Dimensioning system
AssigneeAccu-Sort Systems, Inc.
InventorsAlbert Wurz, John E. Romaine, David L. Martin
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a dimensioning system for determining the minimum size box necessary to enclose an object traveling on a moving conveyor. The dimensioning system is comprised of a light source which generates a scan beam that is moved by a mirrored wheel. A line scan camera whose field of view tracks the moving scan beam receives images of the scan beam and outputs a signal which is processed to compute a three dimensional box structure of the scanned object.
Claims24
An apparatus for determining a dimension of an object traveling on a moving conveyor, the apparatus having means for moving a scanning beam across the conveyor such that the beam repeatedly intercepts the object at an angle e relative to a plane extending through the conveyor, the apparatus characterized by:
- detecting means having a line field of view which maintains a constant orientation relative to the scanning beam as the beam moves across the conveyor and receives a reflected image of the beam at a plurality of image points;
- and
- means for calculating the object dimension at each image point based upon the reflected images.
An apparatus for determining a dimension of an object traveling on a moving conveyor, the apparatus having means for directing a scanning beam across the conveyor at a selected location such that the beam repeatedly intercepts the object at an angle θ relative to a plane extending through the conveyor, the apparatus characterized by:
- detecting means having a line field of view which maintains a constant orientation relative to the scanning beam as the beam moves across the conveyor and receives a reflected image of the beam at a plurality of image points;
- means in the path of the moving beams for converting the light from an angular scan to substantially parallel moving beams;
- and
- means for calculating the object dimension at each image point based upon the reflected images.
A method of determining a dimension of an object traveling on a moving conveyor comprising the steps of:
- moving a scanning beam across the conveyor such that the beam repeatedly intercepts the object at an angle θ relative to a plane extending through the conveyor;
- providing detecting means having a line field of view which maintains a constant orientation relative to the scanning beam as the beam moves across the conveyor and receives a reflected image of the beam at a plurality of image points;
- and
- calculating the object dimension at each image point based upon the reflected images.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.