EP2945804B1 - Device and method for automatic ink presetting - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for automatic color presetting on inking units according to claims 1 and 4.

In multicolor printing, a printing material is successively moved or conveyed through a plurality of inking units and thus printing units of a printing press, wherein a different color is usually applied in each printing unit. For autotypical se-tenant printing, the four scale colors black, magenta, cyan, and yellow, or possibly spot colors, are usually printed, with a separate inking unit for each of these colors.

For controlling or regulating the color application to the printing material, each inking unit is assigned a color metering device. The ink metering device of each inking unit comprises a plurality of ink metering elements and a lifting roller. The number of Farbdosierelemente corresponds to the number of ink zones within the inking unit. The Farbdosierelemente are designed for example as a so-called slider. Depending on the position of the slider, which may be different for each of the inking zones, a corresponding amount of ink is applied to a ductor roller of the inking unit, this amount of ink being transferred via the lifting roller from the ductor roller to a first inking roller of the inking unit.

The color design of a printed product to be printed is defined in the prepress stage, wherein area coverage values are defined for the colors to be printed and the inking units of the printing press involved in the printing. For each pixel of each color zone of each color unit, a surface coverage value is specified, so that the area coverage values of the pixels of a color zone result in a (mean) individual area coverage value per color zone.

For printing, the ink dosing elements and the squeegee rollers in each inking unit must be preset from the ink coverage values defined in the prepress stage in such a way that the first possible printed product printed with this default comes as close as possible to a prepress document.

However, all previously known methods for automatic color presetting on inking units of a printing press have in common that only printing ink-specific setting parameters are used for automatic color pre-setting. Thus, the accuracy of the known from the prior art method for automatic color preset is limited.

So is out of the DE 10 2004 011 239 A1 a method for automatic color presetting on at least one inking unit of a printing machine known. In the sense of the method, a respective ink metering device, which comprises a number of color inking units of the inking unit corresponding number of Farbdosierelementen and a squeegee roller, pre-adjusted before printing so that a printed printed matter of a pre-press template comes as close as possible to the or each inking unit, wherein for the Farbdosierelemente and or the squeegee roller of the ink metering device of the or each inking unit are determined in a first step printing ink-specific adjustment parameters, wherein for the Farbdosierelemente and / or the squeegee of the Farbdosiereinrichtung of the or each inking unit in a second step pressure machine specific adjustment parameters are determined, and wherein the default setting of the Farbdosierelemente and / or the squeegee roller of the ink metering of the or each inking unit using the determined pressure medium-specific adjustment parameters and the determined pressure-machine-specific adjustment parameters.

It is therefore proposed, on the one hand, to use pressure-medium-specific (ie, for example, ink-specific) setting parameters and, on the other hand, printing machine-specific (for example, also printing unit-specific) setting parameters for presetting the ink metering device of an inking unit of a printing press.

It depends on the quality of the color preset how many adjustments to the coloration are required to set the printed colors according to those colors on a sample sheet used as a default. The more control cycles that are required, the higher the set-up times and the amount of waste generated during the test runs.

There are different methods of color presetting. In the case of a self-learning color preset, optimized relationships between a pusher position intended for ink dosing and an associated area coverage of the color to be printed on the print original are determined on the basis of default values for each combination of printing ink, ink series and substrate category by means of a plurality of learning operations. The resulting parameters are then stored locally in the control center of the press and are available for further order processing. If necessary, the same learning processes are to be carried out on any further printing presses of the operator, since the already existing data are not available there.

On this subject more printed publications have become known.

DE 29 22 964 A1 shows a system for printing press preparation and control in which data characterize press and print product-dependent factors in order to produce the desired printed product on a printing press. Means for predetermining mechanical settings depending on input data, and means for adjusting all mechanical settings according to the predetermined set values.

DE 43 11 132 A1 shows a method for color control in a printing press, are stored in the density spectra of proofs of the inks with a given area coverage and the paper white. Density spectra of measuring points per color zone of the original and at corresponding points in the printed product are calculated as a linear combination of those weighted with the area coverage Density spectra of the proofs of the individual printing inks and paper white represented. The area coverage is calculated to approximate the density spectra optimally by linear combination. The ink feed is changed in case of deviation of the area coverage of printed product and template until an approximation of the density spectra is achieved.

The DE 100 03 797 A1 shows a representation of paper color and printing properties on the monitor. For the selection of substrates and printing inks for multi-color printing, the type of substrate and its printing properties are stored and displayed on a monitor before being printed on a computer. The color image to be printed is digitally entered and displayed on the monitor according to various printing methods and printing inks and their properties. An input keyboard can be used to select the substrate type and printing method for a simulated proof on the monitor.

The DE 102 45 702 A1 shows the adaptation of the color control to the physical properties of ink and substrate. A method for controlling the color guide in a printing machine with inking uses a computer in the physical properties of ink and / or substrates are known as data. The stored data are read into a color control model stored in the computer and the optimum settings regarding the color guidance are made before or during the printing process.

The DE 198 22 662 A1 shows an image data-oriented printing machine and a method for operating the image data-oriented printing press. In the method, basic knowledge about the interaction of operating media in the printing press is obtained through printing trials or during production, stored in an expert system and used for the printing process.

The EP 0 976 556 A1 shows a maintenance and inspection system for a printing press. A maintenance and inspection computer uses signals from the press to determine the condition of consumables, the load and the Wear of machine components reflecting quantities. From this time and extent of appropriate maintenance measures are determined.

The EP 1 466 734 A2 shows a controller for a printing press. The controller is connected to a memory in which data sets are stored with setting values of already executed print jobs. Via an input device connected to the controller, values for the presetting of the printing press for new print jobs are entered. The controller compares values of a new print job with values of already executed print jobs. Values of entered data records should be modifiable according to specifiable criteria.

Out EP 2 159 683 A1 For example, a method and a device for distributing a print job according to characteristics of the printed products is known. A method for generating a print product according to a print job uses a rule set with at least one rule. In this case, reference objects are assigned lists based on input variables and output variables. Printing is done according to the output variables corresponding printing systems. A job splitter is provided for splitting the lists of rule sets and a module for mapping the lists to print systems.

Out EP 2 147 789 A2 For example, a method of operating a web-fed printing press is known, wherein the web-fed press comprises a reel splicer, printing units, a folder assembly, and a folder. To start the web press, a sequence of steps is performed while minimizing the startup time and waste produced. With printing machine-specific and / or job-specific presetting parameters specified for color register control, cut register control and color density control, printing is started. Then the web press is stopped and the printed copies are evaluated for color register, cut register and color density. In this case, depending on the assessment during standstill of the printing press Voreinstellparameter for color register control and / or the cut register control and / or color density control adapted. In a second start-up sequence, the preset parameters adapted during standstill are only used for printing when predefined press speeds are reached or exceeded.

Out DE 103 18 541 A1 a method for measuring, documenting and monitoring electrical parameters is known. The method is used for electrical network and performance parameters in press commissioning, printing and remote maintenance on presses with machine and job data management, to optimize a fault analysis. For this purpose, a multifunction module is integrated into the machine control. This is provided with interfaces to the machine and order data management system. The procedure includes steps for the measurement and documentation of electrical performance parameters as well as harmonic analysis during the commissioning of the printing press, for the continuous measurement and documentation of the electrical performance parameters during the printing operation. Furthermore, the determination and storage of the energy consumption relating to the print jobs to be processed is carried out within the machine and order data management system. Furthermore, the transfer of the energy consumption values for the post-calculation to the higher-level production planning system and monitoring of the electrical network and performance parameters on the printing machine during the remote maintenance of the printing machine.

Out DE 198 44 495 A1 describes a method for profiling / calibrating a digitally controllable printing machine with permanent printing form. The calibration of the printing press by means of color management is to be improved, image data being created in the pre-press in the machine-dependent format and processed by means of data processing for the printing process and fed to the press in an adapted form. In order to automatically use a profile that corresponds to the current machine state for final data preparation for printing, the press is used with the correct color space conversion addressed, so calibrated. When preparing the data for imaging, a machine state predicted at the time of printing is queried and from this, together with the knowledge of the consumables, the machine profile which comes closest to that for the print job is determined. This profile is then used for data preparation.

Out DE 10 2005 050 538 A1 discloses a system and method for preparing and scheduling print jobs. A controller is coupled with several printing presses. With the controller, a memory is connected to records of basic data and preset values stored to print jobs executed on the printing machines. An input device is connected to the controller, via which basic data of newly executed print jobs can be entered. A comparator searches and processes, based on the basic data entered for a newly executed print job, a record of an already executed print job whose base data matches as much as possible with those of the newly executed print job. The default values of the executed print job can be used to preset the new print job. A scheduling device assigns the preset and newly executed print job to a specific printing press. The comparator, after assigning a preset print job, checks whether the default values used to preset the new print job are from the same press and can therefore be used. Otherwise, the default data will be adapted to the new print job. This can be done so that a print job from the same press is better matched to the new print job.

The invention is therefore based on the object to provide a novel method for automatic color presetting on inking units of a printing press.

This object is achieved by methods having the features according to claims 1 and 4.

According to the invention, all printing presses of a printing company or of a printing group are calibrated with uniform means. Calibration is performed to set the ink feed in all printing units and presses using a uniform ink and a uniform printing form and substrate. The calibration is carried out successively and printing unit for printing unit, so that after the calibration process specific machine-dependent parameters for displaying calibration curves for the presetting of Farbdosiereinrichtungen exist for all printing units of all presses involved. The machine-dependent setting parameters required for color presetting are stored separately locally in control devices for each printing unit. This storage can be done at each printing unit itself or in the printing machine coordinated in the machine control such as the control room.

As a result, the parameters required for presetting the color dosage with respect to the printing process for printing material and inks to be processed are generated in a printing network and then centrally registered, stored and made available as correction factors determined for various printing standards. In this case, the color presetting on all different printing presses uses the same correction factors determined for the different available printing standards and printing inks.

The use of the stored parameters takes place in the facilities connected to the printing network and thereafter in coordination between the respective printing presses taking into account order data and data for the print job to be used materials, in particular the substrate and the inks used.

Preferably, the characteristics for the color presetting are stored in a master database with data records for the characterization of parameters for different coloring standards.

An automatic ink preset device according to the invention has ink dosing devices divided into a number of ink zones of the inking units. The devices use pressure-specific and pressure-medium-specific adjustment parameters, each stored in a memory. For presetting the Farbdosierelemente the Farbdosiereinrichtung the inking come with the memories of the pressure medium and printing press specific adjustment parameters in combination.

According to the invention, a first memory device is provided in or in connection with each printing press, in which printing machine-specific parameters for the setting of each ink metering element are deposited at least but for each inking unit. Outside the printing machine, but in data-related connection to the printing press, a second storage device is provided, are stored in the pressure medium or printing ink-specific parameters for each in the printing press to be printed ink. A computing device is provided with the first and the second memory device and with actuators the Farbdosierelemente coupled. The computing device generates actuating signals from the data of the first and the second memory device, which are passed to the presetting of each Farbdosierelementes for presetting.

Advantageously, the second memory device for storing and changing data is designed so that the data for labeling individual printing inks can be filed according to coloration standards and / or substrate classes.

The correction values are stored retrievably for the purpose of generating preset color dosing values of color dosing elements on the basis of the press specific parameters.

Furthermore, the second memory device can store the correction values for each stored printing ink with labeling of the individual printing inks according to coloring standards and / or printing material classes, the correction values having been determined for the purpose of generating new or changed parameter values from setting values of ink-dosing elements on the basis of printing processes carried out. The correction values are rewritten or overwritten to existing values, with a correction factor = 1 corresponding to 100% being used as the default output value.

Preferred embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the description below.

Figur 1

eine Schnittdarstellung aus einem Farbwerk einer Druckmaschine im Bereich einer Farbdosiereinrichtung,

Figur 2

einen Teilschnitt in Figur 1 entlang der Schnittlinie II-II,

Figur 3

eine schematische Darstellung zur erfindungsgemäßen Anwendung des Voreinstellverfahrens in einer Druckmaschine,

Figur 4

ein Schema eines Druckerei-Netzwerkes und

Figur 5

ein Schema zur Anwendung einer Voreinstellkorrektur in Verbindung mit verschiedenen Färbungsstandards.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to drawings. Show

FIG. 1

a sectional view of an inking unit of a printing press in the field of a Farbdosiereinrichtung,

FIG. 2

a partial section in FIG. 1 along the section line II-II,

FIG. 3

a schematic representation of the inventive application of Voreinstellverfahrens in a printing press,

FIG. 4

a scheme of a printing network and

FIG. 5

a scheme for applying presetting correction in conjunction with various staining standards.

The invention is used on a printing machine 1, which in FIG. 3 is exemplified as a sheetfed offset printing machine. The printing machine 1 has a number of printing units 2 to 5, in each of which an inking unit 10 is provided for supplying a printing ink to a printing plate, which is mounted in each case on a plate cylinder 18 in the printing units 2 to 5. From each printing plate in the corresponding printing unit 2 to 5 of the printing machine 1, a color image of the corresponding printing ink is transferred via a blanket cylinder 19 to arc leading impression cylinders 20 guided sheet. The plate cylinder 18, blanket cylinder 19 and impression cylinder 20 are in FIG. 3 as an example for the first printing unit 2 marked with reference numerals.

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show a schematic of an inking unit 10 of a printing press. The inking unit 10 has an ink fountain 11 as a color memory for ink 12, which is transferred to a ductor roller 13. The amount of printing ink 12, which passes from the ink fountain 11 to the ductor roller 13 is determined by the position of Farbdosierelementen 14, according to FIG. 2 each associated with a color zone in the inking unit 10 and can be opened or closed differently strong. The amount of ink transferred from the ink fountain 11 to the ink fountain roller 13 is thus zonally different depending on the opening position of a corresponding ink metering element 14. From the ink fountain roller 13, a paint layer is removed by means of a squeegee roller 15 in reciprocating motion and onto a first ink roller 16 of the inking unit 10 transmitted (double arrow 17). It is thus also determined depending on how long the squeegee roller 15 rests against the ductor roller 13, an amount of ink that transmits the squeegee roller 15 of the ductor roller 13 to the ink roller 16.

The presetting of the color dosing at the beginning of a print job is made on the basis of pre-stage data. From the precursor data, the expected color requirement of a printing form to be printed can be determined, depending on the size of a region to be inked corresponding to the color zones (area coverage). From the color requirement is then closed to preset data of the color metering. For this it is necessary that the dosing function, i. H. the amount of ink generated depending on the setting of the ink metering elements 14 is known as a function of the ink requirement. This dependency must be determined in advance, as otherwise proper presetting is not possible.

Essential for the method to be used according to the invention is that each printing press of a printing press group, a printing works or a printing group is calibrated according to a standardized mode with regard to its coloring properties.

For calibration, a largely identical basic setting of the inking units and their functional and control elements is necessary. For this purpose, the necessary adjustment operations for all printing units 2 to 5 are performed.

On the basis of such a fundamentally adjusted setting of all elements of the printing units involved in the dyeing and dampening, the setting parameters for a standardized dyeing are determined.

For this purpose, in each of the printing presses 1 to be calibrated, a basic parameter set (P0, P1) is successively printed in each of their printing units, each with a standardized printing plate, on a standardized printing substrate and a standardized printing ink (preferably cyan) used in all printing units 2 to 5 the relevant color guide settings of Farbdosiereinrichtungen produced in an inking unit under defined conditions for a printing press. This basic parameter set P0, P1 reproduces the ink feed adjusting properties in a printing unit between the opening positions of each of the ink dosing members and an associated area coverage (ie, the expected ink consumption) on the used printing plate by a certain required ink layer thickness on paper, which is required for a determined by color density measurement predetermined color density.

In carrying out these calibrations, the adjustment of the opening position of the ink metering elements is preferably carried out by means of an automatic control method using offline or inline measurements on print control strips on sheets printed according to predetermined conditions.

In FIG. 3 the assignment of the parameter sets P0, P1 of the printing units 2 to 5 is represented by corresponding characteristics representations.

In this way, basic requirements for a uniform inking preset on all printing units and in all printing machines of a work unit, such as a printing company, are achieved for the achievement of a predetermined color value in the printed image. By means of such normalization of the coloring settings, the same conditions for presetting can be created for each ink dosing element in each printing unit and on all printing presses.

The calibration method uses a per se known self-learning adjustment method for obtaining color-dose settings from pre-stage data. In this procedure, it can be assumed that the same test printing material is used in all test steps in order to be able to guarantee the comparability of the parameter values obtained in all cases.

For presetting the Farbdosierelemente 14 is determined from the parameters obtained during the calibration P0 and P1 each Voreinstellkennlinie, P0 determines the Dosierelementstellung for the color requirement zero at 0% area coverage FD and P1 the slope of the curve with increasing color requirements up to 100% area coverage FD ,

Starting from the calibrated initial state, the device of a printing machine 1 for the execution of a specific existing print job with a current job printing form and associated current job inks easily done by 1 for the default setting of the inking units 10 of the printing machine depending on the ink used in each case correction factors Z are used to adjust the default settings to the final settings according to the job needs.

In order to carry out the presetting of the inking units 10, the setting values of all color-metering elements 14 are determined on the basis of a surface coverage FD from the print original on the basis of standard values and correction values.

For all the colors of the defined coloring standards, optimized colorings are subject to correlations that are to be stored in a database in order to be able to use these parameters at any time for setting up a printing machine.

The parameterized relationships mentioned initially concern all known or already used application inks occurring in a printing shop. These are stored in a master database (with color data, parameter data) 8, characteristic values such as density, filter and L * a * b value under a unique color identifier or color name or a unique ink designation.

An additional distinction is made according to Fig. 5 in that different predefinable coloring standards F1 to F4 and / or different categories of printing substrate surfaces are determined on the basis of the color data. Depending on the selected dyeing standard F1 to F4 and depending on the substrate category used, in practice changes in the color adjustment that are to be made in order to achieve the desired density of a printing ink in the printed image result.

Basically yes was determined in the calibration coloring settings of the printing press 1, starting from a standard ink, the basic relationship of area coverage FD and opening position of a Farbdosierelements 14 per inking unit 10, so that when specifying a area coverage distribution for the inking units 10 of the printing units 2 to 5 one for all printing 2 to 5 and Farbdosierelemente 14 unique setting is possible.

In the application of this standard data to a print job, however, a further adjustment of the Dosierelementeinstellung is necessary because of the specific printing inks and substrates.

This necessary change in color setting from the calibrated value is stored as correction factor Z for each known or used ink in combination with each substrate category in the master database 8 in addition to the factors density, filter and Lab value under a unique color identifier (see FIG. 5 ).

In this case, the master database 8 is subdivided into the coloring standards F1 to F4, which relate to the color schemes or color combinations or printing methods to be used, which are to be taken into account as presettings for print jobs. Coloring standards such as F1 to F4 in Fig. 5 Among other things, a distinction is made between ISO standards, company-specific adaptations to ISO standards, company standards, color grades such as UV inks and similar criteria. In the master database 8 any and any number of coloring standards can be deposited.

1. [A] Für eine bestimmte ausgewählte Kombination von Druckfarben (Färbungsstandard F1 - F4) und Bedruckstoffen wird ein Satz Druckplatten in die Druckmaschine 1 eingesetzt.
2. [B] Dazu wird eine Voreinstellung der Färbung nach dem Kalibrierungsstandard (Kennlinien K2 - K5) ausgeführt, indem die Flächendeckungen der verschiedenen Druckplatten aus den Vorstufendaten (CIP3) zu 100 % in Stellwerte der Farbdosierelemente 14 umgerechnet werden.
3. [C] Dieser Satz Druckplatten wird ausgehend von der Voreinstellung mit den Auftragsdruckfarben auf dem gewählten Bedruckstoff abgedruckt und dabei einer Qualitätsregelung unterzogen.
4. [D] Die Qualitätsregelung wird mittels eines Farbregelsystems so lange durchgeführt bis ein Druckbild mit bestmöglicher Einfärbung vorliegt (Gutbogen).
5. [E] Nun wird die Abweichungen der Einstellwerte der Farbdosierelemente 14 aus der Umrechnung von Flächendeckungswerten anhand der Kennlinien K2 - K5 zum ausgeregelten Zustand der Einstellwerte festgestellt und die Abweichungen werden in Form von Abweichungsfaktoren identifiziert und als Korrekturfaktoren Z abspeicherbar gemacht.
6. [F] Die bereitgestellten Korrekturfaktoren Z werden vom Farbregelsystem nur dann gespeichert, wenn der Drucker dies für sinnvoll hält und bestätigt.
7. [G] Als Ausgangswert ist für jede Farbe ein Korrekturfaktor Z = 1 entspr. 100 % in der Stammdatenbank vorgegeben, da eine Berechnung von Färbungswerten ausführbar sein muss. Die Bereitstellung neuer Faktoren erfolgt in Bezug auf diese Basis der Korrekturwerte Z in der Stammdatenbank für die jeweils verwendeten Kombinationen Färbungsstandard, Druckfarbe und Bedruckstoffkategorie und insbesondere dann, wenn der ermittelte Korrekturwert Z von dem in der Stammdatenbank gespeicherten Wert abweicht.
8. [H] Die Korrekturfaktoren Z können also auf Anforderung des Bedieners zu jeder entsprechenden Druckfarbe im jeweils entsprechenden Färbungsstandard und zur jeweils passenden Bedruckstoffkategorie abgespeichert werden.

The correction factor Z is obtained as follows:

1. [A] For a particular selected combination of inks (Staining Standard F1 - F4) and substrates, a set of printing plates is inserted in the printing machine 1.
2. [B] For this purpose, the coloration is preset according to the calibration standard (curves K2 - K5) by converting the area coverage of the various printing plates from the precursor data (CIP3) to 100% into control values of the color-dosing elements 14.
3. [C] This set of plates is reprinted from the preset with the job inks on the selected substrate, subject to quality control.
4. [D] The quality control is carried out by means of a color control system until a printed image with the best possible color is available (good sheet).
5. [E] Now, the deviations of the setting values of the color metering elements 14 from the conversion of areal coverage values are determined on the basis of the characteristic curves K2-K5 for the regulated state of the adjustment values and the deviations are identified in the form of deviation factors and made storable as correction factors Z.
6. [F] The provided correction factors Z are only stored by the color control system if the printer considers this to be reasonable and confirms.
7. [G] The output value for each color is a correction factor Z = 1 corresponding to 100% specified in the master database, since a calculation of color values must be executable. The provision of new factors takes place with reference to this base of the correction values Z in the master database for the color standard, ink and substrate category combinations used, and in particular when the determined correction value Z deviates from the value stored in the master database.
8. [H] The correction factors Z can therefore be stored at the request of the operator for each corresponding printing ink in the respectively corresponding coloring standard and for the respectively suitable printing material category.

The recovery of the correction factors Z can be standardized by fundamentally performing a corresponding series of printing operations using standard printing plates for common combinations of colors and substrates. In this way, a comprehensive set of correction factors Z can quickly be represented.

The recovery of the correction factors Z can also be done directly from the normal printing operation out. In this case, the representation of applicable correction factors Z for different pressure conditions is more random and may require subsequent adjustment operations.

It is therefore important above all the standardized deposit of correction factors Z, which takes place in the context of the application of a color control system on one or more printing presses of a printing company or a network. These correction factors Z can then be constantly adjusted if the operator (s) can identify enhancements to the adjustment if correction factors Z are output new or changed at the conclusion of a control process. However, such a variation of the correction factors Z always relates to the initial state Z = 1 and is not related to a respective last state of an already adapted correction factor Z.

If the required correction factors Z for the printing inks and printing material categories of a print job are all present, then these are applied to the basic setting of the ink metering directly from the master database in the color presetting.

As default values for a correction factor Z, the values Z = 1 or Z = 100% are used, as long as no true corrections of the coloring have been carried out after a control process starting from the presetting.

The correction of the presetting takes place in which the correction factor Z is included in both the parameter P0 as the zero value of the respective setting or conversion curve K2 to K5 and in the parameter P1 as the slope of the respective setting or conversion curve K2 to K5. The setting or conversion curves K2 to K5 are thus either raised and steeper, or both lowered and flattened.

For a magenta color correction factor Z on a matte stock in a given 1.25 color standard, a multiplier of 125% is applied to the standard spool position determined from the corresponding area coverage FD, using the set or conversion curves in P0 and P1 multiplied by 1.25.

The newly calculated slider position then largely corresponds to the color requirement for the selected job color and the substrate to be printed or its category of surface finish.

Starting from identically calibrated printing machines within a printing works, the determined correction factors Z of the color database apply to all applications in which the selected coloring standard is used.

By means of the printing processes for setting up the system, pressure-medium-specific correction factors Z are obtained which include a dependence of the settings of the ink dosing elements on the standard values of the calibration in connection with the applied printing ink and the printing material used or on its substrate category and which are located centrally within a printing network P -net, as in FIG. 4 is displayed, stored.

The correction factors Z are then available for the processing of future print jobs which are to be carried out with the same coloring standard (also using the same printing material class).

For this purpose, the printing network P-net contains a central control device 7 for the printing press, with staff being provided for the provision of order data and the control of processes.

In FIG. 4 are represented by the control device 7 symbolically represented devices of a prepress 6, two printing presses 1 with printing units 2 to 5 and one control station 9.1 and 9.2 and facilities for further processing operations (processing 30) data technology.

For storing order data and presetting data, a parameter memory 8 is provided. This is coupled to the control device 7 and the control stations 9.1, 9.2, so that stored in the parameter memory 8 both data and data can be retrieved. Among other things, the data are defined as pressure-medium-specific parameters and are used to calculate the presetting values for the color dosing described above.

In FIG. 3 For this purpose, the transfer of the preset values for the ink metering elements 14 starting from the parameter memory 8 and in connection with a parameter memory 9 in control stations 9.1 or 9.2 via preset functions in the ink boxes 11 of the inking units 10 in the printing units 2 to 5 of the printing machine 1 is shown schematically. From the parameter memory 9 of the control stations 9.1 and 9.2 For this purpose, printing machine-specific parameters P0, P1 belonging to the respective printing press 1 to be used are provided. In connection with this, the presetting of each individual ink metering element 14 can then be calculated and adjusted at the respective ink fountain 11 via the resulting default settings K2 to K5, which are specifically illustrated for this purpose for each printing unit 2 to 5.

Furthermore, the parameter memory 8 is connected to the parameter memory 9, which provides the correction factors Z to be used for the respective print job in accordance with the printing inks and the printing material property.

It is thus shown that in the metering element setting in each of the printing units 2 to 5, the parameters P0 and P1 in the setting curves K2 to K5 are subjected to an associated correction factor Z. Actually, here is Z2 to Z5, since for each setting curve, a separate correction factor Z is provided and included.

In the described procedure for color pre-setting, a second method variant is also included, in which the default values of presetting parameters P0 and P1 and also the correction factor or factors Z can be influenced by a machine on the printing machine control station 9.1 or 9.2 instead of by a color presetting learning method are and can be entered there directly.

The method according to the invention has the effect that the correction factors Z determined for combinations of printing ink and dyeing standard, which also includes a color series, as well as associated substrate categories are stored not only locally for individual machines, but that these factors are connected to the printer network of the operator for all Printing presses are available.

The determined and stored correction values Z apply irrespective of the size or the printing format of the connected printing machines, provided that they have been uniformly calibrated.

In the group of printers working with the same colors and coloring standards, the correction factors Z can even be applied at the different locations.

The master database can be stored for extended use of the correction factors Z outside the generating them printing in an external so-called cloud data storage. Such a cloud storage is accessible via a public network (Internet) under selected security conditions only for the users of a particular printing company. In this way, the data pool of the master database (data memory 8) can be made available to other users using comparable security conditions. This can be done whenever a printing press or the printing presses of a printing company have been calibrated with all printing presses according to the calibration method described earlier.

Finally, it is even conceivable that the correction factors can also be used for machines from other manufacturers.

Furthermore, the correction factors can also be made available to the printer or the printer in the case of printing machines calibrated by the manufacturer with the master data for standard printing inks with a specifically configured database.

A scheme for storage as described in the working / parameter memory 8 according to Figures 3 and 4 is provided in greater detail in FIG. 5 in a working / parameter memory 8 with memory data.

Here, for different staining standards F1 to F4, a series of tables is stored in which characteristic values for printing inks are stored. The characteristic values used here are color density, filter recognition and Lab values of the arrangement in the color space. These values are listed for a color code "Kumuh-Lila" in the grid at the bottom left. These values are stored predefined to the respective classifications of a coloring standard F1 to F4 and assigned to a class of a printing surface.

In addition, as in the example "Kumuh-Lila", a correction value Z, which in an impression of this color "Kumuh-Purple" under the coloring standard F4 on a glossy substrate was determined. The correction value Z is obtained by setting a preset ink dose setting value corresponding to the distribution of the areal coverage of a printing plate from the pre-stage data and then adjusting it in a color control process until the correct color density is obtained on the printed sheet.

The correction values Z normally result for a printing ink, ie evenly in a printing unit for all ink dosing elements. Differences in the correction values Z over the width of the printing unit after closed control can be compensated by averaging. Outlier values that pretend to be extreme correction up or down are hidden or submitted to the printer for review.

1. I. Die Umsetzung des erfindungsgemäßen Verfahrens erfolgt durch einen strukturierten Datenaustausch zwischen Bereichen der Druckvorstufe und den Steuerungen von Druckmaschinen 1 in einer Druckerei oder einem Druckereiverbund.
2. II. Voraussetzung ist die Kalibrierung der Druck- / Farbwerke aller in einer Druckerei / einem Druckereiverbund an diesem Verfahren beteiligten Druckmaschinen.
3. III. Die Ermittlung von Voreinstellkorrekturen erfolgt in Verbindung mit gewählten Färbungsstandards F1 - F4 (verbunden mit gewählten Bedruckstoffkategorien). Es wird eine gemittelte Veränderung von Dosierelementeinstellungen vom Stellwert für eine Referenzdruckfarbe zur Einstellung für eine aktuell verwendete Druckfarbe erfasst (z.B. bei definierter mittlerer Flächendeckung) und als Korrekturfaktor Z für die verwendeten Druckfarben erfasst.
4. IV. Die Korrekturfaktoren Z zur Voreinstellkorrektur werden nach einem zugehörigen Färbungsstandard F1 bis F4 (incl. vorgegebener Bedruckstoffkategorie) unterschieden und einzeln jeweils unter eindeutigen Farbbezeichnungen der verwendeten Druckfarben in der Stammdatenbank 8 eines Druckerei-Netzwerkes abgelegt (siehe Fig. 5). Der Default-Wert für den Korrekturfaktor Z ist 1 = 100%.
5. V. Verschiedenste Druckmaschinen einer Druckerei sind nach dem gleichen Ablauf kalibrierbar, so dass eine absolut gleichwertige Justierung der Farbdosiereinrichtung gegeben und eine einheitliche Voreinstellung durchführbar ist.
6. VI. Wird bei einem über das Druckerei-Netzwerk erzeugten Druckauftrag für eine beliebige Druckmaschine der Druckerei eine Druckfarbe, die gemäß Pkt. IV mit dem Defaultwert 1 = 100 % oder einem von dem Defaultwert abweichenden Korrekturfaktor Z versehen ist, verwendet, dann können die Parameter zur optimalen Voreinstellkorrektur an die jeweilige Druckmaschine gesendet und bei der Voreinstellwerte der Farbdosierelemente berücksichtigt werden (Fig. 3, 4).
7. VII. Werden im Druckerei-Netzwerk vorliegende Voreinstelldaten in einem Druckauftrag für eine beliebige Druckmaschine der Druckerei abgearbeitet und es wird eine Korrektur der Farbdosiereinstellung notwendig, kann die Anpassung zur optimalen Voreinstellkorrektur an die Stammdatenbank der Druckerei zu Abspeicherung gesendet werden. Eine Adaption der Korrekturwerte wird dann bei künftigen Berechnungen von Voreinstellwerten für die Einstellung der Farbdosierelemente berücksichtigt. (Fig. 3, 4).
8. VIII. Die Stammdatenbank kann zu weiteren Nutzung der Korrekturfaktoren auch außerhalb der Druckerei in einem externen Cloud-Datenspeicher, der über eine öffentliches Netzwerk unter Sicherheitsbedingungen für die Anwender der Druckerei zugänglich ist, hinterlegt werden und so für weitere Anwender unter Anwendung vergleichbarer Sicherheitsbedingungen nutzbar sein.

The method according to the invention is applied as shown below:

1. I. The implementation of the method according to the invention is carried out by a structured data exchange between areas of the prepress and the controls of printing presses 1 in a printing or a printer sharing.
2. II. Prerequisite is the calibration of the printing / inking units of all printing presses involved in this process in a printing house / printing group.
3. III. The determination of presetting corrections is carried out in conjunction with the selected coloring standards F1 - F4 (combined with the selected substrate categories). An averaged change in dosing element settings from the reference value for a reference ink to the setting for a currently used ink is recorded (eg with a defined average area coverage) and recorded as a correction factor Z for the printing inks used.
4. IV. The correction factors Z for presetting correction are differentiated according to an associated coloring standard F1 to F4 (incl. Predetermined substrate category) and stored individually in each case under unique color designations of the printing inks used in the master database 8 of a printing network (see Fig. 5 ). The default value for the correction factor Z is 1 = 100%.
5. V. Various printing presses of a printing company can be calibrated according to the same procedure, so that there is an absolutely equivalent adjustment of the ink metering device and a uniform presetting is feasible.
6. VI. If, in a print job created for the printing press network for any printing press of the printing company, a printing ink which is provided with the default value 1 = 100% or a correction factor Z deviating from the default value is used, then the parameters can be set to the optimum Preset correction sent to the respective printing press and are taken into account at the preset values of the Farbdosierelemente ( Fig. 3 . 4 ).
7. VII. If preset data present in the printing network are processed in a print job for any printing press of the printing company and it is necessary to correct the ink metering adjustment, the adjustment for optimal presetting correction can be sent to the master database of the print shop for storage. An adaptation of the correction values is then taken into account in future calculations of preset values for the adjustment of the color metering elements. ( Fig. 3 . 4 ).
8. VIII. The master database can be stored for further use of the correction factors outside the printing house in an external cloud data storage, which is accessible via a public network under security conditions for the users of the printer, and so be usable for other users using comparable security conditions.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

press

2

printing unit

3

printing unit

4

printing unit

5

printing unit

6

prepress

7

Druckerei control

8th

Parameter memory, color database, master database

9.1

Printing press control station

9.2

Printing press control station

10

inking

11

paintbox

12

printing ink

13

platen

14

ink metering elements

15

vibrator roller

16

ink roller

17

Heber movement

18

plate cylinder

19

rubber cylinder

20

Impression cylinder

30

Device for further processing

P0, P1

Pressure-machine-specific parameters for color meter presetting

Z

Pressure-medium-specific correction factors for color meter presetting

K2 - K5

curve

F1 - F4

standard color

Claims (10)

1. A method for automatic ink presetting on inking units (10) in printing units (2 to 5) of printing presses (1), wherein a respective ink metering device, which comprises a quantity of ink metering elements (14) corresponding to the ink zone quantity of the inking unit (10), is preset at each inking unit (10) prior to the printing in such a way that a printed print product printed with this presetting comes as close as possible to a printing master, wherein printing unit-specific and/or printing press-specific as well as printing means-specific and/or printing ink-specific setting parameters are determined for the ink metering elements (14) of the inking units (10), and wherein the presetting of the ink metering elements (14) of the ink metering device of the inking units (10) furthermore takes place using the printing means-specific and/or printing ink-specific as well as the printing unit-specific and/or printing press-specific setting parameters,
   characterized by the following steps:

   a) providing presetting values for the inking units (10) of a printing press (1) for a print job with certain printing inks and printing materials based on prepress data relating to the ink consumption of the printing plates of the print job by means of printing unit-specific and/or printing press-specific parameters (P0, P1) stored in the printing press,
   wherein in each printing press (1) to be calibrated, a basic parameter set (P0, P1) for the settings of the ink metering devices, which are relevant with regard to the ink guidance, is produced successively in each of the printing units of said printing press, each with a standardized printing forme, on standardized printing material and a standardized printing ink used identically in all printing units (2 to 5), in an inking unit under defined basic conditions for a printing press, and
   the parameters (P0, P1) reproduce properties for the ink supply setting in a printing unit (2 to 5) between opening position of each of the ink metering elements (14) and a corresponding surface coverage on a printing plate used in a printing unit,

   b) applying correction values (Z) determined for various printing standards to the printing unit-specific and/or printing press-specific parameters (P0, P1) for a printing means-specific and/or printing ink-specific presetting correction derived from the data of the print job for each inking unit, and

   c) carrying out the ink metering presetting for the inking units (10) by means of the presetting values to which the correction values (Z) are applied,

   d) wherein the correction values (Z) are determined by comparing calibrated presetting values for the ink metering elements to compensated setting values of a printing ink to be actively used, as factors, which are assigned to printing material classes.
2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the correction values (Z) are obtained by comparing setting values of the ink metering for a reference printing ink, which is to be used to determine the printing press-specific parameters (P0, P1), to compensated setting values of the ink metering of a printing ink to be actively used, preferably with a defined average surface coverage, and
   e) that the correction value/values (Z) obtained in this way for a printing means-specific presetting correction are stored in a central memory of a printing press/print shop network according to a defined assignment to data of printing inks and printing materials.
3. The method according to claim 2, characterized in that the correction values (Z) are determined as printing means-specific setting parameters for the ink metering elements (14) assigned to the ink zones, wherein printing means-specific setting parameters depend at least on the type of a printing ink to be used and/or on a printing material to be used or a printing material class.
4. A method for automatic ink presetting on inking units (10) in printing units (2 to 5) of printing presses (1), wherein a respective ink metering device, which comprises a quantity of ink metering elements (14) corresponding to the ink zone quantity of the inking unit (10), is preset at each inking unit (10) prior to the printing in such a way that a printed print product printed with this presetting comes as close as possible to a printing master, wherein printing unit-specific and/or printing press-specific as well as printing means-specific and/or printing ink-specific setting parameters are determined for the ink metering elements (14) of the inking units (10), and wherein the presetting of the ink metering elements (14) of the ink metering device of the inking units (10) furthermore takes place using the printing means-specific and/or printing ink-specific as well as the printing unit-specific and/or printing press-specific setting parameters,
   characterized by the following steps:

   a) calibrating printing presses (1) or printing press groups by determining uniform printing unit-specific and/or printing press-specific parameters (P0, P1) for the ink metering setting of all ink metering elements (14) of all printing units (2 to 5) of a printing press (1) and for all printing presses of a printing press group,
   wherein in each printing press (1) to be calibrated, a basic parameter set (P0, P1) for the settings of the ink metering devices, which are relevant with regard to the ink guidance, is produced successively in each of the printing units of said printing press, each with a standardized printing forme, on standardized printing material and a standardized printing ink used identically in all printing units (2 to 5), in an inking unit under defined basic conditions for a printing press, and
   the parameters (P0, P1) reproduce properties for the ink supply setting in a printing unit (2 to 5) between opening position of each of the ink metering elements (14) and a corresponding surface coverage on a printing plate used in a printing unit,

   b) setting the ink metering elements (14) of the inking units (10) of a printing press (1) for a print job with certain printing inks and printing materials or printing materials of a certain printing material class by means of the printing unit-specific and/or printing press-specific parameters (P0, P1),

   c) determining a value (correction value Z) for a printing means-specific and/or printing ink-specific presetting correction by comparing average presetting values for the ink metering elements (14) with regard to a reference printing ink to be used to determine the printing unit-specific and/or printing press-specific parameters (P0, P1) with a printing ink to be actively used, preferably at a defined average surface coverage, and

   d) storing the correction value/values (Z) obtained in this way for a printing means-specific and/or printing ink-specific presetting correction of the ink metering setting in a central memory (8) of a printing press/print shop network (P-net) according to a defined assignment to printing inks and printing materials or printing material classes.
5. The method according to claim 4, characterized in that printing means-specific setting parameters for the ink metering elements (14) assigned to the ink zones are determined in step a), wherein printing means-specific setting parameters depend at least on the type of a printing ink to be used and/or on a printing material to be used or a printing material class and
   that printing unit-specific and/or printing press-specific setting parameters (P0, P1), which are exclusively determined as being valid for the ink metering elements (14) assigned to the ink zones, are used in step b).
6. The method according to one or a plurality of claims 1 to 5,
   characterized in that the correction values (Z) for the presetting correction are determined in consideration of the printing unit-specific and/or printing press-specific setting parameters (P0, P1).
7. The method according to one or a plurality of claims 1 to 6,
   characterized in that the correction values (Z) for the presetting correction are determined as comparative value from setting values of a standardized ink metering presetting and compensated setting values for a certain printing ink and a certain printing material or a certain printing material class in such a way that the comparative values for a printing ink are specified as average value, wherein comparative values are included in consideration of a tolerance limit.
8. The method according to one or a plurality of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the correction values (Z) for the presetting correction are determined as comparative value from setting values of a standardized ink metering presetting and compensated setting values for a certain printing ink and a certain printing material or a certain printing material class in such a way that the comparative values are output by an ink regulating system of the printing press (1) and are offered to the operating personnel for use for a storage in a central memory (8) .
9. The method according to one or a plurality of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that data for presetting correction are distinguished according to a selectable inking standard and/or are stored so as to be distinguishable according to a selectable printing material surface, and
   that the data for the presetting correction in connection with unambiguous color identifiers or color names or printing ink names of known or used printing inks is stored in master data of a memory (8) of a print shop network (P-net).
10. The method according to one or a plurality of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that data for the presetting correction is provided to all printing presses (1) of identical calibration within a printing press or print shop network (P-net) in combination with unambiguous color identifiers or color names or printing ink names of known or used printing inks.

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