Control program with interchangeable parameters

Abstract

Method for updating a control program in a computer (2) of a printing press (1) with printing units which have a washing device, wherein the computer (2) has a data interface (12, 4) and wherein parameters of the control program can be exchanged or changed via the data interface (12, 4), wherein the data set is transmitted to the computer (2) via a public communications data network (6), characterized by that the control program is a washing program of the washing machine and the parameters are read into the washing program.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a method for controlling a machine and a machine in the graphic arts industry, comprising a computer for storing programs for controlling the machine. The control of production machines is typically achieved through appropriately programmed control electronics. In this process, a control program runs as software on the electronic hardware, implementing the corresponding functions of the production machine. This principle is also applied to machines in the graphic arts industry, for example, in the control of printing presses. Since the development of these machines is constantly progressing, and modifications and updates are often required even for machines that have already been delivered, the control programs of the machines can be replaced or adapted by the manufacturer's service department as needed.This control software update requires replacing the entire control program, which must also be tested for compatibility and operational reliability before recommissioning. Specifically, the machine must be taken out of service to install the updated program, and a restart of the machine control system is required before recommissioning.

[0002] A similar method is used in automobiles, which increasingly feature sophisticated control electronics. A method is known from DE 102 57 030 A1 in which the vehicle electronics offer the option of downloading software via the internet, for example, to equip the control units in a motor vehicle with new functionalities or to increase their performance. In this case, software is transferred to the control unit, with the old software first being deleted by remote flashing. This procedure also requires restarting the control unit after remote flashing and the software download to activate the newly installed software.Furthermore, this procedure can be carried out relatively easily with control units in motor vehicles, as these control units are standardized and the vehicle manufacturer may only use a small number of control units, allowing them to install standardized, updated software on all of their vehicles. However, significant problems arise when updating control programs in customizable machines such as printing presses, which are delivered in a wide variety of configurations. This would necessitate countless software variants for the respective machine types. Therefore, replacing control software, especially in printing presses, is very complex, requires on-site service personnel, and is thus avoided in practice whenever possible.

[0003] Utility model DE 297 17 921 U1 discloses a computer for a printing press, which is operatively connected to a non-volatile, rewritable storage medium, in particular in the form of a hard drive, and has at least one interface for connecting data input and output devices. The computer has a logging device that allows data representing the state of at least one interface to be stored on the non-volatile, rewritable storage medium.

[0004] European patent application EP 0 755 786 A1 discloses a device for controlling a printing press, which comprises several computers with non-volatile, rewritable memory. The individual computers are interconnected via a bus system configured as a network. The bus system has an interface through which program segments or parameters can be addressed to at least one of the computers and written to the corresponding non-volatile, rewritable memory. Furthermore, the interface of the bus system allows the computers connected to the bus to be switched from a state of normal machine operation to a second state, in which the computers are addressed and programs or parameter data are subsequently sent.

[0005] German patent application DE 196 26 821 A1 discloses a rotary screen printing machine with a modular design of individual printing units and fully integrated control modules within a digital network of the printing machine. The consistently modular design of the individual printing units allows for the installation, replacement, and reprogramming of individual printing units on a predefined printing machine base with an endless conveyor belt stretched between two main rollers and driven by a main drive motor. This results in significant technical and economic advantages both when installing a new printing system and when retrofitting existing systems.

[0006] Patent application US 2002 / 0114021 A1 discloses a document scanner configured such that scan parameters selected by the operator can be sent to the scanner from any location within a computer network. The scanner incorporates a time-lock mechanism that blocks the execution of subsequently sent scan parameters until the processing of previously sent scan parameters is complete. Furthermore, the patent provides that a scan job is held back until the operator sends a confirmation signal.

[0007] German patent application DE 10 2004 062 112 A1 discloses a method for reducing registration deviations caused by rotational vibrations in a rotary printing press with printing units or coating units, a drive gear train, and a main drive motor acting on the drive gear train. The method involves a one-time measurement of rotational vibrations in the drive gear train and associated registration deviations at the printing units or coating units in resonance speed ranges while traversing a printing speed range under printing conditions. Furthermore, discrete harmonic components of the measured rotational vibrations are determined for the resonance speed ranges in which registration deviations occur outside a permissible tolerance range. Additionally, parameters for opposing harmonic compensation moments are determined from the harmonic components of the measured rotational vibrations.The parameters of the compensation torques and their assignment to the resonance speed ranges are stored in a memory. During printing, the drive torque of the main drive motor is superimposed with the stored compensation torques in the resonance speed ranges, depending on the speed.

[0008] Patent application WO 00 / 27638 discloses a system and method for recognizing register marks in web printing presses. This system uses a computer with software for recognizing and processing register marks. This computer also runs software for image inspection. To update the software, the register mark software and the image inspection software can be updated remotely via the internet. This update replaces the entire software.

[0009] The German patent application EP 0 663 623 A2 discloses a system for the remote maintenance of a plate setter whose firmware can be downloaded from the internet. Furthermore, so-called service packages containing machine parameters can be downloaded from the internet and are then converted into operating parameters within the plate setter. In this way, the plate setter can be operated with the new parameters from the service package after a restart.

[0010] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a method which allows for a fast and safe update of control software in machines in the graphic arts industry.

[0011] According to the invention, the problem is solved by claim 1; advantageous embodiments of the invention can be found in the dependent claims and the drawing. A machine according to the invention for the graphic arts industry has at least one computer that controls the machine's functions. This computer can, for example, be integrated into a printing press and simultaneously serve as the machine's control computer, or it can be a second computer connected to the machine's computer via a communication link. In any case, the computer has a memory area in which programs for controlling the machine's operating sequences can be stored. These programs depend on the machine type and the customer's chosen modifications. The configuration of a printing press depends, for example, on the number of printing units, the washing unit used, etc.If the manufacturer develops a more efficient washing program for the washing unit, conventional machines require the installation of new control software on the computer, containing the modified program. However, this modified control program must precisely match the configuration of the delivered printing press, otherwise critical operating conditions may occur. This means that the modified washing program must be tested for compatibility with the existing machine at the manufacturer's facility. A further problem arises because, especially with customized machines, the manufacturer's service technicians often program changes to the machine's control system on-site, changes which the manufacturer is unaware of when reprogramming a washing program.These on-site modifications then necessitate that the new control software, along with the new washing program, also be adapted on-site to the specific characteristics of the machine. However, this is unnecessary with the present invention, as the control program remains in the printing press's computer and does not need to be replaced. Instead, only the parameters of the control program that are affected by the change in the washing program are exchanged. These could be specific spin speeds during the wash cycle or time intervals. The control program is parameterized, meaning that the parameters of parts or the entire control program can be exchanged independently of the software.The control program can be structured so that the operating parameters are not directly hard-coded into the printing press program, but rather stored in a separate memory area. When the control program is called, they are read from there and incorporated into the program. This means that every time the control program, or parts of it, are called, the updated parameters are read from and processed in the separate memory area. This offers the significant advantage that updating the machine's control program requires only replacing the parameters, not the entire program. This avoids the usual difficulties associated with installing new software, such as restarting the entire computer and performing software tests.

[0012] To exchange control parameters, the computer has a data reading device for reading parameters as data sets. This can be a standard computer drive such as a DVD or CD drive, or a memory card reader. A particularly advantageous embodiment is one in which the computer can be connected to a public communications network. In this case, the data sets containing the parameters to be exchanged can be transmitted directly from the machine manufacturer to the machine's computer via a public communications network such as the internet, eliminating the need for on-site service personnel to input the parameters.

[0013] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the parameter data set is made available to the computer depending on the machine's configuration. If the computer is connected to a public communications network such as the internet, the updated parameters can be downloaded directly from the machine manufacturer's computer. Before this download of the updated parameters takes place, a registration procedure is performed in which the manufacturer's administrative computer first verifies the identity of the machine's computer. This ensures that only computers authorized by the manufacturer have access to updated data sets. Authorization can, for example, be made contingent upon the conclusion of a corresponding maintenance and service contract with the manufacturer.Simultaneously, during identification, the machine type and any special configurations of the identified machine are transmitted to the manufacturer's control computer. This ensures that the control computer is aware of the machine's current and actual state, which may differ from its delivery state. Based on this determined machine configuration, the parameters of the control programs used on the machine, precisely matching this configuration, can then be selected and sent to the machine's computer via the internet. This ensures that no parameters are transmitted to the machine's computer that could conflict with any modifications or configurations and thus jeopardize the machine's operation.

[0014] The manufacturer's administrative computer can also be programmed to use a standard data set of parameters as a template, making corresponding modifications to the standard parameters depending on the transmitted machine configuration, and then transferring these modified parameters to the machine's computer.

[0015] This also allows for the adaptation of standard parameters to the specific machine configuration at the customer's site. In this case, the parameters actually used are calculated and generated only after the machine registers with the management computer.

[0016] A further advantageous embodiment of the invention offers the possibility that the machine's computer first registers with the manufacturer's internet portal and, after successful identification and authorization, makes current data sets for the customer's machine available in a special area. In this case, the machine operator can select from a large number of updated data sets and download the selected data sets to the machine's computer. Instead of automatic machine identification, manual identification can, of course, also be provided, whereby the machine operator enters the machine's data when logging into the manufacturer's customer portal, thus allowing the manufacturer's control computer to determine the machine's configuration.The parameter data set can be transmitted over the internet as a text file or in a proprietary file format, either unencrypted or encrypted. If the machine operator has an in-house network, the data set can also be temporarily stored on a network server, from which the parameters are then transferred to the machine connected to the in-house network. This allows multiple machines to access updated parameters via the network.

[0017] Advantageously, after registering on the manufacturer's internet portal, it is also possible to order specific data sets according to the machine operator's requirements. In this case, the machine operator enters their requirements on the internet portal, whereupon a data set matching the customer's wishes is generated manually or automatically and then transferred from the administration computer to the customer's machine computer via the internet.

[0018] In addition to avoiding costly software modifications and the associated procedures when commissioning a new software version, the present invention also eliminates the need for on-site service personnel at the machine operator's location. The exchange of parameters in the control program can be conveniently handled remotely via the internet. This saves costs for both the manufacturer and the machine operator.

[0019] An embodiment of the present invention is described and explained in more detail below with reference to a figure. It shows: Figure the structure of a system for exchanging parameters of machine control software via the Internet.

[0020] The machine according to the invention shown in the figure is a printing press 1, which has a computer 2 that is connected to the machine control of the printing press 1 via a communication link 3. The computer 2 can be a standard PC connected to a network in a printing plant 4. All operating processes on the printing press 1 can be controlled via the computer 2. The computer 2 also includes the capability to exchange parameters in the control program of the printing press 1. For this purpose, the control programs of the printing press 1 are stored on the computer 2 in parameterized form; that is, the parameters of the control programs are stored independently of the actual control software and can thus be easily exchanged for updated parameters.The updated parameters of the control programs on computer 2 can be read into computer 2 either via a memory card or DVD drive 12, or downloaded via the internet 6. For this purpose, the network in the printing plant 4 is connected to the internet 6 via a firewall 5. The manufacturer of printing press 1 has an administration computer 10, which is connected to the manufacturer's network 8. The manufacturer's network 8 is also connected to the internet 6 via a firewall 7. Thus, data exchange between computer 2 at machine 1 and the administration computer 10 at the manufacturer is possible via the internet 6 and firewalls 7 and 5, as well as networks 4 and 8. Updated parameters can be made available as text files on the manufacturer's administration computer 10, which computer 2 can access after logging in to the administration computer 10.These text files can be transmitted encrypted or unencrypted via the internet to computer 2 of printing press 1 and stored there. The parameters contained in the text file are then saved in place of the previous parameters, so that the updated parameters are automatically used when the control program on computer 2 is executed. This has the significant advantage that the control software itself does not need to be replaced on computer 2, and that a software restart is also unnecessary, since the parameters can be read even while the program is running.

[0021] The internet portal on manufacturer 11's control computer 10 can be configured so that when computer 2 of printing press 1 logs in, the configuration of printing press 1 is first queried. This can be done either by sending specific queries to the operator of printing plant 9, requesting the machine type and specific configurations, or by storing the configuration on computer 2 itself. In this case, when the control computer 10 logs in via the internet portal, the stored configuration is automatically checked and queried from manufacturer 11, and the corresponding parameter set is then offered. Furthermore, the operator of printing plant 9 can use the internet portal on control computer 10 to submit specific requests for certain parameters or even order the generation of parameters tailored specifically to their needs.The data sets, tailored specifically to the operator of printing plant 9, are then also transmitted via the internet 6 to computer 2 of printing press 1. This allows, at the customer's request, the administration computer 10 to generate a customized data set for updating the control program on computer 2 and send it to computer 2 via the internet 6. Furthermore, update software can be installed on computer 2, which queries the administration computer 10 for current parameter data sets at specific intervals. As soon as current data sets are available, these are transmitted from the administration computer 10 to computer 2 via the internet 6 and imported into the control software there.Naturally, this process can also be initiated in reverse by the control computer 10, which transmits updated parameter data sets to computer 2 in the printing plant 9 at regular intervals. The operator of printing plant 9 is then given the option to accept or reject the data set update via a corresponding prompt on the screen of computer 2. In this way, for example, the manufacturer can specifically adjust data sets in the control programs of printing press 1 if the manufacturer is aware of certain problems that have occurred in a similar form on numerous printing presses 1 and which can thus be easily resolved by uploading an updated parameter data set without requiring on-site service.This allows the manufacturer 11 of the printing press 1 to continuously keep an already installed printing press 1 up to date with improved parameters without the need for on-site service personnel and without requiring a costly software exchange on site. Reference symbol list 1 printing press 2 computers 3 Communication link 4 Network in printing company 5. Printing Company Firewall 6 Internet 7 Manufacturer Firewalls 8 Network at the manufacturer 9 Printing Room 10 administrative computers 11 manufacturers 12 DVD drive

Claims

[1] Method for updating a control program in a computer (2) of a printing press (1) with printing units which have a washing device, wherein the computer (2) has a data interface (12, 4) and wherein parameters of the control program can be exchanged or changed via the data interface (12, 4), wherein the data set is transmitted to the computer (2) via a public communications data network (6), characterized by , that the control program is a washing program of the washing machine and the parameters are read into the washing program. [2] Method according to claim 1, characterized by , that the data set is read by data reading device (12). [3] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by , that the data set of parameters is made available to the computer (2) depending on the configuration of the machine (1). [4] Method according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by , that before reading or transferring the data set to the computer (2) of the machine (1) the identity of the computer (2) is checked. [5] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the data set is generated on a second computer (10) located remotely from the computer (2) of the machine (1). [6] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the execution of the program on the computer (2) of the machine (1) takes place after the data set has been read into the program without restarting the machine (1). [7] Method according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that from the computer (2) of the machine (1) a request is sent to a second geographically distant computer (10) to order certain data records. [8] Method according to claim 7, characterized by, that the second computer (10) generates the desired data records upon request from the first computer (2) and sends them to the first computer (2) via the public communication data network (6).

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