Abstract: A pneumatic weighing device has a weigh pan, which is supported for vertical movement by a load cell in response to the weight of an article; the weigh pan is provided with a plenum chamber having an apertured upper surface through which air under pressure is directed for purpose of providing an air cushion for supporting and transporting articles to be weighed. The weighing device additionally includes pneumatic means for rejecting articles of improper weight.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for use in weighing products having circular or oval footprint or an outwardly projecting flange. A conveyor having a pair of parallel conveyor elements arranged to underengage the footprint or flange only adjacent the periphery thereof transports the products one at a time across a weigh pan or scale device, whose length in the direction of conveyor movement is selected as the lowest value required to achieve a desired settle time for the weigh pan. Preferably, the length of the weigh pan is chosen to be essentially equal to the diameter of products to be weighed.

Abstract: A conveyor element tensioning mechanism which is formed by a pair of like tensioning supporting opposite ends of an idler roller. The tensioning devices each include a slide member with a cylindrical pin which is supported within a cylindrical guide opening. The cylindrical pins have a studs extending radially therefrom which extend through a radially opening slots formed along the lengths of the guide openings in order to prevent the cylindrical pins from rotating. The studs support manual operators which may be actuated to move the slide members into a conveyor element tensioning position. During actuation, the manual operators engage an adjustably positioned reference surface so that the resulting tension in the conveyor element may be easily altered.

Abstract: A mechanism for weighing articles including a continuous thread screw conveyor for moving articles to be weighed across a weigh pan in combination with a motor for first driving the conveyor in an article transport direction through an angle of 360.degree.+.alpha..degree. and then driving the conveyor in a reverse direction through an angle of .alpha..degree. to remove the conveyor from frictional engagement with the article, during each article weighing operation.

Abstract: A modular conveyor system is disclosed as including an unique supporting framework featuring a horizontally elongated spine (12); legs (32) for supporting spine (12); posts (34) upstanding from legs (32); and an elongated rail (18) supported by posts (34) and arranged above and in a horizontally offset relationship relative to spine (12). Spine (12) serves to support one or more modular conveyor units (66), rail (18) serves to support one or more diverse art devices (48) required to be associated with conveyor units (66); and posts (34) serve to support a side panel (24) to extend lengthwise of spine (12).

Abstract: A flow directing conveyor mechanism includes a lower conveyor defining an article supporting surface for transporting articles for movement along a path of travel extending between inlet and discharge ends of the lower conveyor; and an upper conveyor having pushing mechanisms for displacing articles, while supported by the surface, transversely of the path of travel, as an incident to movement of the articles between the inlet and discharge ends.

Abstract: A clamp assembly for mounting an art device having a depending support bar on a rail extending horizontally lengthwise of a conveyor, which permits adjustment of the position of the clamp assembly lengthwise of the rail without effecting the vertical position of the art device and permits adjustment of the vertical position of the art device relative to the rail without affecting the adjusted position of the clamp assembly lengthwise relative to the rail.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for use in weighing products having circular or oval footprint configurations. A conveyor having a pair of parallel conveyor elements arranged to underengage the footprint only adjacent the periphery thereof transports the products one at a time across a planar surface of a weigh pan or scale device. The surface of the weigh pan is shaped and the transverse spacing between the conveyor elements is adjustable in order to permit lengths of the surface of the weigh pan engaged by the conveyor elements to be selected to correspond essentially to dimensions of differently sized products to be weighed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for use in weighing products having circular or oval footprint configuration. A conveyor having a pair of parallel conveyor elements arranged to underengage the footprint only adjacent the periphery thereof transports the products one at a time across a weigh pan or scale device, whose length in the direction of conveyor movement is selected as the lowest value required to achieve a desired settle time for the weigh pan. Preferably, the length of the weigh pan is chosen to be essentially equal to the diameter of products to be weighed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for an in-motion weighing system which includes a package conveyor, a weigh pan, a package detector positioned adjacent to the conveyor and upstream from the weigh pan, a timer for determining the time required for a package to pass by the package detector, means for storing the time required for a point on the conveyor to transition the weigh pan, means for subtracting the package passing time from the weigh pan transition time for establishing a read scale window, and a means for measuring the average weight of a package on the weigh pan during the read scale window.

Abstract: A damping mechanism is disclosed for use with a displacement measuring device, such as a load cell of the type immersed in a motion damping liquid contained within a housing. The mechanism includes a shear plate adjustably supported by the housing within the damping liquid for movement towards and away from a facing surface of the load cell, which is supported for movement within a plane disposed parallel to the shear plate, for purposes of controlling the thickness of the layer of damping liquid disposed there-between. The thickness of the layer determines the damping characteristics of the mechanism.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for in-motion weighing is effectuated by a load cell combined with a means to filter the output thereof and apply the product to a programmable gain amplifier. The programmable gain amplifier's output is filtered and applied to a microprocessor which automatically regulates the programmable gain amplifier according to algorithms which results in an educable system responsive to basic operator initiation commands for determing and setting automatic in-motion weighing functions. Digital filter techniques are use to enhance overall system tolerances.

Abstract: A visual display of the trend of a data source is provided through the use of bar-graph techniques and digital display means controlled by a computer system which analyzes the output of the data source in accordance with criteria established by an operator.

Abstract: A bell-shaped vacuum foot subtends from a vertically extending tube to receive a printed label in a first orientation from the label dispenser which is located to one side of and at a higher elevation than a conveyor which is transporting articles to be labeled. The label carrying vacuum foot is moved laterally away from the dispenser through a downwardly smoothly curving diagonal path devoid of any abrupt directional changes. If required, the tube is simultaneously operated to rotate the label into a preselected second orientation as it is being lowered upon the article to be labeled. The vacuum foot thus moves through shorter distances and is better enabled to maintain the label in the intended placement orientation. The apparatus of the invention employs a lesser number of parts and performs the intended function in substantially lesser time compared to the mechanisms of the prior art.

Abstract: There is disclosed a machine for transporting and weighing or checkweighing articles passing in succession thereon at high speeds, such as for use in conjunction with a rapid article feeding and take-away conveyor system or the like and with weight-signal transmitting/converting/calculating printout devices for visual display and price labeling operations or the like. The machine includes a stationary machine base and a vertically flexible weight-measuring means supported by said base. A rigid cage-like structure encompasses and is supported by said weight-measuring means, and an article conveying device and a power supply means therefor is carried by said cage-like structure and comprises in combination therewith the minusculely vertically shifting tare weight component of the machine.

Abstract: An improved motorized, articles-in-succession conveying and weighing (or checkweighing) machine for use such as intermediate of in-line article feeding and take-away conveyors, or the like, comprises essentially a frame-like support structure; a strain gage load cell suspended therefrom, which carries suspended therefrom a cage-like bracket, the opposite sides of which support spaced apart parallel article transport conveyors. Each of such conveyors comprises an endless belt training about driving and idler rollers which rotate about vertical axes. These conveyors define therebetween an article-to-be-weighed conveying passageway extending in longitudinal alignment with article feeding and take-away conveyor. The motor driving the conveyors is also mounted on the bracket suspended from the load cell; and therefore the motor and the conveyor form parts of the tare load on the load cell.

Abstract: An improved motorized conveying and weighing or checkweighing machine is disclosed for use such as in between article feeding and take-away conveyors. The machine comprises essentially a machine support member; a compression type strain gage transducer mounted upon said support member; an angularly configured structure including a vertically standing side wall portion and a bottom sidewise extending bracket portion which is so fixed upon the top portion of said transducer as to dispose said side wall portion to extend in parallel offset relation to the plan view longitudinal profile of said transducer. Conveyor belt driving rollers are rotatably mounted upon and extend in cantilever relation away from said side wall portion and an endless conveyor belt trains about said rollers.