A presence sensor combined to a first storage carrier for detecting a presence of a second storage carrier. A load cell measures the weight of the material expelled from the first storage carrier. A scale controller in communication with the presence sensor responds to the presence of the second storage carrier by recording of the weight measurement from the load cell.

A presence sensor combined to a first storage carrier for detecting a presence of a second storage carrier. A load cell measures the weight of the material expelled from the first storage carrier. A scale controller in communication with the presence sensor responds to the presence of the second storage carrier by recording of the weight measurement from the load cell.

To provide an article gripping system that reduces the installation area of the apparatus and further shortens the amount of time from when it grips to when it feeds articles. An article gripping system (110) switches between a first positional relationship in which a container (50) obstructs discharge of articles gripped by a first gripping unit (15A) but does not obstruct discharge of articles by a second gripping unit (15B) and a second positional relationship in which the container (50) obstructs discharge of articles gripped by the second gripping unit (15B) but does not obstruct discharge of articles gripped by the first gripping unit (15A), so the gripping units do not move while they are holding the articles, and the articles can be prevented from falling out of the gripping units (15).

Method to weigh containers (C) in a processing line (10) that comprises a station (12) for filling and weighing said containers (C), said method providing to simultaneously pick up a plurality of containers (C) which are initially weighed to determine the tare weight and subsequently filled in a sequential manner, determining the weight of product metered into each container (C).

A weighing system is mounted on a support, and the support is configured to support the weighing system. The weighing system includes a feeding mechanism, a conveying and transferring mechanism, pushing rods, a pushing mechanism, resetting mechanisms, a weighing mechanism, and a linkage follower mechanism. The feeding mechanism is arranged at a top portion of the support. The conveying and transferring mechanism is arranged below the feeding mechanism. The conveying and transferring mechanism includes a transferring wheel, a plurality of first channels, a plurality of sliding blocks, a plurality of first grooves and a guide base. The pushing mechanism is arranged on one side of the transferring wheel. The resetting mechanisms are configured to push the sliding blocks connected with the pushing rods to slide along the first channel towards an initial direction, and the weighing mechanism is arranged below the transferring wheel.

A weighing system is mounted on a support, and the support is configured to support the weighing system. The weighing system includes a feeding mechanism, a conveying and transferring mechanism, pushing rods, a pushing mechanism, resetting mechanisms, a weighing mechanism, and a linkage follower mechanism. The feeding mechanism is arranged at a top portion of the support. The conveying and transferring mechanism is arranged below the feeding mechanism. The conveying and transferring mechanism includes a transferring wheel, a plurality of first channels, a plurality of sliding blocks, a plurality of first grooves and a guide base. The pushing mechanism is arranged on one side of the transferring wheel. The resetting mechanisms are configured to push the sliding blocks connected with the pushing rods to slide along the first channel towards an initial direction, and the weighing mechanism is arranged below the transferring wheel.

A vertical sensor array is placed along a weighing conveyer in a self-checkout system. Successive products are scanned and then placed on the weighing conveyer. As a product traverses the sensor array, a firmware control sends a measured height of the product to processor software, and also indicates the time taken by the product to pass the array. From the time, conveyer speed, and distance from the array to the end of the weighing conveyer, the software determines the time when the product will be transferred from the weighing conveyer to a location adjacent to the weighing conveyer. Since this transfer time is variable, depending on the product and the particular orientation of the product when it is placed on the weighing conveyer, the software can dynamically enable the scanner input device for the associated system to accept the next following product or item. The software can accurately determine the correct weight of a product, even when multiple products are present on the conveyer simultaneously.

A vertical sensor array is placed along a weighing conveyer in a self-checkout system. Successive products are scanned and then placed on the weighing conveyer. As a product traverses the sensor array, a firmware control sends a measured height of the product to processor software, and also indicates the time taken by the product to pass the array. From the time, conveyer speed, and distance from the array to the end of the weighing conveyer, the software determines the time when the product will be transferred from the weighing conveyer to a location adjacent to the weighing conveyer. Since this transfer time is variable, depending on the product and the particular orientation of the product when it is placed on the weighing conveyer, the software can dynamically enable the scanner input device for the associated system to accept the next following product or item. The software can accurately determine the correct weight of a product, even when multiple products are present on the conveyer simultaneously.

A medicine container configured to hold one or more different medications. The container may include an orientation sensor to determine the orientation of the container. The container may also include one or more additional sensors to detect other physical characteristics about the container and/or medicine. The orientation of the container in combination with the information from the one or more additional sensors is used to determine an accurate indication of an amount of the medicine within the container and thus usage information. The container also includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting the information regarding the medicine to a remote location.

A medicine container configured to hold one or more different medications. The container may include an orientation sensor to determine the orientation of the container. The container may also include one or more additional sensors to detect other physical characteristics about the container and/or medicine. The orientation of the container in combination with the information from the one or more additional sensors is used to determine an accurate indication of an amount of the medicine within the container and thus usage information. The container also includes a wireless transmitter for transmitting the information regarding the medicine to a remote location.