# US 2009/0260896 A1 · Combination weighing apparatus

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- Number: US 2009/0260896 A1
- Document ID: US20090260896A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 12/064,404
- Filed: 2006-09-21
- Published: 2009-10-22
- Earliest claimed: 2005-09-21
- Assignees: Ishida Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Masaya Fujii
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260896A1

## CPC

- G01G 19/393: using two or more weighing units
- G01G: WEIGHING (sorting by weighing B07C5/16)

## Abstract

A combination weighing apparatus includes a dispersion unit, a plurality of weighing hoppers, and a combination unit. The dispersion unit circumferentially disperses articles that drop from above. The weighing hoppers are arranged generally circumferentially below the dispersion unit. The combination unit combines weight results obtained from each of the weighing hoppers. In addition, a state of a drop position of the articles in the dispersion unit changes during operation.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A combination weighing apparatus comprising:
a dispersion unit configured to circumferentially disperse articles that drop onto the dispersion unit from above;
a plurality of weighing hoppers arranged generally circumferentially below the dispersion unit to weigh the articles discharged into the weighing hoppers;
a combination unit configured to combine weight results obtained from the weighing hoppers,
the dispersion unit including a generally cone shaped dispersion table and a rotary drive unit configured to rotate the dispersion table about a rotational center axis with an apex of the dispersion table being offset from the rotation center axis.

### Claim 2

(canceled)

### Claim 3

A combination weighing apparatus comprising:
a dispersion unit configured to circumferentially disperse articles that drop onto the dispersion unit from above;
a plurality of weighing hoppers arranged generally circumferentially below the dispersion unit to weigh the articles discharged into the weighing hoppers;
a combination unit configured to combine weight results obtained from the weighing hoppers,
the dispersion unit including a dispersion table and a rotary drive unit configured to rotate the dispersion table about a rotational center axis, the rotary drive unit being configured to change a rotation pattern of the dispersion table.

### Claim 4

A combination weighing apparatus comprising:
a dispersion unit configured to circumferentially disperse articles that drop onto the dispersion unit from above;
a plurality of weighing hoppers arranged generally circumferentially below the dispersion unit to weigh the articles discharged into the weighing hoppers;
a combination unit configured to combine weight results obtained from the weighing hoppers,
the dispersion unit including a dispersion table and a rotary drive unit configured to rotate the dispersion table about a rotational center axis, the dispersion table having a main surface that is inclined with respect to a horizontal direction while being rotatably driven by the rotary drive unit.

### Claim 5

A combination weighing apparatus comprising:
a dispersion unit configured to receive articles and to circumferentially disperse the articles;
a plurality of weighing hoppers configured to receive the articles dispersed by the dispersion unit and to weigh the articles; and
a combination unit configured to combine weight results obtained from the weighing hoppers so that a predetermined weight or a predetermined quantity of the articles is reached,
the dispersion unit including a generally cone shaped dispersion table and a rotary drive unit configured to rotate the dispersion table about a rotational center axis with an apex of the dispersion table being offset from the rotation center axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The combination weighing apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein
the dispersion unit is arranged such that the rotational center axis passes through a center portion of a base of the generally cone shaped dispersion table.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The combination weighing apparatus as recited in claim 3, wherein
the rotary drive unit is configured to adjust a rotation speed of the dispersion table based on a condition in which the articles are dispersed by the dispersion unit.

### Claim 8 (depends on 4)

The combination weighing apparatus as recited in claim 4, wherein
the dispersion table is a generally flat member including the main surface with the rotational center axis passing through an approximate center portion of the main surface.

### Claim 9 (depends on 5)

The combination weighing apparatus as recited in claim 5, wherein
the dispersion unit is arranged such that the rotational center axis passes through a center portion of a base of the generally cone shaped dispersion table.