Patents Assigned to K-Tron Technologies Inc.
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Publication number: 20250083891Abstract: A gravimetric metering unit for bulk material includes a metering device, which has a container for bulk material to be metered and a base unit. The base unit has a screw conveyor, which is operably held in position and driven by means of a holder. The screw conveyor and the holder can be axially plugged together and are designed such that they can be operably fastened to each other by means of a plug-in connection. The plug-in connection is a magnetic connection.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2022Publication date: March 13, 2025Applicant: K-TRON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Men BERNEGGER, Rolf LEHMANN, Urs HELFENSTEIN
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Publication number: 20250035479Abstract: A gravimetric metering unit includes a metering device including a container for bulk material to be metered and a base unit with a horizontally arranged conveyor for the bulk material. The container and the base unit can be separated from each other for maintenance purposes. The metering unit also comprises a frame that is equipped with at least one scale on which the metering device is supported during operation via a mounting such that the metering unit is designed for a gravimetric metering process. The mounting is connected to the container of the metering device and supports the metering device via the container. The container is provided with a rail which protrudes away from the container, and the base unit has a supporting structure which runs on the rail such that the supporting structure can be moved back and forth between an operating position and a maintenance position.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 14, 2022Publication date: January 30, 2025Applicant: K-TRON TECHNOLOGIES INC.Inventors: Men BERNEGGER, Rolf LEHMANN, Urs HELFENSTEIN
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Patent number: 12000726Abstract: The method according to the invention provides a way to continue gravimetric weighing of bulk material during refilling of a gravimetric metered dispensing unit, and to determine the mass of the refilled bulk material using a refilling container during the filling operation material and so determine the actual mass flow discharged during refilling in real time or on average in order to adjust it to a target mass flow.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2019Date of Patent: June 4, 2024Assignee: K-TRON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Urs Helfenstein, Stefan Ludescher
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Patent number: 11820602Abstract: The vibration feeder has a drive unit comprising a vibration drive, a carrier arrangement comprising a feeding element for the material to be conveyed and a control for the vibration drive, wherein an acceleration sensor is arranged on the drive unit, which when the vibration feeder is operating, detects the actual acceleration of the drive unit, and wherein the control is configured to use the actual acceleration signal of the acceleration sensor for generating a regulating variable for the vibration drive such that the carrier arrangement vibrates essentially within its resonance frequency (fres). This makes it possible, during operation, to detect the acceleration of a drive unit of the vibration feeder and to generate therefrom a regulating variable for a vibration drive such that a carrier arrangement of the vibration feeder vibrates closer to its resonance frequency (fres) or is brought back again to the same.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2017Date of Patent: November 21, 2023Assignee: K-TRON TECHNOLOGIES, INC.Inventors: Stefan Ludescher, Helfenstein Urs
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Patent number: 11198563Abstract: The invention relates to a vibratory conveyor comprising a drive unit that generates a vibration movement during operation, and a conveying element arranged on the drive unit, wherein the drive unit comprises a support arrangement for the conveying element, which is mounted on a rear section on the carrier arrangement and has a freely extending section, and a spring-elastic vibration arrangement is provided on the front section of the conveying element, said vibration arrangement being arranged and designed in such a way that it oscillates with respect to the oscillation of the drive arrangement with phase displacement counter to the phase displacement of the conveying element.Type: GrantFiled: March 20, 2019Date of Patent: December 14, 2021Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Urs Helfenstein
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Patent number: 10961058Abstract: The invention relates to a vibratory feeder comprising a support arrangement (8), for carrying out a vibrational movement when in operation, for a feeder element in which material (12) which is to be fed is fed, also comprising a drive arrangement (5) for the support arrangement (8) and a bearing arrangement (3) which initiates vibrational oscillations of the vibratory feeder (1, 30, 40, 60, 90, 100) reducing in the base (2). Means which suppress a movement of the vertical components due to the vibratory movement of the front end (10a) of the feeder element from that of the rear end (10b) when the vibratory feeder (30, 40, 60, 90, 100) is in operation are provided. The mass flow emitted by the vibratory feeder (30, 40, 60, 90, 100) can be easily changed without a time delay which can therefore improve the control of the vibratory feeder.Type: GrantFiled: March 13, 2017Date of Patent: March 30, 2021Assignee: K-TRON Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Urs Helfenstein
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Publication number: 20190100380Abstract: The invention relates to a vibratory feeder comprising a support arrangement (8), for carrying out a vibrational movement when in operation, for a feeder element in which material (12) which is to be fed is fed, also comprising a drive arrangement (5) for the support arrangement (8) and a bearing arrangement (3) which initiates vibrational oscillations of the vibratory feeder (1, 30, 40, 60, 90, 100) reducing in the base (2). Means which suppress a movement of the vertical components due to the vibratory movement of the front end (10a) of the feeder element from that of the rear end (10b) when the vibratory feeder (30, 40, 60, 90, 100) is in operation are provided. The mass flow emitted by the vibratory feeder (30, 40, 60, 90, 100) can be easily changed without a time delay which can therefore improve the control of the vibratory feeder.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2017Publication date: April 4, 2019Applicants: K-TRON Technologies, Inc., K-TRON Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Urs Helfenstein
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Patent number: 8397954Abstract: A device for metering bulk material includes a drive unit as well as a metering unit encompassing a metering module, a receptacle, and a stirring apparatus. A gear can be provided between the metering module and a wheel. The metering module is provided with an outlet. A quick coupling element is disposed on an axis in order for the metering unit to be designed as a replaceable unit. The metering unit can be swiveled about the axis when the quick coupling element is engaged such that the wheel can be non-positively contacted with driving means. A plate is used as a cover.Type: GrantFiled: February 8, 2005Date of Patent: March 19, 2013Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Rolf Lehmann
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Patent number: 8200367Abstract: In a material handling system having a material feeder, a material container may be configured to discharge material to the material feeder and a process aid may be engaged with the material container, a method including determining a process indicator associated with a material flow characteristic of the feeder during operation of the feeder, determining a difference between the process indicator and an indicator threshold value, adjusting the operation of the process aid based on the value of the difference determined above between the process indicator and the indicator threshold value.Type: GrantFiled: September 16, 2008Date of Patent: June 12, 2012Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventors: James T. Foley, John B. Myhre, Jason K. Daniel, Manuel Spörri
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Patent number: 8083051Abstract: A bulk materials pump feeder having a housing and a rotating drive rotor for transferring material from an inlet to an outlet of the housing. The drive rotor has a hub. Drive disks extend away from the hub toward a housing inner wall. Three structural features of the feeder reduce the tendency of material to jam between the drive rotor and the housing or other stationary parts. First, the distance between the circumferential edges of the drive disks and the housing inner wall increases from the inlet to the outlet in the direction of rotation of the drive rotor. Second, a low-friction brush seal disposed on the periphery of the drive disks seals the area between the periphery of the drive disks and the inner wall. Finally, a materials scraper having a flexible tip is mounted in the housing and extends into the drive rotor between the drive disks.Type: GrantFiled: November 29, 2007Date of Patent: December 27, 2011Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Timothy R. Baer, James T. Foley
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Patent number: 7677864Abstract: A bulk materials pump feeder having a housing and a rotating drive rotor for transferring material from an inlet to an outlet of the housing. The drive rotor has a hub. Drive disks extend away from the hub toward a housing inner wall and have a compliant edge configured to deflect or compress when presented with pinched material rather than jamming.Type: GrantFiled: October 11, 2006Date of Patent: March 16, 2010Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Timothy R. Baer, James T. Foley, Glenn Meredith
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Publication number: 20080142340Abstract: A bulk materials pump feeder having a housing and a rotating drive rotor for transferring material from an inlet to an outlet of the housing. The drive rotor has a hub. Drive disks extend away from the hub toward a housing inner wall. Three structural features of the feeder reduce the tendency of material to jam between the drive rotor and the housing or other stationary parts. First, the distance between the circumferential edges of the drive disks and the housing inner wall increases from the inlet to the outlet in the direction of rotation of the drive rotor. Second, a low-friction brush seal disposed on the periphery of the drive disks seals the area between the periphery of the drive disks and the inner wall. Finally, a materials scraper having a flexible tip is mounted in the housing and extends into the drive rotor between the drive disks.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 29, 2007Publication date: June 19, 2008Applicant: K-Tron Technologies, IncInventors: Timothy R. Baer, James T. Foley
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Patent number: 7044288Abstract: A bulk materials pump feeder having a housing and a rotating drive rotor for transferring material from an inlet to an outlet of the housing. The drive rotor has a hub. Drive disks extend away from the hub toward a housing inner wall. Three structural features of the feeder reduce the tendency of material to jam between the drive rotor and the housing or other stationary parts. First, the distance between the circumferential edges of the drive disks and the housing inner wall increases from the inlet to the outlet in the direction of rotation of the drive rotor. Second, a low-friction brush seal disposed on the periphery of the drive disks seals the area between the periphery of the drive disks and the inner wall. Finally, a materials scraper having a flexible tip is mounted in the housing and extends into the drive rotor between the drive disks.Type: GrantFiled: July 23, 2003Date of Patent: May 16, 2006Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Timothy R. Baer, James T. Foley
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Patent number: 6832887Abstract: A bulk materials pump feeder having a housing and a rotatable drive rotor mounted in the housing for transferring material introduced into the housing through an inlet to an outlet for discharge of the material from the housing. The drive rotor has a hub and a plurality of drive discs extending away from the hub toward an inner wall of the housing. To reduce the tendency of material passing through the housing to wedge between the inner wall of the housing and the circumferential edges of the drive discs, the distance between the circumferential edges of the drive discs and the inner wall of the housing increases from the inlet of the housing to the outlet of the housing in the direction of rotation of the drive rotor.Type: GrantFiled: April 9, 2002Date of Patent: December 21, 2004Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Timothy R. Baer, James T. Foley
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Patent number: 6702152Abstract: A device for the control of dosing of a time dependent mass flow {dot over (m)}(t) for a helical dosing equipment (1) with a weighing machine (9) and a method of operation of such a device. The device includes a modulation detector (31), with which the periodic deviation of the mass flow {dot over (m)}(t) from a target value can be analyzed. The modulation detector (31) is connected to a speed modulator (32), with which the rotational speed f of the extraction helix (4) can be suitably phase shift modulated according to the curve shape derived by the modulation detector (31), whereby the deviations of the mass flow {dot over (m)}(t) are reduced to the unavoidable random deviations and the periodic deviation of the mass flow {dot over (m)}(t) can be eliminated. Both for the analysis of the mass flow {dot over (m)}(t) and also for the calculation of the modulation function analog or digital integrated electronic components can be applied.Type: GrantFiled: February 23, 2002Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stefan Ludescher
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Patent number: 6437255Abstract: The continuous weighing meter [according to the invention has] having a conveyor belt [(1)] driven by a motor [(3)] and running over a guide roller (4), which is loaded with bulk material via an input funnel [(6)] from a feed arrangement [(9)]. In addition to a first weighing arrangement [(11)], which determines the gross loading of the loaded conveyor belt [(1)], the continuous weighing meter has a second weighing arrangement [(15)], which determines the tare loading of the empty, but possibly dirty and inhomogeneous conveyor belt [(1)]. The weighing distances have the lengths SB [(11)] or ST [(15)] and are separated by a distance L between homologous points. The weighing results are converted to digital form in evaluation [equipments (22, 21)] units and taken to a computer [(25)] which calculates the net loading of the conveyor belt [(1)].Type: GrantFiled: September 9, 1999Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Stefan Ludescher
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Patent number: 6216542Abstract: The invention relates to an internal parallel motion force sensor containing a rectangular box load body fixedly connected to a measuring transducer and an electronic evaluation unit in a gas and humidity tight manner. The load body has an axal longitudinal bore hole on one of its halves. On the other half it has a hollow bore hole coaxial thereto and which is approximately the same length, leaving a rod-shaped lever. Two identical notches in the middle of the load body are fitted with two flat parallel-moving spiral springs in two opposite lying outer surfaces. A membrane is located between the bore holes, the notches and two other notches. Said membrane acts as an elastic joint for the lever. Deformation of the load body by identical opposing forces is transmitted to the lever by the spiral springs, converted into an electric signal by the measuring transducer on the open end thereof and transmitted by the evaluation unit in digital form.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1999Date of Patent: April 17, 2001Assignee: K-Tron Technologies Inc.Inventors: Roland Stöckli, Kaspar Saner
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Patent number: 5978547Abstract: A hybrid DC motor controller is provided for driving a DC motor. A switch is connected in series with the DC motor, and a capacitor is coupled in parallel with the DC motor and the switch. The speed of the DC motor is controlled by the capacitor voltage and the duty cycle of a pulse-width modulated (PWM) signal supplied to the switch. The hybrid controller combines a motor speed control loop with a PWM optimization loop. The motor speed control loop generates a PWM signal in response to the speed of the DC motor and conducts that PWM signal to the switch to control the DC motor. The PWM optimization loop includes a controller that is responsive to the PWM signal and an AC voltage signal. This controller compares the PWM signal with a PWM signal setpoint, and drives the PWM signal toward the PWM signal setpoint by adjusting the capacitor voltage in response to the comparison between the PWM signal and the PWM signal setpoint.Type: GrantFiled: April 20, 1998Date of Patent: November 2, 1999Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventors: David L. Reynolds, James T. Foley
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Patent number: 5947480Abstract: A sealing unit for sealing an opening through which a rotating part passes. A rotary ring turns within a housing when a pair of flexible rings carried by the rotary ring are turned by engagement with a rotating part. The opposed faces of the rotary rings are in sliding contact with surfaces having mineral filled low friction layers. The sliding contact between the rotary ring and the surfaces having mineral filled low friction layers is established and maintain by a spring.Type: GrantFiled: August 26, 1997Date of Patent: September 7, 1999Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventors: Alex Sherman, John W. Shoffner, Jr., Douglas K. Parenteau, Lee W. Mayer
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Patent number: 5834707Abstract: The bulk material, the amount o which is to be determined through second-integration or time-integration, passes over a top chute onto a bottom chute which is disposed at a tilt angle and defines the velocity of the bulk material. The bottom chute channels the bulk material to a slide which has the same angle of tilt as the bottom chute. The weight components of the amounts of bulk material on the slide acting orthogonally along the direction of the slide are determined by a load-sensing device. After passing down the slide the bulk material impacts a vertically arranged deflector plate which is rigidly connected to a connecting plate, with the deflector plate at that point generating a force through its change in its pulse action which is determined by a second load-sensing device. The second load-sensing device only measures the horizontal components of this change in pulse action, and, like the initial load-sensing device, is either parallel channelled or provided with parallel channelling.Type: GrantFiled: March 7, 1994Date of Patent: November 10, 1998Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.Inventor: Johannes Wirth