US3916174A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electronic fabric length measuring and cost calculating system
Assignee: G AND S Manufacturing CO Inc
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Filing: 1973-12-05
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Granted: 1975-10-28
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Expires: 1993-12-05
Abstract
Abstract An electronic system for rapidly and accurately measuring and displaying fabric length and for calculating and displaying the total cost of the measured fabric as the desired length of fabric is removed from a roll or bolt for retail sale thereof. The fabric is drawn over a measuring roller in engagement therewith and a digital signal related to fabric length is generated and displayed. The fabric length signal is multiplied by price per unit length and the resultant cost of the measured fabric may also be displayed. The system includes provision for resetting the electronic circuitry at the beginning of each measurement and for preventing movement of the measuring roller between measurements.
Inventors
- 👤 Rex E Moule
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 08:55
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q30/00; G06Q30/04; G01; G01B; G01B7/00; G01B7/02; G01B7/04; G01B7/042; G06Q30/02; G06Q30/0283; G06Q30/0284
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
Apparatus for measuring and displaying the length of a fabric comprising: a first roller journaled for rotation; means operatively connected to said first roller for generating a first digital electrical sigNal representative of fabric length in response to movement of the fabric across said first roller, said first signal generating means comprising: a rotatable member coupled for rotation in response to rotation of said first roller; detector means positioned in cooperative relation with said member for generating first and second pulses in response to predetermined intervals of angular rotation of said member, said predetermined intervals of angular rotation each representing a predetermined increment of fabric length, said detector means cooperating with said member to generate, noncoincidently, said first and second pulses at different angular orientations of said member; means for receiving said first and second pulses and generating a direction indicative signal indicating direction of rotation of said first roller in response to the time interval between receipt of said pulses and the order of receipt of said pulses; and means responsive to said generated pulses and said direction indicative signal for counting said generated pulses, said counting means being incremented in response to said pulses and rotation of said first roller in one direction and being decremented in response to said pulses and rotation of said first roller in the other direction, the count in said counting means providing said first digital signal; means for selectively providing a second digital electrical signal representative of cost of the fabric per unit length measurement; means for generating a third digital electrical signal representative of the product of said first and second signals; and, display means responsive to said first and third digital signals for digitally displaying fabric length and fabric cost.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
290 words
Apparatus for measuring and displaying the length of a fabric comprising: a first roller journaled for rotation; means operatively connected to said first roller for generating a first digital electrical sigNal representative of fabric length in response to movement of the fabric across said first roller, said first signal generating means comprising: a rotatable member coupled for rotation in response to rotation of said first roller; detector means positioned in cooperative relation with said member for generating first and second pulses in response to predetermined intervals of angular rotation of said member, said predetermined intervals of angular rotation each representing a predetermined increment of fabric length, said detector means cooperating with said member to generate, noncoincidently, said first and second pulses at different angular orientations of said member; means for receiving said first and second pulses and generating a direction indicative signal indicating direction of rotation of said first roller in response to the time interval between receipt of said pulses and the order of receipt of said pulses; and means responsive to said generated pulses and said direction indicative signal for counting said generated pulses, said counting means being incremented in response to said pulses and rotation of said first roller in one direction and being decremented in response to said pulses and rotation of said first roller in the other direction, the count in said counting means providing said first digital signal; means for selectively providing a second digital electrical signal representative of cost of the fabric per unit length measurement; means for generating a third digital electrical signal representative of the product of said first and second signals; and, display means responsive to said first and third digital signals for digitally displaying fabric length and fabric cost.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rotatable member has a plurality of means for triggering said first and second pulses, which triggering means are regularly spaced at angular intervals on a circumference of said rotatable member, and which triggering means each represent a predetermined increment of fabric length.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said detector means comprises: a first detector for generating said first pulses in response to serial juxtaposition of said triggering means by rotation of said rotatable member; and, a second detector for generating said second pulses in response to serial juxtaposition of said triggering means by rotation of said rotatable member, which second detector is displaced from said first detector at a fractional multiple of said regular angular interval at which said triggering means are spaced on said rotatable member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said means for selectively providing said second signal comprises a plurality of thumbwheel switches visually marked in dollars and cents, and circuit means for providing said second signal in response to the positions of said switches.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said display means includes an electronic digital display and switch means for selectively applying one of said first and third signals to said digital display, said switch means being operable to normally apply said first signal to said digital display and to apply said third signal to said digital display in response to the manual depression of said switch means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
the apparatus of claim 5 wherein said means for selectively providing said second signal comprises a plurality of thumbwheel switches visually marked in dollars and cents, and circuit means for providing said second signal in response to the positions of said switches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said display means comprises first and second electronic digital displays, said first signal being applied to one of said first and second displays and said third signal being applied to the other of said first and second displays.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 7 wherein said means for selectively providing said second signal comprises a plurality of thumbwheel switches visuallY marked in dollars and cents, and circuit means for providing said second signal in response to the positions of said switches.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
96 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including: a second roller disposed above said first roller in generally parallel relation thereto, said second roller being mounted for generally vertical movement between a first position in which the surfaces of said first and second rollers are spaced and a second position in which the surfaces of said first and second rollers are in contact; and, means operatively connected to said first signal generating means for resetting said first signal generating means to zero in response to movement of said second roller from the first to the second positions thereof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said display means includes an electronic digital display and switch means for selectively applying one of said first and third signals to said digital display, said switch means being operable to normally apply said first signal to said digital display and to apply said third signal to said digital display in response to the manual depression of said switch means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said display means comprises first and second electronic digital displays, said first signal being applied to one of said first and second displays and said third signal being applied to the other of said first and second displays.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said means for selectively providing said second signal comprises a plurality of thumbwheel switches visually marked in dollars and cents, and circuit means for providing said second signal in response to the positions of said switches.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The apparatus of claim 1 including means for marking the fabric at a position generally corresponding to the fabric length displayed by said display means.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
96 words
The apparatus of claim 13 including: a second roller disposed above said first roller in generally parallel relation thereto, said second roller being mounted for generally vertical movement between a first position in which the surfaces of said first and second rollers are spaced and a second position in which the surfaces of said first and second rollers are in contact; and, means operatively connected to said first signal generating means for resetting said first signal generating means to zero in response to movement of said second roller from the first to the second positions thereof.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
The apparatus of claim 14 including means operatively connected to said fabric marking means for moving said second roller from the second position to the first position thereof in response to the marking of fabric by said marking means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
66 words
The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said display means includes an electronic digital display and switch means for selectively applying one of said first and third signals to said digital display, said switch means being operable to normally apply said first signal to said digital display and to apply said third signal to said digital display in response to the manual depression of said switch means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said display means comprises first and second electronic digital displays, said first signal being applied to one of said first and second displays and said third signal being applied to the other of said first and second displays.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-10-27 | 1979-04-28 | 1979-10-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-10-27 | 1983-04-28 | 1983-10-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-10-27 | 1987-04-28 | 1987-10-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |