With Weigher Loading Or Unloading Means Patents (Class 177/145)
  • Patent number: 11885665
    Abstract: A device (10) for weighing individual containers (14) arranged in a nest (12), wherein the containers (14) are formed with a bottom region (16) and a lid region (18) and the device (10) includes at least one weighing device (20) with at least one load cell (19) and with at least one weighing receptacle (22), and an arrangement unit (28). The weighing receptacle (22) and the arrangement unit (28) are arranged movable relative to each other in order to be able to move a container (14) arranged in the nest (12), which is arranged in the arrangement unit (28), completely out of the nest (12). The disclosure also relates to a set comprising such a device (10) and to a method for weighing individual containers (14) arranged in a nest (12).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: Syntegon Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Ulrich Krauß, Stefan Nagler, Markus Ilgenfritz, Bertram Selig, Erich Hillenmeyer, Samuel Stegmeier
  • Patent number: 11369998
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating horticultural products includes in series at least: a first station, which has first elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products, and at least one vision system, for the acquisition of information related to at least one parameter of interest of each horticultural product. A second station includes second elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products and at least one device for weighing each horticultural product in transit, and a third station, which includes third elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products. The first elements, the second elements and the third elements are offset along two respective laterally adjacent trajectories for the advancement of the horticultural products.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 11331695
    Abstract: An apparatus for treating horticultural products having in series at least: a first station, which includes first elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products and at least one vision system, controlled by an electronic control and management unit, for the acquisition of information related to at least one parameter of interest of each horticultural product. The apparatus further includes a second station, including second elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products and at least one device for weighing each horticultural product in transit, controlled by the electronic unit, and a third station, including third elements for the individual handling of respective horticultural products. The second station includes an intermediate unloading assembly, which can be actuated selectively by the electronic unit for the early release of the horticultural products, handled by the second elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 11311914
    Abstract: A single-chain double-supported fruit cup device for sorting fruits and vegetables includes: a single-chain double-supported fruit cup which is provided on a conveyor track; wherein the single-chain double-supported fruit cup comprises: a fruit cup support frame, a hood, an internal liner, a tray, a pallet and an inverted L-shaped pallet (13); wherein the pallets are symmetrically hinged on the cup support frame along both sides of the conveyor track, the tray is provided on the pallet, and a hood is mounted on the tray for placing a spherical fruit; two inverted L-shaped pallets are hinged on the fruit cup support frame along a front end face and a rear end face of a conveyor track, and the two inverted L-shaped pallets extend towards the pallet (5) on both sides and are cooperatedly connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: ZHEJIANG UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Huirong Xu, Han Chang, Yibin Ying, Xiuqin Rao
  • Patent number: 11286116
    Abstract: A proppant metering and loading apparatus for a hydraulic fracturing blender unit is provided. A continuous loop conveyor belt receives proppant from a source location on the blender, such as a hopper, and delivers the proppant to a blender device of the blender. A measurement device (e.g. weigh scale) measures and provides an indication of amount (e.g. weight, volume and/or density) of the proppant delivered to the blender device by the conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: Ty-Crop Manufacturing Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary Wayne Teichrob, Ian Breeweg, Kevin James Standeven
  • Patent number: 11274960
    Abstract: A conveyor and metering device having a continuous conveyor belt or conveyor band, sub-regions of this conveyor belt or conveyor band being mounted on weighing devices for determining the mass of the conveyed material, which are connected to an electronic evaluation device, the weighing devices generating a signal proportional to the load of the conveyor belt or conveyor band and transmitting it to the evaluation device, weighing devices are provided, each of which includes a bearing bracket, which is used to receive an attachment in a form-filling manner from the outside, preferably from above, through an opening in the frame of the conveyor and metering device during the operation of the conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Schenck Process Europe GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Schuetz
  • Patent number: 11085811
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a weighing device (1), in particular price labelling device or checkweigher, having a scale for weighing a product in a weighing section (AW), having a conveying device (4) for transporting the product (3) along a conveying region (F) from a start position (Pstart) over the weighing section (AW) to a destination position (Pdestination). To simplify a calibration to compensate for a static-dynamic offset, the invention proposes that the weighing device (1) further has a control device (5) which is configured such that the conveying device (4) can be automatically stopped during its operation in a direction from the start position (Pstart) to the destination position (Pdestination) and then can be automatically operated in a direction from the destination position (Pdestination) to the start position (Pstart). Furthermore, the invention relates to a corresponding method for weighing a product (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Espera-Werke GmbH
    Inventor: Jürgen Polomski
  • Patent number: 11084174
    Abstract: Systems and methods related to multiple degree of freedom force sensors are disclosed. One aspect of the disclosure provides a load sensor. The load sensor comprises a first plate and a second plate, a plurality of single-axis load cells including first, second, and third single-axis load cells, wherein each of the first, second, and third single-axis load cells is disposed between the first plate and the second plate and is oriented along a first axis, and a plurality of constraint joints coupled to the first plate and the second plate, the plurality of constraint joints configured to inhibit translation of the first plate relative to the second plate in directions perpendicular to the first axis and configured to inhibit rotation of the first plate relative to the second plate about the first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2021
    Assignee: Boston Dynamics, Inc.
    Inventors: John Aaron Saunders, Adam Henry Borrell, Joshua Timothy Geating
  • Patent number: 11038447
    Abstract: A system and a method for driving a motor with a frequency conversion mechanism are provided. The system includes a look-up table module, an oscillator circuit, a multi-frequency signal generator circuit, and a motor driver circuit. The look-up table module stores a preset driving signal. The oscillator circuit generates oscillating signals having different frequencies. The multi-frequency signal generator circuit outputs a multi-frequency signal according to the oscillating signals. One waveform segment of the multi-frequency signal in a modulation region has a first oscillating frequency. Another waveform segment of the multi-frequency signal outside the modulation region has a second oscillating frequency lower than the first oscillating frequency. When a back electromotive force or a phase current of the motor reaches zero within a time interval of the modulation region, the motor driver circuit drives the motor according to the preset driving signal and the multi-frequency signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: ANPEC ELECTRONICS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Ming-Jung Tsai
  • Patent number: 10933446
    Abstract: An article carrier is disclosed. The article carrier comprises a mounting portion adapted for connection to a conveyor such that when the article carrier is connected to the conveyor the conveyor is positioned on a conveyor axis of the article carrier. The article carrier has first and second carrier portions connected to the mounting portion which are configured to allow weighing of one or more articles carried, in use, by the carrier portions. The first carrier portion comprises a first bearing surface and a second bearing surface, and the second carrier portion comprises a third bearing surface and a spaced apart fourth bearing surface. A distance between the conveyor axis and any point on one of the bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis, is different to a distance between the conveyor axis and any point on any of the other bearing surfaces, measured orthogonally to the conveyor axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: COMPAC TECHNOLOGIES LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew David Mcintyre, Hamish Alexander Nigel Kennedy, Kevin Lo
  • Patent number: 10866322
    Abstract: Disclosed are techniques for detecting presence of shadowing introduced in a system. The techniques entail geometrically projecting, along a virtual or actual propagation direction of laser beam scanning, points of a lower convex hull (CH) planar object in a direction toward a higher CH planar object to establish projection locations of the points of the lower CH planar object along the propagation direction. Detection of whether the projection locations are in proximity to locations of points of the higher CH planar object is performed. In response to detecting locations in proximity for each source laser beam scanning, a shadowing event indication is generated to alert a user of the system that shadowing has been introduced in the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2020
    Inventor: Andrei L. Talapov
  • Patent number: 10809119
    Abstract: The invention relates to scales for weighing piglets, including a base frame; at least one weighing element arranged on the base frame; and a weigh platform arranged on the at least one weighing element, wherein the weighing platform is elongate, wherein the top surface of the weighing platform is arranged at a distance above the base and wherein the width of the elongate top surface is at least half of the width of the base in order to provide space for the legs of a piglet when supported on the belly by the elongate top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: LeeO precision farming B.V.
    Inventors: Arie Jan Van Der Hoek, Hans Bekking
  • Patent number: 10768038
    Abstract: A conveyor with a weighing system includes a conveyance unit, a length calculation module, a weighing module, and a controller. The conveyance unit conveys a cargo to move. The length calculation module is arranged at one side of a front end of the conveyance unit to acquire a length of the cargo. The weighing module is arranged at a bottom part of the conveyor. The controller is connected to the length calculation module and the weighing module, such that based on the length acquired by the length calculation module, a weight of the cargo measured by the weighing module is provided. A weighing method of a conveyor is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2020
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Yun-Wei Hung, Ching-Tsung Cheng, Chao-Hui Tu, Yung-Ping Tien, Yan-Ling Liao
  • Patent number: 10753786
    Abstract: Checkweigher system embodiments and associated weigh-in-motion methods that are usable to produce increased object weigh time and improved weight determination accuracy without a decrease in object throughput. Generally speaking, exemplary methods initiate weight data collection earlier than, and terminate weight data collection later than, known methods. An exemplary method may also make use of derived mean error data associated with object weight measurements at various locations along a checkweigher to determine if an object weight measured over less than a desired weigh time is nonetheless acceptable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo, LLC
    Inventors: David Troisi, Patrick Toohey
  • Patent number: 10730620
    Abstract: A weight distribution associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be determined prior to dispatch of the UAV and/or after the UAV returns from operation (e.g., a flight). In some embodiments, one or more UAVs may be placed on or proximate to a physical metrics acquisition (PMA) device. The PMA device may include a configurable scale and may be used to determine a distribution of weight of the UAV at three or more points associated with the UAV. The distribution of weight may be used generate analytics, which may include a total weight of a vehicle, a center of mass of the vehicle (in two or more dimensions), power requirements of the UAV for a given flight task (e.g., how much battery power the UAV requires, etc.), and/or other analytics. In various embodiments, the PMA device may perform moment of inertia tests for the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2020
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon T. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 10663342
    Abstract: A diverting checkweigher comprising a conveyor belt with product-carrying, vertically floating slats that are supported on a weigh scale as the belt passes over it. The floating slats isolate product weight from belt weight. The slats themselves may be laterally stationary or divertible. If divertable, they can divert products based on their weights. If not divertible, the slats can be used with product pushers to divert products for weight-based sorting or rejection. The slats have legs that extend below the bottom of the belt to ride on the scale or be diverted across the belt by a diverter. The pushers are diverted by a diverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Laitram, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Kevin W. Guernsey, Brian R. Lee
  • Patent number: 10636135
    Abstract: A method for monitoring live poultry intended for slaughter includes checking managing parameters and process parameters of poultry flocks from breeding farms, and monitoring transportation of the flocks to a slaughterhouse and handling thereof at the slaughterhouse. Gas stunning parameters of the poultry are checked prior to throat-cutting thereof. Video shooting of the poultry's reactions during the stunning step is done to visually verify a degree of well-being thereof. Computer records are made available wherein a single video file corresponds to each poultry flock or group of flocks in which images of the visible reactions of the poultry are combined and synchronized with said managing and process parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Inventor: Massimo Zanotti
  • Patent number: 10520351
    Abstract: A method for determining a peak weight associated with an agricultural machine includes the step of determining a weight associated with the agricultural machine. Operational parameters are stored in response to determining that the weight is above a threshold. The threshold can be based on a maximum weight associated with the agricultural machine and set via user input to a machine control indicator. In one embodiment, a new weight associated with the agricultural machine is determined. The new weight is compared to a previous peak weight associated with the agricultural machine. The new weight is stored as a peak weight in response to determining that the new weight is higher than the previous peak weight. Operational parameters associated with the new weight can also be stored in response to determining that the new weight is higher than the previous peak weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: DIGI-STAR, LLC
    Inventors: Steven L. Johansen, Jerome A. Bump
  • Patent number: 10500975
    Abstract: A through the road (TTR) hybridization strategy is proposed to facilitate introduction of hybrid electric vehicle technology in a significant portion of current and expected trucking fleets. In some cases, the technologies can be retrofitted onto an existing vehicle (e.g., a truck, a tractor unit, a trailer, a tractor-trailer configuration, at a tandem, etc.). In some cases, the technologies can be built into new vehicles. In some cases, one vehicle may be built or retrofitted to operate in tandem with another and provide the hybridization benefits contemplated herein. By supplementing motive forces delivered through a primary drivetrain and fuel-fed engine with supplemental torque delivered at one or more electrically-powered drive axles, improvements in overall fuel efficiency and performance may be delivered, typically without significant redesign of existing components and systems that have been proven in the trucking industry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: HYLIION INC.
    Inventor: Thomas Joseph Healy
  • Patent number: 10421103
    Abstract: An assembly for handling fruit and vegetable products includes first containment units for fruit and vegetable products that can move along a first conveyance and/or control line. The assembly further includes second containment units for horticultural products that can move along a second conveyance and/or control line, which is laterally adjacent and proximate to the first line. The assembly includes a plurality of elements for transferring the horticultural products; such elements are distributed at least along a part of the first line and are selectively actuatable by an electronic management and control unit, for the transfer of each product from a first unit to a respective second unit in a portion chosen from a plurality of different portions of the first line, upon the occurrence of a predefined condition of mutual alignment between the horticultural product to be transferred, which is conveyed by the first unit, and a second unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: UNITEC S.P.A.
    Inventor: Luca Benedetti
  • Patent number: 10405557
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for weighing dough, comprising an endless conveyor, for conveying a plurality of endless or continuous dough pieces extending essentially in parallel lanes on said conveyor in a direction of conveyance, a weighing-unit, arranged under the endless conveyor, characterised in that the weighing unit comprises multiple weighing rows, spread over the width of the conveyor, each row comprising at least one rectangular weighing section, for independently of the other weighing sections weighing a different dough piece of said plurality of endless or continuous dough pieces. The invention further relates to a method for operating such device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Assignee: RADIE B.V.
    Inventor: Johannes Josephus Antonius van Blokland
  • Patent number: 10373303
    Abstract: A method for monitoring live poultry intended for slaughter includes checking managing parameters and process parameters of poultry flocks from breeding farms, and monitoring transportation of the flocks to a slaughterhouse and handling thereof at the slaughterhouse. Gas stunning parameters of the poultry are checked prior to throat-cutting thereof. Video shooting of the poultry's reactions during the stunning step is done to visually verify a degree of well-being thereof. Computer records are made available wherein a single video file corresponds to each poultry flock or group of flocks in which images of the visible reactions of the poultry are combined and synchronized with said managing and process parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2019
    Inventor: Massimo Zanotti
  • Patent number: 10336476
    Abstract: A method for monitoring a filled container, in particular a filled beverage container, which is conveyed on a conveyor, comprising the steps of taking up the container by a carriage, creating a spacing between the container and the conveyor, so that the entire weight of the container is retained by the carriage in a weighing region, and weighing the retained container in the weighing region using a load cell comprised by the carriage, the carriage being driven by a linear motor according to said method, and a monitoring system for filled containers, in particular filled beverage containers, for executing such a method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: KRONES AG
    Inventors: Karl Aichinger, Reinhard Klinger
  • Patent number: 10331969
    Abstract: Various embodiments herein each include at least one of systems, devices, software, and methods that leverage images captured by imaging devices of product barcode scanners, which may include scanner-scale devices, and other imaging devices deployed at a Point of Sale (POS) terminal. One such embodiment, in the form of a method, includes identifying a scale-zero error condition and determining, based on a view of a scale surface provided by at least one imaging device, whether an item is present on the scale surface. In such embodiments, when no item is present on the scale surface, the method includes providing an instruction via an output device for proceeding with a scale zeroing process. Further in such embodiments, when an item is present on the scale surface, the method includes providing an instruction via the output device to remove the item present on the scale surface and restarting the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: NCR Corporation
    Inventors: Peter R. Charpentier, Jason Rambler
  • Patent number: 10168201
    Abstract: A dynamic weighing machine that comprises a set of buckets, a series of bucket-carrying supports and a transport system that moves the supports along at least one horizontal straight path, the buckets being able to adopt a weighing position (B) on their support in which the bucket is slightly raised with respect to the support, and the buckets comprising first and second sliding means, each one arranged on one side of the bucket and the machine has a weighing station with a scale with first and second rail means between which buckets in transit can pass through the weighing station when they adopt their weighing coupling position (B), sliding while being supported by their first and second sliding means, like a bogie.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Assignee: Girnet Internacional, S.L.
    Inventor: Ezequiel Giro Amigo
  • Patent number: 10151624
    Abstract: A virtual weight value is set, and a dummy run mode is set and activated. Then, a zero point, reference value used to calculate the weight value of articles to be weighed in each weighing hopper, is corrected based on the virtual weight value. This enables a dummy run of a combination scale to be performed with the actually empty weighing hopper being assumed to contain the articles equivalent to the virtual weight value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Yamamoto Scale Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takayuki Nagai, Masafumi Takimoto
  • Patent number: 10136616
    Abstract: A livestock feed wagon includes a moving frame, a feed container which is fitted on the frame for accommodating animal feed, in particular provided with feed mixer, and a movable arm construction having an operable gripper fitted thereto for grabbing an amount of animal feed. The arm construction is configured in such a way that the arm construction can pivot the gripper only in one plane from a first position for grabbing animal feed next to the livestock feed wagon to a second position for releasing the animal feed above the feed container. This makes it possible to provide a very simple and compact construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: LELY PATENT N.V.
    Inventors: Karel Van Den Berg, Jan Lambertus Pastoor, Howard Sie, Arie Huyzer, Jan Martinus Van Kuilenburg
  • Patent number: 10094702
    Abstract: A weight determining system is for use with non-singulated and non-spaced arrangements of items on a conveyor system. The system includes an array of load cells, a scanning apparatus, and processors. Each of the items bears upon one or more of the load cells. Each of the load cells bears one or more of the items, and generates load data associated with them. The scanning apparatus generates scan data for the arrangements of the items on the conveyor. Based on the scan data, the processors: apportion the load data from each load cell to the items bearing on it; allocate to each item the load data apportioned from the various load cells; and determine a weight for each item. Also disclosed are a corresponding weight determining method, as well as a computer readable medium containing executable instructions to encode the processors to perform as aforesaid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: PUROLATOR INC.
    Inventors: James Cameron Laird, Andrew Silerio Vicencio, Kirk Edward Serjeantson, Theodore Pribytkov
  • Patent number: 10060784
    Abstract: A balance with a load changing device (14) that has a magazine table, mounted to be horizontally movable and having a plurality of vertical openings (26) arranged in groups. The balance (12) has a load cell (34) and a load receptor (42) with a carrier arrangement (44) corresponding to each of the groups of openings. The magazine table and the balance are height adjustable relative to each other. In a weighing position, a group of openings above the load receptor is penetrated by the carrier arrangement. In a changing position, the carrier arrangement is positioned lower than the openings in the magazine table. The magazine table is mounted at a fixed height relative to a base (16), and the balance is height adjustable relative to the base. The travel of the balance is upwardly limited by a stop (32), which is at a fixed height relative to the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: Sartorius Lab Instruments GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Thomas Froehlich, Sigo Muehlich, Falko Hilbrunner, Thomas Fehling, Mario Schreiber
  • Patent number: 10048112
    Abstract: A weighing system for the dynamic weighing of transported commodities, including a housing with a drive and a weighing cell arranged therein. A drive shaft of the drive is fed through a first housing opening in the horizontal direction laterally out of the housing, and support elements can also be coupled through the same opening to the load receiver of the weighing cell arranged inside the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Wipotec Wiege- und Positioniersysteme GmbH
    Inventors: Theo Düppre, Ralf Burkart, Stefan Mildenberger
  • Patent number: 10035592
    Abstract: A weight distribution associated with an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) may be determined prior to dispatch of the UAV and/or after the UAV returns from operation (e.g., a flight). In some embodiments, one or more UAVs may be placed on or proximate to a physical metrics acquisition (PMA) device. The PMA device may include a configurable scale and may be used to determine a distribution of weight of the UAV at three or more points associated with the UAV. The distribution of weight may be used generate analytics, which may include a total weight of a vehicle, a center of mass of the vehicle (in two or more dimensions), power requirements of the UAV for a given flight task (e.g., how much battery power the UAV requires, etc.), and/or other analytics. In various embodiments, the PMA device may perform moment of inertia tests for the UAV.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Jon T. Hanlon
  • Patent number: 10004207
    Abstract: A livestock feed wagon includes a frame, a feed container which is fitted on the frame, in particular provided with a feed mixer, a gripper construction having a movable arm construction and a gripper fitted thereon for grabbing an amount of animal feed from a pile of animal feed, and a weighing device. The weighing device is arranged and configured to weigh a grabbed amount of animal feed by determining a change in the weight of at least the feed container and the gripper construction with the grabbed amount of animal feed. As a result thereof, it is possible to determine both the total loaded weight in the feed container and the weight of a grabbed chunk of animal feed using the same weighing device, so that the chunk, if it is either too heavy or too light, can be returned prior being unloaded, if desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: LELY PATENT N.V.
    Inventors: Karel Van Den Berg, Jan Lambertus Pastoor, Howard Sie, Arie Huyzer, Jan Martinus Van Kuilenburg
  • Patent number: 10006800
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for weighing slaughter products, comprising a guide which extends along a conveying path, product carriers which can be moved along the guide and which are configured for suspending slaughter products therefrom, and weighing means comprising a weighbridge. Each product carrier comprises four runners, two of which runners are provided behind the other two runners, seen in the direction of movement. The four runners are configured to roll over the weighbridge along respective tracks during a weighing interval upon movement of the product carrier, which tracks extend parallel to each other, wherein the four runners roll over the weighbridge during the weighing interval and wherein the weighbridge and the four runners are configured such that the runners will roll simultaneously onto the weighbridge and simultaneously off the weighbridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: MAREL STORK POULTRY PROCESSING B.V.
    Inventors: Erik Hendrikus Werner Peters, Gerardus Josef Gertrudis Reintjes, Tim Sander Rijerse
  • Patent number: 9952087
    Abstract: A conveyor system for transporting items from a receiving section to an outlet section, the conveyor system having plurality of first support members for transporting items and a weighing device. wherein a second support member is arranged at a first support member by way of a support assembly, allowing the second support member for being supported by the first support member in a first vertical position and for being moved relative to the first support member between the first vertical position and a second vertical position higher than the first vertical position. The conveyor system includes a lifting device for moving the second support member from the first vertical position towards the second vertical position. The weighing device is arranged for supporting the second support member when the second support member is in the second vertical position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignee: OPTIMUS SORTER HOLDING B.V.
    Inventor: Albert Hendriks
  • Patent number: 9778094
    Abstract: A dynamic scale to achieves a higher throughput, by at least one of a spring steel sheet being installed in the travel direction of the first shaft of the first transport belt, and/or the control of the motors as well as the transmission of the sensor signals taking place via ribbon cables which are arranged parallel to the transport belts, and/or an electronic evaluation of interference oscillations of the signals of the sensors of the weighing cell takes place, within at least one lowpass filter being used, and wherein at least two digital notch filters are used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Francotyp-Postalia GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Geserich, Stefan Beckmann, Andreas Blume, Karsten van der Waydbrink
  • Patent number: 9726534
    Abstract: Weighing device used with piece goods, having a belt conveyor, one or more below positioned scales of rigid arrangement and a support for goods being weighed. The belt conveyor has at least two belts. The support has at least one support extension guidable through between the belts, and the belts can move toward the scale such that support extensions are guided through between the conveyor belts without moving themselves. Goods moved on the belts are laid upon the support extensions and weighed. The conveyor unit above the scale is moveable, in its entirety, towards the weighing scale. Conveyor movement end positions are damped. The conveyor is moved by a single actuator, and at least two weighing scales are used with different weighing regions. A coating installation for car exhaust gas catalyst carriers is provided with the weighing device. A method of weighing piece goods using the weighing device is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: UMICORE AG & CO. KG
    Inventor: Joachim Gempp
  • Patent number: 9658098
    Abstract: The invention provides a device for weighing slaughter products. The device comprises conveying means for conveying the slaughter products, the conveying means comprising a frame, two pulley means which are connected to the frame a fixed distance apart, being rotatable about two respective first vertical axes of rotation, an endless flexible conveying element which is passed over the two pulley means, which conveying element extends along a rectilinear weighing path between the two pulley means, a guide extending along a conveying path, hooks for the slaughter products, which hooks are connected to the conveying element at regular intervals and which are each provided with a guide elements for guiding cooperation with the guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2017
    Assignee: MAREL STORK POULTRY PROCESSING B.V.
    Inventors: Erik Hendrikus Werner Peters, Tim Sander Rijerse, Gerardus Josef Gertrudis Reintjes
  • Patent number: 9612149
    Abstract: Eccentric loading errors of a weighing cell (1) with a parallel guiding mechanism are determined and corrected or at least reduced. The weighing cell has a test weight actuating device (14), by which at least one test weight (15) is positioned successively on at least three test weight support points (16, 17, 18, 19, 20) of the test load receiver (4) that do not lie in a straight line. A processor unit (21) uses a control signal (S1) to position the test weight on the support points. A test weighing signal (T) is generated for each support point, and from these, eccentric loading errors are ascertained. A device for correcting the eccentric loading errors uses control signals (S2) from the processor unit to make a geometrical-mechanical change in the parallel guiding mechanism, using a first and a second actuating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2017
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventor: Hans-Rudolf Burkhard
  • Patent number: 9581009
    Abstract: The invention pertains to methods and apparatus for monitoring loads on an arched tubing guide of a coiled tubing injector caused by tension on coiled tubing. The load is sensed by a load sensor, for example, a load cell placed in a strut that supports the arched tubing guide, or in a load pin or load cell placed within the structure arched tubing guide or the connection of the arched tubing guide to a frame for the coiled tubing injector, at a location where the load is representative of the load placed on an arched tubing guide by tension in the coiled tubing. The load sensor generates a feedback signal. The load is monitored, either by an operator or a controller, and torque applied to a reel around which the tubing is wound is adjusted to avoid, or in response to, excessive loads on the arched tubing guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventors: Timothy S. Steffenhagen, William Benjamin White, David W. McCulloch
  • Patent number: 9439357
    Abstract: A square baler having a display system for providing the operator with an indication of the weight of completed bales to enable the operator to modify a setting of the baler that affects crop density within the bale in order to achieve a uniform bale weight. In the invention, the display serves to indicate to the operator a rolling average of the weight of a predetermined number of bales last discharged from the baler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventor: Olivier Arnel Vanhercke
  • Patent number: 9310241
    Abstract: Device for weighing flat objects in motion comprising a conveyor (12) with drive rollers (22A, 22B) for conveying the flat objects along a transport path (14), a weighing plate (16) facing said transport path and comprising a set of free rollers (160) for receiving the flat objects, and a weighing sensor (18) attached to the weighing plate for measuring the weight of the flat objects during their passage between the conveyor and the weighing plate, wherein the weighing sensor is arranged above the transport path and the conveyor is adapted to move vertically in order to press the flat objects in motion against the weighing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: NEOPOST TECHNOLOGIES
    Inventor: Laurent Farlotti
  • Patent number: 9279492
    Abstract: A planet pin for use in a planetary gear system and a gear system including a planet pin are disclosed. The inventive planet pin provides a plurality of radial passages in fluid communication with an axial passage which can advantageously eliminate, or substantially reduce, the need to orient a planet pin in a planetary gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
    Inventors: Ryan Carlino, Joseph T. Griffin, Charles Schwab, Alfred Thomas
  • Patent number: 9250115
    Abstract: A method for weighing masses on a conveyor system (18) on which the masses to be weighed are advanced in horizontal direction and which includes a conveyor section (24) that is limp in a vertical bending direction, including the steps of continuously measuring the weight force that acts upon the limp conveyor section (24) while the masses are advanced on this conveyor section, recording a force/displacement function that indicates the weight force as a function of the distance traveled by the conveyor system (18), and calculating the mass flow rate of the conveyor system by evaluating the force/displacement function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Schröder Maschinenbau KG
    Inventor: Peter J. Danwerth
  • Patent number: 9248978
    Abstract: A positioning device for a polarization plate is disposed adjacent to a transferring roller for receiving the polarization plate transferred from the transferring roller and further roughly positioning the polarization plate. The positioning device includes a positioning platform, a driving mechanism; and a conveying mechanism located under the positioning platform and connected to the driving mechanism. The conveying mechanism is capable of being driven to move upwards relative to the positioning platform by the driving mechanism to be partly exposed above the positioning platform. The positioning device ensures that the whole polarization plate can enter the positioning platform from the transferring roller and be transferred to the target position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jiasheng Lu, Desheng Yin
  • Patent number: 9176079
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device (10; 10a) for controlling pharmaceutical products (1) in particular, hard gelatin capsules, by means of a radiation source (11) preferably designed as an X-ray source, comprising a storage device (13) which receives the products (1) in an uncontrolled manner, and from which the products (1) are transferred to a transport element (15) in which the products (1) are arranged such that they form at least one row. The products (1) are transported in a clocked manner in the radiation area (25) of the radiation source (11) which exposes the products (1) to radiation, preferably perpendicular to the longitudinal direction thereof. A first stopping device (20) for separating the products (1) in the row is arranged upstream of the radiation source (11) in the direction of transportation (18) of the products (1), and at least one sensor element (28, 28a) coupled to an evaluation device (30) captures the radiation which passed through the products (1).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 3, 2015
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Werner Runft, Iulian Maga, Jens Schlipf, Martin Vogt
  • Patent number: 9146146
    Abstract: A weight determining system is for use with a non-singulated and non-spaced arrangement of items on a conveyor. The system includes an array of load cells, a scanning apparatus, and processors. Each of the items bears upon one or more of the load cells. Each of the load cells bears one or more of the items, and generates load data associated with them. The scanning apparatus generates scan data for the arrangement of the items on the conveyor. Based on the scan data, the processors: apportion the load data from each load cell to the items bearing on it; allocate to each item the load data apportioned from the various load cells; and determine a weight for each item. Also disclosed are a corresponding weight determining method, as well as a computer readable medium containing executable instructions to encode the processors to perform as aforesaid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: PUROLATOR INC.
    Inventors: Cameron James Laird, Andrew Silerio Vicencio, Kirk Edward Serjeantson
  • Patent number: 9095144
    Abstract: A weighing apparatus comprising a weigh deck, one or more load cells, and two staging bars. The weighing apparatus is configured to be installed in an existing conveyor system having a frame and a conveyor belt so that the weigh deck is generally flush with the frame and the weigh deck and the staging bars are positioned underneath the conveyor belt. The staging bars are positioned to mitigate weight measurement variations produced by the conveyor belt. In many cases, the staging bars are vertically adjustable. One or more weigh bridges can be incorporated into a production line or conveyor system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 4, 2015
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Cara J. Sekerak, Terry G. Reishus, Craig A. Dowd, Craig E. Gustafson
  • Patent number: 9059646
    Abstract: A pulse processor includes a phase/pulse width sampler, a first calculator, a second calculator, a latching device, and a pulse width modulator. The phase/pulse width sampler generates an input direction signal, an input phase number and an input pulse width number according to a first signal and a second signal of the command pulse group. The first calculator is used for multiplying the input phase number by P/Q, thereby generating a target phase number, wherein P and Q are positive integers. The second calculator is used for multiplying the input pulse width number by Q/P, thereby generating a target pulse width number. The latching device receives the input direction signal and outputs a target direction signal. The pulse width modulator receives the target direction signal, the target phase number and the target pulse width number, and outputs a transferred pulse group.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2015
    Assignee: RDC SEMICONDUCTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chang-Cheng Yap, Bo-Yuan Shih
  • Publication number: 20150114728
    Abstract: Weighing device used with piece goods, having a belt conveyor, one or more below positioned scales of rigid arrangement and a support for goods being weighed. The belt conveyor has at least two belts. The support has at least one support extension guidable through between the belts, and the belts can move toward the scale such that support extensions are guided through between the conveyor belts without moving themselves. Goods moved on the belts are laid upon the support extensions and weighed. The conveyor unit above the scale is moveable, in its entirety, towards the weighing scale. Conveyor movement end positions are damped. The conveyor is moved by a single actuator, and at least two weighing scales are used with different weighing regions. A coating installation for car exhaust gas catalyst carriers is provided with the weighing device. A method of weighing piece goods using the weighing device is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 26, 2013
    Publication date: April 30, 2015
    Inventor: Joachim Gempp
  • Patent number: RE48188
    Abstract: Device for weighing flat objects in motion comprising a conveyor (12) with drive rollers (22A, 22B) for conveying the flat objects along a transport path (14), a weighing plate (16) facing said transport path and comprising a set of free rollers (160) for receiving the flat objects, and a weighing sensor (18) attached to the weighing plate for measuring the weight of the flat objects during their passage between the conveyor and the weighing plate, wherein the weighing sensor is arranged above the transport path and the conveyor is adapted to move vertically in order to press the flat objects in motion against the weighing plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2020
    Assignee: QUADIENT TECHNOLOGIES FRANCE
    Inventor: Laurent Farlotti