Abstract: A combination weighing apparatus 1 includes a pool hopper 5 and a support body 11. An attached portion 30 of the support body 11 has first defining portions 34 and 39 and second defining portions 35 and 40, support portions 36 and 41 capable of supporting a first locking member 24, and guide portions 37 and 42 disposed on the track of a second locking member 25 at a time when the pool hopper 5 is swung to the support body 11 side about the first locking member 24 with the first locking member 24 supported by the support portions 36 and 41 and guiding the second locking member 25 such that the second locking member 25 moves to the lower side in a height direction with respect to a position on the track and is positioned in the second defining portions 35 and 40.

Abstract: A multiple weighing apparatus with dual acting hopper gates mechanism comprises a feeding device conveying articles to be weighed and packed to a weighing section of the apparatus. The articles which are transferred into the weighing section are weighed and a portion of which having a desired weight is then allowed to move into a packing section to be packed therein. Each pack of the articles will have a desired weight. The weighing section comprises a plurality of pool hoppers and weighing hoppers controlled by a central controller. Each of the hoppers comprises a body having therein a space for receiving the articles and a discharge port closable by two gates. A Stephenson III type six-bar mechanism is adapted to operate the gates with the gates being the output links thereof. A pushing rod which is controlled by the central controller is used to move the input link of the six-bar mechanism to open the gates.

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 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: A combinatorial weighing apparatus in which an operator manually supplies a combinatorial weighing apparatus with articles to be weighed is provided with hopper sets each of which has two weighing hoppers and a single movable pool hopper for supplying the articles to the two weighing hopper in the hopper set. An article supply table is capable of being swung open by virtue of a hinge mechanism, and a plate constituting the top of the supply table is capable of being removed. This arrangement allows detachable pool hoppers and weighing hoppers to be easily removed from the combinatorial weighing apparatus.

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: A weighing machine is disclosed that accepts product from a source, segregates it into discrete quantities, and combines a number of the discrete quantities into a group that closely approximates a target weight. The machine includes a feeder means that selectively transports product from the source. Accumulator means receive product from the feeder means and discharge discrete quantities of product therefrom. Weighing means accept product from the accumulating means and determine the weights thereof. Divertor means receive product from the weight sensing means and direct it in one of a plurality of directions. Holding means receive product from the divertor means and retain the product until it is selectively discharged. Collecting means receives product from the holding means, consolidates it, and directs it to another location.

Abstract: A hopper for an automatic weighing apparatus has a link mechanism for opening and closing a hopper gate and an attachment mechanism for attaching a hopper body to the automatic weighing apparatus. The link mechanism includes a drive link pivotably mounted on a bracket, a follower link angularly movable in unison with the gate, and an intermediate link interconnected between the movable ends of the drive and follower links. When the gate is closed, the drive and intermediate links are aligned along a substantially straight line to prevent the weight of articles in the hopper from opening the gate.

Abstract: A container for material such as fertilizer or seeds which delivers same to an underlying distributing device is mounted on a tractor so that the weight of the container and associated equipment is indicated to the operator of the tractor whereby the amount of material remaining in the container is specifically indicated. The weighing apparatus includes a spring, pointer and scale incorporated in the supporting structure extending from the tractor for the container and associated equipment and the pointer and scale may be interconnected to the spring and mounted on the tractor for the convenience of the operator. In one embodiment the spring is a tension spring at the top of the supporting structure and in another embodiment it is a compression spring near the bottom of the supporting structure. Instead of a spring, the weight may be indicated by hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic system for the supporting structure.

Abstract: An automatic vending machine for delivering soft ice cream or the like to ice cream cones or other containers. A pivotally mounted arm receives a cone and then moves to a product-dispensing station. The product is dispensed into the cone until a weight-responsive structure associated with the arm senses the predetermined weight of the product and stops delivery of the product to the cone. Then the arm is moved so that it deposits the cone in a delivery chamber and then is moved out of the delivery chamber back to a position to receive another cone. Mechanical latch structures are provided for latching the door to the delivery chamber in closed position until the arm has been completely withdrawn from the delivery chamber and a rod connects the arm to the latch for effecting unlatching of the door in response to movement of the arm so that the door is unlatched after the movement of the arm out of the delivery chamber.