EP2362330A2 - Device and method for detecting flat products - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a light source (16) e.g. optical lens, provided with an illumination beam profile (24), and a detection beam profile (30) overlapping the illumination beam profile in a detection region. A section (33) of surface profile of flat products (14) is illuminated in the detection region, where the section is partially delimited by the illumination beam profile. An evaluation unit (20) e.g. computer, is fed with a detection signal generated by an optical sensor (18), where the evaluation unit determines the number of flat products located in the detection region. An independent claim is also included for a method for counting and detecting a flat product.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for detecting sheet-like products according to the preamble of claim 1 and a method for detecting sheet-like products according to claim 11.

Devices for counting flat products (in short also counting devices) are generally known technical aids to determine the number of flat products. Upon detection of a deviation between an expected number of sheets and the number determined by the meter, corresponding error correction processes may be initiated. In counting devices optical sensors are often used to detect the number of flat products contactlessly and quickly.

Counting devices are for example in the EP-A-1 661 833 and the WO 2007/012206 disclosed. In a device described in the last-mentioned document, flat products transported in brackets are equipped with identification information which is subjected to an optical-electronic control when the flat products move past at a control point. Images of the identification information are registered by means of an image recording device. The captured images are processed electronically and, as a result of this processing, control signals are generated for downstream processing devices.

In the case of the known device, the planar products must additionally be provided with identification information which is then to be detected in an image acquisition process which is frequently dependent on ambient lighting. Completely flat adjacent products are not counted in this way or only with great effort.

The object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus and a method for detecting sheet-like products, which makes it possible to detect defects in sheet-like products.

This object is achieved by a device for detecting sheet-like products according to claim 1 and a method for detecting sheet-like products according to claim 11. Particularly preferred embodiments are equipped with the features listed in the dependent claims.

The device according to the invention for detecting sheet-like products, in particular printed products, has a light source, an optical sensor and an evaluation unit connected to the optical sensor. The light source, in a preferred embodiment, a laser, has a beam shaping optics, for example in the form of optical lenses, in particular of cylindrical lenses, of apertures or diffractive optical elements, through which the emitted light, a predetermined illumination beam profile "imprinted" is. Within the illumination beam profile objects are irradiated with light. The light source can be assigned via the beam shaping optical system an optical axis, which is based on the light source extends in a straight line in the room. For the purposes of this application, this optical axis simultaneously forms a central beam axis of the illumination beam profile and is also referred to below as an illumination beam axis.

The optical sensor, in a preferred embodiment for example an electronic camera with a plurality of photosensitive elements, is equipped with a detection optical system for forming a detection beam profile. As detection optics, for example, a camera lens is used. The detection beam profile includes all the locations from which the optical sensor can detect light. When using an optical sensor having a plurality of photosensitive elements, as in the aforementioned camera, the detection beam profile of the optical sensor is composed of the individual detection beam profiles associated with each individual photosensitive element. For example, the detection beam profile of the optical sensor could be visualized by replacing the photosensitive elements with small light sources. In analogy to the light source, an optical axis can also be assigned to the optical sensor via the detection optics. For the purposes of this application, this optical axis simultaneously forms a central beam axis of the detection beam profile and is also referred to below as a detection beam axis.

According to the invention, the illumination beam profile and the detection beam profile are aligned with an angle offset from one another such that they overlap in a detection area. In a preferred embodiment, the illumination beam axis and the detection beam axis are even in one plane. To count the Flat products must be at least a portion of the surface profile of the sheet products in the detection area. This section is according to the invention at least partially limited by the illumination beam profile and detectable by means of the optical sensor. The optical sensor may generate a detection signal with information about the detected portion of the surface profile. The detection signal is forwarded to a downstream evaluation unit. The evaluation unit, preferably a computer, can use the detection signal to determine the number of areal products which were located in the detection area at the time of detection.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the device for detecting sheet-like products is assigned a transport device. The flat products which are moved through the detection area along a transport direction by means of the transport device are preferably continuously counted in order, for example, to check their completeness. The illumination beam axis is preferably aligned inclined relative to the surface normal of, for example, resting on a conveyor belt or transported by means of brackets or grippers flat products. The illumination beam profile in the detection area is preferably formed by means of the beam shaping optics as a substantially rectilinear region, in particular as a so-called illumination line, which illuminates the section of the surface profile of the planar products in a defined manner. Preferably, the illumination line extends substantially parallel to Transport direction. Immediately above the sheet-like products, with its detection beam axis slightly inclined to the surface normal and aligned substantially perpendicular to the transport direction, there is a camera as an optical sensor. The detection beam profile is formed by the detection optics such that an image of the light line projected onto the surface of the planar products by the light source is generated on the photosensitive elements of the camera.

Due to the height differences caused by the thickness and the arrangement of the sheet-like products in the "surface profile to be scanned", in particular when an edge region of a sheet product is in the detection region, an image recorded by the camera is projected from the illumination line projected onto this uneven "projection surface" whose bends and heels reflect. This image information is forwarded in the detection signal to an electrically connected computer. A computer-executable image processing program can then determine from the image of the projected illumination line on the basis of the curvatures and paragraphs the number of planar products that have been in the detection area. So that the image information is influenced as little as possible by movement artefacts due to the transport of the sheet-like products during image acquisition, the recording or detection time is short compared to the time within which a flat product has moved by the amount of its thickness.

The imperfections of the area in the detection area sheet products is determined solely from the detected surface profile of the sheet products. It is not necessary to attach identification information to the sheet products. Due to the relative to the ambient light comparatively high intensity of the light generated by the light source in the illumination beam profile, in particular within the illumination line in the detection area, there is sufficient contrast in the image recordings, so that a reliable identification of the illuminated surface profile is guaranteed. In addition, when using a substantially monochromatic light source, such as a laser, the optical sensor may be provided with corresponding filter elements to further reduce the interference of ambient light.

The device according to the invention and the method according to the invention are, in addition to the recognition of sheet-like products, also suitable for counting the sheet-like products.

Fig. 1

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemässen Vorrichtung zum Zählen und Erkennen von flächigen Produkten mit einer zugeordneten, die flächigen Produkte mittels Klammern transportierenden Transportvorrichtung, wobei eine seitlich von den flächigen Produkten angeordnete Laserlichtquelle eine Beleuchtungslinie auf die Oberfläche der durch einen Detektionsbereich transportierten flächigen Produkte projiziert und einer oberhalb der flächigen Produkte befindliche Kamera das dadurch beleuchtete Oberflächenprofil detektiert;

Fig. 2

in einer Seitenansicht einen Abschnitt einer weiteren Ausführung einer zugeordneten Transportvorrichtung, bei welcher jeweils zwei flächige Produkte von jeweils einem Greifer gehalten entlang einer Transportrichtung transportiert werden und ein weiterer Sensor der Vorrichtung zum Zählen und Erkennen von flächigen Produkten die vorbeibewegten Greifer detektiert, um mittels eines vom weiteren Sensor erzeugten Triggersignals eine vorgängig ermittelte Anzahl von flächigen Produkten einem bestimmten Greifer zuordnen zu können;

Fig. 3

in einer perspektivischen Darstellung einen Abschnitt der in Fig. 1 gezeigten Vorrichtung, wobei die transportierten flächigen Produkte nun in einer Schuppenanordnung auf einem Förderband aufliegend durch den Detektionsbereich transportiert werden;

Fig. 4

in einer Seitenansicht einen Abschnitt einer weiteren Ausführungsform einer zugeordneten Transportvorrichtung mit einzeln oder paarweise an Greifern gehaltenen flächigen Produkten; und

Fig. 5a-5e

abstrahierte Bildaufnahmen von hängend an Greifern durch den Detektionsbereich transportierten flächigen Produkten, wobei von der Beleuchtungslinie angestrahlte Oberflächenprofile jeweils gestrichelt gezeichnet und die jeweils schematischen Seitenansichten der flächigen Produkte lediglich hilfsweise mit dargestellt sind.

Hereinafter, particularly preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to schematic drawings. They show in detail:

Fig. 1

in a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the inventive device for counting and detecting sheet products with an associated, the flat products by means of staples transporting transport device, wherein a laterally arranged from the planar products laser light source illuminating line on the surface of projecting a detection area transported planar products and a camera located above the sheet-like products detected thereby illuminated surface profile;

Fig. 2

in a side view of a portion of another embodiment of an associated transport device, in which each two-dimensional products are held by a gripper held transported along a transport direction and another sensor of the device for counting and detecting of sheet-like products detects the passing gripper to by means of a another sensor generated trigger signal to be able to assign a previously determined number of flat products a specific gripper can;

Fig. 3

in a perspective view a section of in Fig. 1 the device shown, wherein the transported flat products are now transported in a scale arrangement on a conveyor belt lying through the detection area;

Fig. 4

in a side view of a portion of another embodiment of an associated transport device with individually or in pairs held on grippers flat products; and

Fig. 5a-5e

Abstracted images of hanging on claws through the detection area transported flat products, wherein illuminated by the illumination line surface profiles are each drawn by dashed lines and the respective schematic side views of the sheet-like products are merely auxiliary shown.

A particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention for counting and detecting sheet-like products (also referred to below as counting device) 10 with a transport device 12 assigned to it is shown in FIG Fig. 1 shown schematically. The counting device 10 for transported by the transport device 12 area products 14, in particular printed products, such as newspapers, magazines, brochures, etc., has a light source 16, an optical sensor 18 and connected to the optical sensor 18 evaluation unit 20.

As the light source 16, preferably lasers, in particular laser diodes or gas lasers, LEDs, but also classical radiation sources, such as incandescent or halogen lamps, can be used. The light source 16 is equipped with beam shaping optics 22 which provide a predetermined illumination beam profile 24 and define an optical axis of the light source 16.

At the in Fig. 1 In the embodiment shown, the illumination beam profile 24 of the light source 16 arranged laterally relative to a transport direction T along which the planar products 14 are transported has a cross section (also beam cross section) with a substantially at least partially rectilinear boundary, substantially line-like, preferably substantially rectilinear shape. In this case, the beam cross section is measured at right angles to the optical axis of the light source 16, hereinafter also referred to as the illumination beam axis 26. The line-like, preferably straight beam cross-section is also referred to as the illumination line. The illumination beam profile 24 with its line-like beam cross-section extends substantially in one plane.

Elongated, essentially line-like beam cross-sections can be produced with known beam-shaping optics 22, which are equipped, for example, with cylindrical lenses, diaphragms or diffractive elements. The illumination beam profile 24 preferably has a higher light intensity than the ambient light, at least in a detection area defined below. In addition, the light source 16 preferably provides substantially monochromatic light, such as that produced by lasers, single color LEDs, or classic light sources equipped with filters. In this way, it is possible to distinguish the light generated by the light source 16 and scattered by the planar products 14 and detected by the optical sensor 18 from the ambient light, both because of its intensity and its spectral range, and thus reliable detection and counting of the sheet-like products 14 to ensure.

As an optical sensor 18 in the described embodiments of the inventive counting device 10 is an electronic camera with a plurality of photosensitive elements, such as a CCD camera, used. The optical sensor 18 is equipped with a detection lens 28 in the form of a camera lens, which provides a detection beam profile 30 and defines an optical axis of the optical sensor 18. The optical axis of the optical sensor 18 will hereinafter be referred to as the detection beam axis 32. The optical sensor 18 is arranged above the sheet-like products 14, so that an image of the light line projected onto the flat products 14 on the photosensitive elements of the optical sensor 18 is generated by means of the detection optics 28. That is, the illumination beam profile 24 of the light source 16 and the detection beam profile 30 of the optical sensor 18 are aligned with angular offset from each other so that they overlap in a detection area in which there is at least a portion 33 of a surface profile of the sheet products 14 for counting. The located in the detection area and thus illuminated portion 33 of the surface profile is at least partially limited by the predetermined illumination beam profile 24.

A scattering angle α included by the illumination beam axis 26 and the detection beam axis 32 is preferably between 10 ° and less than 180 °, more preferably between 30 ° and 45 °. This can, as with the arrangement in Fig. 1 and Fig. 3 shown, the light source 16 may be arranged laterally with respect to the sheet-like products 14, that the longitudinal axis of the illumination line is aligned substantially parallel to the transport direction T. In the detection process for counting the sheet-like products 14, the illumination line preferably extends over an edge region of the sheet-like products 14 folded flat products 14 preferably over the collar 34th

The optical sensor 18 can be arranged both above and laterally from the flat products 14. The illustrated positions of light source 16 and optical sensor 18 are also interchangeable. In an arrangement above the planar products 14, the detection beam axis 32 or the illumination beam axis 26 is preferably aligned inclined to the surface normal of the flat products 14 and at right angles to the transport direction T.

The basic principle of the counting device 10 is that the known in their form, substantially rectilinear illumination line is projected onto an uneven by the thickness and / or arrangement of the sheet 14 products section 33 of the surface profile of the sheet products 14 and at a staggered detection, the height changes the surface profile of the sheet-like products as curvatures and paragraphs in the capture of the optical sensor 18 image of the illumination line can be detected.

The illuminated portion 33 of the surface profile of the flat products 14 detected by the optical sensor 18 is in the considered embodiment, in which a camera is used as an optical sensor 18, as an image recording. The image information is forwarded by means of a detection signal via an electrical connection to the evaluation unit 20, for example a computer.

In the evaluation unit 20, the relevant information about the detected section 33 of the surface profile is extracted from the detection signal by means of a suitable computer program, in particular by means of an image processing program, and associated curvatures, edges and paragraphs are assigned to a specific number of planar products 14. During the extraction of the relevant information about the surface profile, disturbing additional information still present in the images, for example signs and images visible on the surface of the planar products 14 due to the ambient light, can be filtered out by known discrimination methods.

A scanned by means of the inventive counting device surface profile is in the Fig. 1 and 3 by dashed lines, which are provided with the reference numeral A shown. The sheet products 14 are in Fig. 1 transported by means belonging to the counting device 10 transport 36 in the form of brackets. In this case, two planar products 14 are each held by a respective transporting means 36 in such a way that a flat product 14 leading in the transport direction T extends further into a clamping mouth of the transporting means 36, as a trailing further flat product 14 partially resting on the leading flat product 14.

Also, the respective transport means 36 themselves can, as also in Fig. 1 shown, by a further sensor 38, for example in the form of a light barrier, to be detected. During the passage of a transport means 36 through a monitoring area of the further sensor 38 is from further sensor 38 generates a trigger signal and forwarded to the evaluation unit 20. Taking into account the transport speed of the transport means 36, the number of areal products 14 detected at a specific time can now be assigned to a specific transport means 36. By comparison with a predetermined target number of flat products, which should be held by a transport means 36 is now determined whether errors in the placement of the transport means 36 or the transport have occurred, so that, for example, a corresponding control signal can be triggered to a downstream processing device ,

The used for the assignment further sensor 38 is also in Fig. 2 shown. It can be seen in the transport direction T, both before the counting device 10 and after the counting device 10 may be arranged. At the in Fig. 2 shown embodiment of the transport device 12 are each two flat products 14 completely superimposed held by grippers trained transport 36.

In Fig. 3 is a further embodiment of a transport device 12 with a conveyor belt shown as transport 36. The sheet-like products 14 are transported with their collar 34 in the transport direction T leading in an imbricated formation on the transport means 36 resting through the detection area of the counting device 10. In this illustration, as already mentioned above, the surface profile A of the planar products 14 scanned by the counting device 10 is represented by a dashed line.

By means of the counting device 10 according to the invention, it is also possible to use individual or partially overlapping planar products 14 which, as in FIG Fig. 4 shown to be transported hanging from formed as a gripper transport means 36 are counted.

In an arrangement of the optical sensor 18 such that its detection beam axis 32 is aligned substantially along the longitudinal axis of the collar 34 of the sheet products 14, which could be in the FIGS. 5a to 5e be shown abstracted image taken. The illumination beam axis 26 of the light source 16 is directed from the top to the camera-side free end region of the collar 34 and advantageously extends at least nearly parallel to product pages 40 of the sheet 14. The illumination beam axis 26 and the detection beam axis 32 span here a plane that is in the Substantially perpendicular to the transport direction T extends.

In the FIGS. 5a to 5e In addition to the illuminated by the illumination line sections 33 of the surface profiles, which are shown as dashed lines, for clarity, the side views of each sampled planar products 14 in the abstracted images are shown. On the basis of these exemplary abstracted image recordings, it is shown that planar products 14 transported in a suspended manner by means of grippers or clamps (individually Fig. 5a ), in pairs ( Fig. 5b, 5c and 5e ) or in a multiple arrangement, for example, three ( Fig. 5d ), transported and counted.

As in the FIGS. 5b and 5e In this case, a detection and counting is shown both with flat products 14 (FIG. Fig. 5c and Fig. 5d ), as well as in completely adjacent flat products 14 possible. This applies both to multi-sided, folded flat products 14, as in Fig. 5a to 5d shown, as well as for single-layer, unfolded sheet products 14, as in Fig. 5e shown. In order to increase the reliability of the count in a plurality of single-layered, unfolded sheet products 14 held together in a clamp or a gripper, they can be at least partially fanned out and thus spaced from one another, for example by the injection of air.

In the case of a continuous counting of flat products 14 continuously transported by the associated transport device 12 through the detection area, it is preferred for the optical quality of the image recordings and thus the reliability of the counting that the camera acting as the optical sensor 18 records image recordings within a time that is shorter , is preferably much shorter than the time within which a sheet product 14 moves by the amount of its thickness in the detection area.

In addition, the reliability of the counting can be increased if, as previously mentioned, the light intensity of the light source 16 is increased relative to the ambient light or a filter tuned to the wavelength of the light emitted by the light source 16 is used in the optical sensor 18 , In addition, it is by an increase in the angle α between the illumination beam axis 26 and the detection beam axis 32, it is possible to increase the curvatures, edges and heights in the images of the illuminated surface portions 33.

The counting device 10 according to the invention and the method according to the invention for counting sheet-like products 14 make it possible to count surface products 14 that are suitable and reliable for a variety of transport formats of sheet-like products 14 with moderate equipment complexity. The sheet-like products 14 can be transported during detection and counting be, with the amount of transport speed is limited by the shortest possible recording time of the optical sensor 18, in which, despite resulting from the transport movement artifacts in the image recordings a reliable count possible.

Incidentally, both the illumination beam profile 24 and the detection beam profile 30 can be adapted to the specific needs. It is thus possible to project a plurality of illumination lines or also time-varying patterns of illumination lines onto the surface of the planar products 14 and to detect them by means of the optical sensor 18. It is important that the located in the detection area surface portion 33 of the sheet products 14 is at least partially limited by the predetermined illumination beam profile 24.

In addition to the counting of flat products 14 and thus the determination of incorrect numbers, it is also possible deformed and / or incomplete products 14 on the basis of the optical sensor 18 detected image of the illumination line to recognize. These products 14 have in comparison to expected height changes in the surface profile deviations from which conclusions about a deformation and / or incompleteness can be drawn. For this purpose, for example, 20 comparison operations between detected and expected signals are executed in the evaluation unit. In the event that the deviations are outside of predetermined tolerance ranges, the evaluation unit 20 generates signals which trigger predetermined error processing procedures. In particular, a signal for discharging deformed and / or incomplete products 14 can be forwarded to a processing device downstream of the counter 10 in the transport direction T. Of course, in this way it is also possible to sort different products 14, for example because of their different thicknesses, and subsequently, for example by separating the product stream.

The device for detecting, and also counting, flat products 14, in particular printed products, has a light source 16, an optical sensor 18 with detection optics 28 for forming a detection beam profile 30 and an evaluation unit 20 connected to the optical sensor 18, characterized in that in that the light source 16 is equipped with beam shaping optics 22 for shaping an illumination beam profile 24 which overlaps with the detection beam profile 30 of the optical sensor 18 in a detection area, and an angle-offset orientation of the illumination beam profile 24 relative to the detection beam profile 30 means that a section 33 of a surface profile of the planar products 14 located in the detection area and bounded at least partially by the illumination beam profile 24 can be detected by means of the optical sensor 18 and from one of the optical sensor 18 generated detection signal containing information about the detected portion 33 of the surface profile, the number of sheet products 14 in the detection area by means of the evaluation unit 20 can be determined.

In a further embodiment, the cross-section of the illumination beam profile 24 in the detection area, measured at right angles to the optical axis 32 of the light source 16, is substantially at least partially rectilinear, preferably substantially line-like, particularly preferably substantially rectilinearly shaped to form a line of illumination.

According to a further embodiment, the optical axes 26, 32 of the light source 16 and of the optical sensor 18 enclose an angle between about 10 ° and less than 180 °, preferably between 30 ° and 45 °.

Further, the optical axes 26, 32 of the light source 16 and / or the optical sensor 18 are inclined to the surface normal of the sheet products 14 aligned.

In a further embodiment, the planar products 14 are transported by means of an associated transport device 12 along a transport direction T, wherein the optical axis 32 of the optical Sensor 18 is oriented substantially perpendicular to the transport direction T and the longitudinal axis of a cross section of the illumination beam profile 24 in the detection region is substantially parallel to the transport direction T.

According to a further embodiment, a further sensor 38 which, when a transport means 36 of the transport device 12 passes through a monitoring area of the further sensor 38, generates a trigger signal, so that the number of areal products 14 determined at a particular time can be assigned to the respective transport means 36 ,

In a further preferred embodiment, the optical sensor 18 is a camera, preferably an electronic camera, particularly preferably a CCD or CMOS camera, which detects image recordings within a recording time which is shorter, preferably much shorter than the time within which a sheet product 14 is moved by the amount of its thickness in the detection area.

Further, the light intensity in the illumination beam profile 24 of the light source 16 in the detection area is greater than the light intensity of the ambient light and that the light source 16 preferably provides substantially monochromatic light and is particularly preferably designed as a laser.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for detecting, and also counting, flat products 14, in particular printed products, using a device 10 for detecting sheet-like products 14 according to one of the preceding embodiments, wherein by a angularly offset alignment of the illumination beam profile 24 with respect to the detection beam profile 30, a section 33 of a surface profile of the planar products 14 which is located in the detection area and is limited at least partially by the illumination beam profile 24, is detected by means of the optical sensor 18 and wherein a detection signal generated by the optical sensor 18, contains information about the detected portion 33 of the surface profile, the number of sheet products 14 in the detection area is determined by means connected to the optical sensor 18 evaluation unit 20.

In a further preferred embodiment, an edge region of one of the sheet-like products 14 is located in the detection region during the detection.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the flat products 14 are individually, partially overlapping or completely adjacent to one another in a scale formation relative to the device 10 along a transport direction T with the aid of transport means 36 of a transport device 12 associated with the device 10, in particular with the aid of clamps, grippers or a conveyor belt, transported in the detection area.

In a further preferred embodiment, when a passage from one of the transport means 36 through a monitoring area of another sensor 38, a trigger signal can be generated, so that the determined at a specific time number of sheet products 14 can be assigned to exactly one transport 36.

According to a further embodiment, the number of planar products 14 is determined from recordings recorded by the optical sensor 18 by means of an image processing program which is carried out in the evaluation unit 20.

Claims (19)

Device for detecting laminar products (14), in particular printed products, comprising a light source (16), an optical sensor (18) with detection optics (28) for forming a detection beam profile (30) and an evaluation unit connected to the optical sensor (18) (20), characterized in that the optical sensor (18) is an electronic camera and the light source (16) with a beam shaping optics (22) for forming an illumination beam profile (24) with the detection beam profile (30) of the electronic camera (18 ) is overlapped in a detection area, is equipped and that by an angular offset alignment of the illumination beam profile (24) relative to the detection beam profile (30) located in a detection range section (33) of a surface profile of the sheet products (14) at least partially by the illumination beam profile (24 ) is limited, by means of the electronic camera (18) is detectable and wobe i from a detection signal generated by the electronic camera (18) which contains information about the detected section (33) of the surface profile, deformed, incomplete and / or different products (14) in the detection area can be determined by means of the evaluation unit (20). Apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that the cross section of the illumination beam profile (24) in the detection region, measured at right angles to the optical axis (32) of the light source (16), substantially at least partially rectilinearly limited, preferably substantially line-like, particularly preferably substantially rectilinearly formed to form a line of illumination. Apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the optical axes (26, 32) of the light source (16) and the electronic camera (18) at an angle between about 10 ° and less than 180 °, preferably between 30 ° and 45 ° lock in. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the optical axes (26, 32) of the light source (16) and / or the electronic camera (18) inclined to the surface normal of the products (14) are aligned. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by an associated transport device (12) by means of which the products (14) along a transport direction (T) are transported, wherein the optical axis (32) of the electronic camera (18) substantially at right angles to Transport direction (T) is oriented and the longitudinal axis of a cross section of the illumination beam profile (24) in the detection area substantially parallel to the transport direction (T). Apparatus according to claim 5, characterized by a further sensor (38), which at a passage of a transport means (36) of the transport device (12) by a monitoring range of the further sensor (38) generates a trigger signal, so that the determined at a given time deformed, incomplete and / or different products (14) can be assigned to the respective transport means (36). Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the electronic camera is a CCD or CMOS camera which detects image recordings within a recording time which is shorter, preferably much shorter than the time within which a product ( 14) is moved by the amount of its thickness in the detection area. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the light intensity in the illumination beam profile (24) of the light source (16) in the detection area is greater than the light intensity of the ambient light and that the light source (16) preferably provides substantially monochromatic light and particularly preferred is designed as a laser. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the electronic camera (18) comprises a plurality of photosensitive elements. Device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the detection comprises counting, wherein the number of products (14) in the detection area by means of the evaluation unit (20) can be determined. Method for detecting sheet-like products (14), in particular printed products, using a device (10) for detecting the products (14) according to one of claims 1 to 10, wherein an angle-offset orientation of the illumination beam profile (24) relative to the detection beam profile ( 30) a section (33) located in the detection area of a surface profile of the products (14) which is at least partially delimited by the illumination beam profile (24) is detected by means of the electronic camera (18) and from one of the electronic camera (18). generated detection signal containing information about the detected portion (33) of the surface profile, deformed, incomplete and / or different products (14) in the detection area by means of the optical sensor (18) connected to the evaluation unit (20) are determined. A method according to claim 11, characterized in that there is an edge region of one of the products (14) in the detection area in the detection. A method according to claim 11 or 12, characterized in that the products (14) individually, in a scale formation partially overlapping or completely adjacent to each other relative to the device (10) along a transport direction (T) by means of transport means (36) of the device (10) associated transport device (12) are transported into the detection area. A method according to claim 13, characterized in that at a passage of one of the transport means (36) through a monitoring area of another sensor (38), a trigger signal is generated, so that the determined at a given time deformed, incomplete and / or different products ( 14) can be assigned to exactly one means of transport (36). Method according to one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that by means of an image processing program, which is executed in the evaluation unit (20), the deformed, incomplete and / or dissimilar products (14) from photographs taken by the electronic camera (18). be determined. Method according to one of Claims 11 to 15, characterized in that in the case of deviations which are outside of predetermined tolerance ranges, signals are generated by the evaluation unit (20), by means of which predetermined error processing procedures are in turn triggered. A method according to claim 16, characterized in that a signal for discharging deformed and / or incomplete products (14) is forwarded to a in the transport direction T of the device (10) downstream processing device. Method according to one of claims 11 to 17, characterized in that the detection comprises counting, wherein the number of sheet products (14) in the detection area by means of the electronic Camera (18) connected evaluation unit (20) is determined. A method according to claim 18, characterized in that different types of products (14) are sorted.

Images