Patents Examined by Thomas P. Nolad
  • Patent number: 7311012
    Abstract: An elongation measuring device 10 measures an elongation in a timing belt 4 included in a driving device 1 provided with a drive roller 2. The elongation measuring device 10 is provided with an encoder 11 and a microphotosensor 12. A present angular position of the drive roller 2 measured at a present-stage measuring cycle and a past angular position of the same measured at a past-stage measuring cycle. The difference between the present and the past angular position is due to the elongation of the timing belt 4. An elongation in the timing belt 4 is estimated on the basis of the difference between the present and the past angular position. Time when the timing belt 4 may possibly break is forecast on the basis of the elongation in the timing belt. The worn out timing belt 4 is replaced with a new one before the same breaks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2007
    Assignee: Kawaski Jukogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Tetsuya Yoshida, Masaya Yoshida