EP1209000B1 - Method and device for producing a newspaper - Google Patents

Abstract

In a newspaper digital printing process, a single newspaper is prepared by the sequential digital printing of each page of the newspaper until a complete copy of the newspaper is printed. The newspaper is then folded and either placed on a stack or removed while the next copy is printed in the same way. Also claimed is a sheet collection and newspaper folding assembly.

Description

The invention relates to a method for producing a Newspaper according to claim 1 and a device for Implementation of the method according to claim 11.

A classic newspaper has a typical structure a plurality of nested, as a whole booklets folded in the middle, which in turn consist of individual sheets laid one on top of the other and folded into each other consist. A booklet, also called a bundle or layer, contains typically 2 to 10 sheets, depending on the print volume. On Booklet can also contain half sheets that are used for Booklet are not folded. Several booklets that are folded together again, they result in Newspaper. Contains in a typical daily newspaper for example the outermost, first booklet on the title page and the international part, the second issue regional part, the third issue the economic part, etc. The reader will find them all when they first unfold the newspaper Staple in the right order. Likewise, at Unfold the booklets, the individual sheets or pages in the arranged in the correct order. The well-known, always same basic structure of a certain newspaper enables regular readers to find them quickly the parts that interest him.

In exceptional cases, the newspaper can only be published in one booklet consist. This booklet consists of several, for example Sheets that are folded into each other twice.

In conventional printing processes to produce a Newspaper, for example letterpress, offset printing, Rotogravure, be a in a rotary printing press or several paper webs in several printing units printed at the same time and folded into the end product newspaper. This printing process is static in the sense that a certain number of identical newspapers is printed by all first, second and further pages are printed first become a booklet after the printing has been completed or put together to form a complete newspaper. To print a product with a different content, the Printing machine stopped, the printing forms, e.g. Plates, Clichés, cylinders, changed and the printing press started again.

Such static printing processes are only for very high ones Print runs economically profitable. For this reason are also national daily newspapers in just one or printed and distributed from a few centers, whereby often travel long distances, especially when shipping abroad are. The necessary transportation time is increasing Burden of timeliness of newspaper content. The transport itself is labor and energy intensive.

They are digital printing machines, e.g. Laser printer or Inkjet printers known in which a plurality of different pages sequentially, i.e. successively, can be printed without the press must be stopped (dynamic printing process). With Digital printing machines are currently end products in Final format of typically A4 and smaller made from several unfolded or once folded sheets exist, which after printing is finished collected and linked together, e.g. by means of Wire stapling or sizing. Previously known digital printed products are in terms of their structure and Appearance with today's, conventional manufactured newspapers not comparable.

From EP-A 1 219 556, which is the state of the art according to Art. 54 (3) EPC is a method and equipment for making a Printed product known. That from a digital printing unit or one Sheets coming from cross cutters are picked up by a conveyor arrangement and included a first conveying speed is towed into a collecting device in which a Sheet stack is formed. Then the stack with a second Conveying speed removed from the collecting device and, if necessary, one fed further processing.

The invention has for its object a simple nd Cost-effective, decentralized procedure for Specify production of a newspaper in which the Newspaper in appearance not from one conventionally printed newspaper differs. Of further a device for carrying out the Procedure are specified.

The invention is achieved by a method for Production of a newspaper with the features of claim 1. The invention is further solved by a Device for performing the method with the Features of claim 11. Advantageous further developments of the method and the device are in the dependent Claims, the description and the drawing described.

In the method according to the invention, the in a Digital press printed sheets in one operation processed into a newspaper by putting it in a row Sequence printed, to a newspaper or a booklet belonging sheets collected and folded into one another a booklet to be formed, further booklets in sequence printed, collected, folded and by repeated Fold all the booklets into a newspaper become. According to the invention, the newspaper is described in the following. Steps made: The continuously printed sheets are continuously individually a first collection station conveyed. Sheets of a common booklet are assigned to a sheet stack or a not yet folded booklet overlaid (collected).

After all sheets of a booklet have been collected, the Finished sheet stacks from the first collecting station conveyed away. In doing so, a first sheet of another Booklet that is continuously produced by the printing press and is fed to the collecting station, the collecting station funded during or after the previous one Sheet stack conveyed away from the first collecting station has been. So it is possible that the printing press runs continuously without interruption. A finished one Sheet stack or a booklet finished except for the center fold is now folded in the middle to complete the booklet. The booklet becomes like this in a second collecting station filed it on a possibly already filed booklet that is assigned to the same newspaper comes to lie. The steps of conveying, collecting, conveying away and folding may be repeated until all Booklets of the newspaper completed and a stack of books are laid on top of each other. This is preferred The staple is then folded again in the middle. The The process is preferably carried out without interruption Production of the next newspaper continued.

Preferably, in an upstream process step Sheets used to form single booklets Newspaper are destined with a digital printing machine sequentially printed. Sequential means that initially all sheets that make up a copy of a newspaper, are printed one after the other, with each sheet one carries different pressure. Then the arches for the next newspaper copy printed. This is with conventional printing machines not possible.

With the invention it is possible to have just as many complete newspapers in the typical newspaper style print as available at the place of printing. The there is no need for expensive printing plate changes Full use of a digital printer; the Print content is changed electronically. With that is in Contrary to known static printing processes too no stock of printed pages between the individual print runs required. Preferably be all sheets of a complete newspaper in a row printed, then the sheets are one another newspaper printed, etc. It is also possible, individual to print one or more booklets in advance and the newspaper first shortly before delivery due to the printing still missing Booklet with current and / or local information to complete.

An inventive device for performing the The process has a first collecting station for collecting Sheets that a feed and storage device for Feeding single sheets and depositing them into one Sheet stack and one. Conveyor device for conveying away of sheet stacks. Furthermore, a first folding device for folding a finished stack of sheets and a second one Collection station for collecting complete booklets available. Also preferred are a digital printing machine for sequential printing from for education the newspaper specified sheets and a second Folding device for folding the entire newspaper available. The correct procedure is preferred using software from a control unit or from Tax stamps controlled.

The device is because of the use of a Digital press cheaper and easier to do operate and maintain as a conventional system for Newspaper production with a conventional printing press.

The space requirement is also reduced. It is therefore possible a plurality of such devices with the corresponding printing machines while shortening the To place distribution channels decentrally instead of one central system to use. The print content can be on transmitted electronically to the manufacturing sites become. In principle it is also possible to start a newspaper first to print if there is a specific demand. Furthermore it is possible to put the newspaper together according to customer requirements, e.g. to leave out certain issues or to be supplied locally.

In an advantageous development of the method the second collecting station at least one more Printed product, e.g. a pre-made booklet or prefabricated advertising insert, with a feed device fed and placed on a booklet stored there. Preferably, the time of filing is further Printed product chosen so that it is on a predetermined booklet, possibly to a predetermined one Place of the booklet comes to rest. So the location an insert in the newspaper thematically to the The content of the magazine can be adjusted.

Another advantage of the invention is that simple Wise booklets that can be made from either whole and half sheets. The digital printing machine and the subsequent cross cutters are able to produce different arc lengths dynamically. The The first collecting device according to the invention is like this designed that in any sequence both whole and Half sheets are also collected trouble-free and straight can be stacked. For example, suckers or gripper the supplied sheet along the entire Width of the leading edge of the sheet in the conveying direction, so that even a half sheet is transported exactly aligned and is filed.

Fig. 1

des Ablauf des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens;

Fig. 2

eine erste Sammelstation in Seitenansicht;

Fig. 3

den Ablauf des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens im Bereich der zweiten Sammelstation.

An example of the invention is shown in the drawing and described below. Here show purely schematically:

Fig. 1

the sequence of the method according to the invention;

Fig. 2

a first collection station in side view;

Fig. 3

the sequence of the method according to the invention in the area of the second collecting station.

Individual sheets 1 are shown in a not shown here Digital printing machine, sheet or web printing machine printed, possibly cut crosswise and in one first collecting station 10 to form a sheet stack 2 individual sheets 1 collected. The pressure can be both forward, from side A to Z or backward, from side Z to A. In the first collecting station 10 the Sheets 1 taken over, transported and exactly on top of each other stored. The finished sheet stack 2 is in a first Folding device 11 folded into a booklet 3. Issue 3 is in a second collection station 12 on a Booklet stack 15 consisting of already printed and folded booklets 4, 5 placed. By means of a feed device 14 for side dishes can be a pre-produced one Supplement 6 to a predetermined position on one of the booklets 3, 4, 5 are placed in the second collecting station 12. When all the issues 3, 4, 5 of a newspaper 7 have been collected, the booklet stack 15 becomes in a second folding station 13 folded in the middle. The newspapers 7, 8, 9 thus completed are ordered, e.g. in scale formation or on one Stack, stored and with a conveyor 16 transported away.

Figure 2 shows an example of an inventive first collecting station 10 with subsequent folding station 11. The first collecting station 10 is especially for the Large format digital printing is suitable and sits down together from a feed and storage device 17 for the single sheet 1 to a sheet stack 2 and one Conveyor device 20 for the rapid removal of a finished sheet stack 2 for the subsequent work process, i.e. to the folding station 11 without the individual Shift sheets 1 against each other in sheet stack 2.

A transport system 17 with suitable receiving elements 19, for example grippers or suction devices, takes over individual sheets 1 from the upstream process, for example the printing press or the cross cutter, and guides the sheets 1 into a first storage position 24. The speed of the sheet 1 is in the first Collecting station 10 non-uniform: The receiving element 19 moving along a closed orbit 25, which is at least in one section 25a straight, initially runs at a speed v _A which is essentially identical to that of the preceding process. Depending on the printing system, v _{A is} between 50 to 150 m / min, preferably between 50 to 80 m / min. An incoming sheet 1 is therefore picked up by the receiving elements 19 at approximately the same speed. After leaving the upstream process, an acceleration to a speed v _B takes place in order to develop a certain advantage over the following sheet. v _B is approximately two to three times the speed v _A, preferably between 150 and 200 m / min. The sheet is finally deposited at the depositing position 24 at a reduced speed v _C in order to deposit the sheet 1 carefully and in the correct position without damaging the edges of the thin newsprint. v _C is preferably about 120 to 150 m / min. Due to the variable conveying speed, large sheets, typically in the format larger than DIN A 2 (width typically between 420 and 508 mm; length between 580 and 760 mm), can be transported quickly, but gently and precisely, from thin newsprint to stack. The uneven speed of the receiving element 19 along its orbit can be realized for example by a servo drive.

Several sheets 1 placed one on top of the other form a booklet 2. For its removal in the subsequent work process, ie into the first folding station 11, the finished booklet 2 is transported out of the first collecting station 10 immediately after the last sheet 1 of a booklet 2 has arrived. The speed of the removal is preferably higher than the previously described speed v _A , so that the first sheet of a further booklet arriving and the booklet leaving the first collecting station 10 do not interfere with one another. A removal device 20 transports the complete booklet at a speed v _D from the first collecting device 10. The removal device 20 here comprises two transport belts or conveyor belts 20a, 20b, which form a gap between them for receiving the booklet 2. Alternatively, grippers can also be used. Immediately before or during transport by the removal device 20, 20 ', the individual sheets 1 of a booklet 2 are preferably temporarily connected to one another so that they do not shift during transport to the folding station 11. This temporary connection is preferably carried out by electrostatic charging using a charging device 21. The charge is broken down again in a very short time during or after the folding. Alternatively, all sheets of a booklet can be pierced with needles ("crimp") for transport together. In order to transfer the booklet to the subsequent folding unit without shifting the sheets relative to one another, the first folding station 11 is preferably arranged directly at the exit of the first collecting station 10. Alternatively, the folding station 11 can also be integrated into the first collecting station 10, preferably by folding the complete sheet stack lying in the storage position 24 directly in place with a sword folding mechanism arranged in the middle of the sheet stack and thus also conveying it from the storage position 24, for example downwards or above.

The first folding station 11 comprises, for example Pocket, vacuum or sword folder, the two the latter also integrated into the first collecting station 10 can be. The sheets collected in the first folded station 10 for the first time and leave the first collecting station 10 in the folded state.

3 shows the sequence of the method according to the invention in the area of the second collecting station 12. From the first Folders 11 coming booklets 3 are in the second Collection station 12 placed on a booklet stack 15. the Booklet stack 15 can be controlled pre-made inserts 6, 6 'are supplied as single sheets or also in booklet form, e.g. pre-printed booklets or printed advertising material. The finished booklet stack 15 comprises all issues 3, 4, 5 of the newspaper and all for it provided supplements 6, 6 '. He'll be in a second Folding device 13 once in the middle perpendicular to the Fold the individual booklets 3, 4, 5 folded. The finished one Newspaper 7 can then be removed.

Claims (15)

1. A method of producing a newspaper (7, 8, 9) which comprises at least one section (3, 4, 5) which is formed at least from one centrally folded printed sheet (1), having the following steps:

   a) individual sequentially printed sheets (1), which are intended for forming the individual sections (3, 4, 5) of the newspaper (7, 8, 9), are fed continuously to a first collecting station, and sheets (1) which are assigned to one common section (3, 4, 5) are positioned one above the other (collected) to form a sheet stack (2) ;

   b) a finished sheet stack (2) is conveyed away from the first collecting station (10), a first sheet (1) of a further section (3, 4, 5) being fed to the first collecting station (10) while the preceding sheet stack (2) is being conveyed away from the first collecting station (10) or once it has been conveyed away therefrom;

   c) the finished sheet stack (2) is folded in order to produce a section (3, 4, 5);

   d) the section (3, 4, 5) is deposited in a second collecting station (12) such that it comes to rest on, if appropriate, an already deposited section (3, 4, 5);

   e) the steps a) to d) are repeated, if appropriate, until all the sections (3, 4, 5) of the newspaper (7, 8, 9) have been completed and positioned one upon the other to form a section stack (15).
2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sheets intended for forming the individual sections (3, 4, 5) of the newspaper (7, 8, 9) are printed sequentially by a digital printing machine and fed to the first collecting station (10).
3. The method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein a finished section stack (15) is folded in the center.
4. The method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein sheets (1) of a sheet stack (2) are releaseably connected to one another, preferably by means of staples, by piercing with needles, or by means of electrostatic charging, in order to be conveyed away.
5. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one further printed product (6, 7') is fed to the second collecting station (12) and positioned on a section (3, 4, 5) deposited there.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the at least one further printed product (6, 6') is fed such that it comes to rest on a predetermined section (3, 4, 5).
7. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein sheets (1) of a width of from 420 to 508 cm and of a length of from 580 to 760 cm are processed.
8. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein a finished sheet stack (2) is conveyed away from the first collecting station (10) at a speed which is greater than the speed of the sheets (1) fed to the first collecting station (10).
9. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein a sheet (1) is braked before being deposited in the first collecting station (10).
10. The method as claimed in one of the preceding claims, wherein a finished sheet stack (2) is folded as it is conveyed out of the first collecting station (10).
11. An apparatus for implementing the method according to one of the preceding claims, having:

    a first collecting station (10) which is intended for collecting sheets (1), the first collecting station (10) being able to individually take over individually sequentially printed sheets (1) and to deposit said sheets one above the other by a feed and depositing apparatus (17) to form a sheet stack (2) in such a way, that in each case the sheets which are assigned to one common section (3, 4, 5) are deposited one above the other, the first collection station (10) comprising a removal apparatus (20) for conveying the sheet stack (2) away and being controlled in such a way, that a first sheet (1) of a further section (3, 4, 5) is fed to the first collection station (10) while or after the preceding sheet stack (2) is being conveyed away from the first collecting station (10);

    a first folding arrangement (11) for folding a finished sheet stack (2) in order to form a section (3, 4, 5);

    a second collecting station (12) for collecting the sections (3, 4, 5).
12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, which comprises a digital printing machine for the sequential printing of sheets (1) intended for forming the newspaper (7, 8, 9).
13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11 or 12, wherein the first folding arrangement (11) is integrated in the first collecting station.
14. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 11 to 13, which comprises a second folding station (13) for folding a section stack (15).
15. The apparatus as claimed in one of claims 11 to 14, wherein the feed and depositing apparatus (17) comprises at least one receiving element (19) which is moved at non-uniform speed along a continuous circulatory path (25), rectilinear in at least one segment (25a), is preferably in the form of a gripper or sucker and is capable of receiving an incoming sheet (1), the speed of the receiving element (19) at that end of the segment (25a) which is directed toward the digital printing machine corresponding essentially to the speed of the incoming sheet (1), being greater than this in the downstream region and being reduced again in the region in which the sheet (1) is deposited in the first collection station (10).

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