EP0917954B1 - Device and method for producing a reference value of a single position in a printing process - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates generally to position determination in Printing systems and a control system for a printing press, the Relative positions of drive units in the press controls.

Because of conventional web-fed rotary printing presses, e.g. B. from for Machines used in newspaper printing, traditionally no high quality printing or Sharpness was expected, the tolerance threshold for the printing industry Print quality loss has been relatively high. However, it is increasing desired to improve the quality and sharpness of printed products so that a There is a need for printing presses that produce high quality and printed products Can deliver sharpness. Usually goes in with the production of products high quality is accompanied by a reduction in printing speed. Still, it's in the printing industry desires that printing presses at high speeds can be operated. However, it turned out to be a very difficult one The task is to meet the requirements for quality, sharpness and speed to do justice at the same time.

A conventional printing press usually consists of a series of Printing units. The relative positions of drive shafts of these printing units must be accurately regulated to ensure accurate registration of the various To ensure printing units so that errors, such as printing register errors, Web tension errors, web-to-web register errors and / or signature section errors can be prevented. Such errors occur at high Print speeds increased.

In certain printing presses, each group of printing units has a drive unit with an input shaft with an output shaft of an electric motor for this Group is connected and driven by this. A Speed control unit generates a speed control signal to control the speed of rotation of the Output shaft of the electric motor. Other groups of printing units as well as not printing points in the printing press can also have drive units. Usually a drive unit of the machine for "master drive" is determined, the one Receives signal that the desired speed of through the printing press shows the running paper web. This signal of the desired speed is sent to the Speed control element of the master drive for controlling the speed of the Drive shaft of the master drive sent. Signals the actual speed and position the drive shaft of the master drive are displayed on the others, as "slave drives" designated drive units transmitted. The speed controller of everyone Follower unit sends a speed control signal based on the actual position of the Drive shafts of the slave drives and the drive shaft of the master drive are based on the Electric motor of the slave drive, which causes the drive shaft of each Follower follows the speed and position of the drive shaft of the master drive. In the ideal case, the drive shaft of each slave drive unit is in the same position and has the same speed as the drive shaft of the master drive unit.

DE 41 37 979 describes a drive for a printing press with several Printing units, the individual printing units or printing unit groups are mechanically decoupled from each other, each printing unit or each Printing unit group is assigned a drive motor and being on each Printing unit or at each printing unit group a device for speed and / or Rotation angle determination is arranged. It is also a device for Angle control is provided, which is a permissible angular deviation of the individual printing units or printing unit groups from a given Angle setpoint dimensioned such that it at least in the angular position at handing over a sheet is minimal. The respective Angular position of two printing units fed to a microcomputer, which continue from a setpoint specification a speed setpoint and one Receives the angle setpoint at which the sheet transfer is to take place, the Microcomputer based on an angular difference between the given Angle setpoint and the angular positions of the printing units torque setpoints calculated such that the permissible angular deviation of the respective Printing units of the specified target value at the sheet transfer is minimal.

DD 115 069 discloses a method for starting register control on printing presses with several printing units, whereby the position of elements, for example, gears on at least two printing units by pulse generators is sampled, the phase position or phase shift of a pulse opposite the other pulse, the reference pulse, electronically according to size and direction is determined and the determined value for adjusting an actuator is evaluated becomes.

There are many types of control devices to determine the position of the drive shaft To control the slave drive relative to the position of the drive shaft of a master drive, such as for example phase-locked controllers and synchronous controllers. A synchronous controller includes normally a resolver to the angular position of the drive shaft of the Convert slave drive into an electrical output signal. The position of the The slave drive shaft relative to the position of the master drive shaft will then be in correspondence of the electrical output signal generated by the synchronous regulator. Control devices with control compensation, such as "Forced control", "Speed setpoint" and "dp / dt pilot control" are also known. In addition, a "Type-3" controller can be used, the one Position error signal (i.e., a difference in the positions of the slave shaft and the master drive shaft) double integrated. Such a regulator is issued in US 5,049,798 on September 17, 1991.

Fig. 1 shows a conventional printing machine 10 with feed mechanisms 12 and 14, one Group 207 of printing units 200 - 206 and a group 23 of printing units 16 - 22, a dryer 24, cooling units 25 and 26 and folding units 28 and 30. Each of the Printing unit groups 207 and 23 and folding units 28 and 30 have one Drive unit. From a master reference signal source 32 a signal, i. H. on Speed command signal generated that the drive unit of group 207 a displays the desired press speed. The drive unit of the Group 207 is designated as the master drive unit. Those belonging to group 23 other drive units and the folding units 28 and 30 are used as subsequent printing units designated that follow the position and speed of the master printing unit.

2 shows details regarding the internal components of the drive units in FIGS Groups 207 and 23 and the folding units 28 and 30 and connections between the Drive units and the control reference signal source 32. In particular, that of the Control reference signal source 32 incoming speed command signal in Speed control element 210 of the master drive unit entered in group 207, to control the speed of motor 260. The speed command signal can be an analog or a digital signal. A position encoder 230 determines the Actual position value of a drive shaft 240, which is from the motor 260 of the master drive unit is driven. Since the position information output from the position encoder 230 can be used to determine speed information, the Position encoder 230 alternatively also an actual value to the Send speed controller 210 back to ensure that the actual speed the drive shaft 240 of the master drive unit of the desired one Speed corresponds.

The speeds and positions of the drive shafts 242-246 of the Follower units are controlled to match speed and position the drive shaft 240 of the master drive unit are adapted. This is through Using the speed of the drive shaft 240 of the master drive unit together with the feedback regarding the positions of the drive shafts 242-248 of the slave drive units relative to the position of the drive shaft 240 of the Master drive unit achieved.

As shown in FIG. 2, the slave drive units have motors 262-266 that are Drive drive shafts 242-246. Position encoders 232-236 determine the actual positions of the drive shafts 242-246 and send corresponding feedback signals to Controllers 222-226, which indicate the specific positions. As above regarding the Position encoder 230 of the master drive unit mentioned, that of the Position encoders 232-236 produce information for determining both the Speeds as well as the positions of the corresponding drive shafts 242-246 be used. The output signal generated by the position encoder 230 that the Indicates actual position of the drive shaft 240 of the master drive unit is considered a Reference position signal to the controllers 222-226 of the slave drive units of the Printing unit group 23 and sent to the folding units 28 and 30, as shown in Fig. 2. The controllers 222-226 compare the output signal of the position encoder 230 Master drive unit with the output signals of the position encoder 232-236 and send on the basis of this comparison command signals to the speed controllers 212-216, to control the speed of motors 262-266 such that the Drive shafts 242-246 of the slave drive units of the speed and position of the Drive shaft 240 follow the master drive unit.

According to an embodiment of the position condenser 230, this produces one Impulse for every angular increment of the rotating drive shaft 240 Master drive. So while the drive shaft is rotating, the Position encoder 230 a stream of pulses. The position encoder 230 Number of pulses generated during a time interval indicates by what amount the drive shaft 240 has changed position during this time interval. The Average speed during the time interval can be determined effortlessly by the value of the position change by the duration of the time interval is divided.

The angular increase corresponding to a pulse is fixed so that the Position encoder 230 generates 2,048 pulses during each complete revolution. The position encoder 230 is monitored and the pulses generated by it become counted by means of a counter, not shown. The counter usually jumps to Completion of one turn back to zero after counting up to 2,048. In some designs there is a different number of pulses per revolution decisive and in other versions the counter jumps less frequently than after to zero every revolution. The position encoders 232-236 are the same like the position encoder 230. The positions of the encoders 230-236 can be synchronized by simultaneously setting the corresponding counter to zero be reset, e.g. B. when the paper web with slower and constant speed through the printing press. After that everyone means Value difference of the counters a phase or position difference. For example, if the counters corresponding to the position encoder 230 of the master drive unit displays a value of 1,000 at a certain point in time and the value of the with the Then position encoder 232 of the counter drive unit corresponding counter 795 At this time, the drive shaft 242 of the slave drive unit remains behind the Position of the drive shaft 240 of the master drive unit by 205 angular increment points or back 36 °. Through computer software, the counters are reset existing phase differences precisely tracked, even if they are larger than one are complete revolution. In the printing press shown in Fig. 2, each has the Controller 222-226 a counter, not shown, which the from the position encoder 230 Leitantriebseinheit generated pulses and a counter, not shown, which of the counts one of the position encoders 232-236 of the slave drive units. In some versions, the meters are inside or near the corresponding position encoder.

Although the controllers 222-226 for synchronizing the speeds and Positions of the drive shafts of the slave drive units with those of the Drive shaft 240 of the master drive unit are designed, they can not be used are used for problems caused by mechanical malfunctions or control errors on the Drive shaft 240 of the master drive unit arise. Such control errors will arise the. Transfer drive units and there is a tendency that these errors to repeat. Thus, a control error on the master drive shaft can affect the function of the Very badly affect slave drive units. In the event of major faults, the controller performance interrupted or endangered, so that problems in printing, e.g. B. by Register errors can occur.

Events that occur during printing and speed Can cause positional disorders, such. B. a "blanket wash". At the Washing a rubber blanket will accumulate dirt and lint from the Blanket roller washed or brushed in the printing machine. When a Blanket washing performed on a master drive unit can cause interference in the speed and position of the drive shaft 240 of the master drive unit occur, which are then transferred to the subsequent units, so that the smooth Printing operation of the machine is no longer possible and waste and less Print quality is the result. Other operations in printing can also Cause interference, such. B. when a new paper web with the existing web is connected or if the web is cut during the folding process.

Since errors in a control unit are transmitted to the subsequent units usually a unit of the printing press on which the fewest errors and the smallest error sizes occur, chosen as the control unit. If e.g. Legs Printing machine feed units, printing units, drying units, cooling roller units and folding units, as shown in Fig. 1, usually becomes one of the printing units chosen instead of one of the folding units as a guide unit because the cutting process on one Folding unit a much larger transition disorder than the blanket washing process in can cause a printing unit.

Even if the operators try to operate printing presses like this to keep bumpless as possible and thus the occurring on the master drive unit To minimize transitional disturbances, these nevertheless occur. When faults appear filtering networks and reference value dead zones are used until the interference identified and corrected. The waste resulting from the disturbances and less Print quality is taken for granted. However, it is desirable to have one To create a printing press in which the effects of transition disturbances are reduced or eliminated are, so that an improved print quality and less waste even at higher Machine speeds can be achieved.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus which make it possible to trouble-free speed and position reference signals on drive units in one Printing machine, e.g. B. printing units to send.

A device according to the invention for controlling the printing process of a printing press a first and at least a second drive unit with a respective motor and one respective drive shaft; a first and at least a second position encoder, which each determine the actual position of the respective drive shaft and at least one Generate position encoder signal; a first and at least a second Speed control unit which control the speed of the respective drive shaft; and A first controller is characterized in that the device is a single position reference value unit having at least one single position reference signal based on the desired printing press speed that is generated free by the printing operation triggered disturbances, and sends to the first and at least second controller, the Controller to the respective speed control unit on the single position reference signal and send a control signal based on the respective position encoder signal, and that the Single position reference signal and the position encoder signals each a number of pulses include.

A single position reference value unit is provided that receives a signal that the displays the desired speed of a web running through the printing press. The Single position reference value unit generates signals that have a correct reference speed and represent an error-free reference position and which the printing press drive units, for. B. the Printing units, control without errors resulting from the mechanical faults in the Print-related transition states result, be enlarged. The same Reference signals can be sent to all drive units. Alternatively, separate reference signals can be used be generated for each drive unit and between the individual, for the different Drive signals generated by reference signals can cause inaccuracies Error correction circuits are corrected.

Bestimmen der Position einer jeweiligen Antriebswelle einer ersten und mindestens einer zweiten Antriebseinheit der Druckmaschine mit einem jeweiligen Positionskodierer und Senden eines jeweiligen Positionskodierer-Signals an einen Regler; und Steuern der Drehzahl der jeweiligen Antriebswelle mit einer jeweiligen Geschwindigkeitssteuereinheit, zeichnet sich aus durch:

Erzeugen eines auf der gewünschten Druckmaschinengeschwindigkeit basierten Einzelposition-Bezugssignals, das frei von durch den Druckbetrieb ausgelösten Störungen ist, und eine Anzahl von Impulsen umfaßt;

Senden des Einzelpositions-Bezugssignals an jeweilige Regler; und Senden eines jeweiligen Signals auf der Basis des Einzelposition-Bezugssignals und des jeweiligen, eine Anzahl von Impulsen umfassenden Positionskodierer-Signals an die jeweilige Geschwindigkeitssteuereinheit.

A method according to the invention for controlling the printing process of a printing press, with the following steps:

Determining the position of a respective drive shaft of a first and at least a second drive unit of the printing press with a respective position encoder and sending a respective position encoder signal to a controller; and controlling the speed of the respective drive shaft with a respective speed control unit, is characterized by:

Generating a single position reference signal based on the desired press speed, free of printing-induced interference, and comprising a number of pulses;

Sending the single position reference signal to respective controllers; and sending a respective signal based on the single position reference signal and the respective position encoder signal comprising a number of pulses to the respective speed control unit.

The present invention will become apparent in the following description of preferred embodiments explained in connection with the accompanying drawings listed below:

Fig. 1

ein Blockdiagramm einer Druckmaschine des oben beschriebenen Standes der Technik;

Fig. 2

ein Blockdiagramm, das die interne Konstruktion einiger Elemente der in Fig. 1 dargestellten Druckmaschine zeigt;

Fig. 3

ein Blockdiagramm einer Druckmaschine gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;

Fig. 4

ein Blockdiagramm, das die interne Konstruktion einiger in Fig. 3 dargestellten Druckwerke zeigt;

Fig. 5

ein Blockdiagramm einer Druckmaschine gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;

Fig. 6.

ein Blockdiagramm einer Druckmaschine gemäß einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;

Fig. 7

ein Blockdiagramm einer Druckmaschine gemäß einem vierten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung;

Fig. 8

ein Blockdiagramm, das die interne Konstruktion von in Fig. 7 dargestellten Reglern zeigt.

Show it:

Fig. 1

a block diagram of a printing machine of the prior art described above;

Fig. 2

a block diagram showing the internal construction of some elements of the printing machine shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3

a block diagram of a printing press according to a first embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 4

a block diagram showing the internal construction of some printing units shown in Fig. 3;

Fig. 5

a block diagram of a printing press according to a second embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 6.

a block diagram of a printing press according to a third embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 7

a block diagram of a printing press according to a fourth embodiment of the invention;

Fig. 8

Fig. 7 is a block diagram showing the internal construction of controllers shown in Fig. 7.

Fig. 3 shows an embodiment of a printing press, in which elements that with those of the printing press shown in Fig. 1 are identical to the same Reference signs have been identified. According to the embodiments of the present invention is not one of the printing units of a printing press Leitdruckwerk marked. As shown in Fig. 3, is a single position reference value unit 500 provided by a master reference signal source 32 a Received signal representing the desired printing press speed and a Send single position reference signal to each printing unit. In contrast to that in the 1 and 2, the printing presses shown have each of the printing units 200-206 and 16-22 and each of the folding units 28 and 30 has a separate drive unit.

Although the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 is a drive unit for has any printing unit, it is self-evident to the person skilled in the art that the invention also in a printing press with only one drive unit for all printing units or for any group of printing units can be realized. A single drive unit for a group of printing units can be controlled in the same way as one Drive unit for a single printing unit in the described here Embodiments is controlled. Fig. 4 shows details of the printing machine of Fig. 3, i.e. H. internal components of the Printing units 200-206 and connections between these printing units, the Single position reference value unit 500. and the master reference signal source 32. In contrast to the components shown in FIG. 2 is the drive unit for the printing unit 200 equipped with a regulator 420; thus the inner construction is this Drive unit the same as that shown in the other printing units 202-206 Drive units. Each of the controllers 420-426 in the printing units 200-206 receives this Single position reference signal from the single position reference value unit 500. The Single position reference signal can be an analog or a digital signal.

The speeds and positions of the drive shafts 440-446 of the drive units are controlled so that they are displayed by the single position reference signal Adjust the reference speed and position using the Reference speed, along with feedback regarding the positions of the Drive shafts 440-446 of the drive units relative to the reference position.

As shown in Fig. 4, the drive units have motors 460-466 which the Drive drive shafts 440-446. Position encoders 430-436 determine the actual positions of the drive shafts 440-446 and send corresponding feedback signals to controllers 420-426, which indicate the particular positions. As above with reference to mentions the position encoder 230 of the master drive unit shown in FIG. 2, the information output from position encoders 430-436 for both determination the speeds as well as the positions of the corresponding ones Drive shafts 440-446 can be used. The controllers 420-426 compare that Single position reference signal with the output of position encoders 430-436 and transmit based on this comparison command signals to the Speed control units 410-416 for controlling the speed of the Motors 460-466, so that the drive shafts 440-446 of the drive units of the by the Single position reference signal follow displayed speed and position. Consequently the drive shafts 440-446 are affected by temporary mechanical disturbances in the Print operation not affected. The printing units 16-22 and the folding units 28 and 30 are of the same configuration and offer the same advantages.

Fig. 5 shows a second embodiment of the invention with an exemplary internal configuration of the single position reference value unit 500 which one Vibration generator 502, a divider / multiplier 504 and a filter / amplifier device 506 includes. The vibrator 502 generates one Time signal corresponding to that received from the control reference signal source 32 Signal that represents the desired press speed, divided or is multiplied. The filter / amplifier device 506 filters noise from the Divider / multiplier 504 output signal and sends the resultant Single position reference signal to the controllers of the printing units. The filter / amplifier device 506 also amplifies the signal in each of the users desired way so that it is compatible with the controls in the printing units. The Single position reference value unit 500 can be realized by only electronic components are used, they can be a solid state device or be an analog device.

Each pulse of that output from the single position reference value unit 500 Single position reference signal represents an angular increase by which there is a Drive shaft must move. The angle increase has a predetermined value. Consequently indicates the number of times in the single position reference signal within a time interval impulses indicate a change in the reference position during this time interval and the frequency of the pulses indicates a reference speed or Reference angular velocity.

5 shows in the printing unit 200 a counter / scanner 508 which is connected to the controller 420 and to position encoder 430 and can be used to adjust the Processing ability of the controller 420 to supplement and / or information from To provide position encoders 430 in a more useful form. The counter / scanner 508 can, for example, generate a signal that corresponds to the number of position increases which the drive shaft 440 has moved during a time interval, i. H. the Displays the number of position changes during the time interval.

Controller 420 includes a counter (not shown) that is used by the single position reference value unit 500 received impulses counts with those of the Counter / sampler 508 counted pulses can be compared to one possible Phase difference between the reference position and the position of the drive shaft 440 determine. Alternatively, the counter can also be inside the divider / multiplier 504 mounted in the single position reference value unit 500 be so that the signal output of unit 500 is a pulse number. Controller 420 can also received a delay compensation signal to unwanted To compensate for signal delays or inaccuracies occurring in the system. If, for example, printing units are at different distances from the Single position reference value unit and / or with a single position reference value unit are connected, the different signal transmission paths used, the same signal from the single position reference value unit due to the characteristic differences in the signal transmission paths, e.g. B. the Length, arrive at the printing units at different times. This Configuration naturally also applies to printing units 202-206 and 16-22 and towards the folding units 28 and 30.

Fig. 6 shows a third embodiment of the invention, the configuration of the Single position reference value unit 600 which includes one motor 668, one Drive shaft 648, a position encoder 638, a speed control unit 618 and includes a controller 628. The internal construction of the single position reference unit 600 is similar to that shown in the printing units 200-206 of FIG. 4, but with a few differences. First, the drive shaft 648 is not one of the Processes in the printing press and therefore no undesirable mechanical malfunctions in the operation of the printing press, for example Blanket washes, subjected. The drive shaft 648 can e.g. B. with a Operation process (not shown) connected, the straightforward, predictable Has behavioral characteristics and is free from transition disorders, the problems could cause in machine operation. Second, controller 628 receives that desired speed command signal indicating printing press speed from the lead reference signal source. Third, this is from position encoder 638 output signal is the single position reference signal which is sent to the controllers 420-426 Printing units 200-206 is sent. Motor 668 can operate independently of others in the Printing machine used motors can be selected. For example, the Motor 668 can be smaller than motors 460-466 and an auxiliary motor.

The controller 628 of the single position reference value unit 600 controls the Speed control unit 618 in that by means of a Speed feedback the speed of the drive shaft 648 as precise as possible is maintained to indicate the desired speed. in the In contrast, regulators 420-426 regulate the respective Speed control units of the printing units 200-206 in such a way that the Drive shafts 440-446 the speed and position of drive shaft 648 accurately consequences.

Fig. 7 shows a fourth embodiment of the invention. Here sends the Guide reference signal source 32 a the desired printing press speed representative speed command signal directly to the controllers 720, 822, 724 and 726, which correspond to the printing groups 200-206. The unit position reference value unit actually consists of components that are within the regulator located, and from connections between the controllers. That is, each of the controls internally generates a single position reference signal which is based on the Speed command signal from the master reference signal source 32 based. In each Controller becomes the single position reference signal with the drive shaft speed and the position information obtained from the position encoder of the corresponding one Printing unit is generated, compared. Based on this comparison, the Regulator sends a command signal to a corresponding speed control unit is input so that the drive shaft by the single position reference signal displayed reference speed and position follows.

To inaccuracies that occur in a period between single position reference signals result, which are generated by different controllers, to compensate for and problems in the printing process that result in such inaccuracies have to avoid, the single position reference signals generated in the various controllers periodically corrected or standardized. In this In the exemplary embodiment, printing unit 200 is selected as a standard unit and that of whose position encoder 430 output signal 700 is from everyone else Printing units used as a standard to which the single position reference signal each of the printing units is periodically adjusted. According to the embodiments the single position reference signals are corrected at one time or standardized if the printing unit chosen as standard does not suffer from transitional faults is influenced.

This concept can also be used, for example, when the invention is in an existing printing press is integrated, which is due to original structural Restrictions do not apply to the same single position reference signal on all their drive units can transmit.

FIG. 8 shows the internal construction of controller 822 of FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 8, A vibrator 800 generates a timing signal in a manner similar to that in FIG. 5 Single position reference value unit 500 shown. The time signal is sent to a divider / multiplier unit 802 sent the the time signal that is on the by the Routing reference signal source 32 received via line 304 Speed command signal based, divided or multiplied, and that too Pulses of the divided or multiplied time signal counts. A Signal setting unit 804 filters noise from the pulse count signal from the divider / multiplier 802 is output, and amplifies the signal accordingly. The Signal setting unit 804 can also set the signal so that it matches the Standard signal 700 is synchronized. The one output from the signal setting unit 804 Signal is a single position reference signal for the print engine 202 and is turned on Position register 808 sent. Position register 808 also receives a signal from counter 806; this signal indicates the number of pulses detected by the Received counter 806 from position encoder 432. Like this for example 5, the counter 806 may receive a signal generate the number of position increments by which the drive shaft 442 has moved during a time interval, d. H. the number of position changes displays during the time interval.

Position register 808 compares that from counter 806 and from Signal setting unit 804 sent signals. The signals represent a change the position of the drive shaft 442 and a change in the reference position during a Time interval and also show the reference speed and the speed the drive shaft 442. Based on this comparison, this creates Position register 808 a command signal that is sent to the speed control unit 412 is sent as is more well known according to the general principles Control functions take place and for example in the controller 22 of that shown in FIG. 2 Printing machine of the prior art is realized.

An exemplary implementation of a circuit to correct or Standardizing the single position reference signal generated in controller 822 a counter 818, a comparator 812, an error detector 810, one Error compensator 814 and a correction value limiter 816. counter 818 functions in the same way as counter / scanner 508 in FIG. 5 and counter 806. The printing group 200 is selected as the standard printing group. Thus, counter 818 detects the pulses and received from the position encoder 430 of the standard printing unit 200 generates a signal representing the number of position increments by which the Drive shaft 440 has moved during a time interval, i.e. the number of Displays changes in position during the time interval.

The signal output from counter 818 and the single position reference signal from of the signal setter 804 are input to the comparator 812 which is the compares the two signals and generates an error signal on the basis of this comparison. The signal output by the comparator 812 is fed into the error detector 810 entered the presence and magnitude of the error between (a) the output signal counter 818, i. H. the position and speed of the drive shaft 440 the standard print engine 200, as indicated by the position encoder 430, and (b) the Reference speed and position as determined by the signal setting unit 804 output single position reference signal shown, detected. The error detector 810 generates a signal indicating the particular error and the signal is converted into a Error compensator 814 input, which generates a control signal, which the Signal setter 804 causes the single position reference signal to be corrected or to the position and speed of the drive shaft 440 of the Standard printing unit 200 to adapt. A correction value limiter 816 can be used with the Error compensator 814 and the signal adjuster 804 are connected to the Correction process by restricting the output signal of the error compensator 814 slow it down.

Alternatively, the components of each controller that have a single position reference signal generate for the drive unit corresponding to the controller, be arranged outside the controller. For example, controller 822 can Contain counter 806 and position register 808 and an output signal from Position encoder 432 and another output signal from the Receive signal setter 804. Components like that Vibration generator 800, the divider / multiplier 802, the Signal setting unit 804, the comparator 812, the error detector 810, the Error compensator 814, correction value limiter 816 and counter 818 can be on can be arranged anywhere as long as they remain correctly connected and the output of the signal setting unit 804 to the controller 822, the routing reference signal 304 to the Divider / multiplier 802 passes and the standard position encoder signal 700 to counter 818.

The other printing units 204, 206 can be of the same construction and in be operated in the same way as the printing unit 202. If the configuration of the FIG. 8, for example, for the prior art printing machine shown in FIG. 2 is to be used, the printing group 23 and the folding units 28 and 30 2 may have the same construction as the printing unit 202.

LIST OF REFERENCES

16

Printing unit (Fig. 1)

18

printing unit

20

printing unit

22

printing unit

28

folding unit

30

folding unit

32

Leitbezugssignalquelle

200

Printing unit (Fig. 7)

202

printing unit

204

printing unit

206

printing unit

230

Position encoder (Fig. 2)

410

Speed control unit (Fig. 4)

412

Speed control unit

414

Speed control unit

416

Speed control unit

420

regulator

422

regulator

424

regulator

426

regulator

430

position encoder

432

position encoder

434

position encoder

436

position encoder

440

drive shaft

442

drive shaft

444

drive shaft

446

drive shaft

460

engine

462

engine

464

engine

466

engine

500

Single position reference value unit (Fig. 5)

502

vibrator

504

Dividier- / multiplier

506

Filter amplifier unit

508

Counter / scanner

600

Single position reference value unit (Fig. 6)

618

Speed control unit

628

regulator

638

position encoder

648

drive shaft

668

engine

700

Position encoder 430 signal (FIG. 7)

720

regulator

724

regulator

726

regulator

800

Vibration generator (Fig. 8)

802

Dividier- / multiplier

804

Signaleinstelleinheit

806

counter

808

position register

810

error detector

812

comparator

814

Fehlerkompensator

816

Correction value limiter

818

counter

822

regulator

Claims (20)

1. Device for controlling the printing operation of a printing press having
   a first and at least one second drive unit with a respective motor (460-468) and a respective drive shaft (440-448);
   a first and at least one second position encoder (430-436, 638) which determine the respective actual position of the respective drive shaft and generate at least one respective position encoder signal;
   a first and at least one second speed control unit (410-416, 618) controlling the speed of the respective drive shaft (440-446, 648) and
   a first regulator (420-426,628, 720-726, 822),
   characterized in that the device comprises an isolated position reference unit (500) that generates at least one isolated position reference signal based on the desired printing press speed and isolated from disturbances caused by the printing operation, and transmits the isolated position reference signal to the first and to the at least one second regulator (420-426, 628, 720-726, 822), the regulators (420-426, 628, 720-726, 822) transmitting a control signal to the respective speed control unit (410-416, 618) based on the isolated position reference signal and the respective position encoder signal, and that the isolated position reference signal and the position encoder signals (430-436, 638) each comprise a number of pulses.
2. Device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the isolated position reference signal comprises at least a reference speed signal and a reference position signal.
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2,
   characterized in that the isolated position reference unit comprises an oscillator (502) for generating a reference signal and a frequency divider unit (504) for dividing the reference signal based on the desired press speed.
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the first and the at least one second drive unit each further comprise a counting unit (508) operatively connected to the respective first and at least one second position encoder (430-436) and to the respective first and at least one second regulator (420-426) to determine a position change of the respective drive shaft (440-446) during sampling time.
5. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the control signal generated by the respective first and at least one second regulator (420-426) is also based on a delay compensation signal for a signal path connection between the isolated position reference unit (500) and the respective first and at least one second regulator (420-426).
6. Device according to claim 1,
   characterized in that the isolated position reference unit (500) comprises a motor (460) isolated from the printing press and having a drive shaft; a speed control unit (410) controlling the speed of the drive shaft; a position encoder (430) generating a signal indicating the position of the drive shaft, the position encoder signal being the isolated position reference signal; and a regulator (420) transmitting a control signal to the speed control unit based on the isolated position reference signal and the desired printing press speed.
7. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that a master reference signal source (32) is provided for transmitting a signal representing the desired printing press speed to the isolated position reference unit (500).
8. Device according to claim 7,
   characterized in that the signal generated by the master reference signal source is a digital signal.
9. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in that the isolated position reference unit (500) is a solid state electronic device.
10. Device according to claim 1,
    characterized in that the isolated position reference unit (500) generates a plurality of isolated position reference signals based on the desired printing press speed, and that the device further comprises
    a plurality of drive units (460-466) having a respective drive shaft (440-446); a speed control unit (410) controlling the speed of the drive shaft (440); a position encoder (430) generating a signal that indicates the position of the drive shaft (440); and a regulator (720) transmitting a control signal to the speed control unit, the control signal being based on the signal of the position encoder and on at least one of the plurality of isolated position reference signals.
11. Device according to claim 10,
    characterized in that the isolated position reference unit (500) comprises at least one error correction circuit to correct at least one of the isolated position reference signals based on the output of a position encoder of a drive unit designated among a plurality of drive units.
12. Device according to claim 10 or 11,
    characterized in that one of the plurality of drive units (460-466) is designated as a master drive unit and others of the plurality of drive units (460-466) are designated as slave drive units, and
    that the isolated position reference unit (500) for each of the slave drive units comprises:

    an oscillator (502) generating a signal;

    a frequency divider (504) generating a signal by dividing the oscillator signal based on the desired printing press speed;

    a pulse adding/subtracting unit for generating the isolated position reference signal by changing the number of pulses in the signal generated by the frequency divider (504);

    a comparator (812) comparing the isolated position reference signal generated by the pulse adding/subtracting unit with the signal generated by the position encoder of the master drive unit and generating a signal based on the comparison;

    an error detector (810) detecting an error between the isolated position reference signal generated by the pulse adding/subtracting unit and the signal generated by the position encoder signal of the master drive unit; and

    an error correction unit generating a control signal based on the detected error for controlling the pulse adding/subtracting unit.
13. Method for controlling the printing operation of a printing press comprising the following steps:

    determining the position of a respective drive shaft (440-446) of a first and at least one second drive unit (460-466) of the printing press by means of a respective position encoder (430-436, 638) and transmitting a respective position encoder signal to a regulator (420-426, 628, 720-726, 822); and

    controlling the rotational speed of the respective drive shaft (440-446) by means of a respective speed control unit (410-416, 618)

    characterized by
    generating an isolated position reference signal that is based on the desired printing press speed and isolated from disturbances caused by the printing process and comprises a number of pulses;
    transmitting the isolated position reference signal to respective regulators (420-426, 628, 720-726, 822); and
    transmitting a respective signal to the respective speed control unit (410-416, 618) based on the isolated position reference signal and on the respective position encoder signal comprising a number of pulses.
14. Method according to claim 13,
    characterized in that the step of generating the isolated position reference signal comprises generating a clock signal having a predetermined frequency; dividing the clock signal based on the desired printing press speed;
    filtering noise from the clock signal; and
    amplifying the clock signal.
15. Method according to claim 13 or 14,
    characterized in that the method further comprises the step of determining a change in position of the drive shaft (440-446) during a sample period.
16. Method according to one of claims 13 to 15,
    characterized in that the control of the rotational speed of the respective drive shaft (440-446) is also based on a delay compensation signal.
17. Method according to claim 13,
    characterized in that the generation of an isolated position reference signal comprises determining the position of a drive shaft (440-446) separated from the printing press;
    generating the isolated position reference signal based on the determined drive shaft position; and
    controlling the rotational speed of the drive shaft (440-446) on the basis of the isolated position reference signal and the desired printing press speed.
18. Method according to claim 13,
    characterized by
    determining the drive shaft position of each of a plurality of drive units (460-466); generating at least one isolated position reference signal for each of the plurality of drive units (460-466) based on the desired printing press speed; and
    controlling the speed of each drive shaft on the basis of the determined drive shaft position and of the at least one isolated position reference signal.
19. Method according to claim 18,
    characterized in that the method further comprises the step of correcting the at least one isolated position reference signal that is based on the determined drive shaft position of a designated one of a plurality of drive units (460-466).
20. Web-fed rotary printing press
    characterized by
    a device according to one of claims 1 to 12.

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