WEIGHT DETECTION APPARATUS

• US 20110011649A1
• Filed: 03/16/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Nomura, Hiroshi
• Application Number:
  US12/724,698
• Publication Number:
  US 20110011649A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/151
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 17/02 for weighing material of filamentary or sheet form
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/005 with electric or electronic computing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 3/12 wherein the weighing element is in the form of a solid body stressed by pressure or tension during weighing
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 9/00 Methods of, or apparatus for, the determination of weight, not provided for in groups G01G1/00 - G01G7/00

Abstract

A weight detection apparatus includes a transfer mechanism configured to transfer a medium to be detected along a transfer path at a predetermined speed, a transducer configured to detect a kinetic energy of the medium transferred by the transfer mechanism, and convert the detected kinetic energy into a measurable physical quantity, and an operation section configured to calculate an weight of the medium on the basis of the physical quantity converted by the transducer and the predetermined speed.

Claims

1. A weight detection apparatus comprising:

a transfer mechanism configured to transfer a medium to be detected along a transfer path at a predetermined speed;

a transducer configured to detect a kinetic energy of the medium transferred by the transfer mechanism, and convert the detected kinetic energy into a measurable physical quantity; and

an operation section configured to calculate an weight of the medium on the basis of the physical quantity converted by the transducer and the predetermined speed.

2. The weight detection apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the transducer comprises a cushioning member which is arranged on the transfer path so that the medium is able to collide with the member, and configured to deform by the collision of the medium with the member, and a sensor configured to detect a deformation of the cushioning member as a physical quantity.

3. The weight detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the transfer mechanism comprises a first transfer section configured to transfer the medium in a first direction, a second transfer section configured to transfer the medium in a second direction different from the first direction, and a direction inversion section arranged between the first transfer section and the second transfer section, and configured to invert the direction of the medium transferred in the first direction, and send the medium in the second direction, and

the cushioning member of the transducer is arranged on a downstream side of the direction inversion section and at a position at which the medium transferred in the first direction collides with the transducer.

4. The weight detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cushioning member of the transducer is a plate member provided to intersect the transfer path, and the sensor comprises a strain gage fixed to the plate member and configured to output deformation of the plate member as a voltage signal.

5. The weight detection apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the sensor comprises a plurality of strain gages stuck on both sides of the plate member.

6. The weight detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cushioning member of the transducer comprises a plate member including a collision surface configured to collide with the medium, and a rear surface positioned on the opposite side of the collision surface, and a segment protruding from the rear surface of the plate member, and

the sensor comprises an optical sensor configured to detect a movement amount of the segment.

7. The weight detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cushioning member of the transducer comprises a plate member including a collision surface configured to collide with the medium, and a rear surface positioned on the opposite side of the collision surface, and

the sensor comprises a reflection displacement sensor configured to detect a displacement of the plate member by a reflected light from the rear surface of the plate member.

8. The weight detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cushioning member of the transducer is a plate member arranged to intersect the transfer path, and

the sensor comprises an acceleration sensor fixed to the plate member and configured to output deformation of the plate member as a voltage signal.

9. The weight detection apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the cushioning member of the transducer comprises an air bag provided on the transfer path and configured to collide with the medium, and

the sensor comprises a pressure sensor connected to the air bag in an airtight state and configured to detect a pressure variation inside the air bag.