High speed pneumatic weighing device
AssigneeHi-Speed Checkweigher Co., Inc.
InventorsJohn E. Uber, Peter R. Braun, Eric A. Inglin
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pneumatic weighing device has a weigh pan, which is supported for vertical movement by a load cell in response to the weight of an article; the weigh pan is provided with a plenum chamber having an apertured upper surface through which air under pressure is directed for purpose of providing an air cushion for supporting and transporting articles to be weighed. The weighing device additionally includes pneumatic means for rejecting articles of improper weight.
Claims14
A weighing mechanism comprising in combination:
- a weighing station having a first surface supported for vertical movement by a load cell and having a plurality of apertures, said surface being arranged to face vertically towards an article to be weighed while passing through said weighing station, and means for passing air under pressure through said apertures in a direction relatively towards said article or for drawing air through said apertures in a direction relatively away from said article for supporting said article while passing through said weighing station;
- and
- first means for placing an article in said weighing station in vertical alignment with said surface.
A pneumatic separating mechanism for separating weighed articles of improper weight from articles of proper weight while passing downstream from an article weighing station, said separating mechanism comprising an upwardly facing support surface bounded by a concave lengthwise extending first side edge, an opposite, convex, lengthwise extending second side edge, and straight and parallel inlet and discharge edges extending transversely between upstream and downstream ends of said first and second side edges, said support surface having apertures for directing air under pressure upwardly towards said articles for supporting weighed articles passing across said support surface, a side wall surface upstanding from said first side edge and having apertures for directing air transversely of said support surface tending to prevent frictional engagement of weighed articles with said side wall surface;
- and at least one air ejector aperture opening upwardly through said support surface for selectively directing a blast of air upwardly against weighed articles of improper weight for rejecting same upwardly over said sidewall surface.
A pneumatic separating mechanism for separating weighed articles of improper weight from articles of proper weight while passing downstream from an article weighing station along a first path of travel, said separating mechanism comprising an upwardly facing support surface having a lengthwise extending first and second side edges and a side wall surface upstanding from adjacent said first side edge, said support surface having apertures for directing air under pressure upwardly towards weighed articles passing lengthwise of said support surface, said side wall surface having apertures for directing air transversely of said support surface tending to move said weighed articles of improper weight transversely of said first path of travel into a second path of travel, and at least one air ejector opening upwardly through said support surface in alignment with said second path of travel for selectively directing a blast of air upwardly against said weighed articles of improper weight for rejecting same upwardly over said second side edge.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.