Patent ID: 6215117
Filing Date: 2001-04-10
Classification: B65B,G01V,H04N

Abstract:
A device for optically detecting the presence of at least one object guided by a conveying device (17) along a path (P) extending through a control station (15), the device comprising at least one optical fiber (5) having a first (6) end located in said control station (15) so as to face, in use, said object (16), and a second (7) end; a supporting body (2) for supporting said optical fiber (5), the supporting body (2) having a first and a second surface (3, 4), and said second surface (4) being a flat surface; a CCD sensor (8) having a photosensitive surface (9); and an electronic control unit (10) connected to the CCD sensor (8); wherein said second end (7) of the optical fiber (5) is connected directly to said photosensitive surface (9) of the CCD sensor (8); a portion of said second surface (4) being defined by said second end (7) of the optical fiber (5), and said second flat surface (4) being parallel to, and in direct contact with, said photosensitive surface (9); said photosensitive surface (9) comprising a grid of pixels (23) said second end (7) being in direct contact with a group (14) of pixels, said control unit (10) determining brightness of the pixels (13) of said group (14) and comparing a value of said brightness with a threshold value.