EP0815496A1

EP0815496A1 - Device for the positionally accurate synchronization of the parallel course of recording carrier webs in an electrographic printing device

Info

Publication number: EP0815496A1
Application number: EP95936574A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Edmund Creutzmann; Andreas Eckardt; Walter Kopp; Hans Winter; Martin Silbersack
Original assignee: Oce Printing Systems GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Canon Production Printing Germany GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 1995-03-24
Filing date: 1995-10-30
Publication date: 1998-01-07
Anticipated expiration: 2015-10-30
Also published as: DE59504939D1; JPH11502803A; WO1996030812A1; EP0815496B1; US6055408A

Abstract

The invention concerns an electrographic printing device designed for printing both sides of a web-shaped recording carrier (1). The electrographic printing device comprises a control device for the positionally accurate synchronization of the parallel course of the recording carrier webs (4, 5) between the transfer printing area (2) and fixing station (8). The parallel course is controlled by controlling the slip in the friction drive (8/1, 8/2) via a brake (7) and/or a force-adjusting mechanism acting on the pressure roller.

Description

description

Device for precise synchronization of the parallel running of recording webs in an electrographic printing device

The invention relates to a device for precise synchronization of the parallel operation of recording medium webs in an electrographic printing device.

An electrographic printing device in which two recording medium webs arranged in parallel are simultaneously moved and printed by the printer is known from WO 94/27193. In such a printing device and other paper processing systems, in which two parallel paper webs pass through successive functional units with frictional or positive drive, the drive of the paper webs is particularly problematic. In order to avoid malfunctions, a parallel synchronous paper run must be guaranteed.

Problem description:

General

In general, the following must be observed when transporting a paper web in synchronism through several functional units of a printing device or the following problems arise:

• In order to achieve a prescribed registration accuracy, the printed image must be aligned with the paper form when printing.

^• When the web passes through the printer, tensile forces occur in the web. These are partly unavoidable e.g. B. due to friction. On the other hand, tensile forces are specifically introduced into the web in order to stabilize the paper flow.

• The tensile forces in the paper change during printing. • The drives drive the web against the effect of the tensile forces (described below).

• The paper web shrinks when heated, depending on the type of paper (water content) and heating. When passing through a thermal fixing station of the usual type, e.g. B. the shrinkage in the direction of the web in the order of 0.06%.

• The transport perforations of the paper webs are subject to manufacturing tolerances. These are up to 0.12% of the nominal size.

Discussion of the different operating modes:

To drive the paper webs z. B. in continuous printers different transport principles are used. These are:

Friction drive

The paper webs are driven by friction usually in nips or by friction roller drives. The drive in the nip is particularly critical

(Fixing gap) between the fixing and pressure roller of a thermal pressure fixing station.

A friction drive transports one track length per time interval. Depending on the force and friction conditions, however, the slip changes, which in principle occurs with every friction drive. Slip means that there is no fixed gear ratio from the driving part to the driven part and the driven part more or less lags behind the driving part. When driving in the nip z. B. one

Fusing station, the paper web around the slip is slower than the surface speed of the drive roller. With the drive motor speed remaining the same, the speed of the driven paper web changes as a result of force and friction influences. Positive drive

The paper webs are driven by positive locking usually via paper transport caterpillars or pin wheels which engage in transport perforations in the paper. A positive drive is here also meant a drive which is mechanically a friction drive, but by e.g. electronic means on the transport of molded elements is regulated. Such a drive automatically regulates different slip and behaves like a positive drive in relation to the web speed. Form elements are recurring detectable features associated with the paper web. These can be, for example: transport perforations, printing marks, folds, perforations, labels.

A positive drive transports a defined number of form elements (e.g. links in a chain, transport holes in the paper web) per time interval. Due to various influences, the transport holes can have different distances from one another (perforation tolerances, paper shrinkage). Tolerances in the perforation distance below a permissible limit do not affect the function of the drive. The tolerances occurring here are in the order of magnitude up to 0.2%. As a result, a different length of web is transported each time a certain number of transport holes are transported.

With the drive motor speed remaining the same, the speed of the driven paper web changes due to punch tolerances and temperature influences. In electrographic printing devices that work with continuous paper, the form position is firmly defined for the transport perforation. This means that form synchronization is usually accomplished via the transport hole and a form-fitting drive. The alignment of the printed image to the paper form in turn usually follows via the form elements in a positive drive.

This means that a constant, constant paper speed cannot be achieved by keeping the drive motor speed constant with either of the two drive types.

Two drives in a row

If several drives are used in a row in a web processing system, a corresponding synchronization must take place depending on the type of drives. Several options for connecting rail drives in series are shown in FIGS. 1 to 3. The elements depicted as a brake illustrate the origin of the tensile forces in the paper. M is the drive torque of the respective drive, n the drive speed.

Two form-fitting drives in a row (see Figure 1) If the two drives (speeds) are permanently coupled to one another when two form-fitting drives are connected in series, the content of the web store in between does not change summarily. Is from l. If the drive is fed with a transport perforation, a transport perforation is subtracted from the second drive. The sum of the transport perforations between the drives remains the same. It is therefore not necessary to regulate the path length between drives 1 and 2. The fixed coupling of drives 1 and 2 can be done mechanically (e.g. via a fixed shaft connection or a gearbox) or electronically (e.g. by using two stepper motors on the same cycle). With this drive, however, the path speed, which changes with the perforation tolerance, is subject to tolerance.

Two friction drives in a row (see Figure 2) The coupling of the drives does not guarantee that the paper web runs smoothly. Depending on the amount of slip of drives 1 and 2, a drive speed difference will occur with the paper running. This means a summary error for the web store between the two drives. The web store is either emptied and the paper tears, or it overflows. Here, therefore, the path length between the two drives must be regulated. The control is usually carried out as drive speed control by at least one of the two drives. The content of the web store is kept at a constant value by regulating the drive speed.

Two different drives in series (see Figure 3)

If two different drives are used in series, the length of the path between the two drives must be regulated again. A coupling of the drives is not sufficient, since the web speed fluctuates with the hole tolerance in the form-fit drive and with the tensile forces in the friction drive. These fluctuations do not compensate each other; there is a summary error for the web store with the above-mentioned consequences.

Two lanes in parallel synchronously

In the problem case described here, two paper webs are processed in parallel synchronously. This is the case with: • two completely independent webs, which run through the printer in whole or in part in parallel, side by side, • a web that is fed back in a loop and, after the feed back, runs in parallel again. (see Figure 4).

Parallel means that the webs run side by side, namely through the same divided or undivided units or functional units. By synchronous it is meant that there is no shift between the forms of one web and the forms of the other web when the paper is running. In the present case, the front edge of the forms is the same on both webs when the alignment line has been reached. The alignment line coincides with the line in which the paper is printed. In order to ensure synchronicity, a common positive drive is used here. A and B tracks run in parallel from the coupled positive drive. Due to differences in the transport perforation, the paper web speeds of web A and web B are different, even though the perforation frequency that is running out is the same.

In the case shown in FIG. 4, the A-web runs through the pair of fixing rollers after the caterpillar drive. The fixing roller pair is on the one hand a friction drive, on the other hand the print image is fixed here by hot rollers with the paper. With this heating, the paper web shrinks in the longitudinal direction. The distance between the transport perforations is thus shortened, for example by approximately 0.06%. After the fixing rollers, the A-web is returned and then runs in parallel with the new A-web as B-web through the caterpillar drive. It follows that the B-Bahn is now slower than the A-Bahn by that 0.06% shrinkage.

The problem that arises is to process the two differently fast webs by means of an undivided pair of fixing rollers, in which the surface speed of the drive friction roller cannot be differentiated for both webs.

A drive speed control as described at the beginning is not sufficient here alone, since only one path between two drives can be controlled. In the arrangement shown in FIG. 4, it must additionally be ensured that the paper length in the return loop between the A-web and the B-web does not change in sum.

The synchronization of successive transport units for a single web in a web processing system, e.g. B. A continuous printer can via a tape storage, for. B. a Schiaufenzieher. The transport speeds of the adjacent drives are regulated depending on their memory content. Such a synchronization is not possible for the reasons described in the parallel-synchronous operation of two lanes.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a device for synchronizing the parallel running of recording medium webs in an electrographic printing device in a positionally accurate manner, in which the recording medium webs pass through a first functional area in parallel with one another in a positively driven manner and then in parallel with one another in parallel with a second Function range be supplied with a friction drive.

Another object of the invention is to design the device in such a way that, in particular, it enables simple and reliable control of the parallel running of the recording medium webs in an electrographic printing device, as is known from WO 94/27193.

In principle, these goals are achieved by a control device which controls the parallel operation by controlling the slip of the friction drive.

Advantageous embodiments of the invention are characterized in the subclaims. Collective and web-specific regulation regulates the size of the slip occurring in each individual paper web in the friction drive in such a way that a trouble-free paper run is ensured. The control can influence this during and outside of printing:

• The speed of the friction drive.

• The paper tension forces of the individual paper webs.

• The surface pressure in the nip of the friction drive.

• The friction coefficient of the friction roller (via its coating).

It also serves to:

• Control of paper loading, start and stop processes.

• Detection of machine and paper feed errors.

Between the positive drive and the friction drive, each track has a track store, which is also referred to as a tape store. In each case, a loop puller tensions the paper web and measures the content of the web store (the length of the paper loop).

The regulation is divided into two largely independent function groups:

The loop length control

The loop length control works in the same direction on both paper loops. The main instrument of this regulation is the rotational speed of the friction roller (fixing roller).

The loop difference control

The loop difference control works in opposite directions on both paper loops. The main instrument here is the web-specific regulation of the tension in the respective paper web. The basic procedure of the regulation is to keep the paper loop length, that is to say the storage content of the tape storage, within permissible limits.

Such a regulation of the slip is particularly unusual when using a friction drive in a fixing station, since a slip usually results in the toner image being blurred, which is precisely what is to be avoided.

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are described in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Show it

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a recording medium web with two positive drives in series.

Figure 2 is a schematic representation of a recording medium web with two friction drives in series.

Figure 3 is a schematic representation of a record carrier web with two different drives in series.

Figure 4 is a schematic representation of the paper run in a printing device with two parallel recording carrier webs.

Figure 5 is a schematic representation of the paper flow in a printing device with duplex printing on a single paper web with two parallel recording medium webs.

Figure 6 is a schematic representation of the structure of a printing device with duplex printing corresponding to Figure 5 with a control device for synchronizing the parallel-running recording medium webs.

Figure 7 is a schematic representation of the function of a loop puller used as a tape store

FIGS. 8 to 12 are schematic representations of loop puller configurations with adjustable deflection force and different force characteristics and

Figure 13 is a schematic representation of a

Pressure force adjustment mechanism for the pressure roller of a fixing station. The invention is described below on the basis of the structure of an electrographic printing device for printing on one or both sides of a tape-shaped recording medium, as is known from WO 94/27193. The content of this document is part of the disclosure of the present application.

Paper run in an electrographic printing device with return of the recording medium and parallel control.

According to the illustration in FIG. 5, in the printing device according to the invention, the tape-shaped recording medium 1 is started from a feed area z. B. drawn into the printer from a roll and printed in the region of the alignment line 2 with the toner images assigned to the front. The recording medium l is designed as a pre-folded continuous paper with a predetermined form length. In the area of the alignment line 2 there is the transfer printing area for transfer printing of the toner images from an intermediate carrier

(Photoconductor drum) on the recording medium 1 with a structure according to WO 94/27193. The drive 3 in the transfer printing area takes place in a form-fitting manner via tractors with nipples arranged thereon, which engage in corresponding edge perforations (shown as white omissions) of the recording medium 1. To distinguish the freshly drawn web assigned to the front from the returned and turned web assigned to the rear in the transfer printing area (alignment line 2), consider the "front web" A-web (reference number 5) and the "back web" B web

(Reference number 4) called. The A-Bahn 5 passes a belt store in the form of a loop puller 6/1 and is driven by a friction drive 8 in the form of a fixing station via a vacuum brake 7/1. The web is then returned, turned in a turning device 10 and, parallel to the freshly drawn web, fed back to the positive drive 3 as a B web 4. Here at the pass Alignment line 2 prints the back in the transfer area parallel and synchronous to the A-Bahn. The B-Bahn runs parallel to the A-Bahn via a 2/2 puller, a 7/2 vacuum brake and again through the friction drive 8 of the fixing station. Then it is a paper edition z. B fed to a stacker or other paper post-processing device.

Between the return of the A-web and the re-feeding of the web into the form-fitting drive 3 as a B-web, a belt store 11 in the form of a loop puller is arranged behind the turning device 10 in the paper transport direction. In the arrangement described here, this loop corresponds to the web store between two positive drives whose function was described at the beginning. The memory content of the loop therefore does not change summarily even without regulation. The memory is only necessary to compensate for tolerances and for form synchronization when inserting forms of different lengths.

The friction drive 8 is formed in the printer from the fixing roller 8/1 and the pressure roller 8/2 and has the task of fixing the toner images on the recording medium 1. The driven fuser roller 8/1 is therefore heated. The moving pressure roller 8/2 is pressed against the fixing roller. The paper web is pressed, heated and driven in a fixing gap 9 between the two rollers. The web shrinks due to moisture loss in the longitudinal and transverse directions. This means that the distances between the form elements (forms, perforation holes) decrease. It follows that after the return, the B-Bahn runs out of the positive drive 3 at a lower Bahnge¬ speed than the A-Bahn.

Control elements The control device for precisely synchronizing the parallel running of the recording medium webs 4, 5 can be subdivided into the following modules, as shown in FIG. 6.

Loop puller assembly

It consists of the loop puller unit 6 consisting of two loop pullers 6/1, 6/2 assigned to the respective track 4 and 5, each of which has a loop pull angle sensor 12, a spring mechanism 13 for the loop puller 7 and an adjusting device 14 for the loop puller Torques. A device for coupling the two loop pullers is not shown.

Vacuum brake functional area

It consists of a device for generating negative pressure 15, for. B. a suction pump, which is connected to a vacuum valve and control assembly 16 from two separately controllable valves 16/1, 16/2 and with the actual vacuum brake 7 from two separate sliding surfaces 7/1, 7/2 with suction holes is coupled.

Fixing area

It consists of the fixing roller 8/1, a drive 17 in the form of an electric motor for the fixing roller 8/1, the pressure roller 8/2 and a pivoting mechanism 18 for the pressure roller 8/2 from two with a drive via an axis of rotation 19 coupled cams that engage lever elements on the axis of the pressure roller 8/2.

electronics

This includes the actual control electronics 20, which are microprocessor-controlled in the usual way Arrangement which is connected via bus lines with a power electronics 21 for the drive 17 of the fixing station, the drive 19 of the pressure roller and the valves 16/1, 16/2 of the brake 7 and via a bus line with control electronics constructed in a conventional manner 22 for a drive 23 of the positive drive 3 (caterpillars) of the transfer station. The control electronics 20 is also coupled via lines to the angle of rotation sensors 12 of the loop puller 6 and is connected to the device control of the printer via a bus line 24. Their structure is known from WO 94/27193.

Input variables for the control are fed via the bus or control lines 24 from the environment (device control) and via the control 22 from the drive 23 to the transport caterpillars in the transfer printing station of the control electronics 20.

Different embodiments of the loop puller

Depending on the desired different functional options of the control device described later, different embodiments of the loop puller shown in FIGS. 8-12 can be used:

Basic structure (Figure 8)

The adjacent loop pullers 6/1, 6/2 are each deflected with their own spring 13/1, 13/2, which act on articulation lever 30 on articulation elements 25. The starting angular position of the articulation lever 30 influences the change in the reverse torque (M) of the loop puller with the loop puller angle (β). On the other hand, the respective spring 13/1, 13/2 is connected to a rope 31. This rope 31 is attached to a retractor 32. Here is a hand crank 33 and a

Worm gear 34 rotates a shaft 35. The retractor can spin or only in a defined Working angular range. The two rope pulleys 36/1, 36/2 and a pointer 37 of a force setting scale 38 sit on this shaft 35.

Due to the special design of the retractor 32, the return torque can be adjusted between the two loop pullers 6/1, 6/2.

Symmetrical execution

In a symmetrical embodiment corresponding to FIG. 9, the generated back torques M of the two loop pullers 6/1, 6/2 are the same in both tracks A, B. This is advantageous if the paper webs have the same structure and there is no tendency that one web generally tends to have a larger loop than the other. The characteristics (abscissa ß, ordinate M) of the reverse torques shown next to it are the same in each of the adjustment positions (I, II of the scale) for both loop pullers 6/1, 6/2. Instead of the rope pulleys 36/1, 36/2, link levers can also be used.

Unsymmetrical designs

Unsymmetrical designs are advantageous if the webs behave differently with a predictable direction. Different forces and force characteristics can be used to counter this.

Provision of a page

If the rope 31 (FIG. 8) is shortened only on a loop puller, there is a difference between the two moment characteristics. With an otherwise symmetrical roll-up behavior, this difference remains the same across all force settings. In asymmetrical arrangements, a specific offset between loop puller A and B is generated with the rope length. Different roll-up behavior

Different diameters of the rope pulleys (Fig. 10) With this arrangement it is achieved that a difference between the two torque characteristics changes linearly over the adjustment. The special case is shown that the two characteristic curves coincide in the adjustment position I. If the adjustment does not turn, this effect can also be achieved with link levers of different lengths.

Other forms of roll-up curves (Figures 11, 12)

If the adjustment or the difference between the torque characteristics should change nonlinearly, other roll-up curves can be used. These are generally other curve shapes with the special cases: eccentric, ellipse, spiral.

Lever linkages (Fig. 11, A-side)

Instead of the rope pulleys 36, levers 39 can also be used, on which the rope 31 is articulated. Different lead angles make it possible to achieve different and non-linear adjustment characteristics.

Different spring characteristics (Fig. 12)

Due to different spring rates of the springs 13/1, 13/2, the slopes of the torque characteristics are designed differently. The difference in the slope of the characteristic remains the same across different force settings. Springs with different preload act like changing the rope length between the A and B sides.

Combinations Combinations of the designs shown are also possible. Thus, in contrast to the adjusting device described so far, two adjusting devices can be used to adjust the two loop pulling characteristics. With separate adjustment devices for the loop pullers, these can be adjusted independently of one another. With a composite adjusting device from two z. B. summary acting devices on the one hand, the force level of the two sides can be set in the same direction, on the other hand the force difference between the two loop pullers.

Motorized adjustment

The mechanical adjustment via crank and worm gear explained here can also be carried out automatically (e.g. with an electric motor). This also applies to the separate adjustment.

The printer can determine the setpoints for the automatic adjustment of the loop puller forces. The loop puller forces can be set once when the paper is loaded, or additionally dynamically during operation. Relevant measurement variables for this are: paper width, position of the loop puller, position of the web edge after the loop puller and the slippage of the webs in the subsequent fixing station.

Function of the regulation

The function of the control is explained below with reference to the various positions of the loop pullers, which are shown in FIG. 7 and are scanned by the angle of rotation sensors 12, each loop puller having a deflecting element 25 with an associated deflecting spring 13/1, 13 / which can be pivoted about an axis of rotation. 2 (Figure 8). Each of the loop pullers 6/1 and 6/2 pivots between an upper mechanical stop 26 and a lower mechanical stop 27 about an axis of rotation 28. Its current position depends on the loop length released by the paper webs and thus on the content of the tape store or the stored tape length. 0 denotes the upper error range; R the working area of the loop puller; U the lower error range; RL the control deviation of the loop length control; RD the control deviation of the loop difference control; MA the mean of the current loop puller production and MR the middle of the loop puller work area.

Loop length control

By changing the speed of the fixing roller 8/1 via the control electronics 20, the controlled variable is regulated to its setpoint. The controlled variable is the mean value MA (FIG. 7) of the current loop puller 6/1, 6/2. The setpoint is e.g. the center MR of the working area of the loop puller. The control deviation of the loop length control RL is thus regulated towards zero.

This differentiates this control from the drive speed control discussed at the beginning in connection with two friction drives in series. The present control device does not control a parameter of a path, but rather the state of the paths relative to one another.

Loop difference control

The difference between the loop pulling operations in the A-Bahn 6/1 and the B-Bahn 6/2 (control deviation RD of the loop differential control (FIG. 7) is regulated to zero with the loop differential control. When using a purely proportional control algorithm, a permanent deviation from the rule remains, which may be desirable since this can be used to support the regulation by the loop puller. The two vacuum brakes 7/1, 7/2 serve as actuators for the loop differential control. The loop differential control supplies the setpoints for the subordinate pressure control of the respective vacuum brake via the valves 16/1, 16/2. As a result, the slip of the A and B webs in the fixing gap 9 between the rollers 8/1 and 8/2 is changed relative to one another.

The braking forces are based on z. B. changed in a memory of the control electronics 20 in the form of tables stored standard settings or standard values for the negative pressure. Depending on the direction and size of the difference in the loop pulling operations, the braking force is increased proportionally in one lane and the braking force is reduced in the other lane.

The braking force change described here symmetrically can also be done in other ways, for. B. starting from low braking forces for both tracks, the braking force can only be increased in the track in which a relatively larger slip is to be achieved.

Variants and extensions of the regulation

Change in the same direction of the paper braking force of the vacuum brake. The vacuum brakes 7/1, 7/2 were previously used by the loop differential control in order to change the braking forces transmitted to the paper webs 4, 5 in a web-specific and counter-sensible manner. The vacuum brakes 7/1, 7/2 can still be used for loop length control. Ways z. B. both paper webs 4, 5 in the fixing roller gap 9 have very high slip, the standard initial values for the desired vacuum can be reduced in the same direction by the loop length control on both webs. This can be done manually or automatically by calling reduced standard values from the table memory of the control electronics 20. Regulation of the pressure force

The pressure force is the force with which the pressure roller 8/2 is pressed against the fixing roller 8/1. It has a strong influence on the relationship between the paper tension and the slippage of the webs in the fixing roller nip 9. Due to the lower pressure force, a greater slippage of the paper webs 4, 5 is achieved with the same paper tension.

In order to exclude a paper tear, the tensile forces in the paper webs must be limited. The forces thus limited on the vacuum brake and on the loop puller may not be able to master the loop differences in papers with very low slip behavior. The loop pullers diverge ever further. In order to achieve a larger slip difference with the available force difference, it may be necessary to reduce the pressure force of the pressure roller on the fixing roller.

Is z. For example, in the case described, the loop differential control is not able to compensate the loop difference with permissible clamping forces, it reduces the pressing force via the pivot mechanism 18 of the pressing roller by rotating the cams via the motor 19. In contrast, the pressing force becomes high when high Slip values increased. However, the pressure force cannot be reduced arbitrarily, since the fixation is no longer sufficient if the force is too low. A high pressure force has a favorable effect on the fixation of the printed image.

Synchronization stop

Can the two paper webs 4, 5 by mechanical and control measures to change the

If slips are no longer kept within specified limits, a synchronization stop is automatically generated. This is e.g. This is the case, for example, when the regulation of the loop differences can no longer limit the loop difference even with a minimal pressure force of the pressure roller. A loop puller then pivots into a fault range, which is recognized by the corresponding angle sensor 12 and reported to the control electronics 20. This stops the printer via the device control. The conditions for this are automatically recognized by the printer through logical evaluation of the sensor signals and can be determined by entering and storing corresponding limit values or conditions in a memory area of the control electronics 20. When the synchronization stops, the printer stops automatically, both loops are z. B. automatically by calling up the corresponding standard output values or by shifting and aligning the webs relative to one another by hand using the alignment line 2 in the transfer printing area again in the parallel starting position and the printer starts again automatically. This process can be repeated cyclically. Instead of using standard settings when restarting after a synchronization stop, it may be beneficial to use reduced values. If a paper has such a slip that a synchronization stop occurs once, it is likely that it will repeat itself cyclically. In order to keep the printing cycle as long as possible, the pressure force should be reduced when restarting. Depending on the device concept, the cyclical repetition of the synchronization stop can replace the entire loop differential control.

Change the oiling of the fuser roller

The oiling of the fixing roller with separating oil, which is customary in thermofixing stations, in order to avoid offset printing effects due to adhering toner on the fixing roller, has an influence on the frictional relationships between the paper web and the fixing roller in the fixing nip. Stronger oiling leads to higher slip rates with unchanged force conditions. Becomes If a paper is processed and its slip behavior lies outside the processable range with the start parameters of the printer, the oiling of the fuser roller can also be used to influence it.

The oiling of the fixing roller is usually used to improve the toner release properties of the oiled roller. For this purpose, adjustable treatment stations are used in their amount of treatment, as are common in electrophotography. It is possible to control the oil flow in such an oiling station via the control electronics 20 and thus to influence the slip.

Progressive loop pulling force

In the arrangement described so far, the braking or tensioning forces in the paper webs are actively generated only by the vacuum brake 7. In addition to the vacuum brake, it is also possible to use the loop puller to introduce tension into the paper webs.

The function of the vacuum brake and the entire loop differential control can be supported or taken over completely by a special arrangement of the loop puller mechanism.

This arrangement is called progressive loop pulling force here.

The control algorithm of the loop difference control basically contains the function that a relatively higher tensioning force is generated in the web whose loop puller is relatively lower. This relationship can also be realized mechanically.

With the progressive loop puller force, the spring mechanism of the loop puller is designed in such a way that the relative loop puller, which is pulled down, introduces a relatively higher tension force into the respective paper web than the other. This difference in force must increase with increasing angular difference.

This requirement can e.g. B. can be fulfilled by different Federanord¬ arrangements as described in connection with Figures 8 to 12.

Change in the same direction of the paper tension force by the loop puller.

In addition to the control-technical function of the loop puller, this can take on further functions. By deflecting the web around the loop puller, this stabilizes and guides the further course of the web. Adapted paper tensile forces are required here for different web qualities and web widths. This adjustment can take place via a manual setting mechanism, as was also described in connection with FIGS. 8 to 12.

If the loop difference control is supported or replaced by progressive loop puller force, the loop length control can change the paper tension forces in the same direction by the loop puller. This can replace the manual setting. Furthermore, the possibilities of the regulation can be expanded.

Is z. If, for example, the slip of the two paper webs on the fixing roller is inadmissibly high, the tension in both paper webs can be reduced in the same direction. This enables loop length control by shifting the setpoint of the control. (By default, the setpoint is in the middle of the loop puller working range).

Mechanical actuation of the vacuum brake

The loop difference control can also be implemented mechanically. Here, for. B. the actuators of Vacuum brakes 7/1, 7/2 (e.g. vacuum valves 16/1, 16/2) mechanically coupled to the loop pullers. The specified relationships and proportions are then z. B. can also be realized via linkage arrangements.

A fixed loop puller

The loop length control regulates the mean value MA of the two current loop puller positions (FIG. 7) to its target value. By doing this, the permissible

Control difference for loop difference control maximized. If this is not a priority, the loop length control can only regulate one of the loop pullers 6/1, 6/2. This regulation can be in the simplest arrangement, for. B. be a two-point control.

As already described, the second loop puller is then regulated relative to the first.

Processing of a wide paper web

The printing device in which the control device according to the invention is used has a basic structure, as described in WO 94/27193. The printing device can thus be operated both in two-web and in one-web operation. This both with webs of widths like that of two-web operation, as well as with a web width over the entire width of the two individual paper webs.

For the aggregates involved, this means in particular:

Positive drive

The caterpillars for paper transport in the transfer printing area can be adapted to the respective web width. This applies to both two and one lane. Loop puller

The two loop pullers are mechanically coupled in single-lane operation and act like a continuous loop puller. The current positions of the loop pullers coincide due to the coupling. Thus their mean value is also identical to their current position. This coupling can e.g. B. be monitored by a sensor for operational safety reasons.

Vacuum brakes

The effective width of the vacuum brakes can be adjusted by means of a width adjustment, as is customary in the case of single-track electrophotographic printing devices which are suitable for printing on different bandwidths. It can also be used to operate a continuously wide train.

Fuser

Neither the fixing nor the pressure roller in the thermofixing device shown are divided. This also applies when using a flash fixing device or a radiator fixing device. Such fuser stations are therefore still suitable for single-lane operation. The return, the turner and the loop of the return are not run through in single-lane operation.

Processing two independent paper webs

The invention has been described with reference to a web configuration in the printer, in which the recording medium is first printed on the front, then turned and returned, and then printed on the back. Without changing its structure, the control system is also able to synchronously run two separate paper to regulate paths that run through the entire printer in parallel in accordance with WO 94/27193.

Self-learning control algorithm

Depending on the type of substrate, the reactions of a rigid control are more or less appropriate. Self-learning controls that optimize their control behavior depending on the substrate and environmental conditions are advantageous here. For this purpose, the parameters of printing material and ambient conditions can either be entered into the control device via an input device or the control device automatically detects the parameters via appropriate sensors. These can e.g. B. usual sensors for the thickness scanning of the printing material, for the detection of its surface structure, the ambient temperature, the humidity, etc. It is also possible to print the substrate e.g. identified by a barcode and scanned.

Error detection

For loop control, data on the current operating status are measured at various points on the printer. The following are available e.g. Data on the slip obtained in the paper, on the content and rate of change of the paper memory, etc.

Via limit value and plausibility monitoring and combinatorial error analysis of parameters with the aid of a monitoring arrangement assigned to the control device or the device control, machine errors can be recognized and dealt with beyond the previous possibilities. The monitoring function can also be performed by the control electronics themselves. The person skilled in the art is familiar with how such a monitoring arrangement is to be constructed in terms of circuit technology. Another option for loop difference control

As explained in connection with the loop differential control, the two vacuum brakes 7/1 and 7/2 serve as actuators for introducing the web-specific tensioning forces into the respective paper web A or B. It has now been found that one from US Pat. No. 5,323,944 arrangement known in principle and shown in FIG. 13 for lateral regulation of the paper flow (edge regulation) of a paper web is particularly well suited as an actuator for introducing the web-specific tensioning forces into the respective paper web A or B. The arrangement can be used as the sole actuator, or it can be used in combination with another actuator that influences the web-specific tensioning forces, for example the vacuum brakes 7/1 and 7/2. In a combination, it is particularly suitable for fine control.

The arrangement acts as shown in FIG. 13 on the fixing roller 201, which corresponds to the fixing roller 8/1

Figure 6 is constructed. A pressure roller 205 corresponding to the pressure roller 8/2 of FIG. 6 can be pivoted on and off the fixing roller. The pressure roller 205 is mounted on two lateral bearing elements 206. The bearing elements 206 are in turn arranged in the frame of the printing device so as to be pivotable about a fixed axis of rotation. In order to pivot the pressure roller 205 onto and off the fixing roller 201, which acts as a counter roller, two cam disks 209 rotatable via an electric motor 208 are provided, which bear against guide projections 210 (rotatable rollers) of the bearing elements 206. Two return springs 211 engaging on the side of the bearing elements 206 pull the bearing elements 206 against the cam disks 209 over the guide lugs 210.

The cam disks 209 are each arranged in one end of a swing arm 212. These rockers are parallel to a fixed to the pinch roller axis Swing arm axis 213 rotatably mounted. Spring elements 218 in the form of spiral springs are suspended on a side of the rocker 212 opposite the cam disk. The other end of the spiral springs 218 is connected to a rope or a chain 217, which is guided around a stationary deflection roller 215. The free rope or chain ends are attached to a first end of an adjusting lever 214 which can be pivoted about an axis of symmetry 216. The force deflection means designed as a rope or chain 217 and as a deflecting roller 215 make it perpendicular to the

Pressure roller axis deflected direction of action of the spring elements 218. The direction of action then corresponds to the pivoting direction 204 of the actuating lever 214 indicated by an arrow. This pivoting direction 204 is directed parallel to the pressure roller axis. As a result of this arrangement of the spring elements 218, they exert a tensile force on the rocker 212, which is converted into a pressing force by the rocker 212 such that the pressure roller 205 is pressed against the fixing roller 201. In order to limit the swinging range of the rockers 212, adjustable stops 219 are arranged in the bearing area of the cam disks 209.

The spring force of the spring elements 218 is significantly greater than the spring force of the return springs 211 on the pressure roller 205. When the pressure roller 205 is pressed on, the oscillations 212 are pivoted away from the stops 219. The cam disks 209 press the pressure roller 205 against the fixing roller 201 according to their rotational position. The pressure force is essentially determined by the spring force of the spring elements 218 in connection with the geometric structure of the rocker 212 and the rotational position of the cam disks 209.

The actuator 220 consists of a spindle 225 directed in the direction of action of the spring elements 218, a spindle nut 223 and a spindle nut claw 222. The spindle 225 is coupled to an actuator 226 which can be controlled by the control unit 21 (FIG. 6). When the spindle turns 225 the spindle nut 223 is displaced in the longitudinal direction of the spindle 225 and so, depending on the deflection of the pivoting lever 214, a corresponding pressing force is exerted on the paper webs A or B (not shown) between the fixing roller 201 and the pressure roller 205. In this way, a web-specific pressure force is exerted in the area of the fixing roller 201 via the force adjustment mechanism. Is one spring 218 tensioned by pivoting the lever 214, the pressure force increases z. B. in the area of the B-Bahn and decreases in the area of the A-Bahn by relaxing the corresponding other spring 218. As a result, the slip in the A-Bahn increases and decreases in the area of the B-Bahn.

With the help of the pressure force adjustment mechanism, a slip difference can be caused by slightly uneven pressure forces

A-Bahn and B-Bahn are generated. The A-Bahn is oppositely loaded with the same pressure as the B-

Bahn is relieved.

Especially for paper types that have larger holes or due to their nature also with the maximum possible

Negative pressure difference can not be regulated, the opposite adjustment of the pressure forces is an important

Alternative.

Variants and extensions of the regulation

The use of the pressure force adjustment mechanism is preferable to the regulation of the pressure force already described, since the effect on the slip difference is greater by adjusting the forces in opposite directions. In particular, the negative influence on the fixing quality is less, since the opposite reduction in the pressing force of the A-track turns out to be less than the simultaneous reduction of the pressing force of both tracks when pivoting the pivot cam 18 (FIG. 6). The pivoting of the pivot cam 18 increases the slippage of both paper webs and only causes A slip difference indirectly via the use of the vacuum control.

With the help of the pressure force adjustment mechanism, however, a path-specific change of the pressure forces is possible.

Papers with large perforated areas and other critical papers (recycling etc.) may require frequent synchronization stops with the vacuum control alone, without using the pressure force adjustment mechanism. Such stops should be avoided as far as possible with a view to printer performance.

Adjusting the loop puller force requires operator intervention. Any such intervention should be avoided if possible, which is promoted by using the web-specific pressure force adjustment.

The use of the opposing pressure control on the one hand and the vacuum control or loop pulling force on the other can in principle be combined as desired. Which papers and from which point the respective one

Control is dependent on material and function.

Reference list

1 record carrier

2 Alignment line in the transfer station, transfer station

3 positive drive, tractors

4 B-Bahn rear panel

5 A-Bahn front panel

6, 6/1, 6/2 loop puller

7, 7/1, 7/2 vacuum brake

8 Friction drive 8/1 fixing roller

8/2 pressure roller

9 fixing gap

10 turning device

11 tape storage in the B-Bahn after the turning device

12 rotation angle sensor

13 spring mechanism in the loop puller unit 6

14 Adjustment device for the loop puller unit

15 Device for generating negative pressure

16 vacuum valve and control assembly 16/1, 16/2 separately controllable vacuum valves

17 Drive, fixer station

18 Swing mechanism for pressure roller 8/2

19 Drive for swivel mechanism

20 control electronics, control unit

21 power electronics

22 Control electronics

23 Crawler drive, electric motor

24 bus line

25 loop lever 6

26 upper stop of the loop puller

27 loop stop lower stop

28 axis of rotation of the loop puller 29-30 linkage lever on the loop puller

31 rope 32 retractor

33 hand crank

34 worm gear

35 shaft / 1, 36/2 pulleys

37 hands

38 Force cut scale

0 upper error range

R Loop puller work area

U lower error range

RL control deviation of the loop length control

RD Control deviation of the loop difference control

MA Average value of the current loop pull production

MR middle of the loop pulling work area

M Back torques of the loop puller ß deflection angle

I lower deflection range

II upper deflection area 01 fixing roller 05 pressure roller 06 bearing element 08 electric motor 09 cam disks 10 guide lugs 11 return spring 12 rocker 13 rocking axis 14 adjusting element, adjusting lever 15 deflection roller 16 axis 17 rope, chain 18 spring elements 19 stop 20 actuator 22 spindle nut claw 23 spindle nut 25 spindle 226 servomotor

Claims

claims

1. Device for precise synchronization of the parallel running of record carrier webs (4, 5) in an electrographic printing device, in which the record carrier webs (4, 5) pass through a first functional area (2) in a form-fitting manner, driven parallel to one another, and then through a drive device (3) parallel to one another, a second functional area (8) with a friction drive (8/1, 8/2) is fed with a control device that synchronizes the parallel operation by controlling the slip of the friction drive (8/1, 8/2) 20).

2. Device according to claim 1, wherein the control device (20) comprises:

- a relative shift of the recording medium webs (4, 5) to one another in the first functional area (2) detecting the detection means (12, 6/1, 6/2),

- Adjust the slip of the recording medium (1) in the friction drive (8) of the second functional area (9)

Setting means (7, 18, 19) and

- Control means (20, 21, 22) coupled to the detection means (12, 6/1, 6/2) and the setting means (7, 18, 19) to compensate for the relative displacement.

3. Device according to claim 2, wherein the record carrier webs (4, 5) have at least one tape store (6) for the record carrier (1) with a sensor (12) detecting its fill state.

4. Device according to claim 3, wherein the record carrier webs (A, B) each have loop pullers (6/1, 6/2) are assigned with their pivoting position sensors (12).

5. Device according to claim 4 with Schiaufenziehern (6) which are designed such that they record the record carrier deflect (4, 5) with an adjustable deflection force depending on their rotational position.

6. Device according to claim 5 with loop pullers which have a deflecting element (25) which engages on the recording medium webs (4, 5) and can be pivoted about an axis of rotation and has an associated deflecting spring (13), the deflecting spring (13) having a tensioning device (33, 34) is coupled to adjust the spring preload.

7. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the control device (20) has a first function of the content of the tape store (6) controlling function group (17, 21) which, for. B influences the content of the tape storage (6) of the record carrier webs (4, 5) in the same direction by changing the speed of the friction drive (8), and a second function group (7) controlling the difference in the storage contents of the tape storage, which can be changed, for example the tension in the respective record carrier web (4, 5) in the opposite direction influences the content of the tape store (6).

8. Device according to one of claims 2 to 7 with markings on the recording carrier tracks (4, 5) scanning sensors.

9. Device according to one of claims 2 to 8 with a friction drive (8) arranged upstream in the recording medium transport direction, with its braking force on the one or more recording medium webs (4, 5) controllable brake (7).

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein each of the recording carrier webs (4, 5) is associated with a brake (7/1, 7/2) with a slide surface which has the recording carrier webs (4, 5) receiving the suction openings and which has a an adjustable vacuum generating device (15) is coupled.

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10 with a transfer printing area (2), a transfer printing station as the first functional area and a fixing station (8) as the second functional area.

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 11 with a second functional area which has a fixing roller (8/1) with the associated pressure roller (8/2) pressing the recording medium (1) against the fixing roller (8/1), wherein at least one of the rollers (8/1, 8/2) is heated and driven by a motor.

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12 with a controllable device (18, 214, 218) for adjusting the

Pressing force on the record carrier webs (4,5).

14. Device according to claim 13 with a

Recording carrier webs (4, 5) against a drive roller (8/1, 201) of the friction drive, movably mounted pressure roller (205) and a force adjustment mechanism (212, 218, 214) coupled to the pressure roller (205) in order to adjust the pressure force of the pressure roller ( 205) in the area of the recording carrier webs (4,5).

15. The device according to claim 14 with spring elements (218) which are coupled to an actuating device (214, 216) and each with a lateral bearing element (206) of the pressure roller (205) such that they press the pressure roller (205) to the counter roller ( 201) in a zero position of the actuating device (214, 216), in a force-compensating manner, by deflecting the actuating device (214, 216) from the zero position, a position-dependent power supply to the bearing elements (206) then takes place.

16. Device according to one of claims 12 or 13 with a device for controllably changing the coefficient of friction of the rollers, in particular by controlled supply of separating oil.

17. The device according to claim 11 with a fixing station which is designed as a flash fixing device.

18. Device according to claim 11 with a fixing station which is designed as a radiator fixing device.

19. Device according to one of claims 1 to 18 with means (12, 2) assigned to the control device (20), via which a synchronization stop is triggered when a predetermined control range is exceeded, during which a synchronization of the parallel operation of the recording carrier tracks (4, 5) can take place by moving the recording carrier tracks (4, 5) into a synchronous position.

20. Electrographic printing device for single and / or multiple printing of a tape-shaped recording medium (10), the printing device having:

- an intermediate carrier for generating toner images associated with the front and / or the rear of the recording medium (1); - A transfer printing station (2) with a first transfer printing area for taking over a first toner image on a front side area of the recording medium (1) and an adjacent second transfer printing area for taking over another toner image on the front side area or a back side area of the recording medium (1) and a transport device (3) driving the record carrier in the transfer printing areas in a form-fitting manner;

- A fixing station (8) arranged downstream of the transfer printing station (2) in the transport direction of the recording medium with an associated friction drive for the recording medium (1), the recording medium (1) in a first recording medium web (A-web) starting from an additional guiding area over the first transfer area to the fixing station (18) and from there for printing on the rear side area, if necessary, via a turning device (10), to the second transfer area and again through the fixing station (8) in a second recording medium web ( B) is guided and - a control device (20) synchronizing the parallel running of the recording medium webs (4, 5) in the transfer printing areas (2) by controlling the slip of the friction drive (8/1, 8/2) in the transport direction of the heat-setting station according to one of the Claims 1 to 19.

21. Method for precisely synchronizing the parallel running of recording medium webs (4, 5) in an electrographic printing device, in which the recording medium webs (4, 5) are positively driven via a drive device (3), a transfer printing area (2 ) run parallel next to each other and then fed parallel to each other to a fixing station (8) with friction drive with the following steps:

- Detecting the relative shift of the recording medium webs (4, 5) to one another in the transfer printing area (2).

- Changing the friction force by controlling the slippage of the friction drive in the transport direction (8/1, 8/2) of the fixing station until the relative displacement falls below a predeterminable value.