JP2010143019A - Printer, printing program, and recording medium - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of holding ink quantity proper in an ink storing section even when measuring the ink quantity in the ink storing section from the property of the ink with changeable property, a printing program, and a recording medium storing the printing program. <P>SOLUTION: The printer has an ink quantity short detecting means 90 for detecting ink short in the storing section 17 for temporarily storing ink, an ink replenishing means 29 for replenishing the storing section 17 with ink provided the ink short is detected by the ink quantity shortage detecting means 90, an ink quantity detection incorrect decision means 90 for deciding that the detect of the ink shortage by the ink quantity shortage detecting means 90 is not correct, and an ink replenishing timing adjusting means 90 for adjusting the ink replenishing timing of ink to the storing section 17 by the ink replenishing means 29 provided the decision is done by the ink quantity shortage detecting means 90. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2010,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing program, and a recording medium on which the printing program is recorded, which can keep an ink amount in an ink storage unit as called an ink reservoir appropriately.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a printing apparatus such as a stencil printing apparatus provided with an ink amount detecting means for detecting an ink amount in an ink storing portion, which is called an ink reservoir, is known (for example, see [Patent Document 1]). In such a printing apparatus, in general, ink is supplied to the ink storage section when the ink amount detection means detects a shortage of the ink amount in the ink storage section.

Such an ink amount detection means detects the ink amount in the ink storage section, for example, optically or using electrostatic capacity (see, for example, [Patent Document 1]).
The principle of detecting the amount of ink using electrostatic capacity will be described as follows.

  As an ink used in such a printing apparatus, a W / O type emulsion ink in which a pigment or a large amount of water is dispersed in oil is generally used. The reason why such an ink is used is to prevent the ink from drying normally and to quickly penetrate into the paper when it adheres to the paper surface during printing. Since this type of ink has a capacitance based on its composition, the amount of ink present in the ink reservoir is detected by measuring the capacitance of the ink in the ink reservoir.

JP 2007-283705 A

  However, this type of ink has a structure that is covered with oil on the outside, so there is little change due to evaporation, etc., due to natural exposure, etc., and it is difficult to dry. It breaks down and moisture easily evaporates, and the composition changes and the capacitance changes. Such a change usually occurs in a manner in which the capacitance decreases.

  Therefore, when printing is performed at a high speed and in a large amount with a small printed image area, the ink consumption is small, so the ink in the ink reservoir is not consumed but is stirred for a long time, resulting in a decrease in capacitance. . When the capacitance decreases, the ink amount in the ink reservoir is judged to be insufficient even though the amount of ink in the ink reservoir is sufficient, and the ink is supplied to the ink reservoir. Ink may flow out from the ink reservoir, contaminating the inside of the printing apparatus such as a plate cylinder, or causing a problem that a large amount of ink adheres to the paper and causes an image defect due to excessive print image density. Such a type of ink is particularly susceptible to such problems because the viscosity may decrease when it is stirred and changed in composition.

  In addition, if the electrostatic capacity increases when the ink is agitated, the ink is not replenished even if the ink amount in the ink reservoir is actually insufficient. There may be a problem that the amount of ink is insufficient and an image defect occurs due to an insufficient printed image density.

  Furthermore, if the ink changes its optical properties when the ink is agitated, and if the ink amount detection means detects the ink amount optically, the ink will still be used. Over and under volumes and similar problems can result.

  In other words, when ink is stirred, if the ink quantity detection means has a property that the physical properties having sensitivity change, the ink supply timing is determined only by the detection by the ink quantity detection means. Insufficient or insufficient amount of ink and similar problems can be caused. The same applies to the case where the ink has the property that the ink amount detection means changes its sensitivity with time.

  The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, a printing program, and a printing program capable of maintaining the ink amount in the ink storage portion appropriately even when the ink amount in the ink storage portion is measured based on the physical properties of the ink. The purpose is to provide a recording medium on which the program is recorded.

  In order to achieve the above object, the invention according to claim 1 is characterized in that the ink shortage detecting means for detecting a shortage of ink in the ink reservoir for temporarily storing ink, and the shortage of ink by the ink shortage detecting means. Ink amount detection fraud that performs an ink amount detection fraud decision that the ink replenishment means for replenishing ink on the condition that the ink reservoir is replenished and that the deficiency detection by the ink amount deficiency detection means is fraudulent And an ink replenishment timing adjusting means for adjusting the ink replenishment timing to the ink reservoir by the ink replenishing means on the condition that the ink amount detection fraud determination has been made by the ink amount detection fraud determining means. In a printing apparatus.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the number of times of printing from when the ink replenishing means supplies ink to the ink reservoir until the ink shortage detecting means detects the shortage. The ink amount detection fraud determination unit performs the ink amount detection fraud determination using the number of printing times detected by the printing number detection unit.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the second aspect, the ink replenishment timing adjusting means adjusts the replenishment timing using the number of times of printing detected by the number of times of printing detection. And

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the second or third aspect, when the printing speed is changed, the number of times of printing used for performing the ink amount detection fraud determination by the ink amount detection fraud determination means. It is characterized by resetting.

  The invention according to claim 5 is provided on the condition that the ink shortage detecting step for detecting the ink shortage in the ink storing portion for temporarily storing ink and the ink shortage detecting step detect the shortage. An ink replenishment step for replenishing ink to the ink reservoir, an ink amount detection fraud determination step capable of performing an ink amount detection fraud determination that the deficiency detected by the ink amount deficiency detection step is incorrect, and An ink replenishment timing adjustment step for adjusting a replenishment timing of ink to the ink storage unit by the ink replenishment step on the condition that the ink amount detection fraud determination is performed by the ink amount detection fraud determination step. is there.

  The invention described in claim 6 resides in a recording medium in which the printing program according to claim 5 is recorded so as to be readable by a computer.

  The present invention provides an ink shortage detection means for detecting an ink shortage in an ink storage section for temporarily storing ink, and the ink storage on the condition that the shortage is detected by the ink shortage detection means. Ink replenishment means for replenishing ink to the section, ink amount detection fraud determination means for performing fraudulent detection of ink amount that the deficiency detection by the ink amount deficiency detection means is fraudulent, and the ink amount detection fraud determination means Is relatively simple since it is provided with an ink replenishment timing adjusting means for adjusting the ink replenishment timing to the ink reservoir by the ink replenishing means on the condition that the ink amount detection fraud determination is made by In this way, the excess or deficiency of the ink amount in the ink reservoir is controlled or prevented while preventing or suppressing the increase in cost. Can be provided with it is possible to obtain a good printed image, contamination of the device by the ink, the printing device capable of suppressing or preventing the waste of ink.

  The ink amount detection fraud determination has an ink amount detection means for detecting the number of times of printing from when the ink replenishment means supplies ink to the ink reservoir until the ink shortage detection means detects the shortage. If the means performs the ink amount detection fraud determination using the number of printing times detected by the print number detection means, the number of times of printing can be obtained relatively easily with respect to the ink amount detection fraud determination. By using this, it is possible to obtain a good print image while suppressing or preventing an excess or deficiency of the ink amount in the ink reservoir while preventing or suppressing an increase in cost with a relatively simple configuration. It is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of suppressing or preventing contamination in the apparatus and waste of ink.

  The ink replenishment timing adjustment means adjusts the replenishment timing in addition to making an incorrect ink amount detection determination if the replenishment timing is adjusted using the number of printing times detected by the number of printing times detection means. Also, by using such printing times that can be obtained relatively easily, it is possible to suppress or prevent an excess or deficiency of the ink amount in the ink reservoir while preventing or suppressing an increase in cost with a relatively simple configuration, and a good printed image In addition, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of suppressing or preventing contamination of the apparatus with ink and waste of ink.

  When the printing speed is changed, if the number of times of printing used for performing the ink amount detection fraud determination is reset in the ink amount detection fraud determination means, the ink amount detection fraud determination can be performed relatively. By using the number of times of printing that can be easily obtained while resetting the ink amount in the ink reservoir, the amount of ink in the ink reservoir can be prevented or suppressed with a relatively simple configuration while preventing an increase in cost. Therefore, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus that can suppress or prevent the excess and deficiency of the ink and obtain a good print image, and that can suppress or prevent contamination of the apparatus and ink waste due to ink.

  The present invention provides the ink storage on the condition that the ink shortage detection step for detecting the ink shortage in the ink storage part for temporarily storing ink and the shortage detected by the ink shortage detection step An ink replenishment step for replenishing the ink, an ink amount detection fraud determination step capable of performing an ink amount detection fraud determination that the deficiency detected by the ink amount deficiency detection step is fraud, and the ink amount detection fraud Since there is an ink replenishment timing adjustment step that adjusts the replenishment timing of ink to the ink storage unit by the ink replenishment step on the condition that the determination of the ink amount detection fraud is performed by the determination step, Ink while preventing or suppressing an increase in cost through simple control Providing a printing program that can suppress or prevent excess or deficiency in the amount of ink in the distilling section, obtain a good print image, and suppress or prevent ink contamination in the apparatus and ink waste. can do.

  Since the present invention resides in a recording medium in which such a printing program is recorded so as to be readable by a computer, an excessive or insufficient amount of ink in the ink reservoir is suppressed while preventing or suppressing an increase in cost with a relatively simple configuration. It is possible to provide a recording medium that can be prevented and contribute to making it possible to obtain a good print image, and that can contribute to suppressing or preventing contamination of the apparatus by ink and waste of ink.

  FIG. 1 shows an outline of a stencil printing apparatus integrated with a thermal digital plate making as a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. The stencil printing apparatus 100 includes an image scanner 61 serving as a document reading unit as a document reading unit for reading a document image on the upper portion of the apparatus main body 67. The image scanner 61 includes a carriage 60 having a lamp 63 for illuminating a document set on a contact glass 62, a plurality of mirrors 64, an imaging lens 65, a one-dimensional array CCD 66, and the like. ing.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 has a master roll 70a in the form of a roll formed at the lower part of the image scanner 61, a printing unit 69 centered on a rotatable plate cylinder 68 and an unused master 70 made of heat-sensitive stencil paper. A plate making apparatus 71 is provided as a plate making means as a plate making unit which is built in a replaceable manner and punches the master 70 drawn from the master roll 70a and supplies the master 70 which has been made to the plate cylinder 68.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 also removes the peeling claw 50 and the peeling fan 51 for peeling the printing paper P from the plate cylinder 68 and the used master 70 wound on the plate cylinder 68 before the printing process. And a plate discharging device 76.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 also includes a sheet feeding device 52 that is a sheet feeding unit that supplies the printing sheet P toward the printing unit 69, and a sheet serving as a sheet discharge conveying apparatus that conveys the printing sheet P peeled from the plate cylinder 68. A transport device 84 and a paper discharge tray 85 as a paper discharge tray for stacking printed printing paper P transported by the paper transport device 84 are provided.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 is also shown in FIG. 2 for the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 100 by a control unit 90 as a control means for controlling the overall operation of the stencil printing apparatus 100 and an operator such as a user. An operation panel 91 and a casing side plate (not shown) are provided.

  The printing unit 69 includes a plate cylinder 68, a press roller 20 that is a pressing body as a pressing unit that presses a printing sheet P as a sheet that is a printing medium to be fed, toward the plate cylinder 68, and a press roller A pressing member displacing means 22 for displacing the head 20 toward the plate cylinder 68 and holding the position away from the plate cylinder 68; an ink supply device 10 mainly located inside the plate cylinder 68; and a plate cylinder drive The main motor 11 serving as a driving motor, the gear 12 integrated with the plate cylinder 68, the detection piece 44 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 68, and the detection piece 44 are detected to detect the plate cylinder. And rotation detecting means 45 for detecting 68 rotations.

  The press roller 20 is located below the plate cylinder 68. Although not shown, the press roller 20 includes a cored bar and a nitrile rubber or a chloroprene rubber as an elastic body formed in a cylindrical shape and mounted around the cored bar. The cored bar is provided with a shaft that forms the rotation center of the press roller 20.

  Although not shown, the pressing body displacing means 22 is a press roller arm pair that rotatably supports the shaft of the press roller 20 at one end thereof, and is fixed to the other end of the press roller arm pair, and is rotatable on the housing side plate. An arm shaft supported by the arm, an arm fixed to one end of the arm shaft, a cam follower rotatably supported by the arm, a cam rotatably supported by the casing side plate, and the cam follower abutting the cam An urging means such as a spring to be driven; a motor as a driving means for rotationally driving the cam in synchronization with the plate cylinder 68; an urging spring for urging the press roller 20 so as to be in pressure contact with the plate cylinder 68; Locking means that can be locked in a state where the press roller 20 is separated from the plate cylinder 68 against the urging force of the spring.

  Therefore, the press roller 20 is kept away from the plate cylinder 68 in a state in which the press roller 20 is locked by the locking means by the pressing body displacing means 22, and is kept away from the plate cylinder 68. In a state in which the press roller 20 is unlocked, the press roller 20 is pressed against the plate cylinder 68 by a biasing force of a biasing spring at a predetermined timing according to the rotation of the cam. As described above, the press roller 20 contacts and separates from the plate cylinder 68 at a predetermined timing by driving the motor, operating the locking means, and the like. For example, the press roller 20 is displaced toward the plate cylinder 68 at the predetermined timing. The ink that oozes from the master 70 is pressed against the master 70 wound around the plate cylinder 68 by pressing the printing paper P toward the plate cylinder 68 at the nip portion N that is the portion facing the plate cylinder 68. Is attached to the printing paper P for printing.

  The main motor 11 is a stepping motor, and is fixed to the main body side plate and has a gear 13 that meshes with the gear 12. The gear 12 rotates about the drum shaft 25. Therefore, the plate cylinder 68 is rotationally driven by the main motor 11. The plate cylinder 68 is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction in FIG.

  The plate cylinder 68 is a porous support cylinder (not shown) provided with a clamp device 73 for gripping the end of the master 70 that has been made, and an opening (not shown) and a non-opening (not shown). Body, a multi-layer mesh screen (not shown) that is a resin or metal mesh covering the outer periphery of the porous support cylinder, and drum flanges (not shown) fixed to both ends of the porous support cylinder. It is connected to the main motor 11 via a gear train constituted by 12 and 13.

  The opening of the porous support cylindrical body is a portion in which a large number of small holes for allowing the ink supplied by the ink supply device 10 to pass therethrough, and the transmitted ink is configured to ooze out from the mesh screen. Yes.

  Each drum flange is rotatably supported by a drum shaft 25 shown in FIG. 1 as an ink supply pipe which is an ink supply shaft. The drum shaft 25 is supported by a main body side plate (not shown) of the apparatus main body 67. Therefore, the plate cylinder 68 is rotatably supported by the drum shaft 25 by the drum flange.

  The clamp device 73 is disposed in a non-opening portion other than the mesh screen of the porous support cylindrical body along one of the bus bars of the plate cylinder 68, and the stage 14 made of a magnetic material and the stage 14 It has a clamper 42 that opens and closes and that clamps the tip of the master 70 with the stage 14 to which a magnet or the like is attached.

  The clamp device 73 is also arranged in parallel with the stage 14 in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface in FIG. 1, and forms a center of rotation of the clamper 42. In the position, an opening / closing device (not shown) that opens and closes the stage 14 is provided.

  The ink supply device 10 is disposed so as to face the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 68 and supplies the ink 15 to the plate cylinder 68. The ink supply device 10 faces the ink roller 16 and has a slight gap in the ink roller 16. A doctor roller 18 that forms a wedge-shaped space between the ink roller 16 and the ink roller 17 and an ink reservoir 17 in the wedge-shaped space, and an ink roller 16 and a doctor roller 18 that are disposed to face each other inside the plate cylinder 68 are rotatable between them. It has a pair of supported ink roller side plates (not shown).

  The ink supply device 10 also transmits the driving force of the main motor 11 to the ink roller 16 and the doctor roller 18 as an ink supply device 29 as an ink supply means for supplying ink to the ink reservoir 17, and the ink roller 16 and the doctor roller 18 are transmitted. A driving force transmission mechanism (not shown) constituted by a gear, a belt, and the like that is driven to rotate in the same direction as the plate cylinder 68 in synchronization with the plate cylinder 68 is provided.

  The ink roller 16 has an ink roller shaft 21 that forms the center of rotation, and the ink roller shaft 21 is rotatably supported at both ends by an ink roller side plate. The ink roller 16 is separated from the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 68 when the press roller 20 is separated from the plate cylinder 68, but the press roller 20 is displaced toward the plate cylinder 68 and the plate cylinder 68 is pressed. In a state of being pressed by the roller 20, the plate cylinder 68 is bent toward the ink roller 16 to come into contact with the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 68. The doctor roller 18 is also rotatably supported on the ink roller side plate in the same manner as the ink roller 16.

Therefore, the ink roller 16 and the doctor roller 18 rotate to knead and extend the ink 15 in the ink reservoir 17, and the ink 15 in the ink reservoir 17 rotates between the ink roller 16 and the doctor roller 18 to rotate the ink roller 16. Accordingly, the ink is supplied to the outer surface in a thin film form. This ink is supplied to the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 68 in a state where the plate cylinder 68 is in contact with the ink roller 16, and excess ink is rotated by the ink roller 16. Accordingly, the ink is collected in the ink reservoir 17, and when the plate cylinder 68 is separated from the ink roller 16, it is collected in the ink reservoir 17 as the ink roller 16 rotates.
As described above, the ink reservoir 17 functions as an ink reservoir that temporarily stores the ink supplied to the plate cylinder 68.

  In a state in which the press roller 20 presses the plate cylinder 68, the ink 15 supplied to the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 68 passes through the porous support cylindrical body and a plurality of layers of mesh screens. It oozes out. The ink that has oozed out on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 68 further oozes from the perforated portion of the master 70 wound around the plate cylinder 68 and adheres to the printing paper P to form a printed image.

  The ink replenishing device 29 is connected to one end of the drum shaft 25 and is connected to one end of the drum cylinder 25. The ink pack 26 is an ink cartridge as an ink supply source located outside the plate cylinder 68, and the ink in the ink pack 26 is supplied to the drum shaft. An ink pump 27 located outside the plate cylinder 68, which is supplied toward the ink drum 25; a drum shaft 25 which drops the ink sent from the ink pack 26 by the operation of the ink pump 27 and supplies it to the ink reservoir 17; And an ink sensor 28 for detecting the amount of ink in the ink reservoir 17.

  The drum shaft 25 is formed with a plurality of holes 25a as supply holes which are ink dropping holes in the axial direction, and has a function of an ink supply pipe. The drum shaft 25 has an ink roller side plate fixed to both ends thereof.

The ink contained in the ink pack 26 and used for printing in the stencil printing apparatus 100 is a W / O type emulsion ink in which a pigment or other large amount of water is dispersed in oil, and is usually difficult to dry, and When it adheres to the surface of the printing paper P during printing, it quickly penetrates into the printing paper P. This ink has a predetermined capacitance per unit volume determined based on its composition.
The ink pack 26 is detachable from the apparatus main body 67, and is replaced when the ink in the inside is exhausted or decreased.

  The ink pump 27 is driven based on the control by the control unit 90, supplies the ink stored in the ink pack 26 to the drum shaft 25, and drops it to the ink reservoir 17 from the plurality of holes 25 a of the drum shaft 25. The amount of ink replenished by the ink pump 27 is constant per unit time.

  The ink sensor 28 includes a detection needle (not shown) whose tip is immersed in the ink 15 of the ink reservoir 17, and detects the total capacitance of the ink 15 of the ink reservoir 17. The total amount of capacitance depends on the total amount of ink 15 in the ink reservoir 17. A detection signal relating to the total amount of capacitance detected by the ink sensor 28 is input to the control unit 90 and recognized by the control unit 90.

The plate cylinder 68 is integral with the ink pack 26, the ink pump 27, and the like, and can be engaged with and disengaged from the apparatus main body 67 in a direction perpendicular to the figure, which is the axial direction.
Each time the rotation detection unit 45 detects the detection piece 44, the rotation detection unit 45 outputs a signal to that effect to the control unit 90.

  The paper feeding device 52 includes a paper feeding table 81 as a paper feeding tray on which the printing paper P provided so as to be movable up and down, a paper feeding roller 82 disposed above the paper feeding table 81, and a paper feeding roller 82. Is driven in synchronism with the rotational movement of the plate cylinder 68 and separated and fed by the paper feed roller 82 and separated. The registration roller pair 83 that feeds the printing paper P that has passed through the paper feeding device 30 to the printing unit 69 and the printing paper P that has been fed by the paper feeding roller 82 are guided to the registration roller pair 83 and printed from the registration roller pair 83. Guide plates 40 and 41 for guiding the printing paper P fed toward the portion 69 to the nip portion N, and a paper detection device (not shown).

  The paper feed roller 82 feeds the uppermost print paper P among the print papers P stacked on the paper feed table 81, and is rotated at a fixed position. The paper feed table 81 is controlled to rise and fall according to the number and thickness of the printing paper P so that the uppermost printing paper P contacts the paper feeding roller 82. The registration roller pair 83 feeds the printing paper P to the nip portion N at a predetermined timing when the image area of the master 70 enters the nip portion N.

  The peeling claw 50 and the peeling fan 51 are located on the downstream side of the nip portion N in the conveyance direction of the printing paper P. The peeling claw 50 has a free end formed in an acute angle and is separated from the proximity position close to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 68 and the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 68 in order to avoid obstacles such as the clamping device 73. It selectively occupies the separated positions shown in FIG. The peeling fan 51 blows air toward the surface of the plate cylinder 68, and the printing paper P whose tip is peeled from the plate cylinder 68, actually the master 70 wound around the plate cylinder 68 by the peeling claw 50, further It assists in peeling from the master 70.

The paper conveying device 84 is disposed below the peeling claw 50 and the peeling fan 51, and is driven by a driving roller 55 and a driven roller before the paper discharging roller, which are rotatably supported by the casing side plate. 56, a conveying belt 58 serving as a paper discharge belt wound around and stretched around the driving roller 55 and the driven roller 56, and the printing paper P peeled off by the peeling claw 50 and the peeling fan 51 as described above. And an adsorption fan 57 as a suction fan for adsorbing to the upper surface of the apparatus.
The paper discharge tray 85 discharges the printing paper P that has been transported by the paper transporting device 84 and has been printed by the printing unit 69, and holds the printing paper P in a stacked manner.

  Master 70 that can be used for plate making apparatus 71 is laminated with a thermoplastic resin film having a thickness of approximately 1 to 3 μm, and Japanese paper fiber, synthetic fiber, or a mixture of Japanese paper fiber and synthetic fiber, which is a support sheet for a porous support. It has a laminated structure.

  The plate making apparatus 71 includes a master flange 88 as a holder means for holding the master roll 70a rotatably and guiding the conveyance of the master 70 fed out from the master roll 70a, and a roller pair 89 for pulling out the master 70 from the master roll 70a. The platen roller 77 further conveys the master 70 drawn out by the roller pair 89, and a thermal head 78 that is a perforating member as a plate-making head disposed opposite to the platen roller 77.

  The plate making apparatus 71 also serves as a cutter roller 80 that cuts the pre-made master 70 into a predetermined length, and a pair of conveying rollers that conveys the pre-made master 70 punched by the thermal head 78 toward the plate cylinder 68. A roller pair 79 and a guide plate 74 as a master guide plate for guiding the master 70 that has been subjected to plate making toward the plate cylinder 68 are provided.

  Although not shown, the plate making apparatus 71 includes a platen roller rotation drive motor as a platen roller rotation drive means, which is a stepping motor that rotates the platen roller 77 in the clockwise direction in FIG. And a master transport driving motor as a master transport driving means that is a stepping motor that is driven to rotate.

  Although not shown, the plate making apparatus 71 is also shown as a pair of plate making side plates (not shown) that rotatably support the platen roller 77 therebetween, and a spring member that biases the thermal head 78 toward the platen roller 77. It has a spring that does not.

  The master roll 70a is a roll core formed by winding the master 70 around a roll core 37, which is a winding core as a winding member, and the master flange 88 is detachable and rotatable. By holding, the master roll 70 a is held detachably and rotatably about the roll core 37.

  The thermal head 78 has a heat generating portion constituted by an infinite number of heat generating elements along a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. The thermoplastic resin film of the master 70 is located on the thermal head 78 side, and the thermal head 78 melts the thermoplastic resin film portion of the master 70 conveyed by the roller pairs 89 and 79 and the platen roller 77 by the heat generating portion. It comes to pierce. Each heating element constituting the heating unit generates heat by energization, and energization control to each heating element is performed by the control unit 90.

  The roller pairs 89 and 79 are rotatably supported between the plate making unit side plates while being in pressure contact with each other. The master conveyance drive motor is configured to rotationally drive the roller pairs 89 and 79 by energization, and the energization control to the master conveyance drive motor is performed by the control unit 90.

The platen roller 77 functions as a pressing member for pressing the master 70 against the heat generating portion.
The platen roller rotation driving motor is configured to rotate the platen roller 77 by energization, and the energization control to the platen roller rotation driving motor is performed by the control unit 90.

  The conveying speed of the master 70 by the roller pair 79 is set slightly faster than the conveying speed of the master 70 by the platen roller 77, and a predetermined appropriate tension is applied to the master 70 while causing slippage with the master 70. It is supposed to be. The cutter 80 is provided with guillotine type upper and lower blades in this embodiment, but may be a rotary blade moving type rotary type or the like. The guide plate 74 is fixed between the plate making unit side plates.

  In the thermal head 78, the heating element generates heat based on image data based on the original read by the image scanner 61 and other image data input from an external device such as a personal computer, and the master 70 is punched.

  The plate removal device 76 peels off the master 70 from the plate cylinder 68 and conveys it, and the plate removal box 54 that stores the used master 70 that has been peeled off and conveyed from the plate cylinder 68 by the master peeling device 53. And have.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the operation panel 91 has an operation key 87 for performing an operation necessary for printing by the stencil printing apparatus 100 and a display for informing the operator of the state of the stencil printing apparatus 100. Part 96.

  The display unit 96 is a touch panel type liquid crystal display panel, and displays information for notifying the operator of the state of the stencil printing apparatus 100. In addition, like the operation key 87, the stencil printing is performed. A predetermined operation on the apparatus 100 can be performed.

  The operation key 87 includes a start key 92 for inputting a plate making start command signal and a print start command signal for starting plate making in the plate making apparatus 71, a numeric key 93 for inputting numbers such as the number of prints, and a printing speed for setting a printing speed. And a printing speed setting key 94 as setting means.

  The control unit 90 includes a CPU 97, a ROM 98 as a first storage unit that stores an operation program of the stencil printing apparatus 100 and various data necessary for the operation of the operation program, and a stencil such as image data read by the image scanner 61. The configuration includes a RAM 99 as second storage means for storing data necessary for the operation of the printing apparatus 100.

  The control unit 90 functions as an ink replenishment control unit in that the ink pump 27 is driven to replenish ink in the ink reservoir 17 as described above. When functioning as the ink replenishment control means, the control unit 90 recognizes the total amount of electrostatic capacity of the ink 15 in the ink reservoir 17 based on the detection signal input from the ink sensor 28, and thereby the ink in the ink reservoir 17. It functions as an ink amount detecting means for detecting the amount.

  The control unit 90 that functions as an ink amount detection unit also functions as an ink amount shortage detection unit that detects a shortage of the ink amount in the ink reservoir 17. Insufficient ink amount in the ink reservoir 17 means that the ink amount is an amount that can be insufficient for good printing.

  The control unit 90 functioning as an ink amount shortage detecting unit performs an ink amount shortage detection determination for determining whether or not the ink amount in the ink reservoir 17 is short, that is, for determining such shortage. This determination is made based on whether or not the ink amount is below the reference ink amount stored in the ROM 98, as will be described later. When the ink amount is below the reference ink amount, a shortage of the ink amount in the ink reservoir 17 is detected. . Then, on the condition that this shortage is detected, the ink pump 27 is driven by the control unit 90 functioning as an ink replenishment control means, and the ink reservoir 17 is replenished with ink.

  The control unit 90 also monitors the number of printings based on a signal transmitted from the rotation detection unit 45. The number of printings may be monitored by the number of energization pulses to the main motor 11 instead of or together with this. Here, the control unit 90 functions as a printing number detecting means for detecting the number of printing times.

The CPU 97 functions as a printing frequency calculation unit that calculates the number of printings between predetermined timings, as will be described later, based on monitoring using a detection signal or the like by the rotation detection unit described above.
The RAM 99 functions as a printing number storage unit that stores the number of printings calculated by the CPU 97 as a printing number calculation unit.

  The ROM 98 stores a reference ink amount used for determination for detecting an ink amount shortage in the ink reservoir 17 by the control unit 90 as an ink amount shortage detecting unit. In this respect, the ROM 98 functions as a reference ink amount storage means. This reference ink amount is determined as the total amount of the electrostatic capacity of the ink 15 in the ink reservoir 17 based on the electrostatic capacity of the ink per unit volume in a new state as accommodated in the ink pack 26. .

  The ROM 98 also stores a reference number of prints that stores a reference number of prints that is compared with the number of times of printing detected by the control unit 90 that serves as a number of times of printing detection, specifically, the CPU 97 that serves as the number of times of printing calculation. In addition to functioning as storage means, it functions as a print program storage means that stores fixed values such as the reference number of times of printing and a print program for printing in the stencil printing apparatus 100 using these values. Here, the ROM 98 constitutes a recording medium on which the printing program is recorded so as to be readable by the computer.

  The stencil printing apparatus 100 operates by executing a printing program including steps to be described later. The print program is introduced and stored in a ROM 98 as a recording medium from an external recording medium recorded so as to be readable by the control unit 90 which is a computer. The same applies to various data necessary for execution of the printing program.

  In order to introduce the printing program and various data into the ROM 98, the recording medium on which these are recorded is not only a portable medium such as a CD-ROM, DVD-ROM, FD, USB memory, but also a network such as a LAN or the Internet. Any device capable of storing and holding such printing programs and various data for a necessary period, such as a storage device such as an HD that is built in or connected to another computer connected via But it ’s okay. The print program and various data may be stored in another medium such as the RAM 99 instead of the ROM 98. In this case, the medium serves as a recording medium.

  A series of printing operations of the entire stencil printing apparatus 100 will be described. After this description, the operations of the ink supply device 29 and the control unit 90 related thereto will be described more specifically.

  When an operator sets a document on the image scanner 61 and presses the start key 92 to issue a plate making start command signal, the image scanner 61 starts reading the document and the main motor 11 starts the plate. The cylinder 68 is rotationally driven in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1, and in this process, a used master (not shown) is peeled off from the surface of the plate cylinder 68 by the plate discharging device 76 and discarded.

  The plate cylinder 68 is further rotated, and then stops when the clamping device 73 occupies the substantially right end position in FIG. When the plate cylinder 68 stops, the clamper 42 is released by the opening / closing device, and the plate feed standby state is entered.

  On the other hand, plate making to the master 70 is performed by the plate making apparatus 71 according to the image information read by the image scanner 61. The master 70 may be made based on image data input from an external device.

  When the platen roller 77 and the roller pairs 89 and 79 are rotated and the master 70 is conveyed by one line in the sub-scanning direction, the master 70 is made by specifying the thermal head 78 in accordance with the image information constituted by the image data. A voltage is applied in a pulse form to the resistance heating element, and the thermoplastic resin film constituting the master 70 is heated and perforated, and plate making is performed by dot formation in the main scanning direction.

  The master 70 that has been made in this manner is sent out toward the plate cylinder 68 by the roller pair 79 and is guided by the guide plate 74, and the tip of the master 70 enters between the stage 14 and the clamper 42. When it is determined from the number of pulses of the master transport drive motor 32 that the leading edge of the master 70 has reached the stage 14, the clamper 42 is closed by the opening / closing device, and the leading edge of the master 70 is clamped by the clamping device 73.

  When the clamper 42 is closed, the rotational drive of the plate cylinder 68 is resumed. The rotational speed of the plate cylinder 68 is the same as the conveying speed of the master 70. Due to the rotation of the plate cylinder 68, the master 70 which has been subjected to plate making is wound around the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 68 so as to cover the opening of the porous support cylindrical body provided in the plate cylinder 68.

  When it is determined that the plate making has been completed based on the number of pulses of the master transport motor 32, the cutter 80 is operated to cut the master 70, the rotational drive of the platen roller 78 and the roller pairs 89 and 79 is stopped, and the cut master is cut. 70 is pulled out to the plate cylinder 68 as the plate cylinder 68 rotates, and the winding onto the plate cylinder 68 is completed.

  Thereafter, the printing process is executed. The topmost printing paper P on the paper feed table 81 is fed by the paper feeding roller 82 and the separation paper feeding device 30, and the leading edge of the printing paper P comes into contact with the nip portion of the resist roller pair 83 in the stopped state. Are aligned.

  The registration roller pair 83 is driven in synchronism with the rotation of the plate cylinder 68 to drive the registration roller pair 83, and the sheet detection device indicates that the leading edge of the printing sheet P has reached the vicinity of the nip N between the plate cylinder 68 and the press roller 20. On the condition that it is detected, the press roller 20 is displaced upward by the pressing body displacing means 22, and the printing paper P is continuously pressed against the master 70 on the plate cylinder 68 by the press roller 20. The ink in the ink oozes out from the perforated portion of the master 70, and the master 70 wound around the plate cylinder 68 comes into close contact with the plate cylinder 68 and is transferred to the printing paper P for printing. The master 70 is wound around the plate cylinder 68, and the first printing is performed as plate printing for filling the master 70 with ink.

  The printed printing paper P is peeled from the plate cylinder 68 by the peeling claw 50 and the peeling fan 51, guided to the paper transport device 84 as the plate cylinder 68 rotates, and discharged from the paper transport device 84 to the paper discharge tray 85. Paper and loaded.

  Thereafter, when the start key 92 is pressed again, etc., the number of times printed by the ten key 93 is repeated at the speed specified by the print speed setting key 94 in the above-described printing operation.

  When the ink 15 in the ink reservoir 17 is consumed and reduced by repeating the printing in this manner, the ink reservoir 17 recognized by the control unit 90 as the ink amount detecting means based on the detection signal input from the ink sensor 28. When the control unit 90 as the ink amount shortage detecting means determines that the ink amount is less than the reference ink amount stored in the ROM 98 as the reference ink amount storage means, As a condition, the ink pump 27 is driven by the control unit 90 as the ink replenishment control means, and the ink reservoir 17 is replenished with ink. The replenishment of ink is performed until it is no longer determined that the ink amount in the ink reservoir 17 is insufficient by the control unit 90 functioning as an ink amount shortage detecting unit.

  As described above, the ink supply device 29 supplies ink to the ink reservoir 17 on the condition that the control unit 90 as the ink amount insufficient detecting means detects that the ink reservoir 17 is insufficient. Thereby, the ink amount of the ink reservoir 17 is maintained at an amount suitable for performing good printing.

  However, a necessary and sufficient condition is that the ink amount shortage of the ink reservoir 17 is detected by the control unit 90 as the ink amount shortage detecting means, and the ink pump 27 is driven as soon as this condition is satisfied. If replenishment is performed, the amount of ink in the ink reservoir 17 becomes excessive, ink flows out of the ink reservoir 17, contaminates the inside of the stencil printing apparatus 100 such as the plate cylinder 68, etc. There may be a problem that an image defect occurs due to excessive image density. This is because the above-mentioned ink used in the stencil printing apparatus 100 has a structure in which the outer side is covered with oil, so that it does not change easily due to evaporation or the like when exposed naturally, but is difficult to dry. This is because the emulsion structure gradually collapses and moisture easily evaporates, and the composition changes and the capacitance changes.

  That is, for example, when printing is performed in a large amount at a high speed and with a small print image area, the ink consumption is small and the ink in the ink reservoir 17 is agitated for a long time without being consumed. The electrostatic capacity is decreased, and the electrostatic capacity as the total amount in the ink reservoir 17 is also decreased, and this is recognized by the control unit 90 as the ink amount detecting means. The electrostatic capacity recognized by the control unit 90 as the ink amount detecting means decreases, and falls below the reference ink amount determined based on the electrostatic capacity per unit volume of the ink in the new state, and the ink amount shortage detecting means When the controller 90 detects that the ink amount in the ink reservoir 17 is insufficient, the amount of ink in the ink reservoir 17 is sufficient to perform good printing, but the amount of ink in the ink reservoir 17 is reduced. Since ink is supplied, the amount of ink in the ink reservoir 17 becomes excessive, and the above-described problem may occur. Since the ink used in the stencil printing apparatus 100 has a property that the viscosity is lowered when the composition is changed by stirring, this problem is particularly likely to occur.

  Accordingly, the stencil printing apparatus 100 includes an ink amount detection fraud determination unit that performs an ink amount detection fraud determination that the detection of the ink amount deficiency in the ink reservoir 17 by the control unit 90 serving as an ink amount deficiency detection unit is illegal. And an ink replenishment timing adjusting means for adjusting the ink replenishment timing to the ink reservoir 17 by the ink replenishing device 29 on the condition that the ink amount detection fraud determination is performed by the ink amount detection fraud determining means. All of these means are configured by the control unit 90.

The control unit 90 as the ink amount detection fraud determination unit will be described.
The control unit 90 as an ink amount detection fraud determination unit performs an ink amount detection fraud determination using the number of printing times detected by the printing number detection unit.

  Here, the number of printings refers to the number of printings from when ink is supplied to the ink reservoir 17 until when the controller 90 serving as an ink amount deficiency detecting unit detects an ink amount deficiency in the ink reservoir 17. Further, the number of times of printing is determined by the control unit 90 as the ink amount shortage detecting means for the first time after the printing is performed as described above, and the ink amount shortage in the ink reservoir 17 is detected and the ink is supplied to the ink reservoir 17. After that, the controller 90 as the ink amount shortage detecting means detects the shortage of the ink amount in the ink reservoir 17 and the initial number of printings until the ink is supplied to the ink reservoir 17, and then to the ink reservoir 17. And the number of elapsed printings from when the ink is supplied until the control unit 90 serving as the ink amount shortage detecting means detects the shortage of the ink amount in the ink reservoir 17.

  For this reason, the control unit 90 serving as a printing number detection unit detects these printing times, functions as an initial printing number detection unit in detecting the initial printing number, and detects an elapsed printing number. Functions as the elapsed printing number detecting means. The control unit 90 as the elapsed printing number detection means detects the number of elapsed printings every time printing is performed until the next printing is performed or the printing speed is changed.

  Along with this, the CPU 97 as the printing number calculation means calculates these printing times, functions as an initial printing number calculation means in calculating the initial printing number, and calculates the elapsed printing number. Functions as the elapsed printing number calculation means. The CPU 97 as the elapsed printing number calculation means calculates the elapsed printing number for each printing until the next printing is performed.

  The RAM 99 stores the initial print count and the latest elapsed print count. In this respect, the RAM 99 functions as an initial printing number storage unit in that it stores the initial printing number, and functions as an elapsed printing number storage unit in that it stores an elapsed printing number. Note that the RAM 99 may store all of the detected number of printings when the ink is supplied to the ink reservoir 17. In this case, the initial printing number may be an average value of all the printing times, and the CPU 97 may obtain this.

  The RAM 99 also stores the drive time of the ink pump 27 corresponding to the number of times of printing when ink is supplied to the ink reservoir 17 out of the initial printing number and the elapsed printing number. Since the amount of ink replenished by the ink pump 27 is constant per unit time, the drive time of the ink pump 27 means the amount of ink replenished at the time of ink replenishment. In this respect, the RAM 99 functions as an ink replenishment amount storage unit.

  Then, the control unit 90 as the ink amount detection fraud determination means performs the ink amount detection fraud determination when the ratio of the latest elapsed print count to the initial print count is less than a predetermined value, which is 90% in this embodiment. Do. The predetermined value is appropriately selected. Further, the predetermined value is not a constant value, and after printing, it is gradually decreased or gradually increased as the number of times that the ink amount shortage in the ink reservoir 17 is detected by the control unit 90 as the ink amount shortage detecting means increases. May be. Further, it may be set according to the print image area ratio.

The control unit 90 as ink replenishment timing adjustment means will be described.
When the ink amount detection fraud determination is performed as described above, the control unit 90 serving as an ink replenishment timing adjustment unit uses the initial printing number to determine the ink replenishment timing to the ink reservoir 17 by the ink replenishing device 29. Adjust to delay. That is, even if the ink amount detection fraud is determined, the ink supply device 29 does not immediately supply ink to the ink reservoir 17, but the ink supply device 29 supplies ink to the ink reservoir 17 last time. After that, when the number of times of printing corresponding to the initial number of times of printing has been performed, that is, until the latest elapsed number of times of printing reaches the initial number of times of printing, the ink supply device 29 waits for the ink amount to decrease. Ink is supplied to the ink reservoir 17.

  The initial printing count is used for adjusting the replenishment timing. After the printing is performed, the controller 90 as the ink amount shortage detecting means detects the ink amount shortage in the ink reservoir 17 for the first time after the printing is performed. This is because the amount of ink in the initial ink reservoir 17 is likely to fluctuate until it is supplied. In addition, in consideration of fluctuations in the ink amount in the ink reservoir 17, when the printing speed is changed by the printing speed key 94, the ink quantity is likely to fluctuate. Reset the amount. The mode of adjusting the replenishment timing may be when the latest number of elapsed printings has reached, for example, 90% of the initial number of printings. For example, it may be assumed that, for example, 110% of the number of times of elapsed printing at the time of being performed is reached.

  The ink replenishment amount when the ink replenishment timing is adjusted is the ink amount stored in the RAM 99 as the ink replenishment amount storage means corresponding to the initial number of printings. However, the ink replenishment amount may be an average value of the ink amount stored in the RAM 99 as the ink replenishment amount storage unit corresponding to all the printing times, and the CPU 97 may obtain this value. In this respect, the CPU 97 functions as an ink replenishment amount calculating means.

  Of the operations of the stencil printing apparatus 100 described above, a printing program for operations of the ink replenishing device 29 and the control unit 90 related thereto is shown in the flowchart in FIG.

In the figure, n is an index indicating the number of times of ink replenishment to the ink reservoir 17 by the ink replenishing device 29 after performing the printing or after changing the printing speed, that is, after setting the change of the printing speed by the printing speed setting key, for example. (N-1) times is the number of ink replenishments.
In FIG. 5, F is an ink amount detection fraud judgment by the control unit 90 as an ink amount fraud judgment means, and the ink replenishment timing of the ink reservoir 17 by the ink replenishing device 29 is controlled as an ink replenishment timing adjustment means. It is a flag indicating whether or not the state is delayed by the unit 90. When F = 0, it indicates that this state is not present, and when F = 1, this state is indicated.
In addition, about the already demonstrated matter, description is abbreviate | omitted suitably.

  When the start key 92 is pressed to start printing, there is a printing state determination step for determining whether the printing is accompanied by printing, is performed following printing, or is after printing speed change. Is performed (S1), and if any of these is satisfied, an initialization step is performed in which n and F are respectively set to 1 and 0 to initialize them (S2). In this case, a replenishment timing adjustment confirmation step for determining whether or not F = 0 without initializing n and F, that is, whether or not the ink replenishment timing is in a delayed state is performed (S3).

  If it is determined in step S3 that there is no such a delay state, the control unit 90 as the ink amount shortage detecting means determines whether or not the ink amount in the ink reservoir 17 is insufficient, that is, the ink amount in the ink reservoir 17 is determined. Ink amount deficiency detection step for detecting deficiency is performed (S4), and when deficiency in the ink amount is detected, whether n ≧ 3 is satisfied, that is, ink is already supplied to the ink reservoir 17 ( An ink replenishment multiple determination step for determining whether or not S10) is performed twice or more is performed (S5).

  If it is determined in step S5 that such ink replenishment has been performed twice or more, the initial printing number calculation step (S13) for calculating the initial printing number has already been completed. A step of calculating the number of elapsed printings to be calculated and a step of storing the number of times of printing to store the number of times of elapsed printing are performed (S6). Next, the control unit 90 as the ink amount detection fraud determination means uses the latest elapsed print count and the already calculated and stored initial print count to determine the ratio of the latest elapsed print count to the initial print count. Is detected by the control unit 90 as the ink shortage detection means based on whether or not it is below 90%. An ink amount detection fraud determination step is performed for determining whether or not the ink amount shortage in the reservoir 17 is illegal, and when the ratio is less than 90%, performing an ink amount detection fraud determination that the shortage is illegal. Perform (S7).

  When an incorrect ink amount detection determination is made in step S7, the control unit 90 as an ink replenishment timing adjustment means delays the ink replenishment timing to the ink reservoir 17 by the ink replenishing device 29 using the initial number of printings. In step S8, an ink replenishment timing adjustment step is performed and F = 1 is set (S8). Then, it is determined whether the latest elapsed print count has reached the initial print count, that is, whether the ink refill adjustment timing has been reached. An ink replenishment adjustment timing determination step (S9) is performed. Step S9 is a step of calculating the number of times of elapsed printing for calculating the number of times of elapsed printing, as in step S6, and the number of times of elapsed printing for storing the number of times of elapsed printing stored, even when it is determined in step S3 that the delay state is present. The storage step is performed (S16), and the elapsed printing number detection step is performed as the printing number detection step based on the elapsed printing number calculation step.

  If it is determined in step S9 that the ink replenishment adjustment timing has been reached, an ink replenishment step for replenishing ink to the ink reservoir 17 by the ink replenishing device 29 is performed, and F = 0 is set (S10). This step S10 is also performed when it is determined in step S5 that the ink supply step (S10) is less than twice. In this case, the initial printing count has not yet been calculated and stored (S13), and the ink supply timing adjustment step (S8) is not performed. Step S10 is also performed when the ink amount detection fraud determination is not made in step S7. This is because the ink supply timing adjustment step (S8) is not performed unless the ink amount detection fraud determination is performed.

  Subsequent to step S10, a non-ink replenishment determination step for determining whether n = 1, that is, whether the ink replenishment step (S10) is 0 is performed (S11), and is determined not to be 0. In this case, an ink replenishment short frequency determination step (S12) for determining whether or not n = 2, that is, whether or not the ink replenishment step (S10) is performed once is performed, and it is determined that it is one time. In this case, an initial printing number calculating step for calculating the initial printing number, an initial printing number storing step for storing the calculated initial printing number (S13), and a printing number detecting step based on the initial printing number calculating step are performed. An initial printing number detection step is performed, and then a printing execution step by the above-described printing operation is performed (S14).

  If it is determined that the number of times is zero in step S11, or if it is determined that the number is not twice in step S12, it is necessary to perform an initial printing number calculation step, an initial printing number storage step (S13), and an initial printing number detection step. Since there is not, step S14 is performed as it is.

  Step S11 is also performed when the ink shortage is not detected in step S4 and when it is determined in step S9 that the ink replenishment adjustment timing has not been reached. This is because it is not necessary to perform the ink supply step (S10).

  Upon completion of step S14, a designated print number end judging step is carried out for judging whether or not the designated number of prints has been reached, that is, for example whether or not the number of values printed with the numeric keypad 93 has been printed (S15). If it is determined that printing has been performed, printing is terminated. If it is determined in step S15 that the number of sheets has not been printed, the process returns to step S1.

  The preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described above. However, the present invention is not limited to the specific embodiments, and the present invention described in the claims is not specifically limited by the above description. Various modifications and changes are possible within the scope of the above.

  For example, the determination that the ink amount shortage detection in the ink storage unit is incorrect by the ink amount detection fraud determination means is actually performed by the ink amount shortage detection means even though such a shortage has already occurred. It may be made even when it is not detected. For example, if the electrostatic capacity increases when the ink is stirred, the ink is not replenished even if the ink amount in the ink reservoir is actually insufficient. This is because there may be a problem that the ink amount in the portion is insufficient and an image defect occurs due to an insufficient printed image density.

  Also, the ink shortage detection means detects the shortage of ink in the ink reservoir based not on the ink capacitance but on other properties such as optical properties such as light reflectance and color of the ink. It may be detected.

  When the ink is agitated, if the ink amount detection means has the property that the physical properties having sensitivity change, it can occur when the ink supply timing is determined only by detection by the ink amount detection means. Ink amount detection fraud determination step using ink amount detection fraud determination means, ink replenishment timing adjustment means, etc. as described above in order to prevent or suppress the above-described problems caused by excess or deficiency in ink amount Ink replenishment timing adjustment step and the like are performed. The same applies to the case where the ink has the property that the ink amount detection means changes its sensitivity over time.

  When the printing apparatus includes a plate cylinder, the printing apparatus may include a plurality of plate cylinders, or may perform color printing using, for example, a plurality of plate cylinders. The printing apparatus may perform double-sided printing by including a mechanism for inverting printing paper. The pressing body may be an impression cylinder instead of a press roller.

  The printing device is not limited to the stencil printing device, as long as it has an ink storage part that temporarily stores ink supplied from an ink tank such as an ink cartridge that is an ink supply source that is a major source of storing ink, Further, the plate cylinder is not essential. For example, in the case of an ink jet printer, the ink storage unit is constituted by a distributor, a sub tank, and the like.

  The effects described in the embodiments of the present invention are only the most preferable effects resulting from the present invention, and the effects of the present invention are limited to those described in the embodiments of the present invention. is not.

1 is a front view showing an outline of a printing apparatus to which the present invention is applied. FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a control unit provided in the printing apparatus illustrated in FIG. 1 and each configuration related thereto. It is the flowchart which showed the part of the ink supply program mainly regarding ink supply among the printing programs used in the printing apparatus shown in FIG.

Explanation of symbols

17 Ink storage unit 29 Ink supply means 90 Ink quantity shortage detection means, Ink quantity detection fraud judgment means, Ink replenishment timing adjustment means, Print count detection means 100 Printing device S4 Ink quantity deficiency detection step S7 Ink quantity detection fraud judgment step S8 Ink Supply timing adjustment step S10 Ink supply step

Claims (6)

Ink shortage detection means for detecting a shortage of ink in the ink reservoir that temporarily stores ink;
An ink replenishing means for replenishing ink to the ink reservoir on the condition that the shortage is detected by the ink shortage detecting means;
Ink amount detection fraud determination means for performing an ink amount detection fraud determination that the deficiency detection by the ink amount deficiency detection means is illegal;
A printing apparatus comprising: an ink replenishment timing adjustment unit that adjusts a timing of ink replenishment to the ink storage unit by the ink replenishment unit on condition that the ink amount detection fraud determination is performed by the ink amount detection fraud determination unit; . The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
A number of times of printing detecting means for detecting the number of times of printing until ink shortage is detected by the ink amount shortage detecting means after ink is supplied to the ink reservoir by the ink replenishing means;
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink amount detection fraud determination unit performs the ink amount detection fraud determination by using the number of printing times detected by the printing number detection unit. The printing apparatus according to claim 2, wherein
The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the ink replenishment timing adjustment unit adjusts the replenishment timing using the number of times of printing detected by the number of times of printing detection. The printing apparatus according to claim 2 or 3,
A printing apparatus, wherein when the printing speed is changed, the number of times of printing used for performing the ink amount detection fraud determination by the ink amount detection fraud determination means is reset. An ink shortage detection step for detecting a shortage of ink in the ink reservoir for temporarily storing ink;
An ink replenishment step of replenishing ink to the ink reservoir on condition that the shortage is detected by the ink amount deficiency detection step;
Ink amount detection fraud determination step capable of performing an ink amount detection fraud determination that the deficiency detected by the ink amount deficiency detection step is incorrect;
A printing program comprising: an ink replenishment timing adjustment step for adjusting a replenishment timing of ink to the ink reservoir by the ink replenishment step on condition that the ink amount detection fraud determination is performed by the ink amount detection fraud determination step; .   A recording medium on which the printing program according to claim 5 is recorded so as to be readable by a computer.

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