Opto-mechanical measuring system

Claim 1

An opto-mechanical system for sequentially measuring a plurality of different physical dimensions of an object, comprising a plurality of receiving means for separately receiving said object, each of said receiving means having a fixed stop for engaging a first point of said object and a movable mechanical feeler positioned to engage a second point of said object in said receiving means, whereby the position of said feeler is related to the dimension of said object between said first and second points, a plurality of photodetectors arranged closely adjacent one another in a row, light source means for projecting at least one light beam toward said photodetectors, vane means between said light source means and photodetectors, lens means for imaging said vane means on said photodetectors, and means mechanically coupling said vane means to said feelers, whereby said vane means block said light in dependence upon said distance and the output of said photodetectors constitutes a digital representation of said distance, said light source means comprising first and second light sources for directing first and second light source beams toward said photodetectors, and said vane means comprises a first vane mounted to intercept said first light beam and a second vane mounted to intercept said second light beam, said first and second vanes being mechanically coupled to be movable by first and second of said movable mechanical feelers, whereby the same photodetectors are responsive to the positions of said first and second feelers.