Method and device for conveying sheets through a printing technology machine or printer

Abstract

A device for conveying a sheet through a printing technology machine or printer includes a conveying element for gripping the sheet and for moving the sheet forward. A guide plate guides the sheet and has a surface. A sensor configuration determines a location of the sheet relative to the guide plate. The sensor configuration has at least one tactile sensor element being structurally integrated with the surface of the guide plate. An actuator sets the location of the sheet relative to the guide plate. A method of conveying a sheet through a printing technology machine or printer is also provided.

1 . A device for conveying a sheet through a printing technology machine or printer, the device comprising: 
 a conveying element for gripping the sheet and for moving the sheet forward;    a guide plate for guiding the sheet, said guide plate having a surface;    a sensor configuration for determining a location of the sheet relative to said guide plate, said sensor configuration having at least one tactile sensor element being structurally integrated with said surface of said guide plate; and    an actuator for setting the location of the sheet relative to said guide plate.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tactile sensor element is disposed at a side of said guide plate facing towards the sheet.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tactile sensor element is constructed as a piezoelectric foil.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tactile sensor element is constructed as a piezoelectric varnish.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tactile sensor element is a plurality of tactile sensor elements disposed in raster-shaped partial surfaces on said guide plate.  
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor associated with said at least one tactile sensor element.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one non-contact operating spacing sensor associated with said at least one tactile sensor element.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said actuator encompasses air flow-through openings formed in said guide plate.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one charge transfer element, said at least one tactile sensor element being a plurality of tactile sensor elements connected to said charge transfer element.  
   
   
       10 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tactile sensor element is a plurality of tactile sensor elements selectively provided for signal evaluation.  
   
   
       11 . The device according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one tactile sensor element is a plurality of tactile sensor elements disposed in a bridge circuit for temperature compensation.  
   
   
       12 . A method of conveying a sheet through a printing technology machine or printer, the method comprising the following steps: 
 measuring an actual spacing between the sheet and a guide plate with a plurality of spacing sensors while the sheet moves continuously forward, to produce actual spacing signals;    comparing the actual spacing with a nominal or desired spacing to form comparative values;    forming adjusting values for an actuator from the comparative values;    setting a location of the sheet with the actuator for reducing a difference between the nominal or desired spacing and the actual spacing;    producing a contact signal if the sheet contacts the guide plate; and    weighting the actual spacing signals in dependence on the contact signal.