JPH1177970A - Printing plate-housing device of printing apparatus - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a printing plate-housing device of a printing apparatus, with which a smaller installation space can be taken and, further, a printing plate is prevented from being stained with ink. SOLUTION: A delivery cassette 68 has a plurality of guide rollers 212 arranged nearly in a circular fashion in a casing 211. Each guide roller 212 is pivotally supported at the tip of a supporting arm 214, which is rockable about a shaft 213. A printing plate P entering the delivery cassette 68 abuts against a plurality of the guide rollers 212 arranged nearly in the circular fashion in the surface opposite to an image surface, onto which ink is applied. At this time, a plurality of the guide rollers 212 rotate in synchronously with one another by being driven with a motor, resulting in housing the press plate P in the casing 211 of the delivery cassette 68 in the state being wound after being guided along the nearly circular guide passage formed by a plurality of guide rollers 212.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a printing plate storage for a printing apparatus for storing used printing plates discharged from the plate cylinder after being used for printing while being held on the outer peripheral portion of the plate cylinder in the printing apparatus. Related to the device.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art As such a printing plate storage device, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 8-1157, a printing plate is stacked and stored in a storage box having an open upper part. It has been known.

[0003]

In the above-described conventional printing plate storage device, since the printing plates are stacked and stored, there is a problem that the installation space becomes large. In particular, when a printing plate having relatively high rigidity is used, a storage box having a storage floor area equal to or larger than the size of the printing plate needs to be used, and an extremely large installation space is required.

In the conventional printing plate storage device described above, since the printing plate used for printing has the ink-coated surface facing outward, the printing plate is removed from the printing plate storage device when the printing plate is taken out of the printing plate storage device. There is also a problem that the storage device and workers are contaminated with ink.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and provides a printing plate storage device of a printing device that can reduce the installation space and prevent contamination by ink. The purpose is to:

[0006]

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus in which a used printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder after being held on an outer peripheral portion of the plate cylinder and used for printing is used. In a printing plate storage device of a printing device to be stored, a used printing plate is stored in a state where the used printing plate is wound up in a roll shape with the image surface of the printing plate coated with ink inside.

According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus, comprising: a printing apparatus for holding a used printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder after being held on an outer peripheral portion of the plate cylinder and used for printing; In the plate storage device, a casing, a guide member arranged in a substantially circular shape around the guide path so as to form a substantially circular guide path through which the printing plate passes within the casing, and Transport means for transporting the printing plate into the casing in a state where the surface opposite to the image surface on which the ink is applied abuts on the guide member, and the used printing plate is coated with the ink on the printing plate. It is characterized in that it is housed in the casing in a state of being wound up in a roll shape with the formed image surface inside.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the guide member is pressed by a printing plate wound up in a roll shape in a casing, so that the substantially circular guide is provided. The road is supported by the support means so as to be movable in a direction in which the diameter of the road increases.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the second aspect of the present invention, the guide member includes a plurality of rollers that rotate in contact with the printing plate.

According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, the plurality of rollers rotate in synchronization with each other by driving a motor.

According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, in the invention according to any one of the third to fifth aspects, the printing plate housed in the casing is located by detecting a moving amount of the guide member. There is further provided a printing plate storage amount detecting means for detecting whether or not the fixed amount has been reached.

According to a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a printing apparatus, comprising: a printing apparatus for storing a used printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder after being held on an outer peripheral portion of the plate cylinder and used for printing; In the plate storage device, the casing is supported by a support arm that is swingable about a shaft disposed in the casing, and forms a substantially circular guide path through which the printing plate passes. A guide roller arranged in a substantially circular shape around, a biasing unit for biasing the support arm in a direction in which the guide roller moves toward the center of the guide path, and a used printing plate, A conveying roller for conveying the inside of the casing in a state in which the surface opposite to the applied image surface is in contact with the guide roller, and the used printing plate is provided with the image surface of the printing plate to which the ink is applied. Roll inside Characterized in that it housed in the casing in the wound state.

According to an eighth aspect of the present invention, in accordance with the seventh aspect of the present invention, the micro switch provided in the printing apparatus main body and the micro switch arranged to be swingable in the casing, and the casing is connected to the printing apparatus main body. A contact member that comes into contact with the microswitch in a state where the contact member is attached to the support arm, and a moving arm that swings the contact member in a direction away from the microswitch with the swing of the support arm. Is further provided.

[0014]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a printing apparatus to which a printing plate storage device according to the present invention is applied.

This printing apparatus comprises a first and a second plate cylinder 11,
After recording an image on a printing plate having no image recorded on the plate 12 and making a plate, the ink supplied to the printing plate is applied to the impression cylinder 15 via the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14. The printing is performed by transferring the image to the held printing paper.

This printing apparatus includes a first plate cylinder 11 movable between a first printing position shown by a solid line in FIG. 1 and an image recording position shown by a two-dot chain line, and a first printing cylinder 11 shown by a solid line in FIG. And a second plate cylinder 12 movable between the second printing position and the image recording position.

The first plate cylinder 11 moved to the first printing position
Around the printing plate, an ink supply device 20a for supplying black (K) ink to the printing plate, an ink supply device 20b for supplying magenta (M) ink to the printing plate, and a printing plate. The dampening water supply devices 21a and 21b for supplying dampening water are arranged. Further, around the second plate cylinder 12 moved to the second printing position, an ink supply device 20c for supplying, for example, cyan (C) ink to the printing plate, and a yellow (Y) ink to the printing plate, for example.
An ink supply device 20 d for supplying the ink of the present invention, a dampening solution supply device 21 c for supplying a dampening solution to the printing plate,
21d. Further, around the first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder 12 that has moved to the image recording position, a plate feeding unit 23, a plate discharging unit 24, and an image recording device 25 are provided.
And a developing device 26 are disposed.

The printing apparatus includes a first blanket cylinder 13 provided to be able to contact the first plate cylinder 11 and a second blanket cylinder provided to be able to contact the second plate cylinder 12. The impression cylinder 1 provided so as to be able to contact the cylinder 14 and the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14 at different positions.
5, a paper feed cylinder 16 for passing the print paper supplied from the paper feed unit 27 to the impression cylinder 15, and a chain 1 for discharging the printed print paper received from the impression cylinder 15 to the paper discharge unit 28.
9 and a blanket cleaning device 29
And

The first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 are respectively connected to a not-shown plate cylinder moving mechanism. By driving the plate cylinder moving mechanism, the first and second printing positions described above are shifted. It reciprocates between the image recording position. Further, the first plate cylinder 11 rotates in synchronization with the first blanket cylinder 13 at the first printing position, and the second plate cylinder 12 rotates with the second blanket cylinder 14 at the second printing position. It is configured to rotate in synchronization. Further, a plate cylinder rotating mechanism (not shown) is provided in the vicinity of the image recording position, and when the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 are both moved to the image recording position, the plate cylinder rotates. It is configured to rotate by driving a rotation mechanism.

Around the first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder 12 moved to the image recording position, a plate feeding section 23 and a plate discharge section 2 are provided.
4 are arranged.

The plate supply section 23 includes a supply cassette 63 for storing a long roll-shaped printing plate on which no image is recorded in a light-tight state, and a leading end portion of the printing plate pulled out from the supply cassette 63. A guide member 64 and a guide roller 65 for guiding the surface of the first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder 12 and a cutter 66 for cutting a long printing plate into a sheet-shaped printing plate are provided. It is arranged. The first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 are provided with a pair of holding claws (not shown) for holding the leading and trailing ends of the printing plate supplied from the plate supply unit 23. .

After the printing is completed, the plate discharging section 24 starts the first plate cylinder 1
A claw mechanism 73 for peeling the printing plate held on the first or second plate cylinder 12, a conveyor mechanism 69 for transporting the printing plate peeled off by the action of the claw mechanism 73 to the discharge cassette 68, It has a discharge cassette 68 as a printing plate storage device according to the invention.

The leading end of the printing plate pulled out of the supply cassette 63 in the plate supplying section 23 is guided by a guide roller 65 and a guide member 64, and one of the first plate cylinder 11 and the second plate cylinder 12 is held. It is added to the nail. Then, the first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder 12 is rotated by the drive of the plate cylinder rotating mechanism 30, and the printing plate is moved to the first plate cylinder 11.
Alternatively, it is wound around the outer peripheral portion of the second plate cylinder 12. Then, the rear end of the printing plate cut by the cutter 66 is held by the other holding claw. In this state, while the first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder 12 is rotated at a low speed, the printing held by the image recording device 25 on the outer peripheral portion of the first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder 12 is performed. The surface of the plate is irradiated with a modulated laser beam and an image is recorded.

The printing plate P mounted on the outer periphery of the first plate cylinder 11 is applied to the printing plate P by the image recording device 25 as shown in FIG.
As shown in FIG. 7, an image area 67a for printing with black ink and an image area 67b for printing with magenta ink are recorded. Also, the second plate cylinder 12
The printing plate P mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the
Thus, as shown in FIG. 2B, an image area 67c for printing with cyan ink and an image area 67d for printing with yellow ink are recorded. The image area 67a and the image area 67b are recorded at positions that are equally distributed (that is, 180 degrees apart from each other) when mounted on the outer peripheral portion of the first plate cylinder 11. Similarly, the image area 67c and the image area 6
7d refers to a state in which the second plate cylinder 12 is mounted on the outer periphery of the second plate cylinder 12 and is uniformly distributed (that is, 1
80 degrees apart).

Referring again to FIG. 1, as described above, around the first plate cylinder 11 that has moved to the first printing position, the ink supply devices 20a and 20b are provided. An ink supply device 20c and an ink supply device 20d are arranged around the second plate cylinder 12 moved to the second printing position. These ink supply devices 20a, 20
Each of b, 20c, and 20d (hereinafter, collectively referred to as “ink supply device 20”) has a plurality of ink rollers 71 and ink fountains 72.

The ink rollers 71 of the ink supply devices 20a and 20b perform a swing operation by the action of a cam or the like (not shown). Then, by this swinging operation, the two image areas 6 formed on the printing plate P held on the outer peripheral portion of the first plate cylinder 11 are formed.
When an ink roller 71 of the ink supply device 20a or 20b comes into contact with an arbitrary image area of 7a and 67b, ink can be supplied only to a necessary image area. Similarly, the ink supply device 20
The ink rollers 71 of c and 20d also swing by the action of a cam or the like (not shown). And, by this swinging operation,
The ink roller 71 of the ink supply device 20c or 20d comes into contact with an arbitrary image region of the two image regions 67c and 67d formed on the printing plate P held on the outer peripheral portion of the second plate cylinder 12. With this configuration, ink can be supplied only to a necessary image area.

The fountain solution supply devices 21a, 21b, 21c and 21d (hereinafter collectively referred to as "fountain solution supply device 21") are used before the ink supply device 20 supplies ink to the printing plate P. Then, a dampening solution is supplied to the printing plate P. Of these dampening water devices 21, the dampening water supply device 21a is an image area 67a in the printing plate P.
The dampening solution supply device 21b is in the image region 67b of the printing plate P, the dampening solution supply device 21c is in the image region 67c of the printing plate P, and the dampening solution supply device 21d is in the image region 67d of the printing plate P. Are supplied with fountain solution.

Below the first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder 12 that has moved to the image recording position, a developing device 26 is provided. The developing device 26 has a developing unit, a fixing unit, and a diaphragm unit, and is configured to be able to move up and down between a standby position indicated by a two-dot chain line and a developing position indicated by a solid line in FIG.

When the printing plate P on which an image is recorded by the image recording device 25 is developed by the developing device 26, the printing plate P rotating together with the first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder is processed. Then, the developing unit, the fixing unit, and the diaphragm unit are sequentially brought into contact.

The first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14, which are provided so as to be able to contact the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12,
It has the same diameter as the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12, and a blanket for ink transfer is mounted on the outer periphery thereof. Then, the first and second blanket cylinders 13, 1
Reference numeral 4 denotes a configuration in which the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 and the impression cylinder 15 can be freely contacted and separated by a cylinder insertion mechanism (not shown).

A blanket cleaning device 29 disposed between the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14 has a length attached to a path extending from an unwinding roll to a winding roll via a plurality of pressure rollers. Supply the cleaning liquid to the cleaning cloth of the length,
The cleaning cloth is brought into contact with the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14 and then slid to clean the surfaces of the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14.

The impression cylinder 15 provided so as to be in contact with the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14 is provided with the first and second plate cylinders 1.
1, 12 and first and second blanket cylinders 13, 14
直径 of the diameter of Further, the impression cylinder 15 has a gripper (not shown) for holding and transporting the leading end of the printing paper.

The paper feed cylinder 16 disposed adjacent to the impression cylinder 15 has the same diameter as the impression cylinder 15. The paper feeding cylinder 16 holds and transports the leading end of the printing paper supplied one by one from the paper feeding unit 27 by a gripper (not shown) by a suction board 74 that reciprocates. The leading end of the printing paper held by the gripper is held by the gripper of the impression cylinder 15 when the printing paper is transferred from the paper feed cylinder 16 to the impression cylinder 15.

The paper discharge cylinder 17 disposed adjacent to the impression cylinder 15 has the same diameter as the impression cylinder 15. The paper discharge cylinder 17 has a structure in which a pair of chains 19 is wound around both ends, and grippers are provided on connecting members (not shown) that connect the pair of chains 19. The leading end of the printing paper held by the gripper of the impression cylinder 15 is
When the printing paper is transferred from the impression cylinder 15 to the discharge cylinder 17,
It is held by one of the grippers of the paper discharge cylinder 17. Then, the printing paper is conveyed onto the paper discharge unit 28 as the chain 19 moves and is discharged.

The paper feed cylinder 16 is connected to a drive motor via a belt (not shown). And the paper feed cylinder 1
6, the impression cylinder 15, the paper discharge cylinder 17, and the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14 are respectively connected by gears attached to their ends. Further, the first blanket cylinder 13 and the first plate cylinder 11 moved to the first printing position, and the second blanket cylinder 14 and the second plate cylinder 12 moved to the second printing position, They are connected by gears attached to their ends. Accordingly, these paper feed cylinder 16, impression cylinder 15, and discharge cylinder 1 are driven by a drive motor (not shown).
7. The first and second blanket cylinders 13, 14 and the first and second plate cylinders 11, 12 rotate in synchronization with each other.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a main electrical configuration of the printing apparatus. The printing apparatus includes a ROM 141 storing operation programs necessary for controlling the apparatus,
RAM 142 for temporarily storing data and the like during control
And a control unit 140 including a CPU 143 for executing a logical operation. The control unit 140 controls the ink supply device 20, the image recording device 25, the development processing device 26, the blanket cleaning device 29,
A drive circuit 14 for generating a drive signal for a drive unit or the like in a mechanism for inserting the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14 and the like.
5 is connected. The printing apparatus is controlled by the control unit 140, and executes a plate making operation and a printing operation described later.

Next, plate making and printing operations by the printing apparatus will be described. FIG. 4 is a flowchart showing an outline of a plate making and printing operation by the printing apparatus.
Note that the printing and plate making operations are performed when multicolor printing is performed on printing paper with four color inks of yellow, magenta, cyan, and black.

First, a prepress process for recording an image on the printing plate P on the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 and performing a developing process is executed (step S1). This plate making process is executed according to the process shown in the flowchart of FIG. 5 as a subroutine.

That is, first, the first plate cylinder 11 is
Is moved to the image recording position indicated by the two-dot chain line (step S11).

Next, the printing plate P is supplied to the outer periphery of the first plate cylinder 11 (step S12). The supply of this printing plate P is
This operation is performed by holding the leading end of the printing plate P pulled out from the supply cassette 63 and the rear end of the printing plate P cut by the cutter 66 with a pair of holding claws (not shown).

Subsequently, an image is recorded on the printing plate P held on the outer periphery of the first plate cylinder 11 (step S13). The image is recorded by rotating the first plate cylinder 11 at a low speed and irradiating the modulated printing laser beam to the printing plate P held on the outer periphery of the first plate cylinder 11 from the image recording device 25. Be executed.

Next, the printing plate P on which the image has been recorded is developed (step S14). In this developing process, after the developing device 26 is raised from the standby position indicated by the two-dot chain line to the developing position indicated by the solid line in FIG.
This is performed by sequentially bringing the developing unit, the fixing unit, and the diaphragm unit into contact with the printing plate P that rotates together with the printing plate P.

When the developing process is completed, the first plate cylinder 1
1 is moved to a first printing position indicated by a solid line in FIG. 1 (step S15).

Subsequently, a plate making process for the printing plate P held on the outer periphery of the second plate cylinder 12 is executed by the same operation as in steps S11 to S15 (steps S16 to S2).
0). Then, when the plate making on the printing plate P held on the outer periphery of the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 is completed, the plate making process is completed.

Referring to FIG. 4 again, when the plate making process is completed, a printing process for printing on printing paper using the printing plates P on the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 is executed (step). S
2). This printing process is performed as follows.

That is, first, each fountain solution supply device 21 and each ink supply device 20 are connected to the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 1, respectively.
2 is brought into contact only with the corresponding image area of the printing plate P held on the top. Thereby, each image area 67a, 67
b, 67c and 67d correspond to the respective dampening water supply devices 21.
Further, dampening water and ink are supplied from each ink supply device 20. Then, the ink supplied to the printing plate P is transferred to corresponding areas of the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14.

Then, the printing paper is supplied to the paper feed cylinder 16. The printing paper is transferred from the paper feed cylinder 16 to the impression cylinder 15. In this state, when the impression cylinder 15 continues to rotate, the impression cylinder 15
Has half the diameter of the first and second plate cylinders 11 and 12 and the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14, so that the printing paper held on the outer periphery of the impression cylinder 15 , In the first rotation, black and cyan inks,
In the second rotation, magenta and yellow inks are transferred.

In this manner, the leading end of the printing paper on which the printing of four colors has been completed is transferred from the impression cylinder 15 to the discharge cylinder 17. The printing paper on which the printing of the four colors has been completed is conveyed to the discharge unit 28 together with the gripper of the discharge cylinder 17 by the driving of the pair of chains 19 and discharged.

When the printing process is completed, the printing plate P used for printing is discharged (step S3). In order to discharge the printing plate P, first, the first plate cylinder 11 is moved to an image recording position indicated by a two-dot chain line in FIG. Then, the first plate cylinder 11 is rotated counterclockwise, and the end of the printing plate P held on the first plate cylinder 11 is peeled off by the claw mechanism 73. It is guided by 69 and discharged into the discharge cassette 68. Then, after returning the first plate cylinder 11 to the first printing position, the second plate cylinder 12 is moved from the second printing position to the image recording position, and by performing the same operation as described above, The printing plate P held on the second plate cylinder 12 is discharged into the discharge cassette 68.

When the discharging step of the printing plate P is completed, the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14 are cleaned by the blanket cylinder cleaning device 29 (step S4).

When the cleaning of the first and second blanket cylinders 13 and 14 is completed, it is confirmed whether or not another printing work is to be performed (step S5). To perform another printing operation, the operations of steps 1 to 4 are repeated.

When the printing operation is completed, the ink is washed (step S6). The cleaning of the ink is performed by removing and cleaning the ink adhered to the ink roller 71 and the ink fountain 72 in each ink supply device 20 by an ink cleaning device (not shown) provided in each ink supply device 20. .

When the ink washing step is completed, all the steps are completed.

Next, the configuration of the discharge cassette 68 as a printing plate storage device according to the present invention will be described. FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of the discharge cassette 68, and FIG.
FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram showing a discharge cassette 68 and a conveyor mechanism 69 together with a drive transmission mechanism in the discharge cassette 68.

As shown in these figures, the discharge cassette 6
8 has a plurality of guide rollers 212 arranged in a substantially circular shape in the casing 211. This guide roller 21
Numerals 2 are pivotally supported at the tip of a support arm 214 that can swing about a shaft 213 in a paired state. At the rear end of the support arm 214, a pulley 216 that contacts the wire 215 is provided. In addition, this wire 2
15 is wound around a pulley 235.

The guide rollers 212 may be provided continuously along the width direction of the printing plate P, or may be provided at predetermined intervals along the width direction of the printing plate P.

The pair of support arms 214 are substantially T
It engages with a common support plate 217 having a V-shape, and a coil spring 218 is arranged between these support arms 214. For this reason, the pair of support arms 214 is urged by a coil spring 218 in a direction in which a pair of guide rollers 212 disposed at the distal ends thereof approach each other. The support plate 217 is provided with a guide plate 219. In FIG. 6, the support plate 217 and the coil spring 218 are paired with each other.
Only one portion of the set of support arms 214 is shown, and the other portions are not shown.

The above-described support arm 214, pulley 216, support plate 217, coil spring 218 and pulley 235 are symmetrically disposed on both ends of the guide roller 212. Further, the wire 215 is disposed over a pulley 235 disposed symmetrically.

Further, transport roller pairs 221 and 222 for transporting the printing plate P are provided over the inside and outside of the casing 211. In addition, this transport roller pair 221,
The upper roller 222 is provided only at both ends in the axial direction so as to contact only the non-image area of the printing plate P. Therefore, the printing plate P can be transported while preventing ink from adhering to the transport roller pairs 221 and 222.

Further, the shaft 22 is provided in the casing 211.
3 to make the micro switch 224 disposed in the printing press main body inoperative so as to detect that the printing plate P stored in the casing 211 has reached a predetermined amount. A contact member 225 is provided.
The hitting member 225 is configured to swing by being pressed by a moving arm 226 fixed to the tip of one of the plurality of support arms 214 as described later.

At the end of each guide roller 212, a gear 227 is provided as shown in FIG. This gear 22
Reference numeral 7 is connected to a drive gear 232 provided on a drive shaft of the motor 233 via a plurality of intermediate gears 228, 229, and 231. Therefore, the guide rollers 212 rotate in synchronization with each other by the driving of the motor 233. In addition,
The reference numeral 234 in FIG.
9 is a guide member for guiding the pair from 9 to the conveying roller pair 222.

Next, the storing operation for storing the printing plate P in the discharge cassette 68 will be described.

When the printing process is completed, as described above,
The first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder 12 is moved to the image recording position. Then, the first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder 12 is rotated counterclockwise, and the end of the printing plate P held on the first plate cylinder 11 or the second plate cylinder 12 is clawed. 7
3, the printing plate P is transferred to the conveyor mechanism 69.
To be discharged. The printing plate P is conveyed to the conveying roller pair 222 via the conveyor mechanism 69 and the guide member 234 with the image surface on which the ink is applied facing upward, and then, as shown in FIG. Go inside 68.

The printing plate P that has entered the discharge cassette 68
Abuts against a plurality of guide rollers 212 arranged in a substantially circular shape on the surface opposite to the image surface on which the ink is applied. At this time, the plurality of guide rollers 212 are rotating in synchronization with each other by driving the motor 233, and the printing plate P is pressed against the plurality of guide rollers 212 by the strength of the printing plate P itself. After being guided along a substantially circular guide path formed by the guide roller 212, the casing 211 of the discharge cassette 68
Is stored inside.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which a plurality of printing plates P are stored in the casing 211 of the discharge cassette 68 by the above-described operation by repeating the plate making and printing operations a plurality of times in the printing apparatus.

As shown in this figure, when a plurality of printing plates P are housed in the casing 211 of the discharge cassette 68, a plurality of printing plates P on which a plurality of guide rollers 212 are wound in a roll shape. Pressed by P. As a result, the pair of guide rollers 212 supported respectively by the five pairs of support arms 214 are paired with the coil springs 21.
Each support arm 214 is swung in a direction to move away from each other against the urging force of the support arm 8. With the swinging operation of the support arm 214, the plurality of guide rollers 21
2 moves in a direction in which the diameter of the substantially circular guide path formed by these guide rollers 212 increases.

Printing plate P stored in discharge cassette 68
As the number of sheets increases, the amount of movement of the guide roller 212 increases, and accordingly, the amount of swing of the support arm 214 also increases. Therefore, the swing amount of the moving arm 226 fixed to the tip of one of the plurality of supporting arms 214 is increased, and the moving arm 226 is increased.
Abuts against the contact member 225 to form the contact member 2
25 is pivoted about the shaft 223 in a direction away from the microswitch 224 against the urging force of the spring 238.

When the number of printing plates P stored in the discharge cassette 68 becomes equal to or more than a predetermined value, the contact member 225 is separated from the microswitch 224 as shown in FIG. Thereby, it is possible to detect that a predetermined amount of the printing plate P is stored in the discharge cassette 68.

According to the microswitch 224 provided on the printing apparatus side, not only is it possible to detect that a predetermined amount of the printing plate P is stored in the discharge cassette 68, but also to discharge the printing plate P to the printing apparatus. It is also possible to detect that the cassette 68 itself is not mounted.

When it is detected that a predetermined amount of the printing plate P is stored in the discharge cassette 68, the printing plate P wound in a roll from the storage cassette 68 is discharged. The discharging operation of the printing plate P is executed as follows.

First, the side plates (not shown) of the casing 211 disposed on the front and rear sides of the discharge cassette 68 in FIG. 9 are opened. Then, as shown in FIG. 10, the end portion of the printing plate P wound up in a roll shape is fixed with an adhesive tape 237 or staples.

Next, as shown in FIG. 9, the operator rotates the handle 236 attached to the pulley 235 clockwise. Thereby, the wire 215 is connected to the pulley 235.
Accordingly, the pulley 216 provided at the rear end of the support arm 214 is pressed in the direction of the printing plate P wound up in a roll shape.

By the pressing action of the wire 215, the paired pulleys 216 supported by the five pairs of supporting arms 214 respectively move further in the direction away from each other against the urging force of the coil spring 218. Then, each support arm 214 is swung. With the swinging operation of the support arm 214, the plurality of guide rollers 21
9 further moves in the direction in which the diameter of the substantially circular guide path formed by these guide rollers 212 increases.
As shown in the figure, the printing plate P is separated from the printing plate P wound up in a roll shape. Thereby, the operator can hold the outer peripheral surface of the printing plate P.

In this state, the printing plate P is pulled out in the axial direction where the printing plate P is wound, and is discharged from the discharge cassette 68.

The printing plate P is not only fixed at its end with an adhesive tape 237, but also at its leading end with an adhesive tape 240 as shown in FIG. Is also good. In this case, each surface of the casing 211 in FIG. 6 can be opened, and the adhesive tape 240 can be applied through the gap between the guide rollers 212.

[0076]

According to the first or second aspect of the present invention, the used printing plate is housed in a state in which the used printing plate is wound up in a roll shape with the image side of the printing plate coated with the ink inside. Accordingly, the installation space of the printing plate storage device can be reduced, and contamination by ink when removing the printing plate from the printing plate storage device can be prevented.

According to the third aspect of the present invention, when the guide member is pressed by the printing plate wound up in a roll in the casing, the guide member can be moved in the direction in which the diameter of the substantially circular guide path increases. Since the printing plate is supported by the support means in such a state, a large number of printing plates can be stored in the printing plate storage device.

According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, since the guide member is composed of a plurality of rollers that rotate while being in contact with the printing plate, the printing plate can be smoothly wound into the printing plate storage device while being wound up. I can guide you.

According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, since the plurality of rollers rotate in synchronization with each other by the driving of the motor, the printing plate can be guided into the printing plate storage device while being wound up more smoothly. it can.

According to the sixth aspect of the present invention, the printing plate storage amount detecting means detects the amount of movement of the guide member and detects whether the printing plate stored in the casing has reached a predetermined amount. It is possible to detect that a predetermined amount of printing plates has been stored in the printing plate storage device.

According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the used printing plate is stored in a state of being wound in a roll shape with the image side of the printing plate on which the ink has been applied facing inward. The installation space of the storage device can be reduced, and the contamination of the printing plate by the ink when the printing plate is taken out from the printing plate storage device can be prevented.

According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the microswitch provided in the printing apparatus main body and the microswitch provided in a casing so as to be swingable and mounted on the printing apparatus main body correspond to the microswitch. A predetermined amount of the printing plate is stored in the printing plate storage device by the contact member that is in contact and the moving arm that is connected to the support arm and swings the contact member in a direction away from the microswitch as the support arm swings. Can be detected.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a printing apparatus to which a printing plate storage device according to the present invention is applied.

FIG. 2 is an explanatory diagram showing an arrangement of an image area 67 on a printing plate P.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a main electrical configuration of the printing apparatus.

FIG. 4 is a flowchart illustrating an outline of plate making and printing operations performed by the printing apparatus.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a plate making process.

FIG. 6 is a schematic view showing the structure of a discharge cassette 68.

7 is a schematic diagram showing a discharge cassette 68 and a conveyor mechanism 69 together with a drive transmission mechanism in the discharge cassette 68. FIG.

FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the structure of a discharge cassette 68.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view showing the structure of a discharge cassette 68.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view showing the printing plate P wound in a roll shape.

[Explanation of symbols]

 Reference Signs List 11 first plate cylinder 12 second plate cylinder 13 first blanket cylinder 14 second blanket cylinder 15 pressure cylinder 16 paper feed cylinder 17 paper discharge cylinder 20 ink supply device 21 dampening solution supply device 23 plate supply unit 24 Plate discharging unit 25 Image recording device 26 Developing device 27 Paper feeding unit 28 Paper discharging unit 68 Discharge cassette 69 Conveyor mechanism 211 Casing 212 Guide roller 213 Axis 214 Support arm 218 Coil spring 221 Transport roller pair 222 Transport roller pair 224 Micro switch 225 Contact member 233 motor P printing plate

Claims (8)

[Claims] 1. A printing plate storage device of a printing device for storing a used printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder after being held on an outer peripheral portion of the plate cylinder in the printing device and used for printing, The printing plate storage device for a printing apparatus, wherein the printing plate is stored in a state of being wound in a roll shape with the image side of the printing plate on which the ink is applied being inward. 2. A printing plate storage device for a printing device, which stores a used printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder after being held on an outer peripheral portion of the plate cylinder in the printing device and used for printing. In the casing, a guide member disposed in a substantially circular shape around the guide path so as to form a substantially circular guide path through which the printing plate should pass, and a used printing plate is coated with ink. Transporting means for transporting the printing plate into the casing in a state where the surface opposite to the image surface abuts on the guide member, the used printing plate having the image surface coated with ink in the printing plate facing inward. A printing plate storage device for a printing device, wherein the printing plate storage device is stored in the casing in a state of being wound in a roll shape. 3. The printing plate storage device of a printing device according to claim 2, wherein the guide member is pressed by a printing plate wound up in a roll shape in a casing, so that the substantially circular guide path is provided. The printing plate storage device of the printing device supported by the support means so as to be movable in the direction of increasing the diameter of the printing plate. 4. A printing plate storage device for a printing device according to claim 2, wherein said guide member comprises a plurality of rollers rotating in contact with said printing plate. Storage device. 5. The printing plate storage device according to claim 4, wherein the plurality of rollers rotate in synchronization with each other by driving a motor. 6. The printing plate storage device according to claim 3, wherein the printing plate stored in the casing reaches a predetermined amount by detecting a movement amount of the guide member. A printing plate storage device for a printing device, further comprising a printing plate storage amount detecting unit for detecting whether or not the printing plate storage amount is detected. 7. A printing plate storage device of a printing device for storing a used printing plate discharged from the plate cylinder after being held on an outer peripheral portion of the plate cylinder in the printing device and used for printing, comprising: The printing plate is supported by a support arm that can swing about an axis provided in the casing, and is disposed in a substantially circular shape around the guide path so as to form a substantially circular guide path through which the printing plate should pass. A guide roller, biasing means for biasing the support arm in a direction in which the guide roller moves toward the center of the guide path, and reversing the used printing plate with respect to the ink-coated image surface. A transport roller for transporting the used printing plate into the casing in a state where the side of the printing plate comes into contact with the guide roller, and winding the used printing plate in a roll shape with the image surface of the printing plate coated with the ink inside. Before taking Printing plate storing apparatus of the printing apparatus, characterized in that housed in the casing. 8. The printing plate storage device for a printing apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the micro switch provided in the printing apparatus main body and the micro switch arranged in the casing so as to be swingable, and the casing is attached to the printing apparatus main body. A contact member that comes into contact with the microswitch in a mounted state; and a moving arm that is connected to the support arm and swings the contact member in a direction away from the microswitch with the swing of the support arm. The printing plate storage device of the printing device further comprising: