Weighing scales

Claim 2

In a system including a scale having a weighing mechanism and effective to weigh successive articles and to record the weight of each successive article, the combination comprising a pulse generator, program means operatively connected with said pulse generator, starting means actuated by arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position for initiating operation of said program means, read out means responsive to actuation of said program means for reading out the decimal digits of weight corresponding to the balance position of the weighing mechanism, separate storage counter for directly receiving and storing the pulses corresponding to each such digit of weight, means controlled by said program means and said readout means for effecting selective transmission of pulses from said generator to each of said weight storage counters in accordance with the individual decimal digits representing such balance position of the weighing mechanism, and means controlled by said program means for recording the stored weight digits from said storage counters.

Claim 3

The combination as defined in claim 1 wherein said pulse generator is continuously operating and said program means has a home position and a plurality of moVed positions defining a completed cycle thereof, and comprising starting means actuated by arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position for causing said program means to begin a cycle thereof.

Claim 4

The combination as defined in claim 1 comprising pulse counting means connected to receive the output of said pulse generator and having a plurality of outputs, and gates controlled by said counting means outputs and by said read out means for effecting said selective transmission of pulses from said pulse generator to said weight storage counters.

Claim 5

The combination as defined in claim 1 comprising photoelectric read out means for reading out the digits of weight corresponding to the balance position of the weighing mechanism, and gates controlled in part by said photoelectric read out means for effecting said selective transmission of pulses from said pulse generator to said weight storage counters.

Claim 6

The combination as defined in claim 1 comprising means including a light source and photoelectric means activated by said light source for reading out the digits of weight corresponding to the balance position of the weighing mechanism, and means responsive to failure of said light source for giving a signal of the resulting error in weight determination.

Claim 7

In a system including a weighing mechanism for weighing loads and recording data including the weight thereof, the combination comprising starting means actuated by arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position for initiating a cycle of the system, means including a light source and photoelectric means activated by said light source for reading out the digits of weight corresponding to the balance position of the weighing mechanism, and means responsive to failure of said light source for giving a signal of the resulting error in weight determination.

Claim 8

In a system including a weighing mechanism for weighing loads and recording data including the weight thereof, the combination comprising starting means actuated by arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position for initiating a cycle of the system, means including a light source and photoelectric means activated by said light source for reading out the digits of weight corresponding to the balance position of the weighing mechanism, and means responsive to failure of said light source for giving a signal of the resulting error in weight determination.

Claim 9

In a system including a scale having a weighing mechanism and effective to weigh successive articles, to compute the value of each successive article at a predetermined unit price, and to record the weight and value of each successive article, the combination comprising a pulse generator, program means operatively connected with said pulse generator, manually settable means for selecting the unit price digits of an article to be weighed, starting means actuated by arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position for initiating operation of said program means, read out means responsive to actuation of said program means for reading out and storing information representing the decimal digits of weight corresponding to said balance position of said weighing mechanism, storage counters for the respective digits of the product of price and weight, control means responsive to said program means and to said weight read out and selecting means for effecting selective transmission of pulses from said generator to said partial products storage counters in accordance with the product of the respective digits of price and weight, and means controlled by said program means for recording the stored product digits from said product storage counters.

Claim 10

In a system including a scale having a weighing mechanism and effective to weigh successive articles, to compute the value of each successive article at a predetermined unit price, and to record the weight and value of each successive article, the combination comprising a pulse generator, program means operatively connected with said pulse generator, manually settable means for selecting the unit price digits of an article to be weighed, starting means actuated by arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position for initiating operation of said program means, read out means responsive to actuation of said program means for reading out and storing information representing the decimal digits of weight corresponding to said balance position of said weighing mechanism, storage counters for the respective digits of the product of price and weight, control means responsive to said program means and to said weight read out and selecting means for effecting selective transmission of pulses from said generator to said partial products storage counters in accordance with the product of the respective digits of price and weight, and means controlled by said program means for recording the stored product digits from said product storage counters.

Claim 11

The combination as defined in claim 7 comprising storage counters for the respective decimal digits of weight, means controlled by said program means and said weight read out means for effecting selective transmission of pulses from said generator to said each of weight storage counters in accordance with the individual decimal digits representing such balance position of said weighing mechanism, means controlled by said program means and by said weight storage counters and selecting means for effecting selective transmission of pulses from said generator to said product storage counters in accordance with the partial products of the respective digits of price and weight, and means controlled by said program means for recording the stored weight and product digits from all of said storage counters.

Claim 12

The combination as defined in claim 7 comprising a first pulse counter connected tO receive the output of said generator and having a plurality of outputs, a second pulse counter connected to receive a pulse periodically from said first pulse counter and having a plurality of outputs, a program counter having a home position and having an input connection adapted to receive a pulse periodically from said second pulse counter, said program counter in said home position thereof being responsive to receipt of one of such pulses to commence a cycle thereof, said starting means being effective to cause transmission of pulses to said input in response to arrival of the weighing mechanism at a balance position, storage counters for the respective decimal digits of weight, said second pulse counter cooperating with said read out means and said first pulse counter to effect selective transmission of pulses from said generator to said weight storage counters in accordance with the individual decimal digits representing such balance position, and said program counter and said second pulse counter cooperating with said first pulse counter to effect selective transmission of pulses from said generator to said product storage counters in accordance with the product of the digits of price and weight.

Claim 13

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for scheduling the operation of the other said means, the computer means including selecting means for selecting places in the price to be multiplied in sequence by each place in the weight information and a series of counter stages controlled by the selecting means that by partial products accumulation produce the computed value.

Claim 14

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for scheduling the operation of the other said means, the computer means including selecting means for selecting places in the price to be multiplied in sequence by each place in the weight information and a series of counter stages controlled by the selecting means that by partial products accumulation produce the computed value.

Claim 15

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for scheduling the operation of the other said means, the computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the price and in the weight information to be multiplied as partial products, means for producing pulses corresponding in number to the partial products, and register means having a plurality of sections for receiving the pulses and so selected by the bistable means to receive the pulses that the computed value is accumulated.

Claim 16

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for scheduling the operation of the other said means, the computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the price and in the weight information to be multiplied as partial products, means for producing pulses corresponding in number to the partial products, and register means having a plurality of sections for receiving the pulses and so selected by the bistable means to receive the pulses that the computed value is accumulated.

Claim 17

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, the computer means including circuit means for selecting the places in the price beginning with the least significant place and multiplying them by every place in the weight information beginning with the least significant place and producing pulses equal in number to partial products obtained by said multiplying price places by weight places, the computer means further including register means and partial product gating means controlled by saId circuit means for so directing the partial product pulses to the register means that the computed value is accumulated, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for scheduling the operation of the other said means.

Claim 18

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, the computer means including circuit means for selecting the places in the price beginning with the least significant place and multiplying them by every place in the weight information beginning with the least significant place and producing pulses equal in number to partial products obtained by said multiplying price places by weight places, the computer means further including register means and partial product gating means controlled by saId circuit means for so directing the partial product pulses to the register means that the computed value is accumulated, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for scheduling the operation of the other said means.

Claim 19

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, and means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, the computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the price and in the weight information to be multiplied to obtain partial products, circuit means for producing pulses equal in number to said partial products, register means, and partial product gating means controlled by said bistable means for so directing the pulses to the register means that the computed value is accumulated.

Claim 20

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load according to a selected price, and means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, the computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the price and in the weight information to be multiplied to obtain partial products, circuit means for producing pulses equal in number to said partial products, register means, and partial product gating means controlled by said bistable means for so directing the pulses to the register means that the computed value is accumulated.

Claim 21

A system according to claim 13 wherein there are provided means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value.

Claim 22

In a system having a cycle of operation for weighing and computing the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing said value of each weighed load, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, and price entering means for entering said unit price into the computer means, the computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the weight information and in the price to be multiplied to form partial products, means for producing pulses corresponding to the partial products, register means controlled by the bistable means for accumulating the pulses as the computed value, and means for advancing the bistable means in steps in each of which one of said partial products is formed until computation has been accomplished.

Claim 23

In a system having a cycle of operation for weighing and computing the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing said value of each weighed load, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, and price entering means for entering said unit price into the computer means, the computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the weight information and in the price to be multiplied to form partial products, means for producing pulses corresponding to the partial products, register means controlled by the bistable means for accumulating the pulses as the computed value, and means for advancing the bistable means in steps in each of which one of said partial products is formed until computation has been accomplished.

Claim 24

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and indicating or printing a record of the value of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing, in accordance with unit price and weight, the value of each weighed load, weight reading means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, said computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the weight information and in the unit price to be multiplied to form partial products, means for producing pulses corresponding to the partial products, and register means controlled by said bistable means for accumulating the pulses as the computed value, readout means electrically connected to the computer means for indicating or printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for programming said cycle of operations of the system and including circuit means responsive to predetermined combinations of unit price and weight for preventing completion of a cycle wherein one of said combinations occurs.

Claim 25

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and indicating or printing a record of the value of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing, in accordance with unit price and weight, the value of each weighed load, weight reading means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, said computer means including bistable means for selecting places in the weight information and in the unit price to be multiplied to form partial products, means for producing pulses corresponding to the partial products, and register means controlled by said bistable means for accumulating the pulses as the computed value, readout means electrically connected to the computer means for indicating or printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means for programming said cycle of operations of the system and including circuit means responsive to predetermined combinations of unit price and weight for preventing completion of a cycle wherein one of said combinations occurs.

Claim 26

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means, including two two-stage bistable circuits each having a reset state and a full count stAte, for scheduling the operation of the other said means as the bistable circuits are advanced from their reset states to their full count states, the programmer means further including circuit means for advancing the count in one of the bistable circuits and circuit means operative after said one of the bistable circuits is in its full count state for advancing the count in the other one of the bistable circuits.

Claim 27

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means, including two two-stage bistable circuits each having a reset state and a full count stAte, for scheduling the operation of the other said means as the bistable circuits are advanced from their reset states to their full count states, the programmer means further including circuit means for advancing the count in one of the bistable circuits and circuit means operative after said one of the bistable circuits is in its full count state for advancing the count in the other one of the bistable circuits.

Claim 28

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means, including two bistable circuits each having four output states, for scheduling the operation of the other said means.

Claim 29

In a system having a cycle of operations for weighing, computing and printing a record of the value in accordance with the weight and unit price of each of a plurality of successively weighed loads, in combination, weighing mechanism, computer means for computing the value of each weighed load, means for making weight information provided by the weighing mechanism available to the computer means, means electrically connected to the computer means including printer means for printing a record of the computed value, and programmer means, including two bistable circuits each having four output states, for scheduling the operation of the other said means.