Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a hopper having a simplified structure that can prevent fragments of component parts generated by vibrations and bolts, nuts, etc., that have fallen out of place from intermixing with the articles in the weighing hoppers or on the conveyor of a combination weighing apparatus. A link mechanism for opening and closing a gate is arranged on a plate provided on one side of the box-like body of a pool hopper. A cover that covers the entire link mechanism is provided and the cover is configured such that it can be freely attached to and detached from the box-like body. The cover can be attached to and detached from the box-like body by engaging and disengaging an engaging member of the cover with and from a nut coupled to the box-like body.

Abstract: The object of the present invention is to provide a hopper having a simplified structure that can prevent fragments of component parts generated by vibrations and bolts, nuts, etc., that have fallen out of place from intermixing with the articles in the weighing hoppers or on the conveyor of a combination weighing apparatus. A link mechanism for opening and closing a gate is arranged on a plate provided on one side of the box-like body (20) of a pool hopper (7). A cover (25) that covers the entire link mechanism is provided and the cover (25) is configured such that it can be freely attached to and detached from the box-like body (20). An attachment/detachment mechanism (62) slides in the direction of arrows (O) and (P) inside a long hole (64) provided in a bulged part (63) of the cover main body (61).

Abstract: To provide a combination weighing apparatus capable of handling articles of various shapes automatically at a high speed, the combination weighing apparatus includes a supply unit (2) having a plurality of supply buckets (20i) each capable of discharging the article onto hoppers (40i) positioned therebelow. The supply buckets (20i) are drivingly supported by a transport unit including an endless support member (10) so as to circulate along a predetermined transport path. A discharge control is provided so that when some of the supply buckets (20i) are brought to a position corresponding to empty weighing hoppers (40i), the articles M within such supply buckets (20i) can be discharged therefrom onto the weighing hoppers (40i).

Abstract: To provide a combination weighing apparatus capable of handling articles of various shapes automatically at a high speed, the combination weighing apparatus includes a supply unit (2) having a plurality of supply buckets (20i) each capable of discharging the article onto hoppers (40i) positioned therebelow. The supply buckets (20i) are drivingly supported by a transport unit including an endless support member (10) so as to circulate along a predetermined transport path. A discharge control is provided so that when some of the supply buckets (20i) are brought to a position corresponding to empty weighing hoppers (40i), the articles M within such supply buckets (20i) can be discharged therefrom onto the weighing hoppers (40i).

Abstract: A combination weighing apparatus for performing a combination weighing of a plurality of articles to be weighed includes a plurality of containers Tb each bearing an information storage medium 1 on or from which product information including a weight value of the article to be weighed M2 is recorded or read-out, respectively, a write-in device 15 for writing the product information in the information storage medium 1, a read-out device 16 for reading the product information from the information storage medium 1, and a calculating device 4 for combining respective weight values of the articles to be weighed M2 which have been read out and for selecting a combination having a weight equal or approximating to a target value within a predetermined weight allowance. This combination weighing apparatus is effective to accomplish an easy and accurate combination calculation even though the order of transport of the articles to be weighed M2 changes.

Abstract: A prosthetic knee joint enabling high-angle flexion includes the following members (a)-(c).

Abstract: A combinational weighing system receives articles sequentially in a plurality of mutually parallel supply lines to be sequentially transported to weighing devices which are individually associated therewith and weigh batches of the articles received therefrom. Combinations of the measured weight values are combined and a particular combination of article batches is selected as having a total weight which satisfies a predefined condition. The article batches in the selected combination are transported in a general direction of flow from the weighing devices to an outlet in mutually different travel modes such that they are automatically aligned one behind another in the direction of flow as they are discharged together through the outlet.

Abstract: For the purpose of facilitating correction of front-to-back and lateral vertebra curvature in scoliosis and the like, vertebra screws are passed through vertebra plates with spikes that dig into the sides of vertebrae and are screwed into each vertebra. The vertebra screws have rod passage holes in their heads, respectively, which holes are partially open on the side. A screw hole is provided at the top surface of each head. Rods are inserted into and passed through all the rod passage holes via the side openings in the heads of all the vertebra screws, the set-screws being each screwed into screw hole formed in the top surface of the head of the vertebra screw for the purpose of fixing the rods to the vertebra screws.

Abstract: A region where a load cell and a weighing hopper or a scale plate are coupled to each other is surrounded by a radio wave inhibiting member. When a weighing apparatus is used in a place subjected to extraneous radio waves of a high electric field intensity, and a high-frequency voltage is induced in the weighing hopper or the scale plate which serves as an antenna, the radio wave inhibiting member prevents a high-frequency current produced by the high-frequency voltage from flowing into the load cell. Therefore, the weighing apparatus is completely protected against any weighing errors which would otherwise result from radio interference with the load cell.

Abstract: A counting method comprising the steps of weighing a number of articles dividedly by n weighing machines, dividing the weights measured by the weighing machines by the unit weight of the articles to find the respective numbers of articles in the weighing machines, calculating combinations of these numbers to find the combination numbers associated with the respective combinations, finding a particular combination whose combination number is equal or closest to a set number, and discharging the groups of articles corresonding to the particular combination from the corresponding weighing machines, while calculating a new unit weight from a weight or weights measured by one or a plurality of the weighing machines and from the number or numbers of articles in this one or plurality of the weighing machines, such new unit weight being used for the next calculation of numbers.

Abstract: An automatic weighing apparatus with a dispersion feed apparatus comprising a plurality of feed troughs adapted to be separately vibrated and radially arranged around the outer periphery of a dispersion table which performs spiral reciprocating vibratory motion, the feed troughs being separately vibrated at predetermined times to feed articles to associated weighing units.

Abstract: A weighing method comprising a process in which a plurality of weighing machines weigh goods, and the weighing values obtained by the weighing machines are combinational-added to compute total weight of all the combinations, so that a combination equal to or nearest the set weight is obtained among the combinations of total weight, thereby discharging groups of goods corresponding to the obtained combination from the weighing machines corresponding thereto. Hence, the weighing method can carry out the weighing of an extremely high accuracy even when the objective goods are larger in the weight and dispersion thereof or relatively smaller in the set weight in comparison with the unit weight. Also, it is possible for the method to divide weighing values gained from each weighing machine by the unit weight of the goods and convert the values into the number of goods and then the same combinational addition is carried out, thereby accurately measuring a desired number of goods.

Abstract: A plurality of weighing data are combined to find a total weight combination closest to a preset value within an allowable preset range. Articles are discharged from those weighing machines which give such a total weight combination. For such a combinatorial computation, the empty weighing machines are first detected from among the weighing machines for which the combinatorial computation has been carried out, and then articles are supplied to the empty weighing machines. Weighing data from a number of weighing machines, selected from a plurality of weighing machines, are combined to allow selection of a weight combination equal or closest to the preset value. If a total weight combination given by the selected weighing machines falls within the allowable preset range, then articles are discharged from those weighing machines which give such a total weight combination during a first cycle.

Abstract: An apparatus and method is disclosed for checking the operation of a combinatorial weighing or measuring apparatus to determine whether the weighing machines and the microcomputer which determines the optimum combination of objects are operating properly. The apparatus includes visual numerical displays, means for arranging and storing the numerical results of the combinatorial computations in the order of closest approximation to the desired set value, means for selectively visually displaying the numerical results, and means for indicating the respective rank of the displayed quantity.

Abstract: A method of treating combination defectiveness in combinatorial weighing or counting. In cases where no combination which satisfies a set value is obtained, the amounts of articles in one or more of the combinatorial weighing or counting machines are automatically increased or decreased without stopping such machine or machines and recomputations are performed.

Abstract: An automatic weighing apparatus with a dispersion feed apparatus comprising a plurality of feed troughs adapted to be separately vibrated and radially arranged around the outer periphery of a dispersion table which performs spiral reciprocating vibratory motion, the feed troughs being separately vibrated at predetermined times to feed articles to associated weighing units.

Abstract: Improvements in a weighing or counting method wherein on the basis of weight data on a plurality of groups of articles obtained from a plurality of weighing machines, the respective additive values of all possible or desired number of combinations are found, the additive value of a particular combination which is equal or the nearest to a set value is retrieved, and the weighing machines corresponding to the combination selected are actuated to discharge articles contained therein. During the discharge of articles from the weighing machines corresponding to the selected combination and during the subsequent feeding of fresh articles into the same weighing machines, similar combinatorial operation is effected on the basis of weight data from a fixed number of weighing machines which were not selected, or did not discharge their articles, and a particular combination whose additive value is equal or the nearest to the set value is determined as the combination for the next discharge.