Cable-based measuring system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12000690-B2
Application number	US-202117232896-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 16, 2021
Priority date	Jan 9, 2012
Publication date	Jun 4, 2024
Grant date	Jun 4, 2024

Abstract

The present disclosure extends to methods, systems, apparatus, and computer program products related to a cable-based measuring system. The cable-based measuring system includes a cable, comprising an inner cable member configured to move linearly within an outer cable housing. The measuring system also includes a measuring device configured to generate measurement information regarding movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable housing using one or more encoders. A computer system receives the measurement information from the measuring device. The measurement information indicates length as a function of time, and represents three orthogonal dimensional measurements of a three-dimensional object. Based on the measurement information, the computer system identifies a length of each dimensional measurement, including a length, a width, and a height of the three-dimensional object. The computer system then initiates creation of a box template sized to accommodate the three-dimensional object and/or updates a database.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A measuring and packaging system, comprising:
a material processing machine configured to create custom-sized box templates; and
a measuring device, comprising:
a first handheld device, the first handheld device at least being configured to transmit a wireless signal;
a second handheld device, the second handheld device being selectively movable relative to the first handheld device at least being configured to receive a wireless signal; and
a communications mechanism, the communications mechanism being configured to communicate measurement information to the material processing machine or an intermediate computer system, the measurement information based on at least one calculated distance between the first handheld device and the second handheld device, the material processing machine or computer system being configured to initiate creation of a box template by the material processing machine sized to accommodate a particular three-dimensional object based on the measurement information.

2. The measuring and packaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the computer system is further configured to update a database entry for the three-dimensional object with the measurement information.

3. The measuring and packaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first handheld device is configured to receive a wireless signal.

4. The measuring and packaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second handheld device is configured to transmit a wireless signal.

5. The measuring and packaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first handheld device is configured to transmit the wireless signal that comprises one or more electromagnetic waves.

6. The measuring and packaging system as recited in claim 5 , wherein the one or more electromagnetic waves comprise light and/or radio waves.

7. The measuring and packaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first handheld device is configured to transmit the wireless signal that comprises one or more sound waves.

8. The measuring and packaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the second handheld device is configured to receive the wireless signal that comprises one or more electromagnetic waves.

9. The measuring and packaging system as recited in claim 8 , wherein the one or more electromagnetic waves comprise light and/or radio waves.

10. The measuring and packaging system as recited in claim 1 , wherein the first handheld device is configured to receive the wireless signal that comprises one or more sound waves.

11. A measuring device, comprising:
a first handheld device, the first handheld device at least being configured to transmit a wireless signal;
a second handheld device, the second handheld device at least being configured to receive a wireless signal; and
a processor, the processor being configured to calculate measurement data indicating length as a function of time based on the movements of the first handheld device and the second handheld device and the receipt of wireless signals at that second handheld device, the measurement data indicating at least three orthogonal dimensional measurements, each dimensional measurement corresponding to a dimension of a three-dimensional object, the measurement data indicating at least:
a first peak at a first time;
a first minimum at a second time subsequent to the first time;
a second peak at a third time subsequent to the second time;
a second minimum at a fourth time subsequent to the third time; and
a third peak at a fifth time subsequent to the fourth time.

12. The measuring device as recited in claim 11 , further comprising a communications mechanism, the communications mechanism being configured to communicate measurement data to a computer system, the computer system being configured to initiate creation of a box template sized to accommodate a particular three-dimensional object based on the measurement data.

13. The measuring device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the measurement data indicates at least three orthogonal dimensional measurements for each of one or more three-dimensional objects, and wherein the processor is further configured to identify at least a length, a width, and a height for each of the one or more three-dimensional objects.

14. The measuring device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the computer system identifying at least a length, a width, and a height for each of the one or more three-dimensional objects comprises identifying a zero point in the measurement data.

15. The measuring device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the computer system identifying at least a length, a width, and a height for each of the one or more three-dimensional objects comprises identifying a plateau in the measurement data.

16. The measuring device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the computer system identifying at least a length, a width, and a height for each of the one or more three-dimensional objects comprises identifying a time delay in the measurement data.

17. The measuring device as recited in claim 13 , wherein the computer system identifying at least a length, a width, and a height for each of the plurality of three-dimensional objects comprises receipt of an express user command comprising one or more of a button press or a voice command.

18. The measuring device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the computer system identifying a length of each dimensional measurement, comprises an act of identifying at least three peaks in the measurement data.

19. The measuring device as recited in claim 18 , wherein the computer system identifying a length of each dimensional measurement further comprises identifying at least one plateau after a peak.

Assignees

• Packsize Llc

Inventors

• Pettersson Niklas

Classifications

• G01B11/043 Primary

  for measuring length · CPC title

• B65B57/12

  and operating to control, or stop, the feed of wrapping materials, containers, or packages · CPC title

• G01B3/11

  Chains for measuring length · CPC title

• G01B5/0021

  for measuring the volumetric dimension of an object · CPC title

• G01B5/02

  for measuring length, width or thickness (G01B5/004, G01B5/08 take precedence) · CPC title