EP2090536B1 - Comfortable operation device for folding machines - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an operating device for a machine for postpress, with the adjustable working means are easily adjustable in the machine, and a folding machine with such a control device.

In folding machines for postpress processing various adjustable work equipment such as folding blades and stops are adapted to the respective substrates to be processed. The setting of the tools depends on the paper of the substrate, the format of the substrate and the position of the fold to be applied. From the utility model DE 20 2004 002 948 U1 is a folding machine with a pocket folder known, in which the pocket gap can be adjusted to the paper thickness. To set the pocket gap to the paper thickness of the substrate, a paper between an abutment and a support is inserted. As a result, the clear width of the pocket gap is adapted to the paper thickness. In this setting process, the operator must put a bow on the folder and then adjust the clear width by hand. However, such a manual setting is not very comfortable for the operating personnel, in addition, the operator must go from folder to folder to make the settings there by hand.

From the publication DE 198 43 872 A1 is a device for setting a folding blade in Kombifalzmaschinen linear motor known. With the control device, the manual setting on the folding blade should be unnecessary. For automatic adjustment, a sensor is available, which detects the sheet thickness of a substrate. In addition, another sensor is present, which absorbs the bending stiffness of the signatures. From the measured variables of the sensors, setting values for the folding blade stroke are then automatically calculated in the control and forwarded to the motor control of the folding blade. With this automatic regulation and control setting of the folding blade, the operating personnel no longer have the possibility to carry out self-determined adjustments. Furthermore, the tax and Control device very complex, since appropriate sensors must be present, and also error-prone if the substrate to be processed is not detected correctly by the sensors.

The publication DE 197 17 297 A1 shows a device for positioning remote adjustable actuators in a printing press. The remotely adjustable actuators are in particular sheet brakes, suction rings or sheet guiding devices. When applied to sheet brakes these are connected via a bus system with a controller, which is in operative connection with a control station of the printing press. About the control room, the individual sheet brakes are controlled by means of control commands so that the arranged in the sheet brakes stepper motors are driven to start a predetermined position. About the design of the controls for the sheet brakes is silent Offenlegungsschrift DE 197 17 297 A1 out.

The publication US 2006 / 011,8590A1 shows a method and apparatus for adjusting the pressure of nip rollers in the former of a web press. By means of a control system, a display device and an operator interface, information may be input to the control system for adjusting the pressure of the nip rollers in the former. A desired minimum or maximum force for the pressure between the pressure rollers can be input via the operator interface, which then adjusts an actuator in cooperation with a load sensor in the former.

The item " Computer control creates competitive advantages "in the German printer no. 12 from 29.03.2001, pages 98, 99, 101, ISN: 0012/1096 describes a computer-controlled folding machine MB Bäuerle. With the computer-controlled folding machine a fully automatic adjustment for the format range 52x85 is possible. In this computer-controlled folding machine many functions such. B. Falzanschläge, folding rollers, turnout etc. are automatically controlled or adjusted. Furthermore, the operator can make key settings via a control panel with keyboard and display by pressing a button. So the operator first select common fold types and then enter the sheet format. Likewise, the operator can select certain fold types. Then the operator can initiate the "setup" command, whereupon all the stops move to the positions calculated by the computer control, and unused folding pockets are automatically closed by the integrated sheet switches. Since not all folding types can be specified via pictograms, folding lengths can also be entered numerically via the keyboard.

Another fully automatic folding machine is from another article from the German printer No. 24 / 10.08.2006 "Exactly to the thousandth", page 45, ISN: 0012/1096 known. In this folding machine from Horizon, the entire folding machine is controlled centrally via a 14-inch color monitor. The operation is done by simple symbols. The operation is also possible via a wireless remote control. The wireless remote control has the advantage that the operator z. B. from the display of fine adjustments of all settings can perform without first having to return to the operating monitor. In addition to the fully automatic setting, the operator can thus carry out fine corrections with the remote control on site.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an operating device for the adjustment of equipment in folding machines and machines for postpress, which allows a comfortable, but by the operator himself selected setting of the working means in the machine.

According to the present invention, the present object is achieved by the claims 1 and 7, advantageous embodiments of the invention are described in the dependent claims and the drawings. The operating device according to the invention has an operating element, which is connected via an electronic control device with a servomotor of an adjustable working means in a machine for postpress, in particular a folding machine. Folding machines have as working means adjustable folding blades and adjustable rebate stops. These tools must be adapted to the parameters of the particular job in terms of format, Printing material and position of the fold can be adjusted. The movements of the operating personnel on the operating element are converted by an electronic control device, for example a computer, into setting commands for the actuator of the adjustable working medium. Servo motors with position feedback are used in particular as an actuator. In this way, the operator with the operating device after selecting the respective tool to be set in the machine set all the equipment to be adjusted comfortably with a control device via a control panel and does not run from folder to folding unit, as in conventional folding machines to the work equipment of Hand set. The rotatable control element has the advantage that the operator here can make the settings very sensitive and precise, since such a rotary knob can be rotated slowly or quickly, also the translation of the movements can be adjusted electronically steplessly on the actuator.

The selection of the respectively to be adjusted work equipment can also be done via the rotatable control element by pressure is exerted on the rotatable control element. This short pressure pulse, in conjunction with the working means selected on a graphical user interface of the operating device via the rotary wheel, means that this working means can then be conveniently adjusted by rotational movement of the operating element. To push either the entire rotatable control can be pressed down, or it may be on top of the control element, a push button on which the operator can exert pressure.

In a first embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the rotatable operating element haptically reports an adjusting movement of the working means to an operator. The haptic feedback can be effected by an electronic control device, which is reported back the respective position of the adjustable working means. Depending on the set position of the working fluid is then given to the operator a haptic feedback on the rotatable control. Thus, for example, at certain positions of the adjustable working means, the rotatable operating element can give the operating personnel a feeling of being engaged. Furthermore, the achievement of an end position of the adjustable working means can be announced and conveyed by increased stiffness of the rotatable operating element until the operating element is completely stopped.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention is also provided that the operating device has a display device for displaying a virtual image of the adjustable working means of the machine. On this display device, not only the working means can be selected via the rotatable control element, but it also appears a virtual image of the currently selected work equipment on a screen. If, for example, the folding blade is selected at the first folding unit, then exactly this folding blade appears in virtual representation and according to clear numbering on the screen. As a result, the operator is permanently informed about which working fluid is currently adjusted becomes. The virtual image on the display device also makes it possible that the virtual representation of the movable work equipment on the display device a comparison scale is displayed superimposed. With such a comparison scale, the adjustment of the work equipment on the screen can be displayed very precisely, because the operator can read off the scale exactly how far the movable work equipment has just been adjusted. For this purpose, the working means moves in accordance with the scale shown on the screen or the scale moves according to the illustrated work equipment. In this case, the operator can read the adjustment carried out directly on the screen and so make sure that exactly the desired adjustment values have been performed by the associated work equipment. The work equipment can of course be displayed on the screen also abstracted, so instead of the folding blade or stop a stylized bar or line can be displayed, it is only important that on the basis of the virtual representation of the working means a precise adjustment of the working means is possible.

It is also possible that the scale can be displayed in different scales. If the operator wants to represent larger adjustment paths, then it can select a correspondingly coarser scale on the screen in order to be able to quickly adjust large displacement paths. Accordingly, the rotational movement of the rotary wheel can also be adjusted so that only small rotational movements occur with large adjustment paths and a large scale are required to perform large adjustment paths. For fine adjustment for smaller adjustment paths then a finely resolved scale can be selected, correspondingly large rotational movements on the rotary knob are required to effect small adjustment movements of the working medium. In this way, a precise adjustment of the adjustable work equipment is possible without the operating personnel must have visual contact with the respective work equipment in the machine. This eliminates the gear from folder to folder for checking the adjustments made completely and operation alone on the control device with rotatable control and display device is possible.

Furthermore, it is provided that the operating device has a display device and a computer and that the computer via a bus connection with the electric actuator is connected in the machine. The use of a bus connection between the computer and the actuator makes it possible to easily adapt the operating device for use in a variety of machines. The control device with display device, computer and rotating control is always the same, it will be connected to the bus connections only different electric actuators. For this purpose, the actuators only have to have the appropriate bus controller and can be easily connected to the operating system according to the invention. The actuators connected to the bus system must then be configured on the computer in the operating device only via appropriate software.

In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention it is provided that by means of the rotatable control element setting values for adjusting the working means in the machine can be entered, selected or confirmed. Additionally or alternatively to the representation of the virtual work equipment on the display device, the setting values can also be input directly in alphanumeric form via a graphical user interface on the display device. Also in this case the respective work equipment is first selected by means of the rotary element, whereupon an input window appears in which the adjustment paths can be entered or selected in the form of numbers. The input of the adjustment can be completed by pressing the rotatable control again. In this way, it is possible for the operating personnel to enter adjustment paths in numerical values conveniently.

Figur 1

eine Bedienungseinrichtung mit Jogwheel zur Einstellung des Falzschwerts in einer Falzmaschine,

Figur 2

eine Bedieneinrichtung mit Jogwheel zur Einstellung der Falzanschläge in einer Falzmaschine und

Figur 3

einen Bildschirm einer erfindungsgemäßen Bedienungseinrichtung zur Eingabe der Verstellwege in numerischer Form.

The present invention will be described and explained in more detail with reference to several figures. Show it:

FIG. 1

an operating device with jogwheel for adjusting the folding blade in a folding machine,

FIG. 2

an operating device with jogwheel for setting the fold stops in a folding machine and

FIG. 3

a screen of an operating device according to the invention for entering the adjustment paths in numerical form.

In FIG. 1 the present invention is explained in more detail with reference to a schematic drawing of a folding machine 1. The folding machine 1 has a plurality of folding units, one of which is shown by way of example. In this folder printing materials 16 are folded by means of a folding blade 5 in the desired manner. For this purpose, the folding blade 5 is moved up and down by a drive motor 2 and thus presses the desired fold in the sheet 16. As a drive motor 2, a servomotor is used, which can approach the position of the folding blade 5 exactly and regulate. The rotational movements of the servomotor 2 for the folding blade 5 are converted via a gear 4 in a lifting movement for the folding blade 5. The servo motor 2 has a servo controller 3, which in turn is connected via a data bus 6 to the control electronics of the folding machine 1. The control electronics consists of a computer 7 in the form of an industrial PC, which has a processor 8. At this computer 7, a rotatable control element 10 in the form of a jog wheel with angle encoder 9 is connected. This jogwheel 10 is rotatable in both directions, wherein the rotational movements of the jog wheel 10 are forwarded by means of angle encoder 9 to the processor 8 of the computer 7. Conversely, the computer 7 can report changes in position on the drive motor 2 of the folding blade 5 to the jogwheel 10 and thus provide haptic feedback to the operating personnel.

Furthermore, the jogwheel 10 has a printing function, so that the operator can make and finish 10 inputs on a screen 11 by pressing the jog wheel 10. The screen 11 is also connected to a computer 7 and allows the virtual representation of the folding blade 5 present in the folding machine 1 as a virtual folding blade 5a on the screen 11. Changes the position of the folding blade 5 in the folding machine 1 by rotational movements on the jogwheel 10, so The virtual folding blade 5a also moves on the screen 11 relative to a scale 17 also displayed on the screen 11. Alternatively, it is also possible for the virtual folding blade 5a to stop and for the scale 17 to move instead. Due to the direct assignment of scale 17 and virtual folding blade 5 a, it is possible to display the adjustment paths of the folding blade 5 in the folding machine 1 true to scale on the screen 11 and thus to visualize the operating personnel directly. When the scale 17 on the screen 11, for example, in Millimeter intervals is executed, so a movement of the folding blade 5a relative to the scale 17 by 2 dashes an actual movement of the folding blade 5 in the folding machine 1 by 2 millimeters.

In order to enable a simple flexible configuration of the operating device for a variety of folding machines 1, the connection of the drive motor 2 for the folding blade 5 to the computer 7 via the bus connection 6, which can be designed as a CAN bus or as an Ethernet connection. To such a bus 6, many drive motors 2 with a corresponding bus controller, which can be integrated in the servo controller 3, are connected.

Analogous to the setting process for the folding blade 5 in a folding machine 1 is in FIG. 2 the adjustment process for a stop 12 shown in the folding machine 1. By adjusting the stop 12, the position of the fold on the printing sheet 16 can be varied. For this purpose, the stop 12 can be moved relative to the folding blade 5. The stop 12 is also moved by an electric drive motor 13, which in turn has an engine electronics 14 with bus connection. About this Busanschaltung the drive motor 13 is connected to the stop 12 by means of the bus 6 to the computer 7. After selecting the stop 12 as adjustable work equipment via a graphical user interface 15 on the screen 11, the position of the stopper 12 can be adjusted by rotary movements on the jog wheel 10 by the operator. Also, the movements of the stop 12 are displayed on the screen 11 with respect to a superimposed scale 17 so that the operator gets a virtual stop 12a with superimposed scale 17 also displayed when adjusting the stop 12.

However, the graphical user interface 15 can not only be used to display the virtual folding blade 5a or the virtual stopper 12a, but can also be used to enter adjustment paths in numerical form. If the operator has selected a working means 5, 12, a field for numerical input is displayed on the graphical user interface 15, via which by means of a keyboard or by selection via the jogwheel 10 corresponding numerical Adjustment values can be entered. These numerical adjustment values are then transmitted from the computer 7 via the bus 6 to the respective drive motor 2, 13, where they are converted into adjustment movements of the respective working means 5, 12. To enter the numerical values, the screen 11 can be designed as a touchscreen so that a numeric keypad for entering the numerical adjustment values can appear directly on the touchscreen. The input of the adjustment values can in turn be completed by pressing the jog wheel 10.

By using a jog wheel in conjunction with a screen 11 and connected via a bus connection 6 drive motors 2, 13 for the working means 5, 12 can be a comfortable and accurate adjustment of the positions of the working means 5, 12 to adapt to the parameters of the job , In particular, by the haptic feedback of the jog wheel 10 so the operator can be taught the same feeling as in a mechanical setting directly on the folder without the operator must run from one folder to the next. In addition, by the superposition of the scale 17 an exact setting on the control panel possible.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

folding machine

2

Drive motor for folding blade

3

servo controller

4

transmission

5

folding knife

5a

virtual folding sword

6

data bus

7

computer

8th

processor

9

Winkelencoder

10

jogwheel

11

screen

12

attack

12a

virtual stop

13

Drive motor for stop

14

engine electronics

15

graphical user interface

16

sheet

17

scale

Claims (8)

1. Operating device for a machine (1) for the further processing of printed products, including an operating element (10) that is connected to an actuating drive (2, 13) of an adjustable tool (5, 12) of the machine (1) via an electronic control device (7), wherein movements of the rotatable operating element (10) are convertible into adjustment movements of the tool (5, 12) by means of the electronic control (7),
   wherein the machine for the further processing of printed products is a folder (1) and the movable tool (5, 12) is a folding knife (5) movable by a lifting movement or an adjustable folding stop (12),
   characterized in
   that the rotatable operating element (10) reports an adjustment movement of the tool (5, 12) back to an operator in a haptic way.
2. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that the operating device includes a display device (11) for displaying a virtual representation (5a, 12a) of the adjustable tool (5, 12) of the machine.
3. Operating device according to Claim 2,
   characterized in
   that the virtual representation (5a, 12a) on the display device (11) follows the movements of the adjustable tool (5, 12) of the machine.
4. Operating device according to Claim 2 or 3,
   characterized in
   that a comparison scale (17) is displayable in a superimposed way on the virtual representation (5a, 12a) of the movable tool (5, 12) on the display device (11).
5. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that the operating device includes a display device (11) and a computer (7) and that the computer (7) is connected to the electric actuating drive (2, 13) in the machine by a bus connection (6).
6. Operating device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that it is possible to input, select, or confirm adjustment values for adjusting the tools (5, 12) in the machine (1) by means of the rotatable operating element (10).
7. Folder (1) including an operating device having an operating element (10) that is connected to an actuating drive (2, 13) of an adjustable tool (5, 12) of the folder (1) via an electronic control device (7), wherein movements of the rotatable operating element (10) are convertible into adjustment movements of the tool (5, 12) by means of the electronic control (7), and wherein the movable tool (5, 12) is a movable folding knife (5) movable by a lifting movement or an adjustable folding stop (12),
   characterized in
   that the rotatable operating element (10) reports an adjustment movement of the tool (5, 12) back to an operator in a haptic way.
8. Folder (1) according to Claim 7,
   characterized in
   that a servomotor (2, 13) is connected to the operating element (10) via the electronic control system (7) and is provided to adjust the adjustable tool (5, 12) in the folder (1).

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