A method and apparatus for weighing an object in which the object is moved to, and tipped over, a tip point. A signal representative of the weight of the object is generated as the object is tipped over the tip point. The apparatus may include a conveyor for moving the object toward the tip point, which may be supported by a load sensor that generates the signals representative of the object weight.
A non-intrusive method and apparatus for determining the center of gravity of a package, while the package is moving. A multi-segment conveyor is used having segments at differing slopes relative to each other, along with sensors used to approximate the time it takes a box to "tilt" from one conveyor segment to the other. Also disclosed is the use of a herringbone conveyor in conjunction with a plurality of sidewardly disposed sensors to approximate one spacial coordinate of the package's gravity center with the use of the tilting process.
A scale is disclosed for weighing moving loads. The scale includes a weighing platform having entrance and exit ends. The platform is connected to a tipping member mounted to pivot about a fulcrum. A weighing device is operatively connected to the fulcrum. Downward movement of the platform entrance end causes the tipping member to pivot in a first direction and downward movement of the platform exit end causes the tipping member to pivot in a second direction. First and second stops limit movement of the tipping member in the first and second directions, respectively. As a load enters the platform, the tipping member pivots against the first stop such that the weight is distributed between the fulcrum and the stop. As the load approaches the center of the platform, the tipping member pivots off of the first stop such that the weight is measurable by the weighing device.
A weight sensor generates a load signal representative of the weight of the object as the object approaches, tips over, and leaves the downstream end of a conveyor. A support mechanism preferably provides balancing of the load upon the weight sensor. The weight of the object is determined from the load signal which is preferably adjusted to compensate for various mechanical effects using signals generated by an inclinometer for measuring the angle of inclination of the conveyor, a mechanism for measuring the speed of the object upon the conveyor, and/or an accelerometer for generating signals characteristic of the vibration of the conveyor.
An off-scale item sensing apparatus and method which uses a light beam around a portion of the periphery of a weigh plate. The system includes a source for producing a light beam, a plurality of mirrors for directing the light beam along a path around a periphery of the weigh plate, a detector for receiving the light beam, and an alarm coupled to the detector for alerting an operator when the item is placed in the path of the light beam.
A method and apparatus for measuring and sorting parcels, including the concept of determining at least one component of the gravity center of said parcels. Determination of the gravity center component includes the use of a tilting action in combination with the use of sensors to sense the movement of the parcels as they tilt. Another concept includes the use of sensors to determine whether a parcel is sufficiently rigid to provide a tilting action, or whether the parcel is flexible and thus does not provide a tilting action so much as it provides a flexing action over the pivot point.
