Table top combination weigher

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9459134-B2
Application number	US-201113982194-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 2, 2011
Priority date	Jan 28, 2011
Publication date	Oct 4, 2016
Grant date	Oct 4, 2016

Abstract

A combination weigher according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a plurality of weighing conveyors which are manually fed with objects and conveys the objects fed manually; a plurality of weight sensors to correspond to the weighing conveyors to measure weights of the objects; a control section which finds a discharge combination including a combination of the weighing conveyors holding the objects in which a total weight thereof falls within a target weight range, and activates the weighing conveyors selected to make up the discharge combination to convey the objects on the weighing conveyors in a first direction and discharge the objects from the weighing conveyors; and a collecting conveyor which is fed with the objects discharged from the one ends of the weighing conveyors, conveys the objects in a direction, and discharges the objects.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A combination weigher comprising:
a plurality of weighing conveyors which are manually fed with objects in a deactivated state in which the objects are not conveyed, and convey the objects fed manually, each of the plurality of weighing conveyors being bounded by a pair of guide plates arranged to prevent the objects from dropping off either side of the weighing conveyors;
a plurality of weight sensors provided to correspond to the weighing conveyors, respectively, to measure weights of the objects held on the weighing conveyors;
a combination unit for finding a discharge combination including a combination of the weighing conveyors holding the objects in which a total weight thereof falls within a target weight range, based on weight values of the weight sensors;
a weighing conveyor control unit which activates the weighing conveyors selected to make up the discharge combination to convey the objects on the weighing conveyors in a first direction and discharge the objects from one ends of the weighing conveyors; and
a collecting conveyor which is fed with the objects discharged from the one ends of the weighing conveyors, conveys the objects in a direction, and discharges the objects, and
a control unit which obtains weight values of the plurality of weight sensors at specified time intervals, compares the weight values to a preset loading detected reference value, and determines that the weighing conveyors are holding the objects corresponding to the weight sensors outputting the weight values being equal to or greater than the loading detected reference value;
wherein the combination unit finds the discharge combination based on the weight values of the weight sensors corresponding to the weighing conveyors determined as holding the objects, and
wherein the collecting conveyor being placed such that a conveying surface thereof is lower than conveying surfaces of the weighing conveyors.

2. The combination weigher according to claim 1 ,
wherein the plurality of weighing conveyors constitute first and second weighing conveyor groups which are placed such that the collecting conveyor is interposed between the first and second weighing conveyor groups;
wherein the weighing conveyors in each of the first and second weighing conveyor groups are arranged in parallel; and
wherein the weighing conveyors in each of the first and second weighing conveyor groups are placed such that the collecting conveyor is positioned at the one ends of the weighing conveyors and a conveying direction of the weighing conveyors is perpendicular to a conveying direction of the collecting conveyor.

3. The combination weigher according to claim 2 ,
wherein the collecting conveyor is a belt conveyor in which a ring-shaped belt is rotatable and is a trough-type belt conveyor which conveys the objects in a state in which a center portion of the belt is concave relative to both edges of the belt.

4. The combination weigher according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a proper weight determiner unit for determining whether or not a weight of the objects held in each of the weighing conveyors falls within a proper weight range based on each of the weight values of the weight sensors;
wherein the weighing conveyor control unit is configured to, based on a result of the determination of the proper weight determiner unit, activate the weighing conveyor holding the objects having the weight which does not fall within the proper weight range to convey the objects in a direction opposite to the first direction, and to discharge the objects from the other end of the weighing conveyor.

5. The combination weigher according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a proper weight determiner unit for determining whether or not a weight of the objects held in each of the weighing conveyors falls within a proper weight range based on each of the weight values of the weight sensors; and
a notification device for performing notification of the weighing conveyor holding the objects having the weight which does not fall within the proper weight range, based on a result of the determination of the proper weight determiner unit.

Assignees

• Kawashima Takaaki
• Yamato Scale Co Ltd

Inventors

• Kawashima Takaaki

Classifications

• G01G13/08

  wherein the main feed is effected by mechanical conveying means, e.g. by belt conveyors, by vibratory conveyors · CPC title

• G01G13/16

  Means for automatically discharging weigh receptacles under control of the weighing mechanism · CPC title

• G01G19/393 Primary

  using two or more weighing units · CPC title

• G01G11/12

  by controlling the speed of the belt · CPC title

• G01G19/387 Primary

  for combinatorial weighing, i.e. selecting a combination of articles whose total weight or number is closest to a desired value · CPC title