EP0852538B1 - Rotary printing press without shafting - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention concerns a rotary printing press without shafting, the press comprising a number of individually driven printing positions (DS1, ..., DSn) and at least one separately driven folding machine (16, 18). The invention calls for the drives, which work in rotation with one folding machine (16 or 18), to be connected by a control/parameter bus (42) to a drive-control unit (52) and connected by a parallel synchronization bus (44) to a device (50) which generates a reference value and a synchronization signal, and each of the drives is connected by a bus interface (46, 48) to the synchronization bus (44), the synchronization bus being designed as a ring bus (54 or 56). This gives a shaftless press which is sufficiently flexible for its printing positions (14) to be synchronized simply, from one production run to another, with any of the folding machines (16, 18).

Description

The invention relates to a shaftless rotary printing press according to the preamble of claim 1.

A newspaper offset press, in the further rotary printing press usually consists of several producing units - called rotation - that work simultaneously and can work independently (maximum 10). Each manufacturing unit consists among other things of roller carriers for paper rolls, pull rollers for pulling in and out the paper web at the printing towers, printing points, summarized as U- (two pressure points), Y- (three pressure points) or H printing units (four printing points) in one or more Pressure towers work, auxiliary drives at the pressure points (e.g. for changing plates) and the folder.

One rotation is usually controlled via several PLC systems, in turn, from higher-level control centers be performed. To ensure efficient data exchange enable the systems with each other via serial bus systems networked.

A pressure point essentially consists of a rubber cylinder, a plate cylinder and an inking and dampening unit. One color can be printed on one page with each printing point become. All printing points on a folder work, i.e., their printed paper webs on a folder are part of a rotation. The pressure points in a machine are housed in printing towers; A maximum of eight pressure points in a tower (eight-high tower) - in the future also max. ten pressure points in one tower (Tens tower) aimed -. In a rotation can be a maximum work on up to twelve four-high towers on one folder.

FIG. 1 shows a conventional rotary printing machine with waves shown. One, in some cases too two mechanical longitudinal shafts 2, which are connected via gear 4 (e.g. bevel gear) are coupled, as well as mechanical vertical shafts 6 in the printing towers 8, 10, 12 allow by rigid Coupling within a rotation synchronous angular synchronism all pressure points 14 with each other and to one Folder 16 or 18. Synchronicity is always only within a rotation is necessary. The longitudinal shaft 2 runs through the entire Machine and will usually - for reasons of torque distribution and flexibility - from several main motors driven. The coupling or decoupling of the vertical shafts 6 or the printing units 20 takes place via mechanical couplings 22. Furthermore, additional separating clutches 24 must be inserted into the Longitudinal shaft 2 are installed when individual printing towers 8 or 10 or 12 should work in different rotations. By opening the longitudinal shaft coupling 26 between the Printing tower 8 and printing tower 10 can do two rotations independently working from each other - printing tower 8 on folder 16 and printing towers 10 and 12 on folder 18.

The flexible assignment of the printing points 14 to several folders 16 and 18 is determined exclusively by the mechanics. Any gain in flexibility must involve additional effort mechanical components are purchased (higher acquisition costs the machine).

• aufwendige und teuere Mechanik (Getriebe, Kupplungen)
• geringe Flexibilität bei der Produktion
• begrenzte Genauigkeit der Druckbilder durch Getriebespiel, Torsion der Wellen, Fertigungstoleranzen der mechanischen Komponenten, z.B. bei Zeitungsrotationen ± 50µm im Druck
• Schwingungsneigung durch niedrige mechanische Eigenfrequenzen
• hoher Aufwand bei Wartung der Mechanik und bei der Inbetriebsetzung.

Disadvantages of the conventional drive solution with mechanical shafts:

• complex and expensive mechanics (gears, couplings)
• low flexibility in production
• limited accuracy of the print images due to gear play, torsion of the shafts, manufacturing tolerances of the mechanical components, eg with newspaper rotations ± 50µm in print
• Vibration tendency due to low mechanical natural frequencies
• high costs for maintenance of the mechanics and for commissioning.

Printing press development has existed for more than 30 years always efforts, the synchronization the drive components via mechanical shafts through a to replace electric shaft. This takes place along with the substitution of direct current technology by three-phase current technology. Already in the 60s and 70s the Development departments of printing press manufacturers Wifag, MAN Roland made several attempts in cooperation with electrical companies undertaken, with rotogravure machines the longitudinal shaftless Introduce drive technology. One is in gravure printing machine construction however did not get beyond the experimental stage. First At the beginning of the 90s the topic was in the area of Web offset machines for newspaper printing are taken up again. The Japanese rotary machine manufacturer Hamada Printing Press Co. Ltd. developed a machine exclusively with three-phase motors for each impression cylinder and each Pull roller. The machine had no longitudinal shaft and no register rollers more.

Newspaper rotations have been increasing for several years Activities involving mechanical shafts, gears and clutches through a drive solution with single drive and synchronization to replace this with an electric shaft. In cooperation with the company Wifag, ABB has at the IFRA '94 in Munich a shaftless rotary printing press presented. In this four-high tower machine everyone was Provide pressure points with a three-phase motor, as well as all Draw rollers and the folder. All longitudinal and standing waves with bevel gear and clutch can be omitted whereby torsional vibrations are largely avoided. The individual drive elements of a rotation are only by one fast data line - an electrical wave - with each other connected. The synchronization control is decentralized in the converter. The specification of the setpoints for converters and their Synchronization takes place via a very fast, serial Fieldbus system. The SERCOS bus system is used primarily used. This history is in the essay "Dem machine drive without shaft drive was preceded by many attempts printed in the magazine "PRINT", volume 39, 1994, to read.

The newspaper presses are the trendsetters in the printing industry and thus the pioneer for the introduction of new drive concepts. Technologies that prove themselves here also find their way into other printing areas, such as illustration, Gravure, packaging printing etc.

• höhere Flexibilität (Mischproduktion, zielgruppenorientierte Produkte)
• höhere Produktivität (kürzere Rüstzeiten, höhere Produktionsgeschwindigkeit, weniger Makulatur)
• höhere Druckqualität (Langzeitkonstanz und höhere Genauigkeit < ± 20 µm im Druck)
• bessere Wirtschaftlichkeit (geringere Betriebskosten)
• geringere Anschaffungskosten der Maschine

Trends in the printing industry:

• higher flexibility (mixed production, target group oriented products)
• higher productivity (shorter set-up times, higher production speed, less waste)
• higher print quality (long-term consistency and higher accuracy <± 20 µm in print)
• better economy (lower operating costs)
• lower acquisition costs of the machine

A rotary printing press is known from EP 0 567 741 A1, where the cylinders and at least one folder be driven directly. Several cylinder drives each and their drive controllers are to pressure point groups summarized, which can be assigned to a paper web.

The pressure point groups are one below the other with the folder and with an operating and data processing unit connected via a data bus. Within the pressure point group are the individual drives of the cylinders and their drive controllers connected via a fast bus system. The Pressure point groups get their position difference directly from the folder. The superordinate control system is only for the specification of setpoints, setpoint deviations and the Processing of actual values responsible. The parent The control system is by means of the data bus, by means of a drive system and with a fast bus system connected to a pressure point group. In the drive system the positioning of the individual drives in relation to the folder and regulated relative to each other. In addition, in Drive system the adaptation of the superordinate control system coming data and commands to those for the drive controller required form made. The global regulation on the Data bus is limited to the specification of setpoints, Setpoint deviations and actual values as well as setpoint control. The calculation of the parameters for the fine adjustment of the individual drives is in each pressure point group separately in the drive system performed.

This rotary printing press can be split of the entire control system in a higher-level control system and autonomous pressure point groups only the pressure point groups as a whole from one folder or from another Folder can be performed. However, it is not possible individual pressure points that occur during production a folder is synchronized to another production, that runs in a different rotation and that on are synchronized with a second folder. The flexibility of this drive concept is therefore limited.

The invention is based on the object of a drive concept to specify for a shaftless rotary printing press, that is so flexible that their pressure points from production to Production synchronized on any folder can be.

This object is achieved by the characterizing Features of claim 1.

The fact that each drive in a rotation on one Folder works by means of a control / parameterization bus Signals for control, diagnosis and parameterization and by means of the synchronization bus only information, the synchronous angular synchronism of the drives in one To ensure rotation are transferred, the Drive of each printing point all information, which for the Operation of the pressure point are necessary. So every drive can as the smallest complete unit of a shaftless rotary printing press be considered that dependent of a product to be printed at any rotation can be put together. By using two separate basic buses remain the basic concept obtained a rotary machine according to Figure 1, one of the two buses, namely the fast bus, the mechanical one Waves replaced by the realization of an electrical wave. Information management for controlling the drives of such a rotary printing machine according to FIG. 1 remains receive.

The flexible allocation of the printing points to several folders in a rotary printing press according to FIG determined by mechanics, with every gain flexibility due to additional mechanical components had to be bought. In the embodiment according to the invention a shaftless rotary press the flexible assignment of the print order to the printing points several folders are no longer disturbed because each drive by means of the control / parameterization bus the information continues receives for its operation and by means of the synchronization bus can be easily integrated into a drive concept can.

The basis of this drive concept according to the invention is the strict separation between control / parameterization functionality and the function of the electric shaft on the drive. Implemented in practice this means that for Control / parameterization tasks control via a Control / parameterization bus can access the drive. In parallel exists for the realization of the electric wave Device for generating a setpoint and a synchronization signal, via a synchronization bus, the Timing and the setpoints for synchronous angular synchronism which specifies drives. The electric wave thus replaces one on one the function of the synchronization of pressure points about the mechanics.

• Übersichtlichkeit und einfachere Handhabung des Antriebs im Synchronbetrieb (= Druckstelle ist eingekuppelt und läuft synchron) und im Inselbetrieb (= Druckstelle ist z.B. für Einrichtarbeiten aus einer laufenden Rotation ausgekuppelt). Der Antrieb kann jederzeit auch ohne Betrieb des Synchronisierbusses gesteuert, parametriert und diagnostiziert werden.
• über den Synchronisierbus werden ausschließlich die Informationen übertragen, die den synchronen Winkelgleichlauf der Antriebe in einer Rotation sicherstellen. Es werden keine Steuerungs- oder Parametrierungsdaten übertragen. Damit können mehr als 100 Antriebe in einer Rotation mindestens alle zwei Millisekunden mit individuellen Informationen versorgt werden.

The following advantages result from this embodiment according to the invention:

• Clarity and easier handling of the drive in synchronous mode (= pressure point is engaged and runs synchronously) and in island mode (= pressure point is disengaged, for example, for setup work from a running rotation). The drive can be controlled, parameterized and diagnosed at any time even without operating the synchronization bus.
• Only the information that ensures synchronous angular synchronization of the drives in one rotation is transmitted via the synchronization bus. No control or parameterization data are transferred. This means that more than 100 drives can be supplied with individual information at least every two milliseconds in one rotation.

In an advantageous shaftless rotary printing press with multiple powered pressure points, some of which are on a first folder and the others on a second Folder are synchronized, at least some of the pressure points working in a first rotation by means of a second bus interface with the synchronization bus connected to the second rotation, being in the ring buses trained synchronization buses each have a bus switch is arranged. This creates the possibility that in the event of failure of a folder of a rotation, the pressure points of this Rotation on one easily and without any time delay neighboring folder can work. By using it from bus switches there is the possibility of all pressure points a rotation by means of a synchronization bus are interconnected in a synchronizing bus ring another rotation. This eliminates the redundancy requirements for rotary printing presses to a simple one Way solved, in the event of a malfunction the production without Maintain a large time delay at least in emergency operation can be.

Figur 1

zeigt eine herkömmliche, mit Wellen versehene Rotationsdruckmaschine,

Figur 2

ist eine wellenlose Rotationsdruckmaschine mit elektrischer Welle dargestellt, in

Figur 3

ist das erfindungsgemäße Antriebskonzept vereinfacht dargestellt, die

Figur 4

zeigt eine redundant ausgebildete Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Antriebskonzeptes, wobei in

Figur 5

zwei Verschaltungsbeispiele einer Busweiche dargestellt sind.

To further explain the invention, reference is made to the drawing, in which exemplary embodiments of a shaftless rotary printing press are schematically illustrated.

Figure 1

shows a conventional rotary printing machine provided with waves,

Figure 2

is shown a shaftless rotary printing machine with an electric shaft, in

Figure 3

the drive concept according to the invention is shown in simplified form

Figure 4

shows a redundant embodiment of the drive concept according to the invention, wherein in

Figure 5

two wiring examples of a bus switch are shown.

Figure 2 shows a shaftless rotary printing press, consisting of from two folders 16 and 18 and three printing towers 8, 10 and 12. These three printing towers 8, 10 and 12 each have two H printing units 20, each of four printing points 14 exist. Each printing point 14 is essentially from a rubber cylinder 28, a plate cylinder 30 and an inking and dampening system. With each pressure point 14 can one color to be printed on one page. All pressure points 14, which work on a folder 16 or 18, i.e., their printed paper webs 32 and 34 or 36, 38 and 40 the folder 16 and 18 are part of a Rotation. A rotation can have a maximum of twelve Print towers 8, 10 and 12 with a maximum of eight pressure points each 14 work on a folder 16 or 18.

Each printing point 14 in the rotary printing press is through a drive unit consisting of a three-phase motor with corresponding converter, directly driven. Corresponding also applies to the drive of folders 16 and 18 can the mechanical coupling between three-phase motor and Rubber cylinder 28 a direct or a coupling via a Toothed belt or a gear. A decision about that mechanical coupling essentially depends on the required Dynamics of the drive. The angular synchronism control of the Pressure points 14 to one another or to the folder 16 or 18th takes place in every converter. Here is a speed and torque control subordinate. To the required accuracy of ± 20 µm with 1 m cylinder circumference between the individual Pressure points 14 (circumferential register) and the pressure points 14 for Folders 16 and 18 (cutting register) of ± 50 µm to be fulfilled, become encoders with 2048 sine / cosine signals, for example used. The acquisition of the actual position value of the Rubber roller 28 is carried out by an encoder, which is directly on Cylinder is attached. This has errors in the mechanical Coupling motor shaft-rubber cylinder 28 can occur no influence on the actual value signal for the angular synchronism control.

The read sine / cosine signals are in a detection circuit in the converter to approx. 4 million increments used per revolution and the angular synchronism control as high-resolution actual value provided. A second, integrated in the motor, is used for speed and torque control Encoder used.

Instead of the mechanical longitudinal shaft 2, the gear 4 and of the vertical shafts 6 of the rotary printing press according to FIG. 1 is in the shaftless rotary printing machine according to Figure 2 a control / parameterization bus 42 and a synchronization bus 44 provided, of which only the synchronization bus in this illustration 44 is shown. Every drive of a pressure point 14 is linked to the synchronization bus 44. From the drive a printing point is only because of the clarity Electric motor M shown.

In a comparison of the known drive system of a rotary printing press (Figure 1) with a drive concept according to the invention a rotary printing press (Figure 2) is closed recognize that the mechanical shafts 2 and 6 through the synchronization bus 44 have been replaced, with the drive concept didn't change anything. With the elimination of waves 2 and 6 14 individual drives are provided for each pressure point supplied with information by means of the control / parameterization bus 42 become. This makes it possible to use each individual drive to parameterize and control, even if between there is no electrical wave in these individual drives.

Due to the strict separation of control / parameterization functions and the function of the electric shaft can be any drive any with any other drive of the drive concept the rotary printing press by means of the synchronization bus 44 can be combined into any rotation, who works on a folder 16 or 18, each these drives are parameterized by means of the control / parameterization bus 42, is controlled and monitored.

The drive concept according to the invention is simplified in FIG shown. Two drives are shown in more detail for this purpose, which on the one hand to the control / parameterization bus 42 and on the other hand, are connected to the synchronization bus 44. The drive comprises two bus interfaces 46 and 48 (FIG. 4) for the synchronization bus 44, a bus interface for the Parameterization / control bus, a converter device with integrated Technology function, e.g. for angular synchronism, and the electric motor M, for example an asynchronous motor or a Can be servo motor. The synchronization bus 44 is a ring bus executed and with a device 50 for generating a Setpoint and a synchronization signal connected. Of the Control / parameterization bus 42 is connected to a controller 52. This control controls, parameterizes and diagnoses the drive in synchronous operation as well as in island operation. The device superordinate to the drive units 50, as well as the controller 52 are via another serial Bus system, which is often redundant, in the integrated information exchange of the machine (System control).

The synchronization of the individual drive units on the Pressure points 14 on top of each other or to the drive unit in the folder 16 or 18 takes place via the serial synchronization bus 44. The synchronization bus 44 functionally replaces the mechanical one Longitudinal and vertical shafts 2 and 6 of the machine. over the synchronization bus 44 is used by the device 50 from each Drive its individual position setpoint. The setpoint consists of the angle value of a leading pointer and additive from an individual offset angle for each drive. Farther is via the synchronization bus 44 by a synchronization signal, i.e. to everyone through a special telegram Participant (broadcast), editing the angular synchronism, Speed and torque control of each drive synchronized a common starting point. By strict time-cyclic repetition of this synchronization signal one synchronizes all drives of a rotation to each other.

The synchronization bus works according to the master-slave principle. A device 50 that is superior to the drive units the master station of the synchronization bus 44 (single master). The drive units are the slave stations. Of the Synchronization bus 44 is used as a ring bus by means of optical fibers built up. On such a synchronization bus ring 54 or 56, a maximum of 200 participants can be connected. The performance is designed so that 100 participants all be supplied with individual setpoints for two milliseconds can. Every rotation in the machine, i.e. at long last a device 50 is assigned to each folder 16 or 18. The folder 16 or 18 is thus, as in the previous solution with mechanical shafts too, the station, be synchronized to the pressure points 14. Drive units, assigned to the different devices 50 are not synchronized with each other.

The basis of the electrical wave is the generation of a central rotating master pointer. In addition, in the Device 50 an individual offset angle for each drive be added to the leading pointer. The current one Position of this angle value (leading pointer plus offset angle) is at a certain time in the timing of the Synchronization signal of the synchronization bus 44 as a setpoint to the corresponding drive via the synchronization bus 44 transfer. Within the bus cycle time (= time between two Synchronization signals) all drives are in one rotation supplied with their individual angular value. Every drive follows its individual angle setpoint in position and speed (Angular synchronism control). The speed, with which the leading pointer rotates is the default Web speed of the machine and the scope of the Printing rollers determined.

The offset angle for each drive is essentially made up of determined by the registration scheme. About the offset angle can each rubber roller in position relative to the other rubber rollers or the folder 16 or 18 individually changed become. This function enables the conventional Registration rollers or register slides are not required.

The strictly time-equidistant synchronization signal is called a transmit special telegram to all participants (broadcast). The time interval between two synchronization signals can be parameterized. The scan cycles of the inverters for the angular synchronism, speed and torque control synchronized to this synchronization signal.

Each drive is controlled separately from the Synchronization bus 44 via a second, serial bus system 42. From the controller 52 can via the control / parameterization bus 42 one or more drives controlled, parameterized and be diagnosed. As bus systems for this Control / parameter bus 42 can be open and standardized field buses, such as PROFIBUS-DP or company-specific bus systems, such as the USS protocol or ARCNET.

FIG. 4 shows a redundant embodiment of the drive concept of a shaftless rotary printing press according to the invention. In this illustration, the multiple printing points 14 are numbered in order to understand this redundantly designed embodiment. Each printing point DS1, ..., DS _n , DS _{n + 1} , ..., DS _{n + 4} has two interfaces 46 and 48 for connection to the individual synchronization bus rings 54, 56 and 58. The pressure points DS1, ..., DS _{n + 2} are integrated in the synchronization bus ring 54, but of these pressure points DS1, ..., DS _{n + 2} the pressure points DS _{n + 1} and DS _{n + 2 are} not for this synchronization bus -Ring 54 activated. The activated bus interfaces 46 and 48 are marked black, ie the assigned drive accepts the setpoint specification and the synchronization signal of the device 50. The pressure points DS3,..., DS _{n + 4} are integrated in the synchronization bus ring 56, but are from these pressure points DS3, ..., DS _{n + 4} the pressure points DS3, DS _n and DS _{n + 4 are} not activated for this synchronization bus ring 56. As can be seen from this illustration, the synchronization bus ring 56 is not shown completely. Likewise, the synchronization bus ring 58 is not shown completely. The printing points DS1, ..., DS _n work on the folder 16, whereas the printing points DS _{n + 1} , ..., DS _{n + 3 work} on the folder 18.

Each folder 16 and 18 is a device 50 for generation assigned a setpoint and a synchronization signal. The connection of the synchronization bus rings 54 and 56 to the associated device 50 by means of a bus switch 60. The illustration of the bus switch 60 shows that its input 1E with the output 3A and the input 3E with is wired directly to output 1A. The other inputs and Outputs 2E, 4E and 2A, 4A are not wired together. With this number of inputs and outputs, 24 Combinations can be made. The bus switch 60 will exclusively for the implementation of the redundancy requirements needed for newspaper rotations. The bus switch 60 has essential the task of routing the synchronization bus 44 to enable a Device 50 of rotation also in a synchronization bus ring another rotation can be included. A Bus switch 60 is always assigned directly to a device 50.

As already mentioned, the fulfillment of the requirements which is a newspaper press in terms of flexibility and redundancy provides, in the conception of the serial bus system which the electric wave is realized. Figures 4 and 5 show the principle of flexible assignment of the drives as well as the interconnection of two separate synchronization bus rings 54 and 56 into a single ring with one Facility 50.

Flexibility:
A printing point, for example the printing point DS3 in FIG. 4, is synchronized to the folder 16 during production. Without mechanical intervention, there must be the possibility of integrating this drive into an adjacent rotation for another production.

Any drive that has an electrical shaft with others Drives to run in angular synchronism can be of two from each other independent synchronization buses 44 are synchronized. For this purpose, each drive has two bus interfaces 46 and 48. This drive is integrated using the example of pressure point DS3 into the two synchronization bus rings 54 and 56. With that the drive can be synchronized either via the device 50 run on folder 16 or it can in the synchronization bus ring 56 as part of the second rotation (synchronized on folder 18) work. By parameterizing the drive determined from which device 50 the angle setpoint specification and synchronization takes place. With this mechanism the machine operator can do this by simply switching parameters the assignment of a pressure point to two on the drive Realize folders 16 and 18.

The restriction to two devices 50, and thus to two folders 16 and 18 is practically sufficient. A Synchronization to a third folder is only possible with Disturbance of rotation, i.e. in the event of a folder failure 16 or 18, and is due to the redundancy concept with the bus switch 60 covered.

Redundancy:
If a folder 16 or 18 fails, an emergency operation must be carried out in order to maintain production in such a way that all the printing points of this first or second rotation are guided to an adjacent folder 18 or 16 or to a "stand-by" folder can. For such an emergency operation, both the mechanical precautions (possibility of paper web guidance) and the control technology options must be in place. The implementation of such an emergency operation places the following demands on the concept of the electric shaft: If the folder 16 or 18 fails, the device 50 of the synchronizing bus ring 54 or 56 also loses its function. If all drives of this first or second rotation are to be placed on another folder 18 or 16, the synchronization bus ring 54 or 56 must be assigned to a new device 50 of the new folder 18 or 16. This problem is solved by means of the bus switch 60.

The bus switch 60 is a component of the synchronization bus 44 for dividing the routing of the fiber optic ring 54 or 56.

FIG. 5 shows two examples of the function of the switch 60. The bus switch 60 is always a device 50 one Folders 16 and 18 assigned. The solution principle is explained using the following example:

The rotary printing press is based on the constellation in FIG. 4 from three folders, of which the two Folders 16 and 18 for the first and second rotation are shown. The folder 16 falls in the first production out. The second production is shut down. The two bus switches 60 are switched to another according to FIG Line routing switched. This means that all drives, previously in the two separate sync bus rings 54 and 56 were combined in a ring 56. The production can now be continued as an emergency operation. In the same Instead of integrating the drives in one way Synchronization bus ring 54 and 56 also replace the failed one Folders 16 and 18 by a stand-by folder respectively. In this case the synchronization bus ring 54 or 56 by switching the switches 60 to one Setup of the stand-by set.

Claims (8)

1. Shaftless rotary printing press, comprising a plurality of individually driven printing stations (DS1, ..., DSn), the drives being provided by converter-powered electric motors, and at least one separately driven folding unit (16), characterized in that the drives that work with one folding unit (16) in one rotation are connected to a drive controller (52) by means of a control and parameterization bus (42) and by means of a parallel synchronization bus (44) to a device (50) for generating a setpoint and a synchronization signal, and in that the drives are each connected by means of a bus interface (46, 48) to the synchronization bus (44) which is designed as a ring bus (54, 56).
2. Shaftless rotary printing press according to Claim 1 with additional driven printing stations (DSn+1, ..., Dsn+4) and an additional, separately driven folding unit (18), the drives of these additional printing stations (DSn+1, ..., DSn+4) working with the additional folding unit (18), characterized in that the additional drives are connected to the drive controller (52) by means of the control and parameterization bus (42) and by means of another parallel synchronization bus (44) to another device (50) for generating a setpoint and a synchronization signal, and in that the drives of the printing stations (DS1, ..., DSn+4) are each provided with two bus interfaces (46, 48), in that the printing stations (DS1, ..., DSn or DSn+1, ..., DSn+3) working with one folding unit (16 or 18) in one rotation are each connected to the first or second synchronization bus (44) designed as a ring bus (54, 56) by means of the first or second bus interface (46, 48), in that each synchronization bus (44) designed as a ring bus (54, 56) is connected by means of a bus switch (60) to a device (50) and in that at least some of the driven printing stations (DS3, ..., DSn+2) are connected to both synchronization buses (44) designed as ring buses (54, 56).
3. Shaftless rotary printing press according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an open field bus is provided as the the control and parameterization bus (42).
4. Shaftless rotary printing press according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a high-speed bus system is provided as the synchronization bus (44).
5. Shaftless rotary printing press according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that only information ensuring angular synchronization of the drives in one rotation is transmitted by means of the synchronization bus (44).
6. Shaftless rotary printing press according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that signals for the control, diagnosis and parameterization of the drives of one or more rotations are transmitted by means of the control and parameterization bus (42).
7. Shaftless rotary printing press according to Claim 5, characterized in that an angular value of a control vector, an offset angle and a synchronization signal are provided as information for each drive of one rotation.
8. Shaftless rotary printing press according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that optical fibres are provided as the transmission lines of the synchronization bus (44).

Images