Abstract:
Coded retrievable signal information is applied to a paper web leading end prior to the paper web being directed to a print unit in a rotary, web-fed printing press. This signal information is scanned by signal reading devices and is forwarded to adjusting elements along the path of travel of the web through the press. These adjusting elements set the path of web travel to its final destination and also synchronize the printing units and the cutting units for the paper web.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method and to a device for drawing a web of material into a web-fed rotary printing press. The web of material is provided with coded information that is used to actuate web guidance devices that will deliver the web to a desired destination. 
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART 
     A draw-in device for drawing several paper webs into a web-fed rotary printing press is known from DE 43 18 299 A1. In this device, paths of different length must be traveled. An electronic memory, in which all of the different guide paths are stored, is used in this prior device. 
     It is a limitation of this prior draw-in device that, for example, the coupling positions and the register settings can only be done after the paper webs have been guided through the web-fed rotary printing press and are each ready for printing. Further than that, after the press has been assembled in situ, it is initially necessary to provide the software for the paper draw-in system and control system and to operate it. This is very time-consuming and costly. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,403 A describes a web-fed rotary printing press, wherein a paper web is provided with markings for checking web paths. 
     DE 2021246 A shows a device for drawing a paper web in by means of a motorized carriage moving on selectable rails. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the present invention is based on creating a method and a device for drawing a web of material into a web-fed rotary printing press. 
     In accordance with the present invention, this object is attained by providing the web of material with at least one piece of coded information. This coded information is read by signal reading devices that operate actuating components of web guidance devices so that the web will be drawn into the rotary printing press and will guided to its desired destination. 
     The advantages which can be obtained by the present invention consist, in particular, in that it is not necessary to calculate or measure the length of the paper web paths. Instead, it is only required to apply a code for a destination to the paper web, and the start of the paper web reaches its preset destination by means of a known draw-in device. The print unit is already synchronized during the draw-in process of the paper web, or a longitudinal register roller is moved into position. 
     The arrangement in accordance with the present invention can also be employed as a mobile system for pre-setting the destinations of the paper web paths, in particular before the web-fed rotary printing press has been placed into printing operation. A rapid testing option of the paper web paths is provided in this way. Furthermore, a possible outage of the master computer, in connection with drawing in a fresh paper web, has no damaging effects. The errors, which are otherwise possibly contained in the software of the control in the course of calculating the length of the paper web paths and which only become obvious during production, are therefore avoided. 
    
    
     A BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A preferred embodiment of the present invention is represented in the sole drawing FIGURE and will be described in greater detail in what follows. The sole drawing FIGURE shows a front view of a part of a web-fed rotary printing press in accordance with the present invention, in a schematic representation. 
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     A web-fed rotary printing press has, among other things, two unrolling devices  1 ,  2  for webs of material, for example two paper unrolling devices  1 ,  2 , from which webs of material  3 ,  4 , for example paper webs  3 ,  4 , can be guided via paper guide rollers  6 ,  7  and draw-in units  8 ,  9  to one of the print units  11 ,  12 ,  13 ,  14 , which are arranged on top of each other. A turning bar deck  16 , with a total of six levels  21  to  26  arranged above each other, is located next to, or in close vicinity to, the print units  11  to  14 . A drawing roller group  27 , with longitudinal cutting devices  28 , as well as a number of paper guide rollers  29 ,  31 ,  32 , are located on each level  21  to  26 . 
     Further paper webs  33 ,  34 ,  36 ,  37  are supplied to the turning bar deck  16  from paper unrolling devices, not specifically represented sole drawing FIGURE. 
     Viewed in the running direction of each of the paper web  3 ,  4 ,  33 ,  34 ,  36 ,  37 , each paper guide roller  29  is located in front of each longitudinal cutting device  28  and guides one of the respective paper webs over its entire width. Subsequent to, or after the longitudinal cutting device  28 , in the direction of paper web travel, the paper guide roller  31 ,  42  guides a first half of the longitudinally divided paper web, while the second longitudinally divided half of the paper web is guided between the paper guide rollers  32 ,  41  over turning bars  39  of a respective level  21  to  26 . A side cutting register  38  is arranged or positioned in front of or before the paper guide roller  32 . A longitudinal folding device  43  with a hopper inlet roller  44  is located underneath the paper guide rollers  41 ,  42  of the levels  21  to  26  of the turning bar deck  16 . A folding cylinder group  46  with a delivery belt is arranged underneath the longitudinal folding device  43 . 
     It is also possible to let the paper web  4 ,  33 ,  34  enter not at the right, but at the left of the print units  12  to  14 , such as has been schematically depicted to the left next to the print unit  11 . In this case, the paper webs  4 ,  33 ,  34  also exit from the print units  12  to  14  to the right above the print unit  14 . 
     A signal output device  47  or  48 , acting on the paper web  3  or  4 , respectively as well as a signal reading device  49  or  51 , are arranged in the movement direction of the paper webs  3  or  4 , i.e. in front of the print unit  11 ,  12 , as viewed in the production direction A. Viewed in the production direction A, these devices  47 ,  49 ,  48   51  are preferably arranged after or subsequent to each paper unrolling device  1 ,  2 . The signal output devices  47 ,  48  can each consist of a bar code transmitter, and the signal reading devices  49 ,  51  can each consist of a bar code reader, for example a laser scanner. A second signal reading device  53 ,  54 ,  55  or  56  is arranged after the outlet from each print unit  11  to  14  respectively. 
     A third signal reading device  58  to  69 , respectively is arranged in the same way at the outlet of each level  21  to  26  of the turning bar deck  16  in front of or before each paper guide roller  41 ,  42 . 
     Each print unit  11  to  14  has at least one angle encoder  71  to  74  which, for example, is connected, fixed against relative rotation, on a rubber blanket cylinder. In the same way, the cutting cylinder, not specifically shown, of the folding cylinder group  46 , for example, is also provided with an angle encoder  76 , which is arranged fixed against relative rotation. 
     Draw-in of each paper web is performed by a generally known paper web draw-in arrangement, for example a finite roller chain running in C-shaped profiled rails fixed in place on the lateral frame, whose drive stations are arranged at a clear distance from each other, which distance is less than the length of the roller chain. 
     For example, by means of the signal output device  47 , which may be for example a laser printer, the paper web  3  is provided with coded signal information  77 , which can be called up, for example in the form of a bar code which is read by the first signal reading device  49 . The signal reading device  49  is connected with actuating elements, not represented, for example pneumatic work cylinders for actuating the switches for the roller chain of the paper draw-in device, which unblock the preselected paper web path. 
     The signal information  77  contains, for example, actuating commands for the switches to the print unit  11 , as well as actuating commands for the switches to the level  21  of the turning deck  16 . After the signal information  77  on the start of the paper web  3  has passed through the print unit  11  and has reached the second signal reading device  53 , the position of the signal output device  47  with respect to the print unit  11  is synchronized by means of the angle encoder  71  of the print unit  11 , i.e. the signal output device  47  begins to print the signal information  77  on the paper web  3  always in the start-printing position of the print unit  11 . Following synchronization, the signal information  77  is provided with additional coding by the signal output device  47 , for example a transverse bar for the reference setting of the cutting register, as well as an oblique bar for the lateral position of the paper web  3 . 
     Furthermore, the signal reading device  53  is in contact with actuating elements, not specifically represented, for example, work cylinders for draw-in switches, which unblock the preselected paper web path, for example to the first level  21  of the turning bar deck  16 . 
     Following the longitudinal cutting of the paper web  3  and the turning of one half of the paper web  3 , both halves of the paper web  3  are scanned by means of the third signal reading devices  58 ,  59 , wherein it is determined whether the print image is located in the correct position. Here, the distance between the signal reading devices  58 ,  59  and the cutting location of the cutting cylinder, as well as the position of the folding cylinder group  46 , are known. 
     If deviations of the print image are detected by the print reading device, the print unit  11  is advanced or retarded by the needed angle of rotation in accordance with the requirements by means of a known “electrical wave” of the drive of the web-fed rotary printing press. In connection with such deviations of the print image detected by the signal reading device  59 , the register roller of the side cutting register  38  of the level  21  is adjusted. 
     The draw-in process of the paper web  4  takes place analogously with the draw-in process of the paper web  3 . Signal information  78  is applied to the paper web  4  by means of the signal output device  48 . 
     In addition to the representation shown in the drawing, it is, in particular, possible, for example, to arrange six paper unrolling devices, three print units, respectively arranged on top of each other, and three turning bar decks next to each other, so that this results in a plurality of draw-in options for the paper webs which are not specifically represented. 
     It is also possible to provide the web  1  of material with signal information outside of the web-fed rotary printing press. 
     This signal information can also be used for controlling cleaning processes of guide rollers, for example. 
     While a preferred embodiment of a method and device for drawing in a strip of material, in accordance with the present invention has been set forth fully and completely hereinabove, it will be apparent to one of skill in the art that a number of changes in, for example the structure of the paper unrolling devices, the specific types of printing units 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.