Weighing scales – Computer – Electrical
Patent
1991-01-16
1993-03-16
Miller, Jr., George H.
Weighing scales
Computer
Electrical
177200, G01G 1942
Patent
active
051936291
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for determining the number and/or value of weighed items.
Counting machines for determining the number and/or value of coins or bank notes by weighing are known For example, European Patent No. 0040539 describes such a machine which determines the number and/or value of the weighed items by dividing a total weight signal by an appropriate weight factor. Where the quotient obtained is not an exact integer, the quotient is rounded to the nearest exact integer.
It is important that the machine only displays accurate and reliable results, and accordingly the European Patent describes how the machine can be arranged to display a warning if a reliable number and/or value cannot be given. In this respect, the quotient obtained is compared with predetermined tolerance limits and a warning is given if the quotient falls outside these limits.
The tolerance limits are usually chosen to represent a balance between absolute accuracy and minimising the number of warnings. Of course, this means that errors may be made or that warnings of errors will be given where an accurate count could be made. This can be annoying to the operator and it is preferable that the number of unnecessary warnings is kept to a minimum whilst maximising the count accuracy.
The present invention seeks to provide a method and apparatus for determining the number and/or value of weighed items, and associated verifying apparatus, in which accuracy has been increased whilst the number of warnings has been maintained or reduced.
According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided apparatus for determining the number and/or value of weighed items comprising processor means arranged to receive a weight signal representative of the weight of weighed items, said processor means having means for forming a quotient comprising means for dividing said weight signal by a selected preset value, and means for comparing said quotient with tolerance limits, and output means for signalling that said quotient is within said tolerance limits and so acceptable or that said quotient is outside said tolerance limits and so unacceptable, wherein said verifying apparatus further comprises means arranged to vary said tolerance limits in accordance with predetermined parameters.
In an embodiment said predetermined parameters are said weight signal, said quotient or a function of said weight signal and said quotient.
Preferably, said means to vary said tolerance limits is arranged to vary said tolerance limits in dependence upon said quotient.
The selected preset value by which said weight signal is divided may be, for example, a value representative of the number of individual items in a weighed article such that an acceptable quotient is representative of the weight of one or more of the individual items. However, preferably, said selected preset value is a respective one of a plurality of preset weights such that an acceptable quotient is representative of the number of items in a weighed article.
Said means for forming a quotient may further comprise means for subtracting a preselected value from the results of the division of the weight signal by the selected preset value to form the quotient to be compared with said tolerance limits. In an embodiment, said subtracting means is arranged to subtract a preselected value representative of a previous number of items in a weighed article from the results of the division such that said quotient is representative only of the number of subsequently added items.
Preferably, said means arranged to vary said tolerance limits is arranged to increase the area of the tolerance limits in which the quotient is unacceptable as the value of the said quotient is increased. Said means arranged to vary said tolerance levels may be arranged to determine the tolerance limits in dependence upon the value of the integer of said quotient, and wherein said means for comparing is arranged to compare the fraction of the quotient with the determined tolerance limits.
Any qu
REFERENCES:
patent: 4157738 (1979-06-01), Nishiguchi et al.
patent: 4447885 (1984-05-01), Biss
patent: 4493384 (1985-01-01), Yano et al.
patent: 4512428 (1985-04-01), Bullivant
patent: 4629016 (1986-12-01), Knothe et al.
patent: 4646767 (1987-03-01), Hikita
patent: 4674060 (1987-06-01), Larkin et al.
patent: 4685525 (1987-08-01), Knothe et al.
WO, A,88/09485 (Percell Group Ltd.), Dec. 1, 1988, see p. 2, line 8-p. 7, line 1; FIGS. 1-5C cited in the application.
Miller Jr. George H.
Percell Group Limited
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for determining the number and/or value 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 Method and apparatus for determining the number and/or value of , we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for determining the number and/or value of will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-346826