Weigh-tronix, Inc.

Illinois Tool Works Inc.

Avery Weigh-tronix, LLC

Thomas Howard Johnson

Andrew James Sukalski

Scott Ray Janssen

Gene L Justice

Kevin Detert

Kevin M Fruechte

Roger A Younger

Eric Holland

Cory C Hainy

Victor E Hipkiss

Ronald A Rodgers

Robert G Allard

Michael R Wyatt

David Bell

Michael W Lundgreen

David L Boren

Cory Hainy

Robert J Hall

Jacob Darrel Green

The present disclosure describes a modular carriage system that includes one or more modular pieces to expand one or more dimensions of a base carriage plate. The modular pieces and/or the base carriage plate may include, and/or be configured to receive, mounting hardware to secure the modular pieces to the base carriage plate. In some examples, multiple modular pieces can be stacked together to incrementally increase the one or more dimensions.

Systems and methods for modular carriage width adjustment

The present disclosure describes a lift truck attachment system that includes a lift truck carriage with an upper carriage support and a lower carriage support secured between two support brackets. The lift truck carriage is dimensioned to fit at least partially between opposing masts of a lift truck, such that the upper and lower carriage supports do not extend substantially beyond a forward surface of the mast. A device assembly, is mounted to the lift truck carriage, the device assembly including a base portion removably secured to the upper and/or lower carriage supports via one or more attachments. The device assembly can include a carriage scale removably secured to the base portion, the carriage scale configured to support load handling fixtures, such as a lift fork. In some examples, a single carriage support is used.

Forklift scale attachment

The present disclosure provides a lift truck attachment system that includes a lift truck weighing device with a carriage mounted scale configured to support load handling fixtures and to be secured to a lift truck carriage. The weighing device includes one or more sensors arranged at a mounting interface between the lift truck carriage and the carriage mounted scale. The lift truck weighing device includes one or more of rails, plates, and/or mounting brackets, as a list of non-limiting examples, arranged at the interface with the one or more sensors, which measure a load from the load handling fixtures.

Forklift scale sensor attachment and mounting

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

Load cell assembly including cavities to buffer horizontal shear forces

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

Symmetric load cell with mounting effect cancellation

Load cell that is symmetrical about a central vertical axis

The invention relates to a sensor mounting bracket comprising a base portion and at least one side wall upstanding from the edge of the at least one base portion; at least one sensor attachment fixture located on the base portion and configured to facilitate attachment of the bracket to a sensor mounting fixture, and at least one mounting element extending outwardly from the side wall configured to facilitate attachment of the bracket to a load bearing plate or a sensor support structure. The invention further relates to a symmetrical mounting bracket comprising a pair of sensor mounting brackets combined one above the other in parallel orientation.

Sensor mounting bracket

A load cell support structure includes a base support member; a load bearing member movable with respect to the base support member and having an upper surface for receiving a load; a load cell engaging member adapted to operatively engage at least one load cell; a load transfer portion integrally formed with the load bearing member and operatively coupled to the load cell engaging member so as to transfer a load from the upper surface to at least one load cell via the load cell engaging member; at least one biasing member adapted to urge the load transfer member towards the load cell engaging member; and at least one pivot member operatively engaging the load transfer member and the load cell engaging member so as to allow pivotal movement of the load transfer member with respect to the load cell engaging member about the pivot member.

Load cell support structure for a weight scale

The invention relates to a symmetrical sensor mounting bracket assembly comprising a first sensor mounting bracket and a second sensor mounting bracket combined together, one above the other in parallel orientation; at least one sensor attachment fixture configured to facilitate attachment of the bracket to a sensor mounting fixture and at least one mounting element configured to facilitate attachment of the bracket to a load bearing plate or a sensor support structure.

A lift truck attachment for attaching a device, such as a scale to the lift truck includes an upper carriage support, a lower carriage support spaced from and opposing the upper carriage support and a device attachment region disposed between and essentially flush with the upper and lower carriage supports. The device is attached between the upper and lower carriage supports and nests with the upper and lower carriage supports to reduce the effective distance between the lift truck mast and the load carrying members, such as the loading forks.

Reduced load offset loss integrated lift truck attachment

A mechanism for reducing horizontal force in load measurement is presented. The mechanism includes a structure having surfaces of nonuniform radii of curvature (e.g., oblate spheroid surfaces) at both ends. The ends of the structure contact a force-sensor coupling element and a base-coupling element, forming two interfaces. Each interface includes a contact area between a convex surface and a concave surface. When a horizontal force is applied, the contact area at each interface shifts, allowing the structure to tip from the vertically aligned position that it is in when no horizontal force is applied. Compared to conventional mechanisms, the structure of the invention has a lower effective height because interfaces between oblate spheroid surfaces allow a larger angle of deflection than flat interfaces. The oblate spheroid interfaces also allow deflection to occur with less wear and tear at the interfaces compared to the flat-interfaced structures.

Support structure for a load-bearing device

An integrated element scale is provided that can replace an existing support structure within a piece of equipment to achieve a piece of equipment with the integrated scale. The integrated element scale may contain one or more load cells and be configured to replace a standard component used in the assembly of certain types of equipment. The integrated element may include a mechanism to align the load portion and support portion of the element with the load cell or load cells in between them. The integrated element may further include a mechanism for protecting the load cells from damage due to overload or under load as well as side impacts. When higher accuracy is required, the integrated element further may include a mechanism for decoupling the loads within each element from other load cells within the same element or other elements so that horizontal loading between the deflecting load cells does not occur. The integrated element further may include a mechanism for locking the element in an aligned position so it may be adjusted and tested prior to installation.

Method and apparatus for retrofitting an existing conveyor to include a factory calibrated weighing device

The electronic load cell is for measuring force using a force sensor within and has reduced susceptibility to shock or impact in the direction of its measurement vector. The load cell device includes a load cell structure formed of a suitable solid and including vertically spaced apart, generally parallel horizontal elements integrally formed with longitudinally spaced apart, generally parallel vertical elements with flexible members. Flexures interconnect each horizontal element with the vertical elements. A force sensor is connected between the horizontal element connecting the two flexures on the first side of the parallelogram and a spring connected to the second parallel member. The reduced shock susceptibility is achieved by placing the center of mass of the movable end of the spring connected to the force sensor nearly at or at a distance from the plane defined by the flexing axis of the flexible members connecting the first perpendicular member such that the movement of this mass is not in the direction of the axis of sensitivity of the sensor.

Electronic force sensing shock resistant load cell

The multiple load sensing multi-load cell scale is described that provides improved utility to scales with multiple decks that share load cells near supports so that more than one load may be determined at the same time on a single scale. In more detail, the scale uses the sectional sensitivities to load movement on the scale decks, load position and individual normalized load cell outputs to provide separate load magnitude measurements on these individual decks. According to the present invention, more than two load cells associated to form a single scale provide outputs that are converted to individual digital representations of the relative force magnitude on each. These magnitudes are related to the effective location of each load cell to provide the load centroid location on the scale when the sum of the products of the effective location and magnitude of each is divided by the sum of the magnitudes. The scale in accordance with the invention provides the sensitivity of each load cell to load movement on each deck. In particular, the portion of the total scale load on each deck is resolved when these deck loads are moved equally. Individual deck loads are determined by taking advantage of the fact that the change in total load magnitude across a load bearing section of the scale is the result of the product of the sum of products of sectional moment sensitivity, the deck load and the distance the load moves on the deck to cause the change. Equations for section forces supporting each deck provide a set of simultaneous interdependent equations that have a linear solution for the set of individual deck loads.

Growing community of inventors

Winnebago, MN, United States of America

Thomas Howard Johnson