US 7,411,137 B2 · Automatic sealing arrangement for weigh scale for food processing apparatus

Abstract

A sealing arrangement is provided for a product weigh scale for a food processing apparatus the weigh scale including a support for supporting a product, a member that carries the support, and a weight sensor that senses vertical load on the member. The sealing arrangement includes a seal surrounding the member beneath the support, the seal having a first sealing surface configured to be sealed against a cabinet, and a second sealing surface. The seal is movable between an inactive position wherein the second sealing surface is out of contact with the support and a sealing position wherein the second sealing surface seals against the support. The seal includes a stationary part having the first sealing surface and a sliding part having the second sealing surface. A plurality of springs urge the sliding part toward the sealing position and a source of pressurized fluid is injected between the sliding part and the stationary part to urge the sliding part toward the inactive position. The pressurized fluid has a sufficient pressure to overcome the urging of the springs and maintains the sliding part in the inactive position during normal operation of the scale, wherein upon loss of the supply of pressurized fluid, the springs cause the sliding part to assume the sealing position.

Claims23

Dependent claims

A weigh scale, comprising:

a cabinet;
a support for supporting a product;
a rod that carries said support and penetrates said cabinet;
a weight sensor supporting said rod, and located within said cabinet;
a seal surrounding said rod beneath said support, said seal movable between an inactive position out of contact with said support and a sealing position to seal said support to said cabinet;
and
a means for moving said seal from said inactive position to said sealing position;
said seal comprises a stationary part attached to said cabinet and a sliding part, said sliding part slidably movable with respect to said stationary part and sealed thereto in said sealing position, wherein said means slides said sliding part between said inactive position and said sealing position.

5 more elements

A sealing arrangement for a weigh scale that comprises a support for supporting a product, a member that carries said support, and a weight sensor sensing vertical load on said member, said weight sensor located within a cabinet and said support located above said cabinet, said support penetrating a top of said cabinet, comprising:

a seal surrounding said member beneath said support, said seal having a first sealing surface configured to maintain a seal with said cabinet, and a second sealing surface, said seal movable between an inactive position wherein said second sealing surface is out of contact with said support and a sealing position wherein said second sealing surface seals against said support;
and
a pressurized fluid circuit that includes a channel operatively formed between the cabinet and the seal, said channel configured to be charged with pressurized fluid to urge said seal relative to said cabinet toward said inactive position, wherein upon loss of pressurized fluid in said channel said seal moves to said sealing position.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Automatic sealing arrangement for weigh scale for food processing apparatus

Life of this patent

Automatic sealing arrangement for weigh scale for food processing apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims23