DE102009009540A1 - Method for automatically controlling sequence of print jobs for electrophotographic high-performance printing system, involves combining orders into groups or clusters, where groups or clusters are automatically sorted according to rules - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves processing a sequence of processing orders of material bundles i.e. material webs, in a distributed manner. The material bundles are fed into input bundles i.e. input roller (11), of a processing device before and during processing of the material bundles. The processing of the material bundles takes place at a central station and at multiple finishing apparatuses connected downstream of the station. The processing orders are combined into multiple groups or clusters before processing the material bundles. The groups or clusters are automatically sorted according to rules. Independent claims are also included for the following: (1) a software product having a set of instructions to execute a method for automatically controlling a sequence of processing orders for processing material bundles (2) a printing system comprising a printing device.

Description

The The invention relates to a method for automatically controlling the order of processing jobs for processing material containers. In particular, the invention relates to a method for automatic Control the order of print jobs for processing on a printing device.

The Processing orders can, for example, by means of webs be processed predetermined train length, the input rollers be fed, with the individual processing jobs different lengths sections can be edited and the processed portions of the webs on exit rollers be rolled up, and the processing jobs to several Material webs are to be distributed.

Processing orders with which differently long sections of material webs are typically encountered in high-performance printing systems on, in which the material webs on rollers of the printing device supplied and the processed material webs again Rolls are wound.

The individual processing jobs become conventional processed in the order in which they arrive at the printing station. An operator can manually change the order of editing jobs change. This is useful if certain machining jobs with a certain type a material web to be processed and other processing jobs to be processed with another type of material web.

A further optimization of the processing is not known.

Of the Invention is based on the object, a method for processing of processing jobs on a processing device with a central station and several post-processing devices to create a very efficient editing of editing jobs achieved.

The Invention is achieved by a method having the feature of the claim 1 solved. Advantageous embodiments are in the subclaims specified.

At the inventive method is automatic the order of edit jobs for editing controlled by material containers, with the processing jobs be processed on several bundles of material, and before and during processing the material containers in input containers a processing device are supplied, wherein the Processing of material bundles at a central station and at several the central stations downstream post-processing equipment and, before processing, the processing jobs into several groups or clusters, where the Groups or clusters automatically sorted according to predetermined rules become.

With In accordance with the invention, the processing jobs are prior to feeding to the processing device according to their properties grouped and / or clusters and these groups or Clusters are then sorted.

The automatic summarization of processing jobs in Groups or clusters already allow efficient utilization the processing device, because the processing jobs are For example, according to predetermined properties in the groups or Clusters summarized, so they without any changes and without Retrofit times on the processing device consecutively can be processed. According to the invention the processing jobs grouped into clusters or clusters sorted. By sorting the groups or clusters can be the workflow very efficiently to the peculiarities of the processing device be adjusted. Does the processing device include a printing device, as a rule, the different post-processing facilities very different throughputs and changeover times on. By sorting grouped print jobs The post-processing facilities can be very efficient be utilized and the changeover times kept low become. However, there are also adjustments to other framework conditions the workflow, such. B. the stock of the processed Material or the available warehouse for the processed material possible.

The Are processing jobs of a group or a cluster preferably sorted by properties required for assignment are specific to one of the post-processing devices, so that the processing jobs of a group or a cluster respectively processed on a specific post-processing device become.

Especially The sequence for processing the groups can be determined in this way that the post-processing equipment is optimally utilized are.

• – Die Gruppen werden in Abhängigkeit vom Durchsatz der Nachverarbeitungsgeräte sortiert, wobei die Nachverarbeitungsgeräte gleichmäßig mit Gruppen von Bearbeitungsaufträgen ausgelastet werden und den Nachverarbeitungsgeräten, die einen höheren Durchsatz besitzen, mehr Gruppen von Dokumentenbearbeitungsaufträge zugeordnet werden.
• – Gruppen mit gleichartigen Dokumentenbearbeitungsaufträgen werden aufeinander folgend sortiert, so dass die Anzahl der Umrüstvorgänge gering ist und/oder in Abhängigkeit von der notwendigen Umrüstzeit, wird die Anzahl der übermittelten Gruppen von Dokumentenbearbeitungsaufträgen, die von einem umzurüstenden Nachverarbeitungsgerät (16) bearbeitet werden, reduziert, um an diesem Nachverarbeitungsgerät (16) keinen Rückstau zu verursachen.
• – Die Reihenfolge der einzelnen Gruppen wird in Abhängigkeit von deren Inhalt bestimmt, insbesondere wenn eine Gruppe einen oder mehrere Dokumentenbearbeitungsaufträge enthält, die einen Dringlichkeitsvermerk enthalten, so wird in Abhängigkeit des Dringlichkeitsvermerkes und/oder der Anzahl von Dringlichkeitsvermerken die Priorität der Gruppe in der Reihenfolge der Gruppen bestimmt.
• – Die Gruppen von Dokumentenbearbeitungsaufträgen werden in Abhängigkeit des Lagerstandes der unbedruckten Aufzeichnungsträger und/oder der gedruckten Produkte sortiert, wobei beispielsweise einem hohen Lagerbestand eines bestimmten Typs von Aufzeichnungsträgern dieser vorrangig abgearbeitet wird und bei einem hohen Lagerbestand eines bestimmten Produktes die Gruppe von Dokumentenbearbeitungsaufträgen, die zur Erzeugung des Produktes führen, nachrangig in die Reihenfolge einsortiert wird, um den Lagerbestand nicht unnötig zu erhöhen.

To sort the clusters or groups, one or more of the following rules is preferably applied:

• - The groups are depending on Throughput of the post-processing equipment, the post-processing equipment are evenly loaded with groups of processing jobs and the post-processing equipment, which have a higher throughput, are assigned to more groups of document processing jobs.
• - Groups with similar document processing jobs are sorted sequentially so that the number of retooling operations is small and / or depending on the necessary retooling time, the number of submitted groups of document processing jobs to be retrofitted by a post-processing device ( 16 ) are processed in order to work on this post-processing device ( 16 ) to cause no backwater.
• The order of the individual groups is determined depending on their contents, in particular if a group contains one or more document processing orders which contain an urgent note, the priority of the group is determined in the order of priority depending on the urgency notice and / or the number of urgency notices Groups determined.
• The groups of document processing jobs are sorted according to the stock level of the unprinted record carriers and / or the printed products, whereby, for example, a high stock level of a certain type of record carrier is given priority and with a high stock of a certain product the group of document processing jobs assigned to the Produce the product, subordinated sorted in order, so as not to unnecessarily increase the stock.

The Sorting is done in groups in particular. Preferably contains a group so many editing jobs that at their Processing a material container is essentially used up, allowing the control of the order of the groups of processing jobs takes place synchronously with the supply and removal of the material container.

To a development of the invention, the material container is a material web, the input container has an input roller, the output container a Starting roller and the container processing length a track length, wherein the web is fed on the input roller of the processing device and rolled up on the output roll after processing.

at an alternative development of the invention is the material container a bundle of barks of predetermined number and size, the input container an input stack, the output container a Output stack and the container processing length one pack length above all Bows of the bundle stack, with the bundle stack as input stack fed to the processing device and after processing is stacked on as a starting stack.

Preferably is the inventive method for automatic Controlling the order of print jobs trained.

If a regular one in a machining process Proportion of rejection occurs, this can be used in the determination of the Threshold (c) are taken into account. If z. B. off The experience is known that some share pages again is to be printed, then the threshold can be reduced or a proportion of the package processing length in the assignment disregarded from work orders so that an automatic reprint of faulty pages take place on the excess material itself can.

This can in particular be automated in conjunction with an expert system be based on one or more parameters the potential Committee estimates. For example, it is known that very thin Paper always with a certain scrap caused by printing.

One Another aspect of the invention, which is also independent of the previously described aspects a method for automatically controlling the order of processing jobs for processing material containers of predetermined length, which are supplied on input rollers or in the form of predetermined stacks, where different for the individual processing jobs long sections can be edited and edited Sections of the material bundles are summarized in original containers become. The processing jobs are in such a way Groups sorted at the end of a group with low scores (≤ c) as often as possible the input and output containers can be exchanged simultaneously. This will lead time Saved on the processing device.

The processing jobs are distributed over several material bundles and supplied before and during processing the material bundles by input container of a processing device, with the individual processing jobs sections of different lengths are processed and the processed sections of the material bundles are summarized in output containers. Before editing, the machining jobs are grouped together so that the entire length of the sections of the machining order of each group, hereinafter referred to as group length is for a plurality of groups in the range between a desired length and the container processing length, and the target length is smaller by a predetermined threshold value than the container processing length. For a group for which no group length in the range between the desired length and the container processing length can be determined, a further processing order is divided into a first and a second processing part order such that the portion of the first processing part order corresponds to the difference between the container processing length and the group length and is added to the group as the last processing order, and the second processing part order is added to a further group as the first processing order, which is processed subsequently to the group with the first processing part order. The processing jobs of each group are executed consecutively, and for group lengths whose length is at least the target length, the input container, with which the material container has been supplied for processing these processing jobs, and the output container, in which the processed material package is combined, simultaneously replaced.

This Aspect of the invention is also in a same day as the present Application by the Applicant filed German patent application entitled "Method of Automatically Controlling the Order of processing jobs for processing Materialgebinden predetermined container processing length described "whose Content hereby incorporated by reference into the present application becomes.

The Invention will be described in more detail below by way of example Drawings described. The drawings show:

1 schematically a printing system for carrying out the method according to the invention,

2 10 print jobs with their size in a histogram,

3 a conventional order of print jobs 2 .

4 a flow chart of a first embodiment of the method according to the invention,

5A . 5B the print jobs after 2 sorted or renumbered,

6 a schematic tree diagram for explaining the determination of the order of in 2 illustrated print jobs,

7A . 7B the process of processing the in 2 shown print jobs with two different orders,

8A . 8B 42 print jobs in a histogram and in a flowchart with conventional order,

9 the print jobs 8A sorted by size and renumbered into a histogram,

10A to 10D each a flowchart for processing the print jobs 9 .

11 a flow chart of a second embodiment of the method according to the invention,

12 schematically the arrangement of a printing system and several post-processing systems,

13 schematically a print server connected to a printing device and logical data lines between the printing device and the print server and the print server and clients,

14 a list of computer program elements for automatically classifying print jobs, and

15 a method for automatically classifying print jobs by clustering in a flowchart.

1 shows a printing system 1 , which is suitable for carrying out the method according to the invention. This printing system 1 includes a printing device 2 , a print server (print server) 3 at which the printing device 2 by means of a data line 4 connected. In the printing device 2 ends the data line 4 on a Scalable Raster Architecture (SRA) print data controller 5 , which locks the print jobs into individual pixels. The snapped print data become the three printing units 6 . 7 . 8th fed to which they on a photoconductor drum 9 create a latent image. Three different colors can be printed with the three printing units. The resulting electrostatic images are then developed in a known manner electrophotographically with toner and on the recording medium 10 transfer.

The record carrier 10 is a paper web coming from an input roll 11 unrolled and onto a starting roll 12 being rolled up.

The present invention is applicable to both Single-color highlight color as well as for full-color printing. In particular, the present invention is suitable for digital printing, including in particular electrophotographic printing processes as well as the inkjet printing process.

The print server 3 has a computer program unit (software) 13 on, which is designed for carrying out the method according to the invention.

The print server 3 is with data lines 14 with one or more computers 15 and / or the internet 16 with other computers 15 from which print jobs are generated. The print jobs are sent over the data line 15 the print server 3 fed.

According to the invention by the in the print server 3 existing computer program unit 13 sorted the print jobs, so that their order in relation to the labor input and the scrap material on the printing device 2 is optimized.

Look at the 2 - 7 The invention will be explained by way of example with only 10 print jobs. In practice, the number of 10 print jobs is not realistic. However, such a few print jobs are easier to plot graphically, so for explanation such a small number of print jobs have been chosen.

The size of the print jobs is indicated in clicks. For example, a click is 12 inches or 30.48 cm long. In the following, when specifying the size of the print jobs, the unit is omitted. The 10 print jobs are in the sizes of 3.519, 37.528, 5.139, 1.169, 26.269, 13.326, 18.778, 10.873, 1.338 and 2.108 ( 2 ). The sum of all sizes is 120,047.

An unused entry roller has a 4000-meter length of paper web. The length of the paper web of unused input rollers is referred to below as the web length. There will be at least four input rollers 11 needed to process the existing print jobs.

When processing the print jobs in the random order according to 2 results in the 3 shown order, wherein first the print job A1 is printed, then a portion of the print job A2 / 1 is printed and then the input role 11 is to exchange. Then the print job A2 / 2 is finished printing and the print jobs A3, A4, A5 and a first part of the print job A6 / 1 are printed. A second part of print job A6 / 2 is printed when the second input reel 11 has been exchanged. Thereafter, the print jobs A7, A8, A9 and a first part of a print job A10 / 1 are printed. A second part of print job A10 / 2 is printed when the third input reel 11 has been exchanged. After completion of each print job becomes the printing device 2 for replacing the output rollers 12 stopped. The total loss of time or the entire service life G of the printing device 2 is thus: G = 4 × E + 10 × A, where E is the necessary life for replacing the input rollers 11 and A the necessary replacement time for replacing the output rollers 12 is. Normally replacing the input rollers takes longer than replacing the output rollers. Typical values are for example 10 to 15 minutes for E and about 5 to 8 minutes for A. The threading of the web is more complicated than the removal. At the in 3 Thus, the entire service life of the printing device is 90 minutes (with E = 10 min and A = 5 min).

The following is a heuristic procedure for optimizing the workflow of print jobs. A flowchart of the method is in 4 shown.

This process starts with step S1. In step S2, the print jobs are sorted according to their size. At the in 2 shown print jobs results in the 5A shown order.

In step S3, the sorted print jobs are renumbered in size ( 5B ). The individual print jobs are assigned to groups, whereby it is attempted that the entire length of the web sections of the print jobs of each group, which is referred to as group length in the following, preferably corresponds to the web length or if possible lies in the range between a desired length and the web length, wherein the target length is smaller than the track length by a predetermined threshold value c. The threshold value c is determined depending on the type of paper and in particular the price.

For this In step S4, a group is first generated.

in the Step S5 becomes the largest available print job assigned to the group. With the expression "available Print jobs "will print all jobs that are not yet assigned to a group.

Since in each group print jobs are to be assigned to a group length of at most the path length, in step S5 the additional print jobs will be available the remainder of the web length is calculated by subtracting from the web length (for example 40000) the web sections of the print jobs assigned to the group (for example 37528), resulting in a remainder (for example 2472) ( 6 : Node 1).

After that it checks if the remainder is greater than one maximum remainder c is (step S6). The maximum residual c is usually a few percent of the web length (eg 1% -10% or 1% -5%). This test corresponds to a test, Whether the print jobs assigned to the group have a group length have, which corresponds to at least a desired length, wherein the nominal length minus the length of the track the maximum remainder is c. If this is the case, then the procedure goes to step S7, where it is checked if there are more print jobs smaller than the rest are.

is the remainder larger than other available print jobs, this becomes the largest available print job, which is smaller than the rest, assigned to the group (step S8). In this step, the rest is recalculated.

Of the Process goes from step S8 to step S6, so that the steps S6, S7, S8 are repeated if more available print jobs assigned to the group can be.

If the query in step S6 shows that the remainder is not larger when the maximum remainder is c, then the procedure goes on Step S9, in which a group flag is set, that means the group length of those contained in the group Print jobs longer than the target length is. The procedure then goes back to the steps S7 and S8, with which other print jobs the Group can be added.

Becomes In step S7, it is determined that the rest is not larger as at least another of the available print jobs is, then the process goes to step S10, in which is checked for more print jobs available. If there are no further print jobs, then the process is ended in step S11. Are, however, more Print jobs available, then the procedure goes to step S12, in which it is checked whether the group flag is set or the group length greater than the nominal length. Is this the If so, the procedure goes to step S4, so that a further group is generated and in step S5 the group the largest available print job assigned becomes.

If In step S12, it is determined that the group flag is not set is, meaning the group length is not bigger than the target length, then the procedure goes to the Step S13, in which it is checked if several available print jobs exist that are smaller as the last job added to the group. If this is the case, then the procedure goes to the step S14 above in which the last one added to the group Print job is removed from the group and by the next smaller Print job is replaced.

from Step S14, the process goes to step S5.

Becomes however, in step S13, it is found that not at least two Print jobs are available that are smaller than the last one If the print job added to the group is, then the procedure goes on the step S15 via.

in the Step S15 checks if the group has more than two print jobs contains and if there are more not yet assigned print jobs gives. If this is the case, the procedure goes to the step S16 over. In step S16, the last two of the Group of added print jobs from the group removed, with respect to the larger of the two remote print jobs next smaller added print job to the group becomes. In step S16, the remote print jobs also become bookmarked. From step S16, the process flow goes to the step S6 over.

By a repeated execution of the step S16, the Assignment of print jobs to a group step by step be undone and reassigned be replaced. In each case the assignment is noted, with which the largest group length has been achieved is.

Becomes In step S15 it is determined that no more than two print jobs in the group, the procedure goes to the step S17 above, with which the marked assignment (s) of Print jobs with the longest group length be reassigned to the group. Because this group length is still smaller than the target length, in step S18 the largest not yet assigned to a group Print job assigned to the group, which is about the web length extending remainder is cut off.

This Remainder becomes the first print job in step S19 of a new group assigned. From step S19, the process flow goes to step S5.

Subsequently, the in 4 illustrated method based on the in 2 shown ten print jobs exemplified. This is in 6 a tree diagram is shown that has multiple nodes. At each node, the most important data is given as follows: number size total rest

The number is the number of the print job added to the node of the group. The source node contains the number 0, because here the group is still free of print jobs. The size is in each case the size of the print job assigned to the respective node. The sum is the sum of the sizes of all print jobs assigned to the group. The remainder is the difference from the web length minus the sum of the print jobs. At the output node, the size and the sum is 0 and the remainder is 40000, which corresponds to the total web length ( 6 ).

To the sorting and numbering of print jobs (S2, S3) is generated a first group (S4) and the largest available print job assigned to the group (S5). This is the print job A1. The print job A1 has a size of 37528. The remainder is therefore 2472.

at In this example, the maximum remainder is c = 400 Remainder of 2472 is greater than 400, the procedure goes from step S6 directly to step S7, where it is determined that there are still print jobs available that are smaller than the rest are. In step S8, the next largest available print job, namely the print job A8 with the size 2108 added to the group. The resulting remainder of 364 is less than the maximum remainder c of 400, whereby the process flow in step S6 to the step S9 branches and the group flag is set.

In step S7, it is checked whether the rest of the group is greater than further available print jobs. This is not the case, with which the procedure branched off to step S10, in which it is checked whether there are additional print jobs. This is the case, therefore, in step S12, it is checked if the group flag is set. Since the group flag is set, the process flow goes to step S4, in which a new group is opened. The new group is assigned the largest available print job (S5, node 2 in 6 ). The remainder is 13731, which is greater than the maximum remainder of 400 and greater than other available print jobs (step S6, S7), thereby allocating the largest possible print job smaller than the remainder in step S8. This is the print job A4. This results in a remainder of 405.

In step S6, it is determined that this remainder is greater than the maximum remainder c, whereby the method again proceeds directly to step S7, where it is determined that the remainder of 405 is not greater than other available print jobs. As a result, the process flow branches to step S10, in which it is checked whether there are additional print jobs. This is the case, which is why it is checked via steps S12 and S13 whether there are more smaller print jobs than the last print job assigned to the group. The last print job assigned to the group was print job M. Print jobs A5-A10 are all smaller than print job A4, which transfers the process to step S14 where print job A4 replaces the next smaller print job, job A5 becomes. This is the node 5 in 6 , The rest is now 2858.

There the rest of 2858 still larger than that Maximum remainder is and greater than further available Print jobs, the group will be the print job in step S8 A9, with respect to the remainder of 2858 of the available print jobs the largest Print job is even smaller than the rest.

This yields at node 8 a remainder of 1520 ( 6 ). This remainder, in turn, is greater than the maximum remainder of 400 and greater than further available print jobs, so in step S8 another print job is again assigned to the group, namely print job A10. This results in a remainder of 351.

Since the remainder of 351 is less than the maximum remainder of 400, the process branches to step S9 where the group flag is set. In step S7, it is determined that there are no more print jobs smaller than the rest of 351. As a result, the process flow goes to step S10, in which it is checked whether there are further print jobs and to step S12, in which the group flag is set. This is the case, which is why the method branches again to step S4 and a new group is generated. Thus, two groups are already assigned to print jobs that are in 6 denoted by M1 and M2 and in 7A are shown.

at the generation of group M2 became the already generated assignment reset with the print job A4 and a new one Assignment with the print jobs A5, A8 and A10 replaced. The present method thus includes a reset method (Backtracking).

In the third group, the print jobs A3, A4 and A6 are inserted, giving a remainder of 2757. Since this remainder is greater than the maxi The remainder of 400 is (S6) and the remainder is not larger than other print jobs (S7), but other print jobs are present (S10) and the group flag is not set (S12), it is checked in step S13 if there are several small print jobs Print jobs are available as the last set print job. The method proceeds to step S15, which checks to see if there are more than two print jobs in the group and if there are more print jobs not already allocated. The latter is not the case, which is why the method step proceeds to step S17, in which nothing is executed, since no further print jobs are reserved. In step S18, the print job A7 is divided into two parts, one part corresponding exactly to the length of the remainder of 2757 and being assigned to the group. The other part is then assigned to a new group in step S19. Since there are no further print jobs, the process branches to step S10 in step S7, and from there to step S11, thus terminating it. Due to the small number of print jobs, the possibility of optimization by the method according to the invention is limited. However, even this example shows that after two groups, namely the groups M1 and M2, the input rollers and the output rollers can be replaced simultaneously, thus saving downtime.

In this example ( 7A ) results in a total standstill of the printing device by means of the formula G = 4 × E + 10 × A - 2 × A of 70 minutes since the output rollers are exchanged twice at the same time as the input rollers (with E = 10 min and A = 5 min). Only a scrap of 715 clicks is generated. The unused 39,238 clicks on the fourth input reel can be used for additional print jobs. Preferably, when determining a further order of print jobs as the path length for the first group, this remaining length is used.

With only 10 print jobs, it is also possible to determine the optimum with respect to the unused material. This optimum is in 7b shown. With more print jobs, this is virtually impossible, because the calculations are too expensive.

Based on 11 An alternative heuristic procedure for optimizing the workflow of the print jobs is explained. This procedure is in 11 represented in the form of a flow chart.

This process starts with step S20. In step S21, the print jobs are sorted according to their size. In step S22, the sorted print jobs are renumbered in size. So far, this alternative method agrees with that in 4 match shown method.

in the Step S23 checks if available print jobs and / or remaining print jobs are available. As residual print orders Print jobs are called by dividing a Print jobs arise, such. B. in the above explained Method in step S18. If it is determined in step S23 that at least one available print job and / or a residual print job is present, then a group is generated in step S24.

in the Step S25 checks if there is a residual print order is. If a residual print job is available, it will be in step S26 assigned to the group. This will ensure that this Remaining print job processed as the first print job of this group becomes.

To In step S26, the process goes to step S27. The process also goes to step S27, if it is determined in step S25 that no residual print order is available. In step S27, it is checked if a remainder greater than or equal to the smallest available print job is. The remainder refers to the length resulting from the Course length minus the respective group assigned track sections of the print jobs.

If the rest is greater or equal to the smallest available Is print job, then in step S28, the largest matching available print job assigned to the group. As the largest suitable available print job becomes the one print job of the set of available print jobs which are less than or equal to the remainder, the largest is. In step S28, after allocating the largest matching available print jobs the rest recalculated. The process then returns to step S27, to check for another available print job exists, which can be assigned to the group.

If is determined in step S27 that the remainder is smaller than that smallest available print job is, then goes the procedure to step S29, in which the assignment with the least remainder is noted. This means that of the group assigned print jobs represent an assignment that owns a certain rest. If this group already before other print jobs have been assigned then will the rest of the current association with the rest of the previously saved Allocation compared. The assignment with the smaller remainder becomes stored as the assignment with the least remainder.

Of the Procedure now goes to step S30. in the Step S30 becomes the last complete sequence of the individual Undo print jobs to the group. As complete consequences are understood print jobs, those after sorting (S21) and after numbering (S22) are immediately adjacent to each other following and are assigned to the group in this episode are. After taking back the complete episode the rest is recalculated in step S30.

in the Step S31 checks if the group is empty or only includes a residual print job.

If if this is not the case, the procedure goes to the step S32 above, in which the assignment of the last assigned Undo the print job and the Rest is recalculated. The group will be the next smaller Print job to the print job, undo its assignment has been made, assigned to the group. The procedure goes to step S27, so with the steps S27 and S28 assigned another series of print jobs to the group become.

If On the other hand, in step S31, it is determined that the group is empty is or includes only the residual pressure order, then the procedure goes to step S33. In step S33, it is checked whether the previously determined assignment with the smallest remainder less than the maximum remainder is c.

If the least remainder is smaller than the maximum remainder c, then becomes in step S34, the assignment with the least remainder final assigned to the group and the assigned print jobs noted as unavailable print jobs. Of the Procedure then proceeds to step S23 so that if further print jobs should be available, one another group can be generated in step S24.

If In step S33, it is determined that the least residue is not is smaller than the maximum remainder c, then it means that the Group no print jobs with a group length could be assigned, at least the desired length equivalent. The process then proceeds to step S35, which checks if the rest of the group is larger or equal to the largest available print job is. At the first invocation of step S35, this is certainly the Case, because in step S31 has already been checked whether the Group is empty or contains only the remaining print job.

in the Step S36 becomes the largest available print job assigned to the group and the rest recalculated. The procedure then goes back to step S35. By repeatedly executing Steps S35 and S36 will be the largest available Assigning jobs to the group consecutively, until it is determined in step S35 that the remainder is not larger or equal to the largest available print job is. Then, the process proceeds to step S37, in which the largest available print job in a first machining part order and a second machining part order is split, so that the first machining part order the machining jobs the group was added exactly to the group length and the rest extending over the length of the track forms the second machining part order. This second machining part order is also referred to as residual print order. The first machining part order is assigned to the group so that the group length is exact the path length corresponds.

Of the Procedure then proceeds to step S23. There a residual print job is present in step S24 a new Group generated and by means of step S25 and step S26 the remaining order is assigned to the newly created group. After that The following steps will become available print jobs assigned to the group.

results in step S23, that no available print job and there is no residual print order, then the process flow branches to the step S38 where the process is finished since all print jobs each assigned to a group.

This procedure differs from that in 4 shown method, characterized in that for a group several assignments are calculated, in each case the assignment is marked with the least remainder. This means that in the in 6 shown tree diagram for determining a group first several branches of this tree diagram are determined and only the branch with the least remainder of the group is assigned. The remaining branches are discarded. For the next group again several branches are determined and evaluated according to their remainder. This in 11 The method shown thus requires slightly more computation time, but gives more optimal groups.

This method was applied to another example with the following 42 print jobs:
11669, 7.294, 11.783, 19.734, 3.490, 12.416, 4.149, 7.443, 18.402, 19.006, 14.250, 13.517, 3.719, 18.166, 20.606, 1.602, 8.737, 6.265, 10.211, 649, 11.868, 4.132, 17.327, 3.111, 18.698, 11,130, 7,190, 1,361, 2,380, 11,662, 22,954, 5,354, 17,116, 23,153, 21,294, 13,060, 9,412, 22,704, 1,925, 10,331, 8,308 and 21,814

The print jobs are in a histogram in 8A shown. The sum of all sizes is 479,392, so you need at least 12 track lengths of 40,000 clicks. If you distribute these print jobs in their natural order to the groups, you get the in 8B shown workflow. At each end of a group, a print job is shared.

In 9 the print jobs are sorted according to their size and renumbered.

If these print jobs match the in 11 are sorted with the maximum remainder c = 100, then all 42 print jobs are distributed among the 12 roles, with no print job to be shared. Only 608 clicks are discarded ( 10A ).

If one chooses in the same example for the maximum remainder c = 50, then only the last print order of group 11 has to be divided. There are 400 clicks left on group 12. Otherwise, 208 clicks are discarded ( 10B ).

If one chooses in the same example for the maximum remainder c = 25, only the last print jobs of groups 10 and 11 have to be shared. In the last group 12 482 clicks remain. Otherwise, 126 clicks are discarded ( 10C ).

Chooses one in the same example for the maximum remainder c = 10, only the last print job of the Groups 8, 10 and 11 are shared. Group 12 will have 575 left Clicks left, otherwise 33 clicks are discarded.

This Example shows that with a larger number of print jobs a considerable optimization potential consists.

In a simulation, the in 11 applied to 5,000 print jobs distributed across 1461 and 1462 groups, respectively. The size of the print jobs was determined by random numbers. The table below shows the number of groups, the number of separations of individual print jobs, the discarded clicks, and the amount of CPU time in seconds for a 2600 Mhz CPU for different maximum residuals c. c groups splitting discard CPU time 25 1462 0 7035 3.56 24 1462 0 6972 3.53 23 1462 0 6888 3.54 22 1462 1 6572 3.54 21 1462 1 6406 3.56 20 1462 1 6342 3.54 19 1462 0 5956 3.55 18 1462 1 6050 3.57 17 1462 1 5756 3.76 16 1462 1 5810 3.69 15 1462 1 5619 3.62 14 1462 1 5386 5.23 13 1462 0 5010 3.68 12 1462 1 4668 86.23 11 1462 1 4569 1,106.12 10 1462 0 4259 4.29 9 1462 0 4005 3.74 8th 1462 1 3606 5.28 7 1462 2 3284 52,35 6 1462 4 2841 2,701.30 5 1461 5 2515 5,296.78 4 1461 2 2096 25,98 3 1461 5 1707 9.47 2 1461 12 1175 832.28 1 1461 14 610 143.91 0 1461 21 0 1,165.89

For Small c is needed for the process considerably Computing time, because less and less often a combination of print jobs is found for a group that is taller as the nominal length and smaller than the track length is. Therefore, it may be appropriate to the process to be modified such that after a certain computing time for a group the process is canceled and a print job the group is added, which is then split.

The heuristic method described above is very efficient and It can be considerably processing time on the printing device save, while the Committee on the paper is kept low.

The assignment or sorting of the print jobs can also be done with another method. For example, the print jobs may be randomly distributed using the Monte Carlo method, with multiple distributions being evaluated and the order of best rating selected. Preferably, the Monte Carlo method is combined with a heuristic method, in which first the largest print jobs are evenly distributed among the groups, and then by means of the Monte Carlo method several distributions of small print jobs are created, which are added to the groups. This results in different sequences, which are each evaluated with a certain cost measure. The cost measure, for example, after calculates the following formula: G = (k * E + n * A-x * A) K + 1 * M, where E is the necessary life for replacing the input rollers 11 and A the necessary life for replacing the output rollers 12 is. K is the number of exchanges of the input rollers 11 and n is the number of exchanges of the output rolls 12 and x is the number of concurrent exchanges of the input rollers and the output rollers. l is the length of the broke and K is the cost factor per tool life and M is the cost per length of scrap. In the above formula, it is assumed that the replacement of the output rollers can be performed faster than the replacement of the input rollers. However, if the input rollers can be replaced faster than the output rollers, then the expression "x · A" should be replaced by "x · E".

Alternatively, one can also determine different orders or permutations of the print jobs with other methods. For example, one can create a particular order and then systematically swap print jobs, each rank being valued at a cost G. Preferably, a lexicographic order (see http://de.wikepedia.org/wik/lexikografische_Ordnung ) so that especially the print jobs are reversed at the end of the order and you do not always have to calculate a completely new order.

In the 4 and 11 Specific embodiments of the method are shown as flow charts. In the context of the invention, however, it is possible to modify these methods. It is essential that the groups of print jobs are sorted in such a way that at the end of a group only a small amount of rejects (≤ c) can be exchanged as often as possible between the input and the outgoing roles.

The The invention is above for a method of sorting Print jobs have been explained. The invention is however also for all other types of work procedures, in which webs of material on rollers and removed be suitable.

in the The scope of the invention may also include a reset method as discussed above (backtracking) using a statistical procedure involving multiple orders are generated, which then with a cost measure (eg above cost G) and accordingly to be selected.

at above procedure will be editing jobs on roles assigned to and removed material webs. As part of The invention can also be used in place of webs processed predetermined stack supplied sheets become.

at the above method forms groups of print jobs, where the groups are alone according to the criterion of length the individual print jobs. To another aspect of the present invention additional or alternative criteria for forming the groups be used.

The following is based on 12 a further problem in the printing of web-shaped recording media, in particular sheet-like paper, which is fed to and removed from a printing device by means of roles explains.

The web-shaped record carrier 10 is by means of an input role 11 the printing device 2 fed. The printed record carrier is at the exit roller 12 wound. The printed and on the starting roll 12 wound recording medium is often subjected to a post-processing connected to the printing device. There are various post-processing activities, such as cutting, folding, tying, gluing, kurverting, stapling, stacking and punching. Usually, several of these post-processing activities are also performed in combination, such as cutting, folding and binding. The individual post-processing activities can also be further subdivided, such as, for example, binding in ring bandages and adhesive bindings. Basically, the post-processing process is usually slower than the printing process. In 12 are schematically three different post-processing equipment 1.16 to 16.3 shown. The post-processing equipment 1.16 to 16.3 are arranged in the entire printing system such that they are parallel recording medium 10 , each from a starting role 12 can be deducted, edit.

The inventors of the present invention have recognized that the automatic organization of document processing jobs, particularly print jobs, results in a significant increase in the efficiency of the overall printing system when using the post-processing equipment 16 in the organization of document processing orders. This is due, on the one hand, to the fact that the post-processing devices process the recording media much slower than the printing devices. Furthermore, post-processing devices require conversion times when changing from one particular post-processing process to another post-processing process. The changeover times can be a few minutes but also a few hours Thus, for example, a post-processing device for cutting in a format of 9 cm × 11 cm can be quickly converted to a format of, for example, 9 cm × 12 cm. Depending on the embodiment of the post-processing device, this takes a few minutes to a maximum of 15 minutes. If, on the other hand, one were to convert a post-processing device from perfect binding to film binding or ring binding, then much more time is required here. Typical values are 2 to 3 hours.

The basic principle of the automatic organization of the document processing jobs is to group together print jobs that are to be subjected to the same post-processing process in such a way that these print jobs are grouped together on an output role, whereby the individual groups of print jobs are sorted such that the post-processing devices 16 are used optimally.

One first criterion for sorting the groups of document processing jobs This is the throughput in the post-processing processes connected to the printing device to take into account and depending on the throughput of respective post-processing process the individual Nachverarbeitungsprozessen sort groups alternately so that the corresponding Post-processing equipment as evenly as possible are busy.

One second criterion of sorting the groups of document processing jobs is in it, the necessary changeover times in setting to consider the order of the groups. This is especially in high-performance digital printing, because Digital printing is characterized by a large number of print jobs can be printed with a relatively small print volume, without the pressure device being retrofitted for this must become. In digital printing, the print volumes are much smaller as in offset printing. Small print volumes require much more often a conversion to the post-processing equipment as large print volume.

The following is based on 13 and 14 a print server configured to perform the automatic sorting of document processing jobs according to the above principle.

The print server 3 is via a data line 17 with a national network (WAN, Internet) 18 connected. To the data network 18 are computers 15 connected to create document editing jobs.

The print server 3 has a distributor module 19 on that with multiple storage units 1.20 to 4.20 connected is. To the storage units 20 is a forwarding module 21 connected, the groups of document processing jobs via a data line 4 to a printing device 2 can forward. The distributor module 19 and the forwarding module 21 are preferably designed as computer program units.

In 14 are some functions shown on the server 3 be executed in multi-tasking mode.

Incoming document processing jobs are created by means of the function F1 on the distributor module 19 examined for predetermined, relevant properties. The individual document processing jobs are to be classified. The properties relevant for this classification are extracted with the function F1. These properties are for example the format, the substrate or paper type (eg environmental paper, foil, special paper, etc.), the color space to be used and / or features of the post-processing process. In addition to the physical characteristics (eg format or substrate type) and the process-related features (color space, post-processing features), business features, such as the level of the warehouse and storage times of the unprinted record carrier or the printed products can be taken into account.

Using a function F2, the individual document processing jobs or print jobs are assigned to specific classes based on their characteristics. Corresponding to their class assignment are the document processing jobs from the dispatcher module 19 each in a storage unit 20 stored exclusively for receiving document processing jobs of a particular class. The document processing jobs stored in the storage units are grouped in function F3. The grouping can be carried out according to the methods explained above depending on the length of the respective document processing jobs, so that a simultaneous exchange of the input and output roles takes place as often as possible.

In principle, however, it is also possible to form the groups according to other criteria. In particular, if within a class relatively few document processing jobs exist, then the existing document processing jobs are grouped together, if they together have a certain minimum length, even if this minimum length is still too low, at the same time the input and output exchange role.

From the distributor module 19 the groups formed are recorded and sorted (function F4). The sorting of the groups takes place according to predetermined rules. Below some rules are explained in more detail by way of example.

Rule 1:

The Groups will depend on the throughput of the post-processing equipment sorted, with the post-processing equipment evenly be busy with groups of processing jobs and the post-processing equipment, which has a higher Throughput, more groups of document processing jobs be assigned.

Rule 2:

It it is examined whether different groups, which worked on the same Nachverarbeitungsgerät should be a different setting on the post-processing device and thus require a conversion. If such a conversion is detected, then similar groups of document processing jobs to each other following, so that the number of retooling operations is low and depending on the necessary changeover time, is the number of submitted groups of document processing jobs, which are processed by this post-processing device, reduced to no backflow at this post-processing device to cause.

Rule 3:

The Order of each group is dependent determined by their content. Contains a group of several Document processing orders that have an urgent note It shall be determined according to the urgency notice and the number of urgency notes the priority of Group determined in the order of the groups.

Rule 4:

The Groups of document processing jobs are dependent the stock level of the unprinted record carrier and / or sorted the printed products, for example, a high Stock of a particular type of record carrier this is processed priority and at a high inventory a group of document processing jobs, which lead to the production of the product, subordinate to the Order is sorted to avoid unnecessary inventory to increase.

The thus sorted groups of document processing jobs are from the forwarding module 21 over the data lines 4 to the printing device 2 forwarded (function F5).

This The method can be developed in such a way that the document processing jobs within each group according to their urgency and / or other Criteria are sorted.

The The rules listed above can be used with a mathematical be applied exactly. In the context of the present invention can but it also be appropriate to the rules with a Apply fuzzy logic.

This based on 13 The method explained above is particularly useful if it is known in advance which types of document processing jobs on the server 3 so that the individual classes can be specified in advance. Depending on the classes, then the storage units 20 and the relevant properties for sorting the document processing jobs are defined.

However, it is not always possible to set the classes in advance. An alternative method for sorting the groups is in 15 shown, in which the individual classes must not be determined in advance. This process starts with step S40. In step S41, a predetermined amount of document processing jobs or print jobs are collected.

is a minimum amount of document processing jobs exists, then clustering takes place based on the properties of the document processing jobs. This document processing jobs are in one Cluster summarized, the same and / or similar Have properties. These properties are not preliminary but it will be the document processing jobs grouped into a cluster where as possible many properties are the same or at least similar, where the individual properties vary greatly for the clustering can be weighted.

In step S43, the document processing jobs or print jobs within the respective clusters are grouped together, so that a group of document processing jobs can be processed with the recording medium of an input role. That together can be performed according to a method explained above, so that the group length corresponds to at least a desired length, which is a piece shorter than the track length (eg 4 and 11 ). However, the groups can also be grouped according to other criteria.

The Document processing jobs are within the group or clusters sorted (step S44). This sorting is done before all according to predetermined urgency criteria, in the document processing jobs are included.

The clusters are sorted (step S45), those in the above with reference to 14 applied rules are also applied here. Sorting can be done using a single or a combination of multiple rules.

in the Step S46, the groups or clusters to the printing device forwarded. The process is ended with step S47.

The Process steps S43 and S44 are optional, d. h. that the procedure be carried out without these two process steps can. If no groups are formed, then in step S45 sorts the clusters and, in step S46, sorts the clusters to the printing device forwarded. This is especially useful if the size of the clusters is smaller than the track length of the record carrier of an input reel. Then Thus, the clusters directly form one group each.

By this automatic clustering and the sorting of clusters or The groups formed from this are the downtime, in particular to the post-processing equipment, reduced and the utilization improved the entire printing system.

1

printing system

2

printing device

3

print server

4

data line

5

Print Specifications Controller

6

printing unit

7

printing unit

8th

printing unit

9

Photoconductor drum

10

record carrier

11

input roller

12

starting role

13

Computer program unit

14

data line

15

computer

16

postprocessing

17

data line

18

network

19

distribution module

20

storage unit

21

Forwarding module

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list The documents listed by the applicant have been automated generated and is solely for better information recorded by the reader. The list is not part of the German Patent or utility model application. The DPMA takes over no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited non-patent literature

• - http://en.wikepedia.org/wik/lexikografische_Ordnung [0109]

Claims (16)

Method for automatically controlling the order of processing orders of material containers, wherein the Processing orders distributed over several material containers be processed, and before and during processing the material containers in input containers of a processing device be fed, with the processing of material containers at a central station and at several of the central stations downstream post-processing equipment takes place, and before Editing the processing jobs in several groups or clusters are summarized, with the groups or clusters sorted automatically according to rules. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that the material container a material web, the input container an input role, the output container an output role and the Container processing length is a track length, wherein the Material webs fed to input rollers of the processing device and rolled up to output rolls after processing. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that that the material container a Gebindestapel of sheets predetermined Number and given size, the input container an input stack, the output container an output stack and the Container processing length over a Gebindelänge all the bows of the bundle is bundle, with the bundle of batches fed as input stack of the processing device and after processing are stacked up as a starting stack. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that for sorting the clusters or groups one or more of the following rules are used: - the groups are sorted according to the throughput of the post-processing devices, the post-processing devices being equally loaded with groups of processing jobs and allocate more sets of document processing jobs to the post-processing devices that have higher throughput. - Groups with similar document processing jobs are sorted sequentially so that the number of retooling operations is small and / or depending on the necessary retooling time, the number of submitted groups of document processing jobs to be retrofitted by a post-processing device ( 16 ) are processed in order to work on this post-processing device ( 16 ) to cause no backwater. The order of the individual groups is determined depending on their contents, in particular if a group contains one or more document processing orders which contain an urgent note, the priority of the group is determined in the order of priority depending on the urgency notice and / or the number of urgency notices Groups determined. The groups of document processing jobs are sorted according to the stock level of the unprinted record carriers and / or the printed products, whereby, for example, a high stock level of a certain type of record carrier is given priority and with a high stock of a certain product the group of document processing jobs assigned to the Produce the product, subordinated sorted in order, so as not to unnecessarily increase the stock. Method according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the processing orders Document processing jobs, especially print jobs are. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the processing orders within the groups or clusters according to the processing orders are sorted according to urgent requirements. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that prior to forming groups the processing jobs automatically based on relevant properties in predetermined classes be sorted and that the groups each within the respective Classes are formed. Method according to claim 7, characterized, that For sorting into classes, each processing order is the following Subjected to steps: - Extract for sorting into classes of relevant properties (F1), such as B. the format, the type of substrate or paper (eg environmental paper, foil, Special paper, etc.), the color space to be used, features of the post-processing process and / or economic characteristics, such as level of the warehouse and storage times of the unprinted record carrier or the printed products, - Assign the document processing orders to respective classes according to the extracted properties (F2). Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that prior to forming groups, the processing jobs automatically in clusters using the same and / or similar properties of the processing orders and that the groups are each formed within the respective clusters, the relevant properties being e.g. As the format, the substrate or paper type (eg., Environmental paper, foil, special paper, etc.), the color space to be used, features of the post-processing and / or economic characteristics, such as the level of the warehouse and storage times of the unprinted record carrier or the printed products. Method according to one of claims 1 to 9, where the processing jobs have different lengths and the material containers each have a predetermined container processing length own, so that the machining jobs on multiple material bundles to be distributed, and each material container each a group is assigned, and summarizing the processing jobs is executed in several groups such that the entire Length of the processing jobs of a group if possible often not smaller than a nominal length, which is a small one Piece smaller than the container processing length is so that when editing such a group an input container and a Ausgangsgebinde can be replaced simultaneously. The method of claim 10, wherein the merging of the processing jobs into a plurality of groups is performed such that the total length of the sections of the processing jobs of each group, hereinafter referred to as group length, for several groups is in the range between a desired length and a package processing length, and the target length is smaller than the package processing length by a predetermined threshold value (c), and in a group for which no group length in the range between the target length and the package processing length can be determined, another processing job is divided into a first and a second machining job order (S18, S36) that the section of the first machining part order corresponds to the difference between the package processing length and the group length and is added to the group as the last machining job, and the second machining part job to another group e is added as the first processing order (S19, S26) which is subsequently processed to the group with the first processing part order, and - the processing jobs of each group are executed consecutively, and for group lengths whose length is at least the desired length, the input container ( 11 ), with which the material container for processing these processing orders has been supplied, and the output container ( 12 ), in which the processed material package is summarized, be replaced at the same time. Method according to claim 10 or 11, thereby in that to summarize the material package The following steps are performed in groups a) Sort the processing jobs according to their size (S2), b) Selecting the largest available Processing order and assignment of this processing order to a group (S5), c) adding the largest Available editing jobs for this group, the still fits on a material package (S8), d) repeating the Step c) until no further processing order is available which can be assigned to the group, where the group length not larger than the container processing length is e) Check if the group length is greater or equal to the desired length is (S6, S9), and if this is the Case is, then another group of edit jobs generated according to the steps a) to d), if still There are processing orders that do not belong to a group are assigned, and if the group length is smaller when the target length is, become one or more processing jobs removed from the group and through multiple editing jobs replaced, all smaller than the longest remote processing order are (S13, S14), in particular when removing a processing order from the group if the group length is less than the target length is, the following steps are performed: a) Remove the two last assigned processing orders, b) Add of the larger of the two remote processing jobs next smaller processing order (S17), c) checking if there are still free processing jobs added to this group can be, so they are still on a material container If possible, the next largest will be added free editing order, and if not is possible, then the steps a) to c) are repeated, wherein if in step a) it is established that no smaller processing orders are present (S13), a processing job is divided (S18). A method according to claim 10, characterized in that different sets of groups using the Monte Carlo method and calculates a cost measure for each set of groups and the sentence with the lowest cost becomes. A method according to claim 10, characterized in that different sets of groups by means of systematic interchange of the Order, preferably with a lexicographic order, and for each set of groups a cost measure is calculated and the set with the lowest cost measure is selected. Software product required to perform the procedure is designed according to one of claims 1 to 14. Printing system with a printing device ( 1 ), a print server ( 2 ), which is connected to the printing device, wherein the print server for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 15 is formed.