Sheet Deliverer Optical Sensor Alignment Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing sheet processing machines fail to accurately detect and correct skewed or overshooting sheets, leading to damage and inefficiency due to mechanical error-prone methods and inability to differentiate between overshoot and skew issues.
Innovation Solution
A system with non-contact sensors monitoring the position of sheets relative to edge stops, including side and rear edge sensors, connected to a control device for real-time adjustment and emergency stop functions, ensuring proper alignment and preventing machine damage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If mechanical sensing elements are used to detect overshoot sheets, then machine damage can be prevented, but the detection is error-prone and requires safety distance from gripper carriage track
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces mechanical sensing elements with optical sensors (transmitters and receivers) that use light beams to detect overshoot sheets and skewed sheets. This substitution eliminates the need for mechanical contact, removes safety distance requirements from gripper carriage tracks, and prevents detection errors associated with mechanical systems while maintaining reliable overshoot detection.
2Manufacturing precision
If sheet feed is interrupted when side edge position deviates from target position, then stack formation accuracy is improved, but machine effectiveness is reduced due to waste sheets
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements feedback control by continuously monitoring sheet positions with optical sensors and providing real-time information to the control device. The control device uses this feedback to activate adjusting elements that correct sheet positions, allowing the machine to maintain stack formation accuracy while continuing operation and avoiding waste sheets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables the sheet processing machine to self-correct positioning errors through automatically activated adjusting elements that realign skewed sheets. This self-service capability eliminates the need for manual intervention or sheet rejection, maintaining both precision and productivity.
3Manufacturing precision
If sheets are swept along by subsequent gripper systems when overshoot or skewed sheets are detected, then sheet position is corrected, but machine damage can occur
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by detecting overshoot and skewed sheets before they can cause machine damage. The optical sensors identify positioning errors in advance, allowing the control device to activate adjusting elements that correct sheet positions proactively, preventing the harmful effect of sheets being swept along by subsequent gripper systems.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The system effectively reduces sheet misalignment errors, prevents machine damage, and increases efficiency by accurately detecting and correcting skewed or overshooting sheets, minimizing waste and downtime.
Implementation Method 1
A system with non-contact sensors monitoring the position of sheets relative to edge stops
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a sheet-processing machine having a deliverer and having a sheet conveying system which transports sheets (7) to a delivery stack (9) and with a respective sheet leading-edge of the sheets (7) onto at least two leading-edge stops (12), wherein the at least two leading-edge stops (12) define a leading-edge stop plane (12.2), wherein at least one further stop (16, 14) is provided for aligning the delivery stack (9) on a further edge of the delivery stack (9), and wherein at least one detecting unit (24, 29) is configured for monitoring at least one point (25.4, 26.4, 30.4) which is positioned downstream of the leading-edge stop plane (12.2) in the sheet transport direction (39), and having a sheet delivery system for delivering sheets over a delivery stack, and to a method for depositing sheets. The invention is based on the object of providing a deliverer of a sheet-processing machine. In particular, the deliverer is configured in such a way that damage as a result of sheets which are deposited in a faulty manner can be ruled out and the effectiveness of the machine is increased. According to the invention, the object is achieved by virtue of the fact that at least one sensor (17, 15) is configured for monitoring at least one further point (17.2, 15.2) which is positioned upstream of the leading-edge stop plane (12.2) in the sheet transport direction (39).