Abstract: The weighing apparatus may have a plurality of conveyor belts, a plurality of physical scales, a plurality of logical scales and a master processor. The master processor may receive weight results from the plurality of physical and logical scales and may determine a net weight of said package. The weighing apparatus may also include a plurality of slave processors.

Abstract: The invention disclosed consists of an Internet scale, which is comprised of a weighing platform with an integrated Internet connection/browser means. This scale will allow the connectivity and communication with the Internet or Intranet without the use of a separate Internet connection means. It will have the ability to take a weight from a weighing apparatus, update an HTML form automatically with the new weight value and obtain the new charge/cost for the specified method of shipment from an Internet server. The Internet scale will act as an Internet appliance and perform communication with the Internet and peripherals required for a small footprint shipping system.

Abstract: A checkweighing station includes a weigh platform mounted on a load cell which in turn is mounted on a rotatable shaft so that the entire assembly can be rotated to tilt the platform in one direction for an acceptable weight of a weighed item and in another direction for a rejected weight or weight of a different catgegory. A memory device can determine a trend and make adjustments in a production process.

Abstract: The current invention involves a method and device of combining vehicle scales platforms to eliminate potential checking interferences. Disclosed is a novel method of combining independent scale platforms enabling independent weighing on each platform and at the same time a singular checking system for the combined scale. It involves utilizing three tie rod type links, which have been used in the past to combine scales longitudinally, and in the new invention, are used in the lateral direction. This reduces the complexity and associated cost of the combined scale checking system and increases the accuracy of said scale system by eliminating potential checking interferences. This is extremely significant in situations where side checking is inconvenient near where two scales connect, or in pit less and above ground scale designs.

Abstract: A checkweighing station includes a weigh platform mounted on a load cell which in turn is mounted on a rotatable shaft so that the entire assembly can be rotated to tilt the platform in one direction for an acceptable weight of a weighed item and in another direction for a rejected weight or weight of a different catgegory. A memory device can determine a trend and make adjustments in a production process.

Abstract: A checkweighing station includes a weigh platform mounted on a load cell which in turn is mounted on a rotatable shaft so that the entire assembly can be rotated to tilt the platform in one direction for an acceptable weight of a weighed item and in another direction for a rejected weight or weight of a different catgegory. A memory device can determine a trend and make adjustments in a production process.

Abstract: The invention disclosed consists of weighing apparatus and process that includes a new Calibration management utility to automate compliance testing to ISO 9000 requirements and has the “load cell symmetry”, “empty platform” and “test load” readings for each load stored on the weighing apparatus. This weighing apparatus makes periodic tests to determine the health of the load cells in the system, producing a log file to record events such as any detected failure, any suspicious reading, overload condition, or any user defined parameter, and is network enabled to be connected through a LAN via an Ethernet to the Internet.

Abstract: A load cell has internal cuts or grooves allowing increased the measurable strain on a load cell package increasing its ability to accurately measure lower weights while reducing the load cell's sensitivity to thermal shock. These cuts or grooves are rectangular slots with circular ends and run parallel to the load cell. The cuts or grooves are cut into the gage-hole producing ridges. The strain gauges are located on the middle ridge which is a thicker wall which reduces the temperature differences between the gauges, causing the cell to generate less output during a thermal shock. Not only is the output due to thermal shock smaller, but it lasts for a shorter period of time.

Abstract: A mouse pad is attached to the weighing platform of a scale. The scale electronics are connected to a personal computer through a universal serial bus cable (USB) which also provides power to the scale. The scale may have an integrated, or detached, ergonomically designed wrist-rest with a wrist-rest pad that is positioned to be at the same height above the weighing platform as the mouse pad.

Abstract: A checkweighing station includes a weigh platform mounted on a load cell which in turn is mounted on a rotatable shaft so that the entire assembly can be rotated to tilt the platform in one direction for an acceptable weight of a weighed item and in another direction for a rejected weight or weight of a different catgegory. A memory device can determine a trend and make adjustments in a production process.

Abstract: An enclosure for housing electronic circuitry having a base and a cover with side walls includes a non-exposed fastening mechanism for securing, sealing, centering, and releasing the cover relative to the base. The fastening mechanism includes a ledge on the inside of a cover side wall and a restraining clip having a fixed leg mounted to the base and a flexible leg movable towards and away from the fixed leg and which engages the ledge when the cover is positioned on the base. A resilient gasket is fastened to the cover and positioned to seal the cover to the base and to be resiliently compressed when the cover is positioned on the base. The resilient compression of the gasket maintains the flexible leg in contact with the ledge to secure the cover to the base. The flexible leg also maintains the cover side wall away from the base. Several restraining clips are spaced apart on the base so that the flexible legs center the cover in at least one direction relative to the base.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus with pneumatic cylinder and piston assemblies for lifting a hinged platform includes a self-deploying mechanism to secure the platform in the raised position, a mechanism for remotely repositioning the self-deploying securing mechanism to enable lowering of the platform, and a control mechanism to remotely activate the lifting and securing of the platform and the unsecuring and lowering of the platform and to prevent unauthorized operation. The self-deploying securing mechanism includes an arm pivotally connected to the underside of the platform and arranged so that the other, free end of the arm pivots to a position to secure the platform when the platform is raised to a pre-determined height. The repositioning mechanism includes a pneumatic cylinder and piston assembly mounted perpendicular to the cylinder and piston assembly used to lift the platform.

Abstract: A digital load cell includes an EEPROM that is permanently attached to the counterforce along with a temperature sensor and a plurality of strain gages. The strain gages are mounted on the counterforce in the electrical configuration of a full wheatstone bridge. The EEPROM and bridge are connected to a flexible circuit that is detachably connectable in electrical communication with circuits including a processor and an analog-to-digital converter, which can be mounted permanently on a local circuit board physically separated from the EEPROM. The local circuit board operates in a manner so that the EEPROM can be programmed to store the calibration/correction factors that are to be applied by the processor to the digital weight signals from the analog-to-digital converter. The local circuit board is associated with, and alternatively can be removably attachable to, the counterforce.

Abstract: A thermal printer mechanism includes a print head assembly for locating a print head at a predetermined optimum position for printing or at a cleaning position and an adjustable guide path assembly for maintaining the center line of print stock aligned with the centerline of the print head for different widths of stock. The print head assembly includes a print head supported by a mounting bracket so that the head is maintained in a predetermined fixed position with respect to the platen shaft. A head force bracket sums the force from a pair of springs and applies it via a pivot shaft to the midpoint of the line of tangency of the print head with the platen roller so that the print head "floats" on the roller. The print head assembly can be pivoted from the printing position to a cleaning position by changing the positions of pins in a pair of camming slots.

Abstract: Load shift compensation of a strain gage load cell is accomplished by connecting a pair of fixed resistors in series across the output of a bridge circuit incorporating the load cell strain gages. The junction point between the series resistors is established at a desired signal level by a digital to analog converter connected thereto or by a voltage divider network so that, in effect, a part of the resistance of the resistors required to achieve load shift compensation is made to shunt a pair of the strain gages in the bridge circuit. The required signal level may be established by positioning weights on the scale platter at different positions parallel to the longitudinal axis of the load cell beam and adjusting the signal level at the junction point between the shunting resistors until a desired degree of compensation is achieved. The digital correction value required at the input of the digital to analog converter to achieve compensation is stored in the memory of the scale computer.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus employing dual load cells or dual load cell sets is provided with a hinged weigh frame attachment to transmit only vertical load to one load cell or set of load cells and prevent transmission of moments about the longitudinal axis. A ball and dual cup arrangement is connected between the weigh frame and the other load cell or set of load cells to transmit vertical load but prevent the transmission of moments about either the longitudinal or transverse axes of the load cell. Because of the decoupling arrangements, the weighing apparatus requires only longitudinal shift adjustment for only the load cell(s) connected to the hinge.

Abstract: A digital scale is compensated for hysteresis by characterizing an envelope pattern of increasing and decreasing linearity attributes thereof defining the limits of hysteresis error. Polynomial expressions define this envelope pattern and a correction procedure is developed which is based upon offsets from the envelope pattern as well as the merging characteristics of deviations evidenced from complex loading histories. The latter historical data are used to identify loading progression transitions necessary for the generation of correction values.

Abstract: A spring formed as a Roberval-based frame of conventional material is combined with a smaller sensor in the form of a deflectable load cell of material such as a ceramic. The combination associates the higher load capacity spring with the sensor capable of performing in a manner substantially free of system error. A method for configuring the assembly for optimal system error rejection is described wherein a transmission beam carrying out a load sharing function exhibits a stress selectively greater than the average stress exhibited by the spring.