Coin-operated scales use load cells for accuracy

Healthtech, the UK manufacturer of personal coin operated scales, is utilising HBM's PW10 load cells to give improved accuracy, better design and reduce manufacturing costs.

The Healthtech range comprises the Datum, Fulcrum and Bio-Monitor models that have been introduced to update the company's existing stock of some 1500 machines operating throughout the UK in gyms, leisure centres, shops and high street pharmacies.

The three new models can measure a number of health-related parameters such as weight, body mass index, and height.

The Bio-Monitor also checks people's blood pressure.

Customers can record their personal health data on a removable card similar to a credit card.

Healthtech selected HBM's PW10 load cell rated at 250 kg for all models.

This gives the machines a nominal accuracy of 100 g although the range is resolved electronically, using averaging techniques, into 10 g intervals for calibration purposes.

Notes Healthtech's Technical Director, John White: "Choosing HBM's low profile PW10 250kg load cell has enabled us to reduce the platform height while increasing the accuracy and robustness of the machines".

Platform height is an important design criterion since a wide range of individuals, including elderly and disabled people, use the scales.

The design of the machines has been simplified because HBM's PW10 load cells feature an overload safety factor.

This enabled the designers to remove an end stop that featured on older models preventing possible mechanical damage caused by very heavy loads on the platform.

John White says, "The overall impact of these savings has been to reduce our manufacturing costs by about 5 per cent".

White notes that, because the HBM load cell is waterproof, it also increased the reliability of the machines.

This is because many of the company's machines are located in retail outlets, such as chemists, where the floors are regularly washed and ingress of water into the platform can cause a standard load cell to fail.

Healthtech writes its own software for the machines allowing tailor-made features to be included in addition to the standard offer.

These include a cash counter for tracking the amount collected and a warning system that tells operators when the cash box needs emptying.

The range can be tailored with any colour design to match customers' corporate identity.

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