Weighing scales – Computer – Electrical
Reexamination Certificate
2001-10-18
2004-01-06
Gibson, Randy (Department: 2841)
Weighing scales
Computer
Electrical
C177S238000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06674021
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a combination weighing apparatus, and more particularly to a combination weighing apparatus structured such that the whole apparatus can be easily cleaned at a time of treating foods or the like as a subject to be weighed.
BACKGROUND ART
As is well known, conventionally, a combination weighing apparatus is employed for bagging foods, that is, goods individually having uneven mass, for example, potato chips, peanuts, fruits, sausages and the like at a predetermined mass or a substantially predetermined mass in a lump.
In this kind of combination weighing apparatus, for example, a plurality of radial feeders are radially provided around a center dispersing table, a plurality of stock hoppers, a plurality of weighing hoppers and the like are vertically arranged respectively below a front end of each of. the radial feeders, and a collecting chute is provided below each of the stock hoppers, each of the weighing hoppers and the like.
Further, in the combination weighing apparatus mentioned above, for example, the subjects to be weighed such as the foods or the like as mentioned above are supplied to the dispersing table by a conveyor or the like, the subjects to be weighed supplied to the dispersing table are downward moved so as to be dropped down to each of the stock hoppers by a plurality of radial feeders, and the subjects to be weighed moved to each of the stock hoppers are moved downward so as to be dropped down to each of the weighing hoppers.
Further, the mass of the subjects to be weighed moved to each of the weighing hoppers is weighed at each of the weighing hoppers.
In this case, the mass of the subjects to be weighed within a plurality of weighing hoppers is combined and added by a calculating portion (not shown), whereby a predetermined mass or a combination close thereto is selected, and thereafter, the subjects to be weighed in correspondence to the selected combination are dropped down and discharged to a collecting chute from each of the weighing hoppers so as to be gathered together.
Then, the subjects to be weighed dropped down to the collecting chute so as to be gathered together are conveyed out to the next step such as a packaging machine or the like.
Accordingly, in the conventional combination weighing apparatus having the structure mentioned above, for example, as shown in
FIG. 39
, a plurality of stock hoppers
1
, a plurality of weighing hoppers
2
and the like arranged in a circumferential direction are detachably supported to brackets
4
and
5
protruded from an outer periphery of a center casing
3
respectively by engaging members
17
a,
17
b,
18
a
and
18
b
provided in back surface portions of each of the hoppers
1
and
2
.
That is, the respective hoppers
1
and
2
are frequently engaged with or disengaged from the brackets
4
and
5
for the purpose of cleaning and maintaining and inspecting the combination weighing apparatus, as mentioned below.
Further, opening and closing lids
6
and
7
are provided in bottom portions of the respective hoppers
1
and
2
.
Complex opening and closing link mechanisms
8
and
9
for opening and closing the opening and closing lids
6
and
7
, and restoration springs
10
and
11
are provided on outer surfaces of side wall portions in the respective hoppers
1
and
2
.
Further, movable bodies
12
and
13
driven by a drive source arranged within the casing
3
are provided so as to protrude outward from holes (not shown) in the casing
3
.
The structure is made such that the movable bodies
12
and
13
drive the opening and closing link mechanisms
8
and
9
of the respective hoppers
1
and
2
, whereby the opening and closing lids
6
and
7
in the respective hoppers
1
and
2
are opened, and the opened opening and closing lids
6
and
7
in the respective hoppers
1
and
2
are closed by the restoration springs
10
and
11
.
Further, the structure is made such that the bracket
5
supporting each of the weighing hoppers
2
protrudes outward from a hole (not shown) in the casing
3
and can be moved by the mass of the subjects to be weighed within the weighing hopper
2
.
The bracket
5
is supported to a weighing device (not shown) within the casing
3
.
In this case, in
FIG. 39
, reference numeral
14
denotes a center dispersing table and reference numeral
15
denotes a radial feeder.
In the combination weighing apparatus having the structure mentioned above, in the case that the subjects to be weighed are particularly foods, the subjects to be weighed are violently supplied, dropped down and discharged between the respective hoppers and the collecting chute due to a significantly high speed drive.
Accordingly, in the combination weighing apparatus mentioned above, the subjects to be weighed supplied and dropped down or fine powder mists thereof are gradually attached and accumulated around the whole from the respective portions of the combination weighing apparatus such as the respective hoppers
1
and
2
, the casing
3
and the like during continued use.
If the attachment and accumulation of the subjects to be weighed and the fine powder mists are left, there is a risk that an operation of the combination weighing apparatus is an obstacle or bacteria breed in the subjects to be weighed or the fine power mists attached and accumulated in the respective portions or these materials are spoilt.
That is, as mentioned above, in the conventional combination weighing apparatus the significantly complex opening and closing link mechanisms
8
and
9
and the restoration springs
10
and
11
are provided in the respective hoppers
1
and
2
, and the complex brackets
4
and
5
and the movable bodies
12
and
13
are provided in the respective hoppers
1
and
2
so as to protrude outward from the casing
3
.
Further, a lot of holes are provided in a complex manner in the casing so that the movable bodies and the brackets can move.
Accordingly, since the structures of the opening and closing link mechanism
8
and
9
, the restoration springs
10
and
11
, the brackets, the movable bodies
12
and
13
, the holes in the casing
3
and the like are significantly complex, the subjects to be weighed and the fine powder mists thereof are easily attached and accumulated in the complex structure portions and the bonding portions, and the attached and accumulated subjects to be weighed and the fine powder mists easily encourage bacteria to breed, etc.
Accordingly, it is necessary to frequently clean the whole weighing apparatus.
Accordingly, as mentioned above, in the conventional combination weighing apparatus, the structures of the opening and closing link mechanisms
8
and
9
, the restoration springs
10
and
11
, the brackets, the movable bodies
12
and
13
, the holes in the casing
3
and the like which are provided in the respective hoppers
1
and
2
are significantly complex, there is a problem that it is hard to clean and it is significantly inconvenient in view of a food hygiene.
Further, as mentioned above, in the conventional combination weighing apparatus, since the mechanism for engaging and disengaging the respective hoppers
1
and
2
with and from the casing
3
are disposed on the back surfaces of the respective hoppers
1
and
2
, it is necessary for a worker to frequently engage and disengage a lot of hoppers
1
and
2
on a high table with an invisible state, so that there is a problem that it is very hard to execute the engaging and disengaging operation.
Further, as mentioned above, in the conventional combination weighing apparatus, since the mounting structure of the respective hoppers
1
and
2
is separated from the opening and closing operation driving structure of the opening and closing lids
6
and
7
, there is a problem that the whole structure is too complex.
DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a combination weighing apparatus which solves the problems and the disadvantages in the conventional combination weighing apparatus as mentioned above and can be easily
Tanaka Osamu
Wakabayashi Nobuyuki
Anritsu Corporation
Frishauf Holtz Goodman & Chick P.C.
Gibson Randy
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