Production Code Reconstruction via Cycle Timing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for controlling and regulating production processes in printed product manufacturing are limited by the small amount of information and control commands that can be stored in print marks, leading to errors and waste when codes become illegible, especially in variable production processes.

Innovation Solution

The method involves printing codes, such as data matrix or QR codes, on printing material to store and record production information, with the use of clock and cycle information to reconstruct and verify data when codes are illegible, ensuring stable production with reduced errors and waste.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If codes are printed on substrate to store production information, then the amount of information that can be stored and retrieved is increased, but the system becomes vulnerable to errors when codes become illegible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction informationVSAvoidcode readability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary action by pre-defining the temporal structure and cycle information of the production process before actual production occurs. The control system is pre-programmed with expected cycle times, sequence patterns, and process parameters. This allows the system to predict what data should be present in codes at any given moment, enabling reliable reconstruction even when individual codes become illegible during production.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If redundant data storage is implemented in codes, then error resistance is improved, but the complexity of code structure and analysis increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror resistanceVSAvoidcode structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies segmentation by dividing production information into multiple temporal segments distributed across different codes printed on successive substrates. Instead of storing all information in a single complex code, the system splits data across multiple simpler codes that can be individually read and reconstructed. Each code contains a portion of the production information tied to specific temporal cycle data, reducing the complexity burden on any single code while maintaining overall system reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Stability of the object's composition

If clock and cycle information are used to reconstruct codes, then production stability is improved, but the requirement for precise timing and synchronization increases system complexity

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveproduction process stabilityVSAvoidtiming synchronization
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies feedback by continuously monitoring actual production timing and cycle completion, then using this real-time feedback to verify and adjust code reconstruction. The control system compares expected cycle times against actual measured times, and uses this feedback loop to maintain synchronization between the physical production process and the digital code representation. This feedback mechanism ensures stable reconstruction without requiring overly complex predetermined timing arrangements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP3168046B1Method for controlling a production process in the manufacture of printed products
Publication Date: 2019.01.02 MANROLAND GOSS WEB SYST GMBH
  • EP3168046B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3168046B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

A method for controlling or regulating, respectively, a production process in the production of printed products of a web-shaped printing material (1) in a printing system, wherein the method has the following steps: printing a code (4a, 4b), in particular a matrix code, with the production information included therein for the control or regulation, respectively, and/or monitoring or control, respectively, of the production process onto the printing material (1); detecting the code (4a, 4b) by means of a detection device (6); evaluating the production information included in the code (4a, 4b) by means of an evaluation unit; carrying out the control or regulating actions, respectively, and/or monitoring or control functions, respectively, on the basis of the determined production information by means of the printing system; wherein production information obtained from the evaluation of the codes (4a, 4b) is completed and/or verified in the evaluation unit, based on cycle information relating to the cycle of the production process. Fig. 1