Measuring and sorting apparatus

Claim 2

In a method of measuring, the steps of providing two groups of sensors having means for detecting light and dark conditions caused by the presence and absence of light, providing a primary beam of non-diverging coherent light, splitting said primary beam into two secondary beams, one of which diverges upon one group of sensors and the other of which diverges on the other group of sensors, and guiding an object through the light between the sensors and the source of said primary beam to interrupt light to the sensors.

Claim 3

In the method claim 1 the further step of diverging each beam of light intermediate the sensors and the position where an object is guided through the light.

Claim 4

In a device for measuring articles, the combination of first and second beams of coherent, non-diverging light, a group of sensors in the path of the first beam and a single sensor in the path of the second beam, positioning means for locating articles one at a time in the light to interrupt the light and thereby shade the sensors, two dimEnsional lens means for diverging the light upon the sensors, and means operatively connected to the sensors to divert articles comprising signal means to produce a signal at the instant the second beam of light to the single sensor is interrupted, logic means actuated by the signal to create one of a number of logic signals in response to the shading of the sensors in the path of the first beam of light, and deflection means operatively connected to the logic means to deflect an article along one of a number of paths in response to the logic signal.

Claim 5

In a device for measuring articles, the combination of first and second beams of coherent, non-diverging light, a group of sensors in the path of the first beam and a single sensor in the path of the second beam, positioning means for locating articles one at a time in the light to interrupt the light and thereby shade the sensors, two dimEnsional lens means for diverging the light upon the sensors, and means operatively connected to the sensors to divert articles comprising signal means to produce a signal at the instant the second beam of light to the single sensor is interrupted, logic means actuated by the signal to create one of a number of logic signals in response to the shading of the sensors in the path of the first beam of light, and deflection means operatively connected to the logic means to deflect an article along one of a number of paths in response to the logic signal.

Claim 6

In a device for measuring articles, the combination of first and second beams of coherent, non-diverging light, first and second sensors respectively located in the first and second beams, positioning means for locating articles one at a time in the light to interrupt the light and thereby shade the sensors, two dimensional lens means for diverging the light upon the sensors, and means operatively connected to the sensors for diverting articles along one of a number of paths in response to the shading of the sensors by the article, said diverting means comprising pulse means to produce a pulse at the instant light is projected upon the first sensor, a pulse at the instant light is interrupted to the first sensor, and a pulse at the instant light is interrupted to the second sensor, logic means to create one of a number of logic signals in response to the location of the pulses relative in time to one another, and deflection means operatively connected to the logic means to deflect an article along one of a number of paths in response to the logic signal.

Claim 7

In a device for measuring articles, the combination of first and second beams of coherent, non-diverging light, first and second sensors respectively located in the first and second beams, positioning means for locating articles one at a time in the light to interrupt the light and thereby shade the sensors, two dimensional lens means for diverging the light upon the sensors, and means operatively connected to the sensors for diverting articles along one of a number of paths in response to the shading of the sensors by the article, said diverting means comprising pulse means to produce a pulse at the instant light is projected upon the first sensor, a pulse at the instant light is interrupted to the first sensor, and a pulse at the instant light is interrupted to the second sensor, logic means to create one of a number of logic signals in response to the location of the pulses relative in time to one another, and deflection means operatively connected to the logic means to deflect an article along one of a number of paths in response to the logic signal.

Claim 8

In a device for measuring articles, the combination of sensors responsive to the presence and absence of light, at least one source of coherent, non-diverging light, two dimensional lens means for diverging the light upon the sensors, positioning means above the source for locating articles one at a time in the light intermediate the source and the sensors and thereby shade certain sensors, the positioning means comprising a horizontal entrance passage, an upwardly inclined passage connected to the entrance passage, a separation passage connected to the inclined passage, the separation passage being partially defined by an upper and a lower radial surface, and a vertically positioned exit passage that is substantially perpendicular to the entrance passage, the exit passage having converging, parabolic shaped side surfaces that are tangent to the upper and the lower radial surfaces, and means operatively connected to the sensors for diverting articles along one of a number of paths in response to the shading of sensors by the article.

Claim 9

In a device for measuring articles, the combination of sensors responsive to the presence and absence of light, at least one source of coherent, non-diverging light, two dimensional lens means for diverging the light upon the sensors, positioning means above the source for locating articles one at a time in the light intermediate the source and the sensors and thereby shade certain sensors, the positioning means comprising a horizontal entrance passage, an upwardly inclined passage connected to the entrance passage, a separation passage connected to the inclined passage, the separation passage being partially defined by an upper and a lower radial surface, and a vertically positioned exit passage that is substantially perpendicular to the entrance passage, the exit passage having converging, parabolic shaped side surfaces that are tangent to the upper and the lower radial surfaces, and means operatively connected to the sensors for diverting articles along one of a number of paths in response to the shading of sensors by the article.

Claim 10

A separator for separating and spacing elongated articles comprising a substantially straight entrance passage, an upwardly inclined passage communicating with the entrance passage, a separation passage communicating with the inclined passage, the separation passage being partially defined by a first and a second radial surface, and a vertical exit passage communicating with the separation passage, the exit passage having parabolic shaped side surfaces that are tangential to the first and the second radial surfaces, whereby articles are forced in an end to end orientation into the entrance passage and fall by the force of gravity downwardly out of the exit passage.

Claim 11

A separator for separating and spacing elongated articles comprising a substantially straight entrance passage, an upwardly inclined passage communicating with the entrance passage, a separation passage communicating with the inclined passage, the separation passage being partially defined by a first and a second radial surface, and a vertical exit passage communicating with the separation passage, the exit passage having parabolic shaped side surfaces that are tangential to the first and the second radial surfaces, whereby articles are forced in an end to end orientation into the entrance passage and fall by the force of gravity downwardly out of the exit passage.

Claim 12

A separator according to claim 6 wherein the passages of the separator are defined on two sides by surfaces which lie in two spaced parallel planes.