EP1155855B1 - Control for the printing process - Google Patents

Abstract

A method for printing includes a plurality of process steps. According to an additional step, relevant data are stored in a central relational database. Both a printing press and a data processing unit processing prepress data are interconnected.

Description

The invention relates to a method for controlling the printing process, in particular when printing in offset printing, wherein data are first generated in a prepress and then forwarded to a data processing unit, in particular a raster imaging processor (RIP) and then to a printing press.

In the current state of the art, when a printing process is executed, the original to be printed is first created in a so-called pre-press. From this template, the required number of printing plates is produced in further process steps, wherein initially created in the conventional print separations and then these color separations are used for printing plate production. The finished printing forms are then placed in a printing press and used for printing. The printing machine is connected to a control unit, which can be used to monitor the press and which can be used by the printer to enter job-related data.

In digital production of printing plates, the data coming from the prepress stage are first fed to a data processing unit, a so-called raster imaging processor (RIP), which converts the incoming data into a bitmap format, which is then used to image the printing plates. This imaging can be done directly in the printing press or in a separate device. Subsequently, the imaged plates are, if necessary, introduced into a printing machine and the printing process, which is controlled by a control unit of the printing press, carried out, see for example DE-A-195 33 811.

A disadvantage of the system described above, however, is that it is only possible with great difficulty to manually assemble the data present in the RIP with the data present in the printing machine, in particular the order-related data. This prepares in particular great difficulties when a print job consists of several printing operations, since the merger of these data is then completely excluded, since these printing operations can not be connected to each other. In this case, automatic post-costing of the print job is not possible.

Object of the present invention is therefore to propose a process for controlling the printing process, in which the job to be processed can be better controlled and traced.

This object is achieved by the features of the process according to claim 1.

By inserting a database according to the invention which can relate the incoming data relationally to one another, it becomes possible to link the data originating from the data preparation and the printing press in such a way that a universal subsequent evaluation of the data is made possible. In particular, it is now possible to initiate an automatic post-costing process based on the data stored in the database.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the following figures and their description parts.

Figur 1

einen ersten erfindungsgemäßen Prozessablauf

Figur 2

einen zweiten erfindungsgemäßen Prozessablauf mit Zwischenschaltung einer Auftragszuweisung

They show in detail:

FIG. 1

a first process sequence according to the invention

FIG. 2

a second process according to the invention with the interposition of an order assignment

FIG. 1 schematically shows a prepress region 10 in which the documents required for the printing process are produced. These so-called prepress data are usually in the form of Postscript or PDF files and are as such Files forwarded to a RIP 12. The RIP generates from the incoming postscript or PDF data so-called bitmap files for each of the required color separations. These bitmap files could be transferred to them using a direct imaging press and used to expose the plate in the press. According to the invention, an additional component 14 is now inserted before the transmission of these bitmap files to the printing press, which has as an essential or exclusive component a database 15 in which the data coming from the RIP are written. This database is able to establish a relational link between all incoming data. The data coming from the RIP may include, but is not limited to, an ID number, a document name, a bitmap name, a processing time for the RIP, or other information relevant to the RIP. The data coming from the RIP 12 are preferably forwarded to the adjunct unit 14 via a RIP event conditioning unit 16. In the event processing unit 16, the data coming from the RIP 12 are processed insofar as only the data required later for the printing machine are written. In this regard, the RIP event conditioning unit 16 serves as data filtering logic that filters specific data on the way from the RIP 12 to the database 15 according to a fixed or variable logic. In particular, the document name or information concerning the processing data in the RIP is forwarded. In particular, data that is irrelevant or redundant for later execution in the printing press is not forwarded. These include, for example, so-called intermediate states, such as the size of the generated bitmaps in pixels.

To separate out the data relevant for the printing process, which is also to be written into the database of the additional component 14, there are several possibilities. First, the RIP event conditioning unit 16 can be kept informed of the current state of the RIP. Upon an end signal indicating the end of processing by the RIP, the RIP processing unit 16 is informed that a job has been completed. Subsequently, all operating data are stored in the database 15 where they can be relationally related to each other. A second possibility is that in the RIP event conditioning unit 16 the Operating data in a file, especially in a so-called "log file" are continuously carried. By means of a constantly running analysis of this file, the relevant information is analyzed in accordance with the logic stored in the RIP event processing device 16 and, if appropriate, stored in the database 15.

The data stored in the database 15 can then be forwarded to a printing machine, in particular a so-called direct imaging printing press. It essentially does not matter whether the data of the printing press 18 are fed directly via the path A or indirectly via the RIP via the dashed path B.

The printing press 18 may also include other units, such as a color zone control device 20, an imaging device 24 and a device for controlling the machine 22, which may also include means for acquiring operational data.

During the execution of the print job, operating data are still recorded, which may consist, for example, in the number of real printed sheets of waste paper, the set-up time, the printing time or the like. This operating data can either be recorded automatically, read in from outside or entered by a user. The operating data are then forwarded to a print event processing unit 26, which analyzes the incoming data, optionally processes it and then forwards it to the database 15 of the additional component 14.

With the provision according to the invention of the database 15, it is thus possible to be able to access the data in its entirety, that is to say the operating data and the RIP data introduced into the relational database, also via an external module 28. This provides a number of evaluation options and, in addition, the option of being able to import external information into the database 15.

Although the additional component 14 and the database 15 are shown as individual components in FIG. 1, it is, of course, possible to combine these two components in such a way that they consist only in a single component, so that this additional component 14 coincides with the database 15.

In the exemplary embodiment of the invention according to FIG. 2, the process sequence according to the invention is supplemented by a further component. As soon as 12 bitmaps are generated from the corresponding input data in the RIP, they are stored in a specific directory in the file 15. This directory is constantly monitored by an input and job unit 30. As soon as a new bitmap is stored in the file 15, a corresponding signal is forwarded to the job unit 30 and displayed on a suitable display device, for example a monitor. An operator may then be prompted to enter the job-relevant data for that bitmap via a suitable program. In addition to the direct re-entry of this data, it is of course also possible that a suitable order is selected from a list of already created orders. At the end of this process the order is confirmed and the necessary links in the relational database 15 are entered. This ensures automatic assignment of all files to this job. In addition, the order-related data, such as the number of copies, beautiful and reprint, substrate or the like are written in a file associated with the record, which in turn can be read on the press.

In this respect, the order unit 30 is in bidirectional connection E with the relational database 15.

The relevant contents of the relational database 15 can, as already described in connection with FIG. 1, be continued directly to the printing press A or indirectly, for example via the RIP 12 on the path B, which is shown by dashed lines.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

10

prepress

12

RIP

14

Additional component with database

15

Database

16

RIP event processing unit

18

press

20

Ink fountain control

22

control device

24

imaging

26

Pressure event processing unit

28

external module

30

application unit

Claims (2)

1. Method of controlling a printing process, in particular an offset printing process, wherein data are forwarded to a data processing unit (12), in particular a Raster Imaging Processor (12), and then to a printing press (18),
   characterized in
   that, prior to the forwarding of the data from the data processing unit (12) to the printing press (18), the data are stored in a database (15) that is able to create relational links between the data received by the database (15) in a relational way.
2. Method according to claim 1,
   characterized in
   that data relating to a print job are fed to the database (15) from a job unit (30).

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