Object measuring and weighing apparatus
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for measuring an object, comprising:
- three light transducers, each having an emitter for emitting a light beam and a receiver offset from said emitter for receiving a reflection of said light beam associated therewith, said emitters being aimed to define a three-dimensional volume of greater extent in each dimension than that of the largest object to be measured, said emitters being aimed across said volume to measure mutually perpendicular dimensions of said object;
said receivers each including a light sensor for generating a signal responsive to the angle of reflection of an associated light beam from said object; and
a processor for converting signals from said light sensors to linear distances between said emitters and said object, and for computing the dimensions of said object therefrom.
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Abstract
An apparatus and method for weighing and non-contact measuring of dimensions of a stationary object, wherein a platen on which the object is isolated from a support assembly for dimension measuring sensors for greater sensitivity and accuracy in weight determination. A method of determining object speed of a linearly in-motion object, useful for determining object dimensions, is also disclosed.
92 Citations
30 Claims
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1. An apparatus for measuring an object, comprising:
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three light transducers, each having an emitter for emitting a light beam and a receiver offset from said emitter for receiving a reflection of said light beam associated therewith, said emitters being aimed to define a three-dimensional volume of greater extent in each dimension than that of the largest object to be measured, said emitters being aimed across said volume to measure mutually perpendicular dimensions of said object;
said receivers each including a light sensor for generating a signal responsive to the angle of reflection of an associated light beam from said object; and
a processor for converting signals from said light sensors to linear distances between said emitters and said object, and for computing the dimensions of said object therefrom. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. An apparatus for measuring the length and width of an object, comprising:
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at least one light transducer having an emitter for emitting a light beam and a receiver offset from said emitter for receiving a reflection of said light beam associated therewith, said emitter being oriented to emit said light beam across the path of a linearly moving object traveling at a constant rate so that said light beam impinges upon said object;
said receiver including a light sensor for generating signals responsive to the angle of reflection of an associated light beam from said object; and
a processor for converting signals from said light sensors to linear distances between said emitter and said object, and for computing the length and width of said object from said linear distances and said constant rate of object movement. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
wherein said processor is adapted to convert said light sensor signals from said receivers of said two light transducers to linear distances between said emitters and said object, and to compute the length and width of said object from said linear distances and said constant rate of object movement.
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14. The apparatus of claim 13, further including at least a third light transducer disposed above said path of said linearly moving object with its emitter oriented downwardly to emit a light beam toward said path of said linearly moving object so that said light beam impinges upon said object;
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wherein said processor is adapted to convert said light sensor signals from the receiver of said third light transducer to linear distances between said emitter of said third light transducer and said object, and to compute the height of said object from said linear distances.
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15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said processor is adapted to convert said light sensor signals from said receivers of said light transducers to linear distances and, in combination with said constant rate of object movement, determine an outline of the configuration of said object.
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16. The apparatus of claim 12, further including a gain adjustment for adjusting intensity of said light beams responsive to the reflectivity of said object.
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17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said at least one light transducer comprises a laser light transducer.
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18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said emitter comprises a laser diode, and said receiver comprises a linear CCD array extending substantially transversely to the direction of said associated light beam emitted from said emitter.
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19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said emitter emits a light beam of elliptical cross-section, and said emitter is oriented to emit its said light beam with the long axis of said ellipse substantially transverse to the direction of said linear CCD array.
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20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein said laser light is visible light.
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21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said receiver further includes a light filter to filter out ambient light.
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22. A method of measuring the dimensions of a three-dimensional object, comprising:
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placing said object with respect to a reference point;
emitting three light beams against said object from remote locations and receiving said light beams after reflection from said object at cooperative locations displaced from each of said remote emission locations; and
computing said object dimensions from the degree of displacement of said reflected light beams relative to said emitted light beams and the distances from each of said light beam emission locations to said reference point. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A method of measuring at least two dimensions of a three-dimensional object, comprising:
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moving said object linearly at a known rate along a path;
emitting a first light beam from a first location on one side of said path against said object and receiving said first light beam after reflection from said object as said object moves, at locations displaced from said first location; and
computing said at least two dimensions from said known rate of object movement and said locations of receipt of said first light beam. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
computing said at least two dimensions from said known rate of object movement and said locations of receipt of said first and second light beams.
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26. The method of claim 25, further including determining the third dimension of said object, comprising emitting a third light beam against said object from a third location above said path, and receiving said third light beam after reflection from said object as said object moves, at locations displaced from said third location;
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computing said third dimension from said known rate of object movement and said locations of receipt of said third light beam.
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27. The method of claim 26, further including determining the outline of said object from said locations of said first, second and third reflected light beams and said known rate of object movement.
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28. The method of claim 24, wherein said first light beam comprises laser light.
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29. The method of claim 25, wherein said second light beam comprises laser light.
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30. The method of claim 26, wherein said third light beam comprises laser light.
Specification