Object measuring and weighing apparatus

An apparatus for measuring the length and width of an object, comprising:

• at least one light transducer having an emitter for emitting a light beam and a receiver offset from said emitter for receiving a reflection of said light beam associated therewith, said emitter being oriented to emit said light beam across the path of a linearly moving object traveling at a constant rate so that said light beam impinges upon said object;
• said receiver including a light sensor for generating signals responsive to the angle of reflection of an associated light beam from said object;
• and
• a processor for converting signals from said light sensors to linear distances between said emitter and said object, and for computing the length and width of said object from said linear distances and said constant rate of object movement.

A method of measuring the dimensions of a three-dimensional object, comprising:

• placing said object with respect to a reference point;
• emitting three light beams against said object from remote locations and receiving said light beams after reflection from said object at cooperative locations displaced from each of said remote emission locations;
• and
• computing said object dimensions from the degree of displacement of said reflected light beams relative to said emitted light beams and the distances from each of said light beam emission locations to said reference point.

A method of measuring at least two dimensions of a three-dimensional object, comprising:

• moving said object linearly at a known rate along a path:
• emitting a first light beam from a first location on one side of said path against said object and receiving said first light beam after reflection from said object as said object moves, at locations displaced from said first location;
• and
• computing said at least two dimensions from said known rate of object movement and said locations of receipt of said first light beam.