EP1193204B1 - Light sensor for sheet products - Google Patents

Abstract

The optical sensor has a fixed light source (3), a fixed light detector (4) at a defined distance from the light source and a light transfer device (6,7) attached to the movable device in which the products are to be detected for transferring light from the source to the detector when the movable device passes the fixed light source. Independent claims are also included for the following: an arrangement for transporting and moving sheet products and a method of detecting sheet products.

Description

The present invention relates a device and for detecting the Presence or absence of sheet products, according to the generic term of claim 1. Such a device is known from DE-A-195 33 769.

Many machines include moving components that are continuously around the machine to be moved. For example, a collator consists of a variety of wagons that run continuously on an endless loop. Each car has one Variety of bags on. As the car circulates, each bag becomes a product inserted from a stationary stack.

Gathering machines are used for the proper collation of Printed products used in a specific order. For insertion machines these are collating machines in which printed products, such as Newspaper parts, are pushed into each other. The bows or the parts in a book or a newspaper must e.g. before tying or gathering in the correct one Order to be brought. These are the bags at regular intervals attached to each other and movable on a Endlospfad. Each bag takes a first Product on. Then the bag moves on and picks up a second product. For a gathering machine to work properly, the first product must be be properly inserted in the bag before the second product is housed can be. If the first product is not inserted correctly or not at all, it will result this subsequently leads to errors such as wrong sorted or missing pages in one Book or newspaper or only partially inserted products, resulting in Malfunction of the gathering machine may result because the movement of the Bags on the Endlospfad is hampered.

In US 5,251,888, for example, a pocket inserter is disclosed.

JP 99-059975, JP 99-079429 and JP 98-338360 are paper-detecting ones Devices disclosed, wherein the detection of the paper is not in pockets.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a device for Inserting a product into a bag or recognizing a product in one To create a bag of a collator.

This object is achieved by the features of claim 1 solved.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are in the dependent claims 2 to 12 included.

The present invention provides an optical sensor with which the Presence or absence of sheet products in a moving device can be detected, wherein the sensor is a fixed light source, one in one Distance to fixed light source positioned fixed light detector and a on the moving device fortified device for light transmission, with the light is directed from the fixed light source to the light detector while the moving device passes the fixed light source.

The present invention provides a reliable and effective means for Recognition of products that are introduced into a movable device or to Detecting a paper jam in the movable device.

The light transmission device comprises a first optical fiber having a first optical fiber Lens with the first end of the first fiber and a second lens with the second End of the first fiber is connected. On a second optical fiber can be a third Lens at the first end of the second fiber and a fourth lens at the second end of the second Fiber attached.

The first and second optical fibers may be on top of a movable device be attached. The movable device is preferably a bag of one Inserter. The first lens is a certain distance from the second lens. The first lens and the second lens are aligned so as to line up with the fixed light source and the fixed light detector stand when the movable Setup happens the fixed light detector and the fixed light source.

The movable device has a first opening on its first side and a second one Opening on her second side. The third lens may be oriented to pass through the openings on the first and second sides in line with the fourth lens lies.

The fixed light detector and the fixed light source are preferable opposite the conveyor rail on which the movable device is moved. The fixed light detector and / or the fixed light source can with a be connected stationary control unit.

The present invention also provides a device with which products in a movable device can be inserted, using a variety movable devices and a variety of optical sensors the presence or Absence of products detected in the movable device or the function of optical sensors can be checked.

The present invention provides a reliable and effective means for Gathering as well as for placing products in a movable device to disposal.

The optical sensors comprise a fixed light detector in a particular one Distance from a fixed light source, as well as a first and second optical fiber, which are attached to the movable device. The first optical fiber can be a first Having a lens attached to the first end of the first fiber, and a second lens, which is attached to the second end of the first fiber. The second optical fiber can be a third lens attached to the first end of the second fiber and a fourth Lens attached to the second end of the first fiber.

The movable device may have on the first side a first opening and on the second side have a second opening. The third lens can be oriented so that through the openings on the first page and on the second side on a line with the fourth lens is located.

The fixed light detector and the fixed light source are preferable arranged opposite the conveyor rail on which the movable device is moved. The fixed light detector and / or the fixed light source can with a be connected stationary control unit.

The invention also serves to detect the presence or Lack of products in the movable device based on an optical sensor or to check the function of the optical sensor. The movable device is aligned with a fixed light source and a fixed light detector. Then a fixed beam of light is sent from the fixed light source. One first optical receiver disposed on the movable device receives the Light through a first lens, at the first end of the first fiber of the first optical Receiver is attached. Then the light passes through the second lens, on the second End of the first fiber of the first optical receiver is arranged, and a first Passed opening on the first side of the movable device through. Of the Receiving the light through a second opening on the second side of the movable Device and by a third lens at the first end of the second fiber of the second optical receiver mounted on the movable device is determined. Thereafter, the reception of the light by a fourth lens at the second end of the second fiber of the second optical receiver is attached to a fixed Light detector determines. Then a signal from the optical sensor to a stationary Control unit transmitted and processed by this. As a result, a variety of secondary signals sent to other control modules of the machine.

The present invention serves advantageously for detecting products in a movable device by means of a optical sensor or to verify the function of the optical sensor. Furthermore, the present invention provides a reliable and effective method to check the function of an optical sensor.

The optical sensor can also detect the presence or absence of products in one second moving device, or further the function of a second optical sensor. The movable device can so on the second optical sensor can be aligned that the presence or absence of products detected in a moving device or the function of the second optical Sensors can be checked.

The first and second optical receivers are preferably optical fibers. "Sheet Product" is defined here to mean both sheets and signatures could be.

The invention will be described below with reference to the drawings with reference to preferred Embodiments described.

Fig. 1

zeigt eine Einsteckmaschine, die anhand eines optischen Sensors gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung ein Produkt in einer bewegbaren Einrichtung erkennen kann.

Fig. 2

zeigt Details des optischen Sensors aus Figur 1 und

Fig. 3

zeigt Details der bewegbaren Einrichtung aus Figur 1.

In the drawings show:

Fig. 1

shows a plug-in machine, which can recognize a product in a movable device by means of an optical sensor according to the present invention.

Fig. 2

shows details of the optical sensor of Figure 1 and

Fig. 3

shows details of the movable device of Figure 1.

As shown in Figure 1, the movable carriage 1 is a Einsteckmaschine on a Conveyor rail 2 attached and is continuously moved around the machine. One Optical sensor 18, as shown in Fig. 2, comprises a fixed light source 3 and a fixed light detector 4. The fixed light source 3 and the fixed one Light detector 4 are preferably via electrical lines with a fixed Control unit, e.g. a microprocessor connected.

The fixed light source 3 and the fixed light detector 4 are fixed with a Machine frame connected near the pocket 5 of the machine, the pockets 5 be moved by carriage 1. A first optical fiber 6 comprises a first lens 8, which on the first end 12 of the first fiber 6 is attached, and a second lens 9, which on the second The end of 13 of the first fiber is attached. To a second optical fiber 7 includes a third lens 10 attached to the first end 14 of the second fiber and a fourth one Lens 11, which is attached to the second end 15 of the second fiber. The Fibers 6 and 7 are firmly attached to the pocket 5. The positions of the first lens 8 and the fourth lens 11 on the pocket 5 are chosen so that they are exactly in line with the fixed Light source 3 and the fixed light detector 4 are when one of the pockets 5 the Light source 3 and the light detector 4 happens.

The distance between the first lens 8 connected to the first end 12 of the first fiber is connected and the fourth lens 11, which is connected to the second end 15 of the second fiber is connected and the distance between the fixed light source 3 and the fixed light detector 4 are identical, so that the fixed light source 3 exactly ' then lies in line with the first lens 8 at the first end 12 of the first fiber, when the fixed light detector 4 in line with the fourth lens 11 at the second end the second fiber 15 is located. When the bag 5 on the fixed light source 3 and on stationary light detector 4 of the optical sensor 18 is moved past, is a closed optical path and the light can from the fixed light source 3 to fixed light detector 4 flow. If no light is detected, the gap is between the lenses 9 and 10, which corresponds to the top edge of the pocket opening blocked. In this way, the sensor 18 can determine whether the products are properly in the Pocket 5 are inserted.

As shown in FIG. 1, a product stack 21 may be positioned above the moving pockets 5 be positioned, and the products at the bottom of the stack can with the help of a Suction device and inserted by rollers 22 in the known manner in the pockets 5 become. Fig. 1 shows a product 27 at the bottom of stack 21, straight down is pulled towards the pocket 5, a product 17, which is just inserted into the bag and a product 117, which is almost entirely in pocket 5.

The sensor 18 can thus ensure that the product 17 is inserted into the pocket 5 is, because if the product 17 is not in the opening of bag 5, the fixed light detector 4 light when the bag 5, the fixed light source. 3 and the fixed light detector 4 passes. If the sensor 18 detects light, can a malfunction alert or signal is sent to an operator or control system become.

Thus, if there is no product 17, as shown in Figure 2, an optical path created so that the light from the fixed light source 3 through the first optical Fiber 6 and the second optical fiber 7 and back to the fixed light detector. 4 to be led. There are three breaks in the optical path: between the fixed ones Light source 3 and the first lens 8, which at the first end 12 of the first optical fiber. 6 is attached, between the second lens 9, at the second end 13 of the first optical Fiber 6 is attached and the third lens 10, at the first end 14 of the second optical fiber 7 is mounted, and between the fourth lens 11, which at the second end 15 of the second optical fiber 7 is attached, and the fixed light detector 4. An each break serve the lenses 8, 9, 10 and 11 at the ends 12, 13, 14 and 15 of the optical fibers 6, 7 to improve the light transmission. The product 17, the is to be detected, the gap between the second lens 9 at the second end 13 happens the first optical fiber 6 and the third lens 10 at the first end 14 of the second optical fiber 7, thus blocking the optical path in area 40. This will shown schematically in Figure 3.

As shown in Figure 1, it may be advantageous to have a second sensor 118 in one location at which no product 17 should block the optical path, e.g. if that Product is already delivered or is below the top of the bag. Of the Sensor 118 can be used to check if the optical fibers and the Lens pockets 5 work properly. A detector 104 of the sensor 118 should always recognize the light emitted by a light source 103. If the Sensor 118 does not detect light, this may mean that in the optical fibers Problem has occurred or that products are located at the entrance of the bags indicates a paper jam.

The sensors of the present invention may be further used to Presence of products 17 at the bottom of the bags 5 determine by the optical fibers are placed deeper in the pockets 5.

The sensor information may be sent to a fixed control unit such as a a microprocessor then transmit a plurality of secondary control signals for changing the settings of the plug-in device or a display or a Can provide alarm. For example, when determining a Malfunction the plug-in device will be stopped automatically.

List of reference numbers

1

dare

2

conveyor rail

3

fixed light source

4

fixed light detector

5

bag

6

first optical fiber

7

second optical fiber

8th

first lens

9

second lens

10

third lens

11

fourth lens

12

first end of the first fiber

13

second end of the first fiber

14

first end of the second fiber

15

second end of the second fiber

17

product

18

optical sensor

21

stack

22

roll

27

product

40

Area

103

light source

104

detector

117

product

118

second sensor

Claims (12)

1. Apparatus for moving sheet products and for detecting the presence or absence of these sheet products, having a movable device (1) and an optical sensor (18) with a fixed light source (3) and a fixed light detector (4) at a specific spacing from the fixed light source (3), the optical sensor (18) being provided with a light transmission device which is fixedly connected to the movable device and transmits the light from the fixed light source (3) to the fixed light detector (4) when the movable device passes the fixed light source (3), characterised in that the light transmission device comprises a first (6) and a second optical fibre (7) which are fixedly connected to the movable device, the first optical fibre (6) having a first end (12) and a second end (13), and the second optical fibre (7) having a first end (14) and a second end (15), the spacing between the first end of the first fibre (12) and the second end of the second fibre (15) corresponding precisely to the spacing between the fixed light source (3) and the fixed light detector (4), and the second end of the first fibre (13) and the first end of the second fibre (14) being at a second spacing from one another.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, characterised in that the optical sensor (18) further comprises lenses (8, 11) which are connected to the first end of the first fibre (12) and to the second end of the second fibre (15).
3. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterised in that the movable device is a pocket (5).
4. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the second spacing corresponds to an opening of the movable device.
5. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the fixed light detector (4) and the fixed light source (3) are arranged opposite a conveyor rail (1) on which the movable device is moved.
6. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that it further comprises a second light transmitting device which is attached to a second movable device.
7. Apparatus for conveying and moving sheet products according to claim 6, characterised in that a plurality of movable pockets are provided, in that the optical sensor (18) is adapted to recognise products (17) when the products (17) are inserted in the pockets, and in that the optical sensor (18) comprises light transmitting devices connected to the plurality of movable pockets (5).
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, characterised in that the fibres comprise terminal lenses.
9. Apparatus according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterised in that the apparatus further comprises a second optical sensor which detects the absence of products.
10. Apparatus according to one of the preceding claims, characterised in that the apparatus is a collating apparatus.
11. Use of an apparatus according to one of the preceding claims for detecting sheet products by means of the optical sensor (18), wherein a first sheet product is inserted in a first movable device of the apparatus, characterised in that the first movable device is aligned with a fixed light source (3) and a fixed light detector (4) and light is transmitted from the fixed light source (3) through an opening in the first movable device.
12. Use according to claim 11, characterised in that it is also established whether light is passing through the opening.

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