Method and apparatus for detecting and counting articles

A method for detecting and counting articles that travel along a passageway, for subsequent packaging of a desired number of such articles, said method comprising:

• a. passing the articles across a sensing plane of light defined by pair of orthogonally positioned light sources and respective orthogonally positioned light detectors at a detection station;
• b. operating the light sources alternately as the articles pass through the detection station to provide alternate, orthogonally oriented light beams at the detection station;
• c. sensing the quantity of light that is detected by each light detector as each light source is operated while articles pass the detection station and providing a series of electrical signals representative of the amounts of light received by each of the respective light detectors over a sensing period;
• d. integrating as a function of time the series of electric signals provided by the respective light detectors to provide integrated light values representative of each sensing direction;
• e. adding the integrated light values together;
• f. comparing the resulting sum of the integrated values with a predetermined range of acceptable light values based upon articles of the type to be counted that had been previously passed through the sensing plane to determine an acceptable range;
• and
• g. counting the article when the comparison of light values falls within the acceptable range.

A method for detecting and counting articles that travel along a passageway, for subsequent packaging of a desired number of such articles, said method comprising:

• a. passing the articles across a sensing plane of light defined by pair of orthogonally positioned light sources and respective orthogonally positioned light detectors at a detection station;
• b. operating the light sources alternately as the articles pass through the detection station to provide alternate, orthogonally oriented light beams at the detection station;
• c. sensing the quantity of light that is detected by each light detector as each light source is operated while articles pass the detection station and providing a series of electrical signals representative of the amounts of light received by each of the respective light detectors over a sensing period;
• d. storing the respective electrical signals and the times corresponding with each signal;
• e. adding together individual light values sensed by each detector over a sensing interval;
• f. calculating average light values over the total time an article has been within the detection station for light signals from each light detector;
• g. determining logarithmic values for each average light value and for the number of times the respective light beams were operative during a sensing cycle and adding the logarithmic values together to provide a logarithmic sum;
• h. dividing the logarithmic sum by three to provide a resulting value;
• and
• i. determining the antilogarithm of the resulting value and comparing that antilogarithm with a predetermined value to assess whether the signals represent an article to be counted.