WO2003073049A1 - Distribution method and system - Google Patents
Distribution method and system Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2003073049A1 WO2003073049A1 PCT/AU2003/000210 AU0300210W WO03073049A1 WO 2003073049 A1 WO2003073049 A1 WO 2003073049A1 AU 0300210 W AU0300210 W AU 0300210W WO 03073049 A1 WO03073049 A1 WO 03073049A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- silo
- produce
- flour
- weight
- data
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G01—MEASURING; TESTING
- G01G—WEIGHING
- G01G13/00—Weighing apparatus with automatic feed or discharge for weighing-out batches of material
- G01G13/16—Means for automatically discharging weigh receptacles under control of the weighing mechanism
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a distribution method and system particularly, but not exclusively for distribution of flour to a bakery.
- Flour distribution from Australian flourmills to bakeries is determined by the size or flour consumption of the bakery. Basically there are two methods of distribution employed, the bulk tanker system and the bag system.
- the bulk tanker system is used in industrial size bakeries where tanks or silos of 30 to 100 tonne capacity are refilled using bulk tankers, which carry a single load of flour from the mill to the bakery.
- the weight of flour transported is determined by weighing the truck on the mill's weighbridge and the bakery is charged accordingly.
- the bag system is used in small to medium sized bakeries, where mostly 25Kg bags are transported by truck in palletised form from the mill to a number of smaller bakeries before the truck returns to the mill for reloading.
- the present invention seeks to reduce manual labour and minimise potential work injuries which may result from the above bag system.
- a distribution method including delivering produce to a facility, transferring the produce into a silo, calculating a cost of the delivered produce based on the weight of the silo and issuing a charge such as by an invoice.
- the method further includes monitoring the weight of the silo whilst the produce exits the silo during production.
- the method includes delivering produce to a plurality of facilities and issuing a charge for each facility based on the weight of the respective silo at each facility.
- a distribution system including a silo, for receipt of produce, at least one load cell for monitoring the weight of the silo, a microprocessor for monitoring the amount of produce in the silo based on the weight of the silo, and for generating data for use in calculating a charge in respect of the received produce.
- the microprocessor measures produce exiting the silo for subsequent processing.
- a facility which includes a distribution system, as described above, wherein the facility is in the form of a bakery arranged to process produce, in the form of flour.
- a method for invoicing flour delivered to a bakery including transferring the flour from a truck into a silo, measuring the weight of the silo and generating an invoice for the cost of the flour based on the measured weight.
- a method including monitoring an amount of produce transferred into and output from a silo, using a microprocessor, wherein the microprocessor generates data for use in calculating a charge in respect of the produce transferred into the silo.
- the data is transmitted to a remote location for issuing the charge.
- the data is transferred automatically, upon completion of a filling operation.
- the amount of produce is monitored by weighing the silo as produce is input to and output from the silo.
- the data includes historical consumption data, which is utilised to determine delivery of further produce.
- the method further includes delivery of the produce for transferral into the silo.
- a facility 1 is shown as including a system 2 comprising silos 3, 4, supported by a frame 5 and a hopper/mixer 6,6' arrangement which receives produce from the silos 3,4 via line 7.
- Each silo 3,4 has a stainless steel inlet pipe 8.
- the pipe 8 of the left most silo 3 is shown connected to a feed pipe 9 of a tanker 10.
- produce is delivered from the tanker 10, to each of the silos 3, 4, as required, through the connected pipes 8 and 9.
- the produce is caused to exit the silos 3, 4 via respective valves 11 at the bottom of each silo.
- the produce is pneumatically transferred to the hopper/mixer 6, 6' along the line 7, where additional products may be added, if required.
- the mixer 6' dispenses a predetermined quantity of the product for subsequent processing.
- the silos 3, 4 are provided with load cells 13, beneath each of the feet 14 of the silo frame 5 for monitoring the weight of the silo and that in turn will provide an indication of the amount of produce not only within each silo, but also being transferred into the silo 3, 4 from the tanker 10 and subsequently exiting the silo for processing.
- the load cells 13 are preferably linked to a microprocessor (not shown) which may also control the valves 11 and, indeed, the entire operation of the system, including the pneumatic transfer of the produce.
- Feedback from the load cells is also used to determine the cost of the produce transferred from the tanker and a driver of the truck 10 may carry a portable device, which is adapted to issue a charge in the form of an invoice.
- the produce is preferably in the form of flour and the facility 1 is a bakery, although the invention should not be considered as being limited to that application only.
- a more specific description of the system, when used in a bakery, is as follows:
- a silo in the order of 2.5 to 5 tonne capacity would be used, that has a footprint of about 1.8 x 1.8 meters, which compares favourably with the space requirements of 1.2 m 2 for a conventional 1 tonne pallet of bagged flour.
- the flour is delivered pneumatically from the silo to the mixer via an intermediate hopper 6, which is located next to the dough mixer 6' and connected with the silo through the pipeline 7, which may be up to 15 meters in length.
- the system 1 can provide a very significant reduction of manual labour in small to medium sized bakeries, as compared to a conventional small bakery where a baker may be lifting on average between 500Kg and lOOOKg of bagged flour per day. Using the system 1, this proportion of manual labour is completely removed from the baker's daily routine.
- the baker can call lKg to 50Kg of flour from the silo via the hopper 6.
- the microprocessor can also allow for storage of frequently used tasks (formulations) and show historical consumption data.
- the driver can simply connect a portable data processor/printer to the microprocessor. He presses a reset button to zero the weight reading and after the filling of the silo is completed the portable data processor/printer will produce a delivery docket stating the delivered amount of flour and customer details. The customer retains one hardcopy of the delivery docket and the data contained in the portable data processor will be converted into invoices on return to the mill.
- the portable data processor may be dispensed with, in which case, the microprocessor generates data for use calculating a charge in respect of the produce transferred into the silo and transfers that data to a remote location, such as the flour mill, for issuing the charge in the form of an invoice or account statement.
- the data transfer may be effected using any suitable type of information transfer medium such as electronically, via a conventional modem and telephone line.
- the data preferably includes historical consumption data as well, which may be utilised to automatically determine delivery of further flour.
- a system may be devised whereby the driver carries a swipe card, or other form of ID, which is presented to an ID reader at a point of delivery, prior to commencement of a filling operation, so as to automatically reset the measured weight of the silo to zero, ready for receipt of flour. After completion of the filling operation, the card is swiped again and the data is automatically transferred to the remote location/mill.
- silos 3 are preferably arranged externally of the bakery so that the driver can have access to the system 2, to fill the silos 3,4, without the assistance of staff within the bakery. As such the silos may be filled outside of normal operating hours.
- system 1 and associated method of delivery reduces the overall cost of a silo system to the point where it is commercially viable for a customer base with a relatively low throughput, which until now would not have been able to be supplied with bulk flour from a tanker 10, or the like.
- the overall system also allows the tanker 10 to deliver flour to several bakeries on one truckload and eliminates the necessity for the truck to go back to a weighing bridge after each single delivery for certification of the quantity being delivered for billing purposes.
- the silos are normally too big to fit in small bakeries; weighing cells are currently only installed under some flour silos and they are only used to double-check the mills flour deposits and are not used to measure the flour pneumatically transported to the dough mixer. Further weighing cells on the weigh hopper are necessary to measure the flour deposit into the mixer; microprocessors are currently only used to control partial functions of the system, but not to control the functioning of the system in its entirety; microprocessors are not used to produce a formal document (delivery docket) stating the quantity of flour delivered by the flourmill.
Landscapes
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Weight Measurement For Supplying Or Discharging Of Specified Amounts Of Material (AREA)
- Filling Or Emptying Of Bunkers, Hoppers, And Tanks (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (4)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
CA002477381A CA2477381A1 (en) | 2002-02-26 | 2003-02-19 | Distribution method and system |
AU2003248362A AU2003248362A1 (en) | 2002-02-26 | 2003-02-19 | Distribution method and system |
EP03742863A EP1478907A1 (en) | 2002-02-26 | 2003-02-19 | Distribution method and system |
US10/928,628 US20050107980A1 (en) | 2002-02-26 | 2004-08-26 | Computerized method and system for measuring an amount of a food ingredient |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU2002100138A AU2002100138B4 (en) | 2002-02-26 | 2002-02-26 | Distribution method and system |
AU2002100138 | 2002-02-26 |
Related Child Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US10/928,628 Continuation US20050107980A1 (en) | 2002-02-26 | 2004-08-26 | Computerized method and system for measuring an amount of a food ingredient |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2003073049A1 true WO2003073049A1 (en) | 2003-09-04 |
Family
ID=3839465
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/AU2003/000210 WO2003073049A1 (en) | 2002-02-26 | 2003-02-19 | Distribution method and system |
Country Status (4)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP1478907A1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU2002100138B4 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2477381A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2003073049A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
CN111285063A (en) * | 2020-02-25 | 2020-06-16 | 淮北矿业股份有限公司 | Washing control system and method for coal feeder |
Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3981195A (en) * | 1975-07-21 | 1976-09-21 | Forney Engineering Company | Silo level measuring system |
US4679142A (en) * | 1984-07-02 | 1987-07-07 | E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Radioactive material billing system and method |
US5304744A (en) * | 1992-02-21 | 1994-04-19 | Jensen Asger R | Method of collecting and recording refuse |
JPH11175844A (en) * | 1997-12-05 | 1999-07-02 | Kubota Corp | Rice polishing automatic vending machine |
EP1031519A2 (en) * | 1998-11-03 | 2000-08-30 | Pujals, Juan Ricart | System for selective waste collection |
JP2001318966A (en) * | 2000-05-10 | 2001-11-16 | Nikko Co Ltd | Method for controlling stock and production of cement of manufacturing plant of ready mixed concrete |
-
2002
- 2002-02-26 AU AU2002100138A patent/AU2002100138B4/en not_active Ceased
-
2003
- 2003-02-19 EP EP03742863A patent/EP1478907A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2003-02-19 CA CA002477381A patent/CA2477381A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2003-02-19 WO PCT/AU2003/000210 patent/WO2003073049A1/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Patent Citations (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US3981195A (en) * | 1975-07-21 | 1976-09-21 | Forney Engineering Company | Silo level measuring system |
US4679142A (en) * | 1984-07-02 | 1987-07-07 | E.I. Du Pont De Nemours And Company | Radioactive material billing system and method |
US5304744A (en) * | 1992-02-21 | 1994-04-19 | Jensen Asger R | Method of collecting and recording refuse |
JPH11175844A (en) * | 1997-12-05 | 1999-07-02 | Kubota Corp | Rice polishing automatic vending machine |
EP1031519A2 (en) * | 1998-11-03 | 2000-08-30 | Pujals, Juan Ricart | System for selective waste collection |
JP2001318966A (en) * | 2000-05-10 | 2001-11-16 | Nikko Co Ltd | Method for controlling stock and production of cement of manufacturing plant of ready mixed concrete |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
EP1478907A1 (en) | 2004-11-24 |
AU2002100138B4 (en) | 2002-06-20 |
AU2002100138A4 (en) | 2002-04-11 |
CA2477381A1 (en) | 2003-09-04 |
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