A control system for a multihead weigher for a combinatorial weighing
system comprises a plurality of weighing modules each having a weighing
bucket for receiving and weighing articles to be weighed, and a weighing
module controller (e.g., a state machine) for controlling article
weighing, discharge and refill operations of its associated weighing
bucket. A central control unit (e.g., a PC) connected to the weighing
module controllers over a low speed serial network issues at least one
macro-command, such as "discharge and refill" to the weighing module
controllers reducing the number of commands issued from central control
unit to the weighing module controller which would otherwise occur without
the macro-command. The weighing module controllers, in response to the at
least one macro-command, perform the steps needed to effect the article
weighing, discharge and refill operations. The control system has Internet
connection capabilities.
