EP1997646A2 - Facility and method for processing printed material - Google Patents

Abstract

The system has a feeding arrangement for printed matter, and a handling system. Read stations (2,6) lie in the transportation path of the printed matter. The read stations provide information assigned to the printed matter as signals of a system control. The system control partially adjusts the system in automatic manner for executing application. An independent claim is also included for a method for processing of printed matter.

Description

The invention relates to a system for processing printed matter according to the preamble of claim 1 and to a method for processing printed matter according to the preamble of claim 6.

The printed matters such as bank statements, leaflets, letters and the like are stacked, sorted and the like, for example. Before starting such an order or job, inputs must be made on the system manually or partially manually and partly via screen in order to set the system to the order to be executed. Often such systems are provided with multiple feeders, so then made for each feeder these settings and also the leading feeder must be defined. If the order is fulfilled, the system stops. Now, the corresponding entries must be made for the follow-up order and the attachment must be set to the follow-up order. The operators must have knowledge of job entry, job setup, and system configuration. When entering or setting up the system, errors may occur that affect the processing security of the printed matter. In addition, a production interruption is necessary every time the order is changed. If many jobs are run with only a small number of printed products, the productivity of the system is reduced.

The invention has the object of providing the generic system and the generic method in such a way that optimum processing safety is ensured at high productivity.

This object is achieved in the generic system according to the invention with the characterizing features of claim 1 and the generic method according to the invention with the characterizing features of claim 6.

With the system according to the invention and the device according to the invention, it is possible to set the system automatically for each order to be executed. Operator inputs that could possibly lead to errors are no longer required. The information associated with the printed matter is fed in signal form to the system controller, which adjusts the system according to these signals. Due to the automatic setting of the system a continuous processing of the printed matter stream is possible. As soon as a first order has been processed, the system immediately sets the attachment for the follow-up order, which can be executed immediately afterwards. Advantageously, the information in the printed matter stream are arranged at the appropriate place, for example, printed or deposited. This information is advantageously read during processing in the system. In this way, the processing security is significantly increased and operator errors excluded.

Further features of the invention will become apparent from the other claims, the description and the drawings.

Fig. 1

in Draufsicht und in schematischer Darstellung eine erfindungsgemäße Kuvertieranlage mit zwei Systemen,

Fig. 2

in schematischer Darstellung den Produktionsfluss der Dokumentenströme in der Kuvertieranlage gemäß Fig. 1, bei dem Job 1 verarbeitet wird,

Fig. 3

in einer Darstellung entsprechend Fig. 2 den Produktionsfluss der Dokumentenströme zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt,

Fig. 4

den Produktionsfluss der Dokumentenströme während der Beendigung der Verarbeitung von Job 1.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to an embodiment shown in the drawings. Show it

Fig. 1

in plan view and in a schematic representation of an insertion system according to the invention with two systems,

Fig. 2

in a schematic representation of the production flow of the document streams in the inserter according to Fig. 1 where Job 1 is being processed,

Fig. 3

in a representation accordingly Fig. 2 the production flow of document streams at a later date,

Fig. 4

the flow of production of document streams during the completion of Job 1 processing.

In the following, using the example of an inserting machine, a print finishing unit will be explained with which automatic job control is possible. The respective machine is automatically adjusted so that it can fulfill the respective job or order. A manual adjustment of parts of the system is not required.

The method is described with reference to an inserter but is not limited to such an inserter. The process also allows other print finishing equipment to be automatically set up to perform the task at hand.

Based on Fig. 1 to 4 describes an inserter that selectively assembles and processes mailings. By way of example, the in Fig. 1 schematically shown inserting two document streams 1 and 5, which are processed in the inserter. Each document stream 1, 5 consists of printed sheets, which can be personalized documents of different types and / or formats. As an example Fig. 2 shows, the document stream 1 consists of DIN A4 sheets 10, which are in the transport direction 11 with a small distance one behind the other. The document stream 5 also consists of in the transport direction 12 at a small distance one behind the other leaves 13, which have different format in contrast to the sheets 10 of the document stream 1. The two document streams 1, 5 can of course also have the same format sheets.

The sheets 10 and 13 are combined to form a sentence or sub-sentence 3 and 7, respectively. Such a sentence or subset may be, for example, the letter content to be enveloped in an envelope. In this case, a sentence can consist of only one or several associated leaves 10, 13.

One or more related records result in a job, for example an order.

The inserter according to Fig. 1 has a (not shown) transport path on which the sheets 10 of the document stream 1 are transported lying one behind the other. This transport lane belongs to a system 1 of the inserter. On the transport path, the sheets 10 of the document stream 1 are guided to at least one reading head 2, with which codes on the sheets 10 can be read. These codes may be printed, glued or otherwise applied to the sheets 10. The code contains not only information about the sentences to be compiled with the respective sheets 10, but also information regarding the setting of the inserting machine when the order is changed.

Assembling the sheets 10 into sets is automated and is done, for example, by reading the codes on the sheets by means of the read head 2. The codes may be bar codes, 2D bar codes. The reading of the codes can also be done by OCR methods. Furthermore, transponders can be used which carry the appropriate information for readout by the read head 2.

Downstream of the reading station is a collecting station 3, in which the sheets 10 are merged to the corresponding sentence. Based on the codes, the leaves 10 belonging to a sentence are assembled automatically. Subsequently, the sentences formed in the collecting station 3 are fed to a subsequent folding station 4, in which the sentences in the desired Dimensions are folded. In what form the sentences are to be folded, the read head 2 also takes the codes.

The reading head 2, the collecting station 3 and the folding station 4 are part of the system. 1

The inserter has another system 2 through which the document stream 5 is fed. The sheets 13 of the document stream 5 are transported in succession by means of a transport device 14. The feeder of the system 2 has a 90 ° deflection, at which the leaves 13 are deflected in their transport. In the amount of feeding the document stream 1, there is a further 90 ° deflection of the transport path of the sheets 13. In this area there is at least one reading head 6, with which, similar to the read head 2, codes on the sheets 13 can be read. Based on the read codes, the leaves 13 can be combined into corresponding sentences. In addition, the codes of the sheets 13 contain information by means of which the inserter is automatically adjusted so that the order to be carried out with the sheets 13 can be carried out.

Downstream of the reading head 6 is a collecting station 7, in which the sheets 13 are combined according to the read code information to the sentences. The sentence may contain one or more leaves 13.

The reading head 6 and the collecting station 7 are part of the system 2 of the inserter.

Since both systems 1 and 2 of the inserter are each formed with a read head and a collection station, both systems can be used as leading systems optional.

Downstream of the collection station 7 is a merging station 8, in which the systems 1 and 2 or their sentences are merged.

The merging station 8 can be connected downstream of at least one inserting station 9, from which sentences can still be fed to the sentences. In the embodiment, four side dish 9 are arranged one behind the other, with which four equal supplements or different supplements can be added to the sentences.

Subsequently, the finished sets of a Einkuvertierstation 15 are supplied, in which the sentences are inserted in a known manner in envelopes. The envelopes are then collected in a collecting station 16 in a known manner.

Based on Fig. 2 to 4 The process within the inserting machine will now be explained in detail. In the illustration according to Fig. 2 Job 1 is processed. For this order, System 1 is the leading system in the inserter. The sheets 10 of the document stream 1 belonging to Job 1 are indicated by cross-hatching. These sheets 10 are first read by means of the reading head 2. According to the code information, the sheets 10 are assembled in the collecting station 3 to the set 'S12. In Fig. 2 to the right of the sentence S12 the already completed sentences S1 to S11 are shown.

Parallel to the formation of the sentences in the collecting station 3, the sheets 13 are fed in the document stream 5. For clarity, the document stream is 5 in Fig. 2 drawn parallel to the document stream 1. The belonging to the job 1 sheets 13 of the document stream 5 are marked by a frame. At the reading head 6, the code information of the sheets 13 are detected and used to assemble the sheets 13 to the set S12 in the collecting station 7 of the system 2.

The set S12 of the system 1 is folded in half in the folding station 4, folded in the Z-fold or C-fold, which in Fig. 2 is specified for the sentence S11. The set S12 of the system 2 is not folded.

The folded set S11 of the system 1 and the unfolded set S11 of the system 2 are fed to the merging station 8, in which the two sets are combined according to the code information of the sheets 10, 13 into a single set S10.

During further transport, at least one supplement 17 is fed to the assembled set from the one or more side-loading stations 9. Depending on the code information, not all sets of supplements are supplied, but only those for which a supplement 17 is provided. If there are several supplemental stations 9, different supplements can be arranged in them, so that optionally a wide variety of supplements 17 can be added to the sentences, if necessary. In Fig. 2 shows by way of example that only from two shuffling stations 9 a supplement 17 is added, this supplement is fed to the sets S3 and S5.

After passing through the enclosing stations 9, the set for job 1 is completed. Job 1 is made up as expected Fig. 3 results from a number of different sets S1 to S15, which may be the same, but also different.

Fig. 3 shows the situation in the inserter at a later date. Job 1 is still in progress while job 2 is pending. The read heads 2 and 6 read on the first sheet 10 and 13 that now the job 2 is to be executed. The read heads 2, 6 accordingly send a stop signal to the feeder, so that the document stream 1, 5 in the in Fig. 3 position is stopped. In this position, the first sheet is 10 or 13 of the two document streams 1, 5 under the respective read head 2 and 6. The job 1 will continue executed until all sheets 10, 13 are merged for job 1 and finished.

Fig. 4 shows the final phase in the execution of the job 1. The leaves 10, 13 for the subsequent job 2 are still in the stopped position according to Fig. 3 , All sets of the job 1 and the envelopes in the Einkuvertierstation 15 are removed after completing the job 1 from the inserter. As soon as this process is completed, a signal is generated which activates the next functions in the inserter for processing job 2. The signals generated by the reading heads 2, 6 are supplied to the system controller, which uses these signals to set the inserting machine so that the subsequent job 2 can be carried out. By way of example, the system is adjusted based on the signals so that the sheets 10, 13 are assembled in the correct order to the sets. Furthermore, the system can be set so that only the necessary stations are activated. If, for example, no inserts 17 are required, then the system is automatically adjusted so that the insert stations 9 are deactivated. Depending on the size of the sheets 10, 13, for example, stops are adjusted in the system so that the sheets are stopped and / or folded in accordance with their format in the correct position. Depending on the information contained in the codes of the respective sheets 10, 13, the equipment can be automatically adjusted to the task to be performed. Manual settings or settings by an operator on an operating terminal are no longer necessary, so that the associated error sources are avoided.

At the same time, the equipment can be adjusted with regard to whether the system 1 or the system 2 is the leading system. In the illustrated embodiment, the system is converted during execution of the job 2 so that now the system 2 is the leading system. The information for the conversion of the system are also in the codes of the corresponding Leaves 10, 13 of the document streams 1, 5 and are accordingly read by the read heads 2, 6.

The inserting system shown by way of example has two document feeding systems 1 and 2. It can, of course, also have further feeding systems. Then, all feeding systems have a reading station to read the information in the codes of the sheets fed with these systems and to adjust the equipment accordingly. When changing jobs, the system management can be assigned to a different system integrated in the system.

If other envelopes and / or other inserts 17 are required according to the coding for the next job to be executed, the operator is prompted to load these components. Once the operator has replaced the envelopes and / or inserts, he can switch the system back to automatic mode.

But it is also possible that the replacement of the envelopes and / or the inserts 17 is automatically carried out or monitored. In this case, the feeding of the documents is stopped until the corresponding parts have been replaced in the inserting station 9 and / or in the Einkuvertierstation 15. In this case, read stations are advantageously integrated in the inserts assigned to the insert stations 9 for the inserts 17 and / or in the inserting station 15 for the envelopes. With them, it is automatically monitored that the correct inserts or envelopes are inserted into the stations 9, 15. To replace the inserts and envelopes handling devices may be provided, which are controlled by the system control according to the sent from the reading heads 2, 6 signals.

After all the information has been processed and the adjustments have been completed, the new job 2 automatically starts processing Fig. 4 is indicated by the cross-hatching of the leaves 13 that the system 2 is now the leading system in the execution of this job 2. The leaves 10, 13 are, as the basis of Fig. 2 and 3 has been explained, put together to different sets.

If this job 2 has been executed, the processing of the next job 3 is carried out in the manner described. In this case, in turn, the system components are set to carry out this new job 3.

In the exemplary embodiment, the information regarding the processing of the new job is on the first sheet 10 or 13 of the new job. However, it is also possible to store this information on a separate document which is removed from the respective document stream 1, 5 after reading out the information necessary for setting the system. The sheet can also remain as a separator between successive jobs.

In another approach, the job change information is incorporated into the code of the first document 10, 13 for the first sentence of the new job. This requires a suitable code variant to accommodate the large amount of information.

In a further variant, the information on the conversion of the system can also be provided in the code of the last document of a running job.

It is also possible to divide the information in the codes. Thus, some of the information in the code of the last document of the currently running job and the other part of the information in the code of the first document of the subsequent job may be included. In the first part of the information, in this case, information is advantageously available, by means of which the system can generate signals for job completion. The other part contains the information for converting the system for the new job.

In the described embodiments, the read heads 2, 6 are arranged stationary. This assumes that the codes are always present in the same location of the documents 10, 13. As a result, however, care must be taken in the design of the print layout of the documents 10, 13 on the location of the respective code. To avoid this limitation, the reading heads 2, 6 can also be arranged automatically adjustable. Then it is possible to scan with them the entire area of the document 10, 13. As a result, the code does not have to be arranged at a predetermined location on the document 10, 13, so that the design of the print layout does not have to pay attention to the placement of the code. As soon as the reading head 2, 6 has detected the code on the document 10, 13 during scanning, the information present on the code is read out and supplied to the system controller. The scanning of the document 10, 13, for example, can be done in a line by the read head 2, 6 controls the document 10, 13 lines scanned until the code has been found.

The scanning can of course be done in other ways. Thus, the reading heads 2, 6, the respective document 10, 13 also scan in columns. The type of sampling depends on how the movement of the read head is programmed.

It is particularly advantageous if the information captured by the reading heads 2, 6 is stored in a database and stored with an assigned number. If, for example, the job to be executed is a follow-up job, ie the database already contains information for processing this job from a previous processing run, then only the necessary information that is new for the new job to be processed is added. The rest of the information can be retrieved from the database, so that the system can again be set fully automatically when performing the next job.

If it is a new job that does not have a previous job, all the information is read from the code and added to the database. This record will be accompanied by all the information needed to set up the system for processing the job identified by this record.

If it is generally not possible to record larger amounts of data due to the code variant, it is still possible to work according to the method for processing printed matter according to claim 11 and claim 17. In this case, the detailed information of the jobs is stored in the database of the plant before processing. This database can be constantly expanded by entering new jobs. The information associated with the printed matter to be processed contains only job numbers or the like which activate the corresponding job control information in the database and then trigger the described functions.

The system can be operated fully automatically, including the replacement of the inserts 17 and / or the envelopes, so that the inserter can work with high performance and error-free. Even the removal of the finished products from the collection station 16 can be done fully automatically. Since the filled envelopes according to their processing within the respective job 1, 2, ... are stored in the collecting station 16 in succession, the filled envelopes of the collecting station 16 belonging to a job can be easily removed via a corresponding handling device.

Claims (10)

Plant for processing printed matter, preferably an inserter, with at least one feeding device for printed matter and at least one handling station,
characterized in that the installation has at least one reading station (2, 6) which lies in the transport path of the printed matter (10, 13) and supplies information associated with the printed matter as signals to a system control with which the installation is to be executed (Job 1, Job 2, ...) is at least partially automatically adjustable. Plant according to claim 1,
characterized in that the reading station (2, 6) has at least one reading head, and that advantageously the information is provided on a data carrier, the part of the printed matter to be processed (10, 13) or part of a separate from the printed matter (10, 13) Carrier is. Plant according to claim 1 or 2,
characterized in that the handling station is a collecting station (3, 7) for forming printed matter sets and / or a folding station (4). Plant according to one of claims 1 to 3,
characterized in that the system has at least one further feeding device for the printed matter (10, 13), that advantageous liable the printed matter of the two feeders of a Zusammenführstation (8) can be supplied, and that preferably the system has at least one shim station (9). Plant according to claim 4,
characterized in that based on the signals of the reading station (2, 6) one of the feeders is automatically adjustable as the leading feeder. Process for processing printed matter, preferably with a plant according to one of claims 1 to 5, in which the printed matters are fed and processed,
characterized in that prior to the processing of the printed matter (10, 13) the system is automatically set to the task to be performed by the system control signals are supplied, which are generated from the processed printed matter (10, 13) associated information. Method according to claim 6,
characterized in that the information is read from at least one data carrier which is advantageously provided on one of the printed matters (10, 13) and / or on a separate carrier from the printed matter (10, 13). Method according to claim 6 or 7,
characterized in that the information on the last printed matter (10, 13) of an order (Job 1, Job 2, ...) and / or on the first printed matter (10, 13) of a successor order (Job 1, Job 2,. ..) available. Method according to one of claims 6 to 8,
characterized in that the information is partially from a Disk, partially read from a database. Method according to one of claims 6 to 9,
characterized in that first the one job (Job 1, Job 2, ...) is processed and as long as the printed matter (10, 13) of the successor job (Job 1, Job 2, ...) are stopped, and that advantageous Before processing the follow-up order (Job 1, Job 2, ...), the system is automatically set to the follow-up order based on the information.

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