Combinatorial weighing method and apparatus with volume sensing

Abstract

A weighing and packaging system operates by combining weight data from a plurality of weighing machines, obtaining a combination of weighing machines giving a total combined weight value equal to a target value or closest to the target value within preset allowable limits, discharging articles from those weighing machines belonging to the combination obtained, and packaging the discharged articles. In performing combinatorial weighing, the articles discharged from the combinatorial weighing machine are temporarily retained in a cylinder, and light-emitting and light-receiving elements are arranged to detect the level of the retained articles, thereby making it possible to detect the volume of the articles charged into a package. There are provided a target value correction unit for correcting the target value based on the magnitude of the detected volume, and computing means for obtaining a combination of weighing machines giving a total combined weight value equal to the corrected target value or closest to the corrected target value within preset allowable limits. Articles are discharged from this combination of weighing machines. The target value is increased to enlarge the volume of the discharged articles when the volume is too small, and decreased to reduce the volume when the volume is too large. Therefore, the weight of the discharged articles can be maintained within the preset allowable weight limits while the volume of the articles is held within allowable volume limits.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.