Rolled material end edge detector

An end edge detector for sensing and indicating a location of an end edge along a surface of a roll of material with a winding direction aligned with a direction of winding of the roll of material, the end edge detector comprising:

• a housing;
• an electromechanical sensor retained by the housing, wherein the electromechanical sensor is operative to detect the end edge of the roll of material and to trigger an output signal indicative of the location of the end edge of the roll of rolled material;
• wherein the electromechanical sensor retained by the housing comprises a probe with a tip positioned to travel along the surface of the roll of material to operate as a profilometric contact probe that slides over the surface of the roll of rolled material, wherein the tip of the probe extends from the housing, whereby the end edge detector can be advanced along the surface of the roll of material with the tip of the probe disposed to travel along the surface of the roll of material and whereby, when the tip of the probe contacts the end edge of the roll of material, the probe will tend to be deflected;
• wherein a deflection of the probe is operative to trigger the output signal indicative of the location of the end edge of the roll of material;
• wherein the electromechanical sensor further comprises an electrical contact switch retained by the housing wherein a deflection of the probe is operative to trip the electrical contact switch and to trigger the output signal indicative of the location of the end edge of the roll of material;
• wherein the probe pivots about a pivot axis oriented to be perpendicular to the surface of the roll of material when the end edge detector is applied to the surface of the roll of material, wherein the probe has a tip segment that retains the tip of the probe and extends from the pivot axis in a first direction and a switching segment that extends from the pivot axis in a second direction opposite the first direction, and further comprising a first electrical contact retained within the housing to a first side of the switching segment to be contacted by the switching segment when the probe is pivoted in a first direction thereby to trigger the output signal indicative of the location of the end edge of the roll of material;
• wherein the probe is configured so that, when the end edge detector is advanced along the winding direction of the roll of material and the tip segment of the probe hits the end edge of the roll of material, the probe will pivot in the first direction about the pivot axis oriented perpendicular to the surface of the roll of material thereby to bring the switching segment into contact with the first electrical contact to trigger the output signal indicative of the location of the end edge of the roll of material.