Print Mark Sensor

Abstract

A method of evaluating print marks of detection objects using a print mark sensor and a print mark sensor for evaluating print marks having at least one light transmitter and at least one light receiver having a control and evaluation unit for evaluating the light receiver signal of the light receiver and having an output for a sensor signal that is formed by the control and evaluation unit on the basis of the light receiver signal.

Claims

1. A print mark sensor for evaluating print marks of detection objects, the print mark sensor having at least one light transmitter and at least one light receiver, having a control and evaluation unit for evaluating a light receiver signal of the light receiver, and having an output for a sensor signal that is formed by the control and evaluation unit on the basis of the light receiver signal, wherein an electronic memory is present to store a plurality of consecutively detected light receiver signals of a plurality of consecutively detected print marks, and wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to evaluate the plurality of light receiver signals and to generate results data and/or parameters from the time progression of these light receiver signals that enable conclusions on an environment of the print mark sensor, on the detection objects, on the print marks and/or on a process.

2. The print mark sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the results data and/or parameters can be output to one of the output, an additional output and an additional interface.

3. The print mark sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine a material speed, a scanning range variation, a dynamic range, extraneous light influences and/or temperature influences from the plurality of light receiver signals.

4. The print mark sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine correction values of the detection parameters of a print mark from the plurality of light receiver signals on a machine start, during the machine operation and/or during acceleration phases or deceleration phases with respect to the nominal operation of the machine.

5. The print mark sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine a typical contrast development between a print mark and the background over a specific number of print formats from the plurality of light receiver signals.

6. The print mark sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine a measure for a homogeneity of a material to be printed from the plurality of light receiver signals.

7. The print mark sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to analyze the plurality of light receiver signals and to select a teaching process from different stored algorithms for an application of the print mark sensor and/or to propose it to the user.

8. The print mark sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine at least one parameter from the plurality of light receiver signals and to use this parameter for optimizing a working point for a detection of print marks by changing detection parameters of the print mark sensor.

9. The print mark sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine at least one parameter from the plurality of light receiver signals, wherein the parameter is at least one of: a switch-on time of a printing machine or of a packaging machine; an operating hour counter value; a ratio of switch-on time to the process time of the printing machine or packaging machine; at least one statistical value on the path speed of the print marks; a date and/or a system time of the last parameterization of the printing machine or packaging machine; a plurality of print marks read over a defined time period; a detection quality over a defined time period; a variance of a detection quality over a defined time period as an indicator for a system degradation or print mark degradation; and an environmental condition value.

10. The print mark sensor in accordance with claim 1, wherein the control and evaluation unit is configured to determine at least one parameter from the plurality of light receiver signals, wherein the parameter is at least one of: a piece of information on the quality of the sensor function, a functional reserve value while taking account of environmental influences; an evaluation value of a selected teaching process with respect to alternative teaching processes; a recommendation value of a most suitable teaching process; a value on the required and/or current signal dynamics; stored error images on critical detection states; and an alignment of the print mark sensor.

11. A method of evaluating print marks of detection objects using a print mark sensor having at least one light transmitter for transmitting light beams and at least one light receiver for receiving remitted light beams; the method comprising the steps of: evaluating a light receiver signal of the light receiver signal of the light receiver by a control and evaluation unit, forming a sensor signal by the control and evaluation unit on the basis of the light receiver signal, outputting the sensor signal to an output, storing a plurality of consecutively detected light receiver signals of consecutively detected print marks in an electronic memory, wherein the plurality of light receiver signals are evaluated and results data and/or parameters are generated from the time progression of these light receiver signals that enable conclusions on an environment of the print mark sensor, on the detection objects, on the print marks and/or on a process.

12. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the results data and/or parameters can be output to the output or to an additional output or to an additional interface, wherein the results data can be produced continuously and can be output continuously.

13. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein a material speed, a scanning range variation, a dynamic range, extraneous light influences and/or temperature influences are determined from the plurality of light receiver signals by the control and evaluation unit.

14. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein a position accuracy of a print mark is determined from a plurality of light receiver signals by the control and evaluation unit on a machine start, during the machine operation and/or during acceleration phases or deceleration phases.

15. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein a contrast development between a print mark and the background is determined by the control and evaluation unit over a specific number of print formats from the plurality of light receiver signals.

16. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein a measure for the homogeneity of a material to be printed is determined from the plurality of light receiver signals.

17. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein the plurality of light receiver signals are analyzed by the control and evaluation unit and a teaching process is selected from different stored algorithms for an application of the print mark sensor and/or is proposed to the user.

18. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein at least one parameter is determined from the plurality of light receiver signals by the control and evaluation unit and this parameter is used for optimizing a working point for a detection of print marks by changing detection parameters of the print mark sensor.

19. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein at least one parameter is determined from the plurality of light receiver signals by the control and evaluation unit, wherein the parameter is a switch-on time of a printing machine or of a packaging machine; is an operating hour counter value; is a ratio of switch-on time to the process time of the printing machine or packaging machine; is at least one statistical value on the path speed of the print marks; is a date and/or a system time of the last parameterization of the printing machine; is a plurality of print marks read over a defined time period; is a detection quality over a defined time period; is a variance of a detection quality over a defined time period as an indicator for a system degradation or print mark degradation; is a variance of the print mark quality over a defined time period; and/or is an environmental condition value.

20. The method in accordance with claim 11, wherein at least one parameter is determined from the plurality of light receiver signals by the control and evaluation unit, wherein the parameter is a piece of information on the quality of the sensor function of the print mark sensor, wherein the parameter is a functional reserve value while taking account of environmental influences; is an evaluation value of a selected teaching process with respect to alternative teaching processes; is a recommendation value of a most suitable teaching process; is a value on the required and/or current signal dynamics; are stored error images on critical detection states and/or an alignment of the sensor; and/or is an alignment of the print mark sensor.

Description

[0059] The invention will also be explained in the following with respect to further advantages and features with reference to the enclosed drawing and to embodiments. The FIGURE of the drawing shows in:

[0060] FIG. 1: a print mark sensor.

[0061] FIG. 1 shows a print mark sensor 1 for evaluating print marks 2 having at least one light transmitter 3 and at least one light receiver 4 having a control and evaluation unit 5 for evaluating the light receiver signal of the light receiver 4 and having an output 6 for a sensor signal that is formed by the control and evaluation unit 5 on the basis of the light receiver signal, wherein an electronic memory 7 is present to store a plurality of consecutively detected light receiver signals of a plurality of consecutively detected print marks, wherein the control and evaluation unit 5 is configured to evaluate the plurality of light receiver signals of a plurality of consecutively detected print marks and to generate results data and/or parameters.

[0062] The light transmitter 3, the light receiver 4, and the control and evaluation unit 5 are in this respect arranged in a common housing or in a common sensor housing.

[0063] The print mark sensor 1 is arranged, for example, at a printing machine, at a packaging machine, at a processing machine for products, etc.

[0064] The light transmitter 3 is, for example, formed by one or more light emitting diodes or laser diodes. The light receiver 4 is, for example, formed by one or more photodiodes. The print mark sensor 1 can, for example, be configured as a light sensor after which the light transmitter 3 and the light receiver 4 are arranged in a common housing in which the control and evaluation unit 5 is also arranged. The print mark sensor 1 can have further sensors 10 for detecting other environmental conditions such as temperature.

[0065] The results data and/or parameters can be output to the output 6 or to an additional output 8 or to an additional interface 9.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0066] 1 print mark sensor [0067] 2 print marks [0068] 3 light transmitter [0069] 4 light receiver [0070] 5 control and evaluation unit [0071] 6 output [0072] 7 memory [0073] 8 additional output [0074] 9 additional interface [0075] 10 sensor