초록 ▼

The invention relates to an in-motion scale, in particular, to a conveyor scale with a conveyor belt, with a load cell (9) and a conveying device (5) for goods to be weighed, in particular, packaged goods, for feeding the goods to and leading them away and from the load cell (9), and with a control

The invention relates to an in-motion scale, in particular, to a conveyor scale with a conveyor belt, with a load cell (9) and a conveying device (5) for goods to be weighed, in particular, packaged goods, for feeding the goods to and leading them away and from the load cell (9), and with a control device (11) for controlling the functions of the in-motion scale. According to the invention, the control device (11) can be changed over to a cleaning mode in which the functions of the in-motion scale (1) are controlled according to a specified cleaning-mode functional model so that danger to operating personnel and/or damage to the in-motion scale (1) is reduced or eliminated.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An in-motion scale for use in a conveyor system, the in-motion scale comprising: (a) a load cell and a conveying device for goods to be weighed, for feeding the goods to and leading them away from the load cell, the conveying device comprising a conveyor belt that applies the goods to a load sens

1. An in-motion scale for use in a conveyor system, the in-motion scale comprising: (a) a load cell and a conveying device for goods to be weighed, for feeding the goods to and leading them away from the load cell, the conveying device comprising a conveyor belt that applies the goods to a load sensor of the load cell such that the weight of the goods can be determined while the goods are conveyed on the conveyor belt;(b) a control device for controlling the functions of the in-motion scale, wherein the control device is constructed to be changed over to a cleaning mode in which the functions of the in-motion scale are controlled according to a specified cleaning-mode functional pattern embodied in the control device or in memory associated therewith, and operative to allow operating personnel to clean the in-motion scale manually, so that danger to operating personnel and damage to the in-motion scale while manually cleaning the in-motion scale is reduced or eliminated;(c) wherein the one or more specified cleaning-mode functional patterns comprise additional functionality operable to disconnect specified electrical or electronic assemblies from power; andwherein one or more cleaning-mode functional patterns are operable to disconnect the load cell from power. 2. The in-motion scale of claim 1, wherein there are two or more cleaning-mode functional patterns and the cleaning-mode functional pattern specified for the cleaning mode can be selected. 3. The in-motion scale of claim 2, wherein a protective device is provided for the conveying device, wherein this protective device generates an “intervention” signal and feeds it to the control device if the protective device detects the movement of an operating person into a dangerous area of the conveying device monitored by the protective device or the opening of a protective cover for the conveying device, wherein, in a weighing operating mode of the in-motion scale the control device stops the conveying device or influences its function when it detects an “intervention” signal, and wherein in the case of an active cleaning mode the control device does not stop the conveying device when an “intervention” signal is detected. 4. The in-motion scale of claim 3, wherein the control device is adapted to change the specified cleaning-mode functional pattern or selects another of several stored cleaning-mode functional patterns if an “intervention” signal is detected. 5. The in-motion scale of claim 2, wherein the one or more specified cleaning-mode functional patterns comprise the additional functionality that drive means of the conveying device are driven with a specified speed. 6. The in-motion scale of claim 2, wherein the one or more specified cleaning-mode functional patterns comprise the additional functionality that drive means of the conveying device are driven a specified direction of movement. 7. The in-motion scale of claim 2, wherein the one or more specified cleaning-mode functional patterns comprise the additional functionality that drive means of the conveying device are driven with respect to speed or direction of movement according to a specified time sequence providing a specified speed profile for a moving element of the conveying device including a reversal of the direction of movement. 8. The in-motion scale of claim 2, wherein the one or more specified cleaning-mode functional patterns comprise the additional functionality that drive means of the conveying device are driven with a specified torque or a specified driving force or a specified path of movement, wherein the torque or driving force or path of movement is selected so that danger to operating personnel or damage to the in-motion scale is prevented. 9. The in-motion scale of claim 2, wherein the one or more specified cleaning-mode functional patterns comprise the additional functionality that drive means of the conveying device are driven so that, after cessation of a moment braking or stopping the movement, or after cessation of a corresponding force, the movement is automatically re-established according to the specified functional pattern. 10. The in-motion scale of claim 2, wherein the one or more specified cleaning-mode functional patterns comprise the additional functionality that drive means of the conveying device are driven so that one or more moving elements are moved into a cleaning position. 11. The in-motion scale of claim 2, wherein the one or more specified cleaning-mode functional patterns comprise the additional functionality that means for sealing the load cell in the area of the load application, are activated. 12. The in-motion scale of claim 2, wherein the one or more specified cleaning-mode functional patterns comprise the additional functionality of activation of an overload protective device for the load cell. 13. The in-motion scale of claim 2, wherein the control device is adapted to activate a specified cleaning mode after a specified time or after a specified number of weighing processes. 14. An in-motion scale for use in a conveyor system, the in-motion scale comprising: (a) a load cell and a conveying device for goods to be weighed, for feeding the goods to and leading them away from the load cell, the conveying device comprising a conveyor belt that applies the goods to a load sensor of the load cell such that the weight of the goods can be determined while the goods are conveyed on the conveyor belt;(b) a control device for controlling the functions of the in-motion scale, wherein the control device is constructed to be changed over to a cleaning mode in which the functions of the in-motion scale are controlled according to a specified cleaning-mode functional pattern embodied in the control device or in memory associated therewith, and operative to allow operating personnel to clean the in-motion scale manually, so that danger to operating personnel and damage to the in-motion scale while manually cleaning the in-motion scale is reduced or eliminated;(c) wherein the one or more specified cleaning-mode functional patterns comprise additional functionality operable to disconnect specified electrical or electronic assemblies from power; andwherein the control device is adapted to activate the cleaning mode after a specified time or after a specified number of weighing processes. 15. An in-motion scale for use in a conveyor system, the in-motion scale comprising: (a) a load cell and a conveying device for goods to be weighed, for feeding the goods to and leading them away from the load cell, the conveying device comprising a conveyor belt, driven by drive means, that applies the goods to a load sensor of the load cell such that the weight of the goods can be determined while the goods are conveyed on the conveyor belt;(b) a control device for controlling the functions of the in-motion scale, wherein the control device is constructed to be changed over to a cleaning mode in which the functions of the in-motion scale are controlled according to a specified cleaning-mode functional pattern embodied in the control device or in memory associated therewith and operative to allow operating personnel to clean the in-motion scale manually, so that danger to operating personnel and damage to the in-motion scale while manually cleaning the in-motion scale is reduced or eliminated; and(c) a torque sensor connected to the conveying device drive means and communicatively connected to the control device, wherein the control device, according to the specified cleaning-mode functional pattern, is operable to determine a torque of the drive means and to drive the drive means in the cleaning mode such that a specified safety limit for the torque is not exceeded. 16. The in-motion scale of claim 15, wherein the one or more specified cleaning-mode functional patterns comprise the additional functionality that specified electrical or electronic assemblies for determining or evaluating the weight, are disconnected from power.