Service system and service method

• US 9,536,211 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2011
• Issued: 01/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag
• Original Assignee: Heidelberger Druckmaschinen Ag
• Inventors: Lutz, Werner, Ratz, Georg, Stark, Wolfgang
• Primary Examiner(s): Obaid, Fateh M
• Application Number:
  US13/029,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20110202148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,147 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

A service system includes at least one administration computer having a display device and a user interface for administering machines having components. A respective configuration of components of delivered machines is stored in the administration computer. When a component in one of the machines in the administration computer is exchanged, a spare part that has been installed is stored in the administration computer instead of an original component. A current configuration of the components can be displayed on the display device by operating the user interface, for each of the machines stored in the administration computer. A servicing method is also provided.

Claims

1. A service system, comprising:

at least one administration computer having a display and a user interface for administering printing presses having components;

said at least one administration computer storing a respective configuration of the components of delivered printing presses having control units automatically producing a malfunction report;

said at least one administration computer being located at a site of a manufacturer of the delivered printing presses or of a service contractor;

said at least one administration computer being connected through Internet connections to the control unit of a delivered printing press;

said at least one administration computer automatically identifying malfunctioning parts sent in the malfunction reports from the control unit of the printing press;

said at least one administration computer storing an identification number of a spare part installed in a respective printing press instead of an identification number of an original component upon exchanging a component in one of the printing presses and upon receiving confirmation of the spare part installation over an Internet connection; and

said user interface being operable to display a current configuration of the components on said display device for every printing press stored in said at least one administration computer.

2. The service system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer includes a module for receiving malfunction reports of the printing presses.

3. The service system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer includes a module for checking an availability of spare parts of a printing press having sent a malfunction report to said at least one administration computer.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer includes a module checking a presence of the printing press in said at least one administration computer.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer includes a module selecting a suitable spare part from a list of spare parts specific to a particular printing press based on a reported malfunction and creating a corresponding order to deliver and/or install the spare part in the particular printing press.

6. The service system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer includes a printing press-specific spare parts list and a module using an internet connection to receive a confirmation of an installation of required spare parts including information on a spare part having actually been installed and to transfer the information to said printing press-specific spare parts list in said at least one administration computer.

7. The service system according to claim 6, wherein the part originally installed in the printing press is replaced by the spare part in said printing press-specific parts list for the respective printing press, after a confirmation of the installed spare part.

8. The service system according to claim 1, which further comprises a quality control module.

9. The service system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one administration computer displays a screen menu on said display device permitting a selection of one of the printing presses stored in said at least one administration computer.

10. The service system according to claim 9, wherein said at least one administration computer has a printing press-specific spare parts list and a computer mouse, and a current configuration based on said printing press-specific spare parts list of the selected printing press is displayed upon pushing a button in said screen menu, once a selection has been made with a keyboard or said computer mouse.