Strip length monitoring apparatus

An apparatus for monitoring the length of a roll of a strip mounted on a rotatable shaft, the strip being received from the shaft and incrementally moved in steps of a fixed distance by a capstan drive system after a predetermined length of the strip is dispensed during a given rotation, the angular displacement of the shaft varying as the length of the roll mounted on the shaft varies, said apparatus comprising:

• first measuring means for measuring the varying angular displacement of the shaft after the given rotation;
• second measuring means for measuring the predetermined length of the dispensed portion;
• and
• logic means for correlating said angular displacement and said predetermined length.

An apparatus for monitoring the rolled-up length of a continuous strip of material, said apparatus comprising:

• a capstan drive means for incrementally moving the strip in steps;
• take-up means for taking up the strip from said capstan drive means, said take-up means including a rotatable member adapted for retaining a roll of the strip, said member taking up the strip after a predetermined amount of said incremental movement;
• and
• control means for indicating a predetermined length of strip on said member by measuring the angular displacement of said member after taking up the length of strip moved during said predetermined amount of incremental movement.