Abstract: Provided is a mass sensor including a four-corner-adjusting-mechanism capable of reducing the sensitivity of four-corner adjustment without reducing the rigidity of a Roberval mechanism. A mass sensor (1) includes a Roberval mechanism (2) in which a floating frame (21) and a fixing frame (22) are connected by upper and lower sub-frames (23, 24) having thin portions (23b) formed thereon, and a four-corner-adjusting-mechanism (4) to perform parallelism adjustment. The four-corner-adjusting-mechanism (4) includes an adjusting screw (41), and an upper elastic member (42u) and a lower elastic member (42d) disposed in series in the vertical direction so as to sandwich the sub-frame (23) to be subjected to parallelism adjustment.

Abstract: Electronic weighing devices and method are disclosed wherein balances (particularly of the direct load type) are adapted to utilize less power thus creating less system heat and thereby enhancing weighing accuracy and range of operation. A preferred embodiment of the device includes a frame having an articulating load support structure connected thereto. The support structure carries a coil and movable capacitor plate while the frame locates a permanent magnet and fixed capacitor plate. An elastic offset, such as a spring, is adjustably located between the support structure and the frame to offset, or counterbalance, the support structure, preferably up to about one-half of the balance's rated capacity in any particular embodiment. A push-pull servo system initially causes current in the coil to flow in a direction producing a resultant force which is additive to the pan load. Only when the counterbalancing force is exceeded by the pan load does the coil current produce a force opposing the pan load.

Abstract: An electronic scale cartridge plugs into a piece of office equipment and/or a portable electronic device to provide a weight signal to be used in computing a postal or private carrier rate. The piece of office equipment may be a personal computer or one of its peripheral or input devices. The portable electronic device may be a personal digital assistant or a wireless communications device. Preferably, the scale cartridge has a connector which fits a universal or standard port, thereby allowing the cartridge to be connected to any number of devices without modification. Postage is computed in accordance with a program stored in the computer or portable device. Preferably, the program is written to step a user through a postage-computing process using one or more interactive display screens. A second type of electronic scale is adapted for attachment to a piece of equipment using any one of a variety of fasteners which may establish a removable and/or rotatable connection to the equipment.

Abstract: An improved gauge, such as a floor scale. The gauge includes a vertically suspended mainspring having a bracket for hanging and providing support to the mainspring.

Abstract: Apparatus for processing materials including a receptacle for containing and processing fluid materials such as animal feed. A frame supports the receptacle on a base surface. A weighing mechanism supports the frame and includes at least one member yieldable proportionally in response to the weight of materials contained in the receptacle. An arm connected to the yieldable member is movable in response to its movement. An enclosed collapsible container or bellows having circumferentially corrugated cylindrically-shaped sidewalls and first and second closed ends has a first end being supported by a fixed support. The second end is aligned with, and movable in response to, movement of the arm. A conduit in fluid flow communication with the interior of the collapsible container is at its other end visually transparent, vertically aligned, open to the atmosphere, and contains a liquid.

Abstract: A beverage quantity indicator is provided for use with beverage containers of a type which do not include a visual or other type of indication of the quantity of beverage remaining in the container. The indicator is incorporated into a beverage stand and includes a weight scale for weighing beverage containers on the stand, thus providing an indication of the quantity of beverage within the container. A preferred form of beverage stand is also disclosed. The weight scale on the stand includes a hinge-mounted plate on which a beverage container rests. The hinge-mounted plate is movable generally vertically along an arcuate path. A spring on the beverage stand urges the hinge-mounted plate generally upwardly and the amount of flexure of the spring indicates the quantity of beverage in the container on the plate.

Abstract: A multi-range weight scale which includes an adjustable cam that changes the weight arms-mechanism so that the scales will weigh a normal weight load or twice the normal weight load.

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.

Abstract: A weighing scale is illustrated having a compensation for correcting the non-linearities of a load supporting spring.The load support is caused to deflect, and the load spring caused to be put in tension as a weight is put on the load support of the scale. The load spring has a non-linear response, which is effectively eliminated by the compressor. The compensator comprises a frictionless-type rotatable drum which is operatively connected between the load support and the frame of the scale. The drum is not journalled, but rather, is free to rotate about a vertical plane in response to the deflection of the load support. The drum has movable weights to adjust its rotational moment, whereby the counter-force upon the load support is caused to be varied and the non-linear response of the spring is caused to be substantially linearized.

Abstract: Apparatus for weighing goods or articles which includes a movement and indication assembly having a movement means and an indication means driven by the movement means wherein the movement means exhibits hysteresis between weighing operations involving increasing and decreasing weights of goods, a weighing platform on which the goods or articles are received for the weighing operations, a bar linkage mechanism between the weighing platform and the movement means, and a counterforce means connected to the bar linkage mechanism. An extension member is provided in the bar linkage mechanism to eliminate the hysteresis effect in the movement means to reflect greater accuracy in the indication means.

Abstract: In a mass and force measuring instrument comprising a load support, load-compensating means with very small travel, transmission elements transmitting a force depending on the load to the load-compensating means, display means, at least one linearizing spring whose force varies continuously and acts on the load-compensating means in a direction parallel to that of said force depending on the load, said linearizing spring being active only in a part of the measuring range and means to adjust the characteristic line of said spring.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a balancing means for a weighing scale which compensates for non-linearities in the weighing mechanism to thereby render the scale platform displacement load weight relation linear. The balancing means includes a rotatable wheel which is coupled to the scale platform for rotating with platform displacement. A shaft having an axis of rotation concentric with the rotatable wheel axis of rotation and a plurality of radially extending and arcuately spaced balance weights rotates with the rotatable wheel. As the platform is displaced and the rotatable wheel rotates, the balance weights act upon the weighing mechanism to render the relation between load weight and platform displacement linear.

Abstract: A weight grading apparatus with self-compensating adjustment means to maintain accurate grading over a wide range of ambient temperatures. The apparatus comprises a scale beam, a fulcrum, a weight sensing surface on the scale beam on one side of the fulcrum and a spring engaged at one end with a point on the scale beam on the other side of the fulcrum and with the opposite end of the spring engaged with an adjustment head. The adjustment head is adjustable along a path parallel to the axis of the spring.