Abstract: A combinational weighing system including a plurality of weighing machines each comprising a weighing hopper (20) and an associated hopper module (22) arranged to provide a measurement of the weight of the contents of the associated hopper (20); a plurality of channels (14) via which articles are respectively fed from a common source (17) directly into each of the hoppers (20); a central control (76) for utilizing the weight measurements provided by the hopper modules (22) to select from the hoppers (20) a number of hoppers (20) whose contents have a total weight substantially equal to a target weight; and the selected number of hoppers (20) discharging into a collection chute (24) to feed a batch of articles of substantially the target weight to a collection point.

Abstract: A weighing hopper (20) comprising: a body portion for containing articles; a port in the body portion; a door (21) pivotally connected to the body portion for rotation about a first axis (A) between a first position in which the port is closed by the door (21) to retain articles in the body portion and a second position in which articles contained in the hopper (20) can be discharged through the port; and a mechanism (23) for moving the door (21) between its first and second positions comprising a first member (58) rigidly connected to the door (21); a second member (60) pivotally connected to the first member (58) for rotation about a second axis (E) parallel to and spaced from the first axis (A); and a third member (62) pivotally connected to the second member (60) for rotation about a third axis (B) parallel to and spaced from the second axis (E), and pivotally connected to the body portion for rotation about a fourth axis (C) parallel to and fixedly spaced from the first axis (A) so that rotation of the t