Apparatus and method for determining the volume, form and weight of objects
First Claim
1. An apparatus for assessing an object comprising:
- a camera positioned above and aimed at a surface of a conveyor belt to receive a direct image of the object;
a mirror positioned along side and parallel with the conveyor belt at an angle to project a profile image of an object on the conveyor belt under the camera into a lens of the camera;
means, connected to the camera, for determining at least one of the volume, form and weight of the object by combining the direct image of the object received by the camera and the profile image.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining the volume, form and weight of fish or other objects is presented. A linescan camera records a top view of an object and at the same time records a profile view of the object reflected by a mirror located adjacent to the object. The mirror is positioned to reflect a view of the object which is perpendicular to the direct view of the camera and to the direction of motion of a conveyor belt along which the object moves. As the object moves along a conveyor belt through the field of view of the camera, a number of cross-sectional images are recorded and transmitted to a microprocessor. The microprocessor determines the maximum width of each cross-section from the direct image and the maximum thickness from each cross-section reflected image. Based upon the width and height of each cross-section and a form factor and estimated object density, the microprocessor calculates volume ane weight for each cross-section and adds the series of object cross-sections together to determine a volume and weight of the object.
196 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An apparatus for assessing an object comprising:
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a camera positioned above and aimed at a surface of a conveyor belt to receive a direct image of the object; a mirror positioned along side and parallel with the conveyor belt at an angle to project a profile image of an object on the conveyor belt under the camera into a lens of the camera; means, connected to the camera, for determining at least one of the volume, form and weight of the object by combining the direct image of the object received by the camera and the profile image. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for assessing an object with an apparatus comprising:
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a camera located above and aimed at a conveyor belt; a mirror adjacent the conveyor belt positioned to reflect to the camera an image of an object on the conveyor belt; and a processor, connected to the camera for determining the volume form and weight of the object by combining a direct image of the object received directing by the camera and a reflected profile image; the method comprising the steps of; recording a direct image of an object traveling below the camera on the conveyor belt; recording a reflected image of an object traveling below the camera on the conveyor belt such that the direct image and reflected image are recorded simultaneously and the reflected image is from a direction at substantially right angles to the direction of the direct image and to a direction of movement of the conveyor belt; transmitting the image data to the processor; and combining image data and other data including speed of the conveyor belt, a form factor and density of the object to determine at least one of the volume, weight and form of the object. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An apparatus for assessing an object comprising:
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a camera positioned above and aimed at a surface of a conveyor belt to receive a direct image of the object; a mirror positioned along side and parallel with the conveyor belt at an angle to project a profile image of an object on the conveyor belt under, the camera into a lens of the camera; means, connected to the camera, for determining at least one of the volume, form and weight of the object by combining the direct image of the object received by the camera and the profile image; and means for sorting objects on the basis of one or more of the volume, form and weight of the object determined by the determining means. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for assessing an object with an apparatus comprising:
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a camera located above and aimed at a conveyor belt; a mirror adjacent the conveyor belt positioned to reflect to the camera an image of an object on the conveyor belt; and a processor, connected to the camera for determining the volume form and weight of the object by combining a direct image of the object received directing by the camera and a reflected profile image; the method comprising the steps of; recording a direct image of an object traveling below the camera on the conveyor belt; recording a reflected image of an object traveling below the camera on the conveyor belt such that the direct image and reflected image are recorded simultaneously and the reflected image is from a direction at substantially right angles to the direction of the direct image and to a direction of movement of the conveyor belt; transmitting the image data to the processor; and combining image data and other data including speed of the conveyor belt, the form factor and density of the object to determine at least one of the volume, weight and form of the object; and sorting object based on at least one of the volume, form and weight of the object determined in the combining steps. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification