Patent · US Expired

Weight and form sensing apparatus and a packaging machine using the same

US6346680B1 · kind B1 · utility

13Cited by
3References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 24, 2000
Grant dateFeb 12, 2002
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 24, 2020

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG01D5/2417
  • WIPO fieldMeasurement
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A weight and form sensing apparatus according to the present invention provides weight sensors on a base, in matrix pattern for instance. Each weight sensor has a load receiving portion on a top. Weight and form can be sensed by single weight and form sensing apparatus according to the present invention. That is, output values of the weight sensors are summed, so that an article put on the weight sensors can be detected. Also, the existence of the load on each weight sensor is determined based on output signal of each weight sensor, so that the bottom form and size of the article can be identified. The weight and form sensing apparatus according to the present invention can be preferably arranged into a feeding stream of the article because an arrangement of the sensors for identifying the form and size of the article does not interfere an arrangement of the feeding mechanism for the article.

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