Weighing scales – With weigher loading or unloading means
Patent
1982-12-07
1985-11-05
Goldberg, E. A.
Weighing scales
With weigher loading or unloading means
177163, 198504, G01G 1900, G01G 2122
Patent
active
045507937
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to weighing and particularly to a method and apparatus for checking the weight of a moving article. The weights of each of a succession of moving articles may be required to be checked for weight monitoring, weight recording, weight trend control of successively formed or filled articles, or the absence of one or more items from an article comprising a plurality of items. Check weighing apparatus for these and other purposes is commonly included in a conveyor system so that successive articles pass the check weighing apparatus. Some form of sensing device or a gating system has heretofore been necessary which senses the presence of an article in the correct position on the weighing platform of the check weighing apparatus to trigger the weighing mechanism and provide the desired indication of the weight of the article. Such indication in its simplest form can be a visual indication of the weight of the article or the deviation of the weight of the article from a predetermined nominal weight. Alternatively the indication can be used to operate a mechanism separating articles of various weights into groups, for controlling the forming or filling operation to adjust the weight of the article or in any other way as is required.
According to the present invention there is provided a method of checking the weight of a moving article comprising passing the article across a weigh platform connected to at least two load cells spaced apart in the direction of travel of the article, sensing the output signals from the load cells and adding together the output signals to provide a measure of the weight of the article when the output signals from each of the load cells are equal. The correct positioning of the article on the weigh platform for the weighing to the article to be effected is thus determined by the load cells themselves and no additional means is required. A great advantage of this is that whereas previous methods of determining the correct positioning of the article for weighing have depended upon the dimensions of the article, eg when the position is sensed by photocells, the method of the present invention relies only in the position of the centre of gravity of the article. Thus the method can be used for checking the weights of articles of different dimensions without the necessity of resetting any sensing means. Furthermore the method of the present invention can be used for checking the weight of a succession of articles of different dimensions and even of different weights.
Preferably the weigh platform is connected to two load cells, the output signals of which are subtracted one from the other and the output signals summed together to provide a measure of the weight of the article when the result of the subtraction is zero.
The article can be passed across the weigh platform under the influence of gravity. Thus the necessity for any mechanical, electrical or other positive acting driving means for the article as it passes the weigh platform is avoided together with the attendant risks of mechanical failure or breakdown. This is particularly advantageous when the method is employed in a continuous manufacturing process which would be interrupted by the check weighing system becoming inoperative.
The invention also provides apparatus for checking the weight of a moving article comprising a weigh platform, the weigh platform being operatively connected to at least two load cells spaced apart in the direction of travel of the article, equating means for receiving the individual output signals from the load cells and determining when each of the load cells are subject to an equal weight, and summing means for providing a measure of the sum of the output signals when said signals are equal which measure is a measure of the weight of the article.
The apparatus according to the invention preferably comprises two load cells, the equating means subtracting one of the signals from the other, the summing means providing a measure of the weight of the article when the result from the equ
REFERENCES:
patent: 2279041 (1942-04-01), Hadley
patent: 3276525 (1966-10-01), Cass
patent: 3674097 (1972-07-01), Gile
Goldberg E. A.
Precision Engineering Products Limited (Suffolk)
Reinehart M.
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