Abstract: A system and method of measuring and dispensing material in a container is disclosed. The system may comprise a container, a feeder, a frame, a first sensor, and a second sensor. The container is configured to contain the material. The feeder receives and conveys material from the container. The frame is pivotal about a pivot and supports at least the container. The first sensor produces a signal representative of at least a weight of a portion of the material in the container. The second sensor produces a signal representative of the weight being applied to the pivot or fulcrum, which may be a portion of the weight within the container. A device sums the weights detected by the first sensor and the second sensor.

Abstract: A bulk-solid metering system has a support structure. A feed hopper is mounted with respect to the structure and has an upper edge. In the improvement, the structure includes an upper member and the upper edge is below such upper member. The structure defines a lateral opening sized and shaped to permit the feed hopper to be withdrawn laterally through the opening. The feed hopper includes a spout extending therefrom. In a highly preferred embodiment, the lateral opening is positioned to permit withdrawal of the feed hopper in a direction away from the spout. The feed hopper is configured to promote very good mass flow as well as to permit agitation in that, in one embodiment, it has a body made of flexible material. There is a hopper upper flange and the spout is spaced below such flange. The body has a first cross-sectional shape, e.g., circular, adjacent to the upper flange and has a second cross-sectional shape, e.g., ellipse-like, intermediate the upper flange and the spout.

Abstract: Disclosed is a machine for unloading a bulk-material bag of the type having a bottom portion, a side portion and a transition portion between the bottom and side portions. The machine includes an apparatus aiding discharge of the material from the bag. In the improvement, the apparatus includes a tri-section panel mounted for movement on the machine, thereby configuring the panel to sequentially contact the bottom, transition and side portions of the bag. The panel has first, second and third segments angle-mounted to one another. In a specific embodiment, the segments are substantially planar. A microprocessor-based controller is coupled to the actuator and regulates its movement as a function of a process parameter, e.g., the compressibility of the bag and/or the weight of the material contained in the bag. A highly preferred embodiment of the machine also has a bag lifting mechanism above the tri-section panel.

Abstract: A voltage multiplier and capacitive isolation power supply using capacitors, diodes and first and second clock signals that are out-of-phase with respect to each other. When the first clock signal is high and the second clock signal is low, a capacitor in a first stage transfers charge to a capacitor in a second stage. When the first clock signal is low and the second clock signal is high, the capacitor in the second stage transfers charge to an output capacitor, and the capacitor in the first stage is recharged via a feedback diode between a capacitor connected to a ground potential and the capacitor in the first stage. Additionally, the capacitors in each of the stages provide an isolation function for the power supply.

Abstract: A material feeder for dispensing batches of material which includes a refrigerated enclosure, a material feeder, a feeder drive arrangement, a scale and a controller. The feeder is housed within the refrigerated enclosure, and is removably coupled to the drive arrangement such that the complete feeder arrangement which is exposed to the material (e.g., foodstuffs such as shredded cheese) may be removed from the enclosure for cleaning at a location separate from the enclosure such as a dishwasher. The scale is connected to a container which catches the material dispensed by the feeder and produces a weight signal such is applied to the control unit. The control unit operates the drive unit which rotates a plurality of feed screws in the feeder at two speeds.

Abstract: A loss-in-weight feeder for discharging a flowable material from a reservoir through a controllable discharge member, including a closed loop controller configured to compare the actual rate at which material is discharged from the reservoir to a desired discharge rate. During operation, a racheting process is used to avoid the use of spurious weight signals to determine the material weight in the feeder for purposes of properly controlling the discharge rate.

Abstract: A feed hopper assembly for feeding granular material to a feed screw in the bottom of the hopper, the assembly including a frame for supporting a flexible type feed hopper, one or more roller assemblies mounted on the frame in a position to engage the sides of the feed hopper, each roller assembly including a shaft and a tube mounted for rotary motion on the shaft, the shaft being eccentrically mounted on the frame to move the tube into and out of engagement with the hopper.

Abstract: A loss-in-weight feeder for discharging a flowable material from a reservoir through a controllable discharge member, including a closed loop controller configured to compare the actual rate at which material is discharged from the reservoir to a desired discharge rate. During the "refill" mode of operation, the desired discharge rate is adjusted as a function of both the density of the incoming material and the current weight of material in the reservoir. During steady-state operation, the discharge rate is adjusted in accordance with, inter alia, short term changes in the actual discharge rate which exceed a predetermined threshold value.