Fish tape dispenser with automatic length determination

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2024359945-A1
Application number	US-202318308325-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 27, 2023
Priority date	Apr 27, 2023
Publication date	Oct 31, 2024
Grant date	—

Abstract

A device includes a spool; a fish tape wound on the spool; a magnet coupled to the spool; a sensor configured to detect the magnet and to generate a signal indicative of the detection; and a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to determine an extension of the fish tape based on the signal; and output the determined amount.

First claim

What may be claimed is:

1 . A device, comprising:
a spool; a fish tape wound on the spool and configured to be withdrawn from the spool; a magnet positioned to move as the fish tape is withdrawn from the spool; a sensor configured to detect the magnet and to generate a signal indicative of the detection; and a controller in communication with the sensor and configured to:
determine an extension of the fish tape based on the signal; and
output the determined amount.

2 . The device of claim 1 , further comprising:
a handle coupled to the spool, the handle comprising an opening configured to dispense the fish tape from the spool.

3 . The device of claim 2 , wherein:
the handle comprises a primary loop and a secondary loop, a circumference of the primary loop is larger than a circumference of the secondary loop, and the secondary loop shares a wall with the primary loop.

4 . The device of claim 2 , wherein the opening comprises a pad to clean the fish tape as the fish tape may be dispensed from the opening.

5 . The device of claim 4 , wherein the pad is shaped to float within the opening and in a substantially fixed position relative to the fish tape and perpendicular to a direction of extension of the fish tape.

6 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the fish tape comprises a first side and a second side, the spool receives the first side of the fish tape, and the device further comprises a bearing positioned to receive the second side of the fish tape and configured to apply pressure to the fish tape towards the spool.

7 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the spool comprises a tape having a slot and a first wall and second wall on opposite sides of the slot, the slot having a width substantially equal to a width of the fish tape.

8 . The device of claim 1 , wherein:
the sensor is a first sensor and the signal is a first signal; the device further comprises a second sensor configured to detect the magnet and to generate a second signal indicative of the detection by the second sensor; and the controller is configured to determine a direction of rotation of the spool based on the first signal and the second signal.

9 . The device of claim 8 , wherein the first sensor is displaced from the second sensor by between 60 and 120 degrees relative to a point defined by a center of the spool.

10 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the determination of the amount of the length comprises:
retrieving a stored value indicative of a functional circumference of the spool, and multiplying the number of rotations by the stored value.

11 . The device of claim 10 , wherein the stored value is determined by:
drawing a pre-determined amount of the length from the spool; receiving the number of rotations from the sensor; and dividing the pre-determined amount by the number of rotations.

12 . The device of claim 1 , wherein the device further comprises a display, and wherein the controller outputs the determined amount on the display.

13 . A method for dispensing fish tape from a spool, the method comprising:
detecting movement of a magnet via a first sensor and a second sensor, the magnet coupled to a wheel configured to facilitate the fish tape from the spool; determining, by a controller, a number of sensed magnetic interactions and a direction of rotation based on the detected movement; and determining, by the controller, an amount of dispensed fish tape based on the number of sensed magnetic interactions and the direction of rotation.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the determination of the amount of dispensed fish tape comprises:
retrieving a stored value indicative of a functional circumference of the wheel, and multiplying the number of sensed magnetic interactions by the stored value.

15 . The method of claim 14 , further comprising calibrating the controller by:
drawing a pre-determined length of fish tape from the spool; receiving the number of rotations from the first sensor or second sensor; and setting the stored value based on the pre-determined length and the received number of rotations.

16 . A fish tape device, comprising:
a housing; a spool disposed within the housing; a fish tape wound on the spool; an encoder wheel coupled to the fish tape so as to rotate in response to extension of the fish tape; a magnet disposed on the encoder wheel; a sensor disposed proximate the encoder wheel and configured to detect the magnet and generate a signal indicative of detection of the magnet; and a controller configured to receive the signal and to determine an amount of extension of the fish tape according to the signal.

17 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the housing further comprises an opening configured to dispense the fish tape from the spool, the opening comprising a pad to clean the fish tape as the fish tape is dispensed from the opening.

18 . The device of claim 16 , wherein:
the fish tape comprises a first side and a second side, the encoder wheel receives the first side of the fish tape, and the housing further comprises a bearing positioned to receive the second side of the fish tape and configured to apply pressure to the fish tape towards the encoder wheel.

19 . The device of claim 16 , wherein:
the sensor is a first sensor and the signal is a first signal; the device further comprises a second sensor configured to detect the magnet and to generate a second signal indicative of the detection by the second sensor; and the controller is configured to determine a direction of rotation of the encoder wheel based on the first signal and the second signal.

20 . The device of claim 16 , wherein the determination of the amount of the extension comprises:
drawing a pre-determined amount of the length from the spool; receiving the number of rotations from the sensor; determining a functional circumference of the encoder wheel by dividing the pre-determined amount by the number of rotations; and multiplying the number of rotations by the functional circumference.

Assignees

• Ideal Ind

Inventors

• Solar Brenton
• Tunnell Tim
• Metz Brendan

Classifications

• B65H2301/5115

  Cleaning · CPC title

• B65H61/00

  Applications of devices for metering predetermined lengths of running material (of general application G01B) · CPC title

• B65H75/364 Primary

  the stored material being coiled · CPC title

• H02G1/083

  using lines, e.g. needles, rods or tapes · CPC title

• B65H2553/51

  Encoders, e.g. linear · CPC title