Laitram, LLC

William S Murray

Jeremiah E Oertling

David W Bogle

Jason Lagneaux

Juan Borbon

System and methods for estimating the number of packages in a measurement zone to gauge package flow. A linear array of distance-measuring sensors measures the height profile of a mass of packages conveyed past. The profile is differentiated, and steps in the differentiated profile are counted to detect package edges and to produce an estimate of the number of packages in the measurement zone. The estimate can be used to adjust the speed of the conveyor to provide a constant package flow.

Conveyor package-flow measuring system

An omnidirectional anemometer and a method for using such an anemometer to measure the airflow along a conveying path, such as a helical path through a processing chamber. The anemometer is a low-profile, omnidirectional, three-axis anemometer with minimal airflow-occluding structure. Because of its low profile, the anemometer can fit in spiral conveyors with a short tier pitch.

Apparatus and method for measuring airflow through a spiral conveyor

Apparatus and methods for determining belt speed and pitch using correlation techniques. The apparatus includes a pair of rangefinders separated by a predetermined distance. The rangefinders each measure the distance to the belt at two positions separated from each other in the direction of belt travel. The apparatus creates at least one time-series profile record corresponding to the profile of a belt. The time delays between occurrences of a regularly spaced topographical feature in the belt's profile are used by a processor to compute belt pitch and speed. Correlation techniques are used for robust results.

Apparatus and methods for measuring belts

Apparatus and method for detecting materials on a conveyor belt using multi-energy x-ray absorption imaging. A spectroscopic x-ray detector consisting of a line array of pixels receives x-rays from an x-ray source directed through the conveyor belt. The x-rays are attenuated as they pass through the belt and materials on the belt. The pixels each produce an energy spectrum of the received x-rays. The received energy spectrum of each pixel is related to the source x-ray spectrum to determine a measured attenuation, which is then related to an attenuation model that includes the attenuation coefficients of a set of preselected constituent materials expected to be in or on the belt. Mathematical regression is used to fit the measured attenuation to the attenuation model to find the thickness of each constituent material for each pixel.

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New Orleans, LA, United States of America

William S Murray