MXPA99010946A - Overfill compensation for a batch delivery system - Google Patents

Abstract

A batch delivery system that provides material overfill compensation to deliver a precise amount of material from a source to a destination. The system can also detect possible malfunction of a flow control means such as a valve or a pump.

Description

SOFTELLING COMPENSATION METHOD FOR A DISCHARGE RELEASE TEAM FIELD OF INVENTION This invention relates to a discharge release method, and in pcular, to a discharge release method that provides automatic overfill compensation to release a predetermined precise amount of material from a source of material to the destination of the material. - PROBLEM Discharge release methods are known in which the material is released from a source of material to the destination of the material by means of automated equipment that controls and monitors the amount of material released. Additionally, discharge release methods are known in which a predetermined quantity of material is released from a source to a destination with precision to minimize the amount of overfilling or insufficient filling of the released material.

R < ? F .: 32202 Discharge control methods "are used in industrial processes in which the amount of material released must be precisely controlled to minimize both insufficient filling and overfilling of the amount of material released. controlled overfill is not desired since it results in a loss of the material released, overfilling the released material can be dangerous if the material is of the risky type, overfilling can be costly for the seller of the material released in applications in which the customer thinks be willing to pay only for the specified amount and agreed in advance of the material In other applications, pcularly those involving expensive material, an overfilling represents an economic loss In other situations involving expensive material, not enough filling can result in the loss of the entire discharge of the released material. Example could be the development of a photographic film where the material released is silver and not enough filling will cause an insufficient amount of silver deposited on the film so that the total discharge of the film is useless for its intended purpose.

Also, not enough filling is desired in several applications. The most obvious application is one in which the client, to whom the material is delivered, has specified a predetermined amount of material to be released and for which he is willing to pay. Any insufficient filling represents a loss of material with the customer being charged to the account or charged for the undelivered material. Tests have been made to compensate for overfilling or not enough filling manually by relying on estimates based on the experience of insufficient filling or previous overfill. For example, if you want to release 378 liters (100 gallons) and experience shows that an overfilled 3.78 liters (1 gallon) occurs if the control valve is closed when the 378 liter (100 gallon) receptacle is full It is then relatively easy to compensate for this by sending a signal to close the valve when 374.22 liters (99 gallons) have been released to release the released 374.22 liters (99 gallons) plus the liter (gallon) preceded by the total overfilling of the 378 liters (100 gallons) desired. A similar arrangement is shown in U.S. Patent 5,431,302 to Tulley et al, which describes a beer distribution method that minimizes spillage by the stored and accumulated data from the overfill of the prior distribution operations. The stored data is used in the next operation to calculate an estimate. more accurate of overfilling. However, the techniques shown by Tulley et al. Are satisfactory only in those situations where all conditions are constant including the velocity of the flow material. A variation in any of these parameters, such as the velocity of the flow mass, still generate an overfilling or a non-sufficient unwanted filling. This is particularly applicable in situations in which the velocity of the flow mass is not constant and varies as gravity is used to transfer the material from a source of fluid to the destination of the fluid. It can be seen, therefore, that this is a problem in transferring a precise amount of material from a source of material to the destination of the material so that only the specified amount of material is released with a minimum of overfilling or insufficient filling.

SOLUTION The above and other problems are solved by the method of the present invention that allows a precise amount of the material from a source of material to be transferred to the destination of the material with a minimum amount of overfill or insufficient filling. The method of the present invention comprises the steps of: performing the n discharges in which the material is released from the source of the material to the destination of the material; measure the flow velocity of the material for each of the n discharges during the execution of each of the n discharges where the measured flow velocity can be of any value; measure the amount of the overfill of the material during the execution of each discharge of said n downloads; the recorded and accumulated data include the measured flow rate for each of the n discharges and the measured amount of the material overfill for each n discharges; execute at least one subsequent download; specify a designated amount of material to be released for at least one subsequent discharge; measure the flow velocity for at least a subsequent discharge during the passage of at least one subsequent discharge where the flow rate iRcdiua for .-. A? -_. Is loaded. be < - and any value; use the recorded data and the speed "of 10 flow measured for the n downloads to determine fingernail CL n U -L i--, CL a < - e to u? -? c i j. How much Qc ma? l co üiaua pal a _L CL measured flow velocity for at least one discharge subs c nt; subtracting the estimated amount of the overfill l- -_- e matter-i- for by ± or minus a snusccußp-c load of the amount designated to derive a designated amount of termination of the flow material; and finalizing the flow material in response to the evaluation of the S-Video Capture of the T-SL-CL-I to release the designated amount of material to the destination. In accordance with the present invention, the con-ro-L machine is built-up, inclosing a --- Lu ornetro and a distantly controlled valve, placed in series with the path over which the material is released to a destination. The method of the invention operates an automated control equipment that has a discharge controller which receives the information of the flow velocity that belongs to the material released and these information processes are controlled by the characteristics of the flow method. Does the discharge controller use the processed information to close the valve at the time required to achieve a free u? matepax that has a non-sufficient overfilling or filling -r-ini-r-o. The method of the present invention works by releasing a number of test discharges for the operational characteristics of the control equipment. In these test runs, the size of the download of the released material is specified according to the number of tests performed. Following this procedure, x sisticians meet for x s? --- test loads with these statistics that include the flow material speed and not enough filling / overflow achieved by each test run. After the execution of the specified number of tests, the test data is accumulated and stored. The stored test data allows estimation of the insufficient overfilling / filling expected by several operational conditions that may be similar to or significantly different from the relevant conditions of the test periods. Subsequently, the material is released in production discharges with each discharge that has been associated with the data specifying the size of the discharge to be released. The instrumentation includes a flume meter for the material in the release line that transmits the data to a discharge controller. The discharge controller uses this data which includes the stored estimate of the overfilling / filling not sufficient to release a discharge to the destination having an amount equal to the specified desired value of the discharge. While the release of a download is in progress, the discharge controller receives the information of the flow velocity of a fiujometer and accumulates the magnitude of the material released with respect to time. This determination is made by multiplying the flow rate measured by the time of release accumulated by the discharge. This process continues until the total amount of material released approaches the designated amount of material to be released by the discharge. At this time, the discharge controller uses the estimated overfill data to send a signal to the control valve to close it in a short time prior to the current release of the final designated amount of the discharge. The control valve takes a finite amount of time to close after receiving the closing signal from the discharge controller. Also, after the valve closes, a finite amount of material is on the release path to the destination. The cumulative effects of this remaining material and the closing time of the valve are compensated by the overfill estimation data so that the time finally closes the control valve and at the moment that the material still in the release path reaches a destination , the total amount of material released for unloading will be closed with a high degree of accuracy of the designated quantity. As previously mentioned, the method comprising the present invention performs a number of test download executions before starting the download production process. The purpose of performing the test downloads is to derive the information that allows the method to accurately estimate the overfill information which is subsequently used in the download production process. The process of executing a plurality of test downloads specifically involves the number of test downloads to be executed, storing the flow rate and other information for each test download, and storing this information for the plurality of test downloads, deriving the overfill information to be used in the actual downloads to be processed. Even more ecologically, the stored information that is derived and stored for test downloads includes the flow rate for each discharge and the amount derived or processed from the overfill. Additionally the information is derived by dividing the amount of the overfill by the flow rate to derive and save a proportion for each test discharge. The information additionally includes the processing of the average and standard deviation of the various proportions derived for each discharge. Finally, the stored information additionally includes the use of the average ratio as a linear derivation factor, an estimation function, which is subsequently used in the actual discharge process. The process of the present invention is additionally useful in determining a possible malfunction or increased incipient operation of the -controi valve. For example, the control valves used in the release method of the present invention to close take a finite amount of time following receipt of a 'close' signal. This time can be in the order of 5-10 seconds. The process of the test discharges allows the method to control to take into account the closing time of the control valve. The closing time of the control valve is involved in the overfill material since the material can flow through the valve in the 5-10 second interval required to close the valve. The discharge controller of the present invention accumulates this information with respect to the characteristics of the valve so that if the valve must subsequently change the characteristics and take a longer time to close, this can be determined by the discharge controller since the overfill will be substantially greater than when the valve was properly operated. From this information, the discharge controller can determine that the control valve takes more time to close following the reception of a closing signal. From the above, the discharge controller can generate an alarm, or other appropriate signal, to alert the operators of the equipment, of a possible malfunction of the control valve.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above characteristics and other advantages of the invention can be better understood in reading the following detailed description taking into account the drawings thereof, in which: Figure 1 is a block diagram of a discharge equipment controlled by the method of the present invention; Figure 2 is a block diagram of a download controller; Figure 3 is a flow diagram of the steps of a preferred embodiment of the method of the invention; Figure 4 is a flow chart of a method for generating test data; Figure 5 is a flowchart of a preferred method for determining an overfill estimation function; Figure 6 is a flow chart of a method for using the overfill estimation function to prevent overfilling of a discharge.

Figure 7 is a flow diagram of an alternative method of obtaining test data to provide an estimation function; Figure 8 is a flowchart of the additional steps in the preferred method of generating an overfill estimation function to improve the accuracy; Figure 9 is an alternative method for generalizing an overfill estimation function; and Figure 10 is a block diagram of a data structure for saving the test data. Figure 11 is a block diagram of a method for detecting a possible malfunction of a flow material controller.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION Figure 1 illustrates the discharge release method 100 of the present invention. The material is received from a fluid source 101 and is applied to the flowmeter 10"3 on the path 102. The valve 107 receives the material from the flow meter 103 via the path 106. The element 107 can alternatively be a pump. it flows from the valve 107 to the destination of the fluid 110 by means of the path 108.

The discharge controller 105 monitors and controls the flow of the material through the discharge release method 100. The flow meter 103 sends the flow information to the discharge controller 105 via the path 104. When the discharge controller 105 determines that the specific amount of material has passed through the flow meter 103, the discharge controller 105 sends a signal over the path 109 to close the valve 107. The present invention includes a method for generating an overfill estimation function, which determines the amount of overfill material that will flow through the valve 107 between the time the flow termination signal is transmitted by the discharge controller 105 and at the time the valve 107 closes. The discharge controller 105 uses the estimate to determine when the flow termination signal is transmitted to the valve 107 to prevent the overfill of the destination 110 from exceeding the designated amount. The discharge controller 105 is illustrated in a block diagram in Figure 2. The processor 200 controls the flow of material in the discharge release equipment 100 by executing the read instructions of Read Only Memory (ROM) 211 on the busbar 201 In order to execute these instructions, the processor 200 reads the data from and records the data for Random Access Memory (RAM) 212 over the bus 202. The data that is stored for use in future estimates are recorded for and read of the memory 213 by means of the busbar 203. The processor 200 opens and closes the valve 107 by transmitting signals to the valve 107 via the path 109. The processor 200 can generate display data on the download and transmit process. the data to the screen 214 on the video bus 204. The screen 214 is a monitor or - an equivalent device that can display the data generated by the processor 200. The interface 215 is a keyboard or other device that allows the user to access the data of the processor 200 on the bus 205. Figure 3 is a flow chart which provides a global appreciation of all the processes executed by the processor 200 in the preferred embodiment of the present invention. The overall process 300 starts at step 301. At step 302, the test data is generated and stored for future use to determine an overfill estimation function. Step 303 uses the test data generated and stored in step 302 to calculate an overfill estimation function. Step 304 uses the estimation function determined in step 303 to execute a discharge and estimate the appropriate time to close the valve 107 and prevent overfilling. Each of steps 302-304 are described in detail below. A flow diagram of the process of step 302 is illustrated in Figure 4. Process 302 starts at step 401. In step 402, a user enters the volume of the test download. The input volume is a designated amount of material that processor 200 attempts to free to destination 110. The user enters the designated download volume with interface 215. The input volume is sent to processor 200 over bus 205 and is stored in RAM 212 for future use. Step 403 receives a user input of the number of tests to run, which is also stored in RAM 212 for future use. In step 404, the processor 200 initializes all values in an overfill data structure 1000 (Figure 10) to zero. Initialization ensures that no unwanted values are used in the calculation of the overfill estimation function. Step 405 indicates the execution number of tests to be zeroed and the download method 100 is prepared to perform the test downloads. The data collected from the test downloads are stored in the data structure 1000 illustrated in Figure 10. Each of the rows 1001 contains the data of a test execution of a download. The flow velocity of the material through the flowmeter 103 for discharge is recorded in column 1002. The amount of overfill of the discharge is stored in column 103. The rate of flow rate / overfill is then calculated in process 303 and it is stored in column 1004. An average ratio is also calculated in process 303 and saved in 1005. The standard deviation of the measured proportions of the average proportions is saved in 1006. The process 302 continues as illustrated in Figure 4 by running the individual tests in the following manner. First, step 406 increases the number of test runs. In step 407 ~, the processor 200 sends a start signal of the flow material to open the valve 107. The material flows through the valve to the destination 110 in step 408. The flowmeter 103 measures the flow velocity of the material which flows through the discharge equipment 100. The measured flow rate is received by the processor 200 of the flow meter 103 on the path 104 in the step -409. The processor 200 uses the flow rate to calculate how much material has passed through the valve in step 410. In step 411 / the processor 200 determines whether the volume that has passed through the valve is equal to the input volume of the download. If the two volumes are not equal, steps 408-411 will be repeated. When the volume that has passed through the valve is equal to the volume of the input discharge, the processor 200 executes the step 412 and transmits the signal of completion of the flow material to the valve 107 by means of the path 109. valve 107 closes when the completion signal is received and the amount of overfill is measured in step 413. Processor 200 executes step 414 to store the flow rate and overfill of the test in the overfill data structure 1000. Step 415 determines whether the number of tests is equal to the number of entrance tests. If the two numbers are equal, the process is completed and finalized in step 416. On the other hand, another test is carried out starting at step 406. The download tests must be executed several times to improve the accuracy of the adjustment of the estimation function.

Figure 5 illustrates the process 303 which generates a function for estimating the overfill of the flow rate stored and the quantities of "overfill" The following generates a linear function, however, any other method can be used to generate a function of the data The step 501 starts in the process 303. In step 502, the processor 200 indicates a counter to zero.The counter is used to determine when the process 303 has been completed.The step 503 increments the counter to indicate the iteration of the entire process currently In step 504, the processor 200 reads the flow rate and the amount of overfill for a test download of the data structure 1000. The processor 200 divides the overfill quantities by the flow rate for find a proportion of the amount of overfill / flow rate in step 505 and the ratio is then stored in the memory of step 506. A The determination of whether the counter is equal to the total number of tests is made by the processor 200 in step 507. The number of test executions to be executed is carried out in the element 507 of the element 403 in Figure 4. If the counter and the number of tests are not equal, stages 503-507 will be repeated. When the counter and the number of tests are equal, the step 508 that the processor 200 has will read all the proportions that have been calculated only. In step 509, the processor 200 processes the averages of the read proportions. The average of the proportions is stored in 1005 of the data structure 1000. The average is used to process the standard deviation of each proportion in step 510 and process 303 ends in step 511. The average ratio is used as a function of estimate in 'step 304 to estimate the amount of overfill during a discharge. Figure 8 illustrates the additional stages of the process 303 which may be executed by the processor 200 to improve the accuracy of the estimation function. The accuracy is improved by adding a factor predisposed to the average proportion. The continuity of Figure 5 is shown in Figure 8 in steps 509 and 510. Processor 200 receives an input of a predisposed factor, b, from the user in step 801. Step 802 multiplies the predisposed factor, b, by the standard deviation processed in step 510. The product of step 802 is added to the average of the proportions in step 803 to find the estimation function used in step 304 to execute a download. Figure 9 illustrates another embodiment of step 303. The process in Figure 9 finds the estimation function to determine the best fit of the data polynomial. The function of the polynomial is normally more accurate than a linear relationship as shown in the first embodiment of Figure 5. The second mode of the process 303 starts at step 901. At step 902, the processor 200 indicates the values in the structure of data 1000 to zero. "Step 903 allocates the flow rates for which they extend over a range of flow rates to be used in the production of discharges to produce data that will produce an accurate polynomial fit." Process 303 continues in FIG. processor 200 by fitting a polynomial of the order of at least two of the flow rates to the overfill quantities in step 904. After a polynomial has been found, step 905 processes the error box medium of the appropriate polynomial. The processor 200 receives a biased input factor, b, from the user in step 906. Step 907 multiplies the biased factor, b, by the middle of the error box The product of step 907 is added to the constant term of the polynomial in step 908 Element 908 uses the polynomial used as the estimation function in element 611 of process 304. Figure 6 illustrates process 304 which executes a charge and Stima the amount of overfill to avoid an overfill of the fate of the material 110. The process 304 starts at step 601. In step 602, the processor 200 receives a user input of a designated amount from the interface 215 on the bus 205. The total volume of the load is set equal to zero before the start of filling in step 6O3. The processor 200 transmits a start signal of the flow material to the valve.107 by means of the path 109 in step 604. The valve 107 opens in response to the reception of the signal. In step 605, the processor 200 indicates a time to zero. The time is increased in step 606 and step 607 determines whether the time is equal to a measured time. If the two are not equal, steps 606 and 607 are repeated. When the time is equal to the time measured, the process 304 continues in step 608, which measures the flow velocity. The Flowmeter 103 measures the flow velocity of the material flowing to the valve 107. The measured flow rate is -received through the processor 200 over the path 104. The processor 200 multiplies the flow rate and the time measured in the stage 609 to determine the amount of material which passes through the valve during the time measurement. The determined amount of material is added to the total volume of the discharge in step 610 - to indicate the current amount of material in destination 110. Step 611 determines the amount of overfill using the estimation function determined in process 303. In In the preferred embodiment, the estimated overfill is determined when the average proportion is in step 509 of process 303 multiplied by the measured flow rate. In the second mode, the flow velocity is placed in the polynomial to determine an overfill estimate. The result is the estimated amount of overfill at the present flow rate. In step 612, the estimated overfill is added to the total volume. Step 613 determines whether the total volume added and the estimated overfill is greater than or equal to the designated input amount. If the estimated overfill and the total volume is less than the designated amount, steps 605-613 are repeated. If the estimated overfill and total volume is at least equal to the designated amount, processor 200 transmits a valve closing signal to valve 107 via path 109 in step 614. Valve 107 closes when the signal valve closing is received and process 304 ends in step 615. A second embodiment of the present invention uses the flow and overfill of the previous discharges to generate the data necessary to determine the estimation function. Figure 7 illustrates the second mode. The process 700 starts in step 701. In step 702 processor 200 initializes the overfill estimation function to zero. This produces a constant overfill at zero for the first execution of the discharge, and another reasonable estimate function can be chosen as a matter of the design option. In step 703, a discharge is executed using the overfill estimation function. In step 704, the processor 200 taxes the flow rate of the discharge execution in step 703 and the amount of overfill of the discharge in the memory. In the second preferred embodiment, the flow rate and the amount of overfill are stored in the data structure 1000 (Figure 10) instead of at least one recent discharge. Process 600 saves the data for only the most recently executed batches. The flow rate and the overfill of the complete discharge is then used to process a new estimation function in step 705. In the second preferred embodiment, step 705 is completed by applying process 303 to data structure 1000 which contains the newly recorded data. The estimator is constantly recalculated to keep the estimate as accurate as possible. A user is immediately alerted of a problem if the estimation function changes rapidly. Step 706 determines if another download should be executed. If another download should be executed in stages 703-706 they are repeated. On the other hand, the process 700 ends in step 707. The present invention is also provided for the detection of a possible malfunction of the flow valve 107 or other flow control means such as a pump in place of the valve 107. A possible malfunction is an increase in the closing time of a valve or an increase response by means of the flow control following the reception of a flow termination signal.

The process is illustrated by the flow diagram of Figure 11 where element 1101 is at the beginning of the process. The element 1102 stores data representing the flow rate and the flow material that follows the reception of a flow termination flag for a plurality of discharges as illustrated in Figure 10. Then, the element 1103 analyzes the flow rate stored and the data of the flow material following the receipt of the termination of flow signal for the plurality of downloads. The element 1104 determines as a result of the analysis, whether or not the latter of the plurality of discharges have an increased amount of the flow material following the receipt of the flow termination signal then make one of the discharges easier. In response to the determination of step 1104, step 1105 generates an output signal representing a possible malfunction of the flow control means. Element 1106 finishes the process. The invention described above is related to estimate the overfill of a discharge to prevent excess material released to the destination. Although the specific embodiments are described for example herein, it is expected that those skilled in the art and alternative methods designed to generate an overfill estimation function which is within the scope of the following claims either literally or through the doctrine of equivalents. For example, the element 107 may be a valve or a pump which can control the start / stop of the flow material.

It is noted that in relation to this date, the best method known to the applicant to carry out the aforementioned invention, is the conventional one for the manufacture of the objects or products to which it refers. Having described the invention as above, the content of the following is claimed as a priority:

Claims (12)

1. A method of operating a material release system for releasing the material from a source of material to the destination of the material, the system is characterized in that it comprises the steps of: executing n discharges in which the material is released from the source to the destination; determine the flow velocity of the material for each of the n discharge during the execution of each of the n discharges where the measured flow velocity can be of any value; measure the amount of material filling for each discharge of n discharge during the execution of each discharge; accumulate and record the data that includes the flow speed determined for each of n downloads and the amount of overfill of material measured for each of the n downloads; execute at least one subsequent download; specify a designated amount of material to be released for at least one subsequent discharge; measuring the flow velocity for at least one subsequent discharge during the passage of at least one subsequent discharge where the flow velocity measured for the subsequent discharge may be of any value; use the recorded data and the measured flow rate for the n discharges to determine an amount of overfill of the material estimated for the measured flow rate for at least one subsequent discharge; subtracting the estimated amount of the material overfill for at least one subsequent discharge of the designated quantity to derive a designated amount of completion of the flow material; and finalizing the flow material in response to the derivation of the designated completion amount to release the designated amount of material to the destination.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of executing at least one subsequent download characterized in that it additionally comprises the steps of: accumulating and recording the data including the determined flow velocity and the amount of overfill material comprising the difference between the final amount of material released for a subsequent discharge and the designated amount of material flow material termination; use the recorded data to determine an estimated overfill quantity for any flow rate.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of executing a plurality of n downloads characterized in that it additionally comprises the steps of: specifying that the n downloads are executed; specify a download size for each of the m downloads executed; execute a first of the n downloads; determine the flow rate and the overfill material for a first of the n discharges; and execute the rest of the n downloads while measuring the flow velocity and the material -. of overfill for each of the rest of the n downloads.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of determining an estimated overfill quantity for each discharge of the plurality of n discharges characterized in that it additionally comprises the steps of: dividing the material from the overfill quantity for each discharge of n discharges by the measured flow rate for each discharge to determine a proportion for each discharge; store the proportion for each discharge; and calculate the average of the stored proportions, where the method to determine the estimated overfill for the subsequent discharge comprises the stage of using the average to obtain the amount of the overfill of the material estimated for the subsequent discharge by multiplying the average of the proportions by a flow rate measured for a subsequent discharge.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein the method of executing at least one subsequent download characterized in that it additionally comprises the steps of: activating a control means for initiating the flow of the material from the source to the destination; repeatedly measure the flow velocity of the material to increase the predetermined time; determine an increase in the amount of flow released from the material by multiplying the flow velocity by an increase in time; add the increase to the quantity of flow of the supply of the material to a totalizer; estimate the overfill material to measure the flow velocity by multiplying the flow velocity measured by the average of the proportions; subtract the overfill of material estimated from the amount determined to derive the amount of the termination signal from the flow material; continue the determination and add up to equalize the totalizer or exceed the amount of the termination signal of the flow material; finalize the flow material.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein the step of determining an estimated amount of overfill for each of the n discharges characterized in that it additionally comprises the steps of; process the standard deviation of the proportions; enter the predisposed factor B; multiply the predisposed factor B by standard deviation to obtain a value of the product; add the value of the product to the average of the proportions to obtain a sum value; multiply the sum value by the measured flow rate to obtain an estimated amount of overfill of the material which deviates from the amount determined in proportion to the predisposed factor B.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the step for determining the quantity of the overfill material is characterized in that it additionally comprises the steps of: specifying the flow rates of the different quantities; adjust a polynomial of an order of at least 2 of the measured flow rates to the measured quantities of the overfill of material where the polynomial is of the form of 2 + bx + cx: + dxí + ...; calculate the mean of the error box of the appropriate polynomial; enter the predisposed factor B; multiplying B by the middle of the error box to obtain a product; "add the product to the constant term of the polynomial, using the polynomial to estimate the overflow material with increasing accuracy for each of the specified flow rates.

8. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that it additionally comprises the steps of: recording the flow rate and the flow material following a flow termination signal to obtain a plurality of discharges; analyze the flow rate and the flow material for a plurality of discharges; determining that the last of the discharges have an increased amount of flow material following the flow termination signal for a comparable flow rate that performs one of the discharges; and generating a performance signal indicating a possible malfunction of the flow control means which represents an increased operating time of the flow control means following a reception of the flow termination signal.

9. The method according to claim 5, characterized in that the step of activating a control means includes the step of opening a valve.

10. The method of compliance with -. Claim 5, characterized in that the step of activating a control means includes the step of activating a pump.

11. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the termination step includes the step of closing a valve to finalize the flow material.

12. The method according to claim 1, characterized in that the termination step includes the step of controlling a pump to terminate the flow material.