GB2074321A

GB2074321A - Measuring Continuous Length Material

Info

Publication number: GB2074321A
Application number: GB8112060A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1980-04-17
Filing date: 1981-04-16
Publication date: 1981-10-28
Also published as: AU6956181A

Abstract

The measuring device comprises a housing which supports a roller (6) the periphery of which is biased against or has biased thereagainst a second roller (5) and/or a pressure plate (16), the arrangement being such that rotational movement of the roller (6) is indicated by sensing the passage of holes 22 in a disk 21 which through an electronic mechanism indicates on a visual display (3) the length of material (7) drawn through between the rollers or between the roller 6 and the pressure plate (16). A warning may be given when a preselected length of material has been measured, and an indication of the cost of the measured length of material may be provided. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION A Measuring Device This invention relates to a measuring device and more particuiarly relates to a measuring device which can be used to measure the length of any elongate material.

In a number of situations, for example, where a purchaser in a retail store wishes to purchase a length of flexible elongate material the only way in which it can readily be measured is to lay successive lengths of the flexible material on a ruler or tape mounted 9n the surface of a counter.

Successive lengths of the material being laid on the counter until a desired length has been measured. The disadvantages of this method is that the free end of the length of material being measured is generally allowed to drop onto the floor or is gathered on the counter and can get tingled up and this results in a waste of the shop keeper's time especially during rush hours.

The term "piece of material" as used herein is to be construed as including references to rope, wool, cable, tubing, bar shaped materials, cord, flex, string, tape, twine, fabric, webbing, or other flexible, rigid or semi-rigid materials. For example, the material can be material of the type normally stored on a reel, on a bolt, in a ball or in a container.

An object of the present invention is to provide a measuring device which offers to the public a useful alternative choice.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a measuring device adapted for measuring a length of a piece of material of the type hereinbefore defined, the measuring device including a housing or casing which supports a roller, the periphery of which is biased against or has biased thereagainst a second roller and/or a pressure plate, the arrangement being such that movement of the roller is sensed by a sensing mechanism which converts the rotational movement of the roller which has a known or preselected circumference through an electronic mechanism to a visual display which indicates the length of material drawn through between the roller and the second roller or pressure plate.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a measuring device adapted for measuring a length of a piece of material of the type hereinbefore defined, the measuring device including a casing or housing which supports a pair of rollers which are biased so that the peripheries hereof contact each other, the arrangement being such that movement of at least one of the rollers is sensed by a sensing mechanism which converts the rotational movement of the roller which has a known circumference through an electronic mechanism to show on a visual display mechanism the length of material which has been or is being drawn between the rollers.

The visual display mechanism can be any mechanism which gives a visual numerical display, for example, the numerical display can be on a mechanically operated dial, a liquid crystal display or a light emitting diode mounted in or on a viewing panel adjacent to the casing.

The housing can be mounted on a bracket fixed to a retail or wholesale store's counter. The longitudinal axis of the roller can be substantially horizontal and the housing when mounted on a counter can have fitted to the base thereof a removable pressure plate which lies immediately on top of a plate mounting the housing to the surface of the counter with the roller immediately thereabove.

The housing can support a series of thumb wheel counters which enable a user to preselect a desired length to be measured by the sensing mechanism, the arrangement being such thatwhen this length has been measured a warning device is activated.

The electronic mechanism can include functions which enable substantially automatic calculating of cost per length measured depending on a preset cost function punched thereto.

Further aspects of the present invention which should be considered in all its novel aspects will become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only.

An example of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1: is a front view partly sectioned of a measuring device according to the present invention; Figure 2: is a cross section on the lines Il-Il through the measuring device shown in Figure 1; Figure 3: is a perspective view of a mounting bracket for the measuring device; and Figure 4: is a schematic diagram of an example of length measuring and display circuit.

The measuring device according to the present invention can be built as a unit adapted for attachment to a counter or bench top in a retail or wholesale store, factory or work shop.

The example of measuring device shown in Figures 1 and 2 has a casing or housing generally indicated by arrow 1. The housing 1 has positioned on the top 2 thereof a display mechanism 3. The display mechanism 3 are light emitting diodes which are fixed in position as shown or mounted so they can be rotated to be clearly visible to a user of the device. Alternatively the display mechanism can be a mechanically operated dial, a liquid crystal display or a digital counter.

The housing 1 supports a pair of rollers 5 and 6 which are biased toward each other so that their peripheries are in contact at A. At least one of the rollers 5 and 6 and preferably both rollers 5 and 6 are covered by a frictional material or a synthetic or natural rubber coating so that when a piece of material 7 is drawn between the rollers at least roller 6 is rotated.

The rollers 5 and 6 are mounted on shafts 8 and 9 respectively which are supported by bearings 10 and 11. In the example the roller 5 is biased downwards by mounting bearing 10 on a hinged plate 12 which is fixed to a rear wall 13 of the casing.

The plate 12 is biased downward by the action of spring 14 (Figure 2) so that roller 5 is in contact with the other roller 6. The shaft 8, in use, moves in an arcuate hole (not shown) in the side wall 15 of the housing to enable pieces of material of different thickness to pass between the rollers 5 and 6.

As an alternative to the roller 5 being biased toward roller 1 6 the bearing 11 supporting the shaft 9 of roller 6 can be biased toward the roller 5.

In addition or as an alternative to the roller 5 the housing 1 can have supported relative thereto a pressure plate 1 6. The pressure plate 1 6 is supported on a pin 17 mounted on the base plate 18. The pressure plate 16 has on one side thereof a cylindrical sleeve 1 9 which enables the plate 16 to be mounted relative to the pin 17. The plate 1 6 is preferably constructed of a sprung metal material so as to biased into contact with the bottom 20 at B of the roller 6.

At least the roller 6 is connected to a sensing or collecting mechanism arranged to sense and measure the rotation of the roller 6 and to transfer same to the display mechanism 3. For example a disc 21 can be mounted on the end of the shaft 9.

The disc 21 has a plurality of holes 22 (Figure 2) therein which enables a sensor described hereinafter to detect rotation of the disc 21. As the circumference of the roller 6 is a selected known dimension and as the sensing mechanism senses the motion of the disc 12 this is converted as hereinafter described to a length measurement which appears on the display mechanism 3.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings a length measuring and display circuit suitable for use in one embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in block diagram form.

The circuit may where appropriate utilise integrated circuits and is shown including a sensor which detects the rotation of the disc 21 and generates a pulse train commensurate with the disc's rotation and hence the length of material passed between the rollers 5 and 6. The sensor may suitably include an infra red sensing means or a photoelectric arrangement including for example light emitting diodes (L.E.D.'s) associated with respective transistors in orderthat the desired pulse train can be generated. The pulses from the sensor are shown providing an input to a pulse shaping and direction determining circuit in turn providing an input to a counter/decoder circuit.

Timer and divider circuits may provide for example a divide by ten input to the counter/decoder such that the display connected to the counter/decoder can if required display 99.99M or 999.9M. A "last direction circuit" provides an input to the counter/decoder dependent on the direction taken by the last material travel detected such that the counter/decoder can add or subtract the latest input from the previous reading in arriving at a totalized figure of material being dispensed.

The circuit is advantageously adapted to allow counting up or down on either side of zero on the display means 3.This enables a piece of material to be drawn between the roller 6 and either the roller 5 or pressure plate 1 6 in either direction.

A suitable power supply is provided for the circuit both during its operative and inoperative states.

The electronic mechanism arranged to sense the movement of the disc 21 is mounted within the casing 1 together with the power supply or an adaptor for a mains power source.

The direction of motion of the disc 21 is sensed by the infra red sensing means or photo-electric arrangement indicated by arrow 22' which senses the holes 22 in the disc 21. The casing 21 includes supports (not shown) for the means or arrangement which can be a frame 23 attached to a front removable panel 24 of the casing 1.

The wall 1 5 of the housing 1 can also support guides 25 positioned on either side of the pair of rollers 5 and 6. The guides 25 are shaped to ensure that the piece of material 7 fed through between the rollers is maintained within the region of the rollers and does not accidentally escape from contact therewith.

The display means 3 can support a series of thumb wheel counters (not shown) which enable a user to preselect a desired length to be measured by the sensing mechanism, the arrangement being such that when this length has been measured a warning device is activated.

The housing 1 can be supported on a counter by a bracket an example of which is generally indicated by arrow 26 in Figure 3. The bracket 26 is fixed to a counter edge 27 so that the base 28 fixed beneath the housing 1 can be engaged in either the slot 29 or slot 30. The slots 29 and 30 being at 90 relative to each other so that the position of the housing 1 relative to the counter 27 can be varied between 4 positions.

In use a length of a particular piece of material 7 can be initially fed between the rollers 5 and 6 by raising the upper roller 5 and feeding the material 7 through between the guides 25. The reading on the display means is then at zero or can be turned back to zero. For example a zeroing means can be connected to the display mechanism.

Pulling on the free end of the piece of material 7 draws the material from a reel or roll on which it is stored. The number of rotations of the disc 21 as the roller 6 rotates corresponds to the known circumference of the roller 6 and this is sensed by the sensing means and is converted by the electronic mechanism to a distance measurement which appears as a reading on the display means so that the length of material which has past the roller at any time can be seen.

While the piece of material 4 is being drawn through the measuring device it can be folded or rolled up in the case of a flexible material thus reducing the likelihood of the material dropping to the floor and forming a tangled mess.

The desired length of material after it has been drawn through the rollers 5 and 6 is cut off and wrapped for the purchaser. For example a cutting blade or marker (not shown) positioned in line with the point B can be used to make an initial cut or mark which enables the length of material after it is removed to be torn or cut.

If a cloth fabric is to be measured it can be fed at B between the roller 6 and the pressure plate 1 6. As this measurement is immediately above the counter on which the cloth is laid an accurate measurement of the cloth can be obtained. The plate 1 6 can be removed if it is not required and only the rollers 5 and 6 need to be used to measure flex, cord, rope or the like material.

It is envisaged that the roller 6 can be interchanged with a roller having a different peripheral measurement if the device is to be used to measure metric or imperial measurements.

Thus by this invention there is provided a measuring device which can be used to measure a length of a piece of material.

Particular examples of the present invention have been described herein by way of example and it is envisaged that improvements and modifications to the invention may take place without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A measuring device adapted for measuring a length of a piece of material of the type hereinbefore defined, the measuring device including a housing or casing which supports a roller, the periphery of which is biased against or has biased thereagainst a second roller and/or a pressure plate, the arrangement being such that movement of the roller is sensed by a sensing mechanism which converts the rotational movement of the roller which has a known or preselected circumference through an electronic mechanism to a visual display which indicates the length of material drawn through between the roller and the second roller or pressure plate.

2. A measuring device adapted for measuring a length of a piece of material of the type hereinbefore defined, the measuring device including a casing or housing which supports a pair of rollers which are biased so that the peripheries thereof contact each other, the arrangement being such that movement of at least one of the rollers is sensed by a sensing mechanism which converts the rotational movement of the roller which has a known circumference through an electronic mechanism to show on a visual display mechanism the length of material which has been or is being drawn between the rollers.

3. A measuring device as claimed in claim 2 wherein the housing supports beneath the pair of rollers a pressure plate biased against the lower roller, so that a piece of material drawn between the lower roller and pressure plate rotates the roller to indicate on the visual display the length of material drawn therebetween.

4. A measuring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the visual display is a liquid crystal display or light emitting diodes mounted in or on a viewing panel adjacent the casing.

5. A measuring device as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein the visual display is mounted on a rotatable mounting positioned on or adjacent the housing.

6. A measuring devce as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing is mounted either direct to a counter or is attachable to a bracket fixed to a counter.

7. A measuring device as claimed in claim 6 wherein the bracket fixed to the counter edge can have engaged therein a base extending downwardly beneath the housing to be engaged in slots formed in the bracket, the slots in the bracket can be at 900 relative to each other to enable the housing to be placed in any of four positions.

8. A measuring device as claimed in claim 3 wherein the longitudinal axes of the rollers is substantially horizontal and the housing when mounted on a counter has fitted beneath the lower roller the removable pressure plate which lies immediately on top of a mounting plate at the base of the-housing, the plate being in contact with the surface of the counter.

9. A measuring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the housing supports a series of thumb wheel counters which enable a user to preselect a desired length to be measured by the sensing mechanism, the arrangement being such that when the length has been measured a warning device is activated.

10. A measuring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the casing or housing is formed in a die press from a metal material or is moulded from a plastics material in an injection moulding machine.

11. A measuring device as claimed in claim 10 wherein the pair of rollers are injection moulded from a plastics material and covered by a frictional material or a synthetic or natural rubber coating.

12. A measuring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rollers are mounted on shafts supported in bearings mounted within the housing, a support within the housing for the upper roller is biased downwards to contact the periphery of the lower roller.

13. A measuring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sensing means which measures the rotation of the roller is a disc on the end of the shaft which disc has a plurality of holes therein, the sensor detecting the rotation in the disc and converting same into the length wise measurement on the display means.

14. A measuring device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the sensor is an infra red sensing means.

1 5. A measuring device as claimed in claim 13 wherein the sensor is a photo-electric arrangement.

16. A measuring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the sensor is associated with respective transistors to produce a pulse train which provides an input to a counter/decoder circuit.

1 7. A measuring device as claimed in claim 1 6 wherein the circuit is designed to allow counting up or down on either side of the zero on the display means.

18. A measuring device as claimed in claim 16 or claim 1 7 wherein a timer circuit automatically switches off the counter after a predetermined period.

19. A measuring device as claimed in claim 18 wherein a timer and divider circuit is provided to enable the input to the counter/decoder to be divided by tens.

20. A measuring device substantially as hereinbefore described which utilises a length measuring and display circuit as shown and described herein with reference to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings.

21. A measuring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the circuit includes functions which enable automatic calculating of cost per unit of length depending on a preset cost function inserted thereto.

22. A measuring device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims wherein the rollers have in association therewith guides shaped to ensure that a piece of material threaded between the rollers is maintained within the region thereof.

23. A measuring device as claimed in any one of claims 3 to 22 wherein the housing or pressure plate has in association therewith a cutting blade or marker.

24. A measuring device substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawing.