Abstract:
A system and method for accurately controlling a printing process regardless web width or printing layout. A user interface is provided for configuring a printing application that includes a plurality of sensors arranged to form an interface region. The sensors are configured to generate feedback indicating user interaction with the interface region. A controller is configured to map the plurality of sensors into virtual keys based on at least a columniation of the printing application and adjust parameters of the printing application based on the feedback.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Not applicable. 
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not applicable. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to printing systems and, more particularly, to a system and method for controlling printing applications over a variety of columned layouts and across a variety of web sizes. 
     In the newspaper printing industry, the cost of paper constitutes one of the primary expenses in publishing a copy of the newspaper. As such, newspaper printers have sought to reduce the amount of paper required to print each copy. For example, newspaper printers have often reduced or removed margins surrounding the print and shrunk fonts. Additionally, many newspaper printers have sought to reduce the size of each page. For example, many printers have identified that switching from a fifty-four inch wide page to fifty or forty-eight inch wide page would result in a significant cost savings. 
     However, traditional printing press systems were designed to utilize a particular web width. That is, the printing presses were designed to apply ink along a particular web width. Furthermore, operator consoles that control and allow augmentation of the printing process were designed to control the application of ink across a particular number of columns on the particular web width. For example, the operator consoles include keyboards that have predefined key layouts matched or mapped to the size of the web and the number of columns to be formed on the web to print a given page. Accordingly, a printing press operator could place a reference copy of the paper on the console and use the keys aligned with a particular column to adjust the print parameters, for example, the ink levels, applied to that column to match the printing to the reference copy. 
     To allow a printer to print using different webs with different widths on a press with a fixed inker width, “multi-web” features have been added. In general, these multi-web features utilize a computerized control system that attempts to map the eight page keys on the screen or the laydown keyboard to the size and spacing associated with a selected web width. The operator then communicates a desired change using the screen or keyboard, and the system determines how to achieve a particular change indicated by the operator to the desired portion of the page. 
     When attempting to map the keyboard to the size and spacing associated with a selected web width, some systems have been developed that disable keys on the keyboard that correspond to areas extending beyond the selected web width being printed. Although this approach has been effective in allowing a fixed keyboard to be used to control a variable page width, printing press operators lose the ability to directly compare and coordinate printing adjustments for a particular column based on a reference copy. In particular, while such systems allow an operator to print a web having a somewhat reduced width, if the web width is significantly reduced, it is difficult for the operator to determine which keys of the operator keyboard correspond to a particular column or portion of the reference copy. As such, in some cases, it is necessary to change the keyboard to another keyboard having a configuration matched to the size and column arrangement of the reference copy. 
     Therefore, it would be desirable to have a system and method for facilitating control of a printing process over a variety of web widths without requiring an operator to extrapolate the relationship between a keyboard and a reference copy or to physically replace the keyboard to match the size and layout of the reference copy. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks by providing a system and method for allowing a user to control any of a wide variety of web sizes and column positions without the need to extrapolate the relationship between key positions and columns of a reference copy and without requiring a keyboard replacement for each web width or layout. In particular, a keyboard system is provided that is capable of dynamically mapping keys and operator selector switches to match the layout of a reference copy. The keyboard allows an operator to adjust both ink and water applied to a printed web without the use of a multi-web mapping program and offers direct correlation of keys to columns or portions of a reference copy, independent of web width. Accordingly, adjustment errors and the time required to make an adjustment are reduced. As such, material waste is reduced. 
     In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a user interface for configuring a printing application is disclosed that includes a plurality of sensors arranged to form an interface region. The sensors are configured to generate feedback indicating user interaction with the interface region. The user interface also includes a controller configured to map the plurality of sensors into virtual keys based on at least a columniation of the printing application and adjust parameters of the printing application based on the feedback. 
     In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, an operator counsel keyboard for controlling a printing press during a newspaper printing application is disclosed. The operator counsel keyboard includes a plurality of sensors arranged to form a substantially continuous interface region and configured to generate feedback indicating user interaction with the substantially continuous interface. A controller is included that is configured to segregate the plurality of sensors into virtual keys, where each virtual key corresponding to a respective portion of a newspaper layout used for the newspaper printing application. As such, feedback from a sensor segregated into a given virtual key corresponding to a given portion causes the controller to adjust parameters of the newspaper printing application affecting the given portion. 
     In accordance with yet another aspect of the invention, a keyboard for controlling a newspaper printing application based on a columned layout of a newspaper is disclosed. The keyboard includes a plurality of sensors arranged to form a substantially continuous interface region and configured to generate feedback indicating user interaction with a portion of the substantially continuous interface. A controller is configured to map the plurality of sensors into virtual keys, where each virtual key corresponding to a respective column of the columned layout of the newspaper. Accordingly, feedback from a sensor mapped into a given virtual key corresponding to a given column causes the controller to adjust parameters of the newspaper printing application affecting the given column. 
     Various other features of the present invention will be made apparent from the following detailed description and the drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will hereafter be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an operator counsel for controlling a newspaper printing application; and 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a keyboard of the operator counsel of  FIG. 1  and associated controller. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an operator console  10  includes a primary keyboard  12 , a secondary keyboard  14 , and a monitor  16  arranged along a worksurface  18 . The worksurface  18  is supported by cabinets  20  that house a computer system (not shown) that, as will be described, operates as a controller for controlling the operator counsel  10 , and a newspaper printing process controlled by the operator counsel  10 . The worksurface  18  also provides a space  22  designed to have a reference copy of a newspaper page  24  arranged thereon. In particular, the space  22  allows an operator to position the reference copy of the newspaper page  24  next to the keyboard  14 . As will be described with respect to  FIG. 2 , the keyboard  12  has a dynamically adjustable layout that can be matched to the size and layout of the reference copy of the newspaper  24 , regardless of dimensions or layout. Accordingly, an operator is provided with a direct correlation between keys on the keyboard  12  and the content on the reference copy of the newspaper  24 . As such, adjustments to the ink or dampening applied to a portion of the printing system corresponding to a given portion of the reference copy of the newspaper  24  can be readily made by simply pressing virtual keys aligned with the given portion of the reference copy of the newspaper  24 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the keyboard  12  includes an ink adjustment portion  26  and a dampener adjustment portion  28 . Physically, the ink adjustment portion  26  and the dampener adjustment portion  28  are similar. In particular, the ink adjustment portion  26  and the dampener adjustment portion  28  include a positive increment substantially continuous interface region  30  and a negative increment substantially continuous interface region  32 . At the end of the substantially continuous interface regions  30 ,  32 , a left and right page “ALL” increment interfaces  34  and “ALL” decrement interfaces  36  are included. Additionally, the ink adjustment portion  26  and the dampener adjustment portion  28  include a row of status indicators  38  arranged above the substantially continuous interface regions  30 ,  32 . As shown, the ink adjustment portion  26  includes a pair of “OK” interfaces  40  located proximate to the ALL interfaces  34 ,  36 . The dampener adjustment portion  28  includes a left page increment/decrement size selection interface  42  and a right page increment/decrement size election interface  44 . 
     The substantially continuous interface regions  30 ,  32  are formed by a plurality of sensors  46 . In particular, it is contemplated that the sensors  46  may be piezoelectric sensors covered by a mask indicating the location of the sensor strip and whether the sensors  46  are designated to cause positive or negative increments. Alternatively, it is contemplated that the sensors  46  may be resistive sensors, for example, formed from a rubber bar strip with carbon contact designed to interact with an edged circuit board. In any case, the sensors  46  are connected through a plurality of feedback connections  48  to a controller  50 . 
     In operation, the operator uses the operator console  10  of  FIG. 1  to enter job-related setup codes. The controller  50  uses these setup codes to determine the column spacing of the printing job indicated by the setup codes and, therefrom, a corresponding keyboard layout. In particular, the setup codes include information about the width of the web that will be printed, the preferred number of keys needed to adjust printing parameters, and the preferable width of the keys. As will be described, the controller  50  uses this information to segregate the substantially continuous interface regions  30 ,  32  into virtual keys that are mapped to the columns of the selected printing job so that the virtual keys are aligned with the columns of a reference copy  24  ( FIG. 1 ) when positioned proximate to the keyboard  12 . 
     For example, the setup codes may be traditional ASCII codes, such as are commonly used by a PressView computer system. The controller  50  uses this information to control ink and dampener adjustments required on a page, plate, or couple basis. In addition to these traditional inputs, the controller  50  is also designed to receive the column spacing of the laydown, which may also be received as an ASCII input from a PressView computer. Therefore, the values for web width, number of keys, and key width are all sent as setup values using an initialization message for the keyboard  12 . The controller  50  can then set parameters for ink and dampener adjustments. The web width value and number of dampener nozzles are used by the controller  50  to setup the dampener adjustment columns. 
     In particular, a particular printing job might use a single width web of 36 inches printed with twelve columns on each page. Should the keyboard  12  be designed to accommodate a maximum web width of 54 inches using a printing press having an eight nozzle spray bar, the controller would disable the sensors  46  extending along the outer nine inches of the substantially continuous interface regions  30 ,  32  of the ink adjustment portion  26 . To disable particular sensors  46 , the controller  50  may not de-activate sensors  46  but may simply disregard feedback from the sensors  46  designated as disabled during a particular printing job. The active sensor  46  located about the center point marker  52  of the substantially continuous interface regions  30 ,  32  of the ink adjustment portion  26  are then segregated into virtual keys mapped to align with the columns of a reference copy of the printing job when the center fold dividing two pages of the reference copy is aligned with the center point marker  52 . In the case of a 36 inch wide web having twelve columns on each page, the substantially continuous interface regions  30 ,  32  would be segregated by the controller  50  so that each key spans approximately 1.5 inches, including border spacings that divide the virtual keys. Similarly, the substantially continuous interface regions  30 ,  32  of the dampener adjustment portion  26  are segregated into virtual keys mapped based on the width of the particular web being printed and the number of dampener nozzles included in the printing system. 
     To communicate the location of the virtual keys to the operator, the controller  50  controls the status indicators  38 . In particular, it is contemplated that the status indicators  38  may include a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). In this case, the controller  50  controls illumination of the LEDs to show the location of each virtual key. For example, the LEDs located between or along the boundaries of the virtual keys are illuminated and the LEDs located directly above a virtual key are left un-illuminated. Accordingly, an operator can readily see the alignment of the virtual keys with respect to the column positions across a reference page  24  ( FIG. 1 ) when positioned proximate to the keyboard  12 . 
     In addition, it is contemplated that the controller  50  may control particular LEDs to illuminate or flash in response to operator interaction with a particular virtual key. This may be used in addition to or instead of tactile feedback systems. That is, it is contemplated that the virtual keys may lack tactile feedback, such as experienced when pushing a button. As such, the controller  50  can control the status indicators  38  corresponding to a particular virtual key to illuminate, blink, or flash as when the virtual key is pressed by the operator. 
     It is also contemplated that the LEDs may be monochrome LEDs and; therefore, have only an “ON” and “OFF” state. Alternatively, the LEDs may be bi-polar LEDs. In this case, the LEDs would have an “OFF” state and two “ON” states that are differentiated by the color of light emitted by the LED. One color may be used to indicate virtual key location, as described above, and the other color may be used to communicate feedback, instead of or in conjunction with flashing or blinking. For example, the LEDs in the ink adjustment portion  26  may be red/green LEDs and the LEDs of the dampener adjustment portion  28  may be white/blue LEDs. 
     The above-described keyboard design may have the same dimensions as the traditional keyboards so that they can be readily retrofitted into traditional operator counsels. Alternatively, the keyboard may have a reduced length, for example, an overall length of 40 inches. In this case, the width of the keyboard may be the same or less than traditional keyboards. 
     Therefore, a system and method is provided for a reconfigurable operator laydown keyboard. The keyboard can be automatically reconfigured based on each printing job to represent the job selected for production without restrictions to pre-defined page and column widths. Both the ink and water mapping adjustment keys and indicators for column spacing are automatically adjusted to represent the job currently in production. Ink and water keys not required for production can be automatically de-activated. Accordingly, an operator can accurately make color corrections to printed material during the adjustment period, thereby, saving time and reducing waste. 
     The present invention has been described in terms of the various embodiments, and it should be appreciated that many equivalents, alternatives, variations, and modifications, aside from those expressly stated, are possible and within the scope of the invention. Therefore, the invention should not be limited to a particular described embodiment.