JP4903438B2 - Printing apparatus and stencil printing apparatus - Google Patents

Description

  More particularly, the present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a stencil printing apparatus, and more specifically, an ink image is directly or indirectly printed by winding a pre-printed master around a plate cylinder and supplying ink to the pre-made master on the plate cylinder. The present invention relates to a printing apparatus and a stencil printing apparatus that perform printing by transferring to a medium.

  Conventionally, a heat-sensitive digital stencil printing apparatus is known as a simple printing method. This is a mixture of Japanese paper fiber and synthetic fiber, or Japanese paper and synthetic fiber on a plate cylinder made of a porous support cylinder and the like, and a thermoplastic resin film (hereinafter sometimes simply referred to as “film”). Using a master with a laminated structure bonded with a porous support made of, etc., the thermoplastic resin film surface of the master is heated, melted and punched with a thermal head arranged in the plate making section, and then wound around the plate cylinder, An appropriate amount of ink is supplied to the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder by ink supply means provided inside the plate cylinder, and the printing paper (hereinafter referred to as “paper”) is pressed to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder by pressing means such as a press roller or an impression cylinder. By directly or indirectly pressing the ink, the ink oozed from the plate cylinder opening portion and the master perforation portion is transferred and transferred to the paper for printing.

  Hereinafter, the “plate cylinder” around which the master that has been subjected to plate making is wound will be described in detail as a plate cylinder disposed on the outer peripheral portion of the printing drum. However, for the sake of simplicity, the plate cylinder is simply referred to as a plate cylinder. Sometimes called "printing drum" or "drum". When the “used master” is known from the contexts before and after, it is sometimes simply referred to as “master”. The master is a type of plate and is sometimes called stencil paper.

In a general stencil printing apparatus, when making a new plate based on a new document or image data from a personal computer, before making a new plate and winding the master made on the printing drum, And a plate discharge unit (plate release device) that stores the used master that is no longer required by printing and remains on the print drum after being peeled and discharged from the print drum. Normally, the conventional plate release unit is not unitized, and the entire plate release unit does not open and close with respect to the main body of the device. Therefore, if a plate release jam occurs, take out the plate release box that is detachably attached to the plate release unit and remove the plate. Remove the jammed master from the gap between the pair of rollers, or if the printing drum constitutes a drum unit that can be attached to and detached from the machine body, pull out the drum unit and put your hand through the drum unit set port to jam the master It was a mechanism that was very difficult to handle jamming. In addition, not only the plate removal process but also a paper discharge jam is a mechanism that is difficult to jam when a sheet is jammed between the printing drum and the press roller.
Therefore, as a means for facilitating the jam processing, the entire plate discharging unit or the plate discharging unit unit itself is configured as an openable mechanism, in other words, the plate discharging unit in which the entire plate discharging unit is configured to be freely opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body. Thus, there has been proposed a printing apparatus and a stencil printing apparatus in which a jam processing unit is greatly opened / opened so as to be able to easily process a discharged paper jam, a discharged paper jam, and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

JP 2002-103769 A

However, in the printing apparatus and stencil printing apparatus provided with the plate discharge unit disclosed in Patent Document 1, the plate release unit is accidentally opened during the master plate discharge processing operation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “plate release operation”). In order to ensure safety due to the rotating operation of the pair of peeling and discharging rollers and the printing drum, the discharging operation is temporarily stopped and the used master peeled off from the printing drum is discharged to the discharging unit. Interrupted in the middle. In this state, if the plate discharging unit is closed, the plate making processing operation (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “plate making operation”) that is being performed in parallel stops, and the user again presses the plate making start key. There is a problem in that troublesome work such as pressing down and restarting the plate-making operation occurs.
In a printing apparatus and a stencil printing apparatus that do not include a plate removal unit, it is a matter of course that the peeling plate discharge roller pair and the printing drum portion are opened and opened from the plate discharge unit side during the plate discharge operation by a user operation, and the plate is discharged. The operation was not interrupted.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above-described circumstances, and even if the plate discharging unit is accidentally opened and closed during the plate discharging operation and the plate discharging operation is interrupted, the user presses the plate making start key again, for example. Provided are a printing apparatus and a stencil printing apparatus in which the plate discharging operation is automatically continued by closing the plate discharging unit without performing such troublesome operations, and in addition, the plate making / plate feeding operation and the printing operation are automatically continued. The main purpose.

In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the above object, the present invention employs the following invention specific matters (hereinafter referred to as “configuration”) in the invention of each claim. It is.
The invention described in claim 1 is provided with a plate cylinder around which a master made of plate making is wound, and a plate discharging means for peeling and discharging the used master on the plate cylinder, and is configured to be movable to be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body. The plate cylinder is configured to be able to rotate forward and backward, and the plate discharging means is peeled and discharged from both the front end and the rear end of the used master on the plate cylinder. Open / close detection that detects the open / close state of the plate discharge unit with respect to the apparatus main body , and is configured to peel and discharge from either the front end or the rear end of the used master on the plate cylinder. means and the stencil discharge detecting means for detecting the residual state of the discharged printing plate is arranged on the plate discharge path used master used master by said plate discharging means, each output from said closing detection means and said discharged stencil detecting means Based on the item, said even if the plate discharge unit is opened into the plate discharge operation, and, when the residual state of the used master is detected, temporarily stopping the plate discharge operation, then, the plate discharge unit The plate discharging operation is resumed when the plate is closed, and the plate discharging unit is opened during the plate discharging operation, and when the remaining state of the used master is not detected, the plate discharging operation is performed. Control means for temporarily stopping the operation and then reversing the plate cylinder when the plate discharging unit is closed, and restarting the peeling and plate discharging operation from the rear end of the used master .

According to a second aspect of the invention, in the printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the plate cylinder is configured to be capable to stop at a predetermined initial position, whether the state of the used master on the plate cylinder has a master presence detection means for detecting, said control means, said opening and closing detecting means, on the basis of the output signals from the plate discharge detection means and said master presence detection means, the plate discharge unit is opened in the plate discharge operation When the remaining state of the used master is no longer detected and the absence of the used master is detected, the plate cylinder is moved to the initial position. It is returned and stopped to stop the plate removal operation.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus according to the first or second aspect , the master is for stencil printing.

According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a novel printing apparatus and stencil printing apparatus by solving the problems of the prior art as described above. The main effects are as follows.
According to the present invention, even if the plate release unit is accidentally opened and closed during the plate release operation and the plate release operation is interrupted by the above configuration, the user performs the plate release jam operation or presses the plate making start key again, for example. This eliminates the need for cumbersome work and operations that must be performed, and by closing the plate removal unit, the plate removal operation is resumed from the used rear end on the plate cylinder without involving the user's hand, There is an effect that the plate making / plate feeding operation and the printing operation are automatically continued.

DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention including examples will be described with reference to the drawings. In each embodiment and the like, components (members and components) having the same function, shape, and the like will be omitted by giving the same reference numerals after being described once. In the figure, components that are configured in a pair and do not need to be specifically distinguished and described are described by appropriately describing one of them for the sake of simplification of description. In order to simplify the drawings and the description, even if the components are to be represented in the drawings, the components that do not need to be specifically described in the drawings may be omitted as appropriate. When quoting and explaining constituent elements such as published patent gazettes, the reference numerals are shown in parentheses to distinguish them from those of the embodiments.
Hereinafter, in "Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention", the first embodiment is referred to as "first reference example", the second embodiment is referred to as "second reference example", and the second embodiment. The first modification of the first embodiment, the second modification of the first modification as the second embodiment, and the third embodiment as the third reference example. To do.

(First embodiment)
A first embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.
First, an overall configuration of a stencil printing apparatus 1 as an example of a printing apparatus according to a first embodiment will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 8 denotes an apparatus main body forming the framework of the stencil printing apparatus 1. In the upper part of the apparatus main body 8, a portion indicated by 7 is a scanner unit as an image reading unit, a portion indicated by 3 at the lower right is a plotter unit as a plate making unit, and a portion indicated by 2 on the left side is a printing unit. The portion indicated by 5 on the left side thereof is a plate discharging unit as a plate discharging portion, the portion indicated by 4 below the plotter unit 3 is a paper feeding unit as a paper feeding portion, and the portion indicated by 6 on the left side of the printing portion 2 is A paper discharge unit as a paper discharge unit is shown.
As will be described later, the plotter unit 3 has a part of the configuration of the plate feeding means for performing the plate feeding operation for feeding the master 21 to the printing drum 9, and is also referred to as a plate-making plate feeding device. Similarly, the printing unit 2 also has a part of the configuration of the plate supplying means. Details of the plate supplying means will be described later.

  The printing unit 2 is disposed substantially at the center of the apparatus main body 8, and includes a printing drum 9 having a plate cylinder around the outer peripheral surface on which a plate-making master 21 on which a plate-making image is formed is provided, and printing. An ink supply pipe 11 for supplying ink to an ink reservoir for supplying ink to a plate-making master 21 on the printing drum 9 disposed inside a plate cylinder of the drum 9 (hereinafter simply referred to as “printing drum 9”). , An ink supply device 15 including an ink roller 13 and a doctor roller 14, and a press roller 10 as pressing means for pressing the paper P against the master 21 on the printing drum 9. As described above, the printing unit 2 performs a printing operation by directly pressing the paper P fed from the paper feeding unit 4 to the master 21 on the printing drum 9 that is rotationally driven by the press roller 10. It has a function as a printing means. As the ink, a W / O type emulsion ink is preferably used, but it is needless to say that the ink is not limited thereto. As the pressing means, in addition to the press roller 10 having a diameter smaller than that of the printing drum 9, an impression cylinder 9 having substantially the same diameter as the printing drum 9 is used.

  The printing drum 9 has a pair of end plates (not shown) rotatably supported by a support shaft 11 that also serves as an ink supply pipe 11 and a large number of ink-permeable holes 9a. It is mainly composed of a cylindrical porous support plate wound around the surface and a mesh screen (not shown) as an ink holding member wound around the outer peripheral surface of the porous support plate. The porous support plate may be called a porous support cylinder or simply a plate cylinder.

  The printing drum 9 is shown, for example, in FIG. 6 of Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-14001 and includes a plate cylinder (7) provided with a motor (12) described in paragraphs “0012” and “0016” to “0020”. A drive mechanism similar to the drive mechanism is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 (clockwise). As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, reference numeral 61 denotes a drum drive motor including a DC motor capable of forward and reverse rotation, instead of the motor (12). The drive mechanism of the printing drum 61 of this embodiment is the same as the drive mechanism of the plate cylinder (7) in the above publication except for the drum drive motor 61.

On the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9, a stage 12A arranged along one generatrix of the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9, a rotating shaft provided in parallel with the stage 12A, and a printing attached to the rotating shaft. A clamper 12 that can be opened and closed with respect to the stage 12A for holding and fixing the master 21 on the drum 9 is provided. The clamper 12 can peel the used master 21 from the plate feeding position shown in FIG. 1 where the tip of the master 21 conveyed and fed from the plotter unit 3 can be received and the printing drum 9. The printing drum 9 selectively occupies a possible plate discharging position (not shown) (a position slightly advanced downstream from the position substantially facing the plate discharging roller 31 as indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. 1). Then, it is opened and closed by a known opening and closing device provided with a clamper opening and closing motor and disposed on the apparatus main body 8 side.
As the opening / closing device, for example, the same one as the base paper locking device (60) shown in FIGS. 1 to 7 of JP-A-6-247031 is adopted. A home position, which is a predetermined initial position of the printing drum 9, is set to the plate removal position.

  As shown in FIG. 2, a pulse encoder 62 that detects the rotation amount (rotation angle) of the printing drum 9 is disposed on the drum drive motor 61 side. The pulse encoder 62 is fixed to an incremental type photo rotary encoder 63 fixed to the output shaft 61a of the drum drive motor 61 and the apparatus main body 8 in the vicinity of the photo rotary encoder 63, and the photo rotary encoder 63 is sandwiched at a predetermined interval. And an encoder sensor 64 including a transmission type photosensor (transmission type optical sensor). The encoder sensor 64 detects a predetermined number of pulses generated in cooperation with the rotation operation of the photo rotary encoder 63 by the rotation drive of the drum drive motor 61, thereby detecting the rotation amount and rotation speed of the printing drum 9. It has become so. Thereby, the rotation amount and the rotation speed of the printing drum 9 are controlled via the drum drive motor 61.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the end plate on the back side in the drawing of the printing drum 9 is substantially “「 ”in front view protruding to the back side of the paper surface of the printing drum 9 for detecting and indexing the rotational position of the printing drum 9. A light-shielding piece 65 having a letter shape is fixed. On the other hand, when the printing drum 9 occupies the home position (plate removal position) at a predetermined position on the apparatus main body 8 side facing the end plate on the back side of the printing drum 9 in FIG. When the printing drum 9 occupies the plate supply position, the home position sensor 56 as an initial position detecting unit for detecting the home position is engaged with the light shielding piece 65 to detect the plate supply position. A plate feeding position sensor 57 as a plate feeding position detecting means is disposed. The home position sensor 56 and the plate feeding position sensor 57 are transmissive photosensors.

  The printing drum 9 constitutes a drum unit that is unitized with the ink supply device 15 and the like, similarly to the plate cylinder device (55) shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 of JP-A-5-229243, for example. . This drum unit is attached to the apparatus main body 8 through attachment / detachment means provided on the apparatus main body 8 side having the same configuration as the holding means (36) shown in FIG. 2 of the above-mentioned JP-A-5-229243. On the other hand, it is detachable.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a press roller 10 is disposed below the printing drum 9 so as to face the ink roller 13. Both ends of the press roller 10 are rotatably supported between a pair of press roller arms 16, and each press roller arm 16 is swung by a not-shown press roller rocking means on the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9. It is approached and separated. The press roller 10 is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9 by the operation of the pressing roller oscillating means, and a clamper 12 that moves with the rotation of the printing drum 9 is shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 1 and 2 that are separated from the printing position that does not interfere with obstacles such as non-printing positions are selectively occupied. Around the press roller arm 16, a well-known locking means for holding the press roller 10 in a non-printing position is also provided.
The plotter unit 3 has a function of making the master 21 and transporting and feeding the master 21 that has been made to the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9. The plotter unit 3 performs thermal plate making of the master support member 17 that stores the master 21 from the master roll wound in a roll shape and the master 21 fed out from the master roll wound in a roll shape according to an image signal. A thermal head 19 as plate making means, a platen roller 18 that rotates and conveys the master 21 against the thermal head 19, a contact / separation mechanism (not shown) that contacts and separates the thermal head 19 from the platen roller 18, a tension A pair of rollers 22A, a cutter unit 20 as a cutting means for cutting the master 21 that has not yet been made or made, and a pair of reversing rollers 22B are provided.

The thermal head 19 has a large number of heating elements arranged in the main scanning direction corresponding to the axial direction of the platen roller 18, and passes through an A / D (analog / digital) conversion unit and an image processing unit (not shown). Based on the digital image signal as image information that is processed and sent out by the plate making control unit (thermal head drive circuit), etc., heat is generated by selectively heating the heating element by selective energization control for the heating element. The film portion of the master 21 corresponding to the position is heated and melted and punched to form a plate-making image corresponding to the image signal. The thermal head 19 is configured to be freely contacted and separated from the platen roller 18 by the contact / separation mechanism, and is pressed against the platen roller 18 during plate making.
As the image information, in addition to the image information of the original read by the image sensor 44 of the scanner unit 7, in the case where the image information is connected to the stencil printing apparatus 1 via a network or the like, a computer such as a personal computer ( Image information transmitted from the external image information input means) is also included.
The platen roller 18 is rotated by a plotter motor 22 composed of a stepping motor connected through a known rotation transmission means, and is conveyed to a tension roller pair 22A on the downstream side in the master conveyance direction while pressing the master 21 against the thermal head 19. To do.

The cutter unit 20 is a known unit that moves in the master width direction orthogonal to the master transport direction to cut the master 21.
The cutter unit 20 has a movable blade and a fixed blade, and cuts the master 21 when the movable blade moves up and down or rotates relative to the fixed blade.

  The reversing roller pair 22B is configured such that the upper roller is a driving roller and the lower roller is a driven roller. The reversing roller pair 22 </ b> B has a function as plate supplying means for supplying the master 21 that has been subjected to plate making to the clamper 12 of the printing drum 9. The reversing roller 28 as an upper drive roller is connected to the plotter motor 22 via a known rotation transmission means and an electromagnetic clutch (not shown). The master conveyance speed by the reverse roller pair 22B is set in advance so as to be slightly higher than the master conveyance speed by the platen roller 18. The reversing roller pair 22B may be configured to be rotationally driven by a stepping motor different from the plotter motor 22 by removing the electromagnetic clutch.

  Any known master 21 can be used. That is, for example, as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-147075, it is possible to reduce the image quality deterioration due to the fiber pattern while the ink adhesion amount is relatively small, the printing unevenness is small, the back stain of the printed matter is small. Have a laminate structure in which a master, for example, a polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film, and a support made of Japanese paper fiber or synthetic fiber, or a mixture of Japanese paper and synthetic fiber are bonded together with an adhesive However, the thickness of a conventional master (specifically, for example, polyethylene terephthalate (PET) film or the like is about 1 to 5 μm, the thickness of the support is about 45 to 55 μm, and the total thickness is 50 Compared to those having a thickness of about 60 μm), the thickness is relatively thin and the strength is low ( Speaking physically, for example, the film structure is the same, and the support has a thickness of about 25 to 30 μm and a total thickness of about 30 to 35 μm is used. It can be used.

  A plate feeding unit (plate feeding device) serving as a plate feeding means for feeding the master 21 that has been subjected to plate making to the printing drum 9 opens and closes the printing drum 9 and the clamper 12 having the reverse roller pair 22B of the plotter unit 3 and the clamper 12. The opening / closing device and the drum drive motor 61 are mainly configured.

The paper feed unit 4 includes a paper feed tray 23 as a paper feed table, a paper feed roller 24, a separation roller 25, a separation roller 26, a registration roller pair 27, and the like. The paper feed tray 23 is loaded with a large number of sheets P on its upper surface and is supported by the apparatus main body 8 so as to be movable up and down, and is moved up and down by a lifting means having a tray lifting motor (not shown). The sheet feeding roller 24 and the separation roller 25 each have a high friction resistance member for the sheet P on the surface, and are in pressure contact with the sheet P on the sheet feeding tray 23 with a predetermined pressure. Are driven to rotate in synchronization with each other. The separation roller 26 is in pressure contact with the separation roller 25 and is intermittently rotated in the same direction as the separation roller 25. The registration roller pair 27 includes a driving roller and a driven roller, and is rotationally driven in synchronism with the rotation of the printing drum 9 to feed the paper P toward the printing unit 2 at a predetermined timing.
The paper feed tray 23 is configured to be capable of stacking at least several hundred sheets by being a stencil printing apparatus 1 that obtains a large amount of printed matter using many types and a large amount of paper P.

  The plate discharging unit 5 has a function of peeling and conveying the used master 21 wound around the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9 and discharging and storing it in a plate discharging box 35 as a plate discharging container. As shown in FIG. 1, the plate discharging unit 5 includes a peeling plate discharging roller pair 30 composed of a peeling plate discharging roller 31 and a discharging plate roller 33 as a plate discharging means for peeling and conveying the used master 21 on the printing drum 9. And a plate take-up motor 32 that rotationally drives the peeling plate discharge roller 31 through a plate drive mechanism equipped with a known drive force transmission means such as a gear train, the above-described plate release box 35, and the inside of the plate release box 35. A compression plate 34 that compresses the used master 21 that has been peeled off to increase its storage capacity, a compression plate drive motor 34A that drives the compression plate 34 via known driving force transmission means such as a gear train (not shown), etc. It is equipped with.

  In the plate discharging unit 5, the above-described peeling plate discharging roller pair 30, the plate discharging winding motor 32, the plate discharging box 35, the compression plate 34, the compression plate driving motor 34A, and the like are disposed in a unit main body 66 that forms the framework of the plate discharging unit 5. Therefore, these components constitute a unit that is substantially integrated.

  Hereinafter, with reference to FIGS. 3 to 5, the detailed configuration of the plate discharging unit 5 will be described. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the plate discharging unit 5 is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body 8 about the axis of the hinge 51 attached to the apparatus main body 8 and the unit main body 66. That is, the plate discharge unit 5 includes a closed position accommodated in the apparatus main body 8 as shown by a broken line in FIGS. 3 and 4 and a position in the middle of opening shown by a two-dot chain line in FIG. As shown by a solid line in FIG. 4, it can be opened / closed and swung between an open position completely opened from the inside of the apparatus main body 8.

The peeling plate discharge roller 31 is rotatably supported by a bracket (not shown) that is swingably supported by the unit main body 66, and is driven to rotate by a plate discharge drive mechanism that includes a plate discharge winding motor 32. The stripping and discharging roller 31 is made of a wheel-shaped member having high frictional resistance against a used master 21 to which ink such as nitrile rubber or chloroprene rubber is attached and having ink corrosion resistance (oil resistance). The center part is fixed to the shaft, and a plurality of parts are arranged in the master width direction. The bracket for supporting the peeling plate discharge roller 31 is swung by a swinging means (not shown). By this swinging means, the peeling and discharging roller 31 is moved to a standby position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1 where the outer peripheral surface is separated from the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9, and the outer peripheral surface is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9. Occupies the peeling position indicated by a two-dot chain line.
The plate discharge roller 33 is rotatably supported by the unit main body 66, and its outer peripheral surface is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the peeling plate discharge roller 31 with a predetermined pressing force by a biasing force of a biasing means such as a spring (not shown). When the peeling plate discharge roller 31 is rotated, it is driven to rotate. The plate discharge roller 33 is also made of a wheel-shaped member having high frictional resistance against the used master 21 to which ink such as nitrile rubber or chloroprene rubber is attached and having ink corrosion resistance (oil resistance). The central portion is fixed to the shaft, and a plurality of shafts are arranged in the master width direction.

As shown in FIG. 1, in the vicinity of the nip portion of the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 on the downstream side of the plate discharging path along which the used master 21 peeled and discharged by the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is conveyed, the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30. A plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 is disposed as a plate ejection detecting means for detecting the remaining presence / absence state of the used master peeled off in the periphery. The plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 includes a filler 54a as a light shielding piece that is movable only in the plate ejection direction in which the used master 21 is conveyed from the peeling plate ejection roller pair 30, and includes a light-emitting element and a light-receiving element. It consists of a photo sensor (transmission type optical sensor). The plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54 detects whether or not the used master 21 has entered the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 and whether or not the used master 21 remains in the same portion.
The control device 130 shown in FIG. 6 monitors the voltage level output from the discharge plate presence / absence sensor 54 within a time determined almost simultaneously with the timing at which the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 starts to move. If it becomes above, it will be judged that the used master 21 has entered the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30, in other words, the used master 21 will normally pass over the plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54 between the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30. In this case, it is determined that the master is present by detecting the ON state by the plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54.

As shown in FIG. 1, between the unit main body 66 and the printing drum 9 in the vicinity of the lower side of the plate discharge roller 33, the presence of the master 21 on the printing drum 9 in the state where the printing drum 9 occupies the home position and the plate discharging standby is stopped. A drum master presence / absence sensor 55 is arranged as a master presence / absence detection means for detecting the state. Although the drum master presence / absence sensor 55 is illustrated as being provided in the unit main body 66, it is attached / fixed to the apparatus main body 8 side that does not actually move with the plate discharge unit 5. The master 21 on the printing drum 9 includes a master 21 that has been prepressed and a master 21 that has been used.
The drum master presence / absence sensor 55 includes a reflection type photosensor including a light emitting element and a light receiving element. By detecting this, it is a known one that detects whether or not the master 21 is wound around the printing drum 9.
A sensor pattern is usually used as a light absorbing member on the outer peripheral surface of the leading margin of the master 21 wound around the printing drum 9 so that the drum master presence / absence sensor 55 can accurately detect the presence / absence of the master 21 on the printing drum 9. A sheet-like black mylar (PET) or the like made of a light non-reflective material, which is also called, is disposed.

When viewed in a state in which the plate discharge unit 5 occupies the closed position, the unit main body 66 shown in FIG. 3 and FIG. It is fixed.
On the other hand, on the apparatus main body 8 side, when the plate discharging unit 5 occupies the closed position, a unit locking device 70 as unit locking means that engages with the locked shaft 69 and fixes and locks the plate discharging unit 5 in the closed position. Is arranged.

As shown in FIGS. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the unit lock device 70 includes an open / close button 71 that can be moved forward and backward in each arrow direction with respect to the open / close button groove 67 formed in the main body device 8, and an open / close button. An intermediate member 78 that engages with the button 71 and can swing in the direction of each arrow about the screw shaft 79, and a bias that gives the habit of constantly swinging the intermediate member 78 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. A spring 80 (tensile spring) as means, a first lock member 81 that engages with the intermediate member 78 and can swing in the directions of the respective arrows about the screw shaft 79, and the first lock member 81 are shown in FIG. ) And a spring 83 (tensile spring) as an urging means for giving a habit of constantly swinging in the direction indicated by the arrow.
An opening / closing sensor 52 that can selectively engage with the first lock member 81 is attached and fixed to the apparatus main body 8 in the vicinity of the first lock member 81.
FIGS. 5A and 5B are views when seen from the slightly lower arrow VA direction in FIG. 4. 5 (a) and 5 (b), the open / close button 71, the intermediate member 78, and the first lock member 81 excluding the button portion 71d are integrally formed of, for example, a steel plate that is a plate-like metal member. For simplification of the drawing, illustration of the plate thickness that should appear from the front side to the back side of the paper surface is omitted and is shown in a simplified manner. It should be noted here that the same applies to the second lock member 73 shown in FIG.

The open / close button 71 includes a long hole 71a for being supported to be movable in the direction of each arrow through two stepped screws 72 screwed into the main body device 8, a first engagement portion 71b, a user Is integrally formed with a button part 71d bent at a substantially right angle, which is a part to be manually operated.
The intermediate member 78 includes a first engagement portion 78a that can be selectively engaged with the first engagement portion 71b of the open / close button 71, a second engagement portion 78b, and a substantially linear third engagement portion 78c. The spring shaft 78d is formed integrally with the spring shaft 79, which is formed substantially on the right side in the drawing of the screw shaft 79 and has one end locked to the other end of the spring 80 locked to the pin on the apparatus main body 8 side. ing.

  The first lock member 81 can be selectively engaged with the first engagement portion 81 a that can be selectively engaged with the second engagement portion 78 b of the intermediate member 78 and the third engagement portion 78 c of the intermediate member 78. The second engaging portion 81b, the lock groove 81c that can be selectively engaged with the locked shaft 69, and the screw shaft 82 are formed in the lower portion in the figure, and one end of the second engaging portion 81b is locked to the pin on the apparatus body 8 side. A spring hooking portion 81d for locking the other end of the spring 83 and a sensor engaging portion 81e formed substantially at the lower left in the figure are integrally formed.

The open / close sensor 52 has a function as an open / close detecting means for detecting the open / closed state of the plate discharge unit 5, and includes a movable piece 52 a that can selectively engage with the sensor engaging portion 81 e of the first lock member 81. . The open / close sensor 52 is composed of an interlock switch, for example. 5A and 5B, reference numeral 84 denotes a stopper for restricting the swing range of the first lock member 81 in the counterclockwise direction. The linear movement range of the open / close button 71 in the arrow direction is set by the long hole 71 a and the two stepped screws 72.
As described above, the plate discharging unit 5 is of an openable / closable type. When the plate discharging unit 5 is opened, it is dangerous to touch the rotating printing drum 9 or the like constituting the drum unit and rotating inside the stencil printing apparatus 1. Therefore, in view of the safety, an open / close sensor 52 that functions as a safety switch for detecting the open / close state of the plate removal unit 5 is installed, and when the plate release unit 5 is opened, the open / close sensor 52 detects it. The control configuration is such that the rotation of the printing drum 9 stops instantaneously.

The plate discharge unit 5 is connected to a power supply unit (not shown) and a control device 130 arranged on the apparatus main body 8 side of the stencil printing apparatus 1 via a flexible electric wire (not shown).
The opening / closing sensor 52 is not limited to this, and may be configured by a light shielding plate fixed to the plate removal unit 5 and a transmission type photosensor fixed to the apparatus main body 8 side that can be engaged with the light shielding plate. good. The unit lock device 70 is not limited to this, and may have a configuration independent of the transmission type photosensor.

Here, the detailed operation of the unit lock device 70 accompanying the opening / closing operation of the plate discharge unit 5 will be described in advance. FIG. 5A shows that the opening / closing sensor 52 of the unit lock device 70 is on, that is, the state where the opening / closing sensor 52 occupies the closed position is detected, and the locked shaft 69 of the discharging unit 5 is locked. The state where the plate discharge unit 5 cannot be released from the apparatus main body 8 by being in the locked / fixed state fitted and engaged in the groove 81c is shown.
As shown in FIG. 5A, in the locked state of the plate discharge unit 5, the first engagement portion 78a of the intermediate member 78 moves the first engagement portion 71b of the open / close button 71 in the direction of the arrow (by the urging force of the spring 80). Since it is pressed in the counterclockwise direction), the open / close button 71 is in a position moved from the open / close button groove 67 to the left side in the drawing within the formation range of the long hole 71a. At the same time, by the biasing force of the spring 80, the second engagement portion 78b having a claw shape of the intermediate member 78 is engaged with and engaged with the first engagement portion 81a having a claw shape of the first lock member 81. The locked state described above is maintained. At this time, since the sensor engaging portion 81e of the first lock member 81 is pressed against the movable piece 52a of the opening / closing sensor 52 and pressed in the direction of the arrow, the opening / closing sensor 52 is turned on. A state where 5 occupies the closed position is detected.

To release the locked state of the plate discharging unit 5 shown in FIG. 5A and open the plate discharging unit 5, first, the user opens and closes against the urging force of the spring 80 as shown in FIG. 5B. When the button portion 71d of the button 71 is pushed in the direction of the arrow in the drawing along the long hole 71a, the first engagement portion 71b of the open / close button 71 moves the first engagement portion 78a of the intermediate member 78 in the arrow direction (clockwise direction). Therefore, the meshing engagement state between the second engagement portion 78b of the intermediate member 78 and the first engagement portion 81a of the first lock member 81 is released by the urging force of the spring 80. Immediately after this, due to the urging force of the spring 80 and the spring 83, the third engagement portion 78c forming the arc shape of the intermediate member 78 and the second engagement portion 81b forming the arc shape of the first lock member 81 are slidably contacted. Simultaneously with the engagement, the first lock member 81 swings in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise direction) in the drawing, so that the locked shaft 69 is disengaged from the lock groove 81c, so that the plate discharge unit 5 can be opened. . At this time, when the sensor engaging portion 81 e of the first lock member 81 is separated from the movable piece 52 a of the opening / closing sensor 52, the opening / closing sensor 52 is turned off, and the state in which the plate discharge unit 5 is opened by the opening / closing sensor 52. Detected.
Then, when the first lock member 81 hits the stopper 84, the swinging in the counterclockwise direction is restricted, and the first lock member 81 is held at the position hitting the stopper 84 by the biasing force of the spring 83. Become.

  The paper discharge unit 6 has a function of peeling the paper P printed by the printing unit 2 from the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9 and discharging it to a paper discharge tray 39 as a paper discharge stand. The paper discharge unit 6 includes a peeling air fan 36, a peeling claw 37, a paper discharge conveyance unit 38, the paper discharge tray 39, and the like.

  The peeling claw 37 has a function of peeling the printed paper P from the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9 and is supported by the apparatus main body 8 so as to be swingable. It selectively occupies a position close to the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9 and a position where the tip does not interfere with an obstacle such as the clamper 12 that moves as the printing drum 9 rotates. The peeling fan 36 blows the air compressed from the blowing port between the master 21 on the printing drum 9 and the leading end of the paper P, and assists the peeling action of the paper P by the peeling claw 37. Have

  The paper discharge conveyance unit 38 includes a driving roller 38b, a driven roller 38a, an endless belt 38c in which a large number of air suction holes are formed, a suction fan 38d incorporating a fan motor, and the like. The sheet P peeled off from the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9 by the peeling claw 37 is conveyed in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1 while being sucked onto the endless belt 38c. The paper discharge tray 39 stacks the paper P conveyed by the paper discharge conveyance unit 38 on its upper surface, and has a pair of side fences movable in the paper width direction and one end fence movable in the paper conveyance direction. And have.

The scanner unit 7 has a function of reading an image of a document. The scanner unit 7 includes a contact glass 40 on which an original is placed, a pressure plate 41, a scanning unit 42 that scans and reads the original, a lens 43 that focuses the scanned image, and a CCD (charge coupled device) that processes the focused image. The image sensor 44 etc. are equipped. An ADF unit 45 that automatically conveys a document to a document reading unit is disposed above the pressure plate 41. In order to simplify the description, it is assumed that the ADF unit 45 is also included in the scanner unit 7.
The scanner unit 7 is provided with known control target drive means such as a transport motor that rotationally drives each transport roller of the ADF unit 45 and a scanner motor that drives the scanning unit 42.

FIG. 3 shows an operation panel as an operation unit that gives an operation instruction to each unit, each unit, and each device of the stencil printing apparatus 1 and that checks the status of each unit, each unit, and each device. 46 is shown. The operation panel 46 is provided on the upper front surface of the apparatus main body 8, and has a known configuration such as a plate making start key 47, a printing start key 48, a numeric keypad 49, a display device 50 including an LCD (liquid crystal display device) on the upper surface. Have.
The display device 50 has a function as notifying means for notifying information on each unit, each part, and each device of the stencil printing apparatus 1. Note that the notification means is not limited to the display device 50, and may be, for example, a buzzer, a voice, or the like, or a proper combination of blinking / lighting display with a light emitting diode or the like.

  The control configuration of the stencil printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. In the figure, a control device 130 includes a CPU (central processing unit) 131, an I / O (input / output) port, an I / F (interface) 134, a ROM (read-only storage device) 132, and a RAM (read-write storage). Device) 133 and the like, and a microcomputer having a configuration connected by a signal bus (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, the control device 130 is provided on a control board between the plotter unit 3 and the paper feed unit 4 in the apparatus main body 8.

  The CPU 131 is provided in the apparatus main body 8 with various signals from the various keys of the operation panel 46 via a sensor input circuit (not shown) and the like, an I (input) port, and an I / F (interface) 134. Based on various sensors, that is, an open / close sensor 52, a paper discharge sensor 59, an encoder sensor 64, a home position sensor 56, various detection / detection signals from the plate feeding position sensor 57, and an operation program called from the ROM 132, O (output) Via a port, I / F (interface) 134, a scanner unit drive circuit 121 for driving the scanner unit 7, a plotter unit drive circuit 122 for driving the plotter unit 3, a plate discharge unit drive circuit 123 for driving the plate discharge unit 5, printing Printing unit drive circuit 124 for driving unit 2, paper feeding unit 4 Paper feed unit drive circuit 125 for driving, and outputs a drive command signal to each of the discharge unit drive circuit 126 for driving the sheet discharge unit 6. These drive circuits include the above-described liquid crystal drive circuit, light emitting diode drive circuit, various motor drive circuits, solenoid drive circuits, and the like of the control target components (control target drive means and the like).

  It should be noted that FIG. 1 and FIG. 6 show a plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 and a drum master presence / absence sensor 55, which are unnecessary sensors not used in the present embodiment, for the purpose of simplifying the drawing. Note that the plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 and the drum master presence / absence sensor 55 themselves are sensors that perform known functions as described above, and therefore, for example, the CPU 131 of the control device 130 shown in FIG. However, the output signals from the sensors 54 and 55 may be invalidated (ignored).

  The ROM 132 stores in advance an operation program and related data for the entire stencil printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 7, and this operation program is appropriately called by the CPU 131. The RAM 132 has a function of temporarily storing calculation results of the CPU 131, a function of storing data signals and ON / OFF signals set and input from various keys on the operation panel 46 and the various sensors as needed. .

The CPU 131 (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “control device 130”) has the following characteristic control function in the present embodiment.
Based on the output signal from the open / close sensor 52, the control device 130 (CPU 131) controls the plate discharge unit drive circuit 123 and temporarily stops the plate discharge operation when the plate discharge unit 5 is released from the apparatus body 8 during the plate discharge operation. Control means for controlling the printing unit driving circuit 124 and then controlling the printing unit driving circuit 123 and the printing unit driving circuit 124 so that the plate discharging operation is resumed when the plate discharging unit 5 is housed in the apparatus body 8 and closed. As a function.

  The control device 130 (CPU 131) supplies the scanner unit driving circuit 121 and the plotter unit driving circuit 122 to the plate feeding operation so as to execute the plate making operation based on the image data after the plate discharging operation is completed or partially in parallel with the plate discharging operation. The printing unit driving circuit 124, the paper feeding unit driving circuit 125, and the paper discharge unit driving are performed so as to execute the printing operation. Each of the circuits 126 has a function as a control unit that controls the circuit 126. Since this function is also included in the control devices 130A to 130C (CPU 131A to CPU 131C) shown in FIG. 6 and the control device 130D (CPU 131D) shown in FIG. 12, the description thereof will be omitted below.

  Based on the above-described configuration, the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG. In describing the operation of each control target component such as the scanner unit drive circuit 121, the plotter unit drive circuit 122, the discharge unit drive circuit 123, the printing unit drive circuit 124, the paper feed unit drive circuit 125, and the paper discharge unit drive circuit 126. When the various control target components are activated (driven), they are sometimes referred to as “on”, and when they are deactivated (driven), they are sometimes referred to as “off”. In addition, after the ON / OFF operation by each control target component is described once, the description of the operation related to ON / OFF by the same control target component is omitted. The following operations are mainly performed under the control of the control device 130 (CPU 131, hereinafter omitted). In the flowchart shown in FIG. It is expressed in a simplified manner, and detailed operations are omitted as appropriate. In FIG. 7, “drum” represents the printing drum 9, and “drum home position” represents that the printing drum 9 occupied the home position, which is the operation of the embodiments and modifications described later. The same applies to the flowchart representing the above.

First, referring to FIG. 7, the operations from step S1 to step S14 in which a plate making command for a new plate making is performed and normal plate removal processing operation, normal plate making / plate feeding processing operation, and printing operation are performed will be described.
The initial state of the stencil printing apparatus 1 will be described with reference to FIG. 1. In the plotter unit 3, the tip of the master 21 fed out from the master roll wound in a roll shape is held by the nip portion of the reverse roller pair 22B. The printing drum 9 is at the plate feeding initial position where the front end portion of the master 21 (the portion clamped by the clamper 12) is stopped at the home position (the plate discharging position) where it is opposed to the peeling plate discharging roller 31. In this state, the press roller 10 occupies a non-printing position that is separated from the printing drum 9. In this initial state, first, when the user turns on a power switch that supplies power to each unit, each unit, each device, etc. of the stencil printing apparatus 1, the various sensors and the control device 130 become operable.

Before and after this, the user sets a document to be printed on the scanner unit 7 and, when the paper P is insufficient or not on the paper feed tray 23, replenishes and sets the paper P as appropriate. Next, after setting the plate making conditions with various keys on the operation panel 46, the user presses the plate making start key 47 for a plate making command in step S1. When the plate-making start key 47 is pressed, a start signal is generated, which is a trigger. First, the used master 21 (hereinafter referred to as “the master drum 21”) is used from the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9 used in the previous printing in the plate discharging device 5. When it is clear from the context before and after that the master 21 has been used, a series of plate discharging operations of peeling, transporting, and compressing the “master 21” may be performed.
Manual operation by the user is performed until the plate making start key 47 is pressed, except in the case of abnormal processing, and the subsequent operations are performed automatically. Here, ink is supplied by the ink supply device 15 in the printing drum 9 to form an appropriate ink reservoir between the ink roller 13 and the doctor roller 14, and the tray lifting motor of the paper supply unit 4 is turned on. Thus, a predetermined paper feed pressure / separation pressure and the like are set.

Proceeding to step S2, immediately before the unillustrated opening / closing device clamper drive motor is started, the discharge plate winding motor 32 (stepping motor) is turned on / started by a command from the control device 130. Rotation drive is started. At this time, the drum drive motor 61 and the compression plate drive motor 34A remain stopped.
Next, the process proceeds to step S3, and a substantial plate removal operation starts. That is, when the clamper driving motor is driven, the clamper 12 is released from the stage 12A, so that the leading edge margin of the master 21 (because it is clamped by the clamper 12, it is a portion with relatively little ink adhesion. , Sometimes referred to as the “tip portion of the master 21”) is released over the entire width direction Y of the master and becomes free. In this state, the oscillating means (not shown) is operated, so that the peeling and discharging roller 31 is 1 occupies the peeling position indicated by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 1 while rotating in the direction indicated by the two-dot chain line, and starts to peel off the tip of the master 21 in the free state (meaning “master tip clamp start” in step S3). When the swinging means (not shown) is operated so as to return to the standby position, the peeling and discharging roller 31 is moved to the standby position indicated by a solid line in FIG. And returns to, is continued winding and conveying operations due to peeling added narrowing-hold the master 21 by the peeling plate discharge rollers 30 rotating in opposite directions.

  When the leading end portion of the master 21 is inserted into the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 and the rotation operation of the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 elapses for a predetermined time (which is also a predetermined number of steps of the plate discharge winding motor 32), the peeling plate discharge roller pair is temporarily removed. The rotation of 30 stops. Thereafter, when the clamper 12 is closed by the operation of the opening / closing device, the drum driving motor 61 is immediately turned on / started, so that the printing drum 9 is rotated around the support shaft 11 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. 1), and at the same time, the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is driven to rotate again in the direction of the arrow in FIG. While being sandwiched between the plate discharge roller 33 and being peeled from the surface of the printing drum 9, it is conveyed into the plate release box 35 (step S4).

At this time, the rotation speed of the discharge plate winding motor 32 is controlled by the control device 130 so that the rotation peripheral speed of the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 exceeds the rotation peripheral speed of the printing drum 9. Then, the master 21 wound on the printing drum 9 is peeled and conveyed while being given tension between the two by the rotation of the printing drum 9 and the rotation of the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30.
After the plate making command, the open / close sensor 52 always detects the open / close state of the discharge unit 5 and the control device 130 is constantly monitoring the signal input from the open / close sensor 52. In step S5, it is determined and checked (hereinafter simply referred to as “check”) whether or not the open / close sensor 52 is on. When the open / close sensor 52 is on, that is, when the plate discharge unit 5 is not opened during the plate discharge operation and occupies the closed position, the process proceeds to step S6, and the plate discharge winding by the above-described peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is performed. As the operation and the rotation operation of the printing drum 9 are continued, the plate discharging operation proceeds.
Then, when the controller 130 determines that almost one plate of the master 21 on the printing drum 9 has been discharged and transported by the pair of peeling and discharging rollers 30 by the rotational driving of the discharging plate winding motor 32 by a predetermined number of steps, the discharging device is discharged. When the winding motor 32 is turned off, the rotation of the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is stopped, and the printing drum 9 is stopped at the home position (step S7).

  Next, the process proceeds to step S8, and the compression plate drive motor 34A is turned on, whereby the compression plate 34 is swung from the initial position shown in FIG. The used master 21 accommodated in is compressed and discarded. Then, the printing drum 9 is driven to rotate again, and when the printing drum 9 reaches the plate feeding position shown in FIG. 1 and the clamper 12 is opened as indicated by a two-dot chain line, the plate discharging operation is completed.

When the plate ejection operation is completed, or in parallel with this, the scanner unit 7 performs a document reading operation. The read image is focused by the lens 43 and then input to the image sensor 44 and subjected to photoelectric conversion. The image sensor 44 transmits the input image data to an A / D conversion unit, an image processing unit, and a plate making control unit (not shown).
In parallel with the reading operation, the process proceeds to step S9 to start the plate making operation. That is, in the plotter unit 3, the platen roller 18 and the thermal head 19 are operated, and a plate making operation to the master 21 based on the image data is performed to form a plate making image. The master 21 that has been subjected to plate making is sent to the clamper 12, and when it is determined from the number of steps of the plotter motor 22 that the tip of the master 21 has reached the clamper 12, the clamper 12 is closed by the operation of the opening / closing device. Thereafter, the printing drum 9 is driven to rotate clockwise in FIG. 1 at the same rotational peripheral speed as the conveying speed of the master 21 that has been subjected to plate making, and the winding operation of the master 21 that has been subjected to plate making is performed. When the image data signal from the scanner unit 7 is interrupted, the operation of the thermal head 19 is stopped. Thereafter, when it is determined from the number of steps of the plotter motor 22 that the master 21 for one plate has been transported, the plate has been made. While the conveyance of the master 21 is stopped, the cutter unit 20 is operated and the master 21 is cut. The cut master 21 is pulled out from the plotter unit 3 by the rotation of the printing drum 9, and the printing drum 9 stops at the home position to complete the plate feeding operation (steps S10 to S11).

  Subsequent to the plate feeding operation, a plate printing operation is performed. After the printing drum 9 stops at the home position, the printing drum 9 is driven to rotate at a low speed, and the paper feed roller 24, the separation roller 25, and the paper discharge transport unit 38 are driven to be positioned at the uppermost position from the paper feed tray 23. Only one sheet P to be fed is separated and fed, and the leading end of the sheet P is brought into contact with the nip portion of the registration roller pair 27, whereby a predetermined curved deflection is formed at the leading end portion of the sheet P. The registration roller pair 27 feeds the paper P to the printing drum 9 at a predetermined timing when the leading end of the image area in the plate cylinder rotation direction of the master 21 that has been wound around the printing drum 9 reaches the position corresponding to the press roller 10. To the press roller 10. At almost the same time, as shown by the broken line in FIG. 1, the press roller 10 oscillates, and the peripheral surface thereof is pressed against the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9 with a predetermined pressing force.

  The sheet P is pressed by the press roller 10 against the master 21 which has been made around the printing drum 9, and the press roller 10, the paper P, the master 21 which has been made and the printing drum 9 are in pressure contact with each other, and the ink supply device 15, the ink supplied to the inner peripheral surface of the printing drum 9 is oozed out from the apertures of the porous support plate of the printing drum 9 and the mesh portion of the mesh screen, and the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9 and the master 21 that has been subjected to plate making After filling the gap with the porous support, it is transferred to the paper P through the perforated portion of the thermoplastic resin film, and so-called plate printing (plate printing) is performed. The paper P to which the ink has been transferred is peeled off from the outer peripheral surface of the printing drum 9 at the tip of the peeling claw 37 while being assisted by the air blown from the peeling blower fan 36, and is dropped to the left by the paper discharge conveyance unit 38. And is discharged onto the paper discharge tray 39. Thereafter, the printing drum 9 occupies the home position again and stops, and the plate making operation is completed, and the stencil printing apparatus 1 enters a printing standby state. Although the paper P printed by the printing operation is detected to be turned on by the paper discharge sensor 59, the CPU 81 of the control device 130 invalidates the paper P and does not count it as a regular print number.

  After the stencil printing apparatus 1 is in a print standby state, when a test printing key (not shown) disposed on the operation panel 46 is pressed, the uppermost sheet P on the sheet feeding tray 23 is printed as in the case of plate printing. Is separated and fed, and is sandwiched between the registration roller pair 27, and the printing drum 9 is driven to rotate at a higher speed than at the time of printing. The registration roller pair 27 feeds the paper P at a predetermined timing between the printing drum 9 rotating at high speed and the press roller 10 as described above, and the fed paper P is fed by the press roller 10 to the printing drum 9. After the ink is transferred to the master 21 wound around the paper, the ink is transferred onto the paper discharge tray 39 in the same manner as described above. The printing drum 9 is then returned to the home position again, and the trial printing operation is completed.

The test print confirms the density of the print image and the print image position, adjusts these appropriately with the various keys on the operation panel 46, performs the test print again, and then places the number of prints on a display device (not shown) with the numeric keypad 49. The sheet P is continuously fed from the sheet feeding unit 4 by setting a desired printing speed with a printing speed setting key (not shown) arranged on the operation panel 46 and pressing the print start key 48. Then, the printing operation for the number of printed sheets set by the numeric keypad 49 is repeated as in the paper feeding, printing, and paper discharging operations (step S12).
When the set number of prints is exhausted, the printing operation is completed, the printing drum 9 returns to the home position and stops again, and all the operations are completed, and the stencil printing apparatus 1 enters the plate-making standby state again ( Step S13 to Step S14).

Next, in step S5, when the open / close sensor 52 is off, that is, when the plate discharging unit 5 is opened during the plate discharging operation, the abnormality processing operation related to the plate discharging unit open shown in steps S15 to S17 is performed. . As the case where the open / close sensor 52 is off, for example, it is assumed that the user accidentally opens the plate discharging unit 5 to take out the plate discharging box 35 during the plate discharging operation and discards the compressed used master 21. The
When the plate removal unit 5 is opened, the open / close sensor 52 as a safety switch detects this and outputs an OFF output signal to the control device 130, so that the rotation of the plate removal winding motor 32 is immediately performed according to a command from the control device 130. When the drive is stopped, the rotation of the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is stopped, and at the same time, the rotation of the drum drive motor 61 is stopped, whereby the rotation of the printing drum 9 is stopped.

  Next, in step S16, it is checked whether the output signal from the open / close sensor 52 is on. When the open / close sensor 52 is on, it is determined that the discharge plate unit 5 is closed, and the rotation drive of the discharge plate take-up motor 32 is restarted. When the rotation driving of 61 is resumed, the rotation of the printing drum 9 is resumed, so that the plate removal process is restarted (step S17). And it progresses to step S7 and the operation | movement similar to the above-mentioned is performed. In step S16, if the open / close sensor 52 is off, it is checked again whether the output signal from the open / close sensor 52 is on.

  Conventionally, when the user accidentally opens the plate removal unit 5 and takes out the plate removal box 35 during the plate removal operation and tries to discard the compressed used master 21, the safety switch detects this. Since the output to the control device is stopped, the rotation of the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is stopped and the rotation of the printing drum 9 is stopped at the same time, so that the master 21 in the middle of being wound by the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is The printing drum 9 stops in a state of being stuck to both sides. In this state, when the plate removal unit 5 is closed again by the user, it is handled as a plate removal jam, and the user must remove the used master 21 and perform the plate making process by pressing the plate making start key 47 again. For this reason, a very troublesome operation / work is required to issue a prepress command.

  However, according to the present embodiment, as described above, the plate discharge unit 5 is opened in the middle of the plate discharge operation by the user, and the master 21 to be discharged by this operation is between the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 and the printing drum 9. Even if it is stopped in a state where it is stuck on both sides, if the user subsequently closes the plate removal unit 5, the control device 130 automatically recognizes that the plate release unit 5 has been opened during the plate removal, and the plate removal unit 5 is closed. At the same time, the printing drum 9 is automatically rotated at the same time and the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is rotated at the same time, so that the used master 21 is discharged again, so that the plate discharging jam operation is performed or the plate making is performed again. Since there is no need for troublesome operations and operations such as pressing the start key 47, it is possible to remove the plate without involving the user's hand. To resume the physical operation, the plate-making process, the printing operation can be continued.

(Second Embodiment)
1 to 6 and FIG. 8 show a second embodiment.
Compared with the first embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6, the second embodiment uses an ejected plate presence / absence sensor 54 to validate the output signal from this sensor, and replaces the controller 130. Thus, the main difference is that the control device 130A for executing the operation according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 8 is used. Other points are the same as in the first embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the second embodiment will be described focusing on the differences from the first embodiment.

  The control device 130A is mainly different from the control device 130 of the first embodiment in that it has a CPU 131A in place of the CPU 131 and a ROM 132A in place of the ROM 132.

  The CPU 131A receives various signals from the various keys of the operation panel 46 and various sensors provided in the apparatus main body 8, that is, an open / close sensor 52, via a sensor input circuit (not shown) and the like, an I port, and an I / F 134. Based on various detection / detection signals from the plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54, paper discharge sensor 59, encoder sensor 64, home position sensor 56, plate feed position sensor 57, and operation program called from the ROM 132A, the O port, I / F 134 The drive command signal is output to each of the scanner unit drive circuit 121, the plotter unit drive circuit 122, the discharge unit drive circuit 123, the printing unit drive circuit 124, the paper feed unit drive circuit 125, and the paper discharge unit drive circuit 126. .

The ROM 132A stores in advance an operation program and related data for the entire stencil printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 8, and this operation program is appropriately called by the CPU 131A.
The CPU 131A (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “control device 130A”) has the following characteristic control functions in the present embodiment.
The control device 130A (CPU 131A) is a case where the plate discharging unit 5 is released from the apparatus main body 8 during the plate discharging operation based on the output signals from the open / close sensor 52 and the plate discharging presence / absence sensor 54 and has been used. When the remaining state of the master 21 is detected, the discharging unit driving circuit 123 and the printing unit driving circuit 124 are controlled so as to temporarily stop the discharging operation, and then the discharging unit 5 is housed in the apparatus body 8 and closed. In this case, it has a function as a control means for controlling the discharging unit driving circuit 123 and the printing unit driving circuit 124 so that the discharging operation is resumed.

Based on the above-described configuration, the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, in FIG. 8, a plate making command for a new plate making is performed, and a normal plate removal processing operation, a normal plate making / plate feeding processing operation, a printing operation is performed, and the operations from step S21 to step S31 are completed. explain.

Steps S21 to S24 are the same as those described in Steps S1 to S4 in FIG. 7 after the same operations and operations by the user as described with reference to FIG. 7 in the first embodiment are performed. Operation and plate removal are performed.
After the plate making instruction, the remaining state of the used master 21 around the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is always detected by the plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54. At the same time, the open / close sensor 52 always keeps the open / close state of the plate discharge unit 5 open. The control device 130 </ b> A is in a state of constantly monitoring signals input from the plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 and the open / close sensor 52. In step S25, it is checked whether the discharged plate presence / absence sensor 54 is on. If the plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 is on, the process proceeds to step S26, and it is checked whether the open / close sensor 52 is on as in step S5 of FIG. In step S25, when the plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 is off, the plate ejection operation is performed again after returning to step S24.

If the open / close sensor 52 is on, that is, if the plate discharge unit 5 is in the closed position during the plate discharge operation, the process proceeds to step S27, and the plate discharge winding operation by the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 described above, the printing drum 9 As the rotation operation continues, the plate removal operation proceeds.
Then, in step S28, it is checked whether or not the discharged plate presence / absence sensor 54 is off. Here, the printing drum 9 is driven by the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 by rotational driving of a predetermined number of steps of the plate discharge winding motor 32 (or a predetermined plate winding time measured by a timer built in the CPU 130A of the control device 130A). When the controller 130A determines that almost one plate of the upper master 21 has been discharged / conveyed, it is checked whether or not the discharged plate presence / absence sensor 54 is off. When the discharged plate presence / absence sensor 54 is off, that is, when the remaining state (including the discharged plate jam) of the used master 21 around the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is not detected by the discharged plate presence / absence sensor 54, one plate is normally processed. It is determined that the master 21 has been discharged and conveyed, and the process proceeds to step S29. In step S28, when the plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54 is on, the remaining state of the used master 21 (including the plate discharge jam) in the vicinity of the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is detected, so the process returns to step S26. Then, it is checked again whether the open / close sensor 52 is on.

When it is confirmed that the master 21 for one plate has been normally discharged / conveyed, the process proceeds to step S29, and the rotation of the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is stopped by turning off the discharge plate winding motor 32. The printing drum 9 stops at the home position.
Next, in step S30, after the plate discharging compression operation similar to step S8 in FIG. 7 in the first embodiment, the plate making process starts or ends in the same manner as steps S9 to S14 in FIG. 7 in the first embodiment. After the above operation is performed, the printing drum 9 returns to the home position and stops again, and all the operations are completed, and the stencil printing apparatus 1 enters the plate making standby state again (step S31).

Next, in step S26, when the open / close sensor 52 is off, that is, when the plate discharge unit 5 is opened during the plate discharge operation, the abnormality processing operation related to the plate release unit open shown in steps S32 to S34 is performed. Done. This abnormality processing operation is basically the same as the abnormality processing operation in steps S15 to S17 in FIG. 7 of the first embodiment.
That is, when the plate release unit 5 is opened in step S26, the open / close sensor 52 detects this and outputs an OFF output signal to the control device 130A. Therefore, the command from the control device 130A is the same as in the first embodiment. In addition, immediately after the rotation drive of the discharge plate winding motor 32 is stopped, the rotation of the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 is stopped, and at the same time, the rotation drive of the drum drive motor 61 is stopped, whereby the rotation of the printing drum 9 is stopped. (Step S32).

  Next, in step S33, it is checked whether the output signal from the open / close sensor 52 is on. When the open / close sensor 52 is on, it is determined that the discharge plate unit 5 is closed, and the rotation drive of the discharge plate take-up motor 32 is restarted. When the rotation driving of 61 is resumed, the rotation of the printing drum 9 is resumed, and the re-operation of the plate removal process is performed (step S34). Thereafter, the process proceeds to step S28 described above, and it is checked whether or not the plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 is off. If the open / close sensor 52 is off in step S33, it is determined that the plate discharge unit 5 is open, and the check on whether the output signal of the open / close sensor 52 is on in step S33 is repeated.

Conventionally, normally, when the master 21 remains on the plate discharge path around the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30, the master 21 discharged and conveyed is detected by the plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54, and is jammed on the display device 50 as a plate discharge jam, for example. Warning is given by displaying.
According to the second embodiment, as in the first embodiment, the master 21 remains because the plate release unit 5 is opened during the plate release operation by the user and the plate presence / absence sensor 54 is on. In this case, as a process similar to the first embodiment, it is determined that the master 21 to be discharged is stopped in a state where the master 21 is stuck between the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 and the printing drum 9, If the user then closes the plate discharge unit 5, the control device 130A automatically recognizes that it has been opened during the plate discharge and automatically rotates the printing drum 9 again as soon as the plate discharge unit 5 is closed. At the same time, by rotating the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30, the plate removal process of the used master 21 is performed again, so that the plate discharge jam operation is performed or the plate making start key 4 is again used. Since the troublesome work and operation, such as that must be or the operation is not necessary to push, to resume the plate discharge processing operation without intervention of the hand of the user, the plate-making process, the printing operation can be continued.

(Modification 1)
1 to 6 and 9 show a first modification of the second embodiment.
As compared with the second embodiment shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, Modification 1 uses the drum master presence / absence sensor 55 to validate the output signal from this sensor, and instead of the control device 130 </ b> A. 9 is mainly different in that the control device 130B for executing the operation according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 9 is used. Other points are the same as in the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of Modification 1 will be described focusing on the differences from the second embodiment.

  The control device 130B is mainly different from the control device 130A of the second embodiment in that it includes a CPU 131B instead of the CPU 131A and a ROM 132B instead of the ROM 132A.

  The CPU 131B receives various signals from the various keys of the operation panel 46 and various sensors provided in the apparatus main body 8 via the sensor input circuit (not shown), the I port, and the I / F 134, that is, the open / close sensor 52. Based on various detection / detection signals from the plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54, drum master presence / absence sensor 55, paper discharge sensor 59, encoder sensor 64, home position sensor 56, plate feed position sensor 57, and operation program called from the ROM 132A, To each of the scanner unit drive circuit 121, the plotter unit drive circuit 122, the discharge unit drive circuit 123, the printing unit drive circuit 124, the paper feed unit drive circuit 125, and the paper discharge unit drive circuit 126 via the O port and the I / F 134. A drive command signal is output.

The ROM 132B stores in advance an operation program and related data for the entire stencil printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 9, and this operation program is appropriately called by the CPU 131B.
The CPU 131B (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “control device 130B”) has the following characteristic control function in this modification.
The control device 130B (CPU 131B) has the following functions in addition to having the same functions as the control device 130A (CPU 131A) of the second embodiment. That is, the control device 130B (CPU 131B) is a case where the plate discharge unit 5 is released from the apparatus main body 8 during the plate discharge operation based on the output signals from the open / close sensor 52, the plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54, and the drum master presence / absence sensor 55. there are, and, when the residual state of the used master 21 is no longer detected, once control plate remover unit driving circuit 123 and the printing section driving circuit 124 to stop the plate discharge operation, then, the plate discharge unit 5 device When housed in the main body 8 and closed , the printing unit drive circuit 124 is controlled so that the printing drum 9 is reversed, and the peeling and plate removal operation is resumed from the rear end of the used master 21 on the printing drum 9. Further, it has a function as a control means for controlling the discharging unit driving circuit 123 and the printing unit driving circuit 124.

Based on the above-described configuration, the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, in FIG. 9, a plate making command for a new plate making is issued, and a normal plate removal processing operation, a normal plate making / plate feeding processing operation, a printing operation is performed, and the operations from step S41 to step S53 are completed. The operation contents of Modification 1 which are mainly different from the operation of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 will be briefly described. The series of operations in step S53 is the same as the series of operations in step S31 shown in FIG. 8 (the same applies hereinafter).

In the operation from step S41 to step S53 in FIG. 9, the first difference which is mainly different from the operation of the second embodiment shown in FIG. 8 is that there is a drum master after the plate making command shown in step S41. The sensor 55 detects the presence or absence of the used master 21 on the printing drum 9 stopped at the home position. That is, in step S42, it is checked whether the drum master presence / absence sensor 55 is on. If the drum master presence / absence sensor 55 is on, it is determined that there is a used master 21 on the printing drum 9, and the process proceeds to step S43. If the drum master presence / absence sensor 55 is off, it is determined that there is no used master 21 on the printing drum 9, and the process proceeds to step S53. As described above, in the first modification, when the printing drum 9 is stopped at the home position in the plate discharge standby state, the drum master presence / absence sensor 55 constantly detects the presence / absence of the used master 21 on the printing drum 9. It is in a state that has been.
The second difference is that the open / close sensor 52 extends between step S46 and step S48 before and after the operation of detecting the remaining state of the master 21 by the plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 in step S47 during the plate ejection operation shown in step S45. Therefore, the open / close state of the plate discharge unit 5 is detected twice.

  Next, in step S46 and step S48, when the open / close sensor 52 is off, that is, when the plate discharge unit 5 is opened during the plate discharge operation, the plate discharge unit open shown in steps S54 to S61 is performed. An abnormality processing operation similar to that in the second embodiment is basically performed. On the other hand, in step S62 to step S72, an abnormality processing operation peculiar to the first modification relating to the plate release unit opening is performed.

First, the abnormality processing operation shown in steps S54 to S61 will be briefly described. When the plate discharge unit 5 is opened in step S46 and step S48, the open / close sensor 52 detects this and outputs an off output signal to the control device 130B. Therefore, according to a command from the control device 130B, Similarly, the rotation of the separation plate discharge roller pair 30 is stopped immediately after the rotation drive of the discharge plate winding motor 32 is stopped, and at the same time, the rotation of the printing drum 9 is stopped by stopping the rotation drive of the drum drive motor 61. (Step S54).
Next, the process proceeds to step S55, and it is checked whether or not the plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 is on. When the plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54 is on, the master 21 remains on the plate discharge path around the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30. Therefore, the process proceeds to step S56 to check whether the open / close sensor 52 is on. When the open / close sensor 52 is on, it is determined that the plate removal unit 5 is closed, and the rotation of the plate removal take-up motor 32 is resumed. When the rotation driving of 61 is resumed, the rotation of the printing drum 9 is continuously performed, so that the discharging process operation is continuously performed (step S57).
Thereafter, an operation including a series of checks similar to steps S28 to S31 in FIG. 8 in the second embodiment is performed (steps S58 to S61).

  Next, the abnormality processing operation shown in steps S62 to S72 will be described. In step S55, if the plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 is off, the control device 130B determines that the used master 21 does not remain on the plate ejection path around the peeling plate ejection roller pair 30, and proceeds to step S62 to open / close the sensor 52. Check if is on. When the open / close sensor 52 is on, the control device 130B determines that the plate discharging unit 5 is closed, and the master 21 is cut by the reaction of the plate discharging unit 5 being opened, and the control unit 130B is on the plate discharging path in the plate discharging unit 5. Although the master 21 has been subjected to the plate removal process, it is determined that the master 21 on the printing drum 9 has been torn and wound around the printing drum 9.

In the normal plate discharging operation, the printing is performed while the plate is discharged from the image leading end side of the used master 21 on the printing drum 9 and the leading edge blank portion of the master 21 to which ink is not adhered is peeled off and taken up by the pair of peeling plate discharging rollers 30. When the master 21 is cut off in the middle, the leading edge margin of the master 21 to which the ink that causes the winding is not attached is already peeled off. Even if the winding operation is performed by the pair of peeling and discharging rollers 30, the peeling and discharging roller 31 cannot be peeled off. In such a state, the control device 130B determines and recognizes that the master 21 has been cut by the reaction of opening the plate removal unit 5, and the printing drum 9 is moved in the direction of the arrow in the figure by the reverse drive of the drum drive motor 61. The printing drum 9 is rotated in the opposite direction (counterclockwise direction), and the printing drum 9 is stopped at a position where the trailing edge margin of the master 21 on the printing drum 9 is substantially opposite to the peeling plate discharge roller 31 (the drum trailing edge in step S63). The peeling position is stopped), and a series of plate removal operations from step S64 to step S71 is executed.
Usually, the trailing edge blank portion, which is a non-plate-making portion, is wound longer in the trailing edge margin portion of the master 21 on the printing drum 9 so that the ink does not protrude due to the reaction caused by the pressure applied by the press roller 10. Since the trailing edge margin can be used to create a winding trigger, the cut master 21 can be peeled and discharged.

The series of plate discharging operations from step S64 to step S71 is compared with the series of plate discharging operations from step S42 to step S52 related to the normal processing operation. In step S65, the peeling plate discharging roller 31 is shown in FIG. The drum drive motor 61 occupies the peeling position indicated by the dotted line and starts to peel off the rear end margin of the master 21 in the free state (meaning “start of master rear end clamping” in step S65), and in step S66. Is driven to rotate in the reverse direction, the printing drum 9 starts to rotate around the support shaft 11 in the direction opposite to the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 (counterclockwise direction). By being driven to rotate in the direction of the middle arrow, the peeled master 21 is rotated with the low speed rotation of the printing drum 9 and the peeling and discharging roller 31 and the discharging roller. While being peeled from the clamped to the surface of the printing drum 9 between the 3, only that it is conveyed to the plate discharge box 35 are different.
Even when the plate discharging unit 5 is opened immediately after starting the plate discharging process, it is determined that the plate discharging presence / absence sensor 54 is off and the master 21 does not remain. By performing the separation and plate removal process from the rear edge margin side of the master 21, the plate removal process can be unified.

  Therefore, according to the first modification, a troublesome operation / operation such as performing a plate removal jamming operation or pressing the plate making start key 47 again becomes unnecessary, and the user's hand is interposed. Instead, the plate removal processing operation is resumed from the rear end margin side of the master 21 on the printing drum 9, and the plate making processing and printing operation can be continued.

(Modification 2)
1 to 6 and 10 show a second modification of the first modification.
The modification 2 is mainly different from the modification 1 shown in FIGS. 6 and 9 in that a control device 130C that performs the operation according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 10 is used instead of the control device 130B . . Other points are the same as in the first modification. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of Modification 2 will be described focusing on differences from Modification 1.

  The control device 130C is mainly different from the control device 130B of Modification 1 in that it has a CPU 131C instead of the CPU 131B and a ROM 132C instead of the ROM 132B.

  The CPU 131C receives various signals from the various keys of the operation panel 46 and various sensors provided in the apparatus main body 8 via the sensor input circuit (not shown), the I port, and the I / F 134, that is, the open / close sensor 52. Based on various detection / detection signals from the plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54, drum master presence / absence sensor 55, paper discharge sensor 59, encoder sensor 64, home position sensor 56, plate feed position sensor 57, and operation program called from the ROM 132A, To each of the scanner unit drive circuit 121, the plotter unit drive circuit 122, the discharge unit drive circuit 123, the printing unit drive circuit 124, the paper feed unit drive circuit 125, and the paper discharge unit drive circuit 126 via the O port and the I / F 134. A drive command signal is output.

The ROM 132C stores in advance an operation program and related data for the entire stencil printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 10, and this operation program is appropriately called by the CPU 131C.
The CPU 131C (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “control device 130C”) has the following characteristic control function in this modification.
Control device 130C (CPU 131C) has the following functions in addition to having the same functions as control device 130B (CPU 131B) of the first modification. That is, the control device 130C (CPU 131C) is a case where the plate discharge unit 5 is released from the apparatus main body 8 during the plate discharge operation based on the output signals from the open / close sensor 52, the plate release presence / absence sensor 54, and the drum master presence / absence sensor 55. When the remaining state of the used master 21 is no longer detected and the absence of the used master 21 on the printing drum 9 is detected, the printing drum 9 is moved to the home position. It has a function as a control means for controlling the discharging unit driving circuit 123 and the printing unit driving circuit 124 so as to stop the discharging operation by returning to the (discharging position).

Based on the above-described configuration, the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
First, in FIG. 10, a plate making command for new plate making is made in the same manner as in the first modification, and the normal plate removal processing operation, the normal plate making / plate feeding processing operation, and the printing operation are performed, and all the operations are finished. The operations up to step S93 are the same as the series of operations from step S41 to step S53 shown in FIG.
In FIG. 10, the operations from step S94 to step S101 related to the abnormality process are the same as the series of operations from step S54 to step S61 shown in FIG. To do.

  In the second modification, the operation different from the first modification is to detect the remaining state of the used master 21 when the plate ejection presence / absence sensor 54 is off in step S95 as in step S55 in FIG. 9 according to the first modification. If it is no longer performed and, in step S102, as in step S62 in FIG. 9 according to the first modification, the open / close sensor 52 is turned off and the plate discharge unit 5 is closed, the process proceeds to step S103, where the printing drum 9 is returned to the home position and stopped, and the process proceeds to step S104 where the drum master presence / absence sensor 55 is OFF and the leading margin of the used master 21 on the printing drum 9 is not detected at the home position of the printing drum 9. When the state of 21 is detected, the process proceeds to step S114 to stop the plate removal operation without displaying the jam. That.

In other words, the above operation is simply described as follows. That is, the plate discharge unit 5 may be opened immediately after the plate release processing operation is completely completed. In that case, the master 21 is not already wound on the printing drum 9, and therefore, a series of operations from step S63 to step S70 in FIG. 9 according to the first modification (in the second modification, step S105 in FIG. 10). (Similar to the series of operations in step S112), the plate cannot be discharged even if the peeling / plate release operation from the rear end margin of the master 21 on the printing drum 9 is performed. In that case, the control device 130C performs the plate discharging process by rotating the printing drum 9 in the reverse direction, for example, and measures the time by a timer built in the CPU 131C of the control device 130C. If 54 is off, the printing drum 9 is once returned to the home position and stopped (step S103), and the on / off state of the known drum master presence / absence sensor 55 is monitored (step S104). If it is off, since there is no master 21 on the printing drum 9, it is determined that the separation and removal have already occurred, and the plate removal operation is stopped without displaying a jam (step S114).
On the other hand, when the drum master presence / absence sensor 55 is on, it is determined that the master 21 is present on the printing drum 9, so that the printing drum 9 shown in steps S105 to S112 in FIG. The peeling / discarding process operation from the rear end margin of the upper master 21 is performed.

  Therefore, according to the second modification, the same advantages and effects as those of the first modification are achieved, and the on / off state of the drum master presence / absence sensor 55 is monitored using the known drum master presence / absence sensor 55. In this case, since there is no master 21 on the printing drum 9, it is determined that the separation and the plate removal have already been performed, and the plate removal operation is stopped without displaying a jam.

(Third embodiment)
1 to 4 and FIGS. 11 to 13 show a third embodiment. In the present embodiment, unlike the first and second embodiments and the first and second modifications, the plate discharge unit 5 is not accidentally opened during the plate discharge processing operation. The main object of the present invention is to provide a printing apparatus and a stencil printing apparatus that can easily perform the plate discharge / paper discharge jam processing by utilizing the fact that it can be opened and closed (open / close type).
Compared with the second embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and 8, the third embodiment uses a unit lock device 70 </ b> D instead of the unit lock device 70 shown in FIG. 5, and The main difference is that instead of the control device 130, a control device 130D for executing the operation according to the flowchart shown in FIG. 13 is used. Other points are the same as in the second embodiment. Hereinafter, the configuration and operation of the third embodiment will be described with a focus on differences from the second embodiment.

On the apparatus main body 8 side, a unit locking device 70D is arranged as a unit locking means that engages with the locked shaft 69 and fixes and locks the discharging unit 5 in the closed position when the discharging unit 5 occupies the closed position. It is installed.
Compared with the unit lock device 70 shown in FIGS. 5A and 5B, the unit lock device 70D can be engaged with the open / close button 71 as shown in FIGS. 11A and 11B. The second locking member 73 that can swing in the direction of the arrow about the support shaft 74, and the bias that gives the habit of constantly swinging the second locking member 73 in the direction indicated by the arrow in FIG. A point having a spring 77 (tensile spring) as a means, and a plate release unit opening / closing lock solenoid 76 (hereinafter simply referred to as a plate release unit opening / closing lock drive means connected to the second lock member 73 and attached to and fixed to the main unit 8). The main difference is that it has “solenoid 76”.
FIGS. 11A and 11B are diagrams when viewed from the slightly lower arrow VA direction in FIG. 4. 11 (a) and 11 (b), the second lock member 73 is integrally formed of, for example, a steel plate that is a plate-like metal member, but from the front side of the paper surface for the sake of simplicity of the drawing. The thickness of the plate that should appear on the far side is not shown and is shown in a simplified manner.

The second lock member 73 is substantially L-shaped, and the second lock member 73 includes a stepped button lock portion 73a that can be selectively engaged with the second engagement portion 71c of the open / close button 71, and In the drawing of the support shaft 74, a spring hooking portion 73 b for locking the other end of the spring 77 formed at the upper portion and having one end locked to the pin on the apparatus body 8 side, a plunger 76 a of the solenoid 76, and a coupling pin 75. The connecting pin hole connected through the connector is integrally formed.
The solenoid 76 employs a pull type having a plunger 76a which can be moved forward and backward.

Here, the detailed operation of the unit lock device 70D accompanying the opening / closing operation of the plate discharge unit 5 will be described in advance. 11A shows that the opening / closing sensor 52 and the solenoid 76 of the unit lock device 70D are both turned on, that is, the state where the opening / closing sensor 52 occupies the closed position is detected, and at the same time, the solenoid 76 is energized ( ON), the locked shaft 69 of the plate discharging unit 5 is locked and fixed, and the plate discharging unit 5 cannot be released from the apparatus main body 8.
As shown in FIG. 11A, in the locked state of the plate discharge unit 5, the solenoid 76 is turned on, and the plunger 76a is pulled in the direction of the straight arrow against the urging force of the spring 77, so that the second lock The member 73 swings around the support shaft 74 in the arrow direction (counterclockwise direction) in the figure, and the button lock portion 73a of the second lock member 73 hits the second engagement portion 71c of the open / close button 71, thereby The open / close button 71 cannot be pushed and moved to the right side in the figure. As described above, the unit lock device 70D has a mechanism that cannot be unlocked even when the user operates the open / close button 71 at the time of locking. Operations other than those described above are the same as those of the unit lock device 70.

  In order to release the locked state of the plate discharging unit 5 shown in FIG. 11 (a) and open the plate discharging unit 5, as shown in FIG. 11 (b), the solenoid 76 is turned off and the biasing force of the spring 77 is used. The plunger 76a is pulled out in the direction of the straight arrow, and the second lock member 73 swings around the support shaft 74 in the direction of the arrow (clockwise direction) in the figure, and the button lock portion 73a of the second lock member 73 is opened / closed. 71 is out of contact with the second engaging portion 71c. As a result, the user can push and move the open / close button 71 to the right side in the figure, and the lock can be released as shown in the figure through the same operation as the unit lock device 70.

  The control device 130D is mainly different from the control device 130A of the second embodiment in that it has a CPU 131D instead of the CPU 131A and a ROM 132D instead of the ROM 132A.

  The CPU 131D receives various signals from the various keys of the operation panel 46 and various sensors provided in the apparatus main body 8 via the sensor input circuit (not shown), the I port, and the I / F 134, that is, the open / close sensor 52. Based on various detection / detection signals from the plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54, paper discharge sensor 59, encoder sensor 64, home position sensor 56, plate feed position sensor 57, and operation program called from the ROM 132D, the O port, I / F 134 The drive command signal is output to each of the scanner unit drive circuit 121, the plotter unit drive circuit 122, the discharge unit drive circuit 123, the printing unit drive circuit 124, the paper feed unit drive circuit 125, and the paper discharge unit drive circuit 126. .

The ROM 132D stores in advance an operation program and related data for the entire stencil printing apparatus 1 shown in FIG. 8, and this operation program is appropriately called by the CPU 131D.
The CPU 131D (hereinafter sometimes referred to as “control device 130D”) has the following characteristic control functions in this embodiment.
Based on the output signals from the open / close sensor 52 and the plate discharge presence / absence sensor 54, the control device 130D (CPU 131D) prevents the plate discharge unit 5 from being released from the apparatus body 8 during the plate discharge operation, the plate making / plate feeding processing operation, and the printing operation. It has a function as a control means for controlling the solenoid 76.

Based on the above-described configuration, the operation of the stencil printing apparatus 1 will be described using the flowchart shown in FIG.
In step S121 of FIG. 13, when a plate making command for new plate making is made in the same manner as in the first embodiment, the solenoid 76 is turned on (step S122). Thus, as described in detail for the operation of the unit lock device 70D in advance, the plate discharge unit 5 cannot be released from the apparatus main body 8, and the plate discharge unit 5 is released during the plate making / plate feeding processing operation and printing operation from the start of the plate discharge operation. Occupies the closed position and is held in a locked state, so that the user cannot accidentally open the discharge unit 5.
In the operation of the third embodiment after step S122, the on / off check operation of the open / close sensor 52 in step S26 of FIG. 8 is removed as compared with the operation shown in FIG. 8 according to the second embodiment. The only difference is that the printing unit 5 can be opened from the apparatus main body 8 by turning off the solenoid 76 after printing is completed in step S136. Therefore, further explanation is omitted.

  Therefore, according to the present embodiment, the above-described configuration and operation prevent the plate discharge unit 5 from being accidentally opened during the plate discharge processing operation, and the plate discharge unit 5 can be opened and closed with respect to the apparatus main body 8 when a plate discharge jam occurs ( Since it is of an openable / closable type, it is easy to perform the plate removal / paper discharge jam processing.

There are two types of plate discharging means. That is, a displaceable peeling / discharging roller pair (hereinafter referred to as “peeling roller displacement type”), which approaches or contacts a used master on a printing drum (plate cylinder), and master tip holding means. A plate discharge roller having an elastic thin plate (called a kicking-out means or a kick-out member) provided in the clamper arrangement portion as a member, and holding the tip of a used master kicked out by this elastic thin plate and capable of peeling and discharging There is a pair (hereinafter referred to as “displacement roller fixed type”). As an example of the peeling roller displacement type, there is the peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 shown in the above-described embodiment or modification.
As an example of the plate discharge roller fixed type, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-43394, a blade roller having a plurality of elastic blades radially extending in the centrifugal direction beside one roller of the plate discharge roller pair. The elastic blade is brought into contact with the outer peripheral surface of the other roller while being elastically bent and deformed, and the master peeled off by the elastic blade is pulled in, and the master that has been peeled off by the restoring repulsive force due to the elastic deformation of the elastic blade is provided. There is one that is struck so as not to be wound around the outer peripheral surface of the one of the rollers.
The present invention is not limited to the peeling roller displacement type peeling plate discharge roller pair 30 shown in the above-described embodiment, modification, etc., for example, a pair of discharge plate conveying rollers (65) shown in FIG. 1 of Japanese Patent No. 3332267, for example. Of course, the present invention can also be applied to the type of fixed plate discharge roller.

In the first and second embodiments and the modified examples 1 and 2 and the like, the present invention is applied to the stencil printing apparatus 1. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and is an apparatus other than the stencil printing apparatus. Needless to say, the present invention can also be applied to a printing apparatus that has a printing drum 9 (plate cylinder) in 8 and winds a master other than that for stencil printing on the printing drum 9 (plate cylinder).
As described above, the present invention has been described with respect to specific embodiments and modifications including examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments and modifications, and these may be combined as appropriate. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various embodiments and examples can be configured within the scope of the present invention in accordance with the necessity and application thereof.

It is a partial cross section front view of the whole stencil printing apparatus which shows the 1st reference example of this invention. FIG. 2 is a partial cross-sectional front view showing an arrangement of sensors and the like for detecting the rotation position and rotation amount of the printing drum in FIG. 1. It is a top view for demonstrating the opening / closing operation | movement of the plate removal unit in FIG. 1, and an operation panel. It is a simple perspective view which shows the opening / closing operation | movement of the plate discharging unit in FIG. It is a simple perspective view which shows operation | movement of the unit lock apparatus and opening / closing sensor in the 1st, 2nd reference example , 1st Embodiment, and 2nd Embodiment . It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the principal part of the 1st, 2nd reference example , 1st Embodiment, and 2nd Embodiment . It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of the principal part of a 1st reference example . It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of the principal part of the 2nd reference example . It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the principal part of 1st Embodiment . It is a flowchart explaining operation | movement of the principal part of 2nd Embodiment . It is a simple perspective view which shows the operation | movement of the unit lock apparatus and opening / closing sensor in a 3rd reference example . It is a block diagram which shows the control structure of the principal part of the 3rd reference example . It is a flowchart explaining the operation | movement of the principal part of the 3rd reference example .

Explanation of symbols

1 Stencil printing machine (an example of a printing machine)
2 Printing section (printing means)
3 Plotter unit (plate making part)
5 Plate discharge unit 8 Machine body 9 Printing drum (plate cylinder)
10 Press roller (pressing means)
15 Ink supply device 19 Thermal head (plate making means)
21 Master (Master for stencil)
22B Reverse roller pair (plate feeding means)
30 Peeling and discharging roller pair (Discarding means)
32 Plate take-up motor (plate release drive means)
34 Compression plate (compression means)
35 Discharge box (Discard storage means)
46 Operation panel 47 Plate making start key 50 Display device (notification means)
52 Open / close sensor (open / close detection means)
54 Exhaust plate presence / absence sensor (exhaust plate detection means)
55 Drum master presence / absence sensor (master presence / absence detection means)
61 Drum drive motor (plate cylinder drive means)
66 Unit body 70, 70D Unit lock device (unit lock means)
76 Solenoid (unit lock drive means)
130, 130A, 130B, 130C, 130D Control device (control means)
131, 131A, 131B, 131C, 131D CPU (constitutes control means)
P Paper (Printed medium)

Claims (3)

Printing comprising a plate cylinder around which a master is made, and a plate discharging unit which is provided with a plate discharging means for peeling and discharging the used master on the plate cylinder, and is configured to be openable and closable with respect to the apparatus main body. In the device
The plate cylinder is configured to be capable of forward and reverse rotation,
The plate discharging means can be peeled and discharged from both the front end and the rear end of the used master on the plate cylinder, and is released from either the front end or the rear end of the used master on the plate cylinder.・ It is configured to release the plate,
Open / close detecting means for detecting an open / closed state of the plate discharge unit with respect to the apparatus main body;
Discharge detection means for detecting the remaining state of the used master disposed on the discharge path of the used master discharged by the plate discharging means,
Based on the output signals from the open / close detection means and the discharge detection means , when the discharge unit is opened during the discharge operation , and when the residual state of the used master is detected, the cause plate discharge operation once stopped, then, when said plate discharge unit is closed, the plate discharge operation was resumed, also said in the case plate discharge unit is opened in the plate discharge operation, and the spent When the remaining state of the master is no longer detected, the plate discharging operation is temporarily stopped.After that, when the plate discharging unit is closed, the plate cylinder is reversed, and the peeling and discharging operation is performed from the rear end of the used master. Control means to resume ;
A printing apparatus comprising: The printing apparatus according to claim 1.
The plate cylinder is configured to be able to stop at a predetermined initial position,
A master presence / absence detecting means for detecting the presence / absence state of a used master on the plate cylinder;
The control means is a case where, based on output signals from the open / close detecting means, the discharged plate detecting means and the master presence / absence detecting means, the discharged plate unit is opened during the discharged plate operation and has been used. When the remaining state of the master is no longer detected and the absence of the used master is detected, the plate cylinder is returned to the initial position and stopped to stop the plate discharging operation. A printing apparatus characterized by that. 3. The stencil printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the master is for stencil printing.

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