Cable-Based Measuring System

• US 20170045351A1
• Filed: 11/01/2016
• Published: 02/16/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Packsize LLC (Packsize International, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Packsize LLC (Packsize International, LLC)
• Inventors: Pettersson, Niklas
• Granted Patent: US 10,281,260 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 2210/04 Customised on demand packaging by determining a specific characteristic, e.g. shape or height, of articles or material to be packaged and selecting, creating or adapting a packaging accordingly, e.g. making a carton starting from web material
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 57/12 and operating to control, or stop, the feed of wrapping materials, containers, or packages
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/043 for measuring length
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 21/02 for measuring length, width, or thickness G01B21/10 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 2210/58 Wireless transmission of information between a sensor or probe and a control or evaluation unit
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 3/11 Chains for measuring length
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/0021 for measuring the volumetric dimension of an object
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 5/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B5/004, G01B5/08 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 7/02 for measuring length, width or thickness G01B7/004, G01B7/12 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/02 using mechanical means
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/26 characterised by optical transfer means, i.e. using infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light

Abstract

The present invention 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.

Claims

1. A measuring device, comprising:

one or more encoders, the one or more encoders configured to detect movement of an inner cable member relative to an outer cable member and to generate measurement information relating to movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable member; and

a communications mechanism, the communications mechanism configured to communicate the measurement information to a computer system, the computer system configured to initiate creation of a box template based on the measurement information.

2. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the one or more encoders generate measurement information as a plurality of pulses.

3. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the one or more encoders generate measurement information as angular rotational information.

4. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the one or more encoders comprise at least one optical encoder.

5. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the one or more encoders comprise at least one mechanical encoder.

6. The measuring device of claim 1, further comprising:

a computing device, the computing device being configured to convert motion information from the one or more encoders into measurement information.

7. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the measuring device is configured to interface with an inner cable member having a return mechanism on one end.

8. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the communications mechanism is configured to communicate bi-directionally with the computer system.

9. The measuring device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more output devices, the one or more output devices being configured to provide audible and/or visible feedback.

10. The measuring device of claim 9, wherein the one or more output devices are configured to indicate one or more of:

recognition of a single dimensional measurement and/or recognition of three-dimensional measurements of an object.

11. The measuring device of claim 9, wherein the one or more output devices are configured to indicate an error condition related to measuring an object.

12. The measuring device of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more input devices, the one or more input devices being configured to receive user input relating to entry of a dimensional measurement, acknowledgment or correction of an error condition, and/or completion measurement of an object.

13. The measuring device of claim 1, wherein the computer system is configured to update a database with the measurement information

14. At a computer system including one or more processors and system memory, a method for identifying three-dimensional object measurements, the method comprising:

the computer system receiving measurement data, the measurement data indicating length as a function of time, the measurement data indicating at least three orthogonal dimensional measurements, each dimensional measurement corresponding to a dimension of a three-dimensional object;

the computer system identifying a length of each dimensional measurement, including identifying at least a length, a width, and a height of the three-dimensional object based on the measurement data; and

the computer system initiating creation of a physical box template from raw material, the physical box template being configured to be erected into a box sized to accommodate the three-dimensional object.

15. The method as recited in claim 14, further comprising:

the computer system calculating an appropriate box size for the three-dimensional object based on the identified length, width, and height of the three-dimensional object.

16. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the item entry includes one or more of:

(i) an appropriate box size for the three-dimensional object and/or (ii) the identified length, width, and height of the three-dimensional object.

17. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the measurement data indicating length as a function of time comprises measurement data indicating length of an inner cable member relative to an outer cable housing as a function of time.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the measurement data indicating length of an inner cable member relative to an outer cable housing as a function of time comprises measurement data obtained by an encoder which measures movement of a cable member relative to an encoder device.

19. The method as recited in claim 18, wherein the measurement data indicating length of an inner cable member relative to an outer cable housing as a function of time comprises measurement data obtained by an encoder which measures movement of the inner cable relative to the outer cable housing.

20. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the measurement data indicates at least three orthogonal dimensional measurements for each of one or more three-dimensional objects, and wherein the method further comprises:

the computer system identifying at least a length, a width, and a height for each of the one or more three-dimensional objects.

21. The method as recited in claim 20, 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.

22. The method as recited in claim 20, 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.

23. The method as recited in claim 20, 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.

24. The method as recited in claim 20, 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.

25. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer system identifying a length of each dimensional measurement, comprises an act of identifying at least three peaks in the measurement data.

26. The method as recited in claim 25, wherein the computer system identifying a length of each dimensional measurement further comprises identifying at least one plateau after a peak.

27. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the measurement data indicates 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.

28. The method as recited in claim 27, wherein the computer system identifying a length of each dimensional measurement, including identifying at least a length, a width, and a height of the three-dimensional object based on the measurement data, comprises:

identifying at least the first peak, the second peak, and the third peak; and

associating each of the first peak, the second peak, and the third peak with one of the length, the width, and the height.

29. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the measurement data comprises length data measured according to one or more of a metric or an imperial scale.

30. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the measurement data comprises length data measured according to a plurality of pulses generated by one or more encoders.

31. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the measurement data comprises length data measured according rotational data generated by one or more encoders.

32. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer system identifying a length of each dimensional measurement, including identifying at least a length, a width, and a height of the three-dimensional object based on the measurement data comprises the computer system analyzing measurement data representing one or more of peaks, plateaus, zero points or time delays to determine the length, width, and height of the three-dimensional object.

33. The method as recited in claim 32, wherein the computer system analyzing measurement data comprises the computer system determining that a specific user command has been made, the user command comprising one or more of an abort a measurement command or a start a next measurement sequence command.

34. The method as recited in claim 14, wherein the computer system is configured to update a database, updating the database includes one or more of:

(i) creating an item entry for the three-dimensional object in the database, or (ii) updating an item entry for the three-dimensional object in the database.

35. A computer program product for use at a computer system, the computer program product for implementing a method for identifying three-dimensional object measurements, the computer program product comprising one or more computer storage media having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed at a processor, cause the computer system to perform the method, including the following:

receive measurement data, the measurement data indicating length as a function of time, the measurement data indicating at least three orthogonal dimensional measurements, each different measurement corresponding to a dimension of a three-dimensional object;

identify a length of each dimensional measurement, including identifying at least a length, a width, and a height of the three-dimensional object based on the measurement data based on identifying a plurality of peak lengths and a plurality of minimum lengths in the measurement data; and

perform one or more actions based on the identified length, width, and height of the three-dimensional object, including;

initiating creation of a physical box template at a converting machine, the physical box template being configured to be erected into a box sized to accommodate the three-dimensional object.

36. The computer program product as recited in claim 35, wherein performing the one or more actions based on the identified length, width, and height of the three-dimensional object further comprises updating a database, including creating or updating an item entry for the three-dimensional object in the database, the item entry including one or more of:

(i) an appropriate box size for the three-dimensional object and/or (ii) the identified length, width, and height of the three-dimensional object.

37. A cable-based measuring system, comprising:

a cable comprising (i) an inner cable member having a first end and an opposing second end and (ii) an outer cable housing having a corresponding first end and opposing second end, the inner cable member being positioned within the outer cable housing, the first end of the inner cable member and the first end of the outer cable housing being configured to enable a user to draw the first end of the inner cable member away from first end of the outer cable housing for measurement of object dimensions;

a measuring device connected to the second end of the outer cable housing and permitting the inner cable member to move linearly within the outer cable housing, the measuring device including;

one or more encoders configured to generate measurement information regarding movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable housing; and

a force generation mechanism configured to apply a force configured to draw the second end of the inner cable into the measuring device and to act against a force of a user drawing the first end of the inner cable member away from first end of the outer cable; and

a computer system, the computer system configured to receive the measurement information from the measuring device, and to generate three-dimensional object measurements from the measurement information based on the measurement information, the computer system also configured to initiate creation of a physical box template based on the measurement information, the physical box template being configured to be erected into a box sized to accommodate an object corresponding to the three-dimensional object measurements.

38. The cable-based measuring system as recited in claim 37, wherein the computer system if further configured to update a database based on the measurement information, including creating or updating an item entry for the three-dimensional object in the database, the item entry including one or more of:

(i) an appropriate box size for the three-dimensional object and/or (ii) the identified three-dimensional object measurements of the three-dimensional object.

39. A cable-based measuring system, comprising:

a cable, the cable comprising an inner cable member positioned within an outer cable housing, the inner cable member configured to move linearly within the outer cable housing;

a measuring device, the measuring device configured to generate measurement information regarding movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable housing; and

a computer system, the computer system configured to receive the measurement information from the measuring device and initiate creation of a box template based on the measurement information.

40. A cable-based measuring system, comprising:

a cable, the cable comprising an inner cable member positioned within an outer cable housing, the inner cable member configured to move linearly within the outer cable housing;

a measuring device, the measuring device configured to generate measurement information regarding movement of the inner cable member relative to the outer cable housing; and

a computer system, the computer system configured to update an item database, the item database containing dimensional information for one or more physical items.

41. A measuring device, comprising:

a first handheld device, the first handheld device at least configured to transmit a wireless signal;

a second handheld device, the second handheld device at least configured to receive a wireless signal;

a processing device, the processing device configured to calculate a distance between the first handheld device and the second handheld device based on receipt of the wireless signal at that second handheld device; and

a communications mechanism, the communications mechanism configured to communicate measurement information to a computer system, the measurement information based on at least one calculated distance between the first handheld device and the second handheld device, the computer system configured to initiate creation of a box template sized to accommodate a particular three-dimensional object based on the measurement information.

42. The measuring device as recited in claim 41, wherein the computer system is further configured to update a database entry for the three-dimensional object with the measurement information.