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 tank weigh module includes a bottom plate that has two lower stop blocks protruding upwardly therefrom, and a top plate that has an upper stop block protruding downwardly therefrom into a space between the two upper stop blocks with a block free play clearance therebetween. A restraining pin is arranged to extend through aligned pin receiving holes in all of the stop blocks. In the lower stop blocks, the holes provide a tight friction fit for the pin, while the hole in the upper stop block has a larger diameter and provides a pin free play clearance. Motion of the top plate relative to the bottom plate in the back-and-forth Y-direction is limited to the extent of the block free play clearance. Travel of the top plate in the side-to-side X-direction and in the uplift Z-direction is restrained by the extent of the pin free play clearance. Tilting and twisting about the X-, Y-, and Z-axes are also limited by the pin interacting with the blocks and the blocks interacting with each other.

Abstract: A scale for weighing an animal as it moves along a weighing platform. The platform is suspended at four corners with tensile load cells mounted to mechanisms suspending the platform at the corners. Weight applied to the platform will produce tensile stress in the load cells. The cells produce analogue signals that are proportional to the magnitude of the tensile forces. A restraining device allows slight vertical platform movement (in response to applied load) while restraining longitudinal and transverse platform movement. The suspension means and restraining means operate to allow transfer of vertical stress on the load cells with horizontal restraints being eliminated through the suspension and restraining means.

Abstract: Weighing apparatus is disclosed including an operating device for displacing a weighing beam arresting assembly to its arresting position, and for simultaneously effecting illumination of all of the segments of a multi-segment display device. In one embodiment, a manually operable rotatable shaft is provided having a pair of cams thereon for operating the beam arresting assembly and for operating a switch to cause illumination of all of the display segments, respectively. In a second embodiment, closing of a switch to effect illumination of all of the display segments is accompanied by the energization of a motor to displace the arresting assembly to its arresting position.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for automatically weighing and separating specific individual quantities of a bulk material such as tobacco is disclosed. The weighing container is separated from the carrier and from the measuring system of a scale during the phase in the operating cycle during which no measuring is taking place so as to avoid operationally induced vibrations.

Abstract: A mounting and protective means for use in force measuring or weighing devices comprising a load carrier and a load transmitting means. Its purpose is to facilitate the mounting of the carrier and the transmitting means and to constitute a limiter for lateral displacements in the plane perpendicular to the load action line of the carrier. The mounting and protective means comprises two parts which at measuring are in contact with the transmitting means, one of the parts being also connected to the load carrier and the other part to a foundation for the carrier. The two parts can be brought into at least two positions mutually in the load transmission direction. In one mutual position they are fixed in such position in said plane which the transmitting means is desired to have as initial measuring position. In another, possibly the same, position, this is chosen to enable the transmitting means to be inserted or taken out.