Patent ID: 8319122
Filing Date: 2012-11-27
Classification: B65B,B65D,G01G

Abstract:
1. A hopper adapted to be used in a weighing apparatus, the hopper comprising: a first hopper main body having a tubular shape, and configured and arranged to be mounted to the weighing apparatus, the first hopper main body having a discharge opening; a first gate operatively coupled to the first hopper main body, the first gate having a first inner surface forming a collecting space with the first hopper main body so as to hold articles, and the first gate being configured and arranged to be selectively open and close to store the articles when in a closed state and to discharge the articles when in an opened state, the first inner surface of the first gate including a first upper slanted surface and a first lower slanted surface that are continuous, with an angle formed by the first lower slanted surface and the horizontal plane being smaller than an angle formed by the first upper slanted surface and the horizontal plane when the first hopper main body is mounted to the weighing apparatus, and a second gate operatively coupled to the first hopper main body, the second gate having a second inner surface forming the collecting space with the first hopper main body and the first inner surface, the first gate and the second gate being asymmetrically arranged relative to the discharge opening such that in the closed state the first gate covers a larger area of the discharge opening than the second gate, the second inner surface of the second gate including a second upper slanted surface and a second lower slanted surface that are continuous, with an angle formed by the second lower slanted surface and the horizontal plane being smaller than an angle formed by the second upper slanted surface and the horizontal plane when the first hopper main body is mounted to the weighing apparatus.