Method and device for synchronizing drive combinations

#The invention relates to a method and a device for synchronizing drive combinations made up of a plurality of drives for machines, preferably for printing presses, including at least one main drive (master drive) and at least one subordinate drive (slave drive) assigned to the main drive, as well as a central control unit. Each of the drives has a control system including data processing and storage equipment, and the slave drives are synchronized with respect to rotational speed and/or angular relationship as prescribed by the master drive.

#Generally, combinations of various drives are controlled during the operation of a printing press. Those drive combinations must be synchronized with one another in order to ensure flawless operation. Different methods and devices have been provided for that purpose in the prior art, wherein set points or nominal values of the slave drives have been matched to actual values from a master drive.

#For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/997,981, filed Nov. 29, 2001, entitled Method and Device for Synchronizing Processes which are Performed on a Plurality of Units, corresponding to German Published, Non-Prosecuted Patent Application DE 100 59 270 A1, contains a proposal for synchronizing the master drive and the slave drive or drives with a time cycle or clock rate of a central control. Respective set points or nominal values of then current and following processes can be calculated for the slave drives, by actual values cyclically sent by the master drive, and by mathematical computational models. It is thereby possible for the drives to be kept synchronized during then current processes by corrective measures, and starting processes can be started up at the correct time and at the correct angular setting. However, it has been shown that, in those methods, the set points or nominal values always have to be determined from the actual values by extrapolation. Inaccuracies thereby occur in prescribing the set points or nominal values, and cannot be disregarded any longer at high rotational speeds.

#FIG. 1 is a block circuit diagram of the device for synchronizing drive combinations according to the invention;

#FIG. 2 is a graphic representation of a speed plot diagram of a master drive;

#FIG. 3A is a graphic representation of a speed plot diagram of a slave drive for constant movement of the master drive with delayed angular synchronization;

#Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen a block circuit diagram of a device 1 for synchronizing drive combinations 2. Drive combinations of this type are used, for example, in printing presses, wherein a main drive has a plurality of subordinate drives assigned thereto. In this regard, the main drive is preferably defined as a master drive 3, and the subordinate drives as slave drives 4.

#In order to control the individual drives 3, 4, the printing press is provided with a central control unit 5 and controls 6a and 6b. The controls 6a and 6b and the central control unit 5 are connected to one another, preferably in parallel, via a command distributor 7 and data transmission elements 8. Additionally, each of central control unit 5 and controls 6a and 6b includes data processing and storage equipment 10.

#Control commands from the master drive 3 are transmitted from the central control unit 5 to the controls 6a, 6b. In this regard, both the controls 6a of the master drive 3 as well as the controls 6b of the slave drives 4 are preferably driven simultaneously via the command distributor 7.