Patent ID: 8188383

Claim:
A combination weighing apparatus comprising: a distribution unit configured and arranged to radially distribute product material introduced from above; a plurality of conveying units arranged around a periphery of the distribution unit; and a plurality of weighing hoppers arranged around a periphery of the conveying units, at least one of the conveying units having a trough having an inside edge positioned below the distribution unit and an outside edge positioned above the weighing hopper, and a plurality of spiral members placed above a bottom surface of the trough with each of the spiral members defining an external peripheral surface, the spiral members being configured and arranged to be rotatably driven so that the spiral members convey the product material supplied from the distribution unit in a vicinity of the inside edge of the trough, along the external peripheral surfaces toward a vicinity of the outside edge of the trough, the spiral members being positioned with respect to one another for rotation about a center axis such that distal ends of the spiral members are disposed in positions that substantially equally divide a circumference defined by a rotational path of the distal ends about the center axis, and the distal ends of the spiral members being configured and arranged as stoppers that stop movement of the product material such that the product material is prevented from sliding off external peripheral surfaces of the conveying unit when the spiral members are not being rotatably driven.