EP0897887B1 - Method and device for checking the thickness of sheetlike objects conveyed continuously - Google Patents

Method and device for checking the thickness of sheetlike objects conveyed continuously Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0897887B1
EP0897887B1 EP98114797A EP98114797A EP0897887B1 EP 0897887 B1 EP0897887 B1 EP 0897887B1 EP 98114797 A EP98114797 A EP 98114797A EP 98114797 A EP98114797 A EP 98114797A EP 0897887 B1 EP0897887 B1 EP 0897887B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
monitoring
control
levers
monitoring element
measured value
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.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP98114797A
Other languages
German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0897887A1 (en
Inventor
Egon Haensch
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.)
Ferag AG
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Ferag AG
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Publication date
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Publication of EP0897887A1 publication Critical patent/EP0897887A1/en
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Publication of EP0897887B1 publication Critical patent/EP0897887B1/en
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Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H7/00—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles
    • B65H7/02—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors
    • B65H7/14—Controlling article feeding, separating, pile-advancing, or associated apparatus, to take account of incorrect feeding, absence of articles, or presence of faulty articles by feelers or detectors by photoelectric feelers or detectors
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H29/00—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles
    • B65H29/003—Delivering or advancing articles from machines; Advancing articles to or into piles by grippers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2301/00—Handling processes for sheets or webs
    • B65H2301/30—Orientation, displacement, position of the handled material
    • B65H2301/32—Orientation of handled material
    • B65H2301/323—Hanging
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/10—Size; Dimensions
    • B65H2511/13—Thickness
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/20—Location in space
    • B65H2511/22—Distance
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/50—Occurence
    • B65H2511/51—Presence
    • B65H2511/514—Particular portion of element
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2511/00—Dimensions; Position; Numbers; Identification; Occurrences
    • B65H2511/50—Occurence
    • B65H2511/52—Defective operating conditions
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2553/00—Sensing or detecting means
    • B65H2553/40—Sensing or detecting means using optical, e.g. photographic, elements
    • B65H2553/42—Cameras

Definitions

  • the invention relates to a control method and a device for carrying it out the control procedure according to the generic terms of the corresponding independent claims.
  • the control procedure and the device serve to measure the thickness of continuously conveyed, flat objects, control of printed products in particular.
  • the process controls the number of pages of printed products, whereby print products with correct and incorrect number of pages can be detected and each can be fed to a corresponding special further treatment are.
  • the measuring system essentially consists of a rotating disc a plurality of pairs of buttons, for example with the saddle-shaped Cooperation requirements of a collecting drum (conveyor system).
  • the disc and the collecting drum are arranged relative to one another and synchronized in this way driven that every edition and the printed product promoted on it is scanned by a pair of buttons.
  • the difference between the measurement positions (Edition without and with product) of the two buttons of a pair of buttons corresponds to the thickness of the scanned product.
  • buttons must be movably mounted on the disc be and superimposed by control means in one of the circular movements of the disk Movement can be controlled.
  • control means in one of the circular movements of the disk Movement can be controlled.
  • the object of the invention to provide a method for controlling the thickness of flat objects continuously funded by individual funding, in particular to show printed products and a device to carry out the procedure.
  • the purpose of the invention Method and the device according to the invention in significantly higher Mass be independent of the conveyor with which the products be promoted than is the case with the device described above is such that the thickness control of the conveyor system essentially no mechanical limits and no increased accuracy imposed become.
  • the device should be simple mechanical means and easily producible manufacturing and Assembly tolerances can be realized.
  • the device is also said to be robust and in be largely free of attitudes, i.e. it should have properties that trouble-free operation even in the dusty climate of the printing houses to guarantee.
  • control elements are introduced and it becomes a control element is assigned to each printed product.
  • the controls consist essentially of a pair of control levers with clamping jaws (first lever parts) pressed against each other with a pressing force become.
  • a range of each printed product is between pinched the jaws of a pair of levers.
  • the captured image becomes a one that corresponds to the edge distance Measured value determined.
  • This measurement is taken with each control element assigned target range compared.
  • the target range is a predetermined one Tolerance range that combines with a setpoint from a calibration measurement , the calibration measurement for the specific control element and a correct product is carried out.
  • the tolerance range is to be specified according to the purpose of the control. For example, for a special further treatment of printed products that do not have the correct page number, the tolerance range is on paper quality vote. Both sides of the setpoint are intended for such an application the tolerance range should in any case be narrower than the thickness one side. So that products with certain numbers of missing or excess pages can be detected separately, a plurality can also of corresponding tolerance ranges of different orientations (larger or smaller than the target value) and / or different widths superimposed become.
  • FIG. 1 shows an overview of an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention.
  • the device is shown viewed transversely to the conveying direction F of the printed products 1.
  • the printed products 1 are conveyed individually with the aid of grippers 2 which are arranged, for example, on a chain which runs in a chain channel 2.1.
  • the device according to the invention essentially consists of a control disk 3 arranged tangentially to the conveying direction F and rotating in the same direction (arrow R) with control elements 4, a camera 5, a computer for image and measured value processing and a triggering device 7.
  • the control elements 4 are equidistant on the circumference of the control disk 3 arranged and consist essentially of one relative to the control disc 3 stationary control lever 10 and one relative to the control disc 3 movable, for example pivotable about a pivot axis 11.1 Control lever 11. Both control levers 10 and 11 point at their distal Ends of a jaw 13, the jaws 13 of a control element 4 facing each other and for pinching a printed product are aligned.
  • the swiveling control lever 11 a specific control element 4 is by a spring 12 against the stationary control lever 10 pressed, that is, in a position in which two jaws 13 are essentially against each other or a printed product pinch between them.
  • the pivotable control lever 11 also has a control roller 14 which when turning the control disk 3 on a stationary control link 15 rolls.
  • the control link 15 is designed such that the pivotable Control lever 11 against the force of the spring 12 from the stationary Lever is kept apart, except in the control area K, in which the Control element 4 is in interaction with a printed product 1.
  • the control roller 14 does not roll on the backdrop 15 but is the area Position of the pivotable control lever 11 by the spring 12 and by the thickness of a printed product jammed between the jaws 1 determined.
  • control link such that the clamping jaws of the individual control elements do not lie on top of each other if they are without a jammed printed product will pass through the control area, but have a distance from each other, but which is smaller than the thickness of the thinnest print product to be expected.
  • the control disc 3 is synchronized and rectified with the gripper chain driven in the direction of arrow R rotating, for example via a Chain output with a sprocket 20 and a drive chain 21, the Control disc 3 and the gripper chain are synchronized such that one each Grippers 2 and a control element 4 with each other through the control area K can be moved.
  • the camera 5 is arranged stationary and aligned with the control area K.
  • the viewing direction of the camera 5 is exemplary in the present case Trap aligned substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the control disk 3 on edges 30 to be imaged (FIG. 2), on from the control disc 3 protruding parts 30.1 of the control levers 10 and 11 are arranged.
  • the distance between the edges to be imaged is directly dependent on the Thickness of a printed product clamped between the jaws 13 1.
  • the camera 5 is, for example, a digital camera that has a pixel file created and forwards this to the computer 6.
  • a triggering device 7 for triggering an image recording. This consists, for example, of a laser barrier, made by a reference body 31 is passed through. There is 4 for each control element Reference body 31 is provided, for example on the pivotable control lever 11 is arranged and how the surfaces 30 to be imaged from the Control disc 3 protrudes.
  • the laser barrier of the trigger unit 7 is of this type positioned that the moment the reference body 31 of a control element the laser barrier interrupts another control element Enter control area K and trigger camera 5. The camera 5 is triggered by the signal of the interruption of the laser barrier.
  • a switch 7.1 can also be provided, which is switched on by one on the control disc 3 arranged element is triggered, which switch 7.1 after one revolution of the control disc is actuated.
  • the signal from the switch 7.1 can be used, for example, for the zeroing of a counter that Control operations counts and each control operation a specific control element or the control process the setpoint of the specific control element assigns.
  • the computer 6 is used for image evaluation, that is to measure the im Image recorded distance (measured value M) between the two shown Edges 30 of the stationary control lever 10 and the pivotable Control lever 11 (visible on the screen 32 of the computer 6).
  • the Measured value M is registered, for example, as the number of pixels.
  • the computer is also used for storage and, if necessary, continuous adjustment the target values, one of which is assigned to each control element 4.
  • tolerance ranges for example a keyboard 33 equipped.
  • Figure 2 shows in more detail a control element 4 with a viewing angle parallel to the axis of rotation of the control disc 3, that is to say transversely to the conveying direction F.
  • the control element 4 is located in the control area, that is to say in a jamming interaction with a printed product 1.
  • the control link 15 gives way to this Area in such a way from a circle concentric with the control disk 3 that it represents in all other areas that the control roller 14 does not touch the control link 15 and the clamping jaws 13 can thereby clamp the printed product 1.
  • the distance D between the surfaces 30 to be imaged is the size to be measured.
  • FIG. 3 shows, with a viewing direction which is opposite to the conveying direction F, a gripper 2 which is driven by the gripper chain 2.2 in the chain channel 2.1 and conveys a printed product 1.
  • a part of the control disk 3 with parts of a control element 4, the camera 5 and a lighting or flashing device 40 are visible from the device according to the invention.
  • the stationary control lever 10 of the control element 4 is completely visible and in particular the edge 30 to be imaged.
  • the control roller 14 and the reference body 31 are visible from the pivotable control lever 11.
  • the control element 4 has obviously not yet reached the control area or has just left it, because the control roller 14 runs on the control link 15.
  • a printed product 1 is conveyed against the control area K. Shortly before the control area K becomes a control element 4 in an open state (Jaws spaced apart) in the flow of the Printed products fed that the two jaws 10 and 11 onto each other opposite sides of a free area of the printed product be positioned. At the entrance of the control area K the effect stops the control link 15 on the pivotable control lever 11 so that this is driven by the spring 12 against the stationary lever 10, whereby the free area of the printed product 1 between the press jaws 13 the control lever 10 and 11 is pinched. Go through interacting like this the control element 4 and the printed product 1 together the control area K.
  • the camera 5 is activated by the release unit 7 triggered and is from the edges 30 to be imaged and the intermediate Distance D made a picture.
  • the control link 15 of the pivotable control lever 11 again moved away from the stationary control lever 10 and thereby the printed product 1 released from the trap.
  • the control area is K few arc minutes of the rotation of the control disk 3.
  • the image recorded by the camera 5 is processed by the computer 6.
  • This processing consists in assigning the mapped distance between the two mapped edges 30 to a measured value M (for example in pixels) which is proportional to the actual distance D between these edges.
  • the measured value M corresponds to the thickness of the pinched printed product only to a limited extent.
  • the measured value M contains the following factors: multiplicative factors due to the enlargement or reduction of the image recording and due to inaccuracies in the distance between the clamping jaws and the edges to be imaged (lever ratio) and additive factors due to inaccuracies in the mutual arrangement of the edges to be imaged (D. Without a jammed printed product, it may not be zero). So that the factors mentioned do not influence the control, it is absolutely necessary to determine and store the target value M s for each control element 4 separately.
  • the target value M s for each control element 4 is determined by a calibration measurement, i.e. a check is carried out with a correct product (with the correct number of pages k) and the corresponding measured value M k for at least one further check with the same Control element saved as setpoint M s .
  • the target value M s is assigned a tolerance T, corresponding to the same scale, in which the target value M corresponds to s the effective considered distance D, a predetermined fraction of the thickness of one side (paper thickness).
  • the tolerance T is entered and does not change as long as products of the same paper quality are processed.
  • a first inspection pass with printed products assessed as correct is sufficient for determining the target values M S for each control element. If the control of products with individual target page numbers that differ from one another is feasible, the target value M Ss must be calculated for each product based on its individual target page number s. In order to make this possible, in addition to a control run with products of a known reference page number r and measurement results M r, a control run without printed products with measurement results M 0 is necessary so that the above-mentioned additive factors do not disturb the comparison.
  • the small weight of the correction element prevents short-wave strong ones Variations in the setpoint.
  • FIG. 4 shows a possible course for the controls that are carried out by a control element.
  • the measured value M is plotted as a function of time t. Due to speed variations in the conveyance, the individual measurements 0 to 7 can be made at uneven time intervals, as shown.
  • FIG. 4 shows the course of the target value and target range corrected on the basis of the measured values M. In the fifth and seventh check, defective products are detected and the setpoint is not corrected for this reason.
  • Figure 5 shows a control with two target ranges M S1 ⁇ T and M S2 ⁇ T, which are, for example, four side thicknesses apart.
  • the first target range corresponds, for example, to a printed product without a four-sided insert
  • the second target range corresponds to a same printed product with a four-sided insert.
  • a corresponding check either the correct presence of the insert is checked by another check and, in the present thickness check, products with measured values within the two target ranges are classified as correct, products with measured values outside the two tolerance ranges as faulty.
  • a product with four excess pages but without an insert is wrongly classified as correct.
  • FIG. 5 shows ten control processes, the zero control process being the Calibration measurement with a printed product without an insert and where in the control processes 1, 6, 7 and 10 correct products without an insert, in the Control processes 2, 5, 8 correct products with supplement and in the control processes 3, 4 and 9 defective products can be detected. Also refer here the control processes shown refer to a specific control element and the target values are only corrected if a correct product has been detected.
  • the method according to the invention and the method according to the invention Device not only applicable for the control of printed products regarding missing or excess pages. Are in the same way these can be used to detect folded or crumpled pages or to control paper quality if the print products to be checked have only one page or if their page number matches others Funds (for example, by appropriate controls of the steps in which these are brought together) has already been judged to be correct.
  • Funds for example, by appropriate controls of the steps in which these are brought together

Description

Die Erfindung betrifft ein Kontrollverfahren und eine Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des Kontrollverfahrens gemäss den Oberbegriffen der entsprechenden, unabhängigen Patentansprüche. Das Kontrollverfahren und die Vorrichtung dienen dazu, die Dicke von kontinuierlich geförderten, flächigen Gegenständen, insbesondere von Druckprodukten zu kontrollieren. Mit Hilfe des Verfahrens wird beispielsweise die Seitenzahl von Druckprodukten kontrolliert, wodurch Druckprodukte mit korrekter und unkorrekter Seitenzahl detektierbar und je einer entsprechenden speziellen Weiterbehandlung zuführbar sind.The invention relates to a control method and a device for carrying it out the control procedure according to the generic terms of the corresponding independent claims. The control procedure and the device serve to measure the thickness of continuously conveyed, flat objects, control of printed products in particular. With the help of For example, the process controls the number of pages of printed products, whereby print products with correct and incorrect number of pages can be detected and each can be fed to a corresponding special further treatment are.

Um einzelne fehlende oder überschüssige Seiten in Druckprodukten, die gegebenenfalls sehr verschiedene Dicken haben können, durch eine Dickenmessung zu detektieren, sind Messgenauigkeiten unter einem Zehntel Millimeter notwendig bei einer Gesamtdicke, die von unter einem Millimeter bis zu einigen Centimetern variieren kann.To find individual missing or excess pages in printed products that can have very different thicknesses, if necessary, by measuring the thickness measurement accuracies of less than a tenth of a millimeter can be detected necessary for a total thickness of less than one millimeter can vary to a few centimeters.

Bekannte Systeme zur Messung der Dicke von kontinuierlich geförderten Druckprodukten arbeiten vielfach mit einem Taster, der ein zu messendes Druckprodukt gegen die Auflage presst, auf der das Druckprodukt zur Förderung aufliegt, wobei direkt oder indirekt die Distanz zwischen Taster und Auflage gemessen wird. Um die genannten Messgenauigkeiten mit Tastern und Abstandsmessungen zu erreichen, müssen die beteiligten mechanischen Teile mit sehr hoher Präzision hergestellt und montiert werden. Dies fällt insbesondere dann ins Gewicht, wenn der Taster zu einem Messsystem gehört und die Auflage zu einem Fördersystem und wenn wegen hoher Fördergeschwindigkeiten und Förderleistungen eine hohe Anzahl von Tastern und eine noch höhere Anzahl von Auflagen zur Anwendung kommen.Known systems for measuring the thickness of continuously conveyed In many cases, printed products work with a button, which is a measurement Presses the printed product against the support on which the printed product is conveyed rests, the distance between button and Edition is measured. To the above-mentioned measuring accuracies with buttons and to achieve distance measurements, the mechanical Parts are manufactured and assembled with very high precision. This is falling especially important when the probe belongs to a measuring system and the requirement for a conveyor system and if due to high conveyor speeds and funding a high number of buttons and a even higher number of editions are used.

In der Publikation EP-651231 (F362) ist ein derartiges System beschrieben. Das Messsystem besteht im wesentlichen aus einer rotierenden Scheibe mit einer Mehrzahl von Tasterpaaren die beispielsweise mit den sattelförmigen Auflagen einer Sammeltrommel (Fördersystem) kooperieren. Die Scheibe und die Sammeltrommel sind derart relativ zueinander angeordnet und synchronisiert angetrieben, dass jede Auflage und das darauf geförderte Druckprodukt von je einem Tasterpaar abgetastet wird. Die Differenz zwischen den Messpositionen (Auflage ohne und mit Produkt) der beiden Taster eines Tasterpaares entspricht der Dicke des abgetasteten Produktes. Diese Messungen sind sehr empfindlich abhängig nicht nur von der relativen Anordnung der Taster eines Tasterpaares und von der relativen Anordnung der beiden Sensoranordnungen, mit denen die Messpositionen der beiden Taster vermessen werden sondern auch von der Anordnung der Auflagen. Um eine genügende Messzeit zu realisieren müssen die Taster beweglich auf der Scheibe montiert sein und durch Steuermittel in einer der Kreisbewegung der Scheibe überlagerten Bewegung gesteuert werden. Zur Elimination der vielen mechanischen Toleranzen, die die Messung beeinflussen, ist zusätzlich zur Auflagenmessung bei jeder durchgeführten Dickenmessung für jede Kombination von Tasterpaar und Auflage eine Eichmessung ohne Druckprodukt notwendig und muss jede durchgeführte Dickenmessung anhand der Eichmessung korrigiert werden. Damit die Zahl dieser Eichmessungen sich in vernünftigen Grenzen hält, ist es unumgänglich, dass die Anzahl Auflagen ein ganzzahliges Vielfaches der Anzahl Tasterpaare darstellt.Such a system is described in the publication EP-651231 (F362). The measuring system essentially consists of a rotating disc a plurality of pairs of buttons, for example with the saddle-shaped Cooperation requirements of a collecting drum (conveyor system). The disc and the collecting drum are arranged relative to one another and synchronized in this way driven that every edition and the printed product promoted on it is scanned by a pair of buttons. The difference between the measurement positions (Edition without and with product) of the two buttons of a pair of buttons corresponds to the thickness of the scanned product. These measurements are very sensitive not only depending on the relative arrangement of the buttons a pair of buttons and the relative arrangement of the two sensor arrangements, with which the measuring positions of the two probes are measured but also from the arrangement of the requirements. To be enough To realize the measuring time, the buttons must be movably mounted on the disc be and superimposed by control means in one of the circular movements of the disk Movement can be controlled. To eliminate the many mechanical Tolerances that affect the measurement is in addition to the measurement of the support for each combination of thickness measurements performed Pair of buttons and support a calibration measurement without printed product necessary and Every thickness measurement carried out must be corrected using the calibration measurement become. So the number of these calibration measurements is within reasonable limits holds, it is imperative that the number of editions is an integral multiple represents the number of button pairs.

Es ist nun die Aufgabe der Erfindung, ein Verfahren zur Kontrolle der Dicke von durch individuelle Fördermittel kontinuierlich geförderten, flächigen Gegenständen, insbesondere Druckprodukten aufzuzeigen und eine Vorrichtung zur Durchführung des Verfahrens zu schaffen. Dabei soll das erfindungsgemässe Verfahren und die erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung in bedeutend höherem Masse unabhängig sein von der Fördervorrichtung, mit der die Produkte gefördert werden, als dies bei der oben beschriebenen Vorrichtung der Fall ist, derart, dass durch die Dickenkontrolle dem Fördersystem im wesentlichen keine mechanischen Grenzen und keine erhöhten Genauigkeiten aufgezwungen werden. Trotz der hohen, notwendigen Auflösung (Papierdicke im Bereiche von 0.1mm, Produktedicke bis einige cm) soll die Vorrichtung mit einfachen mechanischen Mitteln und einfach erzeugbaren Herstellungs- und Montagetoleranzen realisierbar sein. Die Vorrichtung soll auch robust und in hohem Masse einstellungsfrei sein, d.h. sie soll Eigenschaften aufweisen, die einen problemlosen Betrieb auch in dem staubreichen Klima der Druckereien garantieren.It is now the object of the invention to provide a method for controlling the thickness of flat objects continuously funded by individual funding, in particular to show printed products and a device to carry out the procedure. The purpose of the invention Method and the device according to the invention in significantly higher Mass be independent of the conveyor with which the products be promoted than is the case with the device described above is such that the thickness control of the conveyor system essentially no mechanical limits and no increased accuracy imposed become. Despite the high, necessary resolution (paper thickness in the areas from 0.1mm, product thickness to a few cm) the device should be simple mechanical means and easily producible manufacturing and Assembly tolerances can be realized. The device is also said to be robust and in be largely free of attitudes, i.e. it should have properties that trouble-free operation even in the dusty climate of the printing houses to guarantee.

Diese Aufgabe wird gelöst durch das Verfahren und die Vorrichtung, wie sie in den Patentansprüchen definiert sind.This object is achieved by the method and the device as it is are defined in the claims.

Zur Durchführung des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens werden in den Förderstrom, in dem die Druckprodukte durch individuelle Fördermittel (z.B. Greifer) kontinuierlich gefördert werden, Kontrollelemente eingeführt und es wird jedem Druckprodukt ein Kontrollelement zugeordnet. Die Kontrollelemente bestehen im wesentlichen aus einem Paar von Kontrollhebeln mit Klemmbacken (erste Hebelteile), die mit einer Presskraft gegeneinander gedrückt werden. Für die Kontrolle wird ein Bereich jedes Druckproduktes zwischen den Klemmbacken eines Hebelpaares eingeklemmt. Durch dieses Klemmen miteinander interagierend durchlaufen Kontrollelement und Druckprodukt gemeinsam einen Kontrollbereich. In diesem Kontrollbereich wird zur quantitativen Registrierung der Interaktion zwischen Kontrollelement und Druckprodukt eine Bildaufnahme von je einer Kante (zweite Hebelteile) der beiden Kontrollhebel und vom Abstand zwischen diesen Kanten gemacht, wobei der abgebildete Abstand mit der Dicke des eingeklemmten Druckproduktes variiert. Aus dem aufgenommenen Bild wird ein dem Kantenabstand entsprechender Messwert ermittelt. Dieser Messwert wird mit einem jedem Kontrollelement zugeordneten Sollbereich verglichen. Der Sollbereich ist ein vorgegebener Toleranzbereich, der mit einem Sollwert aus einer Eichmessung kombiniert wird, wobei die Eichmessung für das spezifische Kontrollelement und ein korrektes Produkt durchgeführt wird.To carry out the method according to the invention, in which the printed products through individual funding (e.g. grippers) are continuously promoted, control elements are introduced and it becomes a control element is assigned to each printed product. The controls consist essentially of a pair of control levers with clamping jaws (first lever parts) pressed against each other with a pressing force become. For control purposes, a range of each printed product is between pinched the jaws of a pair of levers. By this clamping interacting with each other go through control element and printed product together a control area. This control area becomes quantitative Registration of the interaction between the control element and the printed product an image of one edge (second lever parts) of the two Control lever and the distance between these edges, the distance shown varies with the thickness of the pinched printed product. The captured image becomes a one that corresponds to the edge distance Measured value determined. This measurement is taken with each control element assigned target range compared. The target range is a predetermined one Tolerance range that combines with a setpoint from a calibration measurement , the calibration measurement for the specific control element and a correct product is carried out.

Anstelle einer Bildaufnahme und einer nachfolgenden Vermessung des Bildes kann auch eine andere Methode zur Registrierung eines Abstandes zwischen zweiten Hebelteilen zur Anwendung kommen.Instead of taking an image and then measuring the image can also be another method of registering a distance between second lever parts are used.

Wie noch zu zeigen sein wird, genügt zur Bestimmung des Sollwertes eine einmalige Interaktion jedes Kontrollelementes mit einem als korrekt definierten Druckprodukt. Damit Dickenvariationen bedingt durch beispielsweise Variationen in der Papierqualität, in der Temperatur oder Luftfeuchtigkeit die Kontrolle so wenig wie möglich beeinträchtigen, wird der Sollwert vorteilhafterweise fortwährend an die neuesten Messungen angepasst, wobei für derartige Anpassungen nur Kontrolldurchläufe von als korrekt beurteilten Gegenständen beigezogen werden. As will be shown later, one is sufficient to determine the setpoint one-time interaction of each control element with one defined as correct Print product. So that thickness variations caused by, for example Variations in paper quality, in temperature or in humidity Control as little as possible, the set point will advantageously constantly adapted to the latest measurements, whereby for such Adjustments only control runs of objects judged to be correct be involved.

Der Toleranzbereich ist dem Zweck der Kontrolle entsprechend vorzugeben. Beispielsweise für eine spezielle Weiterbehandlung von Druckprodukten, die nicht die korrekte Seitenzahl aufweisen, ist der Toleranzbereich auf die Papierqualität abzustimmen. Beidseitig vom Sollwert soll für eine derartige Anwendung der Toleranzbereich in jedem Falle schmaler sein als die Dicke einer Seite. Damit Produkte mit bestimmten Anzahlen von fehlenden oder überschüssigen Seiten getrennt detektierbar sind, können auch eine Mehrzahl von entsprechenden Toleranzbereichen verschiedener Ausrichtungen (grösser oder kleiner als der Sollwert) und/oder verschiedener Breite einander überlagert werden.The tolerance range is to be specified according to the purpose of the control. For example, for a special further treatment of printed products that do not have the correct page number, the tolerance range is on paper quality vote. Both sides of the setpoint are intended for such an application the tolerance range should in any case be narrower than the thickness one side. So that products with certain numbers of missing or excess pages can be detected separately, a plurality can also of corresponding tolerance ranges of different orientations (larger or smaller than the target value) and / or different widths superimposed become.

Die einzige Bedingung, die durch das erfindungsgemässe Verfahren an das Fördersystem zur kontinuierlichen Förderung der Druckprodukte gestellt wird. besteht darin, dass die Druckprodukte von den individuellen Fördermitteln derart gefördert werden, dass ein Bereich der Druckprodukte derart frei ist, dass er von beiden Seiten für die Kontrollhebel zugänglich und zwischen den Klemmbacken einklemmbar ist.The only condition that by the inventive method to the Conveyor system for the continuous conveyance of the printed products is provided. is that the printed products from the individual funding be promoted in such a way that an area of the printed products is so free that it is accessible from both sides for the control lever and between the Jaws can be pinched.

Das erfindungsgemässe Verfahren und eine beispielhafte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung werden anhand der folgenden Figuren mehr im Detail beschrieben. Dabei zeigen:

Figur 1
eine Übersicht über eine beispielhafte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung (Blickwinkel quer zur Förderrichtung);
Figur 2
ein Kontrollelement mit eingeklemmtem Druckprodukt quer zur Förderrichtung betrachtet;
Figur 3
Teile eines Kontrollelementes und ein zu kontrollierendes Druckprodukt im Kontrollbereich, gegen die Förderrichtung betrachtet;
Figuren 4 und 5
zwei beispielhafte Schemata von Messresultaten aus dem erfindungsgemässen Verfahren.
The method according to the invention and an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention are described in more detail with reference to the following figures. Show:
Figure 1
an overview of an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention (viewing angle transverse to the conveying direction);
Figure 2
a control element with a jammed printed product viewed transversely to the conveying direction;
Figure 3
Parts of a control element and a printed product to be checked in the control area, viewed against the conveying direction;
Figures 4 and 5
two exemplary schemes of measurement results from the method according to the invention.

Figur 1 zeigt eine Übersicht über eine beispielhafte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung. Die Vorrichtung ist quer zur Förderrichtung F der Druckprodukte 1 betrachtet dargestellt. Die Druckprodukte 1 werden individuell gefördert mit Hilfe von Greifern 2, die beispielsweise an einer Kette angeordnet sind, die in einem Kettenkanal 2.1 läuft. Die erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung besteht in dem dargestellten beispielhaften Falle im wesentlichen aus einer tangential zur Förderrichtung F angeordneten und mit dieser gleichgerichtet rotierenden (Pfeil R) Kontrollscheibe 3 mit Kontrollelementen 4, einer Kamera 5, einem Rechner zur Bild- und Messwertverarbeitung und einer Auslöseeinrichtung 7. FIG. 1 shows an overview of an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention. The device is shown viewed transversely to the conveying direction F of the printed products 1. The printed products 1 are conveyed individually with the aid of grippers 2 which are arranged, for example, on a chain which runs in a chain channel 2.1. In the exemplary case shown, the device according to the invention essentially consists of a control disk 3 arranged tangentially to the conveying direction F and rotating in the same direction (arrow R) with control elements 4, a camera 5, a computer for image and measured value processing and a triggering device 7.

Die Kontrollelemente 4 sind am Umfang der Kontrollscheibe 3 äquidistant angeordnet und bestehen im wesentlichen aus je einem relativ zur Kontrollscheibe 3 stationären Kontrollhebel 10 und einem relativ zur Kontrollscheibe 3 beweglichen, beispielsweise um eine Schwenkachse 11.1 verschwenkbaren Kontrollhebel 11. Beide Kontrollhebel 10 und 11 weisen an ihren distalen Enden eine Klemmbacke 13 auf, wobei die Klemmbacken 13 eines Kontrollelementes 4 gegeneinander gerichtet und für das Einklemmen eines Druckproduktes aufeinander ausgerichtet sind. Der schwenkbare Kontrollhebel 11 eines spezifischen Kontrollelementes 4 wird durch eine Feder 12 gegen den stationären Kontrollhebel 10 gepresst, das heisst in eine Position in der die beiden Klemmbacken 13 im wesentlichen aneinander liegen oder ein Druckprodukt zwischen sich einklemmen.The control elements 4 are equidistant on the circumference of the control disk 3 arranged and consist essentially of one relative to the control disc 3 stationary control lever 10 and one relative to the control disc 3 movable, for example pivotable about a pivot axis 11.1 Control lever 11. Both control levers 10 and 11 point at their distal Ends of a jaw 13, the jaws 13 of a control element 4 facing each other and for pinching a printed product are aligned. The swiveling control lever 11 a specific control element 4 is by a spring 12 against the stationary control lever 10 pressed, that is, in a position in which two jaws 13 are essentially against each other or a printed product pinch between them.

Der verschwenkbare Kontrollhebel 11 weist ferner eine Steuerrolle 14 auf, die beim Drehen der Kontrollscheibe 3 auf einer stationären Steuerkulisse 15 abrollt. Dabei ist die Steuerkulisse 15 derart ausgestaltet, dass der verschwenkbare Kontrollhebel 11 gegen die Kraft der Feder 12 vom stationären Hebel beabstandet gehalten wird, ausser im Kontrollbereich K, in dem das Kontrollelement 4 mit einem Druckprodukte 1 in Interaktion ist. In diesem Bereich rollt die Steuerrolle 14 nicht auf der Kulisse 15 ab sondern ist die Position des verschwenkbaren Kontrollhebels 11 durch die Feder 12 und durch die Dicke eines zwischen den Klemmbacken eingeklemmten Druckproduktes 1 bestimmt.The pivotable control lever 11 also has a control roller 14 which when turning the control disk 3 on a stationary control link 15 rolls. The control link 15 is designed such that the pivotable Control lever 11 against the force of the spring 12 from the stationary Lever is kept apart, except in the control area K, in which the Control element 4 is in interaction with a printed product 1. In this The control roller 14 does not roll on the backdrop 15 but is the area Position of the pivotable control lever 11 by the spring 12 and by the thickness of a printed product jammed between the jaws 1 determined.

Um einen ruhigen Lauf der Kontrollscheibe zu garantieren ist es gegebenenfalls vorteilhaft, die Steuerkulisse derart auszugestalten, dass die Klemmbakken der einzelnen Kontrollelemente nicht aufeinanderliegen, wenn sie ohne ein eingeklemmtes Druckprodukt den Kontrollbereich durchlaufen, sondern einen Abstand voneinander aufweisen, der aber kleiner ist als die Dicke des dünnsten zu erwartenden Druckproduktes.In order to guarantee that the control disc runs smoothly, it may be necessary advantageous to design the control link such that the clamping jaws of the individual control elements do not lie on top of each other if they are without a jammed printed product will pass through the control area, but have a distance from each other, but which is smaller than the thickness of the thinnest print product to be expected.

Die Kontrollscheibe 3 wird synchron und gleichgerichtet mit der Greiferkette in Richtung des Pfeiles R rotierend angetrieben, beispielsweise über einen Kettenabtrieb mit einem Kettenrad 20 und einer Antriebskette 21, wobei die Kontrollscheibe 3 und die Greiferkette derart synchronisiert sind, dass je ein Greifer 2 und ein Kontrollelement 4 miteinander durch den Kontrollbereich K bewegt werden.The control disc 3 is synchronized and rectified with the gripper chain driven in the direction of arrow R rotating, for example via a Chain output with a sprocket 20 and a drive chain 21, the Control disc 3 and the gripper chain are synchronized such that one each Grippers 2 and a control element 4 with each other through the control area K can be moved.

Die Kamera 5 ist stationär angeordnet und auf den Kontrollbereich K ausgerichtet. Die Blickrichtung der Kamera 5 ist im vorliegenden, beispielhaften Falle im wesentlichen senkrecht zur Drehachse der Kontrollscheibe 3 ausgerichtet auf abzubildende Kanten 30 (Figur 2), die an aus der Kontrollscheibe 3 vorstehenden Teilen 30.1 der Kontrollhebel 10 und 11 angeordnet sind. Der Abstand zwischen den abzubildenden Kanten ist direkt abhängig von der Dicke eines zwischen den Klemmbacken 13 eingeklemmten Druckproduktes 1. Die Kamera 5 ist beispielsweise eine digitale Kamera, die ein Pixelfile erstellt und dieses an den Rechner 6 weiterleitet.The camera 5 is arranged stationary and aligned with the control area K. The viewing direction of the camera 5 is exemplary in the present case Trap aligned substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the control disk 3 on edges 30 to be imaged (FIG. 2), on from the control disc 3 protruding parts 30.1 of the control levers 10 and 11 are arranged. The The distance between the edges to be imaged is directly dependent on the Thickness of a printed product clamped between the jaws 13 1. The camera 5 is, for example, a digital camera that has a pixel file created and forwards this to the computer 6.

Zur Auslösung einer Bildaufnahme ist eine Auslöseeinrichtung 7 vorgesehen. Diese besteht beispielsweise aus einer Laserschranke, die von einem Referenzkörper 31 durchschritten wird. Dabei ist für jedes Kontrollelement 4 ein Referenzkörper 31 vorgesehen, der beispielsweise am verschwenkbaren Kontrollhebel 11 angeordnet ist und wie die abzubildenden Flächen 30 von der Kontrollscheibe 3 vorsteht. Die Laserschranke der Auslöseeinheit 7 ist derart positioniert, dass in dem Moment, in dem der Referenzkörper 31 eines Kontrollelementes die Laserschranke unterbricht, ein anders Kontrollelement den Kontrollbereich K betritt und die Kamera 5 auszulösen ist. Die Kamera 5 wird durch das Signal des Unterbruchs der Laserschranke ausgelöst.A triggering device 7 is provided for triggering an image recording. This consists, for example, of a laser barrier, made by a reference body 31 is passed through. There is 4 for each control element Reference body 31 is provided, for example on the pivotable control lever 11 is arranged and how the surfaces 30 to be imaged from the Control disc 3 protrudes. The laser barrier of the trigger unit 7 is of this type positioned that the moment the reference body 31 of a control element the laser barrier interrupts another control element Enter control area K and trigger camera 5. The camera 5 is triggered by the signal of the interruption of the laser barrier.

Ferner kann ein Schalter 7.1 vorgesehen werden, der von einem auf der Kontrollscheibe 3 angeordneten Element ausgelöst wird, welcher Schalter 7.1 nach einer Umdrehung der Kontrollscheibe betätigt wird. Das Signal des Schalters 7.1 ist beispielsweise verwendbar für die Nullsetzung eines Zählers, der die Kontrollvorgänge zählt und jeden Kontrollvorgang einem bestimmten Kontrollelement bzw. dem Kontrollvorgang den Sollwert des spezifischen Kontrollelementes zuordnet.A switch 7.1 can also be provided, which is switched on by one on the control disc 3 arranged element is triggered, which switch 7.1 after one revolution of the control disc is actuated. The signal from the switch 7.1 can be used, for example, for the zeroing of a counter that Control operations counts and each control operation a specific control element or the control process the setpoint of the specific control element assigns.

Der Rechner 6 dient zur Bildauswertung, das heisst zur Vermessung des im Bild festgehaltenen Abstandes (Messwert M) zwischen den beiden abgebildeten Kanten 30 des stationären Kontrollhebels 10 und des verschwenkbaren Kontrollhebels 11 (sichtbar auf dem Bildschirm 32 des Rechners 6). Der Messwert M wird beispielsweise als Anzahl Pixel registriert. Der Rechner dient ferner zur Speicherung und gegebenenfalls der fortlaufenden Anpassung der Sollwerte, von denen je einer jedem Kontrollelement 4 zugeordnet ist. Für die Eingabe von beispielsweise Toleranzbereichen ist der Rechner 6 auch mit einer Tastatur 33 ausgerüstet.The computer 6 is used for image evaluation, that is to measure the im Image recorded distance (measured value M) between the two shown Edges 30 of the stationary control lever 10 and the pivotable Control lever 11 (visible on the screen 32 of the computer 6). The Measured value M is registered, for example, as the number of pixels. The computer is also used for storage and, if necessary, continuous adjustment the target values, one of which is assigned to each control element 4. For Computer 6 is also able to enter tolerance ranges, for example a keyboard 33 equipped.

Figur 2 zeigt mehr im Detail ein Kontrollelement 4 mit Blickwinkel parallel zur Rotationsachse der Kontrollscheibe 3, das heisst quer zur Förderrichtung F. Das Kontrollelement 4 befindet sich im Kontrollbereich, das heisst in klemmender Interaktion mit einem Druckprodukt 1. Dementsprechend weicht die Steuerkulisse 15 in diesem Bereich derart von einem mit der Kontrollscheibe 3 konzentrischen Kreis ab, den sie in allen anderen Bereichen darstellt, dass die Steuerrolle 14 die Steuerkulisse 15 nicht berührt und dadurch die Klemmbacken 13 das Druckprodukt 1 einklemmen können. Der Abstand D zwischen den abzubildenden Flächen 30 ist die auszumessende Grösse. Figure 2 shows in more detail a control element 4 with a viewing angle parallel to the axis of rotation of the control disc 3, that is to say transversely to the conveying direction F. The control element 4 is located in the control area, that is to say in a jamming interaction with a printed product 1. Accordingly, the control link 15 gives way to this Area in such a way from a circle concentric with the control disk 3 that it represents in all other areas that the control roller 14 does not touch the control link 15 and the clamping jaws 13 can thereby clamp the printed product 1. The distance D between the surfaces 30 to be imaged is the size to be measured.

Figur 3 zeigt mit einer Blickrichtung, die der Förderrichtung F entgegengerichtet ist, einen Greifer 2, der durch die Greiferkette 2.2 im Kettenkanal 2.1 angetrieben wird und ein Druckprodukt 1 fördert. Von der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung sind ein Teil der Kontrollscheibe 3 mit Teilen eines Kontrollelementes 4, die Kamera 5 und eine Beleuchtungs- bzw. Blitzeinrichtung 40 sichtbar. Der stationäre Kontrollhebel 10 des Kontrollelementes 4 ist ganz sichtbar und insbesondere die abzubildende Kante 30. Vom verschwenkbaren Kontrollhebel 11 ist die Steuerrolle 14 und der Referenzkörper 31 sichtbar. Das Kontrollelement 4 ist offensichtlich noch nicht im Kontrollbereich angelangt oder hat diesen eben verlassen, denn die Steuerrolle 14 läuft auf der Steuerkulisse 15. FIG. 3 shows, with a viewing direction which is opposite to the conveying direction F, a gripper 2 which is driven by the gripper chain 2.2 in the chain channel 2.1 and conveys a printed product 1. A part of the control disk 3 with parts of a control element 4, the camera 5 and a lighting or flashing device 40 are visible from the device according to the invention. The stationary control lever 10 of the control element 4 is completely visible and in particular the edge 30 to be imaged. The control roller 14 and the reference body 31 are visible from the pivotable control lever 11. The control element 4 has obviously not yet reached the control area or has just left it, because the control roller 14 runs on the control link 15.

Der Betrieb der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung gemäss Figuren 1 bis 3 läuft folgendermassen ab: The operation of the device according to the invention according to FIGS. 1 to 3 is running as follows:

Ein Druckprodukt 1 wird gegen den Kontrollbereich K gefördert. Kurz vor dem Kontrollbereich K wird ein Kontrollelement 4 in einem offenen Zustand (Klemmbacken voneinander beabstandet) derart in den Förderstrom der Druckprodukte zugefördert, dass die beiden Klemmbacken 10 und 11 auf einander gegenüberliegenden Seiten eines freien Bereiches des Druckproduktes positioniert werden. Am Eingang des Kontrollbereiches K hört die Wirkung der Steuerkulisse 15 auf den verschwenkbaren Kontrollhebel 11 auf, sodass dieser durch die Feder 12 gegen den stationären Hebel 10 getrieben wird, wodurch der freie Bereich des Druckproduktes 1 zwischen den Pressbacken 13 der Kontrollhebel 10 und 11 eingeklemmt wird. Derart interagierend durchlaufen das Kontrollelement 4 und das Druckprodukt 1 gemeinsam den Kontrollbereich K. Gleichzeitig wird die Kamera 5 durch die Auslöseeinheit 7 ausgelöst und wird von den abzubildenden Kanten 30 und dem dazwischenliegenden Abstand D eine Aufnahme gemacht. Unmittelbar danach wird durch die Wirkung der Steuerkulisse 15 der verschwenkbare Kontrollhebel 11 wieder vom stationären Kontrollhebel 10 wegbewegt und dadurch das Druckprodukt 1 aus der Einklemmung entlassen. Der Kontrollbereich K beträgt wenige Bogenminuten der Rotation der Kontrollscheibe 3.A printed product 1 is conveyed against the control area K. Shortly before the control area K becomes a control element 4 in an open state (Jaws spaced apart) in the flow of the Printed products fed that the two jaws 10 and 11 onto each other opposite sides of a free area of the printed product be positioned. At the entrance of the control area K the effect stops the control link 15 on the pivotable control lever 11 so that this is driven by the spring 12 against the stationary lever 10, whereby the free area of the printed product 1 between the press jaws 13 the control lever 10 and 11 is pinched. Go through interacting like this the control element 4 and the printed product 1 together the control area K. At the same time, the camera 5 is activated by the release unit 7 triggered and is from the edges 30 to be imaged and the intermediate Distance D made a picture. Immediately afterwards by the action of the control link 15 of the pivotable control lever 11 again moved away from the stationary control lever 10 and thereby the printed product 1 released from the trap. The control area is K few arc minutes of the rotation of the control disk 3.

Das von der Kamera 5 aufgenommene Bild wird durch den Rechner 6 verarbeitet. Diese Verarbeitung besteht darin, dem abgebildeten Abstand zwischen den beiden abgebildeten Kanten 30 einen zum wirklichen Abstand D dieser Kanten proportionalen Messwert M (beispielsweise in Pixel) zuzuordnen. Dieser Messwert M wird mit einem Sollbereich Ms ± T (Ms = Sollwert, T = Toleranz) verglichen. Liegt der Messwert M innerhalb des Sollbereiches, wird das Produkt als korrekt beurteilt und es erfolgt keine weitere Massnahme. Liegt der Messwert M ausserhalb des Sollbereiches, wird das Produkt als fehlerhaft beurteilt und wird durch den Rechner 6 ein Signal erzeugt, das beispielsweise zur Aktivierung einer Alarmeinrichtung oder zur Steuerung einer Vorrichtung zum Ausschleusen des fehlerhaften Produktes (z.B. Öffnen des entsprechenden Greifers 2 über einem Ausschussbehälter) weitergeleitet wird.The image recorded by the camera 5 is processed by the computer 6. This processing consists in assigning the mapped distance between the two mapped edges 30 to a measured value M (for example in pixels) which is proportional to the actual distance D between these edges. This measured value M is compared with a target range M s ± T (M s = target value, T = tolerance). If the measured value M is within the target range, the product is judged to be correct and no further action is taken. If the measured value M lies outside the target range, the product is judged to be defective and a signal is generated by the computer 6, for example to activate an alarm device or to control a device for discharging the defective product (for example opening the corresponding gripper 2 above a reject container ) is forwarded.

Der Messwert M entspricht der Dicke des eingeklemmten Druckproduktes nur bedingt. Im Messwert M sind neben dieser Dicke die folgenden Faktoren enthalten: multiplikative Faktoren bedingt durch die Vergrösserung oder Verkleinerung der Bildaufnahme und durch Ungenauigkeiten im Abstand zwischen Klemmbacken und abzubildenden Kanten (Hebelübersetzung) und additive Faktoren bedingt durch Ungenauigkeiten in der gegenseitigen Anordnung der abzubildenden Kanten (D ohne eingeklemmtes Druckprodukt gegebenenfalls nicht gleich Null). Damit die genannten Faktoren die Kontrolle nicht beeinflussen, ist es unbedingt notwendig den Sollwert Ms für jedes Kontrollelement 4 separat zu ermitteln und zu speichern.The measured value M corresponds to the thickness of the pinched printed product only to a limited extent. In addition to this thickness, the measured value M contains the following factors: multiplicative factors due to the enlargement or reduction of the image recording and due to inaccuracies in the distance between the clamping jaws and the edges to be imaged (lever ratio) and additive factors due to inaccuracies in the mutual arrangement of the edges to be imaged (D. Without a jammed printed product, it may not be zero). So that the factors mentioned do not influence the control, it is absolutely necessary to determine and store the target value M s for each control element 4 separately.

Wie bereits eingangs erwähnt, wird der Sollwert Ms für jedes Kontrollelement 4 festgelegt durch eine Eichmessung, das heisst es wird eine Kontrolle mit einem korrekten Produkt (mit der korrekten Seitenzahl k) durchgeführt und der entsprechende Messwert Mk für mindestens eine weitere Kontrolle mit demselben Kontrollelement als Sollwert Ms gespeichert. Dem Sollwert Ms wird eine Toleranz T zugeordnet, die im gleichen Massstab, in dem der Sollwert Ms dem effektiv betrachteten Abstand D entspricht, einem vorgegebenen Bruchteil der Dicke einer Seite (Papierdicke) entspricht. Die Toleranz T wird eingegeben und verändert sich nicht, solange Produkte derselben Papierqualität verarbeitet werden.As already mentioned at the beginning, the target value M s for each control element 4 is determined by a calibration measurement, i.e. a check is carried out with a correct product (with the correct number of pages k) and the corresponding measured value M k for at least one further check with the same Control element saved as setpoint M s . The target value M s is assigned a tolerance T, corresponding to the same scale, in which the target value M corresponds to s the effective considered distance D, a predetermined fraction of the thickness of one side (paper thickness). The tolerance T is entered and does not change as long as products of the same paper quality are processed.

Für die Verarbeitung von Druckprodukten mit einer konstanten Soll-Seitenzahl (k) genügt für die Ermittlung der Sollwerte MS für jedes Kontrollelement ein erster Kontrolldurchgang mit als korrekt beurteilten Druckprodukten. Soll die Kontrolle an Produkten mit individuellen, voneinander abweichenden Soll-Seitenzahlen durchführbar sein, muss für jedes Produkt anhand seiner individuellen Soll-Seitenzahl s der Sollwert MSs berechnet werden. Um dies zu ermöglichen, ist neben einem Kontrolldurchgang mit Produkten einer bekannten Referenz-Seitenzahl r und Messresultaten Mr ein Kontrolldurchgang ohne Druckprodukte mit Messresultaten M0 notwendig, damit die oben genannten additiven Faktoren den Vergleich nicht stören.For the processing of printed products with a constant target page number (k), a first inspection pass with printed products assessed as correct is sufficient for determining the target values M S for each control element. If the control of products with individual target page numbers that differ from one another is feasible, the target value M Ss must be calculated for each product based on its individual target page number s. In order to make this possible, in addition to a control run with products of a known reference page number r and measurement results M r, a control run without printed products with measurement results M 0 is necessary so that the above-mentioned additive factors do not disturb the comparison.

Die Vergleichsbedingung lautet für einen derartigen Fall: M = MSs ± T, wobei MSs = (s/r)(Mr - M0) The comparison condition for such a case is: M = M ss ± T, where M ss = (s / r) (M r - M 0 )

Üblicherweise werden die Schwankungen zwischen den multiplikativen Faktoren für die einzelnen Kontrollelemente 4 nicht derart gross sein, dass nicht für alle Kontrollelemente dieselben Toleranzbreiten verwendet werden könnten. Bei sehr empfindlichen Kontrollen ist dies aber separat zu überprüfen.Usually the fluctuations between the multiplicative factors not be so large for the individual control elements 4 that not for all control elements the same tolerance ranges could be used. In the case of very sensitive controls, this must be checked separately.

Der Sollwert MS oder MSs wird vorteilhafterweise an langwellige Schwankungen der Messwerte M, die beispielsweise durch Schwankungen in der Papierqualität oder durch Schwankungen in den Umgebungsbedingungen (Temperatur, Luftfeuchtigkeit) bedingt sein können, angepasst. Dies kann beispielsweise mit dem folgenden Algorithmus realisiert werden: Wird ein Produkt als korrektes Produkt (Messwert M innerhalb des Sollbereiches) eingestuft, wird der Sollwert MS für die nächste Kontrolle mit demselben Kontrollelement mit einem entsprechenden additiven Korrekturglied eines kleinen Gewichts (beispielsweise 5%) korrigiert, das heisst: M'S = 0.95·MS + 0.05·M wobei

  • M'S = neuer Sollwert
  • MS = alter Sollwert
  • M = aktueller Messwert
    • The setpoint M S or M Ss is advantageously adapted to long-wave fluctuations in the measured values M, which may be caused, for example, by fluctuations in the paper quality or by fluctuations in the ambient conditions (temperature, air humidity). This can be implemented, for example, with the following algorithm: If a product is classified as a correct product (measured value M within the target range), the target value M S for the next check is carried out with the same control element with a corresponding additive correction element of a small weight (for example 5%) corrected, that means: M ' S = 0.95M S + 0.05M in which
  • M ' S = new setpoint
  • M S = old setpoint
  • M = current measured value

    • Das kleine Gewicht des Korrekturgliedes verhindert kurzwellige starke Schwankungen des Sollwertes.The small weight of the correction element prevents short-wave strong ones Variations in the setpoint.

    Figur 4 zeigt einen möglichen Verlauf für die Kontrollen, die von einem Kontrollelement durchgeführt werden. Dabei ist der Messwert M als Funktion der Zeit t aufgetragen. Durch Geschwindigkeitsvariationen der-Förderung können die einzelnen Messungen 0 bis 7 in ungleichen Zeitabständen erfolgen, wie dies dargestellt ist. Die Figur 4 zeigt den Verlauf des anhand der Messwerte M korrigierten Sollwertes und Sollbereiches. In der fünften und siebenten Kontrolle werden fehlerhafte Produkte detektiert und wird aus diesem Grunde der Sollwert nicht korrigiert. FIG. 4 shows a possible course for the controls that are carried out by a control element. The measured value M is plotted as a function of time t. Due to speed variations in the conveyance, the individual measurements 0 to 7 can be made at uneven time intervals, as shown. FIG. 4 shows the course of the target value and target range corrected on the basis of the measured values M. In the fifth and seventh check, defective products are detected and the setpoint is not corrected for this reason.

    Figur 5 zeigt eine Kontrolle mit zwei Sollbereichen MS1 ± T und MS2 ± T, die um beispielsweise vier Seitendicken auseinander liegen. Der erste Sollbereich entspricht dabei beispielsweise einem Druckprodukt ohne vierseitige Beilage, der zweite Sollbereich einem gleichen Druckprodukt mit vierseitiger Beilage. Für eine entsprechende Kontrolle wird entweder die korrekte Anwesenheit des Beilage durch eine anderweitige Kontrolle kontrolliert und werden bei der vorliegenden Dickenkontrolle Produkte mit Messwerten innerhalb der beiden Sollbereiche als korrekt, Produkte mit Messwerten ausserhalb der beiden Toleranzbereiche als fehlerhaft eingestuft. Bei einer derartigen Verfahrensvariante wird ein Produkt mit vier überschüssigen Seiten aber ohne Beilage fälschlicherweise als korrekt eingestuft. Andererseits ist es auch möglich, die Zusammensetzung mit oder ohne Beilage für jedes spezifische Druckprodukt softwaremässig zu übermitteln, sodass der Rechner für ein spezifisches Druckprodukt nur den einen der beiden Sollbereiche zum Vergleich einsetzt und damit alle fehlerhaften Produkte detektiert. Figure 5 shows a control with two target ranges M S1 ± T and M S2 ± T, which are, for example, four side thicknesses apart. The first target range corresponds, for example, to a printed product without a four-sided insert, the second target range corresponds to a same printed product with a four-sided insert. For a corresponding check, either the correct presence of the insert is checked by another check and, in the present thickness check, products with measured values within the two target ranges are classified as correct, products with measured values outside the two tolerance ranges as faulty. In such a method variant, a product with four excess pages but without an insert is wrongly classified as correct. On the other hand, it is also possible to transmit the composition with or without an insert for each specific printed product using software, so that the computer only uses one of the two target ranges for comparison for a specific printed product and thus detects all defective products.

    Von den beiden Sollwerten MS1 und MS2 werden entweder beide durch entsprechende Eichmessungen ermittelt oder wird bei gleicher Papierqualität des Druckproduktes und der Beilage der eine der Sollwerte rechnerisch ermittelt.Of the two setpoints M S1 and M S2 , both are either determined by appropriate calibration measurements or, given the same paper quality of the printed product and the insert, one of the setpoints is calculated.

    Die Figur 5 zeigt zehn Kontrollvorgänge, wobei der nullte Kontrollvorgang die Eichmessung mit einem Druckprodukt ohne Beilage darstellt und wobei in den Kontrollvorgängen 1, 6, 7 und 10 korrekte Produkte ohne Beilage, in den Kontrollvorgängen 2, 5, 8 korrekte Produkte mit Beilage und in den Kontrollvorgängen 3, 4 und 9 fehlerhafte Produkte detektiert werden. Auch hier beziehen sich die dargestellten Kontrollvorgänge auf ein spezifisches Kontrollelement und werden die Sollwerte nur korrigiert, wenn ein korrektes Produkt detektiert worden ist.FIG. 5 shows ten control processes, the zero control process being the Calibration measurement with a printed product without an insert and where in the control processes 1, 6, 7 and 10 correct products without an insert, in the Control processes 2, 5, 8 correct products with supplement and in the control processes 3, 4 and 9 defective products can be detected. Also refer here the control processes shown refer to a specific control element and the target values are only corrected if a correct product has been detected.

    In beiden Figuren 4 und 5 sind die Korrekturen der Sollwerte überzeichnet.The corrections of the target values are exaggerated in both FIGS. 4 and 5.

    Die Figuren 1 bis 3 stellen eine beispielhafte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung und damit auch des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens dar. Vorstellbare Varianten dieser Ausführungsform sind beispielsweise:

    • Die Druckprodukte 1 werden nicht auf einer geradlinigen, sondern auf einer gekrümmten Bahn gefördert.
    • Die Kontrollelemente 4 sind nicht an einer Kontrollscheibe 3 sondern an einer endlosen Kette angeordnet, deren Verlauf über mindestens den Kontrollbereich an den Verlauf der Förderrichtung F angepasst ist.
    • Die Druckprodukte 1 werden nicht äquidistant gefördert und die Kontrollelemente werden von den individuellen Fördermitteln aus einem entsprechenden Puffer mitgenommen und durch den Kontrollbereich (K) gefördert.
    • Die Druckprodukte 1 werden nicht quer zu ihren Hauptflächen sondern beispielsweise parallel zu ihren Hauptflächen gefördert und die Kontrollelemente 4 sind gegenüber den dargestellten Kontrollelementen um 90° gedreht an der Kontrollscheibe 3 angeordnet.
    • Die Steuerkulisse erstreckt sich nur über diejenigen Bereiche der Bahn der Kontrollelemente 4, in denen die Kontrollelemente in den Förderstrom der Druckprodukte 1 eingeführt und aus diesem herausgeführt werden.
    • Beide Kontrollhebel 10 und 11 sind beweglich an der Kontrollscheibe 3 angeordnet.
    • Die abzubildenden Kanten 30 sind im wesentlichen parallel zur Kontrollscheibe 3 angeordnet und die Kamera 5 ist im wesentlichen parallel zur Rotationsachse der Kontrollscheibe 3 ausgerichtet.
    • Der Abstand zwischen den Kanten 30 wird nicht in einem von diesen Kanten aufgenommenen Bild ermittelt sondern durch eine direkte Messung dieses Abstandes (beispielsweise kapazitive Abstandsmessung).
    • Die Auslöseeinrichtung 7 ist im Kotrollbereiche K angeordnet und kooperiert mit jedem den Kontrollbereich K betretenden Kontrollelement.
    • Die zu kontrollierenden Produkte werden mit gleichbleibender Fördergeschwindigkeit gefördert und die Auslöseeinrichtung ist ein Taktgeber.
    • Zur Kontrolle von Druckprodukten, die kleine Beilagen (z.B. Postkarten) enthalten, werden zwei erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtungen eingesetzt, die die Druckprodukte auf verschiedenen Seiten kontrollieren.
    • Die erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung ist softwaremässig verbunden mit gleichartigen Vorrichtungen an anderen Stellen der Verarbeitung oder mit andersartigen Kontrollsystemen.
    Figures 1 to 3 represent an exemplary embodiment of the device according to the invention and thus also of the method according to the invention. Conceivable variants of this embodiment are, for example:
    • The printed products 1 are not conveyed on a straight, but on a curved path.
    • The control elements 4 are not arranged on a control disc 3 but on an endless chain, the course of which is adapted to the course of the conveying direction F over at least the control area.
    • The printed products 1 are not conveyed in an equidistant manner and the control elements are taken from an appropriate buffer by the individual conveying means and conveyed through the control area (K).
    • The printed products 1 are not conveyed transversely to their main surfaces but, for example, parallel to their main surfaces and the control elements 4 are arranged on the control disc 3 rotated by 90 ° with respect to the control elements shown.
    • The control link extends only over those areas of the path of the control elements 4 in which the control elements are introduced into the flow of the printed products 1 and out of them.
    • Both control levers 10 and 11 are movably arranged on the control disc 3.
    • The edges 30 to be imaged are arranged essentially parallel to the control disk 3 and the camera 5 is aligned essentially parallel to the axis of rotation of the control disk 3.
    • The distance between the edges 30 is not determined in an image recorded by these edges, but by a direct measurement of this distance (for example capacitive distance measurement).
    • The triggering device 7 is arranged in the control area K and cooperates with each control element entering the control area K.
    • The products to be checked are conveyed at a constant conveying speed and the triggering device is a clock.
    • To control printed products that contain small inserts (eg postcards), two devices according to the invention are used which control the printed products on different sides.
    • In terms of software, the device according to the invention is connected to similar devices at other processing points or to different control systems.

    Die obige Liste ist nicht vollständig und durch den Fachmann erweiterbar, ohne dass von der Grundidee des erfindungsgemässen Verfahrens oder der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung abgewichen würde.The above list is not exhaustive and can be expanded by a specialist, without the basic idea of the method according to the invention or the deviated device according to the invention.

    Selbstverständlich ist das erfindungsgemässe Verfahren und die erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung nicht nur anwendbar zur Kontrolle von Druckprodukten im Hinblick auf fehlende oder überschüssige Seiten. In derselben Weise sind diese anwendbar zur Detektion von eingefalteten oder zerknitterten Seiten oder zur Kontrolle der Papierqualität, wenn die zu kontrollierenden Druckprodukte nur eine Seite aufweisen oder wenn ihre Seitenzahl mit anderen Mitteln (beispielsweise durch entsprechende Kontrollen der Schritte, in denen diese zusammengebracht werden) bereits als korrekt beurteilt worden ist. Wie eingangs erwähnt sind das erfindungsgemässe Verfahren und die erfindungsgemässe Vorrichtung auch anwendbar für die Kontrolle anderer, flächiger Gegenstände. Für jeden Anwendungsfall sind die Breiten der Sollbereiche entsprechend vorzugeben.It goes without saying that the method according to the invention and the method according to the invention Device not only applicable for the control of printed products regarding missing or excess pages. Are in the same way these can be used to detect folded or crumpled pages or to control paper quality if the print products to be checked have only one page or if their page number matches others Funds (for example, by appropriate controls of the steps in which these are brought together) has already been judged to be correct. How The inventive method and the inventive method are mentioned at the beginning Device also applicable for the control of other, more extensive Items. The widths of the target ranges are for each application to specify accordingly.

    Claims (19)

    1. Method for monitoring the thickness of flat objects which are continuously conveyed in a conveying stream with a conveying means each, the monitoring being carried out with the help of a plurality of monitoring elements (4) moving on a closed course and moving temporarily within the conveying stream of objects forming interacting pairs of one monitoring element (4) and one object, the pairs being conveyed in succession through a monitoring area (K) in which interaction between monitoring element (4) and object in each pair is quantitatively recorded, whereby the recorded quantities are compared with a reference value (Ms) and whereby signals for monitoring and/or control purposes are generated according to the comparison results characterized in that the interaction between monitoring element (4) and object consists in pressing a region of the object between first parts of two monitoring levers (10, 11), in that the quantitative recording of the interaction between monitoring element (4) and object consists in recording a distance (D) between two second parts of the monitoring levers (10, 11) which distance (D) varies with the thickness of the pressed object and in that the reference value (Ms) is determined for each monitoring element (4) by calibrating the monitoring element (4) with an object having a known thickness.
    2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the objects are printed products (1).
    3. Method according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that recording the distance (D) consists of imaging the second parts of the monitoring levers (10,11) and of determining a measured value (M) by measuring the distance (D) between the imaged second parts of the levers.
    4. Method according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that for the reference values (Ms) at least one tolerance range (T) is defined and in that for objects with measured values (M) inside the tolerance range (Ms ± T) no signals are generated.
    5. Method according to claim 4, characterized in that the tolerance range (T) corresponds to a predetermined fraction of the thickness of an individual page of the printed products (1) to be monitored.
    6. Method according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the reference value (Ms) of each monitoring element (4) is adapted to the measured value (M) after a passage of the monitoring element (4) through the monitoring area (K), provided that the measured value (M) generated during this passage is within the reference range (Ms ± T).
    7. Method according to claim 6, characterized in that the reference value (Ms) is adapted by an additive correction term and in that the additive correction term is the latest measured value (M) carrying a small weight
    8. Method according to one of claims 2 to 7, characterized in that for each printed product (1) to be monitored an individual reference value (MSs) corresponding to the predetermined number of pages (s) of the product is calculated.
    9. Method according to claim 8, characterized in that individual reference values (MSs) for printed products with different predetermined numbers (s) of pages are calculated from the measured values (M0 and Mr) of calibrations of each monitoring element (4) without a printed product and with a printed product having a reference number (r) of pages.
    10. Device for carrying out the method according to one of claims 1 to 9 which device comprises a plurality of monitoring elements (4) movable on a closed course into and out of a conveying stream of flat objects being conveyed continuously by one conveying means each and in synchronism with the objects through a monitoring area (K), which device further comprises sensor means for recording quantitatively an interaction between monitoring element (4) and object in the monitoring area (K), means for determining a measured value (M) from the recorded interaction, means for comparing the measured value (M) with a reference value (Ms) and means for generating signals for monitoring and/or control purposes corresponding to the result of the comparison, characterized, in that each monitoring element (4) comprises a pair of controlled monitoring levers (10, 11) with pressing jaws (13) pressable against each other, in that the sensor means are arranged such that in the monitoring area (K) a distance (D) between parts of both monitoring levers (10, 11) of a monitoring element (4) is recordable, in that the device further comprises a triggering device (7) activating the sensor means when a monitoring element (4) enters the monitoring area and in that the device further comprises a computer (6) which is equipped for processing the recordings into a measured value (M) and for the comparison of reference values (Ms) with measured values (M).
    11. Device according to claim 10, characterized in that the sensor means is a camera (5) imaging edges (30) of the two monitoring levers (10, 11) and the distance (D) between the edges.
    12. Device according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that the monitoring elements (4) are arranged equidistantly on the perimeter of a rotatable monitoring disc (3) which monitoring disk is arranged and driven for moving the monitoring elements through the monitoring area (K) in synchronism with the printed products (1) and in the same direction as the printed products (1).
    13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that one (10) of the two monitoring levers of each monitoring element (4) is rigidly connected to the monitoring disc (3) and that the other monitoring lever (11) is pivotally mounted to monitoring disc (3).
    14. Device according to claim 13, characterized in that the pivotal monitoring levers (11) are provided with a control roll (14) and that a stationary template (15) is provided on which the control rolls (14) roll at least on the entrance and the exit of the monitoring area (K) for holding the pair of monitoring levers (10, 11) in a position distanced from each other.
    15. Device according to claim 14, characterized in that for pressing together the monitoring levers (10, 11) of a monitoring element (4) a spring (12) is provided between each pivotal monitoring lever (11) of each monitoring element (4) and the stationary monitoring lever (10) of the adjacent monitoring element (4).
    16. Device according to one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that as triggering device (7) a laser barrier is provided, the laser barrier being interrupted by reference bodies (31) arranged on the monitoring elements (4).
    17. Device according to one of claims 10 to 16, characterized in that the camera (5) is a digital camera.
    18. Application of the method according to one of claims 1 to 9 and of the device according to one of claims 10 to 17 for detecting printed products with a number of pages other than a predetermined number of pages and for controlling the supply of detected products to specific further processing.
    19. Application according to claim 18, characterized in that printed products with specific numbers of missing or superfluous pages are distinguished and are supplied to separate specific further processing.
    EP98114797A 1997-08-15 1998-08-06 Method and device for checking the thickness of sheetlike objects conveyed continuously Expired - Lifetime EP0897887B1 (en)

    Applications Claiming Priority (3)

    Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
    CH192297 1997-08-15
    CH1922/97 1997-08-15
    CH192297 1997-08-15

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    EP0897887A1 EP0897887A1 (en) 1999-02-24
    EP0897887B1 true EP0897887B1 (en) 2002-04-17

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    EP98114797A Expired - Lifetime EP0897887B1 (en) 1997-08-15 1998-08-06 Method and device for checking the thickness of sheetlike objects conveyed continuously

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    US (1) US6119358A (en)
    EP (1) EP0897887B1 (en)
    AU (1) AU733525B2 (en)
    CA (1) CA2245052C (en)
    DE (1) DE59803818D1 (en)
    DK (1) DK0897887T3 (en)
    ES (1) ES2176869T3 (en)

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    WO2012079987A1 (en) 2010-12-15 2012-06-21 Ferag Ag Apparatus and method for controlling the transportation and the handling of sheet-like products
    US8378829B2 (en) 2007-05-29 2013-02-19 Ferag Ag Method for monitoring and/or controlling a transport device, transport device for carrying out said method and clamp for detachably holding and transporting

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    EP1661833B1 (en) 2004-11-26 2008-03-05 Ferag AG Method and device for treating printed products
    WO2010126995A2 (en) * 2009-04-29 2010-11-04 Muller Martini Mailroom Systems, Inc. Apparatus and method for detecting sheet quantity of paper product

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    US8378829B2 (en) 2007-05-29 2013-02-19 Ferag Ag Method for monitoring and/or controlling a transport device, transport device for carrying out said method and clamp for detachably holding and transporting
    WO2012079987A1 (en) 2010-12-15 2012-06-21 Ferag Ag Apparatus and method for controlling the transportation and the handling of sheet-like products
    US8915493B2 (en) 2010-12-15 2014-12-23 Ferag Ag Apparatus and method for controlling the transportation and the handling of sheet-like products

    Also Published As

    Publication number Publication date
    AU7999498A (en) 1999-02-25
    EP0897887A1 (en) 1999-02-24
    DK0897887T3 (en) 2002-08-19
    ES2176869T3 (en) 2002-12-01
    CA2245052C (en) 2007-07-31
    US6119358A (en) 2000-09-19
    DE59803818D1 (en) 2002-05-23
    CA2245052A1 (en) 1999-02-15
    AU733525B2 (en) 2001-05-17

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