A force sensor has a first end portion (1), a second end portion (2), a parallel-guiding mechanism (3), a beam (4), and a strain gauge (5). The parallel-guiding mechanism (3) connects the first end portion (1) to the second end portion (2). A main beam (43) of the beam has a flexible wall (435) and a rigid wall (432). A first connecting part (41) connects the flexible wall to the first end portion, and a second connecting part (42) connects the rigid wall to the second end portion. The strain gauge (5) is fixed to the flexible wall (435). The force sensor can measure a relatively small force.

A shelf assembly for tracking the weight of non-homogeneous products stored thereupon in a refrigerator comprises a weighing base comprising opposing load-cell bases detachedly attachable to respective left and right internal walls of the refrigerator, a shelf frame or at least one beam member joining respective said opposing load-cell bases so as to form, in combination therewith, a rigid shelf frame, the rigid shelf frame being open to a vertical airflow over at least 25% of its horizontal surface area; a shelf open to a vertical airflow over at least 50% of its horizontal surface area; and a plurality of load cell assemblies fixedly attached to each of respective said opposing load-cell bases so as to mediate between the load-cell bases and the shelf. The shelf can be a wire-grid shelf.

A load cell that includes a beam extending from a fixed section to a load section including a deflection section that moves under a load and a central beam section spaced from the deflection section. At least one strain gauge is coupled to the beam for detecting movement of the beam. A stop element including a bearing surface is also provided and coupled to the beam and configured such that the bearing surface does not engage the beam in a first position and engages the beam in a second position.

Disclosed is a load cell having a frame that includes a first and a second mounting surface. Each mounting surface is arranged on a common horizontal plane symmetrically about a central vertical axis. First and second lateral surfaces are arranged perpendicular to the first and second mounting surfaces. One or more mounting fixtures are located on the load cell at the first and second mounting surfaces and configured to attach to a support structure or a loading fixture. One or more force sensors are arranged symmetrically about the central vertical axis. One or more cavities extend the width of the frame and are arranged between a mounting fixture and the force sensors to buffer horizontal shear forces.

A load cell scale has a load cell part formed in a columnar shape, the load cell part having a upper surface extending along a longitudinal axis and a lateral surface intersecting with the upper surface, and a stopper part configured to restrict deformation occurring in the load cell due to a load exceeding a predetermined value and applied to the load cell, wherein the load cell part has a strain portion capable of elastically deforming and the strain portion penetrates the load cell part from the lateral surface in a short direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and wherein the stopper portion is provided to be connected to the lateral surface of the load cell part.

The invention relates to a load cell symmetrical about a central vertical axis and comprising first and second mounting surfaces, each on the same horizontal plane and configured for attachment to a support structure and to a loading fixture respectively.

A parallel guide of a force transmission device has movable and fixed parallel legs, and first and second parallel guiding elements. Thin-point flexional bearings connect the parallel legs to the parallel guiding elements. The movable parallel leg is guided by the parallel guiding element on the fixed parallel leg. A force transmission lever, arranged on the fixed parallel leg, has a lever bearing, and a first lever arm. The force transmission lever is pivotably mounted on the lever bearing and the first lever arm is connected to the movable parallel leg to transmit force. The force-transmitting connection is produced by a coupling element having at least one further thin-point flexional bearing, with at least one functional region of the force transmission device being formed monolithically. A functional region associates at least one bearing point with at least one of the parallel legs, the force transmission lever, and the coupling element.

A flexure structure comprising the unitary combination of three modified S-shaped beams arranged in parallel and sharing common top and bottom structures. The outside beams are oriented alike in one direction while the inside or center beam is oriented in the opposite direction. The outside edge surfaces of the beams are flat and are instrumented with strain sensors connected in bridge circuits.

A flexure structure comprising the unitary combination of three modified S-shaped beams arranged in parallel and sharing common top and bottom structures. The outside beams are oriented alike in one direction while the inside or center beam is oriented in the opposite direction. The outside edge surfaces of the beams are flat and are instrumented with strain sensors connected in bridge circuits.

Suspension for a weighing cell, where the suspension comprises a base structure and a moveable structure, and where a load cell is interposed and connected between said base structure and said moveable structure, where the suspension is generally shaped as a parallelogram, said parallelogram having two parallel primary elements, where one primary element is fastened to the base structure and the other primary element is fastened to the moveable structure, and where between the primary elements on respectively the base structure and the moveable structure, two in a rest position parallel secondary elements are arranged, where each secondary element is provided with at least one bendable section, said bendable sections having the same characteristics with respect to bending, and that the primary elements comprises a cylindrical section and a fastening land in either end of the cylindrical section for fastening an end of the secondary elements.