Abstract:
The apparatus serves for weighing and has a placement surface ( 3 ) for the object to be weighed. The placement surface ( 3 ) is provided by a placement element ( 2 ) which is supportable by at least two carrying elements ( 6 ) with respect to a steepening surface. The carrying elements ( 6 ) are configured identically relative to one another. Each of the carrying elements ( 6 ) has at least one load cell ( 17 ) for weight acquisition and a levelling device for height adjustment.

Description:
The present application is a 371 of International application PCT/DE2011/000267, filed Mar. 15, 2011, which claims priority of DE 10 2010 022 440.5, filed May 28, 2010, the priority of these applications is hereby claimed and these applications are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to a device for weighing, which includes a placement surface for the object to be weighed, and in which the placement surface is made available by a bearing element which is supportable by at least two carrying elements relative to an installation surface. 
     Typically, in accordance with the state of the art, four carrying elements are arranged in the area of a massive frame and the placement element is then placed on this frame. The frame and the carrying elements are individually adapted to the respectively existing structural realization of the concrete scale. In the area of the carrying elements, weighing cells may be arranged for recording the weight, wherein the weighing cells are connected through electrical connection lines to an evaluating device. 
     In accordance with the state of the art, for producing differently constructed scales, a corresponding number of frames with carrying elements must be produced and made available. This results in correspondingly significant costs. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is the object of the present invention to construct a device of the above-described type in such a way that a modular construction is reinforced. 
     In accordance with the invention, this object is met by identically constructing the carrying elements relative to each other and each of the carrying elements has at least one weighing cell for weight recording, and has at least one leveling device for vertical adjustment. 
     The identical construction of the carrying elements relative to each other facilitates a universal manufacture of the carrying elements, which leads to a simplified storage and reduces the manufacturing costs because of the greater number of units. The carrying elements can be connected to a light frame construction and may be positioned and fixed relative to the frame in dependence on the respectively present structural configuration of the scale. 
     For carrying out the vertical adjustment, it is proposed that the carrying element has a base element, as well as a spacer element, which is positionable relative to the base element. 
     A secure placement is achieved by providing the spacer element with a foot. 
     A secure and simultaneously accurate vertical adjustment can be effected by supporting the spacer element so as to be pivotable relative to the base element. 
     For making available a pivot joint, it is proposed that an elastic element is arranged in the area of a pivot joint connecting the spacer element to the base element. 
     A respective pivoting position can be predetermined by making the spacer element positionable by an adjusting element relative to the base element. 
     Low adjusting forces, when carrying out the pivoting movement, are supported by arranging the adjusting element relative to the foot opposite the pivot joint. 
     For fixing a positioning of a plurality of carrying elements relative to each other, it is proposed that the carrying element is provided with a frame. 
     A geometric adjustment to a concrete spatial dimensioning of the scale can be effected by connecting the carrying element to the frame by means of a spacer arm. 
     A high standing stability is achieved by connecting four carrying elements to the frame. 
     Adaptability to different geometries of different scales is reinforced by arranging the spacer arms so as to be positionable relative to the frame. 
     An introduction of forces and/or moments into the frame can be minimized by providing the foot in the area of its extension facing away from the spacer element with a contour in such a way that, in a plurality of pivoting positions of the spacer element relative to the base element, a line of action which corresponds to a force transmission direction from the bearing element to the base element, and a line of action which corresponds to a force transmission from the foot to a placement surface, are essentially directed in the same direction and so as to collapse into each other. 
     In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are schematically illustrated. In the drawing: 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
         FIG. 1  shows a perspective side view of a floor scale with an indicator and operating device arranged on a column, 
         FIG. 2  shows a perspective illustration of four carrying elements which are connected to a frame through spacer arms, 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective illustration of a carrying element, 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the carrying element according to  FIG. 3 , and 
         FIG. 5  shows a carrying element according to  FIG. 4  with a changed vertical adjustment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       FIG. 1  shows a perspective illustration of a scale  1  which is constructed as a floor scale. In the area of a bearing element  2 , a placement surface  3  is provided onto which the person steps to be weighed when the weighing process is carried out. An operation capability of the scale  1  is reinforced by a display  4 , as well as adjusting elements  5  which are arranged in the area of a console  7 . The console  7  is arranged on a level which is comfortable for the user and is supported by a column  8 . 
     The bearing element  2  is supported by carrying elements  6  relative to an installation surface, not illustrated. 
       FIG. 2  shows a perspective illustration of four carrying elements  6  which are each connected through a spacer arm  9  to a frame  10 . Because of the construction of the carrying elements  6 , which will be explained further below, the frame  10  can be constructed as a light weight construction because no great forces have to be absorbed. In the illustrated embodiment, the frame  10 , as well as the spacer arms  9 , consist of simple angle plates which are screwed together. 
     The perspective side view of  FIG. 3  illustrates the construction of the carrying elements  6 . The carrying element  6  has a base element  11 , as well as a spacer element  12 , which is adjustable relative to the base element  11 . A foot  13  is arranged in the area of the lower extension of the spacer element  12  in the vertical direction of the spacer element  12 . The spacer element  12  is connected, on the one hand, through a pivoting joint  14  and, on the other hand, through an adjusting element  15  to the base element  11 . 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the pivoting joint  14  consists of a bolt  16  screwed to the base element  11 , on which the spacer element  12  is movably seated. 
     Underneath the base element  11  is arranged a weighing cell  17  which is coupled to a bearing  18  for the bearing element  2  in order to transmit the weight force to be measured. In accordance with another embodiment, the weighing cell  17  may also be arranged above the base element  11 . 
     Shown in  FIG. 3  are also a line of action  19  which indicates the direction of the weight force transmitted by the bear element  2  to the bearing  18 , and a line of action  20  which illustrates the direction of the force transmitted by the foot  13  to the placement surface. It can be seen that in accordance with the embodiment in  FIG. 3 , the lines of action  19 ,  20  have essentially the same direction and are arranged along a common line of action axis. As a result of this arrangement of the lines of action  19 ,  20 , almost no force transmission takes place from the carrying element  6  to the frame  10 . 
       FIG. 4  illustrates further details of the carrying element  6 . It can be seen, for example, that in the area of the pivoting joint  14  an elastic element  21  is arranged on the bolt  16 , wherein the elastic element  21  supports a pivotability of the spacer element  12  relative to the base element  1 , on the one hand, and a play-free holding unit of the spacer element  12  on the other hand. The spacer element  12  has, in the area of the pivoting joint  14 , in the area of its surface facing the base element  11 , a curved outer contour  22  which supports rolling off of the base element  11 . 
     It can also be seen from  FIG. 4  that the foot  13  has an outwardly curved contour  24  in the area of its extension facing the placement surface  23 . This contour ensures that a support point  25  identified in  FIG. 4  travels, upon pivoting of the spacer element  12 , along the contour  24  such that the lines of action  19 ,  20  always essentially coincide. 
     For example, the adjusting element  15  may be constructed as an adjusting wheel by means of which a bolt  26  is turned with an external thread in an internal thread of the base element  11 . This causes a predeterminable turning of the bolt  26  out of the base element  11  and, as a result, pivoting of the spacer element  12 . The spacer element  12  is movably guided by a bearing  27  and a counter bearing  28  relative to the bolt  26  in such a way that the intended pivoting movements can be carried out. 
       FIG. 5  shows the arrangement according to  FIG. 4  after turning of the bolt  26 , in such a way that the bolt  26  protrudes further downwardly out of the base element  11 . This causes the spacer element  12  to be pivoted relative to the base element  11 . Particularly, it can be seen that because of the contour  24  of the foot  13 , the bearing point  25  is arranged also in this pivoted positioning in an extension of the lines of action  19 ,  20 . This avoids an introduction of moments or bending forces into the spacer arm  9 .