CA2030831A1 - Apparatus for dispensing particulate materials - Google Patents
Apparatus for dispensing particulate materialsInfo
- Publication number
- CA2030831A1 CA2030831A1 CA002030831A CA2030831A CA2030831A1 CA 2030831 A1 CA2030831 A1 CA 2030831A1 CA 002030831 A CA002030831 A CA 002030831A CA 2030831 A CA2030831 A CA 2030831A CA 2030831 A1 CA2030831 A1 CA 2030831A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- hopper
- stepper motor
- weight
- receptacle
- receptacles
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
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Abstract
APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING PARTICULATE MATERIALS
ABSTRACT
Apparatus for dispensing particulate material, comprising a supply hopper for holding a supply of the material, and including an inlet for receiving the material and an outlet for discharging the material, and a rotary dispenser extending into the hopper and supported for rotational movement therein to discharge material from the hopper through the outlet thereof. The apparatus further comprises a stepper motor connected to the rotary dispenser to rotate that dispenser; and a control connected to the stepper motor to actuate that motor at each of a multitude of times to discharge a preset volume of material from the hopper and through the outlet thereof. The stepper motor may be used to achieve very precise control over movement of the rotary dispenser, resulting in a corresponding very precise control over both the volume and weight of the material discharged form the supply hopper, while at the same time, simplifying the design, construction and operation of the entire dispensing apparatus.
LPATCASE:124
ABSTRACT
Apparatus for dispensing particulate material, comprising a supply hopper for holding a supply of the material, and including an inlet for receiving the material and an outlet for discharging the material, and a rotary dispenser extending into the hopper and supported for rotational movement therein to discharge material from the hopper through the outlet thereof. The apparatus further comprises a stepper motor connected to the rotary dispenser to rotate that dispenser; and a control connected to the stepper motor to actuate that motor at each of a multitude of times to discharge a preset volume of material from the hopper and through the outlet thereof. The stepper motor may be used to achieve very precise control over movement of the rotary dispenser, resulting in a corresponding very precise control over both the volume and weight of the material discharged form the supply hopper, while at the same time, simplifying the design, construction and operation of the entire dispensing apparatus.
LPATCASE:124
Description
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Case 3730 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSTN~ PARTICU~ATE MATERIALS
~A~KGROUND OF THE INVENTION
4 This invention generally relates to an apparatus for dispensing materials; and more specifically, to an 6 apparatus for dispensing a predetermined volume of particulate material from a hopper using a rotary feed :` 8 mechanism.
With one well known type of material dispensing 10 apparatus, a rotary feed mechanism, which may be an auger, a pump or a.similar rotational member, is 12 positioned in or above an opening in the bottom of a vertically disposed hopper; and this feed mechanism is 14 rotated by a prims mover, such as an electric motor, by means of a clutch-brake mechanism that connects the 16 driving shaft of the motor to the driven shaft of the feed mechanism for a preselected number of revolutions;
18 and this control is accomplished either via a device that counts the number of revolutions of the feed mechanism, 20 or via a timing device that causes the clutch~brake mechanism to rotate the feed mechanism for a given period 22 of time.
Material dispensing apparatus of the above~described 24 general type are disclosed, for example, in U.S.
Patents 4,805,673 and 4,696,326 and U.S. Reis~ue 26 Patents Re24,079 and Re23,888. Apparatus of this general : type may b~ constructed and operated to dispense a preset `. 28 volume of material with a reasonable degree of precision . , .
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because the volume of material dispensed by each 2 revolu~ion of khe rotational member can be determined with a corresponding reasonable degree o accuracy.
4 It would be very desirable, though, to simplify the design and operation of these dispensing apparatus. For 6 example, these prior art dispensing apparatus include a relatively complicated clutch-brake mechanism that must 8 be engaged to start rotation of the rotary feed member, and also to stop that feed mechanism after it has rotated 10 a given number of revolutions. In addition, these dispensing apparatus commonly include an intermediate 12 shaft located between the drive shaft of the prime mover and the driven shaft of the rotary feed member. This 14 intermediate shaft is selectively connected to ~he shaft of the rotary feed member by the clutch-brake mechanism, 16 and connected to the drive shaft of the prime mover by a pulley and belt. Elimination of the clutch-brake 18 mechanism and the above-discussed intermediate shaft of ; these dispensing aparatus, as well as the need or any 20 type of shaft rotatio~ counter mechanism, would substantially simplify the design, construction, 22 operation and maintenance of these material dispensing apparatus.
24 In addition, because of the enormous number of dispensing operations that may be performed by individual 26 dispensing apparatus, it would be highly desirable to improve the accuracy with which these apparatus dispense 28 material. To elaborate, a single dispensing apparatus might be used to fill up to 85,000 or higher receptacles 30 in one day; and, at this rate, over the course of a year, that apparatus would dispense material up to 2.0 million 32 times or higher. If each receptacle, on average, is filled with just 5 grams more material than is necessary, 34 the total amount of needless overfill over the course of 2~0~3~
a single year would amount to over 100 million grams or 2 higher of product.
Efforts to improve the dispensing accuracy of these 4 apparatus are complicated by the fact that in many, or even most instances, the parameter of real interest is 6 the weigh~, no~ the volume, of the material dispensed from the apparatus. This is because in many instances, 8 the material filled into the receptacles is ultimately sold to the consumPr by weight, not volume. Thus, in 10 order to fill a one-pound coffee can with one pound of coffee, for example, the filling apparatus must dispense 12 a particular volume of coffee that will have a weight of one pound. The weight of the material dispensed is equal 14 to the product of the density and the volume of that material. Variations in the density of a material, due 16 to factors such as temperature and humidity, will result in a given volume of material having different weights, 18 however; and these factors that affect the density of the dispensed material can and often do change within a 20 relatively short time.
Various efforts have been made to increase the 22 accuracy of dispensi~g apparatus of the type described above; and, for example, such efforts are described in 24 the previously mentioned U.S. Patents 4,805,673 and 4,696,329. the former reference discloses improving 26 the dispensing accuracy of the apparatus by carefully controlling the rate at which material is supplied to the 28 feed hopper. The latter reerence disclosed improving the dispensing accuracy of the apparatus by providing 30 that apparatus with a feedback control system that adjusts the number of revolutions made by the rotary feed 32 means to compensate for product density changes and the like. While these prior art attempts may improve the 34 accuracy of the dispensing apparatus, they typically have concomitant disadvantages, such as a significant increase ~ 4 - ~J~
in the cost and complexity of the dispensing apparatus.
2 Moreover, even given these improvements, it is believed that still further improvements can be made and would be 4 highly beneficial.
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6 SUMMARY OF THE_INVENTION
It is highly desirable to provide a relatively simple 8 apparatus for dispensing predetermined volumes of particulate materials.
The present invention is to provide apparatus for dispensing predetermined volumes of particulate material, 12 of the type in which a feed mem~er is rotated inside a vertically disposed hopper, that operates effectively 14 without any separate brake or clutch mechanism to control movement of the feed member.
16 Further, this invention is to use a stepper motor to rotate a feed member of a material dispensing apparatus, 18 of the type in which the feed member is rotated inside a vertically disposed hopper, to discharge predetermined 20 volumes of material therefrom.
Additionally, the present invention is to control 22 precisely the weight of particulate matarial dispensed from an apparatus of the type that discharges 24 predetermined, adjustable volumes of material.
By this invention, an apparatus is provided for 26 dispensing particulate material, comprising a supply hopper for holding a supply of the material, and 28 including an inlet for receiving the material and an outlet for discharging the material, and rotary feed 30 means e~tending into the hopper and supported for rotational movement therein to discharge material from 32 the hopper through the outlet thereof. The apparatus further comprises a stepper motor connected to the feed 34 means to rotate that feed means; and control means connected to the stepper motor to actuate that motor at - s ~ 8t,~
each of a multitude of times to discharge a preset volume 2 of material from the hopper an through the outlet thereof. The stepper motor may be used ~o achieve very 4 precise control over movement of the rotary feed means, resulting in a corresponding very precise control over 6 the amount of material discharged from the supply hopper. Moreover, by using a stepper motor, it is 8 unnecessary to provide any type of clutch-brake mechanism between the rotary feed means of the dispensing apparatus 10 and the prime mover for that rotary feed means. Still further, the stepper motor means, eliminating the need 12 for any intermediate shaft, and any associated pulley or pulley belt, between the prime mover and ~he rotary feed 14 means of the dispensing apparatus.
Preferably, the dispensing apparatus is used with a 16 conveyor mean~ that is used to carry a multitude of receptacles past the hopper outlet to receive the 18 material discharged therefrom. With this preferred embodiment, the control means of the dispensing apparatus 20 includes sensing means to sense, and to generate a start signal, when one of the receptacles reaches a given 22 location on the conveyor means, and a processing system connected to the sensing means to receive the start 24 signal therefrom and to start the stepper motor in ` response to receiving that start signal. In addition, 26 prefera~ly the control means further includes weighing means to weigh each receptacle after it has received 28 material discharged from the hopper, and to generate a weight signal indicating the weight of the discharged 30 material in each receptacle; and the processing system is also connected to the weighing means for receiving the 32 weight signal therefrom, and for adjusting the preset volume of material dispensed from the hopper each time 34 the stepper motor is actuated to maintain the weight of . ..
- 6 - ~3 the material discharged into the receptacles 2 substantially equal to a given value.
Furtber benefits and advantages of ~he invention will 4 become apparent from a consideration o~ the following detailed description given with reference to the 6 accompanying dra~lings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a di~pensing apparatus according to this invention.
12 Figure 2 is a schematic view of the motor and one embodiment of a control means, of the dispensing 14 apparatus of Figure 1.
16 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ~BODIMENTS
Figure 1 illustrates apparatus 10 for dispensing 18 particulate material and, generally, comprising supply hopper 12, rotary feed means 14, stepper motor 16 and 20 control means 20. Preferably, control means 20 includes sensor 22, weighing means 24 and processing system or 22 unit 26. the preferred dispensing apparatus 10 illu trated in Figur~ 1 also comprises an agitator 24 assembly 30 including hub 32, blades 34, agitator motor 36 and a support colum~ 40. Figure 1 also shows 26 conveyor means 42 and receptacles 44.
Hopper 12 is provided for holding a supply 46 of the 28 material to be dispensed, and the hopper includes inlet 50 for receiving that material and outlet 52 for 30 discharging that material. The hopper may be made of any suitable material and may have any suitable shape. As 32 shown in Figure 1, the hopper has the general shape of an inverted truncated cone, with the top edge of the hopper 34 forming inlet 50 and the bottom edge of the hopper forming ou~let 52. A support assembly (not shown) may be - 7 ~ 3~
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connected to the hopper to hold it in a given location, 2 and a filling spout 54 may be provided to help conduct the particulate material into the hopper.
4 Rotary feed menas 14 e~tends into the hopper and is supported ~or rotational movement therein to discharge 6 material ~rom tha hopper, through the outlet thereof.
The feed means can be a ver~ical or horizontal auqer or 8 the feed means can also be a pump. The embodiment of the rotar~ feed means illustrated in Figure 1 is an auger 10 comprising top and bottom shaft sections 56, 60 and mounting member 62, which is located between and connects 12 these two shaft sections together. Bottom shaft section 60 includes a central sha f t portion and a blade 14 portion which helically extends around the central portion, from adjacent the lower end of the shaft 16 section, to a position adjacent the auger mount. Shaft sections 56 and 60 are preferably aligned with each oth~r 18 and are coaxial with ths a~is of hopper 12.
As illustrated in Figure 1, the auger comprises two 20 separable shaft sections that are connected together by member 62. Alternatively, ~ one piece auger shaft may be 22 used. In addition, other types of rotary feed means are known in the art and may be used in apparatus 10; and, 24 for instance, a screw rotor may be used instead of an auger.
26 Conveyor means 42 e~tends beneath the outl~t of hopper 12, and is provided to carry a multitude of 28 receptacles 44 past the hopper to receive the material discharged therefromO Preferably, the conveyor means 30 carries the receptacles one at a time past hopper outlet 52; and after a receptacle has received a preset 32 volume of material from the hopper, the conveyor means automatically carries the receptacle to weighing ~` 34 maans 24, discussed below. Many convsyor means are well known and wid-ly employed in tha art for indexing : ' .
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individual receptacles beneath a hopper outlet, and any 2 suitable conveyor means may be used in the practice of the present invention.
4 Many different types of receptacles may be used with the present invention, and for instance, receptacles 44 6 may be large or small, and they may be bags, bo~es or cans. Also, the receptacles may be moved continuously 8 past the hopper outlet as material is being discharged therefrom; or the receptacles may be moved underneath the 10 hopper outlet, held there for a period of time while the receptacles receive material from the hopper, and then 12 transported from beneath the hopper outlet.
Stepper motor 16 is connected to the rotary feed 14 means to rotate that feed means to discharge material from the hopper and into the receptacles moving beneath 16 the hopper. A stepper, or stepping, motor is a dc motor that may be used to achieve very precisely controlled 18 rotary movement of a drive shaft. With reference to Figure 2, a stepper motor comprises a rotatable rotor 64, 20 a multitude of stator windings 66 positioned around the rotor, and a controller 68, which typically is or 22 includes a microprocessor. The controller generates a train of pulses that are transmitted to the stator 24 windings in a given sequence, and each of these pulses causes the motor rotor to rotate through a specific 26 angular displacement. As long as the train of pulses continues to be transmitted to the stator windings, the 28 rotor increments one step per pulse. Rate of pulses control acceleration, deceleration and ultimate 30 velocity. Once these pulses are terminated, the motor rotor quickly comes to a stop and is locked in a fi~ed 32 position. Stepper motors are currently availahle with ; resolutions -- that is, the number of equal angular 34 displacements of the rotor -- of from about 4 to more than 25,00/0 steps or more per rotor revolution.
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With reference again to Figure 1, the output shaft of 2 the stepper motor is prefPrably directly connected to auger shaft S6, for example by connecting member 70. In 4 particular, there is no brake or clutch mechanism located between th~ auger shaft and the stepper motor output 6 shaft. Moreover, with the present invention, there is no need for any intsrmediate shaft ~etween the motor drive 8 shaft and the auger shaft, nor is there any need for any type of pulley assembly to rotate such an intermediate 10 shaft.
Stepper motor 16 may be supported in position in any 12 suitable manner; and, as shown in Figure 1, preferably the output shaft of the stepper motor is aligned with the 14 auger shaft 5~. Any suitable stepper motor may be employed as long as there is adquate torque as in 16 apparatus 10. Preferably, though, the stepper motor is compatable with a microprocessor controller and has a 18 resolution which ranges from about 2,000 to 25,000 or more increments per revolution. For example, the stepper 20 motor may be one of a series of motors, referred to as ; the PK 130 series, sold by Parker.
~2 Conrol means 20 is connected to the stepper motor to actuate that motor at each of a multitude of times, to 24 rotate rotary feed means 14 to discharge a preset volume of material from the hopper and into one of the 26 receptacles 44. A variety of specific procedures may be used to determine when the stepper motor is actuated to 28 start a material discharge period. However, with the preferred embodiment of this invention, the control 30 means, specificaly sensor 22, senses and generates a start signal when one of the receptacles 44 reaches a 32 given location along the conveyor means. This start signal is transmitted to processing syst~m 26 of control 34 means 20: and in response to receivinq that signal, the processing system actuates the steppar motor.
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Preferably, the above-mentioned given loca~ion is 2 reached before the receptacle 44 is directly beneath the hopper outlet; and processing system 26 starts the 4 stepper motor a preset length of time after receiving the start signal from sensor 22, with this preset length of 6 time being chosen so that the receptacle is directly beneath the hopper outlet when the stepper motor starts 8 to operate. On the other hand, the stepping motor may be pre-started depending on ma~erial ~low or feed 10 mechanism. Alternatively, sensor 22 may generate the start signal and transmit that signal to the processing 12 system when one of the receptacles 44 is directly beneath the hopper outlet, and the processing sys~em may start 14 the stepper motor to discharge material rom the hopper immediately, or substantially immediately, upon receiving 16 the start signal from the sensor.
Sensor 22 may comprise any suitable device capable of 18 generating a signal when a receptacle 44 reaches a given location. For e~ample, with referen~e to Figure 2, the 20 sensor may comprise a light source 72 located on one side of the conveyor means, and a photo activated or photo 22 responsive electronic element 74 such as a photo transistor, located on the other side of the conveyor 24 means. The light source is directed toward element 74 so that when no receptacle is between source 72 and 26 element 74, a current is conducted through ele~ent 74 at a first level; but when one of the receptacles 44 comes 28 between source 72 and element 74, the receptacle blocks the latter element from the light emitted from the light 30 source, and as a result, current is conducted through element 74 at a second level. Numerous other position 3~ detecting devices are known in the art and may be used in : the practice of the present invention.
34 Sensor 72 is of considerable utility because it inhibits, or ideally prevents, feed means 14 from '"
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discharging material from hopper 12 unless a 2 receptacle 44 is beneath the hopper outlet. With priox art particle dispensing apparatus, occasio~ally product 4 is discharged from the supply hopper without any receptacle beneath it; and, for this reason, these prior 6 art apparatus commonly have a bin or basket to receive particles discharged from the hopper under these 8 conditions. Typically, the product received in the bin or basket is then returned to the supply hopperO
10 Sensor 22 eliminates the need for such a bin or basket and the associated labor, further simplifying the design 12 and operation of apparatus 10.
Each time the stepper motor is actuated, that motor 14 rotates feed means 14 to dispense a predetermined volume of material into a receptacle 44 beneath the hopper 16 outlet. However, as previously mentioned, in many instances the material being filled into receptacles 44 18 is ultimately sold to the consumer by weight, not volume. The weight of a predetermined volume of material 20 may vary over ~:ime, depending upon a number of factors such as temperature and humidity. In order to keep the ` ` 22 weight of the material dispensed into receptacles 44 constant, or at least within a decired range, over time, 24 it may be desirable to provide control means 20 with ? feedback means to vary the predetermined volume of !;`'' 26 material discharged from hopper 12 when the stepper motor is actuated. One such feedback means is illustrated in 28 Figure 1 and comprises weighing means 24.
The weighing means is provided to weigh each 30 receptacle after it has received material discharged from the hopper, and to generate a weight signal indicating , 32 the weight of the discharged material in each i receptacle. Preferably, conveyor means 42 automatically 34 carries each receptacle 44, one at a time, to the weighing means after the receptacle has received the ,:
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preset volume of material from the hopper, and the ` 2 weighing means generates a respective one weigh~ signal indicating the weight of the discharged material in each 4 receptacle. Any suitable weighing means may be used in the practice of this invention; and, for e~ample, the 6 weighing means may be an electronic scale or strain gauge, which generates an output signal representative of 8 the weight of an item placed on the scale. Moreover, conveyor means 42 may carry the receptacles to and th~n lO from the weighing means in any suitable manner.
Preferably, though, each receptacle is stationary on the 12 weighing means for at least a brief period of time while the receptacle is weighed and the above-mentioned weight 14 signal is generated.
Processing system 26 receives each weight signal from 16 the weighing means; and in response to these signals, adjusts the length of time over which stepper motor 16 18 operates each time that motor is actuated. Processing system 26 may be programme~ in various speci~ic ways in 20 order to do this. For instance, the processing system may be provided with upper and lower weight values, and 22 the processing system may compare each weight signal from weighing means 24 with these upper and lower values. If 24 one weight signal is below that lower given value, the processing system increases the number of pulses to 26 operate the stepper motor, to increase the volume, and weight, of material dispensed into the receptacles; and 28 if a weight signal from the weighing means is greater than the upper ~iven value, the processing system is 30 greater than the upper given value, the processing system decreases the pulses to the stepper motor, to decrease 32 the volume and weight of material dispensed into the receptacles~ Control acceleration, deceleration and 34 ultimate velocity of motor can be controlled to prevent 0 8 '~ ~
- l3 -slippage of product by controlling the rate that the 2 pulses are applied to the motor. This Pffects weight.
In many applications, th~ density of the material 4 discharged from the hopper tends to increase over a given period of time; and under these circumstances, the 6 operation of processing system 26 may be simplified by only comparing each weight signal from weighing means 24 8 to a given upper weight value. When a weight signal from the weighing means is above that given weight value, the 10 processing system decreases the number of pulses the stepper motor operates, which is directly proportional to 12 the units of angular displacement o~ the motor, to decrease the volume and weight of material discharged 14 into the receptacles.
Processing system 25 is illustrated in greater detail 16 in block diagram form in Figure 2, and g~nerally this system includes microprocessor 76, memory section 80, and 18 input means 8~ such as a keyboard. Preferably, the ,processing system also includes a control/display 20 panel 84 and a printer 86. Microprocessor 76 can be programmed to monitor and direct a multitude of functions 22 of apparatus 10 or motor 16 by those o~ ordinary skill in the art. Operator inputs are transmitted to the !24 microprocessor via module 90, which also translates operator oriented inputs from ~eyhoard assembly 82 into a 26 form usable by the microprocessor. Likewise, interface assembl~ 92 converts prompts and other messages generated 28 by microprocessor 76 into operator/readable form for display panel 84.
The microprocessor receives inputs from other portions of apparatus 10, such as sensor 22 and weighing ~2 means 24, either directly or via one or more input modules means 94. The microprocessor also genexatss 34 control output signals that are transmitted to motor controllex 68, either directly or via an output module.
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Memory unit 80 is used to store data, commands and other 2 information required by the microprocessor or by the operator to ca~ry out various function~. A power 4 supply 96 is connected to processing system 26, and this supply may be any conventional power supply that converts 6 input power in the form of 120 volts or 240 volts ac current into a dc voltage suitable for the system 8 electronics.
Processing system 2S is provided with information 10 which will enable it to determine the pulse of units of angular displacement, rate of acceleration, deceleration 12 and ultimate velocity may be changed to meet the fill time requirements. The stepper motor 16 must be operated 14 to dispense a given volume of material from the hopper.
This information may be determined, for e~ample, from a 16 look up table stored in memory section 80, or from a program stor~d in microprocessor 76.
18 Control/display panel 84 is used to display information relating to the status-of apparatus 10 and 20 other information to an operator, and by means of which an operator may provide various inputs to the processing 22 system. The display panel may also servie to verify inputs entered by an operator, or to display instructions 24 to an operator to prompt or assist the operator in providing necessary inputs. Printer 86 may be connected 26 to microprocessor 76 to provide printed output of the data shown on the display panel, or other desired data.
28 Input means 82 is provided and used by an operator to enter commands and data needed by the processing system 30 and to otherwise permit the operator to communicate with the processing system. System 26 may also include start 32 and stop buttons (not shown) for initiating and terminating operation of apparatus 10.
34 With reference again to Fi~ure 1, agitator assembly 30 is a conventional assembly used to agitate or ~ ~ e~
mi~ the makerial inside hopper 12. In a conventional 2 manner, hub 32 of assembly 30 is mounted on auger shaft section 6Q fQr independent rotation relative thereto.
4 Motor 36 is connected to the agitator hub by a conventional pulley sub-assembly, and rotation of the 6 agitator hub rotates blades 34 to mi~ the product in the hopper. Support column 40 is provided ~o support 8 motor 36; and this column may also be used to support, or to help support, hopper 12, feed means 14 and stepper 10 motor 16.
The present invention may be used to dispense a ~ery 12 wide range of particulate materials. For instance, material 46 may be food particles, either homogeneous or 14 inhomogeneous. Material 46 may also comprise, as `~ additional e~amples, flour, coffee, grains, dry bulk 16 chemicals, or powder or pelletized resins.
In operation, at the beginning of a filling 18 operation, an operator enters an initial volume, a target weight and a weight range into the memory of the 20 processing system or product code. Processor 76 then determines the number of rotations of rotary feed 22 means 14 needed to dispense that given initial volume of material into each receptacle 44. Conveyor means 42 is 24 started and receptacles 44 are placed thereon and carried, one at a time, to a position directly below the 26 hopper outlet. As a receptacle reaches a given position along the conveyor msans, the receptacle is sensed by 28 sensor 22, which transmits a start signal to processing system 26. After a predetermined delay, sufficient to 30 allow the receptacle to move from that given position to a position directly beneath the hopper outlet, 32 processor 76 transmits a start signal to motor controller 70, which actuates the stepper motor for a 34 period of time determined by processing system 26, specifically microprocessor 76 thereof. Ths stepper - 16 ~ 2~3~
motor rotates feed means 14 for unit of angular - 2 displacement and then automatically stops; and during this period, th~ rotary feed means discharges a given 4 volume of material into the receptacle below the hopper outlet. -6 After the receptacle receives that volume ofmaterial~ conveyor means 42 carries the receptacle to 8 weighing means 24, which then generates and transmits to processing system 26 a signal indicating the weight of 10 the discharged material in the receptacle. After this weight signal is generated, conveyor means 42 transports 12 the receptacle from the weighing means and to another given location, where, for example, ~he receptacle may be 14 automatically closed, sealed and placed in a box or container, or otherwise prepared for shipment to a retail , 16 outlet.
While a first receptacle is being carried away from ~ 18 the hopper, a second receptacle on th~ conveyor means i reaches the above-discussed given location that causes 20 sensor 22 to transmit the start signal to processing system 26; and, in response, the above-described process 22 is repeated to fill this second receptacle with material from tha hopper.
24 As each weight signal iæ transmitted to the processing system, that signal is compared to one or more 26 given weight values, and the processing system, as discussed above, may either increase or decrease the 28 units of angular displacement of the stepper motor which is actuated to maintain the weight of the material 30 dispensed from the hoper substantially constant, or at least within a desired range, despite ehanges in the 32 density of that material.
To illustrate the effectiveness of the unit of this 34 invention, a comparison between a unit having a clutch-brake mechanism in the feed motor and a unit of c~ s~ ~.
this invention described in Figure 1 was conducted at the 2 same time in filling pouches with a bread crumb mi~ture.
A label wei~ht and the lowe~t weight permitted was 4 establshed. It is essential to obtain the label weight in the pouch as close as possible and avoid going below 6 the lowest weight permitted for sale oF the product. The clutch-brake unit as used here, is considered the best 8 system for filling pouches or bo~es known to be available at this timeO The tests were conducted to fill a ~; 10 specific number o~ pouches on a continual basis without any adjustments made during the run.
12 The following results were obtained:
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Invention Unit 16 Clutch-Brake Un;t S;m;lar to F;qure 1 Des; red Pouch 71.00 grams 71.0û grams 18 Label We;ght Lowest Allowable 69.75 grams 69.75 grams We; ght Perm; tted 22 We;qht Of Pouches Filled. GramsWe7aht of Pouches Filled, Grams 73.75 72.25 71.5û 72.25 71.00 70.5û
24 73.5û 72.25 71.50 72.0û 71.9û 70.50 73.50 7Z.25 71.50 72.00 71.00 70.50 26 73.25 72.25 71.50 71.75 71.00 70.50 73.25 72.25 71.50 71.75 71.ûO 70.50 28 73.25 72.25 71.50 71.75 71.00 70.50 73.25 72.25 71.5û 71.75 71.00 70.25 30 73.25 72.00 71.50 71.75 71.00 70.25 73.0û 72.00 71.50 71.75 71.00 70.25 32 73.00 72.00 71.50 71.5û 71.00 70.25 73.00 72.00 71.25 71.5û 71.00 70.25 34 73.00 72.00 71.25 71.50 71.00 70.25 73.00 72.00 71.0û 71.5û 71.00 70.25 . . .
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72.75 72.00 71.00 71.50 71.00 70.00 2 72.75 72.00 71.00 71.50 71.00 70.00 72.75 72.0~ 71.00 71.50 71.00 69.75 4 72.7s 72.00 71.00 71.50 71.00 69.75 72.75 72.00 71.00 71.50 71.00 6 72.75 72.00 70.75 71.50 70.75 72.75 72.00 70.75 71.25 70.75 8 72.50 71.75 70.25 71.25 70.75 72.50 71.75 70.25 71.25 70.75 72.5~ 71.75 70.00 71.25 70.75 72.50 71.75 69.75 71.25 70.75 12 72.50 71.75 71.25 70.75 72.50 71.75 71.25 70.75 14 72.50 71.75 71.25 70.75 72.50 71.75 71.25 70.75 16 72.50 71.75 71.25 70.75 71.75 71.75 71.25 70.50 18 71.75 71.75 71.25 70.50 Cl~tch-Rrake llnit Invention Unit Numb~r of Samples 86.00 79.00 Av~rag~ W~ight 72.02 grams 70.99 grams 22 Min;mum W~ight 69.75 grams 69.75 ~rams Maximum Weight 73.75 grams 72.25 grams 24 St~ndard Deviation 0.80 0.53 % Ov~rfill 1.43 o 26 % DefQcts O O
( Bel ow 69.759) 28 The above comparison illustrates a standard deviation of the invention unit to be lower than the clutch-brake 30 Unit which also has an overfill of 1.43% compared to no overfill for the invention unit.
EXAMPLE II
34 Using the same e~uipment and similar filling material as E~ample I and un~er similar conditions, the following 36 results were obtained:
`' -'~` 2n~,~g~l Clutch-Brake Unit Invent;on Un;t 2 Des; red Pouch92.00 grams g2.00 grams ~abel We; ght 4 Lowest AllowablQ 90.50 grams 90.50 gràms Wei ght Permi tted ~
Cl utch-Br~ke Uni t Inventi on Uni t 8Weight ûf_PQuches Filled. Grams Wei~ht of Pouches Filled. Grams 92.25 92.50 93.75 91.50 91.75 91.75 10 92.75 93.00 93.75 91.75 92.00 92.00 92.75 93.ûO 94.00 92.00 9Z .00 92.ûO
12 93.75 94.25 95.Oû 92.00 92.50 92.25 93.00 92.50 94.0û 92.00 92.00 91.S0 14 93.50 93.25 94.00 92.25 92.00 91.75 94.25 93.75 94.25 92.25 9Z .00 91.75 16 95.25 94.00 94.50 91.75 92.00 92.00 , 95.75 92.00 93.00 92.00 91.75 91.50 18 92.75 92.25 94.25 92.25 92.00 91.75 ` 93.75 92.75 95.50 92.50 92.00 92.00 20 94.75 94.25 90.50 92.00 92.û0 92.00 95.00 91.50 91.50 92.25 92.00 91.75 22 91.75 93.50 gl.50 92.25 91.75 92.00 93.50 93.50 91.75 92.50 92.00 92.00 24 94.00 95.50 91.75 91.75 92.00 g2.25 95.50 92.50 92.25 92.0û 92.50 92.00 26 93.00 93.00 92.75 92.25 92.00 92.00 93.50 94.75 93.50 92.25 92.00 92.50 28 95.25 95.00 91.25 91.25 92.25 91.75 96.00 93.00 91.75 92.00 92.25 92.25 30 91.75 94.25 91.75 92.75 91.75 92.25 91.75 94.50 91.75 91.75 91.75 91.50 32 93.00 95.25 92.50 91.75 91.75 92.50 93.25 92.50 92.75 91.75 92.00 92.50 34 92.00 93.50 93.25 92.00 91.75 92.25 92.25 93.75 93.25 91.25 92.00 92.25 ~ 8 ..
. . --92.50 94.00 ~9.75 91.75 92.25 ~3.ûO
2 93.5~ 91.50 91.75 91.75 92.50 91.75 92.75 g~ .00 92.00 92.00 92.00 91.75 `, 4 93.00 93.25 92.50 92.00 92.25 92.50 93.00 94.25 92.25 92.00 92.25 ~1.75 6 93.00 94.25 92.50 92.25 92.50 92.00 92.00 94.50 92.50 92.50 91.75 92.50 8 92.25 94.50 94.25 91.75 91.75 91.75 92.75 95.75 90.75 91.75 91.75 92.00 10 94.50 93.50 91.00 92.00 92.25 g2.00 93.00 93.50 91.50 92.00 91.75 92.00 12 93.50 94.00 92.25 91.50 91.75 92.75 93.75 94.00 9~ .75 92.00 92.75 14 94.00 92.50 92.00 92.00 92.00 94.75 92.25 92.25 16 95.25 92.50 Clutch-~rake UnitIment~n Un;t 18 Number of Samples 123.00 126.00 Av~rage W~ight 93.23 grams 92.û2 graTs M;nimum We;ght 89.75 grams 91.25 grams Maximum W~ight 96.00 grams 93.00 grams 22 Standard Dev;ation 1.22 0.30 % Ovorfill 1.34 0.03 24 X Def~cts 0.81 0 ( ~Ql ow 90.509) 26 The above data clearly indicates the significant improvements in the unit invention over the clutch-brake 28 unit.
EX~MPLE III
Using the same equipment and similar filling material 32 as Example I and under similar conditions, the following results were obtained:
~' -' - 21 ~
Cl utch-Brake Uni t~ Invent; on Un; t 2 Desi red Pouch71.00 grams 71.ûO grams Label Wei ght 4 Lowes t Al l owabl e 69.75 grams 69.75 grams Wei ght Permi tted Cl utch-8rake Uni t Invent; on Un; t 8Weiqht Of Psuches F;lled. Grams W~iqht of Pouches Filled, Grams 71.20 72.5û 71.70 71.00 71.20 71.20 10 71.20 71.40 72.50 71.20 71.00 71.30 71.30 72.60 72.50 71.70 70.80 72.ûO
.~ 12 72.00 70.50 70.30 70.00 70.80 71.90 71.20 71.60 71.70 71.30 70.60 72.10 14 71.20 71.4d 72.50 70.90 71.30 71.90 71.30 71.40 70.60 71.60 70.ôO 71.70 16 73.00 72.30 71.60 71.gO 71.70 71.30 71.00 72.00 70.70 71.40 70.20 71.70 18 71.60 71.60 71.60 71.20 71.00 71.70 71.10 72.10 71.20 71.20 71.20 72.70 20 71.80 71.~30 71.20 71.30 71.00 72.~0 71.40 72.00 72.90 71.80 71.00 71.00 22 72.00 71.60 73.80 71.80 71.20 71.40 70.80 71.90 70.80 71.20 71.30 71.50 24 71.30 70.50 71.00 71.20 71.30 71.00 71.40 72.S0 71.50 71.30 71.90 71.50 26 71.90 71.00 70.20 71.7û 71.00 71.60 72.00 72.70 71.00 71.7~ 71.~30 71.40 28 71.30 71.50 71.90 71.90 71.80 71.40 71.71) 70.80 70.80 71.00 71.60 71.00 30 71.10 72.00 71.70 71.00 72.20 71.20 71.10 72.50 73.70 71.20 71.80 71.70 32 71.60 72.40 70.60 71.90 71.00 71.20 72.30 72.20 71.50 71.10 71.00 72.2C
34 70.00 72.00 73.00 71.30 71.10 71.90 72.30 7,1.20 71.40 70.70 71.30 71.00 ':
:
:
2~3~83~
`~ - 22 -~ ' 73.40 71.80 70.70 71.30 71.30 71.40 2 72.10 72.50 70.70 70.90 72.00 71.50 70.20 71.40 71.40 70.60 72.0~ 70.90 4 71.30 72.80 70.60 71.6~ 72.00 69.80 71.50 70.20 71.50 71.10 6 71.70 70.80 6g.90 71.60 71.90 71,70 71.00 69.30 8 70.60 71.30 69.30 70.20 71.40 69.00 71.60 69.00 71.60 69.20 12 71.30 69.30 14 Clutch-Brak~ Un;tInvent10n Unit Nu~ber of SamplQs 105.00 105.00 16 Averag~ W~ight 71.57 grams 71.23 grams M~nimum Weight 69.80 grams 69.00 gra~ns 18 Maximum We;ght 73.80 grams 72.90 grams Standard Deviation 0.76 0.70 % Ov~rfill 0.80 0.32 % Defects 0 5.71 22 (8~10w 69.759) The ab~ve examples illustrates that the invention 24 unit produced 5.71% pouch weight defects compared to O
for the Clutch-Brake unit. In spite of these defects, 26 the invention provided a lower standard deviation and less o~erfill than the Clutch-Braks unit. This indicates 28 that the invention unit has more precise operational limits even when operating under higher defect numbers.
While it is apparent that the invention herein .~ disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the goals 32 previously stated, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and embodiments may be devised by those 34 skilled in the art, and it is int~nded that the appended claims cover all such modifications and embodiments as - 23 - 20c~
fall within the true spirit and scope of the present 2 invention .
:
Case 3730 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSTN~ PARTICU~ATE MATERIALS
~A~KGROUND OF THE INVENTION
4 This invention generally relates to an apparatus for dispensing materials; and more specifically, to an 6 apparatus for dispensing a predetermined volume of particulate material from a hopper using a rotary feed :` 8 mechanism.
With one well known type of material dispensing 10 apparatus, a rotary feed mechanism, which may be an auger, a pump or a.similar rotational member, is 12 positioned in or above an opening in the bottom of a vertically disposed hopper; and this feed mechanism is 14 rotated by a prims mover, such as an electric motor, by means of a clutch-brake mechanism that connects the 16 driving shaft of the motor to the driven shaft of the feed mechanism for a preselected number of revolutions;
18 and this control is accomplished either via a device that counts the number of revolutions of the feed mechanism, 20 or via a timing device that causes the clutch~brake mechanism to rotate the feed mechanism for a given period 22 of time.
Material dispensing apparatus of the above~described 24 general type are disclosed, for example, in U.S.
Patents 4,805,673 and 4,696,326 and U.S. Reis~ue 26 Patents Re24,079 and Re23,888. Apparatus of this general : type may b~ constructed and operated to dispense a preset `. 28 volume of material with a reasonable degree of precision . , .
- 2 - 2~3 ~ g ~ ~
because the volume of material dispensed by each 2 revolu~ion of khe rotational member can be determined with a corresponding reasonable degree o accuracy.
4 It would be very desirable, though, to simplify the design and operation of these dispensing apparatus. For 6 example, these prior art dispensing apparatus include a relatively complicated clutch-brake mechanism that must 8 be engaged to start rotation of the rotary feed member, and also to stop that feed mechanism after it has rotated 10 a given number of revolutions. In addition, these dispensing apparatus commonly include an intermediate 12 shaft located between the drive shaft of the prime mover and the driven shaft of the rotary feed member. This 14 intermediate shaft is selectively connected to ~he shaft of the rotary feed member by the clutch-brake mechanism, 16 and connected to the drive shaft of the prime mover by a pulley and belt. Elimination of the clutch-brake 18 mechanism and the above-discussed intermediate shaft of ; these dispensing aparatus, as well as the need or any 20 type of shaft rotatio~ counter mechanism, would substantially simplify the design, construction, 22 operation and maintenance of these material dispensing apparatus.
24 In addition, because of the enormous number of dispensing operations that may be performed by individual 26 dispensing apparatus, it would be highly desirable to improve the accuracy with which these apparatus dispense 28 material. To elaborate, a single dispensing apparatus might be used to fill up to 85,000 or higher receptacles 30 in one day; and, at this rate, over the course of a year, that apparatus would dispense material up to 2.0 million 32 times or higher. If each receptacle, on average, is filled with just 5 grams more material than is necessary, 34 the total amount of needless overfill over the course of 2~0~3~
a single year would amount to over 100 million grams or 2 higher of product.
Efforts to improve the dispensing accuracy of these 4 apparatus are complicated by the fact that in many, or even most instances, the parameter of real interest is 6 the weigh~, no~ the volume, of the material dispensed from the apparatus. This is because in many instances, 8 the material filled into the receptacles is ultimately sold to the consumPr by weight, not volume. Thus, in 10 order to fill a one-pound coffee can with one pound of coffee, for example, the filling apparatus must dispense 12 a particular volume of coffee that will have a weight of one pound. The weight of the material dispensed is equal 14 to the product of the density and the volume of that material. Variations in the density of a material, due 16 to factors such as temperature and humidity, will result in a given volume of material having different weights, 18 however; and these factors that affect the density of the dispensed material can and often do change within a 20 relatively short time.
Various efforts have been made to increase the 22 accuracy of dispensi~g apparatus of the type described above; and, for example, such efforts are described in 24 the previously mentioned U.S. Patents 4,805,673 and 4,696,329. the former reference discloses improving 26 the dispensing accuracy of the apparatus by carefully controlling the rate at which material is supplied to the 28 feed hopper. The latter reerence disclosed improving the dispensing accuracy of the apparatus by providing 30 that apparatus with a feedback control system that adjusts the number of revolutions made by the rotary feed 32 means to compensate for product density changes and the like. While these prior art attempts may improve the 34 accuracy of the dispensing apparatus, they typically have concomitant disadvantages, such as a significant increase ~ 4 - ~J~
in the cost and complexity of the dispensing apparatus.
2 Moreover, even given these improvements, it is believed that still further improvements can be made and would be 4 highly beneficial.
.
6 SUMMARY OF THE_INVENTION
It is highly desirable to provide a relatively simple 8 apparatus for dispensing predetermined volumes of particulate materials.
The present invention is to provide apparatus for dispensing predetermined volumes of particulate material, 12 of the type in which a feed mem~er is rotated inside a vertically disposed hopper, that operates effectively 14 without any separate brake or clutch mechanism to control movement of the feed member.
16 Further, this invention is to use a stepper motor to rotate a feed member of a material dispensing apparatus, 18 of the type in which the feed member is rotated inside a vertically disposed hopper, to discharge predetermined 20 volumes of material therefrom.
Additionally, the present invention is to control 22 precisely the weight of particulate matarial dispensed from an apparatus of the type that discharges 24 predetermined, adjustable volumes of material.
By this invention, an apparatus is provided for 26 dispensing particulate material, comprising a supply hopper for holding a supply of the material, and 28 including an inlet for receiving the material and an outlet for discharging the material, and rotary feed 30 means e~tending into the hopper and supported for rotational movement therein to discharge material from 32 the hopper through the outlet thereof. The apparatus further comprises a stepper motor connected to the feed 34 means to rotate that feed means; and control means connected to the stepper motor to actuate that motor at - s ~ 8t,~
each of a multitude of times to discharge a preset volume 2 of material from the hopper an through the outlet thereof. The stepper motor may be used ~o achieve very 4 precise control over movement of the rotary feed means, resulting in a corresponding very precise control over 6 the amount of material discharged from the supply hopper. Moreover, by using a stepper motor, it is 8 unnecessary to provide any type of clutch-brake mechanism between the rotary feed means of the dispensing apparatus 10 and the prime mover for that rotary feed means. Still further, the stepper motor means, eliminating the need 12 for any intermediate shaft, and any associated pulley or pulley belt, between the prime mover and ~he rotary feed 14 means of the dispensing apparatus.
Preferably, the dispensing apparatus is used with a 16 conveyor mean~ that is used to carry a multitude of receptacles past the hopper outlet to receive the 18 material discharged therefrom. With this preferred embodiment, the control means of the dispensing apparatus 20 includes sensing means to sense, and to generate a start signal, when one of the receptacles reaches a given 22 location on the conveyor means, and a processing system connected to the sensing means to receive the start 24 signal therefrom and to start the stepper motor in ` response to receiving that start signal. In addition, 26 prefera~ly the control means further includes weighing means to weigh each receptacle after it has received 28 material discharged from the hopper, and to generate a weight signal indicating the weight of the discharged 30 material in each receptacle; and the processing system is also connected to the weighing means for receiving the 32 weight signal therefrom, and for adjusting the preset volume of material dispensed from the hopper each time 34 the stepper motor is actuated to maintain the weight of . ..
- 6 - ~3 the material discharged into the receptacles 2 substantially equal to a given value.
Furtber benefits and advantages of ~he invention will 4 become apparent from a consideration o~ the following detailed description given with reference to the 6 accompanying dra~lings, which specify and show preferred embodiments of the invention.
BRIEF DESCRIPTIO~ OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view of a di~pensing apparatus according to this invention.
12 Figure 2 is a schematic view of the motor and one embodiment of a control means, of the dispensing 14 apparatus of Figure 1.
16 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED ~BODIMENTS
Figure 1 illustrates apparatus 10 for dispensing 18 particulate material and, generally, comprising supply hopper 12, rotary feed means 14, stepper motor 16 and 20 control means 20. Preferably, control means 20 includes sensor 22, weighing means 24 and processing system or 22 unit 26. the preferred dispensing apparatus 10 illu trated in Figur~ 1 also comprises an agitator 24 assembly 30 including hub 32, blades 34, agitator motor 36 and a support colum~ 40. Figure 1 also shows 26 conveyor means 42 and receptacles 44.
Hopper 12 is provided for holding a supply 46 of the 28 material to be dispensed, and the hopper includes inlet 50 for receiving that material and outlet 52 for 30 discharging that material. The hopper may be made of any suitable material and may have any suitable shape. As 32 shown in Figure 1, the hopper has the general shape of an inverted truncated cone, with the top edge of the hopper 34 forming inlet 50 and the bottom edge of the hopper forming ou~let 52. A support assembly (not shown) may be - 7 ~ 3~
:.
connected to the hopper to hold it in a given location, 2 and a filling spout 54 may be provided to help conduct the particulate material into the hopper.
4 Rotary feed menas 14 e~tends into the hopper and is supported ~or rotational movement therein to discharge 6 material ~rom tha hopper, through the outlet thereof.
The feed means can be a ver~ical or horizontal auqer or 8 the feed means can also be a pump. The embodiment of the rotar~ feed means illustrated in Figure 1 is an auger 10 comprising top and bottom shaft sections 56, 60 and mounting member 62, which is located between and connects 12 these two shaft sections together. Bottom shaft section 60 includes a central sha f t portion and a blade 14 portion which helically extends around the central portion, from adjacent the lower end of the shaft 16 section, to a position adjacent the auger mount. Shaft sections 56 and 60 are preferably aligned with each oth~r 18 and are coaxial with ths a~is of hopper 12.
As illustrated in Figure 1, the auger comprises two 20 separable shaft sections that are connected together by member 62. Alternatively, ~ one piece auger shaft may be 22 used. In addition, other types of rotary feed means are known in the art and may be used in apparatus 10; and, 24 for instance, a screw rotor may be used instead of an auger.
26 Conveyor means 42 e~tends beneath the outl~t of hopper 12, and is provided to carry a multitude of 28 receptacles 44 past the hopper to receive the material discharged therefromO Preferably, the conveyor means 30 carries the receptacles one at a time past hopper outlet 52; and after a receptacle has received a preset 32 volume of material from the hopper, the conveyor means automatically carries the receptacle to weighing ~` 34 maans 24, discussed below. Many convsyor means are well known and wid-ly employed in tha art for indexing : ' .
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` - 8 - 2~0~
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individual receptacles beneath a hopper outlet, and any 2 suitable conveyor means may be used in the practice of the present invention.
4 Many different types of receptacles may be used with the present invention, and for instance, receptacles 44 6 may be large or small, and they may be bags, bo~es or cans. Also, the receptacles may be moved continuously 8 past the hopper outlet as material is being discharged therefrom; or the receptacles may be moved underneath the 10 hopper outlet, held there for a period of time while the receptacles receive material from the hopper, and then 12 transported from beneath the hopper outlet.
Stepper motor 16 is connected to the rotary feed 14 means to rotate that feed means to discharge material from the hopper and into the receptacles moving beneath 16 the hopper. A stepper, or stepping, motor is a dc motor that may be used to achieve very precisely controlled 18 rotary movement of a drive shaft. With reference to Figure 2, a stepper motor comprises a rotatable rotor 64, 20 a multitude of stator windings 66 positioned around the rotor, and a controller 68, which typically is or 22 includes a microprocessor. The controller generates a train of pulses that are transmitted to the stator 24 windings in a given sequence, and each of these pulses causes the motor rotor to rotate through a specific 26 angular displacement. As long as the train of pulses continues to be transmitted to the stator windings, the 28 rotor increments one step per pulse. Rate of pulses control acceleration, deceleration and ultimate 30 velocity. Once these pulses are terminated, the motor rotor quickly comes to a stop and is locked in a fi~ed 32 position. Stepper motors are currently availahle with ; resolutions -- that is, the number of equal angular 34 displacements of the rotor -- of from about 4 to more than 25,00/0 steps or more per rotor revolution.
. ~
. ~ .
., 9 ~ 3 '~
With reference again to Figure 1, the output shaft of 2 the stepper motor is prefPrably directly connected to auger shaft S6, for example by connecting member 70. In 4 particular, there is no brake or clutch mechanism located between th~ auger shaft and the stepper motor output 6 shaft. Moreover, with the present invention, there is no need for any intsrmediate shaft ~etween the motor drive 8 shaft and the auger shaft, nor is there any need for any type of pulley assembly to rotate such an intermediate 10 shaft.
Stepper motor 16 may be supported in position in any 12 suitable manner; and, as shown in Figure 1, preferably the output shaft of the stepper motor is aligned with the 14 auger shaft 5~. Any suitable stepper motor may be employed as long as there is adquate torque as in 16 apparatus 10. Preferably, though, the stepper motor is compatable with a microprocessor controller and has a 18 resolution which ranges from about 2,000 to 25,000 or more increments per revolution. For example, the stepper 20 motor may be one of a series of motors, referred to as ; the PK 130 series, sold by Parker.
~2 Conrol means 20 is connected to the stepper motor to actuate that motor at each of a multitude of times, to 24 rotate rotary feed means 14 to discharge a preset volume of material from the hopper and into one of the 26 receptacles 44. A variety of specific procedures may be used to determine when the stepper motor is actuated to 28 start a material discharge period. However, with the preferred embodiment of this invention, the control 30 means, specificaly sensor 22, senses and generates a start signal when one of the receptacles 44 reaches a 32 given location along the conveyor means. This start signal is transmitted to processing syst~m 26 of control 34 means 20: and in response to receivinq that signal, the processing system actuates the steppar motor.
~3~
Preferably, the above-mentioned given loca~ion is 2 reached before the receptacle 44 is directly beneath the hopper outlet; and processing system 26 starts the 4 stepper motor a preset length of time after receiving the start signal from sensor 22, with this preset length of 6 time being chosen so that the receptacle is directly beneath the hopper outlet when the stepper motor starts 8 to operate. On the other hand, the stepping motor may be pre-started depending on ma~erial ~low or feed 10 mechanism. Alternatively, sensor 22 may generate the start signal and transmit that signal to the processing 12 system when one of the receptacles 44 is directly beneath the hopper outlet, and the processing sys~em may start 14 the stepper motor to discharge material rom the hopper immediately, or substantially immediately, upon receiving 16 the start signal from the sensor.
Sensor 22 may comprise any suitable device capable of 18 generating a signal when a receptacle 44 reaches a given location. For e~ample, with referen~e to Figure 2, the 20 sensor may comprise a light source 72 located on one side of the conveyor means, and a photo activated or photo 22 responsive electronic element 74 such as a photo transistor, located on the other side of the conveyor 24 means. The light source is directed toward element 74 so that when no receptacle is between source 72 and 26 element 74, a current is conducted through ele~ent 74 at a first level; but when one of the receptacles 44 comes 28 between source 72 and element 74, the receptacle blocks the latter element from the light emitted from the light 30 source, and as a result, current is conducted through element 74 at a second level. Numerous other position 3~ detecting devices are known in the art and may be used in : the practice of the present invention.
34 Sensor 72 is of considerable utility because it inhibits, or ideally prevents, feed means 14 from '"
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- 11- 2~308~
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discharging material from hopper 12 unless a 2 receptacle 44 is beneath the hopper outlet. With priox art particle dispensing apparatus, occasio~ally product 4 is discharged from the supply hopper without any receptacle beneath it; and, for this reason, these prior 6 art apparatus commonly have a bin or basket to receive particles discharged from the hopper under these 8 conditions. Typically, the product received in the bin or basket is then returned to the supply hopperO
10 Sensor 22 eliminates the need for such a bin or basket and the associated labor, further simplifying the design 12 and operation of apparatus 10.
Each time the stepper motor is actuated, that motor 14 rotates feed means 14 to dispense a predetermined volume of material into a receptacle 44 beneath the hopper 16 outlet. However, as previously mentioned, in many instances the material being filled into receptacles 44 18 is ultimately sold to the consumer by weight, not volume. The weight of a predetermined volume of material 20 may vary over ~:ime, depending upon a number of factors such as temperature and humidity. In order to keep the ` ` 22 weight of the material dispensed into receptacles 44 constant, or at least within a decired range, over time, 24 it may be desirable to provide control means 20 with ? feedback means to vary the predetermined volume of !;`'' 26 material discharged from hopper 12 when the stepper motor is actuated. One such feedback means is illustrated in 28 Figure 1 and comprises weighing means 24.
The weighing means is provided to weigh each 30 receptacle after it has received material discharged from the hopper, and to generate a weight signal indicating , 32 the weight of the discharged material in each i receptacle. Preferably, conveyor means 42 automatically 34 carries each receptacle 44, one at a time, to the weighing means after the receptacle has received the ,:
- 12 - ~ J~
preset volume of material from the hopper, and the ` 2 weighing means generates a respective one weigh~ signal indicating the weight of the discharged material in each 4 receptacle. Any suitable weighing means may be used in the practice of this invention; and, for e~ample, the 6 weighing means may be an electronic scale or strain gauge, which generates an output signal representative of 8 the weight of an item placed on the scale. Moreover, conveyor means 42 may carry the receptacles to and th~n lO from the weighing means in any suitable manner.
Preferably, though, each receptacle is stationary on the 12 weighing means for at least a brief period of time while the receptacle is weighed and the above-mentioned weight 14 signal is generated.
Processing system 26 receives each weight signal from 16 the weighing means; and in response to these signals, adjusts the length of time over which stepper motor 16 18 operates each time that motor is actuated. Processing system 26 may be programme~ in various speci~ic ways in 20 order to do this. For instance, the processing system may be provided with upper and lower weight values, and 22 the processing system may compare each weight signal from weighing means 24 with these upper and lower values. If 24 one weight signal is below that lower given value, the processing system increases the number of pulses to 26 operate the stepper motor, to increase the volume, and weight, of material dispensed into the receptacles; and 28 if a weight signal from the weighing means is greater than the upper ~iven value, the processing system is 30 greater than the upper given value, the processing system decreases the pulses to the stepper motor, to decrease 32 the volume and weight of material dispensed into the receptacles~ Control acceleration, deceleration and 34 ultimate velocity of motor can be controlled to prevent 0 8 '~ ~
- l3 -slippage of product by controlling the rate that the 2 pulses are applied to the motor. This Pffects weight.
In many applications, th~ density of the material 4 discharged from the hopper tends to increase over a given period of time; and under these circumstances, the 6 operation of processing system 26 may be simplified by only comparing each weight signal from weighing means 24 8 to a given upper weight value. When a weight signal from the weighing means is above that given weight value, the 10 processing system decreases the number of pulses the stepper motor operates, which is directly proportional to 12 the units of angular displacement o~ the motor, to decrease the volume and weight of material discharged 14 into the receptacles.
Processing system 25 is illustrated in greater detail 16 in block diagram form in Figure 2, and g~nerally this system includes microprocessor 76, memory section 80, and 18 input means 8~ such as a keyboard. Preferably, the ,processing system also includes a control/display 20 panel 84 and a printer 86. Microprocessor 76 can be programmed to monitor and direct a multitude of functions 22 of apparatus 10 or motor 16 by those o~ ordinary skill in the art. Operator inputs are transmitted to the !24 microprocessor via module 90, which also translates operator oriented inputs from ~eyhoard assembly 82 into a 26 form usable by the microprocessor. Likewise, interface assembl~ 92 converts prompts and other messages generated 28 by microprocessor 76 into operator/readable form for display panel 84.
The microprocessor receives inputs from other portions of apparatus 10, such as sensor 22 and weighing ~2 means 24, either directly or via one or more input modules means 94. The microprocessor also genexatss 34 control output signals that are transmitted to motor controllex 68, either directly or via an output module.
~30~
Memory unit 80 is used to store data, commands and other 2 information required by the microprocessor or by the operator to ca~ry out various function~. A power 4 supply 96 is connected to processing system 26, and this supply may be any conventional power supply that converts 6 input power in the form of 120 volts or 240 volts ac current into a dc voltage suitable for the system 8 electronics.
Processing system 2S is provided with information 10 which will enable it to determine the pulse of units of angular displacement, rate of acceleration, deceleration 12 and ultimate velocity may be changed to meet the fill time requirements. The stepper motor 16 must be operated 14 to dispense a given volume of material from the hopper.
This information may be determined, for e~ample, from a 16 look up table stored in memory section 80, or from a program stor~d in microprocessor 76.
18 Control/display panel 84 is used to display information relating to the status-of apparatus 10 and 20 other information to an operator, and by means of which an operator may provide various inputs to the processing 22 system. The display panel may also servie to verify inputs entered by an operator, or to display instructions 24 to an operator to prompt or assist the operator in providing necessary inputs. Printer 86 may be connected 26 to microprocessor 76 to provide printed output of the data shown on the display panel, or other desired data.
28 Input means 82 is provided and used by an operator to enter commands and data needed by the processing system 30 and to otherwise permit the operator to communicate with the processing system. System 26 may also include start 32 and stop buttons (not shown) for initiating and terminating operation of apparatus 10.
34 With reference again to Fi~ure 1, agitator assembly 30 is a conventional assembly used to agitate or ~ ~ e~
mi~ the makerial inside hopper 12. In a conventional 2 manner, hub 32 of assembly 30 is mounted on auger shaft section 6Q fQr independent rotation relative thereto.
4 Motor 36 is connected to the agitator hub by a conventional pulley sub-assembly, and rotation of the 6 agitator hub rotates blades 34 to mi~ the product in the hopper. Support column 40 is provided ~o support 8 motor 36; and this column may also be used to support, or to help support, hopper 12, feed means 14 and stepper 10 motor 16.
The present invention may be used to dispense a ~ery 12 wide range of particulate materials. For instance, material 46 may be food particles, either homogeneous or 14 inhomogeneous. Material 46 may also comprise, as `~ additional e~amples, flour, coffee, grains, dry bulk 16 chemicals, or powder or pelletized resins.
In operation, at the beginning of a filling 18 operation, an operator enters an initial volume, a target weight and a weight range into the memory of the 20 processing system or product code. Processor 76 then determines the number of rotations of rotary feed 22 means 14 needed to dispense that given initial volume of material into each receptacle 44. Conveyor means 42 is 24 started and receptacles 44 are placed thereon and carried, one at a time, to a position directly below the 26 hopper outlet. As a receptacle reaches a given position along the conveyor msans, the receptacle is sensed by 28 sensor 22, which transmits a start signal to processing system 26. After a predetermined delay, sufficient to 30 allow the receptacle to move from that given position to a position directly beneath the hopper outlet, 32 processor 76 transmits a start signal to motor controller 70, which actuates the stepper motor for a 34 period of time determined by processing system 26, specifically microprocessor 76 thereof. Ths stepper - 16 ~ 2~3~
motor rotates feed means 14 for unit of angular - 2 displacement and then automatically stops; and during this period, th~ rotary feed means discharges a given 4 volume of material into the receptacle below the hopper outlet. -6 After the receptacle receives that volume ofmaterial~ conveyor means 42 carries the receptacle to 8 weighing means 24, which then generates and transmits to processing system 26 a signal indicating the weight of 10 the discharged material in the receptacle. After this weight signal is generated, conveyor means 42 transports 12 the receptacle from the weighing means and to another given location, where, for example, ~he receptacle may be 14 automatically closed, sealed and placed in a box or container, or otherwise prepared for shipment to a retail , 16 outlet.
While a first receptacle is being carried away from ~ 18 the hopper, a second receptacle on th~ conveyor means i reaches the above-discussed given location that causes 20 sensor 22 to transmit the start signal to processing system 26; and, in response, the above-described process 22 is repeated to fill this second receptacle with material from tha hopper.
24 As each weight signal iæ transmitted to the processing system, that signal is compared to one or more 26 given weight values, and the processing system, as discussed above, may either increase or decrease the 28 units of angular displacement of the stepper motor which is actuated to maintain the weight of the material 30 dispensed from the hoper substantially constant, or at least within a desired range, despite ehanges in the 32 density of that material.
To illustrate the effectiveness of the unit of this 34 invention, a comparison between a unit having a clutch-brake mechanism in the feed motor and a unit of c~ s~ ~.
this invention described in Figure 1 was conducted at the 2 same time in filling pouches with a bread crumb mi~ture.
A label wei~ht and the lowe~t weight permitted was 4 establshed. It is essential to obtain the label weight in the pouch as close as possible and avoid going below 6 the lowest weight permitted for sale oF the product. The clutch-brake unit as used here, is considered the best 8 system for filling pouches or bo~es known to be available at this timeO The tests were conducted to fill a ~; 10 specific number o~ pouches on a continual basis without any adjustments made during the run.
12 The following results were obtained:
. .
Invention Unit 16 Clutch-Brake Un;t S;m;lar to F;qure 1 Des; red Pouch 71.00 grams 71.0û grams 18 Label We;ght Lowest Allowable 69.75 grams 69.75 grams We; ght Perm; tted 22 We;qht Of Pouches Filled. GramsWe7aht of Pouches Filled, Grams 73.75 72.25 71.5û 72.25 71.00 70.5û
24 73.5û 72.25 71.50 72.0û 71.9û 70.50 73.50 7Z.25 71.50 72.00 71.00 70.50 26 73.25 72.25 71.50 71.75 71.00 70.50 73.25 72.25 71.50 71.75 71.ûO 70.50 28 73.25 72.25 71.50 71.75 71.00 70.50 73.25 72.25 71.5û 71.75 71.00 70.25 30 73.25 72.00 71.50 71.75 71.00 70.25 73.0û 72.00 71.50 71.75 71.00 70.25 32 73.00 72.00 71.50 71.5û 71.00 70.25 73.00 72.00 71.25 71.5û 71.00 70.25 34 73.00 72.00 71.25 71.50 71.00 70.25 73.00 72.00 71.0û 71.5û 71.00 70.25 . . .
. ~
'~ 3 8 ~, ~
:
72.75 72.00 71.00 71.50 71.00 70.00 2 72.75 72.00 71.00 71.50 71.00 70.00 72.75 72.0~ 71.00 71.50 71.00 69.75 4 72.7s 72.00 71.00 71.50 71.00 69.75 72.75 72.00 71.00 71.50 71.00 6 72.75 72.00 70.75 71.50 70.75 72.75 72.00 70.75 71.25 70.75 8 72.50 71.75 70.25 71.25 70.75 72.50 71.75 70.25 71.25 70.75 72.5~ 71.75 70.00 71.25 70.75 72.50 71.75 69.75 71.25 70.75 12 72.50 71.75 71.25 70.75 72.50 71.75 71.25 70.75 14 72.50 71.75 71.25 70.75 72.50 71.75 71.25 70.75 16 72.50 71.75 71.25 70.75 71.75 71.75 71.25 70.50 18 71.75 71.75 71.25 70.50 Cl~tch-Rrake llnit Invention Unit Numb~r of Samples 86.00 79.00 Av~rag~ W~ight 72.02 grams 70.99 grams 22 Min;mum W~ight 69.75 grams 69.75 ~rams Maximum Weight 73.75 grams 72.25 grams 24 St~ndard Deviation 0.80 0.53 % Ov~rfill 1.43 o 26 % DefQcts O O
( Bel ow 69.759) 28 The above comparison illustrates a standard deviation of the invention unit to be lower than the clutch-brake 30 Unit which also has an overfill of 1.43% compared to no overfill for the invention unit.
EXAMPLE II
34 Using the same e~uipment and similar filling material as E~ample I and un~er similar conditions, the following 36 results were obtained:
`' -'~` 2n~,~g~l Clutch-Brake Unit Invent;on Un;t 2 Des; red Pouch92.00 grams g2.00 grams ~abel We; ght 4 Lowest AllowablQ 90.50 grams 90.50 gràms Wei ght Permi tted ~
Cl utch-Br~ke Uni t Inventi on Uni t 8Weight ûf_PQuches Filled. Grams Wei~ht of Pouches Filled. Grams 92.25 92.50 93.75 91.50 91.75 91.75 10 92.75 93.00 93.75 91.75 92.00 92.00 92.75 93.ûO 94.00 92.00 9Z .00 92.ûO
12 93.75 94.25 95.Oû 92.00 92.50 92.25 93.00 92.50 94.0û 92.00 92.00 91.S0 14 93.50 93.25 94.00 92.25 92.00 91.75 94.25 93.75 94.25 92.25 9Z .00 91.75 16 95.25 94.00 94.50 91.75 92.00 92.00 , 95.75 92.00 93.00 92.00 91.75 91.50 18 92.75 92.25 94.25 92.25 92.00 91.75 ` 93.75 92.75 95.50 92.50 92.00 92.00 20 94.75 94.25 90.50 92.00 92.û0 92.00 95.00 91.50 91.50 92.25 92.00 91.75 22 91.75 93.50 gl.50 92.25 91.75 92.00 93.50 93.50 91.75 92.50 92.00 92.00 24 94.00 95.50 91.75 91.75 92.00 g2.25 95.50 92.50 92.25 92.0û 92.50 92.00 26 93.00 93.00 92.75 92.25 92.00 92.00 93.50 94.75 93.50 92.25 92.00 92.50 28 95.25 95.00 91.25 91.25 92.25 91.75 96.00 93.00 91.75 92.00 92.25 92.25 30 91.75 94.25 91.75 92.75 91.75 92.25 91.75 94.50 91.75 91.75 91.75 91.50 32 93.00 95.25 92.50 91.75 91.75 92.50 93.25 92.50 92.75 91.75 92.00 92.50 34 92.00 93.50 93.25 92.00 91.75 92.25 92.25 93.75 93.25 91.25 92.00 92.25 ~ 8 ..
. . --92.50 94.00 ~9.75 91.75 92.25 ~3.ûO
2 93.5~ 91.50 91.75 91.75 92.50 91.75 92.75 g~ .00 92.00 92.00 92.00 91.75 `, 4 93.00 93.25 92.50 92.00 92.25 92.50 93.00 94.25 92.25 92.00 92.25 ~1.75 6 93.00 94.25 92.50 92.25 92.50 92.00 92.00 94.50 92.50 92.50 91.75 92.50 8 92.25 94.50 94.25 91.75 91.75 91.75 92.75 95.75 90.75 91.75 91.75 92.00 10 94.50 93.50 91.00 92.00 92.25 g2.00 93.00 93.50 91.50 92.00 91.75 92.00 12 93.50 94.00 92.25 91.50 91.75 92.75 93.75 94.00 9~ .75 92.00 92.75 14 94.00 92.50 92.00 92.00 92.00 94.75 92.25 92.25 16 95.25 92.50 Clutch-~rake UnitIment~n Un;t 18 Number of Samples 123.00 126.00 Av~rage W~ight 93.23 grams 92.û2 graTs M;nimum We;ght 89.75 grams 91.25 grams Maximum W~ight 96.00 grams 93.00 grams 22 Standard Dev;ation 1.22 0.30 % Ovorfill 1.34 0.03 24 X Def~cts 0.81 0 ( ~Ql ow 90.509) 26 The above data clearly indicates the significant improvements in the unit invention over the clutch-brake 28 unit.
EX~MPLE III
Using the same equipment and similar filling material 32 as Example I and under similar conditions, the following results were obtained:
~' -' - 21 ~
Cl utch-Brake Uni t~ Invent; on Un; t 2 Desi red Pouch71.00 grams 71.ûO grams Label Wei ght 4 Lowes t Al l owabl e 69.75 grams 69.75 grams Wei ght Permi tted Cl utch-8rake Uni t Invent; on Un; t 8Weiqht Of Psuches F;lled. Grams W~iqht of Pouches Filled, Grams 71.20 72.5û 71.70 71.00 71.20 71.20 10 71.20 71.40 72.50 71.20 71.00 71.30 71.30 72.60 72.50 71.70 70.80 72.ûO
.~ 12 72.00 70.50 70.30 70.00 70.80 71.90 71.20 71.60 71.70 71.30 70.60 72.10 14 71.20 71.4d 72.50 70.90 71.30 71.90 71.30 71.40 70.60 71.60 70.ôO 71.70 16 73.00 72.30 71.60 71.gO 71.70 71.30 71.00 72.00 70.70 71.40 70.20 71.70 18 71.60 71.60 71.60 71.20 71.00 71.70 71.10 72.10 71.20 71.20 71.20 72.70 20 71.80 71.~30 71.20 71.30 71.00 72.~0 71.40 72.00 72.90 71.80 71.00 71.00 22 72.00 71.60 73.80 71.80 71.20 71.40 70.80 71.90 70.80 71.20 71.30 71.50 24 71.30 70.50 71.00 71.20 71.30 71.00 71.40 72.S0 71.50 71.30 71.90 71.50 26 71.90 71.00 70.20 71.7û 71.00 71.60 72.00 72.70 71.00 71.7~ 71.~30 71.40 28 71.30 71.50 71.90 71.90 71.80 71.40 71.71) 70.80 70.80 71.00 71.60 71.00 30 71.10 72.00 71.70 71.00 72.20 71.20 71.10 72.50 73.70 71.20 71.80 71.70 32 71.60 72.40 70.60 71.90 71.00 71.20 72.30 72.20 71.50 71.10 71.00 72.2C
34 70.00 72.00 73.00 71.30 71.10 71.90 72.30 7,1.20 71.40 70.70 71.30 71.00 ':
:
:
2~3~83~
`~ - 22 -~ ' 73.40 71.80 70.70 71.30 71.30 71.40 2 72.10 72.50 70.70 70.90 72.00 71.50 70.20 71.40 71.40 70.60 72.0~ 70.90 4 71.30 72.80 70.60 71.6~ 72.00 69.80 71.50 70.20 71.50 71.10 6 71.70 70.80 6g.90 71.60 71.90 71,70 71.00 69.30 8 70.60 71.30 69.30 70.20 71.40 69.00 71.60 69.00 71.60 69.20 12 71.30 69.30 14 Clutch-Brak~ Un;tInvent10n Unit Nu~ber of SamplQs 105.00 105.00 16 Averag~ W~ight 71.57 grams 71.23 grams M~nimum Weight 69.80 grams 69.00 gra~ns 18 Maximum We;ght 73.80 grams 72.90 grams Standard Deviation 0.76 0.70 % Ov~rfill 0.80 0.32 % Defects 0 5.71 22 (8~10w 69.759) The ab~ve examples illustrates that the invention 24 unit produced 5.71% pouch weight defects compared to O
for the Clutch-Brake unit. In spite of these defects, 26 the invention provided a lower standard deviation and less o~erfill than the Clutch-Braks unit. This indicates 28 that the invention unit has more precise operational limits even when operating under higher defect numbers.
While it is apparent that the invention herein .~ disclosed is well calculated to fulfill the goals 32 previously stated, it will be appreciated that numerous modifications and embodiments may be devised by those 34 skilled in the art, and it is int~nded that the appended claims cover all such modifications and embodiments as - 23 - 20c~
fall within the true spirit and scope of the present 2 invention .
:
Claims (17)
1. Apparatus for dispensing particulates material, comprising:
a supply hopper for holding a supply of the material, and including an inlet for receiving the material, and an outlet for discharging the material;
rotary feed means extending into the hopper and supported for rotational movement therein to discharge material from the hopper, through the outlet thereof;
a stepper motor connected to the feed means to rotate said feed means; and control means connected to the stepper motor to actuate said motor at each of a multitude of times to discharge a preset volume of material from the hopper and through the outlet thereof.
a supply hopper for holding a supply of the material, and including an inlet for receiving the material, and an outlet for discharging the material;
rotary feed means extending into the hopper and supported for rotational movement therein to discharge material from the hopper, through the outlet thereof;
a stepper motor connected to the feed means to rotate said feed means; and control means connected to the stepper motor to actuate said motor at each of a multitude of times to discharge a preset volume of material from the hopper and through the outlet thereof.
2. Apparatus according to claim 1, for use with a conveyor means extending beneath the outlet of the hopper to carry a multitude of receptacles therepast to receive the material discharged from the hopper, and wherein the control means includes:
sensing means to sense and to generate a signal when one of receptacles reaches a given location along the conveyor means; and a processing system connected to the sensing means to receive the signal therefrom and to start the stepper motor in response to receiving said signal.
sensing means to sense and to generate a signal when one of receptacles reaches a given location along the conveyor means; and a processing system connected to the sensing means to receive the signal therefrom and to start the stepper motor in response to receiving said signal.
3. Apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the processing system is adapted to start the stepper motor a preset length of time after receiving said signal.
4. Apparatus according to claim 3, wherein:
each time the control means actuates the stepper motor, the control means operates the stepper motor to rotate the feed means a predetermined number of revolutions inside the hopper, and said predetermined number is adjustable.
each time the control means actuates the stepper motor, the control means operates the stepper motor to rotate the feed means a predetermined number of revolutions inside the hopper, and said predetermined number is adjustable.
5. Apparatus according to claim 1, wherein:
said preset volume of material is adjustable;
each time the control means actuates the stepper motor, the control means operates the stepper motor to rotate the feed means a predetermined number of units of angular displacement inside the hopper; and said predetermined number is adjustable in respect to acceleration deceleration and final velocity.
said preset volume of material is adjustable;
each time the control means actuates the stepper motor, the control means operates the stepper motor to rotate the feed means a predetermined number of units of angular displacement inside the hopper; and said predetermined number is adjustable in respect to acceleration deceleration and final velocity.
6. Apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the control means include:
weighing means to weigh each receptacle after it has received material discharged from the hopper, and to generate a weight signal indicating the weight of the discharged material in each receptacle; and processing means connected to the weighing means for receiving the weight signals therefrom, and for adjusting said predetermined number of revolutions to maintain the weight of the material discharged into the receptacles substantially equal to a given value.
weighing means to weigh each receptacle after it has received material discharged from the hopper, and to generate a weight signal indicating the weight of the discharged material in each receptacle; and processing means connected to the weighing means for receiving the weight signals therefrom, and for adjusting said predetermined number of revolutions to maintain the weight of the material discharged into the receptacles substantially equal to a given value.
7. Apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the weighing means generates a respective one weight signal indicating the weight of the discharged material in each receptacle.
8. Apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the processing means receives each weight signal from the weighing means, compares each weight signal to a preset weight limit, and decreases said predetermined number of revolutions when one of the weight signals rises above the preset weight limit.
9. Apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the control means further includes means to change the preset weight value.
10. Apparatus for dispensing particulate material, comprising:
a supply hopper for holding a supply of the material, and including an inlet for receiving the material, and an outlet for discharging the material:
rotary feed means extending into the hopper and supported for rotational movement therein to discharge material form the hopper and through the outlet thereof;
conveyor means extending beneath the outlet of the hopper to carry a multitude of receptacles therepast to receive the material discharged from the hopper;
a stepper motor connected to the feed means to rotate said feed means; and control means connected to the stepper motor to actuate the stepper motor at each of a multitude of times to discharge a preset volume of material from the hopper and into one of the receptacles.
a supply hopper for holding a supply of the material, and including an inlet for receiving the material, and an outlet for discharging the material:
rotary feed means extending into the hopper and supported for rotational movement therein to discharge material form the hopper and through the outlet thereof;
conveyor means extending beneath the outlet of the hopper to carry a multitude of receptacles therepast to receive the material discharged from the hopper;
a stepper motor connected to the feed means to rotate said feed means; and control means connected to the stepper motor to actuate the stepper motor at each of a multitude of times to discharge a preset volume of material from the hopper and into one of the receptacles.
11. Apparatus according to claim 10, wherein-the conveyor means is adapted to carry the receptacles to a given location; and the control means includes (i) sensing means to sense and to generate a start signal when one of the receptacles reaches the given location, and (ii) processing means connected to the sensing means to receive the start signal therefrom, and to start the stepper motor in response to receiving said start signal.
12. Apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the processing means is adapted to start the stepper motor a preset length of time after receiving said start signal.
13. Apparatus according to claim 12, wherein:
said preset volume of material is adjustable;
each time the control means actuates the stepper motor, the control means operates the stepper motor to rotate the feed means a predetermined number of revolutions inside the hopper;
said predetermined number is adjustable; and the control means includes (i) weighing means to weigh each receptacle after it has been received material discharged from the hopper, and to generate a weight signal indicating the weight of the discharged material in each receptacle, and (ii) the processing means is also connected to the weighing means for receiving the weight signals therefrom, and for adjusting said predetermined number of revolutions to maintain the weight of the material discharged into the receptacles substantially equal to a given value.
said preset volume of material is adjustable;
each time the control means actuates the stepper motor, the control means operates the stepper motor to rotate the feed means a predetermined number of revolutions inside the hopper;
said predetermined number is adjustable; and the control means includes (i) weighing means to weigh each receptacle after it has been received material discharged from the hopper, and to generate a weight signal indicating the weight of the discharged material in each receptacle, and (ii) the processing means is also connected to the weighing means for receiving the weight signals therefrom, and for adjusting said predetermined number of revolutions to maintain the weight of the material discharged into the receptacles substantially equal to a given value.
14. Apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the conveyor means automatically carries each receptacle, one at a time, to the weighing means after the receptacle has received said preset volume of material from the hopper.
15. Apparatus of claim 13 wherein the feed means is a vertical auger.
16. Apparatus of claim 13 wherein the feed means is a horizontal auger.
17. Apparatus of claim 13 wherein the feed means is a pump.
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US44329089A | 1989-11-28 | 1989-11-28 | |
| US443,290 | 1989-11-28 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2030831A1 true CA2030831A1 (en) | 1991-05-29 |
Family
ID=23760205
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002030831A Abandoned CA2030831A1 (en) | 1989-11-28 | 1990-11-26 | Apparatus for dispensing particulate materials |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2030831A1 (en) |
Cited By (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1998054526A1 (en) * | 1997-05-30 | 1998-12-03 | Paul Wurth S.A. | Charging device for a rotary hearth furnace |
| CN104029392A (en) * | 2014-05-21 | 2014-09-10 | 杭州电子科技大学 | STM8-based smooth particle feeding mechanism of 3D bio-printer |
| CN108158414A (en) * | 2016-12-07 | 2018-06-15 | 佛山市顺德区美的电热电器制造有限公司 | Device for transporting objects and cooking apparatus |
| CN112938524A (en) * | 2021-01-21 | 2021-06-11 | 南华大学 | Material feeding device based on multiple material feeding |
-
1990
- 1990-11-26 CA CA002030831A patent/CA2030831A1/en not_active Abandoned
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1998054526A1 (en) * | 1997-05-30 | 1998-12-03 | Paul Wurth S.A. | Charging device for a rotary hearth furnace |
| CN104029392A (en) * | 2014-05-21 | 2014-09-10 | 杭州电子科技大学 | STM8-based smooth particle feeding mechanism of 3D bio-printer |
| CN108158414A (en) * | 2016-12-07 | 2018-06-15 | 佛山市顺德区美的电热电器制造有限公司 | Device for transporting objects and cooking apparatus |
| CN108158414B (en) * | 2016-12-07 | 2023-10-10 | 佛山市顺德区美的电热电器制造有限公司 | Material conveying device cooking utensil |
| CN112938524A (en) * | 2021-01-21 | 2021-06-11 | 南华大学 | Material feeding device based on multiple material feeding |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued | ||
| FZDE | Discontinued |
Effective date: 19981126 |