Measuring method and apparatus
DCFirst Claim
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1. An apparatus for measuring an object, comprising:
- three ultrasonic transducer means, each having an emitter and a receiver associated therewith and oriented in substantially mutually perpendicular relationship to define a three-dimensional volume of greater extent in each dimension than that of the largest object to be measured, said ultrasonic transducer means each being aimed across said volume to measure a mutually perpendicular dimension of said object;
trigger means for selectively activating the emitter of each of said transducer means to take a dimensional measurement when said object is located substantially in front of that transducer means;
timer means for determining travel time between the generation of an ultrasonic wave by each emitter and the receipt of said wave by its associated receiver after reflection from said object;
correlation means for correlating said travel times to linear distances;
computing means for determining the dimensions of said object from said linear distances; and
data collection means for collecting said dimensional measurements.
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Abstract
The present invention comprises a method and apparatus for measuring the linear dimensions and determining the three-dimensional spatial volume of an object. In the preferred embodiment, all three linear dimensions are ascertained using the travel time of reflected ultrasonic waves. Measurements may be taken while the object is in motion, and the object may also be weighed.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring an object, comprising:
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three ultrasonic transducer means, each having an emitter and a receiver associated therewith and oriented in substantially mutually perpendicular relationship to define a three-dimensional volume of greater extent in each dimension than that of the largest object to be measured, said ultrasonic transducer means each being aimed across said volume to measure a mutually perpendicular dimension of said object; trigger means for selectively activating the emitter of each of said transducer means to take a dimensional measurement when said object is located substantially in front of that transducer means; timer means for determining travel time between the generation of an ultrasonic wave by each emitter and the receipt of said wave by its associated receiver after reflection from said object; correlation means for correlating said travel times to linear distances; computing means for determining the dimensions of said object from said linear distances; and data collection means for collecting said dimensional measurements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of measuring an object, comprising:
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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 Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of measuring an object, comprising:
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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 Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. An apparatus for measuring an object, comprising:
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two ultrasonic transducer means, each having an emitter and a receiver associated therewith and oriented in substantially mutually perpendicular relationship to define a two-dimensional field of greater extent in each dimension than that of the largest object to be measured, said ultrasonic transducer means each being aimed across said field to measure a mutually perpendicular dimension of said object; a third ultrasonic transducer means having an emitter and a receiver associated therewith for measuring a third dimension of said object in a direction substantially mutually perpendicular to said first two measured dimensions; trigger means for selectively activating each of said transducer means to take a dimensional measurement when said object is in proximity thereto; timer means for determining travel time between the generation of an ultrasonic wave by each emitter and the receipt of said wave by its associated receiver after reflection from said object; correlation means for correlating said travel times to linear distances; computing means for determining the dimensions of said object from said linear distances; and data collection means for collecting said dimensional measurements. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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Specification