RF multiple load cell scale

• US 6,919,516 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2002
• Issued: 07/19/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mettler-Toledo LLC (Mettler-Toledo International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Mettler-Toledo Incorporated (Mettler-Toledo International Inc.)
• Inventors: Frye, Craig, Huitt, Bruce Eldridge
• Primary Examiner(s): Gibson, Randy W.
• Application Number:
  US09/912,009
• Publication Number:
  US 20040026135A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,288 Days
• Field of Search: 177 2511- 2519, 177136-141, 177/199, 177/200, 177132-135, 702173-175, 702/101, 702/102, 340/666, 73/11.3
• US Class Current: 177/25.13
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 21/23 Support or suspension of weighing platforms G01G21/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3728 with wireless means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 3/1408 the supports being of the column type, e.g. cylindric

Abstract

Load cells forming one or more weighing scales are connected to each other and to a common concentrator which communicates to a master controller in the control house via RF wireless communication. The load cells are polled by and provide weight reading to concentrator to the master controller. A digital load cell is used which includes a rocker pin, guided beam, torsion ring or other counterforce, a circuit board mounted on the counterforce and an enclosure sealing the circuit board and all but the load bearing surfaces of the counterforce and a mounded antenna. The circuit board includes a microcomputer and a transceiver. RF communication is provided with the circuit board through a antenna mounted on the enclosure. One or a number of load cells may be connected to a computer or controller to form one or more weighing scales with one or more weighing scales connect to a control house through wireless RF communication. The preferred embodiment uses passive receivers for receiving the signals and waveguide to minimize power requirements.

Claims

1. A weighing apparatus comprising a load cell with a wireless communication means where said wireless communication is with a junction box and said junction box uses wireless communications means to communicate with a master controller.

2. Weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 1 where said load cell has its own power source and said master controller has its own power source.

3. A method of making a load cell that has a wireless communication means where said wireless communication is with a junction box, said junction box uses wireless communications means to communicate with a master controller, said load cell has its own power source and said master controller having its own power source.

4. Weighing apparatus comprising multiple load cells with a wireless communication means where said wireless communication is with junction box and said junction box uses wireless communications means to communicate with a master controller.

5. Weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 4 where said load cell has its own power source and the control device has its own power source.

6. Weighing apparatus comprising multiple load cells with a wireless communication means where said wireless communication is with a junction box and said junction box uses wireless communications means to communicate with a master controller where a single conductor waveguide is used.

7. Weighing apparatus comprising a load cells with a wireless communication means where said wireless communication is with a junction box and said junction box uses wireless communications means to communicate with a master controller where a single conductor waveguide is used.