JPH1110834A - Printing plate supply equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it unnecessary for an operator to put a printing plate on printing plate supply equipment in an exact color sequence beforehand, by a method wherein a discrimination mark provided for the printing plate is detected by a mark detecting means, a color plate of the printing plate is discriminated in accordance with the result of the detection, and a direction of carriage of a carrying means for the printing plate is switched over. SOLUTION: A mark detecting means 30 detects a discrimination mark of a printing plate in the uppermost part of a printing plate accommodating cassette. Next, a control means 40 judges and discriminates a color plate of the printing plate according to a detection signal of the mark detecting means 30. In accordance with the result of this discrimination, a switching means 23 is selected and moved so that the printing plate be carried to the side of a corresponding plate cylinder l. The corresponding plate cylinder 1 is rotated by a driving means 50 and positioned at a position where the printing plate can be inserted into a corresponding gripper means 52. Subsequently, the printing plate is sucked and separated by one by a sucking-separating means 21, guided to a corresponding separate carrying path by the switching means 23, inserted into the gripper means 52 of the corresponding plate cylinder 1 and supplied to the cylinder.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing plate supply device which is provided in a printing device for performing printing using a printing plate and supplies the printing plate to a plate cylinder of the printing device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Heretofore, in order to automate a printing process, a printing plate supply device that automatically mounts a printing plate on a plate cylinder has been used in a printing device. When the printing apparatus has a plurality of plate cylinders, an individual printing plate supply device is provided for each plate cylinder. Therefore, the number of printing plate supply devices required is equal to the number of plate cylinders, and there is a disadvantage that the device becomes complicated and expensive.

On the other hand, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 8-174799 proposes a printing apparatus in which a plurality of plate cylinders use a common printing plate supply device. That is, in the apparatus described in this publication, a common printing plate supply device is provided between two plate cylinders, and the printing plate supply device selectively moves to a plate exchange position for one of the plate cylinders. It is configured to supply a printing plate by tilting. According to such an apparatus, a printing plate can be supplied to a plurality of plate cylinders by one printing plate supply device.

[0004]

In the above-described conventional apparatus, the printing plate supply device supplies the printing plate to the plate cylinder in a predetermined order, so that the color to be printed by the operator is required. It is necessary to set the printing plates in the printing plate supply device in an accurate order according to the order.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a printing plate supply apparatus which can reduce a burden on an operator when setting a printing plate in the printing plate supply apparatus. This is the purpose of 1.

Further, in the above-described conventional apparatus, the printing plate supply device itself is configured to tilt to a plate exchange position with respect to any of the plate cylinders. For this reason, when a large number of printing plates are stored in the printing plate supply device, there is a problem that the weight of the printing plate supply device itself increases and the driving mechanism becomes large. Further, in this conventional apparatus, since the printing plate supply device itself is tilted, it is difficult to supply the printing plate to three or more plate cylinders in consideration of the arrangement of the plate cylinder in a normal printing device. .

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above-mentioned problem, and can easily handle a large number of printing plates. It is a second object of the present invention to provide a printing plate supply device which can easily cope with this.

[0008]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing plate supply device provided in a printing apparatus having a plurality of plate cylinders for supplying a printing plate to the plurality of plate cylinders. A printing plate storage unit that stores a printing plate to be used, a conveyance unit that conveys the printing plate from the printing plate storage unit to the plurality of plate cylinders, a mark detection unit that detects an identification mark provided on the printing plate, Discriminating means for discriminating a color plate of a printing plate in accordance with the detection result of the mark detecting means; Transport control means for transporting the printing plate to the printer.

In the printing plate supply device according to the first aspect,
The printing plate set in the printing plate storage section is provided with a color plate, that is, an identification mark for identifying the color of ink to be printed by the printing plate in advance. Then, the identification mark is detected by the mark detection means, and the corresponding color plate of the printing plate is determined by the determination means according to the detection result. When the color plate of the printing plate is determined by the determination unit, the transport control unit switches the transport direction of the transport unit that transports the printing plate in accordance with the determination, whereby the printing plate is supplied to the corresponding plate cylinder. Therefore, the operator only needs to set the printing plate in the printing plate storage unit regardless of the color order, so that the burden on the operator can be reduced.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing plate supply device of the first aspect, the transport means takes out the printing plates one by one from the printing plate storage unit and transports the printing plates. A common transport path for nipping and transporting the printing plate from the printing plate storage unit to a predetermined branch point, and individual transport provided for each plate cylinder for nipping and transporting the printing plate from the branch point to each of the plate cylinders And a switching unit provided at the branch point for switching connection between the common transport path and the individual transport path.

In the printing plate supply device according to the second aspect,
The printing plates are taken out one by one from the printing plate storage unit and supplied to the plate cylinder along the common transport path and the individual transport paths. Therefore,
Even when a large number of printing plates are stored in the printing plate supply device, the driving mechanism of the transport means can be reduced in size and weight to such an extent that the printing plates can be transported one by one. In addition, since printing plates are transported along the common transport path and individual transport paths, if individual transport paths are provided to correspond to each plate cylinder, printing plates can be easily supplied to three or more plate cylinders. can do.

[0012]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a sheet-fed printing apparatus provided with a printing plate supply apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control form thereof.

As shown in FIG. 1, this printing apparatus comprises plate cylinders 1a, 1a and 1b capable of holding two printing plates of two colors each on the peripheral surface.
b, dampening solution supply means 2a to 2d and ink supply means 3a to 3d for supplying dampening solution and ink to the printing plate on each plate cylinder 1a, 1b, respectively, and the same as plate cylinders 1a, 1b. Blanket cylinders 4a, 4b each having a body diameter and arranged so as to abut against each of the plate cylinders 1a, 1b;
a, 1b, half of the body diameter, and both blanket cylinders 4a,
4b, one impression cylinder 5 arranged to be in contact with the impression cylinder 5, a paper feeding means 6 for supplying printing paper to the impression cylinder 5,
Means 7 for receiving and discharging printing paper from the printer, a printing plate supply device 8 for supplying a printing plate to the plate cylinders 1a and 1b, and a printing plate discharge for discharging a printing plate from the plate cylinders 1a and 1b. Means 9.

Each plate cylinder 1a, 1b (hereinafter, both plate cylinders 1a, 1b)
b is a so-called double cylinder having a peripheral length capable of holding two printing plates. The plate cylinder 1 is rotatably driven by a driving means 50 (see FIG. 2) such as a motor, and an opening / closing means 5 such as an actuator is provided on a peripheral surface thereof.
1 (see FIG. 2), two sets of jaw means 52 (see FIG. 2) for opening and closing the edges of the printing plate by being opened and closed are provided. The plate cylinder 1 is provided with a pressing roller 11 for pressing the printing plate when supplying the printing plate so as to be able to freely contact and separate from the plate cylinder 1.

Each of the dampening water supply means 2a to 2d (hereinafter referred to as "the dampening water supply means 2" when collectively referring to all the dampening water supply means 2a to 2d) is provided from a watercraft holding dampening water. Is a device for drawing up dampening water through a group of rollers and applying and supplying the printing solution to the printing plate on the plate cylinder 1, so as to abut only one of the printing plates on the corresponding plate cylinder 1. The plate cylinder 1 is configured to be able to contact and separate from the plate cylinder 1 by driving means.

Each of the ink supply means 3a to 3d (hereinafter referred to as "ink supply means 3" when collectively referring to all the ink supply means 3a to 3d) is configured to transfer a predetermined roller group from an ink fountain containing inks of different colors. Is a device for transferring ink through a printing plate on the plate cylinder 1 and supplying the same to the printing plate on the plate cylinder 1 in the same manner as the dampening solution supply device 2. As described above, each of the plate cylinders 1 is configured to be able to contact and separate from the plate cylinder 1 by driving means (not shown).

Each blanket cylinder 4a, 4b (hereinafter referred to as "blanket cylinder 4" when both blanket cylinders 4a, 4b are collectively referred to) is a double cylinder having the same circumferential length as the plate cylinder 1, and has a circumferential surface. Equipped with a rubber blanket to transfer the ink image. Each of the blanket cylinders 4 is configured to be in contact with the corresponding plate cylinder 1 and to be capable of being individually brought into contact with and separated from the impression cylinder 5 by a driving means (not shown) (so-called cylinder insertion cylinder removal).

The impression cylinder 5 has a circumferential length half that of the plate cylinder 1, and a pair of jaw means (not shown) is provided on its peripheral surface so as to hold one printing sheet. . Then, the impression cylinder 5 abuts on the blanket cylinder 4 while holding the printing paper on its peripheral surface and makes two rotations, so that printing of four colors can be performed on the printing paper. That is, since the circumferential lengths of the plate cylinder 1 and the blanket cylinder 4 are twice as long as the impression cylinder 5, the two rotations of the impression cylinder 5 allow printing of four colors by all the printing plates on both plate cylinders 1a and 1b. Is performed.

The paper feeding means 6 separates the stacked printing papers one by one in order and supplies them to the impression cylinder 5.
This sheet feeding operation is performed once every time the impression cylinder 5 rotates twice.

The paper discharging means 7 receives the printed printing paper from the impression cylinder 5 and discharges it. This sheet discharging operation is performed once every time the impression cylinder 5 rotates twice, similarly to the sheet feeding operation.

The printing plate supply device 8 includes a printing plate storage cassette 10 for stacking and storing printing plates, a conveying unit 20 for taking out the printing plate from the printing plate storage cassette and conveying the printing plate to each plate cylinder 1, And a control means 40 (see FIG. 2) comprising a microcomputer or the like for controlling the entire printing apparatus including the printing plate supply apparatus 8, and a mark detecting means 30 for detecting a predetermined identification mark formed on the printing plate.

The printing plate storage cassette 10 is a box having an open upper surface and a thickness capable of stacking and storing a plurality of printing plates. The operator sets the printing plates for each set of four colors in a state of being stacked on the printing plate storage cassette 10 in advance.

The transport means 20 is a suction / separation means 21 for taking out one printing plate from the opening on the upper surface of the printing plate storage cassette 10, and a plurality of nipping / conveying printing plates taken out by the suction / separation means 21. Transport roller pair 22
And a switching means 23 for switching the transport direction of the printing plate transported by the transport roller pair 22.

The suction / separation means 21 is connected to a suction plate 54 connected to a vacuum means 53 such as a vacuum pump (see FIG. 2), and the suction plate 54 to a printing plate placed in the printing plate storage cassette 10. The driving means 55 (see FIG. 2) for moving the printing plate in the up and down direction and the horizontal direction for feeding the printing plate.

The transport roller pair 22 is composed of a plurality of rubber rollers disposed to face each other to pinch and transport the printing plate. The transport roller pair 22 is rotationally driven by a driving unit 56 (see FIG. 2) including a motor, a gear chain, and the like.

As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of pairs of transfer rollers 22 are arranged side by side from the printing plate storage cassette 10 to the branch point A to form a transfer path. They are arranged so as to form a plurality of branched transport paths leading to each of them. In the following description, the transport path from the printing plate storage cassette 10 to the branch point A is referred to as a common transport path B, and each of the plate cylinders 1a and 1b from the branch point A.
The transport path up to is referred to as an individual transport path C. The end of the individual transport path C on the side of the plate cylinder 1 is tangential to the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 1 such that the leading end of the printing plate is inserted into the claw means of the plate cylinder 1 at a predetermined position. Are arranged along.

The switching means 23 is arranged at the branch point A of the transport path, and switches the printing plate transported from the common transport path B to any one of the individual transport paths C to guide the printing plate. A guide roller arm 58 rotatable between a solid line position and a dotted line position shown in FIG. 1 by a driving means 57 (see FIG. 2), and the printing plate is guided by being rotatably supported by the guide roller arm 58. And a guide roller 59.

The mark detecting means 30 detects an identification mark formed on the printing plate from an opening above the printing plate storage cassette 10, and outputs a detection signal of the identification mark according to a control signal from the control means 40. Output to control means 40. For example, in this embodiment, the identification mark is a barcode indicating a color plate of the printing plate, and the mark detection unit 30 is a barcode reader. Note that the identification mark may be formed by printing a desired blank portion of the printing plate in advance in the same manner as a pattern when the printing plate is made, or by generating and attaching a barcode label. May be. Further, as the mark detection means 30, a CCD imaging means may be used. Further, the identification mark may be a magnetic seal, and the mark detection means 30 may be a magnetic card reader.

On the other hand, the mark detecting means 30 may be provided on the back side of the printing plate in the common transport path B to read the identification mark provided on the back surface of the printing plate. In this case, even if the identification mark is provided by a sticker or the like, there is an advantage that the adverse effect on printing is reduced because the identification mark is on the back surface of the printing surface.

The control means 40 comprises a microcomputer provided with input / output means, storage means and the like, and controls the entire printing apparatus including the printing plate supply device 8.
As shown in FIG. 2, the control unit 40 controls the plate cylinder 1 via the driving unit 50. Further, the control means 40 vacuum-controls the suction plate 54 of the suction / separation means 21 via the vacuum means 53, and moves up and down and parallelly via the drive means 55. The control means 40 controls the drive of the conveying roller pair 22 and the guide roller arm 58 of the switching means 23 via the drive means 56 and 57, and controls the mark detection means 30 to control the identification mark on the printing plate. Obtain a detection signal. Further, the control unit 40 is also connected to other mechanisms 60 relating to the entire printing apparatus, such as a sensor driving mechanism of each unit.

The control means 40 not only controls the respective parts of the printing plate supply device 8 as described above, but also determines the color plate of the printing plate in accordance with the detection signal obtained from the mark detecting means 30. It also functions as a means.

The printing plate discharge means 9 includes a printing plate discharge cassette 61 for discharging a used printing plate, and a plate cylinder 1 as shown by a solid line and a dotted line in FIG.
Separating claw means 62a, 62b (hereinafter, referred to as "claws 62a, 62b") which are inserted between the plate cylinders 1a, 1b and the printing plate to separate the printing plate while rotating the plate cylinders 1a, 1b. And the peeling claw means 62a and 62b are collectively referred to as "peeling claw means 62"). This peeling claw means 62
Is a thin plate having a sharp tip, and has a curved shape so as to guide the peeled printing plate from the plate cylinder 1 to the printing plate discharge cassette 61. The direction of peeling of the printing plate by each peeling claw means 62 is the same tangential direction of the plate cylinder 1 as the direction of the individual transport path C by the transport roller pair 22.

Next, the printing operation and the printing plate supply operation according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the flowcharts shown in FIGS. FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the printing operation, and FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing the printing plate supply operation.

First, in step S1 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, initialization of each section of the printing apparatus is performed. For example, it is the alignment of the origin of each mechanism and the preparation of ink, dampening solution, printing paper, and the like.

Next, in step S2, the printing plate is supplied to the plate cylinder 1 by the printing plate supply device 8 according to the present invention. The details of step S2 will be described later.

At step S3, printing is performed. First,
The printing plates on the plate cylinder 1 are each provided with a corresponding dampening solution supply device 2.
And a corresponding ink is supplied from a corresponding ink supply device 3. Then, the ink image on the plate cylinder 1 is transferred to the corresponding blanket cylinder 4.
The ink image transferred to the blanket cylinder 4 is then transferred to printing paper held by the impression cylinder 5 to perform printing. In this embodiment, each time the impression cylinder 5 makes one rotation, printing of a total of two colors, one color each, is overprinted from each of the plate cylinders 1a and 1b. Is configured to perform printing for four colors by all the printing plates. Therefore, every time the impression cylinder 5 makes two rotations, new printing paper is supplied from the paper feeding means 6 to the impression cylinder 5, and prior to this paper feeding, the printing means 7 has printed four colors printed from the impression cylinder 5 by the ejection means 5. The paper is ejected.

When a predetermined number of prints have been made in step S3, the used printing plate is discharged in step S4. First, the claw means 52 for holding the rear end of the printing plate on the plate cylinder 1 is opened, and the peeling claw means 62 is inserted between the plate cylinder 1 and the rear end of the printing plate. When the plate cylinder 1 is rotated in the reverse direction as it is, the printing plate is peeled off along the peeling claw means 62. When the peeling claw means 62 reaches the vicinity of the leading end of the printing plate, the gripping claw means 52 at the leading end is opened, and the peeling claw means 62 rotates so as to be retracted from the plate cylinder 1 to remove the printing plate. The sheet is discharged to the printing plate discharge cassette 61. This discharging operation is performed for all the printing plates of both plate cylinders 1.

In step S5, it is determined whether there is a next print. This is, for example, the printing plate storage cassette 10.
Is determined based on whether or not the printing plate remains. Here, if there is still the next print, the process returns to step S2, and if not, the process proceeds to the next step S6.

In step S6, an end operation is performed. This end operation is, for example, automatic cleaning of each part of the printing apparatus.

Next, the operation of the printing plate supply device in step S2 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3 will be described.

First, in step S10 in the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, the mark detection device 30 detects the identification mark of the uppermost printing plate in the printing plate storage cassette.
Then, the detection signal is sent from the mark detection means 30 to the control means 40.

Next, at step S11, the control means 40
Thus, the color plate of the printing plate is determined from the detection signal of the mark detection device 30. For example, the identification marks may be marks indicating numbers 1 to 4, and four colors of YMCK may be set for each number. Note that the identification mark itself does not necessarily indicate a color plate as described above, and the identification mark may indicate a job management number that only identifies an individual printing plate. In this case, the control unit 40 may determine which color plate is the printing plate of the job management number based on the separately recorded correspondence table. Also, if the correspondence table can determine not only the color plate information but also the type of the pattern of the printing plate, for example, an error alarm is issued when an operator mistakenly sets a printing plate of a different pattern as a set. Can also.

In the next step S12, step 1
In accordance with the determination in step 1, the switching means 23 is selectively moved so that the printing plate is conveyed to the corresponding plate cylinder 1 side. In step S13, the corresponding plate cylinder 1 is rotated by the driving unit 50, and is positioned at a position where the printing plate can be inserted into the corresponding jaw unit 52. The jaw means 52 is opened.

In step S14, the suction / separation means 21 sucks and separates one printing plate, and moves so that the leading edge of the printing plate is held by the first pair of conveying rollers 22 in the common conveying path B.

In this state, in step S15, the transport roller pair 22 is driven to transport the printing plate along the common transport path B. The printing plate is guided to the corresponding individual transport path C by the switching means at the branch point A, and is inserted into the corresponding claw means 52 of the corresponding plate cylinder 1. When the insertion timing is detected by a sensor (not shown) or the like, the plate cylinder 1 rotates, and the printing plate is wound around the peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 1 while being pressed by the pressing roller 11. Then, the rear end of the printing plate is held by the other holding claw means 52, and the supply of the printing plate is completed.

In this embodiment, each plate cylinder 1a, 1b
Are two printing plates each, but the two printing plates held in each plate cylinder 1 may be supplied as one continuous printing plate formed by equally allocating two pictures. . In this case, there is an advantage that the number of the claw means 52 can be reduced and the supply operation can be simplified.

In step S16, it is determined whether or not all necessary printing plates have been held on the plate cylinder 1. This decision
For example, it is performed by detecting whether or not the printing plate is held on the plate cylinder 1 by a sensor (not shown) or by counting the number of printing plates supplied. If it is determined in step S16 that there is still a printing plate to be supplied, the process returns to step S10, and if it is determined that all the printing plates have been supplied, step S2 ends.

[Other Embodiments]

(1) Although the above embodiment has been described with reference to the case where the present invention is applied to a printing apparatus having two plate cylinders, the present invention is also applicable to a printing apparatus having three or more plate cylinders. it can. FIG. 5 shows an example of a general printing apparatus having four plate cylinders.

This printing apparatus has four sets of plate cylinders 100, dampening solution and ink supply means 110, blanket cylinders 120, and impression cylinders 130, respectively. The transfer of printing paper across each impression cylinder 130 is performed by a chain gripper 140. This is the type of printing device. In this apparatus as well, the printing plate is taken out of the printing plate storage cassette 150 and, according to the detection by the mark detecting means 160, the printing plate is transported to the corresponding plate cylinder 100 along the transport path 170 shown by the dashed line in FIG. It is configured as follows.

The transport roller pair and the switching means constituting the transport path 170 are the same as those in the above-described embodiment, and therefore the description is omitted. In this embodiment, only the printing plate is transported along the transport path, and is distributed to the corresponding plate cylinder 100 by three switching means at the branch point. By adding an individual transport path from the branch point to the plate cylinder in this way, a printing apparatus having three or more plate cylinders can be handled.

In a so-called satellite type printing apparatus in which a plurality of sets of plate cylinders and blanket cylinders are arranged around one large-diameter impression cylinder, the printing plate transport path is made to correspond to each plate cylinder. The present invention can be applied by arranging them.

(2) The invention according to claim 1 is implemented even in a printing plate supply device of a type in which the printing plate supply device itself moves with respect to a corresponding plate cylinder as in the conventional device described above. Can do it.

[0054]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the operator does not need to place the printing plates in the printing plate supply device in the correct color order in advance, and simply sets the printing plates having the same pattern as a set. Since it is sufficient, the work load is reduced.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, since only the printing plate is further conveyed, the driving means can be made smaller and lighter than when the printing plate supply device itself is moved. Further, by arranging the individual transport paths for each plate cylinder, a printing plate can be supplied to three or more plate cylinders in common.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a printing apparatus including a printing plate supply device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a control mode of a control unit of the printing plate supply device.

FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a printing operation in the printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing a printing plate supply operation in the printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram showing an example in which the printing plate supply device of the present invention is applied to a printing device having four plate cylinders.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Plate cylinder 10 Printing plate storage cassette 20 Conveying means 22 Conveying roller pair 23 Switching means 30 Mark detecting means 40 Control means A Branch point B Common conveying path C Individual conveying path

Claims (2)

[Claims] 1. A printing plate supply device provided in a printing device having a plurality of plate cylinders for supplying a printing plate to the plurality of plate cylinders, the printing plate storage unit storing an unused printing plate, Transport means for transporting the printing plate from the printing plate storage unit to the plurality of plate cylinders, mark detecting means for detecting an identification mark provided on the printing plate, and detecting the printing plate according to the detection result of the mark detecting means. Determining means for determining a color plate; and transport control means for switching a transport direction of the printing plate by the transport unit according to a determination result by the determining unit and transporting the printing plate to a plate cylinder of a corresponding color. A printing plate supply device, characterized in that: 2. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transport unit removes and transports the printing plates one by one from the printing plate storage unit, and transports the printing plates from the printing plate storage unit to a predetermined branch point. A common transport path, an individual transport path provided for each plate cylinder for nipping and transporting the printing plate from the branch point to each of the plate cylinders, and a common transport path and the individual transport provided at the branch point The printing plate supply device according to claim 1, further comprising: a switching unit configured to switch a connection with a path.