Abstract: Disclosed in a combinatorial weighing apparatus having a plurality of weighing hoppers, a plurality of weighing machines, associated with respective ones of the weighing hoppers, for weighing or counting articles introduced into each of the weighing hoppers, and a chute for collecting the articles discharged from the weighing hoppers. The apparatus operates by computing combinations based on weight values provided by the weighing machines, and causing weighing hoppers, belonging to a combination selected as a result of the combinatorial computations, to discharge their articles into the chute one hopper at a time with a predetermined time delay intervening between the discharge operations.

Abstract: Disclosed is an automatic weighing apparatus in which a plurality of weighing mechanisms, each having a load cell composed of a strain gauge attached to the upper and lower beams of a rectangular main body, are arrayed on the circumference of a circle concentric with the weighing apparatus, each weighing mechanism being operatively associated with a correspnoding weighing hopper for receiving articles to be weighed. Each weighing mechanism is so arranged that the beams of the load cell lie parallel with a tangent line drawn to the circumference of the circle at the location of the mechanism, whereby the load cell can be inspected and repaired with facility and the overall apparatus reduced in size.

Abstract: Disclosed in a span adjusting device for an automatic weighing apparatus of the type in which the load of a weighing hopper containing articles to be weighed is applied to a corresponding weighing mechanism through means of a support member adapted for supporting the weighing hopper, and in which the weight is derived as the magnitude of the output signal from a displacement sensor provided on the weighing mechanism.

Abstract: A combinatorial counting method for weighing a multiplicity of articles by one or a plurality of weighing machines, dividing the resulting plurality of weights by a unit weight to convert the weights into respective numbers, finding combinations of these numbers to compute combined numbers, finding the single combination of which the combined numbers are equal or closest to a set number and of which the combined weight is equal or closest to a set weight, and renewing the set weight every counting operation or whenever predetermined conditions are satisfied to use said set weight when the next counting operation is performed.

Abstract: A method of zero adjustment for a combinatorial weighing or counting system which operates by weighing batches of articles by use of a plurality of weighing machines, computing combinations of the respective weight values of the batches of articles in the individual weighing machines or combinations of the respective numbers of articles, converted from the respective weight values, in the batches, selecting a combination which is equal or the nearest to a set value, and discharging the articles from the weighing machines corresponding to the selected combination, wherein at each time of discharge, zero adjustment is automatically made of a selected one of the weighing machines which have discharged their articles, without stopping the operation of the system.

Abstract: A device for smoothly charging weighed out articles from an automatic weighing apparatus into a container formed of a plurality of contiguous vessels or container sections. The charging device comprises a shutter plate mounted in close proximity to the upper surface of the container, a timing hopper having the shutter plate as a bottom and defining storage compartments in positions corresponding to respective ones of the container sections, and an allocation unit mounted between the timing hopper and a discharge opening of the automatic weighing apparatus. The allocation unit is operative to allocate the articles to respective ones of the storage compartments of the timing hopper once for each weighing operation performed by the automatic weighing apparatus. The shutter plate is opened upon termination of discharge of the articles into each of the storage compartments for introducing the articles into container sections associated with respective ones of the storage compartments.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing apparatus of the type in which the batches of article charged in a plurality of hoppers are weighed and the best combination of hoppers which provides a total weight equal to or most closely approximating a target weight within a predetermined tolerance is selected, the batches of article in the hoppers constituting the best combination being then discharged to a collecting chute.

Abstract: A method and device for avoiding defective elements in a thermal printer having a thermal head on which a greater number of heating elements than the number of bits in printing data are linearly continuously arranged, and an output register associated with the bits in the heating elements and adapted to deliver printing data for one line to the heating elements, wherein when some of the heating elements become defective, the printing data is shifted a suitable number either to the right or to the left so as to correspond to the non-printing bits in the printing data and is then transferred to the output register. According to the invention, in the case of, e.g., bar code printing, even if some of the heating elements become defective, printing can be continued without any trouble, so that great improvements in productivity and quality control can be achieved.

Abstract: A method of treating combination defectiveness in combinatorial weighing or counting. In cases where no combination which satisfies a set value is obtained, the amounts of articles in one or more of the combinatorial weighing or counting machines are automatically increased or decreased without stopping such machine or machines and recomputations are performed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a collecting chute into which articles weighed by a plurality of weighing machines are discharged for delivery to a subsequent processing step. The collecting chute comprises an upper chute including a plurality of discrete chute members corresponding to the plurality of weighing machines, and a lower chute disposed below and engaging with the upper chute. A bracket which can be freely attached to and detached from a frame is affixed to each discrete chute member at the central portion thereof, and each chute member is provided at its lower end with a pin for engaging a hole formed in the upper edge of the lower chute.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing apparatus, having a plurality of juxtaposed weighing machines each of which is provided with a scale, for weighing articles supplied to the weighing machine scales, selecting the combination of articles that gives a total weight equal or closest to a preset target weight, and discharging the articles so selected.

Abstract: Disclosed is a combinatorial weighing apparatus for combining weight values of articles to-be-weighed respectively placed on a plurality of juxtaposed weighing machines, selecting a combination of the articles having a weight equal or closest to a target weight and delivering the selected articles. Such combinatorial weighing apparatus comprises pushing members which can move frontward and backward on respective bowls of the plurality of juxtaposed weighing machines, a driver unit which selectively moves the pushing members frontward and backward, these pushing members corresponding to the weighing machines with the selected batches of the articles placed thereon, and a conveyor which is disposed along the juxtaposed weighing machines and which conveys the batches delivered by the pushing members.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the zero adjustment of weight sensors adapted to measure the weight of articles. A zero adjustment control operation performed by the method and apparatus of the invention is executed by (1) discriminating whether the zero point deviation of each weight sensor lies within preset allowed limits, (2) applying a zero adjustment to each weight sensor when the zero point deviation thereof lies with the allowed limits and generating a signal for inhibiting the zero adjustment when the zero point deviation lies outside of the allowed limits, (3) counting the number of times the zero adjustment inhibit signal is generated, and (4) comparing the counted value with a predetermined value to produce an alarm signal when the counted value and predetermined value coincide, whereby the zero adjustment of the weight sensor is controlled.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus of the type which weighs articles through use of a load cell having strain gauges attached thereto, the apparatus including a sealed vessel filled with a liquid of a specific gravity greater than unity for housing the load cell which is immersed in the liquid, a diaphragm provided on the sealed vessel so as to close an opening formed in a portion of the vessel, a supporting member for supporting a container carrying the articles to be weighed, and a connecting member for mechanically connecting the supporting member with a load-receiving portion of the load cell through the intermediary of the diaphragm.

Abstract: A weighing apparatus which has a plurality of lines for conveying and weighing including means for continuously conveying a group of articles to be weighed, and which are thrown in either automatically or manually, means for sequentially weighing the group of articles on the means for conveying, means for storing the weight values of the group of articles in predetermined numbers in each conveying and weighing line, means for adding any of, or a predetermined different combination of, the stored weight values, and means for discriminating the set weight nearest to the set weight. This weighing apparatus can automatically weigh even articles which cannot be automatically supplied.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing method and apparatus therefor, the apparatus being of the type which includes a plurality of buckets for carrying articles to be weighed, a conveyor for conveying each of the buckets, and a weight sensor for sensing the weight of each bucket. The method includes steps of storing in memory the empty weight of each bucket following the measurement thereof by the weight sensor, storing in memory the total weight of each bucket and the articles introduced into the bucket, the total weight being measured by the weight sensor, finding the weight of the articles in each bucket by subtracting from the total weight of the bucket and its articles the empty weight of the bucket, selecting, on the basis of weights of the articles, the combination of articles whose overall weight is equal or closest to a preset target weight, and releasing the selected articles from the buckets which carry them.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing system designed for weighing out a desired number or weight of articles, wherein groups of articles are respectively weighed by a plurality of weighing machines, combinatorial addition is performed on all or a fixed number of possible combinations for weighed values obtained, a particular combination whose combination value is equal or the closest to a set value is selected, and articles are discharged from the weighing hoppers corresponding to the selected combination. It is contemplated to improve performance of this system by ensuring that groups of articles successively discharged from the weighing hoppers are collected separately one from the other without intermingling. To that end, an intermediate shutter is provided in a collecting chute.

Abstract: An automatic weighing apparatus with a dispersion feed apparatus comprising a plurality of feed troughs adapted to be separately vibrated and radially arranged around the outer periphery of a dispersion table which performs spiral reciprocating vibratory motion, the feed troughs being separately vibrated at predetermined times to feed articles to associated weighing units.

Abstract: Improvements in a weighing or counting method wherein on the basis of weight data on a plurality of groups of articles obtained from a plurality of weighing machines, the respective additive values of all possible or desired number of combinations are found, the additive value of a particular combination which is equal or the nearest to a set value is retrieved, and the weighing machines corresponding to the combination selected are actuated to discharge articles contained therein. During the discharge of articles from the weighing machines corresponding to the selected combination and during the subsequent feeding of fresh articles into the same weighing machines, similar combinatorial operation is effected on the basis of weight data from a fixed number of weighing machines which were not selected, or did not discharge their articles, and a particular combination whose additive value is equal or the nearest to the set value is determined as the combination for the next discharge.