WO2008083416A1 - Mehtod for coiling a flexible tape and tape measure - Google Patents

Mehtod for coiling a flexible tape and tape measure Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2008083416A1
WO2008083416A1 PCT/AM2008/000001 AM2008000001W WO2008083416A1 WO 2008083416 A1 WO2008083416 A1 WO 2008083416A1 AM 2008000001 W AM2008000001 W AM 2008000001W WO 2008083416 A1 WO2008083416 A1 WO 2008083416A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
spool
tape
tape measure
cross
drive
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/AM2008/000001
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Karen Gasparyan
Vahe Ghukasyan
Patvakan Hakhinyan
Original Assignee
Karen Gasparyan
Vahe Ghukasyan
Patvakan Hakhinyan
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Karen Gasparyan, Vahe Ghukasyan, Patvakan Hakhinyan filed Critical Karen Gasparyan
Publication of WO2008083416A1 publication Critical patent/WO2008083416A1/en

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Classifications

    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
    • G01B3/00—Measuring instruments characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
    • G01B3/10—Measuring tapes
    • G01B3/1005—Means for controlling winding or unwinding of tapes
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H75/00—Storing webs, tapes, or filamentary material, e.g. on reels
    • B65H75/02—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks
    • B65H75/34—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables
    • B65H75/38—Cores, formers, supports, or holders for coiled, wound, or folded material, e.g. reels, spindles, bobbins, cop tubes, cans, mandrels or chucks specially adapted or mounted for storing and repeatedly paying-out and re-storing lengths of material provided for particular purposes, e.g. anchored hoses, power cables involving the use of a core or former internal to, and supporting, a stored package of material
    • B65H75/44—Constructional details
    • B65H75/4402—Guiding arrangements to control paying-out and re-storing of the material
    • B65H75/4405—Traversing devices; means for orderly arranging the material on the drum
    • B65H75/4407—Traversing devices; means for orderly arranging the material on the drum positively driven, e.g. by a transmission between the drum and the traversing device
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65H—HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL, e.g. SHEETS, WEBS, CABLES
    • B65H2701/00—Handled material; Storage means
    • B65H2701/30—Handled filamentary material
    • B65H2701/37—Tapes
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G01—MEASURING; TESTING
    • G01B—MEASURING LENGTH, THICKNESS OR SIMILAR LINEAR DIMENSIONS; MEASURING ANGLES; MEASURING AREAS; MEASURING IRREGULARITIES OF SURFACES OR CONTOURS
    • G01B3/00—Measuring instruments characterised by the use of mechanical techniques
    • G01B3/10—Measuring tapes
    • G01B3/1005—Means for controlling winding or unwinding of tapes
    • G01B2003/1023—Winding mechanisms
    • G01B2003/1025—Winding mechanisms operated manually, e.g. crank-handles

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for coiling a flexible tape on a spool in tools for measuring linear dimensions, particularly, tape measures having a flexible tape in which the tape is wound on a spool by means of a manual or mechanical drive.
  • multiplying gears are used as a drive mechanism transmitting rotation from the handle to the spool in known hand-driven tape measures, such as:
  • Reduction gears are used for transmitting rotation from the motor to the spool in known motorized tape measures, such as:
  • the nearest analogue to the present invention is the tape measure disclosed in US patent 6,134,801 GOlB 3/10, 2000-10-24, comprised of a spool rotatable in the housing and a planetary multiplying gear with external and internal engagements that transmits rotation from the handle to the spool, rotates the spool and reels the flexible tape on it.
  • the following method for coiling a flexible tape on a spool is used in said tape measures: the tape is wound solely radially (single-row) on a spool, which is rotating by means of a manual or mechanical drive, without moving the coiling tape relative to the spool rotation axis.
  • Such method for coiling a flexible tape determines a disadvantage of known tape measures which is the large radial dimensions of the tape coil, and consequently of the tape measure, since tape measures are designed to enable solely radial coiling of the long tape on the spool (which is as wide as the tape) whereas compactness is of primary significance for a hand-driven tool like a tape measure.
  • the essence of the present invention is that, according to the method for coiling a flexible tape, the extracted flexible tape is wound on a spool by means of a manual or mechanical drive characterized by that the flexible tape is wound on a spool multi-row by transmitting a reciprocating motion to the coiling tape coaxial with the spool rotation axis.
  • the second feature of the present invention is that the stroke of the flexible tape in cross direction exceeds the width of the spool.
  • the third feature of the present invention is that the stroke of the tape in cross direction is preferably symmetrical relative to the spool.
  • the fourth feature of the present invention is that the stroke of the tape in cross direction preferably occurs at a constant speed that gradually decreases to zero at the end positions.
  • the fifth feature of the present invention is that the part of the stroke of the tape in cross direction which preferably occurs at a constant speed is equal to the width of the spool.
  • the sixth feature of the present invention is that the part of the stroke of the tape in cross direction which preferably occurs at a constant speed exceeds the width of the tape by a whole number.
  • the seventh feature of the present invention is that the tape measure comprises a spool rotatably mounted in the housing, a flexible tape fixed to the spool at one end and winding on and off the spool, a spool drive, characterized by that the tape measure also comprises a mechanism of cross-feed movement with a drive providing reciprocating motion, which is coaxial with the spool rotation axis, to the flexible tape coiling on the spool.
  • the eighth feature of the present invention is that the drive of the tape measure comprises a handle for transmitting rotation to the spool that can be positioned on both sides of the housing of the tape measure.
  • the ninth feature of the present invention is that the spool drive is positioned in the axial cavity of the spool and has a motor with an internal power source and a mechanical drive which is designed as a planetary reduction gear, wherein the small sun gearwheel is rigidly and coaxially mounted on the motor shaft and the carrier is linked to the spool.
  • the tenth feature of the present invention is that the spool drive is designed as successively jointed two or more similar planetary reduction gears, the small sun gearwheel of the first planetary reduction gear is rigidly and coaxially mounted on the motor shaft and the carrier of the last planetary reduction gear is linked to the spool.
  • the eleventh feature of the present invention is that the spool drive comprises a clutch, the driving semi-clutch of which is coaxially fixed to the output shaft of the spool drive and the driven semi-clutch is coaxially fixed to the spool, enabling transmission of rotation from the manual drive to the spool and preventing transmission of rotation in the counter direction.
  • the spool drive comprises a hand-driven auxiliary handle for winding the flexible tape on the spool when the internal power source is exhausted which is linked to the spool by means of the second clutch, the driving semi-clutch of which is coaxially mounted on the auxiliary handle and the driven semi-clutch is coaxially mounted on the spool, enabling transmission of rotation from the auxiliary handle to the spool and preventing transmission of rotation in the counter direction.
  • the thirteenth feature of the present invention is that the mechanism of cross-feed movement, which provides a reciprocating motion to the flexible tape coiling on the spool coaxial with the spool, is designed as a spatial cam mechanism.
  • the cam has a groove.
  • a roller interacting with the groove is rotatably mounted on a fork which embraces the flexible tape on both sides.
  • the fork is positioned on an axle and can slide along it.
  • the axle is immovably fixed in the housing so that its axis is parallel to the rotation axes of both the spool and the cam.
  • the side surfaces of the cam groove are positioned on two parallel planes which, together with the cam axis, form an angle different from 90 degrees. Either side surface axially flows into arc- shaped surfaces at its periphery which are positioned perpendicular to the cam axis.
  • the fourteenth feature of the present invention is that the mechanism of cross-feed movement is designed as a mechanism transforming rotation into reciprocating motion, wherein the input link receives reverse rotation. It can be implemented as a screw mechanism comprising a screw, rotatably mounted on the frame parallel to the axis of the spool and coaxial with the spool rotation axis, that provides reverse rotation.
  • a fork fixed to a nut embraces the tape on both sides. The fork can slide relative to the housing and is jointed to the axle by means of cylindrical pairs. The axle is fixed in the housing.
  • the fifteenth feature of the present invention is that the width of the spool exceeds the width of the tape by a whole number.
  • the sixteenth feature of the present invention is that the transmission ratio of the drive of the mechanism of cross-feed movement is chosen so that half a rotation of the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement corresponds to the full rotations of the spool that are equal to the number of tape coils winding on it.
  • the seventeenth feature of the present invention is that the drive of the mechanism of cross-feed movement is designed as a toothed belt drive, wherein the small toothed pulley is coaxially mounted on the input link of the spool drive and the big toothed pulley is coaxially mounted on the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement.
  • the eighteenth feature of the present invention is that the drive of the mechanism of cross- feed movement is designed as a two-stage cylindrical reduction gear, wherein the input gearwheel is coaxially mounted on the spool and the output gearwheel is coaxially mounted on the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement.
  • the nineteenth feature of the present invention is that the drive of the mechanism of cross- feed movement is designed as a mechanism with semi-gearwheels which transmits reverse rotation to the screw.
  • the mechanism with semi-gearwheels comprises two toothed sectors with the central angle smaller than 180 degrees that are coaxial with the spool and fixed to it on different from each other planes, and two idler gearwheels engaging said sectors and each other that are rigidly mounted on the intermediary shafts on the planes of respective sectors.
  • One of the idler gearwheels is engaged by the gearwheel fixed to the shaft of the screw which transmits reverse rotation to said screw.
  • the toothed sectors are positioned so that they cover each other circularly and the first tooth of the second sector is engaged by the second idler gearwheel as soon as the last tooth of the first sector is disengaged by the first idler gearwheel.
  • the radial dimensions of the tape measure are considerably reduced due to the multi-row coiling of the tape on the spool while convenience of use is increased due to the option of positioning the main handle on either side of the housing in the hand-driven tape measure and the presence of an auxiliary handle in motorized tape measures.
  • FIG 1 shows the structural scheme of the present invention.
  • FIGs 2 to 6 show the preferred embodiment of a hand-driven tape measure, wherein
  • FIG 2 shows the kinematic sceme of said embodiment
  • FIG 3 shows the exterior of said embodiment
  • FIG 4 shows said embodiment with separated units and parts
  • FIGs 5 and 6 show the two handle positions, respectively on the right and on the left.
  • FIGs 7 to 12 show the preferred embodiment of a motorized tape measure, wherein
  • FIG 7 shows a general view of said embodiment
  • FIG 8 shows the kinematic sceme of said embodiment
  • FIG 9 shows a top view of said embodiment
  • FIG 10 shows the mechanical drive of said embodiment with separated units
  • FIG 11 shows the mechanism of cross-feed movement and its drive
  • FIG 12 shows a side view of said embodiment.
  • FIG 13 illustrates another embodiment of a motorized tape measure, wherein a screw mechanism moves the tape in cross direction while a mechanism comprising gearwheels with missing teeth implements the reverse rotation of the screw.
  • the tape measure comprises a spool (1) on which a flexible tape (2) is wound, a spool drive (3) operated by a handle (4) or a motor (5) with an internal power source, a mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) having an output link (7) that is designed as a fork embracing the tape
  • the units of the hand-driven tape measure are positioned in the housing comprising a middle part (9) and an edge (10), which are fastened to each other with screws (11), and a cover (12) which is fastened to the middle part (9) with screws (13), as shown in FIGs 3 and 4.
  • the spool (1) is so assembled between the walls (14) and (15) of respective housing parts (9) and (10) that said walls limit the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on the right and on the left, as shown in FIG 2.
  • the handle (4) for driving the spool (1) is positioned in a groove (17) on a disc (16) and spring-loaded by means of a leaf spring, as shown in FIG 4.
  • Such a jointing of the handle (4) enables transition from operative position illustrated in FIG 4 to folded-handle inoperative position (not illustrated in FIG 4) by removing the handle (4) from groove (17) and positioning it turned at 180 degrees.
  • the disc (16) of the handle (4) is rigidly fixed to a shaft (18) with a longitudinal facet that passes through the hole in the spool (1), as shown in FIG 4.
  • the shaft (18) is threaded at its base (not illustrated in FIG 4) and jointed to a disc-shaped nut (19) by means of said thread.
  • Such a positioning of the handle (4), the disc (16) and the shaft (18) enables the positioning of the handle (4) on the other side of the housing as well for the convenience of a left-handed user, as shown in FIG 6.
  • the folded position is shown in FIGs 3 and 5.
  • the spool drive (3) is designed as a multiplying gear, such as a planetary mechanism with external and internal engagements, in which the hole of the carrier (20), that joins the carrier (20) to the shaft (18), has the same perpendicular section relative to the rotation axis of the carrier (20) as the shaft (18) (in order to receive rotation from said hole).
  • the carrier (20) is illustrated in FIGs 2 and 4.
  • Two idler wheels (21) are rotatably mounted on the carrier (20), equally far away both from the rotation axis of the carrier (20) and each other, and are simultaneously engaged by an external sun gearwheel (22), which is coaxially and rigidly mounted on the spool (1), and an internal gearwheel (23) which is fixed to the middle part (9) of the housing (a single idler wheel is illustrated in FIG 2 for clarity).
  • the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) which is designed as a spatial cam mechanism, comprises a cam (24) that has a groove (27) with parallel walls (25) and (26) on its periphery and is rigidly fixed to the shaft (28) positioned coaxial with the spool (1), the fork (7) embracing the tape (2) on both sides, and a roller (29) rotatably mounted on the fork (7) sliding along fixed guides (30) positioned coaxial with shaft (28), as shown in FIGs 2, 4, 5 and 6.
  • the stroke of the tape (2) in cross direction exceeds the working width of the spool (1) which enables limiting the stroke of the tape (2) in cross direction at said end positions by the facial discs of the spool (1) and allows the tape (2) to adjust to the change in the winding direction by making a partial coil at the end positions.
  • the drive (8) of the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) is designed as a toothed belt drive, wherein a small toothed pulley (31) is coaxially fixed to the carrier (20), a big toothed pulley (32) is coaxially mounted on the shaft (28) of the cam (24), and a toothed belt (33) is wrapped on the toothed pulleys (31) and (32), as shown in FIGs 1, 2, and 4.
  • the transmission ratio of the drive (8) of the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) is chosen so that half a rotation of the big toothed pulley (32) (or the cam (24) and the shaft (28) fixed to the big toothed pulley (32)) corresponds to the full rotations of the spool (1) that are equal to the number of tape coils winding on the spool (1).
  • Such a transmission ratio of the drive (8) of the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) enables coiling the tape (2) on the spool (1) as a helix, the stroke of which is equal to the width ofthe tape (2).
  • the spool drive (3) is designed as a successively jointed two planetary reduction gears with external and internal engagements ((34)-(35)-(36)-(37) and (38)-(39)-(40)-(36)), wherein the external sun gearwheel (34) of the first reduction gear is coaxially fixed to the shaft of the motor (5), the carrier (37) is coaxially fixed to the external sun gearwheel (38) of the second reduction gear, and the carrier (40) is jointed to the spool (1).
  • the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) has the same structure in this embodiment as in the hand-driven tape measure, as shown in FIGs 8-11. It is designed as a spatial cam mechanism comprising a cam (24) that has a groove (27) with parallel walls (25) and (26) on its periphery and is fixed to a shaft (28) positioned coaxial with the spool (1), a fork (7) embracing the tape (2) on both sides, and a roller (29) rotatably mounted on the fork (7) which can slide along fixed guides (30) positioned coaxial with the shaft (28).
  • the drive (8) of mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) is designed as a two-stage reduction gear comprising a small driving gearwheel (41) rigidly mounted on the shaft of the spool (1), a gearwheel (42) engaging the small driving gearwheel (41), a small gearwheel (43) rigidly mounted on the shaft of the gearwheel (42), and a driven gearwheel (44) engaging the small gearwheel (43) and rigidly mounted on the shaft (28) of the cam (24), as shown in FIGs 8- 12.
  • FIG 13 Another embodiment of a motorized tape measure is illustrated in FIG 13. It comprises the same mechanical spool drive as the previous embodiment, while a screw mechanism transforming reverse rotation into reciprocating motion is implemented as a mechanism of cross- feed movement, comprising a screw (45) and a nut (46) which is fixed to the fork (7) embracing the tape (2) on both sides.
  • the fork (7) is mo vably jointed by two coaxial holes on its peaks to an axle (47) which is fixed to the housing of the tape measure, for transmitting solely reciprocating motion from the screw (45) via the nut (46) to the fork (7) that prevents rotation of the fork (7) which is fixed to the nut (46).
  • the screw mechanism comprises toothed sectors (48) and (49) with the central angle smaller than 180 degrees which are coaxially fixed to the spool (1) on different from each other planes so that they cover each other circularly, idler gearwheels (50) and (51) that engage said sectors and are mounted on intermediary shafts (52) and (53) on the planes of respective sectors, and a gearwheel (55) which is fixed on the shaft (54) of the screw (45) and engages the idler gearwheel (50), thus transmitting reverse rotation to the screw (45), as shown in FIG 13.
  • the tape measure comprises a mechanism for pressing the coiling tape (2) to the spool (1) to provide equal radial coiling of the tape (2) on the spool (1).
  • Said mechanism comprises a roller (56) that presses the tape (2) to the spool (1) and is swivel jointed to a rocking arm (57) which is rotatably mounted on an axle (58) and is spring-loaded by means of a torsion spring (59), as shown in FIGs 11-13.
  • Said two embodiments also comprise an auxiliary handle (60) which can be mounted in the radial groove on the disc (61) in two positions and is used when the internal power source of the motor (5) is exhausted, as shown in FIGs 8 and 9.
  • the tape measure comprises a clutch (62) for transmitting rotation from the auxiliary handle (60) to the spool (1) which enables transmission of rotation from the auxiliary handle (60) to the spool (1) and prevents transmission in the counter direction, as shown in FIG 8.
  • the tape measure comprises the second clutch (63) for transmitting rotation from the mechanical drive to the spool (1) which enables transmission of rotation from the mechanical drive to the spool (1) and prevents transmission in the counter direction, as shown in FIG 8.
  • Said tape measures are operated in the following way.
  • the user pulls at the end of the tape (2), the spool (1) rotates back extracting the tape (2), the rotations of the spool (1) are first transmitted via the spool drive (3) to the handle (4) and then via the drive (8) and the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) to the fork (7) which provides a reciprocating motion to the tape (2) while the tape (2) is winding off the spool (1).
  • the output link of the spool drive (3) i.e. the carrier (20)
  • the input link of the drive i.e. the gearwheel (22)
  • the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) of the tape (2) also receives rotations from the handle (4) by means of the drive (8) while the cam (24) transmits reciprocating motion via the groove (27) and the roller (29) positioned in the groove (27) to the fork (7) which embraces the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on both sides.
  • the preferred embodiment of a motorized tape measure as shown in FIGs 8 and 9, is operated in the following way.
  • the user pulls at the end of the tape (2), and the spool (1) rotates back transmitting rotations to neither the mechanical drive, nor the auxiliary handle (60).
  • the rotations of the spool (1) are transmitted via the drive (8) and the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) to the fork (7), which embraces the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on both sides, to provide a reciprocating motion to the tape (2).
  • the motor (5) is turned on and the rotations are transmitted via the doubled planetary reduction gears (34)-(35)-(36)-(37) and (38)-(39)-(40)-(36) and the clutch (62) to the spool (1), and subsequently to the drive (8) and the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6), the cam (24) of which transmits a reciprocating motion via the groove (27) and the roller (29) positioned in the groove (27) to the fork (7) which embraces the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on both sides.
  • the auxiliary handle (60) does not rotate in this case.
  • the user can rotate the auxiliary handle (60) to retract the flexible tape (2).
  • the rotations of the auxiliary handle (60) are transmitted via the clutch (63) to the spool (1), and subsequently to the drive (8) and the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6), the cam (24) of which transmits a reciprocating motion via the groove (27) and the roller (29) positioned in the groove (27) to the fork (7) which embraces the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on both sides.
  • the spool drive (3) does not rotate in this case.
  • the rotations are transmitted from the motor (5) or the auxiliary handle (60) to the spool (1) in the same way in the other embodiment of a motorized tape measure as in the embodiment discussed above.
  • the reverse rotation of the idler gearwheel (50) is transmitted via the gearwheel (55) to the screw (45) which subsequently transmits a reciprocating motion to the nut (46) and the fork (7) which is fixed to said nut and embraces the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on both sides to provide a reciprocating motion to the tape (2).

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  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
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Abstract

Method for coiling a flexible tape on a spool and tape measure are disclosed. Said method enables multi-row coiling of a tape on hand-driven or motorized spool by transmitting reciprocating motion to coiling tape coaxial with the spool at constant speed that gradually decreases to zero at end positions. Said tape measure comprises a spool rotatably mounted in the housing, a flexible tape fixed to the spool at one end and winding on and off the spool, a manual or mechanical drive, and a mechanism of cross-feed movement with a drive providing coaxial reciprocating motion. The present invention enables multi-row coiling of a tape on a spool with a manual or mechanical drive, in the latter case also enabling use of an auxiliary handle for coiling the tape when the internal power source is exhausted. Radial dimensions are reduced and convenience of use is increased.

Description

METHOD FOR COILING A FLEXIBLE TAPE AND TAPE MEASURE
Technical Field
The present invention relates to methods and apparatuses for coiling a flexible tape on a spool in tools for measuring linear dimensions, particularly, tape measures having a flexible tape in which the tape is wound on a spool by means of a manual or mechanical drive. Background Art
To rotate the spool faster than the handle, multiplying gears are used as a drive mechanism transmitting rotation from the handle to the spool in known hand-driven tape measures, such as:
• the tape measure having a multiplying gear with external engagement (disclosed in US patent Λb 1,058,311, 1913),
• the tape measure having a multiplying gear with internal engagement (disclosed in US patent Λb 4,813,635 B65H75/40, GOlB 3/10, 1989-03-21),
• the tape measure having doubled planetary multiplying gears with external and internal engagements (disclosed in US patent N° 4,189,107 B65H75/16, GOlB 3/02, 1980-02-19), and
• the tape measure having a planetary multiplying gear with two external engagements (disclosed in US patent N° 6,464,160 B2 B65H75/40, GOlB 3/10, 2002-10-15).
Reduction gears are used for transmitting rotation from the motor to the spool in known motorized tape measures, such as:
• the tape measure having a single-stage reduction gear with external engagement (disclosed in JP patent N° 1277701 G01B3/10, 1985-11-05),
• the tape measures having a worm reduction gear (disclosed in GB patent N° 2023290 G01B3/08, 1979-12-28, and US patent JVb 6295740 GOlB 3/10, 2001-10-12), and
• the tape measure having a two-stage reduction gear with a belt drive (disclosed in US patent Ns 4,551,847 GOlB 3/10, 1985-11-05).
The nearest analogue to the present invention is the tape measure disclosed in US patent 6,134,801 GOlB 3/10, 2000-10-24, comprised of a spool rotatable in the housing and a planetary multiplying gear with external and internal engagements that transmits rotation from the handle to the spool, rotates the spool and reels the flexible tape on it. The following method for coiling a flexible tape on a spool is used in said tape measures: the tape is wound solely radially (single-row) on a spool, which is rotating by means of a manual or mechanical drive, without moving the coiling tape relative to the spool rotation axis.
Such method for coiling a flexible tape determines a disadvantage of known tape measures which is the large radial dimensions of the tape coil, and consequently of the tape measure, since tape measures are designed to enable solely radial coiling of the long tape on the spool (which is as wide as the tape) whereas compactness is of primary significance for a hand-driven tool like a tape measure.
Disclosure of Invention
It is the object of the present invention to reduce the radial dimensions of a tape measure and increase convenience of use.
The essence of the present invention is that, according to the method for coiling a flexible tape, the extracted flexible tape is wound on a spool by means of a manual or mechanical drive characterized by that the flexible tape is wound on a spool multi-row by transmitting a reciprocating motion to the coiling tape coaxial with the spool rotation axis.
The second feature of the present invention is that the stroke of the flexible tape in cross direction exceeds the width of the spool.
The third feature of the present invention is that the stroke of the tape in cross direction is preferably symmetrical relative to the spool.
The fourth feature of the present invention is that the stroke of the tape in cross direction preferably occurs at a constant speed that gradually decreases to zero at the end positions.
The fifth feature of the present invention is that the part of the stroke of the tape in cross direction which preferably occurs at a constant speed is equal to the width of the spool.
The sixth feature of the present invention is that the part of the stroke of the tape in cross direction which preferably occurs at a constant speed exceeds the width of the tape by a whole number.
The seventh feature of the present invention is that the tape measure comprises a spool rotatably mounted in the housing, a flexible tape fixed to the spool at one end and winding on and off the spool, a spool drive, characterized by that the tape measure also comprises a mechanism of cross-feed movement with a drive providing reciprocating motion, which is coaxial with the spool rotation axis, to the flexible tape coiling on the spool.
The eighth feature of the present invention is that the drive of the tape measure comprises a handle for transmitting rotation to the spool that can be positioned on both sides of the housing of the tape measure. The ninth feature of the present invention is that the spool drive is positioned in the axial cavity of the spool and has a motor with an internal power source and a mechanical drive which is designed as a planetary reduction gear, wherein the small sun gearwheel is rigidly and coaxially mounted on the motor shaft and the carrier is linked to the spool.
The tenth feature of the present invention is that the spool drive is designed as successively jointed two or more similar planetary reduction gears, the small sun gearwheel of the first planetary reduction gear is rigidly and coaxially mounted on the motor shaft and the carrier of the last planetary reduction gear is linked to the spool.
The eleventh feature of the present invention is that the spool drive comprises a clutch, the driving semi-clutch of which is coaxially fixed to the output shaft of the spool drive and the driven semi-clutch is coaxially fixed to the spool, enabling transmission of rotation from the manual drive to the spool and preventing transmission of rotation in the counter direction.
The twelfth feature of the present invention is that the spool drive comprises a hand-driven auxiliary handle for winding the flexible tape on the spool when the internal power source is exhausted which is linked to the spool by means of the second clutch, the driving semi-clutch of which is coaxially mounted on the auxiliary handle and the driven semi-clutch is coaxially mounted on the spool, enabling transmission of rotation from the auxiliary handle to the spool and preventing transmission of rotation in the counter direction.
The thirteenth feature of the present invention is that the mechanism of cross-feed movement, which provides a reciprocating motion to the flexible tape coiling on the spool coaxial with the spool, is designed as a spatial cam mechanism. The cam has a groove. A roller interacting with the groove is rotatably mounted on a fork which embraces the flexible tape on both sides. The fork is positioned on an axle and can slide along it. The axle is immovably fixed in the housing so that its axis is parallel to the rotation axes of both the spool and the cam. The side surfaces of the cam groove are positioned on two parallel planes which, together with the cam axis, form an angle different from 90 degrees. Either side surface axially flows into arc- shaped surfaces at its periphery which are positioned perpendicular to the cam axis.
The fourteenth feature of the present invention is that the mechanism of cross-feed movement is designed as a mechanism transforming rotation into reciprocating motion, wherein the input link receives reverse rotation. It can be implemented as a screw mechanism comprising a screw, rotatably mounted on the frame parallel to the axis of the spool and coaxial with the spool rotation axis, that provides reverse rotation. A fork fixed to a nut embraces the tape on both sides. The fork can slide relative to the housing and is jointed to the axle by means of cylindrical pairs. The axle is fixed in the housing. The fifteenth feature of the present invention is that the width of the spool exceeds the width of the tape by a whole number.
The sixteenth feature of the present invention is that the transmission ratio of the drive of the mechanism of cross-feed movement is chosen so that half a rotation of the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement corresponds to the full rotations of the spool that are equal to the number of tape coils winding on it.
The seventeenth feature of the present invention is that the drive of the mechanism of cross-feed movement is designed as a toothed belt drive, wherein the small toothed pulley is coaxially mounted on the input link of the spool drive and the big toothed pulley is coaxially mounted on the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement.
The eighteenth feature of the present invention is that the drive of the mechanism of cross- feed movement is designed as a two-stage cylindrical reduction gear, wherein the input gearwheel is coaxially mounted on the spool and the output gearwheel is coaxially mounted on the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement.
The nineteenth feature of the present invention is that the drive of the mechanism of cross- feed movement is designed as a mechanism with semi-gearwheels which transmits reverse rotation to the screw. The mechanism with semi-gearwheels comprises two toothed sectors with the central angle smaller than 180 degrees that are coaxial with the spool and fixed to it on different from each other planes, and two idler gearwheels engaging said sectors and each other that are rigidly mounted on the intermediary shafts on the planes of respective sectors. One of the idler gearwheels is engaged by the gearwheel fixed to the shaft of the screw which transmits reverse rotation to said screw. The toothed sectors are positioned so that they cover each other circularly and the first tooth of the second sector is engaged by the second idler gearwheel as soon as the last tooth of the first sector is disengaged by the first idler gearwheel.
And lastly, it should be noted that the radial dimensions of the tape measure are considerably reduced due to the multi-row coiling of the tape on the spool while convenience of use is increased due to the option of positioning the main handle on either side of the housing in the hand-driven tape measure and the presence of an auxiliary handle in motorized tape measures.
The annexed drawings, which are incorporated in and form part of the specifications, illustrate the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and together with the descriptions serve to explain the structure, operation and essence of the invention.
FIG 1 shows the structural scheme of the present invention.
FIGs 2 to 6 show the preferred embodiment of a hand-driven tape measure, wherein
FIG 2 shows the kinematic sceme of said embodiment; FIG 3 shows the exterior of said embodiment;
FIG 4 shows said embodiment with separated units and parts;
FIGs 5 and 6 show the two handle positions, respectively on the right and on the left.
FIGs 7 to 12 show the preferred embodiment of a motorized tape measure, wherein
FIG 7 shows a general view of said embodiment;
FIG 8 shows the kinematic sceme of said embodiment;
FIG 9 shows a top view of said embodiment;
FIG 10 shows the mechanical drive of said embodiment with separated units;
FIG 11 shows the mechanism of cross-feed movement and its drive;
FIG 12 shows a side view of said embodiment.
FIG 13 illustrates another embodiment of a motorized tape measure, wherein a screw mechanism moves the tape in cross direction while a mechanism comprising gearwheels with missing teeth implements the reverse rotation of the screw.
The tape measure comprises a spool (1) on which a flexible tape (2) is wound, a spool drive (3) operated by a handle (4) or a motor (5) with an internal power source, a mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) having an output link (7) that is designed as a fork embracing the tape
(2) on both sides and generates a reciprocating motion in the direction shown with A arrows and parallel to the rotation axis of the spool, and a drive (8) of the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) in which the input link is fixed to the spool (1) or the input link of the spool drive
(3) while the output link is also the input link of mechanism of cross-feed movement (6), as shown in FIG 1.
The units of the hand-driven tape measure are positioned in the housing comprising a middle part (9) and an edge (10), which are fastened to each other with screws (11), and a cover (12) which is fastened to the middle part (9) with screws (13), as shown in FIGs 3 and 4.
The spool (1) is so assembled between the walls (14) and (15) of respective housing parts (9) and (10) that said walls limit the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on the right and on the left, as shown in FIG 2.
The handle (4) for driving the spool (1) is positioned in a groove (17) on a disc (16) and spring-loaded by means of a leaf spring, as shown in FIG 4. Such a jointing of the handle (4) enables transition from operative position illustrated in FIG 4 to folded-handle inoperative position (not illustrated in FIG 4) by removing the handle (4) from groove (17) and positioning it turned at 180 degrees.
The disc (16) of the handle (4) is rigidly fixed to a shaft (18) with a longitudinal facet that passes through the hole in the spool (1), as shown in FIG 4. The shaft (18) is threaded at its base (not illustrated in FIG 4) and jointed to a disc-shaped nut (19) by means of said thread. Such a positioning of the handle (4), the disc (16) and the shaft (18) enables the positioning of the handle (4) on the other side of the housing as well for the convenience of a left-handed user, as shown in FIG 6. The folded position is shown in FIGs 3 and 5.
The spool drive (3) is designed as a multiplying gear, such as a planetary mechanism with external and internal engagements, in which the hole of the carrier (20), that joins the carrier (20) to the shaft (18), has the same perpendicular section relative to the rotation axis of the carrier (20) as the shaft (18) (in order to receive rotation from said hole). The carrier (20) is illustrated in FIGs 2 and 4. Two idler wheels (21) are rotatably mounted on the carrier (20), equally far away both from the rotation axis of the carrier (20) and each other, and are simultaneously engaged by an external sun gearwheel (22), which is coaxially and rigidly mounted on the spool (1), and an internal gearwheel (23) which is fixed to the middle part (9) of the housing (a single idler wheel is illustrated in FIG 2 for clarity).
The mechanism of cross-feed movement (6), which is designed as a spatial cam mechanism, comprises a cam (24) that has a groove (27) with parallel walls (25) and (26) on its periphery and is rigidly fixed to the shaft (28) positioned coaxial with the spool (1), the fork (7) embracing the tape (2) on both sides, and a roller (29) rotatably mounted on the fork (7) sliding along fixed guides (30) positioned coaxial with shaft (28), as shown in FIGs 2, 4, 5 and 6.
For the tape (2) to change the direction of coiling on the spool (1) at the end positions of the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6), the stroke of the tape (2) in cross direction exceeds the working width of the spool (1) which enables limiting the stroke of the tape (2) in cross direction at said end positions by the facial discs of the spool (1) and allows the tape (2) to adjust to the change in the winding direction by making a partial coil at the end positions.
The drive (8) of the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) is designed as a toothed belt drive, wherein a small toothed pulley (31) is coaxially fixed to the carrier (20), a big toothed pulley (32) is coaxially mounted on the shaft (28) of the cam (24), and a toothed belt (33) is wrapped on the toothed pulleys (31) and (32), as shown in FIGs 1, 2, and 4.
The transmission ratio of the drive (8) of the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) is chosen so that half a rotation of the big toothed pulley (32) (or the cam (24) and the shaft (28) fixed to the big toothed pulley (32)) corresponds to the full rotations of the spool (1) that are equal to the number of tape coils winding on the spool (1).
Such a transmission ratio of the drive (8) of the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) enables coiling the tape (2) on the spool (1) as a helix, the stroke of which is equal to the width ofthe tape (2).
In the preferred embodiment of a motorized tape measure, the spool drive (3) is designed as a successively jointed two planetary reduction gears with external and internal engagements ((34)-(35)-(36)-(37) and (38)-(39)-(40)-(36)), wherein the external sun gearwheel (34) of the first reduction gear is coaxially fixed to the shaft of the motor (5), the carrier (37) is coaxially fixed to the external sun gearwheel (38) of the second reduction gear, and the carrier (40) is jointed to the spool (1).
The mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) has the same structure in this embodiment as in the hand-driven tape measure, as shown in FIGs 8-11. It is designed as a spatial cam mechanism comprising a cam (24) that has a groove (27) with parallel walls (25) and (26) on its periphery and is fixed to a shaft (28) positioned coaxial with the spool (1), a fork (7) embracing the tape (2) on both sides, and a roller (29) rotatably mounted on the fork (7) which can slide along fixed guides (30) positioned coaxial with the shaft (28).
The drive (8) of mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) is designed as a two-stage reduction gear comprising a small driving gearwheel (41) rigidly mounted on the shaft of the spool (1), a gearwheel (42) engaging the small driving gearwheel (41), a small gearwheel (43) rigidly mounted on the shaft of the gearwheel (42), and a driven gearwheel (44) engaging the small gearwheel (43) and rigidly mounted on the shaft (28) of the cam (24), as shown in FIGs 8- 12.
Another embodiment of a motorized tape measure is illustrated in FIG 13. It comprises the same mechanical spool drive as the previous embodiment, while a screw mechanism transforming reverse rotation into reciprocating motion is implemented as a mechanism of cross- feed movement, comprising a screw (45) and a nut (46) which is fixed to the fork (7) embracing the tape (2) on both sides. The fork (7) is mo vably jointed by two coaxial holes on its peaks to an axle (47) which is fixed to the housing of the tape measure, for transmitting solely reciprocating motion from the screw (45) via the nut (46) to the fork (7) that prevents rotation of the fork (7) which is fixed to the nut (46).
The screw mechanism comprises toothed sectors (48) and (49) with the central angle smaller than 180 degrees which are coaxially fixed to the spool (1) on different from each other planes so that they cover each other circularly, idler gearwheels (50) and (51) that engage said sectors and are mounted on intermediary shafts (52) and (53) on the planes of respective sectors, and a gearwheel (55) which is fixed on the shaft (54) of the screw (45) and engages the idler gearwheel (50), thus transmitting reverse rotation to the screw (45), as shown in FIG 13.
In both embodiments of a motorized tape measure discussed above, the tape measure comprises a mechanism for pressing the coiling tape (2) to the spool (1) to provide equal radial coiling of the tape (2) on the spool (1). Said mechanism comprises a roller (56) that presses the tape (2) to the spool (1) and is swivel jointed to a rocking arm (57) which is rotatably mounted on an axle (58) and is spring-loaded by means of a torsion spring (59), as shown in FIGs 11-13. Said two embodiments also comprise an auxiliary handle (60) which can be mounted in the radial groove on the disc (61) in two positions and is used when the internal power source of the motor (5) is exhausted, as shown in FIGs 8 and 9.
The tape measure comprises a clutch (62) for transmitting rotation from the auxiliary handle (60) to the spool (1) which enables transmission of rotation from the auxiliary handle (60) to the spool (1) and prevents transmission in the counter direction, as shown in FIG 8.
The tape measure comprises the second clutch (63) for transmitting rotation from the mechanical drive to the spool (1) which enables transmission of rotation from the mechanical drive to the spool (1) and prevents transmission in the counter direction, as shown in FIG 8.
Said tape measures are operated in the following way.
To extract the flexible tape (2) to take measurements with the hand-driven tape measure, the user pulls at the end of the tape (2), the spool (1) rotates back extracting the tape (2), the rotations of the spool (1) are first transmitted via the spool drive (3) to the handle (4) and then via the drive (8) and the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) to the fork (7) which provides a reciprocating motion to the tape (2) while the tape (2) is winding off the spool (1).
To retract the flexible tape (2) after taking measurements, the output link of the spool drive (3), i.e. the carrier (20), is rotated by means of the handle (4) while the input link of the drive, i.e. the gearwheel (22), transmits accelerated rotations to the spool (1) which is fixed to it and the extracted tape (2) is wound on the spool (1).
At the same time, the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) of the tape (2) also receives rotations from the handle (4) by means of the drive (8) while the cam (24) transmits reciprocating motion via the groove (27) and the roller (29) positioned in the groove (27) to the fork (7) which embraces the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on both sides.
The preferred embodiment of a motorized tape measure, as shown in FIGs 8 and 9, is operated in the following way.
To extract the flexible tape (2) to take measurements, the user pulls at the end of the tape (2), and the spool (1) rotates back transmitting rotations to neither the mechanical drive, nor the auxiliary handle (60). In the meantime, the rotations of the spool (1) are transmitted via the drive (8) and the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6) to the fork (7), which embraces the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on both sides, to provide a reciprocating motion to the tape (2).
To retract the flexible tape (2) after taking measurements, the motor (5) is turned on and the rotations are transmitted via the doubled planetary reduction gears (34)-(35)-(36)-(37) and (38)-(39)-(40)-(36) and the clutch (62) to the spool (1), and subsequently to the drive (8) and the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6), the cam (24) of which transmits a reciprocating motion via the groove (27) and the roller (29) positioned in the groove (27) to the fork (7) which embraces the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on both sides. It should be noted that the auxiliary handle (60) does not rotate in this case.
In case the internal power source of the motor (5) is temporarily unavailable the user can rotate the auxiliary handle (60) to retract the flexible tape (2). The rotations of the auxiliary handle (60) are transmitted via the clutch (63) to the spool (1), and subsequently to the drive (8) and the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6), the cam (24) of which transmits a reciprocating motion via the groove (27) and the roller (29) positioned in the groove (27) to the fork (7) which embraces the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on both sides. It should be noted that the spool drive (3) does not rotate in this case.
The rotations are transmitted from the motor (5) or the auxiliary handle (60) to the spool (1) in the same way in the other embodiment of a motorized tape measure as in the embodiment discussed above.
In this case reverse rotation is transmitted from the spool (1) via the toothed sectors (48) and (49) to the screw (45) of the mechanism of cross-feed movement (6), wherein the toothed sector (48) engages the idler gearwheel (50), as shown in FIG 13. When the toothed sector (48) disengages the idler gearwheel (50), the idler gearwheel (50) receives rotation in the counter direction from the toothed sector (49) via the idler gearwheel (51) engaging it. The reverse rotation of the idler gearwheel (50) is transmitted via the gearwheel (55) to the screw (45) which subsequently transmits a reciprocating motion to the nut (46) and the fork (7) which is fixed to said nut and embraces the tape (2) coiling on the spool (1) on both sides to provide a reciprocating motion to the tape (2).

Claims

1. A method for coiling of a flexible tape, by which the extracted flexible tape is wound on a spool by means of a drive characterized by that the flexible tape is wound on a spool multi-row by transmitting a reciprocating motion to the coiling tape coaxial with the spool rotation axis.
2. A method for coiling of a flexible tape according to claim 1, characterized by that the stroke of the tape in cross direction exceeds the width of the spool.
3. A method for coiling of a flexible tape according to claim 2, characterized by that the stroke of the tape in cross direction is preferably symmetrical relative to the spool.
4. A method for coiling of a flexible tape according to claim 1, characterized by that the stroke of the tape in cross direction preferably occurs at a constant speed that gradually decreases to zero at the end positions.
5. A method for coiling of a flexible tape according to claim 4, characterized by that the part of the stroke of the tape in cross direction which preferably occurs at a constant speed is equal to the width of the spool.
6. A method for coiling of a flexible tape according to claim 4 or 5, characterized by that the part of the stroke of the tape in cross direction which preferably occurs at a constant speed exceeds the width of the tape by a whole number.
7. A tape measure, comprising a spool rotatably mounted in the housing, a flexible tape fixed to the spool at one end and winding on and off the spool, a spool drive, characterized by that the tape measure also comprises a mechanism of cross-feed movement of the flexible tape with a drive providing reciprocating motion, which is coaxial with the spool rotation axis, to the flexible tape coiling on the spool.
8. A tape measure according to claim 7, characterized by that the drive of the tape measure comprises a handle for transmitting rotation to the spool that can be positioned on both sides of the housing of the tape measure.
9. A tape measure according to claim 7, characterized by that the spool drive has a motor with an internal power source and a mechanical drive which is designed as a planetary reduction gear, wherein the small sun gearwheel is rigidly mounted on the motor shaft and the carrier is linked to the spool.
10. A tape measure according to claim 9, characterized by that the mechanical spool drive is designed as successively jointed two or more similar planetary reduction gears, the small sun gearwheel of the first planetary reduction gear is coaxially mounted on the motor shaft and the carrier of the last planetary reduction gear is linked to the spool.
11. A tape measure according to claim 9, characterized by that the spool drive is positioned in the axial cavity of the spool and is coaxial to the spool.
12. A tape measure according to claim 9, characterized by that the spool drive is positioned in the axial cavity of the spool and is not coaxial to the spool.
13. A tape measure according to claim 9, characterized by that the spool drive comprises a clutch, the driving semi-clutch of which is coaxially mounted on the output shaft of the spool drive and the driven semi-clutch is coaxially mounted on the spool.
14. A tape measure according to claim 9, characterized by that the spool drive comprises a hand-driven auxiliary handle which is linked to the spool by means of the second clutch, the driving semi-clutch of which is coaxially mounted on the auxiliary handle and the driven semi-clutch is coaxially mounted on the spool.
15. A tape measure according to claim 7, characterized by that the width of the spool exceeds the width of the tape by a whole number.
16. A tape measure according to claim 7, characterized by that the mechanism of cross-feed movement is designed as a mechanism transforming rotation into reciprocating motion, wherein the input link can rotate.
17. A tape measure according to claim 7, characterized by that the mechanism of cross-feed movement is designed as a spatial cam mechanism, wherein the rotation axis of the cam is parallel to the rotation axis of the spool, the stroke of the fork in cross direction exceeds the width of the spool and is preferably symmetrical relative to the spool, the fork preferably moves at a constant speed that gradually decreases to zero at the end positions, the length of the part of the stroke of the fork in cross direction which preferably occurs at a constant speed is equal to the width of the spool.
18. A tape measure according to claim 17, characterized by that the cam of the cam mechanism has a groove, a roller interacting with the groove is rotatably mounted on the fork which embraces the flexible tape on both sides, the fork is positioned on an axle and can slide along it, the axle is immovably fixed in the housing so that its axis is parallel to the rotation axes of both the spool and the cam.
19. A tape measure according to claim 18, characterized by that the side surfaces of the cam groove are positioned on two parallel planes and each plane forms an angle with the cam axis different from 90 degrees.
20. A tape measure according to claim 19, characterized by that either side surface of the cam groove axially flows into arc-shaped surfaces at its periphery.
21. A tape measure according to claim 7, characterized by that the mechanism of cross-feed movement is designed as a mechanism transforming rotation into reciprocating motion, wherein the input link can rotate reversely.
22. A tape measure according to claim 21, characterized by that the mechanism of cross- feed movement is designed as a screw mechanism, wherein the screw is rotatably mounted on the frame, the rotation axis of the screw is parallel to the rotation axis of the spool, the stroke of the nut in cross direction exceeds the width of the spool and is preferably symmetrical relative to the spool.
23. A tape measure according to claim 22, characterized by that the screw of the screw mechanism has a single thread and its stroke in cross direction exceeds the width of the spool more than twice.
24. A tape measure according to claim 22, characterized by that the screw of the screw mechanism has multiple threads and its stroke in cross direction exceeds the width of the spool more than twice.
25. A tape measure according to claim 22, characterized by that the nut of the screw mechanism is designed as a fork embracing the tape on both sides, the fork can slide relative to the housing and is jointed to the axle by means of cylindrical pairs, and the axle is fixed in the housing.
26. A tape measure according to claim 7, characterized by that the transmission ratio of the drive of the mechanism of cross-feed movement is chosen so that half a rotation of the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement corresponds to the full rotations of the spool that are equal to the number of tape coils winding on the spool.
27. A tape measure according to claim 26, characterized by that the drive of the mechanism of cross-feed movement is designed as a toothed belt drive transmitting rotation to the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement, wherein the small toothed pulley is coaxially mounted on the input link of the spool drive, and the big toothed pulley is coaxially mounted on the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement.
28. A tape measure according to claim 26, characterized by that the drive of the mechanism of cross-feed movement is designed as a two-stage cylindrical reduction gear transmitting rotation to the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement, wherein the input gearwheel is coaxially mounted on the spool and the output gearwheel is coaxially mounted on the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement.
29. A tape measure according to claim 22 or 26, characterized by that the drive of the mechanism of cross-feed movement is designed as a mechanism with semi-gearwheels, which transmits reverse rotation to the input link of the mechanism of cross-feed movement, comprising two toothed sectors with a central angle smaller than 180 degrees that are coaxial with the spool and fixed to it on different from each other planes, and two idler gearwheels engaging said sectors and each other that are rigidly mounted on the intermediary shafts on the planes of respective sectors, wherein one of the idler gearwheels is engaged by the gearwheel fixed to the shaft of the screw, the toothed sectors are positioned so that they cover each other circularly and the first tooth of the second sector can be engaged by the second idler gearwheel as soon as the last tooth of the first sector is disengaged by the first idler gearwheel.
PCT/AM2008/000001 2007-01-12 2008-01-10 Mehtod for coiling a flexible tape and tape measure WO2008083416A1 (en)

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AM20070003 2007-01-12

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US9874428B1 (en) 2016-10-05 2018-01-23 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with compact retraction system
US10054415B2 (en) 2015-09-30 2018-08-21 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure
US10836603B2 (en) 2017-03-22 2020-11-17 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with epicyclic gear drive for tape retraction
US11846504B2 (en) 2016-10-05 2023-12-19 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with compact retraction system
US12017885B2 (en) 2017-03-22 2024-06-25 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with epicyclic gear drive for tape retraction

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JPS60218249A (en) * 1984-04-13 1985-10-31 Teraoka Seisakusho:Kk Adhesive tape winding method
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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US10054415B2 (en) 2015-09-30 2018-08-21 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure
US10767970B2 (en) 2015-09-30 2020-09-08 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure
US9874428B1 (en) 2016-10-05 2018-01-23 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with compact retraction system
US10132605B2 (en) 2016-10-05 2018-11-20 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with compact retraction system
US10458771B2 (en) 2016-10-05 2019-10-29 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with compact retraction system
US10876825B2 (en) 2016-10-05 2020-12-29 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with compact retraction system
US11466970B2 (en) 2016-10-05 2022-10-11 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with compact retraction system
US11846504B2 (en) 2016-10-05 2023-12-19 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with compact retraction system
US10836603B2 (en) 2017-03-22 2020-11-17 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with epicyclic gear drive for tape retraction
US11427434B2 (en) 2017-03-22 2022-08-30 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with epicyclic gear drive for tape retraction
US12017885B2 (en) 2017-03-22 2024-06-25 Milwaukee Electric Tool Corporation Tape measure with epicyclic gear drive for tape retraction

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