Measuring device
The integrated measuring device addresses space and transfer challenges by combining with article supply devices, facilitating efficient weighing and selling operations.
Patent Information
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- TERAOKA SEIKO CO LTD
- Filing Date
- 2024-12-26
- Publication Date
- 2026-07-02
Smart Images
Figure JP2024046075_02072026_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
Measuring device
[0001] The present invention relates to a measuring device suitable for use in combination with an article supply device.
[0002] In recent years, attention has been paid to weighing and selling provided by an article supply device so that a customer can purchase a bundled article for bulk purchase sold to businesses in the amount desired by the customer. Examples of such article supply devices include a serial dispenser, a nut dispenser, a candy dispenser, and a snack dispenser. In addition, there is an article supply device that can replace a storage bag for storing articles and set it on the device body in order to perform weighing and selling. Since such an article supply device only needs to replace the bag while the device body is installed, the article replenishment work is simple.
[0003] However, for sales, it is necessary to separately prepare a measuring device to measure the articles taken out from the article supply device. Then, a large space is required to place the article supply device and the measuring device. In addition, the operation of transferring the taken-out article to the measuring device is troublesome.
[0004] The present invention has been made in such a background, and an object thereof is to provide a measuring device suitable for use in combination with an article supply device.
[0005] The measuring device of the present invention comprises at least the following components. A main body part having a weight detector, a mounting part for mounting an article supply device, an operation display part, and a connecting part for connecting the main body part, wherein the mounting part is located above the main body part, and the connecting part has an opening through which the discharge path of the stored items of the article supply device is located.
[0006] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a measuring device that can achieve space saving and perform a weighing operation easily only by mounting an article supply device.
[0007] This is a perspective view showing a weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view showing an article supply device mounted on the weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. This is a perspective view showing the weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention disassembled. This is a diagram showing the rotating of the connecting part of the weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 4(a) is a perspective view and Figure 4(b) is a plan view. This is a perspective view illustrating how the funnel is attached. This is a diagram showing the external appearance of the weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 6(a) is a front view and Figure 6(b) is a right side view. This shows a weighing and selling system based on the weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 7(a) shows the system configuration of the weighing and selling system and Figure 7(b) shows the hardware configuration of the weighing device. This is a perspective view showing the weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with the rack fixing member. This is a perspective view showing three rack fixing members connected together. This is a downward perspective view illustrating the function of the locking member of the rack fixing member. This is a downward perspective view illustrating the arrangement relationship between the article supply device and the weighing device. This is a right side view illustrating how the article supply device is attached to the weighing device. Figure 13(a) is a perspective view showing a weighing device according to another embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 13(a) is a perspective view showing the weighing device with an article supply device mounted on it, and Figure 13(b) is a perspective view showing only the weighing device. This is a perspective view showing the weighing device according to another embodiment of the present invention disassembled.
[0008] <Embodiments of the Invention> Below, an example of an embodiment of the article supply device according to the present invention will be described based on the drawings. The following drawings are created for illustrative purposes, and in order to make them easier to understand, some components that are not necessary for the explanation may be intentionally omitted. Also, for illustrative purposes, some components may be intentionally shown larger or smaller than they actually are, and the drawings do not show an accurate scale. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different figures indicate parts with the same function, and redundant explanations in each figure will be omitted as appropriate.
[0009] (Overall configuration of the weighing device) Figure 1 is a perspective view showing a weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, and Figure 2 is a perspective view showing the weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention with an article supply device mounted on it. Figure 3 is a perspective view showing the weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention disassembled.
[0010] The weighing device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 comprises a main body 1, a mounting section 2 (platter) on which an article supply device A is placed, a connecting section 4 that connects the operation display section 3 and the main body 1, and a storage section 8 that houses various circuit boards. Here, the main body 1 has a weight detector 5, the mounting section 2 is located above the main body 1, and the connecting section 4 has an opening 41 on which the discharge path for the contents of the article supply device A is located. A funnel 7 is attached to the opening 41 and fixed by a funnel locking member 43. The connecting section 4 can be rotated toward the bottom surface of the main body 1, but during normal operation, it is fixed by a hook 42 to prevent it from rotating downward.
[0011] Since the weighing device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is a calibration weighing device, the main body 1 is equipped with a spirit level 12 and horizontal adjustment legs 11. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the spirit level 12 is positioned in an exposed location that can be seen when checking the level, both when the material supply device A is not attached and when it is attached. The horizontal adjustment legs 11 are used to adjust the unevenness of the weighing device 100 by rotating the four legs independently, and also to adjust the posture so that the weighing device 100 is horizontal while checking the spirit level.
[0012] In the weighing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the weight detector 5 is a load cell consisting of a strain-generating body that deforms in proportion to force and a strain gauge that measures the amount of deformation, and outputs a voltage signal proportional to the amount of deformation. However, this does not preclude the use of other types of weight detectors, such as force balance type, electromagnetic force balance type, tuning fork type, or tuning fork vibration type, instead of a load cell type. As shown in Figure 3, the weight detector 5 is fixed to the main body 1. A support member 6 is provided between the weight detector 5 and the mounting part 2. The support member 6 is also called a platter support and functions as a shock absorber or buffer. It is suitable for absorbing vibrations when the lever A4 is released during operation of the article supply device A described later, as well as other vibrations of the rack. In this embodiment, the support member 6 is made of metal, specifically aluminum die-cast, but other materials such as magnesium or titanium may be used. Furthermore, the support member can be made of synthetic resin or other materials as long as it performs equivalent functions. As can be seen from the arrangement of the main body 1, weight detector 5, support member 6, and mounting section 2, the weighing pan portion of the weighing device 100 serves as the mounting section 2 on which the item supply device A is placed. Since the decrease in weight of the items discharged from the item supply device A is weighed as the purchase weight, the weight of the item supply device A and its contents becomes a load on the weight detector 5 from the mounting section 2. Therefore, it may take a long time for the weight to stabilize compared to weighing only the weight of the items. For this reason, the support member 6 is provided. By providing the support member 6, the time it takes for the purchase weight calculated based on the total weight to stabilize can be shortened. Since the time it takes for the purchase weight to stabilize is shortened, the purchase weight can be determined sooner, which is useful because it allows for earlier determination of the purchase weight and purchase price through display, and transmission to the information processing device. Although the support member 6 is not essential, the benefit of determining the purchase weight quickly is significant, and it is desirable to provide the support member 6.
[0013] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the mounting section 2 includes an insertion section 21 into which the rib A1 of the article supply device A is inserted, and a recess 22 that is substantially the same shape as the bottom surface of the article supply device A. The insertion section 21 is shaped such that the entrance is facing directly downwards when inserting the rib A1, but then it immediately bends and moves diagonally forward. With this configuration, the rib A1 cannot be inserted into the insertion section 21 unless the article supply device A is made to move in a specific way. Once the rib A1 is fully inserted into the insertion section 21, the article supply device A is firmly fixed to the weighing device 100 by the insertion section 21 and the recess 22. The mounting section 2 also has a wall section 23 that restricts the article supply device A from being guided backward unintentionally when it is being attached. The mounting section 2 also has two protrusions 24 that prevent the article supply device A from being attached in the wrong way.
[0014] The housing section 8 houses a power supply board, a control board, a communication board, an analog-to-digital conversion board for converting the output from the load cell, and the like. Power may be supplied via a communication line such as RS485 or PoE (Power over Ethernet), or a separate AC power supply may be provided.
[0015] According to the configuration of the weighing device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention, a weighing and selling system can be constructed simply by placing the item supply device A on top, without requiring any additional space. In particular, even though the item supply device A is placed on the weighing pan, the positioning of the operation display unit 3 towards the front greatly contributes to space saving. This is achieved by arranging the operation display unit 3 and the main body 1 so that they straddle the discharge path of the stored items of the item supply device A via a connecting unit 4. Furthermore, since the lever A4 for discharging items from the item supply device A and the operation display unit 3 of the weighing device 100 are located close together, customers can easily see the purchase weight and selling price when weighing and selling, allowing for smooth operation.
[0016] The article supply device A is not a component of the present invention and will not be described in detail, but it has a structure in which a storage bag for storing articles can be attached to a hard outer shell made of wood or transparent resin. An opening A5 is provided at the lower end of this storage bag to allow articles to be discharged. This opening A5 is opened or closed by an opening / closing member provided on the outer shell. The opening / closing member is configured to be opened and closed by operating a lever A4 provided on the front of the outer shell. The outer shell of the article supply device A is provided with ribs A1, A2, and A3 for fixing. These ribs are used differently depending on the type of fixing.
[0017] The weighing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention is normally installed on a flat shelf. Therefore, the weighing device 100 may be placed directly on the flat shelf, but when multiple weighing devices 100 are installed in parallel, they may be installed on the flat shelf via a rack fixing member B to prevent interference between adjacent devices. The rack fixing member B also contributes to easily removing the weighing device 100 by operating the leg lock member B1. Figure 1 shows the weighing device 100 fixed on the rack fixing member B.
[0018] (Rotational configuration of the connecting part) In the weighing device 100 according to an embodiment of the present invention, the connecting part 4 is rotatable toward the bottom surface of the main body 1. This will be explained. Figure 4 shows the connecting part of the weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention rotated, where Figure 4(a) is a perspective view and Figure 4(b) is a plan view. Figure 5 is a perspective view illustrating how the funnel is attached.
[0019] The connecting part 4, which connects the operation display unit 3 and the main body 1, rotates toward the bottom surface of the main body 1, causing the operation display unit 3 and the connecting part 4 to be displaced from a first position for operation to a second position that avoids interference when removing the item supply device A.
[0020] The connecting portion 4 has an opening 41 through which the discharge path for the contents of the article supply device A is located. The connecting portion 4 also has a hook 42 for fixing the connecting portion 4 in the first position. Figure 4(a) shows the connecting portion 4 with the hook 42 released, allowing it to rotate downwards and retract to a second position that does not obstruct the removal of the article supply device A. The hook 42 is located on the back side of the funnel 7 and is not actually visible, but in Figures 4(a) and 4(b), the funnel 7 is made visible so that the hook 42 can be seen. Pressing the bottom of the hook 42 releases the engagement of the hook 42, allowing the connecting portion 4 to rotate toward the second position. When the connecting portion 4, which has been rotated to the second position, is returned to the first position, the hook 42 is automatically or manually engaged. The connecting portion 4 is configured to rotate, so that the article supply device A does not interfere with the operation display unit 3 when attaching or detaching the article supply device A. A significant advantage is that it prevents the heavy item supply device A from violently contacting the precision component, the operation display unit 3. Thus, the weighing device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention not only saves space when placing the item supply device A on the weighing pan, but also takes into consideration the durability and robustness of the device.
[0021] As described above, the storage bag attached to the item supply device A is provided with an opening A5 for discharging items. In this embodiment, when the item supply device A is placed on the weighing device 100, the opening A5 of the storage bag is positioned directly above the opening 41 of the connecting part 4. To prevent items from scattering, a funnel 7 is detachably attached to the opening 41. As shown in Figure 5, the funnel 7 is fixed by a funnel locking member 43. That is, as shown in Figure 5(a), when the funnel locking member 43 is engaged with the connecting part 4, the funnel locking member 43 gets in the way and the funnel 7 cannot be removed. However, as shown in Figure 5(b), when the engagement of the funnel locking member 43 with the connecting part 4 is released, the funnel 7 can be removed. Furthermore, when replacing the storage bag to replenish or change items, the funnel 7 can be easily attached and detached, making it easier to clean the funnel and surrounding parts, which is advantageous from a hygienic standpoint.
[0022] Unlike this embodiment, the storage bag may be shaped such that the area around the opening A5 extends slightly downward so that the opening A5 of the storage bag fits into the funnel 7. In this case, however, it is desirable to configure the connecting part 4 to rotate in such a way that it does not interfere with the opening A5 of the storage bag or the funnel 7. In other words, when the connecting part 4 rotates from the first position during operation to the second position toward the bottom surface of the main body 1, it is desirable that the funnel 7 moves away from the area extending from the opening A5 of the article supply device A without interfering with that area. Even if the opening A5 of the article supply device A has a shape that extends downward, it is possible to prevent the funnel 7 from contacting and damaging the opening A5. Furthermore, the article supply device A may be provided with a funnel 7, and only the opening 41 may be provided in the connecting part 4 of the weighing device 100. In this case, the shape of the funnel 7 may be different from this embodiment, such as a shape that narrows toward the rear, so that the opening 41 and the funnel 7 do not interfere with each other.
[0023] In this embodiment, the reason the connecting portion 4 is rotatable is that the operation display unit 3 is wired to various circuit boards built into the housing 8, and the cable is routed inside or on the bottom surface of the connecting portion 4. Therefore, if the operation display unit 3 and the various circuit boards are connected wirelessly, or if a connector is provided to allow the operation display unit 3 and the connecting portion 4 to be separated even if they are wired, the connecting portion 4 may be detachable instead of rotatable.
[0024] (Configuration of the operation display unit) Figure 6 is a diagram showing the external appearance of a weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 6(a) is a front view and Figure 6(b) is a right side view. Figure 6(a) also shows the contents of the display screen.
[0025] The connecting section 4 is positioned in a front view that overlaps the front of the main body 1 and the mounting section 2, and is fixed so that the opening A5 of the item supply device A is at the same height as the top surface of the mounting section 2 and the top surface of the connecting section 4. As a result, the operation display section 3 is positioned in front of the main body 1 via the connecting section 4, as shown in Figure 6(b). This means that the discharge path of the item supply device A is located between the main body 1 and the operation display section 3. Also, as shown in Figure 6(a), it consists of an operation unit 31 and a display 32. The display 32 displays the purchase amount, purchase weight, unit price per weight unit, and the total weight of the items contained in the item supply device A, arranged from top to bottom in order of interest to the customer. The operation unit 31 consists of keys and a power button that output the purchase weight and identifier information of the weighing device 100 displayed on the display 32. In this embodiment, the operation unit and the display are separate, but they may also be configured as a touch panel display. Now that we have explained the contents handled by the operation display unit 3, we will also explain the hardware system configuration of the weighing device 100 and the weighing and selling system that is based on the weighing device 100.
[0026] (Hardware System Configuration of the Weighing Device and the Weighing Sales System) Figure 7 shows a weighing sales system based on a weighing device according to an embodiment of the present invention. Figure 7(a) shows the system configuration of the weighing sales system, and Figure 7(b) shows the hardware configuration of the weighing device. The information processing device is an operating console in the store and has a printer function that issues settlement labels with information for selling the items provided to the customer. However, the other components are the same as those of a general-purpose PC, consisting of a CPU, storage devices (ROM and RAM) connected to the CPU via a bus, a storage device, display means, communication means, and operation input means. Therefore, the illustration of the hardware configuration is omitted. In other words, it is also possible to configure the information processing device as a general-purpose PC or tablet by having an external printer function.
[0027] As shown in Figure 7(a), in this system, multiple weighing devices 100 are connected to an information processing device via a network. In Figure 7(a), the information processing device is shown as a single unit, but it can also be configured with multiple units. Here, the network is the store's LAN and is connected by wired or wireless. Although not shown in the illustration, a store controller, POS, and employee terminals may also be connected, and furthermore, master-related processing may be implemented by SaaS (Software as a Service).
[0028] Figure 7(b) is a hardware configuration diagram of the weighing device 100. As shown in the figure, the weighing device 100 has a control board built into the housing unit 8, which includes a control unit (CPU), RAM, ROM, and other storage devices. The control unit (CPU) comprehensively controls each component of the weighing device 100. The control unit, for example, executes a control program to enable the computer to implement each function of the weighing device 100. The ROM stores the control program and the like. In addition, when connected to an information processing device or when power is turned on, identifier information and unit weight information are stored in the RAM. The control unit is connected via an interface circuit to a display unit consisting of the purchase amount, purchase weight, unit price, total weight of items, etc., as well as a communication unit and a weight detection unit.
[0029] The communication unit is implemented by one or more communication means that enable connection with the information processing device. For example, interconnection with the information processing device is implemented by a wired or wireless LAN. When the communication unit is implemented by a wired LAN, the power supply for the weighing device 100 may be secured by Power over Ethernet (PoE) power supply from the information processing device connected to an external power supply. However, this does not prevent the weighing device 100 from being directly connected to an external power supply or powered by an internal battery.
[0030] The weight detection unit measures the total weight of the goods supply device A using a weight detection method with a load cell acting as a weight detector 5. In detail, the weight detection unit consists of a weight detector 5 and an AD converter. That is, the weight detection unit is implemented by a load cell, and the AD converter converts the analog signal input from the load cell into a digital signal. When the operation unit 31 of the operation display unit 3 is operated, the difference in the total weight of the goods supply device A is calculated as the purchase weight. In other words, the weighing device of this embodiment is a subtraction-type weighing device.
[0031] When the operation unit 31 of the operation display unit 3 is operated, the weighing device 100 outputs the purchase weight and identifier information stored in the weighing device to the information processing device. The identifier information can be any identifiable information such as a MAC address or DIP switch, or it may be configured to store product identification information (PLU). With a weighing device 100 configured in this way, there is no need to perform a tare operation, and self-service is easily implemented. By inputting the filling amount and the initial contents of the stored items, it is also possible to automate inventory management and generate stockout alerts, which is advantageous in terms of management automation.
[0032] (Regarding rack fixing members suitable for use with the weighing device) The weighing device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention may be placed directly on a flat shelf, or it may be installed on a flat shelf via a rack fixing member. Examples of suitable rack fixing members will be described. Figure 8 is a perspective view showing the weighing device according to the embodiment of the present invention together with a rack fixing member. Figure 9 is a perspective view showing three rack fixing members connected together. Figure 10 is a downward perspective view illustrating the function of the locking member of the rack fixing member.
[0033] As shown in Figure 8, which depicts the weighing device 100 and the rack fixing member B separated from each other, the rack fixing member B has a leg locking member B1 that locks the horizontal adjustment legs 11 of the weighing device 100. In this example of use, the weighing device 100 is fixed to a mounting platform such as a rack by the rack fixing member B, so when multiple weighing devices 100 are installed in parallel, it is possible to prevent the mounting parts 2 of adjacent weighing devices 100 or adjacent item supply devices A from interfering with each other. That is, as shown in Figure 9, the rack fixing member B defines the spacing between the multiple weighing devices 100 that are installed.
[0034] In Figure 9, the right rack fixing member B has the leg lock member B1 in the open position, while the other two rack fixing members B have the leg lock member B1 in the fixed position. More specifically, as shown in Figure 10(a), which depicts a partial transparent view of the rack fixing member from below, the leg lock member B1 is biased by an elastic member to be maintained in the fixed position under normal circumstances, and fixes the horizontal adjustment leg 11. As shown in Figure 10(b), if the leg lock member B1 is moved to the open position against the biasing force of the elastic member, the horizontal adjustment leg 11 can be removed, and the weighing device 100 can be detached from the rack fixing member B.
[0035] As shown in the figure, rack fixing member B has four screw holes and can be fixed to a flat shelf by screwing it in, or by drilling holes in the shelf and fixing it with bolts and nuts. In this case, it is preferable to fix it so that it protrudes slightly forward from the front edge of the shelf board. This makes it easier to operate the leg lock member B1 and is therefore preferable. Note that the leg lock member B1 can be maintained in the fixed position by means of screws, pins, etc., rather than by an elastic member.
[0036] (Attachment of the Article Supply Device to the Weighing Device) The mounting section 2 of the weighing device 100 is equipped with an insertion section 21 into which the rib A1 of the article supply device A is inserted, and a recess 22 which has substantially the same shape as the bottom surface shape of the article supply device A. The method of attachment and detachment will now be explained. Figure 11 is a downward perspective view illustrating the arrangement relationship between the article supply device and the weighing device. Figure 12 is a right side view illustrating how the article supply device is attached to the weighing device.
[0037] As shown in Figure 11(a), the bottom shape of the material supply device A is set to be smaller than the maximum width of the material supply device A. The mounting section 2 of the weighing device 100 is provided with a recess 22 that is substantially the same shape as the bottom shape of the material supply device A, and as shown in Figure 11(b), the bottom surface of the material supply device A fits perfectly into the recess 22. However, the mounting section 2 is also provided with an insertion section 21 into which the rib A1 of the material supply device A is inserted. This insertion section 21 faces directly downwards near the entrance, but then immediately bends and proceeds diagonally forward.
[0038] When attaching the item supply device A to the mounting section 2, as shown in Figure 12(a), the item supply device A is tilted from a position where it is horizontal front to back to as shown in Figure 12(b) so that the rear of the item supply device A is lower. At this time, the wall portion 23 of the mounting section 2 serves to support the item supply device A so that it does not move too far backward. From the state shown in Figure 12(b), if the item supply device A is moved slightly forward while returning to a horizontal position, the rib A1 moves along the shape of the insertion section 21, and the bottom surface of the item supply device A fits into the recess 22 of the mounting section 2, completing the fixing. Note that if the item supply device A is tilted so that the front is lower from the state shown in Figure 12(a), the rib A1 cannot move along the shape of the insertion section 21, and therefore the item supply device A cannot be attached.
[0039] When attaching the item supply device A, which is filled to capacity with goods in its storage bag, the weight of the item supply device A is considerable. Therefore, in practice, before reaching the state shown in Figure 12(a), a portion of the bottom surface of the item supply device A is temporarily placed on the mounting section 2, and then the item supply device A is lifted again to reach the state shown in Figure 12(a). When lifting the item supply device A again, the wall portion 23 of the mounting section 2 restricts the item supply device A from being unintentionally guided backward. The actual height of the wall portion 23 may be set slightly greater than that shown in Figure 12.
[0040] Furthermore, even if one attempts to install the item supply device A by temporarily placing the front portion of its bottom surface on the mounting section 2 and then lowering the rear portion of its bottom surface, it is impossible. When attempting to lower the rear portion of the bottom surface of the item supply device A at the furthest possible position where the item supply device A can be temporarily placed, as defined by the collision of the projection 24 of the mounting section 2 and the projection A6 on the bottom surface of the item supply device A, the rib A1 of the item supply device A will be positioned in front of the entrance to the insertion section 21 of the mounting section 2. Therefore, the rib A1 cannot enter the insertion section 21.
[0041] As mentioned above, it is important that the shape of the insertion section 21 is such that the item supply device A cannot be installed unless the item supply device A is moved. The opening A5 of the storage bag of the item supply device A is opened by pulling the lever A4 downwards, but even if force is applied to the front of the item supply device A by pulling the lever A4 downwards, the rib A1 will not move in a way that would cause it to slip out of the insertion section 21, so the item supply device A will not come off. In addition, since the rib A1 of the item supply device A is fitted toward the front of the insertion section 21 of the mounting section 2, it is also possible to prevent the item supply device A from tipping forward. When changing the storage bag, it is necessary to remove the item supply device A, but in that case, it can be easily removed by slightly lifting the front of the item supply device A and then pushing the rear toward the back while lifting it.
[0042] <Another Embodiment of the Invention> As described above, the weighing device 100 according to the embodiment of the present invention is usually installed on a flat shelf, but we propose an alternative embodiment suitable for a different mounting method. The alternative embodiment will be described below.
[0043] Figure 13 is a perspective view showing a weighing device according to another embodiment of the present invention, where Figure 13(a) is a perspective view showing the weighing device with an article supply device mounted on it, and Figure 13(b) is a perspective view showing only the weighing device. Figure 14 is a perspective view showing the weighing device according to another embodiment of the present invention disassembled.
[0044] The weighing device 100' according to another embodiment of the present invention has a configuration suitable for being installed by wall - mounting rather than being installed on a flat shelf. Therefore, in the weighing device 100' according to another embodiment, an L - shaped member is attached to the main body part 1' and the mounting part 2'. The fact that the main body part 1' has the weight detector 5 is the same as that of the weighing device 100 in the embodiment described above. However, the main body part 1' has the feature of being joined to a first support member which is a wall - hanging bar. Specifically, the first support member is an outer L - shaped member.
[0045] The point that the mounting part 2' mounts the article supply device A is the same as that of the weighing device 100 in the embodiment described above, but the way of fixing the article supply device A is slightly different. Specifically, in the insertion part 21' of the mounting part 2', a rib A2 provided at a medium height on the back side of the article supply device A is to be inserted. Also, instead of the recess 22 of the weighing device 100 in the embodiment described above, the bottom part of the article supply device A is to be fitted into two protrusions 22'. The wall part is a wall part 23' having a height larger than that of the wall part 23. The wall part 23' is a second support member for fixing the article supply device A. Specifically, the second support member is an inner L - shaped member. And the first support member and the second support member are to be joined via the weight detector 5.
[0046] According to the configuration of the weighing device 100' according to such another embodiment, it becomes possible to better counter the downward force on the lever A4 of the article supply device. Also, since the shelf board becomes unnecessary, it leads to cost reduction on the furniture side.
[0047] <Addendum> Although the weighing device 100' according to another embodiment has commonalities with the weighing device 100 in the embodiment described above as the invention conceived at the highest level, there are differences in details. Therefore, for the invention that can be conceived for the weighing device 100' according to another embodiment, it is shown below.
[0048] (Supplementary Note 1) A weighing device comprising: a first support member having a first locking portion for locking to a furniture or a wall surface; a second support member having a second locking portion for locking an article supply device; and a main body portion having a weight detector, wherein the first support member and the second support member are joined by the weight detector, and the second support member is positioned above the first support member. (Supplementary Note 2) The weighing device according to (Supplementary Note 1), wherein the second support member is joined so as to be accommodated within the width of the first support member. (Supplementary Note 3) The weighing device according to (Supplementary Note 1) or (Supplementary Note 2), wherein the width of the article supply device is substantially the same as the width of the second support member. (Supplementary Note 4) The weighing device according to (Supplementary Note 1), wherein the first locking portion, the second locking portion, the article supply device, and the operation display portion are arranged in this order from the furniture or the wall surface toward the operation surface. (Supplementary Note 5) The weighing device according to (Supplementary Note 1), comprising an operation display portion for displaying the weight detected by the weight detector, wherein the operation display portion displays an operation guide display area, a purchase amount, a purchase weight, and a total weight display area in a vertical column, and further comprises an operation key for outputting the purchase weight displayed in the display area and the identifier information stored in the weighing device.
[0049] <Summary of Embodiments> [Technical Field] The present invention relates to a weighing device suitable for use in combination with an article supply device. [Background Art] In recent years, the sale of articles by weight using an article supply device has attracted attention, as it allows customers to purchase only the desired quantity of articles that have been bundled for bulk purchases sold to businesses. Examples of such article supply devices include cereal dispensers, nut dispensers, candy dispensers, and snack dispensers. There are also article supply devices that allow for the replacement of storage bags for articles and setting them in the device body in order to sell by weight. With such article supply devices, the article replenishment work is simple because only the bags need to be replaced while the device body remains in place. [Summary of the Invention] [Problems to be Solved by the Invention] However, in order to sell articles, it is necessary to prepare a separate weighing device in order to weigh the articles taken out of the article supply device. This requires a large space to place the article supply device and the weighing device. In addition, the operation of transferring the taken-out articles to the weighing device is cumbersome. The present invention was made against this background and aims to provide a weighing device suitable for use in combination with an article supply device. [Means for solving the problem] (1) As described above, one aspect of this embodiment is a weighing device 100 comprising a main body 1 having a weight detector 5, a mounting section 2 on which an article supply device A is mounted, and a connecting section 4 connecting an operation display section 3 and the main body 1, wherein the mounting section 2 is located above the main body 1, and the connecting section 4 has an opening 41 on which the discharge path of the stored items of the article supply device A is located.
[0050] According to the above configuration, a weighing and selling system can be constructed simply by installing the goods supply device, without requiring any additional space.
[0051] (2) In one aspect of this embodiment, in the weighing device 100 described in (1), the connecting portion 4 is rotatable toward the bottom surface of the main body portion 1.
[0052] With the above configuration, the item supply device can be prevented from interfering with the operation display unit when installing or removing the item supply device.
[0053] (3) In one aspect of this embodiment, in the weighing device 100 described in (1), the connecting portion moves without interfering with the extended portion of the opening of the article supply device when it rotates from the operating position toward the bottom surface of the main body.
[0054] According to the above configuration, even if the opening of the material supply device extends downward, it is possible to prevent damage to the opening.
[0055] (4) In one aspect of this embodiment, the weighing device 100 described in (1) is provided with a support member 6 between the above-described mounting section 2 and the weight detector 5.
[0056] According to the above configuration, vibrations during the operation of the material supply device, as well as other vibrations of the rack, can be absorbed.
[0057] (5) In one aspect of this embodiment, in the weighing device 100 described in (4), the article supply device A is provided with a rib A1, and the aforementioned mounting part 2 is provided with an insertion part 21 into which the rib A1 is inserted and a recess 22 having substantially the same shape as the bottom surface shape of the article supply device A, and the article supply device A is fixed to the weighing device 100 by the insertion part 21 and the recess 22.
[0058] With the above configuration, the item supply device can be securely fixed while being easily removed when changing bags.
[0059] (6) In one embodiment of this invention, in the weighing device 100 described in (1), the main body 1 has horizontal adjustment legs 11, and the mounting base on which the weighing device 100 is placed is equipped with a rack fixing member B having a leg locking member B1 for locking the horizontal adjustment legs 11, and the weighing device 100 is fixed to the mounting base by the rack fixing member B.
[0060] With the above configuration, the weighing device can be used as a weighing device with verification. In addition, the weighing device can be easily removed by operating the locking member.
[0061] Although the weighing device 100 and weighing device 100' according to an embodiment of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included. For example, the article supply device A can be a tank-shaped integrated structure, rather than a structure in which a storage bag is attached to the outer shell, and can still be applied to the weighing device 100 and weighing device 100' according to an embodiment of the present invention.
[0062] 1 Main body 11 Horizontal adjustment legs 2 Mounting section 21 Insertion section 22 Recess 23 Wall section 3 Operation display section 31 Operation section 32 Display 4 Connecting section 41 Opening 42 Hook 43 Funnel locking member 5 Weight detector 6 Support member 7 Funnel 8 Storage section 100 Weighing device A Article supply device A1 Rib A2 Rib A3 Rib A4 Lever A5 Opening B Rack fixing member B1 Leg locking member
Claims
1. A weighing device comprising: a main body having a weight detector; a mounting section on which an article supply device is placed; and a connecting section connecting an operation display section to the main body, wherein the mounting section is located above the main body, and the connecting section has an opening on which the discharge path for the contents of the article supply device is located.
2. The weighing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting portion is rotatable toward the bottom surface of the main body portion.
3. The weighing device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connecting portion moves without interfering with the extended portion of the opening of the article supply device when it rotates from the operating position toward the bottom surface of the main body.
4. The weighing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the weighing device comprises a support member between the mounting portion and the weight detector.
5. The weighing device according to claim 4, wherein the article supply device is provided with ribs, the mounting portion is provided with an insertion portion for inserting the ribs and a recess having substantially the same shape as the bottom surface shape of the article supply device, and the article supply device is fixed to the weighing device by the insertion portion and the recess.
6. The weighing device according to claim 1, characterized in that the main body has horizontal adjustment legs, the mounting base on which the weighing device is placed is equipped with a rack fixing member having a leg locking member for locking the horizontal adjustment legs, and the weighing device is fixed to the mounting base by the rack fixing member.