Abstract: One problem with weighing conveyors is that the tension of the conveyor belt, needed to allow the belt to be driven, inadvertently reduces the degree of sagging of the belt caused by the mass of the product on the belt, which affects weighing accuracy, as this pre-tensioning of the belt inadvertently supports some of the weight of the product being transported, and this tension supported fraction of the weight cannot be sensed by the load cell supporting the middle section of the belt. In a preferred embodiment, a flexible transition area is formed in-between the outer edges of the belt and the middle, product transport area, wherein the transition area comprises openings that serve to weaken the belt locally, such that a pre-tensioning of the middle part of the conveyor belt is reduced; this allows the middle part of the conveyor belt to hang substantially slack even as the outer edges of the conveyor belt are driven.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for weighing a product flow, comprising an endless conveyor belt for transporting the product flow thereon in a transport direction, wherein a width direction extends in an imaginary transport plane substantially transversely of the transport direction, and wherein a carrying direction extends substantially transversely of the transport plane, wherein one or more transition parts are arranged slightly inward of the outer edges in the width direction, wherein a middle part is situated between the transition parts, and wherein the transition part is adapted to provide the middle part with a substantially flexible suspension in the carrying direction and/or the transport direction of the conveyor belt relative to the outer edges.