Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the size of the whole or a specified portion of a human body or like body comprises at least one light projecting means for projecting rays, light receiving means opposed to the light projecting means for receiving rays therefrom to detect an actual-size silhouette pattern of the body, a floor portion provided between the light projecting means and the light receiving means for positioning the body thereon, and a rotary member for rotating the two means around the body relative thereto intermittently through a small angle at a time while holding the two means opposed to each other. Measurements of the body can be taken by the apparatus automatically, rapidly and with the desired accuracy without permitting direct contact of any measuring element with the body.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for recognizing the shape of solid objects in which an object to be recognized is passed through a cylindrical rotary unit upon a transparent conveyor. Inside the cylindrical rotary unit a photoelectric sensor is provided by which light is applied to the object and light reflected from or blocked by the object is detected to provide an actual projection pattern of the object for successive small incremental angles of rotation. The actual projection spectrum thus formed for contiguous slices of the object is analyzed by a computer to recognize the shape of the object.