Device for handling individual processes

• US 6,900,396 B2
• Filed: 07/26/2001
• Issued: 05/31/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mettler-Toledo Albstadt GmbH (Mettler-Toledo International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mettler-Toledo Albstadt GmbH (Mettler-Toledo International Inc.)
• Inventors: Mürdter, Herbert
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US10/344,831
• Publication Number:
  US 20040026133A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,405 Days
• Field of Search: 177 2511- 2517, 177/25.19, 340/666, 705/16, 705/414, 702/173
• US Class Current: 177/25.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4144 for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/20 Point-of-sale [POS] network systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 15/00 Arrangements characterised by the use of multiplexing for the transmission of a plurality of signals over a common path

Abstract

The invention pertains to a device, especially a measuring device, for handling individual processes, in the course of which at least one value is generated, with a characterization unit, which can be operated to generate characterizing signals for characterizing the individual processes, and with a unit for assigning the values generated during the handling of the individual processes to the processes characterized by the characterizing signals, where the characterization unit has a receiver for receiving the identification signals which are generated in the vicinity of the device during the handling of the individual processes and which identify the processes, on the basis of which identification signals the characterizing signals are generated

Claims

1. A weighing device comprising a weighing cell for generating weight signals, on the basis of which at least one value is generated for handling individual processes, in the course of which at least one value is generated, with a characterization unit which can be operated to generate characterizing signals for characterizing the individual processes and with a unit for assigning the values generated during the handling of the individual processes to the processes characterized by the characterizing signals, wherein the weighing device comprises a control unit which allows the weighing device to handle at least two sub-processes, in the course of each of which a value is generated and the characterization unit has a receiver for receiving the identification signals which are generated in the vicinity of the device during the handling of the individual processes and which identify the processes, on the basis of which identification signals the characterizing signals are generated.

2. Weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is provided with a memory unit, in which the values are filed in such a way that they are assigned to the processes characterized by the characterizing signals.

3. Weighing device according to claim 1, further comprising a control signal-generating unit for generating control signals representing the beginning and/or the end of a process.

4. Weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the characterizing unit has a transmitting unit for transmitting signals which initiate the generation of the identification signals.

5. Weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the control unit can be operated to respond to the characterizing signals by calling up and/or printing out or displaying data assigned to the individual processes and/or by adjusting the settings of the device to the individual processes.

6. Weighing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one element which generates identification signals is assigned to the device.

7. Weighing device according to claim 1, wherein the device can be operated to receive identification signals which identify individual device users who handle the processes.

8. Weighing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one transmitter which generates identification signals is assigned to the receiver.

9. Weighing device according to claim 8, wherein the transmitter is designed as a transponder, which generates the identification signals in response to signals received by the transmitting unit of the device.

10. Weighing device according to claim 8, wherein the transmitter is realized in the form of a finger ring or bracelet.

11. Network weighing of devices according to claim 1 with means for exchanging data between the devices and a central unit, by means of which the values generated in the devices and assigned to the individual processes are called up, printed out or displayed, and/or sent for further processing to a separate system.

12. Network according to claim 11, wherein each of at least two devices has its own transmitting unit, where a transponder is assigned to these transmitting units to generate the identification signals in response to the signals transmitted by the transmitting units.

13. Network according to claim 11, wherein the central unit is formed by one of the devices.

14. Weighing device according to claim 6, wherein the at least one element assigned to the device is a container.