System and method for controlling AC motor driven multi-unit printing press
First Claim
1. A system for controlling the registration of a multi-unit printing press for corrugated board material that permits the use of AC motors for driving the printing press, the multi-unit printing press having a master printing unit and at least one follower printing unit, the printing units each having a plurality of rotary members operably configured for conducting the printing operation, the system comprising:
- a master AC motor for driving the master printing unit;
a master AC driving device electrically coupled to the master AC motor for controlling the speed of the master AC motor and permitting the master AC motor to be operated at any selected speed within a range of speeds;
a master pulse generating device for producing output pulses relating to the rotary motion of the master printing unit;
a follower AC motor for driving the follower printing unit;
a follower AC driving device electrically coupled to the follower AC motor for controlling the speed of the follower AC motor relative to the master AC motor and permitting the follower AC motor to be operated at any selected speed within a range of speeds;
a follower pulse generating device for producing output pulses relating to the rotary motion of the follower printing unit; and
a controller configured to receive the output pulses from the master and follower pulse generating devices, process the master and follower output pulses to produce control commands based on said output pulses, and transmit the control commands to the follower AC driving device for adjusting the speed of the follower AC motor relative to the master AC motor as required to maintain synchronized operation between the master and follower AC motors so that precise registration of the multi-unit printing press is maintained over the entire range of speeds of the multi-unit printing press and when the multi-unit printing press is temporarily in a non-running state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method for controlling the registration of a multi-unit printing press for corrugated board materials permits the use of AC motors for driving the printing press. A master AC motor drives a master printing unit, and a master AC driving device is electrically coupled to the master AC motor for controlling the speed of the master AC motor. A master pulse generating device produces output pulses relating to the rotary motion of the master printing unit. A follower AC motor drives a follower printing unit, and a follower AC driving device electrically coupled to the follower AC motor controls the speed of the follower AC motor relative to the master AC motor. A follower pulse generating device produces output pulses relating to the rotary motion of the follower printing unit. A controller is configured to receive the output pulses from the master and follower pulse generating devices, process the master and follower output pulses to produce control commands based on said output pulses, and transmit the control commands to the follower AC driving device so that the speed of the follower AC motor is adjusted relative to the master AC motor as required to maintain synchronized operation between the master and follower AC motors. This configuration maintains precise registration of the multi-unit printing press over the entire range of speeds of the multi-unit printing press and when the multi-unit printing press is temporarily in a non-running state.
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Citations
12 Claims
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1. A system for controlling the registration of a multi-unit printing press for corrugated board material that permits the use of AC motors for driving the printing press, the multi-unit printing press having a master printing unit and at least one follower printing unit, the printing units each having a plurality of rotary members operably configured for conducting the printing operation, the system comprising:
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a master AC motor for driving the master printing unit; a master AC driving device electrically coupled to the master AC motor for controlling the speed of the master AC motor and permitting the master AC motor to be operated at any selected speed within a range of speeds; a master pulse generating device for producing output pulses relating to the rotary motion of the master printing unit; a follower AC motor for driving the follower printing unit; a follower AC driving device electrically coupled to the follower AC motor for controlling the speed of the follower AC motor relative to the master AC motor and permitting the follower AC motor to be operated at any selected speed within a range of speeds; a follower pulse generating device for producing output pulses relating to the rotary motion of the follower printing unit; and a controller configured to receive the output pulses from the master and follower pulse generating devices, process the master and follower output pulses to produce control commands based on said output pulses, and transmit the control commands to the follower AC driving device for adjusting the speed of the follower AC motor relative to the master AC motor as required to maintain synchronized operation between the master and follower AC motors so that precise registration of the multi-unit printing press is maintained over the entire range of speeds of the multi-unit printing press and when the multi-unit printing press is temporarily in a non-running state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling the registration of a multi-unit printing press for corrugated board material that allows the use of AC motors for driving the printing press, the multi-unit printing press having a master printing unit and at least one follower printing unit, the printing units each having a plurality of rotary members operably configured for conducting the printing operation, the method comprising:
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driving the respective master and follower printing units with separate AC motors; controlling the speed of each of the AC motors with separate AC driving devices to permit the AC motors to be operated at any selected speed within a range of speeds; monitoring the rotation of the master and follower printing units and producing master and follower output signals relating to the rotary motion of each of the respective printing units; processing the master and follower output signals and producing control signals based on said processing; communicating the control signals to the follower AC driving device; and automatically adjusting the speed of the follower AC motor relative to the master AC motor based on the control signals as required to maintain synchronized operation between the master AC motor and the follower AC motor so that precise registration of the multi-unit printing press is maintained over the entire range of speeds of the multi-unit printing press and when the multi-unit printing press is temporarily in a non-running state. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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Specification