US3826487A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control apparatus and method for transporting sheets
Assignee: Sächsisches Institut für die Druckindustrie
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Filing: 1972-01-24
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Granted: 1974-07-30
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Expires: 1992-01-24
Abstract
Abstract An apparatus and a method for controlling the correct transport of sheets. The thickness of one or several superimposed sheets is sensed to determine how many sheets are simultaneously transported. Transducer means transform mechanical magnitude signals into signals having a different physical quality, for example electric signals, and the transformed signals are evaluated and supplied by an output selector to different outputs which are, respectively, correlated with different numbers of sensed superimposed sheets.
Inventors
- 👤 K Forster
- 👤 L Vetter
- 👤 H Stange
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 19:29
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B21/00; G01B21/02; G01B21/08; B; B65; B65H; B65H7/00; B65H7/02; B65H7/06; B65H7/12; G01B13/00; G01B13/02; G01B13/06; B65H2553/00; B65H2553/40; B65H2553/41; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S33/00; Y10S33/13
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
355 words
In combination with an arrangement for transporting a stream of sheets along a predetermined path in a predetermined manner, a system for Detecting whether sheets are being transported along said path in said predetermined manner, particularly for detecting the improper absence of a sheet or the improper presence of a plurality of sheets where a single sheet should be provided, the arrangement comprising, in combination, sensing means positioned to sense the thickness of said stream of sheets at least at one location along said path, and operative for generating an analog signal having an analog value indicative of the sensed thickness; and analog-to-digital converter means having an input connected to said sensing means to receive said analog signal and being operative for determining into which of a plurality of predetermined ranges corresponding to the thicknesses of different respective numbers of sheets the analog value of said analog signal falls, and for generating one of a predetermined plurality of corresponding digital output signals indicative of the range into which the analog value of said analog signal falls, to provide an indication when a sheet is improperly absent or when a plurality of sheets are present where only a single sheet should be provided, wherein said sensing means comprises a bendable support arm having a free end, a sensing roller mounted for rotation on said free end and held by said bendable support arm in a position bearing down upon and contacting the sheets of said stream of sheets, with said sensing roller and said bendable support arm being so oriented with respect to each other and with respect to said stream of sheets that changes in the thickness of said stream effect displacement of said roller in the direction of the thickness of said sheets and result in bending of said bendable support arm to an extent corresponding to the displacement of said roller and corresponding to the change in thickness of said stream of sheets, and at least one strain-gage element mounted on said bendable support arm at such a location as to undergo resistance changes in response to bending of said bendable support arm.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
355 words
In combination with an arrangement for transporting a stream of sheets along a predetermined path in a predetermined manner, a system for Detecting whether sheets are being transported along said path in said predetermined manner, particularly for detecting the improper absence of a sheet or the improper presence of a plurality of sheets where a single sheet should be provided, the arrangement comprising, in combination, sensing means positioned to sense the thickness of said stream of sheets at least at one location along said path, and operative for generating an analog signal having an analog value indicative of the sensed thickness; and analog-to-digital converter means having an input connected to said sensing means to receive said analog signal and being operative for determining into which of a plurality of predetermined ranges corresponding to the thicknesses of different respective numbers of sheets the analog value of said analog signal falls, and for generating one of a predetermined plurality of corresponding digital output signals indicative of the range into which the analog value of said analog signal falls, to provide an indication when a sheet is improperly absent or when a plurality of sheets are present where only a single sheet should be provided, wherein said sensing means comprises a bendable support arm having a free end, a sensing roller mounted for rotation on said free end and held by said bendable support arm in a position bearing down upon and contacting the sheets of said stream of sheets, with said sensing roller and said bendable support arm being so oriented with respect to each other and with respect to said stream of sheets that changes in the thickness of said stream effect displacement of said roller in the direction of the thickness of said sheets and result in bending of said bendable support arm to an extent corresponding to the displacement of said roller and corresponding to the change in thickness of said stream of sheets, and at least one strain-gage element mounted on said bendable support arm at such a location as to undergo resistance changes in response to bending of said bendable support arm.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
48 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, and further including means for fixedly mounting the other end of said bendable support arm, said means for fixedly mounting being adjustable for effecting changes in the location along the length of said arm at which said arm is fixedly mounted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
51 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said at least one strain-gage element forms part of a bridge circuit having an output and constituting part of said sensing means, and wherein said sensing means further includes and operational amplifier having an input connected across the output of said bridge circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
81 words
A combination as defined in claim 1, wherein said analog-to-digital converter means comprises a circuit having an input connected to receive said analog signal and having plurality of outputs and a plurality of threshold levels, one associated with each of said outputs, with said levels, establishing the limits of respective ones of said ranges and being associated with different multiples of the thickness of one sheet of said stream of sheet, including zero thickness and the thickness of a single sheet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
276 words
In combination with an arrangement for transporting a stream of sheets along a predetermined path in a predetermined manner, a system for detecting whether sheets are being transported along said path in said predetermined manner, particularly for detecting the improper absence of a sheet or the improper presence of a plurality of sheets where a single sheet should be provided, the arrangement comprising, in combination, sensing means positioned to sense the thickness of said stream of sheets at least at one location along said path, and operative for generating an analog signal having an analog value indicative of the sensed thickness; and analog-to-digital converter means having an input connected to said sensing means to receive said analog signal and being operative for determining into which of a plurality of predetermined ranges corresponding to the thickNesses of different respective numbers of sheets the analog value of said analog signal falls, and for generating one of a predetermined plurality of corresponding digital output signals indicative of the range into which the analog value of said analog signal falls, to provide an indication when a sheet is improperly absent or when a plurality of sheets are present where only a single sheet should be provided, wherein said analog-to-digital converter means comprises a circuit having an input connected to receive said analog signal and having plurality of outputs and a plurality of threshold levels, one associated with each of said outputs, with said levels, establishing the limits of respective ones of said ranges and being associated with different multiples of the thickness of one sheet of said stream of sheet, including zero thickness and the thickness of a single sheet.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
276 words
In combination with an arrangement for transporting a stream of sheets along a predetermined path in a predetermined manner, a system for detecting whether sheets are being transported along said path in said predetermined manner, particularly for detecting the improper absence of a sheet or the improper presence of a plurality of sheets where a single sheet should be provided, the arrangement comprising, in combination, sensing means positioned to sense the thickness of said stream of sheets at least at one location along said path, and operative for generating an analog signal having an analog value indicative of the sensed thickness; and analog-to-digital converter means having an input connected to said sensing means to receive said analog signal and being operative for determining into which of a plurality of predetermined ranges corresponding to the thickNesses of different respective numbers of sheets the analog value of said analog signal falls, and for generating one of a predetermined plurality of corresponding digital output signals indicative of the range into which the analog value of said analog signal falls, to provide an indication when a sheet is improperly absent or when a plurality of sheets are present where only a single sheet should be provided, wherein said analog-to-digital converter means comprises a circuit having an input connected to receive said analog signal and having plurality of outputs and a plurality of threshold levels, one associated with each of said outputs, with said levels, establishing the limits of respective ones of said ranges and being associated with different multiples of the thickness of one sheet of said stream of sheet, including zero thickness and the thickness of a single sheet.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
38 words
A combination as defined in claim 5; and further including a digital indicator device connected to said analog-to-digital converter means for providing a digital indication of the range into which the analog value of said analog signal falls.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
45 words
A combination as defined in claim 5; and further including storage means connected to said analog-to-digital converter means for recording the range into which the analog value of said analog signal falls, whereby to make possible subsequent analysis of the operation of said transporting arrangement.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
38 words
A combination as defined in claim 5; and further including control means for controlling operation of said transporting arrangement in dependence upon which of said predetermined plurality of digital output signals is generated by said analog-to-digital converter means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
40 words
A combination as defined in claim 8, wherein said control means is operative for terminating the transporting of said sheets in response to generation by said analog-to-digital converter means of a predetermined one of said plurality of digital output signals.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
89 words
A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said sensing means comprises a mechanical sensor member so mounted with respect to said predetermined path as to contact said stream of sheets and be physically displaced by said stream a displacement distance corresponding to the thickness of said stream, and wherein said sensing means further comprises transducer means responsive to the displacement of said mechanical sensor member and operative for generating a signal indicative of the extent of such displacement and thereby indicative of the sensed thickness of said stream.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A combination as defined in claim 10, wherein said transducer means comprises at least one transducer element responsive to the displacement of said mechanical sensor member and also means for converting the response of said transducer element into said analog signal.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
160 words
A combination as defined in claim 5, wherein said sensing means comprises a bendable support arm having a free end, a sensing roller mounted for rotation on said free end and held by said bendable support arm in a position bearing down upon and contacting the sheets of said stream of sheets, with said sensing roller and said bendable support arm being so oriented with respect to each other and with respect to said stream of sheets that changes in the thickness of said stream effect displacement of said roller in the direction of the thickness of said sheets and result in bending of said bendable support arm to an extent corresponding to the displacement of said roller and corresponding to the change in thickness of said stream of sheets, and at least one strain-gage element mounted on said bendable support arm at such a location as to undergo resistance changes in response to bending of said bendable support arm.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-07-29 | 1978-01-28 | 1978-07-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-07-29 | 1982-01-28 | 1982-07-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-07-29 | 1986-01-28 | 1986-07-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |