Method and apparatus for accurately manipulating a sheet

• US 6,296,246 B1
• Filed: 12/30/1999
• Issued: 10/02/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Neopost BV (Quadient SA)
• Original Assignee: Neopast BV
• Inventors: Boorsma, Peter Renze
• Primary Examiner(s): Ellis, Christopher P.
• Assistant Examiner(s): RIDLEY, RICHARD W L
• Application Number:
  US09/475,075
• Time in Patent Office: 642 Days
• Field of Search: 271/186, 271/187, 271/265.01, 198/404
• US Class Current: 271/186
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 15/016 employing rotary or reciprocating elements supporting transport means
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2301/33214 about an axis perpendicular to the direction of displacement and parallel to the surface of material
• CPC Class Codes: B65H 2513/23 angular

Abstract

For accurately manipulating a sheet, in accelerating or decelerating that sheet, another sheet or a holder for receiving a sheet in a first time interval, a quantity is measured which forms a measure for the deceleration or acceleration in the first time interval. A measuring result obtained upon measurement is required. Next, a moment at which an acceleration or deceleration of the sheet in a second time interval after said first time interval is started is determined in accordance with the registered measuring result. As a result, in a very simple manner, an accurate determination is obtained of the moment at which the intended acceleration or deceleration is to be started. Further disclosed are apparatuses for practicing the proposed method.

Claims

1. A method for accurately manipulating at least one sheet, comprising:

in a first time interval, accelerating or decelerating said at least one sheet, another sheet or a holder or receiving a sheet;

measuring at least one quantity which forms a measure for said deceleration or acceleration in said first time interval;

registering at least one measuring result obtained upon measuring; and

subsequently determining in accordance with said registered measuring result a moment at which an acceleration or deceleration of said at least one sheet in a second time interval after said first time intervals started.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said manipulation is formed by a movement from a standstill, starting with an acceleration and ending with a deceleration to at most a predetermined minimum speed.

3. A method according to claim 2, wherein said first time interval precedes the acceleration of said at least one sheet, and wherein said quantity which is measured is the deceleration of said at least one sheet, another sheet or a holder for receiving a sheet.

4. A method according to claim 2, wherein said at least one quantity which is measured is the brake path from a particular first speed to a particular, lower second speed or standstill.

5. A method according to claim 2, wherein said at least one quantity which is measured is the braking time from a particular first speed to a particular, lower second speed or standstill.

6. A method according to claim 2, wherein said at least one quantity is measured during an acceleration preceding said deceleration, which acceleration forms part of said movement of said at least one sheet.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said at least one quantity which is measured is the acceleration of said at least one sheet.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein said at least one quantity which is measured is the path traveled by said at least one sheet during said acceleration from a standstill or a particular first speed to a particular second speed.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein said at least one quantity which is measured is the time which has lapsed during said acceleration of said at least one sheet from a standstill or a particular first speed to a particular second speed.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said movement is formed by an acceleration started at a particular moment followed by passing a particular point, and wherein said at least one quantity which is measured in said first time interval is the time duration between the start of said acceleration and the moment of passing said particular point.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein each of said accelerations and decelerations in said first time interval and in said second time interval are carried out without being controlled.

12. An apparatus for accurately manipulating at least one sheet, comprising:

means for at least accelerating or decelerating at least one sheet;

at least one measuring means for measuring at least one quantity which forms a measure for the deceleration or acceleration of said at least one sheet;

a control means for operating said means for at least accelerating or decelerating at least one sheet;

wherein said control means is arranged for obtaining in cooperation with said at least one measuring means at least one measuring result which represents a deceleration or acceleration of said at least one sheet within a first time interval, for registering said measuring result and for determining, in accordance with said registered measuring result, a moment at which an acceleration or deceleration in a second time interval is started.

13. An apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the means for accelerating and decelerating said at least one sheet comprise and electric motor, and wherein the control means is arranged for determining the moment at which the deceleration in said second time interval is started in linear dependency on the instantaneous speed of said at least one sheet.