Component force damping device and platform scale using same

Abstract

The present invention is to provide a platform scale including a plurality of component force damping devices assembled therein for making high precision weighing. The platform scale for weighing an object to be weighed by supporting a support member that supports the object to be weighed by a plurality of load detection units 301,302 includes at least four component force damping devices 321˜324, each comprising an arrangement of a plurality of needle bearings disposed in parallel and a pair of opposed plates for sandwiching the arrangement of the needle bearings 63 so that the pair of plates make a relative movement in a direction of the arrangement of the needle bearings. The four component force damping devices 321˜324 are in contact with the support member at four locations that form a rectangle. Directions of the relative movement of any two component force damping devices locating at the same side of the rectangle are different, while directions of the relative movement of any two component force damping devices at diagonal locations of the rectangle are identical. Even in case of bending of the support member in any direction, the component force damping devices are able to release the horizontal component force due to such bending.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.