Abstract:
The invention relates to a method for automatically synchronizing a number of paper feeding channels of an inserting system involving the following steps: a) inspecting the sheets provided for output in one of the channels by comparing their group sequence number and their sheet sequence number with predetermined reference values; b) outputting the inspected sheets from this channel if their group sequence number and sheet sequence number correspond with the set reference values; c) inspecting the additional sheets provided for output in one or more additional channels if the group sequence number or the sheet sequence number of a previously inspected sheet does not correspond with the set reference values; d) outputting the sheets from the additional channels if their group sequence number and sheet sequence number correspond with the set reference values, and; e) identifying a group as a defective group and outputting the sheet with the smallest group sequence number and with the smallest sheet sequence number if none of the inspected sheets have the set reference group sequence number and reference sheet sequence number.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention concerns a method for automatic synchronization of several paper-feeding channels of a paper processing system, that can be used, for example, in an inserting system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     This type of method is required, for example, in inserting systems with a number of paper-feeding channels for automatic compiling of, for example, electricity, gas, water and telephone bills or also account and deposit statements (for example, CH 675853 A5). In an inserting system equipped with two channels, a first channel can contain the cover letter or the address carrier and the second channel the individual listing. The groups situated in the channels can each consist of several sheets. In order to achieve a desired compilation, the feeding from the corresponding channels must be controlled and synchronized accordingly. In the usual inserting systems, group formation in the individual channels is generally carried out. The completeness of the individual groups is then checked from the individual channels, wherein it is determined whether all individual sheets of a group and a feature for marking the end of a group are present. Before combining the groups, it must then additionally be checked by means of a correlation feature whether the corresponding groups are correlated. To permit these individual process steps, features for consistency testing and marking for selective or constant channel call-up must generally be present in addition to the information features for marking of a sheet sequence and group sequence number as well as an end of group per channel. However, this method is relatively time-consuming and prone to error. In the usual control method, the automatic process is also interrupted in the case of an error in checking of the sheet sequence, group sequence, consistency or channel call-up, caused, for example, by a reading error, product removal or paper jam and manual synchronization of all partial channels by the operator is required. A greater demand for operating personnel therefore exists in such inserting systems and the effective output of the system is lower. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     An object of the invention is to devise a method for the control of a paper processing system of the initially mentioned type that makes possible the simplest, most functionally reliable and most effective combining of products from several channels. 
     The invention relates to a method for automatically synchronizing a number of paper feeding channels of an inserting system involving the following steps: a) inspecting the sheets provided for output in one of the channels by comparing their group sequence number and their sheet sequence number with predetermined reference values; b) outputting the inspected sheets from this channel if their group sequence number and sheet sequence number correspond with the set reference values; c) inspecting the additional sheets provided for output in one or more additional channels if the group sequence number or the sheet sequence number of a previously inspected sheet does not correspond with the set reference values; d) outputting the sheets from the additional channels if their group sequence number and sheet sequence number correspond with the set reference values, and; e) identifying a group as a defective group and outputting the sheet with the smallest group sequence number and with the smallest sheet sequence number if none of the inspected sheets have the set reference group sequence number and reference sheet sequence number. 
     The method according to the invention is characterized by a particularly simple and effective process. Several channels can be automatically synchronized and processed for arbitrary group composition without operator intervention. Each channel can be the guide channel, i.e., the channel with the first sheet sequence number. A fully freely configurable group of arbitrary channels is obtained for the user. In addition, the user need not distinguish between single and multichannel jobs. A significant advantage of the control method also consists of the fact that processing continues even during malfunctions. During an error only one group is influenced, which can be sorted out, as required, and supplemented manually. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Additional details and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following description of an embodiment example with reference to the drawing. In the drawing: 
         FIG. 1  shows a schematic view of an inserting system with several channels and 
         FIG. 2  shows a process diagram of a method according to the invention for controlling an inserting system with two channels. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The inserting system shown schematically in  FIG. 1  contains an inserting machine  1 , into which sheets fed from several channels K 1  to Kx and assembled into a desired group are inserted and correspondingly released for sending. Each channel K 1  to Kx contains a feeding device  2 , a reading device  3  to record data present on the sheets and a corresponding selection station  4  at which the fed sheets are collected for further transport to the inserting machine  1 . 
     Each sheet contains corresponding data or information for marking of the affiliation of the sheet to a specific group, data for marking the sheet sequence within a group and additional data indicating whether the sheet is a last sheet or a continuation sheet of a group. These data can be applied, for example, by means of a bar code, a 2D code or another appropriate coding on the sheets. The group sequence number can consist, for example, of a six-digit sequence (GRPFLG=0000000–999999) and the sheet sequence number of a two-digit sequence (BLTFLN=00–99). Marking of a still running group or the group end (GRE) can occur in the form of a bit (0=running sheet and 1=group end). 
     An example for the sheets arranged in the two channels of a two-channel system with the data or information located on them is shown in the following table. 
     
       
         
               
               
               
               
               
             
               
               
               
               
               
             
           
               
                   
               
               
                 Group 
                 Channel K1 
                 Sheet 
                 Channel K2 
                 Sheet 
               
               
                 (insert) 
                 group sequence 
                 sequence 
                 group sequence 
                 sequence 
               
               
                   
               
             
             
               
                   
               
             
          
           
               
                 1 
                 000001 
                 01 
                   
                   
               
               
                 1 
                 000001 
                 02 
               
               
                 1 
                   
                   
                 000001 
                 03 
               
               
                 1 
                 000001 
                 04 
               
               
                 1 
                   
                   
                 000001 
                 05 + GRE 
               
               
                 2 
                 000002 
                 01 
               
               
                 2 
                 000002 
                 02 
               
               
                 2 
                 000002 
                 03 + GRE 
               
               
                 3 
                 000003 
                 01 
               
               
                 3 
                   
                   
                 000003 
                 02 
               
               
                 3 
                   
                   
                 000003 
                 03 + GRE 
               
               
                 4 
                 000004 
                 01 + GRE 
               
               
                   
               
             
          
         
       
     
     The first sheet in channel K 1  carries the group sequence number 000001 and the sheet sequence number 01. This sheet therefore represents the first sheet of a first group. The second sheet situated in channel K 1  contains the group sequence number 000001 and the sheet sequence number 02 and is therefore the second sheet belonging to the first group. The third sheet marked with group sequence number 000001 and sheet sequence number 03 of the first group, on the other hand, is arranged in channel K 2 , whereas the fourth sheet of the first group is found again in channel K 1 . The sheet arranged in channel K 2  with the group sequence number 000001 and the sheet sequence number 05 also carries an end-of-group mark and therefore represents the last sheet belonging to the first group. 
     These data from all channels K 1  to Kx are reported, for example, to a collecting station arranged in front of the inserting machine  1  to which all the previous channels are connected. Based on the information found on the sheets, the collecting station can decide from which channel the next product is to be processed. Since a sheet sequence exists within each group, a next sheet can be clearly identified and collected. The group end at the end of an entire group closes the group. 
     A simple control process for automatic combining of sheets from several channels is explained below with reference to the flow chart shown in  FIG. 2 . 
     On starting the control process according to the invention, a reference group sequence number and a reference sheet sequence number are initially reset in a first step  101  to an initial reference value 1. It is then waited in a next step  102  until at least the data of a first sheet are available from one of the channels. As soon as the presence of these data is recognized in a subsequent step  103  and the group sequence number and sheet sequence number corresponding to the corresponding sheet are decoded, a group sequence comparison occurs in a next step  104 , in which it is determined whether the group sequence number of this sheet corresponds with the reference group sequence number. 
     When the group sequence number of the checked sheet agrees with the reference group sequence number, a sheet sequence comparison is conducted in a next step  105 . It is then determined whether the sheet sequence number of the checked sheet corresponds with the reference sheet sequence number. If this is the case, the corresponding channel is called up in a next step  106  and the checked sheet is released, for example, for transport to a collecting station in a next step  107 . 
     The released sheet is also inspected in another step  108  to determine whether it already carries an end-of-group mark and therefore is the last sheet of a group. If this is not the case, the reference sheet sequence number is increased by the value 1 in an additional step  109  and the inspection of the next sheet is continued in step  102 . However, if the check conducted in step  109  shows that the corresponding sheet already carries the end-of-group mark, the reference group sequence number is increased by the value 1 in a next step  110  and the reference sheet sequence number is reset to the value 1 in a subsequent step  111 . The group is therefore complete and can be released, for example, for transport to an inserting machine. 
     However, when the group sequence comparison conducted in step  104  shows that the group sequence number of the checked sheet does not correspond with the reference group sequence number, it is determined in a next step  112  whether the data of the next sheet are already present from the additional channels. If this is not the case, a return to step  102  is carried out and it is initially waited until all data are available and are correspondingly decoded in step  103 . The group sequence comparison according to step  103  is then carried out on the next sheets of the additional channels. As soon as one of the determined sheets has a group sequence number corresponding to the reference group sequence number, a sheet sequence comparison is again carried out in the following step  105  and it is checked whether this sheet carries a sheet sequence number corresponding to the reference sheet sequence number. If this is the case, the process is continued with step  106 . 
     However, if the check conducted in step  112  shows that the data of all the next sheets are already present, this group is marked as incorrect in a step  113  and the channel with the smallest group sequence number and smallest sheet sequence number is called up in the next step  114 . 
     Even if the sheet sequence comparison conducted in step  105  shows that the sheet sequence number of the checked sheet does not correspond with the reference sheet sequence number, it is initially inquired in step  112  whether all the data of the additional channels are already present. Thus, it can be determined whether the next sheet belonging to a specific group is located in one of the additional channels. If all data of the next sheets are present and the desired agreement with the corresponding reference values is not determined in the conducted group or sheet sequence comparison, the corresponding group is marked incorrect in step  113  and the channel with the smallest group sequence number and the smallest sheet sequence number is called up in step  114  for release of the corresponding sheet. 
     The process is then continued with the new reference values. 
     For the sake of simplicity, the process just explained will now be explained with reference to an example shown in the above table for automatic compiling of a sheet sequence in an inserting system with two channels K 1  and K 2 . However, it must be expressly pointed out that the method is also suitable for a system with more than two channels. 
     In the example shown in the table, after resetting of the reference group sequence number and the reference sheet sequence number to the value 1 at the start of the process, initially one begins with checking the sheet  1  from channel K 1 . After the data of the first sheet from channel K 1  are present and the group sequence and sheet sequence numbers applied to the sheet are decoded accordingly, the group sequence number of the first sheet is initially checked in step  104 . Since the first sheet located in channel K 1  has the group sequence number corresponding to the reference group sequence number, its sheet sequence number is compared in the next step  105  with the reference sheet sequence number. The sheet sequence number on the first sheet in channel  1  also agrees in the example with the reference sheet sequence number set to a value of 1 in step  101 . Channel K 1  is therefore called up in the next step  106  and the first sheet is released, for example, for transport to a collecting station in step  107 . It is then determined in step  108  whether the first sheet already bears the end-of-group mark. However, in the first sheet of the example shown in the table, this is not the case; thus, the reference sheet sequence number is increased by the value 1 in the next step  109  and the process is continued for checking the next sheet in step  102 . 
     Since the next sheet in channel K 1  has the group sequence number corresponding to the reference group sequence numbers and the new reference sheet sequence number increased by the value 1 in step  109 , channel K 1  is called up again in step  106  after the group and sheet sequence comparison conducted in steps  104  and  105 , and the second sheet in channel K 1  is released in the next step  107 , for example, for placement on the first sheet. The second sheet in channel K 1  also still does not bear the end-of-group mark, so that the reference sheet sequence number is again increased by the value 1 in step  109  and the process is continued with checking of the next sheet in channel K 1  according to step  102 . 
     The third sheet in channel  1  does have the reference group sequence number set to a value of 1 in step  101 , but not the new reference sheet sequence number increased by the value 1 in step  109 . At the end of the sheet sequence comparison according to step  105 , it is therefore initially checked in step  112  whether the data of the next sheet pending release from channel K 2  are also present. If this is not the case, process control returns to step  102  and the arrival of the data of the next sheet from channel  2  is awaited. As soon as the data of the next sheet from channel K 2  arrives, its group and sheet sequence number are compared with the corresponding reference values. The next sheet in channel  2  in the depicted example has the group sequence number 000001 and the sheet sequence number 03, so that channel K 2  is called up and the sheet is released to be placed on the two previous sheets. Since this sheet also still does not bear the end-of-group mark, the reference sheet sequence number is again increased by the value 1, and checking of the next sheet is continued in step  102 . 
     During subsequent checking of the next sheet in channel K 2  during the sheet sequence comparison conducted in step  105 , a deviation also occurs from the newly set reference sheet sequence number, so that channel K 1  is again called up. In the next sheet located in channel K 1 , the group sequence number agrees with the initially established reference group sequence number and the sheet sequence number with the new reference sheet sequence number, in which case channel K 1  is called up and the corresponding sheet is released. This sheet still does not have the end-of-group mark either, so that the reference group sequence number is again increased by the value 1. 
     The next checked sheet in channel K 1  does not have the required reference group sequence numbers, so that channel K 2  is again called up via step  112 . In the next sheet to be released there, the group sequence number agrees with the reference group sequence number and the sheet sequence number also agrees with the new reference sheet sequence number, so that channel K 2  is called up and the corresponding sheet is released. Since this sheet also carries the end-of-group mark, the reference group sequence number is increased by the value 1 in the next step  110  and the reference sheet sequence number is reset to the value 1 in step  111  before checking of the next sheet is continued in step  102 . The now complete group  1  can then be transported to the inserting machine and further processed accordingly. 
     If, in the example shown in the table, the first sheet marked with the group sequence number 000001 and the sheet sequence number 03 is missing in channel K 2 , the check conducted after the second sheet from channel K 1  shows that the next sheet in channel K 1  does have the group sequence number corresponding to the reference group sequence number, but not the required sheet sequence number. During further checking of the next sheet from channel K 2  during the sheet sequence comparison, no agreement with the reference sheet sequence number is found either. The corresponding group is therefore marked as incorrect in step  113  and the channel with the smallest group sequence number and the smallest sheet sequence number is called up. In the present example, this is channel K 1 , whose next sheet has the group sequence number 000001 and the sheet sequence number 04. This group marked as incorrect can either be separated or made up by hand. 
     It is apparent from the foregoing that in the described process the automatic inserting process can be continued even if a malfunction occurs in one of the channels. The additional groups can also be automatically processed during malfunctions in the preceding group. 
     Several collecting stations can be used to increase time performance without altering the process. Channel K 1  in the preceding example can then carry out precollection, if the sheet sequence is increasing (n+1) and the same group sequence number is present. This channel then releases the precollected number of pieces and the last sheet sequence number to the second collecting station. The second collecting station then knows from the sheet sequence number and the number of sheets which channel must be processed first.