Area protection of a role supply

Abstract

Area protection for a roll supply area (1) of a roll printing press, wherein the roll supply area (1) comprises at least one waiting position (9) for an object (3), at least one feeding station (10) and at least one transport means (2), wherein the transport means (2) is movable along at least one defined path (4) with or without an object (3) to be transported, wherein the at least one defined path (4) is located in a plane of movement (6), characterized in that the area protection comprises at least two laser scanners (7), wherein each of the at least two laser scanners (7) can define a monitoring area (8) on the plane of movement (6) and / or parallel to the plane of movement (6).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to an area protection for a roll supply area of ​​a web-fed printing press, wherein the roll supply area comprises at least one waiting position for an object, at least one feed station and at least one transport means, wherein the transport means is movable along at least one defined path with or without an object to be transported, wherein the at least one defined path is located in a movement plane.

[0002] In web-fed printing presses, the web-like substrate to be printed is unwound from a roll of substrate rolls in a roll changer and then fed to the printing units. However, since the substrate supply on such a roll is limited, roll changes are performed automatically on modern web-fed printing presses, which, however, requires special preparation of the substrate rolls. To avoid press downtime, modern web-fed printing presses are equipped with a roll supply area upstream of the roll changer, where a number of adhesive-prepared substrate rolls are usually stored.

[0003] To avoid machine downtime, the substrate rolls prepared for roll changing are stored in a so-called roll supply area, either with the same substrate width and / or substrate type for a high-volume print job or in different substrate widths and / or substrate types for different print jobs. This typically comprises at least one transport means, e.g., a rail-guided transport carriage, a feed station, and typically several waiting positions for items to be stored. These items can be either new rolls prepared for gluing, remnant rolls, core containers, or remnant roll adapters. An example of a roll supply area is disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2009 054 522 A1.

[0004] Such roll supply areas have their own control unit or one integrated into the roll changer, which initiates automatic movements of the transport devices via control commands specifically tailored to the roll changer. For example, in preparation for the roll change, a new roll or remaining roll is first transferred to the transfer table of the roll changer. After a new roll or remaining roll has been provided, a core container is then provided to receive the substrate roll cores. Furthermore, new substrate rolls prepared for gluing can be automatically transferred to a defined waiting position using the transport devices.

[0005] Due to the automated controlled and executed movements of transport vehicles, both unloaded and loaded with substrate rolls or core containers, there is a risk that people in the roll supply area could be struck or crushed between two objects, especially since the substrate rolls can weigh several tons. For reasons of personal safety, such automated roll supply areas must therefore be appropriately secured against unauthorized entry, or it must be ensured that if a person enters the roll supply area, all automated movements are immediately stopped or prevented until authorized.

[0006] It is known from the prior art that such areas are secured against unauthorized entry either by means of mechanical protective devices such as railings, protective grilles, or fences, or by using optical monitoring devices such as light grids and corresponding detectors. The light grid or the optical barrier created by the system is vertically aligned so that a person passing through can be detected. Combinations of mechanical protective devices and vertically arranged optical barriers are also known from the prior art for securing a roll supply area.

[0007] However, these state-of-the-art area protection systems for roll supply areas have the disadvantage that, even when the system is shut down, access to the roll supply area is severely restricted, even when using state-of-the-art optical barriers, due to the use of a large number of mechanical elements to accommodate the large number of light sources and optical sensors. Furthermore, due to the large number of mechanical elements required to protect the roll supply area, this area can either only be secured as a whole or not at all. This consequently impairs the availability of the entire system, for example, in the event of repair or maintenance work on individual components of the roll supply.

[0008] The invention is therefore based on the object of creating a solution which enables better accessibility to the roll supply area and partial operation of the roll supply.

[0009] The object is achieved according to the invention in that the area protection comprises at least two laser scanners, wherein each of the at least two laser scanners can span a defined monitoring area on the movement plane and / or parallel to the movement plane.

[0010] Such a device offers the advantage that two laser scanners may be sufficient to secure a roll supply area, although this depends on the configuration and dimensions of the roll supply area, so that otherwise no mechanical components such as protective devices or columns for the light sources and the sensors for the light grids or other optical barriers are required, so that, on the one hand, when the automated roll supply is deactivated, access to the roll supply area is freely accessible.

[0011] In addition, due to the lack of permanently installed mechanical components, the secured area can be adjusted according to the active waiting positions and the active paths for the transport vehicles. This means that if, for example, various waiting positions are not required for a limited period of time, the area protection can be adjusted to the correspondingly reduced area of ​​the roll supply.

[0012] However, this requires that it is ensured that in the areas in which automated movement of unloaded and / or loaded means of transport is possible, there is also protection against unauthorized access by means of area security.

[0013] However, such an adaptation of the secured area to the automated area has the advantage that work can be carried out by operating or maintenance personnel in the deactivated area, such as waiting positions decoupled from the automated loading or unloading, such as maintenance work, cleaning work or the manual loading of remaining rolls.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least two monitoring areas overlap or border on one another.

[0015] Such a design has the advantage that it eliminates gaps between security areas, thus preventing unauthorized entry through unsecured zones.

[0016] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the entire roll supply area is enclosed by monitoring areas generated by laser scanners.

[0017] Such a design has the advantage that no additional mechanical and / or mechanical-optical elements such as barriers, secured gates or components for securing areas by means of light grids are required, so that access to the roller supply is possible without restriction, since the laser scanners required for the protection according to the invention can be integrated into the building structure or only very small supports with very little spatial extent are required.

[0018] According to a further embodiment of the invention, depending on a control signal of a control unit for controlling the transport means, only at least one defined partial area of ​​the roll supply area is monitored by at least one monitoring area.

[0019] This design has the advantage that, due to the automatic adaptation of the area protection to the activated areas of the roll supply, no additional operator intervention is required and thus operating errors are avoided, so that it is ensured at all times that the area protection is activated for all activated areas of the roll supply and that, at the same time, the area protection is also deactivated for all deactivated areas of the roll supply, so that the deactivated areas are freely accessible without danger.

[0020] According to a further embodiment of the invention, at least one transport means can be moved along at least one defined path within the activated sub-area, with and / or without an object to be transported. This embodiment ensures that, within the sub-area with the activated area protection, all processes for supplying and disposing of the roll changer can be carried out fully automatically, thus ensuring high technical availability with no operator intervention required.

[0021] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the defined subarea is completely enclosed by surveillance zones generated by laser scanners. Such an embodiment has the advantage that no additional mechanical and / or mechanical-optical elements such as barriers, secured gates, or components for securing areas using light grids are required, allowing unrestricted access to the roller supply system, since the laser scanners required for the inventive security can be integrated into the building structure or only very small supports with a very small spatial footprint are required.

[0022] According to one embodiment of the invention, the at least one monitoring area is made visible by means of optical means.

[0023] Such a design has the advantage that it is clear to the operating personnel from which location the entry into the monitoring areas leads to a shutdown of the automated movement of the loaded and / or unloaded means of transport, in particular if certain areas of the roller supply area are deactivated and automated movement of the means of transport is only possible or permitted in a partial area.

[0024] According to a further embodiment of the invention, the waiting positions and / or paths located inside and / or outside the sub-area are marked in an optically perceptible manner.

[0025] Such a design has the advantage that the active waiting positions and paths and, conversely, also the inactive waiting positions and paths are visually perceptible to the operating personnel in order to ensure safe work exclusively on deactivated components for the purpose of personal safety and high machine availability by avoiding unnecessary shutdowns.

[0026] Preferred developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description. Various embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail, without being limited thereto, with reference to the drawings. Herein: Fig. 1 An exemplary roll supply as known from the state of the art Fig. 2 An exemplary roll supply with an area protection of two monitoring areas Fig. 3 An exemplary role supply with an area protection with complete protection through monitoring areas Fig. 4 An example role supply with deactivated areas Fig. 5 An example role supply with deactivated areas Fig. 6 An example role supply with deactivated areas

[0027] Fig. Figure 1 shows an exemplary design of a roll supply area 1, as is known from the prior art. For the sake of completeness, the usual, albeit non-binding, process is explained using the objects 3 to be handled.

[0028] A transport means 2 used in a roll supply area 1 is typically, although not necessarily, a transport carriage, which has only a low height and which is typically, although not mandatory, moved in defined paths 4 designed as rails 5, for example by means of conveyor chains that are subdivided into individual sections, so that by appropriately controlling the chain drives, the transport means 2 can be moved along a defined path 4 within the installed rails 5. Although other technical possibilities for such transport means 2 are known and possible, this example will be chosen for the further description below.

[0029] Such transport means 2 serve to transport defined objects 3 from a first position to a second position and, in the case of an unloaded state, to be transported back to a defined position for loading. The objects 3 to be transported in a roll supply for a printing press are usually unprepared substrate rolls, substrate rolls prepared for gluing, residual rolls, residual roll adapters and, for example, core containers into which the expired cores of the substrate rolls are deposited by a roll changer. For the following description, in order to explain the functional principle, both the general term object 3 and the more specific terms roll 3, residual roll 3, substrate roll 3, residual roll adapter 3 or core container 3 are used for the objects 3 to be transported by means of the transport means 2, each with the reference symbol 3.

[0030] To load the roll supply area 1 with a substrate roll 3, the roll is brought to the feed station 10, which can also be configured as a so-called unpacking station. At the feed station 10, a roll 3 is usually unpacked and prepared for automatic roll changing. For this purpose, the roll 3 is lifted onto rotating rollers so that it is mounted for rotation. After the adhesive preparation process, the rotating rollers place it onto the transport device 2 provided in the feed station 10. Since operator intervention is also required at the feed station, the feed station is preferably located outside the area's security barriers.

[0031] The preferably adhesive-prepared roll 3 is transported by means of the transport means 2 along a defined path 4, which is formed by the rails 5 and the Fig. 1 not shown control system, brought to a free waiting position 9. Fig. 1 shows an exemplary configuration of a roll supply area 1 with a first waiting position 9-1, on which a sleeve container 3-1 is arranged as the first object 3-1, a second waiting position 9-2, on which a roll 3-2 mounted on a transport means 2 (not shown) is arranged as the second object 3-2, a third waiting position 9-3, on which a roll 3-3 mounted on a transport means 2 (not shown) is arranged as the third object 3-3, a fourth waiting position 9-4, on which an unloaded transport means 2 is arranged and a fifth waiting position 9-5, on which a roll 3-4 mounted on a transport means 2 (not shown) is arranged as the fourth object 3-4.

[0032] Typically, the roll supply area 1 also includes the transfer table 11 of the roll changer (not shown in the drawing), with which the loading and unloading of the roll changer is carried out, but it is also possible for this area to be secured separately via the roll changer.

[0033] A newly unpacked roll 3 could be Fig. 1 shown example to the still empty fourth waiting position 9-4 automatically by means of a transport means 2. In preparation for an automatic roll change, the second roll 3-2 is moved from a defined waiting position 9, for example from the second waiting position 9-2, with a transport means 2 automatically and controlled by a Fig. 1 not shown control unit to the transfer table 11 and from the Fig. 1 roll changer (not shown). After the roll change has been completed, the core container 3-1 is automatically transported from the first waiting position 9-1 to the transfer table 11 by means of a transport device 2 to collect the core of the expired roll. After the core has been collected, the core container 3-1 is returned to the first waiting position 9-1 by means of a transport device 2.

[0034] Due to the high masses to be transported, in particular the substrate rolls 3, the movement of the transport means 2 takes place in a movement plane 6, which is preferably a horizontal plane and usually corresponds to the floor of the printing room.

[0035] Due to the automated movements in the roll supply area 1, there is a corresponding risk for the operating personnel, which is why the roll supply area 1 must be protected from unauthorized access. Both mechanical and optical safeguards are known from the state of the art. Fig. In the example shown in Figure 1, the roll supply area 1 is surrounded by mechanical protective devices 12; the protection during the feeding of new rolls 3 is provided by a light grid 13 between the feeding station 10 and the waiting positions 9.

[0036] As from Fig. 1, the roller supply area 1 is thus appropriately secured in terms of safety technology, but by using mechanical protective devices 12, access to the roller supply area 1 is very strictly restricted even in the case of a deactivated roller supply.

[0037] Fig. 2 shows the basically same exemplary configuration of a roll supply area as Fig. 1, although with a different area coverage.

[0038] Fig. 2 shows an example in which the roll supply area 1 is only at its position to the Fig. 2 not shown reel changer, nor has a mechanical protective device 12.

[0039] Fig. 2 shows an example in which the area protection comprises two laser scanners 7, namely a first laser scanner 7-1 and a second laser scanner 7-2. Although area protection according to the present invention would theoretically function with only one laser scanner 7, reliable area protection with only one laser scanner 7 is not necessarily guaranteed in all operating states due to the dimensions of such a roll supply area 1, the typically larger number of substrate rolls 3 to be stored, and the resulting shadows, particularly when a large number of substrate rolls 3 are stored.

[0040] The first laser scanner 7-1 and the second laser scanner 7-2 can, in principle, also be arranged at the level of the movement plane 6. However, the two laser scanners 7 are preferably arranged above the movement plane 6 in order to secure the largest possible area and to avoid the adverse effects of shadows. Thus, the two laser scanners 7 can also be integrated into the building structure by attaching them to walls or supporting columns.

[0041] The first laser scanner 7-1 generates a first defined monitoring area 8-1, which can be spanned on the movement plane 6 and / or parallel to the movement plane 6.

[0042] The second laser scanner 7-2 creates a second defined monitoring area 8-2, which can be spanned on the movement plane 6 and / or parallel to the movement plane 6.

[0043] Thus, a monitoring area 8 is either a defined area which is spanned on or just above the movement plane 6, or a defined area which, depending on the applicable safety regulations, is spanned at a defined distance above the movement plane 6, or a plurality of defined areas which are spanned on and above the movement plane 6, so that in the third case, a spatial area can actually be used as a monitoring area 8.

[0044] If any object 3 or a person enters such a monitoring area 8, this is detected by the corresponding laser scanner 7 and either an alarm is triggered and / or, as in the case of the present roll supply area 1, the automated movements of the loaded and / or unloaded transport means 2 are stopped and / or prevented until released by the operating personnel.

[0045] As in Fig. 2, the first monitoring area 8-1 and the second monitoring area 8-2 are adjacent to each other. Although not shown in Fig. 2, it is also possible for the first monitoring area 8-1 and the second monitoring area 8-2 to overlap. These two solutions ensure that access to the roller supply area 1 is monitored seamlessly and thus without interruption.

[0046] Fig. 3 shows the same exemplary configuration of a roll supply area 1 as in Fig. 2, however, shows Fig. 3 an embodiment in which the entire roll supply area 1 is enclosed by monitoring areas 8 generated by laser scanners 7, so that no additional mechanical protective devices 12 are required at all.

[0047] In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 3, a first laser scanner 7-1 is used for this purpose, which generates a first defined monitoring area 8-1, a second laser scanner 7-2 is used, which generates a second defined monitoring area 8-2, a third laser scanner 7-3 is used, which generates a third defined monitoring area 8-3 and a fourth laser scanner 7-4 is used, which generates a fourth defined monitoring area 8-4.

[0048] The number of required laser scanners 7 depends on various factors such as the dimensions of the roll supply area 1, the maximum monitoring range of the laser scanners 7 used, the arrangement of the laser scanners 7, and the possible shadows, particularly those caused by substrate rolls 3. For roll supply areas 1 with small geometric dimensions, completely enclosed area protection is also generally possible with one or two laser scanners 7.

[0049] Fig. 4 shows the same exemplary configuration of a roll supply area 1 as in Fig. 3, however, shows Fig. 4 a variant in which, for example, the third waiting position 9-3 and the fourth waiting position 9-4 are Fig. 4, the control signal emitted by the control unit (not shown) can no longer be activated, so that no unloaded or loaded transport means 2 is moved to the third waiting position 9-3 and / or the fourth waiting position 9-4 and that, if applicable, no unloaded or loaded transport means 2 located in the third waiting position 9-3 and / or the fourth waiting position 9-4 is automatically guided away from these two waiting positions 9.

[0050] This means that the Fig. 4, the control unit not shown only permits automated movements of unloaded and / or loaded means of transport 2 in the partial area 14 delimited by a dotted line, so that in the Fig. 4, the third waiting position 9-3 and the fourth waiting position 9-4 are deactivated and are located outside the sub-area 14. All waiting positions 9 located within the sub-area 14, namely the first waiting position 9-1, the second waiting position 9-2 and the fifth waiting position 9-5 as well as the path 4 in the direction of the feed station 10 can be approached and left by transport means 2, provided that the Fig. 4 control unit not shown generates corresponding control signals.

[0051] Since there is no longer any danger outside the partial area 14 from automatically moving loaded and / or unloaded means of transport 2, it is sufficient that only the partial area 14 is monitored by at least one laser scanner 7 or by a monitoring area 8 generated by at least one laser scanner 7. In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 4, the still relatively large sub-area 14 is completely enclosed by four laser scanners (7-1, 7-2, 7-3, 7-4) or by four monitoring areas (8-1, 8-2, 8-3, 8-4) and is thus monitored accordingly against unauthorized entry.

[0052] Although Fig. 4 shows a variant in which the entire sub-area 14 and optionally the entire roll supply area 1 is enclosed by monitoring areas 8, it is also possible when monitoring a sub-area 14 that a mechanical protective device 12 is present on at least one side.

[0053] However, when securing the partial area 14 by laser scanners 7 or by the monitoring areas 8 generated by the laser scanners 7, it is essential that the definition of the partial area 14 and consequently also the corresponding control of the laser scanners 7 and thus the definition of the monitoring areas 8 takes place as a function of the control signal of the control unit for controlling the means of transport 2, so that this control-technical link in the sense of a computer-implemented method ensures that the partial area 14, in which the at least one means of transport 2 is automatically controlled and moved, is also completely secured by at least one laser scanner 7 or by at least one monitoring area 8 and / or a protective device 12 that may be present.

[0054] Preferably, the partial area 14 is exclusively enclosed by the monitoring area 8 generated by at least one laser scanner 7, since the accessibility of the roll supply area 1 is thus not restricted by mechanical components.

[0055] Fig. 5 shows the same exemplary configuration of a roll supply area 1 as Fig. 4, however, shows Fig. 5 a variant in which, in addition to the third waiting position 9-3 and the fourth waiting position 9-4, the fifth waiting position 9-5 is also deactivated with regard to the control signals, so that the partial area 14, within which the unloaded and / or loaded transport means 2 can be moved automatically by means of control signals, only comprises the first waiting position 9-1 and the second waiting position 9-2 and the path 4 from the feed station 10 into the partial area 14. In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 5, only the first laser scanner 7-1, the second laser scanner 7-2 and the fourth laser scanner 7-4 are required to create the required monitoring areas 8-1, 8-2, 8-4, so that the third laser scanner 7-3 can be deactivated entirely.

[0056] Fig. 6 shows the same exemplary configuration of a roll supply area 1 as Fig. 5, however, shows Fig. 6 a variant in which, in addition to the third waiting position 9-3 and the fourth waiting position 9-4, the fifth waiting position 9-5 is also deactivated with regard to the control signals, and wherein the path 4 defined by the rail 5 from the feed station 10 into the sub-area 14 is also deactivated, so that the sub-area 14, within which the unloaded and / or loaded transport means 2 can be moved automatically by means of control signals, only comprises the first waiting position 9-1 and the second waiting position 9-2. Fig. In the example shown in Figure 6, only the first laser scanner 7-1, the second laser scanner 7-2 and the fourth laser scanner 7-4 are required to create the required monitoring areas 8-1, 8-2, 8-4, so that the third laser scanner 7-3 can be deactivated entirely.

[0057] Although not in the Fig. 2 to 6, it is advantageous if the at least one monitoring area 8 is not included in the Fig. 2 to 6, such as laser projectors. This prevents unintentional entry into a monitoring area 8 and the resulting shutdown of the automatic movements of the loaded and / or unloaded transport means 2, thereby increasing machine availability. This is particularly relevant when only a partial area 14 of the roll supply area 1 is controlled by the control unit, but the components outside the partial area can be accessed for maintenance, cleaning, or loading purposes.

[0058] Although not in the Fig.2 to 6, it is advantageous if the waiting positions 9 and / or paths 4 located inside and / or outside the sub-area 14 are visually marked, preferably in different colors. Thus, either the active components such as the waiting positions 9, which can be approached by loaded and / or unloaded transport means 2, or the active paths 4, can be illuminated with a red light or include red-illuminated elements such as LED lights or LED strips.

[0059] However, it is alternatively or additionally also possible for the inactive components such as the waiting positions 9, which cannot be approached by loaded and / or unloaded means of transport 2, or the inactivated paths 4, to be illuminated with a green light or to include green-illuminating elements such as LED lights or LED strips.

[0060] This optical marking is preferably carried out by the control device for controlling the means of transport 2. List of reference symbols 1 roll supply area 2 means of transport 3 Item, roll, remaining roll, core container 4 Way 5 rail 6 plane of movement 7 laser scanners 8 Surveillance area 9 Waiting position 10 feeding station 11 Transfer table reel changer 12 Protective device 13 light grids 14 sub-area QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] DE 10 2009 054 522 A1

[0003]

Claims

[1] Area protection for a roll supply area (1) of a web-fed printing press, wherein the roll supply area (1) comprises at least one waiting position (9) for an object (3), at least one feed station (10) and at least one transport means (2), wherein the transport means (2) is movable along at least one defined path (4) with or without an object (3) to be transported, wherein the at least one defined path (4) is located in a movement plane (6), characterized by that the area protection comprises at least two laser scanners (7), wherein each of the at least two laser scanners (7) can span a defined monitoring area (8) on the movement plane (6) and / or parallel to the movement plane (6). [2] Area protection according to claim 1, characterized by that the at least two monitoring areas (8) overlap or border on each other. [3] Area protection according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized by that the entire roll supply area (1) is enclosed by monitoring areas (8) generated by laser scanners (7). [4] Area protection according to one of claims 1 to 2, characterized by that, depending on a control signal from a control unit for controlling the transport means (2), only at least one defined partial area (14) of the roll supply area (1) can be monitored by at least one monitoring area (8). [5] Area protection according to claim 4, characterized by that only within the partial area (14) at least one transport means (2) is movable along at least one defined path (4) with and / or without an object (3) to be transported. [6] Area protection according to one of claims 4 or 5, characterized bythat the defined partial area (14) is completely enclosed by monitoring areas (8) generated by laser scanners (7).

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