Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B42—BOOKBINDING; ALBUMS; FILES; SPECIAL PRINTED MATTER
  • B42C—BOOKBINDING
  • B42C19/00—Multi-step processes for making books
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41F—PRINTING MACHINES OR PRESSES
  • B41F17/00—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for
  • B41F17/02—Printing apparatus or machines of special types or for particular purposes, not otherwise provided for for printing books or manifolding sets
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
  • G07B17/00467—Transporting mailpieces
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
  • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B41—PRINTING; LINING MACHINES; TYPEWRITERS; STAMPS
  • B41P—INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO PRINTING, LINING MACHINES, TYPEWRITERS, AND TO STAMPS
  • B41P2217/00—Printing machines of special types or for particular purposes
  • B41P2217/50—Printing presses for particular purposes
  • B41P2217/51—Printing presses for particular purposes for printing individualised books
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
  • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
  • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
  • B65H2301/40—Type of handling process
  • B65H2301/43—Gathering; Associating; Assembling
  • B65H2301/431—Features with regard to the collection, nature, sequence and/or the making thereof
  • B65H2301/4311—Making personalised books or mail packets according to personal, geographic or demographic data
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
  • G07B17/00467—Transporting mailpieces
  • G07B2017/00491—Mail/envelope/insert handling system
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
  • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
  • G07B2017/00572—Details of printed item
  • G07B2017/0058—Printing of code
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
  • G07B17/00508—Printing or attaching on mailpieces
  • G07B2017/00572—Details of printed item
  • G07B2017/00596—Printing of address
• • G—PHYSICS
  • G07—CHECKING-DEVICES
  • G07B—TICKET-ISSUING APPARATUS; FARE-REGISTERING APPARATUS; FRANKING APPARATUS
  • G07B17/00—Franking apparatus
  • G07B17/00459—Details relating to mailpieces in a franking system
  • G07B17/00661—Sensing or measuring mailpieces
  • G07B2017/00709—Scanning mailpieces

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a method for producing personalized printed products and a system for producing personalized printed products.
• Personalized advertising cards are known, for example, in which the name and address of an addressee or the like is printed in addition to the advertised product or service.
• Such personalized advertising cards are usually produced in a two-stage process, in which anonymous advertising cards are first printed in a first stage and the corresponding addressee-specific information is printed on before the advertising cards are sent.
• feeders of the saddle stitcher intended for gathering the personalized printed sheets have a feeder and downstream main feeder, between which the personalized printed sheets are transported fanned out over a conveyor line, so that a reading device can read a label attached to the personalized printed sheet and the personalized printed sheets are identified when they are collected.
• this process is associated with some outlay in terms of equipment and logistics.
• the object of the present invention is to specify a method and to provide a system by means of which addressee-specific information in any type and form, in particular as addressee-specific media attached to the printed product, can be added to a printed product provided for a predetermined addressee.
• the present invention provides, according to a first aspect, a method for attaching addressee-specific media to printed products, comprising the steps of: a) providing an EDP-supported database structure which in each case assigns information to an addressee of a printed product, which characterizes the addressee, b) Manufacture of a plurality of addressee-specific media using information from the database structure, one medium each containing specific information for one addressee, c) Completion of addressee-specific print products, whereby a respective print product is addressee-specific at least as a result is that an addressee-specific medium is attached to at least one intended location, d) provision of the print products for addressee-specific delivery on the basis of information from the database structure and / or on the basis of information carried by an addressee-specific medium.
• a plurality of printed sheets to be formed to form the inside of the finished printed product, provided with a cover sheet and stapled or bound, and for finishing the respective addressee-specific printed product on at least one printed sheet on at least one of the plurality of addressee-specific media is attached, wherein preferably several addressee-specific media are attached to the printed product, the format of the addressee-specific media being different from that of the printed product.
• the present invention provides, according to a second aspect, a method for producing addressee-specific printed products, in which a plurality of printed sheets are used to complete a respective printed product
• the personalized printed sheet Based on information from the database structure and / or on Basis for the addressee-specific information is provided on the personalized printed sheet, characterized in that a plurality of addressee-specific media, the format of which is different from that of the finished printed product, are produced using information from the database structure, one medium being characteristic for each addressee Contains information, and that in order to complete the respective addressee-specific printed product, at least one of the plurality of addressee-specific media is attached to the at least one addressee-specific printed sheet, wherein preferably a plurality of addressee-specific media are attached to the printed product.
• the method according to the invention it is provided on the one hand to produce the respective addressee-specific media on the basis of the information provided in the database structure and on the other hand to carry out the production of the print products to such an extent that the addressee-specific media can be attached and the print products can be finished.
• the printed products become addressee-specific printed products at least by attaching one of the addressee-specific media already produced to the printed product. Attachment in the sense used here is intended to mean that the respective addressee-specific medium is added to a printed product in a fixed assignment, that is to say, for example, glued, pinned or enclosed.
• a respective printed product can also be addressee-specific before the addressee-specific medium is attached, for example when each addressee is assigned a different, specific print product.
• an addressee-specific medium is attached to an already addressee-specific print product, it being important to ensure that the medium and the print product are assigned to one another.
• the invention makes it possible, for example, to add one or more further media personalized in the manner already described to a printed product. For example, it could be thought of adding postcards or even entire supplements to a magazine at any point, in particular also inside the magazine, which are tailored specifically to the respective addressees.
• addressee-specific media of the type mentioned are cards or postcards or discount coupons that are stuck on appropriate advertisements, but also CDs or smaller test packs (such as cosmetics) affixed in this way.
• the media can also be addressee-specific by referring to products or services specific to the addressee concerned (e.g. addressee-specific catalogs on CD-ROM).
• the completion of the printed matter usually includes several successive work processes, for example printing the individual sheets of a printed matter, collating the sheets and then stapling the printed matter. According to the method according to the invention, depending on the application, some of these work processes can be carried out in parallel with the production of the majority of addressee-specific media.
• Printed product is collated and then the collated these sheets are stapled and ready for dispatch.
• the final gathering and binding of the finished printed product or binding takes place only after attaching an addressee-specific medium to a designated location of each of the printed products.
• a respective addressee-specific medium is attached, for example, to a print sheet of a printed product provided for this purpose, preferably in direct connection with its print, and the addressee-specific print sheets then created are provided in a specific sequence for collating the respective addressee-specific print product.
• the method can be designed in such a way that anonymous printed sheets of the respective printed product, to which no addressee-specific medium is assigned, are collected in sequence up to and including a printable sheet to be made for an addressee-specific medium, which is assigned an addressee-specific medium.
• the addressee-specific medium / the addressee-specific media assigned to the addressee-specific printing sheet is attached to the printing sheet, which is easily possible since the printing sheet is now on the very outside or at the top of the stack of the printing sheets to be collated.
• the further printed sheets of the respective printed product are then gathered, whereby the steps just mentioned may be repeated if further printed sheets are contained in the respective printed product, to which addressee-specific media are assigned.
• Another variant of the method consists in first assigning the printed sheet to be made to a respective addressee-specific addressee-specific medium / the addressee-specific media assigned to a respective print sheet are attached to the addressee-specific print sheet, which e.g. B. can be done directly in connection with the production of the respective addressee-specific medium, since the corresponding printed sheet is then generally not yet assigned to any of the addressees. It goes without saying that this step may be carried out for all printed sheets to which addressee-specific media are assigned. Then all the sheets of the respective printed product are gathered in order, z. B. on a known collection route, including the printed sheet (s) to which addressee-specific media are attached.
• the completion of a respective addressee-specific print product and the production of the addressee-specific media are coordinated with one another in such a way that the order of production of addressee-specific media corresponds to the order in which the addressee-specific print products are completed, since then a correct assignment of addressee-specific media and the corresponding printed products is guaranteed relatively easily.
• the print products can be made available for addressee-specific delivery on the basis of information from the database structure, on the basis of which the order of production of the corresponding addressee-specific media and the completion of the corresponding addressee-specific print products had already been determined.
• the addressee-specific information of a medium to be found on a print product to be made available for dispatch can be used to add further information that is important for the dispatch of the print product (for example the shipping address or a corresponding invoice) or the addressee-specific information actually recorded with the corresponding, Information extracted from the database structure can be compared so that incorrect assignments can be easily detected.
• an addressee-specific printed product After an addressee-specific printed product is essentially completely finished, the provision of the printed product for addressee-specific delivery can take place in a relatively direct way by means of methods known in printing and publishing technology, so that in rare cases misallocations should still occur at this stage. However, this does not apply if the addressee-specific media are to be assigned to a designated printed product after their production. For this reason, it is expedient if the completion of a respective addressee-specific printed product further comprises reading out and storing a machine-readable identification of an addressee-specific medium in association with attaching the addressee-specific medium to a printed product. Then the stored machine-readable identification can be used for the further processing of the now addressee-specific print product.
• this can include further addressee-specific information, in particular a delivery address to the predetermined addressees or a correspondingly attached invoice and the like.
• the database structure can also be used.
• the machine-readable identification is read out optically.
• a text in a machine-readable font preferably an OCR font
• OCR font is attached to the medium in order to generate the machine-readable identification.
• a text can be, for example, the name and / or the address of an addressee who, in many cases, should be printed on anyway.
• a machine-readable font is used.
• OCR fonts a tried and tested means in the prior art.
• the machine-readable text can also be attached to the medium in addition to the text that is actually to be printed, for example if the name / address is to be printed in a non-machine-readable script.
• a machine-readable identification can be attached to a medium in a particularly fail-safe manner is that the machine-readable identification is applied to the medium in the form of a bar code.
• bar codes are used in a variety of ways in technology. They are characterized above all by the fact that only very low error rates occur when the identification is detected using a corresponding bar code scanner.
• the addressee-specific printed products are generally produced in a predetermined sequence, which is predetermined by corresponding logistical requirements, such as the sequence of the delivery routes or the combination of different address areas into units to be delivered together.
• the associated addressee-specific media are produced in an appropriate order or are brought into such an order after production.
• the advantage of such a procedure lies in the fact that only the two “stacks” have to be processed in the predetermined order in order to assign a respective addressee-specific medium to the print product assigned to it.
• a machine-readable identification is used, it can be provided that the machine-readable identification is assigned to a running data record number, which is assigned continuously to a printed product to be sent to a specific addressee.
• the assignment is advantageously made in the predetermined order in which the printed products are to be produced.
• the printed products to be produced can be placed in a sequence that is favorable for shipping before the printed products and the addressee-specific media are produced. This sequence then specifies the current data record number, which can be used to directly assign a machine-readable identification to a data record that is recorded at a later point in time.
• a predetermined sequence is determined in which the addressee-specific printed products are to be produced, it can advantageously be provided that the sequence of the labels read is compared with the predetermined sequence and appropriate measures are taken when discrepancies are detected. So if a misassignment occurs, e.g. B. because an incorrect address label has been attached to an addressee-specific print product or because an addressee-specific medium has been attached to one of the print products and should be assigned to another print product, can as soon as possible, in any case before the finished print products are sent the respective printed products are removed from the production process and a new one Production of the corresponding faulty printed product, if necessary without an addressee-specific medium, can only be initiated with the address printed on (reprinting).
• the method according to the invention it is also preferably provided that in the production of the addressee-specific media, static information that is identical for a large number of media is processed and / or applied separately from dynamic information that is different for each medium.
• two complementary print templates are used to produce one addressee-specific medium, a first print template being used for printing the static information, which is identical for all addressee-specific media.
• a second template to be created for each medium is used to print the dynamic information.
• variable data for example name and address
• non-variable data for example, the layout of an advertisement
• the respective typesetting documents for the non-variable data or the variable data can be created using common techniques, preferably computer-aided.
• To increase the efficiency in the production of the addressee-specific media it can be provided that several addressee-specific media are produced per work step, the media being produced in an order in which as much media as possible can be produced per work step. In particular, it can be provided that the media are temporarily brought into a different order than the predetermined order during their manufacture.
• a large number of different media can be used as addressee-specific media, for example small-format printed products, preferably cards, postcards or coupons (e.g. discount coupons) onto which at least the name of the addressee is printed.
• small-format printed products preferably cards, postcards or coupons (e.g. discount coupons) onto which at least the name of the addressee is printed.
• CDs, sample packs (e.g. perfumes, creams or the like), textiles, etc. are particularly suitable as printed products.
• a system for producing printed products which contain addressee-specific media comprising: an EDP-supported database with a database structure, each assigns information that characterizes the addressee to an addressee of a printed product, a media production unit for producing addressee-specific media, each medium containing information specific to one addressee in each case, a printed product production unit for printing, compiling and stapling the respective printed product, which comprises a media attachment unit for attaching a respective medium to at least one intended location of the printed product , and a shipping unit to provide the essentially finished respective printed product for shipping, the shipping unit and the printed product production unit and possibly the media production unit being operable in such a way that the printed products made by at least one addressee-specific medium for a respective addressee-specific printed product can be provided for addressee-specific delivery.
• the system is advantageously designed in such a way that the printed product production unit is designed to print a cover sheet of a respective finished printed product and a plurality of printed sheets forming the inner sides of the finished printed product, collating the cover sheet and the plurality of printed sheets, and stapling or binding the plurality of printed sheets including the cover sheet , wherein at least one of the printed sheets, the addressee-specific printed sheet, can be attached with at least one predetermined location, addressee-specific information, the media production unit is designed for the production of addressee-specific media, the format of which differs from the format of the respective printed product, and the media attachment unit for attaching at least one of the plurality of addressee-specific media on the at least one addressee-specific printed sheet is formed, wherein preferably several addressee-specific media can be attached to the respective printed product.
• a system for producing addressee-specific printed products for carrying out the described method.
• the system comprises an EDP-supported database with a database structure, which in each case assigns information that characterizes the addressee to an addressee of a printed product, a printed product production unit for printing a cover sheet of a respective finished printed product and a plurality of inner pages of the finished printed product-forming sheets, collating the cover sheet and the plurality of printing sheets, and stapling or binding the plurality of printing sheets including the cover sheet, addressing-specific information being able to be attached to at least one of the printing sheets, the addressee-specific printing sheet, at least at a predetermined location, and a shipping unit for the essentially finished respective printing product for the Provide shipping.
• the system further comprises at least one media production unit for producing a plurality of addressee-specific media, the format of which differs from the format of the respective printed product, each medium containing information specific to an addressee.
• the print product production unit comprises at least one media attachment unit for attaching at least one of the plurality of addressee-specific media to the at least one addressee-specific print sheet, wherein preferably a plurality of addressee-specific media can be attached to the respective print product.
• the shipping unit, the print product production unit and the media production unit can be operated in a coordinated manner in such a way that the print products made address-specific by at least one addressee-specific medium can be made available for addressee-specific delivery.
• the printed product production unit can, for example, comprise a saddle stitcher with a plurality of feeders for collating individual print sheets of the respective printed product, with a feeder unit provided for collating the addressee-specific print sheet (to which the addressee-specific medium / addressee-specific media are assigned).
• a saddle stitcher With this configuration, the known arrangement of a saddle stitcher can be used, so that it is relatively easy to retrofit existing systems.
• the additional media attachment unit only has to be connected upstream to one of the investors provided for the addressee-specific sheet, or the respective conventional investor has to be replaced by an investor who has the additional media attachment function. However, it is a prerequisite that the investor also works reliably with the print sheets provided with the addressee-specific medium. This can be the case with somewhat bulky media, e.g. B. thick boxes, brochures or CDs lead to problems.
• the printed product production unit comprises a saddle stitcher with a plurality of feeders for collating individual print sheets of the respective printed product, the media attachment unit being connected downstream of the feeders.
• the saddle stitcher just add an additional media attachment unit to the way to work between the feeder and the stitching or binding station.
• addressee-specific media can be attached to each side of the printed product.
• this method is particularly suitable when small, flat and light manageable (e.g. appropriately flexible) media such as coupons should be attached.
• the printed product production unit may comprise a saddle stitcher with a plurality of feeders for collating individual print sheets of the respective printed product, with a media attachment unit being connected directly downstream of an investor provided for collating a print sheet to be made with addressee-specific medium / addressee-specific media.
• This variant is therefore correspondingly complex. It offers the advantage that even complex media can be attached very easily to the printed sheet lying on the outside or on the top.
• the media attachment unit is preferably assigned an information acquisition unit which is designed to acquire information on the media by means of which the addressee assigned to the medium can be determined.
• the information acquisition unit can be integrated directly into the media attachment unit. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to upstream or subsequent to the information acquisition unit of the media attachment unit, but in this case it is important to ensure that the addressee-specific information contained on the medium is recorded in a fixed association with the attachment of the medium.
• the information acquisition unit can record at least some of the addressee-specific information on a sensor
• Medium include a memory to the captured addressee-specific
• the addressee assigned to the corresponding printed product can then be determined at any time later, so that correspondingly further addressee-specific information, for example address labels, can be attached to the printed product.
• the media production unit is assigned a correspondingly designed information transmission unit.
• This information transmission unit ensures that a corresponding, preferably machine-readable, identification is attached to this medium in direct association with the production of an addressee-specific medium.
• the information acquisition unit or the information transmission unit are preferably devices designed to acquire or transmit signals by optical means, in particular an OCR font scanner or an OCR font printer or a bar code scanner or a bar code printer. Both types of systems are well known in the art and have been adequately tested.
• the system according to the invention can comprise, for example, a media production unit which is designed for the production of small-format printed products, preferably cards, postcards or coupons (eg discount coupons). Accordingly, the media attachment unit is then designed for attaching postcards or small-format printed products, preferably cards, postcards or coupons (eg discount coupons) to printed products.
• media production unit or media attachment unit can be designed for the production or attachment of CDs, textiles, sample packs and the like.
• the system is preferably designed for the production of stapled or adhesive-bound magazines or brochures.
• Fig. 1 is a flow chart for explaining the first steps in
• Fig. 2 is the continuation of the production process shown in Fig. 1.
• Fig. 3 is the continuation of the production process shown in Fig. 2.
• Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a system for producing the printed products with addressee-specific media attached to it for implementing the method according to the invention.
• the method according to the invention is to be used to produce personalized printed products, in particular the typefaces sold by subscription.
• a (post) card or discount coupon personalized to a respective known subscriber is stuck onto a pre-made advertisement which is printed in a magazine subscribed to by the respective subscriber. It must be ensured that the personalized card is attached to the magazine in accordance with the subsequent shipping address when the magazine is produced, so that each subscriber receives the newspaper / magazine addressed to him with the card with the advertising message personally addressed to him.
• 1 to 3 show in the form of a flowchart the production flow chart of the production of such magazines sold by subscription according to the method according to the invention.
• Direct AD TM personalized, ie addressee-specific information for each subscriber.
• One of the main advantages of DirectAd's is the personal approach to the reader, which enables a "dialogue” between the reader and the advertiser. Further advantages lie in the targeted delivery, since readers usually pay for their magazines and therefore ensure that their stored personal data are up to date, as well as on the cost side, since the postage costs for advertising can be saved.
• a customer database is a prerequisite for addressing individual magazine advertisements individually via personalized advertising messages using Direct AD's TM.
• Such a customer database is usually supplied by the magazine publisher of a subscription magazine and contains, in addition to the subscriber's address information, as much as possible further addressee-specific information, for example about the reading behavior of the respective addressee, from which personal messages for the advertising medium can be generated.
• the database thus provides a "recipient profile" specific to a particular addressee.
• step 2 in FIG. 1 After receipt of this database (step 2 in FIG. 1), it is first subjected to a check. On the one hand, it is checked whether the data received via any common data transmission method (e.g. ISDN, FTP, CD, etc.) has a common data format (e.g. dbase, EXCEL, text file) or whether the data is at least in one of the convert common database file formats. On the other hand, it is also checked whether all data records are complete and whether the required data fields are available. This process is usually done individually depending on the requirement. Then, in step 4, different layout motifs of the advertising are assigned to each customer. For example, depending on the magazine and information from the addressee profile, different advertising messages can be assigned to the customer for the advertising of a particular company.
• a common data transmission method e.g. ISDN, FTP, CD, etc.
• a common data format e.g. dbase, EXCEL, text file
• step 4 different layout motifs of the advertising are assigned to each customer
• the corresponding salutation control can also be generated in this step using the addressee profile.
• further data fields are created on the basis of the data fields available in the customer database by means of database commands known per se and these are for example assigned the motif name to be used or the personal address of the customer.
• the data records generated in step 4 are then further processed in step 5 in order to deliver them as efficiently as possible.
• This preparation primarily includes sorting the data records according to the guidelines of the central bundle production (ZEBU) of the Deutsche Post AG in order to adapt the production sequence of the printed products to the logistical requirements (for example the sequence of the delivery routes of the Deutsche Post AG).
• the preparation is software-supported, for example using the "ICOM Infopress” software.
• this step also supported by the "ICOM Infopress” software, prints the bundle label and pallet label required for labeling the magazines to be packed after production in accordance with the rules mentioned.
• step 6 there is a temporary re-sorting of the data records in order to optimally utilize the printed sheets during the digital printing process of the cards carrying the personalized advertising messages.
• the data structure, in particular the order The order in which the cards are to be printed is adapted to the sequence required depending on the final format and the planned further processing in order to make the most efficient use of a single sheet.
• This step is preferably carried out in such a way that database commands create new data fields which are identical in structure to the prepared customer database and the corresponding parts of the customer database are transferred to this so-called print database.
• each new data record of this database which has been prepared for printing, is stored with the data from the customer database, which has been re-sorted in accordance with an optimized utilization of individual printing sheets.
• the order of the cards now carrying addressee-specific information is sorted back to the order specified in step 5.
• graphic data relating to the design of the card layout are also required.
• This graphic data can be obtained from the respective advertiser in the same way as the database, or the publisher / printer can design their own designs (see step 1).
• Such a layout usually only contains a sample text or a placeholder at the point at which address-specific information is to appear later on the individual cards.
• step 3 after one or more test prints of the card layout, it is checked by the publisher and the advertiser and released for printing.
• step 7 and 8 For the part of the data which is only static, ie which is identical for all advertising cards to be printed, a set file is created separately for the front and back of the card (steps 7 and 8). Here too, care is taken to ensure that the number, sequence and arrangement of each Printed sheets printed cards in accordance with the print database created in step 6 in the optimal order. Since all cards contain the same graphic and text elements, in this case a single-sided set file is required for the front and back of the card, which can be used for all printed sheets. In steps 14 and 15, a corresponding postscript file for digital printing is generated from this one-sided sentence file for the card front and card back sides of a printing sheet.
• the print database generated in step 6 and the layout specifications of the advertiser are also used a set document for the front (step 9) and for the back (step 10) of the cards of a respective printed sheet with the optimal number, sequence and arrangement of individual cards determined in step 6.
• These typesetting documents generated in steps 9 and 10 contain only variable data. Since the variable data are different for each of the addressee-specific cards, a separate typesetting document must of course also be created for each printed sheet to be printed. By separating variable and non-variable data, in most cases a considerable reduction in the large amount of data created, in particular due to the large print runs, can be achieved and the entire production process can thus be optimized.
• the layout program "Quark-XPress” (version 4.1 for Macintosh) is preferably used together with the Xtension for Quark XPress "Meadows Information Systems - Design Merge Pro” (version 4.18) assign the individual variable fields of the respective record file to the respective data fields of the print database.
• Design Merge Pro program a multi-page typesetting document is also generated for the front and back from the one-sided documents linked to the print database in steps 10 and 11. Each page of this multi-page set document corresponds to a print sheet and contains the information from the data records in the print database.
• steps 12 and 13 a software-based check and adaptation of the variable data to the text fields predetermined by the layout of the card is carried out for each of the addressee-specific cards of a printed sheet.
• image data are automatically reduced or enlarged to the correct size and text fields are adapted according to definable rules.
• Text data fields whose content is too large for the defined text frame are preferably gradually adapted to the layout by gradually reducing the font size and spacing. Analogously, it is possible to adapt varying image data fields to the underlying image frame.
• steps 16 and 17 the two versatile typesetting files are converted to PostScript using standard printer drivers, which is the page description language for the digital printing presses used here.
• the cards carrying the addressee-specific information are printed in a media production unit.
• a media production unit This can be done, for example, using an IBM Infocolor 70 color laser printer or preferably using a "MAN Roland DICO-Press 500" digital printing machine.
• a so-called "book ticket” is generated to connect the mutually assigned post-script files with variable and static information. This can be done manually, for example, using an editor based on the manufacturer's defined syntax.
• the book ticket gives the Barco print streamer upstream of the printing press all the information it needs regarding printing or impression of the variable information.
• the motif side of a card is usually coated with UV lacquer (step 20, see FIG. 3).
• the cards generated are then cut out of the respective printed sheets, cut to size and sorted in the order in which the carrier magazines are dispatched (determined in step 6).
• non-machine-readable fonts e.g. cursive fonts
• the unique, sequential data record number is inserted in the variable data record document for the advertising postcard in the appropriate place on the front. This can be done, for example, in a machine-readable OCR font or using a bar code.
• the individual sheets the "carrier magazine” printed in a conventional manner (Fig. 3, step 21).
• the coding for example the data record number
• the reading is carried out by a camera which is provided on the "Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG card adhesive WK 400", which is preferably used here for sticking the cards. (Alternatively, a "Muller Martini card adhesive 315" could be used, for example).
• This camera is directly connected to the control software of the saddle stitcher "Heidelberger Druckmaschinen AG saddle stitcher ST 400", which is preferably used for stapling and direct addressing of the printed products (alternatively a saddle stitcher “Muller Martini Prima SB” could also be used), whereby the card glue is also in the saddle stitcher is integrated.
• the control software of the saddle stitcher recognizes the font, ie reads out and stores the machine-readable identification contained on the addressee-specific card. Then, using this machine-readable identification, a comparison is carried out with the customer database sorted in the shipping order (step 25). On the basis of this comparison, further data, for example the sender and recipient address, are determined from the database (customer database or print database).
• step 24 After attaching the card with the addressee-specific message, all sheets of the "carrier magazine” are collected in the saddle stitcher (step 24). Then, in step 26, when the printed product is ready for dispatch, the impression of the sender and recipient address of the magazine is made on the basis of the comparison carried out in step 25.
• This process takes place in the saddle stitcher in the conventionally knew inkjet printing processes from commercially available inkjet print heads and is controlled by the software of the saddle stitcher. Finally, the magazine is also stapled in the saddle stitcher.
• an error log is generated, which is then used as the basis for necessary corrections, e.g. B. possible reprints or manual re-sorting of individual magazines.
• the following error scenario can be preprogrammed, for example.
• the basic goal in this scenario is to ensure that only addressee-specific media intended for a specific addressee are actually delivered and that faulty pages are replaced by unpersonalized pages.
• the aim is to ensure that at least two of three addressee-specific media are glued into the correct place in the printed product.
• the production process is stopped and the addressee-specific media are re-sorted in an extra machine.
• the cause of the error is searched and remedied offline when production is stopped.
• the error occurs with the third addressee-specific medium, the incorrect signature with the first or second addressee-specific medium is ejected, and the third addressee-specific medium that has not yet been stuck out is ejected.
• the error is noted by software in the list of printed products to be sorted without addressee-specific media.
• FIG. 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a system for producing printed products suitable for carrying out the described method.
• a printed product production unit 100 individual printing sheets of a magazine to be produced are collated or collated via a collecting chain 110, in order to then stapled in a stapling unit 112 and then subsequently in a shipping unit 1 14 to be made available for dispatch.
• the shipping unit 114 also includes a control function for the finished printed products, so that faulty printed products can be sorted out into an error stack 116 before being sent.
• the individual printed sheets to be collected are fed to the collecting chain 110 via corresponding feeders, three of which are designated by way of example in FIG. 4 with 118a, 118b, 118c.
• the feeders 1 18a to 1 18c each comprise a stack of similar printed sheets 120a, 120b, 120c, from which a sheet is pulled off when it is collected and placed on the collecting chain 1 10.
• the control of the individual feeders 120a to 120c, the collection chain 1 10, the stapling unit 1 12 and the shipping unit 1 14 is done by a corresponding control unit 1 18 (so-called “selective binding controller"), which exchanges data with each of the machines mentioned or control commands is connected (dashed lines in Fig. 4).
• the control unit 1 18 is connected to a database system 1 1 5 in which a customer database is stored.
• the system shown in FIG. 4 further comprises a manufacturing unit 1 22 for addressee-specific media 1 26.
• the media manufacturing unit 1 22 can be used, for example, to produce postcards associated with a specific advertisement, onto which addressing-specific information, for example the name of the subscriber, is printed in addition to the advertising information is.
• These addressee-specific media 26 are intended to be attached to the print products in such a way that each print product assigned to a particular subscriber also has the addressee-specific medium 1 26 assigned to it.
• the media production unit 1 22 is also connected to the EDP-supported database system 1 1 5 carrying the customer database in order to be able to query the corresponding addressee-specific information and the order in which the media 1 26 is to be produced.
• the print product production unit 100 comprising the feeder 1 1 8a to 1 1 8c, the collection chain 1 10, the stapling unit 1 1 2 and the control unit 1 1 8 is also assigned a media attachment unit 1 24, by means of which a respective addressee-specific medium 1 26 is attached to one provided printing sheet 1 20a is attached. After attaching the addressee-specific medium 126, the respective printed sheet 1 20a is then placed on the corresponding feeder 1 1 8a, so that a stack of the now addressee-specific sheets 1 20a is produced in the predetermined order.
• the media attachment unit 1 24 is additionally assigned an information acquisition unit 130, by means of which at least some of the addressee-specific information provided on the respective medium can be acquired, so that the data record of the customer address assigned to the respective addressee-specific medium 1 26 database can be determined.
• This information is stored by the control unit 11 8 so that all further work steps can take place on the basis of this information.
• the pressure attachment production unit 100 can also be assigned the media attachment unit 1 24 ′.
• the media production unit 1 22 is accordingly assigned an information transmission unit 1 28 by means of which machine-readable information is transmitted to an addressee-specific medium 1 26 that is manufactured or is to be produced. By reading this machine-readable information, the addressee assigned to the respective medium can be determined in a later work step.

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• Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Computer Security & Cryptography (AREA)
• Management, Administration, Business Operations System, And Electronic Commerce (AREA)
• Folding Of Thin Sheet-Like Materials, Special Discharging Devices, And Others (AREA)
• Collation Of Sheets And Webs (AREA)
• Confectionery (AREA)
• Vending Machines For Individual Products (AREA)
• Medicines Containing Plant Substances (AREA)

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• 2004
  • 2004-01-02 WO PCT/EP2004/000010 patent/WO2004060692A1/fr active IP Right Grant
  • 2004-01-02 EP EP04700044A patent/EP1578614B1/fr not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-01-02 US US10/541,312 patent/US20060150848A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2004-01-02 DE DE502004003605T patent/DE502004003605D1/de not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-01-02 ES ES04700044T patent/ES2285404T3/es not_active Expired - Lifetime
  • 2004-01-02 AT AT04700044T patent/ATE360539T1/de active

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