Abstract:
The circumferential register of a web passing through printing units of a web-fed rotary press is accomplished by determining an actual value of the tension in the web. An angular position or an angular velocity of a cylinder of a first print unit, with respect to a cylinder of a second print unit, is varied based on this determined tension. This corrects any register offset without the need to control web tension and without the use of an optical recognition system. The value of the needed change for the cylinder angular position or velocity is determined as a function of the measured tension of the web.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention is directed to a method for regulating a circumferential register in a web-fed rotary printing press. An actual web tension passing through at least two print units of the press is used to regulate the circumferential register. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A regulation of the transverse and linear register in a press is known from EP 0 951 993 A1. The correction of the transverse register is performed by use of a traction roller. A change in the web&#39;s linear expansion is determined by use of web speeds and other parameters, such as tension-expansion diagrams and set values of tension. This change is transmitted back to regulation arrangements for cylinders of the printing groups and/or for an actuator for setting and correcting the cutting register. 
     WO 00/34042 discloses a method for regulating a register. A deviation of a web tension from a set value changes the number of revolutions and/or the angular position of a first printing location in relation to a second printing location. 
     EP 0 950 519 A1 discloses a method for regulating the cutting and inking registers of several webs in respect to each other, as well as between individual print units. Expansions of the webs are determined by use of the operating points of the drive mechanisms of conveying rollers, active cylinders and traction rollers. Correcting values determined from this are added as position offsets to the command variables for the cutting register or the inking register. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is directed to providing methods for regulating a circumferential register in a web-fed rotary printing press. 
     In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by providing at least two printing units in the web-fed rotary press through which the web passes sequentially. An actual value of the tension in the web is determined. An angular position or speed of one cylinder of a first print unit, with respect to a cylinder of a second print unit, is regulated. The web tension is determined downstream of the last print unit, in the production direction. This tension is used to regulate the angular position or speed of a cylinder in a print unit upstream of this last print unit. A difference between the actual web tension and a set value can be determined and used to regulate the upstream cylinder. The change value of the cylinder may be formed as a function of web quality. 
     The advantages which can be obtained by the present invention reside, in particular, in that an error in the circumferential register, which error is the result of web tension fluctuations or of fluctuations of the circumference of the printing cylinder caused, for example, by brief changes in the thickness of the web, is counteracted without a great outlay for measuring and regulating. The error to be corrected can be a register offset, which is an error in the so-called inking register, or a register error between the two sides of the imprinted web. A difference in the conveying speed of the web occurring between two print positions is corrected by a change of the relative rotary position of the two print positions with respect to each other. 
     It is a great advantage of the present invention that it is possible to omit elaborate measurements and regulations by the use of ink markers applied to the web. Neither a direct measurement of the web expansion, nor a regulation of the web tension or torque by use of the operating points of the drive mechanisms of the print units, for the purpose of a correction, needs to be performed. 
     The method, and a corresponding device in accordance with the present invention, can be employed particularly advantageously in case of a register offset in print units with several double printing groups arranged one behind the other, or with one on top of the other for a rubber-against-rubber operation, such as in an eight-unit printing tower composed of two so-called H-print units, wherein at least two of the printing locations make successive imprints on the same location of a web. 
     For eight-unit towers, consisting of two H-printing groups, it is particularly advantageous to evaluate the chronological change of the tension of the web, for example before or after passing through a gluing station for the web, downstream of the last printing group, or the last print unit, and to perform only a change of the angular position of the H-print unit which is first in the running direction of the web in relation to the second H-print unit. This regulation of the circumferential register, and in particular of the ink register, is advantageous for several, for example for at least three print units through which a web successively passes, wherein a distance between the two first printing nips is clearly less than a subsequent distance from a third printing nip. An eight-unit tower, consisting of two H-print units, is an example for this. 
     The method in accordance with the present invention can be advantageously used for regulating the register between the two sides of the web in printing presses having satellite print units. 
     In one embodiment, the present invention is of particular advantage in that a chronological change of the tension downstream of the last print unit, i.e. a difference in the tension at a first point in time and at a second point in time, is used directly and linearly for the correction of the register offset of the second H-print unit in relation to the first H-print unit. This requires an extremely low measuring and regulating outlay, while still being sufficiently accurate. 
     It is possible, in an advantageous manner, to omit a tension regulation, for example by use of a moment-controlled traction roller downstream of the printing tower. An unregulated traction roller, with a controlled number of revolutions, is sufficient here. A register offset, for example caused in a gluing station, is corrected in an advantageous manner exclusively by use of the circumferential register of the cylinders, in particular the cylinders of the first print unit, or of the first two print units. It is possible, in particular, to regulate the two first print units, for example in the form of an H-print unit, together, so that it is merely necessary to determine a single correction value and to perform a single correction. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is represented in the drawings and will be described in greater detail in what follows. 
     Shown are in: 
     FIG. 1, a schematic side elevation view of a print unit with a roll changer in accordance with the present invention, in 
     FIG. 2, a schematic representation of a web tension as a function of time in the course of a passage of the web through a gluing station, and in 
     FIG. 3, a schematic representation of a correction value, or a value of a change in the angle of rotation, as a function of time. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A web-fed rotary printing press, as depicted schematically in FIG. 1, has, for example, an eight-unit printing tower  01  and a roll changer  02 . During the printing operation, a web  03 , for example a paper web  03 , travels from the roll changer  02 , for example via a draw-in device, which is not specifically represented, through the eight-unit tower  01 . 
     The eight-unit tower  01  has a total of four print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 , which are identical and each of which has a printing nip. In the eight-unit tower  01 , these four print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08  are embodied as double printing groups  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 , which work in a rubber-against-rubber operation during printing. Two of the print units  04 ,  06  are arranged within a first, lower, H-print unit  09 , and the other two print units  07 ,  08  are arranged within a second, upper, H-print unit  11 . Each one of the print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08  has at least three, and in the depicted configuration, has four cylinders  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16 , for example a first forme cylinder  12 , a first transfer cylinder  13  working together with the first forme cylinder  12 , a counter-pressure cylinder  14  working together with the transfer cylinder  13  via the paper web  03 , and, if the counter-pressure cylinder  14  is embodied, as it is here, as a second transfer cylinder  14 , a second forme cylinder  16  working together with the latter. 
     In the eight-unit tower  01 , each one of the print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08  has at least one drive motor  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  21 . However, each cylinder  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16  of each print unit  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 , or respectively each pair of transfer cylinders  13 ,  14  and forme cylinders  12 ,  16  together, can have a drive motor. It is however also possible that the first or lower H-print unit  09  constitutes a compound unit driven by drive motors  17 ,  18 , and the second or upper H-print unit  11  constitutes a compound unit driven by drive motors  19 ,  21 . A traction roller  22  is arranged downstream or after, in the direction of travel of web  03 , the last print unit  08 . A draw-in device  23 , which is symbolized by a traction roller, is arranged between the roll changer  02  and the first print unit  04 . Not specifically represented inking systems and, if required, dampening systems, are assigned to each of the print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 . 
     In the direction of travel of the paper web  03  from the roll changer  02  and as far downstream as the last print unit  08 , viewed in the running direction of the paper web  03 , of the eight-unit tower  01 , various web tensions S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , S 5  exist. The web tension S 1  is the tension in the web  03  upstream of the eight-unit tower  01 , for example S 1  lies between 30 and 50 daN/m. The web tension S 2  is the tension in the web  03  between the print units  04  and  06 . The tension S 3  exists in the web  03  between the first H-print unit  09  and the second H-print unit  11 . The tension S 4  is the web tension between the print units  07  and  08 , and downstream of the last print unit  06  the web tension is S 5 . For example, S 5  lies between 10 and 20 daN/m, and in particular between 12 to 15 daN/m. The exact levels of the web tensions S 1 -S 5 , and the accurate differences between them, however, are based on the water sensitivity of the paper used. The considerably higher level of the tension S 1  in comparison to S 5  is essential. A regulation of the tension is performed, for example, by operation of the draw-in device  23 . 
     In the course of passage of the web  03  through the eight-unit tower  01 , the tension-expansion characteristics of the paper web  03  change as a result of moisture added by ink, and possibly by dampening agent. The tension levels upstream and downstream of the eight-unit tower  01  will advantageously be selected in such a way that an expansion of the web upstream and downstream of the eight-unit tower  01  is approximately equal. As a rule, the tension S 1  is higher than the tension S 5 . 
     If now a change of a web roll takes place in the roll changer  02  under fixed production conditions, in particular by way of a flying change by gluing, a glued joint moves along with the paper web  03  from the roll changer  02  through the eight-unit tower  01 . For example, the glued joint has an area of two layers of the paper web  03  and an adhesive layer, for example an adhesive strip. A so-called adhesive slip, i.e. an area of two paper layers, can extend far past the width of the glued joint. Therefore the paper web  03  has an area  24  of increased thickness which moves through the printing press. 
     As the area  24  of increased web thickness passes through a print unit  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 , an elastic cover on the cylinders  13 ,  14 , for example rubber blankets, is slightly more compressed because of the increased web thickness and the fixed axial spacing distance of the cylinders  13 ,  14  working together. At a constant angular cylindrical speed, the circumferential speed of the cylinders  13 ,  14  is reduced. For example, the higher circumferential speed still prevails in the print unit  07 , while simultaneously the circumferential speed in the print unit  06  is reduced during the passage of the area  24  of increased web thickness. Thus, the level of the tensions S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , S 5  suddenly increases between the print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08  and downstream of the eight-unit tower  01 . This sudden increase in web tension is depicted in FIG. 2 regarding the tension S 5 . 
     The increased level of the tensions S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , S 5  is accompanied by an increased level of the expansion of the paper web  03 , and therefore causes a register offset ΔP in the circumferential direction between the individual print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 , which is a so-called register offset in the circumferential register. 
     The sudden increase of the tensions S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , S 5 , and therefore also of the expansion of the paper web  03 , is a function of the original level of the tensions S 1 , S 2 , S 3 , S 4 . S 5 , and in particular of a difference between tensions S 1  and S 5 , and of the length of the adhesive tail, i.e. of the length of the area  24  of increased web thickness. The latter, in particular is a factor in connection with staggered cylinders, i.e. cylinders with several channels on a shell surface of a cylinder, which channels are arranged next to each other in the axial direction, but which are offset in respect to each other in the circumferential direction. If, in this case, the length of the adhesive tail is greater than or is equal to the distance between the channels in the circumferential direction, a partial relief can take place. 
     The sudden increase of the tension S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , S 5 , in particular of the tension S 5 , over a set value S-soll downstream of the eight-unit tower  01 , for example by a difference ΔS, as depicted in FIG. 2 before and after the passage of the area  24  of increased web thickness, is detected by a measuring device  26  and a regulating device  27  and is further processed. 
     A correction value K is determined from this difference ΔS, and the register offset ΔP, which had occurred between two print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 , or between two H-print units  09 ,  11 . As a rule, this compensation takes place by a relative change Δφ of an angular position φ, for example the angle of rotation position φ, of the H-print units  09 ,  11  under consideration, or of the cylinders  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16  of the print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08  under consideration, with respect to each other. 
     In the depicted example, the tension S 5  is determined by a tension measuring device  26 , for example a sensor  26  such as, for example, a measuring roller  26 , which is situated downstream of the eight-unit tower  01 , in this case following a capture roller  28 , and is fed to the regulating device  27 , which may be a computer  27 , or to a control station computer  27 . From the difference ΔS, the regulating device  27 , or the computer  27 , determines the mean correction value between the lower H-print unit  09  and the upper H-print unit  11 . The angle of rotation position φ of the lower H-print unit  09 , and, in particular, that of the forme cylinders  12 ,  16  of the print units  04  and  06 , is now rotated by a corresponding change Δφ of the angle of rotation φ in relation to the lower H-print unit  09 , in particular the forme cylinders  12 ,  16  of the latter. The registration offset ΔP, which had occurred, is corrected in this way. Since, in the depicted and discussed example, no tension regulation occurs by use of the traction roller  22 , or of another arrangement, such as, for example, a compensation roller, downstream of the last print unit  08  as far as the included traction roller  22 , the tension S 5  slowly drops in the course of the further conveyance of the paper web  03  through the print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 . In the course of the slow tension drop, the circumferential register is corrected in the opposite direction by the correction value K in accordance with the changing difference ΔS between S 5  and S-soll, as depicted in FIG.  3 . In an advantageous manner, this does not take place continuously, but at suitable intervals. 
     In the present preferred embodiment of the eight-unit tower  01 , no correction between the two adjoining print units  04 ,  06 , or  07 ,  08 , each two adjoining print units being assigned to the same H-print unit  09 ,  11 , respectively, is performed, only a relative angle of rotation position φ between the lower and upper H-print unit  09 ,  11  is taken into consideration as a change Δφ in the angle of rotation position φ. In the course of this, the relative angle of rotation position φ of at least one cylinder, and in case of double printing groups  04 ,  06  of at least two cylinders  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16 , in an advantageous manner of the respective forme cylinders  12 ,  16 , is changed. The deviation between the print units  04 ,  06 , or  07 ,  08  assigned to a single H-print unit  09 ,  11 , lies within the permissible tolerances for a deviation in the registration, particularly in connection with newspaper printing. 
     The regulation of the circumferential register, in accordance with the present invention, is generally advantageous for at least three or more print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08  arranged one behind the other, wherein a first distance a 1  of, for example, 0.4 m to 1 m between the first two printing nips  04 ,  06  is clearly less than a second, subsequent distance a 2  of, for example, &gt;1 m to a third printing nip  07 . An example of this is the eight-unit tower  01  consisting of two H-print units  09 ,  11 . The effects of moisture, and therefore a tension-caused register offset ΔP, is less, in particular on the path between the first two print units  04 ,  06 , which follow each other at the short first distance a 1 , so that the regulation for the first two print units  04 ,  06  in relation to the upper print unit  07 ,  08  can take place in the same way, and not additionally in relation to each other. A shorter third distance a 3  of, for example, 0.4 m to 1 m follows the second distance a 2  and is the distance between the two print units  07 ,  08  of the upper H-print unit  11 . A relative change takes place only at the print units  04 ,  06 , with a large distance a 2  to a subsequent print unit  07 . 
     The regulation of the correction of the register offset ΔP by use of the correction value K as a function of the difference ΔS, consisting of the initially spontaneously rising and subsequently falling change of the web tension S 5  by a difference ΔS, is preferably performed as a proportional regulation, wherein a linear connection is preferably made between the difference ΔS of the tension S 5  and the correction value K. In an advantageous manner, the regulating device  27  is embodied as a proportional regulator  27 . 
     In a preferred embodiment, the correction value K essentially satisfies, in the range of the tensions S 1 -S 5  and ΔS considered here the equation K=a*ΔS, wherein a represents the slope or pitch, and no constant member needs to be considered. For regulating the lower H-print unit  09  with respect to the upper H-print unit  11 , the slope or pitch a for the eight-unit tower  01  under consideration lies between 1/(35 daN/m/mm) and 1/(45 daN/m/mm), and in particular around 1/(40 daN/m/mm) if the difference ΔS of the tension S 5  is measured in daN/m, and the correction value K of the register offset ΔP on the circumference of the cylinder  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16  is measured in mm. 
     For example, if a measured difference ΔS of the web tension S 5  for a cylinder diameter of approximately 230 mm is 10 daN/m, the angle of rotation position φ for the lower H-print unit  09  relative to the upper H-print unit  11  is corrected in such a way that an offset at the circumference of the changed cylinders  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16  by approximately 0.25 mm takes place. The change Δφ of the angle of rotation position is proportional to the correction value K and to the register offset ΔP. Therefore, the change Δφ of the angle of rotation position over a constant c considered over the circumference of the respective cylinders,  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16  also is in a linear correlation to the difference ΔS, therefore Δφ=a*c*ΔS applies for the value of the change of the relative angle of rotation position. The relative change Δφ for the upper cylinder therefore is approximately 0.12° to 0.13°, for example. In place of the change Δφ of the angle of rotation position, a change of the angular speed Δφ can take place for a set time. 
     A different dependency of the correction to be taken into consideration exists for different qualities of the paper web  03 , so that preferably a quality value Questions, or also a quality function Questions, for taking into consideration the existing type of paper web  03 , such as moisture behavior and/or tension-expansion characteristics, etc. should be superimposed on the previously discussed dependency. The desired correction by the correction value K, or the change Δφ of the angle of rotation position φ or the angular speed Δφ is therefore a function of the tension S 5 , or the difference ΔS of the circumference of the cylinder  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16  to be corrected and the quality value Q. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the correction of the register offset ΔP is only performed by a register adjustment. A regulation of the tension S 5  downstream of the last print unit  08  is not performed in this connection. In a preferred embodiment, the traction roller  22  is designed as a traction roller  22  which is regulated in respect to its number of revolutions, to which neither tension values nor torque values need to be assigned. The measured tension S 5  is used in an advantageous manner for regulating the tension S 1 , in a manner shown in dashed lines in FIG. 1, in order to meet the previously discussed requirement of a greater tension S 1  in comparison to S 5 . 
     The method, and a corresponding device, for regulating the circumferential register for correcting the register offset ΔP, which occurs during the fixed printing operation in the form of short interferences, is particularly suitable, for example because of the flying change of paper rolls of identical quality. Following this interference, fixed conditions and the identical paper quality prevail as a rule. 
     In an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, each cylinder  12 ,  13 ,  14 ,  16  of each print unit has its own drive motor  17 ,  18 ,  19 ,  20 . For the correction of the registration offset ΔP, however, all drive motors  17 ,  18  of one of the two print units  04 ,  06 , or all drive motors  17 ,  18  of the two lower print units  04 ,  06  are corrected simultaneously by the same value. What has been said should be correspondingly applied for a drive mechanism for each pair of forme cylinders  12 ,  16  associated with their assigned transfer cylinders  13 ,  14 . 
     The method for regulating the circumferential register in accordance with the present invention is also suitable for configurations of a printing press other than that of the depicted eight-unit tower  01  with at least two print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 , provided that the other printing press configuration has several printing nips  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 , or print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 , which are spaced apart from each other in the running direction of the paper web  03 , or has several spaced printing locations  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 . 
     For example, the other configuration can be a printing press which has several bridge units that are arranged one on top of each other, or which has several rubber-against-rubber print units, which are arranged next to each other, with a horizontal guidance of the paper web  03 . In the same way, for all of the recited examples, the respective first transfer cylinder  13  can also work in cooperation with a counter-pressure cylinder  14 , which may be embodied as a steel cylinder  14 . Here, too, the tension S 5  is measured downstream of the last print unit  08 , and the print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 , which are arranged upstream of the last print unit  08 , are arranged by the difference ΔS, or the tension S 5 . This can again occur in groups of several successive print units  04 ,  06 , or also with individual print units  04 ,  06 ,  07 . In principle, the print units  04 ,  06 ,  07  are regulated with respect to the unchanged last print unit  08 . As a rule, no relative change needs to take place between the first and second print units  04 ,  06 , because the web which passes between them is not yet completely moistened throughout. 
     In addition to the method for controlling a circumferential register, or the ink register, i.e. for controlling the exact relative position of two print images which are imprinted one after the other on the same side of the web  03 , and as a rule in different colors, the method of the present invention is also suited to regulate the register between two sequentially imprinted sides of a web  03 . This register regulation is advantageous, for example, for an arrangement of two satellite print units  09 ,  11 , each having one or several print positions. The web  03  passes successively through the satellite print units  09 ,  11  which are, each for example, embodied as so-called nine-cylinder satellites or ten-cylinder satellites, wherein one side of the web  03  is imprinted in one of the print units  09 ,  11 , and thereafter the other side of the web  03  is imprinted in the other print unit  11 ,  09 , in one or in several colors. 
     For separate requirements, the measurement and evaluation of the difference ΔS in the tension S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , S 5  can also take place between the individual nips  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08 , and a change in the rotary position of the previous nips  04 ,  06 ,  07 ,  08  can be caused. 
     In case of greater differences ΔS within a large tension range of the tensions S 2 , S 3 , S 4 , S 5 , it is possible, under certain circumstances, to base the difference ΔS and the required correction of the register offset ΔP by the correction value K on a non-linear connection. However, in this case a corresponding functional connection can also be taken into consideration in the regulating device in a simple manner. 
     While preferred embodiments of a method for controlling a circumferential register in a web-fed rotary printed press in accordance with the present invention have been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that various changes in, for example the specific structures of the cylinders, the specific types of cylinder drive motors used, and the like, could be made without departing from the true spirit and scope of the present invention which is accordingly to be limited only by the following claims.