Method in the check weighing of a weighing system and software product and arrangement in the check weighing of a weighing system and materials handling equipment

• US 9,297,690 B2
• Filed: 01/24/2012
• Issued: 03/29/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ponsse Oyj
• Original Assignee: Ponsse Oyj
• Inventors: Havimki, Esko
• Primary Examiner(s): Macchiarolo, Peter
• Assistant Examiner(s): HULS, NATALIE F
• Application Number:
  US13/978,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20130292190A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,526 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A01G 23/00 Forestry
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 1/585 Log grapples
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 23/905 electrical
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/083 lift truck scale
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/14 for weighing suspended loads G01G3/00 takes precedence; incorporation of weighing devices in cranes B66C1/40, B66C13/16
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/01 Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus

Abstract

The invention relates to a method in the check weighing of a weighing system. In the method, a hoist (15) equipped with a weighing system (14) is used to lift a load (27), which is weighed, and the value measured by the weighing system (14) is recorded. In the method, the weighing system (14) is adjusted as required, on the basis of the recorded values. A real load (28), which is weighed when not moving, is used as the load (27). The same real load (28) is also weighed during a normal movement while moving. A reference value is defined from these two weighings of the same real load (28), on the basis of which the weighing system (14) is adjusted if necessary and/or the precision probably achieved by the weighing system (14) is estimated. The invention also relates to a software product and an arrangement in the check weighing of a weighing system, and materials handling equipment.

Claims

1. A method in the check weighing of a weighing system, comprising:

lifting a real load of material with a hoist equipped with a weighing system;

weighing the real load of material during a normal working procedure, the weighing comprising weighing the real load of material when the load is stopped and weighing the real load of material when the real load of material is moved with a hoist;

recording a value measured by the weighing system;

determining a reference value from these two weighings of the same real load, on the basis of which the weighing system is adjusted if necessary and/or the assumed precision achieved by the weighing system is estimated; and

adjusting the weighing system as required, on the basis of the reference value.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the real load is selected randomly.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein reference values are determined from several consecutive check weighings of different loads and a precision value is calculated from the determined reference values, on the basis of which the weighing system is adjusted, if necessary, and/or the precision of the weighing system is ascertained.

4. A method according to claim 3, wherein the precision value is determined continuously and the precision value at any time and/or its assumed estimate is transmitted as such numerically or in some other manner to an operator.

5. A method according to claim 3, wherein the weighing system is adjusted by means of software on the basis of the precision value and/or its estimate.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein loads of different weights are weighed in the check weighing.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein loads representing different grades of goods are weighed in the check weighing.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein different types of loads are classified and weight and/or goods-grade classes formed are selected for emphasis in check weighing.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein in addition to the real load, a test weight is used as the load at least from time to time, wherein the mass of the test weight is known precisely and by means of which the check weighing is made only statically.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein the reference value is compared with a set limit value and, if the limit value is exceeded, an error report is created.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein on the basis of the error report, one or several check weighings using the real load are performed.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein if at least three check weighings cause an error report, the weighing system is adjusted manually.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein the real load is weighed first when stopped and then when moving.

14. A method according to claim 1 wherein the real load is weighed first when moving and then when stopped.

15. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with software code elements, which are arranged to perform the stages of the method according to claim 1.

16. An arrangement in the check weighing of a weighing system, comprising:

a hoist belonging to the arrangement being equipped with a weighing system for weighing a load to be lifted by the hoist, the weighing system including a central unit for recording a value measured by the weighing system and, if necessary, for adjusting the weighing system on the basis of the recorded value, wherein a lifted real load of material is arranged to be used as the load in order to weigh the same lifted real load of material both when stopped and when moving during the same normal working movement, and

wherein the central unit is arranged to determine a reference value from these two weighings of the same real load, in order to adjust the weighing system if necessary, and/or to estimate the assumed precision achieved by the weighing system.

17. An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the central unit includes a non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with software code elements, which are arranged to perform the stages of a method comprising

lifting a real load of material with a hoist equipped with a weighing system;

weighing the real load of material during a normal working procedure, the weighing comprising weighing the real load of material when the load is stopped and weighing the real load of material when the real load of material is moved with a hoist;

recording a value measured by the weighing system;

determining a reference value from these two weighings of the same real load, on the basis of which the weighing system is adjusted if necessary and/or the assumed precision achieved by the weighing system is estimated; and

adjusting the weighing system as required, on the basis of the reference value.

18. An arrangement according to claim 16, wherein the arrangement is included in materials handling equipment.