Scale calibration monitoring device

Claim 2

In combination with a continuously moving conveyor on which material travels in one direction past a weighing station at which a weighing device is in engagement with the conveyor for sensing the weight of sAid material, a system for calibrating the weighing device comprising test means for displacing the conveyor out of engagement with the weighing device during test intervals, reference means responsive to said displacement of the weighing device for loading the same, adjusting means for correcting readout of the weighing device in response to variations in weight sensed during said test intervals, and means connected to the weighing device for correcting readout of the weighing device in response to asymmetrical loading of the conveyor.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said weighing device includes a pivoted scale beam, load applying means mounted on the scale beam for engagement with the conveyor, a pair of load sensing devices connected to the scale beam at laterally spaced locations relative to said direction of travel of the conveyor for producing signals in response to displacement of the scale beam, and readout means connected to the load sensing devices for registering the weight of the material.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 wherein said reference means comprises a pair of reference weights engageable with the scale beam, and means suspending the reference weights from the test means in substantial alignment with the load sensing devices.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 3 wherein said test means comprises an idler beam, and means pivotally mounting the idler beam about an axis transverse to said direction of travel of the conveyor underlying the load applying means of the weighing device.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4 including means pivotally mounting the scale beam about perpendicular axes respectively parallel to said direction of travel of the conveyor and transverse thereto, and counterweight means connected to the scale beam for balancing the scale beam relative to said axis parallel to the direction of travel.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 wherein said readout correcting means includes means for varying the driving speed of the conveyor, and speed sensing means responsive to variations in speed of the material on the conveyor from a reference value for correctively changing the driving speed of the conveyor.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 1 wherein said readout correcting means includes an additional weighing device for sensing the weight of an unloaded portion of the conveyor, and computing means interconnecting the weighing devices for subtracting the weight of the conveyor from the weight sensed by the first mentioned weighing device.

Claim 9

In combination with a conveyor on which material travels in one direction past a weighing station at which a weighing device is loaded by the conveyor for sensing the weight of the material thereon, a pivoted scale beam, load applying means mounted on the scale beam for engagement with the conveyor, a pair of load sensing devices connected to the scale beam at laterally spaced locations relative to said direction of travel of the conveyor for producing signals in response to displacement of the scale beam, readout means connected to the load sensing devices for registering the weight of the material, test means for unloading the conveyor from the weighing device during test intervals, a pair of reference weights engageable with the scale beam, and means suspending the reference weights from the test means in substantial alignment with the load sensing devices for engagement with the scale beam during said test intervals.

Claim 10

In combination with a conveyor on which material travels in one direction past a weighing station at which a weighing device is loaded by the conveyor for sensing the weight of the material thereon, a pivoted scale beam, load applying means mounted on the scale beam for engagement with the conveyor, a pair of load sensing devices connected to the scale beam at laterally spaced locations relative to said direction of travel of the conveyor for producing signals in response to displacement of the scale beam, readout means connected to the load sensing devices for registering the weight of the material, test means for unloading the conveyor from the weighing device during test intervals, a pair of reference weights engageable with the scale beam, and means suspending the reference weights from the test means in substantial alignment with the load sensing devices for engagement with the scale beam during said test intervals.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8 wherein said test means comprises an idler beam, and means pivotally mounting the idler beam about an axis transverse to said direction of travel of the conveyor underlying the load applying means of the weighing device.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 9 including means pivotally mounting the scale beam about perpendicular axes respectively parallel to said direction of travel of the conveyor and transverse thereto, and counterweight means connected to the scale beam for balancing the scale beam relative to said axis parallel to the direction of travel.

Claim 13

ThE combination of claim 8 including means pivotally mounting the scale beam about perpendicular axes respectively parallel to said direction of travel of the conveyor and transverse thereto, and counterweight means connected to the scale beam for balancing the scale beam relative to said axis parallel to the direction of travel.

Claim 14

In combination with a conveyor on which material travels in one direction past a weighing station at which a weighing device is loaded by the conveyor, drive means connected to the conveyor for continuous movement of the material, test means intermittently rendered operative during test intervals for unloading the weighing device, a plurality of reference weights transversely spaced relative to said direction of travel, means responsive to said unloading of the weighing device during the test intervals for loading the same with said reference weights, readout means connected to the weighing device for registering loads sensed by the weighing device, and adjusting means for correcting the readout means in response to variations in weight registered during said test intervals.

Claim 15

In combination with a conveyor on which material travels in one direction past a weighing station at which a weighing device is loaded by the conveyor, drive means connected to the conveyor for continuous movement of the material, test means intermittently rendered operative during test intervals for unloading the weighing device, a plurality of reference weights transversely spaced relative to said direction of travel, means responsive to said unloading of the weighing device during the test intervals for loading the same with said reference weights, readout means connected to the weighing device for registering loads sensed by the weighing device, and adjusting means for correcting the readout means in response to variations in weight registered during said test intervals.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 12 including sensing means connected to the conveyor for correctively varying the speed of the drive means.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 12 including correction means connected to the adjusting means for subtracting the weight of the conveyor from the weight registered by the readout means.