Variable Speed Patents (Class 177/121)
  • Patent number: 6235999
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding and weighing textile fibers includes a weighing scale container having an open end chargeable with fiber material; an upper feed chute having an upper end chargeable with fiber material and a lower end; a withdrawing roll obturating the lower end; a first drive for slowly rotating the withdrawing roll; a feed tray cooperating with the withdrawing roll and defining a nip into which fiber material is drawn from the upper feed chute and from which the fiber material is discharged; an opening roll arranged immediately at the nip for receiving the fiber material discharged from the nip; a second drive for rapidly rotating the opening roll for tearing fiber material from the nip and for opening and discharging the fiber material; a lower feed chute having an upper end receiving fiber material discharged from the opening roll and a lower end; a movable shutoff gate situated at the lower end of the lower feed chute for opening and closing the lower feed chute; and a third drive for moving the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Trützschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Bernhard Rübenach
  • Patent number: 6121556
    Abstract: A granular material weighing system intended primarily for weighing gunpowder, but which is not limited to this application. A volumetric powder measure is used to simultaneously dispense a previously weighed batch of granular material into its final container, usually a cartridge case, while also dispensing a volumetrically measured initial batch of material onto a scale. The initial batch is close to but below the desired final weight. A dribbler is used to feed additional granular material until the scale indicates that the desired weight is reached. The powder measure may be a rotary drum or translating bar type, the scale may be a beam balance including a magnetic damping device or an electronic scale, and the dribbler may be any electronic or mechanical dribbler.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2000
    Inventor: Brand D. Cole
  • Patent number: 6091028
    Abstract: This invention provides a method of weighing powder/chip, in which the powder/chip can be fed from the conduit into the weighing vessel accurately and efficiently without being affected by the state of the conduit, that of the weighing vessel and that of ambient air. With the method, the powder/chip is weighed by means of the conduit arranged below a storage section and adapted to be tilted around a pivot according to a command sent from a weighing section to let the powder/chip fall through a discharge port at an end of the conduit into a weighing vessel placed on the weighing section. The conduit is tilted sequentially at least by three different feeding angles from large, small to minute to let the powder/chip fall by a large volume, a small volume and a minute volume respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: YKK Corporation
    Inventors: Masahide Ozaki, Shinichi Kojima
  • Patent number: 6080937
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for weighing and labeling packages of goods are provided. Each package is supplied to an electronic scale that is connected to an electronic analyzer that contains a computer. The load carrying mechanism of the scale is embodied as a conveyor belt, the speed of which is greater during supply and withdrawal than during a weighing process. Labeling of a package is effected on the conveyor belt after conclusion of the weighing process. Disruptions of the scale, caused by vibrations resulting from conveying and labeling packages, are eliminated on the one hand by a sufficiently high dead weight of the load carrying mechanism and on the other hand by a low-pass filter that is disposed in the electronic analyzer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: Espera-Werke GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Korthauer, Guillaume Roberto de Miranda
  • Patent number: 6060667
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for supplying a predefined quantity of bulk material to a packaging system. An amount of bulk material which closely approximates the desired package weight is discharged from a surge bin into a loss-in-weight feeder. Accurate single package weight loading of the loss-in-weight feeder yields a lower percentage of weight variance during feeder discharge than more heavily loaded feeders. In addition, the apparatus includes weight bearing springs mounted within the weighing mechanisms of the loss-in-weight feeder such that the weighing mechanisms are not damaged by overloading. The method of accurate filling of the loss-in-weight feeder prior to discharge and the spring protected loss-in-weight feeder cause package portions having optimal weight variance to be supplied for packaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Inventor: John Pollock
  • Patent number: 6057515
    Abstract: Disclosed is the powder feeder in which the duty ratio X.sub.T corresponding to the target feed amount Q.sub.T is calculated on the basis of the calibration curve obtained by the feeder calibration which is conducted before the start of powder feed, and the powder P starts to be fed according to the duty ratio X.sub.T, therefore, the actual feed amount can reach to the target feed amount Q.sub.T in a short time (within the time T.sub.1) from the start of powder feed, and the powder P can be fed while controlling the actual feed amount with high accuracy, and further the powder P can be precisely fed even in case of the short time feed for several seconds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2000
    Assignee: Aisan Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsumi Murai, Mamoru Tateishi, Masaki Ikeya
  • Patent number: 5942732
    Abstract: A final stage automatic weigh and count filling machine feed mechanism is described. The invention is a refinement for machinery used to produce standard quantities of piece parts for subsequent packaging. In general these machines use a series of vibrating feed trays to move a flow of piece parts from a bulk supply into a batching hopper that includes a weighing means. A precise weight is correlated with a part count for a given part. As the desired weight is approached, electronic signals are generated by the weighing means to regulate the speed of vibration applied to the trays or to terminate the vibration altogether. The refinement in the present invention is a trickle feed pan that is affixed to a mounting rail which extends up through an opening in a final stage bulk feed pan. The final stage bulk feed pan and trickle feed pan are mounted on separate vibratory drive mechanisms that are independently controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1999
    Inventor: Robert Holmes
  • Patent number: 5929387
    Abstract: A mechanism for weighing articles including a continuous thread screw conveyor for moving articles to be weighed across a weigh pan in combination with a motor for first driving the conveyor in an article transport direction through an angle of 360.degree.+.alpha..degree. and then driving the conveyor in a reverse direction through an angle of .alpha..degree. to remove the conveyor from frictional engagement with the article, during each article weighing operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Hi-Speed Checkweigher Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Eric A. Inglin
  • Patent number: 5796052
    Abstract: The conveyor (1) includes a telescoping conveyor (2) with a boxlike basic body (9), above which a separating conveyor (3) and a weighing device (4) are located, thereby saving space which would be necessary if the separating conveyor (3) and the weighing device (4) were set up separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1998
    Assignee: Caljan A/S
    Inventor: Jurgen Christmann
  • Patent number: 5767455
    Abstract: Apparatus and methods are shown for controlling a weighing machine in which product is fed into one end a vibratable pan of a vibratory feeder and is discharged from the other end, for example into a weigh bucket. In a first embodiment, the amplitude of vibration of a pan is measured and is compared to a desired amplitude. The measured amplitude is compared to a desired amplitude, and the amplitude of vibration is adjusted by modifying an input signal to a vibrator attached to the pan until the measured amplitude equals the desired amplitude. In a second embodiment, a mechanism is included to stop the loading of product into a pan when a predetermined amount of product has been discharged from a pan into a weigh bucket, and the weight of product in the pan is monitored as additional product is discharged into the weigh bucket Only a preselected additional weight of product is subsequently discharged into the weigh bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 16, 1998
    Assignee: Upper Limits Engineering Co.
    Inventor: Oren A. Mosher
  • Patent number: 5756939
    Abstract: A combinational weighing machine has articles delivered to a dispersion feeder, distribtuted therefrom to a plurality of weigh hoppers through independently driven radial feeders, and weighed such that a combination of weigh hoppers can be selected and their contents can be discharged together. Vibrations of each radial feeder are controlled by parameter values which are calculated on the basis of the parameter values previously set therefor and the weight of the articles in the corresponding weigh hopper. When the amount of the articles on the dispersion feeder drops abnormally and becomes less than a certain lower limit, the parameter values at the time are stored and, when the amount of the articles on the dispersion feeder returns to normal again, parameter values based on the stored values are used, instead of the previous parameter values, to calculate new parameter values to control the vibrations of the radial feeders.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 26, 1998
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Aritoshi Taniguchi
  • Patent number: 5753868
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for gravimetric dosing and mixing of at least two components (K1, K2), wherein the parts by weight of the components (K1, K2) are calculated by weighing and both components (K1, K2) are mixed together in a container (21).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1994
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Gustav Eirich
    Inventor: Winfried Diem
  • Patent number: 5753866
    Abstract: A combinational weigher measures articles with a plurality of measuring devices and selects a combination of the articles with a total weight within an allowable range. The weigher has a device for supplying the articles, cameras for taking pictures of at least either this article supplying device or the articles thereon, an image processing device for determining the condition of the article supply on the basis of image signals from the cameras, a predicting device for predicting the change in the amount of the supplied articles on the basis at least of the condition thus determined, and a control device for changing the operating conditions of the supplying device on the basis of this prediction so as to control changes in the supply rates of articles to the measuring devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Ishida Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tetsuo Ikeda, Yukio Wakasa, Tohru Morichi
  • Patent number: 5684275
    Abstract: The present invention provides a conveyorized system for weighing and labeling products in packages and having multiple conveyor sections each of which is driven by an individual variable speed motor. A computer is supplied and connected to each of the variable speed motors. The computer contains data relating speed of operating each motor for a particular package style in the computer memory. An operator inputs a package code to the computer, which locates the package information stored in memory and signals the variable speed motors as to the desired speed for each conveyor. Similar information is maintained in the computer memory for each package as to dimensions, such that the computer signal output includes commands to several servo motors which are connected to adjust spacing between vertical control belts to accommodate the package and the positioning of a label applicator to suit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1997
    Assignee: Ossid Corporation
    Inventor: Sidney S. Tolson
  • Patent number: 5567919
    Abstract: A gravimetric control system for supplying fuel and sorbent to a circulating fluidized bed boiler which includes a loop shaped continuous belt for moving materials in a generally horizontal direction. The apparatus includes first and second belt scales disposed at spaced axial points along the belt and apparatus for continuously moving the belt sequentially past the first belt scale and then past the second belt second belt scale and then dumping all material on the belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Combustion Engineering, Inc.
    Inventor: Gary A. Cote
  • Patent number: 5359154
    Abstract: An inverter controlled conveying/measuring apparatus according to the invention includes a conveyor (3) for conveying an object (W) of measurement. The conveyor (3) is driven by an AC motor (M2). Inverter (20) controls and operates the conveyor (3) at a given speed by supplying the AC motor (M2) with frequency converting signals according to a specified frequency. A measuring section (4) is arranged on a conveying path of the conveyor (3) in order to measure an attribute of the object (W) being conveyed by the conveyor (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Anritsu Corporation
    Inventors: Fumihiro Tsukasa, Hideya Fujimoto, Kazuhiko Horikoshi, Osamu Tanaka, Kunio Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 5296654
    Abstract: A universal belt scale for measuring the weight of material being transported on a conveyor belt includes a pair of independent weigh beams, each having a cantilevered deflection section, the beams being uniquely mounted to extend inwardly of the stringers in such a way that the universal belt scale can be used with a variety of belt widths and belt loading situations. The neutral axis of the deflection section is preferably positioned in substantially the same plane as the roll supporting the belt. Alternative embodiments of a mounting allows the position of the weigh beam to be adjusted relative to the idler assembly. Alternative embodiments of an adjustable pivot allow the full scale capacity of the belt scale to be varied. The universal belt scale may also include varying the sensitivity of the weigh beam, for more accurate weighing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 22, 1994
    Assignee: CST Autoweight
    Inventors: Paul W. Farley, Chester L. Nachtigal, Gerald J. Berger, Harold J. Klits
  • Patent number: 5285930
    Abstract: In a method of dosing fibers, such as steel fibers to be mixed in concrete, a supply of fibers (5) is stored in first vibration feeder (2) and is moved from this by means of a second vibration feeder (3). For each dosing operation, a proportioned quantity of fibers (5) is transferred at a stepless rate or a stepwise declining rate from the first to the second vibration feeder (2, 3) while the second vibration feeder (3) stands still. This vibration feeder (3) then transports the transferred fiber quantity further on to the subsequent process while the first vibration feeder (2) stands still. The fibers can hereby be dosed more accurately and uniformly than known before.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Skako A/S
    Inventor: Niels H. Nielsen
  • Patent number: 5092490
    Abstract: A quantitatively supplying apparatus is provided which includes a weighing bucket having a discharge mechanism at the bottom, a load cell for detecting the weight of said weighing bucket, and a transferring conveyor for supplying goods to said weighing bucket continuously, in which shutters are arranged in a goods drop passage leading from said transferring conveyor to said weighing bucket so as to be actuated to shut the passage at least partially. According to this apparatus, the amount of the goods dropped can be reduced by closing the shutters partially, and the accuracy with which the goods are quantitatively taken out can be heightened by accurately detecting the time at which the amount of the goods reaches a fixed weight. The apparatus also enables the goods to be quantitatively removed accurately by closing the shutters completely when the fixed weight is reached and thus stopping the acceptance of the goods by the weighing bucket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1992
    Assignee: Daisey Machinery Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tomosaburo Suzuki, Sanji Kawakami
  • Patent number: 5087864
    Abstract: An apparatus for selectively controlling a plurality of electric motors for driving individual work objects, the apparatus including an electrical switch which is adapted to produce predetermined speed signals for the electric motor selected, a programmable controller disposed in signal receiving relation relative to the electrical switch and which is adapted to generate a predetermined signalling sequence in response to the signal received from the electrical switch, a variable speed motor drive electrically coupled with the programmable controller, and with the electric motor selected, the variable speed motor drive selectively driving the selected electric motor at a predetermined speed in response to the signalling sequence received from the programmable controller, and a sensor adapted to indicate the work performed by the electric motor whereby the electric switch may be selectively adjusted to control the operation of the electric motor selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1992
    Assignee: Abel Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Donald B. Abel
  • Patent number: 5007561
    Abstract: Apparatus for feeding fluidized particulate material at a uniform preselected flow rate includes a reservoir for receiving the material from a supply inlet, a device for maintaining material in the reservoir in a state of flux, a chain type carrier for continuously removing and transporting uniform quantities of the fluidized material at variable speed from the reservoir along a predetermined path configured to prevent premature discharge of the uniform quantities, and a control system to detect the quantities of material being transported along the predetermined path to regulate the speed of the carrier according to the desired preselected flow rate, such that the fluid particulate material is discharged at the desired flow rate at the end of the predetermined path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 1990
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Vibra Screw, Incoporated
    Inventors: Richard C. Wahl, Ralph J. Winters
  • Patent number: 4947089
    Abstract: An apparatus for selectively controlling a plurality of electric motors for driving individual work objects, the apparatus including an electrical switch which is adapted to produce predetermined speed signals for the electric motor selected, a programmable controller disposed in signal receiving relation relative to the electrical switch and which is adapted to generate a predetermined signalling sequence in response to the signal received from the electrical switch, a variable speed motor drive electrically coupled with the programmable controller, and with the electric motor selected, the variable speed motor drive selectively driving the selected electric motor at a predetermined speed in response to the signalling sequence received from the programmable controller, and a sensor adapted to indicate the work performed by the electric motor whereby the electric switch may be selectively adjusted to control the operation of the electric motor selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Abel Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Donald B. Abel
  • Patent number: 4751974
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sprouting beans or the like which are raked-up by a conveying belt arranged standing slantwise from a lower resevoir for the sprouting beans, with a plurality of needlelike projections planted thereon, and fed into a weighing bucket so as to weigh the same in fixed quantities. The conveyor belt serves to increase the weighing accuracy in such a manner that after the sprouting beans are fed into the weighing bucket in a predetermined desired quantity, the raking-up speed is lowered and, as a result, the sprouting beans are conveyed little by little until such reach a given quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1988
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daisei Kikai
    Inventor: Sanji Kawakami
  • Patent number: 4742879
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring a travelling fiber lap prior to introduction thereof into a fiber processing textile machine. There is provided a thickness measuring device contacting the fiber lap for mechanically detecting thickness fluctuations thereof. A first transducer is connected to the thickness measuring device for converting mechanical signals into electric signals representing the thickness fluctuations, and a computer is connected to the first transducer for receiving the electric signals from the first transducer and a display device connected to an output of the computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Trutzschler GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventor: Ferdinand Leifeld
  • Patent number: 4724980
    Abstract: Fibers or other bulk material to be conveyed into an air forming system are fed in a continuous stream at a uniform rate to the air forming system by conveying the material into an elongated weight pan, weighing the pan, dropping the material onto a conveyor, and adjusting the speed of the conveyor to compensate for variations in weight. After a target weight in the pan is achieved, material is no longer fed into the pan, but the pan is not dumped until the conveyor has moved at least a distance equal to the length of the pan. The conveyor is at least twice as long as the pan, so that two dumps of the pan can be accommodated on the belt at the same time, thereby permitting the speed of the belt to be adjusted to feed the material into the air forming system at a substantially constant rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventor: Radcliffe W. Farley
  • Patent number: 4679641
    Abstract: An apparatus for feeding sprouting beans or the like which are raked-up by a conveying belt arranged standingly slantwise from a lower reservoir for the sprouting beans, with a plurality of needlelike projections planted thereon, and fed into a weighing bucket so as to weigh the same in fixed quantities. The conveyor belt serves to increase weighing accuracy in such a manner that after the sprouting beans are fed into the weighing bucket in a predetermined desired quantity, the raking-up speed is lowered and, as a result, the sprouting beans are conveyed little by little until they reach a given quantity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: July 14, 1987
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Daisei Kikai
    Inventor: Sanji Kawakami
  • Patent number: 4615403
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a weighing device consisting of a feeder mounted on a framework placed below the discharging end of a conveyor loaded with the object to be weighed, such as peanuts, the feeder being equipped with a feed measurement device, and facing pool hoppers adjacent to the feeder or directly facing measure hoppers supported on load cells mounted on the framework. The present invention relates especially to a weighing device in which the feed measurement device consists of a weight measuring device such as a load cell, which is placed in between the feeder and the framework to support the feeder, and which controls the switching on and off of the drive, such as a motor, for the conveyor through a control unit including an amplifier and a low-pass filter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 7, 1986
    Assignee: Kabuchiki Kaisha Ishida Koki Seisakusho
    Inventor: Toru Nakamura
  • Patent number: 4614264
    Abstract: For supplying tobacco from a redryer to a packer, the invention provides apparatus comprising four consecutive conveyors, the first conveyor operating continuously in one direction to feed tobacco from the redryer to the second conveyor, the second conveyor being reversible to act selectively as a holding conveyor and a supply tobacco to the third conveyor, the third conveyor being a weighing conveyor operated at a slower speed to weight and at a faster speed to deliver the weight quantities onto the fourth conveyor which carries the successive weighed quantities of tobacco to the packer. The conveyors are so controlled that the weighed quantities, when on the fourth conveyor, are spaced apart by intervals and the packer is operated through a packing cycle during each such interval.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 30, 1986
    Inventor: Francis B. Fishburne
  • Patent number: 4595125
    Abstract: An apparatus and method useful for continuously dispensing from a bulk storage bin or silo at a precise weight per unit time nonfree-flowing particulate material. A feeder capable of discharging from the back storage bin or silo a precise volume per unit time of the particulate material is positioned to deposit the material onto the conveyor of a continuous weigh scale which, like the feeder, is driven by variable speed drive motor under the control of a control circuit responsive to changes in bulk density of the particulate material sensed by the weigh scale. There is an adjustable speed ratio driving connection between the feeder and conveyor for causing the conveyor to be driven at a predetermined constant speed with respect to the speed of the feeder, and the control circuit is effective to cause shut off of the apparatus in the event that the bulk density of the particulate material exceeds predetermined minimum or maximum limits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Inventor: S. Tomas Alwerud
  • Patent number: 4510808
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for the continuous measurement of the bulk density of particulate material comprising an endless belt weighing conveyor having a compression zone and a weigh span downstream of the compression zone, means for feeding the material to said compression zone, a compression unit at said compression zone having a series of rollers an axes extending transverse to the direction of movement of the weighing conveyor, and transducer means provided at the weigh span for producing signals proportional to material weight. The rollers may be driven with a surface speed equal to the weighing conveyor belt speed and additional rollers may be mounted below the weighing conveyor to carry the load. The rollers are preferably embraced by a belt which gives a continuous surface and prevents tobacco getting between the rollers. In which case, the belt is driven with the same speed as the weighing conveyor belt, via a terminal roller and the other rollers follow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1985
    Assignee: AMF Incorporated
    Inventor: Richard E. G. Neville
  • Patent number: 4475669
    Abstract: A continuous flow, non-flooding gravimetric belt feeder is disclosed which may be used to convey fluid-like particulate material. The feeder includes an endless belt having spaced, transversely mounted cleats. A lateral wall is provided adjacent each of the opposed sides of the cleats and extending between adjacent cleats, thereby preventing the fluid-like particulate material from flowing along the belt, and thereby enabling the feeder to discharge the material at a steady, pre-set rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1981
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: Vibra-Screw, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Wahl
  • Patent number: 4421185
    Abstract: A combinatorial weighing system, wherein swing plate 9 disposed substantially in the middle of the interior of a feed hopper 1 uniformly distributes objects of weighing, particularly those liable to tangle each other, in the bottom of the feed hopper without causing localized gathering of the objects, and the objects are then transferred to conveyors 5 disposed close to each other at one of their respective ends and extending in mutually opposite directions until the other ends thereof are positioned outwardly of the lateral walls of the feed hopper, whereby the objects are fed, in amounts within an allowable range of weighing, to the associated automatic weighing machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1982
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1983
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Ishida Koki Saisakusho
    Inventors: Toshio Koto, Katsuhiko Murakami, Yugo Fujitani
  • Patent number: 4345628
    Abstract: An apparatus for making dilutions of a sample with a diluent to a predetermined dilution factor f by weight of the diluent is disclosed. A scale with TARE capability produces an output signal of the weight W of a sample within a container less the weight of the container. A dilution factor control is provided for setting the predetermined dilution factor f. Apparatus is provided for calculating and storing the value TW=W/f which is the total weight of the sample plus the weight of the diluent which is required to dilute the sample to the predetermined dilution factor f. A pump is connected between a reservoir of diluent and the container for the sample for pumping the amount of diluent into the container which is required to dilute the sample to the predetermined weight dilution factor f. The scale provides a continuous output of the weight W of the sample plus diluent in the container at any instant in time. Apparatus is provided for calculating when TW-W=0.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1981
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1982
    Assignee: Spiral Systems Inc.
    Inventors: Jeptha E. Campbell, James E. Gilchrist
  • Patent number: 4333394
    Abstract: A method and system including a combination of apparatuses for handling and baling metallic scrap material nominally into cubes in which a vibrating shaker conveyor hopper assembly, a conventional baling press modified by mounting a dumping hopper on its side, and a belt-type conveyor located between the shaker and dumping hoppers are provided. The scrap material is transferred by a front loader from a storage pad and dumped into the stationary hopper of the vibrating shaker conveyor hopper assembly, the said hoppers, conveyors, and baling press all being operatively interconnected to provide a continuous operative system which can be continuously fed by the front loader. Preferably at the discharge end of the shaker conveyor, a grate is provided to sift out dirt, grit and other extraneous material which falls onto and is carried away to a storage pad or container by a transverse conveyor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1982
    Inventor: Stanford M. Brown
  • Patent number: 4266691
    Abstract: Continuous automatic feeding apparatus for bulk material is provided. The device has a vibratory feeder for moving the material to be fed, the feeder having a centrally disposed narrow spoon extending therefrom which provides a relatively small rate of material feed. A pair of hoppers are located under the composite feeder, and the material supplied to each controlled by a pair of displaceable deflectors. Each deflector has three positions: a first position in which the deflector prevents any flow into its associated hopper and deflects the flow into the other hopper; a second position in which the flow from the feeder is deflected to the other hopper but the flow from the spoon is permitted to enter its associated hopper; and a third position in which the flow from both the vibratory feeder and the spoon enters the associated hopper. Each hopper has a weigh cell and control apparatus associated therewith to operate the deflectors and empty the hoppers when a predetermined weight has been attained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 12, 1981
    Assignee: Gero Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Casimir S. Wolwowicz
  • Patent number: 4206823
    Abstract: This invention relates generally to textile carding machines, and is concerned in particular with an apparatus for weighing a condensed fiber lap feeding through a pair of compressor rolls to a pair of feeding rolls in a carding machine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Assignee: Davis & Furber Machine Company
    Inventor: Maynard J. Krull
  • Patent number: 4190932
    Abstract: An arrangement for opening textile fiber bales in which a row of textile fiber bales are broken up by at least two needle tables or rollers placed small distances apart in a row from their bottom side. The distance between the needle points of successive needle tables or rollers are continuously variable. Furthermore, the distance between needle points is changed automatically depending on properties inherent to the textile fiber bales or fiber tufts during operation of the needle table. The actual characteristic value of the detached fiber is compared with a nominal characteristic value, and a different signal is generated and applied as a control on a correcting element. The correcting element varies the distance between the needle points. Disturbance effects are obtained from the textile fiber bale, and this disturbance produces through a control device, an input or set variables for the distance between the needle points. One disturbance effect of the textile fiber bale may be the hardness.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1980
    Assignee: Trutzchler GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Hans Trutzschler
  • Patent number: 4126196
    Abstract: A scale position compensation means for a conveyor belt material transport system, the system including a conveyor belt having a tail end and a discharge end, belt drive means, and a weight signal generating means. Belt travel signal generating means produce a belt travel signal representing the change of belt position. The weight signal generating means produce a first digital weight signal representing a weight of material associated with a portion of the belt adjacent to a first reference point located between the tail and discharge ends. The scale position compensation means are responsive to the first digital weight signal and the belt travel signal to produce a second digital weight signal representing a weight of material associated with the abovementioned portion of the belt when it is adjacent to a second reference point located between the first reference point and the discharge end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1977
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1978
    Assignee: Hyer Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Hyer, Raymond Karosas
  • Patent number: 4111272
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is an automatically controlled weigh feeding apparatus including a container for prefilling with a substance, a device for discharging the substance from the container at a controllable rate, apparatus for weighing the substance being discharged and for producing an electrical signal proportional to that weight, a voltage to frequency converter connected to receive the electrical signals, a digital computer, apparatus coupled to an output of the voltage to frequency converter for inputting data signals to the digital computer, the computer being adapted to compute a corrective signal based on the input data signals received, and coupling apparatus coupled between the computer and the device for discharging the substance from the container for controlling the rate of discharge responsive to the corrective signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 1976
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1978
    Assignee: Acrison, Incorporated
    Inventors: Ronald J. Ricciardi, Angelo Ferrara, Joseph L. Hartmann, Gary R. Lauterbach
  • Patent number: 4108344
    Abstract: A continuously running, band-formed or mat-formed material, such as mineral wool, is weighed continuously at a given point, and the sensed weight is used to control the speed of a conveyor arrangement along which the band of material is running. The material is supported and transported along a first driven conveyor and onto a second driven conveyor spaced a short distance from the discharge end of the first conveyor. The first and second conveyors are oriented to form an upwardly concave obtuse angle such that the band of material deforms and bends through an upwardly concave obtuse angle as it passes from the first conveyor to the second conveyor. The band of material is continuously weighed as it passes between the first and second conveyors by passing the deformed and bent band onto and along a third non-driven idler conveyor located between the first and second conveyors and arranged to continuously sense the weight of the band passing therealong.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1978
    Assignee: Rockwool Aktiebolaget
    Inventor: Stellan Dahlberg
  • Patent number: 4081044
    Abstract: A feed control system for a plurality of packaging machines is provided wherein the overall supply to the machines is controlled in accordance with total demand. A pulse is produced by each machine after a filling and sealing operation is completed and a weight constant multiplier is employed to multiply this pulse by a weight constant associated with the package (the number of grams or ounces contained in the package). The outputs of all of the weight constant multipliers are connected to a parallel to series converter which produces a signal in the form of a pulse train representative of the total weight requirements of all packaging machines per unit time. This signal is converted into a corresponding voltage level which is utilized by a storage conveyor motor controller to control the overall feed rate to the machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 28, 1978
    Inventor: Kenneth Martin Allen
  • Patent number: 4038531
    Abstract: An improved particleboard manufacturing system wherein the weight of each mat for forming a particleboard is continuously monitored and controlled by a process controller as the mats are formed on a moving conveyor. The actual weight of each mat is determined and utilized by the process controller to selectively control the speed of the conveyor and the rate at which wood particles are deposited by a series of formers that are located along the conveyor system to thereby control the weight of mats currently being produced. The process controller includes a control system for continuously controlling mat weight by supplying former speed control signals that are related to a predicted weight error signal, developed within the control system, and a measured weight error signal equal to the difference between a desired or target weight and the actual weight of each mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1976
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1977
    Assignee: Weyerhaeuser Company
    Inventor: Alton L. Loe, Jr.
  • Patent number: 3995517
    Abstract: A system for obtaining N slices of substantially uniform thickness from a solid to provide a batch having a desired weight, where N is an integer which may have a value between predefined limits. A partial batch weight is taken in response to weighing a number of slices less than N. A terminal value of N is estimated on the basis of the number of slices in the partial batch and the ratio of the desired batch weight and the partial batch weight. A predicted terminal deviation from the desired batch weight is calculated based on the partial batch weight and the ratio of the estimated value of N and the number of slices in the partial batch. In one embodiment the feed rate of the solid into a slicing device, and accordingly the slice thickness and terminal batch weight, is controlled as a function of the value of the predicted terminal deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 1974
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1976
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Meredith E. Smith
  • Patent number: 3972411
    Abstract: In the production of reduced pellets such as reduced iron pellets by the grate-kiln system for firing, a distributor and a belt conveyor provided with a weighing machine are arranged between a sieving machine that sieves produced green pellets to predetermined grain sizes and a travelling grate of a pretreatment furnace. The weight of green pellets fed from said sieving machine through said distributor onto said belt conveyor is continuously measured on said belt conveyor by means of said weighing machine, and a signal indicative of the measured value is fed back to said distributor. Said distributor operates in response to said signal and regulates the supply of green pellets so that the supply of green pellets to said belt conveyor, hence the supply of green pellets to said grate is kept constant. Said distributor is of such a construction as will not crush green pellets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1975
    Date of Patent: August 3, 1976
    Assignee: Nippon Kokan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuharu Yatsunami, Satoru Miyakado, Katsuaki Shiohara, Tsuneo Kataoka, Akira Honda
  • Patent number: 3960225
    Abstract: A scale position compensation means for a conveyor belt material transport system, the system including a conveyor belt having a tail end and a discharge end, belt drive means, and a weight signal generating means. Belt travel signal generating means produce a belt travel signal representing the change of belt position. The weight signal generating means produce a first digital weight signal representing a weight of material associated with a portion of the belt adjacent to a first reference point located between the tail and discharge ends. The scale position compensation means are responsive to the first digital weight signal and the belt travel signal to produce a second digital weight signal representing a weight of material associated with the above-mentioned portion of the belt when it is adjacent to a second reference point located between the first reference point and the discharge end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 1974
    Date of Patent: June 1, 1976
    Assignee: Hyer Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Hyer, Raymond Karosas
  • Patent number: 3957126
    Abstract: A feed control system, for controlling the operation of a weighing apparatus including two or more conveyors arranged in flow series and arranged to carry product from a feeder to a hopper whereby the product will be separated into batches of predetermined weight, the control system providing adjustment of the feed rate of the conveyors, and adjustment of the rate of feed of product by each conveyor in relation to the weight of product on a succeeding conveyor in the series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1974
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1976
    Assignee: Hobart Engineering Limited
    Inventor: Jack Hobart
  • Patent number: 3944004
    Abstract: An improved two feeder tray bulk weighment control system of the vernier operating type is disclosed. During an initial portion of the operating cycle of the device and while the weighment from the previous cycle is being dumped, a first feeder tray is driven to deliver a preliminary bulk target of 80-98% of the desired final weighment into a second feeder tray. During the conveying portion of the operating cycle both trays are driven at a rate inversely proportional to the difference between the actual weighment and a target weighment signal in an underdamped manner. As the final weighment is approached, improved circuitry prevents scale overshoot due to the underdamped rate controllers from causing premature dumping. A servo loop is also provided to cause the feed controller in operation during the dumping portion of the operating cycle to deliver the 80-98% of desired final weighment based on its actual delivery on the previous cycle of operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1974
    Date of Patent: March 16, 1976
    Inventors: C. Wayne Lafitte, Thomas L. Thompson
  • Patent number: 3939929
    Abstract: In a spinning machine having a weighing device for receiving fiber tufts from a hopper thereof and for intermittently supplying a block of fiber tufts of a predetermined quantity to a subsequent process by repeated unit supply operations, the gauge between a lifting apron and an evener cylinder of the opening machine is reduced to a predetermined small gauge during a last period of each unit supply operation. Further the driving speed of the lifting apron is capable of selectively reducing during the above-mentioned last period and the supplying operation is continued until the quantity of fiber tufts accumulated in a weigh pan of the weighing mechanism becomes a predetermined final quantity for the unit supply operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 24, 1976
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hideo Hidaka, Setsuo Yamamoto
  • Patent number: RE29944
    Abstract: A scale position compensation means for a conveyor belt material transport system, the system including a conveyor belt having a tail end and a discharge end, belt drive means, and a weight signal generating means. Belt travel signal generating means produce a belt travel signal representing the change of belt position. The weight signal generating means produce a first digital weight signal representing a weight of material associated with a portion of the belt adjacent to a first reference point located between the tail and discharge ends. The scale position compensation means are responsive to the first digital weight signal and the belt travel signal to produce a second digital weight signal representing a weight of material associated with the above-mentioned portion of the belt when it is adjacent to a second reference point located between the first reference point and the discharge end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1979
    Assignee: Hyer Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Frank S. Hyer, Raymond Karosas