초록 ▼

The invention relates to a device and a method for weighing containers (2) supplied along a conveying line (L). The device comprises: first weighing means (MP1) arranged on a first side (L1) of a stretch (T) of the conveying line (L) of containers (2) in a proximal position thereto; second weighing

The invention relates to a device and a method for weighing containers (2) supplied along a conveying line (L). The device comprises: first weighing means (MP1) arranged on a first side (L1) of a stretch (T) of the conveying line (L) of containers (2) in a proximal position thereto; second weighing means (MP2) arranged at a side of the stretch (T) of the conveying line (L) of containers (2) in a distal position thereto; a supporting member (8) activatable between a first position (P1) in which it is arranged at the stretch (T) of the conveying line (L) for receiving the containers (2), a second position (P2) in which it engages with the first weighing means (MP1), and a third position (P3) in which it engages with the second weighing means (MP2); and first guide means (9) activatable between a guide configuration (C1), in which they are arranged at the stretch (T) in order to guide the containers (2) along the conveying line (L), and a disengaged position (C2). The method comprises steps of: activating the support member (8) in order to bring the containers (2) received from the conveying line (L) into the third position (P3); activating the second weighing means (MP2) order to weigh the containers (2); activating the first guide means (9) in order to reach the guide configuration (C1) in phase relation with the movement of the support member (8).

대표청구항 ▼

1. Weighing apparatus for weighing containers (2) fed along a conveying line (L) in an advancing direction (X), comprising: first weighing means (MP1) arranged on a first side (L1) of a stretch (T) of a conveying line (L) adapted for conveying containers (2); anda supporting member (8) operable betw

1. Weighing apparatus for weighing containers (2) fed along a conveying line (L) in an advancing direction (X), comprising: first weighing means (MP1) arranged on a first side (L1) of a stretch (T) of a conveying line (L) adapted for conveying containers (2); anda supporting member (8) operable between a first position (P1), wherein the supporting member (8) is arranged at said stretch (T) of the conveying line (L) for receiving from the latter at least one container (2), and a second position (P2) wherein the supporting member (8) engages the first weighing means (MP1) for allowing said at least one container (2) to be weighed by means of said first weighing means (MP1),the apparatus being characterised in that it further comprises:second weighing means (MP2) arranged on said first side (L1) of said stretch (T) of the conveying line (L) in a position in which, when said second weighing means (MP2) receive at least one container (2) to be weighed from the supporting member (8), the conveying line (L) is disengaged from the container (2), said supporting member (8) being further operable between said first position (P1) and a third position (P3) wherein the supporting member (8) engages the second weighing means (MP2) for allowing said at least one container (2) to be weighed by means of said second weighing means (MP2). 2. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first guide means (9) operable in phase relation with the supporting member (8) between a guide configuration (C1), wherein the said first guide means (9) are arranged at said stretch (T) of said conveying line (L) for guiding the containers (2) along the conveying line (L), and a disengaged position (C2) wherein said first guide means (9) are arranged in such a way as to allow the supporting member (8) bearing at least one container (2) to move from and to the first position (P1). 3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the supporting member (8) includes a second guide means (15) arranged for guiding the containers (2) along the conveying line (L) when the supporting member (8) is in the first position (P1). 4. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the first guide means (9) include a guide member extending longitudinally, said first guide means being operable in phase relation with the supporting member (8). 5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first weighing means (MP1) comprise a first support (10) for supportingly receiving at least one container (2) to be weighed and a first scale pan (11) connected to the first support (10), and wherein the second weighing means (MP2) include a second support (12) for supportingly receiving at least one container (2) to be weighed and a second scale pan (13) connected to the second support (12). 6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the first weighing means (MP1) and the second weighing means (MP2) are integral parts of a same scale (BI). 7. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the supporting member (8) includes a rest base (14) provided with openings (150), and a first support (10) of the first weighing means (MP1) and a second support (12) of the second weighing means (MP2) are provided with projecting parts (16), the rest base (14) of the supporting member (8) and the first support (10) and second support (12) being dimensioned so that the openings (150) of the rest base (14) freely engage the projecting parts (16) of the first support (10) and of the second support (12) when the supporting member (8) reaches the second position (P2) and the third position (P3), respectively. 8. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising first directing means (17) arranged upstream of said stretch (T) of the conveying line (L) and movable between a directing position (D1), wherein the first directing means (17) direct the containers (2) advancing on the conveying line (L) on the supporting member (8) when the latter is in the first position (P1), and a disengaging position (D2). 9. Apparatus according to claim 8, further comprising second directing means (18) arranged downstream of said stretch (T) of the conveying line (L), movable between a directing position (EI), wherein the second directing means (18) direct again on the conveying line (L) the containers (2) slidingly advancing on the supporting member (8) arranged on the first position (P1), and a disengaging position (E2). 10. Apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first directing means (17) include an inclined surface (17B) which abuts and diverts the containers (2) upwards when the first directing means (17) are in the directing position (D1), and the second directing means (18) include an inclined surface (18B) which contacts and diverts the containers (2) downwards when the second directing means (18) are in the directing position (EI). 11. Apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising a control mechanism (27) for controlling the first directing means (17) and the second directing means (18), said control mechanism being adapted to move the directing means (17) and the second directing means (18) in phase relation with said guide means (9). 12. Apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means (20) for moving the supporting member (8), said means comprising: a first mobile arm (19) that is connected to a base (11) and a 4-bar linkage (23) supporting the supporting member (8), the 4-bar linkage (23) being in turn supported by the first mobile arm (19), said first mobile arm (19) and 4-bar linkage (23) being controlled in mutual phase relation so as to maintain the rest base (14) of the supporting member (8) substantially horizontal when the supporting member (8) moves from the first position (P1) and the second position (P2) and between the first position (P1) and the third position (P3). 13. System for driving and weighing containers including the apparatus for weighing containers (2) according to claim 1 and a conveying line (L) for conveying containers (2), said conveying line (L) comprising: guide lateral sides (7) arranged upstream and downstream of the stretch (T) of the conveying line (L) at the relative first side (L1); and a plurality of mobile units (4) acting at a second side (L2) of the conveying line (L), said second side (L1) being opposite to said first side (L1), in order to cooperate with the guide lateral sides (7) and the first guide means (9) or the supporting member (8) in order to move the containers (2) along the advancing direction (X). 14. System according to claim 13, wherein each mobile unit (4) includes a base (5) with a contact surface for contacting a first portion of the bottom of one or more containers (2) and the supporting member (8) includes a rest base (14) with an upper rest surface for supportingly receiving a second portion of the bottom of one or more containers (2), the upper rest surface of the rest base (14) of the supporting member (8) being arranged, when the supporting member (8) is in the first position (P1), at a height higher than the contact surface of the base (5) of the mobile unit (4). 15. Method for weighing containers (2) fed along a conveying line (L), said method being operable by the apparatus according to claim 1 when the conveying line (L) is stopped, the method including the steps of: operating the supporting member (8) for bringing one or more containers (2) received from the conveying line (L) to the third position (P3);activating the second weighing means (MP2) for weighing the containers (2) received from the supporting member (8);operating, in phase relation with the supporting member (8) moving towards the third position (P3), the first guide means (9) for reaching the guide configuration (C1).