With over 70 years of history, Müller Martini is one of the most established manufacturers of post-press machinery. The brand stands for quality and durability. Supplemented by modern technology such as our camera systems for quality control, even older models like the Presto E90 saddle stitcher pictured here, manufactured in 2011, still meet all the requirements of a modern, high-performance machine. A prime example of this is our camera retrofit for Nunnenmann GmbH in Herxheim near Landau (Palatinate). The printing company uses the barcode function of the control system to ensure maximum accuracy regarding the correct sheet sequence. This minimizes the error rate and increases machine utilization. Furthermore, the installation of our camera system makes a significant contribution to the more sustainable use of paper and other resources.
Barcode function guarantees correct order during assembly
Our customer’s Presto E90 saddle stitcher has four double feeders and a cover feeder. We equipped all the sheet feeders with a camera. Only the cover feeder was deliberately left unmounted by Nunnemann GmbH, even though it would have been technically possible. Such a camera can be retrofitted as an option in a future project.
This is how our camera system works on the Müller Martini Presto E90
In the first step, Code 128 barcodes are printed onto the folded sheets. The sheet control system also handles other barcode types. The operator then sets up the machine according to the order and feeds the barcodes to the feeders in the correct sequence. At the start of production, the operator presses the “Learn Cameras” button on the touchscreen of the camera system. Once production begins and the first products are collated, the system learns the barcodes and verifies the correct sequence for the remainder of the production run.
The camera positions in the feeders of the Müller-Martini collating machine were defined in collaboration with the customer to ensure that each camera covers every format. This eliminates the need for subsequent camera repositioning. Operators define a fixed barcode position on the sheets during the prepress stage.
Müller Martini Presto E90 + PPL camera system = valuable new features
Connecting the machine to our camera system has expanded the functionality of the Müller-Martini collating and stitching machine. At Nunnemann GmbH, defective products are now rejected after the stitching machine. To avoid costly downtime, the machine does not stop after one or two consecutive errors. Instead, the unstitched sheets are rejected. The machine only stops after three consecutive errors.
The control system reads the barcode, decodes it, and displays it as plain text on the monitor screen in the respective camera’s image. Technically, it is possible to embed additional information in the barcode – for example, supplementary information about the language version or the sheet sequence.