EP1920928B2 - Printing press with several operating zones - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a device with a movable control device for safe operation of substrates processing machines.

Substrates processing machines, such. As printing machines, saddle stitchers and folding machines have a variety of functions, which are usually to operate on a control panel by the user. With this control panel, e.g. most functions of a printing press are controlled. However, a fixed stationary control panel has the disadvantage that with larger machines, the operator can not simultaneously have the control panel and the area of the machine in view, at which his operating commands are implemented. This applies in particular to printing presses in which often not all printing units as well as the feeder area and boom area are visible from the control panel. For this reason, several control panels are provided in larger printing machines, especially with a large number of printing units. So z. B. at each printing unit and in particular at the feeder or boom of a sheet-fed rotary printing press in each case at least a smaller control point be attached. With these keypads local functions can be operated on the individual units such as printing units, feeder and boom on site, so that the operator has the currently operating unit in front of him. However, this leads to a larger number of control panels, which is associated with corresponding costs.

It is from the EP 1 247 656 B1 a plant for the production of printed products, in which several machines can be controlled from a portable input means via a wireless connection. In this case, the input means can be taken by the operator to the machine at which straight adjusting operations, corrections ect. should be made. The input means may be a mobile telephone, a PDA or a similar communication device whose position with respect to the individual machines can be recognized by the control of the system. For this purpose, the input means has a code carrier, and each of the operable machines has a code reader. As soon as the operator approaches the input means of a machine, the code reader of the corresponding machine identifies the presence of the input means and notifies the contact to the machine control. At the same time, the input means can be designed so that the operator first has to perform an authentication. Depending on this identification, action authorizations relating to individual machines can then be activated.

The above approach is designed for a multi-machine plant, wherein the position of the input means relative to a machine can be recognized, but no precautions are taken to prevent the operation of machines if the remote control is too far away from them, so that the operator does not overlook the machine in question. For printing presses, however, this assignment is not sufficient if an assignment of a movable control panel to a specific part of the printing press is to take place. This is necessary for safety reasons, in particular in the area of the feeder and jib, since there is always the danger that the operating personnel can intervene in areas which involve a high risk potential. So z. B. in stacking movements in the feeder or boom to ensure that the operator is not in this area.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a device with a movable control device for operating substrates processing machines, which increases the safety and comfort in the operation of a printing press.

According to the invention the object is achieved by claim 1. Further embodiments of the invention in the dependent claims and the drawings can be seen.

According to the present invention, a substrate processing machine is divided into a plurality of zones spatially limited. In this way you can target for document DE-A 4306098 discloses an apparatus according to the preamble of claim 1. Document EP-A-2061661 is a state of the art within the meaning of Art. 54 (3) EPC and discloses, in addition to the features of the preamble of claim 1, the feature of a wireless connection between machine control and the control device to which operating personnel are assigned particularly hazardous areas such as feeder and boom to individual zones which safety-relevant operating functions can only be carried out if the operator is in the spatially limited area concerned and on the other hand, no body parts protrude from it into dangerous areas. For this purpose, the position of the movable control device of the operators is detected with respect to the plurality of zones, so that the control device is always known that zone in which the control device is currently located. the operator therefore always has to be in the zone in which he or she just wants to trigger functions on the substrate processing machine. This forces her to keep an eye on the zone in question. Depending on the determined by the machine control zone certain functions of a substrate processing machine are enabled or disabled. For this it is important that it is clearly established whether the operating device is positioned within a zone or outside. This can be done, for example, by determining the distance of the operating device to multiple receivers on the machine. In particular, it can be provided that the operating functions are locked for all zones in which the operator with the movable control device is currently not staying. The movable control device may be a remote control in the form of a portable touchscreen control panel, but it is also possible to use portable computers such as notebooks, PDAs or even mobile phones programmed with appropriate operating software. The present invention thus ensures that an operation of functions on a machine is only possible if the operator is with the movable control panel in the immediate vicinity of the functions to be operated. This is achieved by the clear spatial division of the entire machine into several zones.

In a first embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the control device has an electronic transmitter. This transmitter must constantly emit a corresponding signal, so that e.g. can be determined by the signal strength or signal delay, the removal of the movable control device to a corresponding zone of the substrates processing machine. This is done in cooperation with one or more electronic receivers, which are installed in the substrate processing machine and receive the signals of the electronic transmitter of the remote control. In the interaction of transmitter and receivers, the position of the movable control device can then be calculated and fed as a signal of the machine control of the printing material processing machine. The machine control then enables the functions of the relevant zone.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the printing machine processing machine is a printing machine with multiple printing units, each printing unit is assigned a zone. In this embodiment, an unambiguous assignment of the movable control device to a printing unit of a printing press is possible. In this case, a zone in each case comprises a printing unit, so that it can be prevented that functions can be operated on adjacent printing units from the movable control device.

In a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the printing machine processing machine is a printing machine with multiple printing units, wherein a plurality of printing units are combined to form a zone. In such an embodiment of the invention, z. B. groups of printing units are formed, so that in a long machine with z. B. 16 printing units are always combined in each case 2 or 4 printing units to form a group in a zone. But it is also possible, for. B. the printing units each before and behind the turning device of a perfecting machine into separate zones, so that the printing press has zones with only one printing unit and zones, which consist of several printing units. The zoning can be made dependent on the functionalities of the respective printing units or on the danger of the device to the printing units. So there are z. B. for some time essays for printing units for cold foil stamping on substrates. These attachments are usually positioned on the last or the last printing units or on coating units. In this case, it is expedient to provide this last printing unit or coating unit or the last printing units or coating units with its own zone, wherein the subdivision can be configured flexibly, so that the subdivision into a separate zone only exists if in fact the cold foil stamping over the corresponding printing unit or coating unit is positioned. Through contacts or a combination of receiver and transmitter in the printing unit and the cold foil stamping device, the presence of the cold foil stamping device can be detected accordingly. If the device is present, the corresponding printing units are separated from the other printing units and combined into a separate zone. If the cold foil stamping device is out of operation, the corresponding printing units or coating units, like all other printing units, can also be divided into individual zones or grouped together as a common zone for their respective printing group.

It is also envisaged that the printing press has a boom and a feeder, which are each assigned to a separate zone. Thus, the most dangerous areas of a sheet-fed rotary printing press dedicated zones. The residence of the operator with the movable control device in these particularly dangerous areas can thus be secured separately.

Advantageously, it is also provided that the movable control device is a portable computer with a data radio module. Portable computers such as notebooks or even PDAs today usually have wireless modules for establishing contact with wireless networks such as W-LAN or wireless modules such as Bluetooth for communication with other electronic devices. These wireless modules can be used to detect the presence of such a portable computer in a zone. This can be z. B. on the runtime calculation of the corresponding data connection or on the signal strength which arrives at the receiver of the printing machine can be determined. According to further embodiments of the invention, the portable computer may have an additional RFID chip for identification. These RFID chips have a limited range and also allow a unique identification of portable device. The range can be set so that it does not extend beyond the intended zone areas.

It is further provided according to the invention that the zones overlap at least partially. In the overlapping areas, it is possible in principle to operate two or more subareas of a printing material-processing machine. Normally, only the zones of adjacent printing units will overlap, so that in an overlapping area, the neighboring printing unit can also be controlled by the user interface of the movable control device. For safety, it is also provided that an identification of the user is required to operate the control device. This can be done via the input of a user password and an associated password, but also by an identification on the movable control device via fingerprint or a sensor for detecting the iris of the eye of the user. This ensures that only authorized personnel can operate printing machines using the movable control device at all.

Furthermore, it is provided that, depending on the identification and the characteristic data stored for the user, individual functions on the printing material-processing machine are enabled or disabled. After the successful registration of a user, he can only operate the functions of a printing press that have been activated for him personally or his user profile. It can be assigned to different groups of people a different functional profile, so that particularly dangerous functions can only be performed by authorized, trained operating personnel. It is also possible that the blocking or activation of individual functions differs from zone to zone. So z. B. at different printing units of a printing press, which each have their own zone, different functionalities are released, so that the operator can trigger more functions on one printing unit than at another printing unit. This can e.g. Affect printing works, which process a special color, which is particularly difficult to process on the press. It is then ensured that adjustments to the printing unit of the special color can only be made by the authorized personnel.

It is also possible that, in the area of overlapping zones, functionalities of all participating overlapping zones are enabled. In this case, the operator can operate the functions in all zones that overlap together and select them freely. This can z. B. between individual printing units switched back and forth, so that both adjacent printing units of an overlapping zone can be operated alternately or simultaneously.

Alternatively, however, it can also be provided that, in the region of overlapping zones, the user is offered a selection of the zones involved and only one zone can be selected by the user and only this zone is released for use. This is particularly useful in overlapping zones, where one includes a hazardous area, so that the user must completely concentrate on operations of that zone. Due to the compulsion to choose is thus ensured that the user only one zone with the dangerous area z. B. boom or investor can operate without being distracted by other operations at the same time. In addition, it is ensured by the compulsion to select that during operations no confusion of functions that are present in both parts of the overlapping zones can occur if the currently controllable zone is additionally visually marked on the portable control device, so that the operator is also conveyed visually on the operating device, which part of the machine he is currently operating. In addition, it is possible that the individual zones, such. B. the printing units of a printing press, even on the machine itself optical detection means such as red flashing lights are assigned, each of which lights just fitting to the selected zone. Thus, the operator is also visually signaled on the machine itself, which zone he is currently operating.

In a further embodiment, it is provided that the printing material processing machine has a plurality of movable control devices. In this case, it must be ensured by coordination of the respectively registered movable control devices in the machine control of the machine that either only one movable control device is active, or that at least the zone is respectively blocked for one of the other control devices, which is selected by an operating device as active has been. It is also possible to define a movable control device as a so-called "master", from which the functionality of the other movable control devices can be restricted. So can from the "master" from z. B. other controls are limited in their function, so that only certain zones or functions can be selected there. It is particularly useful when teaching unskilled workers, if from the "master" the other movable control devices can be controlled, so that e.g. dangerous functions are only released under the supervision of the operator on the "Master".

The present invention will be described below with reference to a drawing and explained.

Figur:

eine Druckmaschine mit zwei Druckwerken, einem Anleger und einem Ausleger, welche in mehrere Bedienzonen aufgeteilt ist.

It shows:

Figure:

a printing machine with two printing units, a feeder and a boom, which is divided into several operating zones.

The printing machine 1 in the figure has two printing units 2, 3 and a feeder 8 and a boom 9, which are each assigned to one of the operating zones I, II, III, IV. The printing units 2, 3 and 8 investors and boom 9 are from the machine control 5 controlled. The machine controller 5 also has a wireless interface, which may be in the form of a wireless connection in the form of a W-LAN connection or Bluetooth connection. The machine control 5 can communicate with movable control devices, such as a suitably designed notebook 6, via this wireless interface. The communication between notebook 6 and machine control 5 then takes place wirelessly via the air interface 7. At the machine control 5 and several notebooks 6 can be connected wirelessly. Via the wireless interface 7, the operating personnel can control the printing machine 1 via the notebook 6 and make adjustments to the printing units 2, 3, the feeder 8 and the boom 9.

The notebook 6 also additionally has an RFID chip 10, which constantly contains a coded signal. As soon as the notebook 6 with the RFID chip 10 reaches the area of several receiving units 11 on the printing machine 1, the position of the notebook can be assigned to a zone I, II, III, IV due to the limited range of the receivers 11. The receiving units 11 are in turn connected to the machine control 5. As soon as the notebook 6 leaves the area of a zone, the functions in this zone can no longer be operated by the notebook 6. In the overlapping areas 4, the notebook 6 is in the range of multiple receivers 11. Depending on the configuration of the operating software on the notebook 6 then either both zones z. B. zones II, III of the printing units 2, 3 are operated or the operator has a zone I, IV such. on the boom 9 and 8 investors select. This ensures that in the area of the feeder 8 and the boom 9, the operator must always decide for a zone, so that it is not in the operation of dangerous areas having investors 8, and boom 9 by operating the adjacent zones II, III can be distracted. Furthermore, the notebook 6 is designed so that the operator must first register with at least a password and associated password before use. Depending on the stored personal authorization, the operating personnel can then perceive the activated for each person functions in the different operating zones I to IV on the printing machine 1 after registration.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

press

2

first printing unit

3

second printing unit

4

overlapping area

5

machine control

6

portable calculator

7

radio link

8th

investor

9

boom

10

Electronic transmitter

11

Electronic receiver

I, II, III, IV

control zones

Claims (13)

1. Device including a movable control device (6) for the safe operation of machinery (1) processing printing material with a machine control (5), wherein the machine (1) processing printing material is subdivided into multiple spatially limited zones (I, II, III, IV) and the position of the control device (6) with reference to the multiple zones (I, II, II, IV) is detectable, wherein the zone (III) in which the control device (6) is located is determinable based on the position of the control device (6), and wherein specific functions of the machine (1) processing printing material are released or blocked as a function of the detected zone (III), wherein the machine control (5) and the movable control device (6) are capable of communicating via a wireless interface, wherein a user identification is required to operate the control device (6),
   characterized in
   that the zones (I, II, III, IV) at least partly overlap.
2. Device according to Claim 1,
   characterized in
   that the control device (6) includes an electronic transmitter (10).
3. Device according to Claim 2,
   characterized in
   that the electronic transmitter (10) of the control device (6) transmits a signal that is received by at least one electronic receiver (11) on the machine (1) processing printing material and that the machine control (5) of the machine (1) processing printing material calculates the position of the control device (6) by means of the signals received by the electronic receiver (11) and that in all or multiple zones functions are blocked or released as a function of the position of the control device (6).
4. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that the machine (1) processing printing material is a printing press including multiple printing units (2, 3), each printing unit (2, 3) being assigned a zone (II, III).
5. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3,
   characterized in
   that the machine (1) processing printing material is a printing press that has multiple printing units (2,3), wherein multiple printing units (2, 3) are combined to form a zone.
6. Device according to any one of Claims 4 or 5,
   characterized in
   that the printing press (1) includes a delivery (9) and a feeder (8), each of which is assigned to its own zone (I, IV).
7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that the movable control device (6) is a portable computer including a data radio module (10).
8. Device according to Claim 7,
   characterized in
   that the portable computer includes a RFID chip.
9. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,
   characterized in
   that as a function of the identification and of the characteristic data stored for the user, individual functions of the machine (1) processing printing material are released or blocked.
10. Device according to any one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    that the blocking or release of individual functions varies from zone (II) to zone (III).
11. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    that in the region of overlapping zones (4), functionalities of all the involved overlapping zones (II, III) are released.
12. Device according to one of the preceding claims,
    characterized in
    that in the region of overlapping zones (4), a selection of the involved zones (II, III) is offered to the user and only one zone (III) is selectable by the user and will then be released for use.
13. Printing press including a device according to any one of the preceding claims 1 to 12.

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