Method and device for conversion of a production plant for the post print processing

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9323489-B2
Application number	US-201313790193-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 8, 2013
Priority date	Mar 9, 2012
Publication date	Apr 26, 2016
Grant date	Apr 26, 2016

Abstract

A method and device for the conversion of a production plant for the post print processing, which production plant includes several post print processing machines and a plant central control unit. The method and device may be used for successively processing different production orders for turning partial products into finished print products. According to the method, it may first be determined when a last partial product of a first production order has left a post print processing machine. The post print processing machine may then be automatically and/or semi-automatically converted by the plant central control unit. The method may include determining, by the plant central control unit, when the conversion of the post print processing machine has been completed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method for re-configuring a production plant for post print processing to change from one production order to a following different production order, the production plant including a plant central control unit and a plurality of post print processing machines each included with a separate machine control unit for successively processing different production orders, so as to turn partial products into finished print products, the method comprising:
determining when a last partial product of a first production order processed in the production plant has left each one of the plurality of post print processing machines;
transmitting from the machine control unit of each post print processing machine to the plant central control unit that the post print processing machine is ready to be re-configured to the following different production order;
transmitting from the plant central control unit to the machine control unit of each post print processing machine the instructions for the re-configuring;
successively re-configuring the plurality of post print processing machines in sequence as the last partial product of the first production order leaves each post print processing machine, either fully automatically or semi-automatically, depending on the partial products for the following different production order to be processed in the production plant;
determining when the re-configuring of each post print processing machine is completed; and
transmitting the completion of the re-configuring from the machine control unit of each post print processing machine to the plant central control unit.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of the plurality of post print processing machines of the production plant is divided into segments and/or the at least one of the plurality of post print processing machines forms a segment, the method further comprising:
re-configuring the segment as soon as the last partial product of the first production order has left the segment.

3. The method according to claim 2 , wherein the re-configuring begins immediately after the last partial product of the first production order has left the each one of the plurality of post print processing machines or the segment.

4. The method according to claim 2 , further comprising:
centrally coordinating and/or controlling the re-configuring of the plurality of post print processing machines and/or the segments of the production plant.

5. The method according to claim 2 , wherein several of the plurality of post print processing machines and/or the segments of the production plant form a production line for a respective production order, the method further comprising:
re-configuring the plurality of post print processing machines and/or the segments of the production line after the last partial product of a respective production order leaves each post print processing machine and/or segment.

6. The method according to claim 5 , further comprising:
controlling the production line by the plant central control unit.

7. A device for re-configuring a production plant for post print processing to change from one production order to a following different production order, the production plant including a plant central control unit and a plurality of post print processing machines, wherein the production plant is used to successively process different production orders for turning partial products into finished print products, the device comprising:
a separate machine control unit associated with each of the plurality of post print processing machines;
at least one fully automatic and/or semi-automatic actuator associated with- each of the plurality of post print processing machines, wherein the actuator is connected to the plant central control unit; and
a product detection device associated with each of the plurality of post processing machines and connected to the plant central control unit, wherein the product detection device is adapted to determine when a last partial product of a first production order has left a respective one of the plurality of post print processing machines,
wherein the machine control unit of the respective post print processing machine is adapted to transmit to the plant central control unit a readiness of the post print processing machine to be reconfigured,
wherein the plant central control unit is adapted to successively give instructions for reconfiguring the plurality of post print processing machines in sequence as the last partial product of the first production order leaves each respective machine,
wherein the respective machine control unit is adapted to receive the instructions for the re-configuration from the plant central control unit,
wherein the actuator is adapted to fully automatically or semi-automatically re-configure the post print processing machine based on the instructions depending on partial products of a following production order to be processed in the production plant,
wherein the respective machine control unit is adapted to determine when the reconfiguration of the post print processing machine is complete, and
wherein the respective machine control unit is adapted to transmit information to the plant central control unit upon completion of the re-configuration.

8. The device according to claim 7 , wherein at least one of the plurality of post print processing machines is divided into segments and/or the at least one the plurality of post print processing machines forms a segment, wherein the individual segments are adapted to be reconfigured fully automatically and/or semi-automatically.

9. The device according to claim 8 , wherein the plurality of post print processing machines and/or segments of the production plant are adapted by the plant central control unit to form a production line based on a respective production order, and wherein the plurality of post print processing machines and/or the segments of the production plant are adapted to be re-configured either fully automatically or semi-automatically.

10. The device according to claim 8 , further comprising:
sensors connected to the product detection device, the sensors being arranged on at least one of the plurality of post print processing machines and/or the segments.

11. The device according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a joint bus system linking each machine control unit of the plurality of post print processing machines to the plant central control unit.

12. The device according to claim 10 , wherein the machine control unit for a respective one of the plurality of post print processing machines is connected to the sensors for product detection.

13. The device according to claim 7 , further comprising:
a status indicator connected to the plant central control unit.

14. A production plant comprising the device according to claim 7 .

Assignees

• Mueller Martini Holding Ag

Inventors

• Abegglen Christian
• Bracher Markus
• Rickenbacher Mark
• Schmid Christian

Classifications

• B65H2220/01

  indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input · CPC title

• B42C19/00 Primary

  Multi-step processes for making books · CPC title

• B65H2513/51

  Sequence of process · CPC title

• B65H2513/54

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B65H2511/417

  of state of the machine · CPC title