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EP0206675B1 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Monitoring sheet length

Assignee: De la Rue Systems Ltd
•
Filing: 1986-06-12
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Granted: 1992-08-12
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Expires: 2006-06-12
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Abstract

No abstract record available.

Inventors

  • 👤 David Robert Worsley
  • 👤 Trevor James Conner

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-07 18:19
CPC Classifications
G; G07; G07D; G07D7/00; G07D7/16; G07D7/162; G01; G01B; G01B21/00; G01B21/02; G01B21/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim 229 words
A method of monitoring the length of sheets passing a predetermined position (5,6), the method comprising 1) monitoring a relatively fast rate count at least in two pairs of intervals wherein a) during one interval of each pair leading and trailing edges of the sheet are sensed respectively, the count being monitored for a period during the interval related to the time at which the leading or trailing edge passes the predetermined position (5,6), and during the other interval of each pair the count is monitored for the entire interval, b) during each interval the count is incremented at a constant rate, and c) the duration of the intervals is long compared with the time between successive counts; 2) determining respective total counts from the monitored counts; 3) determining first and second values related to the lengths of the portions of the sheet passing the predetermined position (5,6) during the intervals in which the leading and trailing edges are sensed by comparing the total counts monitored in the intervals of each pair; 4) determining a third value related to the length of the portion of the sheet passing the predetermined position (5,6) between the intervals in which the leading and trailing edges are sensed; and 5) deriving a value related to the total length of the sheet passing the predetermined position (5,6) from the first, second, and third values.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 30 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein step 4 comprises determining the number of intervals during which the sheet moves through substantially the same distance past the predetermined position (5,6).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 23 words
A method according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the two pairs of intervals are separated by ten to twenty different intervals.
Claim 4
Independent Claim 25 words
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the count is monitored only when a sheet is sensed at the predetermined position (5,6).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 31 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein the count is initiated at least when a leading edge of the sheet is sensed and is stopped when a trailing edge is sensed.
Claim 6
Independent Claim 43 words
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein step 1 includes the step of monitoring the rotation of a shaft (3) of transport means (1,2) controlling movement of the sheets, and generating a timing signal after equal rotations of the shaft.
Claim 7
Independent Claim 25 words
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein step 5 comprises summing the first, second and third values to generate the fourth value.
Claim 8
Independent Claim 21 words
A method according to any of the preceding claims, wherein there are about 30 fast rate count pulses in each interval.
Claim 9
Independent Claim 34 words
A method according to any of the preceding claims, further comprising carrying out steps 1-5 at two predetermined postions (5,6) laterally offset from one another relatively to the direction of movement of the sheets.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 92 words
Apparatus for monitoring the length of sheets passing a predetermined position (5,6), the apparatus comprising transport means (1,2) for transporting the sheets past the predetermined position (5,6); sensing means (9) for sensing the presence of a sheet at the predetermined postion (5,6); a counter (15,16) which may be incremented at a relatively fast rate; processing means (10) for carrying out steps 1 to 5 of a method according to any of the preceding claims; and comparison means for comparing the determined length with a reference and for providing a corresponding output signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 66 words
Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the transport means (1,2) includes a shaft (3) which is rotatable to control movement of the sheets, the sensing means comprising a slotted timing disc (7) non-rotatably mounted to the shaft (3) and detection means (9) fixed relatively to the timing disc for sensing the movement of slots (8) past the sensing means (9) and for generating suitable output signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 17 words
Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the output signals generated by the detection means zero the counter.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 40 words
Apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 12, wherein the counter (15,16) is enabled by the sensing means (9) when the leading edge of a sheet is sensed and disabled when the trailing edge of a sheet is sensed.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 39 words
A system for monitoring the length of sheets passing two laterally spaced positions, the system comprising two sets of apparatus according to any of claims 10 to 13, the processing means and comparison means being common to both apparatus.
Claim 15
Independent Claim 16 words
A method of monitoring the length of banknotes according to any of claims 1 to 9.

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