JPH06286115A - Automatic treating device for printing plate - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To provide an automatic treating device for a printing plate capable of reducing the installation area by automating a series of processes used until printing treatment is performed for the printing plate by a fully automatic composer and the printing plate is developed and the area ratio of a pattern is measured and thereby the final printing plate usable for printing is finished. CONSTITUTION:Printing treatment is performed for a printing plate 5B by fully automatic composers 112A, 112B. The printing plate 5B is placed on a conveyance means 113 thereof and conveyed in the direction shown in an arrow C and treated to obtain the final printing plate through a developing device 60 and a measuring means 62 of the area ratio of a pattern. Since measurement through the measuring means 62 is enabled regardless of the direction of the printing plate, a rotation means for changing the direction of the printing plate is eliminated and the installation area of an automatic treating device for the printing plate is reduced.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing plate which is automatically printed by a fully automatic plate making machine and then developed, and the pattern area of the printed printing plate subjected to the development processing. The present invention relates to a printing plate automatic processing apparatus which automatically measures a rate and automatically processes a series of steps until finishing as a final printing plate used for printing.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Recently, a printing plate is automatically baked by a fully automatic plate making machine, and the baked printing plate is developed, and the image area ratio of the baked printing plate subjected to the developing process is calculated. An automatic printing plate processing apparatus is being developed which is intended to automate a series of steps of measuring by a pattern area ratio measuring device and finishing as a final printing plate used for printing.

The pattern area ratio measuring device is defined as the ratio of the area of the image area to the area of the divided area of the printing plate divided corresponding to each ink key for adjusting the ink supply amount to the printing paper. The area ratio is measured.

That is, in FIG. 10, 1 is a rectangular printing plate, and 2 is a schematic representation of each ink key for adjusting the ink supply amount to a printing paper (not shown). The printing plate 1 is divided according to the arrangement direction of each ink key 2, and the reference numeral 1
The letters n indicate the divided areas. Further, 3 is a design. The area ratio of each pattern is determined depending on the proportion of the image area of the pattern 3 to be printed in each area of each of the areas 1 to n. For example, the area of the i-th divided area And b is the area of the image area of the picture 3 in the i-th divided area, the i-th picture area ratio S is defined by a / b. The opening of the ink key 2 is set for each pattern area ratio, and each divided area 1 of the printing plate 1 is set according to the opening.
The amount of ink to be supplied to ~ n is set.

Further, the printing plate 1 is provided with positioning pin holes 4 and 4 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and these pin holes 4 and 4 are so-called multiplications including a fully automatic plate making machine. It is used when the printing plate 1 is set on the plate machine to print a pattern, and when the printing plate is set on the printing machine (not shown) and when the plate is bent to set the printing plate on the printing machine. Used. However, in FIG. 9, for example, in a printing press for a sheet-fed press, the pin holes 4 and 4 are punched so as to be spaced in a direction parallel to the ink key 2 of the printing press, and the pin is inserted into the pin hole. Then, the printing plate is set, and in FIG. 8, in a printing press for a rotary press, pin holes 4 and 4 are punched so as to be spaced in a direction orthogonal to the ink key 2 of the printing press, and the pin holes are pinned. Is inserted and the printing plate is set. Therefore, the direction of the printing plate 1 printed by the plate-making machine and the direction of the ink key may be orthogonal to each other as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9.

As described above, the printing plate may be set in different directions depending on the type of printing machine and the manufacturer. Therefore, the printing plate 1 of FIG. 8 printed by the fully automatic plate-making machine is conveyed as it is. When developing and measuring the pattern area ratio, when the pattern area ratio of each divided area matches each ink key 2 arranged in the direction transverse to the conveyance direction of the printing paper, printing is performed by a fully automatic plate-making machine. The printing plate 1 shown in FIG. 9 is conveyed as it is, and is developed to measure the pattern area ratio.
When is set, the ink key 2 does not fit into each divided area of the picture area ratio as shown in FIG. 11, which causes a trouble in printing. This is because the conventional pattern area ratio meter can set the divided areas only in a fixed direction with respect to the printing plate conveyance direction. Therefore, in the printing plate automatic processing apparatus, it was necessary to rotate the printing plate so as to match the direction of the printing plate before measuring the pattern area ratio. Therefore, as in the conventional printing plate automatic processing apparatus shown in FIG. 13, a rotating device 46 and a rotary table 49 are provided, and the printing plate is rotated in the carrying direction before being carried to the pattern area ratio measuring means. The numbers in FIG. 13 are the same as those in FIG. 1, and will be described later in the description of FIG.

[0007]

The printing plate automatic processing apparatus needs to be installed in the vicinity of the printing machine in order to manufacture the printing plate, but the printing machine itself requires a large installation area. However, there is a strong demand for the printing plate manufacturing process to be as small as possible and to install as many printing machines as possible. However, the printing plate automatic processing device requires equipment for performing the work that the worker was doing like the rotation of the printing plate described above, and the printing plate automatic processing device performs from printing the printing plate to measuring the pattern area ratio. There is a problem in that the installation area becomes larger when the equipment is installed as compared with the conventional case where the equipment for each process is installed separately and the worker goes back and forth between the equipment with the printing plate.

Further, when a plurality of fully automatic plate making machines are installed in the printing plate automatic processing apparatus, a label sticking device or the like as an identifier giving means for giving an identifier to the printing plate is provided for each fully automatic plate making machine. It was installed. This means that it is not possible to identify which fully automatic platemaking machine the printing machine has ejected from on the transport means, and the printing plate can be detected only in the fully automatic platemaking machine or immediately after being discharged from the fully automatic platemaking machine. This is because it cannot be discriminated whether it was discharged from the fully automatic platemaking machine. However, in that case, it is necessary to install a large number of identifier assigning means, resulting in poor equipment efficiency,
The provided identifier needs to have a high resistance to withstand a developing solution, a brush, etc. during the developing process, and has problems such as high cost and limited means.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object thereof is from printing of a pattern on a printing plate by a plurality of fully automatic plate-making machines to measurement of a pattern area ratio of the printing plate. An object of the present invention is to provide an automatic printing plate processing apparatus capable of reducing the installation area in an automatic printing plate processing apparatus for automating the process.

[0010]

According to the present invention, there is provided a breeding process for automatically printing a printing plate on a fully automatic platemaking machine, a developing process for developing a baked printing plate, and a printing paper conveying direction. In the printing plate automatic processing device having a pattern area ratio measuring step for measuring the pattern area ratio for each divided area of the baked printing plate divided corresponding to each ink key arranged in the direction crossing An input means for inputting the basic printing information used when processing the printing plate with the processing device, and at least the above-mentioned plate making step, developing step, and pattern area ratio measuring step, and a printing plate carrying means for carrying the printing plate. ,
Carrying printing plate identifying means for identifying the position of the printing plate placed on the printing plate carrying means, and printing plate identification control means for associating the information from the carrying printing plate identifying means with the printing basic information. A plurality of light receiving sensors arranged to scan the conveyed printing plate to receive the amount of reflected light from the printing plate, and the light receiving sensor based on the identification information from the printing plate identification control means. Conformity judging means for judging the conformity between the arrangement direction of the printing plate and the arrangement direction of the printing machine ink keys when the printing plate is set on the printing machine, the matching information from the matching judging means, and the discrimination from the printing plate discrimination control means. Based on the information, if it is suitable, the received light output is integrated in the scanning direction for each light receiving sensor and the integrated result is associated with each ink key.If not, each light receiving output of each light receiving sensor is made for each scan. Accumulate The integration results are automatic printing plate processing apparatus characterized by having a picture pattern area rate measuring means provided with calculating means for associating to each ink key.

Further, according to the present invention, there is provided an identifier assigning means provided in the printing plate transporting means for assigning an identifier to the printing plate based on the identification information from the printing plate identifying control means, and the identifier assigning means. An automatic printing plate processing apparatus comprising: the pattern area ratio measuring means for measuring the pattern area ratio of the printed printing plate based on the assigned identifier.

Further, according to the present invention, at least a part of the printing is provided with a plurality of divided conveying parts and a conveying driving means for independently conveying and stopping the plural conveying parts. Based on the plate conveying means, the conveying printing plate identifying means for identifying the printing plate for each of the plurality of conveying portions, and the conveying driving means for each of the plurality of conveying portions based on the identification information from the conveying printing plate identifying means The automatic printing plate processing apparatus is characterized in that it has a transport control means.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the printing plate baked by the fully automatic plate making machine of the printing plate automatic processing apparatus is conveyed to the developing step and the pattern area ratio measuring step by the conveying means, and the respective printing plates are conveyed. The inside position is identified by the transport printing plate identification means, and is associated with the printing basic information by the printing plate identification control means. The printing plate that has reached the pattern area ratio measuring means, based on the information from the printing plate identification control means, the matching of the arrangement direction of the light receiving sensor and the arrangement direction of the printing machine ink key when the printing plate is set on the printing machine. Judgment is made and the integration method for each measurement is changed according to the direction of the printing plate.Therefore, no matter what direction the printing plate is conveyed without rotating the printing plate, the pattern area ratio Can be measured, and the rotating means of the printing plate is unnecessary.

Further, according to the present invention, the fully automatic plate-making machine in which the identifier assigning means assigns an identifier to the printing plate based on the information from the printing plate identification control means, and the printing is performed based on this identifier. After specifying, the required printing plate management number, the printing machine on which the printing plate should be set, and the data such as the number of ink keys are selected to measure the pattern area ratio. Since the identifier assigning means is based on the information from the printing plate identification control means, it can be provided in the printing plate transporting means, it is not necessary to install it in each fully automatic platemaking machine, and it is possible to reduce equipment.
Further, when installed in any of the transportation means when installed after the completion of development, it is possible to reduce the need to provide the identifier itself with resistance that can withstand the development process, and it is possible to broaden the range of identifier selection. Become.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the printing plate transporting means is composed of a plurality of transporting portions, and the transporting printing plate identifying means identifies the presence or absence of the printing plate on each transporting portion.
This conveyance printing plate identification means conveys the position and the conveyance position of the printing plate from the time when the printing plate is discharged from each fully automatic plate making machine and mounted on the conveyance part to the pattern area ratio measuring means or the identifier giving means. Since the position movement between the parts is identified, it is possible to determine in real time from which identification part the printing plate discharged from the automatic plate making machine is located on which carrying part. In addition, when the printing plate is ejected by the information from the fully automatic plate making machine by carrying and stopping each carrying part independently, another printing is performed on the carrying part where the ejected printing plate is mounted. Temporarily stop the transport part in front of it so that there is no plate. In that case, it is not necessary to stop the discharge of the printing plate from the fully automatic platemaking machine, and it is possible to keep the efficiency of the fully automatic platemaking machine from decreasing.

[0016]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an outline of the entire printing plate automatic processing apparatus according to the present invention, in the case where two fully automatic platemaking machines are installed, and 112A and 112B are fully automatic platemaking machines. For example, as shown in FIG.
The configuration shown in is used. In FIG. 2, 2
Reference numerals 1 and 22 are machine frames. A pedestal 23 is provided between the machine frames 21 and 22. An exposure head 24 is provided above the machine frames 21 and 22. Palettes 26 to 28 are provided on the lower portion 25 of the exposure head 24, and positive and negative films before and after baking are stored in the pallets 26 to 28. The positive film or the negative film of the pallets 26 to 28 is the fully automatic intaglio controller 111A (or 111).
According to B), they are transferred one by one into the exposure apparatus. Each positive film or negative film has a pin hole formed on one side thereof, and the positioning is performed on the basis of this pin hole.

Each printing plate before printing is stored in the stacker 30 according to size. The stacker 30 can be pulled out in the direction of arrow A. In addition, 29 is a surface plate which can be pulled out. When the pattern is printed, the printing plate before printing is adsorbed from the stacker 30 by the adsorbing mechanism 39, which will be described later, and placed on the surface plate 29 pulled out.
9 is drawn in and baking is performed. Surface plate 29 is arrow A
Direction and the direction opposite to the arrow A, the exposure head 24 is movable together with the lower portion 25 in the direction orthogonal to the arrow A, and is mounted on the surface plate 29 by a combination of these two movements. A positive film or a negative film can be printed on any position of the placed printing plate. When set on a printing plate for a sheet-fed press, the design is printed in the same direction as the design 3 shown in FIG. When each printing plate is set on a printing press for a rotary printing press, the pattern is printed in the same direction as the pattern 3 shown in FIG. 8 due to the positional relationship between the pins of the fully automatic printing press and the pins of the rotary printing press. The printing plate on which the pattern is printed is discharged to the outside by the suction mechanism 39. The control is performed by the fully automatic platemaking machine controller 111A (or 111B). Job No., printing plate size, data input to the fully automatic plate-making machine controller 111A (or 111B),
Register mark for each print color Designation of each color for printing, position of positive film or negative film, position of baking, number of baking, exposure time at baking (or count of integrating photometer), etc. This is performed based on the condition data, and as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the calibration mark 9 for determining the reflected light amount from “0 to 100” is also printed at the same time as the pattern area ratio measurement described later. Of course, fully automatic plate-type controller 111A
The type of printing plate may be input when data is input to (or 111B).

A guide member 31 is provided above the machine casings 21 and 22. A moving body 32 is provided on the guide member 31. The moving body 32 is a machine frame 2 by the fully automatic plate-making machine controller 111A (or 111B).
1, 22 are driven, that is, in the direction opposite to arrow B and arrow B. The moving body 32 includes frames 33, 33.
Have. A support plate 34 is attached to the frames 33, 33. Posts 35 are planted on the support plate 34. An upper plate 36 is provided on the upper end of the column 35. A pinion 37 is provided between the frames 33, 33. The pinion 37 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown). The pinion 37 is meshed with the rack 38. A suction mechanism 39 is provided below the rack 38. The rack 38 is vertically moved by the pinion 37. The suction mechanism 39 has frame portions 40 and 40, and the frame portions 40 and 40 are connected by a rod 41. Frame 4
A suction plate 42 is provided below the 0 and 40. (For the configuration of this fully automatic plate-making machine, see, for example, JP-A-2-
See 304571).

The printing plate that has been baked is suction-held by the suction plate 42 of the suction mechanism 39 from the surface plate 29 under the control of the fully automatic intaglio controller 111A (or 111B), and moves in the direction of arrow B, 1 printing plate conveying means 11
The printing plate is placed on the printing plate transporting means 113 by stopping at the point of time when the printing plate is moved to the position 3 and stopping the suction. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the printing plate transporting means, and in the case of this embodiment, the printing plate transporting means 113 is composed of transporting parts 113A to 113D and machine frames 142 and 142 supporting them.

The transport parts 113A to 113D are each machine frame 1
A roller 115 and a roller 1 which are axially supported by 42 and 142.
16, an endless belt 117 wound around the rollers 115 and 116, and a conveyance driving unit (not shown) that drives the rollers 115 and 116.
The conveyance driving means rotates and stops the rollers 115 and 116 to drive and stop the endless belt 117, and conveys and stops the printed printing plate placed on the endless belt 117. The transport driving means is controlled by the printing plate automatic processing control device 110. The sensors 118A to 118D, which are means for identifying the printing plate to be transported, are transporting portions 113A to 113D.
It is installed between 13D and detects the plate edge of the printed printing plate and sends the information to the printing plate automatic processing control device 110.

In FIG. 3, the printing plate 5B that has been baked by the fully automatic plate making machine 112B is placed on the carrying part 113C and then carried to the carrying part 113B and stopped. The suction mechanism 39B of 112B has returned on the guide member 31B. Fully automatic plate making machine 112A
The suction mechanism 39A reaches the end of the guide member 31A in a state in which the baked printing plate 5A is sucked, and the baked printing plate 5A shows a state in which it reaches the transport portion 113A. Before this state, the fully automatic platemaking machine controller 111B of the fully automatic platemaking machine 112B outputs the information at the time when the suction mechanism 39B stops the suction and discharges the baked printing plate 5B onto the transport portion 113C. Automatic processing control device 11
0, and the printing plate automatic processing control device 110 sets the transport part 1
13C is instructed to drive, and the printed printing plate 5B has been conveyed on the conveyance portion 113C.

When the sensor 118C detects the plate edge of the printed printing plate 5B, the sensor 118C starts to send the information to the printing plate automatic processing control device 110, and the printing plate automatic processing control device 110 drives the carrying driving means of the carrying portion 113B. The printed printing plate 5B is conveyed onto the conveyance portion 113B, and when the printed printing plate 5B passes by, the information from the sensor 118C is lost. As a result, the printing plate automatic processing control device 110 places the fully automatic plate-making machine 112 on the transport portion 113B.
It is recognized that the printed printing plate 5B printed in B is placed. Next, before the sensor 118B detects the plate edge of the printed printing plate 5B, the fully automatic plate making machine 112.
When the information of the printing plate discharge is sent from the fully automatic plate-making machine controller 111A of A to the printing plate automatic processing control device 110,
The printing plate automatic processing control device 110 instructs the conveyance driving means of the conveyance portion 113B to stop, the conveyance portion 113B is stopped, and the printed printing plate 5B is on standby on the conveyance portion 113B.

The fully automatic platemaking machine controller 111A of the fully automatic platemaking machine 112A automatically prints the information when the suction mechanism 39A stops the sucking and places the baked printing plate 5A on the transport portion 113A. The printing plate automatic processing control device 110 sends the processing part to the processing control device 110,
The printing driving plate 5A is instructed to drive, and the printing plate 5A with printing is conveyed on the conveyance portion 113A. At this time, the printing plate automatic processing control device 110 detects that the printing plate 5A printed by the fully automatic plate former 112A is transferred onto the transfer part 113A on the transfer part 1A.
It is recognized that the printing plate 5B printed by the fully automatic platemaking machine 112B is placed on 13B. Sensor 118A
Starts sending the information to the printing plate automatic processing control device 110 when the plate edge of the printed printing plate 5A is detected, and the baked printing plate 5A is conveyed to the printing plate alignment device 46, where it is printed. Sensor 1 when is passed
Information from 18A will be lost. When the sensor 118A detects the plate edge of the printed printing plate 5A, the printing plate automatic processing control device 110 instructs the conveyance driving means of the conveyance portion 113B to drive, and the printing plate 5B starts to be conveyed to the conveyance portion 113A. Recognizes that the printing plate 5A has moved onto the printing plate alignment device 46 when the information from the sensor is interrupted, and that the printing plate 5B has moved onto the transport portion 113A when the information from the sensor 118B has interrupted. To do.

In the figure, 140A to 140H are printing plate extraction identifying means and removal switches. Removal switch 140
Are provided for each transport site, and 140A and 140B are provided on both sides of the transport site 113A, 140C and 140D are provided on both sides of the transport site 113B, and 14C are provided on both sides of the transport site 113C.
0E and 140F are 140 on both sides of the transportation part 113D.
G and 140H are provided respectively, and are provided on both sides of the transporting portion so that the operator can pull out the printing plate from either side of the printing plate transporting means 113. The baked printing plates 5A and 5B discharged from the fully automatic plate making machines 112A and 112B face the printed pattern face up while being conveyed on the printing plate conveying means, and the state of printing the pattern is fully automatic. It becomes possible for the worker who works near the plate machines 112A and 112B to confirm. Alternatively, the printing plates may be ejected from the printing plate ejection means, which will be described later, based on the printing plate ejection identification means without ejecting the printing plates.

When the worker finds that the printing plate 5B is a defective printing plate, the worker removes the removal switch 140C or 14 of the transport portion 113B on which the printing plate 5B is placed.
Activate 0D. This information is sent to the printing plate automatic processing control device 110, and the printing plate automatic processing control device 110 instructs the transportation driving means of the transportation portion 113B to stop, and the worker prints the defective printing plate placed on the transportation portion 113B. Remove 5B. At the same time, the printing plate automatic processing control device 110 confirms the transportation status of the immediately preceding transportation portion 113C, and instructs the driving stop for safety during the driving transportation. When the conveyance portion is being conveyed, the conveyance portion is stopped, but when the conveyance portion being conveyed is discontinuous, the conveyance is continued in order to reduce the interval of the printing plate being conveyed for improving efficiency. Further, the printing plate automatic processing control device 11
0 deletes the basic printing information of the printing plate placed on the transport portion 113B from the processed storage area, and at the same time stores it again in the unprocessed storage area.

In this embodiment, the printing plate alignment device 46 serves both as a printing plate alignment means and a printing plate ejection means. FIG. 4 is an oblique view of the printing plate alignment device 46, FIG. 5 (a) is a front view, and FIG. 5 (b) is a side view.
50, a stocker 151, a plurality of rollers 152 pivotally supported by the main body, alignment discharge parts 153A and 153B, and an identifier assigning device 58.

The printing plate enters the printing plate alignment device 46 in the direction of the arrow D, and when the sensors 154 and 154 detect the printing plate, a plurality of rollers 152 rotate in the direction of the arrow.
The printing plate is conveyed in the direction of arrow E. Multiple rollers 152
Are connected by an endless belt 157, and one of them is connected by an endless belt 156 to a drive motor 155. When the drive motor 155 is rotationally driven, a plurality of rollers 152 rotate. When the longitudinal alignment sensors 168 and 168 detect the printing plate conveyed in the direction of the arrow E, the rotation of the plurality of rollers 152 is stopped and the printing plate is temporarily stopped. next,
The alignment ejection portion 153A moves in the direction of the arrow F ', conveys the printing plate in the direction of the arrow F', and the alignment ejection portion 153.
The printing plate is brought into contact with the pushers 161B and 161B planted in B. Edge direction alignment sensors 167 and 167 are provided near the pushers 161B and 161B. When the edge direction alignment sensors 167 and 167 detect the printing plate, the alignment discharge portion 153A is stopped and the edge direction position is detected. The matching is completed.

The alignment discharge parts 153A and 153B are respectively supporting bases 160A and 160B, and pushers 161A, 161A, 161B and 16 which are erected on the supporting bases 160A and 160B, respectively.
1B, supporting bases 160A, 160B
Moves in the directions of arrows F and F ′ along the guide rails 162 and 162. The support bases 160A and 160B are screwed onto the ball shafts 163A, 163A, 163B and 163B, respectively, and the ball shafts 163A, 163A and 163 are respectively provided.
B and 163B are shafts 165A and 1 having screw threads, respectively.
A threaded shaft 165A, which is screwed to 65B,
The leading ends of the 165B have drive motors 164A and 16A, respectively.
It is screwed into the 4B gear. Drive motors 164A, 16
When rotated 4B, the threaded shafts 165A, 165B
Ball shafts 163A, 163A, 163
B and 163B rotate, and the support bases 160A and 160B move in the directions of arrows F and F ′ along the guide rails 162 and 162. The drive motors 164A and 164B are independently rotatable in both forward and reverse directions, and are supported by the support bases 160A and 160B.
60B independently moves in the directions of arrows F and F ', and pushes the printing plate with pushers 161A, 161A, 161B, and 161B to align the printing plate in the front direction and eject the printing plate.

Edge direction alignment sensors 167, 167
When the printing plate automatic processing control device identifies that the alignment is completed based on the detection information of 1., the plurality of rollers 152 start rotating and convey the printing plate in the direction of arrow E. Sensor 16
When 6 detects a printing plate, the detection information is sent to the identifier giving unit 58, and the identifier giving unit 58 gives an identifier corresponding to the printing plate to a predetermined position of the printing plate according to the instruction of the printing plate automatic processing apparatus 110. To do.

Next, a case where the printing plate alignment device 46 is used as a printing plate ejecting means will be described. When the printing plate entered from the arrow D is a defective printing plate, a plurality of rollers 152
Carried by the longitudinal alignment sensor 168,
When 168 detects a defective printing plate, a plurality of rollers 152
The rotation is stopped until the printing plate is once stopped, which is the same as the case where the above-mentioned alignment is performed. Once the defective printing plate is stopped, the alignment ejection portion 153B moves in the arrow F direction and conveys the defective printing plate in the arrow F direction. At that time, the alignment ejection portion 153A does not move, and the pushers 161A and 161A that are planted in the alignment ejection portion 153A fall down by a folding mechanism (not shown), which does not hinder the conveyance of the defective printing plate. The alignment ejection portion 153B moves in the direction of arrow F, and when the defective printing plate pressed by the pushers 161B and 161B passes over the sensors 169 and 169, the sensors 169 and 169 start detection and the defective printing plate is ejected to the stocker 151. When the sensors 169 and 169 stop detecting the defective printing plate, the discharge portion 153B returns in the direction of the arrow F ′, and the pushers 161A and 161A that are planted in the alignment discharge portion 153A stand up by a folding mechanism (not shown). The printing plate automatic processing control device 110 performs the positioning and the selection and control of ejection.

In the present embodiment, the printing plate alignment device 46
Reduces the installation area of the entire printing plate automatic processing apparatus and the equipment by using the printing plate positioning unit and the printing plate discharging unit as a printing plate positioning unit and a printing plate discharging unit. May be provided separately. Further, the printing plate alignment device 46 and the printing plate transporting means 113 shown in FIG.
In addition to A, the installation area and the equipment may be further reduced. When the printing or pasting of the identifier is completed, the transport roller 152 is driven again, the printed printing plate is transferred to the developing device 60, and the development is automatically performed.

The printed printing plate which has been developed by the developing device 60 passes through a positioning device 61 which is a part of the printing plate conveying means, and a main body (pattern area ratio measuring means) 62 having a built-in pattern area ratio measuring device. Be transported to. In this embodiment, a part of the printing plate transport means is a printing plate alignment device 6
It also serves as 1. As shown in FIG. 6, the alignment device 61 is provided in front of a main body (pattern area ratio measuring means) 62 incorporating a pattern area ratio measuring device. The pattern area ratio measuring means 62 is provided with a plate supply port 62 '. A pair of conveyor belts 63 are provided on the front side of the pattern area ratio measuring means 62. The printed printing plates 5 and 8 are transferred from the developing device 60 to the conveyor belt 63. This conveyor belt 63
Are suspended between a drive roller 65 and a driven roller 66. The drive roller 65 is rotationally driven by a motor (not shown) via a chain 67.

Printing plate detection sensors 68, 68 are provided on the left side in the conveying direction of the printed printing plate. The interval between the printing plate detection sensors 68, 68 is set to be equal to or less than the length of the shortest printing plate. Positioning pins 70, 70 are provided on the right side of the printed printing plate in the conveying direction. The alignment pins 70, 70 are driven in a direction orthogonal to the transport direction, that is, in a direction in which the printing plate detection sensors 68, 68 are separated and approached. The printing plate that has been baked has the alignment pin 7
The alignment is performed by 0 and 70.

A printed printing plate leading edge detection sensor 72 is provided on the front side of the plate supply port 62 '. The printing plate leading edge detection sensor 72 has the printing plates 5 and 8 which have been baked.
When the leading edge of the sheet is detected, the rotation of the drive roller 65 is stopped and the conveyance is temporarily stopped. And the alignment pin 7
0 and 70 are driven, and the orientation of the printing plate after printing is aligned in parallel with the transport direction. This positioning is performed when measuring the pattern area ratio, but the identifier can also be positioned with respect to an identifier reading device (not shown).

The picture area ratio measuring means 62 has a frame 73 as shown in FIG. Between left and right side of frame 73 7
Feed rollers 75, 75 for transporting the printing plate into the frame 73 are installed on the rollers 4, 74 via bearings 76, 76. The respective feed rollers 75, 75 are rotationally driven by a servo motor 77 installed on the frame 73 via a timing belt 77 '. Movable frame 7 on the side faces 74, 74
8, 78 are installed so as to be vertically slidable. Pressing rollers 79 and 79 are stretched around the movable frames 78 and 78.

The feed rollers 75, 75 are composed of two feed rollers 75, the front feed roller 75 shown in the figure, and the feed roller 75 arranged in parallel at the back of the feed roller 75. It is composed of two pressing rollers 79 arranged in parallel in the back. A stopper device 80 is provided between the feed rollers 75. The stopper device 80 is supported by a supporting means (not shown). The stopper device 80 includes a drive cylinder 81 and a stopper rod 82. The stopper rod 82 can advance and retract in the space between the feed rollers 75. When the stopper rod 82 advances into the space between the feed roller 75 and the feed roller 75, it abuts against the leading end of the printed printing plate in the conveying direction, and the baked printing plate is transferred to the measuring head (a large number of light receiving sensors arranged) 83. In contrast, it is positioned in the transport direction.

Between the pressing roller 79 and the pressing roller 79, a measuring head 83 having a large number of light receiving sensors (not shown) arranged therein is arranged. The printing plate inserted into the pattern area ratio measuring means is conveyed while being sandwiched between the feed roller 75 and the pressing roller 79, and the tip end thereof is brought into contact with the stopper device 80 to be positioned and then conveyed to the measurement position. The printing plate that has reached the measurement position is illuminated by a light source (not shown) in the measuring head 83, and the amount of reflected light of the printing plate is received by a number of arranged light receiving sensors.
The pattern area ratio of a fixed width of the printing plate is measured from the received light amount. Next, the feed roller 75 and the pressing roller 79 rotate to convey the fixed width printing plate, measure the pattern area ratio of the fixed width again by the measuring head 83, and keep this until the measurement of the entire printing plate is completed. repeat.

FIG. 8 is a conceptual diagram showing the calculation in the pattern area ratio measuring means 62. In FIG. 8, the printing plate 1 is intermittently transported in the transport direction X, and for example, the partition a11 is provided by the sensors a1 to an of the plurality of light receiving sensors 7 arranged.
.About.a1n are measured at one time, then conveyed in the section width, the sections a21 to a2n are measured, and by repeating this, the entire printing plate 1 is measured. In the case of FIG. 8, the arrangement direction of the ink keys 2 and the arrangement direction of the light receiving sensor 7 with respect to the printing plate 1 are matched. In that case, for example, the key bi of the ink key 2
The light receiving sensors corresponding to the divided areas are ai and ai + 1, and the light receiving sensors ai and ai + 1 integrate the received light amount obtained in one measurement in the transport direction X to calculate the pattern area ratio of the divided area of the key bi. To be done.

FIG. 9 is also a conceptual diagram showing the calculation in the pattern area ratio measuring means 62. In FIG. 9 as well, the printing plate 1 is intermittently transported in the transport direction X and, for example, by the sensors a1 to an of the plurality of light receiving sensors 7 arranged, for example, the partition a11.
.About.a1n are measured at one time, then conveyed in the section width, the sections a21 to a2n are measured, and by repeating this, the entire printing plate 1 is measured. In the case of FIG. 9, the arrangement direction of the ink keys 2 and the arrangement direction of the light receiving sensor 7 with respect to the printing plate 1 do not match. In that case, for example, the key b of the ink key 2
The light receiving sensors corresponding to the divided areas of i are a11 to a1.
n, a21 to a2n become light receiving sensors a1 to an, and the light receiving sensors a1 to an are a11 to a1n and a21 to
Key b by integrating the amount of received light when a2n is measured
The pattern area ratio of the divided area of i is calculated.

Measurement data based on the amount of light received from the measuring head 83 is input to a measuring head controller (not shown),
The measuring head control device processes the measured data by the above-mentioned integration method, calculates the pattern area ratio for each ink key, and saves the data in a file (Japanese Patent Application No. 2-2461).
42). Before the measurement of the pattern area ratio, the identifier reading device reads the condition data of the identifier, and the measurement is executed based on the condition data. It should be noted that 140L and 140M in FIG. 6 are removal switches, which operate in the same manner as the printing plate conveying means described above and are controlled by the printing plate automatic processing control device 110.

The printing plate whose pattern area ratio has been measured is transferred to a water washing machine 99 for washing the printing plate by a conveyor belt 98, and after washing with water, a surface smoothing machine for spraying a chemical on the surface to smooth the surface. Transferred to 100. Then, it is transferred to the next-stage burning machine 101 to cure the photosensitizer and improve the printing durability of the printing plate. Then, it is transferred to the gumming device 103 by the conveyor belt 102, and rubberized. Next, the printing plate is transferred to the dryer 104, and the printing plate is stocked in the stocker 105.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing the data flow of this embodiment. In the figure, 121, 122 and 123 are input means, and inside the printing plate automatic processing control device 110,
Fully automatic platemaker control means 124, conveyance control means 125, printing plate identification control means 126, printing plate discharge control means 127,
There is a registration means control means 128. As described above, in this embodiment, the printing plate ejecting means and the printing plate aligning means are used in common, but these may be separated.

The input means 121, 122, 123 are composed of a monitor for displaying input information, a display, etc., a keyboard for input operation, etc. Of course, there is no need to limit to this, and if there is a system, etc. that manages the printing progress in the factory, and if the information necessary for printing etc. can be obtained from this printing progress management system, connect with the printing progress management system. If the printing progress management system performs progress management and data management by an identifier such as a bar code, an identifier reading device is further added.
In principle, the input means 121, 122, 123 have the same data input function, and the data to be input is for the job No., the printing plate size, and the printing of the register mark for each printing color, which are used in the above-mentioned automatic plate-making machine. Designation by color, printing position of positive film or negative film, baking sequence, number of baking, exposure time at baking (or count of integrated photometer), printing plate management number, and other printing plates are set. There are condition data and the like (hereinafter, referred to as basic printing information) necessary for measuring the pattern area ratio such as the printing machine to be used and the number of ink keys. Needless to say, the types of printing plates may be input at the same time as described above.

When the basic printing information is input through the input means 121, the basic printing information is temporarily stored in the automatic plate-making machine control means 124 inside the automatic printing plate processing control device 110.
And the basic printing information is sent to the fully automatic intaglio controller 111A, 111B. In that case, the input means 121 designates a fully automatic platemaker to which the data is to be sent. Further, when the basic burning information is input by the input means 122, 123, the basic burning information is temporarily
The automatic printing machine controller 111A, 111B is stored in the automatic printing machine controller 111A, 111B, the basic printing information is fully automatic printing machine control means 124.
Sent to. At that time, the fully automatic platemaking machine controller can specify the fully automatic platemaking machine, and it is not necessary to specify the fully automatic platemaking machine using the basic printing information. Based on this printing basic information, the fully automatic plate-making machines controllers 111A and 111B are fully automatic plate-making machines 112A and 112B.
Control and perform the baking work.

The full-automatic intaglio controller 124 does not directly control the full-automatic intaglio, but stores and accumulates the basic printing information, and if necessary, the full-automatic intaglio controller 111A,
Send to 111B. This is because when a trouble occurs in the fully automatic plate-making machine, the basic printing data of the planned baking process is sent to another fully-automatic plate-making machine so that the job can be performed promptly. Further, the printing plate identification control means 12 described later
When the instruction to stop the discharge is sent from 6, the instructions to stop and restart the discharge of the printing plate are sent to the fully automatic platemaker controllers 111A and 111B.

The transport control means 125 uses the identification information from the transport printing plate identification means 118A to 118D and the like to determine the location of the transport parts 113A to 113D, the printing plate alignment means 46, and the alignment device 61 (hereinafter referred to as each part). Of which position the printing plate is placed, and on the basis of this position information and the printing plate discharge information from the fully automatic plate-making machine control means 124, the transport parts 113A to 113D and the printing plate alignment means 46. Then, it is determined whether to drive or stop each part of the alignment device 61, and in the case of the transfer part, the transfer driving means is driven or stopped. For example, in the case of FIG. 3, the transport control unit 125 uses the transport printing plate identifying unit 118C to print the printing plate 5.
The passage information of B is received, and the transport printing plate identification means 118B
Since it has not received the passage information of the printing plate 5B from the above, it recognizes that the printing plate 5B is placed on the transportation portion 113B and instructs the transportation driving means of the transportation portion 113B to drive. Next, before the transport printing plate identification means 118B identifies the printing plate 5B, the fully automatic plate-making machine controller 111 is provided.
Printing plate 5A from A through fully automatic plate-making machine control means 124
When the ejection information of the printing plate 5B is sent, the transportation driving means of the transportation part 113B is instructed to stop and the printing plate 5B is transported to the transportation part 11.
3B is made to stand by, and at the same time, driving is instructed to the transportation driving means of the transportation portion 113A. The printing plate 5A discharged onto the carrying portion 113A is carried and carried printing plate identification means 11
8A, the carrying printing plate identifying means 118A sends identification information to the carrying control means 125, and this identification information is continuously sent until the passing of the printing plate 5A is completed. The conveyance control unit 125 stops the identification information from the conveyance printing plate identification unit 118A, so that the printing plate 5A is conveyed to the conveyance portion 113.
Recognizing that the sheet has been conveyed next from above A, it instructs the conveying driving means of the conveying portion 113B to drive, and the conveying printing plate identifying means 1
When 18B identifies the passage of the printing plate 5B, it instructs the transport driving means of the transport portion 113A to drive, and when the transport printing plate identifying means 118B stops the identification information of the printing plate 5B, the printing plate 5B transports. It is identified as having moved to the part 113A.

The printing plate identification control means 126 receives the positional information of the printing plate from the conveyance control means 125 and the basic printing information from the fully automatic intaglio printing machine control means 124, and correlates them to determine which printing plate is present. It constantly identifies where it is. In that case, based on the basic printing information from the fully automatic intaglio controller 124, information such as the job number, the order of printing, and the designation of each color is used, and not only which fully automatic intaglio machine is used for printing, but also a single printing plate. One sheet can be identified, and even if a plurality of printing plates are printed on the same fully automatic plate-making machine, they are not confused by the information such as the printing order and color-specific designation. When the printing plate identification control means 126 receives the printing plate mounting information from the printing plate alignment device 46,
The data necessary for identification in the corresponding printing basic data is read from the fully automatic intaglio machine control means 124, and the printing plate is identified. Based on the identification, it is determined whether or not this printing plate is discharged, and when discharging, the printing plate discharging control means 12
7 is instructed to eject, and if not ejected, the printing plate alignment device 46 is instructed to perform alignment.

When the printing plate detection sensor 166 detects the printing plate and the identifier assigning means 58 assigns an identifier to the printing plate, the identifier assigning means 58 sends the identifier information to the printing plate identification control means 126 to print the printing plate. Identification control means 12
Reference numeral 6 associates the identifier information with the data necessary for measuring the pattern area ratio in the basic printing data, and sends the association information to the pattern area ratio measuring means 62. Picture area ratio measuring means 62
Calls the stored printing basic data on the basis of the identifier information read by the identifier reading device 129, and measures the pattern area ratio. Although the identifier is used in this embodiment, it is also possible to omit this identifier. That is, the printing plate is the printing plate alignment means 46.
Since the pattern area ratio measuring means 62 is entered in this order, the printing basic data may be used in the order sent from the printing plate identification control means 126. However, if other baking processes, such as the hand baking process, are present in the same workplace, it is a waste of equipment to separately provide the developing process and the pattern area ratio measuring process.
After the developing process, it was decided to use the identifier so that the worker can freely insert the printing plate. In that case, there is a separate means for inputting data necessary for measuring the pattern area ratio to the identifier assigning means and the pattern area ratio measuring means 62.

The correspondence information sent by the printing plate identification control means 126 to the pattern area ratio measuring means 62 includes data of the printing plate type, and the pattern area ratio measuring means 62 is based on the printing plate type data. The reflected light amount information corresponding to the printing plate is called from the calibration information section that separately stores the type of the printing plate and the reflected light amount information of the printing plate printing portion in association with each other, and uses this as the calibration data. In that case, it becomes possible to omit the printing of the calibration mark 9 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, and the efficiency of the fully automatic plate-making machine can be improved by reducing the number of printing times per printing plate once. Vacuum and exposure time occupy most of the operation time of the fully automatic plate-making machine, and the number of printings greatly affects the efficiency). Needless to say, in the present invention, the burned calibration mark 9 may be used.

Further, the correspondence information sent from the printing plate identification control means 126 to the pattern area ratio measuring means 62 includes data on the orientation of the printing plate, and the data is the pattern area ratio measuring means 6.
It is sent to the matching determination means 170 in 2 and the calculation direction is determined. The calculation direction is sent to the calculation means 171, and the calculation means 171 calculates the pattern area ratio from the light reception data from the light reception sensor 172 based on the calculation direction, the identifier, and the information from the printing plate identification control means, and the output means 173. Output.
The output unit 173 may be a magnetic storage unit such as a card or a tape, and the design area ratio may be transferred to the printing machine offline or may be transferred directly to the printing machine online.

When an operator finds a defective printing plate, the removal switch or the like, which is a printing plate extraction identifying means of the portion to be placed, is operated to remove the defective printing plate. The printing plate sampling identification means 140A ...
5, the conveyance control means 125 stops the driving and the like of the portion to be placed. At the same time, the transport control unit 125 confirms the transport status of the immediately preceding site, and instructs driving stop for safety when driving transport is in progress. For subsequent sites as well, when continuous sites are transport-driven. Although the portion is stopped, when the portion being driven for conveyance is discontinuous, the conveyance drive is continued in order to reduce the interval of the printing plate during conveyance for improving efficiency.

Further, the conveyance control means 125 sends the extraction information to the printing plate identification control means 126, and the printing plate identification control means 126 deletes the basic printing information of the corresponding printing plate from the processed storage area and at the same time By re-storing in the processing storage area, the printing basic information of the extracted printing plate is prevented from being sent to the alignment means control means 128, the identifier giving means 58, the pattern area ratio measuring means 62 and the like.

As described above, in the present embodiment, the case where there are two fully automatic platemaking machines has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and when there is one fully automatic platemaking machine, there are two. The same can be done in the above cases. Further, although the printing plate sampling identification means is operated by a worker such as a removal switch, the present invention is not limited to this, and sampling information may be automatically generated.

If the information capacity of the identifier can store the information required for measuring the pattern area ratio, the identifier assigning means 58
It is possible to delete the subsequent printing plate sampling identification means. That is, the printing plate management number, the printing machine on which the printing plate should be set, the number of ink keys, the condition data required for measuring the pattern area ratio such as the orientation of the printing plate, etc. are coded, and the corresponding condition data is coded. Is stored in the database by the pattern area ratio measuring means 62, and the identifier may have only the code as information. In that case, after assigning the identifier, it is no longer necessary to identify each printing plate,
Even if the data is removed, the data will not be confused, and it is possible to delete the printing plate removal identification means after the identifier assigning means 58. Further, if an identifier is attached to a printing plate produced by another line such as manual work, it is possible to insert the printing plate into the present printing plate automatic processing device after the identifier assigning means 58.

[0055]

As described above, according to the present invention, the printing plate baked by the fully automatic plate making machine of the printing plate automatic processing apparatus is transferred to the developing step and the pattern area ratio measuring step by the conveying means. The position of each printing plate being transported is identified by the transported printing plate identifying means, and is associated with the basic printing information by the printing plate identification control means. The printing plate that has reached the pattern area ratio measuring means, based on the information from the printing plate identification control means, the matching of the arrangement direction of the light receiving sensor and the arrangement direction of the printing machine ink key when the printing plate is set on the printing machine. Judgment is made and the integration method for each measurement is changed according to the direction of the printing plate.Therefore, no matter what direction the printing plate is conveyed without rotating the printing plate, the pattern area ratio Can be measured, the rotating means of the printing plate is unnecessary, and the effect of reducing the installation area can be obtained.

Further, according to the present invention, the fully automatic plate-making machine in which the identifier assigning means assigns an identifier to the printing plate based on the information from the printing plate identification control means, and the printing is performed based on this identifier. After specifying, the required printing plate management number, the printing machine on which the printing plate should be set, and the data such as the number of ink keys are selected to measure the pattern area ratio. Since the identifier assigning means is based on the information from the printing plate identification control means, it can be provided in the printing plate transporting means, it is not necessary to install it in each fully automatic platemaking machine, and it is possible to reduce equipment.
Further, when installed in any of the transportation means when installed after the completion of development, it is possible to reduce the need to provide the identifier itself with resistance that can withstand the development process, and it is possible to broaden the range of identifier selection. Has the effect of becoming.

Furthermore, according to the present invention, the printing plate transporting means is composed of a plurality of transporting portions, and the transporting printing plate identifying means identifies the presence or absence of the printing plate on each transporting portion.
This conveyance printing plate identification means conveys the position and the conveyance position of the printing plate from the time when the printing plate is discharged from each fully automatic plate making machine and mounted on the conveyance part to the pattern area ratio measuring means or the identifier giving means. Since the position movement between the parts is identified, it is possible to determine in real time from which identification part the printing plate discharged from the automatic plate making machine is located on which carrying part. In addition, when the printing plate is ejected by the information from the fully automatic plate making machine by carrying and stopping each carrying part independently, another printing is performed on the carrying part where the ejected printing plate is mounted. Temporarily stop the transport part in front of it so that there is no plate. In that case, it is not necessary to stop the discharge of the printing plate from the fully automatic platemaking machine, and it is possible to keep the efficiency of the fully automatic platemaking machine from decreasing.

[0058]

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing all steps of an automatic printing plate processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an oblique view showing the overall configuration of the fully automatic platemaking machine of FIG.

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the printing plate conveying unit of FIG.

4 is a perspective view of the printing plate alignment device of FIG. 1. FIG.

5A and 5B are a front view and a side view of the printing plate alignment apparatus of FIG.

FIG. 6 is an oblique view of the insertion port of the pattern area ratio measuring means of FIG.

7 is a cross-sectional view showing the internal configuration of the measuring device of the pattern area ratio measuring means in FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a calculation when measuring a pattern area ratio.

FIG. 9 is a schematic diagram showing a calculation when measuring a pattern area ratio.

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of pattern area ratio measurement.

FIG. 11 is a diagram showing a case where the direction of the printing plate and the direction of measuring the pattern area ratio are incompatible.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram showing a data flow of the printing plate automatic processing apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a plan view showing all steps of a conventional printing plate automatic processing apparatus.

[Explanation of symbols]

46 ... Printing plate aligning device 58 ... Identifier assigning means 60 ... Developing device 61 ... Positioning device (printing plate conveying means) 62 ... Main body (picture area ratio measuring means) incorporating a picture area ratio measuring device 98 ... Conveying belt 99 ... water washer 100 ... surface-adjusting machine 101 ... burning machine 102 ... conveyor belt 103 ... gumming device 104 ... dryer 1
05 ... Stocker 110 ... Automatic printing plate processing control means
111 ... Fully automatic plate making machine controller 112 ... Fully automatic plate making machine 113 ... Printing plate conveying means 140 ... Removal switch

Claims (3)

[Claims] 1. A stencil printing process for automatically printing a printing plate with a fully automatic stencil printing machine, a developing process for developing a printed printing plate, and a printing plate arranged in a direction transverse to the conveying direction. In a printing plate automatic processing device having a pattern area ratio measuring step for measuring a pattern area ratio for each divided area of a baked printing plate divided corresponding to an ink key, the printing plate is processed by the printing plate automatic processing device. An input means for inputting the basic printing information used at the time of the printing, a printing plate transporting means for transporting the printing plate, and a printing plate transporting means for transporting the printing plate at least between the plate making step, the developing step and the pattern area ratio measuring step Conveying printing plate identifying means for identifying the position of the printing plate to be placed, printing plate identification controlling means for associating the information from the conveying printing plate identifying means with the basic printing information, and the conveyed printing Scan plate A plurality light receiving sensors which are arranged to receive the reflected light from the printing plate Te, based on the identification information from the printing plate identification control means,
Matching determination means for determining compatibility between the arrangement direction of the light receiving sensors and the arrangement direction of the printing machine ink keys when the printing plate is set on the printing press, the matching information from the matching determination means, and the printing plate identification control means. Based on the identification information from the, the received light output is integrated in the scanning direction for each light receiving sensor when it is suitable, and the integrated result is associated with each ink key. An automatic printing plate processing apparatus comprising: a pattern area ratio measuring unit provided with a calculating unit that integrates each scan and associates the integrated result with each ink key. 2. An identifier assigning unit provided in the printing plate transporting unit, which assigns an identifier to the printing plate based on identification information from the printing plate identifying control unit, and an identifier assigned by the identifier assigning unit. 2. The printing plate automatic processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: the pattern area ratio measuring means for measuring the pattern area ratio of the printed printing plate based on the above. 3. A printing plate transporting unit, at least a part of which is provided with a plurality of transporting sites and a transporting drive unit for independently transporting and stopping each of the plurality of transporting sites, Transport printing plate identification means for identifying a printing plate for each of the plurality of transport sites, and transport control means for controlling the transport drive means for each of the plurality of transport sites based on information from the transport printing plate identification means. The printing plate automatic processing apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising: