Product distribution chute for a weighing machine (scales)

• US 20120103753A1
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Published: 05/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TNA Australia Pty. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: TNA Australia Pty. Ltd.
• Inventors: Taylor, Alfred Alexander, Alchin, Darren Ken
• Granted Patent: US 9,033,129 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 193/2.R
• CPC Class Codes: B65G 11/023 for articles
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/393 using two or more weighing units

Abstract

A weighing machine (10) that may be scales employed in the packaging industry to deliver batches of product to a packaging machine below the weighing machine (10). The weighing machine (10) has a plurality of troughs (19) along which the product passes and that extend downwardly away from a generally central upright longitudinal axis (11). Each trough (19) extends downwardly from an inlet portion (21) to an outlet portion (22), with the outlet portion (22) spaced radially and angularly from the inlet portion (21) relative to the axis (11).

Claims

1. A chute assembly for a weighing machine, the assembly including:

a generally upright central longitudinal axis;

a plurality of chutes extending outwardly relatively to the axis, each chute having an inlet portion and an outlet portion, with the inlet portion located closer to the axis than the outlet portion;

a chute passage extending between the inlet portion and the outlet portion along which product is to flow, the passage being downwardly sloping toward the outlet portion so that product will move along the passage under the influence of gravity; and

wherein

said outlet portion is spaced radially and angularly relative to said axis from said inlet portion.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each passage is generally linear.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each chute has a pair of longitudinally extending side walls extending upwardly from a longitudinally extending floor.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein one of the side walls is generally upright.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein a first one of said side walls is generally upright, and a second one of said side walls diverges upwardly and outward from the floor relative to the first wall.

6. The assembly of claim 3, wherein said floor slopes longitudinally downwardly away from said axis.

7. In combination, the chute assembly of claim 3, and a plurality of buckets, each bucket being operatively associated with a respective one of the chutes, with at least one of said side walls extending into its respective bucket.

8. The assembly of claim 2, wherein each chute has a pair of longitudinally extending side walls extending upwardly from a longitudinally extending floor.

9. The assembly of claim 8, wherein one of the side walls is generally upright.

10. The assembly of claim 8, wherein a first one of said side walls is generally upright, and a second one of said side walls diverges upwardly and outward from the floor relative to the first wall.

11. The assembly of claim 8, wherein said floor slopes longitudinally downwardly away from said axis.

12. In combination, the chute assembly of claim 8, and a plurality of buckets, each bucket being operatively associated with a respective one of the chutes, with at least one of said side walls extending into its respective bucket.

13. The assembly of claim 10, wherein said floor slopes longitudinally downwardly away from said axis.

14. In combination, the chute assembly of claim 10, and a plurality of buckets, each bucket being operatively associated with a respective one of the chutes, with at least one of said side walls extending into its respective bucket.

15. In combination, the chute assembly of claim 13, and a plurality of buckets, each bucket being operatively associated with a respective one of the chutes, with at least one of said side walls extending into its respective bucket.