JP2016049670A - Printing system, and management device and management method - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing system, and a management device and a management method such that platemaking conditions and printing conditions for obtaining printed matter of high quality through flexographic printing can be easily grasped.SOLUTION: Second characteristic data obtained by previously measuring characteristics of a second evaluation image with which items evaluated in a first evaluation image can be evaluated and a flexographic printing characteristic model showing correspondence between platemaking conditions and printing conditions of a flexographic printing plate in printing the second evaluation image of a measurement source of the second characteristic data are stored in a storage part. A target value of the first characteristic data is set. Based upon the target value of the first characteristic data, platemaking conditions and printing conditions corresponding to the target value are determined by referring to the flexographic printing characteristic model.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 12

Description

  The present invention relates to a printing system for performing flexographic printing, and a management apparatus and management method for managing plate making conditions and printing conditions for flexographic printing.

  In recent years, flexographic printing methods have attracted attention as environmentally friendly printing methods (see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2). In flexographic printing, printing is performed using a flexible and flexible flexographic printing plate (letter plate) and ink (water-based ink, UV (ultraviolet) ink, etc.). In this flexographic printing method, as in other printing methods, various printing conditions are usually adjusted in order to improve the image quality of printed matter.

  For example, Patent Document 3 discloses that the amount of ink in a printing device is controlled by controlling the amount of ink in a printing device based on the result of comparing color management data, which is a target value when printing a printed material, and color measurement data of the printed material. A method for appropriately adjusting color reproduction is disclosed. Thereby, the image quality of printed matter can be improved.

  Patent Document 4 discloses an inspection apparatus that inspects color misregistration by comparing photographed image data obtained by imaging a printed matter with an image sensor and reference image data of a printed matter stored in advance. It is disclosed. As a result, the printing apparatus can be adjusted in a short time, and high color reproduction without color misregistration is realized, so that the image quality of the printed matter can be improved.

JP 2014-69427 A JP 2014-69428 A JP 2004-195739 A JP 2006-130795 A

  By the way, in the flexographic printing method, the quality of the image structure (unevenness and streaks and artifacts on the flat screen, line quality) changes in addition to the color reproduction disclosed in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 due to print control. For this reason, in order to achieve both the image structure and color reproduction of the printed material in flexographic printing, not only the printing conditions for performing flexographic printing, but also the plate-making conditions for making a flexographic printing plate (the shape of the flexographic printing plate, etc.) ) Also needs to be determined appropriately. The inventions disclosed in Patent Document 3 and Patent Document 4 do not disclose a method for determining plate making conditions and printing conditions for obtaining a high-quality printed material. For this reason, when setting target values for the characteristics (image structure, color reproduction, etc.) of the image printed on the printed matter and determining plate making conditions and printing conditions for realizing the target values, it is necessary to use experts in flexographic printing. It is necessary to determine the plate making conditions and printing conditions based on the know-how.

  The present invention has been made in view of such circumstances, and provides a printing system, a management apparatus, and a management method capable of easily grasping plate making conditions and printing conditions for obtaining a high-quality printed material in flexographic printing. The purpose is to provide.

  A printing system for achieving the object of the present invention includes a plate making unit for making a flexographic printing plate, a printing unit for printing on a printing medium using the flexographic printing plate, and a printing unit printed on the printing medium. A measurement unit that reads the first evaluation image, measures the characteristic of the first evaluation image, and obtains first characteristic data; and measures in advance the characteristic of the second evaluation image that can evaluate the item evaluated in the first evaluation image Storage of a flexographic printing characteristic model indicating the correspondence between the second characteristic data obtained in this way and the plate-making conditions and printing conditions of the flexographic printing plate when the second evaluation image of the measurement source of the second characteristic data is printed A target value setting unit that sets a target value of the first characteristic data of the first evaluation image measured by the measurement unit, and a target value of the first characteristic data set by the target value setting unit, Flexo printing stored in the storage unit With reference to sex model comprises a condition determining unit determining the platemaking conditions and printing conditions corresponding to the target value.

  According to the present invention, as compared with the case where the platemaking conditions and the printing conditions are determined based on the experience of the operator or the like, the platemaking conditions and the printing conditions for obtaining a high-quality printed material in flexographic printing are easily grasped. be able to.

  In the printing system according to another aspect of the present invention, the first evaluation image obtained from the measuring unit through plate making of the plate making unit and printing of the printing unit based on the plate making conditions and printing conditions determined by the condition determining unit. Correction of at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions based on the comparison result between the characteristic data acquisition unit for acquiring the first characteristic data, the first characteristic data acquired by the characteristic data acquisition unit, and the target value And a correction determining unit that determines whether or not to do so. Thereby, it is possible to determine whether or not the plate making conditions and printing conditions determined by the condition determining unit are corrected to conditions suitable for the customer's printing system.

  In the printing system according to another aspect of the present invention, when the correction determining unit determines to correct at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions, based on the comparison result, at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions. A condition correcting unit for correcting Thereby, the plate making conditions and printing conditions determined by the condition determining unit can be corrected to conditions suitable for the customer's printing system.

  In the printing system according to another aspect of the present invention, when the plate making conditions are corrected, the plate making unit makes a flexographic printing plate based on the corrected plate making conditions, and the printing unit has the printing conditions corrected. In this case, printing is performed based on the corrected printing conditions. Thereby, a high quality printed matter is obtained.

  In the printing system according to another aspect of the present invention, the condition correction unit corrects at least one of the plate making condition and the printing condition based on the difference between the target value and the first characteristic data obtained by the measurement unit. Thereby, it is possible to easily determine plate making conditions and printing conditions for obtaining a high-quality printed matter.

  In the printing system according to another aspect of the present invention, the second evaluation image is applied while changing at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions using the plate making unit and the printing unit of the same model as the plate making unit and the printing unit. Printing on a print medium, the measurement unit of the same model as the measurement unit measures the characteristics of the second evaluation image for each different condition to acquire the second characteristic data, and the flexo printing characteristic model construction unit performs the second characteristic for each condition. The storage unit stores a flexographic printing characteristic model generated based on the data. Accordingly, it is possible to easily determine plate making conditions and printing conditions for obtaining a high-quality printed material with reference to the flexographic printing characteristic model.

  The printing system according to another aspect of the present invention includes a model acquisition unit that acquires the flexographic printing characteristic model generated by the flexographic printing characteristic model construction unit and stores it in the storage unit. Thereby, the flexographic printing characteristic model generated by the manufacturer of the printing system can be acquired.

  In the printing system according to another aspect of the present invention, the first evaluation image is an image that can evaluate some items that can be evaluated by the second evaluation image, and the first characteristic data is the second characteristic data. It is a part. Accordingly, at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions can be corrected based on the result of evaluating only the items required by the customer having the printing system.

  In the printing system according to another aspect of the present invention, the first evaluation image and the second evaluation image are the same image, and the first characteristic data and the second characteristic data are the same. Thereby, based on the result of having evaluated all the items of the 2nd evaluation image, at least one of platemaking conditions and printing conditions can be amended.

  In the printing system according to another aspect of the present invention, the first characteristic data and the second characteristic data include image quality characteristic data indicating image quality characteristics and color characteristic data indicating color characteristics. Thereby, it is possible to achieve both the image structure of the printed matter and the color reproduction.

  A management apparatus for achieving the object of the present invention is a management apparatus for managing plate making conditions of a plate making section for making a flexographic printing plate and printing conditions of a printing section for printing on a printing medium using the flexographic printing plate. , A target value setting unit for setting a target value of first characteristic data indicating the characteristic of the first evaluation image printed on the printing medium by the printing unit, and a first item capable of evaluating items evaluated by the first evaluation image 2. Correspondence relationship between the second characteristic data obtained by measuring the characteristics of the evaluation image in advance and the plate making conditions and printing conditions of the flexographic printing plate when printing the second evaluation image from which the second characteristic data is measured Based on the target value of the first characteristic data set by the storage unit storing the flexographic printing characteristic model and the target value setting unit, the flexographic printing characteristic model stored in the storage unit is referred to and the target value is set. Corresponding plate making conditions and It includes a condition determining section for determining a printing condition, the.

  In the management device according to another aspect of the present invention, the first characteristic of the first evaluation image obtained through the plate making of the plate making unit and the printing of the printing unit based on the plate making conditions and the printing conditions determined by the condition determining unit. Determine whether to correct at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions based on the comparison result between the characteristic data acquisition unit for acquiring data, the first characteristic data acquired by the characteristic data acquisition unit, and the target value A correction determining unit.

  In the management device according to another aspect of the present invention, when the correction determining unit determines to correct at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions, based on the comparison result, at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions A condition correcting unit for correcting

  A management method for achieving the object of the present invention is a management method for managing plate making conditions of a plate making section for making a flexographic printing plate and printing conditions of a printing section for printing on a printing medium using the flexographic printing plate. The target value setting step for setting the target value of the first characteristic data indicating the characteristic of the first evaluation image printed on the printing medium by the printing unit, and the items that can be evaluated in the first evaluation image can be evaluated. 2. Correspondence relationship between the second characteristic data obtained by measuring the characteristics of the evaluation image in advance and the plate making conditions and printing conditions of the flexographic printing plate when printing the second evaluation image from which the second characteristic data is measured The flexographic printing characteristic model to be stored is stored in the storage unit, and the target value of the first characteristic data determined in the target value setting step is referred to the flexographic printing characteristic model stored in the storage unit , It has a condition determining step of determining a stencil making conditions and printing conditions corresponding to the target value.

  In the management method according to another aspect of the present invention, the first characteristic of the first evaluation image obtained through the plate making of the plate making unit and the printing of the printing unit based on the plate making conditions and the printing conditions determined in the condition determining step. Whether to correct at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions based on a comparison result between the characteristic data acquisition step of acquiring data, the first characteristic data acquired in the characteristic data acquisition step, and the target value A correction determining step for determining.

  In the management method according to another aspect of the present invention, when it is determined in the correction determination step that at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions is to be corrected, based on the comparison result, at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions. A condition correcting step for correcting the condition;

  The printing system, management apparatus, and management method of the present invention can easily grasp plate making conditions and printing conditions for obtaining a high-quality printed material in flexographic printing.

1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system. It is the schematic which showed an example of the flexographic plate-making apparatus. It is the schematic of the CTP (Computer To Plate) drawing part of a flexographic plate-making apparatus. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of platemaking conditions. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating "convex shape" of platemaking conditions. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating "concave shape" of platemaking conditions. 1 is a schematic view of an example of a flexographic printing apparatus. It is description for demonstrating an example of printing conditions. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating an example of an analysis chart. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a part of the analysis chart shown in FIG. 9. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating 2nd characteristic data. It is a functional block diagram of a management apparatus. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the production | generation process of the flexographic printing characteristic model by a model construction system. It is a flowchart which shows the flow of the platemaking conditions in the printing system, and the correction process of printing conditions. It is explanatory drawing for demonstrating the correction process of platemaking conditions and printing conditions.

[Configuration of printing system]
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing system 10. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing system 10 performs flexographic printing in which an image is printed on a printing medium 13 (see FIG. 7) using a flexographic printing plate 12 (letter plate) and ink, whereby a printed material 14 is printed. Generate. The printing system 10 is roughly divided into a flexographic plate making apparatus 20 corresponding to the plate making section of the present invention, a flexographic printing apparatus 30 corresponding to the printing section of the present invention, and a measuring apparatus 40 corresponding to the measuring section of the present invention. The management apparatus 50 is comprised.

  The flexographic plate making apparatus 20 is based on the image data of the document image 16 or the image data of the management chart 17 corresponding to a first evaluation image of the present invention, which will be described in detail later. 3) is formed on the flexographic printing material F (see FIG. 3), and the flexographic printing plate 12 is made.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view showing an example of the flexographic plate making apparatus 20. As shown in FIG. 2, the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 broadly includes a RIP (Raster Image Processor) processing unit 21 and a CTP (Computer To Plate) drawing unit 22 that performs laser engraving. Note that the configuration of the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 is not limited to the configuration shown in FIG. 2 as long as the flexographic printing plate 12 is made based on image data.

  The RIP processing unit 21 develops image data of the original image 16 or the management chart 17 into raster image data, screening processing for generating binary image data from the raster image data, and converts the binary image data into exposure amount data. Exposure amount data generation processing to be converted into.

  Specifically, the RIP processing unit 21 is a page such as PDF (Portable Document Format) data or PS (PostScript; registered trademark) data representing a document image 16 or a vector image of the management chart 17 edited using a computer or the like. An expansion process is performed to expand the description language (Page Description Language) data into raster image data.

  Next, the RIP processing unit 21 converts the raster image data into binary image data by performing a screening process under conditions such as a predetermined network (AM halftone dot, FM halftone dot, etc.), angle, and screen line number. To do.

  Then, the RIP processing unit 21 generates relief pattern data indicating the relief 19 to be formed on the flexographic printing plate 12 based on the binary image data, and the exposure amount corresponding to the exposure light quantity with respect to the flexographic printing material F. Convert to data. The RIP processing unit 21 outputs the exposure amount data to the CTP drawing unit 22.

  FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of the CTP drawing unit 22. As shown in FIG. 3, the CTP drawing unit 22 performs laser engraving processing on the flexographic printing material F made of an elastic material such as synthetic resin or rubber based on the exposure amount data input from the RIP processing unit 21. To make the flexographic printing plate 12.

  The CTP drawing unit 22 includes a drum 62 and an exposure head 68 for performing exposure engraving on the flexographic printing material F held on the drum 62, and functions as a so-called laser engraving machine. The exposure head 68 is mounted on a stage 70 and can be moved by a focus position changing mechanism 72 and an intermittent feed mechanism 78.

  The focus position changing mechanism 72 includes a motor 74 and a ball screw 76 for moving the exposure head 68 back and forth with respect to the drum 62 to which the flexographic printing material F is attached. The movement of the exposure head 68 in the main scanning direction is controlled by the motor 74 and the ball screw 76, and the focus position of the exposure engraving process is adjusted.

  The intermittent feed mechanism 78 includes a ball screw 80 and a sub-scanning motor 82 that rotates the ball screw 80. The movement of the exposure head 68 (stage 70) in the sub-scanning direction is controlled by the ball screw 80 and the sub-scanning motor 82, and the exposure head 68 is intermittently fed in the direction of the axis 64 (sub-scanning direction) of the drum 62. The flexographic printing material F on the drum 62 is chucked by the chuck member 66 and the holding position on the drum 62 is fixed. The position where the flexographic printing material F is chucked by the chuck member 66 is an area where exposure by the exposure head 68 is not performed.

  A desired relief 19 is formed on the surface of the flexographic printing material F by irradiating the flexographic printing material F with a laser beam from the exposure head 68 while rotating the drum 62. When the chuck member 66 passes in front of the exposure head 68 by the rotation of the drum 62, the exposure head 68 (stage 70) is intermittently fed in the sub-scanning direction, and then laser engraving of the next line is performed.

  The exposure scanning position is controlled by combining such “feeding of the flexographic printing plate F in the main scanning direction by rotation of the drum 62” and “intermittent feeding of the exposure head 68 in the sub-scanning direction”. Further, by controlling the intensity and on / off of the laser beam based on the exposure amount data (depth data) for each exposure scanning position, the relief 19 having a desired shape is laser engraved on the flexographic printing material F and used for flexographic printing. A flexographic printing plate 12 is formed.

  The flexographic plate making apparatus 20 having the above-described configuration can adjust the plate making conditions 25 (see FIGS. 1 and 4) when the flexographic printing plate 12 is made. By adjusting the plate-making conditions 25, the shape of the flexographic printing plate 12 is controlled, and as a result, image quality characteristics such as image structure quality and line quality of an image printed on the printed matter 14 can be appropriately adjusted.

  FIG. 4 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the plate making conditions 25. As shown in FIG. 4, the platemaking conditions 25 include, for example, conditions of “net shape”, “number of mesh lines”, “net angle series”, “convex shape”, and “concave shape”. Note that “C / M / Y / K” in each condition represents the ink color [cyan (C), magenta (M), yellow (Y), black (K)].

  The “net shape” is the shape of the halftone dots of the flexographic printing plate 12. “Number of mesh lines” is the number of mesh lines per unit length in a flat network formed by regularly arranging a plurality of halftone dots. The “halftone angle series” is a halftone angle, and is set by changing the angle for each color (C / M / Y / K) in order to prevent the occurrence of moire in, for example, four-color printing.

  FIG. 5 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the “convex shape” of the platemaking condition 25, and FIG. 6 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the “concave shape” of the platemaking condition 25. As shown in FIG. 5, the “convex shape” represents the shape of the convex portion of the flexographic printing plate 12 that is a relief plate. The shape of this convex part is represented by the height of the cap layer (indicated by CAP in the figure) constituting the tip of the convex part and the inclination angle θ1 of the base end part of the convex part.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the “concave shape” represents the shape of the concave portion located between the convex portions of the flexographic printing plate 12. The shape of the concave portion is represented by the depth of the concave portion (indicated by D in the figure) and the inclination angle θ2 of the bottom portion of the concave portion.

  The flexo plate making apparatus 20 performs the plate making of the flexographic printing plate 12 in accordance with each of the plate making conditions 25 described above.

  FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram illustrating an example of the flexographic printing apparatus 30. As shown in FIG. 7, the flexographic printing apparatus 30 uses the flexographic printing plate 12 made by the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 to print an image on a printing medium 13 to generate a printed matter 14. The flexographic printing apparatus 30 is roughly divided into a flexographic printing plate 12, a plate cylinder 34 to which the flexographic printing plate 12 is attached via a cushion tape 32 such as a double-sided tape, and an anilox roller 38 to which ink is supplied by a doctor chamber 36. And an impression cylinder 39 installed so as to face the plate cylinder 34.

  Ink is transferred from the anilox roller 38 to the top (printing surface) of the relief 19 of the flexographic printing plate 12 attached to the plate cylinder 34. Then, when the printing medium 13 passes between the plate cylinder 34 to which the flexographic printing plate 12 is attached and the impression cylinder 39, the flexographic printing plate 12 (the top of the relief 19) is pressed against the printing medium 13. As a result, the ink adhering to the top of the relief of the flexographic printing plate 12 is transferred to the printing medium 13. As a result, a desired image is printed and formed on the printing medium 13, and a printed matter 14 is generated.

  The flexographic printing apparatus 30 having the above configuration can adjust the printing condition 27 (see FIGS. 1 and 8) when printing an image on the printing medium 13. By adjusting the printing condition 27, the printed matter 14 can be adjusted. Color characteristics such as gradation and color reproducibility of a printed image can be adjusted appropriately.

  FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the printing condition 27. The printing conditions 27 include, for example, “ink type”, “ink viscosity”, “cushion tape”, “printing pressure”, “ani pressure”, “printing speed”, “number of anilox roller lines”, and “anilox roller cell capacity”. "And" Anilox Roller Cell Shape "are included. As in the plate making condition 25 described above, “C / M / Y / K” represents the ink color under the corresponding condition.

  “Ink type” represents the type of ink used for flexographic printing. “Ink viscosity” represents the recommended viscosity of ink used for flexographic printing. “Cushion tape” represents the type (soft, semi-soft, etc.) of the cushion tape 32. “Printing pressure” represents the amount of compression (biting-in amount) of the flexographic printing plate 12 by the printing pressure applied to the flexographic printing plate 12. “Ani pressure” represents the amount of compression (biting amount) of the anilox roller 38 by the ani pressure, which is the pressure between the anilox roller 38 and the flexographic printing plate 12.

  “Anilox roller line number”, “Anilox roller cell capacity”, and “Anilox roller cell shape” represent the number of lines of the anilox roller 38, the capacity of the cell of the anilox roller 38, and the shape of the cell of the anilox roller 38, respectively. .

  In accordance with each of the printing conditions 27, the flexographic printing apparatus 30 performs flexographic printing and generates a printed matter 14.

  Returning to FIG. 1, the measuring apparatus 40 measures the printed matter 14 on which the management chart 17 is printed by the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 and the flexographic printing apparatus 30 described above in detail. The measuring device 40 measures the characteristics of the management chart 17 printed on the printed material 14 to obtain first characteristic data 42, and outputs the first characteristic data 42 to the management apparatus 50.

  As will be described in detail later, the management device 50 refers to the flexographic printing property model 92 generated by the model construction system 90 based on the first property data 42 input from the measuring device 40 and Manage (correct) printing conditions 27.

[Model construction system configuration]
The model construction system 90 is installed at a manufacturer that manufactures the printing system 10, and generates a flexographic printing characteristic model 92 that is used in the customer's printing system 10. The model construction system 90 includes the flexographic plate making apparatus 20, the flexographic printing apparatus 30, and the measurement apparatus 40 described above, the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 A, the flexographic printing apparatus 30 A, the measurement apparatus 40 A, and the model construction unit 93. ing. Here, the “same model” is not limited to the completely same model, but includes a model that has been subjected to minor improvements that are basically not different in print reproducibility.

  The flexographic plate making apparatus 20A flexographically applies the relief 19 corresponding to the analysis chart 95 under predetermined plate making conditions 25 based on image data of an analysis chart 95 (see FIG. 9) corresponding to a second evaluation image of the present invention described later. By forming the plate material F, the flexographic printing plate 12A is made. Since the specific plate making method is the same as that of the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 (see FIGS. 2 and 3), a specific description is omitted here.

  The flexographic printing apparatus 30A prints the analysis chart 95 on the printing medium 13 with the flexographic printing plate 12A made by the flexographic plate making apparatus 20A under a predetermined printing condition 27 to generate a printed matter 14A. Since a specific printing method is the same as that of the flexographic printing apparatus 30 (see FIG. 7), a specific description is omitted here.

  The measuring device 40A reads the analysis chart 95 printed on the printed material 14A through the flexographic plate making apparatus 20A and the flexographic printing apparatus 30A, and measures the characteristics of the analysis chart 95 to obtain second characteristic data 97.

  FIG. 9 is an explanatory diagram for explaining an example of the analysis chart 95. FIG. 10 is an enlarged view of a part of the analysis chart 95 shown in FIG. The second characteristic data 97 is obtained by reading the analysis chart 95 with the measuring device 40A.

  As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the analysis chart 95 is analyzed by an image analysis algorithm corresponding to the analysis chart 95, whereby image quality characteristic data 98 (see FIG. 11) indicating the image quality characteristic of the analysis chart 95 is obtained. . For example, by analyzing the read result of the image structure area 95A of the analysis chart 95 [a color chart in which the mesh shape and the number of mesh lines are changed in stages for a plurality of colors (cyan, pink, gray, etc.)] by an image analysis algorithm. As the image quality characteristics, “granularity”, “banding”, and “straightness” indicating the image structure can be calculated. Further, the image analysis algorithm is used to read the reading result of the gradation region 95B of the analysis chart 95 [color chart in which the density of a plurality of colors (yellow, magenta, cyan, red, green, blue, gray, black, etc.) is changed stepwise]. Thus, “moire” indicating the image structure can be calculated as the image quality characteristic. Further, by analyzing the read result of the CTF (Contrast Transfer Function) area 95C [chart of vertical stripes and horizontal stripes] of the analysis chart 95 by the image analysis algorithm, “CTF” indicating the image structure is calculated as the image quality characteristic. Can do.

  Further, by analyzing the read result of the line quality region 95D [chart composed of a plurality of lines having different line widths] of the analysis chart 95 by using an image analysis algorithm, “line width” and “raditness” indicating line quality are shown as image quality characteristics. "And" Linear density "can be calculated.

  On the other hand, the color characteristic data 99 (see FIG. 11) is obtained by reading the analysis chart 95 with the measuring device 40A and measuring the color. For example, “gradation” indicating gradation can be obtained by measuring the above-described gradation region 95B. In addition, the tone jump area 95E of the analysis chart 95 [color chart in which the density of a plurality of colors (black, red, green, magenta, cyan, blue, etc.) is linearly changed] is measured, and the “tone” Jump "is obtained. Further, by measuring the color reproduction area 95F of the analysis chart 95 [a color chart of multiple colors whose color reproduction can be evaluated], a “color reproduction area depth”, “maximum density”, and “minimum density” indicating color reproduction are displayed. Is obtained.

  In FIG. 9, an image structure area 95A, a gradation area 95B, a tone jump area 95E, and a color reproduction area 95F are displayed in monochrome, but are actually multicolor color areas.

  FIG. 11 is an explanatory diagram for explaining the second characteristic data 97 obtained by the measuring apparatus 40A. As shown in FIG. 11, the measurement apparatus 40A reads and analyzes the image structure region 95A, the gradation region 95B, the CTF region 95C, and the line quality region 95D of the analysis chart 95, thereby analyzing the image structure (“granularity”). , “Banding”, “straight line”, “moire”, “CTF”) and line quality (“line width”, “raditness”, “line density”).

  The measuring device 40A measures the gradation (“gradation”, “tone jump”) and the color by measuring the gradation region 95B, the tone jump region 95E, and the color reproduction region 95F of the analysis chart 95. Color characteristic data 99 indicating reproduction (“color reproduction area depth”, “maximum density”, “minimum density”) is obtained. As a result, second characteristic data 97 including image quality characteristic data 98 and color characteristic data 99 is obtained. The measuring device 40A outputs the second characteristic data 97 to the model construction unit 93.

  Returning to FIG. 1, in the model construction system 90, the plate making of the flexographic printing plate 12A by the flexographic plate making device 20A, the printing of the analysis chart 95 by the flexographic printing device 30A, and the measuring device are performed while changing the plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27. The measurement of the second characteristic data 97 (image quality characteristic data 98 and color characteristic data 99) by 40A is repeatedly executed.

<Generation processing of flexographic printing characteristic model>
The model construction unit 93 corresponds to the flexographic printing characteristic model construction unit of the present invention. The model construction unit 93 includes a flexographic printing characteristic model 92 that indicates the correspondence between the second characteristic data 97 and the plate-making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 when the analysis chart 95 of the measurement source of the second characteristic data 97 is printed. Is generated.

  The model construction unit 93 associates the plurality of plate making conditions 25 and printing conditions 27 with the second characteristic data 97 for each condition, for example, modeling by a known modeling method (multivariate analysis model, machine learning, neuron model). Thus, the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 is generated. By performing such modeling, it is not necessary to measure the second characteristic data 97 for all the plate making conditions 25 and printing conditions 27, and the second characteristic data 97 is measured under a limited number of conditions. Thus, the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 can be generated.

  Hereinafter, an example of generation of the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 by the model construction unit 93 will be described in detail.

  When the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 is generated, the items of the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 are “explanatory variables”, and the image quality characteristic data 98 and the color characteristic data 99 of the second characteristic data 97 are “target variables”. Using the multiple regression analysis method, each coefficient of the multiple regression equation for predicting the value of the objective variable is obtained from the information of the explanatory variable. The plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 are handled as qualitative data as follows.

  In the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 (see FIGS. 4 and 8), a nominal scale is used for the net shape, the net angle series, the convex shape, the concave shape, the ink type, and the anilox roller cell shape. In addition, an order scale is used for the number of mesh lines, ink viscosity, printing pressure, ani pressure, printing speed, number of anilox roller lines, and anilox roller cell capacity.

Using a quantification type 1 of multivariate analysis, digitize using a dummy variable. For the objective variables y1, y2, y3,... Corresponding to the granularity, moire, banding, etc. of the objective variables,
・ Y1 = a11 * x1 + a12 * x2 + a13 * x3 +…
・ Y2 = a21 * x1 + a22 * x2 + a23 * x3 +…
・ Y3 = a31 * x1 + a32 * x2 + a33 * x3 +…
・ ...
Each coefficient (a11, a12, a13,...) Of the prediction formula represented by Here, the variables x1, x2, x3,... Correspond to explanatory variables (network shape, mesh angle series, convex shape,...) That are digitized using an ordinal scale or a nominal scale.

  By determining the coefficients a11, a12, a13,... By the multivariate analysis method described above, the polynomial that predicts the image quality characteristic data 98 and the color characteristic data 99 from the plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 is converted into a flexographic printing characteristic model 92. As required. As a result, it is possible to generate the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 indicating the correspondence between the plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 and the second characteristic data 97 (image quality characteristic data 98 and color characteristic data 99). By referring to the flexographic printing characteristic model 92, the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 can be determined with respect to the input of the image quality characteristic data 98 and the color characteristic data 99, as will be described in detail later. The flexographic printing characteristic model 92 generated by the model construction unit 93 is input to the management device 50 of the printing system 10.

[Configuration of printing system management device]
The management device 50 refers to the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 described above on the basis of the first characteristic data 42 obtained by measuring the management chart 17 printed on the printed matter 14 by the measuring device 40, and the flexographic plate making apparatus 20. The plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 of the flexographic printing apparatus 30 are managed (corrected).

  The management chart 17 is an evaluation image in which an item that needs to be evaluated on the customer side having the printing system 10 is selected from the items that can be evaluated in the analysis chart 95 (see FIG. 9). It includes items necessary for print reproduction such as image structure. In other words, the analysis chart 95 described above is an evaluation image that can evaluate all items evaluated in the management chart 17. Therefore, the first characteristic data 42 obtained by measuring the management chart 17 with the measuring device 40 is the image quality corresponding to the evaluation item selected by the customer in the second characteristic data 97 (see FIG. 11). It consists of characteristic data 98S and color characteristic data 99S (see FIG. 15). That is, the first characteristic data 42 corresponds to part of the second characteristic data 97.

  Note that an analysis chart 95 may be used as the management chart 17. In this case, since the first characteristic data 42 is the same as the second characteristic data 97, the first characteristic data 42 has the same evaluation items as the second characteristic data 97. That is, the image quality characteristic data 98S and the color characteristic data 99S constituting the first characteristic data 42 have the same evaluation items as the image quality characteristic data 98 and the color characteristic data 99 constituting the second characteristic data 97, respectively.

  FIG. 12 shows a functional block diagram of the management apparatus 50. As shown in FIG. 12, the management device 50 roughly includes a model acquisition unit 52, a storage unit 53, a target value setting unit 54, a condition determination unit 55, and a condition correction unit 56. .

  The model acquisition unit 52 acquires the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 generated by the model construction unit 93 described above. For example, when the model acquisition unit 52 and the model construction unit 93 are connected via a wired or wireless network, or when the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 is stored in a server on the network, the model acquisition unit As 52, a communication interface is used. When the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 is recorded on an information recording medium such as a memory card, a reading interface that reads the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 from the information recording medium is used as the model acquisition unit 52. In addition, when the operator manually inputs the data of the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 to the management apparatus 50, an input interface such as a keyboard is used as the model acquisition unit 52. The model acquisition unit 52 stores the acquired flexographic printing characteristic model 92 in the storage unit 53.

  The storage unit 53 stores the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 input from the model acquisition unit 52. The processing from the acquisition of the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 by the model acquisition unit 52 to the storage of the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 in the storage unit 53 may be performed by the manufacturer of the printing system 10. When a new flexographic printing characteristic model 92 is generated in the manufacturer's model construction system 90, the new flexographic printing characteristic model 92 is acquired by the model acquisition unit 52 and stored in the storage unit 53. The characteristic model 92 may be overwritten.

  The target value setting unit 54 sets the target of the first characteristic data 42 (image quality characteristic data 98S and color characteristic data 99S) obtained by measuring the management chart 17 in advance with the measuring device 40 before the management chart 17 is printed. Set the value P. This target value P is set according to the content of a target value setting operation input to an operation unit (not shown), for example. Then, the target value setting unit 54 outputs the target value P to the condition determining unit 55 and the condition correcting unit 56, respectively.

  The condition determination unit 55 refers to the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 stored in the storage unit 53 based on the target value P (image quality characteristic data 98S and color characteristic data 99S) input from the target value setting unit 54. The initial plate-making conditions 25 and printing conditions 27 (initial values) corresponding to the target value P are determined.

[Determination Processing of Plate Making Condition 25 and Printing Condition 27]
Hereinafter, an example of determination processing of the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 by the condition determining unit 55 will be described.

The condition determination unit 55 uses a known optimization algorithm (genetic algorithm, simulated annealing, etc.) to determine the initial plate-making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 that give the target value P from the above prediction formulas (y1 =... y2 =..., y3 =. Here, in order to use the optimization method, the target value P is reduced to one variable by an appropriate evaluation formula. As this evaluation formula, for example,
E = (t1-t1x) ² + (t2-t2x) ² + (t3-t3x) ² +.
Is used. Here, t1, t2, t3,... Are target values P of individual items of the image quality characteristic data 98 and the color characteristic data 99, t1x, t2x, t3x,... Are evaluation targets, and E is an evaluation value. (In this example, it corresponds to an error). Note that “drop into one variable” means that when there are multiple optimization targets (for example, t1, t2, t3,...), One evaluation formula is optimal, and multiple optimization targets are optimal. It is to use an optimization technique that expresses as follows.

  Hereinafter, a case where a genetic algorithm is used as the optimization algorithm will be described as an example.

  As described above, the target values P of the image quality characteristic data 98 and the color characteristic data 99 are t1, t2, t3..., And a predetermined number of candidate groups of the plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 are s1k, s2k, s3k. (K corresponds to the number of candidates). Further, candidates corresponding to mutations are designated as s1m, s2m, s3m (m is equivalent to the number of candidates), and partial change, exchange, averaging, etc. of candidate groups, which are processes corresponding to inheritance, are performed. Processing is performed, and each evaluation value is calculated, and a predetermined number in the order in which the evaluation values are excellent is updated as a new candidate group (iteration processing).

  The end condition ends when the evaluation value satisfies a preset condition (error is within an allowable range), and in this case, candidates corresponding to the end condition are output as optimum values (initial plate-making condition 25 and printing condition 27). . If the condition is not satisfied, the iteration process is executed again. The iteration process sets an upper limit number of times, and ends when the upper limit number is reached. In that case, the best candidate at that time is the optimum value (initial plate-making condition 25 and printing condition 27).

  When simulated annealing is used as the optimization algorithm described above, a plurality of candidate groups are generated by adding a predetermined number of random numbers to the candidates (s1, s2, s3,...), And the respective evaluation values are calculated. Then, the one with the best evaluation value is selected as the next candidate.

(Iteration processing)
Control is performed so that the random number of the iteration process has a large absolute value at the start of calculation, and the absolute value of the random number decreases as the number of iteration processes increases. The end condition ends when the evaluation value satisfies a preset condition (error is equal to or less than an allowable range), and in that case, a candidate corresponding to the condition is output as an optimum value. If the condition is not satisfied, the iteration process is executed again. The iteration process sets an upper limit number of times, and ends when the upper limit number is reached.

  In this way, the condition determination unit 55 can determine the initial plate-making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 (initial value) corresponding to the target value P by calculation using the flexographic printing characteristic model 92. Then, the condition determining unit 55 outputs the determined initial plate making conditions 25 and printing conditions 27 to the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 and the flexographic printing apparatus 30, respectively. As a result, the initial plate-making conditions 25 and printing conditions 27 are set in the flexographic plate-making apparatus 20 and the flexographic printing apparatus 30, respectively.

  The condition correction unit 56 functions as a characteristic data acquisition unit, a correction determination unit, and a condition correction unit of the present invention. The condition correction unit 56 first acquires the first characteristic data 42 (image quality characteristic data 98S and color characteristic data 99S) from the measuring device 40. The first characteristic data 42 is data obtained by measuring the management chart 17 obtained based on the initial plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 with the measuring device 40.

  Next, the condition correction unit 56 includes the first characteristic data 42 (image quality characteristic data 98S and color characteristic data 99S) obtained from the measuring device 40, and the target value P (image quality characteristic) input from the target value setting unit 54 described above. In comparison with the data 98S and the color characteristic data 99S), it is determined whether or not to correct the initial plate-making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 based on the comparison result.

  In this way, the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 are corrected by the condition correcting unit 56 for the following reason. The model construction system 90 used by the manufacturer to determine the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 and the customer's printing system 10 are the same model, but the manufacturing error and daily fluctuations of each part, etc. The print reproducibility is not completely the same. For this reason, even if the plate-making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 obtained with reference to the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 provided by the manufacturer are used, a high-quality printed matter may not always be obtained. For this reason, in such a case, the condition correction unit 56 corrects the plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27.

  The condition correction unit 56 includes first characteristic data 42 (image quality characteristic data 98S and color characteristic data 99S), which are actual measurement values obtained from the measuring device 40, and a target value P (image quality characteristic data 98S and color characteristic data 99S). Error (difference) is obtained, and it is determined whether or not the error exceeds a predetermined allowable range. If the condition correcting unit 56 determines that the error exceeds the allowable range, the condition correcting unit 56 determines to correct at least one of the initial plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27, and the correction value 100 (“target” A value obtained by adding “value P−actual value” (see FIG. 15) to the target value P is referred to as “corrected target value P”.

  Next, the condition correction unit 56 refers to the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 based on the “corrected target value P” corresponding to the comparison result described above, and determines the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 described above. Calculation is performed to determine at least one of a modified plate-making condition 25a in which the initial plate-making condition 25 is modified and a modified printing condition 27a in which the initial printing condition 27 is modified. Then, when the initial plate making condition 25 is corrected, the condition correcting unit 56 outputs the corrected plate making condition 25 a after correction to the flexographic plate making apparatus 20. In addition, when correcting the initial printing condition 27, the condition correcting unit 56 outputs the corrected printing condition 27a after correction to the flexographic printing apparatus 30.

  The flexographic plate making apparatus 20 performs the plate making of the flexographic printing plate 12 based on the corrected plate making conditions 25 a input from the condition correcting unit 56. Further, the flexographic printing apparatus 30 prints the printed matter 14 (original image 16) based on the corrected printing condition 27a input from the condition correcting unit 56.

  Such correction of the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 is performed at an appropriate timing as a periodic inspection (periodic maintenance) of the printing system 10.

[Operation of printing system]
Next, the operation of the printing system 10 configured as described above, particularly the correction of the plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 will be described. First, generation processing of the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 necessary for correcting the plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 in the printing system 10 will be described.

<Generation processing of flexographic printing characteristic model>
FIG. 13 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for generating the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 by the model construction system 90. As shown in FIG. 13, first, image data of the analysis chart 95 (see FIG. 9) is input to the flexographic plate making apparatus 20A (step S1).

  When the plate making start operation is performed after the input of the image data of the analysis chart 95, the flexographic plate making apparatus 20A applies the relief 19 corresponding to the analysis chart 95 to the flexographic plate material F under a predetermined plate making condition 25 based on the image data. To form. Thereby, the flexographic printing plate 12A corresponding to the analysis chart 95 is made (step S2). The flexographic printing plate 12A is set on the plate cylinder 34 (see FIG. 7) of the flexographic printing apparatus 30A.

  At this time, the model construction unit 93 acquires the plate making conditions 25 when the flexographic printing plate 12A is made from the flexographic plate making apparatus 20A (step S3). In FIG. 13, the plate making conditions 25 are acquired by the model construction unit 93 after plate making of the flexographic printing plate 12A. However, the timing of obtaining the plate making conditions 25 is not particularly limited. It may be before plate making or during plate making.

  When the printing start operation is performed after the flexographic printing plate 12A is set on the plate cylinder 34, the flexographic printing apparatus 30A prints the analysis chart 95 on the printing medium 13 by the flexographic printing plate 12A under a predetermined printing condition 27. The printed material 14A is generated (step S4). This printed material 14A is set in the measuring device 40A.

  At this time, the model construction unit 93 acquires the printing condition 27 when the analysis chart 95 is printed from the flexographic printing apparatus 30A (step S5). In FIG. 13, the print condition 27 is acquired by the model construction unit 93 after the analysis chart 95 is printed. However, the acquisition timing of the print condition 27 is not particularly limited, and for example, before the analysis chart 95 is printed. Or during printing.

  When the measurement start operation is performed after setting the printed material 14A on the measuring device 40A, the measuring device 40A reads the analysis chart 95 printed on the printed material 14A, measures the characteristics of the analysis chart 95, and determines the second characteristic data. 97 is obtained (step S6). The measuring device 40A outputs the second characteristic data 97 to the model construction unit 93.

  Hereinafter, while changing at least one of the plate-making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27, acquisition of the plate-making and plate-making conditions 25 of the flexographic printing plate 12A, printing of the analysis chart 95 and acquisition of the printing conditions 27, measurement of the analysis chart 95, and The acquisition of the two characteristic data 97 is repeatedly executed (YES in any of steps S7 and S8, step S2 to step S6). The acquisition of the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 may be performed only when the condition is changed.

  When the acquisition of the second characteristic data 97 under all the predetermined plate making conditions 25 and printing conditions 27 is completed (NO in both steps S7 and S8), the model construction unit 93 makes a plurality of plate making conditions 25 and printing conditions 27. And the second characteristic data 97 for each condition are modeled by the above-described known modeling method. As a result, a flexographic printing characteristic model 92 indicating the correspondence between the plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 and the second characteristic data 97 (image quality characteristic data 98 and color characteristic data 99) is generated (step S9).

  Thus, the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 generation process by the model construction system 90 is completed.

<Correction of plate making conditions and printing conditions>
FIG. 14 is a flowchart showing the flow of correction processing (corresponding to the management method of the present invention) of the plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 in the printing system 10. FIG. 15 is an explanatory diagram for explaining correction processing of the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27.

  As shown in FIGS. 14 and 15, in the printing system 10, acquisition of the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 generated by the above-described model construction system 90 is executed in advance by the model acquisition unit 52. Thereby, the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 acquired by the model acquisition unit 52 is stored in the storage unit 53 (step S11, corresponding to the storage step).

  The customer who has the printing system 10 prepares the image data of the management chart 17 in advance by selecting an item that needs to be evaluated on the customer side from the evaluation items of the analysis chart 95.

  At the timing of the periodic inspection of the printing system 10 (YES in step S12), the target value setting unit 54, as shown by the parenthesized number (1) in FIG. A target value P of the characteristic data 42 (image quality characteristic data 98S and color characteristic data 99S) is preset (step S13, target value setting step). The target value P is output from the target value setting unit 54 to the condition determining unit 55 and the condition correcting unit 56, respectively.

  The condition determining unit 55 refers to the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 in the storage unit 53 based on the target value P input from the target value setting unit 54. Then, the condition determination unit 55 performs the above-described calculation using the flexographic printing characteristic model 92, and the initial value corresponding to the target value P as shown in parenthesized numbers (2) and (3) in FIG. Plate making condition 25 and printing condition 27 (initial value) are determined (step S14, condition determining step). These initial plate making conditions 25 and printing conditions 27 are set in the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 and the flexographic printing apparatus 30, respectively.

  After the initial plate making conditions 25 and printing conditions 27 are set, the image data of the management chart 17 is input to the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 (step S15).

  When a plate making start operation is performed after the image data of the management chart 17 is input, the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 forms a relief 19 corresponding to the management chart 17 on the flexographic plate material F under the initial plate making conditions 25 based on the image data. To do. Thereby, the flexographic printing plate 12 corresponding to the management chart 17 is made (step S16). The flexographic printing plate 12 is set on the plate cylinder 34 (see FIG. 7) of the flexographic printing apparatus 30.

  When a printing start operation is performed after the flexographic printing plate 12 is set on the plate cylinder 34, the flexographic printing apparatus 30 prints the management chart 17 on the printing medium 13 by the flexographic printing plate 12 under the initial printing conditions 27. Thus, the printed matter 14 is generated (step S17). This printed matter 14 is set in the measuring device 40.

  When a measurement start operation is performed after setting the printed material 14 on the measuring device 40, the measuring device 40 reads the management chart 17 printed on the printed material 14 and measures the characteristics of the management chart 17 (step S18). Thereby, the first characteristic data 42 (image quality characteristic data 98S and color characteristic data 99S) is obtained. And the measuring apparatus 40 outputs the 1st characteristic data 42 to the condition correction part 56, as shown in the number (4) with the parenthesis in FIG. Thereby, the condition correction part 56 acquires the 1st characteristic data 42 from the measuring apparatus 40 (equivalent to the characteristic data acquisition step of this invention).

  Next, the condition correction unit 56 includes first characteristic data 42 (image quality characteristic data 98S and color characteristic data 99S) that are actual measurement values obtained from the measuring device 40, and a target value P (image quality characteristic data 98S and color characteristic data 99S). ) (Difference) is obtained (step S19). Then, the condition correction unit 56 determines whether or not to correct at least one of the initial plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 based on the result of determining whether or not the error exceeds a predetermined allowable range. Determine (step S20, corresponding to the correction determination step of the present invention). When the condition correction unit 56 determines that the error is within the allowable range, the initial plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 are not corrected (NO in step S20).

  When the condition correction unit 56 determines that the above-described error exceeds the allowable range, that is, when it is determined to correct at least one of the initial plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 (in step S20). YES), a correction value 100 is obtained as indicated by the parenthesized number (5) in FIG. Then, the condition correction unit 56 sets a value obtained by adding the correction value 100 to the target value P as a “corrected target value P”. Next, the condition correction unit 56 performs the above-described calculation with reference to the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 based on the “corrected target value P”. As a result, as shown by the parenthesized number (6) in FIG. 15, at least one of the initial plate-making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 (both corrections are performed in this embodiment) is corrected plate-making conditions 25a. And the corrected printing condition 27a is determined (step S21, condition correcting step).

  The corrected plate making conditions 25a and the corrected printing conditions 27a determined by the condition correcting unit 56 are set in the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 and the flexographic printing apparatus 30, respectively, as shown in parenthesized numerals (7) and (8) in FIG. (Step S22).

  Thus, the correction process of the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 in the printing system 10 is completed. Note that the processing from step S13 to step S22 may be repeatedly executed a plurality of times while changing the target value P (at least one of the image quality characteristic data 98S and the color characteristic data 99S).

  When the original image 16 is printed after the correction processing of the plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27, the flexographic plate making apparatus 20 performs the plate making of the flexographic printing plate 12 under the corrected plate making conditions 25a based on the image data of the original image 16. . Then, the flexographic printing apparatus 30 prints the document image 16 using the flexographic printing plate 12 of the document image 16 under the corrected printing condition 27a (step S23).

  Thereafter, the processing from step S13 to step S22 described above is repeatedly executed at each periodic inspection timing of the printing system 10, and the original image 16 can be printed based on the new corrected plate making conditions 25a and corrected printing conditions 27a. .

[Effect of this embodiment]
As described above, in the printing system 10 according to the present embodiment, the initial plate-making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 can be set with reference to the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 generated in advance. The initial plate-making conditions 25 and printing conditions 27 corresponding to the target value P can be easily grasped as compared with the case where the setting is made based on the experience of the operator without doing so.

  Further, by referring to the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 and correcting the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27, compared with the case where the correction is made based on the experience of the operator without referring to the flexographic printing characteristic model 92. In addition, it is possible to easily grasp plate making conditions and printing conditions (corrected plate making conditions 25a, corrected printing conditions 27a) for obtaining a high-quality printed material in flexographic printing. Thereby, the high-quality printed matter 14 is obtained in flexographic printing.

  Furthermore, since the printing system 10 can correct not only the printing conditions as described in the above prior art document but also the plate making conditions, it is possible to achieve both the image structure and color reproduction of the printed matter in flexographic printing. And a high-quality printed matter 14 is obtained.

[Others]
In the above embodiment, an example of the plate making condition 25 is shown in FIG. 4 and an example of the printing condition 27 is shown in FIG. 8, but the individual conditions of the plate making condition 25 and the printing condition 27 are illustrated in FIGS. It is not limited to what is mentioned, You may include other well-known conditions. Further, FIG. 11 shows an example of the image quality characteristic data 98 and the color characteristic data 99 constituting the second characteristic data 97 (the first characteristic data 42 is not shown). The items are not limited to those illustrated in FIG. 11, and may include other known items.

  In the above embodiment, the flexographic printing characteristic model 92 is generated by performing modeling using a known modeling method in the model construction system 90. However, the plate making conditions 25 and the printing conditions 27 correspond to the second characteristic data 97. The method is not limited to modeling as long as the attached flexographic printing characteristic model 92 can be generated.

  In the above embodiment, the printing system 10 is configured by five different apparatuses, namely the flexographic plate making apparatus 20, the flexographic printing apparatus 30, the measuring apparatus 40, and the management apparatus 50, but at least two of these five different apparatuses are integrated. For example, the management device 50 may be integrated with another device.

  In the above embodiment, the case where one management device 50 includes the model acquisition unit 52, the storage unit 53, the target value setting unit 54, the condition determination unit 55, and the condition correction unit 56 has been described. You may distribute and provide in the some management apparatus 50. FIG.

  In the above embodiment, one management chart printed according to the initial plate making conditions and printing conditions is measured, and the first plate making conditions and printing conditions are determined using the first characteristic data and the target value obtained by this measurement. It is determined whether or not to make corrections, and each condition is corrected. On the other hand, for example, a plurality of management charts (identical or non-identical management charts) are printed according to initial plate making conditions and printing conditions, and a plurality of first characteristic data and targets obtained by measuring each printed matter. The values may be comprehensively determined to determine whether or not to correct the initial plate-making conditions and printing conditions, and to correct each condition.

  Furthermore, it goes without saying that the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments, and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the present invention.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Printing system, 12 ... Flexographic printing plate, 12A ... Flexographic printing plate, 14 ... Printed matter, 14A ... Printed matter, 17 ... Management chart, 20 ... Flexographic plate making apparatus, 20A ... Flexographic plate making apparatus, 25 ... Plate making conditions, 27 ... Printing Condition: 30 ... Flexographic printing device, 30A ... Flexographic printing device, 40 ... Measuring device, 40A ... Measuring device, 42 ... First characteristic data, 50 ... Management device, 52 ... Model acquisition unit, 53 ... Storage unit, 55 ... Condition Determining unit 56 ... Condition correcting unit 90 ... Model building system 93 ... Model building unit 95 ... Analysis chart 97 ... Second characteristic data

Claims (16)

A plate making section for making a flexographic printing plate;
A printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium using the flexographic printing plate;
A measurement unit that reads a first evaluation image printed on the print medium by the printing unit, measures characteristics of the first evaluation image, and obtains first characteristic data;
Printing the second characteristic data obtained by measuring in advance the characteristics of the second evaluation image that can evaluate the items evaluated in the first evaluation image, and the second evaluation image that is the measurement source of the second characteristic data A storage unit storing a flexographic printing characteristic model indicating a correspondence relationship between the plate making conditions and the printing conditions of the flexographic printing plate when
A target value setting unit for setting a target value of the first characteristic data of the first evaluation image measured by the measurement unit;
Based on the target value of the first characteristic data set by the target value setting unit, referring to the flexographic printing characteristic model stored in the storage unit, the plate making conditions corresponding to the target value and the A condition determination unit for determining printing conditions;
A printing system comprising: The first characteristic of the first evaluation image obtained from the measuring unit through plate making of the plate making unit and printing of the printing unit based on the plate making conditions and the printing conditions determined by the condition determining unit. A characteristic data acquisition unit for acquiring data;
A correction determination for determining whether to correct at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions based on a comparison result between the first characteristic data acquired by the characteristic data acquisition unit and the target value. And a printing system according to claim 1.   A condition correction unit that corrects at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions based on the comparison result when the correction determining unit decides to correct at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions. A printing system according to claim 2.   The plate making unit makes the flexographic printing plate based on the corrected plate making conditions when the plate making conditions are corrected, and the printing unit performs correction after the printing conditions are corrected. The printing system according to claim 3, wherein printing is performed based on the printing conditions.   The said condition correction part corrects at least one of the said platemaking conditions and the said printing conditions based on the difference of the said target value and the said 1st characteristic data obtained by the said measurement part. Printing system.   Using the plate making unit and printing unit of the same model as the plate making unit and the printing unit, while changing at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions, the second evaluation image is printed on the printing medium, The measurement unit of the same model as the measurement unit measures the characteristics of the second evaluation image for each condition different from each other to obtain the second characteristic data, and the flexographic printing characteristic model construction unit performs the second characteristic data for each condition. The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the storage unit stores the flexographic printing characteristic model generated based on the printer.   The printing system according to claim 6, further comprising a model acquisition unit that acquires the flexographic printing characteristic model generated by the flexographic printing characteristic model construction unit and stores the acquired flexographic printing characteristic model in the storage unit.   The first evaluation image is an image capable of evaluating a part of items that can be evaluated in the second evaluation image, and the first characteristic data is a part of the second characteristic data. 8. The printing system according to any one of 7 above.   The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the first evaluation image and the second evaluation image are the same image, and the first characteristic data and the second characteristic data are the same.   The printing system according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the first characteristic data and the second characteristic data include image quality characteristic data indicating image quality characteristics and color characteristic data indicating color characteristics. In a management device that manages plate making conditions of a plate making unit for making a flexographic printing plate and printing conditions of a printing unit that performs printing on a printing medium using the flexographic printing plate,
A target value setting unit for setting a target value of first characteristic data indicating characteristics of a first evaluation image printed on the printing medium by the printing unit;
Printing the second characteristic data obtained by measuring in advance the characteristics of the second evaluation image that can evaluate the items evaluated in the first evaluation image, and the second evaluation image that is the measurement source of the second characteristic data A storage unit storing a flexographic printing characteristic model indicating a correspondence relationship between the plate making conditions and the printing conditions of the flexographic printing plate when
Based on the target value of the first characteristic data set by the target value setting unit, referring to the flexographic printing characteristic model stored in the storage unit, the plate making conditions corresponding to the target value and the A condition determination unit for determining printing conditions;
A management device comprising: A characteristic of acquiring the first characteristic data of the first evaluation image obtained through plate making of the plate making part and printing of the printing part based on the plate making condition and the printing condition determined by the condition determining part. A data acquisition unit;
A correction determination unit that determines whether or not to correct at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions based on a comparison result between the first characteristic data acquired by the characteristic data acquisition unit and the target value; The management apparatus according to claim 11.   A condition correction unit that corrects at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions based on the comparison result when the correction determining unit decides to correct at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions. The management apparatus according to claim 12. In a management method for managing plate making conditions of a plate making unit for making a flexographic printing plate and printing conditions of a printing unit for printing on a printing medium using the flexographic printing plate,
A target value setting step of setting a target value of first characteristic data indicating characteristics of a first evaluation image printed on the printing medium by the printing unit;
Printing the second characteristic data obtained by measuring in advance the characteristics of the second evaluation image that can evaluate the items evaluated in the first evaluation image, and the second evaluation image that is the measurement source of the second characteristic data A storage step of storing a flexographic printing characteristic model indicating a correspondence relationship between the plate making conditions and the printing conditions of the flexographic printing plate in the storage unit;
Based on the target value of the first characteristic data determined in the target value setting step, referring to the flexographic printing characteristic model stored in the storage unit, the plate making conditions corresponding to the target value and the printing A condition determination step for determining a condition;
Management method. A characteristic of acquiring the first characteristic data of the first evaluation image obtained through the plate making of the plate making part and the printing of the printing part based on the plate making condition and the printing condition determined in the condition determining step. A data acquisition step;
A correction determination step for determining whether to correct at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions based on a comparison result between the first characteristic data acquired in the characteristic data acquisition step and the target value. The management method according to claim 14.   Condition correction for correcting at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions based on the comparison result when it is decided to modify at least one of the plate making conditions and the printing conditions in the correction determining step. The management method according to claim 15, further comprising steps.