Apparatus and method for weighing objects

An apparatus, configured and adapted for weighing objects of different lengths, in particular foodstuffs, comprising:

• a transport device having at least one transport element, configured and adapted for transporting the objects at a transport speed in a transport direction;
• a weighing device arranged under the at least one transport element, configured and adapted for determining a weight of an object transported by the transport device, wherein the weighing device comprises;
• a weighing plate comprising at least two separate weighing plate segments arranged under the at least one transport element one behind the other in the transport direction, wherein the at least two weighing plate segments each have a length LW1, LW2, LWn;
• a detecting device, upstream of the weighing device in the transport direction, comprising at least one detecting unit, configured and adapted at least to detect a length LG1, LG2, LGn of each object;
• wherein;
• a first one of the weighing plate segments in the transport direction comprises at least one weighing cell and is configured and adapted for generating a weighing signal of one of the objects having a maximum length LG1;
• a further one of the weighing plate segments arranged downstream of the first weighing plate segment in the transport direction is connected to the first weighing plate segment by a first connecting element comprising at least one weighing cell, and is configured and adapted for generating a weighing signal of one of the objects having a maximum length LG1 and/or LG2.

A method for weighing objects of different lengths LG1, LG2, LGn, in particular foodstuffs, comprising the steps of:

• transporting the objects at a transport speed in a transport direction by a transport device having at least one transport element;
• determining a weight of the objects transported by the transport device using a weighing device, wherein the weighing device comprises;
• a weighing plate comprising at least two separate weighing plate segments which are arranged under the at least one transport element one behind the other in the transport direction T, wherein the at least two weighing plate segments each have a length LW1, LW2, LWn,
• detecting the lengths LG1, LG2, LGn of the objects by a detecting device, upstream of the weighing device in the transport direction, comprising at least one detecting unit;
• wherein;
• the weighing signal of one of the objects of a maximum length LG1 is generated by a weighing cell comprising a first one of the weighing plate segments in the transport direction;
• and
• a weighing signal of one of the objects of a maximum length LG1 and/or LG2 is generated by a further one of the weighing plate segments comprising at least one weighing cell, downstream of the first weighing plate segment in the transport direction, wherein the first weighing plate segment is connected to the downstream further weighing plate segment by a first connecting element.