EP0308223A2 - Nachzählen von Artikeln - Google Patents

Nachzählen von Artikeln Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0308223A2
EP0308223A2 EP88308539A EP88308539A EP0308223A2 EP 0308223 A2 EP0308223 A2 EP 0308223A2 EP 88308539 A EP88308539 A EP 88308539A EP 88308539 A EP88308539 A EP 88308539A EP 0308223 A2 EP0308223 A2 EP 0308223A2
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
light
articles
detector
light source
path
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP88308539A
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0308223A3 (de
Inventor
Frank N. C/O Mainline Techn. Ltd Gillan
Iris C/O Mainline Technology Ltd Gillan
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
MAINLINE TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Original Assignee
MAINLINE TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by MAINLINE TECHNOLOGY Ltd filed Critical MAINLINE TECHNOLOGY Ltd
Publication of EP0308223A2 publication Critical patent/EP0308223A2/de
Publication of EP0308223A3 publication Critical patent/EP0308223A3/de
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06M—COUNTING MECHANISMS; COUNTING OF OBJECTS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • G06M7/00—Counting of objects carried by a conveyor

Definitions

  • This invention relates to the counting of articles moving along a predetermined path, such as identical products on a conveyor belt.
  • the invention is particularly, but not exclusively, of usefulness in monitoring the production rate of products in cans, jars and the like.
  • An object of the present invention is to overcome or mitigate this problem.
  • a further object of the invention is to provide an apparatus which is compact, simple in structure, and flexible in use.
  • the present invention provides apparatus for detecting articles moving along a predetermined route, comprising a light source for providing a light beam, and a light detector for detecting the beam after it has traversed a predetermined path, the light source and detector being so arranged that said light beam path extends transverse to the longitudinal axis of said route and at an angle to the horizontal.
  • the light source and detector are adjacent one another at one end of the light beam path and the other end of the light beam path is defined by a reflector.
  • one end of said path is disposed below and to one side of the articles, and the other end above the articles.
  • said light path extends between first and second spaced parallel faces forming part of the apparatus.
  • an optical cell comprising the light source and detector is located on one of said first and second faces and a reflector is located opposite thereto on the other of said first and second faces.
  • the apparatus preferably includes first and second horizontally spaced light sources and detectors, wherein the spacing of the first and second sources and detectors is different from the minimum spacing between the centres of adjacent articles in the direction of travel.
  • the apparatus includes data processing means responsive to signals received from said light detector or detectors, data input and output means and adjustable support means positionable adjacent said predetermined route.
  • Packaged products such as cans indicated at 10 move along a conveyor 12 between guides 14.
  • the cans 10 are in mutual abutment, and thus it would not be possible to count them by means of a horizontal light beam.
  • a column 16 mounts a pair of arms 18 extending above the path of movement of the cans 10.
  • Each arm 18 is shaped to provide parallel mounting surfaces for an optical cell 20 and a reflector 22.
  • the optical cell 20 includes a light source (eg. a monochromatic light-emitting diode) and a light-sensitive device (eg. a photodiode).
  • the disposition is such that light is blocked by the wider part of a passing can 10 but is transmitted and reflected unimpeded between the optical cell 20 and reflector 22 when the peripheral space between abutting cans 10 is adjacent the arm 18.
  • the arm 18 is provided with a horizontal datum face 24 for measuring the vertical spacing, and a vertical mark 26 for alignment with the central axis of movement of the cans 10.
  • the optical cell 20 thus gives an output pulse for each product passing. Means for counting and processing such pulses will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art.
  • a single optical cell 20 and reflector 22 would give a usable count in normal circumstances, but would be prone to false counts caused, for example, by an extraneous object (eg. an operator's hand) interrupting the path of the light beam. It is therefore preferred to use the double arrangement shown.
  • the arms 18 are set at a distance apart D which is different to (either greater or less than) the minimum spacing P between the centres of adjacent cans 10.
  • the pulse outputs can be processed to check that:
  • Means of carrying out such checks will be readily apparent. They may be dedicated electronic circuits or, preferably, achieved by digital processing in a suitably programmed computer.
  • Figs. 3 and 4 illustrate the construction of a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention.
  • the apparatus comprises a counting unit 30 mounted upon an adjustable stand 32 positionable alongside a conveyor (not shown).
  • the unit 30 consists of a fascia plate 34, having a top portion 36 in which control and input/output devices, indicator lamps etc (described in more detail below) are mounted and a side portion 38 extending at right angles thereto, and a box member 40 affixed to the underside of the top portion 36 of the fascia plate 34.
  • the box member 40 includes a front panel 42 spaced from and parallel to the side portion 38 of the fascia plate.
  • first and second, horizontally spaced optical cells 44 are located on the front panel 42 and first and second reflectors 46 are positioned opposite the optical cells 44 on the inner surface 48 of the side portion 38 of the fascia plate 34.
  • This unit 30 is mounted on first and second parallel arms 50 of the stand 32.
  • the arms 50 extend upwardly at an angle (preferably approximately 45°) to the horizontal such that the optical axis between the optical cells 44 and reflectors 46 is at an angle to the conveyor, as in the embodiment of Figs. 1 and 2.
  • the box member 40 encloses the electronic components of the unit 30, including microprocessor means etc, and may be provided with sockets 52, 54 for power supply and data leads and the like.
  • the fascia plate is provided with an alphanumeric display 56 (such as a gas plasma or LCD display) for displaying information, instructions, prompts, input data etc, a keypad 58 for input of numerical codes and menu selection, and any other control switches, status lamps or the like which may be necessary or desirable.
  • the unit 30 operates under software or firmware control, either using integral microcomputer means or, preferably, a remote host computer, which might control a large number of such units in a practical production environment.
  • the software may, for example, automatically reset the counting and error checking parameters of the unit 30 to suit a wide range of articles of differing shapes and sizes in response to codes entered by the operator of the unit 30.
  • the adjustable stand comprises the angled arms 50, which extend from the top of vertical box section members 60. These in turn are slidably located within vertical members 62 of a box-section H-frame and may be clamped in any desired position by means of knobs 64.
  • a wide variety of stand configurations are of course possible, and adjustment of the stand could be automated by means of stepper motors or the like (in a manner which will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art), allowing positional adjustment of the unit 30 also to be placed under automatic software control.
  • the angled disposition of the optical sensor ent provides the basis for a compact and reliable counting unit which, in combination with its adjustable stand, is transportable, easily installed and adjusted to suit a wide range of conveyor lines, and which is susceptible of computer control to allow complete flexibility of use with a wide variety of different articles.
  • the reflector could be dispensed with, and the light source and detector arranged at opposite sides of the product path.
EP88308539A 1987-09-16 1988-09-15 Nachzählen von Artikeln Withdrawn EP0308223A3 (de)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8721821 1987-09-16
GB878721821A GB8721821D0 (en) 1987-09-16 1987-09-16 Counting articles

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0308223A2 true EP0308223A2 (de) 1989-03-22
EP0308223A3 EP0308223A3 (de) 1990-01-10

Family

ID=10623900

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP88308539A Withdrawn EP0308223A3 (de) 1987-09-16 1988-09-15 Nachzählen von Artikeln

Country Status (2)

Country Link
EP (1) EP0308223A3 (de)
GB (1) GB8721821D0 (de)

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0720124A1 (de) * 1994-12-23 1996-07-03 Dürkopp Adler Aktiengesellschaft Einrichtung zum Zählen und Bestimmen von auf mit Bügelhaken versehenen Bügeln hängendem Fördergut

Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2037191A (en) * 1932-09-30 1936-04-14 Western Electric Co Registering device
DE1067625B (de) * 1957-03-05 1959-10-22 Enzinger Union Werke Ag Zaehl- oder Abzaehlvorrichtung fuer auf Transportbahnen gefoerderte Flaschenkaesten
GB1091764A (en) * 1964-05-02 1967-11-22 Carves Simon Ltd Improvements in or relating to automatic counting devices
GB1376304A (en) * 1972-02-28 1974-12-04 Hird Brown Ltd Detector device
US3900718A (en) * 1973-12-26 1975-08-19 Harold H Seward System for counting pills and the like
US4081661A (en) * 1976-09-13 1978-03-28 Durbin John R Flow line counter incorporating programmed reversal circuitry
EP0086289A1 (de) * 1982-02-12 1983-08-24 Satake Engineering Co., Ltd. Gerät zum Erkennen von rissigen Körnern ungeschälten oder geschälten Reises
JPS5960586A (ja) * 1982-09-30 1984-04-06 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 歩行者数計数装置
EP0156192A1 (de) * 1984-03-05 1985-10-02 AB Tetra Pak Verfahren zur Erkennung der Lage von geförderten Gegenständen

Patent Citations (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US2037191A (en) * 1932-09-30 1936-04-14 Western Electric Co Registering device
DE1067625B (de) * 1957-03-05 1959-10-22 Enzinger Union Werke Ag Zaehl- oder Abzaehlvorrichtung fuer auf Transportbahnen gefoerderte Flaschenkaesten
GB1091764A (en) * 1964-05-02 1967-11-22 Carves Simon Ltd Improvements in or relating to automatic counting devices
GB1376304A (en) * 1972-02-28 1974-12-04 Hird Brown Ltd Detector device
US3900718A (en) * 1973-12-26 1975-08-19 Harold H Seward System for counting pills and the like
US4081661A (en) * 1976-09-13 1978-03-28 Durbin John R Flow line counter incorporating programmed reversal circuitry
EP0086289A1 (de) * 1982-02-12 1983-08-24 Satake Engineering Co., Ltd. Gerät zum Erkennen von rissigen Körnern ungeschälten oder geschälten Reises
JPS5960586A (ja) * 1982-09-30 1984-04-06 Sumitomo Electric Ind Ltd 歩行者数計数装置
EP0156192A1 (de) * 1984-03-05 1985-10-02 AB Tetra Pak Verfahren zur Erkennung der Lage von geförderten Gegenständen

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
PATENT ABSTRACTS OF JAPAN, vol. 8, no. 165 (P-291)[1602], 31st July 1984; & JP-A-59 60 586 (SUMITOMO DENKI KOGYO K.K.) 06-04-1984 *

Cited By (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0720124A1 (de) * 1994-12-23 1996-07-03 Dürkopp Adler Aktiengesellschaft Einrichtung zum Zählen und Bestimmen von auf mit Bügelhaken versehenen Bügeln hängendem Fördergut

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
EP0308223A3 (de) 1990-01-10
GB8721821D0 (en) 1987-10-21

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