EP1952986B1 - Device for processing printed products with an illumination device for setting up, adjusting and/or controlling said device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a device for setting up, adjusting and / or controlling a device for processing printed products, comprising a lighting device, which is directed towards a processing region of the device and formed from at least one light source, for producing a continuous light.

Such devices have long been known in the graphics industry. They are used, for example, to produce newspapers, magazines, brochures and books. They are for example designed as a sheet feeder, stapler or cutting machine and process, for example, in a saddle stitcher, the sheet accordingly.

Devices of the type mentioned must be precisely set up prior to commencing production and also monitored during production and, if necessary, adjusted. To do this you have to or several parameters of a processing area are adjusted. Setting up and adjusting must be particularly accurate if high performance is to be achieved. At high powers, however, the mechanical processes to be set are often difficult to recognize because the corresponding parts are moved at high speed. Accordingly, it is difficult to achieve a precise adjustment. In order to facilitate the setting up and adjustment, indoor lighting devices are known with which the processing area to be adjusted is illuminated as well as possible with a steady light. The use of mobile high-speed cameras and mobile stroboscopes is also known. However, these tools are relatively expensive to procure and cumbersome to use.

Out DE 10 2004 049604 A1 there is a device for processing printed products in processing cycles with a machine control and a device for setting up, adjusting and / or controlling the device. The device is directed to a processing area of the device which includes a lighting device formed from a light source. The lighting device has in operation a first mode with a steady light and a second mode with a flash of light, wherein the machine control simultaneously forms the control of the light source in both the first and in the second mode, wherein the machine controller in the second mode with the light flash frequency the processing clock frequency synchronized. Thus, this document does not disclose any actuating means in operative connection with the device, with which a flash of light can be produced at any time within a processing cycle. Moreover, it is also not apparent from this document that the device has a camera, with which the processing area at the time of the flash of light is optically detectable, and wherein the camera for changing a parameter of the processing range of the printed products is in operative connection with the controller

Out EP 1 481 598 A It is also about a lighting device, but which is not related to work cycles within the production and processing of printed products. This document is about proposing a lighting device, which is used in tobacco products. In this document, the synchronization takes place as a function of the speed when passing the products, therefore, the timing of the steady light and flash does not occur through the control of individual work cycles within the production and processing of printed products, and not at any time during at least one working cycle , In summary, it can be said that in this publication, the optical detection is designed to detect typical product errors, so that a duty-cycle-related detection is not up for discussion here.

The invention has for its object to provide a device for setting up, adjusting and / or controlling a device of the type mentioned, which is easier and faster and more accurate adjustable even at relatively high production speeds. The device should not be much more expensive than before.

The object is achieved according to claim 1, characterized in that instead of a continuous light for the processing cycle of the device synchronously controlled light flash can be generated with the lighting device. In the device according to the invention, the illumination thus serves, on the one hand, to generate a continuous light and, on the other hand, to generate a substantially synchronous light flash. Such a flash of light can be generated in a manner known per se with a flash unit, also called a stroboscope, and is a snapshot of Procedures that run too fast for a perception by the human eye. The lighting device thus fulfills two functions. On the one hand, the processing area can be illuminated with continuous light or a flash of light can be generated synchronously with the machine cycle and with ongoing processing. With the flash of light, the process to be adjusted can be made visible even at very high speeds. By integrating the stroboscopic lighting in the permanent lighting fixture, additional costs for mobile strobes and high speed cameras can be largely avoided. The device according to the invention thus enables a quicker and easier as well as more accurate setting up and monitoring of the work processes without significant additional costs. The inventive device is part of a device, such as a sheet feeder, a stapler or a cutting machine. But it can also have several such stations, with which printing sheets are processed sequentially, as is the case for example with a saddle stitcher.

According to the invention, it is provided that said light source for generating the substantially synchronous light flash is controlled by the controller. The control is simultaneously the machine control, which is thus used at the same time for controlling the said light source. At the same time, the continuous light is controlled by this controller and in particular switched on and off. The control is preferably carried out so that within a clock by the flash of light for the eye of the observer, a still image of the moving process is generated. The timing of the flash of light can be within a processing cycle be set so that at any time during a processing clock, a flash of light can be generated. In principle, however, several light flashes can also be generated within one cycle or light flashes can only be generated after a desired number of cycles, for example every second, third or fourth cycle.

The mentioned processing area is in particular an area with a comparatively fast, mechanical sequence. For example, in this processing area an arc is detected by a gripper or the sheet encounters a stop. When setting up or adjusting, for example, the gripper or the stopper is adjusted. The movements of the gripper and the bow can be so fast during processing that the effects of the adjustment on the processing process in the permanent light are no longer visible. The still image created with a flash of light causes the moving parts to appear as if they are standing still, making it possible to check and optimize the settings made.

According to a development of the invention, adjustment means are provided with which at least one parameter of said processing area can be set. For example, this parameter is an angle. The adjustment means may, for example, comprise a crank with which said parameter, for example the angle, can be manually adjusted.

According to a development of the invention, the adjusting means on an adjustment, by the operator or by the said control is controlled. The adjustment is done in this case, motor, so that also controlled by the controller, automatic adjustment is possible.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the same light source is provided for generating the continuous light as well as for generating the light flash. This allows a particularly cost-effective and compact design of the lighting device.

According to a development of the invention, the light source has at least one light-emitting diode, a so-called high-power LED, with which either the continuous light or light flashes can be generated. Instead of a single light emitting diode, several such light emitting diodes may also be provided at the same time. To generate the light flashes, the light-emitting diode is preferably loaded with a higher power than when the continuous light is generated. With the same LED can then be either the continuous light or flashes of light generated. On the one hand, the light source ensures continuous light and on the other hand is able to generate flashes of light at a repetition rate of 60-120,000 flashes / min.

In order to protect the operator of the device from excessive exposure of the eyes by the generated flashes of light for a longer duration, for example several hours, the maximum duration may be limited by the controller. Thus, after the generation of flashes of light, for example, the controller automatically returns the lighting device to the state in which the continuous light is generated for, for example, 60 seconds.

According to a development of the invention, it is provided that the lighting device has light sources with a plurality of colors. Preferably, at least one light source is provided for error signaling. In the event of an error signalization, the processing area is illuminated, for example, with red light, so that the processing area having the error is marked immediately and conspicuously. It is also possible to provide a plurality of such light sources, one type of error being assigned a specific color. All errors that occur, for example, in connection with a paper jam in the relevant processing area can be assigned to the error type "paper jam". Other types of errors can be, for example, "quality controls", "service and maintenance", "compressed air and vacuum supply" or "control errors". The intensity of the error signaling may be controlled depending on a characteristic of the error such as the error rate, the severity of the error or the urgency. For example, the more serious the defect or its effects, the lighter the color light produced, for example. An indication of an imminent, non-urgent maintenance work may be indicated, for example, by a faint colored light.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that input means are provided with which the time within a machine cycle and / or the repetition frequency of the flash of light is or are adjustable. The time or the repetition frequency of the flash of light can thereby be optimally adjusted for adjustment.

According to the invention, at least one camera is provided with which the processing area can be detected at the time of the flash of light. This makes it possible to optimally adjust a process automatically. For example, the position of a printed sheet at the time of the flash of light is detected by the camera. In the controller then the images of the camera can be evaluated and sent corresponding signals to actuators to adjust the process accordingly. For this purpose, preferably the above-mentioned adjustment is used.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the lighting device has a shape which is adapted to the processing area. The shape of the lighting device may, for example, be round or polygonal or also have another suitable shape. This facilitates an adjustment, since with the continuous light or the flash of light targeted to be adjusted areas are illuminated.

Further advantageous features emerge from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine Ansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 2

schematisch eine Ansicht einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung gemäss einer Variante und

Fig. 3

schematisch eine räumliche Ansicht einer Beleuchtungsvorrichtung.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

1 is a schematic view of a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

schematically a view of an inventive device according to a variant and

Fig. 3

schematically a spatial view of a lighting device.

The FIG. 1 shows a device 1, which is a sheet feeder, which has a drum 11, in particular a gripper drum, which transports the sheet to a stop 13 after pulling out a sheet 14 from a stack of sheets, not shown here. Such a sheet feeder is for example from the DE-A-2820876 known. The sheet 14, for example, held in position on this stop 13 for the takeover by opening stream 26. The drum 11 is driven by a drive, not shown here in a known manner. To adjust the stop 13 this can be adjusted by means of a crank 8 by hand in the direction of the double arrow 15. The adjustment takes place about a rotation axis 12 of the drum 11 and is thus an angular adjustment. By adjusting the stop 13 it is achieved that the sheets 14, which can have different formats, are always aligned so that they can be taken over by the opening drums 26. When setting up a production and possibly later on a readjustment, the corresponding position of the stop 13 is set exactly by operating the crank 8.

In order to enable said setting or checking as well as checking the effects on the processing process, even at high production speeds, a lighting device 4 is provided, which is attached to a merely indicated here housing 23 or other part of the device 1 that the light sources against the to be adjusted Processing area A are directed, as in FIG. 1 with the arrows 5 is shown. This lighting device 4 has according to FIG. 3 a carrier 22, are arranged on the light sources, such as light-emitting diodes. These light sources 17 and further light sources 18 and 18 ', which in turn may be light-emitting diodes, are supplied with electrical energy via a supply line 28 and a grounding line 27 of a cable 16. The light sources 17 are driven via a first control input 19 for continuous light and a second control input 21 for flashes of light / light pulses. The control input 20 controls the light sources 18.

The light sources 17 are preferably designed as high-power light emitting diodes and can be operated so that they can optionally generate a steady light or flashes of light. The corresponding control signals are output by the control device 2. Suitable high-performance light-emitting diodes and required electronics are known to the person skilled in the art and need not be further explained here. In principle, however, other pulsed controllable light sources are conceivable instead of the high-performance light-emitting diodes.

The timing of the flash of light is controlled by the control device 2 and synchronized with the timing of the processing. For this purpose, the control device 2 is connected via a signal line 7 with a position sensor 29 of the drum 11 and a signal line 10 with the lighting device 4. The position of the drum 11 is continuously transmitted to the control device 2 via the signal line 7 with corresponding signals. Preferably, the flash of light is set to is generated in each clock at a predetermined time. The time is, for example, the time of impact of the sheet 14 on the stop 13, as in FIG. 1 is shown. The temporal sequence of the synchronously controlled flashes of light can be adjusted in each case offset in time within a work cycle, so that a flash of light can make the moving sheet visible during a processing cycle in each position as if it were stationary. The superimposition takes place, for example, with an input device 3, which is connected to the control device 2. On the input device 3, for example, the timing of the flash of light can be adjusted within a clock, or it can be generated during a processing clock multiple flashes of light within a clock. It is also envisaged that the flashes of light, for example, only every second, third or fourth clock can be generated. With the flash of light, the user can enter a specific time of the process, for example, the in FIG. 1 shown bow 14 at the stop 13, observe and adjust if necessary. The adjustment is done for example with the hand crank. 8

As mentioned, the light sources 17 can also generate a continuous light, which is likewise directed against the processing area A to be adjusted. This continuous light is preferably also controlled by the control device 2. When setting up the device 1, the lighting device 4 is initially switched to continuous light, for example, by the controller 2. After a first rough setup, a light flash synchronous with the processing cycle is then generated with the illumination device 4 to check the settings in the barrel. After the setup is done then by the controller 2, the lighting device 4 again automatically or manually switched to continuous light.

The lighting device 4 also has other light sources 18 and 18 ', with each of which a colored light, for example, for an error signaling can be generated. These light sources 18 and 18 'thereby replace a known per se error lamp. The colors of the light sources 18 and 18 'can be different, so that the corresponding colors can be assigned to certain error messages. The intensity of the light generated for error signaling may be controlled depending on a characteristic of the error, such as the frequency of errors, the severity of the error, or the urgency to correct the error. Again, the light sources may be light emitting diodes. The light sources 18 and 18 'can also be controlled by the control device 2.

The FIG. 2 shows a device 1 ', which additionally has a camera 6, in particular a digital high-speed camera, which is also directed against the processing area A to be adjusted. The camera 6 is coupled via a signal line 24 to the control device. The camera 6 is synchronized with the lighting device 4, so that, for example with the camera 6, the position of the printed sheet 14 at the time of the freeze frame can be detected. The image captured by the camera 6 is supplied via the signal line 24 to the controller 2 and in this this image is analyzed. As a result of the image analysis, a signal is supplied by the controller via a further signal line 25 to an adjusting drive 9. Due to this signal is by means of the Adjustment 9 of the process to be adjusted automatically adjusted. In the embodiment shown here, in particular the position and in particular the angular position of the stop 13 is adjusted so that the sheet 14 is aligned with the stop 13 so that the opening drums 26 can take over the sheet 14. The lighting device 4 may be formed substantially the same as in the device 1 according to FIG. 1 , Also possible here is a manual adjustment on the input device 3.

The above-mentioned adjustment of the stop 13 for the alignment of a printing sheet 14 is merely an example for changing a parameter of a processing area A. Further possibilities of a process to be adjusted are, for example, the position and the movements of suckers and grippers, the dropping of a printed sheet onto one Saddle chain, the transfer of printed sheets from a first gathering chain to a second, the stapling position collected during stapling sheet by means of a stapler, the entry of sheets into a cutting machine, as well as the exact alignment of the sheets before the cutting process, the margin of inserts in a plug-in or the sticking of a pattern of goods on a printed product.

The device 1 can be correspondingly for example a feeder, a gathering chain, a stapler, a cutting machine or a crosslapper. A device with a plurality of such units, such as a saddle stitcher, may accordingly have a plurality of processing areas A to be adjusted and correspondingly a plurality of lighting devices 4. These are in corresponding machine housings, preferably as internal light fixed or adjustable mounted. The continuous light or the generation of light flashes is then at any time in the intended orientation for setting or readjustment available.

The shape of the lighting device 4 for the steady light and the flash of light correspond to the processing area to be adjusted. The shape of the lighting device 4 is chosen so that the light propagation is particularly suitable for adjustment. The shape may be, for example, round, triangular, square or oval.

Claims (8)

1. Apparatus (1) for the cyclical processing of printed products, said apparatus (1) comprising a machine control unit and a device for setting up, adjusting and/or controlling the apparatus (1), the device including lighting equipment (4) directed towards a processing zone (A) of the apparatus (1) and consisting of at least one light source (17), in which case, when in operation, the lighting equipment (4) has a first operating mode involving continuous light and a second operating mode involving flashes of light, the machine control unit simultaneously forming the control unit (2) for the light source both in the first and second operating modes and in the second operating mode synchronizing the flash frequency with the processing frequency, characterized in that the apparatus includes adjusting means, by means of which a flash can be generated at any point in time within a processing cycle, in that the device has a camera (6), by means of which the processing zone (A) can be optically captured at the instant of the flash, and in that the camera (6) is operatively connected to the control unit (2) for altering a parameter of the processing zone (A) of the printed products (14).
2. Apparatus according to Claim 1, characterized in that the lighting equipment (4) has a further light source (18, 18'), which projects at least one colour, and in that each colour is assigned to at least one specific type of fault within at least one processing cycle.
3. Apparatus according to Claim 1 or 2, characterized in that adjusting means (8, 9) are provided for altering an operating parameter within a processing zone (A) of the printed products (14).
4. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that the adjusting means (8) can be manually operated.
5. Apparatus according to Claim 3, characterized in that the adjusting means (9) comprise an adjustment drive which can be operated by the control unit (2).
6. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the light source (17) takes the form of a light-emitting diode, preferably a high-performance diode.
7. Apparatus according to Claim 2, characterized in that the colour intensity of the additional light source (18, 18') is regulated as a function of a characteristic of the particular type of fault.
8. Apparatus according to one of Claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the light of the lighting equipment (4) is suited to the processing zone (A), and the light is round, oval or polygonal in shape.

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