GB2482859A - Weighing scale tamper indicator - Google Patents
Weighing scale tamper indicator Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- GB2482859A GB2482859A GB1010454.5A GB201010454A GB2482859A GB 2482859 A GB2482859 A GB 2482859A GB 201010454 A GB201010454 A GB 201010454A GB 2482859 A GB2482859 A GB 2482859A
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- GB
- United Kingdom
- Prior art keywords
- tamper indicator
- load cell
- mount
- weighing scale
- point
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
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- 230000008439 repair process Effects 0.000 description 5
- 238000013461 design Methods 0.000 description 3
- 230000006870 function Effects 0.000 description 3
- 238000012423 maintenance Methods 0.000 description 3
- 238000005259 measurement Methods 0.000 description 3
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- 208000027418 Wounds and injury Diseases 0.000 description 1
- -1 aluminium alloys Chemical class 0.000 description 1
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- 239000000463 material Substances 0.000 description 1
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- 238000005058 metal casting Methods 0.000 description 1
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- 238000005406 washing Methods 0.000 description 1
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G23/00—Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
- G01G23/01—Testing or calibrating of weighing apparatus
- G01G23/017—Securing calibration against fraud
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G19/00—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups
- G01G19/40—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight
- G01G19/413—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight using electromechanical or electronic computing means
- G01G19/414—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight using electromechanical or electronic computing means using electronic computing means only
- G01G19/4144—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups with provisions for indicating, recording, or computing price or other quantities dependent on the weight using electromechanical or electronic computing means using electronic computing means only for controlling weight of goods in commercial establishments, e.g. supermarket, P.O.S. systems
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G19/00—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups
- G01G19/14—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups for weighing suspended loads
- G01G19/18—Weighing apparatus or methods adapted for special purposes not provided for in the preceding groups for weighing suspended loads having electrical weight-sensitive devices
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G21/00—Details of weighing apparatus
- G01G21/28—Frames, Housings
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G23/00—Auxiliary devices for weighing apparatus
- G01G23/18—Indicating devices, e.g. for remote indication; Recording devices; Scales, e.g. graduated
- G01G23/38—Recording and/or coding devices specially adapted for weighing apparatus
- G01G23/42—Recording and/or coding devices specially adapted for weighing apparatus electrically operated
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- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Mathematical Physics (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Closures For Containers (AREA)
Abstract
A weighing scale of the type in which suspended loads are weighed is disclosed and in particular the invention relates to a tamper indicator 84 for a weighing scale having critical components and non-critical components integral with the weighing scale. The tamper indicator is operatively arranged to control access to a secure compartment containing the critical components whilst the non-critical components are external to the secure compartment. The indicator may be associated with the load cell cover and may be a seal which is viewed via a transparent window.
Description
WEIGHING SCALE TAMPER INDICATION
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a weighing scale, more particularly to a hanging scale, incorporating a means of tamper indication.
Introduction
The accuracy and reliability of weighing equipment is of paramount importance. An incorrectly calibrated weighing scale is at best useless and at worst a potential tool for deceit and fraud. As a consequence, it is of great interest to consumers and regulators to ensure that commercial weighing scales utilised in the course of business are accurate, and it is of great utility to the operators of said scales to be able to demonstrate this accuracy in a quick and undisruptive manner. -15
Modem integrated weighing scales as used in commerce such as in supermarkets generally comprise critical components such as a load cell and a number of non-critical components such as auxiliary electronic components in signal communication with the load cell. Critical components are those components that ensure accurate and reliable measurements are possible and are vulnerable to unauthorised tampering affecting the calibration of the weighing scale. For example, critical components include the load cell, and/or associated circuitry or processor(s) for controlling the load cell which must be calibrated or adjusted correctly to ensure that accurate and reliable measurements are possible. The non-critical components such as auxiliary components may include microprocessors to control weighing scale functions other than weighing or calibration of the weighing scale, analogue-to-digital converters, electronic memories, interfaces for external data processing systems and computers, peripheral units such as a printer, and human interfaces such as an input keyboard and a display unit for displaying the weight, prices, etc. The non-critical components are categorised as such to the extent that unauthorised tampering will not greatly affect the accuracy or the calibration of the weighing scale. The load cell is an example of a critical component. Typically the load cell is a metal body that deforms under the application of a load, and an electronic strain gauge that measures the deformation.
Common types of strain gauges include Wheatstone bridge resistance type transducers or piezoelectric crystals.
Counter top weighing scales are not suitable for use in wet and/or corrosive environments such as a fish counter, where brine is often present and where work surfaces are more-or-less permanently wet and/or subjected to frequent washing for hygiene or other purposes.
To keep the scale out of harm's way and to reduce its exposure to moisture and corrosive chemicals in such environments, the hanging scale has been developed. This is suspended from an overhead support, typically from the lower end of a vertical mounting pole attached to a ceiling. The weigh pan is then suspended below the hanging scale.
To carry the weigh pan, a support such as a hanging rod is mounted to the live end of a load cell which has its other (dead) end mounted to the base of an outer loadbearing chassis, frame or casing (hereafter "loadbearing casing") of the scale. The load cell is therefore y-15 contained within the loadbearing casing and the weigh pan support protrudes downwardly from the loadbearing casing. Thus weight loads applied to the hanging rod are imparted to the load cell causing the load cell to deform in proportion to the weight of the load. The uppermost part of the loadbearing casing is attached to the overhead support. In the supermarket environment, the hanging scale and its overhead support need to be sufficiently strong to cope with any loads or overloads applied in service, e.g. in the event of accidental overloading of the weighing scale or of people deliberately pulling down or swinging on the scale or the weighpan. As a result, the loadbearing casing housing the load cell and auxiliary components is usually "over engineered", to cope with such overloads, as well as to provide the necessary stiffness and stability needed for accurate weight measurement.
The fabrication of the loadbearing casing for supporting the load cell and associated auxiliary components tends to result in a bulky product which is costly and complex to manufacture, needing a number of internal fabricated structural elements, and also limits the freedom to make any significant design changes, especially to the exterior shape and appearance of the loadbearing casing. The applicant in a previous application, GB2457698 (henceforth "the previous application"), has addressed this problem by developing a mount for a hanging scale, comprising a suspension point from which the mount may be hung in use, a mounting point for a load cell and means for supporting auxiliary components externally of the mount as well as supporting an outer casing within which the mount is housed. By providing a separate mount for the load cell that is suspended from an overhead support and which is sufficiently substantial to support the weighing load in use as well as externally supporting the auxiliary components, this previous invention removes the need to fabricate an over-sized and over-engineered loadbearing casing to house the internal components of the weighing scale.
However, consideration must be made of the statutory requirements associated with the use of weighing scales in commerce. Commercial entities are obliged to comply with weights and measures regulations, which are often administered by the trading standards authorities of the countries in which they operate. Such metrological requirements are often enforced through unannounced inspections of trade premises and the equipment in use therein. It is obviously of paramount importance that official inspectors are able to satisfy themselves o that the load cells and also critical components of weighing scales have not been tampered y-15 with by unauthorised personnel. A common means by which the inspectors assess this is by placing a metrological seal on the scale or on a component of the scale, in such a way that in v" order to access the load cell the seal must be broken, so if the seal is broken when the inspectors return they will know that the load cell has been accessed in an unauthorised 1"' manner. For example, a seal may be placed on the outer casing of the hanging scale described in the previous application, such that the seal must be broken in order to open the casing and access the components therein.
A disadvantage of placing the metrological seal on the outer casing of the hanging scale or weighing scales in general is that maintenance and repair of the scale becomes an extremely inconvenient process, since to access any of the non critical components one must break the seal. Thus, even minor repairs of non critical, auxiliary parts may take a scale out of operation until appropriate seals can be reapplied according to the requirements of the appropriate regulations. There is therefore a need to incorporate into the weighing scale a means of tamper indication for critical components which may be quickly and easily inspected and which does not obstruct access to the non-critical components. It would obviously be especially advantageous to be able to do so in a manner which does not undermine or negate the advantages of the applicant's prior invention.
Summary of Invention
The present invention provides a tamper indicator for a weighing scale having critical components and non critical components integral with the weighing scale characterised in that the tamper indicator is operatively arranged to control access to a secure compartment containing the critical components and the non-critical components being external to the secure compartment.
The advantage of providing a secure compartment, with a tamper indicator to provide access, is that it allows for critical components which must be shielded from tampering, such as the load cell, to be placed within the compartment, whilst components which require a lesser degree of security such as auxiliary components integral to the weighing scale need not be placed within the compartment and are thus more easily accessible for routine servicing or repair, by non-metrologically certified personnel. Thus, the interior of the weighing scale may be arranged such that access to critical components is controlled by the -15 tamper indicator, but access to non-critical components is not hindered by the presence of the tamper indicator. For a typical weighing scale comprising an outer casing, the components integral with the weighing scale are those components that are housed within N.. the outer casing. Other components that are located external of the outer casing of the weighing scale are not considered integral with the weighing scale and therefore, do not form the auxiliary components according to the present invention. The non-critical components include but are not limited to a processor for controlling the functions of the weighing scale other than weighing or the accuracy of weighing and/or an input keyboard and/or a display unit and/or microprocessors and/or analogue-to-digital converters and/or electronic memories and/or interfaces for external data processing systems and computers etc. In this arrangement, the secure compartment for the critical components such as the load cell is contained within the outer casing and is separate from the outer casing housing such that the non critical components are external of the secure compartment. Other arrangements are possible, e.g. where the secure compartment is also external, fastened to or integrally formed with a further housing for the non-critical components.
Since critical components such as the load cell cannot be accessed without manipulating the tamper indicator, the use of said indicator allows any person inspecting the equipment to quickly and unambiguously ascertain whether the critical components have been accessed since the tamper indicator was set in place. The scale may be designed such that at least a portion of the tamper indicator is visible externally of the scale, eliminating the need to open any casing in order to inspect the tamper indicator and allowing any person observing the scale to inspect it. Preferably, the tamper indicator comprises a means to indicate access to the secure compartment, e.g. a seal, such that a broken seal would indicate tampering of the critical components.
In addition to the additional confidence provided by the tamper indicator it also provides ease of maintenance. Since the tamper indicator provides access to the separate secure compartment containing the critical components (e.g. load cell) but need not be manipulated in order to access any component of the scale exterior to the secure compartment, the invention permits greater freedom to repair the scale, since auxiliary components and parts exterior to the point may be accessed freely. This avoids a situation in which any and all maintenance operations would cause a breach of the tamper indicator, such breaches .-15 requiring owners and operators to take the scale out of service until the tamper indicator can be resealed and the scale calibration checked according to statutory requirements.
The secure compartment may comprise a mount for a weighing scale having a suspension point from which the mount may be hung in use, a mounting point for a load cell, and means for supporting non-critical components externally of the mount. Preferably the mount comprises means for supporting an outer casing within which one or more non-critical components (and optionally also the mount) are housed. Preferably the tamper indicator is visible externally of the outer casing. In addition to these known features the mount comprises a tamper indicator associated with the mount and operatively arranged to indicate when tampering with the load cell has occurred. In addition, the present invention provides a method for accessing a load cell housed in a mount comprising the step of manipulating such a tamper indicator.
The advantages of providing a separate mount for the load cell suspended from an overhead support and sufficiently substantial to support the weighing load in use as well as externally supporting the auxiliary components have previously been discussed in application no. GB245 7698. The incorporation of a tamper indicator brings with it numerous additional advantages as previously discussed, such as providing ease of inspection without compromising access to non-secure components. The mount and outer casing of the scale may be designed such that at least a portion of the tamper indicator is visible externally of the scale, eliminating the need to open the casing in order to inspect the tamper indicator.
The tamper indicator may comprise a cover and/or a re-usable fastener and/or a seal.
Preferably, it comprises a load cell cover placed over the mounting point for the load cell.
This cover may be shaped and positioned such that when it is set in place over the mounting point the cover and mount securely encloses the load cell entirely, forming the secure compartment. The mount may comprise a recess or cavity within which the mounting point is located and over which the cover is releasably secured.
The load cell cover may comprise at least one point of attachment to the outer casing of the hanging scale or the mount itself Preferably, at least one of these points of attachment is sealed. Preferably, at least one of the points of attachment thus sealed will be visible 15 externally of the outer casing. Such an arrangement would mean that the load cell cover may not be moved, and thus the load cell may not be accessed, without breaking the at least one externally visible seal. Through this means the security of the load cell compartment can be assessed quickly and simply without any dismantling of the hanging scale.
The means of attachment of the at least one externally visible point of attachment may be a releasable fastener such as a screw or a pin. Preferably, the externally visible point of attachment will be visible by means of a transparent window; this will allow the seal to be viewed without risk of the seal or non critical components within the outer housing being damaged.
Preferably, any auxiliary component contained within the outer casing and outside of the mount may be accessible when the load cell cover is in the closed position. The load cell cover may be designed such that in order to access the load cell the cover must be rotated about an axis. The load cell cover may, when it is in place, project through the body of the mount or outer casing at least partially. It may further be possible, when the load cell cover is in the closed position, to thread a means of attachment from a point exterior to the mount or outer casing through the projecting portion of the load cell cover and into the body of the mount or outer casing. The means of attachment may be fixed in place once it is thus threaded through the projecting portion of the load cell cover and into the body of the mount or outer casing.
The present invention provides a method for accessing a load cell housed in a mount comprising the step of manipulating a tamper indicator, as described above. The state of the tamper indicator may irreversibly change as a consequence of such manipulation, such as to indicate that said manipulation has taken place. (For example, the manipulation may cause a seal to be broken.) Preferably, the required manipulation of a tamper indicator comprises moving a load cell cover as defined above.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Fig. 1 is a front view of a mount according to an embodiment of the present invention.
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of part of a hanging scale, comprising the mount of Fig. 1, a -15 portion of the outer casing, and the load cell cover, with the load cell cover in the closed ci position.
N... Fig. 3 corresponds to Fig. 2, except that the load cell cover is in the open position.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a hanging scale according to an embodiment of the present invention, with its operational cover in place.
Description of the Illustrated Embodiment
The present invention is not restricted to a hanging weighing scale and is applicable to other types of weighing scales such as a counter top weighing scale. However, the following description for illustrative purposes is made with reference to a modified form of the mount disclosed in, GB245 7698, relating to a hanging weighing scale. Referring to Figure 1, the mount 24 according to an embodiment of the present invention comprises a body portion 26 having a top wall 28, a bottom wall 30, a rear wall 31 and sidewalls 32, forming a cavity 34 for housing a typical load cell (not shown) and one or more mounting points 36 for securing the load cell to the mount 24.
The body portion 38 of the mount 24 is formed with a suspension point in the form of a neck portion 45 for suspending the mount 24 from a suitable overhead support, e.g. a ceiling mounted support pole.
The neck portion 45 is made sufficiently substantial to bear the full weight of any loads applied to the load cell including any over-loads in an event of accidental over-loading of the weighing scale. For example, in the supermarket environment, the mount must be able to withstand loads beyond that stated for the particular load cell, e.g. when subjected to extreme loads in an event of children swinging from the hanging rod of the weighing scale, without damaging the load cell, but most importantly without causing the mount to inadvertently release from its overhead support. Failure of the mount suspension point will cause the weighing scale to fall, not only damaging the scale, but also risking injury to anyone in its path. To provide a further safety measure in an event that the mount is accidentally released from its support, the mount 24 can have an anchor point for a chain or -15 tether to link the mount to the support. This can be provided on the body 38 of the mount 24 or the neck portion 45. Thus, in an event that the hanging point 45 of the mount 24 is accidentally released from the support, the weighing scale is prevented from falling.
The mount 24 of the present invention can readily provide sufficient structural strength, stiffness and integrity when subjected to any excessive loads, sudden shocks or vibration.
In the particular embodiment, such advantages can be offered by integrally forming the mount 24 as a single metal casting. Various known casting techniques such as die casting or sand casting can be used to produce the mount. This not only provides an efficient mechanism for fabricating the mount but the walls of the mount can be made more substantial and/or fabricated from high strengthlstiff materials that would otherwise be more difficult to fabricate any other way. Typically, the mount 24 can be die cast from light metals, e.g. aluminium alloys, magnesium alloys or even sophisticated metals such as titanium. Moreover, casting allows various design shapes to be incorporated in the mount efficiently. This, for example, facilitates various designs and shapes of the hanging point 45 arrangement to be made for assembly onto bespoke overhead hanging kits. In addition, the walls of the mount 24 can be fabricated with various patterns of protrusions and relieved areas, or internal structural elements 54, 56 maximising the strength and/or stiffness of the mount. In the particular embodiment, the patterns and structural elements are formed as ribs 54, 56 on the exterior and interior walls of the mount 24. The increased surface area provided by the ribs 54, 56 can also act as fins to dissipate heat, i.e. heat sink. This is particularly advantageous where heat generated from electronic components, e.g. transformers, triacs, thyristors, microprocessors and the like, would need to be dissipated.
The mount 24 for the load cell is housed in an external casing for housing the auxiliary components externally of the mount and which is integral to the weighing scale. In one example, the mount has mounting points for supporting external panels forming the outer casing. In another example, the outer casing can be a single integral unit mounted to the mount. Alternatively, the outer casing is mounted to chasis or sub-frame 60 which is in turn mounted to the mount. Within the outer casing is housed the mount for housing the load cell and/or other critical components (referred to in the following simply as the loas cell) as discussed above. Figures 2 and 3 depict the mount 24 of the present invention in situ, with the sub-frame 60 and a load cell cover 62 in place. The load cell cover cooperates with the .-15 mount to provide a closed housing or compartment for the load cell. In order to obtain access to the load cell the load cell cover is moveable relative to the mount. In the particular embodiment shown in Figure 2 the load cell cover is in the closed position which it will N... preferably occupy during operation of the scale. In Figure 3 it is displaced from this position to an open position. The load cell cover 62 may be shaped to minimise the space occupied by it and to avoid obstructing the function of, and access to, other non-critical or auxiliary components of the hanging scale aside from the load cell itself, which resides in a space established between the rear wall 31 and the load cell cover 62.
Preferably, at least a portion 72 of the load cell cover 62 may project through the sub-frame 60; in the depicted embodiment this achieved by the projecting portion 72 projecting through a gap 64 specifically cut in the sub-frame 60 for this purpose. Preferably, when the load cell cover 62 is in the closed position (as in Fig. 2) the projecting portion 72 is aligned with a point of attachment 68 on the sub-frame 60 (this point of attachment being seen most clearly in Fig. 3). The projecting portion 72 preferably has a gap 66 located such that when it is in the closed position (as in Fig. 2) the gap 66 and the point of attachment 68 are aligned. The interior of the gap 66 should preferably be shaped to accommodate some means of attachment such as a releasable fastener, e.g. a screw or a pin, which may be fed through the gap 66 and releasably secured the point of attachment 68 in order to secure the load cover 62 in place.
Preferably, the load cell cover may have additional, secondary points of attachment 70 to the mount 24 or to the sub-frame 60; in the embodiment depicted in Fig. 2 and 3 the load cell cover 62 has a point of attachment to the mount designed such that the cover 62 may be rotated in order to be removed. In some embodiments additional features may be incorporated to require that the cover 62 be rotated in order to be removed; for example, in the embodiment depicted in Figures 2 and 3, a slot lip 74 on the sub-frame 60 engages with a tab 76 on the load cell cover 62 when the load cell cover is in the closed position as depicted in Fig. 2. Thus the load cell cover is held in place by the point of attachment 68 to the outer casing 60, the secondary point of attachment 70 to the mount 24, and the slot lip 74/tab 76 to the mount 74. In this embodiment the load cell cannot be accessed unless the load cell cover 62 is rotated out of place, and this cannot be done without detaching it from y-15 the point of attachment 68. If a metrological seal were placed over the gap 66 in the protruding portion 72 of the load cell cover 62, the load cell could not be accessed without breaching the metrological seal. Thus the combination of the housing provided by the mount N... and the load cell cover whereupon access to the load cell is only via this housing provides a secure compartment for the load cell, the security of which against unauthorised access is provided by a tamper indicator such as a sealed cover as discussed above.
Figure 4 shows the hanging scale 78 suspended from the suspension point with its outer casing 80 in place and comprising a hanging arm 86 for supporting a weigh pan 88.
Preferably, as depicted in its figure, a transparent window 82 is provided through which is visible at least partially the gap 66 in the protruding portion 72 of the load cell cover 62.
Preferably, when the load cell has been calibrated according to statutory standards, the load cell cover 62 will be secured in place via the point of attachment 68 and a metrological seal 84 placed over the gap 66, such that the metrological seal 84 is visible via the transparent window 82.
The use of a cover for the load cell, which may be similar to the load cell cover 62 depicted in Figures 2 and 3, enables access to the load cell to be controlled, since the load cell cover 62 must be moved or removed in order to access the load cell. The use of a metrological seal, which may be similar to the metrological seal 84 depicted in Figure 4, and which must be breached in order to move or remove the load cell cover 62 allows for detection of unauthorised access to the load cell, since such access must breach the metrological seal 84.
If means are provided by which the metrological seal 84 may be examined without opening the scale at all (such means may include the transparent window 82 as depicted in Figure 4), the metrological seal 84 may quickly and simply be inspected without any dismantling of the scale itself The present invention thus described may be designed such that auxiliary components integral with the hanging scale, including but not limited to a printer, an input keyboard, a display unit, microprocessors, analogue-to-digital converters, electronic memories, and interfaces for external data processing systems and computers, may be accessed for replacement or repair without breaking the metrological seal 84 or accessing the load cell.
Moreover, whereas the load cell is deemed the critical component in the illustrative y-15 embodiment, the tampering of which will affect the calibration and accuracy of the weighing scale, there is no restriction in the present invention to the critical component to just being the load cell and can include other components that are of a critical nature N... according to metrological regulations and which could affect the calibration and accuracy of the weighing scale if tampered with. For example, electronic circuitry associated with the calibration of the load cell, the tampering of which will affect the accuracy of the weighing scale, may also be considered of a critical nature.
Whereas the present invention is described with reference to a hanging weighing scale, the present invention is also applicable to other weighing scale types. For example, a separate secure housing for the load cell can be incorporated in a counter top weighing balance, the secure housing having a tamper indicator means such as a metrological seal which is required to be broken in order to access the load cell.
Claims (15)
- Claims 1. A tamper indicator for a weighing scale having critical components and non-critical components integral with the weighing scale characterised in that the tamper indicator is operatively arranged to control access to a secure compartment containing the critical components, the non-critical components being external to the secure compartment.
- 2. A tamper indicator as defined in Claim 1, comprising means to indicate if the secure compartment has been accessed.
- 3. A tamper indicator as defined in Claim 2, wherein the access indicating means comprises a seal.
- 4. A tamper indicator as defined in claim 2 or 3, wherein the secure compartment o comprises a mount having a mounting point for said load cell, a suspension point from -15 which the mount may be hung in use, means for supporting auxiliary components externally of the mount. r
- 5. A tamper indicator as defined in Claim 4, wherein the mount has and means for supporting an outer casing within which the mount is housed.
- 6. A tamper indicator as defined in claim 4 or 5, wherein the secure compartment further comprises a cover.
- 7. A tamper indicator as defined in claim 6, wherein said cover has at least one point of attachment to the mount or outer casing.
- 8. A tamper indicator as defined in claim 7, wherein the point of attachment comprises a releasable fastener.
- 9. A tamper indicator as defined in claim 7 or 8, wherein at least one of said at least one points of attachment is visible externally of the weighing scale.
- 10. A tamper indicator as defined in claim 9, wherein the point of attachment is visible is by means of a transparent window.
- 11. A tamper indicator as defined in claims 9 or 10, wherein at least one externally visible point of attachment comprises a seal.
- 12. A tamper indicator as defined in claim 11, wherein movement of the load cell cover causes the seal to be broken.
- 13. A tamper indicator as defined in any of claims 6 to 12, wherein access into the secure compartment requires movement of the load cell cover.
- 14. A weighing scale having a critical component and non-critical components integral o with the weighing scale wherein said weighing scale comprises a tamper indicator as -15 defined in any of the preceding claims. c'Jv"
- 15. A weighing scale as defined in Claim 14, wherein the non-critical components can be accessed independently of the secure compartment. r16. A weighing scale as defined in claim 14 or 15 and which comprises a hanging scale.17. A method of accessing a load cell housed in a mount comprising the step of manipulating a tamper indicator as defined in any of claims 1-13.18. A method of accessing a load cell housed in a mount as in claim 16, wherein the required manipulation of a tamper indicator comprises moving a load cell cover as defined in any ofclaims6to 13.19. A method as defined in claim 18, wherein said movement of load cell cover requires releasing at least one point of attachment as defined in claim 7 or 8.20. A method as defined in claim 19, wherein releasing said at least one point of attachment requires breaking a seal as defined in claim 3.21. A method of metrologically sealing the weighing scale as defined in any of claims 14 -16, comprising the step of placing a metrological seal on a tamper indicator as defined in any of claims 1-13.22. A tamper indicator as defined in any of claims 1 to 13 and substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.23. A weighing scale as defined in any of claims 14 -16, and substantially as described herein with reference to or as shown in the accompany drawings.24. A method as defined in any of claims 17 to 21, and substantially as described herein with reference to the accompany drawings. (\J
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1010454.5A GB2482859A (en) | 2010-06-18 | 2010-06-18 | Weighing scale tamper indicator |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1010454.5A GB2482859A (en) | 2010-06-18 | 2010-06-18 | Weighing scale tamper indicator |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| GB201010454D0 GB201010454D0 (en) | 2010-08-04 |
| GB2482859A true GB2482859A (en) | 2012-02-22 |
Family
ID=42582793
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| GB1010454.5A Withdrawn GB2482859A (en) | 2010-06-18 | 2010-06-18 | Weighing scale tamper indicator |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| GB (1) | GB2482859A (en) |
Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2041523A (en) * | 1979-02-05 | 1980-09-10 | Berkel Patent Nv | Weighing apparatus |
| US4858711A (en) * | 1988-02-15 | 1989-08-22 | Mettler Instrumente Ag | Electronic balance |
| WO2001022098A1 (en) * | 1999-09-24 | 2001-03-29 | Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution, Inc. | Utility meter having a security sealing arrangement |
| US6246967B1 (en) * | 1998-04-22 | 2001-06-12 | Interface Logic Systems, Inc. | Weight verification device |
| GB2457698A (en) * | 2008-02-21 | 2009-08-26 | Illinois Tool Works | Hanging scale |
-
2010
- 2010-06-18 GB GB1010454.5A patent/GB2482859A/en not_active Withdrawn
Patent Citations (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB2041523A (en) * | 1979-02-05 | 1980-09-10 | Berkel Patent Nv | Weighing apparatus |
| US4858711A (en) * | 1988-02-15 | 1989-08-22 | Mettler Instrumente Ag | Electronic balance |
| US6246967B1 (en) * | 1998-04-22 | 2001-06-12 | Interface Logic Systems, Inc. | Weight verification device |
| WO2001022098A1 (en) * | 1999-09-24 | 2001-03-29 | Siemens Power Transmission & Distribution, Inc. | Utility meter having a security sealing arrangement |
| GB2457698A (en) * | 2008-02-21 | 2009-08-26 | Illinois Tool Works | Hanging scale |
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| GB201010454D0 (en) | 2010-08-04 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| WAP | Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1) |