Computer scanner for three-dimensional objects

A computer scanning device for scanning three-dimensional objects, comprising:

• a frame having an axis and a wall with an array of axial pinholes, a front side, and a back side;
• an elongated straight pin slidably mounted in each of the pinholes in the wall of the frame to form an array of pins extending from both sides of the wall, each of the pins having a front end and a back end, wherein the front ends of the array of pins are adapted to be axially displaced by a three-dimensional object to form a three-dimensional impression thereof on the front side of the wall, and a complementary three-dimensional embossment of the object on the back side of the wall when the object is embedded in the array of pins;
• a sleeve mounted in each of the pinholes in the wall of the frame for frictionally engaging and limiting movement the pins:
• a sheet mounted adjacent to the wall;
• latching mechanism mounted to the frame for moving the sheet to selectively restrain and release the pins when the impression of the object is made:
• a detection device movably mounted to the frame and having a sensor plate that is parallel to the wall of the frame and facing the rear ends of the pins;
• a motor coupled to the detection device and the frame;
• an array of sensors mounted to the sensor plate of the detection device, each of the sensors corresponding to and aligning with one of the pins for detecting axial displacement thereof and the array of sensors having an engage position wherein at least some of the sensors physically contact the back ends of associated ones of the pins, and a disengaged position wherein the sensors are axially spaced apart from and free of contact with the back ends of the pins;
• a computer interface including a sensor circuit board with a microcontroller interconnected with the detection device and adapted to be interconnected with a computer, and wherein
• when the motor moves the detection device toward the wall, the sensors individually detect the axial position of their respective pins and are adapted to enable the computer to reconstruct a graphical, three-dimensional representation of the object in response to the axial displacement of at least some of the pins.

A method for scanning a three-dimensional object to create a three-dimensional representation of the object by a computer, comprising the steps of:

• (a) providing a scanner with a frame having a wall with an array of axial pinholes, a pin mounted in each of the pinholes to form an array of pins, and a detection device mounted to the frame and having an array of sensors that individually correspond to and align with one of the pins, the array of sensors being axially spaced apart from and free of contact with the pins;
• (b) embedding a three-dimensional object in the array of pins to axially displace at least some of the pins to form a three-dimensional impression of the object in the array of pins;
• (c) moving one of the wall and the detection device toward the other;
• (d) physically contacting each of the pins with respective ones of the sensors to detect the axial position of each of the pins;
• and then
• (e) constructing a graphical, three-dimensional representation of the object on a computer that is interconnected with the scanner in response to the axial displacement of said at least some of the pins.