Patent ID: 8384889

Claim:
An outer shape determination device for determining the outer shape of an object to be subjected to determination, comprising: a mounting base having a rectangular mounting surface for placing the object thereon; a first light emitting and receiving means for emitting and receiving parallel light beams arranged in a longitudinal direction along the mounting surface; a second light emitting and receiving means for emitting and receiving parallel light beams arranged in a transverse direction along the mounting surface; a third light emitting and receiving means for emitting and receiving parallel light beams arranged in a heightwise direction with respect to the mounting surface; a light source for transmitting light beams to a light emitting section of each of the light emitting and receiving means; a detecting means for detecting the reception or interception of light beams in a light receiving section of each of the light emitting and receiving means to output a signal while the object is placed on the mounting surface; and an outer shape calculating means for calculating the outer shape of the object, based on the signal from the detecting means.