Counting apparatus for counting objects by means of a shadow measurement
First Claim
1. A counting apparatus for counting objects passed in succession through a light beam present between a light source and a photodetector, in which the photodetector produces a detection signal upon each passage of an object through the light beam, the magnitude of which detection signal depends on the amount of light received by the photodetector and which detection signals are applied to an object counter for counting the number of objects so passed, characterized in that said counting apparatus includes a plurality of light receptors (12) for receiving the light beam (7,8), which receptors (12) are mounted, in-line vertically, the changes in the intensity of the collected light being detected by said photodetector (14);
- a voltage-to-frequency converter (21) joined to said photodetector for converting the detection signals (D, Da) into a frequency (F) varying in accordance with the magnitudes of the detection signals;
a pulse former (22) also joined to said photodetector for converting the detection signals (D, Da) into count pulses (P) whose width is indicative of the period of time required for an object (15) to pass by; and
a data counter (27) operatively connected to said converter (21) and the pulse former (22) of cycles (Fs) of said frequency (F) during the period of time that a count pulse (P) is present, an object pulse (Y) being applied from the data counter (27) to said object counter (38) in response to the data counter having counted a given number of said cycles (Fs).
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Accused Products
Abstract
A counting apparatus for counting objects, such as chicks, passed in succession over a conveyor belt through a light beam present between a light source and a photodetector, in which the photodetector produces a detection signal upon each passage of an object through the light beam, which detection signal is applied to a voltage-to-frequency converter for conversion into a frequency varying in accordance with the magnitude of the detection signal, and which detection signal is also applied to a pulse former for conversion into a count pulse whose width is indicative of the period of time required for an object to pass by; wherein the number of cycles of the frequency is counted in a data counter during the period of time that a count pulse is present, and the count pulse is applied to an object counter in response to the data counter having counted a given number of cycles.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A counting apparatus for counting objects passed in succession through a light beam present between a light source and a photodetector, in which the photodetector produces a detection signal upon each passage of an object through the light beam, the magnitude of which detection signal depends on the amount of light received by the photodetector and which detection signals are applied to an object counter for counting the number of objects so passed, characterized in that said counting apparatus includes a plurality of light receptors (12) for receiving the light beam (7,8), which receptors (12) are mounted, in-line vertically, the changes in the intensity of the collected light being detected by said photodetector (14);
- a voltage-to-frequency converter (21) joined to said photodetector for converting the detection signals (D, Da) into a frequency (F) varying in accordance with the magnitudes of the detection signals;
a pulse former (22) also joined to said photodetector for converting the detection signals (D, Da) into count pulses (P) whose width is indicative of the period of time required for an object (15) to pass by; and
a data counter (27) operatively connected to said converter (21) and the pulse former (22) of cycles (Fs) of said frequency (F) during the period of time that a count pulse (P) is present, an object pulse (Y) being applied from the data counter (27) to said object counter (38) in response to the data counter having counted a given number of said cycles (Fs). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
- a voltage-to-frequency converter (21) joined to said photodetector for converting the detection signals (D, Da) into a frequency (F) varying in accordance with the magnitudes of the detection signals;
Specification