Patent ID: 6271485
Filing Date: 2001-08-07
Classification: B65G,G01G

Abstract:
A combinatorial weighing apparatus comprising:a plurality of weighing units for receiving batches of articles to be weighed;a device to select a combination of weighing units which contain batches of articles whose total weight corresponds to a desired total or is within a predetermined margin of error from the desired total;a chute; anda device to convey articles from the selected combination of weighing units to the chute, wherein the chute has an inlet portion and an outlet portion, the conveyed articles passing through the inlet portion and traveling along a travel direction of the chute to pass through the outlet portion, the chute including a concave base extending from the inlet portion downwardly to the outlet portion and having a substantially constant lateral dimension along its length, and side walls extending from the base, an angle of inclination of the side walls to the base decreasing from the inlet portion to the outlet portion so as to cause articles having an elongate dimension greater than the lateral dimension of the base to align themselves in the travel direction of the chute.