Process and device for ascertaining whether two successive shafts are in alignment

Device for ascertaining alignment of two successive shafts comprising:

• a first and a second light source for generating light beams of narrow cross section;
• a first and a second optical element, each of said first and second optical elements being partially transparent and partially reflective;
• an optoelectronic array for detecting said light beams;
• wherein said first light source, said first optical element and said optoelectronic array are oriented and spaced in a fixed position relative to one another, said first optical element being substantially flat and aligned in a manner that said light beams are at least one of incident and reflected at an angle of incidence of substantially 45° relative to a surface normal;
• and
• wherein said second light source and said second optical element are oriented in a fixed position relative to one another and are spaced by a predetermined distance in a manner that said light beams generate separable illumination areas which are distinguishable from one another on said optoelectronic array.

Device for ascertaining alignment of two successive shafts comprising:

• a light source for generating a primary light beam of narrow cross section;
• a pixel-based optoelectronic sensor;
• and
• an optical plate which is partially transparent and partially reflective having a first surface and a second surface which are substantially parallel to each other, said optical plate being oriented and spaced in a fixed position relative to said optoelectronic sensor and being adapted to divide said primary light beam which is incident at an angle to said optical plate into at least one first and one second secondary light beam, each of which illuminates a first and a second area of said optoelectronic sensor respectively;
• wherein a distance between said first and said second area of said optoelectronic sensor illuminated by said at least one first and one second secondary light beam is determined by said angle of incidence of said primary light beam on said first surface.