EP4010154B1 - Method for separating printed products that are printed together onto a sheet - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a method for separating printed products printed together on a sheet according to claim 1.

Through the US 6,112,658 A a system for tracking defects in the manufacture of a plurality of products printed on a web of material is known, comprising: a) at least one rotary die cutter, b) a first and a second camera for generating view images of spaced segments of the web of material containing print and cut registration symbols on the web of material, c) a plurality of networked computers, each electrically connected to the cameras, for receiving and storing images generated by the cameras, at least one of the images containing print and cut registration symbols located on the web, one of the plurality of networked computers inspecting the images of the web to compare print and cut registrations to determine whether a printed product is defective, the one networked computer having a software data file for storing and updating information about a defective status of printed products and containing software that uses the software data file to cause rejection of defective printed products and to enable visual inspection, and d) at least one monitor electrically connected to one of the connected to several networked computers to display at least one of the images being viewed.

Through the US 4,653,399 A A method for producing freshly printed, cut-to-size banknotes is known, according to which banknote sheets are printed with banknote prints arranged in a matrix and stacked on top of each other, and the stacks of sheets thus formed are automatically fed step by step into Strip layers and these strip layers are then cut into bundles of notes, whereby during strip cutting and/or bundle cutting the lengths of the feed movements between successive strip cuts or bundle cuts are individually changed depending on the increasing expansion of the printing plate of the sheet-fed printing machine in such a way that the print image of the notes of value cut to size at least approximately retains its exact centering in relation to the edge of the note of value.

• Veranlassen, dass ein vorgedruckter Bogen entlang einer vorbestimmten Bahn in einer ersten, horizontalen Vorrückrichtung vorrückt;
• optisches Erfassen der Positionen von mindestens einem Paar erster Bezugspunkte auf dem Bogen, wobei die zwei ersten Bezugspunkte eines gleichen Paars in einer Richtung im Wesentlichen senkrecht zu der ersten Vorrückrichtung quer voneinander beabstandet sind;
• basierend auf den optisch erfassten Positionen des ersten Paars von Bezugspunkten, schräges Ausrichten des Bogens in einer horizontalen Ebene in Bezug auf die erste Vorrückrichtung;
• Veranlassen, dass der schräg ausgerichtete Bogen in der ersten Vorrückrichtung vorrückt und nacheinander eine erste Anordnung von geraden und parallelen Rilllinien bildet, die in der ersten Vorrückrichtung beabstandet sind, wobei die Rilllinien eine Ausrichtung und Abstände in Bezug auf das mindestens eine Paar erster Bezugspunkte aufweisen;
• optisches Erfassen der Positionen von mindestens einem zweiten Paar von zweiten Bezugspunkten auf dem Bogen, wobei die zwei zweiten Bezugspunkte eines zweiten Paars von Punkten in einer Richtung senkrecht zu der Richtung beabstandet sind, in der die zwei ersten Bezugspunkte des wenigstens einen ersten Paars von Bezugspunkten voneinander beabstandet sind;
• basierend auf den optisch erfassten Positionen des zweiten Paars von Bezugspunkten, schräges Ausrichten des Bogens in einer horizontalen Ebene bezüglich einer zweiten Vorrückrichtung, wodurch der quer ausgerichtete Bogen in der zweiten Vorrückrichtung vorgerückt wird und eine zweite Anordnung von geraden und parallelen Rilllinien gebildet wird, wobei die Linien der zweiten Anordnung von Rilllinien eine Ausrichtung haben, die auf das zweite Paar von zweiten Bezugspunkten des Bogens bezogen ist und sich senkrecht zu der ersten Anordnung von Rilllinien erstreckt, in Bezug auf die zwei zweiten Bezugspunkte voneinander beabstandet sind, und zusammen mit den Linien der ersten Anordnung von Rilllinien ein Muster von senkrechten Rilllinien definieren;
• und Zuführen des Bogens zu einer Verarbeitungsmaschine, um den Bogen unter Verwendung von mindestens zwei der ersten oder zweiten Bezugspunkte als Bezug zu schneiden.

Through the UB20 152 764 A1 A method for processing sheet materials is known, comprising the following steps:

• causing a pre-printed sheet to advance along a predetermined path in a first horizontal advance direction;
• optically detecting the positions of at least one pair of first reference points on the sheet, the two first reference points of a same pair being transversely spaced from each other in a direction substantially perpendicular to the first direction of advance;
• based on the optically detected positions of the first pair of reference points, obliquely aligning the sheet in a horizontal plane with respect to the first direction of advance;
• causing the obliquely oriented sheet to advance in the first advance direction and sequentially form a first array of straight and parallel score lines spaced apart in the first advance direction, the score lines having an orientation and spacing with respect to the at least one pair of first reference points;
• optically detecting the positions of at least a second pair of second reference points on the sheet, the two second reference points of a second pair of points being spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the direction in which the two first reference points of the at least one first pair of reference points are spaced apart;
• based on the optically sensed positions of the second pair of reference points, obliquely aligning the sheet in a horizontal plane with respect to a second direction of advance, thereby advancing the transversely oriented sheet in the second direction of advance and forming a second array of straight and parallel score lines, the lines of the second array of score lines having an orientation related to the second pair of second reference points of the sheet and extending perpendicular to the first array of score lines with respect to which the two second reference points are spaced apart from each other, and together with the lines of the first array of score lines defining a pattern of perpendicular score lines;
• and feeding the sheet to a processing machine to cut the sheet using at least two of the first or second reference points as a reference.

Through the EN 10 2008 054 019 A1 a method for adjusting the cutting register of a web-fed rotary printing press with at least one printing unit and at least one downstream cross-cutting device is known, wherein at least one printing material web is guided from the printing unit to the cross-cutting device over a web path defined for the respective production and is cross-cut there, wherein an actual position of this cut in relation to a subject is determined, the actual cutting position is compared with a desired cutting position and the cutting register can be adjusted according to a position deviation determined in this way, and wherein, in order to determine the actual cutting position, position information reflecting the position of the cut in relation to the subject is recorded on the printing material web by means of at least one sensor which is arranged in the web path a remaining distance in front of the cross-cutting device, wherein a cutting error occurring in the remaining distance between the sensor and the cross-cutting device is estimated depending on recorded, determined and/or previously known variables and the position deviation determined with the sensor or the setting of the cutting register is corrected by this estimated additional cutting error.

1. a) Rechnerisches Unterteilen der Gesamtfläche eines Zurichtebogens, insbesondere durch ein gleichmäßiges Gitternetz, in eine Vielzahl von Teilflächen,
2. b) Erfassen der Lage und Dicke von Zurichtestreifen und Zurichtepapieren auf einem Zurichtebogen,
3. c) Wiederholen von Schritt b) für eine Mehrzahl von in der Stanz- und/oder - Prägestation verwendeten Zurichtebogen,
4. d) Berechnen des Mittelwertes der Dicke der Zurichtestreifen und Zurichtepapiere in einer jeweiligen Teilfläche zur Bestimmung eines Zurichtebedarfsprofils.

Through the EN 10 2012 017 636 A1 A method for determining the machine-dependent trimming requirement of the punching and/or embossing machine is known with the following steps:

1. a) Computational division of the total area of a dressing sheet, in particular by means of a uniform grid, into a large number of sub-areas,
2. b) Recording the position and thickness of trim strips and trim papers on a Overlay,
3. c) repeating step b) for a plurality of make-ready sheets used in the punching and/or embossing station,
4. d) Calculating the mean thickness of the trimming strips and trimming papers in a respective partial area to determine a trimming requirement profile.

Through the EN 10 2005 012 913 A1 Printing machines with at least one machine element that can be adjusted with an actuator are known, wherein an adjustment of the at least one machine element affects a quality of a print made by the printing machine, wherein an optical detection device with a sensor directed at a surface of a printing material printed in the printing machine detects the quality of the print and wherein a control device receiving data from the optical detection device with the actuator adjusts the at least one machine element depending on a difference between a setpoint value predetermined quality of the print and the quality of the print detected as an actual value by the optical detection device in a manner that minimizes the difference between the setpoint value and the actual value.

Through the WO 2003/ 082 574 A1 a web printing machine is known, comprising: at least one flexographic printing module that can exert movement and tension to a roll substrate to varying degrees; at least one gravure printing module that can exert movement and tension to a roll substrate to varying degrees; and a means for controlling the amount of movement and tension exerted by the flexographic printing module and the gravure printing module on the roll substrate.

Through the WO 2001/015091 A2 A method and a device for processing blanks are known in which a print image of a printing material printed with several blanks is checked by means of an inspection device and the printing material is separated into its individual blanks and faulty blanks are separated out.

Through the WO 2002/048014 A1 A device for separating blanks from a printed sheet and for separating out faulty blanks is known, comprising a first cutting device for cutting the sheet printed with a plurality of blanks into a plurality of longitudinal strips each comprising several blanks, a quality control device for detecting faulty blanks and a second cutting device for cutting the strips into individual blanks.

The invention is based on the object of creating a method for separating printed products printed together on a sheet, which method, even in the case of a particularly trapezoidal deformation of the sheet due to the printing process, produces separated printed products from the sheet in question, the geometries of which, e.g. their length and/or width, remain within permissible tolerances despite the deformation of the sheet.

The object is achieved according to the invention by the features of claim 1. The dependent claims relate to advantageous further developments and/or embodiments of the solution found.

The advantages that can be achieved with the invention are, in particular, that even in the case of a trapezoidal deformation of the sheet due to the printing process, individual printed products are produced from the sheet in question, the geometries of which remain within permissible tolerances despite the deformation of the sheet.

An embodiment of the invention is shown in the drawings and is described in more detail below. In conjunction with the embodiment, further advantages of the invention will also become apparent.

Fig. 1

einen in Nutzentechnik bedruckten durch den Druckprozess deformierten Bogen;

Fig. 2

ein Schema zur Produktion von in Nutzentechnik gedruckten Druckprodukten;

Fig. 3

eine Schneideanlage mit einer Schneideinrichtung.

Show it:

Fig.1

a sheet printed using the panel technique that is deformed by the printing process;

Fig.2

a scheme for the production of printed products using the panel printing technique;

Fig.3

a cutting system with a cutting device.

Fig.1 shows an example of a single printed sheet, referred to as sheet 01 for short. This sheet 01 preferably consists of paper, e.g. banknote paper, or of cardboard or paperboard. In the unprinted state, this sheet 01 has a rectangular format with a first edge length in the range e.g. between 450 mm and 820 mm and transversely with a second edge length in the range e.g. between 475 mm and 700 mm. This sheet 01 is in an industrial printing process with a printing machine 06 ( Fig.2 ) e.g. in a steel engraving process, preferably in an intaglio printing process, printed on at least one side, preferably on both sides, with at least one printed image 02. The respective print motifs of printed images 02 printed on the front and back of the same sheet 01 are usually different from one another.

The Indian Fig.1 The sheet 01 shown has several panels. The term panel refers to the number of copies of a printed product 03 arranged on the sheet 01, whereby the individual printed product 03 is, for example, a banknote to be produced or another document having at least one characteristic feature 04, in particular a security feature. A security feature is to be understood as a characteristic property that proves the authenticity of this document and at least makes it considerably more difficult to forge this document. The panels are arranged in the printed image 02 on the sheet 01 in several, e.g. two to eleven, in particular six columns a; b; c; d; e; f and in several, e.g. two to ten, lines S1; S2; S3; S4; ...; S10, in particular three to eight lines S1; S2; S3; .... When carrying out a certain production process, the the relevant sheet 01 is transported through the printing press 06 in a specific transport direction T. The arrangement of the blanks has the columns a; b; c; d; e; f in this transport direction T. The rows S1; S2; S3; S4; ... extend transversely to this transport direction T. Each individual printed product 03 should have a width b03 in the transport direction T of the sheet 01 and a length l03 transversely to the transport direction T of the sheet 01. The width b03 of an individual printed product 03 is, for example, in a range between 50 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 58 mm and 90 mm. The length l03 of an individual printed product 03 is, for example, in a range between 100 mm and 200 mm, preferably between 110 mm and 180 mm. All printed products 03 printed together on the sheet 01 should, within the permissible preset tolerances, have the same width b03 in the transport direction T of the sheet 01 and the same length l03 transverse to the transport direction T of the sheet 01.

The print image 02 printed on the originally rectangular sheet 01 has a width B in the transport direction T of the sheet 01 and initially a first length L1 perpendicular to the transport direction T, whereby this initial length L1 can change to a different second length L2 during the printing process. In particular in a steel engraving process, preferably in an intaglio printing process, the sheet 01 is subjected to very high mechanical pressure during the printing process as it passes through the printing machine 06, so that the sheet 01, which is rectangular in the unprinted state, and thus also its printed print image 02, are deformed in a particular trapezoidal shape. This deformation of the sheet 01 can make the print image 02, which is actually supposed to be rectangular, symmetrical to an isosceles trapezoid, or unequal-sided. The trailing end of the sheet 01 in the transport direction T forms the base of this trapezoid. The second length L2 of the print image 02 corresponding to this base of the trapezoid is thus in practice somewhat larger after execution of the printing process than the actually intended length L1 of the print image 02, which is in the transport direction T of the sheet 01 at the leading end of sheet 01. The increase in length, which is in the Fig.1 is indicated by the elongations V1; V2 each forming a part of the second length L2, whereby these elongations V1; V2 can differ from each other in terms of amount, is often more than 0.1% of the initial length L1 of the printed image 02 and can be up to 10 mm in total, for example.

A sheet 01 to be printed must be held by holding means during its transport through the printing press 06. In practice, grippers are often used as holding means. At least one of these grippers, preferably at least two grippers arranged at a distance from one another along the first length L1 of the print image 02, hold the sheet 01 in question at an edge region R1, which is preferably arranged at the front edge of this sheet 01 in the transport direction T and is also referred to as the gripper edge R1. The gripper edge R1 extends at the front edge of the sheet 01 in the transport direction T, which forms a boundary line, transversely to the transport direction T of this sheet 01 over a width r1 directed in the transport direction T of this sheet 01, the width r1 of the gripper edge R1 being in a range, for example, between 15 mm and 35 mm. A margin region R2; R3 with an associated width r2; r3 directed transversely to the transport direction T of this sheet 01 is also formed on the right and left edges of the sheet 01, each of which extends longitudinally to the transport direction T of the sheet 01 and forms a boundary line. These margin regions R2; R3 are also each referred to as a side margin R2; R3. The respective width r2: r3 of the relevant side margin R2; R3 lies in a range, for example, between 5 mm and 30 mm, whereby the widths r2; r3 of these margin regions R2; R3 can be the same or different in terms of amount. The gripper edge R1 and the two side margins R2; R3 enclose the print image 02 having multiple copies printed on the sheet 01 on three sides. Optionally, a border area extending longitudinally to the second length L2 of the print image 02 is also provided on the rear edge of the sheet 01 in the transport direction T, which again forms a boundary line, whereby the width of the border at the trailing end of the Sheet 01 is in a range e.g. between 5 mm and 40 mm.

The individual printed products 03 formed on the relevant sheet 01 each have, for example, at least one characteristic feature 04, wherein a position of the relevant characteristic feature 04 arranged in the printed image 02 is determined or at least can be determined by assigning coordinates, wherein these preferably Cartesian coordinates x; y are defined with reference to respectively predetermined boundary lines, for example of the printed image 02 or of the relevant printed product 03. In the Fig.1 On the sheet 01 shown as an example, the reference point P, i.e. the coordinate origin for coordinates x; y for identifying the position of a characteristic feature 04 in at least one of the printed products 03 generated by the printed image 02, is located, for example, in the right-hand corner on the front side of this printed image 02 in the transport direction T of the sheet 01. A deformation of the sheet 01 and the printed image 02 applied to it due to the printing process changes the respective length l03 and/or the respective width b03 of individual printed products 03, whereby such a change must not exceed a deviation from corresponding target values of, for example, ± 1 mm, particularly in the case of printed products 03 each designed as a banknote. However, with the trapezoidal deformation of the sheet 01 and the printed image 02 applied to it, the position of the relevant characteristic feature 04 also changes relative to the specified boundary lines of the relevant printed product 03. Such a change in the position of the relevant characteristic feature 04 must not exceed a deviation from the target position of, for example, ± 1 mm, particularly in the case of printed products 03 each designed as a banknote. If these permissible preset tolerances are exceeded, the relevant printed products 03, particularly if they each form a banknote, must be removed from the ongoing production process as waste and/or destroyed.

The printed products 03 printed using the multi-sheet technology can be clearly identified with regard to their respective position on the respective sheet 01 because each of these printed products 03 has an identification feature 09. For example, each of these printed products 03 is provided with a serial number that runs consecutively in the production process. In addition, each sheet 01 processed in the production process can preferably also be provided with a sheet number, for example, so that even in a production process comprising several sheets 01, the respective position of each of the printed products 03 printed in this production process can be clearly identified. Alternatively, the number of each sheet 01 can be calculated using the numbering scheme used with the sheet numbers contained in a previously defined range and the known number of multi-sheets, i.e. of printed products 03 on each of the sheets 01.

In an industrial printing process for producing banknotes carried out with a printing machine 06, the aim is to produce at least 100,000 banknotes per hour, preferably up to 600,000 banknotes per hour. To this end, the printing machine 06 prints a large number of sheets 01 one after the other, each with an identical print image 02. As shown in the Fig.2 As indicated, the sheets 01 each printed with several copies are fed to a cutting system 07 arranged downstream of the printing machine 06 in the production process in order to separate the printed products 03, each of which forms a banknote, which are printed using the copy technology. The separation of the printed products 03 takes place in the cutting system 07 by, for example, sequentially carrying out straight cuts, by means of which cuts the printed sheet 01 in question is cut step by step into several strips corresponding to the respective columns a; b; c; d; e; f and/or rows S1; S2; S3; S4; ...; S10 of the copy arrangement. The individual cutting lines should run in such a way that the respective length l03 and/or the respective width b03 of individual printed products 03, each of which forms a banknote, for example, and/or the position of the respective characteristic feature 04 with reference to the respective Target position, despite a deformation of the sheet 01 and the print image 02 applied to it due to the printing process, the respective specified and/or preset tolerances for the respective print products 03 are adhered to as best as possible in the sense of a "best fit" adjustment and are not exceeded. The "best fit" adjustment is carried out by applying a mathematical optimization method. The optimization method can, for example, include calculating an average over several recorded or determined individual values, calculating a standard deviation and/or taking a certain quartile (0%, 25%, 50% (= median), 75%, 100%) into account. A compensation calculation or a computationally performed approximation procedure can also be used as a mathematical optimization method. Depending on the optimization method selected, the production process can focus more on the quality of the print products 03 produced or on the quantity of the print products 03 to be produced. The "best fit" adjustment can therefore be made as needed in the sense that in a certain production process either as many printed products 03 as possible are produced with a quality that is just good enough or a high-quality production is carried out with a comparatively smaller number of printed products 03. This decision can be made individually before or at the start of production by choosing the appropriate optimization method.

Compliance with the permissible preset tolerances is checked in a quality control device 08 downstream of the cutting system 07 in the production flow and is preferably continuously monitored in the relevant production process. The quality control device 08 has, for example, a preferably optoelectronic, in particular camera-based inspection system and subjects the previously created printed products 03, for example, to an individual test. Information determined by the quality control device 08, in particular regarding a deviation from at least one of the permissible tolerances, as well as the position of the at least one of the aforementioned Defects in the printed product 03 that exceed tolerances are preferably reported back to the cutting system 07 directly and/or in real time.

Again Fig.3 As can be seen from the drawing, the cutting system 07, which is only shown schematically as an example, has, in conjunction with at least one cutting device 11 which is arranged in a stationary manner in this cutting system 07 and preferably carries out straight cuts, a cutting table 13 which can be rotated, for example, about a preferably vertical axis 12 in a horizontal plane, on which cutting table 13 a sheet 01 to be cut into strips is placed or can at least be placed. The cutting table 13 can be rotated about the axis 12, preferably in both circumferential directions, by an angle of rotation ϕ indicated by a direction of rotation arrow, the rotational movement being driven by a drive 14 controlled by a control unit 21. A sheet 01 which is placed on this cutting table 13 in a direction of rotation, for example. The sheet 01 to be cut, which rests in a position predetermined by stops 16, is held there preferably by clamps 17 controlled by the control unit 21 and/or can be pushed over the cutting table 13, in particular in the transport direction T of the sheet 01, when at least one slide 18 moved by a drive 19 is actuated accordingly. The information fed back from the quality control device 08 to the control unit 21 of the cutting system 07 is used in particular to control the rotational movement of the cutting table 13 of the cutting system 07 and/or the feed of the sheet 01 to be cut over the cutting table 13, each relative to the cutting device 11, in such a way that the respective length l03 and/or the respective width b03 of individual sheets 01, e.g. B. a banknote forming printed products 03 and/or the position of the relevant characteristic feature 04 with reference to the respective target position despite a particularly trapezoidal deformation of the sheet 01 and the printed image 02 applied to it due to the printing process, the respective tolerances specified with regard to the respective printed products 03 are adhered to as best as possible, e.g. in the sense of a "best fit" adjustment, whereby here too the "best fit" adjustment is carried out by applying a mathematical optimization method. The As already mentioned, the optimization method can be selected according to the production requirements to be carried out.

Against the background of the problem outlined, a method for separating printed products 03 printed together on a sheet 01 is now proposed, wherein printed products 03 printed together on the sheet 01 in a printing press 06 are separated in a cutting system 07 arranged downstream of the printing press 06 with a cutting device 11 that preferably makes straight cuts. Each of these printed products 03 has an identification feature 09 that clearly identifies its respective position on the sheet 01. The unprinted sheet 01 is rectangular. Since the sheet 01 is deformed in particular trapezoidally as it passes through the printing press 06, the separated printed products 03 are also deformed as a result of the deformation of the sheet 01. The individual printed products 03 are therefore checked in a quality inspection device 08 downstream of the cutting system 07 for compliance with a permissible tolerance at least with regard to their respective length l03 and/or width b03, wherein the quality inspection device 08 determines for each printed product 03 identified with regard to its position on the basis of its identification feature 09 information regarding an exceedance of the permissible tolerance at least with regard to the length l03 and/or width b03 of the printed product 03 in question. The quality control device 08 transmits this information determined by it in an assignment to the position determined on the sheet 01 using the identification feature 09 to a control unit 21 of the cutting system 07, wherein the control unit 21 of the cutting system 07, depending on the information transmitted by the quality control device 08, adjusts the respective sheet 01 and the cutting device 11 in their respective positions relative to each other for similar printed products 03 to be subsequently separated in the cutting system 07 and arranged at the same position on the sheet 01 in such a way that the respective preset tolerance is best achieved for each of the printed products 03 to be separated. is maintained, whereby the best possible adherence to the relevant tolerance is achieved by calculating the respective positions of the sheet 01 and the cutting device 11 to be set relative to one another in the control unit 21 - as already mentioned - by applying a mathematical optimization method. The setting of the relevant sheet 01 and the cutting device 11 in their respective positions relative to one another is therefore carried out after application of the relevant mathematical optimization method, ie in accordance with the position calculated using the relevant mathematical optimization method. The permissible preset tolerance of at least the length l03 and/or width b03 of the relevant printed product 03 and/or the permissible preset tolerance in the change in the position of the relevant at least one characteristic feature 04 are thus preferably set in the control unit 21 of the cutting system 07.

Since each individual printed product 03 also has at least one characteristic feature 04 at a specific position of the relevant printed image 02, the position of the relevant characteristic feature 04 also changes as a rule due to the deformation of the sheet 01 and the printed image 02 applied to it, particularly due to the printing process. Therefore, for each printed product 03 identified by its identification feature 09, the quality inspection device 08 also determines information regarding an exceedance of the permissible tolerance in the change in the position of the relevant at least one characteristic feature 04, wherein the quality inspection device 08 then also transmits this information to the control unit 21 of the cutting system 07 for setting the respective relative position of the sheet 01 and the cutting device 11.

The sheets 01 are printed by the printing machine 06 preferably using a steel engraving process or an intaglio printing process. The sheet 01 is printed on one side and/or both sides with a print image 02. In the preferred embodiment, several, usually seamlessly arranged, Printed products 03 in the print image 02 on the sheet 01 are arranged in a plurality of columns a; b; c; d; e; f extending in the transport direction T of the sheet 01 and in a plurality of rows S1; S2; S3; S4; ... extending transversely to the transport direction T of the sheet 01, wherein for all printed products 03 printed together on the sheet 01, an identical width b03 in the transport direction T of the sheet 01 and an identical length l03 transversely to the transport direction T of the sheet 01 and an identification feature 09 that clearly identifies their respective position on the sheet 01 is specified, e.g. by law or by the customer. The individual printed products 03 are each formed into a banknote, for example, and/or each of the printed products 03 is provided as its respective identification feature 09, preferably with a serial number that runs consecutively in the production process. A camera-based inspection system is used in particular as the quality control device 08.

The printed products 03 printed together on the sheet 01 are separated in a cutting system 07 arranged downstream of the printing press 06 in the transport direction T of the sheets 01, wherein the cutting system 07 has at least one cutting device 11 and, for example, a cutting table 13 that can be adjusted relative to the relevant cutting device 11 at least in terms of its angle of rotation ϕ. A sheet 01 resting on the cutting table 13 of the cutting system 07, preferably to be cut into strips, is also preferably controlled in its feed relative to the cutting device 11 by the control unit 21 in such a way that the respective tolerances specified with regard to the respective printed products 03 are adhered to as best as possible. The best possible compliance with the specified tolerances is achieved by calculating an adjustment of the angle of rotation ϕ of the cutting table 13 and/or an adjustment of the feed of the sheet 01, which is preferably to be cut into strips and is resting on the cutting table 13 of the cutting system 07, in the control unit 21 by applying a mathematical optimization method.

In an industrial printing process carried out with a printing machine 06 for When producing banknotes, a large number of sheets 01 are usually printed and then fed sequentially to the cutting system 07 to separate the respective printed products 03. The individual printed products 03 are then checked for compliance with tolerances in the quality control device 08, as described. In order to avoid individual outliers in the exceedance of a predetermined tolerance determined by the control unit 21 of the cutting system 07 leading to a sudden change in the setting of the angle of rotation ϕ of the cutting table 13 and/or the setting of the feed of the sheet 01 resting on the cutting table 13 of the cutting system 07 and preferably to be cut into strips, the preferred embodiment provides that the setting of the respective relative position of the sheet 01 and cutting device 11 for similar printed products 03 that are subsequently to be separated in the cutting system 07 and are arranged in the same position on the sheet 01 is adjusted only on the basis of repeatedly determined information regarding an exceedance of the permissible tolerance of at least the length l03 and/or width b03 of the printed product 03 in question and/or repeatedly determined information regarding an exceedance of the permissible tolerance in the change in the position of the at least one characteristic feature 04 in question. B. it is provided that the control unit 21 of the cutting system 07 evaluates a stack of several, e.g. ten consecutive sheets 01 and the deviations from a setpoint value determined in each case are averaged, for example, before the control unit 21 of the cutting system 07 adjusts the setting of the respective relative position of sheets 01 and cutting device 11 for similar printed products 03 to be separated in the cutting system 07 and arranged in the same position on the sheet 01. The adjustment is therefore preferably only carried out if, for example, the average value determined in each case exceeds the relevant tolerance. A different weighting can also be carried out for sheets 01 to be evaluated, e.g. in such a way that the first or the first sheets 01 of a stack and/or the last or the last sheets 01 of a stack are weighted more heavily in the evaluation than, for example, the middle sheets 01 of the relevant stack.

List of reference symbols

01

arc

02

Print image

03

Print product

04

characteristic feature

05

-

06

Printing machine

07

Cutting system

08

Quality control facility

09

Identification feature

10

-

11

Cutting device

12

axis

13

Cutting table

14

Drive (13)

15

-

16

attack

17

Clamp

18

Slider

19

Drive (18)

20

-

21

Control unit

a; b; c; d; e; f

Split

S1; S2; S3; S4; ...

Line

b03

Width (03)

l03

Length (03)

B

Width (02)

L1

Length (02)

L2

Length (02)

R1

Edge area; gripper edge

R2

margin area; page margin

R3

margin area; page margin

T

Transport direction

V1

strain

V2

strain

P

Reference point

x

Coordinate along length (02)

y

Coordinate along the width (02)

ϕ

Angle of rotation

Claims (15)

1. Method for separating printed products (03) that are printed together onto a sheet (01), wherein printed products (03) that are printed together onto the sheet (01) in a printing press (06) are separated by means of a cutting device (11) in a cutting system (07) located downstream of the printing press (06), wherein each of these printed products (03) has an identification feature (09) that identifies its respective position on the sheet (01), wherein the unprinted sheet (01) is rectangular in shape and becomes deformed as it passes through the printing press (06), characterized in that the separated printed products (03), which are likewise deformed as a result of the deformation of the sheet (01), are inspected in a quality control device (08) located downstream of the cutting system (07) for compliance with a permissible preset tolerance, at least with regard to the respective length (103) and/or width (b03) of said printed products, wherein for each printed product (03) that has been identified in terms of its position based on its identification feature (09), the quality control device (08) detects information relating to an exceeding of the permissible tolerance at least for the length (103) and/or width (b03) of the printed product (03) in question, wherein the quality control device (08) transmits this information detected by it, assigning said information to the position identified on the sheet (01), to a control unit (21) of the cutting system (07), wherein, based on the information transmitted by the quality control device (08), for similar printed products (03) that are arranged in the same position on the sheet (01) and will be separated subsequently in the cutting system (07), the control unit (21) of the cutting system (07) adjusts the relevant sheet (01) and the cutting device (11) in their respective positions relative to one another in such a way that each of the printed products (03) to be separated complies optimally with the respective preset tolerance, wherein the optimal compliance with the relevant tolerance is achieved in that the position of the sheet (01) and the cutting device (11) to be adjusted relative to one another is calculated in the control unit (21) using a mathematical optimization method, wherein the sheet (01) containing the printed products (03) to be separated is placed on a cutting table (13) in the cutting system (07), wherein the control unit (21) of the cutting system (07) adjusts the position of the sheet (01) to be cut, which is lying on the cutting table (13), in relation to the cutting device (11) of the cutting system (07) in accordance with the position calculated by means of the mathematical optimization method.
2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the sheet (01) containing the printed products (03) to be separated is placed in the cutting system (07) onto a cutting table (13) that is adjustable at least in terms of its angle of rotation (ϕ), the adjustment of the angle of rotation (ϕ) of the cutting table (13) being calculated using the mathematical optimization method.
3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit (21) of the cutting system (07) adjusts the position of the sheet (01) to be cut, which is lying on the cutting table (13), in relation to the cutting device (11) of the cutting system (07) by calculating the adjustment of a forward feed of the sheet (01) using the mathematical optimization method.
4. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3, characterized in that each individual printed product (03) has at least one characteristic feature (04) at a specific position in the print image (02) in question, wherein the deformation of the sheet (01) and of the print image (02) applied to it also changes the position of the characteristic feature (04) in question, wherein, for each printed product (03) that has been identified on the basis of its identification feature (09), the quality control device (08) also detects information relating to an exceeding of the permissible preset tolerance by the change in the position of the at least one characteristic feature (04) in question, and wherein the quality control device (08) also transmits this information to the control unit (21) of the cutting system (07) for adjustment of the respective positions of sheet (01) and cutting device (11) in relation to one another.
5. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4, characterized in that the printing press (06) prints the sheet (01) in a steel engraving process or in an intaglio printing process, and/or in that the printed products (03) are each in the form of a banknote.
6. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5, characterized in that each of the printed products (03) is furnished with a serial number that is sequential within the production process as its respective identification feature (09) .
7. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6, characterized in that a camera-based inspection system is used as the quality control device (08).
8. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, characterized in that an equalization calculation or a computational approximation method is used as the mathematical optimization method.
9. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8, characterized in that the mathematical optimization method includes computing a mean value from multiple recorded or determined individual values and/or calculating a standard deviation and/or factoring in a specific quartile (0%, 25%, 50% (= median), 75%, 100%).
10. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9, characterized in that the sheet (01) is deformed trapezoidally as it passes through the printing press (06).
11. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10, characterized in that, for similar printed products (03) that are arranged in the same position on the sheet (01) and will be subsequently separated in the cutting system (07), the setting of the respective positions of sheet (01) and cutting device (11) in relation to one another is adjusted only on the basis of repeatedly detected information regarding an exceeding of the permissible preset tolerance, at least for the length (103) and/or width (b03) of the printed product (03) in question, and/or on the basis of repeatedly detected information regarding an exceeding of the permissible preset tolerance for the change in the position of the at least one characteristic feature (04) in question.
12. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11, characterized in that a pile of multiple sequential sheets (01) is evaluated by the control unit (21) of the cutting system (07) before the control unit (21) of the cutting system (07) adjusts the setting of the respective positions of sheet (01) and cutting device (11) relative to one another for similar printed products (03) that are arranged at the same position on the sheet (01) and will be separated subsequently in the cutting system (07).
13. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12, characterized in that the choice of mathematical optimization method to be applied establishes whether, in a given production process, a maximum number of printed products (03) of adequate quality will be produced or a comparatively smaller number of high-quality printed products (03) will be produced.
14. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13, characterized in that the permissible preset tolerance at least for the length (103) and/or width (b03) of the printed product (03) in question and/or the permissible preset tolerance for the change in the position of the at least one characteristic feature (04) in question can be adjusted in the control unit (21) of the cutting system (07).
15. Method according to claim 1 or 2 or 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7 or 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14, characterized in that the printed products (03) printed together as multiple copies on the respective sheet (01) are arranged on each sheet in multiple columns (a; b; c; d; e; f) and in multiple rows (S1; S2; S3; S4; ...; S10), and each of the respective printed sheets (01) is cut progressively into multiple strips corresponding to the respective columns (a; b; c; d; e; f) and/or rows (S1; S2; S3; S4; ...; S10) of the multiple-up arrangement.

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