JP2010091965A - Image forming apparatus and image forming system - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system that prevent any fault caused by an incompletely dried state of a color material attached to a recording medium. <P>SOLUTION: Continuous paper P is conveyed by a conveyance roller 23 after an image is formed with oily ink, and also an image is formed on this continuous paper P by a printer section 60. The image-formed side of the continuous paper P is brought into firm contact with the circumference of an ink transfer roller 44 by a firm contact roller 48 disposed upstream of the printer section 60 in the direction in which the continuous paper P is conveyed by the conveyance roller 23. A CCD sensor 46 detects whether the oily ink 35 has been attached to the circumference of the ink transfer roller 44 or not. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming system.

  Patent Document 1 includes an electrophotographic apparatus having an image forming function and a lithographic printing plate making function, and includes a lithographic printing apparatus in a later process, and can switch between image formation by the electrophotographic apparatus and printing by the lithographic printing apparatus, or A technique characterized by having a function that can be used together is disclosed.

Further, in Patent Document 2, in order to provide an apparatus in which the discharge-side roller is not soiled with ink in an inkjet recording apparatus, recording is performed on the paper surface every time one line is recorded on the recording paper. A wetting detection device comprising: at least a pair of conductive needles that detect the wet state of the ink in the portion that has been formed; and a control device that controls the main body of the recording apparatus according to a signal indicating whether or not the conductive needles are electrically connected. The technology is disclosed.
JP 2003-307971 A JP-A-6-87211

  SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide an image forming apparatus and an image forming system that can prevent the occurrence of problems caused by semi-drying of a color material adhering to a recording medium.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming apparatus according to claim 1, a conveying unit that conveys a recording medium loaded with an image formed with a liquid color material, and the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying unit. Forming means for forming an image on the recording medium in a state of being formed, and provided upstream of the forming means in the conveying direction of the recording medium by the conveying means, and the image forming surface of the recording medium is predetermined Pressure-contacting means for pressure-contacting the part, and detection means for detecting whether or not the color material has adhered to the predetermined part. The color material of the present invention includes all liquid images such as cyan, magenta, yellow and other color image forming materials, black image forming materials, and image forming materials that develop color when irradiated with ultraviolet rays. Forming material is included.

  The invention according to claim 2 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined portion is a peripheral surface of a cylindrical member.

  Further, the invention according to claim 3 is the invention according to claim 2, further comprising a notifying means for notifying the cleaning or replacement of the cylindrical member when the deterioration of the cylindrical member exceeds a predetermined degree. It is provided.

  The invention according to claim 4 is the invention according to claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the detection means detects that the coloring material has adhered to the peripheral surface of the columnar member. And removing means for removing the adhering coloring material from the cylindrical member by pressing an unused recording medium conveyed by the conveying unit thereafter to the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member by the pressing unit. It is provided.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the second to fourth aspects, the cylindrical member has a circumferential surface at a speed different from a conveyance speed of the recording medium. It rotates to move.

  The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined portion is a non-image forming surface of the recording medium conveyed in advance by the conveying means. It is.

  The invention according to claim 7 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the pressure contact means is configured to be able to contact with and separate from the predetermined portion, and the detection. The predetermined period within the period in which the detection by the means is not performed is separated from the predetermined part.

  The invention according to claim 8 is the electrophotographic method according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the forming means is in a state where the recording medium is pressed against a photoconductor. The pressure contact force when the image is formed on the recording medium and the recording medium is pressed by the pressing means is larger than the pressing force of the recording medium to the photoconductor in the forming means.

  The invention according to claim 9 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the distance between the press contact position by the press contact means and the detection position of the color material by the detection means is the same. The distance between the press contact position and the image forming position on the recording medium by the forming unit is shorter.

  The invention according to claim 10 is the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the detection means includes an imaging means for imaging the predetermined part, and the imaging Whether or not the color material has adhered is detected based on image information obtained by imaging by the means.

  According to an eleventh aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to the tenth aspect, the detection means attaches the color material based on a temporal change in image information obtained by imaging by the imaging means. Whether or not.

  According to a twelfth aspect of the present invention, in the tenth or eleventh aspect of the present invention, the imaging unit has an imaging region with respect to a direction that intersects a conveyance direction of the recording medium at the predetermined portion. The predetermined part of the recording medium is narrower than the area where the recording medium is pressed and moved in a direction crossing the conveying direction of the recording medium.

  In the invention according to claim 13, in the invention according to any one of claims 1 to 12, it is detected by the detection means that the color material has adhered to the predetermined part. Control means for controlling at least one of stopping of conveyance of the recording medium and separation of the contact portion when the forming means forms an image in contact with the recording medium. is there.

  In order to achieve the above object, an image forming system according to claim 14 is provided in the preceding stage of the image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13 and the image forming apparatus, A pre-stage image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording medium with a liquid color material and carries the image into the image forming apparatus.

  According to the invention described in claim 1 and claim 14, by controlling each related part based on the detection result by the detection means, it is possible to obviate the occurrence of problems caused by the semi-drying of the color material adhering to the recording medium. The effect that it can prevent is acquired.

  Further, according to the second aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that the apparatus can be configured with a smaller size than in the case where the present invention is not applied.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 3, it is possible to obtain an effect that the detection accuracy by the detection means can be improved as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.

  In addition, according to the invention described in claim 4, it is possible to obtain an effect that it is possible to reduce the fouling due to the adhesion of the coloring material of the columnar member as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 5, it is possible to obtain an effect that detection by the detection means can be performed with higher accuracy than in the case where the present invention is not applied.

  In addition, according to the sixth aspect of the invention, there is an effect that it is possible to prevent contamination of the constituent members in the apparatus by the coloring material.

  Further, according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to suppress the wasteful consumption of the predetermined portion and the pressure contact means as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 8, it is possible to obtain an effect that detection by the detection means can be performed with higher accuracy than in the case where the present invention is not applied.

  In addition, according to the invention described in claim 9, it is possible to obtain an effect that the occurrence of the above-described problem can be prevented more reliably than in the case where the present invention is not applied.

  In addition, according to the invention described in claim 10, as a result of being able to detect the adhesion of the coloring material in a non-contact manner, it is possible to suppress consumption of a predetermined part as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied. The effect of being able to be obtained is obtained.

  According to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, it is possible to obtain an effect that detection by the detection means can be performed with higher accuracy than when the present invention is not applied.

  Further, according to the invention described in claim 12, it is possible to obtain an effect that the detection means can be configured at a low cost as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.

  Furthermore, according to the thirteenth aspect of the present invention, it is possible to more reliably prevent the occurrence of the above problems as compared with the case where the present invention is not applied.

  The best mode for carrying out the present invention will be described below in detail with reference to the drawings. In this embodiment, a case will be described in which the present invention is applied to a printing system having an offset rotary press on the upstream side in the sheet conveyance direction and an electrophotographic apparatus on the downstream side.

[First Embodiment]
FIG. 1 is a cutaway side view showing a configuration of a printing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the printing system 10 feeds the continuous paper P in the direction of arrow A, and conveys the continuous paper P fed by the paper feeding device 12 in a predetermined direction. A plurality of transport rollers 23 and a printing plate provided on the downstream side of the sheet feeding device 12 in the transport direction of the continuous paper P and on which images of each color of cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) are formed. The offset rotary press 16 that prints (forms) the image on the continuous paper P fed by the paper feeding device 12 by 14C, 14M, and 14Y, and the downstream side of the offset rotary press 16 in the transport direction of the continuous paper P. A drying machine 18 that dries an image printed on the continuous paper P by the offset rotary press 16, and is provided downstream of the drying machine 18 in the transport direction of the continuous paper P. Black (K) is provided by electrophotography. Images of The electrophotographic apparatus 20 that prints (forms) the continuous paper P so as to overlap the image printed on the continuous paper P by the rotary press 16, and is provided downstream of the electrophotographic apparatus 20 in the transport direction of the continuous paper P. And a post-processing device 22 for performing post-processing such as cutting the continuous paper P on which images are printed by the offset rotary press 16 and the electrophotographic apparatus 20 in units of pages, drying and cooling of the continuous paper P, and the like. .

  The offset rotary press 16 includes an offset printing unit 26C having a printing cylinder 24C having a printing plate 14C attached to the circumferential surface, an offset printing unit 26M having a printing cylinder 24M having a printing plate 14M attached to the circumferential surface, and a printing plate. 14Y includes an offset printing unit 26Y having a printing cylinder 24Y attached to the peripheral surface, and the offset printing units 26C, 26M, and 26Y are arranged in order from the upstream side in the transport direction of the continuous paper P. . The printing cylinders 24C, 24M, and 24Y rotate in the direction of arrow B in response to a driving force of a driving source such as a stepping motor (not shown). Hereinafter, C, M, and Y at the end of the code are omitted when it is not necessary to distinguish C, M, and Y.

  FIG. 2 is a cutaway side view showing the main configuration of the offset printing unit 26 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the offset printing unit 26 includes an inking roller 30 around a printing cylinder 24 to which a printing plate 14 on which an image of a corresponding color of C, M, or Y is formed is attached. A dampening roller 32 and a blanket 36 are disposed. The offset printing unit 26 is provided with a transfer roller 38 that presses the continuous paper P against the peripheral surface of the blanket 36. The dampening roller 32 damps the non-image area of the printing plate 14 with dampening water 34. The inking roller 30 applies oil-based ink 35 to the plate surface of the printing plate 14. Thereby, the oil-based ink 35 adheres only to the image area by the repulsive action of water and oil. The oil-based ink 35 adhering to the plate surface of the printing plate 14 receives a driving force of a driving source such as a stepping motor (not shown) in the direction opposite to the rotation direction (arrow B direction) of the printing cylinder 24 (arrow C direction). The image is transferred to the surface of the rotating blanket 36 and printed on the continuous paper P by the transfer roller 38. The next color offset printing unit 26 prints an image of the next color on the image printed on the continuous paper P.

  Further, the offset printing unit 26 opens and closes a flow path that connects the dampening roller 32 and the tank T1 in which the dampening water 34 is stored so that the dampening water 34 can be supplied to the dampening roller 32. V1 and a valve V2 that opens and closes a flow path that connects the tank T2 in which the oil-based ink 35 is stored and the inking roller 30 so that the oil-based ink 35 can be supplied to the inking roller 30. Has been.

  In the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment, the offset rotary press 16 is used. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and printing plates such as an offset sheet-fed printing machine, a relief printing machine, an intaglio printing machine, and a stencil printing machine are used. Other printers that use liquid printing materials (coloring materials), such as printers that can print images using ink and printers that form images with ink droplets such as pigment ink and dye ink (so-called inkjet printers) An image forming apparatus may be applied.

  On the other hand, as shown in FIG. 1, the dryer 18 according to the present embodiment is provided with a hot air blowing unit 19 that heats and dries by blowing hot air to the conveyed continuous paper P. In the offset rotary press 16 according to the present embodiment, since the oxidation polymerization ink is used as the ink, the ink is dried by heating. However, when UV (ultraviolet) ink is used as the ink, ultraviolet drying is performed. I do.

  FIG. 3 is a cutaway side view showing the configuration of the electrophotographic apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the electrophotographic apparatus 20 receives the driving force of the stepping motor 42 and rotates at a predetermined speed in the direction of arrow D, and the oil-based ink 35 that forms an image on the continuous paper P is semi-dry. In this case, the ink transfer detection unit 40 having an ink transfer roller 44 to which the oil-based ink 35 is transferred and a driving force from a driving source such as a stepping motor (not shown) are rotated at a predetermined speed in the direction of arrow F. A printer unit 60 for printing an image by forming an electrostatic latent image on the photosensitive drum 62 and transferring the toner image obtained by developing the electrostatic latent image with black toner onto the continuous paper P; It has.

  The ink transfer detection unit 40 includes a CCD (Charge Coupled Device) sensor 46 that images the surface of the ink transfer roller 44, a pressure roller 48 that presses the continuous paper P against the peripheral surface of the ink transfer roller 44, and a pressure roller 48. A stepping motor 54 for reciprocating in the direction of arrow E is provided. In the CCD sensor 46 according to the present embodiment, the image pickup region in the direction (continuous paper width direction) orthogonal to the conveying direction of the continuous paper P in the ink transfer roller 44 is the same as the continuous paper P of the ink transfer roller 44 is the pressure roller 48. A CCD line sensor for capturing a color image, which is the entire area of the area that is pressed by the above, is applied. Further, the width of the ink transfer roller 44 and the pressure roller 48 according to the present embodiment with respect to the continuous paper width direction is larger than the dimension of the continuous paper P with respect to the continuous paper width direction. The entire area in the continuous paper width direction can be pressed against the ink transfer roller 44.

  Between the stepping motor 54 and the pressure roller 48, a pinion gear 54A provided on the rotating shaft of the stepping motor 54, a rack gear 50A meshing with the pinion gear 54A, a slide member 50 provided on the side surface, and one end slide. A spring 52 is interposed which is fixed to the body portion of the member 50 and whose other end is fixed to the rotating shaft of the pressure roller 48.

  Therefore, by rotating the stepping motor 54, the slide member 50 is moved in one direction or the other direction of the arrow E according to the rotation direction, and the pressure roller 48 is moved in the one direction or the other direction. Can do. At this time, since the spring 52 is interposed between the pressure roller 48 and the slide member 50, when the continuous paper P is pressed against the ink transfer roller 44 by the pressure roller 48, the elastic force of the spring 52 causes the spring 52 to be in contact with the ink transfer roller 44. The pressure welding can be performed reliably and stably.

  As shown in FIG. 4 as an example, the ink transfer roller 44 according to the present embodiment has a predetermined number (two in the present embodiment) indicating the reference positions when imaging is performed by the CCD sensor 46. HP (home position) line 44A is provided.

  On the other hand, the printer unit 60 includes a precharger 66 that uniformly charges the surface of the photosensitive drum 62 around the photosensitive drum 62 and a surface of the photosensitive drum 62 by exposing the surface of the photosensitive drum 62 based on image information. An exposure LED (Light Emitting Diode) 68 that forms an electrostatic latent image on the surface of the drum 62 and a roller 78 are rotated in contact with the surface of the photosensitive drum 62, thereby including black toner and developer. A developer is applied to the surface of the photosensitive drum 62, and a developing device 70 that develops the electrostatic latent image formed on the photosensitive drum 62, and the continuous paper P is pressed against the surface of the photosensitive drum 62, so that the continuous paper is pressed. A transfer device 72 for transferring an image to P, a cleaner 74 for cleaning residual toner adhering to the surface of the photosensitive drum 62, and a surface of the continuous paper P (the image is formed). And the fixing device 76 fixes the image on the continuous paper P in the continuous paper P by heating that surface), are disposed.

  In the electrophotographic apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, in order to prevent unnecessary contact between the continuous paper P and the photosensitive drum 62, the photosensitive drum 62, the precharger 66, the exposure LED 68, the developing device 70, and the cleaner. 74 can integrally move a predetermined distance upward in FIG.

  In the electrophotographic apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, the distance between the pressure contact position by the pressure roller 48 and the ink detection position by the CCD sensor 46 in the ink transfer detection unit 40 is the continuous paper by the pressure contact position and the printer unit 60. Each part is arranged so as to be shorter than the distance from P to the image forming position.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 1, the post-processing device 22 according to the present embodiment is a reciprocating cutter that cuts the continuous paper P on which images are printed by the offset rotary press 16 and the electrophotographic device 20 in units of pages. 21 etc. are arranged.

  FIG. 5 is a block diagram showing the main configuration of the electrical system of the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment.

  As shown in the figure, the offset rotary press 16 includes a system controller 80, a ROM (Read Only Memory) 82, a RAM (Random Access Memory) 84, and an NVM (Non Volatile Memory) in addition to the offset printing unit 26 described above. 86. The system controller 80 is connected to the offset printing unit 26, the ROM 82, the RAM 84, the NVM 86, and the system controller 90 of the electrophotographic apparatus 20 described later.

  The ROM 82 stores various processing programs, various parameters, various data necessary for control, and the like in advance. The RAM 84 is used as a work area or the like when executing various programs. The NVM 86 stores various types of information that must be retained even when the power switch of the apparatus is turned off.

  The system controller 80 includes a CPU (central processing unit) and its peripheral circuits, and functions as a control device that controls the operation of the entire offset rotary press 16 according to a predetermined program, and also functions as an arithmetic device that performs various calculations. To do. That is, the system controller 80 controls the operation of the offset printing unit 26 and controls reading / writing with respect to the ROM 82, RAM 84, and NVM 86.

  On the other hand, the electrophotographic apparatus 20 includes a system controller 90, a ROM 92, a RAM 94, an NVM 96, a display unit 97, and a communication interface 98 in addition to the ink transfer detection unit 40 and the printer unit 60 described above. To the system controller 90, an ink transfer detection unit 40, a printer unit 60, a ROM 92, a RAM 94, an NVM 96, a display unit 97, and a communication interface 98 are connected.

  The ROM 92 stores various processing programs, various parameters, various data necessary for control, and the like in advance. The RAM 94 is used as a work area when executing various programs. The NVM 96 stores various types of information that must be retained even when the power switch of the apparatus is turned off. The display unit 97 is for displaying various types of information, and is provided at a position that can be referred to by the user (in the present embodiment, the upper surface of the outer casing of the electrophotographic apparatus 20).

  The communication interface 98 is an interface unit with the host device 99 that is used when a user gives a printing instruction to the electrophotographic apparatus 20. A serial interface such as USB (Universal Serial Bus), IEEE 1394, Ethernet (registered trademark), a wireless network, or a parallel interface such as Centronics can be applied to the communication interface 98. In this part, a buffer memory (not shown) for speeding up communication may be mounted.

  The system controller 90 includes a CPU (central processing unit) and its peripheral circuits, and functions as a control device that controls the operation of the entire electrophotographic apparatus 20 according to a predetermined program, and also functions as an arithmetic device that performs various calculations. To do. That is, the system controller 90 transmits / receives various information via the communication interface 98 with the host device 99, controls the operation of the ink transfer detection unit 40, the printer unit 60, and the display unit 97, and reads / writes to / from the ROM 92, RAM 94, and NVM 96. Control and so on.

  FIG. 6 shows a connection state between the electrical components of the ink transfer detection unit 40 particularly related to the present invention and the system controller 90.

  As shown in the figure, the system controller 90 is connected with the stepping motor 42, the CCD sensor 46, and the stepping motor 54 in the ink transfer detection unit 40. Accordingly, the system controller 90 can control the rotational drive of the ink transfer roller 44 by controlling the rotational drive of the stepping motor 42 and obtain image information obtained by imaging by the CCD sensor 46. In addition, by controlling the rotational drive of the stepping motor 54, the position of the pressure roller 48 and the pressure contact force (nip force) of the continuous paper P against the ink transfer roller 44 by the pressure roller 48 can be set. it can.

  In the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment, image information indicating an image to be printed on the continuous paper P (hereinafter referred to as “print target image”) by the host device 99 is C, M, Y, K. A plate 14C on which an image indicated by C image information is formed using a plate making machine (not shown), and a plate 14M on which an image indicated by M image information is formed. The plate 14Y on which an image indicated by the image information Y and Y is formed is made while the K image information is output to the electrophotographic apparatus 20 by the host device 99. The K image information output from the host device 99 is taken into the system controller 90 via the communication interface 98, and the printer unit 60 is printed by the system controller 90 so that the image indicated by the K image information is printed on the continuous paper P. Is controlled.

  Further, in the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment, variable image information indicating variable images that can have different contents for each of a plurality of pages is stored in the host device 99, and the variable image information is electrophotographic by the host device 99. It is output to the device 20. The variable image information output from the host device 99 is taken into the system controller 90 via the communication interface 98, and the system controller 90 causes the printer unit 60 to print the variable image indicated by the variable image information on the continuous paper P. Be controlled.

  In the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment, when an instruction to start printing is input to the host device 99, the electrophotographic apparatus 20 requests the offset rotary press 16 to start printing an image on the continuous paper P. Output a signal. In response to this, the offset rotary press 16 executes the above-described offset printing process for printing the print target image on the continuous paper P, and when the execution of the offset printing process is started, a signal indicating that is given. Output to the electrophotographic apparatus 20. In response to this, the electrophotographic apparatus 20 executes a printer printing process for printing the print target image and the variable image for each page on the continuous paper P at the same printing speed as that of the offset rotary press 16.

  Note that the offset printing process by the offset rotary press 16 and the printer printing process by the electrophotographic apparatus 20 are conventionally known processes, and thus further description thereof is omitted.

  By the way, the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment detects the ink semi-drying on the image forming surface of the continuous paper P by the ink transfer detection unit 40 when the offset printing process and the printer printing process are executed. It has a dry detection function.

  Next, the operation of the electrophotographic apparatus 20 when the ink semi-dry detection function works will be described with reference to FIG. Note that FIG. 7 shows ink drying that is executed in parallel with the printer printing process described above by the system controller 90 of the electrophotographic apparatus 20 when a signal instructing the start of execution of the ink semi-dry detection function is input from the host device 99. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of a state detection process program, and the said program is beforehand memorize | stored in the predetermined area | region of ROM92.

  In step 100 of the figure, the stepping motor 54 is controlled so that the pressing roller 48 is positioned at a predetermined position where the continuous paper P is pressed against the ink transfer roller 44. In the next step 102, the ink transfer roller 48 is controlled. The stepping motor 42 is controlled so as to start the rotational drive of 44. In step 100, the nip force of the continuous paper P by the pressure roller 48 and the ink transfer roller 44 is larger than the nip force of the continuous paper P by the transfer device 72 and the photosensitive drum 62 in the printer unit 60. The stepping motor 54 is controlled. In step 102, the stepping motor 42 is controlled so that the peripheral surface of the ink transfer roller 44 moves at a speed different from the conveying speed of the continuous paper P.

  In the next step 104, by waiting until all of the image information for one line obtained from the CCD sensor 46 becomes equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value twice in succession, the ink transfer roller 44 The system waits until the HP line 44A is detected by the CCD sensor 46, and in the next step 106, storage of image information obtained from the CCD sensor 46 in the RAM 94 is started. In the ink dry state detection processing program according to the present embodiment, when the image information is equal to or greater than the value as the first threshold, the image information corresponds to the HP line 44A. As values that can be considered, values obtained in advance by experiments using actual machines of the printing system 10 or computer simulations based on design specifications of the printing system 10 are applied. It is also possible to adopt a form in which the user inputs data via the host device 99 or the like according to the usage of the object.

  In the next step 108, the CPU sensor 46 waits until all the image information for one line obtained from the CCD sensor 46 becomes equal to or higher than the first threshold value, whereby the HP line 44 A of the ink transfer roller 44 is moved by the CCD sensor 46. The process waits until it is detected again. In the next step 110, the storage of the image information started by the process of step 106 is stopped.

  Through the processes in steps 104 to 110 described above, the RAM 94 stores image information for one round on the circumferential surface of the ink transfer roller 44 at this time (hereinafter referred to as “reference image information”).

  In the next step 112, the process waits until the continuous paper P is carried in from the dryer 18, and in the next step 114, all of the image information for one line obtained from the CCD sensor 46 is continuously obtained twice. By waiting until the first threshold value is exceeded, the CPU waits until the HP line 44A of the ink transfer roller 44 is detected again by the CCD sensor 46. In the next step 116, the image obtained from the CCD sensor 46 is waited. The storage of information in the RAM 94 is started again.

  In the next step 118, the HP line 44A of the ink transfer roller 44 is moved by the CCD sensor 46 by waiting until all of the image information for one line obtained from the CCD sensor 46 becomes equal to or higher than the first threshold value. The process waits until it is detected again, and in the next step 120, the storage of the image information started by the processing in step 116 is stopped.

  Through the processes in steps 114 to 120 described above, the RAM 94 stores image information for the next round on the circumferential surface of the ink transfer roller 44 (hereinafter referred to as “state detection target image information”).

  In the next step 122, the reference image information and the state detection target image information are read from the RAM 94, and the difference between each color of R, G, and B is calculated with the values of the same pixels in these image information. It is determined at 124 whether or not the oil-based ink 35 has been transferred to the surface of the ink transfer roller 44 by determining whether or not the calculated difference is equal to or greater than a predetermined second threshold value. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 126, and after executing a defect handling routine / program to be described later, the process proceeds to step 128.

  In the ink dry state detection processing program according to the present embodiment, the second threshold value is also obtained by newly attaching at least one of C, M, and Y when the difference is equal to or greater than the value. As a value that can be regarded as a value, a value obtained in advance by an experiment using an actual machine of the printing system 10 or a computer simulation based on a design specification of the printing system 10 is applied. It is also possible to adopt a form in which the user inputs via the host device 99 or the like according to the purpose of the print object.

  If the determination in step 124 is negative, the process proceeds to step 128 without executing the defect handling routine / program.

  In step 128, it is determined whether or not a predetermined timing has arrived as a timing for ending the present ink dry state detection processing program. If a negative determination is made, the process returns to step 114, but an affirmative determination is made. At this point, the process proceeds to step 130.

  When the processes in steps 114 to 128 are repeatedly executed, in step 122, the same pixel values of the reference image information and the state detection target image information stored immediately before in the RAM 94, and R , G, and B are calculated for each color.

  In the ink dry state detection processing program according to the present embodiment, the timing at which a signal instructing the stop of the printing operation is input from the host device 99 is applied as the predetermined timing applied in step 128. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in addition to this timing, the continuous paper P is jammed on the conveyance path in the printing system 10 at the timing when the power switch of any of the devices constituting the printing system 10 is turned off. The timing at which a predetermined defect such as the ink used in the offset rotary press 16, the toner used in the electrophotographic apparatus 20, or the member necessary for image formation such as continuous paper disappears is detected by the user. Timein whose operation of any of the devices constituting the printing system 10 is forcibly stopped The operation of the ink transfer detection unit 40 etc. can be applied alone or a combination of various timing should be stopped.

  In step 130, the control of the stepping motor 42 is stopped so as to stop the rotational drive of the ink transfer roller 44 started by the processing in step 102, and in the next step 132, the position of the pressure roller 48 is changed to the continuous paper P. The stepping motor 54 is controlled so as to be an initial position that is a position separated from the control position, and in a next step 134, a deterioration determination processing routine program described later is executed, and then the ink dry state detection processing program is executed. finish.

  Next, the failure handling processing routine program according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 8 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the defect handling routine / program. The program is also stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 92 in advance.

  In step 200 in the figure, a signal instructing the system controller 80 to stop execution of the offset printing process is output. In response to this, the system controller 80 stops the offset printing process.

  In the next step 202, a signal for instructing conveyance of a predetermined number of sheets (in this embodiment, five sheets) of continuous paper P in a blank state is output to the system controller 80. In response to this, the system controller 80 conveys the predetermined number of continuous sheets P without printing an image, and carries them into the electrophotographic apparatus 20 via the dryer 18.

  Therefore, in the next step 204, the predetermined number of continuous sheets P are waited to pass through the nip position by the ink transfer detection unit 40 and the pressure roller 48, and in the next step 206, the continuous sheet P is conveyed. The related parts such as the transport roller 23 are controlled to stop. Through the above processing, the oil-based ink transferred to the ink transfer roller 44 is transferred to the blank continuous paper P.

  In the next step 208, the photosensitive drum 62, the precharger 66, the exposure LED 68, the developing device 70, and the cleaner 74 of the printer unit 60 are controlled to move integrally upward in FIG. Is removed from the contact position with the continuous paper P.

  In the next step 210, the control of the stepping motor 42 is stopped so as to stop the rotation drive of the ink transfer roller 44, and in the next step 212, the position of the pressure roller 48 is a position where it is separated from the continuous paper P. The stepping motor 54 is controlled so as to reach a certain initial position.

  In the next step 214, the display unit 97 is controlled to display a predetermined message for notifying that the ink on the continuous paper P is not dried, and then the trouble handling routine / Exit the program.

  FIG. 10 shows an example of a message displayed on the display unit 97 by the process of step 214 described above. As shown in the figure, in the failure handling processing routine program according to the present embodiment, a message “Printing is stopped because ink is not dry” is displayed on the display unit 97 as the above message. Is done. Therefore, the user can visually and easily grasp the point where the continuous paper P is not dried and the point where the printing operation is stopped for that purpose by referring to the message.

  Next, a deterioration determination processing routine program according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the flow of processing of the deterioration determination processing routine program. The program is also stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 92 in advance.

  In step 300 of the figure, the information stored as the usage time of the ink transfer roller 44 until then is read from the NVM 96, and in the next step 302, the use of the ink transfer roller 44 by executing the current ink dry state detection processing program is executed. The time is added to the usage time read out by the processing in step 300 above.

  In the next step 304, it is determined whether or not the current cumulative use time of the ink transfer roller 44 obtained by the above processing has exceeded a predetermined time. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 306. Then, the display unit 97 is controlled to display a predetermined message for prompting the cleaning or replacement of the ink transfer roller 44, and then the process proceeds to step 308.

  FIG. 11 shows an example of a message displayed on the display unit 97 by the processing of step 306 above. As shown in the figure, in the deterioration determination processing routine program according to the present embodiment, the message “The ink transfer roller has been deteriorated. Please clean or replace it as soon as possible.” A message is displayed by the display unit 97. Therefore, the user can visually and easily grasp the point that the deterioration of the ink transfer roller 44 is progressing and that the ink transfer roller 44 needs to be cleaned or replaced by referring to the message. Can do.

  If a negative determination is made in step 304, the process proceeds to step 308 without executing the process in step 306.

  In step 308, the usage time of the ink transfer roller 44 stored in the NVM 96 is updated (overwritten) to the usage time obtained by the processing in step 302, and then the deterioration determination processing routine program is terminated.

  FIG. 12 shows an example of a waveform diagram used for explaining a method for detecting ink transfer to the ink transfer roller 44 executed in the above-described ink dry state detection processing program. In order to avoid complications, in the figure, a waveform indicating a detection image for one pixel of the CCD sensor 46 is shown.

  As shown in the figure, when the ink is not transferred to the ink transfer roller 44, the waveform obtained from the CCD sensor 46 is the portion corresponding to the position where the HP line 44A is provided on the ink transfer roller 44. Appears as a portion that is equal to or greater than one threshold.

  Here, in the ink dry state detection processing program described above, every time the ink transfer roller 44 makes one rotation, the difference from the reference image information is calculated. For this reason, even if the difference is small and does not exceed the second threshold value, the difference increases as the ink transfer roller 44 rotates as shown in FIG. Therefore, the ink becomes more than the second threshold value, and as a result, the ink semi-dry is detected.

  As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, a recording medium (here, continuous paper P) on which an image is formed with a liquid color material (here, oil-based ink 35) and carried in is transported (here). Then, while being conveyed by the conveying roller 23), an image is formed on the recording medium by the forming means (here, the printer unit 60), while the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying means from the forming means. Whether or not the image forming surface of the recording medium is brought into pressure contact with a predetermined portion by a pressure contact means (here, a pressure roller 48) provided on the upstream side, and whether or not the color material adheres to the predetermined portion. This is detected by detection means (here, the CCD sensor 46 and the system controller 90).

  In the present embodiment, the predetermined portion is the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member (here, the ink transfer roller 44).

  In particular, in the present embodiment, when the deterioration of the cylindrical member exceeds a predetermined degree (here, when the cumulative use time of the ink transfer roller 44 exceeds a predetermined time), the cylindrical member is cleaned or Notification of replacement.

  In the present embodiment, when the detection unit detects that the coloring material has adhered to the circumferential surface of the cylindrical member, an unused recording medium that is subsequently conveyed by the conveyance unit is used. The color material that has adhered is removed from the cylindrical member by being pressed against the circumferential surface of the cylindrical member by the pressing means.

  In the present embodiment, the cylindrical member is rotated such that its peripheral surface moves at a speed different from the conveyance speed of the recording medium.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the pressure contact means is configured to be able to contact and separate from the predetermined portion, and a predetermined period (here, ink dry state detection process) within a period during which detection by the detection means is not performed. A period during which the program is not executed is separated from the predetermined portion.

  In the present embodiment, the forming unit forms an image on the recording medium by an electrophotographic method in a state where the recording medium is pressed against a photosensitive member (here, the photosensitive drum 62), and The pressing force when the recording medium is pressed by the pressing means is larger than the pressing force of the recording medium to the photoconductor in the forming means.

  In the present embodiment, the distance between the pressure contact position by the pressure contact means and the color material detection position by the detection means is shorter than the distance between the pressure contact position and the image formation position on the recording medium by the formation means. Has been.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the detection unit includes an imaging unit (in this case, the CCD sensor 46) that images the predetermined part, and based on the image information obtained by imaging by the imaging unit. It is detected whether or not the color material has adhered.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the detection means detects whether or not the color material has adhered based on a change over time in image information obtained by imaging by the imaging means.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the detection unit detects that the color material has adhered to the predetermined part, the control unit (here, the system controller 90) conveys the recording medium. Both the stop and the separation of the contact portion when the image is formed while the forming unit is in contact with the recording medium are controlled.

[Second Embodiment]
In the present embodiment, a case where the continuous paper P itself is applied as a member used for detecting the dry state of the ink on the continuous paper P will be described. The configuration of the printing system according to the present embodiment is the same as that of the printing system 10 according to the first embodiment except for the ink transfer detection unit 40. Therefore, first, referring to FIG. The configuration of the ink transfer detection unit 40 ′ according to the present embodiment will be described.

  As shown in the figure, the ink transfer detection unit 40 ′ according to the present embodiment includes a pressure roller 48, a slide member 50, a spring 52, the same as the ink transfer detection unit 40 according to the first embodiment. And a stepping motor 54 and a pressure contact roller 44 ′ in which the continuous paper P is pressed by a pressure roller 48.

  Here, the pressure roller 48, the slide member 50, the spring 52, and the stepping motor 54 are similar to the stepping motor 54 and the pressure roller 48, as in the ink transfer detection unit 40 according to the first embodiment. In the meantime, a pinion gear 54A provided on the rotating shaft of the stepping motor 54, a rack member 50A meshing with the pinion gear 54A, a slide member 50 provided on the side surface, and one end fixed to the body of the slide member 50, the other end A spring 52 whose part is fixed to the rotating shaft of the pressure roller 48 is interposed.

  Therefore, by rotating the stepping motor 54, the slide member 50 is moved in one direction or the other direction of the arrow E according to the rotation direction, and the pressure roller 48 is moved in the one direction or the other direction. Can do. At this time, since the spring 52 is interposed between the pressure roller 48 and the slide member 50, when the continuous paper P is pressed against the pressure contact roller 44 ′ by the pressure roller 48, an elastic force by the spring 52 is used. The said press-contact can be performed reliably and stably.

  On the other hand, the ink transfer detection unit 40 'includes a first folding roller 45A, a second folding roller 45B, and a third folding roller 45C.

  The first folding roller 45A is in contact with the upper surface (image forming surface) of the continuous paper P on the downstream side in the conveying direction of the continuous paper P from the position where the pressed roller 44 ′ and the pressure roller 48 are disposed. And it is arrange | positioned above the continuous paper P so that a rotating shaft may become the same direction as the rotating shaft of to-be-contacted roller 44 '.

  Therefore, as indicated by the arrows in the figure, the continuous paper P is returned to the position where the pressure contact roller 44 ′ is disposed again by the first folding roller 45 </ b> A in which the conveyance direction is reversed.

  The continuous paper P returned to the position where the pressure contact roller 44 ′ is disposed is reversely conveyed by the pressure contact roller 44 ′, and the lower surface (non-image) is formed on the upper surface (image forming surface) of the subsequent continuous paper P. (Formation surface) is in contact. Therefore, when the continuous paper P is pressed against the pressed roller 44 ′ by the pressure roller 48, the continuous paper P previously carried in and the subsequent continuous paper P are pressed in a stacked state. become.

  On the other hand, the second folding roller 45B is in contact with the upper surface of the preceding continuous paper P at the intermediate portion between the pressure contact roller 44 ′ and the first folding roller 45A, and the rotation axis is the pressure contact roller 44 ′. Is arranged on the upper side of the preceding continuous paper P so as to be in a direction shifted by a predetermined angle (45 degrees in the present embodiment).

  Therefore, as indicated by the arrows in the figure, the continuous paper P is conveyed by the second folding roller 45B in the direction opposite to the conveyance direction and in a direction different from the arrangement direction of the pressure contact roller 44 ′. .

  The third folding roller 45C is in contact with the image forming surface of the preceding continuous paper P on the downstream side in the transport direction of the continuous paper P folded by the second folding roller 45B, and the rotation shaft is It is arranged below the preceding continuous paper P so as to be in a direction different from the rotation axis of the pressure contact roller 44 ′.

  Here, the third folding roller 45C is positioned so that when the continuous paper P is folded, the conveyance direction of the continuous paper P is parallel to the conveyance direction by the pressure contact roller 44 '. Therefore, the continuous paper P folded by the third folding roller 45C is carried out in the same direction as when it was carried into the ink transfer detection unit 40 ', as indicated by the arrow in the figure. Although not shown, the rotation shaft of the stepping motor 42 '(see FIG. 14) for rotating the third folding roller 45C is mechanically connected to the rotation shaft of the third folding roller 45C. The third folding roller 45C is rotationally driven by a stepping motor 42 '.

  Further, the ink transfer detection unit 40 ′ is provided with a CCD sensor 46 ′ that images the non-image forming surface of the continuous paper P folded by the third folding roller 45 </ b> C. Note that the CCD sensor 46 ′ according to the present embodiment is a CCD for color image capturing in which the imaging region in the direction (continuous paper width direction) orthogonal to the conveyance direction of the continuous paper P is the entire width of the continuous paper P. A line sensor is applied. Further, the widths of the pressure contact roller 44 ′ and the pressure roller 48 according to the present embodiment with respect to the continuous paper width direction are both larger than the dimensions of the continuous paper P with respect to the continuous paper width direction. The entire region of P in the continuous paper width direction can be pressed against the pressed roller 44 ′.

  In the electrophotographic apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment, the distance between the pressure contact position by the pressure roller 48 and the detection position by the CCD sensor 46 ′ in the ink transfer detection unit 40 ′ is the continuous paper by the pressure contact position and the printer unit 60. Each part is arranged so as to be shorter than the distance from P to the image forming position.

  FIG. 14 shows a connection state between the electrical components of the ink transfer detection unit 40 ′ particularly related to the present invention and the system controller 90.

  As shown in the figure, the system controller 90 is connected to the stepping motor 42 ′, the CCD sensor 46 ′, and the stepping motor 54 in the ink transfer detection unit 40 ′. Therefore, the system controller 90 can control the rotational drive of the third folding roller 45C by controlling the rotational drive of the stepping motor 42 ′, and can obtain the continuous image obtained by the imaging by the CCD sensor 46 ′. Image information indicating an image on the non-image forming surface of the paper P can be acquired, and by controlling the rotational drive of the stepping motor 54, the position of the pressure roller 48 and the continuous paper P by the pressure roller 48 are controlled. The pressure contact force (nip force) with respect to the pressure contact roller 44 ′ can be set.

  Note that the offset printing process by the offset rotary press 16 and the printer printing process by the electrophotographic apparatus 20 executed in the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment are also conventionally known processes, and thus description thereof is omitted.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIG. 15, an operation of the electrophotographic apparatus 20 when the ink semi-dry detection function installed in the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment works will be described. In FIG. 15, in parallel with the printer printing process by the system controller 90 of the electrophotographic apparatus 20 according to the present embodiment when a signal instructing the start of the ink semi-dry detection function is input from the host apparatus 99. 4 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing of an ink dry state detection processing program to be executed, and the program is stored in advance in a predetermined area of the ROM 92;

  In step 400 of the figure, the stepping motor 54 is controlled so that the pressure roller 48 is positioned at a predetermined position where the continuous paper P is pressed against the pressure contact roller 44 ′. The stepping motor 42 'is controlled so as to start the rotational driving of the folding roller 45C. In step 400, the nip force of the continuous paper P by the pressure roller 48 and the pressure-contact roller 44 ′ is larger than the nip force of the continuous paper P by the transfer device 72 and the photosensitive drum 62 in the printer unit 60. The stepping motor 54 is controlled.

  In the next step 404, the process waits until the continuous paper P is carried from the dryer 18, and in the next step 406, the image information obtained from the CCD sensor 46 'indicates the non-image forming surface of the continuous paper P. By waiting until it falls within a predetermined range as a thing, it waits until the continuous paper P reaches the imaging position by the CCD sensor 46 ′, and is obtained from the CCD sensor 46 ′ in the next step 408. Image information for one line (hereinafter referred to as “initial image information”) is stored in the RAM 94.

  In the next step 410, the initial image information is read from the RAM 94, and the initial image information and the values of the same pixels of the image information for one line obtained from the CCD sensor 46 ′ at this time, and R, G, A difference for each color of B is calculated, and in the next step 412, it is determined whether or not there is a difference that is equal to or greater than a predetermined threshold in the calculated difference. It is determined whether or not the ink 35 has been transferred. If the determination is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 414, and after executing a later-described defect handling routine program, the process proceeds to step 416.

  In the ink dry state detection processing program according to the present embodiment, as the predetermined threshold value, when the difference is equal to or greater than the value, it can be considered that at least one ink of C, M, and Y has adhered. As a possible value, a value obtained in advance by an experiment using an actual machine of the printing system 10 or a computer simulation based on a design specification of the printing system 10 is applied. Depending on the application, etc., it is possible to have the user input via the host device 99 or the like.

  If the determination in step 412 is negative, the process proceeds to step 416 without executing the defect handling routine / program.

  In step 416, it is determined whether or not a predetermined timing has arrived as a timing for ending the present ink dry state detection processing program. If a negative determination is made, the process returns to step 410, but an affirmative determination is made. At this point, the process proceeds to step 418.

  In the ink dry state detection processing program according to the present embodiment, the timing at which a signal instructing the stop of the printing operation is input from the host device 99 is applied as the predetermined timing applied in step 416. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and in addition to this timing, the continuous paper P is jammed on the conveyance path in the printing system 10 at the timing when the power switch of any of the devices constituting the printing system 10 is turned off. The timing at which a predetermined defect such as the ink used in the offset rotary press 16, the toner used in the electrophotographic apparatus 20, or the member necessary for image formation such as continuous paper disappears is detected by the user. Timein whose operation of any of the devices constituting the printing system 10 is forcibly stopped The operation of the ink transfer detection unit 40 'of equal can also be applied to single or multiple combinations of various timing should be stopped.

  In step 418, the control of the stepping motor 42 ′ is stopped so as to stop the rotational driving of the third folding roller 45 C started by the processing in step 402. In the next step 420, the position of the pressure roller 48 is changed. After controlling the stepping motor 54 so as to be the initial position that is a position separated from the continuous paper P, the present ink dry state detection processing program is terminated.

  Next, with reference to FIG. 16, the defect handling processing routine program according to the present embodiment will be described. FIG. 16 is a flowchart showing the processing flow of the defect handling processing routine program. This program is also stored in a predetermined area of the ROM 92 in advance.

  In step 500 of the figure, the related parts such as the conveyance roller 23 are controlled so as to stop the conveyance of the continuous paper P. In the next step 502, the photosensitive drum 62, the precharger 66, the exposure LED 68, By controlling the developing device 70 and the cleaner 74 so as to move upward in FIG. 3, the photosensitive drum 62 is separated from the contact position with the continuous paper P.

  In the next step 504, the control of the stepping motor 42 ′ is stopped so as to stop the rotational driving of the third folding roller 45 C, and the position of the pressure roller 48 is separated from the continuous paper P in the next step 506. The stepping motor 54 is controlled so as to be the initial position which is the position to be detected.

  In the next step 508, the display unit 97 is controlled to display a predetermined message (message shown in FIG. 10 as an example) for notifying that the ink on the continuous paper P is not dried. Then, the defect handling routine program is terminated.

  As described above in detail, in the present embodiment, a recording medium (here, continuous paper P) on which an image is formed with a liquid color material (here, oil-based ink 35) and carried in is transported (here). Then, while being conveyed by the conveying roller 23), an image is formed on the recording medium by the forming means (here, the printer unit 60), while the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying means from the forming means. Whether or not the image forming surface of the recording medium is brought into pressure contact with a predetermined portion by a pressure contact means (here, a pressure roller 48) provided on the upstream side, and whether or not the color material adheres to the predetermined portion. This is detected by detection means (here, the CCD sensor 46 'and the system controller 90).

  In the present embodiment, the predetermined portion is a non-image forming surface of the recording medium that has been transported in advance by the transporting means.

  Further, in the present embodiment, the pressure contact means is configured to be able to contact and separate from the predetermined portion, and a predetermined period (here, ink dry state detection process) within a period during which detection by the detection means is not performed. The period during which the program is not executed is separated from the predetermined portion.

  In the present embodiment, the forming unit forms an image on the recording medium by an electrophotographic method in a state where the recording medium is pressed against a photosensitive member (here, the photosensitive drum 62), and The pressing force when the recording medium is pressed by the pressing means is larger than the pressing force of the recording medium to the photoconductor in the forming means.

  In the present embodiment, the distance between the pressure contact position by the pressure contact means and the color material detection position by the detection means is shorter than the distance between the pressure contact position and the image formation position on the recording medium by the formation means. Has been.

  In the present embodiment, the detection means includes an imaging means (in this case, a CCD sensor 46 ′) for imaging the predetermined part, and is based on image information obtained by imaging by the imaging means. It is detected whether the color material has adhered.

  In particular, in the present embodiment, the detection means detects whether or not the color material has adhered based on a change over time in image information obtained by imaging by the imaging means.

  Furthermore, in this embodiment, when the detection unit detects that the color material has adhered to the predetermined part, the control unit (here, the system controller 90) conveys the recording medium. Both the stop and the separation of the contact portion when the image is formed while the forming unit is in contact with the recording medium are controlled.

  As mentioned above, although this invention was demonstrated using the said embodiment, the technical scope of this invention is not limited to the range as described in the said embodiment. Various changes or improvements can be added to the above-described embodiment without departing from the gist of the invention, and embodiments to which the changes or improvements are added are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.

  The above embodiments do not limit the invention described in the claims, and all combinations of features described in the above embodiments are indispensable for the solution means of the invention. Not always. The above-described embodiments include inventions at various stages, and various inventions are extracted by combinations according to situations in a plurality of disclosed constituent requirements. Even if some constituent features are deleted from all the constituent features shown in the above embodiment, the configuration from which these constituent features are deleted is extracted as an invention as long as the effect is obtained.

  For example, in the first embodiment, the ink transfer roller 44 is provided with the HP line 44A, the image information is acquired by the CCD sensor 46 based on the position of the HP line 44A, and the time-dependent difference of the acquired image information. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the ink transfer roller 44 is not provided with the HP line 44 </ b> A, and is simply obtained by the CCD sensor 46. It is also possible to detect the ink drying state by determining whether there is any image information that exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the cylindrical ink transfer roller 44 is applied as a predetermined portion of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, for example, It is good also as a form which applies members, such as cross-sectional elliptical shape and the multi-angle shape more than a cross-sectional view triangle.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the rotation direction of the ink transfer roller 44 is controlled so that the moving direction of the peripheral surface of the ink transfer roller 44 coincides with the conveyance direction of the continuous paper P will be described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the rotation direction of the ink transfer roller 44 is such that the movement direction of the peripheral surface of the ink transfer roller 44 is opposite to the conveyance direction of the continuous paper P. It is good also as a form to control.

  In the first embodiment, when the processes of steps 114 to 128 in the ink dry state detection processing program are repeatedly executed, the reference image information and the state immediately stored in the RAM 94 are stored in step 122. Although the case where the difference between the same pixels with the detection target image information is calculated has been described, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the difference is obtained by the CCD sensor 46 before the ink transfer roller 44 makes one rotation. Alternatively, the difference between the same pixels of the image information and the state detection target image information stored immediately before in the RAM 94 may be calculated.

  In the first embodiment, the case where the cleaning or replacement of the ink transfer roller 44 is notified when the accumulated usage time of the ink transfer roller 44 exceeds a predetermined time has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the cleaning or replacement of the ink transfer roller 44 may be notified when the frequency of ink detection by the CCD sensor 46 exceeds a predetermined level.

  In the second embodiment, when the processes in steps 410 to 416 in the ink dry state detection processing program are repeatedly executed, in step 410, the initial image information and the CCD sensor 46 ′ at that time are displayed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the image information obtained from the CCD sensor 46 ′ immediately before the difference is calculated. The difference between the same pixels from the image information obtained by the CCD sensor 46 ′ at that time may be calculated.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the case where the CCD sensor for color image capturing is applied as the image capturing unit of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, for monochrome image capturing. It is good also as a form which applies a sensor. In this case, the calculation is performed as the second threshold value applied in step 124 and the predetermined threshold value applied in step 412 of the ink dry state detection processing program (see FIGS. 7 and 15) according to each of the above embodiments. As a value that can be considered that at least one ink of C, M, and Y has newly adhered when the difference between the two values is equal to or greater than the value, an experiment using an actual machine of the printing system 10, Although a value obtained in advance by computer simulation based on design specifications or the like may be applied, it is also possible to adopt a form in which the user inputs via the host device 99 or the like depending on the purpose of the print target or the like .

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the line sensor is applied as the imaging means of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and an area sensor may be applied.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the case where the CCD sensor is applied as the imaging means of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) image sensor. It is good also as a form which applies other image sensors, such as.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where a stepping motor is applied as the motor of each part has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, a DC motor, an AC motor, a brushless motor, a direct motor It is good also as a form which applies other motors, such as a drive motor.

  Further, in each of the above embodiments, the imaging means of the present invention is a predetermined portion of the present invention (in the first embodiment, on the circumferential surface of the ink transfer roller 44, in the second embodiment, In the case of applying a CCD sensor in which the imaging region in the direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the continuous paper P on the non-image forming surface of the continuous paper P is the entire area where the continuous paper P of the predetermined portion is pressed. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, as an imaging unit of the present invention, an imaging region with respect to a direction intersecting the conveyance direction of the continuous paper P at a predetermined portion of the present invention is concerned. A so-called shuttle ski, which has a moving mechanism for moving the imaging means in a direction crossing the conveying direction of the continuous paper P by applying a paper that is narrower than the area where the continuous paper P of a predetermined portion is pressed against. Down method may be applied. In this case, only an area where the degree of superimposition of the formed image by the color material in the preceding image forming apparatus is high may be the imaging target.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the offset rotary press 16 is applied as the pre-stage image forming apparatus of the present invention and the ink is applied as the liquid color material of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. For example, an ink-jet recording type image forming apparatus is applied as the pre-stage image forming apparatus of the present invention, and an ink liquid such as pigment ink or dye ink used in the image forming apparatus as the liquid color material of the present invention. It is good also as a form which applies.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where the electrophotographic apparatus 20 is applied as the forming unit of the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and for example, an image forming apparatus of an ink jet recording system is used. Any image forming apparatus that performs printing without using a printing plate may be used.

  In each of the above-described embodiments, the C, M, and Y images are printed by the offset rotary press 16 and the K image is printed by the electrophotographic apparatus 20, but the present invention has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any color image may be printed by each of the offset rotary press 16 and the electrophotographic apparatus 20.

  Further, in each of the above-described embodiments, description has been made by taking an example of the case where color separation is performed by the offset rotary press 16, but the present invention is not limited to this, and color separation is performed by the electrophotographic apparatus 20. Alternatively, a dedicated device may be provided separately and color separation may be performed by the device.

  In each of the above embodiments, the case where various programs such as the ink dry state detection processing program and the failure handling processing routine program are stored in the ROM 92 in advance has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, a form in which these programs are stored in a computer-readable recording medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, or USB memory may be applied, or distributed via wired or wireless communication means A form to be applied may be applied.

  In addition, the notification performed in each of the above embodiments is not limited to notification by the display unit, and other notifications such as notification by voice or notification by printing may be applied.

  In addition, the configuration of the printing system described in the above embodiments (see FIGS. 1 to 6, 13, and 14) is merely an example, and unnecessary portions are deleted without departing from the gist of the present invention. Or a new part may be added, or the arrangement position of each part may be changed.

  The processing flow of each of the ink dry state detection processing program, the defect handling processing routine program, and the deterioration determination processing routine program described in each of the above embodiments (see FIGS. 7 to 9, FIG. 15, FIG. 16). .) Is also an example, and unnecessary steps may be deleted, new steps may be added, or the processing order may be changed within a range not departing from the gist of the present invention.

  Further, the configuration of the display screen shown in the first embodiment (see FIGS. 10 and 11) is also an example, and it goes without saying that the display screen may be appropriately changed without departing from the gist of the present invention. Yes.

It is a fracture side view showing the composition of the printing system concerning an embodiment. It is a fracture | rupture side view which shows the principal part structure of the offset printing part which concerns on embodiment. 1 is a cutaway side view showing a main configuration of an electrophotographic apparatus according to an embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the HP line provided in the ink transfer roller which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the principal part structure of the electric system of the printing system which concerns on embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the connection state of the electrical component of the ink transfer detection part which concerns on embodiment, and a system controller. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the ink dry condition detection process program which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the malfunction handling process routine program which concerns on embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the deterioration determination processing routine program which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the example of a display state of the alerting | reporting screen which concerns on embodiment. It is the schematic which shows the example of a display state of the alerting | reporting screen which concerns on embodiment. It is a wave form diagram with which it uses for description of the ink detection process performed in the ink dry condition detection process program which concerns on embodiment. It is a perspective view which shows the principal part structure of the ink transfer detection part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a block diagram which shows the connection state of the electrical component of the ink transfer detection part which concerns on 2nd Embodiment, and a system controller. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the ink dry condition detection process program which concerns on 2nd Embodiment. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of a process of the malfunction handling process routine program which concerns on 2nd Embodiment.

Explanation of symbols

10 Printing system 16 Web offset press (front image forming device)
18 Dryer 20 Electrophotographic apparatus (formation means)
23 Conveying roller (conveying means)
35 Oil-based ink (coloring material)
40 Ink transfer detection unit 40 'Ink transfer detection unit 42 Stepping motor 42' Stepping motor 44 Ink transfer roller (cylindrical member)
44 'pressure contact roller 46 CCD sensor (detection means, imaging means)
46 'CCD sensor (detection means, imaging means)
48 Pressure roller (Pressure contact means)
50 Slide member 50A Rack gear 52 Spring 54 Stepping motor 54A Pinion gear 60 Printer unit (formation means)
62 Photosensitive drum (photosensitive member)
72 Transfer device 80 System controller 90 System controller (detection means, notification means, removal means, control means)
92 ROM
94 RAM
96 NVM
97 Display section (notification means)
P Continuous paper (recording medium)

Claims (14)

Conveying means for conveying a recording medium carried in an image formed with a liquid color material;
Forming means for forming an image on the recording medium in a state where the recording medium is conveyed by the conveying means;
A pressure contact means provided upstream of the forming means in the transport direction of the recording medium by the transport means, and presses the image forming surface of the recording medium to a predetermined portion;
Detecting means for detecting whether or not the color material has adhered to the predetermined portion;
An image forming apparatus. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined portion is a circumferential surface of a cylindrical member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a notification unit configured to notify cleaning or replacement of the cylindrical member when the deterioration of the cylindrical member exceeds a predetermined degree. When it is detected by the detection means that the color material has adhered to the circumferential surface of the cylindrical member, an unused recording medium that is subsequently conveyed by the conveyance means is removed by the pressure contact means by the cylindrical member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a removing unit that removes the adhering color material from the cylindrical member by being pressed against the peripheral surface of the cylindrical member. The image forming apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical member rotates so that a peripheral surface thereof moves at a speed different from a conveyance speed of the recording medium. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined portion is a non-image forming surface of the recording medium that is transported in advance by the transport unit. The pressure contact unit is configured to be able to contact and separate from the predetermined portion, and is separated from the predetermined portion during a predetermined period in which detection by the detection unit is not performed. The image forming apparatus according to claim 6. The forming means forms an image on the recording medium by electrophotography in a state where the recording medium is pressed against a photoreceptor.
The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a pressure contact force when the recording medium is pressed by the pressure contact unit is greater than a pressure contact force of the recording medium to the photoconductor in the forming unit. . The distance between the pressure contact position by the pressure contact means and the color material detection position by the detection means is shorter than the distance between the pressure contact position and the image forming position with respect to the recording medium by the forming means. The image forming apparatus according to claim 1. The detection means includes an imaging means for imaging the predetermined part, and detects whether or not the color material is attached based on image information obtained by imaging by the imaging means. Item 10. The image forming apparatus according to any one of Items 9 to 9. The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the detection unit detects whether or not the color material is attached based on a change with time of image information obtained by imaging by the imaging unit. The imaging means has an imaging area with respect to a direction intersecting a conveyance direction of the recording medium at the predetermined portion that is narrower than an area where the recording medium at the predetermined portion is pressed, and the conveyance direction of the recording medium The image forming apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the image forming apparatus is moved in a direction intersecting with the image forming apparatus. When the detection unit detects that the color material has adhered to the predetermined part, when the conveyance of the recording medium is stopped, and the forming unit forms an image in contact with the recording medium The image forming apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a control unit that controls at least one of separation of the contact parts. An image forming apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 13,
A pre-stage image forming apparatus that is provided in a pre-stage of the image forming apparatus, forms an image on a recording medium with a liquid color material, and carries the image into the image forming apparatus;
An image forming system.

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