JP4368954B2 - Switching method and switching device from trial printing to main printing - Google Patents

Description

[0001]
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a switching method and a switching device from a trial printing to a full printing performed for adjusting print quality before starting printing.
[0002]
[Prior art]
FIG. 7 shows a main part of an inker (ink supply device) in each printing unit in the rotary printing press. In the figure, 1 is an ink fountain, 2 is ink stored in the ink fountain 1, 3 is an ink fountain roller, 4 (4-1 to 4-n) are provided in parallel in the axial direction of the ink fountain roller 3. Ink fountain keys, 5 is an ink transfer roller, 6 is an ink roller group, 7 is a printing plate, 8 is a plate cylinder, 9 is a nozzle for discharging a cleaning liquid provided in parallel in the axial direction of the ink roller group 6, 10 Is an ink roller cleaning device.
[0003]
This ink supply device supplies the ink 2 in the ink fountain 1 to the ink fountain roller 3 by adjusting the opening degree of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n, and the ink supplied to the ink fountain roller 3 The ink is supplied to the printing plate 7 through the ink roller group 6 by a calling operation.
[0004]
When the printing plate 7 is replaced with a new printing plate 7 ′, the opening of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n and the rotation amount of the ink fountain roller 3 are added to the values corresponding to the design of the new printing plate 7 ′. Preset. That is, the ink 2 in the ink fountain 1 passes through the ink roller group 6 with the opening degree of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n and the rotation amount of the ink fountain roller 3 as values corresponding to the pattern of the new printing plate 7 ′. Supplied to the new printing plate 7 '. In this case, a trial printing is performed before the main printing, the ink supply amount is adjusted, and a satisfactory color tone is obtained. Thereby, a desired ink film thickness distribution (gradient of ink film thickness) is created in the ink roller group 6.
[0005]
However, in the conventional ink supply apparatus, when the printing plate 7 is replaced with a new printing plate 7 ′, the ink film thickness distribution with respect to the old printing plate 7 remains in the ink roller group 6. That is, in this case, the ink film thickness distribution for the old printing plate 7 must be gradually changed to the ink film thickness distribution for the new printing plate 7 ′, and the ink supply amount is adjusted until a satisfactory color tone is obtained. Trial printing is required excessively, and problems such as “increased preparation time before printing”, “increased labor load”, “wasted printing materials”, “decreased production efficiency”, and “cost increase” occur.
[0006]
Therefore, the present applicant has proposed “Controlling method of ink film thickness” as Japanese Patent Application No. 8-167144 for the purpose of reducing the number of ink supply adjustments and trial printings until a satisfactory color tone is obtained. Proposed.
In this ink film thickness control method, when the old printing plate 7 is replaced with the new printing plate 7 ', ink removal is first performed. That is, on the display (not shown), after selecting a printing unit, selecting ink removing, turning off the calling operation of the ink transfer roller 5, and keeping the old printing plate 7 mounted. The machine is operated to perform a predetermined number of prints, whereby the minimum ink film thickness distribution Ma (see FIG. 8 (a)) required during printing which becomes thinner on the ink roller group 6 from upstream to downstream. ), That is, the ink film thickness distribution Ma corresponding to the portion of the printing plate 7 having no pattern is left.
[0007]
Next, pre-inking 2 is selected on the display, and pre-inking 2 operation is performed. In this pre-inking 2, the opening of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n and the rotation amount of the ink fountain roller 3 are preset to values corresponding to the design of the new printing plate 7 ', and the machine is operated to The transfer roller 5 is called up a predetermined number of times, and the ink film thickness distribution Ma corresponding to the pattern of the new printing plate 7 'is changed to the minimum ink film thickness distribution Ma required during printing remaining in the ink roller group 6. Mb (see FIG. 8B) is superimposed.
[0008]
Then, after superimposing Mb on the ink film thickness distribution Ma, a predetermined number of trial printings are performed in a state where the printing plate is replaced with a new printing plate 7 ′, and the density check is performed on the printed matter that has been subjected to the trial printing. In this density check, if the color tone is satisfactory, the control of the ink film thickness (preliminary setting of the ink film thickness distribution) by “ink removing + pre-inking 2” is finished, and the process shifts to the main printing. If the color tone is not satisfactory, the ink film thickness distribution is finely adjusted by pre-inking (+) or pre-inking (-), and a trial printing is performed again.
[0009]
On the other hand, when the ink roller group 6 does not have ink, for example, when the printing plate 7 is first set on the plate cylinder 8, the printing unit is selected on the display and the pre-inking 1 is selected. In this preinking 1, the opening degree of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n is set to a predetermined opening degree (for example, 50%), and the rotation amount of the ink fountain roller 3 is set to a predetermined amount (for example, 50%). In addition, this machine is operated, and the ink transfer roller 5 is called a predetermined number of times to obtain the minimum ink film thickness distribution Ma required during printing as shown in FIG. To form. Then, the opening degree of the ink fountain keys 4-1 to 4-n and the rotation amount of the ink fountain roller 3 are preset to values corresponding to the pattern of the printing plate 7, and the ink transfer roller 5 is called up a predetermined number of times, An ink film thickness distribution Mb ( FIG. 8B) corresponding to the pattern of the printing plate 7 is superimposed on the minimum ink film thickness distribution Ma required during printing formed on the ink roller group 6.
[0010]
Then, a predetermined number of test prints are performed in a state where Mb is superimposed on the ink film thickness distribution Ma, and the density check is performed on the printed matter that has been subjected to the test print. In this density check, if the color tone is satisfactory, the control of the ink film thickness by “pre-inking 1” is finished, and the process proceeds to the final printing. If the color tone is not satisfactory, the ink film thickness distribution is finely adjusted by pre-inking (+) or pre-inking (-), and a trial printing is performed again.
[0011]
[Problems to be solved by the invention]
However, in this method, when a predetermined number of trial printings are finished, the printing press is idled at low speed or stopped as necessary for adjustment or the like. Generally, the required print quality can be ensured by one trial printing if the accuracy on the plate making is accurate. In this case, the printing operation is interrupted even though there is no problem even if the printing is shifted from the trial printing to the main printing as it is. For this reason, if the main printing operation is started from this state, the print state may change, and the print quality may be deteriorated. The number of printed sheets until the print quality becomes normal is lost, and “productivity” ”Decrease”, “increased production cost”, “excessive consumption of printing materials”, “increased operator load”, and the like. In particular, in a small lot operation, the influence on these is extremely large.
[0012]
The present invention has been made in order to solve such problems. The object of the present invention is to improve the above problems, improve productivity, reduce production costs and consumption of printing materials, and reduce operator workload. It is an object to provide a switching method and switching device from a trial printing to a full printing capable of reducing the above-mentioned.
[0013]
[Means for Solving the Problems]
In order to achieve such an object, the present invention provides a selection unit between a trial printing mode in which the printing press is idled or stopped at a low speed after a predetermined number of trial printings and a continuous trial printing mode in which the restriction on the predetermined number of sheets is removed. If it is determined that there is no problem with the print quality of the proof sample during the step of setting the selected mode as the proto-printing mode and during the proof printing with the continuous proof printing mode set as the proto-printing mode. In response to the switch operation, a step of stopping the trial printing and starting the main printing in which the number of printed sheets is determined as it is is provided. According to the present invention, the trial printing is started as the continuous trial printing mode , the printing quality is confirmed, and if there is no problem, the printing operation is stopped by performing the switch operation, and the main printing is performed without interrupting the printing operation. Is started.
[0014]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on embodiments. FIG. 2 is a view showing a four-color sheet-fed rotary printing press to which the present invention is applied. In the figure, reference numerals 11-1 to 11-4 denote printing units of respective colors, and the ink supply devices shown in FIG. 7 are provided in the printing units 11-1 to 11-4.
[0015]
Further, the rotary printing press is provided with an operation desk 13 as shown in FIG. The operation desk 13 has an operation panel 13-1 as an upper surface of the desk, and an operation unit 13-2 and a display unit 13-3 are provided on the operation panel 13-1. A test printing system (in this example, a personal computer) 14 is placed on the top surface of the operation desk 13. In this embodiment, although not shown, a control device is installed in the operation desk 13, and a trial printing system 14 is configured together with this control device.
[0016]
The trial printing system 14 is preinstalled with standard printing data. In this case, the trial printing data includes “inking number of times (number of ink transfer times)” and “number of trial printings” in preinking 1, ink removing, preinking 2, preinking (+) and preinking (−), This is a setting condition such as “number of sheets to remove”.
[0017]
The operation panel 13-1 has an insertion slot (not shown) into which a recording medium such as a magnetic card 15 (see FIG. 4A) or a floppy disk 16 (see FIG. 4B) is inserted and set. Is provided. In this embodiment, the main printing data (printing data) created based on the pattern area information of the printing plate is recorded on the recording medium. That is, for each required printing plate, set value data such as a printing unit in which the printing plate is used, the opening degree of the ink fountain key in the printing unit, and the rotation amount of the ink fountain roller are recorded as final printing data.
[0018]
The trial printing system 14 is equipped with a trial printing function together with a function for forming an optimal ink film thickness on each roller of the ink roller group 6. These functions (control program) are displayed on the menu screen M (see FIG. 5). That is, “pre-inking 1”, “pre-inking 2”, “operation selection”, “ink removing”, and “trial printing” are displayed on the menu screen M. These functions can be selected by touching the selection keys K1 to K5.
[0019]
In addition, the menu screen M includes a display section (setting display section) P1 for the number of ink calls with the “preinking 1” and “preinking 2” functions, and a display section (setting for the number of prints with the “ink removing” function). A display portion P2 and a print number display portion (setting display portion) P3 for the “trial printing” function are provided, and a set value of the print number on the display portion P3 is set to a specific value (in this embodiment, "999"), the restriction on the number of prints at the time of trial printing is released, and the setting to the continuous trial printing mode is performed.
[0020]
In the menu screen M, “operation selection” is a function for selecting whether ink removal is performed in conjunction with the end of the main printing or separated from the main printing, and is performed every time the selection key K3 is touched. The display status of the display parts P4 and P5 is switched to notify the current setting status.
[0021]
FIG. 6 is a front view showing the operation panel 17 provided in the paper discharge unit of the rotary printing press shown in FIG. The operation panel 17 includes a preset counter 17-1 for managing the production amount (number of printed sheets) and a total counter 17-2 for displaying the production amount up to the present, and push buttons operated at the time of shifting to the main printing. (Preset counter push button) 17-3 is provided.
[0022]
[Switching from trial printing to main printing]
In this rotary printing press, automatic switching from the trial printing to the main printing in the printing unit 11 (11-1 to 11-4) is performed by the control program installed in the trial printing system 14 as follows.
[0023]
The operator confirms that the conditions for performing the proof printing work are satisfied, turns on the power of the proof printing system 14, and sets the preset counter 17-1 of the operation panel 17 in the printing work (main printing) to be performed. The scheduled production amount (number of printed sheets) is preset (step 101 shown in FIG. 1). When the trial printing system 14 is turned on, a menu screen M appears on the display.
[0024]
Subsequently, the operator touches the selection key K5 on the menu screen M to select the “trial printing” function (step 102), and sets the set value of the number of prints on the display unit P3 to “999” (step 103). . As a result, the restriction on the number of printed sheets at the time of trial printing is released, and the setting to the continuous trial printing mode is performed. At this time, the operation of the selection key K3 is used to set whether the ink removal is performed in conjunction with the end of the main printing or is performed separately from the main printing (step 104).
[0025]
When the operation is started by the trial printing system 14, the printing machine starts rotating, and the printing paper loaded on the paper feeding unit is automatically conveyed. As a result, a trial printing is performed in the printing unit 11 and is transported to and stacked on the paper discharge unit (step 105). This trial printing operation is continuously performed at the operation speed set in the trial printing system 14 without stopping.
[0026]
During the trial printing, the operator removes the trial printing sample from the paper discharge unit and confirms the print quality (step 106). If there is no problem with the print quality, the operator turns on the push button 17-3 provided on the operation panel 17 (step 107). When the push button 17-3 is turned on, the trial printing system 14 confirms that the continuous trial printing mode is set, that is, confirms that "999" is set in the display unit P3. Then, the trial printing is stopped (step 108), and the main printing is started as it is (step 109). In the final printing, the speed of the printing press is increased to the set final printing speed. At this time, on the operation panel 17, the preset counter 17-1 starts counting the number of sheets to be printed by turning on the push button 17-3.
[0027]
When the final printing operation is performed (step 110) and the number of final printings in the preset counter 17-1 reaches the planned number of printings, the main printing operation is automatically ended (step 111). After the main printing operation, the trial printing system 14 selects the ink removing function when the “interlock” is set by the operation of the selection key K3 in step 104 (step 112), and automatically Then, an ink removing operation is performed (step 113). Ink removal is not necessary when the printed pattern is the same. In this case, the operation of the selection key K3 in step 104 is set to “single” to separate the ink removing from the main printing.
[0028]
In the above description, the case where the print quality can be secured by one trial printing has been described. However, when the print quality cannot be secured by one trial printing, the operator secures the print quality. Various correction work necessary for the printing is performed, and the trial printing work is repeated until the quality is satisfied. After that, the operation procedure described above shifts from the trial printing to the main printing without interrupting the printing operation.
[0029]
【The invention's effect】
As is apparent from the above description, according to the present invention, the trial printing is started as the continuous trial printing mode, and the switch operation is performed during this trial printing when it is determined that there is no problem in the print quality of the trial printing sample. Accordingly, the trial printing is stopped and the main printing is started as it is, so that the printing operation can be shifted from the trial printing to the main printing without interrupting the printing operation. It becomes possible to reduce the amount of printing material consumption and the burden on the operator.
[Brief description of the drawings]
FIG. 1 is a flowchart for explaining characteristic operations of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a four-color sheet-fed rotary printing press to which the present invention is applied.
FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an operation desk attached to the rotary printing press.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating a recording medium on which print data is recorded.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a menu screen that appears on the display of the trial printing system.
FIG. 6 is a front view showing an operation panel provided in a paper discharge unit of the rotary printing press.
FIG. 7 is a diagram illustrating a main part of an ink supply device in each printing unit in a rotary printing press.
FIG. 8 is a diagram showing ink film thickness distributions Ma and Mb formed on the ink roller group of the ink supply device.
[Explanation of symbols]
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Ink fountain, 2 ... Ink, 3 ... Ink fountain roller, 4 (4-1 to 4-n) ... Ink fountain key, 5 ... Ink transfer roller, 6 ... Ink roller group, 7 (7 ') ... Printing plate, 8 ... Plate cylinder, 11 (11-1 to 11-4) ... Printing unit, 13 ... Operation desk, 14 ... Trial printing system, M ... Menu screen, K1-K5 ... Selection key, P1-P5 ... Display section, 17 ... Operation Panel, 17-1 ... Preset counter, 17-2 ... Total counter, 17-3 ... Push button.

Claims (2)

A mode selected by a selection unit between a trial printing mode in which the printing machine is idling or stopped at a low speed after a predetermined number of trial printings and a continuous trial printing mode in which the limitation on the predetermined number is removed is set as a mode for trial printing. Steps,
During the trial printing with the continuous trial printing mode set as the mode for the trial printing, the trial printing is stopped according to the switch operation when it is determined that there is no problem in the print quality of the trial printing sample. And a step of starting a final printing in which the number of printed sheets is determined in the state of (1). A mode selected by a selection unit between a trial printing mode in which the printing machine is idling or stopped at a low speed after a predetermined number of trial printings and a continuous trial printing mode in which the limitation on the predetermined number is removed is set as a mode for trial printing. Mode setting means;
During the trial printing with the continuous trial printing mode set as the mode for the trial printing, the trial printing is stopped according to the switch operation when it is determined that there is no problem in the print quality of the trial printing sample. And a control means for starting the main printing in which the number of printed sheets is determined in the state of (2), and a switching device from the trial printing to the main printing.

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