EP1953685B1 - Device for counting printing products in a layer transport flow - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a measuring unit (M1) e.g. sensing wheel, detecting a printed product leading edge (3) transversely directed in a conveying direction of an imbricated stream (S), and an evaluating unit receives signals of the measuring unit for counting printed products (1) e.g. newspapers. Another measuring unit e.g. mechanical scanning wheel, determines a property of the stream that deviates from the printed product edges of the stream, where a counting result of the former measuring unit is correctable by using a measuring result of the latter measuring unit through an evaluating unit.

Description

The invention relates to a device for counting printed products of a scale flow, comprising a first measuring means for detecting a printed product edge directed transversely to the conveying direction of the scale flow and having an evaluation unit which receives signals of the first measuring means for counting the printed products.

A device of this kind is known in the art from US 4,384,195 known. With this device, for example, newspapers that are conveyed in the scale flow can be counted before shipping. For this purpose, a measuring means is provided which has a laser which directs light obliquely against the scale flow. The light beam is reflected at each leading edge against a receiver, which sends a corresponding signal to an evaluation unit. Between two adjacent edges, the light is reflected at the top of the corresponding printed product so that the light does not reach the said receiver. The measuring device counts thus in each case the leading edges of the respective printed products or newspapers.

In this device, there is now the difficulty that a minimum scale spacing must be present in order to achieve an accurate counting result. Two superimposed signatures and signatures with a very small scale spacing are counted by this device each as a single printed product. With this device, the counting result is thus erroneous with an irregular scale flow. Orders can therefore be monitored by the circulation only insufficient. An inaccurate counting result has the disadvantage that it can lead to over or underproduction and thus to additional costs.

By the EP 1 201 582 A2 a device for controlling sheets has become known. However, this device is not concerned with the counting of printed products, but with the detection of false bills. In order to determine such faulty sheets, a device with a capacitive sensor and at least one ultrasonic sensor is provided. By means of an output signal of an optical transmitter, it is decided whether the sheets are controlled by means of the optical or the capacitive transmitter. A control is possible with this device both thin sheets and thick sheets.

The EP 1 403 202 A1 discloses a method of operating a sensor for detecting sheets in a sheet processing machine. This procedure is about the most accurate and reliable distinction between single sheets and multiple sheets allow different stacking height in sheet-processing machines. For this purpose, two different sensors are provided. Both sensors detect the stacking height of the sheets. This method is also not intended for counting products.

In the document GB-A-2 068 612 a counting device is described, are counted in the promoted in a scale flow printed products. For this purpose, the thickness and the length of a single printed product are determined with first measuring means. With other measuring means, the conveying speed and the thickness of the scale flow are determined and generates a count result from the measurement results.

The invention has for its object to provide a device of the type mentioned, which allows a higher counting accuracy even with irregular scale flows.

The object is achieved in a generic device in that a second measuring means is provided which detects a deviating from the printed product edge property of the scale flow, and that a count of the first measuring means with a measurement result of the second measuring means by the evaluation unit can be corrected. The first measuring means determines, for example, the edges of the flat products and the second measuring means with a distance meter, the envelope curve of the scale flow. In order to avoid that a product is doubly detected by the edge detecting measuring means due to the typical in newspapers and magazines spine forms, no further signals are evaluated during a certain period of time, also called dead time. Thus, two subsequent products, in which the leading edges have a very small distance or are superimposed, counted by the first measuring means as a product. The second measuring device now recognizes these two products as two products due to their double thickness. By outputting an additional counting pulse by the second measuring means, the counting result of the first measuring means is corrected, so that the counting result is finally correct. The invention has the significant advantage that due to the higher counting accuracy underproduction and overproduction can be avoided. The products are preferably printed products, such as newspapers, magazines, tabloids but also single sheets. However, the invention is also suitable for other flat products that can be conveyed in a shingled stream.

With the device according to the invention, it is also possible reliably to count a scale flow having a speed of up to 1.5 meters / second and a minimum scale spacing of 30 mm on average. With such a scale flow, the cycle time is thus about 20 ms. The products of the scale flow can be, for example, single sheets or else folded sheets, multiply folded sheets or magazines, for example tabloids. The printed products may be the same or different, i. subsequent printed products may be different, for example printed differently.

According to a development of the invention, the first measuring means is designed such that it detects the leading edges of the scale flow or of the products. This means can be non-contact or else a touching system, for example a feeler wheel. As a non-contact measuring means, a light source is preferably provided, which is directed against the scale flow and which cooperates with two light receivers. One of these light receivers absorbs the light that is reflected at the edges of the printed products. As a non-contact first measuring means and other electro-optical devices are conceivable, for example, a digital video camera with image processing.

The second measuring means may also be contactless or be a mechanical contacting system. For example, the second measuring means may be a mechanical feeler wheel or a flow scale known per se. Capacitive sensors or, for example, ultrasonic sensors and laser distance sensors are conceivable as non-contact measuring means. The second measuring means then allows a particularly reliable correction of the counting result of the first measuring means, if this detects the envelope of the scale flow according to an embodiment of the invention. This envelope corresponds to the course of the thickness of the scale flow. Neighboring printed products with unusually small scale distance or which lie directly above one another, at the appropriate point produce a particularly high thickness of the scale flow and can thus be detected with the second measuring device.

The second measuring means is preferably adjusted to the product thickness with a learning algorithm known per se. The second measuring means is preferably triggered by the first measuring means.

The evaluation of the signals of the two measuring means takes place in the evaluation unit. This preferably has a computer system that allows an evaluation of the information in real time. Thus, a shingled stream with comparatively high Geschwindikeit and small scale spacing can be reliably counted.

According to a development of the invention it is provided that the counting result of the first measuring means by an output of Count pulses of the second measuring means is corrected. If, for example, the second measuring means detects two printed products which lie one above the other, the counting result of the first measuring means is corrected for the two printed products by issuing a counting pulse by the second measuring means. Three superimposed printed products can be corrected accordingly by the delivery of two counts of the second measuring means to the evaluation unit. This allows a particularly simple correction method.

Further advantageous features emerge from the dependent claims, the following description and the drawings.

Fig. 1

schematisch eine Ansicht eines Schuppenstroms mit einer erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung,

Fig. 2

schematisch die Eingangspulse bei einer Kantendetektion des Schuppenstroms gemäss Figur 1,

Fig. 3

die Totzeiten bei den Kantendetektion des Schuppenstroms gemäss Figur 1,

Fig. 4

die Ausgangspulse bei der Kantendetektion des Schuppenstroms gemäss Figur 1,

Fig. 5

die Ausgangspulse bei der Messung des Schuppenstroms gemäss Figur 1 mit dem zweiten Messmittel,

Fig. 6

schematisch ein Schuppenstrom und Mittel zur Kantenmessung,

Fig. 7

schematisch ein Schuppenstrom mit zwei übereinander liegenden Druckprodukten und

Fig. 8

das Auftreten von Mehrfachmessungen bei dicken Druckprodukten.

Embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawing. Show it:

Fig. 1

1 is a schematic view of a scale flow with a device according to the invention;

Fig. 2

schematically the input pulses in an edge detection of the scale flow according to FIG. 1 .

Fig. 3

the dead times in the edge detection of the scale flow according to FIG. 1 .

Fig. 4

the output pulses in the edge detection of the scale flow according to FIG. 1 .

Fig. 5

the output pulses in the measurement of the scale flow according to FIG. 1 with the second measuring means,

Fig. 6

schematically a scale flow and means for edge measurement,

Fig. 7

schematically a scale flow with two superimposed printed products and

Fig. 8

the occurrence of multiple measurements on thick printed products.

The in FIG. 1 Schuppenstrom S shown in side view is formed in a conventional manner by a plurality of printed products 1 or other flat products, which are conveyed by a conveyor device 2 in the direction of the arrow 11. The printed products 1 each have a leading edge 3, which run essentially transversely to the conveying direction or to the direction of the arrow 11. At the edge 3 in each case an upper side 4 adjoins, which is generally substantially planar and printed, for example. The printed products 1 can be designed to be arbitrary, they can for example be single sheets or even comparatively thick printed products, such as newspapers. The printed products 1 are supplied, for example, for shipping to a stacker not shown here and are counted for this purpose with a device 12. This device 12 is in FIG. 1 arranged above the scale flow S. But it can also be arranged below the scale flow S. With the device 12, the printed products 1 are counted, which pass by this device 12. The counting preferably takes place in real time, so that it is known in each case how many of the printed products 1 have passed the device 12.

The device 12 has a first measuring means M1, a second measuring means M2 and an evaluation unit A. The measuring means M1 and M2 are each connected to the evaluation unit A for signal transmission. The evaluation unit A has a suitable computer system, with which the information of the measuring means M1 and M2 can be evaluated. The result of the evaluation can be visually displayed and also transmitted to a higher-level unit.

The first measuring means M1 serves to detect the edges 3 of the printed products 1. It has according to FIG. 6 a transmitter 8, which sends a light beam against the scale flow S. If this light beam strikes an edge 3, it is reflected against a receiver 9, which indicates a corresponding signal to the evaluation unit A. If the light beam is reflected at the upper side 4, the reflected beam does not reach the receiver 9. An embodiment with a second receiver not shown here, which receives the beams reflected on the surface 4, is conceivable. In this case, the edges 3 are detected without contact. In principle, however, it is also possible, for example, for a mechanical feeler device with a feeler wheel to be lifted at each edge 3. The lifting of the Tästrads can be converted into an electrical signal and the evaluation unit A are supplied.

Is the scale flow S as in FIG. 6 shown trained regularly, so the measurement alone with the first measuring means M1 gives a correct count result. However, there is a in FIG. 7 shown irregular scale flow S 'before, in which two printed products 1a and 1b are superposed so that a Edge 3d is hidden, so the first measuring means M1, the hidden edge 3d can not detect. In this case, the printed product 1b is therefore not counted by the first measuring means M1. The first measuring means M1 detects only the edge 3c of the printed product 1a.

The first measuring means M1 is also unable to distinguish two very close edges. For example, this applies to the in FIG. 1 shown edges 3a and 3b. Instead of two edges 3a and 3b, the first measuring means M1 only measures one edge and correspondingly outputs only one signal to the evaluation unit A. So that the printed products 1 are correctly counted even in the case of a disordered scale flow S ', a second measuring means M2 is provided.

The second measuring means M2 measures a different property than the first measuring means M1. In particular, the second measuring means M2 measures the envelope of the scale flow S. The measurement takes place, for example, capacitively with sensors known per se or else by means of a digital video camera with image processing or with laser distance sensors. Also in this case, a mechanical measurement is possible. Due to the thickness measurement, the second measuring means M2 can recognize superimposed printed products 1a and 1b or printed products with a short scale spacing as such. By such a detection, the count result of the first measuring means M1 can be corrected, for example, with a signal to the evaluation unit A. This will be explained below with reference to FIGS. 2 to 5 explained in more detail.

For thicker printed products 1 such as large newspapers or magazines, as in Fig. 8 shown on the edge 3 occurring multiple pulses 13 are suppressed by during the duration of an input pulse 5 and an immediately following, adjustable dead time 10, no further input pulses 5 are taken into account in the evaluation.

The FIG. 2 shows the input pulses 5 and the FIG. 3 the dead times 10. The input pulses 5 of FIG. 2 are the input pulses of the first measuring means M1. Due to the dead times, the output pulses 6 finally result in accordance with FIG. 4 , As can be seen, the two output pulses 5a and 5b result in only one output pulse 6a due to the dead time 10. The reason is the very short distance between the edges 3a and 3b. Also, the superimposed printed products 1a and 1b provide only one output pulse 6b. The measurement alone with the first measuring means M1 would thus not determine two printed products 1. For correction, see FIG. 5 from the second measuring means M2 to the evaluation unit A the in FIG. 5 shown two output pulses 7 as signals. The in FIG. 5 The output pulse 7 shown on the left was generated by the two superimposed printed products 1a and the further signal by the printed products with the edges 3a and 3b. The second measuring means M2 thus sends in each case a signal to the evaluation unit A, if in the scale flow S a thickness is determined which differs significantly from the expected thickness. It is decided in each case how many printed products 1 lie one above the other. The sum of the signals or the output pulses 6 and 7 from the first measuring means M1 and the second measuring means M2 then correspond to the total sum of the printed products 1 of the scale flow S.

The measuring means M1 and M2 can according to FIG. 1 Seen in the flow direction can be arranged one behind the other. However, another arrangement is also possible, for example, the measuring means M1 and M2 could also be arranged next to one another, above or below the scale flow S. Also conceivable is a lateral arrangement, for example in the plane of the Schuppenstrom S. It is also conceivable execution with more than two measuring means. For example, two or more measuring means for the edge detection and / or two and more measuring means for the detection of the envelope may be provided. Finally, it is also possible with one or more further measuring means to determine a further property of the scale flow and to use it for a correction of a counting result.

Claims (9)

1. Device for counting the printed products (1) in a layer transport flow (S) with a first means of measurement (M1) for detecting an edge (3) of the printed product oriented crosswise to the conveying direction of the layer transport flow (S) and with an evaluation unit (A), which receives signals from the first means of measurement (M1) for counting the printed products (1), characterised in that a second means of measurement (M2) is provided, which detects a characteristic of the layer transport flow (S) other than the edge of the printed product, and that a counting result from the first means of measurement (M1) may be corrected with a measurement result from the second means of measurement (M2) by the evaluation unit (A).
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the first means of measurement (M1) detects edges (3) of the printed products forming the layer transport flow (S) running on ahead.
3. Device according to claim 2, characterised in that the first means of measurement (M1) detects the edges (3) in a contact-free way.
4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the first means of measurement (M1) has a light source (8) oriented against the layer transport flow (S) and at least one light receiver (9), in which the light receiver (9) detects light reflected from the product (1).
5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the second means of measurement (M2) detects the envelope curve of the layer transport flow (S).
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the second means of measurement (M2) has a contact-free, stationary distance sensor.
7. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that the second means of measurement (M2) has a mechanical roller feeder, a capacitive measuring device or a camera with picture processing.
8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that the second means of measurement (M2) is triggered with the first means of measurement (M1)
9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the evaluation unit (A) evaluates the signals from the first means of measurement (M1) and the second means of measurement (M2) in real time.

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