Abstract: An apparatus and method which control the supply of a product to a pooling unit. A sensor is provided for sensing whether the product has been supplied to a preset level of the pooling unit. The method comprises sensing whether the product has been supplied to the preset level of the pooling unit. A first time period is measured until the preset level is attained once supply of the product has begun. A second time period is calculated and measured based on the first time period, during which the product continues to be supplied to the pooling unit. The supply of the product to the pooling unit is then halted in response to expiration of the second time period. Control is effected such that the overall amount of the product supplied is substantially constant irrespective of any variation in the amount of the product supplied to the pooling unit per unit time.

Abstract: Disclosed in a combinatorial weighing apparatus having a plurality of weighing hoppers, a plurality of weighing machines, associated with respective ones of the weighing hoppers, for weighing or counting articles introduced into each of the weighing hoppers, and a chute for collecting the articles discharged from the weighing hoppers. The apparatus operates by computing combinations based on weight values provided by the weighing machines, and causing weighing hoppers, belonging to a combination selected as a result of the combinatorial computations, to discharge their articles into the chute one hopper at a time with a predetermined time delay intervening between the discharge operations.

Abstract: A printer having a circuit for controlling a heating head is arranged so that the heating head is divided into first and second heating element groups. When a printer control unit provides one line of print data, a first portion of the data is printed by the first heating element group during the first half of a printing cycle by supplying power solely to the first heating element group, and a second portion of the data is printed during the second half of the printing cycle by supplying power solely to the second heating element group.

Abstract: A collection chute in an automatic weighing apparatus including a pair of first and second upper chutes each having semicircular inner and outer collection members, and a pair of first and second lower chutes having upper ends connected to lower ends of the upper chutes and outlet ports. The first lower chute is connected to the first outer collection member and the second inner collection member. The second lower chute is connected to the second outer collection member and the first inner collection member.

Abstract: A dispersing feeder for dispersively feeding articles, supplied by a supply device, to a plurality of weighing machines where the articles are weighed. The feeder includes a turntable or conical projection for receiving and temporarily retaining the articles supplied by the supply device, a dispersing bowl disposed concentrically with respect to the turntable or conical projection and having a number of exits on its outer circumferential portion, and an electromagnetic vibrator for subjecting the dispersing bowl to torsional reciprocative oscillation. The surface of the turntable and/or dispersing bowl is provided with a multiplicity of raised and recessed portions to minimize the contact area between the surface and the articles so that the articles may be transferred without adhering to the surface.

Abstract: A method of counting articles includes weighing a multiplicity of articles in n weighing hoppers, and dividing the weight of the articles weighed by each of the weighing hoppers by a preset unit weight to determine the number of articles in each of the weighing hoppers. Combinations of the numbers of the articles are computed, and the one of the combinations which has the number of combined articles equal or closest to a set number is found. Then, a new unit weight is derived from the weight of the articles contained in one or more weighing hoppers and the number of articles contained in the same one or more weighing hoppers, and the preset unit weight is renewed by the derived new unit weight. The method also includes the step of renewing the preset unit weight with the new unit weight only when the new unit weight falls within a preset unit weight range, each time a prescribed number of counting operations are carried out or after a prescribed length of time.

Abstract: An apparatus for conveying linear articles while maintaining the specific orientation thereof. The apparatus includes a supply station for supplying linear articles having a specific orientation to a plurality of locations, a weighing station for weighing the linear articles deposited in the weighing scales of weighing machines, a pair of walking beams provided along the direction of conveyance with a multiplicity of first holders for taking up the linear articles and with a multiplicity of second holders for taking up the linear articles deposited in the weighing scales of the weighing machines, an electronic computing unit for forming combinations of weight values of the linear articles deposited in the weighing scales of the weighing machines, and for selecting the best combination of weight values whose sum is closest to a preset target weight, and holder drive for actuating those first and second holders which correspond to the weighing machines that give the best combination of weight values.

Abstract: A dispersing supply apparatus for use in an automatic weighing system includes a dispersing table which receives articles that drop from supply means. Means are provided for simultaneously subjecting the dispersing table to both rotation and reciprocating vertical motion to rotate the articles and oscillate them up and down, thereby preventing the articles from becoming entangled and assuring that the articles will be dispersed outwardly of the table in a uniform manner by centrifugal force.

Abstract: This device provides a printer wherein a narrow strip of sheet paper is passed between a platen roller and a print head, characterized in that one end of each of the platen roller and print head are supported in a cantilevered manner and owing to this arrangement, the gap between the printing roller and print head is open at the other end to enable the insertion of sheet paper into the gap from that end.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing apparatus of the type in which the batches of article charged in a plurality of hoppers are weighed and the best combination of hoppers which provides a total weight equal to or most closely approximating a target weight within a predetermined tolerance is selected, the batches of article in the hoppers constituting the best combination being then discharged to a collecting chute.

Abstract: A collecting chute assembly including first and second compound chutes. The first and second compound chutes have an outer chute of inverted, bisected frusto-conical shape with a semicircular upper opening and a semicircular lower opening, and an inner chute of inverted, bisected conical shape disposed within the outer chute via a partitioning plate. The overall chute assembly is of inverted frusto-conical shape and is constructed by uniting the compound chutes by bringing their respective partitioning plates into face-to-face contact, the assembly defining two discharge routes. At the lower ends of the chutes, one discharge route communicates the inner chute of the first compound chute with the outer chute of the second compound chute, and the other communicates the inner chute of the second compound chute with the outer chute of the first compound chute.

Abstract: The load-sensitive element of a load cell is provided with reduced-thickness portions for endowing the cell with flexibility, and a strain gauge is bonded to each reduced-thickness portion. A deposited aluminum tape or a deposited aluminum film, comprising a substrate and a deposited aluminum layer provided on the substrate, is bonded over each strain gauge by using an adhesive, thereby covering each strain gauge with a deposited aluminum layer. Alternatively, each strain gauge is covered with aluminum foil or a deposited aluminum film bonded in place through the intermediary of a rubber sheet interposed between the load-sensitive element and the foil or film, a space being provided around the strain gauge. Furthermore, the strain gauge is covered by a Teflon sheet non-adhesively, and further, a covering member such as a deposited aluminum film or tape covers the strain gauge from the top of the Teflon sheet.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing method in a combinatorial weighing apparatus comprises the steps of providing two groups of patterns of combinations of weight values issued from a plurality of weighing machines, one of the groups is divided into two subgroups which are complements of each other, and the two groups are successively processed independently and in combination to find an optimum weight combination closest to a target weight value.

Abstract: Weighing conditions, depending on the kind of article being weighed and on the target value for the weighing operation, are entered as a set of reserved values through a data input unit, and the set of reserved values is written into a memory of a storage unit by a write control unit. The storage unit includes a plurality of memories, each of which stores a different set of reserved values. A read control unit, in response to an input from the data input unit, selects a required set of reserved values from the corresponding memory of the storage unit, and applies prescribed ones of these values to a combinatorial computation control unit and feeder drive units. Therefore, when it is necessary to reset weighing conditions whenever there is a change in the kind of article being weighed or in the target value, the resetting operation is performed merely by reading the desired weighing conditions, namely the set of reserved values, from memory.

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging weighed articles from an automatic weighing system, having a plurality of hoppers for discharging batches of articles into a plurality of containers. A movable chute successively introduces batches of weighed articles, discharged from the weighing system, into each of the hoppers. When all of the hoppers have been supplied with batches of articles the hoppers are opened simultaneously.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing system which, using a combinatorial weighing apparatus for combining weight data obtained from a plurality of weighing machines to find a combination giving a total combined weight value equal or closest to a target weight value, is capable of performing combinatorial weighing in a case where the target weight value is greater than the maximum load of the weighing apparatus. When such is the case, the system operates by first discharging articles from all of the weighing machines, and then computing the difference between the target weight value and the total weight of the articles discharged from all of the weighing machines in the preceding step.

Abstract: An article feeding apparatus capable of reliably feeding articles one by one to the next process. It comprises a plurality of feed troughs (5) adapted to be individually vibrated and disposed side by side with each other with their take-in ends formed as flat surfaces in juxtaposed relation in a plane, a plurality of arranging conveyors (10) disposed adjacent the feed troughs in the direction of feed of articles, each conveyor serving to arrange articles in a line which are being fed from its associated feed trough and feed them, pool hoppers (14) installed at the take-out ends of the arranging conveyors and adapted to open and close, a bucket conveyor (15) for transferring to the next process the articles dropped from the pool hoppers one by one into buckets supported to turn around the axes of pivots, and means disposed at a predetermined position in the path of travel of the bucket conveyor for separating a plurality of articles from each other if such plurality are charged into a bucket.

Abstract: A distribution table for distributing supplied articles to a supply trough in order to be weighed. The distribution table has an upper surface which is shaped to conform to the mobility of the articles to be supplied. In embodiments of the invention, distribution tables are provided having a surface in the form of a truncated cone for articles with poor mobility, a surface provided with a centrally located hemispherical projection and a surrounding flat portion for articles having ordinary mobility, and a surface provided with a centrally located projection and an annular projection formed along the outer periphery of the table for articles which exhibit excellent mobility.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing method and apparatus for obtaining a batch of articles of a plurality of categories, each category of articles in the batch having a predetermined weight or made up of a predetermined number of articles. The method includes the steps of setting a target value for each category of articles, and supplying a plurality of weighing machines, groups of which are provided for each category of articles, with the articles of the category corresponding thereto. For each category of articles and from all combinations of the weighing machines supplied with the category of articles, a best combination is selected, whose total value (weight or number) is equal to the target value set for that category or closest to the target value within preset allowable limits. Then, the articles from those weighing machines corresponding to the best combination obtained for each category of articles is discharged, so that a batch composed of the discharged articles, is obtained.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing method and apparatus for supplying a plurality of weighing machines with articles to be weighed, obtaining a plurality of combinations of the weighing machines, each weighing machine combination giving a combination of articles having a combined weight value equal or closest to a target weight value, and selecting an optimum combination from these plural combinations. The optimum combination is one which provides a combination of articles having a combined weight value having a minimum error with respect to the target weight value and which is within preset allowable limits. The statistical dispersion of the weight values from the weighing machines which do not participate in the combination has a value that is equal to or greater than a predetermined tolerance. When an optimum combination is obtained, the articles are discharged from the weighing machines corresponding thereto.