Inventors:
Rene P. Paladini - Frenchtown NJ
International Classification:
G01N 2186
Abstract:
A pair of conveyor belts arranged to form a substantially V-shaped conveying path for slender, elongated tubular members of a predetermined length. A small gap is provided between the conveyor belts at the apex of the V-shaped conveyor assembly. A light transmitter directs a beam across one of the conveyor belts and into the gap toward a receiver. A member to be measured lies in the V-shaped groove periodically breaking the beam according to the length thereof. A pulse generator develops output pulses at a rate determined by the linear speed of the conveyor. First and second detectors count pulses at the initiation and determination of a detector beam to each determine a length. The length of the workpiece is determined by taking an average of the two values. The counts are also employed to assure accuracy of the system by confirming that the counts obtained as a leading edge of a workpiece passes the first and second detectors provide a difference value which is equal to the actual distance between the first and second detectors.