JP2571321B2 - Operating method of automatic screen printing machine - Google Patents

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for operating an automatic screen printing machine, and more particularly, to a method for setting and adjusting a screen positioning and a squeegee pressure in an automatic screen printing machine in a short time. The present invention relates to an apparatus capable of performing the measurement with high accuracy and reproducibility.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In multicolor printing by an automatic screen printing machine, a printing cloth is attached to an endless belt, a printing unit equipped with a screen and a squeegee mechanism are arranged on the endless belt, and the cloth to be printed is one-repeat length. After the intermittent feeding, the printing unit is lowered, and the squeegee is scanned and moved to perform the printing operation.

Depending on the number of prints, several prints per pattern to 2 to 2
Zero or more screens are used. At the start of the printing operation, it is necessary to set each screen in the printing machine at an accurate position corresponding to the intermittent feed length (repeat length) so that there is no pattern shift. This positioning refers to positioning in three directions with respect to a predetermined position of the endless belt: a repeat direction, a width direction of a printing cloth, and a twist direction in which these are combined.

In Japanese Patent Publication No. 53-46952, a screen support member is provided with three positioning pins. A round hole is fitted in one corner of the screen frame, and a round hole is fitted in a corner opposite to the round hole. Has a long pin hole that is long in the repeat direction and a long pin hole that is long in the width direction at one corner that faces the width direction, so that two pins that face in the repeat direction can be moved in the width direction via the width direction adjustment screw The screen support member is provided so as to be movable in a repeat direction via a repeat direction adjustment screw, and an adjustment handle for rotating these screws is provided on one side of the printing press.

In a squeegee device of an automatic screen printing machine, usually, two squeegees are held by a squeegee carrier that strokes in a guide frame, and travels in a direction perpendicular to a traveling direction of a printing cloth to perform printing. The two squeegees are lifted upward with respect to the running direction to maintain a gap between the squeegee and the screen surface, and the rear squeegee is pushed down to apply a prescribed squeegee pressure. The running direction of the squeegee is alternately opposite each time the endless belt intermittently conveys the cloth to be printed, and the two squeegees are repeatedly moved up and down and pressurized.

Conventionally, the adjustment of the squeegee pressure has been disclosed in
As described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-38112, the manual operation and the screw operation are mostly used. For this reason, the initial squeegee pressure is adjusted and set empirically, and the squeegee pressure is repeatedly adjusted while monitoring the printing condition.

[0007]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention] As described above, in the operation of the conventional automatic screen printing machine, everything is adjusted empirically.
The setting is performed, and the type adjustment of the screen or the fine adjustment of the squeegee pressure are repeatedly performed while monitoring the printing state.

For this reason, (1) most of the work is manual work and screw adjustment, so skill is required. (2) Reproducibility is insufficient because it is impossible to confirm and record accurate adjustment data. (3) It takes a long time to adjust each pattern change and color change, resulting in lower operating efficiency and productivity. (4) Cannot handle multi-product, small-lot printing production. And so on.

An object of the present invention is to eliminate the above-mentioned drawbacks in the operation of the conventional automatic screen printing machine, and to automatically adjust the screen matching and the pressure of the squeegee in a short time even if the user is inexperienced. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of operating an automatic screen printing machine which is made possible.

Another object of the present invention is to make it possible to always adjust the screen type and adjust the pressure of the squeegee with high accuracy and reproducibility based on the set values by sample printing which is separate from the printing machine main body. An object of the present invention is to provide an operation method of an automatic screen printing machine.

Still another object of the present invention is not only to automatically adjust the screen matching and the squeegee pressure based on the initial set value, but also to adjust the state of the printing in the actual printing operation and the printing finish. An object of the present invention is to provide an operation method of an automatic screen printing machine which can be operated by a switch corresponding to a state.

[0012]

According to the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus comprising: a screen device having a positioning adjusting motor and an adjusting amount detecting mechanism; and a squeegee device having a squeegee pressure adjusting motor and an adjusting amount detecting mechanism. A control system including an automatic screen printing machine having a unit, a sample printing machine having the same printing unit as the printing unit of the printing machine main body, and a computer which sets the adjustment amount as data and controls the driving of the motor based on the data. Device and arrange the sample printing using the sample printing device.
Adjust the clean positioning and squeegee pressure to
Setting the positioning data and the squeegee pressure adjustment data in the computer, and driving and controlling the positioning adjustment motor and the squeegee pressure adjustment motor of the automatic screen printing machine body based on the set screen positioning data and the squeegee pressure adjustment data, respectively. An operation method of an automatic screen printing machine is provided.

According to the present invention, the automatic screen printing machine further displays the set values of the screen positioning data and the squeegee pressure adjustment data, and finely drives each motor based on these display values. An operation method of an automatic screen printing machine is provided in which a second control device is attached, and the final adjustment data finely adjusted by the second control device is fed back to a computer.

[0014]

The printing unit of the automatic screen printing machine used in the present invention has a screen device and a squeegee device. These devices are known in the art.
The screen device is described in JP-B-53-46952, and the squeegee device is described in JP-B-59-38112.

In the present invention, this screen device is provided with a positioning adjustment motor and an adjustment amount detection mechanism, and the squeegee device is provided with a squeegee pressure adjustment motor and an adjustment amount detection mechanism. The screen device is provided with an adjusting mechanism such as a screw for adjusting the position of the screen with respect to a predetermined position of the endless belt in three directions of a repeat direction, a width direction of the cloth to be printed, and a twist direction in which these are combined. I have. A motor for driving the adjusting screw,
A detection mechanism for detecting displacement of the screen in the above-mentioned direction caused by rotation of the adjusting screw, for example, a pulse transmitter synchronized with the adjusting screw is provided. By driving the motor, the screen can be displaced and adjusted to an arbitrary position, and the adjustment amount can be accurately detected instantaneously by the detection mechanism. Similarly, the squeegee device is also provided with an adjusting screw for displacing the squeegee in the height direction and adjusting the pressing force of the squeegee. The adjusting screw is also provided with a motor for driving the adjusting screw and a rotation of the adjusting screw. , A detection mechanism for detecting the displacement of the squeegee in the height direction, that is, the squeegee pressing force.

According to the present invention, in this automatic screen printing machine, a sample printing apparatus having the same printing unit as the printing unit of the printing machine main body, an adjustment amount is set as data, and a motor drive is performed based on the data. And a control device including a computer that controls the computer. In the test printing using this sample printing apparatus, the displacement of the squeegee in the height direction (squeegee pressure) and the finished state of the printing are tested in advance, and the displacement of the squeegee in the height direction (hereinafter referred to as squeegee) to obtain the optimum printing state. If the displacement in the height direction is set in a computer, a stable printing state is always reproduced in the printing machine main body according to an instruction from the computer. Similarly, if the screen positioning condition and the actual mold matching condition are tested and the adjustment data that has been accurately positioned is set in the computer, the printing machine itself will always perform accurate positioning adjustment according to instructions from the computer. Will be performed.

Performing test printing for the initial setting of the adjustment amount on the main body of the automatic screen printing machine is not practical in terms of the amount of cloth required for the test, the number of personnel required for the test, and other operating costs. For this reason, the printing unit including the above members combines a sample printing machine having the same structure and the same arrangement as that of the printing machine main body, and the automatic screen printing machine main body and the sample printing machine have commonality with each other, and the squeegee height direction It is assumed that both the displacement adjustment data and the screen positioning adjustment data are common to each other. In this way, the precise adjustment data obtained by the sample printing device is instructed to the printing device side in cooperation with the computer and the sample printing device provided separately from the printing device, thereby automatically controlling the squeegee pressure. Setting and screen positioning adjustment are performed. Therefore, accurate screen positioning and squeegee pressure can be obtained for each color in a short time.

In the present invention, a computer is provided to automatically perform screen positioning and squeegee pressure adjustment of the printing press main body. The amount of screen adjustment and the amount of squeegee adjustment in the sample printing machine are set in advance as data. It drives the motors for screen positioning adjustment and squeegee pressure adjustment based on the values, and saves the final screen and squeegee adjustment values as data if necessary. That is, the adjustment values of the screen and the squeegee obtained by the test printing described above are stored in the computer as, for example, the number of pulses from the reference position. In setting the screen positioning and squeegee pressure during the actual printing operation, the adjustment screw is driven by the motor, and the number of pulses from the detection mechanism generated by the rotation of the adjustment screw matches the number of pulses set in the computer. Then, the driving of the motor is stopped, the screen is positioned at a predetermined position, and the squeegee is set at a predetermined height (pressure). Therefore, not only a servo motor but also a normal DC motor can be used as the motor.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a second control device for displaying the set values of the screen positioning data and the squeegee pressure adjustment data and finely driving each motor based on these display values is further provided. The final adjustment data finely adjusted by the second control device is fed back to the computer. By providing this second control device, fine adjustment of the screen positioning or adjustment of the squeegee pressure can be performed separately from the automatic adjustment by the computer, or after the automatic adjustment by the computer, the specific color pattern or color can be adjusted. Fine adjustment required for glue or the like can be performed. Since the second control device includes a display unit that displays a set value or a detected value of each data, while referring to these display values,
It can be easily re-set by switch operation.
The screen and squeegee adjustment data finally set by this switch operation are reset to the computer as data, and this data is effectively used for the next and subsequent screen and squeegee settings.

According to the present invention, the following features are obtained from the above. (1) By linking the sample printing device and the computer, the accurate screen positioning data obtained by the sample printing device
Data and squeegee pressure data are sent to the printing machine side and instructed. In response to this, the printing machine can automatically adjust the screen type and adjust the squeegee pressure for each printing unit in a short time. The screen
Positioning is accurate for each screen in the printing press.
Screen position to allow for type matching
It means adjustment. Therefore, hereinafter, this "position
"Determination" is sometimes referred to as "type matching."

(2) If further fine adjustment is required on the printing press side, the adjustment of the mold and the adjustment of the squeegee pressure can be performed by one-touch switch operation. In addition, since the values of these fine adjustments are displayed numerically on a digital display, even inexperienced persons can easily and accurately adjust the values, and can confirm the adjustment values.

(3) Data relating to pattern matching and squeegee pressure after the printing operation is uploaded from each printing unit to a computer, stored, and used at the time of a repeat order or the like. This gives you excellent reproducibility,
Shortening of work time and improvement of printing quality can be ensured.

(4) If necessary, washing screen exchange, transfer exchange, and automatic operation of the transfer device in accordance with the printing work cycle are also possible. , Can automate the work.

[0024]

【Example】

(Overall Control System) In FIG. 1 showing the outline of the control system of the present invention, the screen reference position measuring device 8A
Positioning data for each screen obtained by a D camera or the like is transmitted to the computer 4A via the transmission line 21A.
Is uploaded and stored. In this case, a barcode is issued for each screen, and the positioning data can be recognized for each screen (see a screen control system described later).

On the other hand, the height h for each squeegee obtained by the squeegee height measuring device 9A is sent to the computer 4A via the transmission line 22A. Based on this, the computer 4A also calculates the height H corresponding to the squeegee pressurization amount "0" point and stores the data for each squeegee (see the squeegee control system described later).

The above-described positioning data for each screen,
The squeegee height data is downloaded to the sample printing apparatus 7A via the transmission line 23A. In the sample printing apparatus 7A, based on these data,
Sample printing (or test printing) is performed, and the correct type matching data and squeegee pressure data for each color are determined and uploaded to the computer 4A via the transmission line 24A.

As for the sample printing in the sample printing apparatus 7A, the exact value of the previous order is specified for the repeat order, so that true and accurate printing is possible, and almost approximate information is also provided for the new pattern. Adjustment and setting are easy, unlike the case where there is no information as in the conventional method.

As described above, type matching data associated with printing,
The squeegee pressure data is determined by the sample printing device 7A, and these data are stored for each color by the computer 4A for each printing pattern, and the automatic screen printing machine 1 is used as necessary.
Download to A side. For this purpose, the printing unit of the sample printing apparatus 7A and the printing unit of the automatic screen printing machine 1A are all of the same device and structure, and are adjusted so that they have complete commonality.

At the start of the printing operation in the automatic screen printing machine 1A, the centralized operation panel 5A requests the computer 4A to download the type matching data for each screen and the squeegee pressure data. In response to this, the computer 4A transmits the respective data via the central control panel 5A and the motor control device 6A to the transmission lines 25A, 26A, 27A.
A each printing unit 2 of automatic screen printing machine 1A
Command A.

In each printing unit 2A, based on the command value, the screen type matching device and the squeegee pressure adjusting mechanism are automatically operated, and both the screen and the squeegee are adjusted and set according to the command value ( (See squeegee control system described later.)

If it is necessary to adjust the screen type or finely adjust the squeegee pressure during the printing operation of the automatic screen printing machine 1A, the operation can be finely controlled by a single switch using the operation box 3A attached to each printing unit 2A. Can be adjusted. These values are displayed on the digital display of the operation box 3A.

During the printing operation, the screen matching condition is as follows.
A TV camera provided on the rear side of the automatic screen printing machine 1A and a monitor TV provided on the centralized control panel 5A can also be used to adjust the type by remote control.

When the printing operation in the automatic screen printing machine 1A is completed, the final data of the screen type matching and the squeegee pressure is uploaded from the operation box 3A to the computer 4A through the transmission lines 28A, 29A, 30A and stored. Is done. These data are instructed to the sample printing apparatus 7A and the automatic screen printing machine 1A at the time of repeat order, and are utilized as printing machine operation management data together with other printing conditions.

Further, if necessary, the screen cleaning exchange and the transfer device 10A are transmitted from the computer 4A via the centralized control panel 5A and the motor control device 6A via the transmission line 31A.
Can be added as part of the automation (see the screen exchange system described later).

(Screen Control System) The screen control system described below has the same structure and operation for both the sample printing machine and the printing machine main body. Therefore, both of them will be described with common reference numerals. In FIG. 2, a guide rail 6 is attached to the machine screen 1 of the automatic screen printing machine over its entire length, and racks 7 are also provided at both sides at the center thereof. On the guide rail 6 on the machine base 1, a plurality of printing units 2A are provided with a printing repeat length P.
The printing is performed on the cloth to be printed 3 by a known means every time the endless belt 2 is intermittently fed in the arrow direction. The lower side of the printing unit 2A in FIG. 2, that is, the left side in the traveling direction of the endless belt 2, is a main operation side.

The printing unit 2A has a squeegee driving device 8, a bearing device 10, and a bearing device 11 on the operation side at the four corners.
A and 11B are movably mounted on the guide rail 6 by guide rollers 12 provided respectively. A pinion 13 is integrally connected to the guide roller 12 to mesh with the rack 7 and to form a pair of guide rollers 1 on both sides.
The pinion 2 and the pinion 13 are integrally connected by connecting shafts 14A and 14B. Thus, the printing unit 2A can be easily and accurately moved without being deformed, and its current position can be accurately recognized and stored by the movement position detecting mechanism 80 of the printing unit 2A described later.

The squeegee driving device 8 and the bearing device 1 on the operation side
1B, and the opposite bearing device 10 and the operating bearing device 11
A squeegee guide frames 15A and 15B are mounted between each of A. A roller chain 16 (FIG. 6) for driving a squeegee is stretched inside this,
The squeegee device described later is driven.

At both ends of each of the guide frames 15A and 15B, mounting blocks 17 are provided.
A screen adjustment mechanism (I) 30 in the X direction in FIG. 2 is attached to the mounting block 17 on the operation side of A. Further, the adjusting mechanism (I) 30 has a screen adjusting mechanism (II) 5 in a direction perpendicular thereto, that is, in the Y direction in FIG.
0 are mounted orthogonally. Guide frame 15
The screen adjusting mechanism (III) 70 in the X direction of FIG. 2 is also mounted on the mounting block 17 on the opposite side of A, and the adjusting mechanism (III) 70 is further perpendicular to this, that is, in the Y direction of FIG. The slide bracket 20 which can slide freely is mounted. In this case, the difference between the adjustment amounts of the screen adjustment mechanism (I) 30 and the screen adjustment mechanism (III) 70 is the adjustment of the rotation direction (θ).

FIG. 3 shows a detail of the cross section of the screen adjusting mechanism (I) 30. As shown, the adjusting frame 31, the adjusting mechanism motor (MI) 32, the speed reducer (GI) 33, the adjusting gears 34 and 35, the ball screw 36, the ball nut 3
7 Cross slider 38 slide guides 39 slide bearings 40 and pulse generator (PGI) 41, Pas
Luz generator gears 42 and 43, gear case 4
4, a wiring box 45, a proximity switch 46, and a cover 47. Thus, the adjustment frame (51) of the screen adjustment mechanism (II) 50 provided on the upper part is rotated by the operation described later so that the adjustment motor (MI) 32 rotates forward and backward, and can slide in the X direction of FIG. ing.

As shown in detail in FIG. 4, the screen adjusting mechanism (II) 50 includes an adjusting frame 51, an adjusting motor (MII) 52, and a speed reducer (G), similarly to the adjusting mechanism (I) 30.
II) 53, adjusting gears 54 and 55, ball screw 5
6, ball nut 57, cross slider 38, slide guide 59, slide bearing 60, pulse generator (PGII) 61, gears 62 and 63 for pulse generator, gear case 64, wiring box 65, proximity switch 66, and cover 67 It is configured. Among them, the cross slider 38 is provided with the adjusting mechanism (I) 30.
The same product as that described above is integrally formed in a cross shape, and the adjustment mechanism (I) 30 and the adjustment motor (MII) 52
By the reverse rotation, the adjustment frame 51 has a structure capable of sliding in the Y direction in FIG.

Although the detailed illustration of the screen adjusting mechanism (III) 70 is omitted, the screen adjusting mechanism (I) 30 and the adjusting motor (MIII) 71, the speed reducer (GIII) 72, the panel generator (PGIII) 73, etc. As described above, the slide bracket 20 has the same structure, and the slide bracket 20 is slidably mounted on the upper part in the Y direction in FIG. Of these screen adjustment mechanisms, (I)
The screen 5 shown in FIG.
In the direction (II) 50, the screen 5 can be adjusted in the Y direction by forward / reverse rotation of the respective adjustment motors 32, 52, 71. The tilt of the screen 5 in the θ direction can be adjusted by operating the adjusting mechanism (I) 30 or (III) 70.

Each screen adjusting mechanism (I) 30, (II)
50 and (III) 70 respectively have a pulse generator (PGI) 41, (PGII) 61 and (PGI) as shown in the figure.
II) 73 are provided, and the respective ball screws 36, 5
The amount of rotation such as 6 is detected via the pulse generator gears 42, 43 and 62, 63, and the amount of adjustment of the screen 5 is digitally displayed on the surface of an operation panel 90 described later.

Each screen adjusting mechanism (I) 30, (I)
Both I) 50 and (III) 70 have proximity switches 46 and 6
6 are provided. Thereby, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the distance S between the proximity switch 46 and the adjustment frame 51 and between the proximity switch 66 and the adjustment frame 31 are detected, and the adjustment origin of each adjustment mechanism is maintained. That is, when printing of one pattern is completed and a new screen is set, when the home return switch of each adjustment mechanism is operated on the operation panel 90 described later, the adjustment mechanism is automatically activated and each proximity switch is moved to the distance S. Check and stop at the origin. This distance S is set to 12.5 mm in the embodiment, but can be arbitrarily changed. Further, this origin return can be used as needed other than at the time of pattern change.

Both the adjustment frame 51 of the screen adjustment mechanism (II) 50 and one end of the slide bracket 20 mounted on the mechanism (III) 70 have height adjustment screws 21 as shown in FIGS. Is provided. Height adjustment screw 2
Numeral 1 is screwed with support fittings 23 fixed to both ends of the screen support member 18, and the height of the screen 5 is adjusted by operating the knob 22. The other screen support member 19
Also, the height of the screen 5 is adjusted by the height adjusting screws 21 provided on the support brackets 24 mounted on the mounting blocks 17 on both sides in the same manner as described above.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 5, the screen supporting member 18 on the left side of FIG.
a is integrally fixed, thereby supporting the screen 5. Positioning bolts 25 are fixed to the support member 18 at two places, and the position in the X direction is determined by pressing the screen 5 against the positioning bolts 25. Also, the screen receiving plate 18a
A stopper 26 is provided on the operation side, and an air cylinder 28 is mounted on the opposite side via a bracket 27, and the position of the screen 5 in the Y direction is determined by these.

The screen support member 18 is further provided with screen fixing mechanisms 75 at two or more locations. As shown in FIG. 5, in the screen fixing mechanism 75, an air cylinder 76 is fixed inside the screen support member 18, and the clamp rod 77 is pushed up by the air pressure by the piston rod 76a. As a result, the screen 5 is transferred to the receiving plate 18a.
The screen 5 pressed upward and positioned as described above is fixed so as not to fluctuate. The clamp lever 77 is rotatably supported by the support bracket 78 and the fulcrum shaft 79 on both sides, and the tip of the clamp lever 77 is released by its own weight together with the depressurization of the air cylinder 76 as shown by the chain line in FIG. The air cylinder 76 and the air cylinder 28 are remotely controlled by a switching valve or switch (not shown).

The other screen supporting member 19 has an L-shaped cross section as shown in a partial cross section in FIG. 2, and the screen 5 is simply mounted on the upper surface thereof. Therefore screen 5
Is positioned and fixed in all directions by only one of the screen support members 18 on the left side of FIG. 2, and the opposite side is completely free. Therefore, the screen 5 is not deformed or distorted, the state at the time of screen pattern making is faithfully maintained, and high-precision printing is performed over the entire screen.
In addition, since the respective screen adjustment mechanisms 30, 50, 70 are also integrated on the screen support member 18, the operation becomes easy. Furthermore, unlike the conventional type, there is no need for a connecting rod or the like for connecting the screen supporting members on both sides, and the structure can be simplified (Note: see Japanese Utility Model Application No. 57-79115).

At the lower part of the bearing device 10 on the non-operation side, FIG.
As shown in the figure, a position detecting mechanism 80 of the textile printing unit 2A is provided. The position detecting mechanism 80 includes a pulse generator (IV) 81, gears 82 and 83 for pulse generators,
A guide case 12 for moving the printing unit 2A, a connecting shaft 14A for the pinion 13;
The gear shaft 84 of the position detection mechanism 80 is connected by a coupling 86. As the printing unit 2A moves, the engagement between the rack 7 and the pinion 13 is transmitted to the panel generator (IV) 81 by the configuration shown in FIG.
Is digitally displayed on the operation panel 90 as described later.

FIG. 2 shows one of the bearing devices 11A on the operating side.
, A matching operation panel 90 is attached. This allows each screen to be adjusted by adjusting mechanisms (I) 30, (II) 50,
(III) The operation of 70 is performed, and the current position of the printing unit 2A is displayed. The front operation panel surface of the operation panel 90 is shown in FIG. 7, and this operation and usage are as follows.

A. The digital display 91 in the upper center of the operation panel displays the current position of the printing unit 2A. As already pointed out, the operation panel 90 is connected to the computer 4A for controlling the operation of the printing press, and the positioning data of each printing unit 2A is instructed from the computer 4A in accordance with the specified repeat length. On the other hand, the electric circuit is configured so that the display on the digital display 91 becomes 0 (zero) if the position is correct. If the setting position of the printing unit is incorrect, only the error is digitally displayed, and the direction is indicated by turning on the left and right display lamps 92. Therefore, when the textile printing unit is moved in the direction of the arrow where the display lamp 92 is lit, the displayed numerical value decreases, and when it becomes 0 (zero), it indicates that the position is correct.

B. Digital display 93 provided next
Indicates an adjustment amount in the X direction on the counter-operation side. That is, the adjusting motor (MIII) 7 of the screen adjusting mechanism (III) 70
Pulse generator (PGIII) for 1 rotation direction and rotation amount
73 detects and displays the matching adjustment amount along with + (plus) or-(minus) from the origin according to the direction. This operation is performed by the left and right touch switches 94, and the origin return of the screen adjustment mechanism is performed by the touch switch 95.

C. The lower digital display 96 displays the operation of the screen adjustment mechanism (I) 30 in the X direction on the operation side in the same manner as described above, and is operated by the right and left touch switches 97 in the same manner as described above.

D. The lower digital display 98 displays the amount of adjustment of the screen in the Y direction by the screen adjustment mechanism (II) 50 in the same manner as described above, and is operated in either arrow direction by the right and left touch switches 99. By operating the touch switch 100 together with the item C, any of the screen adjustment mechanisms (I) 30 and (II) 50
At the same time, it returns to the origin.

The direction of each touch switch for adjusting the above-mentioned matching is indicated by an arrow, and in the embodiment of the present invention, the digital display of the adjusting of the matching is set in units of 0.1 mm.

8 to 10, which show a screen adjusting device of a preferred automatic screen printing machine, the device further comprises a television camera 110 provided on the discharge side of the endless belt 2 of the automatic screen printing machine, and a camera. And a second operation panel 114 for fine-adjusting the matching based on the image of the television.

The state of the printing mold alignment immediately after the printing is completed is captured by the CCD camera 110 on the endless belt 2, and this is monitored by the monitor color television 11 provided on the centralized operation panel 112.
3 is transmitted and displayed. The operator adjusts the mold using the second matching operation panel 114 attached to the centralized operation panel 112 according to the state of the matching while watching the monitor screen. The pattern matching operation panel 114 performs the same control as the pattern matching operation panel 90 attached to each printing unit 2A, and the pattern matching can be completely controlled by remote control.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing the installation state of the CCD camera 110 at the rear of the printing machine. FIG. 9 is a central operation panel 112 (FIG. 1).
5A), FIG. 10 is a front view of a matching operation panel 114 attached to the centralized operation panel 112, and FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an outline of control.

In FIG. 8, the printing cloth 3 on which printing of a predetermined number of colors has been completed by each printing unit 2A (not shown) on the printing machine is intermittently fed while being adhered to the endless belt 2 in the direction of the arrow. It is peeled off at the last part of the printing machine and sent to a post-process such as drying. Four CCD cameras 110 are provided on the endless belt 2 just before the cloth to be printed 3 is peeled off from the endless belt 2, that is, immediately after the end of printing of the final color, to monitor and confirm the printing mold matching state. .
As shown in the figure, the four CCD cameras 110 monitor four corners of one section formed by the repeat length P and the printing width W,
Although not shown, the position is provided so as to be adjustable.
Although the four CCD cameras are used in the embodiment as described above, two CCD cameras that monitor the diagonal of one section may be used. In addition to the CCD camera, a television camera, a video camera and the like can be used.

The textile printing state photographed by the CCD camera 110 is transmitted to a monitor color television 113 provided on the centralized operation panel 112 shown in FIG. 9 and displayed on the monitor. In the normal operation, the information of each of the four CCD cameras 110 is divided into four parts on the screen of the television 113 and simultaneously imaged at four places. In this case, in this embodiment, one side is doubled and the area is quadrupled. If one of the four locations is to be checked with emphasis, only one location is displayed on the entire screen by switching the channel of the television screen. In this case, one side is 4
It is magnified 16 times in terms of area and area, and a much finer form condition than visually observed is displayed on the monitor.

The operator monitors the monitor color television 113 and, if necessary, adjusts the mold using the matching operation panel 114 attached to the centralized operation panel 112. This type
The control panel 114 has the function shown in FIG. 10 and can perform the same operation as the control panel 90 attached to each printing unit 2A. The only difference from the operation panel 90 is that the pattern matching operation panel 114 has a digital display 115 at the top indicating a number in accordance with the arrangement of the printing units 2A and a touch panel for switching the number. That is, a switch 116 is provided.

The operator confirms which number (what color) of the textile printing unit 2A needs to be matched by the monitor color television 113, and the changeover touch switch 1
16 is operated to the left and right to call the corresponding printing unit number on the digital display 115. Next, each of the touch switches 94 ′, 97 ′, and 99 ′ is operated while watching the television 113 in accordance with the state of the type. Each touch switch 9
4 ', 97', and 99 'are touch switches 94, 9 provided on an operation panel 90 attached to the textile printing unit 2A.
7 and 99, and controls the screen adjustment mechanisms (I) 30, (II) 50, and (III) 70 provided in each printing unit 2A. ', 96' and 98 '. The touch switches 95 'and 100' also perform the origin return of the screen adjustment mechanism.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing a control system of the embodiment. The information of the printing type matching photographed by the CCD camera 110 is photographed by the monitor color television 113 via the same controller 111, and the repeater length and the number of colors (4A in FIG. The printing unit number), its arrangement, and other data for printing work are sent to each printing unit 2A via the monitor control device.
-1 to 2A-N.

The matching operation panel 114 of the central operation panel 112
Alternatively, the information of the matching operation by the same operation panel 90 attached to each printing unit is fed back from the pulse generators 41, 61, and 73 attached to the printing unit 2A to the computer 117 via the motor control device 118 to perform the matching. The final data relating to this is entered and stored, and becomes the subsequent operation data. Note that the confirmation of the matching state by the monitor color television 113 is confirmed as a still image even during intermittent feeding of the endless belt.

In the computer 117, for each of the printing units 2A-1 to 2A-N, the repeat direction (X),
The fine adjustment data set in the perpendicular direction (Y) and the rotation direction (θ) or further corrected are stored in the memory, and the adjustment motors (MI, MI) for each screen are stored based on these data.
I, MIII) 32, 52, 71 are actuated, and each screen is automatically fine-tuned in the repeat direction, perpendicular thereto and in the rotational direction.

Further, the repeat length data of each screen and the array data of the printing units on which the screens are mounted are set in the computer 117, and the set repeat length data and array data, and the position detecting mechanism 80 of each printing unit are set. The printing unit positioning adjustment mechanism can be controlled so that each of the printing units 2A-1 to 2A-N is automatically moved to a set position based on a signal from the printing unit and fixed.

The position shift data, repeat length data, and arrangement data of the printing unit for each screen are unique to the screen and are invariable. Therefore, the above-mentioned data must be set (stored) once. If
When changing colors on the same screen, or reusing the screen after saving it, simply enter the number that can define the screen, etc., and read out the displacement data, repeat length data, and even the array data to determine the positioning and position. Fine adjustment will be performed automatically.

In the present invention, for a plurality of screens, position deviation data in a repeat direction, a direction perpendicular to the repeat direction and a rotational direction are detected and set as the number of pulses, and the repeat length data of the screen and the array data of the printing unit are set. Is preferably set as the number of pulses,
In this way, each printing unit is moved from the reference position on the printing machine to a position where the set number of pulses is reached, and the screen on the fixed printing unit is fixed,
In accordance with the set pulse number, fine adjustment can be performed by moving in the repeat direction, the direction perpendicular to the repeat direction, and the rotational direction.

The position detection mechanism 80 of the printing unit is provided with a pulse generator (PGIV), and the screen positioning adjustment mechanism is provided with a servo drive mechanism (MI, MI) for driving the screen in the repeat direction, at right angles thereto and in the rotation direction.
MII, MIII) and their associated pulse generators (PGI, PGII, PGIII), and the number of pulses set from the reference position on the printing press using the computer and the printing unit positioning adjustment mechanism. Using a computer and a screen positioning adjustment mechanism, the screen on the fixed screen unit is moved in a repeat direction at right angles to the fixed screen unit according to the set pulse number. It may be associated with a fine adjustment by moving in the direction and in the direction of rotation, so that the entire positioning operation is automated or semi-automated.

(Squeegee Control System) In FIG. 12, a squeegee carrier 220 is a squeegee drive system, that is, a squeegee drive device 207, a connecting shaft 208, and a sprocket 209.
, 210, and a roller chain 211, using the guide frame 212 and the guide rail 213 provided on both sides of the printing unit 2A as guides, and
The printing cloth 3 is printed by the squeegee 206 every time the endless belt 2 is intermittently fed.

The squeegee 206 includes a squeegee rubber 214, a squeegee holder 215,
The squeegee bracket 217 includes a holding plate 216 and a squeegee bracket 217.
At A, the squeegee holder 215 is integrated. Two sets of the squeegee 206 are provided for each printing unit, and are supported by the squeegee support 242 of the squeegee carrier 220 as described later.

The squeegee carrier 220 has a structure shown in FIGS. 13 to 16 and described later, and has a squeegee pressure adjusting mechanism (hereinafter, simply referred to as an adjusting mechanism) 250 at an upper portion thereof. Reciprocates with the squeegee carrier 220.

The printing unit 2A includes an operation box 270 for adjusting the squeegee pressure described later, and operates the adjusting mechanism 250. Further, as described above, the sample printing apparatus has exactly the same apparatus and structure.

As shown in FIGS. 13 to 15, the squeegee carrier 220 is mounted on a carrier case 221 having a slide shoe 222 so that the squeegee carrier 220 travels while being guided by guide rails 213 attached to the upper and lower portions of a guide frame 212. Is built-in.

As shown in FIG. 14, a switching shaft 223 is slidably supported by a bush 224 through the interior of the carrier case 221, and both ends of the switching shaft 223 are provided at both ends thereof.
25 is screwed and fixed. On the other hand, sprocket 209,
A roller chain 211 driven by 210 is connected to a chain joint 226, and an adjusting screw 227 rotatable with respect to the chain joint 226 is screwed and connected to a shaft end tool 225.

The rotation force from the squeegee driving device 207 is
Roller chain 2 via sprockets 209 and 210
11 causes the squeegee carrier 220 to reciprocate. At this time, the adjusting screw 227 is
Along with the tension adjustment of 11, the squeegee carriers 220 on both sides of the printing unit 2A are adjusted so as to move in parallel with the machine base 1.

When the squeegee 206 is activated in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 14 (to the left in FIG. 14), the switching shaft 223 is moved by the roller chain 211 as shown in FIG.
Preceded by 1 and pulled from its center by an interval l,
The cushion 228 inserted into the switching shaft 223 comes into contact with the bush 224 (the right dotted line portion in FIG. 14). The cushion 228 is made of rubber or soft resin.

The switching shaft 223 has a groove 223A at the center thereof, and a roller 229 is rotatably supported by the roller shaft 230 at this portion.
Is displaced left and right by l.

On the other hand, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 5, a pinion shaft 233 that is rotatably supported by the bushes 231 and 232 and that is integral with the pinion 233A is mounted, and a cam 234 is coupled to this by a key 233B. As shown in FIG. 14, the cam 234 has a flat portion 234A on both lower sides and a concave portion 234B at the center.

When the squeegee carrier 220 is started, the switching shaft 223 moves by l in FIG. 14 as described above, and this movement causes the cam 234 to rotate from the neutral state in FIG. 13 by the angle θ in FIG. At the same time, the roller 229 engages with the flat portion 234A of the cam 234 to lock the reaction force of the squeegee 206. Also, as shown in FIG.
In the neutral state, the roller 229 fits into the concave portion 234B of the cam 234. These mechanisms and operations are described in
It is the same as that described in JP-A-9-38112.

The carrier case 221 is provided with brake devices 235 at two places. As shown in FIG. 16, the brake device 235 includes a brake shoe 235A, a spring 235B, an adjusting screw 235C, and a receiving member 235.
D, the strength of the resting force of the squeegee carrier 220 and the uniformity of the running resistance are adjusted according to the adjustment of the adjusting screw 235C.

On the other hand, a lifting guide, that is, a slide guide 236 is fixed to the center of the carrier case 221.
An adjustment mechanism 250 described later is attached to this upper part. As shown in FIG. 16, the slide guide 236 has T-shaped grooves 236A on both sides so that a vertically moving member, that is, a slide rack 237 can be slid vertically, and the pinion 233A and the rack 237A are neutral. In this state, both sides are engaged with each other so as to have the same height.

The slide rack 237 has the same height on both sides as shown in FIG. 13 when the slide rack 237 is in a neutral position, and when the vehicle is running, the operation of the switching shaft 223, the cam 234, and the pinion shaft 233, as shown in FIG. Both sides move up and down by S, respectively.

The slide guide 236 is, as shown in FIG.
A pin 238 is implanted in a lower portion thereof, and a spring 240 is inserted between the pin 238 and a guide bush 239 which can slide up and down.
Is inserted. On the other hand, a receiving plate 241 is attached to the lower surface of the slide rack 237, and according to the vertical movement of the slide rack 237, any of the receiving plates 241
Compress 40. The compression reaction force of the spring 240 acts as an auxiliary force for the neutral operation.

In FIG. 16, two slide racks 2
37 also has a T-shaped groove 237B, into which a squeegee support 242 is slidably inserted in the vertical direction. FIG.
As shown in the figure, an adjustment bracket 243 is fixedly mounted on the upper portion of the slide rack 237 together with the intermediate wall 244, and an adjustment screw 245 for adjusting the squeegee pressure is rotatably supported.

The male screw portion below the adjusting screw 245 is screwed into the female screw portion of the squeegee support 242, and by this rotation, the squeegee support 242 is moved up and down to adjust the amount of pressure applied to the squeegee. The upper portion of the adjusting screw 245 is a spline shaft, and is slid up and down to a worm gear 259 in the adjusting mechanism 250 described later so as to be capable of transmitting a rotational force.

As shown in FIG. 13, the squeegee support tool 242 has a cutout 242A at the upper portion thereof, and a receiving tool 246 is rotatably mounted by a screw 247 so as to fit the cutout 242A. The receiving tool 246 has a concave portion 246 on the lower surface.
A, which engages with the upper surface of the squeegee bracket 217 which is inserted and supported by the squeegee support 242.

The lower part of the squeegee support 242 is provided with
As described above, the spring 249 is supported by the receiving plate 248, so that the squeegee bracket 217 is constantly pressed upward against the concave portion 246 </ b> A of the receiving tool 246,
Even while the vehicle is traveling at 06, the catch 246 is locked so as not to come off the squeegee bracket. The squeegee 206 can be easily removed from the squeegee support tool 242 by pushing down the squeegee bracket 217 against the spring 249 and rotating the receiving tool 246 as shown by a chain line in FIG.

Thus, two sets of squeegees 206
Is supported by a squeegee bracket 217 by a squeegee support tool 242, and the squeegee support tool 242 is fitted to a slide rack 237 so that the height can be adjusted vertically by an adjustment screw 245. The slide rack 237 is supported by a slide guide 236, performs a switching operation up and down by the rotation of the pinion 233A, and performs printing by the squeegee 206 whose pressurized amount is adjusted.

As shown in FIG. 15, the adjusting mechanism 250 has its frame 251 fixed and supported on the upper part of the slide guide 236 of the squeegee carrier 220, and runs together with the squeegee carrier. At the center is a bracket 252
Has a metal connector 253 attached thereto.

The adjustment of the pressurizing amount of the squeegee 206 described below is performed based on the command value from the sample printing apparatus when the squeegee is stopped before the printing operation starts. Therefore, only in this case, the operation box 270 described later and Connect the electric wire from the relay box 280 to the metal connector 253,
When the adjustment is completed, the connection to the metal connector 253 is disconnected for running the squeegee carrier 220.

Although it is ideal to adjust the pressure of the squeegee as needed even during running of the squeegee, the number of electric wires is large, and the power supply device for the running adjusting mechanism 250 is complicated and enormous. For this reason, the above-described method is employed in the embodiment of the present invention because of the limitations, the workability, the complexity of maintenance, and the limitation of the capacity and size of the adjusting motor. However, the present invention is not limited to this example.

As shown in FIG. 17, a support plate 254 is fixed to both sides of the frame 251, and a squeegee pressure adjusting motor (hereinafter simply referred to as an adjusting motor) is fixed to each of the supporting plates 254.
255 are attached. A gear 256 is fixed to the output shaft of the adjusting motor 255, meshes with a gear 257 fixed to a worm 258 supported in the frame 251, and transmits the rotational force of the adjusting motor 255 to the worm 258.

As shown in FIG. 14, the worm 258 meshes with a worm gear 259 supported in the frame 251, and the center spline hole and the adjusting screw 245 are provided.
, The rotation of the adjustment motor 255 is transmitted to the adjustment screw 245, and the pressure of the squeegee 206 is adjusted via the squeegee support 242.

A timing pulley 261 is fixed to the upper part of the worm gear 259. On the other hand, a pulse transmitter 265 attached to the frame 251 by a flange 264
And a timing pulley 26 fixed to the input shaft.
2 and a timing belt 263, and detects the amount of rotation of the worm gear 259, that is, the amount of vertical adjustment of the squeegee 206, as the number of pulses.

The adjusting motor 25 of the adjusting mechanism 250
In each of the devices 5 and after, two sets are incorporated in a frame 251 and two sets of squeegees 206 supported by a squeegee carrier 220 respectively perform pressurization adjustment. The pulse transmitter 265 detects the adjustment amount. Then, feedback is provided to a control device described later.

In FIG. 12, an operation box 270 and a relay box 280 are provided on the operation side of the textile printing unit 2A.
Is provided. Wiring 281 from the motor control device 291 is connected to the operation box 270, and the wiring 281A is connected to the relay box 2 via the operation box 270.
It is also extended and connected to 80.

Operation box 270 and relay box 2
Wirings 282A and 282B are connected to and output from 80. Although not shown, a metal connector is provided at each end thereof. As described above, only when the operation side of the squeegee 206 is stopped, the metal connector 253 of the adjusting mechanism 250 is stopped.
The adjusting box 250 is made operable by operating the operation box 270.

At the start of the printing operation, each printing unit 2
The final value of the squeegee pressing amount S 'of A in the sample printing device 292 described later is instructed from the computer 290 to the printing unit 2A. Based on this, each adjusting mechanism 250 automatically operates so as to have the command value S ′, and automatically adjusts the pressure of each squeegee 206.

The operation surface of the operation box 270 has the functions shown in FIG. Reference numeral 271 denotes a digital display, which digitally displays the pressure amount S ′ of the squeegee 206. The display unit is 0.1 mm in the embodiment. 272-1 to 272-
Reference numeral 4 denotes a display lamp indicating either one of the two sets of squeegees on either side, that is, a total of four points. The touch switch 273 drives the adjustment motor 255 in a direction to decrease the pressurization amount S ′, and the touch switch 274 drives the adjustment motor 255 in a direction to increase S ′.

When finely adjusting the command value of the squeegee pressurizing amount S ', or when setting S' independently without depending on the command value, the operator operates the switch 275 to select one of the four points. Is operated, and the touch switch 273 or 274 is operated. As a result, S ′ changes, and the display on the digital display 271 also changes.

The amount of rotation of the adjusting motor 255 in the adjusting mechanism 250 is detected by the pulse transmitter 265 according to the above-described configuration, and the number of detected pulses is converted into a distance, and the digital display 27 is converted.
1 is displayed. In this way, the amount of pressurization of the squeegee 206 can be easily operated by the touch switches 273 and 274, and the amount of adjustment is S ′ as the digital display 271.
Can be clearly displayed and confirmed.

In FIG. 19 showing the outline of the control, the squeegee 206 is measured by the squeegee height measuring device 293 described above.
Is measured via the transmission line 303.
Input to the computer 290. Computer 290
Based on this, the calculated value of the height H of the squeegee support 242 at the time of neutrality with the pressurizing amount S ′ = 0 or the previous squeegee pressurizing amount S ′ at the time of repeat order is transmitted to the transmission line 3.
01 to the sample printing apparatus 292.

In the sample printing apparatus, a squeegee pressure is set based on the above, and sample or test printing is performed. If necessary, the squeegee pressing amount S 'is finely adjusted, and the data of the final squeegee pressing amount S' is fed back to the computer 290 (4A in FIG. 1) via the transmission line 302, and the computer 290 inputs and stores this.

At the time of the actual printing operation in the printing machine, the computer 290 supports the squeegee pressure amount data S ′ via the transmission line 304 to each printing unit 2 A via the motor control device 291. Thereby, each printing unit 2A is automatically adjusted to S 'as instructed. In this case, in each printing unit 2A, it is necessary to correctly select and use the height h of the squeegee 206 as registered.

After the end of the actual printing, the squeegee pressure S ′ is finally transmitted from the operation box 270 to the motor control unit 291.
After that, the data is fed back to the computer 290 via the transmission line 305, and the data is stored in preparation for a repeat order or the like.

(Screen exchange system) In FIG. 20, the supply side of the automatic screen printing machine 1A has a printing cloth introduction device 15 for introducing the printing cloth 3 into the automatic screen printing machine.
2. A sticking roller 153 for sticking the cloth to be printed on the endless belt 2 is provided, and a screen exchange system described below is provided on these.

Along the repeat feed direction of the automatic screen printing machine 1A, the screen frame supply transport mechanisms 309, 3
10 and a screen frame discharge transport mechanism 307, 308 are provided. The screen frame supply transport mechanism includes an upper guide rail 309 and an upper belt conveyor 310 that supports and drives the screen frame along the guide rail. Similarly, the screen frame discharge transfer mechanism includes a lower guide rail 307 and a lower belt conveyor 308 that supports and drives the screen frame along the guide rail.

Screen frame discharge transport mechanisms 307, 30
8 and the screen frame supply transport mechanism 309, 3
10, the screen frame cleaning device 33
1 and a drying device 341 are provided. Cleaning device 331
Is a belt conveyor 3 that holds and transports the screen frame
32, and a cleaning unit 333 provided on both upper and lower sides of the screen frame so as to face the screen frame. Each washing unit 333 has a circulating water shower pipe 33 on the upstream side.
4. A clean water shower pipe 337 is provided on the downstream side, and an upper brush roller 335 and a lower brush roller 336 are provided between them, so that the color glue adhering on the screen surface can be washed out. ing.
Subsequent to the cleaning device, a drying device 341 is provided.
1 includes a belt conveyor 342 that holds and conveys a screen frame, and an air nozzle 343 provided on both upper and lower sides of the screen frame so as to face the same. The air nozzle is for draining and drying water droplets attached to the screen, and the air used may be air at room temperature or hot air.

In the present invention, the discharge ends of the screen frame discharge transfer mechanisms 307 and 308 and the cleaning and drying device 331,
341, a primary storage device 311 for the screen frame that movably supports the screen frame is provided. In the specific example shown in FIG.
Above the discharge end of 7, 308, a primary storage device 311 of the screen frame, a so-called lifting stocker, is arranged, which supports the screen frame inside, and a lifting elevator 312 which rises in steps. And a conveyor driving device 313 for driving the conveyor. An extruding device 31 for extruding the screen frame reaching the uppermost portion to the outside is provided on an upper portion of the lifting stocker 311.
4 are provided. Thus, the screen frame 5 conveyed by the screen frame discharge conveyance mechanisms 307 and 308
Reaches the top after being lifted up by the lifting conveyor 312 for a predetermined step,
It is pushed out by.

In the present invention, the screen frame 5 from the temporary storage device 311 is rotated by a half turn so that the cleaning and drying device 33 is rotated.
1 and 341 are provided.
Since a large amount of color paste adheres on the screen on the screen, the color paste is effectively removed and cleaned by turning over the screen to perform cleaning. In this specific example, the rotation supply device 321 includes a pair of belt conveyors 323 that sandwich the screen frame and a rotary frame 322 that rotatably supports the belt conveyors.
And a rotary unit comprising: A pair of belt conveyors 323 receive the screen frame 5 from the temporary storage device 311, and are driven after rotating a half turn to supply the screen frame to the washing and drying devices 331 and 341.

The screen frame reversing device 352 for reversing the cleaned screen frame to the original state and the movement of the screen frame are provided between the cleaning and drying devices 331 and 341 and the supply ends of the screen frame supply transport mechanisms 309 and 310. And a switching supply device 351 for switching is provided. In this specific example, the screen frame reversing device 352 is incorporated in a switching supply device (lifting rotary unit) 351 as a rotary frame. The rotary frame 352 includes a pair of belt conveyors 353 that can move back and forth, and is provided rotatably on the machine frame of the lifting rotary unit 351 and ascendable by the roller chain 355. Drive 35 to drive roller chain 355
4 are provided. The driving relationship is switched and set so that the lifting rotary unit 351 performs the following three types of operations. (I) A pair of belt conveyors 35
3 receives the screen frame 5 from the drying device 341, and after half a rotation, is driven up by the roller chain 355 to move the screen frame to the screen frame supply transport mechanism 30.
9, 310 to the supply end. (Ii) After the pair of belt conveyors 353 receive the screen frame 5 from the drying device 341 and make a half turn, they are horizontally driven by the belt conveyor 353 to supply the screen frames to the screen frame storage device 361 described later. (Iii) The pair of belt conveyors 353 receive the screen frame 5 from the screen frame storage device 361, and are driven up by the roller chain 355 without half-rotation to supply the screen frame to the screen frame supply transport mechanisms 309 and 310. Feed to the end.

In the present invention, the screen frame storage device 361 for movably supporting the screen is connected to the switching supply device 351 for switching the movement of the screen frame. In this specific example, the storage device is composed of a stocker unit, and the lifting frame 362 that supports the screen frame is provided so as to be lifted by a ball screw 363 driven by a driving device 364. In this stocker unit 361, screen frames for pattern change are stored in accordance with the order of arrangement in the automatic screen printing machine, and when the frame reaches the top by the lifting frame, the extruding device 365 causes the belt conveyor 3 to move.
Transferred to 53. Also, used screen frames are stored according to the arrangement in the printing machine. In the specific example shown in the figure, the stocker unit 361 is fixed so that the stacked screen frames can be attached and detached. However, the stocker unit 361 can be provided to be movable.

This screen frame changing device includes the above-mentioned respective mechanisms. The driving of each of these mechanisms is performed mechanically or by a hydraulic circuit or an electric circuit. The driving of each of the mechanisms is automatically performed by the computer 4A. Replacement of screen frame, according to the operation and operation cycle of the controlled and automatic screen printing machine,
Cleaning, drying, storage, and removal are performed automatically.

During printing of pattern A and color a by the automatic screen printing machine 1A, the screen frame of pattern B is extruded one by one from the stocker unit 361 by the extruder 365, and the upper conveyor is moved by the lifting rotary unit 351. It is automatically supplied and arranged on the belt 310 according to the printing order, and waits. When the printing of the pattern A and the color a is completed, the operator places the used screen frame on the lower belt conveyor 308 in the printing order.

When the mounting of all the screens is completed, the lower conveyor 308 advances in the direction of the arrow, and sends each screen frame to the lifting stocker 311 in order. In the lifting stocker 311, the lifting conveyor 312 with the attachment rises for each step, and temporarily stores all the screen frames of the A pattern. When the above operation is completed, the waiting B pattern screen frame is transferred to the lower belt conveyor 308 by the screen frame lowering device (not shown) on the upper conveyor 310, and is conveyed to a predetermined position in the printing order.

The operator sets the transported B pattern screen frame at a predetermined position on the printing machine, and starts printing work of the B pattern and a color arrangement. The screen frame of the A pattern and the a color arrangement, which has been printed previously, is all automatically cleaned by the method described in the following paragraphs, so that the operator can concentrate on the printing work of the B pattern and the a color arrangement. During the printing operation of the B pattern and the a color arrangement, the A screen frame temporarily stored in the lifting stocker 311 is sequentially transferred to the rotary unit 321 one by one by the extruder 314. In the rotary unit 321, the upper and lower belt conveyors 323 are operated in a direction to pull the screen frame.

The A pattern screen frame taken by the rotary unit 321 is turned upside down so that washing and drainage in the next step are easy. This reversal is performed by rotating the rotary frame 322 in which the belt conveyor 323 and its driving device (not shown) are mounted in the direction of the arrow. Note that a stopper is provided on one side of the rotary frame 322 when the screen frame is taken in, and the stopper always turns downward so that the screen frame does not drop during turning.

When the reversal of the screen frame is completed, the belt conveyor 323 of the rotary unit 321 reverses the direction of pushing the screen frame toward the cleaning device 331,
The sheet is transferred to the belt conveyor 332 of the cleaning device 331.
The belt conveyor 332 receives the screen frame and sends it to the cleaning unit 333. The cleaning unit 333 includes two brush rollers 335 and 336 and a shower pipe 3.
34 and 337 are provided, and water is supplied from a shower pipe 334 from a circulating pump for reusing wastewater. One of the shower pipes 337 is supplied with purified water for rinsing, and the screen frame is automatically cleaned. . The cleaning unit 333 may pass through the screen frame at a fixed position, or may temporarily fix the screen frame to the cleaning unit 3.
33 may be moved in the left-right direction in the figure.

The screen frame that has been washed is sent to the drying device 341 by the belt conveyor 332. The drying device 341 is sprayed with high-speed air from both the upper and lower surfaces of the screen frame to scatter water. The air nozzle 343 is connected from a turbo floor (not shown), and has a structure in which a high-speed air having a wind speed of 100 m / sec or more is blown out uniformly from the slit. It is also effective to slightly heat the supply air.

The screen frame of the A pattern that has been washed and dried is sent to the next lifting rotary unit 351 and again turned upside down so as to be in a state at the time of printing. Also in this case, similarly to the rotary unit 321, the belt conveyor 353 and the like are integrally integrated with the rotary frame 35.
2 turns and performs reversal. A stopper that can be opened and closed by an air cylinder or the like is provided on both sides of the rotary frame 352, and one of them automatically acts as a stopper according to the approach direction of the screen frame. In the above case, since the screen frame enters from the left side of the figure, the right stopper is closed and the left stopper is opened, and the rotary frame 352 turns in the direction of the arrow. As described later, when the new pattern screen is to be taken out from the stocker unit 361, the left stopper is closed and the right stopper is opened.

The cleaning, drying and reversal of A
The pattern screen frame is a lifting rotary unit 3
The sheets are lifted one by one at 51 and delivered to the upper conveyor belt 310. The A-pattern screen frames for each sheet are arranged on the upper belt conveyor 310 in the printing order, and wait until the printing of the B-pattern and a-color arrangement is completed.

When the printing of the pattern B and the color a is completed on the printing machine 1A, the operation returns to the above operation, the used screen frame is mounted on the lower belt conveyor 308, and the subsequent steps are repeated in the same order. b color scheme, B pattern b color scheme,
Further, the printing operation is alternately performed with the A pattern c color arrangement, and the preparation work such as washing, drying, and transporting of the used screen frame is automatically performed during the work.

Printing of all the predetermined color patterns of pattern A is completed.
When the printing of the pattern starts, there is no screen frame on the upper belt conveyor 310. Then, the next new pattern and C pattern screen frame are pushed from the stocker unit 361 into the rotary frame 352 of the lifting rotary unit 351 one by one by the pushing device 365. In this case, the belt is lifted up to the height of the upper belt conveyor 310 without being inverted, and the entire number of C pattern screen frames is sequentially transferred to the conveyor belt 31 according to the printing order.
Arrange on 0, wait.

As soon as the transfer of the C pattern screen frame from the stocker unit 361 is completed and the stocker unit 361 becomes empty, the screen frame of the A pattern final color waiting in the lifting stocker 311 is washed and dried in the same steps as described above. Is performed, the sheets are stored in the stocker unit 361 one by one after being turned upside down by the lifting rotary unit 351. In this case, the ball screw 3
By the rotation of 63, the lifting frame 362 is sequentially lowered for each screen frame. When all the A-pattern screen frames have been stored, the lifting frame 362 of the stocker unit 361 is lowered to the bottom at a stroke by the ball screw 363, the A-pattern screen frame is taken out, and the next D-pattern screen frame is set instead. Rises again and waits at a predetermined position.

Subsequently, when the printing of all the predetermined color arrangements of the pattern B is completed, the color arrangement of the pattern C and the pattern D are performed in the same order and steps as described above.
Printing work proceeds alternately with the color scheme. During this time, the operator only has to set and remove the screen etc. from the printing area,
A screen frame, which required 15 to 20 minutes by name, and a color change operation including washing were reduced to about 1 person per person by the method of the present invention.
It is possible in 2 minutes (but in 8-color printing).

The above-mentioned operation cycle is performed in accordance with a defined printing process by a terminal number attached to a printing machine operation panel, a pattern number,
If data such as the number of colors and the number of colors (the number of screen frames) is input, all of them are automatically operated in accordance with the instructions of the computer in accordance with the printing work cycle. Although not shown, a bar code reader is installed on the upper part of the stocker unit 361, and after the pattern number, the pattern order, etc. are confirmed by the bar code marks attached to each screen frame, the bar code reader is discharged from the stocker unit 361. You.

[0127]

By the cooperation of the sample printing apparatus and the computer, accurate screen type matching data and squeegee pressure data obtained by the sample printing apparatus are transmitted and instructed to the printing machine side. In response to this, the printing machine can automatically adjust the screen type and adjust the squeegee pressure for each printing unit in a short time.

If further fine adjustment is required on the printing machine side, the adjustment of the mold and the adjustment of the squeegee pressure can be performed by one-touch switch operation. In addition, since the values of these fine adjustments are displayed numerically on a digital display, even inexperienced persons can easily and accurately adjust the values, and can confirm the adjustment values.

Data relating to pattern matching and squeegee pressure after the printing operation is uploaded from each printing unit to a computer, stored and used at the time of repeat order. As a result, the reproducibility is excellent, the working time can be shortened, and the printing quality can be improved.

Further, if necessary, it is also possible to automatically operate the washing and exchange of the screen frame, the exchange of the transfer, and the transfer device in accordance with the printing operation cycle, including the main adjustment and operation of the automatic screen printing machine. Automation can be measured.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a system diagram showing an outline of a control system of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an overall plan view of a screen unit including the screen matching device of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a detailed cross-sectional view of a screen adjusting mechanism (I) taken along a line AA in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the screen adjustment mechanism (II) along the line BB in FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a view showing the support of the screen in the section taken along line DD in FIG. 2;
Sectional drawing which shows fixation.

FIG. 6 is a detailed cross-sectional view of the screen unit position detecting mechanism in a cross section taken along line CC of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the mold matching operation panel as viewed from EE in FIG. 2;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an installation state of a CCD camera 110 at the rear of the printing machine.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a centralized operation panel 112.

FIG. 10 shows a matching operation panel 1 attached to the central operation panel 112.
14 is a front view.

FIG. 11 is a block diagram showing an outline of control.

FIG. 12 is an overall plan view of a printing unit provided with the squeegee pressure adjusting mechanism of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a front view of the squeegee, the squeegee carrier, and the squeegee pressure adjusting mechanism in the AA view of FIG. 12, showing a case where two squeegees are in a neutral state when stopped.

14 is an internal cross-sectional view of FIG. 13, in which a left half shows a BB cross section of FIG. 15 and a right half shows a CC cross section of FIG. 2 shows a state in which the two squeegees are relatively switched up and down.

FIG. 15 shows a DD section in FIG.

FIG. 16 shows a cross section taken along line EE in FIG.

FIG. 17 shows a plan view and a partial cross-sectional view of a squeegee pressure adjusting mechanism.

FIG. 18 is a front view of an operation box for adjusting a squeegee pressure.

FIG. 19 is a block diagram showing an outline of control.

FIG. 20 is a side view of a screen frame cleaning / exchanging apparatus of the automatic screen printing machine according to the present invention.

[Symbol explanation]

 1A Automatic screen printing machine 2A Printing unit 3A Operation box 4A Computer 5A Centralized control panel 6A Motor control device 7A Sample printing device 8A Screen reference position measuring device 9A Squeegee height measuring device 10A Screen cleaning exchange and transfer device 1 unit 2 Endless belt Reference Signs List 3 printing cloth 5 screen 6 guide rail 7 rack 8 squeegee drive device 9 drive connection shaft 10 bearing device 11A bearing device 11B bearing device 12 guide roller 13 pinion 14A connection shaft 14B connection shaft 15A squeegee guide frame 15B squeegee guide frame 16 roller chain DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 17 Mounting block 18 Screen support member 18a Screen receiving plate 19 Screen support member 20 Slide bracket 21 Height adjustment screw 22 Knob 23 Support bracket 24 Support bracket 25 Positioning bolt 26 Stopper 27 Bracket 28 Air cylinder 30 Screen adjustment mechanism (I) 31 Adjustment frame 32 Adjustment motor (MI) 33 Reduction gear (GI) 34 Adjustment gear 35 Adjustment gear 36 Ball screw 37 Ball nut 38 Cross slider 39 Slide guide 40 Slide bearing 41 Pulse generator (PGI) 42 Pulse generator gear 43 Pulse generator gear 44 Gear case 45 Wiring box 46 Proximity switch 47 Cover 50 Screen adjustment mechanism (II) 51 Adjustment frame 52 Adjustment motor (MII) 53 Deceleration (GII) 54 Adjusting gear 55 Adjusting gear 56 Ball screw 57 Ball nut 59 Slide guide 60 Slide bearing 61 Pulse generator (PG II) 62 Gear for pulse generator 63 Gear for pulse generator 64 Gear case 65 Wiring box 66 Proximity switch 67 Cover 70 Screen adjustment mechanism (III) 71 Adjustment motor (MIII) 72 Reduction gear (GIII) 73 Panel generator (PGIII) 75 Screen Fixing mechanism 76 Air cylinder 76a Piston rod 77 Clamp lever 78 Support bracket 79 Support shaft 80 Position detection mechanism 81 Pulse generator (PGIV) 82 Pulse generator gear 83 Pulse generator gear 84 Gear shaft 85 Gear case 86 Coupling 90 Mold matching Operation panel 91 Digital display 92 Indicator lamp 93 Digital display 94 Touch switch 95 Touch switch 96 Digital display 97 Touch switch 98 Digital display 99 Touch switch Switch 100 touch switch 110 CCD camera 111 controller for CCD camera 112 centralized operation panel 113 monitor color television 114 type matching operation panel 115 digital display 116 touch switch 117 computer 118 motor controller 93 'digital display 94' touch switch 95 ' Touch switch 96 'Digital display 97' Touch switch 98 'Digital display 99' Touch switch 100 'Touch switch 206 Squeegee 207 Squeegee drive 208 Connecting shaft 209 Sprocket 210 Sprocket 211 Roller chain 212 Guide frame 213 Guide rail 214 Squeegee rubber 215 Squeegee Holder 216 Holding plate 217 Squeegee bracket 217A Lock bolt 220 Squeegee Rear 221 Carrier case 222 Slide shoe 223 Switching shaft 223A Groove 224 Bush 225 Shaft end 226 Chain joint 227 Adjusting screw 228 Cushion 229 Roller 230 Roller shaft 231 Bush 232 Bush 233 Pinion shaft 233A Pinion 233B Key 234 Cam 234A Flat portion 234B Recess Brake device 235A Brake shoe 235B Spring 235C Adjustment screw 235D Receiver 236 Slide guide 237 Slide rack 237A Rack 237B T-shaped groove 238 Pin 239 Guide bush 240 Spring 241 Receiving plate 242 Squeegee support 242A Notch 243 Adjusting bracket 244 Interwall 245 Adjustment Screw 246 Receiver 246A Recess 247 Screw 248 Receiver 249 Spring 250 Squeegee pressure adjusting mechanism 251 Frame 252 Bracket 253 Metal connector 254 Support plate 255 Squeegee pressure adjusting motor 256 Gear 257 Gear 258 Worm 259 Worm gear 260 Holding plate 261 Timing pulley 262 Timing pulley 263 Timing belt 264 Flange 265 Pulse transmission 266 Cover 267 Cover 270 Operation box 271 Digital display 272-1 Display lamp 272-2 Display lamp 272-3 Display lamp 272-4 Display lamp 273 Touch switch 274 Touch switch 275 Changeover switch 280 Relay box 281 Wiring 281A Wiring 282A Wiring 282B Wiring 290 Computer 291 Motor controller 292 Sump Printing device 293 Squeegee height measuring device 301 Transmission line 302 Transmission line 303 Transmission line 304 Transmission line 305 Transmission line 152 Printing cloth introduction device 153 Sticking roller 307 Lower guide rail 308 Lower belt conveyor 309 Upper guide rail 310 Upper belt conveyor 311 Lifting Stocker 312 Lifting Conveyor 313 Conveyor Drive 314 Extruder 321 Rotary Unit 322 Rotary Frame 323 Belt Conveyor 331 Cleaning Device 332 Belt Conveyor 333 Cleaning Unit 334 Circulating Water Shower Pipe 335 Upper Brush Roller 336 Lower Brush Roller 337 Purifier 342 Belt conveyor 343 Air nozzle 351 Lifting rotary unit 352 Rotary frame 353 Belt conveyor 354 Drive unit 355 Roller chain 361 Stocker unit 362 Lifting frame 363 Ball screw 364 Drive unit 365 Extruder

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] An automatic screen printing machine having a printing unit including a screen device having a positioning adjustment motor and an adjustment amount detection mechanism, and a squeegee device having a squeegee pressure adjustment motor and an adjustment amount detection mechanism, and a printing machine. A sample printing device having the same printing unit as the printing unit of the main body and a control device including a computer for setting the adjustment amount as data and controlling the driving of the motor based on the data are arranged, and using the sample printing device. The sun
Screen positioning and squeegee pressure control by pull printing
Make adjustments and obtain positioning data and squeegee pressure adjustment
Automatic screen printing characterized by setting knot data in a computer, and driving and controlling a positioning adjustment motor and a squeegee pressure adjustment motor of an automatic screen printing machine based on the set screen positioning data and squeegee pressure adjustment data, respectively. How to operate the machine. 2. An automatic screen printing machine is further provided with a second control device for displaying set values of screen positioning data and squeegee pressure adjustment data and for finely adjusting and driving each motor based on these display values. 2. The operating method according to claim 1, wherein the final adjustment data finely adjusted by the second control device is fed back to the computer.