Weighing scales – With weigher loading or unloading means
Patent
1998-08-12
2000-08-22
Gibson, Randy W.
Weighing scales
With weigher loading or unloading means
177119, 198447, 271 2, 271 69, 271303, G01G 1302, G01G 1900, B65G 4712, B65H 500, B65H 2968
Patent
active
061075795
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF INVENTION
The present invention relates to an arrangement for the automatic determination of the weight of mail items.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In automatic letter sorting systems, it is necessary for different applications to determine the weight of flat, flexible objects which tear easily and which have different lengths, e.g., C6 letters, DL letters, C5 letters, postcards, these objects are transported as a continuous stream, without stopping or delaying the objects. Difficulties can arise in that, the weight of the mail items must also be determined accurately and reliably when the mail items are transported at high speeds, e.g., above a speed of 2 m/s. Even at these speeds, the mail items must not be damaged. In addition, it is necessary that the mail items largely maintain their relative position with respect to one another in the continuous stream. In particular, the weight determination should not change the gaps between the mail items.
Methods have already been disclosed wherein the objects to be weighed are guided horizontally over a weighing system and are weighed dynamically during this process. At higher speeds, however, displacements occur between the objects because the objects are not firmly grasped by the conveying system; moreover, these arrangements do not allow high throughputs because, with small distances between the objects the individual objects do not remain in the weighing system long enough to determine the weight with sufficient accuracy. If there are only small gaps between objects of different lengths, the result is that short objects are not disposed in the weighing system by themselves, so that, in these cases, it is not possible to determine the weight of the small objects at all. To solve this problem, the stream of objects can be split into several partial streams and the individual objects fed to several weighing systems. In principle, this permits a higher overall throughput. However, the problem continues to exist that the individual objects of the partial streams can be displaced, so that such arrangements cannot be used for higher speeds. Furthermore, there is the risk that the objects to be weighed get damaged during the transition to the weighing system, especially if they are not rigid and stable enough.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore the object of the present invention to propose an arrangement for the automatic determination of the weight of mail items. With such an arrangement a measurement can take place in the continuous stream while, even at higher speeds, displacements of the relative position of the mail items with respect to one another in the stream of items are avoided. The object is accomplished generally by an arrangement for the automatic determination of the weight of mail items, with a feeder arrangement and a discharge arrangement for the mail items as well as a plurality of weighing systems in which the feeder arrangement is connected to a distributing device through which the mail items can be supplied to the weighing systems. Further conveying paths are provided through which the mail items can subsequently be supplied to a combining arrangement and then to a discharge arangement. The mail items are transported in the conveying paths and in the weighing systems while being permanently grasped. A plurality of conveying paths are connected to the distributing device.
The arrangement according to the invention permits a higher overall throughput of mail items while ensuring greater weighing accuracy and operational reliability.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims as well as from the descriptions [sic].
The invention is described below in greater detail by way of figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an arrangement according to the invention.
FIG. 2 is a detailed illustration of the conveyance through a weighing system according to the invention.
FIG. 3 is the layout for an arrangement according to the invention with two weighing sys
REFERENCES:
patent: 4019620 (1977-04-01), Frenkel et al.
patent: 4901808 (1990-02-01), Wu
patent: 5086855 (1992-02-01), Tolson
patent: 5088569 (1992-02-01), Checcucci
patent: 5228550 (1993-07-01), Munch
patent: 5359154 (1994-10-01), Tsukasa et al.
patent: 5393939 (1995-02-01), Nasuta, Jr. et al.
patent: 5542547 (1996-08-01), Ricciardi
patent: 5684275 (1997-11-01), Tolson
patent: 5723825 (1998-03-01), Dolan et al.
Franklin et al., Feedback Control of Dynamic Systems, Addison-Wesley Publishing Co., Reading, Mass, pp. 88-93, May 1987.
Gibson Randy W.
Kunitz Norman N
Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
LandOfFree
Arrangement for automatically determining the weight of items of does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Arrangement for automatically determining the weight of items of, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Arrangement for automatically determining the weight of items of will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-583376