Weighing apparatus with flowmeter function

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10845233-B2
Application number	US-201916248217-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 15, 2019
Priority date	Jan 24, 2018
Publication date	Nov 24, 2020
Grant date	Nov 24, 2020

Abstract

Provided is a weighing apparatus with a flowmeter function includes a load sensor unit configured to detect a load of a flow rate calculation target, an A/D conversion unit configured to sequentially convert load signals from the load sensor unit into digital load data at predetermined intervals, an arithmetic processing unit configured to sequentially convert the load data into weighed values to calculate flow rate values, and a storage unit for storing the weighed values. The arithmetic processing unit calculates change amounts in weighed values and calculates a flow rate value based on a flow rate calculation cycle set based on a minimum time by which the change amounts become equal to or more than a change amount in weighed value, the change amount being calculated based on a minimum indication of weighed value and the required resolution of weighed value and satisfying a required resolution.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A weighing apparatus with a flowmeter function comprising:
a load sensor unit configured to detect a load of a flow rate calculation target and output load signals;
an A/D conversion unit configured to sequentially convert the load signals into digital load data at predetermined intervals;
an arithmetic processing unit configured to sequentially convert the load data into weighed values by correction computation and calculate flow rate values from the weighed values; and
a storage unit configured to sequentially store the weighed values, wherein
the arithmetic processing unit calculating an amount of change in weighed value by using the weighed values stored in the storage unit,
calculating, based on a minimum indication of weighed values and a required resolution of weighed values, an amount of change in weighed value satisfying the required resolution,
calculating a minimum time by which the amount of change in weighed value becomes equal to or more than an amount of change in weighed value satisfying the required resolution, setting a flow rate calculation cycle based on the time, and calculating a flow rate value based on the flow rate calculation cycle.

2. The weighing apparatus with the flowmeter function according to claim 1 , wherein the arithmetic processing unit sets a preset required resolution value as the required resolution.

3. The weighing apparatus with the flowmeter function according to claim 1 , further comprising an input unit for inputting a required resolution value to the arithmetic processing unit, wherein
the arithmetic processing unit setting an input required resolution value as the required resolution and calculating an amount of change in weighed value satisfying the required resolution based on the required resolution.

4. The weighing apparatus with the flowmeter function according to claim 2 , further comprising an input unit for inputting a required resolution value to the arithmetic processing unit, wherein
the arithmetic processing unit setting an input required resolution value as the required resolution and calculating an amount of change in weighed value satisfying the required resolution based on the required resolution.

5. The weighing apparatus with the flowmeter function according to claim 1 , wherein the arithmetic processing unit comprises a plurality of preset required resolution settings, and
the required resolution value is input by selecting one of the plurality of required resolution settings.

6. The weighing apparatus with the flowmeter function according to claim 2 , wherein the arithmetic processing unit comprises a plurality of preset required resolution settings, and
the required resolution value is input by selecting one of the plurality of required resolution settings.

7. The weighing apparatus with the flowmeter function according to claim 3 , wherein the arithmetic processing unit comprises a plurality of preset required resolution settings, and
the required resolution value is input by selecting one of the plurality of required resolution settings.

8. The weighing apparatus with the flowmeter function according to claim 4 , wherein the arithmetic processing unit comprises a plurality of preset required resolution settings, and
the required resolution value is input by selecting one of the plurality of required resolution settings.

9. The weighing apparatus with the flowmeter function according to claim 1 , wherein the arithmetic processing unit includes a plurality of preset flow rate calculation cycles,
the arithmetic processing unit setting the flow rate calculation cycle by selecting, from the plurality of flow rate calculation cycles, a shortest cycle that is equal to or more than a minimum time by which the amount of change in weighed value becomes equal to or more than an amount of change in weighed value satisfying the required resolution.

10. The weighing apparatus with the flowmeter function according to claim 2 , wherein the arithmetic processing unit includes a plurality of preset flow rate calculation cycles,
the arithmetic processing unit setting the flow rate calculation cycle by selecting, from the plurality of flow rate calculation cycles, a shortest cycle that is equal to or more than a minimum time by which the amount of change in weighed value becomes equal to or more than an amount of change in weighed value satisfying the required resolution.

11. The weighing apparatus with the flowmeter function according to claim 3 , wherein the arithmetic processing unit includes a plurality of preset flow rate calculation cycles,
the arithmetic processing unit setting the flow rate calculation cycle by selecting, from the plurality of flow rate calculation cycles, a shortest cycle that is equal to or more than a minimum time by which the amount of change in weighed value becomes equal to or more than an amount of change in weighed value satisfying the required resolution.

12. The weighing apparatus with the flowmeter function according to claim 4 , wherein the arithmetic processing unit includes a plurality of preset flow rate calculation cycles,
the arithmetic processing unit setting the flow rate calculation cycle by selecting, from the plurality of flow rate calculation cycles, a shortest cycle that is equal to or more than a minimum time by which the amount of change in weighed value becomes equal to or more than an amount of change in weighed value satisfying the required resolution.

Assignees

• A&D Co Ltd

Inventors

• Fukami Yuji
• KAWAGUCHI Haruna

Classifications

• G01G19/42

  for counting by weighing (G01G19/387 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01F1/78 Primary

  Direct mass flowmeters · CPC title

• G01F1/007 Primary

  by measuring the level variations of storage tanks relative to the time · CPC title

• G01G13/285

  involving comparison with a reference value (G01G13/29 takes precedence {; electric measuring arrangements involving comparison with a reference value G01R17/00}) · CPC title

• G01G11/046 Primary

  involving digital counting · CPC title