Patent · US Active

Method and system for determining usage of a rolled or stacked product

US9944481B2 · kind B2 · utility

5Cited by
2References
15Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 25, 2015
Grant dateApr 17, 2018
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 25, 2035

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB65H2701/1924
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A system and control method are provided for determining an amount of a product dispensed from or added to a product formation. At defined intervals, a mark is projected with a light source imager onto an aspect of the product formation that changes as the amount of product is depleted or added to the product formation. A digital image is taken of the aspect of the product formation that captures the projected mark and is transmitted to a digital imager processor, wherein a feature of the projected mark is analyzed that changes as the product formation decreases or increases in size as the product is dispensed or added. The analyzed feature is compared with a predetermined value of the feature at a predefined size of the product formation to determine an actual amount of the product on the product formation, or amount of product depleted from or added to the product formation.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.