Detecting the size and shape of bodies

Claim 3

A method as claimed in claim 1, in which the position of the body along the path in relation to the plates is determined by measuring changes in dielectric constant of a second capacitor, said changes being caused by changes in the position, the plates of the second capacitor having different relative dispositions along said path.

Claim 4

A method as claimed in claim 1, in which movement between the plates by the body is effected by rolling thereof.

Claim 5

Apparatus for detecting information as to the shape and size of a body, comprising a capacitor, between the plates of which the body is moveable along a fixed path, the electric field of the capacitor plates cutting the path at different points across the breadth of the path along the length of said path, circuit means for determining changes in dielectric constant of the capacitor caused by said movement of the body along the path between the plates, and comparator means for comparing said changes with changes in dielectric constant constant caused by a reference body of known size and shape thereby to determine information as to the size and shape of a body.

Claim 6

Apparatus for detecting information as to the shape and size of a body, comprising a capacitor, between the plates of which the body is moveable along a fixed path, the electric field of the capacitor plates cutting the path at different points across the breadth of the path along the length of said path, circuit means for determining changes in dielectric constant of the capacitor caused by said movement of the body along the path between the plates, and comparator means for comparing said changes with changes in dielectric constant constant caused by a reference body of known size and shape thereby to determine information as to the size and shape of a body.

Claim 7

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, in which the capacitor comprises parallel wires.

Claim 8

Apparatus as claimed in claim 5, in which said fixed path comprises a slope whereon the body is moved by rolling thereof.

Claim 9

Apparatus as claimed in claim 6, in which the parallel wires are disposed obliquely across the slope.

Claim 10

Apparatus as claimed in claim 7, in which the wires are longer than the maximum rolling circumference of the body.

Claim 11

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising means for determining the position of the body along the path between the plates of the capacitor, said last mentioned means comprising a second capacitor having plates which have different relative dispositions along the length of said slope.

Claim 12

Apparatus as claimed in claim 9, in which the second capacitor has plates comprising wires and the wires are convergent.

Claim 13

Apparatus as claimed in claim 4, further comprising means for determining if the maximum length of the body exceeds a preselected level.

Claim 14

Apparatus as claimed in claim 11, in which the last mentioned means comprises a third capacitor.

Claim 15

Apparatus for use in extracting information concerning a body, comprising means defining a fixed path along which the body moves translationally while rotating about an axis normal to the direction of translation, a capacitor having its plates arranged such that the body moves between the plates as it traverses said path, said plates being elongate and parallel and disposed obliquely to said fixed path such that the electric field of the plates cuts obliquely across said fixed path and intersects the moving body at different points along its said axis as the body traverses said path, and means for detecting changes in dielectric constant of the capacitor caused by movement of the body along said path.

Claim 16

Apparatus for use in extracting information concerning a body, comprising means defining a fixed path along which the body moves translationally while rotating about an axis normal to the direction of translation, a capacitor having its plates arranged such that the body moves between the plates as it traverses said path, said plates being elongate and parallel and disposed obliquely to said fixed path such that the electric field of the plates cuts obliquely across said fixed path and intersects the moving body at different points along its said axis as the body traverses said path, and means for detecting changes in dielectric constant of the capacitor caused by movement of the body along said path.

Claim 17

Apparatus as claimed in claim 13 wherein said fixed path comprises an inclined surface along which said body rolls, and said capacitor plates comprise parallel wires.