JPH0579894A - Measuring apparatus and measuring method - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To quickly and correctly obtain and record the measuring value of an object to serve for the control of the measuring work by changing the weight of the object during the measurement, and storing the measured values not smaller than a predetermined value. CONSTITUTION:A display part 1b displays the measured weight digitally in accordance with a signal from a weight sensor 1a. A microcomputer 2 reads the measuring signal as the measuring data. The microcomputer 2 detects whether or root the reading measuring data is larger than a preset, predetermined value as a reference to start storing. When the measuring data is larger than the predetermined value, the measuring data is compared with the measuring data supplied immediately before and larger than the predetermined value and a preset target value. The measuring data read as the larger value than the predetermined value is stored in a storing device 2b. A plurality of measuring data are stored afterwards in the storing device 2b. The operator tightly seals a packing container on a platform scale 1 when he or she recognizes that the weight has reached the target value.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a weighing device and a weighing method which are used when, for example, a packaging container is filled with a certain weight of a weighing object such as powder.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art When packing a certain amount of powder in a packaging container, the amount of powder is generally increased or decreased on a scale and the operator confirms that the weight display on the scale has reached the target value. For example, the filling operation was completed and the packaging container was sealed.

However, since measurement accuracy is low in weighing by only visually confirming the display on the scale, it has been proposed to improve the measurement accuracy by emitting an acoustic signal according to the measured weight (Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2- 47524).

[0004]

There is a limit to the improvement of the measurement accuracy in weighing, and it is difficult to keep the weights of all the objects to be measured within an allowable range when performing many measurements.
Therefore, it is necessary to record and manage the measured value. Since it requires a huge amount of labor to perform such management manually, it is conceivable to use a computer for management.

However, when filling the object to be weighed into the packaging container on a scale, it takes time to bring the weight of the object to be measured to a target value, and the measured weight slightly changes. , It is necessary to obtain the measured value quickly and accurately.

An object of the present invention is to solve the above technical problems.

[0007]

The weighing device according to the present invention is characterized in that the weighing device measures the weight of an object to be weighed and emits a measurement signal at regular time intervals, and the weighing device measures the weight. Discriminating means for discriminating whether or not the measured weight is a certain value or more, storage means for storing the measured weight of a certain value or more, and a continuous constant number of measured weights are compared with each other in order from the one stored later. Comparison means,
And a recording means for recording the measured weights as measured values when all the measured weights of the fixed number are equal to each other. This weighing device, a comparison means for comparing a predetermined constant number of measured weights with a predetermined target value in order from the one stored in advance, and when the constant number of measured weights are all equal to the target value, It is preferable to include an informing means for emitting a perceptible signal.

A feature of the weighing method according to the present invention is that the weight of an object to be weighed is changed while being measured, a measured weight of a certain value or more is stored, and the measured weight is continuously set after the measured weight becomes a certain value or less. The point is that a fixed number of measured weights are sequentially compared with one another stored later, and when all of the fixed number of measured weights are equal to each other, the measured weights are recorded as measured values. During the measurement of the weight of the object to be weighed, a continuous fixed number of measured weights are compared with a target value which is predetermined in order from the one stored in advance, and the fixed number of measured weights are all equal to the target value. In some cases it is preferable to emit a perceptible signal.

[0009]

In order to carry out weighing with the structure of the present invention, first, as a weighing means, for example, a scale having a weight sensor and an indicator is used, and the weight of the object to be weighed is changed while being measured. The sensor transmits the measurement signal to the discriminating means at regular time intervals. This determining means determines whether or not the measured weight is equal to or greater than a predetermined constant value. When it is determined that the measured weight is equal to or greater than a certain value, the storage unit including, for example, a RAM starts storing the measured weight. As a result, the storage means sequentially stores the measured weights sent from the weighing sensor at a constant time interval and having a fixed value or more.

When the worker recognizes that the measured weight of the object to be weighed has reached the target value, the worker removes the object to be weighed from the weighing means. As a result, the weight measured by the weighing means suddenly decreases, and the determination means determines that the weight measured is smaller than a certain value, and the storage of the weight measured by the storage means ends.

Thereafter, the comparison means compares a fixed number of measured weights in succession with each other in order from the one stored later. For example, in order to compare three consecutive measured weights with each other, first the measured weight stored last, the second measured weight recorded last, and the third measured weight measured last are stored. Compare each other. If all three weights are not equal, compare the penultimate stored weight, the penultimate stored weight, and the penultimate stored weight. To do. If the three measured weights are not all equal, compare the measured weight stored third to last, the measured weight stored fourth to last, and the measured weight stored fifth to last. To do. This comparison is repeated until all three measured weights are equal. Then, when all three measured weights are equal, the measured weight is set as a measured value.

The measured value is recorded by a recording means which can be constituted by an external storage device of a microcomputer or a printer.

As described above, by comparing a fixed number of measured weights in succession with each other in order from the one stored later, the measured value can be obtained quickly and accurately. Since it usually takes time to bring the weight of the object to be weighed to a target value, the number of measured weights to be stored is large, and the measured weights also fluctuate slightly. In contrast,
When the operator recognizes that the measured weight of the object to be weighed has reached the target value, the operator usually removes the object to be weighed quickly from the weighing means. There are few. Further, the weight itself of the object to be weighed does not change after the worker recognizes that the target value has been reached. Therefore, by comparing the measured weights stored later in order, the measured value can be obtained more quickly and accurately than in the case where the measured weights stored earlier are compared in order.

The comparison means compares a fixed number of measured weights in succession with a predetermined target value, and when all the measured weights of the fixed number are equal to the target value, a perceptible signal such as sound or light is notified. Emitted by means. As a result, the worker can perceive that the measured weight has reached the target value by a signal other than the weight display of the weighing means, and the measurement accuracy is improved. At this time, a plurality of consecutive measured weights are compared with the target value in order from the one stored first. For example, when two consecutive measured weights are compared with a target value, the first measured weight and the second measured weight and the target value after reaching a certain value or more as a reference for starting memory are If the two measured weights are not equal to the target value, the second measured weight, the third measured weight and the target value are compared. This comparison is repeated until the two measured weights equal the target value. Then, when the two measured weights are equal to the target value, the notification means emits a perceptible signal. As a result, the worker can perceive that the measured weight has reached the target value as quickly as possible and can speed up the work.

[0015]

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIG. 2 shows the configuration of a weighing apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, which is a digital platform scale 1, a microcomputer 2, a sound board 3, and a speaker 4.
The external storage device 5, the printer 6, and the CRT display 7 are provided.

The platform scale 1 measures the weight of an object to be weighed placed on the platform scale 1 and sends a measurement signal at a constant time interval, and the weight sensor 1a.
Display 1 that displays the measured weight digitally by the signal from
b and. The microcomputer 2 includes a central processing unit 2a, a storage device 2b composed of a ROM and a RAM, and an input / output interface 2c. The sound board 3 is connected to the interface 2c to convert the signal sent from the microcomputer 2 into an acoustic signal, and the speaker 4 connected to the sound board 3 amplifies the acoustic signal and transmits it to the operator. The external storage device 5 is connected to the interface 2c and is constituted by a floppy disk device in this embodiment, and stores a signal output from the microcomputer 2. The printer 6 is connected to the interface 2c and prints the signal content output from the microcomputer 2. The CRT display 7 is connected to the interface 2c and displays the contents of signals sent from the microcomputer 2.

The weighing sensor 1a is connected to the interface 2c of the microcomputer 2 and sends a measurement signal to the microcomputer 2 at regular time intervals. In this embodiment, the weighing sensor 1a sends several measurement signals per second. The time interval for issuing this measurement signal is the weight sensor 1a.
It depends on the performance of.

The microcomputer 2 functions according to a control program previously created and stored in the storage device 2b.

With reference to the flow chart of FIG. 1, a weighing method by the above weighing device in the case of filling powder in a packaging container will be described. The target value of the powder weight is 20.02 kgf in this embodiment, and the allowable range is 20.00 kgf.
It is set to 20.04 kgf. Further, FIG. 3 shows the relationship between the powder weight and the time during the weighing operation. In addition, in order to eliminate the influence of the weight of the packaging container, when the object to be weighed is not placed on the platform scale 1, the measured weight is smaller than 0 by the weight of the packaging container.

First, a packaging container is prepared by filling powder in a predetermined amount in advance. The packaging container filled with the powder is placed on the platform scale 1. As a result, the display unit 1b digitally displays the measured weight in response to the signal from the weight sensor 1a.
In addition, the weight sensor 1a is attached to the microcomputer 2.
Send several measurement signals per second. As a result, the microcomputer 2 reads the measurement signal as weighing data (step 1).

The microcomputer 2 determines whether or not the read weighing data D is larger than a preset fixed value Da which is a reference for starting storage (step 2).
The constant value Da is set to a value smaller than the target value, and is set to about 0.11 kgf in this embodiment.

When the measurement data D is not larger than the constant value Da, the reading of the measurement data is continued as it is. When the measurement data D is larger than the constant value Da, the measurement data Di (i = 1 to n) is used as the measurement data Di-1 larger than the constant value Da sent immediately before and the predetermined target value Db. Compare (step 3).

The weighing data D1 initially read as a value larger than the constant value Da is stored in the storage device 2b as it is because there is no weighing data to be compared (step 4).

It is determined whether or not the weighing data Di stored in the storage device 2b is larger than a predetermined value Dc which is a reference for ending the weighing set by the microcomputer 2 (step 5). The constant value Dc is set to a value smaller than the target value, and is set to about 0.11 kgf in this embodiment. Since the packaging container is preliminarily filled with the powder in a predetermined amount, the weighing data Di does not become smaller than the constant value Dc, and the process returns to step 1 to read the weighing data again. By repeating this, a plurality of weighing data Di are stored in the storage device 2b.

During this period, the operator confirms the display portion 1b of the platform scale 1, increases or decreases the powder in the packaging container based on the displayed weight, and performs the work of bringing the powder weight close to the target value. In FIG. 3, the period between t1 and t2 indicates the period during which the powder weight increase / decrease work is performed. When the two consecutive measurement data Di and Di-1 in step 3 match the target value Db, the microcomputer 2 outputs a signal to the sound board 3,
A chime indicating that the target value has been reached is emitted from the speaker 4 (step 6). As a result, the operator can perceive that the powder weight has reached the target value Db not only by digital display on the display unit 1b of the platform scale 1 but also by hearing. The weighing data that matches the target value Db is stored in the storage device 2 (step 4).

When the worker recognizes that the weight of the powder has reached the target value, the work of sealing the packaging container on the platform scale 1 is performed. Figure 3
In, the period between t3 and t4 indicates the time when the packaging container is sealed. Due to this sealing operation, the weight measured by the weight sensor 1a changes. This fluctuating measured weight is stored as it is in the storage device 2b as weighing data (step 5 → 1).
→ 2 → 3 → 4).

Next, the operator removes the powder-filled packaging container from the platform scale 1 and the measured weight rapidly decreases. As a result, when the weighing data Di becomes smaller than the constant value Dc which is the reference for ending the weighing, the storing of the weighing data is ended. Next, the microcomputer 2 is the storage device 2.
The four consecutive measured weights stored in b are compared with each other, in order from the one stored later (step 7).
That is, the last stored weighing data Dn, the second to last stored weighing data Dn−1, and the last three
The metric data Dn-2 stored next is compared with the metric data Dn-3 stored fourth from the end. If all the four weighing data are not equal, the data to be compared is updated (step 8), and the second to last stored weighing data, the third to last stored weighing data, and the last to be stored. The metric data stored fourth from the first metric is compared with the metric data stored fifth from the last. This comparison is repeated until all four measurement data are equal. Then, when all the four measurement data are equal, the measurement data is set as the measurement value Do (step 9).

Next, in the microcomputer 2, the measured value Do is 20.0 which is the minimum allowable weight Dmin of the measured weight.
It is judged whether or not it is within the range of 0 kgf and the maximum allowable weight Dmax of 20.04 kgf (step 10).

If the measured value Do is within the allowable range, the microcomputer 2 counts the number of measurement (step 11).

The number of times of this measurement and the measured value Do
Is printed by the printer 6, displayed on the CRT 7, and stored by being written in the floppy disk constituting the external storage device 5 (step 12). Also,
The microcomputer 2 has a built-in clock circuit, prints the measurement time on the printer 6, displays it on the CRT 7, and stores it in the external storage device 5.

If the measured value Do is not within the allowable range in step 10, the microcomputer 2 sends a signal to the sound board 3 and the speaker 4 gives an alarm (step 14). Thereby, the operator recognizes the occurrence of the measurement abnormality and restarts the weighing. In this case, abnormal data is recorded but the number of times of measurement is not counted.

Thereafter, the weighing data stored in the storage device 2b is erased (step 13), and the next weighing is performed.

According to the above construction, the measured value Do is obtained by sequentially comparing a fixed number of measured weights with each other from the one stored later. This is because the time (T _{1 to} T ₂ ) until the measured weight reaches the measured value is usually longer than the time from when the measured value reaches the measured value until the packaging container is unloaded from the platform scale 1. This is because the measured value can be obtained in a shorter time than in the case of sequentially comparing the stored measured weights. Further, until the measured weight reaches the measured value Do, the variation of the measured weight is subtle because the powder is increased or decreased. Therefore, comparing the measured weights stored in advance in order, the measured weight before the measured value is reached. May be erroneously set as the measured value. On the other hand, once the measured weight reaches the measured value, the powder weight itself does not fluctuate, and the measured weight fluctuates greatly due to the sealing operation of the packaging container, so that the measured value is not mistakenly recognized. Therefore, by comparing the measured weights stored later in order, the measured value D can be accurately measured.
You can ask for o.

Further, a continuous constant number of measured weights are sequentially compared with the target value from the one stored first, and the chime for perceiving that the target value has been reached is emitted. Moreover, the worker can perceive that the measured weight has reached the target value, and can speed up the work.

FIG. 4 shows an example of recording by the printer, in which the vertical axis represents the measured weight and the horizontal axis represents the time. Note that when accurate weighing is performed, the target value Db and the weighing value Do match, but the influence of vibration of other machinery at the work site or the operator accidentally places his or her hand on the platform scale 1. In some cases, a slight difference may occur between the measured value Do and the target value Db, or the measured value Do may exceed the allowable range.

The present invention is not limited to the above embodiment. For example, the object to be weighed is not limited to the powder filled in the packaging container. Further, the weight of the object to be weighed is measured by the platform scale 1, but it is not limited as long as it is a weighing means that emits a measurement signal at regular time intervals. Although the floppy disk device and the printer are shown as the recording means of the measured value, for example, an optical disk device may be used as long as it can record the measured value. Further, although the acoustic signal is shown as the perceptual signal emitted when the measured weight reaches the target value, it is not limited as long as the signal can be perceived by the worker even if the light is blinked. It is also possible not to emit a perceptible signal when the measured weight reaches the target value. In this case, as shown in FIG. 5, except for steps 3 and 6 of the flowchart in FIG. It becomes a thing.

The number of continuous measurement data for comparison with each other for the determination of the measurement value and the number of continuous measurement data for comparison with the target value are the measurement signals issued from the measurement means per unit time. Depending on the number of, the different measurement weights shall be set appropriately so as not to be mistaken as the measured value or the target value.

[0039]

According to the present invention, the measured value of the object to be measured can be quickly and accurately obtained and recorded, and the measured value can be used for management of the measuring operation. Furthermore, by issuing a signal that causes the operator to perceive that the measured weight has reached the target value, it is possible to improve the weighing accuracy and speed up the weighing operation.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a flowchart of a weighing method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a structural explanatory view of a weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a relationship between measured weight and time when weighing is performed according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a recording example according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a weighing method according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 1a Weighing sensor 2 Microcomputer 2a Central processing unit 2b Storage device 5 External storage device 6 Printer

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A weighing means for measuring a weight of an object to be weighed and emitting a measurement signal at a constant time interval, and a determining means for determining whether or not the measured weight measured by the weighing means is a predetermined value or more. A storage means for storing measured weights equal to or more than a certain value, a comparing means for sequentially comparing a certain number of measured weights with one another stored later, and a case where the certain number of measured weights are all equal to each other And a recording means for recording the measured weight as a measured value. 2. A comparing means for comparing a continuous fixed number of measured weights with a predetermined target value in order from the one stored first, and when the fixed number of measured weights are all equal to the target value, The weighing device according to claim 1, further comprising: a notification unit that emits a perceptible signal. 3. The measured weight of the object to be weighed is changed while being measured, and the measured weight of a certain value or more is stored, and after the measured weight becomes a certain value or less, a continuous fixed number of measured weights is stored later. A weighing method characterized in that the measured weights are compared with each other in order and the measured weights are recorded as measured values when all of the measured weights are equal to each other. 4. During measurement of the weight of an object to be weighed, a continuous fixed number of measured weights is compared with a predetermined target value in order from the one stored in advance, and all the fixed number of measured weights are compared. The method according to claim 3, characterized in that it emits a perceptible signal if it is equal to the target value.