GB2451101A

GB2451101A - Automatic Sheet Counting System for Corrugated Cardboard

Info

Publication number: GB2451101A
Application number: GB0713927A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Ian Kerrigan
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2007-07-18
Filing date: 2007-07-18
Publication date: 2009-01-21
Also published as: GB0713927D0

Abstract

A system for automatically counting the number of corrugated cardboard sheets comprises a first laser sensor A to sense the height of a sheet of corrugated cardboard, relative to a reference plane, and passes this information to a central computer D. A second laser sensor C can sense the height of a stack of corrugated cardboard sheets, which is also sent to central computer D. The central computer can calculate the number of corrugated cardboard sheets in the stack by dividing the height of the stack measured at C by the height of a sheet measured at A. The central computer may incorporate a touch screen and can print out a label to be attached to the relevant stack of sheets. The computer may also be connected to other remote computers via a network, to transfer stock control data.

Description

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SPECIFICATION & DESCRIPTION

"Of The Automatic Corrugated Cardboard Sheet Counting System" The Automatic Corrugated Cardboard Sheet Counting System will consist of two Laser Beam Sensors and a HMI (Human Machine Interface used to evaluate the signals from the Laser Sensors perform software calculations and display the results on the Visual Screen to the Operator) touch screen and a Label Printer.

The first Laser Beam Sensor automatically detects the Caliper (Height) of the Cardboard as it passes underneath the Sensor; this information is sent to the HMI Touch Screen for processing.

The second Laser Beam Sensor automatically detects the height of the stacked cardboard that has exited from the stacking machine as it passes underneath the Senor: this information is sent to the HMI Touch Screen for processing.

The Laser Beam Sensors use the Triangulation Technology to evaluate the sensing distance.

The HMI and the program inside calculates the number of sheets in the stacked pile from the second sensor, and divides the calculated height of the stacked pile by the caliper of the cardboard derived from the first Laser Sensor, the result gives the number of sheets in a stacked pile of cardboard. The HMI is also used as a communication bridge to send and receive information from all devices connected to the l-{Ml.

The information calculated by the HMI Touch Screen is stored in a Database within the HMI then automatically sent to a Label Printer.

The HMI Touch screen also has the capability to communicate with PLC control systems, and Microsoft Windows based programs to send and receive data produced within the HMI Touch Screen (this includes the Database stored within the HMI), this data can be utilized to control production data and control order change functions on a Corrugated Cardboard Machine.

Figurel. Show the layout of all the components which are connected to the Counting System via the HMI Touch Screen.

Figure 1 item description.

A. This is the First Laser Beam Sensor, this sensor will detect the caliper (or the physical height of the cardboard passing underneath the sensor from the Zero position) and sends this information to the HMI Touch Screen.

B. This is the cardboard moving underneath the Laser Beam, the table the cardboard is lying on is the Zero reference position for the Laser Beam, the Laser detects the distance from the zero reference position and sends this information the HMI Touch Screen for processing.

C. This is the Second Laser Beam Sensor; this sensor is fixed above the stacked cardboard and processes the height as the stacked cardboard passes underneath the sensor, and sends this information to the HMI Touch Screen.

D. This is the HMI (Human Machine Interface) Touch Screen, this device is similar to a Computer, it analyses the information sent from the two Laser sensors and displays the information on the screen, which can be manipulated if required by the operator.

E. This device is a Computer; data generated in the HMI Touch Screen can be sent and received to and from a computer if so required.

F. This is the Stacked Cardboard Sheets exiting from the machine.

G. This device is the printer, the printer will print information labels with all relevant job information, then the operator will attach the label to the Stacked Shects, this information can also be sent to the Computer where the customer can view relevant information created by the HMI Touch Screen for each Stacked Pile of Cardboard Sheets that has been detected by the Laser sensor.

H. This device is a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) data from the PLC can be sent to and from the HMI Touch Screen is so desired.

Claims

This control system automatically detects the caliper (or height) of corrugated cardboard passed underneath the Laser Beam Sensor (fig.1 A) , the height is detected (fig.1 B)by means of Triangulation by the Laser Sensor, the table the cardboard is lying on is the Zero Reference for the Laser Sensor, as cardboard passes underneath the Laser Sensor the sensing distance decreases, the Laser Sensor Detects this and sends the data to the HMI Touch Screen.
2 As the Stacked Sheets of Cardboard exits the stacking machine, it passes under another Laser Sensor which detects the height of the Stacked Sheets; this information is passed to the HMI Touch Screen for processing. The HMI Touch Screen calculates the height of Stacked Sheets in the Pile passing underneath the Laser Sensor and Divides this value by the Caliper (or height) of the cardboard passing underneath the First Laser Sensor, the result of the calculation gives the number of sheets in the current Stacked Pile of Sheets.
3 The sheet number information calculated in the HMI Touch Screen is automatically printed to a label and attached to the relevant Stacked Pile of Sheets.
4 This system because of the connection to the PLC (Programmable Logic Controller) can take control of the Order Change of the Corrugating Machine.
This system because of the connection to the Computer can send all the data (as in number of sheets in every pile detected by the laser Sensors, customer name, order number, sheets remaining in the current order etc) in the HMI Touch Screen to any dedicated Computer on the network, giving vital information of the number of sheets actually produced for any given customer, this is a crucial tool for stock and quality control.
6 The HMI is also used as a communication bridge to send and receive information from all devices connected to the HMI.