JP3442952B2 - Method and apparatus for positioning flat printing medium - 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 of placing a flat plate-shaped printing medium on a printing platen of an offset printing machine via a support and quickly positioning the flat plate-shaped printing medium. The present invention relates to a positioning device using the method.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, for high-precision special printing on a flat plate-shaped object to be printed such as glass or plastic, it is necessary to use a printing plate shown in FIG.
The flatbed offset printing machine P as shown in
When mounting and fixing the printing medium 1 used for this type of printing on the printing platen 2 of the printing machine P, positioning accuracy in the unit of micron is required. This positioning is generally shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 2, a plurality of cross-shaped substrate register marks 3 provided on the upper surface of the printing target 1 and a plurality of rectangular (for example, square frame) surface plate registrations provided on the upper surface of the printing platen 2. This is done by adjusting the mounting and fixing position of the printing target 1 with respect to the printing platen 2 so that the marks 4 overlap.

FIG. 9 shows a general example of a conventional positioning device 30 for a flat plate-shaped material to be printed. This device supports the blanket cylinder B and reciprocates above the printing platen 2. It is mounted on an optical observation means such as a CCD camera 7 for reading a registration mark attached to a traveling carriage T of the offset printing machine P, and on a printing surface plate 2 mounted on an upper surface of a stand S of the offset printing machine P. By means of abutting tools 31 and 32 that come into contact with the outer circumference of the placed printing medium 1 and a moving means that moves these abutting tools 31 and 32 in the horizontal direction (direction perpendicular to the outer circumference of the printing medium 1). An actuator 33 and a pusher 34 are provided. Then, on the upper surface of the printing platen 2, the object to be printed 1 is printed.
A large number of small holes (not shown in FIG. 7 and FIG. 9) for adsorbing and levitating the are formed.

In this conventional positioning apparatus, as shown in FIG. 9, the outer peripheral surfaces of two adjacent sides of one side of the printing medium 1 are brought into contact with a position setting tool 31, and the printing medium 1 is printed. After being placed on the upper surface of the board 2, the pusher 34 is operated to press the outer peripheral surfaces of the other two adjacent sides of the printing target 1 by the moving tool 32, and then the printing target 1 is printed by vacuum suction. It is fixed on the upper surface of the surface plate 2. Then, the CCD camera 7 observes the cross-shaped and rectangular-shaped registration marks 3 and 4 provided on the substrate 1 and the printing platen 2, respectively, and the position of the registration mark 3 is a reference with respect to the registration mark 4. If it is out of the position, the vacuum suction is released to float the substrate 1 to be printed from the upper surface of the printing platen 2, and the pusher 34 is operated to the "released" state to move the transfer pad 32 to the substrate 1. It is a correction value in the x direction, the y direction, and the θ direction (vertical, horizontal, and twisting directions) in the plane coordinates calculated by image processing based on the relative displacement amount of both register marks 3 and 4 from the side portion. Actuator 33
Is operated to move the position of the position setting pad 31. The above-mentioned operation cycle was repeated until both the registration marks 3 and 4 were aligned, and the relative alignment between the printing medium 1 and the printing platen 2 was performed.

On the other hand, in order to shorten the positioning time on the printing press and improve the productivity, there has been a recently developed positioning method using a standard surface plate. This is because, as described in Japanese Patent Application No. 7-217357, before mounting the printing medium on the printing platen, the individual difference of each printing medium is measured by the camera on the separately provided reference platen. This is a method of reading and correcting the installation position of the printing object placed on the printing platen in advance according to the individual difference information and waiting (for details, see Japanese Patent Application No. 7-217357).

[0006]

As described above, in the conventional positioning method of the flat plate-shaped material to be printed, not only the conventional method in which all of the positioning work is performed on the printing machine, but it is obtained in advance outside the printing machine. The recently developed new system in which the position adjusting mechanism on the printing machine operates and stands by based on the individual difference information for each printing medium has the following problems. (B) In the method of performing all positioning work on the printing press, the printing plate is attached to the printing platen and the registration mark of the printing platen and the printing plate is observed by moving the camera attached to the printing press. Correction by position adjustment mechanism based on the result,
Since it is necessary to perform the print preparation work such as fixing the post-correction substrate to the printing platen and retracting the camera after each printing, the machine down time becomes long and the printing productivity is improved. There wasn't. (B) Compared to (a) above, in the system in which the position adjustment mechanism on the printing machine operates and stands by based on the individual difference information for each printing medium obtained outside the printing machine, the machine is stopped for positioning work. Although the time is drastically shortened, the size of the substrate to be printed, which is mainly made of a glass substrate that is easily damaged, has recently been increased. Therefore, the substrate to be printed is transported, the substrate is attached to the printing platen, the printing platen The necessity of measures for preventing damage and facilitating handling at the time of detaching a substrate to be printed from paper has become more important.

The present invention has been made to solve these problems, and an object of the present invention is to significantly reduce the positioning time on the printing press and improve the productivity of the printing press. At the same time, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method of positioning a printing medium and an apparatus for the printing medium, which can prevent the printing medium from being damaged due to an increase in size of the printing medium and can be easily handled.

[0008]

In order to achieve the above-mentioned object, according to the present invention as set forth in claim 1, the blanket cylinder rolls on the upper surface of a flat plate-shaped object placed and fixed on the printing platen. In a method of positioning a plate-shaped printing medium in an offset printing machine of a type of moving and printing, the printing medium is placed on an upper surface of a support, and a support register mark provided on the support and the printing medium. After observing the relative displacement of the substrate registration mark provided in the optical observation means, the substrate to be printed in the state of being held by the support is placed on the printing platen of the printing machine. , A reference position for each of the support and the printing medium obtained by the observing means, that is, the support is adjacent to each other.
The control signal based on the displacement information of the printing medium with respect to the positions of the two reference side surfaces in contact with each other is linked to the position adjusting mechanism of the printing surface plate to position the printing medium with respect to the printing surface plate . .

Further, according to the present invention, the flat plate shape in the offset printing machine of the type in which the blanket cylinder rolls to print on the upper surface of the flat plate-shaped printing medium mounted and fixed on the printing platen. In the method of positioning a printing medium, the printing medium is placed on an upper surface of a support, and a relative displacement between a support registration mark provided on the support and a substrate registration mark provided on the printing medium is provided separately. thereby observed with optical observation means, to the reference position of the each support and the printing material the resulting
That is, the position of two reference side surfaces of the support which are adjacent to each other.
By coordinating with a position adjusting mechanism that separately provides a control signal based on the displacement information of the printing medium with respect to the position, after performing the alignment of the both register marks, the supporting body holding the printing medium is held. by placing the printing surface plate, pressed rely tool provided on the printing plate, said indicia
And to perform the positioning of the printing substrate against the Surijoban.

As the apparatus using the method described in claim 1, the apparatus described in claim 3 is used. According to the third aspect of the present invention, the positioning of the flat plate-shaped printing object in an offset printing machine of a type in which the blanket cylinder rolls to print on the upper surface of the flat plate-shaped printing object placed and fixed on the printing platen. In the apparatus, between a support provided with a fixing means for holding the substrate to be printed in a mounted state, between a substrate register mark provided on the substrate and a substrate register mark provided on the substrate to be printed. Optical observation means separately provided for observing the relative displacement, the support register mark and the substrate register mark.
After observing the amount of relative deviation from the
The printing medium held on the carrier is printed on the printing machine.
Means for mounting on the printing platen, and provided on the printing platen for adjusting the position of the printing object with respect to the printing platen, and movable in the vertical, horizontal and twist directions on the same plane. The position adjusting mechanism and the reference position for each of the support and the printing medium obtained by the observation means, that is, the support
In addition, a control device that links a control signal based on displacement information of the printing medium with respect to the positions of two adjacent reference side surfaces to the position adjusting mechanism is provided.

As an apparatus using the method described in claim 2, the apparatus described in claim 4 is used. According to the present invention as set forth in claim 4, positioning of a flat plate-shaped printing object in an offset printing machine of a type in which a blanket cylinder rolls to print on an upper surface of a flat plate-shaped printing object placed and fixed on a printing platen. In the apparatus, between a support provided with a fixing means for holding the substrate to be printed in a mounted state, between a substrate register mark provided on the substrate and a substrate register mark provided on the substrate to be printed. Optical observation means separately provided for observing relative displacement, and position adjustment mechanism separately provided for aligning the both registration marks and movable in the vertical, horizontal, and twist directions on the same plane. If the reference position or prior to each of the support and the printed body obtained was observed with the observation device
The position of two adjacent reference sides of the support
A control device linked to the position adjusting mechanism for separately providing a control signal based on the displacement information of the printing medium, and the supporting body in a state of holding the printing medium that has been aligned with the supporting body. A press tool provided on the printing platen for pressing the press plate is provided.

Further, in the present invention as set forth in claim 5, the position of the applicator of the printing platen is a position corresponding to two reference side faces adjacent to each other of the support, and the support separately provided. The position is set to be the same as the position of the pad for the body.

Further, in the present invention as set forth in claim 6, the fixing means of the printed material on the support is provided on the upper surface of the support in order to vacuum-adsorb and float the printed material on the support. A large number of small holes formed therein, a vacuum holding cavity provided inside the support for adsorbing and temporarily holding the object to be printed, and the vacuum holding cavity outside the support. An air connection tool with an automatic opening / closing valve arranged at the tip of an air passage for communication is provided.

Further, in the present invention according to claim 7, a lift pin that can be raised and lowered by an external force is provided in the support for supporting and raising and lowering the object to be printed.

Further, in the present invention as set forth in claim 8, an identification means for identifying each support is added to the plurality of supports prepared.

[0016]

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIGS.
It will be described based on. FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a positioning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view for explaining a support body used in the above positioning device, and FIG. 3 is FIG. 2 (A). An enlarged cross-sectional view of the main part of the support shown in
FIG. 4 is a perspective view for explaining the operation of the support in this embodiment.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a flat plate-shaped object to be printed such as a glass substrate, 2 is a printing platen on which the object to be printed 1 is attached, and S is a flatbed offset printing machine on which the printing platen 2 is placed. A pedestal of P, a trolley T that reciprocates on this pedestal S,
Reference numeral B denotes a blanket cylinder which is pivotally supported by a carriage T and rolls on the upper surface of the material to be printed 1 to transfer the image on the plate surface to the material to be printed 1.

The positioning device for the flat plate-shaped printing material 1 of this embodiment is applied to the offset printing machine P as described above. As shown in FIG. 1, the printing material 1 is placed in a mounted state. It is a rectangular plate-shaped support 5 (see FIG. 2A) provided with a fixing means for holding the two and adjacent to each other.
A support 5 having a reference side surface, a rectangular (frame-shaped) support registration mark 6 provided on the upper surface of the support 5, and a cross-shaped support 6 provided on the printing target 1 corresponding to the mark 6. A CCD camera 7 as an optical observing means which is separately provided for observing a relative displacement between the substrate register mark 3 (see FIG. 2B), and a printing target placed on the upper surface of the support 5. X, y in plane coordinates for adjusting the position of the body 1,
A position adjusting mechanism 10 that is adjustable in the θ direction, a reference position for each of the support 5 and the printing target 1 obtained from the observation result by the CCD camera 7 (that is, two reference positions of the support 5).
A control signal based on displacement information of the printing medium 1 with respect to the side surface position) is linked to a position adjusting mechanism 10 (a mechanism for adjusting the positions of the support 5 and the printing medium 1 together) on the printing platen 2 ( (Supply) controller 40.
In addition, the above-mentioned adjustment mechanism in the x, y, and θ directions, that is, the vertical,
The adjusting mechanism for the lateral and twisting directions may be a mechanism for separating the layers for each direction (not shown).

The support 5 is a light alloy square base as shown in FIGS. In this example, a plurality of supports 5 are prepared, and a bar code (not shown) for identifying each support 5 is attached to each support 5 as an identification means.

Further, the support 5 is provided with a fixing means for mounting and holding the object 1 to be printed on the upper surface of the support 5. That is, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG.
A large number of small holes 8 are formed in the upper surface of the support 5 in order to cause the printed body 1 to be vacuum-sucked to the upper surface of the support 5 and to float the printed material 1 from the upper surface of the support 5. A vacuum holding cavity 9 for adsorbing and temporarily holding the printing medium 1 is internally provided so as to communicate with the small hole 8;
At the tip of an air passage 16 through which the cavity 9 communicates with the outside, an air connector 18 having a built-in automatic opening / closing valve is provided.

Further, the support 5 has the structure shown in FIGS.
As shown in FIG. 4, four sets of spring-equipped lift pins 17 that can be moved up and down by an external force are internally provided in order to lift the printing target 1 when placing and removing the printing target 1.

The position adjusting mechanism 10 on the printing platen 2 described above.
Are each adjacent two sides (i.e., the reference side of the support 5 of the four sides of the support 5 made of a rectangular base
In the present embodiment, the left side of the support 5 in FIG.
Side surface and upper side surface) ,
Moreover, the position setting tool 1 which is moved in the horizontal direction by the actuator 13 for determining the mounting position of the support body 5.
1 and a moving tool 12 that is horizontally moved by a pusher 14 for pressing the other two side surfaces of the support 5 on the upper surface of the printing platen 2 (FIG. 1).

On the other hand, the control unit 40 calculates the observation result of the relative displacement between the support body register mark 6 and the substrate register mark 3 as the displacement amount in the x, y and θ directions of the plane coordinates, It has an individual support member 5 and a control unit 42 that outputs a control signal based on a calculation result obtained for each printing target 1 to the position adjusting mechanism 10 on the printing platen 2.

The registering operation using the positioning device (registering device) of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described below. First, each lift pin 17 of the support 5 is attached via an air cylinder (not shown) provided at a lower plucking position M (see FIG. 1) that is different from the lower plucking position M, that is, the position on the printing platen 2. Push up on the lower surface and push the pin 17 as shown in Fig. 4 (A).
The tip of is projected from the upper surface of the support 5.
Then, as shown in FIG. 4B, the substrate 1 is placed on the four pins 17. At this time, the cross-shaped substrate register mark 3 of the object to be printed 1 is set so as to overlap the rectangular carrier register mark 6 on the upper surface of the support 5, and the lift pins 17 are gently lowered, The air connection tool 18 is connected to a vacuum generating device (not shown) so that the substrate 1 to be printed is attracted to the upper surface of the support 5 as shown in FIG.

Next, the both register marks 3 and 6 of the substrate 1 and the support 5 are observed by the CCD camera 7 separately provided at the lower pulling position M. Based on this observation result, the reference position for each of the support 5 and the printing target 1 (two groups of the support 5
The relative displacement amount of the printing medium 1 with respect to the position of the quasi-side surface is calculated in the arithmetic unit 41 of the control device 40 in the x direction of the plane coordinates, y.
Calculate the deviation amount in the direction and the θ direction. Then, the correction value based on the calculation result is stored in the storage device (not shown) of the control device 40 together with the read value of the barcode of the support 5.

On the other hand, the position on the printing platen 2 of the printing machine P in the state where the printed material 1 on which the relative displacement amount between the register marks 3 and 6 has been observed is adsorbed on the upper surface of the support body 5 Transport to. Along with this, a control signal of a correction value corresponding to the reading of the bar code on the support 5 is output from the control unit 42 of the control device 40 to the position adjusting mechanism 10 on the printing platen 2. In response to this control signal, each actuator 13 of the position adjusting mechanism 10 moves in the horizontal direction, and the position setting pad 11 reaches the position serving as the reference side surface of the support 5 and stands by. Therefore, two adjacent side surfaces (in the present embodiment, the reference side surface of the support 5 are provided to the position setting tool 11) .
1, the left side surface and the upper side surface of the support body 5)
When the pusher 14 of the position adjusting mechanism 10 is actuated and the other two side surfaces of the support 5 are pressed by the moving applicator 12, the printing target 1 is positioned with respect to the printing platen 2. Become.

When this positioning is completed, the printing process starts, and when the printing on the printing medium 1 is completed, the pusher 14
Is removed to allow the moving tool 12 to escape from the two side surfaces of the support 5, and the support 5 fixed on the printing platen 2 is removed from the printing platen 2. Then, the printing object 1 is shown in FIG.
As shown in (C), it is carried out together with the support 5 while being held by the support 5. Then, the vacuum state in the vacuum holding cavity 9 of the support 5 is released and the lift pin 1 is released.
When 7 is pushed up, the printing medium 1 is lifted while being supported by the tips of the pins 17 as shown in FIG. 4 (B). Thus, by removing the printing target 1 from the support 5, the printing target 1 after printing can be obtained.

The operation of the positioning device of this example (the positioning device according to claim 3) will be summarized below. First, the substrate 1 is placed and fixed on the upper surface of the support 5 as accurately as possible so that the substrate register mark 3 is aligned with the support register mark 6. Then, it is observed by an optical observation means (CCD camera 7 etc.) in which both register marks 3 and 6 are separately provided, and the optical information obtained as a result is obtained.
(Information about the relative displacement of both register marks 3 and 6,
That is, the light relating to the amount of relative displacement between both register marks 3 and 6.
Based on the histological information), the reference position of each support 5 and the printing substrate 1 (ie the position of the two reference side surface of the support member 5)
The relative displacement amount of the printing medium 1 with respect to is calculated by the calculation unit 41 of the control device 40 as the displacement amount of the plane coordinates in the x direction, the y direction, and the θ direction. Next, as the control device 40 outputs a control signal based on the calculation result to the position adjusting mechanism 10 on the printing platen 2, the position adjusting mechanism 10 operates according to the control signal, and the printing platen 2 The position of the pad 11 is set. On the other hand, the printing medium 1 for which the relative displacement of the two registration marks 3 and 6 has been observed is conveyed to and placed on the printing platen 2 of the printing machine P while being held on the support 5. . Then, by operating the pusher 14, the reference side surface of the support body 5 is pressed against the above-mentioned pad 11 whose position has already been set to position the printing medium 1. When this positioning is completed, the printing process starts. After the printing is completed, the printing medium 1 is carried out together with the supporting body 5 while being held by the supporting body 5, and the printed printing medium 1 is removed from the supporting body 5.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a positioning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 6 is an enlarged side view of the main parts around a separately provided position adjusting mechanism in this embodiment.

In FIG. 5, the same parts as those in FIGS. 1 to 4 are designated by the same reference numerals, and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

The plate-shaped printing medium positioning apparatus of this embodiment is applied to an offset printing machine P similar to that of the above-described first embodiment, and as shown in FIG. A support 5 having a fixing means for mounting and holding the support 5, and a rectangular support register mark 6 provided on the upper surface of the support 5.
And a CCD camera 7 which is a separate optical observation means for observing the relative displacement between the cross-shaped substrate register mark 3 provided on the printing target 1 corresponding to the mark 6, and both of them. A separately provided position adjusting mechanism 20 capable of adjusting in the x, y and θ directions in the plane coordinates for aligning the register marks 3 and 6, the support 5 and the object to which the observation result of the CCD camera 7 has been obtained. With respect to the reference position for each print body 1
A control device 40 that links (supplies) a control signal based on the displacement information of the printing medium 1 to the separately provided position adjusting mechanism 20.
And a contact tool (fixing pin) 25 provided on the printing platen 2 for pressing the reference side surface of the support 5 in a state of holding the printing target 1 that has been aligned.

The above-mentioned separately provided position adjusting mechanism 20 is shown in FIG.
As shown in, in order to determine the mounting position of the printing material 1 placed on the upper surface of the support member 5, two reference sides adjacent to each other in the printing material 1 is configured as the skilled hand crack, In addition, the position setting pad 21 configured to move in the horizontal direction by the actuator 23, and the pusher 24 for pressing the other two side surfaces of the printing medium 1.
And a moving pad 22 configured to move in the horizontal direction. The pads 21, 22 are provided on the upper surface of the frame-shaped pedestal 26 as shown in FIG. Then, as shown in FIG. 6, inside the pedestal 26, three abutments 29 for abutting two mutually adjacent reference side surfaces of the support 5 are provided.

On the other hand, the controller 40 calculates the observation result of the relative displacement between the support body register mark 6 and the substrate register mark 3 into the displacement amount of the plane coordinates in the x, y and θ directions.
1 and a control unit 42 that outputs a control signal based on the calculation result obtained for each support 5 and the printing target 1 to the position adjusting mechanism 20 that can be separately provided.

As shown in FIG. 5, the pad 25 of the printing platen 2 is composed of three fixing pins that abut two mutually adjacent reference side surfaces of the support 2, and the position of the pad 25 can be set separately. The position adjusting mechanism 20 is arranged so as to be at the same position as the pad 29.

Since the other construction is the same as that of the first embodiment, the description thereof will be omitted.

The registration operation using the positioning device (registration device) of this embodiment having such a configuration will be described below. First, the substrate 1 to be printed is placed on the upper surface of the support 5 in the same manner as in the case of the above-described first embodiment, and both the registration marks 3 of the substrate 1 and the support 5 are printed.
6 is observed by a CCD camera 7 provided separately at the lower pulling position M. The relative displacement amount of the printing medium 1 with respect to the reference position for each of the support 5 and the printing medium 1 based on this observation result is calculated by the calculation unit 41 of the control device 40 in the x direction, the y direction, and the θ direction of the plane coordinates. Calculate to. Then, the control signal based on the calculation result is output to the separately provided position adjusting mechanism 20.

On the other hand, when the observation of the relative displacement amount of both the registration marks 3 and 6 is completed, air is ejected from the small hole 8 of the support member so that the object to be printed 1 is levitated on the upper surface of the support member 5.
Then, operating the actuator 23 of the position adjusting mechanism 20 by the control signal, the position setting against member 21 the pusher 24 to apply the reference side of the printing substrate 1 afloat is actuated to 2 other printing material 1 Two side moving pads 2
By pressing with 2, the support 5 and the substrate 1 are aligned.

When this alignment is completed, the substrate 1 to be printed is again attracted to the support 5. And "remove" the pusher 24
Then, the moving pad 22 is allowed to escape from the two side surfaces of the substrate 1 to be printed, and as shown by an arrow α in FIG. 6, the pedestal 26 is lifted up to hold the substrate 1 to be printed.
Is separated from the pedestal 26. Then, the support 5 in a state of holding the substrate 1 to be printed is conveyed toward the printing platen 2 of the printing machine P.

In the printing platen 2, the pad 29 of the pedestal 25 on which the position of the pad 25 on the upper surface of the printing platen 2 can be separately provided.
Since it is located at the same position as the above, it is possible to position the printing medium 1 with respect to the reference position of the printing platen 2 simply by pressing the reference side surface of the support body 5 holding the printing substrate 1 against the abutment tool 25. . The operation and other operations after positioning are the same as in the case of the above-described first embodiment.

The operation of the positioning apparatus of this example (the positioning apparatus described in claim 4) will be summarized as follows. First, can the upper surface of the support so as to the printing substrate 1 is the substrate register mark 3 fit position of the support member register mark 6
Place it as accurately as possible . And both register marks 3,6
The substrate to be printed with respect to the reference position for each of the support body 5 and the substrate to be printed 1 is observed based on the optical information obtained as a result of observation by an optical observation means (CCD camera 7 etc.) separately provided.
The relative deviation amount of 1 is calculated by the calculation unit 41 of the control device 40 as the deviation amount of the plane coordinates in the x direction, the y direction, and the θ direction. A control signal based on this calculation result is output to the position adjusting mechanism 20 which can be separately provided. Along with this, the position adjusting mechanism 20 operates with respect to the printing medium 1 that is in a state of being levitated from the support body 5 according to the control signal, and the reference position (registration, that is, the printing position is correct on the printing surface plate 2). To fit
The printing material relative to the position) on the printing plate 2 of the printing material 1 1
Is positioned. Substrate 1 for which alignment has been completed
Is again fixed to the support 5 and conveyed to a position on the printing platen 2 of the printing machine P while being held by the support 5, and the reference side surface of the support 5 is provided on the printing platen 2. 25
Then, the support body 5 is placed and fixed on the upper surface of the printing platen 2 by pressing against, and the printing target plate 1 is positioned with respect to the reference position on the printing platen 2. When this positioning is completed, the printing process starts. After the printing is completed, the material 1 to be printed is carried out together with the support 5 while being held by the support 5, and the material 1 to be printed after printing is removed from the support 5.

The position of the pad 25 of the printing platen 2 is
A device which is set so as to be in contact with two adjacent reference side surfaces of the support 5 and to be the same as a position of a support support pad 29 that is separately provided (positioning according to claim 5). According to the apparatus), the side surface of the support 5 can be brought into contact with the support 5 of the printing platen 2 at the same position as the support support 29 separately provided.

A large number of small holes 8 formed on the upper surface of the support 5 for fixing the print 1 to the support 5 by means of vacuum suction and floating of the print 1 to the support 5, and the printing target 1. At the tip of an air passage for communicating the vacuum holding cavity 9 with the outside of the support body 5 provided inside the support body 5 for adsorbing and temporarily holding the body 1. According to the device (positioning device according to claim 6) which is provided with the air connector 18 with the automatic opening / closing valve, the printing target 1 placed on the upper surface of the support 5 is transferred to the support 5. After vacuum suction through the small hole 8 on the upper surface of the, the automatic holding valve of the vacuum holding cavity 9 and the air connecting tool 18 provided inside the support 5 is "closed".
In this state, the inside of the cavity 9 is kept in a vacuum state for a while, so that it is not necessary to equip the support body 5 with a vacuum generating device, and it is not necessary to construct a pipe or the like connected to the device. Therefore, it is possible to convey the substrate 1 to be printed on the upper surface of the support 5 having a light structure while being temporarily adsorbed.

In the case of a device (a positioning device according to claim 7) in which a lift pin 17 that can be lifted and lowered by an external force is provided in the support 5 in order to support and lift the substrate 1 to be printed, When the substrate 1 to be printed is placed on the upper surface of the support 5, first, the lift pins 17 provided inside the support 5 are pushed up by an urging means such as an air cylinder. Then, after the object 1 to be printed is placed on the tip of the lift pin 17, the lift pin 17 is lowered and vacuum suction is performed, so that the object 1 to be printed is gently lowered and adsorbed on the upper surface of the support 5. be able to. Further, when removing the printing target 1 from the upper surface of the support 5, the vacuum state in the cavity 9 is released and at the same time, the lift pin 17 is pushed up by an air cylinder or the like, so that the tip of the lift pin 17 is lifted. The substrate 1 to be printed can be lifted away from the support 5 while being supported by.

In the case of a device (positioning device according to claim 8) in which an identification means for identifying each support 5 is added to the support 5 prepared in plurality, a plurality of devices are prepared. Each supporting body 5 is stored in a computer through a discriminating means attached to each supporting body 5, and a correction value based on deviation information calculated including the individual difference of each supporting body 5 is stored in the computer, and the control signal is stored in the computer. The output can be output from the control unit 42 of the control device 40 to the position adjustment mechanism 10 or 20.

[0045]

As described above, according to the method for positioning a printing medium and the apparatus therefor according to the present invention, the printing medium is not directly placed on the printing platen, but the printing medium is supported by the supporting body. Since the optical disc is mounted on the upper surface and the relative displacement between the support and the printing medium is separately observed, the printing medium is positioned with respect to the reference position by the control signal based on this result. The following operational effects can be achieved.

(A) According to the method and apparatus of the present invention, the position adjusting mechanism provided on the printing platen corrects the position of the object to be printed mounted and fixed on the support together with the support. , Before placing the support holding the substrate to be printed on the printing platen, the correction value based on the relative deviation amount between the substrate and the substrate has already been calculated including the individual differences,
Since the position setting tool on the printing platen is set to the reference position according to the corrected value and is on standby, the position adjustment mechanism on the printing machine immediately presses the side surface of the support and immediately Positioning of the material to be printed is possible. Therefore, the alignment time on the printing platen becomes unnecessary, and the productivity can be greatly improved.

(B) According to the method and apparatus of the present invention in which the position of the material to be printed on the support is corrected by the separately provided position adjusting mechanism, the support holding the material to be printed is used as the printing platen. Before mounting on the printing machine, the relative displacement between the substrate to be printed and the substrate is already observed, and the correction based on the results is performed by the separately provided position adjustment mechanism including the individual differences. In the above, the substrate to be printed can be immediately positioned with respect to the reference position simply by pressing the side surface of the support against the position setting tool of the printing platen. Therefore, the alignment time on the printing machine becomes unnecessary, and the productivity can be greatly improved.

(C) In any of the methods described in (a) and (b) above, the material to be printed is supplied to the printing platen of the printing machine while being held by the support, and after printing is completed. Also, since it is carried out together with the support, it is possible to prevent damage during transportation due to the increase in size of the printing target.

(D) In order to facilitate the attachment and detachment of the material to be printed and to improve the compatibility with the robot hand, when a lift pin is provided in the support,
By using a structure that raises and lowers the pins that support the substrate to be printed by an external force such as an air cylinder, it is not necessary to equip the support with an actuator for raising and lowering the lift pins, and there is a risk of failure. It can be a support of light and simple structure without.

(E) When the identification means is added to a plurality of supports, the computer should store a correction value based on the individual difference information for each support and the deviation information between the substrates. Thus, regardless of the order of the plurality of supports supplied to the printing machine, the positioning control corresponding to each support can be immediately performed.

Therefore, according to the present invention, the positioning time on the printing machine can be greatly shortened, the productivity of the printing machine can be improved, and the damage to the printed material due to the increase in size can be prevented. It is possible to provide a positioning method for a flat plate-shaped printing medium and a device therefor which can be easily handled.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a positioning device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a plan view of a support and a printing medium used in the positioning device according to the first embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B shows registration marks provided on the support and the printing medium, respectively. It is a top view shown.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken along line xx in FIG.

FIG. 4A is a perspective view showing a state in which a lift pin projects from the upper surface of a support body, and FIG. 4B is a perspective view showing a state in which an object to be printed is placed on the projecting lift pin; FIG. 6C is a perspective view showing a state in which the printing target is adsorbed on the upper surface of the support.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an overall configuration of a positioning device according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side view for explaining the configuration and operation of a separately provided position adjusting device used in the second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view showing the overall configuration of a conventional flatbed offset printing press.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing a substrate register mark provided on a printing medium and a platen register mark provided on a printing platen.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing the overall configuration of a conventional positioning device at the position of a flatbed offset printing press.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 Printed material 2 Printing surface plate 3 PCB registration mark 4 Surface plate register mark 5 support 6 Support registration mark 7 CCD camera 8 small holes 9 Vacuum holding cavity 10, 20 Position adjustment mechanism 11,21 Positioning tool 12,22 Moving pad 13,23 Actuator 14,24 pushers 16 air passages 17 Lifting pin 18 Pneumatic connector with automatic open / close valve 25 Printing surface plate 26 pedestal 29 pedestal pad 40 control device 41 Operation part 42 Control unit P offset printing machine S Printer stand T printing machine dolly B blanket body M lower pull position

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (58) Fields surveyed (Int.Cl. ⁷ , DB name) B41F 3/20 B41F 17/14 B41F 33/14 G01B 11/00

Claims (8)

(57) [Claims] 1. A method of positioning a flat printing medium in an offset printing machine of a type in which a blanket cylinder rolls to print on the upper surface of a flat printing medium placed and fixed on a printing platen. After placing the printed body on the upper surface of the support body and observing it with an optical observing means that can separately provide a relative displacement between the support body registration mark provided on the support body and the substrate registration mark provided on the printed material, The substrate to be printed in a state of being held by the support is placed on a printing platen of the printing machine, and the reference position for each of the substrate and the substrate obtained by the observation means, that is, the substrate Two reference sides that are adjacent to each other
By linking the control signal based on the displacement information of the printing material to the position adjusting mechanism of the printing platen relative to the position, before
A method for positioning a flat plate-shaped printing object, comprising: positioning the printing object with respect to a printing platen . 2. A positioning method for a flat plate-shaped printing medium in an offset printing machine of a type in which a blanket cylinder rolls on the upper surface of a flat plate-shaped printing medium mounted and fixed on a printing platen. The printed body is placed on the upper surface of the support, and the relative displacement between the support register mark provided on the support and the substrate register mark provided on the substrate to be printed is observed by an optical observation means. The reference position for each of the resulting support and printing medium, that is, adjacent to each other of the support
A state in which the object to be printed is held after the register marks are aligned by linking with a position adjusting mechanism that separately provides a control signal based on information on the deviation of the object to be printed with respect to the positions of the two reference side surfaces. The flat plate shape characterized in that the substrate is positioned on the printing platen by pressing the support on the printing platen and pressing it against a tool provided on the printing platen . Positioning method for printed material. 3. A positioning device for a flat plate-shaped printing object in an offset printing machine of a type in which a blanket cylinder rolls and prints on the upper surface of a flat plate-shaped printing object placed and fixed on a printing platen. Observing relative displacement between a support provided with a fixing means for holding the printed body in a mounted state and a support body registration mark provided on the support body and a substrate registration mark provided on the printing medium. An optical observing means separately provided for the purpose of the support register mark and the substrate register mark.
After observing the relative displacement between the
Hold the printed material in the held state on the printing platen of the printing machine.
And a position adjusting mechanism which is provided on the printing platen for adjusting the position of the printing substrate with respect to the printing platen and is movable in the vertical, horizontal and twist directions on the same plane. , A reference position for each of the support and the printing medium obtained by the observation means, that is, the support is adjacent to each other.
And a control device for linking a control signal based on displacement information of the printing medium with respect to the positions of the two reference side surfaces to the position adjusting mechanism, respectively. 4. A positioning device for a flat plate-shaped printing medium in an offset printing machine of the type in which a blanket cylinder rolls on the upper surface of a flat plate-shaped printing medium mounted and fixed on a printing platen. Observing relative displacement between a support provided with a fixing means for holding the printed body in a mounted state and a support body registration mark provided on the support body and a substrate registration mark provided on the printing medium. Optical observation means separately provided for adjusting the position of the both registration marks, and a position adjustment mechanism separately provided for aligning the both registration marks and movable in vertical, horizontal, and twist directions on the same plane, and the observation means. The reference position for each of the support and the substrate to be printed, that is, the support
The positions of two adjacent reference sides of the carrier are
A control device linked to the position adjusting mechanism, which separately provides a control signal based on misregistration information of the print body, and the support body are pressed against the support body while holding the print target material that has been aligned with the support body. A positioning device for a flat plate-shaped printing object, which is provided with a padding tool provided on the printing platen. 5. The position of the applicator of the printing platen is a position where the applicator is in contact with two reference side surfaces of the support that are adjacent to each other, and is the same as the position of the applicator for the support that is separately provided. The positioning device for a flat plate-shaped printing object according to claim 4, wherein the positioning device is provided. 6. A plurality of small holes formed in an upper surface of the support for fixing the print target on the support by vacuum suction and floating of the print on the support, A vacuum-holding cavity provided inside the support for adsorbing and temporarily holding the substrate to be printed, and a vacuum-holding cavity at the tip of an air passage for communicating with the outside of the support. The positioning device for a flat plate-shaped printing medium according to any one of claims 3, 4, and 5, further comprising: an air connection tool provided with an automatic opening / closing valve. 7. The plate-shaped object to be printed according to claim 6, wherein a lift pin that can be moved up and down by an external force is provided in the supporting member to support and elevate the object to be printed. Positioning device. 8. The supporting means prepared in plural, further comprising an identification means for identifying each supporting body, claim 3, claim 4, claim 5, claim 6 and claim 6. The flat plate-shaped printing medium positioning device according to claim 7.