The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Sep. 26, 1995
Filed:
May. 06, 1994
David J Holmes, Annapolis, MD (US);
Batching Systems Inc., Owings, MD (US);
Abstract
A method and apparatus for counting irregularly-shaped articles. A pair of light sources are provided at a sensing plane through which articles to be counted are adapted to pass. Each of the light sources emits a light beam that is at an angle to the other light beam, such as an angle of about 90.degree.. Corresponding solar cells are positioned opposite the respective light sources to receive the light signals as the articles pass through the sensing plane. The light sources are alternately operated and the outputs from the respective light detectors are used to calculate an equivalent volume for the article for comparison with a predetermined article volume range to decide whether to count the article. The method and apparatus permit accurate counts of irregularly shaped articles and are substantially independent of the orientation of the article at the sensing plane.