Article discharge apparatus and method in automatic weighing system

An apparatus for discharging weighed articles in an automatic weighing system having a plurality of weighing hoppers and a collecting chute for collecting and discharging weighed articles released from the weighing hoppers, the collecting chute being provided with first and second collecting routes having first and second outlets, respectively, the weighed articles being released selectively into the first and second collecting routes, said apparatus comprising:

• a pair of timing hoppers respectively provided at the first and second outlets of the first and second collecting routes;
• first and second drive means, respectively coupled to said timing hoppers, for being selectively controlled to open and close said timing hoppers;
• and
• control means for controlling said first and second drive means, when weighed articles are released from the weighing hoppers into one of the first and second collecting routes, to control said timing hopper corresponding to the one of the first and second collecting routes in such a manner that weighed articles previously released into the timing hopper are discharged completely during the time needed for the weighed articles just released to reach said timing hopper via the one of the first and second collecting routes.