Method and apparatus for measurement of length and height of objects
First Claim
1. A method of measuring the length and height or diameter of a geometrically regular object randomly positioned from side to side on a moving conveyor system which comprisesa. orienting the object so that it is positioned with its longitudinal axis normal to the direction in which it is being conveyed;
- b. conveying the object to a measuring station between opposed echo-ranging transducers located on each side of the conveyor system;
c. determining the length of the object and its transverse position on the conveyor system by differential echo-ranging;
d. sending at least the transverse position to a microprocessor;
e. advancing the object beneath a transverse array of diameter sensing echo-ranging transducers;
f. activating the transducer in the aray which is closest to the mid-length position of the object to measure the height or diameter by echo-ranging, said transducer being selected by the microprocessor on the basis of transverse position location; and
g. indicating the length and diameter of the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The invention is a method and apparatus for non-contact measurement of the length and height or diameter of geometrically regular objects. The objects enter a first measurement station where horizontally opposed echo ranging transducers make sequential differential measurements to determine the length and transverse position of the object. Position information is sent to a microprocessor. The object is then advanced under a transverse array of downwardly oriented echo ranging transducers. The microprocessor preferrably selects the single transducer located most closely to the mid-length position of the object to make a height or diameter measurement. In the case of cylindrical objects, the object should be oriented with its axis parallel to a line projected between the opposed length measuring transducers. As the object is moved by the diameter sensing transducer, the microprocessor selects the measurement indicating the shortest distance between the object and the transducer. Diameter of the object can then be readily determined. The invention is particularly well adapted for measurement of objects that may be randomly located across a moving conveyor system.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of measuring the length and height or diameter of a geometrically regular object randomly positioned from side to side on a moving conveyor system which comprises
a. orienting the object so that it is positioned with its longitudinal axis normal to the direction in which it is being conveyed; -
b. conveying the object to a measuring station between opposed echo-ranging transducers located on each side of the conveyor system; c. determining the length of the object and its transverse position on the conveyor system by differential echo-ranging; d. sending at least the transverse position to a microprocessor; e. advancing the object beneath a transverse array of diameter sensing echo-ranging transducers; f. activating the transducer in the aray which is closest to the mid-length position of the object to measure the height or diameter by echo-ranging, said transducer being selected by the microprocessor on the basis of transverse position location; and g. indicating the length and diameter of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method of measuring the length and diameter of a generally cylindrical object which comprises:
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a. orienting the object so that it is positioned on its side with its longitudinal axis normal to the direction in which it will be conveyed; b. conveying the object to a measuring station located between horizontally opposed echo-ranging transducers; c. determining the length of the object and its position between the transducers by differential echo-ranging; d. sending the length and position information to a microprocessor; e. advancing the object beneath a transverse array of diameter sensing echo-ranging transducers; f. selecting at least one transducer in the transverse array which has been determined by the microprocessor to be above the object from the position information; g. activating the selected transducer or transducers to sense diameter of the object by echo-ranging as the object passes; and h. indicating the length and diameter of the object; - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. Apparatus for measuring the length and height of objects which comprises;
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a. a supporting frame for position sensing transducers; b. a ramp means associated with the frame on which the object being measured is supported; c. a pair of opposed, horizontally oriented, echo-ranging transducers mounted on the frame to form a measuring station so as to sense the length and position of an object randomly located but oriented transversely lengthwise between the transducers; d. an array of side-by-side echo-ranging transducers supported by the frame and oriented vertically downward so as to measure the height of the object; e. microprocessor means for receiving object position data from the horizontally oriented transducers and processing the position information so as to select and activate only the single vertically oriented transducer most closely located to the mid-length position of the object; and f. means for indicating the length and height of the objects. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification