METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CALCULATING A PIECE COUNT BY WEIGHING CALCULATIONS

• US 3,552,511 A
• Filed: 04/25/1968
• Issued: 01/05/1971
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/1968
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Fairbanks Inc.
• Original Assignee: Lukaschewsky Bohdan, Robert L. Marcheso
• Inventors: Marcheso, Robert L., LUKASCHEWSKY BOHDAN
• Application Number:
  US04/724,109
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• US Class Current: 177/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/42 for counting by weighing G01G19/387 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 7/62 Performing operations exclusively by counting total number of pulses ; Multiplication, division or derived operations using combined denominational and incremental processing by counters, i.e. without column shift G06F7/68 takes precedence

Abstract

The piece count calculating method and apparatus operates to determine the number of pieces in a container or the number of pieces to be placed into a container by employing known values primarily provided by a weighing system to automatically calculate a desired unknown value. The basic weight values are converted to pulse signals and digital calculator techniques are utilized to accomplish the calculation with the ultimate result being expressed in whole numbers.

Claims

1. A method for automatically determining a piece count by weight calculations which includes weighing an unknown number of pieces, converting the weight obtained in accordance with a first calibration factor to a first digital signal having a frequency indicative of the weight of said unknown number of pieces, weighing a known number of said pieces, converting the weight obtained for said known number of pieces in accordance with a second calibration factor to a second digital signal having a frequency indicative of said known number of pieces, adjusting a count registration means in accordance with the ratio between the calibration factors of said first and second digital signals to relate the calibration factors to a common reference, and simultaneously entering said first signal in a first registration means and said second signal in said adjusted registration means, said first signal being entered for a time period determined by the frequency of said second digital signal and the adjustment of said second registration means.

2. A method for automatically determining a piece count by weight calculations which includes weighing an unknown number of pieces, converting the weight obtained to a first digital signal indicative thereof, obtaining a second digital signal indicative of the piece weight of one of said pieces, entering said piece weight signal into a first register and said first digital signal into a second register, driving said first and second registers toward zero while reentering said piece weight signal into said first register each time said first register is zeroed and providing a count in response to each zeroing of said first register.

3. The method of claim 2 for automatically determining a piece count by weight calculations which includes rounding off said piece count to the nearest whole digit, such round-off being accomplished by driving said first register at twice the rate of said second register and entering the first of said counts in an output registration means while subsequently entering each successive second count in said output registration means.

4. The method of claim 2 which includes weighing a plurality of pieces of known number, converting said weight of said pieces to a third digital signal having a value indicative thereof, obtaining a fourth digital signal having a value indicative of the number of said known number of pieces weighed and comparing said third digital signal with said fourth digital signal to derive said second digital signal having a value indicative of the quotient of said third digital signal value by said fourth digital signal value.

5. A method for automatically determining the number of pieces in a container by weight calculations which includes obtaining a force indicative of the gross weight of a loaded container, converting the force indicative of container gross weight to a first signal indicative of said gross weight and having a signal value which varies in response to variations in the magnitude of said gross weight, obtaining a second signal having a signal value indicative of the tare weight of said container when empty, comparing said second tare weight signal with said first gross weight signal to obtain a third signal indicative of net weight and having a signal value equal to the difference in value between said first and second signals, obtaining a fourth signal having a signal value indicative of the weight of a known number of said pieces, and comparing said fourth signal with said third signal to obtain a fifth signal having a signal value indicative of the quotient of said third signal value by said fourth signal value, and converting said fifth signal value to a visual numerical indication.

6. The method of claim 5 which includes providing said third and fourth signals as digital signals, said fifth signal being formed by counting said third signal for a time period determined by said fourth signal.

7. The method of claim 5 which includes providing said first, second and fourth signals as digital pulses to obtain said third signal as a digital signal, the gross weight pulses of said first signal being provided by generating a signal which is variable in amplitude in response to variations in the magnitude of said container gross weight and converting said amplitude variable signal in accordance with a first calibration factor to a digital pulse signal having a frequency related to the amplitude of said amplitude variable signal, and said fourth piece weight signal pulses being provided by weighing a known number of said pieces and generating a second signal which is variable in amplitude in response to variations in the magnitude of the weight of said known number of pieces, and converting said second amplitude variable signal in accordance with a second calibration factor different from said first calibration factor to a second digital pulse signal having a frequency related to the amplitude of said second amplitude variable signal, said indication of the number of pieces in the container being obtained by counting said third signal for a time period determined by said fourth signal and adjusting said time period to relate said first and second calibration factors to a common reference.

8. The method of claim 5 wherein said first gross weight signal, second tare weight signal and fourth piece weight signal are derived as digital signals, said third net weight signal being obtained by entering said tare weight signal into a first register, entering said gross weight signal into a second register, and driving said first and second registers toward zero until said first register is cleared, said fifth signal being subsequently obtained by entering said piece weight signal into said first register, driving said first and second registers toward zero until said second register zeros while reentering said piece weight signal into said first register each time said first register is zeroed and entering a count into a third register for each zeroing of said first register.

9. The method of claim 5 which includes adjusting the signal value of said fifth signal to obtain a numerical indication to the next highest whole number when said fifth signal value is less than that required to produce such whole number but more than required to produce the next preceding whole number indication.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said first gross weight signal, second tare weight signal and fourth piece weight signal are derived as digital signals, said third net weight signal being obtained by entering said tare weight signal into a first register, entering said gross weight signal into a second register, and driving said first and second registers toward zero until said first register is cleared, said fifth signal being subsequently obtained and adjusted in value by entering said piece weight signal into said first register, driving said first and second registers toward zero until said second register clears while reentering said piece weight signal into said first register each time said first register is zeroed, said first register being driven at twice the rate of said second register, and entering a count in a third register upon the first zeroing of said first register and subsequently entering a count into said third register upon each successive zeroing of said first register.

11. In a calculating assembly employing weight calculations, the combination comprising a weighing unit including signal producing means to provide a first digital signal indicative of the weight of an unknown nUmber of pieces of substantially equal weight, means to provide a second digital signal indicative of the weight of a known number of said pieces, digital calculator means connected to receive said first and second digital signals, said digital calculator means including first register means to receive said first digital signal and second register means to receive said second digital signal, driving means to drive said first and second register means toward zero and reset means to reset said second register means to the initial value of said second digital signal each time said second register means reaches zero until said first register means zeros.

12. In a calculating assembly employing weight calculations, the combination comprising a weighing unit including signal producing means to provide a first digital signal indicative of the gross weight of a container filled with an unknown number of pieces of substantially equal weight, means to provide a second signal having a signal value indicative of the tare weight of said container when empty, digital calculator means connected to receive said first and second signals, said calculator means including first, second and third registration means, said first registration means operating to receive and register said first digital signal and said second registration means operating to receive and register said second digital signal, driving means to drive said first and second registration means toward zero until said second registration means first zeros means to provide a third digital signal indicative of the weight of a known number of said pieces to said second registration means subsequent to the first zeroing thereof, said driving means operating subsequent to the reception of said third digital signal by said second registration means to drive said first and second registration means toward zero and reset means to reset said second registration means to the initial value of said third digital signal each time said second registration means reaches zero until said first registration means zeros.

13. In a calculating assembly employing weight calculations, the combination comprising a first weighing unit for receiving a load formed by an unknown number of pieces of substantially equal weight, said first weighing unit including signal producing means to provide a first digital signal in accordance with a first calibration factor having a frequency indicative of the weight of the load on said first weighing unit, a second weighing unit for receiving a load formed by a known number of said pieces, said second weighing unit including second signal producing means to provide a second digital signal in accordance with a second calibration factor differing from said first calibration factor, said second signal having a frequency indicative of the weight of the load on said second weighing unit and calculator means connected to receive and register said first and second digital signals and operative to relate said first and second digital signals to a common reference, said calculator means including a first counter means operative to register a plurality of counts in response to said first digital signal, second counter means operative to simultaneously register a plurality of counts in response to said second digital signal, said second counter means operating upon reaching a preset count to terminate the count registration by said first counter means, and means for presetting said preset count into said second counter means in accordance with the ratio between said first and second calibration factors.

14. The calculating assembly of claim 13 wherein input gate means are provided to receive and control the provision of said first digital signal to said first counter means, said second counter means forming a time base counter having a counting rate directly related to the frequency of the second digital signal received thereby and including a plurality of outputs, each such output being connected to provide a count outPut signal upon registration by said second counter means of a specific count of greater magnitude than the count for causing a count output signal at the next preceding output, and gate control means for providing control signals to said input gate means to determine the pulse registration time during which said input gate means passes said first digital signal to said first counter means, said means for presetting said preset count into said second counter means including contact means movable between said second counter means outputs to select one of said outputs, said contact means being connected to provide a count output signal from a selected second counter means output to said gate control means.

15. The calculating assembly of claim 13 which includes means to provide a third digital signal having a frequency directly related to the weight of a container for said unknown number of pieces, said first counter means including a bidirectional counter means connected to simultaneously register counts in response to said first and third digital signals, said bidirectional counter means being driven by said third digital signal to decrease the count registered in response to said first digital signal.

16. In a calculating assembly employing weight calculations, the combination comprising means to provide a first digital signal indicative of a number of pieces of substantially equal weight for a container, means to provide a second digital signal indicative of the piece weight of a known number of said pieces, digital calculator means connected to receive said first and second signals, said calculator means including first, second and third registration means, said first registration means operating to receive and register said first digital signal and said second registration means operating to receive and register said second digital signal, driving means to provide pulses to drive said second registration means to zero and simultaneously to provide an equal number of pulses for registration by said third registration means, pulsing means to provide a pulse to drive said first registration means toward zero upon each zeroing of said second registration means, and reset means to reset said second registration means to the initial value of said second digital signal each time said second registration means reaches zero until said first registration means zeros.

17. The calculating assembly of claim 16 which includes means for providing a third digital signal indicative of the weight of a container for said pieces to said second registration means after the zeroing of said first and second registration means, said driving means operating after the registration of said third digital signal to provide pulses to drive said second registration means to zero and simultaneously provide an equal number of pulses for registration by said third registration means, and output means operating to provide a calculator output signal indicative of the count registered by said third registration means.

18. The calculating assembly claim 17 which includes a weighing unit supporting said container, said weighing unit including means to provide a weight output signal indicative of the weight applied to said weighing unit, and comparator means to compare the output signal from said weighing unit with the output from said digital calculator means.

19. The calculating assembly of claim 18 wherein said comparator means provides a control signal to a piece loading unit when the output from said second weighing unit is equal to the output from the output means for said digital calculator means.

20. A calculating assembly employing weight calculations comprising a control console including means to initiate a calculation cycle, input means to provide signals characteristic of at least one known value, calculator means connected to receive said known value signals, said calculator means being adapted to provide a result derived from at least two arithmetic calculations, and indicator Means connected to said calculator means and operative to register the result of calculations performed thereby, and at least one weighing unit connected to said console, said weighing unit including a weigh platform and signal producing means connected to provide an output signal to said calculator means characteristic of the weight of a load on said weigh platform.

21. The calculating assembly of claim 20 wherein an unknown number of pieces of substantially equal weight is applied to said weigh platform, said input means being operative to provide a signal indicative of a piece weight of a known number of said pieces to said calculator means, and said calculator means being operative upon the initiation of a calculating cycle to cause said indicator means to indicate, to the nearest whole digit, the number of pieces in said container.

22. The calculating assembly of claim 20 wherein said input means operates to provide a first signal indicative of a desired number of pieces to be applied to said weigh platform and a second signal indicative of the weight of a known number of said pieces, said calculator means being operative upon the initiation of a calculating cycle to cause said indicator means to indicate the weight for said desired number of pieces and to provide when such desired weight is applied to said weigh platform.

23. The calculating assembly of claim 20 wherein a second weighing unit is connected to said console, said second weighing unit including a second weight platform and second signal producing means to provide an output signal to said calculator means characteristic of a load on said second weigh platform, said second signal producing means operating to provide an output signal in accordance with a calibration factor differing from the calibration factor for the output signal of said other signal producing means, said calculator means operating to relate said unlike calibration factors to a common reference.

24. In a calculating assembly employing weight calculations, the combination comprising a weighing unit including signal producing means to provide a first digital signal having a value indicative of the weight of an unknown number of pieces of substantially equal weight, means to provide a second digital signal having a value indicative of the weight of a known number of said pieces, and digital calculator means connected to receive and compare said first and second digital signals to provide an output signal having a value indicative of the quotient of said first signal divided by said second signal, and numerical indicator means driven by said output signal to provide a numerical indication, said digital calculator means including means to adjust the value of said output signal to obtain a numerical indication by said numerical indicator means to the next highest whole number when said output signal value is less than that required to produce such whole number but more than that required to produce the next preceding whole number.

25. The calculating assembly of claim 24 wherein said digital calculator means includes dividing means adapted to employ said first digital signal as a dividend factor and said second digital signal as a divisor factor and to provide two output signals for each time said divisor factor goes into said dividend factor, quotient registration means, and round-off control means operative to receive said output signals from said dividing means, said round-off control means operating to register one count in said quotient registration means upon receipt of the first output signal from said dividing means and to subsequently register one count upon each receipt of two of said output signals.

26. The calculating assembly of claim 25 wherein said round-off control means includes signal translating means connected to receive said output signals from said dividing means, said signal translating means operating to provide a single signal to said quotient registration means upon the receipt thereby of two input signAls and input control means operative to feed a single input signal to said signal translating means before the receipt thereby of the output signals from said dividing means.

27. The calculating assembly of claim 26 wherein said signal translating means is formed by a flip-flop unit.

28. The calculating assembly of claim 27 wherein said dividing means includes first registration means connected to receive said first digital signal and register said dividend factor, second registration means connected to receive said second digital signal and register said divisor factor, said second registration means operating to provide an output signal to said round-off control means upon clearance of said divisor factor therefrom, reset means operating to reset said divisor factor into said second registration means upon each clearance thereof until zeroing of said first registration means, and driving means connected to drive said first and second registration means toward a zero clear state, said driving means operating to drive said second registration means at twice the rate of said first registration means.

29. The calculating assembly of claim 28 wherein said second digital signal is characteristic of a single piece weight, said means to provide said second digital signal including means to provide a third digital signal characteristic of the weight of a plurality of pieces of known number, signal generating means operative to provide a fourth digital signal characteristic of the number of pieces employed to obtain said third digital signal, and signal storage means connected to said second register means, said second register means operating to receive said third digital signal and said first register means operating to receive said fourth digital signal, said driving means subsequently operating to drive said first and second register means toward zero and said reset means operating to reset said second register means to said third digital signal value each time said second register means reaches zero, said signal storage means being connected to receive and store a signal indication derived from the output signals from said second register means provided before said first register means reaches zero and to subsequently provide said signal indication as said second digital signal.