Combinational weighing apparatus

• US 5,753,867 A
• Filed: 01/30/1996
• Issued: 05/19/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ishida Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Ishida Company Limited
• Inventors: Konishi, Hiroe, Murata, Shuji
• Primary Examiner(s): Miska, Vit W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US08/593,840
• Time in Patent Office: 840 Days
• Field of Search: 177/25.18, 177/59
• US Class Current: 177/25.18
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/393 using two or more weighing units
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/42 for counting by weighing G01G19/387 takes precedence

Abstract

A combinational weighing or counting apparatus for performing a combinational calculation of measured weights or number of to-be-weighed articles M measured by a plurality of weighing hoppers 10 to determine a combination which gives the weight or number falling within a permissible range. This apparatus includes a mode selector 38 for setting the apparatus to one of weighing and discharge modes, and a mode control 39 for controlling the apparatus on the basis of one of the weighing and discharge modes which has been selected. During the weighing mode having been selected, the mode control 39 activates supply units S in operative association with selective opening and closing of the weighing hoppers 10. On the other hand, during the discharge mode having been selected, the mode control means 39 activates the supply units S while the weighing hoppers 10 are kept in fully opened position, to thereby allow the articles M remaining in the supply units S to be continuously discharged to the outside of the apparatus.

Claims

1. A combinational weighing or counting apparatus which comprises:

a plurality of weighing devices each having a weighing hopper for weighing articles to be weighed while the articles are accommodated within the weighing hopper;

a plurality of supply devices for supplying the articles to the weighing hoppers, respectively;

a weighing device controller for controlling open/close operation of the weighing hoppers,

a supply device controller for controlling supply from the supply device,

a combination calculating means for performing a combinational calculation of a measured value of the articles measured by each of the weighing devices or a number obtained from the measured value to give a weight or a number falling within a permissible range;

a mode selecting means for selecting one of weighing and discharge modes;

a weighing mode executing means for operating, when the weighing mode is selected by the mode selecting means, to activate the combination calculating means and also to activate the supply device by driving the supply device controller, in association with selective opening and closing of the weighing hoppers; and

a discharge mode executing means for operating, when the discharge mode is selected by said mode selecting means, to activate the supply device by driving the supply device controller, while the weighing hoppers are kept opened by driving the weighing device controller to thereby continuously discharge the articles remaining within the supply means to an outside of the apparatus.

3. The combinational weighing or counting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the supply device controller operates when the weighing mode is selected to control a feed capability of each of the supply device on the basis of weighed value, but operates when the discharge mode is selected to control the feed capability to a predetermined level.

4. The combinational weighing or counting apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a feed parameter setting means for regulating a feed capability of each of the supply devices;

wherein each of said supply devices includes a driving feeder for supplying the articles, and a pool hopper for storing the articles supplied from the driving feeder; and

wherein said weighing mode executing means operates, when the weighing mode is selected, to cause the feed parameter setting means to set the feed capability of each of the driving feeders to a value required for the weight or number of the articles, stored in the respective pool hopper, to attain a predetermined target supply value, and said discharge mode executing means operates, when the discharge mode is selected, to cause all of the pool hoppers and, also, all of the weighing hoppers to be opened and also to cause the feed parameter setting means to set the feed capability of all of the driving feeders to a value greater than that sustained during the weighing mode.

2. A combinational weighing or counting apparatus which comprises:

a plurality of weighing devices each having a weighing hopper for weighing articles to be weighed while the articles are accommodated within the weighing hopper;

a plurality of supply devices for supplying the articles to the weighing hoppers, respectively;

a weighing device controller for controlling open/close operation of the weighing hoppers,

a supply device controller for controlling supply from the supply device,

a group dividing means for dividing into a plurality of groups supply passages each leading from each of the supply means to the associated weighing hopper;

an article delivery means employed for each of the groups for delivering the articles;

a combination calculating means for performing a combinational calculation of a measured value of the articles measured by each of the weighing devices of each group or a number obtained from the measured value to give a weight or a number falling within a permissible range for each group;

a mode selecting means for selecting one of weighing and discharge modes;

a group specifying means for specifying one of the groups to be set in the discharge mode by the mode selecting means; and

a weighing mode executing means for operating, when the weighing mode is selected by the mode selecting means to activate the combination calculating means and also to activate the supply device by driving the supply device controller, in association with selective opening and closing of the weighing hoppers; and

a discharge mode executing means for operating, when the discharge mode is selected by the mode selecting means to activate the supply device by driving the supply device controller, while the weighing hoppers of one of the groups specified by the group specifying means are kept opened by driving the weighing device controller to thereby continuously discharge the articles remaining within the supply means to an outside of the apparatus.

5. The combinational weighing or counting apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising a feed parameter setting means for regulating a feed capability of each of the supply devices;

wherein each of said supply devices includes a driving feeder for supplying the articles, and a pool hopper for storing the articles supplied from the driving feeder; and

wherein said weighing mode executing means operates, when the weighing mode is selected, to cause the feed parameter setting means to set the feed capability of each of the driving feeders to a value required for the weight or number of the articles, stored in the respective pool hopper, to attain a predetermined target supply value, and said discharge mode executing means operates, when the discharge mode is selected, to cause both of the pool hoppers and the driving feeders of the group specified by the group specifying means to be opened and also to cause the feed parameter setting means to set the feed capability of the driving feeders of the group specified by the group specifying means to a value greater than that sustained during the weighing mode.

6. A combinational weighing or counting method which comprises the steps of:

supplying articles to be weighed from a plurality of supply devices to a plurality of weighing devices each having a weighing hopper;

performing a combinational calculation of a measured weight or number of the articles measured by each of the weighing devices to determine a combination in which the weight or number of the articles may fall within a permissible range;

selecting one of weighing and discharge modes;

when the weighing mode is selected, performing the combinational calculation and activating the supply device in association with selective opening and closing of the weighing hoppers; and

when the discharge mode is selected, activating the supply device while the weighing hoppers are kept opened to thereby continuously discharge the articles remaining within the supply means to an outside.

7. A combinational weighing or counting method which comprises the steps of:

dividing into a plurality of groups a plurality of supply passages through which articles to be weighed are supplied, each of said supply passages leading from a supply device to a corresponding weighing device having a weighing hopper;

delivering the articles for each group;

performing a combinational calculation of a measured weight or number of the articles measured by the weighing devices of each of the groups to determine a combination in which the weight or number of the articles may fall within a permissible range for each group;

selecting one of weighing and discharge modes;

specifying one of the groups which is to be set under the discharge mode;

when the weighing mode is selected, performing the combinational calculation and activating the supply device in association with selective opening and closing of the weighing hoppers; and

when the discharge mode is selected, activating the supply device while the weighing hoppers of the specified group are kept opened to thereby continuously discharge the articles belonging to the group to an outside.