EP3053742B1 - Printing press and method for operating a printing press - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a defined in the preamble of claim 1 printing machine and a defined in the preamble of claim 7 method for operating a printing press.

In modern printing machines, in particular modern rotary web offset printing machines, a plurality of printing plates can be arranged side by side over the width of a printing cylinder referred to as a plate cylinder and can be arranged in the circumferential direction of the plate cylinder several page-sized printing plates arranged one behind the other.

For example, modern newspaper presses have plate cylinders that have up to six printing plates across the width and two printing plates circumferentially of the plate cylinder so that up to twelve printing plates the size of a broadsheet page are disposed on a single plate cylinder. With a two-sided four-color printing of a printing material web, there is thus a need for up to 96 printing plates per printing material web to be printed.

To avoid incorrect positioning of the printing plates on the associated plate cylinder or to position at least one printing plate on a wrong plate cylinder, ie ensure that the printing plate for the correct substrate on the plate cylinder for the correct ink and there in the correct assignment position attached is, systems have been developed in which the printing plates are each provided with a machine-readable code, which is arranged in a non-printing area such as a required plate clamping bevelled plate leg of the printing plate. The printing plate or attached to the printing plate code is scanned before positioning the printing plate, so that, for example, an automatic Plate Feeding each of the printing plates transported to the right place.

Alternatively, the codes of the printing plates are scanned prior to laying and clamping the printing plates on the plate cylinder to verify the correct plate occupancy, or it is preferably displayed graphically on the basis of scanning an operator the correct position of the respective printing plate on the associated plate cylinder.

In DE 10 2007 020 718 A1 For example, a printing machine and an operating method of the type mentioned above are described, wherein such a solution is used for checking the disk occupancy. However, such solutions require a high capital outlay because scanners are required at the printing units or in the range of printing units of the printing press, which only have the task to scan the printing plates, and which generate additional maintenance. Thus, such solutions are very complex both in new machines as well as in the case of retrofits.

The invention has for its object to provide a printing machine as defined above and a method as defined above for operating a printing press, which make it possible to check a printing plate occupancy in the printing press with less effort.

This is achieved with a printing machine according to claim 1 and a method according to claim 7. Further developments of the invention are defined in the respective dependent claims.

According to the invention, there is provided a printing machine having a plurality of printing units, each having at least one plate cylinder on which one or more printing plates are received, each having a mark, and a test device which is set up using the marking of the respective printing plates, a printing plate assignment to check the respective plate cylinder of the printing units.

The printing machine according to the invention is characterized in that the marking is arranged in a printing region of the respective printing plates and forms part of a multi-part machine-readable assignment code. The assignment code is made up of the respective markings of at least two printing plates and corresponds to a desired printing plate assignment for a given printed page. The test apparatus is set up according to the invention to acquire print image data of composite markings on printing material, to compare the print image data with target image data of occupancy codes stored in the test apparatus and to determine therefrom a comparison result. For the examination or, in particular, for the detection of the markers composed according to the invention, it is possible to use specially provided operating sensors, for example optical detection systems.

Since the printed image data of composite markings can be easily detected on substrate and modern printing machines are usually already provided with a variety of operating sensors, such operating sensors can also be used for multiple purposes including the purpose of capturing the print image data according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention. For a lesser manufacturing and maintenance costs are connected, whereby the printing plate occupancy can be tested in such a printing machine with less overall effort.

Preferably, the test device for detecting the print image data of the markings has a sensor arrangement which is set up to detect at least one print image parameter required for print quality control. For example, the sensor arrangement is set up to detect at least one of a register, a color density or a register, in particular a cut or a color register. Thus, a sensor arrangement is advantageously used for detecting the print image data of the markers, which is already provided in a modern printing machine for detecting print image parameters for the print quality control.

In this case, the sensor arrangement preferably has at least one, in particular, high-resolution camera, so that the markings pictorially imaged on the printing substrate can be optically detected in a simple manner.

The test apparatus is preferably set up to automatically trigger a false assignment reaction if the comparison result determined by it indicates that the print image data formed by at least one group of composite markers deviates from the target image data of an occupancy code associated with an occupancy position on the plate cylinders. For example, the false assignment reaction comprises at least one of a printing press stop and an optical and / or acoustic warning signal and / or the ejection of the printed copies.

The false assignment reaction is thus triggered when the markings of the printing plates, which are involved in the printing of a printing material, due to their incorrect assignment and / or incorrect placement on the respective plate cylinder after e.g. a proof does not give the correct assignment code corresponding to the stored target image data.

Preferably, the test apparatus also has an output unit which is set up to issue in the context of the false assignment reaction, at which printing unit a wrong assignment is present and / or which printing plates are incorrectly occupied. The output unit may e.g. a printer for printing the misregistration information and / or a display such as an LCD screen for displaying the misregistration information. Thus, an operator of the printing press can react quickly and correctly in case of a wrong assignment in order to eliminate the incorrect allocation.

According to the invention, there is also provided a method of operating a printing machine (operating method) having a plurality of printing units each having at least one plate cylinder on which is accommodated one or more printing plates each having a mark. According to the operating procedure is checked using the marking of the respective printing plates a printing plate assignment of the respective plate cylinder of the printing units.

In order to avoid repetition, it is pointed out that for the operating method according to the invention and its preferred embodiments the same applies as stated above for the printing press according to the invention.

The operating method according to the invention is characterized by the method steps: occupy the plate cylinder of the printing units with respective printing plates whose respective markers are arranged in a printing area of these and each form part of a multi-part machine-readable assignment code, which is composed of the respective marks at least two printing plates and which a target pressure plate occupancy corresponds to a predetermined pressure side; Performing a Andruckprozesses with the occupied plate cylinder printing units, so that the marks are printed by their printing plates on substrate; Acquiring print image data of composite marks on the substrate; Comparing the print image data with predetermined target image data of the occupancy codes; and triggering a misfeed response when the print image data formed by at least one group of composite marks deviates from the target image data of an occupancy code associated with an occupancy position on the platen cylinders.

Preferably, in the operating method according to the invention for detecting the print image data of the markings, a sensor arrangement of the printing press is used, which is used in a printing process to detect at least one print image parameter required for print quality control. For example, a sensor arrangement is used which is used in a printing process to detect at least one of a register, a color density or a register, in particular a cut or color register.

In the case of the operating method according to the invention, at least one of stopping the printing press and outputting a warning signal is preferably carried out in the context of the incorrect assignment reaction.

In addition, in the operating method according to the invention in the context of the false assignment reaction is preferably output by means of an output unit on which printing unit is a wrong assignment and / or which printing plates are incorrectly occupied. For example, e.g. by means of a printer of the output unit, the misregistration information is printed out and / or the misregistration information can be displayed on a display such as an LCD screen.

The invention expressly extends to such embodiments, which are not given by combinations of features of explicit back references of the claims, whereby the disclosed features of the invention - as far as is technically feasible - can be combined with each other.

Fig.1

zeigt eine schematische Teilansicht einer Druckmaschine gemäß einer Ausführungsform der Erfindung.

Fig.2

zeigt eine perspektivische Ansicht eines Plattenzylinders der Druckmaschine von Fig. 1.

Fig.3

zeigt eine Ansicht einer Druckplatte der Druckmaschine von Fig. 1.

Fig.4

zeigt eine Ansicht eines aus Markierungen von vier Druckplatten der Druckmaschine von Fig. 1 zusammengesetzten eindimensionalen Belegungscodes.

Fig.5

zeigt eine Ansicht eines anderen aus Markierungen von vier Druckplatten der Druckmaschine von Fig. 1 zusammengesetzten eindimensionalen Belegungscodes.

Fig.6

zeigt eine Ansicht eines aus Markierungen von vier Druckplatten der Druckmaschine von Fig. 1 zusammengesetzten zweidimensionalen Belegungscodes.

In the following the invention will be described in more detail by means of preferred embodiments and with reference to the attached figures.

Fig.1

shows a schematic partial view of a printing press according to an embodiment of the invention.

Fig.2

shows a perspective view of a plate cylinder of the printing machine of Fig. 1 ,

Figure 3

shows a view of a printing plate of the printing machine of Fig. 1 ,

Figure 4

shows a view of one of marks of four printing plates of the printing press of Fig. 1 composite one-dimensional occupancy codes.

Figure 5

shows a view of another from marks of four printing plates of the printing machine of Fig. 1 composite one-dimensional occupancy codes.

Figure 6

shows a view of one of marks of four printing plates of the printing press of Fig. 1 composite two-dimensional occupancy codes.

The following are with reference to the FIGS. 1 to 6 a printing press 1 and a method for operating the printing press 1 according to embodiments of the invention will be described.

As in Fig. 1 1, the printing press 1, which is not completely illustrated, has two printing units 10, 10 stacked on top of a printing tower 5, wherein the printing press 1 is designed as a rotary printing machine, in particular as a web-fed rotary printing press for offset printing.

Each printing unit 10 of the printing tower 5 has four substantially identical printing units 20, which are arranged in a so-called H-configuration to each other, with both printing units 10, 10 on a printing substrate B, for. to realize a double-sided four-color printing. Each printing unit 20 has a plate cylinder 21 as a plate cylinder, an inking unit 25, a dampening unit 26 and a transfer cylinder 27.

Fig. 2 shows a perspective view of one provided in the printing units 20 plate cylinder 21. On the plate cylinder 21 of each printing unit 20 are a plurality of as in Fig. 3 shown printing plates 22 recorded. According to one embodiment of the invention, on the plate cylinder 21 of each printing unit 20 in the width direction R1 at least two printing plates 22 side by side and in the circumferential direction R2 two printing plates 22 arranged one behind the other, each printing plate 22, for example, has the size of a broadsheet page.

Each printing plate 22 has a marking 23 in a printing area arranged thereon. The marking 23 of each printing plate 22 forms part of a multi-part machine-readable occupation code 100, 100 ', 100 "(see FIGS. 4 to 6 ), which consists of the respective markings 23 of at least two Comprises printing plates 22 and which corresponds to a target pressure plate occupancy for a given print page (here broadsheet page).

According to the described embodiment of the invention, each occupancy code 100, 100 ', 100 "from the respective markings 23 of four printing plates 22 together, which at a certain occupancy position on the respective plate cylinders 21 of the printing units 20 on a respective side of the printing material B for the In this context, it should be mentioned that the assignment codes 100, 100 ', 100 "can also be multicolored.

The printing machine 1 also has a testing device 30, which is set up to check, using the marking 23 of the respective printing plates 22, a printing plate assignment of the respective plate cylinders 21 of the printing couples 20.

More specifically, the test apparatus 30 includes an electronic controller 31 having an input unit 32 and an output unit 33, for each printer unit 10 an input / output interface 34 connected to the controller 31 via an electric line 35, respectively, and a printer unit 20 for each Sensor arrangement 36, which in each case via an electrical line (not shown) to the input / output interface 34 of the respective printing unit 10 and thereby to the control device 31 is connected.

The sensor arrangement 36 of each printing unit 20 is set up to record at least one print image parameter required for printing quality control in the printing unit 20 and to transmit it to the control device 31 for evaluation and control. More specifically, the sensor array 36 of each printing unit 20 is adapted to detect at least one of a registration, a color density or a register, in particular a cut or color register. For this purpose, the sensor arrangement 36 of each printing unit 20 has at least one high-resolution camera (not separately designated).

The test apparatus 30 is also set up to detect print image data of markings 23 of the printing plates 22 on the printing substrate web B composed by printing on the printing substrate web B, using the sensor arrangements 36 of the printing units 20. In other words, the sensor arrangements 36 of the printing units 20 of the printing press 1 are used to acquire the print image data of the markers 23, which are used in a printing process to detect the at least one print image parameter required for print quality control.

The control device 31 of the checking device 30 is set up to compare the print image data with target image data of occupancy codes 100, 100 ', 100 "stored in a memory (not shown) of the control device 31 and to determine therefrom a comparison result.

Specifically, the controller 31 of the test apparatus 30 is configured to initiate a misregistration response when the comparison result indicates that the print image data formed by at least one group of composite marks is different from the target image data of an occupancy code 100, 100 ', 100 "associated with an occupancy position on the plate cylinders 21. The misadjustment response includes at least one of an automatic printing press stop and an optical and / or audible warning signal.

In addition, the test apparatus 30 is preferably set up to output on the display (not separately designated) of the output unit 33 or to indicate which printing unit 20 has a wrong assignment and / or which printing plates 22 are incorrectly allocated.

In the following, on the basis of the structure of the printing press 1 explained above, a method according to the invention for operating the printing machine 1 (in the following operating method) will be shown.

According to the method of operation, the plate cylinders 21 of the printing units 20 are covered with the respective printing plates 22 whose respective markings 23 arranged in the printing area each form part of a multi-part machine-readable assignment code 100, 100 ', 100 "which consists of the respective markings 23 of at least two Pressure plates 22 composed.

As already mentioned above, according to the described embodiment of the invention, each occupancy code 100, 100 ', 100 "is composed of the respective markings 23 of four printing plates 22, which at a certain occupation position on the respective plate cylinders 21 of the printing units 20 on a respective side the printing material web B are provided for the four-color printing of a particular printed page.

After occupying the plate cylinder 21 of the printing units 20 with the printing plates 22 a printing process with the occupied plate cylinder 21 having printing units 20 is performed with retracted printing material B, so that the marks 23 are printed by the printing plates 22 on the substrate web B.

More precisely, according to the operating method according to the invention with the marks required for the printing process, for example the color register and / or cut register and / or color density control, the additional markings 23 are printed, which with correct composition on the substrate web B the one- or two-dimensional, possibly multi-colored Occupancy code 100, 100 ', 100 "form.

By means of the sensor arrangements 36, the print image data of markings 23 composed by imprinting on the printing material web B are detected and compared in the control device 31 with predetermined desired image data of the occupancy codes 100, 100 ', 100 ".

When the comparison result indicates that the print image data formed by at least one group of composite marks 23 is from the target image data of the respective occupancy position on the plate cylinders 21 associated occupation codes 100, 100 ', 100 "differ, is automatically triggered by the control device 31, a false assignment reaction.

In other words, the false assignment reaction is triggered when the markings 23 of the printing plates 22, which are involved in printing the printing substrate B, due to their incorrect assignment and / or incorrect placement on the respective plate cylinder 21 after the proof is not the correct assignment code 100th , 100 ', 100 "according to the stored target image data.

In the context of the false assignment reaction, the control device 31 automatically carries out at least one of stopping the printing press 1 and outputting an optical and / or acoustic warning signal. In addition, in the context of the false assignment reaction on the display of the output unit 33 of the control device 31 is displayed on which printing unit 20 is a false assignment and / or which printing plates 22 are incorrectly occupied.

According to the invention, a disk misregistration is indeed detected only after proofing and thus falls in the event of a misregistration on waste, however, due to latest inking technologies and high-resolution cameras in the sensor arrays 36, the markings 23 can be detected and evaluated after a few cylinder rollover. Thus, the amount of any resulting waste paper is limited and is much lower than if by operating personnel sample copies are drawn and manually scrolled through and should be checked.

Particularly advantageous in the inventive solution for checking the printing plate assignment is their applicability and retrofitting on printing presses without automatic plate supply and / or without automatic plate changing facilities, which are commonly used for scanning the printing plates used and thus checking the printing plate occupancy.

According to the invention, sensor arrays with high-resolution cameras, which are present anyway in a modern printing press, can be used for detecting the marks 23 printed on the printing substrate. Thus, the solution according to the invention for the testing of the printing plate occupancy is simple and can be implemented at low cost.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

press

5

printing tower

10

printing unit

20

printing unit

21

plate cylinder

22

printing plate

23

mark

25

inking

26

dampening

27

transfer cylinder

30

Tester

31

control device

32

input unit

33

output unit

34

Input / output interface

35

electrical line

36

sensor arrangement

100

occupancy code

100 '

occupancy code

100 '

occupancy code

B

printing material

R1

width direction

R2

circumferentially

Claims (10)

1. A printing press (1) comprising a plurality of printing groups (20), which in each case have at least one plate cylinder (21), on which one or a plurality of printing plates (22) are accommodated, which in each case have a marking (23), and a testing device (30), which is equipped to test a printing plate assignment of the respective plate cylinders (21) of the printing groups (20) by using the marking (23) of the respective printing plates (22),
   characterized in that the marking (23) is arranged in a printing area of the respective printing plates (22) and forms a part of a machine-readable assignment code (100, 100', 100"), which is composed of the respective markings (23) of at least two printing plates (22) and which corresponds to a set printing plate assignment for a predetermined print side, wherein the testing device (30) is equipped to detect print image data of composite markings (23) on printing material (B), to compare the print image data to the set image data of assignment codes (100, 100', 100") stored in the testing device (30), and to determine a comparison result therefrom.
2. The printing press (1) according to claim 1, wherein the testing device (30) for detecting the print image data of the markings (23) has a sensor arrangement (36), which is equipped to detect at least one print image parameter, which is required for the print quality regulation.
3. The printing press (1) according to claim 2, wherein the sensor arrangement (36) has at least one camera.
4. The printing press (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the testing device (30) is equipped to trigger an incorrect assignment reaction, when the comparison result specifies that the print image data formed by at least one group of composite markings (23) differ from the set image data of a corresponding assignment code (100, 100', 100") concerning an assignment position on the plate cylinders (21).
5. The printing press (1) according to claim 4, wherein the incorrect assignment reaction comprises at least one of a printing press stop and a warning signal.
6. The printing press (1) according to claim 4 or 5, wherein the testing device (30) has an output unit (33), which is equipped to output in the context of the incorrect assignment reaction, at which printing group (20) an incorrect assignment is at hand and/or which printing plates (22) are assigned incorrectly.
7. A method for operating a printing press (1) comprising a plurality of printing groups (20), which in each case have at least one plate cylinder (21), on which one or a plurality of printing plates (22) are accommodated, which in each case have a marking (23), wherein a printing plate assignment of the respective plate cylinders (21) of the printing groups (20) is tested by using the marking (23) of the respective printing plates (22),
   characterized by:

   assigning respective printing plates (22) to the plate cylinders (21) of the printing groups (20), the respective markings (23) of said printing plates are arranged in a printing area thereof and in each case form a part of a machine-readable assignment code (100, 100', 100"), which is comprised of the respective markings (23) of at least two printing plates (22) and which corresponds to a set printing plate assignment for a predetermined print side;

   carrying out a start of a printing process with the printing groups (20), which have the assigned plate cylinders (21), so that the markings (23) are printed onto printing material (B) by the printing plates (22) thereof;

   detecting print image data of composite markings (23) on the printing material (B);

   comparing the print image data with predetermined set image data of the assignment codes (100, 100', 100"); and

   triggering an incorrect assignment reaction, when the print image data formed by at least one group of composite markings (23) differ from the set image data of a corresponding assignment code (100, 100', 100") concerning an assignment position on the plate cylinders (21).
8. The method according to claim 7, wherein a sensor arrangement (36) of the printing press (1), which is used in a printing process to detect at least one print image parameter required for regulating the print quality, is used to detect the print image data of the markings (23).
9. The method according to claim 7 or 8, wherein at least one of a stopping of the printing press (1) and an outputting of a warning signal is carried out in the context of the incorrect assignment reaction.
10. The method according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein it is output by means of an output unit (33) in the context of the incorrect assignment reaction, at which printing group (20) an incorrect assignment is at hand and/or which printing plates (22) are assigned incorrectly.

Images