US3862402A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method for counting sheets of paper and apparatus
Assignee: Dai Nippon Printing Co Ltd
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Filing: 1973-07-30
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Granted: 1975-01-21
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Expires: 1993-07-30
Abstract
Abstract A method and an apparatus for counting the numbers of piled up sheets of paper by means of a sensing device including a probe, wherein said probe runs, for scanning thereof, along a slanted slope defined by the side edge portions of piled up sheets of paper, each of which sheets is shifted a little aside from the lower one in succession for arrangement of their side edges in tiers, and oscillation of said probe, during scanning, is converted into an electric signal to achieve counting of numbers of sheets of paper thereby.
Inventors
- 👤 Takeo Igarashi
- 👤 Tadao Takeuthi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 07:05
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06M; G06M9/00
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for counting a number of piled up sheets of paper comprising: a sensing device having a case, a probe disposed oscillatably within said case and with the foremost end of said probe projecting outwardly from the case, and a piezo electric element disposed in said case, said piezo electric element being connected to said probe so as to generate an electric signal due to oscillation of said probe, said probe being resilient, said piezo electric element being positioned parallel with the probe with a predetermined space therebetween, an intervening cushion rubber connecting the foremost end of said piezo electric element to an intermediate portion of said probe, said probe and piezo electric element both having base end portions, said base end portions being fixedly attached to each other at a fixing point, spaced supporting members in said case, said base end portions being elastically supported by one said supporting member at said fixing point, said probe including a portion slightly offset from said intermediate probe portion toward said foremost probe end and elastically supported by the other said supporting member; and an electronic counter connected with said sensing device to count signals transmitted from said piezo electric element in order to indicate figures for the counted number of sheets.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
211 words
An apparatus for counting a number of piled up sheets of paper comprising: a sensing device having a case, a probe disposed oscillatably within said case and with the foremost end of said probe projecting outwardly from the case, and a piezo electric element disposed in said case, said piezo electric element being connected to said probe so as to generate an electric signal due to oscillation of said probe, said probe being resilient, said piezo electric element being positioned parallel with the probe with a predetermined space therebetween, an intervening cushion rubber connecting the foremost end of said piezo electric element to an intermediate portion of said probe, said probe and piezo electric element both having base end portions, said base end portions being fixedly attached to each other at a fixing point, spaced supporting members in said case, said base end portions being elastically supported by one said supporting member at said fixing point, said probe including a portion slightly offset from said intermediate probe portion toward said foremost probe end and elastically supported by the other said supporting member; and an electronic counter connected with said sensing device to count signals transmitted from said piezo electric element in order to indicate figures for the counted number of sheets.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
81 words
The apparatus of claim 1 in which the foremost end of the case defines a slanted, plate-like wall having a slit, the foremost end of said probe being bent downwardly and extending through said slit sufficiently to scan along the side edge portions of the piled up sheets adjacent said plate-like case wall, said other supporting member being spaced inboard in said case from said slanted foremost end wall, said probe extending freely from said other supporting member through said slit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 2 in which the foremost end of said probe is about 100 Mu thick and about one mm wide, the remainder of said probe being about 0.2 mm thick and about 2 mm wide.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 3 in which said foremost end portion of said probe is of stainless material, the remainder of said probe being of phosphor bronze plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
87 words
The apparatus of claim 2 including hollow pipe-like means fixedly attached within said case, said supporting members being fixed at each end of said pipe-like means, said piezo electric element and the adjacent portion of said probe and said cushion rubber all being disposed within said pipe-like means, said pipe-like means being spaced from the foremost end of said case, wave shaping circuit means disposed in said case rearwardly of said pipe-like means for applying the output of said piezo electric element remotely to said electric counter.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
177 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including a wave shaping circuit connecting the output of said piezo electric element to the input of said electronic counter, said wave shaping circuit being adapted to be disposed within said case, said wave shaping circuit including means for removing half cycles of one polarity from the piezo electric element output waveform and further means for converting the resultant waveform to an array of one or more pulses and still further including a monostable multi-vibrator timed for producing, from said last mentioned pulses, a single output pulse for each sheet edge struck by said probe, said output pulse being sufficiently long to mask the later phases of piezo electric element output oscillation, but not overlapping the next output pulse to be generated from striking of a new sheet edge portion by the probe, said supporting members permitting transmission of the oscillation initiated by the shock of probe contact with a new sheet edge portion but thereafter absorbing part of the continued probe oscillations, whereby to damp the natural oscillation of the probe.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2580192A
Cited
US3694630A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-01-20 | 1978-07-22 | 1979-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-01-20 | 1982-07-22 | 1983-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-01-20 | 1986-07-22 | 1987-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |