Apparatus and method for determining the volume, form and weight of objects
US5184733A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 19, 1992 |
| Grant date | Feb 9, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 19, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S209/939
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
An apparatus and method for determining the volume, form and weight of fish or other objects is presented. A linescan camera records a top view of an object and at the same time records a profile view of the object reflected by a mirror located adjacent to the object. The mirror is positioned to reflect a view of the object which is perpendicular to the direct view of the camera and to the direction of motion of a conveyor belt along which the object moves. As the object moves along a conveyor belt through the field of view of the camera, a number of cross-sectional images are recorded and transmitted to a microprocessor. The microprocessor determines the maximum width of each cross-section from the direct image and the maximum thickness from each cross-section reflected image. Based upon the width and height of each cross-section and a form factor and estimated object density, the microprocessor calculates volume ane weight for each cross-section and adds the series of object cross-sections together to determine a volume and weight of the object.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.