Dispersing supply apparatus in automatic weighing system

• US 4,561,510 A
• Filed: 01/20/1984
• Issued: 12/31/1985
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/1983
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ishida KOKI Seisakusho
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ishida KOKI Seisakusho
• Inventors: Sugioka, Yukio, Kono, Masami
• Primary Examiner(s): Goldberg, E. A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Patrick W.
• Application Number:
  US06/572,316
• Time in Patent Office: 711 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25, 177/58, 177/83-88, 177/DIG. 12, 198/445, 198/504, 198/533, 414/300, 414/301, 414/305, 414/306
• US Class Current: 177/84
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/003 Details; specially adapted accessories details of weighing apparatus in general G01G21/00; auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus in general G01G23/00
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/026 by mechanical conveying means, e.g. belt or vibratory conveyor
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 13/18 by valves or flaps in the container bottom

Abstract

A dispersing supply apparatus for use in an automatic weighing system includes a dispersing table which receives articles that drop from supply means. Means are provided for simultaneously subjecting the dispersing table to both rotation and reciprocating vertical motion to rotate the articles and oscillate them up and down, thereby preventing the articles from becoming entangled and assuring that the articles will be dispersed outwardly of the table in a uniform manner by centrifugal force.

Claims

1. A dispersing supply apparatus, for an automatic weighing system having a base, for dispersively supplying articles to a plurality of hoppers arrayed in a circle surrounding the dispersing supply apparatus, comprising:

a platform supported by the base of the automatic weighing system;

a vibrating unit disposed on said platform;

a dispersing bowl, connected to said vibrating unit so that the dispersing bowl is subject to helical vibration, having an upper side, a central portion and a circumferential wall portion which is provided with a plurality of discharge ports at positions corresponding to the hoppers;

a dispersing table positioned above the central portion of the upper side of said dispersing bowl;

drive means, disposed on said platform, for rotating and vertically oscillating said dispersing table;

a plurality of shutters disposed between respective ones of the hoppers and said discharge ports of said dispersing bowl; and

means for opening and closing said shutters.

2. The dispersing supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said drive unit comprises;

a stationary frame supported by said platform;

a movable frame supported by said stationary frame in such a manner as to be movable up and down;

a first motor, mounted on said movable frame, for rotating said dispersing table;

a second motor, mounted on said platform, having a shaft; and

a crank mechanism rotatably attached to said shaft of said second motor, for transmitting rotational force, produced by said second motor, to said movable frame.

3. The dispersing supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dispersing bowl has a bottom portion provided with steps having a radially outwardly swirling configuration.

4. The dispersing supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said dispersing bowl has a bottom portion and protuberances rising from said bottom portion contiguous to respective corner portions of the discharge ports and facing in a direction in which the articles are revolved.

5. The dispersing supply apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said vibrating unit comprises:

a base plate supported on said platform by buffer springs;

a dispersing bowl mounting plate attached to said dispersing table;

a plurality of leaf springs connecting said dispersing bowl mounting plate to said base plate and disposed at an inclination to the vertical direction; and

a plurality of electromagnets disposed on said base plate.

6. A dispersing supply apparatus, for an automatic weighing system having a base, for dispersively supplying articles to a plurality of hoppers provided at the periphery of the dispersing supply apparatus, comprising:

a platform provided on the base of the automatic weighing system;

a vibrating unit provided on the platform, including

a base plate resiliently supported on the platform,

a mounting plate,

a plurality of leaf springs resiliently connecting the base plate and the mounting plate, the leaf springs being inclined with respect to a vertical direction, and

a plurality of electromagents disposed on the base plate;

a dispersing bowl, provided on the mounting plate, having an upper surface with a radially outwardly swirling configuration, a central portion and a circumferential wall portion provided with a plurality of discharge ports at positions corresponding to the hoppers;

a dispersing table positioned above the central portion of the dispersing bowl;

a drive unit provided on the platform for rotating and vertically oscillating the dispersing table, including

a stationary frame supported by the platform,

a moveable frame slidably supported by the stationary frame for vertical movement,

a first motor, provided on the moveable frame, for rotating the dispersing table,

a second motor, provided on the platform, having a shaft, and

a crank mechanism, rotatably connected to the shaft of the second motor, for transmitting the rotational force produced by the second motor to the moveable frame so that the moveable frame is vertically oscillated;

a plurality of shutters provided between the discharge ports and respective ones of the hoppers; and

means for opening and closing the shutters.

7. A dispersing supply apparatus, for an automatic weighing system having a base, for dispersively supplying articles to a plurality of hoppers provided at the periphery of the dispersing supply apparatus, comprising:

a platform provided on the base of the automatic weighing system;

a vibrating unit disposed on the platform;

a dispersing bowl, connected to the vibrating unit so that the dispersing bowl is subject to helical vibration, the dispersing bowl having a central portion, a circumferential wall portion provided with a plurality of discharge ports at positions corresponding to the hoppers and a plurality of protuberances corresponding to respective ones of the discharge ports, the protuberances facing in a direction in which the articles are revolved in the dispersing bowl and projecting in front of the discharge ports;

a dispersing table positioned above the central portion of the dispersing bowl;

a drive unit provided on the platform for rotating and vertically oscillating the dispersing table;

a plurality of shutters provided between the discharge ports and respective ones of the hoppers; and

means for opening and closing the shutters.