Patent ID: 8119934

Claim:
A combination weigher comprising: a single hopper line formed by a plurality of combination hoppers which are arranged in a straight-line shape and are each fed with objects to be weighed, the plurality of combination hoppers being each configured to be able to discharge the objects to be weighed selectively in a first direction which is perpendicular to a direction in which the combination hoppers are arranged, or in a second direction which is perpendicular to the direction in which the combination hoppers are arranged; a first discharge means which is disposed below the single hopper line and is configured to transfer the objects to be weighed which have been discharged from the combination hoppers in the first direction and to discharge the objects to be weighed to a first discharge position; a second discharge means which is disposed below the single hopper line such that the first discharge means and the second discharge means are arranged side by side, and is configured to transfer the objects to be weighed which have been discharged from the combination hoppers in the second direction and to discharge the objects to be weighed to a second discharge position; a combination calculation means configured to determine a first discharge combination and a second discharge combination, the first discharge combination and the second discharge combination each including combination hoppers and each having a combination weight value within an allowable range with respect to a target weight value, the combination weight value being a total of weights of the objects to be weighed which are held by the combination hoppers; and a control means which is configured to cause the combination hoppers belonging to the first discharge combination to discharge the objects to be weighed in the first direction and to cause the combination hoppers belonging to the second discharge combination to discharge the objects to be weighed in the second direction.