Patent · US Expired

Automatic weighing method and apparatus

US4874049A · kind A · utility

23Cited by
15References
23Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateFeb 3, 1989
Grant dateOct 17, 1989
Priority date
Expiry dateFeb 3, 2009

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01G13/243
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for accumulating a load having a desired weight, and then transferring the load to a reversible conveyor. The reversible conveyor extends between a pair of unloading stations, and is capable of delivering the load to either one of the unloading stations, depending upon the direction in which it is driven. In one class of preferred embodiments, the inventive apparatus is portable, and is capable of weighing out selected amounts of any of a variety of products (for example, frozen fish or other foods). In one such embodiment, the invention includes a single gated bin which feeds a single weighing hopper, and a vibrating conveyor mounted on a vibration-absorbing frame assembly for feeding the gated bin. The weighing hopper (which does not vibrate) feeds as reversible conveyor, and the reversible conveyor in turn feeds two unloading stations. In another such preferred embodiment, the invention includes two gated bins (each mounted on a vibration absorbing frame assembly), two weighing hoppers, two reversible conveyors, and four unloading stations. Material from the vibrating conveyor is separated into two streams, and each stream is fed to one of the gated bins. …

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