US4838367A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Price indicating means for a weighing scale
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1988-08-23
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Granted: 1989-06-13
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Expires: 2008-08-23
Abstract
Abstract A price indicating apparatus for a spring-loaded weighing scale used for calculating the total price and displaying the price of an article, comprising an inducing component and a transducing component. The inducing component is mounted on the rack of the weighing scale to be shifted according to the movement of the tray; the transducing component is provided for sensing the amount of movement of the inducing component and converting it into digital signals and calculating the price by multiplying the weight and the unit price input from a keyboard.
Inventors
- 👤 Tai A. Tsai
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-05 05:20
CPC Classifications
G; G01; G01G; G01G23/00; G01G23/18; G01G23/36; G01G23/363
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
235 words
A price indicating means for a weighing scale which has a dial face, a tray supported by a supporting frame, a pair of spring elements, a pivot arm respectively pivoted on said supporting frame, a housing of said weighing scale and a rack to drive said rack according to a movement of said tray, a gear engaged to said rack and connected to a pointer to drive said pointer to indicate a scale on said dial face, comprising: (a) an inducing component having an etched pattern of an inducing strip, being mounted on said rack to be shifted according to the movement of said rack; (b) a guide plate receiving said inducing component by tabs provided on upper and lower portions of said inducing component lodged in respectively recesses formed on the rear side thereon to prevent said inducing component from deformation; (c) a transducing component having another etched pattern thereon opposite to said inducing component for sensing the amount of movement of said inducing component; (d) a sloted plate on which said transducing component is mounted and secured by a plurality of rollers, each roller having a notch for said guide plate slidable therebetween; (e) a retaining plate on which said sloted plate is mounted fixed on said housing by posts provided therebetween; and (f) a keyboard to enter an unit price of an article to be weighed and be provided with display means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
235 words
A price indicating means for a weighing scale which has a dial face, a tray supported by a supporting frame, a pair of spring elements, a pivot arm respectively pivoted on said supporting frame, a housing of said weighing scale and a rack to drive said rack according to a movement of said tray, a gear engaged to said rack and connected to a pointer to drive said pointer to indicate a scale on said dial face, comprising: (a) an inducing component having an etched pattern of an inducing strip, being mounted on said rack to be shifted according to the movement of said rack; (b) a guide plate receiving said inducing component by tabs provided on upper and lower portions of said inducing component lodged in respectively recesses formed on the rear side thereon to prevent said inducing component from deformation; (c) a transducing component having another etched pattern thereon opposite to said inducing component for sensing the amount of movement of said inducing component; (d) a sloted plate on which said transducing component is mounted and secured by a plurality of rollers, each roller having a notch for said guide plate slidable therebetween; (e) a retaining plate on which said sloted plate is mounted fixed on said housing by posts provided therebetween; and (f) a keyboard to enter an unit price of an article to be weighed and be provided with display means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
37 words
A price indicating means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sloted plate is pivoted to said retaining plate by a pin penetrating two pairs of trunions respectively provided on said sloted and said retaining plates.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
34 words
A price indicating means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said inducing strip has an elongate body with a plurality of horizontal sections laterally protruded therefrom to be induced by said transducing component.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
30 words
A price indicating means as set forth in claim 1, wherein said transducing component has a sensing electrode and an excitation electrode respectively provided thereon opposite to said inducing component.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
25 words
A price indicating means as set forth in claim 4, wherein said excitation electrode has a plurality of conductors which are insulated from one another.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
36 words
A price indicating means as set forth in claim 5, wherein said conductors are divided into a plurality of groups in each one of which one conductor is shorted together with another conductor in another group.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for operating a price indicating means in a spring-loaded weighing scale is that said price indicating means has an inducing component and a transducing component; a change of capacitance created between the inducing component and the transducing component is based on the relative movement therebetween and is converted into a phase shift by a sensor integrated circuit.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
59 words
A method for operating a price indicating means in a spring-loaded weighing scale is that said price indicating means has an inducing component and a transducing component; a change of capacitance created between the inducing component and the transducing component is based on the relative movement therebetween and is converted into a phase shift by a sensor integrated circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the inducing component has an inducing strip which has an elongate body with a plurality of horizontal sections laterally protruded therefrom to be induced by the transducing component.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
52 words
A method as set forth in claim 7, wherein the transducing component has a sensing electrode and an excitation electrode; the excitation electrode has a plurality of conductors which are divided into a plurality of groups, in each one of which one conductor is shorted together with another conductor in another group.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
51 words
A method as set forth in claims 7 or 9, wherein different sets of four adjacent conductors are excited in turn by the sensor integrated circuit to act as one electrode of a capacitor; the sensing electrode excited by the sensor integrated circuit acts as the other electrode of the capacitor.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-06-12 | 1992-12-12 | 1993-06-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-06-12 | 1996-12-12 | 1997-06-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-06-12 | 2000-12-12 | 2001-06-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |