US 5,735,055 A · Method and apparatus for measuring the thickness of an article at a plurality of points

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed for measuring the thickness of an article having upper and lower surfaces and substantial length and width dimensions, such as a sheet or plate of aluminum or another metal. A table is provided for supporting the article, and one or more openings across the length and width of the table provide access to the lower surface of the article. The table has a plurality of thickness references, each of which has an upper and a lower surface, and the thickness references are spaced across the width of the table at or near a first end. A plurality of pairs of opposed sensors are mounted at spaced intervals on a carriage that extends across the width of the table and is adapted for movement in the longitudinal direction of the table. A first member of each pair of sensors is disposed above the level of the supporting surface of the table opposite a second member that is disposed therebelow. The article is placed on the supporting surface of the table with one end of the article near the second end of the table so that the article does not cover the thickness references. The carriage is then positioned at a first location where each pair of sensors mounted thereon will be in alignment with and accessible to a thickness reference, with the first member of each such pair of sensors being disposed above the thickness reference opposite the second member that is disposed below it. Each pair of sensors is activated to measure the thickness of the thickness reference and calibrated according to the thickness so measured. The carriage is then moved, in stepwise fashion, to one or more subsequent locations along the length of the table that define points of measurement for the sensor pairs, so that at each such location the first member of each pair of sensors mounted on the carriage is disposed above the article on the table opposite the second member that is disposed therebelow and in alignment with an opening in the table that provides access to the lower surface of the article. Each pair of sensors is activated at each subsequent location to which the carriage is moved to measure the thickness of the article at such points of measurement.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A method for measuring the thickness of an article having upper and lower surfaces and substantial length and width dimensions, which method comprises:

(a) providing a table which is adapted to support the article, which table is provided with:
(i) a supporting surface upon which the article may be placed;
and
(ii) a plurality of thickness references, each having upper and lower surfaces, that are spaced across the width of the table at or near a first end thereof;
and
(iii) one or more openings across its length and width for access to the lower surface of the article on the table;
(b) providing a plurality of pairs of opposed sensors that are mounted at spaced intervals on a carriage that extends across the width of the table and is adapted for movement in the longitudinal direction of the table, wherein a first member of each pair of sensors is disposed above the level of the supporting surface of the table opposite a second member that is disposed therebelow;
(c) placing the article on the supporting surface of the table without covering the thickness references;
(d) positioning the carriage at a first location so that each pair of sensors mounted thereon will be in alignment with and accessible to one of said thickness references, with the first member of each such pair of sensors being disposed above one of said thickness references opposite the second member that is disposed therebelow;
(e) activating each pair of sensors to measure the thickness of the thickness reference with which it is aligned;
(f) calibrating each pair of sensors according to the thickness of the thickness reference so measured;
(g) moving the carriage, in stepwise fashion, to one or more subsequent locations along the length of the table that define points of measurement for the sensor pairs, so that at each such location the first member of each pair of sensors mounted on the carriage is disposed above the article on the table opposite the second member that is disposed therebelow and in alignment with one of said openings in the table that provides access to the lower surface of the article;
(h) activating each pair of sensors at each subsequent location to which the carriage is moved to measure the thickness of the article at such points of measurement.

10 more elements

A method for measuring the thickness of a flat metal product having upper and lower surfaces and substantial length and width dimensions at a plurality of locations across the length and width of the product, which method comprises:

(a) providing a table comprised of a plurality of longitudinally disposed rail sections that are spaced apart in a parallel relation with openings therebetween, with each rail section having an upper surface that is adapted to support a portion of the product, so that said surfaces of the rail sections comprise a supporting surface of the table that is adapted to support the product;
(b) providing a plurality of pairs of opposed sensors that are mounted at spaced intervals on a carriage that extends across the width of the table and is adapted for movement in the longitudinal direction of the table, wherein a first member of each pair of sensors is disposed above the level of the supporting surface of the table opposite a second member that is disposed therebelow;
(c) providing a plurality of thickness references, in a number equal to the number of pairs of opposed sensors, with each such thickness reference having upper and lower surfaces, and being located at or near a first end of the table in a position such that an opening between the rail sections of the table provides access to the upper and lower surfaces thereof;
(d) placing the product on the supporting surface of the table without covering the thickness references;
(e) positioning the carriage at a first location so that each pair of sensors mounted thereon will be in alignment with and accessible to one of said thickness references, with the first member of each such pair of sensors being disposed above one of said thickness references opposite the second member that is disposed therebelow;
(f) simultaneously activating each pair of sensors to measure the thickness of the thickness reference with which it is aligned;
(g) calibrating each pair of sensors according to the thickness of the thickness reference so measured;
(h) moving the carriage, in stepwise fashion, to one or more subsequent locations along the length of the table that define points of measurement for the sensor pairs, so that at each such location the first member of each pair of sensors mounted on the carriage is disposed above the product on the table opposite the second member that is disposed therebelow and in alignment with one of said openings in the table that provides access to the lower surface of the product;
(i) simultaneously activating each pair of sensors at each subsequent location to which the carriage is moved to measure the thickness of the product at such points of measurement.

6 more elements

An apparatus for measuring the thickness of an article having upper and lower surfaces and substantial length and width dimensions at a plurality of locations across the width of the article, comprising:

(a) a table which is adapted to support the article, which table is provided with:
(i) a supporting surface upon which the article may be placed;
and
(ii) a plurality of thickness references, each having upper and lower surfaces, that are spaced across the width of the table at or near a first end thereof so that the article may be placed on the supporting surface of the table without covering the thickness references;
and
(iii) a plurality of openings across its length and width for access to the lower surfaces of the article on the table;
(b) a plurality of pairs of opposed sensors that are mounted at spaced intervals on a carriage that extends across the width of the table and is adapted for movement in the longitudinal direction of the table, so that a first member of each pair of sensors is disposed above the level of the supporting surface of the table opposite a second member that is disposed therebelow;
and
(c) means for positioning the carriage at a first location so that each pair of sensors mounted thereon will be in alignment with and accessible to one of said thickness references, with the first member of each such pair of sensors being disposed above one of said thickness references opposite the second member that is disposed therebelow;
and
(d) means for activation of each pair of sensors to measure the thickness of the thickness reference with which they are aligned;
and
(e) means for calibration of each pair of sensors according to the thickness of the thickness reference measured;
and
(f) means for moving the carriage in stepwise fashion, to one or more subsequent locations along the length of the table that define points of measurement for the sensor pairs, so that at each such location to which the carriage may be moved, the first member of each pair of sensors mounted on the carriage will be disposed above the article on the table opposite the second member that is disposed therebelow and in alignment with one of said openings in the table that provides access to the lower surface of the article;
and
(g) means for activation of each pair of sensors at each subsequent location to which the carriage is moved so that said sensors may be employed to measure the thickness of the article at such points of measurement.

14 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for measuring the thickness of an article at a plurality of points

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for measuring the thickness of an article at a plurality of points

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims27