Abstract: Provided is an electronic balance that includes a windshield having a door to be automatically opened and closed, and has a high degree of freedom of design. An electronic balance including a balance main body that holds a weighing mechanism connected to a weighing pan, and a windshield including a frame and doors disposed slidably on the frame, and configured to form a weighing chamber by covering the weighing pan, and configured so that the windshield includes inside air cylinders connected to the doors to open and close the doors, and air pumps to drive the air cylinders, and is configured to be detachable from the balance main body. The windshield that has doors to be automatically opened and closed is detachable from the balance main body, so that the windshield and the balance main body can be designed separately, and therefore, the degree of freedom of design of the electronic balance is high.

Abstract: An unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be configured for fire suppression and ignition. In some examples, the UAV includes an aerial propulsion system, an ignition system, and a control system. The ignition system includes a container of delayed-ignition balls and a dropper configured, by virtue of one or more motors, to actuate and drop the delayed-ignition balls. The control system is configured to cause the UAV to fly to a site of a prescribed burn and, while flying over the site of the prescribed burn, actuate one or more of the delayed-ignition balls. After actuating the one or more delayed-ignition balls, the UAV drops the actuated one or more delayed-ignition balls from the UAV onto the site of the prescribed burn.

Abstract: A hopper includes a main body having a first opening to which articles are thrown in and a second opening from which the articles are discharged, a gate capable of being opened and closed with respect to the second opening, a restricting portion configured to restrict an opening and closing operation of the gate with respect to the second opening, and an attaching portion capable of being attached and detached with respect to an attached portion provided on a weighing apparatus. The restricting portion starts restricting the opening and closing operation in a state where the gate is closed with respect to the second opening in conjunction with an operation of detaching the attaching portion from the attached portion.

Abstract: A hopper has a gate pivotable to open and close the lower opening of a hopper body, wherein opposing side parts more spaced apart than a width of the body are extending from the gate, and the opposing side parts of the gate are externally fitted pivotably to fulcrum shafts protruding from outer side surfaces of the hopper body. The hopper further includes regulating members interposed between the outer side surfaces of the body and the opposing side parts of the gate. The regulating members are configured to regulate movements of the gate in pivotal directions thereof and are detachably engaged with the fulcrum shafts circumferentially around the fulcrum shafts.

Abstract: A feeding apparatus is provided for supplying feed to a trough. The feeding apparatus includes a plurality of feed dispensers having respective outlets. The feeding apparatus further includes a slide, the slide being positioned below the outlets to receive feed falling from the outlets and guide the feed towards the trough. The slide includes a plurality of impact detectors located below the respective outlets to detect impact of feed on the slide.

Abstract: A device catering for the dietary needs of animals. Feed is stored in a hopper and distributed at intervals to the animal's feeding receptacle via an internal dispensing mechanism using a flexible rotor sealing against the walls of a housing to both meter the feed and seal against contamination. The quantities and delivery times may be set by the user. An optional weighting system can be provided to increase accuracy of delivered feed amounts. Optionally, the device may include a water delivery system. Water is provided by a plumbed domestic connection and is available to the animal at all times, except during the automatic change cycle. A pump is utilized to change the water several times a day, in an attempt to remove any contaminants that may affect the water quality that is required to be dispensed.

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method which is capable of dispensing very small (typically less than 5 mg) quantities of particles to a high accuracy in a repeatable way and without undue wastage. Also, the need for advanced particle formulation is reduced. The apparatus comprises a closed loop control system which uses an electro-mechanical actuator to deliver impact energy to a supply of particles initially held on a sieve in a hopper. The impact energy causes a small number of particles to fall through the sieve and onto a weight measuring balance. The weight obtained is scrutinised by a processor to see if further actuations are required. In preferred embodiments, the energy of actuation is varied in accordance with the rate of dispensation calculated by the processor. Also, a correction amount can be obtained to take account of the fact that the balance can take a considerable amount of time to settle to its final value.

Abstract: A weigh scale and a sorter unit mounted at a front gate for guiding the animal after weighing when the animal emerges from the front gate is transported from pen to pen within a barn on ground wheels with the sorter unit being mounted so as to be movable from a deployed position to a retracted transport position by folding or sliding in which a total length of the weigh scale and sorter unit is reduced relative to a total length thereof in the deployed position for maneuvering the weigh scale with sorter unit attached during transportation.

Abstract: A scale assembly (10) including a plurality of buckets (11). The buckets (11) are arranged in two sets (12, 13), each set of buckets (11) of each set (12, 13) being located on a respective path (31, 32). The paths (31, 32) are spaced radially from a respective longitudinal axis (25, 26) with the buckets (11) being equally spaced from their respective longitudinal axis (25, 26).

Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method which is capable of dispensing very small (typically less than 5 mg) quantities of particles to a high accuracy in a repeatable way and without undue wastage. Also, the need for advanced particle formulation is reduced. The apparatus comprises a closed loop control system which uses an electromechanical actuator to deliver impact energy to a supply of particles initially held on a sieve in a hopper. The impact energy causes a small number of particles to fall through the sieve and onto a weight measuring balance. The weight obtained is scrutinised by a processor to see if further actuations are required. In preferred embodiments, the energy of actuation is varied in accordance with the rate of dispensation calculated by the processor. Also, a correction amount can be obtained to take account of the fact that the balance can take a considerable amount of time to settle to its final value.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously producing constant weight portions of semi-solid matter, such as bread dough, from a large mass through a dividing mechanism whereby portions are formed on a receptacle which receives the portion so that an accurate weight indication of the portion can be taken. By separating portions of the mass with the divider, when the weight of the mass on the receptacle reaches a predetermined shutoff weight, constant weight portions are achieved. A drive motor may power the receptacle through a selectively disengageable motor drive connection, which can be disengaged to allow accurate weight indications. Variations in the weight of portions from a target portion weight may be minimized by automatically adjusting the shutoff weight at which the portion is separated by the dividing mechanism, according to the difference between the portion weight and the target weight.

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: A removable material hopper assembly for gravimetric batch blenders including a hopper, a metering assembly and a releasable securing assembly. The hopper is removable from the blender, and includes a metering slide gate that can be used to tightly seal off the bottom of the hopper during the removable operation. The releasable securing assembly incorporates a tongue and groove subassembly and a pin and bracket subassembly to properly align and secure the hopper to the blender during operation, but also enables easy removal of the hopper when necessary.

Abstract: The invention provides a weight selecting apparatus capable of automatically performing calibration, and provides a weight selecting apparatus capable of certainly carrying objects to be inspected with a relatively simple mechanism and performing weight measurement of the objects. The objects, after being subjected to weight measurement by a first weighing unit 2, are sampled by a sampler 5, and those of the objects thus sampled are subjected to weight measurement by a second weighing unit 6. A calibration unit compares, for the same object, the measured result with that obtained by the first weighing unit 2 and discriminates whether or not a difference therebetween is within a specific error range, to perform calibration of the first weighing unit 2. Further, as a carrier 3 for carrying the objects to the weighing unit 2 one by one, there is used an intermittently rotatable carrying roller 32 having in its outer peripheral surface portion a plurality of carrying pockets 321.

Abstract: A metering device comprises a scale barrel, a weight part, and a shut mechanism. The scale barrel is composed of a stationary box plate and a movable box plate pivotally connecting with each other. At least a weighing platform is provided at an inner side of the movable box plate. The weight part is disposed at a lateral side of the scale barrel to measure the weight of weighed substances sent into the scale barrel. The shut mechanism is disposed at an outer side of the movable box plate and has a moving rod to open or close the movable box plate. When the movable box plate is in a state of closing, weighed substances can be received in the scale barrel. When the weight of weighed substances in the scale barrel reaches to a predetermined value, the movable box plate may open pivotally to admit the weighed substances entering a packing bag.

Abstract: An attachment for a feeder conveyor with the attachment comprising an angularly positionable gate that is angularly postionable within the trough of a feeder with the postionable gate having a secondary metering outlet so that when the postionable gate is in the down position it partially close off the material flow path within the feeder while allowing only a portion of the solid materials in the material flow path to pass therethrough to thereby extend the range at which material can be controllable and uniformly delivered from the feeder.

Abstract: An attachment for a feeder conveyor with the attachment comprising an angularly postionable gate that is angularly postionable within the trough of a feeder with the postionable gate having a secondary metering outlet so that when the postionable gate is in the down position it partially close off the material flow path within the feeder while allowing only a portion of the solid materials in the material flow path to pass therethrough to thereby extend the range at which material can be controllable and uniformly delivered from the feeder.

Abstract: A hopper for a weighing machine which has a tubular body and a closing valve which is comprised of several plates which are pivotably mounted around the bottom of the hopper for movement in a plane transverse to the axis of the hopper. The plates are simultaneously driven between open and closed positions by a common belt or chain so that the closing forces of the plates are balanced. The belt is coupled to a driving mechanism through a lever mounted on the hopper which disconnects from the driving mechanism when the plates are fully closed so that the hopper is freely suspended for weighing purposes. The plates scrape against the bottom of the hopper when opening so that material clinging to the plates is scraped off.

Abstract: To simplify the structure of a hopper side of a weighing apparatus, brackets 24, 34 are fitted to gates 22, 32 of pool hoppers 8 or weighing hoppers 9 and rollers 28, 38 are rotatably provided on extensions 24a, 34a thereof. On a body B side of the weighing apparatus, there are provided operating arms 44, 64 having a forked tip portion, and the rollers 28, 38 fitted to the body B side are engaged so as to be held by the operating arms 44, 64. When the operating arms 44, 64 are rocked about support shafts 43, 63, the gates 22, 32 of the hoppers 8, 9 are rocked about support shafts 25, 35 through the rollers 28, 38 to selectively open and close lower portion discharge openings 21b, 31b.

Abstract: A granular material weighing system intended primarily for weighing gunpowder, but which is not limited to this application. A volumetric powder measure is used to simultaneously dispense a previously weighed batch of granular material into its final container, usually a cartridge case, while also dispensing a volumetrically measured initial batch of material onto a scale. The initial batch is close to but below the desired final weight. A dribbler is used to feed additional granular material until the scale indicates that the desired weight is reached. The powder measure may be a rotary drum or translating bar type, the scale may be a beam balance including a magnetic damping device or an electronic scale, and the dribbler may be any electronic or mechanical dribbler.

Abstract: The capsules or other products (1) are fed by a vertically arranged tube-shaped conveyor (4, 5, 10, 11, 12, 112, 13) in single file and taken up one at a time by a tangential wheel (16) which is fitted with reference teeth (18), with each tooth supporting one product, and has suction holes (19) to retain the products. When the products are about to reach a position above suitably shaped associated weighing heads (24), the suction that holds them against the wheel is cut off and the products fall, positioning themselves correctly on the heads, aided in part by the halting action exerted by the teeth in front. The products deposited on the heads are weighed and are then discharged by the pushing action of the wheel teeth (18) which place the next product on the heads. A chute (25) collects the products ejected from the heads and a deflection plate (26), controlled by the central processing and control system (32), separates products of the correct weight from those to be rejected.

Abstract: A gate for supplying granule to and removing it from the other apparatus, Which comprises: a drive source (2); a fixed gate (6) having multiple feeder holes arranged such that granule can pass through; a movable gate (7) that is attached such that it can slide across the fixed gate (6) and is equipped with multiple openings (71) that have the same pitch as the feeder holes (61) on the fixed gate, and that allow granule to pass through when said openings (71) are aligned with said feeder holes; and a power transmission mechanism.The granule gate lowers the height of the mounds of granule that accumulate in granule weighing machines (1). It can also entirely open and close feeding holes using a short stroke. The granule weighing machine (1) can be designed thin, so that the maximum quantity of granule to be weighed nearly matches the capacity of the weighing container (3).

Abstract: This invention provides a combined metering apparatus in which the convey efficiency of a target metering object from an upper-stage hopper to a lower-stage hopper is improved. For this purpose, the direction in which a bottom plate 33 of a pool hopper 25 is moved to open the lower open surface of a cylindrical body 26 and the direction in which a bottom plate 43 of a lower-stage metering hopper 35 is moved to close the lower open surface of a cylindrical body 36 are set the same. Also, the direction in which the bottom plate 43 of the metering hopper 35 is moved to open the lower open surface of the cylindrical body 36 and the direction in which a bottom plate 59 of a lower-stage timing hopper 50 is moved to open the lower open surface of a cylindrical body 51 are set the same.

Abstract: An apparatus for weighing a softened solid rapidly and precisely, wherein no excessive force is exerted on, and no shock is given to, the load cell. The apparatus has a simplified structure including 1/4 cylindrical weighing containers so that the apparatus is easy to disassemble and clean.The inventive apparatus comprises a load cell for transmitting signals; a pair of weighing containers each having a cross-section of approximately 1/4 of a cylinder, arranged closely, and installed on the load cell rotatably around center axis of rotation; a scraping member installed closely to the inner surface of the weighing containers; and a driving unit, which is not connected to said load cell, for opening and closing the weighing containers by reversely rotating them around their axes. This apparatus for weighing a softened solid discharges the weighed substance as it is scraped from the sides of the containers by the scraping member.

Abstract: A hopper for receiving and discharging product in a weighing machine has a construction comprised by a removable body shell and a supporting chassis. The shell has an opening at the top for receiving product to be weighed and an opening at the bottom for discharging the product after weighing. A discharge door cooperates with the opening at the bottom of the shell body to support the weight of product within the shell during weighing and to discharge the product after weighing. A quick-release coupling permits the hopper to be firmly installed on the weighing machine and to be quickly removed from the machine without tools. A toggle linkage is employed to operate the discharge door and locks the door in the closed position without further locking mechanisms. A bi-directional actuator moves the toggle linkage and door into and out of the closed position.

Abstract: A weighing pan 17 for weighing subportions of products to be packaged batchwise, in particular for use in combination weighing of irregularly shaped and comparatively fragile commodities of fruits and vegetables. The pan has a discharge opening covered by a front wall and which is opened by a pivot movement of a bottom flap (1) between a products collecting position and a discharging position. The weighing pan is designed to collect individual product units substantially arranged in a single row on the bottom flap (1) and the bottom flap (1) extending throughout the length of the weighing pan slopes downwardly in the discharging position towards the discharge opening at such an angle that the collected product units are discharged by a substantially sliding movement.

Abstract: An automated gross bagging scale apparatus combining manual actuation of the feed gate and a mechanical trigger mechanism with digital scale and control components permitting easy conversion of a fully mechanical bagging scale to a digital scale. The combination of mechanical features and digital control includes a load cell, digital controller and a solenoid actuated plunger rod which initiates the release of the feed gate arm from its latched open position to return to its normally closed position closing the gate which allows material to flow into the bagging chute. An electrical switch is actuated between on and off position by movement of the feed gate arm in a manner coordinated to permit the solenoid actuated plunger to be energized only when the feed gate arm is in the open position.

Abstract: A combination weighing machine structure including a feed hopper and an underlying weigh hopper, in which the weigh hopper has two chambers laterally partitioned side by side and the feed hopper is adapted to move laterally and selectively to above either chamber. The weigh hopper is provided with a weighing unit for producing an electric signal indicative of the weight of product in both chambers and the weighing unit is arranged to provide the weight of product in each chamber for storage by measuring first the weight of product in one chamber when only this chamber is filled, measuring the total weight of product in both chambers when the other chamber is also filled and calculating the difference of both weights.

Abstract: A weighing hopper (20) comprising: a body portion for containing articles; a port in the body portion; a door (21) pivotally connected to the body portion for rotation about a first axis (A) between a first position in which the port is closed by the door (21) to retain articles in the body portion and a second position in which articles contained in the hopper (20) can be discharged through the port; and a mechanism (23) for moving the door (21) between its first and second positions comprising a first member (58) rigidly connected to the door (21); a second member (60) pivotally connected to the first member (58) for rotation about a second axis (E) parallel to and spaced from the first axis (A); and a third member (62) pivotally connected to the second member (60) for rotation about a third axis (B) parallel to and spaced from the second axis (E), and pivotally connected to the body portion for rotation about a fourth axis (C) parallel to and fixedly spaced from the first axis (A) so that rotation of the t

Abstract: The weighing pan comprises a pair of opposed sidewalls and at least one pivotable closure flap which is coupled to one sidewall in such a way that the pivoting movement of the closure flap between closed and open position is accompanied by a displacement of the associated sidewall relative to the opposite sidewall. Articles, which might have got jammed between the sidewalls, are likely to be released in response to the relative movement of the sidewalls and drop out through the open bottom of the pan. A combination weighing machine including a plurality of weighing pans and means for reopening a pan, if necessary in order to ensure complete emptying thereof, is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for discharging weighed articles from an automatic weighing system, having a plurality of hoppers for discharging batches of articles into a plurality of containers. A movable chute successively introduces batches of weighed articles, discharged from the weighing system, into each of the hoppers. When all of the hoppers have been supplied with batches of articles the hoppers are opened simultaneously.

Abstract: A hopper for use in an automatic weighing apparatus, including a hopper body having a discharge port at a lower end of the hopper body, and a gate, swingably supported at an upper edge of the hopper body, for opening and closing the discharge port. The gate has a main body of which at least the left, right and lower edge portions are formed of a flexible material so that the edge portion comes into resilient contact with the inner surface of the discharge port.

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.

Abstract: Disclosed is a system and method for the high-speed, cyclic batch weighing of a flowable material in which variations in initial scale weight are automatically compensated for. Measuring cycle time is minimized by overlapping the time required to achieve scale stability prior to tare with the material discharge time. Tare weight is automatically measured during a weighing cycle following material discharge while the weight container is open to provide a residue compensation output signal.

Abstract: A door mechanism for controlling flow of loose products, such as potato chips, from a scale hopper in a packaging machine comprises a hinged door, a spring biasing the door towards its closed position, an arm attached to the door, a cam follower carried by the arm, and a cam acting in combination with the cam follower to force the door open against the influence of the spring. The cam is mounted independently of the scale hopper and the cam follower is not in contact with the cam while product is being weighed in the scale hopper. When weight has been made, the cam is rotated in response to signals generated by the weighing scale. The profile of the cam is such as to rapidly open and close the door for dumping and provides smooth vibration-free operation. The slope of the cam lobe portion during opening of the door provides an uplifting scale restoring force so that the scale is immediately returned to zero weight in readiness for the next cycle.