US 12,252,351 B2
Systems and methods for package size detection
William Mark Hogan, Virginia Beach, VA (US); Daniel Lee Bonsack, Jonesboro, AR (US); and Andrew Young, Bono, AR (US)
Assigned to FMH Conveyors LLC, Jonesboro, AR (US)
Filed by FMH Conveyors LLC, Jonesboro, AR (US)
Filed on Dec. 15, 2022, as Appl. No. 18/066,350.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/290,213, filed on Dec. 16, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2023/0192414 A1, Jun. 22, 2023
Int. Cl. B65G 43/08 (2006.01); G01B 11/04 (2006.01)
CPC B65G 43/08 (2013.01) [G01B 11/043 (2013.01); G01B 11/046 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for monitoring a package on a conveyor, the method comprising:
emitting a plurality of infrared beams, wherein the infrared beams are emitted from a transmitter using a plurality of vertically-arranged light sources;
detecting one or more of the infrared beams, wherein the infrared beams are detected by a receiver using a plurality of vertically-arranged sensors;
calculating a package height using the detected infrared beams;
determining whether the package height meets or exceeds a predetermined threshold; and when the package height meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold, sending a signal indicating a height of the package exceeds the predetermined threshold,
wherein the package height corresponds to a consecutive number of the plurality of vertically-arranged sensors that receive no signal from the corresponding one of the infrared beams,
wherein determining whether the package height meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold includes comparing the consecutive number of the plurality of vertically-arranged sensors that receive no signal to the predetermined threshold, and
wherein sending the signal includes sending the signal when the consecutive number of the plurality of vertically-arranged sensors that receive no signal meets or exceeds the predetermined threshold.