Abstract: A bag making and packaging machine has a pair of transverse sealing members on opposite sides of a film path for transversely sealing a bag-making film moving longitudinally along this path. A pair of support members supports these transverse sealing members and is driven so as to bring the transverse sealing members towards each other to contact with the film and away to separate them from each other. At least one elastic member is interposed between at least one of the support members and the corresponding one of the transverse sealing members. This elastic member is in a contracted condition when the transverse sealing members are in contact with the film on the film path and thereby applying on the film a sealing pressure corresponding to the distance by which the elastic member is contracted.

Abstract: An apparatus integrating system such as a product shipping line includes a group of integrated apparatus each provided with a memory device for storing conditions of its operation, an input device through which conditions of operation for the group of apparatus can be set, a display device for displaying conditions and actual modes of operation of the apparatus group and control devices for controlling the apparatus group. Data are exchanged among the control devices of the apparatus through a communication device. Instead of providing a memory device to each apparatus, a master memory may be provided to only one or some of the apparatus or separately and away from the group of apparatus. The user can operate on the input device of any of the apparatus to set not only the conditions of operation of that apparatus but also the conditions of operation of the other apparatus through the communication device.

Abstract: A zero-point adjustment unit for a weighing device is comprised of a rough adjustment circuit, a fine adjustment circuit and a central processing unit. The central processing unit adjusts the zero-point of the weighing device by receiving a no-lead weight signal outputted from the weighing device and controls the output signals from the rough and fine adjustment circuits.

Abstract: Data from weighing devices of a combinational weighing system are transmitted through a multiplexer and sample-and-hold circuits and are converted into digital signals by an analog-to-digital converter. Values of these digital signals are constantly monitored and a specified number of these values are used to determine stability conditions of the weighing devices. Only the weight data from stabilized weighing devices are used for combinational calculation.

Abstract: A combinational weighing system with a plurality of weighing devices employs at least three central processing units such as microprocessors. One keeps monitoring the weight information from the weighing devices and analyzes stability of weight data. Another one controls the charging and discharging of the weighing devices. The third performs combinational computation to select a combination. The system has increased flexibility regarding operation and adjustments, and allows efficient methods of zero-point and span adjustment of weighing devices. Its compact unitized input-output unit allows the user to operate the system interactively.

Abstract: A system for compelling weighing machines to participate in a combinatorial weighing operation operates by updating the number of times a weighing machine is not selected for a combination, whenever a single combination giving a total weight value within preset allowable limits is obtained by combinatorial computation. The number for a weighing machine which is selected for a combination, is reset whenever a single combination giving a total weight value within preset allowable limits is obtained by combinatorial computation. A weighing machine, which has not discharged its articles for a large number of cycles, is compelled to participate in a combinatorial computation.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically adjusting the zero point of a weighing machine includes producing, in the form of a digital value, an initial zero-point correction value when the weighing machine is free of a load. The difference value between an unloaded weight value, which is produced by the unloaded weighing machine, and a value obtained by converting the digital value into an analog value, is calculated. The difference value is compared with a preset value, and digital values are sequentially converted in accordance with the result of the comparison operation to render the difference value equal, or nearly equal, to the preset value.

Abstract: A mixing combinatorial counting and weighing method and apparatus for packaging a wide variety of articles in a single pack, wherein the numbers or ratio of the candies are designated. Prescribed numbers of the articles, which are high in unit price or large in volume, are discharged by using article supply units and combinatorial counting units. The weight of the articles discharged is stored, and this stored weight is subtracted from a weight set for the pack to compute the difference. Then, inexpensive articles are discharged using a combinatorial weighing unit, wherein the weight of the articles discharged is equivalent to the computed difference, and the articles discharged from the respective units are collected. Thus, a wide variety of articles can be introduced into a single pack at a prescribed ratio and, at the same time, the total weight of the pack can be held within established limits.

Abstract: An automatic weighing machine for combinatorial weighing has weighing and counting modes and operates to effect the combinatorial arithmetic operation in the weighing mode when a preset count set by a number setting unit is zero, and to effect the combinatorial arithmetic operation in the counting mode when the preset count set by said number setting unit is other than zero.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing method and apparatus wherein a value serving as a target for a combinatorial computation is set so that the mean weight value of batches of articles weighed out selectively by plural weighing cycles becomes equal to a preset weight value within preset allowable limits. Combinatorial computations are performed while diminishing the target weight value by a predetermined amount when the mean weight value is greater than the preset weight value, and increasing the target weight value by a predetermined amount when the mean weight value is less than the preset weight value.

Abstract: Weighing conditions, depending on the kind of article being weighed and on the target value for the weighing operation, are entered as a set of reserved values through a data input unit, and the set of reserved values is written into a memory of a storage unit by a write control unit. The storage unit includes a plurality of memories, each of which stores a different set of reserved values. A read control unit, in response to an input from the data input unit, selects a required set of reserved values from the corresponding memory of the storage unit, and applies prescribed ones of these values to a combinatorial computation control unit and feeder drive units. Therefore, when it is necessary to reset weighing conditions whenever there is a change in the kind of article being weighed or in the target value, the resetting operation is performed merely by reading the desired weighing conditions, namely the set of reserved values, from memory.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing or counting method and apparatus in which a plurality of articles are weighed to provide a plurality of weight values, or to provide a plurality of discrete numbers found from the weight values, the weight values or numbers are combined, and the optimum combination thereof is found whose sum is equal or closest to a set target value.

Abstract: A span adjustment method includes applying a known load to a weighing machine and converting an output value from the weighing machine into a digital value by using an analog-to-digital converter. The characteristic of the analog-to-digital converter is sequentially varied automatically by a span adjustment value, which is produced as an output by a control unit, so that the digital value resulting from the analog-to-digital conversion becomes a digital value set in the control unit and conforming to the known load.

Abstract: A combinatorial weighing method which includes steps of dividing a target weight value, set for articles which are to be weighed out, into a plurality of target values, and executing combinatorial computations with respect to each of the target values on the basis of the weight values of the articles fed into a number of weighing machines, so that weighing hoppers selected with respect to each target value do not include weighing machines selected with respect to the other target values. An error between the total weight value of the combination of articles selected as a result of the previous combinatorial computations and the target value for that particular combinatorial computation is formed. The error is added to the target value for the next combinatorial computation and then the next combinatorial computation is executed. After completing the combinatorial computations with respect to all of the target values, the articles are discharged from the selected weighing machines.

Abstract: A combinational weighing system with a plurality of weighing devices employs at least three central processing units such as microprocessors. One keeps monitoring the weight information from the weighing devices and analyzes stability of weight data. Another one controls the charging and discharging of the weighing devices. The third performs combinational computation to select a combination. The system has increased flexibility regarding operation and adjustments, and allows efficient methods of zero-point and span adjustment of weighing devices. Its compact unitized input-output unit allows the user to operate the system interactively.