Abstract: In a calibration rig for a weighing machine and a method of using the calibration rig, the weighing machine having a load cell including a transducer and headwork connected to the load cell, the calibration rig having a calibration load cell including a low capacity transducer with the excitation voltage and signal connections arranged for connection to the headwork and a potentiometer. The fixed terminations of the potentiometer are connected to respective signal connections and the wiper connection of the potentiometer is connected to one excitation supply terminal via a series resistor.

Abstract: A sharpener assembly for a rotating circular knife blade on a food product slicing machine has an elongate frame mounted at one of its ends for pivotal movement about an axis being substantially in the plane of the knife blade. The elongate frame has mounted for rotation thereon a grinding stone and a deburring stone. The grinding face of the grinding stone is inclined to the knife blade at an angle so as to grind a required angle on the edge of the obverse face of the knife blade. The grinding stone and the deburring stone arc mounted so that in use the obverse and reverse faces of the knife blade are respectively engaged.

Abstract: A system for sensing the value of a physical property (such as force, temperature or movement) and having a plurality of sensors used in combination, for example a weighing system where a plurality of load cells are employed to sense the magnitude of a load placed on a weighing platform, has a first analogue to digital (A/D) converter and a second A/D converter, capable of faster operation than said first A/D converter; wherein said first A/D converter produces a signal representative of the average of the physical property and said second A/D converter produces a signal representative of the distribution of sensor output signal amplitudes amongst the sensors, thereby overcoming the problems associated with the prior art in producing a high resolution, high accuracy result but without requiring a high speed, high resolution A/D converter.

Abstract: Difficulty is experienced where filters are required to provide a high level of noise reduction and a fast step response in systems where a large input step in comparison to the final resolution may occur. A suitable filter comprises a variable length averaging filter, an averaging sample counter, the count of which is reduced by a predetermined factor when the count reaches a maximum value, and a spike counter, the count of which is incremented when the difference between an input sample and the current filter output exceeds a predetermined value, the sample count being reset to 1 when the spike count reaches a predetermined value, the filter output being otherwise maintained at the previous output.

Abstract: A load cell, one end of the cell being mounted on a base and the other end of the cell being arranged for connection to a force applicator so that in operation applied loads are transmitted vertically to said other end to distort the cell, and wherein the cell houses a vibrating beam force sensor lying in a plane parallel to the base, the cell being so arranged that the vertical force produced by an applied load to the force applicator is translated into a horizontal force applied to the vibrating beam force sensor.

Abstract: In a load cell for a weighing machine, the load cell includes a vibrating beam force sensor clamped at its two ends to respective support parts of the load cell, and wherein each end of the sensor is clamped by a bolt having a head which traps the associated end of the sensor against a support part, the bolt having remote from its head a threaded portion engaged with a nut which tensions the bolt, and a portion of non-circular cross section having at least one cross sectional dimension which is greater than that of the threaded portion, the non-circular cross section portion of the bolt having been drawn through a hole in the support part which had a diameter less than said one cross sectional dimension. This reduces the production of forces parallel to the plane in which clamping is required.

Abstract: An integrated circuit card is manufactured by reaction injection moulding around the insert bearing the electronic components, and between high tensile skins which form opposed surfaces of the card. Apparatus is disclosed for the continuous manufacture of the cards between a pair of moving belts.

Abstract: Apparatus for monitoring changes in a physical quantity with time comprises a reader unit and at least one sensor unit containing electronic components arranged to measure said quantity at predetermined time intervals and to store measurement data with corresponding time data. Each sensor unit also contains communication means for transferring said measurement data and said time data from the sensor unit to the reader unit, and the sensor unit also contains an inductive coupling means to receive energy from the reader unit to power the communication means. Each sensor unit is encapsulated with a food grade plastic and is typically the size of a credit card, thereby providing a small and relatively inexpensive temperature monitoring device for use in the transport and storage of foodstuffs.