Abstract: A device for measuring force, which is preferably applicable to a weighing device, is provided, wherein two cantilever arms are arranged substantially in parallel and generally in a vertical plane, an elastic member is coupled between the free ends of the both arms so as to be subjected to tension or compression when a force to be measured is applied to the free end of the either arm, the elastic member forms a part of mechano-electric transducer which produces an electric signal whose feature has a theoretical relationship with the applied force, and the device further includes an arithmetic unit for calculating the force in accordance with this relationship.

Abstract: A mass meter of the type of conventional weighing scale having an elastic cantilever mechanism provided with a weighing cradle, and a mechanoelectric transducer for sensing a strain of the cantilever to produce a weight indicative signal, which further includes, for cancelling the effect of gravity, a reference weight accompanied with its loading and unloading means, and an arithmetic unit for processing the weight data obtained in both reference weight loaded and unloaded states to calculate the mass of an article on the weighing cradle.

Abstract: A weighing system, including a plurality of conveyer-type continuous weighing machines each having an analog weighing unit and a digital measurement processing unit, and a single common analog-to-digital convertor operated in time division fashion.

Abstract: A dispersion feeder for distributively feeding product to a plurality of weighing units arranged circularly about a common axis, comprising a plurality of conveyer troughs arranged radially about the axis for communicating by their outer ends respectively with the weighing units, and a plurality of vibrating units attached respectively to the conveyer troughs for subjecting each conveyer trough to independent vibration. Each conveyer trough is provided with a projection inclined upwardly and radially inwardly toward the common axis. These projections are arranged radially about the axis without mutual contact to form a conical or domed substantially continuous central dispersion surface, and each projection and its corresponding conveyor trough is adapted to be subjected to independent vibration to feed product supplied directly onto the dispersion surface to the corresponding conveyer trough.

Abstract: A device for feeding product from a single source to a plurality of weighing units of a combination weighing machine, which are arranged in circular array, comprising a centrally disposed generally circular dispersion feeder for radially dispersing the product fed to its center portion and a plurality of radially disposed vibration conveyer troughs communicating with the respective weighing units for receiving the product from the periphery of the dispersion feeder and conveying them to the corresponding weighing units.

Abstract: The method of delivering quantities of product measured by weight with each quantity being of an acceptable weight relative to a reference weight, utilizing a set of weighing devices each adapted to weigh a fraction of said quantity and each adapted for unloading of product therefrom to contribute to a delivery.

Abstract: A zero-point correction device, which is associated especially with an automatic weighing machine for weighing powdered product repeatedly, for correcting its zero-point deviating from its initial position as the number of weighed batches increases due to accumulation of residual product in the weighing hopper or cradle, without interruption of the machine operation.

Abstract: A novel combination weighing system which substantially reduces the necessary time for each cycle of operation as compared with the conventional combination weighing system. The system involves sampling a weight indicative signal at a predetermined time point prior to each weighing unit reading stabilization, calculating from each unstable weight indicative signal an estimated stable weight indicative value, executing a combination operation using the estimated stable weight indication values, storing those combinations obtained which satisfy a predetermined weight condition, and calculating the sum weights of the stored combinations using weight indicative signals obtained after stabilization of the weighing units to select a combination whose sum weight satisfies the predetermined weight condition.

Abstract: A device, so-called dispersion feeder, for feeding product to be weighed from a single source to a plurality of weighing units of a combination weighing machine which are arranged in a circular array. The device, which is generally of a circular shape, is disposed in the center of the circular array of weighing units and distributes the product fed from the source to its central portion, to the respective weighing units towards the radial direction. The improvement in this device is that entangled aggregates of the product can be automatically dispersed before leaving outlet ports provided on the periphery for the respective weighing units.

Abstract: A combination weighing machine having a plurality of weighing units and being adopted to load at least one of the weighing units with articles having a predetermined volume, to compare the weight signal from this weighing unit with a predetermined reference weight signal and to deliver the articles of the predetermined weight if their weight is greater than the reference weight. If the weight of such articles is less than the reference weight the machine is operable to generate combinations of the aforesaid; weight signal and the weight signals from the other weighing units to select a combination having a weight greater than the reference weight, for the purpose of forming batches of articles each having volume and weight greater than predetermined values.

Abstract: A novel device to be attached to each weighing hopper of a combination weighing machine is provided for cleaning the hopper by applying an air jet to the inside of the hopper for a short time just after every unloading of the hopper to blow off possible fragments of product weighed sticking to and accumulating on the inner wall of the hopper to affect the tare and, consequently, the combined weight.

Abstract: An automatic combination weighing machine, having a plurality of weighing units, weighing batches of product or articles by the respective units at the same time and selecting some of the batches exhibiting the total weight meeting a predetermined condition, is provided, wherein each weighing unit is provided with automatic loading and unloading devices and the weighing units are arranged side by side in a line so that the respective loading and unloading paths are parallel to each other, in contrast to the prior machine wherein the weighing units are arranged circularly. This linear type of machine occupies less area than the circular type and can be cleaned easily, and it is more convenient for use in conjunction with soft small product for food, such as meat cutlets and vegetables.

Abstract: A controlled chute device, including a ramp chute having an entrance gate at the upstream and an exit gate at the downstream, for letting groups of product fed from the entrance gate slip down along it by gravity and discharging them from the exit gate, wherein the both entrance and exit gates are controlled sophisticatedly so that two or more groups of product sequentially fed from the entrance gate can exist on the chute at the same time without fear of contact and intermixture of the adjoining groups, which device is especially suitable for use in a combination weighing machine.

Abstract: An automatically controlled combination weighing machine, which is generally used for packing a plurality of articles in each bag or the like so that each bag contains a predetermined weight of articles, comprising a plurality of weighing units for weighing a plurality of articles each at the same time to produce corresponding weight indicative signals, respectively, artihmetic means for selecting some of these weighing units so that the total weight of the articles on the selected weighing units meets a predetermined qualification, and means for unloading and loading the selected weighing units with articles automatically; an improvement of which is a provision of automatic control means for the loading means for controlling the feeding rate or amount of articles to the unloaded weighing units on the basis of the total weight of the articles in the all weighing units so that this total weight is maintained at or close to a predetermined value.

Abstract: An improved gate driving link mechanism is provided, this mechanism being originally designed for opening and closing a flapdoor type discharge gate of a weighing hopper of top-charge and bottom discharge type, used in a combination weighing device such as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,344,492, the improvement of which is to add an intermediate bell crank for confining overshoot of the opened gate to avoid unwanted time loss which affect high speed operation of the device and undesirable shock and vibration which affects accuracy of measurement.

Abstract: An improved weighing device of load cell type is proposed, wherein a cantilever type load cell and a parallelogrammatic Roberval's mechanism are combined through a connecting rod having a particular shape which results in greatly increased accuracy of measurement regardless of loading position on a weighing cradle or platform of the device.

Abstract: An improved distribution feeder of circular disc type, for receiving articles at the central portion and exhausting them from a plurality of outlets at the periphery, having the upper surface provided with a slope highest at the center and slanting down toward the periphery and a vibrator for imparting vertical and rotational vibration to the distribution feeder, thereby facilitating free movement of the articles to eliminate undesirable accumulation of the articles at the closed outlets.

Abstract: An automatically controlled combination weighing machine, which is generally used for packing a plurality of articles in each bag or the like so that each bag contains a predetermined weight of articles, the machine possesses a plurality of weighing units for weighing a plurality of articles each at the same time to produce corresponding weight indicative signals, respectively, arithmetic means for selecting some of these weighing units so that the total weight of the articles on the selected weighing units meets a predetermined qualification, and means for unloading and loading the selected weighing units with articles automatically. An automatic control device is provided for the loading means for controlling the feeding rate or amount of the articles to the unloaded weighing units on the basis of the average weight of the articles on the remaining non-selected weighing units so that all of the weighing units can uniformly participate in the selected combinations and be unloaded in turn.

Abstract: A novel type of combination weighing system is provided; wherein two combination weighing devices are provided for weighing two kinds of articles, respectively, the first device and its associated combination selecting circuits are used for obtaining some combinations of the weighing units of the first device which provide total weights of the articles thereon falling within a predetermined range of weight, and the second device and its associated combination selecting circuits are used for obtaining a combination of the weighing units of the second device which provide a total weight of the articles thereon inclusive of the total weight obtained above by the first device, which is nearest to a predetermined target weight; for finally obtaining a combined group of first and second articles wherein the total weight of the first articles falls within the predetermined range of weight and the total weight of the first and second articles is nearest of all to the predetermined target weight.

Abstract: The method of delivering quantities of product measured by weight with each quantity being of an acceptable weight relative to a reference weight, utilizing a set of balances each adapted to weigh a fraction of said quantity and each adapted for unloading of product therefrom to contribute to a delivery, the method comprising for each delivery the steps of generating the values of combinations of weights on the balances excluding those balances which were unloaded on the preceding delivery and comparing the values with an acceptable weight standard to select a combination of balances to be unloaded to deliver said acceptable weight quantity, unloading the balances of the selected combination for said delivery, and loading the balances which were unloaded, wherein, for each delivery, the step of generating and comparing the values of the combinations of weights on the balances excluding those balances which were unloaded on the preceding delivery is initiated before completion of weighing out new loads on thos