JP2001121801A - Printer - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printer capable of reducing a wrinkle at a master while effectively delivering the master to a master locking means on a plate cylinder by surely holding and conveying the front end of the master. SOLUTION: The printer comprises a plate cylinder 1 having a master locking means 50 including a locking part for locking the front end 9B of a master 9 partly on an outer peripheral surface 1a, a platemaking means 30 for making and conveying the master 9, a cutting means 20 for cutting the master 9A made by the means 30 in a predetermined length, and a master holding and conveying means 40 disposed at the upstream side of a master conveying direction X from the means 20 and reciprocating between a first position for holding the end 9B and a second position lockable at the end 9B at the part Y through the part Y. In this case, the holding position of the master 9 at the second position of the means 40 is disposed to the outer peripheral surface 1a side from the locking position of the master 9 in the means 50.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing apparatus, such as a stencil printing apparatus, provided with a master holding and conveying means for conveying a master made on a plate to a master engaging means on a plate cylinder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art A perforated master is wound around the outer peripheral surface of a plate cylinder which is driven to rotate by a driving source, ink is transmitted from the inside of the plate cylinder through a master perforated portion, and the ink is transferred to printing paper. 2. Description of the Related Art A stencil printing apparatus that obtains a print image by causing the stencil printing apparatus to be used is well known. In this stencil printing machine, a master locking means for locking the leading end of the master on the plate cylinder is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder so as to be openable and closable. Nips the tip of the master transported by the platen roller, transport roller, and the like. As a master used for stencil printing, a thin thermoplastic resin film (about 2 to 9 μm thick)
And a laminated structure in which Japanese paper as a porous support, synthetic fiber, or a mixture of Japanese paper and synthetic fiber are laminated, and the porous support is also thinned. And those made of a thermoplastic resin film alone without using a porous support.

[0003] When transferring such a master to the master locking means, the following problems arise. First, since the thickness of the master is thin, the master wraps around a platen roller or a conveyance roller to which a conveyance force is applied by static electricity or curl before reaching the master locking means. Secondly, even if the sheet is conveyed without being wound around each roller, a slight waviness phenomenon occurs due to heat shrinkage at the time of perforation or a habit of the film. If the master is locked by the master locking means and wound on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder in the wavy state, there is a possibility that wrinkles may occur on the master on the plate cylinder, resulting in poor printing.
Such a state becomes conspicuous when a master having a weak stiffness is used, such as a thin porous support or a single thermoplastic resin film. Third,
It is conceivable to provide a guide plate in the transport path of the master leading to the master locking means and transport the master, but avoid contact with the rotationally driven plate cylinder or the master locking means on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder. And the guide plate cannot be provided very close to the plate cylinder. Further, even when the guide plate is provided, if the master is charged with static electricity, a poor conveyance may occur in the case of the master having no rigidity. Fourth, an antistatic agent may be applied to the surface of the master as an antistatic measure for the master. However, the master having no waist has a larger application amount of the antistatic agent than the master having a waist, and the thermal head Corrosion and the cost of the master itself increase.

[0004] Techniques for solving the first to fourth problems have not yet been disclosed.
Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 937/937 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-320853 disclose a technique in which the leading end of a master is pinched downstream of a cutting means using a master pinching and conveying means and is conveyed to a master locking means on a plate cylinder. JP-A-305232 proposes a technique in which a sheet member is superposed from the upstream side of the cutting means to the master locking means on the plate cylinder, and the leading end of the master is sent out.

[0005]

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The above-mentioned Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No.
In the technology described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 104937 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 6-320853, since the master pinching / conveying means is disposed downstream of the cutting means, the leading end of the cut master is pinched and conveyed during the next plate making. When the sheet is conveyed to the transfer means, there is a possibility that the sheet is wrapped around the transfer roller, is clogged by the cutting means, or is caught on the introduction side of the master of the master holding and conveying means. When this happens,
It is difficult to transport the master in a stable state to the master locking means, and there is a problem in the transportability of the master.

In the technique described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. Hei 6-305232, since the leading end of the master overlaps with the sheet member and is conveyed, the leading end of the master is moved before reaching the master locking means on the plate cylinder. The master may be turned up from the sheet member to cause wrinkles, and it is difficult to stably transport the master. In addition, if the master end is bonded or welded to the sheet member and conveyed, such a curl up can be prevented, but this requires a mechanism and process for bonding and welding, and also requires adhesion and welding. There is a possibility that wrinkles may occur at the time, and the sheet member and the leading end of the master may not be peeled off satisfactorily during delivery to the master locking means.

According to the present invention, the leading end of the master is securely held by the master holding / transporting means, the leading end of the held master is stably transported to the master engaging means on the plate cylinder, and the master is engaged with the master. It is an object of the present invention to provide a printing apparatus capable of reducing the occurrence of wrinkles on a master while reliably transferring the printing apparatus to a printing medium.

[0008]

According to the first aspect of the present invention,
A plate cylinder having a master locking means having a locking portion for locking the leading end of the master on a part of the outer peripheral surface; and making the master according to image information, and forming the master on the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder. In a printing apparatus having plate making means for transporting the master to be wound thereon and cutting means for cutting a plate made by the plate making means into a predetermined length, the plate cylinder is provided with A first position for holding the leading end of the master, which is located near the master locking means when stopped at the master locking position for locking the leading end and located on the upstream side of the cutting means in the master transport direction. And a master holding / conveying means capable of reciprocatingly displacing between a second position which can pass through the locking portion and lock the leading end of the master with the locking portion. Indicates that the clamping position of the master at the second position is Than the engagement position of the master in the master locking means, characterized in that positioned on the outer peripheral surface side of the said plate cylinder.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the printing apparatus of the first aspect, the master nipping and conveying means further comprises:
After the front end of the master is held at the first position, the master is widened by a predetermined amount in the master width direction until the locking portion locks the front end of the master.

[0010]

An embodiment of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. The stencil printing apparatus shown in FIG. 1 is a master roll 9R on which a heat-sensitive stencilable master 9 mainly used for printing is wound.
Plate making means 30 for transferring the master 9 while making a plate,
Master nipping and transporting means 40 for nipping and transporting the master 9 toward master locking means 50 provided on a part of the outer peripheral surface 1a of the plate cylinder 1;
A cutting means 20 for cutting A into a predetermined length, and a tension applying means 12 for applying tension to the master 9 moving toward the master locking means 50 are provided. Master role 9R is
The plate cylinder 1 is arranged at the most upstream in the master transport direction indicated by an arrow X, and the plate cylinder 1 is arranged at the most downstream in the master transport direction X. A master transport path is formed between the master roll 9R and the plate cylinder 1. Along the master transport path, the respective units are arranged in the order of the plate making means 30, the tension applying means 12, the master nipping and transporting means 40, and the cutting means 20. It is arranged in.

The master 9 is substantially made of only a very thin thermoplastic resin film of about 1 to 4 μm of polyester or the like, and is wound around the outer peripheral surface of a core tube 9P made of a thermoplastic resin that is long in the axial direction. A roll 9R is formed. The master roll 9R is rotatably supported by a stationary member (not shown). The master 9 substantially consisting of only a thermoplastic resin film shown here means, in addition to one in which the master is made of only a thermoplastic resin film, one in which the thermoplastic resin film contains a trace component such as an antistatic agent, Include those in which one or more thin film layers such as an overcoat layer are formed on both main surfaces of a thermoplastic resin film, that is, at least one of a front surface and a back surface.

The plate making means 30 conveys the master 9 toward the plate cylinder 1 while making a plate according to the image information by the thermal head 11 and the platen roller 10 which comes into contact with the thermal head 11 via the master 9. Platen roller 1
Numeral 0 is substantially integrally attached to the shaft 10a and is provided extending in the axial direction. The shaft 10a is rotatably supported on a side plate of a stencil printing machine (not shown), and includes a driving force transmitting means (not shown) and an motor pulley (not shown) comprising an endless belt or the like stretched between a pulley provided at one end and a motor pulley. Is rotationally driven in the direction of the arrow in FIG. The thermal head 11 is located below the platen roller 10 and extends parallel to the shaft 10a.
The thermal head 11 is a heating element (not shown) based on digital image information processed and transmitted by an A / D conversion unit and a plate making control unit (both not shown) provided in a document reading unit of a stencil printing device (not shown). Has a well-known function of thermally perforating the master 9 by selectively generating heat.

The plate cylinder 1 includes a porous cylindrical support cylinder,
A mesh screen wound around the outer peripheral surface of the supporting cylindrical body, and the plate-making master 9A is wound around the outer peripheral surface 1a. The plate cylinder 1 is rotatably supported around an ink pipe 7 also serving as a rotation center axis, and is rotationally driven by a drive motor 22 as a drive source and a drive force transmission mechanism (not shown) in the direction of the arrow in the figure. Inside the plate cylinder 1, the plate cylinder 1
An ink roller 4 which rotates in the same direction in synchronism with the ink roller 4 and supplies ink to the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 1; Roller 5 for forming an ink reservoir 6 and an ink pipe 7 for supplying ink to the ink reservoir 6
And an opening 7a provided at the bottom. These ink roller 4, doctor roller 5, and ink pipe 7 constitute ink supply means 60. A press roller 8 that swings up and down by a contact / separation mechanism (not shown) and presses the printing paper 73 against the plate cylinder 1 is disposed near the lower part of the outer peripheral surface 1 a facing the ink roller 4.

At a predetermined position of the non-opening portion on the outer peripheral surface 1a,
A master locking means 50 for locking (nipping) the leading end 9B of the master 9A is provided. Master locking means 5
Reference numeral 0 denotes a stage 2 extending parallel to the generatrix of the plate cylinder 1 and provided substantially integrally with the outer peripheral surface 1a, and a driving force applied to the stage 2 by an opening / closing device (not shown) via the clamper shaft 13. An openable / closable clamper 3 that is transmitted and rotated, and a magnet 3b that magnetically attaches the clamper 3 to the stage 2 are provided. The opening and closing device includes a step motor 23 serving as a clamper driving unit and a well-known driving force transmission mechanism. The clamper 3 extends in parallel with the generatrix of the plate cylinder 1, and its overall width E is somewhat longer than the width W of the master 9 and shorter than the width L of the plate cylinder 1, as shown in FIG. Have been. The magnet 3b is fixed to a surface of the clamper 3 that is located upstream of the clamper shaft 13 in the master transport direction X and that faces the stage 2 on the opening / closing end 3a side. Rear end 3c of magnet 3b and clamper shaft 1
3, and on both side edges 3A and 3B of the clamper 3 located in the width direction of the master 9 indicated by the double-headed arrow Z (hereinafter, referred to as the master width direction Z), the inward of the clamper 3 is recessed. The notches 3L and 3R are respectively formed. The notches 3L and 3R are formed in a size that does not interfere with a pair of master holding portions 14 and 15 provided in the master holding and conveying means 40 described later. The range in which the clamper 3 is provided with the magnet 3b is a locking portion Y. As shown in FIG. 3, similarly to the clamper 3, the stage 2 is also provided with spaces 2L and 2R formed so as not to interfere with the master holding portions 14 and 15.

As shown in FIG. 1, the tension applying means 12
It is arranged between the plate making means 30 and the master holding and conveying means 40, and has a pair of roller members 12a and 12b. The roller members 12a and 12b are disposed opposite to each other with their outer peripheral surfaces in contact with each other. In this example, the roller members 12a and 12b have a function of changing the direction of the master 9 conveyed substantially horizontally to a direction substantially vertically downward. They follow each other by moving. A brake device 12c such as a torque limiter is attached to one end of one roller member 12b, and tension is applied to the master 9 moving in the master transport direction X so that no slack occurs in the moving direction. It is configured to give. The tension applying means 12 may be configured to rotate one of the roller members 12a and 12b with a drive motor. In this case, the peripheral speed of the outer peripheral surface of the driven roller member is set to the outer peripheral surface 1a. By setting the peripheral speed or the moving speed of the master holding and conveying means 40 to be lower, tension can be applied to the moving master 9.

The master holding / conveying means 40 is disposed between the tension applying means 12 and the master locking means 50, and holds the leading end 9B of the master 9 while holding the master locking means 50.
Is to be transported. As shown in FIG. 4, the master nipping and conveying means 40 includes a pair of master nipping parts 14 and 15 for nipping the front end 9B from both side edges 9a and 9b in the master width direction Z in its forward stroke. , 15 in the master width direction Z, and between the first position shown by the solid line and the second position shown by the two-dot chain line, as shown in FIG. And a moving means 17 for reciprocating with. The cutting means 20 is mounted on the master holding and conveying means 40 on the downstream side of the master holding sections 14 and 15 in the master conveying direction X. Here, the first position means that the master holding portions 14 and 15 are
The second position refers to a position for holding the leading end 9B of the master 9 conveyed to the front of the master 9, and the master holding portions 14, 15.
Indicates a position where the leading end 9B can pass through the locking portion Y opened at the master locking position in a state where the tip 9B is pinched, and the tip 9B can be locked (pinched) by the locking portion Y.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the master holding portions 14 and 15 can be freely opened and closed so as to hold both side edges 9a and 9b of the front end portion 9B from both main surfaces (front and back surfaces) 9C and 9D. Upper transfer clampers 26A, 2 serving as holding members provided
6B and lower conveying clampers 27A and 27B, electromagnetic solenoids 28A and 28B as clamping unit driving means for opening and closing the upper conveying clampers 26A and 26B, and coil springs 29A and 29B as urging means. The lower transport clampers 27A and 27B are made of a plate-like member, and are slidably supported in the master width direction Z by the frame 141 of the master holding and transporting means 40. Specifically, elongated holes 31A, 31B extending in the master width direction Z are formed in the lower transport clampers 27A, 27B, and the elongated holes 31A, 31B are formed.
The step screws 32A, 32B and the step screws 33A, 33B, which are erected in parallel in the master width direction Z of the frame 141, are loosely fitted. The lower transport clampers 27A and 27B have one ends bent in a direction substantially perpendicular to the master width direction Z, and the lower ends bent inward in the master width direction Z to form contact portions 27C and 27D. The contact portions 27C and 27D are arranged on the same plane so as to contact the back surface 9D of the master 9.

The upper transport clampers 26A and 26B are
The contact portions 27C and 27D are respectively provided by 4a and 34b.
It is supported to open and close freely. Electromagnetic solenoid 28A,
28B is attached to lower transport clampers 27A and 27B located above the upper transport clampers 26A and 26B, and the movable pieces 28C and 28D are attached to the upper transport clampers 26A and 26B.
A and 26B are pin-connected respectively. The electromagnetic solenoids 28A and 28B are of a push type that pushes out the movable pieces 28C and 28D when a drive signal is input. The coil springs 29A and 29B are
A, 28B and upper transport clampers 26A, 26B, both ends of which are locked.
B is given a turning behavior in the opening direction. On the other end side of the lower transport clampers 27A and 27B, a clamping position at which both side edges 9a and 9b of the front end portion 9B indicated by reference numerals A and B can be held, and both side edges 9a indicated by reference numerals C and D in FIG. , 9b is provided with a displacement means drive mechanism 25 for displacing and moving the master holding portions 14, 15 in the master width direction Z at a detached position deviated outwardly from the master holding portion 14, 9b. The separation positions C and D are located outside the both side edges 3A and 3B of the clamper 3.

As shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the displacement means drive mechanism 25 includes a drive motor 35 capable of rotating forward and backward as a drive source thereof, a pinion gear 36 mounted on an output shaft 35a of the drive motor 35, and It mainly comprises rack gears 37 and 38. The rack gears 37 and 38 are formed on the lower transport clampers 27A and 27B, respectively, and are provided at a pinion gear 36 disposed substantially at the center of the frame 141.
And mesh with each other from above and below. When the drive motor 35 is driven to rotate clockwise (positive direction) in FIG. 4, the displacement means drive mechanism 25 moves the lower transport clampers 27A and 27B in the direction indicated by the solid line arrow to separate the master holding portions 14 and 15. To the position,
When the drive motor 35 rotates in the counterclockwise direction (reverse direction) in FIG. 4, the lower transport clampers 27A, 27
B in the direction shown by the dashed arrow, and
4, 15 are displaced to the holding position.

In the vicinity of the long hole 31A of the lower transport clamper 27A, a holding position detecting sensor 41 and a separating position detecting sensor 42 as detecting means for detecting the holding position and the separating position are provided. A microswitch is used for each of the sandwiching position detection sensor 41 and the separation position detection sensor 42, and the separation position detection sensor 42
As shown in FIG. 6, when the lever 42a is pressed by the step screw 32B, a release position detection signal is output, and when the lever 41a is pressed by the step screw 32A, the pinch position detection sensor 41 outputs a pinch position detection signal. .

As shown in FIGS. 4, 5 and 6, the cutting means 20 is provided on the surface 141c of the frame 141 facing the master conveyance path so that the circular blade 43 serving as a cutting member faces the master conveyance path. It is installed. The cutting means 20 includes the facing surface 1
41c, a rotary having a rail 44 extending and fixed in the master width direction Z, a slider 45 slidably supported by the rail 44, and a circular blade portion 43 rotatably supported by the slider 45. It consists of a cutter and slides when the master is cut by a drive motor 39 described later.
The circular blade portion 43 is supported by the slider 45 such that the outer peripheral surface is located slightly below the contact surfaces 27C and 27D.

The moving means 17 includes, as shown in FIG. 5, a rotating shaft 47 supported by a frame 141, and the rotating shaft 47.
And a drive motor 46 that can be rotated forward and backward as a drive source. The drive motor 46 is fixed to the frame 141 and its output shaft 4
A drive gear 49 is fixed to 6a. A driving gear 49 meshes with the gear 48, and the driving gear 49 of the gear 48
The rack 51 meshes with a position facing the meshing position with the rack. As shown in FIG. 4, the rotating shaft 47 is
Sides 141a, 141 provided upright on both sides of
The upper part b is rotatably supported by bearings 52, 52, and both ends thereof protrude outward from the side surfaces 141a, 141b. A pair of guide pins 53 is provided below the side surfaces 141a and 141b so as to protrude in the master width direction Z.

Both ends of the rotating shaft 47 and the guide pins 53, 53
As shown in FIG. 5, is loosely fitted into long holes 54 and 55 formed in a frame of a device (not shown). The long holes 54 and 55 are formed so as to extend from the tension applying means 12 toward the master locking means 50 at the master locking position shown in FIG. 1, and the lower ends thereof are directed toward the plate cylinder 1 side. It is bent and supports the master holding and conveying means 40 slidably from immediately downstream of the tension applying means 12 to downstream of the locking portion Y of the master locking means 50, that is, from the first position to the second position. are doing. As a result, the master holding / conveying means 40 is configured to be guided to the master locking means 50 and not to swing during the reciprocating operation.

The master holding / conveying means 40 has long holes 54, 5
5 moves to the second position, but since the lower ends of the long holes 54 and 55 are bent toward the plate cylinder 1, the master holding portions 14 and 15 occupy the second position. The master holding and conveying means 4 at the second position when guided into the spaces 2L and 2R provided in the stage 2, respectively.
The master clamp position of 0 is the stage 2 and the clamper 3
Below the master clamp position (close to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder)
State. As a result, as shown in FIG. 7, in a state where the side edges 9a and 9b of the front end portion 9B of the master 9 are held, the master holding and conveying means 40 is located below the clamp surface of the stage 2, so that the master 9 is It spreads in the width direction, and the slack in the master tip 9B is extended.
Here, the master locking position refers to a position at which the plate cylinder 1 stops when the master 9 is locked by the master locking means 50, and in this embodiment, the master cylinder is opened with the clamper 3 facing upward. 1 where the master locking means 50 is placed almost right beside. The drive motor 46 is
In the forward movement in which the master holding / conveying means 40 is moved from the position to the second position, the clockwise direction (forward direction) in FIG.
5, and is driven to rotate counterclockwise in FIG. 5 (reverse direction) at the time of double-acting movement of the master holding / conveying means 40 from the second position to the first position.

In the vicinity of the master nipping and conveying means 40, a first position detecting sensor 56 for detecting that the master nipping and conveying means 40 has been positioned at the first position, and for detecting that it has been positioned at the second position. Second position detection sensor 5
7 are arranged. The first position detection sensor 56 outputs a first position detection signal by being pushed by a part of the frame 141 when the master holding and conveying means 40 occupies the first position, and the second position detection sensor 57 When the nipping and conveying means 40 occupies the second position, the frame 141
And a limit switch that outputs a second position detection signal when pressed by a part of the switch. The master holding / transporting means 40 sets the home position when the master holding portions 14 and 15 are at the holding position A.

In this embodiment, the master nipping and conveying means 4
0 is configured to be able to reciprocate substantially vertically. The rack 51 is arranged in parallel with the long hole 54 and is fixed to a frame (not shown). For this reason, when the drive motor 46 is not driven, the master pinching / conveying means 40 is held at a fixed position by meshing the drive gear 49, the gear 48 and the rack 51. In other words, the rack 51, together with the gear 48, constitutes a drop prevention (stopper) means and a positioning means of the master nipping and conveying means 40.

The stencil printing apparatus includes a control unit 70 shown in FIG.
It has. The control means 70 is composed of a well-known microcomputer having a ROM and a RAM.
It functions as a drive circuit and controller for each means. The control means 70 includes a stop key 61 serving as a stop command means, a plate making start key 62 serving as a plate making command means, a print start key 63 serving as a print command means, a first position detecting sensor 56, a second position detecting sensor 57, Position detection sensor 41, separation position detection sensor 42, step motors 21, 23, various drive motors 22, 35, 3
9, 46, electromagnetic solenoids 28A and 28B and power supply 58
Are electrically connected to each other.

When the master making start key 62 is depressed and a master making command is output, the control means 70
A is transported to the clamper 3 on the plate cylinder 1 using the master holding and transporting means 40, and a function of performing a plate making operation of winding the master 9A having the plate made on the outer peripheral surface 1a is performed, and the print start key 63 is depressed. When a print command is output, a function of performing a well-known printing operation for executing printing of the number of prints set by a ten-key (not shown), a function of stopping a plate making operation or a printing operation when a stop key 61 is pressed, And a control unit 71 for controlling the drive motor 39. Hereinafter, the plate making function by the control unit 70 and the operation of the apparatus by the control unit 71 will be mainly described.

In FIG. 1, when a new master roll 9R is set in the apparatus, the master 9 is passed between the platen roller 10 and the thermal head 11 after the master roll 9R is unwound, and the roller members 12a, 12b With the master 9 interposed therebetween, the front end portion 9B is positioned up to the master holding and conveying means 40. When the plate making start key 62 is depressed, the drive motor 22 is driven by a predetermined amount, the printed master (not shown) having finished printing by the well-known plate discharging means is removed from the outer peripheral surface 1a, and the plate cylinder 1 is moved to the master locking position. Stop. When the plate cylinder 1 occupies the master locking position, the step motor 23 is driven and the clamper 3 is opened at the master locking position. First position detection sensor 5
When the first position detection signal is output from 6, the electromagnetic solenoids 28A and 28B are driven assuming that the master nipping and conveying means 40 is at the home position. As a result of this driving operation, the upper transport clampers 26A and 26B are closed, and both side edges 9a and 9b of the leading end 9B of the master 9 are moved from both main surfaces (front and back surfaces) 9C and 9D as shown in FIG. 1
It is pinched at 4,15. That is, FIG.
As shown in (b), the clamper 3 is in the open state,
Both side edges 9a, 9b of the tip 9B of the master 9 are held by the master holding portions 14, 15 at the first position.

When the electromagnetic solenoids 28A and 28B are turned on, the drive motor 35 is energized for a predetermined time (several msec), and the drive motor 35 rotates clockwise in FIG. As a result, the pinion gear 36 is rotated clockwise by a small amount, and the lower transport clampers 27A and 27B having the racks 37 and 38 meshing therewith.
Move relative to the solid line position from the two-dot chain line position. The relative movement amount of the lower transport clampers 27A and 27B is
To the extent that the master 9 does not fall out of the master holding portions 14 and 15,
In addition, it is set to such an extent that the master 9 does not expand. By this movement, both side edges 9 of the tip 9B of the master 9 are moved.
Since the master holding portions 14 and 15 spread in the master width direction Z while holding the a and 9b, the slack at the tip 9B of the master 9 is further extended.

When the electromagnetic solenoids 28A and 28B are driven and the energization of the drive motor 35 is completed, the step motor 21 is started, the platen roller 10 is driven to rotate in the clockwise direction, and the master 9 is sent out and the image is simultaneously displayed. The heating element of the thermal head 11 is selectively heated according to the information, and the master 9 pressed by the platen roller 10 against the thermal head 11 is selectively melted and perforated. The perforated master 9A thus perforated is transported in the master transport direction X by the platen roller 10.

On the other hand, the first position detection sensor 56
When the position detection signal is output, the drive motor 46 shown in FIG. 5 is driven to rotate clockwise, and the master nipping and conveying means 40 moves toward the second position (downward) in FIG. At this time, the moving speed of the master nipping and conveying means 40 is conveyed at substantially the same speed as the master conveying speed by the platen roller 10. In this way, the master-carrying master 9A is conveyed toward the clamper 3 while applying tension between the master-making master 9A and the roller members 12a and 12b by the forward movement of the master nipping and conveying means 40.

When the master nipping and conveying means 40 occupies the second position after passing between the expanding stage 2 and the clamper 3, a second position detection signal is output from the second position detection sensor 57. , The drive motor 46 is stopped. As a result, as shown in FIGS. 10 (a) and 10 (b), the master holding portions 14 and 15 pass through the locking portion Y and have the cutout portions 3 and 15.
At the holding position B in L, 3R, the master 9 stops in a state where the master 9 is extended in the width direction. When the drive motor 46 stops, the stepping motor 23 is driven to rotate by a predetermined amount in the closing direction, and then the electromagnetic solenoids 28A and 28B are not driven (off). Thereby, the master holding section 14,
The front end 9B of the plate-making master 9A pinched and conveyed by the magnet 15 is a magnet 3b of the stage 2 and the clamper 3.
After that, the holding by the master holding portions 14 and 15 is released. Therefore, even if the master 9 is charged with static electricity or curled, the roller member 12
Thus, the sheet can be reliably conveyed to the clamper 3.

When the electromagnetic solenoids 28A and 28B are turned off, the drive motor 35 is driven clockwise in FIG. 6, and is driven until the separation position detection sensor 42 outputs a separation position detection signal. As a result, the pinion gear 36 is driven to rotate clockwise, and the lower transport clampers 27A and 27A having the racks 37 and 38 meshing therewith.
27B relatively moves from the two-dot chain line position to the solid line position. Detachment position detection sensor 42 by step screw 32B
When the lever 42a is pressed to output the release position detection signal, the rotation of the drive motor 35 stops. Thus, the master holding portions 14 and 15 occupy the detached position C in the second position.

When the detachment position detection signal is output from the detachment position detection sensor 42, the drive motor 46 shown in FIG. 5 is driven to rotate counterclockwise, and this operation is performed by the first position detection sensor 56 The operation is performed until the detection signal is output. By this operation, the master holding / conveying means 40 placed at the second position shown by the two-dot chain line in FIG. 9 is moved back to the first position, and the master holding portions 14 and 15 are separated from the separation position D.
Is positioned. As described above, the master holding portions 14, 1
5 is moved from the second position to the first position while occupying the detached position when the master nipping and conveying means 40 moves backward, so that both side edges 9a and 9b and both side edges 3 are moved during the movement.
A and 3B do not interfere.

Since the stepping motor 21 is driven during the movement of the master holding and conveying means 40, that is, while the master holding portions 14 and 15 are moving between the separation positions C and D in FIG. The plate making conveyance of the roller 10 is performed. For this reason, the master 9 causes the master-making master 9A to be excessively fed between the platen roller 10 and the roller members 12a and 12b. When the first position detection signal is output from the first position detection sensor 56,
The drive motor 22 drives the plate cylinder 1 to rotate in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and the master plate 9 </ b> A that has been excessively fed is wound around the outer peripheral surface 1 a while being made by the rotation of the plate cylinder 1.

When the master 9 is conveyed by a predetermined amount by rotating the step motor 21 by a predetermined amount, the outer peripheral surface 1a of the plate cylinder 1 is moved.
The step motor 21 and the drive motor 22 are stopped assuming that the plate-making master 9A to be wound on the plate has been made. After the completion of the plate making operation, the drive motor 35 is driven in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 6 to rotate the pinion gear 36 in the counterclockwise direction, and the lower transport clampers 27A, 27B.
Move relatively in the direction of the broken line. Then, when the lever 41a of the holding position detection sensor 41 is pressed by the step screw 32A and the holding position detection signal is output, the rotation of the drive motor 35 is stopped, whereby the master holding portions 14, 15 are held at the holding position A. Is done.

Accordingly, the control section 71 drives (turns on) the electromagnetic solenoids 28A and 28B, closes the upper transport clampers 26A and 26B, clamps both side edges 9a and 9b, and holds the cutting state while maintaining the state. Drive motor 39
Drive. Thereby, the slider 45 is slid from right to left in FIG. 6, and the rear end of the master 9A is cut by the circular blade 43. For this reason, the plate-making master 9A is cut with its leading end 9B locked by the clamper 3 and the rear end of the upstream side in the master transport direction X held by the master holding portions 14, 15. , The master 9 can be satisfactorily cut, and the master 9 can be cut after cutting.
Need not be conveyed to the master holding portions 14 and 15. Therefore, even when the master 9 is charged or the winding habit remains on the master 9,
The master 9 is prevented from being clogged between 0 and the master holding and conveying means 40. After cutting, the electromagnetic solenoid 28
A and 28B are turned off, the master holding portions 14 and 15 are opened, and the drive motor 22 rotates the plate cylinder 1 in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1 to wind the master 9A having the plate made on the outer peripheral surface 1a.

Thereafter, the control means 70 controls the drive motor 2
2 is driven to rotate the plate cylinder 1 at a low speed in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1, and one print sheet 73 is fed from a not-shown sheet feeder to a well-known registration roller 72. At this time, the ink roller 4 is also rotated in the same direction as the rotation direction of the plate cylinder 1, and ink is supplied to the inner peripheral surface of the plate cylinder 1. The registration roller 72 feeds the printing paper 73 between the plate cylinder 1 and the press roller 8 at a predetermined timing synchronized with the rotation of the plate cylinder 1. Then, the press roller 8 separated from the outer peripheral surface 1a moves from the separated position indicated by the solid line in FIG. 1 to the pressing position indicated by the two-dot chain line, and is wound around the outer peripheral surface 1a of the plate cylinder 1 driven to rotate in the direction of the arrow. The printing paper 73 is pressed against the plate-making master 9A. As a result, the stencil master 9A is brought into close contact with the outer peripheral surface 1a while the ink oozes from the perforated portion of the stencil master 9A, so that the so-called stencil printing is completed, the respective drive motors and the step motors are stopped, and a printing standby state is established. . When the number of prints is set by a ten-key (not shown) and the print start key 63 is pressed, the plate cylinder 1 is rotated at a high speed, and the press roller 8 and the registration roller 72 are driven in the same manner as the plate setting. Printing for the number of sheets is performed on the printing paper 73.

As described above, in this embodiment, the transfer of the master 9 from the plate making means 30 to the master locking means 50 is performed in a state where the master 9 is held by the master holding portions 14 and 15, so that the transfer of the master 9 is performed by the rotation of the roller member. Unlike the extrusion conveyance of the master 9, the conveyance failure due to the sticking or curling of the master 9 due to the static electricity does not occur. Further, the master holding portions 14 and 15 are expanded in the master width direction Z in a state where the both side edges 9a and 9b of the front end portion 9B of the master 9 are held between the master holding portions 14 and 15 to reduce the slack of the front end portion 9B. As you stretch,
Since the tip 9B is clamped by the clamper 3 in a state where tension is applied by the roller pair 12a, 12b and the brake device 12c during the master conveyance, it is possible to prevent wrinkles and loosening of the plate-making master 9A during this clamping.

Further, the cutting means 20 is arranged downstream of the master holding and conveying means 40 in the master conveying direction X, and the cutting is performed in a state where the side edges 9a and 9b are held by the master holding portions 14 and 15. After cutting the master 9A, the leading end 9B of the subsequent master 9 is already located on the contact portions 27C and 27D. There is no need to carry the master 9, and it is possible to prevent the clogging of the master 9 between the plate making means 30 and the master pinching / conveying means 40 and the occurrence of wrinkles caused thereby. Also, the master holding section 14,
The master 9 having the front end portion 9B sandwiched at 15 is conveyed to the downstream side in the master conveyance direction X from the locking portion Y, so that the front end portion 9B can be reliably locked by the clamper 3.

In the above embodiment and modified examples, the clamper 3
In order to transport the leading end 9B from above, the arrangement position of the master roll 9R and the master locking position of the plate cylinder 1 are set, so that the master nipping and transporting means 40 is vertically reciprocated. However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration. The position of the master roll 9R and the plate cylinder 1 are set so that the leading end 9B is transported and inserted into the clamper 3 from the horizontal direction.
When the master holding position is set, the long holes 54,
55 may be provided horizontally and the end of the side of the plate cylinder 1 may be bent toward the plate cylinder 1, and the rotary shaft 47 may be rotated to run in the elongated hole 54. Also, in this case,
The rack 51 need not be provided.

Further, in the above-described embodiment and the modified example, the leading end portion 9B is held between the master holding portions 14 and 15, and
The master 9A is conveyed to the clamper 3 and locked by using the master holding and conveying means 40, while the master 9 is made on the master 9, and the leading end 9B is held by the master holding portions 14 and 15. Then, the master 9 may be conveyed to the clamper 3 using the master holding and conveying means 40 before the plate making, and the master 9 may be made after the locking by the clamper 3. However, since the length of one master plate 9A wound around the outer peripheral surface 1a is limited by the circumferential length of the outer peripheral surface 1a, the plate making area of the master 9A is reduced. Sometimes. Therefore, in this case, the reciprocating movement range of the master nipping and conveying means 40 is reduced,
In addition, by setting the master locking position of the plate cylinder 1 closer to the master holding / conveying means 40, the unplated area in the master 9 may be reduced to secure the plate making area.

In the above examples and modifications, a master substantially consisting of only a thermoplastic resin film was used as the master 9; however, the master is not limited to this, and may have a porous support or may have a porous support. Alternatively, a thin master with a further reduced thickness of the porous support may be used.
In the above-described embodiment and the modification, the tip 9B is cut by the cutting unit 20 to a predetermined length after being clamped by the master clamping units 14 and 15 of the master clamping and conveying unit 40, but is relatively hard to be charged. In the case of the master or in an environment where charging is difficult, there is almost no problem such as winding of the master. Therefore, it is not necessary to cut the master 9A after the master is held by the master holding portions 14 and 15.

In the above embodiments and modifications, the cutting means 20 is mounted on the frame 141 and the cutting means 20 is integrally moved with the reciprocating operation of the master holding and conveying means 40. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It goes without saying that the cutting means 20 may be mounted on a frame or the like (not shown) of the stencil printing apparatus, and the master holding and conveying means 40 and the cutting means 20 may be separately provided. In this case, the cutting unit 20 is arranged downstream of the master holding units 14 and 15 in the master transfer direction X when the master holding and conveying unit 40 occupies the first position. In addition, although the rotary cutter that slides the circular blade portion 43 is illustrated as the cutting means 20, a type that rotates a movable blade with respect to a fixed blade or a so-called guillotine type may be used.

[0046]

According to the first aspect of the present invention, the master holding position at the second position of the master holding / conveying means is closer to the outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder than the master holding position of the master holding means. Therefore, the slack is removed by spreading the leading end of the master in the width direction, and the generation of wrinkles on the master can be suppressed, and a good image can be obtained.

According to the second aspect of the present invention, after the master nipping and conveying means has nipped the leading end of the master at the first position,
Since the locking portion expands by a predetermined amount in the width direction of the master until the locking portion locks the leading end portion of the master, the leading end portion of the master spreads in the width direction to remove slack and generate wrinkles on the master. Can be effectively suppressed, and a better image can be obtained.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a stencil printing apparatus used in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a plan view showing a first position and a second position of the master holding and conveying means used in the embodiment of the present invention, and a holding position and a separating position of the master holding portion.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a stage used in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing a configuration of a master nipping and conveying means used in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a configuration of a moving unit provided in a master holding and conveying unit used in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front view showing a configuration and an operation of a driving mechanism of a master holding section and a displacement unit and a holding section driving member used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a state at a second position of the master nipping and conveying means used in one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration example of a control unit and a control unit used in an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 9A is a plan view showing a clamping position at a first position of a master clamping unit used in one embodiment of the present invention;
It is a side view.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are a plan view and a side view showing a clamping position at a second position of the master clamping unit used in the embodiment of the present invention; FIGS.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 1 plate cylinder 1a outer peripheral surface 9 master 9A plate-making master 9B tip end 20 cutting means 30 plate making means 40 master pinching and conveying means 50 master locking means Y locking section X master transport direction Z master width direction

Claims (2)

[Claims] A plate cylinder provided with a master locking means having a locking portion for locking a leading end of the master on a part of an outer peripheral surface; and a plate making of the master according to image information. In a printing apparatus having a plate making means for conveying the plate master to be wound around an outer peripheral surface of the plate cylinder, and a cutting means for cutting a plate made by the plate making means into a predetermined length, the plate cylinder is provided with the locking When the part is stopped at a master locking position for locking the leading end of the master, the leading end of the master is pinched near the master locking means and upstream of the cutting means in the master transport direction. A first position, and a master holding / transporting means capable of reciprocatingly displacing between a first position passing through the locking portion and a second position capable of locking the leading end of the master at the locking portion, The master nipping and conveying means is configured to move the master at a second position. Lifting position, the printing apparatus being located on the outer peripheral surface side of the said plate cylinder than the locking position of the master in the master locking means. 2. The master pinching / conveying means is disposed in a master width direction after the front end of the master is held at the first position and before the locking section locks the front end of the master. The printing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the printing apparatus performs quantitative expansion.