Paper thickness measuring device for a rotary paper feeding device

1. For use in a rotary paper feeding device having a rotating cylindrical drum, a paper thickness measuring device, comprising:

a gripper mounted on the cylindrical drum for gripping a sheet;

a target mounted on the cylindrical drum and mechanically linked to the gripper such that a position of the target corresponds to displacement of the gripper by a gripped sheet, the target being arranged and configured for detection of the target position at a predetermined time or at a downstream location after the gripper grips a sheet; and

a linear slider mounted on the cylindrical drum and a linear bushing mechanically linked to the gripper and slidably mounting the target on the linear slider to position the target along the length of the linear slider as a function of the displacement of the gripper.

2. The paper measuring device of claim 1 , further comprising a gripper arm movably mounted to the cylindrical drum, and mechanically linked to the gripper for movement as a function of displacement of the gripper by a gripped sheet, the target being mechanically linked to the gripper arm.

3. The paper measuring device of claim 1 , further comprising a distance sensor mounted adjacent to the rotating cylindrical drum for measuring the target position at the predetermined time after the gripper grips a sheet.

4. A rotary paper feeding device, comprising:

a rotating cylindrical drum;

a gripper mounted on the cylindrical drum for gripping a sheet;

a target mounted on the cylindrical drum and mechanically linked to the gripper such that a position of the target corresponds to displacement of the gripper by a gripped sheet, the target being arranged and configured for detection of the target position at a predetermined time or at a downstream location after the gripper grips a sheet; and

a linear slider mounted on the cylindrical drum and a linear bushing mechanically linked to the gripper and slidably mounting the target on the linear slider to position the target along the length of the linear slider as a function of the displacement of the gripper.

5. The rotary paper feeding device of claim 4 , further comprising a gripper arm movably mounted to the cylindrical drum, and mechanically linked to the gripper for movement as a function of displacement of the gripper by a gripped sheet, the target being mechanically linked to the gripper arm.

6. The rotary paper feeding device of claim 4 , further comprising a distance sensor mounted adjacent to the rotating cylindrical drum for measuring the target position at the predetermined time after the gripper grips a sheet.

7. A method for measuring the thickness of a sheet being gripped by a rotary paper feeding device, comprising the steps of:

providing a rotating cylindrical drum;

providing a gripper mounted on the cylindrical drum for gripping a sheet such that the gripper is displaced upon gripping a sheet;

mechanically linking the gripper to a target mounted on a linear slider mounted on the cylindrical drum to cause a position of the target to correspond to displacement of the gripper by a gripped sheet; and

arranging the target for detection of the target position at a predetermined time or at a downstream location after the gripper grips a sheet.

8. The method of claim 7 comprising the further step of providing a distance sensor mounted adjacent to the rotating cylindrical drum for measuring the target position at the predetermined time after the gripper grips a sheet.

9. For use in a rotary paper feeding device having a rotating cylindrical drum, a paper thickness measuring device, comprising:

a gripper mounted on the cylindrical drum for gripping a sheet; and

a target mounted on the cylindrical drum and mechanically linked to the gripper such that a position of the target corresponds to displacement of the gripper by a gripped sheet, the target being arranged and configured for detection of the target position at a predetermined time or at a downstream location after the gripper grips a sheet;

wherein the target slides radially in relation to the cylindrical drum when the gripper is displaced.