Abstract: Method and apparatus for dispensing particulate material in portions of predetermined weight by providing a flow of material measurable by a radiation detector, measuring the flow rate per unit time of the material and removing successive determined portions of the material from the flow when the measurement indicates that each such portion is of predetermined desired weight.

Abstract: A method of weighing and an apparatus therefor, wherein articles varying in unit weight are continuously weighed by a single weighing machine to classify them into three ranks, one for articles having error weights outside the allowable error limits, another for articles having error weights plus-oriented inside the allowable error limits and the other for articles having error weights minus-oriented inside the allowable error limits, said articles having error weights outside the allowable error limits being rejected, said articles having plus-oriented and minus-oriented error weights inside the allowable error limits being separately pooled and their weights or error weights being allotted to two shift registers and memorized therein in correspondence to the pooling order, and arithmetic operations for combinations of said memorized values are performed to provide a combination of weights equal or most approximate to a predetermined weight. Other merits and details of the construction will be made clear.

Abstract: A moisture gauge for a hanging potted plant, which comprises a generally U-shaped spring element comprising a spring coil and a pair of approximately parallel arms extending from said spring coil shaped to provide notches opposite one-another at spaced intervals along the facing edges of the two arms, one of said arms terminating in an indicator, the other arm having a cross-wise extension providing a moisture indicating scale. Adjoining segments of the pendant support by which the hanging potted plant is supported are connected respectively to oppositely notched portions of the two arms selected with reference to the weight of the potted plant when fully watered, so that the indicator will be extended as accurately as possible to the fully watered position.

Abstract: A scale position compensation means for a conveyor belt material transport system, the system including a conveyor belt having a tail end and a discharge end, belt drive means, and a weight signal generating means. Belt travel signal generating means produce a belt travel signal representing the change of belt position. The weight signal generating means produce a first digital weight signal representing a weight of material associated with a portion of the belt adjacent to a first reference point located between the tail and discharge ends. The scale position compensation means are responsive to the first digital weight signal and the belt travel signal to produce a second digital weight signal representing a weight of material associated with the above-mentioned portion of the belt when it is adjacent to a second reference point located between the first reference point and the discharge end.

Abstract: The arrangement determines the moisture content of tobacco, in either leaf- or comminuted form, tobacco substitutes, other smokers' products, filter materials, cigarette and cigar papers and wrappings, related and analogous fibrous and other materials, and the like. The material in question is supported by a supporting arrangement. First and second electrodes are connected to an A.C. voltage source to form a capacitor. The electrodes are so disposed that the electric field joining the electrodes travels through the material being supported. The moisture of the material is determined by determining the effect upon the capacitor of the moisture in the material being supported and penetrated by the electric field. An arrangement is provided for compressing the material in question while the material is actually being supported and penetrated by the electric field.

Abstract: Poultry carriers release birds at a plurality of work stations to which they are conveyed, under control of weight sensing devices and resettable counters. The birds reaching each group of work stations are limited to a common weight range by weight sorting mechanism to activate the counters through associated weight sensing devices. The counters are arranged to trigger carrier release devices at each work station in response to the counting of different preset numbers of birds within the common weight range so as to obtain equal distribution of the birds released at each of the work stations.