CA2027152A1 - Device and process for register adjustment on a printing press with a plurality of printing units - Google Patents
Device and process for register adjustment on a printing press with a plurality of printing unitsInfo
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- CA2027152A1 CA2027152A1 CA 2027152 CA2027152A CA2027152A1 CA 2027152 A1 CA2027152 A1 CA 2027152A1 CA 2027152 CA2027152 CA 2027152 CA 2027152 A CA2027152 A CA 2027152A CA 2027152 A1 CA2027152 A1 CA 2027152A1
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Abstract
Abstract The invention relates to a printing press, in particular offset printing press, with a plurality of printing units, said printing units, with the exception of one, being provided with circumferential- and side-register-adjusting devices for register adjustment. In order to obtain a simple and low-cost construction, it is proposed that, for the effect of a register adjustment of the non-adjustable printing unit (5), said printing unit (5) is assigned a control-command input device (16) such that a relative change in position of the subject (20) of the non-adjustable printing unit (5) is accomplished by logically consistent register adjustments of the adjustable printing units (2, 3, 4).
(Fig. 1)
(Fig. 1)
Description
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SDeCi fication -The invention relates to a printing press, in particular offset printing press, with a plurality of printing units, said printing units, with the excep~ion of one, being provided with circumferential- and side-register-adjusting devices for register adjust~ent.
Known for multi-colour printing are offset printing presses with a plurality of printing units, said printing units being provided with circumferential- and side-register-adjusting devices for register adjustment.
This makes it possible to correct the respective positions of the individual printing plates for the different colour separations, which is of great importance with regard to the quali~y of the printed product. The circumferential- and side-register-adjusting devices necessitate elaborate and7 therefore1 cost-intensive design measures. It is usual, therefore, to forego register-correction means in the delivery-end printing unit of an offset printing press if said printing unit is in the form of a varnishing unit. A
correction of the v rnishing-unit register is, therefore, possible only by means of elaborate measu-res, such as the changing of the position of the rubber blanket on the rubber-blanket cylinder., This calls, however, for extensive operations (in particular:
releasing, aligning, clamping etc.). Moreover,:
adjustment is difficult and success is also considerably dependent on the skill and experience of the printer.
, The object of the invention, therefore, is to indicate a Drintin~ Press of the init1ally mentioned kind in which ~ ~J ~ ;1 ,S "J ~
it is possible in simple and l~w-cost manner to achieve correct positions of the subjects or the printing units.
The object of the invention is achieved in that, for the erfect of a register adjustment of the non-adjustable printing unit, said printing unit is assigned a control-command input device such that a relative change in position of the subject of the non-adjustable printing unit is accomplished by logically consistent register adjustments of the adjustable printing units. Consequently, there is, as it were, a fictitious 'setting of the non-adjustable printing unit in that the position or its subject is changed in relation to the positians of the subjects of the other printing units, with this being accomplished no-t by a change in position of the subject of the non-adjustable printing unit (which, owing to its lack of adjustability, would not be possible in the first place), but by logically consistent, relative register adjustments of the other, adjustable printing units.
For the correct alignment of the individual printing plates, the adjustable printing units are set to align precisely with the position of the subject of the non-adjustable printing unit. This is made possible, for example, in simple ~anner from the control console of the printing press thanks to the control-command input device according to the invention. The control commands can be inputted manually or also automatically. It is possible to dispense with the previously described elaborate, known measures, such as the positional correction of the rubber blanket. The invention is not restricted to the non-adjustable printing unit being in the form of a varnishing unit, but can be employed, for example in multi-colour printin~, also in the printing unit of a specific colour separation. Since, in this printing unit, it is possible according to the invention `` 2 ~ . f to forego register adjustmentt there is a simplification in construction. A corresponding saving in cos~s is the result.
In a further development of the invention, so-called register marks are used to detec~ the positions of the subjects of the printins plates of the individual printing units. These register marks are provided on the printing forme t particularly printing plate, and are visible in the form of a corresponding impression on the printed product. The register marks are preferably in the form of register crosses. These register crosses are usually in the non-image area of the stockt for example in the region of the corners of a printed sheet.
These register crosses permit simple and accurate ~
positional regulation of the subjects or printing plates of the individual printing units in that the relative positions of the individual register crosses are detected and are brought into precise alignment with one another by means of register adjustment. This means thatt alsot the subjects of the printing plates assigned to ~he printing units are in preoise alignment with respect to one another. Such register marks are provided, however, only on the adjustable printing units, i.e. those provided with circumferential- and side-register-adjusting devices. If - as in the case of a varnishing unit - there is a non-adju,st~ble printing unit, it is not possible to employ positional detection by means of register marks. In this case, it is then necessary, in order to assess the position of the subject, to have recourse, for example, to the determination of the position of the border of the subject.
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In order to set the registers, the control-command input The inputting of a desired positional correction causes the control apparatus to i~itiate the req~ired register adjustment. In this connection, the control apparatus may execute the setting of the registers consecutivelY
or also simultaneously. Simultaneous settings make it possible to achieve very short set-up times.
In all cases, the register adjustment according t~ the invention is executed wi~h logical consistency both in terms OT magnitude and also in terms of direction.
Since this is possible in bo~h the circumferential and side direc~ions, there is a comprehensive correction facility provided.
According to a preferred embodiment of the inven~ion, it is provided th~t the adjustment data obtained from the set~ing of the register of a printing unit selecta~le in accordance with specific criteria as the lead printing uni~ are automatically used by the control apparatus in setting the other printing units, with account being taken of the position-deviation data, pertaining pri or to setting, of said other printing units with respect to the lead printing unit. The lead printing unit pri nts the so-called base col our, wi th it being possible in multi-colour printing to nominate as the base colour one of the colours, for example C, M, Y
(C = Cyan, M = Magenta, Y = Yellow) or B (B = Black).
Once the relative positions of the subjects of the other, adjustable printing units in relation to the base-colour-print.ing, adjustable printing unit are known, then, for the precise alignment of the individual adjustable printing units with respect to one another, it is merely necessary to determine the adjustment data with regard to the lead printing unit in relation to the position of the subject of the non-aPjustable printing ~ ~, 7 control-command input device, there is not only a register adjustment of the base-colour printing unit, but also at the same time a register setting of all other adjustable printing units, since the register positions to be assumed by said adjustable printing units can be determined automatically on the basis of the existing data. This results in a considerabl0 facilitation of work and also in a very high setting accuracy. The high setting accuracy results from the fact that the positions of the subjects of the individual adjustable printing units can be determined ~ith great accuracy on the basis of the already described register crosses. Overall, therefore, it is possible to make a precise register setting of all printing units, with the result tha~ it is possible more or less to operate without printing any waste.
Since the position-deviation data are established by determination of the positions of the machine-readable register marks, it is possible for there to be automatic measuring by means of a register-mark reader, in particular a register-cross reader. The register-cross reader is an optical instrument that detects the register crosses with a lens arrangement and evaluates them with respect to their positions. The necessary corrections of the register settings on the printing units are computed by the instrument and/or by the control apparatus and are, if required, indicated directly on a display. According to a pre~erred embodiment of the invention, however, the computing data can also be supplied direc~ly to the control desk of the printing press and can be used to control the actuators ~or the circumferential and side registers. Such a register-cross reader is ~nown ~rom DE-OS 37 19 766, to the contents of which reference is hereby made.
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Since the measures indicated may result in deviations between the position of the subject of the printed product and the edge of the stock, it is provided in a further development of the invention that side and front lays, serving to align the stock, are co-adjusted by the control apparatus in such a manner that the subject of the printed product is at the desir~d distances from the edges of the stock. If the printing press is in the form of a sheet-fed printing press, the individua1 sheets, supplied, for example, from a suction-head apparatus, are positioned in accordance with the positioning of the side and front lays. This again compensates for the displacement of the subjec~ with respect to the edge of the stock, such displacement resulting from the circumferential and side-register adjustments. If the register adjustments lead to a displacement (magnitude and direction) of the printed image, the side and front lays are adjusted by the same magnitude and in the same direction, with the result that, overall, the deviations are again compensated for.
Such ccmpensatory adjustment may, of course, alsa be performed automatically by the control of the printing press.
Preferably, the setting of the registers and the adjusting of the side and front lays is performed uniformly at low speed. This measure prevents the production of waste when adjustment is performed while the press is in operation, since, given a uniform speed of setting and adjusting, the individual ~olour separations remain in alignment with one another, also during the adjusting process. The low speed guarantees that, during setting and adjusting, ~here is no essential increase in size of the halftone do~s of the printed jmages, s;nce the ink dots that build up and `
press as a resul~ of the displacement deviate only to an insignificant extent in their form, i.e the deviation is not visible under normal viewing. In particular, it is provided that the speed of setting and adjusting is dependent on the positioning travel and/or on the speed of the press. In the case of a small deviation, i.e. in the case of only a short positioning travel, it is possible - without considerably deteriorating the print quality - to operate at a relatively high speed of setting and adjusting. This appli~s also to high press speeds.
The invention relates further to a process for the correction of the register setting on printing units of a printing press, in particular of an offset printing press, preferably for use on a printing press of the previously described kind, the printing units of which, with the exception of one, are provided with circumferential- and side-register adjustment, wherein, for the effect of a register adjustment of the non-adjustable printing unit, the relative position of the subject of said printing unit is changed by logically consistent register adjustments of the adjustable printing units.
It is provided in particular that selected as the lead printing unit is that adjustable printing unit whose subject has the desired position with respect to the edges of the stock or most closely approximates said position. The lead printing unit prints the so-called base colour. Furthermore, the relative position-deviations of the subjects of the adjustable printing units with respect to the position of the subject of the lead printing unit are determined and stored in a storaae device Drovided for this Purpose. Such .
`
manner with a register-mark reader, in particular a register-cross reader. The optical apparatus of the register-cross reader is directed at the register crosses of a proof/specimen print or similar, so that the instrument is ahle to determine the existing deviation data and to supply them to the storage device.
Determination and evaluation are preferably automatic.
Since the printed image of the non-adjustable printing unit, which is, in particular, in the form of a varnishing unit, do~s not comprise any register crosses or similar, the positional deviation of the subject of the lead printing unit with respect to the position of the subject of the non-adjustable printing unit must be determined by the printer and be inputted at the control console of the printing press. Preferably, the printer uses the borders of the subject to determine the positional deviation. On the basis of the stored position-deYiation data between the position of the subject of the lead printing unit and the positions of the subjects o~ the other adjustable printing units, a register adjustment of the lead printing unit causes an ;automatic, logically consistent correction to the register set~ings of the other adjustable prin~ing units. This makes it possible, with great accuracy and relatively little effort, to correct the register settings at the printing units of the printing press.
In particular, the printer need merely det~rmine "by hand the positional deviation between~the subject of the lead printing unit and the position of the sùbject of the non-adjustable printing unit; the other positions or positional deviations are automatically detected by the register-cross reader and are relayed to the control apparatus of the printing press.
The invention is illustrated on the basis of a specimen embodiment with reference to the drawings, in which:
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g Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an of~set printing press for multi colour printing ~ith varnishing unit;
Fig. 2 shows a partial view of a printed sheet provided with register-cross mark;
Fig. 3 shows a top view of ~ printed sheet, the position of which is settable by side and front lays; and Fig. 4a to c show the positions of the subJects of various colour separations of the offset printing press.
Fig. 1 shows in a schematic representation an offset printing press 1, which comprises four printing units 2, 3, 4 and 5. The offset printing press l is in the form of a sheet-fed press, i.e. it is supplied by means of a she~t-supply apparatus 6 with sheets 8 forming the stock 7, with said sheets 8 then passing through the individual printing units 2 to 5 and being removed at the end of the press in the form of a finished printed product and preferably being deposited there on a pile (pile of sheets 9).
The printing units 2 to 4 are provided with circumferential- and side-register-adjusting devices 10 for register adjustment. The respective actuator for the circumferential register is identif,ied by "U" and the corresponding actuator for ths side register is identifi,ed by "S" tFig. 1). The actuators 'U" and "S"
are connected via lines 11 to a control console 12 of the offset printing press 1. The control console 1~ is further connected via lines 13 to actuators VM and SM of side and front lays 14, 147, which determine the sheet position.
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Whereas the printing units 2 to 4 produce di~,~erent colour separations in multi-colour printins, the printing unit S represents a varnishing unit 15. The varnishing unit 1~ does not comprise any circumferential- or side-register-adjusting devices, with the result that i~s resister- or subject position is dependent on the position of the rubber blanket cn the corresponding rubber-blanket cylinder. A simple register correction - as in the case of the printin~
units 2 to 4 - canno~ be executed in the case of the varnishing unit 15, since a change in the position of the rubber blanket is possible only by elaborate measures (releasing, positioning, clamping). To this extent, for the purposes of the present application, the printing unit 5 is assumed to be a non-adjustable printing unit.
According to the invention, however, the effect of a register adjustment of the non-adjustable printing unit 5 by means of a control-command input device 16, which is accommodated in the control console-12 and interacts with a control apparatus 25, can be achieved in that a relative change in position of the subject of the non-adjustable printing unit 5 is accomplished by logically consistent register adjustments of the adjustable printing units 2 to 4. Thus, according to the desired register adjustment of the printing unit 5, which, hawever, is not feasible owing to the lack of adjustability, the effect of an adjustment is brought about in that the other, a~justable printing units Z to 4 are adjusted in their respective subject positions by means of the actuators "U and/or "S in relation ~o the subject of the printing unit 5. The logical consistency /, of such adjustment means in the final analysis that all printing units 2 to 5 assume in relation to one another those positions that were in ~act to be achieved by the ~ ' . , .
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l 1 register adjustment (not possible, however) of the printing unit 5.
To facilitate the measuring of the posi~ions of the individual printing plates of the various colour separations, register marks 17, in the form of register crosses 18, are provided in the non-image areas of the sheets 8, particularly in the region of the corners of the sheets (Fig. 2). Insofar as the register crosses 18 assigned to the printing units 2 to 4 are in alignment one on top of the other, the printing plates are in the correct positions necessary for satisfactory printing results. No register crosses are assigned to the printing unit 5, which is in the form of ~he varnishing unit 15; the necessary1 correct alignment of the corresponding subject in relation to the positions of the subjects of the other printing units 2 to 4 must, therefore, be performed by the operator (printer) by means of visual examination, particularly on the basis of a comparison of the positions of the borders of the subjects. If there are deviations, the effect of a register adjustment of the, in fact, non-adiustable printins unit 5 can be achieved on the basis of the measures acc~rding to the invention.
The principle on which the invention is based is now explained in greater detail with reference to Fig. 3, which shows a sheet 8, on which is disposed a colour separation 19. Said colour separation 19 has been produced by one of the printing units 2 to 4 (for the sake of simplicity, discussion is to be confined initially to the colour separation of just one printing unit). The subject 20 of the varnishing unit 15 is "
shown by shading in Fig. 3. Colour separation 19 and subject 20 exhibit relative positional deviations with resDeCt to one another. with the result that theY are , . .
:
. ' , , ' ' not in alisnment. Deviation x applies to the circumterential register of the adjustable printing unit (e.g. printing unit 4) and deviation y applies to the co~rssponding side register. Consequently, a register mark t7 assigned to the colour separation 1g and situated in the,corner of the subject has the position P1, which deviates frorn a position P2, which is assumed by ~he upper, right-hand corner Ot the subject 2~ or the varnishing unit 15. Since a register adjustment of the varnishing unit 15 is not possible, tha logically consistent register adjustmen~ of the adjustable printing unit is performed according to the inventien in such a manner that the colour separation 19 is brought into alignment with the subject 20. During the adjustmen~ process, position P1 moves towards positicn P2 until both positions are in alignment one on top o the other. In the course o~ register adjustment~
therefore, the colour separa~ion 20 is displaced by deviation x and by deviation y. This displace~ent means that there is now a change in the distances between the colour separation 19 and the edges 21 and 22 of the stock. In order to re-establish the original situation, the front lays 14' and the side lays 14 are moved, by means of actuators VM and SM, respectively, by deviations x and y, likewise in the same dtrection and by the same amount, with the result that the sheet assumes a corresponding, new position.
The correction to the register settings of the printing press 1 according to a pre~erred procedure is now to be explained in the following. Fig. ~ a-c show a colour separation 23 of ~he printing unit 2, a colour separation 24 of the printing unit 3 as well as the colour separation 19 of the prin~ing unit 4. The subject 20 of the varnishing unit 15 is likewi~e shown, with this being indicated by the continuous solid line.
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' - 1'2 In Fig. 4a, all colour separations 19, 23 and 24 as well as the subject 20 have different positions. For the sake of clarity~ the deviations shown are exaggerated.
Let it be as~umed that the colour separation 23 is at - distance a from the upper edge 21 of the stock and at distance b from the side edge 22 of the stock. Let it further be hypo~hesized that distances a and b are the desired distances, with the result that the colour separation 23 is correc~ly positioned on the sheet 8.
Consequently, the printing unit 2 assigned to the colour separation 23 represents a lead printing unit, with the corresponding colour of said lead printing unit being termed the base colour.
A specimen sheet is now taken from a proof and is visually evaluated by the printer with regard to the positional correction required between the subject Z0 and the colour separation 23. According to Fig. 4b, a correction by dimension c is necessary to the circumferential register and a displacement by dimension d is necessary to the side register; since the colour separation 23 is already in its correct position with respect to the edges 21, 22 of the stock, it is in fact necessary to perform a corresponding register adjustment to the varnishing unit 15. This, however, is not possible, since - as previously explained - the printing unit 5 is not provided with circumferential- or ~ide-resister-adjusting devices. To this extent, accor~ing to the invention, the effect of the register adjustment of the non-adjustable printing unit ~ by the inputting of dimensions 5 and d as determined by the printer into the control-command input device 16 on the control console 12 is achieved in that a relative change ~n position is performed with log;cal consistency by the register of the adjustable printlng unit 2.
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So that the printer does no~ need 1ikewise visually to determine the positional deviations of the subject 20 with respect to the colour separations 24 and 19 of the printing units 3 and 4 and to input said deviations at the control console, there is provided the automatic measurement of position-deviation data e, f, g and h, which resu1ts from the relative positions of the colour separations 24 and 19 with respec~ to the colour separation 23 of the lead printing unit. These position-devia~ion data e, f, 9, h are established by determination of the ~ositions of register crosses 18 assigned to each of the colour separations 19, 23 and 24 ~Fig. 2). Use is made for this purpose of a so-called register-cross reader, which scans the register crosses 1 a wi th its optical system, and, therefrom, indicates on a display the necessary adjustment data corresponding to the position-deviation data or, alternatively, according to a further development of the invention, supplies such adjustment data to the control console 12 for automatic correction of the register settings.
Since, to this extent, the relative positions of khe colour separations 19 and 24 with respect to the colour separation 23 of the lead colour are known to the control of the printing press 1 and, further, the positional deviation between the subject 20 and the ~olour separation 23 has been inputted by the printer, a correspondingly logically consistent register ~djustment of the printing units 2, 3 and 4 can:be effected in such a manner that all printed images are in alisnment with the subject of the varnishing unit 15.
The printed image of the finished prin~ed product would then~ however, assume an incorrect position ~ith respect to the edges 21 and 22 of the stock, To eliminate this ,....... . , . ~ :
, s j 14' are - as already explained previous1y with reference to Fig. 3 - adjusted in magnitude and direction according to dimensions c and d (Fig. 4b), with the result that the desired distances a and b are re-established.
': ' '." ~,, : ' . ~' ', ~' ' '
SDeCi fication -The invention relates to a printing press, in particular offset printing press, with a plurality of printing units, said printing units, with the excep~ion of one, being provided with circumferential- and side-register-adjusting devices for register adjust~ent.
Known for multi-colour printing are offset printing presses with a plurality of printing units, said printing units being provided with circumferential- and side-register-adjusting devices for register adjustment.
This makes it possible to correct the respective positions of the individual printing plates for the different colour separations, which is of great importance with regard to the quali~y of the printed product. The circumferential- and side-register-adjusting devices necessitate elaborate and7 therefore1 cost-intensive design measures. It is usual, therefore, to forego register-correction means in the delivery-end printing unit of an offset printing press if said printing unit is in the form of a varnishing unit. A
correction of the v rnishing-unit register is, therefore, possible only by means of elaborate measu-res, such as the changing of the position of the rubber blanket on the rubber-blanket cylinder., This calls, however, for extensive operations (in particular:
releasing, aligning, clamping etc.). Moreover,:
adjustment is difficult and success is also considerably dependent on the skill and experience of the printer.
, The object of the invention, therefore, is to indicate a Drintin~ Press of the init1ally mentioned kind in which ~ ~J ~ ;1 ,S "J ~
it is possible in simple and l~w-cost manner to achieve correct positions of the subjects or the printing units.
The object of the invention is achieved in that, for the erfect of a register adjustment of the non-adjustable printing unit, said printing unit is assigned a control-command input device such that a relative change in position of the subject of the non-adjustable printing unit is accomplished by logically consistent register adjustments of the adjustable printing units. Consequently, there is, as it were, a fictitious 'setting of the non-adjustable printing unit in that the position or its subject is changed in relation to the positians of the subjects of the other printing units, with this being accomplished no-t by a change in position of the subject of the non-adjustable printing unit (which, owing to its lack of adjustability, would not be possible in the first place), but by logically consistent, relative register adjustments of the other, adjustable printing units.
For the correct alignment of the individual printing plates, the adjustable printing units are set to align precisely with the position of the subject of the non-adjustable printing unit. This is made possible, for example, in simple ~anner from the control console of the printing press thanks to the control-command input device according to the invention. The control commands can be inputted manually or also automatically. It is possible to dispense with the previously described elaborate, known measures, such as the positional correction of the rubber blanket. The invention is not restricted to the non-adjustable printing unit being in the form of a varnishing unit, but can be employed, for example in multi-colour printin~, also in the printing unit of a specific colour separation. Since, in this printing unit, it is possible according to the invention `` 2 ~ . f to forego register adjustmentt there is a simplification in construction. A corresponding saving in cos~s is the result.
In a further development of the invention, so-called register marks are used to detec~ the positions of the subjects of the printins plates of the individual printing units. These register marks are provided on the printing forme t particularly printing plate, and are visible in the form of a corresponding impression on the printed product. The register marks are preferably in the form of register crosses. These register crosses are usually in the non-image area of the stockt for example in the region of the corners of a printed sheet.
These register crosses permit simple and accurate ~
positional regulation of the subjects or printing plates of the individual printing units in that the relative positions of the individual register crosses are detected and are brought into precise alignment with one another by means of register adjustment. This means thatt alsot the subjects of the printing plates assigned to ~he printing units are in preoise alignment with respect to one another. Such register marks are provided, however, only on the adjustable printing units, i.e. those provided with circumferential- and side-register-adjusting devices. If - as in the case of a varnishing unit - there is a non-adju,st~ble printing unit, it is not possible to employ positional detection by means of register marks. In this case, it is then necessary, in order to assess the position of the subject, to have recourse, for example, to the determination of the position of the border of the subject.
.
In order to set the registers, the control-command input The inputting of a desired positional correction causes the control apparatus to i~itiate the req~ired register adjustment. In this connection, the control apparatus may execute the setting of the registers consecutivelY
or also simultaneously. Simultaneous settings make it possible to achieve very short set-up times.
In all cases, the register adjustment according t~ the invention is executed wi~h logical consistency both in terms OT magnitude and also in terms of direction.
Since this is possible in bo~h the circumferential and side direc~ions, there is a comprehensive correction facility provided.
According to a preferred embodiment of the inven~ion, it is provided th~t the adjustment data obtained from the set~ing of the register of a printing unit selecta~le in accordance with specific criteria as the lead printing uni~ are automatically used by the control apparatus in setting the other printing units, with account being taken of the position-deviation data, pertaining pri or to setting, of said other printing units with respect to the lead printing unit. The lead printing unit pri nts the so-called base col our, wi th it being possible in multi-colour printing to nominate as the base colour one of the colours, for example C, M, Y
(C = Cyan, M = Magenta, Y = Yellow) or B (B = Black).
Once the relative positions of the subjects of the other, adjustable printing units in relation to the base-colour-print.ing, adjustable printing unit are known, then, for the precise alignment of the individual adjustable printing units with respect to one another, it is merely necessary to determine the adjustment data with regard to the lead printing unit in relation to the position of the subject of the non-aPjustable printing ~ ~, 7 control-command input device, there is not only a register adjustment of the base-colour printing unit, but also at the same time a register setting of all other adjustable printing units, since the register positions to be assumed by said adjustable printing units can be determined automatically on the basis of the existing data. This results in a considerabl0 facilitation of work and also in a very high setting accuracy. The high setting accuracy results from the fact that the positions of the subjects of the individual adjustable printing units can be determined ~ith great accuracy on the basis of the already described register crosses. Overall, therefore, it is possible to make a precise register setting of all printing units, with the result tha~ it is possible more or less to operate without printing any waste.
Since the position-deviation data are established by determination of the positions of the machine-readable register marks, it is possible for there to be automatic measuring by means of a register-mark reader, in particular a register-cross reader. The register-cross reader is an optical instrument that detects the register crosses with a lens arrangement and evaluates them with respect to their positions. The necessary corrections of the register settings on the printing units are computed by the instrument and/or by the control apparatus and are, if required, indicated directly on a display. According to a pre~erred embodiment of the invention, however, the computing data can also be supplied direc~ly to the control desk of the printing press and can be used to control the actuators ~or the circumferential and side registers. Such a register-cross reader is ~nown ~rom DE-OS 37 19 766, to the contents of which reference is hereby made.
" ,f ,f,~
Since the measures indicated may result in deviations between the position of the subject of the printed product and the edge of the stock, it is provided in a further development of the invention that side and front lays, serving to align the stock, are co-adjusted by the control apparatus in such a manner that the subject of the printed product is at the desir~d distances from the edges of the stock. If the printing press is in the form of a sheet-fed printing press, the individua1 sheets, supplied, for example, from a suction-head apparatus, are positioned in accordance with the positioning of the side and front lays. This again compensates for the displacement of the subjec~ with respect to the edge of the stock, such displacement resulting from the circumferential and side-register adjustments. If the register adjustments lead to a displacement (magnitude and direction) of the printed image, the side and front lays are adjusted by the same magnitude and in the same direction, with the result that, overall, the deviations are again compensated for.
Such ccmpensatory adjustment may, of course, alsa be performed automatically by the control of the printing press.
Preferably, the setting of the registers and the adjusting of the side and front lays is performed uniformly at low speed. This measure prevents the production of waste when adjustment is performed while the press is in operation, since, given a uniform speed of setting and adjusting, the individual ~olour separations remain in alignment with one another, also during the adjusting process. The low speed guarantees that, during setting and adjusting, ~here is no essential increase in size of the halftone do~s of the printed jmages, s;nce the ink dots that build up and `
press as a resul~ of the displacement deviate only to an insignificant extent in their form, i.e the deviation is not visible under normal viewing. In particular, it is provided that the speed of setting and adjusting is dependent on the positioning travel and/or on the speed of the press. In the case of a small deviation, i.e. in the case of only a short positioning travel, it is possible - without considerably deteriorating the print quality - to operate at a relatively high speed of setting and adjusting. This appli~s also to high press speeds.
The invention relates further to a process for the correction of the register setting on printing units of a printing press, in particular of an offset printing press, preferably for use on a printing press of the previously described kind, the printing units of which, with the exception of one, are provided with circumferential- and side-register adjustment, wherein, for the effect of a register adjustment of the non-adjustable printing unit, the relative position of the subject of said printing unit is changed by logically consistent register adjustments of the adjustable printing units.
It is provided in particular that selected as the lead printing unit is that adjustable printing unit whose subject has the desired position with respect to the edges of the stock or most closely approximates said position. The lead printing unit prints the so-called base colour. Furthermore, the relative position-deviations of the subjects of the adjustable printing units with respect to the position of the subject of the lead printing unit are determined and stored in a storaae device Drovided for this Purpose. Such .
`
manner with a register-mark reader, in particular a register-cross reader. The optical apparatus of the register-cross reader is directed at the register crosses of a proof/specimen print or similar, so that the instrument is ahle to determine the existing deviation data and to supply them to the storage device.
Determination and evaluation are preferably automatic.
Since the printed image of the non-adjustable printing unit, which is, in particular, in the form of a varnishing unit, do~s not comprise any register crosses or similar, the positional deviation of the subject of the lead printing unit with respect to the position of the subject of the non-adjustable printing unit must be determined by the printer and be inputted at the control console of the printing press. Preferably, the printer uses the borders of the subject to determine the positional deviation. On the basis of the stored position-deYiation data between the position of the subject of the lead printing unit and the positions of the subjects o~ the other adjustable printing units, a register adjustment of the lead printing unit causes an ;automatic, logically consistent correction to the register set~ings of the other adjustable prin~ing units. This makes it possible, with great accuracy and relatively little effort, to correct the register settings at the printing units of the printing press.
In particular, the printer need merely det~rmine "by hand the positional deviation between~the subject of the lead printing unit and the position of the sùbject of the non-adjustable printing unit; the other positions or positional deviations are automatically detected by the register-cross reader and are relayed to the control apparatus of the printing press.
The invention is illustrated on the basis of a specimen embodiment with reference to the drawings, in which:
.
, ~ ;J~ "
g Fig. 1 shows a schematic view of an of~set printing press for multi colour printing ~ith varnishing unit;
Fig. 2 shows a partial view of a printed sheet provided with register-cross mark;
Fig. 3 shows a top view of ~ printed sheet, the position of which is settable by side and front lays; and Fig. 4a to c show the positions of the subJects of various colour separations of the offset printing press.
Fig. 1 shows in a schematic representation an offset printing press 1, which comprises four printing units 2, 3, 4 and 5. The offset printing press l is in the form of a sheet-fed press, i.e. it is supplied by means of a she~t-supply apparatus 6 with sheets 8 forming the stock 7, with said sheets 8 then passing through the individual printing units 2 to 5 and being removed at the end of the press in the form of a finished printed product and preferably being deposited there on a pile (pile of sheets 9).
The printing units 2 to 4 are provided with circumferential- and side-register-adjusting devices 10 for register adjustment. The respective actuator for the circumferential register is identif,ied by "U" and the corresponding actuator for ths side register is identifi,ed by "S" tFig. 1). The actuators 'U" and "S"
are connected via lines 11 to a control console 12 of the offset printing press 1. The control console 1~ is further connected via lines 13 to actuators VM and SM of side and front lays 14, 147, which determine the sheet position.
.
, ~ J~
Whereas the printing units 2 to 4 produce di~,~erent colour separations in multi-colour printins, the printing unit S represents a varnishing unit 15. The varnishing unit 1~ does not comprise any circumferential- or side-register-adjusting devices, with the result that i~s resister- or subject position is dependent on the position of the rubber blanket cn the corresponding rubber-blanket cylinder. A simple register correction - as in the case of the printin~
units 2 to 4 - canno~ be executed in the case of the varnishing unit 15, since a change in the position of the rubber blanket is possible only by elaborate measures (releasing, positioning, clamping). To this extent, for the purposes of the present application, the printing unit 5 is assumed to be a non-adjustable printing unit.
According to the invention, however, the effect of a register adjustment of the non-adjustable printing unit 5 by means of a control-command input device 16, which is accommodated in the control console-12 and interacts with a control apparatus 25, can be achieved in that a relative change in position of the subject of the non-adjustable printing unit 5 is accomplished by logically consistent register adjustments of the adjustable printing units 2 to 4. Thus, according to the desired register adjustment of the printing unit 5, which, hawever, is not feasible owing to the lack of adjustability, the effect of an adjustment is brought about in that the other, a~justable printing units Z to 4 are adjusted in their respective subject positions by means of the actuators "U and/or "S in relation ~o the subject of the printing unit 5. The logical consistency /, of such adjustment means in the final analysis that all printing units 2 to 5 assume in relation to one another those positions that were in ~act to be achieved by the ~ ' . , .
.
l 1 register adjustment (not possible, however) of the printing unit 5.
To facilitate the measuring of the posi~ions of the individual printing plates of the various colour separations, register marks 17, in the form of register crosses 18, are provided in the non-image areas of the sheets 8, particularly in the region of the corners of the sheets (Fig. 2). Insofar as the register crosses 18 assigned to the printing units 2 to 4 are in alignment one on top of the other, the printing plates are in the correct positions necessary for satisfactory printing results. No register crosses are assigned to the printing unit 5, which is in the form of ~he varnishing unit 15; the necessary1 correct alignment of the corresponding subject in relation to the positions of the subjects of the other printing units 2 to 4 must, therefore, be performed by the operator (printer) by means of visual examination, particularly on the basis of a comparison of the positions of the borders of the subjects. If there are deviations, the effect of a register adjustment of the, in fact, non-adiustable printins unit 5 can be achieved on the basis of the measures acc~rding to the invention.
The principle on which the invention is based is now explained in greater detail with reference to Fig. 3, which shows a sheet 8, on which is disposed a colour separation 19. Said colour separation 19 has been produced by one of the printing units 2 to 4 (for the sake of simplicity, discussion is to be confined initially to the colour separation of just one printing unit). The subject 20 of the varnishing unit 15 is "
shown by shading in Fig. 3. Colour separation 19 and subject 20 exhibit relative positional deviations with resDeCt to one another. with the result that theY are , . .
:
. ' , , ' ' not in alisnment. Deviation x applies to the circumterential register of the adjustable printing unit (e.g. printing unit 4) and deviation y applies to the co~rssponding side register. Consequently, a register mark t7 assigned to the colour separation 1g and situated in the,corner of the subject has the position P1, which deviates frorn a position P2, which is assumed by ~he upper, right-hand corner Ot the subject 2~ or the varnishing unit 15. Since a register adjustment of the varnishing unit 15 is not possible, tha logically consistent register adjustmen~ of the adjustable printing unit is performed according to the inventien in such a manner that the colour separation 19 is brought into alignment with the subject 20. During the adjustmen~ process, position P1 moves towards positicn P2 until both positions are in alignment one on top o the other. In the course o~ register adjustment~
therefore, the colour separa~ion 20 is displaced by deviation x and by deviation y. This displace~ent means that there is now a change in the distances between the colour separation 19 and the edges 21 and 22 of the stock. In order to re-establish the original situation, the front lays 14' and the side lays 14 are moved, by means of actuators VM and SM, respectively, by deviations x and y, likewise in the same dtrection and by the same amount, with the result that the sheet assumes a corresponding, new position.
The correction to the register settings of the printing press 1 according to a pre~erred procedure is now to be explained in the following. Fig. ~ a-c show a colour separation 23 of ~he printing unit 2, a colour separation 24 of the printing unit 3 as well as the colour separation 19 of the prin~ing unit 4. The subject 20 of the varnishing unit 15 is likewi~e shown, with this being indicated by the continuous solid line.
. '' ' ~' .
' - 1'2 In Fig. 4a, all colour separations 19, 23 and 24 as well as the subject 20 have different positions. For the sake of clarity~ the deviations shown are exaggerated.
Let it be as~umed that the colour separation 23 is at - distance a from the upper edge 21 of the stock and at distance b from the side edge 22 of the stock. Let it further be hypo~hesized that distances a and b are the desired distances, with the result that the colour separation 23 is correc~ly positioned on the sheet 8.
Consequently, the printing unit 2 assigned to the colour separation 23 represents a lead printing unit, with the corresponding colour of said lead printing unit being termed the base colour.
A specimen sheet is now taken from a proof and is visually evaluated by the printer with regard to the positional correction required between the subject Z0 and the colour separation 23. According to Fig. 4b, a correction by dimension c is necessary to the circumferential register and a displacement by dimension d is necessary to the side register; since the colour separation 23 is already in its correct position with respect to the edges 21, 22 of the stock, it is in fact necessary to perform a corresponding register adjustment to the varnishing unit 15. This, however, is not possible, since - as previously explained - the printing unit 5 is not provided with circumferential- or ~ide-resister-adjusting devices. To this extent, accor~ing to the invention, the effect of the register adjustment of the non-adjustable printing unit ~ by the inputting of dimensions 5 and d as determined by the printer into the control-command input device 16 on the control console 12 is achieved in that a relative change ~n position is performed with log;cal consistency by the register of the adjustable printlng unit 2.
.
' :: .
.
J S;~
So that the printer does no~ need 1ikewise visually to determine the positional deviations of the subject 20 with respect to the colour separations 24 and 19 of the printing units 3 and 4 and to input said deviations at the control console, there is provided the automatic measurement of position-deviation data e, f, g and h, which resu1ts from the relative positions of the colour separations 24 and 19 with respec~ to the colour separation 23 of the lead printing unit. These position-devia~ion data e, f, 9, h are established by determination of the ~ositions of register crosses 18 assigned to each of the colour separations 19, 23 and 24 ~Fig. 2). Use is made for this purpose of a so-called register-cross reader, which scans the register crosses 1 a wi th its optical system, and, therefrom, indicates on a display the necessary adjustment data corresponding to the position-deviation data or, alternatively, according to a further development of the invention, supplies such adjustment data to the control console 12 for automatic correction of the register settings.
Since, to this extent, the relative positions of khe colour separations 19 and 24 with respect to the colour separation 23 of the lead colour are known to the control of the printing press 1 and, further, the positional deviation between the subject 20 and the ~olour separation 23 has been inputted by the printer, a correspondingly logically consistent register ~djustment of the printing units 2, 3 and 4 can:be effected in such a manner that all printed images are in alisnment with the subject of the varnishing unit 15.
The printed image of the finished prin~ed product would then~ however, assume an incorrect position ~ith respect to the edges 21 and 22 of the stock, To eliminate this ,....... . , . ~ :
, s j 14' are - as already explained previous1y with reference to Fig. 3 - adjusted in magnitude and direction according to dimensions c and d (Fig. 4b), with the result that the desired distances a and b are re-established.
': ' '." ~,, : ' . ~' ', ~' ' '
Claims (11)
1. A sheet printing machine for printing images on sheets having a plurality of register-provided units, a circumferential and a side register in each of said register-provided printing units for performing respective circumferential and side registration in said register-provided printing units; a register-free printing unit having no circumferential and side register; a plurality of adjustable front and side lays disposed ahead of at least one of said printing units for aligning the edges of the images; and a control device operatively engaging said circumferential and side registers and said front and side lays for controlling positions of said registers and lays.
2. A sheet printing machine according to claim 1, wherein said register-free printing unit is a varnishing unit.
3. A sheet printing machine according to claim 1, including a command input device operatively engaging said control device for entering control commands into said control device.
4. A sheet printing machine according to claim 3, including a register marking reader for automatically reading the position of said register marking, and means for transmitting the position of said register mark to said control device for automatically positioning said front and side lay.
5. Method for automatically correcting registers of a sheet printing machine having a plurality of register-provided printing units, each register-provided unit provided with a circumferential and a side register and a register-free printing unit having no circumferential and side register, the method comprising the steps of determining a register deviation between an image printed by at least one of said register-provided printing units and an image printed by said register-free printing unit, and adjusting the register of said at least one of said register-provided printing units so as to cancel said register deviation.
6. Method according to claim 5 including in said sheet printing machine a register mark reader for reading said register deviation, a control device for controlling the position of said registers of said register-provided printing units, and an adjustable front and side lay on at least one of said register-provided printing units, the method further comprising the steps of:
(a) selecting one of said register-provided printing units as a lead printing unit;
(b) aligning by means of said register mark reader the images printed on the other register-provided printing units with the image printed on said lead printing unit;
(c) next determining the edge deviation between the edges of the image printed on the lead printing unit and the edges of the image printed on the register-free printing unit;
and (d) adjusting the front and side lay so as to cancel said edge deviation.
(a) selecting one of said register-provided printing units as a lead printing unit;
(b) aligning by means of said register mark reader the images printed on the other register-provided printing units with the image printed on said lead printing unit;
(c) next determining the edge deviation between the edges of the image printed on the lead printing unit and the edges of the image printed on the register-free printing unit;
and (d) adjusting the front and side lay so as to cancel said edge deviation.
7. Method according to claim 6, further comprising the step of selecting as lead printing unit the register-provided printing unit, the printed image of which exhibits the least edge deviation from the image printed by the register-free printing unit.
8. Method according to claim 6, including a control device having operator control inputs for adjusting said front and side lay, and manual edge-reading means enabling a printing machine operator to manually determine said edge deviation, the method further comprising the step of determining manually the edge deviation, and entering manually the edge deviation into said control device so as to cancel said edge deviation.
9. Method according to claim 1, which includes setting the registers and adjusting side and front lays uniformly at low speed for aligning stack material fed into the printing machine.
10. Method according to claim 9, wherein the speed of the setting and adjusting is dependent upon at least one of the length of positioning travel and machine speed.
11. Method according to claim 9, wherein the speed of the setting and adjusting increase with an increase in machine speed.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| DE3933666A DE3933666A1 (en) | 1989-10-09 | 1989-10-09 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING THE REGISTER ON A PRINTING MACHINE WITH MULTIPLE PRINTING UNITS |
| DEP3933666.2 | 1989-10-09 | ||
| DE3933662 | 1989-10-09 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2027152A1 true CA2027152A1 (en) | 1991-04-10 |
Family
ID=25885936
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2027152 Abandoned CA2027152A1 (en) | 1989-10-09 | 1990-10-09 | Device and process for register adjustment on a printing press with a plurality of printing units |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2027152A1 (en) |
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES2159481A1 (en) * | 1998-11-30 | 2001-10-01 | Windmoeller & Hoelscher | Circumferential and lateral register adjustment method for printing roller of printing machine by comparing actual position of individual images with desired position and adjusting rollers accordingly |
-
1990
- 1990-10-09 CA CA 2027152 patent/CA2027152A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ES2159481A1 (en) * | 1998-11-30 | 2001-10-01 | Windmoeller & Hoelscher | Circumferential and lateral register adjustment method for printing roller of printing machine by comparing actual position of individual images with desired position and adjusting rollers accordingly |
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