Combination weighing apparatus for two combined products
First Claim
1. A combination weighing system for weighing out quantities of at least two of different types of products to contribute to a package, said system comprising:
- a first plurality of weighing scales for weighing out quantities of a first product,a second plurality of weighing scales for weighing out quantities of a second product, said first product being a different type than said second product,combination search means for selecting from said first plurality of weighing scales a combination which contains a combined quantity of said first product near in weight to a predetermined fractional target weight, and for selecting from said second plurality of weighing scales a combination which contains a combined quantity of said second product near in weight to the difference between a combined target weight for said first and said second types of products within said package and the weight of said first product within the selected combination of said first plurality of scales.
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Abstract
A combination weighing system is disclosed which system is adapted to weigh out quantities of two or more different types of products and mix them together. The system includes a plurality of weighing scales divided into two groups, one group weighing out quantities of a first type of product and the other group weighing out quantities of a second type of product. A computer is provided to search the first group of scales and select a combination which contains a combined quantity of the first type of product near in weight to a predetermined fractional target weight and for searching the second group of scales and select a combination which contains a quantity of the second type of product near in weight to the difference between a target weight for both products and the weight of the product within the combination of scales selected from the first group. The selected scales of both groups empty into a common discharge chute after weighing and searching is completed. The scales of both groups are dumped at times such that both products arrive in the common discharge chute at the same time and mingle and mix with each other. Related methods are also disclosed.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A combination weighing system for weighing out quantities of at least two of different types of products to contribute to a package, said system comprising:
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a first plurality of weighing scales for weighing out quantities of a first product, a second plurality of weighing scales for weighing out quantities of a second product, said first product being a different type than said second product, combination search means for selecting from said first plurality of weighing scales a combination which contains a combined quantity of said first product near in weight to a predetermined fractional target weight, and for selecting from said second plurality of weighing scales a combination which contains a combined quantity of said second product near in weight to the difference between a combined target weight for said first and said second types of products within said package and the weight of said first product within the selected combination of said first plurality of scales. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A combination weighing system for weighing out quantities of at least two different types of products to contribute to a single package and mixing the different products together, said system comprising:
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a first plurality of weighing scales for weighing-out quantities of a first type of product, a second plurality of weighing scales for weighing-out quantities of a second type of product different from the first type, a discharge chute positioned to receive the output of both said first and said second plurality of weighing scales, combination search means for selecting a combination of said first plurality of weighing scales to contribute to a package and for selecting a combination of said second plurality of scales to contribute to said package, and means for dumping the selected scales of said first plurality of scales and the selected scales of said second plurality of scales in a staggered manner to cause said first type of product to mingle in said chute with said second type of product. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A process for weighing out quantities of at least two different types of products to contribute to a package, said process comprising the steps of:
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weighing out a plurality of quantities of a first type of product, weighing out a plurality of quantities of a second type of product, said first product being a type different from said second product, selecting a combination of said first plurality of quantities of said first type of product with combination contains a combined quantity of said first type of product near in weight to a first predetermined fractional target weight, determining a second fractional target weight from the difference between a total weight for the first and second type of products in a package and the weight of said first type of product in the selected combination of said first plurality of quantities, and selecting a combination of said second plurality of quantities of said second type of product which combination contains a combined quantity of said second type of product near in weight to the second fractional target weight. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25)
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26. A process for weighing out quantities of at least two different types of products to contribute to a single package and mixing the different types of products together, said process comprising the steps of:
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weighing out quantities of a first type of product, weighing out quantities of a second type of product, seleting a combination of said first plurality of quantities to contribute to a package and selecting a combination of said second plurality of quantities to contribute to said package, and dumping the selected quantities of said first product and the selected quantities of said second product in staggered relationship into a common vessel at times which cause said first type of product to mingle with said second type of product in said vessel.
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27. A combination weighing system for separately weighing out at least two charges of product for joinder in a single package at a combined target weight for the two charges, said system comprising:
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a first plurality of weighing scales to weigh out a first set of product quantities and to generate signals representing the weight of each quantity in the first set, a second plurality of of weighing scales to weigh out a second set of product quantities and to generate signals representing the weight of each quantity in the second set, and combination search means responding to the weight signals from the scales for searching said first plurality of weighing scales to select a first combination of scales which yield a first charge of product near in weight to a predetermined first fractional target weight, then determining a second fractional target weight from the difference between a combined target weight for the first and second charges of product and the weight of said first charge of product in the selected combination of said first plurality of scales and searching said second plurality of weighing scales to select a second combination of scales which yield a second charge of product near in weight to the second fractional target weight. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification