Patent ID: 6448511
Filing Date: 2002-09-10
Classification: G01G

Abstract:
An automatic product weighing machine, having a frame with horizontal supporting means for supporting a plurality of buckets which receive product, and where the buckets are supported on a revolving support shaft disposed about a central axis, and having weighing means so that product contained in each bucket and its tare can be measured, and wherein a programming and processing unit records the tare of each bucket and the true weight of product collected by the buckets so that a combined weight of the products contained in any combination of buckets can be ascertained for unloading as desired, comprising:a supporting frame for said machine having a plurality of legs; said plurality of buckets being arranged concentrically about said central axis so that a plurality of concentric buckets form circular series of buckets with each circular series of buckets being adjacently disposed to one another with all of said circular series of buckets being in the same general plane; a plurality of radially disposed frames having openings extending from an outer periphery to an inner periphery closer to said revolving support shaft and central axis; a plurality of buckets loosely housed within said openings of said frames; each of said plurality of buckets having a pair of side walls and front and back movable walls with their tops being open to receive product; the buckets closer to said inner periphery being smaller than said buckets closer to said outer periphery, and all of said buckets having rollers for engaging with parallel tracks which when measuring weight of product and tare for each bucket, are lifted up slightly from said openings in said frame; weighing means disposed beneath said buckets and being radially in line with said central axis so that when said plurality of buckets in said concentric circular series are lifted up, weight is simultaneously recorded for said plurality of buckets radially aligned to said central axis and in said concentric circular series; each of said plurality of buckets having bucket supports for mutual cooperative association with its respective frame so that each bucket can be lifted from an opening in said frame without affecting accurate weight count; and control means for metering product into said concentric circular series of buckets, including first parallel conveyor means disposed above said buckets for feeding said product to said buckets on loading, and second parallel conveyor means disposed below said buckets for receiving product unloaded from said buckets once product weight has been simultaneously recorded for each of said plurality of buckets in said concentric circular series which passes over said weighing means.