EP2086866B1 - Paper-handling installation and method of automatically regulating the processing speed of the same - Google Patents

Abstract

A paper-handling installation is initially set for executing a job to process a predetermined number of articles during a predetermined time period. During the processing, the number of articles detected which are processed during the predetermined time period is detected. If the detected number of articles is larger than or equal to the predetermined number, the speed at which articles are processed in a section of the paper-handling installation will be increased. If the detected number of articles is smaller than the predetermined number, it will be detected which of the sections of the installation caused a reduction of the throughput, and which installation parameters and/or article parameters existed at that point in time. On the basis of the parameters detected, an installation parameter of the section is then set, and/or the speed is reduced in at least that section. This procedure is repeated until the job has been executed.

Description

The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling the processing speed of a paper handling equipment in which goods are moved using at least one transport mechanism, and to a paper handling equipment, wherein the goods in the paper handling equipment are moved individually or in groups. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a method for automatically controlling the processing speed of envelope processing systems and post-processing systems, as well as storing the parameters determined by the control for reuse.

• eine erste, bekannte Vorgehensweise besteht in einer einfachen Ansteuerung der Motordrehzahl eines oder mehrerer Motoren in dem System bzw. in dem Modul siehe z.B. WO 01/34505 A . Hier wird im Regelfall an der Komponente, also dem Motor, die Steuerung durch eine direkte Eingabe der erforderlichen Parameter durchgeführt. Solche Veränderungen können beispielsweise über digitale Eingabewerte, z. B. bei Servomotoren, oder über den Einsatz von Reglern, beispielsweise Schiebereglern, z. B. zur Veränderung der Betriebsspannung des Motors, erreicht werden. In der Praxis handelt es sich hierbei meist um fest vorgegebene, fixe Einstellungen, die verändert werden können, wobei eine solche Veränderung jedoch durch das Bedienpersonal durchgeführt wird.
• eine zweite Möglichkeit besteht in der Veränderung der zeitlichen Steuerung (des Timings) der in dem System bzw. in dem Modul verwendeten Lichtschranken, die zur Erfassung der Präsenz eines zu verarbeitenden Gutes dienen. Durch die Anpassung des Timings wird das Anforderungsverhalten und das Verzögerungsverhalten der getaktet arbeitenden Handhabungsstationen für den Transport der Güter gesteuert. Diese Anpassung ermöglicht eine Verkürzung bzw. Verlängerung der Taktzyklen, jedoch ergibt sich keine Veränderung der eigentlichen Transportgeschwindigkeit. Dennoch ergibt sich eine Art geregelte Geschwindigkeit des Gesamtsystems als eine Folge der veränderten Taktzykluswerte. Auch hier erfolgt die Eingabe der Werte in aller Regel über digitale Werte an Bedienteilen mit Anzeige oder an einer zentralen, PC-gestützten Bedieneinheit und erfolgt im Regelfall durch das Bedienpersonal der Anlage.
• eine weitere, im Stand der Technik bekannte Möglichkeit besteht in einer Kombination der oben beschriebenen Ansätze, also in einer Kombination der Drehzahlregelung mit einer Anpassung des Timings. Hierbei lässt sich bereits ein technischer Vorteil gegenüber den oben beschriebenen, isolierten Ansätzen erzielen, da durch die herabgesetzten Anforderungszeiten im Normalfall durch eine entsprechende logische Verknüpfung die zugehörige Geschwindigkeit ebenso herabgesetzt werden kann. Diese Kombinatorik wird in der Praxis durch eine entsprechende Steuerungslogik innerhalb eines einzelnen Moduls oder des Gesamtsystems umgesetzt, wobei jedoch die Ansteuerung wiederum über die Eingabe entsprechender digitaler Steuerwerte an den Bedienteilen mit Anzeige oder an der zentralen, PC-gestützten Bedieneinheit über Schieberegler und ähnliches erfolgt, wiederum durch das Bedienpersonal.

In the prior art paper handling systems are known in which there is already the possibility of speeds in individual modules, if the system is modular, or in the entire system firmly influence or control. The need exists, for example, in the processing of difficult goods to be produced, for example, goods with a low paper grammage, a smooth surface texture, heavy side or heavy contents and the like. In order to ensure secure processing within the overall arrangement, the reduction or adaptation of the transport and further processing speeds and / or the clock cycles with which the individual modules operate is necessary in this case. Furthermore, this achieves a high efficiency of the system. Conventionally, this is done in the following ways.

• a first, known procedure consists in a simple control of the engine speed of one or more motors in the system or in the module, see eg WO 01/34505 A , As a rule, control of the component, ie the motor, is carried out by directly entering the required parameters. Such changes may, for example, via digital input values, eg. B. servomotors, or the use of controllers, such as sliders, z. B. to change the operating voltage of the engine can be achieved. In practice, this is usually fixed, fixed settings that can be changed, but such a change is performed by the operator.
• A second possibility is to change the timing of the light barriers used in the system or in the module, which are used to detect the presence of a material to be processed. By adjusting the timing of the request behavior and the deceleration behavior of the clocked handling stations for the transport of goods is controlled. This adaptation allows a shortening or lengthening of the clock cycles, but there is no change in the actual transport speed. Nevertheless, some sort of controlled speed of the overall system results as a result of the changed clock cycle values. Here as well, the values are usually entered via digital values on keypads with display or on a central, PC-based operating unit and are usually carried out by the operator of the system.
• Another possibility known in the prior art consists in a combination of the approaches described above, ie in a combination of the speed control with an adaptation of the timing. This can already achieve a technical advantage over the isolated approaches described above, since the reduced demand times in Normally, by a corresponding logical link, the associated speed can also be reduced. This combinatorics is implemented in practice by a corresponding control logic within a single module or the entire system, but in turn the control takes place via the input of appropriate digital control values on the control units with display or on the central, PC-based control unit via sliders and the like, again by the operating personnel.

The disadvantages of the approaches described above are obvious. All methods do not represent a real control, but in the sense of control technology, a control with fixed predetermined or fixed values, without reset values, setpoints and the like in the sense of a closed loop would be observed. In fact, all approaches are an open loop, always requiring the operator to determine or set the optimal settings for the processing process.

In this context, there are a variety of disadvantages, with only a few major disadvantages are mentioned here. It raises the question as to what specifications the settings for the systems should be made at all, and also raises the question of where and in which areas of the module or system such settings must actually be made, who bears the responsibility for the correctness of the settings Who has access to the setting options and how these access options are regulated. Furthermore, the question arises as to how the benefit can be quantified and determined with regard to the optimal settings for the process.

Based on this prior art, the present invention has the object, an improved method and an improved paper handling system which, while avoiding the drawbacks set forth above, allows for optimal processing of goods in a paper handling facility without the required parameters being entered by an operator.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and by a paper handling system according to claim 15.

1. (a) Erfassen der Anzahl von Gütern, die während der vorbestimmten Zeitdauer bzw. des vorbestimmten Zeitintervalls durch die Papierhandhabungsanlage verarbeitet werden;
2. (b) falls die erfasste Anzahl von Gütern größer oder gleich der vorbestimmten Anzahl von Gütern ist:
   • (b.1) Erhöhen der Geschwindigkeit, mit der die Güter in zumindest einem Abschnitt der Papierhandhabungsanlage verarbeitet werden, um einen vorbestimmten Erhöhungsbetrag, und
   • (b.2) Setzen der vorbestimmten Anzahl von Gütern gleich der erfassten Anzahl von Gütern;
3. (c) falls die erfasste Anzahl von Gütern kleiner der vorbestimmten Anzahl von Gütern ist:
   • (c.1) Erfassen, welcher der Abschnitte der Papierhandhabungsanlage während der vorbestimmten Zeitdauer eine Reduzierung des Durchsatzes bewirkt hat,
   • (c.2) Bestimmen zumindest eines hierbei vorliegenden Anlagenparameters und/oder zumindest eines Gutparameters, und
   • (c.3) basierend auf den im Schritt (c.2) bestimmten Parametern, Einstellen zumindest eines Anlagenparameters zumindest eines Abschnitts der Papierhandhabungsanlage und/oder Absenken der Geschwindigkeit, mit der die Güter in einem Abschnitt der Papierhandhabungsanlage verarbeitet werden, um einen vorbestimmten Absenkungsbetrag; und
4. (d) Wiederholen der Schritte (a) bis (d) während der Job verarbeitet wird.

The present invention provides a method of processing goods in a paper handling system, wherein the paper handling equipment is set based on a job description to process a predetermined number of goods within a predetermined time period or within a predetermined time interval, the method by the paper handling system has executed steps:

1. (a) detecting the number of items processed by the paper handling equipment during the predetermined time period or time interval;
2. (b) if the detected number of goods is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of goods:
   • (b.1) increasing the speed at which the goods are processed in at least a portion of the paper handling equipment by a predetermined amount of increase, and
   • (b.2) setting the predetermined number of goods equal to the detected number of goods;
3. (c) if the detected number of goods is less than the predetermined number of goods:
   • (c.1) detecting which of the sections of the paper handling equipment during the predetermined Time has caused a reduction in throughput,
   • (c.2) determining at least one installation parameter present here and / or at least one good parameter, and
   • (c.3) based on the parameters determined in step (c.2), adjusting at least one installation parameter of at least one section of the paper handling installation and / or decreasing the speed with which the goods are processed in a section of the paper handling installation by a predetermined amount of reduction ; and
4. (d) repeating steps (a) through (d) while the job is being processed.

The present invention further provides a paper handling equipment for processing goods operating in accordance with the method of the invention.

The above object is achieved by the closure of the control loop for controlling a paper handling system or module of a paper handling system. Closing the control loop ensures that the module, or the system, can independently determine, set and store the optimum parameters to achieve the highest possible effective performance in operation with different materials from job to job. On the other hand, the possible influence on the overall performance of the module or the system by the operator is reduced, at the same time the overall operability and the total operating effort is facilitated, without resulting in a loss of control over the overall processing, with the possibility of monitoring the processes would.

By the approach according to the invention, the previous, conventional approach is avoided in which an adaptation in some areas of the individual processes, eg. Within the module or within the system, but without automatic correction. Thus, tedious attempts (trial-and-error operations) are avoided and, consequently, the time and stress required for the operating personnel. Although the parameter changes in the processing made by the operating personnel were quite meaningful and helpful, the approach according to the invention represents a clearly more effective approach to these open-loop approaches. By the automatic, system-immanent identification of the parameters by the module / system as a function of the For jobs to be processed (job), a controlled speed or clock is determined to be faster, safer, and repeatable, without depending on the skills of the operator.

It is a reduction of stops, so-called stops, which are always a possible cause of damage to the goods or even a destruction of the goods, a reduction of wear, an extension of the range of applications, for an optimal speed of processing within the module / system achieved at maximum efficiency, regardless of intervention of an operator.

The entire system can regulate itself, preferably all accesses to the corresponding parameters, be it at the control units or at a central, PC-based operating unit, only the service personnel are accessible, so not the operating personnel, according to a preferred embodiment, the corresponding Areas are secured by means of an appropriate encryption.

In particular, by saving the results of the settings, the re-execution of the same job is improved since the parameters already obtained during operation (which are substantially optimal at the time of the last execution of the job) are now available. Based on these existing parameters, the system can now be set to re-execute the job. The ideal speeds and ideal cycles determined in a job are logged and made available again as parameters for each individual component when the stored job is recalled. In this case, a different composition of the job sets up a corresponding independent control during operation. The advantage of this procedure is that the system can be put into an initial state for processing the job, which is known to work with the equipment already planned for the planned good with the parameters already determined with a high degree of effectiveness.

Of course, the administration of these job parameters can also be transferred from one system to another system using a higher-order storage location and / or be taken into account in a central job preparation. A further embodiment consists in the selection of the most suitable system for processing a particular job due to the determined and controlled parameters for adjusting the speed and the clock. Of course, this adaptation can also be logged in the central operating system and used for further analyzes, and can therefore be monitored.

Preferred developments of the present invention are defined in the subclaims.

Fig. 1A - 1C

ein Flussdiagramm eines bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiels zur Einstellung der Geschwindigkeit, mit der Güter in einer Papierhandhabungsanlage verarbeitet werden;

Fig. 2

ein Flussdiagramm einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, bei der der Grad der Abweichung der erfassten Parameter in aufeinanderfolgenden Zeitintervallen berücksichtigt wird;

Fig. 3

eine weitere bevorzugte Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens, bei der berücksichtigt wird, wie sehr sich die Anzahl von Fehlern in aufeinanderfolgenden Intervallen unterscheiden, um abhängig hiervon eine Änderung der Einstellungen der Anlage zu bewirken oder nicht;

Fig. 4

eine isometrische Darstellung eines erfindungsgemäßen Papierhandhabungssystems gemäß einem Ausführungsbeispiel, das anhand eines Kuvertierers beschrieben wird; und

Fig. 5

ein Blockdiagramm, das die Kommunikation von Informationen zwischen der zentralen Steuerung und den Abschnitten des Kuvertierers aus Fig. 4 zeigt.

Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1A - 1C

a flow chart of a preferred embodiment for adjusting the speed with which goods are processed in a paper handling system;

Fig. 2

a flowchart of a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, in which the degree of deviation of the detected parameters is taken into account in successive time intervals;

Fig. 3

a further preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, taking into account how much the number of errors differ at successive intervals in order to effect a change in the settings of the system or not dependent thereon;

Fig. 4

an isometric view of a paper handling system according to the invention according to an embodiment which is described by means of an inserter; and

Fig. 5

a block diagram showing the communication of information between the central controller and the sections of the inserter Fig. 4 shows.

In the following description, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail, wherein the same reference numerals are used for the same or similar elements. It should be noted that the following description is merely a preferred embodiment of the present invention, but the invention is not limited to this specific embodiment. Further, in the following Description of the term "plurality" uses what is to be understood in the context of the present invention as two or more.

The present invention is used wherever mechanically paper is processed within a system and at the end is either fed to a tray and / or further processing system, or filled with inserts in an envelope or an envelope and then stored or post-treated , For example, the paper is fed endlessly from a stack or from a roll or as a single sheet. The processing within the system includes, for example, singulation, folding, gathering, diverting, and similar processing steps of the paper. In general, the present invention applies to all semi- and fully automated paper processing systems that serve the purpose of sending information or information forwarding. The present invention is not limited to inserter systems, but is also used in insert sorting lines, e.g. B. sorters, or in postal distribution systems. Furthermore, the approach according to the invention applies both to individual modules within a system and to a system as a whole.

The approach of the invention uses a variety of parameters, e.g. Include plant parameters, environmental parameters and good parameters. These parameters are used to enable the system control described in detail below.

• für die in der Anlage verwendeten Transportelemente, z.B. für die Rollen, die Riemen- oder Vakuumförderer der Rollen- oder Riemenabstand und der Ansaugdruck, für seitlichen Führungen die Position/der Abstand der Führungselemente, für eine Schleuse der Rollenabstand oder für Düsen die Menge und der Zeitpunkt der Zuführung von Blasluft;
• für die in der Anlagen verwendeten Antriebselemente, z.B. für die Motoren die Drehzahl der Transportmotoren, und die Gutbeschleunigung durch die Antriebselemente;
• für die in der Anlage verwendeten Funktionskomponenten, z.B. die Abzugsgeschwindigkeit und die Gutbeschleunigung und ferner z.B. für eine Sammelstation ein Zählerstand, der die Sammelmenge angibt, und das Gewicht der gesammelten Gruppe, für Blattanleger der Füllstand, für einen Kuvertierer die Einfüllgeschwindigkeit, für eine Ausgabebahn die Füllmenge.

The system parameters include parameters that relate to the setting of individual components in the system or one or more modules in the system and their wear. The system parameters relate, for example, to the following components of a paper handling system:

• for the transport elements used in the system, eg for the rollers, the belt or belt conveyors the belt or belt clearance and the suction pressure, for lateral guides the position / distance of the guide elements, for a lock the roll distance or for nozzles the quantity and the Time of supply of blast air;
• for the drive elements used in the systems, eg for the motors, the speed of the transport motors, and the acceleration of the material by the drive elements;
• for the functional components used in the system, eg the take-off speed and the good acceleration and further eg for a collecting station a meter reading indicating the collected amount and the weight of the collected group, for sheet feeder the fill level, for an inserter the filling speed, for an output track the capacity.

The parameter values are acquired via sensors provided correspondingly in the system and / or obtained from the position of servomotors provided for the adjustment of various elements (for example roller adjustment motors, guide elements, etc.).

In addition, information about the condition of the plant, e.g. The state of wear of individual elements (for example wear of the used transport rollers or belts) in the plant is detected.

The environmental parameters relate, for example, environmental influences, eg. Temperature, humidity, static charge, etc. The values for the environmental parameters are also recorded by suitable sensors centrally and / or at important points in the system.

The good parameters include the physical nature of the goods to be processed, such as the paper to be processed, inserts to be processed and envelopes to be processed, e.g. the weight of the goods, the dimensions of the goods, the dimensions of the goods, the material properties of the goods, the basis weight of the goods, the bending stiffness of the goods, the coefficient of friction of the good, the air permeability of the goods, the roughness of the goods and the thickness of the goods. These parameters are also monitored by suitable sensors in the system.

It should be noted that the above list of possible parameters is merely exemplary but not exhaustive.

Furthermore, a job description is provided, which in addition to the required information for setting the various parameters of the system also contains additional information about the goods to be processed. For example, a job description includes the number of goods to be produced in the entire job, the number of goods that may be included per group, an indication of which investors are to be supplied with goods and grouped together, etc. The job also contains -Description Information about the height and the width of the material to be processed, about the initial transport speed in the different sections of the system, for example in the inlet, in the outlet, for example for a possible transverse transport, etc.

Depending on the circumstances, a job description contains further information that is generally known in the art. This job description is provided electronically to the paper handling facility, for example, in the form of a file, either by transmission over a network or by reading the file from a data carrier.

Based on Fig. 1 to 3 Below preferred embodiments of the method according to the invention are explained in more detail.

Fig. 1 shows a flow chart showing a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention. The process starts at step S100 where, starting from an initial state, goods are processed in a paper handling facility. The paper handling system has been set based on a job description, wherein the job description also results in a predetermined number of goods to be processed during a predetermined time interval or during a predetermined period of time. After setting the paper handling equipment and after providing the goods to be merged at the various inlets of the plant it starts to process the job.

The method according to the invention is provided in order to control the processing of the goods in such a way that a maximum possible number of goods processed during a predetermined period of time occurs (maximum throughput).

In step S102, during the predetermined time period, for example, during a specified time unit of several minutes or several hours, the number of goods processed during that period is detected. In step S104, it is determined whether the actually processed number of goods is greater than or equal to the predetermined number of goods. If it is determined that the number of goods exceeds the predetermined number, the process goes to step S106 (see FIG Fig. 1B ). In this step, the speed at which goods are processed in at least a portion of the paper handling equipment is increased by a predetermined increase amount, and in step S108, the previously detected new number is set equal to the predetermined number, and now and the set speed is stored in step S110 for later use. In other words, it is recognized that the plant operates reliably with the current settings, so that according to the invention the processing speed is increased, as will be described in detail below, monitoring whether the increase of the processing speed leads to an increase of the throughput. According to the invention, the system is thus regulated in order to achieve the highest possible throughput (number of processed goods per given period of time).

Subsequently, the process goes to step S112 (see Fig. 1C ), which determines if the job has been completed. If so, the process ends at step S114. If the job is not fully processed yet, the process returns to step S102.

If it is determined in step S104 that the number of goods processed within the time period is lower than the expected number (with or without previous increase), the process goes to step S116.

The decreasing number of goods over the predetermined number is due to the fact that an error has occurred in one or more places during the processing of the goods in the paper handling installation, which usually leads to a temporary halt (interruption of processing) of the installation until the error , for example, by the intervention of an operator, has been resolved. Similarly, the number of processed goods is reduced if groups of goods assembled in the system are faulty, for example, if false inserts or a faulty number of inserts have been attached to a cover letter. In this case, these faulty goods are removed from the plant, which is accompanied by a corresponding reduction in throughput.

For the purposes of the present disclosure, everything that leads to a reduction in the throughput of processed goods, ie, e.g. an interruption of the processing or the production of defective goods.

In this case, it is checked in step S116 at which point of the paper handling equipment during the considered period of time an error has occurred. For this area of the installation, at least one state or value of a system parameter round / or a good parameter which was present during the occurrence of the error and which as a rule is the cause of the error is then determined in step S118. For example, a mechanical component may have shifted within the system, so that a readjustment is required, or the properties of the material to be processed have changed. This can either be taken alone or together have led to the occurrence of the error.

In step S120, depending on which system parameters and / or good parameters were present at the time of the occurrence of the error, an adjustment of at least one system parameter within a section of the paper handling system is carried out. Additionally or alternatively, the speed at which the goods are processed in the corresponding section of the paper handling equipment may also be lowered by a predetermined amount of decrease, as also shown in step S120. If it is determined, for example, that the system parameters or the good parameters have not changed in the presence of the error compared to previous parameters / good parameters, then it can be assumed that the transport speed has led to the occurrence of the error and in this case, this is lowered. As mentioned, this can be done either alone or together with a setting of other parameters of the plant.

If it is recognized that a property of the material parameter to be processed changes, for example the roughness of the paper, then it is sufficient, e.g. to change the contact pressure of the transport rollers within the affected section of the paper plant, without requiring a change in speed. However, if it is additionally determined that the thickness of the paper has also changed so that it can no longer be moved at the original speed, a change in the transport speed is additionally required. Has z. For example, if only the thickness of the paper is changed, then only the speed may need to be changed. The setting of the speed within the system is done for example by changing a speed of a motor, by changing a good acceleration in the paper handling system and / or by changing the clock power. Preferably, the change takes place stepwise or incrementally (incrementally).

After the plant has been reset in step S120, the process goes to step 112 in FIG Fig. 1C , where it checks if the job ended. If this is not the case, as mentioned above, the method returns to step S102. As mentioned above, the set parameters are stored, which also gives the possibility to create a protocol with regard to the settings during the processing of the job. The settings stored in step S110 can also be assigned to the job file so that they can be used in a new execution of the job for the initial setting of the system, so that the system at a later time when processing a corresponding job automatically to the appropriate values can be adjusted, for example, by the control of appropriate servomotors, which cause the change of the transport elements done. If the order is carried out again at a later time, then the stored data record is loaded first, and an initial one Adjustment of the paper handling system effected, in which case a readjustment is performed, depending on the current state of the system, current environmental parameters and taking into account possible variations in the properties of the processed material. This makes it possible to quickly, initially set the paper handling system to jobs that have already been processed once or several times, and at the same time to automatically control / adjust the system in order to compensate for any differences in the material to be processed or changes in the system and environmental parameters compared with the initial parameters.

Thus, according to the invention, a control of the processing speed within the paper handling system is carried out, generally, as long as no errors occur, an increase in the processing speed is performed in order to achieve optimum throughput through the system. Preferably, the speed is set such that the speed does not exceed or falls below a predetermined maximum speed or a predetermined minimum speed. In other words, a "window" is specified for the system or for components or modules of the system, which indicates the upper or lower limit of the possible speeds. For example, consider a merger that receives two sheets in parallel and conveys along a path such that the sheets are stacked at the end of the path. Along this route, with some types of forgers, the blades are moved without propulsion, so that a predetermined speed of the blades must not be undershot when feeding to the track to ensure that the blades reach the end of the track. Similarly, an upper limit is set, beyond which damage to the leaves will occur. Both the upper limit and the lower limit are lost other of the paper or its properties (parameters, see above).

Based on Fig. 2 and 3 In the following, two further preferred embodiments of the present invention will be explained, which introduce thresholds with respect to the deviations of the parameters or with respect to the number of errors occurring during a time interval, on the basis of which it is decided whether the changes are so serious System settings or whether these changes are within acceptable tolerances.

According to the in Fig. 2 shown embodiment of the present invention, which in the Fig. 2 is shown, a deviation of the detected parameters from those parameters that were detected in a previous interval or during a previous period of time, is determined in step S130. This deviation is compared with a predetermined threshold in step S132. When the threshold is exceeded, the setting of the system parameter or the lowering of the speed takes place in step S134. If the threshold is not exceeded, the setting of the paper handling equipment is kept unchanged (see step S136).

According to another, in Fig. 3 In the illustrated embodiment of the present invention, in step S140, a number of the errors occurred during the time interval or during the time interval are detected, and in step S142, a deviation of the number of detected errors from a preceding time period or from a previous interval is detected. The deviation is compared with a predetermined threshold in step S144, and if the threshold is exceeded, a change in the setting of a plant parameter and / or a lowering of the velocity follows in step S146. Will the threshold is not exceeded, the setting of the plant is maintained (see step S136).

In the context of the above description of a preferred exemplary embodiment of the method according to the invention, it has been described that in connection with the setting of the system parameters or the lowering of the speed, the system parameters or good parameters prevailing during the time of an error are taken into account. According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, one or more of the environmental parameters described above may additionally be taken into account. Likewise, in addition, the wear of individual elements in the paper handling system can be considered. The environmental parameters or wear parameters just mentioned are either continuously monitored, at a time during the time interval under consideration or once during a plurality of time intervals. If the environmental parameters and / or the wear are taken into account, then the system is preferably accessed by accessing a look-up table in which corresponding optimum system parameters are stored for different environmental parameters or for different signs of wear, so that e.g. Depending on an ambient temperature, the system can be switched from an initial temperature range with a first setting to a second temperature range with a second setting of the system parameters.

According to a further exemplary embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that, depending on the detected wear of an element, it is determined whether an interruption of the job processing for a replacement of the component having the wear is expedient or not. This is determined depending on a possible throughput of the paper handling equipment for the job. For example, a situation may arise in which there is a possibility, despite the detected wear of a component continue to operate the system, but at a reduced speed. In this case, it is decided whether the reduced speed job is being processed faster than it is when the equipment is stopped, the worn member is replaced, and the equipment is run again at full speed. As an example, consider a wear of a tailor, where the replacement of a knife would take two hours. If it is determined that within this time the job can be performed at a reduced speed with an equally good result, it is decided that a replacement of the wear element is postponed to a quiescent phase after completion of the job, thus completing the job currently being processed to process. Preferably, for this purpose, a lookup table is accessed, from which the time required for the replacement of an element can be derived, so that the inventive method, based on the job description, from which the number of goods to be processed in the overall job is known determines whether the job should be interrupted or with reduced speed to end.

According to a further embodiment, the operating personnel is taken into account. The operators of the plant are equipped with transponders to detect the number of operators and their position. This makes it possible to set a utilization of the paper handling equipment depending on the number of operators. If the number of operators is not sufficient, for example, to regularly load the supplements with supplements or regularly remove the finished goods from the output tape, this leads to an interruption (a stop) of the system (error), which in turn leads to a decrease in throughput leads. By monitoring the number of operators, it is determined whether there are enough people to allow continuous operation at full load or not. Is the number of operators not sufficient, the processing speed is reduced accordingly, but this leads due to the non-occurring interruptions due to the idling of supplements investors or the full running of the storage belt as a whole to increased throughput.

Regardless of the number of operators, this embodiment may further monitor whether errors have occurred in operation without the set parameters having changed in successive time intervals. Along with the information on the number of operators and the position of the operators, it can be detected that there are errors in sections of the system requiring operator intervention so that it can be determined that the system speed has been reduced for proper handling by the operator is required. Upon detecting that the number of operators is increased, then the speed can be increased again.

In addition, the approach according to the invention also makes it possible to detect an activity of the operator from its movement, for example to notify that a frequently occurring interruption is not a plant fault, but because the operator has not sufficiently added further equipment or processed goods from the operator Has removed output tape.

As already mentioned briefly above, the goods in the paper handling installation are processed either individually or in groups, with the latter also comprising the total number of goods in a group in the latter case. In this regard, however, it should be noted that not necessarily each group comprises the same number of goods, but depending on the job description, different groups will contain different amounts of goods. In this case represents a fluctuation of the number of issued goods (groups) is not necessarily a reduction in throughput due to an error. Depending on the size of the group, the duration of the composition of the group is different until it is output. If, for example, only groups with five elements (cover letter, inserts, etc.) are processed in the time interval, the throughput is higher than if groups with ten elements are processed in the same time interval.

This situation is taken into account by providing values for the groups indicating the average period of time for generating the groups, such that the "predetermined number" of goods processed during a time interval (here groups) used for the inventive control is based on these Values is determined.

So far, the inventive method has been described with reference to an already operating system. Before the control according to the invention starts, the paper handling system for the processing of the upcoming job is initially set. Preferably, this is the job description (see above), which describes the initial setting of the system parameters for the job to be processed. The system is then set (configured) according to the system parameters received. At this stage, an environmental parameter (see above) may also be captured so that the set paper handling equipment can be readjusted based on this sensed environmental parameter. In addition, a wear and tear of the paper handling system can be detected, which makes sense if the system has executed / processed one or more other jobs since the last time the job was performed, possibly resulting in wear of individual parts. Again, the readjustment of the paper handling system based on the recorded wear occurs.

During operation of the equipment, in addition to the control as described so far, environmental parameter monitoring and / or wear can be continuously monitored to allow a response to these changed parameters, regardless of throughput, by the paper handling equipment , is adjusted based on the detected parameter values. Furthermore, the system parameters and the material parameters can also be continuously monitored during operation so as to automatically carry out a readjustment of the system in case of deviations, whereby here, as mentioned, the parameters are detected either continuously or at specific times during one or more intervals.

So far, a paper handling system has been described, which has several sections, such as a feeder, a collection station, an inserter, etc., as described below with reference to Fig. 4 will be described in detail. According to the invention, however, the present method is also applied to paper handling systems which are of modular construction, wherein then, depending on the detected conditions, either the speed is set in one of the modules or in several of the modules. Likewise, in one of the modules or in several of the modules, an adjustment of the parameters can be carried out, wherein preferably in the modular design, the modules perform the control locally and only the interface between the modules is monitored by a central control. Furthermore, in a preferred embodiment, it may be determined whether subsequent to an increase in speed an error has occurred in a plurality of the modules or only in one of the modules, such that either the speed in all modules, a portion of the modules, or only in one of the modules affected module is lowered.

Fig. 4 shows an inventively controlled paper handling system using the example of an inserter. Such a paper handling installation comprises a feed channel comprising, for example, cutters and sheet feeders. The feed channel is followed by an input channel / processing channel where goods are collected, folded and collected. A gathering path provided in the input channel / processing channel comprises, for example, one or more supplement feeders. The input channel / processing channel is followed by the envelope filling, in which case an inserter has, for example, an envelope feeder, which provides the envelopes. The inserter is followed by the post-processing, for example, the output of the enveloped goods to a post-processing system, such as a sorter and the like.

The inserter 100 comprises a first input 102, a second input 104 and a third input 106, wherein at all inputs 102 to 106, an endless web 108, 110, 112 is provided, which is printed two-way. All inputs 102, 104, 106 for endless processing include an in Fig. 4 Not shown cutting device to cut the supplied paper web to one transverse and the other along to produce the processed individual goods.

The first input 102 is followed by a merger or merge path 114, followed by a collection station 116, in which a predetermined number of goods are collected and continued together as a group. The collecting station 116 is followed by a folding unit 118 and a transport module 120.

The second input 104 provides the paper web 110 which is two-way printed and, like the entrance 102, includes means for cross-cutting and slitting the paper web 110. Unlike the first input 102, the second input 104 is the cut Documents initially processed in parallel further, in a folding unit 122, which is followed by a deflection station 124, in which the now consecutive folded goods are transferred together to a collection station 126, and from there to a transport module 128th

The goods provided by the transport modules 120 and 128 are collected in a collecting station 129 and fed via the transport module 130 to a further collecting station 132.

The third entrance 106 provides the continuous paper web 112, which is printed two-way, so that the entrance 106 as well as the entrances 102 and 104 include means for transversely and longitudinally cutting the paper web 112. Similar to the input 104, the cut goods are provided in parallel to a folding unit 134 and from there to a deflection device 136, from which the now consecutive goods are provided to a collecting station 138. Starting from the collecting station 138, the goods collected there are fed via the transport module 140 to the collecting station 132, where they are combined with the goods provided from the entrances 102. Starting from collection station 132, the collected goods are provided to investors 142a and 142b, where, optionally, further inserts may be added to the stockpiles formed at collection station 132. Finally, the goods or groups of goods thus formed are provided to the inserter 144, which envelopes them in corresponding envelopes and deposits the envelopes on a dandruff band, namely tray 146.

Furthermore, in Fig. 4 the central controller 148 of the system 100 is shown schematically with its connection to the modules schematically at 148a. Also shown is a sensor 150, which is also connected to the central controller 148, as shown schematically at 148b. In the embodiment shown, the controller is 148 implemented by a computer, for example, at the same time via a user interface settings for the operation of the system and the necessary data processing facilities for logging the processing documents are included. The controller 148 further monitors the operation of the individual modules and the overall system, for example, to detect fault conditions.

At the in Fig. 4 For example, the system described is an inserter system, such as is used primarily for banks and insurance companies, for example, for the use of insurance documents that are printed endlessly in one-use or two-use. As noted, the system includes three inputs 102, 104, 106 for endless processing, each with gathering and folding capability, and a folding insert feeder 142a with barcode reading for intelligent cut sheet processing. The system allows the merging of documents or goods from all inputs 102 to 106. The vertical stacking belt, namely tray 146, allows a high storage volume and resulting reduced operator effort.

Furthermore, the in Fig. 4 inserter 100 shown at important measuring points, such as at the entrances 102, 104, 106, such as at all or selected processing elements, namely the collection stations 116, 126, 128, 132, 138, the investors 142a and 142b, on the inserter 144 and on the tray 146 sensors S ₁ and S ₂ , which according to the basis of the Fig. 4 described embodiment, the material properties of the applied to the corresponding station, to be processed good and other properties, such as the number of leaves in a group in the corresponding collection stations capture. This information is, on the one hand, serial between the individual elements of the Fig. 4 shown modular arrangement in the so-called. "Handshake operation" transmitted and also for an active control of the overall system to the central control 148 transmitted. Additionally, one or more of the in Fig. 4 shown modules include sensors S ₁ , which detect wear of the components used, and also communicate through the entire system and also to the central controller 148 for evaluation. Furthermore, in Fig. 4 the aforementioned sensor 150 is provided, which may be used to detect environmental parameters, such as temperature and / or humidity, wherein the information obtained by the sensor 150 is also provided to the controller 148.

Alternatively or additionally, sensors for detecting the environmental parameters may also be provided in the individual modules, which is useful, in particular in the case of large systems, since a central detection of the environmental parameters would be too inaccurate due to the large spatial extent of these systems. In the illustrated embodiment of the tray 146 associated sensor S ₂ is provided to provide a signal, based on which the control unit 148 determines the actual output power.

In Fig. 4 Furthermore, the operators 160A, 160B are shown, each equipped with a transponder T. The control unit 148 communicates with the transponders T to detect the number of operators 160A, 160B and their position. Depending on the number of operators 160A, 160B, the control unit 148 may adjust the utilization of the paper handling equipment 100, as described above.

In operation, the works in Fig. 4 shown system in the manner described above such that via the above-described sensors S ₁ , S _2, the corresponding sensor signals are delivered to the central controller 148. In a preferred embodiment, as described, the central controller 148 obtains a job description for the job to be processed. Based on the information stored in this job in conjunction with the collected properties the central controller 148 drives the respective modules to adjust them. In another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the central controller 148 returns to stored parameters regarding the set velocities that have already been detected in previous runs and causes an appropriate one based on the detected sensor signals Adjustment for the process now to be carried out.

Based on Fig. 4 Examples of the procedure according to the invention will now be explained.

An example of the detection of properties of the material to be processed is the detection of a provided on the paper web code, which is detected in the input channels 102, 104 and 106 by a reading device. Such reading devices are designed, for example, to read the code from the paper web while it is being guided past the reading head at, for example, 5 m / s. For a correctly printed code, the read head is able to capture the code correctly at this speed. However, situations may arise in which the code on the paper web is poorly readable, whether it is partially masked by other features or imprints due to a malfunction in the previous processing operation, that too little toner has been applied, or that there is little contrast exist. In this case, read errors are detected, since now read at the speed is no longer possible. An increase in the read errors indicates a badly printed code, so that the system is effective, upon reaching a certain threshold of the number of read errors to lower the "reading speed", ie the speed of the paper web, with which the code is passed to the read head , For example, the speed may be lowered to 3 m / s, either in one step or step by step, until the read error rate is below the said threshold is. In addition, if the threshold is undershot, signaling may be generated to generate a message indicating that the code is poorly readable.

If the system is a so-called online system, ie the papers to be processed are generated directly by an upstream high-speed printer, optionally a return channel between the in Fig. 4 shown system and the associated online printers to control them in the event of detection of a badly printed code to improve the pressure of the code.

Although the above example regarding code recognition has been described in the context of input channels 102, 104 and 106, this embodiment may also be used at any other location within the system where a code is detected.

Optionally, it can be provided that after lowering the speed due to falling below the threshold regarding the reading errors, a warning message is issued to the operator, so that he may initiate steps to counteract this tendency with regard to the badly printed code. If the quality of the code continues to deteriorate or if the code can still not be read due to the speed being reduced, an error message is output after the reaching of a further threshold and the processing is stopped.

In another example, the system includes multiple sheet feeders and it is determined that the errors are due to a feeder being emptied. For example, the in Fig. 4 arrangement shown two investors 142a, 142b, wherein, for example, a first order subtracts leaves from all sheet feeders. hereby The individual sheet feeder are emptied relatively evenly, so that refilling is possible without problems as a rule. However, if now a contract driven, in which only one of the sheet feeder is used, it is relatively quickly emptied, so that an operator may not comply with the refill, which is noticeable by an increased number of interruptions. The equipment can now be automatically configured to lower the processing speed and / or provide the operator with an alternate mode of operation, such as toggle operation, using two of the sheet feeders, from which alternate drawers are withdrawn, leaving enough time for an operator to refill of investments.

The above description of the preferred embodiments has been made with reference to FIG Fig. 4 However, those skilled in the art will also be aware of other systems having modules other than those described in U.S. Pat Fig. 4 Of course, the principles of the present invention may also be readily applied to other such modules, as described below with reference to FIGS Fig. 5 be mentioned.

Fig. 5 FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating the communication of information between the central controller 148 and the individual stations of a paper processing system, as illustrated, for example, in FIG Fig. 4 is shown clarifies. The individual blocks in Fig. 5 Here are the corresponding reference numerals of in Fig. 4 associated with the modules shown, and the solid horizontal arrows indicate communication along the plant in "handshake" mode, and the blank vertical arrows indicate the active control status and situation messages exchanged between the central controller 148 and the individual modules at.

As can be seen, the system control or system control 148 contains preset manipulated variables for the individual Modules that initially set the engine speed and clock cycle of individual modules, for example, to provide a defined starting point for processing a job. As an alternative to such manipulated variables, which are set by an operator, for example, optimal operating points determined in previous passes can be read from a memory in order to set the overall system in accordance with the known parameters. Further, as described above, the required setting may be derived based on information from job programming or corresponding job specifications.

In the Fig. 5 The four processing channels shown include the so-called feed channel 160, the processing channel 162, the finishing channel 164, and the postprocessing channel 166. As mentioned above, the corresponding modules of the example inserting system 100 are off of the corresponding channels Fig. 4 assigned, and the feed channel are next to the in Fig. 4 shown tailors 102, 104, 106 and sheet feeders 142a and 142b and so-called. Autoloader, Abroller and Drucker.zugeordnet. The processing channel 162, in addition to the in Fig. 4 collection stations 116, 126, 128, 132, 136 shown in Fig. 4 shown folding units 118, 122, 134 and in Fig. 4 shown deflecting means 124 and 136 and rotating devices, staplers and the like assigned. The final processing channel 164 is next to the in Fig. 4 shown inserter 144 also associated with stacker and sorter and similar elements. The postprocessing channel will be next to the in Fig. 4 Shelf 146 also associated with franking devices, printers, readers, sorting devices, packaging devices and the like.

In all channels, environmental parameters, good parameters and system parameters are recorded. Although based on the Fig. 4 a paper handling system according to an embodiment of the present invention is described with reference to a modular inserting system, it should be noted at this point that the device according to the invention is not limited to modular systems. Likewise, the approach of the present invention may be applied to a non-modular paper handling equipment having one or more paper handling stations. For example, the approach according to the invention can also be used only in conjunction with the in Fig. 4 shown inserter 144 or with a subset of the modules shown, in which case the inserter 144 receives only the goods to be enveloped, these envelopes and outputs. Furthermore, it should be noted that the embodiment of the paper handling system according to the invention does not refer to the in Fig. 4 shown inserting is limited. The system according to the invention can also be used for other systems of a different configuration, such systems then being able to have additional autoloaders, unwinders, printers, turning devices, staplers, sorters, franking machines, packaging devices, etc.

It should also be noted that this is based on the Fig. 4 described embodiment of the above-mentioned elements of the respective channels each having sensors, however, depending on the circumstances of the system either on all individual modules or only on selected individual modules, possibly less than the individual modules described above, the required sensors can be provided.

As described above, the method according to the invention can be applied to an entire system, to parts of a system or to individual modules of a modular system, with the individual sections or modules of the entire system being controlled in each case via a central controller. In accordance with the present invention, individual selected sections or modules that are particularly critical to the processing of the goods are monitored and their speed is controlled but may also be controlled be provided to monitor and control each individual section or each module.

The present invention finds use wherever mechanically paper is processed within a system and is ultimately fed, for example, to a filing and / or further processing device, and thus generally relates to all semi and fully automatic paper processing systems.

In describing the embodiments of the invention, a reduction in the throughput of processed goods due to an interruption of processing or due to the generation of defective goods was regarded as an error, and the events underlying the interruption of the processing or the production of defective goods.

In addition to events that are due to a malfunction of the system or one or more modules of the system, other events come into consideration, e.g. the case that all the modules of a system are properly adjusted per se, but one or more of the modules are so modified, e.g. in view of their processing speed, modules immediately downstream or downstream of the processing stream refuse to accept the goods for processing because the goods are e.g. (For example, a folder may accept goods, such as paper, only at maximum speed to ensure proper folding). In this case (event), the goods are no longer deducted from the precursor component, so that the throughput is reduced without a "classic error" occurring.

Furthermore, the throughput can - without the occurrence of a "classic error" - reduce, for example, if the goods to be driven too far away from each other. If the problem of congestion or the like occurs at too small a distance, which leads to a stop of the system and thus reduces the throughput, then a reduction is given even if the distance of the goods is too large.

Also in the above-mentioned cases, the approach according to the invention will take effect and lead to a control of the plant or plant parts (or modules) in order to adapt the speeds during processing, to increase or decrease the distance, etc.

Further, in describing the embodiments of the invention, the setting of the speed of processing has been explained primarily by means of an adjustment of the motors carrying the goods. However, the present invention is not limited thereto. Instead of changing the conveying speeds of the motors, it is also possible to modify other parameters influencing the processing speed. Thus, e.g. within the plant or between the modules, the times at which a successor component requests a good from a precursor component are changed (increased / decreased) to influence the processing speed. Likewise, the distance of the goods may be changed (increased / decreased) to affect the processing speed.

In the description of the embodiments of the invention, it was further assumed that the system is already running in normal operation. When job processing is restarted, the job will either be repeated or run for the first time. If the job is executed repeatedly, the initial value for the desired throughput may be stored with the job and provided to the facility.

When restarting the job processing plant, an initial value may be missing for the desired throughput (especially if the job is being run for the first time). In this case, it is contemplated that the initial value for the desired throughput is either dictated by the job, set by an operator, or set to a predetermined value (e.g., zero).

Furthermore, it can be provided that in the setting of the system parameters initially larger steps are performed until the normal operation is achieved in order to achieve a rapid control of the system after the start to the desired state. The change of the step size may e.g. be linear.

Claims (15)

1. A method of processing articles in a paper-handling installation (100), the paper-handling installation (100) being set, on the basis of a job description, to process a predetermined number of articles during a predetermined time period, characterized in that the method comprises the following steps performed by the paper-handling installation (100):

   (a) detecting (S102) the number of articles being processed by the paper-handling installation (100) during the predetermined time period;

   (b) if the detected number of articles is larger than or equal to the predetermined number of articles:

   (b.1) increasing (S106) the speed at which the articles are processed in at least one section of the paper-handling installation (100) by a predetermined amount of increase, and

   (b.2) setting (S108) the predetermined number of articles equal to the detected number of articles;

   (c) if the detected number of articles is smaller than the predetermined number of articles:

   (c.1) detecting (S116) which of the sections of the paper-handling installation (100) has reduced a reduction in throughput during the predetermined time period,

   (c.2) determining (S118) at least one installation parameter present here and/or at least one article parameter, and

   (c.3) on the basis of the at least one parameter determined in step (c.2), setting (S120) at least one section of the paper-handling installation (100) and/or reducing the speed at which the articles are processed in a section of the paper-handling installation (100), by a predetermined amount of reduction; and

   d) repeating (S112) the steps (a) to (d) while the job is being processed.
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein step (c.3) comprises:

   determining (S 130) a deviation of the parameters detected in step (c.2) as compared to parameters detected during a preceding time period;

   comparing (S 132) the deviation to a first predetermined threshold;

   if the deviation is smaller than the first predetermined threshold, maintaining (S 136) the setting of the paper-handling installation (100); and

   if the deviation is larger than the first predetermined threshold, setting (S 134) the at least one installation parameter and/or reducing the speed on the basis of the parameters determined in step (c.2).
3. The method as claimed in claims 1 or 2, wherein step (c.1) comprises determining (S 140) the number of events occurring during the time period which caused a reduction of the throughput, step (c.3) comprising:

   determining (S142) a deviation of the number of events detected in step (c.1) as compared to the number of events detected in a preceding time period;

   comparing (S 144) the deviation to a second predetermined threshold;

   if the deviation is smaller than the second predetermined threshold, maintaining (S148) the setting of the paper-handling installation (100); and

   if the deviation is larger than the second predetermined threshold, setting (S146) the at least one installation parameter and/or reducing the speed on the basis of the parameters determined in step (c.2).
4. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 3, wherein steps (b.1) and (c.3) comprise setting the speed such that the speed does not exceed or fall below a predetermined maximum speed and a predetermined minimum speed, respectively.
5. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 4, wherein step (c.3) further comprises taking into account at least one environmental parameter, the at least one environmental parameter being detected during the time period contemplated, or being detected once during a plurality of time periods, and taking into account the at least one environmental parameter in step (c.3) comprising reading out optimum installation parameters for the detected environmental parameter from a look-up table.
6. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 5, wherein step (c.3) further comprises taking into account any wear and tear in the paper-handling installation (100), the wear and tear being detected during the time period contemplated, or being detected once during a plurality of time periods, and taking into account the wear and tear in step (c.3) comprising reading out optimum installation parameters for the detected wear and tear from a look-up table.
7. The method as claimed in claim 6, wherein a determination is made, depending on the detected wear and tear of an element, whether replacement of the element concerned or reduction of the speed of the paper-handling installation (100) will provide increased throughput of same for the job, wherein step (c.3) comprises reducing the speed if this leads to a higher throughput, and wherein the paper-handling installation (100) is stopped and the operator is signaled that the element is to be replaced if this leads to a higher throughput.
8. The method as claimed in any of claims I to 7, wherein step (c.2) further comprises detecting the number of operators of the paper-handling installation (100) and their positions, the capacity utilization of the paper-handling installation (100) being set depending on the number of operators.
9. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 8, wherein step (b.1) and step (c.3) comprise storing the set speed and the set installation parameters.
10. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 9, wherein the paper-handling installation (100) processes the articles in groups, the article parameters further comprising the total number of articles within a group.
11. The method as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the groups comprises a predetermined number of articles, wherein the predetermined number of articles to be processed during the predetermined time period is determined in dependence on the sizes of the groups in the job, a value existing for each group which indicates the average duration of generating a group within the installation, and the predetermined number being dependent on the values.
12. The method as claimed in any of claims 1 to 11, wherein the paper-handling installation (100) comprises at least two modules, wherein step (b.1) comprises increasing the speed in at least one of the modules, and wherein step (c.3) comprises setting the installation parameters and/or the speed in at least one of the modules.
13. The method as claimed in claim 12, wherein steps (a) to (c) are performed in a decentralized manner in each of the modules, a central controller monitoring the interface between the modules.
14. The method as claimed in claims 12 or 13, wherein step (c.1) comprises determining whether following an increase in the speed, one or more events, which caused a reduction of the throughput, occurred (i) in several modules in the paper-handling installation (100), or (ii) only in one module of the paper-handling installation (100),
    wherein in case (i), step (c.3) comprises reducing the speed in some of the modules or in all of the modules of the paper-handling installation (100), and
    wherein in case (ii), step (c.3) comprises reducing the speed only in the module concerned.
15. The paper-handling installation (100) for processing articles which is set on the basis of a job description so as to process a predetermined number of articles during a predetermined time period, comprising:

    a first sensor (S1) for detecting the number of articles which are processed by the paper-handling installation (100) during the predetermined time period;

    a second sensor (S2) for determining at least one installation parameter and/or at least one article parameter; and

    a control unit (148) effectively connected to the sensors (S1, S2) and configured to, while processing the job,

    increase the speed at which the articles are processed in at least one section (102 - 146) of the paper-handling installation (100), by a predetermined amount of increase, and to set the predetermined number of articles equal to the detected number of articles if the detected number of articles is larger than or equal to the predetermined number of articles; and

    detect which of the sections (102 - 146) of the paper-handling installation (100) caused, during the predetermined time period, a reduction of the throughput, and, on the basis of the parameters present here, to set at least one installation parameter of at least one section (102 - 146) of the paper-handling installation (100) and/or to reduce the speed at which the articles are processed in one section (102 - 146) of the paper-handling installation (100) by a predetermined amount of reduction if the detected number of articles is smaller than the predetermined number of articles.

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