US4479559A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Method and apparatus for weighing material
Assignee: LOGIC ASSOCIATES Inc
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Filing: 1983-01-21
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Granted: 1984-10-30
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Expires: 2003-01-21
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for separately weighing, by means of a common scale, contributions of material for multiple streams, such material typically being printed papers, such as from a printing press. Material that is to be weighed, which is typically waste material, is delivered by workers or operators along multiple respective routes to the common scale bin. Means are provided which are worker initiated, to provide enabling signals respectively associated with the multiple routes along with means responsive to these enabling signals while providing a plurality of separate counts corresponding to weight for each respective route. Delivery of material along each route may be detected by, for example, a floor mat switch, a actuated push button, or by photo detector means.
Inventors
- 👤 R. Langdon Wales
- 👤 H. W. Crowley
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 02:04
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G19/00; G01G19/40; G01G19/42; G01G11/00; G01G11/14; G01G13/00; G01G13/02; G01G13/022
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 28
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
Apparatus for weighing material from multiple streams with a common scale, comprising; a plurality of separate means for the temporary storage of a quantity of said material that is to be weighed, common scale means, means for sequentially releasing said material from said respective separate means for storing to said common scale means, means responsive to said scale means for sensing increments in scale weight for each respective release of material, and means for totaling the respectively sensed weight increments to provide a plurality of separate counts corresponding to weight and associated with each respective means for storage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
Apparatus for weighing material from multiple streams with a common scale, comprising; a plurality of separate means for the temporary storage of a quantity of said material that is to be weighed, common scale means, means for sequentially releasing said material from said respective separate means for storing to said common scale means, means responsive to said scale means for sensing increments in scale weight for each respective release of material, and means for totaling the respectively sensed weight increments to provide a plurality of separate counts corresponding to weight and associated with each respective means for storage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of separate means comprises hopper means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 including a common storage bin over said scale means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for releasing includes a gate means for opening said means for temporary storage
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said gate means comprises a dual force gate means operated at partial capacity for closing and full capacity for locking.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
16 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said plurality of separate means comprises conveyor means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
26 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 3 wherein said means for releasing comprises means for controlling the conveyor means to advance material to the scale means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 7 wherein the means for controlling the conveyor means provides for advancement to delivery material to the scale means followed by reversal to assure that no material mistakenly falls to the scale means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
49 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for sensing increments in scale weight comprises a difference means having an output count or magnitude corresponding to the difference in weight between a present scale weight and the next scale weight after operation of said means for releasing.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 including means for converting the weight factor sensed to a count that may correspond to the number of pieces of material released in a batch.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein said means for totaling adds counts corresponding to weight and displays a count indicating total pieces weighed per stream.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of weighing material from multiple streams with a common scale, comprising separately and temporarily storing a quantity of said material that is to be weighed from each respective stream, sequentially and mutually exclusively releasing said material from said temporary storage to said scale, sequentially sensing increments in scale weight for each respective release of material, and adding respectively sensed weight increments associated with each respective stream.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of weighing material from multiple streams with a common scale, comprising separately and temporarily storing a quantity of said material that is to be weighed from each respective stream, sequentially and mutually exclusively releasing said material from said temporary storage to said scale, sequentially sensing increments in scale weight for each respective release of material, and adding respectively sensed weight increments associated with each respective stream.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of weighing material as set forth in claim 12 wherein the material weighed is waste material.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of weighing material as set forth in claim 12 further comprising comparing the sensed weight to the weight of a known sample to determine a piece count.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
A method of weighing material as set forth in claim 14 further comprising subtracting the piece count from a gross count to yield an accurate net count.
Claim 18
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of weighing material from multiple streams with a common scale, comprising; delivering a quantity of said material that is to be weighed from each respective stream, sensing increments in scale weight from each respective delivery, and adding sensed weight increments associated with each respective stream to provide separate counts corresponding to weight from each stream.
Claim 19
Independent Claim
57 words
A method of weighing material from multiple streams with a common scale, comprising; delivering a quantity of said material that is to be weighed from each respective stream, sensing increments in scale weight from each respective delivery, and adding sensed weight increments associated with each respective stream to provide separate counts corresponding to weight from each stream.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for weighing material from multiple streams with a common scale, and delivered by workers along multiple respective routes to the common scale bin, comprising; common scale means, means responsive to said scale means for sensing increments in scale weight associated with each respective stream, means worker initiated to provide enabling signals respectively associated with the multiple routes, and means responsive to said means for sensing increments and to said enabling signals for providing a plurality of separate counts corresponding to weight and associated with each respective route.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
88 words
Apparatus for weighing material from multiple streams with a common scale, and delivered by workers along multiple respective routes to the common scale bin, comprising; common scale means, means responsive to said scale means for sensing increments in scale weight associated with each respective stream, means worker initiated to provide enabling signals respectively associated with the multiple routes, and means responsive to said means for sensing increments and to said enabling signals for providing a plurality of separate counts corresponding to weight and associated with each respective route.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said means to provide enabling signals comprises manual switch means.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said means to provide enabling signals comprises photoelectric detector means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said means to provide enabling signals comprises floor mat means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
20 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said multiple routes are each separate distinct routes to the waste bin.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
42 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 17 wherein said means for sensing increments in scale weight comprises a difference means having an output count or magnitude corresponding to the difference in weight between a present scale weight and the next scale weight.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 22 including means for converting the weight factor sensed to a count that may correspond to the number of pieces of material delivered in a batch.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
27 words
Apparatus as set forth in claim 23 wherein said means for totaling adds counts corresponding to weight and displays a count indicating total pieces weighed per stream.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-10-30 | 1988-04-30 | 1988-10-30 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-10-30 | 1992-04-30 | 1992-10-30 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-10-30 | 1996-04-30 | 1996-10-30 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |