WO2001021416A1

WO2001021416A1 - Method and device for the production and packing of documents

Info

Publication number: WO2001021416A1
Application number: PCT/CH2000/000511
Authority: WO
Inventors: Alexander Auer
Original assignee: Alexander Auer
Priority date: 1999-09-23
Filing date: 2000-09-21
Publication date: 2001-03-29
Also published as: AU6977800A

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for the production and packing of individual confidential documents directly from a server (30), or a customer's computer taking into account all aspects relevant to security. Each document (90) has a report (66) and an archive file on a CD-R (70) or DVD write system created by a process computer (60) without having to view the customer data in plain text. The inventive method permits numerous optimizations with regard to format choice, shipping costs and programming requirements while meeting all security demands. In a device for executing said method, a digital printing system (20) is described, connected to a packing machine (100) via a collector unit (220), reader unit (240), a weighing unit (260) and a buffer unit (280) and controlled by a process computer (60). Thus the on-line processing of print jobs, from creation of the print file to the sealed, ready to send envelope is made possible with comprehensive reporting in an electronic archive.

Description

Process and installation for the production and packaging of documents

The present invention relates to a method for producing and packaging documents according to claim 1 and a system for carrying out this method according to claim 10.

Known high-performance printing units and packaging machines are shown schematically in FIG. 1.

A high-performance printing unit 1, which processes roll material 2, supplies printed roll material 2 'or, if cut accordingly in a further work step, the stack material 2 "or a single sheet stack.

Furthermore, a high-performance printing unit 1 'is known, which processes stack material 3 and supplies printed stack material 3'. Missing copies are generally recognized and separated out in a separate cassette 4. These copies will be reprinted later. The printed roll material 2 ', the printed stack material 2 "and the printed stack material 3', hereinafter briefly referred to as printed matter, are generally coded for identification purposes. This is often done by means of printed bar codes (bar codes), so-called EAN codes, which This coded printed matter is available for the packaging step. The coded printed matter is now fed into packaging machines 5 or 5 ', either as printed roll material 2' or as printed stacked material 3 ' is generally carried out offline, ie a new work step follows, which can possibly also take place geographically at a different location. The printed roll material 2 'is previously cut to the single sheet 6 and fed to the packaging machine 5, which delivers the envelopes, for example C4, from a stack 7 or teaches C5 and a sealed envelope on spout 8 ag 9 delivers. The printed stack material 3 'is similar to the packaging machine 5' fed, which teaches the envelopes from a stack 7 'and delivers sealed envelopes 9' at the ejection 8 '. Packaging errors are recognized and, if they also affect the document, lead to tedious rework. A disadvantage of this packaging process is the reading of the coded printed matter, without which no secure processing can be guaranteed, especially not when there are high security requirements, such as is the case in banking and insurance.

The object of the present invention is therefore, while avoiding the mentioned

Disadvantages of a method for the production and processing of documents in digital

Specify or provide form, the printing and packaging of which takes place in one step, operation or process on-line.

Another task is to describe an installation for carrying out the method.

The object is achieved by a method according to claim 1 and an installation according to claim 10.

The procedure and the associated system are described below. Show it:

Fig. 1 Schematic compilation of known procedures for

Printers and packaging machines

Fig. 2 Schematic representation of a plant for manufacturing and on-line

Processing and packaging of documents

Fig. 3 Schematic structure of a collector / buffer unit

The following terms are defined in the present invention:

A document is any number of one-sided or two-sided and printed finished S3 "1ιe ^r tn individual farmers to which a job tick belongs

A job ticket is an electronic label that is assigned to each document. It contains information about the identification, the number of pages, the beginning and the end of the document and information about the supplements belonging to the document

A mail piece contains the electronic information for the production, processing and packaging of documents with the accompanying inserts in a sealed envelope

A job is the product generated by means of a mail piece, consisting of a document with the accompanying inserts in a sealed envelope

A print job is a number of one or more jobs to be processed by a customer and is generated on a customer computer or server as a mail piece

A completed print job in the narrower sense is a number of one or more partially processed jobs of a customer after leaving the digital printing systems and is in the form of documents that are fed to the collector / buffer unit

A completed print job in the broad sense is a number of one or more jobs of a customer after leaving the

and is in the form of addressed, closed envelopes

Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a plant for the production and on-lme processing and packaging of documents

Two digital printing systems 20 and 20 'are connected to a server 30, which in turn can be connected to a customer computer. On the output side, the digital printing systems 20 and 20' are each connected to a collector / buffer unit 200 and 200 ^' , which is connected to a packaging machine 100 in Connect By installing two or more digital printing systems working in parallel, the performance of the packaging machine is used efficiently. At the same time, this results in a welcome redundancy on the printer side, which can be essential or essential to meet any security criteria.

After leaving the collector / buffer unit 200 and 200 ', the documents 101 and 101' reach a transport mechanism of the packaging machine and are conveyed in the direction of the arrow, where they pass a first error ejection 110. At this point, incompletely printed and / or incorrect documents are eliminated.

The packaging machine 100 then has a C4 packaging module 140, comprising a folding and feeder unit 145, via which one or more inserts can be selectively added to the documents, a C4 tower 142, which stacks and inserts the C4-packed documents second error ejection 144, a so-called C4 ejection, which rejects incompletely and / or incorrectly packaged documents. Coupled to the C4 packaging module 140 is a further C5 packaging module 150, comprising a folding and feeder unit 155, via which one or more inserts can be selectively added to the documents, a C5 tower 152, which the C5 packaged documents and a third error ejection 154, a so-called C5 ejection, which rejects incompletely and / or incorrectly packed documents. The selective addition of inserts is understood to mean the possibility of adding the specified or prescribed number of inserts to each document according to the job ticket, which is done by the process control of the system based on the electronic mail piece.

To control the system, means for process control 300 are provided, which include a server 30, a process computer 60 with a storage unit 62 and a control printer 65. The process computer 60 is connected to the digital printing systems 20, 20 'via first lines 21, 21', to the collector / buffer units 200, 200 'via second lines 51, 51', to the packaging modules 140 via third lines 141, 151, 150 and via a fourth line 31 to the server 30. The server 30 is connected via fifth lines 22, 22 'to the digital printing systems 20, 20' and Via a sixth line 71 with means for archiving 400, such as connected to a CD-R writing system 70 or a DVD writing system. Of course, any other storage medium can be used as a means of archiving. This results in the following essential advantage at the same time as the pressure on the Digital printing systems 20, 20 ', the electronic print image generated is snapped in electronic form onto a data or archive carrier. This makes it possible, using appropriate software, to search for information on the print image of the individual mail piece and in the documents on the archive carrier using search functions

The print files generated, for example, from a customer computer are transferred directly into the printing process and the packaging control, ie fed to the means of the process control 300. Via the server 30, the digital printing systems 20, 20 are online with the collector / buffer unit 200, 200 ' digitally controlled packaging machine 100 coordinates or controls what is done by means of the process computer 60

Digital printing systems and packaging machines generally have their own operating software, which was provided for the respective off-door operation. According to the invention, a higher-level software, a so-called master software, is now provided and installed on the process computer 60, which coordinates the entire process flow and ensures the flawless on-line operation of the composite system of digital printing systems and packaging machines

Printing systems and packaging machine as a whole form an automated production unit for the production of personalized and individual documents with a controlled workflow.This enables compliance with the highest level of confidentiality throughout the entire process, from automatic document production in digital form to the packaged envelope or sealed envelope, with several Selectable inserts are guaranteed. Essential features are the report 66, which is created simultaneously on the printer 65, and the simultaneous electronic back-up on the archiving means 400, such as, for example, on the CD-R writing system 70 or a DVD writing system. Unit 200 forms the mechanical and electronic interface between the digital printing systems 20, 20 'and the packaging machine 100. Depending on the embodiment, the collector / buffer unit 200 can also be integrated into the packaging machine 100, as will be described later.

3 shows the schematic structure of a collector / buffer unit which is located between the digital printing system 20 and the packaging machine 100. The collector / buffer unit 200 consists of a collector unit 220, a reading unit 240, a weighing unit 260 and a buffer unit 280, these four units being traversed by the documents in any order.

The collector unit 220 essentially consists of, for example, a horizontally arranged first transport mechanism 52 on which the individual sheets listed by the digital printing system 20 are stacked or collected in an orderly manner until the document 90 is complete. It is controlled from the process computer. As soon as the document is complete, the transport mechanism is activated and conveys the document into the reading unit 240 adjacent to the collecting unit 220.

The reading unit 240 essentially consists of at least one video camera and / or at least one reading head 53, and a second transport mechanism 56, for example arranged horizontally, with which the document 90 is conveyed into the reading station. In the reading station, the document is read on one or both sides and identified and compared and verified with the electronic mail piece. All common codes such as barcode, 2D, OCR, OMR, BCR and the like are processed in the reading station. The reading unit 240 is controlled from the process computer. As soon as the verification has been successfully completed, the transport mechanism 56 is activated and the document is conveyed into the adjacent weighing unit 260

The weighing unit 260 essentially consists of a weighing platform 57 and, for example, a third transport mechanism 58 arranged horizontally, with which the document 90 is conveyed onto the weighing platform. The weight of the document 90 is determined on this and compared with the weight specified by the process computer for the document / mail piece. The weighing unit 260 is used by the process computer controlled from. As soon as the verification of the weight has been successfully completed and the determined weight of the document 90 has possibly been fed to a postage meter machine, the transport mechanism 58 is activated and the document is conveyed into the adjacent buffer unit 280.

The buffer unit 280 serves to compensate for any delays in the packaging machine 100. The buffer unit 280 is controlled by the process computer. As soon as the packaging machine 100 is ready, a fourth transport mechanism 59 is activated and the document is conveyed into the adjacent packaging machine 100.

In the event of a malfunction in the collector / buffer unit 200, as well as in the digital printing systems 20, 20 ', or in the event of incorrect printing or an incomplete document, the document on the packaging machine 100 is eliminated or ejected when the first error 110 is ejected. At the same time, a so-called reprint function is triggered on the process computer. This process is explicitly recorded in report 66. The separated, incomplete or incorrect documents are kept separately for the customer's control and any control and, after approval by the customer, destroyed in accordance with the security requirements. The generated electronic archive copy is not saved. The electronic print image provided for archiving is deleted in the event of a fault and / or incomplete production, which lead to a reprint. This process is also recorded on the report.

By using appropriate standard software for data creation and the workflow and using modular construction and control groups in the server, printing and packaging process, the highest possible operational reliability is achieved.

By connecting two different packaging machines, e.g. for formats C4 and C5, the selection according to the postage class is moved to the end of the process chain. A preselection in the documents during their preparation is therefore not necessary. The method according to the invention ensures optimum productivity and safety Unit There is no multiple data calculation and sorting according to the weight and size of the mail piece, which results in a very significant reduction in computing time.By operating two digital printing systems in parallel, at least 50% production capacity is retained in the event of a system failure of one printing component, which is the reason for the Processing of time-critical documents is very advantageous. The C4 system can be converted to C5 processing in just a few steps. If the C4 system fails, the documents can be controlled in front of the C5 system

The following example explains the present invention in detail, without claiming to have fully described the technical potential according to the invention

A plant for processing a bank print job is described as an exemplary embodiment, the structure of which essentially corresponds to that described in FIG. 2

Two digital printing systems (Fa Oce, Germany) are arranged in parallel, both of which have the operating software 'PRISMA'. which has operating software 'PRIME / AUI / ICS

This packaging machine 100 has a connected collector / buffer unit 200, in which the collector unit 220, the reading unit 240, the weighing unit 260 and the buffer unit 280 are arranged vertically as modules. The collector / buffer unit 200 is designed on the printer side in such a way that it serves as a transfer unit for the documents and mechanically firmly connects the digital printing systems 20, 20 'to the collector / buffer unit 200. The corresponding electrical connections are based on the DOMAIN-LAN, a network between the digital printing systems and the Packaging machine, as well as the interfaces (interfaces) DMl (Desktop Management Interface) and ODBC (Open DataBase Connectivity) In the case of continuous printing, in which continuous paper webs are printed and output, a sheet cutting device is provided on a process computer of the SUN-Solans type the UNIX operating system a master or operating software is installed, via which the entire process can be controlled and coordinated. The printing and packaging of documents and inserts are controlled and on-line.

Surprising advantages are achieved with the method according to the invention:

Removal of set-up operations in the off-line mode with single sheet processing and the associated error possibilities.

Elimination of placement / reading devices in front of the packaging system.

Eliminate the programming effort of two packaging machines (C4 / C5).

Elimination of data presorting according to the formats C4 or C5 when choosing the format for postage optimization on the server or on the customer computer.

Elimination of dead times in the process.

Creation of redundancy through parallel switching of printing units.

Use the efficiency of the packaging machine.

Complete document control in a single operation.

In the event of an error, the system is equipped with a reprint function without requiring access to customer data.

At the same time as the document is printed, at least one identical archive file is stored on an archive carrier, e.g. CD-ROM generated.

Exclusion from any access to customer data during the entire process, starting with data preparation for printing and

Packaging process up to the closed envelope.

Ensuring various security standards.

Essential to the invention is the production and packaging of individual and confidential documents directly from a server or customer computer, taking into account all security-relevant aspects. This makes the process and system particularly suitable for the processing of print jobs in banking and insurance, where, as is well known, there are high security requirements.

Claims

claims:

1. A method for producing and packaging documents, characterized in that a print file is loaded onto at least one digital printing system (20) and at least one document (90) with associated job ticket or mail piece is printed on it, that the document (90) after the printing process is fed to a collector / buffer unit (200) in which it is identified and verified that the document (90) is fed after the collector / buffer unit (200) to a packaging machine (100) in which it then packaged in envelopes (142, 152), and that the process and the packaging process are carried out on-line by means of the process control (300).

2. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the document (90) is supplemented with at least one supplement on the packaging machine (100).

3. The method according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that an electronic archive copy of the document (90) is simultaneously generated by means of archiving (400).

4. The method according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that a process computer (60) with a memory unit (62) is provided as the means of the process control (300), the server (30), the digital printing system (20), the collector / Buffer unit (200), the packaging machine (100), a printer (65) and the means of archiving (400) controls, for each document a report (66) on the printer (65) and at the same time via the means of Archiving an electronic archive copy of the document is generated on a CD-R writing system (70) or a DVD writing system.

5. The method according to any one of claims 1-4, characterized in that the collector / buffer unit (200) from a collector unit (220), a reading unit (240), a weighing unit (260) and one Buffer unit (280), these four units in any order of their enumeration of each document (90) run through and controlled and registered by the process computer (60).

6. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that in the collector unit (220), the individual sheets listed by the digital printing system (20) are stacked or collected until the document (90) is complete and then via a first transport mechanism (52) is conveyed into the reading unit (240) such that in the reading unit (240) each individual sheet of the document (90) is read on one or both sides by at least one video camera (53) or at least one reading head and the Read information is identified and verified with parts of the print file and the document (90) is then conveyed into the weighing unit (260) via a second transport mechanism (56), so that the document (90) is weighed in the weighing unit (260) , the determined weight is compared with parts of the print file, verified and then conveyed via a third transport mechanism (58) into the buffer unit (280), and that in the buffer unit (280) the document ( 90) is held in a waiting position in order to compensate for and compensate for any delays in the packaging machine (100), and is then fed to the packaging machine (100) via a fourth transport mechanism (59).

7. The method according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the weight of the document (90) determined in the weighing unit (260) is fed to a franking machine.

8. The method according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that each document (90) in the event of an error, be it in the printing process or in the packaging process, is generated by the process computer (60) in the report (66), which is the rework enables without having to view the customer file, which means that security-related aspects are preserved.

9. The method according to any one of claims 1-8, characterized in that the packaging optimization is carried out directly or without data presorting according to document size and scope.

10. Plant for performing the method according to one of claims 1-9, comprising at least one digital printing system (20) and at least one packaging machine (100), characterized in that the at least one digital printing system (20) is mechanically and electronically connected to at least one packaging machine (100) via at least one collector / buffer unit (200), and that means for on-line process control (300) are provided

1 1 system according to claim 10, characterized in that means for archiving (400) are provided

12 System according to claim 10 or 1 1, characterized in that the collector / buffer unit (200), a collector unit (220), a reading unit (240), a weighing unit (260) and a buffer unit (280), each of these units being connected to the means for on-line process control (300)

13. System according to one of claims 10 - 12, characterized in that the means for process control (300) have a process computer (60) with a memory unit (62) and a control printer (65), the process computer (60) via first lines (21 , 21 ') with the at least one digital printing system (20), via second lines (51, 51') with the at least one collector / buffer unit (200) and via third lines (141, 151) with the packaging modules (140, 150 ) is connected to the packaging machine (100), and that the means for process control (300) further comprise the control programs which enable on-the-control control of the system

14 System according to one of claims 10-13, characterized in that the means for archiving (400) have a CD-R writing system (70) or a DVD writing system which serves to record the documents and which is connected via a fifth line (71 ) is connected to the server (30)

15 Use of the system according to one of claims 10 - 14 in banking and insurance, where the exclusion of any access to customer data during the entire process, starting with the data preparation for the printing and packaging process up to the closed, ready for dispatch Envelope is required.