Abstract:
An electronic scale is provided with an automatic cable retraction device. The electronic scale includes a casing, a detection element, and the automatic cable retraction device. The casing forms an opening. The detection element is set in the casing for detecting a weight of an object-to-be-weighed and supplies the weight data. The automatic cable retraction device is received in the casing and contains therein an electric cable, which is withdrawable out of the casing and/or automatically retractable back into the casing. An end of the cable is connected to the detection element and an opposite end is coupled to an electric connector or a measurement controller, or a recording device. The electric connector or the measurement controller or the recording device can be retracted with the cable back into the casing through the opening. As such, an electronic scale with automatic cable retraction device is provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to an electronic scale with automatic cable retraction, and in particular to an electronic scale that features automatic cable retraction and is applicable to weighing of an object. 
         [0003]    2. The Related Arts 
         [0004]    An electronic scale has been commonly used to weigh various object, such as commodity that is sold in a market, or serving as a weighing device for industry commodity. The conventional electronic scales are undergoing digitalization and the measurement of the electronic scale is stored in digital forms for subsequent displaying, storage, and output for further applications. However, an electronic scale, to be operable, must be connected to an electrical cable to supply the measurement obtained with the electronic scale. The electric cable requires repeated mounting and dismounting and such an electric cable is often not allowed to be retracted or extendible. This makes the application and carrying of the electronic scale difficult and troublesome. 
         [0005]    Further, the conventional electronic scale needs a digital operation panel for carrying out weighing operation, controlling and detecting data to be stored for subsequent application. The digital panel, however, is expensive and is not easy to repair once damaged. Thus, some of the conventional electronic scale uses an electrical cable to connect to a controller in order to omit the digital operation panel arranged on the scale itself. Again, the operation of such a panel-free electronic scale requires carrying the cable and the controller and repeated mounting/dismounting of the cable. This makes the use of the electronic scale very troublesome and is thus adverse to the development of the electronic scale industry. 
         [0006]    Known references, such as Taiwan Utility Model Publication No. 543895, disclosed an adaptor for an electronic scale, wherein a transmission port is provided to the electronic scale for connection with an electric cable to a receiving port to output weight measurements of objects-to-be-weighed. The operation of this known scale needs additionally carrying the electric cable and accessories, such as electric connectors. Again, it is troublesome to use the electronic scale due to repeated mounting/dismounting of the cable and also due to that the cable cannot be retracted or selectively extended. The known scale suffers inconvenience of operation and carrying. 
         [0007]    Taiwan Utility Model Publication No. 323610 disclosed an electronic scale for use in a refrigerant handling machine, wherein the electronic scale is combined with a refrigerant handling machine to measure weigh of refrigerant. Again, an additional cable or controller is needed for output of digital signals from the electronic scale. The same problem of inconvenience of repeated mounting/dismounting the cable and controller and carrying and storage occurs. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The state-of-the-art electronic scale relies on an additional electric cable and controller in performing weighing operation, whereby inconvenience of repeated mounting/dismounting of the cable and controller and lacking of the function of retracting/extending of the cable, which lead to troubles in carrying and storage, are problems of the conventional electronic scales. 
         [0009]    To overcome the problems and drawbacks of the conventional devices, the present invention provides an electronic scale featuring automatic cable retraction, wherein the electronic scale comprises a casing, a detection element, and an automatic cable retraction device. The casing forms an opening. The detection element is set in the casing for detecting a weight of an object-to-be-weighed and supplies the weight data. The automatic cable retraction device is received in the casing and contains therein an electric cable, which is selectively withdrawable out of the casing and/or automatically retractable back into the casing. An end of the cable is connected to the detection element and an opposite end is coupled to an electric connector or a measurement controller, or a recording device. The electric connector or the measurement controller or the recording device can be retracted with the cable back into the casing through the opening. As such, an electronic scale with automatic cable retraction device is provided. 
         [0010]    The effectiveness of the electronic scale of the present invention is that an automatic cable retraction device is provided inside a casing of the electronic scale to allow an electric cable, together with an electric connector and a controller connected thereto, to be selectively withdrawable out of the electronic scale and automatically retractable back into the casing to eliminate the need of repeatedly mounting/dismounting the electric cable and/or the controller and to ensure easiness of carrying and convenience of use by the automatic retraction and/or selective withdrawability of cable in the electronic scale. Thus, operation of the electronic scale and industrial value are both enhanced. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The present invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art by reading the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, with reference to the attached drawings, wherein: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an electronic scale constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the electronic scale of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a casing member, together with a detection element and an automatic cable retraction device arranged therein, of the electronic scale of the first embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view showing an electronic scale constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is an exploded view of the electronic scale of the second embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view illustrating a casing member, together with a detection element and an automatic cable retraction device arranged therein, of the electronic scale of the second embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of the electronic scale of the second embodiment of the present invention shown in  FIG. 4 ; 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is an exploded view of the automatic cable retraction device in accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0020]      FIG. 9  is a more detailed exploded view of the automatic cable retraction device of the example embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0021]      FIG. 10  is an exploded view of the automatic cable retraction device in accordance with another example embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0022]      FIG. 11  is a more detailed exploded view of the automatic cable retraction device of said another example embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0023]      FIG. 12  is an exploded view of the automatic cable retraction device in accordance with a further example embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0024]      FIG. 13  is a more detailed exploded view of the automatic cable retraction device of said further example embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    With reference to the drawings and in particular to  FIGS. 1-3 , which show an electronic scale constructed in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention, generally designated with reference numeral  100 , the electronic scale  100  of the present invention comprises two casing members  10 ,  20 . The first casing member  10  has a circumferential flange forming at least one notch  11 . The second casing member  20  has a circumferential flange forming a notch  21 . The first casing member  10  is stacked on and mates the second casing member  20  in such a way that a receiving chamber  22  is defined in the second casing member  20  and the notches  21 ,  11  communicate each other to define an access opening. 
         [0026]    A detection element  30  is set in the receiving chamber  22  of the casing member  20  to provide a function of weighing an object-to-be-weighed positioned on the casing member  10 . The detection element  30  converts the weight of the object-to-be-weighed into an electric output signal. 
         [0027]    At least one automatic cable retraction device  40  is set in the receiving chamber  22  of the casing members  20 . The automatic cable retraction device  40  has at least one entry opening  401  and receives therein a length of electric cable  50 . The cable  50  has an end connected to the detection element  30  and an opposite end connected to an electric connector  51 , whereby the electric signal representing a weighing result of the object-to-be-weighed obtained by the detection element  30  is transmittable through the cable  50  and the electric connector  51  for output. The electric connector  51  of the cable  50  is withdrawable through the entry opening  401  of the automatic cable retraction device  40  and further through the notch  11  of the casing member  10  and the notch  21  of the casing member  20  for use. After the use, the cable  50  is released and is allowed to freely driven backward by a resilient force induced by the automatic cable retraction device  40  to have the cable  50  and the electric connector  51 , as well as any external devices/members (not shown) coupled to the electric connector  51 , retracted back into the receiving chamber  22  of the casing member  20  for storage. 
         [0028]    Referring to  FIGS. 4-7 , an electronic scale  100  constructed in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein a handle portion  12  is formed on the casing member  10  and a counterpart handle portion  23  is formed on the casing member  20 . The detection element  30  and the automatic cable retraction device  40  are set between the casing member  10  and the casing member  20  (as shown in  FIG. 7 ). An opening  24  is formed between the casing members  10 ,  20 , whereby the cable  50  of the automatic cable retraction device  40  is allowed to be pulled outward from or retracted back into the automatic cable retraction device  40  through the opening  24  formed between the casing members  10 ,  20 . The handle portions  12 ,  23  allow a user to hand hold the electronic scale  100  for carrying. 
         [0029]    Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an example embodiment of the automatic cable retraction device  40  of the electronic scale  100  in accordance with the present invention is shown. The automatic cable retraction device  40  comprises a top cover  41 , a bottom base  42 , a coil spring  43 , a rotary disk  44 , a trace definition disk  45 , and the cable  50 . The top cover  41  has a circumference along which a plurality of fastening lugs  411  is formed. The top cover  41  also defines a plurality of through slots  412  on a surface thereof. The bottom base  42  has a circumference along which a plurality of fastening lugs  421  and mounting holes  422  are formed. The fastening lugs  421  are set to respectively correspond to the fastening lugs  411  of the top cover  41  and are secured together with bolts  421 A so as to fix the top cover  41  and the bottom base  42  together. The mounting holes  422  receive bolts  422 A extending therethrough and engaging a bottom of the casing member  20  of the electronic scale  100  to securely fix the bottom base  42  to the casing member  20 . The bottom base  42  forms an axle  423  therein. A slit  424  is defined through the axle  423  and extends in an axial direction of the axle  423 . The bottom base  42  has a circumferential flange defining the entry opening  401  of which an inside wall forms a plurality of guide boards  425 . 
         [0030]    The coil spring  43  has an inner end  431  fit into and retained by the slit  424  of the bottom base  42  and an outer end  432  forming a hook  433 . 
         [0031]    The rotary disk  44  forms a central bore  441  rotatably fit over the axle  423  of the bottom base  42 , whereby the rotary disk  44  is rotatable about the axle  423 . The rotary disk  44  forms a cavity  443  having a bottom on which a peg  442  is formed for engaging and thus fixing the hook  433  of the coil spring  43  thereon, whereby a biasing force is applied to the rotary disk  44  by the coil spring  43 . A plurality of pin seats  443  is formed in the cavity  443 , each receiving and holding a sleeve  443 B that in turn receives and holds a pin  443 C. 
         [0032]    The cavity  443  of the rotary disk  44  also forms at least one cable slot  444  and a retention slot  445 . A cable channel  446  is formed around an outer circumference of the rotary disk  44  and in communication with the cable slot  444 . An end of the cable  50  is fixed in the retention slot  445  and an opposite extends through the cable slot  444  and further extends into and wind around the cable channel  446  to have the electric connector  51  mounted to said opposite end of the cable  50  completely received in the cable channel  446  for storage. 
         [0033]    The bottom of the rotary disk  44  is coupled to a rotational shaft  447  that carries a brake roller  448 . The brake roller  448  forms a retention groove  448 A that fixes an end of a spring plate  449 . The spring plate  449  has an opposite end that is put in contact engagement with an outer circumference of the rotary disk  44 , whereby the brake roller  448  and the spring plate  449  may serve as a resilient ratchet mechanism to effect depression engagement and positioning against the coil spring  43  and the rotary disk  44  at the time when the rotary disk  44  is driven to rotate by the spring force of the coil spring  43 , so that the coil spring  43  may maintain positioning and stably release the spring force in order to ensure stable positioning and rotational operation of the rotary disk  44 . 
         [0034]    The trace definition disk  45  forms a central bore  451  that is fit over a top end of the axle  423  of the bottom base  42 . The trace definition disk  45  forms a plurality of tracks  452  and a plurality of ribs  453 . The tracks  452  are in the form of elongate through slots that slidably receives the pins  443 C therein for stably guiding the rotational motion of the rotary disk  44 . The ribs  453  are fit into the slots  412  of the top cover  41  to ensure secure coupling between the trace definition disk  45  and the top cover  41 , whereby the trace definition disk  45  may provide support for stable rotation of the rotary disk  44 . 
         [0035]    In practical operation of the automatic cable retraction device  40 , the end of the cable  50  to which the electric connector  51  is mounted can be withdrawn by being pulled outward through the entry opening  401  and the guide boards  425  guide the withdrawal of the cable  50 . At this time, the rotary disk  44  undergoes clockwise rotation and the coil spring  43  is driven thereby to simultaneously do clockwise rotation and is tightly wound up to induce a compression spring force. The brake roller  448  and the spring plate  449  arranged on the bottom of the rotary disk  44  provide guiding and positioning to the compression of spring. After the use of the cable  50 , the cable  50  is further pulled outward and then released and by doing so, the brake roller  448  and the spring plate  449  spontaneously loss the function of positioning, and the coil spring  43  is allowed to release the compression spring potential, causing counterclockwise rotation of the rotary disk  44  and retracting the cable  50  back into the cable channel  446  formed around the rotary disk  44 . With this, automatic retraction of the cable  50  and the electric connector  51  back into the receiving chamber  22  of the casing member  20  is realized. 
         [0036]    Referring to  FIGS. 10 and 11 , another example embodiment of the automatic cable retraction device  40  of the electronic scale  100  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. In this instant example, the rotational shaft  447 , the brake roller  448 , and the spring plate  449  are omitted from the bottom of the rotary disk  44 , and instead, the top cover  41  forms a slot  413  in an outer circumference and the bottom base  42  also forms a slot  426  in an outer circumference thereof. A resilient retention knob  60  has an end forming an operation section  61  and an opposite end forming a fitting section  62  and a brake board  63 . The fitting section  62  is fit in the slot  426  of the bottom base  42  and the operation section  61  is located between the slot  413  of the top cover  41  and the slot  426  of the bottom base  42 . The operation section  61  is movable back and forth to selectively change the location of the fitting section  62  between the slot  426  and an outer wall of the bottom base  42 , so as to change resiliently deformed length of the brake board  63 , by which the brake board  63  may selectively abut against an outer circumference of the cable  50  wound around the cable channel  446  of the rotary disk  44  to effect positioning of the cable  50  for the withdrawal thereof, or selectively separate from the cable  50  to allow the cable  50  to be freely pulled outward or aquatically and resiliently retracted. The resilient retention knob  60  can be set on the embodiment of the electronic scale  100  shown in  FIGS. 4-7 , namely serving as the automatic cable retraction device  40  for the open type casing members  10 ,  20  to allow a user to operate the operation section  61  of the resilient retention knob  60  through the opening  24  between the casing members  10 ,  20 . 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a further example embodiment of the automatic cable retraction device  40  of the electronic scale  100  in accordance with the present invention is illustrated. In this instant example, the rotational shaft  447 , the brake roller  448 , and the spring plate  449  are omitted from the bottom of the rotary disk  44 , and instead, the bottom base  42  forms a through hole  427  in an outer circumferential wall thereof. A shaft  428  is set in the interior of the bottom base  42 . A resilient brake board  70  forms a hole  71  fit over the shaft  428  in a rotatable manner. The resilient brake board  70  forms, at an end thereof, a brake section  72  and a resilient element  721  is arranged between the brake section  72  and the shaft  428  to bias the brake section  72  against an outer circumference of the cable  50  wound around the cable channel  446  of the rotary disk  44  for positioning the cable  50  during withdrawal of the cable  50 . The resilient brake board  70  forms a depression section  73  on an opposite end. The depression section  73  extends through the hole  427  of the bottom base  42  to be accessible by a user for inward depression of the depression section  73 , by which the brake section  72  is rotated outward to disengage from the outer circumference of the cable  50  that is wound around the cable channel  446  of the rotary disk  44 , allowing the cable  50  to be freely pulled outward for withdrawal or automatically retracted backward in order to realize the function of automatic retraction of the cable  50  and the electric connector  51 . At this time, the resilient element  721  is in a compressed condition. Once the depression section  73  is released, the resilient potential of the resilient element  721  is released to rotate the brake section  72  back into abutting engagement with the outer circumference of the cable  50  to thereby maintain a braking condition; and the depression section  73  is returned to the user accessible condition for subsequent operation. 
         [0038]    Although the present invention has been described with reference to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention which is intended to be defined by the appended claims.