Weighing scales – With casing
Reexamination Certificate
1999-10-20
2002-01-22
Gibson, Randy W. (Department: 2859)
Weighing scales
With casing
C177S184000, C177SDIG009
Reexamination Certificate
active
06340799
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a strain gage-based weighing apparatus destined for use in a platform scale, material-feeding hopper, compression tester, tensile tester, etc.
2. Description of Related Art:
FIG. 1
is a plan view, and
FIG. 2
is a front view, of a typical example of the conventional weighing apparatuses using strain gages. The weighing apparatus is generally indicated with a reference
100
.
As will be best seen in
FIG. 2
, the weighing apparatus
100
comprises a fixing frame
101
, a load receiver
102
having a cylindrical hole
102
a
formed in the center thereof, a plurality of beam members
103
, upper and lower faceplates
104
a
and
104
b,
a cylinder
105
, an flexible layer
106
, strain gages
107
, and a loading plate
108
. The flexible layer
106
is made of rubber or resilient material and bonded by curing to and between the upper and lower faceplates
104
a
and
104
b.
The flexible layer
106
is formed like a disk. The flexible layer
106
is adapted to show dynamic characteristics such as compressive rigidity, flexural rigidity, etc. which are generally point-symmetrical in all directions through the disk center. The cylinder
105
is provided in the center of the lower faceplate
104
b
having the generally same disk-like shape as the flexible layer
106
, and fitted in a circular hole
102
a
in the load receiver
102
. The bottom surface of the load receiver
102
is positioned above a surface on which the weighing apparatus
100
is placed. The plurality of beam members
103
is disposed around the load receiver
102
, and securely bonded to and between the load receiver
102
and fixing frame
101
. Each of the strain gages
107
is secured to the lower side of each beam member
103
by attaching or otherwise. Thus, when a vertical load is placed on the upper faceplate
104
a,
it will push down the load receiver
102
via the flexible layer
106
and lower faceplate
104
b
to bend the beam members
103
, thereby changing the resistance of the strain gages
107
on the beam members
103
.
For a larger loading surface required for the weighing apparatus, a loading plate
108
is used, and one weighing apparatus
100
is disposed at each of the four corners of the loading plate
108
as shown in FIG.
3
.
In these conventional weighing apparatuses, the flexible layer
106
is disposed between the upper faceplates
104
a
the load receiver
102
in such a manner that the latter can be moved horizontally and tilted in relation to each other.
When an object whose weight is to be measured is placed on the upper faceplate
104
a
or the loading plate
108
, a shock will be produced to apply an external force to the weighing apparatus
100
. The components of the weighing apparatus will thermally be contracted and the fixing holes may not possibly be formed precisely in some cases.
The above horizontal relative movability and tiltability of the upper faceplates
104
a
and the load receiver
102
are intended to accommodate such external force, thermal contraction, formation error, etc. in order to protect the weighing apparatus or weighing apparatuses.
However, the conventional weighing apparatuses are not advantageous as follows:
That is, when too large a vertical load is placed on the upper faceplate
104
a
or the loading plate
108
, the flexible layer
106
, if it has no sufficient hardness, will be compressed beyond its elasticity and thus cannot sufficiently accommodate the deformation of the upper faceplate
104
a
or loading plate
108
caused by the vertical load. For measuring such a large vertical load without any trouble, the flexible layer
106
should be of an increased hardness. As a result, however, the flexible layer
106
will be too stiff for the upper faceplate
104
a
or loading plate
108
to move horizontally and tilt. Namely, deformation caused by such horizontal movement and tilting will not possibly be accommodated to a sufficient extent.
OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
Accordingly, the present invention has an object to overcome the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art by providing a weighing apparatus capable of measuring a large vertical load and sufficiently accommodating deformations caused by horizontal movement and tilting.
The above object can be attained by providing a weighing apparatus comprising, according to the present invention, an apparatus body with strain gages, a load button to transmit a weight of an object to be measured to a loading surface of the apparatus body, a top plate on one side of which the load button is installed and to the other side of which the object weight is applied, an elastic member provided around the load button and between the loading surface and top plate, and connecting members to connect the top plate to the loading surface in such a manner that the top plate can move horizontally within a predetermined range and tilt about the load button and to prevent the top plate from coming out upward.
These objects and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3526286 (1970-09-01), Flinth
patent: 3889529 (1975-06-01), Bradley
patent: 4002216 (1977-01-01), Solow
patent: 4258810 (1981-03-01), Susor
patent: 4411327 (1983-10-01), Lockery et al.
patent: 4716979 (1988-01-01), Bradley et al.
patent: 5600104 (1997-02-01), McCauley
patent: 5859390 (1999-01-01), Stafford et al.
patent: 557024 (1974-12-01), None
patent: 09178579 (1997-11-01), None
Hama Kazuaki
Kobayashi Fumiya
Bridgestone Corporation
Gibson Randy W.
Gilchrist Jason P.
Jordan and Hamburg LLP
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