Patent · US Expired

Combinatorial weighing method

US4522274A · kind A · utility

14Cited by
6References
13Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateNov 5, 1982
Grant dateJun 11, 1985
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 5, 2002

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01G19/393
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A combinatorial weighing method for obtaining a mixture of articles of plural categories, wherein the articles in each category are contained in the mixture at a number ratio equal or closest to a target number ratio, and wherein the mixture has a total weight equal or closest to a target weight. The method includes setting a number for each category of articles so as to provide a number ratio closest to a target number ratio, and measuring the total weight of a primary mixture obtained by extracting the set number of articles in each category and mixing these articles. A weight shortfall, which is the difference between the total weight of the primary mixture and the target weight, is computed, and a plurality of weighing machines are supplied with supplemental articles to make up for the shortfall. An optimum combination of weighing machines giving a weight equal or closest to the shortfall, is selected and a final mixture is obtained by discharging supplemental articles from the selected weighing machines and mixing these articles with the primary mixture.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.