Printing Anomaly Prediction Apparatus, Method, and Program, and Printing System

Abstract

This invention provides a printing abnormality prediction device, method, program, and printing system that can understand the amount of paper dust generated and appropriately predict printing abnormalities such as inkjet head ejection failures when transporting and printing on corrugated cardboard. [Solution] The system includes a printing condition acquisition unit 41 that acquires at least one of the ambient temperature, humidity, and transport speed of the corrugated cardboard to be printed when printing is performed on the corrugated cardboard to be printed; a paper dust amount prediction unit 42 that predicts the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard based on at least one of the temperature, humidity, and transport speed acquired by the printing condition acquisition unit 41; and an abnormality prediction unit 43 that predicts the occurrence of a printing abnormality based on the amount of paper dust predicted by the paper dust amount prediction unit 42.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a printing abnormality prediction apparatus, method, program, and printing system for predicting the occurrence of printing abnormalities when printing on corrugated cardboard. [Background Art]

[0002] Conventionally, methods have been proposed for directly performing printing processing on corrugated cardboard boxes or corrugated cardboard sheets before assembly.

[0003] For example, Non-Patent Document 1 proposes an apparatus that performs printing processing by moving a printing unit from the front surface to the side surface of a corrugated cardboard box while conveying the corrugated cardboard box. In the apparatus of Non-Patent Document 1, in order to prevent skewed conveyance of the corrugated cardboard box, conveyance guides are provided on both sides of a conveyance path, and the corrugated cardboard box is conveyed while sliding against the conveyance guides. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-190348 [Non-Patent Documents]

[0005] [Non-Patent Document 1] Website of Kishu Giken Kogyo Co., Ltd., Internet <URL:https: / / www.kishugiken.co.jp / product / ondemando / hq1000fc / > [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention]

[0006] However, the apparatus of Non-Patent Document 1 has the following problems. Generally, the strength of corrugated cardboard may deteriorate due to temperature and humidity, or paper dust may be generated when the corrugated cardboard is conveyed in contact with a conveyance guide as in the apparatus of Non-Patent Document 1.

[0007] For example, if the printing unit is an inkjet head, the paper dust generated can adhere to the inkjet head, causing clogging of the nozzles and resulting in poor paper ejection.

[0008] When unexpected ejection failures like this occur, not only does the printed image deteriorate, but it can also potentially halt the corrugated cardboard printing production line, causing disruption on-site and requiring time to resolve. Therefore, it is necessary to prevent such paper dust-induced ejection failures from occurring in the first place.

[0009] Patent Document 1 proposes predicting and maintaining the amount of abnormal paper dust for each type of recording paper, but it does not take into account paper dust generated by the deterioration of corrugated cardboard or paper dust generated by contact of corrugated cardboard boxes with transport guides.

[0010] In view of the above circumstances, the present invention aims to provide a printing abnormality prediction device, method, program, and printing system that can grasp the amount of paper dust generated and appropriately predict printing abnormalities such as inkjet head ejection failures when transporting and printing on corrugated cardboard. [Means for solving the problem]

[0011] The printing abnormality prediction device of the present invention comprises: a printing condition acquisition unit that acquires at least one of the ambient temperature, humidity, and transport speed of the corrugated cardboard to be printed when performing a printing process on the corrugated cardboard to be printed; a paper dust amount prediction unit that predicts the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard based on at least one of the temperature, humidity, and transport speed acquired by the printing condition acquisition unit; and an abnormality prediction unit that predicts the occurrence of a printing abnormality based on the amount of paper dust predicted by the paper dust amount prediction unit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0012] According to the printing abnormality prediction device of the present invention, the amount of paper dust generated from corrugated cardboard is predicted based on at least one of the ambient temperature, humidity, and transport speed, and the occurrence of printing abnormalities is predicted based on the predicted amount of paper dust. Therefore, the paper dust generation situation can be understood and printing abnormalities such as inkjet head ejection failures can be appropriately predicted. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0013] [Figure 1] This figure shows the schematic configuration of the inkjet printing apparatus body in an inkjet printing system using one embodiment of the printing anomaly prediction device of the invention. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows the main body of the inkjet printing device, viewed from above. [Figure 3] Block diagram showing the overall configuration of an inkjet printing system using one embodiment of the printing anomaly prediction device of the invention. [Figure 4] A diagram showing an example of a paper dust quantity prediction table. [Figure 5] A diagram showing an example of a warning message table. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0014] The following describes in detail an inkjet printing system using one embodiment of the printing anomaly prediction device of the present invention with reference to the drawings. The inkjet printing system of this embodiment is characterized by its ability to predict anomalies caused by paper dust generated when printing on corrugated cardboard boxes while they are being transported. First, the configuration of the inkjet printing device itself will be described. Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing the configuration of the inkjet printing device body 1, and Figure 2 is a view of the inkjet printing device body 1 shown in Figure 1 from above. In the following description of the embodiment, the up, down, left, right, front, and back directions indicated by arrows in Figures 1 and 2 refer to the up, down, left, right, front, and back directions of the inkjet printing device body 1. Also, the up and down directions shown in Figures 1 and 2 are the vertical directions.

[0015] An inkjet printing apparatus main body 1 comprises a head unit 10 and a conveyance unit 2, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0016] The conveyance unit 2 conveys a corrugated cardboard box B as a print medium in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1. In the present embodiment, the corrugated cardboard box B is supplied to the conveyance unit 2 of the inkjet printing apparatus main body 1 in an assembled state. However, the configuration is not limited thereto, and may be configured to convey a corrugated cardboard sheet obtained by unassembling a corrugated cardboard box.

[0017] The conveyance unit 2 comprises a conveyance belt part 20 and guide members 24, 25. The conveyance belt part 20 comprises conveyance rollers 21, 22 extending parallel in the horizontal direction at predetermined intervals in the conveyance direction of the corrugated cardboard box B, and an annular conveyance belt 23 stretched between the conveyance roller 21 and the conveyance roller 22.

[0018] After the corrugated cardboard box B is placed on the conveyance belt 23, the conveyance belt 23 moves, whereby the corrugated cardboard box B is conveyed in the direction of the arrow shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2.

[0019] Further, above the conveyance belt part 20, guide members 24, 25 that guide the corrugated cardboard box B in the conveyance direction are provided. The guide members 24, 25 are plate-shaped members, and are erected upright along the length direction on both sides of the conveyance belt 23. Then, the corrugated cardboard box B is disposed between the guide member 24 and the guide member 25, and the corrugated cardboard box B is conveyed while sliding against the guide member 24 and the guide member 25. The distance between the guide member 24 and the guide member 25 is set to a distance that allows the corrugated cardboard box B to be conveyed in the conveyance direction while the corrugated cardboard box B is in contact with the guide members 24, 25.

[0020] Then, as shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the head unit 10 is installed on the downstream side of the conveyance unit 2. The head unit 10 performs a printing process by ejecting ink perpendicularly (in the horizontal direction) to the side surface of the corrugated cardboard box B conveyed by the conveyance unit 2.

[0021] The head unit 10 has an inkjet head in which a large number of ink ejection nozzles for ejecting ink are arranged vertically. The head unit 10 may, for example, arrange multiple inkjet heads in a staggered pattern vertically, and may also configure a line head by overlapping some of the nozzles of adjacent inkjet heads. Alternatively, the line head may be provided for each color: C (cyan), M (magenta), Y (yellow), and K (black).

[0022] Furthermore, the head unit 10 is equipped with a cleaning mechanism (not shown) that performs head cleaning of the inkjet head. The cleaning mechanism includes a wipe blade for wiping the ink ejection surface of the inkjet head.

[0023] The transport unit 2 transports the cardboard box B, and at a predetermined timing, ink is ejected from the head unit 10 onto the side of the cardboard box B to perform the printing process.

[0024] Furthermore, when the inkjet printing device 1 described above repeatedly transports and prints on multiple corrugated cardboard boxes B, as described above, paper dust may be generated from the corrugated cardboard boxes B due to contact between the corrugated cardboard boxes B and the guide members 24 and 25, and abnormalities may occur in the ink ejection operation from the head unit 10.

[0025] The inkjet printing system of this embodiment is configured to predict the occurrence of such printing abnormalities and notify the user. The configuration for performing the printing abnormality prediction process will be described below.

[0026] Figure 3 is a block diagram showing the overall configuration of the inkjet printing system of this embodiment. As shown in Figure 3, the inkjet printing system of this embodiment includes a print control device 4. In this embodiment, the print control device 4 has a configuration corresponding to the print abnormality prediction device of the present invention. The inkjet printing device body 1 and the print control device 4 are connected by a communication line such as a LAN (Local Area Network) or an internet line, and control signals are output from the print control device 4 to the inkjet printing device body 1.

[0027] The print control device 4 generates print data to be printed on the corrugated cardboard box B based on the print job and outputs it to the inkjet printer unit 1. In addition, when a print job is input, the print control device 4 predicts the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard box B during the printing process of that print job, and predicts the occurrence of a printing error based on the amount of paper dust.

[0028] The print control device 4 specifically includes a print data generation unit 40, a print condition acquisition unit 41, a paper dust amount prediction unit 42, and an abnormality prediction unit 43.

[0029] The print data generation unit 40 generates print data to control the ink ejection operation of the head unit 10 based on the image data of the original document included in the print job. The print data generated by the print data generation unit 40 is output to the inkjet printer main unit 1. The image data of the original document may be edited using an application installed on the print control device 4, or it may be input from an external source.

[0030] The inkjet printing apparatus body 1 includes a control unit 50 having a CPU and semiconductor memory. The control unit 50 controls the head unit 10 and the transport unit 2 based on the input print data and print conditions to perform printing on cardboard boxes.

[0031] The printing condition acquisition unit 41 acquires the printing conditions to be used when performing the printing process. In this embodiment, the printing condition acquisition unit 41 acquires the printing conditions necessary to predict the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard box B. Other printing conditions necessary for the printing process will be set separately as appropriate.

[0032] Specifically, the printing condition acquisition unit 41 acquires the following printing conditions: the shape of the corrugated cardboard to be printed, and the corrugation. The type of cardboard, the size of the corrugated cardboard box, the ambient temperature and humidity around the inkjet printer unit 1, and the transport speed of the transport unit 2 are acquired. All of these printing conditions affect the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard. The form and type of corrugated cardboard, the size of the corrugated cardboard box, and the transport speed are pre-set during the print job.

[0033] The "form of the corrugated cardboard" refers to whether the printing target is a corrugated cardboard box or a corrugated cardboard sheet. For example, in the case of a corrugated cardboard sheet, the core and liner are exposed at the edges, and paper dust is easily generated from these areas. Also, even with a corrugated cardboard box, if the flaps are not closed, the cut edges between the flaps are exposed, and paper dust is easily generated from these areas. However, since the amount of paper dust differs between corrugated cardboard sheets and corrugated cardboard boxes, this condition is included.

[0034] The type of corrugated cardboard refers to the material, thickness, or flute configuration of the cardboard.

[0035] The temperature and humidity around the inkjet printing device body 1 are detected by a temperature sensor 30 and a humidity sensor 31 located near the inkjet printing device body 1. In Figure 1, the temperature sensor 30 and humidity sensor 31 are not shown.

[0036] The strength (compressive strength) of corrugated cardboard changes depending on the moisture content it contains; it decreases with higher moisture content. This moisture content is determined by ambient temperature and humidity (ambient humidity has a particularly large influence). If the corrugated cardboard to be printed is weakened due to moisture content, paper dust will be generated during transport due to contact with guide members 24, 25, etc. The strength of corrugated cardboard changes depending on its moisture content, and since moisture content is determined by ambient temperature and humidity, these conditions are included.

[0037] The paper dust amount prediction unit 42 predicts the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard based on the printing conditions acquired by the printing condition acquisition unit 41. Specifically, the paper dust amount prediction unit 42 has a paper dust amount prediction table pre-set, as shown in Figure 4, which associates the aforementioned printing conditions (form and type of corrugated cardboard, size of the corrugated cardboard box, ambient temperature and humidity, and transport speed) with the predicted amount of paper dust under those printing conditions.

[0038] The paper dust amount prediction unit 42 calculates the predicted amount of paper dust by referring to the paper dust amount prediction table shown in Figure 4, based on the input printing conditions. When a print job is set and input, the paper dust amount prediction unit 42 calculates the amount of paper dust transported by the printing process of that print job. If the print job is a print job that prints on multiple corrugated boxes, the paper dust amount prediction unit 42 refers to the paper dust amount prediction table shown in Figure 4 to determine the predicted amount of paper dust caused by the printing process of each corrugated box, and adds the calculated predicted amount of paper dust by the number of printed sheets.

[0039] The paper dust amount prediction unit 42 then sequentially calculates the predicted amount of paper dust generated during the printing process of each print job each time a print job is input, and calculates the total predicted amount of paper dust by accumulating and adding these calculations together.

[0040] Furthermore, the printing conditions for the paper dust quantity prediction table do not necessarily have to include all of the ambient temperature, humidity, and transport speed; at least one of these may be included. In addition, the printing conditions may also include the usage period of the inkjet head and the contact area between the corrugated cardboard and the guide members 24 and 25.

[0041] The abnormality prediction unit 43 predicts the occurrence of a printing abnormality based on the total predicted paper powder amount predicted by the paper powder amount prediction unit 42. The abnormality prediction unit 43 of the present embodiment predicts the occurrence of a printing abnormality by comparing the predicted total predicted paper powder amount with a preset threshold. In the present embodiment, two threshold values Xm and Xn are preset as said threshold values. The relationship between the threshold value Xm and the threshold value Xn satisfies Xm < Xn. The threshold value Xm is set to a value at which no ejection failure occurs but is close to the threshold value Xn at which ejection failure occurs, and the threshold value Xn is set to a value at which ejection failure starts to occur.

[0042] Then, when the total predicted paper powder amount is equal to or greater than the threshold value Xm, the abnormality prediction unit 43 causes the display unit 44 to display a message recommending cleaning of the head nozzles in accordance with the warning message table shown in Fig. 5. Further, when the total predicted paper powder amount is equal to or greater than the threshold value Xn, the abnormality prediction unit 43 causes the display unit 44 to display a message prompting mandatory cleaning of the head nozzles in accordance with the warning message table shown in Fig. 5.

[0043] Then, after the warning message is displayed by the abnormality prediction unit 43 as described above, when a user inputs an instruction to clean the head nozzles, head cleaning processing such as purging and wiping is performed in accordance with the head nozzle cleaning instruction. Then, when the head cleaning processing is performed, the paper powder amount prediction unit 42 resets the cumulatively added total predicted paper powder amount to zero.

[0044] Note that, in the present embodiment, a warning message is displayed on the display unit 44, and the user manually inputs an instruction to clean the head nozzles. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and the head cleaning processing may be automatically performed when the total predicted paper powder amount is equal to or greater than the threshold value Xn.

[0045] Further, the paper powder amount prediction unit 42 may reset the cumulatively added total predicted paper powder amount to zero when the user inputs a setting indicating that head cleaning processing or cleaning around the conveyance unit 2 has been performed.

[0046] Furthermore, if the total amount of paper dust calculated by the paper dust amount prediction unit 42 is greater than or equal to the threshold Xm, the abnormality prediction unit 43 may reduce the transport speed of the printing conditions and recalculate the amount of paper dust generated in the next print job and the total amount of paper dust. If the total amount of paper dust is less than the threshold Xm, the transport speed of the transport unit 2 may be reduced to execute the next print job.

[0047] Furthermore, when the transport speed is reduced and the amount of paper dust is recalculated as described above, the abnormality prediction unit 43 has a lower limit set for the transport speed. If the total amount of paper dust is still above the threshold Xm even when the transport speed is reduced to the lower limit, the warning message described above is displayed. In addition, when the transport speed is reduced as described above, a message may be displayed to the user asking whether or not to execute the print job at a reduced transport speed, and the print speed may only be reduced if the user gives permission.

[0048] Furthermore, as shown in Figure 3, the inkjet printing system of this embodiment is equipped with a paper dust detection unit 32. The paper dust detection unit 32 is provided on the inkjet printing device body 1 (not shown in Figure 1) and detects paper dust generated around the inkjet printing device body 1. For example, a known particle counter (fine particle measuring instrument) can be used as the paper dust detection unit 32. The paper dust detection unit 32 is not limited to one location, but may be provided in multiple locations, and the amount of paper dust detected by the multiple paper dust detection units 32 may be added together.

[0049] Furthermore, at predetermined intervals, the amount of paper dust actually generated when a print job with predetermined printing conditions is executed is detected by the paper dust detection unit 32. The detected amount of paper dust is then compared with the amount of paper dust predicted by the paper dust amount prediction unit 42 based on the above printing conditions. If the difference between these two amounts falls outside a predetermined threshold range, the predicted amount of paper dust in the paper dust amount prediction table shown in Figure 4 may be corrected to the amount of paper dust actually detected.

[0050] If the printing conditions at which the paper dust amount is detected by the paper dust detection unit 32 do not exist in the paper dust amount prediction table, the relationship between the printing conditions and the detected paper dust amount may be newly added to the paper dust amount prediction table. Alternatively, the detected paper dust amount may be interpolated by considering the difference between the printing conditions and the printing conditions closest to them, and the predicted paper dust amount for the closest printing conditions may be corrected.

[0051] Furthermore, while the paper dust amount prediction unit 42 in this embodiment predicts the amount of paper dust using the paper dust amount prediction table shown in Figure 4, it is not limited to this. Alternatively, a learning model may be provided that has been pre-trained to understand the relationship between temperature, humidity, and transport speed and the predicted amount of paper dust, and this learning model may be used to predict the amount of paper dust.

[0052] The print control device 4 is a terminal device consisting of a computer, and includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) and storage media such as semiconductor memory and a hard disk. A control program including one embodiment of the print abnormality prediction program of the present invention is installed in the semiconductor memory or hard disk of the print control device 4, and the functions of each of the above-described parts are executed by the execution of this control program by the CPU.

[0053] Furthermore, in this embodiment, the functions of each part are executed by the CPU executing the control program described above, but some or all of the functions executed by the control program may be composed of hardware such as an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), or other electrical circuits.

[0054] Alternatively, the inkjet printing system of the above embodiment may be installed in each factory, and the paper dust amount prediction table shown in Figure 4 and the warning message table shown in Figure 5 may be provided on a separate management server from the inkjet printing system of the above embodiment. The print control device 4 may then access the management server via a communication line to refer to the paper dust prediction table and the warning message table.

[0055] According to the inkjet printing system of the above embodiment, the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard is predicted based on the ambient temperature, humidity, and transport speed, and the occurrence of printing abnormalities is predicted based on the predicted amount of paper dust. Therefore, the paper dust generation situation can be understood, and printing abnormalities such as inkjet head ejection failures can be appropriately predicted.

[0056] Furthermore, in the inkjet printing system of the above embodiment, if the transport speed of the printing conditions is reduced and the amount of paper dust generated in the next print job and the total amount of paper dust are recalculated, and if the total amount of paper dust becomes smaller than the threshold Xm, the transport speed of the transport unit 2 is reduced and the next print job is executed, the next print job can be executed without performing cleaning such as head cleaning, thus preventing printing abnormalities without reducing productivity.

[0057] Furthermore, in the inkjet printing system of the above embodiment, if the paper dust amount prediction table is corrected based on the amount of paper dust detected by the paper dust detection unit 32, the accuracy of the paper dust amount prediction can be improved.

[0058] Furthermore, in the inkjet printing system of the above embodiment, if the amount of paper dust is predicted using a learning model that has been pre-trained to understand the relationship between printing conditions and the predicted amount of paper dust, there is no need to provide a paper dust prediction table that can handle various printing conditions, and the storage space of the storage medium can be reduced. In addition, there is no need to correct the paper dust prediction table.

[0059] Furthermore, in the inkjet printing system of the above embodiment, a warning message prompting cleaning is displayed when a printing abnormality is predicted. By performing head cleaning and cleaning the surrounding area in response, the user can appropriately prevent printing abnormalities.

[0060] Although the above embodiments are examples of applying the present invention to an inkjet printing system, the printing method of the present invention is not limited to inkjet printing but can also be applied to other printing systems such as thermal printing.

[0061] Furthermore, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, and the components can be modified and implemented in practice without departing from the spirit of the invention. Also, various inventions can be formed by appropriate combinations of the multiple components disclosed in the embodiments. For example, all the components shown in the embodiments may be combined as appropriate. It goes without saying that various modifications and applications are possible without departing from the spirit of the invention.

[0062] The following further notes are disclosed regarding the present invention.

[0063] (Note 1) The printing abnormality prediction device of the present invention comprises: a printing condition acquisition unit that acquires at least one of the ambient temperature, humidity, and transport speed of the corrugated cardboard to be printed when performing a printing process on the corrugated cardboard to be printed; a paper dust amount prediction unit that predicts the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard based on at least one of the temperature, humidity, and transport speed acquired by the printing condition acquisition unit; and an abnormality prediction unit that predicts the occurrence of a printing abnormality based on the amount of paper dust predicted by the paper dust amount prediction unit.

[0064] (Note 2) In the printing abnormality prediction device described in Appendix 1, the paper dust amount prediction unit predicts the amount of paper dust based on the transport speed, and if the amount of paper dust calculated based on the transport speed is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the abnormality prediction unit determines whether the amount of paper dust predicted by the paper dust amount prediction unit when the transport speed is reduced is greater than or equal to the threshold, and if it is less than the threshold, it can output the reduced transport speed.

[0065] (Note 3) The printing abnormality prediction device described in Appendix 1 or 2 includes a paper dust detection unit for detecting paper dust generated from corrugated cardboard during the printing process, and the paper dust amount prediction unit has a table that associates at least one of temperature, humidity, and transport speed with the predicted amount of paper dust, and can correct the table based on the amount of paper dust detected by the paper dust detection unit.

[0066] (Note 4) In the printing abnormality prediction device described in Appendix 1 or 2, the paper dust amount prediction unit has a learning model that has been pre-trained to learn the relationship between at least one of temperature, humidity, and transport speed and the predicted amount of paper dust, and can predict the amount of paper dust using the learning model.

[0067] (Note 5) In the printing abnormality prediction device described in any of Appendix 1 to 4, the abnormality prediction unit can notify the user to clean the device if a printing abnormality is predicted to occur.

[0068] (Note 6) The printing system of the present invention may comprise a printing abnormality prediction device as described in any of appendices 1 to 5, a conveying device having a guide member that conveys the corrugated cardboard to be printed and guides it in the conveying direction while in contact with the corrugated cardboard to be printed, and a printing device that performs a printing process on the corrugated cardboard conveyed by the conveying device.

[0069] (Note 7) The present invention provides a method for predicting printing abnormalities. This method obtains at least one of the ambient temperature, humidity, and transport speed of the corrugated cardboard to be printed when printing is performed on the corrugated cardboard to be printed. Based on the obtained temperature, humidity, and transport speed, it predicts the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard, and based on the predicted amount of paper dust, it predicts the occurrence of printing abnormalities.

[0070] (Note 8) The present invention provides a printing anomaly prediction program that causes a computer to perform the following steps: acquire the ambient temperature, humidity, and transport speed of the corrugated cardboard to be printed when printing is performed on the corrugated cardboard to be printed; predict the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard based on the acquired temperature, humidity, and transport speed; and predict the occurrence of a printing anomaly based on the predicted amount of paper dust. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1. Inkjet printing device main unit 2 Conveyor Units 4. Printing control device 10 Head Units 20 Conveyor belt section 21,22 Conveyor rollers 23 Conveyor belt 24,25 Guide members 30 Temperature Sensors 31 Humidity Sensor 32 Paper dust detection unit 40 Print Data Generation Unit 41 Printing condition acquisition section 42 Paper dust amount prediction unit 43 Anomaly Prediction Unit 44 Display section 50 Control Unit B Cardboard box

Claims

1. A printing condition acquisition unit that acquires at least one of the ambient temperature, humidity, and transport speed of the corrugated cardboard to be printed when performing the printing process on the corrugated cardboard to be printed, A paper dust amount prediction unit predicts the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard based on at least one of the temperature, humidity, and transport speed obtained by the printing condition acquisition unit, A printing abnormality prediction device comprising an abnormality prediction unit that predicts the occurrence of a printing abnormality based on the amount of paper dust predicted by the paper dust amount prediction unit.

2. The paper dust amount prediction unit predicts the amount of paper dust based on the transport speed, The printing abnormality prediction device according to claim 1, wherein if the amount of paper dust calculated by the abnormality prediction unit based on the transport speed is greater than or equal to a preset threshold, the device determines whether the amount of paper dust predicted by the paper dust amount prediction unit when the transport speed is reduced is greater than or equal to the threshold, and if it is less than the threshold, it outputs the reduced transport speed.

3. It is equipped with a paper dust detection unit that detects paper dust generated from cardboard during the printing process, The printing abnormality prediction device according to claim 1, wherein the paper dust amount prediction unit has a table that associates at least one of the temperature, humidity, and transport speed with the predicted amount of paper dust, and corrects the table based on the amount of paper dust detected by the paper dust detection unit.

4. The printing abnormality prediction device according to claim 1, wherein the paper dust amount prediction unit has a learning model that has been pre-trained to determine the relationship between at least one of the temperature, humidity, and transport speed and the predicted amount of paper dust, and uses the learning model to predict the amount of paper dust.

5. The printing abnormality prediction device according to claim 1, wherein the abnormality prediction unit notifies the user to clean the device if the occurrence of the printing abnormality is predicted.

6. The printing anomaly prediction device according to claim 1, A conveying device having a guide member that conveys the corrugated cardboard to be printed and guides the corrugated cardboard in the conveying direction while in contact with the corrugated cardboard to be printed, A printing system comprising a printing device for performing a printing process on corrugated cardboard transported by the aforementioned transport device.

7. When printing on the corrugated cardboard to be printed, obtain at least one of the ambient temperature, humidity, and transport speed of the corrugated cardboard to be printed. Based on the acquired temperature, humidity, and conveying speed, the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard is predicted. A method for predicting the occurrence of printing abnormalities based on the predicted amount of paper dust.

8. A step of obtaining at least one of the ambient temperature, humidity, and transport speed of the corrugated cardboard to be printed when performing the printing process on the corrugated cardboard to be printed, A step of predicting the amount of paper dust generated from the corrugated cardboard based on at least one of the acquired temperature, humidity, and conveying speed, A print error prediction program that causes a computer to perform the steps of predicting the occurrence of a print error based on the predicted amount of paper dust.

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