GB2114747A - Ruler - Google Patents

Abstract

There is disclosed a ruler body 11 having switch controlled indicating devices arranged alongside a graduated scale 12, 13 and actuable to indicate selected and desired graduations of the scale. The devices may be light emitting diodes 16 in one to one or two to one correspondence with the graduations of the scale. The diodes 16 are encapsulated in a block 17 of coloured transparent resin from which electric leads 19 extend, and lenses 20 are formed. The ruler is particularly useful for setting the heads of a slitting and scoring machine. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ruler This invention concerns a ruler of the kind (hereinafter termed of the kind referred to) comprising a longitudinally extending member carrying graduations forming a linear scale of distances from a given datum position.

All manner of machines, such, for example, as a slitter-scorer machine as used in the casemaking industry are equipped with rulers of the kind referred to for the guidance of operators, who need to set movable parts-in this example the slitting and scoring heads on their supporting drive shafts-to required positions for a particular production run.

Sometimes a problem arises in that the Operator, who may be working within a short permitted time slot, and in generally unamenable environmental conditions, will misread either the scale or instructions from which he is working with the result that the movable parts will be incorrectly positioned and material spoiled.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a ruier of the kind referred to which overcomes, at least to some extent, the problem aforesaid.

According to the present invention there is provided a ruler of the kind referred to characterised by switch controlled means which can be activated to indicate selected and desired graduations of the scale.

Preferably said means comprises a longitudinal array of individually controllable light emitting diodes alongside engraved or otherwise marked graduations forming the scale.

The light emitting diodes may be in one to one correspondence with the graduations, or may in a one to two correspondence, two of them then being illuminated to address a graduation between adjacent diodes.

The required light emitting diodes may be illuminated at leisure and from a convenient environment before the next machine setting operation, either by manual operation of associated switches or automatically as by a computer which may itself determine the required diodes for illumination from other data such as, for example, in the case of the slitting and scoring machine aforesaid, the dimensions and shape of a case blank wo be produced.

The invention will be further apparent from the following description with reference to the several figures of the accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, one form of ruler embodying the invention and its application to a slitter-scorer machine.

Of the drawings: Fig. 1 shows a plan view of the ruler; Fig. 2 shows a plan view of a short length of the ruler of Fig. 1 but on an enlarged scale; Fig. 3 shows an end view of the ruler; Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of one of the light emitting diodes incorporated within the ruler; and Fig. 5 shows an end view of a triplex four bar slitter-scorer machine fitted with two of the rulers of Fig. 1.

Referring firstly to Figs. 1-3 it will be seen that the ruler 10 comprises a longitudinally extending bar 11 of aluminium or other suitable material. The bar 11 has one bevelled edge 12 upon which is engraved a scale of graduations 13 which are, in this example, at one millimetre intervals and kabel led as at 14 to show their distance from a datum position at one end of the ruler.

Behind the bevelled edge 12 is a channel 15.

The channel houses a plurality of light emitting diodes 1 6 (see Fig. 4) encapsulated in a block 1 7 of coloured transparent resin. The block 1 7 has a lower part 1 8 which houses the diode end from which electric leads 19 connected to the diode extend, and an upper part 20 forming a lens. The block is cast or machined so that its lower part 1 8 has a width of 2mm. whilst the upper part 20 has a width of 1 mm.

The diodes 16 are arranged in the channel 15 with the iower part 1 8 of the block 1 7 of each in contact with the lower parts 1 8 to either side of it, and so that the parts 20 forming the lenses are located behind alternate graduations 1 3. The spaces between the parts 20 are filled with an opaque resin 21 and the upper surface of the ruler comprising the bar 11, parts 20 and resin 21 is milled flat and polished.

It will be understood that the diodes 1 6 are in a one to two correspondence with the graduations 13. Attention can be drawn however, to any single graduation 13 either by illuminating the diode 14 immediately therebehind or by illuminating the two diodes Iying to either side of it.

Fig. 5 shows an end view of a typical triplex four bar slitting and scoring machine. One set (labelled A) of heads mounted on four shafts are in an operative position, and two sets B and C are in off-line positions where the individual slitting and scoring heads can be adjusted. The assembly can be moved through 1200 angular steps to bring each set of heads in turn to the operative position.

A ruler 10 is provided at each of the off-line positions, and can be used by an operator to set the heads thereat to the required positions for the production run which will in due time be executed by that set of heads. Each of the rulers 10 is conveniently mounted for movement between the first pair of shafts and the second pair of shafts at each of the off-line stations. The rulers are shown in full and dotted lines at these two positions respectively.

Under control of a computer C the desired and selected light emitting diodes 1 6 on the rulers 10 are illuminated to show an operator the precise positions to which the heads are to be set. The computer C is connected with the rulers 10 by cabling 50 which may take the form of a data bus carrying coded information to suitable decoding and switch activating means provided for each ruler.

Using the rujers of the invention it is possible to reset the heads of the slitter scorer machine much more quickly than hitherto making it possible for the producer to contemplate shorter orders than have previously been encomically viable.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Thus, for example, the light emitting diodes may be in one to one correspondence with the graduations, or may even define the graduations themselves.

Claims (Filed on 25.10.82) 1. A ruler comprising a longitudinally extending member carrying graduations forming a linear scale of distances from a given datum position characterised by switch controlled means which can be activated to indicate selected and desired graduations of the scale.

2. A ruler according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a longitudinal array of individually controllable indicating devices disposed alongside engraved or otherwise marked graduations forming the scale.

3. A ruler according to claim 2 wherein each indicating device comprises a light emitting diode.

4. A ruler according to either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said indicating devices are in one to one correspondence with the graduations.

5. A ruler according to either claim 1 or claim 3 wherein said indicating devices are in one to two correspondence with the graduations, an adjacent pair being controllable to address a graduation therebetweeen.

6. A ruler according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the light emitting diodes are encapsulated in blocks of resin disposed in sideby-side relationship in a channel located behind the graduations.

7. A ruler according to claim 6 wherein each said block has a lens which protrudes upwardly from a base portion of greater width, the spaces between the lens portions of adjacent blocks being filled with an opaque material.

8. A ruler according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the switch means for indicating devices is controlled by a computer.

9. A ruler according to claim 8 wherein said computer is programmed to operate said switch means in a required manner in response to data fed thereto.

10. A ruler according to any preceding claim arranged alongside a shaft of a slitter-scorer machine to facilitate the setting of the slitting and scoring heads thereon.

11. A ruler substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A ruler according to claim 1 and fitted to a slitter-scorer machine and adapted for use in a manner substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (12)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. and switch activating means provided for each ruler. Using the rujers of the invention it is possible to reset the heads of the slitter scorer machine much more quickly than hitherto making it possible for the producer to contemplate shorter orders than have previously been encomically viable. It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof. Thus, for example, the light emitting diodes may be in one to one correspondence with the graduations, or may even define the graduations themselves. Claims (Filed on 25.10.82)

1. A ruler comprising a longitudinally extending member carrying graduations forming a linear scale of distances from a given datum position characterised by switch controlled means which can be activated to indicate selected and desired graduations of the scale.

2. A ruler according to claim 1 wherein said means comprises a longitudinal array of individually controllable indicating devices disposed alongside engraved or otherwise marked graduations forming the scale.

3. A ruler according to claim 2 wherein each indicating device comprises a light emitting diode.

4. A ruler according to either claim 2 or claim 3 wherein said indicating devices are in one to one correspondence with the graduations.

5. A ruler according to either claim 1 or claim 3 wherein said indicating devices are in one to two correspondence with the graduations, an adjacent pair being controllable to address a graduation therebetweeen.

6. A ruler according to any one of claims 3 to 5 wherein the light emitting diodes are encapsulated in blocks of resin disposed in sideby-side relationship in a channel located behind the graduations.

7. A ruler according to claim 6 wherein each said block has a lens which protrudes upwardly from a base portion of greater width, the spaces between the lens portions of adjacent blocks being filled with an opaque material.

8. A ruler according to any one of claims 2 to 7 wherein the switch means for indicating devices is controlled by a computer.

9. A ruler according to claim 8 wherein said computer is programmed to operate said switch means in a required manner in response to data fed thereto.

10. A ruler according to any preceding claim arranged alongside a shaft of a slitter-scorer machine to facilitate the setting of the slitting and scoring heads thereon.

11. A ruler substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figures 1 to 4 of the accompanying drawings.

12. A ruler according to claim 1 and fitted to a slitter-scorer machine and adapted for use in a manner substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated by Figure 5 of the accompanying drawings.