Combinatorial weighing method and apparatus therefor

A combinatorial weighing apparatus for performing a combinatorial calculation based on output data from a plurality of weighing machines and for selecting a combination of weight data, corresponding to the output data, indicative of a total combined weight equal or closest to a target value within a preset range, comprising:

• reading means for repeatedly reading output data from each of the weighing machines;
• memory means for storing, for each weighing machine, a predetermined number of items of the output data read by said reading means, said memory means being adapted to store a predetermined number of items of the most recent output data from each of the weighing machines in a weighing cycle shorter than a combinatorial calculation cycle and preset according to the weighing machines supplied with articles to be weighed;
• sensing means for sensing whether each weighing machine is in a stable state based on the predetermined number of items of output data stored in said memory means, said sensing means being adapted to calculate a mean value of the predetermined number of items of the most recent output data from each of the weighing machines whenever an item of output data from a respective weighing machine is stored in said memory means, and to sense whether each weighing machine is in a stable state based on a comparison between a preceding mean value and a current mean value;
• and
• arithmetic means for executing a combinatorial calculation upon reading, from said memory means, weight data corresponding to the output data from those weighing machines in a stable state.

A combinatorial measuring method for use with a plurality of weighing machines which provide output data corresponding to the quantities of a product charged in the weighing machines, comprising the steps of:

• (a) repeatedly storing items of the output data from the respective weighing machines in a weighing cycle shorter than a combinatorial calculation cycle and preset according to the weighing machines supplied with articles to be weighed;
• (b) continuously monitoring the stored output data to determine which of the weighing machines are in a stable state, said step (b) including substeps of:
• (b1) calculating, for each weighing machine, a mean value for a predetermined number of the items of output data most recently stored for the weighing machine whenever an item of the output data from the weighing machine is stored in said step (a);
• and
• (b2) determining, for each weighing machine, whether the weighing machine is in the stable state based on a comparison between the preceding calculated mean value for the weighing machine and a current mean value for the weighing machine;
• and
• (c) performing a combinatorial calculation upon calculation data, corresponding to the output data from each of the weighing machines which is determined to be in a stable state, to select a combination of the calculation data corresponding to a total value which is within a preset range.

A combinatorial measuring method for use with a plurality of weighing machines which provide output data corresponding to the quantities of a product charged in the weighing machines, comprising the steps of:

• (a) repeatedly storing items of the output data from the respective weighing machines in a weighing cycle shorter than a combinatorial calculation cycle and preset according to the weighing machines supplied with articles to be weighed;
• (b) continuously monitoring the stored output data to determine which of the weighing machines are in a stable state, said step (b) including the steps of:
• (b1) calculating, for each weighing machine, a mean value for a predetermined number of the items of output data most recently stored for the weighing machine whenever an item of the output data from the weighing machine is stored in said step (a);
• (b2) determining, for each weighing machine, whether the weighing machine is in the stable state based on the rate of change in the mean value from previously calculated mean values for the weighing machine to a current mean value for the weighing machine;
• and
• (c) performing a combinatorial calculation upon calculation data, corresponding to the output data from each of the weighing machines which is determined to be in a stable state, to select a combination of the calculation data corresponding to a total value which is within a preset range.

A combinatorial measuring method for use with a plurality of weighing machines which provide output data corresponding to the quantities of a product charged in the weighing machines, comprising the steps of:

• (a) repeatedly storing items of the output data from the respective weighing machines in a weighing cycle shorter than a combinatorial calculation cycle and preset according to the weighing machines supplied with articles to be weighed;
• (b) continuously monitoring the stored output data to determine which of the weighing machines are in a stable state, said step (b) including substeps of:
• (b1) excluding, for each weighing machine, the minimum and maximum values of a predetermined number of the most recent items of the output data to obtain remaining items of the output data;
• (b2) calculating, for each weighing machine, a mean value for the remaining items of the output data whenever an item of the output data from the weighing machine is stored in said step (a);
• and
• (b3) determining whether the weighing machine is in the stable state based on a comparison between a preceding calculated mean value for the weighing machine and a current mean value for the weighing machine;
• and
• (c) performing a combinatorial calculation upon calculation data, corresponding to the output data from each of the weighing machines which is determined to be in a stable state, to select a combination of the calculation data corresponding to a total value which is within a preset range.