Method for dimensional weighing by spaced line projection

Claim 1

A method for measuring the dimensions of a parcel for use in a parcel processing application of a data processing device and comprising the steps of: (a) placing a parcel on an essentially flat surface in a field of measurement; wherein a movably mounted emitter apparatus projects lines of a known distance apart on said placed parcel; (b) moving said emitter apparatus so as to project a first set of lines on a first surface of said placed parcel wherein said lines may be counted by a counting means to determine a first linear dimension of said placed parcel; (c) performing a first count on said first set of lines and transmitting said first count to a data processing device; (d) rotating said emitter apparatus in place 90 degrees so as to project a second set of lines on said first surface of said placed parcel that are perpendicular to the lines that were projected in step 1(b), wherein said second set of lines may be counted by said counting means to determine a second linear dimension of said placed parcel; (e) performing a second count on said second set of lines and transmitting said second count to said data processing device; (f) moving said emitter apparatus so as to project a third set of lines on a second surface wherein said second surface is perpendicular to said first surface and, wherein said third set of lines may be counted by said counting means to determine a third linear dimension of said placed parcel; (g) performing a third count on said third set of lines and transmitting said third count to a data processing device; and (h) applying said first count, said second count, and said third count to a look-up table in a memory of said data processing device to determine a set of linear dimensions for said placed parcel.

Claim 2

A method for measuring the dimensions of a parcel for use in a parcel processing application of a data processing device and comprising the steps of: (a) placing a parcel on an essentially flat surface in a field of measurement; wherein a movably mounted emitter apparatus projects lines of a known distance apart on said placed parcel; (b) moving said emitter apparatus so as to project a first set of lines on a first surface of said placed parcel wherein said lines may be counted by a counting means to determine a first linear dimension of said placed parcel; (c) performing a first count on said first set of lines and transmitting said first count to a data processing device; (d) rotating said emitter apparatus in place 90 degrees so as to project a second set of lines on said first surface of said placed parcel that are perpendicular to the lines that were projected in step 1(b), wherein said second set of lines may be counted by said counting means to determine a second linear dimension of said placed parcel; (e) performing a second count on said second set of lines and transmitting said second count to said data processing device; (f) moving said emitter apparatus so as to project a third set of lines on a second surface wherein said second surface is perpendicular to said first surface and, wherein said third set of lines may be counted by said counting means to determine a third linear dimension of said placed parcel; (g) performing a third count on said third set of lines and transmitting said third count to a data processing device; and (h) applying said first count, said second count, and said third count to a look-up table in a memory of said data processing device to determine a set of linear dimensions for said placed parcel.

Claim 8

An apparatus for measuring the dimensions of a parcel, for use in a parcel processing application of a data processing system, comprising: (a) supporting means for supporting a parcel placed thereupon for measurement; (b) line emitting means for projecting a first set of lines of known distance apart upon a first surface of said placed parcel, wherein said line emitting means is movably mounted so as to be rotated at least 90 degrees to project a second set of lines on said first surface wherein said second set of lines is perpendicular to said first set, and wherein said line emitting means can be moved so as to project a third set of lines on a second surface of said placed parcel, wherein said second surface is perpendicular to said first surface; (c) counting means for obtaining: a first count comprising the number of lines of said first set of emitted lines, a second count comprising the number of lines of said second set of emitted lines, and a third count comprising the number of lines of said third set of emitted lines; (d) transmission means for transmitting said first count, said second count, and said third count to said parcel processing system; and (d) data processing means for: (i) controlling said line emitter means; (ii) receiving and essentially simultaneously processing measurement data from said counting means; (iii) calculator means for calculating the linear dimensions of said placed parcel; (iv) transmitting said measurement data to said calculator means to determine linear measurements by applying said measurement data to a pre-determined look-up table to determine a linear measurement value for each linear dimension of said placed parcel; and (v) transmitting, said linear measurement values to display means; and to a memory of said parcel processing application.

Claim 9

An apparatus for measuring the dimensions of a parcel, for use in a parcel processing application of a data processing system, comprising: (a) supporting means for supporting a parcel placed thereupon for measurement; (b) line emitting means for projecting a first set of lines of known distance apart upon a first surface of said placed parcel, wherein said line emitting means is movably mounted so as to be rotated at least 90 degrees to project a second set of lines on said first surface wherein said second set of lines is perpendicular to said first set, and wherein said line emitting means can be moved so as to project a third set of lines on a second surface of said placed parcel, wherein said second surface is perpendicular to said first surface; (c) counting means for obtaining: a first count comprising the number of lines of said first set of emitted lines, a second count comprising the number of lines of said second set of emitted lines, and a third count comprising the number of lines of said third set of emitted lines; (d) transmission means for transmitting said first count, said second count, and said third count to said parcel processing system; and (d) data processing means for: (i) controlling said line emitter means; (ii) receiving and essentially simultaneously processing measurement data from said counting means; (iii) calculator means for calculating the linear dimensions of said placed parcel; (iv) transmitting said measurement data to said calculator means to determine linear measurements by applying said measurement data to a pre-determined look-up table to determine a linear measurement value for each linear dimension of said placed parcel; and (v) transmitting, said linear measurement values to display means; and to a memory of said parcel processing application.