Patent ID: 8283580

Claim:
A method of counting nominally identical articles by weighing them in weighing apparatus, which apparatus comprises a load hod for holding a number of articles to be weighed and a load transducer responsive to loading of the hod from which is derived an electrical signal indicative of an apparent weight of articles in the hod, said electrical signal being susceptible to fluctuations acting on the hod or on the articles contained therein, the method comprising steps of: taking a series of samples of the load transducer derived electrical signal when a plurality of articles to be counted are loaded in the hod; calculating a running average value for those of said series of samples falling within a predetermined broad range; accepting those of said series of samples falling within a narrower range of the calculated running average value as valid when a predetermined number of such samples occur in succession; determining a fluctuation independent weight for the loaded articles from the accepted valid samples; and determining a number of articles in the hod by dividing the fluctuation independent weight by an expected average weight of an article.