GB2310292A

GB2310292A - Check weighing device for loaded containers

Info

Publication number: GB2310292A
Application number: GB9703056A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Laurence Walsh; Michael Enright; Timothy Cummins; Richard Murphy; Mary Meehen
Original assignee: FORDVIEW Ltd
Current assignee: FORDVIEW Ltd
Priority date: 1996-02-16
Filing date: 1997-02-14
Publication date: 1997-08-20
Also published as: IES79084B2; GB9703056D0; IES960144A2

Description

TITLE A WEIGH-CHECKER DEVICE DESCRIPTION This invention relates to a weigh-checker device.

On a production/packing line, it is important that, for example, the carton which leaves the production line comprises all of the product intended for it. For example, if the carton is required to contain computer disks, CD's, Manuals etc., it can be a tedious operation to manually check each carton at the end of the production line. To do so for each carton where thousands of cartons per day are being produced would be very time consuming, labour intensive and relatively expensive. On the other hand, a mere statistical check of a predetermined number of cartons will inevitably, fail to catch cartons with incorrect product number thereby leading to customer dissatisfaction.

The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that a single production line might change its requirements a number of times per day or per week and there is a danger that manual checking would not keep pace with these changes.

It is an object of the present invention to overcome these problems.

The invention, therefore, provides a method of verifying the contents or a container or carton which method comprises 0 (a) providing a first conveyor means having, in use, a container thereon; (b) providing an in-line weighing device operatively associated with the first conveyor means for checking the weight of the container and contents thereof; (c) providing means for comparing the weight of the container and contents with that of a predetermined known weight; (d) providing means for generating a signal derived from, or generated by, the comparing means so that (i) if the weight of the container and contents is within a specified limit when compared with the predetermined weight, means is provided for directing the container to a first destination;; (ii) if the weight of the container and contents is outside the specified limits, means is provided for directing the container to a second destination Preferably, the directing means is an arm operatively associated with the conveyor means which passively or actively directs the container to the first destination or the second destination.

The invention will be understood in greater detail from the following description of a preferred embodiments thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawing which is a diagrammatic view of an apparatus for use with the method according to the invention.

Referring now to the drawing, there is shown an apparatus 10 which comprises a conveyor means 11 having an in-line weighing apparatus 12; pneumatically operable arm 13; and a second conveyor means 14.

Product moves in the direction of the arrows 15.

The in-line weighing apparatus 12 can be of a well-known type which has the ability to check the weight of an object such as a container placed on a conveyor belt.

Initially, the container together with the desired contents are weighed and the apparatus 12 is calibrated for this weight together with a tolerance value. For example, a container weighing several kgs would have an associated tolerance value of the order of +lOg. Any tolerance less than this is found to be not practical due to the variation in paper and cardboard weights.

Following calibration, the conveyor means 11 is placed in operation thereby enabling containers together with the (supposed) desired product therein to be conveyed to the apparatus 12. Any container having a weight within the preset tolerance value is allowed to continue on the conveyor means 11 past the arm 13.

The second conveyor means 14 is located substantially transversely relative to the conveyor means 11. The upstream end of the conveyor means 14 is located relative to the conveyor means 11 so that upon actuation of the arm 13, a container is directed from the first conveyor means 11 to the second conveyor means 14. The arm 13 is automatically actuated in response to a signal generated by the apparatus 12 in response to a container weight which falls outside the present tolerance value.

The apparatus 12 may be capable of storing information in relation to a plurality of containers having different weights. This allows for batch processing of containers of one type followed by another type with just a single input of desired weight and tolerance level for each type of container and contents.

The method provides for a considerable reduction in the number of people required to check container content integrity thereby leading to substantial savings in costs. In addition, containers having incorrect product are easily identified, checked manually and allowed to re-enter the apparatus quickly and easily rather than at a (substantially) later time perhaps after distribution and subsequent return by the end user.

The invention is not limited by or to the specific embodiment described which can undergo considerable variation without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A method of verifying the contents of a container or carton which method comprises (a) providing a first conveyor means having, in use, a container thereon; (b) providing an in-line weighing device operatively associated with the first conveyor means for checking the weight of the container and contents thereof; (d) providing means for comparing the weight of the container and contents with that of a predetermined known weight; (e) providing means for generating a signal derived from or generated by, the comparing means so that (i) if the weight of the container and contents is within a specified limit when compared with the predetermined weight, means is provided for directing the container to a first destination;; (ii) if the weight of the container and contents is outside the specified limits, means is provided for directing the container to a second destination

2. A method as claimed in Claim 2 wherein the directing means is an arm operatively associated with the conveyor means which passively or actively directs the container to the first destination or the second destination.

3. An apparatus for verifying the contents of a container or carton which apparatus comprises a first conveyor means having, in use, a container thereon; an in-line weighing device operatively associated with the first conveyor means for checking the weight of the container and contents thereof; means for comparing the weight of the container and contents with that of a predetermined known weight; means for generating a signal derived from or generated by, the comparing means so that (i) if the weight of the container and contents is within a specified limit when compared with the predetermined weight, means is provided for directing the container to a first destination; (ii) if the weight of the container and contents is outside the specified limits, means is provided for directing the container to a second destination

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 3 wherein the directing means is an arm operatively associated with the conveyor means which passively or actively directs the container to the first destination or the second destination.

5. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.

6. An apparatus substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawing.