Combinatorial weighing and counting device with multi-part collecting chute
First Claim
1. A combination weighing and counting apparatus which comprises a plurality of hoppers which select a combination of articles supplied into the hoppers by combining respective weights or numbers of the articles within the corresponding hoppers so that the combination of the weights or numbers are discharged form the hoppers within a tolerance range;
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1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A combination weighing and counting apparatus supplies articles for each combination weighing cycle, onto a collecting chute, quickly and in a cluster form, towards a discharge mouth without giving rise to a difference in speed, and discharges the articles through the discharge mouth, all at once, to thereby achieve a high speed weighing and counting operation. This apparatus includes the collecting chute for collecting the articles, supplied from plural hoppers, and discharging them through the discharge mouth therebelow. A chute portion of the apparatus has a shape and an angle of inclination causing the articles to move along a parabolic line and be discharged in a cluster form from the discharge mouth.
25 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A combination weighing and counting apparatus which comprises a plurality of hoppers which select a combination of articles supplied into the hoppers by combining respective weights or numbers of the articles within the corresponding hoppers so that the combination of the weights or numbers are discharged form the hoppers within a tolerance range;
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a funnel-shaped collecting chute along which the articles fall, including an upper stage chute portion for receiving, between an upper end thereof and a lower end thereof, the articles discharged from the hoppers, and a lower stage chute portion including at least one linear portion and terminating in a discharge mouth at a lower end thereof, wherein the upper stage chute portion has a shape and an angle of inclination, both of which are so designed that the articles discharged from the hoppers and received by the upper stage chute portion can fall in a cluster form along a parabolic line from the lower end of the upper stage chute portion to the discharge mouth by a natural fall. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A combination weighing and counting apparatus which comprises a plurality of hoppers and is operable to select a combination of articles supplied into the hoppers by combining respective weights or numbers of the articles within the corresponding hoppers so that the combination of the weights or numbers may fall within a tolerance range,
wherein an upper stage chute portion of a collecting chute for collecting the articles supplied from the hoppers and discharging them from a discharge mouth at a lower end thereof has a shape and an angle of inclination, both of which are so designed that the articles supplied from the hoppers can be discharged in a cluster form and reach the discharge mouth while the discharged articles depict a parabolic line by a natural fall, and wherein a radially outer wall of each of the hoppers is inclined at a small angle of inclination relative to an inner bottom surface of the upper stage chute portion, and further comprising a gate for controlling supply of the articles within the respective hopper, said gate being pivotally fitted to and about a horizontally extending support shaft positioned radially inwardly of the respective hopper.
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10. A combination weighing and counting apparatus which comprises a plurality of hoppers and is operable to select a combination of articles supplied into the hoppers by combining respective weights or numbers of the articles within the corresponding hoppers so that the combination of the weights or numbers may fall within a tolerance range,
wherein an upper stage chute portion of a collecting chute for collecting the articles supplied from the hoppers and discharging them from a discharge mouth at a lower end thereof has a shape and an angle of inclination, both of which are so designed that the articles supplied from the hoppers can be discharged in a cluster form and reach the discharge mouth while the discharged articles depict a parabolic line by a natural fall, and wherein each of the hoppers is provided with a gate for controlling supply of the articles within the respective hopper, and further comprising a second partitioning portion provided in the gate for preventing the articles from dispersing in the circumferential direction.
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11. A combination weighing and counting apparatus which comprises a plurality of hoppers which select a combination of articles supplied into the hoppers by combining respective weights or numbers of the articles within the corresponding hoppers so that the combination of the weights or numbers are discharged form the hoppers within a tolerance range;
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a funnel-shaped collecting chute along which the articles fall, including an upper stage chute portion for receiving, between an upper end thereof and a lower end thereof, the articles discharged from the hoppers, and a lower stage chute portion terminating in a discharge mouth at a lower end thereof, wherein the upper stage chute portion is linear and is inclined at an angle in a range of 48-53°
relative to a horizontal plane, so that the articles discharged from the hoppers and received by the upper stage chute portion can fall in a cluster form along a parabolic line from the lower end of the upper stage chute portion to the discharge mouth by a natural fall, without substantially contacting the lower stage chute portion.
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Specification