Weighing apparatus with improved cleaning capabilities

1. A weighing apparatus comprising a weighing pan for supporting on an upper surface thereof an object to be weighed, an elongate member connected thereto, the elongate member extending through a hole and connecting the weighing pan to a weighing mechanism, the hole being provided in a barrier formed in between a weighing pan region and a weighing mechanism region, and a drive means for selectively moving the weighing pan and the elongate member between a first position in which the weighing pan and member are spaced from the barrier and a second position at which at least one of the weighing pan and elongate member-contacts the barrier in a sealing relationship for preventing material in the weighing pan region from passing through the hole into the weighing mechanism region.

2. An apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the elongate member extends downwardly from the weighing pan and supports the pan by contacting a lower surface of the weighing pan, the barrier is a floor, located beneath the weighing pan, of the weighing pan region, the weighing mechanism being located beneath the floor of the weighing pan region in the weighing mechanism region of the apparatus, and the first position is an upper position, at which the weighing pan is spaced from the floor, and the second position is a lower position, at which the weighing pan contacts the floor in a sealing relationship.

3. An apparatus according to claim 1 further comprising a sealing device located on at least one of the weighing pan, the elongate member and the barrier for effecting the sealing relationship therebetween when the weighing pan is at the second position.

4. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the sealing device comprises at least one sealing element provided on the lower surface of the weighing pan.

5. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the sealing device extends circumferentially around the weighing pan and/or the elongate member.

6. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the weighing mechanism is connected to a lower end of the elongate member.

7. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the weighing mechanism region is located in a chamber of the weighing apparatus which is sealed when the weighing pan and the barrier are in a sealed relationship.

8. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the drive means comprises an actuator for selectively applying a force on the elongate member thereby to urge the weighing pan and the elongate member into the second position.

9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the actuator applies a downwardly directed force to a laterally extending arm of the elongate member.

10. An apparatus according to claim 9 wherein the weighing mechanism comprises a load cell.

11. An apparatus according to claim 8 further comprising a compliant element for applying a bias to the elongate member against which bias the actuator applies the force.

12. An apparatus according to claim 11 wherein the bias of the compliant element is upwardly directed and the force of the actuator is downwardly directed.

13. An apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the weighing mechanism comprises a coil, the coil being connected to the lower end of the elongate member, a flexural mount for the coil flexibly connecting the coil to a frame of the weighing apparatus to enable the coil to move relative to a permanent magnet which is attached to a frame of the weighing apparatus whereby the coil can move relative to the permanent magnet.

14. An apparatus according to claim 13 wherein the drive means are comprised in the weighing mechanism and are adapted to urge the coil carrying the elongate member and the weighing pan downwardly to achieve the sealing relationship between the weighing pan and/or the elongate member and the barrier.

15. An apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the weighing mechanism comprises a coil, the coil being connected to the lower end of the elongate member, a flexural mount for the coil flexibly connecting the coil to a frame of the weighing apparatus to enable the coil to move relative to a permanent magnet which is attached to a frame of the weighing apparatus whereby the coil can move relative to the permanent magnet.

16. An apparatus according to claim 15 wherein the drive means are comprised in the weighing mechanism and are adapted to urge the coil carrying the elongate member and the weighing pan downwardly to achieve the sealing relationship between the weighing pan and/or the elongate member and the barrier.

17. An apparatus according to claim 3 wherein the weighing mechanism comprises a coil, the coil being connected to the lower end of the elongate member, a flexural mount for the coil flexibly connecting the coil to a frame of the weighing apparatus to enable the coil to move relative to a permanent magnet which is attached to a frame of the weighing apparatus whereby the coil can move relative to the permanent magnet.

18. An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the drive means are comprised in the weighing mechanism and are adapted to urge the coil carrying the elongate member and the weighing pan downwardly to achieve the sealing relationship between the weighing pan and/or the elongate member and the barrier.

19. An apparatus according to claim 7 wherein the weighing mechanism comprises a coil, the coil being connected to the lower end of the elongate member, a flexural mount for the coil flexibly connecting the coil to a frame of the weighing apparatus to enable the coil to move relative to a permanent magnet which is attached to a frame of the weighing apparatus whereby the coil can move relative to the permanent magnet.

20. An apparatus according to claim 18 wherein the drive means are comprised in the weighing mechanism and are adapted to urge the coil carrying the elongate member and the weighing pan downwardly to achieve the sealing relationship between the weighing pan and/or the elongate member and the barrier.