Flat electronic scales
First Claim
1. A top-loading scale, comprising:
- a weighing pan to receive a load;
a housing;
an integral component having two cavities to receive two batteries, comprising;
a parallel guidance having an upper guide and a lower guide, wherein one of the guides is a divided guide split into two partial guides and the other guide is an undivided guide;
a system carrier fixed to the housing and extending between the two cavities; and
a load receiver being connected to the system carrier via the parallel guidance; and
strain gauges disposed only on an inner side of the undivided guide to generate an electrical signal dependent on the load on the weighing pan.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A top-loading balance with a housing, a weighing pan, and a load receptor, wherein the load receptor is connected with a system carrier by a parallel guidance having an upper guide and a lower guide. The system carrier is fixed relative to the housing. One of the guides is divided into two part-guides which, seen in plan view, are disposed preferably on either side of the undivided guide so that the guides do not overlap. In addition, the load receptor, the guides and the system carrier preferably form an integral component. The top-loading balance also includes strain gauges on at least one of the guides to generate a load-dependent electrical signal, which can be measured and converted into e.g. a visual display of the mass. The integral component has two cavities for batteries and the system carrier extends between the two battery cavities. Furthermore, the load receptor is constructed to be approximately U-shaped and the two limbs of the U are disposed laterally near the battery cavities. In addition, the strain gauges are arranged only on the inner side of the undivided guide. Therefore, the top-loading scale is flat and compact without compromising the stability of the scale. Preferably, the balance includes features, such as overload abutments, that protect the delicate parallel guidance, as well as features that ensure accurate measurement of off-center loads.
31 Citations
21 Claims
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1. A top-loading scale, comprising:
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a weighing pan to receive a load;
a housing;
an integral component having two cavities to receive two batteries, comprising;
a parallel guidance having an upper guide and a lower guide, wherein one of the guides is a divided guide split into two partial guides and the other guide is an undivided guide;
a system carrier fixed to the housing and extending between the two cavities; and
a load receiver being connected to the system carrier via the parallel guidance; and
strain gauges disposed only on an inner side of the undivided guide to generate an electrical signal dependent on the load on the weighing pan. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
first latches mounted at the weighing pan;
second latches mounted at the weighing pan;
holes in the housing;
projections mounted at the housing;
protrusions on an underside of the weighing pan; and
recesses in the limbs of the load receiver, wherein, when the weighing pan is fixed to the housing, the first latches of the weighing pan are locked in the holes of the housing, the second latches mounted at the weighing pan are latched behind the projections mounted at the housing, and the protrusions on the underside of the weighing pan are disposed in the recesses in the limbs of the load receiver.
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14. An electronic scale for measuring the mass of a load, comprising:
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a flat housing having overload abutments;
a system carrier connected to said housing, said system carrier lying substantially in a plane;
a load receptor disposed substantially in said plane;
parallel guides with strain gauges, said parallel guides connecting said load receptor to said system carrier, said parallel guides disposed substantially in said plane, and wherein said load receptor does not contact said housing under normal loads; and
a weighing pan resting on said load receptor, wherein said overload abutments extend through cavities in said parallel guides, and wherein said weighing p an rests on said overload abutments when said load exceeds a certain capacity. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A top-loading scale, comprising:
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a weighing pan that receives a load;
a housing having at least one overload abutment for the weighing pan; and
an integral component, comprising;
a load receptor;
a system carrier fixed to the housing; and
a parallel guidance having an upper guide and a lower guide, wherein one of the guides is divided into two partial guides and the other guide is an undivided guide; and
a plurality of strain gauges on an inner side of the undivided guide that generates an electrical signal dependent on the load on the weighing pan, wherein the integral component has at least one cavity through which the overload abutment extends. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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20. A top-loading scale, comprising:
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a weighing pan that receives a load;
a housing;
an integral component, comprising;
a load receiver;
a system carrier fixed to the housing; and
a parallel guidance having an upper guide and a lower guide, wherein one of the guides is divided into two partial guides and the other guide is an undivided guide;
a plurality of strain gauges on an inner side of the undivided guide that generates an electrical signal dependent on the load on the weighing pan; and
a detent system configured to fix the weighing pan to the housing when the weighing pan is laterally displaced out of a normal weighing setting. - View Dependent Claims (21)
first latches mounted at the weighing pan;
second latches mounted at the weighing pan;
holes in the housing;
projections mounted at the housing;
protrusions on an underside of the weighing pan; and
recesses in the limbs of the load receiver, wherein, when the weighing pan is fixed to the housing, the first latches of the weighing pan are locked in the holes of the housing, the second latches mounted at the weighing pan are latched behind the projections mounted at the housing, and the protrusions on the underside of the weighing pan are disposed in the recesses in the limbs of the load receiver.
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Specification