JP2007144771A - Stencil printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a stencil printing apparatus capable of moving a printing plate manufacturing part, and preventing an operation from being complicated and printing efficiency from being deteriorated. <P>SOLUTION: The stencil printing apparatus 1 has the printing plate manufacturing part 3 movably supported on an apparatus body 8, a paper feeding tray 24 arranged below the printing plate manufacturing part 3 and supported on the apparatus body 8 so as to freely move upward and downward, a paper feeding roller 25 being brought into contact with the uppermost level paper P on the paper feeding tray 24 at a paper feeding position and feeding and conveying this, and an upward and downward moving means 29 for moving the paper feeding tray 24 upward and downward, and a part of a moving passage of the printing plate manufacturing part 3 and a part of an upward and downward moving passage of the paper feeding tray 24 interfere with each other. In the stencil printing apparatus 1, as a non-paper feeding position, either a first position where the uppermost level paper P is separated from the paper feeding roller 25, or a second position being lower than the first position and where the paper feeding tray 24 does not interfere with the moving passage of the printing plate manufacturing part 3, can be selected. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2007,JPO&INPIT

Description

  More specifically, the present invention relates to a stencil printing apparatus, and more particularly, the stencil printing unit is configured to be movable so that a part of a movement path of the stencil printing part and a part of a vertical movement path of the paper feeding tray interfere with each other. It relates to position control.

  A rotatable plate cylinder having a structure in which a mesh screen made of a resin or metal mesh is wound around a porous support cylinder, and a thermoplastic resin film (thickness of about 1 to 3 μm is generally used). Using a master with a laminated structure in which a porous support made of fibers, synthetic fibers, or a mixture of Japanese paper fibers and synthetic fibers is bonded together, the plate after the thermoplastic resin film surface of the master is heated and perforated with a thermal head The plate cylinder is wound around the cylinder, supplies ink to the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder from the ink supply means provided inside the plate cylinder, and presses the printing paper against the plate cylinder by pressing means such as a press roller. Digital heat-sensitive stencil printing, in which printing is performed by transferring ink that has oozed from the aperture and the master perforation to printing paper, is well known.

  As a stencil printing apparatus for performing stencil printing described above, a master making unit, a printing unit having a plate cylinder and pressing means, and a paper feeding unit arranged below the plate making unit to feed paper toward the printing unit are provided. Things are generally known. The plate making section has master storing means for storing the master roll wound in a roll shape, a platen roller and a master transport roller pair for pulling out the master from the master roll, a thermal head for punching and making the drawn master. In order to replace the consumable master roll or to perform maintenance of parts, there are some which are provided so as to be movable with respect to the apparatus main body as an integral unit. The paper feed unit has a paper feed tray on which a large number of sheets are stacked, a pair of side fences that are positioned on the paper feed tray and positioned in the width direction, and a vertical movement that moves the paper feed tray up and down. It has a moving means, a paper feed roller for feeding paper, and the like.

  In the above configuration, a large amount of sheets (approximately 1000 sheets) are normally stacked on the sheet feeding tray, and the vertical movement means is a sheet feeding position where the uppermost sheet loaded during the sheet feeding operation contacts the sheet feeding roller. The sheet feed tray is raised to the position until the sheet feed roller and the uppermost sheet on the sheet feed tray are slightly separated during the non-sheet feeding operation. This lowered position differs depending on the number of sheets stacked on the sheet feeding tray.

  Because of this structure, when the paper feed tray is held in the lowered position with a small number of sheets loaded, when trying to move the plate making section to replace or maintain the master roll The plate making unit interferes with the side fence on the paper feed tray and causes a problem that the paper feed tray and the side fence are damaged.

  Therefore, in order to solve the above-mentioned problems, if the paper feed tray occupies a position where it interferes with the plate making section, the movement of the plate making section is restricted, and the plate making is performed after the paper feed tray moves to a position where it does not interfere with the plate making section. A configuration that allows the movement of the part is disclosed in, for example, “Patent Document 1”.

JP-A-10-202997

  However, in the above-described configuration, when the sheet feeding tray occupies a position where it interferes with the plate making unit when it is necessary to move the plate making unit, it is necessary to move the sheet feeding tray prior to the movement of the plate making unit. And the work becomes complicated. A configuration is also possible in which the lowering position of the paper feed tray is set to the lowest limit position that does not interfere with the movement of the plate making unit and can be stored in the apparatus main body. There is a problem in that the paper feed tray must be raised to the paper position, the printing start time is delayed, and the printing efficiency is deteriorated.

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a stencil printing apparatus that can solve the above-described problems and can move the plate-making unit, and can prevent complicated operations and deterioration in printing efficiency.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a plate making unit movably supported by the apparatus main body, and a vertical movement of the apparatus main body so as to selectively occupy a paper feeding position and a non-paper feeding position disposed below the plate making part. A freely-supported paper feed tray, a paper feed roller that contacts and feeds the uppermost paper on the paper feed tray at the paper feed position, and a vertical movement means for moving the paper feed tray up and down In the stencil printing apparatus in which a part of the movement path of the plate making unit and a part of the vertical movement path of the paper feed tray interfere with each other, the uppermost sheet is the non-paper feeding position. It is possible to select either a first position that is separated from the sheet feeding roller or a second position that is below the first position and that does not interfere with the movement path of the plate making unit. And

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the stencil printing apparatus according to the first aspect, when the plate-making unit is moved in a state where the paper feed tray occupies the first position, the paper feed unit is moved by the vertical movement means. The tray is moved to the second position.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the stencil printing apparatus according to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the stencil printing apparatus further comprises an automatic power-off function for turning off the power when the apparatus is not operated for a predetermined time, When the automatic power-off function is activated in the state of occupying, the sheet feed tray is moved to the second position by the vertical movement means.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the stencil printing apparatus according to the third aspect, when the automatic power-off function is further canceled, the vertical movement means moves the paper feed tray to the first position. Features.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the stencil printing apparatus according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the stencil printing apparatus further includes a power saving function for suppressing power consumption when the apparatus is not operated for a predetermined time, When the power saving function is activated in a state where the paper tray occupies the first position, the vertical movement means moves the paper feed tray to the second position.

  According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the stencil printing apparatus according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, when the power saving function is canceled, the sheet feeding tray is moved to the first position by the vertical movement means. And

  According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, in the stencil printing apparatus according to any one of the first to sixth aspects, the paper feed tray can be stored in the apparatus main body at the second position. And

  The invention according to claim 8 is the stencil printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the paper feed tray is further lower than the first position as the second position, and A retreat position that does not interfere with the movement path of the plate making unit and a storage position that is lower than the retraction position and can be stored in the apparatus main body can be selected.

  According to the present invention, as the non-feeding position of the sheet feeding tray, the first position where the uppermost sheet is slightly separated from the sheet feeding roller and the plate making unit where the sheet feeding tray is moved to the drawing position are not interfered. 2 can be arbitrarily selected. Therefore, when there is a high possibility that the plate making unit is pulled out when there is little remaining consumables, the non-feeding position is set to the second position to thereby set the feeding tray. The plate-making unit can be pulled out without lowering the sheet, so that the working efficiency is improved and the possibility of pulling out the plate-making unit is low. The raising time of the paper feed tray that rises to the paper feed position during operation can be shortened, and the working efficiency is improved.

  FIG. 1 shows a stencil printing apparatus adopting an embodiment of the present invention. In FIG. 1, a stencil printing apparatus 1 includes a printing unit 2, a plate making unit 3, a paper feeding unit 4, a plate discharging unit 5, a paper discharging unit 6, an image reading unit 7, and the like.

  The printing unit 2 disposed almost at the center of the apparatus main body 8 has a plate cylinder 9 and a press roller 10 as pressing means. A plate cylinder 9 having an opening portion and a non-opening portion is configured to be detachable with respect to the apparatus main body 8, a support shaft 11 that also serves as an ink supply pipe, and an inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9. Ink supply means 14 having an ink roller 12 whose peripheral surface is disposed close to the peripheral surface, a doctor roller 13 whose peripheral surface is disposed close to the peripheral surface of the ink roller 12, and the like. The ink supplied from the support shaft 11 forms an ink reservoir in the vicinity of the ink roller 12 and the doctor roller 13, and the ink in the ink reservoir passes through the proximity of the ink roller 12 and the doctor roller 13 to form the ink roller. Twelve circumferential surfaces are supplied in layers. The ink supplied to the peripheral surface of the ink roller 12 is brought into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 and the ink roller 12 when the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 is pressed by a press roller 10 which will be described later. 9 is supplied to the inner peripheral surface of the plate 9 and oozes out from the opening portion of the plate cylinder 9 and is transferred onto the sheet.

  A clamper 15 is disposed on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 to clamp the front end of the master so that the master is wound on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder. The clamper 15 is attached to a non-opening portion of the plate cylinder 9 so as to be freely opened and closed. When the plate cylinder 9 occupies a predetermined open position or closed position, the clamper 15 is opened and closed by an opening / closing means (not shown).

  Below the plate cylinder 9 is disposed a press roller 10 in which both ends of the support shaft are rotatably supported by a pair of arm members (not shown). The press roller 10 has a predetermined pressure contact between the arm member (not shown) and the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 shown in FIG. It selectively occupies the pressure contact position where it is pressed by force.

  A plate making unit 3 is disposed in the upper right part of the apparatus main body 8. The plate making unit 3 includes a master holding member 16, a platen roller 17, a thermal head 18, a master cutting unit 19, a master conveying roller pair 20, a reverse roller pair 21, a master stock unit 22, and the like. Thus, it is configured to be movable in the left-right direction integrally. The plate making unit 3 is configured to be able to selectively occupy the mounting position shown in FIG. 1 where the plate making operation can be performed and the pulling position shown in FIG. 2 where internal maintenance, replacement of consumables, and the like are performed. Yes. The plate making unit 3 is fixed by a fixing means (not shown) at the mounting position, and a fixed state of the fixing means (not shown) is released by pressing a plate making part release key 55 on the operation panel 45 described later, and is manually pulled out. It is configured to be able to move to.

  The master holding member 16 is attached to a unit side plate (not shown) of the plate making unit 3, and a core portion of a master roll 23a in which a master 23 formed by laminating a thermoplastic resin film and a porous support is wound into a roll shape. Is supported rotatably and detachably. The master roll 23a, which is a consumable item, is replaced in a state where the plate making unit 3 occupies the drawer position.

  A platen roller 17 disposed on the left side of the master holding member 16 is rotatably supported by a unit side plate (not shown) of the plate making unit 3 and is driven to rotate by a stepping motor (not shown). A thermal head 18 positioned below the platen roller 17 and having a plurality of heating elements is supported by a unit side plate (not shown), and the surface of the heating element is pressed against the peripheral surface of the platen roller 17 by a biasing force of a biasing means (not shown). Has been. The thermal head 18 selectively heats each heating element while being in contact with the thermoplastic resin film surface of the master 23, and the master 23 is perforated and engraved.

  Master cutting means 19 is disposed on the left side of the platen roller 17 and the thermal head 18. The master cutting means 19 having a fixed blade fixed to a unit side plate (not shown) and a movable blade supported so as to be movable relative to the fixed blade rotates or moves up and down with respect to the fixed blade. As a result, the master 23 is disconnected.

  A master conveying roller pair 20 and a reverse roller pair 21 are disposed on the left side of the master cutting means 19, and a master stock means 22 is disposed between the roller pairs 20, 21. Each of the roller pairs 20 and 21 has a driving roller and a driven roller that are rotatably supported by a unit side plate (not shown), and are driven to rotate by different driving means. The master stock means 22 has a fan (not shown) inside, and by driving this fan, the master 23 made by making a master is drawn into the master stock means 22 so that the pre-made master 23 for one plate can be stocked. Yes. On the upper part of the master stock means 22, a first guide position for guiding the master 23 transported by the master transport roller pair 20 to the reverse roller pair 21 and a second guide position for guiding the master stock means 22 into the master stock means 22 are selected. An unillustrated master guide plate is disposed.

  A sheet feeding unit 4 is disposed below the plate making unit 3. The paper feed unit 4 includes a paper feed tray 24, a paper feed roller 25, a separation roller 26, a separation pad 27, a registration roller pair 28, and the like.

  A paper feed tray 24 on which a large number of sheets P can be stacked is supported by the apparatus main body 8 so as to be movable up and down, and is moved up and down by a stepping motor 29 (see FIG. 4) as vertical movement means. A pair of side fences 30 for aligning the width direction of the paper P are disposed on the upper surface of the paper feed tray 24. The side fences 30 are synchronized with each other in the paper width direction perpendicular to the paper transport direction. It is configured to be movable. A paper presence / absence detection sensor (not shown) is disposed on the upper surface of the paper feed tray 24, and this paper presence / absence detection sensor (not shown) is directed toward the control means 57 described later when the paper P on the paper feed tray 24 runs out. Output a signal.

  Above the left end of the paper feed tray 24, a paper feed roller 25 having a high friction resistance member on the surface is disposed. The paper feed roller 25 is rotatably supported by a bracket (not shown) that is swingably supported by the apparatus main body 8, and the uppermost position on the paper feed tray 24 with a predetermined pressing force when the paper feed tray 24 is raised. The sheet P. The paper feed roller 25 is rotationally driven by a paper feed motor (not shown).

  A separation roller 26 is disposed on the left side of the paper feed roller 25. The separation roller 26 has a high friction resistance member on the surface, and is driven to rotate in the same direction in synchronism with the rotation of the paper feed roller 25. Below the separation roller 26, a separation pad 27 made of a high friction resistance member and in pressure contact with the peripheral surface of the separation roller 26 is disposed. The paper P is separated and fed by the separation roller 26 and the separation pad 27.

  A registration roller pair 28 having a driving roller and a driven roller is disposed on the left side of the separation roller 26 and the separation pad 27. Each roller is rotatably supported between side plates (not shown) of the apparatus main body 8, and a rotational driving force from a plate cylinder driving unit (not shown) is transmitted via a driving force transmission unit (not shown), thereby the plate cylinder 9. It is driven to rotate in synchronization with

  A paper feed position detection sensor 61 is disposed above the paper feed roller 25. A paper feed position detection sensor 61 including a limit switch or a proximity switch indicates that the paper feed tray 24 has moved up to a position where the uppermost paper P on the paper feed tray 24 is pressed against the paper feed roller 25 with a predetermined pressure contact force. When detected, a signal is output to the control means 57 described later.

  Below the separation pad 27, a lower limit position detection sensor 62 is disposed. When a lower limit position detection sensor 62 including a limit switch or a proximity switch detects that the paper feed tray 24 has been lowered to the lower limit position, which is the maximum sheet load amount position, a signal is sent to the control means 57 described later. Output.

A plate removal portion 5 is disposed at the upper left portion of the apparatus body 8. The plate removal unit 5 includes an upper plate removal member 31, a lower plate removal member 32, a plate removal box 33, a compression plate 34, and the like.
Both the upper plate removal member 31 and the lower plate removal member 32 have a drive roller, a driven roller, an endless belt, and the like, and the endless belt moves when the drive roller is rotationally driven by a plate discharge drive means (not shown). Further, the lower plate discharge member 32 is configured to be movable by a moving means (not shown), and selectively occupies an initial position shown in the drawing and a peeling position where the endless belt contacts the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9.

  The plate removal box 33 for storing the used master inside is configured to be detachable from the apparatus main body 8. A compression plate 34 for pushing the used master carried by the upper plate removal member 31 and the lower plate removal member 32 into the plate release box 33 is supported by the apparatus body 8 so as to be movable up and down, and is moved up and down by a lifting means (not shown). The

A paper discharge unit 6 is disposed below the plate discharge unit 5. The paper discharge unit 6 includes a peeling claw 35, a paper transport unit 36, a paper discharge tray 37, and the like.
The base end of the peeling claw 35 is swingably supported by the apparatus main body 8, and the free end formed in an acute angle is swung by a claw swinging means (not shown) so that the outer periphery of the plate cylinder 9 is It selectively occupies a position close to the surface and a spaced position separated from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 in order to avoid obstacles such as the clamper 15.

  The sheet conveying means 36 disposed on the lower left side of the peeling claw 35 includes a driving roller, a driven roller, an endless belt, a suction fan, and the like. By operating the fan, the sheet P is sucked onto the endless belt and conveyed leftward.

  A paper discharge tray 37 is disposed on the left side of the paper transport unit 36. A paper discharge tray 37 on which a large number of printed sheets P conveyed by the sheet conveying means 36 are stacked has one end fence 38 and a pair of side fences 39 for aligning the sheets P on the upper surface thereof. ing. The end fence 38 is movable in the same direction as the paper conveyance direction, and each side fence 39 is configured to be able to contact and separate from each other in the same direction as the paper width direction.

  An image reading unit 7 is disposed on the upper part of the apparatus main body 8. The image reading unit 7 includes a contact glass 40 on which a document is placed, a pressure plate 41 that can be moved toward and away from the contact glass 40, a scanning unit 42 that scans and reads a document image, a lens 43 that focuses the scanned image, and a focusing. And an image reading sensor 44 such as a CCD for processing the processed image.

  An operation panel 45 for operating the stencil printing apparatus 1 is disposed on the upper front surface of the apparatus main body 8. As shown in FIG. 3, the operation panel 45 includes a plate making start key 46, a printing start key 47, a test printing key 48, a numeric keypad 49, a clear / stop key 50, a printing speed setting key 51, an LED display device 52, and an LCD display device 53. In addition to a known configuration such as the above, a plate lowering key 54 that is pressed when the paper feed tray 24 is lowered to the lower limit position, and a plate making unit release that releases a fixing state of a fixing unit (not shown) that fixes the plate making unit 3 at the mounting position. The key 55, the tray position setting key 56 for setting the non-paper feeding position of the paper feeding tray 24 to either a first position or a second position, which will be described later, and the tray position setting key 56 are depressed. LEDs 56a, 56b, etc. are displayed for displaying whether the non-feeding position is set to the first position or the second position. Each time the tray position setting key 56 is pressed, the first position and the second position are switched, and the lighting of the LEDs 56a and 56b is switched accordingly.

  FIG. 4 is a block diagram of control means used in the stencil printing apparatus 1. In the figure, the control means 57 provided in the apparatus main body 8 is a well-known microcomputer having a CPU 58, a ROM 59, a RAM 60 and the like. The control means 57 includes an operation signal from the operation panel 45 and a sheet presence / absence detection (not shown). Detection signals from various sensors including a sensor, a paper feed position detection sensor 61, and a lowest limit position detection sensor 62 are input. The control unit 57 controls the operations of the printing unit 2, the plate making unit 3, the paper feeding unit 4, the plate discharging unit 5, the paper discharging unit 6, and the image reading unit 7 based on each input signal. Here, the paper feed unit 4 includes a stepping motor 29 as vertical movement means for moving the paper feed tray 24 up and down.

Based on the above configuration, the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 will be described below.
After the original to be printed is placed on the contact glass 40 by the operator, when the plate making start key 46 is pressed in a state where the pressure plate 41 is closed, the image reading unit 7 performs an original image reading operation. The image is read by scanning the document image with the scanning unit 42, and the read image is focused by the lens 43 and then sent to the image reading sensor 44.

  In parallel with the image reading operation, the plate discharging unit 5 performs a plate discharging operation for peeling the used master from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9. When the plate making start key 46 is pressed, a plate cylinder driving means (not shown) is operated to start the rotation of the plate cylinder 9, and the rotation stops when the plate cylinder 9 reaches a predetermined discharging position. Then, the lower plate removal member 32 operates and moves to the peeling position, and the used master on the plate cylinder 9 is scooped up by the lower plate removal member 32. Thereafter, the plate cylinder 9 is rotationally driven and the upper plate discharging member 31 is operated. The used master on the plate cylinder 9 is conveyed by the plate discharging members 31 and 32 and stored in the plate discharging box 33. Thereafter, the compression plate 34 is operated to compress the used master in the discharge plate box 33 and the plate cylinder 9 is rotated to a predetermined plate feeding position and stopped. The clamper 15 is opened and the stencil printing apparatus 1 is fed. It becomes a plate standby state.

  In parallel with the plate removal operation, the plate making unit 3 performs the plate making operation. When the plate making start key 46 is pressed, the platen roller 17, the master transport roller pair 20, and the reverse roller pair 21 rotate, and the master 23 is pulled out from the master roll 23a. The drawn master 23 is punched when passing through the thermal head 18, and a plate-making image is formed on the surface of the thermoplastic resin film. At this time, a master guide plate (not shown) occupies the first guide position, and the master 23 sent by the master transport roller pair 20 is guided to the reverse roller pair 21. When the leading end of the master 23 is sandwiched between the reverse roller pair 21, a master guide plate (not shown) is switched to the second guide position, and the master sent by the master transport roller pair 20 is stored in the master stock means 22. The

  When the stencil printing apparatus 1 enters the plate feeding standby state, the reverse roller 21 rotates and the master 23 that has been subjected to plate making is sent toward the clamper 15. When the control means 57 determines that the leading end of the master 23 has been transported to a position where it can be held by the clamper 15, the clamper 15 is closed, and the master 23 that has been subjected to plate making has its leading end held on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9. . Thereafter, the plate cylinder 9 rotates at the same peripheral speed as the conveying speed of the master 23, and the winding operation of the master 23 around the plate cylinder 9 is performed. When the master 23 for one plate is made, the operations of the platen roller 17 and the master transport roller pair 20 are stopped and the master cutting means 19 is operated to cut the master 23. The cut master 23 is pulled out from the plate making unit 3 by the rotation of the plate cylinder 9 and the reverse roller pair 21, and the plate cylinder 9 stops at the home position after the master 23 is wound, thereby completing the plate making operation and the plate feeding operation. .

  The printing operation is performed following the plate feeding operation. When the plate cylinder 9 stops at the home position, the paper feed roller 25 and the separation roller 26 rotate to pull out the uppermost sheet P from the paper feed tray 24, and the plate cylinder 9 moves slowly in the clockwise direction in FIG. Is driven to rotate. Only one sheet of the drawn paper P is separated and fed, and the leading end thereof is sandwiched between the registration roller pair 28. Then, the registration roller pair 28 is rotated at a predetermined timing when the leading edge of the image area of the master 23 wound around the plate cylinder 9 reaches the contact portion with the press roller 10 in the plate cylinder rotation direction, and the sheet P is transferred to the plate cylinder. 9 is fed toward the contact portion between the press roller 10 and the press roller 10. Almost simultaneously with the rotation of the registration roller pair 28, the press roller 10 presses the peripheral surface thereof against the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 by the operation of a swinging means (not shown), and the fed paper P contacts the master 23 on the plate cylinder 9. Press contact. By this pressing operation, the press roller 10, the paper P, the master 23, and the plate cylinder 9 are pressed against each other, and the ink supplied to the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 by the ink roller 12 oozes out from the opening portion of the plate cylinder 9, After being filled in the porous support of the master 23, it is transferred to the paper P through the perforated part of the master 23, and so-called printing is performed.

  The sheet P to which the image has been transferred by printing is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 9 by the peeling claw 35, dropped downward and sent to the sheet transporting unit 36, and then sucked and transported by the sheet transporting unit 36. Then, the paper is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 37. Thereafter, the plate cylinder 9 rotates again to the home position and stops, and the stencil printing apparatus 1 enters a printing standby state after finishing the plate attaching operation.

  After the stencil printing apparatus 1 is in a print standby state, when the printing condition is input by various keys on the operation panel 45 and then the trial printing key 48 is pressed, the plate cylinder 9 is faster than at the time of printing. The sheet rotates at a peripheral speed corresponding to the set printing speed, and only one sheet P is fed from the sheet feeding unit 4, and a test printing is performed in the same manner as at the time of printing. When the print start key 47 is pressed after the image position and image density are confirmed by trial printing and the number of prints is set on the operation panel 45, the paper P is continuously fed from the paper feed unit 4. The printing operation is performed in the same manner as the trial printing. When the set number of prints is consumed, the plate cylinder 9 stops at the home position, and the stencil printing apparatus 1 enters the print standby state again.

  When the paper P on the paper feed tray 24 runs out during the printing operation described above, a paper presence / absence detection sensor (not shown) detects this and sends a signal to the control means 57. Upon receipt of the signal, the control means 57 operates the stepping motor 29 to lower the paper feed tray 24 to the lowest limit position shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 detected by the lowest limit position detection sensor 62. When the number of sheets P used for printing is insufficient for the sheets P stacked on the sheet feeding tray 24, the tray lowering key 54 is pressed by the operator. When the tray lowering key 54 is pressed, the control means 57 operates the stepping motor 29 to lower the paper feed tray 24 to the lowest limit position.

  At the time of sheet feeding operation, trial printing, printing, etc., during the sheet feeding operation in which the sheet P is fed from the sheet feeding tray 24 by the sheet feeding roller 25, the control means 57 operates the stepping motor 29 to feed the sheet feeding tray. The uppermost sheet P on the sheet 24 comes into pressure contact with the sheet feeding roller 25 with a predetermined pressure contact force, and the sheet feeding roller 25 swayed upward by the sheet P pressure contact is detected by the sheet feeding position detection sensor 61. The paper feed tray 24 is raised to the paper feed position shown in FIG. In addition, the control means 57 activates the stepping motor 29 during the non-paper feeding operation other than the paper feeding operation including the image reading operation, the plate discharging operation, the plate making and feeding operation, and the printing standby state. The paper feed tray 24 is positioned at the non-paper feed position shown in FIG. 8 where the uppermost paper P on the tray 24 is slightly separated from the paper feed roller 25. This non-feeding position is determined based on the number of steps of the stepping motor 29. The configuration using a measuring instrument such as an encoder, the configuration provided with a dedicated sensor, and the rise and fall times are measured and controlled by the control means 57. A configuration or the like may be adopted. FIG. 7 shows a paper feed position when a maximum amount (for example, 1000 sheets) of paper P is stacked on the paper feed tray 24, FIG. 8 shows the non-paper feed position, and FIG. FIG. 10 shows the non-feeding position when FIG. 10 shows a paper feeding position when a medium amount of paper P (for example, 500 sheets) is stacked on the tray 24, and FIG. FIG. 12 shows the sheet feeding position when 100 sheets of paper P are stacked, and FIG. 12 shows the non-sheet feeding position.

  In the above-described configuration, when the paper feed tray 24 loaded with a small amount of paper P occupies the non-paper feed position on the upper surface thereof, when a jam of the master 23 occurs in the plate making unit 3 or the master roll 23a disappears. In this case, after the plate making part release key 55 is pressed by the operator, the plate making unit 3 is pulled out to the drawing position as shown in FIG. 2, and the jam processing or the replacement work of the master roll 23a is performed. When the plate making unit 3 is pulled out, as shown in FIG. 13, there is a problem that the drawn plate making unit 3 interferes with the side fence 30 on the paper feed tray 24 that occupies the non-paper feed position. This problem can be avoided by lowering the height of the side fence 30, but if the height of the side fence 30 is lowered, a large amount of paper P cannot be stacked on the paper feed tray 24.

  Therefore, in the present invention, the uppermost paper P on the paper feed tray 24 is fed as shown in FIGS. 8, 10, and 12 at the non-paper feed position of the paper feed tray 24 (standby position for waiting before starting printing). FIG. 14 shows a slightly lowered position, which is a first position slightly separated from the paper roller 25, and a plate making section 3 below the slightly lowered position and where the side fence 30 is moved to the drawing position. The retraction position that is the second position is selectable. The retraction position can be set by the operator by pressing various keys on the operation panel 45. The slight lowering position and the retraction position are switched every time the tray position setting key 56 is pressed, and correspond to the set position. Either of the LEDs 56a and 56b is lit. This retracted position is also determined by the control means 57 based on the number of steps of the stepping motor 29.

  With the above-described configuration, as the non-feeding position of the sheet feeding tray 24, it interferes with the plate making unit 3 where the uppermost sheet P is slightly separated from the sheet feeding roller 25 and the side fence 30 is moved to the drawing position. Since it is possible to arbitrarily select one of the retreat positions, the non-feeding position is set to the retreat position when there is a high possibility that the plate making unit 3 is pulled out when there are few consumables such as the master roll 23a. The plate making unit 3 can be pulled out without lowering the paper feed tray 24, so that the working efficiency is improved and the possibility of pulling out the plate making unit 3 is low. As a result, the ascending time of the sheet feeding tray 24 that rises to the sheet feeding position during the sheet feeding operation can be shortened, and the working efficiency is improved.

  In the above embodiment, when the plate making unit release key 55 is pressed to move the plate making unit 3 to the drawing position by the operator, the control unit 57 releases the fixing state of the fixing unit (not shown) and the step of the stepping motor 29 The position of the paper feed tray 24 is grasped from the number, and when the paper feed tray 24 occupies the slight lowering position, the stepping motor 29 may be operated to move the paper feed tray 24 to the retracted position. As a result, the operator can pull out the plate making unit 3 without interfering with the paper feed tray 24, so that work efficiency can be improved.

  In the above embodiment, either the slight lowering position or the retracted position can be selected as the non-feeding position of the sheet feeding tray 24, but the sheet feeding tray 24 can be stored in the apparatus main body 8. When the storage position is located below the retracted position, the retracted position and the stored position may be selectable as the second position. Thus, for example, when the paper feed tray 24 is stored after printing is completed, the step of moving the paper feed tray 24 from the retracted position to the storage position when the operation is completed can be omitted by setting the non-feed position to the storage position. Efficiency can be improved. Note that the retracted position and the storage position may be the same, and in this case, the step of selecting the second position can be omitted. The second position may be configured to be changeable. In this case, the user can arbitrarily set the second position within a range that does not interfere with the plate making unit 3 by inputting a set value on the operation panel 45. The configuration is as follows.

  In the above embodiment, when the stencil printing apparatus 1 has an automatic power-off function for turning off the power when the apparatus is not operated for a predetermined time, the control means 57 is used by the stepping motor 29 when the automatic power-off function is activated. The position of the paper feed tray 24 is grasped from the number of steps, and when the paper feed tray 24 occupies the slightly lowered position, the stepping motor 29 is operated to move the paper feed tray 24 to the retracted position. . Thereby, for example, when the paper feed tray 24 can be stored in the apparatus main body 8 and the storage position is the same as the retracted position, the paper feed tray 24 can be stored in the apparatus main body 8 even when the power is turned off. Further, when the plate making unit 3 is not electrically fixed (for example, it can be moved by operating a handle or a lever, and a signal is sent to the control means 57 when the handle or lever is operated), the plate making unit 3 even when the power is turned off. Can be replaced, and consumable replacement work and jam handling work can be performed. In this configuration, when the automatic power-off function is released, the stepping motor 29 may be operated to move the paper feed tray 24 to the slightly lowered position. In this case, the paper feed tray is raised to the paper feed position during the paper feeding operation. As a result, the time required for raising the sheet feeding tray 24 can be shortened and the working efficiency is improved. Note that the above-described effects are not limited to the stencil printing apparatus having the automatic power-off function, and are the same when the stencil printing apparatus 1 has a power saving function for reducing power consumption when the apparatus is not operated for a predetermined time.

  In addition, when the second position is set as the print standby position and the paper feed tray occupies the second position, the plate making conditions such as the plate making density or the printing conditions such as the printing speed or the number of printed sheets are set. It is also possible to adopt a configuration in which the paper feed tray is moved to the first position in response to this. Normally, the standby position of the paper feed tray is set to a second position where the plate making unit does not interfere, and the first position is set when there is a high possibility of performing a printing operation due to input settings of the plate making conditions or printing conditions. By adopting the configuration of moving to the position, it is possible to shorten the time until the printing operation starts.

1 is a schematic front view of a stencil printing apparatus adopting an embodiment of the present invention. 1 is a schematic front view of a stencil printing apparatus showing a state in which a plate making unit occupies a drawing position in an embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic of the operation panel used for one Embodiment of this invention. It is a block diagram of the control means used for one Embodiment of this invention. 1 is a schematic front view of a stencil printing apparatus showing a state in which a paper feed tray occupies a lower limit position in an embodiment of the present invention. It is the schematic which shows the paper feed tray which occupied the lower limit position in one Embodiment of this invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper feed tray at the time of maximum stacking of sheets that occupy a paper feed position according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper feed tray at the time of maximum stacking of sheets that occupies a slightly lowered position that is a non-paper feed position according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper feed tray that is in the middle of a paper stack that occupies a paper feed position according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper feed tray when a medium amount of paper is stacked, which occupies a slightly lowered position that is a non-paper feed position according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper feed tray that is loaded with a small amount of paper that occupies a paper feed position according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper feed tray when a small amount of paper is stacked, which occupies a slightly lowered position that is a non-paper feed position according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is a schematic front view of a stencil printing apparatus for explaining a state in which a sheet feeding tray that occupies a non-sheet feeding position and interferes with a moving plate making unit in an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram illustrating a paper feed tray when a small amount of paper is stacked, which occupies a retreat position that is a non-paper feed position according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Explanation of symbols

DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Stencil printing apparatus 3 Plate making part 8 Apparatus main body 24 Paper feed tray 25 Paper feed roller 29 Vertical movement means (stepping motor)
P paper

Claims (8)

A plate making unit supported movably on the apparatus main body, and a paper feed tray disposed below the plate making part and supported on the apparatus main body so as to be movable up and down to selectively occupy a paper feeding position and a non-paper feeding position. And a sheet feeding roller for contacting and feeding the uppermost sheet on the sheet feeding tray at the sheet feeding position, and a vertical movement means for moving the sheet feeding tray up and down, and the plate making section In the stencil printing apparatus in which a part of the movement path of the paper feed and a part of the vertical movement path of the paper feed tray interfere with each other,
As the non-feeding position, a first position where the uppermost sheet is separated from the feeding roller or a position below the first position, and the feeding tray does not interfere with the movement path of the plate making unit. 2. A stencil printing apparatus characterized in that one of the positions 2 can be selected. In the stencil printing apparatus according to claim 1,
A stencil printing apparatus, wherein when the plate making unit is moved in a state where the paper feed tray occupies a first position, the paper feed tray is moved to a second position by the vertical movement means. In the stencil printing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2,
An automatic power-off function that turns off the power when the apparatus is not operated for a predetermined time, and when the automatic power-off function works in a state where the paper feed tray occupies the first position, A stencil printing apparatus, wherein a paper feed tray is moved to a second position. In the stencil printing apparatus according to claim 3,
The stencil printing apparatus, wherein when the automatic power-off function is canceled, the sheet feeding tray is moved to a first position by the vertical movement means. In the stencil printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 4,
A power saving function for reducing power consumption when the apparatus is not operated for a predetermined time, and when the power saving function operates in a state where the paper feed tray occupies the first position, the paper feed by the vertical movement means A stencil printing apparatus, wherein the tray is moved to a second position. In the stencil printing apparatus according to claim 5,
The stencil printing apparatus, wherein when the power saving function is released, the sheet feeding tray is moved to a first position by the vertical movement means. In the stencil printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The stencil printing apparatus, wherein the paper feed tray can be stored in the apparatus main body at a second position. In the stencil printing apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
The paper feed tray can be stored in the apparatus main body as a second position, a retreat position that is lower than the first position and does not interfere with the movement path of the plate making unit, and is lower than the retreat position and is lower than the retreat position. A stencil printing apparatus, wherein the storage position can be selected.

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