EP2632835B1 - Method for controlling a cutter, and paper handling system - Google Patents

Description

Embodiments of the invention relate to the field of paper handling, such as the production of single sheets and the merging thereof into groups for inserting them into one or more envelopes for shipping. In particular, embodiments relate to controlling a cutter to cut a printed paper web to produce a plurality of cut sheets for processing in such a paper handling equipment. Embodiments of the invention thus relate to the processing of a web-shaped, printed material which is divided into sheets, wherein the sheets may be printed with individual data.

In the area of production of format papers, such as A4, A3, 8.5 x 11, but also in the production of large format sheets for offset printing, crosscutters with rotating knives are generally used today: this is necessary because the paper web should be moved continuously and cut in the movement. Rotary knives are considered as cutters, in which case rotary knives consisting of an upper rotating knife and a lower, stationary knife or also rotary cutters with two rotating knives are known. Furthermore, rotary cutters with multiple knives or blades are also used. The process following the cutting process must be designed for continuous operation in these separation principles. The advantage of this known approach is that can be driven at a very high speed and thus produces a very high throughput. A disadvantage of these known approaches, however, is that it is not possible to react to events that require a stop and a restart between two cuts, such as a fault in a subsequent process in a continuous moving web. Known tailors need some time until they are braked due to the mass of rotary knives used. This creates a high proportion of waste in the material to be cut. In addition, there are usually no buffers and memory in the area of the format cutter machine, which can accommodate the paper of the trailing paper roll when the main engine stops abruptly. This also results in a run-on of the entire system.

Fig. 1 shows a graph, which in a continuously moving material web, z. B. when cutting blank format papers, the speed over time as well as the cutting times or times for cross-cutting the web represents. As can be seen, in this conventional approach, the speed remains constant over time due to the rotating blade, and the cuts are made at a constant interval.

In the field of inserting, for example, printed paper webs, which are fed in the form of one or more rolls of a system, cut into individual letterhead and assembled according to the individual printed data to groups of sheets for a customer, folded, possibly provided with a supplement and then in filled an envelope.

In the inserting field, it is crucial that the process can be stopped at all times without damaging the goods. In addition, the position of the goods must be known so that the data of the goods can be correctly assigned. In the area of inserting, cutters are currently used which work in start / stop mode. Here, a Guillotinenmesser (lifting knife) is preferably used, but also corresponding circular blade. Lifting knives comprise either one or two knife edges, whereby a stationary lifting knife or guillotine knife can cut only when the web is stationary. Therefore, the web is advanced clocked and stopped for each section, this approach was due to the fact that the further processing usually runs clocked or contains clocked processes. The advantage of this approach is that, with a non-continuous web, events in the downstream processing equipment can be readily addressed, particularly events requiring stopping and restarting between two cuts, e.g. B. Disturbances in a subsequent process or different long follow-up process working hours, such as occur when a plurality of individual sheets different sized groups of sheets are put together and then the finished group collected for further processing, for example, from the collection station to a subsequent station, such as Inserter or an upstream folder or a planned gathering track should be made. A major disadvantage of this known approach, however, is that due to the clocked transport only a small power compared to achievable by a continuous transport performance is achievable. Another drawback is seen in the constant loading of the paper web, in which the constant start / stop movement introduces a high degree of stress and tension into the paper web, which can lead to web breaks, which further reduces the performance and throughput.

Fig. 2 shows a graphical representation of a clocked running web, as used in today known insertion machines. As can be seen, the speed profile of the material web is such that, starting from time 0, the paper web is accelerated to the desired speed. Shortly before the cut, the speed is decelerated until the paper web stops so that the cut is made when the web is stationary. This pattern is repeated over time, namely following the cut, an acceleration of the web to the desired speed, and before the next cut, the deceleration of the paper web to a standstill to again perform the cut.

One approach to optimizing cycle times in a tailor operating in start / stop operation is, for example, in DE 38 34 979 A described.

The EP 1 123 797 A1 describes a machine for producing containers, eg bags, by sewing together material which is provided in the form of two material webs. The sewn-together webs are moved by a cutting blade which moves during cutting at the same speed as the sewn-together webs.

Starting from this prior art, the present invention has for its object to provide a method for cutting paper webs and a paper handling system, which increases the throughput and the performance in the processing of a paper web to produce single sheets for subsequent processing, while reducing the load on the paper web and the cutter.

This object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and by a paper handling system according to claim 16.

Embodiments of the invention provide a computer program product having a computer program stored on a machine-readable medium for carrying out the method according to embodiments of the invention when the computer program is executed on a computer or by a controller, eg a controller of a paper handling system ,

Embodiments of the invention thus make it possible to react flexibly to the processing (in particular a change of conditions during processing) of the sheets. Likewise, it is possible to react to disruptions in the subsequent processes in such a timely manner that a waste is reduced or even avoided. Embodiments of the invention effect the adjustment of both the web speed and the cutter speed. Other embodiments of the invention effect adjustment of either web speed or cutter speed. According to embodiments of the invention, the first information is obtained from the printed paper web and from the job description. In other embodiments of the invention, the first information is obtained from the printed paper web or from the job description.

According to embodiments of the invention, the paper handling equipment specific information is obtained from the paper handling equipment (feedback), e.g. via sensors or similar. Alternatively, the paper handling facility specific information is pre-determined e.g. calculated and provided based on the job description of a job and / or the configuration of the paper handling system. According to other embodiments of the invention, the paper handling equipment-specific information is partially obtained from the paper handling equipment and partially pre-calculated based e.g. on the job description of a job and / or the configuration of the paper handling facility and provided.

According to embodiments of the invention, the cutter speed is defined by the speed at which the cutting elements of the cutter are moved, e.g. a speed at which a rotary knife rotates.

Embodiments of the invention thus combine the advantages of the methods described above, as known in the art, by continuous cutting of the paper web, as long as it is reasonable and necessary. The sheets are cut while the web is running, but this process can be stopped at any time, so that the advantage of the clocked process is maintained. Likewise, but also by targeted slowing down the web and the corresponding Controlling the cutter are generated a longer time between two sections, so that can be reacted to known longer process steps or disturbances in the subsequent processing in advance. The embodiments of the invention offer advantages in terms of the achievable speed in the processing of the paper web, since it is now possible to work at a higher speed, at the same time widening the range of use of the cutter. Furthermore, it is also possible to operate in continuous operation at the same throughput as in the start / stop mode, but at a lower speed, so that a load on the paper web, eg stresses in the web, and the cutter is reduced.

Embodiments of the invention provide a method as explained above, wherein it is provided that the web speed and the cutter speed are adjusted such that the web speed and the cutter speed already assumed the desired, set speeds before cutting, ie before the time for cross-cutting have, so are no longer in the acceleration phase, but are already on the transport speed for the web and the necessary cutting speed for the desired cross-cutting. Likewise, it may be provided according to embodiments to set the web speed and the cutter speed according to a predetermined profile. For example, for certain times for cross cutting, which are known in advance or for distances between successive times for cross cutting, for example, speeds stored in tables can be selected for the web and for the cutter. Likewise, a specific profile can be predefined depending on the job to be processed, Job. If it is known from the job or from the job description provided to the plant for processing that groups of a first size are available for a first time period and groups of a different size for a further period of time and groups of a different size for a further subsequent time period to be generated, it may be provided a corresponding profile that changes after the first section to a second profile and then to the third profile to set the desired times for cross-cutting.

According to embodiments of the invention, the respective intersection point for the plurality of single sheets to be produced for an order is determined in advance, such that subsequent to this determination of a cutting time or the time for the transverse cutting for the at least one single sheet of the cutting time or the time for the Cross-cutting is determined for at least one further single sheet and provided for the at least one further single sheet values for adjusting the web speed and the cutter speed, for example to be retrieved after generating the at least one cut sheet to set the plant to the next time for cross-cutting.

According to exemplary embodiments, in the case of the predictive cutting, first a first time duration between two successive sections is defined. For the processing of at least one single sheet after cutting, a second period of time is then determined which, for example, indicates how long the processing of the at least one single sheet takes either in the entire handling plant or in individual modules thereof, for which information from both the paper web / the job description as well as information from the paper processing plant are used. If it now appears that the second period of time exceeds the first time duration, the cutter speed and the web speed are acted upon in order to set them so that the first time duration is greater than or equal to the second time duration. According to this embodiment, it is ensured that the time period required for a process step within the plant is greater than the time between two cuts, so that in case of an error or a delay in the processing of a sheet within the plant, the speed of the cutter can be reacted and the paper web is adjusted, for. B. is reduced to compensate for the longer processing of at least one single sheet without the cutter must be stopped. Optionally, the cutter can also be stopped.

• die durch Papierhandhabungsanlage zu verarbeitenden Einzelblätter, und/oder
• die Art der Verarbeitung der Einzelblätter in der Papierhandhabungsanlage, und/oder
• eine Kapazität der Papierhandhabungsanlage für die Verarbeitung der Einzelblätter.

According to exemplary embodiments, the first information and the second paper handling system-specific information comprise the following parameters:

• the paper sheets to be processed by single sheets, and / or
• the nature of the processing of the cut sheets in the paper handling system, and / or
• a capacity of paper handling equipment for processing single sheets.

The parameters relating to the type of processing of the individual sheets in the paper handling system can include a size of the groups to which the singled individual sheets are combined, and / or an association of a plurality of cut individual sheets to form a group and / or an end of a group. The parameters relating to the individual sheets to be processed by the paper handling installation may include physical properties of the paper web or of the at least one single sheet. Parameters relating to the capacity of the paper handling equipment may be a number of those determined by the Paper handling system or by a module of the same simultaneously processable single sheets and / or a speed with which the system or a module of the system can process the individual sheets include.

According to exemplary embodiments of the invention, the paper web can be printed with multiple uses, wherein the paper web for producing the single sheets is preferably cut before the transverse cutting along the conveying direction. Adjusting the web speed and cutter speed may also include stopping the paper web and stopping the cutter. Alternatively, a longitudinal cut may also be made earlier, thereby creating two parallel webs that are superimposed and cut together transversely.

The cutter can be a rotary cutter with one or more knives or a laser cutter. Furthermore, any desired cutters can be used which enable a cross-cutting of a paper web during its transport (continuous cutters).

The paper handling equipment or module thereof may include an inserter, a folder, a collection station, and / or other known paper handling stations or modules, the second paper handling facility specific information also including a maximum number of sheets that can be processed simultaneously.

According to embodiments of the invention, the cutting time for the cross-cutting of the paper web is further determined based on third information indicative of a disturbance or disturbance event in the paper handling equipment or in a module of the paper handling equipment.

Further embodiments are defined in the subclaims.

Fig. 1

einen Graphen, der bei einer kontinuierlich laufenden Materialbahn, z. B. beim Zuschnitt von Blankoformatpapieren, die Geschwindigkeit über der Zeit sowie die Zeitpunkte zum Querschneiden darstellt;

Fig. 2

einen Graphen, der bei einer getaktet laufenden Materialbahn die Geschwindigkeit über der Zeit sowie die Zeitpunkte zum Querschneiden darstellt;

Fig. 3

verschiedene Ausführungsbeispiele der Erfindung;

Fig. 4(a)

ein Geschwindigkeitsprofil der Papierbahn, wie es gemäß Ausführungsbeispielen der vorliegenden Erfindung erreicht wird;

Fig. 4(b)

einen Verlauf der Geschwindigkeit der Papierbahn gemäß Ausführungsbeispielen der Erfindung ähnlich zu Fig. 4(a), wobei jedoch hier die Papierbahn zwischen zwei Schnitten vollständig angehalten wird;

Fig. 5

ein Geschwindigkeitsprofil für den Schneider, wie es gemäß Ausführungsbeispielen der vorliegenden Erfindung erreicht wird;

Fig. 6

einen Verlauf der Geschwindigkeit für den Schneider gemäß Ausführungsbeispielen der Erfindung ähnlich zu Fig. 4(a), wobei jedoch hier der Schneider zwischen zwei Schnitten vollständig angehalten wird;

Fig. 7

ein Ausführungsbeispiel des Verfahrens zum Steuern eines Schneiders;

Fig. 8

ein Beispiel für die Bestimmung eines Zeitpunkts zum Querschneiden gemäß Ausführungsbeispielen der vorliegenden Erfindung;

Fig. 9

eine schematische Darstellung einer Papierhandhabungsanlage gemäß Ausführungsbeispielen der Erfindung; und

Fig. 10

eine schematische Darstellung einer Papierhandhabungsanlage gemäß einem weiteren Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung, bei der die Steuerung in dem Schneider angeordnet ist; und

Fig. 11

eine schematische Darstellung einer weitern Papierhandhabungsanlage gemäß wiederum einem anderen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

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

Fig. 1

a graph that in a continuous material web, z. B. when cutting blank format papers, the speed over time and the times for cross-cutting represents;

Fig. 2

a graph showing the velocity over time and the times for cross-cutting in a clocked material web;

Fig. 3

various embodiments of the invention;

Fig. 4 (a)

a speed profile of the paper web as achieved in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 4 (b)

a course of the speed of the paper web according to embodiments of the invention similar to Fig. 4 (a) but here the web is completely stopped between two cuts;

Fig. 5

a speed profile for the cutter as achieved in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 6

a course of the speed for the cutter according to embodiments of the invention similar to Fig. 4 (a) but here the cutter is completely stopped between two cuts;

Fig. 7

an embodiment of the method for controlling a cutter;

Fig. 8

an example of determining a time for cross cutting according to embodiments of the present invention;

Fig. 9

a schematic representation of a paper handling system according to embodiments of the invention; and

Fig. 10

a schematic representation of a paper handling system according to another embodiment of the invention, wherein the controller is arranged in the cutter; and

Fig. 11

a schematic representation of another paper handling system according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

Based on 3 (a) to (d) Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail below. Fig. 3 (a) shows a schematic representation of a portion of a paper handling system that serves, from a printed or unprinted paper web 300 to generate a plurality of individual sheets 304. The paper handling system includes a paper supply 400 that provides the paper web 300. At the in Fig. 3 (a) In the embodiment shown, the paper web 300 is provided in the form of a paper roll which is provided by the paper supply 400. The paper supply 400 includes a unwinding device that includes a motor 402 for moving the paper roll 404 at a predetermined speed to provide a predetermined length of the paper web 300 within a predetermined period of time. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to providing the paper web 300 in the form of a roll 404, but that the paper web may be provided by other suitable means.

The paper handling apparatus further includes a cutter 406, preferably a rotary cutter, which cuts the paper web 300 into the cut sheets 304 as it moves. The cutter 406 is driven by a motor 408. Between the paper supply 400 and the cutter 406, a decoupling device 410 is provided, which serves to decouple the paper web 300. The decoupler 410 is configured to form a loop 412 such that a predetermined length of the paper web 300 is received between the paper supply and the cutter 406 in the loop 412, thereby decoupling the portion 300a of the paper web 300 between the decoupler 410 and the decoupler 410 Cutter 406 and the part 300b of the paper web 300 between the paper supply 400 and the decoupler 410 is effected.

The apparatus further includes a feed drive 414, which in the example shown comprises a pair of rollers 418 driven by the motor 416. The feed drive 414 is disposed between the decoupling device 410 and the cutter 406 and serves to drive the paper web 300 in the region between the decoupler 410 and the cutter 406 to feed them to the cutter 406 at a high web speed, however, the feed drive is provided in order to allow a controlled stopping of the paper web, more precisely the portion 300a thereof, which is arranged between the decoupler 410 and the cutter 406, within a cutting cycle, ie between two immediately successive cuts of the cutter 406.

The Fig. 3 (a) 10 thus shows a paper handling apparatus according to embodiments of the invention which serves to cut the paper web 300 during movement thereof so as to produce a plurality of single sheets 304 for processing. The paper web 300 is driven at a high web speed, with a high web speed in connection with the subject of the present application is to be understood that this speed is greater than 1 m / s, with a maximum speed, for example, is above 10 m / s. High web speed is desired to achieve a predetermined number of cuts per hour, for example, of at least 12,000 cuts per hour for the production of A4 size sheets. With the same high web speed of 1 m / s or more, smaller cuts can produce more cuts per hour or, with larger formats, fewer cuts per hour.

The cutter 406 is driven by the motor 408 to cut the moving paper web 300 into the cut sheets 304, and according to preferred embodiments, due to the provision of the decoupler 410 and the drive 414, the paper web may be stopped between successive cuts, for example in case of failure in processing the cut sheets in a subsequent station.

In Fig. 3 (a) Furthermore, a device 420 is shown, which is provided between the paper supply 400 and the decoupler 410 and serves to keep the paper web 300 between the paper supply 400 and the decoupler 410 taut, for which purpose a so-called dancer roll 422 is provided. The means 420 thus causes the paper web 300 between the paper supply 400 and the decoupler 410 is stretched, using the dancer roller 422 and the pulleys 424 and 428, but this does not cause decoupling, since the dancer roller 422 is provided, the voltage in the paper web 300 to maintain, whereas via the decoupler 410 and the paper buffer, a decoupling takes place so that the paper web in the loop 412 is not tensioned.

The distance between the decoupling device 410 and the drive 414 is preferably chosen to be as small as possible in order to minimize the mass of the section of the paper web 300 to be moved by the drive 414, thereby enabling rapid stopping between successive cuts.

According to the basis of the Fig. 3 (a) described embodiment, thus the above-described, encountered in known approaches problems are prevented. According to the invention, an approach is provided which increases the throughput when cutting and at the same time enables the required stopping of a paper web. Thus, the advantages of a start / stop cutter (avoiding an unwanted cut) and a continuous cutter (high throughput) are combined - while avoiding them Disadvantage. Instead of the conventional start / stop cutter is now a continuous cutter, z. As a rotary cutter used, so that the paper web can be cut during transport, so without stopping the same. This achieves an increased throughput, compared to the start / stop approach, because of the ability to operate at a high web speed, resulting in a desired number of cut sheets in a predetermined period of time. In order to realize the desired possibility in the inserting area, to be able to stop the cutting process at any time without damaging the goods, ie the paper web or the single sheet, the plant is configured so that the paper web can be stopped in a controlled manner within a cutting cycle , According to embodiments, the controlled stop is made possible by the feed drive and / or the decoupling device. The controlled stopping is possible in such embodiments by the decoupling, since only the part 300a of the low mass and inertia track has to be stopped, the remaining higher mass / inertia part 300b is stopped / stopped more slowly, one part the paper web in the decoupling device (eg by increasing the loop) is recorded.

Known, continuously operating cutters allow the paper web to be stopped by retracting an element (e.g., a rake) into the transport path in front of the cutting element, which, while preventing the cut, simultaneously causes the paper web to be compressed and possibly damaged in front of the element. In this case, e.g. Significant user intervention is required to return the uncontrolled stopped web to a condition that allows further cutting. This leads to an undesirable decrease in throughput and increases the waste. In contrast, there is a further advantage of the invention is that the paper web is stopped in a controlled manner, so that immediately after stopping a startup of the system is possible again, according to embodiments, no user intervention is required. The plant may e.g. immediately after the fault has been remedied in a subsequent processing station which resulted in stopping (see below), restarted or after a short period of time, e.g. within one, two or more cutting cycles.

According to the illustrated embodiment, the decoupler 410 is disposed in front of the cutter 406 to receive a portion of the paper web in the form of the loop 412. In this way, the portion of the paper web 300a to be conveyed to the cutter is decoupled from the part of the paper web 300b provided to the decoupler 410 so that, in the case of stopping the cutter, only the portion of the paper web located between the decoupling device and the cutter Conveying elements 418 of the drive 414 must be stopped, this part, compared with the total length of the moving paper web has a lower mass, whereby the stop is enabled within a cutting cycle. The section 300a of the paper web 300 is advanced between successive cutting times or within a cutting cycle in the direction of the cutter 406, wherein the paper web 300 and the section 300a can be stopped as long as the feed has not exceeded a predetermined threshold.

As mentioned, the inventive approach combines the advantages of continuous cutters and start / stop cutters by using a decoupler 410 in a continuous cutter. Such decoupling devices are previously known only in connection with start / stop dressers, see, for. B. the DE 10011006 A1 , By using these decoupling devices previously used only in start / stop cutters now also in continuous cutters, it is possible to avoid the above-mentioned disadvantages of a continuous cutter with regard to the stopping of the paper web.

Continuous cutters, as known in the art, for example, work with a paper web that is always taut. The web tension is z. B. on the above-mentioned dancer rolls and pulleys, but this will not take place decoupling. Thus, in conventional, continuous dressers, a feed drive pulls the web from the roll to the cutting element, so that a high mass must be moved with a high inertia, so that no secure stopping within a cutting cycle is made possible. An example of a continuous cutter that moves the entire paper web from the roll to the cutting element is shown in FIG EP 0771623 B1 described. Here, the web, as mentioned, is not decoupled in the feeder, ie the web is constantly under tension and the entire mass of the web is to move. In fact, in such continuous cutters, it is generally desirable to keep the web under tension to achieve the required cutting accuracy. For systems that travel at different speeds, these speed differences can be compensated by the dancer roles mentioned above. A decoupling is not provided in continuously working cutters.

By the approach described above, the cutting throughput is increased due to the continuous cutting process, the timely stopping of the paper web within one cycle (between two immediately successive cuts) is enabled by the above-described configuration of the arrangement, so that an undesirable wastage is avoided or at least can be significantly reduced.

Based on Fig. 3 (b) A further embodiment of the present invention will be explained, which is similar to that in FIG Fig. 3 (a) shown embodiment. Unlike in Fig. 3 (a) the decoupling device 410 is here designed to form a first, large loop 412 and subsequently, ie between the loop 412 and the cutter 406, a further, smaller loop 430. The feed drive 414 comprises in the embodiment shown two pairs of rollers, namely already based on Fig. 3 (a) mentioned roller pair 418 and the second loop 430 following pair of rollers 432. The basis of the Fig. 3 (b) embodiment shown thus allows even better decoupling of the web sections 300a and 300b and thus an even more reliable stopping between successive cuts.

Fig. 3 (c) shows another embodiment, which is similar to that in Fig. 3 (a) is, but the distance between the decoupler 410 and the device 420 is greater. Otherwise, the functionality of in Fig. 3 (c) shown arrangement of those Fig. 3 (a) ,

Fig. 3 (d) again shows another example of the configuration of the arrangement, which is similar to Fig. 3 (b) is, but without the big loop, but only with the smaller loop 430.

In the case of the 3 (a) to 3 (d) described embodiments, the paper web 300 may be printed. In such a case, it may further be provided to determine the cutting time for the cross-cutting before cutting the printed paper web 300. This is done according to embodiments that will be described in more detail below based on first information obtained from the printed paper web 300 and / or job description and based on second paper handling facility specific information. The web speed and / or the cutter speed is adjusted so that the paper web 300 for the production of the at least one predetermined single sheet 304, 306 is cut at the specific cutting time. Further, the stopping of the paper web 300 may be controlled depending on the read first information from the printed paper web 300 and second paper handling equipment specific information. Examples of the first information from the printed paper web 300 and the second paper handling facility specific information will be explained below.

Hereinafter, further embodiments of the invention will be explained. The Fig. 4 (a) shows a velocity profile, as in accordance with embodiments of the present Invention is achieved. Over time, the course of the speed of the web can be seen. How out Fig. 4 (a) can be seen, the sections are no longer spaced in a fixed grid time, but the distance varies. Subsequent to a first cut at time t1 is detected, for. Based on information from the job description and based on signals from the downstream paper handling equipment, eg based on paper handling equipment specific information or signals, that the processing of the sheet which has just been cut takes longer. Thus, the cutting time for the next sheet is redetermined, and this cutting time is achievable by reducing the speed for a period between t1 and t2 and from t2 to the next time for cutting t3 increases. As can be seen, the speed of the material web has already reached the desired speed shortly before the time t3, so that it is present at the time of the cut. The following three sections are equally spaced at times t4, t5 and t6. After the cut at time t6, it is again found that a longer interval is required until the next time for transverse cutting, so that the material web is decelerated again (see t7). Although based on the Fig. 4 (a) an example was described in which only the material web speed is changed, it is pointed out that additionally or alternatively only the rotational speed of the rotary cutter can be changed, so that in conjunction with the changing web speed and the changing cutting speed, a corresponding slowing down of the cutting process can be brought about.

Compared to the prior art, the performance of a cutter arranged in an input channel of a paper handling system can be increased by using a circular blade for the cut, which cuts at the moving material web. The goal is to let the web run continuously between two cuts, shortening the time between cuts, resulting in higher performance. This is, for example, between times t3 and t6 in FIG Fig. 4 (a) he wishes. A typical situation in which this occurs is the gathering of many sheets into a larger group, since the collection station can still pick up sheets in close order. If now the end of the group is recognized, for example at the time t6 in Fig. 4 (a) , the web can be stopped or slowed down, so that enough time has elapsed before the next cut at t7, which is again on running web, so that the collection station can change the group or provide an empty collection tray to accommodate a new group.

Fig. 4 (b) FIG. 12 similarly shows a course of the speed according to embodiments of the invention Fig. 4 (a) Here, however, the web between two cuts, namely between the cuts at time t1 and t3 and between (see time t7) the cuts at time t6 and t8 is completely stopped, but for the subsequent step at time t3 or t8 again the required speed for the cut has reached.

It should be noted that depending on the conditions, for example, depending on the availability of the system and the job description, the control according to the invention can also be switched so that it can be switched between the continuous operation and the start / stop operation of the cutter. This can be done, for example, depending on a format length of the individual sheets to be created or depending on instructions in the job description. Furthermore, it can be provided to set the predetermined cutter speed between the cutting times in continuous operation, depending on the format to be produced. More specifically, for a shorter format of at least one single sheet to be produced, the cutter speed can be increased independently of the web speed or reduced for a longer format. The FIGS. 5 and 6 show, similar to the Figs. 4 (a) and 4 (b) , a speed profile, but for the tailor, as it is used according to embodiments for various formats. In Fig. 5 between the cuts at the times t ₁ and t _3, the cutting speed, eg the rotational speed of a rotary knife, is reduced, so that the time between t ₁ and t _{3 is} greater than between the subsequent cuts. As a result, a sheet is produced at t ₃ , which has a larger format, for example, is longer than a sheet is cut at t ₄ . Alternatively, the cutter speed between two cuts can also be increased (in Fig. 5 not shown), for example, to cut a shorter format. In Fig. 6 It is shown that the cutter can also be stopped, for example, if the reduction in speed is not sufficient to produce the desired format length.

As mentioned, the start / stop operation can be selected due to the format size, for example, in a paper of four inches in length, the acceleration distance may be too small because the sheet-to-sheet distance is too short, considering the slanting installation of the knife opposite the format length. So it can be provided in short formats to work in start / stop mode. The start / stop operation may be desirable if, for example, a so-called strip cut is to take place in which narrow transverse strips are cut out of the paper web between successive individual sheets.

Based on Fig. 7 An embodiment of the method for controlling a cutter will be explained in more detail below. The starting point is step 100, according to which the paper feed runs at a speed v _P and the cutter at a speed v _S. In step 102, information is collected from the paper web and / or the job description. In step 104, information is collected from the paper handling facility. It should be noted that steps 102 and 104 may also be performed in a common step or in reverse order. Preferably, the information collected is parameters indicating the cut sheets to be processed by the paper handling equipment and / or indicating the nature of the processing of the cut sheets in the paper handling equipment and / or describing the capacity of the paper handling equipment for processing the cut sheets , By way of example, the size of the groups to be processed, that is to say the number of single sheets to be combined into a group, can be recorded and / or a membership of a plurality of individual sheets in a group and / or an end of a group. Likewise, physical properties of the paper web to be processed or of the at least one single sheet can be detected, for example the type of paper, in particular its weight, its surface roughness and the like, these parameters having an influence on the processing of the at least one individual sheet after cutting. Likewise, the paper handling equipment can indicate how many single sheets can be processed simultaneously by the same or by a module thereof and / or at what speed. For example, it can be specified how many sheets can be picked up at most within a collecting station and extended together, which in turn can be caused by downstream modules, for example by the maximum number of individual sheets, which can simultaneously process a folding unit.

Once this information is present, according to embodiments of the invention, based on the acquired information, a time of cross-cutting is determined for at least one cut sheet to be produced in step 106, and in step 108, the speeds v _P and v _S are set so that the paper web already having the information for the single sheets is printed, is cut at the desired or specific time for cross-cutting. Subsequently, the process is repeated to realize a continuous, predictive cutting process.

Fig. 8 shows an example of the determination of a time for cross cutting, wherein according to the embodiment shown in step 120, first a first time period t1 is determined, which lies between two consecutive sections. Then, based on the above-mentioned information, it is estimated how long processing takes at least one cut cut sheet by the paper handling equipment or at least a part thereof, and this time period is determined as time period t2 in step 122. Subsequently, in step 124, a comparison of t1 and t2 is made. If it results in step 126 that the second time duration is greater than the first time duration, then in step 128 the cutter speed v _S and / or the path speed v _{P are} reduced. Otherwise, if it is determined that the time t2 is smaller than the time t1, then in step 130, increasing the speeds. The process then returns to step 120. If the time duration t2 is equal to the time duration t1, preferably no change in the speeds takes place.

The Fig. 9 shows a schematic representation of a paper handling system according to embodiments of the invention. The system comprises a paper web feed 200, which is followed by a cutter 202, for example a rotary cutter or a laser cutter. The cutter 202 separates the paper web fed by the apparatus 200 into individual sheets, which are then discharged to a collecting station 204. If the paper web is printed with multiple utility, then the cutter 202 also comprises a cross cutter and the collecting station 204 comprises a merger which places the two sheets resting parallel to the exit of the cutter 202 in a superimposed arrangement and places them in a collecting compartment of the collecting station. The gathering station may be followed by a gathering path 206 which serves to append supplements to the collected group which is being deployed from the collecting station 204. An inserter 208 then joins to insert the groups into corresponding envelopes. As in Fig. 9 The arrangement further comprises a computer 210 comprising a controller 212 and a database 214. The controller is used to control the various modules of the paper handling system for a cooperation thereof, wherein Fig. 9 only the connections between control and modules relevant to the subject matter of the invention are shown. The paper web feeder 200 and the cutter 202 each include a motor M which is controlled by corresponding drive signals from the controller 216. Further, the modules 200, 204, 206 and 208 include sensors S whose sensor signals are provided to the controller such that based on information from the paper web detected by the sensor S in the paper web feeder 200 from the printed paper web and based on Information from the gathering path of the sensors in the modules 204, 206 and 208 can be used to control the motors M of the feeder 200 and the cutter 202 in order to set and maintain the desired times for cross cutting for the production of the cut sheets by the cutter 202. The computer 210 has an interface by means of which it is possible to provide a job description, ie a description of a task to be carried out with regard to the compilation of Groups etc. and the enveloping of the same to receive, with the job description is stored in the database 214. The controller accesses information from the job description as well as information from the sensors to drive the motors for a corresponding cutting of the paper web.

Fig. 10 FIG. 11 is a schematic illustration of a paper handling system according to another embodiment of the invention, in which the controller 216 is disposed in the cutter 202. The controller 216 in the cutter 202 receives data from the sensors described above, and possibly from the database 214, and generates and outputs the required drive signals for the cutter and the other components based on this data, in the manner described above.

Fig. 11 shows an embodiment of a paper handling system, wherein the paper web feed 200 serves to feed a paper web 300 of the plant, and which is printed in the embodiment shown two, ie, on the paper web 300 are each juxtaposed (in the cutting direction of the cutter 202), the data for the individual sheets 302 printed. The cutter 202 includes a cross cutter 202a that cuts the paper web 300 between two adjacent imprints before the paper web 300 reaches the cross cutter 202 that separates the cut sheets from the paper web 300, as shown by the cut sheets 304 and 306. In the merger 204a, the sheets are superimposed and then transferred together to the collection station 204b. At the in Fig. 11 In the embodiment shown, a folding unit is provided which receives and folds out groups of sheets extended from the collection station 204b from its collection compartment and outputs them to a collation web 207. In the summary path additional sheets can be added to the group. The groups of sheets are output from the gathering web 207 and an inserter 208. The control is again effected via the computer 210, in particular the control of the drive speed of the paper web 300 and of the knife 202.

In the case of the Fig. 9 . 10 and 11 described embodiments for a paper handling system is a stop or a slowdown of the paper web 300 z. B. triggered by information from the paper web 300 itself through an upstream reading (see the sensors in the device 200 in Fig. 9 . 10 and 11 ) or from the database 214, as well as based on information from the subsequent process, eg based on the paper handling facility specific information or signals. For this purpose, the cutting machine 202 is connected to the controller 216, which carries out the method according to the invention described above, so that it can be recognized what will happen or pass through in the follower components 204, 206 and 208, z. As a group end, free stops, disturbances and the like are detected. The detection is either "active" by appropriate sensors or "passive" by a calculation. The calculation is based on the first information and the second paper handling system specific information. For example, a group end in a follower component 204, 206 or 208 may be recognized by a sensor that recognizes a last good in a group, eg by reading a code applied to the good or by recognizing the good (eg an imprint or a part thereof ). As an alternative or in addition to the sensors, the end of the group can also be calculated based on the first information obtained, for example, from a job description or from the paper web, and based on the second paper handling system-specific information, which for example indicates a speed with which one Follower component 204, 206 or 208 transports the goods. The time between two cuts is then optimally adjusted by the control with respect to the respective situation. For example, the group change in the collection station 204 may take longer than the arrival of the individual sheets or individual sheets in the collection station during the collection of the group. The end of a group or the beginning of the next group is determined either in advance by reading from the paper web 300 or by receiving / reading the information from the database 214. Now, when the web 300 passes through the cutting machine z, the time between two cuts can be extended due to this information, so that a sufficiently long time is available for the subsequent process "group change" in the collecting station 204 based on this information allow safe extension from the collection tray.

Another example is the utilization of the inserter. If the group power of the input channel consisting of components 200-206 exceeds the inserter's performance, 208, then the time between two cuts must be lengthened, thereby reducing the group performance of the input channel and thus adjusting to the performance of the inserter. The information for this is in turn generated from a calculation of the cutting machine itself by reading data or information from the database are used, in particular the information group end or group start and from this the average number of groups is determined per time, which may not exceed the inserting power. The information can also come from a buffer for single sheets or a buffer for leaf groups where z. B. the degree of filling of the buffer influences the information for the tailor machine. Direct information from the inserter itself can also be used. Likewise, the information can also come from the gathering path 207.

According to embodiments, decoupling the paper web may include forming at least one loop.

According to embodiments, a predetermined length of the paper web is received in a decoupling device. The decoupling device can cause the formation of a loop.

According to embodiments, the paper web 300 can be advanced between successive cutting times in the direction of the rotary cutter 202, wherein the paper web 300 can be stopped as long as the feed of the paper web 300 has not exceeded a predetermined threshold.

According to embodiments, the paper web 300 may be printed, wherein prior to cutting the printed paper web 300 to produce at least one predetermined cut sheet 304, 306, a cutting time for the cross cutting of the paper web 300 is determined based on first information provided by the printed paper web 300 and or from a job description 214, and based on second paper handling facility specific information, and wherein the web speed and / or a cutter speed are adjusted such that the paper web 300 is cut to produce the at least one predetermined single sheet 304, 306 at the particular cut time becomes.

According to embodiments, the stopping of the paper web 300 may be controlled depending on the read first information from the printed paper web 300 and second paper handling equipment specific information.

According to embodiments, adjusting the web speed and the cutter speed may include reducing the predetermined web speed and / or the predetermined cutter speed.

• falls für ein dem zumindest einen vorbestimmten Einzelblätt folgendes Einzelblatt bestimmt wird, dass die zweite Zeitdauer für die Verarbeitung kleiner der ersten Zeitdauer ist, Erhöhen der Bahngeschwindigkeit und/oder der Schneidergeschwindigkeit.

According to embodiments, the method may include the following step:

• if, for a single sheet following the at least one predetermined single sheet, it is determined that the second time duration for processing is less than the first time duration, increasing the web speed and / or the cutter speed.

• die durch die Papierhandhabungsanlage 204-208 zu verarbeitenden Einzelblätter, und/oder
• die. Art der Verarbeitung der Einzelblätter in der Papierhandhabungsanlage, und/oder
• eine Kapazität der Papierhandhabungsanlage für die Verarbeitung der Einzelblätter,

wobei die Parameter betreffend die Art der Verarbeitung der Einzelblätter 304, 306 in der Papierhandhabungsanlage 204-208 eine Größe der Gruppen, zu denen die vereinzelten Einzelblätter 304, 306 zusammengefasst werden, und/oder eine Zugehörigkeit mehrerer geschnittener Einzelblätter zu einer Gruppe und/oder ein Ende einer Gruppe umfassen.According to exemplary embodiments, the first information and the second paper handling system-specific information may include the following parameters:

• the single sheets to be processed by the paper handling equipment 204-208, and / or
• the. Type of processing of single sheets in the paper handling system, and / or
• a capacity of the paper handling system for processing the single sheets,

wherein the parameters relating to the type of processing of the individual sheets 304, 306 in the paper handling unit 204-208, a size of the groups, to which the singled individual sheets 304, 306 are summarized, and / or a membership of several cut single sheets into a group and / or Include end of a group.

According to exemplary embodiments, the parameters relating to the individual sheets to be processed by the paper handling installation may include physical properties of the paper web 300 or of the at least one individual sheet 304, 306.

According to embodiments, the parameters relating to the capacity of the paper handling equipment 204-208 for processing the cut sheets 304, 306 may be a number of times through the paper handling equipment. 204-208 or by a module of the paper handling equipment simultaneously processable single sheets and / or a speed with which the paper handling system or a module of the paper handling system can process individual sheets include.

Although some aspects have been described in the context of a device, it will be understood that these aspects also constitute a description of the corresponding method, so that a block or a component of a device is also to be understood as a corresponding method step or as a feature of a method step. Similarly, aspects described in connection with or as a method step also represent a description of a corresponding block or detail or feature of a corresponding device.

Depending on particular implementation requirements, embodiments of the invention may be implemented in hardware or in software. The implementation may be performed using a digital storage medium, such as a floppy disk, a DVD, a Blu-ray Disc, a CD, a ROM, a PROM, an EPROM, an EEPROM or a FLASH memory, a hard disk or other magnetic or optical memory are stored on the electronically readable control signals, the can interact with a programmable computer system or cooperate so that the respective method is dui-chgeführt. Therefore, the digital storage medium can be computer readable. Thus, some embodiments according to the invention include a data carrier having electronically readable control signals capable of interacting with a programmable computer system such that one of the methods described herein is performed.

In general, embodiments of the present invention may be implemented as a computer program product having a program code, wherein the program code is operable to perform one of the methods when the computer program product runs on a computer. The program code can also be stored, for example, on a machine-readable carrier.

Other embodiments include the computer program for performing any of the methods described herein, wherein the computer program is stored on a machine-readable medium.

In other words, an embodiment of the method according to the invention is thus a computer program which has a program code for performing one of the methods described herein when the computer program runs on a computer. A further embodiment of the method according to the invention is thus a data carrier or a digital storage medium or a computer-readable medium on which the computer program is recorded for performing one of the methods described herein.

A further embodiment of the method according to the invention is thus a data stream or a sequence of signals, which represent the computer program for performing one of the methods described herein. The data stream or the sequence of signals may be configured, for example, to be transferred via a data communication connection, for example via the Internet.

Another embodiment includes a processing device, such as a computer or programmable logic device, configured to perform any of the methods described herein.

Another embodiment includes a computer on which the computer program is installed to perform one of the methods described herein.

In some embodiments, a programmable logic device such as a field programmable Gatterai _T ay, an FPGA can be used to perform some or all the described functionalities of the methods described herein. In some embodiments, a field programmable gate array may cooperate with a microprocessor to perform one of the methods described herein. In general, in some embodiments, the methods are performed by any hardware device. This may be a universal hardware such as a computer processor CPU or hardware specific to the process, such as an ASIC.

The embodiments described above are merely illustrative of the principles of the present invention. It will be understood that modifications and variations of the arrangements and details described herein will be apparent to others of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, it is intended that the invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims and not by the specific details presented in the description and explanation of the embodiments herein.

Claims (17)

1. A method for cutting a paper web (300) during movement of the same for generating a plurality of individual sheets (304, 306) for processing by a paper handling plant, comprising:

   driving the paper web (300) at a high web speed; and

   driving a rotary cutter (202) to cut the moving paper web (300) into the individual sheets (304, 306);

   characterized in that

   the paper web (300) runs continuously between two cuts; and

   in case of an event, the paper web (300) can be stopped in a controlled manner prior to the next step.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the paper web (300) is cut at successive cutting instants, wherein the interval between two immediately successive cutting instants defines a cutting cycle.
3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the paper web is decoupled between a paper supply and the rotary cutter, e.g. by at least one loop.
4. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the paper web can be restarted immediately after stopping.
5. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a feed drive for the paper web is implemented to stop the decoupled paper web within a cutting cycle in a controlled manner.
6. A method for controlling a rotary cutter (202) for cutting a printed paper web (300) during movement of the same for generating a plurality of individual sheets (304, 306) for processing by a paper handling plant, comprising:

   feeding the printed paper web (300) at a predetermined web speed;

   driving the rotary cutter (202) at a predetermined cutter speed;

   prior to cutting the printed paper web (300) for generating at least one predetermined individual sheet (304, 306), a cutting instant for cross cutting the paper web (300) is determined based on first information gathered from the printed paper web (300) and/or from a job description (214), and based on second paper handling plant specific information; and

   the web speed and/or the cutter speed are adjusted such that the paper web (300) is cut at the specific cutting instant for generating the at least one predetermined individual sheet (304, 306);

   characterized in that

   the paper web (300) and the rotary cutter (202) are stopped prior to reaching the determined cutting instant if a control signal indicates that a cut is undesired.
7. The method according to claim 6, wherein for the plurality of individual sheets (304, 306) to be generated, the respective cutting instants are determined predictively such that subsequent to the determination of the cutting instant for the at least one individual sheet, the cutting instant for at least one further individual sheet is determined, and the values determined for the at least one further individual sheet are provided for adjusting the web speed and/or the cutter speed.
8. The method according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the predetermined web speed and the predetermined cutter speed define a first time period between two successive cuts, and wherein determining the cutting instant comprises:

   determining a second time period in which the at least one predetermined individual sheet (304, 306) is processed by the paper handling plant (204-208), based on the first information and the second paper handling plant specific information;

   determining whether the second time period exceeds the first time period; and

   if the second time period exceeds the first time period, adjusting the web speed and/or the cutter speed for generating an individual sheet following the at least one predetermined individual sheet such that the first time period is longer than or equal to the second time period.
9. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 8, wherein the first information and the second paper handling plant specific information comprise the following parameters:

   the individual sheets to be processed by the paper handling plant (204-208), and/or

   the type of processing of the individual sheets in the paper handling plant, and/or

   a capacity of the paper handling plant for processing the individual sheets.
10. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 9, wherein the job description is provided by a database (214), wherein the job description comprises the parameters or second paper handling plant specific information from which the parameters can be derived, and/or wherein the paper web (300) comprises the parameters or the second paper handling plant specific information from which the parameters can be derived.
11. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 10, wherein the second paper handling plant specific information is gathered during operation of the paper handling plant for a plurality of individual sheets at different positions in the paper handling plant.
12. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 11, comprising:

    depending on one or several conditions, switching the cutter operation between continuous operation and start/stop operation.
13. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 12, wherein, during continuous operation, the predetermined cutter speed is increased, independent of the predetermined web speed, for a shorter format of at least one individual sheet to be generated or is reduced for a longer format of at least one individual sheet to be generated.
14. The method according to any one of claims 6 to 13, wherein the cutting instant for cross cutting the paper web (300) is further determined based on third information indicating a malfunction or a malfunction event in the paper handling plant or in a module of the paper handling plant.
15. A computer program product comprising a computer program stored on a machine readable carrier for performing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14, when the computer program is executed on a computer or by a control (216).
16. A paper handling plant for processing individual sheets (304, 306) in groups comprising one or several individual sheets, comprising:

    a paper web feed (200) for feeding the paper web (300) to the paper handling plant;

    a rotary cutter (202) for cross cutting the paper web (300) to generate the individual sheets (304, 306) for further processing in the paper handling plant;

    one or several processing stations (204-208) subsequent to the rotary cutter (202); and

    a control (216) that is effective to control the rotary cutter (202) corresponding to the method according to any one of claims 1 to 14.
17. The paper handling plant according to claim 16 comprising a feed drive for the paper web, wherein the feed drive is implemented to stop the paper web in a controlled manner within a cutting cycle.

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