DE102020103650A1 - ALIGNMENT STATION FOR ALIGNING A PRINT OBJECT TO BE PRINTED BY MEANS OF A PRINTING MACHINE, IN PARTICULAR COIN AND METHOD FOR ALIGNING SUCH PRINT OBJECT - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to an alignment station (1) for aligning a print object to be printed by means of a printing machine, in particular a coin, the alignment station (1) having a specimen slide holder (3) which is designed to hold a specimen slide (4) with at least one of the To hold object slide (4) recorded and / or held print object (2). The alignment station (1) also has an optical detection system (8) which is designed to detect a relative position and / or alignment of the at least one print object (2) to the object carrier (4) and / or to a reference in a contactless manner. The alignment station (1) also has a positioning system (9) which is designed to manipulate the at least one print object (2) in such a way that the relative position and / or alignment of the print object (2) to the object carrier (4) and / or corresponds to the reference to a previously defined or definable position and / or orientation.

Description

The present invention relates generally to coins having a finished or treated surface and, more particularly, to methods of making such coins.

Coins are circular or minted or poured in different shapes, which are used either as currency (currency coins) or as commemorative coins. This also includes commemorative coins that are specially minted for the collector's market. The term “coin” used here is in no way intended to be restricted to legal tender, but also to include medals that can be produced by private individuals.

It is known that coins can be made from different coin metals, with metals such as gold and silver giving the coin a high value. Thus, the type of coin metal or the composition of the alloy is a way of determining the value of a coin. In addition, the type of minting or the number of copies of the coins can also have an influence on the value. The type of motifs that form the basis for the embossing or pressing is almost innumerable and includes all kinds of representations, such as architectural buildings or famous personalities.

In order to give a coin a special value and / or a special aesthetic appearance, some efforts have been made in the prior art to provide coins with additional features. For example, it is known to provide a macroscopic relief on the surface of the coin, which is used for the visual indication of the coin value or as an authenticity feature.

Furthermore, several coins made of a core made of plastic, which is constructed in a sandwich construction from plastic-based foils, are known.

The usual methods that are used to give a coin a special value and, in particular, a special aesthetic appearance, are all the more complex, the finer the motifs are, which form the basis for the minting or pressing of the coin. There is therefore a fundamental need for a technology with which the surface and in particular the motifs of an embossing or pressing of a coin can be processed and, in particular, refined, in a high-resolution and precise manner, at least in certain areas.

In principle, digital printing would be ideal for this. In this printing process, a print image is transferred directly from a file or a data stream from a computer to a printing machine without using a static printing form. Electrophotography or inkjet printing are particularly suitable as digital printing.

In contrast to classic printing processes such as offset printing, gravure printing, flexographic printing or screen printing, digital printing is particularly suitable for working economically, even with low print runs down to a unique item.

However, printing processes, in particular digital printing for the refinement of coin surfaces, have not yet been implemented or only with a great deal of effort, since the often filigree embossing or pressing of the coin requires perfect alignment of the coin to be printed with respect to the print head. Up to now, such an alignment of the coins to be printed has been carried out manually with the aid of magnifying glasses in order to allow the person who has to align the coin to be printed to have a larger field of view.

The present invention is based on the object of specifying a solution with which coins can be precisely printed in an efficient and economical manner, in particular coins that have a filigree embossing or pressing, and in which the print image is precise with respect to the embossing or pressing is to be aligned.

In order to achieve this object, an alignment station is proposed according to the invention as specified in independent patent claim 1.

Accordingly, the alignment station according to the invention is used for aligning a print object to be printed by means of a printing machine, in particular a coin, the alignment station having a specimen slide holder which is designed to hold a specimen slide with at least one print object (for example a coin) received and / or held by the specimen slide. to keep. So that a precise alignment of the print object picked up and / or held by the specimen can be carried out in a manner that is as automated as possible and, in particular, fully automated, the alignment station according to the invention furthermore has an optical detection system which is designed to contact-free a relative position and / or alignment of the at least one print object to detect the slide and / or a reference. In addition, the alignment station has a positioning system which is designed to manipulate the at least one print object in such a way that the relative position and / or alignment of the print object to and / or to the object carrier corresponds to the reference of a previously defined or definable position (target position) and / or alignment (target alignment).

Various advantages can be achieved with the present invention. In particular, the alignment station enables an automated orientation and / or alignment of round coins and medals on the basis of their relief or on the basis of other references in order to correctly supply this position to a digital printing system, in particular for multicolor digital printing.

According to embodiments of the alignment station according to the invention, the optical detection system is assigned a drive, preferably in the form of an X-Y linear drive, in order to align the optical detection system over the at least one print object, if necessary and in particular vertically.

In addition, it is provided according to embodiments that the positioning system is assigned a drive, preferably in the form of an X-Y linear drive, for aligning the positioning system vertically over the at least one print object as required.

The positioning system preferably has at least one manipulator, which is preferably movable in the Z direction relative to the at least one print object. In particular, the at least one manipulator of the positioning system is designed to set a rotational alignment of the at least one print object with respect to the object carrier and / or with respect to the reference, if necessary.

The term “Z direction” used here is to be understood as meaning the vertical, while the X and Y directions describe the corresponding coordinate axes in the horizontal.

A friction rotating station, for example, can be used as a manipulator of the positioning system. Of course, however, the invention is not restricted to such manipulators.

The optical detection system preferably has a camera, in particular a camera with integrated lighting, in order, if necessary, to detect the relative position and / or alignment of the at least one print object to the object carrier and / or to a reference. In this context, it is conceivable, for example, that the optical detection system has a CCD camera with integrated lighting, this CCD camera being designed in a state when it is aligned, in particular, perpendicular to the at least one print object, at least one area of the print object , such as to detect an area of the embossing and / or pressing of the coin.

According to preferred implementations of the alignment station according to the invention, a control device with an evaluation device is assigned to the optical detection system. The control device is designed, if necessary, to control the drive assigned to the optical detection system in such a way that the optical detection system is aligned in particular perpendicularly with respect to the at least one print object. In its aligned state, the optical detection system then serves to detect a position and / or position alignment of at least one area of the at least one print object. As already indicated, the position position and / or position alignment is preferably detected in that at least one area of an embossing or pressing of the print object is recorded by the optical detection system.

The evaluation device is preferably designed to compare the position position and / or position alignment detected by the optical detection system, i.e. the area recorded by the optical detection system, for example the embossing or pressing of the print object, with a predetermined or definable target position and / or target alignment. This takes place, for example, in that the alignment of the embossing / pressing area of the print object recorded by the optical detection system is compared with a reference image of at least this embossing / pressing area stored in a storage device of the evaluation device.

If the detected position and / or position alignment deviates from the target position and / or target alignment, according to implementations of the alignment station according to the invention, the evaluation device calculates a movement to be performed on the at least one print object, in particular a rotational movement. This calculated movement, in particular a rotational movement, corresponds to the movement that is necessary and is to be executed by the positioning system so that an actual position and / or actual alignment of the at least one print object corresponds to the target position and / or target alignment.

According to developments of the aforementioned embodiments of the alignment station according to the invention, the control device is designed to control the drive assigned to the positioning system, if necessary, in such a way that the positioning system is in particular perpendicular with reference to which at least one print object is aligned. In this case, the control device is preferably also designed to control the positioning system in the aligned state in such a way that the movement calculated by the evaluation device, in particular rotational movement, is carried out on the at least one print object by the positioning system. With regard to the slide of the alignment station according to the invention, it is particularly conceivable that the slide has a pivot bearing holder for each print object to be picked up and / or held by the slide, in particular in the form of a recess adapted to the format of the at least one print object. The pivot bearing holder is adapted in particular to the format of the at least one print object. This means that the at least one print object is stored in the pivot bearing holder in such a way that - with the exception of a rotational movement about an axis of rotation in the Z direction and with the exception of a translational movement in the direction of the axis of rotation - all other degrees of freedom of movement of the printed object are prevented.

So that after the alignment of the print object with the help of the positioning system, the aligned print objects can be fixed in position, according to preferred developments of the present invention, the object carrier is in particular assigned a locking device, such as, for example, in the form of a clamping bar or a clamping bar arrangement, in order to allow all degrees of freedom of movement of at least one of to lock the rotary bearing holder recorded print object.

To increase economic efficiency, it is provided in particular that the specimen slide has a multiplicity of pivot bearing mountings which are arranged next to one another along a line extending in the X direction. It is advisable here for the optical detection system and the positioning system to be assigned a common drive, preferably in the form of an XY linear drive, and / or for the optical detection system and the positioning system to be motion-coupled in such a way that a distance in the X direction between corresponds to the optical detection system and the positioning system at a distance between two adjacent pivot mounts. In particular, according to implementations of the solution according to the invention, it is provided that a distance in the X direction between the optical detection system and the positioning system is selected such that in a state when the optical detection system is aligned in particular perpendicularly over a first pivot bearing holder of the slide, the Positioning system is aligned in particular perpendicularly over a preferably directly adjacent to the first pivot bearing bracket second pivot bearing bracket.

In this way, it is possible that a relative position and / or orientation of a print object stored in the first pivot bearing holder is sensed simultaneously with the optical sensing system, while the printing object stored in the second pivot bearing holder is suitably manipulated at the same time with the positioning system.

The invention relates not only to an alignment station of the type described above, but also to a method for aligning at least one print object to be printed by means of a printing press, in particular a coin or medal. It is provided here that a specimen slide is initially positioned in a specimen slide holder of an alignment station, in particular an alignment station of the type according to the invention. It is preferably provided here that the specimen slide holder has a centering in order to position the specimen slide in the correct position.

After the slide has been positioned in the slide holder, the at least one print object is placed in a pivot bearing holder of the slide. This process step can be carried out manually, for example.

Subsequently, with the aid of an optical detection system, a relative position and / or alignment of the at least one print object to the object carrier or to a reference is detected. For example, at least part of an embossing and / or pressing of the at least one print object is recorded as an image file for this purpose.

The relative position and / or alignment of the at least one print object to the object carrier or to the reference, i.e. in particular the image file that was recorded by the optical detection system, is then evaluated in order to calculate any movement to be carried out, in particular a rotary movement, of the at least one print object which is necessary so that the relative position and / or orientation of the at least one print object corresponds to a predetermined or definable nominal position and / or nominal orientation. Accordingly, the at least one print object is then manipulated in such a way that the position and / or orientation of the print object relative to the object carrier or to the reference corresponds to a position and / or orientation specified in advance.

In this way, it is possible to set up the print object exactly in the object carrier so that a print image or several print images can then be correctly printed or transferred in their position relative to one another and relative to, in particular, the embossing and / or pressing of the print object.

An exemplary embodiment of the alignment station according to the invention is described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawing.

• 1 schematisch und in einer Draufsicht eine exemplarische Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Ausrichtstation.

It shows:

• 1 schematically and in a plan view an exemplary embodiment of the alignment station according to the invention.

In the 1 alignment station shown schematically 1 is used to align round print objects 2 , in particular coins and / or medals, which are then printed by means of a printing machine. The alignment station 1 has a slide holder for this purpose 3 on which is formed is a microscope slide 4th with those from the slide 4th recorded print objects 2 to keep.

As in 1 indicated is the slide holder for this purpose 3 a centering 5 assigned to the slide 4th to be positioned correctly.

The exemplary alignment station 1 also has an optical detection system 8th on, which is formed, a relative position and / or alignment of the object carrier in a contactless manner 4th recorded print objects 2 to the slide 4th and / or to capture a reference. In particular, the optical detection system 8th a camera, such as a CCD camera, with an integrated light.

Furthermore, at the exemplary alignment station 1 according to 1 a positioning system 9 provided, which is designed, one after the other the print objects 2 manipulate in such a way that their relative position and / or orientation to the slide 4th and / or corresponds to a reference of a predetermined or determinable target position and / or target alignment.

For this purpose, in the exemplary embodiment of the alignment station according to the invention 1 provided that the optical detection system 8th and the positioning system 9 a common drive consisting of a Y-drive 6th and an X-drive 7th assigned. In this way are the optical detection system 8th and the positioning system 9 motion-coupled in the XY direction.

The optical detection system 8th is an in 1 Not shown control device associated with an evaluation device. The control device is designed, if necessary, that of the optical detection system 8th associated XY drive 6, 7 to be controlled in such a way that the optical detection system 8th one after the other, in particular perpendicularly with reference to the respective print objects 2 is aligned. The optical detection system 8th is designed in its relation to a print object 2 in particular the vertically aligned state of at least one area of the print object and in particular of at least one area of an embossing and / or pressing of the print object 2 record an image in order to determine a corresponding positional position and / or positional alignment of the print object 2 capture.

In the 1 Evaluation device, not shown, of the control device is designed to record the image of the print object or of the area of the embossing / pressing of the print object recorded by the optical detection system 2 to be compared with a reference image stored in a storage device of the evaluation device. In other words, that of the optical detection system is in the evaluation device 8th detected position and / or position alignment of the print object 2 compared with a predetermined or definable target position and / or target alignment.

If this image comparison reveals that it is from the optical detection system 8th detected position position and / or position direction of the print object 2 deviates from the target position and / or target alignment, the evaluation device generates an on the print object 2 movement to be carried out, in particular a rotational movement, is calculated, this calculated movement, in particular a rotational movement, corresponding to a movement that is necessary and required by the positioning system 9 is to be executed so that an actual position and / or actual alignment of the print object 2 corresponds to the predetermined target position and / or target alignment.

The control device of the alignment station according to the invention 1 is also designed to control the XY drive 6, 7 if necessary in such a way that the positioning system 9 in particular perpendicular to a print object to be manipulated 2 is aligned.

The positioning system 9 has at least one manipulator, which is preferably positioned in the Z direction relative to the print object to be manipulated 2 is movable and designed, if necessary, a rotational alignment of the print object 2 to the slide 4th and / or to adjust to a reference. The manipulator of the positioning system 9 can for example be a friction rotary manipulator. In the one with reference to the print object to be manipulated 2 aligned state of the positioning system 9 this is done by the control device of the alignment station 1 controlled in such a way that the movement previously calculated by the evaluation device, in particular rotational movement, on the corresponding print object 2 is performed.

The slide 4th assigns for each of the slide 4th print object to be recorded 2 a pivot bearing bracket in the form of a to the print object 2 format-adapted recess. The print objects are in this pivot bearing holder 2 mounted in such a way that - with the exception of a rotational movement about an axis of rotation in the Z direction and a translational movement in the direction of the axis of rotation - all other degrees of freedom of movement of the print objects 2 are prevented.

In 1 is also indicated that the slide 4th a locking device 10 is assigned to, if necessary, all degrees of freedom of movement of the printed objects received by the rotary bearing mounts 2 to lock. This locking device 10 can for example be designed as a clamping bar arrangement.

At the in 1 schematically shown exemplary embodiment of the alignment station according to the invention has the slide 4th a total of three rows running in the X-direction, each with six pivot mounts for the print objects to be aligned 2 on.

It is also provided that a distance in the X direction between the optical detection system 8th and the positioning system 9 is chosen such that in a state when the optical detection system 8th in particular perpendicularly over a first pivot bearing holder of the slide 4th aligned, the positioning system 9 is aligned in particular perpendicularly over a second pivot bearing bracket, which is preferably directly adjacent to the first pivot bearing bracket.

For aligning the print objects 2 becomes an empty slide 4th in the alignment station 1 by means of the centering 5 correctly positioned. The print objects to be printed later are preferably subsequently printed on 2 preferably placed manually in the empty pivot mounts. The print objects are then centrally positioned 2 thanks to the format-adapted recess (cutout) in the pivot bearing brackets. By means of the Y-drive designed as a portal axis system 6th and X-drive 7th becomes the optical detection system 8th over the center of the individual print objects 2 driven and the location of the print objects 2 saved.

The coupled positioning system moves in a defined pitch 9 with the at least one manipulator, preferably designed as a friction turning station, over the center of the print objects 2 and rotates it according to the values determined by the optical detection system 8th or that of the optical detection system 8th assigned evaluation device in the optimal printing position.

Then the slide is made 4th assigned locking device activated and any degrees of freedom of movement of the print objects 2 to the slide 4th frozen.

At the in 1 alignment station shown schematically 1 becomes the slide after orientation of the first row of printed objects 4th Moved row by row and the print objects stored there 2 aligned / oriented accordingly. After aligning all print objects 2 and after activating the locking device 10 can the slide 4th out of centering 5 removed and used for printing in the printing machine.

The invention is not limited to the in 1 The exemplary embodiment shown of the alignment station shown is limited, but also relates in particular to a system consisting of an alignment station 1 of the type described above and a printing machine, in particular a digital printing machine such as an inkjet printer.

In this context, it is also conceivable that the slide 4th a mechanical lifter is assigned to after printing the print objects 2 the print objects in the printing press 2 from the swivel mounts of the slide 4th to dig.

List of reference symbols

1

Alignment station

2

Print object

3

Slide holder

4th

Microscope slide

5

centering

6th

Y drive

7th

X drive

8th

optical detection system

9

Positioning system

10

Locking device

Claims (15)

Alignment station (1) for aligning a print object to be printed by means of a printing machine, in particular a coin, the alignment station (1) having: to hold the print object (2) picked up and / or held on the specimen slide (4); - An optical detection system (8) which is designed to detect a relative position and / or alignment of the at least one print object (2) with respect to the object carrier (4) and / or with respect to a reference in a contactless manner; and - a positioning system (9) which is designed to manipulate the at least one print object (2) in such a way that the relative position and / or alignment of the print object (2) to the object carrier (4) and / or to the reference of a prior corresponds to a fixed or determinable position and / or orientation. Alignment station (1) Claim 1 , wherein the optical detection system (8) is assigned a drive (6, 7), preferably in the form of an XY linear drive, for aligning the optical detection system (8) over the at least one print object (2) as required and in particular vertically. Alignment station (1) Claim 1 or 2 , the positioning system (9) being assigned a drive (6, 7), preferably in the form of an XY linear drive, for aligning the positioning system (9) over the at least one print object (2) as required and in particular vertically. Alignment station (1) after one of the Claims 1 until 3 , wherein the positioning system (9) has at least one manipulator, which is preferably movable and designed in the Z direction relative to the at least one print object (2), if necessary a rotational alignment of the at least one print object (2) to the object carrier (4) and / or to adjust to the reference. Alignment station (1) after one of the Claims 1 until 4th , wherein the optical detection system (8) and the positioning system (9) are assigned a common drive (6, 7), preferably in the form of an XY linear drive, and / or the optical detection system (8) and the positioning system (9) in particular are motion-coupled in the XY direction. Alignment station (1) after one of the Claims 1 until 5 , wherein the optical detection system (8) preferably has a camera, in particular a CCD camera, and wherein the optical detection system (8) is assigned a control device with an evaluation device, the control device being designed to be assigned to the optical detection system (8) if necessary To control the drive (6, 7) in such a way that the optical detection system (8) is aligned in particular perpendicularly with respect to the at least one print object (2), and the optical detection system (8) is designed in its aligned state of at least one area of the at least one print object (2) to detect a position position and / or position alignment. Alignment station (1) Claim 6 , wherein the evaluation device is designed to compare the position position and / or position alignment detected by the optical detection system (8) with a predetermined or definable target position and / or target alignment and, if the recorded position and / or position alignment deviates from the target position and / or or target alignment to calculate a movement to be carried out on the at least one print object (2), in particular a rotational movement, which is necessary and to be carried out by the positioning system (9) so that an actual position and / or actual alignment of the at least one print object (2) with the target position and / or target alignment matches. Alignment station (1) Claim 7 , wherein the control device is designed to control the drive (6, 7) assigned to the positioning system (9), if necessary, in such a way that the positioning system (9) is aligned in particular perpendicularly with respect to the at least one print object (2), and the control device furthermore is designed to control the positioning system (9) in the aligned state in such a way that the positioning system (9) executes the movement calculated by the evaluation device, in particular a rotational movement, on the at least one print object (2). Alignment station (1) after one of the Claims 1 until 8th , wherein the specimen slide (4) has a pivot bearing holder for each print object (2) to be received and / or held by the specimen slide (4), in particular in the form of a recess adapted to the format of the at least one print object (2), in which the at least one print object (2) is or can be stored in such a way that, with the exception of a rotational movement about an axis of rotation in the Z direction and a translational movement in the direction of the axis of rotation, the other degrees of freedom of movement of the at least one print object (2) are prevented. Alignment station (1) Claim 9 wherein the specimen slide (4) has at least two rotary bearing holders which, in a state when the specimen slide (4) is held by the specimen slide holder (3), are spaced from one another on a line extending in the X direction. Alignment station (1) Claim 9 or 10 , wherein the optical detection system (8) and the positioning system (9) are assigned a common drive, preferably in the form of an XY linear drive, and a distance in X- Direction between the optical detection system (8) and the positioning system (9) is selected such that in a state when the optical detection system (8) is aligned in particular vertically over a first pivot bearing bracket, the positioning system (9) in particular vertically over a is preferably aligned directly to the second pivot bearing bracket adjacent to the first pivot bearing bracket. Alignment station (1) after one of the Claims 9 until 11 , wherein the object carrier (4) is assigned a locking device (10), in particular in the form of a clamping bar or clamping bar arrangement, for blocking all degrees of freedom of movement of the at least one printed object (2) held by the pivot bearing bracket as required. Alignment station (1) after one of the Claims 1 until 12th , wherein the specimen slide holder (3) has a centering (5) for the correct positioning of the specimen slide (4). A method for aligning at least one print object (2), in particular a coin, to be printed by means of a printing machine, the method comprising the following method steps: - Positioning a slide (4) in a slide holder (3); - In particular, manual insertion of the at least one print object (2) in a pivot bearing holder of the object carrier (4); - Detecting a relative position and / or alignment of the at least one print object (2) to the object carrier (4) or to a reference; and - Manipulating the at least one print object (2) in such a way that the position and / or orientation of the print object (2) relative to the object carrier (4) or to the reference corresponds to a previously defined position and / or orientation. Procedure according to Claim 14 , wherein for detecting the relative position and / or alignment of the at least one print object (2) to the specimen slide (4) or to a reference, an optical detection system (8) is aligned in particular perpendicularly with respect to the at least one print object (2) and with the optical detection system (8) in its aligned state of at least one area of the at least one print object (2) a position position and / or position alignment is detected, wherein the position position and / or position alignment detected by the optical detection system (8) with a predetermined or determinable target position and / or target alignment is compared, and in the event of a deviation of the detected position and / or position alignment from the target position and / or target alignment, a movement to be carried out on the at least one print object (2), in particular a rotational movement, is calculated which is necessary and from a positioning system (9) is to be carried out, dam it an actual position and / or actual alignment of the at least one print object (2) corresponds to the target position and / or target alignment, and in order to manipulate the at least one print object (2) the positioning system (9) in particular perpendicularly with reference to the at least one print object (2 ) is aligned and, in the aligned state of the positioning system (9), the calculated movement, in particular rotational movement, on which at least one print object (2) is carried out by the latter.

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