Patent ID: 6365845
Filing Date: 2002-04-02
Classification: G01G

Abstract:
A weighing machine for providing a quantity of product having a predetermined weight, comprising:a hollow support member, having outer and inner surfaces, said hollow support member formed of material that is impervious to the passage of air and water, said hollow support member having a generally cylindrical mid-portion that can be closed along an upper edge by a generally dome-shaped top portion and is closed along a bottom edge by a bottom portion, said inner surface defining an enclosed hollow chamber within said hollow support member; a distributor overlaying and located centrally of said generally dome-shaped portion, said distributor having a peripheral edge over which product supplied to said distributor is discharged; a power drive for said distributor located within said enclosed hollow chamber and supported by said dome-shaped top portion, a drive opening formed in said dome-shaped top portion, said power drive extending through said drive opening and operatively connected to said distributor, a seal between said drive opening and said power drive for preventing debris laden air and water from entering said enclosed hollow chamber; a plurality of vibrating feeder trays, each overlaying said generally dome-shaped portion and arranged such that product discharged over the peripheral edge of said distributor falls into said plurality of vibrating feeder trays, said vibrating feeder trays radiate from said distributor and include a discharge at their outer edge; a power vibrator for each of said vibrating feeder trays, each of said power vibrators being resiliently supported from said inner surfaces of said dome-shaped top portion, vibrator openings formed in said hollow support member through which a portions of said power vibrators extend for operative connection to its associated vibrating feeder tray, seals between said vibrator openings and the portions of said power vibrator that extends through said vibrator opening for preventing debris laden air and water from entering said enclosed hollow chamber; an accumulator associated with each of said vibrating feeder trays carried on the outer surface of said generally cylindrical mid-portion of the hollow support member, said accumulators located such that product discharged from a vibrating feeder tray will fall into its associated accumulator, said accumulators having discharge openings that can be opened and closed by actuating mechanism, controls carried by said inner surface of said hollow support member for energizing said actuating mechanism; a weighing mechanism associated with each of said accumulators and carried by said generally cylindrical mid-portion of the hollow support member, each weighing mechanism includes a weighing bucket that is supported on said outer surface of said hollow support member such that product discharged from its associated accumulator will fall into the weigh bucket, weigh bucket mounting mechanism carried by the outer surface of said generally cylindrical mid-portion of the hollow support member, each weighing mechanism includes a weigh cell mounted on the inner surface of said generally cylindrical mid-portion of the hollow support member; and a collecting mechanism located to receive discrete amounts of product from any of said weigh buckets, consolidate it, and direct it to another location.