An apparatus for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising: a longitudinally extending platform having a surface; a first, downwardly facing distance sensor disposed above the surface of the platform; a second distance sensor at one side of the platform and facing laterally thereacross; and third and fourth distance sensors disposed along a longitudinal edge of an opposing side of the platform from the one side, the third and fourth distance sensors, substantially facing each other and facing substantially along the longitudinal edge of the opposing side. view more

The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a longitudinally extending, vertical alignment surface located along the opposing side of the platform.

The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the vertical alignment surface is carried by the platform.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth distance sensors are oriented parallel or at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the platform.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the third and fourth distance sensors are carried by the platform.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first distance sensor is carried by an arm extending over the platform.

The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the second distance sensor is carried by a substantially vertically extending portion of the arm disposed at the one side of the platform.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first, second, third and fourth distance sensors are selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic sensors and laser rangefinder sensors.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the platform is supported on a support assembly by at least one device for measuring weight.

The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the at least one device for measuring weight comprises at least one load cell.

The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the at least one load cell comprises two longitudinally spaced load cells.

The apparatus of claim 9, further including a processor for calculating a spatial volume and a dim weight of the cuboidal object.

The apparatus of claim 1, further including a processor for calculating a spatial volume of the cuboidal object.

A method for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising: placing a cuboidal object on a surface of a platform; aligning mutually perpendicular sides of the cuboidal object to be respectively substantially perpendicular to a downwardly facing first distance sensor, a second distance sensor facing across the platform from one side thereof, and third and fourth distance sensors facing opposing, mutually parallel sides of the cuboidal object perpendicular to the one side thereof; aligning a side of the cuboidal object parallel with the one side thereof with an alignment surface opposing the second distance sensor; determining a height of the cuboidal object by determining a first distance between the first distance sensor and the top of the cuboidal object and subtracting the determined first distance from a known distance between the first distance sensor and the platform surface; determining a width of the cuboidal object by determining a second distance between the second distance sensor and the one side of the cuboidal object and subtracting the determined second distance from a known distance between the second distance sensor and the alignment surface; and determining a length of the cuboidal object by respectively determining third and fourth distances between the third and fourth distance sensors and the opposing, mutually parallel sides of the cuboidal object and subtracting the third and fourth determined distances from a known distance between the third and fourth sensors. view more

A method of measuring a load on a horizontal surface comprising: ultrasonically determining the distance between a first sensor above said load and subtracting said distance from the height of said first sensor above said surface; ultrasonically determining the distances between second and third sensors on opposing first and second sides of said load and said load and subtracting said distances from the distance between said second and third sensors; ultrasonically determining the distance between a fourth sensor and a third side of said load perpendicular to said opposing sides; determining the distance between a known point and a fourth side of said load opposite said third side; adding said distance between said fourth sensor and said third side to said distance between said point and said fourth side and subtracting the resulting sum from the distance between said fourth sensor and said point. view more

The method of claim 6 further including the step of weighing said load concurrently with said measuring.

A method of measuring an object, comprising: generating ultrasonic waves; causing said ultrasonic waves to strike said object from three mutually perpendicular directions while said object is in continuous linear motion; detecting said waves after reflection from said object; measuring the time between said generation and said detection of the waves in each of said directions; converting said times to linear distances; and converting said linear distances to linear dimensions of said object. view more

A method of measuring an object, comprising: mounting said object in a stationary position; generating ultrasonic waves; weighing said object immediately following said generating of said ultrasonic waves without object movement; causing said ultrasonic waves to strike said object from three mutually perpendicular directions; detecting said waves after reflection from said object; measuring the time between said generation and said detection of the waves in each of said directions; converting said time to linear distances; and converting said linear distances to linear dimensions of said object. view more