routine proceeds to step 128 where the drive of the transport motor 214 is stopped. At step 130, the transport belt 212 is lowered by contracting the rod 234A of the air cylinder 234. .

  Thereby, the printing plate 12 is mounted on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 in a state where the first positioning is performed along the width direction.

  In the next step 132, the air cylinder 316 provided in the punch plate bending unit 262 is driven to project the pin roller 318 facing the ground side of the printing plate 12 and the air provided in the punch plate bending unit 264. By operating the cylinder 320, the presser plate 322 facing the top side of the printing plate 12 is projected.

  In step 134, the motor 272 provided in the punch plate bending unit 262 is driven to move the punch plate bending unit 262 (pin roller 318) to a predetermined position. Thereafter, in step 136, the motor 272 provided in the punch plate bending unit 264 is driven to move the punch plate bending unit 264 (presser plate 222) to the ground side in the vertical direction (punch plate bending unit 262 side). Moving.

  Accordingly, the printing plate 12 placed on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224 is moved toward the pin roller 318 by the presser plate 322. The printing plate 12 is stopped by contacting the ground-side tip side pin roller 318. In step 138, it is confirmed whether or not the stop of the printing plate 12 is detected by the fiber sensor 324, and the printing plate 12 is stopped. If detected, an affirmative determination is made at step 138 and the routine proceeds to step 140 where the motor 272 of the punch plate bending unit 264 is stopped.

  Thereby, the 1st positioning along the top-and-bottom direction of the printing plate 12 is made. That is, the first positioning of the printing plate 12 along the vertical direction and the width direction is completed.

  When the first positioning of the printing plate 12 is completed, the process proceeds to step 142 where the stopper pin 228, the pin roller 318, and the presser plate 322 are accommodated.

  Thus, when the first positioning with respect to the printing plate 12 is completed, the position error of the printing plate 12 with respect to the punch plate bending units 262 and 264 is within an error range of ± 500 μm or less applicable to monochrome printing. .

  When the first positioning with respect to the printing plate 12 is completed, it is confirmed in step 106 of the flowchart shown in FIG. 17 whether the positioned printing plate 12 is for monochrome printing or color printing. Here, when it is for color printing, an affirmative determination is made at step 106 and the routine proceeds to step 108 to execute a second positioning process.

  FIG. 19 shows an outline of the second positioning process. In this flowchart, negative pressure is supplied to the suction groove 248 of the moving surface plate 246 in the first step 150, and the first positioning is completed. The plate 12 is sucked and held on the moving surface plate 246, and in the next step 152, the registration marks 52A and 52B formed on the printing plate 12 are measured by the cameras 326 provided in the punch plate bending units 262 and 264, respectively. To do.

  When the registration marks 52A and 52B are measured by the camera 326, air is blown from the nozzle 333 so that the printing plate 12 is not lifted.

  In step 154, the deviation amount of the printing plate 12 is calculated based on the measurement result. That is, in the exposure device 34, the registration marks 52A and 52B are formed by being exposed in accordance with the images 26 and 28 formed on the printing plate 12, and the registration marks 52A and 52B are arranged in a preset position, so that the punch The printing plate 12 (the image 26 or the image 28) can be positioned with high accuracy with respect to the plate bending units 262 and 264.

  From this point, in step 154, the actual positions of the registration marks 52A and 52B with respect to the reference position are measured and the amount of deviation is calculated. In step 156, the registration marks 52A and 52B are arranged at the reference position based on the calculated amount of deviation. To calculate the amount of movement of the printing plate 12 in the vertical direction, the width direction, and the rotation direction, which is necessary for this purpose. That is, the amount of movement in each direction of the XY-θ table 252 using the movement unit 250 is calculated.

  Thereafter, in step 158, the printing unit 12 is moved in the vertical direction, the width direction, or the rotation direction by moving the movement unit 250 based on the calculated movement amount.

  When the movement of the printing plate 12 based on the positions of the registration marks 52A and 52B is thus completed, the positions of the registration marks 52A and 52B on the moved printing plate 12 are measured in Step 160, and the measurement results are obtained in Step 162. The amount of deviation is calculated based on.

  Thereafter, in step 164, it is confirmed whether or not the calculated deviation amount is within a predetermined range. In the present embodiment, when the misregistration of the registration marks 52A and 52B formed on the printing plate 12 for color printing is set within ± 10 μm, when color printing is performed using the printing plate 12, The misregistration of each color image of C, M, Y, and BK is set within ± 60 μm so that no color shift appears on the printed matter.

  Here, when the amount of deviation exceeds a predetermined range (for example, ± 10 μm), a negative determination is made at step 164 and the routine proceeds to step 166. In this step 166, it is confirmed whether or not the number of positioning has reached the predetermined number. When the number of positioning is less than the predetermined number, a negative determination is made in step 166 and the process proceeds to step 156, and the printing plate 12 based on the calculated deviation amount. Perform positioning again.

  By repeating the positioning of the printing plate 12 in this manner, the printing plate 12 can be positioned with high accuracy. When the amount of misalignment between the registration marks 52A and 52B reaches the allowable range, an affirmative determination is made in step 164 to determine the second End positioning. Even if the positioning of the printing plate 12 is repeated a predetermined number of times, if the deviation amount does not reach the allowable range, an affirmative determination is made in step 166 and the process proceeds to step 168 to perform alarm processing indicating that a positioning failure has occurred.

  When positioning is completed in this way, in the flowchart of FIG. 17, the process proceeds to step 110 to perform punch plate bending processing. In this punch plate bending process, negative pressure is supplied to the suction grooves 240 (including the suction grooves 248) or the suction grooves 240 and 242 to suck and hold the printing plate 12 on the fixed surface plates 220 to 224, thereby bending the punch plate. By operating an air cylinder 308 provided in the units 262 and 264, a notch 44 is formed at a predetermined position at an end portion of the printing plate 12 in the vertical direction.

  Thereafter, the air cylinder 348 is actuated to hold the end of the printing plate 12 in the vertical direction, and the air cylinder 368 is actuated to rotate the swinging press plate 354 to thereby turn the printing plate 12 in the vertical direction. Bending portions 50 </ b> A and 50 </ b> B are formed by bending the end portions with a predetermined shape.

  When the punching and plate bending process is completed in this way, the process proceeds to step 112 and the printing plate 12 is discharged. The discharge of the printing plate 12 releases the holding of the printing plate 12 by the fixed surface plates 220 to 224, raises the conveyance belt 212, and drives the conveyance motor 214. As a result, the printing plate 12 is placed on the conveyor belt 212 and conveyed, and is sent out from the vendor 40.

  As described above, the vendor 40 provided in the plate making system 10 has the printing plate 12 to be processed next formed with an image for monochrome printing or formed with an image for color printing. If the printing plate has a monochrome printing image that requires less positioning accuracy than a color printing plate, it is placed opposite one end in the width direction of the printing plate 12. Positioning is performed by bringing the printing plate 12 into contact with the stopper pin 228 and the pin roller 318 disposed on the ground side which is one end side in the vertical direction. Thereby, quick positioning and punch plate bending processing are possible.

  In addition, the printing plate for color printing is positioned by using the register marks 52A and 52B formed according to the image position of the printing plate 12. Therefore, the printing plate 12 can be positioned with high accuracy. Even when color printing is performed using, high-quality printing processing is possible without causing color misregistration on the printed matter.

  Further, since the vendor 40 does not position the printing plate 12 on which the monochrome printing image is formed in the same manner as the printing plate 12 on which the color printing image is formed, the positioning for monochrome printing is performed. It is possible to reliably prevent the apparatus from being stopped due to a positioning failure.

  That is, when the printing plate 12 on which the monochrome printing image is formed is positioned so as to be within the same allowable range as the printing plate 12 on which the color printing image is formed, the positioning is repeated. However, the accuracy may not reach the allowable range, or it may take time to reach the allowable range.

  On the other hand, in the vendor 40, the printing plate 12 on which the image for color printing is formed can be positioned with high accuracy, and the printing plate 12 for monochrome printing can be positioned. Positioning can be performed quickly, and it is possible to reliably prevent the apparatus from being stopped due to positioning failure.

  In the first embodiment, with respect to the printing plate 12 on which an image for monochrome printing is formed, one end side in the width direction of the printing plate 12 is brought into contact with the stopper pin 228 and one end side in the vertical direction. Positioning is completed by contacting the pin rollers 318, but when the register marks 52A and 52B are formed on the printing plate 12, the positions of the register marks 52A and 52B are read to determine whether the error is within a predetermined error range. Thus, accurate positioning can be performed even for a printing plate for monochrome printing.

[Second Embodiment]
Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described. The basic configuration of the second embodiment is the same as that of the first embodiment described above, and the same reference numerals are used for the same components as those of the first embodiment in the second embodiment. Will be omitted.

  In the first embodiment described above, the printing plate 12 for monochrome printing is positioned using the stopper pin 228 and the pin roller 318, but in the second embodiment, using the stopper pin 228 and the pin roller 318, Temporary positioning is performed so that the registration marks 52A and 52B formed on the printing plate 12 face the camera 326, and then positioning using the registration marks 52A and 52B formed on the printing plate 12 is performed.

  At this time, in the second embodiment, the positioning accuracy is set according to the image formed on the printing plate 12, and the printing plate 12 is positioned so as to obtain the set positioning accuracy.

  In other words, for color printing plates 12 that require high-precision positioning, the error range is reduced (for example, ± 10 μm), and the required positioning accuracy compared to printing plates 12 for color printing. For a printing plate 12 for monochrome printing having a low value, the error range is widened (for example, ± 500 μm).

  Thereby, in the second embodiment, the printing plate 12 on which the image for color printing is formed is positioned with high accuracy, and the printing plate 12 on which the image for monochrome printing is formed is formed. Thus, rapid positioning using the register marks 52A and 52B is possible.

  Hereinafter, processing of the printing plate 12 according to the second embodiment will be described with reference to FIG.

  In this flowchart, in the first step 100, the plate information of the printing plate 12 sent from the automatic developing device 38 is read. In step 170, the printing plate 12 fed from the automatic developing device 38 is temporarily positioned on the printing plate 12 placed on the position where the registration marks 52 </ b> A and 52 </ b> B formed on the printing plate 12 face the camera 326.

  The processing in FIG. 18 can be applied to the processing in step 170. That is, in the vendor 40, the printing plate 12 is formed together with the image 26 or the image 28 by bringing one end side in the width direction of the printing plate 12 into contact with the stopper pin 228 and bringing the ground side in the vertical direction into contact with the pin roller 318. The registration marks 52A and 52B can be placed on the fixed surface plates 222 to 226 and the moving surface plate 246 so as to face the cameras 326 provided in the punch plate bending units 262 and 264, respectively.

  In this way, when the printing plate 12 is placed on the fixed surface plates 222 to 226 and the moving surface plate 246, the printing plate 12 is sucked and held by the moving surface plate 246 in step 150, and in step 152, the punching plate 12 is punched. The position of the register marks 52A and 52B on the printing plate 12 is read by the camera 326 provided in each of the plate bending units 262 and 264.

  The amount of misalignment of the registration marks 52A and 52B on the printing plate 12 with respect to the reference position set for the punch plate bending units 262 and 264 is calculated (step 154), and the displacement of the moving surface plate 246 is calculated based on the amount of misalignment. The movement amount is calculated (step 156), and the printing plate 12 is moved so that the registration marks 52A and 52B are at the reference position by moving the moving surface plate 246 based on the calculation result (step 158).

  When the printing plate 12 is moved in this way, in step 160, the registration marks 52A and 52B of the moved printing plate 12 are read by the camera 326 (step 160), and the deviation amount of the printing plate 12 is calculated again (step 160). Step 162).

  Thereafter, in step 172, it is determined whether or not the printing plate 12 requires high-precision positioning based on the printing plate information. That is, the image 26 or the image 28 formed on the printing plate 12 is an image for color printing that requires high-accuracy positioning, or a monochrome that allows lower positioning accuracy than an image for color printing. Check whether the image is for printing.

  Here, if the printing plate 12 is for monochrome printing, a negative determination is made in step 172, and the deviation amount of the printing plate 12 is an error range set for the printing plate 12 for monochrome printing, which is ± 500 μm. If it is within this error range, it is determined that positioning with respect to the printing plate 12 has been completed, an affirmative determination is made in step 174, and the routine proceeds to step 110.

  That is, when the positioning accuracy is low, it is confirmed whether or not the error is within the allowable range set to the low positioning accuracy. When the error is within the allowable range, the positioning with respect to the printing plate 12 is terminated, After performing the punch plate bending process, the printing plate 12 is discharged (step 112).

  On the other hand, when the printing plate 12 is formed with an image for color printing that requires high positioning accuracy, an affirmative determination is made in step 172 and the process proceeds to step 176.

  In this step 176, it is confirmed whether or not the deviation amount (positioning error) of the printing plate 12 is within an error range (allowable range, ± 10 μm) set for high-precision positioning.

  At this time, if the amount of deviation of the printing plate 12 exceeds the allowable range, a negative determination is made in step 176, and the process proceeds to step 156, where the printing plate 12 is moved based on the amount of deviation, thereby printing plate. 12 repositioning is performed.

  In this way, the printing plate 12 is moved so that the deviation amount falls within the allowable range, and when the deviation amount falls within the allowable range, an affirmative determination is made in step 176 to complete the high-precision positioning of the printing plate 12. To do. Even if the movement of the printing plate 12 is repeated a plurality of times, if a negative determination is made in step 174 or step 176, it is preferable to issue an alarm that a positioning error has occurred (steps 166 and 168 in FIG. 19). .

  In this way, by changing the allowable error range according to the required positioning accuracy, the printing plate 12 can be positioned with high accuracy, and positioning with low positioning accuracy can be performed smoothly. it can.

  In the flowchart of FIG. 20, the positioning accuracy is selected in step 172. However, the positioning accuracy (allowable amount of deviation) is set in advance based on the printing plate information, and the printing plate 12 is moved. In addition, the displacement amount of the moved printing plate 12 may be confirmed.

  In addition, when the first movement of the printing plate 12 (steps 152 to 158) compensates for positioning within the low-accuracy positioning tolerance range, the movement of the printing plate 12 on the moved printing plate 12 is performed only when high-precision positioning is required. The registration mark position may be confirmed. That is, when performing positioning with low accuracy, the confirmation in step 174 may be omitted.

  In addition, this Embodiment demonstrated above does not limit the structure of this invention. For example, in the present embodiment, the plate making system 10 that processes the printing plate 12 for CTP processing has been described as an example. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and a printing plate for color printing and a printing plate for monochrome printing are used. The present invention can be applied to a plate making system having an arbitrary configuration that can be created and a punch plate bending apparatus provided in the plate making system.

It is a schematic block diagram of the plate making system applied to this Embodiment. (A) is a schematic diagram showing a 2L1W size printing plate, and (B) is a schematic diagram showing a printing plate subjected to plate bending treatment. (A) and (B) are schematic diagrams showing a 2L2W size printing plate, (A) shows a printing plate on which an image for one page of newspaper is formed, and (B) shows an image for one page of newspaper spread. The formed printing plate is shown. It is the schematic which shows mounting | wearing of the printing plate to the plate cylinder of the rotary press for printing. It is the schematic block diagram which looked at the vendor applied to this Embodiment from the upper side. It is a schematic block diagram of the surface plate provided in the vendor. It is a schematic block diagram of the bender's surface plate vicinity seen from the direction side orthogonal to the conveyance direction of a printing plate. It is a schematic perspective view which shows an example of the movement unit of the movement surface plate using an XY-theta table. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the principal part of the ground side punch plate bending unit. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the principal part of the ground side punch plate bending unit omitted in FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the puncher vicinity provided in the ground side punch plate bending unit. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the principal part of the punch plate bending unit on the top side. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the principal part of the top punch plate bending unit omitted in FIG. It is a schematic perspective view which shows the puncher vicinity provided in the top punch plate bending unit. It is a schematic block diagram of the principal part which looked at the puncher vicinity along the vertical direction of the printing plate. It is a schematic block diagram of the principal part of the control part provided in the vendor. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the process of the printing plate in the vendor which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the 1st positioning with respect to the printing plate which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the 2nd positioning with respect to the printing plate which concerns on 1st Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the outline of the process of the printing plate in the vendor concerning 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 Plate making system 12 (12A, 12B) Printing plate 16 Exposure process 20 Punch process 22 Plate bending process 40 Bender (plate bending apparatus)
44 (44A, 44B) Notch 50 (50A, 50B) Bending part 52A, 52B Dragonfly (index)
60 controller 62 controller (selection means)
212 Conveyor belt (first positioning means)
214 Conveyance motor (first positioning means)
220 to 224 Fixed surface plate (surface plate)
228 Stopper pin (first positioning means)
246 Moving surface plate (second positioning means)
250 moving unit (second positioning means)
262, 264 punch plate bending unit (first positioning means, punch plate bending means)
272 motor (first positioning means)
318 pin roller (first positioning means)
322 Presser plate (first positioning means)

Claims (7)

A plate bending apparatus that performs punching and plate bending for positioning during printing on a printing plate on which a color printing image is formed and a printing plate on which a monochrome printing image is formed by a punch plate bending means. There,
First positioning means capable of positioning the printing plate on which an image for monochrome printing is formed with respect to the punch plate bending means;
A second positioning means capable of positioning the printing plate on which an image for color printing is formed with respect to the punch plate bending means;
A selection means for selecting the first positioning means or the second positioning means in accordance with an image formed on the printing plate;
A plate bending apparatus comprising:   The first positioning means is arranged at one end side in the width direction of the printing plate and in the top and bottom direction to a positioning pin provided at a predetermined position facing one end side in the width direction of the printing plate and one end side in the top and bottom direction. 2. The plate bending apparatus according to claim 1, wherein positioning is performed by contacting one end side.   The second positioning means detects the position of an index formed on the printing plate according to the image position, and the printing plate is placed on the top and bottom so that the index is at a predetermined position with respect to the punch plate bending means. The plate bending apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein positioning is performed by moving in a direction, a width direction, or a rotation direction.   The plate bending apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the second positioning unit performs positioning with respect to the printing plate positioned by the first positioning unit. .   The said selection means selects the said 1st positioning means or the said 2nd positioning means based on the information input from the exposure means which performs image exposure to the said printing plate, The Claim 1 characterized by the above-mentioned. 5. The plate bending apparatus according to any one of 4 above. A plate bending apparatus that performs punching and plate bending processing for positioning during printing by a punch plate bending means on a printing plate on which an index corresponding to an image position is formed together with an image,
Moving means for placing the printing plate and moving in a vertical direction, a width direction and a rotation direction;
Temporary positioning means for placing the printing plate on the moving means;
Detecting means for detecting a deviation between the index position formed on the printing plate on the moving means and a reference position set for the punch plate bending means;
Setting means for setting an error range between the index position of the printing plate and the reference position according to an image formed on the printing plate;
Positioning control means for positioning the printing plate by operating the moving means so that the deviation detected by the detecting means falls within an error range set by the setting means;
A plate bending apparatus comprising:   The plate bending apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the setting unit sets the error range based on whether an image formed on the printing plate is a monochrome image or a color image.

Images