Abstract: 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.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the actuator in a vibratory weigh feeding system, to adjust the discharge rate. The vibratory weigh feeding system has a material containers an actuator for vibrating the container, weighing apparatus for sensing the weight of the material being discharged and apparatus for estimating the material discharge rate. A plurality of drive command values are established. A respective predicted discharge rate and a respective reliability factor are associated with each respective drive command value. The current discharge rate is estimated. A setpoint value is selected. A drive command value associated with the predicted discharge rate that is substantially equal to the setpoint discharge rate is selected. The selected drive command value is reduced according to the two respective reliability factors associated with the two predicted discharge rates closest to the setpoint. This forms a reduced drive command value.