Abstract: An electronic scale used for weighing an object or material. The scale includes a weighing platform arranged to move upon receipt of a material thereon. The device further includes support means, a variable capacitor having a first and a second plate, spring means which is coupled both to the frame means and to the platform means such that movement of the platform means upon receipt of the material thereon causes the spring means to twist about an axis. The scale further includes counterbalancing means and energy absorbing connecting means to prevent error from being introduced into the weighing process, should vibrational moments be transmitted to the scale from its external environment. An alternative embodiment of the invention entails a flexure base scale, adapted to be used with counterbalancing means.

Abstract: In a spring body which is manufactured from a cubical piece, intended for a balance with an upper scale, divided into an upper and a lower guide bar by a horizontal opening extending all the way through it so that the spring body also forms the parallel guide for the balance scale, and which has wire strain gauges at thin spots in the areas of at least one guide bar the width of the spring body is divided at least in the area of the guide bars into two partial areas by a vertical opening which extends all the way through it and does not contact the edge. The vertical opening can have various shapes. The wide spring body has the advantages of in sensitivity to errors caused by off center loading and allowing the scale to be connected to the parallel-guided part of the spring body at two or three points, which reduces the stability requirements of the scale. The strain gauge are advantageously distributed so that one half of them is on each of the two areas of spring body.

Abstract: An ink jet printer having an ink jet head unit including a head and a three way valve mounted on a bracket. The bracket is removabley mounted to the printer and allows the unit to be replaced in the field. The valve of the new unit is positioned to close off flow to the head while opening flow from the ink source outlet to a disposal outlet. Upon connection of the new unit to the system, a quantity of ink is flushed through the valve to remove impurities introduced during the connection process. The valve is then adjusted to connect flow of ink to the head while closing off the disposal outlet and thereby avoid contamination of the new head.

Abstract: An apparatus is presented for weighing heavy loads, particularly those loads having to be laterally supported during the weighing operation. The weighing apparatus comprises a vertical column supported on its base by pressure cells and provided on its top surface with a support structure. This support structure retains the material to be weighed. A guide tube is provided coaxially around the column and a rotating sleeve with bearing elements is mounted between the column and the guide tube. A motor is mounted on the guide tube for rotating the sleeve during the weighing operation. The weighing apparatus is particularly well suited for use in conjunction with a casting ladle used in revolving turrets during continuous casting.

Abstract: Food cans are slid across a vertically-oscillating weigh platform while being guided by contacting means bearing against their upstream side surfaces. The contacting means comprise a pair of rollers rotatable about an axis transverse to the direction of sliding motion of the cans, and bearing against the vertical side surfaces of the cans above the bottom bead of the can. This avoids the indentations formed in the lug contactors of the prior art after many contacts with the bead of the can, and thereby improves the weighing accuracy.

Abstract: A portable and compactible scale includes a flexible, compactible bladder providing an interior chamber in which a non-compressible fluid (e.g., hydraulic liquid) is retained. The bladder includes a top wall adapted to support the load to be weighed and spaced-apart support members extend downward from the top wall and terminate short of the bottom wall under no-load conditions. A plurality of spaced-apart, flexible, substantially non-stretchable tendon means optionally can be provided within the chamber to bridge the opposed top and bottom walls of the bladder and thereby impede outward bulging of the top wall during a weighing operation without inhibiting compressive deflection of the bladder.

Abstract: A combination weighing machine for forming a charge of product closely approximating a target amount includes a plurality of weigh scales, each of which receives a quantity of product and produces a signal proportional to the quantity of product received. The quantities are combined according to a combination searching sequence in a search operation, and a combination of scales which closely approximates a target amount is dumped to form the desired charge. The dumped scales are reloaded, and the process is repeated in a cyclic manner. The speed of the cyclic process is improved without significantly sacrificing accuracy by allocating less time than necessary for a complete search of all possible combinations in the search sequence. A search is terminated when the time expires, whether the search sequence is completed or not.

Abstract: An electronic weight indicator adapted to convert an analog output of a load cell into a digital display which, after initial calibration, automatically corrects for dead load, drift and other calibration errors introduced by the circuitry. The meter can also be programmed to count for creep. The weight indicator employs a microprocessor to control an analog-to-digital converter which converts the analog signal from the load cell to a digital display. The microprocessor employs a unique algorithm permanently retained in an associated memory to correct for drift and compensate for deadload changes and creep. Once calibrated, no further adjustments by the user are required. All adjustments are made automatically, without operator intervention. The weight indicator can be used with any load cell producing an analog signal in response to a force, e.g. a weight on a weighing platform connected to the load cell.

Abstract: The machine comprises one or more weighers for producing electrical output signals dependent on the weights of samples weighed thereby, and a plurality of sample holders, greater in number than the weighers, for holding respective samples. The sample holders may include a respective weigher holder associated with each weigher, and two or more storage holders associated with each weigher for holding samples discharged from the associated weigher holder. The machine further comprises memories for storing signals indicative of the weights of the samples in the storage holders as determined by the weighers, and selection circuitry for making a selection from amongst the samples in all the storage holders in dependence on the weights of the samples as indicated by the memories and for discharging the selected samples from the storage holders to form a batch of an appropriate weight.

Abstract: A combination weighing system searches a plurality of scales for a combination which provides a minimum total weight of product not less than a pre-established target weight. The search for the best combination is performed on the basis of an ordered search sequence of all combinations, and certain steps of the sequence and corresponding combinations are omitted from the sequence if they involve subcombinations previously searched and found to be at or above the target weight. The scales produce signals representative of the product weight, and the signals are calibrated and processed to eliminate measurement errors.

Abstract: A livestock scale has a weighing platform supported by a support apparatus and is vertically movable relative thereto. A weighing mechanism is provided and indicates the weight of a load received on the platform. Primary and secondary scale arms are pivotally connected to the support apparatus and the weighing platform by hanging links. A connecting link connects the primary scale arm to the secondary scale arm along a medial segment of the secondary scale arm. A weight indicator is held by the support apparatus and is connected to the primary scale arm for indicating a weight in predetermined proportion to the weight of the load on the platform. Horizontal movement of the weighing platform is restrained by a pair of lateral sway bars and a longitudinal sway link, while vertical deflection of the weighing platform during weighing is not inhibited thereby. The sway link forms a parallelogram configuration with the primary scale arm and the primary hanging link and associated support apparatus.

Abstract: There is disclosed a movable timing hopper in an automatic weighing apparatus. The timing hopper is movable between an operating position below a chute of the automatic weighing apparatus and a nonoperating position remote from the operating position in which the timing hopper can be inspected or cleaned to remove any deposited articles.

Abstract: A link of controllable resistance comprising an FET (Q16) connected in series with a low-value resistor (R15) is connected in parallel with a time constant determining resistance (R11) in an RC type low-pass filter. A discriminator circuit (40, 50, 60) provides an on/off type signal following variations in the DC component of an input signal present on a terminal (A). A retriggerable monostable (80) defines a "neutral" time interval of predetermined duration running from the beginning of said on/off signal. At the end of said neutral period, a circuit (20) switches the FET on, thereby reducing the time constant of the RC network in the RC low-pass filter. This time constant is subsequently progressively rasied to a high value by progressively switching the FET off. The filter is specially applicable to weighing a body that is subjected to movement or to oscillation, or to performing weighing measurements in a vibrating environment.

Abstract: For the accurate metering of tobacco portions in the course of the packing of the latter, rough portions (28) are first produced by separation from a strand of tobacco and brought to the desired weight (desired portion 15) by adding difference portions measured in a fine metering device (12, 13). The rough portions (28) are fed in each case by an intermediate conveyor (13), which is in the form of a star feeder, to one of two balance receiver members (32, 33), which are likewise in the form of star feeders and each of which is connected to a precision balance (43, 44).

Abstract: A scale assembly includes a plurality of force measuring transducers which are connected with an improved platform. The platform has an upper portion which withstands compressive stresses and a lower portion which withstands tensile stresses during the weighing of a load. The upper portion of the platform includes a body of concrete having a corrugated lower major side and a flat upper major side which receives a load to be weighed. The lower portion of the platform includes a metal structure having a plurality of elongated ribs which are disposed in abutting engagement with the corrugated lower major side of the body of concrete. The ribs are connected with a bottom plate which cooperates with the ribs to form elongated cavities. At least a major portion of each of the cavities is disposed within the spatial envelope of the body of concrete to minimize the mass of the concrete.

Abstract: A combination weighing machine has a plurality of weigh scales which provide signals representative of the weight of product in each scale. A search control receives the weight signals and selects a combination of the scales which together compose a charge of the product equal to or closely approximating a given target weight. Transient errors existing in the weight signals at high speeds of operation are corrected by means of adjustment parameters that are periodically recalculated on the basis of known differences between settled and unsettled weight signals.

Abstract: An apparatus for selecting between a mechanical or electrical mode for controlling the flow of fibers by motor driven feed lift aprons from a plurality of hoppers to a plurality of weigh pans for producing a predetermined blend of fibers. The mechanical mode utilizes a balance arm assembly which can be set to feed a predetermined amount of fibers into a weigh pan. The electrical mode utilizes thumbwheel switches which can be set for regulating the amount of fibers to be fed into each weigh pan. The electrical mode system also utilizes a comparator for comparing a signal representing the actual weight of fibers in the weigh pan that is produced by a load cell with a signal representing the desired weight of fibers produced by the thumbwheel switches and generates a control signal responsive thereto. The control signal is used for operating a motor driven feed lift apron associated with the hopper.

Abstract: An electronic scale device used for weighing an object or material. The device includes a platform arranged to move upon receipt of a material thereon. The device further includes variable capacitance means arranged to move upon receipt of a material thereon and comprising a first plate and a second plate with one of the plates being movable. Movement of the platform means upon receipt of the material thereon causes a displacement of the movable plate relative to the other plate to produce a signal indicative of the weight of the material being weighed. The displacement of the movable plate is achieved by having the movable plate rotate about a fixed axis of rotation. Moreover, the plates are disposed so as to be non-parallel to each other over the entire operational range of movement of the movable plate, whenever the plates are not abutting each other.

Abstract: A load cell mass comparator wherein a pressure compensated load cell is connected at its upper end to a floating plate through a self-aligning coupling, such as, a universal joint assembly. The floating plate is slidably mounted on a plurality of guide rods extending between fixed upper and lower plates. A spring assembly and shock absorber are mounted between the upper fixed plate and floating plate. The lower end of the load cell is connected to the mass to be calibrated through a universal joint, thrust bearing, and spherical load stop bearing. The construction and arrangement of the components in the load cell mass comparator provides an instrument employed heretofore in a laboratory environment to a commercial environment where masses in the range of 1 to 10,000 pounds can be compared and calibrated.

Abstract: A unit for supplying articles to be weighed is supported on a supporting platform above the central portion of an automatic weighing apparatus, a plurality of weighing machines are arranged on the outer periphery of the supporting platform, and a plurality of circularly arranged hoppers are provided, each hopper corresponding to one of the weighing machines. A plurality of radially extending hopper gate opening devices are attached to the bottom side of the supporting platform inwardly of the hoppers, each hopper gate opening device corresponding to and opposing one of the hoppers. The hopper gate opening device is adapted to be detached from the weighing apparatus by pulling it outwardly of the apparatus, and reattached to the apparatus from the outside thereof.