An apparatus for measuring the temperature of workpieces transported on a conveyor is disclosed. In one broad aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a translatable assembly which has a pick-up tool for picking up workpieces and a temperature-sensing device which is in proximity to the pick-
An apparatus for measuring the temperature of workpieces transported on a conveyor is disclosed. In one broad aspect of the invention, the apparatus includes a translatable assembly which has a pick-up tool for picking up workpieces and a temperature-sensing device which is in proximity to the pick-up tool for measuring the temperature of the workpiece. Other embodiments are disclosed, including eliminating the pick-up tool, provided the temperature sensing device travels with the workpiece. Scanners can be utilized to designate the largest of the workpieces to be measured or for detecting overlapping workpieces. Feedback temperature control is achieved by varying a parameter, such as conveyor speed or a heat engine temperature. Also, a modeling module can be incorporated to assist with temperature control of the workpieces.
대표청구항▼
1. An apparatus for measuring the temperature of workpieces transported on a conveyor, comprising:a translatable assembly having a pick-up tool configured to actuate in a repetitive motion for picking up a workpiece and having a holding and releasing action, and; a temperature-sensing device in prox
1. An apparatus for measuring the temperature of workpieces transported on a conveyor, comprising:a translatable assembly having a pick-up tool configured to actuate in a repetitive motion for picking up a workpiece and having a holding and releasing action, and; a temperature-sensing device in proximity to the pick-up tool configured to measure the temperature of the workpiece during the holding action. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises multiple probes for sensing temperatures on multiple workpiece locations.3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature-sensing device includes a single probe for sensing temperature at one location.4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the pick-up tool has a source of vacuum for creating the holding action which holds the workpiece to the pick-up tool.5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the translatable assembly further comprises:a first carriage mounted on a first support structure, said carriage having the pick-up tool and the temperature-sensing device mounted thereon, and said first carriage configured to translate in a first direction. 6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the translatable assembly further comprises:a second carriage mounted on a second support structure, said second carriage supporting the first support structure, and said second carriage translatable in a second direction. 7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a conveyor speed controller.8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a heat engine temperature controller.9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a recorder.10. The system of claim 1:wherein the temperature-sensing device being mounted on the translatable assembly; wherein the translatable assembly is configured to actuate towards a workpiece to place the temperature-sensing device at a temperature-sensing and to travel in the direction of the workpiece for a suitable time. 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises multiple probes for sensing temperatures on multiple workpiece locations.12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the temperature-sensing device includes a single probe for sensing temperature at one location.13. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the translatable assembly further comprises:a first carriage mounted on a first support structure, said carriage having the temperature-sensing device mounted thereon, and said first carriage configured to translate in first direction. 14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the translatable assembly further comprising:a second carriage mounted on a second support structure, said carriage supporting the first support structure, and said second carriage translatable in a second direction. 15. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a convey speed control.16. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a heat engine temperature controller.17. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a recorder.18. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:a scanner for scanning the workpieces being transported on the conveyor to ascertain overlapping workpieces; and a separator using the information from the scanner to separate the overlapping workpieces. 19. The apparatus of claim 1:further comprising a scanner to scan the workpieces to determine the largest of the workpieces in a population; and the translatable assembly being controllable to automatically pick up the largest workpieces from the scanned population. 20. A system for measuring the temperature of workpieces, comprising:a conveyor for transporting workpieces; a heat engine in proximity to the conveyor for processing the workpieces; a translatable assembly having a pick-up tool configured to actuate in a repetitive motion for picking up a workpiece and having a holding and releasing action, and a temperature-sensing device in proximity to the pick-up tool configured to measure the temperature of the workpiece during the holding action, the assembly located in proximity to the conveyor, the heat engine ahead of the assembly. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises multiple probes for sensing temperatures on multiple workpiece locations.22. The system of claim 20, wherein the temperature-sensing device includes a single probe for sensing temperature at one location.23. The system of claim 20, wherein the pick-up tool has a source of vacuum for creating the holding action which holds the workpiece to the pick-up tool.24. The system of claim 20, wherein the translatable assembly further comprises:a first carriage mounted on a first support structure, said carriage having the pick-up tool and the temperature-sensing device mounted thereon, and said first carriage configured to translate in a first direction. 25. The system of claim 24, wherein the translatable assembly further comprises:a second carriage mounted on a second support structure, said second carriage supporting the first support structure, and said second carriage translatable in a second direction. 26. The system of claim 20, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a conveyor speed controller.27. The system of claim 20, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a heat engine temperature controller.28. The system of claim 20, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a recorder.29. The system of claim 20, wherein the heat engine is one of a freezer, oven, and fryer.30. An apparatus for measuring the temperature of workpieces transported on a conveyor, comprising:a translatable assembly having a pick-up tool configured to actuate in a repetitive motion for picking up a workpiece and having a holding and releasing action, and a temperature-sensing device in proximity to the pick-up tool configured to measure the temperature of the workpiece during the holding action; and a scan structure with signal communication to the assembly for positioning of the assembly relative to the conveyor, the scan structure located ahead of the assembly. 31. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises multiple probes for sensing temperatures on multiple workpiece locations.32. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the temperature-sensing device includes a single probe for sensing temperature at a single location.33. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the pick-up tool has a source of vacuum for creating the holding action which holds the workpiece to the pick-up tool.34. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the translatable assembly further comprises:a first carriage mounted on a first support structure, said carriage having the pick-up tool and the temperature-sensing device mounted thereon, and said first carriage configured to translate in a first direction. 35. The apparatus of claim 34, wherein the translatable assembly further comprises:a second carriage mounted on a second support structure, said second carriage supporting the first support structure, and said second carriage translatable in a second direction. 36. The apparatus of claim 30 wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a conveyor speed controller.37. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a heat engine temperature controller.38. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a recorder.39. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein:the scan structure is capable of scanning the workpieces to determine whether said workpieces are overlapping each other; and further comprising a separating structure to separate the overlapping workpieces from each other. 40. The apparatus of claim 30, wherein;the scanning structure capable of scanning a population of workpieces to determine the largest of the workpieces in the population; and the translatable assembly being controllable to pick up the largest workpiece to determine by the scanned structure. 41. A system for measuring the temperature of workpieces, comprising:a conveyor for transporting workpieces; a heat engine in proximity to the conveyor for processing the workpieces; a translatable assembly having a pick-up tool configured to actuate in a repetitive motion for picking up a workpiece and having a holding and releasing action, and a temperature-sensing device in proximity to the pick-up tool configured to measure the temperature of the workpiece during the holding action, the assembly located in proximity to the conveyor, the heat engine ahead of the assembly; and a scan structure with signal communication to the assembly for positioning of the assembly relative to the conveyor, the scan structure located in proximity to the conveyor and ahead of the assembly. 42. The system of claim 41, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises multiple probes for sensing temperatures on multiple workpiece locations.43. The system of claim 41, wherein the temperature-sensing device includes a single probe for sensing temperature at a single location.44. The system of claim 41, wherein the pick-up tool has a source of vacuum for creating the holding action which holds the workpiece to the pick-up tool.45. The system of claim 41, wherein the translatable assembly further comprises:a first carriage mounted on a first support structure, said carriage having the pick-up tool and the temperature-sensing device mounted thereon, and said first carriage configured to translate in a first direction. 46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the translatable assembly further comprises:a second carriage mounted on a second support structure, said second carriage supporting the first support structure, and said second carriage translatable in a second direction. 47. The system of claim 45, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a conveyor speed controller.48. The system of claim 45, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a heat engine temperature controller.49. The system of claim 45, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a recorder.50. The system of claim 45, wherein the heat engine is one of a freezer, oven, and fryer.51. The system of claim 41, wherein:the scan structure is capable of scanning the workpieces to determine whether said workpieces are overlapping each other; and further comprising a separating structure to separate the overlapping workpieces from each other. 52. The system of claim 41;the scanning structure capable of scanning a population of workpieces to determine the largest of the workpieces in the population; and the translatable assembly being controllable to pick up the largest workpiece scanned by the scanned structure. 53. A system for measuring the temperature of workpieces, comprising:a conveyor for transporting workpieces; a heat engine in proximity to the conveyor for processing workpieces; a translatable assembly having a pick-up tool configured to actuate in a repetitive motion for picking up a workpiece and having a holding and releasing action, and a temperature-sensing device in proximity to the pick-up tool configured to measure the temperature of the workpiece during the holding action, the assembly located in proximity to the conveyor, the heat engine ahead of the assembly; and a scan structure with signal communication to a conveyor speed controller, the scan structure located in proximity to the conveyor and ahead of the heat engine. 54. The system of claim 53, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises multiple probes for sensing temperatures on multiple workpiece locations.55. The system of claim 53, wherein the temperature-sensing device includes a single probe for sensing temperature at a single location.56. The system of claim 53, wherein the pick-up tool has a source of vacuum for creating the holding action which holds the workpiece to the pick-up tool.57. The system of claim 53, wherein the translatable assembly further comprises:a first carriage mounted on a first support structure, said carriage having the pick-up tool and the temperature-sensing device mounted thereon, and said first carriage configured to translate in a first direction. 58. The system of claim 57, wherein the translatable assembly further comprises:a second carriage mounted on a second support structure, said second carriage supporting the first support structure and said second carriage translatable in a second direction. 59. The system of claim 53, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a heat engine temperature controller.60. The system of claim 53, wherein the temperature-sensing device further comprises a transmitter with signal communication to a recorder.61. The system of claim 53, further comprising a second conveyor having a speed controller with signal communication to the temperature-sensing device.62. The system of claim 53, wherein the heat engine is one of a freezer, oven, and fryer.63. The system of claim 53, wherein:the scan structure is capable of scanning the workpieces to determine whether said workpieces are overlapping each other; and further comprising a separating structure to separate the overlapping workpieces from each other. 64. The system of claim 53;the scanning structure capable of scanning a population of workpieces to determine the largest of the workpieces in the population; and the translatable assembly being controllable to picking up the largest workpiece scanned by the scan structure. 65. A method for measuring the temperature of workpieces after a heat engine and being transported on a conveyor, comprising automatically picking up a workpiece from the conveyor and measuring the temperature of the workpiece while the workpiece is automatically picked up from the conveyor.66. The method of claim 65, further comprising adjusting the temperature of a heat engine to control the temperature of the workpieces.67. The method of claim 65, further comprising adjusting the speed of a conveyor to control the temperature of the workpieces.68. The method of claim 65, further comprising measuring the temperature of a plurality of locations on the workpiece.69. The method of claim 68, further comprising taking the high, low and the average of the temperatures from the measurements and using at least one of the high, low and average values as input to a controller.70. The method of claim 68, further comprising measuring the temperature of an irregularly shaped workpiece.71. The method of claim 65, further comprising measuring the temperature at a single location on the workpiece.72. The method of claim 71, further comprising measuring the temperature of a workpiece having a substantially constant thickness.73. The method of claim 65, further comprising:scanning a population of workpieces to determine whether any of the workpieces are overlapping each other; and separating the overlapping workpieces. 74. The method of claim 65, further comprising:scanning a population of workpieces to determine the largest of the workpieces in the population; and automatically picking up the largest of the workpieces from the population scanned and measuring the temperature of said largest of the workpieces.
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