Quality control station with camera calibration system for sheet element processing machine

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11117778-B2
Application number	US-201716099745-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 9, 2017
Priority date	May 20, 2016
Publication date	Sep 14, 2021
Grant date	Sep 14, 2021

Abstract

A quality control station (2) for a sheet element processing machine, the station having at least one camera (6) arranged for capturing images of sheet elements (4) transported through the quality control station (2), and further having a camera calibration system (10). The camera calibration system (10) having a target holder (12) for holding an optical target (14), and a drive (15) for the target holder (12). The drive (15) is adapted for displacing the target holder (12) between a rest position, in which it is outside of the viewing area (7) of the camera (6), and a calibration position in which it is arranged in the viewing area (7) of the camera (6).

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A quality control station for a sheet element processing machine processing sheet elements along a path of transportation, the quality control station comprising:
at least one camera arranged for capturing images of sheet elements transported through the quality control station, the camera having a viewing area; and
a camera calibration system comprising:
a target holder configured for holding an optical target and the target holder is positioned below the path of transportation;
a drive for the target holder, the drive being positioned above the path of transportation and configured for displacing the target holder between a rest position, in which the target holder is outside of the viewing area of the camera, and a calibration position in which the target holder is arranged in the viewing area of the camera; and
a carrier arm connecting the target holder to the drive and moving the target holder in accordance with movement of the drive.

2. The quality control station of claim 1 , wherein the drive includes a guide element extending transversely to the direction of transportation of the sheet elements and across the entire width of a passage along which the sheet elements are being transported.

3. The quality control station of claim 2 , wherein the guide element is a pneumatic or hydraulic rod on which a moveable driven element is arranged.

4. The quality control station of claim 2 , wherein the guide element is a screw driven by a motor, on which a moveable driven element is arranged.

5. The quality control station of claim 2 , further comprising a belt associated with the guide element and located and configured for advancing a driven element along the guide element.

6. The quality control station of claim 1 , wherein the drive is arranged either upstream or downstream of the viewing area of the camera.

7. The quality control station of claim 1 , wherein the target holder has a laterally arranged and located introduction opening for receiving an optical target, the introduction opening being arranged and located laterally outside a machine frame when the target holder is in the rest position.

8. The quality control station of claim 1 , further comprising a fixation device defining a position of the target holder in the rest position.

9. The quality control station of claim 8 , wherein the fixation device comprises a spring, or a fixation pin, or a spring and a fixation pin.

10. The quality control system of claim 1 , further comprising a position control configured for providing information on the position of the target holder along the drive.

Assignees

• Bobst Mex Sa

Inventors

• Piccardi Lorenzo
• Truscello Mauro
• Antolinez Pablo

Classifications

• G01N2021/8917

  Paper, also ondulated · CPC title

• B65H43/04 Primary

  detecting, or responding to, presence of faulty articles (B65H43/08 takes precedence; diverting faulty articles from main streams B65H29/62) · CPC title

• B41F33/02

  Arrangements of indicating devices, e.g. counters · CPC title

• B41F33/0036

  Devices for scanning or checking the printed matter for quality control · CPC title

• B65H2801/21

  Industrial-size printers, e.g. rotary printing press · CPC title