DE102015213349A1 - Flexible format setting for digital printing - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a device (1) for producing printed matter, comprising a unwinding unit (2) for providing paper to be printed, wherein the unwinding unit (2) is followed by a printing unit which prints the paper, the printing unit being a cross cutter (4). is arranged downstream, which cuts the printed paper fed endlessly across the feed direction, so that individual printed sheets are provided, the cross cutter (4) is followed by a collecting unit (5) for collecting the sheets fed to it, wherein the collecting unit (5) a feeder unit (6) may be arranged downstream, wherein the investor unit (6) is arranged downstream of at least one further unit for finishing the printed matter to be produced, wherein the upstream and / or behind the cross cutter (4) upstream and / or downstream units actuators viewed in the feed direction by means of which the processing of the supplied sheets in these units of a form at a different format.

Description

The invention relates to a device and a method for operating a device for producing printed matter, comprising a Abrolleinheit for providing paper to be printed, wherein the Abrolleinheit a printing unit is arranged downstream, which prints the paper, wherein the printing unit is arranged downstream of a cross cutter, the him endlessly supplied printed paper transverse to the feed direction, so that individual printed sheets are provided, wherein the cross cutter is arranged downstream of a collecting unit for collecting the sheets supplied to him, wherein the collecting unit (which aligns the collected sheets) may be arranged downstream of an investor unit, said the investor unit at least one further unit for finishing the printed matter to be produced is arranged downstream, according to the features of the respective preamble of the independent claims.

In known devices for printing operations, the format of the printed matter behind the cross cutter is fixed due to the mechanical conditions. For example, such machines can be converted from a two-in-one format to a three-user format by means of a complex conversion process. However, this requires a great deal of retrofitting, which significantly affects the performance of such machines.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a device and a method for operating such in particular for digital printing, with a quick conversion to adapt to the format of the subsequent printed matter is possible.

This object is achieved according to the invention by virtue of the fact that upstream and / or downstream of the cross cutter the actuators are associated with actuators by means of which the processing of the fed sheets in these units is set from one format to another format.

Advantageously, it is thus possible to react quickly and flexibly to format changes. Due to the automatic change of the settings in the units downstream of the cross cutter by means of controllable actuators, one format of the series of printed items to be produced can thus be reacted to another format of the subsequent series of printed items to be produced. The format changeover takes place almost centrally at the touch of a button, so that after the format changeover, which is realized by the respective actuators of the individual units, another series of printed matter with a different format than the previously produced series of printed matter can be produced. This format change according to the invention by means of actuators in the individual units takes place in an advantageous manner centrally and, above all, quickly, so that no further tedious and time-consuming conversion work of the device, as they were previously required, are necessary. This is particularly advantageous when printing series series are to be produced in small quantities.

Furthermore, it is advantageous that the sensors also movably arranged sensors, in particular arranged in front of the cross cutter sensors moves, d. H. be adjusted to give the downstream units or their actuators information about a changed format (such as the width of the paper to be printed), so that by means of the downstream units associated actuators and the changed format can be adjusted.

The term "format" is first understood the format of the sheet of paper to be printed, in particular so length and width and paper type and paper thickness. But it is also understood the format of the product to be manufactured or later finished product, d. H. Length, width, finished width per product, thickness of the paper, number of sheets to be collected (determines the page number), thicknesses of the supplied additional materials (such as cover thicknesses, where the necessary adjustments are to be performed sequentially at the right time), binding method, number of subsequent Processing steps (for example, with or without corner rounding, inserting reinforcing strips, etc.).

In a further development of the invention, a control unit is provided, in which the conversion from one format to the other format is specified, wherein the control unit activates the actuators in the respective units in such a way that they process the sheets supplied to them in the predetermined format. By means of the particular central control unit, it is advantageous that the conversion from one to the other format can be specified via this control unit. The different formats can be entered manually into the control unit or stored formats can also be retrieved and specified. After this specification has been made, the control unit is suitable and designed to control the actuators in the respective units so that they can set the respective unit to the changed format. The respective units are also suitable and designed so that by the control and the movement of the actuators their structural elements their previous position, the corresponded to a format to change, and thus take a position that corresponds to the changed format. These positions can be realized by linear displacements, rotational movements or combinations thereof. The conversion from one format to the other format involves format changes in, for example, the length and / or width of the paper sheet, the type of paper, the type of printing (eg, single-sided or double-sided printing), paper thickness, and the like , The equipment of the device for producing printed matter by means of actuators thus not only the greatest possible flexibility is realized, but it also eliminates a time-consuming conversion of the entire device in the case of format changes, so that such a device can be operated much more flexible and cost-effective. This is particularly advantageous when printing series of small numbers to be produced.

In a further development of the invention, a control unit of the printing unit is connected to the control unit, wherein the conversion is predetermined by means of the control unit of the printing unit. Due to the printing of the endlessly supplied paper in the printing unit, it may be necessary for the format setting of the units downstream of the printing unit to be changed. In this case, it is advantageous if the format change via the control unit of the printing unit is specified and receives the information about the setting to be made via the control unit of the printing unit, the control unit, which adjusts the actuators of the downstream units. In addition to the central specification of the format change over a single higher-level control unit, it is thus possible to make a decentralized format changeover, in particular via the control unit of the printing unit.

The method is provided to solve the problem that when a change from the one format of a sheet is specified to another format, by means of actuators in the respective downstream of the cross cutter units, a change of the format is done automatically. Thus, a device for producing printed matter can be operated in a particularly flexible and cost-effective manner, since it is possible to respond quickly to format changes without the need for time-consuming and costly conversion work.

In a further development of the invention, the automatic conversion of the format is considered in the feed direction with respect to the width of the sheets. While the length of the sheets viewed in the feed direction can be adjusted by the corresponding control of the cross cutter, can be reacted by the automatic adjustment by means of the actuators by the automatic conversion of the format in the feed direction to different widths. This makes it quick and easy to produce different formats of series of printing series.

In a particularly advantageous manner, the automatic conversion of the format between a sheet on the one hand and a parallel to be processed second or third sheet on the other hand (or vice versa). Thus, it is conceivable that one or two sheets, a maximum of three sheets, are processed in parallel, depending on the format of the series of prints to be produced and also as a function of the maximum width of a sheet to be processed. Although it is generally conceivable to process more than three sheets parallel to each other and in this context to make the automatic adjustment by means of the actuators with changes in width, the processing of a sheet on the one hand and two sheets on the other hand (or one or two sheets on the one hand and On the other hand, three sheets on the other hand, from a economic point of view, are of particular advantage since the design effort required for automatic format changeover remains manageable.

In addition, the invention provides a method for operating a device for producing printed matter, comprising a Abrolleinheit for providing printed paper, wherein the Abrolleinheit a cross cutter is arranged, which intersects him endlessly supplied printed paper transversely to the feed direction, so that individual printed sheets ready are placed downstream of the cross cutter a collecting unit for collecting the sheets supplied to him, wherein the collecting unit may be arranged downstream of an investor unit, wherein the investor unit is arranged downstream of at least one further unit for finishing the printed matter to be produced, wherein weiterhind then when a conversion of the a format of a sheet is specified to another format, by means of actuators in the respective cross-cutter front and / or downstream units, preferably downstream units, automatically a conversion of the format takes place. This eliminates the printing unit, because the pressure has already taken place at an earlier time and the printed endless paper roll from the unwinding unit is fed directly to the cross cutter. If the continuous paper roll has printed matters of a different format (such as one or more printed matters first in the form of prints on the continuous paper web cut into individual sheets and finished, these plural printed matters in the one format will have one or more printed matters in one of them follow different format) can prepare these different printed matter on the prepared Endlospapierbahn fed to the cross cutter and the downstream units and quickly processed and completed as a result of format adjustment according to the invention. It is also conceivable to use a device with a digital printing unit, but in this case does not print and through which the printed Endlospapierbahn is merely performed.

In general, the format change according to the invention has the decisive advantage that the entire device does not have to be manually rebuilt (which can take several hours, if not days) to perform a format change, but that the format change within a very short time (depending on the design of the device less than three hours, preferably less than one hour, more preferably less than half an hour and more preferably less than a quarter of an hour or less than 50% or preferably 10% of the previous manual changeover time) by means of the control of the actuators.

The basis for the present invention is a device 1 especially for digital printing. The invention can also be applied to other printing units.

With this device 1 For digital printing, black-and-white and colored printed matter should be produced individually in small quantities.

The starting point for this printing process is a unwinding unit 2 the device 1 in which a roll of paper is held in a manner known per se and unrolled in accordance with the subsequent printing process.

The subsequent printing is done by a digital printing unit 3 , the dereeler unit 2 is downstream and the paper rolled out there for printing is supplied.

That from the unwind unit 2 unrolled and the digital printing unit 3 fed paper is first printed and leaves the digital printing unit 3 in the form of a quasi-endless train. This quasi-endless track becomes a sheeter 4 fed, which according to the predetermined format of the printed matter, the quasi-endless web that is printed across cuts, which initially a format of the later printed matter (optionally with the addition of tolerances) is set.

After the cutting process of the cross cutter 4 joins this one collection unit 5 at. In this collection unit 5 Individual pages of the printed matter to be finished later can be collected. The collection unit 5 in turn, a feeder unit closes 6 at. This investor unit 6 causes that when the collection unit 5 is present, stacked there provided individual sheets to a desired stack, that is collected and thereby created in a position in which further processing is to take place together. Should the collection unit 5 not exist, it is conceivable that the printed matter, the cross cutter 4 leave, directly the investor unit 6 be supplied.

The investor unit 6 can, but does not have to be, a switch 7 be downstream. With this switch, it is possible to eject test prints, for example, to check for quality of the printing process out.

The from the investor unit 6 delivered stack with the printed matter, which does not have the existing switch 7 be ejected become a stapling and folding unit 8th fed. With this unit 8th are the up to then in the pile printed matter stapled depending on the desired format of the finished printed matter and / or folded. Other forms of bringing together the individual sheets of the printed matter are of course also conceivable.

After the individual sheets of printed matter have been brought together permanently, they become a cutting unit 9 fed. By means of the cutting unit 9 The added tolerances of the individual merged sheets of printed matter can be cut to the finished format of the final printed matter. At the end of the cutting unit 9 follows an outlet unit 10 in which the finished printed matter for further use, for example, the packaging in desired containers, fed.

The units described so far are from a higher-level control unit 11 , which is shown schematically controlled.

From the unwind unit 2 becomes a quasi-continuous paper sheet with a given width of the digital printing unit 3 fed. After printing the supplied paper web in the digital printing unit 3 is in addition to the actual printed matter on the paper by means of the digital printing unit 3 a register mark printed. The following cross cutter detects with this register mark 4 at which point the supplied quasi-endless web has to be cut transversely.

After the supplied printed quasi-endless paper web the digital printing unit 3 leave and from the sheeter 4 is cut transversely to the feed direction, then stands with a predetermined length (as viewed in the feed direction) and due to the width of the paper web in the unwinding unit 2 given width of a printed matter available.

This printed matter may be one, two or more than two. This means that on the sheet, which is the cross cutter 4 leaves a single page of a later finished printed matter of predetermined length and width is available. Often, however, a printed sheet will be available which includes two or more sheets of printed matter to be finished later.

According to the invention it is provided that the cross cutter 4 and the following units up to the outlet unit 10 by means of actuators by the control unit 11 can be controlled individually with respect to the processing format of the supplied sheets. So it is possible, via a single command of the control unit 11 the units she controls, especially the sheeter 4 , the collection unit 5 , the investor unit 6 , the stapling and folding unit 8th and the cutting unit 9 to give the order to switch from a given, especially previously processed format to a different format. For example, it is possible for the digital printing unit 3 Sheets printed correspond to the other two-size format. These sheets are processed by appropriate format setting of the subsequent unit. Should now be a change from a two-size format, for example, to a dreinutziges format, this can be done centrally by the control unit 11 respectively. By a corresponding control command of the control unit 11 a corresponding changeover of the printing process takes place in the digital printing unit 3 , Now for the further three-minute processing the digital printing unit 3 also printed three corresponding sheets, the following units get the command to change from the previously used two-size format to the now desired three-size format. This process can be controlled by a corresponding input in the control unit 11 arbitrarily control. Of particular advantage is the switching within the one-used, two-used and maximum three-purpose formats, as this the expense of actuators and the structural conditions in the respective units and optionally the associated sensors that detect the switchover from one to the other format, manageable remains.

With the appropriate control of the control unit 11 is also a particularly flexible timing of the device 1 given for digital printing. This flexible timing allows the digital printing unit 3 provide the printed sheets, depending on the provided printed quasi-endless web, the digital printing unit 3 leaves the subsequent units of these printed sheets, depending on the clock with which this digital printing unit 3 leave, process. The flexible timing of the subsequent process has the particular advantage that withdrawals of leaves on the switch 7 , but also other disturbances (for example, paper jam) in the process of the digital printing unit 3 is downstream, can be caught or balanced without the entire device 1 to have to stop.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Device for digital printing

2

unrolling

3

Digital printing unit

4

Sheeter

5

collection unit

6

investors unit

7

switch

8th

Stapling and folding unit

9

cutting unit

10

outlet unit

11

control unit

Claims (7)

Facility ( 1 ) for producing printed matter, comprising a unwinding unit ( 2 ) for providing paper to be printed, wherein the unwinding unit ( 2 ) is arranged downstream of a printing unit which prints the paper, wherein the printing unit is a cross cutter ( 4 ), which cuts the endlessly supplied printed paper transversely to the feed direction, so that individual printed sheets are provided, wherein the cross cutter ( 4 ) a collection unit ( 5 ) is arranged downstream for collecting the sheets fed to it, wherein the collecting unit ( 5 ) an investor unit ( 6 ), the investor unit ( 6 ) is arranged downstream of at least one further unit for finishing the printed matter to be produced, characterized in that viewed in the feed direction before and / or behind the cross cutter ( 4 ) upstream and / or downstream units are assigned to actuators, by means of which the processing of the supplied sheets in these units is set from one format to another format. Facility ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that a control unit ( 11 ), in which the conversion from one format to the other format is specified, wherein the control unit ( 11 ) controls the actuators in the respective units such that they process the sheets supplied to them in the predetermined format. Facility ( 1 ) according to claim 2, characterized in that a control unit of the printing unit with the control unit ( 11 ), wherein by means of the control unit of the printing unit, the changeover is specified. Procedure for operating a facility ( 1 ) for producing printed matter, comprising a unwinding unit ( 2 ) for providing paper to be printed, wherein the unwinding unit ( 2 ) is arranged downstream of a printing unit which prints the paper, wherein the printing unit is a cross cutter ( 4 ), which cuts the endlessly supplied printed paper transversely to the feed direction, so that individual printed sheets are provided, wherein the cross cutter ( 4 ) a collection unit ( 5 ) is arranged downstream for collecting the sheets fed to it, wherein the collecting unit ( 5 ) an investor unit ( 6 ), the investor unit ( 6 ) is arranged downstream of at least one further unit for finishing the printed matter to be produced, characterized in that when a change from the one format of a sheet is specified to another format, by means of actuators in the respective the cross cutter ( 4 ) upstream and / or downstream units automatically a conversion of the format takes place. A method according to claim 4, characterized in that the automatic conversion of the format viewed in the feed direction takes place with respect to the width of the sheets. Method according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that the automatic conversion of the format takes place between a sheet on the one hand and a second or third sheet to be processed parallel thereto on the other hand. Procedure for operating a facility ( 1 ) for producing printed matter, comprising a unwinding unit ( 2 ) for providing printed paper, wherein the unwind unit ( 2 ) a sheeter ( 4 ), which cuts the endlessly supplied printed paper transversely to the feed direction, so that individual printed sheets are provided, wherein the cross cutter ( 4 ) a collection unit ( 5 ) is arranged downstream for collecting the sheets fed to it, wherein the collecting unit ( 5 ) an investor unit ( 6 ), the investor unit ( 6 ) is arranged downstream of at least one further unit for finishing the printed matter to be produced, characterized in that when a change from the one format of a sheet is specified to another format, by means of actuators in the respective the cross cutter ( 4 ) upstream and / or downstream units automatically a conversion of the format takes place.

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