Food product scale

• US 9,562,806 B2
• Filed: 07/02/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/11/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: Dyer, Debra L., Davis, Robert S., Highley, James E. Jr., Broering, Jill M., Knoop, Fredrick D., Blankley, Randy L. Jr., Dusing, John A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huls, Natalie
• Application Number:
  US14/322,245
• Publication Number:
  US 20150068819A1
• Time in Patent Office: 951 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 23/36 Indicating the weight by electrical means, e.g. using photoelectric cells
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 23/3721 with particular representation of the result, e.g. graphic
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders

Abstract

A scale includes a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed, an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations and a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information. The operator interface may be in the form of a touch-screen display that is used to facilitate ease of use and scale adjustment.

Claims

1. A scale, comprising:

a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed;

an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations, the operator interface comprising a touch-sensitive display;

a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information thereon, wherein the controller is configured to make available multiple primary interface screen views for use by the operator, wherein each primary interface screen view is a first level interface screen view that the controller is configured to present for display without requiring an operator to click through another screen view,

wherein the controller is further configured to enable a user to transition from one primary interface screen view to another primary interface screen view via a swiping operation on the touch-sensitive display.

2. The scale of claim 1 wherein the touch-sensitive display includes a viewing area and a touch-sensitive member with a primary portion that overlies the viewing area and a secondary portion that is external of the viewing area, and swiping operations can be achieved using the secondary portion of the touch-sensitive member.

3. The scale of claim 1 wherein the controller and the touch-sensitive display operate such that the swiping operation is detected within a viewing area of the display.

4. The scale of claim 1 wherein the controller and the touch-sensitive display operate such that the swiping operation is detected outside a viewing area of the display.

5. The scale of claim 1 wherein the touch-sensitive display includes a touch-sensitive member with a primary portion that overlies a viewing area of the touch-sensitive display and a secondary portion that is external of the viewing area.

6. A scale, comprising:

a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed;

an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations, the operator interface comprising a touch-sensitive display;

a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information thereon, wherein the controller is configured to make available multiple primary interface screen views for use by the operator, wherein each primary interface screen view is a first level interface screen view that the controller is configured to present for display without requiring an operator to click through another screen view,

wherein the controller is further configured to enable a user to transition from one primary interface screen view to another primary interface screen view via a swiping operation on the touch-sensitive display;

wherein the touch-sensitive display includes a viewing area and a touch-sensitive member with a primary portion that overlies the viewing area and a secondary portion that is external of the viewing area, and swiping operations can be achieved using the secondary portion of the touch-sensitive member;

wherein the controller and the touch-sensitive display operate such that the swiping operation can be detected within a viewing area of the display;

wherein the controller and the touch-sensitive display operate such that the swiping operation can be detected outside a viewing area of the display.

7. A scale, comprising:

a weigh station for receiving items to be weighed;

an operator interface configured to display information associated with scale operations, the operator interface comprising a touch-sensitive display;

a controller operably coupled to the operator interface to effect display of information thereon, the controller configured to make available multiple interface screen views for use by the operator, wherein each interface screen view is a first level interface screen view that the controller is configured to present for display without requiring an operator to click through another screen view,

wherein the controller is configured to enable a user to transition from one interface screen view to another interface screen view via a swiping operation,

wherein the touch-sensitive display includes a viewing area and a touch-sensitive member with a primary portion that overlies the viewing area and a secondary portion that is external of the viewing area, and swiping operations can be achieved using the secondary portion of the touch-sensitive member;

wherein the secondary portion includes fixed visible indicia to indicate swipe function availability along the secondary portion;

wherein the touch-sensitive member comprises a plate with a perimeter portion that is opaque so as to frame an interior portion that is transparent, the perimeter portion defining the secondary portion and the interior portion defining the primary portion;

wherein the interior portion of the plate aligns with a display screen positioned behind the plate;

wherein a printed layer is applied to a back side of the plate to achieve opaqueness of the perimeter portion, and the fixed visible indicia is also printed on the back side of the plate.

8. The scale of claim 7 wherein the secondary portion is at least above or below the viewing area.

9. The scale of claim 7 wherein the secondary portion is at least alongside the viewing area.