Indexing device used for magazine shelves in a magazine and wafer-like objects stored in the magazine shelves

摘要

The indexer includes a manipulation plane in which a magazine is vertically adjustable, for loading and unloading, relative to it. The plane is in fixed relationship with an optoelectronic sensor arrangement for detecting the objects and compartments relative to a reference plane. Pref., the sensor arrangement is located at an open side of the magazine (11) and includes a transmitter (7) and a receiver (8). The measuring beam (10), emitted from the transmitter, has its middle ray lying in the reference plane, and on vertical adjustment of the magazine (11) relative to the reference plane, successively detects the disc-like objects (16) and compartment-forming projections, differentiation between the objects and the projections being effected by their different distances from the transmitter. Alternatively, if the magazine is open at opposite sides, the transmitter and the receiver are positioned at one open side of the magazine for detecting the projections and a further receiver is positioned at the opposite open side for detecting the objects.