EP1633569B1 - Printing line with a web storage unit and post-processing system - Google Patents

Abstract

In a method for operating a printing line comprising a first printer that prints print images on a continuous first web, and at least one second printer that prints print images on a continuous second web, the webs are post-processed with at least one post-processing system. With a web storage unit, the webs printed by at least one of the printers are buffered, the web storage unit being arranged between the printers and the post-processing system. With the post-processing system, the at least one printed web stored in the web storage unit has access.

Description

The invention relates to a printing line having a first printer that prints printed images on an endless first web, at least one second printer that prints printed images on an endless second web, and at least one post-processing system that reprocesses the printed webs. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a printing line.

Conventional printing lines comprise, in addition to a printing system, a complex post-processing system which cuts, folds, sorts, binds to books or brochures and / or franks the printed paper in the form of an endless web. For economic reasons, the devices and systems belonging to the post-processing system are connected in series and work in the same cycle as the upstream printing system. As a result, a lead time reduction and a simplified operation of the post-processing system is achieved. In practice, the processing of the post-processing system and for the printer or the printer different process speeds, so that there is a mismatch in the serielen run of the printed material. Downtime of individual components of the overall system can also lead to a material jam occurring in continuous operation.

When coupling systems of post-processing systems with modern digital printers, it is often found that the services are not matched. Typically, equipment or devices are a post-processing system for process speeds greater than 4 to 5 m / sec, while the high-quality digital printers have a process speed of typically 1 to 2 m / sec. Due to this mismatch in process speeds, the throughput rate achievable with conventional post-processing systems can not be fully utilized. Higher process speeds with digital printers are achievable in principle; However, this requires a disproportionately high technical effort, for example, in the associated preparation of the digital data. On the other hand, in the devices of the post-processing system because of the necessary stable mechanical design and the high degree of automation of the components reaching the said high process speed with relatively little technical effort possible. Reducing the performance of these devices would thus be of little economic benefit.

From the US-A-6,381,440 the same applicant (parallel European patent application EP-A-1 202 134 ) is known a printing system with at least three printing devices and a method for operating such a printing system. A first printer prints the front of a paper web. In a second printer, the back side of this paper web and in a third printer, this back side is printed with another color coating. It is possible to arrange this printing system consisting of three printers in duplicate, so that the entire printing system then comprises six printers, whereby a high performance is achieved. When connected to a post-processing system, however, a significant mismatch in process speed may occur.

From the US-A-6,363,231 the same applicant (parallel PCT Patent Application WO 99/09459 ) is a printing system and printing method for producing a mixed color Sheet sequence described. The entire single-sheet printing system includes a high-speed digital printer that produces monochrome or two-color printed images. Further, a digital color printer is provided, which is coupled via a paper path coupling module with the former printer. A higher-level control unit assigns to the printing units the individual sheets to be printed, which are collected in a common sheet collecting direction, in order then to be transported on to a post-processing system. With the help of this printer system with multiple printers, a high-performance print with more than 70 pages per minute can be achieved.

From the WO 97/35797 The same applicant is a device for temporary storage of the band-shaped material known. The device comprises a rotatably mounted, hollow outer bobbin and a stationary inner bobbin, wherein a deflection device is arranged in the interior of the inner bobbin. The mutually displaceable band-shaped material is wound on rotation of the outer bobbin on this and unwound from the inner bobbin. With the help of the deflection device, the band-shaped material is led out of the interior of the inner bobbin. The device is referred to as a cage memory, which is used in the present patent application below in embodiments. The content of this document is hereby incorporated by reference in the Offenbahrungsgehalt the present patent application.

From the European Patent EP 1 004 058 B1 For example, a printing system and a printing method for producing a mixed-color sheet sequence are known in which single sheets of a first group are monochromatically printed by means of a first printer and a second group of individual sheets are multicolored using a second printer. The Sheets of the first group and the second group are collected in a sheet collecting device or supplied to a post-processing device in a predetermined order.

From the document US 2002/0195008 A1 is a turning device for an endless substrate known, which can be used in known printers.

From the document DE 1 149 659 A method for feeding and applying labels to bottles and a labeling machine for carrying out such a method is known.

From the document US 2003/0059280 A1 a post-processing unit for a printing system is known, which in particular comprises a collection and binding module.

From the US-A-5117753 A printing system and method is known in which an endless first web is printed with a first printer and an endless second web is printed with a second printer, the first printer including a paint or glue device which selectively utilizes the endless first or second web can be.

It is an object of the invention to provide a printing line and a method for operating a printing line, in which or in which a high throughput is made possible with high efficiency.

This object is achieved for a printing line of the type mentioned above in that between the at least two printers and the post-processing system, a web storage unit is arranged which caches the printed webs printed by the printers, the post-processing system accessing one of the printed webs stored in the web for further processing ,

According to the invention, the printer, which prints an endless web, is not coupled directly to the post-processing system, but the endless web is first conveyed into a web storage unit and temporarily stored there. In this way it is possible to arrange a plurality of printers, which supply the printed by them tracks of the web storage unit. The volume of printed material then present in the web storage unit is relatively high and can be output to the post-processing system at an increased speed relative to the printing speed of a single printer. This increased output speed is better matched to the processing speed of the post-processing system, resulting in increased throughput and improved economy. Due to the decoupling of the digitally operating printers from the components of the post-processing system, one or the other component of the printing line can be replaced during the entire service life of the printing line, without reducing the efficiency of the entire printing line. By way of example, individual components which have been further developed in a simple way can thus be included in the entire printing line.

Another advantage arises due to the fact that printers and devices of the post-processing are different prone to failure. Due to a decoupled production in the printing line, the availability of individual components does not necessarily limit the performance of the whole Printing line. For example, the repair times or other downtime can be bridged without performance loss or loss of efficiency.

Another advantage is that due to the decoupling of the printer from the post-processing system in case of failure of a printer still a pressure reserve is available. The entire printing line can thus continue to produce in case of failure of a printer with then reduced capacity.

Another advantage is that can be produced by a longer duty cycle of a printer or multiple printers on stock. This stock may be temporarily stored in the web storage unit and further processed by the post-processing system at a later time. With digitally operating printers, it can not always be guaranteed that the data provided can easily be printed. For example, the fonts required for the print job may not be available, or the print job may require a specific color that is currently not available on the current printer. An operator must then take appropriate measures, for example, select a different font or reload the correct font software; Furthermore, she can change the color station or select a different color. These measures are usually associated with production interruptions. If several printers are present or a corresponding stock of printed paper has been produced in stock, then this time, in which this stock is further processed by the post-processing system, can be used to carry out such measures, without the entire productivity of the printing line suffers ,

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference will now be made to the preferred embodiments illustrated in the drawings, which are described in terms of specific terminology. It should be understood, however, that the scope of the invention should not be so limited since such changes and other modifications to the illustrated arrangements and / or methods, as well as such other applications of the invention as heretofore, will be expected to be present or future Expertise of a competent expert.

• Fig. 1 eine Druckstraße mit zwei Drucksystemen und einem Schlaufenspeicher als Bahnspeichereinheit,
• Fig. 2 eine Druckstraße, bei der die Bahnspeichereinheit zwei Käfigspeicher enthält,
• Fig. 3 eine Druckstraße, bei der die Bahnspeichereinheit drei Rolleneinheiten umfasst,
• Fig. 4 eine Druckstraße mit fünf gleichartigen Rolleneinheiten, und
• Fig. 5 eine Druckstraße, bei der die Bahnspeichereinheit drei Rolleneinheiten umfasst, die eine gemeinsame Tragwelle haben.

The figures show embodiments of the invention, namely

• Fig. 1 a printing line with two printing systems and a loop memory as web storage unit,
• Fig. 2 a printing line in which the web storage unit contains two cage stores,
• Fig. 3 a printing line in which the web storage unit comprises three roller units,
• Fig. 4 a printing line with five similar roller units, and
• Fig. 5 a printing line in which the web storage unit comprises three roller units having a common support shaft.

FIG. 1 shows a printing line containing two printing systems 10,12. The first printing system 10 is implemented as a tandem system and comprises two printers 14, 16 which print either in the "spot color mode" two color separations on the same side of the endless web 18 or in the "duplex printing" front and back the endless web 18 print. The continuous web 18 is unrolled by a roller 20 which is mounted in a reel unit 22.

The other printing system 12 is designed as a digital duplex printing system and prints an endless web 24 on both sides, which is unrolled from a roll 26 and fed to the printing system 12 via the reel unit 28. The printed endless webs 18, 24 are fed to a unit commonly referred to as web storage unit 30. This web memory unit 30 comprises a first loop memory 32 and a second loop memory 34. Each loop memory 32, 34, known per se in the field of paper processing, contains a plurality of rollers between which the endless strip material is meandered. The loop memories 32, 34 operate as FIFO memories (first-in-first-out) and feed the respective endless webs 18, 24 to a cross table 36, from which the selected web 18 or 24 is selectively transported to a post-processing system 40. This post-processing system 40 may include components such as a cutting system, a folding system, a sorting system, a book binding system and / or a franking system.

At the in Fig. 1 As shown, the printing material in the form of the endless web 18 or the endless web 24 from one of the loop memories 32 or 34 can optionally be fed to the post-processing system via the cross table 36, while printed web material can continue to be fed into the respective other loop memory.

Fig. 2 shows another example of an arrangement of a printing line, wherein like parts are designated the same. The web memory unit 30 here comprises two cage memories 42, 44, which operate as FIFO memory. Each cage store 42, 44 stores the endless web 18 or 24 supplied to it and outputs the respective endless web 18, 24 via a Cross table 36 off. The structure of the cage stores 42, 44 is mentioned in the earlier WO 97/35797 the same applicant described. This document is hereby incorporated by reference in the Offenbahrungsgehalt of the present patent application.

The cross table 36 is followed by an adhesive unit 46, by means of which the end of a printed endless web 18, 24 connects to the beginning of the subsequent printed endless web 18, 24.

Via the cross table 36, the print material can be conveyed to the post-processing system 40 from one of the two cage stores 42, 44, during which process printed material is temporarily stored in the respective other store.

Fig. 3 shows a further arrangement in which the web storage unit 30 per printer 10, 12 comprises a reel unit 50, 52. On these roller units 50, 52, the endless web 18 or 24 is wound into rolls. Furthermore, an additional roller unit 54 is provided, which is arranged in the reverse direction and serves to unwind an already printed endless web from the roll. The reel units 50, 52, 54 are similarly constructed and equipped with an underfloor drive which includes bottom rollers on which rest the rollers which are driven by these rollers during winding and unwinding. The roller units 50, 52, 54 are aligned with respect to the roller axes, so that a simple change of the rollers from the roller units 50 and 52 to the roller unit 54 is possible. For this purpose, the roller in question is moved axially from the roller unit 50 or 52 into the roller unit 54, while one of the printers 10, 12 continues to print the other endless track and is wound up by one of the roller units 50 or 52. The role change can be done both manually and automatically. With the aid of the arrangement shown, an uninterrupted printing operation and post-processing operation is possible.

FIG. 4 shows a further variant of a printing line, in which the web storage unit 30 also comprises three roller units 60, 62 and 64. The middle roller unit 64 operates in the unwinding direction while the roller units 60, 62 operate in the winding direction. The reel units 60, 62, 64 are similar to the reel units 66, 68 which feed the endless webs 18, 24 to the printing systems 10, 12, thereby providing increased economy. The roller units 60 to 68 are provided with a peripheral drive, whereby a simple roll change from the roller units 60, 62 to the reel unit 64 for unwinding is possible. The respective roll is only axially displaced into the post-processing reel unit 64, while the uninvolved reel unit 60, 62 continues to carry printed material printed by the active printing system 10 or 12. The other printing system is stopped briefly when changing roles.

FIG. 5 shows a further embodiment of the printing line. The web storage unit 30 comprises, per printing system 10, 12, a reel unit 70, 72 for winding the endless webs 18, 24. An additional reel unit 74 serves to unwind a full reel. The roller units 70, 72, 74 have a common base frame 76 and a common support shaft 80, on which the respective rollers can be wound and unwound. The rollers are slidably mounted in the axial direction on the support shaft 80, whereby a shift from the winding position to the unwinding position can be easily realized. This roll change can be done both manually and automatically. The outer roller units 70, 72 have a central drive for winding the rollers, an underfloor drive or a peripheral drive. The middle roller unit 74 preferably has a peripheral drive or an underfloor drive.

For controlling the printing line according to the embodiments of the FIGS. 1 to 5 an electrical control unit (not shown) is provided. During printing with the printing systems 10, 12, the printed pages are counted, so that the printed pages before the glued joint and roof of the glued joint are known in connected webs. This information is passed to the post-processing system 40 to insert the required blank pages from there. In this way, printed products can be produced with the illustrated printing lines such as books, catalogs with virtually no waste.

The embodiments shown can be modified in many ways. Instead of the illustrated printing systems 10, 12 can also in the documents mentioned above US-A-6, 381, 440 or US-A-6,363,231 mentioned printer can be used. It can also be provided more than two printing systems, wherein the memory elements in the web storage unit 30 are to be adjusted accordingly.

In the processing direction before the post-processing system 40, a further web memory may be provided, in which a portion of a printed endless web is temporarily stored. Out of this web memory, the post-processing system 40 can be supplied with web material, while a gluing process, for example in a gluing station 46, takes place.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(10, 12)

printer systems

(14, 16)

printer

(18)

continuous web

(20)

role

(22)

roller unit

(24)

continuous web

(26)

role

(28)

roller unit

(30)

Web storage unit

(32, 34)

loop store

(36)

cross table

(40)

post-processing system

(42, 44)

cage memory

(50, 52, 54)

roller units

(60, 62, 64)

roller units

(66, 68)

front roller units

(70, 72, 74)

roller units

(76)

base frame

(80)

support shaft

Claims (36)

1. Printing line with a first printer (10) that prints print images on a continuous first web (18),
   at least one second printer (12) that prints print images on a continuous second web (24),
   and with at least one-post-processing system (40) which post-processes the webs (18, 24),
   wherein a web storage unit (30) that buffers the webs (18, 24) printed by the printers (10, 12) is arranged between the printers (10, 12) and the post-processing system (40),
   and wherein the post-processing system (40) accesses a printed web (18, 24) stored in the web storage unit (30).
2. Printing line according to claim 1, in which the web storage unit (30) comprises at least two loop storages (32, 34) that respectively store a continuous printed web (18, 24), wherein at least one of the loop storages (32, 34) is connected with the post-processing system (40).
3. Printing line according to claim 2, in which the at least two loop storages (32, 34) are connected on the output side via a cross table (36) that supplies the selected continuous web (18, 24) to the post-processing system (40).
4. Printing line according to claim 1, in which the web storage unit (30) for each printer (42, 44) comprises a cage storage that buffers the respective continuous printed web (18, 24).
5. Printing line according to claim 4, in which two cage storages (42, 44) are connected on the output side with a cross table (36) from which the selected web (18, 24) is transported from one of the two cage storages (42, 44) to the post-processing system (40).
6. Printing line according to claim 1, in which the web storage unit (30) comprises one roller unit (50, 52) per printer (10, 12), which roller unit winds the printed continuous web (18, 24) onto a roll, wherein an additional roller unit (54) is provided that outputs a completely wound, printed web to the post-processing system (40).
7. Printing line according to claim 6, in which the roller units (50, 52, 54) are similarly designed and respectively have a sub-surface drive, wherein the rolls are aligned axially relative to one another on the roller units (50, 52, 54).
8. Printing line according to claim 7, in which the rollers are borne on the roller units (50, 52) such that they can be shifted in the axial direction.
9. Printing line according to any of the preceding claims, in which a roller unit (22, 28) that supplies an unprinted continuous web (18, 24) to the respective printer (10, 12) is arranged upstream from each printer (10, 12).
10. Printing line according to any of the claims 6 to 9, in which the roller units (66, 68) upstream from the printers and the roller units (60, 62, 64) downstream from the printers have the same design.
11. Printing line according to any of the claims 6 to 10, in which the roller units (50, 52, 54; 60, 62, 64) are equipped with a surface drive.
12. Printing line according to claim 1, in which the web storage unit (30) comprises one roller unit (70, 72) per printer (10, 12) as well as one additional roller unit (74), the roller units (70, 72, 74) have a common bearing shaft (80) on which the rolls can be wound and unwound, and wherein the rolls on the bearing shaft (80) are borne such that they can be shifted.
13. Printing line according to claim 12 in which, given three roller units, both of the outer roller units (70, 72) respectively wind a printed continuous web (18, 24) and the middle roller unit (74) unwinds a printed continuous web.
14. Printing line according to one of the claims 12 or 13, in which the roller units (70, 72, 74) have a central drive, a sub-surface drive or a circumferential drive.
15. Printing line according to any of the preceding claims, in which an adhesion unit (46) is provided that connects the end of the one printed continuous web with the beginning of a printed web to be unwound from the web storage unit.
16. Printing line according to any of the preceding claims, in which a further web storage is provided, in terms of the processing direction, before the post-processing system, in which further web storage a segment of a printed continuous web is stored, from which further web storage the post-processing system is supplied with web material while a gluing process occurs in which the ends of printed continuous webs are connected.
17. Printing line according to any of the preceding claims, in which a simplex printer or a duplex printer is used as a printer (10).
18. Printing line according to any of the preceding claims, in which the post-processing system (40) comprises a cutting system, a folding system, a sorting system, a bookbinding system and/or a franking system.
19. Method for operating a printing line that comprises a first printer (10) that prints print images on a continuous first web (18),
    and comprises at least one second printer (12) that prints print images on a continuous second web (24),
    in which at least one post-processing system (40) post-processes the webs (18, 24),
    a web storage unit (30) that buffers the webs (18, 24) printed by the printers (10, 12) is arranged between the printers (10, 12) and the post-processing system (40),
    and in which the post-processing system (40) accesses a printed web (18, 24) stored in the web storage unit (30).
20. Method according to claim 19, in which the web storage unit (30) comprises at least two loop storages (32,34) that respectively store a continuous printed web (18, 24), wherein at least one of the loop storages (32, 34) is connected with the post-processing system (40).
21. Method according to claim 20, in which the at least two loop storages (32, 34) are connected on the output side via a cross table (36) that supplies the selected continuous web (18, 24) to the post-processing system (40).
22. Method according to claim 19, in which the web storage unit (30) for each printer (42, 44) comprises a cage storage that buffers the respective continuous printed web (18, 24).
23. Method according to claim 22, in which two cage storages (42, 44) are connected on the output side with a cross table (36) from which the selected web (18, 24) is transported from one of the two cage storages (42, 44) to the post-processing system (40).
24. Method according to claim 19, in which the web storage unit (30) comprises one roller unit (50, 52) per printer (10, 12), which roller unit winds the printed continuous web (18, 24) onto a roll, wherein an additional roller unit (54) is provided that outputs a completely wound, printed web to the post-processing system (40).
25. Method according to claim 24, in which the roller units (50, 52, 54) are similarly designed and respectively have a sub-surface drive, wherein the rolls on the roller units (50, 52, 54) are aligned axially relative to one another.
26. Method according to claim 25, in which the rollers are borne on the roller units (50, 52) such that they can be shifted in the axial direction.
27. Method according to any of the preceding claims 19-26, in which a roller unit (22, 28) that supplies an unprinted continuous web (18, 24) to the respective printer (10, 12) is arranged upstream from each printer (10, 12).
28. Method according to any of the claims 24 to 27, in which the roller units (66, 68) upstream from the printers and the roller units (60, 62, 64) downstream from the printers have the same design.
29. Method according to any of the claims 24 to 28, in which the roller units (50, 52, 54); (60, 62, 64) are equipped with a circumferential drive.
30. Method according to claim 19, in which the web storage unit (30) comprises one roller unit (70, 72) per printer (10, 12) as well as one additional roller unit (74), the roller units (70, 72, 74) have a common bearing shaft (80) on which the rolls can be wound and unwound, and wherein the rolls on the bearing shaft (80) are borne such that they can be shifted.
31. Method according to claim 30, in which, given three roller units, both of the outer roller units (70, 72) respectively wind a printed continuous web (18, 24) and the middle roller unit (74) unwinds a printed continuous web.
32. Method according to one of the claims 30 or 31, in which the roller units (70, 72, 74) have a central drive, a sub-surface drive or a circumferential drive.
33. Method according to any of the preceding claims 19-32, in which an adhesion unit (46) is provided that connects the end of one printed continuous web with the beginning of a printed web to be unwound from the web storage unit (30).
34. Method according to any of the preceding claims 19-33, in which a further web storage is provided, in terms of the processing direction, before the post-processing system, in which further web storage a segment of a printed continuous web is stored, from which further web storage the post-processing system is supplied with web material while a gluing process occurs in which the ends of printed continuous webs are connected.
35. Method according to any of the preceding claims 19-34, in which a simplex printer or a duplex printer is used as a printer (10).
36. Method according to any of the preceding claims 19-35, in which the post-processing system (40) comprises a cutting system, a folding system, a sorting system, a bookbinding system and/or a franking system.

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