JP2006076043A - Image forming apparatus, optional equipment, and unit - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus which can form an image by a recording method different from an inkjet method and a recording method employing the inkjet method and which can easily get access to a part for forming the image by using an inkjet, optional equipment which is attached to/detached from the image forming apparatus, and a unit which is mounted on the image forming apparatus or the optional equipment so as to do inkjet printing. <P>SOLUTION: This image forming apparatus comprises an image forming part 69 which employs the recording method different from the inkjet method, and an attachment/detachment part 16 which can be freely attached/detached under the state of having the unit 10 exposed to the outside. The image forming apparatus is equipped with an image forming part 11 which uses the recording method employing the inkjet method, in a state wherein the unit 10 is attached to the attachment/detachment part 16. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2006,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image using a recording method different from the ink jet method and an ink jet recording method, an optional device capable of forming an image using the two methods, and the image. The present invention relates to a unit that is mounted on a forming apparatus or an optional apparatus and that can form an image by an ink jet recording method.

  Conventionally, image forming apparatuses that perform image formation by various methods have been proposed. As described in [Patent Document 1] to [Patent Document 3], image formation can be performed by two different methods. A so-called hybrid image forming apparatus has also been proposed. A hybrid image forming apparatus can perform image formation utilizing the advantages of each method by performing image formation combining each method or single image formation.

  For example, as described in [Patent Document 1] and [Patent Document 2], an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image by combining a stencil printing method and an ink jet method is capable of printing a large amount of the same image. Is a combination of a stencil printing method, which performs printing at low cost, and a small inkjet system that can easily change the image to be formed.

In such an image forming apparatus, most of the images are formed by the stencil printing method, and other portions are imaged by the ink jet method, so that most of them are the same as other documents such as serial numbers. Image formation with different parts can be performed at low cost, and the size of the apparatus is also suppressed.
As another combination of printing methods, as described in [Patent Document 3], a combination of an electrostatic development method used in a copying machine or the like and an ink jet method has been proposed.

As described above, when two different methods are combined, there is a method in which a combination of an inkjet method and another method is employed from the viewpoint of suppressing an increase in the size of the apparatus.
In addition, combining the color ink jet method has an advantage that a color image by the ink jet method can be easily added to a monochrome image by another method even when the other method can form only a monochrome image. is there. An image forming apparatus capable of forming an image having a color image in part can respond flexibly to a user's demand and has a large number of such image formations, and thus needs have been increasing in recent years.

JP 2002-137514 A JP 2002-137515 A Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-60072

  However, as described in [Patent Document 1] to [Patent Document 3], in a conventional hybrid image forming apparatus combined with an ink jet system, a part for image formation by ink jet is arranged inside the apparatus. There is a problem that maintenance work for the head and maintenance work such as ink replacement must be performed after the inside of the apparatus is opened, and the work becomes complicated. There is also a problem that if the user is injured when the inside of the apparatus is opened to perform such work, the manufacturer may be liable.

  The present invention provides an image forming apparatus that can form an image by a recording method using a method different from the ink jet method and a recording method using an ink jet method, and that allows easy access to a portion that performs image forming by ink jet. An image forming apparatus that can easily form an image by using one of the methods, and that can easily form an image by a recording method using the ink-jet method attached to the image forming apparatus or the optional device. The purpose is to provide units.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1 includes: a first image forming unit that forms an image with a recording method different from the ink jet method; and a unit for forming an image with an ink jet recording method. An image forming apparatus comprising: a second image forming unit configured to form an image by an ink jet recording method in a state where the unit is attached to the attachment / detachment unit. It is in.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the first aspect, the detachable portion is provided upstream of the first image forming portion in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes a paper feeding unit that feeds the recording medium toward the first image forming unit, It is characterized by having been arranged in.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to third aspects, the attaching / detaching portion is provided downstream of the first image forming portion in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the image forming apparatus further includes a stacking unit on which a recording medium on which an image has been formed is stacked, and the detachable unit is disposed on the stacking unit. To do.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the image forming apparatus according to the fourth or fifth aspect, the image forming apparatus further includes a post-processing unit capable of performing a predetermined process on the image-formed recording medium, It is characterized by being disposed in the post-processing section.

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optional device that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus including a first image forming unit that forms an image by a recording method different from the ink jet method, and the image is recorded by an ink jet recording method. An ink-jet recording unit having a detachable portion that allows the unit for forming the image to be detachable while being exposed to the outside, mounted on the image forming apparatus, and mounted on the detachable portion. An optional apparatus including a second image forming unit that forms an image by a method.

  According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in the optional apparatus according to the seventh aspect, the sheet feeding device feeds the recording medium toward the first image forming portion when the optional apparatus is mounted on the image forming apparatus. And

  According to a ninth aspect of the present invention, there is provided an optional apparatus according to the seventh aspect, wherein the optional apparatus is a stacking apparatus that stacks a recording medium on which an image has been formed when the apparatus is mounted on the image forming apparatus.

  According to a tenth aspect of the present invention, in the optional device according to the seventh or ninth aspect, the post-processing apparatus is capable of performing a predetermined process on a recording medium on which an image has been formed when the apparatus is mounted on the image forming apparatus. It is characterized by that.

  An eleventh aspect of the invention is an image forming apparatus in which the optional device according to any one of the seventh to tenth aspects is attached or detached.

  A twelfth aspect of the present invention is the image forming apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects or the eleventh aspect, wherein the first image forming unit performs printing using stencil paper. It is characterized by.

  According to a thirteenth aspect of the present invention, in any one of the first to sixth aspects, the image forming apparatus according to the eleventh or twelfth aspect, or the optional apparatus according to any one of the seventh to tenth aspects. Located in the unit to be removed.

  In the present invention, a first image forming unit that forms an image by a recording method different from an ink jet method and a unit for forming an image by an ink jet recording method are detachable while being exposed to the outside. Since the image forming apparatus includes a second image forming unit that includes an attaching / detaching unit and forms an image by an ink jet recording method in a state where the unit is attached to the attaching / detaching unit, recording by a method different from the ink jet method It is possible to form an image by a method and a recording method by an ink jet method, and it is easy to access a portion where image formation by an ink jet is performed, and maintenance work such as head replacement and ink replacement is performed. It can be performed without opening the inside of the device, and flexible image formation is performed. Preparative also together with the can, easy to use for users, high safety, it is possible to provide a relatively small image forming apparatus.

  If the detachable section is provided upstream of the first image forming section in the transport direction of the recording medium, the second image forming section is located upstream of the first image forming section in the transport direction of the recording medium. A part that can perform printing by a method different from the ink jet method in the first image forming unit after image forming by the ink jet method in the second image forming unit, and perform image formation by the ink jet The user can easily perform maintenance work such as head maintenance and ink replacement without opening the inside of the apparatus, and flexible image formation. An image forming apparatus that is easy to use, high in safety, and relatively small can be provided.

  Assuming that the recording medium has a sheet feeding section that feeds the recording medium toward the first image forming section and the detachable section is arranged in the sheet feeding section, the first recording medium in the conveying direction of the recording medium is assumed. The second image forming unit has a second image forming unit on the upstream side of the image forming unit, the second image forming unit being relatively easy to form the detachable unit. After the image formation by the ink-jet method, the first image forming unit can perform printing by a method different from the ink-jet method, and can easily access the portion where the image formation by the ink-jet is performed. Maintenance operations such as replacement can be performed without opening the inside of the device, and flexible image formation can be performed. It is possible to provide a relatively small image forming apparatus.

  If the attachment / detachment unit is provided downstream of the first image forming unit in the conveyance direction of the recording medium, the second image formation unit is provided downstream of the first image formation unit in the conveyance direction of the recording medium. The first image forming unit can perform image formation by a method different from the ink jet method and then can perform printing by the ink jet method in the second image forming unit, and can perform image formation by the ink jet The user can easily perform maintenance work such as head maintenance and ink replacement without opening the inside of the apparatus, and flexible image formation. An image forming apparatus that is easy to use, high in safety, and relatively small can be provided.

  If it has a stacking unit for stacking the image-recorded recording medium and the detachable unit is disposed in the stacking unit, the downstream side of the first image forming unit in the recording-material transport direction, The second image forming unit is included in the stacking unit that is relatively easy to form the detachable unit, and the first image forming unit is formed on the stacking unit after image formation using a method different from the ink jet method. The second image forming unit can perform printing by an ink jet method, and can easily access a portion that performs image forming by ink jet. Maintenance work such as head replacement and ink replacement can be performed on the apparatus. It can be performed without opening the inside, and flexible image formation can be performed. In addition, it is easy to use for users, high in safety, and relatively small. It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus.

  If a post-processing unit capable of performing a predetermined process on an image-formed recording medium is provided and an attaching / detaching unit is provided in the post-processing unit, the first recording medium in the transport direction of the recording medium is assumed. The image forming unit has a second image forming unit in a post-processing unit that is relatively easy to form an attaching / detaching unit on the downstream side of the image forming unit, and the first image forming unit forms an image by a method different from the ink jet method. In addition, the second image forming unit formed in the post-processing unit can perform printing by the ink jet method and can easily access the part that performs image forming by the ink jet. Maintenance work such as ink replacement can be performed without opening the inside of the device, and flexible image formation can be performed. Ku, high safety, it is possible to provide a relatively small image forming apparatus.

  The present invention is an optional device that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus including a first image forming unit that forms an image by a recording method different from the ink jet method, and forms an image by an ink jet recording method. The unit has a detachable part that can be detached while being exposed to the outside, is attached to the image forming apparatus, and the unit is attached to the detachable part. Since the second image forming unit can be formed in an optional device that is easy to form a detachable part, and a recording method using a method different from the ink jet method and an ink jet The part which can make it possible to form an image by the recording method by the method, and forms the image by the ink jet The user can easily access the head, perform maintenance work on the head, replace ink, etc. without opening the inside of the device, and perform flexible image formation. An optional device that is easy to use, highly safe, and relatively small can be provided.

  If the sheet feeding device feeds the recording medium toward the first image forming unit when mounted on the image forming device, the second sheet feeding device can easily form the detachable unit. The image forming unit can be formed, and after the second image forming unit formed on the paper feeding device forms an image by the ink jet method, the first image forming unit performs printing by a method different from the ink jet method. In addition, it is easy to access the portion where ink jet image formation is performed, and maintenance work for the head and maintenance work such as ink replacement can be performed without opening the inside of the apparatus. In addition to being able to be formed, it is possible to provide an optional device that is easy to use, highly safe and relatively small for the user. .

  If it is a stacking apparatus that stacks the image-formed recording medium when it is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the second image forming section can be formed on the stacking apparatus that can easily form the detachable section. After the first image forming unit performs printing by a method different from the ink jet method, the second image forming unit formed on the stacking apparatus can perform image forming by the ink jet method, and image forming by ink jet In addition to being able to easily access the parts to be performed, maintenance work for the head and replacement of ink can be performed without opening the inside of the apparatus, and flexible image formation can be performed. Therefore, it is possible to provide an optional device that is easy to use for users, high in safety, and relatively small.

  If the post-processing apparatus is capable of performing a predetermined process on a recording medium on which an image has been formed when it is mounted on the image forming apparatus, the post-processing apparatus can easily form an attaching / detaching portion. 2 can form an image forming unit, and after the first image forming unit performs printing by a method different from the ink jet method, the second image forming unit formed in the post-processing apparatus performs image forming by the ink jet method. In addition, it is easy to access the part where image formation by ink jet is performed, and maintenance work such as head replacement and ink replacement can be performed without opening the inside of the apparatus. In addition to being able to perform image formation, it offers easy-to-use, highly safe, and relatively small optional devices for users. It can be.

  The present invention resides in an image forming apparatus to which the optional device according to any one of claims 7 to 10 can be attached and detached, so that the optional device having the above-described effects can be attached and an attaching / detaching portion is formed. The second image forming unit can be formed in an optional device that is easy to perform, and when the optional device is mounted, an image can be formed by a recording method that is different from the ink jet method and a recording method that uses the ink jet method. It is easy to access the part where ink jet image formation is performed, and maintenance work such as head replacement and ink replacement can be performed without opening the inside of the device, and flexible image formation is possible. Along with what can be done, it is easy to use for users, safe and relatively small It is possible to provide an image forming apparatus.

  If it is a printing apparatus that performs printing using stencil paper in the first image forming unit, it is possible to form an image by a recording method using a stencil printing method and a recording method using an inkjet method, Easy access to the part where ink jet image formation is performed, and maintenance work for the head and ink replacement can be performed without opening the inside of the device, allowing flexible image formation at high speed and running. In addition to being able to be performed at a reduced cost, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus that is easy to use for users, high in safety, and relatively small.

  The present invention provides a unit that can be attached to and detached from the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the image forming apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, or the option device according to any one of claims 7 to 10. Therefore, it is possible to form an image by a recording method different from the ink jet method and a recording method by the ink jet method, and it is easy to access a portion where image formation by ink jet is performed, and maintenance work for the head, Maintenance work such as ink replacement can be performed without opening the inside of the apparatus, and it is possible to perform flexible image formation. Provided is a unit that can contribute to providing a small-sized image forming apparatus or optional apparatus. Can bet

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of a heat sensitive digital plate-making integrated stencil printing apparatus which is a printing apparatus as an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The stencil printing apparatus 100 includes an image scanner 61 for reading a document image on the upper part of the apparatus main body 67. The image scanner 61 includes a lamp 63 for illuminating a document set on a contact glass 62, a plurality of mirrors 64, an imaging lens 65, a one-dimensional array CCD 66, and the like.

  In principle, the image read by the image scanner 61 is used for stencil printing, which will be described later, but may be used for inkjet printing, as will be described later. Further, an image for performing such stencil printing and inkjet printing can be read by an external input device such as a personal computer connected to the stencil printing apparatus 100.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 is made by punching a printing unit 69 as a first image forming unit around a plate cylinder 68 rotatably supported at a lower part of an image scanner 61 and a heat-sensitive stencil sheet 70a. And a plate making apparatus 71 for supplying the used master 70 to the plate cylinder 68. The stencil printing apparatus 100 is provided on the outer periphery of the plate cylinder 68 with a pressure cylinder 20 that presses the printing paper P as a recording medium to be fed against the plate cylinder 68, and a reciprocating mechanism that peels the printing paper P from the plate cylinder 68. Separation claw 75, air knife device 45 for separating printing paper P from plate cylinder 68 together with separation claw 75, and plate removal for separating and storing used master 70 wound around plate cylinder 68 before the printing process Device 76.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 also has a paper feeding device 52 as a paper feeding unit that supplies the printing paper P toward the printing unit 69, a printing paper P separated from the plate cylinder 68 by the separation claw 75 and the air knife device 45. Are provided, a paper delivery device 85 as a stacking unit on which printed printing paper P transported by the paper transport device 84 is stacked, and an operation panel (not shown).

  As shown in FIG. 2, the plate cylinder 68 includes an ink supply mechanism (not shown) including an ink roller 72 disposed therein, and an end portion of the master 70 that has been preliminarily disposed on a part of the outer periphery thereof. An openable / closable clamp 73 for gripping, a porous support cylinder (not shown) having an opening and a non-opening (not shown), and a mesh screen (not shown) covering the outer periphery of the porous support cylinder. Yes. The opening is a portion in which a large number of small holes for transmitting ink supplied by the ink supply mechanism are formed, and the transmitted ink is configured to ooze out from the mesh screen. The plate cylinder 68 is shown in FIG. 2 via a drive system (not shown) of the plate cylinder 68 including a main motor (not shown) as a plate cylinder drive means so that the rotation speed can be changed corresponding to a plurality of printing speeds. It is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction.

  The impression cylinder 20 is located below the plate cylinder 68. The impression cylinder 20 has substantially the same diameter as the diameter of the plate cylinder 68. The drive system of the impression cylinder 20 is connected to the drive system of the plate cylinder 68, and the main motor also serves as drive means for rotationally driving the impression cylinder 20. The impression cylinder 20 is rotationally driven in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 2 at the same peripheral speed as that of the plate cylinder 68 via a drive system of the impression cylinder 20 including a main motor. The rotational speeds of the plate cylinder 68 and the impression cylinder 20 are variable in five steps in the range where the conveyance speed of the printing paper P is 0.6 to 1.3 m / sec, and the selection can be made on the operation panel. It is like that.

  The impression cylinder 20 presses the printing paper P against the master 70 wound around the printing cylinder 68 at the nip portion N that is opposite to the printing cylinder 68, and adheres ink oozing from the master 70 to the printing paper P. Printing is performed. The impression cylinder 20 can be brought into and out of contact with the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 68 by contact / separation means (not shown).

The plate making apparatus 71 includes a platen roller 77 and a thermal head 78 as a plate making head disposed so as to be in contact with and away from the platen roller, a roller pair 79 that conveys the plate making master 70 toward the plate cylinder 68, and the plate making master 20. And a cutter 80 for cutting the sheet into a predetermined length. The master 70 made by the plate making apparatus 71 is wound around the plate cylinder 68 so as to cover the opening of the porous support cylinder provided in the plate cylinder 68.
The plate removal device 76 peels off the master 70 from the plate cylinder 68 and conveys it, and the plate removal box 54 that stores the used master 70 that has been peeled off and conveyed from the plate cylinder 68 by the master peeling device 53. And have.

  The sheet feeding device 52 is provided so as to be movable up and down, in synchronization with the rotational movement of the sheet feed table 81 on which the printing paper P is stacked, the sheet feed roller 82 disposed above the sheet feed table 81, and the plate cylinder 68. The registration roller pair 83 that is driven and fed to the printing unit 69 by the printing paper P that has been fed out by the paper feed roller 82 and the printing paper P that has been fed out by the paper feed roller 82 are guided to the registration roller pair 83. Guide plates 40 and 41 for guiding the printing paper P fed from the roller pair 83 toward the printing unit 69 to the printing unit 69 are provided. The paper feed roller 82 feeds the uppermost print paper P among the print papers P stacked on the paper feed table 81, and is rotated at a fixed position. The sheet feed table 81 is controlled to be raised and lowered according to the number of print sheets P so that the uppermost print sheet P contacts the sheet feed roller 82.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 can print on not only plain paper but also high-quality paper, postcards, and envelopes as well as plain paper as the printing paper P. The maximum size of the printing paper P that can be printed by the stencil printing apparatus 100 is A3. The paper feeding device 52 can stack and feed such various printing papers P.

The separation claw 75 is disposed on the downstream side of the nip portion N in the conveyance direction of the printing paper P, and is brought into contact with and separated from the plate cylinder 68 by a driving mechanism (not shown). The separation claw 75 is connected to a pump (not shown), and air sent from the pump is blown toward the plate cylinder 68 from a hole at the tip (not shown).
The air knife device 45 is located below the plate discharging device 76, and has a fan 45a and a duct 45b for blowing air generated by the fan 45a toward the plate cylinder 68 in a thin layered state. Yes.

  The printed printing paper P is stuck to the master 70 on the plate cylinder 68 due to the viscosity of the ink, and particularly the printing paper P on which a solid image is printed causes jamming due to so-called rolling up. However, the front end of the separation claw 75 is inserted between the master 70 on the plate cylinder 68 and the printing paper P, and the printing paper P can be peeled off from the master 70 by blowing air. Even when the ink has a high viscosity and the separation claw 75 alone is not satisfactory, the air knife device 45 inserts a thin layer of air between the master 70 and the printing paper P to separate the separation claw. The peeling by 75 is assisted, the peeling is performed well, and the roll-up, jamming and the like are prevented.

The paper conveying device 84 includes a driving roller 55 and a driven roller 56, a conveying belt 57 as a paper discharge belt wound around the driving roller 55 and the driven roller 56, and an adsorption for adsorbing the printing paper P on the conveying belt 57. And a fan 58, and the printing paper P peeled off from the master 70 on the plate cylinder 68 is conveyed by the separation claw 75 and the air knife device 45.
The paper discharge tray 85 holds the print paper P that has been transported by the paper transport device 84 and has been printed by the printing unit 69 in a stacked manner.

A series of printing operations related to stencil printing by the stencil printing apparatus 100 having such a configuration will be described.
When the plate-making process is executed using the operation panel in a state where the unmade plate stencil sheet 70a passes between the platen roller 77 and the thermal head 78 and between the roller pair 79, the platen roller 77 and the roller pair 79 are moved. Simultaneously with the driving, the document is read by the image scanner 61, and a voltage is applied to a specific resistance heating element of the thermal head 78 based on the image data of the document that has been subjected to the necessary image processing by the image processing unit. Plate making on the stencil sheet 70a is performed.

  The master 70 that has been made in this way is sent out toward the plate cylinder 68 by the roller pair 79, and in synchronization with this operation, the plate cylinder 68 waits at a position where the clamp 73 receives the master 70 that has been made. Then, the tip of the master 70 that has been made is made by the clamp 73. The plate-making master 70 is wound around the plate cylinder 68 by rotating the plate-making cylinder 68 in the clockwise direction in FIG.

  Thereafter, the printing process is executed. The uppermost printing paper P on the paper feed table 81 is fed by the paper feeding roller 82, the registration roller pair 83 is driven in synchronization with the rotation of the plate cylinder 68, and the leading end of the printing paper P is in contact with the plate cylinder 68 and the impression cylinder. When the printing paper P is pressed against the master 70 on the plate cylinder 68 with the impression cylinder 20 displaced upward when it passes between the ink and the ink, the ink in the plate cylinder 68 oozes out from the perforated portion of the master 70. It is transferred to the printing paper P and printing is performed. The printing paper P after printing is peeled off from the plate cylinder 68 by the separation claw 75 and the air knife device 45, guided to the paper transport device 84, discharged from the paper transport device 84 to the paper discharge tray 85, and stacked.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 includes various optional devices, that is, a card stacker 23 that is a paper discharge device and a post-processing device shown in FIG. 3, a card stacker 24 that is a paper discharge device and a post-processing device shown in FIG. 5, a sorter 25 as a post-processing device, and a sorter 26 as a post-processing device shown in FIG. 6, and a large-volume feeding device 27 as a paper feeding device shown in FIG. It can be removed.

  The card stackers 23 and 24 are mounted by being integrated with the paper discharge tray 85. The sorters 25 and 26 are mounted in place of the paper discharge table 85. The large-volume paper feeder 27 is mounted in place of the paper feeder 52. The card stackers 23 and 24 are loaded for the purpose of sorting relatively small sized printing paper P such as printed postcards and envelopes, and the sorters 25 and 26 are for the purpose of sorting a relatively large amount of printing paper P. The large-volume paper feeding device 27 is mounted for the purpose of feeding a relatively large amount of printing paper P, and the mechanism for achieving such a purpose is well known.

  As described above, the stencil printing apparatus 100 can print not only plain paper, but also high-quality paper, postcards, and envelopes, as well as plain paper, as the printing paper P, and the stencil printing apparatus 100 performs printing. Since the maximum possible size of the printing paper P is A3, the large-volume paper feeding device 27 can stack and feed such various printing papers P as in the paper feeding device 52. Yes.

  The card stackers 23 and 24 and the sorters 25 and 26 are post-processing devices that are mounted for the purpose of performing predetermined processing such as sorting on the printed printing paper P, and other functions such as stapling. May be provided. In addition, the stencil printing apparatus 100 can be mounted with another type of post-processing apparatus, which is an optional apparatus, such as a collator. The post-processing device may not have a function as a stacking device for stacking printed printing paper P.

In addition, the stencil printing apparatus 100 can be equipped with a mass discharge device having only a function of stacking a large amount of printing paper P as an optional device.
The stencil printing apparatus 100 does not have the above-described various post-processing functions by installing an optional device, but is provided as a function of a post-processing unit provided in the stencil printing apparatus 100 itself. It can also be configured.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 can form an image by printing with a stencil printing method which is a recording method different from the ink jet method in the printing unit 69 which is a first image forming unit. In the state where the unit 10 for forming an image by the ink jet recording method is mounted, the printing unit 11 as a second image forming unit that forms an image by the ink jet recording method together with the printing unit 69. It comes to be equipped with.

  The unit 10 includes a line-type head 12 that discharges water-based ink to perform ink jet printing, an ink tank 13 that supplies ink to the head 12, and a cleaning unit (not shown) that cleans the head 12 by suction or the like. Drive including a suction unit (not shown) that sucks ink mist generated when the head 12 discharges ink, a motor as a drive source (not shown) that drives the head 12 in the main scanning direction that is the width direction of the printing paper P, and the like. Means.

  The unit 10 is also provided integrally with a casing 14 that covers the head 12, the ink tank 13, the cleaning means, the suction means, the driving means, and the like, and an upstream portion outside the casing 14 in the conveyance direction of the printing paper P. The sensor 15 for detecting the printing paper P for measuring the printing timing by the head 12 and a connector (not shown) for electrically connecting the unit 10 to the stencil printing apparatus 100 when mounted on the stencil printing apparatus 100 are provided. is doing.

  The unit 10 performs printing in a single black color with a width of about 2 inches in the main scanning direction by line printing. The reason for the line printing is to perform hybrid printing in combination with stencil printing performed at high speed. The printing speed is variable in the range of 0.6 to 1.3 m / sec depending on the stencil printing speed. The printing paper P can be printed on plain paper, high-quality paper of 45 to 180K, postcards and envelopes. As the resolution, 300 × 300 dpi or 300 × 600 dpi can be selected.

  The target print image types include characters including various Japanese and English fonts, numbers, barcodes, mark images, design images, and photographic images. Durability is 5 years or 3 million sheets. The ink tank 13 is a cartridge type that can be replaced in a state where the unit 10 is not mounted.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 can be configured so that the unit 10 is mounted on the apparatus main body 67. However, in this embodiment, the card stackers 23 and 24, the sorters 25 and 26, which are the above-described various optional apparatuses, A case where it is configured to be mounted on the paper device 27 will be described with reference to FIGS.

  The unit 10 is exposed to the outside in order to facilitate access and realize high maintainability regardless of whether the unit 10 can be mounted on any of the card stackers 23 and 24, the sorters 25 and 26, and the large-volume feeding device 27. It can be attached and detached as it is. For this reason, the card stackers 23 and 24, the sorters 25 and 26, and the large-volume paper feeder 27 have the detachable portion 16 of the unit 10 at a position where this is possible.

  The detachable portion 16 has a connector (not shown) that is electrically connected to a connector provided in the unit 10 when the unit 10 is mounted. The detachable unit 16 accurately adjusts the unit 10 so that the distance between the head 12 and the printing surface of the printing paper P is about 1 mm, which is a predetermined value, so that the ink ejected by the head 12 adheres well to the printing paper P. It is comprised so that it may position.

  As shown in FIG. 3, the card stacker 23 includes a stack unit 17 that sorts and stacks the print sheets P, and a transport unit 18 that transports the print sheets P transported by the sheet transport device 84 toward the stack unit 17. have. The transport unit 18 is disposed at a position facing the unit 10 with the unit 10 mounted.

  The transport unit 18 transports the printing paper P while electrostatically attracting it to the belt. Therefore, the printing paper P is conveyed on the printing surface by the unit 10 in a state where the distance from the head 12 is accurately maintained, and printing is performed by the ink jet method in this conveyance process. The printing paper P that has been printed by two different methods and has been printed is conveyed from the bottom to the top in the stack unit 17 and stacked.

  The card stacker 24 shown in FIG. 4 has substantially the same configuration as that of the card stacker 23, and therefore the same reference numerals are given to configurations corresponding to the configuration of the card stacker 23. The card stacker 24 is different from the card stacker 23 in the stacking unit 17 of the card stacker 24. The printing paper P that has been printed by two different methods and is printed is conveyed from top to bottom and stacked. Is a point.

  In any of the card stackers 23 and 24, the transport unit 18 is not a system that transports the printing paper P while being electrostatically attracted to the belt, but may be a system that transports the print paper P while being attracted to the belt using negative pressure of air. Although the former method is better, the suction ability of the printing paper P is superior, and it is suitable for transporting the printing surface of the printing paper P with the distance from the head 12 accurately maintained. In addition to these methods, printing may be performed while being transported by a roller, or transport by only a roller may be performed as long as transportability of the printing paper P can be ensured.

  As shown in FIG. 5, the sorter 25 sorts and stacks the printing paper P, the transporting part 32 that further transports the printing paper P transported by the paper transporting device 84, and transports by the transporting part 32. The transport unit 33 that transports the printed paper P toward the stack unit 31, the stacking unit 34 that stacks the print paper P transported by the transport unit 32, and the print unit P that is exposed outside the stack unit 31. And a stapling unit 35 as an optional device of the sorter 25 that can be stapled. The transport unit 32 is disposed at a position facing the unit 10 with the unit 10 mounted. The staple unit 35 is configured to automatically staple when the user inserts the printing paper P.

  The conveyance units 32 and 33 convey the printing paper P while being electrostatically attracted to the belt. Therefore, the printing paper P is conveyed on the printing surface by the unit 10 in a state where the distance from the head 12 is accurately maintained, and printing is performed by the ink jet method in this conveyance process. The printing paper P that has been printed by two different methods and has been printed is conveyed from the bottom to the top in the stack unit 31 and stacked.

  The transport unit 32 may be a system that transports the print paper P while adsorbing to the belt using the negative pressure of air, instead of a system that transports the print paper P while electrostatically adsorbing to the belt. The printing paper P has an excellent suction capability and is suitable for transporting the printing surface of the printing paper P in a state where the distance from the head 12 is accurately maintained. In addition to these methods, printing may be performed while being transported by a roller, or transport by only a roller may be performed as long as transportability of the printing paper P can be ensured.

  The transport unit 33 may also be a system that transports the printing paper P while adsorbing to the belt using the negative pressure of air, instead of the system that transports the print paper P while electrostatically adsorbing to the belt. In addition to these systems, The printing may be performed while being conveyed by a roller, or the conveyance of the printing paper P may be ensured as long as the conveyance of the printing paper P can be ensured.

  Since the sorter 26 shown in FIG. 6 has the same part as the configuration of the sorter 25, the configuration corresponding to the configuration of the sorter 25 is denoted by the same reference numeral. The sorter 26 is different from the sorter 25 in that the attaching / detaching portion 16 is disposed in the staple portion 35, the guide 36 is disposed in the staple portion 35, and the like.

  The guide plate 36 is disposed at a position facing the head 12 when the unit 10 is attached to the detachable portion 16, and the user pushes the print paper P along the upper surface of the guide plate 36, so that the print paper P is inserted into the staple unit 35. The guide plate 36 can be adjusted in the vertical direction, that is, in the direction of approaching and separating from the head 12 of the mounted unit 10, and the user adjusts the position of the guide plate 36 according to the thickness of the bundle of printing paper P. Then, when the printing paper P is inserted into the stapling unit 35, stapling is performed, and at the same time, the unit 10 prints on the front cover of the stapled printed matter by the ink jet method.

As described above, the detachable portion 16 may be provided in the staple portion 35 provided as an optional device with respect to the sorter 26 as the optional device.
In order to secure a sufficient printing area by the unit 10, instead of line printing, a method of printing while the head 12 moves may be employed. Although this method generally has a low printing speed, printing is not performed while performing stencil printing, and high-speed printing is not so required, so that a sufficient printing speed is ensured.

However, in consideration of compatibility of the unit 10, that is, adaptability to the card stackers 23 and 24, the sorter 25, and the large-volume sheet feeding device 27 which are other optional devices, the mounting unit 16 itself is maintained while maintaining the line printing method. It is desirable to adopt a configuration in which is driven.
In order to keep the distance between the printing surface of the printing paper P and the head 12 accurate, it is desirable to provide a spacer on the detachable portion 15 side or the unit 10 side.

  The transport units 32 and 33 electrostatically attract the print paper P because the flatness of the print paper P during transport is not required to be as accurate as the card stackers 23 and 24, the sorter 25, and the large-volume paper feeder 27 described later. It is good also as a system which conveys while adsorb | sucking to a belt using the negative pressure of air instead of the system conveyed. Further, in addition to or in place of these methods, conveyance using rollers may be performed.

  As shown in FIG. 7, the large-volume sheet feeding device 27 is provided so as to be movable up and down, a sheet feeding table 37 on which the printing sheets P are stacked, and a sheet feeding table 37 disposed above the sheet feeding table 37 and rotated at a fixed position. A paper feed roller 38 that feeds the topmost print paper P among the print papers P stacked thereon, and rollers 46 and 47 that feed the print paper P fed by the paper feed roller 38 toward the registration roller pair 83. And a flat plate 48 for guiding the printing paper P conveyed by the rollers 46 and 47. The paper feed table 37 is controlled to be raised and lowered according to the number of print papers P so that the uppermost print paper P comes into contact with the paper feed rollers 38.

  The detachable portion 16 is disposed so that the head 12 faces the flat plate 48 between the roller 46 and the roller 47 when the unit 10 is mounted. Therefore, the printing paper P is conveyed on the printing surface by the unit 10 in a state where the distance from the head 12 is accurately maintained, and printing is performed by the ink jet method in this conveyance process.

  In addition, if the printing paper P loaded on the paper feed tray 37 is new, the flatness is good, so that the printing is performed simply by being transported on the flat plate 48. However, the printing paper printed on one side is good. Assuming the case where printing is performed on the other side of P, a method of conveying printing paper P while electrostatically adsorbing it to a belt as described above, instead of or in combination with rollers 46 and 47 Alternatively, a method of conveying while adsorbing to the belt using negative pressure of air may be adopted. Instead of line printing, a method of printing while moving the head 12 may be adopted.

  As described above, the configuration in which the unit 10 is detachably attached to various optional devices has been shown. Of these, in the configuration in which the unit 10 is detachably attached to the card stackers 23 and 24 and the sorters 25 and 26, the printing paper P is conveyed. In the configuration in which the printing unit 11 is provided on the downstream side of the printing unit 69 in the direction, and the unit 10 is detachably attached to the large-volume feeding device 27, the upstream of the printing unit 69 in the transport direction of the printing paper P. The printing unit 11 is provided on the side.

As described above, the stencil printing apparatus 100 can also be configured such that the unit 10 is mounted on the apparatus main body 67. In this case, the printing unit 11 is disposed downstream of the printing unit 69 in the transport direction of the printing paper P. The provided configuration can be provided, for example, by disposing the detachable portion 16 on the paper discharge tray 85, and the stencil printing apparatus 100 sorts or staples the printing paper P on which the image has been formed by the printing portion 69 as described above. In the case where a post-processing unit capable of performing a predetermined process such as the above is provided, the post-processing unit can be provided by disposing the detachable unit 16.
In addition, a configuration in which the printing unit 11 is provided on the upstream side of the printing unit 69 in the conveyance direction of the printing paper P can be provided by, for example, disposing the detachable unit 16 in the paper feeding device 52.

In these cases, the positional relationship between the head 12 and the print paper P, the transport method of the print paper P during printing by the head 12, the operation of the head 12 during printing, etc. are described with reference to FIGS. What has been described above can be adopted as appropriate.
Further, the configuration described with reference to FIG. 6 can be similarly provided in the apparatus main body 67.

  Thus, in any case where the unit 10 is configured to be mounted on the apparatus main body 67, the detachable portion 16 is disposed at a position where the unit 10 is detachable while being exposed to the outside. The printing unit 11 is provided in the stencil printing apparatus 100 by attaching the unit 10 to the detachable unit 16.

  In the above configuration, the unit 10 only needs to include at least the head 12, and the ink tank 13 may be unitized and may be a unit different from the unit including the head 12. The ink is water-based but may be oily. The head 12 and the like are driven by power feeding through a connector by a driving unit or the like. However, the driving unit may be disposed outside the unit 10, that is, in the above-described various optional devices or the apparatus main body 67.

  The sensor 15 only needs to be able to accurately measure the printing timing by the head 12, and does not have to be integrated with the unit 10, and is arranged in the conveyance path of the printing paper P of the various optional devices and the device main body 67 described above. You may set up. The sensor 15 is not necessarily required as long as the printing timing by the head 12 can be accurately measured by the driving timing of the registration roller pair 83 or the like.

  The printing color may be full color, and in this case, the ink tank 13 corresponding to this is provided. When the color ink jet method is combined, it is possible to easily add a color image by the ink jet method in the printing unit 11 to the monochrome image by the stencil printing method in the printing unit 69. In general, an image forming apparatus capable of forming an image having a color image in part can respond flexibly to a user's request and has a large number of such image formations. Therefore, by making the unit 10 compatible with full color or color, the stencil printing apparatus 100 also meets such needs.

  The printing width can be increased to 4 inches by increasing the size of the head 12 or can be increased to the maximum width of the target printing paper P. Although partially redundantly described, the head 12 may be driven in the main scanning direction by a driving unit at the time of printing, so that printing can be performed on the entire width of the printing paper P.

According to the stencil printing apparatus 100 configured as described above, by installing the unit 10, hybrid printing combining stencil printing and inkjet printing becomes possible.
The types of print images targeted by the unit 10 include characters including various Japanese and English fonts, numbers, barcodes, mark images, design images, photographic images, and the like. Since the print image is variable, such hybrid printing enables printing as shown in FIG. 9, for example.

  FIG. 9A shows an example in the case where variable printing is performed only in black by inkjet printing, and FIG. 9B shows an example in which full color printing is performed by inkjet printing. FIG. 9A shows an image 86 that is common to many sheets by stencil printing, and a variable address portion 87 and serial number 88 that are variable for each sheet by ink-jet printing. FIG. 9B shows the stencil printing. An image 86 common to a large number of printed sheets, a photographic image 89 and a company mark 90 from a full print by inkjet printing are printed.

  In this way, if hybrid printing is used, a common image is printed in black by stencil printing, and in addition to this, variable addressing such as postcards, envelopes, direct mail, etc., and serial numbers are printed. It is possible to create a variable document printed with a numbering, such as a distributed document with a mark, or a document printed with a full color image part partially filled with a photo or company mark. At this time, in the configuration in which line printing is performed, the printable range in which ink jet printing can be performed is expanded by changing the paper feeding direction of the printing paper P in accordance with the position of the portion to be printed by ink jet. be able to.

  In the hybrid printing of such an embodiment, when ink jet printing is provided as a standard in the stencil printing apparatus 100, that is, for example, when the detachable portion 16 is provided in the apparatus main body 67, the hybrid printing is performed on the operation panel or the like. Software, etc., and an image to be printed is input / selected by an external input device connected to the image scanner 61 or the stencil printing apparatus 100, and printing is started after specifying each image position, size and range. Can be done.

  On the other hand, when inkjet printing is provided as an option in the stencil printing apparatus 100 as a retrofit, that is, for example, when the detachable portion 16 is not provided in the apparatus main body 67 but is provided in the optional apparatus as described above. However, since software for performing hybrid printing is not provided as standard in the stencil printing apparatus 100, such software can be installed for performing hybrid printing, but hybrid printing is simplified. For example, the following can be done.

  10 and 11, image data representing the frame 91, the information reading base point 93, and the bar code 94 indicating the format information, excluding the character portion 92 in the frame 91, is transmitted to the stencil printing apparatus 100. It is recorded in advance in the provided memory or installed when performing hybrid printing. Such image data has an advantage that the data amount is small and can be easily recorded in a memory.

  Image data suitable for performing desired hybrid printing such as image data corresponding to FIG. 10 and image data corresponding to FIG. 11 is called on the operation panel and printed. Printing may be performed by stencil printing, but can also be performed by inkjet from the viewpoint of cost, such as saving of the master 70. The barcode 94 has information regarding the positional relationship between the base point 93 and the frame 91. Data indicating the frame 91, the base point 93, and the barcode 94 may be recorded separately, and may be selected and combined.

  In the frame 91 of the printing paper P on which the frame 91, the base point 93, and the barcode 94 are printed, an image to be printed by inkjet such as an address and an address is entered and read by the image scanner 61. At this time, based on the information of the barcode 94, the image written in the frame 91 is recognized as an image to be used for printing. Before and after this, an image to be printed by stencil printing is also read by the image scanner 61 or an external input device. After that, on the operation panel or external input device, the image written in the frame 91 is printed at what position and at what magnification and color, and at what position the image to be printed by stencil printing is printed Hybrid printing is performed by designating whether printing is performed at a magnification and performing printing by inkjet and stencil printing.

  FIG. 12 shows an example in which hybrid printing is performed based on the image shown in FIG. On the printing paper P shown in FIG. 12, a variable image 95 is printed on each printing paper P corresponding to the character portion 92 shown in FIG. 96 is printed by stencil printing, and variable hybrid printing is performed.

  In the bar code 94, an image written in which frame 91 is printed in which position and in what color from the base point 93, what is the size of the printing paper P, and an image for stencil printing May be provided with information indicating in what position and in what color the base point 93 is used as a base point.

  As described above, the stencil printing apparatus 100 as an image forming apparatus, the card stackers 23 and 24, the sorters 25 and 26 as an optional apparatus, the large-volume sheet feeding apparatus 27 and the unit 10 have been described as embodiments for carrying out the present invention. As long as the image forming apparatus to which the image forming apparatus performs hybrid image formation in combination with the recording method based on the ink jet method, not only stencil printing but also other types of printing and electrostatic development can be combined with the ink jet method. A combination with any type of image forming method in which an image is formed by a recording method different from the ink jet method, such as a method, may be used.

  The image forming apparatus constituted by this combination is not limited to a stencil printing apparatus, but may be any type of image forming apparatus such as a copying machine, a printer, a facsimile machine, or a complex machine thereof. Therefore, for example, even when the image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applied is a stencil printing apparatus, the stencil printing apparatus is not an impression cylinder type stencil printing apparatus like the above-described stencil printing apparatus 100, but a press roller. The stencil printing apparatus used may be used.

  If the ink is not sufficiently dried by stencil printing or ink jet printing depending on the type of ink, the type of printing paper, and the printing speed, a drying device is provided to accelerate the drying of the ink by blowing warm air on the printing paper. Also good. Whether or not to operate the drying device may be selected according to the type of ink, the type of printing paper, and the printing speed.

  The drying device may be provided between the portion for performing stencil printing and the portion for performing ink jet printing when the stencil printing and ink jet printing are performed in this order from the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the printing paper. You may provide after the part which performs. In addition, the drying device may be provided between the portion for performing stencil printing and the portion for performing ink-jet printing when the ink-jet printing and stencil printing are performed in this order from the upstream side in the conveyance direction of the printing paper. You may provide after the part which prints.

  If a drying device is provided between the part that performs stencil printing and the part that performs inkjet printing, there is an advantage that the influence on the subsequent printing can be suppressed. In this case, there is an advantage that it is possible to prevent the image from being distorted due to rubbing with other printing paper and ink from adhering to other printing paper.

Further, a plurality of optional devices may be provided and used at the same time as much as possible, and similarly, a plurality of optional devices may be provided and used at the same time as possible.
The application of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment unless particularly limited in the above description.

1 is a front view illustrating an outline of an image forming apparatus to which the present invention is applicable. FIG. 2 is an enlarged front view of a main body portion of the image forming apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1. 1 is a front view of an optional device to which the present invention is applied and an image forming apparatus equipped with the optional device. FIG. 6 is a front view of another optional device to which the present invention is applied and an image forming apparatus equipped with the optional device. FIG. 10 is a front view of another optional apparatus to which the present invention is applied and an image forming apparatus equipped with the optional apparatus. FIG. 10 is a front view of another optional apparatus to which the present invention is applied and an image forming apparatus equipped with the optional apparatus. FIG. 10 is a front view of another optional apparatus to which the present invention is applied and an image forming apparatus equipped with the optional apparatus. It is a perspective view which shows the structure of the outline of the unit to which this invention is applied. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the result of the image formation performed by applying this invention. It is a figure which shows the example of the method of the image formation performed by applying this invention. It is a figure which shows the other example of the method of the image formation performed by applying this invention. It is a conceptual diagram which shows the example of the result of the image formation by the example shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

10 unit 11 second image forming unit 16 attaching / detaching unit 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 35 optional device 23, 24, 25, 26, 35 stacking device, post-processing device 27 paper feeding device 52 paper feeding unit 69 first 1 image forming unit 85 stacking unit 100 printing apparatus, image forming apparatus P recording medium

Claims (13)

  A first image forming unit that forms an image by a recording method different from the ink jet method, and a detachable unit that allows the unit for forming an image by the recording method by the ink jet method to be detachable while being exposed to the outside. And an image forming apparatus including a second image forming unit configured to form an image by an ink jet recording method in a state where the unit is attached to the detachable unit.   The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attaching / detaching portion is provided upstream of the first image forming portion in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.   3. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a paper feeding unit that feeds the recording medium toward the first image forming unit, wherein the attachment / detachment unit is disposed in the paper feeding unit. Image forming apparatus.   4. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the attaching / detaching portion is provided on the downstream side of the first image forming portion in the conveyance direction of the recording medium.   5. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a stacking unit for stacking a recording medium on which an image has been formed, wherein the detachable unit is disposed in the stacking unit.   6. The image forming apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a post-processing unit capable of performing a predetermined process on an image-formed recording medium, wherein the attaching / detaching unit is disposed in the post-processing unit. An image forming apparatus.   An optional device that can be attached to and detached from an image forming apparatus that includes a first image forming unit that forms an image by a recording method different from an ink jet method, and a unit for forming an image by an ink jet recording method. A second attaching / detaching portion that is detachable while being exposed to the outside, and is attached to the image forming apparatus, and the unit is attached to the attaching / detaching portion to form an image by an ink jet recording method; An optional device comprising an image forming unit.   8. The option device according to claim 7, wherein the option device is a paper feeding device that feeds a recording medium toward the first image forming unit when the image forming device is attached to the image forming device.   8. The option device according to claim 7, wherein the option device is a stacking device for stacking a recording medium on which an image has been formed when mounted on the image forming apparatus.   10. The optional apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the optional apparatus is a post-processing apparatus capable of performing a predetermined process on a recording medium on which an image has been formed when the optional apparatus is mounted on the image forming apparatus.   An image forming apparatus to which the optional device according to claim 7 is attached or detached.   12. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the image forming apparatus is a printing apparatus that performs printing using a stencil sheet in the first image forming unit. A unit detachably attached to the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, the image forming apparatus according to claim 11 or 12, or the optional apparatus according to any one of claims 7 to 10.

Images