Load cell and weighing apparatus using the same

Abstract: A load cell (3) includes a strain inducing element (5) having a fixed rigid body (5b) fixedly secured to a base support (4), and a plurality of transverse beams (5c, 5d) spaced one above the other and connecting the fixed and movable rigid bodies (5a, 5b) together. Each of the transverse beams (5c, 5d) has first and second strain generating areas (6) defined therein in spaced relation to each other at respective locations adjacent the fixed and movable rigid bodies (5a, 5b). A bridge circuit (8) for outputting a load signal of a magnitude proportional to strains generated at the strain generating areas (6) includes strain gauges (RA, RB, RC, RD) for detecting the strains generated at the strain generating areas (6), adjusting elements (TA, TB, TC, TD) for adjusting a balance of the bridge circuit (8), and lines (L) connecting them together. A circuit portion (8a) of the bridge circuit (8) which includes at least the strain gauge (RA, RB, RC, RD) and some of the lines (L) is formed in a predetermined pattern on one surface of the strain inducing element (5) so as to straddle between the first and second strain generating areas (6). Not only is the circuit portion symmetrical with respect to a point (O1) intermediate between the first and second strain generating areas (6), but also the strain inducing element (5) has left and right portions, including the fixed and movable rigid bodies (5a, 5b), which are symmetrical to each other.

Description: The present invention relates to a load cell of a type wherein a bridge circuit having strain gauges is formed in a predetermined pattern on a surface of a strain inducing element and also to a weighing apparatus using such load cell. A load cell employed in the prior art weighing apparatus generally comprises a strain inducing element for generating strain in response to a load applied thereto, a flexible wiring sheet such as, for example, a flexible printed circuit substrate and supported by the strain inducing element, and strain gauges fixedly bonded to the strain inducing element and having lead lines soldered to lines forming the flexible sheet to form a bridge circuit for detection of the strain. An example of this is disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Examined Patent Publication No. 59-2332 published in 1984. On the other hand, in order to make the load cell compact, an attempt is made to form a thin-film bridge circuit on one surface of the strain inducing element by the use of an etching technique. However, where the thin-film bridge circuit is formed by the use of the etching, the following problems have been found. Resistance element of the strain gauges forming the bridge circuit are generally made of material having a relatively high resistance such as, for example, a copper-nickel alloy whereas the lead lines of the strain gauges and the lines bundled in the flexible sheet are made of a low resistance material such as gold. Therefore, where they are formed by the use of the thin-film technology, they are required to be etched separately, rendering the manufacturing process to be complicated. On the other hand, in order to simplify the manufacturing process, it may be contemplated to make both of the strain gauges and the wiring lines of the same material such as, for example, a copper-nickel alloy so that the both can be etched during one process step. However, the use of the same material for the strain gauges and the wiring lines brought about an increase in resistance of the wiring lines. Once this occurs, not only the strain gauges, but also the wiring lines become susceptible to displacement of the strain inducing element and an error may occur in an output from the bridge circuit, with the consequence that the load cell will no longer provide a highly precise, accurate weighing result. Also, since the strain inducing element is apt to deform with change in temperature, a pattern of distribution of temperature in the strain inducing element must be taken into consideration when a highly precise, accurate weighing result is desired. By way of example, if an object to be weighed which is low in temperature, such as, for example, a frozen food product, is placed on the weighing table, the low temperature of the object is transmitted to the strain inducing element through the weighing table and, therefore, the temperature of one of the strain gauges adjacent one end of the strain inducing element, that is coupled with the weighing table, becomes different from that of the other of the strain gauges adjacent the opposite end of the strain inducing element, thereby creating a temperature gradient between the left and right strain gauges. Accordingly, where the temperature-dependent coefflcient of resistance of the straln gauges is not zero, a change in resistance corresponding to the temperature gradient develops between the left and right strain gauges, accompanied by change in output of the bridge circuit to such an extent as to be unable to provide the highly precise, accurate weighing result. Also, the Young's modulus of elasticity of one end of the strain inducing element increases with decrease in temperature, accompanied by reduction in quantity of strain which leads to a weighing error. US-A-4520339 discloses a load cell having a load cell body, strain gauges attached to the load cell body, and a circuit board also attached to the load cell body. The circuit board is composed of a flexible board, a wiring pattern, and soldering portions on either side of a bending portion at which the flexible board is bent for attachment to the load cell body. US-A-4332174 describes a load-cell in which strain gauges are mounted on a recessed portion of the flexible arms of the cell. The circuitry for the strain gauges is mounted on a printed circuit board which is fixed to the stationary portion of the cell and extends along the length of the flexible beams. US-A-4267724 describes a strain gauge transducer having two pairs of strain gauges. US-A-4718287 describes a force sensing device in the form of a parallelepipedic block which is deformable and whose flexural deformation can be detected. The present invention has been developed to substantially eliminate the problems hereinabove discussed in connection with the prior art load cell and weighing apparatus and is intended to provide an improved load cell effective to simplify the manufacturing process and also to secure a highly precise, accurate weighing result. In accordance with the present invention, we provide a load cell according to claim 1 or claim 4. The bridge referred to above includes strain gauges for detecting the strains generated at the strain generating areas, adjusting elements for adjusting a balance of the bridge circuit, and lines connecting them together. A circuit portion of the bridge circuit which includes at least the strain gauges and seme of the lines is formed in a predetermined pattern on one surface of the strain inducing element so as to straddle between the first and second strain generating areas, with, in one case, the circuit portion being symmetrical with respect to a point intermediate between the first and second strain generating areas. According to the present invention, left and right portions of the circuit portion of the bridge circuit which includes the strain gauges and some of the wiring lines are so tailored as to be symmetrical to each other with respect to a point intermediate between the left and right strain generating areas adjacent the fixed and movable rigid bodies, respectively. Accordingly, where the etching technique is employed to pattern the circuit portion, a difference in dimension between left and right circuit patterns including the strain gauges can be conveniently minimized enough to minimize a difference in resistance between the left and right strain gauges and also between the wiring lines. Also, since the strain inducing element have left and right portions which are symmetrical to each other, that is, the strain inducing element is of a symmetrical configuration, and, also, since the circuit portion of the bridge circuit is of a symmetrical design as hereinabove described, a uniform pattern of distribution of heat evolved by the left and right strain gauges can be obtained. This effect is particularly dominant where the same material is employed for the strain gauges and the wiring lines for the purpose of simplifying the manufacturing process. Therefore, even though the resistance of the wiring lines increases by the reason discussed above minimization of the error between the left and right portions is effective to render a change in resistance occurring in the left portion incident to displacement of the strain inducing element and that occurring in the right portion incident to displacement of the strain inducing element to be uniform. Accordingly, the output error of the bridge circuit can be minimized advantageously. Preferably, the adjusting elements in the bridge circuit are formed in a predetermined pattern on the surface of the strain inducing element together with the strain gauges. According to claim 1 and to a certain preferred embodiment of claim 4, a Young's temperature compensating element for compensating for change in Young's modulus of elasticity of the strain inducing element with change in temperature and/or zero-point temperature compensating elements for compensating for change in zero-point of the bridge circuit with change in temperature are preferably disposed at respective locations adjacent said intermediate point between the first and second strain generating gauges. Where the Young's temperature compensating element and/or the zero-point temperature compensating elements are so disposed at respective locations adjacent said intermediate point as described above, even though a difference in temperature develops between the left and right portions of the strain inducing element, a temperature compensation can be accomplished on the basis of an average temperature of the left and right portions of the strain inducing element and, therefore, the accuracy with which this temperature compensation is accomplished is high advantageously. With the load cell according to claim 4 of the double-sided gauge system, the tensile strain gauges and the compressive strain gauges paired on either end of the load cell are positioned one above the other in alignment with each other. Therefore, even though a difference in temperature develops between the opposite ends of the load cell, the tensile and compressive strain gauges attain the same temperature sufficient to exhibit a substantially identical change in resistance and the bridge circuit can therefore be maintained in a state of equilibrium, resulting in a highly precise, accurate weighing result. According to a further preferred embodiment of the present invention, a heat insulating material interposed between the fixed rigid body and the base support and also between the movable rigid body and the weighing table. The use of the heat insulating pads is effective to avoid thermal conduction from the weighing table and/or the base support to the strain inducing element. Therefore, an uneven distribution of temperature in the strain inducing element resulting from the temperature difference between the strain inducing element and one or both of the weighing table and the base support can advantageously be suppressed. Also, since heat evolved in the strain inducing element as a result of heating of the strain gauges does not flow from and to the outside, a distribution of the temperature inside the strain inducing element brought about by said heat is rendered symmetrical with respect to left and right portions of the strain inducing element. Accordingly, a reduction in weighing preciseness which would be brought about by the change in temperature can be minimized. The present invention also provides a weighing apparatus which makes use of the load cell of a type referred to above. Specifically, the weighing apparatus herein provided comprises, in addition to the load cell referred to above, a base support for supporting the fixed rigid body of the load cell, and a weighing table coupled with the movable rigid body of the load cell for supporting thereon an object to be weighed. In any event, the present invention will become more clearly understood from the following description of preferred embodiments thereof, when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiments and the drawings are given only for the purpose of illustration and explanation, and are not to be taken as limiting the scope of the present invention in any way whatsoever, which scope is to be determined by the appended claims. In the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals are used to denote like parts throughout the several views, and: Fig. 1 is a schematic side view of a weighing apparatus utilizing a load cell according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the load cell shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing a bridge circuit patterned on a top surface of a strain inducing element forming a part of the load cell shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 4 is a circuit diagram showing the bridge circuit employed in the load cell shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the load cell according to a second preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6A is a top plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing a first bridge circuit patterned on the top surface of the strain inducing element forming a part of the load cell shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 6B is a bottom plan view, on an enlarged scale, showing a second bridge circuit patterned on a bottom surface of the strain inducing element forming that part of the load cell shown in Fig. 5; Fig. 7 is a circuit diagram showing the bridge circuit employed in the load cell shown in Fig. 5; and Fig. 8 is a schematic side view of the load cell shown in Fig. 5. Referring first to Fig. 1, a weighing apparatus 1 according to a first preferred embodiment of the present invention shown therein comprises a support table 2 for the support thereon of an object to be weighed, a load cell 3 operable when loaded by the object placed on the support table 2 to generate a strain of a magnitude proportional to the weight of the object and then to output a load signal, a support base 4 for the support thereon of the load cell 3, and an external circuit (including a signal processor and an electric power circuit) 14 for processing the load signal supplied from the load cell 3 to provide a weight signal indicative of the weight of the object placed on the support table 2. As shown in a schematic perspective representation in Fig. 2, the load cell 3 referred to above comprises a strain inducing element 5 of a generally rectangular configuration made of an aluminum alloy or stainless steel and capable of generating a strain of a magnitude proportional to the weight of the object placed on the support table 2, a circuit component 8a forming a part of a bridge circuit 8, as will be described later, which is patterned, i.e., formed in a predetermined pattern, on, for example, a top surface of the strain inducing element 5, and a flexible wiring ribbon 12 such as, for example, a flexible printed circuit (FPC) substrate including a plurality of conductors 19 and used to connect a non-patterned portion of the bridge circuit 8 with the external circuit (including the signal processor and the electric power circuit) 14. The flexible wiring ribbon 12 has a connection 13 at one end thereof which is soldered to the circuit component 8a of the patterned bridge circuit 8 as will be described later, and also has at the opposite end a connection 17 such as, for example, a connector which is in turn connected with the external circuit 14. A generally intermediate portion 15 of the flexible wiring ribbon 12 between the opposite connections 13 and 17 is secured by the use of a suitable fixing means such as, for example, a double-sided adhesive tape, to an upper surface U and a side surface S of a fixed rigid body 5a of the strain inducing element 5. The strain inducing element 5 is of a generally elongated configuration and comprises, in addition to the fixed rigid body 5a fixedly connected with an upright arm of the base support 4, a movable rigid body 5b fixedly coupled with the weighing table 2 through a downwardly extending stem 2a of the weighing table 2, and upper and lower transverse beams 5c and 5d connecting the fixed and movable rigid bodies 5a and 5b together and spaced a predetermined distance from each other so as to extend parallel to each other to thereby leave a generally rectangular hollow 7 in cooperation with the fixed and movable rigid bodies 5a and 5b. Opposite end portions of each of the upper and lower transverse beams 5c and 5d adjacent the fixed and movable rigid bodies 5a and 5b which confront the hollow 7 are inwardly notched at 9 inwardly from the hollow 7 to thereby define respective constricted wall areas in the associated transverse beam 5c and 5d, said constricted wall areas in the fixed and movable rigid bodies 5a and 5c serving as strain generating areas 6 of the strain inducing element 5. The strain inducing element 5 of the above described construction is symmetrical in shape with respect to a mid center plane VP dividing each of the upper and lower transverse beams 5c and 5d into equal halves as shown in Fig. 1 and also with respect to a center point C lying intermediate not only between the fixed and movable rigid bodies 5a and 5b, but also between the upper and lower transverse beams 5c and 5d. A heat insulating pad 18 is interposed between the fixed rigid body 5a and the upright arm of the base support 4 and also between the movable rigid body 5b and the stem 2a of the weighing table 2. The heat insulating pad 18 is, since the strain inducing element 5 is made of an aluminum alloy or stainless steel as described previously, made of insulating material of a kind having a thermal conductivity not higher than 1.0 kcal/c·h·°C, preferably not higher than 0.1 kcal/m·h·°C and more preferably not higher than 0.05 kcal/m·h·°C. Examples of the heat insulating material which may be employed for the heat insulating pads 18 include bakelite (phenol resin) and any other suitable synthetic resin. As shown in a plane representation in Fig. 3, the bridge circuit 8 includes first and second compressive strain gauges RA and RB for detecting strains generated at the strain generating areas 6 in the upper and lower transverse beams 5c and 5d adjacent the movable rigid body 5b; third and fourth tenslle strain gauges RC and RD for detecting strains generated at the strain generating areas 6 in the upper and lower transverse beams 5c and 5d adjacent the fixed rigid body 5a; bridge balance adjusting resistors TA, TB, TC and TD which are an adjustment element for adjusting an output from the bridge circuit 8; and zero-point temperature compensating elements E1 and E2 such as, for example, temperature sensitive resistors for compensating for change of the zero-point of the bridge circuit 8 which would occur with change in temperature; and connecting conductors or connecting lines L connecting those elements to complete the bridge circuit 8. The first to fourth strain gauges RA, RB, RC and RD are connected in series with the associated bridge balance adjusting resistors TA, TB, TC and TD to thereby form four respective sides of the bridge circuit 8. The zero-point temperature compensating elements E1 and E2 are inserted in the respective two sides of the bridge circuit 8 which are connected together at a positive output terminal OUT(+) (or maybe a negative output terminal OUT(-)). Alternatively, they may be inserted in one of two sides of the bridge circuit 8 connected with the positive output terminal OUT(+) and one of two sides thereof confronting the above mentioned one side and connected with the negative output terminal OUT(-), respectively. The circuit component 8a of the bridge circuit 8 refered to above includes the first to fourth strain gauges RA, RB, RC and RD, the bridge balance adjusting resistors TA, TB, TC and TD and some of the connecting conductors L, that is, series-connecting conductors used to connect the first to fourth strain gauges RA, RB, RC and RD in series with the associated bridge balance adjusting resistors TA, TB, TC and TD. This circuit component 8a is printed in the predetermined pattern on the top surface of the strain inducing element 5 by the use of a known photo-printing technique or a photo-etching technique so as to straddle the strain generating areas 6 in the upper transverse beam 5c, with the first and second strain gauges RA and RB and the third and fourth strain gauges RC and RD positioned immediately above the respective strain generating areas 6 in the upper transverse beam 5c. As can readily be understood from Fig. 3, the first to fourth strain gauges RA, RB, RC and RD, the bridge balance adjusting resistors TA, TB, TC and TD, and the series-connecting conductors L, all forming the circuit-component 8a of the bridge circuit 8, are positioned and laid symmetrical with respect to a center point 01 intermediate between the strain generating areas 6 in the upper transverse beam 5c. Other lines of the bridge circuit 8 than the patterned circuit component 8a are formed in the flexible wiring ribbon 12 as hereinbefore described. The zero-point temperature compensating elements E1 and E2 are not patterned, but are mounted as separate component parts on the top surface of the upper transverse beam 5c at a central portion O of the bridge circuit 8 adjacent the center point O1. The zero-point temperature compensating element E1 has its opposite ends connected through a lead line L1 with respective connecting terminals 21 and 22 formed in the flexible wiring ribbon 12 and, on the other hand, the zero-point temperature compensating element E2 has its opposite ends connected through another lead line L1 with respective connecting terminals 23 and 24 formed in the flexible wiring ribbon 12. A Young's modulus temperature compensating element F such as, for example, a temperature sensitive resistor for compensating for change of the Young's modulus of elasticity of the strain inducing element 5 which would occur with change in temperature is, without being patterned, mounted as a separate component part on the top surface of the upper transverse beam 5c at the central portion O of the bridge circuit 8 and is electrically connected through a lead line L2 with a line 26 formed in the flexible wiring ribbon 12. The patterned circuit component 8a of the bridge circuit 8 together with the zero-point temperature compensating elements E1 and E2 and the Young's modulus temperature compensating element F is covered by a protective layer 10 of synthetic resin such as, for example, silicone for protecting them from influenced by external stresses. Referring particularly to Fig. 4, the external circuit 14 includes the signal processing circuit 30, the electric power circuit 31 and an amplifier 32. The electric power circuit 31 is electrically connected through lines 19 with positive and negative input terminals IN(+) and IN(-) of the bridge circuit 8 to apply an input voltage thereto. A voltage between the positive and negative output terminals OUT(+) and OUT(-) of the bridge circuit

Claims: A load cell (3) which comprises: a strain inducing element (5) including a fixed rigid body (5a), a movable rigid body (5b) to be loaded, a plurality of transverse beams (5c,5d) connecting said fixed and movable rigid bodies together, and said plurality of transverse beams being spaced one abovethe other, each of said transverse beams having first and second strain generating areas (6) defined therein in spaced relation to each other at respective locations adjacent said fixed and movable rigid bodies, said strain inducing element being of a shape symmetrical with respect to a mid center plane dividing the strain inducing element into left and right halves; a bridge circuit (8) for outputting a load signal of a magnitude proportional to strains generated at said strain generating areas (6); said bridge circuit (8) including strain gauges (RA-RD) for detecting the strains generated at the strain generating areas, adjusting elements (TA-TD) for adjusting a balance of the bridge circuit, and lines connecting them together; and a circuit portion (8a) of the bridge circuit (8) which includes at least said strain gauges and some of the lines being formed in a predetermined pattern on one surface of the strain inducing element so as to straddle between the first and second strain generating areas (6), wherein said predetermined pattern is symmetrical with respect to an intermediate point between the first and second strain generating areas, the cell further comprising a Young's modulus temperature compensating element (F) for compensating for change in Young's modulus of elasticity of the strain inducing element (5) with change in temperature, said Young's modulus temperature compensating element being disposed at a location adjacent said intermediate point between the first and second strain generating areas. The load cell as claimed in claim 1, wherein said adjusting elements (TA-TD) are formed in a predetermined pattern on the surface of the strain inducing element (5) together with the strain gauges. The load cell as ciaimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said bridge circuit (8) also includes zero-point temperature compensating elements (E1,E2) for compensating for change in zero-point of the bridge circuit with chenge in temperature, said zere-poini temperature compensating elements being disposed at respective locations adjacent said intermediate point between the first and second strain generating means. A load cell (3) which comprises: a strain inducing element (5) including a fixed rigid body (5a), a movable rigid body (5b) to be loaded, a plurality of transverse beams (5c,5d) connecting said fixed and movable rigid bodies together, and said plurality of transverse beams being spaced one above the other, each of said transverse beams having first and second strain generating areas (6) defined therein in spaced relation to each other at respective locations adjacent said fixed and movable rigid bodies, said strain inducing element being of a shape symmetrical with respect to a mid center plane dividing the strain inducing element into left and right halves; a bridge circult (8) for outpulling a load signal of a magnitude proportional to strains generated at said strain generating areas (6); said bridge circuit (8) including strain gauges (RA-RD) for detecting the strains generated at the strain generating areas, adjusting elements (TA-TD) for adjusting a balance of the bridge circuit, and lines connecting them logether; and a circuit portion (8a) of the bridge circuit (8) which includes at least said strain gauges and some of the lines being formed in a predetermined pattern on each of top and bottom surfaces of the strain inducing element so as to straddle between the first and second strain generating areas (6), wherein said predetermined pattern on respective top and bottom surfaces is symmetrical with respect to an intermediate point between the first and second strain generating areas. The load cell as claimed in claim 4, wherein said adjusting elements (TA-TD) are formed in a predetermined pattern on the surface of the strain inducing element (5) together with the strain gauges. The load cell as claimed in claims 4 or claim 5, further comprising a Young's modulus temperature compensating element (F) for compensating for change in Young's modulus of clasticity of the strain inducing element (5) with change in temperature, said Young's modulus temperature compensating element being disposed at a location adjacent said intermediate point between the first and second strain generating areas. The load cell as claimed in any of claims 4 to 6, wherein said bridge circuit (8) also includes zero-point temperature compensating elements (E1,E2) for compensating for change in zero-point of the bridge circuit with change in temperature, said zero-point temperature compensating elements being disposed at respective locations adjacent said intermediate point between the first and second strain generating means. A weighing apparatus which comprises: a load cell (3) as defined in any one of claims 1 to 7; a base support (4) for supporting the fixed rigid body of the load cell; and a weighing table (2) coupled with the movable rigid body of the load cell for supporting thereon an object to be weighed. The weighing apparatus as claimed in claim 8, further comprising a heat insulating material (18) interposed between the fixed rigid body and the base support and also between the movable rigid body and the weighing table.

Inventors: HIJIKATA TARO, NAITO KAZUFUMI, SUZUKI TAKAO, HIJIKATA, TARO, NAITO, KAZUFUMI, SUZUKI, TAKAO, Hijikata, Taro, c/o Ishida Co., Ltd., NAITO, KAZUFUMI, C/O ISHIDA CO., LTD., Suzuki, Takao, c/o Ishida Co., Ltd.
Applicants: ISHIDA SEISAKUSHO, ISHIDA CO., LTD.
Application year: 1995
Main classification: G01L1
IPC codes: G01G3, G01L1