Device and method for the subsequent processing of printed products

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10189671-B2
Application number	US-201715589030-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 8, 2017
Priority date	May 30, 2016
Publication date	Jan 29, 2019
Grant date	Jan 29, 2019

Abstract

A device and method for the processing of printed products with one or more transport systems for transporting the printed products between processing stations comprises a transport path lighting system that is divided into segments, wherein the type of illumination of such a segment is with respect to its color, intensity and/or variation in time defined by certain properties of the product located in this section or its production history.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A device for processing printed products ( 4 , 5 ) comprising,
a transport device ( 10 , 12 ) for transporting printed products ( 4 ) along a transport path ( 100 ), wherein said transport device includes a plurality of transport members ( 11 , 13 ) arranged behind one another in the transport direction ( 101 ) for respectively transporting a printed product ( 4 ) to be processed;
a plurality of processing devices ( 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ) that are arranged along the transport path ( 100 ) for sequentially modifying the transported printed products ( 4 );
a controller ( 9 ) operatively connected to the transport device ( 10 , 12 ) and at least one of the processing devices ( 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ) for mutual communication of control signals;
a lighting system ( 20 ) extending along the transport path ( 100 ) and operatively connected to the controller ( 9 ); wherein
the lighting system ( 20 ) is divided into individual lighting segments ( 21 . 1 , 21 .n) along the transport path;
each lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) comprises at least one activatable light source ( 22 ); and
each lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) is operatively connected to the controller ( 9 ) for receiving a segment control signal,

wherein the controller ( 9 ) monitors the control signals for information on the presence and status of the printed products ( 4 ) and in response to said information, generates a control signal to separately activate a light source in each individual lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) to provide a visual indication of the current status of a printed product ( 4 ) in proximity to the activated lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n).

2. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the control signal for each lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) includes activating each light source to emit light of different colors ( 201 , 202 , 203 ) and/or intensities ( 201 , 211 ).

3. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the lighting source ( 22 ) of the lighting segments ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) respectively comprise at least one light-emitting diode.

4. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the controller ( 9 ) monitors sensor signals of the device to receive information on the condition of the device ( 1 , 2 ) and/or the printed products ( 4 ) and said received information includes said sensor signals.

5. The device according to claim 1 , wherein
the transport path comprises a plurality of path segments, each path segment associated with at least one particular processing device and an individual product respectively assigned to be proceed in the particular device at a particular moment during operation of the device; and
each lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) is associated with a respective segment of the transport path and is arranged such that the lighting source ( 22 ) of each lighting segment illuminates the respectively associated segment of the transport path ( 100 ) and/or the respectively assigned product ( 4 , 5 ).

6. The device according to claim 1 , wherein the lighting segments ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) are visible externally of the device during regular operation of the device.

7. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the lighting source ( 22 ) of the lighting segments ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) respectively comprise at least one light-emitting diode.

8. The device according to claim 2 , wherein the controller ( 9 ) monitors sensor signals of the device to receive information on the condition of the device ( 1 , 2 ) and/or the printed products ( 4 ) and said received information includes said sensor signals.

9. The device according to claim 2 , wherein
the transport path comprises a plurality of path segments, each path segment associated with at least one particular processing device and an individual product respectively assigned to be proceed in the particular device at a particular moment during operation of the device; and
each lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) is associated with a respective segment of the transport path and is arranged such that the lighting source ( 22 ) of each lighting segment illuminates the respectively associated segment of the transport path ( 100 ) and/or the respectively assigned product ( 4 , 5 ).

10. The device according to claim 8 , wherein
the transport path comprises a plurality of path segments, each path segment associated with at least one particular processing device and an individual product respectively assigned to be proceed in the particular device at a particular moment during operation of the device; and
each lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) is associated with a respective segment of the transport path and is arranged such that the lighting source ( 22 ) of each lighting segment illuminates the respectively associated segment of the transport path ( 100 ) and/or the respectively assigned product ( 4 , 5 ).

11. A method for processing a sequence of printed products ( 4 ), comprising:
with a transport device ( 10 , 12 ), transporting spaced apart printed products ( 4 ) in a transport path ( 100 ) along a series of processing devices ( 3 , 6 , 7 , 8 ) in order to modify the printed products ( 4 );
designating a plurality of lighting segments ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) along the transport path, for segmented illumination of the transport path;
monitoring input signals for information on at least one of the presence and status of printed products ( 4 ) in a particular lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n); and
controlling illumination of lighting segments ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) based upon said input signals to activate a light source ( 22 ) in the lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n) commensurate with the condition of
the printed product ( 4 ) located in the respective lighting segment.

12. The method according to claim 11 , comprising controlling illumination of the respective lighting segment with input signals indicative of the presence of a product ( 4 , 5 ) in a particular lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n), and with output signals that activate a light source ( 22 ) in the lighting segment where the product is present.

13. The method according to claim 11 , comprising controlling illumination of the respective lighting segment with input signals indicative of the condition of a product ( 4 , 5 ) in a particular lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n), and with output signals that activate a light source ( 22 ) in the lighting segment commensurate with the condition of the product.

14. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the output signals of the controller that activate a light source ( 22 ) in the lighting segment controls a color ( 201 , 202 , 203 ) of the light source ( 22 ).

15. The method according claim 11 , wherein the output signals of the controller that activate a light source ( 22 ) in the lighting segment controls a color and an intensity of the light source ( 22 ).

16. The method according to claim 11 , comprising
controlling illumination of a plurality of the lighting segments with input signals indicative of the presence of a product ( 4 , 5 ) in a particular lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n), and with output signals that activate a light source ( 22 ) in the lighting segment where the product is present; and
controlling illumination of said plurality of the lighting segments with input signals indicative of the condition of a product ( 4 , 5 ) in a particular lighting segment ( 21 . 1 , . . . , 21 .n), and with output signals that activate a light source ( 22 ) in the lig

Assignees

• Mueller Martini Holding Ag
• Mueller Martini Holding Ag

Inventors

• Kache Gerd
• Winkelmann Stefan

Classifications

• B65H7/04

  responsive to absence of articles, e.g. exhaustion of pile (B65H7/14 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B65H2601/11

  Clearing faulty handling, e.g. jams · CPC title

• B42C19/08

  Conveying between operating stations in machines (conveyors in general B65G) · CPC title

• B41F33/0009

  Central control units · CPC title

• B41F33/02

  Arrangements of indicating devices, e.g. counters · CPC title