JPH10114057A - Method for monitoring electrostatic printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To quickly diagnose and repair a cause of a failure, etc., when an electrostatic printing apparatus fails, etc. SOLUTION: An electrostatic printing apparatus 1 has a charging electrode 9, a discharging electrode 10, and a control means 4 for controlling operations of the electrodes. Data of check items for diagnosing a state of the apparatus 1 are edited at the side of the apparatus 1. The edited data are transferred to an external monitoring means 2 via an external communication line 39 such as a public telephone line or the like. The data of check items are stored and displayed by the external monitoring means 2.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a method for monitoring an electrostatic printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In an electrostatic printing apparatus in which ink is transferred by static electricity, an imprint cylinder for pressing a band-shaped paper against a metal plate cylinder is charged by a band electrode, so that the paper cylinder is charged onto the plate cylinder. The ink is smoothly transferred to the paper by the suction of the ink and the swelling due to the charging of the ink in the plate cylinder cell (surface recess of the plate cylinder). In such a conventional electrostatic printing apparatus,
The operating section, the failure location, and the like are displayed on a display section provided in the apparatus. In a conventional electrostatic printing apparatus, an operation status, a failure location, and the like are displayed on a display unit provided in the apparatus.

[0003]

However, since the electrostatic printing apparatus has a complicated structure as compared with other printing apparatuses, when a failure occurs, the printing company diagnoses and repairs the cause of the failure. It was difficult to do. In addition, since the printing company has a strict delivery time for the printed matter, if the device fails, it must be promptly repaired.However, the manufacturer of the electrostatic printing device has a problem including a distance problem. It was often difficult to respond quickly.

Accordingly, the present invention solves the above-mentioned problems and solves the above-described problems when an electrostatic printing apparatus is in trouble, such as a failure.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a method of monitoring an electrostatic printing apparatus that can quickly diagnose and repair the cause.

[0005]

According to the present invention, there is provided a method for monitoring an electrostatic printing apparatus, comprising the steps of: controlling a band electrode, a removing electrode, and operations of the band electrode and the removing electrode; Means, the check item data for diagnosing the state of the electrostatic printing apparatus having the same is edited on the electrostatic printing apparatus side, and the edited check item data is sent to the external monitoring means via an external communication line. The check data is stored and displayed by the external monitoring means.

[0006] Check item data for diagnosing the state of an electrostatic printing apparatus having a strip electrode, a strip electrode, and control means for controlling the operation of the strip electrode and the strip electrode is stored in the electrostatic printing apparatus. The printer device edits the check item data at predetermined time intervals, transfers the edited check item data to an external monitoring means via a modem and an external communication line, and stores and displays the check item data in the external monitoring means. It is.

[0007] Check item data for diagnosing the state of an electrostatic printing apparatus having a strip electrode, a strip electrode, and control means for controlling the operation of the strip electrode and the strip electrode is stored in the electrostatic printing apparatus. When an abnormality occurs in the printing apparatus, the electrostatic printing apparatus edits the data, transfers the check item data to an external monitoring unit via a modem and an external communication line, and the external monitoring unit converts the check item data. It is to be stored and displayed.

The check item data includes a power supply module overheat signal, a discharge electrode contamination signal, a discharge electrode spark generation signal, a discharge electrode applied voltage decrease / increase / abnormal signal, a discharge interlock correct / failure signal, and a discharge electrode Predetermined voltage supply correctness signal, removal electrode primary power on / off signal, band electrode spark generation signal, charging interlock correct / failure signal, band electrode predetermined voltage supply correctness / failure signal, band electrode primary power supply on / off signal, band electrode It is preferable that it is constituted by an appropriate combination of a contamination signal, a charging current signal, a band electrode applied voltage signal, a band electrode applied voltage set value signal, and a communication error signal. In addition, when the band electrode is turned off and only the removing electrode is used, the check item data includes a power supply module overheating signal, a removing electrode contamination signal, a removing electrode spark generation signal, and a decrease / increase of the removing electrode applied voltage. An abnormal signal, a neutralization interlock correct / failure signal, a neutralization electrode predetermined voltage supply correctness / failure signal, a neutralization electrode primary power on / off signal, and a communication error signal
It is also desirable to be constituted by an appropriate combination. Further, it is preferable that the check item data includes a data detection time.

[0009]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS The present invention will be described below in detail based on the illustrated embodiments.

In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 denotes an electrostatic printing apparatus installed on a printing company side, and 2 denotes an external monitoring unit installed on a manufacturer side that manufactures the electrostatic printing apparatus 1. Thus, the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 includes a plurality of (four in the illustrated example) printing units 3.
And a control unit 4 for controlling printing of each of the printing units 3.

The printing unit 3 includes a plate cylinder 5, an ink bath 6, an impression cylinder 8 for pressing a printing material 7 against the plate cylinder 5, a band electrode 9,
The power supply apparatus includes a removing electrode and a power supply device electrically connected to the band electrode and the removing electrode.

The plate cylinder 5 has a recess corresponding to the mold to be printed on the outer peripheral surface, and ink is supplied from the ink bath 6 to the recess. The printing material 7 is sent in the direction of arrow A from the supply roller 12 to the take-up roller 13, and travels between the impression cylinder 8 and the plate cylinder 5.

The band electrode 9 negatively charges the ink stored in the concave portion of the plate cylinder 5 via the impression cylinder 8 and the printing material 7 (in this case, band-shaped paper). As a result, the ink molecules are negatively charged, and the molecules repel each other, so that the ink molecules rise toward the print substrate 7 and the ink is reliably transferred to the print substrate 7. In addition, electrode removal electrodes provided upstream and downstream of the impression cylinder 8
Steps 10 and 10 adjust the potential of the printing medium 7 so that the ink on the plate cylinder 5 is charged reliably.

A total of four power supplies 11 of the printing units 3...
a, 11b, 11c and 11d are connected to the control means 4 by one serial communication line 14. The ink baths 6 of the printing units 3 contain inks of different colors (for example, red, blue, yellow, black, etc.). The serial communication line 14
The standards of the United States EIA (Electronic Industries Association of America)
RS485 is an example. If this RS485 is used, a maximum of ten power supply devices 11 can be connected to the control means 4 by one serial communication line 14, and the construction cost of the transmission line can be reduced.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the power supply 11
Charge information detecting means 15 for detecting various information on the band electrode such as contamination of the band electrode, spark generation, abnormal operation, etc., and static elimination for detecting various information on the band electrode such as contamination of the electrode, spark generation, abnormal operation, etc. An information detecting unit 16, a data editing unit 17 for editing data detected by the charge / discharge information detecting units 15 and 16, and a communication unit 18 for sending the edited data to the control unit 4 are provided.

Further, as shown in FIG. 3, the control means 4
The internal communication means 19, the memory 25 for storing monitoring data, the central processing unit 20 (CPU), the input / display means 21, the external communication means 22, the control instruction data transmission means 23, and the control / control program The storage device includes a storage medium 24 (ROM) on which recording is performed, and a printer 26.

The internal communication means 19 of the control means 4 includes a driver 27 for serial communication and a communication circuit 28 for serial communication.
And a memory 29 for editing data transmitted from the power supply devices 11 (not shown). The input / display unit 21 includes a display 30, a keyboard 31, and a memory 32. The external communication unit 22 includes a communication circuit 33 for external communication, a memory 34, a modem 35, and a parallel communication circuit 36 for printer output. The control instruction data transmission means 23 is provided with a control display means 37.
And a memory 29 for sending data to the memory. The control display means 37 is configured to display the state of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 at the installation site of the apparatus.

The modem 35 of the external communication means 22 is an external communication line
Connected to 39. Here, as the external communication line 39, for example, a public telephone line is used, but other lines may be used. In addition, (return to FIG. 1)
, And the modem 40 is connected to the external communication line 39. That is, the electrostatic printing device 1 and the external monitoring means 2 are connected via the modems 35 and 40 and the external communication line 39. As the external communication line 39, either an analog line or a digital line may be used. In the case of a digital line, a connection device for a digital line is used instead of the modems 35 and 40.

The monitoring method of the electrostatic printing apparatus according to the present invention will be described. Check item data for diagnosing the state of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 is edited on the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 side. Modem 3 with edited check item data
The data is transferred to the external monitoring means 2 via the external communication line 39, and the check item data is stored and displayed by the external monitoring means 2.

More specifically, the check item data is edited in the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 in chronological order (in order of data detection time). More specifically, the check item data is edited at a predetermined time on the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 side. The predetermined time is preferably, for example, about 3 to 10 minutes, but may be outside the range. Also, when an abnormality occurs in the electrostatic printing apparatus 1, the check item data is edited on the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 side.

Specifically, each of the power supply devices 11a, 11b,
A unique address (address) is assigned to 11c and 11d, and when the power is turned on, a reset state is set. And control means 4
Issues a transmission request in order from the power supply 11a to the power supply 11d. That is, the signal of the transmission request includes the above-mentioned address, and the power supply device 11 corresponding to the address responds, and the check item data is sent to the control means 4. , 11d are edited and stored by the control means 4.

Here, the check item data is data necessary for diagnosing the state of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1. In other words, data for knowing in advance where there is a possibility that a malfunction such as a failure or an accident may occur in the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 and data when a malfunction or an accident occurs in the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 That includes both data for diagnosing the cause of the failure and the repair method.

Thus, the check item data includes a power supply module overheat signal, a discharge electrode contamination signal, a discharge electrode spark generation signal, a discharge electrode applied voltage decrease / increase / abnormal signal, a discharge interlock correct / failure signal, and a An electrode predetermined voltage supply correct / fail signal, a removal electrode primary power supply ON / OFF signal, a band electrode spark generation signal, a charging interlock correct / failure signal, a band electrode predetermined voltage supply correct / failure signal, a band electrode primary power ON / OFF signal, It comprises an electrode contamination signal, a charging current signal, a band electrode applied voltage signal, a band electrode applied voltage set value signal, and a communication error signal. Further, the check item data includes a data detection time.

The power supply module overheat signal is a signal notifying that the temperature of the power supply module exceeds a certain temperature and there is a danger of failure or accident. Also, as the electrode removal contamination signal, there are two signals, an electrode removal error signal and a removal electrode detection signal.
There are various types. Among them, the removal electrode contamination detection signal is a signal indicating that the removal of the removal electrode has exceeded a certain limit (preset limit). The removal electrode contamination error signal indicates that the removal of the removal electrode is more contaminated. This signal indicates that the electrode needs to be cleaned or replaced as soon as possible. Further, the removal electrode spark generation signal notifies that a spark has occurred on the removal electrode.

[0025] The removal electrode applied voltage drop / rise / abnormal signal is a signal for notifying that the applied voltage of the removal electrode is lower or higher than a normal voltage, or has become an abnormal voltage, respectively. The static elimination interlock success / failure signal indicates whether or not the interlock of the neutralization electrode is operating normally. Further, the removal electrode predetermined voltage supply correctness signal indicates whether a predetermined voltage (for example, +300 V) is normally transmitted from the DC power supply of the high voltage generation circuit. The removal electrode primary power supply on / off signal indicates whether the primary power supply of the removal electrode is normally turned on / off.

The band electrode spark generation signal indicates that a spark has occurred in the band electrode. Further, the charging interlock correct / incorrect signal indicates whether or not the interlock of the band electrode is operating normally. The band electrode predetermined voltage supply right / wrong signal indicates whether a predetermined voltage (for example, +300 V) is normally sent from the DC power supply of the high voltage generation circuit. The band electrode primary power ON / OFF signal indicates whether the primary power of the band electrode is normally turned ON / OFF. In addition, the band electrode contamination signal indicates a limit at which the band electrode is contaminated (a preset limit).
Is exceeded, and further, if the contamination further progresses, it is necessary to immediately clean or replace the strip electrode. The charging current signal indicates whether or not the charging current value is normal. The band electrode applied voltage signal indicates whether or not the voltage applied to the band electrode is normal. Further, the band electrode applied voltage set value signal indicates whether or not the set value of the band electrode applied voltage is normal. Further, the communication error signal indicates whether communication between the control means 4 and the power supply devices 11 is normally performed.

Further, the operation time of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 is included as check item data. Specifically, the operating time is edited as data of the start time and the stop time of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 including the year, month, day, hour, and minute. If necessary, it is preferable to edit to the unit of seconds.

The check item data edited and stored by the control means 4 is transmitted to the modems 35 and 40 and the external communication line.
The data is transferred to the external monitoring means 2 via 39. The external monitoring means 2 is installed in an office of the manufacturer of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 or the like. And external monitoring means 2 in the office
Stores and displays the check item data. Thereby, the staff of the manufacturer can investigate the state of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 installed at the printer side in detail in the office of the manufacturer side.

Therefore, if the recovery can be performed by the staff of the printing company, the recovery method is notified to the printing company by telephone, facsimile, personal computer communication or the like. When the manufacturer's staff is needed or when parts need to be replaced, the manufacturer's specialized staff arranges the necessary tools, parts, etc., and goes to the printing company. Thereby, the electrostatic printing apparatus 1
The time required for restoration can be significantly reduced as compared with the conventional case.

If the expert staff of the manufacturer diagnoses the above check item data and determines that there is a high possibility that a malfunction will occur in the electrostatic printing apparatus 1, it will be notified by telephone, facsimile, personal computer communication or the like. If the contents are notified to the printing service provider, it is possible to prevent the occurrence of troubles from being difficult.

As described above, the cooperation between the staff of the printing company and the specialized staff of the outside manufacturer can prevent and recover the malfunction of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 and increase the maintenance (safety). be able to. Therefore, the downtime of the printing operation can be shortened, and the delivery date of the printed matter can be more strictly maintained than before.

The check item data includes a power supply module overheat signal, a discharge electrode contamination signal, a discharge electrode spark generation signal, a discharge electrode applied voltage decrease / increase / abnormal signal, a discharge interlock right / wrong signal, and a removal signal. An electrode predetermined voltage supply correct / fail signal, a removal electrode primary power supply ON / OFF signal, a band electrode spark generation signal, a charging interlock correct / failure signal, a band electrode predetermined voltage supply correct / failure signal, a band electrode primary power ON / OFF signal, A combination of two or more of an electrode contamination signal, a charging current signal, a band electrode applied voltage signal, a band electrode applied voltage set value signal, and a communication error signal {appropriate combination}
Is also preferred.

In some cases, the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 uses the band electrode 9 off (off) and only the removal electrodes 10 and 10 on (on). In that case, check item data
Power supply module overheat signal, electrode removal contamination signal, electrode removal spark generation signal, electrode removal voltage drop / rise / abnormality signal, charge removal interlock correct / failure signal, removal electrode predetermined voltage supply correct / failure signal, removal electrode primary It is composed of an appropriate combination of a power on / off signal and a communication error signal. By doing so, it is not necessary to perform useless checks (checks of the band electrodes 9).

The following Tables 1, 2 and 3 show the check item data at each check point of the power supply, the electrode removal electrode, the strip electrode, and the communication section, and the contents of the abnormality assumed from the check item data. And a specific example of the coping method will be described.

[0035]

[Table 1]

[0036]

[Table 2]

[0037]

[Table 3]

In Tables 1 and 2 above, the removal electrodes are as follows.
There are two electrodes, an upstream electrode (DCU1) and a downstream electrode (DCU2), and check item data is checked for each electrode.

[0039]

The present invention has the following remarkable effects by the above-mentioned structure.

According to the monitoring method of the electrostatic printing apparatus according to the first aspect, the cause of the failure of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 installed in the printing company at the office of the manufacturer of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1.
Diagnosis of a restoration method and prediction of occurrence of a failure can be performed quickly. Therefore, even if the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 breaks down, it can be quickly restored. For this reason, the downtime is shortened, and the delivery date of the printed matter can be more strictly protected than before.

According to the monitoring method of the electrostatic printing apparatus according to the second aspect, at the office of the manufacturer of the electrostatic printing apparatus, the cause of the failure of the electrostatic printing apparatus installed at the printing company is determined.
Diagnosis of a restoration method and prediction of occurrence of a failure can be performed quickly. In particular, since the state of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 is known at every predetermined time, the diagnosis of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 can be performed in more detail. Therefore, even if the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 breaks down, it can be quickly restored. For this reason, the downtime is shortened, and the delivery date of the printed matter can be more strictly protected than before.

According to the monitoring method of the electrostatic printing apparatus according to the third aspect, at the office of the manufacturer of the electrostatic printing apparatus, the cause of the failure of the electrostatic printing apparatus installed in the printing company is determined.
Diagnosis of a restoration method and prediction of occurrence of a failure can be performed quickly. In particular, since the state when an abnormality has occurred in the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 can be known, it is easy to diagnose the cause of the occurrence of the abnormality in the electrostatic printing apparatus 1. Therefore, even if the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 breaks down, it can be quickly restored. For this reason, the downtime is shortened, and the delivery date of the printed matter can be more strictly protected than before.

According to the method for monitoring an electrostatic printing apparatus according to the fourth aspect, the same effect as that of the first, second or third aspect can be obtained, and the office of the manufacturer of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 can be provided. Thus, the diagnosis of the cause and recovery method of the failure of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 and the prediction of the occurrence of the failure can be performed more accurately.

According to the monitoring method of the electrostatic printing apparatus of the fifth aspect, the same effect as that of the first, second or third aspect is obtained, and the strip electrode 9 is turned off and only the removing electrode 10 is turned on. When used, the diagnosis of the cause / recovery method of the failure of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 and the prediction of the occurrence of the failure can be accurately performed with minimum data.

According to the monitoring method of the electrostatic printing apparatus of the sixth aspect, the same effect as that of the fourth or fifth aspect can be obtained, and the data detection time of the check item data can be known. Diagnosis of the cause and recovery method of the failure and prediction of the occurrence of the failure can be performed more accurately.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a simplified explanatory diagram showing an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating a main part of the power supply device.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main part of a control means.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Electrostatic printing device 2 External monitoring means 4 Control means 9 Strip electrode 10 Remove electrode 35 Modem 39 External communication line 40 Modem

Claims (6)

[Claims] 1. Check items for diagnosing the state of an electrostatic printing apparatus 1 including a band electrode 9, a removing electrode 10, and control means 4 for controlling the operations of the band electrode 9 and the removing electrode 10. The data is edited on the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 side, the edited check item data is transferred to the external monitoring means 2 via the external communication line 39, and the external monitoring means 2 stores the check item data. A method for monitoring an electrostatic printing device, characterized by displaying. 2. Check items for diagnosing the state of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 including the band electrode 9, the removing electrode 10, and the control means 4 for controlling the operation of the band electrode 9 and the removing electrode 10. The data is edited at predetermined intervals on the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 side, and the edited check item data is transferred to the external monitoring means 2 via the modems 35 and 40 and the external communication line 39. 2. A monitoring method for an electrostatic printing apparatus, wherein the check item data is stored and displayed in 2. 3. Check items for diagnosing the state of the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 including the band electrode 9, the removing electrode 10, and the control means 4 for controlling the operation of the band electrode 9 and the removing electrode 10. The data is edited on the electrostatic printing apparatus 1 side when an abnormality occurs in the electrostatic printing apparatus 1, and the check item data is
A method for monitoring an electrostatic printing apparatus, comprising: transferring the check item data to the external monitoring means 2 via the external communication line 39; 4. The check item data includes a power supply module overheat signal, a discharge electrode contamination signal, a discharge electrode spark generation signal, a discharge electrode applied voltage decrease / increase / abnormal signal, a discharge interlock correct / failure signal, and a discharge electrode. Predetermined voltage supply correctness signal, removal electrode primary power on / off signal, band electrode spark generation signal, charging interlock correct / failure signal, band electrode predetermined voltage supply correctness / failure signal, band electrode primary power supply on / off signal, band electrode 4. The electrostatic printing according to claim 1, wherein the electrostatic printing comprises an appropriate combination of a contamination signal, a charging current signal, a band electrode applied voltage signal, a band electrode applied voltage set value signal, and a communication error signal. Device monitoring method. 5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the band electrode is turned off and only the removing electrode is turned on, and the check item data includes a power supply module overheating signal, a removing electrode contamination signal, a removing electrode spark generation signal, and a removing electrode. An applied voltage decrease / increase / abnormal signal, a neutralization interlock correct / failure signal, a corrective electrode predetermined voltage supply correctness / failure signal, a neutralization electrode primary power supply ON / OFF signal, and a communication error signal, are appropriately combined. 1,2
Or the monitoring method of the electrostatic printing device according to 3. 6. The monitoring method for an electrostatic printing apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the check item data includes a data detection time.