JP2005212236A - Printing machine - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing machine which can concurrently perform various types of settings during the execution of printing. <P>SOLUTION: In a job selecting process which is performed concurrently with a printing process, a plurality of job data 103a, 103b, 103c and 103d, downloaded from an RIP 102 and stored on the side of the printing machine, and various types of setting keys 221 are displayed on a setting screen 201 above a display screen 100. An operator selects the job data to be next printed, from among the job data 103a, 103b, 103c and 103d. In this case, a printing status screen 202 is displayed below the display screen 100. The screen 202 is constantly displayed during the execution of the printing. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a printer that performs printing by printing a printing plate by recording an image based on image data, and transferring ink applied to the printing plate after plate making onto a printing paper.

Generally, in a printing machine, various settings need to be made when printing is started. For this reason, in recent years, there has been proposed a printer in which a touch panel control panel or the like is attached to a printing press and various settings are performed using the control panel (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
JP 2000-215297 A JP 2002-113971 A

  In such a printing machine, many operations are required at the start of printing. However, when printing is performed stably, the role of the control panel is reduced, and only the role of displaying the number of completed prints and a warning remains. For this reason, the actual situation is that the control panel is not used effectively.

  By the way, in a printing press having a plate making function for printing by making a printing plate by recording an image based on image data and transferring the ink applied to the printing plate after plate making to printing paper, printing is performed. Since it is necessary to set the plate making in addition to the above settings, the setting work takes more time than a normal printing press. Furthermore, in a printing machine that measures the color and density of printed matter in-line and automatically controls the ink supply amount, it takes more time to set the ink amount. For this reason, it is preferable if various settings can be performed in parallel during printing.

  The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problem, and an object thereof is to provide a printing machine capable of executing various settings in parallel during execution of printing.

  The invention described in claim 1 is a printing machine that performs printing by printing a printing plate by recording an image based on image data, and transferring the ink applied to the printing plate after the plate making to printing paper. In connection with the image data, an input unit for setting a print condition relating to a print job, a display unit, a print status screen indicating the status of the currently executed print, and a print to be executed later It is characterized by comprising display control means for simultaneously displaying both a setting screen for setting printing conditions relating to a job on the display unit during execution of printing.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the first aspect of the present invention, the input unit and the display unit include a touch panel control panel.

  The invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the setting screen includes a job selection screen for selecting a print job to be printed later, information on printing paper and ink, the number of printed sheets, and the like. It includes one of a print information setting screen for setting print information, a plate making information setting screen for setting plate making information, and a color management information setting screen for setting color management information.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the first or second aspect of the invention, the print status screen includes a print completion number display and a warning display.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the invention, the display control unit further causes the display unit to simultaneously display buttons for determining whether to operate or stop the printing press.

  According to the first to fifth aspects of the present invention, various settings can be executed in parallel during printing. Therefore, the control panel can be used effectively, and the time required for the entire operation including printing and plate making can be shortened.

  Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

  First, the overall configuration of a printing machine to which the present invention is applied will be described. FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a printing machine to which the present invention is applied.

  The printing machine records an image on a printing plate on which the images held in the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 are not recorded based on the image data, and then supplies the printing plate to the printing plate. Four colors are printed by transferring ink onto the printing paper held by the first and second impression cylinders 15 and 16 via the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14.

  The printing press includes a first plate cylinder 11, a second plate cylinder 12, a first blanket cylinder 13 provided in contact with the first plate cylinder 11, and a second plate cylinder 12. A second blanket cylinder 14 provided so as to be able to contact, a first pressure cylinder 15 provided so as to be able to contact the first blanket cylinder 13, and a contact with the second blanket cylinder 14 The second impression cylinder 16 provided in a possible manner, the feed cylinder 17 for passing the printing paper supplied from the paper feeding unit 31 to the first impression cylinder 15, and the print received from the first impression cylinder 15. A transfer cylinder 18 for passing the sheet to the second impression cylinder 16 and a chain 23 for discharging the printing sheet received from the second impression cylinder 16 to the sheet discharge unit 32 are wound around the sprocket 22. In order to take an image printed on the paper discharge cylinder 19 and the printing paper and to measure the density of the detection patch Having an imaging unit 60, and a control panel 99 of the touch panel which functions as an input unit and a display unit.

  The first plate cylinder 11 and the second plate cylinder 12 are so-called double cylinders that hold printing plates for two different colors on the outer periphery thereof. The first blanket cylinder 13 and the second blanket cylinder 14 have the same diameter as the first plate cylinder 11 and the second plate cylinder 12, and each has a blanket surface on which images of two colors can be transferred. .

  A first impression cylinder 15 and a second impression cylinder 16 provided so as to be able to contact the first blanket cylinder 13 and the second blanket cylinder 14, respectively, 1. It has a diameter that is ½ of the diameter of the second blanket cylinder 13, 14. The first and second impression cylinders 15 and 16 have grippers (not shown) for holding and conveying the leading edge of the printing paper.

  A sheet feeding cylinder 17 disposed adjacent to the impression cylinder 15 has the same diameter as the first and second impression cylinders 15 and 16. The sheet feeding cylinder 17 holds and conveys the leading end portion of the printing paper supplied one by one from the sheet feeding unit 31 with a gripper (not shown) for each rotation of the sheet feeding cylinder 17. The leading end of the printing paper held by the gripper is held by the gripper of the first pressure drum 15 when the printing paper is transferred from the paper feeding drum 17 to the first pressure drum 15.

  A transfer cylinder 18 disposed between the first impression cylinder 15 and the second impression cylinder 16 includes first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 and first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14. It has the same diameter as the diameter. The transfer cylinder 18 holds and conveys the leading end of the printing paper received from the first impression cylinder 15 by a gripper (not shown), and delivers the leading end of the printing paper to the gripper of the second impression cylinder 16.

  A paper discharge cylinder 19 disposed adjacent to the second impression cylinder 16 has the same diameter as that of the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 and the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14. Have. The paper discharge cylinder 19 has a structure in which a pair of chains 23 are wound around both ends thereof, and a gripper (not shown) is disposed on a connection member (not shown) that connects the pair of chains 23. The leading end portion of the printing paper held by the gripper of the second impression cylinder 16 is held by any of the grippers of the discharge cylinder 19 when the printing paper is transferred from the second impression cylinder 16 to the discharge cylinder 19. The The printing paper is discharged onto the paper discharge unit 32 as the chain 23 moves.

  A gear attached to the end of the paper feed cylinder 17 is connected to a gear 26 that is arranged concentrically with the driven pulley 25. A belt 29 is wound between a driving pulley 28 and a driven pulley 25 that are rotated by driving the printing motor 27. For this reason, the paper feed cylinder 17 is rotated by driving the drive printing motor 27. On the other hand, the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12, the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14, the first and second impression cylinders 15 and 16, the paper feed cylinder 17, the transfer cylinder 18 and the paper discharge cylinder 19 are connected by the gear attached to the edge part, respectively. For this reason, by driving the drive printing motor 27, the paper feed cylinder 17, the first and second impression cylinders 15, 16, the paper discharge cylinder 19, the first and second blanket cylinders 13, 14, and the first The second plate cylinders 11 and 12 and the transfer cylinder 18 rotate in synchronization with each other.

  Around the first plate cylinder 11, an ink supply device 20a for supplying, for example, black (K) ink to the printing plate, and an ink supply device for supplying, for example, cyan (C) ink to the printing plate 20b and dampening water supply devices 21a and 21b for supplying dampening water to the printing plate are arranged. Further, around the second plate cylinder 12, an ink supply device 20c for supplying, for example, magenta (M) ink to the printing plate, and an ink for supplying, for example, yellow (Y) ink to the printing plate. A supply device 20d and dampening water supply devices 21c and 21d for supplying dampening water to the printing plate are arranged.

  Further, around the first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder 12, a plate feeding section 33 for supplying a printing plate to the outer peripheral portion of the first plate cylinder 11, and a second plate cylinder, respectively. A plate supplying unit 34 for supplying a printing plate to the outer peripheral portion of the first plate cylinder, an image recording device 35 for recording an image on the printing plate mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the first plate cylinder 11 based on image data, An image recording device 36 for recording an image on the printing plate mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the second plate cylinder 12 based on the image data is disposed.

  FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the main electrical configuration of the printing press according to the present invention.

  The printing machine includes a ROM 111 that stores an operation program necessary for controlling the apparatus, a RAM 112 that temporarily stores data and the like during control, and a control unit 110 that includes a CPU 113 that executes logical operations. The control unit 110 is connected to the printing press main body 101 via an interface 114. The control unit 110 is connected to the control panel 99 via the controller 115 of the control panel 99.

  Furthermore, the control unit 110 is connected to a RIP (raster image processor) 102 that performs raster processing of image data via a LAN. In this RIP 102, page description language data and the like created by a data creation device (not shown) is rasterized, and job data 103 consisting of bitmap format data is created.

  In the printing machine having the above-described configuration, the printing plate drawn from the supply cassette 41 in the plate supply unit 33 is cut into a predetermined size by the cutter 42. Then, the leading end portion of the cut sheet-like printing plate is guided by a guide roller and a guide member (not shown), and is held by a holding claw of the first plate cylinder 11. Then, the first plate cylinder 11 is rotated at a low speed by driving a motor (not shown), the printing plate is wound around the outer peripheral portion of the first plate cylinder 11, and the rear end portion of the printing plate is held by the other holding nail. . In this state, while rotating the first plate cylinder 11 at a low speed, the image recording device 35 irradiates the surface of the printing plate held on the outer periphery of the first plate cylinder 11 with a modulated laser beam, Record.

  Similarly, the printing plate drawn out from the supply cassette 43 in the plate supply unit 34 is cut into a predetermined size by the cutter 44. Then, the leading end portion of the cut sheet-like printing plate is guided by a guide roller and a guide member (not shown), and is held by a holding claw of the second plate cylinder 12. Then, the second plate cylinder 12 is rotated at a low speed by driving a motor (not shown), the printing plate is wound around the outer periphery of the second plate cylinder 12, and the rear end portion of the printing plate is held by the other holding nail. . In this state, while rotating the second plate cylinder 12 at a low speed, the image recording device 36 irradiates the surface of the printing plate held on the outer periphery of the second plate cylinder 12 with a modulated laser beam, Record.

  A printing plate for printing with black ink and a printing plate for printing with cyan ink are mounted on the outer periphery of the first plate cylinder 11. These two printing plates are arranged at positions where they are evenly distributed (that is, separated from each other by 180 degrees), and the image recording device 35 records an image on these printing plates. Similarly, a printing plate for printing with magenta ink and a printing plate for printing with yellow ink are mounted on the outer periphery of the second plate cylinder 12. These two printing plates are also arranged at positions where they are equally distributed, and the image recording device 36 records an image on these printing plates, and the plate making process is completed.

  When the plate making process is completed, a printing process is performed in which printing is performed on printing paper using the printing plates on the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12. This printing process is performed as follows.

  That is, first, each fountain solution supply device 21 and each ink supply device 20 are brought into contact only with the corresponding printing plates among the printing plates held on the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12. Accordingly, the dampening water and the ink are supplied to each printing plate from the corresponding dampening water supply device 21 and the corresponding ink supply device 20. The ink supplied to the printing plate is transferred to corresponding areas of the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14.

  Then, the printing paper is supplied to the paper feed cylinder 17. This printing paper is delivered from the paper feed cylinder 17 to the first impression cylinder 15. When the first impression cylinder 15 that has received the printing paper continues to rotate, the first impression cylinder 15 has a diameter that is ½ that of the first plate cylinder 11 and the first blanket cylinder 13. On the printing paper held on the outer peripheral portion of one impression cylinder 15, black ink is transferred in the first rotation, and cyan ink is transferred in the second rotation.

  If the first impression cylinder 15 rotates twice, the printing paper is transferred from the first impression cylinder 15 via the transfer cylinder 18 to the second impression cylinder. When the second impression cylinder 16 that has received the printing paper continues to rotate, the second impression cylinder 16 has a diameter that is ½ that of the second plate cylinder 12 and the second blanket cylinder 14. On the printing paper held on the outer periphery of the second impression cylinder 16, magenta ink is transferred in the first rotation, and yellow ink is transferred in the second rotation.

  In this way, the leading end portion of the printing paper on which the printing of four colors has been completed is transferred from the second impression cylinder 16 to the discharge cylinder 19. Then, the printing paper on which the printing of the four colors has been completed is conveyed toward the paper discharge unit 28 by the drive of the pair of chains 23 and is discharged.

  When the printing process is completed, the printing plate used for printing is discharged. Then, the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14 are cleaned by a blanket cylinder cleaning device (not shown), and the printing process is completed.

  Next, the structure of the characteristic part of this invention is demonstrated. 3 and 4 are flowcharts showing the process from job selection to printing by the printing press according to the present invention.

  As shown in FIG. 3, prior to executing plate making and printing, a job to be printed first is selected (step S11). Then, the job is set (step S12). The job selection process and job setting process will be described in detail later.

  Then, the printing plate is made by recording an image based on the image data by the above-described operation (step S13). Thereafter, printing is performed using the printing plate after plate making (step S14).

  At this time, in the printing press according to the present invention, in the above-described printing step (step S13), the printing status screen indicating the status of the printing currently being executed and the printing conditions relating to the print job to be executed next are displayed. By displaying both the setting screen for setting on the control panel 99 at the same time, it is possible to execute various settings in parallel with the printing operation for the next print job to be printed. Therefore, the control panel can be used effectively, and the time required for the entire operation including printing and plate making can be shortened.

  More specifically, in the plate making / printing step (steps S13 and S14) described above, the steps shown in FIG. 3 are executed in parallel.

  As described above, in the RIP 102 shown in FIG. 2, the job data 103 composed of bitmap data is created and stored. The control unit 110 in the printing machine downloads the job data 103 from the RIP 102 via the LAN and stores it in a storage unit such as the RAM 112 or a hard disk. This download is executed by the control unit 110 at predetermined intervals or at a timing on the printing press side when there is no load. For this reason, when the load on the printing press side is high, execution of download can be waited.

  In this state, a job selection process is first executed (step S21). This job selection step (step S21) is the same as the job selection step (step S11) shown in FIG.

  FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing the display screen 100 of the control panel 99 in this job selection process.

  In the printing press according to the present invention, during the execution of the printing process, the print status screen 202 showing the status of the currently executed printing on the display screen 100 of the control panel 99, and the print job to be executed later Both the setting screen 201 and the setting screen 201 for setting the printing conditions are displayed.

  Here, in the job selection process, the setting screen 201 displays a plurality of job data 103a, 103b, 103c, 103d and various setting keys 221 downloaded from the RIP 102 and stored on the printing press side. The operator selects job data to be printed next (job data 103a in this embodiment) from these job data 103a, 103b, 103c, and 103d.

  On the other hand, a print status screen 202 is displayed below the display screen 100 of the control panel 99. This print status screen 202 is a screen that is always displayed during printing. The print status screen 202 includes a display 211 indicating a mounting state of a printing plate, a print completion number display 212, a print speed display 213, a rotation start operation display 214, a print start operation display 215, an ink amount, and the like. A warning display 216 when an insufficiency or an abnormality occurs and an emergency stop operation display 217 are displayed.

  In this embodiment, the display 211 indicating the mounting state of the printing plate displays which color plate of YMCK is being used. In this display 211, when a printing plate is mounted for each YMCK, four rectangular boxes provided below are lit up. Further, when the number of actually printed sheets exceeds (or approaches) the number of printed sheets printed on the printing plate based on a preset printing plate number, the four boxes K are individually blinked. To do. Thereby, for example, even when only a predetermined printing plate is replaced for printing, the number of printing durability can be checked for each plate. It should be noted that the number of printed sheets until the number of printed sheets can be counted may be displayed. Further, the mounting state of the printing plate before recording an image, the completion state of image recording, the discharge state of the printing plate after printing, and the like may be displayed.

  The print completion number display 212 displays the number of prints of the job. The total number of printed sheets may be displayed according to an operator instruction. Note that when determining whether or not the color of the printed material is appropriate based on the image data read by the imaging unit 60, the number of good and defective products may be displayed. For example, when the print density or the like does not fall within a predetermined target range at the start of printing, it can be counted as a defective number.

  The rotation start operation display 214 is displayed as a button for starting and stopping rotation driving of the printing press. Further, the print start operation display 215 is displayed as a button for instructing whether or not to start paper feeding to the rotationally driven printing press. That is, the displays 214 and 215 function as a display of the current operating state of the printing press and as an operation button. Similarly, the emergency stop operation display 217 has a function as an emergency stop button. In this way, if the input unit and the display unit are integrated touch panel displays, the operation status can be grasped and operated in an integrated manner, and the operability can be further improved.

  Such a setting screen 201 and print status screen 202 are displayed when the control unit 110 shown in FIG. 2 controls the controller 115 of the control panel 99. The control unit 110 and the controller 115 shown in FIG. 2 both have a print status screen 202 indicating the status of the currently executed print and a setting screen 201 for setting print conditions relating to a print job to be executed later. Is displayed on the control panel 99 during printing.

  Referring to FIG. 4 again, next, a job setting process is executed (step S22). This job setting step (step S22) is the same as the job setting step (step S12) shown in FIG.

  6 to 8 are schematic diagrams showing the display screen 100 of the control panel 99 in the job setting process.

  In this setting step, first, as shown in FIG. 6, a printing information setting screen for setting printing information such as printing paper and ink information and the number of printed sheets is displayed on the setting screen 201. More specifically, the job name input unit 231, the print number input unit 232, the paper type input unit 233, the paper size input unit 234, the paper thickness input unit 235, the paper grain input unit 236, the ink type input unit 237, and the ink information Input sections 238, 239, 240, and 241 and various setting keys 222 are displayed. The operator can set the print information of the next job using this print information setting screen during printing.

  Even in this state, the print state screen 202 includes a display 211 indicating the mounting state of the printing plate, a print completion number display 212, a print speed display 213, a rotation start operation display 214, and a print start operation display 215. A warning display 216 when an ink amount is insufficient or an abnormality occurs and an emergency stop operation display 217 are displayed.

  In the setting process, as shown in FIG. 7, a plate making information setting screen for setting plate making information is displayed on the setting screen 201. On the plate making information setting screen, a pattern to be printed is displayed together with a detection patch 224 used for controlling the amount of ink and water supplied in the printing press. During printing, the operator uses this plate making information setting screen to set plate making information such as setting the detection patch 224 for the next job and setting other plate making conditions.

  Even in this state, the print state screen 202 includes a display 211 indicating the mounting state of the printing plate, a print completion number display 212, a print speed display 213, a rotation start operation display 214, and a print start operation display 215. A warning display 216 when an ink amount is insufficient or an abnormality occurs and an emergency stop operation display 217 are displayed.

  Further, in the setting process, as shown in FIG. 8, a color management information setting screen for setting a representative point 223 used for color management is displayed on the setting screen 201. This representative point 223 is a point representing a color characterizing the pattern of the printed material, and is used for color management of the image. In the color management information setting screen, areas corresponding to the ink keys of the ink supply device of the printing press (10 areas e1 to e10 in this embodiment) are displayed. During printing, the operator uses this color management information setting screen to set representative points such as representative point positions, target color values and color density settings, and other plate making information settings. I do. In this embodiment, color management is performed using representative points, but color management and density management may be performed using a general color control patch.

  Even in this state, the print state screen 202 includes a display 211 indicating the mounting state of the printing plate, a print completion number display 212, a print speed display 213, a rotation start operation display 214, and a print start operation display 215. A warning display 216 when an ink amount is insufficient or an abnormality occurs and an emergency stop operation display 217 are displayed.

  In addition, the setting screen 201 for setting the printing conditions relating to the print job shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 also displays an ink supply amount display screen used when adjusting the ink amount, as shown in FIG. This ink supply amount display screen is for adjusting the ink supply amount for each of the regions e1 to e10 corresponding to the ink keys shown in FIG. During printing, the operator uses the ink supply amount display screen to adjust not only the ink supply amount currently being printed, but also the ink preset adjustment for the next job (setting the ink key opening before starting printing), etc. Can do.

  Even in this state, the print state screen 202 includes a display 211 indicating the mounting state of the printing plate, a print completion number display 212, a print speed display 213, a rotation start operation display 214, and a print start operation display 215. A warning display 216 when an ink amount is insufficient or an abnormality occurs and an emergency stop operation display 217 are displayed.

  Referring to FIG. 4 again, when the job setting step (step S22) is completed, it is determined whether there is another job to be printed after the job set this time (step S23). If there are more jobs to be printed, step S21 and step S22 are repeatedly executed to continue setting the jobs to be printed. On the other hand, if there is no other job, the work is terminated.

  When there is no next job or when the next job setting is not performed during the current print job, only the print status screen 202 may be displayed on the entire screen. In this case, more detailed printing operation status may be displayed, or various instruction screens to be performed during the print job may be displayed. Alternatively, the print images captured by the image capturing unit 60 may be sequentially displayed so that the operator can confirm them.

  In the above-described embodiment, the input unit and the display unit of the present invention are configured by a single touch panel control panel 99. The input unit such as a mouse or a keyboard and a display device such as a CRT are used. You may comprise.

1 is a schematic diagram of a printing machine to which the present invention is applied. 1 is a block diagram showing a main electrical configuration of a printing press according to the present invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process from the job selection by the printing machine based on this invention to printing. It is a flowchart which shows the process from the job selection by the printing machine based on this invention to printing. It is a schematic diagram showing a display screen 100 of the control panel 99 in the job selection process. It is a schematic diagram showing a display screen 100 of the control panel 99 in the job setting process. It is a schematic diagram showing a display screen 100 of the control panel 99 in the job setting process. It is a schematic diagram showing a display screen 100 of the control panel 99 in the job setting process. It is a schematic diagram showing a display screen 100 of the control panel 99 at the time of ink amount adjustment.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 11 1st printing cylinder 12 2nd printing cylinder 13 1st blanket cylinder 14 2nd blanket cylinder 15 1st impression cylinder 16 2nd impression cylinder 17 Paper feed cylinder 18 Transfer cylinder 19 Paper discharge cylinder 20 Ink supply Device 21 Dampening water supply device 22 Sprocket 23 Chain 27 Printing motor 31 Paper feed unit 32 Paper discharge unit 33 Plate feed unit 34 Plate feed unit 35 Image recording device 36 Image recording device 99 Control panel 100 Display screen 101 Printer main body 102 RIP
103 Job Data 110 Control Unit 115 Controller 120 Display Control Means 201 Setting Screen 202 Print Status Screen

Claims (5)

A printing machine that makes a printing plate by recording an image based on image data, and performs printing by transferring ink applied to the printing plate after plate making to printing paper,
In relation to the image data, an input unit for setting printing conditions relating to a print job;
A display unit;
To display both a print status screen indicating the status of the currently executed print and a setting screen for setting print conditions for a print job to be printed later on the display unit during printing. Display control means,
A printing machine comprising: The printing press according to claim 1, wherein
The input unit and the display unit are printing machines configured from a touch panel control panel. The printing press according to claim 1 or 2,
The setting screen is a job selection screen for selecting a print job to be printed later, a printing information setting screen for setting printing information such as printing paper and ink information and the number of printed sheets, a plate making information setting screen for setting plate making information, or A printing machine including one of color management information setting screens for setting color management information. The printing press according to claim 1 or 2,
The printing status screen includes a printing completion number display and a warning display. The printing press according to claim 2,
The display control means further includes a button for simultaneously displaying buttons for determining whether to operate and stop the printing machine on the display unit.

Images