EP2106351B1 - Method and apparatus for printing a pamphlet-like object in a printing station - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for imprinting a booklet-like object in a printing station. In order to develop a method and apparatus of the above type while reducing method steps and simplifying a structure of a corresponding apparatus, it is proposed that a booklet-like object (2) is inserted in an opened state into a drawer (3) and fed to a printing mechanism of a standard printer and is covered with a printing mask (6) and pressed into a new defined printing plane, wherein the new printing plane is created using a spacer element (5).

Description

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for labeling a tack-like article in a marking station.

Without restricting a field of application, only the treatment of a booklet-type object in the form of a security document and in particular in the form of a passport document will be discussed below for the purpose of illustrating the invention. For mounting at least one of a plurality of different information and / or security features on, on and / or in a security document, at least one device for printing, embossing, punching, lasering or for implementing one or more similar methods is provided in the prior art , Furthermore, without limitation of the invention, these devices are summarized below under the term "labeling station". For the construction of security documents are modular composite and self-contained devices from a variety of publications known, such as DE 199 56 712 C2 , Herein at least one labeling station is used together with positioning as well as transport and storage devices. Such systems print and process security documents usually under supervision by a computer unit as a control unit.

Common to all known systems is that a completely finished and also personalized security document is output at the endpoint, which is provided with data and information about a specific person in a given scope and secured against counterfeiting and / or adulteration.

Et al Due to a frequently encountered spatially cramped environment, there is an increased demand for labeling stations in the form of smaller, compact systems. As an example of this, reference should be made to the conditions for issuing ID and travel documents in embassies or general agencies. Corresponding violent security documents are known to be constructed in such a way that only one double page is to be printed at least partially, in particular by inserting a picture and other personal data of the later owner of the most varied form in human and / or machine readable form individualizing buchartig bound and prefabricated item is therefore supplied regularly in the open position of a labeling station. Such a labeling station therefore includes i.a. all the necessary positioning and transporting devices in a largely closed housing, e.g. a leafer in the labeling station can be omitted regularly.

Such a labeling station for a buchartig bound object is, inter alia, from EP 1 520 715 A1 known. In order to ensure an exact positioning of the opened in a plane book in a simple manner, regardless of which side of the book to print here are provided separately driven clamping means, the Contact edge areas of the open-topped document sheets lying essentially in one plane.

It is an object of the present invention to develop a method and a device of the aforementioned type while saving process steps and substantially simplifying a construction of a corresponding device.

This object is solved by the features of the independent claims. A method according to the invention is defined in claim 1.

In the context of the present invention, the term "standard printer" is understood to mean an already completely finished purchase device or its individual parts as distinct from its own custom-made product. Independently of this, however, the term can also be understood to mean a company-internal standardized printer, ie also an in-house development. For this purpose, an embodiment of the invention will be described below with reference to the drawing, which is based on a developed for the consumer or semi-professional user area and produced in large quantities and available on the market inkjet printer. This approach can save significant development costs compared to an otherwise mandatory intrinsic development. Furthermore, an inventive approach allows a significant reduction of development effort in porting a method of the invention from a standard printer of one to a device of another manufacturer or another printer model.

Advantageous developments of the invention are the subject of the respective subclaims. In one embodiment of the invention, two spacer elements are provided, which are designed in the form of stamped and bent parts made of sheet metal.

Particularly advantageously, the spacer carries a printer bridge relative to at least two hold-down roller axes, which are arranged in particular in front of and behind the printer bridge, and preferably also a rail of the drawer.

Preferably, a defined printing plane upon insertion of a staple-like article is progressively produced by spreading the arched sheets from a region of a folded seam to the outer regions of the sheets, the new printing plane in the region of the sheet tops.

A device according to the invention is defined in claim 9. The device comprises a movable drawer which may be partially covered in a first end position by a body, which is designed so that it upon insertion of a tack-like object with this on a substantially U- or V-shaped underside tapering in the insertion direction contact stands.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the tack-like object is positioned by being aligned in a drawer by guiding the longer edges of a double page opened for printing. Preferably, a shorter edge within the labeling station is detected via a print start sensor. As a result, a particularly fast alignment and positioning is effected, wherein the book edges are used as reference marks in a simple manner. Particularly advantageous are one to about four independently operating camera systems provided with pattern recognition logic, which cause a fine adjustment of a subsequent printing process. In this way, it is possible to detect specific areas to be subsequently printed and, in particular, to find reference points for the most exact fitting of impressions into predefined areas of a page layout.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the body with its substantially U- or V-shaped underside serves to lift off a pressure mask and thus to open the drawer for free insertion of the tack-like object. The print mask is used for additional surface smoothing while releasing predetermined pressure ranges, whereby other areas are protected against undesired color contact and / or damage by pressure or transport rollers.

The wedge-shaped body has a nose in the region of its central axis, which produces an initial contact between a free end edge of the pressure mask and the wedge-shaped body for lifting the pressure mask when reopening the drawer.

In one embodiment of the invention, a scanner is arranged in the region of the wedge-shaped body which sweeps over the tack-like object during insertion into the drawer, in particular a line scanner bar. Thus, even when inserting or retracting a booklet-like object, a first check for a correct orientation, a prescribed type of booklet-like article etc. based on image and pattern recognition can be carried out. In this case, advantageously no additional drives are required.

The print mask is formed in one embodiment as a leaf spring. Preferably, the printing mask is fixed to a mask holder via a film hinge or other fixed joint, wherein the mask holder is in turn mounted longitudinally displaceable on the drawer. As a result, the travel of the print mask is limited so that the drawer has an open area for the booklet-like object. In a closed state, in one embodiment of the invention, up to four pinch rollers or hold-down roller axes position the printmask over the tack-like article and thus define a very flat pressure surface with tight tolerances that also enable high-quality, high-resolution printing. In addition, the print mask is provided in a preferred embodiment with a resilient bias, so that the print mask always lowers without influence of hold-down rollers reliably in the region of the new printing plane.

For correct orientation of a tack-like object in a drawer, the wedge-shaped body is asymmetrically shaped in a further embodiment in that the body is tuned to the passage of a comparatively thicker half and a comparatively thinner half. If a violent object is inserted upside down by 180 °, then friction between the tack-like object and the wedge-shaped body is markedly increased, which in one embodiment of the invention is used to stop and / or eject it with a corresponding error message.

At the bottom of the drawer, at least one elastic element for leveling the differently high halves of an open double side of the tack-like object is advantageously provided. Preferably, two elastic Elements of different thickness and / or spring stiffness used. The elastic elements are formed in one embodiment of the invention as rubber mats and / or resilient foam elements. A recess for a folding or hinge area is provided in a development between the level-adjusting elastic elements. Advantageously, an embedding of an RFID read / write unit is provided in at least one of the elastic elements.

Furthermore, in one embodiment of the invention, the elastic elements per document half are prepared as operator assistance by correspondingly printed markings and / or markings in such a way that a correct positioning of a tack-like object can be unambiguously recognized by at least one human.

In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, the bottom of the drawer is alternatively or in addition to a spring elasticity in the vertical direction or normal to the new printing plane designed to be displaceable so that the bottom lowered for even easier insertion and in the course of retraction of the drawer in the printer is raised. For this purpose, slotted guides and / or levers may be provided on the side facing away from the violent article of the bottom.

The carriage or the drawer can be coupled to an actual main drive of a printer. The main drive of standard printers is regularly designed as a friction drive. Preferably, the drawer for controllably coupling the drawer to the main drive on a bottom on a friction rod which is coupled via a leaf spring to the drawer. This friction rod can be raised using a clutch that far with the friction drive is no longer in contact. In order to be able to effect a displacement of the drawer, the clutch has rollers which are in contact with the friction rod. The coupling is formed in a preferred embodiment of the invention as an electro-magnetic coupling or solenoid. Alternatively, a purely electrical coupling can be used in the form of a piezo actuator, possibly with a lever ratio for precise adjustment of a stroke at reduced switching times.

In order to be able to move the drawer in a defined manner when the main drive is disconnected, a switchable separate secondary drive is provided. In one embodiment of the invention, this secondary drive is designed as a belt drive, in particular using a toothed belt.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention, the friction drive or drive is replaced by a metal band through an endless traction mechanism. A required highly accurate positioning is realized in particular via a toothed belt drive, as will be described below with reference to illustrations of the drawings to exemplary embodiments.

For the construction of a labeling station according to the invention, almost every standard printer can be adapted by arranging its printing bridge height-adjusted via spacer elements in coordination with the drawer mechanism. The spacer elements reconcile the printing plane defined within the drawer below the print mask with the spacing requirements of the standard print head. In this case, full use can be made of the standard printer control for the new printing tasks.

A separate control is advantageously required in a device according to the invention only for the separate secondary drive of the drawer and the processing of any camera signals and / or edge sensor signals. This separate control is also a preferred interface for other operational extensions of a labeling station according to the invention, in particular a control of an RFID read / write unit. About the pattern recognition, however, a correct orientation of a booklet-like object in the drawer by the camera systems to determine so that even before an actual print start even in this position an emergency stop and / or ejection can be activated with error message in one embodiment of the invention.

Figur 1:

eine perspektivische Darstellung einer Beschriftungs- station bei fortgeschnittener Seiten- und Rückwand;

Figur 2:

eine Draufsicht auf die Ausführungsform von Fig. 1 mit geöffneter Oberabdeckung;

Figur 3:

eine Frontansicht der Vorrichtung von Fig. 1 ohne Ge- häuse;

Figur 4:

eine perspektivische Darstellung eines Basisgestells mit separatem Antriebsmotor für einen Zahnriementrieb und einer Version angeschraubter Distanzelemente in Form massiver Metallteile mit Aufnahmen für die Dru- ckerbrücke ;

Figur 4a:

eine Einzelheit von Figur 4, in der nur die Schublade auf der Schienenführung mit unter drei Niederhalte- rollen fixierter Maske dargestellt ist;

Figur 5:

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung der Vorrichtung ge- mäß Fig. 3 unter Ausblendung einer Druckkopf- /Patronen-Aufnahmeeinrichtung und nachgeordnetem Mo- tor einer Hauptantriebswelle;

Figur 6:

eine dreidimensionale Ansicht eines Ausschnittes der Vorrichtung gemäß Fig. 5 in einer Vorderansicht;

Figur 7:

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung eines Schnitts in einer Ebene A-A der Anordnung gemäß Fig. 4;

Figur 8:

eine weitere dreidimensionale Darstellung der Anord- nung gemäß Fig. 5 und

Figur 9:

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung eines Schnitts durch Figur 5 zur Darstellung des Antriebs analog der Darstellung von Figur 7;

Figur 10:

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung des Keilelementes der Figuren 2, 5 und 6;

Figur 11:

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung einer weiteren Aus- führungsform eines Keilelementes;

Figuren

12a und 12b: zwei dreidimensionale Darstellungen einer weiteren Ausführungsform eines Keilelementes, wie sie in der Abbildung von Figur 4 enthalten ist

Figur 13:

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung eines Basisgestells mit einer weiteren Ausführungsform von Distanzelemen- ten; .

Figur 14:

eine Vorderansicht einer teilweise geschnitten Be- schriftungsstation unter Verwendung des Basisgestells von Figur 4;

Figur 15:

eine Schnittdarstellung in der Ebene A-A von Figur 14;

Figur 16:

eine Einzelheit C von Figur 15;

Figur 17:

eine Einzelheit D von Figur 14;

Figur 18:

eine dreidimensionale Darstellung einer Ausführungs- form einer Schublade mit zwei angelenkten Platten;

Figur 19:

eine Einzelheit A von Figur 18;

Figur 20:

eine weitere dreidimensionale Darstellung der Schub- lade gemäß Figur 18;

Figur 21:

eine Einzelheit B von Figur 20 und

Figur 22:

einen Schnitt durch eine weitere Ausführungsform ei- ner Schublade mit federnd gelagerten Platten.

The present invention will be explained in more detail below to illustrate further advantages and features with reference to an embodiment with reference to the drawings. In the drawing show:

FIG. 1:

a perspective view of a labeling station with cut side and rear wall;

FIG. 2:

a plan view of the embodiment of Fig. 1 with open top cover;

FIG. 3:

a front view of the device of Fig. 1 without housing;

FIG. 4:

a perspective view of a base frame with a separate drive motor for a toothed belt drive and a version screwed spacers in the form of solid metal parts with recordings for the printer bridge;

FIG. 4a

a detail of FIG. 4 in which only the drawer on the rail guide is shown with a mask fixed under three hold-down rollers;

FIG. 5:

a three-dimensional representation of the device according to Fig. 3 by omitting a printhead / cartridge receptacle and downstream motor of a main drive shaft;

FIG. 6:

a three-dimensional view of a section of the device according to Fig. 5 in a front view;

FIG. 7:

a three-dimensional representation of a section in a plane AA of the arrangement according to Fig. 4 ;

FIG. 8:

a further three-dimensional representation of the arrangement according to Fig. 5 and

FIG. 9:

a three-dimensional representation of a section through FIG. 5 for the representation of the drive analogous to the representation of FIG. 7 ;

FIG. 10:

a three-dimensional representation of the wedge element of Figures 2 . 5 and 6 ;

FIG. 11:

a three-dimensional view of another embodiment of a wedge element;

characters

FIGS. 12a and 12b show two three-dimensional representations of a further embodiment of a wedge element, as shown in the illustration of FIG FIG. 4 is included

FIG. 13:

a three-dimensional representation of a base frame with a further embodiment of Distanzelemen- th; ,

FIG. 14:

a front view of a partially cut lettering station using the base frame of FIG. 4 ;

FIG. 15:

a sectional view in the plane AA of FIG. 14 ;

FIG. 16:

a detail C of FIG. 15 ;

FIG. 17:

a detail D of FIG. 14 ;

FIG. 18:

a three-dimensional representation of an embodiment of a drawer with two hinged plates;

FIG. 19:

a detail A of FIG. 18 ;

FIG. 20:

a further three-dimensional representation of the drawer according to FIG. 18 ;

FIG. 21:

a detail B of FIG. 20 and

FIG. 22:

a section through a further embodiment of a drawer with spring-mounted plates.

Throughout the various figures, the same reference numerals are always used for the same elements and functional units. Without restricting the invention to this field of use, emphasis will now be placed on the production of security documents in the form of passports and identity documents in the form of bound small booklets or books, for the purpose of labeling a booklet-like article.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a labeling station 1 with cut side and rear wall. In the present case, the labeling station 1 comprises a standard inkjet printer A and an extension part B with a base frame G. The actual printer A has a rail-guided drawer 3 for inserting an open booklet-like article 2 in an insertion region E whose movement is at least input a tack-like object 2 via a control and display panel C is controlled and controlled. In the picture of FIG. 1 the drawer 3 is extended to be able to introduce a not-fake article 2, not shown.

Particularly advantageously, for the construction of such a labeling station 1 almost every modern standard printer adaptable by a printer bridge 4 is arranged offset in height via spacers 5 in coordination with the drawer mechanism described below. By means of the spacer elements 5, the printing plane defined within the drawer 3 under a printing mask 6 is reconciled with the spacing requirements of a standard printing head. In this case, the existing standard printer control can advantageously be used in full for the new printing tasks.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 with open top cover. Herein a print edge sensor 7 can be seen, as well as a unit K of four camera systems and a separate drive M2 for the drawer 3 in the area B.

FIG. 3 shows a front view of the device of FIG. 1 without a housing with a clutch K2, the drive of the drawer 3 in the area A controllably on and off from a main drive M1 of the standard printer. The main drive M1 is rigidly coupled to a main drive shaft, on the friction wheel of which designed as a friction drive R drive the drawer 3 is switched on and off.

FIG. 4 shows an alternative construction of a frame G, in which instead of a Reibradantriebs a toothed belt drive Z is provided for moving the drawer 3. In a modification to the embodiment of the Figures 1 - 3 Here are all electric motors M1, M2 together with associated couplings K1, K2 arranged at an insertion region E opposite end of the frame G.

Common to both embodiments is the manner of fixing a tack-like article 2 in the drawer 3. This is based on the figure of FIG. 4a The drawer is guided on rails 9 guided by the pressure mask 6 made of spring steel and would hold the tack-like object 2 with flat top surfaces in the area of the printing bridge 4, so that a desired printing result could be produced. However, to set up a new printing level with certainty, the print mask 6 is held exactly in position by hold-down rollers 10, especially in the area of the printing bridge shown here. The hold-down rollers 10 have contact only with the pressure mask 6, but not with the underlying tack-like object 2. Soiling or smearing is excluded.

FIG. 5 is a three-dimensional view of the device according to FIG. 3 , So the labeling station 1 without any outer housing. The opened drawer 3 is now clearly recognizable with an internal structure: A wedge-shaped element 8 opens the drawer 3 by holding the pressure mask 6 up. Thus, an open-type article 2 can be easily inserted by hand into the drawer 3.

FIG. 6 shows to illustrate the activation and deactivation of the actual main drive of a standard printer of known type a three-dimensional view of a section of the device according to FIG. 4 ,

FIG. 7 is a three-dimensional representation of a section in a plane AA of the arrangement according to Fig. 4 , In this open position, it becomes clear how much space is available under the pressure mask 6 above a Passandruckplatte 11 resiliently mounted in the drawer 3. In an embodiment of the invention which is not shown in any more detail here, the passport pressure plates 11 are in the position shown for inserting a booklet-like article 2 slidably formed by a reduction in the vertical direction or normal to the new printing plane. Thus, the bottom of the drawer is lowered in the form of the two Passandruckplatten 11 for even easier insertion and raised in the course of retraction of the drawer in the printer. For this purpose, depending on the embodiment slotted guides and / or levers are provided on the side facing away from the violent article of the bottom.

FIG. 8 represents a further three-dimensional representation of the arrangement according to FIG. 5 Here, the main focus is now on a representation of the connection and disconnection of the actual main drive of the standard printer in conjunction with the method of the drawer 3 via its own drive, which is designed here as a friction drive R, the motor M2 with clutch K2 according to Figure of FIG. 2 is arranged in a rear region of the frame G of the extension part B in order to provide maximum movability of the drawer 3. Accordingly, the drawer 3 is brought via the control panel C by a separate controller and the own drive of the extension part B in a loading position for receiving an object 2.

FIG. 9 shows a three-dimensional representation of a cut through FIG. 5 for the representation of the drive analogous to the representation of FIG. 7 again to illustrate the other type of coupling of the friction drive R relative to the belt drive Z.

The drawer 3 has in this embodiment, in its lower part as Passandruckplatten 11 two rubber-elastic supports. Also in this form, the Passandruckplatten 11 are used to compensate for a difference in thickness between a left and a right half of a tack-like object 2. It is centrally a recess for a spine or a Faltgelenk provided, as well as the Passandruckplatten 11 of the embodiment of FIG. 7 here has a recess.

After activation of an insert sensor or by manual activation in the area of the control panel C, a movement of the drawer 3 into a rear end position takes place, in which surveying is effected by four camera systems here. Then the drawer is moved until reaching a edge sensor, which activates the start of the actual printing process. It thus takes place again switching to the self-propulsion of the printer via a friction wheel until the end of the printing process, wherein the pressure controller takes over the print data until the end of printing synchronously with the drive control of the drawer 3. Finally, the self-propulsion of the printer is then deactivated again via the clutch and coupled the drive of the extension part B for the transport of the drawer 3 in the basic position for input / output.

During these traversing paths described above, in the case of an e-passport, an RFID read / write unit in the region of at least one of the pass printing plates 11 and not further illustrated here is activated in order to encode an RFID chip in the object 2.

FIG. 10 is a three-dimensional representation of a wedge-shaped element 8 or wedge element with U-shaped widening increase on a bottom. In this way, a defined pressure level is generated progressively by inserting the object 2 over the area bordered by a dashed line by wiping out the arched sheets from a region of a folded seam or a joint to the outer regions of the sheets. The nose mentioned above for lifting the print mask 6 to complete the process is not shown here. FIG. 11 shows a three-dimensional representation of another embodiment of a wedge element 8. This wedge element 8 is shorter than the embodiment of FIG. 10 ,

Two three-dimensional representations of another embodiment of a wedge element 8 represent the illustrations of Figures 12a and 12b This wedge element 8 is in the figure of FIG. 4 contain and has a clearly visible nose 12 for lifting the print mask 6. In addition, needle rollers are integrated in the area surrounded by dashed lines in order to reduce a resistance when inserting a tack-like object 2.

FIG. 13 is a three-dimensional representation of a base frame G with a further embodiment of spacer elements 5, which are now made in the form of bent punched and bent parts made of sheet metal. Particularly at this spacer element 5 is that it carries a printer bridge relative to two hold-down roller axles 10, wherein the hold-down roller axles 10 are arranged in front of and behind the printer bridge 4. From this arrangement results in the production of an improved arrangement accuracy.

FIG. 14 shows a front view of a partially cut labeling station 1 using the base frame G of FIG. 4 with the spacer element 5 of FIG. 13 and serves the orientation for subsequent illustrations with sections and detail views. This is how it works FIG. 15 a sectional view in the plane AA of FIG. 14 Here is the above-described construction of the spacer element 5 is particularly clear. Based on this FIG. 16 a detail C of FIG. 15 , which shows how a cranked upper end of the spacer element 5 engages in the printing bridge 4 and also stores a running rail of a print head separately.

FIG. 17 represents a detail D of FIG. 14 Here is a possibility shown how the rail 9 is reliably positioned by the spacer element 5 in position relative to the hold-down rollers 10 and the printer bridge 4 by screw.

FIG. 18 shows a three-dimensional view of an embodiment of a drawer 3 with two on each one bracket 13 hinged Passandruckplatten 11 viewed from above, so from a deposit surface of a tack-like object 2 ago. Due to the inertia of the Passandruckplatten 11 and acting on the drawer overall, relatively high acceleration of this bracket 13 prevents swinging or even dancing the associated Passandruckplatte 11, which is to avoid clamping in the supporting recess of the drawer 3 largely without further guidance and in this embodiment is mounted only on four spring elements. FIG. 19 As a detail A represents FIG. 18 an articulation of the bracket 13 to the drawer 3. Here, the bracket 13 extends partially under screwed prismatic blocks 14th

FIG. 20 is another three-dimensional representation of the drawer according to FIG. 18 , now viewed from below. In this case, due to the recesses provided for the use of RFID transmitting and receiving units of the substantially U-shaped bracket 13 is particularly easy to see. FIG. 21 shows as a detail B of FIG. 20 an articulation of the Passandruckplatte 11 to the bracket 13. Here, the bracket ends by cranked end portions engage in recesses on the Passandruckplatte 11 articulated.

FIG. 22 shows a section through a further embodiment of a drawer 3 with spring-mounted Passandruckplatten 11 in an open end position at the insertion area E. Here is the print mask 6 by the wedge-shaped element 8 of FIGS. 12a, 12b have been lifted from the passport printing plates 11 so far that a violent object 2 can be easily inserted between the wedge-shaped element 8 and the Passandruckplatten 11 in the drawer despite the significant elastic bias of the print mask 6. The wedge-shaped element 8 forms a stop for the printing mask 6, by means of which the printing mask 6 is pushed away from the drawer 3 against a resilient restoring force along its own guide.

Using as few own components as possible, a compactly constructed device has thus been described above which essentially builds on the skilful use of existing printer structures of high-quality and sophisticated standard devices. Since little metal is used, an RFID writing and / or reading unit in the region of the drawer 3 and in particular in the Passandruckplatten 11 as an option can be easily integrated.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

marking station

2

fierce object

3

drawer

4

printer bridge

5

spacer

6

print mask

7

Pressure edge sensor

8th

wedge-shaped element

9

rail

10

Down roller

11

Passandruckplatte

12

Nose at 8

13

hanger

14

prismatic log

A

Standard inkjet printer

B

extension part

C

Operating and control display field

e

insertion

G

frame

K1

Coupling printer drive

K2

Clutch drawer drive

M1

Motor printer drive

M2

Motor drawer drive

K

Unity of camera systems

R

friction drive

Z

toothed belt drive

Claims (16)

1. Method for imprinting a booklet-like object (2) in a printing station (1), wherein the booklet-like object (2) is inserted in an opened state into a drawer (3),
   characterised in that
   the booklet-like object (2) is fed to a printing mechanism of a standard printer and is covered with a printing mask (6) and pressed into a new defined printing plane therewith, wherein the new printing plane is created using a spacer element (5).
2. Method according to claim 1,
   characterised in that a defined printing plane is generated progressively during the insertion by smoothing the curved pages from an area of a folded seam towards the outer areas of the pages by means of a body (8).
3. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that the the booklet-like object (2) is positioned by being aligned in a drawer (3) by a guide of the longer edges of a double page opened to be imprinted.
4. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that a shorter edge of the booklet-like object (2) is detected within the printing station by means of a printing edge sensor (7).
5. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that up to four camera systems (K) with pattern recognition logic working independently from one another are used which effect a fine adjustment of a subsequent printing process.
6. Method according to claim 2,
   characterised in that the body (8) with its substantially U- or V-shaped underside is used for lifting a printing mask (6) and thus, for opening the drawer (3) for free insertion of the booklet-like object (2).
7. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that the drawer (3) is driven by a belt drive, a friction drive, a metal belt or a continuous traction drive and is positioned with high precision, in particular by a toothed belt drive (Z).
8. Method according to one of the preceding claims,
   characterised in that the booklet-like object (2) in the drawer (3), covered under a printing mask (6), is pressed against passport pressure plates (11) by holding-down rollers (10), at least in the area of a printing bridge (4).
9. Apparatus (1) for imprinting a booklet-like object (2) in a printer with a printing bridge (4), with the booklet-like object (2), opened on a page to be imprinted, being arranged in a transport system, and the apparatus (1) having as a transport system a moveable drawer (3) in which the booklet-like object (2) is disposed in an opened state,
   characterised in that
   it is specially configured for implementing a method according to the invention according to one of the preceding claims by the drawer (3) with its drive and control mechanism constituting an expansion of a standard printer, wherein at least one spacer element (5) is provided for creating a new defined printing plane, which is defined by a printing mask (6) pressed onto the booklet-like object (2).
10. Apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim,
    characterised in that the drawer (3) comprises the printing mask (6) and that the printing mask (6) can be pressed onto the booklet-like object (2) by holding-down rollers (10) for creating a defined smooth printing plane.
11. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims 9 and 10, characterised in that two spacer elements (5) are provided which are implemented in the form of punched bent parts of sheet metal.
12. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 11, characterised in that a spacer element (5) supports the printing bridge (4) relative to at least two holding-down roller axes, with the holding-down roller axes being disposed, in particular, forward of and behind the printing bridge (4).
13. Apparatus (1) according to one of the two preceding claims, characterised in that a rail (9) for the drawer (3) is disposed on the or one of the spacer element(s) (5).
14. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 13, characterised in that the drawer (3), in a first final position, is partially covered by a body (8) which is configured such that, during insertion of a booklet-like object (2), it is in contact therewith over a substantially U- or V-shaped underside, the contact tapering in the insertion direction.
15. Apparatus (1) according to the preceding claim, characterised in that the body (8) comprises a nib (12) formed to be suitable for lifting the printing mask (6)
16. Apparatus (1) according to one of the preceding claims 9 to 15, characterised in that the drawer (3) has two passport pressure plates (11) each hinged via one clip (13), respectively, on the drawer (3).

Images