JPH09164656A - Recording device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) Abstract: [PROBLEMS] To provide a means for deciding whether or not to replace a plate or rewrite in a plate rewritable recording device. SOLUTION: When the number of printable sheets N and the cumulative number of printed sheets N _S are read (Step 1) and the operator sets the print setting number of sheets N _C (Step 2), the cumulative number of printable sheets N _S and the print setting are set. The sum of the number of sheets N _C is calculated to determine whether the subtraction value NN is positive or negative (Step 3). If it is positive ((b) and (d) in FIG. 2A), the cumulative number of printed sheets is the number of sheets printed by plate making, printing, cleaning, and image removal (Step 4).
_It is added to _S to obtain a new cumulative cumulative number of prints, and the process returns to Step 2 to wait for the next print. If the subtraction value NN is negative ((c), (e) in FIG. 2 (A)), this is discharged (Step 5),
The new version and the plate feed and (Step6), returns to Step4, reset the accumulated number of printed sheets N _S, provided a new print.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

The present invention relates to a recording apparatus,
More specifically, the receding contact angle decreases when heated in contact with a liquid, and the receding contact angle recovers when heated in a non-contact state with a liquid. The present invention provides a recording device capable of selecting the replacement of the plate and the presence / absence of rewriting of the plate, and is preferably used in the printing machine field.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of printing, for example, a color material of an image of a plate wound around a plate cylinder is transferred to a rubber bracket cylinder, and the transferred color material image is pressed against the rubber bracket cylinder. It is essentially impossible to rewrite a plate with an offset printing machine that transfers and prints on paper that has been sent between paper and a stencil printing machine that transfers color materials to paper through an image-formed stencil printing master. Moreover, the number of sheets that can be printed while maintaining a predetermined image quality by the plates used in these printing machines, that is, the printing durability is about 2000 sheets for the pink master and the stencil master. However, in normal printing operations using these offset printing machines and stencil printing machines, the number of print settings may be significantly smaller than the number of pages that can be printed, and even in this case it is necessary to replace the plate with a new one after printing. However, there is a drawback that the running cost becomes very high. Further, even when the number of printed sheets exceeds the number of printable sheets, it is necessary for the operator to judge the printing state at the printing site and replace the plate.

In view of such circumstances, the applicant of the present invention has proposed a rewritable printing method of a plate which solves the above-mentioned drawbacks in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 3-178478. Specifically, the receding contact angle decreases when heated in contact with a liquid, and the receding contact angle recovers when heated in a non-contact state with the liquid. By heating to form regions having different receding contact angles, a visible image is obtained by developing with a developer containing a coloring material, and by removing the visible image and heating the liquid in a non-contact state with a liquid again. It shows a printing method using a printing plate based on the principle that an image can be returned to a ready state.

[0004]

However, when the above-mentioned recording method capable of reusing a plate is applied to a printing machine, the old plate is reused or a new plate is used. Although it is necessary to judge whether or not to make such judgment, the specific proposal for this judgment is not described in the above publication. Further, there has not been proposed a method in which the operator can know the usage status of the plate and select whether or not to rewrite the plate.

A first object of the present invention is to provide a method for determining whether or not a specific plate is replaced or rewritten in a plate rewritable recording device, and a second object is to provide:
It is to provide a method in which the operator can select whether or not to rewrite a plate by notifying the operator of the printing status.

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, a receding contact angle is reduced when heated in contact with a liquid, and a receding contact angle is restored when heated in a non-contact state with a liquid. Plate feeding means for feeding a recording material in which a body material is applied to a substrate,
Plate making means for forming a latent image by selectively heating the recording medium to make a plate, developing means for supplying a color material to the plate having the latent image formed thereon, and the color material on the plate as a recording paper. A plate comprising a transfer unit for transferring, a cleaning unit for removing the color material on the plate, an image removing unit for erasing and initializing the latent image on the plate by heating, and a plate discharging unit for discharging the plate. In the rewritable recording device, the printing endurance number setting storage means for setting and storing the printing endurance number of the plate, the cumulative printing number counting storage means for counting and storing the cumulative printing number printed by the plate, and printing at the time of printing A printing number setting means for setting the number of sheets is provided to determine whether or not the plate is replaced. According to the invention of claim 2, in the invention of claim 1, the presence or absence of replacement of the plate is determined based on the number of printing plates of the plate, the cumulative number of prints printed by the plate, and the print set number set at the time of printing. It is the one. According to the invention of claim 3, in the invention of claim 2, whether or not to replace the plate is determined based on whether the difference between the number of printing plates of the plate and the sum of the cumulative number of prints and the print setting number is positive or negative. It was done. According to the invention of claim 4, in the invention of claim 2, when the difference between the number of printing plates of the plate and the sum of the cumulative number of prints and the set number of prints is within a predetermined range, the plate is not replaced. The printing is performed, and after the printing is completed, the plate is discharged and the plate is supplied. According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, a subtraction value display means is provided for displaying a difference between the number of printing plates of the plate and the sum of the cumulative number of prints and the print setting number. is there.

[0007]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of the structure of a rewritable printing apparatus for a printing plate used in a printing apparatus according to the present invention, in which 1 is a printing plate and 2 is a conveying roller. , 3 is a cutter, 4 is a plate cylinder, 5 is a thermal head, 6 is a liquid, 7 is a developing roller, 8 is an impression cylinder, 9 is a cleaning roller, 10 is an image removing roller, 11 is paper, and 12 is a sheet discharging conveyance path. , 13 are plate discharge containers.

The plate rewritable recording apparatus shown in FIG. 1 has a rewritable plate 1 wound in a roll shape on a plate cylinder 4
The plate 1 is conveyed to the plate cylinder 4 by the transfer roller 2 and clamped on the plate, and at the same time, the plate 1 is cut into a predetermined length by the cutter 3. Also, plate cylinder 4
An end surface type thermal head (for example, 30 mm) having a protective film in consideration of the liquid contact property is sequentially provided around the plate cylinder 4 in the rotation direction of the plate cylinder 4.
0 dpi: dots / inch 5, surface is rubber (for example,
Developing roller 7 having a hardness of 60 degrees (chloroprene) 7a,
Impression cylinder 8, sponge roller (for example, hardness 30 degrees; made by Toyo Polymer) 9a impregnated with a cleaning liquid (for example, offset cleaner, Type NA; made by Ricoh) 9, halogen lamp (for example, 3)
(00 watt) 10a is coaxially built in the image removing roller 10. The thermal head 5 is a container 6a.
It is in contact with the plate 1 through a liquid 6 contained in a water containing a wetting agent such as glycerin. In addition, a plate discharge roller 12 for accommodating the plate 1 on the plate cylinder 4 on which printing has been completed in a plate discharge container 13 is provided.

The plate 1 is, for example, a PET (polyethylene terephthalate) substrate having a thickness of 25 μm (micrometer), coated with a recording material material prepared by diluting a fluorine-containing acrylate material (LS317; manufactured by Asahi Glass Co., Ltd.) with water by 15%, and rolling the roll. The fluorinated acrylate material is wound into a circular shape and its receding contact angle decreases when it is heated in contact with a liquid, making it hydrophilic and lipophilic. When it is heated in a non-contact state with a liquid, it recedes the contact angle. Has the property of increasing water repellency and oil repellency. The plate 1 clamped on the plate of the plate cylinder 4 is heated while being in contact with the liquid 6 by a thermal head 5 which is selectively heated by a reading signal of a scanner (not shown),
The receding contact angle of the heated portion is reduced and a latent image is formed.

The plate 1 on which the latent image is formed is made up of ink (for example, Acwaless Super,
It is developed by KB ink M (manufactured by Toyo Ink Co., Ltd.) and transferred onto the paper 11 sent in the direction of the arrow together with the impression cylinder 8 which rotates while being in pressure contact with the plate cylinder 4. The ink on the plate 1 which has been transferred onto the paper 11 after printing a predetermined number of sheets is cleaned by the cleaning liquid of the cleaning roller 9, and the cleaned plate 1 is brought into backward contact with the image removing roller 10 heated by the halogen lamp 10a. The receding contact angle is increased by heating at a temperature equal to or higher than the temperature at which the angle rises, and the plate 1 before the latent image formation is restored. The plate 1 that has reached the number of printable sheets is stored in the plate discharge container 13 via the plate discharge transport path 12 at the end of printing. The above-mentioned feeding / discharging, feeding / discharging, reading of a scanner image, driving of a thermal head and the like are well known in a stencil printing machine, and a stencil printing machine (Preport 3820; manufactured by Ricoh) was modified and used.

FIG. 2 is a view for explaining the first embodiment for determining whether or not the plate of the recording apparatus according to the present invention is rewritten. FIG. 2A shows the number of printing plates of the plate and cumulative printing. Number of sheets,
FIG. 2B is a diagram showing the relationship of the print set number, and FIG. 2B is a flowchart for determining whether or not the plate is rewritten.
Is the number of printed sheets, N _S is the number of prints such as cumulative print, and N _C is the number of prints (set by the operator before printing).

In FIG. 2A, N shown in FIG. 2A is the number of printable sheets peculiar to the plate, and the value of N is stored in a ROM or the like in the recording device as a memory. N _S is the total number of prints, N _S
Is a value obtained by accumulating the print setting number for each printing on the same plate, and the value is stored as a memory in a ROM or the like in the recording device and is reset when the plate is discharged. Print setting number N
_C is a value input by a numeric keypad or the like when the operator starts printing.

2B and 2D of FIG. 2A: N- (N
_{When S} + N _C )> 0: The sum of the cumulative number of printed sheets N _S and the print set number of sheets N _C to be printed from now on is equal to or less than the printable sheet number N. In this case, the plate 1 on which the previous printing has been completed and which has been cleaned and deimaged is still present on the plate cylinder 4, and after using this plate 1 to print the required number of sheets by plate making, development and transfer, After cleaning and image removal, prepare for the next printing. Further, after printing the set number of sheets, the sum of the total number of printed sheets N _S before printing and the set number of print sheets N _C is newly set as the total number of printed sheets N _S.

2 (A), (c) and (e): N- (N
_{In the case of S} + N _C ) <0: The sum of the cumulative number of printed sheets N _S and the print set number of sheets N _C to be printed from now on is equal to or greater than the printable sheet number N. In this case, the previous printing has already been completed, and the plate for which cleaning and image removal have been completed is still present on the plate cylinder, but the number of printable sheets N has exceeded the same plate printing, and at least during printing For that purpose, it is necessary to set the original again and read it with the scanner, or to save the image data in the memory. Therefore, in this case, the plate 1 is discharged in advance prior to printing, a new plate is supplied, and after printing a required number of plates by plate making, development, and transfer, cleaning and image removal are performed, and the next printing is prepared. Further, when the plate is discharged, the cumulative print number N _S of the plate 1 is reset, and the print set number N _C of a new plate is set as the cumulative print number N _S. The above determination is performed according to the flowchart shown in FIG.

In the flow chart shown in FIG. 2B, Step 1: The number N of durable print sheets and the cumulative number of printed sheets N _S are read. Step 2: Set the print setting number N _C to be newly printed. Step 3: NN (= N- (N _S + N _C )) is calculated and its positive or negative is determined. That is, the number of printable sheets N to the cumulative number of printed sheets N
The sum of _S and the print set number N _C is subtracted, the subtraction value NN is calculated, and the sign of the subtraction value NN is determined.

Step 4: Subtracted value NN> 0 in Step 3.
(If (b) and (d) in FIG. 2 (A)), Ste
After printing according to the cycle of plate making, printing, cleaning, and image removal according to p4, return to Step 2 and set the print setting number N _C , and then sequentially from Step 3 onward, set the previous print setting number N _C and the total print number N _{C. S} is added and subtracted from the number of printable sheets N to obtain a subtraction value NN, and platemaking or plate ejection is performed. Step 5: If the subtraction value NN <0 in Step 3 ((c) and (e) of FIG. 2A), the cumulative printing number N _S of the plates exceeds the printing endurance N, so the plate is ejected. Step6: New plate is supplied and total number of prints N of the previous plate is N
After resetting _S , set a new print setting number N _C
Enter the printing operation in Step 4.

The number of printable sheets N and the cumulative number of printed sheets N _S are read out from the memory when the power of the apparatus is turned on, and the set number of print sheets N _C is printed by a numeric keypad (not shown) on the operation panel prior to printing. Entered by. Total number of prints N
_S and the set print number N _C are added by an adder circuit (not shown), and a comparison circuit (not shown) compares and determines with the print endurance number N. In this way, whether or not to replace or rewrite the plate is determined based on the printing endurance number N peculiar to the plate, the cumulative print number N _S printed by this plate, and the print set number N _C set by the operator at the time of printing. be able to. That is, the number of printable sheets N,
The difference N between the total number of printed sheets N _S and the sum of the print set number N _C
By discriminating N, it is possible to easily determine the presence or absence of replacement and rewriting of the plate based on the sign.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the sum of the cumulative number of printed sheets N _S and the set number of printed sheets N _C is sufficiently larger than the number of printable sheets N, whether or not the plate is replaced or rewritten is clearly determined. can do. However, as shown in (d) of FIG.
As in the case of (A) and (b), in the flowchart shown in FIG. 3, cleaning and image removal are performed after printing is completed.
Be prepared for the next print. However, since it is expected that the next printing will certainly discharge the plate, it is more efficient to discharge the plate after printing and supply a new plate. Further, as shown in (e) of FIG. 2 (A), when the number of printable sheets N is slightly exceeded, the method of the flowchart of FIG. That it does not have a very strict meaning,
In other words, considering that even if the number of printable sheets is N or more, slight deterioration of the image starts, but it can be used for some purposes, it may be more efficient to use the plate if printing is completed without replacing the plate. Therefore, it is necessary to improve the method shown in FIG. 2 to eliminate the drawbacks. Hereinafter, FIGS. 3 and 4 show an improved method for determining whether or not a plate is replaced or rewritten.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment for determining the presence or absence of replacement and rewriting of the plate of the printing apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. 3A shows the limit number of plates. FIG. 3B is a diagram showing the relationship among the number of printable sheets, the cumulative number of prints, and the number of print settings, and FIG. 3B is a flowchart for determining whether or not to rewrite the plate based on the relationship of FIG.

The plate durability printing number N, the cumulative printing number N _S, and the print setting number N _C shown in FIG. 3A are the plate durability printing number N and the cumulative printing number N shown in FIG. 2A. The method of FIG. 2 is improved by defining the limit number of sheets L1 and the limit number of sheets L2 with respect to _S and the set print number N _C , and in particular, FIG. 2 (A) (d), FIG. 2 (A) 4C corresponds to FIG. 4A, and FIG. 4A corresponds to FIG. 4D. Here, the limit number L1 is, for example, the value of the average print setting number N _C at the printing site, and the limit number L2 is
For example, it is a value set by a service person or the like at the time of installing the machine such that the image deterioration starts with respect to the number of printable sheets N.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 3B for determining whether or not to rewrite the plate, Step 1 to Step 3: read the number of durable print sheets N and the cumulative number of print sheets N _S , set the print set number N _C , and then subtract The process is the same as in the case of FIG. 3 until the sign of NN is determined, and the detailed description is omitted. Step 4: When the subtraction value NN> 0, the subtraction value NN ≧ L1
Or not, that is, whether or not the subtraction value NN is larger than the limit number of sheets L1.

Step 5: In Step 4, as shown in (c) of FIG. 4A, the sum of the cumulative number of printed sheets N _S and the set number of print sheets N _C is less than or equal to the printable sheet number N, and the subtraction value NN is the limit number of sheets L.
If NN ≧ L1 which is slightly larger than 1, plate making, printing,
After printing the set print number N _C after cleaning and image removal, the print set number N _C is added to the cumulative print number N _S , and the process returns to Step 2 to prepare for the next printing after Step 3. Step 6: When it is determined in Step 4 that the subtraction value NN is slightly smaller than the limit number of sheets L1, that is, FIG.
As shown in (c) of (A), when NN> 0 and NN ≦ L1, and when the number of printing sheets N is slightly short, FIG.
In the method shown in FIG. 3, the plate is renewed. However, in the method shown in FIG. 3, it is judged that the plate can be used even if the number of printing sheets N exceeds the limit sheet number L1 and the image deteriorates. . When the number of printed sheets exceeds the limit number of sheets L1, the plate is ejected, a new plate is supplied, and the accumulated number of sheets N _S is reset.
Return to p2 to prepare for the next print.

Step 7: When it is judged in Step 3 that the subtraction value NN≤0 as shown in (d) of FIG. 3A, the subtraction value NN
It is determined whether or not the value of exceeds the limit number L2 of deterioration of images set by the service person. Step8: When it is judged that the limit number of sheets L2 is exceeded in Step7, the plate is immediately discharged (Step8) and the plate is supplied (Step9), and the platemaking, printing, cleaning and image removal are performed in the same manner as in Step5, and the process returns to Step2. Prepare for printing. If it is determined that the limit number of sheets L2 is not exceeded, the plate is made and printed until the limit number of sheets L2 is exceeded according to Step 6, and then the plate is discharged and fed.

The method for determining whether or not the plate is rewritten as described above is a method in which the machine itself automatically processes according to a predetermined method. However, in the case of a rewritable plate, it is desirable that the operator himself recognizes the use state of the plate, and that the operator can select whether or not to rewrite the plate.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method in which the operator determines the presence / absence of rewriting of the plate in the embodiment of the recording apparatus according to the present invention by judging the printing state.

In the flowchart shown in FIG. 4, Step 1 to Step 3: as in the case of FIGS. 2 and 3, after the operator sets the print setting number N _C , the durable printing number N, the cumulative print number N _S and the print setting number are set. The sum of N _C and the subtraction value NN with and are calculated to determine whether the NN is positive or negative. Step4: When the subtraction value NN exceeds the number of printable sheets N, the operation panel (not shown) will display "Over 0000 sheets. Do you want to print with a new plate?" The operator determines whether to print using the plate as it is. Step5: When the operator decides to make a new plate in Step4, the plate is ejected, and after plate feeding, platemaking, printing,
Cleaning performed by dividing image, and resets the total number of sheets printed N _S, to prepare for the next printing. Step7: In Step4, when the operator judges not to make a new plate, as shown in Step7, the plate is made for printing using this plate, and after the printing is completed, the plate is discharged and the plate is supplied, and the next printing is performed. wait. Step8: If the subtracted value NN is within the number of printable sheets N in Step3, "The number of printable sheets is XX. Do you want to change to a new plate after printing?" Is displayed on the operation panel. When the operator determines not to replace with a new plate, the plate is made according to Step 7, and after printing is completed, the plate is discharged and the plate is supplied. Also,
When it is determined that a new plate is to be used, after plate feeding, plate making to image removal are performed according to the process according to Step 6 to prepare for the next printing.

In this way, by letting the operator know the use status of the plate and allowing the operator to select whether or not to rewrite the plate, the operator can be satisfied with the usage.

[0028]

【The invention's effect】

Effect corresponding to claim 1: Recording in which a substrate is coated with a recording material whose receding contact angle decreases when heated in contact with a liquid and which recovers when heated in a non-contact state with liquid Plate feeding means for feeding a plate, plate making means for forming a latent image by selectively heating the recording medium, and developing means for supplying a color material to the plate on which the latent image is formed, Transfer means for transferring the color material on the plate to a recording sheet, cleaning means for removing the color material on the plate, image removing means for erasing and initializing the latent image on the plate by heating, In a rewritable recording apparatus for a plate, which comprises a plate discharging unit for discharging the plate, a printing endurance number setting storage unit for setting and storing the printing endurance number of the plate, and an integration unit for counting and storing the cumulative printing number of sheets printed by the plate. The number of printed sheets counting storage means and the number of printed sheets are set. And a print number setting means for, since automatically determine the presence or absence of replacement of the plate, it is possible to efficiently use the same time the plate to be able to reduce the running costs considerably. Effect corresponding to claim 2: In the invention of claim 1, whether or not to replace the plate is determined based on the number of printing plates of the plate, the cumulative number of prints printed by the plate, and the print setting number set at the time of printing. By doing so, the running cost can be significantly reduced and at the same time the plate can be used efficiently. Effect corresponding to claim 3: In the invention of claim 2, whether or not to replace the plate is determined based on the sign of the difference between the number of printing plates of the plate and the sum of the cumulative number of prints and the print setting number. The same effect as that of the first aspect can be obtained. Effect corresponding to claim 4: In the invention of claim 2, when the difference between the number of printing plates of the plate and the sum of the cumulative number of prints and the set print number is within a predetermined range, the plate is not replaced. Since the printing is performed in step (1) and the plate is discharged and fed after the printing is completed, the plate can be used more efficiently and the running cost can be reduced. Effect corresponding to claim 5: In the invention of claim 2, since a subtraction value display means is provided for displaying the difference between the number of printing plates of the plate and the sum of the cumulative number of prints and the print setting number. The operator will be able to use it in a convincing way.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram for explaining an example of the structure of a rewritable printing device of a plate used in a printing device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram for explaining a first embodiment for determining whether or not to rewrite a plate of the recording apparatus according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram for explaining another embodiment for determining the presence / absence of replacement and rewriting of the plate of the recording apparatus according to the present invention, and FIG. ，
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the relationship between the cumulative print number and the print setting number.
FIG. 3B shows a flowchart for determining whether to rewrite the plate based on the relationship of FIG.

FIG. 4 is a flow chart of a method for an operator to select whether or not to rewrite a plate of a recording apparatus according to the present invention by judging a printing state.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 ... Plate, 2 ... Conveyor roller, 3 ... Cutter, 4 ... Plate cylinder, 5 ...
Thermal head, 6 ... Liquid, 7 ... Developing roller, 8 ... Impression drum, 9 ... Cleaning roller, 10 ... Image removing roller, 11
... Paper, 12 ... transport path for discharging plate, 13 ... plate discharge vessel, N ... printing number, N _S ... cumulative number of printed sheets, N _C ... print setting sheets, NN ...
Subtraction number.

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of front page (72) Inventor Minoru Morikawa 1-3-6 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Stock company Ricoh Co., Ltd. (72) Shinji Tanaka 1-3-3 Nakamagome, Ota-ku, Tokyo Shares Company Ricoh

Claims (5)

[Claims] 1. A recording medium having a substrate coated with a recording medium material, the receding contact angle of which decreases when heated in contact with a liquid, and the receding contact angle of which recovers when heated in a non-contact state with a liquid. Plate feeding means for printing, plate making means for forming a latent image by selectively heating the recording medium, plate making means, developing means for supplying a color material to the plate on which the latent image is formed, and the plate top Transfer means for transferring the color material on the plate to the recording paper, cleaning means for removing the color material on the plate, image removing means for erasing and initializing the latent image on the plate by heating, and discharging the plate. In a rewritable recording device of a plate, which comprises a plate discharging unit, a printing endurance number setting storage unit for setting and storing the printing endurance number of the plate, and an accumulated printing number counting storage for counting and storing the accumulated printing number printed by the plate. Method and number of prints to set the number of prints when printing A recording apparatus, comprising: setting means, and determining whether or not the plate is replaced. 2. The presence / absence of replacement of the plate is determined based on the number of prints of the plate, the cumulative number of prints printed by the plate, and the print setting number set at the time of printing. Recording device. 3. The presence or absence of replacement of the plate is determined based on whether the difference between the printing durability of the plate and the sum of the cumulative printing number and the print setting number is positive or negative. Recording device. 4. When the difference between the printing durability of the plate and the sum of the cumulative printing number and the print setting number is within a predetermined range, printing is performed without exchanging the plate, and the printing plate is discharged after the printing is completed. 3. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the printing plate is supplied in advance. 5. The recording apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising subtraction value display means for displaying a difference between the number of printed sheets of the plate and the sum of the total number of printed sheets and the print set number.