Unknown

Abstract

The invention relates to a switch ( 5, 105 ) for signaling a position of a sheet ( 27 ) of paper, film or similar flat material in a transport path ( 3, 103 ), of a handling system ( 1 ), in particular of a feed system, for sheets ( 27 ) of paper, film or similar flat material, having an actuating mechanism ( 9 ) and a sensor ( 11, 111 ). In this case, according to the invention, a first actuating mechanism ( 9 ) has a lever ( 31 ) a toothed transmission ( 33 ) and an actuating element ( 21, 21′ ), which interacts with the optosensor ( 11 ), with the lever ( 31 ) having a stop ( 41 ) at one end for the sheet ( 27 ) and having a toothed profile ( 43 ) at the other end, which acts on the toothed transmission ( 33 ), in which case the actuating element ( 21, 21′ ) can be moved by the toothed transmission ( 33 ). Additionally or alternatively, a second actuating mechanism ( 109 ) has a wheel pair and an actuating wheel ( 128 ) which interacts with the sensor ( 111 ), with the wheel pair having a contact wheel ( 106 ) and a probe wheel ( 108 ) which roll on one another and between which the sheet ( 27 ) can be held, and which furthermore can be caused to rotate, and the rotation can be transmitted to the actuating wheel ( 128 ), which interacts with the probe wheel ( 108 ).

1 . Switch ( 5 ,  105 ) for signaling a position of a sheet ( 27 ) of paper, film or similar flat material in a transport path ( 3 ,  103 ) of a handling system ( 1 ) for sheets ( 27 ) of paper, film or of a similar flat material, having at least one actuating mechanism ( 9 ) and a sensor ( 11 ,  111 ), characterized in that
 a first actuating mechanism ( 9 ) has a lever ( 31 ), a toothed transmission ( 33 ) and an actuating element ( 21 ,  21 ′), which interacts with the sensor ( 11 ), with the lever ( 31 ) having a stop ( 41 ) at one end for the sheet ( 27 ) and having a toothed profile ( 43 ) at the other end, which acts on the toothed transmission ( 33 ), in which case the actuating element ( 21 ,  21 ′) can be moved by the toothed transmission ( 33 ), and/or a second actuating mechanism ( 109 ) has a wheel pair and an actuating wheel ( 128 ) which interacts with the sensor ( 111 ), with the wheel pair having a contact wheel ( 106 ) and a probe wheel ( 108 ) which roll on one another and between which the sheet ( 27 ) can be held, and which furthermore can be caused to rotate, and the rotation can be transmitted to the actuating wheel ( 128 ), which interacts with the probe wheel ( 108 ).   
   
   
       2 . Switch ( 5 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the toothed transmission ( 33 ) is formed by means of a single gearwheel, and the actuating element ( 21 ,  21 ′) can be caused to rotate by the gearwheel. 
   
   
       3 . Switch ( 5 ) according to  claim 1 , characterized in that the toothed transmission ( 33 ) is formed by means of a single toothed rack, and the actuating element ( 21 ,  21 ′) can be moved by the toothed rack. 
   
   
       4 . Switch ( 5 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  3 , characterized in that the toothed profile ( 43 ) engages with the toothed transmission ( 33 ). 
   
   
       5 . Switch ( 5 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  4 , characterized in that the actuating element ( 21 ,  21 ′) is attached to the toothed transmission ( 33 ), in particular to a gearwheel or to a toothed rack of the toothed transmission ( 33 ). 
   
   
       6 . Switch ( 5 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  5 , characterized in that the sensor is in the form of an optosensor ( 11 ), in particular having a transmitter ( 11 A) and a receiver ( 11 B) which, in particular, are fitted opposite one another in a fork holder. 
   
   
       7 . Switch ( 5 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  6 , characterized in that the actuating element ( 21 ,  21 ′) acts as an interrupter between a transmitter ( 11 A) and a receiver ( 11 B) for the optosensor ( 11 ), in particular projecting into an intermediate space ( 20 ) when the optosensor ( 11 ) is in the form of a fork holder. 
   
   
       8 . Switch ( 5 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  7 , characterized in that the optosensor ( 11 ) is in the form of a light barrier. 
   
   
       9 . Switch ( 5 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  8 , characterized in that the actuating element ( 21 ,  21 ′) is in the form of a lug, a pin, a perforated plate or a tooth ( 33 ′) of the toothed transmission ( 33 ), or an extension of the tooth ( 33 ′) of the toothed transmission ( 33 ). 
   
   
       10 . Switch ( 5 ,  105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  9 , characterized in that the sensor ( 11 ) is in the form of a magnetic sensor. 
   
   
       11 . Switch ( 105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  10 , characterized in that the pressure wheel ( 106 ) and the probe wheel ( 108 ) can be moved away from one another against an opposing force, in particular a spring force, in order to hold the sheet ( 27 ). 
   
   
       12 . Switch ( 105 ) according to one of  claims 10  to  11 , characterized in that the actuating wheel ( 128 ) is in the form of a clock wheel with a number of slots ( 120 ) at equal intervals, in particular for clocking an optosensor. 
   
   
       13 . Switch ( 105 ) according to  claims 1  to  12 , characterized in that the actuating wheel ( 128 ) is designed to produce a magnetic rotating field, in particular for clocking a magnetic sensor. 
   
   
       14 . Switch ( 105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  13 , characterized in that the rotation angle of the probe wheel ( 108 ) can be converted to a length unit by means of a submillimeter marking, which is fitted to the probe wheel ( 108 ) and the sensor ( 111 ), in particular in order to signal the distance traveled by the sheet ( 27 ). 
   
   
       15 . Switch ( 105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  14 , characterized in that the probe wheel ( 108 ) is in the form of a knurled wheel, in particular a steel disk with laser-machined grooves. 
   
   
       16 . Switch ( 105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  15 , characterized in that the probe wheel ( 108 ) and the actuating wheel ( 128 ) interact by means of at least one step-up transmission wheel ( 126 ). 
   
   
       17 . Switch ( 5 ,  105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  16 , characterized by the space required not exceeding 23 mm×23 mm×30 mm, and preferably being 20 mm×20 mm×20 mm. 
   
   
       18 . Switch ( 5 ,  105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  17 , characterized in that the actuating mechanism ( 9 ) is substantially composed of a plastic material. 
   
   
       19 . Switch ( 5 ,  105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  18 , characterized in that the actuating mechanism ( 9 ,  109 ) has a return means ( 51 ,  116 ), in particular in the form of a spring, in particular a spring which is fitted between the lever ( 31 ) and a holder ( 7 ) for the actuating mechanism ( 9 ), or a contact wheel ( 106 ) and/or a probe wheel ( 108 ) of the wheel pair and the holder for the actuating mechanism ( 109 ). 
   
   
       20 . Switch ( 5 ,  105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  19 , characterized in that the stop ( 41 ) projects substantially at right angles into the transport path ( 3 ,  103 ), in particular in the form of a two-limbed lever arm ( FIG. 5 ), and/or the wheel pair, in particular with the stop ( 41 ) having an element ( 36 A) which can rotate and is arranged at the end. 
   
   
       21 . Switch ( 5 ,  105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  20 , characterized in that the transport path ( 3 ,  103 ) has a constriction ( 45 ) in the area of the stop ( 41 ), in particular the constriction which is formed by a rib ( 47 ,  49 ), in particular with a rib being arranged on both sides of the stop and/or wheel pair ( FIG. 5 ). 
   
   
       22 . Switch ( 5 ,  105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  21 , characterized in that the transport path ( 3 ,  103 ) has a height of at least 1.75 mm. 
   
   
       23 . Switch ( 5 ,  105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  22 , characterized by a connection ( 15 A,  15 B) for electronic relaying of the signaling from the sensor ( 11 ,  111 ). 
   
   
       24 . Switch ( 5 ,  105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  23 , characterized in that a connection ( 15 A,  15 B) is arranged on one face and/or on one end face of a holder ( 13 ) for the sensor ( 11 ,  111 ). 
   
   
       25 . Handling system ( 1 ), in particular a separation system, conveying system, feed system or storage system, for sheets ( 27 ) of paper, film or similar flat material, having a transport path ( 3 ,  103 ) for sheets ( 27 ) of paper, film or similar flat material, characterized by a switch ( 5 ,  105 ) according to one of  claims 1  to  17 . 
   
   
       26 . Handling system ( 1 ) according to  claim 25 , in the form of a printer, copying or scanning system.