System and method for counting nominally identical articles by weight

A method of counting nominally identical articles by weighing them in weighing apparatus, which apparatus comprises a load hod for holding a number of articles to be weighed and a load transducer responsive to loading of the hod from which is derived an electrical signal indicative of the apparent weight of articles in the hod, said signal being susceptible to fluctuation as a result of local air currents acting on the hod or on the articles contained therein, the method comprising the steps of:

• filtering the transducer derived electrical signal to extract a component signal representative of such fluctuation;
• processing the filtered component signal;
• using the processed component signal to correct the transducer derived electrical signal thereby to indicate a true weight of articles in the hod;
• and
• determining a number of articles in the hod by dividing the true weight indication by an expected average weight of an article.

Article counting apparatus for counting nominally identical articles, comprising:

• a load hod for holding a plurality of articles to be counted;
• a load transducer responsive to loading of the hod to produce a derived electrical signal indicative of an apparent weight of articles in the hod, said transducer derived electrical signal being susceptible to fluctuation as a result of local air currents acting on the hod or on the articles contained therein;
• filter means for filtering the transducer derived electrical signal to extract a component signal representative of such fluctuation;
• processing means for processing a filtered component signal, said processing means including an inverter to invert the filtered component signal;
• correction means arranged to use the processed component signal to correct the transducer derived electrical signal thereby to indicate a true weight of articles in the hod;
• and
• count computing means arranged to determine a number of articles in the hod by dividing the true weight indication by an expected average weight of an article.

Article counting apparatus for counting nominally identical articles, comprising:

• a load hod for holding a plurality of bank notes to be counted, the load hod being adapted to hold a stack of such bank notes;
• a load transducer responsive to loading of the hod to produce a derived electrical signal indicative of an apparent weight of bank notes in the hod, said transducer derived electrical signal being susceptible to fluctuation as a result of local air currents acting on the hod or on the bank notes contained therein;
• filter means for filtering the transducer derived electrical signal to extract a component signal representative of such fluctuation;
• processing means for processing a filtered component signal;
• correction means arranged to use the processed component signal to correct the transducer derived electrical signal thereby to indicate a true weight of bank notes in the hod;
• and
• count computing means arranged to determine a number of bank notes in the hod by dividing the true weight indication by an expected average weight of a bank note.