Method and device for the opto-electrical scanning of packets, especially cigarette packets
AssigneeFocke & Co. (GmbH & Co.)
InventorsHeinz Focke, Burkard Rösler, Henry Buse
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Known devices for the opto-electrical scanning of individual cubic or cuboid-shaped packets 10, 19, transported at a distance from one another, have the disadvantage that they do not permit simultaneous scanning of all the packet walls. In the device according to the invention, the conveying distance 26 for transporting the packets is interrupted in the region of a testing station 27. The packets 10, 19 to be examined are moved in this region along an aerodynamic trajectory or falling distance. Consequently, all the walls of the packets 10, 19 to be scanned may be scanned simultaneously on all sides.
Claims11
A method for the opto-electrical contactless scanning of packs (10, 19) being transported at a distance from one another, said method comprising the steps of:
- contactlessly scanning the packs by a plurality of testing devices (64, 69) during the transport and along a free-falling contact trajectory or drop path in an open space;
- moving the packs (10, 19) past said testing devices (64, 69) and along a free-falling non-supported contactless trajectory or drop path in an open space;
- positioning the testing devices (64, 69) in a region of the path of the packs (10, 19);
- and
- scanning all sides of each of the packs (10, 19), during their free movement along the in the open space, by the testing devices (64, 69);
- wherein the packs are transported by a pack conveyor along a conveying path (26), said method further comprising the steps of:
- dividing the pack conveyor into a feed-in conveyor (28, 74) and an onward conveyor (29, 75) with said open space therebetween;
- arranging the feed-in conveyor (28, 74) to end at the beginning of the testing region (30, 76), and the onward conveyor (29, 75) to begin at the end of the testing region (30, 76);
- transporting the packs (10, 19) by the feed-in conveyor in such a way that the packs (10, 19) are moved in the testing region (30, 76) along the path, and at the end of the testing region (30, 76) are taken over by the onward conveyor (29, 75) for further transport;
- positioning the testing devices (64, 69) in the testing region (30, 76);
- and
- positioning the testing devices (64, 69) in such a way that the packs (10, 19) are scanned by the testing devices (64, 69) on said all sides during movement of the packs along the path.
An apparatus for the opto-electrical scanning of individual packs (10, 19) being transported in a longitudinal direction at a distance from one another along a conveying path (26, 66) in a conveying direction, and moved past at least one testing device (64, 69) in a region of a testing station (27, 68), said apparatus comprising:
- a feed-in conveyor (28, 74) and a following onward conveyor (29, 75) forming part of the conveying path (26, 66);
- in an open space interrupting the conveying path between an end of the feed-in conveyor (28, 74) and a start of the following onward conveyor (29, 75), a testing region (30, 76) for the packs (10, 19);
- means for moving the packs (10, 19), in the testing region (30, 76) between the feed-in conveyor (28, 74) and the onward conveyor (29, 75), along a free-falling and non-supported, contactless trajectory or drop path in said open space;
- and
- positioned in the testing region (30, 76), a plurality of testing devices (64, 69) which are directed at the packs (10, 19) in a region of the trajectory or drop path so that all sides of each free-falling pack are scanned by said testing devices.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.