EP0087487A1
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Sheet collator
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1982-03-01
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2002-03-01
Abstract
Abstract The sheet collator comprises a plurality of sheet loading pockets (18) each associated with a sheet ejector (26) for ejecting single sheets into a common sheet conveyor path (34) from the respective pocket. A photo-electric infrared sheet presence detector (54, 56) is mounted between each pocket (18) and the common sheet conveyor path (34). Upon each passage of an ejected sheet, the detector (54, 56) will generate a detection signal repesentative of the transparency or reflectivity of the sheet of paper. The detection signal is generated by forming the average of eight individual, successive measurements. At least one of the detection signals is stored and compared with another detection signal generated during a subsequent sheet passage. The detection signals are analysed to discriminate between missing sheet and double sheet conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 Christian P. Bourg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 12:07
CPC Classifications
B; B65; B65H; B65H7/00; B65H7/02; B65H7/06; B65H7/12; B65H7/125; B65H7/14; G; G06; G06K; G06K13/00; G06K13/02; G06K13/06; G06K13/067
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of controlling a sheet collator having a plurality of sheet loading pockets (18, 20, 22 , 24) each associated with a sheet ejector (26, 28, 30, 32) for ejecting single sheets into a common sheet conveyor path (34) from the respective pocket, and with a sheet presence detector (54, 56) mounted downstream of each pocket, characterized by the following steps: (a) using the sheet presence detector (54, 56) for generating detection signals representative of the transparency or reflectivity of a sheet detected by the sheet presence detector upon each of successive passages of ejected sheets; (b) storing at least one of the detection signals; (c) comparing the stored detection signal with another detection signal generated-during a sheet passage following that during which the stored detection signal was generated; and (d) generating an alarm signal in response to a substantial difference between the stored detection signal and the other signal as detected in step (c).
Claim 2
Independent Claim
156 words
A method of controlling a sheet collator having a plurality of sheet loading pockets (18, 20, 22 , 24) each associated with a sheet ejector (26, 28, 30, 32) for ejecting single sheets into a common sheet conveyor path (34) from the respective pocket, and with a sheet presence detector (54, 56) mounted downstream of each pocket, characterized by the following steps: (a) using the sheet presence detector (54, 56) for generating detection signals representative of the transparency or reflectivity of a sheet detected by the sheet presence detector upon each of successive passages of ejected sheets; (b) storing at least one of the detection signals; (c) comparing the stored detection signal with another detection signal generated-during a sheet passage following that during which the stored detection signal was generated; and (d) generating an alarm signal in response to a substantial difference between the stored detection signal and the other signal as detected in step (c).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1, characterized in that each detection signal is generated by forming the average of a predetermined number of samples of the transparency or reflectivity detected during each ejection operation.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
41 words
The method of any of claims 1 to 2, characterized in-that the sheet collator is operated in successive 'collating cycles and is stopped by the alarm signal at the completion of the collating cycle in which the alarm signal was generated.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
52 words
The method of any of claims 1 to 3, characterized by the further step of discrimination whether the stored detection signal has a value higher or lower than that of the other detection signal to generate a malfunction indication signal representative of a missing sheet condition or of an excess sheet condition.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The method of claim 3 or 4, characterized in that an initial set-up collating cycle is performed in which a complete set of sheets is collated and one detection signal is generated and stored for each sheet, and the detection signals generated during each successive operating cycle are compared with the detection signals generated and stored during the initial set-up cycle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 3 or 4, characterized in that each detection signal is compared with a corresponding detection signal generated in the preceding collating cycle.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
21 words
The method of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the alarm signal is latched until the collator is restarted.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
40 words
The method of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that an additional sheet detection step is performed after the termination of each ejection operation to detect partially ejected sheets having failed to be removed along the common conveyor path.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
35 words
The method of any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sheet ejectors are operated in timed sequence to achieve a predetermined controlled spacing between the ejected sheets travelling along the common conveyor path.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
37 words
The method of claim 9, characterized in that said predetermined spacing is controlled in a manner to achieve constant overlap between the leading ends and the trailing ends of successive sheets travelling along the common conveyor path.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
160 words
A sheet collator comprising: a plurality of sheet loading pockets (18, 20, 22, 24) for receiving a supply of sheets to be collated; a sheet ejector (26, 28, 30, 32) associated with each loading pocket; a common sheet conveyor path (34) for receiving and transporting sheets ejected by the sheet ejectors; characterized by: sheet presence detection means (54, 56) associated with each loading pocket (18, 20, 22, 24) and arranged across the passage from the loading pocket towards the common sheet conveyor path (34) and adapted to generate a detection signal representative of the sheet transparency or reflectivity at each passage of a sheet; storing means (314) for storing the detection signals; comparing means (314) for comparing each detection signal with a stored detection signal generated during a preceding set-up cycle; and alarm signal generation means (314, 64, 66) for generating an alarm signal in response to a substantial difference between the detection signals as detected by the comparing means.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
160 words
A sheet collator comprising: a plurality of sheet loading pockets (18, 20, 22, 24) for receiving a supply of sheets to be collated; a sheet ejector (26, 28, 30, 32) associated with each loading pocket; a common sheet conveyor path (34) for receiving and transporting sheets ejected by the sheet ejectors; characterized by: sheet presence detection means (54, 56) associated with each loading pocket (18, 20, 22, 24) and arranged across the passage from the loading pocket towards the common sheet conveyor path (34) and adapted to generate a detection signal representative of the sheet transparency or reflectivity at each passage of a sheet; storing means (314) for storing the detection signals; comparing means (314) for comparing each detection signal with a stored detection signal generated during a preceding set-up cycle; and alarm signal generation means (314, 64, 66) for generating an alarm signal in response to a substantial difference between the detection signals as detected by the comparing means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The sheet collator of claim 11, characterized in that the sheet presence detector comprises an infrared source and detector pair (54, 56).
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
36 words
The sheet collator of claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the storing means are formed by the RAM part of a microprocessor/microcomputer system (314) controlling timed operation of the sheet ejectors (26, 28, 30, 32).
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
43 words
The sheet collator of any of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that an additional sheet presence detector is associated with the common sheet conveyor path (34) to generate a "last sheet" detection signal used to determine the completion of each collating cycle.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
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