Dimensioning system and method of dimensioning

Abstract

A method and apparatus for dimensioning and, optionally, weighing a cuboidal object. Four distance sensors are employed, one downwardly facing the top of the object, one facing one side thereof and two respectively facing mutually parallel sides of the object perpendicular to the one side. Distances are measured between the sensors and the top and sides of the object and subtracted from known distances to determine the length, width, height and spatial volume of the object. The object may be weighed as it is being dimensioned. Spatial volume and a “dim weight” for the object may be calculated.

1. An apparatus for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 a longitudinally extending platform having a surface;   a first, downwardly facing distance sensor disposed above the surface of the platform;   a second distance sensor at one side of the platform and facing laterally thereacross; and   third and fourth distance sensors disposed along a longitudinal edge of an opposing side of the platform from the one side, the third and fourth distance sensors, substantially facing each other and facing substantially along the longitudinal edge of the opposing side.   
     
     
       2. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a longitudinally extending, vertical alignment surface located along the opposing side of the platform. 
     
     
       3. The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein the vertical alignment surface is carried by the platform. 
     
     
       4. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth distance sensors are oriented parallel or at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the platform. 
     
     
       5. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the third and fourth distance sensors are carried by the platform. 
     
     
       6. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first distance sensor is carried by an arm extending over the platform. 
     
     
       7. The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the second distance sensor is carried by a substantially vertically extending portion of the arm disposed at the one side of the platform. 
     
     
       8. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth distance sensors are selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic sensors and laser rangefinder sensors. 
     
     
       9. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform is supported on a support assembly by at least one device for measuring weight. 
     
     
       10. The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one device for measuring weight comprises at least one load cell. 
     
     
       11. The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one load cell comprises two longitudinally spaced load cells. 
     
     
       12. The apparatus of  claim 9 , further including a processor for calculating a spatial volume and a dim weight of the cuboidal object. 
     
     
       13. The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the platform surface carries a plurality of substantially equal diameter, rotatably mounted elements protruding therefrom. 
     
     
       14. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further including a processor for calculating a spatial volume of the cuboidal object. 
     
     
       15. The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a barcode reader. 
     
     
       16. A method for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 placing a cuboidal object on a surface of a platform;   aligning mutually perpendicular sides of the cuboidal object to be respectively substantially perpendicular to a downwardly facing first distance sensor, a second distance sensor facing across the platform from one side thereof, and third and fourth distance sensors facing opposing, mutually parallel sides of the cuboidal object perpendicular to the one side thereof;   aligning a side of the cuboidal object parallel with the one side thereof with an alignment surface opposing the second distance sensor;   determining a height of the cuboidal object by determining a first distance between the first distance sensor and the top of the cuboidal object and subtracting the determined first distance from a known distance between the first distance sensor and the platform surface;   determining a width of the cuboidal object by determining a second distance between the second distance sensor and the one side of the cuboidal object and subtracting the determined second distance from a known distance between the second distance sensor and the alignment surface; and   determining a length of the cuboidal object by respectively determining third and fourth distances between the third and fourth distance sensors and the opposing, mutually parallel sides of the cuboidal object and subtracting the third and fourth determined distances from a known distance between the third and fourth sensors.   
     
     
       17. The method of  claim 16 , wherein determining the length, width and height of the cuboidal object is effected using an ultrasonic distance sensor or a laser rangefinder distance sensor to measure the first, second, third and fourth distances. 
     
     
       18. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising determining a weight of the cuboidal object substantially concurrently with determining the length, width and height thereof. 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising calculating a spatial volume of the cuboidal object from the determined length, width and height and a dim weight for the cuboidal object from the calculated spatial volume, determined weight and a preselected dim weight factor. 
     
     
       20. The method of  claim 16 , further comprising calculating a spatial volume of the cuboidal object from the determined length, width and height. 
     
     
       21. An apparatus for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 a platform having a surface;   a first, downwardly facing distance sensor disposed above the surface of the platform and carried by an arm extending thereover;   a second distance sensor at one side of the platform and facing laterally thereacross, the second distance sensor being carried by a substantially vertically extending portion of the arm disposed at the one side of the platform; and   third and fourth distance sensors substantially facing each other and facing substantially longitudinally along an opposing side of the platform from the second distance sensor.   
     
     
       22. The method of  claim 16 , wherein placing the cuboidal object on the platform comprises moving the cuboidal object onto the platform from a surface of a conveyor assembly of substantially the same height as the surface of the platform. 
     
     
       23. An apparatus for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 a platform having a surface;   a first, downwardly facing distance sensor disposed above the surface of the platform;   a second distance sensor at one side of the platform and facing laterally thereacross;   third and fourth distance sensors substantially facing each other and facing substantially longitudinally along an opposing side of the platform from the second distance sensor; and   a longitudinally extending, vertical alignment surface located along the opposing side of the platform.   
     
     
       24. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the vertical alignment surface is carried by the platform. 
     
     
       25. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the third and fourth distance sensors are oriented parallel or at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the platform. 
     
     
       26. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the third and fourth distance sensors are carried by the platform. 
     
     
       27. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the first distance sensor is carried by an arm extending over the platform. 
     
     
       28. The apparatus of  claim 27 , wherein the second distance sensor is carried by a substantially vertically extending portion of the arm disposed at the one side of the platform. 
     
     
       29. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the first, second, third and fourth distance sensors are selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic sensors and laser rangefinder sensors. 
     
     
       30. The apparatus of  claim 23 , wherein the platform is supported on a support assembly by at least one device for measuring weight. 
     
     
       31. The apparatus of  claim 30 , wherein the at least one device for measuring weight comprises at least one load cell. 
     
     
       32. The apparatus of  claim 30 , further including a processor for calculating a spatial volume and a dim weight of the cuboidal object. 
     
     
       33. The apparatus of  claim 23 , further including a processor for calculating a spatial volume of the cuboidal object. 
     
     
       34. The apparatus of  claim 23 , further comprising a barcode reader. 
     
     
       35. An apparatus for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 a platform having a surface;   a support assembly supporting the platform, the support assembly comprising two longitudinally spaced load cells for measuring weight;   a first, downwardly facing distance sensor disposed above the surface of the platform;   a second distance sensor at one side of the platform and facing laterally thereacross; and   third and fourth distance sensors substantially facing each other and facing substantially longitudinally along an opposing side of the platform from the second distance sensor.   
     
     
       36. An apparatus for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 a platform having a surface;   a plurality of substantially equal diameter, rotatably mounted elements protruding from the platform surface;   a first, downwardly facing distance sensor disposed above the surface of the platform;   a second distance sensor at one side of the platform and facing laterally thereacross; and   third and fourth distance sensors substantially facing each other and facing substantially longitudinally along an opposing side of the platform from the second distance sensor.   
     
     
       37. An apparatus for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 a longitudinally extending stationary platform having a surface and a longitudinal axis;   a first, downwardly facing distance sensor disposed above the surface of the platform;   a second distance sensor at one side of the platform and facing laterally thereacross;   third and fourth distance sensors disposed along a longitudinal edge of an opposing side of the platform from the one side and on longitudinally opposing sides of the second distance sensor, the third and fourth distance sensors substantially facing each other and facing substantially along the longitudinal edge of the opposing side in a direction parallel to the longitudinal axis; and   a longitudinally extending, vertical alignment surface located along the opposing side of the platform longitudinally between the third and fourth distance sensors.   
     
     
       38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the vertical alignment surface is carried by the platform. 
     
     
       39. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the third and fourth distance sensors are oriented parallel to a longitudinal axis of the platform. 
     
     
       40. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the third and fourth distance sensors are carried by the platform. 
     
     
       41. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the first distance sensor is carried by an arm extending over the platform. 
     
     
       42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein the second distance sensor is carried by a substantially vertically extending portion of the arm disposed at the one side of the platform. 
     
     
       43. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the first, second, third and fourth distance sensors are selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic sensors and laser rangefinder sensors. 
     
     
       44. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the platform is supported on a support assembly by at least one device for measuring weight. 
     
     
       45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the at least one device for measuring weight comprises at least one load cell. 
     
     
       46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the at least one load cell comprises two longitudinally spaced load cells. 
     
     
       47. The apparatus of claim 44, further including a processor for calculating a spatial volume and a dim weight of the cuboidal object. 
     
     
       48. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the platform surface carries a plurality of substantially equal diameter, rotatably mounted elements protruding therefrom. 
     
     
       49. The apparatus of claim 37, further including a processor for calculating a spatial volume of the cuboidal object. 
     
     
       50. The apparatus of claim 37, further comprising a barcode reader. 
     
     
       51. A method for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 placing a cuboidal object on a surface of a longitudinally extending, stationary platform;   aligning mutually perpendicular sides of the cuboidal object to be respectively substantially perpendicular to a downwardly facing first distance sensor;   locating the cuboidal object on the stationary platform across from a second distance sensor facing across the stationary platform from one side thereof and longitudinally between third and fourth longitudinally spaced, mutually facing distance sensors facing opposing, mutually parallel side of the cuboidal object perpendicular to the one side thereof;   aligning a side of the cuboidal object parallel with the one side thereof with an alignment surface opposing the second distance sensor, contacting the side of the cuboidal object with the alignment surface, and locating the side of the cuboidal object adjacent an edge of the stationary platform between the third and fourth distance sensors, the third and frouth distance sensors respectively facing opposing, mutually parallel sides of the cuboidal object perpendicular to the one side thereof;   determining a height of the cuboidal object by determining a first distance between the first distance sensor and the top side of the cuboidal object aligned substantially perpendicular to the downwardly facing first distance sensor and subtracting the determined first distance from a known distance between the first distance sensor and the platform surface;   determining a width of the cuboidal object by determining a second distance between the second distance sensor and the one side of the cuboidal object and subtracting the determined second distance from a known distance between the second distance sensor and the alignment surface; and   determining a length of the cuboidal object by respectively determining third and fourth distances between the third and fourth distance sensors and the opposing, mutually parallel sides of the cuboidal object and subtracting the third and fourth determined distances from a known distance between the third and fourth sensors.   
     
     
       52. The method of claim 51, wherein determining the length, width and height of the cuboidal object is effected using an ultrasonic distance sensor or a laser rangefinder distance sensor to measure the first, second, third and fourth distances. 
     
     
       53. The method of claim 51, further comprising determining a weight of the cuboidal object substantially concurrently with determining the length, width and height thereof. 
     
     
       54. The method of claim 53, further comprising calculating a spatial volume of the cuboidal object from the determined length, width and height and a dim weight for the cuboidal object from the calculated spatial volume, determined weight and a preselected dim weight factor. 
     
     
       55. The method of claim 51, further comprising calculating a spatial volume of the cuboidal object from the determined length, width and height. 
     
     
       56. An apparatus for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 a longitudinally extending, stationary platform having a surface;   a first, downwardly facing distance sensor disposed above the surface of the platform and carried by an arm extending thereover;   a second distance sensor at one side of the platform and facing laterally thereacross, the second distance sensor being carried by a substantially vertically extending portion of the arm disposed at the one side of the platform; and   third and fourth distance sensors substantially facing each other and facing substantially longitudinally along an opposing side of the platform from the second distance sensor, the second distance sensor being located longitudinally between the third and fourth distance sensors.   
     
     
       57. The method of claim 51, wherein placing the cuboidal object on the platform comprises moving the cuboidal object onto the platform from a surface of a conveyor assembly of substantially the same height as the surface of the platform. 
     
     
       58. An apparatus for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 a longitudinally extending, stationary platform having a surface;   a first, downwardly facing distance sensor disposed above the surface of the platform;   a second distance sensor at one side of the platform longitudinally between third and fourth distance sensors and facing laterally across the platform;   the third and fourth distance sensors substantially facing each other and facing substantially longitudinally along an opposing side of the platform from the second distance sensor; and   a longitudinally extending, vertical alignment surface located along the opposing side of the platform and between the third and fourth distance sensors.   
     
     
       59. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the vertical alignment surface is carried by the platform. 
     
     
       60. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the third and fourth distance sensors are oriented parallel or at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the platform. 
     
     
       61. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the third and fourth distance sensors are carried by the platform. 
     
     
       62. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the first distance sensor is carried by an arm extending over the platform. 
     
     
       63. The apparatus of claim 62, wherein the second distance sensor is carried by a substantially vertically extending portion of the arm disposed at the one side of the platform. 
     
     
       64. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the first, second, third and fourth distance sensors are selected from the group consisting of ultrasonic sensors and laser rangefinder sensors. 
     
     
       65. The apparatus of claim 58, wherein the platform is supported on a support assembly by at least one device for measuring weight. 
     
     
       66. The apparatus of claim 65, wherein the at least one device for measuring weight comprises at least one load cell. 
     
     
       67. The apparatus of claim 65, further including a processor for calculating a spatial volume and a dim weight of the cuboidal object. 
     
     
       68. The apparatus of claim 58, further including a processor for calculating a spatial volume of the cuboidal object. 
     
     
       69. The apparatus of claim 58, further comprising a barcode reader. 
     
     
       70. An apparatus for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 a longitudinally extending, stationary platform having a surface;   a support assembly supporting the platform, the support assembly comprising two longitudinally spaced load cells for measuring weight;   a first, downwardly facing distance sensor disposed above the surface of the platform;   a second distance sensor at one side of the platform and facing laterally thereacross; and   third and fourth distance sensors substantially facing each other on longitudinally opposing sides of the second distance sensor and facing substantially longitudinally along a laterally opposing side of the platform from the second distance sensor.   
     
     
       71. An apparatus for determining dimensions of a cuboidal object, comprising:
 a platform having a stationary surface;   a plurality of substantially equal diameter, rotatably mounted elements protruding from the platform surface;   a first, downwardly facing distance sensor disposed above the surface of the platform;   a second distance sensor at one side of the platform and facing laterally thereacross; and   third and fourth distance sensors substantially facing each other, longitudinally flanking the second distance sensor and facing substantially longitudinally along a laterally opposing side of the platform from the second distance sensor.