Abstract: An automatic weight sorter used with a rotary container filling machine for sorting filled containers by weight. The filling machine has a rotary platform with a plurality of filling stations in which the containers, such as bottles, are supported for filling liquid product dispensed through a filling head at each filling station. The sorter is disposed at the exit end of the filling machine for successively weighing the filled bottles to sort them into predetermined classes of weight. The sorter is provided with an electronic device for storing measured weights for each filling station, calculating average weight for each station, counting the number of the sorted bottles in each class for each filling station, selectively displaying these data on a display screen and generating an alarm when the number of defective product exceeds a predetermined value.

Abstract: A combination weighing machine of the type comprising a plurality of weighing units for weighing product fed thereto and providing weight signals indicative of the weights thereof, respectively, means for selecting an optimum combination of these weight signals which satisfies a predetermined condition, and means for discharging the product from those weighing units corresponding to the selected combination for deliver a batch of product satisfying the prescribed condition; in which, as the feature of invention, each weighing unit is provided with a plurality of weighing chambers and a single weigher or weight sensor for providing a weight signal indicative of the total weight of all weighing chambers and associated with loading means for selectively loading the weight chambers with product and means for detecting the weight of product in each weighing chamber and storing it, and the combination selecting means and the discharging means are arranged to select the optimum combination from all weighing chambers

Abstract: A device for setting various operational parameters of combination weighing machine, such as target weight, speed of operation, name of product, allowable range of weight, hopper gate opening time and feed conveyor operation time. In this device, it is only necessary to manually register some independent operational parameters such as target weight and speed of operation from a keyboard and, then, the remaining dependent operational parameters such as hopper gate opening time and conveyor operation time can be registered automatically in accordance with the previously registered independent operational parameters.

Abstract: A dispersion feeder used in a combination weighing machine for distributively feeding product to be weighed out to a plurality of weighing units arranged around it. The feeder is characterized in that it includes a mechanism for effecting rotational movement of the center or apex of its dispersion table. This movement exerts a centrifugal force on product fed onto the table, including product in and near the center of the table, thereby ensuring that such product is removed from the table.

Abstract: A kind of automatic rotary weighing and packing machine having a plurality of weighers radially or annularly arranged on a circular rotary table for automatically effecting such processes as filling of product, weighing and judgement at respective positions around the table, which is especially suitable in the case where the product to be packed is sticky granular or powdered bulk material and the packing container is a bag or the like. This machine uses no weigh hopper or bucket in which sticky product is liable to remain to cause weight error, and the packing container is held by a holding mechanism attached to each weigher and directly filled with product, which is then weighed and sealed. A fixed amount feeding device is used for feeding product into the container and its throughput is controlled based upon the result of a subsequent weighment for keeping the weight of product packed in each container always at a predetermined value.

Abstract: A force measuring device, such as a weighing device, having device for automatically compensating for temperature-induced zero and span deviations. The device includes force and temperature sensors for producing force and temperature indicative signals, respectively. Device for processing processes these force and temperature signals at various temperatures in no-load and reference-load conditions by regressive analysis in order to obtain and store in memory equations representing the zero and span deviations with temperature. During use of the force measuring device for measurement, the device uses the stored equations to calculate the zero and span deviations from the current temperature to correct the force indicative signal.

Abstract: Collator apparatus and methods for preventing incorrect operations of first and second machines such as a combination scale and a packaging machine which are to be used together to process the same type of product. The first machine has a first memory for storing operation condition data, each with a different data number (address), and has an associated first memory control. The second machine has a second memory for storing other operation condition data, each with a different data number, and an associated second memory control. The first memory control of the first machine is caused to generate a specified one of the data numbers of the first memory. The collator apparatus sends a request signal to the second memory control of the second machine to cause the second memory control to generate a data number of the second memory, which data number corresponds to the specified one by a predetermined relationship in the absence or malfunction.

Abstract: A combination weighing machine structure including a feed hopper and an underlying weigh hopper, in which the weigh hopper has two chambers laterally partitioned side by side and the feed hopper is adapted to move laterally and selectively to above either chamber. The weigh hopper is provided with a weighing unit for producing an electric signal indicative of the weight of product in both chambers and the weighing unit is arranged to provide the weight of product in each chamber for storage by measuring first the weight of product in one chamber when only this chamber is filled, measuring the total weight of product in both chambers when the other chamber is also filled and calculating the difference of both weights.

Abstract: A force measuring device mainly used as a weighing device, comprising first and second horizontal cantilever members disposed parallel with each other in a common vertical plane, a weighing cradle attached to the free end of the first member, and a metal string stretched between the free ends of both members. The string is placed between a pair of magnetic poles so that it vibrates at its inherent frequency functionally relating to its tension and, therefore, a load applied to the weighing cradle. The frequency of the string is measured and the value of the applied load is calculated therefrom by an electronic calculating circuit. In order to overcome a problem of frequency deviation caused by variation in the spring constants of both cantilever members due to variation in the surrounding temperature, the inventive device includes a temperature sensor and arithmetic circuitry for applying compensation for the error due to the temperature change to the calculation of the applied force.

Abstract: A hydraulic damper for an apparatus for measuring weight or force. The apparatus includes a base frame and an elastic load cell attached to the base frame, the elastic load cell having a movable part which vibrates relative to the base frame. The damper comprises pair of spaced support members fixed ot each other and to one of the base frame and movable part, a partition member fixed to the other of the base frame and movable part and positioned between the support members, a pair of flexible wall members extending between the partition member and the support members to form a pair of sealed chambers on opposite sides of the partition member, a narrow passage interconnecting the chambers, and liquid contained in the chambers whereby movement of the movable part of the load cell effects relative movement between the partition member and the support members to force liquid to flow between the chambers via the narrow passage thereby to damp the movement of the movable part of the load cell.

Abstract: A weighing and packing device for successively producing packages of product each of which is conformable with a predetermined weight condition. The device comprises a pair of combination weighing and packing machines mounted on a common frame as a single unit. Each machine includes a combination weigher and an associated packer which are mechanically interlocked so that the batches of product successively delivered from the combination weigher are packed by the packer in tubular bags fabricated successively from a sheet material. The combination weighers of both machines have their own control units electronically interlocked so that both machines can operate in mutually synchronized or nonsynchronized fashion with or without time lag.

Abstract: A combination weighing system for weighing batches of articles and selecting a combination of batches satisfying a condition predetermined for both total weight and number of articles. In the system, the measured weight of each batch is divided by a reference unit weight of the articles and converted into the number of articles which is then rounded into an integral number. This integral number is multiplied by the reference unit weight and restored to the weight of articles. Then, both weights or numbers appearing before and after the rounding operation are mutually weighted and averaged and the resultant weighted averages are subjected to a conventional combination selecting operation.

Abstract: A combination weigher of the type having a plurality of weigh hoppers arranged in a circle. Each weigh hopper has inner and outer discharge gates, the inner gate being adapted to discharge product inside of the circle and the outer gate being adapted to discharge the the product outside of the circle. A plurality of auxiliary hopper structures underly respective weigh hoppers, and a common collection chute underlies the auxiliary hopper structures. In order to reduce the diameter of the collection chute and the overall outer diameter of the weigher, each auxiliary hopper structure comprises an auxiliary hopper disposed under the outer discharge gate of a respective weigh hopper for receiving product discharged therefrom through the outer discharge gate, and a chute mechanism for directing product discharged through the inner gate of a respective weigh hopper to the collection chute and for direction product discharged from the auxiliary hopper to the collection chute.

Abstract: A load cell produces an oscillating signal indicative of the weight of the product. The maximum and minimum values of the oscillating signal are determined to provide a reference value which is an average of the maximum and minimum values. Using the reference value for the starting point and ending point, one cycle of the oscillating signal is identified and integrated to determine the corresponding weight of the product. The apparatus compensates for errors in the relationship between the actual starting and ending points of the cycle and the reference value.

Abstract: The weighing apparatus according to the invention is for use on a support surface which is subject to vibration. The apparatus includes a base adapted to be positioned on the support surface and having opposing first and second sides. The base is adapted to transmit vibrations from the support surface. A tray holds the product to be weighed and has a center of gravity adjacent the first side of the base. A load cell supports the tray on the base at the first side of the base. Strain gauges connected to the load cell generate a signal indicative of the weight of the tray and any product held thereby. The signal includes oscillating noise corresponding to vibrations transmitted by the base through the load cell to the tray.

Abstract: A digital filter or an equivalent device for filtering a weight signal provided by a weighing device to remove undesirable oscillatory components caused by mechanical vibration of the weighing device, which is constructed to have a plurality of notch frequencies in its transfer characteristic within and/or near the frequency range including such undesirable oscillatory components by utilizing the principle of transfer function of multiplex progressive averages of a series of sample values extracted from the weight signal.

Abstract: A weighing and packing device including a weighing section for successively weighing out quantities of product each having a predetermined weight and a packing section for successively packing the quantities of product delivered from the weighing section. The device further includes a metal detector for detecting a metallic substance included in each quantity of product and means for enabling removal of defective packages containing metallic substances from the normal conveying line.

Abstract: In a combination weighing machine comprising a pluality of weighing units and a plurality of product feeders for feeding product to the respective weighing units, a device for controlling the amount of product fed to each weighing unit based upon the deviation of the weight data from each weighing unit from a predetermined target weight for each feeder. The amounts of product fed to respective weighing units can be controlled independently.

Abstract: An automatic span adjusting device incorporated in a weigher for correcting deviation of the weight signal provided by the weigher from the true weight of product being weighed by the weigher, the device including a memory storing weight values of a plurality of reference weights for span correction and means for automatically reading one of the stored weight values from the memory to provide it for calculating a span correction coefficient.

Abstract: A product feeding device suitable for use with a combination weighing machine having a plurality of weighing hopper. The device comprises a central vibrating dispersion table for dispersing product fed to the center of the table outwardly toward the periphery of the table, and a plurality of retaining hoppers corresponding to the weighing hoppers disposed at the periphery of the table for receiving product directly from the table. Each retaining hopper is equipped with a suitable mechanism for discharging products therefrom.