Rotary Patents (Class 177/83)
  • Patent number: 11366004
    Abstract: An electronic device for detecting the weight of a capsule for a pharmaceutical product is provided with: a plurality of detection electrodes, which face a respective one of a plurality of sectors into which the capsule is divided in a main extension direction thereof, each one of the detection electrodes forming a respective detection capacitor with a common plate defined by a capsule-holding element which holds the capsule; and an electronic circuit having a plurality of detection stages, each operatively coupled to a respective one of the detection electrodes so as to detect, in an independent and exclusive manner, a capacitive variation of the respective detection capacitor and to generate a respective output quantity, which is a function of the capacitive variation and indicative of the weight of the respective sector of the capsule.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2022
    Assignee: MG 2—S.R.L.
    Inventors: Antonio Tagliavini, Andrea Ferrari, Nicola Querzani, Mauro Minghetti
  • Patent number: 8772651
    Abstract: A turntable that can be used with a machine for wrapping loads with packaging material includes a turntable assembly having a first support assembly and a load support surface supported for rotation on the first support assembly. A second support assembly contacts a floor surface, and a plurality of load cells disposed between the first and second support assemblies space the first support assembly and the load support surface above the floor surface. In use, the load cells sense a weight of a load on the load support surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2014
    Assignee: Lantech.com, LLC
    Inventors: Curtis W. Martin, Gary L. Peters
  • Patent number: 8584713
    Abstract: A link apparatus for weighing objects from a weighing machine to bags conveyed at high speed, a weighing apparatus and a packing apparatus using the link apparatus, and a weighing and packaging system are disclosed. A link apparatus comprises funnel-shaped chutes supplied with objects through entrances and respectively discharge the objects through exits. A rotary board conveys the chutes along a revolving path where the exits are arranged in one line in a direction along the revolving path. The revolving path includes a first area under which package bags are conveyed in the direction along the revolving path, the first area being a part of the revolving path; wherein the entrances are formed by elongated openings; and the rotary board conveys the chutes such that the exits are located above the package bags in the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: Shozo Kawanishi
    Inventor: Shozo Kawanishi
  • Patent number: 7816612
    Abstract: A rotary measuring device includes a measuring unit, a centrifugal force error calculation block, and a weight value calculation block. The measuring unit includes a measuring plate and a load cell. The load cell has a fixed end and a free end on which the measuring plate is disposed. The centrifugal force error calculation block calculates, on the basis of a first measured value outputted from the load cell in a state where the measuring unit is rotating, an angular displacement ? with respect to a horizontal plane of the load cell in the vicinity of the free end. The weight value calculation block calculates a weight value of the object on the basis of the angular displacement value and a second measured value outputted from the load cell in a state where the measuring plate is receiving the load resulting from the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ken Shimizu, Fumitaka Tokuda
  • Patent number: 7812267
    Abstract: A weighing apparatus having a weighing system, a drive system, and a vertical force minimizing system. The weighing system may include a load receiving surface and a plurality of load cells. The drive system produces rotation of the load receiving surface about its vertical axis. The vertical force minimizing system minimizes the amount of vertical force that is applied to the load cells through the drive system, while simultaneously transmitting forces in the transverse direction to provide for rotational movement of the load receiving surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Draper, Thomas S. Rice
  • Publication number: 20090229891
    Abstract: A rotary measuring device includes a measuring unit, a centrifugal force error calculation block, and a weight value calculation block. The measuring unit includes a measuring plate and a load cell. The load cell has a fixed end and a free end on which the measuring plate is disposed. The centrifugal force error calculation block calculates, on the basis of a first measured value outputted from the load cell in a state where the measuring unit is rotating, an angular displacement ? with respect to a horizontal plane of the load cell in the vicinity of the free end. The weight value calculation block calculates a weight value of the object on the basis of the angular displacement value and a second measured value outputted from the load cell in a state where the measuring plate is receiving the load resulting from the object.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Publication date: September 17, 2009
    Applicant: ISHIDA CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ken Shimizu, Fumitaka Tokuda
  • Publication number: 20080271930
    Abstract: A weighing apparatus having a weighing system, a drive system, and a vertical force minimizing system. The weighing system may include a load receiving surface and a plurality of load cells. The drive system produces rotation of the load receiving surface about its vertical axis. The vertical force minimizing system minimizes the amount of vertical force that is applied to the load cells through the drive system, while simultaneously transmitting forces in the transverse direction to provide for rotational movement of the load receiving surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Publication date: November 6, 2008
    Applicant: Mettler-Toledo, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Draper, Thomas S. Rice
  • Publication number: 20080217071
    Abstract: The invention aims at obtaining a simplified and compact construction of a gravimetric metering device (1) for bulk products, comprising a large discharge section per activation zone (A) and transfer zone (F) for supplying the bulk product into a rotor (2) rotated in a horizontal plane, with transfer tools (3) extending mainly in the radial direction, an emptying station (E) offset relative to the transfer zone (F), and a weighing platform (W) arranged therebetween in the peripheral direction, provided with a force measuring device (20) for determining the weight of the bulk product transported. The invention is characterized in that the transfer tools (3) are mounted so as to be uncoupled from one another in at least one degree of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 17, 2005
    Publication date: September 11, 2008
    Inventor: Hans W. Hafner
  • Patent number: 7402762
    Abstract: A weighing apparatus having a weighing system, a drive system, and a vertical force minimizing system is described. The weighing system may include a load receiving surface and a plurality of load cells. The drive system may be any system which may cause the load receiving surface to rotate about its vertical axis. The vertical force minimizing system may be any system which may reduce the amount of vertical force that may be applied to the load cells through the drive system while effectively transmitting necessary forces in the transverse direction to provide rotational motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2008
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig M. Draper, Thomas S. Rice
  • Patent number: 7332679
    Abstract: A weighing section includes a plurality of weighing members and a power supply mechanism. The weighing members weigh an object while moving. The power supply mechanism includes a fixed section, a rotatable section moving along the movement of the weighing members, a primary coil provided on the fixed section, and a secondary coil provided on the rotatable section. The power supply mechanism supplies power to the primary coil, retrieves an induced electromotive force from the secondary coil, and supplies power to the weighing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shuji Murata, Yukio Wakasa, Takashi Kimura, Masayoshi Nakajima
  • Patent number: 7241955
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for automatically weighing portions of semi-solid matter using a weigh station having a rotating receptacle which receives the portion so that an accurate weight indication of the portion can be taken, and propels the portion from the weigh station to a further conveyor or processing system, a drive motor which powers the weigh station through a disengageable motor drive connection, and a weight signal processor which converts and stores the weight indications as weight data and transmits appropriate control signals to the drive motor, whereby variations in the weight of each portion are measured and evaluated to control the further processing of each portion, according to whether the portion weight is within predetermined parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Bakery Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Hebenstreit
  • Patent number: 7211745
    Abstract: A method for weighing a crop is disclosed. The method includes (a) loading a crop into a container using a crop transport apparatus, (b) temporarily stopping the crop transport apparatus from loading the crop into the container, (c) weighing the crop using the container, (d) unloading the weighed crop from the container by automatically manipulating the container, and (e) repeating steps (a)–(d).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2007
    Assignee: The Regents of the University of California
    Inventors: Patrick H. Brown, Uriel A. Rosa, Shrini Upadhyaya
  • Patent number: 7154055
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for continuously producing constant weight portions of semi-solid matter, such as bread dough, from a large mass through a dividing mechanism whereby portions are formed on a receptacle which receives the portion so that an accurate weight indication of the portion can be taken. By separating portions of the mass with the divider, when the weight of the mass on the receptacle reaches a predetermined shutoff weight, constant weight portions are achieved. A drive motor may power the receptacle through a selectively disengageable motor drive connection, which can be disengaged to allow accurate weight indications. Variations in the weight of portions from a target portion weight may be minimized by automatically adjusting the shutoff weight at which the portion is separated by the dividing mechanism, according to the difference between the portion weight and the target weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 26, 2006
    Assignee: Bakery Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Hebenstreit
  • Patent number: 6900397
    Abstract: Method and system for the weighing of sheets (6) of wood material on a sheet forming line, on which line the sheets are carried on a conveyor from a sheet forming apparatus and cooled down in a cooling turn gear comprising a cooling wheel (3) provided with radial supporters (5). The sheets (6) are weighed using a weighing system (8) which has been fitted in the cooling turn gear and which weights the sheets (6) when they are turned to an upright position or at least to a nearly upright position. The invention makes it possible to leave out the conveyor weight meter from the press line, thus allowing the press line to be made shorter. The weighing accuracy is substantially better than in a conventional conveyor weight meter solution because only the sheet itself is weighed instead of weighing the relatively heavy conveyor together with the light sheets on it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2005
    Assignee: Metso Panelboard OY
    Inventor: Ari Mannikko
  • Publication number: 20030106722
    Abstract: An apparatus for precisely weighing and bagging solid particulate materials in which a carousel is mounted on a vertical axis intermediate a material dispenser and a weighing device such as a load cell. A series of sheet metal material collectors, pivotally mounted on the carousel to receive material dispensed thereto, are indexed around to a series of dispensers and then to a bagging station where they are tilted to discharge material thereon.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2001
    Publication date: June 12, 2003
    Inventor: James H. Brown
  • Patent number: 6444926
    Abstract: A weigh feeding apparatus has a plurality of compartments to hold a material that is fed into the compartments and a scale for weighing the material held in the compartments. The compartments are configured to revolve about an axis at a substantially constant rate and the scale is configured to produce a signal determined by the weight of the material held in the compartments. The signal is capable of being used to control the rate at which material is fed into the compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Acrison, Inc.
    Inventor: Ronald J. Ricciardi, Sr.
  • Patent number: 6407346
    Abstract: A check weigher for a bagging system includes a compartmentalized rotatable drum positioned immediately beneath a chute receiving bags from a conveyor system of a bagger. The rotatable drum is maintained upon a scale adapted to determine the tare weight of the bag and its contents. A receptacle is positioned on each side of the rotatable compartmentalized drum. A reversible stepping motor is connected to and is operative to drive the drum. A controller is interposed between the stepping motor and the scale. When the controller determines that the weight indicated by the scale is within an acceptable range of weights, the compartmentalized drum is rotated in a first direction, causing the bag to be deposited in a first acceptable drum, while simultaneously positioning a new compartment beneath the chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Advanced Poly-Packaging, Inc.
    Inventor: Tony D. Baker
  • Patent number: 5798487
    Abstract: A weighing device dedicated for use on a rotary table of rotary machine such as a rotary fluid filling machine. The weighing device includes a load cell arranged perpendicular to a radial line emanating from the center of rotation, in tangential orientation to the direction of table rotation. Due to this orientation, deflection of the load cell beam under load will not produce errors resulting from centrifugal forces acting on the rotary machine, so that an accurate weight reading is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1998
    Assignee: Tedea Huntleigh Intl. Ltd.
    Inventors: Tal Goichman, Leon Kalmikov
  • Patent number: 5750938
    Abstract: A drug weighing method presenting the steps of feeding an orderly succession of drugs to a capacitive sensor; determining the weight of each drug by means of the capacitive sensor;periodically weighing a number of drugs in the succession by means of a precision scale;and periodically calibrating the capacitive sensoron the basis of the directly determined drug weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1998
    Assignee: MG2 S.p.A.
    Inventors: Sandro De Caris, Angelo Ansaloni
  • Patent number: 5700982
    Abstract: A weighing device which is dedicated for use on a rotary table of a rotary machine such as a rotary fluid filling machine. The weighing device includes a symmetrical load cell. The symmetry of the load cell when installed in place on the rotary table is such that it is symmetrical about a line which is perpendicular to a radius line emanating from the center of rotation. The load is applied directly or indirectly at the center point of the load cell. It is then understood that this load point is also on the line of symmetry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1997
    Assignee: Tedea-Huntleigh International, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eli Neuman
  • Patent number: 5646375
    Abstract: A weighing device which is dedicated for use on a rotary table of rotary machine such as a rotary fluid filling machine. The weighing device includes a pair of load cells arranged in reverse symmetry with respect to a radial line emanating from the center of rotation. Due to the reverse symmetry, the deflection of each of the load cells will produce errors resulting from the centrifugal forces that will cancel each other, providing accurate weighing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1997
    Assignee: Tedea-Huntleigh International Ltd.
    Inventor: Eli Neuman
  • Patent number: 5444749
    Abstract: An article collecting device comprising: feed unit 5 for feeding a set of articles smaller in quantity than a target quantity for collection; a recirculating conveyer 2 for conveying a set of articles fed by the feed unit 5; an operation unit 14 for combining at least two sets of articles fed during conveyance of the set of articles by the conveyer and determining whether a target quantity of articles as a preset collection unit is obtained; and an opening unit 12 for discharging the sets of articles combined as the target quantity from the conveyer to a bagging and packaging unit 13 as the result of the combination by the operation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Nambu Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Nambu
  • Patent number: 4976378
    Abstract: A metering device for measuring bulk particulate material, such as feed, includes a hollow casing having a paddle gate positioned therein. Rotation of the paddle gate dispenses a predetermined weight of particulate material into the outlet port of the device. A monitoring mechanism monitors the back up of dispensed material in the outlet port stopping the flow of material into the metering device should the backed up material reach a predetermined level, thus avoiding jamming of the paddle gate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1990
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1990
    Assignee: Hamilton Distributing Company
    Inventor: Jerome J. Bush
  • Patent number: 4130171
    Abstract: This invention pertains to a method to batch-weigh a continuous flow of material. The material flows into a holding container which cyclically drops a load into a weighing container and then continues to receive the flow of material. Before the holding container is again filled, the load in the weighing container is weighed, emptied and, if necessary, again weighed to measure tare weight. The weighing container is then ready to receive another load from the holding container. The material emptied from the weighing container drops into a hopper from whence it continues to flow, as upon a conveyor belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1978
    Assignee: Industrial System Engineers, Inc.
    Inventors: James M. Smith, Wilson S. Howe
  • Patent number: 4073355
    Abstract: A weighing device for the automatic regulation of a crystal-growing operation includes an upright shaft on which a crucible for a crystal melt is supported. The shaft is journalled for rotation and has limited freedom of movement in downward direction under the weight of the crucible and the melt therein. Weight-responsive signal-generating devices are engaged by the shaft or components associated therewith, so that pressure is exerted upon these devices to different degrees, in dependence upon the weight of the melt in the crucible. These devices produce signals as a function of the weight acting upon them, and these signals in turn control the crystal-growing operation. The shaft is rotatable by a drive arrangement which does not require physical contact with the shaft to rotate the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1976
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1978
    Assignee: Prolizenz AG.
    Inventors: Walter Schmidt, Walter Stahlin
  • Patent number: 4046208
    Abstract: A drum rotatable about an axis through its center of gravity carries troughs located in a circle concentric to said axis and which are charged at a certain level with flowing material to be measured as to quantity, whereby the drum is influenced by a driving moment from the weight of the charged material. After a certain rotation of the drum, the troughs discharge the charged material at a lower level than said charging level. Means are provided for counteracting rotation of the drum by said driving moment, said means including interconnected scoops arranged in a circle concentric to an axis through the common center of gravity of the scoops, said last axis forming an angle with a vertical line. The drum rotates the scoops around said last-mentioned axis, and the scoops successively elevate a second material from a certain level and discharge it at a higher level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 1975
    Date of Patent: September 6, 1977
    Assignee: Alfa-Laval AB
    Inventor: Lennart Arvid Stenstrom