Maintenance and inspection system for a printing machine

A maintenance and diagnostic system for a printing machine comprising:

• a control system which includes at least one computer, the control system being connected to signal transmitters that transmit signals of sensors that monitor operating elements of the printing machine and being operative to activate a main drive and auxiliary drives of the printing machine, the control system having an operative connection to a control-desk computer containing data for print jobs carried out;
• a maintenance and inspection computer having a signal connection to the control system and to the control-desk computer and receiving the signals recorded by the control system and supplied by the main and auxiliary drives and from the signal transmitters, the maintenance and inspection computer using the signals to determine a condition of consumable materials and variables representing the stress on and wear of printing machine operating elements, and based on such conditions, determining times and extent of printing machine maintenance measures necessary to prevent problems or defective conditions from occurring in the future;
• a monitoring unit arranged to receive signals from a rotary encoder fitted to the printing machine, and the monitoring unit having a memory in which positions of the printing machine recorded by the rotary encoder are stored in conjunction with signals which are recorded by the monitoring unit and are received from the printing machine operating elements and the signal transmitters;
• wherein
• the memory of the monitoring unit stores the positions of the printing machine recorded by the rotary encoder, the signals from the operating elements and the signal transmitters, in conjunction with the time signals from a clock;
• and
• the positions to which the printing machine is to be moved in relation to specific maintenance measures to be carried out, the positions of the operating elements and signal states from the signal transmitters are stored in the memory of the monitoring unit, and when a corresponding maintenance measure is performed, the monitoring unit evaluates and compares the stored signal states with the signals which are currently recorded, in conjunction with the time from the clock.