US3787700A — Automatic system for measuring selected dimensions

Claim 1

Independent Claim 223 words

Structure for measuring the length of an object moving by said structure and selected dimensions of said object perpendicular to said length, which comprises: a plurality of marker sensor means consisting of a first group of marker sensor means and a second group of marker sensor means; a plurality of light source means, each light source means providing light which is incident on a corresponding one of said marker sensor means; a multiplicity of linear array means, each linear array means containing photosensitive elements arranged in a line, at least one linear array means being arranged to measure at least part of the length of said object and the remainder of said multiplicity of linear array means being arranged to measure at least part of said selected dimensions; means for scanning said multiplicity of linear array means in response to signals from said marker sensor means to obtain from each linear array means a sequence of signals for use in calculating a dimension of said object, each signal in the sequence representing the light incident on one photosensitive element in the linear array means producing the sequence; and means, responsive to the sequences of signals from said linear array means, and to the signals from selected ones of said marker sensor means, for calculating said length and said selected dimensions of said object.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 223 words

Structure for measuring the length of an object moving by said structure and selected dimensions of said object perpendicular to said length, which comprises: a plurality of marker sensor means consisting of a first group of marker sensor means and a second group of marker sensor means; a plurality of light source means, each light source means providing light which is incident on a corresponding one of said marker sensor means; a multiplicity of linear array means, each linear array means containing photosensitive elements arranged in a line, at least one linear array means being arranged to measure at least part of the length of said object and the remainder of said multiplicity of linear array means being arranged to measure at least part of said selected dimensions; means for scanning said multiplicity of linear array means in response to signals from said marker sensor means to obtain from each linear array means a sequence of signals for use in calculating a dimension of said object, each signal in the sequence representing the light incident on one photosensitive element in the linear array means producing the sequence; and means, responsive to the sequences of signals from said linear array means, and to the signals from selected ones of said marker sensor means, for calculating said length and said selected dimensions of said object.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 70 words

Structure as in claim 1 wherein said means for scanning said linear array means comprises: means for scanning said at least one linear array means in response to a signal from any one of said first group of marker sensor means; and means for scanning said remainder of said multiplicity of linear array means in response to a signal from any one of said second group of marker sensor means.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 77 words

Structure as in claim 1 wherein each of said linear array means comprises: a linear array of photosensitive elements; means for focusing light representing at least a portion of said object on said photosensitive elements; and means, responsive to a signal from any of selected ones of said marker sensor means, for obtaining a sequence of pulses from said photosensitive elements, the number of pulses in said sequence representing the length of said portion of said object.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

Structure as in claim 3 wherein said selected linear array means comprises in addition: means for counting the number of pulses in said sequence and for storing signals representing the total number of pulses in said sequence.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 25 words

Structure as in claim 2 wherein said at least one linear array means is arranged to measure a portion of the length of said object.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 159 words

Structure as in claim 1 wherein said first group of marker sensor means are arranged in a first line parallel to the direction of motion of said object, a corresponding selected number of said light source means are arranged in a second line parallel to said first line such that a light source means is opposite each marker sensor means, and such that said object passes between said marker sensor means and said light source means, and said at least one linear array means are connected to said first group of marker sensor means so as to produce a sequence of output pulses representing the length of the portion of said object within the field of view of said at least one linear array means in response to a signal from each of said first group of marker sensor means generated by the arrival of said object at each of said first group of marker sensor means in sequence.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 32 words

Structure as in claim 1 wherein said remainder of said multiplicity of linear array means are arranged to measure said selected dimensions of said object perpendicular to the length of said object.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 28 words

Structure as in claim 7 wherein said remainder of said multiplicity of linear array means are arranged to measure two mutually perpendicular diameters of a substantially cylindrical object.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 132 words

Structure as in claim 1 wherein said second group of marker sensor means are arranged along said first line such that an object first passes by said second group of marker sensor means before reaching said first group of marker sensor means, a corresponding number of said light source means are arranged along said second line such that a light source means is opposite each marker sensor means in said second group and said remainder of said multiplicity of linear array means are connected to said marker sensoR means in said second group so as to produce two sequences of output pulses representing two dimensions of said object perpendicular to the length of said object in response to a signal from any one of said marker sensor means in said second group.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 171 words

Structure as in claim 1 wherein said marker sensor means in said second group comprise two marker sensor means and the first of said marker sensor means in said second group reached by said object produces a first output signal in response to the back end of said object passing by said first marker sensor means in said second group, said first output signal activating said remainder of said multiplicity of linear array means to measure two dimensions of said object perpendicular to the length of said object near the back end of said object, and the second of said marker sensor means in said second group reached by said object produces a second output signal in response to the front end of said object passing by said second marker sensor means in said second group, said second output signal activating said remainder of said multiplicity of linear array means to measure two dimensions of said object perpendicular to the length of said object near the front end of said object.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

Structure as in claim 10 wherein said remainder of said multiplicity of linear array means comprise two linear arrays of light sensitive elements arranged to measure two substantially mutually perpendicular diameters of an object shaped like the frustum of a cone.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 31 words

Structure as in claim 11 wherein said two linear arrays of light sensitive elements are arranged so that their center lines are mutually perpendicular and make 45* angles with the vertical.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 87 words

Structure as in claim 1 wherein said structure comprises means for measuring the length and selected diameters of a log, each of said marker sensor means in said second group activates said remainder of said multiplicity of linear array means to measure at least one diameter of said log passing by said marker sensor means and each of said marker sensor means in said first group activates said at least one linear array means to measure the length of said log passing by said marker sensor means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 22 words

Structure as in claim 13 wherein said at least one linear array means measures the length of a portion of said log.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 190 words

Structure which comprises: a plurality of marker sensor means 1 through K, where K is an integer equal to the maximum number of marker sensor means; a plurality of light source means 1 through K, each light source means providing light which is incident on a corresponding one of said marker sensor means; three linear array means, the first and second of which are located to measure mutually perpendicular dimensions of an object passing by said marker sensor means and said linear array means, and the third of which is located to measure the length of a portion of said object, each linear array means containing photosensitive elements arranged in a line; means, responsive to signals from said marker sensor means, for scanning said linear array means to obtain from each linear array means a sequence of signals, each signal in the sequence representing the light incident on one photosensitive element in each of said linear array means; and means, responsive to the sequences of signals from said linear array means, and to the signals from selected ones of said marker sensor means, for calculating selected dimensions of said object.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 190 words

Structure which comprises: a plurality of marker sensor means 1 through K, where K is an integer equal to the maximum number of marker sensor means; a plurality of light source means 1 through K, each light source means providing light which is incident on a corresponding one of said marker sensor means; three linear array means, the first and second of which are located to measure mutually perpendicular dimensions of an object passing by said marker sensor means and said linear array means, and the third of which is located to measure the length of a portion of said object, each linear array means containing photosensitive elements arranged in a line; means, responsive to signals from said marker sensor means, for scanning said linear array means to obtain from each linear array means a sequence of signals, each signal in the sequence representing the light incident on one photosensitive element in each of said linear array means; and means, responsive to the sequences of signals from said linear array means, and to the signals from selected ones of said marker sensor means, for calculating selected dimensions of said object.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 187 words

Structure as in claim 15 wherein the second marker sensor means produces a signal when the front end of said object passes the second marker sensor means which in turn activates said first and second linear array means to measure mutually perpendicular dimensions of the front end of said object, said first marker sensor means produces a signal when the back end of said object passes the first marker sensor means which in turn activates said first and second linear array means to measure mutuaLly perpendicular dimensions of the back end of said object, and the remainder 3 through K of said marker sensor means are each activated in sequence by the front end of said object as it passes by each of said marker sensor means, each of said remainder of said marker sensor means then activating the third linear array means to measure the length of a portion of said object, said third linear array means measuring the length of the end portion of said object when the end portion of said object is in the field of view of said third linear array means.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 37 words

Structure as in claim 16 including means for processing the signals produced by said multiplicity of linear array means and said marker sensor means, to determine dimensions and volumes of said object passing said marker sensor means.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 46 words

Structure as in claim 1 wherein a selected number of said multiplicity of said linear array means are arranged to compensate for errors in the measurements of said selected dimensions of said object introduced by variations in the location of said object from its expected location.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 32 words

Structure as in claim 18 including means for processing the output signals from a selected number of said multiplicity of linear array means to determine variations in the shape of said object.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 25 words

Structure as in claim 15 including means for illuminating said object thereby to enable each of said three linear array means to detect said object.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 26 words

Structure as in claim 1 including means for illuminating said object thereby to enable each of said multiplicity of linear array means to detect said object.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-01-21	1977-07-23	1978-01-22	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-01-21	1981-07-23	1982-01-22	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-01-21	1985-07-23	1986-01-22	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Automatic system for measuring selected dimensions

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