Load detecting system for automatic storage apparatus
First Claim
1. An apparatus for signalling bin-full, bin-empty and "no echo" conditions in scanning a storage rack bin that has an open end, the apparatus comprising:
- ranging means positioned adjacent said open end for transmitting an ultrasonic signal into said bin and for detecting an echo of said ultrasonic signal, said ranging means including means for generating timing signals for successive elapsed times from the transmission of said ultrasonic signal;
means coupled to said ranging means for generating a bin-full signal in response to said timing signals for one of said elapsed times within a first time range corresponding to a first distance range;
means coupled to said ranging means for generating a bin-empty signal in response to said timing signals for another one of said elapsed times within a second time range corresponding to a second distance range; and
means coupled to said ranging means for generating a "no echo" signal in response to said timing signals for another one of said elapsed times beyond said first and second time ranges.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
Apparatus for detecting a load within a preselected bin of an automatic storage rack has a transducer for directing an ultrasonic beam into the bin and for detecting an echo reflected from a load struck by the beam; a digital counter adapted to generate plural bit binary pulses which is started upon initial transmission of the ultrasonic beam; and a programmable memory coupled to the counter and programmed to generate a given bin-ful output signal upon initial transmission of the beam and to subsequently generate the opposite binary bin-empty output signal if no echo has been detected when the pulses from the counter stored in the memory indicate that sufficient time has elapsed after initial transmission for the beam to travel a predetermined distance into the bin and for an echo from a load struck by the beam to return to the transducer.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for signalling bin-full, bin-empty and "no echo" conditions in scanning a storage rack bin that has an open end, the apparatus comprising:
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ranging means positioned adjacent said open end for transmitting an ultrasonic signal into said bin and for detecting an echo of said ultrasonic signal, said ranging means including means for generating timing signals for successive elapsed times from the transmission of said ultrasonic signal; means coupled to said ranging means for generating a bin-full signal in response to said timing signals for one of said elapsed times within a first time range corresponding to a first distance range; means coupled to said ranging means for generating a bin-empty signal in response to said timing signals for another one of said elapsed times within a second time range corresponding to a second distance range; and means coupled to said ranging means for generating a "no echo" signal in response to said timing signals for another one of said elapsed times beyond said first and second time ranges. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for signalling bin-full, bin-empty and "no echo" conditions in scanning a storage rack bin that has an open end, the apparatus comprising:
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ranging means positioned adjacent said open end for transmitting an ultrasonic signal into said bin and for detecting an echo of said ultrasonic signal, said ranging means including means for generating count signals representing successive times from transmission of said ultrasonic signal; and programmed memory means coupled to receive said count signals from said ranging means, said programmed memory means storing bin-full signals, bin-empty signals and "no echo" signals, and being responsive to said count signals to transmit (i) a bin-full signal when said count signals correspond to a time in a first time range, (ii) a bin-empty signal when said count signals correspond to a time in a second time range, and (iii) a "no echo" signal when said count signals correspond to a time extending beyond said first and second time ranges. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for generating bin-full, bin-empty and "no echo" signals in scanning a storage rack bin that has an open end, the method comprising:
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transmitting an ultrasonic signal into said bin, and then detecting any echo of said ultrasonic signal; generating timing signals representing a plurality of elapsed times from the transmission of said ultrasonic signal; generating a bin-full signal in response to said timing signals for a first one of the elapsed times; generating bin-empty signals in response to said timing signals for elapsed times within a time range following said first one of the elapsed times; and generating a "no echo" signal in response to timing signals for another one of the elapsed times that is beyond said time range associated with the bin-empty signals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification