Patent ID: 6119358
Filing Date: 2000-09-19
Classification: B65H

Abstract:
A method for monitoring the thickness of objects conveyed along a conveying stream, the method comprising:moving a plurality of monitoring elements through a closed path, the monitoring elements moving in succession through a monitoring area, each monitoring element having two monitoring levers;moving a plurality of objects in succession through the monitoring area, the objects moving through the monitoring area such that each object interacts with one of the monitoring elements to form an interacting pair while in the monitoring area, each interacting pair being formed when first parts of the monitoring levers of a monitoring element press a region of a corresponding one of said objects therebetween;determining a distance between second parts of the monitoring levers that form part of an interacting pair within the monitoring area;generating a reference value of said distance for each monitoring element, the reference values being determined by calibrating the monitoring elements with an object of known thickness;comparing the determined distance corresponding to an object in an interacting pair moved through the monitoring area with the reference value of the monitoring element of the interacting pair; andgenerating a control signal as a function of the result of each comparison between a determined distance and a reference value when a control condition is satisfied.