JP3441862B2 - Printing equipment - Google Patents

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus in which a plate making mechanism and a printing mechanism are integrated. Such a printing apparatus is generally called a digital printing machine, and plate making and printing can be performed by the same machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the printing technology before the advent of digital printing machines, a plate-making device and a printing device were separate devices. For example, in the conventional printing method, a method of exposing by exposing a film (black and white binary) having an image and a printing plate in close contact was used for plate making. As a result, the light transmitted through the transparent portion of the film chemically changes the photosensitive layer of the printing plate to record an image. This method is called a contact exposure method. Further, the above-mentioned printing plate made by plate making was manually set in a printing machine to perform printing.

Recently, in plate making, a printing plate is scanned and exposed with a laser or the like to form an image. In other words, it became possible to create a printing plate using digital data. This method is called "Computer TO Plate"
It is usually called a method. In addition, the printing plate thus prepared can be automatically set on a printing machine to perform printing.

As the newest technology, a device in which a plate making device and a printing device are integrated, that is, a digital printing machine has been realized, and plate making and printing have been performed by the same machine. In a digital printing machine, generally, a printing plate is created using laser scanning exposure or the like based on image data (digital data) created by DTP or the like, and printing is performed based on this. Therefore, as mentioned above,
The plate making (printing plate making) machine and the printing machine are not separately separated. Various types of printing plates and printing methods (differences in ink and toner, etc.) are conceivable.

One of the prior arts for digital printing machines is Quickmaster DI46 manufactured by Heidelberg PMT Co., Ltd.
There is -4. This digital printing machine uses a polyester-based waterless planographic printing plate to perform printing using ink. FIG. 1 shows a mechanism diagram of a digital printing machine according to the prior art. This apparatus is provided with four blanket cylinders 2, a plate cylinder 3, an ink supply device 4, and a laser plate making device 5 in the form of satellites with four sets centering around the impression cylinder 1. The four sets are used for plate making and printing of the colors black, cyan, magenta and yellow, respectively. The general operation of this device is as follows.

First, a plate material (unexposed printing plate, not shown) provided in a roll shape in each plate cylinder 3 is unwound on the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 3. An image is formed on this with a laser beam output from each laser plate making device 5 to create a printing plate. A printing plate corresponding to each of the above four colors is created (plate making process). Next, on each printing plate, each ink supply device 4
Supply ink from. The supplied ink is placed on the printing plate corresponding to the formed image. Then, the ink on the printing plate is transferred to the blanket cylinder 2. On the other hand, the paper feeding device 6
The printing paper supplied from is held on the impression cylinder 1. Then, the printing paper on the impression cylinder 1 comes into contact with the blanket cylinders 2 arranged in a satellite shape around the impression cylinder 1, and the inks of the blanket cylinders 2, that is, the four color inks are transferred so as to be sequentially superposed. It Thereby, color printing is achieved (printing process).

In normal offset printing, dampening water is first supplied to the printing plate, and then ink is supplied. However, this apparatus uses a waterless planographic plate that does not require dampening water. Therefore, only ink is supplied.

[0008]

The above-mentioned conventional digital printing machine has a structure in which the plate material is made on the individual plate cylinders 3. Therefore, the laser plate making device 5 must be arranged near each plate cylinder 3. Also, each plate cylinder 3
A plate material cassette for accommodating plate material must be provided inside.

Therefore, four laser plate making units 5 and four plate material cassettes are required, respectively, and there is a problem that the number of parts is large. In particular, the laser plate making device 5 is expensive, and the price of the entire device is high. Therefore, a main object of the present invention is to provide a digital printer having a small number of constituent parts and a simple structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a digital printing machine realized by one laser plate making apparatus.

[0011]

According to one aspect of the present invention, an image is formed on a printing plate based on image data, and then printing is performed on a printing sheet using the printing plate.
A printing device in which a plate making mechanism and a printing mechanism are integrated, a cylindrical plate cylinder for holding a printing plate during printing, and ink for supplying a predetermined ink to the printing plate held by the plate cylinder A supply means, a cylindrical blanket cylinder that rotates in contact with the plate cylinder to transfer ink from the printing plate, and a roller that rotates in contact with the blanket cylinder and conveys printing paper using the peripheral surface of the blanket cylinder. Having a cylindrical impression cylinder for transferring the ink on the cylinder to the printing paper, further supporting means for supporting a printing plate on which an image has not been written at the time of plate making, the printing plate supported by the supporting means On the other hand, one plate-making unit for recording an image corresponding to a printing color and a plate-conveying unit for conveying the printing plate on which the image is recorded by the plate-making unit from the supporting unit to the plate cylinder. only contains, said support Stage cylindrical shape for holding the printing plate on the peripheral surface
Including a plate making cylinder, and can simultaneously support multiple printing plates
It is characterized by being.

According to the above arrangement, the plate making process for forming an image based on the image data on the printing plate can be carried out by one plate making unit on the printing plate supported by the supporting unit. As the plate-making device, for example, a laser plate-making device can be used, but an image can be recorded on a plurality of printing plates by one laser plate-making device. Therefore, the plate making mechanism can be configured by using only one plate making means, and the configuration of the entire apparatus can be simplified.

[0013] Also, since the support means can be constituted by imaging drum separated from the printing mechanism while performing printing operation,
The plate making process can be performed on the plate making cylinder in parallel with the printing process.

[0014]

To [0015] of, et al., It is possible to create a plurality of printing plates required for color printing at the same time.

[0016]

[0017] This invention is further Viewed from another aspect,
A printing apparatus in which a plate-making mechanism and a printing mechanism are integrated, which forms an image on a printing plate based on image data and then prints on a printing sheet using this printing plate. And two blanket cylinders having the same diameter as those of the two plate cylinders, to which ink is transferred from the printing plates by abutting against the corresponding plate cylinders and rotating. The two blanket cylinders are in common contact with each other, one impression cylinder that holds the printing paper on the peripheral surface thereof and transfers the ink, and two colors are provided for each of the plate cylinders. And four ink supply means for supplying different color inks to the printing plates of each plate cylinder, and one plate making means common to at least two color printing plates held on the one plate cylinder By recording the image with It is characterized in that it has less than the number of print colors number of plate-making means. According to each of the above-mentioned configurations, the two plates are provided on the plate cylinder, and the image is recorded by at least these two plates by the common plate making means. Can be reduced. Therefore, the configuration of the entire device can be simplified,
The device price can be reduced.

[0018]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION Embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. In lithographic printing (offset printing), a lipophilic portion corresponding to an image area to be printed and a hydrophilic portion corresponding to a non-image area are formed on a flat plate surface. Then, the hydrophilic non-image area is dampened and wetted with water, and the ink is deposited on the lipophilic portion corresponding to the image area. At this time, the ink and the dampening water do not mix due to the repulsive action of the water and the oil, and the ink does not adhere to the non-image area. The ink placed on the lithographic plate is transferred to a blanket cylinder whose surface is made of rubber or the like, transferred from the blanket cylinder to paper, and printing is performed.

The planographic printing plate is prepared, for example, by exposing the photosensitive layer to light corresponding to an image to be printed on the photosensitive layer and then developing and fixing the photosensitive layer. The plate making process and the printing process performed using the plate making printing plate are performed by the digital printing machine according to this embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the digital printing machine 10 according to the embodiment of the present invention. The digital printing machine 10 is equipped with an impression cylinder 11. The impression cylinder 11 has a cylindrical shape that is long in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The peripheral surface is, for example, 4 in the circumferential direction.
The printing paper can be held in each circumferential surface area. For this purpose, grippers 31 (the configuration of which will be described in detail later) are provided in the four partitioned circumferential surface regions of the impression cylinder 11, respectively.

Four sets of printing units each having a blanket cylinder 16, a plate cylinder 17, a dampening water supply device 18, and an ink supply device 19 are arranged around the upper half side of the impression cylinder 11. The four sets of printing units respectively print black (K), cyan (C), magenta (M), and yellow (Y) colors along the rotation direction of the impression cylinder 11 (direction indicated by arrow 20). Used for.

Each blanket cylinder 16 and plate cylinder 17 are also
It has a cylindrical shape that is long in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. Each blanket cylinder 16 is arranged so as to contact the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 11. Each plate cylinder 17 is arranged in contact with the peripheral surface of the corresponding blanket cylinder 16 and at a position close to the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 11. The dampening water supply device 18 includes the water container 2
1 and a large number of water rollers 22 for supplying the water in the water container 21 to the plate cylinder 17. The ink supply device 19 applies the ink from the ink fountain device 23 and the ink fountain device 23 to the plate cylinder 17.
It is equipped with a large number of ink rollers 24 that lead to. The water roller 22 and the ink roller 24 also have a cylindrical shape or a cylindrical shape that is long in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The ink of the ink fountain device 23 is supplied to the plate cylinder 17 by a plurality of ink rollers 24 from a plurality of paths instead of a single path. By supplying ink from a plurality of paths by a large number of ink rollers 24 in this way, it is possible to supply ink evenly and without interruption in the axial direction of the plate cylinder 17 (direction perpendicular to the paper surface) during continuous printing.

The water roller 22 is in contact with the upstream side and the ink roller 24 is in contact with the downstream side relative to the rotation direction of the plate cylinder 17. Therefore, in the plate held by the plate cylinder 17, the non-image area is first moistened with dampening water, and then the ink is supplied to the image area. On the lower side of the impression cylinder 11, the plate making cylinder 50 is disposed so as to face the lower peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 11.
Is provided. The circumferential surface of the impression cylinder 11 and the circumferential surface of the plate making cylinder 50 are slightly spaced so as not to be in direct contact with each other. The plate-making cylinder 50 also has a cylindrical shape that is long in the direction perpendicular to the paper surface. The peripheral surface is divided into, for example, three regions in the circumferential direction, and the printing plate can be held in each peripheral region. For this reason, gripper claws 31 (the structure of which will be described later) are provided in the three partitioned peripheral surface regions of the plate cylinder 50, respectively.

Around the plate-making cylinder 50, a plate material cassette 12, a laser plate-making device 13, a developing device 14 and a fixing device 15 are arranged so as to face the peripheral surface of the plate-making cylinder 50. The configuration and operation of each of these devices will be described later. Further, a plate transfer device 46 is provided in association with the plate making cylinder 50 and the impression cylinder 11. The plate transfer device 46 is a device that receives a printing plate created on the plate making cylinder 50 and transfers it to the impression cylinder 11, as described later. The printing plate passed to the impression cylinder 11 is sent to the plate cylinder 17 and mounted on the plate cylinder 17, as described later.

The digital printing machine 10 is further fed by a paper feed unit 25 for accommodating printing paper, a loading device 26 for feeding the paper fed from the paper feed unit 25 to the impression cylinder 11, and an impression cylinder 11. An unloading device 27 for transporting a printing plate or a printed sheet after completion of the coming printing, a plate discharging section 28 for receiving the printing plate from the unloading apparatus 27, and a sheet discharging section 29 for receiving the sheet from the unloading apparatus 27 ing.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing a configuration example of the gripper claws 31 provided on the impression cylinder 11 and the plate making cylinder 50.
In FIG. 3, the configuration relating to the gripper 31 is enlarged relative to the diameter of the impression cylinder 11 or the plate making cylinder 50. Further, the impression cylinder 11 is actually provided with grippers 31 in each of the four divided areas, and the plate making cylinder 50 is provided with grippers 31 in each of the three partitioned areas. In FIG. 3, only one gripper 31 is shown.

A groove 32 extending in the axial direction of the impression cylinder 11 (or the plate making cylinder 50) is formed on the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 11 (or the plate making cylinder 50). The support shaft 33 is provided in the groove 32.
A holding claw 31 is provided so as to be swingable around. The gripper 31 has the closed state shown in FIG. 3 (A) and the closed state shown in FIG. 3 (B).
It is displaced to the open state shown in. Then, in the open state, the front end of the printing plate or the like is inserted between the open holding jaw 31 and the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 11 (or the plate making cylinder 50). When the gripper claw 31 is closed, the printing plate or the like is sandwiched between the toe 31a of the gripper claw 31 and the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 11 (or the plate making cylinder 50). In addition, in the impression cylinder 11, the gripper 31
Is also used for holding the printing plate and the printing paper on the impression cylinder 11.

The gripper 31 is swung by, for example, a solenoid 34 provided in the impression cylinder 11 (or the plate cylinder 50). For example, when the solenoid 34 is off,
The gripper 31 is closed by a spring (not shown).
When the solenoid 34 is turned on, the gripper 31 is opened. The mechanism for opening and closing the gripper 31 may be replaced with the solenoid 34 by another member such as a cam or a motor.

FIG. 3C shows the impression cylinder 11 (or the plate making cylinder 5).
It is a schematic diagram of the holding jaw 31 seen from the direction orthogonal to the axial direction of (0). As shown in (C), the gripper 31 has notches 35 formed at predetermined intervals in the length direction. Cutout 35
The portion where the claw is not formed is the toe 31a of the gripper 31. The notch 35 is provided when the tip of the printing plate held by the gripper 31 is passed from the plate making cylinder 50 to the impression cylinder 11 via the plate transfer device 46, or from the impression cylinder 11 to the plate cylinder 1.
This is for preventing the claws and the like provided on the transfer side from colliding with each other when transferring to the unloading device 7 or the unloading device 27.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining the operations and functions of the plate making cylinder 50, the plate material cassette 12, the laser plate making device 13, the developing device 14 and the fixing device 15 during plate making. A plate material (unrecorded printing plate) 36 wound in a roll is housed in the plate material cassette 12. In this embodiment, the plate material 36 is formed of a resin sheet having a silver salt photosensitive layer. The plate material 36 contained in the plate material cassette 12 is pulled out by a plurality of rollers 37 provided in the plate material cassette 12. The leading end of the plate material 36 is clamped by the gripper claws 31 provided on the plate making cylinder 50 (see FIG. 4A). Then, when the plate making cylinder 50 is rotated in the direction of arrow 76 as it is, the plate material 36 is wound around the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50. When the feeding length of the plate material 36 reaches a predetermined length, the cutter 3 provided in the plate material cassette 12
8 is activated. As a result, the plate material 36 is cut to form the printing plate 30. The rear end side of the printing plate 30 is suction-held by a suction mechanism (not shown) provided in the plate-making cylinder 50.

The plate material 36 is fed out, and a predetermined number (1 to 3 in the apparatus of FIG. 4) of printing plates 3 are provided on the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50.
After 0 is held, an image is recorded on the printing plate 30 by the laser plate making device 13 (see FIG. 4B). Then, the printing plate 30 on which the image is recorded is developed by the developing device 14, and the image formed by the fixing device 15 is fixed (see FIG. 4B).

It should be noted that instead of the laser plate making apparatus 13 recording an image after a predetermined number of printing plates 30 are held on the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50, the plate is made on the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50. An image may be immediately recorded by the laser plate making apparatus 13 on the held plate material 36 or the printing plate 30 after the holding is completed in association with the operation of holding the material 36.

In the developing device 14, as shown in FIG. 4C, the developing solution in the tank 39 is drawn up by the roller 40 and applied to the printing plate 30. Similarly, the fixing device 1
In FIG. 5, as shown in FIG. 4D, the fixing liquid in the tank 47 is pumped up by the roller 48 and applied to the printing plate 30. As a result, fixing is performed. The developing device 14 and the fixing device 15 are displaceable with respect to the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50 in a contact state and a non-contact state. Then, when developing and fixing are performed, immediately before the printing plate 30 to be developed and fixed reaches the developing device 14 and the fixing device 15, the developing device 14 and the fixing device 15 respectively
It contacts the peripheral surface of the plate-making cylinder 50. After the development and fixing are completed, the developing device 14 and the fixing device 15 are
The non-contact state is returned from the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50.

Supply and discharge of the developing solution or the fixing solution,
Replenishment, temperature adjustment and the like are not features of the present invention and are known techniques, and therefore description thereof will be omitted. In this embodiment, as described above, the plate making cylinder 50
The peripheral surface area is divided into three areas, and the printing plate 30 can be held in each area. Therefore, in this embodiment, three printing plates 30 can be continuously produced.

The printing plate 30 on which the recording, development and fixing of the image on the plate making cylinder 50 is completed is transferred from the plate making cylinder 50 to the impression cylinder 11, as described later. Printing plate 30 is impression cylinder 1
When it is transferred to No. 1, an empty area is formed in the peripheral surface area of the plate making cylinder 50, so that the plate making can be further continued using the empty area. For color printing, usually 4
Four printing plates 30 are required for printing the colors, namely black, cyan, magenta and yellow.

FIG. 5 is a view showing an example of the arrangement of a laser plate making apparatus 13 that exposes the printing plate 30 during plate making. The laser plate making apparatus 13 used in this embodiment forms an image on the printing plate 30 by scanning laser light in the main scanning direction. Referring to FIG. 5,
The laser plate making device 13 includes a semiconductor laser 41, a lens group 42 for guiding the light emitted from the semiconductor laser 41 and focusing the light into a predetermined state, and one line of the light supplied through the lens group 42 in the main scanning direction. And a polygon mirror 43 for scanning each of them. The polygon mirror 43 is a regular polyhedron that rotates at a constant speed around a rotation shaft 44, and its side surface is a mirror surface. The light reflected by each side surface becomes scanning light forming one line of the image. The scanning light reflected by the polygon mirror 43 exposes a printing plate (not shown) held on the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50 through the lens group 45.

The configuration of the laser plate making apparatus 13 as described above is already known and will not be described in detail.
FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining how to transfer the printing plate 30 from the plate making cylinder 50 to the impression cylinder 11. As shown in FIG. 6, the printing plate 30 is transferred from the plate-making cylinder 50 to the impression cylinder 11 by the plate transfer device 46.

The plate transfer device 46 is arranged near the position where the impression cylinder 11 and the plate-making cylinder 50 face each other. The plate transfer device 46 includes a frame body 67 that is rotatable around a support shaft 66. A suction pipe 68 is attached to the frame 67. The suction pipe 68 is rotatably attached to the frame 67, as shown in FIG. Also,
The length (pipe length) of the suction pipe 68 is capable of expanding and contracting. Therefore, the suction pipe 68 does not project from the frame 67, and the suction pipe 68 projects from the frame 67 so that the suction port 69 at the tip thereof can come into contact with the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50 or the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 11. Can be Suction pipe 68
Although not shown, a vacuum pump device or the like is connected to the. Therefore, the suction pipe 68 can suck air through the suction port 69 at the tip, and the suction port 6
9, the printing plate 30 can be adsorbed and held (FIG. 6).
(See (B)).

When the leading edge of the printing plate (printing plate on which an image has been recorded and development and fixing have been completed) 30 held on the peripheral surface of the plate-making cylinder 50 is located, for example, in the position shown in FIG. The rotation of 50 is temporarily stopped. Plate-making cylinder 50 and impression cylinder 1
When 1 and 1 rotate in synchronism with each other, the rotation of the plate cylinder 50 also stops the rotation of the impression cylinder 11. In this state, the plate passing device 56 is operated, and as shown in FIG. 6A, the suction pipe 68 is rotated and extended, and the suction port 69 causes the printing plate on the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50. 30 is aspirated. Almost at the same time, the holding claws 31 sandwiching the leading edge of the printing plate 30 are opened from the closed state to the open state.

Next, the plate passing device 46 is shown in FIG.
As indicated by an arrow 70, the frame 67 is rotated clockwise about the support shaft 66. At this time, the plate making cylinder 50 and the impression cylinder 11 are simultaneously rotated in the directions of arrows 76 and 20. When the plate making cylinder 50 is rotated, the plate passing device 46 moves the arrow 7
Rotate in the 0 direction to help convey the printing plate 30. By rotating the plate transfer device 46 in the direction of arrow 70, the tip of the printing plate 30 sucked and held by the suction port portion 69 of the suction pipe 68 is provided on the impression cylinder 11, as shown in FIG. 6B. It enters below the holding claw 31. In this state, if necessary, the rotations of the impression cylinder 11 and the plate-making cylinder 50 are temporarily stopped (note that, mechanically, the temporary stop can be omitted). Then, the gripper 31 of the impression cylinder 11 is closed, and the leading end of the printing plate 30 is held by the gripper 31 of the impression cylinder 11. The gripper 31 of the impression cylinder 11
After the leading edge of the printing plate 30 is held by the suction plate 6,
The suction by 8 is released. Then, the suction pipe 68 is retracted into the frame 67.

Thereafter, the impression cylinder 11 holding the front end of the printing plate 30 is rotated in the direction of arrow 20, and the plate making cylinder 50 is rotated in the direction of arrow 76 in conjunction therewith. As a result, the printing plate 30 is transferred from the plate making cylinder 50 to the impression cylinder 11. Figure 7
Is the printing plate 30 transferred from the plate making cylinder 50 to the impression cylinder 11.
FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a procedure of further transporting the sheet from the impression cylinder 11 to the plate cylinder 17.

As shown schematically in FIG. 7A, the impression cylinder 1
The printing plate 30 on 1 is conveyed to the plate cylinder 17 via the blanket cylinder 16, and is wound and held on the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 17. The perimeter of the blanket cylinder 16 is set to, for example, a quarter of the perimeter of the impression cylinder 11. When one gripper 31 provided on the impression cylinder 11 faces a predetermined blanket cylinder 16, the blanket cylinder 16
The suction portion 51 is positioned so as to face the gripper 31. The blanket cylinder 16 and the plate cylinder 17 have the same perimeter.
When the chuck 6 rotates and the suction portion 51 faces the plate cylinder 17, a gripping device 52, which will be described later, provided on the plate drum 17 is positioned so as to face the suction portion 51.

Adsorption part 5 provided on the blanket cylinder 16
As shown in FIG. 7 (B), 1 is provided at the cut portion of the outer shape of the blanket cylinder 16. More specifically, as shown in FIGS. 7B and 7C, the blanket cylinder 16 is provided with a seam portion 54 extending in the axial direction thereof. The seam portion 54 is a recessed groove that is recessed from the peripheral surface of the blanket cylinder 16 and that is parallel to the axial length. Inside the joint portion 54, at a constant interval in the axial direction,
A plurality of suction parts 51 are arranged. Each adsorption part 51
Has its surface 55 substantially flush with the peripheral surface of the blanket cylinder 16. The surface 55 has a large number of suction holes 56.
Are formed. A vacuum pump (not shown) or the like is connected to each suction hole 56 through a pipe provided in the blanket cylinder 16. Therefore, the sheet material facing the surface 55 of the suction portion 51 is attracted by the suction holes 56, and the surface 55
Is adsorbed on.

The portion of the seam portion 54 where the suction portion 51 is not arranged is a recess 57. And each recess 57
Includes a toe 31a of a gripper 31 provided on the impression cylinder 11.
Are facing each other. On the contrary, the suction portion 51 is arranged to face the notch 35 of the gripper 31. Therefore, the toe 31a of the gripper 31 has the concave portion 57 of the seam portion 54.
When the gripper 31 is opened, the toe 31a can be opened without colliding with the suction portion 51 and the like (see FIG. 7D).

Then, when the holding claw 31 holding the front end of the printing plate 30 faces the suction part 51, the suction part 51 performs suction and the holding claw 31 is brought into an open state, so that the printing plate 30 The tip is transferred from the impression cylinder 11 to the blanket cylinder 16 (see FIG. 7D). When the impression cylinder 11 and the blanket cylinder 16 are further rotated,
Since the front end of the printing plate 30 is transferred to the blanket cylinder 16, the rear part of the printing plate 30 is conveyed along the peripheral surface of the blanket cylinder 16 (see FIG. 7E).

FIG. 8 shows the impression cylinder 11 to the blanket cylinder 16
FIG. 6 is a diagram more specifically showing how to transfer the printing plate 30 to and from the blanket cylinder 16 to the plate cylinder 17. The gripper 31 provided on the impression cylinder 11 can be opened and closed between a closed state shown by a solid line and an open state shown by a two-dot chain line, and in the closed state, it is arranged so as not to project from the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 11. .

The blanket cylinder 16 has a recess 72 formed at a predetermined position in the circumferential direction thereof. The depression 72 is
It extends in the axial direction of the blanket cylinder 16. This hollow 7
Inside 2, a suction pipe 73 is provided. The suction port 74 at the tip of the suction pipe 73 is flush with the peripheral surface of the blanket cylinder 16. Further, a vacuum pump device or the like (not shown) is connected to the suction pipe 73 through a pipe in the blanket cylinder 16.

As shown in FIG. 8 (A), the impression cylinder 11 and the blanket cylinder 16 rotate once with the gripper 31 provided on the impression cylinder 11 and the recess 72 formed in the blanket cylinder 16 facing each other. The suction pipe 73 is stopped and suction is performed. As a result, the printing plate 30 held on the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 11 is adsorbed by the suction port 74. After that (or it may be operated almost simultaneously with the suction), the gripper 31 is changed from the closed state of the solid line to the opened state of the two-dot chain line. As a result, the leading edge of the printing plate 30 held by the impression cylinder 11 is transferred to the blanket cylinder 16.

In this state, the blanket cylinder 16 is rotated clockwise, and the depression 72 of the blanket cylinder 16 is moved to the plate cylinder 17.
To face. As shown in FIG. 8B, the plate cylinder 17 has
A clamp 75 as a gripping device 52 is provided. The clamp 75 is provided so that it can be opened and closed, and does not project from the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 17 in the closed state.
When the recess 72 of the blanket cylinder 16 faces the plate cylinder 17, the clamp 75 provided on the plate cylinder 17 faces the recess 72. And at this time, the clamp 7
First, 5 is in the open state. Therefore, the leading end of the printing plate 30 that is sucked and conveyed by the suction port 74 of the blanket cylinder 16 enters below the clamp 75 provided on the plate cylinder 17. The clamp 75 is then closed and the printing plate 30
The tip of is clamped by a clamp 75. After that, or almost at the same time, the suction of the printing plate 30 by the suction pipe 73 is released. The blanket cylinder 16 is rotated clockwise, and the plate cylinder 17 is rotated counterclockwise. When the plate cylinder 17 rotates once, the printing plate 30 is wound around the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 17 and held by the plate cylinder 17.

Although not shown, at least the rear portion of the printing plate 30 wrapped around the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 17 has a plate cylinder 1.
7 is sucked and held by a suction device (not shown). FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another transport method and mechanism for transporting the printing plate 30 held by the impression cylinder 11 to the plate cylinder 17. The transfer method and transfer mechanism shown in FIG.
It is a method and mechanism for transporting the printing plate 30 directly from the impression cylinder 11 to the plate cylinder 17. That is, the printing plate 30 held by the impression cylinder 11 is passed through the blanket cylinder 16 without
A feature of the configuration shown in FIG. 9 is that it is directly conveyed to the plate cylinder 17.

Referring to FIG. 9A, when the leading edge of the printing plate 30 is clamped by the gripper claws 31 of the impression cylinder 11, the leading edge of the printing plate 30 is bent so as to be inverted by 180 degrees, for example. It is pinched. Alternatively, the tip of the grip 3
The root part of 1 is fully inserted and pinched. The reason for this is that the suction position of the suction pipe 82, which will be described below, is set slightly inside the front end of the printing plate 30.

The impression cylinder 11 is provided with a suction pipe 82. The suction pipe 82 is arranged so as to be embedded in the impression cylinder 11 so as to face the inner surface of the printing plate 30 that is sandwiched by the grippers 31. On the other hand, the plate cylinder 17 is formed with a recess 83, in which
A clamp 75 that can be opened and closed as the gripping device 52 is provided. When the gripper 31 provided on the impression cylinder 11 and the clamp 75 provided on the plate cylinder 17 face each other in a predetermined positional relationship, the rotation of the impression cylinder 11 and the plate cylinder 17 is temporarily stopped, and the suction pipe 82 causes the printing plate 82 to rotate. The inner surface side of 30 is adsorbed. The gripper 31 is then opened.

Next, in this state, as shown in FIG. 9B, the suction pipe 82 extends outward from the inside of the impression cylinder 11 in the direction intersecting with the peripheral surface. And the depression 8 formed in the plate cylinder 17
Enter within 3. The suction port portion 85 provided at the tip of the suction pipe 82 is bent in the direction opposite to the protruding direction. As a result, the leading edge of the printing plate 30 sucked and held by the suction port portion 85 is inserted below the clamp 75 provided on the plate cylinder 17. Then, the clamp 75 is closed. As a result, the tip of the printing plate 30 is clamped by the clamp 75.

Next, the suction of the printing plate 30 by the suction port portion 85 is released, and the suction pipe 82 is housed in the state shown in FIG. 9 (A). Further, the gripper 31 is closed. Then, the plate cylinder 17 is rotated counterclockwise, whereby the printing plate 30 is wound around the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 17. In the above configuration, the suction port portion 85 at the tip of the suction pipe 82 is bent in the direction opposite to the projecting direction so that the image forming surface appears outside when the printing plate 30 is wound around the plate cylinder 17. This is because

By adopting the above configuration,
The printing plate 30 held on the impression cylinder 11 is attached to the blanket cylinder 1
It can be directly conveyed to the plate cylinder 17 without going through 6.
The gripper 31 of the impression cylinder 11 is used not only for clamping the leading edge of the printing plate 30 but also for clamping the leading edge of the printing paper in the printing process described later. In the above description, when the printing plate 30 is transferred from the impression cylinder 11 to the blanket cylinder 16, that is, the clamp 71 of the impression cylinder 11 is transferred.
With the depression 72 of the blanket cylinder 16 facing each other,
The rotation of both is temporarily stopped, and the printing plate 30 is delivered.

Similarly, the blanket cylinder 16 to the plate cylinder 17
Even when the printing plate 30 is delivered to the printer, the rotation of the two is temporarily stopped, the delivery is performed, and then the two are rotated. As described above, when the printing plate 30 is transferred from the impression cylinder 11 to the blanket cylinder 16 and when the printing plate 30 is transferred from the blanket cylinder 16 to the plate cylinder 17,
By temporarily stopping the rotation of each rotating body, delivery can be performed more reliably.

However, it is not always necessary to stop the rotation at the time of delivery, and the delivery can be performed without stopping the rotation by devising the configuration of the gripper, clamp, suction pipe, etc. Is. FIG. 10 shows a gripping device 52 provided on the plate cylinder 17.
It is a schematic diagram showing a configuration example of. The gripper device 52 is
As shown in FIGS. 10 (A) and 10 (B), the clamp 7 is swingably held by the plate cylinder 17 with spring bolts 61.
5 and a cam 63 for operating the clamp 75. In the state where the cam 63 is shown in FIG. 10 (A), the clamp 75 is opened and the leading edge of the printing plate 30 can be received. When the cam 63 rotates as shown in FIG. 10B, the clamp 75 is closed and the printing plate 3
The tip of 0 is firmly clamped.

Further, a convex curved portion 64 having a curvature smaller than that of the peripheral surface is formed on the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 17 near the position where the gripping device 52 is arranged. By forming the convex curved portion 64, the printing plate 30 can be more stably sandwiched between the plate cylinders 17. The gripping device 52 may also be configured as shown in FIG. In the gripping device 52 shown in FIG. 10 (C), the position where the clamp 75 clamps is lower than the periphery of the plate cylinder 17 with a step. By forming the step 65 in this way, there is an advantage that the front end of the printing plate 30 held by the clamp 75 is more firmly held.

Next, the operation of the printing process in the digital printing machine 10 according to this embodiment will be described. FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the printing process. When the printing process starts, the printing plates are wound and held on the four plate cylinders 17 (see FIG. 2).
The dampening water supply device 18 and the ink supply device 19 respectively supply dampening water and ink of a predetermined color. Specifically, in FIG. 2, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are supplied to the printing units arranged in the order of the rotation direction of the impression cylinder 11 shown by the arrow 20.

Next, referring to FIG. 11, the printing paper P stored in the paper supply unit 25 is fed by the feeding roller 9
The sheet is sequentially fed one by one by a sheet feeding mechanism including a sorting roller 92 and sent to the loading device 26. The loading device 26 conveys the printing paper P one by one to the impression cylinder 11. At the downstream end of the loading device 26 in the transport direction, a timing roller 93 for adjusting the timing at which the printing paper P is applied to the impression cylinder 11 is provided. The gripper 31 of the impression cylinder 11
When the printing paper P reaches the position where the leading edge of the printing paper P can be added, the printing paper P is moved by the timing roller 93.
1 and the leading edge of the sheet is clamped by the gripper 31.

The impression cylinder 11 rotates while holding the front end of the printing paper P by the gripper 31 and holding the printing paper P along the peripheral surface of the impression cylinder 11. As a result, the printing paper P held by the impression cylinder 11 comes into contact with the four blanket cylinders 16 in sequence. On the other hand, the plate cylinder 17 is supplied with dampening water from the dampening water supply means 18 and ink from the ink supply device 19, and the ink is supplied in accordance with the image of the printing plate held on the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 17. Will be posted. This ink is transferred from the plate cylinder 17 to the blanket cylinder 16. And blanket body 1
The ink transferred to the six circumferences is transferred to the printing paper P held by the impression cylinder 11.

Then, the impression cylinder 11 rotates, and the printing paper P becomes 4
By contacting one blanket cylinder 16, black, cyan, magenta, and yellow inks are transferred onto the printing paper P in an overlapping manner, and color printing is performed. By rotating the impression cylinder 11 about two-thirds, four colors of ink are transferred to the printing paper P held by the impression cylinder 11, and the printing is completed. The paper P on which printing has been completed is unloaded by the unloading device 2
When it comes to a position opposed to 7, the tip of the gripper 94 of the unloading device 27 is clamped and the gripper 31 of the impression cylinder 11 is opened. Thus, the printed paper P is transferred from the impression cylinder 11 to the unloading device 27. The gripper 94 of the unloading device 27 conveys the paper P while holding the leading edge of the print paper P. When the paper P arrives at the paper output unit 29, the gripper 94 opens,
The paper P is stored in the paper output unit 29.

FIG. 12 is a view for explaining the opening / closing mechanism of the gripper 94 provided in the unloading device 27. As shown in FIG. 12A, the unloading device 27 includes a chain gear 9 that rotates around a rotation shaft 95.
6 is provided. Chain 9 has chain 9
7 has been passed over. The above-mentioned gripper 94 is provided at a predetermined position of the chain 97. Specifically, the gripper 94 is attached to the gripper rotating shaft 98 fixed to the chain 97. A cam follower 99 is coupled to the gripper 94. The gripper 94 and the cam follower 99 are rotatable about a gripper rotation shaft 98.

Further, a gripper base 100 is provided near the gripper 94. When the gripper 94 rotates counterclockwise, the gripper base 100 receives the gripper 94 and closes the gripper 94. The gripper 94 has a gripper 9
A biasing force is applied in a counterclockwise direction by a spring (not shown) so that 4 is normally closed.

The unloading device 27 is further provided with a cam plate 101. The cam plate 101 is a chain 9
This is for operating the cam follower 99 by coming into contact with the cam follower 99 when the cam follower 99 is rotated around the rotating shaft 95 when 7 is moved. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 12 (B), when the gripper 94 is in the facing position close to the circumferential surface of the impression cylinder 11, the cam follower 99 is pushed up to rotate the gripper 94 clockwise. Then, the gripper 94 is opened. When the position passes, the pushing of the cam follower 99 is released. As a result, the gripper 94 returns to the closed state by the urging force of the spring described above (see FIG. 12C).

In this way, the cam follower 99 moves up and down along the cam plate 101, whereby the gripper 94 opens and closes around the gripper rotating shaft 98. In FIG. 13, the printing paper P nipped by the gripper 31 of the impression cylinder 11 is
FIG. 9 is a diagram showing a positional relationship and an operational relationship between the gripper 31 and the gripper 94 when the gripper 94 is transferred to the unloading device 27.

As shown in FIG. 13 (A), when the gripper 31 of the impression cylinder 11 is located at a position facing the unloading device 27, the gripper 94 provided on the chain 97 of the unloading device 27 causes the impression cylinder 11 to move. The timing is adjusted so as to be a position facing 11; that is, a position intersecting with the gripper 31. The gripper 31 of the impression cylinder 11 and the gripper 94 of the unloading device 27 are driven so that the opening and closing operations are synchronized, and the leading edge of the printing paper P is delivered. More specifically, when the gripper 31 and the gripper 94 intersect, the gripper 31 is closed and the gripper 94 is open (see FIG. 13A). Next, the gripper 31 is opened and the gripper 94 is closed (see FIG. 13B). Then, as the rotation advances, the printing paper P on the impression cylinder 11 is delivered to the unloading device 27 side.

FIG. 13C is an illustrative view of the gripper 31 and the gripper 94 seen from the direction orthogonal to the axis of the impression cylinder 11. As shown in FIG. 13C, a gripper 94 is arranged corresponding to the notch 35 of the gripper 31. Therefore, the gripper 31 and the gripper 94 do not collide with each other even when they are in an intersecting relationship when viewed in the axial direction.

The gripper 94 is moved by the chain 97, and when the sandwiched printing paper P reaches the paper discharge section 27 (see FIG. 2) as described above, the cam follower 99 is moved by the cam plate (not shown). When operated, the gripper 94 is opened and the paper P is stored in the paper discharge unit 27. 14
FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control circuit of the digital printing machine shown in FIG. 2.

The digital printing machine 10 is provided with a CPU 110 as a control center. The CPU 110 is connected to a ROM 111 that stores a preset operation program necessary for controlling the digital printing machine 10 and a RAM 112 that temporarily stores data and the like during control. The RAM 112 includes an area for the counter 113, which is necessary to perform the counting operation during the control operation described later.

The CPU 110 controls the main motor drive circuit 114 and the clutch switching circuit 115. Main motor drive circuit 114 and clutch switching circuit 11
5, the impression cylinder 11, the blanket cylinder 16, the plate cylinder 17 and the unloading device 27 are operated. Also, the plate cylinder 17
The dampening water supply device 18 and the ink supply device 19 are also operated in connection with the above operation. Further, the plate making cylinder 50 is operated by the main motor drive circuit 114 and the clutch switching circuit 115.

The CPU 110 also includes a roller plate making device 13, a roller driving circuit 116 for driving a roller 37 for feeding the plate material 36 from the plate material cassette 12,
A cutter drive circuit 117 for driving the cutter 38, a plurality of solenoids 34 for controlling a plurality of gripper claws 31 respectively provided on the impression cylinder 11 and the plate making cylinder 50 are connected.

A plate transfer control circuit 118 for controlling the plate transfer device 46 is also connected to the CPU 110. Further, the developing device 14 and the fixing device 15
Control mechanism 10 for switching between contact and non-contact with the plate making cylinder 50
9 is also connected. The CPU 110 is further connected to a suction unit 51 (specifically, a drive circuit for a vacuum pump that operates the suction unit 51) provided on the blanket cylinder 16 and a holding device 52 provided on the plate cylinder 17. . Further, the CPU 110 is connected to the paper feed mechanism 115 of the paper feed unit 25, the load device 26, and the clutch switching circuit 120 for switching the timing roller 93.

Although not shown, the CPU 110
Signals are given from various sensors provided in the digital printing machine 10, such as a printing paper conveyance detection sensor. Then, the CPU 110 utilizes the signals of these sensors for control. The control circuit block diagram shown in FIG. 14 is an example, and the control circuit can be configured by circuits other than this block diagram. In short, the CPU 110 may control each operation member in the digital printing machine 10.

FIG. 15 is a flow chart showing the overall control operation in the digital printing machine 10 executed by the CPU 110 shown in FIG. First, the overall operation of the digital printing machine 10 will be described according to the flow of FIG. When the control operation is started, first, initial setting and the like are performed (step S1). The initial settings include, for example, the plate cylinder 50, the impression cylinder 11, the blanket cylinder 16, and the plate cylinder 17.
Set the rotation angle position such as
This is an operation for clearing the work register 2 and the like in the initial state.

After the initial setting and the like, the plate making process is first executed (step S2). The contents of this plate-making process will be described in detail with reference to the detailed flowcharts described later. After completion of the plate making process, the printing plate held on the plate making cylinder 50 is set on the plate cylinder 17 via the impression cylinder 11 (step S3). Then, the printing process is performed (step S4).

When the printing process is completed, the printing plate set on the plate cylinder 17 is transferred to the unloading device 2 via the impression cylinder 11.
The sheet is transported to the plate 7 and discharged to the plate discharge unit 28 (see FIG. 2) (step S5). The method of carrying the printing plate is the same as the method of carrying the printing paper described above. Then, it is judged whether or not there is the next work (step S6). That is, it is determined whether or not plate making and printing should be performed subsequently. As a result, when there is the next work, the blanket cylinder 16 is washed (step S8). Cleaning the blanket cylinder 16 means, for example, the blanket cylinder 16
The cleaning liquid is applied to the peripheral surface of the and is wiped off with paper or the like. In the case of automatic processing, this work is performed by a cleaning device (not shown) provided in association with the peripheral surface of the blanket cylinder 16. It should be noted that, if it is not an automatic process, the fact that the blanket cylinder 16 should be cleaned may be displayed on, for example, a display. Based on this display, the blanket cylinder is washed manually.

If there is no next work in step S6, ink cleaning is performed in addition to the above-described cleaning of the blanket cylinder 16 (step S7). What is ink cleaning?
This is a cleaning operation in which a cleaning liquid is applied to the ink roller 24 and scraped off with a blade or the like. This cleaning work may be automatically performed by providing a dedicated cleaning device, or may be manually operated by displaying an indication that the ink cleaning work should be performed on a display or the like.

FIG. 16 is a flow chart specifically showing the contents of the control operation in the plate making process shown in step S2 of FIG. The flowchart shown in FIG. 16 shows the control operation when a resin sheet material having a silver salt photosensitive layer is used as the plate material 36 (see FIG. 4). In the plate making process, the roller 37 is driven by the roller drive circuit 116 (see FIG. 4A), and the plate material 36 is pulled out by a predetermined length (step S10). This predetermined length can be controlled by the driving time of the roller 37, or a pulse plate or the like which is rotated in association with the rotation of the roller 37 is provided, and the plate material 36 is pulled out by the output of the pulse plate. The length can also be detected.

When the plate material 36 is pulled out by a predetermined length, the cutter drive circuit 117 operates the cutter 38 to cut the plate material 36, and the printing plate 30 is prepared (step S11). Further, the solenoid 34 is actuated at the timing when the leading end of the plate material 36 pulled out from the plate material cassette 12 reaches the holding claw 31 of the plate making cylinder 50, and the plate material 3
The tip of 6 is clamped by the gripper 31. In this state, the plate making cylinder 50 is rotated in the direction of arrow 76 in FIG. 4 (A), and the plate material is mounted on the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50 (step S).
12).

When the mounting of one plate material is completed, RA
The counter 113 of M112 is incremented by 1. Then, it is judged whether or not the value of the counter 113 reaches a predetermined number, for example, "3" (step S13). And the counter 11
The processes of steps S10 to S13 are repeated until the value of 3 becomes "3".

When the value of the counter 113 reaches “3”, the plate making cylinder 50 holds three printing plates 30. Next, the plate making cylinder 50 is rotated and the laser plate making apparatus 13 is driven. As a result, images corresponding to, for example, cyan, magenta, and yellow are written on the three printing plates 30 held on the peripheral surface of the plate-making cylinder 50 by the laser plate-making device 13 (when light corresponding to the images is applied, respectively). Printing plate 30
Surface is exposed). Immediately before the printing plate 30 on which the image is written comes to the position of the developing device 14, the developing device 14
Is brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50. The fixing device 15 is also brought into contact with the peripheral surface of the plate making cylinder 50 before the developed printing plate 30 arrives. Therefore, each printing plate 30 is attached to the developing device 1
4 and the fixing device 15 respectively develop and expose the printing plate 30 (step S14).

Since the printing plate 30 is sequentially produced one by one, it is judged in step S15 whether or not three sheets have been processed. When the image recording, development and fixing processes on the three printing plates 30 held on the plate making cylinder 50 are completed, the plate making process is temporarily finished. However, when the printing plate 30 to be plate-formed is not the three plates as described above and a printing plate 30 on which an image corresponding to black is written is required, the printing plate 30 on the plate-making cylinder 50 is pressed. After being conveyed to the plate cylinder 17 through the cylinder 11, the plate making process shown in FIG. 16 is performed again.

When printing plates for four colors are required, the printing plates may be divided into two parts each for two colors to make the plate. In the present embodiment, the plate-making cylinder 50 can hold only printing plates for three colors at the maximum. Therefore, when printing plates for four colors are required, it is necessary to carry out plate making in two steps. The size may be increased to enable plate making for four colors at the same time. In the plate making process described above, after the plate material 36 is pulled out from the plate material cassette 12 and the three printing plates 30 are held on the plate making cylinder 50, image recording by the laser plate making device 13, the developing device 14 and the fixing device 15 is performed. , The case where development and fixing are performed has been described. However, instead of this, the plate material 36 is pulled out from the plate material cassette 12, the leading end thereof is held by the gripper 31, and the leading end portion thereof is the laser plate making apparatus 1.
Image recording may be started at the time corresponding to 3. That is, it is possible to perform control such that image recording by the laser plate making apparatus 13 is started while the rear end of the printing plate 30 is still being pulled out from the plate material cassette 12.

Alternatively, by taking the arrangement position of the laser plate making device 13 into consideration, the first printing plate 30 is pulled out from the plate material cassette 12 and held on the plate making cylinder 50,
It is also possible to record an image on the first printing plate 30 by the laser plate making apparatus 13 after the second printing plate 30 is pulled out from the plate material cassette.

According to the above-described modified examples, while the plate material 36 is being pulled out from the plate material cassette 12, image recording, development and fixing can be immediately performed on the drawn plate material. As described in detail above, according to the digital printing machine 10 of this embodiment, the plate making cylinder 50
The printing plate 30 is wound around the plate for plate making. The printing plate 30 created on the plate cylinder 50 is conveyed to the plate cylinder 17 arranged around the impression cylinder 11 via the impression cylinder 11. As described above, when the plate making is performed on the plate making cylinder 50, the apparatus can be realized by providing only one laser plate making apparatus 13 necessary for the plate making in association with the periphery of the plate making cylinder 50. Similarly, the plate material cassette 12 also includes the plate making cylinder 5.
Since only one unit needs to be provided in relation to the periphery of 0, the configuration of the device becomes simple.

Further, the impression cylinder 11 and the printing unit, that is, the blanket cylinder 16, the plate cylinder 17, the dampening water supply device 18, the ink supply device 19 and the paper feed mechanism are operated to perform the printing process. In parallel with the operation of the printing process, the plate making cylinder 50, the plate material cassette 12, the laser plate making device 13, the developing device 14 and the fixing device 15 are used to carry out the printing plate 3 for the next printing or the like.
0 plate making can be done. That is, the printing process and the plate making process can be simultaneously performed in parallel. As a result, there is an advantage that the time from plate making to printing can be shortened.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing the outline of the configuration of a digital printing machine 121 according to another embodiment of the present invention.
A feature of the digital printing machine 121 shown in FIG. 17 is that, compared with the digital printing machine 10 shown in FIG. 2, the mechanism for plate making does not use the plate making cylinder 50. More specifically, the digital printing machine 121 includes a plate making unit 122 arranged below the impression cylinder 11. The plate material cassette 12 is arranged in the plate making unit 122. The plate material cassette 12 accommodates a plate material (unrecorded printing plate) 36 wound in a roll shape. In the plate material cassette 12 and the plate material cassette 12
A large number of transport rollers 1 along the predetermined path from the exit of the
23 are arranged. The plate material 36 is pulled out from the plate material cassette 12 by these many transport rollers 123 and is transported along a predetermined transport path. The transport path composed of a large number of transport rollers 123 is designed to be a transport path of a predetermined length in the plate making unit 122, and the end of the transport path is connected to the impression cylinder 11.

A laser plate making device 13 is further arranged in the plate making unit 122. The laser plate making apparatus 13 is capable of irradiating the plate material 36 passing through a predetermined transport position 124 with light. That is, the image is recorded by the laser plate making apparatus 13 while the plate material is being conveyed by the conveying roller 123.

Further, in the plate making unit 122, the developing device 14 and the fixing device 15 are provided at predetermined positions along the conveying path.
Are arranged. Therefore, the plate material carried by the carrying roller 123 is given to the developing device 14 and the fixing device 15 during the carrying, and is developed and fixed. Further, a cutter 38 is provided near the exit of the plate material cassette 12 and at a predetermined position in the transport path so that the drawn plate material 36 can be cut into a predetermined length.

When the plate making unit 122 has the above-mentioned structure, plate making can be performed without using the plate making cylinder 50. Then, the printing plate on which the image is recorded can be sent to the impression cylinder 11 by the transport roller 123,
A printing plate can be set on each plate cylinder 17 via. Further, the laser plate making apparatus 1 is installed in the plate making unit 122.
3. Since the developing device 14 and the fixing device 15 can be incorporated, if the plate making unit 122 is configured so that light does not enter inside, it is not necessary to make the entire digital printing machine 121 a light shielding structure. That is, when performing plate making using the laser plate making device 13, the plate making mechanism needs to have a light-shielding structure so that light from the outside does not enter the plate making mechanism. This light-shielding structure has an advantage that it can be performed relatively easily by the plate making unit 122.

Further, by making the plate-making unit 122 a housing unit having excellent gas resistance and chemical resistance, the gas that may be generated in the plate-making process and the chemical liquid used in the developing device 14 and the fixing device 15 are compressed. It is possible to prevent the cylinder and the unit for printing from being affected. Further, if the transport path constituted by the transport rollers 123 is lengthened, a large number of printing plates can be held on the transport path,
Plate making can be performed even during printing. That is, the printing process and the plate making process can be performed in parallel, and the plate making necessary for the next printing can be prepared during printing.

In the digital printing machine 121 shown in FIG. 17,
The printing plate after printing is passed from the plate cylinder 17 to the impression cylinder 11 via the blanket cylinder 16, and is discharged from the impression cylinder 11 to the plate discharge unit 28 via the plate pickup 125 and the roller 126. Since other configurations of the digital printing machine 121 are the same as those of the digital printing machine described in FIG. 2, the same or corresponding parts will be denoted by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an outline of the configuration of a digital printing machine 131 according to still another embodiment of the present invention. The digital printing machine 131 shown in FIG. 18 is characterized by the following points. A plate-making cylinder 50 is provided, and one plate material cassette 12, one laser plate-making device 13, a developing device 14, and a fixing device 15 are arranged around the plate-making cylinder 50. The plate making process can be performed.

Compared with the digital printer 10 shown in FIG. 2, the diameter of the plate cylinder 17 is doubled, and the number of the plate cylinders 17 is 2. The plate transfer device 46 can directly convey the printing plate from the plate making cylinder 50 to each plate cylinder 17. That is, the printing plate can be delivered from the plate-making cylinder 50 to the plate cylinder 17 without going through the impression cylinder 11.

Since the diameter of the impression cylinder 11 is small, the printing speed is 1/2 that of the digital printing machine 10 shown in FIG.
To be doubled. Is. More specifically, in the plate making process, the plate material is pulled out from the plate material cassette 12,
It is held on the plate making cylinder 50. And laser plate making machine 1
An image is recorded on the printing plate by 3, and the recorded image is developed by the developing device 14 and fixed by the fixing device 15. This plate making process is performed in exactly the same manner as the digital printing machine 10 described with reference to FIG. However, in this embodiment, the plate making cylinder 50 is rotated clockwise as indicated by the arrow 132.

The printing plate having the image recorded thereon, which is held on the plate cylinder 50, is delivered to the plate cylinder 17 by the plate delivery device 46. The specific configuration of the plate passing device 46 is the same as that described with reference to FIG. That is, the leading end of the printing plate is sucked by the plate transfer device 46 and transferred from the plate-making cylinder 50 to the plate cylinder 17. Then, in the plate cylinder 17, the front end of the printing plate is clamped, and the printing plate is wound around the plate cylinder 17. In this digital printing machine 131, each plate cylinder 17 can hold two printing plates on its peripheral surface. A dampening water supply device 18 and an ink supply device 19 supply dampening water and ink for each generation to each printing plate held on each plate cylinder 17. In this case, the dampening water supply device 18 is associated with each plate cylinder 17.
1 may be provided one by one, and two ink supply devices 19 are provided so that ink for two colors can be supplied to one plate cylinder 17.

Therefore, for example, the printing plate held on the plate cylinder 17 on the right side is a printing plate for black and cyan, and the printing plate held on the plate cylinder 17 on the left side is a printing plate for magenta and yellow. The edition. The inks on the printing plate held by the plate cylinder 17 are transferred to the blanket cylinder 16, respectively. And from the loading device 26 to the impression cylinder 1
Blanket cylinder 1 for printing paper sent to
The paper on which the ink is transferred from 6 and the printing is completed is sent from the unloading device 27 to the paper discharge unit 29.

Since other configurations are similar to those of the digital printing machine described in FIG. 2, the same or corresponding parts are designated by the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. After the printing is completed, the printing plate held by the plate cylinder 17 is delivered to the plate making cylinder 50 by the plate delivering device 46 and is sent from the plate making cylinder 50 to the plate discharge unit 28. The present invention is not limited to the content of each embodiment described above. The scope of the present invention is as set forth in the claims,
It should be noted that various modified examples having the constituent features described in the claims are also included in the scope of the present invention.

For example, in the above-described embodiment, the silver salt sensitive material is used as the sensitive material and the ink is used for printing. However, other sensitive materials such as electrophotographic sensitive material and toner are used. You may make it print by doing. Further, although the four-color printing machine has been described in the above-described embodiment, the present invention can be applied to a two-color machine or a multi-color machine having four or more colors.

[0100]

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a printing apparatus capable of printing using the printing plate prepared in the plate making process. Further, since the plate making process can be performed in parallel with the printing process, it is possible to efficiently perform a large number of plate making and printing continuously.

[0101] Also, according to the present invention, 2 on the body
Or, prepare two or more printing plates, and make a common plate.
By means of recording images on said plurality of printing plates
Therefore, the number of plate making means is less than the number of printing colors.
can do. Therefore, for example, it is expensive as a plate making means.
Simple configuration even when using a simple laser plate making device
In it is possible to provide a cheaper printing devices.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a digital printing machine according to a related art.

FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a digital printing machine according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustrative view showing a configuration example of a gripper claw provided in a plate making cylinder and an impression cylinder.

FIG. 4 is a diagram for explaining operations and functions of a plate making cylinder, a plate material cassette, a laser plate making device, a developing device, and a fixing device during plate making.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration example of a laser plate making apparatus that exposes a printing plate during plate making.

FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining how to transfer a printing plate from the plate making cylinder to the impression cylinder.

FIG. 7 is a schematic view showing a procedure of transporting a printing plate, which has been prepressed, from an impression cylinder to a plate cylinder.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing a method of delivering a printing plate from the impression cylinder to the blanket cylinder and a method of delivering a printing plate from the blanket cylinder to the plate cylinder.

FIG. 9 is a diagram showing another transport method and mechanism for transporting the printing plate from the impression cylinder to the plate cylinder.

FIG. 10 is a schematic view showing a configuration example of a gripping device provided on the plate cylinder.

FIG. 11 is a schematic diagram for explaining the operation of the printing process.

FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an opening / closing operation mechanism of a gripper included in the unloading device.

FIG. 13 is a view showing a case where the printing paper held by the gripper claws of the impression cylinder is transferred to the gripper of the unloading device.
It is a figure showing the positional relationship and operation | movement relationship of a gripper and a gripper.

FIG. 14 is a block diagram showing a configuration example of a control circuit of the digital printing machine according to this embodiment.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart showing an overall control operation in the digital printing machine according to this embodiment.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart specifically showing the contents of control operation in the plate making process.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a digital printing machine according to another embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing an outline of a configuration of a digital printing machine according to still another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

10,121 Digital printing machine 11 impression cylinder 12 Plate cassette 13 Laser plate making equipment 14 Developing device 15 Fixing device 16 blanket torso 17 plate cylinder 18 Damping water supply device 19 Ink supply device 30 printing plates 31 gripper 46 plate delivery device 50 plate making cylinder 51 Adsorption part 52 gripper 75 clamp

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁷ Identification code FI B41L 13/04 B41L 13/04 D (56) Reference JP-A-4-334452 (JP, A) JP-A-62-174778 ( JP, A) JP-A-58-156961 (JP, A) US Pat. No. 4919045 (US, A) (58) Fields investigated (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41F 19/00 B41C 1/10 B41F 7 / 02 B41F 27/12 B41L 13/04

Claims (2)

(57) [Claims] 1. A printing apparatus in which a plate making mechanism and a printing mechanism are integrated, which forms an image on a printing plate based on image data, and then prints on a printing sheet using the printing plate. A cylindrical plate cylinder for holding a printing plate at the time of printing, an ink supply unit for supplying a predetermined ink to the printing plate held by the plate cylinder, rotating in contact with the plate cylinder, A cylindrical blanket cylinder to which ink is transferred, and a cylindrical impression cylinder that rotates in contact with the blanket cylinder and transfers the ink on the blanket cylinder to the printing paper while conveying the printing paper using the peripheral surface thereof. And a supporting means for supporting a printing plate on which an image is not written at the time of plate making, and one plate making which records an image corresponding to a printing color on the printing plate supported by the supporting means. Means, and before The printing plate on which an image has been recorded by the plate making unit, seen including a plate feeding means for conveying to the plate cylinder from the support means, said support means includes a cylindrical plate making for holding the printing plate on the peripheral surface
A printing apparatus including a cylinder and capable of supporting a plurality of printing plates at the same time . 2. A printing apparatus in which a plate making mechanism and a printing mechanism are integrated, which forms an image on a printing plate based on image data, and then prints on a printing sheet using the printing plate. , Two plate cylinders capable of mounting printing plates for two colors respectively, and having the same diameter as the plate cylinders, respectively, by contacting and rotating the corresponding plate cylinders, the ink is transferred from the printing plates. And two blanket cylinders that are in common contact with each other, and hold the printing paper on the peripheral surface thereof to transfer the ink 1
Two impression cylinders and two ink supply means for each of the plate cylinders, and four ink supply means for supplying different color inks to the printing plates of each plate cylinder. A printing apparatus characterized in that the number of plate making means is smaller than the number of printing colors by recording an image by one common plate making means for two color printing plates held on one plate cylinder.