Weighing apparatus having rotating weigh platform and vertical force minimizing system
AssigneeMettler-Toledo AG
InventorsCraig M. Draper, Thomas S. Rice
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A weighing apparatus having a weighing system, a drive system, and a vertical force minimizing system is described. The weighing system may include a load receiving surface and a plurality of load cells. The drive system may be any system which may cause the load receiving surface to rotate about its vertical axis. The vertical force minimizing system may be any system which may reduce the amount of vertical force that may be applied to the load cells through the drive system while effectively transmitting necessary forces in the transverse direction to provide rotational motion.
Claims17
A weighing apparatus comprising:
- a load receiving surface;
- a drive system adapted to cause rotational movement of said load receiving surface;
- a plurality of load cells adapted to determine a weight of a load placed on said load receiving surface;
- and
- a vertical force minimizing system having a plurality of protrusions adapted to connect said load receiving surface to said drive system, thereby minimizing a vertical force applied from said drive system to said plurality of load cells.
A weighing apparatus comprising:
- a load receiving surface;
- a drive system adapted to cause rotational movement of said load receiving surface;
- said drive system comprising:
- a motor;
- and
- a pulley connected to said motor through a belt;
- a weighing system adapted to determine a weight of a load placed on said load receiving surface;
- said weighing system comprising:
- a plurality of load cells;
- a weigh platform associated with said load cells, said weigh platform having an aperture and a plurality of bearings for supporting said load receiving surface;
- and
- a vertical force minimizing system adapted to minimize a vertical force applied from said drive system to said weighing system;
- said vertical force minimizing system comprising:
- a plurality of protrusions;
- and
- a plurality of bushings associated with said plurality of protrusions;
- wherein said plurality of protrusions and said plurality of bushings connect said load receiving surface to said pulley through said aperture;
- and
- wherein said pulley is adapted to rotate said load receiving surface through said plurality of protrusions and said plurality of bushings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.