JPH03181824A - Weighing device - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a weighing device equipped with a weighing stand for weighing a walking animal while walking in a straight line.

[Conventional technology]

When a walking animal is weighed while walking, the weighing platform outputs weight value data that fluctuates in sync with the walking. Strictly speaking,
As the loaded foot lifts up, a peak in the weighed value data appears.

In order to accurately calculate the static weight value of a walking animal, it is necessary to capture a predetermined number of peaks from the weighing value data when the walking animal is walking completely on the weighing platform. At this time, it is of course desirable to take in a large amount of weighing value data, but in order to increase the number of steps, the distance from the entrance end of the weighing platform to the exit end (hereinafter referred to as front-to-back length) is important. If it is too long, there will be a problem that it will be inconvenient to handle.

Therefore, the weighing platform can obtain a sufficient number of steps to incorporate the necessary number of peaks into the weighing value data obtained as you walk.
In addition, it must be formed to have a front-to-back length that does not pose a problem in handling.

Conventionally, the longitudinal length of a weighing platform has been determined using a simple method based on the body length of the walking animal and the time required for the walking animal to pass the weighing platform. For example, the length was determined to be twice the body length, or the length was determined to be such that it would take two seconds to pass.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the conventional method of determining the front-to-back length based on the total length of the walking animal or the time it takes to pass over the weighing device, the length of the weighing platform is determined by determining the length of the weighing platform when the weighing value data includes a necessary predetermined number of peaks, and It was not possible to reduce the length to the minimum required length.

The present invention has been made by paying attention to such a situation, and its purpose is to obtain desired weighing value data while at the same time
To provide a weighing device in which the front and back length of a weighing platform can be made as short as possible.

[Means to solve the problem]

The first characteristic configuration of the weighing device according to the present invention is that the length Y from the inlet side end to the outlet side end of the weighing platform is formed to a value determined from the following formula.

Y=L+B+N・F L: Maximum predicted distance between the hind foot that first steps on the weighing platform and the entrance end of the weighing platform when walking B: The front and hind legs on either side of the left or right side when walking Distance N: Number of steps taken while completely on the weighing platform F: Stride length of the front foot or hind foot In addition to the above-mentioned first characteristic configuration, a second characteristic configuration is output from the weighing platform. an input means for sequentially importing weighing value data as a sampling series; a gait periodicity evaluation means for calculating the gait cycle of the walking animal from the sampling series; and an effective data section for setting a valid data section from the sampling series based on the gait periodicity. The present invention comprises a data section setting means, a calculation means for calculating a static weight value of the walking animal from the weighing value data in the valid data period, and an output means for outputting the calculated static weight value.

[Operation of the first characteristic structure] To facilitate understanding, the explanation will be made using a horse as a walking animal as a model. However, the term "-step" here means that the left or right front and rear feet take a step together. Furthermore, in this explanation, it is assumed that weighing can be performed with desired accuracy if the weighed value data includes three appropriate peaks.

The graph in Figure 8 shows the weight data output from the weighing platform from when the horse gets on the weighing platform to when the horse gets off the weighing platform. 2) shows the landing point of the horse's feet as it walks. Here, . is a state in which the foot is on the ground, and ○ is in a state in which the foot is lifted, and this includes immediately before landing and immediately after lifting. And the horse only takes two steps after fully riding the weighing platform.

It can be seen from the weighed value data in the graph of FIG. 8 that four peaks appear. In the process from (a) to (b) in Figure 9, when the horse's right hind leg lifts, the peak t
(p,) appears. In the process from (d) to (e) in Figure 9, when the left hind leg lifts, peak 2 (P,)
appears. In the process from (g) to (h) in Figure 9, peak 3 (Pg) appears when the horse lifts its right hind leg. In the process from (j) to (k) in Figure 9, peak 4 (P4) appears when the horse lifts its left hind leg.

In general, it is preferable to exclude peak 1, which appears first, because it has been empirically found that it tends to be lower than the rest weight. Therefore, from peak 2 to peak 4
If the weighing value data for the section including the three peaks up to the point up to 3 peaks is valid data, and if there are two steps taken after completely getting on the weighing platform and one step taken when getting off, then the number of peaks required for weighing the horse is can be ensured.

From this, the front-to-back length Y required for the weighing platform is the predicted maximum distance L between the left foot after stepping on the weighing platform and the artificial end of the weighing platform, and N in the state
It is calculated by adding the distance N-F that you can walk, and the distance B between the left and right front and rear feet. Expressing this as a formula, Y=L+B+N-F, and by measuring the body of the horse to be weighed, it is possible to calculate the longitudinal length Y of the weighing platform suitable for that horse.

Note that the number of peaks required varies depending on the type of walking animal and weighing accuracy. Once you know the number of peaks you need, subtract I from that number to find out how many steps you need to take while fully on the weighing platform. In the above example, the number of peaks is 3
Therefore, N is 2.

[Operation of the second characteristic configuration] The second characteristic configuration is a weighing device for appropriately processing weighing value data output when a walking animal passes the weighing platform of the first characteristic configuration. It specifies the That is, the input means sequentially inputs a sampling series, the gait periodicity evaluation means calculates the walking cycle of the walking animal from the sampling series, and the valid data interval setting means sets a valid data interval from the sampling series based on the gait periodicity. The static weight value of the walking animal is calculated by the calculating means from the weighed value data in the valid data interval, and the calculated static weight value is output by the output means.

〔Effect of the invention〕

The first characteristic configuration makes it possible to set the length from the entrance end of the weighing platform to the exit end to the optimal length according to each walking animal using a simple calculation formula. Ta.

With the second characteristic configuration, it is now possible to provide a weighing device that can determine a static weight value by effectively utilizing weighing value data output from the weighing platform.

〔Example〕

Embodiments of the present invention will be described below based on the drawings.

As shown in Figures 6 and 7, a pedestal (1) with a rectangular hollow in the center is installed, and a weighing device (
2) and a measurement processing device (H) installed on the lateral side of the pedestal (1) to constitute a weighing device used for weighing horses.

The weighing device (2) has a structure in which the four corners of a weighing platform (2a) are supported by four load cells (2b). A slight gap is provided between the weighing platform (2a) and the pedestal (1) to prevent the load applied to the weighing platform (2a) from being dispersed toward the pedestal (1). The longitudinal length Y from the entrance side end to the exit side end of this weighing platform (2a) is set to such an extent that the horse can take two steps from a fully mounted state, and the width is set to such an extent that the horse's head can pass through. It is. Regarding the front-to-back length Y of the weighing platform (2a), since the sizes of horses vary, the optimal length is calculated using the following method.

First, have multiple horses to be weighed walk over the weighing platform (2a), and measure the predicted maximum distance between the hind leg of the horse that climbed on the weighing platform (2a) first and the entrance side end. Measure the distance, the distance B at the landing point of the front and hind legs on the same side of the left and right, and the stride length F of the horse (see Figure 5 and Figure 1O). Each measured data L 1 = (Ll, Ll , ..., L,
), B i = (Bl, B, , -, B, ), F
: ” From (F+, Ft, ..., F.), the respective average values AL, AH, AP and standard deviations σ1, σ6,
σ.

Calculate. Furthermore, from these, the maximum values LMAX1BMAXN FMAX of the distances L, B and stride length F are determined by AL+
It is calculated from the formula: 3σ1, AB+3σ8, A, +3σ. The horse to be weighed has these maximum values L MAX% B
MAX% F The probability of being included in MAX is 99.7%. And L MAX + B MAX + 2 F
Substitute it into the formula for MAX to calculate Y, which is the front-to-back length. Note that both equations were derived using the method described in the section on effects.

As shown in FIG.
The input section (3) (corresponding to input means) receives and receives a weighing value signal (analog electrical signal) that is the sum of the detection signals of the load cells (2b), and the receiving section converts the received weighing value signal into a time-series weighing value. A central control unit (4) that sequentially captures and stores data as data (hereinafter simply referred to as weighing value data) and calculates a static weight value, and a display unit (5) (corresponding to an output means) that displays the static weight value. From.

The input section (3) includes an amplifier (3A) that amplifies the weighed value signal, a low-pass filter (3B) that smoothes the output of this amplifier, and A that quantizes the smoothed signal at a predetermined sampling time. /D converter (3C).

The central control unit (4) includes a storage unit (4A) that stores sampled weight value data over a certain period;
A gait periodicity evaluation section (4B) that calculates gait periodicity from the weighed value data, and a valid data section setting section (4C) that sets a valid data section (T) from the time-series weighed value data based on the gait periodicity. ) and the valid data interval (T)
It consists of a calculation section (4D) that calculates the static weight value of a walking animal from time-series weighing value data, and is configured with a microcomputer as the main part.

Next, a procedure for weighing a horse and a process for determining the static weight of the horse using the measurement processing device (H) will be explained.

When weighing a horse, first hold the horse's reins and place them on the pedestal (1).
The horse is guided from the pedestal (1) to the weighing platform (2a).
) and walk straight on the weighing platform (2a).
Lower it to the pedestal (1). At that time, the human rides on the left and right sides of the pedestal (1) while holding the horse's reins, walks straight along with the horse on the left and right sides of the weighing platform (2a), and then gets off from the left and right sides of the pedestal (1). Do it like this.

When the horse walks on the weighing platform (2a), an analog signal indicating a weighed value as shown in FIG. 2 is sent from the load cell (2b) as an amplifier output. This amplifier output is passed through a low-pass filter (3B), and the third
The result is a smoothed signal as shown in the figure. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the signal in FIG. 3, from which it can be understood how the analog weight value signal is sampled and quantized.

After weighing has started, if the quantized weight value data exceeds a set value (K) that is slightly larger than the weight of the weighing platform (2a), it is assumed that the horse has started to ride on the weighing platform (2a). , the weighing value data is stored in the storage unit (4) as a sampling series.
A) are stored sequentially.

This storage by the storage unit (4A) continues until the weighed value data becomes smaller than the set value (K).

Next, the gait periodicity evaluation unit (4B) determines the storage unit (4A).
), the maximum value Wmax is determined from the weighing value data stored in It is regarded as a value data group and specified as a weighing value data group. Furthermore, the gait periodicity evaluation unit (4B) calculates the gait periodicity from this weighed value data group to its maximum value (
peak value). In the case shown in FIG. 4, the local maximum values are Wl, W2 . W3゜W4
There will be four.

Furthermore, the effective data interval setting unit (4C) determines the minimum value W in the interval from the first maximum value W1 to the next maximum value W2.
S can be investigated. Then, the valid data interval (
T) will be set.

The weighing value data within the valid data section (T) set in this way is averaged by the calculation unit (4D), and the static weight value of the horse walking on the weighing platform (2a) is calculated.

The calculated static weight value is immediately displayed on the display section (5).

[Another example]

In this embodiment, the longitudinal length Y of the weighing platform (2a) is calculated in advance, and the weighing platform (2a) is manufactured according to the calculated length. However, the longitudinal length Y of the weighing platform (2a) is changed. It may be configured freely and the front-to-back length Y may be adjusted according to the calculation results.

Further, as shown in FIG. 11, the overall longitudinal length Y may be adjusted by adding an auxiliary weighing platform (2a') to the completed weighing platform (2a).

Although this embodiment has been explained using a horse as an example, it may also be applied to weighing other four-legged animals. Furthermore, by setting the distance B to 0, the present invention can be applied to animals that walk on two legs.

Incidentally, although reference numerals are written in the claims section for convenient comparison with the drawings, the present invention is not limited to the structure shown in the accompanying drawings by the reference numerals.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

The drawings show an embodiment of a weighing device according to the present invention, in which FIG. 1 is a functional block diagram, FIG. 2 is a diagram showing an analog signal from the weighing device, and FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an analog signal from the weighing device, and FIG. Figure 4 is an enlarged view showing the sampling state of the main part of Figure 3, Figure 5 is a diagram showing the measurement points on the horse, Figure 6 is an overall plan view, and Figure 7 is a diagram showing the signal after the measurement. It is an overall side view. Figure 8 is a graph showing the output of weighed value data in the explanation of the action, Figures 9 (a) to (k) are diagrams showing the landing state of the horse's foot during walking in the explanation of the action, and Figure 10 shows the measurement points. FIG. FIG. 11 is a plan view of a weighing platform in another embodiment. (T)... Valid data section, (2a)...
... Weighing platform, (3) ... Input means, (4B)
...Gait periodicity evaluation means, (4C)...
Valid data section setting means, (4D)... calculation means, (5)... output means.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A weighing platform (2a) for weighing a walking animal by making it walk in a straight line
), wherein the length (Y) from the inlet side end to the outlet side end of the weighing platform (2a) is formed to a value determined from the following formula. Y=L+B+N・F L: Maximum predicted distance between the hind foot that first steps on the weighing platform and the entrance end of the weighing platform when walking B: The front and hind legs on either side of the left or right side when walking Distance N between the scale and the scale F: Step length of the front or rear foot 2. In the weighing device according to claim 1, the distance between the scale
an input means (3) for sequentially taking in the weighed value data outputted from a) as a sampling series; a gait periodicity evaluation means (4B) for calculating the gait cycle of the walking animal from the sampling series; valid data interval setting means (4C) for setting a valid data interval (T) from the sampling series; and calculation means (4D) for calculating a static weight value of the walking animal from the weighed value data in the valid data interval (T). ) and output means (5) for outputting the calculated static weight value.