Weighing scales – Computer – Electrical
Patent
1993-12-10
1997-01-21
Gellner, Michael L.
Weighing scales
Computer
Electrical
G01G 1300, G01G 1932
Patent
active
055961797
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a weighing machine which weighs a plurality of products inclusive of their tare weights and selects an optimum combination such that the total of the net weights of the selected products is the closest to a given target weight.
There have been known combinational weighing machines (as disclosed, for example, in Japanese Utility Model Publication Jikkai 4-36428), having many weight detecting units for weighing products comprising one or more articles such as salmon slices and adapted to combine a plurality of them such that the total weight detected by them is the closest to a given target weight value. The products from the selected plurality of weight detecting units are, for example, boxed and shipped.
In the case of already packaged products, however, the total weight obtained by such a weighing machine includes the tare weights. If the packaged products are vacuum-packed salmon slices, for example, the tare weights may be large enough to be non-negligible. Thus, tare weights must be subtracted and net weights of products must be obtained accurately when a large number of already packaged products are put in a box for a commercial purpose. Prior art weighing machines could not handle a situation like this because the net weights could not be ascertained.
In view of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a combinational weighing machine which subtracts tare weights and hence can obtain a combination of products such that the total of their net weights exclusive of their tare weights approaches a given target weight value even where the products are already packaged.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a combinational weighing machine capable of reducing the error due to tare weights even in situations where there are fluctuations in the numbers of products weighed by the individual weight detecting units or the total number of products finally to be put in a box.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A combinational weighing machine according to a first embodiment of the present invention, with which the first of the aforementioned objects can be achieved, may be characterized as comprising many weight detecting units each for measuring the gross weight of one or more packaged products, subtracting means for subtracting tare weights from the measured gross weights to thereby obtain net weights, and combination calculating means for combining a plurality of these weight detecting units and selecting an optimum combination of such that the sum of the net weights measured thereby is equal, or the closest, to a given target weight value. With a machine thus structured, a combination of already packaged products, of which the gross weights have been detected by the detecting units, can be obtained such that the sum of the net weights of the combined products, with the tare weights subtracted therefrom, is equal, or the closest, to a target value. Thus, the present invention makes it possible to sell and buy boxed products on the basis of their net weights even where, for example, the box contains a plurality of already packaged products.
A weighing machine according to another embodiment of the invention may be characterized as comprising many weight detecting units for measuring the gross weight of one or more packaged products, a gross target weight setting means for setting a gross target weight inclusive of the sum of the tare weights for combined products as well as a target weight representing the sum of net weights of products, and a combination calculating means for combining a plurality of the weight detecting units to obtain the sum of the gross weights measured thereby and selecting a particular combination which would give a sum that is equal, or the closest, to a target gross weight. If a weighing machine thus structured is used to combine packaged products of which the gross weights have been measured by a plurality of the weight detecting units, the combination is selected such that the sum of these gross weight
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Gellner Michael L.
Gibson Randy W.
Ishida Co. Ltd.
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