Abstract: In an electric precision balance with scale on top, protected against the penetration of foreign bodies and with a low-displacement measuring system (1), a parallel-guided balance scale carrier (3) for a balance scale (11) which is guided without contact through a housing opening (4) of a surrounding system housing (2) or protective cap, the balance scale carrier (3) is designed for its part with its part running upward outside of the system housing (2) as a protective hood (8) which covers the system housing (2) at least at the top and the sides and which comprises receiving bearings (9) at the low edge (8') for intermediary members (10) which support the balance scale (11), said intermediary members are surrounded without contact by casings (12) which form foreign-body baffles open at the top and the bottom which are a component of a general housing (7) surrounding the system housing (2) and said general housing comprises drainage openings (17,17') located in its low bottom parts.

Abstract: Method and apparatus of storing data in an electrically erasable memory connected to a microprocessor to effectively protect data stored in the memory from being unintentionally overwritten in cases of defective operation of the microprocessor, an overwrite protection system consisting of a write protect flip-flop (1) whose two logical states signify "with write protection" and "without write protction" and also a gate (3) in the write line which is controlled by the write protect flip-flop and in whose logical "with write protection" state, write errors are prevented from being conducted to the individual memory locations, and, finally a mechanical switch element (5) whereby these components are connected in such a manner that the write protect flip-flop (1) can only be brought into the one logical "with write protection" state by the microprocessor, while it can only be brought into the other logical "without write protection" state, if and when the mechanical switch element (5) is actuated.

Abstract: A drying balance with a radiation source (11) for heating and drying a substance distributed on a balance scale (5), with a temperature sensor (8) for monitoring and controlling the output of the radiation source (11) and with electronic evaluating circuitry (33) for evaluating the measured values of the balance and for controlling the drying balance that a temperature gauging disk (14) with another temperature sensor built in be used in order to determine in a temperature gauging cycle the deviation of the output signal of the temperature sensor (8) from the output signal of the other temperature sensor built into the temperature gauging disk (14) and to calculate a correction factor from them and to store this correction factor. Then, the output signal of the temperature sensor (8) is multiplied by this correction factor during dryings in order to obtain the true temperature of the substance.

Abstract: A wind guard for a balance is suggested which consists of at least two cylindrically curved wall elements, in which each wall element is connected to a corresponding segment of the circular covering surface. In this manner, the balance scale is readily accessible both from the side and also from above when the wind guard is open.

Abstract: The invention is relative to a method of statically (non-multiplexed) actuating a liquid crystal display which comprises several segments and a common back electrode, using a microprocessor which serially outputs the data to be displayed, and using a serial/parallel converter which statically makes the data to be displayed available for each segment of the liquid crystal display. The invention has the task of achieving recognition of functional error as follows: The data to be displayed is outputted approximately every 0.1 second by the microprocessor and the data for the individual segments and for the back electrode is inverted at every second data output. The failure of components then results in a blinking of the particular segment and is conspicuously indicated in this manner. In the case of alternating voltage actuation of the liquid crystal display, it is advantageous if the clock pulse of the alternating voltage actuation is also inverted at every second data output.

Abstract: In an analytical balance with scale on top with a scale carrier which is directly operatively connected to the measured value receiver, with a balance scale disk (6) which rests in a removable manner on the scale carrier, with a weighing chamber which surrounds the balance scale disk (6), the scale carrier and the measured value receiver, with a weighing chamber lock which constitutes the communication between the weighing chamber and the environment and which consists of two sets of closing doors or elements located in a vertically displaced manner in the form of a lock and with a transport device which can move the balance scale between a weighing position on the scale carrier and a loading position outside of the weighing position on the scale carrier and a loading position outside of the weighing chamber, the two closing elements of the weighing chamber lock are located above one another. The lower closing element consists of at least one level, horizontal plate which can be shifted in the plate plane.

Abstract: LCD display boards for electronic balances frequently also comprise, alongside the digits for the digital display of the weighing result, additional fields in which additional information is displayed by means of alphanumeric signs. The invention suggests that the segments of the digits for displaying the weighing result be individually provided with a line and controlled in parallel in order to achieve a very good display quality and that the segments for the display of the alphanumeric signs of the additional field, e.g. a 5.times.7 matrix, be connected in such a manner that they can be serially controlled in order to prevent the number of lines required from becoming too great.

Abstract: The invention indicates a balance with counting scale in which the resolution of the balance with counting scale can be increased in the determination of the reference weight of light pieces without an additional switching key operated from the outside. To this end, a comparator (14) is present in the built-in electronic circuitry which is actuated when the transfer key (8) is pressed and which frees the transfer of the weight into the memory (16) and the determination of the average individual weight when a set threshold is exceeded, while, when this threshold is dropped below, it does not free the transfer of the weight into the memory and increases the resolution of the balance by a given factor.

Abstract: In a drying balance with scale on top and with a radiation source for heating and drying material to be weighed located on the balance scale, the radiation source (11) is permanently located behind the balance scale (5) and a bent cover (7) which functions as a radiation deflector is movably located over the balance scale (5). This makes the construction lower and a moving of the radiation source (11) with its electric connections is avoided when the balance scale (5) is loaded. Moreover, differently constructed inner surfaces (7') of the cover (17) permit the drying balance to easily adapt to different radiation sources (11) and to different drying tasks.

Abstract: In a balance, having a top mounted scale that is protected by a box-like structure (2) consisting of glass, is set on the housing base (1) of the balance. The box-like structure encloses a weighing area (5) on all sides around the balance scale (28) of the housing base (1). The front side of the structure (2), which faces the display and operating console (3), forms a load carrying vertical pane (6) consisting entirely of glass which is connected to a glass back wall (7) by at least one holding and guide track (15, 16) which runs from the upper edge of the front pane to the upper edge of the back pane parallel to the longitudinal axis of the housing, limiting the weighing area (5) at the top. The two side walls of the structure (2) are constructed as all-glass sliding doors (8, 10) which are guided at the bottom in the housing base (1) and at the top as bent side extensions (9, 11) in the associated guide and holding track (15, 16).

Abstract: It is necessary, when high requirements are demanded from balances, that the effect of different disturbance variables such as, e.g., temperature and/or moisture on the measuring system be corrected. To this end, temperature and moisture sensors are used from whose output signal correction values are calculated. The invention suggests that a storage area be provided into which the instantaneous measured results of these sensors are stored in succession, where they remain stored for a set time. This data stemming from different times, evaluated with set weighting factors, could then be used to calculate the corrections. This makes it possible to obtain a good correction of changing disturbances even with a different behavior in time of sensors and measuring system.

Abstract: The invention discloses an electronic balance comprising a measured value receiver (23) and an electronic evaluation unit (14) having a digital display (10) and an analog display (6), whereby both displays are controlled by the electronic evaluation unit (14). A digital input keyboard (12) is used for inputting the set weight value of a loading. The electronic evaluation unit (14) contains a memory (15) and an arithmetic unit (16) which permit the values indicated in the digital display (10) and in the analog display (6) to be differentiated against each other by the amount stored in the memory (15) so that during a loading procedure the digital display (10) runs from the negative set weight value to 0g and the analog display (6) from 0% to 100%. The analog display (6) consists of adjacent bars (7) which can be shited in their lightness, whereby the length of the individual bars continuously decreases from 0% to 100% of the set weight value, and continuously increases again over 100% of the set weight value.

Abstract: In order to make it possible to display a consecutive number in a simple manner in an electronic balance having a digital display (10) and a 10-key keyboard (12), the invention provides that a light source (16) be associated with each of the keys of the 10-key keyboard and that the counter for the consecutive number actuates the light source of the 10-key keyboard which corresponds to its counter reading. The counter is actuated by a tare key and other light sources are provided to indicate larger decades.

Abstract: In an electronic balance for application in potentially explosive areas, the weighing system, the electronic evaluation unit and the digital display unit have an intrinsically safe design with regard to the possibility of explosions. All lead connections are supplied with low voltages and the power unit when present is located outside the electronic balance and connected to the electronic balance via an explosion-safe lead and plug connections with an intrinsically safe design with regard to an explosion. In an alternative the power unit can be encapsulated in a pressure-proof manner, powder-filled, force-ventilated or located outside the potentially combustible gaseous explosive area. It is also contemplated that a battery which is intrinsically safe with regard to explosions can also be used in the housing of the electronic balance instead of a separate power unit.

Abstract: In known methods of initializing a balance with counting scale a given quantity of the pieces to be counted is placed on the balance at the same time and the average individual weight is calculated therefrom and used as a base for the following piece counts. In contrast thereto, the invention suggests that the pieces be placed individually on the balance and that the standstill of the balance be waited for after each placing of a piece. This makes it possible to also calculate the standard deviation in addition to the average value and statements concerning the counting precision can be made which are based on known statistical laws, so that counting errors can be avoided.

Abstract: The invention suggests an intermittent mode of operation to reduce the stray power in the coil in a balance based on the principle of the electromagnetic compensation of force. To this end, switching means (21) are provided which can interrupt the current flow through the coil (11) so that when the current flow is interrupted, the movable parts (2-9) of the balance move against one of the stops (24) or (25). These switching means (21) are controlled by the digital signal processing unit (18). In addition storage means (20) are provided within the framework of the digital signal processing unit which store the last-determined weight value for the duration of the interruption of the current flow through the coil.

Abstract: In order to reduce the coupling-in of high-frequency electromagnetic interference into the measuring system of electric balances with scale on top and with a metallic balance scale and a metallic housing, a pin (7) which establishes the connection between the balance scale (2) and the load receiver (5) of the measuring system comprises an insulating layer on its surface which is bridged by a resistor (6) located on the pin (7).

Abstract: A balance having a setting means with which the relative precision of the weighing result is to be determined can be set by the user. The balance then adapts automatically to the set relative precision. This adaptation can occur, e.g., in the number of positions displayed, in the step width in the last particular position, in the selection of the integration time, in the filtering of the measured values in the digital signal processing unit, in the frequency of the taking over of the measured value into the display and/or at the time of the emission of the standstill signal or of the measured value release signal.

Abstract: In an analytical balance with a pan and a four-bar mechanism which keeps the balance pan parallel horizontally during its vertical travel, the one vertical side of which is held fast to the housing, the other vertical side of which, in the form of a coupling piece, carries an extension which receives the pan, and both horizontal sides of which are connected in an articulated manner by an upper and a lower rod to the vertical sides, whereby the four-bar mechanism is loaded by the restoring force of a load converter, the extension (16) which receives the pan (17) is L-shaped, the horizontal L-shank (pan arm) (16") carries the pan (17) rigidly connected to its free end and the vertical L-shank (bearing arm) (16') is mounted on the bar (18'") of a U-shaped arm bearing (18) which projects above and below over the vertically movable end (9) of the four-bar mechanism (5, 6, 7, 8, 9) with its two horizontal U-shanks (18, 18") in the rod planes and is rigidly fastened to it in two vertically superposed bearings (118')