US3577955A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Discontinuity sensor
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1968-06-19
•
Granted: 1971-05-11
•
Expires: 1988-06-19
Abstract
Abstract This invention relates to discontinuity or surface irregularity sensors. Three embodiments are illustrated and described. All three illustrate application of the invention to the task of counting articles, such as newspapers, being conducted along a conveyor. Each of these three embodiments includes two surface or contour follower elements spaced apart in the direction of conveyor movement and individually mounted for movement in a degree corresponding to the value of that dimension in which discontinuities or surface irregularities are to occur. Means are provided for sensing the difference in movement of the follower elements and for providing a signal upon the occurrence of a selected difference.
Inventors
- 👤 Charles G Palmer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:36
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01B; G01B5/00; G01B5/02; G01B5/06; G01B5/068
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
228 words
A sensor for sensing the existence of discontinuities in a given dimension in a surface movable in a given direction relative to said sensor, comprising in combination: first and second sensing means each sensitive to the magnitude of said dimension at respectively associated positions spaced in said given direction for altering, in opposing sense, the state of a condition as a function of the magnitude of said dimension; and signal means sensitive to a change of predetermined magnitude in said state of the condition for providing a signal; in which said signal means comprises a parallelogram structure including four pivot points spaced to define a four-sided figure the opposite sides of which are approximately parallel, said parallelogram structure further comprising first and second parallelogram side members extending between respectively associated pairs of said pivot points, a crossmember pivotally connected to each of said parallelogram side structures at a respectively associated pivot point at a corresponding end of each of said side members, said first and second sensing means comprising first and second contour follower elements spaced apart in said selected direction and mounted for movement in a degree corresponding to the value of said dimension of the surface and each of said followers having connection to an associated one only of said parallelogram side structures at the pivot point at the other end of said parallelogram side structures.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
228 words
A sensor for sensing the existence of discontinuities in a given dimension in a surface movable in a given direction relative to said sensor, comprising in combination: first and second sensing means each sensitive to the magnitude of said dimension at respectively associated positions spaced in said given direction for altering, in opposing sense, the state of a condition as a function of the magnitude of said dimension; and signal means sensitive to a change of predetermined magnitude in said state of the condition for providing a signal; in which said signal means comprises a parallelogram structure including four pivot points spaced to define a four-sided figure the opposite sides of which are approximately parallel, said parallelogram structure further comprising first and second parallelogram side members extending between respectively associated pairs of said pivot points, a crossmember pivotally connected to each of said parallelogram side structures at a respectively associated pivot point at a corresponding end of each of said side members, said first and second sensing means comprising first and second contour follower elements spaced apart in said selected direction and mounted for movement in a degree corresponding to the value of said dimension of the surface and each of said followers having connection to an associated one only of said parallelogram side structures at the pivot point at the other end of said parallelogram side structures.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The invention defined in claim 1, in which said crossmember is mounted for rotational movement about an axis substantially parallel with the axis of said pivot points and lying on a line extending between said respectively associated pairs of pivot points.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The invention defined in claim 2, in which said crossmember is further mounted for movement in the direction of said line; said signal means being sensitive to pivotal movement of said crossmember and being insensitive to movement of said crossmember in the direction of said line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The invention defined in claim 3, including detent means for exerting force to oppose initiation of rotational movement of said crossmember.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
38 words
The invention defined in claim 4, in which said detent means comprises a magnetic element disposed in the path of movement of said crossmember disposed one at the limit of rotational movement of the crossmember in each direction.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
63 words
The invention defined in claim 1, including movement restricting means for restricting movement of a member of said parallelogram structure substantially to one direction of movement as an incident to differential in the movement of said followers and for preventing substantial movement of said member of the parallelogram structure in said one direction of movement when said followers are moved in like degree.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The invention defined in claim 6, including a ground reference structure from which parallelogram member and follower movement may be gauged, and in which said movement restricting means comprises a sliding pivotal connection between one member of said parallelogram and said ground reference structure.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
The invention defined in claim 7, in which said movement restricting means comprises a pivotal connection between said crossmember and said ground reference structure permitting relative movement between them on a line extending between said pairs of pivot points.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention defined in claim 6, in which said movement restricting means comprises means for limiting the separation between two opposite pivot points of said four pivot points to a selected range of separation.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention defined in claim 6, in which said movement restricting means comprises a sliding pivotal connection between said crossmember and the pivot point connected to one of said followers.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
96 words
A dimension variation sensor for sensing dimensional variations in structures moving relative to the sensor in one direction by detecting variations in position of surface contour followers engaged therewith comprising: a pair of surface contour followers spaced apart in said one direction; means pivotally mounting said followers individually for independent rotation in response to dimensional variation in the contour of said relatively moving structures and in a degree corresponding to that variation; and signal means for comparing follower rotation and for providing a signal in response to a difference in rotation greater than the determined difference.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
96 words
A dimension variation sensor for sensing dimensional variations in structures moving relative to the sensor in one direction by detecting variations in position of surface contour followers engaged therewith comprising: a pair of surface contour followers spaced apart in said one direction; means pivotally mounting said followers individually for independent rotation in response to dimensional variation in the contour of said relatively moving structures and in a degree corresponding to that variation; and signal means for comparing follower rotation and for providing a signal in response to a difference in rotation greater than the determined difference.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
40 words
The invention defined in claim 11, which further comprises means, including biasing means and an element connecting said surface contour followers, for urging said followers to a predetermined relative rotational position at any degree of rotation of either of them.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
104 words
An article counting sensor for sensing articles moving in one direction past the sensor comprising: a pair of rotatable surface followers mounted for independent rotation on respectively associated axis spaced in said one direction; biasing means for biasing said followers toward a predetermined relative position while permitting individual and joint rotation of said followers; signal means for providing an output signal indicative of a difference in degree of rotation of said followers greater than a predetermined degree, said signal means comprising an element connected to both of said followers and pivoted for rotation as an incident to change in relative rotation of said followers.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
104 words
An article counting sensor for sensing articles moving in one direction past the sensor comprising: a pair of rotatable surface followers mounted for independent rotation on respectively associated axis spaced in said one direction; biasing means for biasing said followers toward a predetermined relative position while permitting individual and joint rotation of said followers; signal means for providing an output signal indicative of a difference in degree of rotation of said followers greater than a predetermined degree, said signal means comprising an element connected to both of said followers and pivoted for rotation as an incident to change in relative rotation of said followers.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2208270A
Cited
US2617593A
Cited
US2730301A
Cited
US2828917A
Cited
US2885787A
Cited
US3219829A
Cited
US3414732A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-05-10 | 1974-11-09 | 1975-05-11 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-05-10 | 1978-11-09 | 1979-05-11 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-05-10 | 1982-11-09 | 1983-05-11 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |