EP2589558A1 - Method for forming packages from individual printed products - Google Patents

Abstract

The method involves delivering the printed products (6,HP,IS) continuously over a feeder (4,5) to a conveying unit (3), where the printed products are transported to a cross-bearing (8a,8b,8c), in which the individual packets (9a,9b,9c) is formed with multiple printed products. The bags are continuously loaded by two printed products for the formation of packets. The bags stand in operative connection with the feeder. The pacekts are numerically formed.

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a method for forming packets according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

In print finishing, package formation is one of the last steps in the processing of printed products. Packages are formed from a number of printed products and forwarded for shipment. The printed products may be, for example, newspapers with or without supplements distributed to households in a particular region. Forming packages also requires the provision of individual newspapers in a form in which the formation of packages can easily take place.

For this purpose, the printed products are given within a Einsteckmaschine to a funding, which then forwards the printed products to a at least one cross-stacker having packaging machine. The packaging machine stacks the required number of printed products with product gaps arranged opposite to one another and packs them into a corresponding package, which is finally forwarded to the forwarding company.

Thus, such a system brackets two essential technical processes, which are in a process technical interdependence to each other.

On the one hand, it is therefore important to ensure an efficient production flow of the printed products, and on the other hand to provide an efficient process, which intervenes after the removal of defective products before the actual package formation.

An efficient production flow is always given when many printed products per unit time can form perfect packages.

In this context is off EP 0 911 289 A1 a method for the production of printed products has become known, in which a single pocket along a loading section subsequent receives a first and a second printed product, which then this bag is double-occupied, which serves to achieve a higher production performance.

As for the troubleshooting of defective printed products, there has been known a method of manufacturing packages consisting of printed products, which consist of uniform or individual compiled printed matter.

A first precipitation of defective printed products taking place in the course of the production of a main package as well as any subsequent subsequent separation of further defective printed products triggers an immediate simultaneous simultaneous or quasi-simultaneous post-production to compensate for these defective printed products, each post-production at least forming a sub-package leads, which is integrated into the incomplete main package preferably at the appropriate location.

In summary, it can be seen that the desired reliability in the formation of packages depends on the one hand, that the packages always have exactly the predetermined number of printed products, regardless of whether there is an even or odd number strength, and on the other hand that the packages may not contain any rejects. If such requirements are not met, there are immediate disadvantages both in production, distribution, and finally in individual delivery.

In summary, it can be stated that the packages must not be inferior in printed products, because with such a condition, customers would inevitably run out of money, which leads to complaints, with the consequence that the missing print products would have to be replenished immediately. On the other hand The packages may also contain no surplus copies, because these would then have to be eliminated loss.

Such integral production, which satisfies both conditions in the same process, has not become known in the prior art.

Although the described occupancy of the bags with two printed products is certainly conducive to productivity, on the other hand can not be realized packages with an odd number of printed products in the same production flow, so individual print products would have to be subsequently supplied, which at times to a mandatory separation of incomplete Packages leads.

On the other hand, debugging defective prior art failed print products is limited because such debugging must be equally effective against both even numbered packages and packages having an odd number of printed products.

Presentation of the invention

The invention aims to remedy this situation. The invention, as characterized in the claims, the object is to make the provision of packages in a method of the type mentioned in such a way that continuously in the same production flow both even number packets and packages with an odd number of printed products ready can be provided, wherein the individual packages can have absolutely any number of printed products, and necessary error corrections on the production flow do not have a restrictive effect.

In the method according to the invention, the printed products are dispensed to a conveying means within at least one inserting machine, preferably with two or more feeders, and subsequently these printed products are transported to at least one stacker. There then packages are formed with the exact predetermined number of printed products.

The feeders are already controlled in the delivery of the printed products to the conveyor so that for the later formation of packages with an even number of printed products an sequence with an even number of printed products per bag is initiated.

To form packets with an odd number of printed products, the control system logically initiates a sequence with an odd number of printed products to a conveying unit of the conveying means such that at least one pocket is occupied by only one printed product.

Both sequences are therefore designed so as to be able to form the predetermined consistency of the packets, which in terms of numbers can vary greatly in every respect.

The method thus makes it possible to flexibly form various packages which can be designed individually in terms of number, both in absolute terms and in terms of their even or odd number of printed products.

A significant advantage of the invention is the fact that the formation of packages with even or odd number of printed products in a production flow upstream of the at least one Kreuzlegers located zone happens, so that in the inserter and in operative connection with the investors operating there the regulatory dispositions to form the individual packages are implemented.

Preferably, the control of the feeders is performed such that they are controlled by a central control unit whose control commands accomplish the targeted delivery of printed products to the bags.

By using a central control unit, cross-system parameters can easily be incorporated into the control process.

For example, errors that occur in the processing chain following the insertion process are processed by the higher-level central control unit It immediately recognizes and ensures that immediate remedies are created, in the sense of a highly effective production flow.

Thus, if the controller inside the inserter triggers an intervention to the investors for detected errors, for example, by ejecting a defective printed product, the originally scheduled sequence then forms a subset incomplete package.

In such cases, the control immediately or almost immediately after the detection of the error ensures that a subsequent delivery of the missing or printed products takes place, which is then brought to the incomplete sequence immediately, which creates the condition that the package in question can be completed as directly as possible ,

Basically, these error-related subsequent deliveries are carried out as independent sequences, so that the incomplete packages can be completed directly in the area of the stacker, without slowing down or interrupting the production flow, and without parking the incomplete packages in a waiting position, or this on an additional loop to send.

Such a fault-healing sequence can be extremely considered to consist of a single printed product. This creates the basis that the completion of the incomplete packages does not have to be made on a loading ramp, because in this case the implementation of the missing printed products can take place at the respective cross stacker.

Selected and advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

Brief description of the figures

Fig. 1

eine Draufsicht auf eine Ausführungsform einer Anlage zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens,

Fig. 2

eine Seitenansicht einer Einstecklinie bei Beschickung mit einer geraden Anzahl von Druckprodukten,

Fig. 2a

Eine Vergrösserung der Fig. 2 zur besseren Unterscheidung der geraden Druckprodukte,

Fig. 3

eine Seitenansicht einer Einstecklinie bei kombinierter Beschickung mit einer geraden und einer ungeraden Anzahl von Druckprodukten und

Fig. 3a

Eine Vergrösserung der Fig. 3 zur besseren Unterscheidung der ungeraden Druckprodukte.

All elements not essential to the instant understanding of the invention have been omitted. Identical elements are provided in the various figures with the same reference numerals. In the following description based on the following figures will also be discussed on complementary embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1

a top view of an embodiment of a plant for carrying out the inventive method,

Fig. 2

a side view of a plug-in line when loaded with an even number of printed products,

Fig. 2a

An enlargement of the Fig. 2 to better distinguish the straight printed products,

Fig. 3

a side view of a plug-in line with combined feed with an even and an odd number of printed products and

Fig. 3a

An enlargement of the Fig. 3 to better distinguish the odd printed products.

Embodiments of the invention, commercial usability

In the following, when the term "investor" is used in the plural, it is to clarify that several modules may be used to deliver the printed products to the subsidy. Normally, these investors are part of a plug-in, wherein it is not excluded to provide multiple insertion machines.

The term "products" or "printed products" in the present context not only individual sheets but also combinations of sheets, such as a major product with associated deposits or deposits. A printed product 6 forms, for example, a complete newspaper, which is also provided with several supplements, which newspaper numerically forms a subset of the package concerned.

If "sequence" is mentioned, it is subsequently expressed that this is a continuous placement of pockets 7 with printed products 6, which in sum should form a specific package. Thus, a sequence may comprise a series of double-loaded pockets 7 for forming packages with an even number of printed products 6, which row is interrupted intermediately whenever a single-loaded pocket 7 necessarily follows to form a package with an odd number of printed products 6 got to.

Fig. 1 shows a plant A comprising a to be understood as a conveying means 3 plug-in line comprising a first and a second feeders 4, 5, which deliver the printed products 6 to the means of the insertion line, said printed products 6 are conveyed in a transport direction T. Such a combination of a plug-in line with the associated investors 4, 5 forms the insertion machine in the jargon. Of course, more than two feeders 4, 5 can be provided. If, for example, a second insertion machine is provided, then this could intervene in the sequences from case to case with printed products, in particular if packages with an odd number of printed products 6 are to be formed.

Subsequently, the printed products 6 are transported to a packaging machine 8, which is shown schematically with the route 15. In the present example, the packaging machine 8 has three stackers 8a, 8b, 8c, which are each responsible for the packaging of a specific package. Of course, a smaller or a larger number of Kreuzlegern can be used.

The printed products 6 are thus directed, depending on the predetermined package composition, by means of a central control unit 1 to a corresponding cross-lapper 8a, 8b, 8c of the packaging machine 8. In the present case, packages 9a, 9b, 9c are each assembled by the stackers 8a, 8b, 8c. The insertion line and the feeders 4, 5 are controlled by a Einsteckmaschinensteuerung 2 via bidirectional communication lines 13 and 12 respectively. The Einsteckmaschinensteuerung 2 is in turn connected to the central control unit 1 via the bidirectional line 11. The central control unit 1 further monitors the stackers 8a, 8b, 8c and communicates with them via a bidirectional line 14.

FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively. Fig. 2a and 3a show a preferred embodiment of the transport path of the insertion line in the loading with a straight or combined with an odd and even number of printed products 6. For this purpose, for a better understanding of how the bags 7 are loaded, on the Fig. 2a and 3a pointed. The transport route is designed here as a pocket conveyor with pockets 7 for the printed products 6. The products 6 of the first investor 4 are shown with a solid line and the products 6a, 6b of the second investor 5 with a dotted line.

In case of Fig. 2 respectively. Fig. 2a At each stroke of each feeder 4, 5 a printed product 6 is delivered to each pocket 7 of the pocket conveyor, so that in such a case only double products are transported to the packaging machine 8.

In Fig. 3 respectively. Fig. 3a the case is shown in which individual products and double products are formed by for individual products a feeder 4, 5 delivers no product 6 to the pocket conveyor during a cycle, while at the bars of the subsequent sequence then double products for each pocket 7 are again delivered. It should be noted that the loading of a bag 7 can be provided with a single printed product 6 to form a package with an odd number of printed products 6 during the respective sequence arbitrarily, so can the loading of this bag 7 at the beginning, intermediately or at the end provide the respective sequence.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 respectively. Fig. 2a and Fig. 3a are schematically shown gripper 10 which displays the contents of the pockets 7 for further transport to the packaging machine 8 over the route 15 Fig. 1 take.

Preferably, the control acting on the sequence when dispensing printed products 6 is initially triggered by the central control unit 1 on the basis of forwarding data with regard to the packages 9a, 9b, 9c to be produced. This means that the central control unit 1, an optimal package compilation resp. Packet composition determined on the basis of forwarding data and accordingly configured the investors 4, 5 for the optimal delivery of the printed products 6.

The optimum package composition is achieved in that necessary packages with an odd number of printed products 6 can be formed at any time. If required, the production of odd-numbered or even-numbered product packages 9a, 9b, 9c is switched dynamically at any time during production.

In the present example, each of a feeder 4, 5 a main product HP and an insert IS delivered to one and the same pocket 7 of the conveyor 3. Thus, a product 6a of the first investor 4 contains a main product HP and an inlay IS and a product 6b of the second investor 5 a main product HP and an inlay IS.

With regard to the formation of the packages, the focus in the following is not primarily on the deposit IS, but the main products HP should be focused here.

The contents of the pockets 7 are delivered to the first crosslapper 8a to form even numbered printed product packages 6a. If packages 9b, 9c with an odd number of printed products 6 are to be formed during production, the central control unit 1 gives corresponding commands to the investors 4, 5. In the present case, for example, in the second stacker 8b the packages 9b are to be provided with two products 6b each second investor 5 and a product 6a of the first investor 4 are formed. For this purpose, e.g. the first feeder 4 is instructed not to deliver a product 6a for one cycle while the second feeder 5 is instructed to deliver a product 6b. In the next cycle, each feeder 4, 5 then regularly delivers its printed product to a subsequent pocket 7.

These two clocks are stored so that on arrival of the pockets 7 corresponding to these clocks, the central control unit 1 has predefined in the packaging area when this sequence of products 6a, 6b has to be delivered to the second stacker 8b. This creates the package 9b. Analogously, the package 9c is produced in the third crosslapper 8c. The order of filling of the packages in the respective cross-lays 8a, 8b, 8c may vary.

The strength of this system is the fact that one package does not have to be completely formed before another package is stacked. Especially when troubleshooting this procedure proves to be highly efficient, because so that the production flow is not unnecessarily delayed or even interrupted.

For example, two packages with an even number of printed products 6 can be formed one after the other here, but these are stored in another stacker. Examples of different sequences are shown in the side view C of the conveyor.

When delivering a faulty printed product 6 by a feeder 4, 5 this is discharged immediately after detection of the error. This then immediately the troubleshooting comes into action, which ensures that this eliminated print product 6 can be brought directly. However, the production flow is therefore not interrupted, however, a subsequent delivery is initiated by the central controller 1, which is directed to the missing print product 6, this print product is then removed from the appropriate competent cross-stacker.

In itself, the error correction could be carried out in an incomplete leading sequence by printed products 6 from an immediately following sequence, wherein the central control unit 1 then intervenes to a neutralizing compensation on the immediately following sequences. This is possible even if the precipitated printed product 6 was intended to form a package with an odd number of printed products 6.

This procedure can also be used if the incomplete sequence provided for a particular package is due to an incorrect delivery of a printed product 6 from a feeder 4 or 5.

If then the error correction can not be accomplished directly by using printed products 6 of the following sequence, then command is sent to the corresponding cross-stacker to temporarily leave the incomplete package until the post-production arrives there and can be filed. In general, however, this intermediary deposition in the crosslapper is only at an extreme extensive and time-consuming troubleshooting, because in most cases an error detection can be remedied by immediate replacement from the subsequent sequence in the production flow.

If the error message then occurs at the beginning of a sequence, this can be extended at the end by the number of print products 6 required for the error correction, without the next sequence being affected in any way.

In the described embodiments of the invention, the process of delivery of products or the formation of packages is not limited to the examples described, but within the scope of the claimed features of the invention, a variety of different types of sequences are possible.

Claims (7)

Method for forming packages of individual printed products (6, HP, IS), wherein the printed products (6, HP, IS) are continuously delivered to a conveying means (3) via at least one feeder (4, 5) and subsequently to at least one crosslayer ( 8a, 8b, 8c) in which the individual packages (9a, 9b, 9c) are formed with a number of printed products (6), characterized in that to form a package with an even number of printed products with the investors ( 4, 5) operatively connected pockets (7) are continuously loaded by two printed products at a time until the package or packages are formed numerically, and that a bag (Fig. 4) is formed to form a preceding, subsequent or later package having an odd number of printed products (Fig. 7) is loaded with a single printed product in association with the double-occupied pockets (7) predetermined for the formation of the package. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that on a separation of faulty printed products before packet formation, a packet-related error correction takes place, in which a controlled immediate Nachbringung the number of excreted printed products on the use of a corresponding number of printed products from the production flow of the subsequent sequence. A method according to claim 2, characterized in that the separation of defective printed products in the production flow downstream of the feeder (4, 5) and upstream of the at least one cross-lapping (8a, 8b, 8c) takes place. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that an error correction due to an incomplete delivery of printed products from at least one feeder (4, 5) by a controlled immediate Nachbringung the number of missing printed products on the use of a corresponding number of printed products from the production flow of the following sequence he follows. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that a troubleshooting due to an elimination of defective printed products or due to incomplete delivery of printed products from at least one feeder (4, 5) by a controlled immediate Nachbringung the number of missing printed products on a product-related extension of the error affected sequence takes place. A method according to claim 1, characterized in that an error correction due to a separation of defective printed products or due to incomplete delivery of printed products from at least one feeder (4, 5) by an intermediate deposition of the incomplete package in a cross-stacker (8a, 8b, 8c ) he follows. Method according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the individual printed products are loaded at the appropriate place within the production flow with inserts (IS).

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