Weighing scales – Computer – Electrical
Patent
1997-03-17
1999-12-07
Gibson, Randy W.
Weighing scales
Computer
Electrical
177 2519, 177119, 177145, 209645, 209657, G01G 1300, G01G 1940, G01G 1302, B07C 900
Patent
active
059987405
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
In the food processing industry it is a well known problem that it is difficult to obtain portions consisting of a number of parts (such as pieces of fresh or frozen fish, meat or poultry) when it is additionally required that a pre-determined precise portion weight (possibly with tight tolerances) be combined with a pre-determined number of pieces, in particular in those cases where the weight of the individual pieces deviates in such a manner that the weight distribution of the pieces is non-uniform or changing. Portions having a fixed number of pieces or a number in a chosen interval may be aimed at.
A weight distribution may be normal, whereby the usual concepts `average and spread` may be used as well as well tested statistical calculation procedures. The weight distribution may also be unusual, because the charge of material which is weighed and treated at an earlier stage may already have been subjected to sorting and possible removal of all items within certain intervals, and this will have removed the possibility for traditional statistical calculations.
Known methods to obtain portions of the kind discussed comprise manual weighing which is a very stressful activity and in most cases the built-in security for the customer in the form of over-weight means a considerable loss for the manufacturer.
Two principally different automatic methods are known: The combination weighing principle and the accumulation weighing principle. In the first, a number of weighed parts or part portions are disposed in a number of weighing bins or in the combination bins of such weighing bins, whereupon, based on the part weights measured, a computer calculates which bin sub portions in combination will constitute the portion which is closest in weight to the predetermined target weight. The limitation of this method is in particular that the number of parts which is available for the combination is limited. In particular when the individual weights of the parts deviate, possibly considerably from each other (as in the case of fish, poultry, or meat) the combinations will often deviate more than is desirable from the target weight, and this will, as in the manual case, mean a loss for the manufacturer.
In the accumulation weighing principle several full portions are currently and even concurrently built up. The individual parts are conveyed forward in a line and are weighed on a dynamic weigher, and the weights are registered successively by a computer which hence keeps track of the relative placement in the line and the respective weights. A distribution unit places the parts selectively in collecting bins, whereby the portions are built up, while the accumulated weights of parts in the individual bins are registered in the computer. The allocation of the individual parts to the various bins continues as long as the accumulated weight in the bin is still below the target weight, until, finally, the bin waits for a part which in the particular portion would just bring the portion weight to the desired value. In order to achieve a reasonable capacity one will have to accept that it may become necessary--and even standard practice--to perform the last discharge with a part which will give an overweight to the portion because it will be an almost lucky coincidence if among the arriving and already weighed parts there will be one which will provide the precise desired total weight.
In the last mentioned method a noticeable improvement has been achieved, cf. GB-C-156-033, in that based on a qualified estimate of the weight distribution in the mass of parts one causes a selective sorting out in such a manner that parts with a weight above and below the average, respectively, are brought together to make part portions which in order to fill to the desired weight need only one or a few parts which have the average weight. The method hence is based on the probability consideration that, cf. the normal distribution, there will be the largest number of those parts which have the respective average weight, whereby the final filling
REFERENCES:
patent: 4206822 (1980-06-01), Mazzucchelli
patent: 4313507 (1982-02-01), Hays
patent: 4418772 (1983-12-01), Fukuda
patent: 4428179 (1984-01-01), Jordan et al.
patent: 4442910 (1984-04-01), Mikami
patent: 4508186 (1985-04-01), Sashiki et al.
patent: 4632254 (1986-12-01), Scopatz
patent: 4642788 (1987-02-01), Haze
patent: 4836310 (1989-06-01), Yamano
patent: 5074436 (1991-12-01), Inoue
patent: 5270495 (1993-12-01), Mosher et al.
patent: 5319160 (1994-06-01), Nambu
patent: 5719355 (1998-02-01), Nishimura
patent: 5760342 (1998-06-01), Takeda
Bomholt John
Kvisgaard Thorkild
Gibson Randy W.
Safran David S.
Scanvaegt A/S
LandOfFree
Method and apparatus for weight controlled portioning of article 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 weight controlled portioning of article, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method and apparatus for weight controlled portioning of article will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-826294