Method of continuously measuring a successively conveyed lengthy body

• US 4,905,512 A
• Filed: 05/06/1988
• Issued: 03/06/1990
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1984
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Rheon Automatic Machinery Company Limited
• Inventors: Hayashi, Torahiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Cuchlinski, Jr., William A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Scanlon, Patrick R.
• Application Number:
  US07/193,183
• Time in Patent Office: 669 Days
• Field of Search: 73/169, 73/227, 33/1 M, 33/1 V, 33/125 A, 33/524, 33/525, 356/379, 356/380, 356/386, 356/387, 364/561-564, 250/235, 250/560
• US Class Current: 73/169
• CPC Class Codes: G01B 11/00 Measuring arrangements characterised by the use of optical techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 11/00 Apparatus for weighing a continuous stream of material during flow; Conveyor belt weighers
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/00 Apparatus for or methods of weighing material of special form or property determining weight by measuring volume G01F
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 9/005 using radiations, e.g. radioactive analysing materials by the use of wave or particle radiation G01N23/00

Abstract

A method of continuously measuring a successively conveyed lengthy body. Light sensors are located above and laterally of the conveying path of a conveyor and measure the distances from the sensors to various points on the surface of the lengthy body while being conveyed. The sectional area of the body is then calculated by a computer, and further the weight of the body is calculated. Various kinds of light sensors are applicable to the method of this invention.

Claims

1. A method of continuously measuring the volume of a successively conveyed lengthy body conveyed in a longitudinal direction on a conveyance path, the lengthy body having a surface defining a multitude of surface points, a varying width in a direction transverse to the conveyance path and a varying height in a vertical direction above the conveyance path, the lengthy body further having a middle portion defined between two predetermined vertical planes disposed vertical to and in a longitudinal direction on the conveyance path and portions other than the middle portion on both sides thereof, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a top sensor at a predetermined reference height above the conveyance path and a pair of side sensors, one on each side of the conveyance path, at a predetermined reference distance from said vertical planes, the side sensors spaced apart from each other by a distance sufficient to permit the lengthy body to pass therebetween, the top and side sensors being of the distance measuring type having a signal emitting portion and a reflected signal detecting portion and a means for measuring the distance from each sensor to a respective surface point on a detected body through detection of the respective reflected signals;

(b) moving the top sensor back and forth in the transverse direction at the reference height above the conveyance path across the middle portion of the lengthy body at successive incremental longitudinal positions in successive transverse passes from one side of the lengthy body to the other, while moving the pair of side sensors back and forth in the vertical direction on both sides of the conveyance path across the heights of the portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portion, at successive incremental longitudinal positions in successive vertical passes from the top or bottom to the bottom or top of said portions of the lengthy body, said successive transverse and vertical passes being synchronized such that said top and side sensors obtain measurements from substantially the same incremental longitudinal positions, thereby defining an incremental longitudinal length with which to compute an incremental volume of said lengthy body;

(c) operating the top sensor to measure the vertical distances from the top sensor to the respective surface points across the middle portion of the lengthy body being conveyed on the conveyor, while operating the pair of the side sensors to measure the horizontal distances from the side sensors to each of the surface points across the portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portion conveyed on the conveyance path at successive incremental longitudinal positions of the top and side sensors relative to the lengthy body;

(d) calculating the heights above the conveyance path of each of the surface points in each pass across the surface of the middle portion of the lengthy body on the basis of the reference height of the sensor and the measured vertical distance from the top sensor to each of the surface points;

(e) calculating the horizontal distances from the respective vertical planes defining the middle portion to each of the surface points in each pass across the surfaces of said portions of the lengthy body on the basis of the horizontal distances from the side sensors to each of the surface points;

(f) calculating a sectional area of the middle portion of the lengthy body at each incremental longitudinal position in each pass bounded by the conveyance path and the measured surface points on the lengthy body;

(g) calculating sectional areas of the portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portions, at each incremental longitudinal position in each pass of the side sensors, bounded by said vertical planes and the measured surface points on the lengthy body;

(h) calculating the total sectional areas of the lengthy body in each pass of the top sensor and the side sensors, by adding the sectional area of the middle portion and the sectional areas of the portions other than the middle portions; and

(i) calculating an incremental volume of the lengthy body by multiplying the total sectional area in each pass of the top sensor and the side sensors by a predetermined incremental length of the lengthy body for each incremental longitudinal position.

2. A method of continuously measuring the volume of a successively conveyed lengthy body conveyed in a longitudinal direction on a conveyance path, the lengthy body having a surface defining a multitude of surface points, varying width in a direction transverse to the conveyance path and a varying height in a vertical direction above the conveyance path, the lengthy body further having a middle portion defined between two predetermined vertical planes disposed vertical to and in a longitudinal direction on the conveyance path and portions other than the middle portion on both sides thereof, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of top sensors spaced incrementally in an array extending in the transverse direction at a predetermined reference height across the conveyance path, and a pair of side sensors, one on each side of the conveyance path, at a predetermined reference distance from said vertical planes, the side sensors spaced apart from each other by a distance sufficient to permit the lengthy body to pass therebetween, the top and side sensors being of the distance measuring type having a signal emitting portion and a reflected signal detecting portion and means for measuring the distance from each sensor to a respective surface point on a detected body through detection of the respective reflected signals;

(b) moving the pair of side sensors up and down in the vertical direction on both sides of the conveyance path across the heights of the portions of the lengthy body other than said middle portion, at successive incremental longtiudinal positions in successive vertical passes from the top or bottom to the bottom or top of said portions of the lengthy body;

(c) operating the array of the top sensor to measure the vertical distances from the top sensors to the respective surface points across the middle portion of the lengthy body being conveyed on the conveyance path at successive incremental longitudinal positions of the sensor array relative to the lengthy body, said incremental longitudinal positions corresponding to said incremental longitudinal positions at which said side sensors pass from the top or bottom to the bottom or top of said portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portion while operating the pair of the side sensors to measure the horizontal distance from the sensors to each of the surface points across the portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portion conveyed on the conveyance path such that said sensor array and side sensors obtain measurements from substantially the same incremental longitudinal positions, thereby defining a longitudinal length with which to compute an incremental volume of said lengthy body;

(d) calculating the heights above the conveyance path of each of the surface points across the surface of the middle portion of the lengthy body on the basis of the reference height of the top sensors and the measured vertical distance from the top sensors to the respective surface points at each incremental longitudinal position;

(e) calculating the horizontal distances from the respective vertical planes defining the middle portion to reach of the surface points in each pass across the surfaces of said portions of the lengthy body on the basis of the horizontal distances from the side sensors to said vertical planes and the measured horizontal distances from the side sensors to each of the surface points;

(f) calculating a sectional area of the middle portion of the lengthy body at each incremental longitudinal position bounded by the conveyance path and the measured surface points on said portions of the lengthy body;

(g) calculating sectional areas of the portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portion, at each incremental longitudinal position in each pass of the side sensors, bounded by said vertical planes and the measured surface points on the lengthy body;

(h) calculating the total sectional area of the lengthy body by adding the sectional area of the middle portion of the lengthy body at each incremental longitudinal position and the sectional areas of the portions other than the middle portion at each incremental longitudinal position in each corresponding pass of the side sensors; and

(i) calculating an incremental volume of the lengthy body by multiplying the total sectional area by a predetermined incremental length of the lengthy body for each incremental longitudinal position.

3. A method of continuously measuring the volume of a successively conveyed lengthy body conveyed in a longitudinal direction on a conveyance path, the lengthy body having a surface defining a multitude of surface points, a varying width in a direction transverse to the conveyance path and a varying height in a vertical direction above the conveyance path, the lengthy body further having a middle portion defined between two predetermined vertical planes disposed vertical to and in a longitudinal directional on the conveyance path and portions other than the middle portion on both sides thereof, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a plurality of top sensors spaced incrementally in an array extending in the transverse direction at a predetermined reference height across the conveyance path, and a pair of sensor arrays including a plurality of side sensors spaced incrementally in an array extending in the vertical direction, one sensor array on each side of the conveyance path, at a predetermined reference distance from said vertical planes, the side sensors spaced apart from each other by a distance sufficient to permit the lengthy body to pass therebetween, the top and side sensors being of the distance measuring type having a signal emitting portion and a reflected signal detecting portion and means for measuring the distance from each sensor to a respective surface points on a detected body through detection of the respective reflected signals;

(b) operating the array of the top sensors to measure the vertical distance from the sensors to the respective surface points across the middle portion of the lengthy body being conveyed on the conveyance path at successive incremental longitudinal positions of the top sensor array relative to the lengthy body, while operating the pair of the arrays of the side sensors to measure the horizontal distances from the side sensors to the respective surface points across the portions of th lengthy body other than the middle portion conveyed on the conveyance path at successive incremental longitudinal positions of the side sensor arrays relative to the lengthy body;

(c) calculating the heights above the conveyance path of each of the surface points across the middle portion of the lengthy body on the basis of the reference height of the top sensors and the measured vertical distance from the respective top sensors to the respective surface points at each incremental longitudinal position;

(d) calculating the horizontal distances from the respective vertical planes defining the middle portion to each of the surface points across the portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portion on the basis of the horizontal distances from the side sensors to said vertical planes and the measured horizontal distances from the side sensors to each of the surface points;

(e) calculating a sectional area of the middle portion of the lengthy body at each incremental longitudinal position bounded by the conveyance path and the measured surface points on the lengthy body;

(f) calculating sectional areas of the portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portion, at each incremental longitudinal position bounded by said vertical planes and the measured surface points on said portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portion body;

(g) calculating the total sectional area of the lengthy body by adding the sectional area of the middle portion and the sectional areas of the portions other than the middle portion, at each incremental longitudinal position; and

(h) calculating an incremental volume of the lengthy body by multiplying the total sectional area by a predetermined incremental length of the lengthy body for each incremental longitudinal position.

4. A method of continuously measuring the volume of a successively conveyed lengthy body conveyed in a longitudinal direction on a conveyance path, the lengthy body having a surface defining a multitude of surface points, a varying width in a direction transverse to the conveyance path and a varying height in a vertical direction above the conveyance path, the lengthy body further having a middle portion defined between two predetermined vertical planes disposed vertical to an in a longitudinal direction on the conveyance path and portions other than the middle portion on both sides thereof, comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a top sensor at a predetermined reference height above the conveyance path and a pair of sensor arrays including a plurality of side sensors spaced incrementally in an array extending in the vertical direction, one sensor array on each side of the conveyance path, at a predetermined reference distance from said vertical planes, the side sensors spaced apart from each other by a distance sufficient to permit the lengthy body to pass therebetween, the top sensor and the side sensors being of the distance measuring type having a signal emitting portion and a reflected signal detecting portion and means for measuring the distance from each sensor to a respective surface point on a detected body through detection of the respective reflected signals;

(b) moving the top sensor back and forth in the transverse direction at the reference height above the conveyance path across the middle portion of the lengthy body at successive incremental longitudinal positions in successive passes from one side of the lengthy body to the other;

(c) operating the top sensor to measure the vertical distances from the top sensor to the respective surface points across the middle portion of the lengthy body being conveyed on the conveyor, while operating the pair of the arrays of the side sensors to measure the horizontal distances from the side sensors to each of the surface points across the portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portion conveyed on the conveyance path at successive incremental longitudinal positions of the sensor arrays relative to the lengthy body;

(d) calculating the heights above the conveyance path of each of the surface points in each pass across the surface of the middle portion of the lengthy body on the basis of the reference height of the sensor and the measured vertical distance from the sensor to each of the surface points;

(e) calculating the horizontal distances from the respective vertical planes defining the middle portion to each of the surface points in each pass across the surfaces of said portions of the lengthy body on the basis of the horizontal distances from the side sensors to said vertical planes and the measured horizontal distances from the side sensors to each of the surface points;

(f) calculating a sectional area of the middle portion of the lengthy body at each incremental longitudinal position in each pass bounded by the conveyance path and the measured surface points on the lengthy body;

(g) calculating sectional areas of the portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portion, at each incremental longitudinal position bounded by said vertical planes and the measured surface points on said portions of the lengthy body other than the middle portion

(h) calculating the total sectional area of the lengthy body by adding the sectional area of the middle portion in each pass of the top sensor and the sectional areas of the portions other than the middle portion at each corresponding incremental longitudinal position of the side sensors; and

(i) calculating an incremental volume of the lengthy body by multiplying the total sectional area by a predetermined incremental length of the lengthy body for each incremental longitudinal position.