Patent Publication Number: US-7587304-B2

Title: Printing press simulator

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention pertains to a printing press simulator with a simulation unit which simulates a printing process on the basis of input data specified for the simulation and generates output data for displaying the result. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Printing press simulators are known from the state of the art. With their help, it is possible to simulate the behavior of printing presses. A printing press simulator of this type is described in, for example, US 2001/0034592 A1. These types of printing press simulators are disconnected from the printing machine and designed as completely autonomous devices. The printing press simulators known from the state of the art operate on the basis of previously prepared default data, which are essentially the same for all types of printing presses, which means that they are not tailored to the configuration of a specific printing press. Therefore, these printing press simulators known from the state of the art cannot be used to train operators how to use a specific printing press configuration or to run diagnostic procedures on a specific configuration. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     According to the invention, the simulation unit accesses a database for the purpose of the simulation. The database contains real printing press data recorded on the same model of printing press. 
     In accordance with the goal of the present invention, it is proposed that, for the purpose of the simulation, the printing press simulator access exclusively a database containing, as its entries, real printing press data recorded on the same model of printing press. The inventive printing press simulator therefore operates on the basis of real printing press data, which have been acquired previously on the same model of printing press. The inventive printing press simulator does not construct a model of the printing press to be simulated on the basis of complex system-dynamic or system-theoretical models. Instead, the simulation results are determined from the database, which contains, as its entries, real printing press data recorded on the same model of printing press. As a result, the printing press simulator has a much simpler design. 
     The inventive printing press simulator makes it possible to conduct individualized training programs, which are based on the printing press configuration acquired by the customer. This makes it possible to conduct more effective training than is possible with the printing press simulator known from the state of the art. The inventive printing press simulator is integrated into the control station of the printing press acquired by the customer, so that the training is carried out at the actual control station and not at a simulator bearing no resemblance to reality. This, too, leads to more effective training. 
     The database comprises printing press data which have been recorded on the same model of printing press during the production of real printed products. For this purpose, the printing parameters used on the same model of printing press during production and the print results achieved by the use of these printing parameters are recorded in a synchronized manner. The database therefore contains print results for a large number of printing parameters, namely, the results which were obtained by the use of these printing parameters on the same model of printing press. 
     To run a simulation, a printer specifies printing parameters as input data for the simulation unit. The simulation unit then accesses the database on the basis of these specified printing parameters and obtains the print results which were obtained during production on the same model of printing press by the use of identical printing parameters. The simulation unit makes these print results available as the simulation output, so that the output data can be dispayed. 
     An exemplary embodiment of the invention, which is not to be considered limiting in any way, is explained in greater detail below on the basis of the drawing. 
     Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  shows a functional block diagram of an inventive printing press simulator. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       FIG. 1  shows a functional block diagram of an inventive printing press simulator  10 , which comprises a simulation unit  11  and a database  12 . The printing press simulator  10  is preferably integrated into a control station  13  of the printing press acquired by a customer. Alternatively, the printing press simulator can be integrated into a control station of the same type without the presence of a printing press. A printer can use the input devices  14  of the control station  13  to enter input data  15  or printing parameters for the simulation, on the basis of which the printing press simulator  10 , namely, the simulation unit  11  of the simulator, generates output data  16  as the result of the simulation. The output data  16  can be displayed visualized on display devices  17  of the control station  13 . Because the printing press simulator  10  is integrated into the control station  13  of the printing press acquired by the customer or into a control station of the same type, employees can be trained in realistic manner. 
     In accordance with the present invention, the inventive printing press simulator  10 , namely, the simulation unit  11 , accesses the database  12  for the purpose of the simulation, where the database  12  contains real printing press data, which were recorded previously on the same model of printing press. The database  12  thus contains printing press data which were recorded on the same model of printing press during the production or printing of real print products. For this purpose, the printing parameters of the print run are recorded during the operation of the same model of printing press, and at the same time the print results achieved by the use of these printing parameters are also recorded, both being accomplished in an automated and synchronized manner. The printing parameters which are recorded include, for example, machine parameters such as the settings of the color units, the web tension devices, and the registration devices of the printing press. In addition, process parameters such as type of printing paper or type of printing ink can also be recorded. 
     A permanent, in-line record, preferably by the use of cameras, is made of the print product obtained on the same model of printing press by the use of the printing parameters in question. The product is also measured using a measuring unit  18 , and the corresponding measurement values  19  are recorded synchronously and stored as the print results. The database  12  of the printing press simulator  10  therefore contains not only the real printing parameters but also the real measurement results of the actual print products obtained on the same model of printing press by means of the printing parameters in question. As previously mentioned, the printing parameters and the measurement data are recorded synchronously, so that the database contains sets of unique correlations between the printing parameters and the measurements data or print product data. 
     During the simulation, an operator uses the input devices  14  of the control station  13  to enter or to generate input data  15  for the printing press simulator  10 . These input data  15  consist of printing parameters such as machine parameters and process parameters. 
     These input data  15  are made available to the simulation unit  11  of the printing press simulator  10 . The simulation unit  11  then accesses the database  12  on the basis of these input data  15 , which the operator has specified, and finds the print result which was obtained by the use of identical printing parameters on the same model of printing press from the database  12 . These data are read out from the database  12  and sent by the simulation unit  11  as output data  16  to the display devices  17  of the control station  13 , so that the data can be displayed on the display devices. 
     It is therefore consistent with the idea of the invention that, during the simulation, input data  15 , namely, printing parameters, are specified by an operator. The simulation unit  11  of the printing press simulator  10  searches the database  12  of the printing press simulator  10  on the basis of the specified input data  15  and identifies the print result which was obtained on the same model of printing press with the use of already recorded printing parameters corresponding to the input data  15 . This database entry (print results) is then made available as output for display. This means that simulation results are not calculated on the basis of complicated system-dynamic or system-theoretical models. Instead, the simulation results are determined from a database  12 , which contains, as its database entries, real printing press data which were recorded on the same model of printing press. 
     When input data  15  have been specified for the simulation for which corresponding print results are present in the database  12 , the function of the printing press simulator  10  merely involves the searching of the database  12  for the corresponding database entry. When, however, for the simulation, printing parameters are specified as input data  15  for which no corresponding printing parameters are on file in the database  12 , it is consistent with the idea of the invention that the simulation unit  11  can conduct an interpolation. 
     The interpolation is conducted between the print result values which were recorded on the same model of printing press with the recorded printing parameters which come the closest to the printing parameters specified as input data  15  for the simulation. Alternatively, an interpolation can be omitted, and the print result which was recorded on the same model of printing press with printing parameters which come the closest to the printing parameters specified for the simulation can be provided as a simulation result. 
     According to an elaboration of the present invention, the database  12  is continuously updated. For this purpose, the input parameters of the print run and the print results obtained with those input parameters can be recorded synchronously and automatically during the print run of the printing press. In this case, the printing press data recorded on the same model of printing press are then supplemented or updated by printing press data which are determined on the actual printing press of the customer during his own print runs. As a result, it is possible to adapt the printing press simulator continuously to the actual printing press configuration of a customer. Operating personnel can thus be provided with customized training, and problems which occur on the printing press can be dealt with promptly. 
     As previously mentioned, the printing press simulator can also be integrated into a control station without the presence of a printing press. This has the advantage that training can be carried out even before the printing press has been delivered. 
     Thus, while there have shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.