Method and apparatus for operating printing presses

Abstract

A method for controlling operating processes or measuring processes in connection with a printed image applied to a printing material, includes acquiring image information from the printed image on the printing material with a camera device. The data acquired by the camera is compared in a computer with digital image data of the printed image. Operating processes or measuring processes are triggered by the computer on the basis of the identified printed image on the printing material. The printing material is displayed on a desk, the camera device detects objects or persons covering the printing material and specific operating, processes or measuring processes are triggered on the basis thereof. An apparatus for carrying out the method is also provided.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic, perspective view of a control station according to the invention for a printing press; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of a backlit operating panel in the control station of a printing press.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring now to the figures of the drawings in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is seen an operating station 8 which has a desk 2 for the display of sheet printing materials or sheets 6. The desk 2 is angled slightly forward, so that operating personnel have a good view of the displayed sheets 6. In a region on the right hand side there is a monitor 4, which is constructed as a touch screen and permits the display and entry of operating data. The monitor 4 is connected to a computer 9, which is located in a lower region of the operating station 8, underneath the desk 2. The computer 9 in turn is able to communicate through a communications link 11 with a machine computer of a printing press 10 and with computers of a prepress stage 12. It is thus possible to arrange for data from the prepress stage 12 and for data from the printing press 10 to be displayed on the monitor 4. Furthermore, settings can be carried out through the monitor 4, both on the printing press 10 and, for example, in the case of plate exposers, on the prepress stage 12. The computer 9 is additionally connected to an image inspection measuring instrument 5, which permits diverse measuring processes to be carried out on the displayed sheets 6. The measuring instrument 5 is configured in such a way that it is able to scan the entire surface of a displayed sheet 6. In this case, color measurements and register measurements, etc. can be carried out. Furthermore, in a front region of the desk 2, there is an operating strip having inking zone operating push buttons 3. The inking zone operating push buttons 3 are disposed in such a way that they can be assigned to the inking zones of a sheet 6 lying on the desk 2. The operating station 8 has a roof, which carries a light 7 and a camera 1. The camera 1 is capable of registering not only the displayed sheet 6 but also regions around the sheet 6, in particular the inking zone operating push buttons 3. The camera 1 is in turn connected to the computer 9, so that the images acquired by the camera 1 can be processed in the computer 9 through image recognition. The lamp 7 is used for illuminating the displayed sheets 6 and in this way improves the image processing by the camera 1. Through the use of the camera 1 and the image recognition in the computer 9, it is possible to acquire printed images from sheets 6 and to compare them with further data in the computer 9. This data can, for example, be digital prepress stage data which is supplied by the prepress stage 12. However, it can also be digital data from print jobs, which are transmitted to the computer 9 through a print shop network or to the computer 9 through interchangeable data storage media. If, in this way, the image data of the print job currently to be finished is known to the computer 9, a comparison through the use of the camera 1 and the image processing in the computer 9 can be carried out as to whether or not the sheet 6 displayed on the desk 2 matches the print job currently being processed. If this is not the case, a warning can be output to the operating personnel, for example through the monitor 4, so that the operating personnel know immediately that a sheet 6 has inadvertently been displayed which does not originate from the print job actually running but clearly from another stack of printed products.

It is moreover possible, through the use of the image processing in the computer 9, to determine the position of a sheet 6 relative to the desk 2. For instance, a crooked display of the sheet 6 relative to the desk 2 can be detected, which is important in particular when carrying out measurements through the use of the image inspection measuring instrument 5. The measuring instrument 5 can normally perform correct measurements only when the sheet is also oriented appropriately. If the sheet 6 is detected as being incorrectly oriented through the use of the camera 1 and the image processing in the computer 9, a warning is likewise output on the monitor 4 and the measurement is not carried out until the sheet is displayed on the desk 2 within tolerances. In addition, through the use of the camera 1, objects and body parts of the operating personnel lying on the sheet 6 can be detected, so that measurements by the image inspection measuring instrument 5 are likewise prevented if the measuring instrument 5 would collide with the objects lying on the sheet 6 during the registration of the sheet 6.

Since there are inking zone operating push buttons 3 in the front region, they are particularly susceptible to inadvertent and erroneous operation by the personnel, because there is always the risk that, when bending forward for the purpose of obtaining a better view of the sheet 6, the operating personnel will support themselves on the inking zone operating push buttons 3 and thus inadvertently change the latter. Since settings in the inking units of the printing press 10 are trigged with the inking zone operating push buttons 3, there is the acute risk in this case that, as a result of these changed settings, prints with changed colors will be produced and that rejects will accumulate unnoticed. Such inadvertent operation can be prevented through the use of the present invention by locking the operating push buttons 3 when such supporting by the operating personnel is detected. This is also done through the use of the camera 1 and the image processing in the computer 9. As soon as it is not merely permissible body parts of the operating personnel, such as the fingers, which are detected on the operating push buttons 3, the inking zone operating push buttons 3 are all blocked or at least partly blocked in the region affected. Inadvertent operation and changing of the inking zone setting in the printing press 10 can therefore be prevented and thus, at the same time, the accumulation of unnecessary rejects as well. In addition, through the use of the camera 1, the turning of sheets 6 by the operating personnel can be detected, so that the inking zone operating push buttons 3 and operating elements on the monitor 4 can in each case be matched to the side displayed on the top of the sheets 6 which are printed on both sides. Thus, when turning sheets 6, the operating personnel do not themselves have to select the associated side on the monitor 4, so that the risk of erroneous operations is also reduced substantially in this case.

It is additionally possible to avoid unnecessary measuring processes through the use of the method according to the invention. For example, it is entirely possible for the operating personnel to display an already measured sheet 6 inadvertently for the second time or to inadvertently leave a sheet 6 lying on the desk after the measurement. By using the image content and production markings, such as those from the counting mechanism of the printing press 10, the camera 1, in cooperation with the image processing of the computer 9, can identify each sheet 6 and assign the associated measuring processes. If the camera 1 establishes that the sheet 6 currently displayed has already been measured, then a further measuring process by the image inspection instrument 5 is firstly avoided and a warning to the operating personnel is output on the monitor 4. If the operating personnel deliberately ignore this warning through the use of an appropriate entry push button on the monitor 4, it is of course also possible for a second measurement to be carried out deliberately.

The measuring instrument 5 can also be configured in such a way that it does not move to all of the sheet 6 for measurements but only to specific measuring points on the sheet 6, selected by the operating personnel. In this case, the appropriate measuring points have to be entered into the measuring instrument 5. According to the present invention, this can be done through the use of simple gestures, i.e. for example through the use of finger pointing of the operating personnel to the appropriate points of the sheet 6 being displayed. The operating personnel then merely still have to point to the desired measuring points of the sheet 6, so that these points are detected automatically through the use of the camera 1 and the image processing in the computer 9. The computer 9 then transmits to the measuring instrument 5 the measuring points selected through the use of the gestures of the operating personnel. The same is also true of other settings, such as the selection of colors for the inking zone operating panel push buttons 3. If the operating personnel point to appropriate colors of the sheet 6, the inking zone operating push buttons 3 are populated in accordance with the color selected by the gestures of the operating personnel. The gestures of the operating personnel can also be used for the purpose of positioning a cursor on the monitor 4. In this case, too, the camera 1 registers movements of the fingers of the operating personnel, for example, and converts them into corresponding movements of the cursor on the monitor 4.

The camera 1 fitted in the upper region of the operating station 8 can additionally be configured as a removable video magnifier. In this case, the camera 1 can be removed from an anchoring device and thus used for the closer examination of the sheet 6. For this purpose, the camera 1 is either connected to the operating station 8 through an appropriately long cable connection, or wireless transmission of the image signals from the camera 1 to the computer 9 is carried out. The camera 1 then has a rechargeable battery for power supply. As soon as the camera 1 is deposited in this anchoring device again, the rechargeable battery can be charged up automatically by the mains or network. The operator can then move the video magnifier, that can be removed in this way, over the surface of the sheet 6 and have detailed enlargements of the sheet 6 displayed on the monitor 4. Quality control is therefore possible through the use of the camera 1 equipped as a video magnifier.

FIG. 2 shows a portion of the operating panel for the inking zone operating push buttons 3. It can be seen that a plurality of inking zone operating push buttons 3 are always disposed one above another for one inking zone, so that the selection of the inking zone openings can be controlled by the operating personnel by touching the inking zone operating push buttons 3. In order to improve the detection of touching of the inking zone operating push buttons 3 by the operating personnel through the use of the camera 1, the inking zone operating push buttons 3 can be backlit. This can be done, firstly, as can be seen at the left-hand edge, through the use of light-emitting diodes 13 disposed around the operating push buttons 3 or, as can be seen in the central region, through the use of additional particularly brightly illuminating light-emitting diodes 13 within the inking zone operating push buttons 3. As a result of this luminous contrast, the image recognition through the use of the camera 1 and the computer 9 is improved considerably, so that in particular small objects can also be distinguished reliably from touching by fingers of the operating personnel.

Claims

1. A method for controlling operating processes or measuring processes associated with a printed image applied to a printing material, the method comprising the following steps: positioning the printing material on a desk;capturing, with a camera device, image information from the printed image on the printing material;comparing, in a computer, data captured by the camera device with digital image data of the printed image;triggering operating processes or measuring processes with the computer on a basis of an identified printed image on the printing material;detecting, with the camera device, objects or persons covering the printing material; andcarrying out specific operating processes or measuring processes on a basis of the detected objects or persons covering the printing material.

2. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: carrying out automatic recognition of a front or reverse side of a printing material with the camera device and the digital image data of the printed image; andtriggering operating processes or measuring processes as a function of the side of the printing material lying on top.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the digital image data is prepress stage data of the printed image.

4. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: providing operating elements on a control station of a machine processing printing material; andselecting a function of the operating elements in dependence on an identification of the printed image of a printing material lying on a desk area.

5. The method according to claim 4, which further comprises matching a display of the operating elements to a respective side of the printing material lying on top, when the printing material lying on the desk area is turned.

6. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises registering, with the camera device, a relative orientation of the printing material displayed on the desk, in relation to the desk area.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of triggering specific operating processes or measuring processes also includes at least temporarily blocking specific operating processes or measuring processes.

8. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: storing, in the computer, any measurements carried out on the printing material by a measuring instrument; andoutputting a warning signal or failing to carry out a double measurement in the event that double measurements are carried out.

9. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: registering gestures of an operator with the camera device; andselecting, with the gestures, measuring points on the printing material for registration by a measuring instrument.

10. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises carrying out communication between the computer and at least one of a printing press or a prepress stage device.

11. The method according to claim 1, which further comprises: providing the desk area with operating elements for setting inking zones in inking units of a printing press;registering, with the camera device, whether the operating elements are touched by fingers of an operator or by other objects; andenabling or blocking the operating elements depending on a contact detected.

12. An apparatus for controlling operating processes or measuring processes associated with a printed image applied to a printing material, the apparatus comprising: a desk for positioning the printing material;a camera device for capturing image information from the printed image on the printing material, said camera device being removable and configured for use as a video magnifier;a computer connected to said camera device for comparing data captured by said camera device with digital image data of the printed image, said computer triggering operating processes or measuring processes on a basis of an identified printed image on the printing material; andsaid camera device detecting objects or persons covering the printing material for carrying out specific operating processes or measuring processes on a basis of the detected objects or persons covering the printing material.

13. An apparatus for controlling operating processes or measuring processes associated with a printed image applied to a printing material, the apparatus comprising: a desk having a desk area for positioning the printing material;operating elements for inking zone control;a camera device for capturing image information from the printed image on the printing material;a computer connected to said camera device for comparing data captured by said camera device with digital image data of the printed image, said computer triggering operating processes or measuring processes on a basis of an identified printed image on the printing material;said camera device detecting objects or persons covering the printing material for carrying out specific operating processes or measuring processes on a basis of the detected objects or persons covering the printing material; andlight sources disposed at said desk area or at an area around said operating elements.

14. An apparatus for controlling operating processes or measuring processes associated with a printed image applied to a printing material, the apparatus comprising: a desk for positioning the printing material;a camera device for capturing image information from the printed image on the printing material, said camera device being removable and configured for use as a video magnifier; anda computer connected to said camera device for comparing data captured by said camera device with digital image data of the printed image.