Monolithic weighing block

Abstract

A monolithic weighing block is produced according to the principle of additive manufacturing, that is, 3D printing.

Claims

1. A weighing block which extends in a longitudinal direction, in a transverse direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction, and in a vertical direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction and transverse direction, the weighing block comprising: (a) a fixed base extending in the longitudinal direction from a first block end to a second block end; (b) a first control arm and a second control arm, the first control arm extending in the longitudinal direction from a first control arm first end region to a first control arm second end region and being connected to the fixed base via a first control arm supporting pivot, the second control arm extending in the longitudinal direction from a second control arm first end region to a second control arm second end region and being connected to the fixed base via a second control arm supporting pivot; (c) a load receiver connected to the first control arm via a first control arm pivot and connected to the second control arm via a second control arm pivot, the load receiver for receiving a weight force introduced along the vertical direction so as to be guided by the first control arm and second control arm relative to the fixed base in a direction parallel to the vertical direction; (d) wherein the fixed base, the first control arm, the first control arm supporting pivot, the first control arm pivot, the second control arm, the second control arm supporting pivot, the second control arm pivot, and the load receiver are built up layer by layer by one or more additive manufacturing techniques; (e) wherein each of the fixed base, the load receiver, a lever connected between the fixed base and the load receiver, a coupling element associated with the lever, the first control arm, the second control arm, a load pivot associated with the lever, and each other pivot of the weighing block represents a respective component of the weighing block; (f) wherein in a section transverse to the longitudinal direction, each component of the weighing block forms a respective cross section that defines a respective envelope of the section, each of at least two of the envelopes of the section encompassing several separate partial areas of the respective component; and (g) wherein the at least two of the envelopes of the section at least partially overlap and at least one partial area of one of the at least two of the envelopes of the section lies inside the envelope of the other one of the at least two of the envelopes of the section.

2. The weighing block of claim 1 wherein the lever connected between the fixed base and the load receiver includes a first lever extending between a first lever first end region and a first lever second end region, the first lever in the first lever first end region being attached to a first coupling element comprising a first coupling element load pivot for transmitting a force, the first lever also being connected to the fixed base via a first lever supporting pivot, the first lever supporting pivot forming a first lever supporting pivot axis and the first coupling element load pivot forming a first coupling element load pivot axis.

3. The weighing block of claim 2 wherein the first coupling element load pivot comprises a respective flexural pivot in which at least two material bars are arranged with respect to each other such that in a projection along the first coupling element load pivot axis one of the material bars forms an angle α with another one of the material bars, where 45°≤α≤135°.

4. The weighing block of claim 3 wherein an additional first lever supporting pivot is connected to the first lever in the first lever first end region and has an additional first lever supporting pivot axis, the additional first lever supporting pivot comprising a respective flexural pivot in which at least two material bars are arranged with respect to each other such that in a projection along the additional first lever supporting pivot axis one of the material bars forms an angle α with another one of the material bars, where 45°≤α≤135°.

5. The weighing block of claim 3 wherein two material bars of the at least two material bars intersect in the projection along the first coupling element load pivot axis.

6. The weighing block of claim 1 wherein the lever connected between the fixed base and the load receiver includes a first lever extending between a first lever first end region and a first lever second end region, the first lever in the first lever first end region being attached to a first coupling element, the first lever also being connected to the fixed base via a first lever supporting pivot, and wherein the first coupling element has two flexural pivots spaced apart from each other and connected to each other by a material web.

7. The weighing block of claim 1 wherein the first control arm supporting pivot, the first control arm pivot, the second control arm supporting pivot, and the second control arm pivot each lie at a respective corner of a parallelogram.

8. The weighing block of claim 1 further including a lever pivot connected to the lever, the lever pivot beings bordered, in relation to the direction of a pivot axis of the lever pivot, on one or both sides by a material section of the lever.

9. The weighing block of claim 1 wherein the lever at a respective end thereof is engaged with at least two pivots, each pivot forming a respective pivot axis extending parallel to a pivot axis direction and offset from each other, and wherein the at least two pivots engaged with the lever lie one behind the other in the pivot axis direction such that one of the pivots overlaps with another one of the pivots when viewed in the pivot axis direction.

10. The weighing block of claim 1 wherein the lever at a respective end thereof is engaged with two pivots each pivot forming a respective pivot axis extending parallel to a pivot axis direction and offset from each other such that a spacing between the two pivots in one of the longitudinal direction, transverse direction, and vertical direction is greater than zero and is smaller than the dimension of at least one of the pivots in the one of the longitudinal direction, transverse direction, and vertical direction.

11. The weighing block of claim 1 wherein the lever has a slot for receiving a first pivot.

12. The weighing block of claim 11 wherein the slot has a wall section from which a first supporting section projects in a first side direction for connection to the first pivot, and wherein a further supporting section projects from the wall section in a second side direction opposite to the first side direction for connection to a further pivot.

13. The weighing block of claim 12 characterized in that the first supporting section and the further supporting section form a Z-shaped cross section with the wall in a plane extending transverse to a plane of the wall.

14. The weighing block of claim 1: (a) wherein the lever connected between the fixed base and the load receiver includes a first lever extending between a first lever first end region and a first lever second end region; and (b) further including a second lever extending between a second lever first end region and a second lever second end region, the second lever being connected at the second lever first end region to the first lever second end region via a coupling element having a coupling element load pivot and being connected at the second lever second end region to the fixed base via a second lever supporting pivot.

15. The weighing block of claim 14 wherein one of the first lever and second lever has an opening in which a section of the other one of the first lever and second lever is positioned.

16. The weighing block of claim 1 wherein: (a) the first control arm and the second control arm extend parallel to each other; and (b) the fixed base extends in the longitudinal direction from the first block end (i) between the first control arm and the second control arm, or (ii) through the load receiver, or (iii) both through the load receiver and between the first control arm and the second control arm.

17. The weighing block of claim 1 wherein the load receiver or the fixed base or both the load receiver and the fixed base is penetrated by a respective opening running in the longitudinal direction, in which opening at least one supporting pivot is positioned.

18. The weighing block of claim 1 wherein the lever is bordered on both sides in the transverse direction by a further lever, the further lever being bordered on both sides in the transverse direction by the fixed base.

19. The weighing block of claim 1: (a) wherein the lever is engaged with a load pivot; (b) wherein at least one of the load pivot, the first control arm supporting pivot, the second control arm supporting pivot, the first control arm pivot, and the second control arm pivot comprises a respective flexural pivot including at least three material bars; and (c) wherein, in a projection along a pivot axis of the respective flexural pivot, a first one of the at least three material bars forms an angle (a) with a second and third one of the at least three material bars, where 45°≤α≤135°.

20. The weighing block of claim 19 wherein in the projection along the pivot axis of the respective flexural pivot, a first one of the at least three material bars intersects with a second and third one of the at least three material bars.

21. The weighing block of claim 1: (a) wherein the lever is engaged with a load pivot; (b) further including a coupling element engaged with the lever; and (c) wherein at least one part of the lever, or at least one part of one of the first control arm and second control arm, or at least part of the fixed base, or at least part of the load receiver or at least part of the coupling element comprises a framework structure.

22. The weighing block of claim 1: (a) wherein the lever extends along a lever longitudinal axis, the lever at each point along the length thereof along the lever longitudinal axis defining a lever cross section envelope perpendicular to the lever longitudinal axis; and (b) wherein for each respective point along at least 50% of the length of the lever along the lever longitudinal axis, the lever cross section envelope at that respective point includes two or more separate partial areas of the lever and the sum of the two or more separate partial areas of the lever is less than the area of the lever cross section envelope.

23. The weighing block of claim 1: (a) wherein the lever is engaged with a load pivot, wherein the load pivot and each other pivot included in the weighing block extends along a respective pivot axis; and (b) wherein the respective pivot axis of one of the pivots extends non-parallel to the respective pivot axis of a different one of the pivots.

24. The weighing block of claim 1 wherein the weighing block is formed partly or completely of metal.

25. A process for producing the weighing block of claim 1 wherein the fixed base, the load receiver, the control arms, and pivots are formed by repeatedly depositing thin material layers.

26. The process of claim 25 wherein the thickness dimension of each material layer extends in the longitudinal direction with a first deposited layer located at the first block end.

27. The process of claim 25 wherein a material buildup of a first component of the weighing block is interrupted by a material buildup of a second component of the weighing block, the first component comprising the fixed base, or the load receiver, or one the control arms, or one of the pivots and the second component comprising a component of the weighing block other than the first component.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the fixed base of a weighing block according to one embodiment of the invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the design according to FIG. 1 with parallel control arms.

(3) FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the parallel control arms according to FIG. 2 with a load receiver engaging thereon.

(4) FIG. 4 is a partially cut away isometric view of a part of the load receiver according to FIG. 3 with a first lever engaging thereon.

(5) FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the first lever according to FIG. 4 with a second lever lying underneath it.

(6) FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the two levers according to FIG. 5, connected by a coupling element.

(7) FIG. 7 is a partially cut away isometric view of a part of the fixed base with the levers of FIG. 6 protruding into it.

(8) FIG. 8 is a partially cut away isometric view showing the fixed base, levers, and a portion of the load receiver of the embodiment of FIGS. 1-9.

(9) FIG. 9 a side view of a weighing block according to the invention, portions of which are shown in FIGS. 1-8.

(10) FIG. 10 a schematic sectional representation of two levers penetrating each other.

(11) FIG. 11 an example of a framework design of a control arm.

(12) FIG. 12 shows a representation of a first design example for a section of a weighing block component.

(13) FIG. 13 shows a representation of a second design example for a section of a weighing block component.

(14) FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of an alternate lever arrangement in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF REPRESENTATIVE EMBODIMENTS

(15) FIG. 9 shows a complete weighing block B according to the invention in a schematic side view. The weighing block B extends in a longitudinal direction X, a transverse direction Y orthogonal thereto and directed into the drawing plane and a vertical direction Z again orthogonal to the two directions. A first block end B.sub.1 (on the left in FIG. 9) is formed as a fixed base F over the entire Z height. Starting from the first block end B.sub.1, the fixed base F extends with a reduced height in the longitudinal direction X towards the right in the direction of the second block end B.sub.2. An upper and a lower parallel control arm L.sub.o, L.sub.u engage on an upper and a lower section of the first block end B.sub.1, in each case via two supporting pivots G.sub.S on the fixed base F lying one behind the other in the transverse direction Y, wherein the pivot axes formed by the control arm pivots run in the transverse direction Y (and are not described in more detail).

(16) The parallel control arms L.sub.o, L.sub.u extend in the longitudinal direction X up to a load receiver A, which is provided for receiving a weight force indicated by an arrow. The parallel control arms L.sub.o, L.sub.u engage on the load receiver, in each case via two control arm pivots G.sub.R lying one behind the other in the transverse direction Y. The pivot axes formed by the control arm pivots and the supporting pivots lie at the corners of a parallelogram, with the result that the load receiver A is guided parallel relative to the fixed base in the vertical direction Z by the parallel control arms L.sub.o, L.sub.u.

(17) Not only the protruding section of the fixed base F, but also a first control arm M and a second control arm H coupled thereto extend in the vertical direction Z between the upper and the lower parallel control arms. The second control arm H protrudes through the load receiver A in the longitudinal direction X and, at its free end, cooperates with a first part Q.sub.1 of an optical sensor Q, which detects the deflection of the lever relative to a second part Q.sub.2 of the optical sensor. The fixed base F also protrudes through an opening in the load receiver A in the longitudinal direction X and carries the second part Q.sub.2 of the optical sensor Q.

(18) FIG. 1 shows the released fixed base F of the weighing block according to FIG. 9. The fixed base F is formed partly with a framework-type structure. An opening C, which is provided for receiving sections of the control arms H and M, is formed in the fixed base F at the first block end B.sub.1. The fixed base F has an approximately cuboid outer contour, wherein the internal space is largely kept free.

(19) FIG. 2 shows the fixed base with the parallel control arms L.sub.o, L.sub.u arranged thereon. The control arms have a lattice-like structure, which is made up of individual prisms running in the transverse direction Y. The upper side of the upper control arm L.sub.o and the underside of the lower control arm L.sub.u are formed largely closed, wherein both control arms have an opening in the longitudinal direction X on the side facing away from the first block end B.sub.1 for receiving sections of the load receiver A. The control arms are connected to the fixed base F in an articulated manner via supporting pivots G.sub.S. The supporting pivots are formed as flexural pivots.

(20) FIG. 3 shows the load receiver A in a schematic representation. It is connected to the parallel control arms L.sub.o, L.sub.u via control arm pivots G.sub.R, wherein, like the control arm pivots, the supporting pivots G.sub.S form pivot axes A.sub.GS, which, in the embodiment according to FIG. 3, all run parallel to each other in the transverse direction Y and are not fully described. The load receiver A also exhibits sections with a lattice-like structure for saving weight. A central section A.sub.M of the load receiver A protrudes in the longitudinal direction X into the opening of the upper control arm L.sub.o.

(21) FIG. 4 shows the partially broken open load receiver A obliquely from below. A first coupling element K engages on the load receiver A in the region of the section A.sub.M of the latter. The coupling element has two load pivots G.sub.L arranged one above the other in the vertical direction Z, which are in each case formed as flexural pivots and in each case have a pivot axis A.sub.GL running in the transverse direction Y. The upper load pivot is connected to the section A.sub.M of the load receiver A and serves for receiving and transmitting a load introduced into the load receiver A. A web K.sub.W connecting the two pivots to each other is arranged between the two load pivots of the first coupling element K. The lower load pivot sits in a slot of a first lever H and engages on the lever H at a first end region H.sub.1 of it. The lever H extends in the longitudinal direction X up to a second end region H.sub.2, in order to be coupled to a second lever M there.

(22) FIG. 5 shows the arrangement of the first lever H with a second lever M extending through it. The second lever M also extends in the longitudinal direction X from a first end region M.sub.1 up to a second end region M.sub.2 (see FIG. 6). For bracing on the fixed base (not represented), at its first end region H.sub.1 the lever H is provided with two supporting pivots G.sub.S lying one behind the other in the transverse direction Y, which form a common pivot axis A.sub.GS. The lever H is formed approximately symmetrical with respect to a central X-Z plane, and, in FIG. 5, the rear supporting pivot G.sub.S is hidden by sections of the lever construction. The two supporting pivots G.sub.S are formed as flexural pivots (all flexural pivots shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 comprise in each case three bars lying one behind the other in the direction of the pivot axis, which connect to each other the two sections to be guided in an articulated manner with respect to each other. The middle bar is inclined by 90°, relative to the pivot axis, in relation to the other two bars).

(23) For the space-saving arrangement of the two levers, the first lever H has a clearance running in the longitudinal direction X passing through it, which is occupied by the second lever M. Both levers are at least partly formed as a lattice design.

(24) FIG. 6 shows, from another point of view, how the first lever H is connected, at its second end region H.sub.2, to the first end region M.sub.2 of the second lever M via a second coupling element K. The second coupling element K again comprises two load pivots G.sub.L (of which only the lower one is labeled) arranged one above the other in the vertical direction Z. Analogously to the design of the first coupling element in FIG. 4, the two load pivots G.sub.L in each case form a pivot axis A.sub.GL running in the transverse direction Y. The two load pivots are connected to each other via an intermediate web. Unlike the first coupling element K in FIG. 4, here the web has openings passing through it, in order to save weight.

(25) The lower load pivot G.sub.L is arranged in a slot T of the lever M. In the transverse direction Y, the slot T has two wall sections W parallel to each other, which receive the lower load pivot G.sub.L between them. At their lower end, the two wall sections W are connected to each other by a common supporting section V. The lower load pivot G.sub.L engages on this supporting section V, in order to introduce the lever force transmitted from the first lever H through the coupling element K into the lever M. On the outer side of the two wall sections, facing away from the lower load pivot in each case, a supporting pivot G.sub.S is provided in each case, which braces the lever M on the fixed base, which is not represented (wherein FIG. 6 shows only the front one of the two pivots). To brace the lever M via this supporting pivot, on the outer side of each wall section W, facing away from the lower load pivot G.sub.L, an upper supporting section V, under the underside of which bars of the supporting pivot G.sub.S formed as a flexural pivot engage, projects laterally outwards in the transverse direction Y. Each wall section W of the slot T thus has, on sides lying opposite in the transverse direction Y, two supporting sections V arranged offset with respect to each other in the vertical direction Z, with the result that a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction X would result, due to each wall section, in an approximately Z-shaped contour (with sections orthogonal to each other).

(26) The two supporting pivots G.sub.S at the first end region M.sub.1 of the lever M define the pivot axis, about which the lever is pivotable relative to the fixed base. The distance between the common pivot axis A.sub.GS of the two supporting pivots G.sub.S lying one behind the other in the transverse direction Y and the pivot axis A.sub.GL of the lower load pivot G.sub.L defines a short lever arm of the lever M. In order to achieve high transmission ratios, the distance should be chosen to be as small as possible. Although the pivots G.sub.L, G.sub.S defining the named axial distance have a certain extension (which is formed in particular by the bars of the flexural pivot) transverse to their pivot axes, the pivot axes can be formed very close to each other because of the arrangement of the respective pivots, chosen to be offset with respect to each other in the transverse direction Y.

(27) For this, the upper load pivot G.sub.L of the second coupling element K in FIG. 6, which engages on the second end region H.sub.2 of the lever H, protrudes through an opening into the lever H until the pivot axis A.sub.GL of the upper load pivot passes through the upper lever H. This also results in a reduced installation height in particular in the vertical direction Z.

(28) As mentioned, FIG. 5 shows one of the supporting pivots G.sub.S provided at the first end region H.sub.1 of the lever H. FIG. 6 shows the second supporting pivot G.sub.S (far right in FIG. 6) lying opposite this pivot in the transverse direction Y. There too, a slot T is provided, which extends with a wall section at least on one side of the supporting pivot. A supporting section V projects outwards from this wall section in the transverse direction Y, in order to be able to receive the upwards-projecting bars of the supporting pivot G.sub.S.

(29) FIG. 7 shows the arrangement according to FIG. 6, embedded in the fixed base F. Here it can be seen how, in the region of their coupling by means of coupling element K, the two levers M, H protrude into an opening of the fixed base F in order to be able to form maximum lever lengths. Furthermore, it can be seen how the front supporting pivot G.sub.S of the lower lever M is braced on the fixed base F. At its rear end, in the X direction, the fixed base has a mounting section E.sub.1, in order to arrange a component of the force compensation system thereon, in particular a permanent magnet D. Yet another section E.sub.2, which is provided for receiving the element Q.sub.2 of the position detector Q, is attached in the X direction.

(30) FIG. 8 shows the design according to FIG. 9 in a tilted view, but without the upper and lower control arms L.sub.o, L.sub.u. What can be seen is a coil P, carried by the lower lever M via an extension screwed onto it, which moves relative to a permanent magnet D, carried by the fixed base F, as a function of the weight force received by the load receiver A and transmitted using the levers. Coil P and permanent magnet D form elements of an electromagnetic force compensation system, with which the pivoting movement of the lever M is compensated, in order to be able to draw conclusions on the weight force to be measured from the coil current necessary therefor.

(31) The coil P and the permanent magnet D are arranged, in the longitudinal direction X, inside an opening provided in the load receiver A, in order to be able to form maximum lever lengths and transmissions in as short as possible an installation space in the longitudinal direction X.

(32) The individual components of the weighing block according to the invention can advantageously penetrate each other in order thereby to reduce installation space. The penetration can be effected in the simplest case in that a first component has an opening into which the other component protrudes. However, the components can particularly preferably also interpenetrate each other, which is to be explained with reference to FIG. 10. There, two components 1, 2, which extend in the longitudinal direction X, can be seen in a cross section formed transverse to the longitudinal direction X. In this section, component 1 has individual partial areas T.sub.1, while the cross section of component 2 is made up of the respective partial areas T.sub.2. The cross section of component 1 is framed by an envelope V.sub.1, and the envelope V.sub.2 frames the cross section of component 2. The interpenetration of the two components is characterized in that in each case partial areas of one component are located inside the envelope of the other component. A stable and particularly space-saving arrangement of the components thereby becomes possible. Of course, more than two different components can also penetrate each other in this way.

(33) FIG. 10 also illustrates that the cross-sectional area made up of the individual partial areas of a component is much smaller than the area framed by the respective envelope of this cross section. A lever formed, for example, as a framework structure could have the cross section of component 1, wherein the individual partial areas T.sub.1 correspond to the sections through the members with varying dimensions. Component 2 could be a further framework-structure lever coupled to the lever, wherein both levers can penetrate each other in the manner shown by way of example in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 is to illustrate only the penetration principle of components arranged in each other, the cross sections and partial areas of which can also turn out to be different depending on requirements.

(34) FIG. 11 shows an example of a control arm L.sub.o formed as a framework structure, which is connected in an articulated manner to the fixed base F via a supporting pivot G.sub.S and to the load receiver L via a control arm pivot G.sub.R. The framework structure provides high stiffness in all spatial directions with low weight. At the same time, the material-free space between the members provides space for further components, which could penetrate the control arm. In addition or alternatively, one or more other components of the weighing block can of course also be formed framework-like according to this model.

(35) FIG. 12 shows an example of a lattice-like structure of a component, which is constructed from individual prisms or has prism-shaped openings passing through it. An alternative design can be seen in FIG. 13, in which a cuboid block has spherical openings passing through it. Of course, these and other designs can if necessary be combined as desired (also within a component).

(36) The embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-9 includes an arrangement of components coupled together so that all pivot axes run parallel to each other. FIG. 14 shows a schematic representation of an arrangement of levers coupled together so as to include pivot axes that run non-parallel. It will be appreciated that other elements of a weighing block such as a fixed base, control arms, and a load receiver are omitted from the simplified schematic view of FIG. 14. The arrangement includes two levers H′ and M′ where lever H′ extends in the X direction shown in the figure and lever M′ extends in the Y direction. A coupling element K′ (indicated by the double-headed arrow) between levers H′ and M′ includes a material web K.sub.W′ and forms two pivot structures (the pivot structures themselves are not shown in FIG. 14) defining pivot axes A.sub.GL1 and A.sub.GL2. Although not shown in FIG. 14, the pivot structures may comprise crossed material bar pivots including two or more material bars as described above (such as supporting pivots G.sub.S in FIG. 5 for example). In the example of FIG. 14, pivot axes A.sub.GL1 and A.sub.GL2 extend orthogonally to each other, with pivot axis A.sub.GL1 extending in the Y direction and pivot axis A.sub.GL2 extending in the X direction. This arrangement is in contrast to that shown for example in FIG. 6 where coupling element K between levers H and M is associated with two pivot axes A.sub.GL that run parallel to each other, both in the Y direction in that view.

(37) As used herein, whether in the above description or the following claims, the terms “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, that is, to mean including but not limited to. Also, it should be understood that the terms “about,” “substantially,” and like terms used herein when referring to a dimension or characteristic of a component indicate that the described dimension/characteristic is not a strict boundary or parameter and does not exclude variations therefrom that are functionally similar. At a minimum, such references that include a numerical parameter would include variations that, using mathematical and industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding, measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.), would not vary the least significant digit.

(38) Any use of ordinal terms such as “first,” “second,” “third,” etc., in the following claims to modify a claim element does not by itself connote any priority, precedence, or order of one claim element over another, or the temporal order in which acts of a method are performed. Rather, unless specifically stated otherwise, such ordinal terms are used merely as labels to distinguish one claim element having a certain name from another element having a same name (but for use of the ordinal term).

(39) In the above descriptions and the following claims, terms such as top, bottom, upper, lower, vertical, and the like with reference to a given feature are made with reference to the orientation of the structures shown in the drawings and are not intended to exclude other orientations of the structures.

(40) The term “each” may be used in the following claims for convenience in describing characteristics or features of multiple elements, and any such use of the term “each” is in the inclusive sense unless specifically stated otherwise. For example, if a claim defines two or more elements as “each” having a characteristic or feature, the use of the term “each” is not intended to exclude from the claim scope a situation having a third one of the elements which does not have the defined characteristic or feature.

(41) The above described preferred embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. Various other embodiments and modifications to these preferred embodiments may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. For example, in some instances, one or more features disclosed in connection with one embodiment can be used alone or in combination with one or more features of one or more other embodiments. More generally, the various features described herein may be used in any working combination.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

(42) α angle of the bar in the flexural pivot β angle between two pivot axes displaced as far as the cut 1, 2 components of the weighing block (general) A load receiver A.sub.GL pivot axis of a load pivot A.sub.GR pivot axis of a control arm pivot A.sub.GS pivot axis of a supporting pivot B weighing block B.sub.1, B.sub.2 first/second block end C opening D permanent magnet E.sub.1, E.sub.2 mounting sections on the fixed base F fixed base G.sub.L load pivot G.sub.R control arm pivot G.sub.S supporting pivot H first lever H.sub.1, H.sub.2 first/second end region of the lever H K coupling element K.sub.W web of coupling element L load receiver L.sub.o upper control arm L.sub.u lower control arm M second lever M.sub.1, M.sub.2 first/second end region of the lever M P coil Q position detector Q.sub.1, Q.sub.2 elements of the position detector T slot T.sub.1, T.sub.2 partial areas V supporting section V.sub.1, V.sub.2 envelopes X/Y/Z longitudinal direction/transverse direction/vertical direction