ALEXANDRIA, Va., Feb. 19 -- United States Patent no. 12,228,446, issued on Feb. 18, was assigned to YAMATO SCALE Co. LTD. (Hyogo, Japan).

"Combination scale" was invented by Ryo Suemichi (Hyogo, Japan).

According to the abstract* released by the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office: "A combination scale includes a pedestal having, at its center, an opening that vertically penetrates therethrough, and a center base body equipped with linear feeders and hoppers. The center base body is supported on the pedestal through leg portions. The pedestal has an upper surface formed so as to incline downward toward an outer end thereof."

The patent was filed on Feb. 7, 2020, under Application No. 17/790,216.

*For further information, including images, ch...