Specific Application Of Weight Responsive Control System Patents (Class 700/305)
  • Patent number: 10812409
    Abstract: Some embodiments are associated with multi-tenant software defined data center network traffic management. A data center computing system may assign a first priority to a first traffic flow, associated with a first customer, using a regression technique based on a first response time of a first query associated with the first traffic flow. The system may assign a second priority to a second traffic flow, associated with a second customer, using the regression technique based on a second response time of a second query associated with the second traffic flow. The system may then dynamically allocating network resources to the first and second traffic flows based on the first and second priorities. Some embodiments may establish a plurality of network device queues and calculate demand-supply scores for the first and second traffic flows. The first and second traffic flows may then be sent to queues based on the calculated demand-supply scores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Mayank Tiwary, Sunil Kumar, PankajKumar Agrawal
  • Patent number: 9250619
    Abstract: A system and method of automatically calculating boundaries for a semiconductor fabrication process. The method includes selecting a first parameter for monitoring during a semiconductor fabrication process. A first set of values for the first parameter are received and a group value of the first set is determined. Each value in the first set of values is normalized. A first weighting factor is selected based on a number of values in the first set. The embodiment also includes generating a first and a second boundary value as a function of the weighting factor, the first set normalized values and the group value of the first set and applying the first and second boundary values to control the semiconductor fabrication process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chih-Wei Hsu, Mei-Jen Wu, Yen-Di Tsen, Jo Fei Wang, Jong-I Mou, Chin-Hsiang Lin
  • Patent number: 8805553
    Abstract: A method for dynamically controlling the output of a computerized manufacturing process includes storing a product target parameter in a computer memory of a computer system associated with the manufacturing process equipment. Control limit values for a product delivery statistic are provided and a product delivery parameter is continually monitored and values are stored in the computer memory. A unit product over-delivery amount is determined from the difference between the product delivery parameter and the product target parameter. A cumulative over-delivery amount is determined by summing the difference up to the current sequence number between monitored value for the previously-produced unit products and the product target parameter. A net difference is then determined between the unit product over-delivery target parameter and the cumulative over-delivery amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: Schreiber Foods, Inc.
    Inventor: Alexander James Moore
  • Patent number: 8674243
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel approach of utilizing a collection bin for a side loading waste collection vehicle. The collection bin includes a weighing system with a processor for measuring the weight of material collected from each waste container and associating this weight with appropriate data, such as the owner of the waste container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: The Curotto-Can, LLC
    Inventor: John Michael Curotto
  • Patent number: 8666541
    Abstract: A method of checking the accuracy of a prescription fill including activating an electronic scale operatively coupled to a network, accessing a prescription to fill; selecting an appropriate stock container corresponding to the prescription from a plurality of available stock containers, entering data that is associated with a stock container selected by the user; determining if the stock container selected by the user is the correct stock container to fill the prescription by determining if the drug corresponding to the selected stock container is the appropriate drug for the accessed prescription; retrieving a piece weight of the drug from the selected stock container; measuring a weight of a plurality of pills to be dispensed; comparing the measured weight of the pills to be dispensed to a standard weight; determining if the comparison is within an acceptable range; and generating an automated authorization for the prescription fill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2014
    Assignee: Walgreen Co.
    Inventors: Mohsin Ovais Ansari, Michael J. Simko, Laura Jean Tebbe, Russell Alan Wielgos
  • Patent number: 8532839
    Abstract: A building management strategy includes using exponentially weighted moving averages with statistical models to detect changes in the behavior of the building management system. Detected changes in the behavior of the system may indicate a detected fault, a change in a predicted behavior, or a need for the statistical models to be updated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Johnson Controls Technology Company
    Inventors: Kirk H. Drees, James P. Kummer
  • Patent number: 8513544
    Abstract: Weight is used to help identify key and ring combinations authorized to certain persons. This is done by associating a weigh scale with each storage box for key and ring combinations, all of which have different total weights. The weights of all the key and ring combinations are registered with a computer, along with authentication and storage information. Then as key and ring combinations are removed from or returned to a storage box, they are weighed on scale 25 so that a computer can compare the scale weight with a registered weight. For any discrepancy, the computer can initiate one of many security actions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Key Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: George H Eckerdt
  • Patent number: 8489229
    Abstract: A method and system for loading a loading carrier, in particular pallets, with packages by means of an automated manipulator, a model of a package stack on the loading carrier is automatically determined, an initial desired position for a package in the mode is determined, the package stack is detected on the loading carrier, a deviation between the detected package stack and the model is determined, the package is placed by the manipulator, and the steps are repeated until a termination criterion is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kuka Roboter GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Kuehnemann, Lars Baldes, Gerda Ruge, Botond Goeroeg
  • Patent number: 8444850
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a catalytic process for removing organonitrogen species from hydrocarbon mixtures such as refinery process feedstreams. More particularly, this invention relates to a new operating and catalyst loading strategies based on organonitrogen concentration, composition, and structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering Company
    Inventors: Teh C. Ho, Stuart L. Soled, Kuangnan Qian, Stephen J. McCarthy, Andrew C. Moreland
  • Patent number: 8330059
    Abstract: The disclosure describes a novel approach of utilizing a collection bin for a front loading waste collection vehicle. The collection bin includes a weighing system with a processor for measuring the weights of material collected from each waste container and associating this weight with appropriate data, such as the owner of the waste container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: The Curotto-Can, Inc.
    Inventor: John Michael Curotto
  • Patent number: 8296099
    Abstract: A vehicle tilt detecting apparatus includes a load sensor provided for detecting a load acts on a supporting portion, a load detecting portion detecting a partial load value of the load placed on the seat on the basis of an output from the load sensor and outputting a detected load value, first interrelating portion indicates a relation between a detected load value of no-load and a front-rear tilt angle of the vehicle, unoccupied seat determining portion determining an unoccupied state, where no-load is placed on the seat, when the detected load value outputted from the load detecting portion is less than an unoccupied seat determining value and front-rear tilt angle calculating portion calculating the front-rear tilt angle corresponding to the detected load value outputted from the load detecting portion, on the basis of the first interrelating portion, when the unoccupied seat determining portion determines the unoccupied state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2012
    Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Ito, Muneto Inayoshi, Akira Enomoto, Hiroyuki Fujii
  • Patent number: 8263881
    Abstract: A weighing scale has a display unit for displaying the weight of an object loaded on a platform measured by a weight measurer, a communication unit for transmitting weight data to, or receiving from, another weighing scale, a determiner that determines whether the weighing scale is capable of communicating via the communication unit with another weighing scale, and a controller that, in a case in which a result of the determination by the determiner shows that the weighing scale is not capable of communicating with another weighing scale, controls the display unit to display weight data output by the weight measurer, and in a case in which a result of the determination by the determiner shows that the weighing scale is capable of communicating with another weighing scale, that transmits weight data to, or receives from, another weighing scale.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Tanita Corporation
    Inventor: Naoshi Oseko
  • Patent number: 8224483
    Abstract: A prescription fill validation system including a pharmacy with an electronic scale and a display unit; a pharmacy server having a database to store information related to a plurality of drugs and programmed to: receive data corresponding to a stock container selected by a user; determine if the stock container selected by the user is the correct stock container to fill the unfilled prescription; compare a weight of a plurality of pills measured at the electronic scale to a standard weight, the standard weight equaling a predicted total weight of the plurality of pills to ensure that a correct number of pills is dispensed; determine if the comparison is within an acceptable range; and generate an automated authorization for the prescription if the stock container selected by the user is the correct stock container to fill the prescription and if the comparison is within the acceptable range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2012
    Assignee: Walgreen Co.
    Inventors: Mohsin Ovais Ansari, Michael J. Simko, Laura Jean Tebbe, Russell Alan Wielgos
  • Patent number: 8200367
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: K-Tron Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: James T. Foley, John B. Myhre, Jason K. Daniel, Manuel Spörri
  • Patent number: 7937165
    Abstract: A method and a device for tuning and control of industrial processes having varying material flow rate. An adder is configured to add excitation signals to the controller output signal. A measurement system is configured to measure a property in response to the excitation signals. A model based tuning unit is adapted to estimate the value of at least one parameter with unknown value of a process model structure describing the effect of varying material flow rate, based on the measurements of the property and the output signal from the controller, and to calculate a model that describes the dynamics from controller output to controller input based on the estimated value of the parameter, and to perform model based tuning of the controller based on the model that describes the dynamics from controller output to controller input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2011
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Per-Erik Modén, Pontus Bergsten, Rickard Lindkvist
  • Publication number: 20110066287
    Abstract: An article 12 includes at least one component 28, 52, 54, 56, 58 moveable with respect to a ground. A load path extends from the component to the ground and includes a force detector 34. If one of the moveable components is requested to move in a way considered to be risky, and if a force discrepancy is detected, an action is commanded. In one specific embodiment the action is a corrective action. In one application of the disclosed subject matter the article is a hospital bed, the moveable components are a weigh frame and various deck sections, and the force detector is a load cell.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Publication date: March 17, 2011
    Inventor: Joseph Flanagan
  • Patent number: 7897884
    Abstract: Capacitive force-measuring device based load sensing platform is disclosed. In one embodiment, a load sensing platform includes a sensor surface to have one or more capacitive force-measuring devices arranged in an array, a base surface placed on top of the sensor surface to provide a contact surface of a load applied to the load sensing platform, and a control module to process data of the one or more capacitive force-measuring devices when the load is applied to the base surface. Moreover, the load sensing platform includes a communication module of the control module to communicate the weigh, position, temperature, humidity, or vibration of the load through a wired channel and/or a wireless channel. The load sensing platform may further include an alert module to generate an alert signal when a change in the position of the load exceeds a threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2011
    Assignee: Ypoint Capital, Inc.
    Inventor: Divyasimha Harish
  • Patent number: 7893366
    Abstract: A method of weigh batching for batch formulae using a number of ingredients conveyed to a weigh hopper by a number of different conveyers. Free fall weights and conveyor delivery speeds for each of the ingredients and each of the conveyors used to convey each ingredient are stored in a control system memory. The stored information is used to prepare batches of various formulated products optimizing both the weigh up time and the ingredient weight accuracy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Inventor: Mark K. Gaalswyk
  • Patent number: 7886739
    Abstract: A circuit compliance compensated volume control system in a patient respiratory ventilation system and method, including: a circuit compliance estimator, to provide a relationship between a circuit volume and a differential pressure between a circuit pressure and a positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) of the respiratory circuit, a circuit volume estimator, operative to provide an estimated circuit volume based on the relationship between the circuit volume and the differential pressure, a patient volume observer, operative to provide an estimated patient volume by subtracting the estimated circuit volume from a measured machine delivered net volume, and a volume delivery controller, operative to update the machine delivered net volume based on the estimated patient volume and a set tidal volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2011
    Assignee: Carefusion 207, Inc.
    Inventors: Ihab S. Soliman, Steven Duquette
  • Patent number: 7856346
    Abstract: A test system for data processing circuit design emulates multiple bus masters and provides an arbitration mechanism for coordinating arbitration between those bus masters in the design emulation. The shared bus being tested may be a multi-layer bus and one or more of the bus masters being emulated or bus slaves being emulated may be cut-down emulations modelling the bus interaction itself or full emulations of the intended bus master circuit or bus slave circuit including its operational data processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: ARM Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Mark Nightingale, Timothy Charles Mace
  • Patent number: 7845516
    Abstract: A system for precisely controlling a discharge rate of a discharged product is provided that includes a feeder bin having an internal chamber; a product disposed in the internal chamber of the feeder bin; and a discharge device that receives a portion of the product and discharges it at a discharge rate from the feeder The system also includes a control system that continually monitors the discharge rate of the discharged product and automatically adjusts the discharge rate based on measurements of the product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Jean-Louis Pessin, Gregoire Jacob, Josh Rayner
  • Patent number: 7801642
    Abstract: A system and method are provided for checking the accuracy of a prescription fill in a pharmacy that includes activating an electronic scale coupled to a network, providing a user the ability to access a prescription to fill and displaying to the user data associated with the prescription. The method also includes providing the user the ability to cause data to be entered that is associated with a stock container selected by the user, wherein the stock container contains a drug corresponding to the prescription; determining if the stock container selected by the user is the correct stock container to fill the prescription; and measuring a weight of a plurality of pills in the prescription. The method further includes comparing the measured weight to a predicted total weight of the plurality of pills, determining if the comparison is within an acceptable range, and generating an authorization for the prescription fill.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Walgreen Co.
    Inventors: Mohsin Ovais Ansari, Michael J. Simko, Laura J. Tebbe, Russell A. Wielgos
  • Publication number: 20100234983
    Abstract: A control system for a pneumatic transport system of granular material, which includes a plurality of containers, is configured to manage the filling cycle of each container automatically by monitoring the weight of the transported material continuously, and by optionally monitoring the state of the granular material, for example temperature and humidity of the granular material. The information generated by the control system is provided to a centralized management system, which may be operated entirely or partially through radio signals transmitted by wireless technology.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: PIOVAN SpA
    Inventors: Enzo Gesuita, Riccardo Ronzone
  • Patent number: 7745741
    Abstract: A liquid crystal dispensing apparatus determines an amount of liquid crystal remaining within a liquid crystal container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyug-Jin Kweon, Hae-Joon Son, Wan-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 7692106
    Abstract: An electronic scale having an integrated computer with an input unit for entering selection data, a memory for storing a plurality of parameter values, which can be assigned to function-specific parameters dependent on the entered selection data, a data processing unit for executing weighing applications dependent on a subset of the function-specific parameters and at least one interface for interacting with mechanical and/or electronic components dependent on a subset of function-specific parameters. A plurality of different profiles (24; 24?) can be stored as individual parameter value sets to adapt to user-specific and/or application-specific requirements. Selecting a specific profile (24; 24?) causes a joint assignment of the values contained therein to the corresponding parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Sartorius AG
    Inventors: Rainer Rindermann, Jan Von Steuben, Thomas Pertsch, Apolonija Kordes
  • Publication number: 20100070073
    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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2008
    Publication date: March 18, 2010
    Inventors: James T. Foley, John B. Myhre, Jason K. Daniel, Manuel Sporri
  • Patent number: 7610167
    Abstract: A viscous material processing system comprises a feed system controller having a set of instructions to store an input set point weight or amount; sense a progressing weight or amount of material fed by the feed system; compare the progressing weight with the set point weight or amount and terminate feed from the system when the compared progressing weight is substantially equal to the set point weight or amount; and a vicious material compounding system connected to the feed system to receive material fed by the feed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2009
    Assignee: Momentive Performance Materials
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Stanton, Roger Knox, Harry A. Bayly
  • Patent number: 7593830
    Abstract: A viscous material processing system comprises a feed system controller having a set of instructions to store an input set point weight or amount; sense a progressing weight or amount of material fed by the feed system; compare the progressing weight with the set point weight or amount and terminate feed from the system when the compared progressing weight is substantially equal to the set point weight or amount; and a viscous material compounding system connected to the feed system to receive material fed by the feed system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2009
    Assignee: Momentive Performance Materials
    Inventors: Jennifer L. Stanton, Roger Knox, Harry A. Bayly
  • Publication number: 20090199598
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a drum type washing machine and a control program therefore. The washing machine includes a control mechanism to control a motor. The control mechanism includes a torque control unit to perform torque addition processes of adding pulse type torque during only a period for which a drum makes one rotation in a uniform torque control state in which torque of the motor is uniformly controlled at least two times and to perform the second torque addition process after n+0.5 rotations of the drum (n is an integer not less than 1) on the basis of the first torque addition process, and a weight calculation unit to calculate an average value of rotational accelerations of the motor at the respective torque addition processes and to calculate a weight of laundry received in the drum based on the average value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Naoki KANAZAWA
  • Patent number: 7434459
    Abstract: Methods and systems are described for sensing force information at a plurality of points on a continuous surface, and detecting contextual information about an object on the surface based on the distribution of force on the surface. For example, a plurality of sensors may be included below different points on such a substantially continuous surface, where the sensors are operable to sense force information. Then, a processor connected to the sensors may determine a location of the object relative to the surface, based on the force information from the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2008
    Assignee: SAP Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Albrecht Schmidt, Martin Strohbach, Kristof Van Laerhoven, Adrian Friday, Hans-W. Gellersen, Uwe Kubach
  • Publication number: 20080201868
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are a washing machine and a control method of the same that is capable of maximizing a contact time between water and laundry, thereby improving the rinsing efficiency while using a small amount of water. The washing machine includes a water tub, a rotary drum mounted in the water tub to receive laundry, and a circulation unit to supply water from the water tub into the rotary drum. The control method includes detecting an amount of load according to a weight of the laundry, supplying an amount of water set according to the detected amount of load into the water tub, and supplying the water in the water tub to the laundry by alternately operating the rotary drum and the circulation unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: August 28, 2008
    Applicant: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun Suk Bang, Sang Yeon Pyo, Hyun Sook Kim, Jae Ryong Park, Sung Hoon Kim, Jee Hun Park
  • Patent number: 7413499
    Abstract: A process of grinding a surface of a workpiece, by a grinding tool rotated about its axis. The process includes a grinding step of grinding the workpiece surface, by pressing at least one of the grinding tool and the workpiece against the other of the grinding tool and the workpiece, such that a constant force is exerted on the other of the grinding tool and the workpiece by the at least one of the grinding tool and the workpiece. Also disclosed is a grinding apparatus including: a moving device operable to move at least one of the grinding tool and the workpiece relative to the other of the grinding tool and the workpiece, at least in an infeed direction that increases a depth of cut of the grinding tool into the workpiece; and a controller which controls the moving device, such that the at least one of the grinding tool and the workpiece is pressed against the other of the grinding tool and the workpiece, with a constant force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Noritake Co., Limited
    Inventor: Kenji Noda
  • Publication number: 20080035390
    Abstract: An apparatus for measuring the weight of items on a conveyor includes a scale that generates a first signal corresponding to the weight of the items. A movable platform transports the items to the scale and generates a second signal corresponding to position of the items in relation to the scale. A dimensioner examines the items and generates a third signal representative of whether the items are singulated or nonsingulated. A processor receives the second and third signals and determines whether to associate the first signal with information stored in memory about a particular item based upon whether the particular item is singulated or nonsingulated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2006
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventor: David A. Wurz
  • Patent number: 7206671
    Abstract: Provided is a mounting apparatus which enables high levels of both maintenance/improvement of product quality and reduction of product cost by reliably preventing accidental contact of a mounting part with a mounting target part while enhancing the productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Toru Mizuno, Masatoshi Ito, Masaaki Kaneko, Hiroshi Ikeda
  • Patent number: 7110861
    Abstract: A system and a method for automatically, accurately diluting chemical solutions on an industrial scale based upon real time weight measurements of chemical and diluent weight is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Force Flow
    Inventors: Mark Nelson, Mike Townsend, Brad Davidson
  • Patent number: 7096152
    Abstract: The invention pertains to a mailpiece weight measuring apparatus for use with a high speed automatic mailpiece processing system. The weight measuring apparatus measures the inertial mass of the mailpiece as the weight equivalent. The apparatus includes a device for determining a first velocity of a mailpiece, a device for imparting a force to the mailpiece in a direction co-linear with the first velocity so that the mailpiece exits said force impacting device at a second velocity, a device for determining the second velocity of the mailpiece, a device for determining a change in a parameter proportional to the force imparted on the mailpiece, and a device for determining the weight of the mailpiece based upon the determined first velocity, second velocity and change in the parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2006
    Assignee: Pitney Bowes Inc.
    Inventor: Henson C. Ong
  • Patent number: 7007807
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for sorting workpieces (204) includes multiple conveyors (201, 202), a scanner (208), an offloading device (216), a workpiece processor (218), and a computer (210). The computer has instructions for carrying out a method for sorting that includes obtaining the physical parameters of the workpiece by scanning the workpiece, obtaining an updated distribution of a physical parameter of a population of workpieces, obtaining an updated loading on each conveyor, obtaining the workpiece processor's capacity, obtaining a processing parameter indicating the required amount of workpiece processing to be performed, and obtaining each conveyor's speed. This information is used to place the workpiece on a conveyor in a manner that is calculated to utilize the optimum amount of workpiece processor capacity, while at the same time maintaining an even belt loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: FMC Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Daniel Stockard
  • Patent number: 6970094
    Abstract: In a combination weighing system, a connection is established by Internet between a combination weighing apparatus comprising a weighing machine control portion for setting an operating condition of a weighing machine and logging an operating state of the weighing machine; and a network connecting device for receiving setting information of the operating condition and transmitting log information of the operating state, and a server computer that includes a network connecting device and manages the setting information of the operating condition and the log information of the operating state. With this combination weighing system, it is possible to set the operating condition of the combination weighing apparatus without a need for a person in charge to go to a place where the combination weighing apparatus is installed and to stop an operation of the combination weighing apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2005
    Assignee: Yamato Scale Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Yamashita, Masafumi Takimoto
  • Patent number: 6884946
    Abstract: A scale for weighing an item and determining a price for the item includes a weighing station for receiving the item, the weighing station producing at least one weight indicative signal. A scale controller receives the weight indicative signal and determines the price for the item based upon the weight indicative signal. A remote interface link includes associated communication software. A web server associated with the controller serves user interface web page data to the remote interface link for transfer to a remotely located device. Advanced functions such as a monitoring function and service functions may be enabled by remote connection to the scale via the remote interface link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: Premark FEG L.L.C.
    Inventors: David Scott Miller, Joe Howard Crew, Clare Cecelia Dickey, Lawrence A. Pevoar, Harry Winn Collins
  • Patent number: 6862494
    Abstract: An automated cooking system (10) cooks food (12) accompanied by machine-readable indicia, such as a bar code (16) read by a reader (18). Cooking data, including function coefficients, are accessed from an Internet server (20) based on the information in the bar code. An oven (40) cooks the food in phases in response to the cooking data and one or more monitored food parameters of humidity, temperature and weight. The cooking is controlled by functions in which one or more food parameters are multiplied by coefficients that vary according to food type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ziqiang Hu, Jon Roepke
  • Patent number: 6845298
    Abstract: A system and a method for automatically, accurately diluting chemical solutions on an industrial scale based upon real time weight measurements of chemical and diluent weight is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Force Flow
    Inventors: Mark Nelson, Mike Townsend, Brad Davidson
  • Patent number: 6844506
    Abstract: A measuring apparatus, for instance an analytical balance, can set parameter values for performing specific measuring tasks and/or for effecting communication with an operating person. Sets of such parameter values are stored as profiles. The measuring apparatus is equipped with a recognition device, for recognizing an operating person and activating a stored profile assigned to that person.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2005
    Assignee: Mettler-Toledo GmbH
    Inventors: Reto Nüesch, Matthias Gietenbruch
  • Publication number: 20040225399
    Abstract: A wafer assessment apparatus and method for a single wafer machine. The wafer assessment apparatus includes a pedestal, a movable supporting device, a weight measurement device, a signal transmission device and a control unit. The movable supporting device is disposed in the pedestal to support a wafer. The weight measurement device is disposed on the movable supporting device to measure the weight of the wafer. The signal transmission device is electrically connected to the weight measurement device to output a wafer weight signal. The control unit is electrically connected to the signal transmission device to receive and process the wafer weight signal to determine if the wafer is positioned correctly and/or damaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2003
    Publication date: November 11, 2004
    Inventors: Kuo-Lang Chen, Hsueh-Yao Ching
  • Patent number: 6675073
    Abstract: The present invention includes a system and method for fine tuning the process of controlling the weight of a flow of material, such as a rod of material in a production facility. A control actuator in communication with a PID controller and PID control loop is used to change the unit volume of the flow so as to maintain a target unit weight. A measurement device captures unit weight measurements of the flow at intervals over the length of the flow. A change is introduced to a control actuator while the PID controller and PID control loop are disabled, and appropriate weight measurements of the flow are continually captured along with the control actuator's “feed back” position; a process that may be repeated several times. Once sufficient weight measurement data has been captured, the data is loaded into an optimization program that outputs optimized controlled parameters that may be used by the PID controller and control loop to better control the weight of the flow of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2004
    Inventors: Steve Kieman, David Honigford
  • Patent number: 6640152
    Abstract: Headbox transient responses for sheet weight and moisture are modeled as a combination of two sets of time constants and dead time delays. One set represents a shorter delay with faster response dynamics, the fast mode weight and moisture responses, and the other models the longer delay with slower dynamics, the slow mode weight and moisture responses. A weight and/or moisture transient model is then formed for headbox changes by combining the fast mode weight and moisture responses and the slow mode weight and moisture responses. Stock weight and moisture dynamic and delay time models are determined for operation of stock flow of the paper making machine and the stock flow is controlled in accordance with the stock weight and/or moisture models and the headbox weight transient and/or moisture transient model to compensate for weight and moisture changes in a web of paper being manufacture which weight and moisture changes result from headbox changes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Shih-Chin Chen, Timothy F. Murphy
  • Publication number: 20030060935
    Abstract: For a number of different operating points in a workspace of a processing machine, the total length changes caused by a weight force are determined and entered together with the corresponding set points in a compensation table. The compensation values are used to compute control variables for set points. Values for intermediate points are interpolated from the values stored in the compensation table. This eliminates positioning errors at both the predetermined operating points and the intermediate points. Advantageously, the changes in the length can be determined from the motor force that counteracts the force acting on the corresponding actuator in a static state, based on an instantaneous nominal current value and/or actual current value of the motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Applicant: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventor: Thomas Puchtler
  • Publication number: 20030050736
    Abstract: A system and a method for automatically, accurately diluting chemical solutions on an industrial scale based upon real time weight measurements of chemical and diluent weight is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2002
    Publication date: March 13, 2003
    Inventors: Mark Nelson, Mike Townsend, Brad Davidson
  • Patent number: 6466839
    Abstract: A system of providing fast machine direction (MD) and cross direction (CD) basis weight adjustments using a simultaneous multi-point water weight sensor which provides independent MD and CD measurements is described. The water weight sensor is placed under the wire of the sheetmaking machine and provides fast wet end water weight measurements which are converted into predicted dry end basis weight information and used to control operating variables of machine elements in the sheetmaking machine to compensate for high frequency process variations. MD wet end measurements are used to control operating variables of machine elements that influence the MD dry end basis weight and CD wet end measurements are used to control operating variables of machine elements that influence CD dry end basis weight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2002
    Assignee: Honeywell-Measurex Corporation
    Inventors: E. Michael Heaven, Claud Hagart-Alexander, Lee Chase, John D. Goss, David Watson
  • Publication number: 20020077875
    Abstract: An apparatus and electronic system for optimizing a trash pick-up schedule of a plurality of trash compactors is disclosed. The system comprises the steps of measuring the weight of trash in a trash compactor; calculating from said trash weight a targeted trash weight optimal for pick up; predicting a pick-up time based on said trash weight and said optimal trash weight; transmitting a signal to a fleet management unit; calculating a pick-up schedule for said plurality of trash compactors; generating a bill containing accounting information for said trash compactor unit; and generating a warning when said trash compactor unit malfunctions. The system permits efficient trash pick-up based on customer needs and accordingly provides a cost-effective and environmentally friendly system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2000
    Publication date: June 20, 2002
    Inventor: Ami Nadir
  • Patent number: 6369338
    Abstract: Disclosed is an improved weighing scale for determining a most appropriate antenatal weight of a pregnant woman for each number of the weeks since conception on the basis of the “antenatal weight-to-week” relationship identified in terms of the BMI of the pregnant woman, which index is determined from the height and progestational weight of the pregnant woman, and for making a comparison between the so determined most appropriate antenatal weight and the weight of the pregnant woman measured each week.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2002
    Assignee: Tanita Corporation
    Inventor: Kentaro Kimura