Weighing, pricing, printing and labelling machines

Abstract

Abstract A combined weighing, pricing, printing and labelling machine (10) comprises a weighing station (15) through which a set (12) of belt conveyors traverse a package (20) to be weighed. Station (15) is formed by a weigh cell (13) preferably of the vibrating string type and conveyor (12C) which is mounted over the cell (13) continuously traverses the package (20) through the station (15) so that at least one weight measurement is established by cell (13) during the transit of the package (20) through the station (15). The weight measurement is delivered electrically to a computational facility (18) having an output which drives a label printer (17) which in turn delivers the printed label to a labeller (16) arranged to affix the printed label to the weighed package (20) at a labelling station through which the set (12) of conveyors move and which is downstream of the weighing station (15). Associated with the weighing station (15) is a detector (X 2 ) for providing a gating signal to the computational facility (18) when a package (20) is located in the station (15). A further detector arrangement (X 2 , X 3 ) is provided in station (15) for inhibiting operation of the printer (17) and labeller (16) consequential to the presence of more than one package (20) simultaneously in said weighing station (15). A still further detector (X 1 ) is provided at the input end of the weighing station (15) for interrupting motion nf the convevors (12A 19R\ which deliver the nack- age (20) to the station (15), this interruption being of a predetermined duration sufficient to permit transit of a package (20) through the station (15) prior to a subsequent package (20) being delivered to the station (15) for weighing.

Inventors

• 👤 David John Cockram

Bibliographic Details