Patent EA-001531-B1 (EA)
Title: Device and method for checking patternsdisposed on a material strip
Inventor: HILMERSSON ANDRES
IPC: G06K19/06
Filed: 1996-02-09
Abstract: 1. A device for checking patterns (1) disposed on a material strip (30), which patterns (1) consist of groups of dark and light areas (2, 2*; 3, 3*), said areas succeeding in a direction (v) of checking, wherein a position of the dark areas (2) and light areas (2*) of one group differs from the position of the dark areas (3) and light areas (3*) of another group, wherein the device comprises detectors (8, 9) of dark areas (2, 3) and light areas (2*, 3*) on a material strip and a comparator (10) for comparing a sequence of output signals with a predetermined sequence of signals, characterized in that the comparator (10) is directly connected to at least two detectors (8, 9). 2. The device as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the detectors (8, 9) are connected to clock inputs (12, 15) of said comparator (10) which clock inputs allow data inputs (13, 16) of said comparator (10) to receive output signals from the other detector of both detectors (8, 9) upon the detection of an edge between said dark areas (2, 3) and light areas (2*, 3*) of said material strip (30). 3. Device as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, characterized in that said comparator (10) is connected to at least one actuator (20) of a strip treating and/or packaging machine. 4. The device as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, characterized in that said detectors (8, 9) additionally comprise clock inputs for detecting the succession speed of said material strip (30). 5. The device as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, characterized in that a shift register of said comparator (10) forms said information signal sequence. 6. The device as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the comparator (10) comprises means for distinguishing the output pulses of one of the detectors (8, 9) from the output pulses of another one of the detectors (8, 9). 7. The device as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, characterized in that the device can be used for material strip, in which said first and/or second areas (2, 2*, 3, 3*) are parts of pictures, designs, and/or array configurations on said material strip (30). 8. The device as claimed in claim 7 , characterized in that the device can be used for material strip (30), in which said first and/or second areas (2, 2*, 3, 3*) of both groups are connected by connection areas (4) on said material strip (30). 9. The device as claimed in claim 7 , characterized in that the device can be used for material strip (30), in which said first and/or second areas (2, 2*) of one of said groups are displaced separated from said first and/or second areas (3, 3 *) of the other one of said groups on said material strip (30). 10. The device as claimed in claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the device can be used for material strip (30), in which the width (x) of successive first areas (2) of a first group is about the same as the width (y) of successive second areas (2*) of the same group. 11. The device as claimed in claim10, characterized in that the device can be used for material strip (30), in which the width (a) of successive first areas (3) of a second group is about the same as the width (b) of successive second areas (3*) of said second group, which widths (a, b) are about twice the widths (x, y) of successive first and second areas (2, 2*) of said first group. 12. The device as claimed in claims 7 to 11, characterized in that the device can be used for material strip (30), in which said pattern (1) comprises two groups of first areas (2,3) and second areas (2*, 3*), wherein said areas are selected in number and form effective to provide more than eight (8) binary output signals are created to form said sequence of output pulses. 13. The device as claimed in claims 7 to 12, characterized in that the device can be used for material strip (30), in which the edges of first and second areas (2, 2*, 3, 3*) are situated on said strip (30) in such a way with regard to their related detector (8, 9) that when one detector (8, 9) detects an edge the other detector (8, 9) does not detect an edge. 14. The device as claimed in one of the preceeding claims for checking patterns (1) disposed on a material strip (30), for preparing packages comprising groups of dark areas (2, 3) and light areas (2*, 3*) arranged in a predetermined manner which areas are means for further treating and/or handling the material strip (30), in which that said first group consists of at least three dark areas (3) and said second group consists of at least five light areas (2*), characterized in that that in which the widths (a) of said dark and light areas (3, 3*) of said first group are generally twice as big as the widths (y) of said dark and light areas (2, 2*) of said second group. 15. A method for checking patterns (1) disposed on a material strip (30), which patterns (1) consist of groups of dark and light areas (2, 2*; 3, 3*), said areas succeeding in a direction (v) of checking by detecting an existence of first areas (2, 3) and second areas (2*, 3*), producing output signals dependent on a result of said detecting and comparing a sequence of said output signals with a predetermined sequence of signals using the device as claimed in one of the preceeding claims, characterized in that in a sequence of output signals depending on the detection of first areas (2, 3) and/or second areas (2*, 3*) by at least two detectors (8, 9) is compared with said predetermined sequence of signals in order to create an output signal of said comparator (10) if both sequences are similar. 16. The method as claimed in claim 15, characterized in that alternative ones of said at least two detectors (8, 9) are activated by a signal from another detector of said at least two detectors (8, 9) upon detection of an edge of one of said first areas (2, 3) or second areas (2*, 3*). 17. The method as claimed in claim 16, characterized in that the step of producing output signals dependent the output signals of each detector (8, 9) comprises providing information concerning said dark or light areas (2, 2*, 3, 3*) and alternately activating each detector (8, 9) by the other detector (8, 9) after detecting an edge of one of said dark or light areas (2, 2*, 3, 3*) by the other detector (8, 9). 18. The method as claimed in claims 15 to 17, characterized in that said first areas (2, 3) and said second areas (2*, 3*) comprise not only optical properties but also mechanical, electrical and/or magnetic properties and in that said detectors (8, 9) detect said mechanical, electrical and/or magnetic properties. 19. The method as claimed in claims 15 to 18, characterized in that said output signals comprise binary signals. 20. The method as claimed in claim 19, characterized in that representing said output signals, derived from the detection of said first areas (2, 3) and/or from the detection of positive edges (from second to first areas), by a "1" each and representing said output signals, derived from detection of said second areas (2*, 3*) and/or from the detection of negative edges (from first to second areas), by a "0" each, or vice versa. 21. The method as claimed in claims 15 to 19, characterized in that the method serves for use with material strip (30), in which said first and/or second areas (2, 2*, 3, 3*) are parts of pictures, designs, and/or array configurations on said material strip (30). 22. The method as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the method serves for use with material strip (30), in which said first and/or second areas (2, 2*, 3, 3*) of both groups are connected by connection areas (4) on said material strip (30). 23. The method as claimed in claim 21, characterized in that the method serves for use with material strip (30), in which said first and/or second areas (2, 2*) of one of said groups are displaced separated from said first and/or second areas (3, 3 *) of the other one of said groups on said material strip (30). 24. The method as claimed in claims 21 to 23, characterized in that the method serves for use with material strip (30), in which the width (x) of successive first areas (2) of a first group is about the same as the width (y) of successive second areas (2*) of the same group. 25. The method as claimed in claim 24, characterized in that the method serves for use with material strip (30), in which the width (a) of successive first areas (3) of a second group is about the same as the width (b) of successive second areas (3*) of said second group, which widths (a, b) are about twice the widths (x, y) of successive first and second areas (2, 2*) of said first group. 26. The method as claimed in claims 21 to 25, characterized in that the method serves for use with material strip (30), in which said pattern (1) comprises two groups of first areas (2,3) and second areas (2*, 3*), wherein said areas are selected in number and form effective to provide more than eight (8) binary output signals are created to form said sequence of output pulses. 27. The method as claimed in claims 21 to 26, characterized in that the method serves for use with material strip (30), in which the edges of first and second areas (2, 2*, 3, 3*) are situated on said strip (30) in such a way with regard to their related detector (8, 9) that when one detector (8, 9) detects an edge the other detector (8, 9) does not detect an edge. 28. . The method as claimed in claims 7 to 12 and 21 to 27 for checking patterns (1) disposed on a material strip (30), for preparing packages comprising groups of dark areas (2, 3) and light areas (2*, 3*) arranged in a predetermined manner which areas are means for further treating and/or handling the material strip (30), in which that said first group consists of at least three dark areas (3) and said second group consists of at least five light areas (2*), characterized in that the method serves for use with material strip (30), in which the widths (a) of said dark and light areas (3, 3*) of said fir