Weighing machines

Claim 2

Apparatus for delivering measured quantities of particulate commodities to a delivery point, comprising at least one weighing device, a particle receptacle associated with the weighing device, a conveying device operable to convey particles separately in two weight ranges from a loading point to said receptacle, sensing means associated with the weighing device, valve means for controlling the supply of particles of both weight ranges to the receptacle, said sensing means being operable at a predetermined preliminary weight in the receptacle to actuate said valve means to terminate delivery of particles in the higher weight range to the receptacle and at a predetermined final weight in the receptacle to actuate said valve means to terminate delivery of particles in the lower weight range to the receptacle, discharge means for discharging at least some particles in the receptacle when said final weight is reached, and directing means actuated by said sensing means for directing particles on discharge from the receptacle, whereby if, when delivery of particles is terminated, the weight of said particles in the receptacle is within a predetermined allowable tolerance over the final weight all the particles in the receptacle are discharged and directed to the delivery point, and if the weight of said particles in the receptacle is above the predetermined allowable tolerance over the final weight at least some of said particles in the receptacle are discharged and directed to a reject point.

Claim 3

Apparatus for delivering measured quantities of particulate commodities to a delivery point, comprising at least one weighing device, a particle receptacle associated with the weighing device, a conveying device operable to convey particles separately in two weight ranges from a loading point to said receptacle, sensing means associated with the weighing device, valve means for controlling the supply of particles of both weight ranges to the receptacle, said sensing means being operable at a predetermined preliminary weight in the receptacle to actuate said valve means to terminate delivery of particles in the higher weight range to the receptacle and at a predetermined final weight in the receptacle to actuate said valve means to terminate delivery of particles in the lower weight range to the receptacle, discharge means for discharging at least some particles in the receptacle when said final weight is reached, and directing means actuated by said sensing means for directing particles on discharge from the receptacle, whereby if, when delivery of particles is terminated, the weight of said particles in the receptacle is within a predetermined allowable tolerance over the final weight all the particles in the receptacle are discharged and directed to the delivery point, and if the weight of said particles in the receptacle is above the predetermined allowable tolerance over the final weight at least some of said particles in the receptacle are discharged and directed to a reject point.

Claim 4

Apparatus for delivering measured quantities of particulate commodities to a delivery point, comprising at least one weighing device, a particle receptacle associated with the weighing device, a conveying device operable to convey particles separately in two weight ranges from a loading point to said receptacle, sensing means associated with the weighing device, valve means for controlling the supply of particles of both weight ranges to the receptacle, said sensing means being operable at a predetermined preliminary weight in the receptacle to actuate said valve means to terminate delivery of particles in the higher weight range to the receptacle and at a predetermined final weight in the receptacle to actuate said valve means to terminate delivery of particles in the lower weight range to the receptacle, discharge means for discharging at least some particles in the receptacle when said final weight is reached, and directing means actuated by said sensing means for directing particles on discharge from the receptacle, whereby if, when delivery of particles is terminated, the weight of said particles in the receptacle is within a predetermined allowable tolerance over the final weight all the particles in the receptacle are discharged and directed to the delivery point, and if the weight of said particles in the receptacle is above the predetermined allowable tolerance over the final weight at least some of said particles in the receptacle are discharged and directed to a reject point.

Claim 5

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of weighing devices are provided, and particle receptacles are associated with each weighing device, each receptacle being supplied with particles by said conveying device.

Claim 6

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said conveying device comprises two conveyor belts arranged to run alongside each other, one of said conveyor belts being operable to convey particles in the higher weight range and the other of said conveyor belts being operable to convey particles in the lower weight range.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein each conveyor belt is provided with side walls extending alongside the belt, and openings are formed in the side walls for the passage of particles therethrough, each opening being provided with a guide bar extending across the belt immediately above the surface thereof and at an angle thereto, to guide particles on the belt through the openings formed in the side walls, each weighing device being supplied with particles through one opening formed in a side wall of each conveyor belt.

Claim 8

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said guide bars are formed with trailing edge extensions and the guide bars are adapted to be rotated through approximately 90* from a position in which the extensions lie substantially parallel to the surface of the conveyor belt to a position in which the extensions extend upwardly and substantially normal to the surface of the conveyor belt.

Claim 9

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said valve means comprise sliding doors operable by pneumatic piston and cylinder assemblies to open and close the said openings in the side walls of the conveyor to initiate and terminate the passage of particles therethrough.

Claim 10

Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said sliding doors are provided with extensions to their vertical edges nearest to the supply of particles, said extensions being angled towards the center of the belt to collect particles on the belt when the doors are closed.

Claim 11

Apparatus according to claim 4, Wherein the doors are flap doors pivotally suspended from an operating bar disposed above the belt, said bar being adapted to close said doors at intervals so that single particles only are allowed to pass one at a time through said openings.

Claim 12

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein each weighing device includes a weighing receptacle supported on weighing scales, the scales being arranged to be substantially in balance at said predetermined final weight.

Claim 13

Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said receptacle is tippable about said scales to discharge particles in the receptacle, locking means being provided to lock the scales in position during tipping of the receptacle.

Claim 14

Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each weighing device is disposed beneath said conveyors and arranged so that particles passing through said openings fall into the receptacle of each said weighing device.

Claim 15

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a pneumatic cylinder and piston assembly is provided to tip said receptacle to discharge all the particles in the receptacle.

Claim 16

Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein a pneumatic cylinder and piston assembly is provided to partially tip said receptacle to discharge some of said particles therein.

Claim 17

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reject point comprises a reject conveyor operable to transfer particles deposited thereon to a sorting machine for recirculation through the apparatus.

Claim 18

Apparatus according to claim 14, wherein particles on said conveying device which are not deposited in a receptacle of a weighing device are conveyed to said reject conveyor.

Claim 19

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said delivery point is a delivery conveyor.

Claim 20

Apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the delivery conveyor is provided with a central vertical wall disposed longitudinally of the conveyor to divide said conveyor in to two portions, and a gate operable to direct particles tipped on to said delivery conveyor on to one or other portion of the conveyor.

Claim 21

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said sensing means comprises two low pressure air flow generators each directing laminar air flows to a flow receiver, and a sensing element attached to the weighing apparatus and operable to move in a vertical plane passing between the flow generators and the receivers, said element being shaped so as to interrupt the flow of said generators at certain positions in the vertical plane and thereby provide a signal in an air operated circuit.

Claim 22

Apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the pneumatic cylinder and piston assemblies operate in response to signals received from the sensing means.

Claim 23

Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the particles are potatoes.

Claim 24

Apparatus for accumulating batches of a particulate commodity and delivering those batches which are within a selected overweight range above a predetermined final weight to a delivery point, comprising in combination: weighing means for accumulating successive batches of the commodity and including sensor means for producing an output proportional to the instantaneous weight of the commodity particles accumulated by said weighing means; first conveyor means for continuously flowing a first stream of commodity particles of a heavy weight range along a first path extending into close proximity to and then beyond said weighing means; second conveyor means for continuously flowing a second stream of commodity particles of a light weight range along a second path extending into close proximity to and then beyond said weighing means; means for recycling commodity particles which flow past said weighing means and are discharged from said first and said second conveying means; first control means actuated by said sensor means for diverting commodity particles of said first stream from said first path and discharging them to said weighing means until said sensor means produces an output indicative of the accumulation of commodity pArticles having a predetermined preliminary weight which is less than said final weight; second control means actuated by said sensor means for diverting commodity particles of said second stream from said second path and discharging them to said weighing means at least after attainment of said preliminary weight and until said sensor means produces an output indicative of the accumulation of a final weight batch of commodity particles; means actuated by said sensor means for discharging said batch from said weighing means for transfer to said delivery point when said sensor means produces an output, after cessation of diversion from both streams, indicative of a batch weight which is within said selected overweight range; and means actuated by said sensor means for discharging at least some of the particles of the batch from the weighing means to said means for recycling when said sensor means produces an output, after said cessation, indicative of a batch weight which is outside said selected overweight range.

Claim 25

Apparatus for accumulating batches of a particulate commodity and delivering those batches which are within a selected overweight range above a predetermined final weight to a delivery point, comprising in combination: weighing means for accumulating successive batches of the commodity and including sensor means for producing an output proportional to the instantaneous weight of the commodity particles accumulated by said weighing means; first conveyor means for continuously flowing a first stream of commodity particles of a heavy weight range along a first path extending into close proximity to and then beyond said weighing means; second conveyor means for continuously flowing a second stream of commodity particles of a light weight range along a second path extending into close proximity to and then beyond said weighing means; means for recycling commodity particles which flow past said weighing means and are discharged from said first and said second conveying means; first control means actuated by said sensor means for diverting commodity particles of said first stream from said first path and discharging them to said weighing means until said sensor means produces an output indicative of the accumulation of commodity pArticles having a predetermined preliminary weight which is less than said final weight; second control means actuated by said sensor means for diverting commodity particles of said second stream from said second path and discharging them to said weighing means at least after attainment of said preliminary weight and until said sensor means produces an output indicative of the accumulation of a final weight batch of commodity particles; means actuated by said sensor means for discharging said batch from said weighing means for transfer to said delivery point when said sensor means produces an output, after cessation of diversion from both streams, indicative of a batch weight which is within said selected overweight range; and means actuated by said sensor means for discharging at least some of the particles of the batch from the weighing means to said means for recycling when said sensor means produces an output, after said cessation, indicative of a batch weight which is outside said selected overweight range.