System for producing printed products

• US 20020149497A1
• Filed: 04/01/2002
• Published: 10/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grapha-Holding Ag (Rudolf B Mueller)
• Original Assignee: Grapha-Holding Ag (Rudolf B Mueller)
• Inventors: Jaggi, Reto
• Granted Patent: US 6,919,818 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/825.72
• CPC Class Codes: B42C 19/00 Multi-step processes for making books
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2220/01 indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2511/412 of user, e.g. user code
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/14 specially adapted for specific applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 90/02 Total factory control, e.g. smart factories, flexible manufacturing systems [FMS] or integrated manufacturing systems [IMS]

Abstract

The system comprises machines with several processing stations that form a production line for books, magazines, brochures or newspapers. A control device controls the processing stations, and at least one input means operates the processing stations with the control device. The input means is freely movable, and the location or the position of the input means relative to the processing stations is detected automatically.

Claims

1. A system for producing printed products, said system comprising machines with several processing stations, which form a production line, the system comprising:

at least one control unit for controlling the processing stations of a machine; and

at least one freely movable input means for operating the processing stations via the at least one control unit,

wherein a position of said at least one input means relative to the processing stations is automatically detectable.

2. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for identifying an operator.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the at least one control unit and the at least one input means comprises means for detecting a position of the at least one input means relative to a processing station.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein a position of the at least one input means is transmitted to the at least one control unit.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one input means is used to make corrections to a closest processing station in proximity to the at least one input means.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one input means is used to operate processing stations other than a closest processing station in proximity to the at least one input means.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a position of the at least one input means is determined using a global positioning system.

8. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a local positioning system that detects a position of the at least one input means.

9. The system according to claim 1, wherein each of said processing stations comprises at least one of a code reader and a code carrier, and wherein the at least one input means comprises at least one of a code reader and a code carrier.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one input means comprises a keyboard for data input.

11. The system according to claim 1, further comprising:

means for voice input; and

means for voice recognition.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said voice input means comprises several microphones that are arranged on the machines.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one control unit comprises at least one hands-free microphone.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said at least one input means comprises a mobile telephone.

15. The system according to claim 1, further comprising at least one electronic data bank in which at least one authorization to operate for at least one operator is stored.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one authorization to operate specifically applies only to at least one individual processing station.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein the at least one authorization to operate specifically applies only to at least one type of manipulation of said at least one individual processing station.

18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the at least one authorization to operate specifically applies only to at least one type of manipulation of at least one processing station.

19. The system according to claim 1, wherein at least one processing station comprises at least one actuator, the at least one actuator being used in conjunction with said at least one input means to control at least one of speed and position attributes of said at least one processing station.