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US 12,214,986 B2Granted
Collating machine and method
AssigneeOasys Technologies, Inc.
InventorsNeil Burks, Elliot James Lamb
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention relates to an alignment system for sheets of material using a sensor to detect reference features in the sheets. The sensor uses components within or on the sheet to accurately position the sheet relative to the sensor and hence relative to a machine.
Claims24
An apparatus for aligning a sheet of material relative to said apparatus, said apparatus comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each arranged at a known position relative to said apparatus and arranged to detect a sensor feature in said sheet;
- a first moving means for adjusting the relative position of said sheet and a first sensor of said one or more sensors;
- a second moving means for adjusting the relative position of said sheet and a second sensor of said one or more sensors;
- and
- a controller arranged to:
- receive output from said first sensor and to control the first moving means to align a first sensor feature with said first sensor, and
- receive output from said second sensor and to control the second moving means to align a second sensor feature with said second sensor,
- wherein said first and second moving means are arranged to independently manipulate said sheet to selectively translate said sheet in a first direction or rotate said sheet.
5 more elements
A method for aligning a sheet of material relative to a fixed reference, the method comprising:
- providing a first sheet for alignment with said fixed reference, said first sheet having a first sensor feature;
- a first moving step of moving said sheet in a first direction relative to a first sensor arranged at a known position relative to said fixed reference,
- detecting said first sensor feature in said sheet using said first sensor;
- and
- ceasing movement of said sheet when said first sensor feature is positioned at a defined position relative to said first sensor.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.