Information item forming machine with visual inspection unit and method for forming and sorting informational items
AssigneeG&K-Vijuk Intern. Corp.
InventorChad M. Lacek
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Abstract
An apparatus for forming and sorting informational items comprises a folding unit, a conveyor belt, a camera, a controller, and a diverter assembly. The folding unit forms a folded article from a sheet of paper. The conveyor belt transports the folded article. The camera captures an image of the folded article as it passes by the camera. The controller receives and processes the image, and the diverter assembly causes the folded article to move off of the conveyor belt when the controller determines that the folded article fails to satisfy at least one predetermined criteria.
Claims15
An apparatus for forming and sorting informational items having product information printed thereon, the apparatus comprising:
- at least one folding unit to form a folded article from a sheet of paper having information printed thereon;
- a conveyor belt to transport the folded article away from the folding unit;
- a camera disposed adjacent the conveyor belt and downstream from the folding unit, the camera to capture an image of the folded article as the folded article passes by the camera on the conveyor belt;
- a controller operatively coupled to the camera and to receive and process the image of the folded article to determine whether the folded article has a satisfactory configuration;
- and
- a diverter assembly disposed adjacent to the conveyor belt and downstream from the camera, the diverter assembly operatively coupled to the controller to cause the folded article to move off of the conveyor belt in response to the controller determining that the configuration of the folded article fails to satisfy at least one predetermined criteria, wherein the diverter assembly comprises a pusher or piston disposed adjacent the conveyor belt to impact the folded article and eject the folded article from the conveyor belt.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.