Paper-Handling Installation and Method of Automatically Controlling the Processing Speed Thereof

Abstract

A paper-handling installation is initially set for executing a job to process a predetermined number of articles during a predetermined time period. During the processing, the number of articles detected which are processed during the predetermined time period is detected. If the detected number of articles is larger than or equal to the predetermined number, the speed at which articles are processed in a section of the paper-handling installation will be increased. If the detected number of articles is smaller than the predetermined number, it will be detected which of the sections of the installation caused a reduction of the throughput, and which installation parameters and/or article parameters existed at that point in time. On the basis of the parameters detected, an installation parameter of the section is then set, and/or the speed is reduced in at least that section. This procedure is repeated until the job has been executed.

1 . A method of processing articles in a paper-handling installation, the paper-handling installation being set, on the basis of a job description, to process a predetermined number of articles during a predetermined time period, the method comprising the following being performed by the paper-handling installation:
 (d) detecting the number of articles being processed by the paper-handling installation during the predetermined time period;   (e) if the detected number of articles is larger than or equal to the predetermined number of articles:
 (b.1) increasing the speed at which the articles are processed in at least one section of the paper-handling installation by a predetermined amount of increase, and 
 (b.2) setting the predetermined number of articles equal to the detected number of articles; 
   (f) if the detected number of articles is smaller than the predetermined number of articles:
 (c.1) detecting which of the sections of the paper-handling installation has caused a reduction in throughput during the predetermined time period, 
 (c.2) determining at least one installation parameter present here and/or at least one article parameter, and 
 (c.3) on the basis of the parameters determined in (c.2), setting at least one section of the paper-handling installation and/or reducing the speed at which the articles are processed in a section of the paper-handling installation, by a predetermined amount of reduction; and 
   e) repeating (a) to (c) while the job is being processed.   
     
     
         2 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein (c.3) comprises:
 determining a deviation of the parameters detected in (c.2) as compared to parameters detected during a preceding time period;   comparing the deviation to a first predetermined threshold;   if the deviation is smaller than the first predetermined threshold, maintaining the setting of the paper-handling installation; and   if the deviation is larger than the first predetermined threshold, setting the at least one installation parameter and/or reducing the speed on the basis of the parameters determined in (c.2).   
     
     
         3 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein (c.1) comprises determining the number of events occurring during the time period which caused a reduction of the throughput, (c.3) comprising:
 determining a deviation of the number of events detected in (c.1) as compared to the number of events detected in a preceding time period;   comparing the deviation to a second predetermined threshold;   if the deviation is smaller than the second predetermined threshold, maintaining the setting of the paper-handling installation; and   if the deviation is larger than the second predetermined threshold, setting the at least one installation parameter and/or reducing the speed on the basis of the parameters determined in (c.2).   
     
     
         4 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein (b.1) and (c.3) comprise setting the speed such that the speed does not exceed or fall below a predetermined maximum speed and a predetermined minimum speed, respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein (c.3) further comprises taking into account at least one environmental parameter, the at least one environmental parameter being detected during the time period contemplated, or being detected once during a plurality of time periods, and taking into account the at least one environmental parameter in (c.3) comprising reading out optimum installation parameters for the detected environmental parameter from a look-up table. 
     
     
         6 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein (c.3) further comprises taking into account any wear and tear in the paper-handling installation, the wear and tear being detected during the time period contemplated, or being detected once during a plurality of time periods, and taking into account the wear and tear in (c.3) comprising reading out optimum installation parameters for the detected wear and tear from a look-up table. 
     
     
         7 . The method as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein a determination is made, depending on the detected wear and tear of an element, whether replacement of the element concerned or reduction of the speed of the paper-handling installation will provide increased throughput of same for the job, wherein (c.3) comprises reducing the speed if this leads to a higher throughput, and wherein the paper-handling installation is stopped and the operator is signaled that the element is to be replaced if this leads to a higher throughput. 
     
     
         8 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein (c.2) further comprises detecting the number of operators of the paper-handling installation and their positions, the capacity utilization of the paper-handling installation being set depending on the number of operators. 
     
     
         9 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein (b.1) and (c.3) comprise storing the set speed and the set installation parameters. 
     
     
         10 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the paper-handling installation processes the articles in groups, the article parameters further comprising the total number of articles within a group. 
     
     
         11 . The method as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein each of the groups comprises a predetermined number of articles, wherein the predetermined number of articles to be processed during the predetermined time period is determined in dependence on the sizes of the groups in the job, a value existing for each group which indicates the average duration of generating a group within the installation, and the predetermined number being dependent on the values. 
     
     
         12 . The method as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the paper-handling installation comprises at least two modules, wherein (b.1) comprises increasing the speed in at least one of the modules, and wherein (c.3) comprises setting the installation parameters and/or the speed in at least one of the modules. 
     
     
         13 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein (a) to (c) are performed in a decentralized manner in each of the modules, a central controller monitoring the interface between the modules. 
     
     
         14 . The method as claimed in  claim 12 , wherein (c.1) comprises determining whether following an increase in the speed, one or more events, which caused a reduction of the throughput, occurred (i) in several modules in the paper-handling installation, or (ii) only in one module of the paper-handling installation,
 wherein in case (i), (c.3) comprises reducing the speed in some of the modules or in all of the modules of the paper-handling installation, and   wherein in case (ii), (c.3) comprises reducing the speed only in the module concerned.   
     
     
         15 . A paper-handling installation for processing articles which is set on the basis of a job description so as to process a predetermined number of articles during a predetermined time period, comprising:
 a first sensor for detecting the number of articles which are processed by the paper-handling installation during the predetermined time period;   a second sensor for determining at least one installation parameter and/or at least one article parameter; and   a control unit effectively connected to the sensors and configured to, while processing the job,
 increase the speed at which the articles are processed in at least one section of the paper-handling installation, by a predetermined amount of increase, and to set the predetermined number of articles equal to the detected number of articles if the detected number of articles is larger than or equal to the predetermined number of articles; and 
 detect which of the sections of the paper-handling installation caused, during the predetermined time period, a reduction of the throughput, and, on the basis of the parameters present here, to set at least one installation parameter of at least one section of the paper-handling installation and/or to reduce the speed at which the articles are processed in one section of the paper-handling installation by a predetermined amount of reduction if the detected number of articles is smaller than the predetermined number of articles.