Optical device for checking a face of a blank

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10647458-B2
Application number	US-201515527205-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 10, 2015
Priority date	Nov 19, 2014
Publication date	May 12, 2020
Grant date	May 12, 2020

Abstract

A device ( 10 ) for optically controlling a face ( 13 ) of a blank ( 12 ) has a vacuum conveyor ( 20 ) capable of transporting the blank ( 12 ) along a path of travel ( 15 ) and which includes a conveyor belt ( 22 ) having an apertured structure of which the conveying path follows the path of travel ( 15 ) of the blank ( 12 ). A suction device ( 40 ) is suitable for pressing the blank ( 12 ) against the conveyor belt ( 14 ). An inspection device ( 30 ) inspects the face ( 13 ) of the blank ( 12 ) during its conveyance by the vacuum conveyor ( 20 ). The inspection device is located on the side opposite the vacuum conveyor ( 20 ). The suction device ( 40 ) delimits three separate successive suction sections ( 41, 42, 43 ) along the path of travel ( 15 ), including a central suction section ( 42 ) that extends opposite the inspection device ( 30 ), an upstream suction section ( 41 ) and a downstream suction section ( 43 ).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An optical inspection device for inspecting a face of a blank advancing past the inspection device, the optical inspection device comprising:
a vacuum conveyor unit configured to transport the blank along a traffic path, the conveyor unit comprising
a conveying belt having a perforated structure, a drive for moving the conveying belt, the moving conveying belt defining the traffic path of the blank,
a suction device located and configured to flatten the blank against the conveying belt, and
an inspection device located and configured for inspecting a first face of the blank during transportation of the blank by the vacuum conveyor unit, and the vacuum conveyor unit is located at an opposite second face of the blank from the inspection device;
the suction device is configured to define three successive separate suction sections along the traffic path, applying suction to the conveying belt for holding the blank to a strip;
the three further suction device sections comprising:
a central suction section which extends opposite the inspection device, an entrance side suction section and an exit side suction section along the traffic path,
wherein the central suction section comprises a central suction box in which a vacuum is generated and comprising at least one suction opening that leads directly to a control area,
wherein the central suction section is between the entrance side suction section and the exit side suction section.

2. A device according to claim 1 , further comprising, a tensioning device configured for tensioning the conveying belt, and the tensioning device being located opposite the inspection device.

3. A device according to claim 2 , wherein the tensioning device comprises a pair of rollers separated along the traffic path and together configured and operable for tensioning the strip then passing the rollers.

4. A device according to claim 3 , wherein the rollers are located along the central suction section.

5. A device according to claim 4 , wherein the rollers define the entrance and exit positions of the central suction section.

6. A device according to claim 1 , wherein the central suction section, the entrance suction section and the exit suction section each respectively comprise a box, in which the suction device vacuum is generated.

7. A device according to claim 6 , further comprising a vacuum pump communicating with each box.

8. A device according to claim 7 , comprising:
a first vacuum pump which communicates with both of an entrance box of the entrance suction section and the central suction box of the central suction section; and
a second vacuum pump which communicates with an exit box of the exit suction section.

9. A device according to claim 8 , wherein less than half of an outlet section of the second vacuum pump is coupled with the central box of the central suction section.

10. A device according to claim 8 , wherein at least one of the suction boxes is configured to provide an adjustable suction volume.

11. A device according to claim 7 , wherein the entrance box and the exit box each comprise a perforated wall extending along the traffic path, and the conveying belt presents a perforated structure which is configured to slide against the perforated wall.

12. A processing machine equipped with an inspection device according to claim 1 .

13. A folder-gluer machine equipped with an inspection device according to claim 1 .

Assignees

• Bobst Mex Sa

Inventors

• Bourgeois Sacha
• Favini Dimitri

Classifications

• B65H2553/42

  Cameras · CPC title

• B65H2220/01

  indicating an entity as a function of which control, adjustment or change is performed, i.e. input · CPC title

• B65H2301/44734

  overhead, i.e. hanging material ba attraction forces, e.g. suction, magnetic forces · CPC title

• B65B43/126 Primary

  Feeding carton blanks in flat or collapsed state · CPC title

• B65H2701/111

  Plane geometry, contour · CPC title