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US 4,050,530 AGranted
Method and apparatus for determining weight and mass
AssigneePitney Bowes Inc.
InventorAnthony Storace
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A method and an apparatus is disclosed for measuring weighing and/or mass of an object. The object to be measured is subjected to an input frequency signal supplied to a piezoelectric crystal. Another piezoelectric crystal supporting the object is caused to vibrate in response to the input frequency signal and the mass and/or weight of the supported object. This second vibrating piezoelectric crystal will then produce a frequency output signal, whose amplitude is a function of the mass (and/or weight) of the object being measured. The frequency of the input and the output signals are substantially the same.
Claims22
A weighing apparatus, comprising:
- a weighing support for receiving a mass to be weighed;
- a first piezoelectric crystal means supporting the weighing support with said mass and receiving a vibrational input, said first piezoelectric crystal means providing an output voltage in response to said vibrational input, said output voltage being proportional to the mass to be weighed;
- a second piezoelectric crystal means in vibratory contact with said first piezoelectric crystal means, said weighing support and said mass, said second piezoelectric crystal means receiving an input voltage and providing a vibrational output in response to said vibrational output being inputted to said first piezoelectric crystal means, said weighing support and said mass;
- and
- indicating means for indicating the weight of said mass in response to receipt of said output voltage.
2 more elements
A mass measuring apparatus comprising:
- a support means for receiving a mass to be measured;
- a first piezoelectric crystal means supporting the support means with said mass and receiving a vibrational input, said first piezoelectric crystal means providing an output voltage in response to said vibrational input, said output voltage being proportional to the mass to be measured;
- a second piezoelectric crystal means in vibratory contact with said first piezoelectric crystal means, said support means and said mass, said second piezoelectric crystal means receiving an input voltage and providing a vibrational output in response to said voltage input, said vibrational output being inputted to said first piezoelectric crystal means, said support means and said mass;
- and
- indicating means for indicating the mass of said mass in response to receipt of said output voltage.
2 more elements
A method of weighing a mass, comprising the steps of:
- A. supporting a mass to be weighed upon a first piezoelectric crystal means;
- B. supporting said first piezoelectric crystal means upon a second piezoelectric crystal means;
- C. causing said second piezoelectric crystal means to vibrate by applying an input voltage thereto, said first piezoelectric crystal means also being caused to vibrate at a frequency substantially corresponding to that of the second piezoelectric crystal means, said first piezoelectric crystal means providing an output voltage when it is caused to vibrate;
- and
- D. measuring the output voltage of the first piezoelectric crystal means in order to determine the weight of the mass being supported by the first piezoelectric crystal means.
2 more elements
A method of measuring a mass, comprising the steps of:
- A. supporting a mass to be measured upon a first piezoelectric crystal means;
- B. supporting said first piezoelectric crystal means upon a second piezoelectric crystal means;
- C. causing said second piezoelectric crystal means to vibrate by applying an input voltage thereto, said first piezoelectric crystal means also being caused to vibrate at a frequency corresponding to that of the second piezoelectric crystal means, said first piezoelectric crystal means providing an output voltage when it is caused to vibrate;
- and
- D. measuring the output voltage of the first piezoelectric crystal means in order to determine the mass being supported by the first piezoelectric crystal means.
2 more elements
A method of weighing a mass, comprising the steps of:
- A. supporting a mass to be weighed upon a weighing support means;
- B. introducing a frequency input signal to said mass and said weighing support means;
- c. producing an output frequency signal having an amplitude that is a function of the weight of said mass;
- and
- D. measuring the amplitude of said output frequency signal to determine the weight of said mass.
2 more elements
A method of measuring a mass, comprising the steps of:
- A. supporting a mass to be measured upon a mass support means;
- B. introducing a frequency input signal to said mass and said mass support means;
- C. producing an output frequency signal having an amplitude that is a function of said mass;
- and
- D. measuring the amplitude of said output frequency signal to determine said mass.
2 more elements
A weight measuring apparatus, comprising:
- support means for supporting a mass to be weighed;
- input frequency means for introducing a frequency input signal to said mass and said support means;
- output frequency means operatively connected to said support means for producing an output frequency signal having an amplitude that is a function of the weight of said mass;
- and
- measuring means operatively connected to said output frequency means for measuring said amplitude of said output frequency signal.
2 more elements
A mass measuring apparatus, comprising:
- support means for supporting a mass to be measured;
- input frequency means for introducing a frequency input signal to said mass and said support means;
- output frequency means operatively connected to said support means for producing an output frequency signal having an amplitude that is a function of said mass;
- and
- measuring means operatively connected to said output frequency means for measuring said amplitude of said output frequency signal.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.