Cantilever Patents (Class 177/229)
  • Patent number: 5440077
    Abstract: A combination of a weighing cell (C) with a displacement sensor (S) is disclosed, in which the weighing cell (C) includes a strain inducing element (1) having a strain generating region (55) at which strain is generated in response to application of a load thereto, and a strain gauge (56) for detecting the strain generated in the strain generating region (55), and the displacement sensor (S) includes a fixed rigid component (10), a movable rigid components (11) forming a weight element, a generally elongated beam member (20) rigidly secured at opposite ends to the fixed and movable rigid components (10, 11), respectively, so as to extend between the fixed and movable rigid components (10, 11), and a displacement detecting element (23) mounted on the elongated beam member (20) for outputting an electric signal of a magnitude proportional to the amount of displacement of the movable rigid component (11) in a direction generally perpendicular to the elongated beam member (20).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Konishi, Michito Utsunomiya, Kazufumi Naito
  • Patent number: 5440078
    Abstract: A load cell for scales and the like has an elongated bar having opposite sides, sloped ends and a removable top portion. A pair of load cells are mounted within the housing with each load cell comprising an elongated bar having opposite ends, opposite sides, a center portion, and top and bottom surfaces. The bar has cavity openings extending into the sides thereof adjacent each of the opposite ends. A strain gauge is mounted in each of the cavity openings and is sensitive to deflection of the bar caused by weight exerted on the top surface of the bar. Each of the strain gauges are connected to a visual readout apparatus which collectively reflects the loads imposed upon the bars. A cantilever support element is positioned on the bottom surface of the bars and has a length less than the bars to create a space below the bottom thereof and a support surface upon which the cantilever support bar is positioned to suspend the ends of the bar in cantilever fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Schrran Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel D. Schuler
  • Patent number: 5396035
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for indicating force, weight in particular, is done mechanically. The method has the steps of engaging the force with a base plate, bending the plate with force, rotating an indicator plate with respect to the base plate and about an obtuse axis hinge movably adjoining the plate, and measuring the rotation and converting it to an expression of force. The Apparatus has a base plate, an indicator plate, a hinge movably adjoining the two plates, an obtuse hinge axis, and structure to measure and interpret rotation of the indicator plate about the obtuse hinge axis as the base plate is bent by a force such as weight. A specific embodiment of the weight scale is provided for a fishing rod, for a fish scale, and for a pail scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1995
    Inventor: Richard R. Studanski
  • Patent number: 5391844
    Abstract: The invention is a load cell for the measurement of force, independent of displacement, created by means such as weight, acceleration, pressure, and the like. The load cell has a beam structure with beams positioned parallel to each other in at least one plane. Generally, these parallel beams are attached to a stationary base and have sensing means attached between the two beams. In operation, deflection of one beam creates a response in the sensing means due to the relative action or deflection in the second beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1993
    Date of Patent: February 21, 1995
    Assignee: Weigh-Tronix Inc
    Inventors: Thomas H. Johnson, Michael R. Wyatt
  • Patent number: 5369226
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo, Inc.
    Inventors: Neil C. Griffen, Richard C. Loshbough
  • Patent number: 5367129
    Abstract: A scale for measuring total weight/top weight of a bowling ball includes the utilization of a pair of electronic load cells supporting a moment transfer plate with the load cells being connected to a meter. In one form of the invention, the ball is centered over the load cells with its heavy spot in predetermined alignment so as to affect one load cell differently than the other. The ball is weighed simultaneously by both load cells, the total weight is determined by adding the outputs and the difference in output is used by the meter to calculate the top weight which is displayed. In another form of the invention, both a top weight and a total weight load cell are provided and the meter calculates the top weight directly from the top weight load scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 22, 1994
    Inventor: Clarence G. Lahl, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5365022
    Abstract: The rod-shaped load cell consists of a guide section (1), which is subdivided into a frame (6) and a load-bearing element (7), and two parallel, rigid plates (8) connecting the two cited elements. Plates (8) are connected to both frame (6) and load-bearing element (7) by band-shaped flexural joints (9) which extend across the overall length of guide section (1). The load cell rests via frame (6) upon two feet (2) located outermost on rod-shaped guide section (1). The platform (5) rests upon two mounting elements (3) also located outermost on guide section (1), with the mounting elements (3) acting on load-bearing element (7). A force sensor (4) is diagonally installed at half the length of guide section (1). When platform (5) is loaded, tensile force acts upon force sensor (4) (see FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 15, 1994
    Assignee: Wirth Gallo Messtechnik AG
    Inventor: Johannes Wirth
  • Patent number: 5340951
    Abstract: Single-piece force-reducing devices for force-measuring apparatuses include levers (18, 25) for reducing the force, and coupling members (17, 21) for transmitting the force, which are formed by no-material portions in one single solid block (1). However, deflection of the levers (18, 25) and, in particular, displacement of their fulcrums (14, 26) leads to incorrect measuring results, so that it is an objective to achieve a very high rigidity of the system under load. In order to achieve such very high rigidity, while the overall size of the system is kept small, the invention provides no-material portions (4, 5, 19, etc.) which make it possible to remove only a minimum of material, resulting in a favorable increase in thickness of the highest-loaded parts, (FIG. 1 ).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1994
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo AG
    Inventors: Ernst Hungerbuhler, Hans R. Burkhard
  • Patent number: 5338902
    Abstract: An electronic balance incorporating a Roberval mechanism has a weighing pan attached to a vertically elongated arm connected to one end of a beam such that the arm remains vertically oriented as the beam swings around its supporting point in the middle. A shutter is attached to the opposite end of the beam and a position sensor for detecting the position of the shutter is firmly attached to the arm such that the shutter and the position sensor moves in mutually opposite directions as an object to be weighed is placed on the weighing pan and the beam swings around its supporting point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Assignee: Shimadzu Corporation
    Inventor: Mitsumasa Uchiike
  • Patent number: 5336854
    Abstract: A load cell device includes a load cell structure formed of a suitable metal and including vertically spaced apart, generally parallel horizontal elements integrally formed with longitudinally spaced apart, generally parallel vertical elements. Flexures interconnect each horizontal element with the vertical elements. A bending beam extends between and is interconnected with the horizontal or vertical elements. When a load is applied vertically and perpendicularly to one of the horizontal elements, the load cell structure will elastically deform as a parallelogram to thereby transfer shear force to the bending beam to cause shear-induced bending of the latter. Strain gages or frequency resonator crystal elements sense the shear-induced bending and are embodied in electronic circuitry which produces an output signal caused by deformation of the bending beam. The electronic circuitry is operable to convert the output signal to a perceptive force readout.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 9, 1994
    Assignee: Weigh-Tronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5315073
    Abstract: In a weighing scale including a load receiving member (2) being elastically deflectably guided by virtue of a parallel guide mechanism (3, 4) is provided an electromagnetic compensating system (12, 13, 16) for detecting the deflection which is proportional to the load. In order to achieve high precision and a simple construction, a lever (6) being located between said compensating system and said load receiving member (2) is supported on an elastic member (11), thereby preventing any positional changes in the compensating system or any non-homogeneity errors associated therewith (FIG. 1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo (Albstadt) GmbH
    Inventors: Adolf Ast, Erwin Enzmann, Walter Holike
  • Patent number: 5313023
    Abstract: The invention is a load cell for the measurement of force, independent of displacement, created by means such as weight, acceleration, pressure, and the like. The load cell has a beam structure with beams positioned parallel to each other in at least one plane. Generally, these parallel beams are attached to a stationary substrate and have sensing means attached between the two beams. In operation, deflection of one beam creates a response in the sensing means due to the relative action or deflection in the second beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 17, 1994
    Assignee: Weigh-Tronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas H. Johnson
  • Patent number: 5296654
    Abstract: A universal belt scale for measuring the weight of material being transported on a conveyor belt includes a pair of independent weigh beams, each having a cantilevered deflection section, the beams being uniquely mounted to extend inwardly of the stringers in such a way that the universal belt scale can be used with a variety of belt widths and belt loading situations. The neutral axis of the deflection section is preferably positioned in substantially the same plane as the roll supporting the belt. Alternative embodiments of a mounting allows the position of the weigh beam to be adjusted relative to the idler assembly. Alternative embodiments of an adjustable pivot allow the full scale capacity of the belt scale to be varied. The universal belt scale may also include varying the sensitivity of the weigh beam, for more accurate weighing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: CST Autoweight
    Inventors: Paul W. Farley, Chester L. Nachtigal, Gerald J. Berger, Harold J. Klits
  • Patent number: 5293007
    Abstract: Holes are drilled in the flexure regions of a parallel beam load cell (14), the flexure regions defined by two cut-out portions (26 and 28) which extend between the longitudinal side surfaces (36 and 38) of the load cell (14). The holes extend inwardly of the load cell in the longitudinal side surfaces thereof. The location and depth of the holes are dependent upon the moment balance correction necessary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: March 8, 1994
    Assignee: Stress-Tek, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy J. Darst, Mona L. Mundhenk
  • Patent number: 5283395
    Abstract: The weighing apparatus comprises a base (1) and a receiving platform (2) for the load to be weighed, parallel to said base, a test body (3) extending between the base (1) and the platform (2), the opposite ends (3a, 3b) of which are fixed rigidly to the base (1) and to the platform (2) respectively, one (3c) of the faces of the test body (3) comprising strain gauges associated with an electric circuit.The test body (3), molded in one single piece with the base (1) and the platform (2), is recessed.Used in particular for making bathroom scales.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 1, 1994
    Assignee: SEB S.A.
    Inventor: Bernard Pitaud
  • Patent number: 5262598
    Abstract: A weigh hopper installation (10) includes a rigid support frame (14) and a hopper (16) having a center of gravity (42) situated laterally adjacent to the frame. Substantially all the weight of the hopper is supported through a load cell (54) carried by a rod (50) between the frame and the hopper, preferably in tension. Restraint members (62, 64, 74) are connected laterally between the frame and the hopper, for preventing horizontal movement of the hopper while permitting vertical movement of the hopper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1993
    Assignee: Andritz Sprout-Bauer, Inc.
    Inventors: William D. Stotler, Mark J. Seksinsky
  • Patent number: 5250762
    Abstract: For measuring tensile force in a continuous strip or web, load cells are arranged between a bearing housing for a deflector roll, over which the web runs, and a fixed base. A load cell comprises a load cell housing and consists of two yokes (1, 2) facing the bearing housing and the base, respectively, and a force transducer which together with membranes (3 . . . 6) are arranged between the yokes to connect these together. At the end plates of the yokes, screw holes (8 . . . 15) are provided to attach the yokes to the bearing housing and the base, respectively. At each screw hole there is provided a gap (16) so that, around each screw hole, a tubular body is formed and that the plane outwardly-facing surfaces (17) of the bodies are plane-parallel and extend outside the otherwise plane outwardly-facing surfaces of the yokes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1993
    Inventors: Par Gustafsson, Ake Persson
  • Patent number: 5220971
    Abstract: A shear beam, single-point load cell is provided. The load cell includes a shear beam with a pair of shear strain gauge sensors mounted on opposing sides thereof for measuring strain within a small portion of the shear beam. The strain gauges are isolated within sealed pockets from moisture or harsh chemicals. The use of a shear beam, rather than a bending cantilevered beam of conventional load cells, allows the load cell to be sturdier and more robust than conventional load cells, to thereby measure and detect greater amounts of load. The provision of the strain gauges positioned for measuring strain within a small portion of the shear beam allows the load cell to accurately and precisely measure loads regardless of the mounting position of the load on the load cell. Further, the provision of closely adjacent strain gauges renders the load cells relatively immune to thermal gradients inherent in conventional load cells having widely separated strain gauges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1991
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1993
    Assignee: Sensortronics
    Inventor: Emory W. Farr
  • Patent number: 5205369
    Abstract: A force measuring cell includes a force receiving member (4) in the form of a parallelogram type deviating member the opposed ends of which are connected between the weighing pan carrier and the housing of a weighing apparatus. A fastening member (8) is provided having a fastening portion (8a) adapted for removable connection with either the housing member or the pan carrier member, and a connecting portion (8b) adapted for connection with the deviating member, the fastening and connecting portions being decoupled by a narrow transition zone (8c), whereby the fastening force or stress is virtually isolated from the connecting area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1993
    Assignee: Mettler - Toledo AG
    Inventor: Christiaan Neeleman
  • Patent number: 5197557
    Abstract: An electronic weighing scale, comprising a an induction board supported on a base board by columns, a load board supported on said induction board by columns for bearing any object to be measured, an inductor suspended above said base board, a pressure rod extending from the center of gravity of said and stopped at the suspension end of said inductor, and wherein the weight of the object under measuring causes the suspension end of said inductor to displace downward proportionally and, the range of downward displacement of the suspension end of said inductor is calculated by an electronic circuit and converted into corresponding digital signals for display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 30, 1993
    Inventor: Li-Hsiang Yanh
  • Patent number: 5191949
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo, Inc.
    Inventors: Nigel G. Mills, Ronald J. Gaines
  • Patent number: 5191948
    Abstract: The support arm (29) for the load-receiving pan (28) of an electronic weighing apparatus (2) is resiliently suspended from the vertically arranged load receiving member (15), thereby to isolate the load receiving member from deleterious forces applied to the weighing pan. To this end, one end of the support arm is suspended by a pair of parallel spaced leaf springs (31,33) from the lower end of the load receiving member. Opposed portions at the upper ends of the leaf springs contain relatively outwardly projecting horizontal U-shaped loop portions (43), thereby to afford resilient displacement of the arm in various directions relative to the load receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 9, 1993
    Assignee: Mottler - Toledo AG
    Inventor: Ernst Strickler
  • Patent number: 5183125
    Abstract: A load-sensing element for a balance comprises a beam which receives the load at one end, with a horizontal recess. The bending points of two guide rods formed by sections of substantially reduced material cross-section on the upper and lower faces of said recess provide a parallel guide. The measurement signal is derived by means of two wire strain gauges at the bending points on the upper face. The lower guide rod has a shoulder between the bending points at which the external cross-section of the beam widens. As a result, the centrelines of the material cross-section of the bending points formed by this guide rod are mutually offset by a certain distance. In an alternative to the formation of the shoulder, wire strain gauges are provided at the bending points on the upper surface of the upper beam and on the lower surface of the lower beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1993
    Assignee: Soehnle-Waagen GmbH & Co.
    Inventor: Michael Schurr
  • Patent number: 5154247
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a load cell provided with a high-precision load-sensing member of ceramic on which are formed patterns of thin-film resistance for strain gages which are not subject to breakage and variation of resistance. The load cell comprises a bending beam of ceramic material and strain gages of thin-film resistance formed thereon, with the bending beam having a surface coated with amorphous glass on which are formed said strain gages of thin-film resistance. The strain gages are formed from an alloy composed of iron and one or more selected from chromium, cobalt, tungsten, molybdenum, niobium, and tantalum, and a small amount of impurities.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1992
    Assignee: Teraoka Seiko Co., Limited
    Inventors: Yoshinobu Nishimura, Hiroshi Tanaka, Naoji Nakamura
  • Patent number: 5148881
    Abstract: Electronic weighing apparatus includes a main scale housing (1) within which is arranged a calibration weight housing (33, 133) containing a calibration weight (75, 175) operable between weight-applying and weight-removed conditions relative to horizontal projections (79, 179) that extend from load receiver (15) through wall openings (81, 181) into the calibration weight housing. The calibration weight is operable by a carrier member (57, 157) that is vertically movable by means of a pair of horizontally spaced wedge-shaped lifting members (39, 139) that are displaced toward and away from each other, respectively, by a spindle (41) having threaded portions (43a, 43b) of opposite pitch, which spindle is driven by a reversible motor (53).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1991
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Mettler - Toledo AG
    Inventor: Roger Leisinger
  • Patent number: 5092416
    Abstract: Electronic weighing apparatus is provided including a force transmitting lever (17) pivotally suspended from a crossbar (33) that is connected for adjustment relative to the apparatus frame (9). An adjusting screw (45) adjusts the vertical position of the bar relative to a pillar portion (31) of the frame, and a fastening screw (37) serves to rigidly connect the crossbar with the frame following the crossbar adjustment. In this manner, the pivot axis of the transmitting lever is so adjusted as to minimize deflection of the no-load point owing to the inclination of the weighing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Mettler - Toledo AG
    Inventors: Paul Luechinger, Ernst Strickler
  • Patent number: 5090493
    Abstract: A novel load cell for use in novel wheel load scales and novel weigh-in-motion scales is provided herein. The load cell comprises a metal rod or bar, with a strain transducer secured to a flattened portion of each of the upper and lower faces of the metal bar. A signal wire has its terminal secured to an end face of each of such strain transducer, and a strain relief means is interposed between each such signal wire terminal and its associated strain transducer. When mounted within a closed bore which is parallel to the upper surface of a flat plate of elastic material, e.g., sheet metal, in a particularly-recited manner, an improved wheel load scale or weigh-in-motion scale is provided. This provides a light weight, low profile, scale which is isolated from external interference, which improves the accuracy of the scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: International Road Dynamics Inc.
    Inventors: Terry Bergan, Brian Taylor
  • Patent number: 5090494
    Abstract: A balance with a system carrier (1) fixed to the housing and with a balance-scale support part (2) connected by two upper and two lower guide rod struts in the form of a parallel guide to the system carrier. Each upper guide rod strut is connected to a lower guide rod strut via two connection areas, which struts are combined to a guide rod plate (5,6). The two guide rod plates (5,6) are fastened laterally to the system carrier (1) and to the balance-scale support part (2). The system carrier (1) is wider than the balance-scale support part (2). The two screw attachment surfaces for the guide rod plates (5,6) on the system carrier (1) and on the balance-scale support part (2) form an angle with one another so that the system carrier (1), the two guide rod plates (5,6) and the balance-scale support part (2) form a trapezoid when viewed from the top.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Muller, Peter Fleischer, Veronika Martens
  • Patent number: 5088334
    Abstract: A dynamometer comprising a pair of similar leaf springs (4 and 5), lying in approximately the same plane, and at least one additional leaf spring (24). The outer part of the additional leaf spring (24) and any other supplementary leaf springs (6, 7, 19, and 20) replacing the single leaf spring and being fastened to the frame (1) and the inner part being fstened to the middle block (8). The leaf springs (6, 7, and 24) lie in a plane approximately parallel to that of the first pair of leaf springs (4 and 5), while the supplementary leaf springs (19 and 20) lie in the same plane as the first pair of leaf springs (4 and 5). An elastic rod (9 and 10) is attached to the middle of each of the leaf springs (4 and 5), respectively, and a force-measuring device (11) is located between these rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Wirth Gallo Messtechnik AG
    Inventor: Johannes Wirth
  • Patent number: 5082073
    Abstract: An electronic balance with a system carrier (1) fixed to the housing, a load receiver (2) with two guide rods (3/4) which function as parallel guide, connect the load receiver to the system carried in a vertically movable manner, with four protruding arms (5, 6) which are fastened to the load receiver (2) and carry supports points (7, 8, 9, 10) for a balance scale on their ends and with a low-travel measured value receiver (14, 15) which is loaded either directly by the force of weight acting on the balance scale or with the interpositioning of a translation lever (11). The protruding arms (5, 6) comprise a central recess (19, 20) in front of their ends (17, 18) so that an upper web (21, 23) and a lower web (22, 24) remain and form a parallel guide for the particular support point (7, 8, 9, 10) of the balance scale. Each of the four support points (7, 8, 9, 10) of the balance scale is associated with a wire strain gauge (27, 28, 29, 30) located on one of the associated webs (21, 23).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1992
    Assignee: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: Eberhard Stadler, Matthias Eger
  • Patent number: 5076376
    Abstract: The invention discloses a strain gauge weighing device in which the load cell comprises a not very flattened flexion bar associated with a flat and wide parallel secondary plate connecting a mobile upright to a fixed upright. A platform is fast with the mobile upright whereas a base is fast with the fixed upright. Strain gauges are spaced apart on the surface of the flexion bar and connected in a Wheatstone bridge for measuring the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1991
    Assignee: Terraillon, societe anonyme
    Inventors: Bruno Bizet, Alain Colloud, Bernard Lavillat
  • Patent number: 5052505
    Abstract: A load cell has a cantilever-type load-sensitive element with an upper beam and a lower beam, each having formed thereon a pair of strain-generating parts which generates a strain corresponding to an applied load. Only one of these two beams has an indented part formed on its surface and strain-detecting elements are attached to its bottom surface at positions corresponding to the strain-generating parts. A moisture-proof sheet is attached to the beam to completely seal the interior of this indented part to protect the strain-detecting elements from humidity and moisture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 1, 1991
    Assignee: Ishida Scales Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazufumi Naito, Seiji Nishide, Hiroyuki Konishi, Noboru Kosugi
  • Patent number: 4993506
    Abstract: This invention relates to an accurate load cell for use in mass-produced weighing devices, particularly in low-profile scales incorporating a plurality of load cells. The load cell is made from one flat piece of metal, possibly a single metal stamping, consisting of three structural elements: (1) A flat flexure beam, possibly with a narrow mid-section, on which strain sensors are bonded; (2) A flat U-shaped loaded element attached at its inner mid-section to one end of the flexure beam, with the two leading edges of the U-shaped loading element reaching beyond the mid-point of the middle beam; and (3) A flat mounting element attached at its mid-section to the other end of the flexure beam. The mounting element can also be U-shaped, with the two leading edges of the U-shaped mounting element reaching beyond the mid-point of the middle beam on the outside of the U-shaped loading element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 19, 1991
    Inventor: Shlomo Angel
  • Patent number: 4986376
    Abstract: A quick release weigh plate for a weighing device includes a support member to which is secured a pair of cantilever load beam cells for generating electrical signals representing the weight of an object placed on the load beam cells. The load beam cells each include a support portion which extends through an aperture in the support member on which is removably mounted a cover for supporting the object to be weighed. One of the support portions has a truncated slotted end on which is removably mounted a U-shaped saddle member secured to the cover preventing any unnecessary movement of the cover when mounted on the load beam cells while allowing the cover to be easily removed when necessary. The other support portion has its end removably positioned within an aperture in the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1989
    Date of Patent: January 22, 1991
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventor: Richard E. Cone
  • Patent number: 4964478
    Abstract: An electronic balance with scale on top and with parallel guide rods whereby corner-load errors can be corrected by means of the inclusion of at least one leaf spring which is fastened to a load receiver and is supported on the other end on a fixed point of the housing. The magnitude of the correction can be adapted to the corner-load error of the unadjusted parallel guide by means of the selection of the spring stiffness of the leaf spring and/or by means of its effective length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: Eberhard Stadler, Matthias Eger, Franz-Josef Melcher, Veronika Martens
  • Patent number: 4926951
    Abstract: A weigh bed has a rectangular base frame, a rectangular weigh frame mounted above the base frame, a load cell beam mounted on each corner of the weigh frame and a ball connecting each load cell beam to the base frame. Three tie rods connected between the base frame and weigh frame limit horizontal movement of the weigh frame with respect to the base frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 22, 1990
    Assignee: SSI Medical Services, Inc.
    Inventors: Walter L. Carruth, Warren P. Jones, Richard B. Stacy
  • Patent number: 4899600
    Abstract: A compact force transducer has at least one flexible beam mounted at one or both its ends to a force summing member or members. The force-to-be-measured is applied to the force summing member along a first axis generally transverse to the beams to deform the beam elastically, without overstressing, through a displacement d. A sensor member carries a conductive surface and is coupled to the beam member. In a parallelogram form, there are a parallel pair of beam members extending between two force summing members and a sensor member is secured to each beam member at or near its point of inflection. One sensor member includes multiple arms that sandwich the other sensor member to produce a linear, push-pull mode of operation. In a low cost cantilevered beam form, the sensor is coupled to the beam at the force summing member in a parallel, spaced relationship.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 13, 1990
    Assignee: Setra Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Shih-Ying Lee
  • Patent number: 4898255
    Abstract: A load cell stamped from a single plate includes a pair of strain gauges mounted on each lateral edge of the plate and a slot extending between laterally opposite strain gauges. The load cell so formed can be widened to provide increased torsional stiffness and resistance to off-center loading while providing good load cell performance in all other respects. In a low profile scale including the load cell, one longitudinal end of the load cell is connected to a load receiving element and the other fixed to a base plate and ground.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: February 6, 1990
    Assignee: Toledo Scale Corporation
    Inventor: Ronald J. Gaines
  • Patent number: 4886133
    Abstract: An electromechanical scale wherein the platform transmits a load to lateral surfaces at one end of the carrier of a strain gauge and the other end of the carrier is affixed to the base of the scale. This contributes to a reduction of overall height of the scale. The carrier has a median portion with a web in the central symmetry plane of the carrier, and such web supports one or more strip-shaped resistors or semiconductors of the strain gauge. The ends of the carrier can be permanently or separably connected to the platform and/or to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1989
    Assignee: Robert Krups Stiftung & Co. KG
    Inventors: Jurgen Horn, Walter Kitzing
  • Patent number: 4880069
    Abstract: A low profile electronic bathroom scale includes a base having a pair of elongate rigid deformable members affixed thereto. The end portions of the deformable members are spaced from the base and define cantilevered beams having a plurality of strain gauges secured to the respective upper surfaces thereof. A rigid deck is secured to the ends of the deformable members by clips so that the weight of a person on the deck is transferred to the deformable members, causing the latter to deform, and imposing a strain on the strain gauges. The bridge circuit output signal is converted into a perceptive weight read-out.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1989
    Assignee: Weigh-Tronix, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard S. Bradley
  • Patent number: 4878356
    Abstract: A refrigerant recovery system that includes a refrigerant storage container, means for withdrawing refrigerant from a refrigeration system to be serviced and feeding such refrigerant to the container for storage, and a scale supporting the container for sensing impending overfill of the container. The scale includes a beam horizontally rigidly cantilevered from a base. A switch is positioned adjacent to the cantilever-remote end of the beam, and is responsive to deflection of the beam to indicate impending overfill of the container and prevent or terminate operation of the refrigerant recovery system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1988
    Date of Patent: November 7, 1989
    Assignee: Kent-Moore Corporation
    Inventors: Robert J. Punches, Gary P. Murray, Roger D. Shirley
  • Patent number: 4874051
    Abstract: A leaf spring made of a flat, thin, metallic strip comprised of an elongated flexible member with two parallel sides terminating at either end into flat rectangular, cross-like or circular shapes with a width approximately twice the width of the strip at its midpoint. The ends are crimped or cold pressed downward and then outward near their edges to form flanges. The crimped or pressed ends become each foot of the leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 1989
    Date of Patent: October 17, 1989
    Inventor: John S. Borchard
  • Patent number: 4872522
    Abstract: Electronic weighing apparatus includes an adjusting arrangement for vertically adjusting relative to the scale frame at least one of the resilient bending bearings that supports one end of a guide member of the parallelogram arrangement that guides the load receiver for vertical movement relative to the frame. Preferably, the adjusting device includes a cantilevered resilient auxiliary guide plate arranged in parallel relation between the upper guide member and the frame; the upper guide member being arranged in a recess contained in the adjacent surface of the guide plate. At its end, adjacent the load receiver, the cantilevered guide plate is connected with the frame. At its opposite end, the guide plate extends in spaced relation to the frame, an adjusting screw being provided for vertically adjusting the opposite end portion relative to the frame as well as the bending bearing associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 10, 1989
    Assignee: Metter Instrumente AG
    Inventor: Peter Kunz
  • Patent number: 4869331
    Abstract: A leaf spring made of a flat, thin, metallic strip comprised of an elongated flexible member with two parallel sides terminating at either end into flat rectangular, crosslike or circular shapes with a width approximately twice the width of the strip at its midpoint. The ends are crimped or cold pressed downward and then outward near their edges to form flanges. The crimped or pressed ends become each foot of the leaf spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1989
    Date of Patent: September 26, 1989
    Inventor: John S. Borchard
  • Patent number: 4856602
    Abstract: Apparatus and method of determining the mass of an article by the shift of the period of oscillation of a flexibly mounted tray. An article whose mass is to be determined is placed upon the tray which is caused to oscillate and the period of harmonic motion is calibrated. This period is compared against the period of harmonic motion when there is no article upon the tray, and the difference, or shift, in frequency, allows a determination of the mass of the article. The tray is supported by a plurality of flexible members having parallelogram configuration that eliminates bending stresses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: August 15, 1989
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Cordery, David W. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 4850443
    Abstract: A weighing scale is disclosed with high accuracy and speed and minimal response to vibrations having a balanced mass construction and including a variable capacitance load cell coupled to the load side of the scale and having a spring rate substantially greater than the spring rate of the remaining scale components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 25, 1989
    Assignee: Triangle Package Machinery
    Inventors: Steve P. Bergholt, King L. Klopfenstein, David B. Hutter
  • Patent number: 4848493
    Abstract: A load sensing structure for a weighing scale deck includes two or more low profile flexure members, each of which is shaped like the letter E with two outer legs secured to the deck and the inner leg to the platform. The latter has twice the bending strength and stiffness of the former. All legs have their ends connected cantilever fashion to either a common base or to one or the other of the deck and platform. Strain gases on one leg provide complementary inputs to a bridge circuit under weight loads but tend to cancel their effects on the bridge circuit under other load conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Revere Corporation of America
    Inventor: Robert W. Hitchcock
  • Patent number: 4848494
    Abstract: Disclosed is a platform balance with a weighing scale, with at least two levers (2) which are mounted via spring joints (3) on support points (5) fixed to the housing, with a force summation part (6) which is guided in parallel by an upper and lower guide rod (7) and with coupling elements (4) which connect the longer lever arm of the levers (2) to the force summation part (6) that the shorter lever arm of each lever (2) is connected by a coupling element (13) to a load receiver (14), that each load receiver (14) is guided in parallel by an upper and a lower guide rod (15) and that the weighing scale (18) is supported on the load receivers (14). As a result thereof, deformations of the weighing scale or of its carrier construction can no longer affect the levers (2) and their lever arm ratio. In an advantageous embodiment the parallel guide of a load receiver (14) and the support points ( 5) of the associated lever (2) form a component which can be derived e.g.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Sartorius GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Cornelius, Rainer Exner
  • Patent number: 4838369
    Abstract: Apparatus for measuring force, useful in a weighing scale for example, includes a parallelogram-like load cell structure that deflects in response to application of the force to be measured, and a pair of force-sensitive crystal resonators, attached to cantilever sensor beams forming part of the structure for sensing the deflection of the load cell structure. The two resonators are attached to the sensor beams such as to be placed in tension and compression, respectively, upon deflection of the structure and thereby cause their vibration frequency to increase and decrease, respectively, with increases in applied force. The difference between the two frequencies, which varies substantially linearly with changes in applied force and is inherently digital in nature, is used as a measure of the force applied to the load cell structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Crystal Gage Inc.
    Inventor: William C. Albert
  • Patent number: 4836036
    Abstract: A bending force receiver, in particular, for balances, comprises two parallelogram links which can be subjected to a load-dependent bending force, strain gauge strips which are arranged on the links and are interconnected to form an electric bridge circuit for delivering load-dependent measurement signals, and a load plate which is arranged on the bending force receiver for accommodating the load which is to be measured. At least one opening is formed on one of the parallelogram links. All of the strain gauge strips of the bridge circuit are arranged as closely as possible to this opening on only the outer side of the link comprising the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 6, 1989
    Assignee: Bizerba-Werke Wilhelm Kraut GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Hans Jetter