OPTICAL SENSING EQUIPMENT

Abstract

Provided is a method comprising illuminating paper moving on a substantially vertical transport belt; sensing variations in reflectivity among the paper; comparing the variations in reflectivity to pre-selected acceptable reflectivity values, thus determining locations of acceptable paper on the transport belt; and rejecting paper based on the locations of acceptable paper. Also provided is a paper handling method comprising creating a negative pressure on the posterior side of a transport belt, the transport belt moving in a substantially vertical plane; passing the transport belt through a bin of paper, the paper removeably affixed to an anterior side of the transport belt by the negative pressure; and selectively detaching the paper from the transport belt by selectively injecting air through perforations in the transport belt, the injected air overcoming the negative pressure. A paper handling system is provided, the system comprising a continuous transport belt having perforations and moving in a substantially vertical plane; an apparatus for creating a negative pressure on the posterior side of the transport belt; a bin containing an assortment of paper at the base of the transport belt whereby the paper is removeably affixed to the anterior side of the transport belt by the negative pressure as the transport belt moves in a substantially vertical plane; and an array of valves positioned on the posterior side of the transport belt for selectively injecting air through the perforations in the transport belt depending on variations in reflectivity among the paper, thereby overcoming the negative pressure and causing the paper to detach from the transport belt.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the following detailed description of embodiments of the invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific exemplary embodiments in which the invention may be practiced, and in which like numbers represent the same or similar elements and one or a plurality of such elements, as follows:

FIG. 1 is a flow diagram illustrating a method of sorting paper using optical sensing equipment in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating a paper handling method in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram of a paper handling system using optical sensing equipment in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is another diagram of a paper handling system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is an alternative view of a paper handling system in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a diagram of electronics associated with sensing equipment in accordance with embodiments of the present invention.

Claims

1. A method comprising: illuminating paper moving on a substantially vertical transport belt;sensing variations in reflectivity among the paper;comparing the variations in reflectivity to pre-selected acceptable reflectivity values, thus determining locations of acceptable paper on the transport belt; andrejecting paper based on the locations of acceptable paper.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising generating a map depicting locations of paper on the transport belt, each location indicative of the reflectivity of the paper at the location.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein reflectivity indicates acceptability of paper, reflectivity of paper within a reflectivity spectrum, or combinations thereof.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein sensing is carried out with one or more pixel array sensing units.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the one or more pixel array sensing units comprise a wide angle lens.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein illuminating comprises illuminating with long wave ultraviolet light, visible light, infrared light, or combinations thereof.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising: maintaining a vacuum created by a negative pressure on the posterior side of the transport belt to hold the paper to the anterior side of the transport belt;wherein rejecting comprises neutralizing the vacuum by actuating a valve on the posterior side of the transport belt corresponding to the location of the rejected paper on the map, thus releasing the paper from the belt.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising: maintaining a vacuum created by a negative pressure on the posterior side of the transport belt to hold the paper to the anterior side of the transport belt;wherein rejecting comprises counteracting the vacuum with compressed air in a location corresponding to the location of the rejected paper on the map, thus removing the rejected paper from the transport belt.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein rejecting is synchronized with the movement of paper on the transport belt and the map representing acceptable illumination levels.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising leveling the paper on the transport belt.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein moving comprises from about 1 to about 2000 feet per minute.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein moving is in a substantially vertical plane.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein moving is through a bin containing an assortment of paper at the base of the transport belt whereby the paper is removeably affixed to the anterior side of the transport belt by a vacuum created by a negative pressure on the posterior side of the transport belt.

14. A paper handling method comprising: creating a negative pressure on the posterior side of a transport belt, the transport belt moving in a substantially vertical plane;passing the transport belt through a bin of paper, the paper removeably affixed to an anterior side of the transport belt by the negative pressure; andselectively detaching the paper from the transport belt by selectively injecting air through perforations in the transport belt, the injected air overcoming the negative pressure.

15. A paper handling system comprising: a continuous transport belt having perforations and moving in a substantially vertical plane;an apparatus for creating a negative pressure on the posterior side of the transport belt;a bin containing an assortment of paper at the base of the transport belt whereby the paper is removeably affixed to the anterior side of the transport belt by the negative pressure as the transport belt moves in a substantially vertical plane; andan array of valves positioned on the posterior side of the transport belt for selectively injecting air through the perforations in the transport belt depending on variations in reflectivity among the paper thereby overcoming the negative pressure and causing the paper to detach from the transport belt.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising a leveling arrangement for leveling materials on the transport belt.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising an illumination source for illuminating the paper as it travels along the transport belt.

18. The system of claim 15 further comprising a sensor for detecting variations in reflectivity among the paper.

19. The system of claim 15 further comprising electronics for creating a map of the variations in illumination levels among the paper and for using the map to synchronize movement of paper on the transport belt with selectively injecting air through perforations causing selected paper to detach from the transport belt.

20. The system of claim 15 wherein the perforations comprise a uniform grid of holes in the transport belt.

21. The system of claim 15 wherein the perforations comprise a grid of holes having nominal hole spacing from about one (1) to about three (3) inches, each hole having a surface area from about three quarters to about two square inches (0.75-2 in2).