Method for detecting and transmitting process-control data before and/or during a printing operation for the production of printed products in a printing press

Abstract

With a method for transmitting process-control data before and/or during a printing process for the production of printed products in a printing press, the data are detected at least with the aid of at least one print mark that is effectively connected to a printed product. The data obtained from the print mark are transmitted and/or transferred to at least one processing unit that is arranged downstream of the printing operation. Within the printing process, the data obtained from the print mark are subjected continuously to at least one redundant check in at least one downstream-arranged processing unit, with respect to the data determined during the integral printing process and/or with respect to a further processing location for the printed products which is specified ahead of time.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A method for detecting and transmitting process-control data before and/or during a printing process for producing printed products in a printing press, the method comprising:
 detecting process-control data from detection characteristics that are effectively connected to at least one printed product; 
 transmitting and/or transferring data resulting from the detection characteristics to at least one processing unit arranged downstream of a location of the printing process; 
 detecting product-related data within the printing process; 
 using the product-related data for at least one redundant check of the data obtained from the detection characteristics, wherein during the printing process a different determination of data takes place which detects quality-related data for the printed products, wherein the quality-related data relate to the printing process; and 
 allocating the quality-related data, which are determined during the printing process, a substitutive or a partially substitutive operative rank as compared to the data obtained from the detection characteristics or the data resulting from the redundant check. 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detecting includes acquiring characteristics using a print mark. 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection characteristics are designed for detection of product-related data. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 following the redundant check, synchronizing or reconciling the product-related data detected during the printing process with the data obtained from the detection characteristics; and 
 then transmitting and/or transferring the product related data to at least one further processing station for the printed products which is specified ahead of time. 
 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the redundant check of the detected product-related data distinguishes between absolute requirements and soft requirements, that if any differences are detected for the absolute requirements, process-oriented measures are taken and that if differences are detected with respect to the soft requirements, flexible process-oriented measures are taken. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 once the quality-related data are detected, transmitting and/or transferring the quality-related data individually or synchronized with the product-related data to at least one further processing station for printed products which is specified ahead of time. 
 
     
     
       7. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the quality-related check of the determined data distinguishes between absolutely required and soft characteristics, that if differences are detected for the absolutely required characteristics, process-oriented measures are taken and if differences are detected for the soft characteristics, flexible process-oriented measures are taken. 
     
     
       8. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 completing the printing process once the printed products leave drying and/or fixing units belonging to the printing process. 
 
     
     
       9. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the detection characteristics are based on a codified print mark for which code elements can at least be one of visually detected or not visually detected. 
     
     
       10. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 affixing detection characteristics to a working track along a paper roll or within a printed product or printed sheet. 
 
     
     
       11. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 transmitting and/or transferring the product-related and/or the quality-related data ahead of the respective printed product or printed sheet to a processing unit. 
 
     
     
       12. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 removing, following the printing process, a defective printed product or printed sheet which is detected based on the product-related and/or quality-related data immediately following the printing process or subsequent thereto. 
 
     
     
       13. The method according to  claim 12  further comprising:
 removing, along with removing the defective printed product or the printed sheet, all following printed products or printed sheets which form a unit or a book block together with the defective printed product or printed sheet that is removed are also removed. 
 
     
     
       14. The method according to  claim 12  further comprising:
 starting up again a continuous supply of an end product or an intermediate product, which has remained incomplete because of the removal of the defective printed product or printed sheet, with an arrival of subsequently delivered printed products or printed sheets, which are designed to replace the removed defective printed sheets or printed products. 
 
     
     
       15. The method according to  claim 6  further comprising:
 supplying the determined data sequentially, quasi-sequentially, overlapping or ahead of time to the further processing location. 
 
     
     
       16. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 transmitting the data according to a User Datagram Protocol/Internet Protocol (UDP/IP) system. 
 
     
     
       17. The method according to  claim 1  further comprising:
 transmitting the data on a basis of a SIG Events specification. 
 
     
     
       18. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the printing press is a digital printing press. 
     
     
       19. A method for detecting and transmitting process-control data before and/or during a printing process for producing printed products in a printing press, the method comprising:
 detecting process-control data from detection characteristics that are effectively connected to at least one printed product; 
 transmitting and/or transferring data resulting from the detection characteristics to at least one processing unit arranged downstream of a location of the printing process; 
 detecting product-related data within the printing process; 
 using the product-related data for at least one redundant check of the data obtained from the detection characteristics, wherein during the printing process a different determination of data takes place which detects quality-related data for the printed products, wherein the quality-related data relate to the printing process; and 
 allocating the quality-related data, which are determined during the printing process, an absolutely predominant or a quasi-predominant operative rank as compared to the data obtained from the detection characteristics or the data resulting from the redundant check. 
 
     
     
       20. A method for detecting and transmitting process-control data before and/or during a printing process for producing printed products in a printing press, the method comprising:
 detecting process-control data from detection characteristics that are effectively connected to at least one printed product; 
 transmitting and/or transferring data resulting from the detection characteristics to at least one processing unit arranged downstream of a location of the printing process; 
 detecting product-related data within the printing process; 
 using the product-related data for at least one redundant check of the data obtained from the detection characteristics, wherein during the printing process a different determination of data takes place which detects quality-related data for the printed products, wherein the quality-related data relate to the printing process; and 
 allocating the quality-related data, which are determined during the printing process, a secondary operative rank as compared to the data obtained from the detection characteristics or the data resulting from the redundant check.