JPH09286157A - Stencil printing equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To obtain stencil printing equipment enabling sure detection of the presence or absence of a master on a plate cylinder even when the master is constituted only of a thermoplastic resin film and transparent. SOLUTION: A perforated or half-perforated marker area is formed by heating a prescribed part of a master 2 and this marker area is detected at a master detecting position MDP on a plate cylinder 17 on the basis of the magnitude of light reflectance for which a prescribed threshold value is used as a reference. When the master 2 is heated for perforation or half perforation, in other words, the heated part is made white-opaque and the light reflectance rises a little therein. By using as the reference the threshold value being an intermediate value of the respective light reflectances of the part made white- opaque by heating and a transparent part, therefore, the marker area is detected easily even when the master 2 is transparent. Based on the presence or absence of this marker area, accordingly, the presence or absence of the master 2 on the plate cylinder 17 is determined easily.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a stencil printing machine.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A stencil printing machine has a structure in which a master made of a thermoplastic resin is perforated by heating to form a desired perforated image, and ink is transferred to printing paper through the perforations formed in the master to perform printing. It is a thing. That is, the stencil printing apparatus is mainly configured by a plate making unit for making a master and a printing unit for receiving the master made by the plate making unit and performing printing based on the master. In the plate making part, the master is guided to a predetermined master guide path, and in the guide process, the master is heated and punched by a thermal head to form a desired punched image. Then, in the printing unit, the master is wound around a porous cylindrical plate cylinder having an ink supply unit therein, and the printing paper is continuously pressed on the plate cylinder by a press roller, thereby punching the holes in the plate cylinder and the master. The ink is leaked from the printer and transferred to the printing paper, thereby performing printing based on the master on the printing paper.

Conventionally, a master having a laminated structure in which a porous support is bonded to a thermoplastic resin film having a thickness of about 1 to 2 μm has been widely used. As the porous support, Japanese paper fibers, synthetic fibers, fibers obtained by mixing Japanese paper fibers and synthetic fibers, and the like are generally used. Such a master allows the ink to pass through the porous support portion and the perforated portion during the printing operation in the printing section, and allows the transfer of the ink to the printing paper. However, it is inevitable to generate so-called fiber grains in various fibers constituting the master porous support. The "fiber pattern" means a portion in which fibers are intricately entangled with each other to form a lump, a thick fiber crossing a perforated portion formed in a resin film, or the like. For this reason, when printing is performed based on the master, defects such as missing in the solid portion of the image in the fiber grain portion, cutting of fine lines and characters, and blurring occur. Therefore, in recent years, attempts have been made to remove the porous support to form a master only with a resin film, or to thin the porous support to reduce the number of fibers. And when using such a master,
A printing method has also been attempted in which ink is supplied from the outside of the plate cylinder and transferred to the printing paper to perform printing.

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[First problem] The stencil printing apparatus performs printing while the master is not wound on the plate cylinder because of the structure in which the ink is transferred to the printing paper through the holes of the master wound on the plate cylinder for printing. If the printing is performed, the printing paper will stick to the plate cylinder due to the ink, and this will cause a paper jam. In addition, in such a case, the operator's hands and clothes are easily soiled with ink during the paper removing operation, or the interior of the device and its periphery are easily soiled with ink. Therefore, the conventional stencil printing apparatus is configured to detect whether or not the master is set on the plate cylinder before the printing operation and perform the printing operation only when the master is set. In this case, the master is generally detected by using a reflective sensor, a transmissive sensor, or the like. That is, the presence or absence of the porous support is easily detected by the transmissive sensor because it is difficult for light to pass therethrough, and the presence or absence thereof is easily detected by the reflective sensor because of high light reflectance. For example, when using a reflective sensor to detect the presence or absence of a master on the plate cylinder, a black mat with an extremely low light reflectance is fixed to a part of the plate cylinder facing the reflective sensor, and the reflective type sensor is used. When the sensor output is higher than a predetermined threshold value, the presence of a master is detected, and when the output is low, the absence of a master is detected.

However, a master composed of only a resin film having no porous support, or a master having a very thin porous support (hereinafter, these masters are referred to as
It is difficult to detect the presence or absence of a “very thin master” by a reflective sensor or a transmissive sensor because it transmits light. Therefore, when a very thin master is used, the detection of the presence or absence of the master on the plate cylinder becomes unstable, and the printing operation is performed even if the master is not set on the plate cylinder. Inconvenience easily occurs. Further, in order to shorten the operation time, in a stencil printing machine that immediately starts the printing operation without performing the plate discharge operation when the master is not set on the plate cylinder, the new master is added to the old master. It causes inconvenience such as being set.

On the other hand, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-312569 discloses an invention in which perforations or half perforations are formed on a transparent master by heating, and the presence or absence of the master is determined by detecting the perforations. . However, it does not disclose how to detect a perforated or half-perforated part. Further, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 6-312569 discloses a structure for detecting a master before winding on the plate cylinder. However, if it is possible to detect a perforation or a half-perforated part on the plate cylinder as well, it is detected. It is unclear as to how to detect if possible.

[Second Problem] In a stencil printing machine, consumables such as masters and inks are used. Some devices display an indication when such a consumable item is used up. However, if the consumable item is displayed when it is used up, a time loss will occur until the device can be reused unless a spare of the consumable item is prepared. On the other hand, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-147341 discloses an invention in which the remaining amount of the master is displayed on a display device, and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 5-31881 discloses the remaining ink amount on the display device. The invention to be displayed is disclosed.

However, since the display contents of the display device are easily overlooked by the operator, there is a problem that it is difficult to provide the operator with proper information about the degree of consumption of consumables.

[0009]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A master made of thermoplastic resin is heated and punched to form a desired punched image, the master on which this punched image is formed is wrapped around a rotatable plate cylinder, and printing paper is pressed against the master with a pressing member to print. In the stencil printing apparatus, the marker area forming means for forming a marker area punched or half-punched by heating a predetermined portion of the master and the marker area formed on the master at the master detection position on the plate cylinder are specified. And a master detecting means for detecting whether the light reflectance is high or low with reference to the threshold value of.

Here, when the presence or absence of the master on the plate cylinder is detected by using the reflection type sensor, as described above, the reflection type sensor is faced so that the light reflectance becomes low when there is no master. Conventionally, a black mat is fixed to a part of the plate cylinder. However, in the case of a conventional stencil printer, when a very thin master is used, such a master is almost transparent, so the light emitted from the reflective sensor is absorbed by the black mat, making it difficult to detect the presence or absence of the master. . On the other hand, according to the present invention, the portion of the perforations or half perforations formed in the master by the marker area forming means becomes cloudy due to the heating of the master, so that when light is irradiated, diffuse reflection occurs and the light reflectance increases. Therefore,
The master detection means has a predetermined threshold value, that is, a threshold value that takes an intermediate value of the light reflectances of a cloudy portion and a transparent portion due to heating for perforation or half-perforation as a reference, and the light reflectance The marker area is detected with high and low. The detection of such a marker area is performed at the master detection position on the plate cylinder. Therefore, the presence / absence of the master on the plate cylinder is surely detected, and it is possible to easily prevent the printing operation from being performed in the state where the master is not set on the plate cylinder.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, a master made of a thermoplastic resin is heated and punched to form a desired punched image, and the master on which the punched image is formed is wound around a rotatable plate cylinder and printed. In a stencil printing apparatus that presses a sheet against a master with a pressing member to perform printing, a remaining amount detecting unit for detecting the remaining amount of the master and a detection result of the remaining amount detecting unit outside the image forming area of the master can be read. And a remaining amount display forming means for heating perforation or heating half-perforation.

Therefore, the remaining amount of the master detected by the remaining amount detecting means is recorded in a readable form outside the image forming area of the master by the remaining amount display forming means. The remaining amount of the master is recorded by punching or half punching the master. In this case, since the master becomes cloudy due to heating during punching or half-punching, the remaining amount record of the master can be machine-readable or human-readable. The term "readable form" means a character or graphic that can be seen and understood by humans, a machine-readable character or graphic itself, and the state of such character or graphic. Is not readable. The reason that such characters and figures become readable is due to the cloudiness of the master due to heating during perforation or half-perforation.

In a third aspect of the present invention, a master made of a thermoplastic resin is perforated by heating to form a desired perforated image, and the master on which the perforated image is formed is wound around a rotatable plate cylinder and printed. In a stencil printing device that presses a sheet against a master with a pressing member to perform printing, a remaining amount detection means for detecting the remaining amount of consumables used in this stencil printing device and a remaining amount detection means in the image forming area of the master are used. The remaining amount display forming means for heating and punching the detection result in a readable form is provided.

Therefore, the remaining amount of the consumable item detected by the remaining amount detecting means is recorded in a readable form in the image forming area of the master by the remaining amount display forming means. Therefore, when printing is performed based on such a master, the remaining amount of the consumable item is printed on the printing paper. Here, the consumable item whose remaining amount is detected by the remaining amount detecting means and whose remaining amount is recorded in the master by the remaining amount display forming means is, for example, the master as in the invention according to claim 4, It is an ink as in the invention described in No. 5. It should be noted that the "readable form" means a character or figure itself that can be seen and understood by humans, and does not mean that the state of such a character or figure is readable. . The reason that such characters and figures become readable is due to the cloudiness of the master due to heating during perforation or half-perforation.

The invention according to claim 6 is the invention according to claims 3 to 5.
In any one of the inventions described above, there is further provided warning display forming means for heating and punching a warning display in the image forming area of the master according to the remaining amount of the consumable item detected by the remaining amount detecting means. Therefore, a warning display according to the remaining amount of the consumable item is recorded in the master, and when printing is performed based on such a master, the warning display is printed on the printing paper.

[0016]

FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of the present invention.
A description will be given with reference to FIG. Since the basic structure of the stencil printing apparatus 1 in the present embodiment is a known structure, the basic structure will be briefly described. Hereinafter, the configuration will be described separately for a mechanism system, a control system, and various units executed by the control system.

[Mechanical System] FIG. 1 is a vertical sectional front view of the stencil printing apparatus 1.

The stencil printing apparatus 1 has, as a schematic structure, an optical reading section 3, a plate making section 4, a printing section 5, a plate discharging section 6, a paper feeding section 7,
And a paper discharge section 8.

The optical reading unit 3 has a structure as a digital scanner which irradiates the original 10 placed on the contact glass 9 with light from the light source 11 and receives the reflected light by the CCD 12, and includes an ADF 13. .

The plate making section 4 draws out the master 2 as an image forming medium which is wound and held in a roll shape into the master conveying path 14 and punches the master 2 with a thermal head 15 located on the master conveying path 14. This is a structure in which the punched master 2 is cut by a cutter 16 into a sheet shape, and the sheet-shaped master 2 is sent to the printing unit 5.

The printing unit 5 has a plate cylinder 17 as a main component. The plate cylinder 17 has holes having a diameter of about 0.15 to 0.5 mm formed on the outer peripheral surface at intervals of about 0.25 to 1.0 mm, and is centered on a spindle that also serves as an ink supply pipe 21 described later. Is driven to rotate. The plate cylinder 17 has a stage section 18 and a clamper section 19. The master 2 sent from the plate making section 4 to the stage section 18 is held by the clamper section 19 and driven to rotate so that the master 2 is held. It is a structure that holds it in a wound state. The printing unit 5 includes an ink supply unit 20 inside such a plate cylinder 17. The ink supply unit 20 is composed of an ink supply pipe 21, an ink supply roller 22, and a doctor roller 23, and a large number of holes formed on the outer peripheral surface of the ink supply pipe 21 are provided between the ink supply roller 22 and the doctor roller 23. Ink 25 is supplied to the ink reservoir 24 located and the ink 2
This is a structure in which the amount of 5 is regulated by the gap between the rollers 22 and 23 and is supplied to the ink supply roller 22. The printing unit 5 has a press roller 26 as a pressing unit that is pressed against the ink supply roller 22 from the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 17, and the press roller 26 applies pressure to the plate cylinder 17 to deform it. The ink 25 leaks from the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 17 to the outer peripheral surface thereof. That is, the plate cylinder 17
When the ink 25 leaks from the printing cylinder 2, the ink 25 passes through the holes formed in the master 2 wound around the plate cylinder 17, and the printing paper 2 is provided between the plate cylinder 17 and the press roller 26.
The principle of printing in the printing unit 5 is that an image is formed on the printing paper 27 by passing through the printing paper 7. The printing unit 5 includes a master sensor MS for detecting the presence or absence of the master 2 wound around the plate cylinder 17. The master sensor MS emits light to the master detection position MDP on the plate cylinder 17, receives the reflected light when the emitted light reflects an object, and outputs an analog value according to the amount of received light. Sensor. It should be noted that a part of the plate cylinder 17 includes a plate cylinder 17
There is provided a black pad (not shown) which is positioned at the master detection position MDP by rotating. This black pad is a member having an extremely high light absorption rate.

The plate discharge unit 6 has a structure in which the master 2 that is no longer needed after use is received from the plate cylinder 17 and is stored in the plate discharge box 28.

The paper feed section 7 has a structure in which the printing papers 27 placed in a stacked state on the paper feed table 29 are separately fed and guided between the plate cylinder 17 and the press roller 26. The printing paper 27 guided between the plate cylinder 17 and the press roller 26 is conveyed to the belt conveyor 30 and reaches the tray-shaped paper ejection unit 8.
The paper feed unit 7 and the paper discharge unit 8 are connected by a paper transport path 31.

[Control System] FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing the electrical connection of each part.

The control system is provided with a clock generator 32 for centrally performing various processes, a CPU 33, a ROM 34 and an RA.
A microcomputer including an M35 is provided as a main component, and roughly includes an optical reading control unit 36, a plate making control unit 37, a print control unit 38, an image processing control unit 39, and an operation display control unit 40. The CPU 33 operates according to the basic clock cycle generated by the clock generator 32,
The operation program executed by the CPU 33 is stored in the ROM 34. The RAM 35 is used as a work area or the like.

The optical reading control unit 36 is included in the optical reading unit 3 and controls its operation. Therefore, the optical reading control unit 36 includes an image reading system that handles the output signal of the CCD 12 and a drive system that drives the light source 11 and the like. The image reading system includes a CCD substrate 41 including a signal output circuit of the CCD 12.
And A for A / D converting the output signal from the CCD substrate 41
And / D conversion board 42, both of which are connected to the CPU 33 to receive operation control. The CCD substrate 41 is the CCD 12
This is a mounting substrate of the above, and the read signal of the CCD 12 for each main scanning line is serially output pixel by pixel. A
The / D conversion board 42 converts the analog signal serially output from the CCD board 41 into a multivalued digital signal of 64 to 256 gradations, and further performs well-known shading correction and background for the converted multivalued digital signal. Apply correction. The signal after A / D conversion by the A / D conversion board 42 is output to the image processing control unit 39. The drive system includes a motor drive circuit 44 that controls the drive of the two motors 43 that are the drive sources of the digital scanner and the ADF 13. The motor drive circuit 44 is used in the clock generator 3
In synchronization with the clock signal from the motor 2, a current pulse having a predetermined value is applied to each excitation phase of the motor 43 at a predetermined timing and a frequency, thereby rotating the motor 43 at a predetermined timing and speed. The clock signal provided from the clock generator 32 to the motor drive circuit 44 is a signal obtained by dividing the frequency from the basic clock cycle.

The plate-making control section 37 is included in the plate-making section 4 and controls its operation. Therefore, the plate making control unit 37
Is composed of an image writing system for driving and controlling the thermal head 15 and a carrying system for carrying the master 2. The image writing system includes a thermal head heat generation control circuit 45 which is connected to the CPU 33 and drives and controls the thermal head 15. The thermal head heat generation control circuit 45 transmits a heat generation signal to the thermal head 15 according to the image data transmitted from the image processing control unit 39, which will be described later, to selectively cause a heat generating element (not shown) to generate heat. The transport system includes a motor drive circuit 47 that controls the drive of the motor 46 that is the drive source of the feed unit that transports the master 2. This motor drive circuit 47
Is synchronized with the clock signal from the clock generator 32,
A current pulse of a predetermined value is applied to each excitation phase of the motor 46 at a predetermined timing and frequency, whereby the motor 46 is driven.
Is rotationally driven at a predetermined timing and speed. The clock signal supplied from the clock generator 32 to the motor drive circuit 47 is a signal whose frequency is divided from the basic clock cycle.

The print control unit 38 is included in the printing unit 5, the plate discharge unit 6 and the paper feeding unit 7, and controls the operation thereof. That is, the print control unit 38 controls the motor drive circuit 49 that drives and controls the plurality of motors 48 that drive the respective units of the printing unit 5, the plate discharge unit 6, and the paper feeding unit 7, and the paper feeding table 29 of the paper feeding unit 7. A printing paper / original size detection unit 50 that detects the sizes of the printing paper 27 placed in a stacked state and the original 10 placed on the contact glass 9, and the master 2 wound around the plate cylinder 17.
And a master detection unit 51 for detecting the presence or absence of
Here, in the printing unit 5, the units driven by the motor 48 include the plate cylinder 17, the ink supply roller 22, the doctor roller 23,
The press roller 26 and the clamper 19, and the plate discharge unit 6
Then, the feed section for conveying the master 2 and the plate discharge box 28
It is a mechanism that applies a pressing force to the master 2 therein, and is a feed mechanism that feeds and conveys the printing paper 27 in the paper feeding unit 7. Here, the motor drive circuit 49 applies a current pulse of a predetermined value to each excitation phase of the motor 48 at a predetermined timing and frequency in synchronization with the clock signal from the clock generator 32, thereby causing the motor 48 to move to a predetermined value. It is rotationally driven at the timing and speed. The clock signal supplied from the clock generator 32 to the motor drive circuit 49 is a signal whose frequency is divided from the basic clock cycle. The print sheet / original size detection unit 50 includes an optical sensor and its control circuit. Further, the master detection unit 51 includes the above-described master sensor MS and its control circuit.

The operation display control section 40 drives and controls an operation system, a display system and an operation display system on an operation panel (not shown). That is, the operation display control unit 40 generates a predetermined signal and transmits it to the CPU 33 when the operation system (including the operation system of the operation display system) such as the start key 52 and the master type setting key 53 is operated. , A display system (including a display system of an operation display system), for example, a monitor display unit (not shown) or L
The CD display unit is driven to display a predetermined display. Although only the start key 52 and the master type setting key 53 are shown in the operation display control unit 40 in the block diagram of FIG. 2, all the operation systems, display systems, and display systems in the operation panel are provided in the operation display control unit 40. An operation display system is included.

The image processing control unit 39 includes the optical reading control unit 3
A predetermined process is performed on the image data of the document 10 read in 6 and the process of transmitting the image data to the plate making control unit 37 is performed. The predetermined processing to be performed on the image data is, for example, MTF correction, scaling, and the like.

[Various Means] The stencil printing machine 1 of the present embodiment includes a marker area forming means and a master detecting means.

In the marker area forming means, the master 2 is the plate cylinder 1
It is means for forming a marker area 54 by heating a predetermined portion of the master 2 facing the master sensor MS when wound around 7, for example, a portion outside the image forming area 55 (see FIG. 5). The marker area 54 is formed by perforation or half perforation. In such a marker area forming unit, the master 2 is conveyed in the master conveying path 14 by using the motor 46 driven by the motor driving circuit 47 as a driving source, and the thermal head heat generation control circuit 45 performs thermal operation in synchronization with the master 2. It is executed by driving the head 15. The motor drive circuit 47 and the thermal head heat generation control circuit 45 are controlled by the CPU 33 which operates according to the operation program stored in the ROM 34.

The master detecting means is a master detecting position MDP facing the master sensor MS on the plate cylinder 17, and the master 2
It is a means for detecting the marker area 54 formed in the above with the level of the light reflectance based on a predetermined threshold value. In this means, the output signal of the master detection unit 51 including the master sensor MS is input to the CPU 33, and the CPU 3
It is executed by the judgment processing in 3. The determination process in the CPU 33 is performed based on a predetermined threshold value stored in the ROM 34 or the RAM 35, and whether the output signal of the master detection unit 51 is higher or lower than the threshold value. Here, in the ROM 34 or the RAM 35,
The high and low threshold values are stored. When the very thin master 2 is used, the threshold value used for the judgment process by the master detection means is the lower level. This will be described later. In addition, the "extremely thin master 2" means, as described above, the master 2 composed only of the resin film having no porous support or the master 2 in which the porous support is formed very thin. To do.

In such a structure, the stencil printing machine 1
Is a plate making operation in which the master 2 is made by the plate making unit 4 based on the image information of the original 10 read by the optical reading unit 3, and the image of the original 10 is transferred to the printing paper 27 by using the master 2 after the plate making and printing. The printing operation to be performed is a basic operation. These plate making operation and printing operation are executed by pressing a start key 52 on an operation panel (not shown).

Here, in the stencil printing machine 1 of the present embodiment, both a thick master 2 in which a conventional porous support is attached to a resin film and a very thin master 2 can be used. . Which type of master 2 to use
It is set by the master type setting key 53 on the operation panel. That is, when the master type setting key 53 is pressed,
A subroutine of processing for setting the type of the master 2 as shown in FIG. 3 is started. By this subroutine, when the thick master 2 in which the porous support is bonded to the resin film is selected, the threshold value of the master sensor MS is set to a high level, and when the very thin master 2 is selected, the master is selected. The threshold value of the sensor MS is set to a low level. That is, in the case of the thick master 2 in which the porous support is attached to the resin film, the light reflectance is high at the porous support, so the master detection position MD
If the amount of light detected by the master sensor MS at P is large, it is determined that the master 2 is wound around the plate cylinder 17. Therefore,
In this case, the threshold value has a high level such that the light reflectance of the black mat provided on the plate cylinder 17 and the light reflectance of the master 2 can be distinguished. On the other hand, in the case of the very thin master 2, the light reflectance at the master detection position MDP is low because it is almost transparent itself. On the other hand, master 2
In the marker region 54 formed by perforating or half-perforating by heating, the light reflectance is slightly increased because of the irregular reflection of light due to the swelling and recesses around the perforated part.
Therefore, the threshold value in this case is a low level value that allows the low light reflectance of the transparent portion of the master 2 and the slightly high light reflectance of the marker area 54 to be distinguished.

Next, the plate making operation and the printing operation after the start key 52 is pressed will be described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. This flowchart is a flowchart when using a very thin master 2. First, when a start signal is input by pressing the start key 52 (step S1), it is confirmed whether or not the used master 2 is wound around the plate cylinder 17 (steps S2 and S3). That is, in step S2, if the threshold value of the master sensor MS is set to a high level and the output value of the master sensor MS is H, a thick master 2 in which a conventional porous support is attached to a resin film is used. Plate cylinder 1
It is determined that it is wrapped around 7. If the output value of the master sensor MS is at the L level, the process proceeds to step 3, the threshold value of the master sensor MS is set to the low level, and if the output value of the master sensor MS is H, the master 2 is very thin. Is determined to be wrapped around the plate cylinder 17.

In steps S2 and S3, the plate cylinder 1
If it is determined that the used master 2 has been wound around 7, the plate discharge processing is performed (step S4). The plate discharging process is a process of discarding the used master 2 wound around the plate cylinder 17 in the plate discharging box 28 of the plate discharging unit 6.

Subsequently, the plate cylinder 17 is rotationally driven until the clamper 19 is located right above, and the plate cylinder standby process is performed in which the clamper 19 is opened to put the plate cylinder 17 in a standby state (step S5).

After that, the process proceeds to the plate making process (step S
6). In this plate making process, based on the image information of the original 10 read by the optical reading unit 3, the thermal perforation (main scanning) to the master 2 by the thermal head 15 and the conveyance (sub scanning) of the master 2 are performed synchronously. As a result, a punch image is formed in the image forming area 55 of the master 2. At this time, the image forming area 5 of the master 2 is made by the marker area forming means.
A marker area 54 is formed in a portion outside the area 5. That is, the master 2 is heated to be perforated or half-perforated, whereby a clouded portion having a slightly high light reflectance is formed on the master 2. FIG. 5 illustrates the image forming area 55 and the marker area 54 formed on the master 2.

The master 2 after plate making is cut by the cutter 16 into a sheet shape (step S7), conveyed to the printing section 5 and wound around the plate cylinder 17 (step S8). That is,
The tip of the master 2 conveyed to the plate cylinder 17 is the stage 18
The part is clamped by the clamper 19, and in this state the plate cylinder 1
7 is driven to rotate. As a result, the master 2 after plate making is wound around the plate cylinder 17.

When the winding process of the master 2 on the plate cylinder 17 in step S8 is completed, it is judged whether or not the master 2 is reliably wound and set on the plate cylinder 17 (step S9). That is, the flow chart of FIG. 4 is a flow chart when the very thin master 2 is used, and it is premised that the very thin master 2 is selected as the master type setting with the master type setting key 53. . Therefore, with such setting information, the threshold value of the master sensor MS in step S9 is set to a low level. Therefore, at the master detection position MDP,
If the master sensor MS detects the marker area 54 formed on the master 2 and having a slightly high light reflectance, its output value becomes H, and if the marker area 54 cannot be detected, the master sensor M
The output value of S becomes L. Here, if the master sensor MS cannot detect the marker area 54 in step S9, it means that the master 2 is not set on the plate cylinder 17 or is misaligned even if it is set. That is, the master 2 is not correctly set on the plate cylinder 17. Therefore, in such a case, operation stop processing is performed (step S10). That is, the subsequent printing process (step S11) is not executed, and the set failure of the master 2 is displayed on the display panel (not shown). As a result, various inconveniences when printing is performed even when the master 2 is not properly set on the plate cylinder 17 are reliably prevented.

On the other hand, if the master sensor MS detects the marker area 54 in step S9, it means that the master 2 is correctly set on the plate cylinder 17, and the printing process is executed (step S11). That is, the plate cylinder 17
The printing paper 27 is fed from the paper feed unit 7 in synchronization with the rotation of the plate cylinder 17.
Then, the printing paper 27 is conveyed toward the printing roller 27 and is pressed against the plate cylinder 17 with the master 2 by the press roller 26. As a result, the ink 25 leaks from the inside of the plate cylinder 17 to which the ink 25 is supplied by the ink supply roller 22 to the outside, and the leaked ink 25 passes through the perforations formed in the master 2 to form the printing paper 27. Will be transferred. Thus
The punched image formed on the master 2 is transferred to the printing paper 27 and printing is performed.

FIG. 6 is a flow chart showing a modified example of the processing of the plate making operation and the printing operation. Since the basic processing flow is the same as the processing illustrated in FIG. 4, description of the same portions will be omitted. The difference from the process illustrated in FIG. 4 is that the same process as step S2 and step S3 is repeated in step S9. That is, the determination as to whether or not the master 2 is correctly set on the plate cylinder 17 is made based on the high-level threshold value (step S9-1) and the low-level threshold value (step S9-2). There are two types of criteria. Thus, the presence or absence of the thick master 2 in which the conventional porous support is attached to the resin film is detected (step S9-1), and then the presence or absence of the very thin master 2 is detected (step S9-2). ). Therefore, the setting process of the type of the master 2 as illustrated in FIG. 3 becomes unnecessary.

In the present embodiment, the detection signal is output at the H level when the light reflectance is high and at the L level when the light reflectance is low, but this is a positive logic of the detection circuit. The problem is only whether to configure or negative logic, and the implementation is not limited to such a logical configuration.

A second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. The same parts as those in the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be omitted. First, in the stencil printing apparatus 1 of the present embodiment, a bar code reader 61 is provided between the thermal head 15 and the cutter 16 in the plate making unit 4. The bar code reader 61 has such a sensitivity that it can read a bar code formed by heat punching or heating half punching the master 2. In other words, the sensitivity of the bar code reader 61 is because the master 2 becomes cloudy due to heating perforation or heating half perforation.
The sensitivity is such that the part where the light reflectance is slightly high due to the cloudiness can be recognized. The stencil printing machine 1 is provided with a remaining amount detecting means, a remaining amount display forming means, and a warning display forming means.

The remaining amount detecting means is the remaining amount of the master 2 held in a roll form in the plate making section 4 and the ink 2 in the printing section 5.
5 is a means for detecting the remaining amount. To detect the remaining amount of the master 2, the CPU 33 counts the consumption amount of the master 2,
A plurality of sensors (not shown) detect the diameter of the master 2 held in a roll and recognize the consumption amount of the master 2, and store the recognition result in a predetermined storage area in the RAM 35. This is performed by calling the stored contents and the rewritten contents as appropriate. The remaining amount of the ink 25 is detected by detecting ink in an ink tank (not shown) included in the stencil printing machine 1 by a water level sensor or the like.

The remaining amount display forming means is an image forming area 5 of the master 2 in a form in which the detection result of the remaining amount detecting means can be read.
5 Heat-perforated or heat-half-perforated to the outside of the image forming area 5
It is a means to heat and punch 5. More specifically, the detection result by the remaining amount detecting means is represented by a bar code outside the image forming area 55, and the detection result by the remaining amount detecting means is represented by characters inside the image forming area 55. As an expression in characters,
For example, "Master remaining 30 version", "Ink remaining 30%"
Is expressed. Therefore, the readable form means that the bar code reader 61 is provided outside the image forming area 55.
And the image forming area 55 are human readable.

The warning display forming means is means for heating and punching warning information according to the detection result of the remaining amount detecting means in the image forming area 55 of the master 2 in a human-readable form.
The warning information may be, for example, "The remaining amount of the master is low, so please prepare for replacement." Or "The ink remaining amount is low, please prepare for replacement." is there.

The remaining amount display forming means and the warning display forming means are the motor 4 driven by the motor drive circuit 47.
6, the master 2 is transported in the master transport path 14 in synchronization with the thermal head heat generation control circuit 45.
Is performed by driving the thermal head 15. The motor drive circuit 47 and the thermal head heat generation control circuit 45 are controlled by the CPU 33 which operates according to the operation program stored in the ROM 34.

In such a structure, the remaining amount of the master 2 and the ink 25 is detected by the remaining amount detecting means. Then, in the plate making operation in the plate making unit 4, the detection result is formed in the master 2 by heating punching or heating half punching. FIG. 8 shows an example in which the bar code 62 is formed outside the image forming area 55 of the master 2 by heating half punching, and FIG. 9 shows the remaining amount display 63 of the master 2 and the ink 25 in the image forming area 55 of the master 2. An example in which the warning display 64 is formed by heat punching is shown. The remaining amount display 63 is, for example, "master remaining amount 30 version", "ink remaining amount 30%", etc., and the warning display is, for example, "master remaining amount is low, so prepare for replacement. "," Ink level is low, so please prepare for replacement. "
And so on.

Therefore, the bar code 62 is read by the bar code reader 61, and the content is read.
Recognized in. Therefore, even if the master 2 set in the plate making unit 4 is used halfway, the remaining amount is accurately recognized by the stencil printing apparatus 1. Also,
Remaining amount display 63 formed in the image forming area 55 of the master 2
The warning display 64 is transferred and printed on the printing paper 27 during the printing process. Therefore, the printed printing paper 27
Can easily recognize the remaining amount of the master 2 and the ink 25.

FIG. 10 shows a modification of the information for half-hole heating outside the image forming area 55. In the second embodiment, the remaining amount detection result is heated and half-punched in the form of the bar code 62, but this is not limited to the bar code 62 and is the remaining amount display 65 in human-readable characters. May be.
Thereby, even if the master 2 set in the stencil printing apparatus 1 is in the middle of use, the operator can easily recognize the remaining amount. Even when the master 2 is set on the plate cylinder 17, for example, after completion of plate making, the plate cylinder 17 is pulled out from the stencil printing apparatus 1 and the remaining amount display 65 of the master 2 wound around the plate cylinder 17 is displayed. Can be seen.

It should be noted that the remaining amount display 63,
The 65 and the warning display 64 are not limited to characters, and may be of any type as long as they are in a form that can be seen and understood by humans, such as figures and symbols. Further, the remaining amount display 63 and the warning display 64 are formed in the image forming area 55 of the master 2 and printed on the printing paper 27. However, depending on the content of the printed matter, printing of such content may be inappropriate. Therefore, the remaining amount display 63 is displayed by the setting operation on the operation panel (not shown).
Alternatively, the warning display 64 may be optional.

[0054]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, a marker area forming means for forming a marker area perforated or half-perforated by heating a predetermined portion of the master and the master area at the master detection position on the plate cylinder. Since the master detection means for detecting the marked marker area with high or low light reflectance based on a predetermined threshold value is provided, the presence or absence of the master on the plate cylinder can be reliably detected by detecting the marker area. Therefore, it is possible to easily prevent the execution of the printing operation when the master is not set on the plate cylinder and the winding operation of the new master when the old master is already set on the plate cylinder. Therefore, various inconveniences caused by the execution of these operations can be surely avoided.

According to a second aspect of the invention, the remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the master and the heat punching or the heating half punching in a form in which the detection result by the remaining amount detecting means is readable outside the image forming area of the master. Since the remaining amount display forming means is provided, the remaining amount record of the master can be read by a machine or a human. Therefore, even if the master to be set is in use, the remaining amount can be read. It is possible to easily recognize the amount.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, the remaining amount detecting means for detecting the remaining amount of the consumables used in the stencil printing apparatus and the detection result of the remaining amount detecting means in the image forming area of the master can be read. Since the remaining amount display forming means for heating and punching is provided, the remaining amount of the consumable item can be printed on the printing paper based on the master in which the remaining amount of the expendable item is formed as a punch image. For example, it becomes possible to easily recognize the remaining amount of the master (claim 4) or the ink (claim 5) and call attention. In this case, as in the invention according to claim 6, further comprising a warning display forming means for heating and punching a warning display in the image forming area of the master according to the remaining amount of the consumable goods detected by the remaining amount detecting means. Can display a warning message on the printing paper regarding the degree of consumption of consumables.
It becomes possible to call attention more certainly.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is an overall vertical sectional front view showing a first embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating electrical connection of each unit.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing a flow of processing for setting a master type.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing a flow of processing for plate making and printing operations when using a master composed of only a resin film.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing an example of a master after plate making.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing a processing flow for plate making and printing operations as a modified example.

FIG. 7 is an overall vertical sectional front view showing a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a plan view showing an example of a master after plate making.

FIG. 9 is a plan view showing another example of the master after plate making.

FIG. 10 is a plan view showing another example of the master after plate making.

[Explanation of symbols]

 2 Master 17 Plate cylinder 25 Ink 27 Printing paper 54 Marker area MDP master detection position

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. A master made of a thermoplastic resin is perforated by heating to form a desired perforated image, the master on which the perforated image is formed is wound around a rotatable plate cylinder, and printing paper is pressed by a pressing member. In a stencil printing apparatus that presses against the master to perform printing, a marker area forming unit that forms a marker area punched or half-punched by heating a predetermined portion of the master, and a master detection position on the plate cylinder. A stencil printing apparatus comprising: a master detection unit that detects the marker area formed on the master with a high or low light reflectance based on a predetermined threshold value. 2. A master made of a thermoplastic resin is perforated by heating to form a desired perforated image, the master on which the perforated image is formed is wound around a rotatable plate cylinder, and printing paper is pressed by a pressing member. In a stencil printing apparatus that presses against the master to perform printing, a remaining amount detection unit that detects the remaining amount of the master, and a detection result by the remaining amount detection unit outside the image forming area of the master in a readable form. A stencil printing apparatus comprising: a remaining amount display forming means for performing heat punching or heat half punching. 3. A master made of a thermoplastic resin is heated and punched to form a desired punched image, and the master on which the punched image is formed is wound around a rotatable plate cylinder, and printing paper is pressed by a pressing member. In a stencil printing apparatus that presses against the master to perform printing, a remaining amount detection unit that detects the remaining amount of consumables used in this stencil printing device, and a detection result by the remaining amount detection unit in the image forming area of the master And a remaining amount display forming means for heating and punching in a readable form, and a stencil printing apparatus. 4. The stencil printing machine according to claim 3, wherein the consumable item whose remaining amount is detected by the remaining amount detecting means is a master. 5. The stencil printing machine according to claim 3, wherein the consumable item whose remaining amount is detected by the remaining amount detecting means is ink. 6. A warning display forming means for heating and punching a warning display in the image forming area of the master according to the remaining amount of the consumable goods detected by the remaining amount detecting means. The stencil printing apparatus according to any one of 1.