Measuring method and apparatus
First Claim
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1. A method of determining the actual dimensions of a linearly moving object of substantially rectangular cross-section in the horizontal plane, the sides of which object are in non-parallel relationship to the direction of travel, comprising:
- linearly moving said object at a constant speed;
determining the apparent length of said object by measuring the travel time thereof past a first point on the line of object travel and multiplying said travel object travel time by said constant speed;
determining the apparent width of said object by sensing the positions of the outermost corners of the object, taken in a direction perpendicular to said direction of object travel, and computing the distance between said outermost corners in said perpendicular direction;
determining a distance taken in the path of object travel between one of said outermost corners and the trailing edge of said object by measuring the travel time between the passage of said outermost corner and that of said trailing edge past a second common point on the line of object travel and multiplying said corner to trailing edge travel time by said constant speed; and
calculating the actual length and width of said object utilizing said determined apparent length, apparent width, and outermost object corner to trailing edge distance.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for measuring the dimensions and determining the three-dimensional, spatial volume of objects. In the preferred embodiment, a light curtain and ultrasonic sensing are employed in combination with the travel time of linearly moving objects to ascertain object dimensions. The preferred embodiment is particularly suitable for measurement of moving, rectangular objects of random orientation with respect to the direction of travel.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of determining the actual dimensions of a linearly moving object of substantially rectangular cross-section in the horizontal plane, the sides of which object are in non-parallel relationship to the direction of travel, comprising:
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linearly moving said object at a constant speed; determining the apparent length of said object by measuring the travel time thereof past a first point on the line of object travel and multiplying said travel object travel time by said constant speed; determining the apparent width of said object by sensing the positions of the outermost corners of the object, taken in a direction perpendicular to said direction of object travel, and computing the distance between said outermost corners in said perpendicular direction; determining a distance taken in the path of object travel between one of said outermost corners and the trailing edge of said object by measuring the travel time between the passage of said outermost corner and that of said trailing edge past a second common point on the line of object travel and multiplying said corner to trailing edge travel time by said constant speed; and calculating the actual length and width of said object utilizing said determined apparent length, apparent width, and outermost object corner to trailing edge distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for determining the actual dimensions of a linearly moving object of substantially rectangular cross-section in the horizontal plane, the sides of which object are in non-parallel relationship to the direction of object travel, comprising:
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conveying means for moving said object at a constant speed on a linear path past a point; means associated with said conveying means for measuring the apparent length of said object in a direction parallel to said linear path, the apparent width of said object in a direction perpendicular to said linear path, and the distance in a direction parallel to said linear path between a corner of said object defining one extent of said apparent width and the trailing edge of said object; and computing means for calculating the actual length and width of said object from said apparent length, apparent width and said corner to trailing edge distance. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification