Control process for use in the production of printed products and means for performing the process
AssigneeFerag AG
InventorBaptist Grueninger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The control process according to the invention is usable with high performance production processes for producing printed products by collecting, inserting and/or collating, e.g. with the aid of a drum (10). It comprises recording an image of the products being formed following each addition of a further component with a camera (K), comparison of the recorded image with a corresponding, stored calibration image, and using the results of the comparison for generating control signals, e.g. for discharging faulty products or activating alarm means. Instead of stationary image recording means such as cameras, movable reading heads can be used in the inventive process also.
Claims14
A process for controlling the production of printed products by collecting and inserting and/or collating a plurality of printed components (B.1-B.4) which differ from each other, the process comprising the steps of
- substantially continuously conveying the printed products being formed in a product flow in a direction (F) substantially perpendicular to an orientation of main surfaces thereof with a conveying cycle determined by conveying speed and product spacing in the product flow,
- at each of a plurality of adding stations (Z.1-Z.4), selectively adding a printed component to the product being formed,
- controlling the product (P) being formed with an optical/electronic control after each adding station (Z.1-Z.4), the controlling including
- forming and storing an image of an area of a component last added to the product being formed,
- electronically processing the stored images,
- forming control signals from the processed stored images, and
- controlling the further conveying of the products after collecting, inserting and/or collating with the control signals or activating alarm means if the control signals indicate a malfunction in the step of adding.
An apparatus for producing printed products comprising the combination of
- means for substantially continuously conveying a flow of printed products being formed along a path and for orienting the products being formed generally perpendicular to a direction of motion thereof;
- means for adding a printed component at selected ones of a plurality of adding stations;
- a plurality of image recording means, each said image recording means being located after an adding station in said direction of motion and being directed toward said path to form an image of printed products being formed;
- memory means for storing calibration images of products being formed;
- means for comparing said calibration images with images formed during production and for generating control signals for selectively continuing or interrupting production;
- and
- means for synchronizing image recording with conveying and with said means for adding for properly timed addition of products at said stations.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.