Object detection apparatus and method
US6064629A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Dec 15, 1998 |
| Grant date | May 16, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 15, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG07B2017/00685
- WIPO fieldMeasurement
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A method and apparatus for ensuring accuracy of weight measurement of objects on a conveyor and providing security against pilferage or miscoding of the objects. A series of sensors such as photocells linked to a process control unit sense passage of objects to respectively activate a scale and cubing system associated with the conveyor, to release an additional object for weighing and cubing, to sense overlong objects exceeding the length of the scale, and to detect when an object has been stolen or otherwise removed (as by falling off) the conveyor between various locations through the use of programmed timing "windows" between the various sensors. If an object does not trigger a sensor within the window measured from passage past a preceding sensor, an error message is generated.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.