PLEAT COUNTER

• US 20200132506A1
• Filed: 10/25/2019
• Published: 04/30/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: K & N Engineering Incorporated
• Original Assignee: K & N Engineering Incorporated
• Inventors: Williams, Steve
• Granted Patent: US 11,281,960 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/00 Mechanical means for transferring the output of a sensing member; Means for converting the output of a sensing member to another variable where the form or nature of the sensing member does not constrain the means for converting; Transducers not specially adapted for a specific variable G01D3/00 takes precedence; specially adapted for apparatus giving results other than momentary value of variable G01D1/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/00 Design features of general application
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 1/27 for representing the result of count in the form of electric signals, e.g. by sensing markings on the counter drum
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 2207/02 Counting of generally flat and overlapped articles, e.g. cards, newspapers
• CPC Class Codes: G06M 7/06 Counting of flat articles, e.g. of sheets of paper
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 21/00 Details of pulse counters or frequency dividers
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 21/18 Circuits for visual indication of the result

Abstract

A pleat counter and methods are provided to accurately count the number of pleats in a corrugated sheet of material to be used for the production of air filters. The pleat counter comprises a pleat detector mounted underneath a mounting board for counting the pleats. The mounting board is configured to position the pleat detector adjacent to the corrugated sheet of filter material. The pleat detector includes one or more sensors configured to detect the presence of individual pleats comprising the corrugated sheet. The pleat counter includes an interface configured to enable coupling the pleat counter with a data processing system. The data processing system may comprise any of a desktop, a tablet, a server, a mobile phone, a media player, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal communicator, a network router or hub, a wireless access point (AP) or repeater, a set-top box, or a combination thereof.

Claims

1. A pleat counter, comprising:

a mounting board for supporting one or more sensors;

a pleat detector for counting a number of pleats comprising a corrugated sheet of filter material; and

an interface for coupling the pleat counter with a data processing system.

2. The pleat counter of claim 1, wherein the pleat detector is mounted underneath the mounting board for the purpose of counting the number of pleats comprising the corrugated sheet of filter material.

3. The pleat counter of claim 2, wherein the mounting board is configured to position the pleat detector adjacent to the corrugated sheet of filter material.

4. The pleat counter of claim 3, wherein the pleat counter is configured to remain in a stationary disposition while the corrugated sheet of filter material is steadily translated nearby the pleat detector, such that the pleats passing by the detector are detectable.

5. The pleat counter of claim 1, wherein the data processing system comprises any of a desktop, a tablet, a server, a mobile phone, a media player, a personal digital assistant, a personal communicator, a network router or hub, a wireless access point or repeater, a set-top box, or a combination thereof.

6. The pleat counter of claim 5, wherein wiring and one or more circuit boards are configured to communicate electrical signals between the interface and the pleat detector.

7. The pleat counter of claim 6, wherein the one or more circuit boards are configured to translate the electrical signals provided by the pleat detector into signals that are recognizable by the data processing system.

8. The pleat counter of claim 1, wherein the pleat detector includes one or more sensors configured to detect the presence of individual corrugations comprising a corrugated sheet of filter material.

9. The pleat counter of claim 8, wherein the one or more sensors comprise any type of sensor capable of detecting the individual corrugations.

10. The pleat counter of claim 9, wherein the one or more sensors may be orientated in a variety of configurations suitable for detecting the individual corrugations.

11. A method for a pleat counter, comprising:

obtaining a mounting board configured to support one or more sensors;

configuring a pleat detector for counting a number of pleats comprising a corrugated sheet of filter material;

mounting the pleat detector onto the mounting board;

coupling a data processing system with the pleat counter; and

translating a corrugated filter material nearby the pleat counter.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein coupling includes providing the data processing system in the form of any of a desktop, a tablet, a server, a mobile phone, a media player, a personal digital assistant, a personal communicator, a network router or hub, a wireless access point or repeater, a set-top box, or a combination thereof.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein coupling includes configuring wiring and one or more circuit boards to communicate electrical signals between the pleat detector and an interface connected to the data processing system.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein configuring the one or more circuit boards includes translating the electrical signals provided by the pleat detector into signals that are recognizable by the data processing system.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein configuring the pleat detector includes configuring one or more sensors to detect the presence of individual corrugations comprising the corrugated sheet of filter material.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein mounting the pleat detector includes orientating the one or more sensors in a configuration suitable for detecting the individual corrugations.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein mounting the pleat detector includes mounting the pleat counter underneath the mounting board for the purpose of counting a number of pleats comprising a corrugated sheet of filter material.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein translating the corrugated filter material includes configuring the pleat counter to remain in a stationary disposition while the corrugated sheet of filter material passes by the pleat detector.